《The Newt and Demon》
Chapter 1: The end of the world
Chapter 1: The end of the world
The gentle slope of endless, deste hills gave way to the Pacific Ocean down the drop of treacherous cliffs. The once-greenndscape of Ecuador sat as a sprawl of dead trees, ttened buildings, and endless radiation. Devastation visited thesends months back, rendering most of the country uninhabitable. While the outward signs of the strike left thendscape bleak, the oing fallout would be worse. It would stretch out across South America in theing weeks, leaving all of it as deadly as the epicenter. None of this mattered, though, with the impending destruction of Earth.
Theo Spencer slung his rifle over his shoulder, gulping for breaths that camebored in his environmental suit. While the systems were functioning perfectly, it was only a matter of time before the squad of five soldiers needed a rest. They plopped down on rocks and regarded each other with faces shielded by visors. The entire mission seemed pointless to him, but life back home was much worse. The sun overhead, swiftly growing by the day, saw to that. What little family he had left were distant cousins, all starving in the global famine. Working for the CIA had its benefits, even if it meant running operations that would never hit the books.
How much further? Yuris voice came over thems. He was the only man in the squad that Theo knew well enough to call a friend. Everyone else was just another face in the grim parade.
Not far, Commander Morales responded.
Theo tried to remember what his squad looked like under the ck environmental suit,ing up short. He was happy that their faces were obscured by those dark visors, fearful that he might see pain on their faces. It would be more of a problem if they saw the grin that painted his face. While oxygen was hard to suck down in the suit, it was extremelyfortable. The environment outside of the suit was not only radioactive, but absurdly hot. He nced at the sky to catch sight of the source of the heat, the growing sun, and smiled wider.
Things got simple when impending doom peeked its ugly head. Survival boiled down to who was the strongest, and who had the bigger gun. The appearance of an entity known as The Harbinger brought an enemy that the world could fight. Something that the nations of the world could throw nukes at to make themselves feel better.
Maybe if we worked on space travel, this wouldnt have happened, Theo thought.
What are the chances this guy is the problem? Theo asked, thumbing themunication button on his wrist.
Exactly zero percent chance, Sergeant Bawa said.
Theo scoffed at the thought of rank. The government assembled them hastily, pulling in anyone withbat training to take out a threat. Most of his squad consisted of paper-pushers, long since retired from any active duty. Only Theo and Yuri conducted ck ops before the fall of civilized society. The ipetence of the government saw them assigned the rank of private. Another cruel twist of fate.
So, bullets are going to work better than nukes? Theo asked, his grin widening.
Eat it up, Spencer, Morales said, his voice crackling and hitching through them. If you have a better idea, let me know.
Theo kicked back, reclining on his rock and staring up at the growing star. His n was to sit around, drink some shitty beer, and wait for the world to end. When his unit was assembled, those dreams were shattered. A week-long journey through towns controlled by as many gangs as rogue governments bore witness to the atrocities of the end-times. He savored that one thing that made this all worth it. Thepletely over-engineered environmental suits that only a privileged few had ess to. He didnt understand the technology, but the temperature inside of his suit was cool, like a spring breeze. The air he breathed was crisp, and free of radiation. It even had a little radio, but it stopped working a few days ago.
We could just sit here, Theo said, staring up at the sky. Let that big old sun eat us up.
Fucking hell, Bawa said, scoffing. I mean, just look at the view! You really cant beat this.
Sergeant Bawa wasnt kidding. The view out east, toward the ocean, was beautiful. The wavespped in the distance, sparkling like azure jewels among the t sea. Theo sighed, content with this ce.
What are you gonna do when you die, Yuri? Theo asked.
I dont know about you, but Im going directly to hell, Yuri said, shrugging his massive shoulders.
Im going to the big strip club in the sky, Belchev said. At least, Theo thought hisst name was Belchev. He couldnt even remember the name of the other person. He didnt care, either.
Yeah, I think Im going to hell, too, Theo said, adjusting his position to remove a rock from his impromptu resting spot. Too many dead men who didnt deserve it. Too many secret missions to countries I cant even remember.
This is getting a bit too nihilistic for me, Morales said, shaking his helmeted head. Breaks over. Were meeting the Harbinger today.
Theo rose to his feet slowly, stretchingzily and surveying the area. Before the bombs dropped, this area would have been a forest. The small vige they rested outside of had a small poption, but enough to warrant notice. He thought about the tourists that would visitperhaps eco-touristsing to see the dense trees. His thoughts fell away as Morales struck his arm, forcing him into that familiar march.
The squad continued their walk down the sloping hills, through as many burnt-out viges as theyd seening in. The closer they got to the coast, the more Theo wanted to feel the salty breeze of the sea on his face. He nned on popping his helmet off before the end finally came, but kept this thought a secret, even from Yuri. They progressed through that barrenndscape for hours, the sun barely moving in the sky by the time they found a coastal road. Morales stopped, allowing them to rest again, to determine exactly where they were.
Damn GPS isnt working, Morales said, swinging his pack around to dig for a map.
They spent another hour waiting for the man to figure out where they were, and where they needed to go. Then the marching continued. Theo fell further away from his squad as the sun grewrger. He could see ribbons of fire leaping off of the star, nonerge enough to grace Earth, and savored its beauty. He was walking on the beach by the time he found his senses again, wavespping the shore to his right while his squad marched forward ahead. They had their weapons ready and Morales was shouting something. His voice came with barkingmands, the soldiers fanning out. He joined them reluctantly.
Theo was surprised that their intelligence bore fruit. He spotted the Harbinger over a dune, standing and appreciating the waves. The entity didnt look very human. It was taller than a person and wore a ck mask bearing the image of a white eye in the center. Its limbs were too long, hands and feet bearing jagged ws. The robes the thing wore reminded him of fantasy media hed consumed over the years, flowing and resting against the wet sand. It held its arms wide, a motion that didnt seem very threatening. But Morales already gave the order, his squad opening fire without hesitation.
Theo stood there, in the firing line, without discharging his weapon. He watched as the bullets seemed to bounce off of the creature, ricocheting into the sand and back at his squad. Something bit deep into his stomach and he copsed on his side, contentment flooding through his body as the same fate visited hispanions. He rolled to his back painfully, trying to get a better look at the sun. Silence steeped the surrounding air, only broken by the asionalpping of waves.
Anyone alive? Theo said, gasping for air.
Footsteps joined the silencebare, taloned feet on sand. Firm hands grasped the side of his helmet, lifting it off and revealing the blinding environment. The air stung his skin, spreading like electricity down his body. His lungs burned and he gasped against the poison, failing to expel the deadly radiation. The Harbinger stood above him, tilting his masked face and tutting.
Ah, Im still learning, the Harbinger said.
The creature moved off and Theo watched as he drew a circle in the sand. Motes of light rose from the circle, rising to the sky with a rush of wind. The burning faded from Theos lungs, his skin no longer crawling with deadly radiation. He gasped at the fresh air, smiling as he saw the sun above growrger. The pain in his abdomen was still there, but he was happy.
Looks like youre going to die, the Harbinger said,ing to sit next to Theo. His voice was a monotone thing, devoid of ent or emotion.
Thats not unique, Theo said, coughing.
Indeed.
Is anyone else alive? Theo asked.
Barely, the Harbinger said, pointing to the downed men. That one will see the transition through, I think.
Theo craned his neck painfully, watching as his friend Yuri clutched his chest, writhing on the ground.
Who are you? Theo asked, attempting to assuage his curiosity before it ended.
Youre calm for someone about to see their deathyoure unaware of the transition, yes?
Transition? No idea what youre talking aboutand you didnt answer my question, Theo said, another fit of coughing stealing whatever else he might say.
The Harbinger shrugged. Im a traveler. I visit ces like this before they die. Youre a soldier, yes?
Yeah, something like that, Theo said.
A soldier looking for a peaceful life, the Harbinger said wistfully. What a familiar story.
The pair sat in silence for quite some time. When the sun started growing, it was imperceptible. Whatever agencies were in charge of keeping track of how big the sun was didnt notice until it was toote, although there was nothing they could do. In the past week it started growing at an unpredictable pace. For all its destructive power, it was beautiful, taking up a fair portion of the sky even though it should have set by now. The creature sitting next to Theo seemed to enjoy the sight, casting his gaze toward the star with interest. He tilted his head back toward the prone private and shrugged, cing a finger on his forehead.
A quiet life. You want a peaceful life, yes? it asked.
Thatd be nice, Theo said, another fit of coughing taking over. I think it might be toote for that.
Not at all, the Harbinger said.
The creature pressed his finger harder into Theos forehead, a strange sense spreading through his body. More motes of light joined that of the circle, swirling through the air in a vortex as the rush in his chest continued. The Harbinger removed his finger after a while, cing aforting hand on Theos shoulder.
The transition will give you a chance at a new life, the Harbinger said. Everyone who is still alive when the sun consumes your will get that chance. Millions of lives
Sounds like a dream to me, Theo said,ughing. Or a bunch of bull.
The Harbinger shrugged, gesturing toward the sky. Its happening. Perhaps well meet when you transition to the other side Well, enjoy the view. He ced the helmet back on Theos head, sping it at the cor and standing. In a sh of light, the strange creature disappeared.
Theo watched as the sun grew, happy that the entity put his helmet back on. He could see the detail of the sun as it ballooned in size. Even the environmental suit couldnt hold back the burning tide. It swept over the in an instant, consuming Earth and destroying all life on the. But as ckness crowded Theos vision, something strange appeared in front of him. Text crowded the center of his sight.
[Transitioning to World B71]
[Running stored protocol: Harbingers Gift]
[Resetting life]
[Wee to Iaredin!]
Chapter 2: Awakening
Chapter 2: Awakening
The first thing Theo remembered after the expanding sun was a sharp pain in his chest. Unconsciousness gave way to that sensation, followed by an oppressive humidity and the scent of soot and sweat. He realized before anything else came back to him that it was his sweat. He stirred, forcing his eyes open. The scene that swirled around him was dizzying, made worse by the crowd of text in the middle of his vision. No matter where he tilted his head, the annoying text followed.
[Wee to paradise!]
Quest
Youre Dead!
Congrattions, your entire world has been destroyed. The [System] has determined that you qualify for transfer to World B71 monly known as Iaredin). A powerful entity has vouched for your transfer, upgrading your transfer vessel with additional benefits.
limate yourself to your new world, and enjoy Broken Tusk!
Objectives:
Meet the vigers of Broken Tusk.
Sleep in your new home.
Ugh, it doesn''t feel like paradise, Theo said, swatting at the text. What the
His words were interrupted by the same painful poke. As the shapes in the room resolved, he saw a massive woman standing over him, and only now realized that he wasying down. She was a tall, well-muscleddy with short hair, olivealmost redskin, short tusks protruding from her bottom lip, and a scowl hanging on her face. Theo blinked away the sleep, frantically trying to drive away the woman through sheer willpower. She didnt go, simply glowering down at him.
About time, she said, scoffing. At least he could understand her. You have a lot of questions, and I dont care. Well, heres the short version. You owe me money.
Nice to meet you, too, Theo said, staring up at the ceiling. He tried desperately to avoid eye-contact with the intimidating woman.
With his vision cleared, he took stock of where he was. Shoddy wood paneling on the walls, cracked boards on the floor, a roof with more mold than hed ever seen, and a bed stuffed with straw. The uncertainty that painted his face upon awakening vanished in an instant. He wasnt dead. No matter how strange things were around him, the sun hadnt killed him.
We found you in a field a week ago, she said. My name is Miana Kell, mayor of Broken Tusk. We figured you were integrated from another system, so I had Luras prepare to get you situated. Wait here.
Miana rose from the side of the bed, stomping out of the room and off into the hallway. Theo rose to a sitting position on the bed, a shock running through his heart when he saw his hands. He frantically pushed back the rough cloth covering his forearms, inspecting his skin. It was rougher than he remembered, and purple. His fingers ended in thick ws, and as he pressed his palms against his face, he found horns. They traced along the shape of his head, swooping up at the back of his skull. The horns were rough, variegated with ridges along the length. Then he felt the tail attached near his butt.
Alright, Theo said, his brow knitting tightly. Whats going on?
His question fell into the emptiness of the room. He rose to his feet, inspecting his legs and letting out a sigh of relief. At least I dont have hooves, he thought, inspecting his bare feet. With a wiggle of his toes, he shrugged.
Greetings, a voice like coarse gravel came from the threshold of the room. Im Luras Trinner, hunter and trapper. I hope you transitioned well.
Luras was a mountain of a man, easily two heads taller than Miana. He wore what Theo could only conclude as leather armor. It looked well-oiled, hugging the mans massive frame andyered for protection. A pair of daggers sat at his hip, with a bow held in his hand. His skin was darker than the womans, edging toward a dark ochre color to contrast to her pale orange. Something about the softness of his expression put Theo at ease. His shaven head even caught the light spectacrly.
Not so sure about that, Luras, Theo said, letting out a nervous chuckle. I appear to be a demon.
Ah, yes, Luras said, digging in the satchel at his side. He held a parchment out, squinting to read the text. I tried to memorize this, but you know. It says that most transitioned worlds dont have the number of races we have here. Right.
Well, I was human, Theo said, shrugging.
We have humans here. Im a Half-Ogre well, were not really half of an Ogre, but thats just the name. Just like how youre not a demon. Youre one of the Drononpart demons. Come on, Ill give you a tour of the town while I exin things. Can you walk?
The simplicity of the gentle way the man spoke smoothed away the rough edges of Theos mind. His minds eye produced images of Ogres from fantasy. Towering brutes that would eat someones liver as soon as they would introduce themselves. Luras was very unlike that image, presenting a calm exterior that brought more questions than answers. He wobbled on the spot, swaying around to understand his new body. His bnce seemed worse than before the transition, the strength born of years of service gone in an instant. But his mind seemed more honed, able to process things quicker ande to an understanding. It was all strange.
Lets go, Theo said, nodding to himself.
Luras led him through a short wind of halls, holding a rickety wooden door open for Theo to step outside. The exterior was more of an assault to his senses than the interior, the humidity doubling in the open air. The scent of wet earth and manure filled his nostrils, a light bustle of other Half-Ogres walking along a central dirt road. Each building in Broken Tusk was of the same shoddy construction. Boards seemed nailed together in whatever manner pleased the builder, the cracks jammed with green mosses. A yellow sun blistered overhead, casting its light over the terrain.
Theo breathed the air, a grin spreading across his face. It wasnt paradise, but he wasnt dead.
Luras led the way silently, stopping by a Half-Ogre-sized monolith in the center of a circr section of the road. It sat atop a stone dais, stones hewn from some dark stone Theo didnt recognize, although he wasnt an expert on stone.
I assume the System doesnt exist in your world, Luras said.
Nope, Theo said, shrugging. Hey, do you have a mirror?
No. I think theres one in your shopwell get there. The system gives everyone a chance to pursue skills and collect information. Thats the only way I can put it generically enough for you to understand, Luras said with a meek shrug. Consider this your introduction You can ess information about yourself with a thought. It should appear in front of you in a format you can understand.
Theo obeyed, sending a mentalmand that resulted in a box containing information crowding his vision. He took a moment to inspect it.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 1
Alchemist
Core Slots: 2
Stats:
Health: 40
Mana: 10
Stamina: 50
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Vigor: 9 (+2)
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 15 (+2)
Points: 0
Alright. This says Im an alchemist. And it thinks my name is Belgara Drogramath Dronon named Belgar, Theo said, chuckling.
Theo dismissed the screen, watching as Luras traced his finger over the scroll. I dont see that breed of Dronon on here, but whatever. The System cing you in our town makes sense. We have an alchemists workshop thats been abandoned for a while.
Theo folded his arms, racking his newly powerful brain. I was a soldier in my world. Why did it make me an alchemist?
His mind flung back to what the Harbinger said about living a peaceful life. Theo wanted to keep that information to himself for the time being. There was no need to rock the boat before he knew what this town was all about.
Youre the first person Ive given this speech to, Luras said. I dont know how the System determines what to make you.
Alright. On with the tour, Theo said.
The pair walked a path that looked much like the other paths. The smell of manure grew as they trudged, the path bing more muddy by the second. Theo regretted going barefoot, with the muck underfoot quickly bing more animal droppings than soil. A sprawl of farms came into view after they ascended a sloping rise. Endless fields of a slender crop, reaching toward the sun, stretched as far as he could see. The view of Broken Tusk below revealed how small it really was.
Youre looking south, toward the town. To the east is the river. West holds the marshes. This entire area used to be a marsh before a wizard came to visit. It was well before my time, but he diverted the river out into the ocean. He even raised these fields so our people could farm, Luras said.
Your people being the Half-Ogres? Theo asked.
Luras shrugged. When the Ogres left Broken Tusk almost five-hundred-years ago, they left behind their half-blood children. Those children formed an alliance with the Marshlings. We consider those two peoples to be the founding races of Broken Tusk, but all are wee.
Very utopian, Theo said. He was already impressed that no one on the street shrieked in terror simply by looking at him. He would need a mirror to see how bad it really was.
We get by, Luras said with a grunt. Ill show you the cksmith and your shop. Well avoid the tannery. I guess you dont know how skills work.
Nope.
Everyone has ess to skills based on their level. You want skills that work with the cores you have. You should have started with at least one core, Luras said.
Lets see, Theo said, mentally sending themand core to the System.
A screen blocked his entire vision, filling it with two ornate orbs that pulsed with purple light. He could see two empty slots on each of the cores, and inspected them one after the other.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core]
Legendary
Alchemy Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
[Alchemy Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effect:
Increases the synergy of [Alchemy] abilities.
+2 Wisdom
[Drogramath Herbalist Core]
Rare
Herbalist Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
[Herbalist Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effects:
+2 Vigor
The information made little sense to him. He understood that these were cores rted to his ancestry, a bloodline that he knew nothing about, but the rest was nonsense. What a core was, or how it functioned, was still beyond him.
Ive got two cores. [Drogramath Alchemy Core], and [Drogramath Herbalist Core], Theo said. Something twinged in his mind when he said the names of the cores, as though he was imparting the knowledge he had about the things directly to Luras.
You started with a legendary and a rare core? Luras said, scoffing. Thats absurd. Ive never heard of that happening.
Well, I dont even know what the hell a core is, Theo said,ughing.
Damn. Right, well A core is like a family of skills. You level your core separate from yourself. You can attach skills to a core, but you need to attach the right skills to the right cores. You cant put a fighting skill in your alchemy cores.
Makes sense. Where do I get skills?
You should have some by default. With your luck, I bet theres more legendary stuff, Luras said, narrowing his eyes on Theo.
Theo didnt want to disappoint the only person in this new world he would happily call a friend. Inspecting his skills and sharing them with him might be a bad idea. How valuable were these skills, and could Luras be trustedpletely? Without an answer to his questions, he mentally summoned his skill menu. There were two skills at the top, and an endless list of skills underneath. The indicator showed that he didnt have any skill points, and couldnt purchase a new skill. He reluctantly shared his two skills with hispanion.
[Drogramath Distillery Specialty], and [Drogramath Herbalism], Theo said, grimacing.
[Drogramath Distillery Specialty]
Alchemy Skill
Legendary
You im heritage to Drogramath, the potioneer. The Demon Kings specialty was distition, allowing you to extract the essence of alchemical ingredients. Distition produces a pure form of extract, although some im it to be more unstable.
Effect:
Allows the user to operate distillery equipment at a significantly increased efficiency.
Allows the user to gauge, by eye, the exact quantity of mixtures in units.
+2 Wisdom
[Drogramath Herbalism]
Herbalism Skill
Rare
Drogramath has an eye for reagents. His descendants have an easier time identifying nts that produce alchemical ingredients.
Effect:
You have a sense whether something will produce alchemical ingredients.
+2 Intelligence
I knew it, Luras said,ughing. He saw the pained look on Theos face and sped a hand on his shoulder. Im not faulting you for this. Youre just insanely lucky.
Is this something that I shouldnt share freely? Theo asked.
Id keep it quiet for now, Luras said. If someone asks, just refuse to show them the skill. Its considered rude to force someone to show you their skills. You should equip those two in your cores, by the way.
Theo obeyed, equipping the alchemy skill in the alchemy core and the herbalism skill in his herbalism core. He felt a noticeable surge running through his mind as he equipped them, receiving the bonuses that both of them had. He smiled up at his friend, gesturing for the tour to continue. The pair trudged down the slope, waving at farmers as they went. They finally caught sight of the other races inhabiting the town. There were Humans, which stood a head shorter than Theo, and the waist-high Marshlings.
Theyre so cute, Theo whispered, garnering a smile from Luras.
The Marshlings toddled around on stumpy legs, their smooth skin appearing like that of a smander. Their fat tail swept the ground as they walked. They had webbed feet, most of them appearing to prefer going shoeless. On the side of their lizard-like heads were protrusions that reminded Theo of axolotls with little frillsing forth. The tone of their skin varied from person to person, some having bright pink pigment, and others that of mud. They were all extremely polite.
The cksmiths shop sat on a raised tform of stone, the work areapletely outdoors. Steel sang under the Marshlings hammer, and he doused himself with water every few seconds of hammering. The work area itself was incredibly tidy, hammers hung on shelves to the side with a coal-burning forge sitting in the center. An anvil sat on a small stump, low enough for the diminutive man to work the metal.
Every town needs a cksmith, Luras said. Throk spends most of the day working on stuff for the farm, but you might be able to ask him about crafting skills.
Right, Theo said. Because Im a crafter.
Yeah. You wont have much inmon with a person like me in terms of skills, Luras said with a shrug.
The tour continued southward, the road less crowded the further away from the square they went. Homes dotted along the path on either side, a squat building looming in the distance. It was a stone construction, standing out against the wood nk buildings that became iconic for Broken Tusk. A sign hung on the outside, depicting a vial with red liquid inside. The paint faded long ago, leaving it looking dpidated, like the rest of the building.
Luras produced a key from his pouch, handing it to Theo. This passing of the key represents your ownership of the alchemyb. Do you know how to inspect items or buildings?
Im guessing I just think about it, Theo said.
Get that intent in your mind, and touch the building, Luras said.
Theo once again obeyed, holding the thought of inspection in his head as he pressed his fingers against the mossy stone. A box appeared in his vision, disying information about the building.
[Alchemy Lab]
Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Upgrade Status: 0/20
Rent Due: 7 days
Oh. I have to pay rent, Theo said, frowning.
Every week. Miana will probably give you a grace period while you get set up, Luras said.
How am I going to afford foodor get water? Theo said.
Ill bring something for youter. You can get a meal at the inn for a copper coin, Luras said. You can draw water from the river, but if you dont have high [Vigor], boil it.
Theo knit his brow. Suddenly finding himself in another world was hard enough to deal with, but now he had to see to his own survival. Meals back on Earth were easy enough toe by, especially in the end-times. Everything was provided by the agency, and before that, he could just go to a grocery store and buy whatever he needed. Without Luras help, hed starve.
Luras handed him a waterskin and smiled. This should tide you over for a while.
I owe you, Luras, Theo said, nodding to himself. Once I figure this alchemy crap out, Ill pay you back with interest.
I wouldnt say no to a [Health Potion], Luras said, grinning. Lets head inside and take stock of what you have.
Chapter 3: Theo, The Alchemist
Chapter 3: Theo, The Alchemist
The interior of theb wasnt much better than the outside. There was a suspiciousck of dust that made Theo think Luras had been by to clean. He doubted that the brusk woman, Miana, would have done so. It was fairly small, twenty paces by ten and crowded with tables and equipment. A door to the right led off somewhere, a ce he assumed was a bedroom. The scent inside was musky, and he doubted that opening a window would help.
Did you clean up in here? Theo asked.
I did, Luras said. I organized what books I could find scattered around, Luras said, pointing to a neatly packed bookshelf near the back of the room. Your bedroom is in through there.
Theo spent some time walking around, inspecting all the equipment. Near the back corner of theb was a copper still, something that he thought fortunate because of his distillery specialty. The thing that caught his eye was a strange-looking piece of machinery in the opposite corner. When he inspected it he let out augh.
[ssware Artifice]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Epic
Created by ????
Feed the ssware Artifice any [Mote], think about the ssware you need, and it will be produced!
The machine was arge box with a slot to ept a circr object in the front, and a spout near the bottom. It didnt seemrge enough to spit out anythingrger than a small phial. It was made of bronze, as far as Theo could tell.
This looks rare, Theo said, scoffing.
It is, Luras said. Most of the text is obscured for me. I dont have any alchemy specialization, but any artifice is rare.
I just feed it motes, and it spits out ssware, Theo said.
Thats fortunate. We have a lot of concentrated magic near the river, and in the swamp. If it epts any motes, youll have an easy time generating whatever ssware you need.
Right What should I do now? Theo asked.
Every book on that shelf is about alchemy, Luras said. I suggest you start reading. There are candles in your bedroom. Ill be aroundter to drop off some supplies.
I cant thank you enough, Theo said, chuckling.
Youll thank me plenty when you make potions, Luras said, grinning.
The pair exchanged more pleasantries before the Half-Ogre departed, leaving Theo with a sense of unease. He didnt know what he did to deserve such a great start in a new life. He could have been thrown into many crappy situations, but this was amazing. Even with the threat of a hefty debt, rent to pay, and food to buy, he was in a much better situation than he was on Earth.
The books on the shelf varied drastically in topics. There were advanced topics he couldnt hope to understand, but also basic tomes regarding swamp nts and a general guide on alchemy. He picked up a book titled Essential Alchemy and started reading. The text was written in anguage he shouldnt have understood. The blocky characters made up groups that were read as sybles, simr to Korean back on Earth. But he could understand every word, and even felt some insight on the topics.
While Essential Alchemy focused on the ssical preparation of alchemical ingredients, Theo knew that most of it didnt apply to him. The milling of herbs and creation of poultices was a thing relegated to standard alchemists. Even the creation of potions was done in a fashion that seemed antithetical to innate knowledge that lingered in his mind. He settled in for hours, reading at speeds he could never hope to achieve in his old world, even if he wasnt much of a reader back then.
Mid-afternoon struck when he finished thumbing through the first book, and he settled in with the next. Wild nts of the Swamnds was a much more productive tome, revealing the traits of manymon reagents in the marsh. ording to the book, the swamps wouldnt produce themon healing leaves of the hignds to the north. Hed rely on a nt called [Spiny Swamp Thistle] to produce healing ingredients. The method of processing these ingredients was elusive, as Essential Alchemy had a very brief section on distition.
Only after reading for several hours did Theo notice that something appeared in the upper-left of his vision. A set of three bars, red, blue, and yellow, floated and followed his sight. The yellow bar lost a bit of its length, and he concluded that the rigorous study had depleted some of his stamina. He went searching in the bedroom for something to write on when he realized that the important information from the books didnt leave his mind. It wasnt a photographic recall of what he read, but the high-level concepts stuck with ease.
Theo found a short knife among a pile of things in the bedroom, inspecting it before tucking it into his belt.
[Copper Alchemy Knife]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Common
Basic copper knife. The copper in this de wont react with any reagents.
He was confident that he could identify the ingredients in the wild without a problem and set off. The thick marsh to the west seemed like a more dangerous ce than the river to the east. He wasnt walking for long before he spotted a cluster of trees, and the spiked leaves of a Swamp Thistle. Theo knelt near the nt for a moment, remembering the warnings that the book gave him. The Swamp Thistles leaves werent poisonous, but theyd easily draw blood. The spines on the leaves made that idea obvious, but the stalk of the nt was safe to touch. He bent it over, drawing his knife and cutting it there to discard the dangerous leaves.
The gnarled roots of the Spiny Swamp Thistle were fat and oozing a red liquid. Theo smiled to himself before regretting not bringing along a bag to store the ingredients. He reflected on the fact that he found the thistle so easy, quickly concluding that there were simply no alchemists in the town. The muddy hills were his to harvest, and he found a bounty. He pulled his shirt off, already threadbare and full of holes, to hold the roots.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (1%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (0.5%).
During his digging, he located several fat orbs of pulsating green energy the size of ping-pong balls. Upon inspection, he learned that they were the motes he needed for ssware.
[Earth Mote]
[Mote]
Common
The mostmon mote. A mote of pure earth magic, condensed by magical forces. [Earth Motes] can be found anywhere in the world.
When the sun was getting low, threatening dusk, he returned to hisb to inspect his roots.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
The root of a Spiny Swamp Thistle.
Properties:
[Healing] ???? ????
Theo stood there, staring at what hed collected for some time. His mind raced at the best way to process the roots, but there were gaps in the knowledge that sat innately in his mind. Essential Alchemy contained a lot of information regarding the processing of leaves, and the creation of dilute potions, but nothing about how to create essences. He popped the lid off the [Copper Still] and nodded, appreciating that thest owner cleaned it before abandoning theb. His mind went back to Earth, and a friend that died years ago from the famine. Before everything went to hell, he tried his hand at creating liquor at home.
The memory was a distant thing, and the entire process wouldnt return to Theo. He understood that whiskey was made with some kind of mash, abination of the fermented ingredients and water, before running it through the still. The job of the still was to concentrate the ingredients, bringing out as much alcohol as possible. Theo collected a wooden bucket from his supplies and found a barrel of [Purified Water] near the [Copper Still].
[Purified Water]
[Common Item]
Common
Water that has been purified. Perfect for stable alchemical reactions.
The discovery of the water was fortunate, as his current n was simply to use the water from the skin that Luras gave him. Theo dumped his haul of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] into the bucket, found the nearest heavy wooden object, and started smashing them. The thought of cutting the roots up entered his mind, but was quickly dismissed by his innate knowledge. It made sense when he thought about it. If his n was to extract as much of the [Healing] property from the root, hed need to smash it up to get at that red liquid inside. His stamina drained as he smashed away, finally getting the mass of roots into a chunky paste.
A knock sounded at the door, startling him. Hello?
Luras massive frame came through the door, a surprised look on his face. Wow, youre already getting at it?
The Half-Ogre held a bag in his hand, hoisting it up onto a table anding to inspect the mash.
Yeah, the books were helpful, but there are a lot of gaps, Theo said. Hey, I can remember most of what I read. Isnt that cool?
You have high [Wisdom], so its not surprising, Luras said. Youll eventually be able to remember everything you read, if you get it high enough. It also affects your thinking speed.
Thats awesome, Theo said, suddenly feeling his stomach growling. I hope you brought food.
Luras smiled, retrieving long strips of dried meat from the bag and handing one to Theo. The alchemist didnt hesitate, biting into the tough meat and swallowing it with a little chewing. It was lightly salted with the taste of wild game. He didnt dare ask what creature produced the meat, simply happy to have something to eat. He gulped at his waterskin, devouring the food without sharing a word with his new friend. After a while, the Half-Ogre cast him another grin.
Thanks, man, Theo said. Oh, did you find a mirror?
Luras produced another item from the baga small piece of polished metal. Theo took it, happy to inspect himself. In his eyes, he was a demon. The horns swooped over his head, following the path of his slicked-back ck hair. His eyes were almost glowing violet without pupils. Even as he smiled, he winced at his fangs.
I look like a monster, Theo said.
Luras shrugged. You look like a Dronon.
With tremendous effort, Theo waved his tail from side to side. I wonder if this thing does anything for my bnce.
Lurasughed at that. Its like watching a child learn.
I feel like a child, Theo said. Im going to need some new clothes, too.
Luras produced clothes from the bag, and Theo frowned. There was a ck linen robe, a loose-fitting shirt, and a pair of cks. The thing that the alchemist was most interested in was the pair of leather gloves, remembering the sharp spines of the thistle.
Again, I expect repayment in the form of potions, Luras said.
Right. About that, Theo said, putting off swapping his clothes for the time being. He was still standing without a shirt and cks filled with holes. I think I have a good idea for how this works.
The [Copper Still] sat under a flue in the ceiling, meant to vent the smoke of a fire outside. Theo wished that there was a magical solution to heating his still, but hed take what he could get. He smashed the roots a few more times before dumping them into the still, using adle to wash the rest of it out of the bucket. He added the [Purified Water] to match the level of the roots before returning the lid and positioning the condenser over a fat ss sk. Luras watched as he worked. The alchemist darted around theb to collect the sk, wood for the fire, and a few books from the shelf.
Do you know how to make a fire? Theo asked sheepishly.
Luras silently collected the wood, taking a quartered log and scraping off tinder with a knife. The section underneath the [Copper Still] protected the floor from the heat. It was made of perfectly hewn gstones, arranged underneath in a decorative pattern. The hunter broke the logs down further, arranging them underneath and applying sparks with a flint and his knife. After only a few moments, a small fire crackled underneath.
Like that? Luras said, grinning.
I have a lot to learn, Theo said,ughing. Right thats going to take an hour or two. Im going to get changed.
Alright.
Theo retreated to his room, far too modest to change in front of his new friend. Behind his closed door, he inspected himself further, finding that all the sensitive anatomy was where it should be, and donned his new clothes. The shirt and pants were extremelyfortablepared to his bup rags, and there was even a pair of masins made of the most supple leather hed ever felt. He felt like a wizard after pulling the robe over his shoulders. There was even a spot in his cks for his tail.
How do I look? Theo asked, holding his arms wide in the alchemyb.
Luras had lit a few candles, setting them innterns around the room as dusk fell over Broken Tusk. He regarded the alchemist with a discerning eye, smiling after a moment. Like someone wearing second-hand clothes. The still is making noise.
Theo ran across theb, leaning in to listen to the sound. The contents were boiling a little too vigorously. He instructed the Half-Ogre to reduce the intensity of the mes, bringing it to a low simmer. He didnt want the roots to burn against the bottom of the pot, fouling the extract. The pair found seats around the bubbling still, watching as a few drops of liquid fell into the sk.
Do you miss your family? Luras asked.
I had little family left, Theo said with a shrug. Most people were already dead in my world.
That sucks.
I was pretty alright with the whole arrangement, Theo said. I was just enjoying each day that came. This transition is a wee change.
I lost my mother recently, Luras said.
Sorry to hear that.
Its nothingpared to an entire world, I guess.
Its a lot worse than an entire world, Theo said.
They sat in silence for some time before Luras brought up a new topic. He talked about his interests outside of hunting, and the people in Broken Tusk. The farmers were the real backbone of the town, being the only people besides the hunters who produced resources for them to sell.
Alchemy is going to be big, Luras said, nodding to himself. You seem like a really calm personI like calm peoplebut youll make a massive impact on this ce. We have dungeons to the east, west, and north. Adventurers pass through often. Once they hear about a potion shop, theylle in droves. It would be nice to have the first pick of the stuff you produce.
A rtionship of convenience? I can appreciate that, Theo said, smiling. At least youre honest.
The condenser on the [Copper Still] sputtered a few times, thest drop falling into the sk below. Luras and Theo cleared away the fire to inspect the product. It was a clear pink substance, and the alchemist understood it was approximately five units of liquid, whatever units were. Pressing his fingers against the sk, he got a pop-up describing what hed produced.
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Poor Quality
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
It worked! Theo shouted, holding his hand out for a high-five.
Luras narrowed his eyes, raising an eyebrow.
p your hand against mine, Theo said, a stupid grin hanging on his face.
Luras obliged, hitting Theos hand with force and sending him tumbling to the ground. This didnt diminish the alchemists good moodhed just made an essence.
Not a potion, though, Luras said.
Theo ran to the shelf of books, retrieving one and bringing it back. Essential Alchemy had a small section on distition, but it had the basics. Essences were the basis of distition alchemy, but they did nothing alone. An alchemist needed tobine essences, water, and a catalyst to create a potion. Catalysts came in many forms, but the one listed in the book was [Copper Shavings], which he remembered seeing in the drawer in theb. He ran off to retrieve a pinch of the flecks, setting it down on the page of the book before approaching the [ssware Artifice].
Theo judged the contents of the potion hed make to be about 2 units after the reaction, something he didnt know how he knew. He retrieved the [Earth Mote], shoving into the artifice and closing his eyes to imagine a narrow vial with a ss stopper on top. The things would fit perfectly together, preventing any of the valuable liquid from leaking out. The machine vibrated, the aperture on the front expanding to eject a ss vial.
Perfect! Theo shouted. Luras watched as the alchemist returned to the sk of essence, grinning the entire time.
He found a narrow ss tube among the endless ssware strewn on the tables, something that he could easily use to measure out quantities. With 1 unit of the [Healing Essence], 1 unit of [Purified Water], and exactly 2 flecks of the [Copper Shavings], he filled his new vial. The reaction was immediate and violent. A plume of smoke exploded out from the top of the vial, filling the room with a flowery scent. Theo proudly stoppered the vial, appreciating the dark red, bubbling liquid and handing it over to his new friend.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Poor Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 20 health points.
A surprised look washed over Luras face. He took the potion from Theo and held it up to the candlelight, letting out a whistle. You actually did it. I was certain you were going to blow us up.
Its poor quality, but thats my first potion! Theo said, wagging his tail and pumping his fist. Im an alchemist!
Chapter 4: Pay your debts
Chapter 4: Pay your debts
The sun broke through Theos window, pulling him from a peaceful slumber. Despite the beds rough construction, he slept well. His stamina bar was at full once again, and he was ready to meet the day. He couldnt remember thest time that hed gone to sleep shortly after dusk, and awoke with the dawn, but it made sense. Without electricity, he was bound by the whims of his candles. Something about the way the light flickered made him drowsy, and Luras departed shortly after the sun fell below the horizon.
[Quest Completed: Wee to paradise!]
Reward: 10 copper.
A weight fell into Theos pocket. He scooped out the ten coins, inspecting them. They were stamped with an image of aurel and the number 846. He shrugged, returning them to his pocket.
Theos stomach growled when he rose, stretching and sating his thirst with thest of his waterskin. The problem of drawing water directly from a river would have to wait untilter. He couldnt stand by while hisb was such a mess. After creating his first position, he gained a sense of where things should go. While eating the mystery jerky, he went around and tidied up. ssware piled high in the room''s corner, his makeshift pipette being the only one spared. Four units of the light pink [Healing Essence] remained, but he reserved that forter.
The three long wooden tables remained, cleared away of all the clutter. Only his two books stayed in a ce of prominence, the remaining space reserved for stages of his production. With hisb sorted, he wanted to take care of a few more problems. His supply of water would have to wait, but he had an idea for that. Before departingst night, Luras informed him that hed have to meet with Miana and discuss his debts. After doing that, hed get ay of thend and determine what a fair price for his potions were.
It was easy to assume that farmers wouldnt have an interest in his healing potions, but it was impossible to imagine a swamp without widespread disease. Essential Alchemy mentionedbining ingredients with [Healing] and [Cure Ailment], and Wild nts of the Swamnds had detailed drawings of a tree that would produce the [Cure Ailment] effect. Focusing his mind onpleting these tasks helped him adjust to the strangeness of the situation. He kept a single thought in his mind.
This is way better than being dead.
Theo pulled his light robe around himself. Despite the heat outside, he felt morefortable wearing the robe. It made him look more like an alchemist, and that counted for a lot. The simple white shirt and gray trousers did little for him, but the masins were incrediblyfortable. He wondered if the leather used in the creation of his shoes was gathered by his new friend, but he dismissed the idea and left theb, locking it behind him.
The town was already buzzing with activity, Marshlings that smelled more like death than the marsh moving up the road in a small group. They greeted him all the same, smiling and baring rows of fanged teeth. He winced at the sight, but forced a smile before they could notice. Mianas house was also the mayors office, situated in the circle near the small monolith. He knocked and waited for her, listening to the angry stomping of her feet before stepping back to avoid the door.
What? Miana asked, scowling.
Luras said I should see you about my debt, Theo said, smiling.
Mianas scowl vanished, a smile spreading across her face. Come on in, then. Are you getting situated?
Im working on it, Theo said.
She led him through the building, into a small sitting room near the back. With no fanfare, she handed him a scroll that he unraveled.
[Debtors Notice]
It is noted by Miana Kell and witnesses noted below that the Dronon, named Belgar, of transitional origin, is hereby indebted to Miana Kell until such time as his debts are cleared. The debts shall rue interest at a rate determined by Miana Kell and the betterment of Broken Tusk at her discretion.
Below is an itemized list of services rendered in the limation of the Dronon Belgar to Iaredin.
[Medical Services Rendered] : 1 Silver
[Room and Board (1 week)]: 10 Copper
[Alchemyb (to be paid in installments)]: 1 Gold
[Equipment therein (to be paid in installments]: 1 Gold
[Service Charge]: 5 Copper
So it is noted, 873rd Year of Balkors Betrayal in the Third Week of the Season of Blooms.
Theo gawked at the ridiculous price of everything, a twinge filling his mind as a box popped up into his vision.
[Pay your debts]
Quest
Miana Kell has overseen your transition into your new world, and you owe her a lot of money!
Objectives:
Pay the following debts:
[Medical Services Rendered] : 1 Silver
[Room and Board (1 week)]: 10 Copper
[Alchemyb (to be paid in installments)]: 1 Gold
[Equipment therein (to be paid in installments]: 1 Gold
[Service Charge]: 5 Copper
Thats a lot of money, Theo said, scoffing.
I dont expect you to pay it all at once, Miana said, rubbing her hands together.
Isnt it enough to have an alchemist in the town?
What, you think I dont have taxes to pay? Half of what I collect from you will go to the crownyou know, you should appreciate what Ive done for you
Theo held up a silencing hand, a broad smile spreading across his face. He was too excited for this new world to let something like crippling debt get the best of him. I will pay my debt to you as quickly as I can. Ive already made my first potion.
Good for you, Miana said, sneering. Now get the hell out of my house.
Miana shoved him out of her home, his masins skidding along the wooden floor as he went. He stumbled out onto the muddy street as she mmed the door behind him, parchment still dangling in his hand. It must have been amon urrence, because none of the people passing by paid any attention to the scene. Theo shrugged and trudged northward to the farms. Farmers were always up before dawn on Earth, working the fields until the light faded from the day. Theyd be working the fields already, and he could probe for information.
After ascending the hill, he watched the Half-Ogres work the strange crop. Theo didnt know what season it was, but the southernmost fields werent ready for harvest. As he wandered further north, he saw that a simr crop was being reaped by the massive farmers with sickles taller than him. The green fruit that grew on top of thin shoots looked like a clustering of giant corn kernels, three per nt.
Theo watched arge man ply his sickle on the crops, bringing a score of them low with a single stroke. Their eyes met, and the alchemist smiled. What?
Id like to buy some uh, whatever this is, Theo said, grinning.
It would leave a poor impression if he didnt at least offer to buy some of the farmers hard work. Thest thing he wanted to do was make enemies with the people that provided food for the town. They might even be good customers, if he could figure out how to make their crops growrger with alchemy.
Youre thatd who transitioned, arent you? the Half-Ogre said. Names Banurub, you can call me Banu.
Banu strode across the field, holding out his massive hand for Theo to shake. Like Luras, the farmer shook too hard, almost sending the alchemist tumbling into the mud.
Nice to meet you, Banu. I was very excited to see your farm, but Ill be honest I know nothing about this ce, Theo said.
Well, this field holds Zee. Sturdy crop. Grows in all seasons down south. You can mill it for uses like a grain, or eat it how it is, Banu said.
Theo couldnt imagine milling down the fruit. Each kernel on the stalks was as big as his head. He remembered going to farmers markets before the end-times, buying absurd amounts of produce for cheap directly from the people who grew them.
How much do you sell them for?
By the kernel? I couldnt say We sell them by the busheltypically exported north. Twenty kernels to the bushel, ten copper for the bushel. Well, thats the price we get to export them, Banu said.
Would you take six copper for a bushel? And another copper to deliver them to my alchemyb? Theo asked, smiling.
Aye, I can do that, Banu said, reaching out his hand to shake once more.
Theo winced as he shook the mans hand before fishing six copper from his pocket. Banu counted it out and nodded at the alchemist, saying, Ill have one of my boys deliver it.
Thank you, Theo said, turning on the spot and walking along the fields once more.
He didnt have a use for that much Zee, and he didnt know if it was useful for anything. What he gained from the exchange was information, and a positive impression from the farmers. If people in town thought of him as a productive member of society, theyd be more likely to work with them. He now knew that twenty kernels of Zee sold for ten copper. It was easy to reason that there was 100 copper to a silver, and 100 silver to a gold. Perhaps there was 100 gold to something else, but he couldnt specte further. Because of the specialized nature of creating potions, and the scarcity within Broken Tusk, he could demand five copper easily, ten if he was greedy.
The town of Broken Tusk was cleared of trees, a fact that Theo thought a shame. A wizard might have diverted the river away from the town itself, but water still soaked the ground. A few well-ced willows, or the equivalent in this new world, would do wonders to rid the roads of the mud. He filed away the thought before it got away from him, focusing on his next project. The area to the west seemed inherently dangerous, but it was easy to spot his next target. His book detailed a tree that wasmon enough in the swamnds, Ogre Cypress. The familiar name helped center him, and they were easy to spot at a distance.
Wild nts of the Swamnds had detailed drawings of the tree, and the harvestable parts of it. It had a thick outer bark that was useless, with seams of silver sapden bark underneath. This made up the bulk of the useful material of the tree, the [Ogre Cypress Bark] that the book described to have [Cure Ailment]. His intended use for the reagent was twofold. He nned to experiment in water purification with an essence derived from the bark, and a potionbined with the [Healing Essence] for portable affliction curing.
These resources are untapped, Theo said, scoffing at the circr road and gaining more than a few strange looks. He shrugged it off, spotting a towering cypress to the west.
It was a short walk from the center of town, towering over the edge of the wends. Theos masins were treated with animal fat to prevent water from seeping in, but he trudged through knee-deep water and muck to approach the trunk of the tree. Peeling back ayer of the outer bark with his [Copper Alchemy Knife], he saw where this n would be a problem. Only a small amount of the inner bark bore the signs of usefulness, thin seams running under the outeryer. The alchemist stuffed his satchel and pockets full of the reagent, inspecting a piece as he removed himself from the mire.
[Ogre Cypress Bark]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Bark of an Ogre Cypress, known for its restorative properties.
Properties:
[Cure Ailment] ???? ????
Youre a busy man, Luras said.
Theo whipped around, finding Luras standing in the mire. A grin spread across the hunters face, a gesture that the alchemist returned.
I have a n to improve the towns drinking water situation, Theo said, struggling against the suck of knee-deep mud. Mind giving me a hand?
If it means I dont have to boil water every day, sure, Luras said with a shrug.
The help that Theo hoped to get came in the form of the hunters ability inbat. If he wasfortable enough to roam the swamps daily, then he could handle himself. The notion came true within two-hundred paces of the [Ogre Cypress], a massive turtle bursting from the water and covering them in a spray of muck. It was huge for a turtle,rger than a horse, its shell covered in ayer of moss. The head of the creature snapped back and forth, pushing itself through the swamp and toward Luras. Theo focused on the monster, and an information box popped up as the hunter positioned himself between it and the alchemist.
[Ogre Snapper]
Monster-type Turtle
Level 5
Ogre Snappers lurk in the swamp, waiting for unsuspecting travelers to step over them. Their beaks are powerful enough to snap bone. Many inexperienced adventurers have fallen to this monster.
Theo watched as Luras released a series of arrows, all finding their mark under the hard shell. The monster shrieked in pain, blood flooding to stain the water. All the alchemist could do was watch in amazement as the hunter disassembled the creature methodically. His mind went back to his days working for that ndestine organization, and taking part in covert operations among a fireteam. He didnt miss it. The creature fell to the mud after a few minutes of fighting, letting out onest sonorous cry before dying.
What does it mean when it says Monster-type Turtle? Theo asked.
Animals can be monsters, although I dont understand why, Luras said. He moved to inspect the turtle, digging under his shell and retrieving a small circr object covered in slime. Sometimes they have a [Monster Core], which is like a proto skill core.
What good is a core from a monster? Theo asked.
Artificers can use them to create magical objects. You can feed it to a house to upgrade itor a town, Luras said. A level 5 [Monster Core] isnt that useful, but they sell decently.
How much would you get for one? Theo asked. He trusted his newly honed memory to lock the information in.
Anywhere from 20 to 50 copper, depending on the trader, Luras said. How much are you nning on selling your potions for?
10 copper, Theo said, trudging over to inspect the downed turtle.
You could get more, Luras said.
I need to establish my name, first, Theo said.
Speaking of, you should name yourb, Luras said, holding the core out for Theo to take. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Theos reluctance to take the object. I expect free potions.
Theo smiled, taking the core and inspecting it before shoving it into his already-full bag.
[Monster Core]
[Proto Core]
Common
Level 5
A lesser monster core.
I dont have any ideas about what to name myb. I eventually want to have a shop, Theo said.
Youll want to upgrade it, then, Luras said. If you feed it enough cores, you can change the way it looks. Regr buildings exist in Broken Tusk, but yourb was created with cores. Youll get bonuses the higher rank your building is.
Luras withdrew a knife and dug around in the turtles insides. He withdrew an organ and handed it to Theo with a smile. The alchemist almost lost his breakfast as the squashy thing fell into his hands.
[Ogre Snapper Spleen]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Spleen of an ogre snapper.
[Poison] ???? ????
This is gross, Theo said.
Luras simplyughed, returning to butchering the creature. Despite its size, there wasnt much meat to speak of. Theo doubted that whatever meat was extracted was without parasites, his mind going back to the jerky hed been eating. He pushed the thought away, joining with the Half-Ogre as they continued trudging through the swamp. Midday came by the time they left with enough [Ogre Cypress Bark] to execute the water purification n.
Theo dropped his ingredients off at the alchemyb, and Luras helped him carry four buckets down to the river. The edge of the river was a long stretch of rocky beaches, the watering top against a little cove where the town drew its drinking water. It flowed cool and clear, but he knew too much from watching survival shows on television to trust it. Inspecting the buckets of water, his fears were realized.
[River Water]
[Common Item]
Common
Water drawn from a flowing river.
Properties:
[Disease] [Parasites]
Do you see that this stuff gives you diseases and parasites? Theo asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
I cant, Luras said. Your alchemy skill must give you the ability to identify the properties that stuff has.
Well, this stuff is riddled with crap, Theo said.
On their way back to theb, Theo instructed Luras on the proper way to harvest Spiny Swamp Thistle. They returned to the unnamed alchemyb with enough of the root to make a double batch of healing potions, a fact that the hunter was excited about.
I already used the first potion you gave me, Luras said, dumping the roots in an empty bucket. Found a fairly rare swamp wolf and tested my luck.
I still have four units of the [Healing Essence]. Well whip up four more potions after we figure this water thing out, Theo said, moving to consult Essential Alchemy.
The book detailed standard usages for essences, but also mentioned more unconventional uses. In theory, he could use the pure essences to impart an effect onto something. The example given in the text was that he could drip [Healing Essence] directly on a wound to close it in a pinch. It wasnt as effective as making a [Lesser Healing Potion], but his intent was different with this approach. The n was to impart the effect of the essence directly into the water, but how much of the essence hed need was a mystery.
Theo brought out a ream of parchment,ying it down on the table and holding it there with empty sks. The alchemist drew out columns and rows, writing bucket (100 units) in the first column, and essence (0.01 units) in the second. He would work his way up from the tiny amount to find the most efficient ratio for water purification, if it worked at all. He urged the [ssware Artifice] to create a tiny pipette capable of drawing the partial unit-sized doses from an essence.
Luras helped load a spare bucket with the [Ogre Cypress Bark], mashing it down and adding it to the [Copper Still] with enough water for the process. While the hunter made the fire, Theo created four vials of [Lesser Healing Potion] all of which were at the same poor quality. Hed need to refine his process if he wanted to produce better potions.
I wish I had something to control the fire better, Theo said, watching as Luras stoked the mes to life.
Thats something for an artificer to make, Luras said. Keep an eye out for people passing through town. You might find a magical me from a passing trader.
Right. Gotta make money, first, Theo said. How do I add this monster core to theb?
Just hold it up, and think about it, Luras shrugged. Only the owner can do it.
Theo did just that, holding the slimy core above his head and focusing his thoughts on adding it to theb. After a moment, the core vanished, and a screen appeared.
[Alchemy Lab Upgraded]
Belgars [Alchemy Lab] gained 25% toward level 2.
Four cores to get level 2, Theo groaned. Thats a lot of cores.
They waited there for some time as the [Copper Still] did its work. Theo controlled the me better this time around, letting it smolder to coals before even moving it under the still and adding wood as needed. The result was a longer distition process, but it didnt sputter or burn like his first attempt. He inspected the 10 units of liquid in the sk.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (8%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (3%).
[Purifying Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Decent Quality
10 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of purification.
Not only had he made more of the essence, but it was a better quality. Luras watched as Theo took notes, applying his trade to the buckets of river water. The first dose of 0.01 units was almost impossible to measure and had no effect on the tainted river water. He wrote his findings and moved onto the second bucket, applying 0.1 units, which was easy enough to measure by eye, but there was no reaction besides a faint sizzling sound. By the time he moved to thest bucket, after failing with 0.3 units on the third bucket, he applied a half unit of the [Purifying Essence], and the reaction took ce. The water bubbled, releasing a foul odor that brought both men coughing and gagging. They opened the windows and the door before inspecting the bucket.
[Purified Water]! Theo shouted, holding his hand out for Luras to high five.
You have a knack for this, Luras said, pping his hand gently against Theos.
Chapter 5: Paying Customers
Chapter 5: Paying Customers
Theo and Luras filled their water skins from the freshly purified water in the bucket. It tasted pure enough, and the alchemist was satisfied with his process. From the short run on the still, hed created enough essence to purify twenty buckets of water. It was hardly enough to keep the entire town from catching diseases, but it would do for the time being. At least he could ensure that he had water to use for both alchemy, and keeping himself away from dehydration.
A knock came from the door. When Theo answered it, he found a burly farmer waiting with a crate of the Zee hed bought waiting in his arms. He epted the delivery, allowing the worker to stow the heavy crop in the corner of hisb before bidding him farewell.
Already working with the farmers? Luras asked.
I like to get a head start on establishing rtionships, Theo said, grinning. At least now Im fed and watered for a time. The next problem is earning money to pay my debts.
How much do you owe? Luras asked.
Theo inspected his quest and summed the totals. 2 gold and change.
Wow, she really got you, Luras chuckled. I guess you worked out that theres 1 silver to 100 copper.
Yeah, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. And likely 100 silver to a gold.
Theres something bigger, but Ive never seen it. Maybe diamonds, Luras said.
Well, Ive got four copper to my name, Theo said, tapping his wed finger against his chin.
Ive got some errands to run, but Ill stop byter to see how youre doing, Luras said.
Dont forget your potions, Theo said. I cant express how much I value your help.
What are friends for? Luras said, stepping out of theb and up the road.
Theo centered himself before moving forward. Hed consumed half of his stamina bar, but already aplished a lot. He was going to level up soon, as were both of his cores, which brought new excitement. The results of his work were tangible things that he could observe, improvements made in percentage points and knowledge. As he considered his next move, he stoked the fire under the still, cleaning out the copper vessel in preparation to run another sh of [Healing Essence].
The fire burned low this time around. During hisst run to make [Lesser Healing Potions], the fire was way too hot. It sputtered and spat the entire way through, burning the bottom of the still before he could extract most of the effect. This time, he monitored the fire closely, only feeding it enough to heat the mixture until the condenser slowly dripped into the conical sk. By mid-afternoon he had a sk with 10 units of [Healing Essence], sitting at decent quality. He used all the motes that he collected with Luras during their adventure in the swamp to create 10 small vials and 10 potions within each. He was on the edge of leveling his alchemy core, and himself, when he inspected the improved potion.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Decent Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 25 health points.
A 5 health difference came with the improved quality. Since Luras already tested the effectiveness of the lesser quality potion, he was confident that he could sell these. The only thing he needed now was adventurers to buy them.
Theo locked up the alchemyb and headed north toward the tavern. If there were adventurers in town, thats where theyd be. He passed familiar faces along the way, mostly the Half-Ogre farmers who were standing around the central monolith. They waved happily as he forded a path to the tavern. It was one of the few two-story buildings in town, looming over the square with its wood nk construction. A sign hung out front in that strangenguage iming it was the Marsh Wolf Tavern'''', which seemed ominous. The interior was a haze of smoke and a roar of sound, tables crammed in the tight space. All heads in the tavern, including that of Mianas, turned to see him before returning to their business.
Theo made his way to the counter, putting on a brave face as he got the attention of a woman behind the counter. She was a Half-Ogre, far shorter than Luras and Miana, with darker skin and softer features than either. She smiled and said, what can I get for you?
What are you serving? Theo asked, returning the smile.
We have turtle stew today1 copper, she said.
Theo forked over the single copper and received a bowl of greasy soup that looked less appetizing than the jerky hed been eating. It was hot inside, hot everywhere in Broken Tusk, but it was the first warm meal he had since arriving. He epted the bowl eagerly, digging in before prying about any adventurers in the tavern. The soup was decent. The vor was nd, but the turtle meat was tender. He raised his head after sipping the stock and got the barmaids attention once again.
Do you know if there''re any adventurers here? Theo said, managing a sheepish smile. Im Theo, by the way. I just transitioned to this world.
Nice to meet you Theo, Im Xam, she said, smiling back. Theres actually a group headed to the swamp dungeon over there.
Theo followed her gesture to a table in the back. A group of humans sat huddled together, poring over a map. His satchel rattled as he spun around, the potions shifting with the speed of his turn. Im not much of a salesman, but
A mans gotta eat, Xam said, chuckling. Suck it up. Put your best foot forward. The road to Broken Tusk is long, and most adventurers dont ount for fighting their way here. Chances are, whatever potions they brought are long gone.
I guess word gets around, huh? Theo said. You knew I was an alchemist.
Yeah. Small town.
Theo finished his turtle soup, thanking Xam for the information before striding across the room. The group of humans fell into hushed silence as he approached. He wondered if his appearance had anything to do with their hesitation.
Hello, Theo said. I heard youre adventurers nning on entering the swamp dungeon.
That we are, a man, presumably their leader, said. Theo could see his piercing eyes from under a leather cowl and a shaven head.
My name is Theo. Im the alchemist here in Broken Tusk and
Broken Tusk doesnt have an alchemist, another adventurer spat.
The leader held a silencing hand up, casting a re at hispanion. My name is Jarson. I led this rabble south in search of riches, but
But youre fresh out of potions, Theo said, grinning.
Well, I certainly didnt expect a Dronon this far south, let alone an alchemist, Jarson said, letting out a heavy sigh. What are you selling?
Ill be honest. Im a very new alchemist. Ive crafted my first batch of [Lesser Healing Potions] and Ive got rent to pay. I have 10 that Id let you have for 5 copper each, Theo said.
Theos initial n to sell the potions for 10 copper apiece fell away in the face of a paying customer. He didnt want the adventurers to know how desperate he was, or that hecked any negotiation experience. But debt was debt.
Sounds like poison, to me, an adventurer said, receiving a swift fist to the arm from Jarson.
Let me see one, Jarson said, trying and failing to hide the excitement on his face.
Theo produced one potion, allowing the adventurer to inspect it. Jarson nodded to hispanions, casting a pleading look back at the alchemist. These are worth 50 copper back where wee from.
But youre in the swamp now. And Im broke, Theo said, shrugging.
Well take them all, but it feels like a robbery, Jarson said, grimacing. We didnte south to take advantage of small-town folk.
Theo didnt see it that way at all. He could live for months on 50 copper at his current pace. It was a drop in the bucketpared to his debts, but that quest would take time. He removed the remaining 9 potions from his satchel and handed them over, receiving several stacks of copper for the exchange.
Nice doing business with you, Theo said, pocketing his earnings.
As he was turning to leave, Jarson whistled, forcing him to turn back around. Well be here for three days before departing. Could I convince you to make us a few more potions?
What do you have in mind?
As many health, mana, and stamina potions as you can craft, Jarson said. At your current rate of 5 copper a potion, if its alright with you.
Sounds like a deal to me, Theo said. He didnt know how people sealed deals in this world, but Jarson held out a hand for him to shake, which he did.
It took every bit of Theos willpower not to hoot with excitement as he turned on the spot, departing from the adventurerspany. Xam caught his attention before he left, beckoning him over to the bar.
I guess you made yourself a sale, Xam said, smiling.
Big city people have big city money, I guess. They said they pay 50 copper for a [Lesser Healing Potion] back north They must be loaded, Theo said, scoffing.
Thats the way it is out here, Xam said,ughing. I hope you gave them a good deal.
Five copper per potion, Theo said, shrugging.
Ive never bought or sold a potion, so I wouldnt know, Xam said.
50 copper seems like a fortune, Theo said. Im rich!
Theo, Luras voice came from behind. A word.
Theo spun on the spot, the grin on his face washing away with Luras piercing gaze. He followed the Half-Ogre outside, into the humidity and wash of pale light cast by dusk. They were standing in the square by the time they stopped to talk.
Jarson is a good guy. Ive talked to him already. Helped him scout out the dungeon, Luras said. But youre going to learn that not all adventurers are created equally. Careful who you strike deals with.
Theo thought about it for a moment. In all his excitement at making money to pay off his debts, he failed to consider the implications of such a deal. Heid im to exactly 0bat skills and doubted that he could defend himself from anyone with his [Strength]. It was a bad idea to rely on the good grace of the town to see him through, and hed need to be more discerning when making agreements with strangers.
Thanks, Theo said. Youre right. I got caught up in it. 50 copper seems like so much money, though.
And youll make a lot more, Luras said, nodding. The nearest person specializing in alchemy is a week-long journey north. You have a knack for it. Youll make a name for yourself quickly.
And I still need to name myb, Theo said. I guess I want to expand it into a store and ab, eventually.
Good idea. The name should be something meaningful, Luras said.
Or something silly, Theo said, rubbing his hands together. Local Alchemy Demon. Devil and Herb. Swamp Thing.
Those are stupid, Luras said. I like the y on demon, though. People like a shop with a cheeky name.
Were going to need to brainstorm this, Theo said, stretching and yawning. Listen, do you think I could get your help with this project?
Does it pay? Luras asked.
Naturally. Half of our profits. A better rate than Ill give you in the future. This is to repay you for all the help, Theo said.
Luras managed a weak smile. The honesty in his eyes told Theo that the Half-Ogre didnt enjoy taking advantage of his friends, but the alchemists insistent smile was irresistible. Fine. I know youre just going to bother me until I help, anyway.
Thats the spirit, Theo said, pping his hand on Luras back. Meet me at theb bright and early. Were going to run batches nonstop for three days.
Sure thing, boss, Luras said, shaking his head and departing.
Theo left the meeting with a feeling of excitement, despite his draining stamina bar. He hadnt experimented with potions that restored someones stamina, but he could really go for one right about now. It was easy to imagine someone with an absurd [Vigor] stat that could stay up all night with no rest. The thought lingered in his mind as he returned to theb. With the candles lit, he settled in on his bed to thumb through Essential Alchemy before bed.
ording to the book, only high-level potions usingplex ingredients caused any long-term issues. Even the highest level restoration potions could be taken back to back with no problems. It was the elixirs that altered a persons status that was the issue. The book gave an example of a potion that allowed the imbiber to grow five times their normal size. Repeated use of the [Giants Elixir] caused permanent damage to the drinkers heart, inflicting an incurable disease. It also noted the abuse of stamina restoration potions. The mind still needed to sleep, and repeatedly staying up all night would inflict the same problems that came with theck of sleep.
Theo spent the hour before and after dusk nning the next day. The first step would be to gather the ingredients needed for the potions. Luras needed to be instructed on which herbs to gather, and how to gather them. The book had enough information on the [Moss Nettle], used to make the stamina potions that he could easily ry the information. The Half-Ogre would know where the herbs would grow, due to his extensive hunting knowledge. The issue came in the form of finding motes, and creating a workflow that would maximize the time they had.
Theo thought about the mountain of debt hanging over his head. It was easy to dismiss Mianas posturing when faced with a simple fact. He would easily turn to the swamp to provide all he needed to bring him out from under her thumb. The arrival of the adventurers was fortunate. The citizens of Broken Tusk were unlikely to pay 5 copper for a potion, even if it would save their lives. Adventures had the advantage of fighting through dungeons, which he could only assume were incredibly lucrative. A band of fighters could travel a week south, raid a dungeon, and make a profit. That meant they had money to throw around, although the cost of doing business must have also been high.
The deal that Theo struck, and the ridiculously cheap price of the potions, was a calcted move. Once this group moved off, heading back north, theyd spread the word that Broken Tusk had an alchemist. There must have been people with cores specialized in healing magic. It only made sense, but those people would need mana potions all the same. At every turn, he had an advantage, starting with his incredibly powerful cores and skills. He had a feeling that his ridiculously high [Wisdom] skill, for his level, had a lot to do with his sess.
Although his mind was spinning with the possibilities of tomorrow, he copsed into his straw bed. Theo would start to fall asleep when another aspect of potion making logistics popped into his mind, robbing him of rest. This went on for an hour before not even the most pressing matter could rouse him from slumber, and he finally fell asleep.
Chapter 6: The vast swamp, the shy Marshling
Chapter 6: The vast swamp, the shy Marshling
Theo rose before the sun did, but not of his own choosing. A loud banging roused him from his slumber, repeated fists on his door that cut through theb and echoed in his bedroom. He stumbled out of bed, flinging the door to the alchemyb open and glowering at Luras, who stood fresh for the day. Through a hooded gaze, Theo invited him inside.
This world doesnt happen to have coffee, does it? Theo asked.
Youre the alchemist, Luras said. I dont know what coffee is.
Its a drink that helps you wake up, Theo said.
We have something like that. You can make a tea from [Moss Nettle], Luras said.
Funny, thats one ingredient were looking for today, Theo said. Let me figure out how to prepare this giant corn before we go.
The [Zee Kernels]? Here, Ill show you, Luras said.
The Half-Ogre strode to where the crate of Zee rested, hefting one of them up and withdrawing his knife. He cut it into slivers, moving the [Copper Still] out of the way and starting a small fire. Theo watched, sating his thirst from his water skin before refilling it from the barrel of [Purified Water]. The strips of Zee went directly on the fire, sizzling as the mes licked them. Luras seemed proud of his work, producing two charred lengths of the vegetable and handing one to Theo.
Dig in, Luras said. This is the lifes blood of Broken Tusk. The farmers rece the soil on the farm when it gets baked by the sun. Only that muck out in the swamp allows this stuff to grow.
Theo took a bite of his food, surprised at theplexity of the vors. It was somewhere between an avocado and corn, striking a strange savory-sweet bnce through the flesh of the vegetable. He had to put it down before he could finish it. He nearly jumped when a window popped up, informing him that hed discovered an additional effect from the [Zee Kernel].
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Zee Kernel] by eating it.
[Cure Poison] discovered.
Theo dismissed the screen, tapping on the whole kernel to inspect its properties.
[Zee Kernel]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
Zee is a crop grown in the rich marsnds soil.
Properties:
[Regenerate Health] [Cure Poison] ????
Wow, Zee is an alchemical ingredient, Theo said, scoffing.
Thats news to me, Luras said. I cant see the properties of ingredients like you can.
Well, good thing I have a ton of the stuff, Theo said. Alright. Time for my n. Its pretty simple. We make as many potions as we can before those adventurers leave.
So, we need to gather a bunch of stuff, Luras said, shrugging. Easy enough.
Theo retrieved his books and went over the nts theyd be targeting. It was fortunate that Luras knew what a [Manashroom] was, and where they could be found along with the [Moss Nettle]. The mushroom would make a potion that restored mana, if the books could be trusted, while thetle sorted out stamina. The bulk of the effort woulde from collecting the nts, but processing had its own challenges. They set a target of 50 units of each essence in order to produce 50 of each potion.
Theyll have the money, too, Luras said. Groups clear that dungeon and return to the north. The tales the traders tell say they can make up to a gold per attempt.
And you cant really set a value on your life, can you? Theo said, grinning.
The pair settled on lighter topics, waiting for the sun to rise before they set out. Luras warned Theo that there might be peopleing to serve apprenticeships in hisb once word really got out. The fear was that someone from afar woulde to usurp a spot that the citizens of Broken Tusks saw as their own. It would be seen as an act taking the wealth away from the town, something that Theo wanted to avoid at all costs. He hadnt met everyone in the town, but it was already growing on him. He wanted to embrace this new ce as his home and see it prosper. He vowed to keep the wealth of his abilities within the small town.
The sun finally crawledzily over the eastern horizon, casting the town in shadows of pink and orange. The heat was already on the rise for the day, ayer of sweat umting on Theos body the moment he stepped out into the open air. Thinking about it, he didnt even know what time of year it was. Seasonal changes in swamps could be tricky to determine, but it certainly felt like summer to him.
What season are we in? Theo asked.
The Season of Blooms, Luras said.
Theo knit his brow, not sure what he was expecting. They certainly werent going to call it Spring, but he could assume it was spring with the blooms and all. Are we in the season thates after the cold one?
Thats right. All the seasons are Season of. Season of Blooms, Fire, Death, and Ice, Luras said. Although we dont get any ice here. Or deathnone of the nts die here like they do up north.
Right. We call them Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, Theo said.
I like ours better.
I dont like the one about death, Theo said, grimacing.
Luras shrugged.
The pair trudged north to the town square before departing. Luras assured him that anything interesting that happened in the town started in the square. Nothing interesting was going on. Throk was setting up his shop for the day, and the tavern had a barker outside that was advertising their specials. It was turtle soup, again. Miana burst from her home, narrowing her eyes on Theo and stomping through the mud. She still wore her nightgown, the hem already soaked in mud.
Now that youre settled, I expect you to start paying, Miana said.
Luras cast her a dangerous re, and she shrunk under his withering gaze. New arrivals get a grace period. Its in the contract.
Miana sputtered for a moment, straightening her nightgown and glowering. Two weeks. Then I expect you to start paying.
She stomped off without another word, mming the door behind her.
Shes behind on taxes, Luras said, shrugging. We just dont get enough trade here.
Broken Tusk pays taxes to whom, exactly? Theo asked.
The capital in the north. QavellKingdom of Qavell, to be exact, Luras said. We have taxes on the Zee exports, as well as the cores I sell to traders, but its not a lot. Youre the first hope weve had in a long time.
Thats not a lot of pressure, or anything, Theo said.
Hed been in charge of people before. People fighting for their lives against impossible odds, but this was different. This wasnt some dictator who needed to be overthrown discretely. This was the lives of honest people. Theo pictured the kingdom he knew so little of in his mind. If the soutnds were so distant that it would take 7 days to arrive from the capital, they were as backwater as you could get. It stood to reason that ovend trade was the best way that people could move goods, as he hadnt heard about any ships or other vehicles. Making a name for the town might not be enough to see it prosper. It needed roads, a better infrastructure, and word of mouth.
Theo pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He pressed that sense of responsibility deep down, forcing it away. He wondered if his high [Wisdom] score helped with that, as the feelings vanished immediately. Reorienting himself to the present, he cast his eyes over the road leading into the southern swamp.
Which would you like to collect first? Theo asked.
The [Moss Nettle]. Its going to be the worst to collect, Luras said.
Lead the way.
Luras did exactly that, turning on the spot and marching down the road. Theo looked at his masins and grimaced, not looking forward to the sensation of mud squishing underfoot. They passed by the tall Ogre Cypress and deeper into the swamp, avoiding monsters where they could. What monsters attacked were quickly put down by the hunter, his skill with the bow and dagger shining. All Theo could do was stand back and give a thumbs-up when the monsters fell.
Most of the trees were cleared out of the town, but the swamp to the west was littered with trees Theo had never seen. There were more cypresses, but also low-hanging trees that looked like willows, but with far broader leaves. They looked brutish against the ones he remembered from Earth. While they hung low, it wasnt low enough that the pair could snatch the spiny moss from the boughs, and neither was certain of their climbing ability. Luras decided that boosting Theo into the branches was a good enough n, hoisting the alchemist up by the feet and watching him wobble and shout his objections.
Hold me steady! Theo shouted.
Grab a branch! Luras shouted back.
Theo frantically snatched at the boughs, his inferior [Dexterity] score making the task difficult. If not for Luras incredible strength, he would have plunged into the mud below. Theo finally got his hands around a branch and hoisted himself into the canopy, pushing away smaller twigs and sputtering as a leaf inserted itself into his mouth. It tasted like mud and salt. He spotted the [Moss Nettle], his superior [Wisdom] stat allowing him to recall the general shape of the nt from his book. The branch wobbled ominously as he moved out along the limb, pressing his body against it and holding on with both hands. He reached out a hand and touched the moss, intent on identifying it.
[Drogramath Herbalism Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Moss Nettle]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
A spiny moss that grows among the boughs of many swamp trees.
Properties:
[Stamina Recovery] ???? ????
Theo almost lost his grip as he hooted with excitement, his heart skipping a beat as he wrapped both hands around the branch again. Waiting a moment for the drum of his heartbeat to settle down, he reached out and worked his wed fingers under the moss, where it connected with the bark. He brought the moss to his face and inhaled the earth aroma, somewhere between mud and a lemon.
Look out below! Theo shouted, tossing the clump of moss down to Luras, who caught it deftly.
Keep your bnce, Luras shouted back. Dont want to scrape you up from the mud.
Shimmying across the branches was tedious. Theo wasnt about to risk his horrible agility to get the task done sooner and took as much time as he needed. He moved on his belly, never daring to rise to his feet on those shaky limbs, and repeated the process over the course of an hour. Once all the [Moss Nettle] was cleared out of the first tree, the pair sized up another stout tree and did it again. It was easy to see why Luras wanted to get the moss out of the way, and without him, the entire ordeal would have been impossible. Every so often, a monster woulde to investigate what themotion was, instigatingbat with the hunter immediately. Without someone to guard his back, Theo would have been dead before he got his first ingredient.
They spent the entire day filling their bags with [Moss Nettle] and fighting monsters. Theos stomach was growling by midday, but he pushed through. Only when he started feeling woozy did they decide that they had done enough and nned to return to Broken Tusk. Before leaving, Theo received his first core level up.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] has reached level 2!
Luras informed him that nothing happened at such a low level, but as his cores grew stronger, they would gain additional effects and more potency. Gaining a level in his herbalism core was just a bonus for the entire journey.
The alchemists stamina bar was drained, only a sliver remaining. Luras propped him up as they deposited their ingredients at theb before retreating to the Marsh Wolf Tavern for dinner. True to the barkers word, the tavern was once again serving the turtle soup.
Good to see you again, Xam, Theo said, grinning.
The Half-Ogres soft features were a sightpared to the grueling day out in the swamp. She smiled the way she smiled at everyone, shing her white tusks. Nice to see youre not dead.
Two of your finest turtle soups, please, Theo said, producing two copper coins from his pocket.
While he was covered in muck, the entire floor of the tavern was more mud than wood. Xam smiled and poured two bowls of the soup before returning from the hearth, sliding them across the counter and chuckling.
You know, were thrilled to have you here, Xam said, taking the coins. People are already talking about how youre going to put us on the map.
Im afraid that I wont be enough to see Broken Tusk prosper, Theo said with a sigh.
Dont pretend like youre alone, Xam said. Miana is a spiky woman, but the rest of us are ready to elevate this swamp town. Youre the kick in the pants we need to make that happen.
Thanks, Theo said, smiling. Im going to go eat before I pass out.
Theo brought the two bowls to a table that Luras found near the back. It was further away from the hearth, and near a window, a fact that he appreciated. The sun hadnt set yet, and the heat was still in full effect, but the breeze was nice. He didnt want to eat the hot soup, making himself hotter and sweatier, but it was delicious. The pair finished their bowls before speaking, reclining back in their chairs and taking in the surrounding conversation. The townsfolks words came as a sea of aspirations, small hopes that would blossom into bigger things. Broken Tusk was filled with those little dreams, alling together to create a bonfire.
The contentment that Theo felt at that moment was overwhelming. Combined with his low stamina, he found himself just watching. The life that he wanted for so long was right in front of him. He hadnt lived in the town for long, but the scene of destruction and radioactivity seemed like a lifetime ago. The Harbinger was a distant dream that he could cast out of his mind and breath in the fresh air of peace.
Alchemist. Im an adventurer, a small voice came from somewhere near the ground.
Theo turned to see a small Marshling, their wet pink skin catching the light. He couldnt get over how cute the pink protrusions at the side of its head were. They wore a small ck cloak that flowed over their fat tail,plete with leather adventurer armor.
Youre not an adventurer, Tresk, Luras growled. If your father hears you say that, hell kick you out.
Is it rude to say that the Marshlings are absolutely adorable? Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh.
Tresk went a deep shade of violet, pressing their webbed fingers against their face and turning away. The Marshling scampered off through the tavern, keeping their face covered the entire way.
You embarrassed her, Luras said,ughing and pping his knee.
Her? How can you tell? Theo asked.
Now that is rude, Luras said, grinning.
Im still learning, Theo said. Does she have a crush on me or something?
Ah, well Marshlings dont really work like that, Luras said. I think shes looking for work.
Id hire her if I needed an adventurer, Theo said with a shrug.
Well, keep that in mind. She got her hands on somebat cores and insists on being an adventurer, despite Throks protests.
Oh, damn. Shes Throks kid? Theo scoffed.
Shes an adult, but yes, Luras said. We really could have used her for the trees, actually. Shes a [Rogue] and has high [Dexterity].
Yeah, were definitely hiring her, Theo said. How much fallout can I expect from Throk?
Some. He knows that shes going to be an adventurer. Hes just fighting it as long as he can, Luras said. Its really just a matter of protecting his child. He has other kids to take over the business, but parents can be really protective. Especially Marshlings.
The pair sat there for some time as the sun hung low outside. It wasnt even dusk, and Theo was ready to turn in for the night. The moss was the most difficult part of the harvest, though. Luras didnt think that the mushrooms would be much of a problem, and they already knew easy spots to find the thistle. If everything went ording to n, theyd have enough materials to craft by the end of tomorrow.
Luras helped Theo to his feet, and they made their way to the door, only to be waved over by the group of adventurers theyd missed. Jarson was reclining in his chair, a grin hanging on his face as they came over to talk.
I tested your potion, alchemist, Jarson said, his grin widening. Youre a hidden gem.
Thank you, Theo said.
Im not sure how much you know about alchemy, but distition is an advanced skill. Most alchemists start with very simple concoctions that dont really do the job, Jarson said. Everyone eventually specializes in distition, but thates wayter.
Theo hadnt even thought about his path in alchemy yet. Essential Alchemy described many processes to create useful things from nts, but he didnt really consider the idea that he was ahead of the curve. It made sense when he thought about it, as the book lingered on those other processes and glossed over distition.
I wasnt aware of that, actually, Theo said, grinning. Thank you, though.
No problem, Jarson said, waving a dismissive hand. We might evene back, if youre still here.
I have no ns on leaving, Theo said. Now, if youll excuse me, Im going to copse.
Jarsonughed and waved them away. Theos mind wavered in and out, the journey back to his unnamed alchemyb was a blur. He climbed into bed with his friends help, kicking off his muddy masins and pulling the sheets up. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in shadows as Luras went to leave. The alchemist was asleep before the Half-Ogre left the building.
Chapter 7: The Newt and Demon
Chapter 7: The Newt and Demon
Theo woke the next day feeling refreshed. He was up well before dawn, and his stamina bar was full once again. It was impossible to tell how many hours it would be before dawn, and he didnt even know if his new world worked on a 24-hour day. He considered the differences in the world hed already discovered. It was impossible to shake the feeling that things were so simr. Whatever system deposited him in this spot knew exactly what he needed to be happy, and he was grateful.
As he blinked the sleep away, he heard something out in theb, his heart immediately hammering hard in his chest. Theo padded across the room, pressing himself against the wall and peeking around the corner. He didnt want to take any chances. A small pink form came into view, d in the same ck cloak he remembered from yesterday. Tresk sniffed the air, turning to meet his gaze. She toddled across theb,ing to peek around the corner as the alchemist stood, trying not tough.
Hire me, alchemist, Tresk said, a burning intensity behind her eyes.
I dont need an adventurer, Theo said, smiling.
The pair were nose-to-nose at the threshold. Tresk smelled like flowers, simr to the reaction of a [Lesser Healing Potion]. Theo simply drank the situation in.
I can help, Tresk insisted.
Theo considered his options before responding. Broken Tusks fear that he would take an outsider under his wing came to mind, and he didnt want to offend the people of his new home. There was the problem that Throk, Tresks father, would get involved in the situation. But he didnt need to hire her as an adventurerhe didnt even need the services of an adventurer, yet. What he needed was someone who could climb trees and collect reagents.
He had to consider actually paying her, as well. He couldnt offer her any kind of sry yet. The 50 copper that he got from the adventurers would dwindle quickly if he didnt make inroads to selling more potions. But there was the problem. He needed materials to make potions. Every moment he spent out in the field was a moment he wasnt crafting potions. It came down to this need that he decided to hire the cute Marshling. How long Luras would continue to work alongside him was unknown, and he didnt want to force the Half-Ogre to work for him forever. People often had their own aspirations.
You can collect reagents? Theo asked. I expect hard work from my employees.
You dont have any employees, Tresk said, grinning.
Not yet, but when I have them, I want them to work as hard as I do, Theo said.
Tresk giggled at that. She shook her head, the feathery pink things on the side of her head flopping with the motion. I dont want any pay, but Ill work hard.
I have to pay you, Theo said, frowning. Luras has a stake in our current contract, but I can pay for the materials you gather. I can give you a copper coin for every 10 potions for this contract, then we can renegotiate.
I dont care, Tresk said, finally leaving the doorway and entering the bedroom. Theo watched as she eyed up the room, nodding to the corner opposite his bed. I need a ce to stay.
You want to live in an alchemyb? Theo asked.
Yeah. Father is going to kick me out when he hears you hired me, Tresk said with a shrug.
I dont want to strain my rtionship with anyone, Theo said.
Hell be mad at me, not you. And hell get over it. Im 20 years oldold enough to leave the nest by Marshling standards, Tresk said. Now, hire me, alchemist.
Done. Luras will be here soon, and we can discuss our ns, Theo said. Well get you a more agreeable sleeping arrangement when we can.
The floor is fine, Tresk said.
Theo sighed and shrugged, leaving the bedroom with the Marshling close on his heels. The alchemist went around the room, lighting the candles until the sun rose. He realized that he didnt know what they ate, and if she would find Zee offensive, but he started preparation anyway. Piles of useful stuff littered the edges of theb, still without a permanent location. There was a tea set among the junk. He set about making a small fire and tossing the cast-iron kettle on filled with [Purified Water], waiting for it toe to a boil. With his knife, he cut small pieces of the [Zee Kernel] and set it on the mes just like Luras did.
Tresk watched intently the entire time, hovering behind him and making surprised sounds with every motion. Theoughed it off, cutting a small portion of the [Moss Nettle] to steep in the boiling pot. The pair sat down next to the fire, digging the sliced kernels out of the coals and eating in silence. After a while, the tea was ready, filling the room with the scent of citrus. Theo poured two cups and tested his own, noting the subtle orange vors and sudden rush of energy. It wasnt coffee, but it would do for now.
What is your world like? Tresk asked, sipping her tea.
It was dying before it was destroyed, Theo said. To his surprise, he finished his entire slice of [Zee Kernel]. It was incredibly filling, but the busy day yesterday left him feeling drained.
Bummer, Tresk said. Do you have Marshlings there?
Nope, just Humans, Theo said.
Thats boring, Tresk snorted.
It had its moments, Theo said.
What did you do?
Theo kept those thoughts internalized as much as he could. If he had to define himself in the other world, the word assassin came to mind. Death squad and murderer also came to the fore, a fact that sent a shiver up his spine. He watched the fire that burned behind the Marshlings ruby-colored eyes. Her question came honestly, not a prodding thing meant to make him relive those times. He could tell she didnt mean to crack him open, revealing those dark things. He also couldnt bring himself to lie to someone like her, innocent as she was.
I was an assassin, he said, favoring the most morous definition of his profession.
Tresk tilted her head, looking him up and down. She grabbed at his arms, almost able to wrap her tiny hands around his stick-thin biceps. You? Assassin? You look like a [Clerk] more than anything.
Theo burst outughing, clutching at his sides as Tresk nervously joined with a chuckle. That wasnt the reaction I was expecting. Assassins arent seen favorably in my old world.
Tresk shrugged. Not so much here. You could call me an assassinwell, maybe one day. I have [Rogue] cores now, but I could be an assassin one day.
Then were going to get along well, Theo said, grinning.
Tresk grinned, suddenly busying herself with the tea. Theo watched her reactions and wondered if she had any romantic intent. He only just met her, but had absolutely no interest in dating anyone in this new world. His life on Earth was a series of disastrous rtionships that he sabotaged repeatedly. The door swung open, Luras leading with antern and sighing.
I knew youd be here, he said.
I need work, Tresk said, hissing.
I know. This was bound to happen, but your father wont be happy, Luras said.
Hell get over it, Tresk said.
Luras crossed the room, setting down hisntern and sitting near the pair. He cut himself a piece of the Zee and started roasting it. You made some tea?
Help yourself, Theo said, gesturing to the pot.
Luras busied himself with the tea, removing something from his satchel and adding it to the liquid. He sipped it and let out a heavy sigh, casting his gaze to the ceiling. Of course, your tea would be the best Ive ever had. Youre an alchemist.
Theo hadnt thought about it before, but his alchemy core might influence the brewing of teas. It wasnt exactly alchemy, but perhaps it was close enough. The trio sat for some time, mostly in silence, only exchanging the asional word. When pale orange light flooded through the windows, the silence was broken entirely. The day started.
As your minder, I need to ask your new hireling a question, Luras said, staring Tresk down.
Mind your own business, Ogre, Tresk growled. Im trying to get to know him before I decide.
You n on performing the Tarahek, dont you? Luras asked. You knew at first sight.
Theo felt at a loss for words. He didnt know what a Tarahek was, and he was afraid to ask. The way the pair were staring at each other told him that it was something serious, but he was afraid to inquire. After a tense moment of staring, he broke the silence. Whats that?
Its a bonding ritual, Luras said. Tresk flushed a deep shade of violet.
What? You want to get married? Theo asked with a chuckle.
Its not marriage! Tresk shouted, returning her attention to her tea.
The Marshlings perform a Tarahek with someone who isnt a Marshling for a lifetime bond. It has no romantic involvement. They can sense when someone, who isnt a Marshling, would make a perfect life-partner, Luras exined. Its a practical bond that improves the fortune of both parties.
That doesnt sound bad, Theo said. I mean, I dont expect you to work as an herb gatherer forever, Luras.
And I have no intention of doing so. Im helping you get off the ground before I pursue other interestsinterests you would be involved in, Luras said. But the bond isnt something to take lightly.
I do not take it lightly! Tresk shouted. I have watched Theo from the moment he arrived. I know it is perfect.
Get to know each other before you take the plunge, Luras said.
Thats a good idea, Theo said, smiling. I think I just figured out what Im going to name theb, though.
Whats that? Luras said, crossing his arms.
The Newt and Demon, Theo said.
Luras burst outughing, pping his hand against the ground. Alright. This might be perfect.
Tresk sat there, burying her face in her hands and shaking her head. Theo didnt understand how serious being a Marshlings life-partner was, but weighing the options it seemed like a decent idea. She could help with herb gathering, and one day delve into dungeons. He could only imagine what ingredients they could find in the swamp dungeon.
Shes going to live here, so I guess thats the first step, Theo said.
Yeah, Throk will kick her out for sure, Luras said. Right. How about we get down to business for the day?
Please! Tresk pleaded.
Theo went to the table, bringing his tea along. The moss had a powerful effect, and he waspletely awake by the time he consulted his books. Tresk was a very studious person, taking notes as he exined her role in the collection of ingredients. She was tasked with the collection of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], the easiest of the reagents to collect. The [Manashroom] was more difficult to collect, but nowhere near the level of difficulty as the moss. Tresk copied the drawings from the book onto a ream of parchment, noting the characteristics and nodding through the alchemists exnations.
Ive seen them before, but didnt know they were alchemy ingredients, Tresk said.
That makes it easy, Theo said, craning his neck to look outside the window.
The sun was up, thest vestiges of dawn giving way to a clear blue sky. Tresk departed first, hoisting a satchel over her shoulder and leaving theb. Theo and Luras spent some time strategizing their collection effort. The [Manashroom] would be in a cave to the north, past the farmers fields. The Half-Ogre only remembered seeing them there because they glowed in the dark, illuminating the darkness with a pale blue glow.
Its an hour walk, but well get more than we need from the cave, Luras said.
Lets get to it, Theo said.
The pair departed northward, stopping in the square to see if anything was going on that day. Miana burst from her home, spotting them through the window, but quickly retreated under Luras re. They shared augh and continued on. Theos clothes were dirty, strewn with muck and smelling foul. It was another problem that he wanted to solve with alchemy, but his first n to purify the water of the town had seen little use. The contract with the adventurers saw him chasing down useful reagents, unable to unfurl the purification npletely. He would have to try dropping a unit of the [Purifying Essence] on his clothes when he got back to theb. If everything else fell apart, he could start aundromat.
Farnd passed on either side, and Theo regretted not making stamina potions. It wouldnt drive away the need for sleep, but at least it could help the fatigue he felt in his muscles. Luras seemed at home while traveling, even when the dirt path disappeared and gave way to an open forest. Fortunately, it wasnt a marsh like thends to the west. The area was a dense pack of lond trees, steep hills, and rocky terrain. It was easier to move through than the swamp, but had its challenges. They were attacked by several monsters, some kind of wolf, but Luras had no trouble putting them down.
They spotted the cave after an hour of mostly silent travel. The entrance was cut into the side of a stout hill, naturally formed in stone that appeared to be shale. It ked off the edges of the yawning entrance, leaving messy piles on the ground.
Well rest here for a moment, Luras said, dropping his satchel and sitting on the rocky ground. I was giving Tresk a hard time, but you should consider her for the Tarahek. If you dont have any ns for romance, its a good idea.
Theo already nned on epting, but his friend''s words solidified the idea. The name he came up with was enough to give Tresk a stake in theb, but having an adventurer as a partner was a very powerful reason. Some innate knowledge in his mind told him that alchemical finds in dungeons were valuable. It would give him the edge in the future, when his skill was renowned.
If she likes me enough to do it, Ill ept, Theo said.
Good. Shes a good person, Luras said. Rest is over. Lets get some mushrooms.
Theo would have been perfectly happy with a cave filled to the brim with snakes, wolves, or whatever other horror this world had to offer. He wasnt happy with the fact that it was packed with the monster version of insects. Their strangely jointed limbs made him want to vomit. As the pair delved into the cave, they skittered along the ceiling and attacked. The monsters were no match for Luras prowess, easily falling to either his bow or his dagger, but the alchemist couldnt stand to look at their corpses. He averted his gaze as they passed by the dead monsters, grimacing the entire way.
Most people dont like insectoid monsters, Luras said with a shrug. But the prize will be worth it.
It didnt take them long to see that promisee true. The cave was littered with the [Manashrooms]. They were scattered along the ground, emitting a faint light even after they were harvested. Theo inspected the first mushroom before continuing with hispanion.
[Manashroom]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
A mushroom emitting a pale blue glow.
Properties:
[Mana Recovery] ???? ????
This is it, Theo said, confirming what they already knew. At least my book is urate.
Its going to have all the base level materials. Once you need more rare ingredients, its going to be trial and error.
Luras worked them deeper into the cave, easily ying the insects as they went. Theo hadnt even thought about what level his friend was. Hed taken advantage of the Half-Ogres prowess for days without even thinking about it. With a thought to inspect the man, he reached out with his mind and received a pop-up that confirmed his suspicions.
[Luras Trinner]
Half-Ogre
[Ranger]
Level 12
Its considered rude to inspect people without their permission, Luras said, turning to meet Theos gaze. The alchemists face went pale. I dont mind. Just a word of advice.
Sorry. I realized I didnt even know what level you were, Theo said with a sheepish smile. I should have realized you were far more powerful than me.
Luras grunted a response, pushing further into the cave. With the next mushroom harvested, Theo saw his first character level up. A screen simr to the one that appeared when he leveled his core popped up.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 2.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
I got a free point! Whats that? Theo asked.
You can put a point in any stat you want. I think your primary stat is [Wisdom], Luras said.
Theo didnt hesitate, mentallymanding his character sheet to appear and dumping the point into [Wisdom]. He looked over his sheet, noting that his [Wisdom] was extremely highpared to his other stats.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 2
Alchemist
Core Slots: 2
Stats:
Health: 40
Mana: 12
Stamina: 50
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Vigor: 9 (+2)
Intelligence: 10 (+2)
Wisdom: 18 (+4)
Points: 0
Theo waved his noodle arms around for a moment, knitting his brow. Should I put any points into [Strength]?
Not likely, Luras said. I dont know many people around here who have their points into anything but [Strength] or [Dexterity]. Going outside of your focus isnt a good idea.
I guess I need all this [Wisdom] to know what the hell to do with these ingredients, Theo said.
Luras chuckled, fording deeper into the cavern. The journey into the cavern wasnt as exhausting as climbing the trees. Theo just had to follow behind his friend and collect the mushrooms, but neither of them was interested in being outside of the town when dusk approached. By the alchemists judgment, they collected enough [Manashrooms] to make more than the 50 potions. They left the cave with bags glowing with the blue light bulging at the seams. The weight of their haul made the return journey more difficult.
The farmers were done in their fields, and the familiar sounds and smells of the swamp returned. While the area north of Broken Tusk had the advantage of northerly winds sweeping off the high mountains, the swamp was set low to sea level. The crickets sang, getting a head start on their nighttime routine, and townspeople chattered in the town square. The duo made their way back to the alchemyb to deposit their goods, finding Tresk with an absurd amount of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], piled high on a table. Theo judged, with his alchemy ability, that there was enough root to make several hundred health potions.
Youve been busy, Luras said, scoffing. You dont even have an herbalism skill.
Its easy once someone tells you what to look for, Tresk scoffed. Also, I might have convinced my big brother to help me. Also, Im homeless. Yay.
No, youre not, Theo said, unloading his [Manashrooms]. You live at the Newt and Demon, now.
I like that name, Tresk said, fiddling with her cloak.
The sun was getting low outside, dusk threatening to settle in over the town. Theomanded his friends to join him at the Marsh Wolf for dinner, insisting on paying for everyones meal. To his surprise, they were serving a different stew tonight. The wolf meat stew tasted exactly like the turtle meat stew, but he didnt mind. They found a table near a window and ate their meal, sharing in light conversation until dusk hung over the town.
Im going to head out now that you have someone to haul you home, Luras said.
Alright. Stop by tomorrow, although Ill just be distilling all day, Theo said with a wave.
Luras left with a smile, leaving Theo and Tresk alone in the tavern. They ate in silence for some time, still feeling each other out. The arrangement that she was proposing was strange to him, but the idea grew on him by the second. Those long moments of silence stretched out, and he questioned why he hadnt thought of such an arrangement before. He needed apanion to take partial ownership over the business. Theo couldnt be everywhere at once. Hed need someone to run errands for him or help with theb. It just made sense.
Shall we? Theo said, breaking the silence.
Yes. Im very tiredstamina is nearly gone entirely, Tresk said, beaming.
The pair walked in time down the muddy street, the Marshling dragging her wide tail through the mud. She hummed a song as they went, skipping every so often. Whatever hopes she had for the future, Theo would help see them through. Just like every person in Broken Tusk that would benefit from the alchemyb in their town, shed get some piece of the fame. With theb locked up, they brought antern into the bedroom to sort out new sleeping arrangements.
The bare floor is fine, Tresk insisted.
Nonsense, Theo said, scoffing. Theres so much junk in here, theres bound to be Ah! There we are.
Theo found a spare bedroll tucked away among a pile of junk. It sat under various linens and discarded sks, stained from years of use but stillfortable. He cleared away the things cluttering the far end of the room andid it out for her. It wouldnt be a permanent ce for sleeping, but it was good enough for now. The bed he slept on wasnt much better than the floor. A straw-stuffed mattress wasntfortable to sleep on, the wood ts underneath him pressing up at odd angles.
Well do great things, Theo, Tresk said. Once I get to the point where I can go in the dungeon, youll see.
For now, Im happy to have another pair of hands in theb, Theo said.
Tresk extinguished the me as dusk set in, quickly giving way to night. She settled into her bedroll, curling up like a cat and casting him an excited look. He realized that this was likely her first time away from home. Pain mixed with excitement in his chest, the innocence of youth painted inly on her face. There were still a lot of things he needed to understand about this world, but he understood something very clearly. He needed to protect his little pink Marshling.
Chapter 8: Alchemy
Chapter 8: Alchemy
Theo woke in the morning to a dry mouth and an empty bedroom. After a moment, blinking the sleep away, he heard nging out in theb. Dawn hadnt broken yet, but he could tell by the faint glimmer outside that it was close. It took him a while to get to sleepst night, his mind darting between ways he could improve the town, but it came eventually. His stamina was fully restored, and he felt rested, if not a little groggy. Stepping out into theb, he stretched and saw that Tresk was preparing breakfast. She turned her head and smiled at him.
I made tea, Tresk said.
Have you been up long? Theo asked.
Not long, Tresk said with a shrug. If you get higher [Vigor], youll need less rest.
Good to know, Theo said.
Theo ran his hand through his hair, still finding it awkward to smooth it back with the swoop of horns in the way. He crossed theb, sitting next to the fire and breathing in the scent of the cooking Zee mingling with the citrus tea. His mind raced with theing of the day, jumping from problem to problem. Hed need to organize the distition process to run as smoothly as possible if they were going to make the order. Therge barrel of [Purified Water] would be enough for this run, but hed need to refill it afterward. They collected enough motes during their harvest, filling several buckets in the room''s corner, but things were getting messy.
Were going to need to organize this ce after this run, Theo said.
Yes. We need shelves. We need to upgrade this cemaybe push it toward a shop, Tresk said.
Theo hadnt considered the idea that he could even do that. He understood that monster cores allowed him to upgrade the ce, but wasnt aware that it could do such a thing. How does that work?
The building will reshape itself a little when we upgrade it, Tresk said. We should expand it out, toward the river until we can create separate rooms. One for the shop, one for theb.
Thats a great idea, Theo said.
Theo poured himself a cup of the moss tea and sipped on it, feeling the flood of satisfaction rush through him. Tresk was already carrying her weight. She looked at the world in a different light than him, and wasnt reserved in sharing her opinion. Luras was always hesitant to provide information unless asked. He wouldnt fault the Half-Ogre for itit simply wasnt his job to hold Theos hand the whole way through. The advantages of taking the Marshling up on the offer of Tarahek was bing an inevitability.
Right, Theo said, rising to his feet. Theres quite a lot of work to do and Id like to get started.
Teach me, alchemy man, Tresk said, grinning.
Theo beckoned her over to the [ssware Artifice]. She tilted her head at the machine and shrugged.
This is what we use to make the ssware. Were kinda screwed if we dont have this. You dont need any alchemy skill to run itI dont thinkso youre in charge of making our vials, Theo said. He produced a mote and created a t-bottomed vial with an ornate stopper using the machine before handing it to Tresk. Were going to need a lot of these, but let me get the first run going before you start.
Sounds good, boss, Tresk said.
Theo started his process with the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. The amount that Tresk gathered was far too much for their purposes, and would take most of the day to process. He started by washing away the dirt that clung to the roots and cutting them into a more manageable size. He recalled from hisst attempt at making healing potions that it was difficult to bring them into a good sized mash. The sharpness of his memory only increased as his [Wisdom] grew, a fact that he loved. With the roots cut and deposited into a bucket, he began smashing them with therge bit of wood he usedst time.
What are you doing? Tresk asked.
Theo chuckled between breaths, already winded by the process. Were making a mash. Well mix the root paste with [Purified Water] and distill it. This gives us our essence.
Tresk watched intently.
Theo transferred the mash to the [Copper Still], washing the bucket out into the mix and standing back for a moment. It was thergest batch hed tried so far, easily five times what he did thest time. He carefully leveled off the water,ing up to cover the mash, before returning the lid and positioning the condenser over arge conical sk. The fire that Tresk used to make breakfast had burned down to coals, but he stoked it back to steady life.
Were going to keep the fire really low, Theo said. You dont want to burn the bottom.
Ive seen magical fire before, Tresk said.
Yeah, if you can find a fire artifice, get it, Theo said. Id love to have granr control of this part.
Tresk nodded, eyes glued to the still.
With a hiss of steam, the first batch of [Healing Essence] was being cooked. If he could keep the me low enough, it was reasonable to assume hed extract 50 units of the essence, making 50 [Lesser Healing Potions]. Theo tended the fire through the cooking process, Luras arriving half-way through. He came through the front door with a smile on his face, watching the pair crowd around the me.
Already working? Luras asked,ughing. You two are funny.
Theo looked out the window, seeing that dawn broke sometime since they started. He really wished there were clocks in this world. First run for the dayits going a lot faster than I expected.
Well, since Im not needed, I have some errands to run, Luras said. If you dont mind.
By all means, Theo said. We might be done by noon.
Whats noon? Luras asked.
Midday, Theo said.
Luras departed with a wave, leaving the pair to their work.
The first run went well, but the fire was temperamental. Theo had a better sense for what the [Copper Still] needed to run at maximum efficiency, constantly removing or adding wood to keep it at a steady pace. Tresk was the perfect assistant, running off to grab fuel when needed. By the end of the run, the alchemist beamed at his 50 units of [Healing Essence].
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
50 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
Great quality, Theo breathed. Thats amazing.
Good job! What do we do now? Tresk asked.
Start making the ssware. Make sure the bottoms are t so we can stand them on the tables, theny them out. Im going to start the run on the moss, Theo said.
Tresk nodded, hoisting a bucket of motes and retreating to the [ssware Artifice]. The machine started cranking away immediately, spitting out perfectly eptable vials.
Theo filled the still with enough water to wash it out, dumping the contents out the window before returning to start the next mash. The [Moss Nettle] was easy to turn into a paste, and he judged the amount hed need to make the 50 units. He filled the still with the mash, added enough water, and returned the lid with another sk positioned under the condenser. While the still was heating, he turned his attention to the row of vials Tresk was lining up. She set them down on the table, removing the stopper and setting it with its matching vessel.
Right, now we start the alchemical reactions, Theo said. This recipe needs one unit of the essence, one unit of water, and 2 copper shavings.
Tresk nodded, continuing to line up the vials in perfect rows.
The first reaction took ce, filling theb with the familiar scent of flowers. Theo felt as though he measured the quantities out better than before, the potion taking on a darker shade of red with more bubbles. He inspected the first one before continuing.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 30 health points.
Great quality, again! This is perfect, Theo said.
Yay! Tresk shouted, trying to focus on her task.
Theo ran back and forth between the still and the row of vials, tending the fire and setting off the reactions. Tresk watched him after she created the 50 vials, nodding as though she understood what he was doing. She switched to tending the fire alone after a while, and he could finish the rest of the reactions, gaining level 3 in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. It didnte with any additional benefits, but the experience gained from running such arge batch was excellent. With all the reactions done for the healing potions, Tresk organized them before joining him to wait for the [Stamina Essence] to finish.
This is extremely efficient, Theo said. Its a lot easier with another person helping.
Thats the power of friendship, Tresk said, grinning up at him from the fire.
The pair worked in a whirlwind, setting aside the clutter of the [Lesser Healing Potions] into a crate and moving on to extracting the next essence. As Theo predicted, he gained 50 units of the liquid and he began the process again after inspecting it.
[Stamina Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
50 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of stamina, used to create stamina potions.
His excitement of the quality was tempered because they had 100 more potions to craft, his stamina bar draining ordingly. Theo cleaned the still out once more and prepared the mushrooms. His [Drogramath Herbalism] skill told him that the entire mushroom would produce the [Mana Essence], so he went about turning them into a paste within his bucket. The process was significantly easier than either of the other ingredients. He had the entire batch of the mushrooms, with some to spare, smashed to pieces within a few minutes. With the still cleaned out, he filled it with the mushrooms and water before stoking the fire.
Tresk moved to tend the fire while Theo started the reactions for the [Lesser Stamina Potions]. The vials erupted with yellow smoke, filling the room with a pleasant citrus smell. He smiled upon inspecting the potion, unable to spare more time for celebration.
[Lesser Stamina Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser stamina potion. Drink to restore stamina.
Effect:
Instantly restores 30 stamina points.
This will earn me a good chunk of change, Theo said, moving down the line and setting off the reactions. But damn if this isnt a lot of work.
How much are they paying you? Tresk asked, tossing another stick on the fire and poking it.
7 silver, 50 copper, Theo said.
Thats a lot of money, Tresk said, scoffing. The smithy would take forever to make that amount.
Adventurers need their potions, Theo said. If they bought these potions in the capital, theyd pay 10 times as much.
Swamp prices, Tresk said, sneering.
The condenser sputtered to life, the first of the [Mana Essence] sshing into a sk. Theo finished with the reactions, gaining a significant amount of experience, before swapping with Tresk to tend the fire. The alchemist was sweating profusely, even after opening all the windows and the front door. A breeze swept through theb, but did little tobat the stifling heat. Midday passed, and the pair was still working, finally extracting the 50 units of [Mana Essence] and moving to the reaction process. His supply of [Copper Shavings] was running low, but there would be enough to see the order through.
Theo barely had time to inspect the mana essence before moving on to bottling.
[Mana Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
50 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of mana, used to create mana potions.
The alchemist moved in a frenzy, ignoring the window that informed him of skill gains and focusing solely on the task. His n to produce so many potions was a gamble. He relied on his ability to create 150 potions for the adventurers, but underestimated the amount of work. By the time he bottled his 50th [Lesser Mana Potion], he was exhausted. Both of his cores sat at level 3, along with his character level. He dumped the free point into [Wisdom] without a thought. Luras arrived with Jarson near the end of the day, both of them standing at the door and watching Theo work. Wiping sweat from his brow, he stacked thest of the potions into a crate and managed a weak smile for the adventurer.
Done, Theo said, heaving breath. Only just.
How many did you end up making for me? Jarson asked, moving to inspect the potion.
Theo held one up for him to look at, inspecting it himself.
[Lesser Mana Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser mana potion. Drink to restore mana.
Effect:
Instantly restores 30 mana.
50 of each, Theo said, finding a cloth to dab his forehead free of sweat.
You distilled 150 potions in three days? Jarson asked, raising an eyebrow. Are they all great quality?
Every single one, Tresk said, striking a heroic pose. Were a team.
A damn good team, Jarson said, setting the potion down on the table. I expected 5, maybe 10 of each.
I told you Theo has talent, Luras said, beaming.
And I helped! Tresk shouted.
I dont have to talk to a [Pdin] to see youre from the Drogramath lineage, Jarson said. Ive heard tales of the Drogramath Alchemists. Theyre the stuff of legends. I told you before, but distillery is an advanced alchemical art. Do you mind if I start taking my potions?
By all means, Theo said, gesturing to the crates heavy with vials.
Jarson produced a small satchel, far too small to contain all 150 potions, and shoved them inside. Theo watched in amazement as the big didnt fill up. The man just continued to put the vials inside without rest.
Dimensional bag, Luras said, noticing Theos confused expression.
A perk of being an adventurer, Jarson said. Listen, Theo My team and I will be back now that we know youre here. Well spread the word to Qavellpeople are going to fall over themselves to visit Broken Tusk.
Jarson finished stuffing his bag, digging into it to retrieve a handful of coins. He counted them out and set 11 shining silver coins, embossed with a coat of arms, on the table.
We agreed on a rate of 5 copper per potion, Theo said, knitting his brow.
And even 11 silver for the batch is robbery, Jarson said. I suggest you find a [Mercantile] core when you have a spare slot. It will allow you to judge a fair price for items.
Theo stood there, staring at the pile of silver coins for a moment. 11 silver seemed like an embarrassment of riches to him. Whatever the adventurers pulled out of the dungeon must have been worth a fortune.
Nice doing business with you, Tresk said with a grin.
Well be at the tavern tonight, Jarson said. Until then
The adventurer departed, leaving the trio in stunned silence. Luras broke out of the stupor first, casting his gaze to Theo and smiling. He moved over to the pile of silver and took two of the coins, even though he was entitled to five. This will do. A half-years pay in less than a week is greedy enough.
Theo wouldnt push the matter. He knew that hed establish a very close rtionship with the Half-Ogre, specifically buying any monster cores he found in the wild. Tresk was looking at him expectantly, even though she didnt ask for any of the earnings.
I suppose you want to be paid, too? Theo asked.
I mean I was a superb helper, right? Tresk asked.
Theo took a single coin from the pile and handed it to her, bringing his earnings down to 8 silver. She took the silver coin excitedly, stuffing it in a pocket and dancing on the spot.
Id like to talk about buying your monster cores, Theo said, patting Luras on the shoulder.
Of course. Youre going to upgrade theb, right? Luras asked.
Exactly, Theo said.
At a discounted rate, Luras said, grinning.
First, lets go get some food, Theo said. Then, Im going to pass out.
They left the shop, walking together to the tavern. Tresk seemed as though she was in a good mood, but she was always in a good mood. Luras had a devious grin on his face the entire way, boarding on giddy. Theo dismissed it as excitement for the job theydpleted, but suspected that something was going on. Miana osted them at the square, and they ignored her. Tresk made a few rude gestures, gestures that Theo could only assume were rude based on the mayors response. The Marsh Wolf Tavern was buzzing the way it always was.
Three of whatever youre serving, Xam, Theo said, ordering their food while Tresk and Luras found a table. They settled in near the back, finding a space with a window. A suspicious object wrapped in bup sat behind the table, the Half-Ogre failing to hide it behind his bulk.
Its wolf meat again today, Xam said, serving up three bowls of steaming stew.
Theo paid the three copper and retreated to his friends, eying Luras suspiciously. He set the bowls down on the table and ced his hands on his hips. Whats going on?
I had something made for you, Luras said, hoisting the bup-wrapped thing on the table. What shop isplete without a sign?
Luras pulled back the cloth dramatically, revealing a sign shaped like a downward-faced spade. At the top of the sign was a painting of a newt with horns. Below the image, it read The Newt and Demon. Theo took in the thing''s artistry, at a loss for words. Sat on the top were iron chains for hanging the sign. The Half-Ogre watched, still holding his dramatic pose. Tresk was hopping on her chair, shrieking with excitement.
Well? Luras asked.
Theo couldnt find the words to match his appreciation. He crossed the distance between him and his friend and pulled him into a hug. Tears formed in the corners of his violet eyes, but he refused to let them break. He pulled back after a moment and shook his head. This is amazing, he said. I cannot think of a better gift.
Some patrons in the tavern voiced their approval of the gesture, cheering for Luras. Others paid no attention, too consumed with their wolf meat stew to care.
Woah! This is so cool! This makes it look official! Tresk shouted.
This is a big step for you, Luras said, raising his voice for the entire tavern to hear. But this is also a massive step forward for Broken Tusk. Coins will flow from the adventurers who flock here.
More of the crowd cheered, and the trio finally sat down to eat their meal. Theo was in love with the design of the sign. The tongue-in-cheek reference to both him and Tresk was perfect, and the image at the top sealed it. He made a promise to himself to make the most out of the name. Hed make sure that The Newt and Demon was on the tongues of alchemists in the capital.
Jarson made his way over to their table. His adventuring party nned to set out with the dawn, wasting no time in clearing the swamp dungeon. Theo knew nothing about how dungeons worked, but it must have been dangerous. But the conversation didnt linger on things rted to dungeons, or alchemy. They spoke lightly of the things they hoped to do in the future. Tresk was even more firm with her proposal of the Tarahek. The alchemist didnt want to shut her downpletely, but he wanted to wait. It seemed like he was running off to be married in Vegas, although he felt the maic pull the woman had.
The group stayed thereter than normal, even lingering past the setting of the sun. Theos stamina still had 10% to go, and he was happy to celebrate after the difficult job. Luras departed, leaving Tresk and Theo to spend more time bonding. They left soon after, carrying the sign and finding their way to bed after locking theb up. Sleep came easily enough after the day. He nodded off quickly, exhaustion overtaking him.
Chapter 9: Perpetual Ledger
Chapter 9: Perpetual Ledger
Theo rose before Tresk in the morning. She might have put on a brave facest night, but the difficulty of the order wore her down. He took a moment to watch her sleep, still not over how cute she was curled into a little ball. After a while he left the bedroom, pulling the door closed quietly and coaxing the fire to life. While cutting the Zee into strips, his mind swirled with possibilities. The biggest problem he had with supplying potable water to the town was storing it and retrieving it from the river.
The cast-iron kettle settled onto the fire, and he added the stimting moss to get him started. His barrel of [Purified Water] was getting low, but it would be easy enough to purify it himself. A gigantic metal water container entered his mind for a moment, something like a water tower that could supply the city with fresh water. The old problems he considered came back again, namely transporting it from the river. Theo let out a heavy sigh, dropping the Zee strips next to the kettle and pushing his mind further. He could imagine a series of people running back and forth to the river, but it seemedbor intensive.
The bedroom door creaked open, and Tresk stepped out. She stood on the spot and stretched, yawning before padding across the room. Good morning, she said, flopping down beside him and resting her head on his arm.
Morning. Im trying to figure out how to solve the towns water problem, Theo said.
What problem?
Well, the river water is tainted, Theo said. I wanted to purify it.
Tresk scoffed. Marshlings dont need purified water. We could drink it from the swamp, and wed be fine.
Theo let out a sigh. But I assume that Humans and Half-Ogres cant.
No, they boil their water, Tresk said. Youre going to burn the food.
Theo rushed to bring the strips of Zee off the fire, setting the charred vegetable down on two tes and pouring the tea. The pair ate in silence as the question hung unanswered. The alchemist finished his food before saying, my problem is transporting the water.
Maybe we could get one of those fancy dimensional bags, Tresk said, shrugging. Theyre actuallymon enough items. Most adventurers have at least one.
Do you have one, yet?
Not yet, Tresk said, slurping her tea. There are abilities that do something simr. Demons are extra-nar things, maybe you have something like that.
Theo raised an eyebrow, kicking himself for not checking out new abilities sooner. He got a free stat point, but no option to select a new ability. With a mentalmand, he summoned the skills screen and started looking through them. It was an endless scroll of abilities, organized in a list format that made him dizzy. They scrolled by and he read the descriptions, finding nothing that seemed to be useful. Out of frustration he thought, why cant it just show me the Drogramath skills, and the system obeyed. The endless list was reced with a short one, his 2 current Drogramath abilities already there in green.
Oh, I can get one, Theo said, spotting an ability and mentally sharing it with Tresk.
[Drogramath Inventory]
Universal Skill
Legendary
Your heritage gives you ess to the extra-dimensional spaces imed by Drogramath. This ability changes to suit the user, giving them ess to a pocket dimension presented in a way that matches their true origin. Items can be stored in the dimension at will, the only limitation is based on your origins manifestation. Items stored do not encumber the user.
Effects:
Inventory (32 slot, item stack count based on item)
Oh, thats interesting, Tresk said. Universal skills can slot into any core. Most of them are a waste of a slot, but thatd be very useful.
Now I just need an ability point
You should get one when your character levels to 5, Tresk said. While Im sure theres a lot of neat stuff you can get for alchemy, the utility of that one is so good.
Theo imagined what he could do with [Drogramath Inventory]. Hed save a lot of stamina, assuming that no encumbrance meant he could plop 32 barrels of river water in his pocket dimension. It seemed like an obvious choice, and he dismissed the screen. He was well into character level 3 and had no ns on slowing down. The ability just gave him more drive to push harder.
I have a goal, now, Theo said. Tresk, what level are you?
Im level 8, Tresk said, beaming. And a rogue, as you know.
Theo fell back into his thoughts, setting the idea of the purified water out for the moment. Upgrading theb would be his next move, along with making enough potions to sell if another set of adventurers came around. He would need those adventurers if he wanted to establish a real business in Broken Tusk. Despite their well-wishes, the citizens of the town were broke. If he sold potions to them, they wouldnt pay what he needed to make decent money.
Do you have any ns for the day? Theo asked.
Tresk sipped on her tea, tilting her head. Not really. I was thinking of going into the swamp and farming monster cores.
Can you handle yourself out there? Theo asked.
Treskughed, grinning at him. Im out in the wilds most days. Ill be fine.
Still You should let me brew you some potions before you go, Theo said.
Great idea!
They had a pile of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] left over from yesterday, sitting in a crate in the corner of the room. Theo started the familiar process, intent on making a full 50 unit batch of the stuff before she set off. He needed the experience points, but most of all he needed peace of mind. If his partner ran off into the swamp and died, he didnt know what hed do. Luras arrived half-way through the process. Tresk wasying out the vials, and the mash was almostpletely cooked through. Heughed, shaking his head.
You guys never take a break, huh? Couldnt have asked for a better partnership, Luras said. I brought some cores for you to buy.
How many? Theo asked, looking up from the fire.
Ive got five, Luras said. You can have them for 10 copper each.
Chump change, Theo said, scoffing. Take a silver for the bunch.
Im not about to argue with you, Luras said. The merchant who normally buys them hasnt showed up, so Ive been sitting on them. Id be lucky to get 20 copper for them, at this point
Theo left the fire for a moment, fishing a silver coin out of his pocket and handing it to his friend. Were going to burn all our money upgrading theb.
We need more damn space, Tresk said, finished with the vials.
Since its an [Alchemy Lab], youll get some bonuses to alchemy as you upgrade it, Luras said.
Thats perfect, Theo said, setting the five monster cores on the table.
He inspected the cores, finding that all but one were level 5. The level 8 core glowed with a distinct energy. Theo wasted no time, hoisting the first three cores above his head and watching them disappear. Swirls of white energy raced around theb, a satisfying ding ying as though over an inte.
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 2!
Select a direction you wish to expand theb into (north/south/east/west).
We wanted to expand toward the river, right? Theo asked. Eastward?
Yep, Tresk said, nodding.
Theo mentallymanded an eastward direction, and the building rumbled under their feet. In an instant, the space inside theb expanded, adding two or three paces of room near the back wall. He almost fell over when it moved, the boards shifting underfoot.
[Alchemy Lab]
Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 2 (0%)
Rent Due: 4 days
No bonuses yet, Theo said.
But we have more space! We can fit a row of tables in the front to hawk our wares, Tresk said.
Speaking of, I have something for you, Luras said, rummaging through his bag. He hoisted arge tome, setting it down on the table and gesturing for Theo to inspect it.
[Perpetual Ledger]
[Shopkeeping Equipment]
Rare
Transactions that take ce inside of a core building will be recorded in this ledger. It will never run out of space, and can infinitely expand itself to amodate new transactions.
Thats awesome, Tresk said. Where did you snag one of those?
It came from the capital when Theo arrived, Luras said. Just like the instructions I got to limate him to the world. I forgot about ittoo caught up in all the excitement.
This is for tax purposes, isnt it? Theo asked,ughing.
Yeah, they want to make sure that youre paying what you owe, Luras said.
Well, thats fine. I dont want to get in trouble for not paying my fantasy world taxes, Theo said. How much do they take?
Not a lot, Luras shrugged. The merchants I know dont pay over ten percent of what they earn yearly.
Wow. Thats way better than my world, Theo said.
Luras lingered, agreeing to apany Tresk into the swamp to collect monster cores. They agreed to split them down the middle, including the other items harvested from the creatures. Theo was extremely happy that his partner wouldnt be going into the dangerous wilds alone, especially since the Half-Ogre was level 12. He finished firing off the reactions for the day and sent both of his friends off with 5 potions each. Luras tried to refuse, but he insisted.
Theo departed shortly after them, intent on settling a few things before they returned. He wanted to smooth things over with Throk and put money toward his debt with Miana. The [cksmith] was setting up shop, several of his children darting around to start the fire in the forge and arranging various hammers around the anvil. He looked up and regarded the alchemist with a re.
You stole my daughter, Throk said.
She was bound to leave eventually, Theo said. Shes too intent on being an adventurer. Fortunately, she picked a Tarahek that can make healing potions.
Throk stood there for a moment, the gears in his head turning. It was clear that the Marshling didnt consider that fact. Tresk could have picked anyone to be her partner, but she was drawn to Theo by some mystical force. Something in the young adventurer shouted that he would make the best Tarahek. It likely had to do with the fact he just stated. He could easily craft her life-saving potions that would see her through most scrapes, and his skill would only improve. There was no safer ce for an adventurer than at the side of an alchemist.
I hadnt considered it, Throk said, shocking Theo with his honesty. An outworlder and a Dronon Well, I guess the only thing that matters is the alchemist title. Fine, is that all you came to say?
No, Id like tomission a water tower, Theo said. Id like you to sort out its construction, if its at all possible.
How many units does it need to hold?
As much as possible, Theo said. Id like it to be in the 2,000 unit range.
Thats positively massive, Throk said, scoffing. You really are ambitious, arent you?
Just trying to make Broken Tusk a better ce, Theo said. How much for materials andbor?
Lets see Copper is cheap right nowabsurdly cheap. Everyone wants stuff made of northern steel. 1 silver coin worth of materials, 1 silver inbor and gods know how long.
Theo didnt hesitate in bringing two silver coins from his pocket, handing them to Throk. He had a look of shock on his face, his gaze darting between the coins and the alchemist. Really?
Youre hired, Theo said, turning on the spot and walking to the mayors house. He felt Throks gaze on him as he left and smiled.
The mayor was in, as she always was. She flung her door open as he approached, searching for Luras before berating him. Theo held up a silencing hand, withdrawing a silver coin and handing it to her before she had a chance to shout. She was just as shocked as the [cksmith], bringing the coin between her teeth and biting hard. Theo felt a twinge in his mind and knew that his quest had updated.
Youre full of surprises, Dronon, Miana said.
Please work with Throk on the water tower project, Theo said.
What water tower?
I hired him to build a water tower to provide fresh water for Broken Tusk, Theo said. Find a nice spot for it, please.
As Theo was walking away, he heard her mutter, full of surprises.
[Pay your debts]
Quest
Miana Kell has overseen your transition into your new world, and you owe her a lot of money!
Objectives:
Pay the following debts:
[Medical Services Rendered] : 1 Silver (DONE)
[Room and Board (1 week)]: 10 Copper
[Alchemyb (to be paid in installments)]: 1 Gold
[Equipment therein (to be paid in installments]: 1 Gold
[Service Charge]: 5 Copper
The only thing left to do for the day was to harvest ingredients. While they targeted three specific reagents for their adventurer project, the swamp was riddled with useful ingredients. He also wanted to experiment with effects, drawing out the secondary properties like the one he found with the [Zee Kernel]. He was down to 5 silver coins, but at least his water purification project was in action. Theo retreated to his newly expandedb to consult hispendium on reagents.
His books detailed the range of nts that grew in the swamp, and hed only collected a fraction of what was avable. Theo wanted to investigate potions that enhanced a persons stats, and some that boasted powerful poisons. He had an [Ogre Snapper Spleen], but it didnt seem practical to run a monsters organ through the distiller. The smell alone already drove him to throw the b of meat away, but the book offered another answer. The [Widow Lily] was a flowering nt that grew near the edge of swamps.
Essential Alchemy told him that poison potions could be applied to an adventurers weapon, allowing them to inflict [Poison] on hit. It seemed like the perfect pairing with Tresks [Rogue] ss, and he couldnt resist whipping her up a batch. With much of the day left, he nned to scout out the rare stat-enhancing flowers along with the [Widow Lily]. The flowers matched an element associated with the stat. Strength to fire, dexterity to wind, vigor to earth, intelligence to lightning, and wisdom to water. The book didnt have any information about where they could be found.
Theo left theb, locking up and thinking about how he could get a spare key made for Tresk, before heading off to the southern section of the town. He hadnt been down that way, advised against it by Luras, and he immediately found out why. A stench like death crept up with the wind, washing over him in a putrid wave. The further south he went, the worse it became until he saw the source of the smell. A group of Half-Ogres were standing outside of a building, the sign hanging out front iming it was the tannery.
Good lord, whats that smell? Theo asked.
The tannery, a Half-Ogre responded with a snort.
Do all tanneries smell this foul?
Yep.
Theo shook his head, departing west toward the swamp. There has to be some alchemical solution to that.
He filed away the thought before finding his first [Widow Lily], a small flowering nt with white flowers. A bold ck streak rode down the petals of the flower, striking a stark contrast. Theo carefully removed the flowers before cing them in his bag. He made a mental note to clean the bag out before using it for anything else, not wanting to risk it. While crouching low to harvest the reagents, he got a smell of himself. He looked down at his stained clothes and frowned. While he nned to figure out a solution toundering his clothes, he hadnt found an answer.
Another problem for alchemy, he thought.
After an hour of picking the deadly flowers, he wandered back toward the road and returned to theb. He ced the [Widow Lily] in a bucket, covering it with a lid and setting it aside. It would be unfortunate if someone identally ate them. Tresk came to mind.
Theo rummaged through the disorganized buckets and crates of reagents, finding the [Ogre Cypress Bark] and considering what to do. It was the reagent with the highest chance of producing a useful property to his n. When sampling the [Zee Kernel] for the first time, he discovered an additional property. He didnt think that the bark would hold any negative effects, and took a bite of the smallest piece in the bucket. It tasted like dish soap in his mouth.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Ogre Cypress Bark] by eating it.
[Cleanse] discovered.
Theo felt something in his stomach. It rumbled angrily for a moment before settling down, and he went to consult Essential Alchemy. It had a short list ofmon properties, [Cleanse] amongst them. The property was the first one that didnt have an effect when a user imbibed it. This was something that affected the world, instead of a person. [Cleanse] was used to restore something to pristine condition, removing all dirt and odor. He considered the fact that he was drawn to the bark for testing, leaving the rest of the reagents and going straight for that one. His [Wisdom] was at 19, and it likely had an effect. There was also his Drogramath skills to consider. Whatever the reason, he studied the books information on the strange reaction. The deeper he read, the more he realized.
Distition uses my alchemy ability Extracting the essences has to be about intent, right? Theo asked, scratching his head around his horns.
Every distition hed done so far was intending to extract the first property of a reagent. He mind begged to start the experiment, and he obliged. The coals from the fire were long dead, and he stoked another one to life. Theo processed enough [Ogre Cypress Bark] to make 5 units of the new essence and started the distition process. He studied his books as he waited,mitting more of the information to his permanent memory with his improved [Wisdom] score. The small batch meant that it was done with half an hour, a significant improvement from when he first started.
Theo inspected the essence, grinning as the theory about intent proved true.
[Cleansing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of cleansing.
He retrieved his tiny pipette and found another sk to start his testing. The conical sk filled with 5 units of [Purified Water], the barrel starting to run low, and he drew the smallest possible amount of the [Cleansing Essence], starting with 0.01 to be thorough. To his surprise, a reaction urred. It was the smallest essence to water ratio hed found so far, and he made a note of it. Theo inspected his new reaction.
[Cleansing Scrub]
[Cleaning Agent]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Cleansing Scrub instantly restores clothes, surfaces, skin, etc to a clean state. Leaves behind the smell of Qavellian berries.
Effect:
Cleans anything it touches.
After washing his pipette, Theo took off a muddy masin and drew 0.1 units from the [Cleansing Scrub]. He set the shoe on the table and let the drops fall into the mud, caked on the surface. Steam rose from the leather, and the alchemist watched as the liquid glowed white, slowly spreading across the muck and breaking it down. The light faded, and what remained was apletely pristine masin.
Theo hooted with excitement, eagerly drawing another 0.1 units of the solution and cleaning the rest of his clothes. Theb filled with a scent somewhere between a strawberry and a raspberry. He removed his robes, applying another drop to his forearm and watching the bright light race across his body. The days of grime that umted were washed away in a moment, even spreading through his hair and cleansing his scalp. Next, he tried the miracle potion on the floor. The same 0.1 unit dose seemed to have enough steam to clear through half of the muddy floor, and he simply applied more to finish the job.
The alchemist went into a cleaning frenzy. He darted into the bedroom and cleansed his bed, Tresks bed, and then the walls. Theo copsed into his sheets, letting the pristine material rub against his skin. Potions that halted mortal wounds, or refreshed someone out of exhaustion were nice, but this was amazing. He could sell this.
Why does it smell like berries? Tresk asked from the door.
Theo rushed out to meet her, a wide grin painting his face. He could smell her from the doorlike week-old sweat and muck. He drew more of the solution and ced one drop on her head, and one on her clothes. She giggled as the light raced across her body.
I made the most amazing thing, Theo said, holding up the sk. Its a bath in a bottlethats what well call it.
Tresk had her eyes closed, savoring the cleansing sensation before responding. People will buy this.
Theo stared at her for a moment, the excitement tingling through the air. How was the trip, by the way?
We got some cores, but screw that, Tresk said, pointing at the sk. I want more of that.
Chapter 10: The Tarahek
Chapter 10: The Tara''hek
Theo was nose blind to the stenches of the swamp by now. Only the discovery of the [Cleansing Scrub] was enough to pull him out of it. He was d that Tresk could appreciate how amazing the new creation was, not entirely certain how her nose worked. The feeling of freshlyundered clothes pressing against his body was amazing, and he couldnt go back. Theyd need to keep a supply of the [Ogre Cypress Bark] on hand to manufacture as much of the scrub as possible. Not every Half-Ogre in town would care about feeling clean all the time, but there would be an interest.
Luras wanted to hang out at the tavern, Tresk said. Her excitement remained, but she had a concerned look on her face. Weve been gabbing about this new [Cleansing Scrub] for too longhes waiting.
Alright, hold on, Theo said, grabbing a few motes and approaching his [ssware Artifice].
The alchemist imagined a dispenser for the liquid. He held an image in his mind before inserting the mote. It would have the vial-shape he used for his potions, but the stopper on the top would have a rod that went down into the inside. The artifice spat out three vials to his specification, and he filled each with 1 unit of [Cleansing Scrub].
Just pull the stopper off, and use the little rod to apply the scrub, Theo said, handing Tresk one vial.
Genius, Tresk said, nodding. Lets go.
The pair left theb well before dusk started settling in over Broken Tusk. Theo felt the warmth of friendship spreading through his chest, his tail waggling in time with Tresks the entire way to the Marsh Wolf tavern. They even received a vile sneer from Miana and shrugged it off. Luras was waiting for them at their normal spot near the window. Where he expected to see bowls of stew, there were three tes with a fat steak on each.
Wow, something other than stew, Theo said, sitting down.
The scent of the meat was overwhelming, causing his mouth to water immediately. He hadnt seen a solid cut of meat since he arrived in the town, and he didnt care what kind of creature it came from. Without waiting for an invitation, he cut into the meat and took a bite. It tasted exactly like a medium-rare steak back on earth. Tresk was also eating, shovingrge chunks of meat in her mouth and chomping noisily.
Why do you two smell so clean? Luras said, raising an eyebrow.
Theos nose was already adjusted to taking in pleasant smells again. The tavern had the stink of mud and sweat, but it hardly diminished his appetite. He withdrew a bottle of the [Cleansing Scrub] and handed it over to the Half-Ogre.
Put a drop on your skin, and a drop on your clothes and boots, Theo said through a mouth of steak.
Yeah, you stink, Tresk said, almost halfway done with her meal.
Luras had a skeptical look on his face, but did as the alchemist said. He shouted when the light spread across his body, joined by the surprised yells of the taverns patrons. After a moment, the bath in a bottle did its work, and the Half-Ogre smelled fresh, the muck on his clothes and boots scrubbed away.
Were calling it bath in a bottle, Tresk said, grinning.
A small crowd formed around their table, some patrons running their fingers over Luras clean armor. They were amazed that he was covered in a thickyer of swamp muck just moments ago, but now appeared as though hed just washed himself and his armor. All eyes fell on the alchemist, who grinned through a mouthful.
Stop by the Newt and Demon tomorrow, and you too can purchase some Bath in a Bottle! Tresk shouted, leaping up onto the table.
She pulled her bottle out and started dripping it onto random patrons. Theo just watched as shouts of excitement filled the tavern, the sh of lights almost blinding. The stench that filled the tavern slowly abated, giving way to that berry smell that the scrub left behind. Patrons returned to their seats, eventually, just after the alchemist finished his meal.
Well, thats one way to drum up interest, Luras said. Im guessing this bottle is mine to keep.
Naturally, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. Whats this steak, anyway? I was just settling into the stew.
The tavern put in an order from the nortnds months ago for some aged Karatan steaks, Luras exined. Xam wanted 5 copper per te, and I gotta say it was worth it.
It was so worth it, Tresk said, letting out a heavy sigh.
So, when are you two going to do the Tarahek? Seems like a good match to me, Luras said.
When he is ready, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at Theo.
I dont even know what it is, Theo said, scoffing. I understand its a bond, but thats about it.
Its a lifetime bond between friends, Luras said. Youre basically making a promise to forego romance with anyone, and focus on making each other better people.
There are benefits, too, Tresk said, nodding. We can talk to each other from anywhere. I think theres other stuff, but a bond is rare enough that I havent seen it.
That sounds useful, Theo said.
The reality of hispanion running off to adventure was that he would never know if she was alright until she returned. If he could speak to her from anywhere, thatd remove his fear. As far as romance went, he had no interest in pursuing it. Hed ruminated on the topic for a while, but it was just something that he couldnt bring himself to do. If he had apanion that he could share his sesses and failures with, bound by the Tarahek, hed be much happier.
Alright. Ill do it, Theo said. Is there some grand ceremony?
Nope, Tresk said. Its a very personal thing. We can do it before bed tonight, if you want.
Theo shrugged. Sounds good to me.
The conversation switched to lighter topics from there on. Dusk settled in over Broke Tusk, and Theos stamina bar was still a quarter full. Hed have enough energy to undertake the Tarahek, and spend time with his friends without worrying about getting exhausted. Conversation died down as dusk gave way to nightfall, Luras looking exhausted. He bid the pair farewell and departed before them. Theo and Tresk stayed for some time before leaving. They walked in time down the muddy roads.
I was thinking about how wed get stone roads in town, Theo said, stopping at the monolith.
Well, we can upgrade the town if we feed it enough monster cores, Tresk said. Here, inspect the monolith.
Theo obeyed, reaching out his hand to touch the monolith with the intent of inspection.
[Small Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Miana Kell
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 2 (31%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Upgrades:
None
Wow, I didnt know our town had a level, Theo said. Why isnt it higher than level 2? Hasnt it been here for a long time?
Were dirt poor, thats why, Tresk said. People want to sell their monster cores, not dump them into the town.
I wonder what level paved roads would be, Theo said.
I dont know, but thatd be nice. We wouldnt be tracking mud everywhere, Tresk said. Were already hoarding monster cores, we might want to think about putting some in.
The mayor decides what to do with the upgrades, right? Shes basically the owner, Theo said.
I think thats how it works, Tresk said.
They left the monolith behind, and Theo fell into thought. He didnt know if he could trust the mayor to do the right thing with his investment, but upgrading the town seemed like a great idea. The bigger the town was, the more customers hed get in his alchemyb. It made sense to split his efforts between the town and hisb.
Theo locked the door behind them, lighting the candles in the corners of the room to prepare for the Tarahek. Tresk seemed giddy with excitement, and he reserved himself to trust her judgment on the matter. Hed weighed his options and selected this one as the most likely to benefit him in the long run. She cleared away a section near the bedroom andid her bedroll there before setting out candles in a circle.
Sit, she said, taking a spot on the far end of the bedroll and gesturing to the other.
He sat cross-legged on the bedroll, and Tresk reached her hands out from him to take. She didnt say a word, simply grasping his hands and staring into his eyes. They sat like that for some time before anything happened. He felt himself drawn into her gaze, his head swimming. The deeper he fell the more he felt a connection with the Marshling, as though he was understanding the contents of her soul. It seemed like a vague thing until he felt the ground fall out from under him, plunging him into a ck void.
Theo tried to let out a shout, but nothing came. The darkness was all around him, although vague shapes roiled in the distance. After what felt like an eternity, something appeared before him. A light pink light formed out of the darkness, mist swirling to create a ball-shaped form. He recognized it as Tresks soul and noticed that red mist had formed around him to create his.
Gaze into her soul, and judge its contents, a voice spoke into his mind.
The alchemist found himself unable to do anything else. He saw Tresks ambitionsid bare for him to prod. She wanted nothing more than to prove herself to her family, showing that one of their line could rise to be an adventurer. There was fear of failure there, and a hope that lingered like a fire. The hope she held was in Theo, and his ability to elevate her to that status. At that moment, he could sense the potential in her, more than hed ever seen before. She had all the traits of a powerful rogue, maybe even an assassin. Her decisiveness shone through the brightest, then her tenacity, and her loyalty.
She would make you great. There is no better pairing for your Tarahek.
Theo didnt know where the voice wasing from, but he knew it was right. It spoke into his mind in a monotone voice, echoing through his skull with reverberating truths.
[Tarahek, Life Partner proposal]
Tresk would like to be your Tarahek. If you ept, youll be bound to her forever. You gain experience by aplishing tasks together and have ess to more powerful abilities as you grow as partners.
[Do you wish to ept the Tarahek? Y/N]
Theo didnt hesitate in epting the offer, mentally affirming his bond with Tresk. A painful rush flooded through his mind as the darkness dropped around him. He was left gasping for breath on the floor of the alchemyb, the Marshling also having difficulty breathing. After a moment it faded and he noticed a new notification from the system.
[New Tarahek bond]
Youve performed a Tarahek with a Marshling, gaining a new core slot. This core slot cannot be changed at any time, for any reason. Only the [Tarahek Core] may be ced in this slot, and it can never be removed.
Oh! We got a core! Tresk shouted.
Theo examined his core screen, finding a new slot already filled.
[Tarahek Core]
Legendary
Tarahek Core
Bound
1 Slot
Level 1 (0%)
[Tarahek] cores are given to those who ept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.
Effect:
+2 Strength
A skill was already slotted in the core, and he inspected that as well.
[Tarahek Communication]
Marshling Bond Skill
Rare
The first step to a Tarahek ismunication.
Effect:
Allows you tomunicate with Tresk no matter how far away they are. Others cannot hear your conversation.
We can talk into each others brains! Tresk said, without moving her lips.
This is weird, Theo said, shocked at how easy it was to use the ability.
Yeah, lets use our faces to talk for now, Tresk said, grinning.
The bond that Theo already felt to the woman was absurd. It transcended anything hed felt before; it was like having another half of him sitting there on the bedroll. The ascendant sensation he felt in her presence was unlike anything else, trumping that of any girlfriends hed had in the past, as well as parents, brothers, or friends. The downside was that the process left him feeling exhausted. He didnt know how much time passed, but the darkness outside told him it waste.
I think it gave me a strength bonus because youre always calling me weak, Theo said, smiling.
Yeah, now youre less weak. It gave me a wisdom bonus, Tresk said.
I think its time to go to bed, Theo said, yawning.
Tresk nodded, moving around the room to extinguish the mes before dragging her bedroll back into the room. Theoid on his clean bed, savoring the scent of berries. He wouldnt miss how everything smelled like staleundry and rotting vegetation. Sleep threatened to overtake him quickly. His eyes got heavy even before the Marshling settled down in her bed.
He closed his eyes and felt the familiar tingle of Tresk speaking into his mind, Good night.
Chapter 11: The Tannery Job
Chapter 11: The Tannery Job
Theo was the first to wake the next morning and went about his daily ritual of preparing tea and food. Before the fire was even lit, he was considering how to sell his new product. Hed price it at a single copper coin each, banking on the fact that the townspeople were poor and were unlikely to pay any more than that. It was a business move designed to improve the lives of the citizens of Broken Tusk, rather than turning a profit. His immediate concern was the tannery. The stench he experienced while in proximity was horrid. It was a problem perfect for an alchemical solution.
Tresk woke in time for breakfast, stretching at the threshold and shing a broad grin. Theo could feel something of her emotions now, but only faintly. But it didnt require a Tarahek to see the excitement on her face.
Whats the n today, boss? Tresk asked, sitting on the ground and helping herself to the food.
Im not the bosswere a team, right? Theo asked.
Yeah, but someone has to call the shots.
Theo let out a sigh. Alright. Im going to talk to the tanners and understand their process. Thats an industry that needs alchemy. Id like you to get some moteswere getting lowand push these tables toward the back of theb.
Since they expanded theb, there was a small gap near the back wall that sat empty. Theo wanted to shove the three rows of tables back there, creating a clear walking space near the entrance.
Right, what about our new product? Tresk asked.
The motes are for ssware. Id like to make 50 vials of [Cleansing Scrub] and set it out front with an honor box, Theo said.
Honor box?
A little box that people can drop their coin in and take a vial, Theo said. I dont care if they steal it. Were only going to ask for a single copper coin.
I like the idea of helping the town out that way, Tresk said, nodding and sipping her tea. Seems like a waste of our talents to just seek profit.
Agreed. After I talk to the tanners, Ille back to theb and work on something for you, as well as some research, Theo said.
Oh! A present? Tresk asked.
Theo smiled, patting her on the head. Some poison for your daggers.
I like this idea, Tresk said.
They ate their breakfast, sharing the excitement they both felt for the new partnership. It was as though they were two hands, reaching for the same goal. This fact brought a new warmth to Theos heart, as though he was moreplete than before. He couldnt deny that Tresk would be useful for his goals. She was more than just someone to run errands. He could bounce ideas off her and listen to hers in return.
Theo finished his tea and bid farewell to hispanion, fording down the road southward to the tanners. He didnt have to wait long for the wind to pick up, carrying with it the stench of the tanners building.
This smell is worse than I remember, Theo said to Tresk.
They say you get used to it, Tresk said.
Somehow I doubt that.
A Half-Ogre tannery worker was standing outside, looking out over the rising dawn and leaning against the building. She waved at Theo as he approached. The smell didnt seem to bother her.
Good morning, Im Theo, Theo said.
The new alchemist? Nice to meet youIve seen you in the tavern. My name''s Perg. I run this tannery, she said.
A pleasure, Theo said, plugging his nose.
You get used to the smell, Perg said with a shrug.
Right. Can you tell me about your process? Theo asked.
Perg shrugged, gesturing to the backside of the building. Theo followed reluctantly, the stench growing stronger the further back they went. There was a pile of rotting hides resting over a cobbled yard, baking in the rising sun. It took everything in his willpower not to vomit at the sight.
We usually process wolf hides for export, Perg said. Theye in from the hunters, and we trim the fat off andy them here after soaking them in water.
Theo felt the bile sting his nose, but he maintained hisposure. Whats the purpose of letting them rot like this?
We need to remove the hair, and this is the best way, Perg said.
Right. Step one, remove the hair without destroying the hide, Theo said, counting on his superior [Wisdom] to lock the information in.
Then we need to cure the hides, Perg said, gesturing for Theo to follow her. She rounded the corner of the building where two bay doors sat. They were already open, revealing a massive warehouse inside. Pits were dug in the ground and lined with stones, leathers in different stages of processing sat within. They sit in a secret mixture that preserves them and gives the leather a pleasant color.
The purpose of the curing process is to what? Theo asked.
Were basically preventing the hide from rotting, making it softer, and adding some color, Perg shrugged. Thats thest step for our process, by the way why are you so interested? People usually find this disgusting.
I want to find an alchemical solution to your problem, Theo said. I assume by the size of your warehouse that this process takes a long time.
It can take up to a year, Perg said.
Theo nodded, walking up toward the road. The wind blowing from the south cleansed some of the stench from his nose. Perg followed. If I understand your process, I think I can find a [Cleaning Agent] style potion thatll do the job. Well, two, if my intuition is right.
Let me guess, you want a piece of the action? Perg said, grinning.
Not until I have something that makes your life easier. And gets rid of this smell, Theo said.
If you can make this process easier, then we cane to some kind of arrangement, Perg said.
Whatever we decide, Ill be fair. My only interest is getting rid of this smell And improving Broken Tusk, of course, Theo said,ughing. He almost lost his breakfast, holding his hand to his mouth and heaving.
I cant wait, Perg said.
Theo left, sprinkling some [Cleansing Scrub] on himself when he got out of range of the smell. He mentally reported back to Tresk, who seemed hopeful that hed find a solution. Hed focus on finding a reagent that would have a property simr to stripping, removing, or something like that. Then hed have to find a property that was close to preserving. When he returned to the shop, hispanion already had a small wooden box with honor box written on it in the strange, blocky text. She bid him farewell, leaving him to his research while she collected motes.
Essential Alchemy had a section onbining essences that came with a warning. Thebination of essences wasnt well documented in the book, but the warning stated that it was a vtile reaction. Essences that didntbine would sometimes explode. Theo decided that this was an experiment for another time and focused on scanning his catalogs for useful nts. While he browsed the books, he started cooking a small batch of the [Widow Lily]. The entire process of creating essences became second nature to him, and he could easily move between the [Copper Still] and his books.
Theo finished cooking down thest of the foul-smelling [Widow Lily], propping the door and opening the windows half-way through, and returned to his books. Two reagents stood out to him. The first was a tuber that grew among cypress trees which had the [Preservation] property. Next was [Swamplight Spider Silk], which the book imed to have the [Supple] property. If he couldbine these two ingredients, hed have something that would preserve and soften the leathers. That would cover the second step in the tanners process. He wiped the sweat from his brow,mitting the information to memory before inspecting the [Poison Essence].
[Poison Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of poison.
The essence would be too dangerous to leave out in the open, despite its dangerous neon-green color. He stowed it away in a chest and cleaned out the [Copper Still]. The barrel of [Purified Water] was getting dangerously low, but he had no intentions of running anotherrge batch today. Theo surveyed what few ingredients he had left, determined to discover more effects before he went hunting for reagents. The gnarled [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] didnt look appetizing, but the [Manashrooms] were inviting enough. He took a bite, feeling a cold sensation rush through his body, followed by stomach cramps. A screen popped up, informing him that hed discovered a new property. Theo read it from a prone position.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Manashroom] by eating it.
[Freezing] discovered.
The ability to freeze something wasnt useful to him at the moment. After the painful sensation in his stomach passed, he plucked up the courage to take a bite of the root. Where the [Manashroom] tasted like nothing, the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] tasted like a copper penny in his mouth. He scrunched his nose up and swallowed, but no pain followed. The familiar window popped up, and he read.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] by eating it.
[Regeneration] discovered.
While the new property was useful, it wasnt something he could use for the tannery process. He made a note in the margins of his book and went to move on, Luras entering theb unexpectedly. The Half-Ogre didnt say a word, striding across the room to grab the sign and leave. Theo shrugged and turned his attention back to his books.
Any idea where I could find Swamplight Spiders? Theo asked.
Basically, anywhere in the swamp thats low to the water. The Swamplight Spiders like to build their webs near the Ogre Cypress, Tresk said.
The mentalmunication ability was incredibly useful. There was a lot Theo still didnt know about the swamp, and having ess to a natives knowledge at any time was beyond useful. He stepped outside to find Luras hanging the new sign, banging on theb with a hammer.
Thanks for that, Theo said with a chuckle.
Not a problem, Luras said.
A farmer came trotting down the dirt road from the north, waving his arms in the air. Hey! Do you have that cleansing potion you showed usst night?
Were working on getting it ready. Ill leave the vials outside my shop, Theo said. Hey, want to make a copper?
The farmer shrugged. Sure.
Theo knew that the farmers likely dumped all their points into [Strength] and [Vigor], the two stats that made the most sense for farmwork. The big Half-Ogre would have no trouble carrying his water barrel to and from the river. He fished a copper coin from his pocket and flicked it to the man who caught it deftly.
If you could fill my water barrel from the river, Id appreciate it, Theo said.
Yes, sir, the farmer said, scrambling inside of theb and hoisting the barrel before darting off to the river.
Its a good idea to delegate tasks if you have the coin, Luras said, hammering thest nail to hang the sign.
Theo stepped back and looked at the sigh, smiling at the design. Both the name and the icon of the demon-newt were perfect.
We need more streams of revenue, if were going to upgrade the town, Theo said.
Luras raised an eyebrow. Thats an interesting n. Very selfless.
Theo waved a dismissive hand. The bigger the town gets, the more business we get.
Luras nodded, casting his gaze over the swamp to the west.
I need to harvest some [Swamplight Spider Silk] and [Marsh Tubers], Theo said. Were working on a project for the tannery.
Youll find both near the cypress, Luras said. Need an escort?
I mean, are you doing anything today? Theo asked.
Nope. I dont want to see you dead at the hands of a wolf, Luras said.
Got your water, sir! the farmer called from around theb.
It had only been a few minutes since the farmer left. Theo was stunned by the way the Half-Ogre hoisted the barrel effortlessly, despite it being full.
Thank you, Theo said, watching as he disappeared into theb and returned. He wasnt even winded.
Let me know if you have any more odd-jobs. My name''s Oruk, by the way. Of course I know your name, he said, chuckling.
I will, Oruk, Theo said. His mind spun with the possibilities that a brawny hand could get done. He filed it away for the moment, focusing on the tannery job. The Half-Ogre turned on the spot and left.
Lets go, Theo said, mentally informing Tresk where he was going.
Sounds good to me Ive got quite a few motes. Were going to need a storage system in theb, Tresk said.
Perhaps we can get our hands on a dimensional bag maybe a dimensional cupboard, Theo said.
The pair departed for the marsh to the west, quickly finding themselves among the massive cypress trees. Luras killed a pack of marsh wolves and began processing their bodies while Theo busied himself with the trees. He dunked his face in the muck, digging for the tubers below. ording to the literature, he would find them among the roots of the cypress trees. It was foul work, but he knew that banishing the filth away was easy now. A window appeared, detailing his core leveling up.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 4.
The level up came without additional benefits. Theo had a theory that hed see something at level 5, but disregarded the notion for the time being and inspected the [Marsh Tuber].
[Marsh Tuber]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
Marsh Tubers grow near the roots of Ogre Cypress trees. The taste is disgusting, but ptable to anyone desperate enough.
Properties:
[Preservation] ???? ????
Luras finished skinning and butchering the wolves, hoisting his haul over his shoulder and approaching Theo.
Could I buy the hides you get today? Theo asked. Im going to improve the tanners process.
Sure, Luras said, shrugging. I usually sell them for 5 copper each.
And youll get your 5 copper, Theo said, nodding. I dont want to get into the habit of taking advantage of our friendship. If this process works out, Ill stand to make a lot of money.
Luras shrugged. He wasnt a man that cared about money and seemed to live his life by the day. The Half-Ogre was stoic, most of the time, only showing emotion when it really counted.
There it is, Theo said, pointing at a faintly glowing spider web nestled between the jutting roots of the cypress.
The spiders are venomous, but theyre hiding under the bark during the day, Luras said. Never harvest the web during the night.
The web was extremely thick for spider webs. Theo wrapped it around his glove and removed it in a big wad before cing it in his bag. He looked forward to the inventory ability more than anything. Without a high [Strength] stat, he couldnt carry much. The pair moved through the swamp, collecting as much tubers and webs as they could carry before heading back at midday. Tresk was already back at theb, praising the [Cleansing Scrub] as a miracle of modern alchemy. Theoughed out loud, gaining the attention of Luras.
Youre talking to Tresk? Luras asked. Ive heard about that ability, but Ive never seen a Marshling take a life-partner.
Its really nice, Theo said. It feels more like having a copy of yourself, versus being in a rtionship.
It sounds nice, Luras said, adjusting the bag of dead wolf parts on his back.
Theo exined how the Tarahek created a new core, granting him a free slot. He exined the quirks of the new core, including how he couldnt change the skill that was slotted inside.
Thats unexpected, Luras said. You basically level up your rtionship.
They returned to theb to find Tresk organizing an absurd amount of motes into a few crates. There were several hundred, mostly a blue mote Theo hadnt seen before. Inspecting the, he found that they were [Water Motes]. It looked like a sphere of water, held back by an invisible barrier. He held one in his hand for a moment before the Marshling approached him. She beckoned him down, and he obeyed, doubling over. Tresk pressed her forehead against his for a moment before backing off and smiling.
Thats how you say hello to your Tarahek, Tresk said, beaming.
Theo couldnt deny the powerful warmth that flowed through his body from the gesture. It was like seeing an old friend for the first time since childhood.
I like it, Theo said. You got a lot of motes
The river is lousy with them. People down here have little need for them. The fishermen left an enormous pile near the shore. I just scooped them up, Tresk said, giggling.
Theo fished 15 copper from his pocket and handed it to Luras. Please leave the hides outside, he said. I dont want them stinking up the ce.
Wait! Lets try the [Cleansing Scrub] on one, Tresk said, withdrawing her vial of the liquid.
Luras produced one hide and held it out. The fat was still attached to the bottom, the gray-brown hide catching the light of the sun in a beautiful disy. Tresk ced a drop of the cleansing agent on the hide and it glimmered with the familiar white light. It was left as it was before, but at least it smelled good.
Worth a shot, Theo said. Out back they go.
The Half-Ogre took the three hides outside, returning only to announce that hed depart for the day. They bid him farewell and focused on creating the ssware needed to make the [Cleansing Scrub]. Tresk manned the [ssware Artifice], and Theo turned his attention to the barrel of [River Water]. He easily judged the contents of the barrel, and applied the correct amount of [Purifying Essence], resulting in a level up in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], to level 4, and a barrel full of [Purified Water]. He then worked on creating 50 vials of the [Cleansing Scrub], chatting idly with Tresk as he worked.
The pair finished the reactions and carried a side table outside. They ced it in front of the shop with a crate containing all the [Cleansing Scrub], and set the honor box next to it. Tresk still agreed that she didnt care if people stole the scrub. It was the easiest to make recipe theyd discovered so far. They could easily produce tons of the potion.
Next step, Theo said. Were going to try some vtile reactions.
That sounds dangerous.
Theo gathered his remaining [Cleansing Essence], [Purifying Essence], and several empty sks. Tresk followed him behind theb to a wide gravel yard he hadnt understood the purpose of until now. It was littered with shards of ss and burn marks, the hides Luras delivered sitting in the corner. He understood now that it was an area meant for testing reactions. He ced an empty sk on the far side of the yard and drew the smallest unit from his [Cleansing Essence]. The reaction would be sudden, if it happened at all, and he prepared to retreat after drawing some [Purifying Essence].
Alright, stand back, Theo said, positioning his pipette over the sk.
The reaction happened before he could retreat to a safe distance. The sk shattered from the force of the explosion. Theo patted himself down to check for shards of ss before inspecting Tresk. They were both unharmed, and the Marshling was hooting with excitement.
That was awesome! Tresk shouted.
Not the intended reaction, though, Theo said, cupping his chin in his hand.
Instinct said that there was an issue with thebination being unstable. He used his superior memory to search his books, finding a mention of stabilizing agents. The pair retreated to theb, waving off concerned citizens and consulting the books. He remembered the page, quickly flipping to it and finding the answer to his problems. [Purified Water] could be changed to [Stabilized Water] by introducing [ky Agate]. He followed the instructions and created a sk with 5 units of the stable water, moving back outside. Tresk followed the whole time, nodding to his mutterings with interest.
So, the reaction was unstable, Theo said. But my intuition says that this should work.
And you have really high [Wisdom], so you might be right, Tresk said.
Yeah So lets try a 5 unit solution of the stable water, and work our way up on the other ingredients, Theo said.
Yeah, lets do that, Tresk said.
The first few attempts didnt result in a reaction, but it also didnt result in an explosion. Theo reset five times before he found the rightbination of the essences. The sk sputtered for a moment and he ran back to safety, only to find that it was a sess. His intuition was correct, resulting in the perfect thing for the first step of processing wolf hides. Theo and Tresk inspected the solution.
[Stripping Solution]
[Cleaning Agent]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Remove surface imperfections based on the application. Commonly used in materials processing trades such as the making of silk, and leather.
Effect:
Smooths out the surface it is applied to.
Smells gross, Tresk said, making a sour face.
Theo agreed. It smelled like industrial-strength cleaner, leaving his nose stinging long after he pulled away from the sk. Eager to test his new potion, he ced a hide on the gravel and dumped the contents of the sk onto it. The reaction was immediate. The liquid worked its way across the hide, letting off a steam that smelled far better than the solution itself. It sizzled for a while; the solution moved across the hide on its own before stopping. He smiled upon inspecting the result. The hair didnt just fall off the skin, itpletely evaporated. The fat underneath also saw a simr fate.
Perfect! Theo shouted, holding it up for Tresk to see.
Thats step one, Tresk said, nodding.
Lets find a way to preserve this bad boy, Theo said.
Chapter 12: Rivers and Daub
Chapter 12: Rivers and Daub
Theo and Tresk spent the rest of the day distilling the [Marsh Tuber] and [Swamplight Spider Silk] into their respective essences. The spider silk was incredibly easy to prepare into a mash, while the tubers required quite a lot of work. They looked and smelled like slightly rotten potatoes, but didnt break apart easily. Each one needed to be diced into small chunks before mashed with the heavy mashing stick, as Tresk called it. The alchemist gained another character level, hitting 4 and dumping his point into [Wisdom] without a second thought. He felt a tangible surge in his mind, tipping over the 20 mark.
I can think faster, Theo said,ughing. 20 must be a threshold
Thats what Ive heard, Tresk said with a shrug. Ive been pumping [Dexterity], mostly.
Theo wiped the sweat from his brow, inspecting his dwindling stamina bar. He suspected that hispanion was also feeling exhausted, but shed never show it. Dusk was a few hours off, but the alchemists stomach was rumbling. He inspected both of his sks of essence before they departed for the tavern.
[Preserving Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of preservation.
[Supple Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of supple.
The [Supple Essence] had the silliest name of anything hed seen so far, but if he could get the two ingredients to y nice, itd make the perfect tanning solution. As Theo made for the door, he noticed 15 new lines in his [Perpetual Ledger]. Various townsfolk put money in the honor box, and the pair went out to investigate. The people of Broken Tusk were apparently as honorable as they seemed. 15 potions were missing, and 15 copper coins sat in the unlocked box. Theo split the money between him and Tresk before they left for the tavern.
How much do the tanners sell their finished work for? Theo asked.
Im not much into leatherworking myself, Tresk said, shrugging. Luras might know.
Ill ask him, Theo said. If the next step of the tanning process works as fast as the first, were going to reduce their work time by about a year.
Treskughed, pping her knobbly knees. Thats insane.
Miana wasnt at her house to glower at them as they passed, which was a wee sight. They entered the tavern and greeted the familiar faces. It was still fairly empty because of the early hour of the evening. Xam had no more Karatan steaks tonight, and the pair settled for more mystery stew. Theo suspected that whatever meat the tavern imed was in the soup was a guess. It all tasted the same and had the same texture. He ordered two bowls of wolf meat stew and retreated with hispanion to their regr table.
Did you have wolves in your world? Tresk asked, noisily slurping her stew.
Theo found the way she ate funny. Back on Earth, the loud lip smacking would have annoyed him. He couldnt tell if it was his new circumstances, or whether Tresk was his Tarahek, but the noise didnt bother him. He found it silly.
Oddly, we do. Ive only really seen three different creatures here, and we have all of them in some form, Theo said. Our turtles are a lot smaller, and we dont have giant insects But the wolves seem like the same wolf.
Thats weird, Tresk said, gnawing on a gristly piece of meat.
Mind if I join you? Perg asked, approaching with a bowl of stew.
Theo went to hold his breath, but caught the familiar scent of berries as she approached. She must have been one of the townsfolk who bought the scrub. It was incredibly potent stuff if it could wash away the smell of the tannery. He gestured for her to sit down. Of course.
Weve made a lot of progress on the tannery project, Tresk said, grinning.
Makes sense. Ive heard of Marshlings who take the Tarahek. They be far more focused, Perg said, taking her seat.
We have a potion that will strip the hair from a hide in a few minutes, Theo said, finally taking a moment to taste his stew. It tasted exactly like all the stews hed tried before, reinforcing his mystery meat theory.
What? Perg said, sputtering. You work fast, dont you?
No sense wasting time, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. We have a lot of things to improve in this town.
How much do you sell your leather for? Tresk asked. She could be quite rude, but Perg seemed ustomed to curt people.
Marsh Wolves are actually pretty rare, Perg said with a shrug. They produce a very soft leather for what they are. Most people in the north are used to the Karatan leathers, but even after treatment those can be rough. Broken Tusk leather is soft. Very soft. We can get up to a silver per leather, depending on the buyer. Typically, between 50 copper and 1 silver.
Wow, thats awesome, Tresk said, gawking.
Except it takes a year to make a single leather, Theo said.
He understood the delicate nature of their work. They had to sit on a batch of leathers for over a year, considering that traders didnt visit Broken Tusk often. They ate the cost year-round and prayed that someone showed up with enough coin to buy what they had. His alchemical process for the trade would give them flexibility, and he weighed the price he should im for this luxury.
Thats the biggest problem of our industry, Perg said, letting out a heavy sigh. I suppose those Karatan leather makers in the capital have ess to fine alchemists, such as yourself.
Wait until they see what Broken Tusk can do with their new alchemist, Tresk said. How much hide do you decline to process every year?
Tons, Perg said. We have a deal with a few hunters in the area, but my warehouse is only so big.
Money created money in this situation. Hed streamline the tannerys process, and the hunters of Broken Tusk could sell more hides to the tanner. The tanner could sell more leather, and the hunters could sell more hides. Theo sought to create cycles like these within the town, things that only improved the lives of the townsfolk.
Well turn it into a volume game, Theo said. Youll be putting out more leather than you ever thought possible when were done.
I look forward to it, Perg said.
The group settled on idle chatter for a while as the tavern filled up. Luras found his way in eventually, surprised to see his friends already seated with Perg. He bought a bowl of the stew and sauntered over, pulling up a chair. They chatted for a time before the tanner needed to leave.
Youre always making connections, Luras said. Im headed up north tomorrow, so you wont see me.
Off to Qavell? Tresk asked.
Not quite. Im going to visit Rivers and Daub, Luras said. I have a friend up there that I like to check on.
Theo thought about the idea of traveling outside of Broken Tusk. He had no interest in leaving the muddy confines of the town, finding everything about it to beforting. Hed live his entire life here if he could, never venturing further than he needed to. It was another thing that drove him to turn the alchemyb into a shop. A constant flow of coin meant that he could afford hirelings to do the running around, leaving him to focus on experimentation.
Even the debt that hung over his head was nothing. Once he worked out a deal with the tannery, the coin would flow. Since Miana agreed he could make regr payments, it would be a simple thing. His primary concern was upgrading hisb, and the town. Something in his heart told him that the fast progress he was making with the tannery job was beyond his aptitude. The legacy of Drogramath ran through his veins, and the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was likely a driving force in his progress. There was an innate knowledge in his mind that let him see a clear path forward in all things alchemy.
I hate Rivers and Daub, Tresk said, scoffing. Pompous folk there.
Luras smiled, shrugging. I think most of the soutnds hate them. Theyre not nearly north enough to be city folk, but they act like it.
If youre going to wallow in the mud, you may as well go all in, Theo said.
Actually, that gives me an idea, Tresk said, knitting her scaly brow. Theo, what do you think about making a double batch of [Cleansing Scrub] tomorrow?
Oh, people up in Rivers will pay an arm and a leg for that, Luras said, scoffing. Ill dly hawk your wares.
Works for me, Theo said, grinning. You can have half the take, of course.
Youre too generous, Luras said, shaking his head. How do you expect to make a profit working like this?
Im only generous to my friends, Theo said. Everyone else gets fair rates, but thats it. Nothing wild like half my total profit. If you can sell them for over two copper, its more than I can get here.
Good point, Luras said. Plus, I have to carry 100 vials of a potion up a dangerous road.
Luras excused himself for the evening after more light conversation. Theo and Tresk only lingered for a while before departing, heading out as dusk gave way to night. The alchemist couldnt stop thinking about how nice the city would be to walk if not for the muddy roads. Once he had more money, hed focus a lot of effort on upgrading the town.
Dont look now, but my father is giving you the eye, Tresk said.
Theos head instantly snapped to the smithy, Throks gaze meeting his with fiery conviction. The Marshling stomped across the muddy square, beckoning for the alchemist to bend to his level. Without thinking about it, he obliged. Throk had the same piercing gaze as his daughter, those ruby eyes boring a hole into his soul.
After a moment, the cksmith nodded. The Tarahek took. Despite my best advice, I knew the girl was too much to handle.
Im panicking. What should I do? Theo said.
I dunno! I never expected him to ept you as my partner, Tresk said. Even through the mental link he could hear the panic in her voice.
Youre talking to her with the Tarahek core, arent you? Throk said, smiling. Those tools are only going to get more powerful as you grow closer. The system wouldnt have allowed this to happen if you werent meant to grow together.
We could feel it right away, Theo said. I just knew that shed make me better at everything.
Well, if youre willing to give up your life of romance to take the bond, youre worth keeping around, Throk said. Youre wee toe home, Tresk, but I doubt youll take me up on the offer.
Thanks, dad, Tresk said, grinning. I knew youd understand once you saw us together.
Youre two sides of a de, Throk said, nodding. He always seemed so sage-like. The things you two will aplish Its going to be grand.
Tresk waddled through the mud to give her father a hug before departing. Theo was stunned by the exchange. The connection that the Tarahek created was absurdly deep, and as he reflected on the process, he knew another Marshling would understand. While it was rare, it seemed deeply rooted in their culture.
I knew hede around, Tresk said, scoffing. Hes such a blowhard.
Seems kind of poetic, Theo said, unlocking theb, stepping inside, and lighting the candles. He still had a portion of his stamina bar and assumed that Tresk did too.
How do you figure? Tresk said, locking the door and settling in on the ground near the burnt-out fire.
Theo grinned. A cksmith as hard as iron? Come on.
Treskughed, pping her knees and doubling over. Theo came to sit next to her and leaned in to press his forehead against hers. They stayed there for some time beforeing apart.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (5%).
We got experience, Tresk said, chuckling.
I guess we get experience points for bonding, Theo said, scoffing. Seems kinda silly.
Yeah, we gotta level the [Tarahek Core] just like our other cores, Tresk said.
Theo settled in on the ground, leaning his back against the wall and looking around theb. It could use some additional seating, but it was crowded as it was. The space required for making potions was greater than the need to befortable. There was also the issue that they wanted to turn it into a store, which would consume a fair amount of floor space. Assuming that the expansions on theb were uniform, theyd need at least 3 more levels until it could be used as a shop.
The three rows of tables dominated the space, but the junk that littered every corner wasnt helping. Theycked shelf space, and storage areas. The crowded space got more crowded with every new project they took on, adding to the mess. Theo let out a heavy sigh, casting his gaze over theb. The ownership was still solely in his name, which didnt sit right with him. He thought for a moment, mentally adding Tresk to the list of owners. To his surprise, it worked.
[Tresk is now an owner of [Alchemy Lab]]
A key appeared in Tresks hands, and she shrieked in delight. She wiggled on the spot for a moment before concentrating.
[Tresk has named [Alchemy Lab] [The Newt and Demon]]
I didnt want to push the issue, Tresk said. I knew youd make me a co-owner in time. Hey, it says you have two names here.
The system gave me a name when I came here, Belgar. Thats why all my potions say it was made by Belgar.
Theo Spencer. Yeah, Belgar sounds a lot cooler, Tresk said. Sounds a lot more like a Dronon name for that matter.
Theo smiled, his mind drifting back to his demonic heritage. I imagine theres people in this world that might not like me. Since Im a Dronon.
Maybe somewhere in the world, but theres so many races that no one really cares, Tresk said. Some people seek demon-born folk, but theyre very knowledgeable on the subject. The Order of the Burning Eye handles all the demon lordskeeps them in check.
Are they going toe for me? Theo asked, grimacing.
Maybe one day, Tresk said. Bute on What demon would undertake the Tarahek? Theyll take one look at us and be like Oh, nevermind. This lovely little Marshling can vouch for him. I heard they can test to see if youre terrible or not.
Thatsforting. Hopefully, well have made a name for ourselves when theye knocking, Theo said.
Theos mind wandered again, tiredness slowing his thoughts. Every turn in Broken Tusk seemed to open a gateway to more opportunities and more work. Theyd have to rise early the next morning to make more of the [Cleansing Scrub] before experimenting with their new essences. Fortunately, Tresk harvested enough motes tost them a while. They could easily craft enough for Luras to make a killing in Rivers and Daub, andplete the tanners job.
Well need to get up early tomorrow, Theo said. Seems like a rude thing to keep Luras waiting.
I agree. Its a day or so journey north, for Lurashes a fast guyso hell want to go early, Tresk said. Hey, why dont we make the vials now?
Theo shrugged. This is exactly why he needed a partner. He had enough stamina to keep going for an hour and didnt even consider the concept of getting a head start on the next day. Brilliant idea.
The pair spent the next hour creating the [Cleansing Scrub] vials and arranging them neatly on the table. They had more than enough [Cleansing Essence] for the job, as it was a 0.1 to 5 ratio of essence to water. Theyd distribute the 5 unit result in 1 unit bottles, stretching it even further. If Luras really could get a decent price in Rivers and Daub, this would be their lowest effort money-maker.
Thatll do it, Tresk said, wiping her brow and producing her [Cleansing Scrub] from a satchel. Time for a bath.
Theo retrieved his vial and did the same, cing one drop on his forearm, one on his clothes, and two on either masin. The white light filled theb, followed by the pleasant smell of berries. He instantly felt clean, as though hed just gotten out of the shower. Tresk beamed, nodding toward the bedroom. The alchemist extinguished the candles and followed her in, pressing his forehead against hers before crawling into bed.
Goodnight, Theo said.
Sleep came quickly that night. The allure of adventure tomorrow doing nothing to stave off his slumber.
Chapter 13: Tanin
Chapter 13: Tanin
Tresk woke before Theo the next day. The smell of grilled Zee wafted into the bedroom, darkness still looming outside. The alchemist emerged from the bedroom, stretching and taking in the mingle of scents. With theirb cleaned by the [Cleansing Scrub], the smell of the tea came in hard. The citrus was more powerful than before, permeating the air and stinging his nose. He took a seat next to hispanion and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Plenty of time to make the [Cleansing Scrub], Tresk said, serving him a slice of Zee. Were going to need to get more food. That Zee you bought is going to rot before we eat it.
If we werent so busy, I might have a solution for that, Theo said. The [Manashrooms] have a [Freezing] property on them. We could create a storage area.
Another time, Tresk said. Lets take care of Luras job first, then we can sort the tanners job out.
I have a good feeling about the two new essences, Theo said, finishing his food and approaching the [ssware Artifice] with a mote in hand. He produced two t-bottomed vials and set them on the table. He idly created a reaction in both vials, adding 1 unit of [Purified Water], 1 unit of [Poison Essence], and [Copper Shavings] in each. The reaction was immediate, stinging his nostrils in a puff of smoke. Theo handed Tresk the vial, and her face lit up.
[Basic Poison]
[Poison]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Effect:
Poison DOT based on poison quality.
Youre getting good at this, Tresk said.
I have an intuition about things now, Theo said. But something tells me these reactions are basic.
Thats likely your Drogramath heritage, and [Wisdom] stat, Tresk said.
To have a legendary core at level 1 Yeah, it has to be my Drogramath cores. I can tell, just by thinking about it, that the [Supple Essence] and [Preserving Essence] will generate something that the tanners can use.
But you dont know the quantities, so we need to test, Tresk said, nodding. Im getting used to the way you work. The next time a traderes to town, we need to ask them to bring back advanced distition books.
Good n.
Theo went around to the 100 vials that Tresk arrayedst night and started the simple reactions. He used a sk to start the 5 unit reaction before distributing it among the vials. The process was extremely simple,pared to his new recipes that required [Stabilized Water], and he only gained partial percentages for each sk full of [Cleansing Scrub]. The entire process only took half an hour, and shortly after he was done, Luras arrived.
Just in time, Luras said, setting a heavy bag down on the table. Load me up, boss.
Tresk and Theo went about setting the vials in the bag, separated by small wooden crates. They found what they could to pad the individual vials in the bag, finding cloth and pieces of wood to keep them from nking together. Luras looked extremely excited for the trip, shing a grin and heading for the door without a word.
Hold up, Theo said, reaching for his [Basic Poison] potion. Another gift.
Luras took the vial and smiled. Youre getting into poison making, now Youre going to be a generalist by the end of this.
Anything that helps you survive out on the road, Theo said.
Thank you, Luras said, waving and departing.
The pair stepped outside to watch the Half-Ogre march northward, toward the farms. Dawn had just broken over the eastern horizon. Theo took a deep breath of the damp, warm swamp air and let out a heavy sigh. The smell of mud and vegetation was invigorating, somehow. He called Broken Tusk his home, and every day was a new adventure. Tresk joined him, mocking him by taking a deeper breath and letting out a heavier sigh. She shed a devious grin at herpanion.
Youre a clown, Theo said,ughing.
Whats a clown? Tresk asked.
You.
They brought the ingredients for the next reaction around to the back of theb, in the gravel yard. Theo held a sk of his [Stabilized Water] with the [Supple Essence] and [Preserving Essence]. Tresk carried the spare sks, still worried about the vtile reaction fromst time. Her fears proved to correct. The first sk exploded, despite the stabilizing agent, sending shards scattering in all directions and sending the pair running for cover.
Why did it explode? You used the safe water, Tresk said.
Yeah, this one is going to be tricky, Theo said.
His intuition told him that the [Preserving Essence] was the vtile essence in this reaction. It didnt like something about the [Supple Essence], and fought against it when they came into contact. He switched up the way he added the essences to the solution, starting by adding the less reactive one first and letting it sit for a moment. The liquid reacted after a moment, releasing into the vial without fully consuming the [Stabilized Water]. Theo pressed his fingers against the side of the sk and nodded to himselfit was extremely hot.
Well let that cool for a minute, then add the next essence, Theo said.
How are you supposed to figure this stuff out?
Experimentation, I guess, Theo said. This is why alchemists have such a high [Wisdom] stat We have to know when to keep pushing, and when to stop.
Should I write this down?
Theo waved a dismissive hand, watching the sk with interest. My memory is pretty good now. I can remember most of what Ive read. Im quickly approaching a photographic memory.
Fancy boy, Tresk giggled.
They waited for the sk to cool down to the ambient temperature, which was still pretty warm, before adding thest essence. This time it reacted immediately, sending a plume of clouds in the air that smelled like shoe polish. Tresk and Theo waited at a safe distance before they approached the sk, moving to inspect it.
[Alchemic Tannin]
[Leatherworking Agent]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Reces the traditional tannins from the leather working process.
Effect:
Apply to a de-haired hide to cure a hide and make it more supple.
I wish I had your level of intuition, Tresk said, scoffing.
Its easy. Just start with a legendary core given to you by a demon god, Theo said.
Tresk pped her knees, doubled over withughter.
The sun hung low in the sky by the time they rolled out the de-haired hide from yesterday. Theo did the honors, pouring a portion of the [Alchemic Tannin] over the hide. They watched as it worked its way into the material, sending puffs of smoke up as it went. After a few minutes, the potion did its job, leaving the hide in perfect condition. The smell it put off was much like the shoe polish smell of the potion itself. The leather that remained was soft, and Theo was happy to put the alchemic version of the process up against the natural one any day.
Tresk wanted to spend the day in the marsh, testing her new poison and collecting monster cores. Theo bid her farewell and made a new batch of the [Stripping Solution] to show to Perg. A part of him felt reluctant to offer to rece her entire industry with a simple alchemical solution, but the Half-Ogres didnt have pride to harm. They were practical people who took the best route to all solutions, and he knew shed appreciate it.
Theo made his way south, plugging his nose when he got close to the tannery. Perg was waiting outside, leaning against her building with a smile on her face. I had a feeling youd fix this problem fast.
Theo only managed a weak shrug. Care to join me for a demonstration?
Of course, Perg said, pushing off against the wall and trudging across the mud. They walked northward, and he could feel her excitement. People said thered be big changes when you got to town. Didnt realize it would be this quick.
Tresk is helping a lot, Theo said.
The bond is a powerful thing, Perg said. Ive never seen it before, but Ive heard stories.
They arrived in the gravel yard and Theo handed Perg the hide hedpleted. This is obscenely soft, she said. How long did it take you?
Two days for the research, but the reaction only takes a few minutes, Theo said.
Youve boiled my year-long process down to a few minutes, Perg said, shaking her head. You understand how ridiculous that sounds, right?
Its the wonders of alchemy, Theo said, embarrassing himself by making jazz-hands. Anyway, want a demonstration?
Please do.
Theo retrieved a rotting wolfs hide, dragging it into the middle of the yard. It was already stinking, even if it was freshly skinned yesterday. The first step uses [Stripping Solution], which removes the hair and fat, he said, pouring the first-step liquid over the hide.
Perg stood back, giving an approving nod after a minute of the potion doing its work. She moved to inspect the hide, flipping it over and saying, wow. It takes the fat, too.
The second step is the [Alchemic Tannin], which works just as quick, Theo said, pouring the next solution over the hide.
They stepped back and watched it work its magic, finding its way into the cracks and fizzling. Perg was amazed at how fast the potion worked, voicing her surprise and pointing out how it found its way into the grain of the leather. When it was done, she moved to inspect it. She pressed it against her face and inhaled its scent, turning to Theo with her mouth agape.
I thought it would be fast, but Wow, this is amazing, Perg said. What do you need me to do to start mass production?
Come with me, Theo said, beckoning for her to follow him into theb. He found his books andid them out, rolling a piece of parchment to scribble on. The first step takes the [Ogre Cypress Bark], well need a lot of that.
The white bark under the ogre cypress trees? Perg asked. Thats an ingredient in our process. I have a stockpile in the warehouse.
Good god, woman, Theo scoffed. I dont suppose you have [Marsh Tubers] and [Swamplight Spider Silk] as well? Thats what we need for the second step.
That I dont have.
Well need equal parts of both, Theo said, using his intuition to calcte how much hed need per hide. By his estimation, 1 unit of either solution could cure 1 hide. 1 unit of tubers by weight would produce 1 unit of essence, and a quarter unit per essence for the spider silk. He scribbled on the parchment, describing what the [Swamplight Spider Silk] and [Marsh Tubers] were, and where to find them. You can collect these yourself, but Ill need to distill them and perform the reactions.
Ive seen the goodsyouve proven yourself, but we havente to an arrangement, Perg said, knitting her brow.
Whats fair to you? Theo asked.
Would you do ten percent off the top?
Works for me, Theo said, reaching out a hand for her to shake.
Perg shook his hand vigorously, a grin spreading across her face. Youre so easy to work with. My guys will have your ingredients by tomorrow.
Pleasure doing business with you. Now we need to get some traders in town.
Perg departed after their meeting and Theo breathed a sigh of relief. He wasnt interested in doing the collection part of the job for them and was happy that she agreed to handle it. He wanted to expand his potion making, branching out to more than just restoration potions. The alchemist nned on making stat-enhancement potions, which his books imed were harder than the base-level potions.
Before leaving to find [Stone Flowers], he separated out his supply of Zee, targeting the kernels that were getting close to rotting. The second property on the kernels was [Cure Poison], something that seemed out of ce for a farm-grown ingredient. Theo prepared the still for a run, creating a mash from 20 units of the usable crop and filling his [Copper Still]. He cooked it down easily, finding that the kernels were perfect for distition. Something about the way they mingled with the water without bing too soaked prevented them from burning on the bottom.
It took less than an hour to cook down, even though he kept the fire burning low, and it barely fit in the conical sk ced under the condenser. He inspected the new essence before running off to search for his flowers.
[Cure Poison Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
20 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of cure poison.
Theo tested the new essence by creating a [Potion of Cure Poison].
[Potion of Cure Poison]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Drink to remove poison.
Effect:
Remove one instance of poison from the drinker.
Theos goal, now that he was waiting for Perg to collect his materials, was to create a few different potions for any adventurers passing by. It was nice to have the baseline restoration potions, but he wanted a selection for them to pick from. The n also gave him a variety to sell to any passing merchants, although he had met none of those yet.
How goes the core hunting? Theo asked, enjoying his mental link with Tresk.
These poison potions are awesome! Im getting a lot of experience, Tresk said.
Just stay safe. Im going to look for some [Stone Flowers], Theo said.
Ive seen them growing north of the farmers fields. Just be wary of the wolves, Tresk said.
Understood.
Theo nodded to himself. The area north of the farm had those horrible insectoid creatures. They were much further north than the fields themselves, but he shuddered at the thought of the strangely multi-jointed limbs. Monsters like that existed to defy what should be possible. He made a n to stick to the area directly north of the fields.
Miana bothered him at the square, and he waved her off. The woman was all bark and no bite, and he had no obligation to pay her the massive sum of money all at once. He owed her rent on hisb in a few days anyway, although how he could owe a mortgage and rent was beyond him. The familiar scent of manure and dirt wafted through the air as he approached the farnds. Theo could only help the farmers if he came up with a way to elerate the growth of nts, and he wasnt willing to put more work on his te.
The lond fields that stretched after the slow slope of the farmers fields were a strange ce. Theo chalked it up to whatever magic the wizard used to raise the farmersnd, sending the area into a dry habitat rtive to the rest of the marsh. The [Stone Flowers] were easier to find than he expected. They grew like lilies among shale outcrops, their roots dug deep into the stone. The alchemists core allowed him to determine the best part of the nt to harvest, which was the flowers. The delicate petals crumbled if he grasped them too hard, forcing him to ce them in his bag.
[Stone Flower]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Stone-like flower that grows near shale outcrops.
Properties:
[Increase Vigor] ???? ????
The unknown properties on the flower would need to stay undiscovered. The flower was much like the shale it grew in, and didnt look very appetizing. Theo continued to harvest the flowers, picking up the [Earth Motes] that he found and shoving them into his bag. He roamed the fields for a while, and his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] even reached level 5.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 5.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] gained an additional bonus to [Vigor] (+1).
His herbalism core now provided +3 [Vigor] in all. His other core was on the verge of leveling up, which would cause his character to level up as well. Theo looked forward to picking the inventory skill, hoisting the bag over his shoulder and straining under its weight. Hed collected more motes than expected, spurred on to return to theb by the sound of wolves baying in the distance. The alchemist entered the farm quickly, huffing for breath as his stamina dropped from the strenuous activity. Tresk was right about the wolves. Had there been this many wolves when he arrived?
Is it me, or are there more wolves around? Theo asked, waving to a farmer as he held his silent conversation.
Tell me about it. I ran into a pack of 5 just now. d that I have the poison and healing potions, Tresk said.
Theo felt his heart skip a beat at the mention of so many wolves. Tresk was putting herself in dangerbut thats what adventurers did, right? There was a war raging in his heart, one side demanding her safety and the other happy to see her aplishing her goals. He resolved to create more powerful potions, something that could guard her against danger even more. What he needed more than anything was a strong revenue stream, and as many cores as he could buy. If his cores were anything to go by, theb should get an upgrade at level 5.
Throk waved Theo over as he was passing the cksmith. The Marshling smiled, gesturing to a massive pile of copper sitting in his workshop. Progress is being made, alchemist, Throk said. Your order for a water tower ising along.
When was a trader here? Theo asked, knitting his brow.
Earlier today, Throk said, casting his gaze over the copper. Theo pegged him for a man that liked a challenge. The water tower would be difficult to construct, there was no doubt. I have a metal tradere from Rivers and Daub every few days, and he came through on the copper. Like I said, its not in demand at the moment. I got it for a steal.
Theo looked at the massive pile of copper and nodded. He suddenly understood that distance might not mean the same thing for traders as others. After he discovered he could get an inventory ability, it was reasonable to assume that if there was a trader core, an inventory would be necessary.
Did Miana sign off on it? Theo asked.
She doesnt have a choice, Throk said, croaking augh. I own a fair amount of thend on the square. I can do with it what I want.
And you want to put the water tower on yournd?
Some of us are interested in seeing Broken Tusk prosper, just like you, Throk said. You roll into town, transported from another world, and start making improvements as your first move. That says a lot about you.
Theo smiled, nodding and turning away wordlessly. He felt the beaming smile of the Marshling on his back even as he left, and contentment spread through his body. He dove into the problems of the small town without thought to his own desires. His heart became tied to those people instantly, and he never looked back.
Chapter 14: Alchemy Lab Advancement
Chapter 14: Alchemy Lab Advancement
The Newt and Demon was empty when Theo returned. He mentally checked in with Tresk before peering out the window, trying to find the sun in the sky. It was some time after noon, and he had plenty of time to cook down his [Stone Flowers] before hispanion returned. She apparently had a haul of monster cores, remarking that shed never seen that many wolves in the marshes before. The alchemist pushed the thought into the back of his mind, focusing on the task at hand. He was eager to get his new inventory, and his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was on the cusp.
The [Stone Flowers] were incredibly easy to grind up. Theo could crush them in his hand over the [Copper Still], cutting out the mashing process entirely. He set a small fire, added enough [Purified Water] for the 5 unit cook and sat down near the still. Something about the way it bubbled was soothing to him. He closed his eyes and listened to the crackle of the fire. By the time he opened his eyes again, the condenser was spitting and hissing, signifying that it was done.
Theo moved the fire from underneath the still with his smashing stick and inspected the sk. The [Vigor Essence] was a light brown color, and smelled like the earth. His intuition said that it followed the simple recipe, and that as he advanced in his alchemy things would be less simple. The [ssware Artifice] spat out five t-bottomed vials, and he arranged them on the tables before adding [Purified Water] and 2 [Copper Shavings] each. Hed need to find more shavings, soon. The five reactions went off without a problem, and he finally gained what he was looking for.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 5.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 5.
He dumped his free point into wisdom without a thought and immediately brought up the skills menu. It imed that he had one free skill point, and he bought [Drogramath Inventory] without hesitation. His excitement reached a crescendo when he slotted it in the free space of his [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. It didnt really matter which core he put it in, he just wanted to use his new inventory.
Theo fiddled around with his new ability for a while, finding it difficult to summon the screen at first. Four rows of eight slots sat in an ornate pop-up box, styled to look like a leather bag. The alchemist reached out for the [Lesser Vigor Potion] he just crafted and stowed it away. The potion gained a simple icon, falling into the first slot with a satisfying sound. He repeated the process for the other four potions, and they stacked with the first.
Theo spent the next half-hour running around the shop and cramming everything he could find in his inventory before returning it back where he found it. The water barrel fit in easily, as did his bed. Only when he went outside to shove an entire boulder inside did itin, filling his ears with an objecting beep. Tresk arrived in time to find him standing at the side of a massive chunk of shale, as though he were trying to lift it.
Did you go insane while I was gone? Tresk asked.
No! Check it out, Theo said, producing a [Lesser Vigor Potion] from thin air.
Tresk shrieked with excitement, bouncing up and down and screaming in Theos face. Thats so awesome!
I know! Theo shrieked back.
The pair gained the attention of Half-Ogre, who was passing by. He gave them a weary look, making more room on the road than he needed to. They calmed down after a while, and Theo finally looked at the new potion he crafted.
[Lesser Vigor Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Drink to enhance vigor.
Effect:
+5 Vigor for 1 hour.
Thats fantastic Can you make one for every stat? Tresk asked.
Yes, the swamp biome has all the flowers, Theo said. Which is rare, apparently.
There are a lot of rare things about the swamp, Tresk said, pulling her satchel around and revealing 15 [Monster Cores]. Including a strangely high amount of [Marsh Wolves].
What do you think? Should we put all of them into theb? Theo asked. I think well get some kind of upgrade at level 5.
Yeah, I think thats a safe bet. We can focus on the townter, Tresk said.
Tresk pressed her forehead against Theos before they went into theb, adding a few percentage points to their [Tarahek Cores]. The Marshling held the [Monster Cores] up one at a time, feeding them into theb. The level 5 monster cores gave the shop 25% of a level at level 1, but only 10% at level 2. Tresk concentrated when it reached level 3, expanding theb a few paces toward the river yet again. Compared to the originalyout, the level 3b added Tresks height in space near the back.
[Alchemy Lab]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 3 (40%)
Rent Due: 2 days
It gave 8% experience at level 3, Theo said. Were going to need a lot of cores.
Id really like to get my hands on a dimensional bag, Tresk said, shrugging. I could carry a lot more stuff.
Well put some feelers out for some, Theo said. Those adventurershow long should it take to clear a dungeon?
Theyre not from the swamp. Its going to take them a day to get there, at least two days to clear it, and a day to get back. I could get there in a few hours, Tresk said, grinning.
So, the water tower project wille together soon. Your father has the copper he needs. The tanners are going to bring us reagents, likely tomorrow. Whats our next n of attack? Theo asked.
We should stack some potions, Tresk said. I think we should take a break for the rest of the day, but tomorrow I can go core hunting again and get ingredients for more potions.
Theo inspected their stock of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], then rifled through Tresks bags without her objections. She had one more health potion left, and no poison potions. He handed her a [Cure Poison] potion and started preparing a mash for more [Lesser Health Potions].
Youre afraid Im going to die out there, arent you? Tresk said, smiling as she watched him work.
Of course I am, youre my Tarahek. I dont even know what cores you have, Theo said.
The alchemist cut the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] and started mashing it down in the bucket with his stick. Tresk came beside him and grinned.
I have amon [Rogue Core], and amon [Tracking Core], Tresk said. Theyre really not great.
Theo scrunched up his nose, feeling a pang of guilt in his heart. He felt as though he unted his rare cores around her, making him feel disgusted at himself. Can we upgrade your cores somehow? I really dont know how that works.
If we find anothermon core that matches mine, we can, Tresk said. Cores can be pretty expensive, though.
Theo waved a dismissive hand, transferring the crushed roots into the still. He scooped the perfect amount of water into the drum and reced the lid, moving to stoke the fire back to life. It crackled at the perfect heat, just low enough to warm the mix without burning it.
Keep an eye out for ability cores, Theo said. Id be happier if you had something higher thanmon It goesmon, umon, rare, epic, legendary, right?
Theres something above legendarywell, that might just be a story people tell, Tresk said, scoffing. But, yeah. I think it''s an excellent investment, but I didnt want to push.
Please push, Theo said. Im still really stupid about a lot of stuff in this world, and I didnt even ask you about your cores.
Its okay, well get there, Tresk said.
I have 5 silver coins, and 20 copper, Theo said. Just let me know if a trader stops by with cores, and well buy them.
Tresk nodded without responding, her eyes focusing on the mes. She stood near him during the cooking process, just watching that fire. The 20 unit run took about an hour, but they spent most of their time idle. Only when the essence was distilled did the Marshling get to work creating the vials. She arrayed them on the tables, and Theo followed up with the reactions. He quickly stored them in his inventory after setting 5 aside for hispanion to keep on her at all times. He mixed the rest of his 4 units of [Poison Essence] into [Basic Poisons] and gave it to her as well.
Now youre armed to the teeth, Theo said. Now I dont have to check up on you every 5 minutes when youre out hunting.
Tresk giggled, only stopping when a knock at the door came. Theo answered it, finding Perg standing there with a heavy satchel over her shoulder.
My people are calling it quits for the day, but they collected a few things, Perg said, tossing the bag on the floor. It hit the ground with a resounding thump.
Theos eyes went wide as he opened the satchel, finding an absurd amount of ingredients inside. It was all mixed, but he judged it was enough to make 200 units of both essences. Im going to need a bigger still, Theo said, shoving the items into his inventory. To his surprise, the [Marsh Tubers] stacked over 200, taking up a slot that showed the number 215. The [Swamplight Spider Silk], which produced more essence by volume, showed the number 50.
You have an inventory power now, Perg said, nodding. Thats incredibly rare if youre not a shopkeeper or a trader.
Magic demon powers, Tresk said.
If I can take the [Ogre Cypress Bark] from your warehouse, I can have 200 units of all the potions made tomorrow, Theo said.
Sounds good to me, Perg said. Youre going to turn my group of tanners into glorified herbalists. Most of them have [Laborer Cores], anyway Some have the [Farmer Core]. This one guy has a [Stonecutter Core]. I guess its not much of a waste.
Just think of the profits, Miss Grott, Tresk said, wringing her hands together.
Theo realized he didnt even know Perg had ast name. He understood that Marshlings didnt take a surname, but most of the Half-Ogres hed met did.
Were going to blow the traders mind when theye, Perg said.
I need to skin the wolves that I kill, Tresk said. Just never learned how to do that. I left 15 wolves out in the marsh today.
I can show you how to do it, if you want, Perg said, shrugging. Tomorrow. The day is getting toote for me to care.
The heat had that effect on people. The longer the day got, the less likely Theo felt like working. They exchanged pleasantries for a while before locking up theb and heading up the road to the tavern. Dusk was a few hours away, but no one seemed to have the will to work anymore for the day. Perg was in especially high spirits. She held her cards close to her chest at first, but her desire to see alchemical tanning through was obvious the further along they got.
Xam was serving meat stew, yet again, and Theo bought 3 bowls for his friends. They settled in at the same table, propped the window open and began eating. The tavern slowly filled. Partway through the meal, the door swung open, revealing someone that caught Theos eye. The familiar shaven-head and tightly drawn cowl of the Human adventurer Jarson appeared, shing a grin at them and sauntering over. He took a seat without saying a word, shaking his head and smiling.
I guess this means youre done with the dungeon, Theo said, sipping his soup.
It was a wild ride. Compared to the dungeons in the north I cant even exin it, Jarson said. It was so thick with monstersso much loot that we were throwing stuff out by the end.
Hopefully, the potions served you well, Theo said.
We almost burned through them all, Jarson said. I went to yourb to give you my thanks, but figured youd be here when it was locked. Those potions saved our hides, alchemist.
Just doing my job, Theo said, smiling. I dont know if youve met her, but this is my Tarahek, Tresk.
We met when I came for the potions, but I didnt know you two were life-partners, Jarson said, smiling. A Dronon and a Marshling That has to be the first pairing of its kind.
It just might be, Tresk said through a mouthful of meat.
Anyway, I wanted to give you my thanks, Jarson said. Ill be spreading the word to Qavell that Broken Tusk is open for business.
If we could just get a road between here and there, thatd be perfect, Perg said. Im Perg, by the way.
A pleasure, Jarson said. You could find someone specializing in earth magic, but theyre expensive.
Jarson reached into his dimensional bag and pulled out a smaller leather bag. He set it on the table and smiled at Theo, pushing it forward. This bag is only worth a few silver in the big city. He reached in again and produced 5 level 20 monster cores. These are worth more, but I want you to ept them as my thanks.
Theo looked over the spoils, his mouth agape. He inspected the bag, finding it to be a [Small Dimensional Bag].
[Small Dimensional Bag]
[Dimensional Bag]
Epic
A dimensional bag with 18 slots.
This gift is too generous, Theo said, shaking his head. How can I ept it?
You can ept it because we collected several hundred monster cores, and ten of these bags, Jarson said. The reason we could get this stuff is your potions. We would have stopped at the tenth floor if not for you. The party ended up pushing to the fifteenth floor.
Tresk whistled, shaking her head. I havent been past the fifth floor. We should ept this mans generous gift, Theo.
Alright, but since were exchanging gifts. Theo said, withdrawing a [Lesser Vigor Potion] and handing it to Jarson. Another taste of what Broken Tusk alchemy can do.
Jarson shook his head, epting the potion and stuffing it in his bag. You dont know how rare stat enhancement potions are, do you?
Nope.
Ive heard stories about the swamnds and the alchemical bounty, but now Ive seen it, Jarson said. Well, mypanions and I are traveling through the night to the north. The sooner we get back the sooner we can sell this loot.
Dont be a stranger, Perg said, fluttering her eyes at the Human. He swallowed hard before affecting a deep bow, leaving the tavern in a hurry.
Most Humans are afraid to get with Half-Ogres, Tresk said,ughing.
Theoughed, putting the monster [Monster Cores] in his inventory and cing the [Small Dimensional Bag] in front of Tresk. Her eyes went wide as she pulled the item close to her, looking back and forth between the bag and the alchemist. My very own dimensional bag I thought Id be level 20 before I saw one of these.
Now we both have dimensional storage, Theo said.
Tresk hooked the bag to her belt, standing up to admire it with a massive grin on her face. Perg was still looking longingly at the door, finally letting out a heavy sigh. What I wouldnt give to jump that Human and
Ew, Tresk said, scowling. Keep your dirty talk to yourself,dy.
Pergughed, casting a hooded gaze over the Marshling. You took the Tarahek, so I guess youll never understand. Youve never been in love.
How can you be in love? You just met the guy, Tresk scoffed.
Love at first sight, Theo said mockingly. Love drove me to the Tarahek. Ive had too many good rtionships ruined by adding thatyer of romance.
Maybe I need to find a strong Marshling to take the vow with, Perg said, frowning.
Tresk shoved her soup into her [Small Dimensional Bag] and tugged on Theos arm. Lets go use those cores.
Theo followed suit, curious as to if the soup would keep its heat inside of his inventory. Fortunately, it did. They beckoned for Perg to follow, but she waved them off, lost in her imagination. The pair moved at speed southward, toward theirb. Excitement bubbled over inside Theos mind. He couldnt imagine how much experience level 20 cores would give his little shop.
Tresk locked the door once they were in, withdrawing her soup from her inventory and setting it down on a table. She took idle bites as she passed by to light the candles, eagerly bobbing her head the whole way. Theo removed the five cores from his inventory, holding them in his hand for a moment. He could feel the raw powering off of them, some malevolent energy that radiated in turgid waves. They were all troll or goblin cores and images of what the vile beasts looked like shed through his mind.
Alright, lets see how much experience we get, Theo said, holding the first core up.
The alchemyb vibrated under their feet. A window popped into Theos vision.
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 4!
Select a direction you wish to expand theb into (north/south/east/west).
Woah! Tresk shouted. Almost there.
Theo nodded, selecting the window to expand northward. Theb vibrated under their feet, shifting to expand to the north. They went inside the bedroom to find that both that room and the mainb got another two to three paces of room. The alchemist eagerly hoisted another [Monster Core] for theb to consume.
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 5!
Select a level 5 specialization:
[Alchemy Shop]
[Root Cer]
[Experimentation Room]
This is awesome! Tresk shouted. You can inspect each option, but I want the shop.
Theo mentally inspected each option.
[Alchemy Shop]
Split-level design housing a space for a shop on the first floor with ab and bedroom on the second.
[Root Cer]
A cer for preserving reagents is housed under theb. Reagents ced inside of the cer decay at a slower rate.
[Experimentation Room]
A reinforced room is ced behind theb, creating a safe ce to conduct explosive experimentations.
Theo observed that the level 5 upgrade had more to do with additional rooms, rather than enhancements to theb itself. The shop was the clear winner. If the description could be trusted, it would double their current floor space. Its settled then. [Alchemy Shop].
Theb vibrated violently under their feet, sending the pair tumbling to the ground. None of the tables, or objects on those tables, moved at all. The ground below their feet rocketed upward, passing through their bodies as another floor appeared under their feet. Theo watched the bedroom as it vanished, reced with a set of stairs that led to the second floor. Tresk was shouting with excitement the entire time. They were shoved out of the way as a counter appeared in the middle of the room, shelves and tables springing throughout the shop.
Theo and Tresk raced up to the second storyb, finding all of their tables, equipment, and ingredients where they left them. The bedroom was now at the back of the building, essible by a hallway at the top of the stairs. The door leading to the east was the bedroom, and north was theb. They made their way back downstairs to admire the new shop.
Tresk ran her hands over the long counter, shouting, running up the stairs, and returning with the [Perpetual Ledger]. She ced it on the counter and smiled.
We need to get a bell, Theo said. If were working theb upstairs, well need to know someone needs service.
Yeah, maybe! Tresk shouted. Lets use the rest of the cores.
Theo hoisted the three cores one-by-one, gaining two more levels for the shop and expanding it out the back two more times. The building was massive by the time they were done, allowing enough room for a new row of tables upstairs. Theyd need to organize theb, but it was an enormous improvement. Even though both of their stamina bars were nearly depleted, they spent hours running their hands over the surfaces in amazement.
Theo inspected the shop before they turned in for the night.
[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]
[The Newt and Demon]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 7 (31%)
Rent Due: 2 days
Expansions:
[Alchemy Shop]
The pair retreated to the bedroom, sharing in their excitement. Their bedroom was big enough to fit two beds side-by-side now, and Theo felt guilty that Tresk was still sleeping on the bedroll. She said it didnt bother her, but he would like to find her a proper bed. He closed the bedroom door and settled in for the night. Theyy there in silence for some time, both consumed with their excitement for the new shop. Jarsons gift was beyond anything they could have expected, and neither would forget his generosity.
Man, that guy is getting so many discounts the next time hes in town, Tresk said before they both fell asleep.
Chapter 15: Blacksmiths Wares
Chapter 15: cksmith''s Wares
A small crowd formed outside of the Newt and Demon the following morning. Theo and Tresk grinned from the second story, peering out among the crowd and eating their breakfast. Theyd used thest of the [Moss Nettle] to make their morning tea, but the spectacle outside demanded their full attention. If the townsfolk werent aware of the alchemists presence before, they were now. It was a rare morning where the pair rose after the dawn, the excitement from the previous night clearly stealing away their sleep.
Do you think theyre going to disperse? Tresk asked, finishing her tea.
Im happy to glower down from our gigantic shop the whole day, Theo said, waving at the crowd.
Too bad we have some potions to cook, Tresk said.
Theo thought about the n of attack for the day. The issue came to the front of his mind quickly. Their alchemyb had a problem with production capacity. The [Copper Still] could handle 50 units at a time, but no more. He nned to distill an absurd amount of essence to fulfill the tannery job, but hed need to run several batches over the day to get it done. With the time to cook 50 units of anything being at least an hour, he had a better idea.
I think Ill pay your father a visit before I start, Theo said. I think I should havemissioned another still a while ago, but here we are.
Tresk cast her eyes to the ceiling, nodding in agreement. The flue that caught the smoke from the fire had grownrge enough to amodate another still, if not two more. Does that mean I get to go adventuring?
It absolutely does, Theo said, moving to press his forehead against hers. They remained there for a moment, gaining some experience in their [Tarahek Cores] before departing. They didnt need the time for long farewells, as they could keep inmunication with their abilities. Tresk departed, moving through the crowd and heading west into the marsh. He watched her go before making his way to the cksmith.
You just grew your building, Perg said, following him through the crowd.
Theo locked up before leaving, not that any of the townsfolk would trespass. Perg followed him north up the road. Those monster cores were absurd. Theb is well, its a shop now, and its level 7.
I forgot that old building was a seed core building, Perg said. So, are you working on my job today?
Yeah, I need tomission some new [Copper Stills] from the cksmith, Theo said. I underestimated the volume of the job.
Not like my people are doing anything, anyway Should I get them to harvest more of the materials?
Thats a good idea, Theo said.
Perg nodded before heading down the road back to the tannery. Theo approached the cksmith, spotting the beginnings of the water tower project off to the side. He found Throk hammering away at some glowing metal and got his attention.
Tower isnt done, yet, Throk said, grimacing.
I have another job for you, Theo said.
More work, huzzah, Throk said, rolling his eyes. Well, youre officially my best paying customer, so what is it?
Two [Copper Stills]. Somewhere near 200 liquid unit capacity, Theo said.
Well, guess who ordered more copper than he needed? This Marshling, Throk said, pointing at himself with both thumbs. Ive seen the still in yourb. I can make the entire thing easily, including the condenser unit. Hell, I can make a more efficient condenser if you want to pay more. 20 copper coins for the material and 5 for thebor. I can have it done by tomorrow.
Theo dug in his pocket, kicking himself for keeping the coins in his physical pocket for so long. He stuffed 4 of the silver coins and all the copper into his inventory space, watching as a coin counter appeared at the bottom of the bag. He flicked a silver coin through the air, which Throk caught. His eyes went wide, and the alchemist grinned.
I want you to go wild with it. Give me the fanciest stills you can think of. As fast as you can, Theo said.
Alchemist You really do speak mynguage, Throk said, dropping the hot iron and hammer. Give me about 2 hours. Ill show you what a master [cksmith] can do.
Theo couldnt hide his smile as he turned to walk away. The greatest motivator for anyone living in Broken Tusk was coin, and lots of it. He mentally told Tresk about his purchase, which she approved of. She was loving her new dimensional bag, already climbing up trees to harvest more [Moss Nettle] for their tea. Without the need to shove it in a satchel at her side, she could harvest the moss faster. While her goal was to collect more monster cores, she picked up whatever herbs she could find along the way.
Tresk reported that the amount of monsters in the swamp had evened out for the day. While she still found packs of 5 wolves, they werent expanding. Theo didnt know how the generation of monsters worked in this world, and hadnt thought to ask. When the topic entered his mind, he pushed it away. The only thing that allowed it to linger was his concern for his partners safety. One day hed have to face that problem, but today wasnt it.
Theo returned to the shop, locking the door behind him and standing near the front counter. Waiting for the cksmith toplete his order might have been a wee reprieve, but it felt like agony to him. Two hours of waiting around didnt sit well with him, but there was no sense in running his [Copper Still] while new ones were on the way. Instead ofnguishing in theb, he left to find herbs. The idea of testing out his inventory in a real scenario was enticing enough, and he was off toward the river to the east. Before leaving, he checked the table outside of the shop, finding that the rest of the stock had sold.
The [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was a staple of his crafting endeavors. Everyone needed health potions, and hed be d to sell them. Pergs offer to supply as much [Ogre Cypress Bark] meant that he could skim a little off the top for his [Cleansing Scrub]. While he made a lot of money up front from the adventurers, they werenting in a steady stream. The citizens of Broken Tusk, and their sudden desire to stay clean, would go a long way in bridging the gap. He had rent to pay, after all.
Theo plucked a spiny swamp thistle out of the ground, cutting the roots away before stowing it away in his inventory. He grinned the entire way toward the river, harvesting the roots and making them vanish never lost its appeal. The best part was that when he approached the rocky shore of the flowing river he wasnt over encumbered, despite the massive quantity of the roots hed gathered. He sat by the edge of the river and watched its flow, several Marshling fishermen passing by and giving their idle greetings.
The great river was, ording to legend, redirected by a powerful wizard ages ago. They gave the people of Broken Tusk a ce to create their own fortune. The lost sons and daughters of the uncaring Ogres struck out on their own, reforging their fates with their own hands. Theo appreciated the mirror that the tale held up to his situation. He owed the mysterious Harbinger everything, and it was hard not to think about what happened to that entity. He couldnt even remember how many days hed spent in the town. Things were simply moving too fast.
The sun crawled across the sky and the alchemist sat at the rivers edge, taking in its sound and smell. Aicallyrge trout jumped in the distance, flopping in the air several times before diving back into the turgid swell. Theo couldnt estimate how much time had gone by, but it could have been two hours. He collected more roots along the way, nning to keep them in his inventory. HIs theory was that they wouldnt rot in there, because his soup kept all of its heat while inside.
As he came around the alchemy shop, he heard a banging on the door. Turning the corner, he saw Throk staring up at the second-story windows and scowling. He spun on the spot and grinned. Hows this for service? Im all done.
That was fast, Theo said,ughing.
Im a [cksmith], Throk said, waving him away. Come to the smithy and collect your new stills.
Theo followed him up the muddy hill and into the cksmiths workshop. Two shiny stills sat on the workshop floor, and the alchemists jaw dropped. They were massivepared to his current still. Each one was made of two parts. The main boiler of the stills looked like a giant copper pot with a tubeing out. It sat on an iron frame with space enough to light a fire underneath. The tube fed into another device that looked like a smaller still, and Theo didnt recognize what manner of condenser it was. His original [Copper Still] simply had the tube curl to condense the essence, but this looked like a bucket where the tube fed and coiled around beforeing out the side.
You went wild with the condenser, Theo said,ughing.
The point is to cool down the vapors, right? Throk asked. So the condenser line feeds into the bucket there, and you pour cold water into it.
Thats genius, Theo said.
Thank you. Theyre all yoursdo you need a hireling to carry them home?
No need, Theo said, approaching the [Custom Copper Stills] and cing them in his inventory.
Of course you have an inventory power, Throk said. Well, I have your other order to work on. If youll excuse me.
Theo marched back down to his shop, inspecting the new items in his inventory as he went.
[Custom Copper Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Rare
Created By: Throk
A 200 unit capacity copper still with attached advanced condenser. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
Theo kicked himself for notmissioning new stills earlier. The capacity was one thing, but the reduction in crafting time was really useful. He made his way to the second floor and into theb, quickly stowing his old still into his inventory. He positioned the two new stills so that the condenser buckets could rest perfectly on the table, setting sks under the output nozzle. The new equipment struck an impressive image in theb. It was looking more like an alchemyb and less like a hodgepodge of equipment. He left the alchemyb, looking over his shoulder onest time at the gleam of copper before heading to the tanner.
Perg was standing outside, leaning against the wall the way she always did. She smiled and waved when she caught sight of him. Coming for your bark?
Yes, I am, Theo said. Ive got my new stills and Im ready to cook.
Perg led him inside of the tannery, Theo plugging his nose the whole way, and into a small storage area in the back. There was a mountain of the chalky, white [Ogre Cypress Bark] piled in the back. He stretched his mental intuition as far as it would go, trying to figure out the correct amount of materials to collect for the reaction. His [Intelligence] fell short. He knew that 0.1 units of [Cleansing Essence] and 0.1 units of [Purifying Essence] mixed with [Stabilized Water] would produce 5 units of [Stripping Solution]. His mind just couldnt do the mental math to figure out how much he needed. He scratched his chin for a while before settling on taking 100 units of the best bark he could find.
With two stills, this shouldnt take long to cook down, Theo said. Ill have everything ready by tomorrow.
Good. Ive started buying up all the hides everyone brings meand theres a lot, Perg said. The dehairing yard is getting cluttered.
Theo didnt doubt that fact, not given the smell that had intensified since thest time he was there. He bid farewell and ced a drop of [Cleansing Scrub] on his head when he was out of the buildings foul range. He took a deep breath and savored that berry scent before returning to theb.
Im going to make the potions for the tanner, Theo said, mentally checking in with Tresk.
Let me know how the new stills do. My dad might be a backwater guy, but hes an amazing [cksmith]. Hes like level 20, Tresk said.
Theo''s eyes went wide for a moment, but he shook his stupor away. He wasnt good at judging the age of a Marshling, but Throk didnt look that old. The climb to 20 must have been brutal, but servicing the farmers for years on end did the trick to elevate him. He shook his head, refocusing on the task at hand.
The alchemist wouldnt be pushing his new stills to their capacity today, but the extra space made it easier to work with. He started by splitting his stack of 100 [Ogre Cypress Bark] in half. When he removed them from his inventory, a pile of the bark appeared in the air and fell to the floor. Theo mashed whatever would fit in the bucket, transferring it to the still and repeating the process until it was all processed. He repeated the act again, cing the mash in the second still. The bark was versatile, and would produce both his [Cleansing Essence], and his [Purifying Essence] for the [Stripping Solution].
Theo filled the condenser buckets with water from the barrel before continuing. The iron frames that the [Custom Copper Stills] rested on made it easy to start a fire underneath. The expanded alchemyb even had a metal te for the fires to burn on, preventing him from burning his home down. Theo started the fires and let them burn as low as possible, the mes gently licking the bottom of the stills in unison. It was more work to keep the twin fires going, but he managed. The 75-unitrge sks he produced wereicallyrge, almost as big as small barrels. Instead of the characteristic sputtering that his old still had, the new versions simply produced a steady drip.
While the result came out quicker, Theo could do nothing other than tend the fires during the run. When he scooted the fires out from under the still with his smashing stick, Tresk returned from her run through the forest. She applied a few drops of [Cleansing Scrub] to her body and joined him at the side of the table. Theo watched her admiring the new stills for a while. She was initially speechless.
My father is superb at his job, she said.
Thats no joke, Theo said. The condensers he came up with work really well. It cut the time down quite a lot.
Right, well Im here to help now, Tresk said. Ill show you the lootter Just more of the same.
Theo washed and rinsed the stills, finding it much harder to dump the fouled contents out of the window, and set up for the next run. He realized it would have been impossible without Tresks help and made a mental note for the next iteration of the equipment. Tresk got to work cutting the [Marsh Tubers] up while he found a spare bucket to process the 50 units of [Marshlight Spider Silk]. They nned to run the full amount of 200 units of [Marsh Tubers] to see how the increased capacity worked.
This goes faster with another hand, Theo said. Ill need an assistant when theres 10 stills running up here.
Treskughed, finishing thest of her cutting and starting the mashing process. She had to work in stages, just like with the [Ogre Cypress Bark]. The final mash of the tubers came dangerously near the top, and Theo filled it with water to match. The spider silk was much easier to prepare, and before long both fires were going at a slow pace. During the run, they had to swap out the oversized sk for the still containing the tubers. The entire process happened faster than either of them could have expected, and the tables were soon cluttered with sks.
The pair washed the stills before heading off for the evening dinner at the tavern, both of their stamina bars threatening to depletepletely. Theo wanted to put off the reactions for the morning, as it required them to mix the ingredients in the gravel yard out back. They left everything where it was before heading off for dinner.
Youll be surprised to know its wolf meat stew, Xam said.
Theo bought two bowls and joined Tresk in their traditional spot. They were both too tired for conversation, only sending the asional mental message to each other. The Tarahekmunication seemed to consume less of their energy, and by the time dusk threatened over the western horizon, they left the tavern. Their pace was sluggish back to the shop, and they fell into bed and into a deep sleep immediately.
Chapter 16: Ten Percent
Chapter 16: Ten Percent
Theo woke well before dawn the next morning, finding Tresk curled up on her bedroll. She was snoring loudly when he stepped out into theb, carefully pulling the door closed behind him. He stood at the second-story window for a time, lording over the sprawl of the town below. He started a small fire near the stills, sighing as he realized they were out of [Moss Nettle] and most of the Zee was rotting. The alchemist shoved thest three usable kernels in his inventory after slicing off strips and tossing them on the fire. He set the cast-iron kettle on the fire anyway.
Tresk came through the doorway, holding a clump of the moss in her hand and grinning. Thought we were out of this delicious stuff? she said, bounding over to toss it in the boiling kettle. She took a seat with him near the fire, pressing her forehead against his and sighing.
Big job today, Theo said. But this should hold the tanners over for a while.
We should get the shop in order, too, Tresk said. We have some potions lying around, and we have to get the townspeople used to the idea ofing in to get their [Cleansing Scrub].
Well, were going to need a hireling, Theo said with a sigh. He pulled the Zee strips off the fire and onto a te. Tresk blew on her portion, nibbling at the edge. How much should we pay them to work the shop?
It would be nice to have someone with a [Shopkeeper Core], or a [Mercantile Core]. But thats not gonna happen in Broken Tusk. Aborer in our small town would charge two copper a day.
Seems like a robbery, Theo said. Since a meal at the tavern is a copper.
Thats how I know youre still green, Tresk said, tutting. The tavern charges way too much. You can get by for a week on a single copper if you try hard enough.
Theo leaned back,menting the delicate economy in Broken Tusk. Everyone was dirt poor, besides him. Traders were irregr, making exporting anything hard, and work didnte easy. The advantage they had over the northern towns seemed to be the dungeons, and the abundance of reagents. They needed his n to work out for a more stable future.
Alright. Well find someone to man the shop, Theo said. Do you have anyone in mind?
Tresk busied herself before answering, pulling the pot off the fire and pouring two cups of the tea. We can post a for-hire bulletin in the tavern, she said.
Fine with me, Theo said. Well give them a week''s advance so we dont have to worry.
Absolutely not. Pay them by the day until they show that theyre good, Tresk said, shaking her head. Broken Tuskborers are fine atboring, but none have shopkeeping experience. We might need to fire them.
Theo frowned, sipping his tea. Alright. Until we have a chance, well finish out the tanners job.
Thepanions took their time eating breakfast, the threat of dawn still a far-off thing. They stoked the fires, prepared to make a run of [Healing Essence] to stock the shop with [Lesser Healing Potions]. They had an excess of [Cleansing Essence] that could make a good amount of [Cleansing Scrub] to bolster their stocks. Theo prepared the mash of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], while Tresk worked the [ssware Artifice]. They devised vials that would work perfectly for the tanner, allowing them to just dump the contents onto the hides to process them.
Watch the fires, and Ill start the reactions outside, Theo said. Im not confident enough to do it here.
Understood, boss, Tresk said, smiling.
Theo knew she wanted to show him the spoils of yesterday, but he wanted to get a head start on the two different potions for the tanners. He started the first set of reactions in small, 5 unit measurements until he was confident enough to scale it up. The technique that he used when first working with the essences was to make the reaction in pre-measured amounts. Hed add 1 unit of the essence and 1 unit of water in a vial for his restoration potions. The problem with that technique was that it was time-consuming. It was too hard to do the math in his head for how much of each ingredient he needed for arge reaction, but after working it out on paper he could easily judge how much of everything he needed.
The alchemist plied his trade in the gravel yard, starting his first 100-unit reaction in a sizzling eruption of smoke that rose into the sky. Theo was excited when his math was right, uncertain of howrge the explosion of a reaction of this size would have caused. He performed the same reaction again, leaving him with 200 units of [Stripping Solution] in two massive beakers. They were too heavy to carry, and he simply stored them in his inventory along with the entire barrel of [Purified Water] and [ky Agate].
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (10%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (10%).
Therger reaction gave more experience, which made sense. The [Stripping Solution] gave him less experiencest time, a fact that he chalked up to the levels he gained in his alchemy core. While it didnt scale one-to-one, hed take the hit in overall experience to get the job done faster. Theo was resetting for the next reaction when Tresk spoke into his mind.
I have a better idea for the distribution of the solution, she said.
Whats that? Theo asked, looking up at the second-story window to see hispanion pressing her face against the ss.
We just give them a measuring beaker to pour out the solution. That way we dont need to make 200 vials thats 400 motes total wed need.
Theo kicked himself for not noticing the w in his n before. Motes were easy enough toe by, but they didnt have 400 motes. Perg was a smart enough person to use a measured pipette. Tresk had a way of boiling everything down to the simplest, most cost-effective solution. He grinned up at her and waved.
Youre a genius, Theo said.
Yeah, I am.
The alchemist realized that hed run out of water before attempting the next reaction. With his water barrel stored in his inventory, he alerted Tresk that he was running down to the river and padded through the muddy forest. He awkwardly withdrew the barrel and rolled it into the river, almost losing it down the current as it filled. The water barrel waspletely submerged and drifting away when he pped it, returning it to his inventory. He ran back to the gravel yard, constantly grinning at how powerful his new ability was.
Theo withdrew the barrel from his inventory, satisfied that it came out upright and filled with [River Water]. After purifying the entire thing, he repeated the process for the [Alchemic Tannin], hoisting those sks into his inventory when he was done. 400 units of liquid, double the size of his water barrel, now sat in his inventory. He retreated to theb where Tresk tended the fires.
That was a lot faster, Theo said, nodding to himself.
I need you to make the measuring equipment. I dont have an innate grasp on units like you do, Tresk said.
Theo nodded, moving to his [ssware Artifice] to generate a small t-bottomed vial that measured exactly one unit. He made five, counting on the fact that some would be lost or broken. The pair tended the fire for another half-hour, filling two 50 unit sks with [Healing Essence] as the dawn rose outside. By the time they were ready to leave for the tannery, the day had broken over Broken Tusk.
Perg was waiting outside of the tannery, and Theo had to wonder if she did anything other than wait for him against that wall. She had a grin on her face and cast them a knowing look. Delivery day?
Indeed, Theo said. 200 units of tannery material, which shouldst you a while.
It requires special instruction, Tresk said.
Perg gestured for them to follow her around the back to the dehairing area. Theo took it as a bad sign that he was getting used to the stench, but looked forward to a time when the process wouldnt smell at all. The Half-Ogre tossed a rotting hide on the ground and folded her arms, waiting for instruction.
Do you have a lot of [Strength]? Theo asked.
Im almost at 20, Perg said, shing a grin.
Good, hold out your hands, Theo said, watching as she obeyed.
The alchemist withdrew the first sk from his inventory, and Perg caught it deftly with one hand. They repeated the process for the next 3 sks, setting them gingerly to the side.
You should be able to tell the difference between the solutions by inspecting them, Theo said.
Perg confirmed she could, nodding and smiling.
Theo withdrew the ss stopper from the sk of [Stripping Solution] and produced his measuring vial from his inventory. He carefully withdrew some solution until it reached the rim of the vial. One unit per hide, he said, dumping the contents onto the rotting hide. The potion did its magic instantly, working through the fat and hair at speed. Within a minute it was done sputtering, sending plumes of vapors into the air. Perg shook her head in amazement.
That hide was only there for a daythis stuff really does work, Perg said.
You doubted us? Tresk asked.
Same thing for the next solution, Theo said, heading off any confrontation. He was certain it was just friendly banter, but he didnt want to risk it.
The alchemist produced another vial from his inventory. Dont mix the vials up. Wash them out with [Purified Water] if you need to use the same vial. I dont know what kind of reaction will happen if you mix the two, but it cant be good. He measured out a unit of the [Alchemic Tannin] and dumped it on the stripped hide. Something about the shoe polish smell seemed nostalgic to Theo, but he snapped out of it in time to watch the raw wolfs hide turn into a supple sheet of leather.
A small crowd of the tannery workers gathered to watch the alchemy work its magic. They marveled at how quickly the potions worked, chattering excitedly among themselves.
Youve really outdone yourself, alchemist, Perg said. Both of you. Well move through our entire stock of hides by the end of the day with this.
Thanks, Perg, Tresk said, beaming.
Our agreement still standsten percent of the profits, Perg said. I cant wait to see the traders face when I present him with hundreds of hides, instead of the normal 10 or 15.
Hopefully, it puts you on the map, Theo said.
The group exchanged pleasantries, watching as the workers came over to inspect the leather. They wouldnt stop talking about how soft the leather was, running their rough hands over the surface constantly. Theo and Tresk excused themselves after a while, finding their way back up the road and to the alchemy shop. To their surprise, Luras was waiting outside.
Hey, he said, managing a weak wave. Got any stamina potions?
Luras looked haggard, as though he didnt stop to rest on his way back from Rivers and Daub. Tresk darted inside to grab a potion while the Half-Ogre swayed on the spot.
Rough journey? Theo asked.
It always is, Luras said with a heavy sigh. But Im here to fetch you, Tresk, and Perg. Miana wants to meet with the biggest business owners in town.
What? Why? Theo asked.
Well, since were technically somewhere between a mercantile town and a farming town, the businesses that make the most money have a say in important matters, Luras said. Every word seemed to strain him further, but he went on. Your [Perpetual Ledger] reports back to the mayor, so she knows youve been making some serious money.
Good to know, Theo said.
Tresk returned with a small vial of the yellow potion, and Luras consumed it immediately. He perked up, his hooded gaze vanishing as his back straightened out. The Half-Ogre rolled his shoulders a few times before pointing up the road. Ill meet you at Mianas house. Gotta go grab Perg.
Theo and Tresk departed up the road, casting each other confused looks.
I didnt know we had a say in the town, Theo said, not willing to voice his words out loud.
I knew it was somethingbut I didnt expect us to get a seat so soon. My father has a chair, seeing as his cksmith makes good money, Tresk said.
They arrived at Mianas house quickly, finding their way inside. The brusk woman was waiting at the threshold, and simply gestured for them to find their way to the back room. They sat down in the mayors office, finding themselves among familiarpany. Throk, Banurub, and Xam were already seated in a row of ornate wooden chairs. On the far side of the room sat acquered wooden desk, a chair behind it with bookcases lining the wall.
Well, you sure found a seat quickly, Throk said, scoffing. The rest of us have been building these businesses for decades.
Alchemy is a powerful art, you old toad, Banurub said, snorting augh.
What do you think Miana wants to talk about? Xam asked, fidgeting nervously.
The wolves, Tresk said, shrugging. Monsters in the swamp have gotten out of control.
The group talked for a few minutes before Luras arrived to deposit Perg. She took her seat while Luras lingered around the door, his arms folded but standing at attention. Miana entered some time after that, a permanent scowl on her face.
The lifes blood of Broken Tusk, she said, gesturing to those gathered. Or something like that. I got some big news from those adventurers that just departed. What was his name?
Jarson, Tresk said, nodding.
Right, Jarson Well, our [Swamp Dungeon] has hit a threshold. During their delve, it leveled to 25, Miana said.
The murmur that spread across the group told Theo that level 25 meant something. His intuition told him it was a leap in power, because most things jumped in strength every 5 levels. Sooutworlder heresomeone is going to have to exin how dungeons work to me.
Luras spoke from the back of the room. Dungeons spawn monsters. They have floors to them, going underground. A dungeons heart is its core, but most are indestructible. They level up like people or buildings, gaining power over time. Higher level dungeons have higher level monsters and loot. We have three dungeons around us. Swamp, River, and Hills.
Theo appreciated the rapid-fire way Luras delivered the information.
Right, Miana said, idly adjusting the paperwork on her desk. This new level signals a new opportunity for Broken Tusk. Were going to see more monsters in the surrounding area, and more powerful ones, but also more adventurers.
Should we have a mind for defense? Throk asked.
We should, but the flow of [Monster Cores] has been slow, Miana said.
Well, we had a n to pump the town with cores, Tresk said, grinning. We finished the tannery job, so were going to focus our efforts on that.
Miana sneered for a second, finding herposure in a heartbeat and shifting her expression to cidity. The level 5 upgrade should give us some walls. The core they used to establish the town wasnt very strong, which is why it''s such a pile of mud.
What we need is more adventurers living in the town, Theo said, tapping his chin. We need to attract a poption that can survive here and patrol the swamps. I mean, the swamps arent even safe as it is, let alone with a level 25 dungeon.
All eyes turned to him, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
Hes right, Luras said, breaking the awkward silence. We have a few hunters in town, only two that you could call adventurers. Walls would help, but theyd only dy an attack.
Hey, Im behind any n that gets me more hides, Perg said, chuckling.
Miana steepled her fingers, casting her stony gaze over the group. Banu, Throk, do you have an opinion?
Nope, Banurub said.
I dont, Throk said, shrugging.
Miana stayed silent for some time, tapping her foot. Qavell gave Broken Tusk a supplement to spend how I see fit. I can see that the problem cant be solved with a single approach, so I have a solution. Every monster within the borders of the town will have a 2 copper bounty on their heads. All adventurers that im residence here will get a 5 copper a week stipend.
Tresk was the most excited out of the bunch, hopping in her chair excitedly.
Thatll draw attention from the north, alright, Luras said, nodding in agreement. Are you going to issue a quest?
Yes, anyone who wants to take the bounty quest can find it at the taverter today, Miana said. Ill pay the bounties weekly.
Just so everyone knows, Im buying all the hides, Perg said.
Miana scoffed, shaking her head. This meeting is over. Wevee to a solution. Kill the monsters, cram cores in the town. That is all.
The group slowly filtered out of the mayors house, finding their way onto the muddy square and talking in excited tones. Theo wasnt sure how he missed it on his way in, but a massive water tower was built since hest visited the cksmith yesterday. Throk dug his bony elbow into his side,ughing at how he gawked.
Ten-thousand units of water storage, Throk said. How''s that for a water tower?
You really dont mess around, do you? Theo said, still staring up at the structure. Do you have any barrels I could borrow?
Throk gestured at his workshop, where 10 barrels waited for him. I really am the best, arent I?
Chapter 17: The Bell
Chapter 17: The Bell
You got your inventory power, Luras said, watching as Theo shoved 10 barrels into his inventory.
Tresk approached, unhooking the dimensional bag from her belt and holding it out for the Half-Ogre to see. I got a bag!
Luras, shouldnt you sleep, Theo said, knitting his brow.
While Theos tasks were many, he had a good night''s sleep and a square meal. He felt Luras intention to help him with the barrels, but wanted to head that conversation off. Whatever adventures the man had in Rivers and Daub could wait to be told another day.
I should, Luras said.
Despite the effects of the [Lesser Stamina Potion], he looked tired beyond reason. He turned on the spot and shambled up the hill, dragging his feet through the mud as he went. Theo felt bad for a moment, but the big guy just needed some rest.
Stamina potions dont remove the need to sleep, Tresk said. It just gives you a jolt that doesntst long. Your stamina bar could be full, but youll still be dead tired.
Theo made his way around the water tower and behind the cksmiths shop, east toward the river. He turned on the spot, beckoning for hispanion to follow. Filling the barrels at the river would be easier if someone with more than 7 [Strength] came along to help.
Ten barrels at 200 units eachwe''ll need to make five trips to fill the tower, Theo said.
You dont have to fill it all the way, Tresk scoffed. This is work for a hireling, anyway.
Theo stopped and sighed, turning back again to look at the water tower. The tank of the tower was a perfect cylinder of wrapped copper perched atop a wooden frame. It sat two Half-Ogres high and caught the rising sun perfectly. He could easily hire someone to collect the water, bringing it to theb to be purified, but he wanted to do it himself.
I want to do the first filling myself, Theo said. This was the first idea I had to make Broken Tusk better, and I want to see it through.
Tresk hopped over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the river. Then lets get this done.
The pair arrived at the river, spotting the same Marshling fishermen Theo had seen before. They waved and smiled at Tresk, heading southward toward the ocean. Filling the barrels was significantly easier when Tresk held them steady in the water. Despite her slight build, she kept them in ce with ease. Compared to his attempt at filling his personal water barrel, this went well. They had all ten barrels filled in a matter of minutes, quickly returning to theb to pick up their leftover [Purifying Essence].
Theo had the [Purified Water] reaction memorized and withdrew the barrels outside of the cksmith. In a matter of moments, he turned 2,000 units of [River Water], with their deadly pathogens, into [Purified Water]. Tresk volunteered to dump them into the top of the water tower, stowing the barrels into her bag and ascending a ricketydder. Her superior [Dexterity] and [Strength] meant that she had no trouble handling the heavy barrels, and was back down with the alchemist in minutes.
Theo turned the spigot at the bottom, causing a torrent of water to rush out. He put his face under the tap and let it wash over him, guzzling the water and turning to cast a beaming smile at hispanion. Sheughed and shoved her head under the tap to drink the fresh water. A crowd gathered as they frolicked in the pure water, absorbed in their celebration of aplishment. Oruk, the Half-Ogreborer, was the first to voice his confusion.
Whats this? he said, cocking his head.
Fresh water, Theo said, turning the spigot off and addressing the crowd. Only after the flow had ceased did he realize that most of the town was gawking at him.
Free [Purified Water], Tresk said, bouncing up and down. For everyone to drink. No more boiling your drinking water.
A ripple of excitement spread across the crowd. Townsfolk rushed off to their homes, shouting about retrieving buckets to collect the precious water. Theo had easy ess to as much drinkable water as he needed, aided by his powerful alchemy. The Marshlings didnt have need for the pure water, but every Half-Ogre in town needed to boil their water before consuming it. Tresk and Theo grinned at each other, heading back toward the river for another run.
While they had no intention of filling the water tower to capacity, they did exactly that. Each time they returned from the river, different people gathered to fill their buckets. Only on the fifth run did the crowd disperse, the excited murmurs still flowing through them like the surge of the river. Tresk returned the barrels to her father, giving him her thanks while Theo ascended thedder. His [Drogramath Distillery Specialty] skill allowed him to judge that only a barrels worth of water had been taken in the initial surge. The massive capacity of the water tower wouldst a long time.
How many cores did you find on your adventure? Theo asked, climbing down from thedder.
15 cores, and a bunch of other junk, Tresk said. I was thinking of picking up the quest once Miana posts it Couldve made 30 copper yesterday.
Not to mention the money youd make selling the hides to Perg, Theo said.
Im still not good at skinning the beasts, Tresk said.
Tresk cast her gaze over the water tower, admiring her fathers work. Theo fell into his thoughts, going through the things he still needed to do. Food was an issue again, and he didnt have a suitable solution. The Zee was already overstaying its wee as a part of his diet, and he didnt have an alternative. As he weighed his options, his inventory came to mind. The assumption was that food didnt rot when it stayed there, and until he found a proper storage solution for his shop, it would do.
Well, were almost out of Zee I think Ill sort our food situation out before moving on to other projects.
If you dont mind, Id like to spend the day adventuring, Tresk said, grinning.
Thats perfect. Even if you cant skin the wolves, bring some meat back. We can try our hand at wolf meat stew, Theo said.
That works for me, Tresk said, beckoning for him to bend to her level. She pressed her forehead against his before departing toward the swamp.
Theo went around the water tower, finding his way to the cksmith. Throk hammered away at a bar of red-hot iron. The alchemist had to wave his hands to get the mans attention. Do you sell pots?
Copper pots, sure, Throk said. You know you can go inside of the storethis is just the workshop.
I didnt know that, his violet face flushing a deeper shade of purple.
Throk simply smiled and gestured to the front of the building. A bell jingled as he entered, and he made a mental note to get his hands on one. A small Marshling stood at the counter, tapping his foot impatiently. He was the spitting image of his father, and Theo pinned him for Throks son.
Hello, I need a pot, Theo said awkwardly.
Copper pot? How big?
Somewhere between 20 and 50 units, Theo said.
The Marshling disappeared for a moment, returning with a cauldron slightlyrger than his head. Five copper.
Do you sell those bells, Theo asked, pointing back toward the door.
The Marshling disappeared behind the counter again, returning quickly and pping the jangling bell on the counter. It had the mounting bracket with it. Eight coppertotal.
And what about a stand for the pot?
Needy, arent you? the Marshling said, disappearing and reappearing with a stand. It was an iron tripod with a ring of metal in the center to hold the pot in ce. Ten copper. Anything else?
Thats all, Theo said, retrieving 10 copper from his inventory and presenting it to the shopkeeper.
A pleasure, he said, affecting a shallow bow.
Theo stored the items in his inventory, gaining a judging look from the Marshling. He departed before the man could ask him about the power and made his way south down the muddy road. The Newt and Demon was empty, as expected, and he ced the copper pot and stand upstairs, leaving the bell downstairs until he could figure out how to mount it. Even on Earth he was bad with tools, never could drive a nail straight. The food would have to wait untilter, as theb had nothing edible. Instead, he focused on organizing the shop downstairs.
The alchemist started by working the [ssware Artifice] to create 50 of the vials meant for [Cleansing Scrub]. Using his new technique, he kicked off a 50 unit reaction in arge sk before distributing it into the individual vials. Heughed at himself for ever doing individual reactions the way he had before and had the entire batch sorted in less than a half-hour. Theo brought the entire stock of his potions into his inventory and made his way downstairs to ce his wares. He propped the door open as he grouped them on the shelves. The stock was pitiful with only 4 [Lesser Vigor Potions], 13 [Lesser Healing Potions], and 50 [Cleansing Scrub].
Were going to need an open sign for the store, Theo said.
Tresk took a moment to respond. Her voice came with ragged gasps, and his heart stopped for a moment. Ten wolves at once! If they were higher than level 5 Id be in trouble Good idea on the sign, though.
Are you alright?
I still have health potions, so yeah! Tresk said.
Theo reserved himself to that fact. He loaded her up with enough potions to survive out there and had to trust that she was a good adventurer. He couldnt see himself taking on a single wolf, let alone a pack of ten. It seemed like an impossible feat, but his cores were focused on crafting and gathering. The alchemist jumped when a voice came from the doorway.
Got any work, boss? Oruk said, grinning from the threshold.
Actually, I do, Theo said,ughing. Can you mount this bell?
Oruk entered the shop, striding over to the counter and inspecting the bell. He swiveled his head to look at the door frame and nodded. Yeah, no problem. Cant swing a hammer?
Theo held up his thin arms before shrugging. Im more likely to hit my fingers than drive a nail, friend.
Sure thing, boss. Let me go grab a hammer and nails, Oruk said.
Theo withdrew a copper coin from his inventory and flicked it toward the Half-Ogre. He caught it from the air and grinned, darting out of the door. Mounting the bell might have been too much of a job for him, but certainly he could write a sign that said open and closed on either side. Lacking paint, he trudged down the road toward the tannery. The stench hadnt subsided yet, but it would take them days to process all the hides.
Perg? Theo called. She wasnt at her normal perch.
Shes in the warehouse, a tannery worker said, peeking his head out from around the building.
Theo plugged his nose and walked around the building to find the woman using his potions on a pile of hides. She turned and grinned at him. Hey, whats going on?
Do you have any paint? I need to make a sign for my shop, Theo said.
Begrut! Perg shouted.
A rotund Half-Ogre came around the corner.
Help the alchemist out. He needs some paint, Perg said, going back to her work.
Follow me, sir, Begrut said, trundling out of the warehouse.
Theo followed him to a small storage shed, where the man produced a bucket containing a tar-like substance, and a brush.
Thank you, Theo said.
The alchemist retreated to his shop with the paint and found a small bit of wood on the outside of his shop. When he wrote open on one side, he found the action strange. Hed never written in his newly adoptednguage, and didnt even know what the people of thend called it. The blocks of letters came out strange-looking, but it would do. He wrote closed on the other side, leaving it to dry as he returned the paint. He didnt find Begrut there, so he just left the paint where the Half-Ogre retrieved it from.
Theo returned to theb, finding Oruk banging on the inside frame of the door. He slid past theborer and went upstairs to retrieve some string. Among the many piles of junk that littered theb, he found a length that would do. By the time he made it back downstairs, Oruk was done with the job. He opened and closed the door a few times, producing a pleasant jingling noise.
Could you hang a sign for me? Theo asked.
Sure, just dont pay me, Oruk said, scoffing. You always overpay people.
Theos face flushed again, and the Half-Ogre followed him to the drying sign. He grunted something and retrieved a hand drill from a wooden toolbox, drilling two holes in either side of the nk of wood. Oruk then ced a nail in the center of the door, hanging the sign and turning to grin at the alchemist.
See? Easy, Oruk said. Looks like a kid wrote it, though.
Theres a disconnect between speaking thisnguage and writing it, Theo said.
I always forget youre an outworlder, Oruk said, scratching his chin. You fit in far too well here at Broken TuskI even forget youre a Dronon.
Do people in the wider world fear the Dronon?
I wouldnt know, Oruk said. Ive lived my whole life here. Seen everything from Elves to Goblins pass through, and the only thing I learned from them was that a jerk is a jerk. No matter the race.
Good to know, Theo said. I may have more work for youter. Thats all for today.
Thanks, boss, Oruk grunted, waddling up the muddy road.
Theo retreated into his shop, smiling as the bell jingled. He mentally updated Tresk on the shops new features, which she seemed excited for. The alchemist went upstairs, working on a list of the potions he wanted to stock when the faint tinkle of the bell issued from downstairs. He perked up, descending with the expectation of seeing Perg or Luras. A Half-Ogre woman he vaguely recognized stood behind the counter, her eyes snapping to him as he descended the stairs. She had a chipped sword fastened to her belt with tattered leather armor covering her body.
Oh! Ive seen you at the farm, Theo said, suddenly realizing where hed seen her.
Yes. I need some potions, alchemist, the woman said.
He shrugged,ing to stand before the counter. Are you nning to go out adventuring?
Yes. The bounty quest on the wolves is too good, she said.
Im guessing, on a farmers wage, you have little coin, Theo said, smiling.
The woman rummaged through her bag, producing 10 copper coins and cing them on the table as though they were a fortune. Theos heart ached at the destitute nature of the farmers. A two copper bounty on wolves was an amazing opportunity for them. Theyd earn that with a day of hardbor out in the fields, if they were lucky. Oruks words of the alchemist being too generous rang through his mind, but he couldnt help himself.
Theo found the shelf with the [Lesser Healing Potions] and plucked five of them before grabbing a single [Lesser Stamina Potion]. Heid them out on the counter and smiled. I wont lie to you, adventurer. Id expect to charge five copper per potion, minimum.
Im not looking for charity, she growled.
And Im not looking to give it. Consider this an adventurer starter pack, until you can bring in some bounties, Theo said. Theres no shortage of wolves. Youll stand to make a farmers yearly wage in a week if you can kill the wolves.
She hesitated for a moment before taking the potions, stuffing them in her bag. Her gaze locked onto Theos eyes, a cold, piercing look that sent a shiver up his spine. The next time Ie in here Im paying full price.
The bell jingled merrily behind her, and the alchemist let out a heavy sigh. The Half-Ogres hated getting things for free. They seemed to have honor that was sorelycking back on Earth. He knew that shed return to the shop and buy the potions at full price, and shed be able to afford it if she spent her days in the swamp, ying wolves. Theo just couldnt stand the thought of hearing about a citizen of Broken Tusk, dead in the mud because they went unprepared. He added the 10 copper to his inventory before the thoughts got out of control, returning to the second floor.
Something unexpected happened, Theo said to Tresk. He underlined the entry on his parchment for [Lesser Healing Potions], and turned to assess their stock of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root].
Whats that?
A farmer came in, fancying herself an adventurer. I gave her potions for a stealI dont think she can handle herself out there, Theo said.
They have one thing on their side. Farmers put their points into [Vigor] and [Strength, Tresk said. The wolves are usually level 5, and the farmers arent dumb.
Theo thought for a moment before he responded. Assuming that every backwater farmer was an idiot was his fault. The allure of more coin was strong, but the Half-Ogres were strong and smart. They lived in Broken Tusk their entire life, and would be well familiar with the local monsters. Armed with 5 [Lesser Healing Potions], she could get out of most scrapes.
Youre right. Im going to craft more healing potions. I have a feeling were going to have a surge of would-be adventurers soon, Theo said.
Chapter 18: Wolf Bones
Chapter 18: Wolf Bones
Thebs stock of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was low. Theo could make a 20-unit batch, but had a mind to run a muchrger amount. He left the shop, flipping the sign to Closed and locking the door before delving into the sparse forest toward the river. Something interesting happened in that loose knot of trees before the river. The roots that hed harvested days ago had regenerated, already grown to their fullest form. The alchemist wouldnt have paid any attention to this, simply gathering the herbs and calling it a day, but he had concerns about how many supplies he could get.
While Theo dug in the mud and harvested the precious roots and [Earth Motes], Tresk adventured away in the swamp. The alchemist liked the swamp least of all the four areas to gather herbs. It was full of snapping jaws and lurking turtles, something he wanted nothing to do with. The area to the east was the safest, and thick with the healing roots. It was past midday, and he had enough roots and motes to do arge run of the [Lesser Healing Potions]. His herbalism core also reached level 6 as he harvested thest few reagents.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 6.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
Theo expected that his core wouldnt get anything new at 6, banking on level 10, giving him something interesting. When he returned to the shop, a short Marshling man was standing outside. The alchemist didnt recognize him from the town, but the mud encrusting his bare feet gave him away as a local.
Here for some potions? Theo asked.
Aye, I am, the Marshling said.
Theo unlocked the door, getting close enough to the man to see a pair of old daggers stuffed in his belt. He wore light clothes that wouldnt do as armor. He gestured for the man to wait at the counter and pulled 5 [Lesser Healing Potions] off the shelf. Their stock of [Lesser Stamina Potions] had run dry, and there was no time to make more. The Marshlings eyes glittered as Theo set the potions on the counter.
Looking to be an adventurer? Theo asked.
Naturally, the man said, nodding his head. Ive seen you by the riverIm a fisher by trade.
Theo smiled. He wasnt sure how useful fishing skills would be against the wolves. I suppose were running a special for new adventurers. Five [Lesser Healing Potions] for ten copperBroken Tusk residents only.
Ten copper? the man scoffed. Ive seen traders running through town asking for sixty copper. Are they poisoned?
Theo let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. No, theyre not poisonous. I dont want to see the citizenry of Broken Tusk dead in the swamp. You get a discount on your first visit, then you pay full price.
Full price as in sixty copper?
Five, Theo shrugged.
The man tilted his head, nodding in agreement, fishing ten copper out of his pocket and cing it on the counter. Youre doing a fine service for the town.
Theo put the coins in his inventory, waving as the brusk Marshling left the shop. He didnt know if hed ever get over how much he enjoyed the jingling of the bell. He flipped the sign to Open before retreating upstairs.
The alchemist withdrew the roots from his inventory in batches of 20, appreciating that the system allowed him to split the stack. They fell on the ground with a dull thud, and he scooped them up. The most important part about the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was to remove the mud and trim them up for mashing. While his [Dexterity] score was low, he could quickly trim the roots and smash them up in a few minutes. His smashing stick mmed against the bottom of the barrel, turning the first batch into pulp. The massive quantity of roots hed collected took 10 such cycles of cutting, smashing, and dumping into the [Custom Copper Still].
Right as Theo lit the fire, after filling the still with [Purified water], the gentle tinkling of the bell issued from downstairs. He ced a sk under the condenser before rushing downstairs to find another person he vaguely recognized waiting. It was another Half-Ogre, a man this time, with his arms crossed. He was far better armed than his previous customers, with a well-maintained sword at his hip and freshly treated leather armor. The mud gathered up to the inseam of his leather pants gave him away as a resident of Broken Tusk.
Greetings, alchemist, he said.
How are you? Looking to get into adventuring? Theo said, smiling.
Ive dabbled in the past. Fancied myself a military man years ago. Got rejected from the Qavelli Irregrs and turned to farming. I have a [Swordsmanship Core], and most of my points into [Strength], the man said, delivering the information as a matter of fact. My name is Aarok Thane, by the way.
Theo looked the man over for a moment before responding. While the other would-be adventurers had the smell of failure on them, Aarok was well put together. He was a broad man, even by Half-Ogre standards, and carried himself with a poise umon in Broken Tusk. He had pale red skin, an oiled, slicked back head of hair, and a sleepy gaze that betrayed the intelligence that the alchemist saw in his gaze.
Very nice to meet you, Aarok, Theo said. Ill be honest, youre the first new adventurer to enter my shop that I can say looks like an adventurer.
Aarok looked at the sword on his hip, shrugging. Ive kept up with my swordy. Maintained my armor Nothing more.
Its impressive, Theo said. Well, Im running a special for new adventurers. Five healing potions for ten copper coins.
Thats a steal.
So Ive been told, Theo shrugged. The deal is only good for the first time, then its five copper per potion.
Youre trying to get the new adventurers started. Thats incredibly honorable for a Dronon, Aarok said.
Im an outworlder, Theo said, chuckling. I dont know how Dronon are meant to behave.
Aarok fished 10 copper coins out of his pocket, cing them on the counter. Theo retrieved the five [Lesser Healing Potions] from the shelf and returned to the Half-Ogre. He also plucked one of the four remaining [Potion of Vigors] from his inventory and set it on the counter, adding the coins to his inventory.
That should get you started, Theo said, gesturing to the six potions.
Aarok gathered the potions and added them to his bag. He locked his gaze on the alchemist again and nodded. Ill be back to pay the full price. Count on it.
Theo followed him out the door, switching the sign to Closed before locking up and darting upstairs. The fire was dying by the time he got back, a steady trickle of essence dripping into the sk. He stoked the fire, adding several twigs and coaxing it back to life. The alchemist propped the two back windows before swapping out the massive sk for a fresh one. Once the fires died a few more times, the entire batch was done cooking. He left the task of cleaning the massive stills until Tresk could help him move them around.
With the storage drawers empty of [Copper Shavings], Theo left the shop. Fortunately, no one gathered outside awaiting more potions. He trudged up the muddy hill to the cksmiths shop. Throk brought his hammer down on something glowing red-hot before meeting the alchemists gaze.
You better not be here to give me another job, Throk growled. Those adventurers are looking for weapons, and its been years since Ive made a sword.
Just looking for [Copper Shavings], Theo said.
Well, Ive got a heap of those out back from your job, Throk said, grunting. Help yourself to them.
Theo simply nodded, finding his way around the building. There was a massive pile of the shavingsying on the bare ground, mounded up near rusting iron castoffs. He ced his hand on the pile and sucked it into his inventory. It upied a box in the leather bag themed screen that crowded his vision, a number well over 10,000 sitting under the single tile. He made his way back to theb, shaking his head. If the shavings didnt stack to such an absurd number, hed need to take multiple trips back to the cksmith, not that he could imagine using so much of the material.
I just saved a Townsperson, Tresk said, her voice filling his ears as he marched back to the shop.
What happened?
Some Marshling tried to take on a pack of wolves. He got too greedy and needed me to bail him out, Tresk said. This is going to be dangerous for them.
Thats what I was worried about. The bounty seems nice in concept, but these people are going to throw themselves into the swamp and die, Theo said.
The alchemist decided to keep the shavings in his inventory for now. Even if theb was already cluttered, he didnt want to add to the piles of junk lying around everywhere. He fell into a rhythm at the [ssware Artifice], settling on using half of his [Healing Essence] to create [Lesser Healing Potions]. They had a lot of the [Water Motes], but burning through them all seemed like a waste. He set 100 t-bottomed vials across several tables and made a sk to use for the reaction. It was easier to withdraw an exact amount of [Copper Shavings] from his inventory. He could mentally select the exact number, 200 in this case, and drop it in a pile at the bottom of the sk. He then added 100 units of [Purified Water] and 100 units of [Healing Essence], the massive sk looking more like a ss barrel than anything.
Theo was happy that he propped the windows open earlier. The smoke that rose from the sk might have smelled nice, but it wafted in a thick red cloud that hung in the air. Several minutes of coughing and fanning the smoke out of the windowster and he started distributing the [Lesser Healing Potion] mixture. It still sat at great quality, but it was good enough for the adventurers in Broken Tusk. Hed need to improve his process even more if he wanted the potion to hold a better quality. By the end of the bottling process, sweat gathered on his brow and he gained another level in both his alchemy core and his character level.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 6.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 6.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
The alchemist inspected his character sheet before applying his free point.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 6
Alchemist
Core Slots: 2
Stats:
Health: 42
Mana: 10
Stamina: 53
Strength: 7 (+2)
Dexterity: 5
Vigor: 10 (+3)
Intelligence: 10 (+2)
Wisdom: 21 (+5)
Points: 1
Theo considered putting a point somewhere other than wisdom, but it was a hard sell. The more [Wisdom] he got, the more ingrained his innate sense for how things worked was. His memory sharpened with every level in the stat, already pushing him beyond anything possible back on Earth. The only other stat hed consider putting points into was [Intelligence], mostly because his mental math was pitiful. Being an excellent judge of himself, or perhaps because of his [Wisdom] stat, he estimated that he was currently at the intelligence of a straight C student in college. He could remember almost everything that he read, but his ability to extrapte information wascking. He sucked it up and dumped the point into [Intelligence], feeling a gentle tingle run through his brain.
The alchemist retreated downstairs, filling the shelves with his potions in time for Tresk to return. She stomped in the door, a broad grin painting her face.
You stink, Theo said.
Tresk withdrew her [Cleansing Scrub], cing several drops of the liquid on herself before moving further into the shop. She wordlessly inspected the ledger and cast Theo a surprised expression. You made 30 copper today.
From three hapless adventures, Theo scoffed. How deep into the marsh was that Marshling you saved?
You sold him potions, didn''t you? Tresk said,ughing.
I did. Chipped daggers. No armor. Said he was a fisherman.
He was about ten paces into the swamp, Tresk said. Spotted a pack of wolves and went in without thinking.
Theo shook his head, groaning. Well, how much did you get paid in bounties?
30 copper. But I brought back more wolf parts this time, including three usable hides, Tresk said.
Hopefully, you have meat and bones, Theo said. I bought some cookware from your father.
Oh, Ive got wolf bones. Bones and meat, Tresk said proudly.
The pair locked the door and went upstairs. Theo stoked the dying embers from the fire back to life, positioning the pot stand which Throk sold him over the mes. Tresk produced several bones from her inventory, dropping them in the pot before filling it with water. They chatted idly as the pot came to a boil, bothmenting theck of vegetables in their stew. Before long, the bone broth was done, and they added strips of fatty wolf meat.
Monster wolf stew, Theo said, grimacing. Cant be worse than the stuff that Xam makes.
Tresk snorted augh, stirring the soup with a long wooden spoon. A knock came from the front door, and Theo rose to answer it. Luras was standing there, arms folded with a grimace on his face.
You werent at the tavern, he said.
Theo stuck his head out the door, finding the sun to be in its pre-dusk position. Its still early.
Luras shuffled awkwardly on the spot, casting his gaze to the ground. I smelled your soup from the street.
Ah, an honest confession, Theo said, beaming. Youre wee to it, if you dont mind sitting on the floor of myb.
Luras wordlessly pushed past him, ascending the stairs, with Theo close behind. Tresk gave him her greetings, gesturing for him to take a ce by the fire.
How was Rivers and Daub? Tresk asked.
Luras sat there for a moment, and Theo could see the gears turning in his head. It was the thing the Half-Ogre did when he wasnt willing to share all the details. The dungeon gaining a few levels is going to be the least of our concerns, soon.
That sounds grim, Tresk said, scooping out bowlfuls of the stew to pass out. She handed a bowl to Theo and Luras. They both set it down to cool.
Qavell is going to war, if the rumors are true. Veosta to the west are rattling their swords.
How does war affect us all the way to the south? Theo asked.
The alchemist picked up a wooden spoon and prodded the stew. The meat looked tender enough, having boiled for a fair amount of time, and the scent wasnt bad. It smelled like bone broth and little else, which made sense. He took a spoonful of the liquid and sipped it. Despite his negative experiences with bone broth in the past, this iteration was delicious. It had a deep, savory vor that lingered on the tongue. The fat from the wolf meat danced on top of the yellowed soup, adding to the vor.
Nothing direct, of course, Luras said. Theyll fight their war, and we wont feel it. But war breeds deserters, and those result in bandits.
Tresk scowled. We havent had a bandit problem down here since my father was a child.
And Broken Tusk was still young enough to go unnoticed, Luras said. With the recent waves weve been making, well be a target. People looking to lie low, or pick an easy mark.
Theo took a bite of wolf meat, looking to avoid the topic. It was unreasonably tender and split into stringy sections under just the force of his bite. The vor was mundane, only soaking up the bone broth and adding nothing more to the dish. The vor of the soup was leagues ahead of the swill that Xam served, and cost them nothing to make.
Wed be overtaken by a rabble, Tresk said. She told the story of the adventurer she saved, and how disorganized he was.
Aarok seemed put together, Theo said, looking up from his soup.
I know Aarok, Luras said. We shared the dream of soldiery before Well, thats water under the bridge.
Theo should have known that Aarok didnt give him the full story, but wouldnt pry. Whatever secrets Luras wanted to keep were his to hold. Reopening old wounds was something that he avoided at all times, preferring to keep things smooth among his friends.
Militia! Tresk shouted, unprompted. We should make our own little army.
Thats not a horrible idea, Luras said, shrugging.
How many worthwhile adventurers do we have in town? Three? Two of them are in this room, Theo said, sighing. Not much of a militia.
Theyre useless now, but give them time, Luras said. You cant judge someone by the first step they take in a journey.
Ill leave that judgment to you guys, Theo said. If you can whip the other people into shape, thats a reasonable approach.
I smell the invisible but in your statement, Tresk said.
But we should level the town up, Theo said. Right? We should upgrade it until we have walls. Id feel safer with walls.
Walls are a great idea, Luras said. An un-walled town like this is easy to attack, and the core they used to seed the town should get a stone wall upgrade at level 5.
Id really like roads, Theo grumbled.
I have 30 cores I was going to use on the shop, Tresk said. We wont get another upgrade until level 10, so we may as well use them on the town.
Ive got arge stock of cores at my house, Luras said.
I didnt know you had a house, Theo said, returning his attention to the soup.
Did you think he lived in the woods? Tresk asked.
Yes.
The rest of the group turned their attention to the soup, voicing their surprise at how good it was. They whittled away thete afternoon hours with strategies and ns for training the adventurers. Theo was only interested in obtaining more cores, and conducting more alchemical experiments. He lit the candles when the day grew into dusk; the conversation shifting rapidly between topics. The group settled on using the training to collect cores, allowing the training adventurers to collect the bounty while they kept the wolf parts.
The soup was unreasonably good, Luras said, rising from the ground. But we need some chairs. Im going to post a notice at the tavern. Training starts tomorrow.
With Luras gone, Tresk and Theo pressed their foreheads together and gained a level in the [Tarahek Core]. Unlike their individual core progress, the specialized core advanced at exactly the same pace for both of them. The alchemist extinguished the candles as night fell over Broken Tusk. With the entire pot of still-hot stew in Theos inventory, they settled into bed, and he kicked himself for not sorting out Tresks sleeping situation.
Sleep came easily, but the threat of bandits and the dungeon monsters weighed heavily on Theos mind but exhaustion won the battle.
Chapter 19: Creeping Rot
Chapter 19: Creeping Rot
Theo was the first to wake the next morning, and he was getting good at creeping out of the bedroom without disturbing Tresk. In his previous life he would never have considered waking up before dawn, but in Broken Tusk it was a regr thing. He lit the candles and started a small fire for the tea. The cast-iron teapot bore the scorch marks on its side from the repetition of use, burning deeper as he set it down on the mes. As he settled down near the fire, a notification filled the middle of his vision.
[Rent is Due!]
Rent for [The Newt and Demon] is due in the amount of 10 copper coins, payable to [Miana] or the next eptable functionary.
The rent was less than he expected, but the mayor would want him to make good on his debts as well. Theo had 39 copper, 4 silver to his name. With each day his expenses mounted without traders to properly buy his goods. He let out a heavy sigh and took stock of his materials. There were smatterings of reagents here and there, but not enough to make a full run of anything. He ran through each ingredient in his mind, his superior [Wisdom] allowing him to recall each one with rity.
[Ogre Cypress Bark] had the [Cure Ailment] property, which he took to mean diseases, and would be useful if monsters used afflictions. [Zee Kernel] was also useful in that regard, providing the [Cure Poison] property, providing a simr application. Everything else seemed to be of dubious use, or too dangerous to eat. He could discover more properties by eating something, but the only thing that seemed worth trying was the [Moss Nettle]. He pulled some of the soggy moss from its storage crate and took a tenuous bite. His head rushed, sending him tumbling to the ground before a message shed.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Moss Nettle] by eating it.
[Stamina Surge] discovered.
As with most things with the system, it didnt give him a description of the property. He couldnt make assumptions about how the stamina would surge, and shrugged it away. Theo made a mental note to run a small batch of the moss to discover its effect, but pushed it aside in his mind. The only other ingredient he would taste was the [Marsh Tuber]. The description even said it was edible, highlighting the fact that it was foul tasting. Moments after taking the smallest bite, his stomach twisted into a knot. The taste was exactly as foul as the description imed, sending the alchemist rushing for the barrel of [Purified Water] to cleanse the acrid sting on his tongue. It was like battery acid, and he didnt know how it was ptable. The message shed regardless of how vile it was.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Marsh Tuber] by eating it.
[Barkskin] discovered.
Theo didnt need an in-depth exnation of that effect. Knowing the tenuous nature of the world as he did, the alchemist assumed that hardening ones skin came with drawbacks. It was still the perfect potion to brew for new adventurers, giving them an edge over the hordes of wolves outside their town. He was preparing the 30 units of left-over [Marsh Tubers] when Tresk finally stepped into theb. She stretched at the threshold, smacking her lips before shambling over to the tea.
Good morning, she said, still groggy.
Morning. Im going to start a potion run, Theo said.
Breakfast?
Theo withdrew the still-hot cauldron of soup from his inventory, his hands burning on the sides. He quickly set it on the ground, wincing at the pain. I hope you want more soup.
Soup is perfect, she said, finding a bowl and filling it.
The tubers were slightly more difficult to process than most things and needed to be cut into small pieces for the mash. Tresk sat near the fire, barely moving as she ate her soup. Theo poured two cups of tea, handing hispanion one before mashing the tubers. His low [Strength] stat made the task difficult, but he managed. He dumped them into the clean still and started a fire using one under the boiling kettle. He focused on extracting the second property of the tubers. With a sk ced under the condenser, he joined Tresk and grabbed a bowl of the soup.
Were going to be eating soup for days, Theo said, peering into the cauldron. It was only half-empty at this point.
Yeah, Tresk said, yawning.
You seem extremely tired, Theo said, cing his hand on her forehead. It was mmy and hot. Are you sick?
Maybe, Tresk said. Marshlings are extremely resistant to disease and poison, though.
I think youre just exhausted, Theo said, testing the soup. It was still as perfect as it wasst night.
Maybe we should brew some potions to cure diseases, Tresk said. Just in case.
Theo helped her to her feet and escorted her to the room, tucking her into his bed. Ill brew the potions, you stay here.
Tresk groaned in response, and Theo rushed back into theb, pulling the door closed behind him. He didnt want her to see the panic on his face, but she was too out of it to realize that he was concerned. The second still was still caked with yesterdays mess. He scrubbed the edges of the still, scraping off the edges with his knife before returning the still to his inventory. The tables were heavy, but he shoved all his weight against one and brought it to the window. Theo removed the still from his inventory, and it fell with a tter on the table.
It was only a matter of opening the window, and tipping the contents of the still out into the gravel garden below. He used his inventory to return the still to its original position, drinking some tea before starting a new fire under the second still. Theo zipped around theb, frantically preparing a mash of the [Ogre Cypress Bark] left over from the tannery job, and dumping it in the cleaned still. He leveled it off with 10 units of [Purified Water] and inserted a sk under the condenser.
Theo left theb, cracking the bedroom door open to find Tresk heaving breath. He let out a whispered curse before pulling the door closed and returning to theb.
Why dont I have these things on hand? he asked. The emptyb responded with the sputtering hisses of dual condensers.
The alchemist waited at the edge of the table, tapping his foot impatiently as the stills did their work. He tried to rationalize the situation, forcing his mind to realize that [Cure Ailment] was the best property for the job. She could have a Marshling cold, and he wouldnt know what to look for. The only thing he could reach for was alchemy, and it left him feeling vulnerable. The 10 units of mash cooked down quickly, Throks amazing still doing its work.
Theo shoved the fire out from underneath the still and snatched the [Purifying Essence]. He approached the [ssware Artifice] and created his standard t-bottomed vial. The reaction was immediate when he added the ingredients together. It smelled like wood polish, but the description gave him hope.
[Lesser Potion of Purification]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Low-tier purification potion that removesmon ailments.
Effect:
Remove one affliction instance from the drinker.
Theo returned to the bedroom with the potion in hand. Tresks forehead felt hotter than it did before. Tresk, can you hear me?
She stirred slightly, but only groaned in response. Theo tipped her head back and forced the potion into her mouth. Tresk tried to object, but even with her high [Strength] the affliction sapped it all away. He saw her swallow the potion and stood, his heart hammering hard in her ears. The Marshling was consumed by ribbons of light, swirling over her body with a buzzing sound. After a moment, it vanished and her eyes snapped open.
What the hell is [Creeping Rot]? she asked, coughing.
Theo let out a sigh of relief, falling to the ground and chuckling.
What happened? Tresk asked.
Theo exined what just happened, the Marshling growing more pale as he got further into the story. She then flushed a deep shade of pink and busied herself with the bedsheets.
A monster wolf got hold of my arm yesterday, Tresk said. It was such a scramble I must have missed the notification.
Theo let out another steadying breath, kneeling by the bedside and smiling at hispanion. We need to make sure the adventurers have these potions. Im pretty sure you were dying.
My health bar says as much, Tresk said, groaning into a seated position. Only about 25% left.
Drink a potion, Theo said, scowling.
Tresk obeyed, removing a [Lesser Healing Potion] from her bag and downing it. She smiled at him beforeughing. I picked the right Tarahek partner, thats for sure.
Theo scoffed, returning to theb to tend to the other still. Tresk followed close behind him, taking a seat by the fire. The pair sat there for some time, only tending the fire and finishing their breakfast. The tea did a lot to calm the alchemists nerves, but he was shaken. He med himself for the mistake, unable to keep his mind off of making money where he should have been preparing his partner for adventuring. Even if she imed she was seasoned, she spent her early years in her fathers smithy. They were growing together, and that came with pain.
Adventurers face a lot of stuff like that, Tresk said, breaking the silence.
The condenser on the still sputtered into silence and Theo went over to remove the fire beneath it. He let out a sigh and regarded hispanion. I know. Im beating myself up because I feel like you should have every potion under the sun. Its not reasonable, but I want you to have everything you need at the ready.
Its not reasonable, but I understand, Tresk said.
This might help with that, though, Theo said, inspecting the sk.
[Barkskin Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
30 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of barkskin.
Would you mind making me 30 vials? Theo asked. Well make half now, and halfter.
Of course, Tresk said, moving off to work on the [ssware Artifice].
Theo found a skrge enough to contain the 60 unit reaction, rinsing it out with [Purified Water]. He added the water, shavings, and essence, gaining a vtile reaction for his efforts. It bubbled and sputtered before emitting a cloud of smoke that smelled like the forest. The alchemist fanned it out the window, his heart thumping in his ears again. It was a pale brown color, fizzing with effervescence. He approached the reaction like the other low-level ones, assuming that it was one-to-one like [Lesser Healing Potions]. The fear that hisb would explode crowded his mind the moment that plume of smoke came out, but he breathed a sigh of relief and inspected the solution.
[Lesser Barkskin Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Drink to gain Barkskin effect for 3 minutes.
Effect:
Imbibers skin is turned to bark, increasing their defense significantly at the cost of mobility.
Theo began distributing the potion into the vials that hispanion had made. She scooped one up and inspected it, her eyes going wide. This is amazing, she said.
I thought Barkskin might be useful, Theo said. Another potion you can drink if youre in a bind.
The pair distributed all 30 units of the solution into the vials, jamming the ss stoppers in the top before going downstairs to ce them in the shop. In the early morning light, Theo could finally appreciate how much he liked the shop. The orange sunlight filtered through the front windows, casting the room in a pale glow. They ced the potions on a shelf and stood there, drinking in the sight.
A knock came from the door, and Theo let Luras into the shop. The Half-Ogre looked over Tresk and knit his brow. You look pale.
Almost died, Tresk said, smiling.
A wolf had [Creeping Rot], Theo said.
Luras titled his head. They must have evolved since the dungeon was upgraded. Theyre essentially scouts. None of the really nasty stuff like goblins are going to hit the surface.
At least theres that, Theo said.
Im guessing you made a potion that cured the affliction, Luras said. Youll want to stock a supply of that, unless we want to see dead vigers everywhere.
Are you ready to go train the adventurers? Tresk said, undaunted by her brush with death.
Not so fast, Theo said. You both need to take a [Lesser Barkskin Potion] and a few [Lesser Potion of Purifications] before you leave.
Theo retreated upstairs without waiting for their responses, bottling the rest of the cure and returning downstairs. He distributed it among the two, finally satisfied that they could handle the deadly wolves.
Youre like our mother, Luras said.
Yeah, take a few [Lesser Healing Potions], too, Theo said. Seriously, I almost had a heart attack with Tresk.
Tresk smiled, scooping a few of the healing potions into her bag beforeing to press her forehead against Theos. They gained some experience, likely because of the harrowing experience upstairs, before the two adventurers departed. The alchemist intended to go to the tavern before opening the shop, hoping to find someone to run the shop so he could free up his time. Making money was nice, but the fuel that powered that engine was the potions hed been neglecting.
The Marsh Wolf tavern was mostly empty, and Theo found the notice board tucked away near the counter. Xam greeted him as he read over the notices, most of them concerning the bounty on the wolves outside of the town.
I need someone to run the shop. Anyonee to mind? Theo asked.
Xam pressed her finger into her chin and hummed. She stood there for a moment before shrugging. Most people in town areborers. That work force thinned out when the wolf notice went up, but I know someone who would want the job.
How good are they with people? Theo asked.
Fine, just fine, Xam said. Hes my brother, so Ill vouch for him if youre concerned.
Send him to the shop, Theo said. He didnt want to post a sign in the tavern, having no desire to wait for help with the shop. I offerborer wages for the time being, but its simple work.
Azrug likes simple work, Xam said, sighing. Doesnt even have his cores yet.
What does that mean?
I forget youre an outworlder, sometimes, Xam said. People dont get their cores until theye of age. Depends on the person, but that usually happens around 15 years old.
Good thing theres no childborws here, Theo scoffed.
Xam smiled. Hell be around soon, if youd like to wait.
I need to grab some materials, Theo said. Were going to have a gue of [Creeping Rot] soon.
Anything you want to share? Xam said, raising an eyebrow.
The wolves inflict [Creeping Rot], thats all I know, Theo said.
Then, by all means, Xam said, gesturing to the door.
Theo left, not really knowing how to take the womans tone. He shrugged it off and made his way down to the tannery, intent on purchasing [Ogre Cypress Bark] from Perg. With the threat of wolves so close to town, he wasnt willing to delve into the swamp itself. He didnt want any part of that danger, and knew he couldnt handle himself against a level 1 monster, let alone something above level 5.
Perg, Theo said, waving at the tannery owner. She was standing in her customary spot, arms folded, with a bright smile on her face.
Well, if it isnt the alchemist. Come to check up on our progress? Perg asked.
Not exactly, Theo said. Although, now that you mention it, hows the processing going?
I cleared out my entire warehouse, Perg said. We did a years worth of work in a day.
Perfect. And it doesnt smell like death anymore, Theo said. Now all we need is some traveling merchants.
Right, so whats the real reason youre here?
I need to buy some [Ogre Cypress Bark] from you, Theo said. The wolves inflicted [Creeping Rot] on Tresk. Almost killed her.
Perg pushed off from the side of the warehouse and knit her brow. You know that youre wee to just take the bark.
Come on. Thats not fair, Theo said.
Let me say this again. We processed a years worth of hides in a day, Perg said. Youre taking ten percent of what I sell this stuff for. Thats not nearly enough. Also, youre going to use the potions to cure townsfolk. Just take the bark. Ive got my crew running around stockpiling supplies, anyway.
Theo shuffled his feet, eager to take the free [Ogre Cypress Bark]. He still felt guilty that he wasnt paying for it, but marched into the warehouse. Piles ofpleted leather sat on all corners of the ce. The pits in the center of the building were empty and drained of the foul liquid. The pile of bark had grownrger since he was here thest time. He eagerly shoved the ingredients into his inventory, only stopping when they went over the stack limit of 400.
The traders will show up soon, Perg said. Word should be out by now. I hope your shop is ready for it.
We are. Im hiring Azrug to run the shop part of it, Theo said.
Xams kid brother? Hes smart, Perg said.
Good. As long as Im not babysitting, Im happy, Theo said.
Chapter 20: The Kid
Chapter 20: The Kid
Theo returned to the shop to find a short Half-Ogre waiting patiently by the door. He looked a lot like Xam, with the same dark red skin and soft expression. The kid perked up when the alchemist approached as though he were standing at attention. Eagerness was good, and whoever watched the shop didnt need to be a master negotiator.
Azrug? Theo asked, noting the boys mud-stained clothes. He would have spent most of his life working the fields.
My sister sent me, he said, shuffling his feet awkwardly. Said you had some work.
Theo unlocked the shop and entered, gesturing for the boy to wait by the counter. He retrieved a bottle of [Cleansing Scrub] and handed it to Azrug, quickly exining its use. The boy stood there for a moment before the alchemist encouraged him to use it, which he did. The effect startled him, but the cleansing effect of the potion washed away all the dirt from the fields, leaving him in pristine order.
Now that you dont smell like manure, Theo said, taking a spot behind the counter. Its a simple job. Ill give you a price list on the potions, and you sell them.
So, I stand behind the counter? For how long?
From an hour after sunrise to noon, if thats agreeable, Theo said.
He didnt see a need for the boy to man the shop all day. The alchemist simply needed a few hours to get his other duties done, then he could take customers as they came. With Tresk off adventuring, where she belonged, he just needed someone to hawk his potions in the morning.
Whats the pay? Azrug asked, narrowing his eyes.
Two copper a day, Theo said. It was more than theborers in the fields earned, most of the time.
Seems suspicious, Azrug said. I wont end up in some alchemists cauldron, am I?
I honestly dont know if Half-Ogres are useful for potion making, Theo said. If you have an issue with the arrangement, I can pluck anotherborer from the fields.
Theo was feigning confidence. He wanted nothing more than to have the matter sorted. He couldnt tell if Azrug was reluctant to ept because the deal was too good, or that he was a Dronon. It was easy to rule out the second option when he considered the good nature of the Half-Ogres. They were the most weing bunch of people hed ever met.
Sit behind the counter and sell potions, Azrug said, knitting his brow. Pay me up front for today so I know this isnt a ruse.
Theo produced two copper coins from his inventory and ced them on the table. Going forward youll be paid at the end of the day. If Im not here to, simply take the money from the days earnings and leave the rest under the counter.
You trust me that much?
Theo pressed his index finger into the [Perpetual Ledger] and grinned. Anything you sell in the shop will be logged here. It has the date, what you sold, and how much you sold it for.
Fine, Azrug said, nodding. Ill try it.
Good. Perch yourself behind the counter, Theo said. Im going to work in theb upstairs. Flip the sign outside and wait around. Youre free to Bring a book, or whatever it is people do in this world to pass the time.
Really? Azrug said. Could I have a chair, too?
The alchemist looked around the room. While the upgrade provided shelves and a counter, there was no chair for the boy to sit on during the long day. He furrowed his brow and sighed. I dont have any chairs.
You should get some chairs. Theres a woodworker near the foot of the farmers mound.
Care to run an errand?
Sure.
Theo produced five copper coins from his inventory and handed it to the boy. Theres no way five chairs would cost over five copper. If they did, it was robbery. Five chairs.
Azrug took two of the coins and smiled. He sells them two for a copper, but I can talk him down.
The alchemist raised an eyebrow as the kid bound through the front door and up the street. If he wasnt lying about his ability to talk the carpenter down, that was a good sign for running the store. Theo went upstairs to tend to the stills, cleaning them out before he heard the bell tinkle downstairs. When he went back to the first floor, he was surprised to see the small Half-Ogre with five hardwood chairs, tastefully carved and decorated. Azrug had a beaming smile on his face, setting more chairs than a boy should be able to carry down with a tter.
Two copper, Azrug said, producing the remaining three copper. Like I said.
Well, youve earned your seat, then. Let me write a few things down for you, Theo said. He wrote a detailed list of the prices, highlighting the fact that new adventurers got a discount. The prices were set at what was fair for a local to pay, 5 copper for a [Lesser Healing Potion], the [Lesser Barkskin Potion] at 8, and the [Cleansing Scrub] at 1. He left instructions to find him if someone from out of town arrived.
Looks good, boss, Azrug said, reclining in his chair.
Theo scoffed, taking the remaining four chairs in his inventory and ascending the staircase. Tresk updated him on the situation with the adventurers. Ten of them arrived for the training session in dire need of help. It was going well after a few missteps by the new fighters, leading to a few close calls. He told her to be careful before depositing his new chairs in theb. The alchemist sat there for some time, appreciating being off the ground for once.
The stills were a mess from the morning run. Theo used his new technique of shoving a table against the window to clean everything, dumping the fouled water into the gravel yard below. He ced them back in their spots, and considered doing more experimentation. He cast those thoughts away, focusing his mind on curing the inevitable gue of [Creeping Rot] that woulde. Today was another false start though as his water barrel barely had enough [Purified Water] to make a 10 unit run. He ced it in his inventory and made to leave the shop, hearing the tinkle of the front doors bell.
Wee to the Newt and Demon, Azrug said, holding his arms out and beaming at the customer.
The man that stood at the threshold was a meek-looking Half-Ogre, casting his gaze over the shop in awe. Theo realized immediately that Azrug was good.
I take it from that pig-sticker on your hip that youre a new adventurer, Azrug said. Were running a special today. He nced down at the parchment Theo left him for only a moment, making the action look natural. Five potions for ten copper. You wont find a better deal anywhere.
Of course, the man said, nodding. Just cant resist that bounty.
Who can? But you knowjust for youIll add a [Lesser Barkskin Potion] and a [Cleansing Scrub] for five copper. What do you say?
Alright. Not looking to die out there, the man said, fishing the money out of his pocket.
Azrug smiled, moving to collect the goods and set them on the counter. He counted out the coins that the man set down, mping one between his teeth, before smiling again. A pleasure doing business with you, sir. Tell all your friends that the Newt and Demon is open for business!
The man left, a wide smile on his face. Theo scoffed, descending thest of the stairs and cing a hand on the boys shoulder. Yeah, I have nothing to teach you. I might sit in on your sales and get a few pointers for myself.
Ive been hawking garbage to the fine folks of Broken Tusk since I could walk, Azrug said, waving Theo away. Not that its hard to sell stuff that actually does something.
In a short time, Azrug went from a nervous boy to a master salesman. Theo was amazed at the level of poise the boy showed. The way he upsold the additional potion was perfect, reminding him of those annoying people back on Earth. He remembered going into the electronics store looking for something, and leaving with an armful of useless junk. The difference here was that all the potions they sold were life-saving things. They were the razor''s edge that protected these people for certain death out in the swamp.
Right. Be on your toes if theres someone from outside of Broken Tusk, Theo said. That [Lesser Healing Potion] you sold for two copper goes for fifty in the capital.
Azrug nodded, knitting his brow as thoughmitting the information to memory. The traveling merchants might be out of my league, but Ill do my best.
Youre a natural, kid, Theo said. I need to run errands. Keep being awesome.
Theo saw the wide smile on the kids face as he left, feeling warmth bloom through his chest. Hed leave the money with Azrug to test his loyalty. 15 copper was a tempting amount for a person used to working the fiends and scraping by. It seemed like a cruel thing to do, but if they were going to have a long-term rtionship, it was necessary.
The alchemist made his way to Throks cksmith, finding the Marshling banging away on something in his workshop. He got a good deal on four water barrels, only paying two copper for them. He stuffed them in his inventory and made his way to Mianas house, finding her leering through the window. She threw the door open and cast him a scowl.
Rent is due, she said, stone-faced as always.
Theo produced 25 copper, handing it to her. He wanted to clear out some of the lower-cost items on his [Pay your debts] quest while he was there. She seemed to understand the gesture, snatching the coins out of his hand and mming the door in his face. He inspected the quest before departing for the river.
[Pay your debts]
Quest
Miana Kell has overseen your transition into your new world, and you owe her a lot of money!
Objectives:
Pay the following debts:
[Medical Services Rendered] : 1 Silver (DONE)
[Room and Board (1 week)]: 10 Copper (DONE)
[Alchemyb (to be paid in installments)]: 1 Gold
[Equipment therein (to be paid in installments]: 1 Gold
[Service Charge]: 5 Copper (DONE)
Two gold seemed like an absurd fortune to him. The long road that stretched ahead seemed daunting, but at least he could pay it in installments. Theo found the river, and the fishermen that patrolled its shores. He filled all five of his barrels before returning to the shop. Azrug found a book from somewhere and was reading it when he returned. The boy barely looked up at him when he entered, but the alchemist didnt mind. He didnt hire the Half-Ogre for idle chatter.
Theo ced all five barrels along the northern wall of theb, purifying each one in turn. With the window still propped open, he wafted the disparate fumes outside, although he didnt mind the smell of that reaction. The thing he appreciated most about the day was thefort that the chair brought when processing the [Ogre Cypress Bark]. His back didnt hurt as much in this world as it did on Earth, but spending hours hunched over a barrel still took its toll. Seated in the fine wooden chair made the task simple, and he spent the next hour processing 200 units of the bark, cutting it into smaller pieces and mashing it with his stick.
The fire crackled under the still, and Theo heard the bell downstairs. Azrugs boisterous voice, far toomanding for a boy so young, came from downstairs. The alchemist reclined in his chair, kicking his feet up onto the table as he tried to follow the conversation. Even with the door opened, it was too muffled to hear the exchange, but he listened anyway. The bell tinkled again after a few minutes, and the shop was silent again.
The [Ogre Cypress Bark] took over an hour to distill. While Throks invention was extremely efficient, it struggled to churn through the huge load he put on it. The bell tinkled several times during the run. Theo had to swap out the sks several times, unwilling to deal with the barrel-sized ssware and favoring ones that could hold 50 units. The end of the run resulted in 200 units of [Purifying Essence], and Theos new shopkeeper poking his head into theb.
Its quitting time, boss, Azrug said. Got some fancy equipment in here.
I manage, Theo said. Lets go see what you''ve sold.
The pair descended the stairs, and Theo immediately spotted the pile of copper underneath the counter. Azrug stood by the [Perpetual Ledger], running his finger over the log and nodding to himself. All new adventurer sales. Some of them went for the additional potions, and others refused.
You made five sales today, Theo said, scoffing. People are starting to learn about the shop, arent they?
At the end of his short workday, Azrug sold 25 [Lesser Healing Potions],3 [Lesser Barkskin Potions], and 3 of the scrub. Theo counted out the pile of copper coins, cross-referencing the ledger to find that the amount was urate. The shop made 65 copper coins under the young Half-Ogres watch.
Well, Ill see you tomorrow, Azrug said, waving and leaving out the front door.
Theo added the copper coins to his inventory, shaking his head in disbelief. He mentally informed Tresk about his new shopkeeper, and how much of a burden it had lifted. She was wrapping up the day in the swamp, eager to return to the shop after a long day fighting. He kept the shop open until hispanion returned, heading back up to theb to create vials. The single downside of the [ssware Artifice] was its inability to generate more than one vial at a time. Hed overlook that problem, unsure of where hed source ssware otherwise.
The bell rang downstairs, just after Theopleted 200 t-bottomed vials for the [Lesser Potion of Purification] run, but it was Tresk. She was filthy from the swamp and applied some [Cleansing Scrub] to herself before pressing her forehead against his.
Luras donated all the cores he found to the cause. So did the other adventurers, but that was part of the agreement, Tresk said. 55 cores, all around level 5, should be enough for a level or two.
Makes sense. The town is a much bigger thing than our shop, Theo said.
More good news. I have more wolf parts, and we stumbled on some wild [Swamp Onions], Tresk said, removing a small vegetable from her inventory. It looked like a tiny version of a regr onion with gnarled rootsing out of the bottom. Theo inspected it.
[Swamp Onion]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Umon
Swamp Onions grow near the mossy embankmentsmon in the marsh. They blend in with local flora, and can be extremely difficult to spot.
Properties:
???? ???? ????
It was the first itemcking at least one property description. Without asking for permission, he took a bite out of the side. Tresk grimaced. The vor reflected her expression. It was as though someone condensed the essence of arge red onion into a tiny package, unleashing all the vor in a small package.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Swamp Onion] by eating it.
[Stench] discovered.
It has the [Stench] property, Theo said, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
Yeah, those are potent things. You dont see them that often, Tresk said. We found an entire bed of them near a peat bog in the middle of the swamp. I picked a lot.
The vor lingered in Theos mouth, refusing to go away for a long time. He flipped the sign to closed before locking up for the day. The pair retreated upstairs to make their dinner. Dusk was a way off, but they were both exhausted from the day. Theo knew Tresk was significantly more tired than he was and wanted to make sure she had something to eat before sleeping. He checked her forehead, causing her to giggle, and dumped the contents of their old stew out the window. It seemed like a waste of food, but he got over it.
Chairs! Tresk shouted, hopping into a chair. You bought chairs!
That was Azrugs idea, Theo said.
They settled in, stoking one fire to life and cing the cauldron over it. Tresk prepared the onions, using them sparingly, while Theo got the cauldron ready.
More barrels, Tresk said, nodding to the north-facing wall of theb. Thats a great idea.
Your father sold them to me, Theo said,ughing. I felt like I went on a spending spree today, then we made a ton of money.
Maybe not a ton of money, Tresk said. But it was a good amount. Luras and I made half a silver killing wolves.
Youre sure you dont have creeping rot, again? Theo asked.
Im sure. Anyway, I see youre setting up tobat that problem, Tresk said. What should we price those potions at?
Free if someone has the rot, Theo said. Otherwise, a copper? I really dont care.
Youre too generous. If some haughty nortnderes down here, you better gouge them, Tresk said.
Absolutely. I even gave our new shopkeeper instructions to do exactly that, Theo said.
Theo added the onions first, quickly understanding the [Stench] property on the vegetable. The smell filled the air, and he was immediately d Tresk only cut one of them up. Any more than that and theyd need to evacuate the room. It cooked down quickly, caramelizing in the cauldron and crackling among the dancing wolf fat. Tresk cleaned the cuts of meat she brought this time, minimizing the amount of fat sitting on the strips. They added the bones and water before letting that boil away for a while.
Future ns? Tresk said, stirring the mixture.
Our immediate goal is to upgrade the town, Theo said. How long before the wolves get into town?
Not long, Tresk said. Theyre edging closer to Broken Tusk by the day. Even with the new adventurers, its going to be rough.
Right. Make money and collect cores, Theo said. We owe 2 gold on this ce.
Tresk grimaced. They hadnt spoken about the debt that he owed at length. Small steps.
Theo would have preferred to sear the wolf meat before cing it in the stew, but this workedst time. They cut the strips of meat into little chunks, adding more than they needed, and let it simmer for some time. It smelled far better than thest time they made it. [Swamp Onions] were the key to making a wonderful stew, as far as he was concerned. As if on cue, a knock came at the front door. The alchemist wasnt surprised to see Luras, craning his head to see inside.
I smelled the soup, Luras said.
Is it soup, or stew? Theo asked.
Beats me. Can I have some? Luras asked, grinning.
Theo invited him in, leading him upstairs. The Half-Ogre was surprised to see the chairs arranged around a table. He dly took a seat and smiled at hispanions. He was in better spirits than he was the other day. Either the news of war had faded, or the weariness from travel. Luras took a bowl of the soup when it was ready and helped himself, making satisfied sounds with every bite.
This is so much better thanst time, Luras said. The onion is the key.
Agreed, Theo said, nodding. He took his first bite of the soup and couldnt disagree with the Half-Ogres words. Something about the potent [Swamp Onion] brought out the best vors of the wolf meat. Even the broth seemed richer thanst time, elevating it beyond anything he thought possible. Xams stew seemed like a distant memory, overshadowed by their new recipe.
No offense to Xam, but her soup sucks, Tresk said.
She makes a perpetual stew, Luras said. It boils away for weeks at a time.
Theo grimaced, his brow knitting tight. That sounded disgusting. Thats vile.
Its prettymon in poorer areas, Luras said. The wolf poption was low when you got here. Now that we have a steady supply, everyone is getting fat.
Id rather get fat on coin, Theo said.
Luras poked him in the stomach, grinning. I dont think youll ever get fat. Youre like a twig.
Tresk grabbed Theos thin arm and shook it around. Look at these noodles.
Theo cast a re over the pair, feigning anger. Youre lucky I dont copse under a stiff breeze, Tresk.
The Marshling erupted inughter, almost spilling her soup in herp. The conversation switched between topics, never lingering on anything long enough to produce depth. Tresk intended to use every [Monster Core] in her possession tomorrow, but Luras doubted it was enough to get to level 5. They nned ongoing out again in the morning, Theo insisting they take as many [Lesser Potion of Purifications] as they could carry.
Luras left when dusk threatened outside, bidding them farewell and patting his newly rounded belly. Theo stowed the cauldron in his inventory and shoved Tresk toward the bedroom. She might not have been acting tired, but he knew it was catching up with her. His own stamina bar was nearly drained, and he didnt spend the entire day out in the fetid swamp. She objected the entire way, but the moment he pulled the nket up over her in the bedroll she was out cold.
Theo was left with his thoughts for a while before sleep came. There was a lot of progress that happened in Broken Tusk during his first week, but it paledpared to what was toe. Word was out about the new alchemist and the swamp dungeon. Rivers and Daub was a days journey north. Traders would arrive soon, and he could finally start checking things off of his wishlist. On the top of the list was some manner of fire artifice. Managing the mes for the stills was his biggest weakness. His intuition told him that temperature control was going to be necessary the higher he got in alchemy.
All of those worries washed, stolen by the inevitability of sleep.
Chapter 21: Well Stored Soup
Chapter 21: Well Stored Soup
The soup tasted better on the second day. Theo knew that while it was stored in his inventory, it didnt age. That didnt stop him from enjoying it a lot more the next morning. He sat with Tresk around the fire, finally able to enjoy thefort of a nice chair, sipping his energizing tea. The effects were nothing like coffee, making it a ritual that he enjoyed. His Marshlingpanion didnt show the signs of [Creeping Rot] the next morning. That fact didnt stifle his urge to make the 200 [Lesser Potion of Purifications]. Vignce was required when dealing with the wolves baying at the non-existent gates.
The first order of business was to use Tresks entire stock of [Monster Cores] on Broken Tusk. Theo inspected it before they did.
[Small Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Miana Kell
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 2 (50%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Upgrades:
None
Theos superior memory allowed him to recall the towns total experience thest time they were here. It was at 31% into level 2 when thest visited, meaning someone was feeding it cores. He suspected it was Miana, even if the woman would never admit to helping her own people. Tresk added each core individually, resulting in the town gaining varied experience points depending on the level of the core. She nodded her head when she was done, having dumped all 55 of the cores into the town.
Not bad, Tresk said. Level 3 with 35% experience.
Agreed Not bad, but not good. Were very far off from our goal, Theo said, knitting his brow. And Id still like to see some stone walkways.
We might need to hire someborers from that. Mine the stone from the northern hills, process them into blocks, and set them with mortar along the roads, Tresk said, frowning. That sounds expensive.
Yeah, it does. Less expensive than a wizard, though, Theo said.
Wizards are so expensive, Tresk scoffed. Thats what I heard, anyway.
Luras joined them at the monolith, departing with Tresk shortly after dawn broke. Theo got a glimpse of the would-be adventurers. All but Aarok seemed to be out of ce, as though they were pretending to be adventurers. To his delight, none showed the torpor of someone infected with [Creeping Rot], and he considered that a sess.
Azrug was waiting for Theo at the shop, leaning against the wall and reading a book. The alchemist couldnt see the title, and was afraid to ask what the tome was about. The boy seemed eager to get back to work. He even cleaned himself with the [Cleansing Scrub] before arriving for his shift.
Have you eaten this morning? Theo asked.
Sure have, boss, Azrug said.
Ill make sure you have food avable if you need it, Theo said. Help yourself to the water from the barrels above.
Since you built that water tower Ive had plenty to drink, Azrug said, beaming. The copper you gave me yesterday will feed my family for a week.
Youre the sole provider? Theo asked, furrowing his brow.
Dont be dramatic, Azrug said. Xam has more wolf stew than she knows what to do with and my parents work the fields. Im just trying to get a head start on things.
Well, we should keep issues like that in mind, Theo said. He said it more for himself than anyone else. We live and die by the strength of Broken Tusk and its people.
Youre in a mood today, Azrug said.
Theo wished he hadnt been called out by a child, but it was true. He was trying to shoulder the burdens of an entire town, and he didnt even hold the position of mayor. Miana was doing a horrible job of managing the ce, but he didnt know if he could do any better. The alchemist wasnt even sure if he had such lofty aspirations. Until now hed been content to work theb and sell potions. Just as things were kicking off, he had dangerous thoughts about providing for the people of Broken Tusk.
Why hasnt Miana done more for her people? Theo asked.
No one wants to be a mayor, Azrug said, chuckling. Not in a backwater ce like this, anyway. Shes been running this ce as long as I can remember, and nothing has changed. Change only came when you showed up.
Dont go putting dangerous thoughts in my head like that, Theo said, narrowing his eyes.
What? Everyones saying it, Azrug said. From the day you arrived, all youve done is make everyones life better.
All of that was a stroke of luck, Theo said. I got reincarnated with a lot more than most people in town. Given a core building, an alchemyb, and the tools to seed. It would be more amazing if I failed.
Whatever you say, boss, Azrug said. All I know is youd be a better pick to steer this ship.
Theo waved him off, not wanting to entertain the thought any longer. No matter how hard he pushed against the idea, it came back. The problemy with his understanding of the political structure of the realm, or theck thereof. Taking the role would distract him from his alchemy, and he couldnt have that. No, the only thing he wanted to do was sit in hisb and experiment. The shop was hard enough as it was.
Well, the shop is yours, Theo said. Ill be upstairs making purification potions if you need me.
Sounds good, Azrug said, reclining in his chair and reading his book.
Theo returned to hisb, the sour taste of being mayor still on his tongue. He didnt want to be the person to do the paperwork, or pay the taxes for the town, but he wanted to steer it. If the town grew, perhaps thered be a position under the mayor, simr to the mercantile seat he held currently. That was a position he could get behind. None of the problems that came with politics, and all the ability to help those he wanted to help.
The 200 units of [Purifying Essence] Theo crafted yesterday would make 400 individual [Lesser Potion of Purification], an amount that seemed ridiculous in hindsight. He already made and arranged the t-bottomed ss vials, staged with their stoppers nearby, and nned to set off a 200 unit reaction. The other half, hed useter. He propped the windows before looking for four 50 unit sks,ing up short and generating the rest with the [ssware Artifice]. The smaller reaction size would help with the immense cloud that erupted from the sks.
50 [Copper Shavings], 25 units of [Purified Water], and 25 units of [Purifying Essence] went in each sk. The moment the kes dropped into the ss containers, the liquid inside erupted with bubbles and steam, gathering in a cloud that hung in theb. Theo waved the acrid smoke out the window and repeated the process four times. The [Lesser Potion of Purification] was still at Great Quality, no matter how much he tweaked his process. Heat was his biggest culprit, but he suspected that the catalyst he was using may be the limiting factor. Essential Alchemy listed a wide range of catalyzing agents, most of which hed never seen, but those would have to wait.
The reaction part of the alchemy process was the quickest, at least with the base-level recipes. Theo understood that his [Stripping Solution] and [Alchemic Tannin] sat in a middle-ground between entry-level reactions and more advanced reactions. That threshold sat somewhere near level 10, a fact he could determine from observation and his keen intuition. What he really needed was hard facts provided by an alchemist who knew what they were doing. Broken Tusk wascking in anyprehensive libraries or other sources of information. Hed settle for doing things the painful way, for now.
Theo spent most of his morning on the [Lesser Potions of Purification] in hisb, also going over his books to see if he missed anything. The issue with Essential Alchemy was its simplicity, the contents aimed at traditional alchemy. They brewed potions the old-fashioned way by boiling things in cauldrons until they were sludge, and creating salves from the result. Potions were the realm of the distiller, and the topic was sparse in the tome. The notes he took, both mental and physical, were enough to write a book on their own. The alchemist suspected that moreprehensive works existed in the world, just out of his reach.
Midday approached when the shops bell finally jingled. Theo heard Azrugs voice from downstairs,cking its normal poise as he stammered. Then there came the ttering of footfalls up the stairs, the boy emerging into theb with panic on his face. Fancy-pants trader from Rivers and Daub. I recognize those ruffles anywhere.
Theos heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline suddenly dumping in his system. He stared, wide-eyed, at the boy and tried to calm himself.
Trader from Rivers and Daub just came in the shop, Theo said, sending the words to Tresks mind.
Stay calm and milk him for every copper! Tresk responded. Immanding the adventurer party to a haltLuras is with me so ask any questions you need.
Theo nodded, gesturing for the boy to descend the stairs. When the shop came into view, he saw what the kid was talking about. The man stood at about his height, the pointy ears sitting under a fluffy hat betraying him as an Elf. The cap he wore had a feather stuck in it, a long sweeping thing mottled with a rainbow of colors. His body was covered in more ruffles and fluff than Theo had ever seen, even on Earth. Something like purple crushed velvet on his chest, a jacket with pauldrons made of fluffy animal hair, and pantaloons that red out near his pointed shoes. It was hard not tough.
Theo managed a smile and approached the counter. Wee to the Newt and Demon.
Ah, the demon part of the name, the man said, bowing slightly. I hardly expected to see a Dronon so far south. My name is Fenian, a trader from Rivers and Daub.
Im Theo, resident alchemist of this backwater mud pit, Theo said, smiling. Hopefully, the road wasnt too dangerous.
Fenian waved a dismissive hand, his lilting voiceing back to grate against the alchemists ears. Any trader worth anything brings guards. Mine are outside.
This guy is really haughty, Theo said. He could hear Treskughing into his mind.
Can I interest you in anything? Weve had a bit of a problem with wolves, so Im afraid my selection is limited, Theo said.
Azrug was useless in the situation. He underyed how intimidated he was at dealing with an outsider. It was one thing to sell something to a resident of Broken Tusk, but when it was an Elf from another city, he was useless. Theo didnt fault him, seeing it as a learning opportunity for both of them.
May I browse? Fenian asked.
Of course, Theo said, gesturing. Oh, I have some more potions to shelf.
Fenian bowed his head, moving behind the counter and checking the offerings. He remained silent as Theo ced his [Lesser Potions of Purification] on an empty shelf. He only got 50 of them up before he felt the Elfs eyes on him. His discerning gaze looked him up and down, an eyebrow cocked the entire time.
Strange, Fenian said. We can do business, I assure you, but I have a question. A question that I hope you dont take offense to.
Theo shrugged. He was thrown so off bnce that he doubted anything could stumble him further. Ask away.
Youre under level 20, right? Perhaps even under 10 This is extremely strange, Fenian said.
I am, Theo said, flushing.
Fenian thought for a moment, cupping his chin in his hand. Outworlder. Recently transferred. Sent with a gift?
Theo was wrong. He was suddenly sent further off bnce. Fenian was clearly knowledgeable about more than just things regarding trade. He hit the nail on the head with little information. The alchemist tensed, unsure if he was in danger.
Calm yourself, Fenian said, holding up a [Lesser Healing Potion]. If it hasnt been exined to you, let me do so now. Distition is a gift honed over years. Its reserved for alchemists who have done their time brewing potions the slow way. The first [Alchemy Core] ability to distilles at level 20. Anyone who attempts to distill this before then blows themselves up. Drogramath Dronon dont existnot on this continent. Youre too friendly and civilized to be one of his ilk. Therefore, youre an outworlder with an amazing gift.
Theo was overwhelmed by the information. He was sent to Broken Tusk with no exnation of his origins. People in the town told him of Dronon and how they werent umon, but they wouldnt have known about the different lineages. He was left feeling both exposed and relieved.
You have me at quite a disadvantage, Theo said, chuckling nervously. He wondered if the trader could hear his heart hammering in his chest.
Maybe, Fenian said. Only in deductive reasoning. These are truly amazing things. The alchemists over level 20 dont want to waste their time brewing level 1 potions.
Then theyre valuable, Azrug blurted out, putting his hands over his mouth. Sorry.
An alchemist in Broken Tusk. I just had to see for myself. I expected someone flinging those vile salves that all level 1 alchemists sell, Fenian said, letting out a wistful sigh. No, this is a find indeed.
Well. Now that youve exposed my entire origin, are you interested? Theo asked, managing a smile.
Yes, Fenian said, cocking his head and staring off into the middle-distance.
Theo took the chance to update Tresk on the situation. She wasnt surprised that an Elf from the fancy city had him pegged for an outworlder. Take him for all hes worth!
The [Cleansing Scrub] is as impressive as the potions. You figured it out on your own, didnt you? Fenian asked, letting out another sigh. Gods, youre such a gem. Right, Im interested in buying most of your stock.
Theo was d that his [Vigor] stat was so high, otherwise he would have had a heart attack. Were more than happy to sell them to you. He couldnt think of anything else to say.
25 copper a potion for each [Lesser Healing Potions], the entire stock of that. 70 potions. 30 copper a potion for each [Lesser Barkskin Potion], 20 of those. 15 copper a potion for each [Lesser Potion of Purification], 20 potions, Fenian said, his eyes going ssy for a moment. 26 silver and 50 copper, if it''s agreeable.
Azrug made a surprised sound, but mped his mouth shut quickly. Theo mentally sent the totals to Tresk, and she responded by screaming into his mind. He took that as an affirmative, but he tempered his excitement for a moment. Traveling traders werent just running around buying things, they also sold stuff.
Very agreeable, Theo said, grinning. I have a question for you, though. I assume you carry a stock of items with you.
Fenian grinned. An alchemist. In the middle of nowhere. Of course, youre short on supplies. I carry a vast array of items with me, is there anything youre looking for?
An artifice that generates fire, Theo said. I assume the standard use would be for cooking, but Id like it to heat my stills.
Fenians grin grew wider. He held his hand out, and an item appeared. The Elf gestured for him to inspect it, which he did.
[me Artifice]
[Specialty Artifice]
Rare
Created by Melgar
Feed the artifice motes to produce a steady me. Each mote provides 6 hours of fire. The intensity of the mes is determined by the dial on the side. Setting the artifices power to zero preserves the motes stored energy.
As you assumed, it is a verymon item for cookware, Fenian said. Im willing to part with it for 5 silver.
Do you have two? Theo asked, grinning.
Fenian produced another [me Artifice] in his other hand and smiled. Since youre new, and this is the start of a very profitable rtionship, Ill give you a discount on the equipment. Dont think for a moment that it isnt a selfish motivation. 8 silver for the two, and you agree to take work orders from me.
Theo thought for a moment. He couldnt think of a better arrangement than to produce a specific amount of potions for the trader. Having someone show up in town randomly was nice, but if he had time to prepare, he could have made more of the precious [Lesser Healing Potions]. He reached out a hand for the Elf to shake, which he did.
18 silver, 50 copper, Fenian said, producing the coins and setting them on the counter with the two pieces of equipment. He began collecting his goods.
Theo ced the coins and the [me Artifices] in his inventory, surprised when his copper rolled over 100 and added to his silver. He wasnt sure if hed need to see someone to change out his money, but was d that the system took care of it for him. He was also pleased that Fenian was happy with his order. The permanent smile on his face said that he was going to resell the goods at a premium, but it was a massive sum of money by Broken Tusk standards. He now had 23 silver and 39 copper.
I look forward to working with you, Theo said as Fenian stored thest of the potions in his inventory.
This is going to be an extremely profitable rtionship, Fenian said. Not just because youre in Broken Tusk, and I say this honestly. You get little honesty from merchants, but I wont squander this opportunity. You fill a very specific niche in the market, and people are going to fall over themselves to get your goods. Thisb is a money-making machine.
I appreciate your candor, Theo said. Im aware of the prices in Qavell, and I dont feel that you were unfair in what you offered.
Naturally, Fenian said. Ill be in town for the day, and part of tomorrow. Ill stop by the shop with a work order tomorrow. Youll get a list of the potions I want, how much Ill pay you, and a deadline. Sound good?
Sounds perfect, Theo said.
Fenian shook his hand again and made for the door. I look forward to working with you.
The Elf was only a few paces from the store when Azrug erupted. He shouted, pumping his fist in the air and losing his mind. Theo watched the boys outburst for a while, finally unable to contain the pressure that was building inside him and joining him. They jumped in the middle of the shop, screaming.
We just made 18 silver, Theo said.
You what? Tresk shouted into his mind.
Chapter 22: The Gracious Lord Administrator
Chapter 22: The Gracious Lord Administrator
It took Azrug a long time to stop celebrating. The advantages of youth saw him rolling on the floor long after Theo calmed down. The excitement he felt mounting in his chest didnt relent, though. With the first out-of-town trader stopping by, he made absurd headway into paying down his debt. Getting the [me Artifices] was just another thing that would make his life easier. Managing the small fires under his stills was tiresome, and the devices would provide 6 hours of steady fire.
Ive never seen that much silver, Azrug said, shaking his head.
Well put it to good use, Theo said. Ill spend most of it paying Miana for my debt.
That sucks. Thought youd buy something nice for yourself.
I got the [me Artifices]. Thats good enough for me, Theo said. Anyway, arent you done for the day?
Midday hade in the time they spent celebrating. The sun shone brightly overhead, flooding the small shop with its light. Tresk told Theo about her day out in the swamp, and the improvements the adventurers were making. They might have been making progress, but one of them caught the [Creeping Rot] and would need a potion. She said they were depositing the cores into the town before returning to the shop.
Right, Azrug said. As soon as my taskmaster pays me.
Theo fished five copper from his inventory, cing it in the wide-eyed boys hands. To celebrate a big sale. Dont get used to it.
Thank you, Azrug said, his eyes focused on the coins in his hand. Do you think some of this coin will flow to the rest of the town?
I hope so, Theo said. My goal has never been to be selfish with my alchemy.
Azrug nodded, making his way to the door. He stopped before leaving, casting the alchemist a wide grin. See you tomorrow, boss.
Theo took stock of his potions before moving back to theb. He had more [Lesser Potions of Purification] than he knew what to do with, but none of the restoration potions left. The merchant didnt end up buying any [Cleansing Scrub], leaving him with 50 of the vials. His [Lesser Barkskin Potion] stock was down to 9 vials. That left him with a mostly empty shop, and no materials to distill new potions with. He climbed the stairs and took stock of theb, finding a scatter of half-empty essence sks, but nothing worth making a reaction with.
Tresk arrived with Luras shortly after, jumping with excitement. Lets see it.
Theo produced his 23 silver coins, cupping his hands as they appeared in mid-air. The jangling sound they made when they appeared was incredibly satisfying. He returned them to his inventory after his friends got a good look.
This is the real prize, Theo said, bringing the [me Artifices] out of his inventory. The small disc-shaped contraptions were lighter than they appeared,pletely t on the top with a slot on the side for motes. A turn-style dial sat on the side with a small picture of an increasinglyrger me.
You found your fire source, Luras said.
This is good. No more tending the me for hours on end, Tresk said, letting out a sign. That was my least favorite part.
Mine too, Theo said, nodding. I should have bought more, but they were 5 silver each. Well, I got a deal for the pair, but still.
Luras took the contraption and inspected it, nodding his approval. The hunt went well. Were seeing the same number of wolves, so thats a good sign.
Theo produced a [Lesser Potion of Purification] from his inventory and held it out. You said someone had the rot?
Well, I didnt want to break your excitement Miana is calling for a meeting regarding the rot, Luras said. She told us when we were dumping the [Monster Cores].
Right now?
Right now.
Theo grumbled, stuffing the potion back into his inventory and letting out a heavy sigh. Off we go, then.
It surprised Theo when they arrived at Mianas office and they were the only ones in attendance. He knew this was a special meeting meant for the Newt and Demon specifically, a fact that he wasnt happy about. The Half-Ogre woman sat behind her desk, scowling around the room the way she always did. Luras stood in the back with his arms folded. He was important enough to get the invite, whereas the others on the mercantile board were not.
Weve got an epidemic, Miana said.
The [Creeping Rot]? Theo asked. I have a cure for that.
I know you have a cure, Miana said, scoffing. But as the mayor, I need to provide the cure. Im bound by some nonsensew of the kingdom to provide care for my citizens.
Doesnt sound like a nonsensew to me, Theo said, shrugging. Sounds like your duty to the people of Broken Tusk.
Miana scowled even harder, trying to pierce the alchemist with her gaze. I know youve made more money in a day than the rest of the town has in a year,bined, but try to level with me here.
Theo shrugged. He was feeling bold after his massive sale. The merchant only promised more riches in the future, and he was feeling full of himself. If there was ever a time for him to assert his position as the architect of the towns sess, it was now.
Ill donate [Lesser Potions of Purification] to the town, for free, Theo said.
Ah, yes. I can smell the catch in your words, Miana said, groaning.
Im not content with my mercantile seat, Theo said.
What are you doing? Tresk asked. She cast him a concerned look, even if the words were between them.
Trust me.
You want to be the mayor? Miana said, scoffing.
Not yet, Theo said. I want a position in the town that affords me decision-making ability, without the need to run the politics.
Maybe a Lord Administrator? Luras asked, shrugging.
This isnt Qavell, Miana growled. Or Rivers and Daub, or Farstretch or any of those other haughty cities. Were a tiny town in the middle of nowhereI cant afford your services.
I see what youre doing, Tresk said. You want to determine the towns growth, like the walls. Miana could pick some stupid option in the upgrade menu. Lord Administrator is your best bet, she can give you that title.
Give us a year, Theo said, spurned on by hispanions words. And well overshadow any other town in the south. Have you seen how many cores we already added to Broken Tusk?
I have, Miana said.
I dont want a sry. I dont need a sry, Theo said. Broken Tusks development, the way it''s shaped, it''s the only thing I want control over.
Miana pressed her fingers into her temples and groaned. Gods, youre so annoying. Technically, youre already Lord Theo Spencer based on your holdings.
Hes what? Tresk blurted out.
Everyone who holds a core property in the city has a lordship title, even if its meaningless in a small town like this, Miana said. Fine. So youre dangling the potions over my head so you can have sole control over the towns upgrade system. Seems like an ultimatum to me.
No, its a functional rtionship between the two of us, Theo said. How much tax does Broken Tusk owe this year?
Five silver, and were four silver short. Again, Miana said.
The spiky edges of her personality were softening. Theo didnt know if it was his annoying persistence wearing her down, or that glimmer of hope he was offering. He summoned his inventory screen and withdrew five silver, pping it down on the table with a wide grin. Her eyes went wide.
Heres the agreement. Ill cover the difference in taxes from here on out. The Newt and Demon will provide provisional potions for the town for free. You make me the Lord Administrator of Broken Tusk, Theo said.
Very impressive, Tresk said, smiling. Well tie ourselves directly to the sess of Broken Tusk. Its bold. I approve.
Miana sat there for some time, staring down at the silver with hungry eyes. The taxes that Theo paid to the kingdom were minimal, but it was still a gamble.
How many potions can you provide for the current epidemic? Miana asked.
A broad grin spread across the alchemists face. We can spare 100 potions.
Mianas mouth fell open, and she stared at Theo for a moment. Youve got me against a wall here. How am I supposed to decline?
Take the deal, Miana, Luras said, his voice growling from behind. Before hees to his senses.
Done, Miana said, reaching out her hand for Theo to shake. Her expression went nk for a moment before a notification crowded the alchemists vision.
[Miana Kell] has granted you a title for [Broken Tusk]. You are now the [Lord Administrator] of a [Small Town].
[Lord Administrator Theo Spencer]
The responsibilities of the Lord Administrator rte to the design, nning, and advancement of a core settlement. This specialized role has been customized by [Miana Kell] to include covering taxes lost because of the delinquency of the towns members. The Lord Administrator of Broken Tusk handles all upgrade slots for Broken Tusk.
Miana directed a ce for Theo to bring the potions. She didnt expect him to produce them from his inventory immediately, causing her to sputter in surprise. The thought of hoarding all the [Lesser Potions of Purification] didnt sit well with him, and the allure of making more with his new [me Artifices] was strong. The alchemist left with Tresk and Luras, finding themselves standing in the muddy square with stupid grins on their faces.
Bold move, Theo, Luras said. You gave her the one thing she needs more than anything. Coin.
This way we dont have to worry about her picking something stupid for the level 5 upgrade, Tresk said, bouncing on the spot. The potions you gave her will be put to good use. A Half-Ogre adventurer got bit on our outing today, hes resting in Mianas house.
She exaggerated that it was an epidemic, Theo said, scoffing.
Thats what she does, Luras said.
Theo didnt know if forcing himself into the position was the right thing to do. If being thrust into this new world taught him anything, it was the value of seizing every opportunity. He was on sure footing now that hed made his first big sale, and the merchant was going to ce a big order. Someone who threw that amount of silver around wouldnt be looking for anything small. Fenian would ce an order for an absurd amount of potions, pushing theb to its limits.
The alchemist pushed down a feeling of guilt that came from a sense of greed. Hed never been one to desire power, but thats what he needed. This was a first step for him, a step toward a direction he didnt know if he wanted. Miana didnt want the mayors seat. How long would she hold on to it out of a sense of duty? No, she would relinquish the seat when she was rendered obsoletethat was the source of his guilt. Mayor Theo was inevitable, but that didnt stop the pang in his chest. With what hed aplished so far, it was a simple thing to push aside.
Adapt and move forward.
Thepanions stood in the square for a while, watching as people passed by. The alchemist was left with his thoughts, mostly centered on strategizing arge-scale order. He regretted not asking for dimensional storage items while Fenian was in the shop, but the excitement was too much at that moment. Hed need money for more storage, and more potions for that money. The bottleneck in his operation was the gathering of herbs. While it was incredibly important to level his herbalism core, he considered hiring outside help.
Tresk picked up on his wandering thoughts, staring a hole through him with her inquisitive gaze. Whats the n?
I need reagents, Theo said, nodding to himself. [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], [Moss Nettle], and [Manashrooms]. Lots of them.
Hire someborers, Luras grunted. Now that youre rich.
Not a bad idea, Tresk said. I bet Perg would hire her tannery staff out.
Theo nodded. The tannery workers were already familiar with gathering the [Ogre Cypress Bark], and would take to the other ingredients easily. Alright. Im going to go pay her a visit.
Sounds like a n, Tresk said, smiling.
Theospanions apanied him as far as the shop before waving him off. The town seemed to be more active than normal, even in the southern section. The foul stench that made the tannery so characteristic of the southern section of Broken Tusk waspletely gone. A hard breeze drove from the south, washing over the alchemist with only the scent of the swamp. It wasnt an entirely pleasant smell, but it was better than rotting hides. Perg wasnt standing in her normal spot, and Theo began searching. The warehouse was devoid of leather and the woman, but he finally found her in the yard where the hides normally sat.
Perg, Theo said, waving.
She turned around suddenly, a wistful smile ying across her face. 200 hides, Theo. That Elven trader bought all 200 of our hides at 40 copper apiece. Ive never seen this much silver.
Theo fully rounded the corner, spotting what she was talking about. A bucket sat on the ground, mostly filled with silver coins. He remembered the amount of leather that sat piled in the now-empty warehouse. Perg said it was a years worth of work she nned to sell. By his estimation, it was significantly over double what she would normally work in a year. Since the adventurers were ying wolves by the score, shed been buying up all their hides. The tannerys small processing area only allowed them to treat a small number of leather at a time.
Youre rich, Theo said.
Perg shook her head, digging eight silver coins out of the bucket. And this is your cut.
Theo took it. The thought of refusing never crossed his mind. This was the cycle of money he wanted to create. The constant push and pull against investment and profit that would make everyone in Broken Tusk rich. Perg would have significantly over 200 hides ready to go the next time the merchant stopped by. She wasnt someone who rested while the good times came around. Shed push harder to make even more money.
I appreciate it. This gives you the head seat of the mercantile chairs, Theo said.
Does that offend you? Perg said, shing a devious grin.
Not at all, Theo said, waving a haughty hand and smiling. Ive taken a higher position in the towns leadership. Youll refer to me as your gracious Lord Administrator from here on out.
Perg burst outughing, pping her knees and wheezing before gaining control of herself. Oh, I can think of a few names Id like to call you. You mustve conned Miana to get the title.
Basically, Theo said, shrugging. Congrattions on the riches. Now, Id like to rent yourborers.
Theyre yours, Perg said. How many do you need?
Theo didnt think shed be so quick to offer her peoples services to him. He didnt know how manyborers he needed to aplish his goals. Perhaps five would do the job. Five, Theo said after a moment. To collect reagents, of course.
Done, Perg said, withdrawing a notebook from her satchel and writing something down. What are they going to collect?
Theo detailed the reagents and where to find them. Perg dutifully scrawled on the pages, nodding as the alchemist gave more detail. Her brow knit tight when he described the [Manashrooms], but shrugged shortly after. He was d to see that other people hated the vile insectoid creatures in the cave as much as he did.
Theyre hard workers, and theyre getting good at harvesting your ingredients, Perg said. Speaking of, Ill need another run of your potions in a week.
No problem, Theo said. I assume theyll start collecting tomorrow?
They will, Perg said, nodding.
Alright. Ill see you around. Take it easy, Theo said, turning on the spot and waving.
You too.
Theo returned to the shop to find the sign flipped to Open. When he opened the door, Tresk was standing behind the counter, beaming at him. Wee to the Newt and Demon! Can I interest you in our potions?
The alchemist leaned against the counter andughed. Giving up the life of adventure to run our shop?
Tresk scoffed. Just filling in for my Tarahek while he runs off doing alchemist stuff.
Sounds like a cool demon to me, Theo said.
Hes an idiot. But hes my idiot, Tresk said.
Theo shook his head,ing behind the counter to look at their plundered stock. He applied some [Cleansing Scrub] to himself before he got too far, adding a few drops on the ground to scour the mud away. The afternoon was fading quickly, his stamina bar going with it. It was toote to go out and pick herbs, but too early to go to bed.
Want to go sit in our fancy new chairs? Theo asked.
Tresk nodded, bounding behind him up the stairs and into theb. They left the door unlocked for when Luras inevitably came by to steal their soup. The pair took a seat at their fancy new chairs and let out a synchronized sigh, letting the silence between them grow. Itd been a busy day, and Theo was feeling it in his bones. The excitement left him feeling drained, unable to strategize for the day toe.
Lets see your new magical fire, Tresk said.
Theo retrieved one of the [me Artifices] and set it down on the table. He inserted an [Earth Mote] into the side and stood back, but nothing happened. The dial on the side was set as far left as it would go. He turned it clockwise, gaining a faint click for his efforts. A small me danced from the center of the mechanism. He clicked it again, and the me grewrger. When the dial was set to the highest setting it raged from the artifice, threatening to burn the roof of theirb.
Better not use that setting, Theo said, clicking it to the lowest setting and sitting with hispanion.
They watched the me for a while before they got hungry. Theo produced the hot cauldron of soup from his inventory and dished out a bowl for each of them. Tresk would turn her head toward the door asionally, waiting for Luras to show up. The fourth time she did so was in response to the tinkling of the bell downstairs. Sure enough, the Half-Ogre came into the room with a sheepish grin.
I smelled the food, Luras said, shrugging.
Theo gestured for the man to take a seat and chuckled. I have a question. Are you just sitting outside, waiting for me to get the soup prepared?
I was passing by, Luras said.
Uh-huh, Tresk mocked.
The group ate their traditional meal together, talking about the events of the day and enjoying each otherspany. Theo was craving bread with the soup, but he wouldntin. On Earth, he was eating the same army rations every day, which was more than a lot of the citizens were getting. Mass starvation was a distant memory by now. This new world had plenty to give, he just had to take it. The alchemist let these thoughts wash out of his mind, enjoying the soup too much to entertain the destion of his home. He didnt even know if the he was on was in the same universe, and he didnt care.
Luras excused himself after finishing his soup. Neither Tresk nor Theo would wait for dusk toe before heading to bed and they locked up the shop, turned off the artifice, and settled down in the bedroom.
Now that were rich, Im going to buy you a bed, Theo said.
Thatd be nice.
Sleep came quickly that night. Earth was a distant memory and Broken Tusk was his home. He wouldnt have it any other way.
Chapter 23: Fenians Request
Chapter 23: Fenian''s Request
Morning came early for Theo. Darkness nketed Broken Tusk, the depth of the gloom telling him it was well before dawn. Tresk snored away on the far end of the room and he left her to her dreams. The alchemist spent those early hours reviewing his notes and making new ones in the margins of his books. He was already beyond anything they could teach him, but he grasped at their words, looking for hidden things that he might have overlooked. Frustrating hours passed by with no hint as to whaty beyond the base-level distition. The irritation he felt vanished when he considered the endless possibilities of experimentation.
Tresk rose as dawn drew closer, bounding from the bedroom with an excitement Theo couldnt help but match. The day that sat before them was filled with excitement, not just because of his Lord Administrator title but the return of the merchant. Fenian was more honest than the image he had in his mind of a traveling merchant. It was a rtionship of convenience, he realized, but the Elfs coin spoke volumes.
Theo removed the pot of soup from his inventory, serving out thest scoops into two bowls before cing the kettle on the [me Artifice]. He cranked it to the lowest setting and stared as the small me danced to life. A smile spread across his face as he dug into his soup, no longer needing to tend the wood fire.
Ill never get over that, Tresk said, giggling.
My thoughts, exactly. No more smoke in my eyes, Theo said. Youre training the adventurers again, right?
Luras thinks theyll be ready after today, Tresk said. I should hit level 10, and then were going to run the dungeon.
Theo felt his heart jump in his chest. To venture into the swamp was one thing, but delving into the dungeon was another. He let out a heavy sigh, steadying himself before responding. Youre going to need more potions.
Tresk took a mouthful of her soup before talking, gnashing noisily as she spoke. Well be fine. The first floors are easy.
If you say so, Theo said, nodding. I need to ask Fenian if he has dimensional bags for the shop.
The alchemist had a few crates of reagents that needed to be thrown out. Some of his early collections were rotting in the corners of theb, unable to hold out without the stasis of his inventory. He didntment their loss, but wanted to prevent it from happening again. Fenian would demand an absurd amount of potions when he stopped by today. Space would be a premium within theb.
The pair sat there, drinking their tea and eating their food. They talked about the town, and how he could leverage his new title for its betterment. The only authority he had was regarding the upgrade system, but the northern mine was looking more reasonable. He was certain that the new title gave him the right to strike a im for the city, hireborers, and excavate the stones required to pave the muddy streets. The sensation of mud in his masins was still unnerving.
A knock came from the front before dawn. Theo lit the candles downstairs, opening it to find a fresh-faced Azrug beaming from the early morning gloom.
Youre early, Theo said.
Too excited, Azrug said, dancing in ce. Barely slept.
Were having tea upstairs, if youre interested.
The boy followed Theo upstairs, finding a chair next to Tresk and taking a cup of the [Moss Nettle] tea. He seemed at home among people from Broken Tusk. Even if the alchemist wasnt truly from here, the citizens considered him one of their own.
Were getting walls, soon, Azrug said, nodding to himself. He sipped gingerly on the tea, making a sour face every time. Someone saw a wolf in townst night?
Tresk set her tea down and knit her brow. Seriously?
Azrug nodded vigorously. Xam told me about it. Mean-looking Marsh Wolf just trotting down the main road. An adventurer drove it off, but it got away.
Thats incredibly dangerous, Theo. Dont tell Azrug, but thats a sign of a monster thats been out of the dungeon too long. It lost its fear of people, Tresk said, keeping the words from Azrug.
Theo cupped his hand in his chin, weighing his options. The only solution he saw was to get the walls up sooner. If they couldnt do that, hed stretch his authority to create a militia. He brought his thoughts into words, saying, Broken Tusk doesnt have any guards, does it?
None, Azrug blurted. No night watch, no militia, no irregr armynothing.
That has to change, Theo said.
The group fell into a somber silence as the alchemist went back into his thoughts. Broken Tusk had too many problems to fix all at once. It was easy for him to solve an issue that was directly rted to alchemy such as the water, or the tannery. But to solve a logistical problem rted to the defense of a small town, cut off from greater civilization, was another. He thought back to the media he consumed back on Earth, and the depictions of medieval towns. There always seemed to be a night watch, patrolling the streets after hours, but standing in a real medieval town was another story. The guards would need wages, lodging, and amand structure.
Broken Tusk doesnt have military people. Thats the problem, Tresk said with a shrug.
Theo tilted his head. That wasnt entirely true. He recalled Aarok, the new adventurer that came to buy potions from his shop a few days ago. He was well-prepared, and imed to have some experience training for the Qavelli Irregrs, whatever that was. A n was forming in his head, but it needed time to stew.
They let those thoughts fade away in favor of Azrugs hopes. He was excited to get a job out of the fields. The boy imagined himself working thend for the rest of his life, never able to realize his dreams, although he admitted that no grand schemes had formed in his head yet. Breakfast soon ended, dawn breaking outside, and the boy took up his station downstairs. Tresk departed soon after, pressing her forehead against Theos before she left.
Theo joined Azrug downstairs, not willing to start any projects before Fenian delivered his demands. He wanted to pick the boys brain about Aarok.
Have you met Aarok? Theo asked, leaning against the counter.
Now thats a question. Hes worked the fields with the otherborers before. Silent guy, Azrug said, kicking his feet up on the counter and reclining. Why?
Did he ever talk about his days as a soldier?
Youll have to ask Luras about that, Azrug said. I like a bit of gossip as much as the next person in Broken Tusk, but hes silentlike I said.
Theo sighed. If we want a town guard, we need soldiers.
Oh. Im finally picking up on the annoyingly vague way youre speaking, Azrug said, scoffing. Thats an expensive venture, Id think.
Five full-time guards, maybe. Two copper a day in wages, Theo said. Wed bleed nearly a silver a week just in defense.
I mean, why not just get volunteers?
Volunteers would work as hard as volunteers work, Theo said. When youre young, you can ask your friends to help you move for pizza and beer. But when you get older, youre better off hiring a movingpany.
I understood half of that, Azrug said.
People in Broken Tusk are poor. Safety is one thing, but they deserve a wage, Theo said.
Azrug shrugged, pulling the book from his satchel. He was only a few words in when the bell on the door rang, the Elf merchant stepping in and grinning. Good morning.
Azrugs face flushed, and he quickly pulled his feet off of the counter, stowing his book away and standing at attention. Good morning, sir.
How is your stay going? Theo asked.
Fenian managed a weak smile. What did you call this ce? A mud pit. Its like staying in a mud pit.
Im working on the mud problem, Theo said.
Lord Administrator. Yes, Ive heard the rumors at the tavern, Fenian said, chuckling. Youre destined for great things.
Theo didnt know if he was being sarcastic, and he didnt care. Before we get to business, I have a few items Id like.
I wont refuse a sale.
I need a ceable dimensional storage container, something like Theo said, cut off as Fenian produced an item from his inventory.
Like a dimensional storage crate, Fenian said. He smiled, holding the wooden crate up in his left hand. 100 slots, but once you put something inside, you cannot add it to your inventory. It also gets impossibly heavy once even a single slot is upied.
How much? Theo asked.
Fenian smiled. I love the people in Broken Tusk. Theres no dancing around the trees with you folks. Right to the point. In Qavell Id get 10 silver for this, but you can have it for 5.
Why would you take a loss? Azrug asked, blurting the words out.
If youre interested in how mercantile works, young Half-Ogre, Ill be happy to instruct you.
Azrug froze under the mans gaze. Theo stepped in. The boy is eager to learn. Please instruct.
I wont take a loss on this item. If the alchemist buys it for 5 silver, Ill make a silver. That doesnt make it worth the trip this far south, but it does something else entirely. Do you know what that is? Fenian asked.
Azrug got over his shyness, the eagerness to learn about trading burning bright in his eyes. To establish a rtionship. Theo is a new, untapped market and you want to exploit it. You want him to remember that you were generous so that hell work with you.
Hes a natural, Fenian said. Do you have your cores yet, boy?
Not yet, Azrug said, shuffling his feet.
Hold me to my word on this, but youll make an excellent trader when the dayes, Fenian said. Ill turn a massive profit on the potions I bought from the alchemist, a fact he knows, and giving him a break on smaller items does indeed establish a better rtionship. Heres a tip for you, young Azrug, never give your items away for free. Youll be tempted to think that youre sweetening your clients up, but it does the opposite. Theyll think youre cheap. Theyll think your merchandise is not worth paying for, and youll lose your reputation.
Theo didnt know what he thought about being used as an example in this exchange. If it helped Azrug achieve his dreams, then he was alright with it. The boy had a way with people, and he had a feeling that Fenian was a bigger deal back north than he let on. Free advice from a master trader was something he couldnt deprive the boy of.
Understood, sir, Azrug said, nodding. He knit his brow, distilling the information that Fenian gave down to a concise point and regurgitating it. Set expectations with clients for the future and deliver.
Theres a goodd, Fenian said. You have a mind for this kind of work.
Theo produced five silver pieces and ced them on the counter. He couldnt help butugh at the merchants directness. Sold.
Fenian ced the crate on the counter and scooped the coins up. Now, are you ready for my order? Do you need some parchment?
Theo tapped his temple with his finger. It goes right up here. No worries.
High [Wisdom] and all that Right. I need to return to Qavell to secure funds for this transaction, but Ill need the following from you in a weeks time. 500 of each lesser restoration potions at 20 copper apiece, Fenian said, grinning. Do you need to sit down? No? Can you produce stat-enhancement potions?
Theo needed to sit down. He swayed on the spot for a moment, trying to process the absurd amount of potions the Elf already wanted. And he wanted more. Ive made [Lesser Vigor Potions].
Do you have a sample? Fenian asked.
Theo still had 3 of the potions in his inventory. He produced one and handed it over to the trader. Fenian rolled the potion over in his hands, humming for a moment before returning it to the alchemist. As Ive said before, youre a gem. Plus 5 vigor for an hour is absurd for low-level people. Those who are rich enough to afford this kind of potion give it to their kids to train theirbat cores. The ingredients are absurdly hard to find in the north, but Im guessing
The swamp provides, Theo said, managing a weak smile.
This one is a tall order, so Ill only ask for 50 of each stator whatever you can manage in the time Ive allotted. 50 copper each, Fenian said. How does thatoh my, look at that. It generated a quest.
[Fenians Request]
Quest
Fenian Feintleaf has requested that you produce the following for an order.
Objectives:
500 [Lesser Healing Potions]
500 [Lesser Stamina Potions]
500 [Lesser Mana Potions]
50 [Lesser Strength Potions] (Optional)
50 [Lesser Dexterity Potions] (Optional)
50 [Lesser Vigor Potions] (Optional)
50 [Lesser Intelligence Potions] (Optional)
50 [Lesser Wisdom Potions] (Optional)
Time Remaining:
7 days
Reward:
Random Epic Alchemist Tool
You really are blessed, Fenian said,ughing. I think I need to revise my theory about your gift Its much more potent than I thought before.
Well do it, Theo said, nodding. A week is plenty of time and that''s Thats a lot of money. I do have a request, though.
Oh? Lets hear it, then.
Coin is fine for the restoration potions, but Id like to be paid in monster cores for the stat potions, Theo said.
I can do that, Fenian said, reaching out to shake Theos hand. It was a symbolic gesture, seeing as the system already made him ept the quest. Ill bring my stock of level 30 monster cores when I return. We can also do coin, if you change your mind.
Honestly, Fenian, Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh. I dont want to sound weird, but youve been a huge blessing on my shop.
Fenian smiled, shrugging. Think of it as the start of a very profitable rtionship. Im headed north now. Ill return in a week.
Fenian bowed before turning on the spot and leaving the shop. Azrug was counting on his fingers, muttering to himself. Boss. Thats three gold for the restoration potions. His face flushed.
Well need it, Theo said. This town is going to get very expensive.
The shock of the massive order left Azrug unable to celebrate. He sat back down in his chair, releasing a heavy sigh. Theo left him there, marching upstairs to deposit his new storage item. He ced the [Large Dimensional Crate] in the rooms corner, snatching up the junk and stowing it away. The crate had an inventory screen like his inventory system. He could even transfer items directly into the crate from his inventory. The top of the wooden crate was just a ck void. When he went to reach inside, the screen simply popped up.
Care for an errand? Theo said, emerging into the shop.
Azrug was still in shock. I could use the air.
Theo gave him twenty copper coins to retrieve a bed from the carpenter. As the boy left, the alchemist remembered he didnt ask the trader about [Rogue Cores] for Tresk. It seemed like she was a back-burner item for him, something that made him sick to his stomach. She was happy with their arrangement, but he wanted to see her be something great. His goal was to be the best distition expert in the world, and hers should be aligned.
The alchemist left the front door unlocked, finding his way to theb and casting his gaze over it. While it was a temporary fix, the clutter was gone. Fifty of the crates slots were now upied thanks to the random garbage that sat around hisb, but it wasnt out in the open. He rearranged the tables, shoving his weight against them to create a line of two tables near the stills, and a block of tables in the center of theb. The table that he pushed against the window earlier stayed there, and he moved the four chairs around it. Hed much prefer looking out the window while he took his meals.
The gentle tinkle of the bell downstairs drifted through theb. When Theo went to see if it was a customer, he found a burly Half-Ogre scratching his head at the threshold. It wont fit.
Allow me, Theo said, pressing his hand against the bed. It vanished into his inventory.
The man shrugged, turning and leaving. Azrug came in after,ughing. I used all your coin to hire that man and get the bed. They said it was the softest they hadgoose feathers or something.
Thank you, Azrug, Theo said, smiling. Man the shop, Im going to rearrange my bedroom.
Azrug plopped into his seat, pulling his book out as Theo went back upstairs. He rolled the bedroll up and set it in the corner, pulling the new bed from his inventory and arranging it in the room. There was enough space for them to sleep foot-to-foot with a wide walkway in between. Uponying on the bed, he found it to be incredibly soft. Compared to his straw-stuffed mattress, this was a luxury. He popped his head downstairs and smiled at his shopkeeper.
Go buy another one, Theo said, throwing twenty more copper with an underhand toss. It ttered to the ground.
Azrug groaned, rising to his feet and disappearing out the door again. Theo would have felt bad, but the shop was slow and he wanted a bed for himself. He returned upstairs while he waited for the boy to return,ying on Tresks bed and letting out a heavy sigh. He epted the straw bed as a fact of life, something that was standard in Broken Tusk. If someone told him there were decent beds before, hed have snatched one up. The bell rang downstairs, and the annoyed Half-Ogre stared inside and waited for Theo to add the bed to his inventory.
Thank you, Theo said, chuckling.
The alchemist swapped the straw bed for his fancy bed and smiled at the scene. When he returned downstairs Azrug groaned. Do you need a third bed for some weird reason?
No, Im off to pay myborers, Theo said. Watch the shop.
Chapter 24: Third Best Adventurer
Chapter 24: Third Best Adventurer
Theo left the Newt and Demon before midday, feeling as though dusk was around the corner. His deal with Fenian took a toll on him, even if the news was good. He sessfully predicted what the merchant wanted, not that it was a difficult thing to guess. The restoration potions he made were extremely useful and often the difference between life and death for adventurers. He mentally informed Tresk of the deal he made, and she screamed into his mind with excitement.
Three gold? Are you kidding me? Tresk said. Her words camebored, as though she were exerting herself at that moment.
And monster cores for the stat potions, Theo reminded her. Its a lot of work, but obviously worth it.
No kidding. Now you just need to collect a whole lot of stuff, Tresk said. Theo wasnt happy that she could scoff into his mind while using the Tarahekmunication.
Stay safe out there, Theo said.
Of course.
Instead of taking the road directly south, he headed toward the river. Theo harvested [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] along his ambling path, eager to take advantage of the early hour of the day. It was unlikely that Pergsborers were back from their task, but he wanted to instruct them to bring it to theb. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle] he harvested the other day had returned. The alchemist didnt understand what made the precious nt grow, and he didnt care. It was an endless supply of reagents provided by the swamp.
Theo arrived at the river, clearing every nt he found along the way. He inspected the flora hed seen before, but found it to bemon weeds and other nts. The goal wasnt to fill his entire 500 unit requirement for the [Lesser Healing Potions], but to get more experience in his [Drogramath Herbalist Core]. It was at 15% of level 6, whereas his alchemy core was ready to level to 7. The obvious imbnce in the way he hired others to harvest his ingredients was showing, and he made a mental note to make more of these trips. The prize of his trip was a thick patch of [Widow Lily] near the river. He carefully harvested the poisonous flowers and stowed it away in his inventory, not willing to risk exposing himself to the deadly thing.
When he finally looped around to the tannery, Perg was standing around the back where the hides used to start their journey. She dug into her satchel and produced a fist-sized object that looked like a giant seed. Guess who spent their life savings?
Theo inspected the object, knitting his brow.
[Tannery Building Core]
[Building Core]
A seed-shaped core that can be nted in the ground. When fed [Monster Cores], this building will grow into an upgradable tannery. When using a [Building Core] inside a core town, permission from the king, governor, mayor, or appropriate functionary is required.
Fenian had a building core? Theo asked. I dont even know how you get these.
Dungeons, Perg said. He stopped by before leaving town. Were going to demolish this tannery and rece it with a core building.
Thats amazing, Theo said, shaking his head. The upgrades for myb were great.
Thats what Im hoping for, Perg said. Seeing as youre the Lord Administrator, I have to ask for your approval.
Its yours, Theo said without hesitation.
The alchemist had thought about recing all the buildings in town with core buildings, but it was thest item on his long list of tasks. nting the seeds of core buildings would cause growing pains, but it would be worth it in the long run. From his small sample size, he saw the power they had. Upon giving Perg his mental eptance for the building, he felt something tingle inside him. He assumed it was the system giving her the permission.
I sent theborers out this morning, Perg said. Theyll be back sometime mid-afternoon.
Perfect, Theo said. Have them stop by the shop when they return.
Works for me, Perg said.
Theo swept his gaze over the tannery. When he first saw the building it was revolting. The smell alone was enough to mark it in his mind as a ce worth demolishing. Now that it operated with alchemy, and the smell was gone, hed miss it. The building that would go up in its ce would be better in every way, but that week-old nostalgia returned. He settled the matter in his mind with the conclusion that if Perg was the one running the tannery, hed be happy.
Hey, want toe to the shop for dinner tonight? Theo asked. And, do you have any idea where we can get some bread?
A smile spread across Pergs face. I can bring some bread. The farmers mill the [Zee Kernel] down to a grain and bake it into bread.
Sounds like cornbread, Theo said, nodding.
Whats corn?
Corn is small zee. It grows a lot like zee, but the fruit of the nt is tiny, Theo said, gesturing with his fingers to approximate the size of a corn kernel.
Thats really weird, Perg said. Id be happy toe. Who else is going to be there?
Well, if I crack my window as Im making the soup Luras shows up, Theo said. So, me, Tresk, Luras, and you.
Sounds like a party, Perg said, scoffing.
Hey, its free soup. My soup is a lot better than Xams, Theo said.
Dont let Xam let you hear that, Perg said, looking over her shoulder. She thinks that perpetual stew is the best thing in the realm.
Theo scrunched up his nose. If the mystery meat didnt put someone off from the soup, the nd vor would. At a copper per bowl of soup, it was also robbery. The alchemist bid farewell to Perg and made his way back to the shop. Azrug didnt even nce up from his book when he entered, simply waving and issuing a grunt. With his new [Custom Copper Stills], Theo could make massive runs of potions. A full load in either would produce enough essence for 200 potions, the reaction for base-level potions being a one-to-one mix of [Purified Water] and essence and each potion was a two unit solution.
With everything cleared away, Theo judged the amount of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] by eye. It was enough to make 40 units of essence resulting in 40 [Lesser Healing Potions]. His goal was to create healing potions to sell to locals as the shop downstairs was mostly barren. The alchemist processed the roots he harvested, cutting them into manageable sizes before mashing them. After dumping them into a still, he rubbed his hands together. The excitement of the new [mes Artifices] was too much, and he wanted to get started. He leveled the still off with [Purified Water], mped the lid shut, and ced the small disc underneath.
Theo retrieved a piece of parchment from his inventory, the one that contained the bulk of his notes, and drew a table documenting the inputs, outputs, and heat level for this run. As with most things in alchemy, he started at the lowest setting on the artifice. The me licked the bottom of the copper still, barely reaching it. He nodded to himself and took a seat.
Im thinking of writing a book, Theo said to Tresk.
On alchemy? She asked.
All the basics of distition from a Drogramath Dronons perspective, Theo said.
Your handwriting looks like a childs.
There has to be a writing artifice for this very reason, Theo said. For now, Im taking notes.
Were wrapping up out here. More cores for the town, Tresk said.
Perfect. Perg ising over for soup tonight, Theo said.
Sounds fun.
Theo ended the conversation there. He knew Tresk was nice about it, but she was usually fighting monsters out there. The condenser started its slow drip into a sk. Even when he used the smallest me possible with actual fire, there was a lot of sputtering in this phase. The unchanging me of the artifice heated the still evenly, creating a smooth extraction. The alchemist made a note of it on his parchment, underlining the need for an artifice in distition. He made a short list of his recipes so far, detailing the brewing process and the exact quantities. This was especially useful for the tannery materials, as fractions of a unit in error caused explosive consequences.
The artifice issued a faint click, and the me disappeared. Theo inspected his sk of essence, surprised at the upgrade in quality.
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
40 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
A wide grin painted his face as he stared at the rose-hued liquid. It wasnt perfect, but the me bumped up the quality of the extraction process. He prepared to set off arge reaction, finding one of his ridiculously sized sks and hoisting it onto the table. It slipped halfway, mming against the side of the table with a resounding gong. To his surprise, the ss didnt show any cracks. Theo wondered if the ss couldnt break, and realized that he hadnt bothered to test it yet. He scooped up an unused vial and stomped on it without leaving a mark. His low [Strength] stat might have something to do with its durability. Hed need to ask Tresk to step on some sster.
Azrug poked his head up the stairs, waving at Theo. Im heading out for the day, boss.
Theo retrieved 2 copper coins from his inventory and tossed them to the boy. He caught the money in the air and ran down the stairs without another word. The alchemist turned his attention back to the reaction. It was the easiest reaction he knew and kicked off the 80 unit recipe without a problem. He propped the window, wafting the smoke outside and inspecting his new creation.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 35 health points.
The increase in quality resulted in healing an additional 5 health. It wasnt the biggest jump in power, but the effort involved was minimal. To keep a fire at a certain temperature was an arduous task. His new method was not only easier, but it made better potions. His intuition said that the catalyst for the reactions should influence their quality, but that wasnt his observation. He made a note of his findings on the parchment and let his thoughts take natural paths to the reason. It was likely because these were level 1 potions, still branded with the lesser tag. There was no information in his books on how to produce more potent potions.
Theo worked the [ssware Artifice] to produce 40 t-bottomed vials. He was curious about his new distribution method and the effects it had on the stability of the potions. The alchemist measured out a unit of the potion out and ced it in a vial. He waited for a moment, swirling the liquid around until it exploded in his hand. ck smoke rose from the top of the vial with force, ripping it from his hand to m against the floor. He confirmed the vials were mostly indestructible, and that an odd quantity of a potions solution had a violent reaction when left alone.
The system allowed for a reaction to happen in arge vessel before being transferred, which sped up bottling. But the system didnt appreciate it if he tried to cheat it by splitting the potion into strange quantities. He quickly scooped a unit from the sk and tossed it out the window to avoid his entire 80 unit solution from exploding in theb. With the crisis averted, he filled the remaining vials with the potion, ending up with 39 [Lesser Healing Potions] at Excellent Quality.
Theo went down to the shop, stuffing the potions in his inventory and bringing along his parchment. He ced the items on his shelf and took more notes, categorizing them as theories instead of fact. The [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was his prime suspect as to the strange way he could makerge potion reactions, but it was just an idea. He long suspected that his legendary core granted him more effects than it let on. The hours of the day passed by as he sat at the front counter, and the shop spent the day devoid of customers.
Pergsborers arrived in the afternoon. There were five of the Half-Ogres as she promised, each with heavy satchels at their side. Theo greeted them and beckoned them upstairs to offload their items directly into the [Large Dimensional Crate]. The first thing that surprised him was that they harvested [Manashrooms]. Next was exactly how much theyd harvested of each reagent. Without herbalism cores, they gathered 200 [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], 150 [Moss Nettle], and 200 [Manashrooms]. At this pace, theyd finish gathering everything he needed for his order quickly. He pulled back from the crates inventory menu and gave them a surprised look.
You guys dont mess around, Theo said.
Weve been collecting ingredients for the tannery for years, one said. We dont have gathering cores, but we get by.
Well, youve done a good job, Theo said, summoning his inventory screen. If he broke down what they gathered into how much hed sell it for, they brought him at least a gold worth of materials. It seemed like a jerk move to pay them standardborer wages. He produced five copper coins for each of theborers, distributing the 25 coins among them.
We agreed to a coin for thebor, sir, the leadborer said. Whats this for?
Money makes money, Theo said. This is the rate youll work at when you do dangerous work for me. I cant stand those insects in the [Manashroom] caves.
I wont refuse the coin, a Half-Ogre at the back grunted. The others nodded their agreement.
Two more days of this and well have enough for my current order, Theo said. As long as Perg is alright with you guys working for me.
Shes waiting to do a new run of hides. Wont have work for us for a few days, the lead Half-Ogre said.
Whats your name? Theo asked.
Ziz Rotgut, sir, he said, looking sheepish. Its a family name.
Theo looked him over for a moment. He didnt know if Ziz was amon name or not. If he had to guess, the man hadbat or farming coresperhaps even a specializedborer core. He would have dumped all his points into [Strength] and [Vigor]. The perfect person to run his stone mine. I have a proposition.
Does it mean more coin? Ziz asked.
It always means more coin, Theo said, grinning. Were not starting this project nowI need more coin before we dobut I want to start a stone mine to the north.
Aye. Northern reaches, near the [Manashroom] caves, are granite, Ziz said.
Theyre marble, another Half-Ogre put in.
I heard theyre shale.
Whatever theyre made of, I want to establish a quarry, Theo said. It would be a chance for you to fill the gap between doingbor work for Perg.
I have a [Stonecutter Core], the smallest Half-Ogre said.
Yeah, we can do that work, Ziz said. Were all familiar with the process.
Perfect, Theo said. I dont have anything ready, but keep it in mind. When the tannery is slow, we can work the stone. Im tired of the dirt roads in this ce.
Depends on the value of the stone, sir. Exporting might be worth your time, Ziz said.
Perfect fallback n. If the upgrades to the town give us paved roads, we can always sell the stone afar, Theo said. Fine. Thats all for today. Thank you for your hard work.
The Half-Ogres bowed slightly, stomping out of the shop with wide grins on their faces. Greasing the wheels worked best in every world. It didnt matter if this wasnt Earth. People loved money. Theo decided against running the stills tonight, locking the store and returning to theb. He focused on reorganizing his notes before Tresk came home. Somewhere buried in those bits of information was the key to approaching the next level of alchemy. He just needed to find it. The bell jingled downstairs, signaling Tresks arrival. He ran down the stairs to press his forehead against hers, their Tarahek cores hitting level 3.
Long day, Tresk said, letting out a heavy sigh. I hit level 10. Got a new core slot.
Theos eyes went wide. He didnt know she was so close to getting level 10. He forced his surprise away and smiled. Thats amazing!
I know, Tresk said, posing heroically. Third best adventurer in Broken Tusk. I got a new skill and an empty core slot.
Any idea what youre going to get? Theo asked.
No idea. Im putting it off, Tresk said, striking a pose again.
Come upstairs, Theo said. Ill start the stew and you can tell me about it.
The pair left the door unlocked and went up to theb. Tresk appreciated the newyout and took a seat by the window. She produced more [Swamp Onions] and wolf parts for him to cook for before recounting the day. Theo chopped the onions as she told him about their encounter with a Goblin that roamed from the dungeon. The onions produced a pungent aroma that filled the room, sizzling away over a slick of wolf fat. He was stepping up his game tonight, removing the onions and setting them aside as he seared the wolf meat.
Were seeing Goblins on the surface, which means the first few levels of the dungeon are growing in power, Tresk said.
Theo prodded at the wolf meat, carefully flipping it over to avoid burning. We need to rush the development of the town. The [me Artifice] was set on the middle setting, putting a nice sear on the bits of wolf meat quickly. He removed them from the hot cauldron after only a few moments, dezing the bottom of the pot with water and adding the bones. He left it to simmer before returning to the conversation. I had an idea for a town guard, but its a loose n.
Tresk worked a knot out of her shoulders, rolling her neck and groaning. The bell downstairs tinkled and two pairs of feet ascended to theb. Luras and Perg waved, finding seats with the Marshling near the window. Let me guess, you smelled the soup? Theo asked.
Perg found me, Luras said.
That smells so good, Perg said.
About your town guard idea, Theo, Tresk said, nodding to the alchemist. Not a horrible idea, but
An adventurers guild would be better, Luras said, finishing her thought. That might be tricky, though.
Youll have to exin the difference, Theo said, stirring the soup. Steam rose off the liquid, and he turned the dial up a notch on the [me Artifice].
There are a few problems, but basically they give quests. If we have an adventurers guild, itll take over the quest that Miana gave. The guild can still pay out wolf bounties from that royal fund, Tresk said.
Rivers and Daub has an adventurers guild, Luras said. It started out as an unofficial branch, but was incorporatedter on. The problem Tresk mentioned is that wed need someone to be the guild master. We can use the guild members to defend the town, though. Take that royal fund and put it to watch duty wages.
That doesnt sound like a problem, Theo said. That sounds like what we need.
Well, theres paperwork Right? Perg asked.
To be incorporated, yeah. Theyd have a lot of rules that the guild master would have to follow, Luras said. The good news is that Miana unknowingly gave you the authority to make an adventurers guild in Broken Tusk.
The soup had been bubbling since the start of the conversation. Theo took a spoonful and tasted it. It needed more time for the vor of the bones to really seep into the stock.
If I can divert funds from the kingdom to pay people to stand watch, that sounds perfect, Theo said, scoffing. Less money out of my pocket.
You should figure out how Miana ismunicating to the crown, Luras said. She gets information by magical means.
Theo hadnt considered that fact before. As a core town on the outskirts of the kingdom, the mayor would need a way to easily send and receive information. In a world of magic it made sense that shed have some kind of magic mirror, or something. He dismissed the thought for ater date, settling his mind on the problem at hand. An adventurers guild sounded like what they needed, not just for the defense of the town. If there was somerger guild that managed all adventurers, it made sense to have a branch in a ce where they could check in.
Adventurers guild it is, Theo said. Who wants to lead it?
Ill do it, Perg said sarcastically.
Dont look at me, Tresk said, holding her hands up defensively.
Im not opposed to the idea, Luras said.
Its between Luras and Aarok, Theo said. If you could get with him and talk about it tomorrow, thatd be helpful.
Of course, Luras said.
Theo added the onions and wolf meat to the soup, dropping the heat and letting it simmer for a while. The conversation shifted away from business and back to the adventures happening outside of the town. Luras was concerned about the Goblin showing up, seeing it as a sign that the dungeon would level once again. The only good news concerned the adventurers. They were forming small parties of their own, easily contending with the wolves out in the swamp. The sun was getting low by the time the soup was ready.
This is good, Tresk said, shovelingrge hunks of wolf meat into her mouth.
Theo sampled his creation, satisfied with the depth of vor. Searing the wolf meat and separating out the onions was the missing step. The stock was richer and the meat less firm. The group ate until they couldnt eat anymore, saying their farewells for the night. Tresk and Theo locked the shop up, and she let out a shriek of joy when they entered the room.
Is that one of those fancy goose beds? she asked, yelling and jumping on the spot.
It is, Theo said, climbing into his own. It was impossibly soft, and he could hardly maintain consciousness as Tresk shouted her thanks at him. She was saying something about him being the best Tarahek in the realms when he fell asleep, absorbed by his impossiblyfortable bed.
Chapter 25: The Order of the Burning Eye
Chapter 25: The Order of the Burning Eye
Tresk and Theo ate more of the leftover soup the next morning. They shared ideas about the new adventurers guild while slurping soup and sipping on steaming cups of tea. The alchemist wished Perg held true to her promise to bring bread to their gathering, but the soup was extremely good. The Marshling helped him clean his stills out to prepare for todays run of potions. Dried-on chunks of root stuck to the side of one, requiring intense scrubbing. It was an effortless task for hispanions superior [Strength] stat, and she made quick work of it.
Im going toe with you before the adventurers head out for the day, Theo said. Assuming you gather before running off to murder monsters.
We do, Tresk said, dumping thest of the water from the copper still. Theyll be excited to hear the news.
A knock came from the door downstairs. Theo went to answer it, letting his young shopkeeper inside. He barely said a word, assuming his traditional seat and kicking his feet up. The alchemist assessed the potions currently on disy. His short run of [Lesser Healing Potions] would have to be enough for now, 39 of them now resting on the shelves. There was also a scattering of other potions, but his focus was on Fenians job.
Tresk came downstairs, greeting Azrug and nudging Theo. Ready?
I am, Theo said. Hold down the fort, Azrug. I have to meet with the adventurers.
Sounds good to me, Azrug said.
Theo and Tresk left the shop, making their way up the muddy road to find a gathering of townspeople. The alchemist didnt expect to see so many of them, at least 20, preparing to head into the swamp. He spotted Luras and Aarok near the back talking to each other. They were arguing about something likely rted to who would run the adventurers guild, and it was getting heated.
Can I have your attention, please, Theo said, trying to raise his voice above the chatter. Over here. No, pay attention to me. Guys?
Listen up! Tresk shrieked, immediately gaining the attention of the crowd. She cast Theo a sly grin.
Thank you. As the Lord Administrator of Broken Tusk, I dere the establishment of this towns first adventurers guild, Theo said. He felt something swirl within him, some hidden power he didnt know he had. The power burst from within him, snaking from his chest in ribbons of light that gathered in the air above the adventurers before dispersing to all corners of the town.
[Broken Tusk] has gained a feature: [Adventurers Guild].
This [Adventurers Guild] is informal, and not affiliated with any guilds currently existing. The creator of this guild may apply for membership in arger guild, but may be subject to theirws.
The quest [Clear the Swamp] assigned by [Miana Kell] has been transferred to the authority of the Lord Administrator. Funds will still be paid out automatically at the end of every day.
[Adventurers Guild] has automatically been assigned to [Marsh Wolf Tavern], the current location of the quest notice. The Lord Administrator can move the guilds headquarters.
Lord Administrator [Theo Spencer] may now elect a guild master.
A murmur of conversation spread across the crowd. Luras and Aarok shared a nce before nodding to each other. Aarok is going to run the guild, Luras shouted over the crowd.
Then thats it, Theo said. He focused his mind for a moment, mentally electing Aarok for the role.
[Aarok Thane] is now the guild master of the [Broken Tusk][Adventurers Guild].
Aarok grimaced where Theo expected him to smile. It was a lot of responsibility, but the alchemist couldnt run around town filling every role. The Half-Ogre had the most experience in both military tactics and adventuring, if Luras was to be believed.
Thank you, Aarok said, collecting himself. Its not a role that I was fighting for, but Ill do it for Broken Tusk. May I have a word before we depart, Lord Administrator?
Theo nodded, crossing through the gathering and following Aarok out of earshot of everyone else. Luras stayed behind while Tresk joined them.
You alone, Theo, Aarok said.
You know were Tarahek, right? Theo asked, scoffing.
What he knows, I know, Tresk said, scowling.
Fine. Im worried, Aarok said. The true reason I epted the role is because something is wrong with the dungeon. Its gaining power too fast.
Im not an expert on dungeons, Theo said. What determines the rate of dungeon growth?
Whatever core was used to seed the dungeon, Tresk said. The [Swamp Dungeon] was here before the Ogres settled. It took hundreds of years to get to level 20, and now its gone from 22 to 25 in a few months.
Then, how do we stop it? Theo asked.
Maybe a wizard, Aarok said, shrugging. Someone who specializes in dungeon cores.
Heres my suggestion for now, Theo said, knitting his brow. He spoke before his thoughts formed, giving himself a moment to create a simple n for Aarok to follow. The dungeon was growing and would likely continue to grow. Induct all the adventurers gathered here into the guild. Require them to donate all of their cores to the town as an emergency measure.
Thats a lot of money in cores, Tresk said.
Just until level 5, Theo said. Once we have our walls, they can keep them.
Thats your n? Aarok said.
Thats the start, Theo said. We have a government stipend for adventurers. People just need to learn about it. Build our wall, strengthen our adventurers, invite foreign adventurers Thats my n.
Aarok knit his brow, falling into thought. He shrugged after a while, unable to poke holes in the short-term n. Fine. This works for now, but I assume I have full authority over the guild?
I think so, Theo said with a shrug. I dont know how any of this works.
Aarok let out a groan, rubbing his hand over his face.
Hes doing his best, Tresk said, scowling.
Fine. Im going to address the troops before they head out for the day, Aarok said. Xam is going to be mad when she learns the tavern is an adventurers guild.
One step at a time, Theo said, waving him off.
Talk to you Uh, right now. Since we can talk whenever, Tresk said, pulling Theo down to press her forehead against his.
Stay safe out there, Theo said.
I will.
Theo made his way to the Marsh Wolf tavern, having no interest in the rousing speech Aarok nned to give. He wanted to leave the military aspect of things to those with knowledge in the realm. Xam needed smoothing over if peace was to reign over Broken Tusk. He found her tidying up the tables and when she spotted him she grimaced.
Why dont youe in anymore? she asked.
Busy, Theo said, lying. So, your tavern is going to house the quests for the adventurers guild.
The what? Xam said, throwing her filthy rag down and stomping her foot. We dont have one of those.
Theo managed a sheepish smile. We do now. Its temporary.
Well, I didnt approve of this, Xam scoffed. I wont have a bunch of rowdy adventurers messing up my tavern.
The rowdy adventurers are your current patrons, Theo said. Listen, its temporary. If you want to grab a knife and head out to kill these wolves, go for it. Until we get the walls up, and a permanent structure for the guild this is what we got.
Xam folded her arms and stared at the alchemist. Maybe if she bore a hole through him, hed relent. But he returned the gaze, matching her intensity with his violet eyes, his tail swishing back and forth. She relented after a while, picking her rag back up.
Aarok is heading the guild, so expect more of him, Theo said.
Aarok? Really? Alchemist, you should have led with that! Xam shouted. She went into a frenzy of cleaning, putting more effort into the task than when Theo entered the tavern.
Theo left her there, shaking his head. He wanted nothing to do with whatever romantic drama was ying out. His preference was to let those things work themselves out, even back on Earth. He idled around Throks cksmith for a while, striking up idle conversation with the Marshling before departing. The cksmith was working on a few projects, some rted to the farmers and others the new adventurers.
The alchemist found azy path towards the river before returning to the shop. He collected reagents along the way, feeling a release of tension in his body now that the adventurer situation was sorted. Aarok was the best person to put in charge, he was sure of it. Luras was a close second, but the man had wanderlust, Theo could tell. The Half-Ogre was a better hunter than he was a military man.
Theo sat at the river for a while, listening to the sound of the river and rxing. The Marshling fishermen he saw so often passed by, giving their greetings and moving downriver toward the ocean. The alchemist was enjoying his time alone up until Tresks voice shrieked into his mind, Run!
The sudden outburst startled him, and he rose to his feet, scanning the surrounding area in confusion. What? Whats going on? Wolves? Theo asked.
Not wolvesshoot! Head northNorth? Yeah, go north Theo. Run!
Theo had learned to trust the woman with his life. She knew more than him about this world, and if she said run, he ran. He sprinted as fast as he could along the river, finding the terrain difficult underfoot. The rocks on the beaches gave way, causing him to stumble onto the wet ground.
What am I running from? Theo asked, unable to keep his panting breath from his mental message.
The Order of the Burning eye, Tresk whispered. She was following someone. Oh crap, hes too fast. Hesing for you, Theoget ready.
Theos potions were back at the shop, and he didnt have anybat cores. Whatever this order was, he wanted nothing to do with it. He drew his dagger and scanned the forest, but saw nothing. His heart hammered in his ears as he waited. The bushes rustled then exploded with a rush of wind, sending the alchemist t on the ground. A man stood over him, taller than any human hed ever seen, but baring the features of the race. He wore full te armor and a long sword at his hip. His hair was cut short and his facial hair freshly shaven. The mans face was a track of ruddy scars and pits, falling mostly over his left eye which was missing.
Theo Spencer. Belgar, the man said, scowling. Something in his voice struck terror in Theos heart and he held the dagger aloft.
I dont know you, Theo said, swiping the dagger through the air. Leave me alone!
The man snatched Theos arm and hoisted him high into the air. He wasnt just taller than a normal human; he was three heads taller than the alchemist. Stand, he said.
Theo obeyed, his dagger falling to the ground in a tter.
The man narrowed his eyes, looking Theo up and down before speaking again. Drogramath Dronon in the soutnds. Not as fearsome as thest one I purged.
Please dont purge me, Theo said weakly.
The mans face twisted in surprise, sending the many scars on his face into deeper tracks. He rxed after a moment and nodded. I am Sulvan metouched, High Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye. Im in charge of destroying the line of Drogramath.
Stop! Tresk shouted from the forest. She heaved a breath and came to stand next to Theo. Hes not a real Dronon.
Luras and Aarok burst from the forest shortly after, joined by a mob of adventurers. Sulvan looked over his shoulder, a wave of energy washing over the group that caused them to cower. He turned his attention back to Theo and Tresk after a moment and affected a shallow bow, cing his hand on his chest.
Forgive me, Sulvan said. Ive been hunting the true demons for centuries, and often forget my manners. For a Dronon to take the Tarahek is impossible. Hes been transitioned?
He has, Tresk said, scowling. So dont kill him.
Sulvans face went nk for a moment before nodding. Noted. Theo Spencer, youre the first being transitioned into a Drogramath Dronon in recorded history. Congrattions for sending my blood pumping for the hunt, only to find a harmless whelp.
The words seemed to calm the mob of adventurers. Theo wasnt sure what they could have done against this man, though. He had a feeling that the inquisitor was beyond any of their powers, and could easily wipe the vige off the map with little effort. Sulvan turned his attention back to the alchemist after a while, reaching a hand out for him to take. A rush of energy flowed through him, stinging every nerve in his body.
What are you doing? Tresk said, resting her hands on the pommels of her daggers.
Calm yourself, Marshling, Sulvan said. I found your Tarahek by following a trail of taint. Drogramath is aware of him, and I thought one of his true children was in the soutnds. Im extremely excited that I was wrong.
Theo didnt notice any excitement on the mans face. A permanent scowl rested on his visage. Drogramath? This really suckswhat does that mean?
Sulvan gestured. Remove your shirt.
Theo wasnt about to disobey the man. He pulled off his ck robe and lifted his shirt. Sulvan ced his massive hand on the alchemist''s chest and closed his eyes. A light tingle yed over the ce he touched for a moment, and then burning pain. Theo shouted, grabbing the giant mans hand and struggling without avail. He copsed to the ground after a moment, gasping for breath. The crowd of adventurers moved forward a little, but kept their distance.
Tresk attacked the inquisitor, jabbing her daggers into the gaps of his armor and finding flesh. But the points of her weapons didnt prate, simply bouncing off as though his skin was iron. As she struggled, a window appeared in Theos vision.
[Sulvan metouched] has branded you with [Grandmaster Exalted Extra-dimensional Tracking Blocker].
Sulvan produced a potion from nowhere and handed it to the Marshling. The pain is temporary. Ive solved a problem you didnt know you had, Theo.
Theo looked down to find a brand on his chest. It was an intricate webwork of lines and symbols that seemed impossibly precise to be a brand. It glowed with a faint red energy.
What is that? Tresk shouted, snatching the potion and forcing Theo to drink it.
It prevents Drogramath from tracking him, Sulvan said. A problem he didnt know he had.
Calm down, Tresk, Theo said, groaning to a seated position. I got a message from the system. It looks like a good thing.
Again, I apologize for my fervor, Sulvan said.
What would have happened if you didnt find me? Theo asked.
Drogramath has agents in the physical realm, Sulvan said. They would have organized to find you once they realized you were linked. You are a very rare thing, Theo Spencer. Reincarnating into a Dronon is extremely rare, but its never happened for Drogramaths line. Someone gave you a powerful gift for this to happenId wager you have some extremely rare gifts.
He does, Tresk said, her mood changing suddenly. She wrapped her arms around Theo and hugged him tight.
To ept the Tarahek is another thing, Sulvan said. When I saw the Marshlings, I knew I was wrong.
Sulvan suddenly cocked his head and turned, staring at the crowd and causing them to flinch. All but Aarok withered under his gaze, and Theo could see that the inquisitor was smiling when he turned back. He produced a small medallion from nowhere and held it out for Theo to take. The alchemist epted it, too awestruck by the man to inspect it.
This went better than it could have, Sulvan said. Ive caused a disturbance in your town and I apologize.
Theo rose to his feet, dusting himself off and reaching out a hand for the inquisitor to shake. Im not dead. Thats what matters.
Sulvan shook his hand and nodded. Whatever guilt that man could feel was long gone. Theo wondered if that sense of distance from other people came with too much time alive, but he dismissed the thoughts. The encounter was just too strange for him toprehend.
Please inspect the ne. Im going to depart now, Sulvan said, vanishing on the spot in a gust of wind.
Aarok was the first to sprint over to Theo, his eyes wide. Did you inspect him?
Inspect him? Theo asked, scoffing. I was trying not to crap my pants.
That guy was level 135, Aarok said.
What? Tresk said, her jaw dropping.
Luras joined them, voicing simr concerns.
You must not have not noticed, Aarok said, shaking his head. He didnt teleport away. He ran.
Theo scoffed again, sputtering. Thats absurdwhats going on?
Demons are a serious thing, Aarok said. Most Dronon are fine, but the Order of the Burning Eye keeps the bad ones in check. They banish the demon lords when they awaken.
He mentioned Theo getting a gift to get the body, Luras said, knitting his brows. I dont even know any other alchemists. How powerful are your abilities, Theo?
I really dont know, Theo said, shrugging. Im just thrilled Im not dead.
Theo pulled his shirt and robe back on and the group moved back to the town to regroup. Today was the day that Luras and Tresk were going to take on a few floors of the dungeon. The Marshling hugged his arm the entire way back to town, shaking her head asionally. When they were back in town, she reluctantly departed and he finally inspected the ne.
[Mark of the Burning Eye]
[Ne]
Legendary
Scaling
A talisman created by a High Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye. Wearing this ne will protect from demonic lords.
Effect:
Alerts [Sulvan metouched] when demonic lords are near or watching you through magical means.
Gain significant damage reduction against demon lords.
+5 Strength
Theo pulled it over his head without hesitation. Any plus to stats was good in his book, and the item gave him 12 [Strength] total. He felt his muscles bulge, his noodle arms filling out significantly. The ne hung from afortable leather string. The medallion was made of silver and depicted an eye on fire.
The alchemist returned to the shop, shaken but relieved. Azrug had the door propped open, looking up and down the street in confusion. Did a storm blow through?
Something like that, Theo said,ughing. Come inside. Ill tell you about it.
Chapter 26: Business as Usual
Chapter 26: Business as Usual
A high inquisitor of the burning eye? Azrug asked, shouting and jumping in ce. How are you not dead, man? Youre a demon!
Theo just got done exining the situation to the boy. In his normal fashion, he was overly excited and extremely animated. Watching his reaction gave the alchemist a bit of relief, letting him rationalize how dangerous of a situation it was. Tresk constantly spoke into his mind, reassuring him that this was a good thing. He wanted her to stop focusing on him and get on with her task.
Tresk attacked him, Theo said.
She what? Azrug said, groaning. By the Godsall of them at oncewhat on earth was that woman thinking? He could have thrown her into the sea. Into the sea!
Shes almost as excitable as you, Theo said, smiling.
The door opened, the bell jingling noisily, and Perg stepped inside. Are you okay?
Small town, huh? Theo asked, scoffing. He gave her the short version, but she seemed more understanding of the situation.
Right. Dangerous, but good. If what he said was true, you would be in far more danger without his help, Perg said. If Drogramath took an interest in you, itd be over. Hes banished right now, but still has agents.
Theo ced his hand on the Half-Ogres shoulder and nodded. I appreciate the concern. Im fine, and I got a fancy scaling ne for my trouble.
What? Those are rare, Perg said. They grow with you as you level.
Speaking of. Id really like to get some alchemy done, Theo said. Azrug, embellish the tale if anyonees looking for me. Make it sound like Tresk and Sulvan had an epic duel by the river.
Oh, I was going to do that anyway, Azrug said,ughing.
Let me know if you need anything, Perg said.
Thanks, Theo said, smiling.
The alchemist wanted nothing more than to put this behind him. He knew it was a good thing, and that Sulvan understood his situation, but he didnt care. His only desire was to craft potions and protect the town, and he couldnt do that while worrying about what some dormant demon lord had nned for him. He closed the door to theb for once and left the windows closed.
Still better than Earth, he said,tching onto the thought for reassurance.
Sulvans sudden appearance wasforting. While the townsfolk of Broken Tusk constantly reassured him that being a Dronon didnt matter down south, it clearly mattered elsewhere. As far as Theo was concerned, the ne was the Order of the Burning Eyes endorsement. If anyone had a problem with his horns, he could sh the ne or show his brand. The alchemist understood how disturbing the situation would be to another person, but he was content.
Theo focused on the task at hand. Fenian ced a ridiculouslyrge order and would return in a week to collect it. As he prepared the mash for his first run of [Healing Essence], hemented the manual process. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was the hardest of the restoration essences to process in the initial stages. The hard root required cutting before mashing, and more time spent with the heavy stick and bucket to get it ground well enough. Theos increased strength from the ne was a boon, making the mashing significantly easier.
Theo transferred the root in stages, making a mental note to get arger bucket, and filled the first still. He leveled it off with [Purified Water] and started the [me Artifice] on its lowest setting underneath. The running list of notes wouldnt receive additional entries this time. For his delivery to Fenian, he wanted to keep everything as even as possible and get 500 excellent quality potions for each type. Essence began dripping from the condenser not long after the fire starter. The alchemist prepared his next batch.
[Manashrooms] were easier to prepare than the hard root. Theo barely smacked his stick against the bulbous mushrooms before they fell apart. He ced a sk under the second stills condenser and added the mash in steps before topping it off. With a mote stuffed inside his second [me Artifice], he set it under the second still and watched the fire burn away.
How are you holding up? Tresk asked.
Theo smiled to himself. I should ask you that. Im not the one delving into a dungeon today.
The first floors are fine. The monsters here practically crumple at a light touch, Tresk said, scoffing. I was just worried that the Pdin shook you up.
Not really, Theo said. The ne he gave me is awesome. It makes smashing up all my reagents easy. Its a scaling item, which Perg said is rare.
They are rare, Tresk said, sounding surprised.
The bell jingled downstairs and for the first time in a few days, he heard Azrugs boisterous voice. Theo suspected that there was actually a customer, his suspicions realized when the boy cracked the door to theb and said, got an outsider adventurer.
Theo looked at his sks before descending the stairs. The massive ssware he put under the condensers would be fine for a while, and he could attend to the customer. He emerged into the shop to find a cat-person standing behind the counter, drumming his fingers on the surface. He was slightly shorter than the alchemist, with a leopards pattern on his visible fur, the rest of his body covered by chain mail armor. His pointed ears perked up upon seeing the alchemist.
Ah, the sign makes sense now. Newt and Demon, I get it, the man said. I am called Zankir, and I havee for potions.
Im Theo, and this is Azrug, my shopkeeper, Theo said. Are you here for the [Swamp Dungeon]?
Not today, Zankir said. Im going to run the [River Dungeon].
Well, a trader cleaned most of my stock out, but I still have a few potions, Theo said, gesturing to the back shelf. Youre wee to browse.
Zankir nodded and went to the shelves. He found the [Lesser Healing Potions] immediately and gave Theo a confused look. You created excellent quality potions in this town? Thats impressive.
Only the best for our customers, Theo said, smiling.
Ill take five healing potions, two barkskin, and a purify, Zankir said. I hope youre not expecting Qavelli prices.
Theo waved a dismissive hand. Of course not. Ill take 30 copper for each potion.
Something about the cat-person, whatever their race was called, screamed bargaining. His discerning eye told Theo that much, and he intended on throwing him a price that was absurd to start with.
Zankir shook his head, grimacing. Ill give you 15 copper each, and not a coin more.
Theo grinned. 20 copper each, and Ill throw in a [Cleansing Scrub]. Youll need it in this mud pit.
Zankir reached out his hand for Theo to shake, which he did. The cat-person beamed. Simple negotiation is the pleasure of life, is it not?
Azrug was standing near the back of the room, mentally taking notes on the exchange, although he was still too timid to strike a deal with the outsider.
Couldnt agree more, Theo said, shrugging.
Zankir brought his potions to the front counter and withdrew the coins from a satchel at his side. Theo noticed it wasnt a dimensional bag. He ced one silver and 60 copper coins on the counter, gesturing for the alchemist to count it. His alchemical measuring ability didnt extend to loose coins, and he quickly counted it out before adding it to his inventory.
A discerning man like you knows the price these potions fetch in the capital, Zankir said. Your reasonable prices will make it possible for up-anding adventurers to delve.
Thats my n, Theo said.
Zankir let out a heavy sigh. Theid back attitude of this ce It reminds me of home.
Theo raised an eyebrow. He didnt even know what the mans race was called in this world, let alone where they called home. Where is home, exactly?
Across the great sea to the east in and called Khahan, Zankir said. It''s mostly desert, but the Khahari have called it home for eons. We have Dronon there, but none of your lineage. Where do you hail from?
My home was destroyed, Theo said.
Im sorry to hear that.
Dont be, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. We were doomed long before the sun sought to swallow us.
So, a second chance. An outworlder, Zankir said. There was something wistful on his face, a longing for something else. Broken Tusk is a delightful ce to settle. I wonder, could I buy property here?
I think so, Theo said. Upon thinking about the topic a screen appeared, disying a detailed map of the town and the avable properties. Only now could he see the amount ofnd assigned to the Newt and Demon. It stretched far to the east, epassing most of the area between the town and the river. He dismissed the screen and nodded. Yes, we have a lot of property. Im the local administrator, so you can ask me to settle down.
A decision for ater time, Zankir said. My family will have a say, and Ill have to sort my holdings in the north.
No rush.
Well, until next time, Zankir said, waving and departing.
When the Khahari was out the door, Azrug let out a heavy sigh. You should have told him about the stipend provided by the kingdom.
Theo waved him off, running upstairs to swap the sks out under the condensers before returning.
We wont convince him. Hes going to have to decide, Theo said. Ill pay you an extra copper coin today if you stick around to help me with the stills.
Azrug scoffed. You know what motivates me.
The boy stayed downstairs while Theo tended his stills upstairs. Some time during the distition process, Theo got a level in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core].
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 7.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
The rest of the run went as expected, with 200 units of [Healing Essence] and [Mana Essence] both at excellent quality. He summoned Azrug upstairs and exined how he dumped the stills out the window. The Half-Ogre boy burst outughing, pping his knees and pointing at the alchemist. Theo waited for him to get it out of his system.
Youre the dumbest alchemist I know, Azrug said, shaking his head. Youve got all this alchemical knowledge in your brain, but nomon sense.
Im the only alchemist you know, Theo said.
The boy disappeared down the stairs, returning with a bottle of [Cleansing Scrub] in his hand and grinning. He ced a drop of the solution inside the first still, the powerful reaction bathing the room in a bright white glow. When it was done the massive pot waspletely clean.
Im an idiot, Theo said, nodding.
Im still getting paid more, right? Azrug asked.
Theo produced three copper, as promised, and handed it over to the boy.
See you tomorrow, Azrug said, bounding down the stairs and out the front door.
The alchemist left the stills for now, stowing the essences in his inventory and making for the front door. Before he could leave to harvest more herbs the five burlyborers appeared. He directed them to deposit their hard work into the dimensional crate upstairs and took stock of the herbs before paying them. 200 more of the root, 200 more mushrooms, and 300 more of the moss. They must have figured out how to climb the trees properly to harvest the moss.
Another day of hard work, guys, Theo said, shaking his head. Youre really doing a good job.
Ziz grunted, holding his hand out and smiling. Theo produced 25 copper coins and ced them in the Half-Ogres hand. Same for tomorrow?
Yes, after that Ill have new reagents for you to harvest, Theo said.
Ziz waved and departed, taking his band ofborers with him. Theo left, locking up the shop and swinging around the side into the gravel yard. He let out a groan, suddenly remembering that he wanted to talk to Miana. Any conversation with the woman ended with her scowling a hole through his forehead. He changed course, heading up the main street and into the square. Before entering her house, he checked the monolith in the square.
[Small Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Miana Kell
Administrator: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 4 (25%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab-Alchemy Shop
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Adventurers Guild
Upgrades:
None
The adventurers were doing a great job feeding the town cores. It would be level 5 soon enough. Theo knocked on Mianas door and the woman emerged, glowering down at him. What?
Business, Theo said.
She reluctantly held the door open, allowing him to enter. She snapped it shut behind her and regarded him, shaking her head. Well?
How do youmunicate with the capital?
Miana simply gestured for him to follow, leading him down the hall and into the office where the towns mercantile seats held their meetings. She retrieved a small pink crystal from a locked chest and set it down on the table. Just grasp it and youll be connected with some annoying functionary.
Alright, Theo said. I just wanted to know that you had a line directly to them.
I do. And now you do, Miana said. Her expression softened for a moment and she sighed. Why are you better at being a mayor than me?
Im not, Theo said, waving her off. Im better at being so self-interested that Ive expanded my interests to the town.
Mianaughed, maybe for the first time since he met her. That alchemy shop has been empty for as long as I can remember. You show up, and suddenly the town is buzzing.
Its a confluence of events, Theo said. The dungeon gaining levels rapidly has more to do with it than me. Have you considered the idea that were seeing more sess because you have more support?
See? You even know the right words to say, Miana said, letting out another sigh. Keep it up. Use the crystal whenever you need.
Alright. I need to gather my thoughts on that one. It boils down to getting more financial aid from the crown, Theo said.
They seem willing, Miana said, shrugging.
Theo bid farewell to the woman, not willing tomit to contacting whoever was on the other end of the crystal. He wandered toward the river, gaining updates from Tresk along the way. They went down to the 10th floor of the dungeon before turning back, and were currently making their way back up. She found new gear, and even a few reagents she thought were alchemical. Without an herbalism core, she wouldnt be able to tell. He wished her a safe journey back.
The area between the shop and the river was picked over, but there were still hidden roots invisible to theborers. Theo knew the nts would grow back within a day, but spent his time gathering the more difficult ones. He hadnt considered why they came back so quickly, but dismissed the thought as soon as it came. The herbs in the area behind his shop were locked in his mind, their locations stored away by his high [Wisdom] stat. While he knew those well, the nts that grew along the river were unknown.
ording to the information detailed in his book, elemental flowers were rted to their equivalent stat. [Water Lilies] grew in thick patches along the muddy bank, and would produce potions that enhanced [Wisdom]. He stowed them away in his inventory and worked his way north until Tresk informed him she arrived back at the shop. A massive wooden bridge spanned the river at a point. He noted its location and turned back around, the journey back to the Newt and Demon resulting in 50 of the [Water Lilies] in his inventory.
Tresk looked exhausted, sitting in Azrugs chair with her head resting on the front desk. Theo dripped a few drops of [Cleansing Scrub] on her head and sheughed. It washed away theyers of grime and blood covering her body, sending shes of light through the shop.
I got this new dagger, Tresk said, pulling a wicked-looking de from her belt and grinning. Finally picked my level 10 ability, too. [des from Shadow] increases my first attack after leaving stealth.
Youre a sneaky one, Theo said, patting her on the head. Not much from me, today. Got level 7 in my alchemy core and made some potions.
Ah, the life of an alchemist, she said,ughing. Im going to take a few potions from the shelf, if thats okay.
Theyre your potions, too, Theo said.
Tresk shrugged, groaning as she stood and stowing 5 [Lesser Healing Potions] in her dimensional bag. Youre working on the Elf job, right?
Yeah, Im getting there, Theo said. I also owe Perg some tanning potions, so I want to get this job done soon. Is Luras stopping by for dinner?
He is. Perg will invite herself, too, Tresk said.
Theo and Tresk went upstairs, propping the windows open and making a new batch of soup. The reagents she found in the dungeon turned out to bemon nts, a fact that annoyed her. As if on cue, Luras knocked on the front door. Perg was with him, and they joined as a group upstairs. The soup was as delicious as thest time they made it, and the conversation switched around aimlessly. It finallynded on the inquisitor Sulvan.
Thats the thing! Perg shouted. We sit here in some backwater town, knowing that theres high-level people out there. Its absurd to think about.
Its scary, Tresk said. He didnt even flinch when I stabbed him.
You shouldnt have stabbed him, Luras groaned.
I thought he was going to kill my Tarahek, Tresk shrugged.
Theo is just lucky that the guy was one of the good ones, Perg said. Imagine if he was just a jerk that killed all the unknown Dronon.
Well, demon lords are the least of our worries, Luras said. The [Swamp Dungeon] is still leveling, and we dont have walls.
Has Aarok organized a night watch? Theo asked.
Have you sorted the night watchs wages? Luras shot back, grinning.
Theo shifted ufortably in his seat. He had the chance to talk to the capital earlier, but didnt want to get ahead of himself. No.
Well, hes organized it anyway. Two people will patrol the streets in shifts, Luras said. Its horrible work, but theyre doing it for free until we get that sorted.
Everyone at the table but Perg was exhausted from the day. She babbled on for longer than was eptable, and was eventually dragged out of the shop by Luras powerful grip. Theo and Tresk locked the shop up and headed for bed, pressing their foreheads together before saying goodnight.
Tresks loud snores filled the room immediately. Despite the softness of the bed, and his exhaustion, Theo was awake for quite a while. Twilight enveloped the town, and he still wasnt tired. He reyed the events of the day in his mind, appreciating how lucky he was. There were still things he couldnt change in this world, but Broken Tusk wasnt one of them. He could alter the fate of the town for the better, sending it into an era of prosperity it could have only dreamed of. Only when embracing the dreams of his new home did he find rest that night.
Chapter 27: The Master Negotiator
Chapter 27: The Master Negotiator
Theo and Tresk ate breakfast together the next morning, cursing Pergs betrayal. She once again failed to bring the bread she promised, but neither of them knew how to make it. With things being so hectictely, they had little time to spare to pursue it. Fortunately, the soup hadnt lost its luster. Back on Earth, the alchemist wasnt picky about his meals. When food came after the copse started, he was content eating whatever protein bars they threw him. Compared to those tightly packed chocte vored cubes, the soup was a delicacy. The delicious orange-vored tea didnt hurt the matter, making their time staring out the window into darkness enjoyable.
I used to sleep in a lot, Theo said. Whenever I could, really.
People in the big city sleep a lot, Tresk said, slurping her soup. Thats what I hear, anyway. Cant afford to do that out in the middle of nowhere.
No, we have to make the daylight count, Theo said.
The thought that hed have to contact the capital hung over his head that morning. Tresk sensed it and tried to motivate him.
You cant put it off forever, Tresk said. She didnt even need to ask to know what he was worried about.
Its easy to be in Broken Tusk, Theo said. But now I have to talk to someone in Qavell?
We need those guards, Tresk said, shrugging. Its not fair to expect them to patrol the town without a wage.
Theo let out a long sigh and finished his soup. The adventurers guild was a step forward, but it would take even more effort to have the town properly defended. The dungeon provided enough problems, not to mention talks of war in the north. If the rumors were true, they would have bandits fleeing south. The alchemist thought about his customer yesterday, Zankir the Khahari, and wondered if he was on the level. He exined the encounter to Tresk, aiming to get her opinion of the man.
Are the Khahari good people? Theo asked.
As good as any other people, Tresk shrugged. Bandits wonte looking for a home. Theylle to pige, hiding out in the forest and striking towns for loot.
He might buy some property in town, Theo said, nodding. Seemed like a guy who just missed home.
Thats good, Tresk said. We need more adventurers here.
The pair cleaned their breakfast away before Theo showed the cleaning technique Azrug came up with. Sheughed at the alchemist for a while, pping herself in the forehead. How did we miss that? she asked.
The sun was creeping over the horizon when they left the shop. Azrug was leaning up against the wall outside and he flipped the sign and entered the shop without a word. Tresk shrugged it off, and they made their way to the monolith in the town square. The adventurers were already gathered, receiving a speech from Aarok. Theos mind drifted in and out of listening. The man was talking about keeping the swamp secure, and that they were so close to getting the walls they desperately needed. The alchemist was too worried about what hed say to the people in the capital. All the expectant eyes of the adventurers fell on him and he snapped back to reality.
What? Theo asked.
He asked if you made progress on negotiating with the big guys, Tresk said, punching Theo in the arm.
I havekind ofIll contact them today and negotiate a sry, Theo said, swallowing hard. They gave the wolf quest, so why wouldnt they give us more money to defend the town?
More adventurers hitting the dungeons means more in taxes, Aarok said, nodding. Were putting our faith in you, alchemist.
Thats Lord Administrator to you, Aarok, Tresk said, blowing raspberries.
Calm down, Aarok said,ughing. Anyway, concerning the [Monster Cores], were donating until it hits level 5, at that point
Theos mind wandered again, leaving the Half-Ogres words behind. He knew too little about the way the kingdom distributed funds and felt uneasy going into negotiations without that knowledge. He set a simple n in his mind, the same n he used on Zankir, aim high and ept low. Broken Tusk would request 10 copper a day for guards with four guards in shifts, two for the day and two for night. Realistically, hed be happy if they offered two copper coins per person.
Were going, Tresk said, nudging Theo. She beckoned for him to lean over and pressed her forehead against his. Youll do fine.
The adventuring party filed out of the square, leaving two people who left in opposite directions to patrol the town. Theo took a deep breath and knocked on Mianas door. She emerged quickly, narrowing her eyes at him and grumbling. What?
Need to use your fancy crystal, Theo said, managing a weak smile.
Fine. You know where it is, she said, holding the door open.
Theo found his way to her office and retrieved the crystal from the unlocked chest. He sat down in a chair and looked at the curious object, rolling it over in his hands. Without defined instructions on how to use it he just sat there for a while. After a few frustrating attempts, he closed his eyes and focused on what he wanted. The alchemist fell through the air, plummeting from the room into a sheet of inky ckness. When he tried to shout, nothing came out, and he was suddenly standing on a stone tform, illuminated from an unknown source.
Hello? he shouted, his eyes refusing to focus. His voice echoed over the tform.
A figure appeared in front of him, appearing out of nowhere. It was the vague shape of another person, possibly a woman, but cloaked in darkness. Hello, thanks for reaching out to the Qavell City Administration Services, how can I help you?
Theo had shbacks to customer support people back on Earth. Her tone was far too cheery for the darkness surrounding them. Yes, I have a question about Broken Tusks defensive fund.
She took a moment, tilting her head before eximing. Oh! Youre the new Administrator for Broken Tusk. Theo Spencer, I got you right here. Miana has a lot of good to say about you and the town has been growing rapidly since you took over. All good marks, She said, barely taking a breath. Im Lauris, by the way. Do you have any specific requests at this time?
Were having a bit of a wolf problem. From the dungeon. Its growing rapidly, Theo said. Despite his initial fears of this conversation, he was growingfortable.
Right. Wolves. Lets see, Lauris said, pausing for a moment. We assigned a quest to take care of the wolves, is the dungeon still growing in strength?
Yes, were seeing more wolves in the swamp and some goblins, Theo said. I created an adventurers guild, but we still need people to run patrols through the town.
An adventurers guild? Smart move, Lauris said, chuckling. I can provide another quest for you. How many patrols is your guild master running?
Two for the day, two for the night, Theo said.
Four adventurer subsidiesyour adventuring guild master can assign whoever they wantfive copper a day per person, Lauris said. Does that sound good?
Theo blinked, unable to understand why this went so well. Thats perfect.
Any other questions?
Theo thought for a moment. The situation was extremely easy, and he wasnt expecting it to go off so well. He had to think for a moment before responding. Thats it. I can use this crystal at any time?
During business hours.
Thats it, Theo said, scoffing. Thank you.
Bye.
The connection was cut without warning, and Theo was sent hurtling upward through nothingness. He was back in the chair, Miana staring daggers at him.
Did it work? she asked. Theyre usually jerks.
Theo blinked, unable to process the sudden change. He stammered for a moment before collecting himself. Oh, yeah. Real toughdy, Lauris. I had to threaten her life, but she gave me what I wanted.
Maian narrowed her eyes. I hate Lauris.
Theo left Mianas home, shocked at how easy it was to get what he needed.
Aarok said he got a notification about a new quest, Tresk said, speaking into Theos mind. How did you seal the deal so quickly?
Ah, you know. Im just an extremely good negotiator, Theo said, beaming. It felt silly to smile while you were talking to someone through telepathy.
You didnt have to do anything, did you?
Nope. Some nice shadowy figure sorted it out for me, Theo said. Which makes me mildly suspicious. Why are they so interested in Broken Tusk doing well? I understand the tax angle, but a few silver will not tip the scales.
A broader mystery? Tresk asked. Maybe. Im sorry, Theo. Im just a country Marshling, so I dont understand all this stuff.
Right. Stay safe out there, Theo said.
Relief flooded through Theos body. He took his time walking back to the shop, picking an ambling path out into the forest to the east. Things were going better than he expected. Leading a life that led from one bad thing to another hardened him against such things, though. He constantly flung himself into motion to prevent those bad things, preparing for an eventuality that never came. The alchemist returned to the shop, finding Azrug with his feet kicked up and reading his book.
Ive secured funding for the guard patrols, Theo said.
Thats good, Azrug said. Someone said they saw a wolf up near the tavernst night.
Well get the walls today, Theo said. As long as they find enough cores.
Well, I made a sale, Azrug said. 10 coppers worth.
Good. Keep it up, Theo said. Ill be in theb.
Azrug grunted a response without looking up from his book. Theo took stock of his dimensional crate, deciding that he wanted to make a run of [Stamina Essence] and [Healing Essence] today. That would put him 100 potions shy of his order for healing potions, and 300 short on the other two. His process was simplified once more, bringing his production capability up significantly. Cleaning the stills was a task that he hated, and now he didnt have to worry. The [Cleansing Scrub] took care of the caked on reagents that gave him so much trouble in the past.
Theo prepared the [Moss Nettle] first, mashing 200 units fairly quickly and transferring it to the first still. He leveled it off with water and prepared the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], cutting them into small pieces and smashing them down. His increased [Strength] was paying off, and hepleted the task in half the time it normally took. The [me Artifices] burned away on the lowest setting, slowly heating both stills. The alchemist had his process down exactly, allowing him to leave the shop and search for herbs while the stills did their work.
Between his cores, the [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was the one that needed more experience. While his alchemy core hit level 7, the herbalism core was still at level 6 and he wanted them to be in a simr range. Theo made his way to the river, mentally keeping time while he picked [Water Lilies]. He knew the locations of the flowers that enhanced [Wisdom] and [Vigor], but didnt have a lead on any other stats. The stat-enhancement potions that Fenian requested were optional, but the alchemist wanted to make the most money possible from the request.
Tresk updated him on the days journey so far as he headed back to the shop. The adventurers were at a point where they didnt need help taking on the marsh wolves. A few of them were even venturing to other areas to check on the local dungeons. The closest one after the [Swamp Dungeon] was the [River Dungeon]. Next was the [Hills Dungeon], to the north, which Theo had heard nothing about. He reasoned it was an extremely low-level dungeon, not worth mentioning. His Marshlingpanion took all of this as good news, as she could now focus on herself more. Luras became her adventuring partner for the time being until the wanderlust took him.
Azrug hadnt made another sale by the time he got back, and didnt acknowledge him when he returned. Theo swapped the sks under his dual condensers and nned his next run. The next batch would be [Mana Essence] and [Stamina Essence], which should put him at midday. There would even be enough time to do another run if his stamina held out, but he had his doubts.
Theo ended the runs and added the essences to his inventory, pulling out a bottle of [Cleansing Scrub]. He dripped it in either still and started the mashing process again. Thankfully, this run would be the [Manashrooms] and [Moss Nettle], the two easiest reagents to process. When he fired up the first still, after leveling it off with [Purified Water], the [me Artifice] sputtered to life then died. It was the first time his new tools ran out of power, but he crammed an [Earth Mote] inside and it fired back up instantly.
Midday came with Theo staring out the window. It was the second half of hisst run of the day when a prompt suddenly crowded his vision.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 5!
[Broken Tusk] is eligible for an upgrade. As the Administrator, you may make a section of the following:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
Your [Small Town] will gain stone walls around its bordersplete with gates. The walls will adjust if your borders expand. One gate will be ced on each cardinal direction aligned with the road exiting your town.
[Stone Roads]
Your [Small Town] will gain stone roads that cover all interior roads within your borders. The roads will expand as you expand your town.
[Watchtowers]
Your [Small Town] will gain watchtowers ced along the border. The watchtowers will move to match the edge of your borders, should you expand. 12 watchtowers will be ced.
Theo was tempted for a moment to select the roads, but the walls were a clear winner. Roads would only prevent people from getting their feet wet in the mud, and he couldnt see much use for the watchtowers. He mentally selected the walls and felt the ground rumble beneath his feet. The alchemist steadied his sks as the rumbling continued, almost losing his footing to the sudden shift. Azrug bolted up the stairs momentster, his eyes wide with fear.
What happened?
We just got an upgrade, Theo said. Well check it out once my distition isplete.
Azrug stayed with Theo upstairs, bouncing up and down with excitement. The alchemist somehow kept him calm enough to wait for thest of the essences to finish. They departed the store and made their way to the town square. A group of people was already there, babbling to one another with excitement. Thanks to the clearing to the west, he could see the sizable stone wall and gate. It was a portcullis style gate with a cranking mechanism nearby. The gate was currently down.
Theo addressed the crowd, spotting Miana popping her head out of her house. We have walls, he said, keeping it simple.
Those few words were enough to send the group into a frenzy. Azrug joined them, jumping some more and hooting as loud as he could. The alchemist couldnt help but smile, and added a few excited shouts of his own. The adventurer who fed thest core to the town stood nearby, sheepishly smiling as the group praised him. Theo inspected the monolith.
[Small Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Miana Kell
Administrator: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 5 (1%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Adventurers Guild
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
Theo knew that the climb to level 10 would be arduous. His n was to use his alchemy earnings to buy powerful cores from the traders and upgrade fast. He hoped that a new set of upgrades would be avable at level 10, because he couldnt stomach getting either the roads or the towers. They both seemed like a waste of an upgrade slot. The townsfolk were safe, for now. He raised his hands to get the attention of those gathered.
Im sure Aarok will spread the word, but well have two adventurers on patrol in the city all the time, Theo said. The crowd roared, and he waited for them to settle down. I think we can all agree that the gates should be closed at night, but I want to put it to Aarok first. See what he thinks.
Speaking of, Azrug said, pointing toward the western gate.
Theo could faintly see the adventurers standing outside the gate. They were waving their hands and shouting something he couldnt hear. The group moved through the mud to the gate, taking a while to figure out how the mechanism worked, and slowly raising the portcullis. The alchemist spotted the mechanism that would release the gate, causing it toe crashing down, and hoped that the entire assembly was magical. He didnt want to see his new gate rusted out.
I see you selected the correct upgrade, Aarok said, beaming.
The other options were terrible, Theo said. Do you know if we get different options at level 10?
Youre already nning for level 10? Luras said, creeping from behind Aarok.
I have a n, yeah.
Theo always has a n, Tresk said.
Yeah. We should see new stuff at 10, but you can pick the old stuff too, Aarok said.
Theo joined the adventurers as they walked the length of the wall. As the description promised, it followed the border of Broken Tusk. It even wrapped all the way around the farnd, putting the alchemists mind at ease. He was worried that the farms werent considered part of the town, but remembered seeing them on the towns map when he inspected the plots. He pulled up that same map again, finding that the wall traced an outline around the town. When they finally finished their circuit back to the western gate, Theo was exhausted, and the day was gettingte.
We should head to Xams for food. To celebrate, Tresk said, giggling with excitement.
I dont think thats much of a celebration, but Ill go, Theo said, grimacing.
Chapter 28: Flowers
Chapter 28: Flowers
It was strange returning to the Marsh Wolf Tavern after spending so many nights eating dinner in theb. The crowds inside were more boisterous than Theo had ever seen them. They raised toasts to everyone involved and sucked down the slop that Xam served. The alchemist had to agree that the soup was better today, but his good spirits were likely the cause. He sat with Tresk, Luras, Aarok, and Perg near the window.
Theo sat with his friends, taking in the sights and sounds of an over-excited group of townspeople. He was too tired to join with them, his stamina bar almost depleted, and just sat. Broken Tusk had walls now. Thick walls that would give a small army a hard time, with ever-strengthening adventurers standing ready behind. The fortune that they poured into the project was only possible because of the adventurers themselves.
Interesting time to live in the soutnds, Aarok said, smiling. Whats next for our people, alchemist?
Youre as much a leader as I am, Theo said, shrugging. I want you to decide the fate of the adventurers. I dont know a thing about adventuring or monsters.
I think Perg is onto something, Luras said, his regr somber self. We need to rece these crummy wood buildings with strong core buildings.
Perg flushed, busying herself with her soup.
Even Mianas ce, the mayors house, isnt a core building, Tresk scoffed. Imagineing here and seeing all the rotting wood. Its an awful sight, if youre used to the grandeur of the capital.
That will be expensive, Perg said, not looking up for her soup. Fenian gave me a deal on the seed core. 80 silver.
An amount youll make back in a week with Theos help, Tresk said.
Yeah. Hes a bit too sweet, that Elf, Perg said, staring off into the middle-distance.
Theo held out a calming hand. The Marshling was too excitable at the best of times, and doubly so when she was tired. Well work on production buildings first. Then, we can rece all the rickety houses. But thats a long-term n.
Whats happening in the short-term? Aarok asked, tilting his head.
Theo had been thinking about his finances. The job for Fenian would earn him three gold coins, minimum. If he shifted into high gear, he could have the special stat potions ready for him as well. Those stat potions would earn him [Monster Cores], and lots of them. He was considering a n that would see less profit in the short-term, but more expansion of the town and an export. The alchemist summoned his administration map of the town and traced his eyes along the northern section near the farms. The town ended where the farms did, leaving the stretch of rocky londs unincorporated.
An option popped up when he focused on the parcel to the north, which included most of the hills.
[Broken Tusk] can be expanded to the Northern Parcel for one gold. Funds will be removed directly from your inventory, or nearest dimensional container in your possession.
You do not possess the required funds.
The n was simple. Hed expand the town north, establish a quarry and a stonecutter with seed cores. Theo would hire theborers, especially the one with a [Stonecutter Core], to work the quarry and hew the stone. It was an expensive operation that might cost him all his gold coins, but it would be worth it. He was tired of using [Cleansing Scrub] every time he entered a building after trudging through the muck of the roads. The idea was to get his stonecutter good enough to export blocks, inviting bulk traders toe and whisk the heavy goods away.
Im going to fund a stonecutter, Theo said. Ill purchase thend to the north, and seed a few core buildings.
Wow. Thats bold, Tresk said.
Expanding Broken Tusk? Luras said,ughing. By the gods. This ce has been the same old core town since my grandfather was here.
Theo has a habit of transforming everything he touches, Perg said. The guy just cant sit still.
Tresk giggled, finishing her soup with a loud burp.
How are the adventurers liking their wage for patrol duty? Theo asked, nodding at Aarok.
Theyre fighting for the spots, Aarok said, grunting. Five copper a day How did you manage that?
Theo averted his gaze for a moment, rolling the situation over in his head. It was incredibly easy to convince Lauris for the funds. He expected to fight for a single copper a day, but the woman offered five without hesitation. While he knew little about how kingdoms operated, the alchemist knew that when war was on the horizon, fists got tight. Qavell was swimming in coin, or he was missing something.
Keen negotiation skills, Theo said. If the system had charisma, Id be sitting at 50 points.
The groupughed, shaking their heads in disbelief.
I cant agree less, Luras said.
They stayed for some time, chatting about nonsense until dusk threatened outside. Theo was ready for bed hours ago, the excitement of the past few days getting to him. Perg pulled him aside as he went to leave, informing him that herborers stored the days worth of reagents at her ce. With the towns upgrade, hepletely forgot about them and promised to pay them tomorrow and give them instructions. She agreed to send them by in the morning for instructions.
Tresk and Theo found their way back to the shop, locking it up before retreating upstairs. They both fell asleep as night settled in outside, trying and failing to keep their eyes open for even a moment longer.
Breakfast the next morning was a pleasant reprieve. Despite Theos high spirits at dinnerst night, he understood with hindsight that it was awful soup. Tresk had ns to delve back into the dungeon today, driven by her desire to get more gear. The adventurers didnt need instruction anymore and would be fine to run off on their own.
Slurping thest of his tea, Theo went downstairs to wait for Pergsborers. As he sat in the shop, twiddling his thumbs, he couldnt help but think he was stealing them from her. The onlyfort he took was that she was an assertive person, and wouldin if he overstepped his bounds. Theborers showed up and he invited them into theb to deposit what theyd collected yesterday. They brought approximately 200 of each reagent, which was more than he needed for this current run.
Theo led them to a table where he produced a parchment. Ill sketch these reagents out for you, but theyre easy to spot. [Stone Flowers] and [Water Lilies] are what youre looking for. Theyre the only stat-based reagents I found so far.
What are the other ones? Ziz asked. He seemed to be their default leader.
Not sure. They should be rted to fire, wind, and lightning, Theo said. The [Stone Flowers] are for [Vigor], and the [Water Lilies] are for [Wisdom].
The alchemist sketched out the flowers, providing a written description of their appearances and location. He paid them for the work they did yesterday and sent them on their way. Azrug showed up as they left, holding his hand out and scowling. Didnt pay me yesterday.
Theo fished two copper coins out of his inventory and handed it to the boy. A smile spread across his face as he sauntered over to his chair, plopping down and pulling out his book. Tresk left for her adventures soon after, leaving the alchemist to his work.
Theo hatched a n to run exact quantities for his batches today. He had 400 of each essence and only needed 100 more of each to fulfill the minimum order for Fenian. The n to send theborers off to collect the rare flowers would sweeten the deal, allowing him to get [Monster Cores] instead of cash, although he rethought that strategy. The alchemist pushed his doubts away, cleaning his stills and preparing for the first run. He created a mash using the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root],menting the arduous process of cutting the roots up, and started the [me Artifice]. With the 100 unit [Healing Essence] distition running, he set his sights on the next batch.
The shop was out of both [Lesser Stamina Potions], and [Lesser Mana Potions]. Theo mashed 200 units of [Moss Nettle], which was significantly easier to prepare than the roots, and clicked the second [me Artifice] into life. He watched as the sks filled with essence, and wondered whether he should buy another still, or not. Proper equipment was something that paid for itself, and he made a mental note to talk to Throk.
The bell rang downstairs, Azrugs voice revealing that it was a local. After a few minutes, he made a sale, and the bell rang again. Theo waited for the customer to leave before heading out for more herbs. Once again, he set a timer in his mind and headed out. The Half-Ogreborers passed him near the river, giving their greetings before moving on. That group was all business. He finally saw a level in his herbalism core, bringing it up to match his alchemy core at level 7. It also tipped him over the edge in his character level, bringing it to match at 7. He dumped his point into [Wisdom] without a second thought.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 7.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 7.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
Theo felt something twinge in his mind, signaling that he needed to swap a sk back at theb. He rushed through back with a few new [Water Lilies] in his inventory. Azrug grunted as he rushed upstairs in time to swap the almost-overflowing sks out. The first still, the one containing the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was done running. The alchemist cleaned it with [Cleansing Scrub] and set up for the next run.
The [Manashrooms] smashed easily enough, even without his enhanced strength, and he had the mash prepared quickly. Theo leveled off the water, fed the [me Artifice] a new mote, and ced a fresh sk under the condenser. He propped a window and wiped the sweat from his brow, noticing his dwindling surplus of stamina. With 500 units of [Stamina Essence] in reserve, he decided it was time to abuse his supply of potions.
Theos supply of [Copper Shavings] wasnt even dented after he set up 10 50 unit reactions on a table. He poured [Purified Water] in each, going down the line of sks and kicking off 10 reactions in a row. Theb filled with a pleasant-smelling smoke that choked him. He frantically waved it out the window, inspecting the resulting stamina potions and nodding to himself. They were all excellent quality, which he expected. The alchemist began the tedious process of distributing the potions into individual t-bottomed vials, finding that hed need more motes if he wanted to finish this entire run.
The table was an endless crowd of vials that were slowly filled with the yellow potion. The only potion Theo had drank in recent memory was a [Lesser Health Potion], one tipped into his mouth after the inquisitor branded him. As he downed a [Lesser Stamina Potion], he remembered the strange citrus vor from before, a rush of energy flooding through his body. His stamina bar restored to full, and he went back to work with reinvigorated muscles. The still containing the [Moss Nettle] finished, and he set off a reaction for the 100 units of essence it produced, quickly bottling those as well.
600 [Lesser Stamina Potions] could apparently fit in a single slot in his inventory. Theo approached his [Large Dimensional Crate] and split the stack, mentally taking 500 when a message popped up.
[Inventory Transfer] Do you want to transfer 500 [Lesser Stamina Potions] into [Large Dimensional Crate]?
[YES/NO]
Theo gave his mental confirmation, and the potions vanished from his inventory. This was a wee feature, but one he wasnt aware of. Azrug came upstairs during his frenzied crafting, holding his hand out expectantly. The alchemist furrowed his brow, moving to the window to see the sun hanging at its midday position. He scoffed, not noticing that time flew so fast, and handed the boy his two copper coins for the day.
Before he could leave, Theo stopped him. How are you liking the job?
Are you kidding? This is the easiest thing Ive ever done. I made a few sales today, by the way. Coppers under the counter. More local adventurers looking for potions.
Did they ask about any other potions? Theo asked. He wanted to know if people were interested in the things he was currently working on, namely [Lesser Stamina Potions].
Not really. They just buy what they see, Azrug said, shrugging. Can I go?
Of course, Theo said, waving him off.
The boy left, and Theo went downstairs to inspect what he sold today. Azrug sold 10 [Lesser Healing Potions],ting the shop 50 copper coins. It would hardly pay the bills, but the money would keep theborers working for another 2 days. The Newt and Demon would live and die by the big jobs for people like Fenian. The alchemist needed more people like him toe into the shop to make massive purchases.
Theo updated Tresk, learning that she had more than enough motes stashed away in her dimensional bag to finish the job. She promised to return with something she was certain was alchemical, but he had his doubts. His herbalism core granted him the ability to see what was useful for alchemy, a trait otherscked. With everything cooked down for the day, and the stillspletely cleaned, Theo found himself with nothing to do. He wrote as much as he wanted about the process of distition the other day and had no desire to work on his book.
The alchemist was doubting any book he could create, and its usefulness to other alchemists. It was possible that the way he made potions was unique to the descendents of Drogramath. He pulled his shirt down to look at the brand on his chest. The webwork of lines was impossible to understand with symbols even the trantion function of the system couldnt resolve. After pacing back and forth in theb for a while, he threw his hands up in exasperation and left the shop. The moment his feet hit the muddy road, theborers he hired arrived.
Got some good stuff for you, boss, Ziz said, grinning.
To theb, Theo said, unlocking the door and leading them upstairs.
The group unloaded their satchels into the dimensional storage crate, and Theo assessed their findings. He was immediately shocked with what they found. 115 [Stone Flowers], 100 [Water Lilies], and 122 [mes Roses]. Hed never seen the roses before and inspected one from the crate.
[me Rose]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Rose enchanted with elemental fire. Grows near sources of me, or fire-creating material.
Properties:
[Increase Strength] ???? ????
[me Rose Where did you find this? Theo asked. It says it needs to be near a source of fire.
Theres a peat bog in the swamp. With the wolves under control, its pretty easy to get to now, Ziz said, grinning. Did we do good, boss?
Beyond good. This is an absurd amount of material, Theo said. He went to tell them how much money it was worth, but stopped himself. He didnt know if unting his potential wealth would anger people, and he wouldnt test it. Stop by the shop tomorrow morning, I need to decide if I have a new task for you.
Well, Ziz said, shuffling his feet. Miss GrottPerg Grotttold us to poke you in the butt about the tannery materials.
Right, Theo said, nodding. He essed his memory, instantly remembering the requirements for his potions. He had plenty of [Ogre Cypress Bark] for the [Stripping Solution], but needed a lot of [Marsh Tubers] and [Swamplight Spider Silk] for the [Alchemic Tannin]. Do you remember the tubers and the spider silk?
I do, Ziz said, nodding.
Ill need as much of that as you can get tomorrow. And youre on Pergs dime for that job, Theo said, withdrawing 25 copper coins from his inventory and handing them over.
Sounds like youre trying to steal us away, Ziz said, grinning.
I am, Theo said. I doubt Perg really needs you guys anymoreno offense meant.
Nah, its true. She takes pity on us because were justborers, Ziz said, shrugging. You reced our jobs with alchemy. Not that I me you.
Well, theres a few things alchemy cant solve, Theo said, chuckling. Were going to go ahead with the quarry when Fenianes to collect his potions. You do know how to quarry and shape stone, right?
Ziz shrugged, hispanions joining with him. Well enough. Give us a few weeks and well be very good at it.
Good enough for me, Theo said. Ill employ you full time when that happens. It might be at a lower rate, or a higher rate. I wont know until we get rolling.
Well, Id like to negotiate my part in that, Ziz said. Seeing as Im somehow the leader of this group of idiots.
Oneborer voiced his objections to being called idiot, hisints silenced with a stare from Ziz. Anything in mind?
Ownership of the quarry and the stonecutters shop, Ziz said.
Theo wouldnt give up full ownership of his investments so easily. Hed be lucky if the seeds for the two core buildings cost anything less than a gold coin. The alchemist had a mind for charity with the people of Broken Tusk, but this was asking too much. He pushed his anger at the outrageous request down, his mind snapping back to his negotiating tactic. Aim high, and settle for the middle-ground.
You get thend on a lease, paid for with your work, Theo said. You start at zero percent, and work your way up to full ownership.
Zizs eyes brightened, and Theo knew that the man was aiming for far less. Theyre going to be core buildings, arent they?
A grin spread across Theos face. With any luck.
Ziz reached his hand out, shaking Theos with a broad smile on his face. We live and die by our sess. I like it.
Ill figure out a way to make the arrangement official, Theo said.
Theborers departed in better spirits than they arrived. Theo inspected the storage crate again. The reagents they brought him were worth a gold coin, ording to Fenians deal. A half days work for years worth of wages, by Broken Tusk standards. The entire situation seemed too absurd for him to understand. Tresk arrived shortly after they departed with Aarok and Luras close behind.
Aarok has invited us over for dinner, Tresk said, pressing her forehead against Theos. I epted for you.
Well, I took a [Lesser Stamina Potion] earlier. Drop your motes off in theb before we goand use a [Cleansing Scrub]. You smell like the swamp, Theo said.
Tresk giggled, running upstairs to deposit her haul before returning.
Lets go!
Chapter 29: Salt
Chapter 29: Salt
Theo never considered the cluster of houses at the north end of town, at the bottom of the farmers hill. He saw it on his administrators map, but never put the information together to understand it was where most of the people in town lived. Aarok led them there, up through the square and past the tavern. They walked quickly past the Marsh Wolf Tavern, not wanting to draw Xams eye. She seemed to think everyone should take three meals a day from her establishment.
Its not much, Aarok said, shrugging.
Theo didnt want to confirm what he said, but he was right. The house sat off a side road, nestled among boulders and trees. It was the same rotting wood construction that the rest of the town was made of, its shoddy foundation miraculously holding the frame up. The inside was more inviting than the outside, although the alchemist spotted some holes in the roof. It had the clean smell of a ce just doused with [Cleansing Scrub], the walls adorned with hunting trophies. They entered a living area with a bedroom off to their right, the door barely holding onto the frame.
Its nice! Tresk shouted, overshadowing Theos mental response.
She was right. It wasnt a core house, but it was cozy. Compared to what was left on Earth, this ce was delightful. Theo felt himself lifted by the Marshlings positive attitude, and he started searching for the good in the ce. The living area held a hearth on the far side made of stone, the remnants of a cooking fire still smoldering. There was plenty of seating in the main area, and a window looking out the front.
Its a Broken Tusk hovel, Luras said, plopping down in a chair and ring at Theo. What more could you expect?
Its nice, Theo said, nodding. No, really, it is. If you went to my, before it was destroyed, and found a swamp it was far worse than this. Bombed-out houses, radiation everywhere. It was bad.
Whats radiation? Tresk asked.
Like poison, but it gets in your body by just existing, Theo said.
We have something like that, Aarok said, shivering. Wizards can cast nasty magic.
Aarok busied himself with the fire before digging a pan from a crate near the hearth. He withdrew something from his dimensional bag and set it aside, waiting for the newly lit fire to burn to coals. Theo found a seat and reclined, watching as a group of people passed by the window. He noticed more people on this side of town, and realized that his alchemyb was ced near the tannery, a ce where people didnt want to go.
Hey! Tresk shouted, jumping from her seat and crossing the room. Is that butter? How the heck did you get Karatan butter?
A smile crept across the Half-Ogres face. Its been in my bag for a long time. Ive been saving it for a special asion, and this seemed fitting.
What with the adventurers guild and new walls, Luras said, grunting. Seems appropriate.
While Luras tried to hide his excitement, Theo could see it. He leaned forward in his chair a little more and licked his lips. The alchemist tried not tough, but then Aarok pulled a loaf of bread from the bag.
No way, Theo said, his stomach suddenly grumbling. Bread? Where did you get bread?
Aarokughed. I pull out Karatan butter, and you drool over the bread? I cant believe Im going to say this, but I can show you how to mill [Zee Kernels] and make bread. Ill instruct an alchemist on something.
Id really appreciate it, Theo said. So, why dont the farmers mill it themselves?
They did a while back, Tresk said, shrugging. No idea why they stopped.
Because townsfolk wont pay premium prices for bread, Luras said. They had to use querns to mill it by handcant keep Karatans this far south.
What the heck is a quern? Theo asked.
Two big bs of rock that crush the grain, Luras said, shrugging. I worked the farm for a few summers when I was a kid.
Aarok ced the pan on the coals, satisfied that the fire had died down enough. He put a bit of the butter in, the group watching as it danced across the surface. It sizzled and filled the room with a nutty aroma that sent Theos stomach growling louder. The group watched without speaking as the Half-Ogre produced four fat wolf steaks from his dimensional bag, setting them on a wooden cutting board and pulling a smaller bag out. He sprinkled something on top of the steaks.
Salt! Tresk shouted. Who are you, Aarok?
Aarok couldnt help butugh. Just a Half-Ogre who likes his wolf steaks.
Theo hadnt considered a lot of things about his new world, but the avability of spices suddenly became high on his list of things he needed to know about. Even the soup he made in his house was nd whenpared to the foods on Earth before the fall. The scent of the four steaks cooking in the pan made him realize how vorless his food had been. The group sat, hushed and listening to the sizzling meat, while they awaited their meal.
This is a meal for celebration, Luras said, nodding to himself. For all weve aplished.
It pays to have an alchemist, I guess, Tresk said.
Theo still wasnt certain about that idea. Any old alchemist wouldnt have aplished what he had. The gifts given by the Harbinger were the defining factor, putting him in a tier of master alchemists in faraway cities. He was overpowered by every measure. He could produce more potions than a low-level alchemist, and the potions he created were more powerful.
There might be consequences for my skills, Theo said.
Luras cast him a knowing look, nodding in agreement.
What? All I see is free potions and money, Tresk said.
That inquisitor was the first sign, Aarok said, flipping the steaks and returning to his seat. Theos abilities will draw some attention. We need to be prepared to make sure that attention is positive.
The walls, Theo said, shrugging. I wanted the walls to keep more than wolves out. Prying eyes and bandits
With the way the adventurers are leveling, Id like to see someone try something, Tresk scoffed. Were all shooting up in level so fast.
Lets keep away from the gloomy topics, Aarok said. He moved about the room, finding tes for everyone and dishing out the steaks.
The Half-Ogresmand for silence was unnecessary. The group fell into hushed silence as they were handed their food. Theo inspected his steak, a thick b of meat seared perfectly on both sides with globules of butter and fat running over the surface. He withdrew his [Copper Alchemy Knife] and cut it down the middle, finding it to be perfectly medium. He cut a small chunk and popped it in his mouth, an explosion of vor dancing over his tongue. It was almost too vorfulpared to the food hed been eating. The meat melted in his mouth as he chewed and he closed his eyes.
Why have we been eating slop every night? Theo asked.
Can we buy your salt? Tresk said, foregoing the knife and takingrge chunks out of her steak with her teeth.
Shouldnt there be an alchemical solution for that? Aarok asked mockingly.
Theo knew he was joking, but there might be a way he could make salt. His extremely high [Wisdom] skill told him that the extraction of base materials should be possible, but he couldnt put it together yet. It was too advanced for his alchemy core, but he suspected that level 10 would reveal a lot of new abilities.
I know that look! Tresk shouted, pointing at Theo. There is an alchemy way to make salt!
Hold your horseshold your Karatans. I have an idea, but who knows. Seems like advanced stuff, Theo said.
You can buy salt. Just ask the trader when hees around, Luras said, scoffing. He was eating like Tresk, taking bites out of the steak instead of cutting it. Its cheap enough, too.
Yeah, I was messing around. I paid 10 copper for this bag, Aarok said,ughing.
Luras and Aarok shared war stories for a while, recalling their time as young men with aspirations for soldiery. After a while, it was clear why they werent epted in the irregr army. The pair of them were always messing around, walking their own path while neglecting the core discipline of Qavells army. Theo understood how their hopes to be soldiers would be crushed by their desire for freedom. He didnt envy anyone serving in a fighting force, not even his old self. Being told where to go and what to do was too much for him.
The group chatted until the sun grew low in the sky, giving way to twilight. Tresk was falling asleep in her chair, barely able to keep her head up to nod a response at the conversation. Luras helped Theo carry her back to the shop when she finally fell asleep. He must have had a massive [Vigor] stat, as he didnt seem tired. The alchemist, having downed a [Lesser Stamina Potion] earlier, wasnt tired at all. He could feel the weariness of the day wearing on him, but he was a long way off from being sleepy. The pair put the Marshling to bed and retreated down to the shop.
Youvee a long way, Theo, Luras said. From a wide-eyed outworlder to what you are now. Its impressive. I cant imagine falling into a world I dont know, then hitting the ground running like you did.
Theo sighed, moving around the shop to light the candles. He leaned against the front counter and smiled at the Half-Ogre. People can do some crazy things when they have no other choice. This was a second chance for me, though.
A way to atone, Luras said, nodding. I can rte.
Youve done some stuff, huh? Theo asked, scoffing. Im not surprised.
Luras reached into his satchel and brought something out. It was a core, but not like the other cores the alchemist had seen before. The energy that radiated off the object was powerful, whipping ribbons of power across the room and buffeting Theo. The Half-Ogre gestured for him to inspect the object.
[Mastercraft Leatherworkers Core]
Epic
Leatherworkers Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
[Mastercraft Leatherworkers Core] created bybining many standard [Leatherworkers Cores].
Effect:
Increase the effect of leatherworking efforts.
+1 Wisdom
Theo looked at the core in awe. He could see now that it reflected the sensibilities of a leatherworker. The core was a web of metal surrounding a glowing leather interior, putting off a pale brown light. He couldnt even guess how much the thing cost.
My lifes savings, Luras said, shrugging. To give up the adventuring life and start a leatherworkers shop.
You made these, didnt you? Theo said, gesturing at his masins.
I did, Luras said. Not with the power of a skill, though. The items Id make with this core would be a lot more powerful.
Luras had done more for Theo than he could ever repay. The Half-Ogre dropped everything to help the alchemist, even if there was money involved that was a powerful thing. He summoned his administrator map of Broken Tusk without hesitation, finding arge plot ofnd next to Pergs tannery.
[Broken Tusk Parcel #52] can be purchased for 10 silver coins.
Buy Parcel? [YES/NO]
Theo bought it without hesitation, mentally transferring ownership to his friend.
[Broken Tusk Parcel #52] has been transferred to [Luras Trinner].
Luras narrowed his eyes at Theo. Theo You didnt have to do that.
I wanted to, Theo said, smiling. Ill buy you a core seed, too. Enough to get you started.
Luras was moved, even if his stony expression wouldnt show it. He ced his hand on the alchemists shoulder and nodded.
Its not free, Theo said, scoffing. In case you forgot, my Tarahek is a rogue. She needs gear.
Lurasughed, unable to find the words to thank hispanion. They left the shop, heading out into the darkness to inspect the new parcel. Theo couldnt remember if hed been out in town after nightfall, but it was lovely. A pale yellow moon hung overhead, almost full and illuminating their path. They found the parcel next to Pergs tannery and walked the length of it. Like most parcels on the southern-side of the town, it was massive.
The pair returned to the main road, finding an adventurer performing his nightly patrols. He held antern high and greeted them before moving on. The sight wasforting, mostly because of the baying of wolves outside of the walls. Theo gestured for Luras to follow him and they found their way to the western gate, ascending the battlements and looking out over the swamp.
Thats a dangerous ce at night, Luras said, shaking his head.
Theo didnt need him to say that to understand. Quadrupedal figures danced in the distance, darting between shadows and lying in wait. The alchemist wanted nothing to do with the life people led outside of the walls, preferring a solid curtain of stone between him and the horrors of the dungeon-spawned things. He couldnt understand Tresks lust for adventure, but reserved himself to that fact. She did her thing, and he did his.
Steak Need more steak. Stop hogging! Mine! Tresks voice came into his mind.
Theoughed. So, Tresk and I normally sleep at the same time so this hasnt happened yet. Shes projecting her dreams into my mind.
I didnt know that was a thing, Luras said, narrowing his eyes on the swamp. Thats a big one. Looks like theyre hunting. Whats she dreaming about?
Steak, Theo said, squinting to get a better look through the gloom.
A cloud moved out from over the moon, bathing the swamp in its light. Theo spotted the massive form of a wolf dart between trees. It coiled on the spot and made a run for the wall, sloshing through the mud and leaping against the stone. His jump fell short, only making it about a quarter of the way up the wall. The alchemist still fell back, startled. Do they normally do that?
The big, mean ones do, Luras said. Maybe hes testing it. We might have to put a special bounty out on him.
The wolf growled at the base of the wall, baring its teeth up at the pair before slinking off. Once Theo got a better look at it, he saw howrge it really was. It was twice the size of a normal wolf and foaming at the mouth, snapping at the air even as it joined back with the shadows of the marsh.
Now Im going to have trouble sleeping, Theo said, scoffing. That thing was as big as a cow.
Whats a cow?
I guess theyre like Karatans, Theo said. He didnt know what a Karatan looked like, only that they tasted delicious.
Yeah, maybe smaller. The wolves have a lot fewer legs, anyway, Luras said.
Theo didnt want to know if he was joking or not, and left it at that. They dismounted the battlements and walked around town for a little while longer. Lights extinguished from peoples windows, signaling the towns slumber in full. The alchemist bid Luras farewell at the square and made his way back to the shop, tiredness finally setting in. The [Lesser Stamina Potion] did wonders to perk him up earlier in the day, but his stamina bar was finally draining past half-empty. He crept into the shop, locking the door behind him and ascending the stairs to the bedroom.
As he settled down in his bed, he heard Tresk snort loudly.
More steak, please, she said.
Theo drifted off, eager to take part in the dream-steak.
Chapter 30: Rain and Steak
Chapter 30: Rain and Steak
Theo rose near dawn the next morning, histe-night excursion with Luras clearly taking its toll. Tresk was waiting in theb, sipping on her tea and smiling when he emerged. The alchemist withdrew the days-old pot of soup from his inventory. Steam rose from the cauldron, losing none of its heat while it was stowed away.
You had a night, huh? Tresk asked,ughing.
Theo assumed his seat near the window, shaking his head. He exined how he bought the parcel ofnd for Luras, and the Half-Ogres intentions to be a leatherworker. He dished out two bowls of soup, passing one to hispanion.
Thats just a smart move, Tresk said. The town is going to do a lot better with more crafters.
That was just a fact. Theos recent progress in putting Broken Tusk on the map would see their poption explode. It would be a gold rush of people seeking to exploit the swamps natural resources. Luras would put himself in a fantastic position with an endless supply of leather to work on. It wasnt just good leather, it was impossibly supple, durable leather brought directly from the swamp itself.
Hes going to make a killing, Theo said.
No doubt.
Did you get anything good from the dungeon yesterday? Theo asked.
Tresk shrugged, slurping noisily on her soup. Lots of cores. No gear.
What about that thing you thought was a reagent? Theo asked.
Tresks face brightened. Oh! I almost forgot. She withdrew something that looked suspiciously like a skull fragment and handed it over.
[Reanimated Skeleton Fragment]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Skull fragment of a skeleton reanimated by necromantic powers.
Properties:
[Withering] ???? ????
Its a skull fragment, Theo said, grimacing. Of a magic skeleton. This is gross, but it has the [Withering] property.
Hah! I knew it, Tresk said. I tried to eat one, and it gave me a bad cramp. Drained my stamina a bit.
Theo closed his eyes, pressing his fingers into his temples. Tresk. Why would you eat a skull fragment?
To see if it was an alchemy thing, Tresk said, shrugging.
The alchemist had to wonder why she wasnt dead yet, with that kind of recklessness. And the motes?
Oh yeah, Tresk said, withdrawing some motes from her bag. Then she withdrew some more. Theo couldnt scoop them up fast enough, and the floor was soon littered by rolling balls of pulsating energy.
Thanks, Theo said, scooping the absurd amount of motes from the ground. Along with his dwindling stores, it would be enough to make Fenians potions.
A knock at the door brought Theo downstairs, Tresk close behind. Ziz stood with hisborers, waving and smiling. Morning, boss. Perg is mad that she has to pay us again, but I wanted to see if you needed anything while were scouring thend.
Theo produced 10 copper coins from his inventory and handed it over. As many motes as you can find. The coppers as a tip.
Ziz grinned, distributing the money among hispanions and turning on the spot. As soon as they departed, Azrug showed up for the day. He didnt say a word to either Tresk or Theo, closing the door behind him.
Well, I guess I should get going, Tresk said, shrugging. Theo bent down to press his forehead against hers and she departed, waving as she went.
Theo retreated to hisboratory, taking stock of what he had to brew for the day. The entire base order for Fenian was done. The alchemist was guaranteed to get his three gold coins at the end, but he wanted the additional pay. After cleaning the stills with [Cleansing Scrub], Theo prepared to make thergest run of the stat-enhancing potions hed ever done. Fortunately, it ran off of the same basic recipe as the level 1 restoration potions, and wouldnt cause him any problems. The flowers were effortless to mash, and he had both stills running within a half-hour of starting.
Theos [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was almost level 8, and his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] trailed behind by a significant margin. The first still he set up ran 200 units of the [Water Lily], while the second only ran 100 units of [Stone Flower]. He also had 122 [me Roses] in his inventory, and would run that once he got back from gathering herbs. The thought of heading out into the swamp came and left his mind, the image of the giant wolf making him ufortable. He set his mental timer and left the shop, waving at Azrug as he went.
Unlike most of his jaunts across his parcel, the sun was obstructed by a thickyer of clouds. It was the first time hed seen a storm loom over Broken Tusk, but the dark clouds blowing from the southern sea meant rain. By the time he made it to the river, a light drizzle fell on his head. It washed over him, the soft patter of the raindrops cleansing his mind and sharpening his focus. The alchemist stood by the river with a [Water Lily] in hand, gazing out over the turbid rush of water with hooded eyes. A chill ran up his back as the rain soaked through his clothes, matting them down on his body.
Theo sat on the pebbled shore of the river, breathing in the wet smell. Something swelled in his chest, the deluge stirring something in his soul. He used to love the rain back on Earth. Hed stand out on his balcony, before the fall of modern civilization, and listen to the raindrops for hours. It took every bit of his willpower to stand and return to theb when his mental timer went off. He entered the shop, dripping rain and gaining the attention of Azrug.
The rain is finally here, Azrug said, grunting and returning his gaze to the book.
Theo withdrew 2 copper coins and pped them down on the counter. In case I forget to pay you.
Again.
Theo ignored thement. Does it normally rain like this in the Season of Blooms?
Its usually worse, Azrug said, ncing up to look out the window. Mid-morning storms like this are my childhood. It used to rain every day until the season ended, but not so much anymore.
Theo nodded, ascending the stairs with his sloshing masins and swapping a fresh sk for the still brewing [Wisdom Essence]. The still processing the [Vigor Essence] was done. He cleaned it out with [Cleansing Scrub], and prepared the [me Rose] by mashing it, adding it to the still, and leveling it off with [Purified Water] before bringing his [me Artifice] back to life.
The alchemist fed motes into the [ssware Artifice], generating an absurd amount of t-bottomed vials for the stat potions. He cleared away some junk for a table and distributed the restoration essences he made previously. Like the [Lesser Stamina Potions], the other restoration potions stacked to at least 500. He noticed that Fenians quest didntplete and reasoned that only when he handed the potions over would it finish. Theo kicked off the simple reaction for the [Lesser Potion of Vigor], holding back on the [Lesser Potion of Wisdom] until the remaining 100 units had distilled. He distributed it into vials while he waited for both batches to finish, then repeated the process.
It was midday by the time he cleared out his stills, causing the reaction on the remaining essences and taking stock of his creations. He had 500 of mana and health potions, 600 of the stamina potions, 200 [Lesser Potion of Wisdoms], 100 [Lesser Potion of Strengths], and 100 [Lesser Potion of Vigors]. ording to the quest, it was two gold coins worth of potion, assuming he didnt convert it into monster cores. It was a quantity of money that seemed absurd, an absolute embarrassment of riches. He had to wonder if Fenians deal was too good to be true.
Theo pulled up his quest menu, finding [Fenians Request] and knitting his brow. He was great at losing track of the days, but he was certain more than one day remained on the order. Yet, the quest imed he had one day before Fenian returned. It would be nice to clear the quest out of his log, but that was too soon. The Elf must have hastened his pace back to Broken Tusk, and the alchemist didnt doubt his ability to cover long distances quickly. It made sense that a merchant would have a magical means of transportation.
The shop was empty when Theo went to check on his shopkeeper. It was past midday, though the rain still obfuscated the sun above and he was still soaking wet. He cleaned the ce up, organizing the potions on the shelves and adding new ones. His stock was pathetic, but he had no time to distill anything else today. Pergs order would take priority. He withdrew a parchment from his inventory and scrawled batch quantities across the surface. She was expecting a 200 unit solution of [Stripping Solution] and [Alchemic Tannin]. With his improved knowledge and skills, he would instead produce 500 units of each. The reactions were incredibly forgiving at a 0.1 to 5 ratio of essence to [Stabilized Water].
Theo would need to prepare 50 units of each [Ogre Cypress Bark], [Swamplight Spider Silk], and [Marsh Tubers], but would run asrge a batch as he could and hold back the essence. If theborers brought an absurd amount of reagents, hed run them all. The n was to hold the essences in reserve, without telling Perg, allowing him to produce the solutions quickly upon request. His math checked out on paper, solidifying the knowledge he gained from experience.
Shortly after finishing his n, theborers showed up. They were all drenched from the rain, but held wide smiles on their faces. Theo led them upstairs, everyones shoes sloshing as they went, and had them deposit the materials in his dimensional crate. Theyd gone crazy out in the marsh. Over 200 units of [Swamplight Spider Silk] and [Marsh Tubers] were now in his possession, along with a bounty of motes. He couldnt even imagine how they found so much silk, but knew that the adventurers efforts to clear the wolves had something to do with it.
Did we do good, boss? Ziz asked.
You did great, Theo said. Youre on regr reagent duty starting tomorrow. Thistle root, Mushrooms, mossyou know the deal.
How about the quarry?
Theo managed a wry smile. Hed hate to lose hisborers, but understood that their work wasnt good for his herbalism core. Well talk about it tomorrow. The Elf trader should be here. Well see what he has for seed cores.
Understood, boss, Ziz said. He turned and left theb, hispanions sloshing behind him.
Theo downed a [Lesser Stamina Potion], cleared out the stills, and got to work. The surge of energy allowed him to chop the [Marsh Tubers] up quickly, but he knew his enhanced [Strength] stat did the heavy lifting. The [Marshlight Spider Silk] didnt need more than a light tapping with his smashing stick, and was the first to be tossed in a still. With fresh motes in the [me Artifices], he started the slow distition process. Tresk updated him about her adventures again, letting him know she was safe, and returning home. Fortunately, she didnt say she had anymore dubious alchemy ingredients this time, but she sounded tired.
The alchemist could only imagine what happened in those dungeons. The fitful battle between life and death that yed out daily beyond the walls of Broken Tusk was beyond him. He listened to the slow drip of the condensers filling the dual sks. The rain outside yed against his window, and he opened it to let the sound in. Theo breathed in the wet air, letting out a heavy sigh. The smell of falling rain did something for him.
Tresk came home when the first two sks were full, 100 units of each essence he needed. He stowed them away and greeted hispanion, pressing his forehead against hers and gaining another level in his [Tarahek Core]. The special core was now level 4, and he was curious about how the unalterable core would provide new abilities. They sat together at the table. She closed her eyes and smiled, listening to the sound of the rain pouring outside.
Thats a lovely sound, Tresk said. Her skin was still slick with the rain, and she didnt seem to care.
It really is, Theo said. Azrug said there are seasonal rains during springtime.
Springtime? Ah, the Season of Blooms, Tresk said, nodding. I guess spring makes sense. But, yeah. We have a lot of rain down south during the spring.
I bet it''s good for the alchemy reagents, Theo said.
Tresk shrugged, pulling random junk out of her dimensional bag. We didnt make it to the first boss. Again. Luras just doesnt have his heart in it, I think.
He wants to live the life of a crafter, Theo said, gesturing to theb. Who could me him? Look at this ce. Its nice.
Youre a homebody, Tresk said, giggling.
I wont argue the point, Theo said. I traveled all over Earth. Despite the nature of the job, it was still nice.
The job being murder, Tresk asked, grinning.
Theo frowned. He knew his assignments boiled down to assassinations, but he preferred to think of them as jobs and targets. Not missions and people. But, the Marshling was right. Whatever he wanted to call it in his head, hed be lying to himself if it was anything but murder. Much like an assassin here, I guess.
Some people need to die, Tresk said, shrugging. Best way to remove a despot here is with a high-level assassin.
Thats morbid, Theo said, chuckling. True, but morbid.
Dont worry, Tresk said, retrieving onest item from her inventory. It was a wide copper pan. She brandished it like a weapon and grinned. Ill protect you.
Theo scoffed, shaking his head. With that?
This is for the wolf steak, Tresk said. Once you''re done with the magic fire, Im making us some steak.
Theo doubted that the steak would be as good as the ones made by Aarok, but wouldnt object. He wondered for a moment about how healthy it would be to eat steak every day, but couldnt specte how cholesterol worked in this strange world. There might even be a potion he could use to cure people of their bad eating habits. Hed need to look into it.
So, the salt problem, Theo said, withdrawing a scroll andying it down on the table.
I knew youd crack this problem, Tresk said, bounding over with a wide smile on her face.
No progress, yet, Theo said. My [Wisdom] tells me theres something I can do beyond level 10, but I only have theories right now. Maybe transmutation, or the separation of base elements from objects. I dont really know.
So, whats the theory, Tresk asked, bouncing up and down.
Theo shrugged. Exactly what I said. I think I can do something to matter once I level up a bit more. It only makes sense if you think about everything in the world having a bunch of properties, like my alchemy reagents. I can separate out those properties into essences, so why not base materials?
Im excited for free salt, Tresk said, nodding to herself.
Not just salt, Theo shrugged. Technically everything is made up of small amounts of a lot of precious things. I remember hearing a fact back on Earth that the human body had gold in it. So other stuff probably has random junk in it, I just have to figure out how to extract it.
Well, Im mostly useless for that kinda stuff. Im really good at stabbing things. Let me know if you need something stabbed, Tresk said.
Your stabbing prowess is noted, Theo said.
The essences finished cooking off, and Theo stowed them away into his inventory before cleaning the stills. Tresk stole a [me Artifice] and ced therge copper pot on top. She waited a moment for it to get hot before cing four thick strips of wolf meat; the steaks sizzling away instantly.
Four steaks? Theo asked. Are you really that hungry?
Tresk cast him a devious look, wiggling her eyebrows. Wait for it.
Theo only had to wait a few tense moments for the knock at the door toe. He blustered, throwing his hands up in exasperation. How can he even smell it with the rain? he asked.
The alchemist marched downstairs, finding both Luras and Perg standing expectantly on the other side of the door. He folded his arms and waited there for a moment. Do you guys wait outside of my house every afternoon? Waiting for handouts?
Luras and Perg shared a look, then said, yes, in unison.
Theo led them upstairs, maintaining the farce that he was upset only so long. By the time they reached the upstairsnding, he wasughing about the situation. The group sat down at the table by the window with the sounds of the storm washing over the room in turbid waves. The scent of the cooking meat filled the room. Tresk sat dutifully by the skillet, licking her lips without even looking up to greet the guests.
Almost done with my stuff? Perg asked, smiling.
No business over dinner! Tresk shouted.
Its fine. Yeah, Ill be done tomorrow, Theo said.
Good, cause I almost need to take out a loan. That seed core drained my funds, Perg said.
No one wants to hear about your funds, Luras groaned.
Hey! I dont have an alchemist benefactor supporting my business, Perg scoffed.
Yes, you do, Luras said.
Perg went to speak, but stopped before any words came out. She folded her hands in herp and focused her attention on the cooking steaks. I guess were all bing dependent on Theo.
Not for long, Theo said. Im trying to be mindful of that. Made a deal with Ziz to start a stone cutting businessIll give him ownership after a time.
Still, Luras said, shrugging. We depend on you, now.
Yeah! So you have to defend him. Hes precious, Tresk said, flipping the steaks onest time. Now shut up! No business at dinner.
A small Marshling brandishing a wooden spoon was enough to silence the group. They moved to small talk as they ate their meal. As Theo predicted, it wasnt as good as the food that Aarok made, but it was still great. He made a mental note to switch between the soup and steak for dinner, perhapsbining them. The conversation went on until dusk, when Luras and Perg departed for the night. Tresk turned in before him, the effects of the [Lesser Stamina Potion] still lingering. He spent that time alone with his thoughts, correcting old notes and listening to the storm that raged until after nightfall.
Theo finally turned in, thankful that none of Tresks dreams invaded his thoughts.
Chapter 31: Fenian Faintleaf
Chapter 31: Fenian Faintleaf
Theo vowed never to rely on the stimting properties of his [Lesser Stamina Potions] unless absolutely necessary. He made an exception in his mind regarding the tea he brewed from the moss. He rose from his soft bed and stretched. The storm was gone, and he sat on the edge of his bed for a long time before getting up. Light filtered through the window, pale orange sun shafts cutting through the bedroom and signaling the dawn. The sound of nging cookware issued from theb.
The alchemist emerged to find Tresk cooking more wolf steaks on her new pan. She must have just plopped the considerable strips of meat down as the smell wafted his way. He made his way to the table, sitting down and sipping on the tea shed provided. Long moments passed before he said anything to hispanion.
No more stamina potions, he said, shaking his head. Feels like I have a hangover.
You just need to be tired like the rest of us. Or put some points in [Vigor], Tresk said.
Find anything in your dungeon with [Vigor]? Maybe a ring? Theo asked, grinning.
Tresk waved him off, flipping the steaks with another satisfying sizzle. That ne of yours is high-level stuff. We wont find anything like that in the first few floors of the dungeon.
Theo leaned back in his chair, looking out the window at their impressive backyard. He would have to confront the reality of establishing his stone working venture today and feared that it might be too much for him to take on. With the town leveled enough for a wall, he saw no need to feed [Monster Cores] into it, anymore. He hoped Fenian would pay him in coin, alongside the cores he requested. If he was lucky, the Elven trader would have seed cores for the quarry and workshop.
There was also the promise he made to Tresk to find more [Rogue Cores], so she could upgrade her crummy one to a better quality. Theo often forgot that not everyone was running around with two legendary cores inside them. He also didnt know how to remove a core from himself, not that he wanted to. They seemed like rare things that cost a lot of money, and he was already up to his eyeballs with investments and debt.
Fenian should be here today, Theo said. The quest ims that I have zero days left until he returns. Im guessing he has a magical way of transportation now.
Or some mount, Tresk said, shrugging. It takes 7 days to get to Qavell, or so Im toldIve never been. Ive heard of magic carriages that can zip across the countryside. If hes rich enough, he could have one of those.
Well, Im thinking of changing my deal with him. We dont need as many [Monster Cores], and I was going to get you some [Rogue Cores], Theo said.
That would be lovely, Tresk said, nodding to herself and smiling. She flipped the steaks onest time, moving to prepare some tes. How much money do you still owe?
Well, Ive promised a few gold in investments, Theo said, shrugging. I owe two gold to Miana for this ce, maybe two more gold for the stone operation, and another for Luras leatherworking operation.
So, youre going to spend all your money as soon as you get it, Tresk said, nodding. Gotcha.
Honestly, Im going to work out a deal with Fenian, Theo said. Buy a bulk of things from him, hoping for a discount.
Whats your budget, and whats on your shopping list?
Ill get five gold from Fenian for his order. I need a stonecutters seed core, quarry seed core, and leather workers seed core. If I can get those seed cores for around a gold, Ill be in good shape. Then I need your [Rogue Cores], some artifices, and [Monster Cores], Theo said. How many [Rogue Cores] do you need to get a legendary one?
Tresk pushed the steaks onto their respective tes, squinting her eyes and staring up the ceiling for a moment. 36? 24? 16? she asked, screwing up her face. I really dont know.
Well, how does it work?
You feed your current core like a building core, Tresk said, taking a seat at the table and handing a te over to Theo. So, I dont really know the experience drop off.
Its problematic to go into a negotiation without knowing what you need, Theo said, grimacing. Well, Ill do my best.
Theo learned that morning that steak was an excellent option for breakfast. With a swamp filled to the brim with wolves, it was a viable option. It wasnt as tender as the Karatan steak, but it was still delicious. By the time he finished his tea, he was feeling much more like himself. The grogginess faded away, and he found himself ready toplete Pergs order. Thepanions talked as he prepared the stills, aiming to run a double batch of [Ogre Cypress Bark] for the essences required to make [Stripping Solution].
Tresk tried to hide her excitement, but failed. She chomped at her steak with abandon, tearingrge chunks off and talking with a mouth full. Thats the thing. These traders can be a real boon to small people in trades. Fenian likely wants something from you. A long-term deal.
Theo had the stills prepared, and the [Ogre Cypress Bark] mashed. He nned to run 400 units total, 200 in each still, focusing the first still on the [Cure Ailment] property, and the other on the [Cleanse] property. He dumped thest of the mash in and thought about it, unable to find where hended on the subject. A deal with Fenian would be great. He didnt mind the absurd production quotas, and the gold was good.
Is this a negative thing? Theo asked. Should I be cautious?
You should always watch your coin purse around a trader, but I think I know this guys angle, Tresk said, wiping her mouth off with the sleeve of her leather jacket.
Whats that? Theo asked, starting the [me Artifices] and stepping back.
Imagine youre an upstart trader in the nortnds. Most of the trade routes are imed, and every alchemist in Qavell has century-long deals with the established merchants. You find a diamond in the middle of the swamp. Do you milk him for all hes worth, or do you entice him to strike a pact? Tresk asked.
You think he wants to be my merchant? Theo asked.
Yep. He wants you to keep bulk orders with him, Tresk said. Before the big trade guilds pick up on it. Theyre usually slow to respond. Or so I hear.
I see absolutely no downside for us, Theo said, shrugging. That would be an enormous win.
Agreed. In this case, it works well for us because hes desperate, Tresk said. But, my bet is that he took those potions to the big city and blew everyones minds. He didnt tell them where this new alchemist was, but made a tidy profit. You sell him a potion for 20 copper, and he resells it for 50 copper. Maybe more.
And he can do it, because hes a traveling merchant with all the connections, Theo said. The Marshlings logic made sense, and he wondered why he hadnt thought of it. He knew that Fenian was reselling the potions, but didnt think that the Elf thought of him as a resource, rather than a simple supplier.
Theo looked over hisb, the ring ws of inefficiency fouling the scene. What he needed was better equipment that cut out the grunt-work of the process.
So, my point is that Fenian is going to make you a deal. Youll agree to take his bulk orders over everyone else, and hell give you a break on supplies.
That sounds like a sweet deal to me, Theo said.
I agree. I think you should take it, Tresk said.
A knock came from the door downstairs. It was Azrug, waiting to do his shift at the shop. Theo got his attention before the boy sat down. Fenian is going to be here today. Let me know when he arrives.
Azrug went pale, swallowing hard. Yes, sir.
Theo returned to theb, leaving the Half-Ogre boy to deal with his fear of outsiders. Tresk passed him on the stairs, pressing her forehead against his before departing for the day. She nned on prodding Luras into action, trying to get his head back in the adventuring game. The alchemist suggested that she find another adventuring partner, a suggestion that only drew exasperated sputtering from the Marshling.
The condensers were doing their job, slowly filling the sks up. Theos nerves were getting to him while he waited for the Elven trader. If Tresk was right, the deal he had to offer would be irresistible. He took stock of the equipment he had, focusing with his high [Wisdom] stat and determining what the best artifice would be. The mashing process took far too long and something that ground the reagents for him would be amazing. He had a feeling that the stills werent as optimal as they could be, either in production volume or capacity. There were no simple solutions for that problem, though. The distition process was delicate.
Just as he was swapping out the sks for the second step of the run, the bell on the door tinkled downstairs. Azrugs hurried steps up the stairs came next, then the boy poked his head into theb. Hes here!
Theo calmed himself for a moment, taking a few steadying breaths. He double-checked that all the required potions were in his inventory before going downstairs with the Half-Ogre boy. As expected, Fenian stood behind the counter with a massive grin on his face. His clothes were like the ones he wore before, more ruffles than seemingly possible, with a new wide-brimmed hat on his head. The feather was still sticking out, long and ostentatious, like a peacocks tail feather.
Theo, Fenian said, holding his arms wide. Let me tell you something. Your potions were a hit in Qavell. The wholesalers could hardly contain themselves.
Theo approached the counter, reaching his hand out for the Elf to shake, which he did. d to hear.
They paid over what I nned to ask. Low-level potion distition is usually left to the apprentices, resulting in shoddy quality. Your stuff is top-shelf, Fenian said, punctuating his statement with something that looked suspiciously like a chefs kiss.
Im d to hear it, Fenian, Theo said, nodding. If you thought the old stuff was good, wait until you see this.
Theo withdrew a single [Lesser Healing Potion] from his inventory. Unlike the old batch that was Great quality, this batch was Excellent quality. Fenian sputtered, dramatically swaying on the spot and eximing. You never cease to amaze me, sir. Was it the [me Artifice] that did the trick?
It was. The low-temperature heating was the key, Theo said.
d to hear it. Before we get started, I have a few gifts to establish our new rtionship, Fenian said, gesturing to reveal a book from his inventory. The cover was bound in some kind of leather, and the words on the front werent in the standardnguage hed been reading. The characters were sharp, dagger-like things that ran together in a jagged script.
Basic Drogramathi Alchemy. Where did you find this? Theo asked, pressing his fingers into the cover, feeling the grain of the leather.
Hah! I knew youd be able to read it, Fenian said, beaming. Your outworlder powers, or your heritage to the demon lord, allow you to read the text. A trader promised me it was rted to Drogramaths art.
Theo wanted nothing more than to thumb through the pages, discovering the secrets of his art. He held himself back, trying to put up a strong front against the Elfs overt advances towards an exclusivity deal. The alchemist wanted the deal, but negotiations were about subterfuge. Shall we get down to business? Theo asked, smiling.
Ah, yes. Business, Fenian said, waving a dismissive hand. I have a few more gifts for you, but well take care of the transaction first.
One thing, first, Theo said. If you have the coin on you, Id like half of the stat potions in coin, or other goods.
Well, lets settle up. What goods are you interested in?
Seed cores, first, Theo said.
My specialty, Fenian said, raising an eyebrow. That tannery woman, Perg, must have told you I sold her a seed core. You may be unaware, but those with legendary [Trader Cores] get a generous inventory. I have almost every production building avable.
I need a leatherworkers shop, stone workers shop, and a quarry, Theo said.
I have them, Fenian said, nodding with a smile. I have regr house seed cores, too. If youre interested.
I might be, Theo said, trying not to sound too eager.
I normally sell the seed cores for a gold coin, Fenian said.
What about your favorite alchemist? Does he get a deal? Theo asked, grinning.
Azrug let out an audible gasp behind them, quickly covering his mouth.
Fenian leaned in, cing his elbows on the counter. He gestured, producing a piece of parchment before cing it down on the counter. Theo nced over it, finding the entire thing to be a fairly concise contract between the two parties. As Tresk predicted, it gave the Elf rights over everyone else tomission batches of potions, within reason. It promised better rates than the alchemist was currently getting from their arrangement, and ess to the merchants stock at a discount. It was incredibly generous.
Enter into this contract with me, and Ill give you a generous discount on all my wares. Within reason, Fenian said.
Theo hesitated for a moment, even after reading and agreeing with everything it said. He tilted his head, mentally informing Tresk that she was right. After pretending to consider the deal for a while longer, he rose and smiled.
Ill agree to this, Theo said, nodding.
[Fenian Faintleaf] is attempting to enter [The Newt and Demon] into a contract.
You have already read the contract. Do you agree to its terms? [YES/NO]
Theo mentally epted, feeling a rush flow through his chest.
A wise decision, Fenian said. Im altering our current deal. I have no intention of bleeding you dry out here in the swamp, and I have a very specific clientelenamely noble-born whelpsinterested in excellent quality potions. 25 copper a potion for the restoration ones, and 60 for the stat potions.
Thats very generous, Theo said.
Right. So, youre the first person Im testing this new ability with, so bear with me. You should see something pop up here in a moment, Fenian said.
[Trade with Fenian Faintleaf?] [YES/NO]
Theo epted, and a window appeared in the middle of his vision. It had two sections on either side with each persons name above the areas. At the bottom, there was a section for coins. Both were currently empty.
Mentally add all your potions. Ill do the math in my head. This ability only works if the other person has an inventory. Im very d you chose that powernot interested in shoving thousands of potions into my inventory.
Theo mentally added all the potions. 500 [Lesser Healing Potions], 500 [Lesser Stamina Potions], 500 [Lesser Mana Potions], 100 [Lesser Potions of Vigor], 200 [Lesser Potions of Wisdom], and 100 [Lesser Potions of Strength] appeared on the alchemists side.
Fenian let out a long whistle. Youve been a busy little demon.
After a moment, a number appeared under the gold counter on Fenians side that almost stopped Theos heart. 6 gold 15 silver appeared, shing with a glowing gold border. The alchemist clicked the small green ept box and waited for the trader to do the same. The window made a satisfying beeping sound before disappearing.
[Fenians Request] Completed.
Theo would check what rewards he got from the questter, focusing on the trade at hand.
Well just do it this way, and you can buy however many other things you want, Fenian said. For the seed cores, Ill give you the three you want for 1 gold, 50 silver.
That sounds like a deal to me, Theo said, nodding. What do you have in terms of [Rogue Cores]? I need 30 of them, or something.
Looking to upgrade your Taraheks core? Smart move, Fenian said. A grin spread across his face as he withdrew something from his inventory, holding it out for the alchemist to inspect.
[Assassins Core]
Legendary
Assassin Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
A specialized [Rogue Core] which focuses on assassination techniques. Can slot either [Rogue] or [Assassin] skills. Equipping this core unlocks the [Assassin] ss. Equipping this core over an existing [Rogue] core will consume the [Rogue] core, setting this core to its current level.
Effect:
Increases the effect of all [Rogue] and [Assassin] skills.
+2 Dexterity.
Theos eyes glittered. It was an absurdly nice core, but he had a feeling that it was unapproachable, in terms of cost. He narrowed his eyes on the Elf and feigned a smile. How much?
Oh, about 10 gold on the open market, Fenian said, shrugging. But for your Tarahek, and the strength of our rtionship, a gift at 1 gold 50 silver.
Azrug let out a yelp, sping his hands over his mouth again. Fenian smiled at that.
Done, Theo said. Thats not even a question.
You owe me 3 gold, so far, Fenian said. Anything else?
What kind of [Monster Cores] do you have?
Level 30, mostly, Fenian said. A gold for fourthey should give you five levels apiece at your [Alchemy Labs] current level.
Ill take four, Theo said. Any interesting alchemy artifices?
Ah, my other gift, Fenian said, withdrawing four items from his inventory. The first three were the same,rge discs with sps on the side. There was a slot on the side to feed motes, and an ominous-looking grinder on top. The other item was another [me Artifice]. [Alchemical Grinder Artifice]. This will allow you to grind your reagents directly into your stills.
Fenian gestured again, withdrawing a small mote from his inventory. But wait, theres more.
Theo inspected the mote, shocked at what he saw.
[ssware Artifice Upgrade Mote]
[Upgrade Mote]
Umon
Feed this into a [ssware Artifice] to expand its features. Allows for the production of multiple ssware items at a reduced cost directly into your inventory.
The alchemist was at a loss for words. Fenian must have been making a killing off of the potions if he would part with so much valuable stuff.
This is incredibly generous, Theo said, scoffing.
Everything Ive provided you increases your output, Fenian said, shrugging. Its a self-interested move. Ah, one more thing.
Fenian produced onest item from his inventory. It was a small, purplemunication crystal like the one in Mianas house.
So we can stay in contact? Theo asked.
Exactly, Fenian said. If Im honest, youre my one hope for greatness. Well, is there anything else?
How much for the house seeds? Theo asked.
Fenian waved a dismissive hand. Six for a gold.
Then thats thest thing Ill buy. Six of those, Theo said. A n was forming in his mind about selling, or renting houses. It wasnt fully formed yet, but it was getting there.
Right. The [Assassin Core], the workshop seed cores, four [Monster Cores], and six house seed cores, Fenian said, opening the trade window and cing the items inside. The total is 5 gold.
Theo happily put the gold into the window, epting the trade and flooding his inventory with new things. The excitement was overwhelming and exhausting. He was left with 1 gold, 23 silver, and 31 copper after the deal.
Now, if youll excuse me I need to head back to Qavell, Fenian said, straightening the ruffles on his coat. Ill contact you with a new order when I arrive.
The Elven trader turned on the spot and departed, leaving the pile of articles on the counter. The bell jingled and Azrug shouted, jumping on the spot repeatedly.
You just made more money than Ive ever seen in my entire lifethen spent it! Azrug shouted.
Chapter 32: Fire Salamander Eggs
Chapter 32: Fire Smander Eggs
Theo inspected his inventory, finding the reward from Fenians quest sitting there. He removed the knife from his inventory, grimacing at its appearance. It was a short, ceremonial de with too many jagged points leading up the length made of a dark metal he didnt recognize. He inspected it before leaving Azrug to his celebrations.
[Drogramath Alchemy Knife]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Epic
Ornate knife used by disciples of Drogramath.
Effects:
Using this knife to harvest herbs will reveal nearby reagents.
The knife would streamline his harvesting process, allowing him to find those nts that hid from his sight. He wondered if the de could detect something underground, but left that for another time.
Theo left Azrug to his excited dances downstairs, stuffing his new artifices in his inventory and running upstairs. He noticed Fenian gave him three [Alchemical Grinder Artifices] and an additional [me Artifice], no doubt encouraging him to expand his distition setup. The stills were finished with their runs by the time he got up and he cleared everything away. With the essences in his inventory, he checked to see the fit on the grinders. The artifice he pulled from his inventory seemed toorge to fit on his stills, but as he brought the item near, it magically shrunk to fit the rim.
I have some really cool stuff to show you, Theo said,municating his thoughts to Tresk.
I hope its some [Rogue Cores], she said.
Youre gonna freak out, Theo said.
Cant wait. Im making Luras cut this run short so I cane see, Tresk said.
Theo converted a barrel of [Purified Water] into [Stabilized Water], and stowed it away in his inventory. He gathered the rest of his reagents to perform the explosive reaction, but stopped at his [ssware Artifice] before heading down. He stuffed the [ssware Artifice Upgrade Mote] in the slot and watched as the machine threw off a bright blue light. It blinded him for a moment, but when the light faded, it seemed unchanged.
[ssware Artifice] has been upgraded. New features added.
It was a simple enough system message, not exining exactly what happened. He inserted an [Earth Mote] into the slot and thought about arge, 100 unit sk. The artifice wobbled on the spot for a moment before another message appeared.
[ssware Artifice] has 4 more charges left.
Not only did the artifice now directly deposit the sks into his inventory, but it could create five-times as many pieces of ssware per mote. He focused his mind, touching the machine and imagining four of the same 100 unit sks. The artifice hummed, wobbling again, before the message appeared.
[ssware Artifice] is out of charges.
Theo inspected his inventory, finding five sks in his inventory. He whistled, shaking his head at the improvement. This would streamline his process, removing the need to feed the thing motes constantly. He set his mind on obtaining better upgrades for his equipment, something that would increase the charges again. He pushed these goals aside and left for the gravel yard out back. Azrug held his hand out as he left, and Theo tossed him two copper coins.
Without Theos high [Wisdom] stat, he wouldnt have been able to remember the exact recipe for the leather processing potions. He worked with methodical precision,ying out his sks and measuring everything down to the tenth of a unit before introducing the [Stabilized Water]. A stream of smoke shot from the first 100 unit reaction, the one that smelled of shoe polish, then the next. The reaction was absurdly efficient, but costly in terms of the water. For every unit of essence, the alchemist needed 50 units of [Stabilized Water]. The result was him snatching more barrels from theb and making a run down to the river to create the solution. He realized he had an absurd amount of essence left over and returned to theb to stow it away in the [Large Dimensional Storage Crate].
Theo now had 500 units of [Stripping Solution] and [Alchemic Tannin] for Perg. As he was leaving to deliver the items, he found Ziz and his group ofborers waiting. The alchemist invited them to join him down at the tannery, and they obliged. The group seemed excited about what was next toe, but he didnt want to get their hopes up. His n was to dump thest of his gold toy im to the northern section of the parcels and establish the stone block production facility, but there would be stiptions.
Finally, Perg said. She was standing in a mostly demolished building, the rotting woodying in messy piles on the ground. I assume this is the delivery of my potions?
Theo withdrew 10 sks from his inventory, each 100 units of their respective solution. He set them on the ground and nodded. This should hold you over, right?
Eager to keep me out of your hair? she asked. Yes, will do. For now. Ive been buying up every hide I can, but Im almost broke.
Me too, Theo said.
Theo turned on the spot, beckoning for theborers to follow him. They reached the farm before he spoke. I have the seed cores. But were going to need to define our terms.
Down to business, huh? Ziz asked, ascending the farmers hill with the alchemist. We just want a fair shake.
This is an enormous investment for me, Theo said. I need a three gold return, over time, if this is going to be worth it.
Ziz sputtered. Thats obscene, isnt it?
The cost of thend, and the seed cores, Theo said. Plus something so I can make a profit. I want to renegotiate our original deal.
What do you have in mind?
The group approached the northernmost section of the farms, affording them a view of the hillynd that stretched in all directions. The towns wall stopped twenty paces from where the farms ended. ording to his administrator map, everything he could see from this spot would be incorporated into the town, giving him full ownership of the parcels. At the foot of the crags was where he wanted to establish the stone processing area. It seemed stupid, looking back on it, to assume this would be profitable. But ridding the town of its muddy roads would be worth it.
Your first step is to cut enough stone to pave the town. Get someone to tell you the quality of the stone, and how we can export it. Do people even buy stone? Theo asked.
They do, Ziz said. Not everything in a city rtes to them being core towns. Roads that go from town to town also need to be paved by hand.
Well, its better than nothing, Theo said, descending the farmers hill and leaving through the northern gate with hisborers close behind. As far as ownership of thend, you cant have it. Not all of it, anyway. Youre working asborers until the debt is paid. You owe me three gold coins. Once I get that money, from the sale of the stone, Ill section off a parcel that includes the quarry, and the stonecutter''s workshop.
Thats steep, Ziz said.
Who knows, Theo said, shrugging. How much do you think a trader would pay for blocks in bulk? Well, thats for you guys to figure out.
He opened his administrator map, departing with thest of his gold.
[Broken Tusk] can be expanded to the Northern Parcel for one gold. Funds will be removed directly from your inventory, or nearest dimensional container in your possession.
Expand Broken Tusk? [YES/NO]
Theo gave his consent, and the ground rumbled beneath their feet. The stone wall appeared around them, snaking its way up the hills before looping back around toward the main part of town.
Im broke, again, Theo said, shrugging.
The group approached the foot of the rocky hills. A small section ofnd, t enough to hold the first building, was the perfect spot for the workshop. Theo withdrew the [Stonecutters Seed Core] from his inventory, relying on his superior intuition to see him through the process, and jammed it into the ground.
Well want to step back, Theo said.
The core was charged already and didnt require additional [Monster Cores]. The group watched as a building grew from the ground. Stone blocks pushed their way through the earth, joining with a sloped, shingled roof to create the squat building. The process took only a few moments, but the result was amazing. A small workshop was attached to the side, reminding Theo of Throks cksmithing shop. Theborers stood in awe.
Theo repeated the process for the [Quarry Core], this time simply setting it near the jutting crags and stepping back. The hills ttened out for 100 paces in every direction, the ground shifting under their feet. A small, wooden booth jumped up from the ground and settled in among the stone. The alchemist inspected the quarry, first.
[Quarry]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 days
Stone Quality: Perfect
Expansions:
None
If the stone quality is anything like my potion quality, thats an amazing sign, Theo said. Perfect quality stone.
He inspected the workshop next.
[Stonecutters Workshop]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 days
Expansions:
None
The workshop was nothing special, but it was a start. Theo added all 5borers as workers to the two core buildings and turned to them. Ziz was thinking about something, the gears in that head turning rapidly.
So, were not leasing this from you? Ziz asked. Were workers until we pay it off?
Right. I need you to show me that this ce wasnt a mistake, Theo said. You have a [Stonecutters Core], right?
Yeah, Ive hewn blocks for a living. I have a few skills, Ziz said.
Theo couldnt tell if the Half-Ogre was mad about the arrangement, or not. He felt like a taskmaster, rather than a generous benefactor. But he wouldnt give the people of Broken Tusk handouts, not when he needed money as much as them. He wouldnt hand them a business, counting on them to fail for whatever reason. Theyd be forced to make it profitable through sweat, and hardbor. Once they paid for the cost of the buildings, and his time, hed hand the two buildings over to Ziz.
Just a moment, Theo said, taking Fenians crystal out of his inventory. Ill settle the question of cost.
The alchemist held the crystal tight in his hand, focusing his mind. Unlike Miana''s crystal, he didnt fall into a strange void tomunicate. Fenians voice simply entered his mind. Yes?
Fenian, I have a question about stone, Theo said.
Im friends with a dealer in the nortnds. Surprised you contacted me so quickly, though. Ask away, Fenian said.
The group ofborers were busy inspecting the new buildings, leaving Theo to chat in peace.
I started a quarry. Hired someone with a [Stonecutters Core]. How much can we get for blocks? Theo asked.
It all depends on the quality of the stone. If you nted that [Quarry Seed Core], you should be able to see the quality, Fenian said.
The quarry says Perfect Quality, Theo said.
Perfect? Youre sure? Perfect stone is rare. I assume you own thend this stone is on? Fenian asked.
I do. How much would people pay for perfect stone blocks? Theo asked.
Assuming your man can cut them properly, Ive seen them sell for 15 copper a block. Wholesale, which is how youll sell them. A stone merchant would offer you 15 copper per block, Fenian said. A decent stonecutter could do 50 blocks in a day. Nothing to sneeze at.
Seems like I just invested in a cash cow, Theo said,ughing. Theugh came out, not transmitting through the crystal.
Whats a cow?
Nevermind. Thanks for the information, I appreciate it, Theo said.
Consider me your insider, for all things trade. Until next time, Fenian said.
The Elf cut the connection. Theo stowed the crystal away and approached the quarry, where theborers were standing. He cleared his throat, gaining their attention again. The alchemist looked up at the midday sun, nodding to himself before speaking.
Figure out how to work the stone, Theo said. Stop by The Newt and Demon tomorrow and let me know if you found a way.
I know how to work the stone, Theo, Ziz said, narrowing his eyes. We could start now, if we needed.
Alright, then. I want you working the quarry tomorrow. Craft as many blocks as you can. Ill stop by at the end of the day, Theo said. He didnt want to reveal the cost of the blocks if they couldnt produce them. My merchant friend will judge the quality. Hell tell us a fair price.
It was a lie, but Theo didnt feel bad. He didnt want theborers to get it in their head that they were sitting on a gold mine. Ziz seemed to agree with this proposal. The Half-Ogres were always eager to prove themselves.
Well show you, boss, Ziz said. Youll see what we can do when you set us loose.
Theo produced a single silver coin from his inventory and handed it to Ziz. A few days wages, and whatever you need tomission from Throk.
We wont disappoint, Ziz said.
I know.
Theo turned on the spot and left them there, rolling the numbers over in his head. The venture would be profitable in a month, if they held a decent pace. If the Half-Ogre team went beyond the 50 block a day pace, it would make even more money. The alchemist wasnt focused solely on profit, though. His mind stayed with the idea that the people of Broken Tusk needed to stand on their own, although his alchemical intervention had put them on their feet. The stone working business was a test of Zizs abilities.
Tresk returned to the shop before Theo, mentally telling him she arrived. Luras was waiting with her, equally excited to see what the alchemist bought for his Tarahek. He took the long way back, following a path along the river, then up through the gravel yard in the back of the shop. The Marshling pestered him the entire way, but he dismissed it. She was bouncing up and down when he entered the shop, Luras standing nearby with a grin on his face.
Show me! she shouted, grabbing his robes with both hands. The suspense is killing me!
Now, you need to know the backstory before I hand this over, Theo said.
Tresk screamed. Show us the core!
Theo withdrew the [Assassins Core] from his inventory, a grin spreading across his face. The orb was made of metal mesh, concealing a pulsating ck swirl of energy in the center. The power it put off was sinister, and alluring. Tresk took it in her hands and gasped. Luras strode over, inspecting the core, and his eyes went wide.
A legendary core? Did you sell the entire town for this? Luras asked.
Not quite, Theo said, grinning.
Tresk held the core in front of herself. It stirred, rocking for a moment before darting inside her chest. Wreaths of ck smoke consumed her, swirling for a long moment before vanishing. This is amazing, she gasped, vanishing from sight.
The Marshling reappeared at the foot of the stairs, a stupid grin on her face. All my abilities are stronger. And I get a bonus to [Dexterity]!
Im full of gifts today, apparently, Theo said, withdrawing the [Leatherworkers Workshop Seed Core] from his inventory. He held it out for Luras.
Seriously? I thought you were joking, Luras said. Thend was enough, but this?
Theo never thought the big Half-Ogre could get emotional, but he looked to be on the verge of tears. The alchemist sped his hand on his shoulder and smiled. I made a deal with Fenian. He gave me a great discount on all this stuff, but I spent all the gold I made.
You what? Tresk asked. Please tell me you at least got to hold it before you gave it away. Ive never seen a gold coin, let alone four of them.
It was six gold, actually, Theo said with a shrug.
Six! she shouted, stumbling dramatically. You spent six gold today? Im gonna faint.
Youre not very good with money, Luras said, shaking his head. Youre giving it away as quickly as you make it.
Nonsense, Theo said. Come upstairs, look at my new toys.
Tresk and Luras followed him upstairs. Tresk whistled, then shrugged. She pointed at the artifices sitting atop the stills. I have no idea what those are.
Theo exined how the shredders would improve his efficiency, removing the tedious mashing process from distition. He had to exin it a few times for the Marshling to understand and he suspected that her excitement for the new core was too much.
Very nice, Theo, Luras said, nodding. Youre getting good at this.
Oh! You got [Monster Cores] from him, right? We should use those, Tresk said.
I have a feeling it''s going to send the ce over level 10, so I want to wait until Im not so tired, Theo said. Its a big decision, especially if it gives me new options.
It might not, Luras said.
Well wait. Theres just too much excitement for one day, Tresk said, peering out the window. I say we get dinner started.
Thats where we have the surprise, Luras said, grinning. Nothing worth even a single gold coin, but I think youll like it.
Luras produced a handful of small red pods and held them out. They looked like scaly cherry tomatoes. Theo inspected them.
[Fire Smander Eggs]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
The egg of a fire smander is said to contain its raw potential
Properties:
[me] ???? ????
Theo grimaced. I dont think Ive ever had lizard eggs. Isnt there some moral quandary here?
Tresk bristled. Im not a smander. Anyway, theyre super spicy.
Theo perked up at that. He loved spicy food back on Earth. Any chance he got, hed stuff his face until he was sweating and crying at the same time. I assume one of you knows how to prepare it.
Luras nodded, holding his hand out to Tresk. She handed him her copper skillet and retrieved a [me Artifice]. Theo took a seat and watched as he seared a few wolf steaks, flipping them once before setting them aside. The Half-Ogre retrieved water from the [Purified Water] barrel, dezing the bottom of the pan and adding something the alchemist didnt recognize.
Zee flour, Luras said, noticing Theos confused look.
Yet, no bread, Theo said, his shoulders slumping. Thement went unanswered.
Tresk chopped arge portion of [Swamp Onions] off to the side. The liquid within the pan came to a boil and bubbled away for some time. Luras dutifully adjusted the heat, bringing it down before chopping the wolf steak into chunks and introducing it into the mix. The Marshling plopped the onions in when she was done chopping, staring at the mixture with hungry eyes. They worked as an efficient team, something Theo imagined wasmon in the dungeon.
Now for the best part, Tresk said, tossing five [Fire Smander Eggs] in with the shell intact.
Luras broke the eggs with his wooden spoon, small gouts of fire shooting up to lick the ceiling. The liquid inside the pan turned a vivid red and resumed bubbling away. The Half-Ogre stirred it asionally, each motion filling the air with a spice that stung Theos eyes.
Have some water nearby, Luras said, nodding. This is a bit of a delicacy, but not everyone can handle the spice.
Luras dished out three tes, handing Theo his portion and grinning. The first thing that came through in the smell was the spice. Before the fall on Earth, there were ces that would ask you for a spice level. It usually went from 1 to 10, but this was a 15. Between the smander eggs, and the zee flour the sauce was thickened into a gravy.
Here goes nothing, Theo said.
Spicy food usually took a moment to coat his mouth, leaving room for the vors to take hold. Spice created by the [Fire Smander Egg] apparently held nothing back. It was as though fire spread across Theos tongue, moving instantly to cover every part of his mouth with its burning heat. His eyes watered immediately, sweat forming on his brow, and he gave the thumbs-up to his friends.
It''s good, he wheezed.
Tresk and Lurasughed, taking the first bite of their food. They both experienced simr effects, crying, sweating, andughing their way through the first few bites. By the time theyd eaten a few pieces of wolf meat, they were in the thick of it. Every concern in the world washed away, their thoughts dominated by the impossibly spicy food. The meal went on in rtive silence, the only soundsing out of the group were wheezing, coughing, andughing. None of them went for the water.
That was so good, Tresk said, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. She mopped her brow and let out a contented sigh.
The group dripped [Cleansing Scrub] over themselves and every surface that the food touched, preventing the spread of the spice to their skin. Theo couldnt remember thest time he had food this hot. It would have been before the nukes dropped, but that was a distant memory driven further by the smanders egg.
We need to do this more often, Theo said, falling into a fit of coughing.
I never took you for a masochist, Luras said, beaming. The spice seemed to affect him less, but the results were present.
Theo finished coughing, smiling at hispanions. Its like all your worries wash away. You cant think of anything but the spice.
I love it! Tresk shouted. Once a weekat least!
Their conversation moved away from the meal briefly before Luras excused himself. Theo and Tresk spent time in theb, talking about nonsense for a while before they pressed their foreheads together. The Tarahek core was on the verge of hitting level 5. It would be exciting to see what strange ability they got once it hit the threshold.
Time to go to bed, Tresk said, yawning. I cant wait to test this new core out.
Theo went with her to the bedroom,ying in his impossiblyfortable bed. He was tired after the meal, and he was happy to see that it was sitting well in his stomach. It was a good thing that Dronon physiology was agreeable to spicy food. It was even better that having spicy things was even an option. Heid there for some time, Tresks loud snores filling the room before he fell asleep. When he finally drifted off, it was with a feeling of contentment.
Chapter 33: Marble
Chapter 33: Marble
Theo woke well before Tresk the next morning. His sleep became restless in the early hours, visions of things left undone ying through his mind. The alchemist couldnt tell what time it was outside, only able to conclude that the inky ckness of twilight still hung over Broken Tusk. The visions that brought him awake were those regarding his new tome. Basic Drogramathi Alchemy sat in his inventory, unread. More than anything, he wanted to explore its secrets, but something told him they werent so easily discovered. He snuck out of the bedroom and settled in at the shop, lighting a candle and moving Azrugs chair.
The first quarter of the book described the illustrious history of Drogramath. Theo ignored most of this, finding it to be impossible to understand. The phrases the book used were nonsense, using as many metaphors to describe real things as not. He let out a heavy sigh as he turned to the chapter regarding distition. It was as bad, if not worse, than the introduction section. Where he expected to find details on his craft, he found more nonsense. His ability to read the book brought him no closer to understanding it. Despite this, he went through the entire section on distition,mitting it to memory.
Buried deep in a description of Drogramaths mastery over a realm Theo wouldnt attempt to pronounce, there were a few gems. While most of it eluded him, a small section concerning the demon lords persistent fire, whatever that meant, rted to temperature control. It said that Drogramath tempered his enemies with a me, like a cksmith heats a de, and that constant heat wasnt always the solution. Theo took this confusing message to mean that distition wasnt only about keeping the fire at a constant temperature. Some essences might extract better if he changed the intensity of fire.
The alchemist withdrew some parchment from his inventory and started scrawling. Hebeled it as Drogramath Decrypted at the top, referring to the page numbers and his interpretation. At the end of a few hours'' work, he was left with more contradicting information than information that agreed. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling. When he first cracked the book open, he expected all of Drogramaths secrets to reveal themselves to him. Theo wanted one, brilliant sh of inspiration to fill the gaps in his knowledge. But the only thing he got was confusion and disappointment.
Theo shrugged, standing and stretching on the spot. Fenian thought the book was a gift, holding that coveted secret knowledge, so it would be worth investigating. For now, he put it on the back burner and nned to do something different for the day. The alchemist wanted to take the day off from distition to spend his time working on the town. He nned to use his 4 level 30 monster cores when Tresk woke up, eager to see if there were any new picks. Then, there was the matter of the stonecutters endeavor. If he knew Ziz as well as he thought, the Half-Ogre would go nuts and cut as much stone as possible.
Theo felt something tap his shoulder. He spun around, heart hammering hard in his chest, and spotted the grinning face of Tresk standing there. Didnt even hear me, did you?
The alchemist clutched his chest, letting out a sigh of relief. No, I didnt, he said, letting out a few calming breaths. You scared the crap out of me.
Tresk chuckled, picking up the book and looking it over. You can read this?
Yeah, but its not helpful, Theo said, waving her off. Whatever cultist wrote it had more to say about Drogramath than his alchemy.
Thats demons for ya, Tresk said. Cults, in general, like to guard their knowledge.
Well, on to exciting things, Theo said, groaning as he rose to his feet. Lets use our monster cores.
Tresk bounced with excitement. Theo withdrew a [Monster Core] from his inventory and held it high, willing it to go into the shop. It disappeared and two messages crowded his vision.
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 8!
Select a direction you wish to expand theb into (north/south/east/west).
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 9!
Select a direction you wish to expand theb into (north/south/east/west).
Theo frowned, expecting a lot more levels from the level 30 cores. He selected east for both, preferring that the building expand toward the river, where he owned property. The shop rumbled under their feet; the floorboards creaking as the shop visibly expanded back. It was a good five paces of new space.
Didnt get level 10? Shame, Tresk said, tutting.
Theo held another core in the air, watching it disappear and receiving another barrage of messages.
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 10!
Select a direction you wish to expand theb into (north/south/east/west).
[Alchemy Lab] has advanced to level 11!
Select a direction you wish to expand theb into (north/south/east/west).
[Select Upgrade Option]
[Root Cer]
A cer for preserving reagents is housed under theb. Reagents ced inside of the cer decay at a slower rate.
[Experimentation Room]
A reinforced room is ced behind theb, creating a safe ce to conduct explosive experimentations.
[Drogramath Distition Specialty]
Specialize yourb in Drogramath Distition. This option is only avable to owners with the [Dronon] race and [Drogramath] heritage.
Effect:
Reduces the likelihood that essences will explode when interacting.
Increases the rate of distition in all stills.
Increases [Wisdom] bonus for all [Alchemists] within the [Alchemy Lab].
Provides the [Alchemy Lab] with a [Drogramath Still].
Well, thats not fair, Theo said,ughing. Theres an obvious winner.
Theo expanded the shop east again, the building rumbling under his feet as he read over [Drogramath Distition Specialty]. It was an option that only showed up because of his Dronon Drogramath heritage. Any of the effects alone would be worth it, but to get that many at once was absurd.
Thats an obvious pick, Tresk said,ughing.
Theo selected [Drogramath Distition Speciality] and the building rumbled again. Dark, purple energy swirled around the building, consuming them for a moment before subsiding. The pair shared a look before sprinting upstairs to inspect theb. The first thing they noticed was how muchrger it was. Two Theos could lie down, feet to head, in the newly created space. The next thing that dominated the room was a wicked-looking still, looming near the copper stills created by Throk. It looked like a pot still decorated on every avable surface with nasty spikes and des. The condenser apparatus was incrediblyplex, containing more loops and turns than should be possible. It was made of a purple-ck metal that Theo had seen before, on his new knife.
That looks like a torture device, Tresk scoffed.
Theo inspected the new still.
[Drogramath Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Legendary
Created By: ????
A 500 unit capacity Drogramathi still with attached advanced condenser. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill. The Drogramathi metal increases the spread of heat, providing an even distribution across a run.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence per run.
500 unit capacity, Theo said, whistling. He checked the lid, putting a [Alchemical Grinder Artifice] over the top. The artifice fit itself to the top andtched on. I wish it didnt look so demonic.
Tresk shrugged. Looks like a fancy piece of gear to me.
Theo looked at the remaining 3 [Monster Cores] in his inventory, weighing his options. It was unlikely the 3 cores would bring the shop to level 15, and he had enough upgrades to keep him happy for a long time. He had a feeling that the fancy equipment would outpace his skill, making it a bit of a waste. A n formed in his mind, a n aimed at extracting maximum profit from the stonecutters operation.
Tell me if this is stupid, Theo said, running his finger over the sharp edges of the still.
If you have to ask
What if we invest these cores into the town, Theo said. Get it to level 10 and take the [Stone Roads] upgrade. Then sell all the stone from the quarry, invest that back into cores.
Tresk thought for a moment, shrugging. The problem withying your own stone is that you have to keepying new stone when we expand. Id say put the monster cores into the town and see what the level 10 upgrade is. Adventurers have been putting cores in, anyway. Were almost at level 8.
Right, Theo said, nodding. Thats settled, then. Im guessing your ns for the day involve stabbing things.
You guessed right, Tresk said. Well have some breakfast, first.
The pair went back upstairs. Tresk handled the food and Theo prepared their morning tea. The alchemist wanted more variety in their diet, but that was a task for another day. They settled on more wolf steaks, mostly because the Marshling had more wolf steaks in her dimensional bag than she knew what to do with. She talked about how excited she was to test out her new core. While it didnt provide any world-breaking advantages, it was still a big step up from hermon grade core. Theo couldnt imagine how big of a leap it was frommon to legendary.
Azrug arrived earlier than normal,ing with the dawn. Did this ce get bigger? he asked, craning his neck from the door. The boy normally didnt say a word, but the sudden expansion of The Newt And Demon left him wondering.
We upgraded to level 10, Theo said. Got some fancy new features.
Tresk came down the stairs soon after, patting her stomach and grinning. Im off to the dungeon.
Bye, Theo said, waving her off.
Azrug entered the shop as Tresk left, walking to the back and looking toward the front. Its a lot bigger.
It gives two to four paces on average per level, Theo said.
Azrug spent some time walking around, admiring howrge the space had be. Theo left him to it, heading off into the swamp to test his new knife. He decided against doing any distition runs today, favoring a calm walk and gathering. The [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] was cumbersome to use. The alchemist dug a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] out of the ground and cut away the stem. A pulse spread out from him like a rolling wave of purple energy. When the wave subsided, he could see everything around him that was alchemical in nature. There were the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots], which he knew of, but also something buried deep in the ground. The vague, glowing shape that the knife created wasnt enough to identify it, but Theo didnt feel like digging.
The alchemist picked a path along the eastern wall, passing by the gate and noting the fishermen outside. He didnt know what they caught, or where they sold it, but they were out there every day. He cut a [Water Lily] near the wall and the pulse washed out over the river. Glowing shapes danced near the shore. Theo investigated, getting as close to the waters edge without getting wet. A green weed danced in the current, just below the surface. He knelt, getting his knees wet and muddy, and cut a piece off. Another wave of revealing magic pulsed out, but he ignored it. He inspected the reagent.
[River Kelp]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Umon
River kelp is known for its medicinal properties.
Properties:
[Regeneration] ???? ????
Theo already had a source of the [Regeneration] property, the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], but hadnt created any essences from it. He stuffed the item away into his inventory and made his way further upriver. Mussels grew near the pebbled shore, but none of them were alchemy ingredients. Small crayfish scattered away from the shallows when he approached, but he doubted they were reagents. He found a small, rounder-shaped bivalve creature simr to the muscle and reminding him of a m back on Earth. It was alone, and a pulse radiated from the alchemist when he pried the thing open. A small, misshapen white pearl sat near the meat of the thing. He picked it up and inspected it.
[River m Pearl]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
The pearl of a river m.
Properties:
[Hone Edge] ???? ????
Theo did not know what the [Hone Edge] property could be, but his intuition told him it was something simr to a poison. Not that it would apply any negative effects to a weapon, but that it would change them somehow. He wondered how he would get the hard thing down into a mash for the distition process. The alchemist shrugged, cing the item in his inventory before moving on.
Tresk arrived at the dungeon, informing Theo how much she loved the new core. He didnt understand howbat cores worked, or how they enhanced someones abilities, but she exined it. The increase in core quality more than doubled her damage. It also made her impossible for equal-level monsters to detect when she used her [Sneak] skill. She raved about being able to leap from the shadows, destroying anything with ease, and they were making their way to the 10th floor boss room. The alchemist told her to be careful and keep him updated.
I stole a few more [Lesser Healing Potions]. Dont worry about me, Tresk said, cackling.
It was midday by the time Theo found his way to the quarry. His journey was a winding thing, the knife sending him in a zig-zag pattern across the countryside. He found more reagents thanks to the knife than ever before, the glowing indicator revealing things he would have never seen with the naked eye. The quarry came into view, joined by the sounds of hammers and chisels on stone. Ziz spotted him, waving excitedly.
Come look, boss, Ziz said, gesturing behind the workshop.
Theo joined him, his eyes going wide at the massive pile of shaped stone. There must have been 50 blocks the size of the alchemists head piled up. They were all hewn expertly and when he ran his fingers across the surface, he could find no imperfections. He inspected the block, confirming his suspicions.
[Marble Block]
[Building Material]
Quality: Perfect
A block of white marble.
Ziz must have lied about his [Stonecutters Core]. The blocks had lost none of their quality, meaning that he was a craftsman worth note. Theo knew, from his time brewing potions, that messing up any step of the way would degrade the quality. The Half-Ogre knew his stuff, and his speed at processing the blocks was absurd. Theborers worked near the quarry, grunting and working a winch to crane the blocks out of the hills.
Youre a lot better at this than you let on, Theo said, running his fingers over the blocks again.
Ziz had a permanent grin on his face at this point. He pped one of the blocks and shrugged. What can I say?
Lets see what Fenian thinks, Theo said. He withdrew Fenians crystal from his inventory and held it tight. His head rushed for a moment, as though the line was trilling on the other end, then it passed.
Theo, how are you? Fenian asked.
Well, thank you. I have a question about stoneagain.
Lets hear it.
Myborers are better than expected. I can expect 50 blocks a day. Marble, at perfect quality, Theo said.
Marble? Did you say marble? Sorry, Im in a high-magic area right now. You couldnt have said marble, Fenian said.
Yeah, theyre marble. I inspected the finished product. About the size of my head, Theo said.
Im sending my friend to Broken Tusk, Fenian said. They will want a deal for wholesale, but youre sitting on a goldmine. You can expect him to offer 25 copper a block.
Theo tried to do the mental math. His mind always worked in strange ways when doing mental arithmetic, and his low [Intelligence] stat wasnt helping. After some effort, he determined that the blocks Ziz had crafted so far would fetch somewhere around 12 silver coins.
My guys are going to lose it, Theo said. Fenian, thanks for the information.
No problem. Im going to contact you with an order in a few days, Fenian said. Bye.
The connection terminated, and Theo returned the crystal to his inventory. Ziz was looking at him expectantly and the alchemist smiled. Five percent off the top, Theo said.
What? Ziz asked.
When you pay me back for the startup, 3 gold coins, all I want is five percent of sales, Theo said.
Ziz narrowed his eyes. Theo knew immediately that he should have said a higher number to start. How much can I get for a block? 2 copper? Maybe 3? Come on, dont leave me hanging.
Theoughed. The Half-Ogreborers of Broken Tusk were underpaid. They sat on a goldmine of resources theyd never exploited. Fenian knows a stone trader. What youre cutting here is marble at perfect quality. The Elf is going to send the stone merchant to confirm, but we can expect 25 copper coins per block.
Per block! Ziz shouted, grabbing his head with both hands. Per block?
Yes, as in each block, Theo said, grinning. 12 silver a day. Youd pay your debt in a month.
Ziz swayed on the spot, leaning against the pile of stone and breathing hard.
Do I need to give you a [Lesser Health Potion]? Theo asked.
Maybe, Ziz said, taking a few steadying breaths. By the Gods. Five percent? Youd really do that for me? Youd give me and these mud-slingingborers a chance like that?
I would, Theo said. Theres no sense in me trying to run a quarry. I dont have the time, or the skill core to do it. If I get my money back on my investment, I''ll be happy.
How am I supposed to say no? Ziz said, reaching his hand out for Theo to shake.
The alchemist took his hand and shook. Its a deal.
Im guessing we have to reserve some stone, split them into cobbles to pave the town, Ziz said.
No, well sell everything here, Theo said. Im off to upgrade the town to level 10. If the upgrade options suck, Im going to pick [Stone Roads].
I better get back to work, Ziz said, his eyes going wide. He turned to the other fourborers and shouted, work faster! Were gonna be rich!
Chapter 34: Upgrades
Chapter 34: Upgrades
Theo made his way back to the square, feeling good about the day. Pergs order was filled, Ziz had his stoneworkers workshop, and Fenian was sending his contact to the town. As he passed through the farm, the well-trodden mud streets annoyed him even more. This new body had incredible resistance to infections, because even though his feet were soaked with mud for most of the day they were fine. He inspected the monolith when he arrived at the square.
[Small Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Miana Kell
Administrator: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 8 (1%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Adventurers Guild
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
Tresk was right. The town was teetering on the edge of a new upgrade. Theo withdrew a level 30 [Monster Core] from his inventory and offered it to the b of stone. It epted the offering hungrily, the core vanishing from his hands as a message appeared in the alchemists vision.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 9!
Broken Tusk was 20% into level 9. Another core would send it over the edge and reveal the new upgrade features. Theo hoisted another core and watched as the monolith swirled with energy, snaking out over the town. Everything glittered, motes of white energy falling off the buildings and the walls. Another screen popped up.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 10!
[Broken Tusk] is eligible for an upgrade. As the Administrator, you may make a section of the following:
[Stone Roads]
Your [Small Town] will gain stone roads that cover all interior roads within your borders. The roads will expand as you expand your town.
[Watchtowers]
Your [Small Town] will gain watchtowers ced along the border. The watchtowers will move to match the edge of your borders, should you expand. 12 watchtowers will be ced.
[Water Tower]
Your [Small Town] will gain a single 1,000 unit water tower in its center. The tower will not automatically fill.
The new option was hriously bad. The town already had a water tower with a higher capacity. There was no way he would pick any other option. Theo mentally selected the [Stone Roads] and waited for them to appear underfoot. The ground shook ominously, the same white energy that danced across the town suddenly covering the muddy roads. Gray cobbles popped up from the ground, sending the alchemist high into the air before mming down in a tight pattern. Theo fell on the hard stone and watched as mortar spread between the cobbles, forming a tight webwork of sent.
The process happened like a wave centered on the monolith, crashing out from the center of town. Shouts of surprise came from all directions. Theo ran his hands over the stone. It wasnt as nice as the stuff Ziz was cutting, but it would do far more than the natural stone could. The roads would extend out when the town expanded, removing the need toy more stone when the town grew. The alchemist brought himself to his feet and traveled south, to the shop.
Azrug was standing outside The Newt and Demon with Perg. They both had a look of confusion on their face. As soon as they spotted Theo, they understood what had happened. That was you, wasnt it? Azrug asked,ughing.
Gods. You can always count on the alchemist to upset things, Perg said. Despite her jab, her eyes were on the road.
Its not as soft underfoot, but you wont get caught in sinkholes, Theo said, smiling. He withdrew a [Cleansing Scrub] from his inventory and dropped it over his clothes. The light washed away the mud, leaving his masins fresh.
I noticed your shop is bigger, Perg said, shaking her head. You stole my workers away.
Did you have work for them? Theo asked, smiling.
Nope, Perg said. I dont need anyone to work the pits, because there are no pits. You have my gratitude for giving them a job.
More than a job, Theo corrected. I gave them a way to support themselves. After they pay me back for the cost of the seed cores, Im giving Ziz the buildings.
Absurdly generous of you, Perg said, shaking her head.
Hardly, Theo said, waving her away. I own thend theyre working. Taking a percent off the top.
Perg sauntered over to the alchemist and grinned. She ced her hand over his shoulder and smiled. If anyone asks me, you were born here. Maybe not physically, but you have the spirit of a Broken Tusker. You help your neighbors without question. Everyone in town knows how much those potions cost in the big city.
Theo couldnt disagree with her. The moment he set foot in Broken Tusk, he knew he was home. He was even used to the humidity and the heat. Air conditioning was nice, but once he spent a week in the oppressive soup they called air, it wasnt bad. He ced his hand on her shoulder and smiled.
Hey, you gonna pay me? Azrug said, scowling.
Theo withdrew two copper coins from his inventory and handed it over to the boy. Azrug stuffed the coins in his pocket and continued to give the alchemist the stink-eye.
What about you, Azrug? Any opinion? Perg asked.
Well, the demon got me out of the fields, Azrug said, tapping his chin. Theres still many people working the farm, making crap for coin.
One project at a time, Theo said. Once I find reagents that promote growth, theyll be up to their eyeballs in zee.
Azrug shrugged, turning to walk up the road. Cant change the world overnight.
Perg and Theo watched the boy stomp off. He kicked at the cobblestone path and shouted, stumbling the rest of the way up the hill. The boy was spiky at the best of times.
What a tender moment, a voice came from the shadows near the shop. It was a horrible impersonation of a viin, but an obvious culprit. Perg startled, but Theo did not.
Tresk is enjoying her new core, Theo said. He couldnt see her lurking there in broad daylight, but she dropped her voice about as well as he swung a sword.
Dont ruin my fun, Tresk said, emerging with a grin on her face. She had a look of surprise on her face, as though she just noticed the new roads. Roads!
New core? Perg asked.
Tresk exined, in excruciating detail, her new core. Her day in the dungeon went extremely well, the cloak hanging off her shoulders being the proof. It was made of an impossibly soft silk that seemed to have no weight. ording to the Marshling, it made her even more light on her feet, empowering her [Sneak] ability even more. She imed to have walked up to the boss and waved her hand in front of his face before Luras charged, ruining her fun.
Perg departed after a while to nt her seed core. Luras was apparently doing the same thing next door. The Half-Ogre was already in talks about leather supplies, striking a deal to get some of Pergs stock at a discount. Theo appreciated the gesture of paying it forward, letting some profits remain inside of Broken Tusk. His entire n from the start was to create that cycle of coin. Production chains that exploited the natural resources of thend, and the swamp had a lot of resources to provide.
Theo and Tresk made their way into the shop. She noticed theb was mostly untouched from the morning and raised a brow. You brewed nothing today?
I took it easy, Theo said. Its still pretty early, anyway.
I thought youd be all over the new still, Tresk said. Did you check on the stone boys?
Theoughed, exining their situation. Theyll turn a profit within a month. Then theyre on their own.
Well, I finally have something nice for you, Tresk said. The 10th floor boss was some horrid troll, but he had a few additional friends. Spriggans. Theyre these weird little tree creatures that shamble around and throw vines at you.
Tresk withdrew something that looked like a wooden heart from her bag, holding it out for the alchemist to inspect.
[Spriggan Heart]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
The animated heart of a Spriggan. Contains the creatures ability to influence nature.
Properties:
[Growth] ???? ????
Theo suddenly found the solution to the farmers problem. The only issue was that his intuition told him this was a vtile ingredient, something he couldnt handle at his current level. Even the power that flowed from the reagent gave him a bad feeling, his instincts saying not to handle it. He stowed it away in his inventory and smiled at hispanion.
My Marshling investment is finally paying off, Theo said.
Tresk bristled for a moment, then stuck her tongue out. She beckoned for him to bend down to her level, pressing her forehead against his. A rush flowed through his body and a new status box appeared near his own, showing another set of health, mana, and stamina bars. Another message popped up on his screen to exin it.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Tarahek Core] leveled up! Level 5.
[Tarahek Communication] has evolved, gaining a new effect.
[Tarahek Communication]
Marshling Bond Skill
Rare
The first step to a Tarahek ismunication.
Effect:
Allows you tomunicate with Tresk no matter how far away they are. Others cannot hear your conversation.
Allows you to know the current state of your Tarahek. Their health, mana, and stamina will appear near yours at all times.
Woah! Tresk said. Your stamina bar is almost empty.
So is yours, Theo said, scoffing.
A knock from the front door broke Theos excitement, but only fueled Tresks. She squealed with glee, answering it and cocking her head. The bulky frame of Ziz stood at the door, scratching his head and grinning sheepishly.
I saw the roads, Ziz said, managing a weak chuckle. He held something behind his back. Makes me think you never intended to do anything but give me and my sorry lot jobs.
Theo waved the statement away, shaking his head. Its an investment.
Tresk punched his arm yfully. Come on. Youre all kinds of nice.
Ziz moved inside of the threshold, revealing what he concealed behind his back. Three fat steaks, far too fatty to be wolf steaks, glistened in the fading light of the day. Karatan steaks, he said, grinning. I assume you havent eaten dinner yet?
Tresks eyes went wide. Whatever yful mode she was in vanished at the sight of the steaks. Theo found it impossible not to be interested. The memory of the steaks at the Marsh Wolf Tavern lingered in his mind. The Marshling bounced up and down, the frills on the side of her head wiggling with her.
No way! Tresk shouted. Lets eat!
Tresk darted upstairs, with Theo and Ziz close behind. She had one of the [me Artifices] going before they even reached theb, muttering something to herself and licking her lips.
Were really having a good time working the quarry, Ziz said, smiling.
Theo took stock of the man, noticing how exhausted he looked. They went all out today, trying to produce as many stone blocks as possible. He took a seat by the window, happy to let the Marshling do all the preparation. The scent of the cooking steaks filled theb, a smell that sent a wave of excitement through the alchemists body.
Hopefully we can keep this momentum up, Theo said, sighing. I was lucky to get enough cores to level the town to 10, but its going to be slow from here on out.
The walls do more than you know, Ziz said, shrugging. Everyone feels safer. Gods not to mention the roads.
Theo let that thought swirl around his mind for a while as Tresk cooked the steaks. Hed done a lot of good for the town, but it wasnt just him. He was the catalyst, like the unassuming copper shavings in his potions, that set off a chain reaction. The townspeople of Broken Tusk just needed a firm prodding to get to it, and a clear path forward. He was more than happy to be their lodestone.
The pair watched, chatting idly, as Tresk finished the steaks. When they finally dug into the meal, it was everything Theo expected. Even without butter, it was beyond the wolf steaks in vor. Something about the fat thatced through the meat elevated it beyond anything the swamp could provide. The alchemist made a mental note to explore alchemical vor enhancements.
The group ate slowly, heads nodding as tiredness set in. Everyone seated at the table by the window was exhausted, but thepany was good. Ziz was in as good of spirits as Theo had ever seen him. Tresk was constantly talking about her new core, but the alchemist doubted it was as much of an improvement as she said. He didnt have any frame of reference forbat cores, and thought about learning more about them. The chance never came to ask her about it that night.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ziz bid farewell. The moment he left, Tresk let her shoulders slump. I didnt want to be rude but Im so tired.
Me too, Theo said, struggling to keep his eyes open. Its been busy.
Lets sleep.
The pair made their way to the bedroom, snuggling into their impossiblyfortable beds and leaving the worries of the day for tomorrow.
Chapter 35: Cores and the Khahari
Chapter 35: Cores and the Khahari
Theo woke the next morning to the delightful smell of moss tea and wolf steaks. He lingered in bed for a while, blinking away the sleep and preparing for the day. Sometimes he had to brace for Tresks level of excitement. She elevated his mood every time he saw her. He departed the bedroom, dawn still not showing itself outside, and found her in theb. She was humming something to herself, prodding at her pan with a wooden spoon.
Morning, Theo said, stretching.
Theo! I had a dream that I killed a dragon, Tresk said, casting a devious nce at the alchemist.
Theo couldnt help butugh. He didnt even know if dragons were a real thing in this world, or if the excited Marshling was making things up. Are Assassins good at killing dragons?
Nope, Tresk said. No one kills dragonsnot really. Theyre giant, intelligent monsters that can level whole towns.
Theoughed, taking his spot at the table and pouring two cups of the brewing tea. The citrus smell flooded his nose, sending a wave of energizing warmth through his body. Their morning ritual had a way of calming him like nothing else.
Whats your n for the day? Tresk asked, serving him a wolf steak on a te. She didnt even bother putting hers on a te, simply grabbing it with both hands and tearingrge chunks out of the still-hot thing.
Theo thought for a moment, cupping his chin in his hand and shrugging. I need to take stock of our materials and potions. I have a feeling that I need to make a run for level 10.
Good idea, Tresk said, nodding and chomping. Luras is gonna be busy with his new project, so Im going solo for the first time.
Can you handle it? Theo asked, feeling a sh of concern ripple through his mind.
With my new core? Yeah, Tresk said, spitting a little steak out onto the table when she snorted. It basically doubled my damage. If I get the drop on the monsters, anyway.
Good, Theo said. It helps that I can see your health bar.
Theo cast his eyes out the window, idly taking bites of his food. Dawn broke over the eastern horizon, painting the area behind the Newt and Demon in a brilliant orange-purple light. The pair talked about idle things while the sun rose, Tresk finally deciding to head off for the dungeon. She promised to take it easy, but the alchemist was still worried. He understood so little about the way dungeons worked. Even her ss was a bit of a mystery to him, but he made her promise to take extra healing potions.
You worry too much, Tresk said, pressing her forehead against his before departing.
Theo watched her go, wincing at the sight of it. She couldnt have been better prepared, but it was still hard. He made a mental note to keep an eye out for gear for her. That made him realize that his experience with adventurer gear wascking. He checked the dimensional crate upstairs, finding a healthy supply of essences rted to the tannery process. He also had a small amount of [Moss Nettle], [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], and a few [Widow Lilies]. Downstairs in the shop, there were a few potions but nothing in bulk. 15 [Lesser Healing Potions], 7 [Lesser Barkskin Potions], 50 [Cleansing Scrub], 100 [Lesser Stamina Potions], and a handful of [Lesser Potions of Purification].
He stayed there for some time, nning a route through the town to collect more ingredients. The longer he stayed, the more he felt like something was missing. The alchemist poked his head out of the door, peering up and down the street, before finally putting his finger on what was wrong. Azrug hadnt shown up, even though hed been arriving at the store earlytely. Theo locked the shop up, ensuring the sign was set to Closed, and walked down to Pergs tannery. He couldnt help but marvel at how nice the new road was, grinning to himself as he arrived.
Pergs tannery changed considerably. It was no longer a roving workshop, open to the air and falling apart. It was now a squat stone building with a wooden roof, disying several chimney stacks on top. Theo whistled his approval, approaching the thick oaken door and knocking twice. He realized it was the first time he didnt find the Half-Ogre woman simply standing outside, as though she were waiting for him.
Theo! Perg said, arriving at the door with a grin on her face. Get in here.
Theo was dragged inside by the arm, stumbling over himself as the woman gestured broadly. The interior of the new tannery was clean and organized. Shallow recesses in the floorboards sat under the things he thought were chimneys. They were vents to whisk away the foul air, sending it skyward. A small bed sat in the corner, as well as a modest eating area.
This is great, Theo said, taking in the ce. This is really streamlined.
Just wait until I get some upgrades, Perg said, beaming. Well, Im sure people in town are going to be happy.
Whys that? Theo asked.
Well, have you ever noticed how the southern section of Broken Tusk doesnt have any houses? Perg asked. Thats because the tannery stunk so bad. People are going to buy property here, now.
I guess its my job to sell that property to them, Theo said with augh. Yeah, I dont know anyone who wants the scent of death in their house all day.
Thats a thing of the past, Perg said, waving a dismissive hand. Not that I have to tell you. But this is a proper tannery, now.
Theo walked around the interior. It was bare, but then again it was a level 1 core building. It would only grow as she fed it monster cores, and if the alchemists intuition was right, their business would boom in theing months.
Did Luras nt his building, yet? Theo asked.
Yeah, its taking time, Perg said. I talked to Ziz yesterday. Hes excited about the quarry. Says hes gonna be rich.
By Broken Tusk standards, yeah, Theo said,ughing. He lucked out. The ce we picked for the quarry has some rare stone. Fenian is sending a merchant to check it out.
Trade routes, Perg said, nodding. That Fenian Elf bought all my hidesst time he was here.
Hes a nice guy, Theo said, shrugging. He almost forgot the reason he came down this way to begin with. Hey, have you heard anything about Azrug?
Ive been too busy with this, Perg said, gesturing vaguely at the tannery. His house is up by the farm.
Yeah, I think I remember, Theo said, knitting his brow. Hold onwhat was his surname?
Slug, Perg said.
Theo shook his head, summoning his administrator map and locating a parcelbeled The Slug Family.
There it is, Theo said. Im going to check on him make sure everything is okay.
Are you worried? Perg asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Yeah. Im always worried, Theo said, scoffing.
Youre like everyones mother, Perg said.
Theo waved her off, shaking his head. See ya.
Theo made his way north, to the town square. He wondered if Miana had a core that let her know every time he was near, because she popped her head out of her house and scowled at him. Theo! A word, she said.
The alchemist went over and sighed. What is it, Miana?
Good work, she said, giving him an approving nod. I need to have a word with youter, but you look busy.
Okay, Theo said. Hopefully its nothing bad.
Of course not, Miana said, scowling. She snapped the door shut before he could get another word in.
Rude, Theo said, departing.
He found his way up to the base of the farmers hill, ducking east into the tangle of rotting homes. He spotted Xam, the proprietor of the Marsh Wolf Tavern, standing outside of a home. Theo double-checked his administrator map, confirming that she was standing outside of the Slug residence. The moment she spotted him, she had a pained look on her face. As he approached, she managed a weak smile that dropped Theos heart into the pit of his stomach.
Whats wrong? Theo asked. His mind reeled with possibilities. If Azrug was sick, he could distill a potion to help him. The [Purifying Essence] could have a lot of uses he hadnt explored yet. But the soft smile that spread across Xams face dismissed all the panic. She ced her hand on his shoulder andughed.
Youre funny, she said. Hes not sick or hurt. I was going to send someone to tell you, but well, here you are.
What happened?
Hes getting his cores, Xam said, smiling. Its a painful process, but it usually happens when someonees of age. Azrug is still too young, but well, we think working in your shop pushed him along.
A pang of guilt spread through Theos gut. Im so sorry, he said, grimacing. I thought giving him a job would help
Xam held out a silencing hand, shaking her head. No, its a good thing. It was going to happen, eventually. When a transformation happens early, it usually means he found what he wants to do.
Theo breathed a sigh of relief. The moment Azrug didnt show up to the shop, he had a horrible feeling in his stomach that the boy was injured. The alchemist didnt even consider that people would get their cores in adolescencethere was just too much about this world that he didnt know. As long as Azrug was safe, he was happy.
Can I see him? Theo asked.
No, Xam said, shaking her head. A pained smile yed across her face. If he sees you, hes going to want to run the shop. I already lied and told him that Tresk was working the shop today.
Theo nodded. Yeah, that makes sense. Listen, if he needs anything, just let me know.
I will, Xam said. He should be fine tomorrow Well, hes going to be insufferable. Bragging about whatever special cores he gets.
Theo opened his inventory, withdrawing a single silver coin. He didnt know what kind of celebration people in Broken Tusk would have for a kid getting their cores, but he knew the best present. Money. He handed the coin over to Xam, which she refused to take.
For his ascension into a core user, Theo said. Ill hand it to him personally if you dont take it.
Xam snatched the coin out of his hand and grinned. Youre too nice to this kid.
I know, Theo said, turning on the spot. See you, Xam.
Theo made his way north from the farmers hill, tracking a path through the forest. He couldnt get his mind off the excitement of Azrug getting his cores, but did his best to focus on his herbalism. His [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] increased the rate he could harvest reagents significantly. The gentle ping of energy that washed over the ground revealed things he would have missed before. Those things growing deep underground were tempting to dig up, but they were too deep to ess easily.
The alchemist focused on reagents that he could sell in his shop and bolster his Taraheks prowess. He spent the morning collecting [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], [Widow Lily], and [Water Lily]. The effort earned him a sizeable chunk of experience in his [Drogramath Herbalism Core], but it stillgged behind his alchemy core. The advantage the new knife gave him was in volume. Compared to life before the new tool, he was collecting double the ingredients in the same amount of time.
Theo noticed Tresks health bar shoot down by a quarter, hover there for a while, then rocket back up to full. He breathed a sigh of relief, finding it hard not to send her a panic message into her mind. Any break in her concentration might spell disaster, and he didnt want to interrupt her.
Im fine, Tresk said after a moment. In case youre freaking out back in town.
I was, Theo said,ughing. What happened?
That Troll got the drop on mewell, hes dead now, Tresk said, giggling. Theyre just so big and stupid!
The early morning gave way to the blistering sun, burning away the low-hanging fog of the swamp. Theo made his way back to the shop, intent on brewing potions and tending to any customers. He rounded the corner, dripping some [Cleansing Scrub] on himself before stepping foot on the stone path. He spotted someone standing patiently outside of the store, his arms folded and tail swishing. After a moment he recognized the man as Zankir, the Khahari adventurer who inquired about a house earlier.
Zankir, Theo said, waving at the man. He relied on his high [Wisdom] skill to remember the name, a feat he could never have done on Earth. What brings you back to Broken Tusk?
Zankir grinned, gesturing toward the shop. I have a tale to tell.
Chapter 36: Confluence of Events
Chapter 36: Confluence of Events
Zankir groaned as he sat at the table by the window upstairs. Theo brewed some tea for him, feeling sorry for how worn the Khahari looked. His fur was matted down in spots and the glitter of ambition behind his eyes had dimmed slightly. The alchemist would have offered him a healing potion, but he knew it was the kind of exhaustion that couldnt be remedied by alchemy.
This ce is a confluence, alchemist, Zankir said after a while. I thought it impossible for a ce to have so many resources. Three dungeons within a half-days walk is a lot, but now a Drogramathi Alchemist?
I try not to think about it, Theo said with a shrug. Things were so bad back on Earth I just figured I had some good lucking my way.
I think thats exactly it, Zankir said. Some of the tiredness in his eyes had faded, revealing a glimmer of that ambition. Well, I didnt mean to sound ominous. A confluence can be a good thing. Broken Tusk was unnoteworthy before you came. Now look at it.
Its not just me, though, Theo shrugged. Im giving these people the tools.
Just so, Zankir said, nodding and grinning. The reason I came here today is to buy property. I heard from the north that merchants are taking an interest here.
Ah, I can help you with that, Theo said. We have a lot ofnd for sale, actually.
Care to give me a tour?
Theo waited for Zankir to finish his tea. They chatted idly about other things while he drank. The Khahari told him about the river dungeon to the east. It was an incredibly tough ce to clear, as most of it was underwater. It was also only at level 8, making it more attractive than the level 25 swamp dungeon. Zankir had no information on the [Hills Dungeon]. They departed the shop, locking up before they toured the town.
So, lets go north first, Theo said, leading toward the town square.
They arrived at the monolith, and Theo could tell by the look on Zankirs face he wasnt interested. The space was tight, and the roads were busy. This is a bit of a cluster, he said.
Yeah, this is where most of the people live, Theo said. We have roads now, which is good, and walls.
I noticed, Zankir said. Very impressive for what little you have down here. Shall we?
Theo nodded, leading him further north. They passed through the farm and out onto the sloping ne heading toward the quarry. Zankir seemed more interested in this plot ofnd. The alchemist noted the road extended north on its own. He reasoned it was connecting the main part of town to the quarry. Since the walls expanded on their own, it made sense.
Youd be all alone out here, Theo said, shrugging. And youd have to pass through the farm to get to town.
Thats fine, Zankir said, smiling. Howrge of a parcel can you offer me?
Theo essed his administrator map, tilting his head. He owned every bit ofnd in the northern stretch of town. His intuition said he could split the parcel up and sell thend outright, or rent it to Zankir.
As much as you like, Theo said, shrugging. My preference is that you dont buy the entire tract ofnd, though.
Zankirughed. Nothing like that. Just enough space for me to build a decent home.
Well, if youre interested, I have core seeds for a house, Theo said.
Zankir raised an eyebrow. How did youe across those?
I know a guy, Theo said, grinning.
You truly are blessed, Zankir said. He stood on the road and walked arge rectangle, beckoning Theo to follow. The alchemists superior [Wisdom] allowed him to estimate the size of the plot as they went. How much would this cost me?
Theo had to think about the question for a moment. He tilted his head and did the mental math on thend and the house core. It was hard to find the desire to bleed the man dry, as every adventurer added to the town was another point of prosperity. The parcel that Zankir drew out was smallpared to the size of the tract, not even a hundredth of its total size.
Im horrible at negotiations, Theo said, managing a sheepish smile. Ill be honest with youIm no merchant. Thend is worth, perhaps, a silver coin. The seed core is about 20 silver coins for me to make a profit.
Youre too honest, alchemist, Zankir groaned. I was prepared to part with a gold.
If youre willing to give up a gold so easily, then you must be a pretty high level adventurer, Theo said. The urge to inspect the man was strong, but he resisted. Luras told him it was rude, and he didnt want to ruin their rtionship. How does 50 silver coins sound?
For the seed core and thend? Zankir asked. Thats an absurdly good deal.
I know, Theo said. Consider this an invitation to make your home here. Into the open arms of Broken Tusk. Youre like a settler, popting a newnd.
Zankir reached his hand out. Theo grasped it and shook, beaming. Without waiting for the adventurer to exchange the coin, he opened his administrator map, sectioned off the parcel, and assigned it to him.
All yours, Theo said.
Zankir withdrew 50 silver coins from a dimensional bag and handed it over. Theo took the [House Seed Core], which looked like a wire mesh sphere with swirling timber inside, and handed it over. The adventurer marched to the middle of the field and buried it under the ground. The alchemist watched as he withdrew [Monster Cores] from his inventory and shoved them in the ground. After a moment, the earth rumbled, and the adventurer retreated.
Laying down some roots, Theo said, watching in awe.
An actual root sprung from the ground, swirling around and forming a box. Boards appeared on the outside of the gnarled root, snapping into ce to form a beautifully boarded exterior. The roof sprung from nowhere, flying into the air andnding gracefully on top of the structure. When it was done forming, the building was a single-story home with two neat windows in the front. The road snaked to connect to the doorstep.
Beautiful, Zankir said, beaming. Without another word the adventurer disappeared inside. The house rumbled after a moment, expanding in either direction before shaking violently. The roof jumped again, boards springing to create a second floor.
That was cool, Theo said, nodding at Zankir as he emerged.
Its very satisfying, Zankir said, admiring his new home. I have a question.
Yes?
Im going to depart to retrieve my family from the nortnds, Zankir said. Could you keep an eye on the house?
No problem, Theo said, shrugging.
With this matter sorted, Ill depart in the morning, Zankir said. If youll excuse me, I have some decorating to do.
Alright. See ya, Theo said, waving.
Theo departed, heading north to the quarry to check on Ziz. A massive pile of blocks sat near the workshop. The Half-Ogre was working a b of marble, cutting into smaller blocks when he spotted the alchemist. They exchanged pleasantries, but his real reason for being there was to see if the merchant Fenian sent had stopped by. Theo stayed for as long as was polite before leaving, letting the men do their work.
When he passed by the farm, his mind went back to the [Spriggan Heart] Tresk found in the dungeon. Theos mind reeled at the possibilities of enhancing the growth rate of the crops, enabling the farmers to make more money on their hard work. Something in his gut told him they would be less epting of his alchemical solutions, but as with all things in Broken Tusk, results mattered more than promises. Hede up with a potion to grow the crops before pitching the idea.
Theo stopped at the square, finding his way reluctantly to Mianas house. She poked her head out, shing an uncharacteristic smile and beckoning for him toe inside. He followed her inside, taking a seat in her office. There was something she was hiding from him, but he couldnt figure it out. Her mood was far better than hed ever seen it, which never bode well for the Half-Ogre mayor.
You wanted to see me? Theo asked.
Im quitting, Miana said, grinning wider.
Theo felt his heart stop in his chest for a moment. Youre what?
Youve made me useless, alchemist, Miana said. Gods do I feel useless.
Come on, Theo said. Youre not useless.
I do nothing here, Miana said. Truth be told, I never wanted to be the mayor. When I got the appointment, it was a punishment. Felt like a punishment, anyway.
Well, who is going to run the town? Theo asked, scoffing. Is Qavell going to send a recement?
They already have, Miana said.
Who are they? Theo asked.
He couldnt stand the thought of Broken Tusk falling into the hands of someone who didnt care about it. Some bureaucrat sent from the north to make their town something it wasnt.
What has two horns and is now the mayor of Broken Tusk? Miana asked, pointing dramatically at Theo. You are.
Theos blood turned to ice in his veins. The feeling subsided quickly when he realized he was already running the town. The only thing Miana did was collect taxes and glower from her house.
What are you going to do? Theo asked.
Im staying here, Miana said. Ill live out my life, doing whatever. Im not exactly young, you know.
Theo felt a rush flood through his body. The message that popped up sent a chill down his spine.
[Mayoral Transfer] Miana Kell has transferred the mayorship of [Broken Tusk] to you! Your [Lord Administrator] roll has been removed.
Just like that? Theo asked, scoffing.
Just like that. This was actually Lauris ideaour handler in Qavell. Theyre impressed with the way youre running the town, Miana said.
I feel bad, Theo said, knitting his brow. Like I just came in here and took your spot.
Make it up to me, Miana said. Someone told me you bought some house seed cores from that merchant. Sell me one and a plot ofnd and were square.
Theo thought for a moment. He felt so bad about taking the mayor position that he didnt even want to consider it. Luras advice about him giving things away for free came into his mind, but this was Miana. He withdrew a seed core from his inventory and set it down on the table.
For free, Theo said. Just let me know what plot ofnd you want, and it''s yours.
Thank you, Theo, Miana said.
It was hard to get used to this new side of her. The weight of the mayors position must have weighed heavily on her. It was a yoke that brought her mood down every day, turning her into that moody person. By contrast, Theo felt none of that weight. Running the town had been a joy, and he would dly do it forever if he could.
What about my debt? Theo asked.
You still owe me, Miana said, shing a grin. Cant get away that easily.
The pair departed Mianas home, walking out onto the well-cobbled streets.
Youre the mayor! Tresk said into Theos mind. Iming homeI gotta get the story in person.
Theo smiled, following Mianas lead. She went south, to his surprise. They moved past the tannery and Luras new building to the edge of town, near the wall. She gestured to a small plot ofnd, already sectioned off. The alchemist bought it without hesitation, happily spending the 5 silver his new mayors map interface requested. He transferred the property over to Miana.
Thanks, Theo, Miana said. Ill nt the seed and feed it coresdont worry, I have a couple stashed away. When I move all my junk out, you can have my old house.
I dont think Ill use it, Theo said with a shrug. Im going to miss your scowls.
Juste down here. Ill be happy to hurl curses at you from my front porch, Miana said.
Im going to call a meeting with the mercantile chairs tomorrow, Theo said. I think you should have an advisor seat.
Does it pay?
Nope.
Bah. Ille anyway, Miana said. Goodbye.
Theo turned on the spot and left, feeling strange from the entire encounter. He returned to the Newt and Demon to inspect his new interfaces. There were several new screens he could ess when thinking about the concept of Broken Tusk. The screens popped up, disying detailed information about the town. He saw things like poption, resources, and the towns current level and upgrades.
Tresk arrived some timeter to find Theo sitting in the shop, staring off into the distance. He ryed the story to her,ughing when she was as surprised as him. They settled down upstairs so that the Marshling could ry the events of her day.
I was fighting some big hairy goblin when you got promoted, Tresk said. I think everyone in town saw it.
I guess it makes sense, but I feel bad, Theo said. I hope her new situation makes her happy.
Miana will do whatever she wants, thats not your concern, Tresk said. Youre the mayor of Broken Tusk. Think of the things we can do.
Yeah, we dont have to run around asking for permission to do stuff, Theo said. We just do it.
The afternoon sun zed outside, but neither of them wanted to do anything else today. The shock of bing mayor was too much to handle. Theo inspected the facets of the mayors interface. From the map that detailed the property ownership to demographics, he probed through more menus than he cared to have. The financial tab broke down the distribution of taxes and what influenced them. Everyone who owned property had to pay a weekly tax to the mayor, who then paid that money to the capital. Then, there were the businesses. The town was smart enough to know when coin exchanged hands and taxed it based on a rate. He couldnt set the tax rates. It must have been something Qavell did on their end.
Theo found himself in a daze, flicking through those menus idly as he waited for the day to end. A loud knock from the door downstairs broke his concentration. Tresk scampered downstairs, answering it and letting out a squeal. Theo went to investigate.
Perg stood with Luras, both of them grinning.
So, when were you going to tell us Miana made you the mayor? Luras asked, chuckling.
When it suited him, I imagine, Perg said.
Im still processing it, Theo said.
Luras strode across the shop, snatching Theo by the arm and dragging him to the threshold.
Whats going on? Theo asked.
What do you think? Luras asked. Were throwing a party.
Chapter 37: Party
Chapter 37: Party
Theo had never seen the entire town of Broken Tusk assembled in one ce. How they assembled everyone on such short notice was beyond him. The town gathered in the square, smiling and greeting their new mayor when he arrived. Fires were built around the monolith, holding massive cooking pots and pans. A torrent of scents washed over him as they approached.
How did you manage this? Theo asked.
Luras just smiled, pping his hand over the alchemists back.
This is great, Tresk said.
Perg came to stand by Theo, cing her arm around his shoulder. This is the first step for us, she said, taking a deep breath. Youre the mayor now, but once the city upgrades, youll get a new title.
And more authority, Luras said. Thats the important part. Once we get bigger, we can govern ourselves more.
I mean, the capital is leaving us alone, Theo said with a shrug.
For now, Perg said. Give it time. Theyll take an interest in us. Once we have enough influence, they wont touch us.
Good to know, Theo said.
For now, we party! Tresk said, pumping her fist.
Theo went around shaking hands and receiving well-wishes from the citizens of Broken Tusk. They were all excited to let him know how much of a natural fit he was for the position, but he had his doubts. He knew his heart was in the right ce, but doubted his ability to lead them to greatness. As a few of them said, though, it was hard to argue with the results. In a few short weeks, the town had grown more than in the past century.
The alchemist sampled a little bit of every dish on offer, making the rounds with Tresk to sample what the townsfolk came up with. Both of them favored the spicy dishes made with the [Fire Smander Eggs]. There were incredibly inventive pots of spicy noodles with tender wolf meat. Theo couldnt get over how good that dish was, and made a point to get the recipe from the farmer who created it. He vowed to learn the secret of creating [Zee Kernel Noodles] from scratch.
We need a mill, Theo said, returning to Perg and Luras.
Here he goes again, Perg said, feigning annoyance.
Theo shrugged, shing a sheepish grin. I cant help it. There are too many opportunities.
Theo spotted Aarok, nked by a pair of adventurers, approaching through the crowd. He wordlessly beckoned the alchemist to follow him, shrugging when Tresk padded closely behind. The guildmaster knew it was pointless to keep her out of the loop because of the Tarahekmunication. They ascended the battlements of the wall, looking out over the swamp. The setting sun cast the marsh in a dim, orange light.
I suppose I have to call you mayor, Aarok said, chuckling.
I dont care what you call me, Theo said.
Aarok waved him off, shaking his head. Im nervous, Theo.
About what? Theo asked, knitting his brow. Something in the Half-Ogres eyes sent a chill down his spine.
Aarok patted the crentions of the wall, nodding his head. Something was running through that mans mind that Theo couldnt figure out, and he just waited for him to speak. The walls are a good measure. Recruiting more adventurers helps, too. But I have a bad feeling about the [Swamp Dungeon].
Whats the issue? Tresk asked. She brought a fat piece of meat with her the whole way and was currently gnawing on it.
I have a theory, but I need to request some resources from the capital, Aarok said.
Which is where Ie in, Theo said. Whats the theory?
I think the dungeon is growing in strength because of something else, Aarok said. We havent seen the core in ages, its simply too deep, but its getting power from outside of the swamp.
Is that possible? Tresk asked through a mouthful of meat.
Thats where the resourcese in, Aarok said. I need some booksrecords of monster waves.
You think its a monster wave? Tresk asked, gawking. The soutnds have never seen a monster wave. Were just too smallnot enough magic.
Until you consider a confluence of events, Theo said, trailing off. His mind snapped back to what Zankir said about the dungeons, and his rebirth in Broken Tusk. The Harbinger The entity that reincarnated me here That had to be some powerful magic.
Exactly, Aarok said. Look, this isnt anything to worry about. Were two steps ahead of the problem already.
Theo suddenly wished he didnt dump all his money into things like seed cores. Upgrading the town to level 20 would have been a boon against whatever threat they faced, but he couldnt worry about that. Theyd taken the right precautions to protect the peopleAarok was right. Between the walls and the Adventurers Guild, they were ahead of the curve. His intuition told him there was more he could do about defending the town.
Ill contact Fenian and the capital tomorrow, Theo said. My handler Lauris will get you the information you need.
Why contact the merchant? Aarok asked.
Merchants know things, Tresk said. Theyve always got an ear to the ground and a hand in your pocket.
Aarok snorted augh. I just wanted to make sure you were properly worried about the situation.
Hah! Theo is always worried about something, Tresk said, striking a pose. Not me. Im never worried about anything.
Aarok sighed. Thats a problem, too. You owe some guild dues, Tresk.
You need a guild hall, Tresk said, sneering. I wont recognize your authority until you have a proper hall.
How much does she owe? Theo asked.
A silver for the month, Aarok said.
Theo produced a silver coin from his inventory and handed it over, preferring to avoid any issues with the guild. If they were truly the first line of defense, he wanted to make sure they were funded. His mind wandered to that realm of the town.
Speaking of, Theo said, thinking out loud. Is the guild properly funded?
For now, Aarok said. The capital is footing the bill for my quests, and almost everyone is paying their dues.
Everyone except Tresk, Theo said, casting a re at hispanion. You need to pay the man next time.
Ill pay when he has a hall, Tresk said, turning up her nose.
Theo ran his hand over his face, letting out a groan. Fine. Aarok, let me know if youre ever having issues with funding. Work with Mianawhen she clears out her old house at the square, you can use it as a hall. When Fenian gets in town, Ill buy a seed core for a guild hall.
Wow. That works, Aarok said. Dont you need a ce to do mayor stuff?
No. Ive been doing my Lord Administrator stuff from the Newt and Demon, Theo said.
The group fell into silence for a while. A group of marsh wolves threatened in the distance and the two adventurers standing with Aarok nodded to each other, descending the stairs and leaving the safety of the gates. Theo appreciated how much they did to keep the town safe and had to make sure he was on top of keeping the guild happy. The adventurers down below battled the wolves with trained precision, no longer disying the novice styles they showed at the start of their training. The alchemist understood nothing about fighting, but it was clear they were good.
The shining jewel of Broken Tusk was its alchemist, Theo. The key to his strategy was to reinvest his wealth into the town. He could horde the money, or invest it into alchemy supplies but that wouldnt have as big of an impact. Building his town would give the highest return in the long-haul, and itd make peoples lives better. It was a win-win.
Back to the party, Tresk said, tugging on Theos sleeve.
Right, Theo said. Aarok, I want to have a town meeting tomorrow. Ill summon all the relevant people once Ive spoken to Fenian and Lauris.
Sounds good, Aarok said.
Tresk and Theo returned to the town square, finding the fires burning higher as the sun dropped lower on the horizon. The alchemist looked, but didnt spot Azrug among the townsfolk. Hed need to check on the boy tomorrow to make sure he was alright. He cast those thoughts of worry out of his mind and enjoyed thepany, making his rounds once again. Perg led some townsfolk in a dance on the northern end of the square. It seemed a warlike thing, barely dancing, from his point of view.
Looks more like fighting than dancing, Theo said, watching.
Marshlings dont dance, Tresk said, waving a dismissive hand.
Yeah, Im a horrible dancer, Theo said.
This is my best one, Tresk said. She bobbed up and down awkwardly, a stupid grin ying across her face.
Theo joined her, bending at the knees and keeping his arms straight at his side. Other townsfolk joined with them,ughing at how stupid the dance was. Before long, everyone was bobbing up and down, trying to keep a straight face.
Well, that was awkward, Theo said. Everyone suddenly stopped dancing, trying to contain theirughter.
The party went on after dusk. Theo ate more food than hed ever had in his life, finding himself waddling around to talk to people. He even spotted Zankir among the crowd, awkwardly grabbing food and talking to the other members of the town. The alchemist made introductions for him, especially to Aarok who returned sometimeter. The Half-Ogre was excited about having a new adventure in town.
Ill be departing tomorrow for my family, Zankir said.
Not a problem, Aarok said. Just remember to check in with me when you get back. Well get your membership sorted.
Yeah, just watch out for the hidden fees, Tresk said, scowling.
Theo and Tresk left when their stamina bars were draining low. The Marshling deposited some materials she got from the dungeon into their dimensional crate, and the pair lingered in theb section of their home for a while. While the alchemist put on a brave face for Aarok, he wanted to do everything in his power to protect Broken Tusk.
What is a monster wave? Theo asked, jotting down some notes on a piece of parchment.
A whole bunch of monsters, Tresk said with a shrug. I dont know much about them, though. Like Aarok said, they dont happen in the soutnds.
Theo considered the idea before responding. It was easy to think about a monster wave as a bunch of monsters, but what did that mean for Broken Tusk? Would the monsters engulf the town, besieging it for a long period? He found it hard to imagine the town surviving for any prolonged battle. The walls were sturdy, but he needed to explore other options.
What are you writing? Tresk asked.
Im trying to keep ahead of the game, Theo said, tilting the parchment to catch enough candlelight. I dont want to respond to problems when theye. I want to be prepared.
Tresk grabbed the parchment, tearing some from a roll and scrawling. She made a crude representation of the town, detailing which sections were the weakest. So, attacks areing from the west right now. Thats not a surprise, because thats where the [Swamp Dungeon] is. If Aarok is right, and something else is giving these monsters power, theylle from another direction.
Theo pointed to the north, then south. Not from either of these ces. The hills to the north turn into mountains, and the south is worse.
Right, so whatever we do, we need to focus our attention on the east, Tresk said. Do you have anything in mind?
Theo thought for a moment. Something itched in the back of his mind, like a long-gone memory. Something he should have known about, but it just wouldnt surface. Whatever it is, it needs to be automated, Theo said. Maybe a defensive artifice.
Thats Fenians domain, Tresk said.
The alchemist let out a heavy sigh, finally nodding to himself. Right. All this means I need money.
Lots of it, Tresk said.
Theo stood and marched to the bedroom, putting out the candles with Tresk close behind. Its back to the grind tomorrow. Making potions that sell for big coin.
The pair settled into their beds, Tresk snoring almost immediately. Theo was left with his thoughts on the matter. Getting to level 10 would change everything. He knew that from his intuition. He could only imagine the price a higher-tier potion would fetch and was eager to find out. During his strategizing for the next day, sleep overtook him. He drifted off with the sound of Tresks dreams ying through his mind. She was dreaming about steak again.
Chapter 38: Fenians Other Request
Chapter 38: Fenian''s Other Request
Theo rose before Tresk the next morning. He found his way into theb and prepared breakfast, a simple meal of wolf soup and moss tea. The tasks he needed to aplish today were many, a sudden realization that the mayors position would add more work to his daily routine. The alchemist banished the thoughts away, smiling to himself as he cooked the soup. His position within the town gave him autonomy to steer its direction in the way he wanted, ensuring the safety of everyone inside. Hed turn the town into a fortress, if he could.
Morning, Tresk said, stretching at the threshold of theb. Soup for breakfast? Yes, please.
The Marshling came to sit next to Theo, pawing at his shoulder. Whats the n for today? she asked.
I need more reagentsthats my first goal. Then I need to call a meeting with the mercantile chairs, talk to Fenian, and my contact in Qavell.
Busy boy, Tresk said, letting out a breath. I have mandatory patrol duty for the guild tomorrow. Yuck.
At least I paid your dues, Theo said, ring at her.
I refuse to recognize Aaroks authority until he has a proper guildhall, Tresk said, folding her arms.
Well, hes going to have Mianas old house when she moves all her stuff out, Theo said.
Thats fine.
They ate as fast as they could, slurping down the hot soup and burning their tongues. Theo gave Tresk a [Lesser Stamina Potion] to take with her, knowing the day would be too busy for either of them to spare a moment for rest. He had no intentions of waiting for Azrug toe to the shophed march directly to Xams ce and check in on the boy. The alchemist didnt spot him at the partyst night, and was worrying. He plotted a course in his mind to loop through his massive property to the east, collecting as many healing roots as he could before following the river for the lilies. Hed then check on Azrug before contacting Fenian and Lauris.
Stay safe, Theo said, patting Tresk on the head. Keep me updated, and Keep an eye out for new clothes.
Theo gestured to his simple attire. The only piece of clothing he owned that wasnt torn were the gloves Luras gave him. Everything else had enormous holes, or tears.
Of course, Tresk said. We might need to get those from a merchant, though.
Theo nodded, bidding farewell to hispanion and heading out the door. Tresk followed close behind, locking the shop up before scampering off into the swamp to the west. The alchemist followed his nned course, intent on getting as many reagents as possible. As expected, the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] nts all grew back overnight. He harvested them, following a roving path toward the river. By the time he made it there, his inventory had 200 more [Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots] and following the river north got him 100 [Water Lilies].
Theo found Xam inside the Marsh Wolf Tavern, cleaning the ce up from the celebrationst night. Apparently, some revelers took the action inside, making quite a mess. She brightened upon spotting him, waving and smiling. Hey, mayor.
How is he? Theo asked, cutting to the core of his worries.
Hes good. Azrug will be able to work tomorrow, Xam said. Im forcing him to rest today, but hes extremely excited to tell you about his new cores.
What did he get? Theo asked.
Thats for him to reveal, Xam said.
Theo didnt want to pry into the issue. It always seemed like such a personal matter to inspect someone elses ss and cores. He bid her farewell and made his way to Mianas old house. The Half-Ogre woman had cleared it out sometimest night. The alchemist found himself in empty halls he hardly recognized. It was a shell of its former self without all her junk scattered around. The only thing that remained was the furniture in her office and he settled down to talk to his contacts.
Themunication crystal was in the same spot she always left it, waiting for him to dive back into that strange shadow ce. Theo grasped it in his hands and leaned back, tumbling into that strange ce to await Lauris.
Good morning, mayor, the familiar voice came from the gloom. A shadowy figure resolved, sanding in the void and waving. Miana Kell sent word that youd taken the position. Congrattions.
Thanks, Theo said.
Most of us here at the administration unit were hoping youd take the job, Lauris said. Youre proving to be a valuable asset.
Well, I appreciate the sentiment. What I really need is some information, Theo said.
Oh? What about? Lauris asked.
The guildmaster of the Adventurers Guild here in Broken Tusk needs to see any research regarding monster waves, Theo said.
A monster wave? In the soutnds? Lauris said. It was hard to tell through the strange void, but there was a tinge of worry in those words.
Its just a suspicion, Theo said. Were experiencing a lot of growth in our dungeonstoo much to chalk up to coincidence.
Right. Okay, your guildmaster should get a notification about an increase in his budget, Lauris said. Lets seeyourmunication crystal locator beacon is still active. Ill send you copies of what we have in Qavell.
Thank you, Theo said. I appreciate it.
Also, I see your town is currently at [Small Town] status. I rmend you try to expand and upgrade that status to [Town] status, Lauris said. For now, just leave the crystal somewhere in the open. Well teleport the materials sometime today.
You can teleport? Theo asked,ughing.
Itsplicated. Most of our mages who can do such things are busy with other things, but Ill push you to the front of the line, Lauris said. Do you need anything else?
Thats it, Theo said.
Alright, thanks. Have a good day, Lauris said.
Theo felt himself jerked backward by the navel, sent hurtling upward into a yawning maw of light. He snapped back into his body, feeling a shiver run down his spine. The implications of Lauris words resonated in his mind. He couldnt help but think that the reason Miana stepped down was because of the administration in Qavell. The alchemist suddenly felt even worse about the situation, like he didnt deserve the position. All those thoughts vanished when he remembered his tasks for the day. He withdrew Fenians crystal from his inventory and held it tight.
Theo? How are you doing? Fenian asked.
Im well. I have a few question, Theo said.
Alright, thats fine. I have an order request, if youll hear it, Fenian said. Remember those snot-nosed nobles I was talking about? A particrly annoying house is rearing whelps. Theyve heard of your prowess from me, and want a lot of restoration potions.
How many? Theo asked.
I wouldnte back to them with anything less than a thousand of each, Fenian said.
Theo felt his heart stop for a moment. Creating 500 of each potion was hard enough, but he wanted 1,000 of the restoration potions.
Thats 7 gold, 50 silver worth of potions, Theo, Fenian said. The man always knew how to motivate him. And as many stat potions as you can make. [Vigor] and [Strength] being the preference.
So, standard rate Would you ept anything over the requested amount? Theo asked.
Absolutely, Fenian said. Make the potions and contact me when you have them. Ill be in Rivers and Daub for a few days, then Im heading west. Easily a days travel from Broken Tusk.Now, what was your question?
We have a bad feeling about an iing monster wave, Theo said.
Me too, Fenian said.
Im interested in defenses. Something that doesnt require a person to be in danger, Theo said.
Ah. Expensive artifacts would be the key Well, theres also core attachments for your walls. But youd need to get your [Small Town] to [Town], and level it up to 15.
I can do that, Theo said, nodding to himself. How do these attachments work?
Youll get an upgrade on the town. Basically turret slots for your walls. Every gate will get two slots and a slot every fifty paces of wall, Fenian said.
And how much are these special attachments gonna cost?
Its been a while since I sourced them, Fenian said. I know a woman who farms them up north, so itll take me a while to get them. Assume theyll cost you between 5 and 10 gold each.
That was an absurd amount of money for a defensive structure. But if it meant Broken Tusk adventurers could stay safe behind the walls, it would be worth it.
Alright. Ill work on your potions, Theo said.
If you discover any new potions, let me know. The family has a long list of stuff they want, and its impossible to source the lesser potions up north right now. The army is buying them all up, Fenian said.
Thanks, Fenian, Theo said.
Any time, my friend, Fenian said. The connection severed and Theo was left feeling raw for a moment. He gave himself some time to recover before standing, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Theo wouldnt be able to collect the ingredients on his own in a reasonable time. He would need to source hirelings, but feared Ziz and hisborers would be too concerned with their stonecutting project. The alchemist left Mianas old home, collecting all members of the mercantile chairs for a short meeting. He found Luras, Aarok, Perg, Throk, Miana, and Banurub. He hadnt seen Banu in a few days, but the farmers typically stuck to their farms so it wasnt surprising. The group crammed in the small meeting room in Mianas house, the ce destined to be the new Adventurers Guild.
I promise, this is going to be a short meeting, Theo said.
Take your time, mayor, Perg said, grinning.
The capital approved your request, Aarok, Theo said. He had a nose for this matter, understanding that the guildmaster wanted to keep it quiet. The materials you requested, and an increased budget for the guild.
I got the notification earlier, Aarok said, nodding.
Good. If anyone is unaware, we have a new citizen. I think he left today, but an adventurer named Zankir moved in north of the farm.
Theo received a series of nods, but no verbal responses. Im holding off on projects for a while until I can get more to upgrade the town. Id rather be prepared for events before they happen.
Do you expect something to happen? Banu asked, knitting his brow.
Theo didnt know Banu well, but he knew enough about farmers. They were always scared of something. Perhaps it was the way the turn of weather affected their crops, but they seemed skittish about most things.
Always expect something bad toe, Luras cut in.
Agreed, Miana said. We dont want to get caught with our pants down.
So, if you see adventurers in town, send them my way, Theo said. They need to know about the stipend to live here, and Ill give them a great deal on property.
What about people who already live here? Throk asked, scoffing.
You already own property, Throk, Theo said, shaking his head. Ill offernd at cost to anyone who wants it, though. One per person, of course. Dont want anyone here turning intond barons.
Youre kind of and baron, Luras said, grinning.
Not yet, Theo said. Dont tempt meIll buy every step ofnd in this town.
Everyone in the group besides Banuughed. The farmer just didnt understand the joke. The group calmed down, and Theo continued. Thats all for today, though. I just wanted to set the stage for my ns as mayor.
Throk held his hand up before everyone left their chairs. Have you considered buying the rights to thend from Qavell?
Theo looked at the reaction around the room. Luras tilted his head, considering it as a workable option. Banu had a look of horror on his face.
What would that do for us? Theo asked.
It would be a long-term thing, Luras said. Technically, the town core is on loan from the king. That means we all owe the crown for our property and sales.
Would we still get their support? That seems kind of important, Theo said.
I think so, Throk said, beaming.
How much would it cost? Theo asked.
Mianaughed. You know that coin thats bigger than a gold? The one no one around these parts has ever seen? A few of those.
Theo couldnt even imagine that much money. He filed it away for something to take care ofter. Right. Oh, one more thing. If anyone knowsborers for hire, send them to my shop. Otherwise, thats it for the day.
The group filed out of Mianas old, tiny office. A buzz of chatter spread through the group, Luras joining Theo on the road south. His leatherworking building was up and running, but hed yet to produce anything to sell. Something in the Half-Ogres expression said he was happier than before. Theo was just happy to have helped him get into a better ce. They stopped by the Newt and Demon, saying their farewells and parting ways.
Right. Time to cook some potions, Theo said.
Chapter 39: Stone Merchant
Chapter 39: Stone Merchant
Theo cracked his knuckles, swishing his tail happily as he looked over his alchemy equipment. It hadnt been that long since he distilled anything, but it felt like forever. There in the stuffy second-floorb is where he felt most home. He updated Tresk on his situation and got her report for the morning. She was working her way through the dungeon again with a pair of Broken Tusk adventurers. They were already past the tenth floor, moving as deep as they could go for the day. She found a few more [Spriggan Hearts], and some gear that wasnt useful for either of them.
The [Alchemical Grinder Artifice] resized itself, clicking onto the [Drogramath Still] with a satisfying sound. Theo stepped back to inspect the machine before withdrawing a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory to test. The moment the root touched the top of the artifice, it whirred into action, grinding it down into the perfect paste. The alchemist wanted to test the limits of the device, pulling as many roots from his inventory as he could carry and dumping them in the machine. It ate through them like a knife through paper, grinding 500 units of the root in no time. He pumped his fist, doing the silly little squad-dance that Tresk invented.
After patting himself on the back for a while, the alchemist got back to work. He topped the high-capacity still off with water and ced the [me Artifice] underneath. Clicking the knob on the side to the lowest setting, he stepped back to inspect his materials. He ced his two grinders over the other stills and prepared to distill a 200 unit batch of [Widow Lily] to make poison for Tresk, and a 200 unit batch of [Water Lily], because he had a lot of those. The grinder whirred over both stills, mashing up the flowers into the perfect size. He stowed the grinders in his inventory andtched the lids on both stills.
Theo sat there, waiting for his essences to distill, thinking about how easy the job would be with his new equipment. The grinder cut down the time significantly and the magic fire made it even easier. His job for Fenian would be decided by volume, he realized. The problem was that he just couldnt get enough reagents to distill down, forcing his mind to reach out for more solutions. Nothing came in the short time it took the [Drogramath Still] to cook down. It felt like less than a half-hour for the advanced still to do its work, a fact that boggled his mind.
Now that was fast, he said, chuckling to himself.
With the upgrade to the [ssware Artifice], Theo could generate bulk ssware. He could shove 5 motes into the thing and get 5 identical vials deposited directly into his inventory. The artifice didnt seem to have a cooldown, so he could just repeatedly shove the motes inside to get his ssware. The process took him no time at all, leaving him idle while he waited for the other 2 stills to finish. When theypleted their run, he cleaned everything out with [Cleansing Scrub] and went to set up the distribution of the potions. A knock at the door downstairs interrupted him.
Theo made his way to the front door of the Newt and Demon, finding a short man standing at the threshold. He had a surly expression on his face, bald head, and braided brown beard. The alchemist took him for a Dwarf even before he spoke.
Hello, do you need potions? Theo asked.
Potions? No. I need stone,d, the man said. Fenian sent me. Im Thistum Stonebreaker and I hear youre sitting on a gold mine.
Oh! I didnt expect you so soon, Theo said.
Aye, well you dont hear about perfect marble every day. None that''s not imed by some royal, anyway, Thistum said, spitting on the ground.
Theo exited, stepping around the Dwarf after locking the front door. He beckoned for the man to follow him north, to the quarry.
I dont remember such a pleasant town lying so far south, Thistum said. The stories I heard was that Broken Tusk was a glob of mud.
Well, Ive made a few changes, Theo said.
I should have figured a Dronon would have such ambitions, Thistum said. Half-Ogres are content to do what theyve been doing for centuries.
Youll love the stone, Theo said, wanting to change the subject.
Fenian doesnt send me off unless he finds something nice, Thistum said. Now, youre not expecting big city prices, are you?
Of course not, Theo said, grinning.
They made their way through the square and up the farmers hill. Thistum seemed amazed at the progress Broken Tusk made, constantly saying how it should be impossible. The alchemist knew better than to mention the strange confluence of circumstances that saw the small town burgeon as it had in the past few weeks. Instead, he gave a tour of the ce as though the Dwarf was looking for real estate.
Quaint little quarry, Thistum grunted.
Theo waved Ziz over, marveling at the massive pile of stone blocks theyd processed so far.
Ziz, this is Thistum. Hes a stone merchant, Theo said.
Nice to meet you, Ziz said.
Thistum waved him off, pushing past the Half-Ogre to inspect the stone.
Let me do the talking, Theo whispered, nudging Ziz with his elbow.
Sure.
Thistum pulled something out of his inventory that looked like a spyss. He ced it against the stone blocks and tried to hide his excitement. He let out a few yelps before pping his hand over his mouth and clearing his throat.
Its middling by my standards, Thistum said, shrugging.
Thats not what the other merchant said, Theo said. I have a contact with the Khahari out eastthey were going back to check about logistics.
Thistum bristled. Was it that muck-mouthed Dwarf Azmuil? Gods if he steals another job from me because of those cat-people
The Dwarf regained hisposure, straightening his tunic and setting his stone-gray eyes on Theo. Right. So, you know what you have.
Theo couldnt stop smiling. It was too easy to get the Dwarf to jump at the bait. Im an alchemist, he said, shrugging. Ive got my methods. Lets make a deal. 40 copper a block. Myborers can produce 50 a day.
Thistum sputtered. I wouldnt pay a coin over 25 copper a block.
30, and well supply you exclusively. You wont have to worry about Azmuil, Theo said.
Thistum reached out a hand and Theo took it. Deal. What other sort of treasures are you sitting on here, Dronon?
More than you know, Theo said.
Right. Ill be by weekly to collect, Thistum said, looking at the pile for a moment then turning to the alchemist. 140 blocks today,es to 42 silver.
The Dwarf produced the silver from nowhere and handed it over to Theo before making the pile vanish. He had some kind of inventory power, which made sense for a stone merchant. Thistum turned to Ziz for a moment, pping his hand over the Half-Ogres shoulder. Fine work,d.
What! Ziz said, once the Dwarf was out of earshot. You said wed only get 25 copper a block.
Negotiation, my friend, Theo said, beaming. I figured he gave Fenian a low number when they talked.
Theo withdrew two silver coins from his inventory and handed it over to Ziz. The Half-Ogre took it with glittering eyes, jumping up and down shortly after. The alchemist noticed that when he added the coins to his inventory, the silver rolled over into the gold. He now had 1 gold coin, 5 silver coins, and 27 copper coins.
Thats 40 silver to your debt, Theo said. Youll have this paid off in no time.
Ziz looked like he couldnte up with the words to express his gratitude. Instead, he pulled Theo into a hug and held him there for a long time. After releasing him, he rushed off to show the coins to hispanions.
Theo departed, smiling the entire way back to his shop. It seemed cruel to leave them with 2 coins out of 42, but it was for their own good. His investment in the quarry represented a deficit in his ability to defend the town, something he was still kicking himself over. He still felt good about the situation, though. Theseborers were nothing more than porters a few days ago. Now they could provide for themselves and then some. One day, Zizs quarry would be the stuff of legends.
Tresk reported in, stating she was almost done running the dungeon for the day. Theo didnt mind, as he had nned to do some minor experimentation before she came home. The alchemist discovered a few properties that he hadnt tested the effects of, and wanted to judge if they would make good potions to sell to Fenian. He made his way to theb to run two extremely small batches of about 10 units each.
His stamina bar was draining, but not low enough to use his [Lesser Stamina Potion]. Theo was driven to experiment, feeling himself getting back into the swing of things. It was effortless to run two stills at the 10 unit capacity. He filled one still with [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] and another with [Moss Nettle]. When he snapped the lid on the first one, he concentrated on the [Regeneration] property. Attending the second, he focused on the [Stamina Surge] property and set both to cook. It only took a few minutes to distill the essences down and the alchemist inspected the results.
[Stamina Surge Essence]
[Essence]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
10 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of stamina surge.
[Regeneration Essence]
[Essence]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
10 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of regeneration.
Theo knew that the essences never gave away what they did, and set out some t-bottomed vials. His intuition told him they would react with the standard restoration recipe, pegging them squarely as lesser potions. The [Stamina Surge] reaction kicked off explosively, sending tiny bolts of lightning from the top of the vial. The plume of yellow smoke it gave off smelled like dirtyundry. He inspected the result.
[Lesser Sprinting Potion]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent
Drink to run faster and use less stamina.
Effect:
-50% [Stamina] use while running.
+15% [Speed] while running.
Effectsts 15 minutes.
This was one of the most curious potions hed ever made. It was incredibly specific, and he did not know how useful it would be. He could imagine that someone running longer and faster was a good thing, but didnt see any practical purpose for himself. Hed ask Fenian about itter. The next potion kicked off with a simr reaction, this time shining with a green hue before letting out a cloud smelling of dirt. He inspected the new creation.
[Lesser Regeneration Potion]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent
Slowly regenerates health.
Effect:
Restore 75% of health over 5 minutes.
The [Lesser Regeneration Potion] would be useful to have on duringbat. An adventurer wouldnt have to worry about popping potions constantly, but he could tell it wasnt as useful as a regr health potion. He added it to his mental list of things to ask Fenian about before moving on and taking stock of his reagents. The scatter of random nts wasnt enough to make a good run. He stood in theb, tapping his foot as though some great idea would wash over him.
There simply wasnt enough time left in the day, leaving him waiting awkwardly for Tresk to return home. He saw her stamina bar jump up earlier, meaning she had taken her [Lesser Stamina Potion]. Even after taking the powerful elixir, her stamina was draining away by the second. He concluded, withoutmunicating with her, that she was running back to theb.
He found noborers pounding on his door, looking for work. Despite his words to the mercantile council, they didnt find anyone to run his errands. Theo concluded it was a good thing, since his herbalism core had been trailing behind his alchemy core for some time. If he wanted to make a serious run at level 10, hed need the experience from both of the cores. The alchemist reclined in a chair, staring up at the ceiling and wondering what cores Azrug would get.
A short timeter, Tresk returned. He met her downstairs, grimacing as she reached into her bag and withdrew more of the sappy [Spriggan Hearts].
No new gear today, Tresk said. Tons of [Monster Cores], though.
Theo smiled, leading her upstairs so they could have dinner. Ive been pretty productive, myself. Ziz is going to be a rich man before long.
You handed him something great, Tresk said, scoffing. Also, I think theres some logic to Aaroks idea about the monster wave. Theres this sense I cant shake the deeper I get in the dungeon.
Theo withdrew the still-hot cauldron of soup from breakfast, setting it down on the table and serving out two bowls. Tresk sat down, staring out the window and into the fading light of day.
More reason to prepare proper defenses, Theo said. Should we dump our cores into the town?
Maybe, Tresk said, gnawing on a piece of gristle. Were a long way off from level 15.
The town is far off, too, Theo said. Either one seems like a good choice.
You need to worry about one thing at a time, speaking of, Tresk said. She belched loudly before continuing. Upgrading the town, defending the town, creating jobs for the people. When does it end?
Theo hadnt considered the idea before. He didnt see a stopping point in the immediate future, and didnt care to entertain one. It doesnt end, he said, nodding to himself. It just keeps going on until I cant do it anymore.
As long as were on the same page, Tresk said, grinning. We both have that kind of personality. Go until you die.
Lets avoid the dying part, alright? Theo asked, grimacing.
Naturally.
The pair finished their meal and, once again, Tresks bravado was a facade. She was shambling by the time they went to get into bed, dragging her feet across the floor and groaning. Theo tucked her into bed before retreating to his own impossibly soft resting spot. Heid his head on the pillow and stayed there for some time. The echoes of the Marshlings words rang in his mind. There wasnt an end to the path he traveled. It stretched on forever, encircling Broken Tusk and protecting it until he couldnt do it anymore.
He fell asleep with that sense of hope in his heart joining Tresk in her dragon ying dreams. He didnt take part in the ying, simply cheering her on from the side.
Chapter 40: A Million Potions
Chapter 40: A Million Potions
So the Elf wants a million potions? Tresk asked.
The pair assumed their regr seats near the window in theb, the sun barely a glimmer on the eastern horizon. Tresk was going through the random junk she found in the dungeon yesterday, and cursed her patrol duty with the adventurers guild today. She wanted to get more cores and more strange ingredients for Theo, but the guild took priority.
Hes offering very good money, Theo said. But I think my next project is going to be expensive.
Maybe, Tresk said, idly sipping her tea. Youre already rolling in money. Just gonna make more.
Theo idly ate his soup, remembering hisck ofborers. Hey, could you harvest reagents while youre on patrol?
Sure, what do you need?
[Moss Nettle] and [Manashrooms], mostly, Theo said.
Perfect, Tresk said. We usually clear out that horrid cave, anyway.
Theo filled her in on the details of the Dwarven merchant, Thistum, yesterday. She was surprised he would pay so much for stone blocks, but most of the houses in Broken Tusk were wooden. They wouldnt know about the difference in stones or what a higher quality meant. The alchemist didnt pretend to be an expert, but he trusted the judgment of Fenian. Ziz and hisborers could pay off their debts in a few short weeks if they kept at it, but they had to be careful not to burn out.
Well, Im off, Tresk said, pressing her forehead against Theos.
Tresk departed, leaving Theo in theb to organize his thoughts. The problem with today was the long list of things he needed to get done. The potions for Fenian were one thing, but he needed to sort out Aaroks research that the capital promised to teleport in and find someborers. If he kept giving everyone better jobs, thered be no one to collect his herbs.
Theo pulled his threadbare robe close and left the Newt and Demon. The sun had risen, casting the stone streets in streaks of long shadows. He found his way to the square, greeting a few townsfolk before inspecting the monolith.
[Small Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 10 (1%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Adventurers Guild
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
He knit his brow, disappointed that they hadnt reached [Town] status. Theo summoned his mayor interface and scrolled through a few menus. It was mostly statistics and information about taxes, but he found a section on expansion.
[Broken Tusk] can be upgraded to a [Town] when the following conditions are met:
Small Poption: COMPLETE
Expanded Land Ownership: INCOMPLETE
Theo tilted his head. Since he became the mayor, he hadnt gone into these menus. He urged the system to drill down on the concept ofnd ownership and what it meant. A box appeared defining it for him.
[Primary Land Ownership]: Land owned directly by the settlement. Thisnd is directly incorporated into thend and receives all the benefits of the settlements upgrades.
[Expanded Land Ownership]: Expandednd isnd not incorporated into the settlement, but still falls under ownership. An example of [Expanded Land Ownership] is a forest outside of a city, designated for hunting. Expandednd cannot contain another settlement, but may contain dungeons, towers, etc.
Theo summoned his mayor map and zoomed out, mentally clicking on the swamp to the west. The tag of [Expanded Land Ownership] popped up, detailing the cost of thend and the benefits of obtaining it. From what he understood, it was something that prevented others from settling on yournd. The other advantage of owning thend was that Broken Tusk would have first rights to delve the dungeon, including the destruction of its core. This sent a chill down his spine. Someone could havee along and simply destroyed their dungeon.
The price of thend was ridiculously cheap,pared to other sections ofnd. The system informed him houses couldnt be built on thend, and it was only meant as a management area for the [Swamp Dungeon]. It was 50 silver coins to own thend. Theo bought it without hesitation. The wall to the west didnt move out to incorporate the swamp, as he expected, but a sense of aplishment tingled in his mind. A new screen hed never seen popped up in the middle of his vision,plete with a goofy fireworks effect.
[Broken Tusk] has grown to a [Town]!
Theo patted himself on the back for a moment before delving deeper into the mayor screens. Qavell technically owned most of the property in the surrounding area. When he bought the parcels from the interface, he was paying them for the right to own it. Currently, he was at over 50% ownership of Broken Tusk, but that was just for thend. The seed core for the town itself was avable for purchase on the screen for 5 spiritstone coins, which must have been the next tier of currency.
Do you ever rest? Aarok shouted from across the way.
Not really, Theo said, smiling.
Youre going to make Miana feel bad, Aarok said, beaming as he approached the alchemist. He sped a hand over his shoulder.
Miana isnt a demonic alchemist, you cant me her, Theo said with a wry grin. Right, lets see if the capital came through on their promise.
Aarok followed him inside of Mianas old building and into her office. Sitting on the old desk was a stack of scrolls and tomes, arranged neatly next to themunication crystal. Theo stuffed the crystal in his inventory and gestured for the Half-Ogre to take the papers.
This is what they sent, I guess, Theo said.
By the gods, this is a lot of material, Aarok said, scowling at the papers.
Yeah, they like me. So, this is now your building, Theo said, gesturing vaguely to the adventurers guild. Its not a seed core building, so I dont need to transfer the rights to you.
Thanks, Theo, Aarok said. One day, Id like to get a proper core building for the guild.
Well, Im sure we can work on that What time do you think it is? Do you think Fenian is awake? Theo asked.
Morning? I dont know, Aarok said.
Theo withdrew Fenians crystal from his inventory and held it tight. He felt the familiar trilling sensation for a moment before the Elfs voice flooded through his mind.
Good morning, Theo, Fenian said.
Morning. I have a question about some potions. I created a [Lesser Sprinting Potion] and [Lesser Regeneration Potion]. Are they useful to you? Theo asked.
The sprinting potion is, but not the regeneration one. Honestly, neither are useful for my current order, Fenian said.
Understandable. Another question, do you have any seed cores for adventurers guilds?
Sure. Theyre a bit priceypared to workshops and such. Three gold, Fenian said.
What are you doing? Aarok asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Talking to Fenian, Theo said. He can bring a seed core for an adventurers guild aroundthree gold.
Aarok nodded. The guild can afford that.
Theo tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. Since when could the guild afford anything?
Alright, bring it around next time. Aarok wants to buy it, Theo said.
Sounds good. Listen, Ive got to go. Talk to youter.
The connection severed before Theo could say another word. He didnt mind and was surprised that Fenian answered to begin with.
So, the adventurers guild is rich? Theo asked,ughing.
Luras has a contact in Rivers and Daub. He got us in with thework of adventurers guilds in the nortnds, Aarok said. Were getting a few coins to help us get started.
Theo couldnt have been happier to have someone other than himself funding everything. He was worried about ownership of the guild falling outside of the hands of Broken Tusk, but it was nice not having to manage it. A thought suddenly struck him about the guild.
Hey, can I post a contract with the guild? Theo asked.
Sure, what do you need?
Reagents, mostly, Theo said, shrugging.
Aarok nodded, pulling a stone tablet from nowhere. He punched his finger on the surface and a screen appeared in Theos vision.
The guild has a temte for this kind of quest, Aarok said. Just put in your request, how long you want it to run for, and payment.
Theo inspected the screen and filled it out. He reviewed it before pressing the submit button.
[Supply Run]
Quest
The proprietor of the Newt and Demon is requesting all adventurers to collect reagents for his potion empire.
Objectives:
Collect [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Moss Nettle] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Manashrooms] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Seems like more money than theyd normally make, Theo said with a shrug.
People will snatch this up right away, Aarok said, submitting the quest. You were smart to put a maximum amount on the reagentstheyd have cleaned you out.
Will they be able to see if theyre harvesting the right stuff? Theo asked.
Theyll get quest notifications when they collect the right item, Aarok said, nodding. So, theres normally a deposit fee for the quest, but youre the mayor.
Theo frowned. He hated when people did stuff for free. How much is it?
Aarokughed. Dont worry about it, Theo. Everyone in town owes you more than you know. Just leave it at that.
Theo narrowed his eyes at the Half-Ogre. Fine, but Im gonna get you something nice. You cant stop me.
The pair shared augh, then spent some time talking about smaller things before Theo departed. Aarok had to get the old building in working order for the guild. Xam would be happy that adventurers wouldnt be crammed in her tavern all the time.
Theo left the square, running his regr route through the forest to collect reagents. His [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] sent out the familiar ping, the strange shape revealing itself underground once again. This time, the alchemists curiosity got the better of him, and he started to dig. He removed his gloves, digging into the earth with wed hands. Several fat roots were in the way, but he cut through them easily with his knife. Before long he removed the gigantic lumpy ball, hefting it out of the hole and inspecting it.
[Swamp Truffle]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Epic
These extremely rare truffles, found typically in swamnds, are prized for their vor and properties.
Properties:
[Experience Boost] ???? ????
Theos heart skipped a beat as he read the property on the truffle. If a noble house was training up their low-level people, what could be better than [Experience Boost]? He knew Fenian would pay a lot of money for any potions that gave increased experience and stuffed the item in his inventory. He judged it was 5 units by weight, which was absurd for a single reagent. It also helped that he could see the truffles scattered underground, clustered here and there.
It was too good to be true, but his intuition told him there were some drawbacks to using any potion derived from the truffle. He returned to theb immediately, intent on running a tiny batch to determine what kind of potion the truffle could make. Theo washed it off with [Purified Water] before putting it through the grinder and into the [Drogramath Still]. He topped the water off and set the [me Artifice] to work, mentally informing Tresk about his discovery.
That sounds too good to be true, Tresk said, scoffing.
I figure theres going to be some restrictions, Theo said, watching as the silvery liquid dripped into the sk.
Isnt that always the way?
Theo did nothing else while he cooked down the 5 unit batch. He inspected the essence before moving on, sensing that there was something odd about it.
[Experience Boost Essence]
[Essence]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of Experience Boost
The thing that tipped him off about this essence was the quality. He used the same technique he always did to make the most potent extracts, usually getting excellent quality, but this was only at great. Theo ran his fingers along the side of the sk, trying to figure out what made him so uneasy. Something swelled in his chest, radiating a warmth that sent his heart beating His [Drogramath Alchemy Core] wanted him to do something and he obeyed.
Theo cleaned the [Drogramath Still] out with [Cleansing Scrub] and dumped the 5 units back in. When the still was done running, he was left with 1 unit of the same essence at excellent quality. As the alchemist stood there, looking at the sk, he understood what happened. The [Experience Boost Essence] was incredibly unstable. Anything below excellent quality would simply explode when he tried to introduce a catalyst. His core practically screamed at him when he went to add the new essence to a vial of [Purified Water]. Instead, he introduced it to a solution of 1 [Stabilized Water] with his standard 2 [Copper Shavings]. The reaction was still violent.
If not for the indestructibility of his ssware, it would have shattered. The 2 unit reaction sent ribbons of light and electricity dancing through theb, almost striking him in the process. The smell it put off was like cotton candy and the solution had a rainbow color when it was done reaction. Theo inspected the new, dangerous potion.
[Lesser Experience Boost Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to receive bonus experience.
Effect:
Imbiber will receive 25% bonus experience for 5 hours. This effect doesnt work above character level 10 and may have deleterious effects if used over time.
Yeah, Im not drinking that, Theo said,ughing.
Chapter 41: Hallow Ground
Chapter 41: Hallow Ground
The holding pattern of evening rain for the Season of Blooms came back. Theo sat in hisb, looking over his new creation with mixed feelings. He knew that some potions might have negative effects, his books told him as much, but for the items description to give a specific warning was frightening. The rain outside brought the scent of renewal. Only the pattering sound of the driving wind woke him from his stupor. The alchemist withdrew Fenians crystal and squeezed it tightly.
Theo only felt the trilling sensation a few times before the Elf answered. Theo! How are you?
Im well, thanks. I think I have something you might be interested in, Theo said.
What is it, my dear alchemist?
Ive been experimenting around a bit and I came up with a [Lesser Experience Boost Potion], Theo said.
You what? Hold on a moment
Fenian went silent for some time. Theo simply sat there, holding the crystal while he waited. It was strange to be put on hold whilemunicating through the crystals, but after a few long moments the Elf was back.
A real one? Fenian asked.
As far as I know, Theo said. I brewed it myself.
Alright, listen to me carefully, Fenian said. Dont put it in your shop for sale. Keep it under your hat. Make sure your Tarahek knows this, too.
Whats going on? Theo asked. He felt vindicated after having such a bad feeling about the potion.
Experience potions are rare. Sourcing the ingredients is a nightmare. I rmend you brew them in as small a batch as possible and sell them to me. Ill sell them to a fencenot my normal contact, someone who understands discretion, Fenian said.
Why the secrecy? We deal in golds worth of potions, why is this different? Theo asked.
It''s the implication, really. Restoration potions and stat potions are one thing, but an experience potion? Thats a line we dont want to cross, yet, Fenian said. The rarity is one thing, but the effect they have on people is another. Noble born people use them very often, but the effect is bad. They produce weak-hearted adventurers unable to y rats, let alone monsters.
Alright. I had a bad feeling about them, Theo said.
Right. Ill take any off your hands, but keep it under 10 potions, Fenian said.
Theo let out a sigh of relief. He felt like he had something illegal in hisb, quickly stowing it away into his inventory before anyone found it.
I appreciate the warning, Theo said. Perhaps I can find another use for the reagent.
Please do. Ill talk to youter.
Bye.
Theo informed Tresk about the experience potion problem. He made sure she knew not to tell anyone about it and the Marshling promised secrecy. She was returning home, intent on making more of the spicy wolf stew. The alchemist was excited to have something other than the ordinary. He departed the shop to check out Luras new ce and invite him to dinner. The rain seemed toe in waves, ebbing and flowing by some unseen force. He was soaked by the time he arrived.
The new leatherworking shop was fairly small, but maintained the wood-paneled wall aesthetic of Broken Tusk. Theo knocked on the door, standing back to admire the humble beginnings of Luras new business. The alchemist knew hed make something of himself. The man was simply too driven to do anything less. After a moment, the big Half-Ogre appeared at the door with a smile on his face.
I thought youd never be by, Luras said.
Its been busy. As always, Theo said.
Luras gestured, beckoning him inside the small building. It looked a lot like Pergs building, only ten paces in either direction. The seed core had created a gorgeous interior, but it was still bare. A small workbench sat on the far side of the room, with a bedroll on the other. None of these sparse features seemed to dim the Half-Ogres enthusiasm for his new ce.
What do you think? Luras asked.
I think this is the start of something big, Theo said. Where did all this drivee from?
Ive always wanted to do it, Luras said. Something happenedI dont want to talk about itbut it pushed me to go through with it.
Theo didnt care if his friend wanted to have secrets. Some things just werent ready toe out in the open and he knew that all too well.
You couldnt have picked a better spot to set up shop, Theo said. Right next to Pergs tannery. Perfect.
Agreed, Luras said, walking over to the only storage area in the room. He withdrew a simple pair of leather cks and held them up. Im just crafting whatever to get my core leveled up.
Well, if I need some leather chaps Ill ask you, Theo said, grinning.
Theo trusted Luras as much as anyone in his new world. His problem was that he was often too trusting with people, even his close friends. The issue with the [Swamp Truffle] was something he didnt want to bring up with the leatherworker. It seemed like too much burden to ce on another person, and hed learn to heed Fenians warnings. If the Elf said it was dangerous information to spread around town, hed keep it under wraps for now.
Need any funding? Theo asked.
Gods, you just throw money around, dont you? Luras said, groaning.
Its a defense mechanism, Theo said.
No, Im funded for quite a while, Luras said. I appreciate the gesture, but it just seems like another ploy to get your hands in my pockets.
Im managing an entire town now. I need all the money I can get, Theo said.
How is that going?
Its going well. Ive been doing it since I got here, anyway. I just dont want to get caught unawares, Theo said. If Aarok is right about a monster wave, we could be in some trouble. The good news is that I expanded our territory out into the swamp, so Broken Tusk owns the dungeon outright.
Luras seemed to ept the answer. He talked about his business and how hed leverage the fine wolf leather to be well known. Theo didnt doubt him for a moment, his mind going back to the convergence of events that bred greatness within the townsfolk. Until the Half-Ogre leveled his [Leatherworking Core] up, hed be making simple things for a few coins. Before departing, the alchemist invited him over for some spicy wolf stew that night, to which he agreed.
Theo couldnt help himself. While he distilled the [Swamp Truffle] down to its base propertys essence, he still wanted to see what secondary properties it had. With Tresk nearing the shop, he ran off into the eastern reaches of his property and searched for another buried mushroom. The range on his [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] was excellent, allowing him to find one quickly. He dug it out of the muddy ground, stowing it away in his inventory and burying the hole, before hispanion returned to the shop.
The alchemist returned to the shop, finding Tresk upstairs preparing the meal for the night. Thats it? Tresk asked as Theo produced the truffle from his inventory.
The thing Fenian warned me about, yeah, Theo said. The experience boosting properties are dangerous, so well avoid it as much as possible. But I want to see the other properties.
Youre gonna eat it? Tresk said, grimacing.
The truffle was roughly the size of Theos head. It was ck as night and lumpy all over. He took his knife and cut into the fungus, revealing ace of ck and silver inside. A strange scent filled the room, like a mixture of cut oaken boards and olives. The alchemist took the smallest piece he could and popped it into his mouth. That nutty, oaken vor spread across his tongue, followed by an intense sensation that flooded his mind. His stomach churned in objection, but he managed to not vomit. The familiar window filled his vision, exining the new property.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Swamp Truffle] by eating it.
[Hallow Ground] discovered.
Hallow ground, Theo said, tilting his head to the side. I wonder what that does.
Can you distill it before our guests arrive? Tresk asked, stirring her copper pan and smiling. The smell of the cooking wolf meat hadnt yet been infused with the extremely spicy aroma of the [Fire Smander Eggs].
With my new still, yeah, Theo said, immediately attending to the process.
With the [Drogramath Still], he could easily cook the 5 unit mash down in a few minutes. He had the first distition done before Tresk even introduced the eggs to her dish. The special properties on his new still kicked in on the first run, producing double the amount of essence. It seemed absurd, but Theo ran the second distition to purify the unstable mixture. The [Hallow Ground Essence] was as unstable as the [Experience Boost Essence], meaning that hed have to be careful when working with it. He had a feeling that the [Drogramath Distition Specialty] in hisb made it more stable, but he couldnt be too careful.
At the end of the run Theo had 10 units of [Hallow Ground Essence]. Inspecting it, he found it to be much like the experience boost version.
[Hallow Ground Essence]
[Essence]
Excellent
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
10 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of Hallow Ground.
Theo kicked off a single unit reaction with [Stabilized Water], exactly the way he handled the experience boosting essence, and inspected the potion as Tresk was finishing the meal.
[Lesser Hallow Ground Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a twenty pace circle around themselves with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the circle, but will be banished when they do so.
Thepletion of the potion got him level 8 in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. He wasnt doing the same volume of potions as he did with his previous order, so it had slowed. The good news was that his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was catching up and almost at level 8. Theo showed the potion to Tresk. Her eyes lit up when she saw it, mouth agape as she read the description.
That sounds really useful, Tresk said.
A knock downstairs sent the conversation silent. Theo made sure hispanion knew not to talk about this to anyone. He went downstairs to let Luras in, but as expected he was joined by Perg. The allure of the spicy food was too much for her. He led them upstairs where the meal waited, already served out on four tes. Everyone took a chair and shared greetings before digging into the meal.
Theos tastebuds were once again assailed by the absurdly hot [Fire Smander Egg] vor, sending his eyes watering immediately. Sweat formed in beads on his forehead, but the food was just too good.
Aarok is afraid of a monster wave, Perg said, taking healthy mouthfuls of the food. She swallowed and continued. There hasnt been a monster wave in the soutnds since the Ogres ran the show.
Im not really worried, Theo said. My focus is getting funding to upgrade the town, just in case.
I imagine thats easier for you to do than most, Luras said. His eyes were watering, but he didnt bother to clear them away.
What Id really like is to own Broken Tuskpletely, Theo said. But thats a far-off dream.
How far? Tresk asked.
Qavell will sell me the town for 5 spiritstone coins, Theo said.
Alright. I dont know what a spiritstone coin is, Perg said.
Its the coin above gold, Theo said. But I dont know how many gold coins go into a spiritstone coin.
Hopefully 100, Luras said. But 500 gold is a lot of money.
No kidding, Tresk said, scoffing. She had already finished her food. The Marshling fanned her face with her hand, keeping her mouth open. What do you two think about Theos mayorship? Isnt he just the best mayor?
He said it earlier, but he was the mayor before he took the position. From the second he came into town, he had a vision for us, Luras said.
Youd be hard pressed to find someone who did more for this ball of mud than him, Perg said. I mean, we have roads now.
Theo waved thepliments away. I have a theory that this is none of my doing.
Tresk scoffed, punching him yfully in the arm. He remembered the yful hits stinging a lot more when he first met the Marshling. Just look at this ce, Theo. Youre doing great.
He might have a point, Perg said.
Sadly, I do, Theo said. The entity that brought me here might have messed with the bnce of the soutnds. That guy that bought property in Broken Tusk, Zankir, described it as a confluence of events.
Weve only had good things happen, so far, Tresk said. And thats because were all proactive about it. If we keep it up, well be fine!
Your endless optimism is extremely useful, Tresk, Theo said, patting her on the head. We cant slouch. We need to keep expanding. Get Broken Tusk to level 15 and put some automated defenses on the walls.
They have those in Qavell, Luras said. Very expensive stuff.
Extremely expensive, but Im already sourcing some from Fenian, Theo said. This ce will be a fortress before long.
The groups conversation shifted for a while. Theo could finish his soup while the others discussed smaller matters. Perg and Luras came up with interesting leather items he could craft for sale. They had insights into the market, specifically what merchants might want to buy. ording to the rumors theyd heard, high-level leatherworkers could make dimensional bags.
The conversation died down as dusk threatened outside. Theo was getting too tired to hang on their every word, a fact they picked up on. The pair said their farewells before departing for the day. The alchemist sat there with Tresk for some time. They got another level in their Tarahek core, putting them at 6, and set off to go to bed.
Theo fell onto hisfortable mattress and fought off sleep. His mind darted in every direction, unable to maintain his focus without sleep. He fell asleep with a contented smile on his face, his ns for the next day falling apart in the face of exhaustion.
Chapter 42: Rent
Chapter 42: Rent
Theo always enjoyed his morning ritual of food and tea in the morning. As he sat there with Tresk, gazing out into the darkness of early morning, he felt content. The Marshling went over the loot she found in the dungeon so far, which was mostly junk. In the alchemists eyes, it wasnt a waste of time. The stronger she got, the better. He had no way of defending himself, if anything were to happen, and would rely on her for that.
I still dont have anyone making good on the quest I posted to the adventurers guild, Theo said.
Tresk swallowed a mouthful of leftover spicy wolf meat stew. Cause you gotta go to the guild.
What? Theo asked, knitting his brow. Really?
Yeah, if you posted a collection quest, theyll deliver it to the guild, Tresk said, giggling.
A tingle in Theos mind drew his attention away from something that should have been obvious to him. The Newt and Demon was trying to say something to him, or so he thought. It was like an itch at the back of his mind that he could only scratch by bringing up the buildings information screen.
[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]
[The Newt and Demon]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 10 (31%)
Rent Due: Today
Expansions:
[Alchemy Shop]
We have to pay rent today, Theo said, the furrow of his brow deepening. Wait, who do I pay rent to?
Treskughed, pping her knobbly knees. Sorry, the image of you paying rent to yourself was too much.
Theo poked around at the interface for a while before giving up. He summoned his mayor screen instead, cycling through the seed core buildings in town before finding the Newt and Demon. The weekly rent on his level 10 building was somewhere around 1.5 silver, and could be paid to himself. He manually clicked a button, and his rent timer reset.
Okay, Theo said, the creases in his horned forehead growing deeper by the moment. I told the town that I paid rent to myself. What does that mean?
I dont know, Tresk said, slurping her tea. The rent is for thend, right? Maybe we have to pay it to Qavell. Try poking around some more.
Theo obeyed. Despite his high [Wisdom], Tresk had a natural way of thinking about how this world worked. Despite his previous experience with the screen, it was too cluttered for him to remember where everything was. He browsed the finance screens for some time before finding owed rents, nodding to himself. It was obvious now, but everyone paid rent to Miana, when she was mayor, then she sent the money off to the capital every month. The town calcted the rent of each building, aggregating it based on the current tax rate. Broken Tusks t rate was 10 silver a month, plus a rate based on citizens, ownednd, the amount of seed core buildings, and the towns level. It was all too confusing for the alchemist. He made a mental note to pay the tax in 10 days.
Found it, Theo said, exining how the system works.
That makes sense, Tresk said. Didnt you offer to cover the excess taxes people couldnt pay?
Yeah, and Im going to hold onto some coins after we sell this next batch to Fenian, Theo said. I want some cash on hand just in case.
You should ask him about that new potion, Tresk said. Assuming its not forbidden.
Tresk stood from the spot, putting on her best evil voice and saying, forbidden. She vanished right in front of Theos eyes, using the superior effect of her [Assassins Core] before reappearing right behind him.
Forbidden, Tresk repeated.
Theo made to snatch her arm, but she was too fast. Youre slippery, he said. Come here.
The alchemist did his best to catch the Marshling. He never considered how dexterous she was, but it felt like trying to grab the wind itself. Tresk was disappointed when he gave up, pouting for a moment before getting over the entire ordeal.
Youre slower than a [Swamp Turtle], Tresk said.
A lot slower, Theo said, heaving breath. Whats your n today?
Grinding in the dungeon, Tresk said. Im getting garbage for gear, but thats not the point. Gotta get stronger. Gonna go deeper.
Take the [Lesser Hallow Ground Potion] with you. Here, let me craft some poison before you go, Theo said.
Ive been out for a while, Tresk said, following the alchemist as he made the potions.
Theo already cooked the [Widow Lily] down the other day. He withdrew the poison essence from the [Dimensional Storage Crate] and set off the reactions. The alchemist made 10 [Basic Poisons] for her, each oneing out at excellent quality. Tresk was beyond excited to get new poisons, but he wished she would speak up about being out of supplies. She didnt want to speak up because she thought he was too busy, something he understood. But her safety was the most important thing to him.
The sun peeked over the eastern horizon by the time he was done crafting. Tresk took them and departed before he could object. Her excitement for the day was infectious. Theo wasnt sure if he needed to drink the moss tea with her around, but wanted to keep the tradition alive. His n for the day was still forming in his mind. He went downstairs, peering up and down the street. In the distance, north toward the center of town, he spotted a familiar face skipping down the road.
Azrug, Theo said, a broad smile painting his face.
The boy came up, shing a devious grin. Guess who got their cores?
Theo pointed at the boy. Is it that guy?
It is!
Come up and have some tea, Theo said, holding the door open for Azrug. I want to hear what you got.
Theo and Azrug settled in upstairs, putting another pot on the [me Artifice] and propping the window open. A pleasant breeze flowed into theb, washing away some of the funk that clung to the work area.
Theyre nothingpared to your legendary cores, but I started with a [Mercantile Core] and a [Shopkeeper Core], Azrug said. One ability each. The first one lets me judge the rtive price of something within a certain distance. The other tells me how much stock is in a store.
Wow. So, I guess you really wanted to be a shopkeeper, Theo said.
Are you kidding? This is the best job Ive ever had, Azrug scoffed.
Theo poured two cups of tea, blowing on his cup to dull some of the heat. It was his second tea of the day, but this was a monumental achievement for the young boy. The alchemist wanted to change the way he thought about Azrug. He wasnt a boy anymore, not with two cores. He was a young man, now.
We should hammer out a better deal for you, Theo said.
Azrug waved him off. Our current deal is fine. Ill get a lot of experience running the shop.
Theo let out a breath. Two copper coins a day. Thats not really fair.
You must be rolling in coins if youre willing to give me a raise, Azrug said.
Well, Im just d that youre alright. The Newt and Demon is at a point where we make most of our money from orders. Specifically, from Fenian. I think you should get a take of what sells from the shelves, Theo said. What do you think?
How can I say no to more money? Azrug asked, scoffing.
Youll be the face of the shop from here on out, Theo said. I dont have the time to make potions and run the town, so people are going to expect to see your face in here every day. I mean, they already do. Lets say you get 10 percent of all sales. Thats not my merchant contracts, just sales made in the shop.
Azrug screwed up his face for a moment, then brightened. Ten copper on each silver?
Yeah, exactly, Theo said.
Deal, Azrug said, reaching out his hand for Theo to shake.
The pair finished their tea, talking about the transformation process. Azrug detailed how he got incredibly sick for a few days. He couldnt even get out of bed while the cores took root in him. Theo listened, thinking about the convergence of events the entire time. The quality of his cores were rare, which wasntmon. From what Tresk said, cores usually started atmon grade. He dismissed the thought for now, taking his shopkeeper downstairs.
Were low on almost everything, Azrug said, scowling. How am I supposed to run a shop with low stock?
Ill work on that today, Theo said. I need to check the adventurers guild to check my quest.
A knock came from the door. A smile spread across Azrugs face. He bounded across the shop, swinging the door open and affecting a deep bow. Wee to the Newt and Demon. Home of every potion you could ever want.
The woman standing at the door had a shocked look on her face. Theo didnt recognize her race, but shrugged it off. Her attire painted her as an adventurer, likely from the nortnds. He simply smiled and patted Azrug on the back. Im off to check my quest. Good luck.
Theo could still hear Azrugs boisterous voice some ways up the road. The shop couldnt have been in better hands. The alchemist was reminded of his Lord Administrator position within Broken Tusk. Hed been acting as mayor for so long without the tools to seed. The situation was a mirror of what happened to the shopkeeper. He made his way to the square, intent on inspecting the new adventurers guild building.
Theo, Aarok shouted, scowling from the entrance of Mianas old house. It reminded him of the old mayor. Come collect your crap.
Theo entered the newly repurposed building, finding a massive pile of reagents on the ground. He scooped them up with his inventory power, checking the quantities to find 1,000 of each restoration reagent. They actually did it.
Yeah, and you owe the guild, Aarok said.
Aarok led him to the old office and sat behind the desk. He rifled through a pile of parchments, snatching one up and reading it over. Right. 6 silver coins for thepletion of the quest. Gods, Im going to ask for that in advance next time.
Theo withdrew the coins from his inventory and handed it over. Thats fine by me. Do you mind if I make another quest?
Aarok shrugged, handing the stone device over. Fine by me. Adventurers like simple work.
The alchemist filled the form out idly, creating a significantly bigger list this time. He included the restoration reagents as well as the stat enhancement ones. How is the wolf poption doing?
Increasing, Aarok said. Steadily, but its going up. We saw some goblins in the swamp, too.
Theo blinked hard, turning his gaze back to the guildmaster. The swamp is getting more dangerous, huh?
Nothing we cant handle, for now, Aarok said. The research you got me has been helpful. It was obvious once I had the books. Im going to send some scouts to confirm my suspicions, but I think we have a new dungeon.
Theos mouth fell open. He had just finished fiddling with the interface, excited to see that he could put a generic entry for any reagent that enhanced stats. What? Where?
Near the ocean, I think. They align with the cardinals. Some kind of magic I dont understand. Its not dangerous, not if we know about it, Aarok said.
We just have to be prepared, Theo said, nodding in agreement. Can you make this quest urgent?
Id normally charge a fee, but for the mayor? Ill do it for free, Aarok said. Youre hoarding money to buy defenses, arent you?
Yeah.
Fine. Just give me a 6 silver deposit for this new quest, Aarok said. The guild will foot the bill until the adventurers collect.
Theo withdrew another 6 silver coins from his inventory and handed them over. This brought him down to 43 silver, 27 copper. He reviewed the quest before submitting it.
[Supply Run]
Quest
The proprietor of the Newt and Demon is requesting all adventurers to collect reagents for his potion empire.
Objectives:
Collect [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Moss Nettle] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Manashrooms] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Stat-Bearing Reagent] (1 silver per 500 max 1000 each)
Right. I need to brew some potions for the shop. Azrug got his cores, Theo said. Now hes telling me I dont have enough stock.
I was talking to Xam, Aarok said, finally shing a smile. Rare cores from Broken Tusk. Very exciting news.
Theo grunted a response before bidding the guildmaster farewell. On his way back to theb, Fenians crystal gave a slight buzz in his mind. He didnt want to consider how he knew it was buzzing from within his inventory, but withdrew it and held it in his hand anyway.
Theo. How is the ordering along? Fenian asked.
Extremely wellIll be done in a few days if all goes ording to n, Theo said.
Good. Im still in the area, so let me know, Fenian said.
While I have you here, I have another potion question, Theo said.
More questionable potions? Lets hear it.
The truffle produced another effect. [Hallow Ground], Theo said.
Really? Now thats interesting. The experience boost property is dangerous, but that one is fine. I havent really seen that potion floating aroundno idea what it would fetch. Ill research it and inform you when I find out, Fenian said.
Right. Anything else?
Thats it, Fenian said, hanging up before Theo could respond.
The alchemist shrugged, pushing his way into the shop. He found Azrug there, alone and beaming.
I made a very nice sale. We need more potions, though, Azrug said.
Dont worry, Theo said. Im going to brew an absurd amount of potions today.
Theo went upstairs with the thought of a noble family going through thousands of potions. There wasnt a cooldown for lesser potions, and chugging them constantly didnt seem to have any negative effects. He imagined adventurers using the potions, pausing inbat to drink a few before going back to battle. The [Lesser Mana Potions] made sense for this, but he couldnt get his head around the others. It was a fact he hadnt considered until this point, the effect of the coin blinding his reasoning.
Why do these people need so many potions? Theo asked Tresk through the Tarahekmunication.
Depends. I dont use many because I skip all the dungeon floors that dont have bosses. Ive heard of front-liners that down potions like watertheyre afraid of dying. Some [Dexterity] sses do fancy moves that take a lot of stamina, I guess thats where theyre chugging the [Lesser Stamina Potions], Tresk said.
Thanks, Theo said, falling into his thoughts again.
As a crafting ss, Theo had 42 health. His healing potions could restore between 20 and 40, but that seemed like a drop in the bucket for a front-line ss. His intuition told him theyd be closer to 200 health in the level 10 to 20 range. It made sense that theyd be drinking so many potions if they only got 10% of their health restored. This led him to the conclusion that the next tier of restoration potions would have a significantly higher rate of resource replenishment, as well as a bigger price tag.
It was all academic, at this point. His interest in how people chugged away his hard work faded when he faced down the order Fenian ced. It was time to get to work.
Chapter 43: Everyone Likes Money
Chapter 43: Everyone Likes Money
This was Theos first big distition run since he filled Fenians order. He looked at the 3,000 reagents in his inventory and smiled. He improved the process, thanks to the artifices and his new still, to a point where he was confident he could process 2,000 units in a single day. Thebor that he removed was the grinding of reagents, a step in the brewing process he would never miss. The [Alchemical Grinder Artifices] removed that stage entirely, easily chewing through hundreds of units of reagents in a heartbeat.
Theo positioned his grinder over the [Drogramath Still], feeding 500 units of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] in and listening to the satisfying whirring sound. He topped it off with [Purified Water], set the [me Artifice] to the lowest setting, and moved on to his two smaller stills. The alchemist repeated the same process on the 200 unit stills, setting them all to the lowest setting on the artifice and turning his attention to the [Healing Essence] he had stored in his inventory.
The bell rang downstairs, followed closely by Azrugs booming voice. His new confidence was an inspiration, spurring Theo on to process as many [Lesser Healing Potions] as he could. He noted another step of inefficiency in his process as he generated several hundred t-bottomed vials. His [ssware Artifice] would deposit the vials directly into his inventory, but he had to remove them and set up the reaction by hand. The part of the reaction that he cheated on was the reaction itself. His intuition told him this was something specific to Drogramath alchemy, where he could set off arge-scale reaction in a big sk.
Theo set off a series of 100-unit reactions, creating five sks of bubbling red healing potions. He dispensed all 500 units of the excellent quality [Lesser Healing Potions] into individual vials. During the process, which the alchemist estimated to have taken half an hour, the bell rang several times downstairs. Each time, Azrugs voice carried up the stairs for a few minutes before the bell rang again. He swapped the sks from the stills condenser before going downstairs to hand over the new potions.
Ive made a few more sales, Azrug said, beaming from behind the counter.
Theo noticed that the young man didnt have his book out today. There was an aura around him that exuded excitement.
Out of towners? Theo asked.
Yeah, adventurers, Azrug said. Theyre mostly interested in restoration potionstheyre all very surprised we have lesser potions.
Right. I have a few more to add to your stock, Theo said, crowding the shelves with the 500 [Lesser Healing Potions].
Just a few, Azrug said, scoffing.
Theo took a moment to think about the flood of new adventurers. He looked back on his memory, finding that at least four of them came to the shop today. It was a good thing he bought the rights to the [Swamp Dungeon]. He was uncertain about the implications of someoneing in and buying it from under his nose, although he suspected they needed to be the mayor of an adjoining town to do that. His thoughts on the matter concluded with the inevitability of it all. Broken Tusk had at least three dungeons nearby. The information was finally spreading wide enough to see that flood of adventurers they expected.
How long should I run the shop each day? Azrug asked, breaking Theo out of his thoughts.
Thats up to you, now, Theo said. The alchemist summoned the interface for the Newt and Demon, flicking through the menus until he found something hed missed before. Buried in the ownership tab, he found a section where he could assign a shopkeeper. He mentally gave Azrug that position and the building shifted under their feet. A small key appeared in the Half-Ogres hands and the door at the top of the stairs rattled. When he went to inspect the upstairs door, it now had a lock and key.
That works, Azrug said. Youre giving a kid a lot of responsibility.
Is it a responsibility you dont want? Theo asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Its a bit much, Azrug said. The excited sheen on his face faded a little.
Theo pped his hand over the shopkeepers shoulder and smiled. His tail swept the floor, the excitement of possibility building. Im here to support you, but the shop is yours to run. Youre already better at dealing with customers, so it just makes sense. The cores you got seal the dealI was told you only get specific cores if youre really driven to do something.
Thats true, Azrug said, brightening up.
Keep your old hours, or change them depending on how busy things are, Theo said. Youll get an inventory power, eventually. Carry some potions around with you and go looking for the adventurers. Just y it by ear and know theres no wrong move.
Azrug smiled sheepishly. Thanks, Theo.
What? No more boss? Theo asked.
Maybe mayor, Azrug said. But not boss.
Theo nodded, then something tingled in his mind. He waved to the shopkeeper and darted upstairs in time to find his sks almost overflowing. He swapped them out and took a seat near the window, withdrawing a parchment he hadnt looked at in a while. It was the basis of the alchemy book he intended to write, something to distill the confusing Drogramath alchemy book that Fenian gave him. His concentration broke after the bell rang downstairs, joined by no boisterous speeches from Azrug. The Half-Ogre came up the stairs, poking his head up and grimacing.
People are lined up outside, Azrug said. Coming to pay rent.
Well, I should have expected that, Theo said, joining his shopkeeper downstairs. We need a better system for this.
A line stretched out the door and up the road. Theo instructed Azrug to collect the money, keeping no formal list of what everyone actually owed. The alchemist didnt care if they could pay their rent, whatever that actually meant. It was money that went straight to the capital. Money that the alchemist would prefer to stay within the confines of Broken Tusks walls. Half the citizens were short on their rent, half of that numbering empty-handed. The two to five copper coins they owed were nothing. He waved them away without epting apologies.
Theo urged the crowd to stick around before leaving, addressing them all on the street outside. I want to make something clear, Theo said. I have no ill will to Qavell, or the administration in the capital. Broken Tusk owes them for the nting of the seed town core. That being said, I dont expect anyone to pay rent if they cant. If you cant find the money for the week, you dont even have to tell me. Ill foot the bill. Its not a problem.
Good, Im broke, Miana said, garnering a wave ofughter from the group.
For the sake of transparency, we owe less than a silver coin this week, Theo said, shrugging. It was an incredibly insignificant sum of money to him. He reflected, for a moment, how far hede since he arrived in Broken Tusk. He summoned his mayor interface and gged every plot ofnd as paid.
Thats very selfless of you, Theo, Aarok said from the crowd.
Not really, Theo said. He was being honest. The only thing I ask is the same charity for your neighbors. If someone is struggling, dont let them suffer in silence. Speak up, and well work together to solve their problem.
We could really use better lodgings, a Half-Ogre named Oruk, a man who hadbored for Theo in the past, said.
Houses, right, Theo said. Almost everything in Broken Tusk is manually built. Alright, its on my list. Ill purchase a few house seed cores when Fenian is back in town. I have five left, but Im selling those to adventurers.
A murmur of approval washed through the crowd, smiles spreading across every face. Theo couldnt help but join them, watching with excitement as they dispersed. The alchemist and Azrug retreated into the Newt and Demon.
Whats the n there? Azrug asked.
Theo shrugged. It looked like a benevolent act, but it was a practical approach. The rents they owed were so small, it wasnt worth chasing them down for the money. Providing houses for free would reduce the chance of disease spreading and people getting sick from shoddy roofs. Its the most practical approach, Theo said, boiling it down to the core of his thoughts. The rent is tiny, so who cares? The house seed cores are cheap enoughseems like something we should have already.
You can admit that youre just a nice guy. You know that, right? Azrug asked.
I wont deny it, anyway, Theo said. Think of it this way. The stronger Broken Tusk is, the stronger we are. Were all links in a chain. Part of a cycle that generates money.
I like money, Azrug said, beaming.
Me too.
Theo went back upstairs, consulting his mayor interface to see how many upied plots ofnds didnt have house seed cores. 20 houses needed to be reced with seed cores. That would cost him 4 gold coins, assuming Fenian kept his old rate. This posed a serious problem for his current strategy, cutting into his defense fund significantly. The alchemist looked over his stills, bubbling away, and nodded to himself. Hed need to make a lot more potions if he wanted to fund the town.
The first prediction of the day was that hed distill around 2,000 units of essence, getting to the other 1,000 tomorrow. Theos dire need for money pushed him beyond what he expected to aplish, distilling every unit of restoration potion and bottling them all. It was an absurd amount of work to do in a day, forcing him to pop a [Lesser Stamina Potion] somewhere around midday and make a trip to the river to fill and purify his water barrels.
Theo wiped sweat from his brow, going downstairs to check on Azrug. Another adventurer just left the shop and there was a pile of silver and copper coins sitting on the counter.
Im done for the day, Azrug said. Heres the take.
Theo took the coins into his inventory. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the amount. Azrug made the shop 55 silver, 20 copper today. Where did these adventurerse from?
I was talking to one of them, Azrug said, smiling. They heard about the alchemy shop sometimest week, but it took them a while to organize. Once that other adventurerJarsongot back to Qavell, it spread like wildfire.
That makes sense, Theo said. Its a bit of a journey back to the capital.
Theo withdrew 6 silver coins from his inventory, handing it over to the shopkeeper. Just a little more than your usual two copper, huh?
Azrugs eyes lit up. He took the coins, the light in his eyes fading. What am I going to do with all this money? This is more money than Ive seen in one ce at one time.
Well, you have cores now, Theo said. So youll be trying to buy other cores to upgrade yours. Theres also your seed core house, which Ill buy the next time Fenian is in town. It would be nice if those who could afford to help did so.
Right more expenses, Azrug said.
Tresk returned shortly after Azrug departed for the day. She hit level 11 in both her cores, something that surprised Theo. She exined that when she was sneaking through the dungeon, she employed her tracking cores abilities to find enemies. This constant use of her skill made it shoot up so much. Compared to the alchemists herbalism core, it was very easy to get experience with.
What are those? Theo asked, pointing at her boots. They were new and carried a shimmer that he hadnt seen before.
Oh yeah! Tresk said, posing with her new boots. I got them from the dungeon. Tenth level boss finally dropped something decent. Leather boots that make me better at sneaking.
Theo inspected them closer, nodding his approval. He looked at his own tattered clothes, something hed put by the wayside for a long time. Every turn he took led him away from getting decent gear for himself, but he didnt mind. Where Tresks life depended on decent gear, his equipment didnt. He could brew potions all day in his underwear and it wouldnt matter.
[Marsh Stompers]
[Leather Boots]
Rare
Enchanted leather boots.
Effect:
Increases the effectiveness of stealth abilities.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
Why does it have two locked effects? Theo asked.
That happens sometimes, Tresk said, waving a dismissive hand. Equipment generated by a dungeon cane with a locked effect. You need a [Loremaster] to identify the effectstheres usually some story behind the boots that unlocks.
Theo scratched his chin, tilting his head. That sounds like a business opportunity.
Speaking of, I still need to figure out what my third core is going to be, Tresk said. I need to talk with those foreign adventures. Theyll have some good pairings.
They settled in for a quiet night, eating their food and discussing small topics. Tresk was confident she could solo the fifteenth floor, but Theo was unsure. He knew little about adventuring, but it seemed like a risky thing for a sneaking ss to do solo. He would defer to her judgment, even if heined about it.
Despite taking a [Lesser Stamina Potion], Tresk fell asleep quickly. Theo was left with his thoughts for a while, reying the day in his head and making ns for the future. His immediate goals were centered on upgrading the town to level 15 and getting the new defenses, but he couldnt stop thinking about level 10. Once he reached 10 in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], he knew things would change. The alchemist would have ess to more powerful potions, but his superior intuition told him it woulde at a cost. Recipes were going to be moreplex than the simple mashes hed been doing.
Sleep found him, after a while, and he drifted off. Thefort of his absurdly luxurious bed helped a lot.
Chapter 44: Challenges Ahead
Chapter 44: Challenges Ahead
Theo groaned, the light filtering through his window, stinging his eyes. He regretted taking the [Lesser Stamina Potion] yesterday. It always felt more like a hangover than it was worth, but the allure of producing more potions was too tempting. Lately, he felt more like a potion production machine than a living thing. There were many things he didnt understand about his ce in the world of alchemy, but that was a big one. Fenian fell over himself to get at the alchemists potions, signaling something deeply wrong with the world of standard alchemy. He didnt even know what skills regr alchemists had ess to, furthering the mystery.
Theo sat in bed for some time, ruminating on the strange situation he found himself in. When he stopped to take a breath, it all seemed too ridiculous to be true. The image of the Harbinger shed through his mind, joined by the words of Zankir. A convergence had taken ce in Broken Tusk. What that meant was beyond him, but his sharp intuition told him it was a wholly good thing. Just like the strange entity stood at the end of the world, the alchemist stood at the start of something else. Something made of goodwill and friendship. Amunity that he would never allow to shatter, no matter how hard the pressure was from the outside.
The smell of sizzling wolf meat and tea brought him back to the present, no matter how much he wanted to linger in his thoughts. A voice in the back of his mind begged for information about the other alchemists, but he reserved himself to join Tresk for breakfast. She had already poured herself a cup of tea and was barely chewing a wolf steak, swallowingrge chunks whole.
Morning, sleepy-head, Tresk said, sing-song.
Morning, Theo said, grabbing his general alchemy book and plopping down in his seat. Tresk served him breakfast, which he epted with a smile.
Something on your mind? Tresk asked.
Theo allowed his thoughts to gather for a moment, waiting for them to join before he spoke. Ive memorized this book, mostly, he started, tapping the tome on the table. Even the sections that arent useful. The gap in power between distition and standard alchemy is astounding.
How do you figure? Tresk said, belching. She chugged her tea.
Theo sipped his moss tea, letting that rush run through his body. Standard alchemy uses poulticessalves and suchbut the further you get from that starting point, the more likely you are to do distition.
Ive used salves before, Tresk said with a shrug. I dont care for them. They sting when they work. Your potions dont sting.
Well, thats my point, Theo said. What if a level 1 alchemist tried to distill using my equipment?
Tresk thought for a moment, cupping her chin in her hand. She always screwed up her face when she was deep in concentration. It would explode, I think.
Right, Theo said, nodding. He felt as though he was on the verge of something, but couldnt put his finger on it. This was a train of thought rted to a problem hed faced for some time. There are hidden ranks, I think. Ayer of the system we cant see, but its there. Perhaps we can see it, if you break the leveling system into groups.
What do you mean? Tresk said. She eyed Theos steak, forcing him to cut into it and take a bite.
I technically crafted some processed leather with my potions, Theo said. How does that differ from what Perg does?
Same thing that would happen if you tried to work my dads forge, Tresk said. You can technically craft a knife, but the quality of the object is significantly lower. Good old Throk has ess to skills with his [cksmithing Core], which raise the quality. It also makes other tasks easier, like hammering the metal. You could smack on the anvil for hours, reheating the metal over and over, but he has skills.
Theo thought for a moment, letting things he already knew solidify. Anyone could technically perform a low-level craft, but the quality would be different. That made sense, but it wasnt theplete story. The process was the most important part. He considered his current process, operating three stills to distill absurd amounts of potions. Without his legendary cores, it would result in disaster. Everything joined in his mind, and he formed a logical line to what he was after.
I think I understand, Theo said. Ive been putting a lot of thought into the next tier of potions. The difference isyers in process.
I think its too early for this, Tresk said, grimacing.
Listen. When my [Drogramath Alchemy Core] crosses to level 10, something is going to happen, Theo said. I dont know if it''s automatic, but Ill understand that additionalyer better.
Maybe you should ask Perg, Tresk said. Luras might even know.
Theo took another bite of his breakfast, nodding. He washed it down with a mouthful of tea. That sense of discovery was too enticing. It was right there, at the edge of his mind, but he couldnt reach out and grab it. He reasoned it was because he was edging closer to level 10 in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], but couldnt be certain. Questions about his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] lingered in his mind, but he pushed those away. There was already too much to consider for the day.
Im going to check the adventurers guild, then Im going to the dungeon, Tresk said. Again. Thats sort of my thing, now.
If you get more loot like your boots, itll be worth it, Theo said. Or perhaps a third core.
Im going to be picky with that, Tresk said, clearing away her te and cup. Ive been toying withbinations in my mind, and Im hoping a certain demon will help me fund it.
Of course, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. I have a feeling my defense project is going to take time. Producing thousands of potions is draining. I need to break through to level 10 on my alchemy core. Thats where the money is at.
Tresk shrugged, pressing her forehead against his before departing for the day. Theo left after writing some thoughts on parchment. It was a futile thing, since his memory was nearing photographic, but there was a finality to it he enjoyed. The alchemist locked the door before leaving, counting on his shopkeepers key to see him in. He left for Pergs ce, enjoying the early morning and itsck of rain. Every step over those cobbles was a reminder of how far hede, something that made his heart swell.
He didnt enjoy Pergs absence on the outside of the tannery building. He missed the days where she would stand there, waving him on as he approached the ce. A few deft knocks on her front door saw it swinging open, revealing the smiling Half-Ogre woman within.
Theo, hows it going? Perg asked. She gestured for him to enter.
Very good, Theo said, entering the tannery. The smell of shoe polish hung heavy in the air. I have a few questions about the crafting cores.
Oh? Youve never taken an interest in them before, Perg said, taking a seat on the far end of the room. Theo joined her.
Not until I got close to level 10 in my alchemy core, Theo said. My intuition tells me there are challenges ahead that I need information for.
What do you need to know?
First, I want to understand the nature of the other crafts, Theo said. I can dump a potion on a hide, but that doesnt make me a tanner.
No, but I suspect that Drogramath alchemy has something to do with that sess, Perg said. Since you came to town, Ive thought of it like this. Youre on a different level to start with. Its like you came here as a level 30, even if you were level 1.
Theo thought about the separation between himself and other alchemists. Where they ground salves, he brewed potions. The gulf separating the two methods was vast; she was right. That makes sense. If I were to use your old process to tan hides, how would that go?
Well, youck the cores and the skills, Perg started, reclining in her chair. My [Tannery Core] has an important skill you dont have. [Process Hides] is an extremely generic skill, but it gives me a bonus to the quality of any processed hides.
Does that work with the alchemical method? Theo asked.
It actually bumped me from excellent to perfect, Perg said. The quality of the wolf hides I start with is pretty high, but without the skill youd likely destroy it. When you process the hides with the potion, it would be good, or great.
Theo nodded. I understand now. Although, I think I already knew. What happens when a tanner hits core level 10?
It wasnt even a skill, but a step in my process became avable, Perg said. I read about it before I hit level 10, but I can make enchantable leather.
Interesting, Theo said. I think I have something from that.
Theo dismissed the topic and asked how Perg was doing. They chatted for a while, the tanner even offering him breakfast. He was too full from the wolf steak to partake, and simply talked. When the alchemist finally left, he set his eyes on Luras workshop next door, feeling a sh of guilt that he hadnt been by to check it out. Fortunately, the Half-Ogre was marching up the street when he left the tannery.
Theo, Luras said, nodding. Good morning.
Morning, Theo said. Can I ask you a few questions?
Luras snorted augh, shaking his head. As if you have to ask my permission. Why are you so formal today?
Theo thought for a moment, but couldnte up with a good reason. He felt strange about everything that had been going on. Between the mayor position and Fenians newest 7 gold order, things were certainly odd.
Good question, Theo said. Things have been moving fast, so I think Im just caught up in the tide.
How poetic, Luras said. Join me, Im heading up to the guild. Ask your questions.
Theo quickly exined what he learned from Perg, even if she didnt know what information she revealed. Between Tresks information at breakfast, and the tanners input, he determined that crafting was broken into three sections. Harvesting didnt need special cores. Anyone could run around and pick flowers, there were no restrictions. Production usually needed cores, except for the rare case of his Drogramath potions and the leather. Artisans, like Throk and Luras, absolutely needed cores. Sure, he could hammer away on a piece of iron, but like Tresk said, it would be garbage.
You determined that on your own? Luras asked, shaking his head. Must be that high [Wisdom]. Well, you basically got it. The only thing you got wrong is that theres specialized harvesting that can only be done by people with specific cores. Youll run across some herbs in the future, Im sure. Right, so that wasnt a question.
Theoughed. They had arrived at the monolith in the center of town and were standing around. People passed by, giving their greetings to the mayor.
At level 10, things change. I understand how the process changed for Perg. She got a new step in her line, and I suspect shell get more steps at level 20, Theo said. What steps does an Artisan get at level 10? You, for example. A leatherworker.
There are books for this kind of thing, Luras said, shing a devious grin. You dont have to riddle it out on your own.
The book I was given is written in riddles, Theo said. Basic Drogramathi Alchemy is more poems than usable information.
Im a way off from 10, still, Luras said. But Ive heard what youre telling me, basically. Once you cross that threshold, something opens up in your mind. The floodgates release knowledge into your mind, revealing different ways to approach a piece of leather. Theres a purity in the grain that I cant detect, yet. The example Ive seen in the books is that Ill be able to innately know where that perfect grain is.
Theo stood, his eyes ssy. Something itched in the back of his mind, but he couldnt scratch it. That single word, purity, set off a chain reaction in his mind that revealed a secret of alchemy. He was viewing the process of distition all wrong until this point. He made a mental note, filing it away for experimentationter.
You there? Luras asked.
I think you just told me how to make potions above level 10, Theo said, beaming.
Luras snorted. Care to share?
When I extract essences from reagents, Ive always viewed it as telling the still which property to extract, then it magically does so, Theo said. The thing is, I dont think thats how it works. I think the still simply creates the closest possible essence, but impurities remain. Those impurities are the other properties.
You got that from my rant about leatherworking? Luras asked, casting a confused look at the alchemist.
Yeah, that was thest piece, Theo said. I think I would have understood after hitting level 10, but this gives me some time toe up with a n. I think Ive already experienced this with another essence.
Theo left out the part about the truffle. He trusted his friends, but that wasnt something the citizens of Broken Tusk needed to worry about.
Well, d I could help, Luras said.
Theo snapped out of his own mind, mentally kicking himself for being so selfish. He had a habit of putting himself before others in conversation, constantly wrapped up with machinations that would take a long time to bear fruit. He smiled, pping his hand over the Half-Ogres considerable shoulder.
How is the business? Theo asked. Do you need anything?
I need more experience, Luras said, grinning. A lot of it. But no, things are great. Ive got a little money saved, and I know my mayor friend will waive my rent if I fall short. Wont he?
Theoughed. Absolutely. Let me know when you produce something thats worth wearing. Tresk could always use new armor.
Ill keep that in mind, Luras said. Her gear is decent, and Im not good.
Not good, yet, Theo said. Im serious, Luras. There are three artisans in town, but we need more.
I know, Luras said. I want to make it on my own.
Theo nodded, saying farewell to his friend. He fell back into his thoughts, feeling a sense of the unknown creep up on him. The alchemist wondered, for a moment, if his constant pestering was annoying Fenian. He shrugged, trudging north toward the quarry to check on the stoneworkers and sped the crystal tightly in his hand.
Ive had a revtion, Theo said.
Good morning to you too, Theo, Fenian said.
Theo exined his theory about the artisans progression, which the elf confirmed to the best of his knowledge. While Fenian didnt take part in crafting himself, hed heard enough to support the idea.
Certainly, you didnt buzz me for that, Fenian said.
No, I have a question, Theo said. Something thats been bothering me for a while.
Theo passed by the farm, feeling another pang of guilt for not sorting their situation. They were next on his long list of things to do.
Lets hear it. Im still in Rivers and Daub, by the way, Fenian said. Almost done with business almost.
Why do adventurers use so many potions? Theo asked.
What a question. Why would youin? No matter, Ill exin it as I understand it. The whelps these nobles are training are at level 1, which means they cannot use the second-tier potionsthe stuff youre going to be crafting me soonso they must use the first-tier, Fenian said, pausing for a moment. Theo watched the farmers work. At level 1, your potions will restore all their health. By level 5, for the fighters, perhaps half. These people train constantly. They do not rest. A single noble child will consume fifty of your potions a day, maybe more.
Fifty? Theo asked. That seems absurd.
Well, once they hit level 10, theyll upgrade to the second-tier potions. Theyll consume a lot less, because of the potency, Fenian said.
So, the cost of the second-tier potions is more, Theo reasoned.
Exactly.
I may have more questionster, Theo said. I hope this isnt a bother.
For you? Never.
With that the connection was severed. Theo stood there for some time, considering the economy of it all. He pushed those thoughts away, fording a path past the farms and into the rocky terrain of the northern reaches.
Chapter 45: Stone and Gem
Chapter 45: Stone and Gem
The sound of chisels chipping rock hit Theos ears before the sight of the quarry. Thest time he was here, the dwarf bought Zizs entire stock of stone. It was hard not to wonder how much progress theyd made, even if itd only been three days. If he was in charge, hed schedule the dwarf to arrive every week, but the intentions of the Half-Ogres wasnt clear. They were likely eager to pay out their debt and start making noticeable progress to upgrade their seed core building.
Theo! Ziz shouted. What do you think?
The Half-Ogre was standing, covered in a thickyer of dust and gesturing to a massive pile of stone. Theo didnt have the [Intelligence] to count them all, but his superior intuition told him they slowed down progress. It was a state of mind he understood all too well. The initial burst of energy for a project faded over time, and hed never expect them to grind without a break. Not least of which for three days straight.
Good morning, Theo said, waving. How are the north reaches treating you?
Its cooler up here, Ziz said, wincing slightly. The boys areining about it. Theyre ustomed to the dampness of the swamp. Were making substantial progress, though.
Theo grunted a response, moving to inspect the pile of hewn stone. He didnt really know the difference between low and high quality stone, but as he ran his fingers along the blocks, he could feel that perfection. The alchemist would have regretted letting so much of this business slip through his hands, if not for his other responsibilities. Delegating these things, things unrted to alchemy, had be normal.
Honestly, Im not here to check on the stone, Theo said, smiling. Im here to make sure youre doing well.
Of course, Ziz scoffed. Far better than working the pits at Pergs, thats for certain.
Theo pointed up at the gate to the north. The wall had a strange way of wrapping the incorporated parts of the town, ignoring physics on the slope in the north. It sat at a funny angle, jutting from the hills like a misced asset in a video game. Were lucky the quarry is within the wall. I dont imagine many monsterse this far out, though.
Not really, Ziz said. We hear things outside the wall at night, but they havent gotten over the wall, and the guard keeps the north gate closed permanently.
Theo nodded, making a note of that in his mind. Stop by the Newt and Demon if you need anything, friend. Especially if you have money to hand over.
Zizughed. Were stockpiling for a bit before we contact Thistum. Hes been giving me advice on how to work the stone, he said, pointing to a particr stone on the pile. Seams of azure ran through the thing, wrapping it in tight bands.
What is it? Theo asked, running his fingers over the seams. It was cold to the touch.
Thistum isnt certain. He needs to inspect it. Well, he knows it''s a gem, but not exactly which one, Ziz said. Unfortunately, he told me it doesnt fetch much more coin.
Hold those back unless he gives you more than two silver, Theo said. How many do you have?
Five, or so, Ziz said.
Set a few aside. See if you can figure out how to extract the gems on your own, Theo said. Ill front the cost if it''s an issue.
Ziz waved him off. No issue, Theo. I had the same idea, but wanted to run it by you. Some gems are worth good coin, but you need someone with a [Gemcutter Core].
Noted, Theo said, nodding. I want more artisans in Broken Tusk. We need more exports. But, my te is full at the moment. I wont be able to spend much money until I finish the defenses for the town.
Right, Ziz said, nodding.
Theo thought for a moment, considering the current seats upied by the mercantile-oriented peoples of Broken Tusk. Perg, Throk, Ziz, and Luras were the only producers, excluding the alchemist. That set the weight of production on his shoulders ufortably. He might have raised their status in the town, but he was no closer to relieving that burden. Perg was his hope, if he was being practical about it. He had a feeling that her next run of hides would be massive,ting the town a bit of the action.
There was also the 10 percent tax he hading up in 11 days. All sales within the town were due to be paid to the capital, which shouldnt be an issue. Theo would take care of their back taxes, which was somewhere in the realm of 5 silver if he remembered correctly, and the tax from his massive sales. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind for the moment, reserving himself to take care of it when it came.
Perhaps you could ept donations, when the timees, Ziz said, shrugging.
Donations? Theo asked, running his fingers along the length of his horns. For the defensive structures?
Yeah, Id be more than happy to donate, Ziz said. If you consider where we were, and where were going with this business.
That didnt sit right with Theo, for a reason he couldnt determine. He felt like a mother hen defending their eggs.
Fenian ims the defensive structures, which I still know nothing about, will cost between 5 and 10 gold, Theo said. So Im expecting to pay 15 gold each. My confidence in his current information iscking.
Weve got about a gold worth of stone here, Ziz said, gesturing to the mountainous pile. Three days of worknot bad at all for three days. Give us a few weeks and well have the debt cleared.
Theo smiled, a warm feeling blossoming through his chest at the gesture. Well hold a mercantile council when Fenian returns. Pooling our resources might be necessary.
No worries, Ziz said. Its going to work out.
With that, Theo bid farewell to his friend. The truth of his visit was forpanionship, more than anything. Zizs project was a thing he was incredibly proud about. It showed the heart of the people in Broken Tusk. They had everything they needed to make their fortune, everything except the capital to start those ventures. When given an absurd way to generate money, they were ready to throw it right back into the town.
Theo picked an ambling path back to the Newt and Demon, using his [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] to find [Stone Flowers] that would have avoided his detection. That familiar pulse washed over the rocky terrain of the northern sections of the town, revealing hidden flowers. The alchemist passed by Zankirs house, noting that it was still empty, and moved on to trace a path along the river. When he saw the faint pulse of light from underground, he ignored it. The truffles were incredibly difficult to dig up, and they werent on the requested items from Fenian.
The rate of regeneration that the nts had defied reason, but Theo wouldntin. Without that constant cycle, he wouldnt be able to perform these massive runs. He made his way back to the heart of town, thinking about that fact. The Adventurers Guild was buzzing with people, checking the notice board out front and talking amongst themselves. The alchemist nodded at them, pushing inside. He spotted his pile of reagents in the ce where Miana used to sleep.
Please dont post another collection quest, Aarok said, emerging from Mianas old office. Or get me a dimensional storage device. This is absurd.
Ill make a note of it, Theo said. Close the quest out. This is fine for my current request.
Good, Aarok said, letting out a heavy sigh.
The Half-Ogre led him into the storage room, where Theo shoved everything in his inventory. The adventurers delivered on the request,ting 1,000 of each restoration ingredient and 500 [Stone Flower], [Water Lily], and [me Roses] each. Hed easily exceeded Fenians request and hoped that the Elf had the money. Even with that absurd amount of gold, hed be shy of what he needed to defend the town.
This feels like the start of a new chapter, Theo said, smiling. I want to call a meeting when Fenian returns to town. To discuss the purchase of defensive equipment for the town.
Sounds expensive, Aarok grunted.
It is, Theo said. Im going to ask for some help with that.
You? Aarok asked, scoffing. Asking for help, well that would be a first. The guild has funds. We can pitch in.
Theo nodded. He knew that the capital was sending Aarok money, although he didnt know how. Some manner of magical money teleportation, most likely. A portion of that money was meant for the defense of the town, but the alchemy was cautious about that fund. How reliant would he allow Broken Tusk to be on the kingdom?
I appreciate it, Theo said, letting his worries wash away. How prepared are we for a monster wave?
Aarok shrugged. It depends on what kind and how many. A pack of fifty wolves? Wed be fine. An organized army, led by an intelligent monster? Well struggle to survive.
Is the second thing an option? Theo asked.
Aarok leveled his gaze at the alchemist, managing a weak smile. Far worse options are on the table. What were experiencing hasnt happened, from what the records say. Were looking at an unprecedented organization by the dungeons. Likely a reaction to your arrival, and the magic behind it.
Making the defense of the town even more important, Theo said, nodding. Ill push everyone hard to pitch in.
Ill contact my liaison at the capital, Aarok said. They have a wizard thats interested in theing monster wave.
A wizard, Theo said, sighing. But not the military?
Aarok pped a hand on Theos shoulder. They dont care. Im not interested in giving the town over to Qavells control, but we could ask for money.
How much would they be willing to give? Theo asked.
Thats anyones guess, Aarok said. A few silver, a hundred gold, who knows?
Theo nodded, feeling somber about the entire thing. Well take it as ites.
Dont stress about it, Aarok said. The adventurers are gaining strength by the day. Itll work out.
Theo bid farewell to Aarok. He agreed with the Half-Ogre, even if he wanted to be grim about the situation. They were well-prepared for this scenario, despite the alchemists worries. Tresk updated him on her dungeon adventure, iming that she found something amazing for him. After her revtion, he understood how she was clearing the 10th level boss so quickly. It was a sneaky thing to skip floors, but lined up with her personality.
Azrug was dutifully manning the counter downstairs. A smile crept across the boys face. The pair exchanged pleasantries for a while, but Theo only had a mind for potions today. With the mysteries of the advancement system out of the way, for now, he wanted to make a run on Fenians order. He stood in theb for a while, looking out the window while he considered his approach. Theb would need to generate 3,000 restoration potions to move through his stock,bined with the 1,900 stat-enhancement potions, it was a tall order.
Midday already approached, ruling out his desire to knock it out today. Even with a [Lesser Stamina Potion], that task was impossible. Instead, he decided to run the three stills at full capacity for the rest of the day. Experience told him it would chew through at least 2,000 potions in the [Drogramath Still], and close to 1,000 in the othersbined.
The day had a way of blurring past Theo when he set his mind to alchemy. The next thing he knew, Tresk was beaming from across theb and the sun hung low in the sky. He didnt even notice his [Drogramath Alchemy] core ticking up to level 9, but there it was. The knowledge was unfurling in his mind like an old piece of parchment, cracking along the edges and bleeding into his thoughts.
Youre a sight for sore eyes, Theo said, wiping the sweat from his brow. Hed neglected to open the window.
And Ie with gifts, Tresk said, giggling. She held out her hand, revealing a small silver ring, studded with a ruby. Theo took it, inspecting the item.
[Refreshing Ring]
[Ring]
Rare
An enchanted silver ring, iid with rubies.
Effect:
The efforts of crafting are less taxing.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
This is amazing, Theo said, slipping the ring onto his finger. The exhaustion he felt over crafting all those potions didnt vanish, but he was eager to test the effects.
Youve been crafting up a storm, Tresk said,ughing.
Theb was in a state of disarray. Discarded vials sat here and there, sshes of water slick on the ground underfoot. Theo inspected his inventory, finding that he crafted the bulk of the potions he needed for Fenian. He had 2,000 of each restoration potion, and 700 vigor potions. It was a good run by any measure, but it still didnt feel like enough.
Time for a break, Tresk said, taking Theo by the arm and dragging him out the door.
Im not done, Theo said, whimpering.
Too bad! Were gonna go have some fun, Tresk said.
Theo groaned. I dont like fun.
Chapter 46: I Got Soup!
Chapter 46: I Got Soup!
Well, why not celebrate? Azrug asked.
Tresk, Azrug, and Theo were walking to Xams tavern, intent on taking part in her infamous soup. The Marshling was in a good mood. She exined to the pair how her dungeon clearing went, including the ring she got. More monster cores, between level 10 and 15, were added to the stockpile. Before long, theyd have enough to send the town to level 15, giving them ess to the defensive slots on the walls. That was the most important defensive measure, in the alchemists mind. It was an all-consuming need that he wanted to sate.
The Marsh Wolf Tavern was decently upied when they arrived. Azrug scampered off to talk to his sister at the counter while they found a table. Theo was excited when he spotted Zankir, sitting with another Khahari cat person he didnt recognize. He asked for permission to sit at the table, the best table in the tavern, and they epted.
Mayor. Youre an interesting Dronon, Zankir said, grinning. He gestured widely to the woman sitting next to him. My wife. Zansal.
Nice to meet you! Tresk said, holding out her hand for the woman to shake. Theo shook her hand as well.
That was fast, Zankir, Theo said. I thought you had to go further north.
My wife, in her infinite wisdom, knew Id findnd here. She met me part-way, Zankir said.
Hes predictable, Zansal said, grinning. I could tell the moment he left, his heart was set.
Zankir shuffled his feet awkwardly, busying himself with his soup. The children love it. I love the walls.
Yes, walls. Very safe, Zansal said. Its not what I expected.
So, do all cat people have Zan at the start of their name? Tresk asked, casting her eyes toward Azrug. She was hungry.
Khahari, Theo corrected, poking Tresk in the arm. Calling them cat people is rude.
Tresk shrugged.
Its a surname, Zansal said. Youbine a Khaharis given name with their surname to make their full name.
I got soup! Azrug shouted,ing in from behind. Whatever he was discussing with Xam was done.
Theo eyed the soup suspiciously. It didnt seem like the regr stuff that Xam made, something he was happy for. Taking a sip of the broth, he found that the vor had improved. He would have felt guilty about pushing her to improve her recipe, but the food really wasnt worth the price. Not that hed utter those thoughts out loud.
Isnt this fun, Theo? Tresk asked, beaming.
She thinks youre working too much, Azrug blurted out. His eyes went wide as soon as he said it.
Tresk vanished from the spot, quickly reappearing behind the horrified Half-Ogre. She whispered something in his ear and then vanished again, reappearing in her seat as though nothing happened.
Fun, right? Tresk asked.
Theo let out a heavy sigh. He had hit the ground running when he arrived in Broken Tusk, never taking time for himself. There was just too much to do, and he didnt want to fall behind. The constant threat of the unknown loomed behind him like a tide, threatening to wash over everything he worked so hard to build. It wasnt something he wanted to face, but the concept of burnout lingered in his mind like a storm cloud. The rain began outside, punctuating his thoughts.
Youre right, Tresk, Theo said. Ive been going too hard. I havent even worked on my alchemy book.
You could write some memoirs! Tresk said. People love reading about outworlders.
Theo grunted, taking another bite of his soup. It might have been mystery meat, but it was good this time. Xam spent a lot of time working on the broth, and it showed. He suspected that someone brought it up, likely someone who enjoyed nightly meals at the Newt and Demon.
Lets try to take some time off, Theo said. Every now and again.
Our people keep two days for rest during the week, Zankir said, smiling.
At least, Zansal said. The desert is a different ce, though. Its too hot to work, most days.
Tresk, youre just as bad. You hit the dungeon every day. Azrug cant even talk. The only time he took a break was when he got his cores, Theo said. Maybe Im not the only one with a problem.
Tresk narrowed her eyes at the alchemist, poking him in the ribs. Because your work ethic is infectious.
Ive heard of the Tarahek, Zansal said. The best parts of your personality bleed over to the other. The stronger your core gets, the more powerful that bond is.
Theo nodded. Hed already deduced something important about the way cores progressed, but hadnt put it to words. The stronger a core got, the more of its essence bled into the user. With his [Drogramath Alchemy] core, that was alchemical knowledge, and the processing of essences. Every step that he took toward level 10, he gained a new perspective on the way it worked. This was a feature of the system that wasnt exined. He noticed a simr effect with his [Tarahek Core], allowing him to get a better read on Tresk.
The Tarahek wasnt just a bond, though. It was as though the core knew what was best for both people, pushing them in a direction that would enhance both of their lives. So, while the core might im to be a bonding core, there were more hidden features sitting just under the surface. Theo suspected that the cores primary function was to elevate both users above their station and had more theories about core interaction that werent in any documentation he read.
These thoughts washed over him as conversation turned to smaller things, mostly concerning the Khaharis children. The kids couldnt get over the nts in the swamnds and were already dazzled by the wide array of new things in Qavell. They made friends with some Half-Ogre children already, cementing their ce in the town. A thought for another project entered Theos mind, but he banished it. Hed take Tresks not-so-subtle prodding to heart.
I should summon Fenian, Theo said. I have his order, but I wanted to make some more potions. But I had an idea about funding the defenses.
Theo exined his idea about epting donations for the cause.
Why wouldnt they have an interest in defending the town? Zankir said. Adventurers can make a lot of moneyI make a lot of money.
You make decent money, Zansal corrected. Dont go spending our savings.
It would be voluntary, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. He held up his hand with the ring, running his thumb over the length of the band. How much would this fetch?
Dont sell my ring! Tresk shouted.
Azrug rubbed his hands together, pulling Theos hand close for inspection. Without a [Loremaster] to unlock the additional effects? Hard to say. Ive been talking with the adventurers whoe into the store a lot. Magical items like this go between 20 silver and a gold, depending on the effects.
So, the adventurers are loaded, Theo said.
Im not rich, Tresk said, scowling.
Because you dont sell your loot, Azrug said. I bet you have 10 gold worth of junk in your bag.
Tresk narrowed her eyes, staring at the Half-Ogre boy. Maybe.
Theo waved them away. That wasnt the point, of course. His point was that the adventurers were making money, and would likely be fine parting with their money. Those who held houses in the town had an interest in its defense, even if their expenses were many. An adventurer would burn through potions to keep themselves alive, and cores to upgrade their current cores.
Tresk and Azrug argued with each other while Theo withdrew Fenians crystal. The Elf trader was happy toe to town tomorrow, iming that he had a new form of transportation. The alchemist could only imagine what that was, but pushed the thought aside. He finished his soup as the pair argued, content with the day. Slowing down had its merits, but he knew that. Only after he finished his soup did Tresk tug at his arm, urging him toward the door.
Lets take a walk, Tresk said. Theres still daylight.
Its raining, Theo said, poking his head out of the door.
Hush, it''s fine, Tresk said.
Theo reluctantly joined her under that deluge, feeling his clothes soak through immediately. She dragged him east toward the river, refusing to let him stop to harvest herbs. They just stood there at the bank of the river, casting their gaze over the raging water. The alchemist felt his thoughts join together in that moment. The rain let up, the constant sheet of water reducing to a light drizzle.
This is good, Theo said, nodding. Ive been busy for so long, but theres a lot I need to think about.
Like what? Tresk asked.
I have theories about core progression. Things that should be written down, Theo said. Or, perhaps it''s just my cores.
Well, lets hear it.
Theo exined his idea of core progression. The closer a core got to a level the more knowledge unfurled in the users mind. He gave examples based on what Perg, Luras, and Ziz told him. Their examples werent as extreme as his, but there was still something there. It was enough for him to lock that theory in his mind, but he had doubts.
There are mountains of books on the subject, Tresk said. But I know very little. Ill say this. I didnt experience that with my [Rogue Core], but my [Assassins Core] is much more sensitive. When I upgraded my original core, it was a rush.
Theo nodded. There was anotheryer he didnt understand about cores. The rarity had some effect on his theory, but he didnt have enough information to figure it out. There was that confluence again, staring him right in the face.
Do you know where were standing? Tresk asked.
Theo looked around. Hed been here a hundred times before, collecting the [Water Lilies] from the bank of the river. The river, he said, grinning.
This is the ce that Sulvan metouched came to y the Drogramath Dronon known as Theo Spencer, Tresk said.
Theo took his [Mark of the Burning Eye] between his fingers, rolling the emblem over so it caught the fading light of the day. He remembered Sulvan better than most, though he wished he could forget. The alchemist remained silent as he yed that memory over in his head. It ended well, but he didnt want that to happen again. He felt vulnerable outside of the towns walls.
I remember you screaming in my mind, Theo said.
He was scary, Tresk said. He came into town looking for you, but you know what? It was fine.
You tried to attack him, Theo said, smiling.
I would drive my daggers into the heart of a god for you, Theo, Tresk said.
I would helplessly toss a potion in its face for you, Tresk, Theo said, chuckling.
A rush flooded through Theos chest.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (10%).
[Tarahek Core] leveled up! Level 7.
Hey, we got a level, Tresk said. But, I had a point. You told me about that confluence. Stuffing together to make something else.
Its the only thing Ive been thinking about for a while, Theo said.
But the thing it made was better, Tresk said. From your dying world to a renewed town.
Tresk was getting at something, but Theo couldnt figure it out. She did this sometimes. He yed along, for now. Ive suspected theres something more to my arrival in Broken Tusk. Likely the magic from the Harbinger.
Tresk sighed. I want to make sure youre happy. I want to know that you dont have any ns.
There it was. She was worried about something, but she wouldnt say it out loud. His [Wisdom] allowed him to see through most things, giving him supernatural insight into most topics. The Marshling was still a mystery, most of the time. What ns would I have?
Sulvan, Tresk said. The Harbinger, or Drogramath. I just want to make sure you know that this is your home. You dont have to go on a crusade for either of them.
Theo let out a bark-likeugh. Thats what youre worried about? No, I owe them something. Drogramath doesnt seem to care what Im doing, and the Harbinger enabled this life. I dont have an interest in either of them, he said, grabbing Tresks mmy hand. Ive got everything I need, and I intend to defend it no matter what.
Good, Tresk said, resting her head on his arm.
Theo knew that wasnt the reason she really brought him out here. She wanted him to see that life wasnt just about grinding potions and clearing dungeons. The little things made the fabric of life while the exciting bits only served as bumps on the surface. He had to slow down to appreciate what he had, but there was still more to it. Those slow moments gave him a chance to reflect and let his thoughts settle.
They picked an ambling path back to their home, talking about all the things theyd done since Theo arrived. Tresk exined why she came on so strong, theorizing that the Tarahek was a powerful force that brought people together, even if they didnt know they wanted it. This furthered his idea about the power of cores, and how far theyd go to alter a persons perceived free will. How much of Theo Spencer, the government assassin, was there left? Those impulses and memories were left tattered underneath the new tapestry hed woven. These little moments nketed over his old life like a cloak, shielding him from that life.
Theo and Tresk found their way to the bedroom, using the [Cleansing Scrub] and crawling into bed as the setting sun gave way to twilight outside. The alchemists thoughts stirred, even as the Marshlings snores filled the room. Fenian would arrive in town tomorrow, giving way to his new gambit. If he knew the Elf well, which he did, he woulde with prices on the automated defenses. It would be the first step in his grand n, something that robbed him of sleep for some time.
Chapter 47: Payday
Chapter 47: Payday
Theo could have bolted out of bed, downed his dinner quickly, and got to work on more potions for Fenian. Instead, his soft covers enveloped him for minutes that stretched by without end. Even after Tresk rose to prepare breakfast, he remained. The money hed earn from this job wasnt enough to satisfy the hunger of the town, but he didnt care. He vowed to take it slow, if only for a day.
Whats your n? Tresk asked once he finally rose.
My n is to make a n, Theo said, smiling. He sat at the table by the window, propping it open to let some of the rtively cool night air in. The sun hadnt risen yet.
Tresk responded with a grunt, working her pan to cook two wolf steaks. The tea bubbled away, filling the room with thatforting earthy scent.
Once we turn this page, itll be a different game, Theo said, nodding to himself. I should focus on the farmers, now that I have the Spriggan reagents.
You need to focus on leveling. Thats what you really need, Tresk said.
Of course. It feels like Im getting less experience with these potions. Even when I craft a thousand of them, Im not getting levels, Theo said.
Its like if I tried to get experience fighting level 1 monsters, Tresk said, flipping the steaks. Since you dont have ess to anything higher, youre hitting a wall.
Theo nodded, taking the kettle off the fire and setting it aside. Heid out two cups, pouring the steaming liquid inside. He had no ns to work in theb today, but there was a lot to be done. Rounding up the mercantile seats was hard enough, but with Fenian in town, it would be a madhouse. The Elf trader liked to make his way around the town, trading with everyone for anything imaginable. Even the lure of his new ring couldnt get the alchemist to break the promise he made to himself.
It was a fact of the mayors position that theyd spend days doing things they didnt want to do. Broken Tusk was evolving in front of everyones eyes at an impossible rate, and the administrative duties were many. It mostly involved making sure everyone was happy, or sellingnd to prospective citizens, but the new housing project was an example ofrge-scale work that needed to be done.
Youre joining me today, right? Theo asked.
Of course. Thatd be hypocritical of me if I just ran off to the dungeon after badgering you about taking a day off, Tresk said. She finished with the steaks, distributing them to a te each. Theres so many projects that you want to do, but we need to take it one step at a time.
I wonder when well have time to upgrade this ce, Theo said, casting his eyes around theb. The Newt and Demon was still only level 10. Whatever [Monster Cores] they had would go to the town, representing a mad scramble to level 15.
Ive never seen a town with walls, let alone the defensive upgrades, Tresk said, shoving arge piece of steak in her mouth. She said something after that, but Theo couldnt understand it.
We need more information, Theo said. Seems like were experiencing something mostly unique.
Well, you can hire [Schrs] from the bigger cities, but theyre expensive, Tresk said, finally swallowing the food in her mouth. Some people like to hold information close to their chest.
Drogramath would fit in with them, Theo said, remembering the riddles in his book. Whoever wrote the Drogramath alchemy book obfuscated the information behind poems.
I hate poems, Tresk said, scowling.
But, as with most things, I have a theory for that, Theo said. A built-in defense measure to make sure the wrong hands dont get the information. I think the poems will decode as I level my [Drogramath Alchemy Core].
Goes along with your other theory, Tresk said, grinning.
I have a few theories, dont I? Theo asked, nodding. Maybe too many.
Yeah, focus, Tresk said, taking another bite. One thing at a time.
Theo took that to heart, turning his attention to the food and tea before him. The pair sat in rtive silence, saying a few words here and there through the Tarahek core. When they were finished, they split up to collect the mercantile seats. Theyd meet in the Newt and Demon, as the floor of the shop wasrge enough for a handful of people to stand. That would also solve the problem of finding Azrug, who woulde to work at the shop when he was ready.
Good morning, Perg, Theo said, surprised to find her outside. He raised an eyebrow when Luras emerged from inside the tannery.
Luras winked. Tanner business.
I bet, Theo said. Meeting today. Im going to fleece you guys for money.
At least youre honest about it, Pergughed.
Money for defenses, Luras grunted. Aarok has been going on about it for a while. Hes been hoarding the Adventurers Guild earnings, refusing to join therger guildwork.
Hes consumed by the monster wave problem, Theo said with a nod. I cant bankroll the entire operation like Id want to.
If we divide the cost it shouldnt be a problem, Perg said with a nod. How much do we need to spend?
Theo didnt have an answer to that question. Four defensive tforms, minimum, one for each gate, but the price was a mystery. The function of those defensive structures was also a bit of a question. Fenian would need to exin it to him.
At least 40 gold between us, Theo said. It might be more, but we might get a bulk discountI dont know. I think these people are ustomed to dealing withrger governments, not some backwater town.
Shouldnt be too hard, Luras said. We could settle for two gates covered, if we need. Would that be 20 gold?
Yeah, it should be, Theo said. Thats a good idea.
You need to talk to Aarok, Luras said. He has a better idea of ourbat capabilities. We have many people over level 10 now. Some are approaching 20.
Luras and Perg shared a look, then smiled.
We also have a secret weapon, Perg said, grinning. The adventurers who have gone into the dungeon with Tresk say shes a horror. She jumps from the shadows, spinning like a wild dervish before eviscerating the monsters.
Theo knit his brow. Tresk was at level 11, and had wondered how she was getting so deep in the dungeon. He remembered her saying something about clearing floor 15, and from what he understood the floors of the dungeon scaled to levels. He didnt consider how much of a force she was, but it made sense. The more he understood about the power of cores, and their levels, the more he grasped at the power of her [Assassins Core].
The alchemist felt a buzz from his inventory, a disconcerting haptic vibration that sent him fumbling for Fenians crystal. He withdrew it, sping it tightly in his hand.
Theo, are you outside? Fenian asked.
Im down by the tanner, Theo said, raising a single brow. Whats going on?
Watch this, Fenian said, suddenly hanging up.
A sound like thunder rolled in from the north, shaking the ground under Theos feet. Luras turned on the spot, narrowing his eyes on the horizon and drawing a bow from nowhere. He knocked an arrow, his eyes going wide. Barreling down the cobbled street was a team of steeds unlike anything the alchemist had seen. Four horse-like creatures, wreathed in purple fire, galloped down the way. Their six, multi-jointed limbs ttered over the hard cobbles as they reared their horned heads.
Thatll be Fenian, Theo said, his heart hammering hard in his ears.
The ck carriage, simrly surrounded by an ethereal fire, came to an impossible stop. The creatures simply stopped moving without warning,ing twenty paces away from the ground. Luras let his bow fall to his side, both his and Pergs mouths agape. A door opened on the side of the carriage. Fenian stepped out, holding his arms wide. He wore his traditional attire,plete with too many frills and ruffles. The bangles hanging from his arms ttered together.
Well, what do you think? Fenian asked, far too much excitement in his voice.
I think I need to sit down, Luras said.
A crowd gathered from the north. Theo spotted Azrug among them, his eyes wide.
What good is a traveling merchant without a magical means of conveyance? Fenian asked, pping the rump of one beast. The carriage jerked to the east and took off. Theyre thirsty.
You know how to make an entrance, Perg said,ughing. Ive never seen such beasts.
I wouldnt expect you to, Fenian said. Theyre a rare breed. A distant cousin of the Karatan thought long lost. No more. The joining of powerful magicsmagic not known by mortal minds for eone together for my personal transportation.
Theo didnt want to dete Fenians ego. The Elf had a lot of pride in those horse-things, but to the alchemist they were just horrifying. He turned to Perg and Luras before moving to greet the trader properly.
Could you round everyone else up? Theo asked. Have them meet us at the Newt and Demon.
They both simply nodded in unison, moving past the Elf with suspicious eyes.
Nice to see you, Fenian, Theo said, reaching out a hand. The Elf sped it tightly, shaking with force.
Very nice to see you, my friend, Fenian said. Youre making me richer by the day. By any merchants standards, that makes you family.
Someone said theres demons in town! Tresk shouted into Theos mind.
Its just Fenian. He has some magic horses, Theo said.
Whats a horse?
Later.
Well, lets get our business out of the way, Theo said, gesturing to the Newt and Demon.
Theo locked the door behind them, ascending to the second floor to avoid prying eyes. He didnt mind if everyone knew how much money he made, but he still enjoyed his privacy.
What a far way youvee, Fenian said, letting out a wistful sigh as he sat down near the window. Youll be happy to know Ive sourced some defensive artifices for your walls.
Thats very good news, Theo said. Well meet with the others about thatter. For now, business.
Right, Fenian said. I have an annoying noble breathing down my neckasking for updates by the hour.
Fenian opened a trade and Theo put his potions inside. 2,000 of each restoration potion, 200 wisdom potions and 700 vigor potions. The alchemist knew the merchants ability to do math mentally was superior, and the gold appeared on his side almost immediately. 20 gold sat on the traders side. A number that seemed too high. The Elf epted the trade before he could object.
Yes, that was too much gold, Fenian said. But it''s a bonus. Scarcity is the name of the game up north. A reputable vendor would ask 50 copper per restoration potion before, but theyre pushing toward a silver each. They wont get it, though. People are tight-fisted with their coinexcept these nobles, that isand only those with connections are making sales.
Im d I have you to trade with, then, Theo said.
Youre very lucky, indeed, Fenian said. The world of trade is harsh. Add a war, and things get strange. Vendors ask for more money, and people dont pay it. The vendors who arent greedy make decent coin, but the greedy ones starve. I wont bore you with it.
So, the supplier you found for the defensive things, Theo said, realizing he knew little about them. What kind of cost are we talking about?
Over your budget, Im certain, Fenian said. Let mey something out for you, my friend. From the moment we met, I only wanted to see you rise above the others. For every gold I spend on your order, I make one. Even at wholesale prices, I double my profits. Why wouldnt you deal with the buyers directly? Because youre not in Qavell. These nobles arent good people. If youre not used to the way they do business, theyll take advantage of you. You need a middle-man to get the job done.
You make me sound dependent, Theo said,ughing.
Perhaps, but youve found an honest trader to tie yourself to. That is a stroke of luck if ever Ive seen one, Fenian said. Another trader might offer you what you charged to start with. 5 copper for a potion, what were you thinking? The cost of your next-tier healing potions is going to be obscene.
Although, the process might be more difficult, Theo said.
Worry about thatter, Fenian said. I had a point there, somewhere. Right. I make a fortune from you. For the sake of the future sess of Broken Tusk, Ill source the defensive structures at cost. That means, whatever I pay for them, you pay for them. I wont make a profit, but Ill have assurance.
Assurance that Broken Tusk wont fall to whatever ising, Theo said, his mind drifting. He could normally read other people, but the Elf was impassive. Still, he had his suspicions. You know something about the monster wave, dont you?
Fenian smiled. Monster waves. Thats why I got the magical Karatans out there. Were staring down an event never seen before. If I was a betting man, Id put money on a worldwide monster wave.
Alright, Theo said, feeling ice form in his blood. Thats bad.
Yes, of course. Great for business, though, Fenian said. Ive made a tradition out of this. A gift.
Fenian withdrew something from his inventory and set it on the table. Theo recognized it as a seed core in appearance, but inspected it anyway.
[Chain Lightning Tower]
[Defensive Artifice]
Epic
An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlements wall. Consumes motes to generate a bolt of lightning that skips between enemy targets. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition.
Fenian, Theo said, shaking his head. I want to buy these from you.
And you will, Fenian said. This is the goodwill I bring to you, as my brother. Not by blood, but by bond. Whatever else you need is at cost. 10 gold each, at the moment. Now, shall we trade?
The pair spent some time going through what items he had. Theo needed a few things more than others, namely house seed cores. Fenian honored their old price of 6 for a gold, trading 24 for 4 gold. The alchemist got another defensive artifice for 10 gold, and 10 level 30 [Monster Cores] for 2 gold. This left him with 4 gold and a smattering of change.
Always a pleasure to watch my gold flow back into my pocket, Fenian said, winking.
This is massive, Fenian, Theo said. Well, Ive asked the mercantile seats of the town to join me for a meeting downstairs. I was intending to negotiate for a better price on the defensive tforms, but youve seen to that.
Ah, well. It will be good to see everyone, Fenian said, smiling. Im growing quite fond of this ce.
Chapter 48: Power Draws Power
Chapter 48: Power Draws Power
The Newt and Demons shop became a ce cluttered with bodies. Theck of chairs didnt help things, but Theo cast his eyes over those assembled. There was a loose definition on what determined a mercantile seat, but it came down to who had influence and who had a seed core building within the town. Zankir stood, chatting with Azrug near the entrance. Throk stood with Banurub, Tresk, and Fenian near the wall of potions. Miana, Luras, Perg, Ziz, and Aarok stood near the counter. The mood was light, despite the alchemists expectations. He thought it would be a grim day.
Theo was happy to be wrong. While they faced down a difficult situation, things were already in motion. Any sense of disquiet washed away the moment he saw everyones smiling faces, greeting him as he descended the stairs. He held up a hand for silence, which he got without question.
What an odd bunch, Theo said, trying not tough. We carved something special here, havent we?
Yeah, we did! Tresk said, pumping her fist in the air.
Theres a long road stretching ahead of us, but Im trying to take it slow, Theo said. I have a lot of experimentationing up, so my schedule is going to be tight.
Get to it, Miana said, shing a roguish grin.
Fenian thinks were in for a battering, Theo said. Aarok can confirm that, with the research hes done. A worldwide monster wave is looking more likely by the day, but I imagine Qavell already knows that.
Knows it and wont tell a soul, Throk put in, nodding to himself.
The jerks! Tresk shouted.
Right. Fenian agreed to supply us with defensive tforms at cost, Theo said. 10 gold each, and I already have twothanks to his generous gift.
I have an interest in this town, Fenian said. His voice always had an air of authority. Qavell is small, rtive to the other holdings. Their resources will run dry before long. Youll be on your own out here.
That doesnt change much, Aarok said with a scoff. They send us pocket change to defend the town.
Theyre doing their best, Perg said, shrugging. I cant imagine the cost of a war.
Its extremely expensive, Fenian said, grinning. But, theres money to be made. Potions are in demand, of course, but so is leather, food, and other goods.
What hes trying to say is we need to be a crafting town, Theo said. The resources around Broken Tusk are absurdly rich. Its amazing they havent been tapped before.
Well, there might be more to that than you think, Aarok said, withdrawing a notebook from his inventory. Ogres dont keep good records, and Half-Ogres arent much better. From what I gathered, it was never this rich. The fishermen have pulled in record hauls. Theres a record from a Qavelli surveyor about the mineral deposits. Poor quality marble. Thats what they said.
Our stone is of perfect quality, Ziz said, puffing his chest out.
Zankir cast Theo a look that made his heart beat faster. The alchemist long suspected the adventurer knew more than he was letting on.
There is a story among the Khaharispecifically the Khaharidulte, holders of the oasisabout a convergence, Zankir said. Portents of the apocalypse, or the harbinger of a new world. It is quite poetic, so no one knows how much is true.
A convergence, Theo said, feeling his heart skip a beat.
Of course, Zankir said. In this tale, power seeps through invisible cracks. It bleeds into this world, changing things. For better, for worse.
That seems a little too close forfort, Luras grunted.
Theo thought about all the things that went well for them in Broken Tusk. The stone was one thing, but the way his reagents regenerated so quickly was another.
An interesting tale, Fenian said, waving a dismissive hand. Cautionary, but likely factual. Broken Tusk is prepared, though. Theo has done more to work out defensive measures than you could hope.
A silence settled over the crowd like a sheet. The air stifled around them for a moment before letting up.
Were ready, Azrug said, breaking the silence. He stood as tall as his adolescent form would allow, puffing out his chest and grinning.
We will be ready, Aarok said. We can worry about whats toe, but were preparing.
So, the reason were gathered here, Theo said, clearing his throat. I need help funding the remaining defenses. At least two more [Chain Lightning Towers]. Twenty gold.
Ill pitch in, Azrug said, not missing a beat.
A murmur of agreement spread through the group. Whatever reservations they had about sharing their personal finances fell away in an instant, giving away to a sense of charity that made Theos heart swell. After a whirlwind of shuffling funds and a few arguments, the group produced the coins, handing them to the alchemist willingly. The guilt he felt washed away under the thought of that convergence. Before they continued the discussion, he had 4 [Chain Lightning Towers] in his inventory.
Ill say this before I depart, Fenian said, his tone suddenly somber. Youve built something worth defending here. Whether you realize it or not, youve taken steps to defend yourself from more than monsters. Theres a saying Im quite fond of, although I cannot remember its origin. Perhaps in the Zbar Empirebut thats besides the point. Power draws power.
That statement was enough to set Theos spine in a column of ice, the icy chill seizing in his veins. He knew it was true. Simply considering the threat of war and the invasion of bandits, it was easy to imagine how a group would want to take Broken Tusk for their own. Qavell wouldnt help. They simply couldnt spare the resources. Everything fell to the people in this room, looking at the alchemist as though he was their rightful leader. He didnt feel like he deserved the position.
Let theme, Tresk said, drawing one of her knives. Ill stick em myself.
Me, too, Azrug said. He had nothing to brandish but scowled.
A chorus of voices joined in empty threats to an invisible enemy. Theo smiled. Their business was done for the day. It was an informal meeting that turned into a rallying cry for the town. When the voices died down, he held up a hand to silence thempletely.
Thats all I have today, Theo said. Youre wee to stay, but I have nothing more to say on the matter.
The group managed a collective shrug. They lingered for some time, discussing topics not rted to the end of the world. Eventually, they filed out of the Newt and Demon, leaving Azrug, Theo, Tresk, and Fenian. It was awkward, at first.
Youreing into your own, Fenian said, pping his hand over Azrugs shoulder. The boy blushed under his admiration.
Im getting better, Azrug said.
Hes a natural, Theo said. Tell him about your cores, Azrug.
The boy did just that, going into length on what cores he got and how useful they were. Theo bid farewell to Fenian, promising to keep in contact with him. Tresk joined the alchemist outside, tracing a winding path through the town. They found their way up the battlements on the walls, tracking an aimless path along the perimeter.
Whats your take on all this convergence talk? Tresk asked.
I think theyre right, Theo said.
Theo peered over the crentions of the western gate, watching as a group of adventurers went out into the swamp. That marsh seemed like such a dangerous ce to him, like everywhere outside the walls. The privilege of safety didnte cheap, but it was a constantly evolving thing. There was a lot of work to be done, but today was a day of rest.
Do you think well survive? Tresk asked. She sounded vulnerable, for once.
Well be fine, Theo said. Theres no other option.
Well, were ahead of where we would be without you, Tresk said.
Theo continued his journey along the wall, starting his ascent to the north of town. He spotted Zankirs house in the distance, a steady stream of smoke rising from its chimney. Even at this distance, he could hear the voices of the mans children ying. It was a sound he never thought hed appreciate. It was the sign of a thriving town. He paused before the wall turned east.
Ive done a lot, but not alone, Theo said.
As the wall turned east, the path got dangerous. Theo slipped several times, caught only by Tresks deft hands. The rising hills to the north forced the wall to pitch at a tricky incline. From the northern gate, all of Broken Tusk wasid out for them to see. The people looked like ants from that vantage point.
Have you been to the [Hills Dungeon]? Theo asked.
Nope, Tresk said. Other adventurers have, but its still pretty low.
We should keep information on each dungeon, Theo said. Make sure were clearing the overflow.
Tresk didnt respond as they hooked along the bend, heading south. The sound of chisels against stone chased after them, fading into the distance as they went. Rushing water came next, the sound of the powerful eastern river. The water was a hundred paces from the wall, giving them a splendid view of the londs to the east. The alchemist perched atop the eastern gate, letting out a sigh.
The [River Dungeon] is also concerning, Theo said.
Maybe you can make a water breathing potion, Tresk said.
She was thinking more like him. Potions had been his solution to everything, but that was fading. He sat for a moment, reflecting on the encounter with Sulvan down by the river. There were beings that were impossible to ovee in this world. Things that could kill him on a whim. That kind of world didnt seem very inviting.
Theo and Tresk continued south,ing to the next bend. A rise of hills blocked any sight of the ocean in the distance. He knew it was there, even if hed never seen it before. The alchemist imagined the calls of seabirds and the rush of waves as he looked over the southern gate. He sat, dangling his legs over the inward ledge and smiled. The view from the southern gate was the worst, but it had its charms. The southern section of the town was mostly undeveloped thanks to Pergs tannery. Now that the smell was gone, that would be a different story.
Each stop on the wall was a milestone. A brickid in the road of Broken Tusk. Every memory sat in a special ce in his mind, bringing that webwork of stone tighter. Itid over that man he used to be. Theo Spencer died a long time ago, leaving Belgar in his ce. Why he held onto that name was beyond himperhaps some vestigial piece of himself that his mind refused to let go of.
Gonna sit here for a while? Tresk asked, plopping down next to him.
Theo withdrew a journal hed only used for notes, a quill, and a pen. He smiled, looking over his town. For a while.
The sun rose over the proud Half-Ogre town of Broken Tusk. Theo pressed quill to paper and began to write his thoughts.
Chapter 49: Epilogue
Chapter 49: Epilogue
Theo Spencer,
23rd Day, Season of Blooms,
873rd Year of Balkors Betrayal
Im writing this message in the old Drogramathi script. If youre reading this, youre a Dronon. Hello, fellow Demon. How are you?.
Its a curious thing. To be ripped from your previous life to be deposited in a new one. I dont know who is going to read something like this. Perhaps its just for me, but I feel the need to express my thoughts. As I sit on the walls of my town, looking down at the little lives these people lead, I cant help but feel a sense of pride. My Tarahek, Tresk, sits beside me. Every moment with the woman is a surprise, but she is a rock that I can tether myself to.
Half-Ogres dont live up to their name. Ive never met an Ogre, but I have to imagine theyre not very bright. Id also wager that theyre mean. The people of Broken Tusk, who are mixed among Marshlings and Half-Ogres, are kind. Theyre intelligent in a way that I could never be, and they have a sense formunity and the world as a whole. My mind goes back to my first encounter with one. Her name was Miana Kell, and she wasnt the best first impression.
Miana is a hard woman, I know that, but she has her reasons. I never pry into her business, but its clear that the mantle of mayor was thrust upon her at an early age. Before the convergence, the people of this town were scraping by. They could barely survive.
Luras was my next introduction to the race. He was a man without equal. His kindness in my early days shows the mettle of the Half-Ogres. He was selfless to a fault, and nothing I can do will properly repay him.
On Marshlings, they are the most curious of the races Ive seen so far. Elves might be the most simr to their fantasy counterparts, but Marshlings are chaotic. They speak their mind, even to their detriment, but are fiercely loyal. My Tarahek attacked a level 130 inquisitor. He could have crushed her with little effort, but she did it. Her father, Throk, is equally fierce in his convictions.
Elves, as far as I can tell, are kind enough people. My sample size is small, but Fenian has been a blessing, like I could have never imagined. Ill write more about the man once I figure him out.
Id like to write about the Harbinger, but Im afraid I know little about him. Or her, I realize that its impossible to tell. Between that entity and Drogramath, I keep looking over my shoulder.
A thought lingers in my mind as I write this. My Tarahek left me to my scribbles while she runs around town. I sit here alone now. Theres something I wouldnt even admit to her. I have a strange hope that Yuri Valkov, a man I knew far too little about, might yet still live. Ill write more about himter. He was a hrious guy. That squad we found ourselves in was meant for a single purpose. A suicide mission against some unknowable enemy. If the nukes wouldnt kill him, why would a few soldiers with guns?
I was born into the war, if you could call perpetual conflict that. I didnt know what peace even looked like until 2345. They found me at an early age, in the summer of 2305, if I remember correctly. My father already fell into that never ending machine, and my mother was looking for work. Military indoctrination from an early agethats something to think about. It reminds me of Luras and Aarok applying to the Qavelli irregrs. I wonder if they would sleep as soundly as I do with so much blood on their hands. Im rambling. The famine took my mother from me, and then I saw the beauty of peace. Through old media, of course, the kind of thing they held as contraband. The scales might have fallen from my eyes, but the end was already near. My mother was dead, and the sun was expanding.
The only thing I could do to honor those times of peace was to not pull the trigger. I didnt fire on the Harbinger. If this is my reward for pacifism, Ill do everything I can to make it right by that strange entity.
Who will read my story?
Who, among the countless number in this world, will care about what an alchemist did in the soutnds of a fading kingdom?
I hope that, if youre reading this, you understand I did my best. I worked as hard as I could, turning this ball of mud into something worth talking about. I worked so hard to change who I was. Pushing those thoughts out of my mind as hard as I could. Maybe I washed some blood off my hands that way. Maybe not. Either way, I think the Harbinger would be pleased.
Im not much of a writer. Never have been. These simple thoughts have taken me hours, and Im afraid I have too much work to do. I have a barrier to break through. Perhaps, one day, there will be enough time for my story to be told. By who, I cannot say. Until that time, there are potions to make.
Chapter 2.1: Belgar
Chapter 2.1: Belgar
The battlements on the walls of Broken Tusk sat shrouded in a haze of rain. Each local within the town spoke of the rain with reverence. The Season of Blooms signified the start of a new cycle for them, ushering in a muggy era of muddy boots and unfinished work. Deep into that season saw them cursing those memories they had from childhood. Prayers for the end of the rain and the start of the sweltering heat hung in the minds of them all.
A Drogramath Dronon named Theo Spencer sat atop those battlements, legs hanging over the edge. He kickedzily, whittling away the day as he had done for the past two weeks. The horns on his head swooped, tracing a line with his hair, matted by the constant drizzle. His ck robes were soaked through, masins filling with water. The purple tinge of his demonic skin caught what little light there was, setting off the peerless gaze of his violet eyes. Behind those eyes worked a ceaseless search for answers, though none came.
Of the three cores, resting somewhere in his chest, his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was the most stubborn. While it flooded his mind with unwee thoughts, typically rted to the art of Drogramathi Alchemy, it failed to whisper the secret to push beyond level 9. What little information he gleaned from passing traders and artisans alike failed to push him beyond that barrier. He had it on good authority that he was the only living Drogramathi alchemist in the mortal realm. His peers were locked away in some demonic dimension, banished by the hand of the Order of the Burning Eye.
Theo pressed his hand against his chest, summoning a description of that core with a thought.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core]
Legendary
Alchemy Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 9 (99%)
[Alchemy Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effect:
Increases the synergy of [Alchemy] abilities.
+3 Wisdom
The descendants of Drogramath. That phrase stuck out in his mind like an iron spike driven through his skull. He traced his demonic name, in the old Drononi script, on the wet stone. Belgar. Even when he thought of it in the low Qavelli tongue, it sounded evil. In old Dronon it whispered of greatness. The sort of name hed expect to hear from some influential leader. It didnt sit well with him either way. The strange world he found himself in hinted at neither of those things. While his alchemy helped the people of this town, something else was brewing. The death of Earth shed through his mind in a series of horrific images.
Theos daily ascension of the mighty battlements wasnt for self pity, though. It was an exercise meant to break that barrier. Over the past two weeks, hed gotten closer to the truth of the barrier, but no closer to breaking it. His experiments proved his theories on essences and their vtility. Basic Drogramathi Alchemy remained useless, but the strange poems wereing into focus. Recipes under level 10 held a Drogramath alchemists hand. It removed theplexities of advanced alchemy to give the user a chance to adapt to distition.
When he first arrived at Broken Tusk, he assumed the distition process extracted exactly 1 property from reagents. His theory contradicted that knowledge. The system was the biggest yer in this, creating that safe environment and designating an essence as a single property concoction. This brought him to the core of the issue. His high [Wisdom] score let him know this was the right path. He just needed to prove it.
In the time hed spent experimenting, his [Drogramath Herbalism] core caught up to his alchemy core. He pressed his hand against his chest to inspect his herbalism core.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core]
Rare
Herbalist Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 9 (15%)
[Herbalist Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effects:
+3 Vigor
It was almost on the cusp, and his wisdom once again informed him it would be vital to level this to 10 as well. Theo rose to his feet, letting the gentle patter of rain y over his face. He had a meeting to attend as mayor of Broken Tusk. It was a position that he didnt know he wanted and knew less about how he got. That was a mystery that begged answering, although like his barrier problem, nothing came. The previous mayor was thrust into the position, although she wouldnt exin the exact circumstances. Someone was pulling the string behind the scenes, but they remained cloaked in obscurity. No amount of wisdom could produce the answers to unknowable things.
Theo descended the slippery battlements, intent on checking in on a friend before his meeting. He tracked azy path through the town, sshing in the puddles along the hard, cobbled roads. The roads were something he fought for under his Lord Administrator position, offering to cover the money owed by the town for the choice. He found his way to the ex-hunters core building, which still needed a name. The door was open and Luras sat inside working on one of his projects.
Can Ie in? Theo asked, poking his head inside.
Luras looked up, narrowing his brown eyes and grunting. The Half-Ogres dull ochre skin caught the candlelight inside, his proud features standing out in the gloom. Youre wet.
Theo withdrew a vial of [Cleansing Scrub] from his inventory, cing a droplet on the crown of his head and smiling. The scrub worked across his body in a wave of white light, removing both water and grime from his clothes and body. Luras grunted his approval and Theo entered.
Youre still stuck, Luras said as Theo took a chair.
The alchemist craned his neck to get a look at the masin the Half-Ogre was working on. The design improved significantly since.
Desperately stuck, Theo said.
Youll find no help from the artisans here, Luras said.
That was true. The artisans, a name that Theo had coined though not at all original, were the producers ofpleted goods. They faced barriers between levels that others didnt. For leatherworking, the barrier was well known. Some more obscure cores were harder to find information on, and often came at a price from schrly cults that clung onto the information as though their life depended on it.
After a silent moment, Luras spoke again. Tell me what you know.
Theo smiled, going through everything hed learned so far. Essence extraction was, under level 10, a simple thing. An alchemist simply ced reagents in a still, heated it, and extracted the unpurified essence. Those essences would react with catalysts, typically [Copper Shavings]. Essences could also interact with each other, typically resulting in explosive results. The goal with the extraction process was to create potions. He continued, detailing the impurities within his current essence production process.
Catalysts, Luras said, grunting the word. You told me a lot about how the unpurified essences respond to catalysts. Your theory centers on impure essences.
Theo furrowed his brow. Right.
So, have you tried experimenting with different catalysts? Luras asked.
Something shifted in Theos mind. He didnt think to consider that fact, immediately falling back into his thoughts. His books mentioned different catalysts, but they were too unstable to try at his level. One catalyst hed used before was [ky Agate], which was used to create [Stabilized water].
Theo, lost in his own thoughts, muttered, thanks, before leaving through the door.
Luras didnt bother responding, knowing the alchemists behavior too well. The rain still fell outside, ying a beat that quickened Theos thoughts. He worked a winding path back to the alchemyb, bypassing the front entrance and moving into the gravel yard in the back. Shards of magic ss crunched underfoot as he crouched near the far end of the yard. The trees above swayed with a gust of wind, the relentless storm pushing in from the south.
This was the constant push and pull that Theo felt. The urging of his [Wisdom] stat, mixing with his powerful [Drogramath Alchemy Core] shoved him in the right direction. Often, hecked the [Intelligence] to interpret the vague whispers, but Luras was right. Catalyst reactions were one of those guarded secrets, even by the alchemy world. That hidden piece of knowledge was worth a fortune, he realized.
Theo withdrew a vial of [Hallow Ground Essence] from his inventory. The [Hallow Ground] property was the closest thing he had to an advanced reagent,ing from a rare truffle that grew under the ground. It was another strange twist of fate that he found some, but it became clear at that moment. He unstoppered the bottle, withdrew a piece of [ky Algate], dropping it in and retreating to a safe distance.
The reaction was swift and violent. A column of white fire shot from the vial, dramatically shattering it to pieces. The mes licked the wet canopy above as the air filled with a mingling smell of burning foliage and peppermint. A wave of light washed over the yard, stinging Theos skin. He shielded his eyes and waited for the reaction to stop, but it remained for a few moments before finally abating.
Theo felt the familiar tingle in his mind as his soul-partner, Tresk, sent a telepathic message.
Is the town on fire?
The words came with a tone of urgency, but the alchemist was distracted. A wave of knowledge flooded through his chest, born from the [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. Whispers wed at the back of his neck, seeking to gain purchase but finding the stout barrier Sulvan metouched had erected. The [Grandmaster Exalted Extra-dimensional Tracking Blocker] red on his chest, wrapping him in ribbons of holy light. He felt something shrink back from the barrier, stung by the smiting power of the Order of the Burning Eye. A system message shed, but he ignored it.
A voice filled his head for only a moment. The tone was disappointed, every word drawn out. Another time, perhaps.
Theo sat on the wet gravel for some time, his breathing inbored gasps. Whatever foresight the order had was appreciated. He didnt need to let the knowledge of the experiment seep into his mind; it was already there. He checked the system messages to confirm his suspicions.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (1%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 10.
Obtained free [Drogramath Alchemy] skill point for hitting level 10 with this core.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an additional skill slot!
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an enhanced effect: +4 wisdom.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an additional effect: [Unstable Material Handling]
Your [Grandmaster Exalted Extra-dimensional Tracking Blocker] has prevented the entity [Drogramath] from consuming your soul!
Further attempts by [Drogramath] will alert the [Order of the Burning Eye].
Your [Mark of the Burning Eye] has been activated.
[Sulvan metouched] has been alerted to the presence of a Demonic God.
Theo only had a moment to think about his discovery. The [ky Agate] reacted with the 3rd property still present in the [Hallow Ground Essence], causing a violent reaction. This solidified everything he theorized about excess properties in essences, earning him level 10 in the core. The issue was, Sulvan was alerted. The man would be there any moment.
Everything is fine, Theo said to Tresk. Sulvan is going to show up, I think.
What!?
The sound of heavy footfalls came from around the corner, falling wetly on the soaked ground. Luras turned the corner with a bow, an arrow nocked and ready. His eyes scanned the area, then he rxed.
You need to warn people when youre experimenting on Luras started.
A sound like a thunderp shook the ground under Theo. A mountain of a man appeared at the far end of the gravel yard, sword held aloft and glowing with white fire. His only remaining eye twitched over the scene, a look of relief washing over his face. His pitted face was covered in a sheen of sweat mingling with the falling rain. Another sound filled the gravel yard and another man Theo didnt recognize appeared.
The interloper wore a long, threadbare robe and held aloft something that looked like no more than a tree branch. His features were simrly marred by a series of scars that ran the length of his sharp face. By the alchemists measure, this one was an Elf. A chain hanging from the mans neck betrayed him as a member of the order.
Youre far too fast, Sulvan, the Elf said.
Youre far too slow, you old doddering fool, Sulvan grunted, returning his sword to his hip. The Pdin strode over, lifting Theo off the ground and tugging at his clothes to reveal the tattoo on his chest. What happened?
Theo gave him the short version of the encounter.
Nonsense, the Elf said, gaining a withering gaze from Sulvan.
Your manners arecking, Sulvan said. This is Uharis, Archmage of the Burning Eye. Hes itching forbat.
As are you, Uharis spat. I nearly soiled myself when the ward alerted us of Drogramath himself. In the middle of the soutnds.
Luras stayed at the edge of the building, not daring to interfere in the duties of a level 130 Pdin. He watched as the Archmage waved his hands, muttering something before shrugging.
Its a quirk of his heritage, Uharis said. The more power he gains, the closer to Drogramath he gets. He just hit level 10 with his [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. My, what an interesting turn of events. Id very much like to study
Silence, wizard, Sulvan said, casting another look of daggers at him.
Suddenly, a small form burst from the shadows. Her pale pink body dove for Sulvan, leading with her daggers as the frills on the side of her head bounced.
Get away from Theo! Ill kill ya! Tresk shouted.
Sulvan simply held his hand out, stooping low to keep the enthusiastic Marshling at bay. She swung her daggers wildly, hitting only air.
Tresk, its fine, Theo said. I hit level 10. Drogramath tried to talk to me.
Ill kill him, too! Tresk shouted, growling.
Sulvan let the Marshling go, a smile creeping across his face. Tresk lost the nerve, whatever rage she felt fizzling out in an instant.
Theyre here to help, Luras said from around the building.
Theres nothing to help, Sulvan said, straightening up. He ced his hand on Theos chest, energy swirling in motes of light, before backing away.
Id really like to stay for a while, if you dont mind, Uharis said, eyes bright.
Sulvan rolled his eyes. Fine. A day. No more.
Uharis was giddy with excitement, dancing in ce. Sulvan disappeared in a rush of wind, off to find some more demons, no doubt. The Archmage had a wide grin on his face.
He cant teleport, you know, Uharis said, raising his eyebrows. He ran here. From Qavell.
Theo let out abored groan as the sound of more feet came padding around the corner. The entire town came to investigate the disturbance.
Nothing to see here! Tresk shouted, puffing out her chest and waving at those gathered. Just interdimensional demon business. Move along.
Uharis came to p a hand over Theos shoulder. Come, tell me how you came to be here.
Theo grimaced. The Elf stank of ale and wet clothes. It was going to be a long day.
Chapter 2.2: Miana Kell
Chapter 2.2: Miana Kell
A candle burned in theb''s corner on the second floor of the Newt and Demon. The slow drizzle outside gave way to a downpour, the open window providing a constant drone of noise. Several chairs sat by the open window surrounding a table. Theo sat, drumming his fingers on the table as the mad wizard went around hisb, remarking about everything.
The situation was something he expected, though. It was amazing that no wizards, or other folk interested in the appearance of an outworlder, had showed up to inspect Theo. Things seemed to fall by the wayside in Qavell, a fact not unnoticed by the alchemist. Tresk stood at the far end of the room, arms folded as she watched the wizard. Her figure was hardly imposing, standing at nearly half the height of the Dronon and several heads shorter than the elf. There was no need to inspect the Archmage. It was obvious he was a high level, and that action was often seen as rude in this world.
Uharis pricked his finger on the spikes of the [Drogramath Still] cursing before turning to meet Theos gaze. He managed a sheepish smile, then shrugged.
Azrug appeared at the top of the stairs, Theos shopkeeper. The boy had recently gained his cores, finding himself with useful, mercantile cores that made his job easier. His sister ran the towns tavern, a woman who bore the same sharp, hawkish features and pale red skin. He lingered there, eavesdropping without a thought to stealth.
Uharis straightened up, smoothing back a head of greasy hair. Theo couldnt stand the stench of the man and withdrew a bottle of [Cleansing Scrub] from his inventory, crossing the room and thrusting it into the Archmages hand.
You stink, Theo said.
Ah, yes, Uharis said, dumping the entire bottle over his head.
Youre just supposed to use a drop, stinky, Tresk said.
No, Theo said. Its better this way.
Light swirled around the Archmage, furiously scouring away the mans horrid smell. After a moment, he let out a long breath and smiled. This has already been enlightening, but I have some questions, Uharis said.
Questions will cost you, Azrug blurted from the door.
Merchants, Uharis said with a shrug. So discerning.
Questions for questions, Theo said, thinking on his feet for once. Ill ask you one, then you ask me one.
Well, thats fair. I had a line of questioning closer to how are you handling the transition, but I see youre handling it well, Uharis said.
The Elf bore a crooked grin that Theo didnt want to trust. Hed learned recently that information was valuable.
The world-wide monster wave, Theo said. What do you know about it?
World-wide? Certainly not. Thats nonsense. Oh, naturally you ask about this firsthow did you even know? Sorry, that was a question, Uharis said, clearing his throat. Across all of Iaredin? Not likely. It seems to be localized to Etul, but perhaps even more localized to the soutnds of Qavell.
Theo had more questions about that. He didnt know what Iaredin or Etul was. He shuffled ufortably, facing the fact that he wasnt well informed in this world. His haste to build up Broken Tusk left fragments of information that couldnt be filled so quickly. Uharis picked up on this and broadened his grin.
Ill allow a follow-up question to that. I can see your confusion, Uharis said.
Iaredin and Etul, Theo said, his face flushing. I dont know what those are.
Ah! An easy one. You know, Im an instructor for some of the more prestigious schrly cults in the realm, Uharis said, beaming. Allow me to instruct you.
Iaredin is what people call the world, Etul is the continent were on, Tresk said, scowling.
Uharis shot her a baleful gaze. Iaredin is more than the name of the world, girl. Well, I guess thats what it is, but
Thats all I wanted to know about that, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand.
Well, I thought you were one that enjoyed knowledge, Uharis said, puffing up. Ill spare the lecture. Iaredin is from the old Elf tongue, and Etul was constructed by the Humans. Now, my turn. Who brought you here? This was not a standard transition.
Theo knit his brow. That question was harder to answer than giving a simple name. The entity that sent him to this world never gave its true name, simply earning the title of Harbinger from the alchemists. He thought about giving the Elf the runaround but decided against it.
I dont know its name, Theo started, drifting into his thoughts for a moment. An entity. It looked like a bird-person. I dont think he caused the end of my world. It was just watching.
Curious, Uharis said, nodding. A watcher of some kindIve heard of such beings. Well, Ive read about them. In folk tales and legend, but theres never been a first-hand ount.
It had to be powerful, right? Theo asked.
Most people shrugged him off when he talked about the Harbinger. They knew nothing about the entity and provided little in the way of information. Even a folktale was more than he could hope for.
That doesnt count as your question, Uharis said, striding across the room. He made an excited noise when he found the teapot, materializing something from his inventory and dropping it inside. With a slight gesture, the teapot floated into the air and a small me appeared underneath. Naturally, it must be powerful. Even gods have trouble crossing between dimensions, even between their own realm and ours. To pierce the veil between our world and yours. Now, thats power. Your question.
What can we do about our dungeons? Theyre growing in power, Theo asked.
Uharis swiped his hand, stoking the fire under the teapot. Nothing. I wont y dragons w with you. Illy it out inly. This seems to be your chief concern, and I dont me you. As mayor, its your duty to protect this town. Theres a concentration of magic, something unnatural. This is a lecture, but Ill be brief. Sometimes dungeons form a connection. It requires study, but I believe the four dungeons I detect around here are all connected with each other, and other dungeons throughout the kingdom. The alteration is intentional.
Who? Tresk asked, baring her teeth.
Ah, answer that and youll have a kings bounty, Uharis said. Although I didnt agree to answer any more questions. No, I suppose it''s academic. No, Ill pose another question. May I stay here for a week? The concentration of magic here is particrly powerful.
Ten gold, Azrug blurted out. All eyes turned to him, forcing the red on his cheeks to go a deep shade of crimson.
Shrewd, Uharis said. Do you know what my sry is with the order, boy? Dont answer that.
Wizards find all kinds of magical things. Youre level 80! You have at least 9 cores, Azrug said, narrowing his eyes. You can afford it.
I have 11 cores, Uharis said, shing a devious grin. That is a secret worth selling, boy. Fine, 5 gold upfront, then 5 when Im done.
The Elf produced five coins from nowhere and handed them to Theo. The alchemist didnt hesitate to shove them in his inventory. He expected the tax collector to show up 5 days ago, but still hadnt heard from the capital. The meeting, which he was dangerouslyte for, was to talk about that.
Thank you, Theo said.
Youre most wee, Theo, Uharis said.
Theo didnt remember giving the Elf his name, but he reasoned the Archmage had methods for obtaining that.
Uharis finally poured a cup of tea and slurped it down without cooling the steaming liquid. He grimaced, let out a long breath, then yelped. The Elf slouched for a second before straightening out again, pounding his chest and nodding to himself. He marched out of theb without saying another word.
I wonder what kind of tea that was, Tresk said, scoffing.
Theo inspected the leaves at the bottom of the pot.
[Sanchrin Leaves]
Rare
The Sanchrin nt grows on the slopes of high mountains. Their leaves are said to relieve nausea.
Properties:
[Cure Hangover] ???? ????
Theoughed, dumping the remaining leaves out the open window. It cures hangovers.
The group shared a look before bursting intoughter. That the powerful Archmage was hungover didnt surprise the alchemist at all. It was a wonder the Elf didnt simply teleport away, but Theo was thankful for that.
With that, I ask that you all get out of myb, Theo said, gesturing to the door. Imte for a meeting with Lauris.
Im gone! Tresk said, vanishing on the spot. Her voice then came from nowhere. I teleported.
We know youre just invisible, Azrug said, receiving no reply.
This shouldnt take long, Theo said, withdrawing themunication crystal from his inventory and taking a seat.
Good luck, Azrug said.
Theo squeezed the glowing crystal in his hand, feeling the familiar sensation of being tugged through infinity by his navel. Pirs of shapeless mist rose around him, the only source of light a dim glow from the sky. The mist formed, creating a tform where he was unceremoniously ced. The form he took was an incorporeal, dark body that only approximated his real visage. An unfamiliar shape churned in the darkness at the other end of the tform,ing together to form someone the alchemist didnt recognize. It was a lizard-like person, but the shape was too vague to make assumptions as to exactly which type.
Greetings, mayor, the voice said. I am Lauris recement, Banthub.
Theos heart skipped a beat. What happened to her?
The figure paused for a tense moment, pressing a wed finger against his obscured face. Nothing to be concerned about.
Which meant it was something to be concerned about. Something was stirring in Qavell, but Theo was too far removed to figure it out. He assessed the facts of the situation many times, but always came up short. For the moment, he would attribute it to the war in the west, something he knew little about.
Im here about the taxes, Theo said.
Right, Banthub said, shifting on the spot. There have been issues in the capital. Nothing to be concerned about, I assure you, but were working to resolve the problem.
Issues? Theo asked.
Ah, well it''s nothing that concerns a town like Broken Tusk, Banthub said. He titled his head and let out a surprised sound. You only owe around a gold. Thats curious.
That was less than Theos calction, although his math was bad. Luras, who had been pumping more [Intelligence] for some reason, ran the number for him and came up with a 5 gold total, rounding up. Between the taxes on the property, and the massive sales the town had been doing, they should have owed 10 percent of the total value. There had to be a mistake.
That doesnt line up with my books, Theo said.
Nor mine, Banthub said. A collector should be able to reach your town soon. Once we clear theonce we find the right person for the job. The tally must be an issue on our end. Were having some issues with the kingdom seed core in Qavell.
Once we clear the what? Theo thought. His [Wisdom] hinted at something he didnt want to consider, so he pushed it away.
What do you rmend we do? Theo asked.
Well, your town was already behind by a few silver, nothing absurd. Thats the main reason we reced the previous mayor, that andah, sorry. Im rambling. I rmend you pay the amount youve calcted. You can choose how the excess is used.
What are my options? Theo said, making a mental note of the mans next slip.
We can invest it, put it toward future payments, or toward the war effort, Banthub said.
Theo thought before responding. The war effort, that was an interesting thought. He was reminded of war bonds on Earth, a thing that almost came back in their most recent world war. This was nearly 300 years before his time, a fact written in books but not experienced by anyone still living.
How is the war going? Theo asked.
Listen, I dont know, Banthub said. Im an [Administrator] for the crown, nothing more. I handle finances, but thats about it.
Sore subject, Theo said, neglecting to bring his voice below a whisper.
It is. Now, is that all? Banthub asked.
Im also interested in more stipends for my adventurers, Theo said.
Youre already getting the maximum allowanceactually, youre getting more than you should get. Lauris really messed this up, but I cant change it. Told you, the core is acting weird, Banthub said. Youre doing fine for yourself. Just thank the gods youre not in the western provinces.
Alright, thank you, Theo said.
Banthub ended the connection without responding, sending Theo tumbling up into the air. He mmed into his real body again, nearly falling out of the chair. Both Tresk and Azrug were standing there, poking at his face. The alchemist tried, and failed, to bat their hands away.
You two are the worst, Theo said.
Howd it go? Tresk asked.
Poorly, Theo said, exining the meeting. He slipped up more than once, although I wasnt trying to catch him on anything. Someone wanted me in the mayors seat, perhaps specifically Miana out of the position. Theres also trouble in Qavell. Thats why the tax collector never showed.
Fenian might know, Azrug said.
Fenian knowswithout a doubt, Tresk said. That Elf is hiding something.
Seems like everyone is hiding something, Theo said. I think I need to talk to Miana.
Miana Kells house sat on the southern edge of Broken Tusk, far from the northern center of town. It was a squat, level 1 seed core house made of stone and a tted roof. The chimney that poked from the edge of the roof bore wisps of a fire. Theo knocked on the door and a momentter, she answered.
Miana was a hard woman at the best of times. Shed been tempered in the fires of leadership, even when she wanted to do anything else. She was as tall as Theo, as most Half-Ogres were, with light olive skin and her ck hair kept short. The look in her eyes was one of constant annoyance, but the alchemist smiled.
Hello, Miana, Theo said.
Youre ruining my retirement, Miana said. Still, she gestured for him toe inside.
Theo sat near the firece, swishing his tail to the side and regarding the interior. It was a simple home. Some ancient heraldry hung from the far wall near the window, a bed sitting in the far corner. Miana sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her face and groaning.
What do you want? Miana asked.
Ive put this off for longer than I care to admit, Theo said, withdrawing 2 gold coins from his inventory. He handed them over to her, watching as the system shed a window into his vision.
[Pay Your Debts] Complete!
The quest came with no rewards, but it felt good to have it out of his quest long, which was now empty. Miana smiled, nodding.
Is that the actual reason youre here? Miana asked.
She could sense that he had more on his mind than paying his debts. Something lingered in the back of his mind that he wanted to bring to the fore.
Who forced you out of the mayor''s position? Theo asked.
Mianas eyes lit up for a moment, extinguishing immediately. It wasnt something that Theo missed; he was far too perceptive.
I stepped down on my own. You were doing a great job, Miana said, almost monotone.
Well, if that isnt a pile of Karatan crap, Theo said. Out with it. Ive got too little information as it is. I dont need someone in my town that wants to hide secrets.
Your town, Miana said, shaking her head. Yes, I suppose this is your town. Perhaps all the soutnds are yours, as well. Maybe even the pass into the seawhy not the ocean itself? You can have the desert and Khahar while youre at it. Why not build a kingdom?
Come on, Theo said, his shoulders slumping. I took the position to help people.
Miana regarded him for a moment before staring into the fire. Her eyes lingered there for a moment, as though something was on the edge of her mind.
A man, Miana said. Something broke inside her then, Theo could see. Contacted me through the crystal. I was given instructions before you arrived.
Theos brow knit tight on his forehead, sweat forming in the deep-set paths. The fire was blisteringly hot, but Miana stoked it that way.
Thats not possible, Theo said. Who could have known Id arrive here?
Miana managed a sheepish shrug, turning her attention to picking at the fabric of her bedsheets. She was more of a scolded child at that moment, all bravado fell away in thick tes of shame. He wondered how long shed been keeping this secret, and the cost of it all.
How long? Theo asked.
Years, Miana said with a shrug. Gods, I cant even remember anymore.
The ex-mayor pulled a notebook out from a cupboard and flicked through the pages, pressing her finger on one and shaking her head. A look of pain shed across her face.
850, Year of Balkors Betrayal, Miana said. 23 years ago.
Whatever distrust for Miana he felt melted away at that moment. Shed been sitting on a secret for that long, telling no one. The cost must have been too great to betray this man, whoever he was. This left the alchemist with more questions than answers, a state of being he was growing ustomed to.
What did he say, exactly? Theo asked.
Miana turned, holding the journal so it caught the light of the fire. In the 873rd year of Balkors Betrayal, a demon will appear in Broken Tusk. From the Earth into the sky then the farm. Nurture him, for he will turn the tide.
Her voice was a lilting thing, barely above a whisper.
Theos heart was hammering hard in his ears. The confluence of events hed predicted went wider than he expected. The entire thing was some damned prophecysomething he wanted nothing to do with. He was left with a single question. How deep did it go?
Anything else? Theo asked, swallowing his fear.
Instructions, Miana said, shrugging. Keep the town at a low level, preserve the alchemists building, and manage the dungeons.
Theo stood, pacing between the firece and the door. This is too much, Miana. No one knows?
Not a soul, Miana said. He had coteral.
There it was. The thing the alchemist feared from the outset. His list of suspects was long, but Drogramath was on the top of it. There was also Fenian, but that didnt line up well. The Harbinger could have been at the root, but that entity seemed uninterested at best. Then there were the countless actors in the kingdom of Qavell, including the Order of the Burning Eye.
Did you get what was yours back? Theo asked.
A smile yed across her face, something that drove a dagger through Theos heart. Yes.
Theo moved to the door, cing a shaking hand on the handle. His body trembled, clothes soaked through with a mixture of rainwater and sweat. For the first time since his arrival in the town, he doubted. He doubted himself. His ability to see them through whatever storm was on the horizon. The idea that his cause was just.
I need to gather my thoughts, Theo said, his voice quavering. Ill be back with more questions.
Theo, Miana called, forcing him to turn around. She had tears in her eyes, begging relief at the corners. Another dagger through his heart. Youre a good mayor. Whatever this was, you were the right pick.
I feel like Ill need to be more than good, Theo said, something catching in his throat.
Chapter 2.3: High Pressure Refining
Chapter 2.3: High Pressure Refining
Theo tried hard to push the intrusive thoughts out of his mind. Not even the endless list of new abilities gave him relief. He stood outside of Mianas house, staring into the sheets of rain for what felt like hours. Tresk sent telepathicmunications several times, but he ignored them for the time being. A p of thunder from the south woke him from his stupor. He blinked away the rain, looking over the town that he helped upgrade.
I have some information, Theo said, sending a message to Tresk.
He exined how sensitive the information was. Despite her sporadic behavior, the woman could be trusted with a secret. Hed told her many things in the past that he knew she would take to the grave. She responded attentively, voicing her concerns where appropriate and listening to others. He could feel her emotions in his chest, somewhere near his [Tarahek Core].
This changes nothing, Tresk said. If someone wants you here, thats fine. But were making our own fortune. They cant have youyoure mine.
I knew youd have a positive spin on this, Theo said.
He wanted to be more upset about the situation, but he wasnt. It changed nothing in the wider world and still ced them at the center of a conflict he wanted nothing to do with. Power was the only thing that mattered. Fenians words echoed through his mind then, a quirk of his [Wisdom] giving him near perfect recall.
Power draws power.
It was some saying from a long-forgotten empire named Zbar, if the Elf could be trusted. Broken Tusk had been given the reins to power, and it would draw others to it. As mayor, he would need to be ready to face whatever power came to wash over them. He needed to turn the tide. Whatever that meant.
Theo returned to theb, bypassing Azrugs questions and closing the door behind him. A new skill appeared in his avable skills window. He had scrolled through the endless barrage of skills in the past, but this was the first one with a level requirement. He inspected the skill.
[High Pressure Refining]
Alchemy Skill
Umon
Requires: [Drogramath Alchemy Core] level 10
Pressure has an interesting effect on essences. This skill allows you to safely operate a pressure vessel. Learning how a pressure vessel works is up to you.
Effect:
Allows the user to operate an alchemical pressure vessel safely.
Gives the user ess to refined essence identification.
+1 Intelligence
He learned to wait before selecting things by this point. The intelligence boost would be appreciated, but it was a single point. The real gem of the skill was exactly what he expected from hitting level 10. It gave ess to an additional step of essence refinement. Before taking the plunge, he opened his copy of Basic Drogramathi Alchemy and flipped through the pages. Most of it was still in riddles, but one section stood out. Half of the poems were now reced with something the alchemist could understand. This section detailed the [High Pressure Refining] skill, confirming his suspicions.
ording to whatever Demon had penned this book, [High Pressure Refining] was a necessary skill. It allowed the alchemist to remove the impurities from the essence distition method. He breathed a sigh of relief as he went over the instructions. They were detailed. Unlike the massive amount of guesswork hed done in the past, he now had explicit instructions on how to perform the process. Each reagent produced at least 3 properties. When distilled into an essence, that essence contained impurities, which amounted to the other properties. When put under extreme pressure and in the presence of a catalyst, these additional impurities were removed.
The result would produce a different essence than the base form. The book detailed them as refined essences and wasplete with a list of sample recipes based on essence properties. This was more information than he could have hoped for. Theo had to wonder if Fenian knew the value of this book. His brush with the Archmage rified that information was worth a fortune. Whatever price he paid for this book wasnt enough. It was priceless.
Theo bought the skill, equipping it in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] without hesitation. The only thing he needed to worry about now was leveling his herbalism core to 10. Once he had that, hed have a free core slot. It would sit empty for some time, just like Tresks. She was still looking for the perfect core to fit her build, but she wasing up empty. The traders visits to the town had be more frequent, along with adventurers, but that brought her no closer to making a decision.
Broken Tusk had be ustomed to their mayor not making appearances. Theo spent all his time working on breaking the barrier, and now that it had fallen, he didnt know what to do with himself. He went downstairs, surprised he didnt notice the ringing of the bell upstairs. Azrug was with a customer, selling the wares the alchemist produced. He pped his hand over the shopkeepers shoulder before leaving the store, heading back out into the rain. He went south, intent on checking on Perg.
Her tanner had undergone a transformation in recent days. She demolished the old, hand-built building in favor of a seed core tannery. From Theos experience, this enhanced the effects of whatever craft was performed inside. With her [Tanner Core], she could produce impossibly supple leathers. Even when the alchemist used his specialized process, it seemed to pale whenpared to her work. The door was open, but he knocked on the frame.
Come on, Perg said from within. Theo entered.
He found her over a shallow pit, pouring some of his alchemical mixture over unprocessed hides. Theo watched with pride as the mixture stripped away the hair in an instant, reflecting a years worth of work the old way. Perg Grott was a hearty woman, like most of the Half-Ogres in Broken Tusk, as tall as him and muscr beyond reason. Most citizens in the town favored dumping their stats into [Strength], as they were mostlyborers. She had dull red skin like most Half-Ogres, long ck hair, and gray eyes. There was always something lurking behind her eyes, though. As though she knew more than she let on.
Finally got it to 10, Theo said.
Oh, I saw the explosion, she said, grinning. Congrattions. I also saw the wizard. Those are dangerous folk.
Hes a drunk, Theo said, watching the women work.
Thats worse, Perg said. Can I expect to see you around more, now that youre past the barrier?
I think so, Theo said, smiling. Ill be working on the town a lot more.
Dont forget my tanning potions, Perg said, furrowing her brow.
Never.
Theo stood there for some time, just watching Perg work. When he upended her business, he sent five of her employees onto the street without jobs. The alchemist was more than willing to put them to work on another project of his, something that sucked up more of his time. He realized now, looking back on the entire thing, that it was a bad move. Theo spread himself too thin over everything, snatching at the newest shiny thing in front of his face. Pumping some stat points into [Intelligence] might help, but he would learn from his mistakes. He needed to.
Watching Perg work sent waves offort through his chest. Perhaps this entire ce was constructed by forces unknown, but that didnt matter. People were living good lives here. Theyd been pulled out of poverty by that convergence of things, and if Theos intuition was anything to go by, the center-stage of something bigger. His current train of thought led him to the immediate concerns of the town. In his absence, the adventurers had been jamming [Monster Cores] into the monolith, increasing Broken Tusks level close to 15. Fenian promised there would be an upgrade to mount his weapons, and he had to trust the Elfs word.
Theo thought of all the things he needed to aplish in Broken Tusk. First, he promised himself hed take it easy. He wouldnt take on more jobs than he could handle, focusing on his alchemy and elevating the people of the town. Second, the farmers needed help. If that was an investment from him, or the creation of some growth potions, he didnt know. Those were his objectives. The alchemist wouldnt ept additional work, and would aim to get Ziz and the stonecutters on their own. Whatever magical gemstones they found would be theirs to deal with.
I cant remember thest time I saw you so deep in thought, Perg said, smiling.
Theo cleared his throat and straightened up. He was leaning against a table, scratching his chin as he thought. I think I need to speak to Throk.
Have you seen the old man recently? Perg asked, grinning. He has a new core.
Really? Which one? Theo asked.
If you go to the cksmith, youll find out, Perg said. Now, you can leave me to work in peace.
Right. Later, Theo said, excusing himself.
The sun shone through the haze of rain, barely piercing the veil cast over Broken Tusk. The rain ran down the cobbled path south, sshing underfoot as Theo made the trek to the center of town. He saw the old mayors office looming in the distance before he saw the cksmith. Both buildings were built by hand and needed to be reced with seed core buildings. Someone was managing the recement of the rotten buildings south of the farmers plots, but it wasnt a project he was managing. Friendly faces gave greetings as he made his way through the square, finding Throk tinkering with something in the attached workshop. The forge was cold, the old Marshling man hunched over a workbench.
Afternoon, Theo said, waving to get the mans attention.
A grin spread across Throks face. Finally. Well, Im d youve disappeared for as long as you have.
Thats nice, Theo said.
Watch, Throk said, retrieving something from across the workshop. He waddled out into the rain, set some contraption down and prodded it for a moment. After a swift kick, the object came to life. It sputtered for a moment, producing a small, wild me.
[Artificer], Theo said. You got an [Artificer Core].
Yes, I did, Throk said. Cost me a fortune to get the epic one, but it was worth it.
I have a project for you, Theo blurted out.
Hah! Of course you do. You always have a project, Throk said, grinning. Give me the specificationsjust be warned. My prices have gone up.
Theo spent the rest of the day working with Throk. The Marshlings [cksmithing Core] gave him an edge over regr artificers, ording to him. He could fabricate almost anything from metal, thanks to his skills, and attach artifices based on need. They eventually settled on a n for arge tank with several artifices attached. Throk had ess to an array of different designs he could work from, having bought a design book from Fenian. The first artifice would be an istion artifice, which would negate the pressure and allow Theo to insert and remove objects while the tank was under pressure. The second one would create extreme pressures inside of the tank without creating heat. Thest one would extract the solid waste at the bottom, which was basically another istion artifice.
Thats fine, Throk said, stepping away from his parchment. He had scribbled his notes there in a rough form. I know youre good for the coin, so well talk about paymentter. Were looking at a few gold. The copper is cheap for the tank, but the mechanisms for the artifices are pretty pricey.
Theo withdrew a single gold coin from his inventory and handed it over. For a down payment.
More like, I need to buy supplies, Throk said, chuckling. I have most of what I need, though.
Perfect.
Theo departed from the smiths workshop, stopping to stand by the monolith for a while. He let out a sigh. This was the exact thing he was trying to avoid. Miana spilled her story to him in confidence, and he internalized that information. Instead of processing it, he pushed it to the deepest parts of his mind. He locked it away like some feral thing, refusing to look at it. The alchemist jumped at the next, shiniest thing in his sight to wash away those uneasy feelings.
The people of Broken Tusk were suffering when he arrived. The man that told Miana to keep the town at a low level was responsible for that, it was clear the swamp held a bounty. If they had attracted some traders earlier in their history, they would have exported the reagents and made a fortune. Even Zizs mine in the north foothills was making obscene amounts of money. There was another line of thought he had, though. Not that the things within the town were always there. It was the idea that they only manifested when he arrived.
A sudden crack of thunder brought Theos mind to the present. The haggard wizard appeared in front of him, stumbling over the cobble for a moment and almost colliding with the alchemist. He caught the Elf, now stinking of liquor once again.
Youre a dirty dealer, Dronon, Uharis said, narrowing his eyes. He pointed an usatory finger.
How so? Theo asked, weing the distraction.
Youve taken ownership over the swamp dungeon, Uharis said. How am I going to experiment if I cant fiddle with the thing?
Well, Theo said, taking a steadying breath. He thought to channel some of Azrugs spirit at that moment. That costs extra.
Oh, fie, Uharis said, brushing some mud from his robe. I hope youre joking. Youre joking, right? Oh, what does it matter? Youre going to fleece me while Im heredo you know what happens when you anger a wizard?
Are you angry? Theo asked, casting his eyes over the gathering crowd. Maybe this was a bad idea.
No, not really, Uharis said, straightening himself up. Im hungry. And tired, perhaps. Still a little hungover, yes. Not angry.
Theo tried to get sight of the sun through the haze above, but he couldnt. His rumbling stomach told him dinner time was close enough.
Want to join us for dinner? Theo asked.
Uharis perked up, suddenly. His eyes went wide to bulging and he nodded, patting his stomach. Id like that.
Theo beckoned for the strange Elf to follow him south to the Newt and Demon. He sent a mental message to Tresk to meet them there, and she agreed.
Well talk about your dungeon ess, Theo said. I might have you experiment on the other dungeons, though. The one in the swamp seems unstable.
Thats what I was trying to say! Uharis bellowed. I may be able to stabilize it.
Theo stopped on the cobbles, turning to face the Archmage. May be able to. What is that? A low chance of sess? High chance?
Extremely high, Uharis said, folding his arms. He was suddenly serious in a way Theo hadnt seen him before. Ounder, Ill tell you this much. Youre right to be cautious. Tampering with dungeons is dangerous. I give you my word, as the Archmage of the Order of the Burning Eye, that I will not harm your dungeon.
Uharis hoisted the icon from his chain in the air, pulling the chain hard against his neck. I swear it on the Burning Eye.
Motes of light poured from the icon, dancing across the wet ground. Theo was going to let him tamper with the dungeon, anyway. He was close enough to upgrading the town that he could mount his defensive artifices if things went wrong. The alchemist smiled, cing a hand on the Elfs shoulder.
That means more than you know, Theo said. The order has been nothing but nice to me. If Sulvan thinks youre cool, youre cool.
Cool, Uharis repeated, wiggling his eyebrows. Outworlder ng, no doubt.
Theo smiled, leading the way for the Archmage to follow. They made their way into the Newt and Demon, the smell of cooking meat obvious from the shop downstairs. Uharis rubbed his hands together as they ascended the stairs, finding Azrug, Tresk, and Luras crowded around the [me Artifice].
Steak for everyone, Tresk said, giggling and flipping the contents of her wide copper pan.
Uharis blustered, pushing his way to the fire and shaking his head. No salt. No butterthis ce really is savage.
He yanked the pan from her hands and withdrew several items from his inventory. Tresk objected, but silenced herself as he took the items out. The Archmage sprinkled salt, cut a fat knob of butter, and started moving the pan back and forth on the me. The group watched as he worked his magic over the fire. Before long, and without prompting, he found five tes and dished the food out.
Thank you for the butter, magic Elf, Tresk said, tearing arge section of her steak out with her teeth.
Oh, this is good, Azrug said, slumping in his seat. Really good.
Theo cut himself a section of his steak and took a bite. It had been a while since hed had the amazingbination of salted steak with butter. He really needed to find a way to get both things in the town. The group ate through their meal with light conversation. Uharis revealed more about himself, but was slightly cagey about it all. Tresk imed thats just how wizards were.
You have a free core slot, Uharis said, nodding to Tresk.
I do, she said, perking up.
Well, Assassin and Tracker are good bases, Uharis said, nodding. Ah, well. This is a service I provide for the schr cultsquite expensive. But, if youll hear me, I''ll give you a good suggestion.
Tresk leaned over, her eyes wide. Tell me, wizard man.
Combine a rare rogue core, with a rare Illusion Hedgemage core. Youll find yourself with a [Shadowdancer Core], at epic rarity. With Shadowdancer, youll have many options for stealth. More than you have now, even. Theres a passive ability you can buy that grants you a bonus to all stealth abilities. Increased damage, reduced cooldowns. Its quite a sight to watch a Shadowdancer work.
Tresk was on the edge of her seat. It was the most attention Theo had ever seen her pay to anyone, even him. While she might not remember the information, the alchemists memory was nearly perfect. He could remember it easily.
Youre giving that information for free? Azrug asked, blustering.
Yes, my normal fee is quite expensive. Who thinks ofbining those two cores, right? The schrs guard the information closely. The Ounder gave me permission to study the dungeon. And were all friends here, Uharis said.
Yeah, friends, Tresk said, her eyes wide.
To a new friendship, Uharis said, smiling. And disobeying the high inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye!
Theo grimace, only managing a weak smile. They stayed there for some time, only just before the sun set. Azrug left first, followed by Luras, who seemedpletely absorbed in the steak. When the Archmage left, he went intending to find a room at the Marsh Wolf Tavern.
Tresk pressed her forehead against Theos before they made their way to bed. The [Tarahek Core] was on the verge of hitting level 10, and he couldnt wait to see what theyd get. The pair drifted off to sleep at the same time, enveloped in a sense offort brought by breaking the barrier.
Chapter 2.4: The Farmers
Chapter 2.4: The Farmers
Pale moonlight filtered through the upstairs window of the Newt and Demon. A me danced above a [Fire Artifice], licking over the edge of Tresks copper pan. The Marshling dutifully flipped the morning steaks, sending globs of grease over the edge. The pair woke that morning before dawn, as they typically did. Theo sat at the table near the window, staring out as crisp night air flowed inside. He swatted away the intrusive thoughts that would steer him away from his goals, the shiny things that he wanted to fix.
I dont even want to consider it, Tresk said with a weak shrug.
Theo had exined Mianas words in more detail, a fact the Marshling didnt care for. She was always good at keeping the past where it belonged, looking forward to a brighter dawn. The alchemist was typically there with her, but the mystery nagged at the corners of his mind. Last night was the first in several weeks where he didnt have haunting dreams. Not nightmares, just uneasy images of things he didnt understand. After hitting the threshold of level 10, and meeting with Sulvan, those dreams left him like carrion on the wind.
No, we shouldnt dwell on the past. I agree, Theo said. Its the strangeness of it all that gets me. Someone wanted me to be here.
Well, the answer to that is simple, Tresk said, perking up. Youll refuse to be put on a leash. Whoeveres to collect will find a dagger in their back, just you wait.
Especially if youre a Shadowdancer, Theo said, grinning.
We gotta get the cores, Tresk said. Ill pay for them. I need them!
Dont worry, well get them, Theo said.
Tresk served the steak, a dish that seemedcking without the salt and butter. Theo had a greedy thought to push the farmers into raising Karatans, but shrugged it away. Salt would go a long way, though.
ns? Tresk asked through a mouthful of meat.
Im taking it easy, still, Theo said, waving her away. Im going to make my rounds with the rest of the town. Aaroks adventurers guild is my first stop, then Banurubs farm.
Finally getting to the farm? Tresk asked, chuckling. I bet they feel abused.
Not as much as Ziz and the miners, Theo said. I told them Id look into the magic rocks they found, but I havent.
You cant do everything, Tresk said. At least they paid off the debt they owed.
Theo reflected on that. The few weeks he spent trying to break his barrier saw the quarry being paid off in full. Ziz and his stoneworkers worked tirelessly to pay off their debt, handily producing the 3 gold they owed him, and a little more. Now he had the pleasure of sitting back and taking 10 percent of their profits without lifting a finger. He felt guilty, but only for a moment. Without him, theyd still beboring for poverty wages.
That was a selfish thought that led back to Mianas portent. The entire town would still be on the verge of starving, living in the mud. He didnt want to be anyones savior, let alone set up by some nonsense concept like destiny. Theo often felt like an invader in Broken Tusk. Thrust into the mayors seat with little fanfare. He wanted the position, but that didnt make it any better.
I deserve the mayors position, right? Theo asked. Even after what Miana told me.
Of course, Tresk said, blowing raspberries. Look, you didnt have to stay here. It made the most sense for you, but you could have left. Some big-time alchemist in Qavell would have killed to have you in their shop. Anytime you feel doubtful, talk to me. Ill set you straight.
Thats brilliant advice, Theo said, grinning.
He wasnt just inting her ego, either. Tresk made a great sounding board for his doubts.
Of course it is, you dirty Demon, Tresk said. Eat your food.
Theo obeyed, cutting off a sizeable chunk of steak and shoving it in his mouth. Instead of dwelling on something he couldnt change, he shifted his thoughts to the task at hand. The problem with the farmers wasnt a single problem. There were several problems. He didnt have the growth potion, but had reserved that until he talked to them. Unlike with Pergs tannery issue, he couldnt be sure if making things grow faster would be a good thing. Perhaps the demand for Zee, the corn-like crop the farmers grew, wasnt as high as he expected.
I wonder what the farmers need, Theo said, taking another bite.
Tresk shrugged, swallowing the rest of her meal with little chewing. Good question. Karatans, maybe. I dont know how they do in the soutnds. Maybe a breeding program for another kind of creature. ess to different seeds. Some growing potionsthat was your original n.
Well, no sense sitting here, Theo said, looking out the window. The farmers rise well before we do, so Ill go have a chat with Banurub after Ive met with Aarok.
Guess what Im doing? Tresk asked.
Dungeon?
Nope. Patrol duty, Tresk said, grinning. Someone said they saw a Goblin riding a Wolf.
Theo grimaced. Thats weird. Does that normally happen? Monsters working together like that?
Yeah, they get more organized. Its like phases of development. More monsters, more cooperation, strongeryou know. Phases.
Right. Ill tell Aarok to reserve monster cores for the town, Theo said.
Yeah,e here, Tresk said, holding her arms up, beckoning him to stoop to her level. She pressed her forehead against his, and they gained a bit more experience. Almost 10. So close. Were gonna get something coolI can feel it.
I can feel it, too, Theo said.
Tresk departed first, leaving Theo to look over hisb before he went. The Newt and Demon had grown considerably since he inherited the ce. Even with the expansions, he didnt know if pressure tanks would fit inside. The artifices Throk was creating might need to go outside. These thoughts fell away as he descended into the empty shop below. A scatter of useful potions sat on the shelves, but the supply was dwindling. The alchemist would need to perform profitable alchemy soon.
The ground was slick outside from morning dew, glistening in the fading light of the moon above. That pale light mingled with the fire of sunrise, sshing the eastern horizon with a wash of purples and oranges. The sunlight scoured away the wispy clouds of the night, banishing them for the day. It made way for the constant storms of the Season of Blooms already visible to the west. Theo pulled his robe close and moved north to the center of town, the night chill still biting in the air.
Aaroks adventurers guild upied the ex-mayors building. It was a hand-built ce made of rotting timber with a failing roof and shoddy foundation. Theo knocked on the door and waited. The guildmaster appeared momentster, smiling. He wasrger than most Half-Ogres, earning his station by both strength and intellect. Like most of his kin his skin was a pale red color, bordering on ochre. Hed trimmed back the mess of ck hair since Theo saw himst, revealing his powerful features in full.
Finally, Aarok said, the smile turning slightly sour. Come in.
Theo followed the Half-Ogre back to Mianas old office. Aarok plopped down into a hard wooden chair and let out a sigh. The alchemist joined him on the opposite side of a heavy table.
Any problems? Theo asked.
Yeah, my mayor was on a spirit journey, Aarok said,ughing. He was in higher spirits than normal. No, its fine. I just wanted a little direction.
Alright, whats going on?
Well, I have a few problems, Aarok said, reclining in his chair. First, I got an offer from the adventurers guild in Rivers and Daub. Its a pittance.
Theo waved him away. Dont take it. Whatever theyre offering you to join their group isnt worth it.
Agreed. I just wanted your word on it, Aarok said. We think alike, in a lot of ways. They offered a lump sum, but it was an insult. The guild will remain localized, outside of their influence.
Perfect, Theo said. That was my thoughts on the matter, anyway. Were strong enough to make it on our own, for now.
Next problem. Should I be reserving cores? Aarok asked. The adventurers wont like it, but I can make them put the [Monster Cores] into the town.
Yeah, put everything into the town. Youre right, we think alike, Theo said,ughing. We wont need the protection of a foreign guild if we have big lightning flingers on the walls.
Agreed. Thats it, Aarok said, grinning. I have no more issues.
Youre the easiest to deal with, Theo said. How are you doing, by the way?
Im getting into it, Aarok said with a shrug. I expected to hate the position, but its nice. It really reminds me of my days training for the Qavelli Irregrs. Seems like a stupid dream, looking back on it.
Theo shrugged. Gotta take what we can get. I see what you mean, though. Youre building a force here.
Theyre getting strong, too, Aarok said. The way the monsters are spawning in the [Swamp Dungeon] gives them a chance to push themselves.
Theo nodded. That made sense. More monsters meant more stuff to kill. Broken Tusk had the dungeon all to themselves. In reality, they had 4 dungeons to themselves. Once the others started overflowing, the adventurers would get even stronger.
Well, its been a pleasure, Theo said, standing up. Come find me if you need anything.
Sure.
Theo left the adventurers guild, heading directly for the farms. He was happy that Aarok enjoyed his position as the guildmaster and excited that he agreed to stay independent. There was something about the other guilds that rubbed the alchemist the wrong way. They seemed to provide little in the way of support while still collecting dues. Since the adventurers in Broken Tusk were mostly natives, they were happy to agree with whatever their guildmaster said.
The towns tight-knitmunity gave it charm and would see it prosper in the future. That made the alchemists journey to the farm painful. Hed ignored them since he got to the town, taking on too many other side jobs before turning to address their issues.
The ascent to the farmers hill was arduous. It left Theo gasping for breath by the time he saw the sprawling fields, some currently fallow. The smell of tilled earth filled his nose, mingling with the scent of oing rain. Ozone was amon smell in Broken Tusk during the Season of Blooms. One could rely on that thing alone to be precede a storm, but the advantage of height gave him a clear picture of the clouds brewing west of the town. They hung in the sky, low and filled with rain, prepared to cover them in another thick downpour.
The people who worked the farm represented the lowest, least-earning peoples of the town. Theo watched as they toiled in the fields, performing tedious work for little pay. Whatever he did to help these people, he needed Banurub to agree to an increase in wages. Without that trickle of ie, they couldnt hope to ovee the growth in the local economy. The alchemist worked his way over the cobbled path through the middle of the fields, Zee growing on the left where the right remained fallow for the season. He found Banurubs farmhouse before long, knocking on the door and waiting for the Half-Ogre to appear.
Banurub, who preferred to be called Banu, appeared at the door with a smile on his face. He was like most Half-Ogres, if not a little stunted. He didnt rise to their typical heights, standing a head shorter than Theo. What hecked in height, he made up for in width. The man had the kind of build and strength only a farmer could have, and the alchemist suspected he put all of his points into strength. He didnt know what level he was, but it had to be pretty high.
Morning, mayor, Banu said, grinning. Finally break that barrier?
The farmer gestured, allowing Theo inside of his home. It was a quant, hand-built structure that felt cozy. The alchemist assumed a chair near the rear window, looking out over the fields.
I did. The answer was right in front of me, Theo said.
It often is, Banu said, taking a seat. So, is it my turn?
Theo snorted augh. Yeah, its your turn.
Honestly, were fine, Banu said, leaning forward. Im sure there are others that need your help.
No, youre next on my list, Theo said, knitting his brow. I wanted to elevate the whole farm. I wanted theborers to get paid more.
I already raised their rates, Banu said, waving a dismissive hand. Laborers can make 5 copper a day, now.
Why? Theo asked. How can you afford that?
Cost of Zee went up, Banu said, grinning.
Theo let out a long breath. He pressed his fingers into his temples. 5 copper a day was good, but it wasnt sustainable. People earning that wage would make a decent living, but they wouldnt thrive. And what would happen when the price of Zee went down? Theyd be left living a lifestyle they couldnt support,ing back to the same problem they had before. No, that wasnt eptable.
Alright, Banu. We need to think of ways to improve your business, Theo said. Things that I can invest in, so you can make more money. You need to expand to support your workers.
Banus brows knit tightly, and he stared out of the window. He stayed like that for some time before responding.
Well, I guess I can think of a few things, Banu said. Exporting Zee is profitable, but we could grow other things.
Would you have any use for potions that make your crops grow faster? Theo asked.
The problem with that idea is that I dont know what itll put in the soil, Banu said. Zee has a very specific need, namely the mud from the marsh. If that gets screwed up, the Zee wont grow.
Alright, thats a start, Theo said. I can look into improving the quality of the soil. Do you have any interest in starting a ranch? Raising livestock?
Well, thats quite expensive, Banu said.
Good thing you have an investor sitting in your house, Theo said, narrowing his eyes.
The alchemist couldnt figure out if the man was leading him on, being intentionally short-sighted, or if it was honestly just the way he was.
Well put a ranch on the back-burner and focus on improving the production of Zee, Theo said. I hope you dont mind if I stop by the farm asionally to experiment.
As long as you dont hurt the crop, I dont care, Banu said.
Theo reached out a hand for the farmer to shake, which he did. Ill be back often. Well sort this out.
Bye.
Theo left, feeling worse about the problem than when he started. Banus farm would need a firm hand, he could tell. He walked down the avenue between the fields and scooped up a handful of dirt from the base of a Zee stalk, intending to return to theb and begin experimentation immediately. The [Drogramath Alchemy Core] whispered in tandem with the [Drogramath Herbalism Core], urging him to investigate the soil. There was something special in that mud. He just had to discover what it was.
nts needed nutrients in the ground to grow, Theo knew that much. Earth was a mess when it was destroyed, and he never tried his hand at growing anything in the fouled soil there. Still, he understood the base concept and his cores would do the rest of the work. His mind reached for information it shouldnt have, his intuitioning up with a few ideas to start with. Then, his thoughts shifted to his own needs. The needs of hisb and the constant hunt for the never-ending reagents.
Back burner, Theo said, nodding to himself.
The storms opened up over the swamp, a sheet of rain visible from the distance. Theo pulled his robe tight and let the storm wash over him. The curtain pulled itself over Broken Tusk, visible clearly from the height of the farmers hill. Tresk had been collecting [Spriggan Hearts] from the dungeon, giving him a hefty stockpile. He reserved himself to grinding out herbs to get to level 10 in his herbalism core, letting everything fall by the wayside until the pressure vessel was done.
Light experimentation until then, Theo said, barely audible over the driving rain.
The alchemist made his way back to the Newt and Demon, watching as people ran to cover from the rain. He pushed through his front door, pouring some [Cleansing Scrub] on his head before greeting Azrug.
No customers, yet, Azrug said.
I doubt well see much in this rain, Theo said, peering out the front window.
You never know. Any ns for the day? Azrug asked.
Experimentation, Theo said. The farmers dont want my help.
Thats farmers for you, Azrug said. You need to show them they want your help.
Theo nodded, pping a hand over the shopkeepers shoulder. I think youre right.
Chapter 2.5: Drogramath Fermentation
Chapter 2.5: Drogramath Fermentation
Tresk grumbled about the rain in Theos mind. When questioned about the mattershe had always imed to love the rainshe brushed it off. The [Drogramath Still] sputtered thest of its essence into a sk, a small run to test the properties of the [Growth Essence]. Hed already separated out the smallest amount of farm dirt, dropping a fraction of a unit of the essence on top. The explosion that resulted was sizable, especially considering the tight confines of theb.
After removing the soot from his face, Theo approached the pile of dirt. Azrug didnt evene up to check on the alchemist, too used to the random explosions from within the building. An experimentation room would be helpful, but there was no sense in worrying about it now. There was something inside the dirt which reacted with the growth essence, which led him to the conclusion that it needed to be refined. The only example he had of essence refinement forrge-scale applications was Pergs tannery solutions, but his intuition told him it wouldnt work.
Unsurprisingly, Basic Drogramath Alchemy didnt hold any answers for farming applications. There was a section rted to elemental separations, but he couldnt read it yet. Theo reserved himself to studying the reagents themselves, namely the intact [Water Lily] that sat on his table. He moved in, almost pressing his nose against the nt to take in its scent, scanning across the dark green leaves and bright blue flowers. There was something in there that he couldnt understand lurking beneath the surface. He turned his attention to the pile of dirt.
With the farm dirt, he found a simr sensation. He concluded it was the contaminants, or rather the things that made the Zee grow. Tiny things that felt like properties in his mind, but not exactly that. He made a mental note. These were the elemental parts of all things. A realization struck him, a thought that he had before. Everything consisted of small amounts of stuff. He wasnt smart enough to know the science of it, but he knew that much from his time on Earth. The idea of extracting salt from saltden resources wasnt so far-fetched anymore.
Theo left the Newt and Demon, intending to walk through the rain and collect reagents. He inspected everything as he went, getting close to the trees that grew behind theb and taking in their small properties. He was sure there was a proper word for it, but he couldnt think of what to call them. Everything had a distinct vor in his mind. Trees were wet and rigid, whereas the dirt was teeming with something alive. The reagents that sprouted from the ground were entirely different, having a sort of electricity within them.
Magic, Theo said, plucking a [Spiny Swamp Thistle] from the ground. Theyve got a bunch of magic in them.
It wasnt much of a leap to assume that the alchemy reagents were made of magic, or at least had enough suffused through the nt matter to be noticeable. Hours passed with the alchemist stooping low to inspect nts, appreciating their properties. He gathered whole nts, instead of the useful parts for distition. They fit in his inventory nicely, stacking the same way ingredients did. The rain let up for a moment and a window startled Theo.
[Drogramath Herbalism Core] receivedexperience (1%).
[Drogramath Herbalism Core] leveled up! Level 10.
Obtained free [Drogramath Herbalism] skill point for hitting level 10 with this core.
[Drogramath Herbalism Core] gained an additional skill slot!
[Drogramath Herbalism Core] gained an enhanced effect: +3 intelligence.
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 10.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
[Theo Spencer] received one free skill point.
Theo copsed to his knees, drawing a ragged gasp as a rush of power flooded through his body. He waited there for a long while, fearful of Drogramaths attention. But it never came. Unlike the [Drogramath Alchemy Core], the [Drogramath Herbalism Core] didnt draw the entitys ire. He rose to his feet, brushing the caked mud from his knees and grinning to himself. He spent his free attribute point on [Intelligence], bringing him to 14, although he didnt feel noticeably smarter. The alchemist started the walk back to hisb, rummaging through the short list of [Drogramath Herbalism] skills. One stood out over everything else. Hed leave his other free skill point forter.
[Drogramath Fermentation]
Herbalism Skill
Epic
Drogramath was fond of fermentation. Not only for the brewing of alcohol but also the strange effect it has on reagents.
Effect:
Fermentations you perform happen rapidly,pared to those without this skill.
Allows the modification of reagents to produce special modifier essences.
+1 Intelligence
The increase in intelligence was nice, but this would provide him with another way to experiment with new potions. He didnt know what modifier essences were, but he was certain that he wanted them. Theo bought the skill, equipping it in his herbalism core. A rush of knowledge filled his mind, sitting right on the edge. Like most information provided by his cores, it was just a whisper. The faint voice was a guide, not a solution.
Azrug greeted him as he entered, watching as Theo dropped some [Cleansing Scrub] on his head, and allowing him to retreat upstairs with little fuss. The alchemist plopped down in front of his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy and flicked through the pages. Something told him the book would contain all the information he needed. He was right. There was an extensive section on fermentation and the effects of the modifier essences. This part of the book once read like a series of choppy essays about nonsense, but now it was as clear as day.
The author was still vague in ces, but it was enough to get started. Modifier essences werent traditional essences. An alchemist couldnt make potions from them, only apply them to existing potions. This form of the art was a delicate bnce between effect and over reaction. He could create a modifier essence that would make a potion turn into smoke when the ssware was broken, nketing an area with the effect of the potion. The important part was, this effect was at full strength for everyone who inhaled it.
The list of modifiers went on. A note from the author informed Theo that these were only a few of the effects he could produce, theorizing that there was no limit. There was a modifier that would turn his potions over a heal-over-time, or damage-over-time version without the need to find the specific essence. He could invert the effect of any potion, create area-of-effect potions, or even change the nature of the potion entirely. The section on nature-swapping potions was interesting. As Theo understood it, there were two kinds of potions. There could be more, but he knew of the drinkable kind, and the pour-over kind. The book detailed more natures.
Then there was thebination of modifiers. Theo was thankful that the book detailed this, as it was a dangerous practice. The example it gave was thebination of an area-of-effect modifier, and a monster identification modifier. An alchemist could toss a poison potion at their feet, a potion containing the area-of-effect modifier and the monster identification modifier, and only hit enemies. There were even details on how to apply two modifiers.
It was too much information to take in at once. Theo reeled from the sudden influx, reclining back in his chair to process everything. He was certain that no practicing alchemist in Qavell, perhaps all of Iaredin, could make an area-of-effect potion, let alone the others. The discovery was the single biggest thing hed learned from the book, and he praised Fenians name once again. The Elf didnt know what he had on his hands when he gave it up.
Theo thought for a moment, taking his new mantra to heart, about using the traders crystal to ask him about the new discovery. Fenian could be trusted. The alchemist already gave him too many secrets for a betrayal to be on the horizon. They were even locked in an exclusivity contract. He withdrew themunication crystal from his inventory and squeezed it tight.
Theo! Fenian shouted into his mind. Are you finally through that barrier?
I am, Theo said, unable to suppress his smile. How are you doing, old friend?
Old friend? My, what a greatpliment. I like you more every day, dear Dronon, Fenian said, his lilting voice practically swooning. Im doing extremely well. Theres a lot of profit to be made with the current situation.
Theo didnt want to know what the current situation was. He wanted to distance his mind from the war that raged in the north as much as he could.
Im finally deciphering the book you gave me, Theo said. It has a lot of weird references but something stuck out. Have you ever heard of an area-of-effect potion?
Like a fire bomb? Fenian asked.
More like an area-of-effect healing potion that only heals your friends, Theo said.
Fenian blustered into his mind. Can you make that? Ill pay an absolute fortune for thatbrew me some and you can buy an ind somewhere warm.
I appreciate it, but have you heard about it? Theo asked.
Never. Not in a century of trading. Im friends with the Master Alchemists in Qavellfrom two separate guildsand Ive never heard of it, Fenian said. Oh, Im practically giddy. This is one investment thats going to pay off!
Dont get too excited, Theo said. Were a long way off from there. Its a note in the book, nothing to set in stone.
While that was a lie, it was purposeful. Fenian wouldnt leave him alone until hed crafted a thousand such potions. It was better to temper his expectations.
Well, if I know you, youll figure it out. Let me know if you need any supplies for this new enterprise. Let me tell you about my demonic Karatans, Theo. Theyre absolutely splendid. Im making a small fortune simply running supplies for the kingdom.
I remember them. They were scary. And fast, Theo said.
Like you wouldnt believe, Fenian said. So, while the roads are mostly blocked I can get anywhere I want. I simply order my little Galflower to leap over those crazed cultists, and we soar through the air. Hah! Youve seen nothing like that, I promise you.
Galflower?
Thats what I named my lead Karatan, Fenian said.
Of course, Theo said. Im going to get to work on this. Let me know if your situation changes.
Absolutely! By the many teets of Balkor I am excited! Ill talk to youter, my little Demon. Galflower! Dont eat that! Fenian said. Im cutting the connection, my sweet, precious Galflower is eating my hats.
The connection cut suddenly, but Theo was d for it. He wished his memory wasnt so sharp. Perhaps, then he could forget what he heard. Crazed Cultists in the nortnds. That would be the blockage on the roads. The pieces connected quicker than normal, aided by the alchemists newly boosted [Intelligence]. He focused his mind on the important bit of information. No one was making area-of-effect potions. It was an ability exclusive to Drogramaths brand of alchemy, and something he would exploit for the sake of Broken Tusk.
Theo ryed the information to Tresk. She seemed excited about it, but tepid because of her patrol duty. She was like that, sometimes. He made sure she knew not to ry the information to anyone, under any circumstances. Now that the information settled in, he went over the information in the book again. The method for fermentation was fairly simple, but there was a catch. To discover modifier properties, he needed to ferment the reagents and inspect them. He couldnt simply eat something to discover the modifier properties.
Fortunately, the process of fermentation was easier than that of Earths version. He needed a few things, some he couldnt get on his own, but it wasnt bad. Magically infused wood, which he had ess to thanks to the Ogre Cypress, and a supply of motes. The book detailed the process. Create a barrel made of magical wood, ce the reagents inside with at least 1 motethe mote would change the reactionand let it sit for at least a day. It was mercifully straightforward.
Theo was d he brought both cores up to 10 near the same time. The pressure process from his alchemy core would no doubt pair well with the fermentation process from his herbalism core. The only issue was sourcing the barrels, which could be done from the towns woodworker. He knew nothing about the elusive person, but he had a habit of making good impressions. He stood, leaving his book for another time.
Downstairs, Azrug was haggling with an adventurer. The man on the other side of the counter was a broad man covered in a thickyer of banded brown fur. Unlike the cat people hed seen in the past, this mans facial features resembled something closer to a bear. Despite the mans ferocious appearance, the shopkeeper was talking him into paying the most for a set of healing potions.
Youre shrewd, the man said, something like a scowl ying across his muzzled face.
Theo noted the deep scars that ran valleys through the mans fur. The curious thing about the adventurer was, he wore barely anything in the way of armor. A simple skirt protected his modesty, likely for the sake of others, but he was otherwise unclothed. He produced the coin, despite his objections.
Your shopkeep runs a tight ship, the man said. Names Boral.
Theo, thank you for your business, Theo said. We dont get many of your kin down here in the soutnds.
No, I dont imagine you would. Far too hot, Boral said. s, the allure of the dungeons is too great.
Indeed. Care to tell me about your people? Theo asked, always hungry for more information of those outside of Broken Tusk.
Boral raised a furry eyebrow, leaning over the counter as he collected his potions. Youre a curious one. Qavell knows us as the Toora, although that name is spoken with venom in the capital. In truth, we are wanderers. Nomads of the Gora Sat, World Spine as they call it. Mountains as far as the eye can see. Snow.
Boral let out a deep groan, rumbling through the shop.
Homesick? Azrug said, smiling.
Absolutely. Im exiled, but thats our way. When I return to the mountain with treasure, theyll ept me again, Boral said.
Youre an adventurer, Theo said, gesturing to the mans attire. I usually see adventurers in more armor. Is that a cultural thing?
Hardly, Boral said. The only reason I can stand this swamp is my cores. [Barbarian] and [Pugilist] grant me not only the ability to fight without armor but also without weapons.
Now thats a very interestingbination, Theo said, nodding to himself. Well, while youre in town let us know if you need anything else. Lodging is avable at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Try the soup.
I already found my room, Boral said, shrugging his massive shoulders. But this soup you speak of is not good.
Im afraid Xam might be slipping, Azrug said sheepishly. My sister runs the tavern, but I wont take offense. At least the beds are nice.
The beds are lovely, Boral said. Ill kill and eat my food tonight.
Stop by the adventurers guild, if you like. Aarok could always use muscle, Theo said.
I dont trust the adventurers guild, Boral said with a scowl.
Good news, ours is independent, Theo said. We hold no affiliation with the wider adventurers guilds in the kingdom.
Boral brightened up, his massive shoulders straightening. Is that so? Ive never heard of an independent adventurers guild.
Only the finest here in Broken Tusk, Azrug said.
Well, Im off, Boral said, turning and leaving without another world. The bell rang behind him, tinkling for a little longer than normal.
Ive never seen a Toora, Azrug said.
Id imagine theres a lot either of us have never seen, Theo said. Who is managing the housing project?
Ah, I think Im supposed to ask you about that, Azrug said, knitting his brows. Xam is managing the project, but shes just directing theborers for the demolition. She wants you to take a look, make sure everything looks good.
Well, its a good chance to meet the carpenter, Theo said.
You havent met Sledge? Azrug said,ughing. Thats a shock.
Sledge? No, Ive seen the name on my mayor screen, though, Theo said.
Oh, youre going to like her, Azrug said. Real fiery person, that one.
Theo nodded, bidding farewell to the shop once again. He was intent on both meeting the carpenter, woodworker, whatever they liked to be called, and check on the housing project. He handed enough house seed cores over to give everyone a ce to stay. Theyd be in far better conditions once they were all nted, no longer hunkering under leaky roofs and rotten walls.
The alchemist approached the area north of the Marsh Wolf Tavern, spotting signs of demolition immediately. There were already rows of houses arranged in a neat grid pattern, but a single building stood near the eastern side of the development. Piles of lumber betrayed it as the woodworkers shop, although hed never spotted it before. The sounds of handsaws chewing through wood, and the scent of freshly cut lumber assaulted him as he grew closer. A single Marshling woman stood out front, working with her strength to saw a piece of timber in half. She was quite powerful. Theo had to remind himself that size didnt mean strength.
Excuse me, Im looking for Sledge, Theo said, smiling at the woman. Sledge was the most Half-Ogre name hed ever heard. This assistant would fetch the woodworker in short order.
The Marshling looked up, scowling from her work. Youre looking for Sledge? Well, you found her. What dya expect, a hulking Half-Ogre? Well, Im what ya got.
Chapter 2.6: Sledge
Chapter 2.6: Sledge
Sledge smelled like abination of sweat and shaved wood. She stood as tall as Tresk, half the height of Theo, with pale brown skin with bright red frills on the side of her head. Her gray eyes were piercing, despite their dull color. The alchemist was taken aback by her appearance, unable toprehend what he was seeing. It took his mind longer than hed care to admit catching up to the present, and he stammered for a moment.
Sledge. Yeah, I was expecting a Half-Ogre, Theo said.
Everyone does. Youre not special. Not even when youre the mayor. Howe you havente to give me yourvished greetings? Sending yourckeyswhat a shame, Sledge said.
I dont have an excuse, Theo said, trying not tough.
Sledge squinted at him, and it took everything inside him not to chuckle. She had all the mannerisms of the Half-Ogres, including the overblown bravado. Ive heard it all before. Take a shot, she said.
No, I mean, Theo said, knitting his brow. Its justwere you adopted by Half-Ogres?
I was, Sledge said, resuming her sawing. Theo noticed she was cutting through the wood far quicker than she should be able to, likely thanks to her cores. Folks took me in when no one else would. Too many mouths, theyd say. Whosughing now! Everyone needs a good table.
So, you have woodworking cores? Theo asked.
Oh, mister bigshot. Coming to invest in my little old shop, Sledge said, narrowing her eyes. Yeah, Ive got cores. Good ones, too. Do I want an investment from you? Nope.
Theo didnt think it was possible for someone to have more sass than Tresk, but here she was. Covered in sawdust, wearing a tattered leather apron, and spitting in his face. As much as he wanted to be offended by her behavior, he couldnt bring himself to dislike her. She was a straight-shooter, saying whatever was at the front of her mind. This was honesty he could respect. He didnt even need his [Wisdom] to get a read on her. It was right out in the open.
I need tomission some work, Theo said, smiling.
Oh, Sledge said, moving away from the timber and leaving the handsaw where it was. Now youre speaking mynguage. This is a paying job, right? I take coin upfront.
Naturally, Theo said, waving her off. I need some barrels.
Barrels? I got a hundred barrels crowding my shop, Sledge said. Take your pick.
Specific barrels. They need to be made of Ogre Cypress. Watertight and banded, Theo said.
I can do that, Sledge said, nodding. How many do you need, how many unit capacity, h h.
Start with 1 200 unit barrel. I have a feeling Im missing something about this, Theo said.
One barrel, alright, Sledge said. Ogre Cypress is a pain to work with. Give me 2 silver and a few hours to work it out. Ill band it with copper.
Theo happily forked over 2 silver for the barrel, and Sledge took the money without hesitation. The Marshling had no more kind words to say to him, waving him off with a dismissive hand. He left, feeling a mixture of confusion and amusement. Something in his cores whispered a w in the barrels design, but he couldnt hear those voices clearly. It was something to be left to experimentation, the same reason he didnt order the 10 barrels he wanted.
Leaving Sledges ce led him to the construction sites of the nned housing area. The grid pattern they created was great. Most of the cores were already nted in the ground, creating a delightful sight against the remaining crumbling homes. The wood in the hand-built homes was rotted through, revealing the interiors in some ces. Each nted house had the same stone appearance on the outside,plete with tted roofs. They all had different quirks, though. It was in the details that Theo found the character of the buildings.
It was easy to be proud of what theyd done so far. He moved off from that area after watching theborers go about dismantling a home. The Marsh Wolf Tavern loomed in the distance through a sheet of spitting rain. The downpour calmed down, as it typically did nearing midday, giving Theo a break from the constant soaking wetness. He heard voices inside the tavern before pushing through the threshold, a voice faintly familiar. As he entered the musty building, he spotted Uharis leaning over the front counter.
Xam, the proprietor of the tavern, had a look ofplete annoyance on her face. She rolled her eyes at every word the Archmage said, casting a desperate re at the alchemist when he entered. She was shorter than most Half-Ogres, a head or so shorter than Luras, and had skin far darker than the others in town. It was closer to a dark brown than a red.
And with every breath I take, I swear to speak only your name, Uharis said, slurring his words. You are the midnight jewel of the swampI shall pluck you from these moist confines and elevate you.
Moist? Xam asked, a look of horror spreading across her face. Oh, hello Theo. I have some business to talk to you about.
But Im not done serenading you, Uharis said, frowning and almost slipping from the bar.
Theo moved to ce a firm hand on the Archmages shoulder. I think its time for a nap.
A nap? A nap would be splendid, Uharis said, his face brightening. Ill let you get to your business, my midnight jewel. Farewell.
The Archmage turned on the spot, stumbled into a stack of chairs before eventually finding his way to the stairs. He missed as many steps as he hit, falling over himself repeatedly.
Gods, I thought hed never leave, Xam said, letting out a sigh of relief. Hes been wooing me for an hour.
Is he serious? Theo asked.
Thats my greatest fear, Xam said with a shiver. Sometimes I put on the charm to get more money from the outsiders, but this is too much.
Well, you might have invited the wrong guy into your heart, Theo said, smirking.
Hes been giving me tips, so I wontin. Not yet, Xam said. Dont look at me like that. I know what Im doing. I just needed a break.
Fair enough, Theo said. How''s business?
Since youve been holed up in thatb, things are going great, Xam said.
Oh, thats nice.
There are more adventurers than ever. Merchants, too. And guess what those two kinds of people have inmon? They gotta eat, Xam said.
Now, if only you dropped your prices, Theo said.
How? I cant split a copper. Theyre magical, Xam said.
Something in Theos mind twitched at that word. The copper coins were magical. He knew that. The alchemist withdrew his old [Copper Alchemy Knife] and set it on the counter, staring at the enchanted metal. It was exactly the same as regr copper, the same stuff the water tower was made of, but it was infused with magic. If regr copper got in contact with reagents, they could instigate a reaction. The gears in his mind churned to a stop. He wasnt even at theb, yet he knew what the issue with Sledges barrels was.
Are you robbing me? Xam asked.
No. Im thinking about enchanted copper, Theo said, running his fingers over the length of the de. Enchanted copper doesnt react with reagents. But regr copper does.
That sounds dangerous, Xam said.
It is. Very dangerous, Theo said. But I need to make regr copper enchanted, somehow. Or at least make it non-reactive with my reagents.
You wont find the answer here. If youre interested in expensive stew, Ive got you covered, Xam said, glowering.
Theo waved her off. If you have trouble with the Archmage, let me know. Hes a drunk.
Nothing I cant handle, Xam said, her face shifting to concern for a moment. In small doses.
Theo nodded, pushing his way out onto the rainy street yet again. Treskined about the rain in his mind again, but offered no additional information on the state of the swamp. He wandered northward for a while, without a destination in mind. Over the farmers hill and into the rocky rise of the northernmost section of the town. A single house, smoke rising in thin wisps against the rain through the chimney, sat on the open ne. As he passed, he saw the faces of the owners children. They were of a race known as the Khahari, hailing from the vast desert to the east. The alchemist hadnt met the children yet, but they were likely to be as delightful as their mother and father.
Theos thoughts drifted to an alchemical solution to his problem, which seemed counterintuitive at first. But as he thought about it he realized that the copper would react with reagents and essences, but not the final potion. It required research, but there could be an approach through alchemy. His near-perfect memory allowed him to cycle through all the ingredients he knew, finding only one that might do the trick. The [River m Pearl] had a property called [Hone Edge], although he hadnt used it. His intuition said there was more to that, but he pushed it aside. It was possible that the pearl had more properties. He concluded that his intuition was pushing him to that, but how would he eat a pearl? There was also the problem of grinding it up.
Two squat buildings,rger than hed remembered them, sat in the distance. They were set against a steep incline against the rocky face of a cliff. The rise of the mountain to the north was gradual, enough to allow the construction of the quarry and stoneworkers workshop. Where he expected the sound ofbor, there was nothing. Even though the storm raged overhead, the workers would have been at it. Approaching the workshop, he spotted light from within. After a gentle knock, the door swung open.
The square jaw and prominent forehead of Ziz greeted him, a smile spreading across his face upon seeing the alchemist. The man was extremely wide, his skin a pale red color, with a shaved head. He didnt hesitate, pulling Theo into a tight embrace.
Thought youd be gone forever, Ziz said, squeezing him a little too hard.
Good to see you, too, Theo said. How goes the mining?
At the moment? Horrible, Ziz said. Oh, before I forget. Come in.
Ziz beckoned, leading Theo inside of the workshop. The building was meant for the cutting of stone, but the Half-Ogre turned it into half-workshop, half-barracks. Four other Half-Ogres lounged on the ground, stretching over bedrolls and waving half-heartedly.
Looks cozy, Theo said.
Were working on it, Ziz said, withdrawing 4 gold coins from a pouch on the far end of the room. He handed them over to Theo, smiling.
Well, youve only gone and done it, Theo said,ughing. Seriously, that quick?
That quick. The gemstones we found are worth a lot. Thats what Azmuil says.
Azmuil was the dwarven merchant who offered to buy the stone in the first ce. He was a contact of Fenians, which made him one of the good merchants of thend. Theo had heard tales of crooked merchants, but he hadnt seen one yet. Those who were willing to make the journey to Broken Tusk saw only opportunity and knew not to push things too far.
Then this ce is yours, Theo said.
He summoned his mayors screen, transferring the ownership of both the quarry and the workshop to Ziz. He inspected the workshop to verify the change went through.
[Stonecutters Workshop]
Owners: Ziz Rotgut
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 5 (20%)
Rent Due: 3 days
Expansions:
[Hewing Efficiency]
None
You got it to level 5, Theo said. I was wondering why it was bigger.
We did. Thanks to you, Ziz said, suddenly looking sheepish. I have a question.
Yeah?
Why? Out of all the things you could throw your gold at, why this? Ziz asked.
The otherborers in the workshop perked up, craning their heads to set their gaze on the alchemist. Hed seen this before, back on Earth. Even if he tried to push those memories down, they still lingered. People were desperate for work, typically doing hardbor for little more than rations. The truth Theo knew in his heart was that his charity washed away some of those feelings. It cleansed the image of ruined cities and starving people. It made him feel good. He was still making a tidy profit, some absurd amount of return on his investment that he couldnt calcte in his head.
Theo smiled. I could have just paid you a wage to work the quarry. But, Id have to feed it cores, check on you oftenno, I didnt have the time for that. Ive already made my investment back, and you owe me 10 percent on all sales. Fenian taught me something important a while ago. Its not about making the most amount of money now. Its about creating rtionships that pay off in more ways than one.
You could just say youre nice, aborer said, sending the group into fits ofughter.
He tries to hide that fact, Ziz said, wiping tears ofughter from his eyes.
The wealth of the town is going to mean more than just one person holding all the coin, Theo said. Everyone Im setting up is going to be a force of mercantile power soon. Broken Tusk might call on her sons and daughters to face whatever problems we have in the future.
Well said, Ziz said. Were all more than happy to pitch in.
Theo took another look around the cramped interior of the workshop. It was hardly a good living situation. You should get some house seed cores up here, he said.
Were nning on it. A merchant came to town the other day, but he wanted an absurd amount of money for a few seeds, Ziz said. He left when he saw we werent so easy to fleece.
There was the dishonest merchant Theo had heard so much about. He was d the people of the town had the good sense to drive them off, when needed. His intuition said this was going to happen more often, but he had to question that logic. If the roads were almost impassable, how was that going to happen?
The rain yed across the roof of the workshop, filling it with a constant ringing sound. Theo had no idea how these men were able to sleep under such conditions, but shrugged it off. They could stay closer to the town if they neededthey had the funds. His mind drifted away from the concerns of the quarry, back to more immediate concerns. He looked at Zizs broad shoulders and smiled.
I have a favor to ask, Theo said.
Anything.
Theo withdrew a [River m Pearl] from his inventory and handed it over to the man. Ziz rolled it over in his fingers, shrugging after a moment. What do you want me to do with it?
Crush it, Theo said. Into a fine powder, if you could.
Ziz grinned, withdrawing a hammer from his belt. A thick b of marble sat unworked on the far side of the room. The Half-Ogre ced a small section of cured leather on top, nestling the pearl there and drawing the hammer back for an overhead swing. His hammer came down quickly, crushing the pearl into dust in an instant. The ground shook from the force of the strike, but the b of rock was unharmed.
You came to the right guy to crush something. Thats the one thing Im good at, Ziz said.
Theo nodded in agreement, approaching the crushed pearl. He licked his finger, cing it in the fine powder before cing it on his tongue. An electric sensation spread through his mouth, tingling his tongue and coating it with ayer of something. After a moment, the system produced a notification.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [River m Pearl] by eating it.
[Infuse] discovered.
The alchemists intuition shouted its approval. Even without the ability to inspect the property, he knew that would do the trick. He also doubted it was the intended use of the property, but it didnt matter. A detergent-style potion came to mind, something that could coat any material in a resistantyer. He produced all the pearls he had in his inventory, handing them over to the strong Half-Ogre and grinning.
Ziz happily crushed all the pearls into dust, and Theo was thankful they went into his inventory without a problem. Theborers all talked amongst themselves, mostlyining about the rain while the work was being done. The Half-Ogre seemed proud of himself once hed finished, sticking his chest out and flexing his muscles.
When Theo went to say his farewells, Ziz stopped him. We have a bit of an issue, if youre willing to help.
Im always here to help, Theo said, smiling.
Of course. Well, let me show you the problem, Ziz said, gesturing to the door.
Theo followed him out into the rain, crossing the distance between he workshop and the quarry. Arge square hole represented the section of stone theyd already removed. Glowing markers designated the bounds of the quarry on four sides, spanning 50 paces in every direction. As the alchemist peered down into the hole, he saw the problem. While the quarry was at an angle, the constant downpour filled it with water. He watched as it drained off on the low side of the hole, running in small waves across the rocky terrain.
Ah, thats a big problem, Theo said, scratching his head in confusion. A really big problem.
It drains out on its own, but it can take a few days, Ziz said. I was wondering if there was an alchemical solution to this. We thought about putting a roof over it, but the runoff up the mountain is bad.
A few things came to mind, but nothingpletely formed. From his current list of ingredients, the [me] property from the [Fire Smander Egg] might do the trick, the idea being to boil the water off rapidly. The [Manashrooms] also had the property [Freezing], which might cause more harm than good.
The thing that jumps to mind is a fire detergent that boils the water out, Theo said. [Withering] might do something, but Im unsure. It may just cause the water to be poisoned.
Whatever you can do, Ziz said. Just dont rush it. We can wait the rain out.
Theo nodded, giving his farewells with the intent to actually leave this time. He departed the operation and made his way down the steep incline of the hills. The smoke still billowed from Zankirs ce, but the town seemed sleepy otherwise. The deluge outside was likely the cause, but the alchemist made his way back to Sledges ce, anyway. He wanted to check on histest project.
Chapter 2.7: Infusions
Chapter 2.7: Infusions
Theo didnt think he was at Zizs quarry for that long, but his barrel was sitting outside of Sledges workshop when he arrived. He inspected it before greeting her. It was a sturdy barrel, half his height and wider than expected. The ts smelled of pine and were banded together by thick ribbons of copper which held no seam. The alchemist noticed Throks handiwork in that. Only the cksmith could get such a wless piece of copper around the barrel.
Sledge emerged from her workshop, hands on her hips, with a wide smile painting her face. What do you think?
Its perfect, thank you, Theo said, inspecting the bands of copper. I have concerns about the copper.
I sourced it from Throk. If you want toin, talk to him, Sledge said.
The problem is my reagents, Theo said, withdrawing a piece of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory. Theyre typically reactive with untreated copper.
Thats your problem.
Theo scored the edge of the root with his alchemy knife and rubbed it against the copper. It sizzled, sending streams of red smoke into the air. The alchemist stepped back and nodded, taking the barrel into his inventory and turning to Sledge. As I expected. Ill be back with an updated order.
Sledge shrugged. Youre the one paying.
Theo left, ignoring the brusque womansment. The issue with the reactive copper was one thing, but perhaps there was a hint in his alchemy book. The more he increased his cores level, the more he understood from the book. It was a grim omen, and a blessing at the same time. Without it, he wouldnt have a straight path for the next stages of alchemy, but with it, he had to deal with the demon breathing down his neck. He only hoped to outpace the speed with which Drogramath pursued him.
The alchemist stopped by Throks cksmith to check on the pressure tank. A half-assembled copper tank sat in the front of the workshop while the cksmith tinkered with something inside. Theo popped his head in the shop and waved for the Marshlings attention.
Still working on the project, Throk said, grumbling. Youre quite a few days too early.
I just wanted to know if I could have a length of copper, Theo said. In bar form, if possible.
Throk gestured to a table strewn with ribbons of copper. Take what you want. I wont expect it back.
Theo smiled. You know me too well.
He returned to the Newt and Demon, finding Azrug haggling with another adventurer inside. The shopkeeper seemed too busy to pay attention to him, leaving him to retreat to theb upstairs. Theo saw hisb in a new light that day. Running up against the barrier of level 10 was draining him of his desire to perform alchemy. Now he was beyond that. Reinvigorated by both his breaking of the barrier and the impact hed had on the town. He flicked open the book and scanned through the pages, finding a section near the back that detailed a process for alchemy-proofing a section of metal with alchemy.
There was irony in that, but Theo couldnt care to find it.
The instructions in the book were for another ingredient, but Theo didnt have ess to it. He didnt know where hede across a [me Tongue Wisp], and he didnt care to find out. The pearl would do just fine. It was a simr setup to the tannery potions, but the final product needed to be put through some different steps. Instead of pouring the solution over the metal he wanted to harden against alchemical intrusion, he needed to soak the metal for an amount of time. Otherwise, the distition and mixing process was the same as the tannery ingredients.
Theo poured 50 units of [Purified Water] in his still, adding 50 pearls worth of dust before setting his [me Artifice] to low and cing it beneath. He poured his intent into the still, willing it to focus on the [Infuse] property. He ced a sk beneath the condenser unit and went back to check his book. The artifice sputtered into silence and he cursed, moving to jam an [Earth Mote] in the contraption''s side slot. The air inside became oppressive immediately, forcing him to prop a window open.
I saw the Goblin! Tresk shouted into his mind.
Theo stared out the window, knitting his brows as he tried to piece together what she was talking about.
The Goblin? Arent we already aware of the Goblins?
No! Not just a Goblin. The Goblin. The one riding a wolf, Tresk said. Im gonna stab him.
Theo nced at the stack of health bars in the side of his vision. The Tarahek core allowed him to see her health, stamina, and mana, which were all currently full. Suddenly her stamina dropped significantly, followed by her health. Her health then returned to full, the entire sequence of events forcing the alchemists heart to hammer in his ears. It was hard to ignore what the Marshling was doing when he was idle, something that pained him when he was breaking the barrier.
Nevermind, Tresk said. I used my [Vanish] ability and Im hiding. That Goblin has a spear.
Be careful, Theo said. Do you need me to talk to Aarok about it?
Ill handle it. This thing is level 20, or something, Tresk said. I thought if I got the jump on him, hed be dead. Turns out, that wolf is the problem.
Well post a contract at the guild if need be, Theo said. He wanted to talk her out of attacking it again, but she wasnt stupid. She didnt need him to be her nanny, if anything it was the other way around. Tresk was powerful for her level, mostly because of her Legendary [Assassins Core].
Alright. Looking for weaker monsters, Tresk said. Ill stay safedont worry.
Theo nodded to himself, letting out a sigh of relief. He noticed the smell of the condensing essence behind him. It was a strange stench, somewhere between rotting fish and machine oil. He plugged his nose as he waited for the process toplete. Even the open window did little to ease the smell. The alchemist stuck his head out into the rain, fanning the fumes away. Azrug burst through theb door, nose pinched.
By the gods, what are you brewing? Bottled farts? Azrug asked.
Its supposed to be [Infuse Essence], Theo said, gagging. It wasnt that bad, but now its awful.
Im opening the windows downstairs, Azrug said, turning on the spot and sprinting down the stairs.
Theo heard the amazing sound of the condenser sputtering thest of its contents into the sk. He dashed over, taking the sk into his inventory and dripping [Cleansing Scrub] into the still. He went around theb, sprinkling drops of the cleaning liquid on every surface. The fresh scent returned to theb after a while, but the smell still stung his nostrils. The alchemist inspected the essence in his inventory, refusing to take it out.
[Infuse Essence]
[Essence]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
50 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of infusion. Used to imbue materials.
The description wasnt much help. It imbued materials with what, exactly? He pushed the thought away, moving to his book, which still smelled a little. Another drop of [Cleansing Scrub] made it right, and he referenced the section on infusions. ording to the author, the stench would go away during the next phase of the process. He wished he read that part sooner. It was a simple detergent-style recipe, and he set up the required sks. The Drogramath Dronon who penned the tome used copper as the catalyst, and warned against using simple [Purified Water], favoring the [Stabilized Water].
Theo made a 20 unit sk of [Stabilized Water] by introducing a [ky Agate], watching the solution bubble untilpletion. He brought out his smallest measuring pipette, introduced the [Copper Shavings], and dripped the [Infuse Essence] into the mix by the tenth of a unit. When the reaction finally kicked off, it sent a cloud of blue smoke into the air. Mercifully, it smelled like nothing. Perhaps ozone before a big storm, but nothing offensive. The air washing in from the storm outside mixed with that scent, bringing something nostalgic into the alchemists mind.
Theo discarded those idle thoughts, inspecting the potion.
[Potion of Infusion]
[Infusion Agent]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Used to infuse base materials with alchemical essences. Soaking anything in this will render it alchemically inert. Does not work on reagents, or other living materials.
Effect:
Renders object alchemically inert.
Basic Drogramath Alchemy detailed the next part of the process, but he could have figured it out from the description. A material needed to be soaked in the solution for an amount of time, it wasnt specific about that part, but the author imed it would be obvious. Theo found an unused vessel for his experiment, hoisting an old washtub from his [Dimensional Storage Crate] and cing it on the table. He poured the liquid in, unworried about the wood reacting with the copper, and dipped the ribbon of copper Throk gave him inside.
The copper bubbled, the solution immediately taking on a blue hue. Theo studied the reaction intently, taking mental notes on whether the process was taking a turn for the worst. Eventually the bubbling let up, the copper taking on a color simr to the blue solution. His instinct told him he could use the liquid a few more times, but only a few. After that, it would lose its potency and be unable to infuse the metal. He withdrew the copper with his gloved hand, withdrawing it quickly when the leather on his hand bubbled. It kept a hint of blue, but nothing more.
Theo set the copper ribbon down on his table and removed a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory, scoring it with his alchemy knife. A grin spread across his face when nothing happened. The juices from the root spread across the length of the copper, causing no reaction at all. He set up several sks for some more [Potions of Infusion], thankful that he only had to withdraw the essence from his inventory for moments at a time. By the end of his run, and the slow crawl of the day towards dusk, he had enough solution to be satisfied.
Azrug still had his nose pinched downstairs, although the smell was long gone.
The stench has lifted, Theo said.
Are you sure? Azrug asked, narrowing his eyes. Im not about to risk it.
Only the distition process makes the stink, Theo said. Im done distilling that horrid stuff for now.
What was it supposed to do? Azrug asked.
The book didnt describe the extent of the potion, but Im certain it causes non-magical itemsalso non-livingto be alchemically inert, Theo said. The non-magical part is my personal theory.
Oh. Is that useful? Azrug asked.
Extremely. I need to use it on my fermentation barrels, Theo said.
Azrug rubbed his hands together, removing his fingers from his nose. Oh, are we making some booze?
Theo chuckled. Not yet. Were making essence modifiers.
Whatever that is, Azrug said, frowning. I wanted booze.
Youre too young, Theo said, waving him off. Im off to talk to Throk. Maybe Sledge.
You met Sledge? Azrug asked,ughing. Oh, I bet she had fun with you.
She really did, Theo said. Shes a pistol.
A what?
Hot-headed.
Yeah, she really is, Azrug said, sighing longingly.
There was a twinkle in the shopkeepers eyes that Theo didnt want to entertain. Love was in the air over Broken Tusk, but hed have no part of it. People could run off and do what they wanted, but the drama was always too much. Whether it was Xam and Uharis, or Azrug and Sledge, he didnt want to hear about it.
Im off, Theo said, stepping into the rain before the boy could fawn anymore.
Throk was still absorbed in his tinkering, pressing a strange rod into a series of glowing crystals. He cursed and brought himself closer to his work, muttering to himself. Theo cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the annoyed Marshling.
Im still not done, Throk said.
I need to buy some copper ribbons. The kind you use to make barrels, Theo said.
Godstheres a stack over there. Just leave whatever you want to pay on the table and leave me alone, Throk said. Im getting frustrated with these mechanisms. Theyre moreplex than I expected.
Take your time, Theo said, finding the thick copper ribbons used to band the cypress barrels. They were already magically welded to the right size and shape for his 200 unit barrels, which seemed to be standard. He took enough for his ten barrels, stowing them in his inventory, and leaving a few silver on the table.
He wouldnt normally pay anything over a few copper coins for the ribbons, especially regr untreated copper, but Throk was working hard. Theo thought of it as a tip in his mind, remembering Xams words about the drunk wizard. The alchemist retreated to the Newt and Demon once again, darting upstairs to set up his washtub. He treated the copper ribbons, finding that the wooden containers capacity could treat 3 of the circr pieces of copper before he needed to dump it out the window. The generous ratio of essence to water meant he could treat all the copper without the need to brew more of the stinking essence, a fact he was thankful for.
Theo was once again out in the rain. His steps fell on the cobbles with sloshing masins, the familiar sense offorting back. Something was missing from his life when he was working on the barrier. This frantic dash to get endless tasks done, just to find another task over the hill, was something he missed dearly. Only when he was working without end did he feel happy. He found Sledge, working another section of timber and cursing under her breath.
The alchemist thought about her station within the town. It didnt appear she was making repairs to the homes within the town, so what was her revenue source? She was far too prickly to ask outright, so he would weasel it out of her over time.
Sledge, Theo said. I have something for you.
Oh, more work? Sledge said, brightening slightly. There was the glimmer he didnt want to see. The destitution in her eyes.
More work, Theo said, producing the infused copper from his inventory and cing all 20 ribbons on her workbench. I have some alchemically treated copper for the barrels.
As long as it''s the standard size from Throk, I can work with it, Sledge said,ing over to inspect the copper. She pressed her nose against it, furrowing her brow. Alchemically treated? Why?
Theo was surprised at the way she softened her personality for him. Perhaps there was a gooey center under that hard shell of hers. Theyre for fermenting alchemy reagents. Even though the barrel is watertight, if any of the contents leak theyll react with the copper. Explosively, perhaps.
Right, Sledge said, running her fingers over the metal. Well, standard rates.
Theo knew her standard rate was 2 silver a barrel, which was already robbery. Perhaps the Ogre Cypress was harder to work than the hardwoods, but it couldnt have been that much of a bother. No, she was likely charging him at least a silver over what shed charge other people, and he didnt mind. She was the most vulnerable of all the citizens of Broken Tusk. What ce was there for a carpenter in a town of magical buildings, even if they had to buy furniture?
30 silver, Theo said, cing the stack of coins on her workbench. His mental math was good enough to multiply 2 by 10, but he feigned ignorance for her sake. She eyed the stack hungrily, refusing to cast that knowing expression at him. The barrels may need to be reced regrly, but we can reuse the copper.
Theo didnt know if the barrels needed to be reced at all. The magic in the Ogre Cypres couldst for centuries for all he knew, but he wouldnt tell her that. This was the only avenue that he could think of to approach her poverty. The pride of the Half-Ogres that seemed to run through her veins wouldnt allow that. That same pride was likely the same reason she never approached him, looking for work. Very few Half-Ogres would do that, and the Marshling took a page from their book. Even Ziz didnt approach him about work, simply being pawned off by Perg.
Nice doing business with you, mayor, Sledge said. Stop by anytime you need something. Your coin is always wee.
The alchemist left the woodworkers workshop, heading back to the center of town. He wiped sweat, mingling with the falling rain from his brow as his stamina bar dipped lower by the moment. Dusk wasnt far off, but he had one more task to attend to for the day. He entered the adventurers guild, which really needed a name to call its own, and found Aarok in the back room talking with some adventurers.
Mayor, Aarok said. What can I do for you?
Have you heard about the Goblin riding a wolf? Theo asked.
I have, Aarok said. It''s a menace.
Do you have a contract out for it? Theo asked.
Im working on that.
I can offer money for its headtheir headsif it helps, Theo said, smiling.
Leave the adventuring to me, Aarok said. If you post a gold for the monster, people are going to die. Thats too tempting. Theyll throw themselves into danger for a chance at that money. Allow me to handle this, Theo.
Theo nodded, feeling useless about the situation. Money typically solved all his problems, but this was a bridge built out of something other than coin. Hed defer to Aaroks expert opinion about all things adventuring. I understand. Let me know if you need any help.
Will do, Aarok said, returning to his conversation with the adventurers without breaking his stride.
Theo left the adventurers guild, heading back to the shop for the night. He found Uharis inside, chatting with Azrug at the front counter. They were discussing something about the state of trade in the central section of Qavell. The shopkeeper had a lot of opinions with little experience to back them up. They broke off their heated discussion, turning their attention to the alchemist.
Time for dinner? Your Tarahek is upstairs, Uharis said, smiling.
Are you cooking? Theo asked.
I am, Uharis said. Hed clearly already had his [Sanchrin Leaves] for the day, clearing away whatever hangover he slept off in Xams tavern.
Then lets go, Theo said.
Azrug gave Theos share of the take for the day. It was a few silver coins and a smattering of copper, but enough to make the boys position worth it. They found Tresk upstairs, looking out the window. She turned on the spot when they entered, smiling.
I almost got that Goblin today, Tresk said.
Aarok thinks it''s dangerous enough to be worried about, so dont get yourself killed, Theo said.
A Goblin? I could take care of that issue for you, Uharis said.
Theo waved a dismissive hand. No, dont interfere.
He wants Broken Tusks adventurers to cut their teeth on strife, Tresk said, shing a grin. Perhaps as the [Tarahek Core] leveled, it granted her better ess to his feelings, because that was the exact thought he had.
We wont always have an Archmage in town, Theo said. Least of which one of such high prowess.
Oh, you tter me, Uharis said. Ill deliver a meal to remember.
Uharis flitted around the room, more nimble than his gangly appearance gave reason to. The cause was likely that he wasnt currently drunk, but being at level 80 didnt hurt matters. From Theos understanding, it wasmon for people to distribute their stats across the board. What use was there in being an all-powerful wizard if you stumbled when you walked? That was his reasoning, anyway.
The Archmage made a sign in the air, a trail of light glimmering behind. He nodded to himself and withdrew 6 plucked birds from thin air. They were about the size of a chicken, but with dark skin. He zipped around theb, pulling things out of thin air and producing vegetables and sauces from nowhere. A glowing cube came into existence in the center of theb and Uharis ced the prepared birds inside, stuffed with vegetables and sauces. Theo, Tresk, and Azrug watched with amazement.
Why 6? Azrug asked, tilting his head.
Because your friends have been lurking outside, near the front of the shop, Uharis said. Perg and Luras, I think theyre called.
Theoughed. Just wait for the smell to waft out the window. Theyll be up.
Sure enough, the moment the magical box cooked the meat enough to send the tantalizing scent outside, the bell downstairs rang. Luras emerged up the stairwell with a sheepish expression on his face.
I knew it! Tresk said. Archmage Uharis just confirmed that you two lurk outside. Waiting for us to cook!
Perg stammered.
You guys can juste up, Theo said. Its not a big deal.
Understood, Luras said, finding his traditional spot by the window.
The scent of the cooking birds was intoxicating. The mixture of slightly sweet-smelling vegetables mingled with the savory bird and sauce smell. Theo felt his stomach rumbling more than it ever had, and he realized now that they had been culinarily bankrupt until that point. A livestock program for the farm suddenly jumped to the top of his to-do list.
I have a question for you Luras, Theo asked, watching hungrily as Uharis ted the 6 birds.
What?
Sledge, Theo said, nodding solemnly to himself. How broke is she?
Beyond broke. Shes refused my help many times, Luras said.
That tracked with what Theo understood about Luras. The Half-Ogre didnt have tact when it came to these things. He likely offered to just give her money, which was the wrong approach.
We need to set her up with something, Theo said, trying to keep his mind on track as the 6 tes were set out,plete with two-pronged forks.
Luras nodded, not taking his eyes off his te. Well work on it.
Well find her something, Perg said, rubbing her hands together.
You may eat, Uharis said, gesturing at the tables.
Theo didnt hesitate, but by the time he pulled the leg off the bird, Tresk had already hoisted the entire thing up, slurping the vegetables out of the things cavity. The alchemist bit into the dark meat of the leg, a mixture of vors exploding into his mouth. Whatever sauce the Archmage put on it was divine. It was a strange, yet satisfying, mixture between a thick brown gravy and a sweet sauce. Uharis stood back for a while, watching and giggling as the group ate. He sat down after a moment, digging into his meal.
The entire time the group ate, no one said a word. It was the most luxurious thing any of them had for quite some time. Idle chatter filled the room as the tes were emptied. Theo leaned back in his chair, patting his full belly and letting out a groan. He ate the entire bird and was far too full. But it was worth it.
By the time everyone cleared out of theb, Theo had forgotten about Sledges plight. Hed kick himself for thister, but it wasnt time for that. It was time for sleep in the impossiblyfortable bed. He drifted off the moment his head hit the pillow, Tresk belching loudly as she snuggled under the sheets.
Chapter 2.8: Offensive Improvisation
Chapter 2.8: Offensive Improvisation
It was difficult for Theo to rise from his bed the next morning. The entire night was not enough time to digest all the food in his stomach, but eventually he rolled out of bed. Light from the early morning filtered through his window, signaling the extent of the damage the heavy meal had done. He stumbled into theb, finding Tresk already there preparing breakfast. She had the same thing in mind, apparently, forgoing the heavy meal in favor of small cuts of steaks and a bubbling pot of tea. He groaned into his chair, reclining and shaking his head.
Were not used to food that rich, Tresk said, grinning as she flipped the steaks. Good call on telling the wizard off about helping.
Theo nodded. We cant always rely on outside help.
Independence is more important, Tresk said. This path is more costly, but it''s worth it.
The spiritstone coins required to buy the town from Qavell shot to the forefront of Theos mind. It was the next coin up from gold, although he didnt know if it was 100 gold coins to 1 spiritstone or not. The dream of owning the town outright was very far away, though. Even if he had the coin to make it happen, there was the implication of independence from the capital. Would they treat Broken Tusk as a duchy, or an independent state? The only way to make that happen was to create such a powerful mercantile force that no one could deny their power. The confluence of events would help with that.
Theo long suspected that things werent what they seemed in the town. The herbs that grew behind hisb were a testament to that. The quarry was the next thing that sealed it away in his mind as a fact. Hed confirmed that nts shouldnt regenerate as quickly as they do in Broken Tusk. The quarry sat atop a perfect quality marble mine, and Mianas words about the mysterious man just tied it all together. There was something strange about this town. Forced to sit at a low level for all those years, it would now soar to be what the alchemist needed it to be.
Sledge, Theo said, breaking out of his trance. We need to improve her business.
How do you think we should do that? Tresk asked, serving two tes of steaks.
Theo poured himself some tea, ruminating on the idea for a moment. With only woodworking cores, shed be in trouble. He suspected she had a [Woodworking Core] and a [Carpenters Core], but logic dictated she was at least level 10. That gave way to the idea of getting her a different core for her third slot, something that would set her apart from amon carpenter.
Uharis, Theo said. He said he lectured for some schrly cults, whatever those are. Hell know the bestbination. Something that sets her apart from everyone else.
Good idea. We get him in here, get some food in himmaybe some liquorand we get him to tell us the bestbo, Tresk said, a devious grin spreading across her face.
Theo drank his moss tea, feeling the invigorating effects spread through his body. The ckness that came with the heavy meal melted away, sending waves of warmth through his body. He ate his steak slowly, trying to use his intuition to think of an excellentbination for the carpenter. He was too uneducated on the topic toe up with anything useful. The information was just out of reach.
What are you getting up to today? Theo asked.
Well, some adventurers wanted to scout the other dungeons, Tresk said, smacking her lips and swallowing arge hunk of steak. I dont think anyone has explored the [Ocean Dungeon], yet.
A bell suddenly rang in the distance, frantic and repeated. Tresk bolted from her chair immediately, drawing her daggers and narrowing her eyes. Theo almost fell out of his chair from panic, casting a worried look at hispanion. What? he asked.
Thats a call to arms, Tresk said. Come on!
The Marshling darted to the stairs, leaving Theo woefully behind. He stumbled over himself, mbering down the stairs and out the front door. He saw Luras dart off toward the western gate, the source of the bell, with his bow drawn and a grim look on his face. Tresk was already most of the way up the road to the town center. The alchemist simply didnt have the same speed as the others, trailing behind as they ran ahead.
By the time he got to the town square, Aarok was calming a group of townsfolk down, the bell still ringing in the distance.
It''s under control, Aarok said, waving his hands dismissively. No need to panic.
Theo leaned in, casting his eyes over the worried crowd. Whats going on? Theo asked in a whisper.
Follow me, Aarok said. Everyone stay here.
Aarok led the way to the western gate. Theo spotted that the portcullis was dropped, a wolf on the other side attacking the metal. Then he noticed the thing on top of the wolf. It was a small creature, covered in sore sand boils and brandishing a wooden spear. The weaponshed out through the holes in the metal gate, threatening to wound anyone who got close enough. Tresk and Luras had ascended the battlements, the Half-Ogre trying to get an angle on the monster with his bow. He cursed, descending the stairs to take a shot from behind the gate. The green skin of the mounted monster gave it away as the Goblin everyone was talking about.
[Boss Monster] spotted! Wolf Rider GrekStinks has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters. Use caution.
Stand back, Luras said, drawing his oversized bow fully.
The mighty Half-Ogre loosed an arrow, aimed directly at the Goblins heart. But a swift swat from the monster sent the arrow tumbling to the side, striking only the muddy ground outside. Luras cursed again, nocking another arrow and releasing. This happened several times before the Goblin let out a shrill scream, turning its wolf around and bounding out into the swamp.
That stupid Goblin, Luras muttered. I cant hit it.
Yeah, he has some kind of ability, Tresk called from the battlements. Smacks all attacks away with his spear.
The monster has given us nothing but problems out in the swamp, Aarok said, cing a hand on Theos shoulder. Im afraid something is going to happen, and I know you dont want the wizards help.
Theo understood the words Aarok didnt speak. Maybe he was reading into it, or maybe it was the push the alchemist needed to experiment with less friendly means of potion making. He turned on the spot without saying a word, marching off toward the Newt and Demon. He heard Tresk say, dont worry about him.
The Marshling was close behind him, joining him inside theb. Theo paid her little mind, getting to work right away. He raided Tresks stash of [Fire Smander Eggs], setting them near the stills and moving to consult Basic Drogramath Alchemy. There was a section on offensive improvised potions. It exploited a quirk in the essence system, and he intended to use it against the boss. Perhaps he wouldnt be the one to hurl the deadly potion, but he would be its creator.
What are you making? Tresk asked.
A potion, Theo said.
Are you going to use my eggs?
Only a few of them. I dont need the insidesjust the shells, Theo said.
Crack them into my open mouth, Tresk said, tilting her head back and opening her maw wide.
Theo shrugged, cracking 10 of the eggs into her mouth, crumbling the shells and cing them in the [Drogramath Still]. He added equal parts water and set the me to its lowest setting. The alchemist moved to the [ssware Artifice], a device capable of producing any ssware he could imagine.
I understand youre trying to be a pacifist, but needs must, Tresk said.
Theo let out a heavy sigh. Im not a pacifist. Not really. I understand what it takes to defend something you love, and Im willing to do it. I wont throw this, but Ill create it.
I understand youve had enough of killing, Tresk said,ing to bring herforting presence behind him.
Theo appreciated her just being there. He focused his mind, inserting a mote into the side of the device and projecting an image from his minds eye. It was a strange-looking sk with two chambers on the inside separated by a ss stopper. The alchemist forced his will on the machine, detailing that the two center stoppers should be brittle enough to break from an impact. There would be a small gap between the two stoppers, separating the individual chambers. The machine whirred, spitting the item directly into his inventory. He withdrew it, holding it up for Tresk to see.
Fancy double bottle? Tresk asked, shrugging.
A bottle with two chambers, Theo said, moving to the table. He ced the sk there, withdrawing a sk of [Withering Essence] from his inventory. It was the most unstable essence hed ever worked with. When he brewed it, during his attempt to break the barrier, it would react with almost anything. He ced the bottom stopper inside, sealing off the first chamber.
And why is that useful for the wolf? Tresk asked.
Images shed through Theos mind, and he let theme. Pieces of his memories from Earth. Painful things that drove an iron spike through his heart. When I worked on my, I killed people. We had technology that would allow us to kill someone from long distances. Guns, if you could call them that. High-tech rifles that could make a straight shot for miles. Theputer did most of the work, and I only used one of those a few times. Do you know what I was really good at, Tresk?
What? Tresk said, her eyes wide. She could feel the pain he felt. He knew it.
Bombs. Sneaking in. cing explosives and getting out, Theo said, a painful sense of pride spreading through his chest. I was good. I could blend in anywhere. Social camouge, or something like that. This hits close to home. Thats all.
The condenser on the [Drogramath Still] sputtered, releasing thest of its contents. Tresk waited a tactful moment before speaking again as Theo went to collect the [me Essence]. You were a bad guy. Not anymore.
Yeah, youre right, Theo said with a shrug. Thats the thing, though. I look at the people in this town and I see amon factor reflecting in their eyes. The same thing I killed those people for. Food. Comfort. A sense that the world wasnt ending.
Theo ced a [Copper Shaving] in the center chamber, stoppering it with the top stopper. He poured the [me Essence] in, takingfort because the dual stopper system worked. If it hadnt the Newt and Demon would be a smoldering crater. The alchemist was confident in his skills, having no doubts about his design.
These are the things we do to protect the things we love, Tresk said.
Theo felt better about himself than he had in ages. He got his true feelings off his chest, something he hadnt done before. It wasnt as though he didnt trust his Tarahek with the information. He didnt want those floodgates to open, giving way to something far worse. But there were things outside of those walls. Things that wanted to kill him and everyone else inside. No, he wouldnt allow that. Not while he could do something about it. He stoppered the top of the potion, shaking it for good measure.
Perfect, Theo said. If any of the seals failed, it would have exploded.
Tresks eyes went wide. How big?
This one is for demonstration, Theo said. The one I make to kill the Goblin will be smaller. Wanna see?
Uh, yeah! Tresk said, jumping up and down.
Sweat umted on Theos brow. Despite his bravado, he was nervous about this invention. It was a design that lingered in the back of his mind for quite a while. A weapon he hoped to never create, but that was a childish thought. The monsters lurking around in the swamp werent friendly. They didnt listen to reason. Their primary motivation was death.
Aarok was talking with Luras near the western gate. Uharis had assumed the battlements, looking over the swamp and muttering something. Streams of light issued from his body, snaking out toward the swamp with searching intent.
Ivee to show you something, Aarok, Theo said, holding his improvised weapon aloft. Be careful what you ask for, next time.
Aarok exchanged a concerned look with Luras.
Luras, join me on the battlements, Theo said, gesturing.
Luras and Tresk apanied Theo to the battlements. The alchemist handed the Half-Ogre the potion and smiled. This is incredibly dangerous. My cores are screaming at me to stay far away from where this is thrown. Think you can get it at least 100 paces out into the swamp from here?
Luras shrugged. A crowd gathered below, murmuring indistinctly. Yeah, easily.
When you throw it, duck, Theo said.
Uharis gestured, muttering something under his breath. A thick, blue barrier formed in front of him, glittering with magical runes. Theo smiled. The Archmage knew what he was doing.
On your count, Luras said.
One Two Three Throw! Theo shouted.
Luras hurled the potion in the air, sending it at a steep angle toward the swamp. Theo watched its trajectory for a moment, ducking after he was satisfied it wouldnd far enough away. Even the impact against the marshy ground would be enough to set the thing off. It was incredibly unstable.
Luras, Tresk, and Theo huddled behind the crentions of the battlements when the weapon exploded. A plume of fire rose into the air. The boughs of the mighty Ogre Cypress trees shook from the force of the st. The air was filled with a deafening explosion, the wall under their feet shaking from the raw power of that experiment gone wrong. Those gathered below shrieked in terror, running away from the rising plume of fire. Uharis tutted.
I could have done as much, Uharis shouted, digging his fingers into his ears.
You shook that thing in theb! Like it was a ripe nut! Youre psychotic! Tresk shouted, punching Theo in the arm.
Theo looked down, catching sight of Aaroks mouth agape. The alchemist cast him a devious grin.
nthiers balls, Theo! Luras shouted. A little more warning next time.
I told you to duck, Theo said. I knew you could throw it far enough.
Im afraid that might be a little too powerful for what we need, Aarok shouted from below.
The group descended the battlements. Theo pped his hand over the guildmasters shoulder. It was just a demonstration. That one was very unstable. I forced two essences to interact with themselves and a catalyst at the same time. Ill create smaller ones to take out the Goblin.
Well, that was impressive, Uharis said, clearing his throat. Incredibly stupid. Extremely dangerous. But impressive. Drogramaths alchemy is a hair different from the standard form.
I know nothing about the standard alchemy cores, Theo said with a shrug. I know my essences and how they work.
Uharis thought for a moment, cupping his chin in his hand. Those Drogramath Dronon who live in our realm choose a life of solitude. Even before the order was established, they kept their secrets for themselves. Not that it would matter. Without your cores, handling essences can only be done by a high-level alchemist.
How high? Theo asked.
Uharis shrugged. Level 50, perhaps? The alchemists in Qavell are secretive. Even in my formative years studying magic I wasnt able to collect as much information as I would have liked.
Theo cast his eyes over the scattered townsfolk slowly filtering back into the town center. How dangerous are my cores?
Uharis came closer, cing a hand on the alchemists shoulder. His next words came in hushed tones. Youre hearing their whispers, arent you?
Fairly often, Theo said, managing a weak smile. You can drop the pretense, by the way.
Of course, Uharis said, waving a dismissive hand. Youve been focusing your stats on [Wisdom], havent you? My high [Wisdom] score, and the hundreds of hidden wards on my person should have blocked your intuition. Then again, you might just be a naturally clever person.
What are you talking about? Tresk said, leaning in to whisper with the pair.
My cores have a direct connection to Drogramath, Theo said. My intuition is a mix of my high [Wisdom], and his knowledge. Uharis stuck around to see how close that connection was under the pretense of checking on the dungeons. Hes really been watching me. Likely with Sulvans permission.
Very astute, Uharis said, smiling.
Theo wanted to be offended, but he didnt me them. The disy he just put on outside of the gates would be enough for anyone to be concerned. There was a lot of power in Drogramaths essences, power that could do horrible things in the wrong hands. He only hoped that the Order of the Burning Eye could see that he wasnt the wrong person. He was the perfect vessel to contain that evil power.
Wow. You figured that out, Theo? Tresk asked.
Not really, Theo said. It was a guess.
Can he handle it? Luras said, edging closer to the whispering group. The power of a Demon god?
It appears so, Uharis said, straightening his robes. This was all precaution, of course.
Well, now that youve had your fun I have a few questions to ask, Theo said. Questions about cores.
Chapter 2.9: The Power of Friendship
Chapter 2.9: The Power of Friendship
Rain pattered yfully outside the windows of theb. The clean, chilly breeze it blew into the stuffy ce was a wee reprieve. Fires danced along the boughs of the Ogre Cypress in the distance, suffocating from the daily drizzle. Theo sat with Uharis and Tresk in the Newt and Demon. Theyd exined their problem with Sledges cores, making sure the wizard understood how useless they were to the town currently. The Archmage had a grin on his face even before he began talking.
More free consultations, huh? Well, I suppose its worth it for the disy outside, Uharis said.
And the fact that youre a dirty spy, Tresk sneered.
Dirty? Not after pilfering a vial of your [Cleansing Scrub]. A spy? Absolutely, Uharis said. Well, more of a minder. See this ties in well with my suggestion for your carpenter. What do you know of the Pantheon?
Gods, Tresk blurted out. Theres a lot of them.
Fair enough, Uharis said. How about you, Theo?
Nothing, Theo said with a shrug. He never put much thought into what gods there were, or how they operated.
There are gods. Many of them. They exist in their own realms, but can travel to others on rare asions. The Demon Gods are the ones most likely to jump between the realms, but theyre typically banished by my order. The Burning Eye is a god, considered being the god most opposed to Demons. Now, why is this important? Because the best way for them to influence our realm is through cores. Even Tresks [Assassins Core] is aligned with a god named Zaul.
Uharis paused for a moment, casting his gaze out the window. Do you understand so far?
Youre implying that the whispers Im hearing are Drogramaths, Theo said.
You already determined this on the wall, Uharis said, shrugging. Although I think you knew it for a long time. Heres something you didnt know. Your [Tarahek Core] is acting as a more powerful buffer than anything else. Even the sigil Sulvan inscribed you with pales when itpares.
Wait. The power of friendship is keeping the Demon God at bay? Tresk asked, eyes going wide. I always knew friendship was the most powerful force in the world.
Uharis smiled. There was something below that facade that Theo picked up on.
Things seem to fall into yourp, dont they, Theo? Uharis asked.
Because this whole ce was nned, Theo said, letting out a sigh. I already knew that, too.
Indeed. Gods, mortals with agendasI dont know who. But someone designed Broken Tusk for something, Uharis said.
A silence washed over the group thatsted a painfully long time. Theo gleaned as much from what Miana told him, but to hear another source confirm it was strange. It was difficult for him to know how he felt about the situation.
Is this a gift, or a curse? Theo asked.
See, thats the interesting part, Uharis said, withdrawing a leather-bound journal. I would put money that this depends on you.
Im the determining factor? What about the dungeons and theing monster wave? Theo asked.
I dont know, Uharis said. Thats beyond me at the moment. What I understand about this ce is that theres high-level magic at work. The herbs that grow in the wild replenish at an rming rate. Your quarry has perfect quality stoneit certainly shouldnt. And there are more monsters, and a more powerful dungeon.
A confluence of events, Theo said.
Thats a good way to put it, Uharis said.
Another silence consumed the room, a rush of wind outside punctuating the lull in conversation.
Ill take it as a good thing, Theo said, nodding. Theres no reason to give up on my positive attitude at this point.
Good idea! Tresk said, jumping from her chair and pumping her fist. What could go wrong?
Now, shall we talk about the other topic? The reason you brought me here? Uharis asked. Theres an obvious choice for your woodworker. [Fabricator] is the only option that makes sense.
What does a Fabricator do? Theo asked.
Well, do you see all these seed core buildings youre nting in your town? Someone with a [Fabricators Core], even one unaligned with Delcan the God of Construction, can change seed core buildings. She could keep doing what she loves and make a tidy profit.
I didnt know that was possible, Tresk said. How much could she change?
Well, she cant expand the buildings beyond what theyre currently upgraded for in terms of floor space. She would use mana to create upgrades and reform the buildings if she wanted. Unlike most Artisan cores, its a school of magery.
Theo thought about that for a moment. He had to make sure it would fall into line with a core that would benefit both Sledge, and the town. The alchemist wasnt even aware seed core buildings could be modified by anything but upgrades. That would influence the flow of money, sending it straight to the woodworker. Shed be providing a useful service to the town, and it gave everyone something to spend their money on. Since seed core buildings came in random arrangements, this all made sense.
Thats perfect, Theo said, nodding. But that was the simple part. Now we have to find one, and convince Sledge it was her idea.
Oh, leave that to me, Tresk said, grinning. Ive known Sledge for a long time.
How much will she need to know about magic? Theo asked.
Not much. The seed core buildings have a mind of their own, Uharis said, casting his eyes around theb. Your alchemyb is a good example of that, I think.
Theo had to agree. Hisb seemed to have a mind of its own, or at least a mind to influence his alchemical reactions. The bonuses he got from the building alone were great, and the artifices within were even better.
I dont mean to treat you like my personal consultant, but Theo said.
But you have a free core slot, Uharis said, shrugging. And you want to know the best one. I thought you would have grown tired of my prattling by now, but if you insist.
Please, Theo said, gesturing for the Archmage to continue.
Youre in a rare position. You started with the herbalism core and an alchemy core. This isnt always the case. Id wager most people start with one or the other, with a secondary core thats mostly unrted. They have to go out and buy the core theyre missing. So, you have a new core slot. There are thousands of options to pick from. You could get a core focused on administration. That would allow you to manage your town better, reduce taxes, and so on. You have an herbalism core, so you could do farming, brewing, and so on. Theres the [Loremasters Core], which would work if you increased your [Intelligence]. Theres also the [Schrs Core] route, if you like.
Thats a lot of information, Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh.
Well, what are you interested in doing?
Theo took a long moment to think. He didnt really know what he wanted to do. Initially, the [Loremaster] route seemed interesting, but Uharis had presented so many options. Knowledge seemed like a powerful thing in this world, and he was umting a lot. When he considered how much he knew about Drogramath alchemy, it appeared he was the expert on this. Whatever Dronon existed throughout the world were too tight-fisted with their information to share. Even the tome the alchemist had was absurdly rare, by his measure.
I want to umte knowledge, Theo said, shrugging at his iplete description. Whats the difference between a [Schr] and a [Loremaster]?
A [Loremaster] is a specialized type of [Schr]. [Loremasters] specialize in lore, as you might have guessed. Their primary stats are [Intelligence] and [Wisdom]. Youd be uncovering the hidden lore of the world. If it happened, you can determine who did it and why. Its also incredibly lucrative. Every item generated by the dungeons has a hidden story. Perhaps an adventurer died in a dungeon hundreds of years ago. The system attaches the lore of that death to the item. You uncover the additional properties on the items, and uncover the lore.
Alright, what are the mechanics of [Loremaster]? Theo asked. How do I uncover that lore?
Well, you inject small amounts of mana into the object and you get a clue. Let''s say you find a pair of old magical boots in a dungeon. Theyre made of leather, so you know the person who wore them used light armor. Youve deduced something about the person, so youll gain knowledge based on that assumption. This is a ss where [Wisdom] and [Intelligence] work in tandem, unlike most sses that have a single primary stat, Uharis said. He had assumed the tone of a lecturer. So, youre stumped. You cannot find the rest of the lore. Channel some mana into the boots, and the system tell you to look at the size. Suddenly you realize theyre small boots. Thest person who wore them was from a diminutive race, perhaps a Marshling. More information. This goes on until the system relents. The higher level the item, the harder this process is.
Thats a lot to take in, Theo said.
Well, I think [Loremaster] is a good fit for you. Administration cores are also a good fit for you. Both have their advantages, but since youre not worried about money you could consider the administration core first, Uharis said.
Theo nodded, trying to process everything. What are the mechanics of the administration cores?
Well, the standard [Administrators Core] is fairlyckluster. There are rare cores that might suit you bettersince you have the budget, Uharis said, shrugging. Since some skills are locked behind cores, meaning you need a certain grade of core to view the skill, nothing but a legendary administration core would do. Perhaps a [Governance Core], [Barons Core], or [Taskmasters Core]. The mechanics of it are fairly simple. Youll gain abilities that help you manage the town. Between keeping your books straight, to getting a small map in your vision. You can manage your people easier, sendingmands telepathically or granting various advanced titles thate with benefits.
It''s a toss-up, Theo said.
[Loremaster] sounds great, Tresk said. She had given her full attention to the Elf his entire speech, sitting on the edge of her seat and nodding as he spoke. I have these boots that have 3 properties. You could identify them for me. I guess administration is nice, too.
Theo nodded, lost in thought. He wondered how many pairs of boots hade out of the dungeon. How many items that werent identified. Then, there was the allure of learning more about Broken Tusk. That was something he was incredibly interested in. But he didnt forget Uharis earlier warnings. About cores and how they were aligned. It was obvious that core pairings were a massive thing. If the [Loremasters Core] was aligned with some other demonic god, he wanted nothing to do with it.
Are there unaligned [Loremaster] cores? Theo asked.
A smile painted inly across the Archmages face. You have a high [Wisdom] score already. Well, thats the logical line of reasoning. All schr cores are aligned with Uvuqor, god of knowledge.
So, thats the question. Does Uvuqor align with Drogramath? Theo asked.
Yes, they align nicely. Drogramath is an outcast Demon Lord, by Demon standards. He stands on the edge of the Demonic Pantheon. Uvuqor stands outside of the Prime Pantheon, right on the edge near the lesser gods. He does not elect a champion, nor does he take part in any of their quarrels. Better still, he seeds dungeons with his cores. Some gods withhold their cores for the chosen few, such as ntheir.
Thats perfect, Theo said. Youre giving this information for free, but I have one more question.
For you? Ask away.
Are there bad corebinations? Combinations that would affect the user negatively.
Indeed, there are. It can be as minor as bad synergy, and as bad as having two personalities warring inside your mind, Uharis said. Ive seen Sulvan wait decades to pick a new core. Ive even seen him remove and destroy old cores that went out of alignment with the Burning Eye.
Thank you, Uharis, Theo said. This is a lot to take in.
Not a problem. Youre too interesting not to befriend, Uharis said, grinning. This little swamp is going to do great things. Very soon. Now, Im off to have a drink. Its been a day.
Uharis turned on the spot and descended the stairs without another word. Theo and Tresk sat there in silence for several long moments.
Its not even noon, Tresk said, grimacing. Does he have a problem?
Maybe, Theo said, scratching his chin. It might be an act, though. Uharis is operating on a different level. His spying was obvious and innocent. Im worried about the things we dont know about.
The pair lingered there for some time. Theo had enough things to worry about today, and would cast the far-reaching thoughts about corebinations to the back of his mind. Sledge should be done with his barrels, if her bravado had anything behind it. Tresk would hit the dungeon, influenced by Uharis mention of the magical items. Then, there was the issue of making weapons for the town. Theyd want them, but the alchemist didnt know if it was the best approach. It was to prove a point more than anything. The towers he bought for the walls would do more than anything to defend against that wolf-riding goblin. It couldnt dodge a bolt of lightning, or so he hoped.
Im going to collect my barrels, Theo said, pping his hand over Tresks shoulder. She nodded, lost in thought. He stooped low, pressing his forehead against hers before departing.
The rain outside came as a slow drizzle, moving across the town in a calming wave. People moved about the town, shielding themselves from the rain and muttering low whispers about Theos disy outside the gates. It was nice to prove a point, but he could have done without the stares. He pushed on to the center of the town anyway, stopping to check the progress toward the next rank.
[Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 14 (20%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Quarry
Adventurers Guild
Core Homes (x12)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
It was close enough that he wouldnt worry about it. The adventurers would put enough cores in to level it up, although if Fenian came to town hed finish it off with some level 30 [Monster Cores]. He dismissed the screen, moving up toward the housing development and Sledges workshop. He mentally prepared himself for dealing with the woman, forcing a smile on his face as he approached the building.
Sledge was working on another wooden beam outside. She actually smiled for a moment when she saw him, quickly reverting her face back to that stern appearance. The alchemist let his genuine smile show, noticing the crowd of barrels in the womans shop.
About time, Sledge said, shaking her head. Im guessing that big explosion was you.
Youre right, Theo said. How are the barrels?
Well, I learned a new recipe. When I added your magic bands, they turned into [Alchemy Equipment], Sledge said, letting out a bark-likeugh.
Hopefully it wasnt too much trouble for you, Theo said. Can I inspect them?
Theyre yours, Sledge shrugged.
Theo moved into the messy woodworkers shop, brushing the sawdust from the lid of the barrel and inspecting the item.
[Alchemy Fermentation Barrel]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Umon
Created By: Sledge
A 200 unit capacity barrel capable of fermenting any reagents ced inside. cing a mote with the mash is required for the process to take effect. Additional motes and mana may be required over the course of the fermentation.
Effects:
Creates a fermentation reaction when reagents are ced inside with a mote.
Speed of fermentation is greatly increased, depending on the strength of the mote.
Theo didnt expect it to generate the barrel as an actual piece of [Alchemy Equipment], but he wouldntin. The system just recognized it as the correct items to give it thatbel. The advantage was, he knew it would work for fermentation. This also led him to believe that Sledge waspletely capable of performing more tasks in the town. She was just another destitute citizen unable to lift herself above the impoverished area. The alchemist found himself wanting to help those who werent asking for it more than others. The farmers came to mind.
Well, youve outdone yourself, Theo said, taking all 10 barrels into his inventory.
Any other work you need done? Sledge asked, her eyes glittering.
Not at the moment. I have some things to tend to, Theo said, waving her off.
As they went to pass by the Marshling, she reached out a mmy hand and grabbed him by the forearm. She had a look of pain mingled with relief on her face, something he knew all too well.
Thanks, she said, her tough facade falling away for only a moment. Now get out of here. Ive got boards to trim.
Theo bid her farewell, retreating back to the Newt and Demon. Azrug was downstairs, although there were no customers. They shared a few words, mostly about the massive explosion, before Theo retreated upstairs.
Theo didnt have any use for 10 barrels. He doubted hed use more than 2 of them, but that wasnt the point. The silver coins he forked over to the woodworker wouldst her a long time. Enough time that he could sort out a better position for her among the citizens of Broken Tusk. The alchemist rearranged the room, shoving a table out of the way and exposing the north-facing wall. He removed 2 empty barrels from his inventory and set them there, shoving his entire body against them to line them up perfectly. He removed the remaining 8 from his inventory, shoving them in the [Dimensional Storage Crate].
The sound they made when being sucked into a too-small space was satisfying.
Theo retrieved his Drogramath alchemy book, set it up on the table nearest the barrels, and cracked it open. He rubbed his hands together, turning to the page about fermentation.
Alright, he said, grinning. Time to ferment some stuff.
Chapter 2.10: Bagragrubbin Rubgrubbin Grubbin
Chapter 2.10: Bagragrubbin Rubgrubbin Grubbin
Theo settled on two simple reagents for his first run at fermentation. ording to his information, the reaction only needed motes to ur. There was no need for yeast to break the sugars down, that all came down to magic. The reagent he had the biggest stockpile of was [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], followed by [Moss Nettle]. They both produced the valuable restoration potions that every adventurer seemed to desire and was curious as to the modifiers they would produce.
The process was simple, especially whenpared to distition. The [Alchemical Grinder Artifice] magically resized itself to fit onto the top of the first barrel. He simply piled 50 of the healing roots over the first barrel, and 50 of the stamina regeneration moss over the other. The grinder whirred to life, cutting the reagents into a perfect mash. The contents within both barrels glowed with a faint green light. A system prompt followed shortly after.
[Alchemy Fermentation Barrel] requires one of the following:
Mana Input from user.
Mote Input from user.
Theo was certain that Basic Drogramath Alchemy said it required at least a mote, and perhaps mana. His intuition said this was a discrepancy between the fermentation vessel he was meant to use, and the one Sledge had fabricated. The alchemist shrugged, cing an [Earth Mote] in each barrel and closing the lids. He had a sense that a 50 unit fermentation would take a shorter time than a 100 unit fermentation, but couldnt get a solid grasp on how much longer.
The fermentation process was a new thing for theb. Where distition required constant attention to avoid the overflowing sks, the fermentation barrels would do their work with no attention. Theo turned his attention to some leftover [me Essence]. He wasnt currently under contract from Fenian and had enough potions in the store tost a few more days. He could experiment with the dangerous essence, although he wished he had the experimentation room upgrade for theb.
In the gravel yard behind the Newt and Demon, Theo began his experimentation. The goal was to create something that would be safe for people to use. Hisplex contraption from before had more failure points than he could count, and looking back on it he realized it was a miracle it didnt misfire. His n wasnt to abandon the concept entirely, but to make it safer for the user.
[me Essence] was the most temperamental essence Theo had ever worked with. It refused to react stably. Introducing tenth of a unit drops of the essence into [Purified Water] saw violent reactions. The water bubbled ominously on the first attempt and created a minor explosion on the second. Even [Stable Water] didnt do the trick, seeing a simr if less violent reaction. The Drogramathi tome mentioned the vtile nature of offensive essences.
Theo experimented for some time with that essence, finding it to be impossible to work with. His understanding of essences, the thing that brought him his breakthrough, revealed the problem with his nned firebomb. Until he could remove the impurities through the pressure tank, the project wouldnt work. The second and third properties on the essence were still present, preventing him from getting a stable reaction in the potion form. He nodded to himself, making a mental note about the issue, before returning to the Newt and Demon.
Very unimpressive explosions today, Azrug said, tutting. The shopkeeper was leaning against the counter, shaking his head.
I need to wait for Throk to make my pressure artifice, Theo said. I cant work the next tier of potions without it.
Well, Im selling things. Getting experience. Increasing my stats, Azrug said, grinning.
How do you gain experience with mercantile-focused cores? Theo asked.
Selling stuff, Azrug said.. Speaking of, I have a proposition.
Ah, Theo said, closing his eyes for a moment. Lets hear it.
I want to sell other stuff. Not just potions, Azrug said. We dont have a general store in town. Adventurers can barter with the townsfolk, but theres no centralized ce. Ive had many peoplee looking for supplies. Food, water, maps, all that.
Perhaps you could sell adventuring kits, Theo said. Bundle them with potions. Rations, wateryou could use the ssware artifice for bottled waterwhatever else you can think of.
Problem is, that stuff is expensive, Azrug said, a slight frown painting his face.
And youre broke, Theo said, sensing another investmenting.
Well, Im not broke, Azrug said. But I cant afford to buy supplies for the shop.
Theo waved a dismissive hand. Just hold back the money you make from the shop. Take your cut and reinvest the rest.
Azrugs face lit up. You think it''s a good idea?
Listen to your cores, Theo said, nearly grimacing at his advice. Youre the expert.
Okay, good. I already posted a notice at the adventurers guild about mapping routes to the dungeons, Azrug said, jabbering. I signed a deal with Throk to disy his work here at a fee. Youll get a cut of everything, dont worry.
Theo smiled. I wasnt worried. You blew in this ce like a storm to start with. Took over and started selling stuff better than I ever could. Youve run this ce better than I ever could.
Thanks, Theo, Azrug said.
A sound like rolling thunder came from outside the shop. Theo narrowed his eyes at the door, recognizing that specific cadence. Azrugs brow knit tightly. Thunder? Lots of thunder?
No, I dont think so, Theo said, letting out a heavy sigh. He pushed his way outside, squinting north toward the town center.
He spotted the wreaths of dark fire before he saw the carriage. A mighty vessel built for war, armored andcquered ck, came barreling toward him. The five creatures that pulled it were the demonic Karatan of Fenian Feintleaf, driving hard across the hard cobbles. They looked like normal Karatan, ording to the Elf, although Theo had never seen a regr one. These demonic Karatan were multi-limbed horse-like creatures that looked more centipede than horse. The carriage rumbled to a stop, the lead horse Galflower letting out a sound like a chittering whinny.
The merchant Elf, Fenian, sat atop the carriage, shing a devious smile. His pale skin, damp from the constant rain, caught what little light there was. He wore his traditional ruffled tunic, ruffled coat, and pants with more ruffles. The hat that sat upon his head was adorned with a long, red feather ending in an intricate runic pattern. Fenian dismounted, affected a deep bow near his lead horse, and smiled wider.
Theo, Fenian said. Galflower!
The Elf turned on the spot, stomping his feet in anger. Galflower had removed the hat from his head and was happily munching on the fabric. The merchant pped at the side of the creatures chitinous face to little effect. He let out an exasperated breath, retreating to the back of the carriage to retrieve another hat. This one was just as fancy as thest, butcked the interesting plumage on top.
Fenian, Theo said, reaching out a hand for the Elf to shake. I didnt expect you in Broken Tusk.
Nor should you have, Fenian said, casting onest re at his horse. Im here on other business. My courier business.
A small man stepped out of the side of the carriage, blustering. He was shorter than a Marshling by a head, his tan fur bristling from the jostle of the ride. He stomped across the wet cobbles and extended a hand for Theo to shake. The alchemist had to stoop low to aplish the task. He noticed how much the mans appearance resembled that of a hamster. The resplendent robe gave him away as someone important.
Bagragrubbin Rubgrubbin Grubbin, at your service, mayor, the man said.
Theo blinked. Pardon me?
Fenianughed, for perhaps the first time. Theo cast him a re, then turned his attention back down to the small man.
The Broglings all have long names. They typically take a shorter name, Fenian said, finally stifling his chuckles. Ive taken to calling this fine gentleman Grub.
Grub is fine, Grub said, waving dismissively. Now, if you could file a formalint with me against this smuggler. That ride was anything but pleasant.
Trust me, Fenian said. You wouldnt want to travel those roads with anything but the best. And this is thebest carriage in thend.
Fenian, are you going to stick around for a while? Theo asked.
Yes, at least the rest of the day, Fenian said.
Good. Ill find youter, Theo said. Grub, would you like toe inside to discuss business?
Grub straightened himself up, pulling at the ends of his tiny coat. A smile spread across his chubby face. Certainly. Good to see someone has a sense of decorum.
Theo gave his greetings to Azrug, pushing through the shop section of the Newt and Demon to ascend the stairs. Grub followed closely behind, having trouble with the stairs before finally pulling himself to thending. They settled in near the window, the little Brogling jumping to get onto his chair. The alchemist smiled, gesturing to his well-used tea kettle.
Tea?
Yes, thank you.
Theo put a pot of [Purified Water] on his [me Artifice], setting it low and returning his attention to the man. Youre here for the taxes, he said.
Indeed, and more, Grub said, straightening his little coat. You have friends in high ces, Theo Spencer. ces that even I cant reach.
Theo narrowed his eyes, his suspicions peaking. Someone in Qavell put him here for a reason. What that reason was sat in the realm of spection, something he couldnt hope to prate. The functionary sitting before him even knew more, but that was a matter for another time. News outside of Broken Tusk came in slowly, censored by Qavell itself. More than anything, the alchemist wanted to know about the state of the kingdom.
Whats this business with the roads? Theo asked.
An insurrection, Grub said with a weak smile.
A civil war? Theo asked.
Not quite, Grub said. Well, I suppose this is privileged information. But, yes. A small sect of cultists has risen, but they wontst longthey never do. The crown has summoned the irregrs, while the bulk of her force battles in the west.
Sounds like something a mayor should have been informed about, Theo said. He felt a strange appraising sensation wash over his body as Grub narrowed his eyes for a moment. He realized the functionary was inspecting him.
Grub let out a long sigh. Im here to collect your taxes. I put in an order to your town to begin a manual collection for a reason.
What reason might that be? Theo asked.
Well, youre level 10. So, you have ess to a third core slot with any luck. You havent taken a new core, so Id like to advise you on some finer points of politics, Grub said.
Theo groaned. He wasnt very interested in politics.
Now, it might be daunting but it''s necessary, Grub said. Politics is about more than just backstabbing and betrayal. Important things happen in the political realm, so Id advise you to take an administration core.
Alright, what are the advantages? I have an advisor who is pushing me to [Loremaster], rather than administration, Theo said.
A schr? Perhaps a high-level adventurer, Grub said, nodding. Right, [Loremaster] is a good pick. A great pick if you can find a legendary core. Those goals are short term, though. I can sense something inside you. A fiercely independent spirit, which is a good thing. So, Illy this out for you inly. Something is strange in Broken Tusk. There are forces at y that the crown doesnt understand, and it doesnt want to get involved. Ive never seen an independent adventurers guild get approval so quickly. Your requests for funding are being signed by a blind man, it would seem.
Grub nodded his head to the steaming kettle. Theo removed it from the fire and set it down on the wood table, adding some moss to the mix and stirring it gently. He reced the lid and turned his attention back to the functionary.
What does that have to do with my cores?
You could take another core, perhaps make some decent profits. A gold here or there, but thats not where the money is at. If you want Broken Tusk to thrive, youll take your leadership role seriously. How much money are you making on exports?
Theo stammered for a second. He pulled his mayoral screen up and scanned through the various tabs. There was a section for exports, but the data was iplete.
I dont know, Theo said.
Because you have to work the numbers manually without a core, Grub said with a shake of his head. I know you have the means. I urge you to pick up a [Governance Core] as soon as possible. Theyre terribly expensive, but I have a feeling someone in the kings court will approve a subsidy.
Theo steepled his fingers and turned his attention to the wisps of vapor rising from the teakettle. The earthy, citrus smell filled theb. Someone in the court had an interest in Broken Tusk. That person might be the same person who coerced Miana to keep the town as it was, reserving it for the alchemists arrival. If this was a good thing was beyond him. Another thought crossed his mind.
Cant I just swap the cores out? Theo asked. When needed.
Of course. Talk to whoever is consulting for you on this matter, though. The process is difficult, and reserved for someone of a high level. It is quite painful, if youre under-leveled.
So, what are the benefits Id get from an administration core? Theo asked. Sell it to me.
Well, thats where I was going. The true power of a core focused on governance is your ability to interact with other towns, Grub said. Have you considered that Rivers and Daub might want to buy the stone youve been exporting? Or perhaps your abundance of timber?
What use would they have of stone and wood? Theo asked.
When a town crosses the level 20 threshold, they require materials to maintain themselves. I suppose you havent noticed, since youve been feeding your town cores constantly, but a town degrades over time. Before level 20, it simply requires [Monster Cores] to survive, unless damaged. After that point, you need to feed it motes and raw materials such as stone and timber, along with other things, Grub said. There, Ive filled in the gaps of your knowledge. You should get a refund from your advisor. Or perhaps you should speak with your contact more often.
Grub paused for a long moment, gesturing to the tea. Theo obeyed the silentmand, pouring out two cups of the steaming liquid. He took a tentative sip as the information rolled over in his mind. The Brogling took a sip of his own, pausing for a moment before continuing.
So, the legendary [Governance Core] will grant you a few abilities by default. Everything is tallied automatically. Poption, finances, town resource levels, all of that. Once you have the core, a tree of skills opens up. I rmend the [Contracts] skill, Grub said. Theo deduced the man had such a core, because a window appeared describing the skill.
[Contracts]
Governance Skill
Epic
Allows the user to create binding contracts between parties. These parties may be individuals, or entire towns or cities. The extent of the contract is agreed upon, including duration, payment, and expectations, by both parties.
Effect:
Allows the user to track contracts like quests.
Allows the user to create contracts.
Youre implying I could create trade deals, Theo said.
Exactly, Grub said, smiling. Excellent tea, by the way. The best part about the [Governance Core] is that youll gain experience by doing what youre already doing. The high-level skills for the core are quite good. It starts with a reduction of tax and goes as high as creating money from thin air. Rewards for trade agreements and growth.
Youre saying Id be a fool not to take it, Theo said, nodding.
I am, Grub said.
The Brogling wasnt being rude about it, and Theo had to wonder what Uharis had to gain by steering him away from the core. Perhaps it was a hatred for the government that dwelled in the Archmage. The alchemist wouldnt make a decision like this lightly. Hed consult both Fenian and Uharis on the matter before going through with it.
Youve convinced me, Theo said, lying. Now, what tax does the town owe?
Thats the curious thing, Grub said, revealing another sheepish smile. Very little. Im assuming you havent tampered with the towns seed core, but you only owe a single gold coin. You were 5 silver in debt before you transitioned from your old world. By the time Miana transferred the mayors position, you had soared well beyond that. Again, friends in high ces.
There was a tone in the mans voice that said he knew Theo didnt know what he was talking about. It was like being the mouse when a cat came to y. The alchemist withdrew a single gold coin and handed it over to the man.
Are you staying in town for a while? Theo asked, knowing that Fenian said hed only stay for the day.
Just for today, Grub said, taking the coin. Then Ill climb back in that death trap and head back for Qavell.
Well, youre wee to stay as long as you want, Theo said.
Do you have any more questions? Grub asked.
Theo had a hundred questions that he knew wouldnt find answers from the Brogling. Not at this time.
Well, Ill run around and explore what youve done for the rest of the day. I have a feeling Im going to be impressed by your progress, Grub said, standing, shaking Theos hand, and departing from theb.
Theo was left to sit there with his thoughts on the matter. The [Governance Core] was appealing to him. More so than the [Loremasters Core] at this point. He summoned his mayoral screen again, scanning through the iplete data and frowning. His time spent working on his barrier caused the town to suffer. He wasnt fulfilling his duties, even if he didnt want them in the first ce.
I need to speak to Fenian, Theo said, sending a mental message to Tresk.
What for?
I have a feeling I need an administrators core.
Dang. I had a feeling you were gonna identify all my junk!
Chapter 2.11: Modifiers
Chapter 2.11: Modifiers
Theo had a sense, as he left theb, that his barrels were almost done fermenting. He never experimented with fermentation back on Earth, but he knew this was quicker than it should be. Azrug tried to strike up conversation as he left, but the alchemist waved him off for the time being, exining that he had to catch Fenian before he left town. The shopkeeper seemed understanding, that excitement for his new venture bubbling to the surface at every opportunity.
The rain was falling, as expected, outside. A gentle mist that settled over the town like a shroud, enveloping the workers with a wet haze that put off work for another day. Theo worked his way north over the wet cobbles, streams of water falling from the roof of the Newt and Demon. The rain yed a song for his journey, giving him time to reflect on the decisions thaty ahead. In his mind, [Loremaster] was the best pick. But Uharis had undersold the core to him. The mans motives were as ethereal as his magical practices, leaving the alchemist without an answer to his suspicions.
The Marsh Wolf Tavern sat like a sentinel in the rain, dim lights flickering from warped windows. Despite her high prices, it was a refuge from the constant rain. A ce where people could share their stories for the day, looking forward to a season without the constant drive of unforgiving rain. Theo pushed his way through the front door, finding a few of those people scattered around the interior. Fenian was eating something near the back window while Xam herself looked on with disinterested eyes.
Theo assumed the seat next to the Elf and smiled. Good to see you again.
Old friend, Fenian said, holding his arms wide. Fortunately, Ive been very busy. Ive been making a fortune while the roads are impassable. Things will calm down in the next few days. Then, Ill have a nice order for you toplete. How have you been?
Im good, Theo said. If the roads are impassable, how did you get here?
Ah, thats a secret. Ill say there are other paths one can take, Fenian said, grinning.
Paths only essible to demonic Karatan, Theo said, smiling back. I want your expert opinion on something. I have to pick a new core and Im torn between [Loremaster] and [Administrator].
Fenians face lit up. The grin painting his face widened. Thats a simple question to answer. Youre the mayor of a townthats not amon thing. [Loremaster] would grant you more ie on a short term basis. Youd learn a lot about things, but [Administrator]? I might be able to source an extremely rare core for the right price. If you want Broken Tusk to go from well off to rich, I rmend the [Administrator] route.
I was afraid youd say that, Theo said. My instinct says to take the [Administrator] ss, find a [Governance Core] if I can.
I dont have a mind for politics, or governance. What I have a mind for is trade. Thats the exact core I was thinking ofwith it, you can strike deals with other towns. Create town-specific titles and assign those roles to others.
That settles it, Theo said, lowering his voice. Grub seems to think someone in the capital likes me.
Because someone does, Fenian said, also lowering his voice. Theyre respecting your sovereignty and giving you a clear path forward.
How much could you source the [Governance Core] for? Theo asked.
For you? Make me your trade liaison and Ill find it at cost, Fenian said.
Youd be my first pick for that kind of title, anyway, Theo said. How much?
Perhaps 15 gold, Fenian said.
A steep price, Theo said, nodding.
Its a rare legendary core. Sought after by the nobility. Anyway, I can find it, Fenian said, puffing up with pride.
Then it''s just a matter of finding some cores for Tresk, Theo said.
For the [Shadowdancers Core]? She already saw me about that. I was happy to sell her the two cores, Fenian said.
That sneaky little Marshling, Theo said, narrowing his eyes. I was going to buy them for her.
She also sold me a lot of magical items, Fenian said. She also bought a bigger dimensional bag.
Shes been busy, Theo said.
Fenian nodded, eating some of his meal. He took a long moment before speaking again, slurping the broth of his soup noisily.
Take the administration core, Fenian said. For the sake of Broken Tusk.
Theo furrowed his brow, staring out the window into the constant haze of rainfall. His mind swirled with possibilities, a whisper in his chest baiting him to take that path. He was already ying a dangerous game with Drogramath so close to his heart, but to seize the reins of power would be another thing. But that, too, was a facy. Hed already taken the reins unwittingly. He wouldnt admit it to himself, but he wanted that power. Not a yoke cast over the people of Broken Tusk, but the power to steer her destiny wherever he wanted. The alchemist wasnt vain enough to think himself the soul savior of the town, but the self-appointed title was tempting.
He kept his mind focused on doing the most good, whatever that meant. The people of the town were in a better ce now that he was at the helm. They were fed, sheltered, and getting fat from his efforts. It was the least he could do, in his mind. If this ce was some kind of borate set-up was beyond him. It didnt matter.
Right, Theo said. Find one for me. I only have one more question.
What is it? Fenian said, swallowing a mouthful of mystery meat.
Grub suggested that Qavell would finance my core, Theo said, narrowing his eyes. I can feel Drogramath himself screaming into my chest about that.
Fenian smiled. Then the old potioneer is smarter than anyone could hope. Thats absolutely a trap of some kind. A ploy to get you to relinquish your independence. Dont trust a word Grub says about that.
Theo tilted his head back and loosed a sigh. The crown, Fenian, Uharis, Sulvan They were all steering him in a direction, but which one was right? Of all those interests, the Elf before him was the most trustworthy.
An honest merchant, Theo said, snorting augh. Were a strange pair.
We are, Fenian admitted. But thats what makes this work. Ill put up my own gold before I let you take coin handed by the crown. If you cant afford my price, let me know.
Theo nodded. You have a stake in Broken Tusk. The least I can do is give you the position to negotiate our contracts. Without you, I wouldnt have aplished all this.
Fenian set down his wooden spoon, leaning back in his chair. Think of it like this. Were all disparate pieces, strewn over thend. Tresk, You, Me, Broken Tusk, Drogramath Were all tiny pieces to a gigantic puzzle. No one expected us toe together, but here we are. Standing in defiance of what others thought possible. This town is special. I came here because I heard of a new alchemist. What I found was an alchemist exploiting some cosmic loophole. I found apanion.
Fenian was right about Broken Tusk being different. About thingsing together to form somethingrger. The confluence he thought about was forming before his eyes. The town produced more than it should be able to. His quarry in the north, the timber in the swamp, and the reagents scattered around the fields. They all grew back at extraordinary rates. Everything leaned in the favor of a prosperous town. The alchemist would be foolish not to take advantage of that quirk in the system.
Youre right. Were stronger together, Theo said before lowering his voice again. You know my ambitions, dont you? The things I seek to aplish?
Fenian leaned in, smiling. A kingdom. An independent state born of the swamp. A force of mercantile greatness. Yes, I know what you want to do. I know how high youve set your expectations.
Then, I have to ask. Do you think Ill seed? Theo asked.
With thepany you keep? Fenian asked, pointing to himself. Absolutely. Well have the nortnders by their toes. Every merchant''s guild will beg me for a piece of the action.
Khahar Sefo Zus, Theo said, going ssy in the eyes. The desert of the Khahari provides.
Was that the old Khahari tongue? The cat-people? Fenian said, cocking his head to the side.
He couldnt exin how he knew the phrase. It was indeed the old tongue of the Khahari tribe from the western desert nations. Zankir had said a few words in the old tongue around him, but he didnt think he picked much of it up. It was likely a hidden trait of his outworlder origin that revealed the strangenguage to him. Something deeper inside him was whispering those words into his mind, though. Something demonic.
Theo leaned in further, pressing most of his torso against the table. The Khahari. Who trades with the Khahari? What about the Toora?
Fenians eyes went wide. Qavell trades with the Toora, on a small scale. No one trades with the eastern deserts, though.
Broken Tusk will, Theo said, nodding to himself. Other paths How well can you move goods between here and Khakar?
A smile crept across Fenians face. I love the way you think, Dronon. Gods, you have a knack for this. Or, perhaps youre being led by something else.
Theos face went pale for a moment. I have a feeling Drogramath is steering me that way.
Fenian ced his hand over Theos and nodded. Dont let the order hear me say this, but that Demon isnt so bad. Hes so far outside the realm of Demonic influence, he may as well be unaligned. From what I understand, hes currently banished. Take those whispers in stride, but listen to them. This is a fantastic idea.
One more thing, Theo said. I need a [Fabricators Core].
Fenian didnt skip a beat, producing one from thin air. It had a wooden mesh exterior with a glowing green center. Theo inspected the glowing object.
[Fabricators Core]
Rare
Febriactor Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
The [Fabricator] specializes in creating upgrades and modifying seed core buildings.
Effects:
+1 Vigor
How much? Theo asked. And why do you keep so many cores on you?
Many merchant cores grant a vast inventory, Fenian said, setting the core down on the table. My supplier has an array of cores that I get for cheap. I paid 50 silver for this one, you can have it for a gold.
Your standard double-rate, Theo said, nodding. He produced a gold coin and handed it over to the trader. Your prices are still fair.
For you? Always, Fenian said. You could have talked me down to my cost, of course. But as always, youre unwilling to barter. All the more reason you need someone representing the town in trade deals.
Theo stuffed the core into his inventory.
My woodworker needs something more meaningful, Theo said, nodding to himself. Now I just need to trick her into taking it.
A task for which youre most suited, Fenian said, returning to his soup. Theres a certain charm in this soup, isnt there?
What do you mean? Its very in, Theo said, grimacing at the bowl.
Ah, the charm of imperfection, Fenian said, letting out a wistful sigh. When something is too perfect, it bes mechanical. I find the light of things in their ws.
Thats an interesting perspective, Theo said,ughing. Sounds like Broken Tusk.
Indeed.
Theo checked in with the Elven trader a bit more, lingering on less serious topics. Fenian couldnt be happier with his position as a courier, although he feared it would end sooner than expected. It was a strange middle ground where he paused most of his normal trading in favor of carting around dignitaries and military personnel alike. The alchemist departed the inn once he was satisfied with the conversation, his mind wandering to the fermentation barrels back at theb.
So long, Theo said, waving.
Fenian waved absentmindedly, returning his attention to the soup. Theo departed into the rain, working his way back to the Newt and Demon. Azrug was standing proudly behind the counter, gesturing to an array of junk strewn about the surface.
Whats all this? Theo asked.
Part of the new business n, Azrug said. Im buying up the magical gear from local adventurers, then Ill sell it to foreigners.
Whatever you think is right, Theo said, waving him off. You bought this with the profits from selling potions?
Yeah, I think it''s going to work out, Azrug said. I got experience for buying the stuff, too.
Theo often dismissed the shopkeepers intelligence. In a lot of ways, Azrug was still a boy. The alchemist couldnt know for certain, but he was likely around 15 years old, which was early for getting ones cores. He had a natural affinity for trade and a keen mind for negotiation.
What core should I slot for my third core? Theo asked.
Oh, right. You hit level 10, Azrug said, nodding. He leaned in and shed a grin. You gotta take something for the town, right? How can you not? Youre our mayor.
Theo smiled. That statement was as reductive as he could get, boiling the problem down to a simple fact. The people of Broken Tusk needed him. He needed to be there for them in any way possible, including giving up his ambitions to be a good mayor.
Thanks, Theo said, patting the shopkeeper on the shoulder.
Hey, no problem, Azrug said. Im really smart.
Theo retreated upstairs, a strange scent lingering in the air. It was a sharp smell like alcohol mixing with something else like decaying vegetation. He assumed it was the fermentation going to work, but upon inspecting histest project, he found that the process was done. The contents of each barrel had undergone a transformation. The small pieces inside the mash had broken down, covered in ayer of frothing foam as bubbles rose from the bottom of the mixture.
It was time to consult Basic Drogramath Alchemy yet again. The fermentation process was the first step in creating essence modifiers, the second step being a familiar one. Once the mixture had fermented for enough time, which the book assured him would be intuitive, hed transfer the mash into the still and run it on a higher heat setting than normal. The thing that set the fermentation process apart from a regr mash was that the fermented mash would only produce one property. This new property would be the essence modifier property, but the tome imed there were advanced processing methods after this. Something far out of Theos reach with his current skills.
He transferred the 50 units of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] fermented mash into his [Drogramath Still], and the 50 units of [Moss Nettle] fermented mash to his [Custom Copper Still], lighting medium-strength fires beneath both. The alchemist went back to the book to read more about the modifier essences.
Each reagent produced a unique modifier. Once fermented and distilled, they could be added to any potion to change the way it worked. The book had many examples, but a friend-or-foe style firebomb was high on his list of things that interested him. Some modifiers didnt work with some potions, but the information on that was scarce. Theo would need to upgrade hisb to get the testing area, which would hopefully allow him to experiment with explosions without damaging the building.
Theo patted the top of the hot [Drogramath Still], grinning as itpleted its run before his non-magical still. He inspected the still itself to appreciate the bonus effects.
[Drogramath Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Legendary
Created By: ????
A 500 unit capacity Drogramathi still with attached advanced condenser. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill. The Drogramathi metal increases the spread of heat, providing an even distribution across a run.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence per run.
As promised, it produced more than the 50 units he put in, 58 units, and ran significantly quicker than the still built by Throk. The essence it produced had a different appearance than the normal essences. Streams of silver baubles ran through the liquid, rising through it like bubbles. The system informed him about the experience he gained, but he disregarded the notification and inspected his new creation.
[Over-time Modifier]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
50 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the over-time modifier. May not work with all potions.
Theo made a mental note. A mash of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] and an [Earth Mote] produced an [Over-time Modifier]. He dug an old healing potion from his inventory, appraising it for a moment. The potion was 2 units of liquid, and his intuition told him to add an equal amount of the modifier solution to gain the effect. The alchemist create a 4 unit vial and transferred his existing potion over. He examined it before adding the new effect.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 30 health points.
It wasnt his best work, created back before he could get excellent quality out of his stills. Theo slowly introduced 2 units of his modifier essence to the potion, watching as the silvery liquid mixed to spout plumes of red smoke. It bubbled for a moment before settling down, filling theb with a scent crossed between fresh-tilled earth and industrial-strength solvent. He inspected his new creation.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Over-Time]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect (modified):
Restores 30 health points every minute for five minutes.
Theo gawked for a moment at the system screen. The potion was absurdly better than thest version. The imbiber would get the same effect of the potion 5 times in total over the course of 5 minutes. He stoppered the vial, rushing downstairs and thrusting his still-warm creation into Azrugs hands. The shopkeepers mouth dropped open.
This is powerful, Azrug said. My [Merchants Core] is screaming at me. Youve at least doubled the value of the regr potion.
Theo grinned. I knew youd think this was awesome.
Chapter 2.12: Face Your Demons
Chapter 2.12: Face Your Demons
Azrug and Theo spent some time messing around with the new modifier essence. When mixed with a [Lesser Vigor Potion], the essence fizzled, then exploded violently. The alchemist began making mental notes about what worked and what didnt. It was logical what would work and what wouldnt. When they were done having their fun with the first modifier, they inspected the second modifier hed crafted.
[Surge]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
50 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the surge modifier. Surge applies bonuses as an instant, temporary effect.
The description of the modifier was confusing. The alchemist determined it was derived from the [Moss Nettles] surge property, but couldnt figure out what it meant. He found another healing potion and applied the faintly green liquid to it in a 4 unit vial. The effect was instant, creating a pungent citrus smell throughout theb. He inspected the result.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Surge]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect (modified):
If the user is at full health, add 30 health to their maximum and restore that amount. Effectsts 1 minute.
That makes more sense, Theo said, nodding to himself.
Wow. The modifiers really change the potion, Azrug said. Both effects you made are great. I can sell these.
Theyre useful, Theo said. I want to find all the modifier properties. I know theres going to be some cool stuff.
Better get fermenting, Azrug said.
The pair went to work with transforming what stock they had and creating new stock for the store. Every potion he modified with the modifier essences granted him a small amount of experience, something he was grateful for. He now had more steps in the process which would give him more experience. While the modified potions cost more in reagents than the base potions, it would him more experience. If Azrug could get double for the new potions, that would help make up for the additional cost in raw materials.
Theo made ns in his mind to ferment everything he could get his hands on. It turned out the 10 barrels hedmissioned were going to be exactly what he needed, even if theb didnt have the space for it. There was also the idea of experimenting with different motes during fermentation. His intuition, and references in his book, said that this would produce different modifiers. The day was gettingte, though. The unexpected arrival of Grub and Fenian had already drawn thebors of the day out, forcing him to focus on things other than alchemy. He felt the slow tide of responsibility washing in and focused the rest of the day on his mayoral duties.
Azrug retreated down to the shop, intent on manning it for the rest of the day. Theo consulted his mayors screen, flicking through the poption screen. Broken Tusk had grown marginally, but not enough. With the roads clogged, only the adventurers already in the soutnds coulde to inspect the town. The alchemist needed to entice more people to make this ce their home. Poption was one marker that determined if the town upgraded from town status to somethingrger.
Theo let out a sigh at the financial screen, focusing on the sales tax section. Grub had calcted the taxes he owed, likely using some administration cores, but the screen the alchemist viewed was barren. It listed all parties that had to pay taxes, but their entries were mostly nk. The section regarding property taxes was filled out, although he didnt know why. It was another section that revealed how derelict hed been in his duties. To further drive the point home, the export tax section was also empty.
Theo felt as though he didnt have an option anymore. Manually calcting all the taxes was a burdensome task that he wanted nothing to do with. He resolved to push Fenian for that governance core, dismissing the entire thing from his mind and turning his attention elsewhere. After a moment of staring out the window, sullen, he felt Tresks approach. The sun was getting low outside, signaling the end of her adventuring day. She burst into theb, the wide smile on her face washing away any sense of sadness from the alchemists mind.
Azrug told me about the modifiers, Tresk said. Gimmie!
Theo smiled, producing several modified potions from his inventory. The Marshling took them, pressing a vial close to her face and whistling. Thats some fancy stuff. The adventurers are asking about your bombs, now.
Of course they are, Theo said. I regret my demonstration.
Nah, they just want to blow stuff up. Who doesnt? Tresk asked. Im sure you have a n.
I do, Theo said. Im relying on the modifier essences. Theres one that makes it so a firebomb will only affect monsters.
Youre worried people will blow themselves up, Tresk said, shrugging. I mean, if you saw how they conduct themselves out there, youd be more worried.
Theo nodded. The modifiers are going to set us apart.
Have you talked to Fenian? I think hes still in town, Tresk asked.
Theo craned his neck, looking out the window and into the colors of approaching dusk. He has a way to travel long distances quickly. I guess he doesnt need to worry about having sunlight.
Yeah, theres something fancy about that carriage, Tresk said. Come on, hes still at the Marsh Wolf.
Tresk tugged on Theos arm, forcing him to his feet. She dragged him up the avenue, his diminishing stamina bar making the journey exhausting. By the time they reached the Marsh Wolf Tavern, it was alive with the sound of excited patrons. The pair pushed through the front door, waded through the crowds, and found their way to Fenians table. Grub was there with him, the small Brogling grimacing as he ate through Xams legendary soup.
Tresk departed for the counter, ordering several bowls.
Well, I didnt think Id see you again before we left, Fenian said, smiling. The Karatan are almost charged and ready to go.
I have something you might be interested in, Theo said, withdrawing a modified healing potion from his inventory. He handed it over to the trader, grinning. This new discovery boosted his mood, despite his stamina.
Fenians face lit up, then his brow furrowed. This is advanced stuff. You made it?
Of course, Theo said, waving him away. What do you think?
I think this is unique, Fenian said, rolling the hefty potion over in his hands. You made this with your level 10 skills?
One of them, Theo said. I havent tested the other.
Hand that here, you grubby-mouthed Elf, Grub said, snatching the potion from Fenians hand.
Rude, Fenian said.
Im no alchemist, but Ive never heard of modifiers, Grub said.
You dont run in the right circles, Fenian said, sneering. The concept behind Theos cores is that they put him at a strong starting position, revealing paths of alchemy out of reach to normal alchemists. Ive seen modifiers before, but only from high-level alchemists.
The legacy of Drogramath, a familiar voice called from across the room.
Uharis stumbled from the other side of the tavern, tripping several times before depositing himself in a chair opposite Theo. Tresk returned with 2 bowls of soup, setting one down for the alchemist and slurping hers.
Well, now its a party, Fenian said, shaking his head. A drunk wizard and a functionary of the crown. Exciting.
Drogramath, as you all should know, is an outsider amongst the Demon Lords. His cores are never seeded into dungeons, and besides Theo, there are no recorded cases of a Drogramath Dronon transitioning, Uharis said, smacking his lips. Now, some might assume this means
Get to the point, Fenian said.
Uharis blustered for a moment, shaking his head vigorously before continuing. Youre right to assume he has a special start. Essence handling is an alchemical art reserved for masters of the craft. Theo is in an interesting ce because he cannot produce high-level potions. When a master alchemist masters essences, theyre already crafting fifth-tier potions. What were witnessing is the birth of a new art, unknown in thisnd.
So, youre just blowing smoke up Theos butt, Tresk said, swallowing arge piece of meat. We know this already, mister Archmage.
Seems that way, Fenian said, grinning. I have a few contacts at those master-level alchemybs.
Well, mister-knows-everything-there-is-to-know, youll know that modifiers aremon among sixth tier alchemy, around level 60, Uharis said, casting a smug look at the trader. The skill unlocks after hitting that level, by which time any sane alchemist would have a [Master Alchemists Core]. The schrly cults, which I frequently lecture for, have pontificated on the reason for this for ages. Why lock fermentation away behind such a high level?
Because modifiers are powerful, Theo said, shrugging. It was that simple. Changing the baseline potion was an extreme measure. Unlocking the fermentation skill opened a new world of potion making, unbound by the normal conventions.
Because modifiers are extremely powerful, Uharis said, huping. Drogramath seems to disagree, as you can see with our alchemist here. Although, if you could determine the motives of a Demon Lord, my order would pay you handsomely. Now, if youll excuse me I have someone to attend to.
Uharis stood from his chair, wobbled dangerously, then sauntered over the Xam. The Half-Ogre woman rolled her eyes as he approached, busying herself with cleaning the bar as he came.
I dont much like that man, Grub said.
Its an act, Theo said. I mean, he might really be drunk, but he knows what hes doing.
He likes to drop these seeds, Tresk said, slurping her soup. I think hes trying to influence Theo.
Me, too, Fenian said, narrowing his eyes on the Archmage. The schrs charge a fortune for that kind of information. Why drop it here and now?
My intuition says hes trying to light a fire under me, Theo said. He wasnt entirelyfortable discussing this around Grub, but he was taken by the moment. He was steering me toward the [Loremaster] ss.
Horrible pick for your station, Grub said, waving a dismissive hand. Youd be a fool not to pick an administration ss.
I know, Theo said, finally taking his first sip of the soup. It was as in as ever.
Hey, I wanted [Loremaster], too, Tresk said, frowning. I have all this magic crap that I cant identify.
Fenian was more focused than normal. His eyes didnt leave the Archmage, as though he was trying to unravel the mans very being from afar. Theo didnt dare interrupt him, allowing him to continue his vigil. Grub, Tresk, and Theo fell into light conversation about the state of the kingdom. Things were already getting better, a fact that surprised the alchemist. The roads would clear in days and the war in the west would continue, although those battles were beyond anyone in Broken Tusk. They were cogs in a much smaller machine.
Thats why Broken Tusk will prosper, Grub said proudly. Towns headed by those with a mind for crafting andmerce tend to do very well. Just consider Rivers and Daub!
I remember when they were just Daub, Fenian said, snapping out of his concentration. A crafter at the helm has little to do with their sess.
Grub shrugged. Exploitation of natural resources is a valid strategy.
Until all your timber is gone. And your mines are empty, Fenian said.
Well, they should have been upgrading their core buildings, Grub said, nodding. Thus the merger with Rivers.
Fenian nodded at Theo, sensing his confusion. You can upgrade core buildings like a quarry, mine, or forester to increase the rate that resources regenerate. Daub failed to do so, thus their debt to the crown.
Are most towns in debt? Tresk asked. Were not in debt.
Most of them are, Grub said, smiling. But, loans are an important thing for a growing town. You should a few outtake me up on my offer to finance your [Governance Core].
There it was. The hidden piece of information the Brogling was holding back about the free core theyd provide him. The man wanted Theo to go into debt to the crown, something he wanted nothing to do with. If Broken Tusk couldnt afford to pay for it with coin, they wouldnt buy it. But, now wasnt the time for picking fights. It was a time for ying nice with the important government functionary taking his dinner in the alchemists town.
Absolutely, Theo said, receiving a swift kick under the table from Fenian. Once I sort our long-term finances out, Ill be talking to my contact.
Fenians brow knit for a moment, then the deep tracks on his forehead vanished.
Well, I think it''s about time we get going, Fenian said, straightening his ruffled coat. Galflower doesnt enjoy waiting.
Grub reached out a hand for Theo to shake. Its been a pleasure.
Theo rose from his seat, affecting a shallow bow. Youre wee here any time.
The pair departed the table, setting off into the onset of dusk.
Were not going into debt, are we? Tresk asked.
Absolutely not, Theo said. More people are trying to manipte me. As long as Im alive, Broken Tusk will be as free as possible.
Good. I dont want any of that crap, Tresk said.
The pair settled into their meal, watching as Uharis withdrew a sk from his robe several times, draining the contents. As the sun set, the Archmage stumbled upstairs toward the rooms, vomiting at thending and disappearing through a door. The sound of raucous conversation died down after a while. Theo felt himself falling asleep at that dingy table, but endeavored to finish his soup. With thest spoonful of the nd liquid down his throat, he blinked heavily. A sudden sound came from outside, a sound that seemed foreign in his dazed state.
Tresk bolted upright from her chair, withdrawing her two wicked daggers. She shouted something that Theo couldnt hear, the words blocked out by his exhaustion. The Marshling withdrew a yellow potion from her inventory, tipped the alchemists head back and poured it down his throat. A rush of energy flooded through his body, banishing his tiredness away in a single heartbeat. He recognized the sound. The nging bell that signaled a call to arms.
Lets go! Tresk shouted, pulling Theo along.
The tavern was a blur of motion, adventurers hoisting their weapons and downing their own potions. Out on the street he spotted Fenian, cramming monster cores into the monolith at the center of town.
Of all the days to leavete! Fenian shouted. I pick the one where youve failed to upgrade the town.
Aarok emerged from the adventurers guild, shouting orders among the gathered adventurers. Pandemonium set in over Broken Tusk, the sounds of a pitched battleing from the western gate. The guildmaster shouted something at Tresk and she vanished from the spot. Luras appeared from the southern road, removing something from his chest before inserting something else. He was equipping his [Hunters Core] in preparation for a fight. The pain was evident on his face.
Whats happening? Theo asked, the haze of the night still clouding his thoughts.
Monster wave! Grub shouted, his voice quavering. By the Gods, a monster wave in the soutnds. Were dead!
Someone remove this idiot, Aarok shouted, pointing at the Brogling. We trained for this. Ranged attackers on the wall, everyone else in reserve near the gate. Someone go raid Theos stash of potions.
A pair of adventurers escorted Grub into Fenians ck carriage, the Brogling screaming the entire way.
Theo! Fenian shouted, shoving monster cores into the monolith. Your prompt should appear. Now!
A prompt shed into the alchemists vision.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 15!
[Broken Tusk] is eligible for an upgrade. As the Mayor, you may make a section of the following:
[Watchtowers]
Your [Town] will gain watchtowers ced along the border. The watchtowers will move to match the edge of your borders, should you expand. 12 watchtowers will be ced.
[Water Tower]
Your [Town] will gain a single 1,000 unit water tower in its center. The tower will not automatically fill.
[Defensive Emcements]
Your [Town] gains weapon slots at each gate, and sporadically along the wall. You may ce a single [Defensive Artifice] in each slot.
Theo selected the [Defensive Emcements] upgrade, hearing the gate rumble from the west. Aarok shouted more orders as the adventurers scattered. Tresk reappeared from nowhere, nodding to the guildmaster.
The boss is there, Tresk said. Leading an army of goblins, wolves, trollssome other things in the swamp I couldnt see.
Mount the [Chain Lightning Towers], Theo, Fenian said, his face painted with grim resolve. My Galflower can get us out of here, but I wont see your town fall.
Theo nodded, walking on shaky legs to the western gate. This was a day hed feared for a long time. The manifestation of a monster wave was something people talked about a lot, but it seemed so far off. He thought he had more time to mount his guns, but was grateful that Aarok was takingmand. The [Lesser Stamina Potion] flooded through his body, speeding his thoughts up by the moment. Any desire for sleep was banished, leaving only a resolve to defend his town.
Stay close, Tresk said, crouching low. Her daggers caught the light of the rising moon, glinting with a pale blue glow. She removed a [Basic Poison] from her inventory, coating the length of both des.
The alchemist spotted the western gate. shes of fire streamed over the top, sending adventurers tumbling onto the ground below. Theo froze on the spot, watching as the defenders pulled the wounded away from the wild battle. shes life on Earth drove an iron spike through his skull, sending him to his knees. The sharp sting of pain brought him from his stupor. Looking up, he saw Tresk huffing angrily. Shed pped him across the face.
Move, Tresk said. To the battlements. nt the [Chain Lightning Tower]. Defend Broken Tusk.
Those simple words were enough to bring him to his feet, moving in lock-step with the Marshling woman. His feet yed an unhappy sloshing song to join in chorus among the ring of steel and the loosing of arrows. Nausea spread through his stomach, but he swallowed the bile down. He couldnt run any longer. He needed to face his demons head-on.
Chapter 2.13: The Siege of Broken Tusk
Chapter 2.13: The Siege of Broken Tusk
Theos legs felt like two unresponsive tree trunks. Tresk pulled him by the cor, dragging him up the rise of those stone stairs. The sound of the battle grew more intense, a sh of fire nearly consumed Luras above. The Half-Ogre shouted his battle cry, knocking another arrow and loosing it. His arrow split into many smaller arrows that peppered the attackers below. The alchemist spotted the mounting point on the battlements, a circle etched into the stone and glowing with a pale white light.
We sure could use some bombs, Luras shouted, managing a chuckle.
A Goblin sprung up over the wall, and Theo witnessed, for the first time, Tresks prowess. She vanished from the spot, covered the distance to the shrieking creature, and ended its life in a single heartbeat. She spun on the spot and dispatched another creature before it came fully over the crentions.
nt the seed, Theo! Tresk shouted, pivoting and ending another monsters life.
She was a whirlwind of death. A pair of daggers that struck from nowhere, vanishing from where she stood only to reappear behind another monster. Theo was in awe, but snapped out of his thoughts to scramble along the hard stone. He removed the [Chain Lightning Tower] from his inventory and mmed the small orb into the slot.
Installing [Chain Lightning Tower]. Please wait
Please wait? Theo said, mming his fist on the ground. I should have done this earlier.
Theo sat on the ground for a moment, watching as the crowded shuffle of feet danced around him. Another gout of fire sent an adventurer over the edge of the wall. He spotted Azrug approaching from the center of town, producing an array of potions from nowhere. He began tipping them in peoples mouths, bringing them back from the brink of death. The alchemist dared to look over the edge of the wall, his face turning the hue of paper when he saw the assembled army. It was a sea of monsters, throwing themselves against the wall with abandon.
A n formed in his mind, something he should have already done. He put off his bomb project in favor of his mayoral duties. Theo shouted, gaining Tresks attention for a moment. Feed the gun motes when ites up. Im going to make some bombs.
Alright! Tresk said, dancing atop the wall. Someone escort him!
No one volunteered, too entrenched in the battle to notice her words, but Theo descended the steps, anyway. Aarok had formed a makeshiftmand post below, shouting orders to groups as they flitted around to obey his every word. The guildmaster yanked Theo by his robe when he made to push past. Where are you going?
Bombs, Theo said breathlessly.
Aarok gestured to Ziz and his fourborers, pointing at the alchemist and nodding before releasing him. Theyre your escort.
Well, this is exciting, Ziz said, resting a massive hammer over his shoulder. How''s your day going?
It was fine before the attack, Theo said, increasing his pace.
The streets south of the center of town were dark and slick with water. The shrieks of the attacking Goblins rang in the distance, sending a chill down Theos spine. A small creature burst from behind the Newt and Demon, brandishing a rusted sword and chittering angrily. Ziz and his workers were on it in a sh, clobbering the doomed creatures with their hammers. The alchemist didnt even move during the ambush, just watching his friends remove the monster from existence.
Good thing you were here, Theo said, pushing through the threshold, wide-eyed.
What are we making? Bombs? Ziz asked, following him up the stairs.
Bombs, Theo repeated, finding his way to the [ssware Artifice]. He silently generated 5 containers for his makeshift firebombs, setting them on the table and getting to work. Half power,pared to the first one. No time to make something fancy. Quick and dirty. Maximum damage.
Theo worked feverishly to create the weapons, withdrawing the [Withering Essence] and [me Essence] from his inventory. He primed each one with shaking hands, remembering with perfect rity the process he used before. He felt like a robot, repeating steps hed done previously. His mind raced with images of the fight outside, but peace came from a loud cracking sound. Even at this distance, the night sky outside lit up with a sh of lightning. The boom of thunder came afterwards.
They got the lightning tower working, Theo said, stoppering thest of his improvised explosives.
We need to check with Aarok, Ziz said, nodding. The grim look that painted his face was haunting. The people of the swamp were used to this kind of strife, even before the [Swamp Dungeon] grew. They were always prepared for the eventual encroachment of the monsters.
Theo took the bombs into his inventory, steeling himself to go outside again. Lets go.
The group was out on the street again, weapons out and prepared. They encountered several Goblins on the way to Aaroksmand post, but they were quickly dispatched by the strength of theborers. These people had worked the fields, hauled piles of rotting hides, and ced almost all their points into [Strength]. Their might was unquestionable.
Got my bombs? Aarok asked, managing a smile.
Half the power of the demonstration, Theo said, withdrawing a single bomb and handing it over to the guildmaster.
Luras! Aarok shouted.
The big Half-Ogre descended the battlements, covered in minor wounds and heaving breath. Aarok handed it over and nodded.
Half the power of the first one, Aarok said. How many more do you have, Theo?
Four more, Theo said. Id hand them over, but you need to have an inventory.
Azrug poked his head from the crowd, holding up his hand. I have an inventory, now.
Theo withdrew the remaining 4 bombs from his inventory, urging the shopkeeper to take them in his own as quickly as possible. Theyre unstable. Be very careful.
Right, Aarok said, letting out a long sigh. Theo, you have 3 more lightning turrets, dont you?
I do, Theo said.
I have adventurers stationed at every gate. The monsters are filtering around the walls, we need those weapons up
Aaroks words were cut off by the thunderous sound of lightning. The turret shot a bolt that split through the night. Theo watched as the lightning weaved its way around the crowd of monsters outside, chaining between them.
Ziz, apany him, Aarok said, digging his finger into his ear. The Half-Ogre winced. A plume of fire rose from the swamp, hoots of excitement joining shortly after it. Luras had thrown the bomb. Go.
Ziz pulled Theo along the path, urging him toward the northern gate. It was a long walk from the center of town.
Now, its getting extremely exciting, Ziz said, chuckling.
Theo and his escort made it to the farmers fields, assisting theborers with a few stray goblins. Despite the walls protecting the town, the determined creatures found a way inside. This wouldnt have been a problem if the alchemist installed the turrets beforehand. Zankir was standing outside his house, twin tulwars out and waiting. He gave them a solemn nod as they passed by, a nervous expression hanging on his face.
Ziz and hisborers cleared out a small group of goblins rummaging through the quarrys workshop. They climbed the rocky slope, finding their way to the northern gate. A small group of adventurers was guarding the wall, looking out into the darkness and startling when Theo approached. He ignored them, cing the [Chain Lightning Tower] into the magic circle and stepping back.
When it sprouts, you need to feed it motes, Theo said. Do you guys have a lot of motes?
Tons, one adventurer said.
Right, Theo said. There should be a port you can feed the motes into. Then, itll start firing automatically.
Thanks.
Lets walk the wall for the other gates, Ziz said, nodding. Aarok should have patrols, but Id like to bash a few heads along the way.
Right, Theo said, taking a slow breath. He was falling back into that pace set by battle. The frantic scramble to do anything he could to turn the tide. Another explosion sounded from the west, lightning up the night sky to be joined by another st of lightning. Lets go.
Did you hear that? Tresk asked, cackling into Theos mind. That bomb took out most of them.
Stay safe, Theo said.
I will. Keeping an eye out for our wolf-riding friend.
Half-Ogres with weapons first, Theo said, gesturing to the battlements.
Ziz took the lead with anotherborer while Theo remained protected on his rear nk by 3borers. The northern section of the wall didnt have monsters on it, as far as they could see. When they turned the bend, heading toward the eastern gate, they encountered several goblins who were dispatched easily. The alchemists eyes darted to Tresks health bar in the bottom-left of his vision. It plummeted suddenly, then was restored. His heart hammered in his ears as they approached the eastern gate, greeting the adventurers stationed there. He nted the seed and instructed them on its use before leaving, nervous about his Taraheks situation.
Got him! Tresk shouted into Theos mind. Luras almost blew me up, but we baited the wolf-riding Goblin! Hes dead!
Is the main force breaking off? Theo asked. He prayed for a route.
Not yet. Oh wow. Thats a big troll, Tresk said.
The sky was a constant light of colors at this point. Bolts of lightning shot into the sky from the northern gate, joining those from the western gate. Theo picked up his pace.
Most people think a monster wave is a bad thing, Ziz said, looking back to talk to Theo. But its not.
How is it not a bad thing? Theo asked, still feeling sick.
Its hard, theres no doubt. But the loot and experience people gain during the wave is legendary, Ziz said.
I heard theres a bonus for defending towns, too, aborer put in.
Me too, another said.
Lets hope its worth it, Theo said, swallowing hard.
Tresks health dropped again, and Theo stumbled on the battlements. He almost felt the pain of that blow, some phantom thing emanating from his chest.
Big Troll hits hard! Tresk shouted into his mind. I retreated behind the walldont worry.
Big troll at the west gate, Theo said, furrowing his brow. Lets pick up the pace.
The group broke into a jog, slipping more than once over the slick battlements. They traced a path along the walls, encountering no monsters as they went. Tresk reported on the big Troll as they went. The lightning was keeping it at bay, but the tower took an absurd amount of motes to operate. For every bolt of lightning struck, the thing seemed to regenerate its health just as fast. The adventurers at the southern gate were grateful to see their mayor. He installed the turret and gave instructions on its operation, ensuring that they had enough motes to feed.
Havent seen many monsters this way, an adventurer said. How is the west doing?
Theyre holding out, Theo said, watching as another plume of fire rose skyward. It bathed the town in its orange light. We need more bombs. Different bombs.
These guys are fine. Lets head back to the west gate, Ziz said, cing a reassuring hand over Theos shoulder.
Lets stop by theb first, Theo said. Were gonna make a nuke.
Whats a nuke? Ziz asked.
Something big enough so that Troll doesnt regenerate, Theo said. Something with more fire.
The group dismounted the battlements there, heading to the Newt and Demon directly. They encountered a group of Goblins and wolves outside of Mianas house, which they quickly dispatched. They found the Half-Ogre woman inside, holding a chipped sword aloft. Relief washed over her face as they entered to check on her.
Get to the center of town. Thats the procedure. Everyone goes to the center when the bells are rung, Theo said, casting her a concerned look. Did she not know about the procedure, or perhaps she didnt care. Whatever her thoughts were on the matter remained a mystery as she nodded and sprinted out into the night.
Spiky woman, Ziz said, watching her go.
Shesplicated, Theo said.
Ziz shrugged, leading the way to the Newt and Demon. Theo had an idea for which potions hed create for the Troll. The answer wasnt a single potion, but abination. If the creature was regenerating damage and Tresks poison wasnt doing the trick, hed create a twofold attack to bring the monster down. Basic Drogramath Alchemy mentioned basic firebombs. While his supply of [Fire Essence] was almost depleted, he had enough for a few potions.
Theb was empty when they arrived and Theo chugged another [Lesser Stamina Potion], feeling a sudden surge of energy that tingled his brain. Most potions didnt have deleterious effects from repeated consumption, but he could feel something stirring in his body. A fatigue that couldnt be cured by alchemical means. The first firebomb required a special sk, something that would shatter on impact. Once the potion was bottled, ording to his tome, it couldnt be un-bottled. Not until it struck a surface, releasing the deadly mes within.
The reaction was extremely simple once he had the correct container. It was a round bottle with a ss cork for the top. When he poured the [Fire Essence] inside, adding a [Copper Shaving] and [Purified Water], the reaction was immediate. Fire swirled inside, coalescing at the bottom into a thick, viscous liquid. The fire danced atop the oil-like substance, licking the top of the bottle. Theo inspected his first proper bomb.
[Basic Firebomb]
[Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release mes that stick to the target.
Effect:
Fire DOT based on potion quality.
Fire in a bottle, Ziz said, chuckling.
Dont touch it, Theo said. Im not sure if I made the container too weak.
Understood, Ziz said, straightening his posture and putting his hands behind his back. Likewise, the otherborers tucked their hands under the armpits, standing at attention as to not disturb the delicate contents of theb.
Theo created an identical version of his bomb, adding a [Surge] modifier essence to the mix. The potion boiled under the effects of the modifier essence, thick tar bubbling with seams of green running through it. He inspected the result, knitting his brow when it wasnt what he expected.
[Basic Firebomb]
[Surge]
[Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release mes that stick to the target.
Effect (Modified):
Consumes all DOT fire effects on target and applies them as double instant damage.
A n was forming, though. He had enough [Fire Essence] to create another bomb, but that was it. He made 1 more [Basic Firebomb], pulling all 3 into his inventory.
Im ready, Theo said. Lets go.
Troll broke the gate! Tresk shouted into Theos mind. Hes mad at Mianas old house!
Wereing, Theo said.
The group broke into a sprint, the stone path flickering with light as the lightning turret fired another round, this time into the town. Theo flinched as they drew closer, watching the mayhem near the town center. A wild melee was underway, the host of adventurers doing their best to bring the beast down. The troll towered above them, its skin a fetid green color and covered in moss, pocked skin seared by the constant assault of the tower. Its face was a lumpen thing, more boils than features, but the alchemist spotted rows of rotten teeth, streaming ribbons of green slobber onto the ground.
[Boss Monster] spotted! Foul Lord Ugk has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters, use caution.
Luras! Theo shouted, spotting the Half-Ogre near the monolith. He had a vacant expression on his face. The alchemist withdrew the 3 bombs and thrust them forward. Throw this one, then this one, then this one.
Luras didnt respond.
Step aside, Miana said, pushing through the crowds of cowering citizens. This, that, then that? Fine, easy enough.
Miana snatched the bombs, cradling the two spares in the crook over elbow and leaning back to throw the first bomb. Heads up!
The ex-mayor of Broken Tusk threw the bomb with more force than was reasonable, sending it hurtling directly at the monsters torso. It exploded in a shower of fire and oily liquid, coating the Troll and forcing it to let out an ear-shattering bellow. With no hesitation, she threw the next bomb. The modified firebomb sucked in all the mes surrounding the beast, collecting them into a pea-sized bubble before rocketing into Trolls chest. It let out a whimpering moan, going prone on the ground. Ribbons of green light surrounded the thing, representing the regenerative properties of the boss monster.
Last one, Miana said, hurling thest bomb.
The firebomb applied another instance of the fire DOT effect, negating the monsters regenerative abilities.
Attack! Aarok shouted, urging the adventurers toe from their hiding ces. They assaulted the monster with a coordination Theo had never seen before, dancing around the ming Troll with expert precision. Before long, a window popped into the alchemists vision.
[Boss Monster] defeated! Foul Lord Ugk has been in. Kill the remaining monsters toplete this wave.
Plug the hole, Aarokmanded, pointing to the shattered western gate.
Theo watched as Azrug passed out [Lesser Stamina Potions] to the adventurers before Aarok sent them on their way. Luras snapped out of his daze after a moment, giving way to a steely resolve bolstered by the stamina potion he downed. The night became a flurry of movement. Teams spread throughout the town to destroy the remaining monsters.
Theo spotted Zankir and his wife Zansal moving together, swords out with grim expressions on their faces. Xam was watching their two children near the monolith,forting the poor creatures. Tresk appeared from the shadows, pulling the alchemist into a tight embrace.
That was close, Tresk whispered.
Any dead? Theo asked.
None, Tresk said. Not a soul lost. Thanks to the towers and your potions.
Thanks to the grit of the people of Broken Tusk, Miana corrected.
There was something different about the Half-Ogre woman. A kind of resolve that Theo had never seen in her eyes. It was something beyond steely, boarding on fanatical. He wondered what that man took from her 23 years ago. What kind of horror he inflicted on her for decades. He pushed those thoughts away as soon as they came, focusing on the task at hand. He stooped low, pressing his forehead against Tresks. A sense offort flooded through his body, joined by a sensation of power.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (10%).
[Tarahek Core] leveled up! Level 10.
[Tarahek Core] has evolved a skill: [Tarahek Inventory].
[Tarahek Core] gained an enhanced effect: +5 strength.
[Tarahek Core] gained an enhanced effect: +1 vigor.
Oh DANG! Thats an excellent skill! Tresk shouted.
Theo inspected the new skill.
[Tarahek Inventory]
Marshling Bond Skill
Epic
Sharing is caring.
Effect:
Creates a sharable inventory between both holders of the [Tarahek Core]. Inventory slots are equal to [Tarahek Cores] level.
The stat boost from the core was strong enough, but this was absurd. Theo summoned his regr inventory, dismissed the screen and summoned the Tarahek inventory. They existed as two separate things, functionally giving him 2 inventories.
Thats absurd, Theo said. I have 2 inventories.
You two, Aarok said, pointing at the pair. Look alive, were not done.
Chapter 2.14: Cleanup
Chapter 2.14: Cleanup
The battle for Broken Tusk raged until the small hours of the morning. While the waves boss had been defeated, the monsters didnt back off. They surged forth, pouring through the opened gate only to be cut down by the waiting adventurers. Theo finally got a good look at his new tower, a circr umtion of stone that rose to a point, adorned at the top with a floating ball of lightning. When it arced off, it passed through multiple enemies at once. Fortunately, it was smart enough to target only monsters, leaving the fighters below safe.
The alchemist wavered on the spot as thest monster fell. Only the systems message brought him back to reality, shing in front of his face.
[Monster Wave]plete!
526 Monsters Destroyed!
10 gold bonus (paid to the Mayor of Broken Tusk).
Bonus for defeat both wave bosses:
Obtained: [Robe of the Defender].
Obtained: 2 gold, 25 silver, 3 copper.
[Broken Tusk] gained new effect: [Troll ying].
Theo absentmindedly inspected the towns new effect by selecting the prompt on his screen.
[Troll ying]
All fire effects within the territory of [Broken Tusk] have their effectiveness enhanced.
Theo would have cheered in celebration, joining those around him, but he was beyond exhausted. His excitement for their victory was tempered by the sobering sight of the piled corpses and sapping exhaustion. He didnt inspect his new robe, or consider the implications of such arge reward. He simply passed by Fenians carriage, supported by Tresk, and made his way back to the Newt and Demon. The alchemist was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
The next morning the streets of Broken Tusk were empty. The rain fell over unfinished work, banishing away any thought tobor. A long figure moved amongst the rubble and bodies, prodding them with a stick. The vestments of the Archmage repelled the constant downpour of rain, allowing Uharis to conduct his research. He ascended the battlements of the town, casting his eyes over the untold hundreds cast to the ground in the swamp.
Far more interesting than expected, Uharis muttered, shaking his head.
Theo woke in the morning, his head pounding. The sleep he took was born of exhaustion, not helped by the stimting effects of the [Lesser Stamina Potions]. He rose from bed, smelling the familiar scent of moss tea and wolf steaks wafting in from theb. As he emerged from the room, stumbling on shaky legs, he found Tresk preparing his breakfast. She had a wide smile on her face. Her untamed excitement was, as always, infectious.
What a day, Tresk said, shaking her head. You slept all the way through yesterday.
What? Theo asked. Wait, its not the day after the battle?
Nope. Its the 27th day of the Season of Blooms, Tresk said. You slept through the 26th.
Gods, Theo said, lowering himself into his customary chair. Its all a blur.
I slept most of yesterday, too. But, I made my rounds through the town. Theyre talking about rebuilding the adventurers guild, Tresk said. Fenian and Grub are still here.
What about Uharis? Theo asked.
I didnt see him, Tresk said. No one died, miraculously. Everyone who took part got awesome loot.
Tresk raised her hand, revealing a silver ring with emeralds iid. More damage from behind, she exined.
Theo withdrew his reward from his inventory. It was a closed purple silk robe that would sweep the ground when he wore it. There were intricate symbols etched in gold thread on the surface. The entire piece of clothing was impossibly soft and he undressed there in theb, removing his threadbare ck robe. The material wasnt only soft, it was also cool. Unlike his previous robe, this one breathed. He inspected its properties.
[Robe of the Defender]
[Cloth Robe]
Epic
Scaling
Robes granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.
Effect:
Aura: reduce stamina depletion for nearby allies and wearer.
Reduced stamina depletion in an aura, Theo said, nodding. That sounds good. The bonuses from the [Tarahek Core] are also getting awesome.
[Tarahek Core]
Legendary
Tarahek Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 10 (11%)
[Tarahek] cores are given to those who ept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.
Effect:
+5 Strength
+1 Vigor
The core was scaling to where it made up for Theos naturally low attributes. He inspected his character sheet to see where he was on that front.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 10
Alchemist
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 61
Mana: 20
Stamina: 53
Strength: 15 (+10)
Dexterity: 5
Vigor: 11 (+4)
Intelligence: 15 (+4)
Wisdom: 23 (+6)
Points: 0
[Strength], and [Intelligence] were now at an eptable level for his purposes. He could feel his mind race with new thoughts and his muscles surge with new strengthpared to when he arrived. His [Vigor] was catching up, albeit slowly. He had no ns to put any points into [Dexterity], though.
Yep, Tresk said. She dished out the steaks and poured the tea, swiping her hand to make them vanish into the Tarahek inventory. Now I can deliver your meal directly to your inventory!
Theoughed, opening his new inventory to retrieve his food. The concept of sharing an inventory with someone else was big. He assumed there wasnt a range restriction for the skill, bringing thoughts of logistics to his mind. Could they instantly transport objects from one ce to another? That would be truly powerful.
The pair settled into their meal without another word. The food filled Theos stomach, which felt like an endless pit. Going without food or water for a day had parched his lips and set him on a course for lethargy. Once his belly was full and he was watered, he felt his strength returning. As soon as he felt satisfied, a knock came from the shop below.
Theo groaned to his feet, descending the stairs to find Fenian smiling. Quite a show, he said.
Come in, Theo said, beckoning the Elf to follow him upstairs. They sat at the table, sipping moss tea and appreciating the breeze filtering in through the window.
Well, I suppose I should get down to business. Thats why I stayed here. Id like tomission your bombs, Fenian said.
Theo scowled, quickly adjusting his expression. That is too much to ask, friend. Im notfortable exporting weapons.
Ah, worth a shot, Fenian said. No, this is an understandable stance. Im not upset. You dont want the town associated with weapons like this, I know.
Thats strangely understanding of you, Tresk said.
I thought about it for a long time, Fenian said. A towns exports count for a lot, regarding their reputation. Perhaps it was selfish of me to ask.
No, were all looking for the same thing here. Money, Theo said.
Speaking of that, Fenian said, reclining and slurping his tea. I have a different order for you. Modified potions. Whatever and however many you can make. We can talk about the price of each when youre done.
Theos instincts told him the potions created from the [High Pressure Refining] ability were going to be worlds better than his current potions. Ill keep you informed, but Ill do it. Im going to make some potions that are going to amaze you. Things youve never seen.
Thats the Theo I know, Fenian said. Oh, just so you know Grub is writing poetry about you.
What? Theo asked.
Yeah, during the battle he stayed in the carriage and wrote poems about your heroism, Fenian said.
The group burst intoughter. Theo couldnt imagine the little Brogling doing much butining the whole time. Everyone had their coping mechanisms, though. They sat at the table for some time, reying the battle through conversation. Fenian was impressed with the way Aarokmanded the adventurers. He also remarked on the nature of the monster wave.
You really dont see monster waves like that, Fenian said. Not against such a small townit was localized to the [Swamp Dungeon].
But those prizes, Tresk said, letting out a long sigh. Imagine if we get another wave.
I even got a reward, Fenian said. A few silver, but thats fine.
I got 12 gold, Theo said.
Fenian let out a long whistle. Im going to assume youll attempt to loot all the monsters out there.
Hopefully, Aarok is already organizing that, Theo said.
He is, Tresk said, nodding. Says were gonna make a fortune.
Hed be right, Fenian said. Sort everything out, and Ill buy it the next time Im around. Although I wouldnt begrudge you if you sold it to another trader.
Theres just the matter of repairing the western wall, Theo said.
That should fix itself over time, Fenian said. The turret wasnt destroyed, which is good. Broken Tusk is a [Town] now, which means you can feed it raw materials for repairs and maintenance. That should speed the process up quite a bit.
Thank you for the help, as always, Theo said. I value your judgment more than most, Fenian.
Well, that warms my cold, ck heart, Fenian said, grinning.
No! Youre one of the good merchants, Tresk said, stamping her feet. We love you.
Fenian patted Tresk on the head and smiled. We certainly are strange bedfellows, arent we?
We are, Theo said.
Fenian rose after a while, excusing himself. Excited chatting came from downstairs. The group didnt hear Azrug assuming his post at the shop, but his boisterous voice could be heard through the walls. Theo waited a tactful moment to allow their conversation toe to a natural end before descending the stairs. He found the shopkeeper there, dark circles under his eyes and an uneasy smile.
That was intense, Azrug said, nodding to punctuate his words. Almost got killed by a Goblin.
Well, you did a good job. Raiding the pantry, as it were, Theo said, gesturing to the mostly empty shelves.
Those potions were vital to our sess, Theo, Tresk said. You can make more. You cant make more people.
Thats true, Theo said, smiling. Not people like this, anyway. Hard peoplepeople raised in the swamp are different. Theyre tough.
Thats right. We endure, Azrug said, nodding again.
He was shaken from the events of the battle. Theo expected most of the citizens to be in such a state. Long stares that meandered into nothingness, sensitivity to sound, the tell tale signs of stress. Hed seen it many times before, and experienced it himself.
Tresk and Theo departed the shop, making sure Azrug knew he didnt need to man the store today. He insisted it would help him reim some of his sanity, a familiar ce that he could anchor his mind. The pair departed without another word, heading off to inspect the damage.
Theo was surprised at the progress Aaroks people had already made on the adventurers guild. The rubble was cleared away, leaving only the muddy foundation where it had sat. The guildmaster himself was shouting orders to people, sending them around. He smiled when he noticed the alchemist and his Tarahek.
Good to see you awake, Aarok said.
Even better that everyone is unharmed, Theo responded.
Check this out, Aarok said, ignoring Theos empathy and withdrawing something from his coat. It was a seed-shaped object, glowing with energy. [Guild Hall Seed Core]. Bought it off Fenian earlier.
Theo cast his eyes over Fenian''s carriage. Galflower was pawing impatiently at the ground, pulling against the chocks holding the thing in ce. He could see two beady little eyes peering out of the window.
Congrattions, Theo said. The guild was homeless for exactly a day.
Well, theres work to be done. Thats for sure. The wall needs repairs, Aarok said.
Fenian gave me a hint about that, Theo said, moving to inspect the monolith.
[Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 15 (1.5%)
Features:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Large Farm
Tannery
Tradesmen
Quarry
Adventurers Guild (destroyed)
Core Homes (x16)
Towers (x4)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates] (Damaged 25%)
[Stone Roads]
[Defensive Emcements]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
Current Resources:
Timber: 0
Stone Blocks: 0
Metal: 0
Motes: 0
As expected, there was now a section detailing stored resources. It also detailed the damage done to the town. The adventurers guild was the only section to be demolished, but it was a good thing. Since Aarok bought a seed core for a new guild hall, this took out some of the work regarding the demolition. None of this eased the other problem. The mounds of dead monsters strewn about the streets needed clearing, but the adventurers were working on that problem.
We can add raw resources to the town to help it repair, Theo said.
Good news, Aarok said.
What are we doing about the corpses? Theo asked.
Tossing them in the river, Aarok said. Were looting whatever we can, then just sending them downstreaminto the ocean.
Oh, the ocean monsters are gonna be happy, Tresk said, giggling.
Extremely happy, Aarok said, nodding in agreement. Theo, this wave is going to produce more money than your alchemy projects have since you got here. Theres a fortune in gear and supplies on these monsters.
Theo thought about that for a moment. Another confluence that turned things in their favor. If they got another wave, one they would be well prepared for this time, they could farm it for money.
So, well buy more turrets, Theo said. Stronger defenses to keep the monsters at bay.
More bombs, too, Tresk said, nodding. I got an entire level during that wave.
Most of our adventurers did, Aarok said. Everyone shot up from the constantbat.
What a curious sight, Uharis said, appearing from nowhere.
The drunk Archmage arrives, Tresk said, rolling her eyes.
Theo understood, with little thought, that the Archmages absence during the battle was convenient. The man might have been drunk, but it would have been impossible to be ckout-drunk for the entire fight. Not with the constant explosions either from the bombs or the lightning turrets. The alchemist was already weary of Uharis, but had no interest in pushing the point.
Not presently drunk, Uharis said, smiling. Well, the monster wave was bound to start sometime. Good to see you were prepared.
Is it localized? Theo asked, probing for information.
No, its not, Uharis said. I received word from my order. I suppose it was more worldwide than I expected.
So, you were wrong, Theo said. It is a worldwide monster wave.
The strength of the waves radiates out in a convenient circle. I wonder if you can guess where it''s centralized? Uharis asked.
Broken Tusk, Aarok answered.
The Half-Ogre had done more research into the increase in strange magical urrences than anyone else in town. Qavell even sent records regarding the topic to him directly, teleporting the materials into the now-ruined adventurers guild. The conclusion he reached was a connection between the various dungeons of thend. Some sharing of power that enhanced all their powers, making them more deadly than before. The result was a monster wave, where the dungeons released an impossible number of monsters at once.
We saw thating, Theo said. More or less. How did they hold up in Rivers and Daub?
The Order of the Burning Eye doesnt track these sorts of things, Uharis said. I only have the information Sulvan gave me concerning Qavell. They had it rough, but managed. I imagine Rivers and Daub didnt fare well.
I understand, Theo said, nodding.
That fact weighed heavily on his mind. If the monster wave was localized to Broken Tusk, it wasnt a problem, but it wasnt. He felt Tresks bright reassurance next to him, enhanced with the new level his [Tarahek Core] had reached. It bolstered his heart, sending a flood of her optimism racing through his mind. Rivers and Daub wasnt their responsibility. They had ample time to prepare for something that seemed inevitable.
They can call for aid, cant they? Theo asked. They can raise their own adventuring army, nt turrets along their walls, summon healerstheyre not our responsibility, Theo said.
They arent, Aarok said, nodding. If the strength of the wave weakens as it gets further from Broken Tusk, they are better off than us.
Maybe, Uharis said. Monster waves arent umon, but this is a different situation.
Theo waved him away. Im not concerned about them.
Uharis is being a pain, Theo said, sending his words into Tresks mind. Notice how hes trying to divert us from protecting Broken Tusk. Hes sowing seeds of doubt.
I never trusted him, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes on the Archmage.
Aarok, call a meeting with all the mercantile chairs, Theo said. Have them meet me at the Newt and Demon.
I can do that, Aarok said, turning on the spot and walking off.
Theo withdrew amunication crystal from his inventory, rolling it over in his hands. It was the device that gave him a link to Qavell and his contact, Banthub. The lizard-person had been silent,tely. The alchemist wanted nothing more than a status report for the other towns, although he doubted the functionary would give him a straight answer. He turned on the spot and bid farewell to Uharis.
I have a call to make, Theo said. How much longer are you going to be in town?
Uharis cast him a knowing look. As always, he was hiding something.
A few more days, perhaps, Uharis said.
Alright. How long until the next monster wave?
To that, Uharis shed a devious grin. One day. One week. One month. Perhaps in a few minutes. I cannot say.
Cant or wont? Theo said.
Cant. Thats not something I can determine from my magical probing, Uharis said. After seeing the wave, I can fashion an early warning system.
And what does that cost me? Theo asked.
Oh, nothing. Just allowing me to remain without banishment is payment enough, Uharis said. There was something hidden in those words. As though Uharis knew Theo knew he was up to something. Perhaps it wasnt malicious, but it was there. Under the surface. Like a bird surveying thend below for something juicy.
Theo departed the Archmages presence without saying another word.
Chapter 2.15: Killing Monsters Always Helps
Chapter 2.15: Killing Monsters Always Helps
Theo settled into his chair in theb of the Newt and Demon. He watched as Tresk settled in next to him, kicking her feet up and reclining. The alchemist didnt need to ask her why she was hanging around. With his [Tarahek Core] strengthened, her emotions were bleeding through. She put on a brave face, but there was worry in her heart. He wondered if she could feel his emotions too. Fear mingling with hope that had be a familiar friend. It wasnt fear for his life, or the people of Broken Tusk. It was a fear of the unknown. Things he couldnt control barreling down on the small town faster than he could process. The two emotions ran together, creating a sense of urgency he couldnt shake.
The alchemist squeezed themunication crystal in his hand, preparing to delve back into that strange shadow realm. But nothing came. Only a sharp, haptic sense in his mind, which meant something went wrong. He tried again, receiving the same strange buzz in his skull.
No answer, Theo said, casting a concerned look at Tresk. I dont know what that could mean.
No one on the other end, Tresk said.
I suppose they could be busy, Theo said. So, who do we trust?
No one, Tresk said. Not a soul but Broken Tuskers.
Spoken like someone from Broken Tusk, Theo said. I trust Fenian, mostly. I dont trust Uharis, or Grub.
The Archmage is up to something, Tresk said. He missed out on the entire battle.
That might be a matter of innocence, Theo said. Well, mostly. If he knew the wave wasing, he should have told us. If he didnt, then he really is just a drunk. I told him not to take on the boss Goblin.
So, you think hes trying to help you save face? Tresk asked. Maybe.
Theo stretched, casting his eyes out the window. Rain might have beening soon, but it was a long way off. The sky outside was blue with only streaks of white clouds visible through the canopy of trees. He wanted to turn his mind to experimentation once again, but mayoral matters clouded his thoughts. The alchemist rose from his seat, returning the crystal to his inventory.
Well secure supplies for the town, Theo said. Care to join me?
Of course, Tresk said, smiling. Thanks for letting mee along.
Youre always wee, Theo said, gesturing to the door.
Azrug was nowhere to be found in the shop. He was likely helping with whatever efforts Aarok had ordered, pitching in however he could. Theo knew hed need to replenish his potion stock, something he could handle today, but securing supplies for the town was more important. Fortunately, he had a source of timber and stone within the towns boundaries. They passed by the monolith, spotting the townspeople gathered around Aarok. With a simple wave they pushed forward to Sledges ce, the sound of sawing wood heard well before they spotted her workshop. The Marshling was shaping raw timber, for what purpose Theo couldnt even guess.
Sledge, I have a job, Theo said.
More money?
Yes, its paying, Theo said.
Then count me in, Sledge said. Hey, Im happy no one was hurt during the attack, but is it going to happen again? Do we need to get out of town?
Theo was slightly offended at thatment, but none of that indignation reached his face. He would never abandon Broken Tusk.
Thats where youe in, Theo said. I assume you can produce raw timber? Its needed for the towns repairs.
Isnt it a core town? Why does it need timber?
Theo exined the situation. Since theyd upgraded to [Town] status and level 15, the city could repair itself with supplied resources. Sledge simply shrugged.
I can get timber, Sledge said. How much do you need?
I dont know, Theo said. I dont think the town has a capacity, so as many as you can craft.
I mean, thats a lot of wood, Sledge said.
All the wood, Tresk said.
Dont gouge me on this, Sledge, Theo said, his tone one of warning. Im more than happy to pay above your standard rate, but when ites to helping the city I expect Broken Tusk rates.
Fine, Sledge said, holding her hands up defensively. How much coin are we talking?
Come find me when youve worked on it for a day, Theo said, unwilling to negotiate with the woman. Ill pay whatever you normally sell raw wood for, plus a premium.
Sounds good to me, Sledge said. Im just over here trying to look busy so Aarok wont recruit me to move rubble.
Treskughed.
The pair departed the woodworkers shop. They passed by the housing area, happy to see that nothing seemed damaged. The farmers were simrly unaffected. Their fields spread out, either fallow or full of grain, untouched by the wild battle that raged through the town. Theo found Ziz, and only him, at the quarry.
Well, that was a bit of an adventure, Ziz said. Bet thats the mostbat youve seen here, huh?
It was, Theo said. And I didnt even fight anything.
Whats going on? Need help with something? Ziz asked.
We need stone blocks for the town, Theo said. The wall will repair itself if we feed it stone.
Ah, well, Ziz said, gesturing to marble blocks, stacked neatly near the workshop. Ive got a few of those.
Right. Ill pay whatever youre getting at market, Theo said.
Zizughed. Youre joking, right? No, Im not taking a single coin from you, Theo. You could clean out all my stone ten times over, and it wouldnt be enough to repay you for what youve done. People in Broken Tuske together when things get hard. We dont get at each others throats, backstabbin for a few extra coins.
Yeah! Spoken like a true Broken Tusker! Tresk shouted.
Theo noticed her tactfully not throwing Sledge under the bus. While the woodworker was spiky about the timber situation, it was driven by need. Ziz was much better off than her in that regard, but it would change soon enough. Shed have an industry of her own, either in the form of trade agreements with other towns for their wood, or the [Fabricator] core shed eventually take.
Well start with 20 blocks, Theo said.
With his new [Intelligence], he knew that was 6 silver worth of stone. An amount that this town could only dream of only a few months ago. now they dealt in gold regrly.
20 it is, Ziz said, nodding. Where do we take them?
Bring them to the town center, Theo said. Try shoving them inside the monolith if you can.
Ziz let out a bark-likeugh. Alright. Do you want to take them down there with your fancy inventory?
We have a shared inventory, now! Tresk said.
Right, Theo said. Certainly. Grab 20 blocks, Tresk.
Tresk hadnt used their inventory onrge items, yet. Theo could store the 200 unit barrels in his inventory, but wasnt aware of its limits. The Marshling waddled up to the blocks and tapped them with her hand, shrieking with excitement as one disappeared.
It worked! Tresk shouted, repeating the process for the remaining blocks.
Theo checked the shared inventory, finding it filled with junk. It was a mess of random things Tresk had been picking up. Furniture, kitchen utensils, and rows of motes crowded the screen. The blocks stacked, fortunately, but this wasnt a good use for the limited space they had. The alchemist brushed it off, considering the Marshlings excitement yet again.
Alright, Tresk, Theo said. Lets see how far this inventory goes. Head back to town and try to shove those blocks in the monolith.
Tresk cast him a weary look, eyes darting between him and Ziz.
Ziz will protect me, Theo said. Dont worry.
Tresk managed a weak nod before darting south toward town. After she was out of earshot, Ziz spoke.
Shes worried, Ziz said. About you.
When the [Tarahek Core] leveled to 10, she got more of my emotions, Theo said. Anxious feelings, you know. Worries and fears. I kept it from her well, but this was only a matter of time.
You gotta let that stuff out, Ziz said, pping his hand on Theos shoulder.
Maybe, Theo said. When I got here, I felt like there was a lot of pressure put on my shouldersnot in a bad way. I work well under pressure, it helps light a fire under my butt. I need to talk to her about it, but you know Tresk.
Yeah, shes hard to deal with on a normal day, Ziz said. Shes been spicytely.
Theo nodded. What do you understand about core synergies?
Nothing, Ziz said.
Theo thought as much. Information was expensive, but hed gotten this bit cheap. His intuition could fill in the gaps left by Uharis tutge. Cores are a weird thing. Some of them are unaligned, but others arent. Tresks [Assassins Core] is aligned with some god of shadow named Zaul. Thats giving her the extra spice, I think.
Ziz thought for a moment. Theo could see himing to the obvious conclusion. What about cores aligned with a Demon Lord?
Theo smiled. Do you believe in something like fate?
Not really, Ziz said, chuckling. I like to make my own destiny.
The Order of the Burning Eye is doing a lot to suppress Drogramaths influence, but can you guess what the other thing is? Theo asked.
Ziz fell back in though, cocking his head to the side. The Tarahek?
The more I level that core, the more protection I have from outside influence, Theo said. Core synergies. Alignments. Houses. Domains. Theres more to this than I know, but the Tarahek sounds a lot like fate to me. How rare is it? Theo asked.
Ive never seen one, Ziz said. My grandfather used to tell stories about one, but thats the only time Ive heard of it. Both parties have to be perfect for each other. And both have to be willing.
Seems kinda like fate to me, Theo said. This ce. These cores. The abundance of resources. Tresk. Theres a lot of million-to-one odds there, Ziz.
Just dont squander it, Ziz said, shing a weak grin. Two cores that give you absurd fortune at the cost of your soul, and one that gives you the soul back. Seems as close to fate as Ive ever seen.
Yeah, Theo said, looking with bleary eyes over the rocky hignds below. I really got lucky on that one. If you count having your destroyed lucky.
Seems like you didnt like the ce, Ziz said. What made you hate it so much?
Ah, just being old, Theo said,ughing. Being too tired to keep on fighting. Too tired to keep on killing. Not that my method of assassination was physically taxingno, the act was very easy. Its just the toll it takes on your mind.
Old? Ziz asked, cocking his head to the side. I mean, I dont know how Dronon age, but you look young.
Yeah, thats funny, too, Theo said. I think this body is in their early 20s. My body on Earth was in its 40s.
Oh, thats a twist, Ziz said.
The town took the stones! Those things are heavy! Come to the center or Im gonnae get you. Bring Ziz, Tresk said into Theos mind.
Theo bid farewell to his friend, heading back down into town. Things seemed a little brighter, despite the rain. The idea of expressing his feelings to another person was a relief. Keeping them bottled up had served no one, not even his selfish interests. Guilt gave way to relief, the way it usually did for him. There was simply too much to worry about and not enough time.
I know my emotions have been bleeding through, Theo said, passing by Zankir house. He waved at the children, happily ying outside. The stronger our core gets, the stronger the link is.
Yeah? Tresk asked.
Things have been crazy, and Ive been dealing with it in my own way. Running around and doing whatever to keep my mind off it, Theo said. It has never been fair to youor me, you know? Im going to try to talk about how Im feeling more. Im worried. Scared of where this path is taking me. Drogramath is bad enough, but Im going to rub against other mayors soon. Were shifting to arger stage and its daunting.
You couldnt say this to my face? Tresk asked. He could hear the annoyance in her voice. I had to sit here feeling scared of nothing for a week?
Theo dabbed the corners of his wet eyes. I really couldnt. This feels more pure.
The alchemist trudged through the farms, spotting Banurub in the distance. He stood there, waiting for his conversation with Tresk to finish so he could have a word.
Sorry. Ill be better about it, Theo said.
Since were sharing, Ive been wanting to stab EVERYONEtely, Tresk said.
Theos thoughts drifted to the [Assassins Core]. It had an influence over the Marshling, and he was now doubting its pairing to the [Shadowdancers Core]. There wasnt a simple solution to the problem, although he suspected the Tarahek was helping her through it, the same way it was helping him. The alchemist watched as Banurub crossed the fields, pushing past stalks heavy with grain.
I need to talk to Banu, Theo said. Try to keep your murderous rage in check. Maybe kill some monsters.
Killing monsters always helps.
How can I help you, mayor? Banu asked, rubbing his dirty hands off on his clothes.
Theo gestured widely to the fields. The farmers endure, huh? Did you have any ideas to improve the process?
I thought that was your job, Banu said, grinning.
Theo hid the anger radiating from his chest. Some of Tresks murderous rage must have been leeching through the Tarahek. He straightened his silken robes and cleared his throat. A mill. Soil enrichment through alchemy. Im going to buy the eastern reaches of the farm and turn them into a ranch. Well raise Karatan.
Banus mouth fell open, his brow knitting tight. He stammered for a moment.
This is what inaction brings you, Theo said. This was the first hard stance hed taken with the townspeople of Broken Tusk. Clear a section of your farm for the mill. A hundred paces square.
Banu narrowed his eyes. You cant tell me what to do. I own thisnd.
I know. But youve been floundering for how long, now? You need to adapt to the new situation or perish, thats simply the way it is. How many bushels do you produce in a season? Theo asked. How long do your seasons run?
Banu straightened up. We rotate the fields. 5 west and 5 east. A good harvest is a few hundred bushels50 silvers worth before taxes set in. Zee grows fast here. Extremely fast. Two weeks from seed to harvest, thanks to the swamp mud.
Well cut that time in half, Theo said. And use all 10 fields at the same time.
The nutrients in the soil need time to rest, Banus said, shaking his head. We need to transport the mud and let it dry.
Not with alchemy, Theo said.
The alchemist summoned his mayor interface, selecting the eastern reaches between the farm and the river. It was a section about asrge as the farnd itself, and would cost him 5 gold to incorporatepletely. He clicked the button without hesitation, gaining ownership over thend.
I own the eastern reaches now, Theo said. Clear half a field for the millyour choice. One near the road, preferably.
Banu deted a little, nodding his head. Theo turned on the spot and left, not letting that nagging guilt enter his heart. He made his way back to the towns center, inspecting the monolith to confirm the stone had been ced there before making his way to the western gate. Aarok was standing with a few adventurers, watching a light stream from the broken thing.
I guess the stone was all it needed, Aarok said.
Theo nced back toward the town square, noticing that Fenians carriage was gone. It would have been better if the trader stuck around, but he had things to do. The alchemist wanted to purchase a stable for his future Karatan herd, along with a core for a rancher. With the Elf traders magical Karatan team, he could return with haste. It wasnt that big of a deal.
I worked out a deal with Sledge for some wood, Theo said. I just need to source metal after that.
Youll need to import that, Aarok said. There has never been raw metal in Broken Tusk.
Theo thought about that for a moment. He had a feeling the guildmaster was wrong about that. I also had to push Banu around.
Poor old Banurub? Aarok said,ughing. That codger is hard enough to work with. What did you do?
He wouldnt agree to any of my changes on the farm, so I forced them on him, Theo said. Why has it been so hard to get the farmers to make their lives better?
Some people are happy the way they are, Aarok said. Look at Miana. What did you suggest as changes?
Theo detailed the mill, alchemical soil enrichment, and ranch.
Who is going to own the ranch? Aarok asked.
Me, Theo said, smiling. Since no one wants to jump at the chance, Ill run it with a hireling.
Wow. Has Theo Spencers legendary charity run out? Aarok asked.
No, its not that, Theo said, watching as a stone magically lifted itself into ce. I always liked the idea of owning a ranch. Raising animals. Id like to have a hand in it, somehow.
Thats a humble profession, Aarok said, smiling. I assume youre going to hire someone, or give a citizen a [Ranchers Core]. Thatll make the animals grow significantly faster, produce more, and be happier in general.
Yeah, Theo said, nodding. Do they eat [Zee Kernels]?
I think they eat anything, Aarok said.
Im just going to keep dreaming about that Karatan butter, Theo said, letting out a long sigh. Well, how is the collection of the monster corpsesing?
Well enough, Aarok said. Were having trouble keeping track of everything. Most things have loot rights to the person who killed the monster, everything else seems to fall to me.
Theo nodded. Good. Well work it outter.
Chapter 2.16: Enriching Soil
Chapter 2.16: Enriching Soil
Very few people knew about raising livestock in Broken Tusk. Without the wall, any animals they tried to raise were quickly picked off by the swamps creatures. Even the monstrous swamp turtles would lumber in to pick off small pens filled with Rabas. Rabas, as someone exined it to Theo, were a strange cross between a rabbit and a chicken. He spent hours discussing his strategy with anyone who would listen outside of Throks cksmithing shop. He was taking his own advice. Lying low for the day. Not concerning himself with creating more potions. Things were quiet, once again.
Another day or so, Throk said, gesturing at his creation.
The pressure tank project had taken on a life of its own. Theo didnt understand most of the things that were bolted onto the massive tank, even when the Marshling tried to exin it to him. The artificers art was a strange mix of science and magic that was well beyond him. Small gears mingled with mana condensers. Input ports hooked up to magical batteriesit was all too much. What the alchemist understood was that Throk was going to get a lot of work in the town.
I need to trick Sledge into taking this, Theo said, holding up the [Fabricators Core].
Bah. Shell help if you really press her, Throk said.
I dont want her to help, I want her to do well, Theo said.
Like you wanted the farmers to do well? Ill have Banu yapping in my ear by the end of the dayquote me on that, Throk said, stooping closer to his webwork of artifice. Dont you have work to do?
Im waiting on this, mostly, Theo said. Listen, the farmers needed a nudge. Theyd just keep harvesting what they harvested forever without outside help.
And youre the one to help them? Throk asked, shaking his head. Whys it always gotta be you?
Who else? Theo asked, leaning against the edge of the workshop. No one else is stepping up.
Cause no one is dumb enough to force the farmers hands, Throk said. Banu has been running that farm for as long as I can remember. His methods work. Now youe in and dredge up his failures.
Hell get over it, Theo said. Once he sees the coin.
I agree, Throk said, pressing a gear into ce. The object glowed purple for a moment, then fell apart. He sighed. Thats your job, though. Being nice works for some people. Others need a prod in the back. Assuming you want to help them at all.
Theo pushed off from the wall, casting his eyes over the road leading north. Its more than helping them, at this point. Think about it. One day, that crop might feed the entire kingdom.
Ambitious, and a bit childish But I get your meaning, Throk said. Now, can you go bother someone else?
I think Im going to go eat dinner and go to sleep, Theo said, looking at the fading sun through the clouds.
As long as youre not here, bothering me, thats fine, Throk said.
Theo left the cksmiths workshop, taking no offense from the Marshlings words. The alchemist expected to be kicked out a long time ago. He wasnt one to chew an ear, but there was nothing else to do for the day. Nothing he had an interest in, anyway. He wandered through the town for a while, picking herbs and talking to Tresk over their telepathicmunication. She kept making him open their shared inventory to inspect her findings. It was a very easy way for him to grade alchemical ingredients, although she typically foundmon grasses and leaves. Every so often, she found something useful.
Theo scooped a handful of dirt outside the Newt and Demon, inspecting it before entering. To his surprise, it wasbeled by the system.
[Soil]
[Soil]
Common
Basic soil. Commonly found everywhere in topsoilyers.
He didnt know what he was expecting from the window. When he entered the Newt and Demon, he had to pause to take stock of the sea of junk resting on every surface. Azrug stood behind the counter with a wide smile on his face, gesturing at the massive umtion.
Ive been buying up everything, Azrug said.
Have you sold any of it? Theo asked.
Well, Im out of potions, Azrug said. A certain alchemist hasnt made good on his promise to make more.
Ah, Theo said, nodding. So, you havent sold anything?
I have. Little pieces here and there, Azrug said. I have seen no adventurers todaylikely to do with those jammed roads.
They should clear up soon, Theo said. Well, this is your operation. Do you know anything about raising Karatan?
Only what I heard from traveling traderswhich isnt much, Azrug said. Some dwarf told me you had to feed them rocks.
Rocks? Really? Theo asked.
Yeah, other normal stuff, but rocks, Azrug said. Something about digestion.
Tresk will be home soon. Youre wee to stay for dinner, Theo said.
Not today. Ive got things to do, Azrug said.
Theo ascended to the second floor, cing his pile of dirt on a table for experimentation. The [Water Lily] he had plucked the other day was still alive, sitting on the side table without a care. The alchemist wanted to experiment with cultivating his own reagents, but that woulde after the farm job. There was no time left in the day for a run of his stills, his stamina stores too depleted, but he set up a row of fermentation barrels and set them to work. He ground up everything he could get his hands on, setting them off to do their work overnight.
When Tresk finally arrived, she seemed calm. She was covered from head to toe in mud, but washed it all away with [Cleansing Scrub] and prepared dinner. For the first time in a while, they had no visitors while they ate. The mood seemed calmer than it was earlier. Theo was grateful that he cleared the air, never one to linger on the past. He made ns for the next day, focusing on creating something that would enrich the soil of the farm without forcing them to cart mud back and forth.
Theo fell asleep that night without an issue. He attributed it to the [Lesser Stamina Potions] he took during the siege. Any worry he had fell away into his impossibly soft mattress.
Theo worked his [Drogramath Still] before theyd even finished breakfast the next morning, getting it ready for a run. He darted back and forth between the still and the table, eating his wolf steak breakfast and theorizing about the quality of the soilthe thing that made the Zee grow. Tresk listened politely, never one to impede an excited person. She was the kind of person who fed into that excitement, driving him to new heights.
Its obvious when I think about it, Theo said with a chuckle. First, this is live soil. Soil that has all kinds of junk in it to help nts grow. The problem is, the farmers nt the Zee and then the junk gets eaten by the nts. They have to repeat the mud transportation process at the end of every season.
How does alchemy fix this? Tresk asked.
We make it so the soil never loses its nutrients. With alchemy. Magic. Whatever you want to call it, Theo said, withdrawing a [Spriggan Heart] from his inventory. The thing oozed over his hand, dripping onto the ground. My cores guide me to conclusions now more than ever. I know this heart is the key to solving my problems, but I always thought it was because they had the [Growth] property.
Theo grimace, swallowed hard and then took a bite out of the side of the [Spriggan Heart]. Tresks eyes went wide with horror. He retched, doubled over, then spat the thing on the ground. It tasted like a mouth full of scummy pond water mixed with a chunk of wood. But the system shed a window, confirming his suspicions.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Spriggan Heart] by eating it.
[Rejuvenate] discovered.
Youre disgusting! Tresk shouted. Do you have any idea where that thing came from? I dug it out of a Spriggans chest! With my knife!
Worth it, Theo said, slowly climbing to his feet. The [Rejuvenate] property is exactly what Im looking for.
Ugh. Wash your mouth out, you filthy Dronon, Tresk said.
Theo obeyed. It was a good idea. The remnants of the heart left something tingling on his tongue. He washed it down with adle of [Purified Water] from his barrels. He dipped into his stores of the hearts resting in his [Dimensional Storage Crate], plucking 50 of them and sending them through the [Alchemical Grinder] to create a glowing green mash. Lastly, he topped the still off and sent it working, returning to the table.
Im fairly certain that property will enrich the soil, Theo said, taking a big bite of wolf steak. The [Growth] property is the obvious choice, and it still might work, but without the soil the nts will grow to be weak.
All of thises from your intuition? Tresk asked.
My [Drogramath Herbalism Core] is screaming at me, Theo said, chuckling. Im pretty sure my [Wisdom] alone wouldnt do anything. Id have a vague sense of how it should work, but nothing exact. The information doesnte from nowhere, though. I feel as though I need to have a base for it to work. The rejuvenation idea is simr to the [Cleansing Scrub], in a way.
How? Tresk asked, tilting her head.
[Cleansing Scrub], [Stripping Solution], and [Alchemic Tannin] are simr things, Theo said. The scrub is a utility potion, but they all fall under the [Cleaning Agent] or [Leatherworking Agent] item type. Im pretty certain that there are hundreds of these types of potions, meant to enhance other crafts.
Youre the support specialist of the crafting world, Tresk said,ughing. Thats kinda awesome.
Yeah. Drogramath is an outsider Demon Lord, so it makes sense, Theo said. Id wager he isnt even that evil. Maybe just a little evil.
Tresk lifted her steak with her hands and took a big bite of steak. A little evil still isnt good.
Theo waved her away. Evil in small quantities. Its not bad. But, no. This should work the same way as the others. I even have some dirt to experiment with.
Tresk gave him a t look. Dont act like dirt is an aplishment. Youre too happy about the dirt.
Let me show you something, Theo said, withdrawing a vial of [Cleansing Scrub] from his inventory, transferring it to arger vial, and grinning. He added an equal amount of [Over-time Modifier] essence and watched the silvery sheen transform the potion. It bubbled for a moment, then settled down. He inspected the result.
[Cleansing Scrub]
[Over-Time]
[Cleaning Agent]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Cleansing Scrub instantly restores clothes, surfaces, skin, etc to a clean state. Leaves behind the smell of Qavellian berries.
Effect (modified):
Cleans anything it touches repeatedly, once every hour for 12 hours.
I mostly knew that would happen, Theo said. [Cleaning Agents] can have the modifier essences applied.
Woah! I can stay clean all day? Tresk asked.
Yeah, although I dont know how this works for others. The tannery potions would likely reject the modifier, but I think itll work for the soil-enhancement ones.
The [Drogramath Still] bubbled, condensing the vapors of the mash and sending them down the condenser.
Thats another thing I need to fix, Theo said, pointing at the sk under the condenser. I need to find something that can hold a lot of essence. Perhaps an infused copper reservoir.
That would be nice, Tresk said. Then you wouldnt need to sit here all day. You coulde on an adventure!
Theos face paled. He shook his head. No adventure for me.
Treskughed, pping her knobbly knees.
Im just messing with you, Tresk said. I felt your anxiety spike the moment I said it.
The pair finished breakfast, Tresk scampering off to perform her daily duties with the adventurers guild. That was the only thing that made them so strong, even if they were independent. Every adventurer in Broken Tusk would put in the hard work and do their part. With the [Drogramath Still] running a batch of the [Spriggan Hearts], focused on the [Rejuvenation] property, Theo turned his attention to the fermenting barrels. It was a row of 50 unit fermentations, the purpose of which was to discover the various essences they held. The problem was, he couldnt examine the raw mash to discover their secrets, but he could run small batches in his copper stills.
His first experiment would be with fermented [Widow Lily] and [Manashrooms]. Each experiment was done with an [Earth Mote] to promote consistency. Theo waited around for some time, relying on the buildings improvements to shorten the time of distition. It was only a theory he had about different motes producing different effects on essence modifiers. He couldnt be certain about that theory. Switching out motes might just provide a different mana source. The alchemist wanted to conduct consistent experiments, though. Leaving something up to chance could have consequences down the line.
At the end of the modifier essences distition, while the [Spriggan Hearts] were still cooking, he was left with two new modifiers. They seemed of dubious use, save for that generated by the [Widow Lily].
[Decay]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
10 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Decay modifier. Decay applies necrotic effects to offensive potions.
Theos intuition told him this was useful for mixing in with poison potions, as it would add additional effects. Basic Drogramath Alchemy backed this idea up with its extensive section on poisons. ording to the book, decay was a status modifier that acted a lot like poison. It wouldnt double the effect of the poison, but it would provide another DOT effect to the weapon coating.
[Mana Bloom]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
10 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Mana Bloom modifier. Mana Bloom applies bonuses rted to the mana resource.
[Mana Bloom] was obscure, having no reference in his book. Logic dictated that it would add a bonus to mana with every potion. Hed need to experiment with this, particrly with [Lesser Mana Potions], but he hoped itd be useful. Each modifier represented a new dimension to potion making. Something that would add an unexpected element, and more importantly value. If no one else was producing these rare things, then he could rake in the money. With the idea of his ranch looming in the distance, hed need every shiny copper coin he could get his hands on.
Azrug entered the shop below during his session, although Theo didnt hear the bell. Only when the bell rang again did he notice, as it was followed by an exchange of words. The sound of someone ascending the stairs broke the alchemists concentration, followed by a tepid knock at the door.
Come in, Theo said, looking up from his work with a furrowed brow.
To his surprise, Miana Kell walked in the room. She straightened her shoulders at the threshold and marched in, mming her hand down on the table. The gesture was lost on Theo. The quills of her personality had been disarmed long ago, painting her as an unwitting rube rather than the defiant woman she presented herself as.
I want the ranch job, Miana said, staring into Theos eyes. There was a fiery passion there that he hadnt seen before. Something that lingered deep in her soul. His high [Wisdom] score told him she was serious.
Word travels fast, Theo said, nodding. He cast his eyes over the essences he had crafted, lingering on the dripping condenser.
Aarok told me, Miana said. He knows I love animals.
A love for animals doesnt make you the right person for the job, Theo said, feeling rather spiky today.
I didnt have the funds for a ranch seed coreor the cores, Miana said, suddenly going pale. Her gaze shot to the ground and remained there.
Theo tilted his head. He didnt need intuition to know what was going on in her mind, it was painted inly on her face. A mix of regret and anger that red to the surface easily. He put the pieces together, but wanted confirmation.
What cores do you currently have? Theo asked.
Miana shuffled her feet along the ground. Oh, shut up. You will not bait me.
Theo let out a long sigh, finding a seat near the window. Thats what he took isnt it? Your cores.
Miana set her eyes on him, fixing him in a withering re. More than that, Theo. Gods, more than you could ever imagine.
Theo looked at the door, ensuring the Half-Ogre closed it on her way in. She did. He took your core slotshow is that possible?
I dont know. Hah! Can you imagine. Mean old Miana Kellrunning this dirt ball for twenty years without a single core What aughing stock Id be if they found out.
Theo pressed his fingers into his closed eyes until he saw stars. This was too much for him. Her story was so tragic he couldnt stand to think about it, but that would be avoiding his problems. It was a simple request, and he needed a rancher.
What do you want? Theo asked.
Fund the seed core and the animals, Miana said. Ill get the skill core.
How do we split the profits? Theo asked.
I dont care.
Theo reached out a hand and shook hers, avoiding eye contact. Well figure out how to split itter. Miana I dont know what else I could do for you.
This is everything, she said. He could hear the hope in her voice. 20 years wasted, leading to this. This is all I need, Theo.
Perhaps you can reim those lost years, Theo said, shaking his head. I dont even know how long I was between worlds. Not that it matters, Earth was destroyed.
We both have lost time to make up, Miana said.
I wish you could tell me more about this mystery man, Theo said.
I didnt even see him, Miana said. He spoke into my mind when I was a kid. Thought it was just some strange magical somethingbut then I never got my cores. When you became mayor, I got my core slots. Empty.
Thats harsh, Theo said. Thats downright evil.
We move on, Miana said. We keep on living, despite our problems.
Theo gestured to his pile of dirt. If youll excuse me, I have an industry to revolutionize.
Of course. Thanks, Theo, Miana said, turning on the spot. Her shoulders were back, her chest swelling with pride. With hope.
Theo heard her exchange words with Azrug downstairs, a happy tone carrying to theb above. He turned his attention to the dirt.
Chapter 2.17: Tax Brackets
Chapter 2.17: Tax Brackets
Theo knew his new [Rejuvenation Essence] could be created into a normal potion, but he had little interest in that. It was likely something that created a restorative effect, perhaps something in the lies of affliction purification. Like most support potions, the one he wanted to create needed a second essence to work properly. The result was a very favorable ratio of essence to water, but discovering the perfectbination took time. The alchemist spread the list of suspected essences on the table, tapping his chin as he considered which to try first.
Essences with the properties of [Regeneration], [Healing], [Purifying], [Cleansing], [Preserving], and [Imbuing] sat on his table. He scooped them up in his inventory and headed to the gravel yard out back. The rain was some ways away for the day, putting Azrug in a good mood. The shopkeeper was organizing his piles of junk as the alchemist pushed his way outside.
Theo started down the line of essences, copying the format of his tannery potions exactly. 5 units of [Stabilized Water] to 0.1 units of two essences each. The first reaction,bining the [Regeneration Essence] with the [Rejuvenation Essence] filled the yard with a thick, choking fog. The next produced a surprise potion he hadnt expected. When he applied the [Healing Essence] to the same style of mixture, it bubbled and produced a thick paste the color of blood.
[Alchemic Regenerative Salve]
[Alchemy Salve]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Applied to wounds to restore lost digits.
Effect:
Repeated application of this salve will restore lost fingers and toes. The effect is not immediate, often taking weeks depending on the level of the user.
I found a potion that restores lost toes and fingers, Theo said, using the telepathic link to Tresk.
Oh, that might be useful, Tresk said. Marshlings can regrow toes and fingers.
You can?
Yep.
Still, it could be useful enough to sell. It was another thing hed need to run by Fenian. The [Purifying], [Cleansing], and [Preserving] essences all created something simr to the horrid fog. Some caught the air on fire, forcing Theo to leave the gravel yard and wait for the mes to subside. Once it cleared, he attempted to make the [Imbuing] property take hold. The liquid bubbled and sent gouts of steam high into the air. It filled the area with a sickly sweet smell, cloying at the alchemists lungs as he waited for the reaction to subside. What remained was a liquid the hue of wet grass, although the smell remained. He ced the stopper on the vial, smiling as he inspected the result.
[Alchemic Soil Enhancer]
[Farming Agent]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Improves the quality of soil, immediately restoring all nutrients.
Effect:
Restores the state of any soil back to arable conditions.
Theo retreated to theb, waving off Azrug as he went. More piles of junk had appeared since hest saw the shopkeeper, but he dismissed it for now. The pile of dirt sat on his table and he approached, sprinkling the smallest amount of the solution on before inspecting his new dirt.
[Enhanced Arable Soil]
[Soil]
Umon
Enhanced soil currently ready to ept seeds. This soil has been imbued with alchemical properties, reducing the time it takes to grow crops and increasing the yield significantly.
Theo scooped the soil into his hands and darted downstairs, holding it out for Azrug to inspect.
Why are you thrusting dirt into my face? Azrug asked.
Look at it, Theo said, grinning. Inspect it.
Azrug sighed, then his face brightened. You made magic dirt.
I need to show Banu, Theo said, opening the door and tossing the soil outside. The farmer wouldnt be satisfied with his example, hed need to see the transformation of the soil first hand.
Before you go, Azrug said sheepishly. I still need some potions.
Ill work on those today, Theo said. Whats with all the stuff?
Im buying everything the adventurers are looting from the monsters. Theyre eager to get rid of all this junk, Azrug said.
You need a dimensional storage crate, Theo said.
I know.
Theo was out the door, half-running up the main street toward the farm. He found the farmers toiling away as they always were. Banurub was in his farmers workshop, scowling for only a moment before correcting his expression.
Another visit from the mayor, Banu said, smiling a fake smile.
I have something to show you, Theo said, leading the Half-Ogre toward a fallow field. He bent low, scooping a handful of the depleted dirt.
[Depleted Soil]
[Soil]
Common
This soil has been drained of all its nutrients.
So, this is the soil that you have, Theo said. Youre waiting to get thebor to go down to the swamp and bring back mud, right?
Thats correct, Banu said. Verybor intensive work. Takes as long to get the mud as to grow the crops.
Not with this, Theo said, producing a green vial. Watch.
Theo sprinkled the liquid over a section of the fallow field, tracing a path along the edge. 5 units of the [Alchemic Soil Enhancer] covered more ground than he expected. The liquid seemed to spread as though it knew where to go, avoiding the dirt outside of the designated field. The alchemist confirmed that the [Depleted Soil] had been changed to [Enhanced Arable Soil], smiling up at Banu.
So, this is how you rece our jobs? Banu asked, letting out a heavy sigh. With fancy alchemy.
I have not reced your job, Theo said. Thend still needs to be tilled, seeds nted, crops harvested. We just removed one annoying step from your process. Youll more than double your output.
Banu let out another sigh, casting his eyes over the farm. Change is hard, mayor. Some of us dont like it.
Youre not changing for me. Youre changing for Broken Tusk. To serve her best interests, you need to change. I assume milled Zee sells for more than the raw product.
It does. Significantly so, Banu said, shrugging.
Were doubling your output, and increasing your profits, Theo said. Have you increased the price of your Zee?
Nope.
Yet everyone else is increasing their prices and wages, Theo said. You need to grow alongside the town.
Something twinged in Theos mind, like an itch he couldnt locate. He narrowed his eyes, expecting something to happen before the systems window popped up.
[Broken Tusks] tax bracket adjusted (manual change).
[Property Tax Change] 10% to 15%.
[Export Tax Change] 10% to 20%.
[Sales Tax Change] 10% to 15%.
Tax changes take effect immediately.
What the
Did you see that? Banu said, scoffing. Did you change that?
That wasnt me, Theo said. Qavell controls the brackets, I think.
This is outrageous, Banu said. Are you joking? A 10% increase on export tax? Were going to go under, Theo.
Absolutely absurd, Theo said. Grub had something to do with this. That little Can I use your workshop to contact the capital?
Are you going to yell at someone? Banu asked.
Yes.
Be my guest.
Theo found a chair inside Banurubs makeshift home-workshop. He grasped hismunications crystal tight, felt the haptic buzz in his mind, then the angry beep. The alchemist scowled, squeezing again and receiving the same result. He repeated the process until suddenly plunging into the icy depths of that dark dimension, finding himself on that stone tform. The familiar form of his contact sat on the far side of the tform, shrouded in darkness.
What is it? Banthub spat.
Who the hell raised my taxes? Theo asked. 10 percent increase on exports? Are you insane?
I have nothing to do with those changes, alchemist.
Well, you certainly havent been taking my calls, Theo said, folding his arms. Im wondering what the value of the Kingdom of Qavell is, exactly. Not like we got any support for the monster wave.
You were meant to report the wave here, Banthub said, likewise folding his arms. His tone was annoyed.
You didnt answer! Theo shouted.
Banthub shook his head. If you want to buy the rights to a duke title, thats on you. Scrape together the 3,000 gold coins, if you can. Otherwise, youre in the kingdom''s embrace.
The interface said it was 3 spiritstone coins, Theo said. Not 300.
Theres 1,000 gold to a spiritstone, boy, Banthub said. The tax increase was across the faction. You have no ce toin.
Theo was more flustered than hed ever felt in his new world. Banthub wasnt even trying to work with him. A new goal filled his mind, even if it was further off than he thought. Thank you for your time, he said, severing the connection before the lizard-person could say another word. Banu was standing there when he returned, casting a concerned expression over the alchemist.
You looked angry, Banu said.
He told me to kick rocks, Theo said, shaking his head. The change was intentional.
What can we do about it? Banu asked.
Make more money, Theo said. Make as much money as we can to get out from under Qavells thumb. I need to talk to someone about this. Someone who knows more than hes letting on.
Alright. Well, consider the farmers a participating party from here on out. When can you produce enough of that magic liquid for my fields?
Today, Theo said.
Banus eyes went wide for a moment. Alright.
Theo stomped out of the workshop, making his way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern. People hailed him as he went, trying to ask about the new tax but he brushed them off. The person he was looking for was likely wooing Xam, drinking, or both. As he pushed into the tavern, he found that his suspicions were correct. Uharis was swaying on the spot, making eyes at the poor owner of the tavern. The alchemist made his way to the bar, grabbing the Archmage by the arm and dragging him to a table.
What the hell is going on? Theo asked, plopping down in a seat and crossing his arms. We just got a tax increase. And youre leading me down the wrong path.
Uharis swayed in his chair, a stupid smile ying across his face. He withdrew a kettle from nowhere, setting it down on the table, filing it with water and conjuring a magic me before dropping a pinch of [Sanchrin Leaves] inside. After a moment, he drank the liquid directly from the hot pot, shuddering for a moment before straightening up.
Well, youre smarter than I expected for one, Uharis said, smiling. Do you think Im leading you astray by my suggestions?
I dont know what youre doing, and thats the problem, Theo said.
Well, heres some good faith, Uharis said, withdrawing a crystal from his inventory.
The crystalline device was small, able to fit in the palm of Theos hand. It was currently a cid blue color, thrumming with power. He rolled it over in his hands, trying to inspect it with no luck. What is it?
Your early warning system, Uharis said. The closer the hue is to red, the closer the next monster wave isand there will be another monster wave, I know. Your taxes were increased because theres a war. Wars are expensive.
Theo softened for a moment. An early warning device was an amazing boon. Thest monster wave came without notice, leaving them to scramble for defenses.
So, youre here in an innocent capacity, Theo said, taking the device into his inventory. Am I supposed to believe that?
Believe what you want, Uharis said, straightening his ruffled robes. I came to keep an eye on you, and monitor the events taking ce here.
What does that mean? The magical convergence?
Naturally, Uharis said. The world is in a strange ce and Qavell is no exception. Were on the brink of something big, although no one seems to know what it is. I have a different theory.
Youre going to make me ask, arent you? Theo asked.
Of course, Uharis said. Well, youll earn your independence from Qavell easily. The thing that hamstrings most towns is their ess to resources. But theyre in abundance here. Every direction you turn, things are growing faster than they should. Your reagents, the crops on the farms, the trees, the stone. I wonder what a prospector would find in the hills to the south
Is that a hint? Theo asked. Should I be expanding my resource collection schemes?
You should, Uharis said. Ive caused you a great deal of trouble during my meddling, and I apologize for that. I wanted to see how youd react. To my advice, to my prodding. Most mayors would have ordered me out onto those walls to solve their problems. Reform myndscape. Kill those monsters. Give me gold. is what I normally hear. Begging. You called me a drunk. Didnt ask for a single thing. That independence is what I wanted to see.
Well, I hope youre happy, Theo said, shaking his head. The Archmage might have been rude in the way he tested Broken Tusk, but the alchemist understood. It must have been amon sight. People begging the high-level Elf for free things.
A gift, Uharis said, withdrawing something from his inventory.
It was a small, box-shaped crystal. Theo could inspect this one.
[Celestial Resource Storage Crystal]
[Dimensional Storage]
Legendary
A resource storage device. Only raw resources may be ced in this storage space. Has infinite capacity.
Theo frowned. How much is this worth?
Id rather not say, Uharis said. Ive had it for quite a while. It dropped from a Demon Lord, if you can believe that story. You can attach it to the town, allowing you to insert and withdraw resources from anywhere within the towns boundaries. It will only ept raw resources such as stone, wood, and metal.
Metal, Theo repeated. What kind of metal is in the southern hills?
Uharis smiled. Im d you picked up on that. Youre not as dull as I first thought. My magic detected copper veins mingling with iron.
Hmm. Copper is as cheap as dirt, Theo said, leaning back in his chair.
I wonder how expensive infused copper is, Uharis said, grinning. Well, I think thats enough hints for now. Ill leave your town without a word. Thats what you want, right?
Theo thought for a moment before responding. Moments ago he wanted nothing more than the strange Archmage to leave Broken Tusk forever. Now he was torn. The Elf was testing him, for aptitude or intelligence, but that test was for something greater. A pathid out for the alchemist, a road he couldnt depart.
Stay, if you like, Theo said. But, I dont think Xam likes you.
I know, Uharis said. But she humors me.
Theo nodded. How do I apply this storage crystal?
Press it into your monolith, Uharis said. The upgrade will apply automatically.
Thanks, Theo said, standing. Please dont lead me on again. I do value your counsel.
Ah, the highest of praise, Uharis said with a slight bow. Ill be back, but Sulvan has been pestering me. There are Demons to y.
A blinding sh of light saw the Archmage gone in an instant. The chair he was sitting in sted back, ttering against a table and shattering. Xam let out an exasperated sound,ing over to inspect the damage.
He destroyed my chair! Xam shouted.
I have a feeling you got off easy, Theo said. Im sure the tips he gave you cover the cost of chairs.
Xam huffed, but Theo was already out the door. He withdrew the resource storage crystal from his inventory and pressed it into the monolith, receiving a prompt.
Apply [Celestial resource Storage Crystal] to [Broken Tusk]? Y/N?
Theo sent his mental approval, receiving another prompt.
[Celestial resource Storage Crystal] applied to [Broken Tusk]. You may now ess the dimensional resource storage space from anywhere within the towns limits. ess currently restricted to [Mayor] roles, you may change this in the interface.
Theo inspected the new menu in his mayors interface, creating a list of people that could add and withdraw items from the storage space. He gave permission to every producer in the cityeveryone rted to the collection of raw resourcesbefore heading out to check on Sledges progress with the wood.
It was a short walk. He spotted the Marshling working a length of timber with some scraping tool. It had two handles and a sharp metal de in the center. She pulled it toward herself with impossible strength, taking a thick section of bark with each stroke. A pile of boards, worked from raw timber, sat in neat stacks near the workshop. Theo counted them out mentally before getting her attention, finding hundreds of boards waiting for him.
Sledge, Theo said, tapping the woman on the shoulder. She looked tired, but happy.
How did I do, boss? Sledge asked. I had to hireborers to help me move the raw lumber, but I made good progress.
You made great progress, Theo said. What price do you think is fair? Per hundred boards.
Sledge screwed up her face, casting her eyes over the endless piles of worked boards. Five silver?
Theos [Intelligence] was finally getting to the point where he could estimate that kind of math. It was something like 5 copper per board, which seemed fair enough. If she could work a hundred boards in a day, that would ce her in the upper-tier of producers in the town.
Five is more than fair, Theo said. Perhaps a bit cheap.
Its for the town, right? Sledge asked, nodding to herself. We gotta take a hit sometimes. For the sake of Broken Tusk.
Theo withdrew ten silver from his inventory, handing it over to the woman. Double for the first batch. Keep your workers happy.
Thanks, Theo, Sledge said. So, Tresk was telling me you have an open position? [Fabricator]?
Ah, right, Theo said. Tresk must have enacted her n to get the woman the [Fabricators Core]. It doesnt pay directly, but youd be taking jobs from citizens and me. I want at least a hundred boards a week, so if you cant manage that I can find someone else.
No! Sledge blurted, suddenly trying topose herself. I mean, if you have someone else in mind. It just sounds interesting. Very creative work.
Theo withdrew the [Fabricators Core] from his inventory and handed it over. Well, consider yourself hired. Thises with extra responsibilities regarding both the town, and the buildings within.
I can manage a weekly board quota and learn this ss, Sledge said, smiling. Just wait. Ill be the best [Fabricator] in thend before long.
Theo smiled, patting her on the shoulder. Im counting on it.
The alchemist made his way over to the piles of wood, pressing his hand against them and adding the resources to the towns storage. He consulted his screen, finding that it fell into a different inventory than the resources meant for repairs. He could transfer between the two inventories easily, though. Theo transferred every board into the towns repair pool, turning to nod at the Marshling.
These are perfect, he said. Keep up the good work.
I will.
As he turned to leave, he saw something new on the womans face. It was a smile that bled into her eyes, creasing the corners of her wet face. The smile was genuine. She was happy.
Chapter 2.18: The Importance of Storage
Chapter 2.18: The Importance of Storage
Broken Tusk would repair itself with the newly added materials, despite theck of raw metal. Uharis tip about there being metal in the southern reaches of the town gave him hope forplete independence. There was also the hint about infusing copper for sale, which the alchemist had little hope for. The Archmage was trying to help, even setting aside his other dubious intentions he seemed to be on the level. That left his other hanging projects to attend to. With Banu finally broken by the crushing weight of new taxes, hed speed up the farms productivity beyond a reasonable level.
Double output? Perhaps, Theo said, standing over his workbench in theb. Triple is more likely. If not more.
The alchemist knew, based on the description of his [Alchemic Soil Enhancer] and the resulting [Enhanced Arable Soil], that their yield would increase. The description said significantly, which was all he could ask for. Things tilted further in his favor with the recipe to create the soil enhancer. Since it followed the detergent-style recipes, it producedrge quantities of end product for little input. The 50 units of [Rejuvenation Essence] he made was more than enough to fertilize every field twice.
Theo started kicking off his reactions inside, a task normally reserved for the gravel yard. His confidence in his abilities was soaring at this point, making the work simple. He reflected on the agreement with the farmers. He expected nothing in return, except that theyd increase their output and pay their workers better. His intuition said that closing the gulf between the lowest earning and highest earning people in the town was wise. It had nothing to do with the disparity of wealth, and everything to do with making sure everyone could keep up. If the farmers couldnt afford to live in Broken Tusk, theyd miss out on a massive boon when the tax finally fell to Theo himself.
Everyone is furious about the new taxes, Tresk said,ughing into Theos mind.
They should be, but we cant do anything about it. Were short a few thousand gold, Theo said. I double-checked. 3 spiritstone coins get us out from under Qavells thumb, but I have a bad feeling about the result.
What kind of feeling?
My contact said that paying the coins gives us a different status in the kingdom, notplete independence, Theo said.
Thats a scam, Tresk said.
What made it more of a scam was the fact that hed have to pay the money directly. They would essentially buy a title from Qavell without knowledge of the impact. Theo needed to do more research on the subject and find a way to make the mountain of coins. Until that point, growth was the defining factor of Broken Tusk. He examined the mayors screen to inspect the requirements for growth.
[Broken Tusk] can be upgraded to a [Large Town] when the following conditions are met:
Medium Poption: INCOMPLETE
Expanded Land Ownership: COMPLETE
Hed flipped the tables sincest time. Thest time he went to increase the towns size, he didnt have thend required to expand. Now he didnt have the poption. And it wasnt expanding as rapidly as hed have liked. Theyd received a single citizen over the past month, that of Zankir and his family. Each person counted toward the poption, but it wasnt enough.
I have a n, though, Theo said. The first step is to get my [Governance Core], then we can make deals with other towns. I want to export to the Khahari people, but thats a long term hope.
Were gonna need boats, Tresk said.
Big boats. So, we need to expand the town all the way to the ocean, Theo said. It''s another 3 or 4 expansions to the ocean, so this is long term.
Well, let me know if I can stab anything for you, Tresk said. Politics, trade, those arent my strong suits. Stabbing is. Im a good stabber.
Yes, youre the best stabber I know, Theo said.
Yes, I am.
With the ingredients already distilled, creation of the [Alchemic Soil Enhancer] was simple. He spent an hour or so carefully measuring everything out before he found himself with several 200 unit sks of the liquid. The massive ss sks were more like small barrels, weighing an absurd amount. Without the strength bonuses from his items and the Tarahek, he wouldnt be able to lift them.
As with Pergs tannery job, he held back a sk for future use. Something about handing everything over to the farmers at once didnt sit well with Theo. He wanted to make sure to have some on reserve, allowing him to appear morepetent than he was. This was the kind of failsafe the alchemist enjoyed, preparing for future failures which were inevitable. He waded through the piles of junk downstairs, bidding farewell to Azrug and trudging out into the falling rain.
Theos new robe seemed to be water resistant, although the description didnt mention the feature. The magic that ran through the garment must have been repelling the water, leading him to the conclusion that he needed a magic hat. Once he had the hat, hed bepletely waterproof. Just in time for the Season of Blooms to end, giving way to the Season of Fire.
Banus mouth hung open when Theo delivered the potion. Already? Banu asked. You said todayI didnt think you meant before midday.
I dont mess around, Banu, Theo said. Theres a lot of work that needs doing and not a lot of time.
Banu nodded, casting his eyes over the fields. Are there going to be any adverse effects from the potion?
Well, I havent thoroughly tested it, Theo said. But you can be assured that Ill cover any lost crops. The likelihood of that happening is almost zero.
I dont mean to insult your work, Banu said,ughing. Farmers are superstitious people, alchemist. Were weary of most things that arent the same. Ill appreciate the help when I see results.
Thats fair, Theo said. Ive taken people at their word for too long, I think.
But thats why we like you, Banu said, cing a firm hand on Theos shoulder. Youre honest to a fault. You didnt ask me for anything in return.
At-cost prices for some grain, Theo said, smiling. The Karatan are going to be hungry.
I heard Miana is heading that project, Banu said. I saw her scouting the area near the river.
Theo shook his head. News travels fast.
Naturally. So, I just sprinkle this on the earth? Banu asked.
Yes. You can inspect the soil after youve done so, making sure everything is covered. The potion seems to spread out on its own, only infusing the fields, Theo said.
Banu nodded. As the owner of the farm, I can designate which sections of the farm are active fields. Weve already cleared away the requested section for the millit wasnt hard. That field was fallow for some time. We couldnt get the mud to take.
Good, Theo said. Ill get the appropriate seed cores when I can.
Banu bid farewell and Theo made his way back down into town. He reached his goal, Throks cksmith, finding the Marshling fiddling with things in his workshop. The pressure vessel was mostly assembled at this point, a wild tangle of pipes, valves, and gauges. It didnt look much like what they initially nned, but the cksmith had a mind for creating something better than requested.
This ising together faster than expected, Throk said, setting a gear in ce. Purple light issued from the strange device. It didnt fall apart this time.
Because youre the best, Theo said.
Hah! ttery will get you everywhere, boy, Throk said, looking up and squinting. Even though my [Artificers Core] is only at level 5, the skills it provides are valuable.
I have another request, once youre done with this, Theo said.
Youre going to single-handedly fund my retirement, Throk said.
I know.
What do you have in mind?
Nothing fancy. Not like this monstrosity, Theo said, patting the thick copper tank. Just some transfer and storage tanks for my essences.
Easy enough, Throk said.
Something lingered in Theos mind. Even without confirmation of the metal in the south, he wanted to know if anyone in town had cores for mining. As always, hed prefer to find someone within Broken Tusk to run his enterprises, rather than hiring from afar.
Does anyone in town have mining cores? Theo asked.
Stonecutting Well, you know that. Ziz has the [Stonecutters Core], but nothing else, Throk said. Why, nning on doing some prospecting?
Well, I think the Archmage did the prospecting for us, Theo said. ims the southern hills have iron and copper.
Throk raised an eyebrow, centering his attention on Theo. That would be big. A massive boon. There are no mines in the soutnds, none that I know of. Rivers and Daub had a pit mine for crude, low-quality iron for a while. That tap ran dry, now the nortnders provide all the metal in thend. They have a ton of high-level copper mines. They regenerate faster than you can mine them.
Good news, Theo said. Well be thergest supplier of wood, stone, and metal in the soutnds. I want to create trade deals with the other towns.
Well, this is the ce to do it, Throk said, ncing around the various buildings of the town. Things just grow here. I watched a tree go from a sapling to a towering cypress in a few days this week. It seems to be getting stronger.
Hopefully, it stops, Theo said, bringing his early warning crystal out of his inventory. He frowned. The pale blue light had gone green.
Fancy bauble you have there, Throk said, nodding at the crystal. Whats it glowing for?
Nothing good, Theo said, not wishing to borate. News traveled too fast in Broken Tusk. A gift from a friend.
Bah. Dont get cagey on me, now, Throk said. I can keep a secret.
Can you? Theo asked.
Nope.
Then be happy knowing it keeps us safe, Theo said, turning on the spot. I need to check the repairs.
Throk waved him off, the alchemist trudging down the wet road toward the western gate. Theo considered a few things before he arrived at the gate. He kept a skill point in reserve, expecting to get a new skill core any day. While the [Governance Core] was a ways off, he had no desire to squander the point. His alchemy was doing fine for the time being and he saw no need to grab any of the new skills, although some were tempting. One skill improved raw essence handling, reducing the chance of explosions. Another was almost useless for him, improving the distance he could hurl bombs. It was simply a scatter of skills that would give him small advantages, but he needed huge boosts for it to be worth it. Once he got the new core, he could inspect those skills.
Aarok, Theo said, waving at the Half-Ogre.
Aarok assumed his permanent perch near the growing guild hall. They werent feeding it enough monster cores, and the seed was hungry.
The gate is almost fixed, Aarok said. Weve burned all the corpses, too.
Perfect, Theo said, thrusting the green crystal into Aaroks hands. This was blue earlier.
Aarok gave him a t look. And now it''s green. Congrattions.
Theo leaned in, bringing his voice down to a whisper. Uharis gave it to me. Supposed to predict a monster wave when it turns red.
Aaroks eyes went wide. Youre kidding. We need more bombs, Theo.
I know, Theo said. More healing potions, too. More stamina potions Would you mind posting a quest for me?
Yeah, what do you need?
[Fire Smander Eggs]. As many as they can getdont put a limit on the quantity, Theo said. I have enough [Moss Nettle] to start a tea empire, so no worries on those.
Aarok gestured through the air, nodding after a moment. Its done. The adventurers should get a daily update about it, if Ive done my job right.
Same rate? Theo asked. 1 silver per 500?
Same rate, Aarok said. Theyll swarm me by the end of the day. Have I expressed the importance of those bombs?
You have, Theo said. Im well aware of the issue. During thest monster wave, I had very little time to prepare. This time well be ready. They wont breach the wall.
I hope not.
They wont, Theo repeated. I need to get working on that.
Theo nced at his stamina bar, finding it depleting fast, but not as fast as it would before a few choice upgrades. His [Vigor] was rising, thanks to the Tarahek, but there was another trick he had. The [Refreshing Ring] had be a fixture on his hand, something he barely noticed especially beneath his leather gloves. The silver band was iid with rubies and the effect of the ring was amazing.
[Refreshing Ring]
[Ring]
Rare
An enchanted silver ring, iid with rubies.
Effect:
The efforts of crafting are less taxing.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
Even with 2 effects locked, the first one was noticeable. Theo couldnt estimate the effect, but it was potent.
Feed that thing more [Monster Cores], Theo said, patting Aarok on the shoulder. Itll grow faster.
I think its just big, Aarok said.
Theo bid farewell to his friend, departing for hisb. The day had already been full of excitement, but there were jobs he needed to do. Pushing past the piles of junk, he set up distitions for 3 more fermented essences. [Marsh Tubers], [Swamplight Spider Silk], and [me Roses] were next. The alchemist had no idea what to expect from them, as the modifier essences seemed random. His instincts told him it was a matter of processing them further to get different effects, but his pressure vessel was still in the works. He settled for discovering the new modifiers, whatever the system threw at him.
The small, 10 unit distitions went quickly. It didnt go unnoticed to him that each modifier essence so far had produced at great quality. His process wasnt down for fermentation yet, and required a lot of work. He inspected the first essence, produced by the [Marsh Tubers].
[Solidify]
[Essence Modifier]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
10 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Solidify modifier. Solidify has unpredictable effects and varies wildly from potion to potion. Typical effects include solidification of the potion itself.
This was a wild card modifier. Unpredictability and potions rarely mixed well, and he reserved this one for experimentationter. He imagined a solid potion and grimaced. Next was the modifier essence created by the [Swamplight Spider Silk].
[Web]
[Essence Modifier]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
10 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Web modifier. Web applies weak binding effects to offensive potions and weak bonus-sharing to restoration potions.
Another vague modifier. The offensive potion effect was easy enough to understand, it should root the target for some amount of time. The bonus-sharing effect for restoration potions was a bit of a mystery. Theo withdrew a [Lesser Stamina Potion] from his inventory, the items description was simple enough to understand. He transferred it to a 4 unit vial and added equal parts of the [Web] essence modifier. It bubbled, and steamed before thick webs worked their way through the potion. He inspected the result.
[Lesser Stamina Potion]
[Web]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
A lesser stamina potion. Drink to restore stamina.
Effect (modified):
Creates a web between you and the nearest friendly target. The web restores 35 stamina for both targets if unbroken for 15 seconds.
Now that was a weird modifier. It was the first modifier he encountered that changed the nature of the potion so drastically. This was also the first example he found of potion-sharing, something that must have been coveted. Theo imagined a team of adventurers, the tank fighting in front while the support crew hid behind, where someone ran around and spammed web potions. It might be something worth selling in the shop.
Next up was the [me Roses] modifier essence. Theo expected something that enhanced strength.
[Embolden]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
10 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Embolden modifier. Embolden triples the effects of beneficial potions while adding a debuff on the opposing stat/resource.
This modifier could be amazing, or horrible depending on the context. Once again, Theo found himself curious about the effects and withdrew a [Lesser Healing Potion] from his inventory. He transferred it to a 4 unit vial and added equal parts of the [Embolden] essence modifier. The result was interesting.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Embolden]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect (Modified):
Instantly restores 135 health points. Instantly drains 65 mana. For every point of mana the imbiber doesnt have, 0.5 health will be drained to make up for the difference.
It was the first potion Theo crafted that was downright dangerous, aside from the bombs. It restored 135 health, sure, but if the user didnt have the mana to make up for the secondary effect, theyd die. If the user of the potion had 30 health and 0 mana, the potion might restore 135 health, putting them at full, but then it would drain 32.5 health, killing them. The alchemist concluded this was an advanced-use potion if ever hed seen one, filing it away in his mind to run by Fenian when he had the chance.
With his discovery session over, Theo was left with mixed feelings about the essence modifiers. The clear winner was [Web], which seemed wholly good with no drawbacks. He set his sights on the next task, rubbing his hands together as he approached his [Dimensional Storage Crate]. It was time to do a big run of [Lesser Healing Potions], the bread and butter of his alchemy shop.
Chapter 2.19: Settlers
Chapter 2.19: Settlers
Theo ran his stills for the rest of the day, gging as his stamina drained to nothingness. He woke the next day to take breakfast with Tresk, ruminating over the power of the modified potions.
Im more than happy to test them out for you, Tresk said with a wide grin.
He spent thest of his essence modifiers creating an assortment of healing potions for her. While the [Over Time], and [Surge] modifiers were immediately useful for her, the others were dubious. The worst was the [Solidify] essence modifier, which turned a [Lesser Healing Potion] into a semi-solid thing that felt vile in Theos hand.
[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Solidify]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect (modified):
Turns the liquid of the potion into a solid item, which can be removed from the vial. If eaten entirely, 45 health is restored. Eating small amounts of the solid will restore a proportional amount of health.
Tresk looked at the potion-jelly with a weary gaze. As it sat upon the table, she poked it, causing it to wobble in ce. She grimaced and shook her head.
You can keep that one, Tresk said.
Yeah, I dont know if we can sell that one, Theo said.
Theo began the fermentation process for the useful modifiers as he ate breakfast, inquiring with Tresk as to her ns for the day. As with most days, she sought to delve into the dungeon for levels and loot. It had been her holding pattern for some time, and now that the threat of the monster wave was done, she could go back.
The alchemist pinned his hopes on Throks work. The store would be well stocked for the day, but he wanted to get into more advanced potions. With more of Basic Drogramath Alchemy revealed, he knew the pressure vessel was the way forward. It would separate out the impurities of the essences, rendering them down to a superior form. He knew this was the way forward, but how it would change the potions was beyond him. His book simply stated that it would generate a more powerful form of the base potions.
Theo settled on delving into his reagent stores and creating fermentations for the [Over-time Modifier], [Surge], and [Decay]. Experimenting with the [Decay] modifier saw an interesting result with his standard [Basic Poison].
[Basic Poison]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Effect (modified):
Apply poison and decay to an enemy. Poison inflicts DOT damage and decay increases the effects of all poison damage.
The modifier would make the poison more potent, setting it apart from the minimally useful potion. Tresk swore that the poison was useful, but Theo couldnt really see it. Potions that restored health or enhanced someones base stats seemed far more useful to him, but then again he was never an adventurer. He nodded to himself, remembering to defer to hispanions superior judgment.
Azrug arrived early that day, entering the shop and ascending the stairs. He knocked gently on the door before entering, a sheepish smile ying across his face.
How''s it going, boss? Azrug said,ughing. Got some potions for me?
Theo smiled, holding out a modified potion for the shopkeeper to take. I do. I made a few modified potions, but I dont have enough modifier essence to give you many.
Azrug took the potion, rolling it over in his hands. Very good stuff. These are rare, right?
Theo shrugged. That is your domain.
Well, my abilities have limits. I need to be within range of a trading hub for them to work properly, otherwise I just get a general sense for if something is worth a lot. I can feel that this [Surge] modified potion is worth at least double from the base.
Well, thats not surprising. It has double the ingredients, Theo said. See if you can get more than double. 20 copper for the base potion 40 for the modified seems too low.
Ill pitch it at 50 copper, Azrug said, shrugging. I cant think of a more fair deal.
How is your new n going? Theo asked.
Azrug brightened up a bit,ing to take a seat next to Theo. Extremely well. I have a big n. A long-term n, and a short-term n.
Theo gestured for the shopkeeper to continue.
I sent off for a [Loremaster] to identify this stuff for now, Azrug said. The word around town is that youre taking an administration core, so I figure Ill take a [Loremasters Core] when I get to 10.
Theo raised his brow, nodding. How quick are you leveling?
Quickly. I was talking to some traders the other day. This isnt a normal setup. They were talking about working apprenticeships at shops for years to get experience. No one hands a level 1 shopkeeper a store and tells them to go wild.
We really are caught in an inescapable current, arent we? Theo asked, sighing.
You alright? Azrug asked, his brow knitting tight. You still seem kinda glum.
Theo waved him off. No, Im fine. Im just always thinking about how to steer us in the right direction.
You need to go with the flow. ept your fate and justy back, Azrug said, reclining in his chair. If everything is so perfect here, maybe you need to give in to the master n. Rx.
You have a way of simplifying problems, Azrug, Theo said, cing his hand on the shopkeepers shoulder. I appreciate it.
Any time, Azrug said. Now, I need to organize all my crap downstairs. I found a [Dimensional Storage Crate].
Where did you find one?
Trader passed through town yesterday, Azrug said.
What? How do I keep missing these traders? Theo asked.
Youre always busy, Azrug said, rising from his chair and descending the stairs without another word.
Theo sat there for a while, contemting how busy he was. Even when he tried to take some time for himself, he ended up neck-deep in alchemy all over again. For him, it was always brewing potions or managing the town. The alchemist was snapped out of his thoughts by Azrug,ing back up to get his attention. A small family had arrived in town yesterday interested in property. Between the trader showing up and the travelers, this was a sign that the roads were in better condition. When he went downstairs, he was surprised to see a small family of Humans waiting for him in the shop.
They were traveling from a small town north of Qavell, nestled near the Gora Sat mountain range. Instead of interviewing them in the stuffyb, Theo beckoned for them to follow him through the town. It was a family of three. Gridgen Dev was the husband, a stocky man with a [Laborers Core]. The wife was as short as the man, bearing the same raven-ck hair and icy demeanor. Her name was Sarna Their son was named Gasem, a slight boy with a shy personality. The boy had extra difficulty warming up to Theo, but he wouldnt me the child.
You must have had issues on the road, Theo said, smiling. Gasem cowered for a moment as the alchemist spoke.
Gasem, Gridgen said. Hes not an actual demon. Are you?
No, Im not, Theo said, exining what he knew of the various Demonic factions. Heid special emphasis on Drogramath being on the outside of the Demonic Pantheon. How did you manage the road? I heard it was blocked.
The main road, aye, Gridgen said. We took the long waythrough the forests south of Qavell.
Rough going, Sarna said, shaking her head.
Well, if you decide to settle here youll be the first Humans, Theo said. Our poption is split between Marshlings and Half-Ogres.
We met a few, Gridgen said,ughing. Nothing we cant handle. Our town traded with the Toora for years before the revolt.
Theo didnt want to know about the Toora revolt. He wanted to focus his mind on the soutnds.
Well, our walls are strong. We have weapons on the gates and were getting more weapons eventually, Theo said. What weck is poption growth, but theres always room for moreborers.
Good, Gridgen said. We nned on settling in Rivers and Daub, but got word you had property for cheap.
Rtively cheap, Im sure, Theo said, smiling. Rivers and Daub was legendarily haughty and expensive.
They wanted 50 gold at Rivers, Sarna said, shaking her head. Can you imagine? Who has 50 gold?
The group passed by the center of town, Theo waving at those who greeted him. The friendly atmosphere brought young Gasem out of his shell. He smiled for the first time after spotting another child, waving sheepishly.
Is it safe for him to run off with the other children? Sarna asked.
I dont think theres a more safe ce for a child in all the soutnds, Theo said. We have an active independent adventurers guild.
Independent? Gridgen asked, raising his brows as the boy ran off to y. The group pushed further north, toward the farm.
Yes,pletely independent, Theo said. We get stipends from Qavell, but nothing rted to the united adventurers in the other towns.
Theo smiled as they approached Banus fields. They were all filled with budding crops. Stalks of Zee pushed through the ground, defying the logical growth time they once had. The family seemed excited that the town had its own food-production system, but the alchemist corrected them on that one.
Zee is a big export right now, but Im working on other sources. Currently, we subsist on the monsters, Theo said.
Gridgen nodded. I heard you have a dungeon here. That can be very lucrative.
Theo smiled again, deciding it was too much information for them to know. Who would want to settle in a ce that had 4 dungeons?
You could settle here, if you like, Theo said, gesturing to the wide, rocky expanse of the northern section of town. The lone house sitting along the road sat, smoke rising from its chimney. Or south, near the tannery.
Well, I guess that brings us to a question. How much? Gridgen asked.
Cutting out a small lot would cost Theo nothing. Hed already purchased the entire expanse leading toward the northern mountains for himself. The house seed cores he had were extremely cheap, rtive to other seed cores. Shirking his typical charity-driven mind, he thought of a number that would please them. Something too cheap, and they might assume it wasnt worth settling here. Too expensive, and they might pass.
Could you afford 50 silver? Theo asked.
Gridgen looked at his wife with a pained expression. Im afraid not.
Perhaps the nortnds were as impoverished as the soutnds. It didnt matter either way if they could toss half a gold his way, the thing he wanted wasnt immediate money. As much as it pained him, the small family represented a future investment. People that he could get on the hook for future work.
Well, thats fine, Theo said, gesturing to the road for them to follow. Come with me.
Are you going to kick us out of town? Sarna asked.
Theoughed. Absolutely not.
They made their way to Pergs tannery, talking about the amenities of the town. Theo stressed that no matter what happened, he would make sure they were sheltered and fed. But, his actual intention was to show them the termination of the road to the south. They looked over the slight rise of those hills. The hills that apparently contained metal.
What experience do either of you have working the earth? Mining? Stoneworking? Theo asked.
I hauled stone for some time, Gridgen said, nodding excitedly. So did Sarna.
Theres copper and iron in these hills, Theo said. If you want to be a part of this town, you need to do more than survive. Ive made it so anyone can make a wage here. Ill give you property and a house seed core for free.
But you want us to mine, Sarna said. Theo made a mental note that she was sharper than her husband. She didnt miss a beat, catching on to the alchemists scheme immediately.
Ill speak inly on this matter. Ive offered other citizens better deals for business opportunities, but I dont know you yet, Theo said. So, heres my offer. Laid out in. A home and property for yourbor. Ill pay you a standard wage to find the ore in the hills and offer you both cores to enter into a contract.
What kind of contract? Gridgen said, drawing himself up. Even so, he couldnt hide the excitement in his eyes.
Ill establish a mine, and youll both work it. Youll share the position of mine foreman, conducting it however you like. When the mine is established, youll switch from a wage to a profit-share. Ill pay you 10 percent of the value of all ore mined.
The couple shared a shocked look.
Forgive me if Im overstepping my bounds, but thats too generous, Sarna said. Even if the mine has low yields
It wont, Theo interrupted. The yield will be extremely high, with perfect quality ore.
Even worse, Gridgen said,ughing. Why give it to strangers? Why so much of the profit?
Because I need people, Theo said. If I sent everyone that came here to toil in the fields, this town would still be where it was when I found it. We set folks up for sess here. Broken Tusk doesnt deal in copper and silver. We deal in gold.
How can we say no? Gridgen said, managing a weak shrug. He reached out his hand for Theo to shake, which he did.
You can''t, Theo said, withdrawing a house seed core from his inventory. I suggest we find a property near the southern road, so you can ess the mine easily.
They spent some time looking for a suitable ce to put the seed core, settling on a plot south from Pergs tannery. Theo helped them nt the core and feed it until the building sprung up from the ground. It was a sturdier building than most, squatter at the base than hed seen before. The house seed cores seemed to reflect something of their owner, and this one was no exception. The alchemist transferred the property ownership and escorted the couple to find their child. Young Gasem was ying with Zankirs kids as well as some Marshling children Theo had not seen before.
Throk got Theos attention as he watched the children ying a strange game involving smacking each other with sticks. The cksmith grinned, gesturing to his work.
Done, Throk said.
The pressure vessel was absurdly big. It was as tall as Throks workshop and wide enough so that Theo couldnt wrap his hands around it. Scattered on the side were portsbeled with charcoal scrawl in low Qavelli. The blocky characters designated the essence input, mote port, extraction port near the bottom, and refuse port at the very bottom.
[Custom Copper Pressure Vessel]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Rare
Created By: Throk
Pressure vessel used to refine essences through extreme pressure.
While the description was simple, the operation of the machine wasnt. Throk went through it, showing the alchemist how to open the valves. A feature, which the Marshling imed was advanced for his level, was that each artifice strapped to the copper tank was powered by the same mote port. Theo could feed it from one location, instead of having to power each individually. There was one problem. The vessel wouldnt fit in his inventory.
How are we gonna move this thing? Theres no way this fits in theb, Theo said.
I dont imagine it would, Throk said,ughing. Well round up someborers. Mount it to the side of theb.
Do you need somebor? Gridgen asked, overhearing the conversation as he rounded up his son.
Gathering enough people to move the massive pressure vessel was a chore. Where Theo offered to pay them a wage, they refused. The farmers that pitched in had heads filled with recent memories about the crops sudden growth. The adventurers who helped had to only look at the walls for a reminder of the alchemists foresight in protecting the town. When the crowd finally gathered, it took 10 people to move the tank. They were those who had put most of their points into strength. When they set the behemoth down, the base of the frame settled into the ground and groaned ominously.
Theo settled his debt with Throk, paying for the materials and the mans work. Theponents were rare enough to set the alchemist back 3 gold, but it was worth it. If Basic Drogramath Alchemy was urate, it would pay for itself in short order. He thanked everyone for their help and bid them farewell, shooing them from the gravel yard.
Your dads pressure tank is done, Theo said, sending a message to Tresk.
Well, I guess I know what youre doing for the rest of the day, Tresk said.
Theo rubbed his hands together, approaching the intimidating machine and producing a sk of essence from his inventory.
Chapter 2.20: Operating the Pressure Vessel
Chapter 2.20: Operating the Pressure Vessel
The operation of the pressure vessel was a mystery, even to its creator. Throk provided general instructions for its use, but it was only on a theoretical level. The device was built to Theos specifications, but the artificer filled in the nk with whispers from his cores. The alchemist inspected it for a long time, garnering a small crowd of townspeople. He pushed their prying eyes away in his mind, focusing on the task at hand. Their whispers were drowned out, aided by the unique tingling sensation of the [Lesser Stamina Potion] he downed.
The pressure vessel was a simple machine. Theo reasoned in that direction, although it might have been far from the truth. Insert an essence into the tank through the port, add a mote, and inflict his will upon the machine. He could select which essence he wanted to target with a thought, or so the old Drogramathi tome said. The reality of the situation was that he did not know where to start besides jumping into it.
Theo tipped a small sk of [Healing Essence] into the artifice, imparting his will as he added a simple [Earth Mote]. He focused on the first property present in the essence, and the most important. [Healing] was a property provided by the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], and the thing that made the Newt and Demon the most money. The artifice sprung to life, rocking against the house for a moment. A sound like an airpressor filled the gravel yard, startling those gathered around.
The alchemist watched with interest as the machine settled down, turning the loud noise into a gentle hum after a moment. He nodded with satisfaction and retreated to theb to consult Basic Drogramath Alchemy. The crowd below drew nearer to the vessel, but backed away when it jumped ominously. Theoughed and turned his attention to the book.
This was the second time hede across a new ability within his Drogramath cores and had material to reference for the process. It detailed how the pressure separated the impurities of the essence, sending the unused properties out the bottom chute as refuse. Since Throks design followed the one suggested in the tome, it incremented the pressure slowly. The process was only bound by the time to reach maximum pressure, whereby it would shut down automatically. The resulting essence represented the second tier of Drogramath alchemy, something Theo understood to be around a level 60 alchemists skill.
The absurdity of the situation wasnt lost on him, but he grasped at every advantage he could get. The downside was that he had a new step in his process. While the tanks capacity might be massive, there was the concept of essence loss. Where he might put in 10 units of essence, the book suggested he could expect to retrieve half of that in purified essence. He spent the time waiting for the pressure vessel to finish going over the book, even though he could remember most of it at a whim.
While the new device did its work, Azrug came bounding into theb, informing the alchemist of another group interested in settling in the town.
Was there a migrant train? Theo asked.
Beats me, Azrug said. They mentioned taking the long way here, whatever that means.
Theo knew it meant that they avoided the main road that ran north to south from Qavell. What little he knew about the spaces in between was bad, especially in recent times. The war, and whatever cultist activity, made the road difficult to travel, but even before that there was the threat of monster attacks. Now that the dungeons were acting up, that would be doubly difficult. The alchemist winced when he thought of those who wouldnt make the journey, falling by the wayside and forgotten forever. The least he could do was offer them a safe ce to live.
When he went down to the store below, still rather cluttered, he found more than a single group of people. As introductions were made, Theo found there was a group of three brothers who were all Human adventurers. The next group was a small family, a father and three children, who all hailed from a race of lizard-people he still hadnt heard about. The alchemist led them on a tour of the city, relying on his pressure vessel to shut off automatically as they walked the cobbled streets.
The man with the children had a hard face, even for a lizard-person. He hadborer cores and showed interest in the mine that hadnt been established yet. Work in the north was scarce if a person wasnt a fighter. Theo finally got a picture of howborers were treated up there, and it wasnt good. They were typically paid in food and shelter, rather than coin. This sent a knot through his stomach as he looked into the hungry eyes of those children.
The group entered the Marsh Wolf Tavern and Xam turned her head expectantly, sighing when she saw the mayor.
I thought you were Uharis, Xam said, wiping her brow.
Hes gone, Theo said, smiling.
He withdrew a single silver coin from his inventory and flicked it across the room, missing the womanpletely. She cast him a knowing look and scooped it up from the floor. Whats this for?
Feed the children and care for them, Theo said. Im going to finish the tour and set these folks up.
Im not a nursemaid, Xam said, wrapping her arms around herself and eying the children suspiciously.
You are now, Theo said. We wont be long.
Xam held the silver coin in her hand. The value of the coin was more than shed make that day by a margin. She shrugged. Come along, children. Do you like soup?
The lizard-person named Ger turned to Theo as they left, the three brothers close behind. Is this manner of kindness normal in Broken Tusk?
Theo winced again. If the nortnds see starving children and turn a blind eye, I want nothing to do with them. Broken Tusk is rich, by some standards, but we dont squander our coin. The swamp provides everything we need and theres more than enough to go around.
Good to hear, one Human adventurer put in.
For you three, we have an adventurers guild, Theo said. Unaligned with the others in the kingdom, so you can join without a fuss.
Even better, another brother said.
They passed by the new adventurers guild, which was still having issues taking hold. Roots tangled around half-nailed boards with ribbons of energy snaking around the entire structure. That was Aaroks problem to deal with. He had the entire adventuring guild at his disposal, so the job should have been done. The foundation of the building gave some clues why it wasnt taking hold. A normal level 1 core building might take up 10 to 15 paces square, but this new foundation was massive. It was at least 50 paces in either direction, taking up thend that Mianas house upied and then some.
We heard stories of Broken Tusk in Qavell, Ger said, shing a frightening grin with his rows of sharp teeth. One of those things you hear in passing. A Dronon alchemist was running a townhow strange would that be?
One that helps his people, rather than living on some secluded mountain, a brother said.
The dungeons drew us here, another brother said. Those in the minds and nortnds are crowdedowned by misers.
We have 5 dungeons, if you can believe it, Theo said. They approached the ce where Gridgen Dev, the newest addition to the town, was settling down. This lot will be for you, Ger. Ill make sure you get in with the mining team when theyre ready. Daily wages, none of this food as pay nonsense.
Thank you, mayor, Ger said, affecting a deep bow. How much do I owe you?
Whatever you can spare, Theo said, withdrawing a house seed core from his inventory. He cut out the property for the lizard-person and handed the item over with a few cores to get it started. Otherwise, keep your money.
You cant give away stuff like this for free, a brother said.
Hes broke, Theo said, gesturing at the lizard-person. He cant feed his children. Would you take what he doesnt have?
The brothers shared a pained look, two of them hanging their heads. Ger simply looked meek.
Those that have should give to those that dont, Theo said. If you cant understand that, you dont belong in Broken Tusk.
Theo turned on the spot, leaving Ger to nt his house seed core and marching up the road. He intended to cluster people throughout the town in logical ces, mostly near the ce of work. The brothers sputtered, running to catch up. Thergest of the three ced himself in front of the alchemist, holding his hands out in apology.
We can learn, he said. Im Bal. My brothers, Dal and Ral, are all willing to learn.
Good, Theo said, pushing past the man. Things can get tight around here. I wont lie to you. We just had a monster wave and were lucky to have no casualties.
We saw the weapons on the gates, Dal or Ral said. Theo didnt know which he was, and they all looked too simr. Thats when we knew this was the real deal.
Show more faith in the town, Theo said. Youll be called on to perform various tasks, including defense.
Once again, esteemed mayor, I apologize, Bal said. Qavell is cutthroat. Weve all advanced by stabbing someone in the back, stealing their contracts, or spreading rumors.
Youll learn fast, Theo said, nodding. You dont have a choice.
The group moved through the town, heading north beyond the farms. The fields were already sprouting higher than thest time Theo saw them. His potion was working. In the distance, they spotted Zankirs lone house billowing smoke as always. Theo spotted the adventurers wife in the yard, ying with the children. Zansal was a spicy woman with much more spirit than her husband. The alchemist greeted her and introduced the three brothers.
Keep an eye on them, Theo said. Theyre Qavelli.
I know the sort, Zansal said, narrowing her eyes. Backstabbing bastards.
Bal paled, his brothers joining suit. Well pull our weight, dont worry.
Do you want one plot or three? Theo asked.
Two should do, Bal said, managing a smile.
Theo shrugged. He could charge them anything he wanted for thend and the house seed core, although he suspected they might have their own seeds. Why ask for two otherwise?
I assume you have seed cores? Theo asked.
We do, Bal said.
Two gold for the plots, Theo said, holding his hand out.
The brothers shared a look.
1 gold, 50 silver.
1 gold, 80 silver, Theo countered, holding his gaze firm.
1 70.
Theo reached his hand out for the lead brother to shake. The man produced the money from a satchel at his hip, handing it over with a smile. The alchemist opened his mayors screen and assigned two plots to all 3 men.
Make friends with Zansal and Zankir, Theo said, gesturing to the Khahari woman. They can direct you to the adventurers guild and exin the dungeons. You can sell your loot directly to my shopkeeper, Azrug, or wait for a trader.
Thank you, mayor, Bal said, smiling. Were going to fit in. I promise.
Theo smiled, turning on the spot to leave. He didnt care if they really fit in, so long as they pulled their weight. When the time came, he needed fighters for the walls. Whether they understood the depth of the charity within the town wasnt his concern. Their blood would be enough to sate the alchemists desires, although he didnt wish for their deaths.
Theo informed Tresk of the new citizens as he returned to theb. She seemed excited that there were more people, but weary of the three brothers. The Marshling promised to spy on them with her stealth abilities to ensure they were on the level, although the alchemist didnt see that as necessary. When he finally returned to theb rain fell in azy pattern, nothing like it had been. The pressure vessel was done processing his essence and rested still in the gravel yard.
The port at the bottom of the [Custom Copper Pressure Vessel] fell open with a tter, releasing two solid blocks of stinking material onto the ground. The odor they put off stung his nose. He identified the items by touching them, but the prompt simply said they were [Alchemical Refuse]. An extraction artifice sat near the middle of the tank, allowing Theo to withdraw his refined essence with ease. He filled a vial with light pink liquid. As expected, he gained about half of what he put in.
He inspected the new essence.
[Refined Healing Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Purity: 50%
20 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
Theo knit his brow, looking over the result. He expected a drop in quality, but there was now something that dered the essences purity. It was hard to know if this level of purity was good, but he shrugged it off. His book told him this would produce a more powerful version of the [Lesser Healing Potion], likely resulting in a [Healing Potion]. He retreated to hisb for testing, trading a few words with Azrug before finding himself back in his element.
The book warned about the instability of the refined essences, causing the alchemist to store the vial in his inventory only to withdraw it and ce it delicately on his table. [Purified Water] was no longer an option for the advanced potions. Even with a single ingredient reaction, it could go sour. The next tier of potions required carefully measured vials of [Stabilized Water],bined with specific catalysts. Hed been relying on the [Copper Shavings] for some time now, but they were no longer eptable. Theoretically, he could still use the copper, but it would cause a wild array of results that he couldnt risk.
In terms of catalysts, Theo was at a bit of a loss. [Copper Shavings] were at the bottom of the barrel, but the next tier included rare materials such as ground gemstones, iron kes, and so on. Lowest on the list of second-tier catalysts was [ky Agate], which he had in spades. It wouldnt elevate the quality of the potion, but he had some.
The alchemists core allowed him to measure things out in precise quantities. As it grew stronger, he could measure down to the hundredth of a unit in measurement. Basic Drogramath Alchemy mentioned that the second-tier recipes needed to be within that hundredth of a unit, or it would explode. Fortunately, the catalyst didnt need to be measured with such precision. Only the water and essence had to be measured to such a grueling degree.
He measured out a unit of [Stabilized Water], a unit that he was confident was exactly 1 unit, added his catalyst, and exactly 1 unit of his newly refined essence. Theo was grateful that he propped the window open and created a vial with especially thick walls. The reaction was violent, sending streams of smoke into the air that glittered like stars. An earthy scent filled the room, somewhere between freshly tillednd and fruit. Smoke billowed out of the window and clouded his eyes for a moment. A tingling sensation spread through his body, but when the smoke cleared he examined the potion.
[Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 65 health points.
The resulting potion was significantly better than the base version. Even if the title was unimpressive, he was left with a potion that was twice as potent as the previous one. Each step of the process made creating the elixirs more daunting, but it was worth it. He rushed downstairs after stoppering the vial, thrusting it into his shopkeepers hands with a wide grin on his face.
New potion? Azrug asked. Woah! You did it! How did you do it?
Theo exined his new process, smiling the entire time. He felt a flood of excitement rushing through his body that he hadnt felt since he arrived in the town. The world of essences would open up to him with this new stage. He knew it. While the basic healing potion might have undergone a minor transformation, others would gain different effects. Azrug handed the potion back to the alchemist and pped his hand over his shoulder.
Thats what Im talking about, Azrug said. We need more stuff like that.
Agreed, Theo said. Let me know which potions youre interested in.
Well, some [Over-time] [Healing Potions] would be nice. I think I can sell the ones with [Surge] modifier, and the [Web] modifier, Azrug said.
We also need to consider having potions on hand for the next monster wave, Theo said, withdrawing Uharis magic crystal from his inventory. It had gone a darker shade of green. Sooner rather thanter.
Right, so get on it, Azrug said, chuckling.
Theo nodded, attending to the pressure vessel once again. While his stamina was draining, he could easily set up the vessel to make another run, especially since he didnt need to watch it. Once he had more [Healing Essence] in there, he turned his attention to walking the streets of his town. He wanted to make good on that promise he made himself, to take it easy when he could. With his failing stamina, this seemed like a great time to enjoy the evening without work.
Chapter 2.21: Tax the Adventurers
Chapter 2.21: Tax the Adventurers
Walking the streets of Broken Tusk was less taxing than crafting, even with the [Refreshing Ring]. Theo walked through the streets, poking his head in on the activities of his citizens and smiling to himself. The new settlers were adjusting to their new homes, but Gridgen Dev was already scouting out the southern hills for ore. The alchemist didnt know how the man intended to find the ore, and he didnt care. It was the level of determination his town needed more than ever.
Theo invited every new citizen into hisb for dinner, although space was tight. Hed need to upgrade the building if he wanted to host dinner parties. The three human brothers ate like adventurers did, barely using utensils to slurp up a massive pot of wolf meat stew. Gridgen, Sarna, and Gasem all ate politely, the young boy happily with the lizard-person Gers child. The alchemist still had learned little about the mans people, and he seemed reluctant to talk about it.
Introducing new citizens to Broken Tusk this way seemed like a splendid idea. They got to see what the town was made of outside of theb, but they needed to see true soutnds hospitality. This wasnt apletely selfless act by Theo, though. He certainly cared about the wellbeing of his citizens, but he needed them to have a good impression of the town. Most people were just hungry for a new start, or just in hungry. They needed a ce to call their own, where their actions mattered.
Theo ruminated on that for most of the night, even after the guests left. His actions mattered in Broke Tusk, even more than back on Earth, but he wasnt certain they were his own. A handid over his with every action, steering him to the right answer. He epted the unseen will of Drogramathbined with his high [Wisdom] as a positive thing, embracing them both. He was certain his [Tarahek Core] would bnce them out.
The alchemist rose the next morning with a mind for automation. He didnt want to give up his duties as mayor, but he favored putting most of his time into alchemy. This left him with a single, logical option. He would automate thest piece of his process that could be automated, the collection of essence after a run.
Theo had breakfast with Tresk, slowly sipping his moss tea as he ran the items of the day through his mind. The weekly tax collection came up soon, but he wasnt interested in collecting taxes every week. Hed g everyone aspleted and collect it at the end of the month, which seemed more efficient until he got his [Governance Core]. On that front, hed heard nothing from Fenian. The Elf trader should have already reported back to him, but then again, the man was entric at the best of times.
What are our goals? Tresk asked in a rare moment of foresight. Normally, the woman was all over the ce, or focusing on only doing dungeons.
Theo shrugged. Increase potion production, for one. We also need to increase the poption of the town.
Good idea, Tresk nodded. How about Qavell?
Theo narrowed his eyes at the Marshling. Why do I have a feeling this is a war meeting?
Well, we gotta be ready, Tresk said. How much are we getting in subsidies?
Theo opened his mayor screen, not willing to question Tresk further. She had a good intuition for native concerns, something he was still catching up on. There was a standing bounty on every wolfs head, but it was a pittance. 2 copper per head, paid through their adventurer society. There was also an adventurer relocation bonus, which provided a simr amount of money. Something like a living wage in the town, which struck him as odd. He exined the amount of money they were getting, or rather the amount the adventurers were getting.
So, were not getting anything, Tresk said.
Not to mention it''s a drop in the bucket, Theo said, reclining in his chair. I could have paid for every monsters head during the siege with little effort. Even if 1,000 monsters assaulted the gates, I could pay.
Kinda seems like theyre stringing you along for something, Tresk said.
Theo waved her off. That seemed to reach too far, considering the dynamic between Broken Tusk and Qavell. The alchemist saw his town as an outpost, or a colony. Thats how the capital treated them, anyway.
Someone is stringing me along, but I dont know if it''s Qavell, Theo said. It wont matter once I have my trade routes established. What are the chances they think well trade with the east?
They might have thought of it, Tresk said. Hard to say what anyone in that city is thinking, though.
Well, to answer your question. We build power as quickly as we can, Theo said. Power for us is not money. Its defense and production.
Tresk nodded excitedly. Agreed! Well, you need to tax the adventurers.
Theo leveled his gaze at the Marshling. What?
Yeah. Everyone uses the dungeon for free, but you own it. Well, Broken Tusk owns it.
Theo let out a heavy sigh. He considered his current streams of revenue for a moment before responding. The monster waves were worth an absurd amount of moneythey hadnt even finished counting their coin from thest wave and another was fast approaching. Alchemy was second, strictly in the sense that Fenians requests often brought in tens of gold at once. Next was his investments, namely Pergs tannery and Zizs quarry. Each of them brought in a trickle of silver, but it was far more than he made in taxes. Taxes owed to the town slipped through his fingers, directly to Qavell. It might be nice to have another stream of revenue for the town.
How would the adventurers take that? Theo asked.
Talk to Aarok about it, Tresk said. Figure something out with him. I think the adventurers would love itmost of them are rich beyond their wildest dreams already.
Theo nodded, and they fell back into the rtive silence of their meal. When they finished, Tresk scampered off to do whatever it was she did all day. The alchemist met with Azrug downstairs to straighten out some ns regarding the piles of loot he bought. The shopkeeper imed to have made his investment back on every item he had, which seemed doubtful.
The wider I go with my items, the more the adventurers buy, Azrug said, rubbing his hands together. Especially since youre letting me y with all this money. This wouldnt be possible without that, Theo.
Well, youre doing a good job, Theo said sheepishly.
Theo left before the boy could tell him more about his scheme, preferring to get his order in at Throks and discuss a tax on the adventurers with Aarok. The alchemist would have preferred to create the new system of taxation after he got his new core to create a binding agreement, but verbally epting the concept would be enough for now. As he moved up the road to the square, he saw that the adventurers guild was finally done growing. It was a massive, 2 story building made of wooden ts. The sloped roof was made of individual shingles painted blue. He bypassed the imposing guild for now, finding his way to the cksmith.
My best customer, Throk said, looking up from a mechanism. What can I do for you today?
Theo exined an idea hed been sitting on for a few days. He wanted a series of tubes that could collect and sort his essences intorge vats, removing his need to sit and watch the stills. He also requested a [me Artifice] that shut itself off after a set time.
Automatically sorting? I cant do that, Throk said, shaking his head. I can do the [me Artifice] easily and give you something with a valve to switch between collection tanks. How many tanks and what capacity?
The exchanges between Theo and Throk had be smooth recently. Once the cksmith had done enough of the alchemists orders, he learned what he wanted.
Up to 10 1,000 capacity tanks, Theo said, smiling.
Throk gawked for a moment, shaking his head. How many input ports? 3? You have 3 stills right now, right?
3 is fine, Theo said.
Alright. Pipes are easyI can do pipes without my [Artificers Core], but the splitter and valves need to be magic. Id want to have the extraction ports magic, too, Throk said, thinking for a long moment. He pressed his finger into his chin and hummed. Well, I keep enough copper in my inventory for an army, thanks to you, so I can do 3 or 4 tanks. Itll take a day. I assume you want this to be a rush order.
Always, Theo said, smiling.
h, h. I wont bore you with the cost, Throk said. A few gold, no doubt. I know youre good for it, now get out of my shop. I might need to get Sledge in on this job. To run the pipes through your walls.
Thanks, Theo said, waving and departing immediately.
With his day so busy, he didnt want to inquire about Sledge. He also didnt want to check on her. The independent streak that ran through everyone in Broken Tusk was especially clear on her. It was more than just the regr rebuking of authority. She sat on the edge of anarchy with her attitude.
Theo arrived at the new adventurers guild hall, passing by a group of adventurers on his way in. Directly inside was a massive foyer, mostly devoid of furniture. The interior was done in a tasteful wood-paneled wall with wooden t floors. A small rug sat at the entrance and a fire burned on the far side of the room, nestled between two swooping staircases that led to the balcony above. Aarok was standing in front of the firece, casting Theo a devious grin as he entered.
Too hot for a fire, yeah? Theo asked,ughing.
It is for ambiance, Aarok said.
Is there some ce we can discuss things privately? Theo asked.
Aarok nodded, gesturing to the staircase on the left. They ascended, pushing through a heavy wooden door and into a ce that must have been the mans office. It was sparsely decorated, weapons hanging from racks on the wall while a wide window gave an excellent view of the square outside.
Im here to float an idea. Testing the waters, nothing more, Theo said, sitting down in a hard wooden chair. It was quite ufortable.
Oh, great, Aarok said,ughing as he sat down behind his desk. Talks like these always end well.
Theo smiled, casting his eyes out the window with a longing expression. Hed rather be working his stills, but things like these needed to be done. nning for the future was more important.
I want to tax the adventurers, Theo said.
Ah, thats a popr opinion, Aarok said, his face brightening. Theyve been talking about that for a while.
Really? Well, thats what Tresk said, but I didnt believe it, Theo said. Im not interested in robbing them, just taking some of the wealth of the dungeon back for Broken Tusk.
No one would object, Aarok said. Perhaps when we first established the guild, they would have. But now, after the attack, theyll throw their coin at you.
Whats the best y? Theo asked.
The alchemist had a basic understanding of how the guild worked. Anyone could post a contract with Aarok and offer a reward. Hed done it several times in the past to collect more of his reagents. An amount of that reward went to the guild and the rest was paid out to the adventurer whopleted the contract.
Membership fee, dungeon ess fee, or straight off the top, Aarok said.
A dungeon ess fee fell under the umbre of a membership fee, so that was out of the question. Theo didnt like the idea of taking from the contracts themselves, either. That money should go to the guild or the adventurers, not the town. The only option that made sense to him was a membership fee, but he had a few changes in mind.
Membership fee, Theo said. Everyone can sign up for free, but we charge dues. Perhaps we should create a ranking system and levy the fee based on that.
We already have a ranking system, Aarok said, gesturing to the only piece of furniture in the room that wasnt either a weapon rank, chair, or desk. Arge scroll had been nailed directly into the wall, containing a list of names. Tresks was on top.
Theo knit his brow. Why didnt Tresk tell me she was the best adventurer in Broken Tusk?
She doesnt like for you to worry, Aarok said.
Theo nodded. He didnt want to think about that one too much.
Can you run the numbers? Come up with something sensible to charge them based on their rank? Theo asked. Every single coin will go to the town, not my personal use.
I assumed as much. I can run the numbers, dont worry. The adventurers clear an absurd number of contracts, so I expect the town will see a few gold a week, Aarok said.
Theo stood up and reached a hand out for the guildmaster to shake. This is a boon.
Aarok shook his hand. More than you know. Since were independent, the town gets the money. If we belonged to the United Adventuring Guilds, we would owe them arge percentage of our extra money.
Theo engaged in as little small talk as was socially eptable. It was easy with Aarok, though. The man had few words to say that werent about business, giving the alchemist a chance to get out of there and back to hisb. Once there, he organized his stills for a few simple runs, keeping another idea in the back of his mind. For now, he was satisfied running his 3 stills with the 3 basic reagents for restoration potions. He used his [Alchemical Grinder] to make a mash of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], [Manashrooms], and [Thistle Moss] before kicking each into action.
With a vial of [Alchemic Soil Enhancer] in his inventory, he left theb for the area behind the building. With the pressure vessel sorted with another run of refined essence, he went searching for swamp thistle. Digging them up to the root was easy with his gloves, allowing him to grasp the nt at the base without worrying about the spines. Theo arrived back at his building with 10 full nts in his inventory, and got to work doing something hed thought of since he first arrived.
Unlike the Banu and his farmers, Theo had no experience in farming. He dug into the ground with his bare hands, cursing under his breath as he hit more rocks and roots than soil. It took a long time to figure out the best ce to nt the thistle, finding a section next to the gravel yard that could fit all 10 of his new nts. A rush of excitement filled his body as he dripped the [Alchemic Soil Enhancer] in each hole and on the loose soil. Ribbons of light flowed through the dirt, instantly changing it from useless soil to [Enhanced Arable Soil]. The alchemist then nted each of his thistles, covering them with the new dirt.
Where they had wilted slightly from being uprooted, the nts perked up immediately. If Theo sat there for longer, he could even see them growing slightly. The leaves waggled in the air, turning to search the sunlight as he watched. But the simple experiment wasnt enough, he wanted to see the full power of his alchemy and he retreated to theb.
Using his existing [Growth Essence], at excellent quality, he performed a simple reaction. 1 unit of [Purified Water], 1 unit of [Growth Essence], and a single [Copper Shaving] saw an immediate reaction. It put off a smell like an oing storm, filling the air with a green smoke that felt like inhaling a rain cloud. He inspected the result.
[Lesser Potion of Growth]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.
Effect:
Affect the [Growth] property on any living thing.
That wasnt a good thing. The potion imed that anyone drinking it would age an unknown amount of time. It didnt seem worth it to take a few years off his life to grow to such a small amount. It also didnt detail how long he would berger, or if it would fade. The good part about the potion was the effect description. It would work on any living thing. He presumed this meant it would also work on nts, not just people.
Theo bolted back out into the yard, potion in hand and excitement in his eyes. He selected the nt furthest to the right before dripping the smallest amount onto the soil. Nothing happened, and he stood there, watching as the leaves sought the sun. He shrugged, dumping the entire potion on the nt and waiting. Faint light shone from under the dirt and the nt wiggled. The nt suddenly grewrger, increasing its size by a quarter before iling its leafy limbs. The alchemist stumbled back as the thing continued to il, letting out a horrible shrieking noise.
Theo stammered, withdrawing his alchemy knife from his inventory and holding it in front of him. A crude bulb-shaped face formed at the top of the nt,plete with gnashing teeth. It iled its limbs more, pping at the ground and growling at the alchemist.
Tresk! Help! I created a monster! Theo shouted into Tresks mind.
You WHAT?
Chapter 2.22: Monsters and Mines
Chapter 2.22: Monsters and Mines
For all of Theos fear of the initial assault of the nt monster, its roots dug deep into the ground, rooting it there. The monster howled with rage, iling razor-sharp limbs in the air to little effect. Once he caught his breath, the alchemist was on his feet, dusting the dirt from his backside and letting out a low chuckle.
That was close, Theo said, observing the monster for a few moments.
While the one that received the growth potion had turned monstrous, the other nts were fine. They showed no sign of monstrous tendencies, simply swaying with the gentle breeze. Perg poked her head around the corner of the Newt and Demon,ughing as she watched the monster.
Were making monsters, now? Perg asked.
Theo turned his gaze to the Half-Ogre woman, smiling despite his fear. I didnt mean to. I was trying to cultivate my own reagents.
Well, youve cultivated something. Is it immobile? Perg asked, moving toward the monster with a stick in her hand. She poked at it, the creature slicing the piece of wood clear in half. Guess so.
They stood there for some time, watching as the monster did its best to uproot itself. The implications of creating monsters were vast, but no practical applications came to Theos mind. Lining the walls outside with monstrous nts might seem good on the surface, but if the constant shrieking impacted the lives of the citizens, it wouldnt be worth it. Several minutes passed by before a shrill voice sounded from nowhere, cutting through the monsters protests.
Die fiend! Tresk bellowed, emerging from the shadow of the building and leading with both of her wicked daggers.
Theo could barely keep up with the fight. The Marshling moved in a blur, popping up behind the nt monster only to vanish a momentter. She ended the fight as quickly as it started, leaping over the monster, vanishing from sight, and appearing as a thin white line that split it in half. Each side of the creature fell away, soaking the ground in a vile green ichor.
Tresk rushed over, patting Theo down with a concerned look on her face. Are you alright?
Pergughed.
Im fine, Theo said, patting the Marshling on the head. I was just experimenting.
With monsters? Tresk asked, heaving a breath. I ran all the way here from the dungeon.
Wow, Perg said. How did you do that?
Tresk perked up, puffing her chest out and grinning. I have secret assassin powers.
She burned her cooldowns, Perg said, nodding.
Theoughed, shaking his head and approaching the monster. He inspected the corpse, pushing away the dirt and pressing his hand against the roots. They looked different, swollen with that same green, sticky material. He was shocked when the system produced an item description.
[Immature Monsterized Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Junk]
Rare
The root of an immature monsterized spiny swamp thistle nt. This item has no practical use. If left to mature, this monster will produce a reagent.
Oh, thats interesting, Theo said, exining what the description said.
Im not saying you should start a monster farm, Tresk said, dancing in ce. But I got experience for killing that thing.
Theo ran his fingers along the line of his jaw, falling into thought. That was an interesting thing to consider. The [Lesser Potion of Growth] was easy enough to make, and he could create an enclosure for the monsters to keep everyone safe. He shook his head, banishing the thoughts from his mind. For the time being, this was another distraction that took away from his immediate goals. He filed it away in his mind and set his gaze on Tresk.
Another time, I think, Theo said. Weve got a few too many projects going on.
Tresk nodded. I heard you were going to tax the adventurers.
How did you hear that? Theo asked, knitting his brow. You keep saying word travels fast, but this is ridiculous.
I saw Zankir earlier, Tresk said, shrugging. He knew.
Taxing the adventurers? Perg said, moving closer to inspect the monster. Is that smart?
We want to be taxed, Tresk said, shrugging. Everyone thought it was a good idea, since we pull so much money out of the dungeon. None of that goes back to Broken Tusk. Only those dirty Qavelli fat-cats get any of it.
Speaking of fat-cats, Perg said, withdrawing a single gold coin from a satchel at her hip. She handed it over to Theo with a smile. Your take of a few sales.
Theo took the coin graciously, stuffing it in his inventory. The deal he made with Perg granted him 10 percent of all her sales. Forever. As long as he provided her with the tanning potions, he got a cut. Although he didnt care to say it out loud, he considered this money a fund for the town, not that he distinguished between his purse and the towns.
Thank you, Theo said. Aarok is still working on tallying the money from the monster wave.
Ah, well, Perg said, shrugging. Were doing good, so whatever money it provides is good. I need to get back to work.
Perg turned on the spot and left without another word. Theo was relieved as he withdrew Uharis early warning crystal from his inventory. He winced. It was glowing a strange brown color. The alchemist wished that he was left instructions for what the colors meant, other than red being the worst possible color.
What does brown mean? Tresk asked.
Nothing good, Theo said, returning the item to his inventory. I think were going to have a monster wave, soon.
How many bombs have you made? Tresk asked.
Theo winced again. As much as he promised himself not to get distracted, hed done it again. None. I need to work on that.
None? At all? Tresk asked. How many healing potions have you made?
Theo managed a weak smile. A handful. Maybe 100.
Youre an idiot! What are you doing ying gardener? Get in there and make some potions! Tresk shouted.
Theos shoulders slumped. I know. I will.
Tresk punched him yfully in the arm. Perk up, Theo. Youre just getting distracted, but I know you can brew all that crap in a day.
What I really need are more [Fire Smander Eggs], Theo said. I have a quest in at the adventurers guild, but it hasnt beenpleted yet.
A chance to make money and bombs? Dont mind if I do! Tresk said, vanishing from sight.
Start making those healing potions, Tresk said.
I will, Theo said.
Theo went back into theb, swapping his sks out for fresh ones. This wouldnt be an issue when Throk made his storage vessels, and it wasnt time to focus on creating the best possible potions. He wasnt familiar enough with the process to do it quickly, although whatever time he had left today would go to creating [Healing Potions], the 2nd tier of restoration potions he could make. Until then, hed crank out as many [Lesser Healing Potions] as he could.
Once his other 2 stills were free, producing 200 units of [Mana Essence] and [Stamina Essence], he set them all to produce [Healing Essence]. His stamina gged somewhere near midday, forcing him to down one of the [Lesser Healing Potions] he made. The effects of the potions were immediate and invigorating, but they came with a downside. As hed seen during the siege, the potions were simply borrowing time from the future. Hed feel the consequences of the stimnt in the morning.
Theo started his mass-production method for creating as many [Lesser Healing Potions] as he could, lining up as many vials as he could and kicking off the reaction in arge sk. The motions were like second nature, something embedded in his mind from creating so many in the past. Once the bulk of the [Lesser Healing Potions] were taken care of, he turned his attention to the [Healing Potions]. Hecked the volume required to create absurd quantities of this potion, even after the pressure vessel spat out more of the refined essence.
The alchemist mopped sweat from his brow as clouds moved in over Broken Tusk, startling slightly when a knock came from the door. Aarok marched in with Tresk close behind. They shut the door firmly behind them, grim looks on their faces. The Marshling waddled over to the [Dimensional Storage Crate] and deposited something Theo assumed to be his smander eggs.
Tresk said you have something to talk about, Aarok said, folding his arms.
A monster wave ising, Theo said, producing Uharis crystal from his inventory.
How soon? Aarok asked.
If this thing has a steady pace, maybe 2 days, Theo said.
Aaroks eyes went wide for the briefest of moments, his expression quickly returning to its normal, stoic state.
Hopefully we have bombs ready this time, Aarok said.
We will, Theo said, withdrawing the [Fire Smander Eggs] from the crate and approaching his stills. Aarok and Tresk watched him as he cracked the eggs into a bowl, crushing the shells in his hands and depositing them straight into the still.
Theo, itste, Tresk said.
Theo cast her a sheepish grin. The bombs will be ready. Well be prepared this time. How is the wall?
The wall ispletely repaired, Aarok said. I have motes staged in dimensional crates near the weapons, so we wont be caught with our pants down again.
Good, Theo said, starting the [me Artifice] under his [Drogramath Still]. Ill have a few hundred standard bombs for the assault. And a handful of more potent stuff once this is done brewing.
Theo repeated the process for his 2 other stills, filling them both with 200 units worth of smander egg shells. He did not know how Tresk could collect so many of the rare eggs, but he didnt care. The Marshling came up behind him and hugged his waist, making an angry, frustrated sound.
You can do it, Tresk said. We have another daydont take another potion.
Theo let out a frustrated sigh. She was right. He needed to be conscious when the attack happened, even if he was worthless inbat. He could let the stills do their work when he slept after swapping out the sks once. After that, he could spend the next morning distilling the remainder of the eggs. If he did a full run, hed have an obscene amount of [me Essence]. The alchemist looked at an eggshell on his hand, shrugging and popping it into his mouth. The spice spread across his tongue instantly, bringing tears to his eyes.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Fire Smander Egg] by eating it.
[Force] discovered.
I should have done that earlier, Theo said.
But it wasnt a safe bet to make arge run of a newly discovered property. It didnt help that [Force] was not a good descriptor, and he didnt remember it appearing in the bomb section of Basic Drogramath Alchemy. Instead of departing from his current path, he stuck to it.
As he continued his work, Aarok made himself at home. Tresk and him were conspiring near the window, whispering between themselves before setting up the Marshlings copper skillet on a free [me Artifice]. They cooked the meal as the alchemist worked the stills, setting them up for thest run of the day. By the time each of the 3 stills was running, the wolf steaks were done cooking. Theo had to push the scent away as he worked, his stomach grumbling its objections by the time he sat down near the window.
Im surprised we dont have visitors, Aarok said, gesturing to the door.
Perg and Luras must be busy, Tresk said, tearing a chunk of steak off with her teeth.
The group settled into their meal. Theo had grown ustomed to eating steak for every meal, even when it got repetitive. It was hard to argue against having steak every morning and night, but he dreamed of a day when a ranch would produce other things. There was a lot of work to be done on that front, and something the alchemist would prefer to keep in the back of his mind for now.
Now, I have a very loose n, Aarok said, cutting a small chunk of his steak. During thest assault, we were surprised. Now that we know when theylle, even if its not exact, well be ready.
I saw some guys digging pits outside of the walls, Tresk said,ughing. Is that part of your n?
Part of it. To slow the monsters down, we really just needed to focus our ranged attackersst time, Aarok said, shrugging. Combined with Theos bombs, that would have taken care of them.
Theo craned his neck, looking to see his filling sks near the still. With his current run of [Fire Essence], he could make enough bombs to catch the swamp on fire. He didnt want to fool with his improvised bombs, as they seemed more likely to explode in someones hands than on an enemy. He regretted making one in the first ce, kicking himself for the needless show of force. The alchemist withdrew a [Manashroom] from his inventory, setting it down on the table and thinking out loud.
I want to make more than the one bomb type this time, Theo said. Perhaps a bomb to freeze the monsters in ce.
Maybe more artifice weapons, Tresk said.
Hard to get those on short notice, Aarok said.
Were filling gaps before they appear, Theo said, nodding to himself. Thats the important part. To stay proactive. One of those gaps is the adventurers. Were getting more as the days roll on.
I met the three brothers, Aarok said. Theyre strange.
Well, they bought two plots ofnd, Theo said with a shrug. I also have a few people to run the mine.
The mine? Aarok asked, raising a single brow.
Apparently, the new people dont gab as much as Broken Tuskers, Theo said, grinning. I think there is ore in the southern hills. Ive set the new settlers on finding it.
Smart, Tresk said, nodding.
What can we really do with more metal? Aarok asked.
Exporting, Theo said. We can process the ore and I can treat it alchemically. My intuition says itll make us some money. Also, the town can use more metal.
Even though it repaired itself with stone and wood, Aarok said, grinning.
nning for the future, my friend.
Theo felt exhaustion rolling through his body like an uing storm. He forced himself to stay awake long enough to talk with his friends. Tresks suggestion to take it easy for the evening was a good idea. That kind of exhaustion caught up with a person quickly, he knew all too well. The conversation among his friends gathered to small things, the way it always did. The alchemist zoned out as they talked about the people in the town, nodding off several times.
Tresk cleared everyone out, pressing her forehead against Theos and leading him to the impossibly soft bed. The world swirled around him as sleep took over, pushing away all the concerns he had for the future of his town.
Chapter 2.23: Custom Artifice
Chapter 2.23: Custom Artifice
Theo woke to the sound of banging the next morning. System messages crowded his vision as he stirred from his slumber, bringing a rush of confusion to his mind. Setting up the stills to run while he slept was a waste of motes in his [me Artifice], but it bore fruit. Both his alchemy and herbalism core leveled to 11, also increasing his level to 11. He considered his options for a moment as the banging continued, Tresk cursing and springing from her bed. He inspected his character sheet.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 11
Alchemist
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 61
Mana: 40
Stamina: 53
Strength: 16 (+10)
Dexterity: 5
Vigor: 11 (+4)
Intelligence: 15 (+4)
Wisdom: 23 (+6)
Points: 0
The alchemist was still absurdly clumsy, but he was getting brawny beyond anything he expected. The [Strength] stat didnt seem to affect his physical appearance much, but he was looking less like he had noodles for arms. Out of the stats hed been pumping, [Intelligence] was finally at a decent level. He could do basic math in his head, and extrapte on information better. It also informed his [Wisdom], to a lesser extent. He could sort through those whispers that influenced his actions to determine who was steering him. That left [Vigor] for him to consider. He ced a single point in the stat without hesitation. More [Vigor] meant more stamina, and hed been struggling with that issue for quite some time.
The sound of a slight scuffle issued from downstairs. Theo bolted upright, running to thending to see Tresk pinning Sledge to the ground.
You cant assassinate an assassin! Im too damn good! Tresk shouted.
Sledge let out a groan, Tresks knifeying across her throat.
Tresk, let her go, Theo said. Shes a carpenter, not an assassin.
Tresk removed herself from the carpenter, straightening her clothes and scowling up at Theo. Who knocks so early?
Im just here to install these pipes, Sledge said, looking rather fearful. The powerful face she put on had melted away in the face of Tresks power. For all her quirks, Theospanion was a fearsome fighter.
Say youre sorry, Tresk, Theo said. I hired her.
Sorry, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes. But Im watching you.
Whatever, Sledge said, brushing herself off. Itll take more than that to startle me.
The carpenter pushed past Tresk, moving up the stairs without another word. Theo could see that she was shaken from the encounter, but no more worse for wear. He followed her, watching wearily as she stood and nodded to herself. Sledge withdrew several lengths of pipe from a dimensional bag at her hip, setting them around theb and humming to herself.
She eventually turned her attention to Theo and Tresk, watching her from the door to theb. Throk gave me instructions. He has all your tanks ready to go, just needs a [Fabricator] to do some of the work.
Sledge held up a pipe for them to see. With a wave of her hand, the stone on the north-facing side of the building parted, creating a perfect hole. She slid it through and closed the building around it again. The pipes fit into one another with mps that tightened down at a touch, making the process quick. The carpenter continued her work, connecting the pipes together and cing 3 funnels under each condenser. Those pipes led to holding tanks at the edge of the room, about 500 units of capacity each. Then, the pipes led outside, waiting to be connected to something.
This valve here is your flow valve, Sledge said, pointing at one of 3 pipes leading through the wall. These 3 tanks are just staging tanks, but you can extract your alchemy stuff directly from them with this port.
Sledge gestured to the ports on the side of the 3 tanks. She then pointed to the pipes leading through the wall.
You have to power these for the suction to work, but these will all lead torge tanks outside. Throk said that theyre 10,000 capacity each. Leave the valves open if you want these to go directly to the tanks outside. Press this button to clear it for a new run, Sledge said, attaching thest pipe.
The button she gestured to was on each of the 3 interior tanks. Theo was confused about the operation of the system. 3 funnels led to 3 holding tanks. Those tanks led to bigger tanks outside, that was easy enough to understand. What he didnt get was resetting the tanks after each run.
Why do I need to reset the tanks?
Throk built in a sensor that remembers thest thing that ran through here, Sledge said, smiling proudly. He said youd blow up yourb if you identally mixed the alchemy junk.
I also need to alchemically treat the copper, Theo said, inspecting the womans handiwork.
Whatever. I need to go attach these tanks outside, Sledge said.
Could you attach the tank out back? I assume thats part of your [Fabricator] skills, Theo said.
It is, Sledge said, nodding. And I will.
The woman disappeared down the stairs, Tresk watching her the entire way. Eventually, she let out a sigh. Well, this is a fancy bit of work. Pipes everywhere, now.
Yeah, that might be an issue, Theo said. He ran his hands over the pipes, smiling to himself. This is going to be great. If he has my timed [me Artifices] ready, I can distill a full run without worrying about my sk overflowing.
It was a big issue for the alchemist to deal with his sks. Creating ssware that wasrger than 200 units was tricky. It was like handling a giant ss barrel, which wasnt as much of an issue with his increased strength. The awkwardness of it was enough for him to separate out therge runs into 100 unit sks, the situation made worse by his 500 unit capacity [Drogramath Still].
The Newt and Demon shifted ominously under their feet, a loud nging sound issuing from outside. Tresk and Theo bolted down the stairs, turning the corner to the north side of the building to find Sledge working her magic. Large copper bands held 3 massive tanks to the side of the structure, holding them steady. The carpenter moved to the back and the pair watched her, streams of light flowing from her body to summon the magical copper.
All done, Sledge said, flicking her hand to attach the pressure vessel. She marched up to Theo and held out a hand, a smile on her face.
What? Theo asked.
Youre supposed to tip the [Fabricator], Sledge said, scowling. Dont be cheap on me now, mayor.
Theo did not know how much her time was worth, or how much shed charged others in the town. He produced an amount of coin from his inventory that seemed twice what her time was worth, trying to encourage her to keep up the good work. The alchemist ced 10 silver coins in her hand.
Nice doing business with you, Sledge said, marching off without another word.
That is a very useful core, Tresk said, speaking once Sledge was out of earshot.
I can imagine the issue of not having a [Fabricator], Theo said. Im not sure if the system allows you to modify a seed core building. Maybe if we just shoved some pipes through the wall and expanded the building, it would destroy them.
Your guess is as good as any, Tresk said, shrugging. So, do you want breakfast?
Theo nodded and the pair retreated into theb. While Tresk prepared breakfast, their standard fare of wolf steaks and moss tea, the alchemist worked on alchemy-proofing his new toy. He dug through his storage, finding his [Potion of Infusion] and dumping down each of the 3 funnels. His intuition said that when the potion came in contact with an untreated material, it would spread. This ensured that the interior of the tanks would be protected against the reactive nature of the essences.
The pair ate breakfast together, but Theos mind was on the storage vessels. It would be perfect if hemissioned two new stills from Throk, simr to his old design but with a higher capacity.
We should upgrade the building, Tresk said.
Theo nodded. He knew that was a good idea, but had been focusing on other projects. Have you been hoarding monster cores?
Ive been donating them to Aarok, Tresk said. The guild hall was a hungry little monster. Well, not little at allthat ce is massive.
Theo scooped the essence hed distilledst night into his inventory, returning to the table to sip on his tea. Bombs were on his mind, but not just the firebombs. As he told Aarok, he had a few ideas for other types of bombs. While a freezing bomb wasnt in his book, his intuition said that it would be easy enough to make. That left him with an arsenal of things to defend his town with, something that broughtfort to his mind.
Tresk departed, pressing her forehead against his before leaving, and made a surprised sound. They received more experience to their Tarahek than normal. The curiosity passed and the Marshling departed without another word. Theo had a feeling it was because she defended him, even if Sledge wasnt a threat.
Theo found his way to the back of theb, loading the pressure vessel with 500 units of [me Essence] and setting it to work. He knew this would produce a more powerful version of his standard fire bomb recipe, but was interested in the effects the modifiers would have. The alchemist left his gravel yard, intent on letting the copper pipes imbue while he checked in on Throk.
Dawn had hardly painted the eastern sky with its brilliant colors, but the town was already buzzing with activity. The sound of a hammer meeting metal came from up the road, signifying that the cksmith was already hard at work. That was the standard in Broken Tusk, though. The people raised in the swamp were workers. They left nothing for tomorrow, preferring to get it done then.
How are my new [me Artifices]ing along? Theo asked, catching the Marshling by surprise.
Hah! Your [me Artifices]? Wait until you see this, Throk said, rubbing his hands together. He beckoned Theo into his workshop, turning a corner to reveal 2 massive stills, approximately the size of his [Drogramath Still].
I didnt order these, Theo said,ughing.
But you wanted them, Throk said. Hah! I can see it in your eyes. You were going to ask me to make new stills after you saw the 500 unit capacity holding tanks!
Theo couldnt help butugh. The old man was right, after all. That is exactly what he was going to do. The alchemist pressed his hand against the still, receiving a popup from the system.
[Custom Copper Artifice Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Epic
Created By: Throk
A 500 unit capacity copper still with attached advanced condenser and internal heating element. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill.The internal heating element provides an even heating of the still, preventing burning.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence.
Reduces the chance of producing low quality essence.
Built in heating? Theo asked, searching near the bottom of the still. He found the heating artifice attached to the bottom,plete with a mote port.
Hah! I knew youd like that one. Bet your fancy Drogramath still cant do that, Throk said.
No, it cant, Theo said.
But, I also built you a [me Artifice] with an auto shutoff. You can dial it in, Throk said, producing another artifice from nowhere. It looked a lot like his old ones, with the exception of another knob near the bottom. Theo inspected that one as well.
[Timed me Artifice]
[Specialty Artifice]
Rare
Created by Throk
Feed the artifice motes to produce a steady me. Each mote provides 6 hours of fire. The intensity of the mes is determined by the dial on the side. Setting the artifices power to zero preserves the motes stored energy. Attached timer will shut off after the designated time.
How are you so good at this? Theo asked, taking each item into his inventory. Strangely, the stills fit.
Thats just me. Over here. Being the best, Throk said. The materials were about 2 gold, so whatever you want to toss me.
That made sense to Theo. Throk had no reason to lie about his expenses, and often made this stuff at cost. Each element of an artifice required those tricky little gears, and whatever other nonsense he hadnt seen yet. He knew they were incredibly expensive based on the [me Artifices] hed bought from Fenian in the past. The Elf trader sold those near cost, somewhere around 1 gold each. The alchemist withdrew 3 gold coins from his inventory and handed them over.
Always a pleasure doing business with you, Throk, Theo said.
Well, you paid for my new core. And my retirement, Throk said,ughing.
Youre going to retire? Theo said, feeling a sh of fear run through his chest.
Nope. But, I like to pretend that I will. One day, Throk said. No, the forge calls me. I cant give that up, no matter how much I envy the idea of an easy life.
Simple lives arent for Broken Tuskers, Theo said, grinning. Were born from the mud to toil.
As far as Im concerned, Theo, youre part Half-Ogre and part Marshling, Throk said.
I like that, Theo said. Well, Ill be off. Time to rearrange myb.
So long.
Theo left feeling slightly guilty. No, he squashed those feelings down as soon as they arose. He wasnt a good mayor; he was a great mayor. When the time came, he would inform everyone about the impending monster wave. Withdrawing the crystal from his inventory, he saw it was an orange-yellow color, lining up with his estimate of the attack window. The alchemist returned the item to his inventory, casting those concerns as far away as he could. Things would line up if he nned properly, and he was actually good at that. His intuition drove him close to the right answer, even if he didnt understand the implications.
Reorganizing theb was easy. The magical stills could be returned to his inventory, and his rtively high [Strength] made it a simple thing to scoot them along the wooden floorboards. Throks new stills were very simr to his old design onlyrger. The section near the bottom was different, though, containing a mote port to power the built-in [me Artifice]. Theo fiddled with the controls for a moment, but shrugged. They were simple. The same intensity-based dial sat near the bottom of the device along with another one,beled with various times. They seemed to increase from 30 minutes to 5 hours in increments of 30 minutes.
Theo flushed another [Potion of Infusion] down the funnels, watching with satisfaction as steam rose from the spout. He also bathed his new stills in the potion, although he didnt know if they needed the treatment. It wasnt a problem before. With the vtile nature of the essences, it was better to be safe.
The alchemist repeated the flushing process once more before cleaning the entire system out with a vial of [Cleansing Scrub], just to be sure. He tested the valves at various parts of the line, then went outside to test the extraction method on the storage vessels. The artifice extraction system removed every drop of his infusion potion, drawing the liquid through the tank magically. Theo went between the gaggle of artifice ports in and around his building, feeding them motes. Upon returning to theb, he positioned the condenser of all 3 stills over their respective funnels and rubbed his hands together.
Shredding mass quantities of his reagents was easy with his [Alchemical Grinder]. It felt like no time passed, and he had each still firing away with their mashes. Health, freezing, and stamina set to 1 hour timers. He flicked the valves on each holding tank, ensuring they would remain within theb for this run. With that sorted, he turned his attention to the [Refined Healing Essence], intent on spending most of his day crafting [Healing Potions] and testing their modifier effects.
The process was slow, especiallypared to the [Lesser Healing Potions]. The 1st tier recipe was forgiving and required barely any attention. Those 2nd tier recipes stood in stark contrast, refusing to react in arge container. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core] whispered that his skill was still too low to handle them easily, but it made sense. He went back to that old process hed hung up ages ago, individually distributing the potion in 4 unit vials. While the reaction produced 2 units of liquid, he settled on the idea of either having breathing room for the new potion, or adding the 2 units of modifier essence.
A question popped into the alchemists mind as hebored away. These potions were 2nd tier, but his modifier essences should be 1st tier. What horrible reactions would take ce if he dared to add the inferior modifiers to his valuable potions?
Theo waited to answer that question, diligently adding exact amounts to each vial with pain-staking precision. Not all the [Refined healing Essence] got used up during his reaction, and he returned the rest to the [Dimensional Storage Crate]. By the time his hands were cramping from the repetitive action he only had 200 of the new healing potions with hours gone by. It was significantly less efficient than the old potions, but he gained almost an entire level from the run.
Higher potions give more experience, Theo said to Tresk.
Duh. Did you think theyd give less? Tresk asked.
Theo smiled. That was a stupid question, after all.
I have enough healing potions for the next wave. I just need to make the bombs, Theo said.
And plenty of time to do it. Right? What color is our crystal at? Tresk asked.
Yellow Now, orange, Theo said, noticing the subtle change of the crystal as he removed it from his inventory. I think I need to call a town meeting.
Meeting after bombs. Bombs first, Tresk said.
He could hear her bouncing up and down, even through the telepathic connection.
Right, Theo said, clearing away his work space. Bombs.
Chapter 2.24: Prepared for Battle
Chapter 2.24: Prepared for Battle
Theo popped a [Lesser Stamina Potion] before continuing his efforts. Yesterday might not have been the time to grind away, but the crystal was drawing dangerously close to red. By the alchemists estimation, the wave woulde early tomorrow. This left informing the citizens of his town about the attack, something he wasnt looking forward to. At least they were rtively prepared this time.
The standard bomb recipe was easy enough to make. With the massive amount of [Fire Smander Eggs] Tresk retrieved, he would have enough bombs tost the attack. Each adventurer within the town could toss bombs for the duration of the attack, but that would only help against the massive hordes. When the bosses came, and they woulde, theyd need to switch tactics. They may have known when the attack was happening, but they couldnt know what the bosses were going to be.
Theo reserved himself to creating a new type of bomb, adding a third element to his arsenal. After creating his entire stock of [Basic Firebombs], several hundred in all, and setting aside 20 of those for modification, he turned his attention to the 500 units of [Freezing Essence]. He crafted his standard bomb sk, a rounded, t-bottomed thing with dangerously flimsy walls, and sat down to think. Last time he created a bomb, the vessel mattered as much as the ingredients. Basic Drogramath Alchemy confirmed this, which he knew, so he followed his basic recipe, recing [Fire Essence] for [Freezing Essence].
Theo poured his [Freezing Essence] inside the round sk, adding a [Copper Shaving], and [Purified Water]. The first tier potion kicked off immediately. The liquid bubbled and swirled for a moment, ice crystals forming on the side of the bottle before flecks of white formed in the blue liquid. It looked like a snowglobe, snowkes caught in a viscous liquid and dancing around the container. The alchemist inspected the resulting bomb.
[Basic Freezebomb]
[Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.
Effect:
Effectiveness of the root is based on the quality of the potion.
Roots were good, but Theo was looking for an ice-based elemental attack. He repeated the process to create 100 Freezebombs, watching his stamina plummet and the sky darken outside. He was running out of time, but withdrew his [Surge] modifier essence for more testing. With the modifier applied to a Freezebomb, he watched. The kes of snow within the orb moved faster, darting around the sk and taking on a blue-yellow color. He inspected the result.
[Basic Freezebomb]
[Surge]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.
Effect:
Consume a root effect on target, dealing damage equal to time remaining on root in the form of [Ice Shards] attack.
The result was exactly what he was looking for. He now had ess to lightning, ice, and fire damage types. When Theo encountered the troll, it was out of instinct that the fire would work. It made sense, considering the monster was constantly regenerating health. He suspected that his Freezebombs would work against that pesky wolf-riding Goblin, too. The alchemist grabbed another bomb, applying his [Web] modifier.
[Basic Freezebomb]
[Web]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.
Effect:
Tendrils of ice shoot from the affected target, applying a weaker version of this effect to 5 adjacent enemies.
The [Web] modifier was even better. Theo peered out the window, cursing under his breath and the sun drew lower. The town would need to get by on what he had aplished and the alchemist drew all of his creations into his inventory. Thousands of restoration potions and hundred of bombs to be distributed among the adventurers tomorrow. It was an aplishment that would make the greatest alchemists in Qavell blush, but in Broken Tusk it was just another monster wave. Theo smiled at that thought.
Azrug had cleared out from the shop below, and Theo locked the shop up before leaving. He informed Tresk that he was headed to talk to Aarok, instructing her to round everyone up for a meeting in the center of town. As he was walking up the street, he felt a familiar haptic buzz in his mind. Fenian was calling him through his crystal, stuck in his inventory. He answered immediately.
Theo! I have a job for you, Fenian said. Ill be in town tomorrow, if you wish to discuss this in person.
Not a good time, Fenian, Theo said, trudging up the street.
Oh?
Monster wave tomorrow, Theo said. Were preparing for battle, at the moment.
Oh, my little alchemist. Growing up so quick, Fenian said, his voice sing-song. Thats fine, Ill dy my arrival. How long will it take you to mop up the creatures?
The entire day, Theo said.
Well, I apologize for interrupting your brooding. I have a magnificent find for you, although you wont like the price, Fenian said. A [Governance Core], which was very hard to source. Qavell has them locked down, for some reason.
Really? Theo asked, stopping on the street. He watched Tresk flit by, jumping between shadows and knocking on Throks door. How much is it going to cost me?
Well, you wont like that part. I sourced it for 50 gold, Fenian said.
Theo let out a bark-likeugh, his face painted with surprise. That was far more than he was expecting to pay.
Youre joking, Theo said, gripping the crystal tightly in his hand.
Fortunately, youre a rich alchemist, Fenian said. And Im a rich trader. Ill give it to you tomorrow, and welle to an arrangement, Fenian said.
I can make 2nd tier potions now, Theo said. And I can apply modifiers to those, I think.
Youll be rich, Im sure. Shall we discuss this over dinner? Tomorrow evening? Fenian asked.
Theo didnt know if he should be offended by the mans casual nature. The alchemists town was staring down a monster wave, perhaps 12 hours away. His anger faded away when he realized Fenians cavalier nature reflected his confidence in Broken Tusk.
That should be fine, Theo said. Ill be hopped up on [Lesser Stamina Potions], though.
Thats quite fine, Fenian said. I have some settlersing to your town. Did I mention that? Some mage thats looking for a new homeI told him Broken Tusk would be perfect for his research.
Theo groaned. He didnt hate mages, he just didnt like the ones hed met. He let out a heavy sigh and nodded to himself.
Ill see you tomorrow, Fenian, Theo said, spotting a crowd already gathering at the square. Tresk worked fast.
So long, my friend.
The connection ceased suddenly, and Theo returned the crystal to his inventory.
Theo approached the square, finding Aarok calming the crowd down. They knew something was up, and some of them suspected it was a monster wave. The guildmaster pulled him aside, talking in hushed tones.
So, tomorrow? Aarok asked. Thats quite soon.
Theo cast his gaze over the crowd, noting the absence of several people.
Wheres Luras? Theo asked.
Crafting, I suppose, Aarok said. He really didnt want to swap his coresst time. Thats painful if youre not the right level. Takes something out of you. Anyway, got the bombs?
Yeah, we have enough to repel an army, Theo said. Are the motes stationed, like you said?
Theyre stationed and ready to go, Aarok said.
Fine. Now we just need to break the news to these people, Theo said.
Let me do it, Tresk said, suddenly appearing from the shadows.
No, Aarok said. Tresk isnt the right person. They want to hear it from Theo. Most of them know whats going on, but still.
Fine, Theo said, crossing his arms and watching the crowd. Some townsfolk werent present yet. They didnt have to wait long until everyone was there. The alchemist even spotted Luras, lurking near the back. He approached them, waving his hands to gain silence.
Good evening, Theo said, clearing his throat awkwardly. He looked back at Tresk, who gave him two thumbs up and a cheesy grin. When Uharis left town, he gave me something to detect monster waves. As many of you may have gleaned, were expecting one tomorrow.
A murmur spread through the crowd like a wave. It was a mixture of surprise and resignation. Those that expected the wave seemed unaffected, shrugging indifferently. The three adventuring brothers looked at each other with excitement, while the families brought their children close. Theo held a hand up for silence.
Were ready this time. I crafted enough bombs to set the swamp aze. Our adventurers have been training hard, and the turrets have mote supplies near them, Theo said. Aarok hasnt even finished tallying how much money we made on thest wave. I want everyone to see this as a chance to make as much experience and cash as possible.
That got a little rise out of the crowd. The adventurers cheered, pumping their fists in excitement.
10 gold atst count, Aarok said. We just need a merchant to buy all the gear.
Right. There might be a way to stop the waves, who knows. Uharis couldnt figure it out, but this is a chance for us. So, were ready, Theo said. Aarok, do you have anything to add?
So, tomorrow morning at dawn well ring the bell 20 times slowly, Aarok said. Slow and methodical. Thats your signal to wake up and prepare. If the attack happens before dawn, youll hear the watchmen whacking that thing like crazy.
Theo hadnt considered that. A wake-up call the day of an attack was a great idea. He withdrew the crystal from his inventory and noted that it had gone more orange than yellow. Everything was in ce, but he was still nervous about the attack. The alchemist couldnt let that show on his face.
So, we all know what to do, Theo said.
I suggest everyonee down to the Marsh Wolf Tavern! Xam shouted, her voice rising above the growing drone of voices. Ive got Karatan steaks.
Oh hell yeah, Tresk said, grabbing Theos arm. Were going, right?
Theo smiled, looking at both his and Tresks stamina bar. They were draining towards empty, but they had enough for a night out. The alchemist pushed his worries for tomorrow down, letting the excitement of the crowd wash over him. Aarok pulled him by the arm, holding him in ce. The crowd moved off, everyone turning their gaze away from the trio except Luras. The Half-Ogre came sauntering over, smiling sheepishly.
Another fight, huh? Luras asked. I thought I was done with this.
You wont be needed on this wall, Luras, Aarok said. Ive already told you this.
It feels weird not helping, Luras said.
Youll help, Theo said. Well need supplies ran between the gates.
Yeah
Speaking of, lets see how many potions and bombs youve made, Aarok said.
Theo started withdrawing the items from his inventory, handing them over to the guildmaster. It was far more than theyd need for the attack, but the alchemist didnt want to take chances. The lives of the townsfolk were far too valuable to gamble when he could simply brew an absurd amount of potions. He handed over the Freezebombsst.
Those freezing bombs are going to do a lot, Theo said. Especially the ones with the [Web] modifier. So, we have lightning, fire, and ice. Doesnt matter what the wave throws at us, well be ready.
I got poison, Tresk said, shing her daggers.
Her daggers were now usually coated in the new poison Theo was brewing. [Decay] was a nasty modifier that increased the damage that poison did. The Marshling had reported no other effects, but she rarely took stock of that stuff.
I got leather, Luras said, smiling.
Theo saw something in the mans eyes, hidden behind his cheery exterior.
Ill meet you two at the Marsh Wolf, Theo said. I want to have a word with Luras.
Tresk and Aarok shared a nce for a moment, but shrugged. They left, leaving the pair alone in the dimming light of the day. Luras expression of stone faded away in a moment, a grimace painting his proud features.
How obvious is it? Luras asked.
That youre miserable? Theo asked. Extremely obvious. Im also Broken Tusks counselor. So, spill it.
Knowing you, youll chase me down to hear the story, Luras said, letting out a heavy sigh. No, I didnt want to tell anyone. Not even Aarok, and he knew my uncle. But, the night before an attack?
We have time, Theo said, waving him off. Youve been reclusivetely. I thought you were just honing your craft, but it seems like something else.
I wanted to tell you once you broke your barrier, but you helped me get my workshop ready Seems like a rude thing to do, Luras said. He drew another long breath and shrugged. So, you want the story?
Yep.
I hate leatherworking, Luras said. I really hate it. Everything about the leathers makes me want to puke. Sitting there with a bone needle and gut string, poking little holes and setting rivets. Gods, I cant think of anything Id rather do less.
Theo knit his brows tightly. His impression of the Half-Ogres was that leatherworking was his lifes goal. The alchemists intuition told him there was something to this story that Luras talked about.
So, why did you pick it up? Theo asked. I know I said I wanted more artisans, but you made my shoes. Thought you loved it.
I liked it before my uncle died, Luras said. Remember when I went over to Rivers and Daub? Took all your [Cleansing Scrub] to visit someone? Well, my uncle died. He didnt tell anyone he was dying, not even me. He just left me this damned note.
Luras produced a crumpled note and handed it over to Theo. The alchemist read over it quickly. The contents were more than a little maniptive, iming that a life of adventure wasnt for his nephew. His uncle urged Luras to give up the adventuring life and settle down, practically begging him to be a leatherworker. The entire thing made Theo sick to his stomach. It was the single most selfish thing a parent could do, something that struck too close to home.
What do you want to do? Theo asked.
Luras shrugged. Shoot stuff with my bow, I guess.
Theo held his hand out. How much did your leatherworking core cost?
Theo,e on, Luras said. Ill get over it.
Not at all, Theo said. Produce your core, now. Tell me the cost.
Luras looked surprised. He pressed his hand into his chest, wincing in pain and removing the [Leatherworkers Core]. Theo couldnt use it for anything else, as it was soulbound, but he wanted to make a point.
50 silver, Luras said.
Theo produced the coins from his inventory and handed it over.
Tell Aarok I said youre in charge of the guard, now, Theo said, withdrawing a house seed core from his inventory, opening his mayor''s screen and cutting out a section ofnd near the adventurers in the north. Your new house is up near Zankirs ce. Go nt this before the siege.
Luras face was a mix of confusion and guilt. He was bound so tightly to that dead mans words, like his uncle still had a physical chain around the Half-Ogres neck. The best way to break those chains was to shatter them, driving the illusion to the ground and stomping them into the mud. Theo hadnt felt this angry in a long time. Luras was the first friend hed made in Broken Tusk, a valuedpanion.
Dont let anyone tell you how to live your life, Theo said. Especially the dead.
Thanks, Theo, Luras said, hanging his head.
I get it, Theo said, shrugging. When I was on Earth, I lived my life for my mother. When she died, the opposite thing happened. I realized the entire thing was a lie.
He was just so good to me, Luras said. I didnt think it was right to disobey his wishes.
Nah, he wanted you to be happy, Theo said. He just didnt understand youd be happier in the thick of it, rather than safe behind these walls.
Luras suddenly pulled Theo into a hug, squeezing a little too hard. They stood there for some time, the Half-Ogre failing to hide the sounds of his sobs. The alchemist let him get it out, shedding all of that bad blood there on the cobbles.
Tomorrow is a new day, Luras said, sniffling into Theos ear.
Theres no better ce for a fresh start, friend, Theo said. Besides, I need adventurers more than I need leather. Good adventurers. Thest time you were on the wall, you were a demon. Thats when you show your true self, Luras. Not whittling your time away in a workshop.
Youre right, Luras said, withdrawing his oldbat core and shoving it painfully in his chest.
The town will pay for an upgraded core, Theo said, pointing at the Half-Ogres chest.
Come on, Luras said, wrapping his arm around Theos shoulder. Tell me how were gonna be rich.
Chapter 2.25: Goblin Rush!
Chapter 2.25: Goblin Rush!
Theo woke the next morning to the sound of 20 slow bells. Where he expected a frantic, stato call to arms, he found the mournful ring of peace. He wiped the sleep from his eyes, pulling the early warning crystal from his inventory and shaking his head. It was a deep shade of red, growing brighter by the moment. The difference between thest assault and this one was preparation. They were ready, even if Uharis wasnt there as a backup. Tresks bed was empty, and the familiar smell of the same breakfast wafted through the open door. Dawn hadnt broken, but it wasnt far off.
The alchemist made his way into theb, falling into his chair and staring out the window.
Theyll be here soon enough, Theo said.
Tresk waved him off, flipping her steaks. No worries. Im happy about Luras.
The pair had talked, at length, about the Half-Ogres decision before bed. Tresk said he was lying to himself and she knew it, although Theo didnt know if she was just posturing.
His cores suck, Theo said, pouring himself a cup of moss tea. Not sure how you guys survived down here with cores.
Oh! Mister fancy-pants legendary cores over here, Tresk said, taking on a mocking tone. Look at me, she danced around the room. Just gonna fix everything and be all cool and stuff.
Theoughed, choking on his tea and doubling over. Stop, he said. Im gonna spill my tea.
Well, set your tea down, cause Im just getting started, Tresk said, grinning.
Im right, though, Theo said. The difference between low-tier cores and the high ones is absurd.
Ill agree with that, Tresk said, nodding. I mean, you get a boost in power but you still need to level the core. Unless you can find him a core thatbines with his [Hunters Core], hell need to grind the new one up.
Theo nodded, locking his gaze outside the window once again. That was something they had an enormous advantage on. He still didnt understand the exact situation up north, but they certainly didnt have so many dungeons nearby. Most people farmed the [Swamp Dungeon], but the others were growing steadily in power. Not at the same rate as the one in the swamp, but still noticeably. The alchemist had received little word on the other dungeons, only that the loot sucked and no one wanted to swim through either the [River Dungeon] or the [Ocean Dungeon].
That didnt take away from Theos instincts on those dungeons. Theyd be a valuable source of revenue, they just had one problem. The distance between Broken Tusk, and any of the other dungeons besides the [Swamp Dungeon] were great. It was at least twice as far, posing a serious problem. If Theo wanted ownership over those dungeons, hed need to expand the town outward. The [Ocean Dungeon] was his first target. It was near the sea, and would allow him to construct a port. That idea still rattled in his head, refusing to dislodge itself. Another project for a man with too many projects.
Once Tresk served the steaks, Theo took a leaf out of the Marshlings book. Instead of carefully cutting the meat into small sections, he picked it up with both hands and took a bite. She shot him a surprised look, taking arger bite and glowering.
Its not apetition, Theo said through a mouthful of meat.
Yeah, it is! Tresk said, taking another,rger bite.
They finished their meal and went together onto the street. There was a calm in the air that sent a shiver down Theos spine. It wasnt the typical calm he expected before a fight, but a sense of normalcy that gave him hope. Those who were nonbatants were going about their lives as if nothing was wrong. Monster might have been preparing to assault the town, but within the walls they were safe. The alchemist would do anything to make sure that was a reality as long as he had strength.
With a deep breath, he approached the Adventurers Guild. Luras was standing, deep in conversation with Aarok. Adventurers were scattered around the hall, talking amongst themselves. Theo spotted the 3 brothers talking to Zankir and Zansal.
Theo, Aarok said, waving the pair over. Have you met my new Captain of the Guard?
Luras paled, casting his eyes to the floor.
Ive met him before, Theo said, smiling. Bit of a rapscallion, though.
Right. Im just happy to have morepetent adventurers, Aarok said. Well, those al brothers are pretty strong. Theyre a higher level than Tresk, but somehow I dont think they have good cores.
Al brothers? Tresk asked.
Bal, Dal, and Ral, Theo said, waving her away. New arrivalsI told you about them.
I dont concern myself with weaklings, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes.
Theo gave her a swift punch on the arm. Manner. Every adventurer is valuable here.
Tresk looked shocked at first, then reserved. Yeah
If our Tarahek is done having their moment, Aarok said. Were not resting on the fact that we know how theyre going to attack.
Well split our force again, Luras said. Simr tactic, but were assembling a roaming group to keep the walls clear and ry information.
Do we have enough bombs? Theo asked.
And a few tricks youre not aware of, Aarok said, shing a roguish smile.
Theo withdrew the crystal from his inventory. It had grown a brighter shade of red since he looked at it minutes ago. He returned it and withdrew the rest of the bombs he was working on. There werent as many as hed like, but there were enough. No matter how much he wanted to doubt their ability to defend the town, he knew they could do it. He handed over the bombs to Aarok and Luras to distribute to the adventurers.
Your healing potions are distributed to the masses. We cant be more ready, Luras said.
I wonder what it''s like up north, Theo said. He blurted the words out, still musing on their unique situation. Our adventurers are going to grow in power. Quickly. How does it work up there?
Nothing like this, Aarok said, waving a dismissive hand. The kingdom has a stranglehold on the dungeons, and monsters arent asmon. People need to travel far to get their experience. Not like in Broken Tusk. Here, you can wake up and take a jaunt over to the dungeon and be home in time for dinner.
When we were going for the Irregrs, it was weird, Luras said, smiling. So many people takeboring cores, or trade cores, because its too hard to do adventuring.
Theo fell into his thoughts as Aarok and Luras reminisced about the old times. The alchemist looked at his new citizens with a fresh perspective. Broken Tusk really could be many things to settlers. A ce to settle down and perform basicbor, or a haven to strengthen themselves. That made the adventuring tax more important than before. If someone were to settle down here to advance their cores then leave, he would get nothing out of it. This way, they were at least paying their dues.
The group broke off, Tresk going to make introductions to the fresh meat, as she called them. They whittled the time away as the crystal grew in brightness. Theo didnt know how the monsters spawned, and he didnt care. As long as no one was out in the swamp when they did, it wouldnt matter. He trusted those that ran the military aspect of the town to do the right thing. After only an hour of mingling and chatting about strategy, the wild ng of a bell sounded from outside. Without missing a beat, every adventurer in the room tensed and sprinted out of the Guild Hall before the alchemist could even react.
Theo trudged behind them,gging at a considerable distance. He watched Tresk standing atop the battlements first, casting her gaze over the swamp. She winced every time the man rang the bell, standing right next to him but refusing to give up her prime position. The calmness in the air faded, giving way to tense expectations. The alchemist ascended the battlements, heaving breaths and leaning against the crentions.
Wait for it, Aarok said, narrowing his eyes. If theyreing from the west, they should
No one heard whatever else the Half-Ogre sought to say. A ripple of explosions issued from deep within the swamp, momentarily deafening those atop the wall. Theo ducked behind the stone, plugging his ears and letting out a silent curse.
What was that? Theo shouted, digging deep into his ears as though to remove the buzzing.
Bombs! Luras shouted. Throk made some bombs. They sit on the ground and wait for a monster to pass.
He made mines? Theo said, springing from his crouched position.
It was a surprise, Tresk said, jumping onto the edge of the wall and smiling. Now, I go to work.
She vanished without another word. Luras drew his bow, Aarok turning to shout orders at the gaggle of citizens below. Theo just watched. He watched the absurd quality of their response. The filing out of a small group of adventurers, including the 3 brothers, the dutiful marching across the battlements, and the handing out of bombs and potions.
Theo plugged his ears again. The lightning tower shot out a deafening st, shooting at something near the treeline. The alchemist only now glimpsed a pack of wolf-riding Goblins. Lightning tore through them, shredding a score in an instant and maiming others. Then the bombs went. Plumes of fire rose from that killing field, annihting the rest of the outriders indiscriminately.
New monsters, Aarok said, nodding. Theyre not stronger than thest wave, but were going to see a new boss. Im sure of it.
Keep me updated, Theo said. Im going to check on the citizens.
They should be at the guild, Aarok said.
Theo nodded, descending the steep stairs before another bolt of lightning took his hearing. The streets were mostly empty, save for the adventurers patrolling. Outside of the Adventurers Guild was a group of 5 adventurers, holding their weapons at the road and casting their eyes over the street. The alchemist smiledthey were sentries, intent on defending the townsfolk inside. Gathering everyone in the same ce was smart, if they had the manpower to defend them. He reserved his judgment of the decision, trusting that Aarok knew what he was doing.
Citizens were milling around the open hall of the Guild. They chatted happily, eating something out of wooden bowls and smiling when their mayor came inside. Xam had set up a small [me Artifice] with a boiling cauldron on the far side of the hall,plete with a steaming pot of tea. Theo let out a singleugh, the absurdity of the situation not evading him.
Did you see them? Throk asked,ing up to grin at Theo.
I heard them, Theo said, understanding that the man was talking about the mines. You made some artifice weapons?
Not really, Throk said, shrugging. I rigged some of your bombs. Well, 10 of them in a bundle. Just a little something I whipped up. The original intent of the artifice was to ring a bell automatically, but I hooked it up to a proximity sensor and cranked the power of the hammer up.
Thats genius, Theo said.
Throk shrugged. It was just for fun.
More explosions issued outside. Theo found it hard to sit in here with these people. The logical part of himself said this is where he needed to be. Safe and away from the action, but he couldnt stay. He needed to see how the assault was going. How effective were his bombs against the horde? Theo turned on the spot, waving and making for the door when something tugged at the arm of his silken robe.
How''s it going? Azrug asked.
It just started, Theo said. The bombs seem effective, though. Oh! Fenian is going to be here tonight.
Really? He said that? I have a lot of things I need to buyand sell, Azrug said, brightening up.
Yeah. I need to scrounge up 50 gold for him, Theo said.
Oh. How much do you have? Azrug asked.
21, Theo said. Ill figure something out. Dont worry. Fenian is always willing to work with me.
Bet hes gonna ce a crazy order, Azrug said.
Theos mind twinged. There was something he regretted from thest wave he wanted done this time. What powerful reagents would those monsters hold? Theyd been looted for their gear, but no one was looking for stuff he could use to make essences. He nodded to himself, resolving to talk to Aarok on the wall.
I need to have a word with our stalwart defenders, Theo said, waving.
Bye, Azrug said, bringing his bowl of soup to his mouth and slurping noisily.
Instantly after leaving the hall, Theo heard the sounds of battle. Even the explosions were muffled in there, but out in the open air he could hear everything. A series of explosions issued far in the north, falling in his ears as faint thumps. Another sound from the south, then the east, joining in as a chorus with the west. The alchemist sprinted, slowpared to his adventuringpanions, to the western wall. His eyes darted to Tresks health, watching it repeatedly drop and return to full. He knew better than to ask her what was going on. That would only break her concentration.
Hows it going? Theo asked, panting.
Luras was firing his bow into a sparse crowd of monsters. It was nothing like the wave that assaulted the other day, but as his eyes drifted toward the forest he saw the actual story of it. Piles of corpses sat after the treeline, mes rising off their charred bodies. The lightning turret let out another st, and an adventurer fed it another mote from the nearby crate. The alchemist watched in amazement. They were doing great.
Very well, this time, Luras said. Thanks to that drunk wizard, we had time to prepare. Yeah, they have the numbers, but we have the defending advantage.
The boss is a two-headed troll! Tresk said. Hesing for the wallsslowly.
Thanks.
Theo ryed the information to Aarok, who nodded. I didnt expect another troll, thats strange. Were seeing Goblins, but theyre different types. Is the troll approaching from the west?
Theo talked to Tresk rapidly, getting details on where the troll was.
From the west, Theo confirmed. He has a small army of Trolling with him.
Theres the wrinkle, Luras said, looking back and rxing his bow. Theyll have the same regeneration as him, maybe a shared effect.
Right. Theyre stronger together, Aarok said, nodding.
Bal, the oldest of the 3 brothers, ascended the stairs of the battlement with a few strong strides. East is almost untouched. The north has it bad, but theyre doing fine. The south is middling.
Thats expected, Aarok said. Ask the east to send what they can to the western gate. Here. How are the streets?
A few sneaky Goblins got in, but theres not a lot. Their stealth sucks, Bal said.
Right. You have the streets then, Bal, Aarok said. Great job.
Bal smiled, affecting a shallow bow before leaping off the wall into the town. Hended gracefully on his feet, sprinting as soon as he touched the cobbled street.
We need a way tomunicate during these battles, Theo said, remembering what he came here to say. Can you instruct the adventurers to look for reagents? Things that I could use for potions, once weve in all the monsters?
Of course, Aarok said,ughing. Im afraid they dont know what to look for, though. Maybe you coulde along for the clean up.
Good idea, Theo said.
His [Drogramath Herbalism Core] would let him know what was useful. At level 10, it was more than just intuition. He could almost feel the magic in the herbs around him, but it was still in the early stages. Once he got that core to level 20, it would be a different story. Even though he didnt know how he knew it, that was the fact. A linear progression of power that would continue To what end? He didnt know.
Theo sat atop the battlements with hismander, observing the monsters attempts to breach the killing field. It seemed like a futile task. They threw themselves against that blood-soaked patch of marshy earth without regard to the fires, the lightning, or the endless ranged attacks of the defenders. Rain didnte as midday past, even into thete afternoon. Tresk gave updates on the advance of the boss Troll. When it finally crossed the line of fire, most of its Trollings were already dead.
[Boss Monster] spotted! Twin Foul Lords Gorak/Slobag has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters, use caution.
Ready? Aarok shouted.
They had a n, apparently. Theo felt like a strange observer in a macabre game, standing there and wincing every time the lightning fired off. It arced, mming uselessly against therge Troll. The creature was a more lumpen mass of boils and fat than the one hed seen before. Two heads bobbled atop the thing, swaying with bald heads with vile features that sent the alchemists stomach turning. What happened next urred quicker than Theo could register.
Several Freezebombs exploded, the ones with the [Web] modifier, snaring the remaining Trollings. The boss Troll shook the thin threads of ice off, moving deep into the killing field in a single stride. Fire bombs came next, a normal one, then a [Surge] modified one, in rapid session. The Troll roared in pain, thrashing uselessly as the bombs kept flying. As quickly as the monster approached the gates, it fell to the ground, forcing a system message to appear in Theos vision.
[Boss Monster] defeated! Twin Foul Lords Gorak/Slobag has been in. Bonus Wave!
[Bonus Wave!] Broken Tusk defeated the monster wave in 10 hours! Bonus wave: [Goblin Rush].
Theos brow knit tight. Aarok had a simrly confused expression on his face. With a mentalmand, the alchemist found he could inspect the bonus waves description.
[Goblin Rush]
Monster Wave
Duration: 1 Hour
Goblin Rush!
Every remaining goblin has been turned into a miniature Troll!
Experience gained from killing these monsters is increased.
[Monster Wave] gold is increased for each Troll-Goblin Killed.
Troll-Goblins drop rare loot more often.
Theo took a calming breath.
Get back to the town, Tresk, he said.
Chapter 2.26: Nuggets
Chapter 2.26: Nuggets
I absolutely will not. Did you see the notification? More experience! Tresk said.
Theo noticed the look in the eyes of the other adventurers. They were itching to get out into the swamp to mop up the rest of the monsters, but Aarok held out his hand, shaking his head.
We dont want to be out there without fire, Aarok said. Better to let them smash against the walls.
Agreed, Luras said. Unless you have a lot of mobility powers, youll just get pinned down.
The thought of miniature Trolls wasical, but still dangerous enough to make Theo concerned. His eyes rolled over the mounds of burning monsters and he smiled. This assault went far better than thest one. They were prepared, poised tosh out the moment the monsters approached the town. It was nothing likest time, and he was grateful.
Very efficient work, Aarok, Theo said, nodding.
Hey, I helped too, Luras said, grinning.
Yes, you did, Theo said.
Theo watched as Tresks health plunged, the way it always did. He stood there, tapping his foot and waiting for her to report in.
Woah, these Trollings are jerks, Tresk said. Theyre not as slow as the big ones.
Trollings are fast, Theo said, distilling Tresks frantic words into something usable.
Ill pass the word along, Aarok said. Why dont you check on the town?
Good idea, Theo said, dismounting the battlements without another word.
Townsfolk had a mixture of fear and relief on their faces. Some might have been hiding their trepidation about the assault, while others were simply oblivious to the danger. Theo thought about how that was an unfair assessment. They had faith in him and the adventurers to defend the town. The alchemist made his way back to the guild hall, noting several dead Goblins scattered nearby. The adventurers defending the door smiled and waved as he passed.
Goblin Rush? Azrug said the moment Theo was through the door.
Im not sure, Theo said with a shrug. Seems like theres a bunch of little, fast Trolls outside the gates now.
Azrug rubbed his hands together, grinning. If it means more loot, Im into it.
Well, its over in an hour anyway, Theo said. Shouldnt be bad. As long as we maintain the walls.
Theo crossed the room, the shopkeeper close behind, and took a seat in a chair. He let out a sigh, that single breath washing away his concerns for the siege. They had every advantage, but he was still worried. Those concerns left him as he thought about thest monster wave. The system gave him 12 gold for thest defense. Aarok was still counting the coin from the loot, which would generate even more money. Broken Tusk would have no shortage of gear or coin for quite some time.
The alchemist let out augh. Im going to spend the money the moment it''s in my hand.
The way you always do, Azrug said, producing a cup of tea for Theo to drink.
Apparently, the young shopkeeper had be partial to his [Moss Nettle] tea. The copper pot, still brewing near the edge of the room, must have been full of the stuff. Theo took a tentative sip, letting that slight burst of energy flood through his body. It reinvigorated his mind, bolstering him against his gging stamina bar.
Assuming the [Goblin Rush] goes well, this was a good wave, Theo said.
No kidding, Azrug said. Well, at least the guild hall wasnt destroyed.
Theo nodded, casting his eyes over the citizens assembled there. He spotted Sledge chatting happily with Miana. The Marshlings demeanor had changed entirely since he first met her a few days ago. She found her ce in Broken Tusk, although the alchemist had only seen her work once. Looking around the guild hall, he realized how useful someone like her could be. It was easy to extrapte her powers based on what she did for hisb. She could manipte the core building itself, changing its format.
Where something like Luras leatherworking was nice to have, the [Fabricator] was essential. Theo withdrew the Half-Ogres old core from his inventory and looked at it, smiling. It was a tactical decision on his part to push the man away from the trade. He lost an artisan, but gained an excellent adventurer. The way he sat atop the wall, firing an endless stream of arrows, was proof enough that it was the right decision. The smile on his face only sealed the deal.
Thest thing we need to do is rest on those facts, Theo said. The only reason we took on this wave so easily was our preparation.
Agreed, Miana said, approaching without Theos notice. She took a seat near the alchemist and leaned in. Did you ever get a read on Uharis?
Theo thought for a moment before speaking. He falls somewhere in the middle. He wants something from me, but I cant figure it out.
Kinda funny the wave started when he arrived, Miana said, reclining and grinning.
Well, thats ignorant, Azrug said,ughing. She shot him a re. We already understand that the monster waves were generated by excess magic. Likely from Theos transmigration. Maybe he kicked them off intentionally, but then why help at all?
Good point. If the intention was destruction, why bother? He could have just nuked us from orbit, Theoughed.
Nuke? Miana asked.
Blew us up, Theo said. No, he wasnt overtly malicious. He could have caused the monster wave. Maybe he sped it up, but he gave me something that detects how close the wave is.
Bah. I dont trust him, Miana said. I dont trust spell-slingers.
Theo understood why she didnt trust magic. Lacking her cores for so long must have been a painful thing, but she had recovered.
Bad news. We have a resident wizarding this evening, Theo said, delighting in the surprised expression on her face. Comes rmended from Fenian.
Mianas face softened. I like that guy.
Me too, Azrug said, handing Theo a bowl of hot soup.
Am I being taken care of like an elderly man? Theo asked,ughing. Still, he ate the soup.
Miana leaned in again, smiling. You did a good thing for Sledge. I havent seen her this happy in a long time.
Well, we had to trick her, Theo said. To take the core. I knew she wouldnt take it for freebut it was a selfish act. Were going to need lumber. Lots of it.
Cant have your producers all bummed out, Azrug said.
Youre shrewd, Theo, Miana said. I can see why Ah, nevermind. Dont you have a town to defend?
Me? No, Theo said, waving her words away as though they were a puff of smoke. I have people to do that for me.
Azrugughed.
Theo spotted Gridgen Dev, the man he assigned to find the ore in the southern hills, from across the room. He was there with his family, chatting with other townsfolk, with a smile on his face. The alchemist didnt want to inject business into this serious situation, but he hadnt seen the man in a while. He strode across the room, waving sheepishly and smiling.
Mister Mayor, Gridgen said.
Please, call me Theo.
Theo, then, Gridgen said, beaming. You know, Im very impressed with the defense you managed. How many monsters are out there?
A lot, Theo said.
I heard the weapon artifices going off, Gridgen said, gazing up at the tall window in the hall. You must have quite the budget for defense. I meanfor a small town like this, thats pretty impressive. Right, Sarna?
Gridgen was rambling. Maybe he was more nervous than he let on, or maybe he was just excited about Broken Tusks impressive defenses. It was hard to tell.
Very much so, Sarna said, shing a bright smile. Rivers hasnt invested nearly as much into their defense.
Theo thought about that for a moment before responding, looking out the window. That seemed like a foolish thing to do. They didnt have as many dungeons to worry about, but certainly they wouldnt have taken the bad upgrades offered by the towns seed core. The alchemist had been gearing his town for defense from the start, the only exception being the roads. Even those had defensive properties, allowing his adventurers to move through the city quicker than on mud roads.
There was also the expense to consider. Theo selflessly threw his own money at the town, and many citizens followed suit. The lightning turrets were a product of their collective buying power, allowing them to purchase 4 for each gate. Those very weapons needed motes for fuel, something they had in abundance down in the swamnds. He couldnt decide if it was dumb luck, fate, or his superior intuition that led him to this point, and he didnt care. People were safe.
We take the safety of our citizens seriously, Theo said. Theres simply too many dungeons to do otherwise.
Yeah. Imagine a rotating monster wave cycle from each cardinal direction, Gridgen said, receiving a swift p on the arm from his wife.
Dont curse us like that. I like it here, Sarna said.
Sorry.
Theo smiled. That would only help us. As long as we can repel the attacks, it will only make us more wealthy.
Oh, speaking of, Gridgen said. Im not so good at prospecting, but I can poke rocks with a stick.
He produced a small, greenish nugget and presented it for Theo to inspect.
[Copper Nugget]
[Metal Ore]
Quality: Perfect
A raw nugget of copper. Needs refining.
Theres a cave in the hills. A yawning maw filled with this green stuff, Gridgen said. I only found a few of these loose ones near the entrance, everything else is embedded in the stone.
Perfect, Theo said, rolling the ore over in his hand. He wasnt sure if this is how ore appeared in nature, but so many things in this world followed different logic.
Well, not sure what ns you have for a bunch of unprocessed metal. Even if you want to export it, Gridgen said. Not that Im trying to tell you how to do your Uh I also havent been paid for finding the ore.
Theo raised an eyebrow. In the future,e to myb for payment, until I can set something up. But, youre right. I need someone to do the Melting? What is it called?
Smelting, Azrug said.
Smelting, Theo said, producing a silver coin from his inventory. He handed it over to Gridgen, who looked at him in disbelief. A bonus for finding the mine.
I told you this ce would be worth it, Sarna said, snatching the coin from her husbands hands.
I wonder how expensive a smelterizer is going to be, Theo said, tapping his finger into his chin.
Smelter, Azrug corrected. Standard production seed core priceshould be around 5 gold wholesale, depending. 10 to 20 gold in the capital, 5 gold from Fenian.
Sometimes I forget you have the cores to figure that stuff out.
Well, gossip from traders helps, too, Azrug said, suddenly looking a bit sheepish. And the fact that I bother Fenian daily.
He likes us, Theo said, thinking for a moment. Although, Im not sure why. I think hes taken a loss on us, so far.
Nope, Azrug said. Even with all his free stuff, he makes out like a bandit.
Theo hummed in response. The sounds of battle outside had subsided, but were picking up again. The trollings were likely hitting the walls at this point.
I should attend to the defense, as you say, Theo said, chuckling.
Thought you had people for that, Azrug said.
Yeah, Theo said, standing up and departing without another word.
Nice working with you, mister mayor! Let me know when you have the mine core thing! Gridgen shouted.
Stop acting so needy! Sarna shouted back.
Theo left, refusing to get involved with their issues. Gridgen seemed like a meek man, while his wife was the opposite. Gods willing, shed be working the mine or the smelter when the time came. The alchemist understood nothing about the process, but the investment was minimal. 10 gold to get the operation running, and his town would have an endless supply of metal to repair itself. He didnt know if the metal was required for the towns current level, but if it was an option on the screen, hed need it eventually.
Returning to the field of battle seemed like a strange thing. The gates were intact, lending the interior of Broken Tusk an eerie quality. With empty streets, he felt cloistered behind those walls. A sense offort washed over him, even as lightning ripped through the sky. Ascending the battlements, Theo found a wee sight. His friends looked rtively fresh, despite the pitched battle. Tresks health sat near full, but the Trollings spread in disparate waves below.
The creatures looked as expected. Miniature versions of therger Trolls, scampering around to avoid the fires. They had slimy skin, oozing with some vile liquid, but still caught fire easily enough.
Theyre a lot less threatening than expected, Aarok said, noticing Theos confused look.
Bonus wave, Theo muttered, watching a Trolling catch fire, run around, then copse to the ground. I guess its not meant to be hard.
Great experience, though, Tresk said from somewhere in the shadows.
The sudden sound of his Tarahek startled him. The alchemist jumped, scurried back, then narrowed his eyes at her. Wish I could see you when you did that.
Tresk giggled.
Well, were in clean-up mode, Aarok said, leaning against the stone wall.
Any damage? Theo asked.
Minor damage, Aarok said, gesturing north. Nothing close to a breach this time.
Luras turned from the edge of the wall, smiling. With motes nearby, the weapons have been firing constantly. Theo, we need to work on the killing field.
Theo cast his eyes over that killing field, a term he didnt want to consider. He was reminded of his previous life, but this was far different than that. The targets he worked on werent armies, but individuals. The training he had received didnt work in this situation, everything except simple concepts. Lines of fire and backstops were his primary concern back then, along with the idea of coteral damage. Using bombs for his work was the easiest, even if it caused the most casualties. These thoughts fell away in an instant. The monsters werent people.
Trenches, perhaps? Theo asked.
In a swamp? Luras asked, grimacing.
Theo waved thement away. This is why I leave the defense to you.
Perhaps another wall, Aarok said.
It doesnt matter what it is, as long as were ahead of the game, Theo said. I was talking to our new citizens and they seem to think we have it under control.
Because we do, Aarok said. Especiallypared to Rivers and Daub. Well, ournd is mostly t, which is an enormous advantage. Were picking defensive upgrades, and we have a standing army.
The adventurers arent an army, Theo said.
They kinda are, Tresk said, shrugging. They all answer the call to arms. Theyre an army.
Theo frowned, but she was right.
The group discussed defensive options in-between the roaring st from the lightning gun. It was odd watching them casually discuss things while monsters surged against the walls. They settled on nothing during the hours of the bonus wave. Tresk had to leave the safety of the walls to hunt down thest Trollings, hiding somewhere in the marsh. The dust settled for a while before the system determined the siegepleted. A victory screen popped into Theos vision.
[Monster Wave]plete!
612 Monsters Destroyed!
12 gold bonus (paid to the Mayor of Broken Tusk).
Bonus for defeat wave boss:
Obtained: [Gloves of the Herbalist].
Obtained: 3 gold, 10 silver, 1 copper.
Bonus for defeating the bonus wave:
Obtained [Clothiers Seed Core]
Obtained 5 gold, 0 silver, 0 copper.
[Broken Tusk] gained new effect: [Troll ying 2].
Theo inspected the gloves, disregarding the seed core. It didnt seem very useful to him at the moment.
[Gloves of the Herbalist]
[Leather Gloves]
Umon
Scaling
Gloves granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.
Effect:
Stamina depletion reduced for each wild herb nearby.
That was a brilliant piece of gear. It was scaling, and reduced the amount of stamina he lost while harvesting herbs. His old leather gloves were worn, verging on tattered. From what the Alchemist understood about magical items, it wouldnt degrade. No matter how much he tried, theyd remain in good condition. That might not expand to people who went out adventuring, but he only intended to use them to harvest herbs.
18 gold, Theo said,ughing. Some gloves and a seed core.
I got a new bow, Luras said, his eyes going wide.
The Half-Ogre withdrew a bow from his dimensional storage, holding it out for everyone to see. It seemed like a normal wooden bow, but seams of green energy ran with the grain.
I got crap, Tresk said, frowning.
A thunderous sound came from the east, cutting their conversation short. Theo barely turned to look, expecting this turn of events.
What was that? Aarok asked. Another attack?
Nope, Theo said, looking at Tresk and smiling.
Fenian, Tresk said, finishing the Alchemists thought. That man is punctual.
Chapter 2.27: Everyone Needs a Wizard
Chapter 2.27: Everyone Needs a Wizard
Well, they didnt even breach your gate this time, Fenian said, gesturing widely.
The Elf traders carriage sat near the monolith, the ckcquer exterior catching the fading light of the day. The demonic Karatans knickered angrily, pawing at the stone ground. Theo hoped that the authentic version of the beasts wasnt so fearsome.
Aarok is an excellent tactician, Theo said.
So many gems in the swamp, Fenian said, trailing off.
Another man stepped out of the carriage, hooded in ck. What little Theo could see of his face painted him as Elvish, but the hue of his skin was strange. A deep blue gave way to streams of silver, running in long lines across the mans angr visage. He turned to the alchemist for only a moment before departing toward the Marsh Wolf Tavern.
Youve noticed my travelpanionwell, the wizard I told you about, Fenian said. Hes a strange man. Paid a premium for a promise.
Theo narrowed his eyes at the trader. Something in his words said that it wasnt a promise Fenian had to fulfill, but something the alchemist would be responsible for. He gestured toward theb, wishing to retreat away from prying eyes.
Let me know if Aarok has questions about the cleanup, Theo said.
Sure. Dont think theyre starting until tomorrow, Tresk said.
Good. Keep an eye on Fenians wizard friend, Theo said.
Already on it.
Theo and Fenian found their way to the Newt and Demon, the trader gawking at the recent addition on the side of the building.
Youve been busy, Fenian said.
Indeed. So, what did you promise him? Theo asked, opening to door to his building. The bell jingled as they crossed the threshold. The alchemist went around, lighting candles at the corners of the room.
Fenian smiled, withdrawing a core from his inventory. It was a strange-looking thing, as far as cores went. The metal mesh ball had severalyers, the center of which glowed a brilliant gold color. Theo reached out to inspect it, but the trader withdrew it, shing a devious grin.
The core is yours, if you agree to the wizards terms, Fenian said.
Theo gestured to a set of chairs, sitting in the one normally upied by Azrug.
Im getting the idea that you made a deal without my consent, Theo said.
Just so, Fenian said, taking his own seat. The wizard wants to create a tower, for research.
Theo let out a long sigh. He tilted his head back, rubbing his temples for a moment. Fenian wouldnt have agreed to anything that didnt benefit Broken Tusk. He would turn a quick coin to exploit his friends. His investment in the town was long term, and wouldnt benefit from such an action. The alchemists intuition backed this idea up.
Im assuming youre on the level, Theo said. That this is a positive thing for my town. I also assume the core you showed me is the [Governance Core].
Correct on both ounts, Fenian said, smiling. Hes a level 20 [nar Mage], which is a rare discipline. Rejected by the major guilds in Qavell, and other nations I suspect.
So, hes an outcast, Theo said.
Looking for someone to be loyal to, I think, Fenian said. Well, looking for a home, anyway. Are towers homes? It doesnt matter. He wants to study the magic here.
Is it safe? Theo asked.
Rtively, Fenian said, shrugging. Hed erect his tower out in the swamp, far from both the town and the dungeon. Thats what we agreed upon.
He paid you 50 gold, Theo said, nodding. It wasing together. Fenian traded a ce in a budding town for the coin, which would cover the cost of Theos new core.
A bit more, Fenian said. Illy it out for you simply. You want a wizard here. Youll need a wizard here, eventually. Theres no way a man like Uharis would pledge himself to your cause, and hell give you more grief than anything.
Theo shrugged, falling into his thoughts. This new wizard being a low level was a good thing. The read the alchemist got on the strange, hooded elf was good. His intuition said that he was a reclusive man, but honorable enough.
Pending an interview, Ill ept, Theo said. Youve never steered me wrong, Fenian.
Nor will I ever, Fenian said. Now
The trader withdrew the core from his inventory again, holding it out for Theo to take. The alchemist inspected it immediately, looking at the description with hungry eyes.
[Governance Core]
Legendary
Administration Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
Advanced [Administrator] core, reserved for leaders.
Innate Skills:
[Command Structure]
[Titles]
[Automatic Books]
Effects:
+2 Intelligence
I dont think Ive seen something thates with 3 skills, Theo said, shaking his head.
Well, hopefully youve saved up a skill point to get the contracts skill, Fenian said. Now, shove it in!
I dont know how, Theo said. I havent taken my cores out since I got here.
Just press it against your chest and think about it, Fenian said. The system will take care of the rest.
Theo shrugged, pressing the strange core against his chest. He felt a sensation, as though lightning was blooming in his chest. At first, the core met resistance against his flesh, but eventually it merged into him. That lightning bloomed into something greater, followed by a spike of pain. The entire eventsted only a moment before a system message popped up. His mind swam as the screen hovered in his vision.
[Governance Core] added to slot 3.
Without saying a word to Fenian, Theo inspected the 3 included skills.
[Command Structure]
Governance Skill
Rare
Allows the user to designatemand structures within a town. Ranks, names of ranks, and responsibilities can be determined dynamically. Also grants ess to tactical and non-tactical maps.
Effects:
Assignmand posts
Assignmand responsibilities
Assign ess tomand map
Assign ess tomunication system
That was absolutely useful, especially for Aarok. If it worked like Theo thought it did, he could give the guildmaster ess to a town-widemunications system and a tactical map. That would be incredibly powerful for the next monster wave.
[Titles]
Administration Skill
Common
Allows the user to give titles onndowners. This is primarily for organizational purposes.
Effect:
Grant townspeople titles
This was less impactful, but it would help him keep track of everyone.
[Automatic Books]
Governance Skill
Epic
Your finance tab will automatically popte once a day. This includes taxes owed and money earned.
Effect:
Automatically update your Governance screen once per day.
While the [Command Structure] skill was amazing, this was great in its own right. Theo hated the idea of going around and getting everyones taxes together, let alone their earnings. This gave him a clear idea of how much money they were making, and how much they owed.
This is amazing, Theo said.
Youre a real mayor, now, Fenian said.
As Theo expected, when he went to check his skills screen there was an entirely new category. There were a dozen [Governance] skills, but one caught his eye. He took it without a second thought, slotting it into his new core.
[Contracts]
Governance Skill
Epic
Allows the user to create binding contracts between parties. These parties may be individuals, or entire towns or cities. The extent of the contract is agreed upon, including duration, payment, and expectations, by both parties.
Effect:
Allows the user to track contracts like quests.
Allows the user to create contracts.
Contracts, Theo said, pping his hand on the Elfs shoulder. This is amazing. I really needed this one.
Now you can give your word and mean it, Fenian said. The price for breaking these contracts is nasty. From reporting the offending party to the capital, to sending magical beasts to collect, the results of breaking these contracts are severe.
Theo smiled even wider.
Well, Theo said, withdrawing a few of his new potions from his inventory. Shall we get down to business?
Oh, my, Fenian said, cradling a [Healing Potion] in his hands. He quickly set it down, picking up a [Lesser Healing Potion] infused with the [Web] modifier. Were going to be rich.
I hope so, Theo said. How rare are the modified potions?
Rare enough that you wont see them in a market stall, Fenian said. The [Healing Potion] and the next level [Greater Healing Potion] are easy enough to source, but nothing with modifiers. You need to know someone for those.
So, theyre all bought up by private dealers, Theo said, nodding.
Mostly the military, Fenian said with a shrug. His eyes moved over the piles of junk in the shop and he let out augh. This is the gold Azrug has been talking about. The boy has a mind for business. He needs a loremaster, though.
I wont put it past him to take a [Loremasters Core] for himself, Theo said.
He focused on the sensation in his chest. Now that he was aware that each core influenced the other, he was keen to observe its effects. The [Governance Core] was unaligned, or so he was told. His current setup sat well together, the [Tarahek Core] dominating both of his Drogramath cores.
Something on your mind? Besides business? Fenian asked.
Im thinking about my cores, and how they influence each other, Theo said. Without the Tarahek, I could have been taken over by Drogramath.
Well, the [Governance Core] holds no alignment, as far as Im aware, Fenian said, standing and moving around to room to check Azrugs goods.
Theo nodded. I assume you want to order potions.
Of course, Fenian said. The uprising is cooling down enough that people dont require as much transport. I can have buyers for whatever you make, especially modified second tier potions.
How much per potion? Theo asked.
Well, Ive never sourced them before, Fenian said, picking up a metal helmet and shrugging. Near a silver each, for modified [Healing Potions], I think. Hard to say, though.
Thebor that went into those potions was much greater than the other potions, but it would be worth it when he got the process down. Theo was in a constant battle to refine his process down to be more efficient. Throk taking the [Artificers Core] helped with that, and more people woulde.
Well, I have a wishlist of items, Theo said.
And I have several inventories filled with goods, Fenian said, grinning.
Theo stood, beckoning the trader up the stairs. The Elf let out a low whistle upon seeing the new equipment, namly the tubes going through the walls.
You found a [Fabricator]. Or an excellent mason, Fenian said.
[Fabricator], Theo said. Im starting a mining operation.
So, you need all the goodies for that, Fenian said. Right. Tell me what you need.
Theo thought for a moment before responding. He needed a lot of things, but the trade Fenian made meant he could afford it. If the alchemist had to pay the Elf for the [Governance Core] hed be out of coin and then some.
Cores for miners, smelters, a mine seed core, a smeltery seed core, a ranch seed core, and a windmill seed core, Theo said.
Miner cores are cheap, so is the mining seed core. Windmills aremon enough, and Ive kept one in my massive inventory for a while now. Surprised you havent asked sooner. The ranch can be pricey, but I have one on me, Fenian said, taking a seat near the window. Mind if I put on some tea?
Not at all, Theo said, gesturing to the tea pot and [me Artifice].
Fenian took Throks [me Artifice] in his hands, raising his brows. This isnt one of mine, he said, setting it down to start some water. I suppose I sold your cksmith an [Artificers Core], didnt I?
You did, Theo said, smiling.
Well, Ill give you 10 [Miners Cores] for a silver. Theyre just thatmon, Fenian said. He started the [me Artifice], cing the kettle on top of the me. A smelters core is half a gold, and the buildings are a gold, 5 gold, and 10 gold. The mine seed core is a gold, the smelter is 5, and the ranch is 10. Thosest two are a bit rarer, but nothing you cant afford. For the windmill I dont know, give me a gold to make it worth my time.
This might be your least profitable trip to Broken Tusk, Theo said,ughing.
I doubt that, Fenian said, grinning.
Theo and Fenian went back and forth for a while, discussing what goods the trader had on him. Along with the usual fare, he had some interesting catalysts on him. The alchemist agreed to a golds worth of [Iron Shavings], [Grave Dust], and [Ice Quartz], all of which were mentioned in Basic Drogramath Alchemy. He settled on 20 [Miners Cores], 1 [Smelters Core], 1 [Mine Seed Core], 1 [Smelter Seed Core], and 1 [Ranch Seed Core]. The total came to 17 gold, 52 silver.
The wizard seems normal, Tresk said. But, he doesnt like the soup.
I dont know if anyone likes the soup, Theo said.
Its alright, Tresk said.
So, you should be able to create a contract for our deal, Fenian said.
Right, Theo said, summoning his mayor''s menu. There were a lot more options now, confusing things that needed exploration. The alchemist ignored the new financial andmand screens to find the contracts menu. He could create a lot of different contracts, including single-term trade contracts like this.
[Theos First Contract]
Contract
Theo Spencer (Belgar) and Fenian Feintleaf agree to enter a trade contract. Theo Spencer (Belgar) shall provide an unspecified amount of potions to Fenian Feintleaf, delivered at an unspecified time.
Terms:
Any Potion (any quantity)
Timeline:
Infinite
Well, thats too vague for normal contracts, Fenian said,ughing. But, were friends. I have the choice to alter the contract and send it back to you, but Ill simply agree. Remember to make the terms of your next contract more defined. I suggest starting with your new wizard.
Good idea, Theo said.
[Fenian Feintleaf] has agreed to the terms of your contract.
Now, show me the field of battle. I didnt get to see the aftermathst timeaside from that damaged building, Fenian said.
Theo led the way out of the Newt and Demon, leading the Elf to the western wall. The adventurers were clearing out the monsters that managed to prate the walls, but the citizens were happily walking the streets. They shared smiles with the alchemist, waving excitedly. Fenian took note of the new adventurers guild hall, and the repaired damage to the western gate. Aarok stood on the road leading out through the gate, delegating tasks to several people.
Very well done,mander, Fenian said, affecting a shallow bow toward Aarok.
Thanks, Elf, Aarok said, smiling. Preparation goes a long way.
Indeed, Fenian said, casting a momentary nce to Theo. Monster waves are devilishly hard to predict.
Aarok raised an eyebrow, looking for answers from Theo. The alchemist didnt have any. He didnt know how rare the early warning crystal was, or what the implications were. The Half-Ogre responded with grace, not giving up the game.
It pays to always be prepared, Aarok said.
Just so, Fenian said. Theo, Id like to get some of that horrid soup. But first, I want to see the carnage outside.
Theo shrugged, ascending the stairs to the battlements. Fenian let out a whistle, shaking his head. They barely scratched your walls.
We were ready, Theo said.
Nothing gets past me, Theo, Fenian said, ncing to see that everyone else was out of earshot. You knew the wave wasing, down to the hour. I know what motivates you, and nothing short of an impending attack could have convinced you to produce so many fire bombs. Well, I suppose I could be wrong, but I believe you have something to warn you against the waves.
Not sure why I thought to keep that from you, Theo said, producing an unlit crystal from his inventory.
Fenian pressed his fingers against the device and nodded. Theres nothing wrong with keeping secrets. In truth, you were a fool to trust me from the start. Youre lucky Im the only honest merchant out there.
Sometimes, I wonder, Theo said, grinning.
Fenian produced a gold coin from his inventory, holding it in the air. None of that matters, my friend. This is all that matters.
Theoughed, pping the Elf on the shoulder and wheeling him around to look at the town. Broken Tusk was bathed in the light of the fading sun. The shadows of the people and the buildings stretched far, everything else bathed in the orange light of dusk.
The coin is a means, friend, Theo said, taking in a steady breath. The scent of charred flesh mingled with the natural scent of the swamp, stinging his nose. This is what matters. These people. Their happiness.
Ah, but what about your happiness? Fenian asked, leaning against the wall. Surely, that matters too.
You havent figured me out, then, Theo said, letting out a disappointed sigh. Im happy because I have my selfish little experiment. A microcosm of the real world with strong walls and coin that flows out of your ears.
You almost sound guilty about the whole affair, Fenian said, chuckling.
Guilty? Maybe I was at one point, Theo said. But I understand that my selfless desires are actually very selfish. Perhaps its my cores, or my [Wisdom], but Im pushing these people to be something theyre not. Well, they want to be what Im making them, but they dont know it.
And what are you making them, dear alchemist? Fenian asked.
Im making them amazing, Theo said, smiling. Im making them rich.
Chapter 2.28: Xolsa
Chapter 2.28: Xol''sa
Aarok dyed the cleanup of the monsters to the next day. With everything cleared from the street, there was only the matter of creating burn pits, looting the monsters, and dumping them in to be set on fire. Theo spent longer than he would have enjoyed entertaining Fenian at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. The strange, hooded wizard stood in the room''s corner, simply observing. The alchemist couldnt get a read on him, but reserved himself to make introductions the next day.
When Tresk and Theo settled down for bed, they found a massive cache of experience points waiting for the Tarahek core. Upon pressing their foreheads together, the core jumped to level 12. The alchemist slept well that night. Visions of their simple victory yed through his mind as he drifted off. He wouldnt take it for granted, only resolving to push himself harder. The promise he made to himself, to take it easy, lingered in his mind for only a moment before he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning seemed normal enough. Withdrawing the early warning crystal from his inventory, Theo discovered it was back to light green. He let out a sigh, sitting next to Tresk and taking their morning breakfast.
I need to direct the adventurers today, Theo said. To a lesser extent, anyway. Those monsters must be full of alchemical goodies.
Maybe, Tresk said with a shrug.
I also have some seed core buildings to nt today, Theo said. And alchemy to do.
Well, you got that ranch core, but no animals, Tresk said, gulping her tea down. Do that onest.
Right. I still need an agreement with the miners, Theo said.
Well, theyre not native Broken Tuskers, Tresk said, shrugging. You shouldnt give them as good of a deal as Ziz, or Perg.
I agree, Theo said. I need to makerger profits.
Still aching for independence? Tresk asked.
Yeah, Theo said. Even the stipends Qavell sends are tiny,pared to what we could make on our own.
So, what kind of split should the miners get? Tresk asked.
Theo wasnt sure what kind of split he should do. Ziz had a ny-ten split, where the stoneworker took the lions share of the money. Even with that, the alchemist made out like a bandit. It was a zero-effort venture that saw more money than he needed. He settled on a number after a moment, but it came with stiptions.
Well, I could offer them 20 percent of market value, Theo said. Since I own every stage of the production chain, I can snatch up whatever metal I need along the way.
You should also discount the metal to my dad, Tresk said, smiling. Hed like that.
Yeah, I bet hes excited. He can have it atbor cost. 20 percent of market value, Theo said. Which is likely almost nothing. Whoever gets the smelter job gets the same offer, I think. They can split everything amongst themselves.
Sounds good to me, Tresk said.
Theo had exined the extent of the contracts to Tresk already. He was already using his [Titles] skill to go through andbel everyone with their appropriate position. Before, they just sat in an extensive list. But now that the [Automatic Books] skill had run once, he could see everyones ie, profit, and taxes owed, including himself. He also yed with the [Command Structure] skill, assigning Aarok as the townsmander, and reserving the assignment of all other military posts for the Half-Ogre to take care of. Only Luras got the Captain of the Guard post.
Each new rung in themandsdder came with an automatic sry that Theo could assign. This extended to his private ventures within the town. There was a section in the towns menu that split out the alchemists businesses, including the quarry. The system could automatically withdraw money from his inventory, and pay it out to those people daily. This extended toplex forms based on percent shares, profit earned, or anybination of things. He put that off for now, focusing his mind on meeting the new wizard.
As if summoned by a thought, a gentle knock came from downstairs. Theo descended, finding the hooded man standing awkwardly at the door. When he opened it, the Elf shuffled his feet and made a formal introduction.
A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Mayor, he said, affecting a deep bow.
Theo is fine. Do you want some tea?
I would, thank you.
By the time the pair made their way upstairs, Tresk was nowhere to be found. She must have slipped out while Theo was downstairs, using her stealth abilities to get out of a long conversation. The strange Elf, if he was an Elf at all, had even stranger skin. It seemed to change based on his environment. Upon entering the building, it shifted to a lighter violet hue, the seams of color still running blue. When he finally removed his hood, a shockingly white head of hair spilled out over his shoulders.
Whats your name? Theo asked, pouring the Elf a cup of tea.
Xolsa, he said.
And where do you hail from?
I dont know, he said. That is an endless story, but Ill spare you the details. I dont know the name of my people. We are a race of extra-nar Elves, and Ive never known them.
Fair enough, Theo said. I assume your nar magic lets you know Im not from here.
It does, Xolsa said.
And you want to make a tower in the swamp, Theo said.
I do.
So, I dont have a problem with it. But there are some rules. No messing with the dungeon, no summoning monsters or whatever, and no experiments that would harm my citizens.
Thats agreeable, Xolsa said.
The man had few words to say, which Theo didnt know what to think of. He leaned in, shing a smile. So, what do you hope to aplish out here?
To study the dense magic, Xolsa said. Perhaps learn something about my people. And Your dungeontheres something strange about it.
So Ive heard, Theo said, leaning back again.
More than what you know, Xolsa said, averting his gaze. It feels tampered with.
Xolsa turned and cocked his head toward Theo. Magic has a smell. I view it as a smell. You stink of nar magic, but not just one sort. Theres another resting somewhere near you. Perhaps Perhaps in your inventory.
Theo instinctively withdrew the early warning device from his inventory, holding it out. If Xolsa found this shocking, it didnt reach his face. The Elf was wrapped up so tight, the alchemist doubted anything would bring emotion to his face. He pressed his fingers against the thing and nodded.
Thats it, Xolsa said. The magic is too powerful for me to determine its function, but it smells wrong.
Well. Then, lets extend your responsibilities, Theo said. You can have your tower, but I want your opinion on the dungeon. I also want to be able toe to you with any questions I have.
A court wizard, then, Xolsa said, the hint of a smile cracking across his face. I would enjoy that.
Theo had a read on the Elf by now. He was a lost soul without a home, something extremely familiar. The people in this world wouldnt judge someone by their race, but something like an extra-dimensional Elf might set off rms. He also thought about the hierarchy of wizards, and how things seemed so rigid. Unless someone had power, they rarely found themselves in positions that demanded it. Xolsa was a man without a home, a wizard without a cult.
Allow me to draw up a contract, Theo said, summoning his menu.
A governance core, Xolsa said, an genuine smile spreading across his face as the menu popped up.
[Broken Tusks Wizard]
Contract
Theo Spencer (Belgar) and Xolsa agree to a mutual rtionship wherein Xolsa will serve Broken Tusk as its mage. Theo Spencer (Belgar) agreed to give Xolsa all avable resources (within reason) to aplish his research tasks. Xolsa agrees to never conduct experimentation, spell craft, artificing, or any other manner of magical experimentation to harm the people of Broken Tusk. Xolsa will be given a plot ofnd outside of the incorporated area of Broken Tusk to establish his tower, far enough from both the town and the [Swamp Dungeon] to avoid damaging either.
Terms:
Xolsa shall be the sole mage for Broken Tusk, obtaining the title of Town Mage
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide a section ofnd for Xolsa to establish his tower
Xolsa will never harm the people of Broken Tusk, or her interests
Both parties agree to act in the best interest of Broken Tusk
Timeline:
Renewed every year
These terms are more than agreeable, Xolsa said, epting the menu without amending it.
[Xolsa] has agreed to the terms of your contract.
Theo went into his map screen, finding a section ofnd near the dungeon. He marked a wide swath for Xolsa to pick from, somewhere that was far enough from both the dungeon and town to avoid coteral.
Ive marked out a section of the swamp for you, somewhere with a bit of drynd, Theo said. Perhaps we can get a road out there for you.
No need, Xolsa said, waving a dismissive hand. I can establish a semi-stable portal between the town and my tower.
Semi-stable Sounds dangerous, Theo said.
It would be up to the user to determine the dangers, Xolsa said.
The entire exchange seemed agreeable. Theo didnt know what the extent of the strange Elfs powers were, but his [Wisdom] seemed to sing the mans praises. It wasnt much of a logical leap, though. Xolsa needed a home, and who wouldnt want a wizard?
Well, I have business to attend to, Theo said, gesturing for the door.
Xolsa finished his tea, setting down the cup and reaching a hand out to shake.
Id like you to tour the tower when it grows, Xolsa said. Sometime tomorrow, I think.
Id love to, Theo said, shaking the Elfs hand.
Xolsa left theb without another word, and Theo ryed the events to Tresk. She liked him, which was rare. She was spiky about outsiders at the best of times, and outright hostile at other times. If the Marshling approved of someone who wasnt from the town, theyd make a good fit.
Before leaving theb, the alchemist set about some simple tasks. With the three valves on the holding tanks opened, he set up a distition run for the three restoration essences. With therge long-term storage tanks outside, hed be able to run the stills on a timer and go about his business in the town. Hepleted the process quickly, thanks to his [Alchemical Grinders], and his fancy new timers.
Theo found his way to the assembling adventurers, his mind wandering back to hisb as he waited. There was a lot of experimentation to do, specifically with refining modifier essences. He wanted to run those essences through his pressure vessel, allowing him to apply the modifiers to his second tier potions. The process required testing, something he intended to get to today. Those modified potions would be worth a fortune, and the tier after that would be even more expensive.
Were ready to go, Aarok said after a while.
The gates were raised and the adventurers assembled outside, waiting for Theo to inspect the dead monsters. The fields of dead were rotting, disgusting things. He held his nose as he went through the dead, finding a goblin and taking a moment for inspecting. His senses said that the beast had something alchemical in it, but he couldnt be sure. With his knife in hand, he poked at the monsters body. His mind twinged, urging him to check the mouth.
A simple cutter and Theo found his prize, although he wouldnt care to repeat the process again.
[Goblin Tongue]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
The tongue of a Goblin. Its disgusting.
Properties:
[Insatiable Hunger] ???? ????
For the goblins, go for the tongue, Theo announced, cing the item in his inventory and grimacing. As vile as that is.
Theos senses said there was nothing else on the Goblin, although he had his doubts. It was like that the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] simply wasnt high enough to detect more advanced reagents. He moved on to the equally ugly Trollings. This one was easy. The monster was covered in gore, something the alchemists senses yearned for. He removed an empty vial from his inventory and scooped some of the blood up, nodding to himself.
[Troll Blood]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
The blood of a troll. Known for its restorative properties, it is extremely vtile.
Properties:
[Searing Regeneration] ???? ????
Ill bring vials to collect the blood, Theo said. But, the Trolls will produce [Troll Blood]. Easy enough.
Theo repeated the process for some time, moving among the dead with the adventurers to find more treasures. It was to no avail, though. The wolves held no reagents, and he couldnt discover anything new from the fallen monsters. Satisfied with his attempt, he returned to theb and produced an absurd number of vials, returning to the adventurers to pass them out. He let out a sigh of relief when he was done, his mind itching for more experimentation.
Both Luras and Aarok apanied him through the gate, the guildmaster clearly having something on his mind.
I got the notification that you set me as amander, Aarok said.
And Im the Captain of the Guard, Luras said,ughing.
I got my [Governance Core] yesterday, Theo said, smiling.
They followed him as he trudged a path over the cobbles, eager to share in the excitement of the new cores abilities.
It gave me a few new abilities, Aarok said. I can make announcements to the townthey should get a system message.
We can also designate squads, and give them their own tactical maps, Luras said, chuckling. Theo, that core is worth it for those abilities alone.
It better be worth it, Theo said. It would have cost 50 gold if not for Fenians deal.
What deal? Aarok said, stopping.
Theo refused to stop, simply moving along and reciting the story of Xolsa the strange [nar Mage]. The pair seemed reluctant to be excited for a mage in the town, but the alchemist soothed their concerns.
I imagine most great towns have a wizard, Theo said.
Usually, Aarok admitted.
And I want Broken Tusk to be a powerful town, Theo said. The reasoning was simple. The Half-Ogres had to let go of their preconceived notions of mages for progress to ur. Meet the man before you judge him. I gave him permission for his tower, you can find him in the swamp.
Aarok and Luras trailed Theo for a while, like children following their parents. The alchemist wanted to indulge their curiosity, but the monster wave took more out of his schedule than he would have liked. He made a mental list of the things he needed to do, which boiled down to 2 items. The farmers problem had only been solved for their current farming setup, but they needed to expand. This led him to thinking about the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] he nted at the edge of the gravel yard. They needed tending. Then, there was the problem of refined modifier essences, which only testing could solve.
Theo returned to hisb, finding Azrug and Fenian talking excitedly in the shop. He pushed past them without a word, heading to clean out his fermentation barrels. The alchemist got into the habit of annotating Basic Drogramath Alchemy in the old Drogramathi script, to add the things that were missing. The section on refining modifiers was almost entirely missing, only having a few footnotes that wouldnt serve him. There was also ack of emphasis on the quality of essences produced, which would require further experimentation. He had a suspicion it had to do with which catalysts were used during the refining process for the pressure vessel, and the motes with the fermentation barrels.
The fires beneath the stills still burned strong, the sound of the bubbling mash filling theb. Theo threw open the window and took a deep breath. Before moving forward with his experimentation, he needed to set a baseline. Until now, he was operating under the assumption that second tier potions couldnt be mixed with first tier modifiers. The alchemist took a vial of [Surge] modifier essence, and a [Healing Potion] in hand, marching out to the gravel yard. He passed by his massive holding tanks and grinned, they were currently filling up with valuable essence. He flushed the system of his pressure vessel, bottling the small amount of [Refined Fire Essence] from before the siege. There simply wasnt enough time to check it out, before then.
[Refined Fire Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Purity: 45%
50 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of fire, used in the creation of fire bombs.
The quality wascking, as expected. Theo mentally shrugged it off, moving to the center of the gravel yard and cing the [Healing Potion] down. He crouched near it, angling his body so he could sprint away the moment he introduced the modifier. The moment the modifier essence fell into the healing potion, it boiled. The alchemist ran, tripping over his own feet and holding his hands over his head. His experiment issued a minor explosion, not even shattering the ss vial. But, it confirmed his suspicions about thepatibility of the potions with their lower tier counterparts.
Theo had a small amount of [Surge] modifier left, somewhere around 50 units. He ced it in his pressure vessel and set it to work, inserting [Copper Shavings] for the catalyst. While he had new catalysts from Fenian, it wasnt the time to stretch his experimentation. Good alchemy was done one step at a time, recording everything and retesting for uracy. This wasnt an issue with the first tier potions, but things were getting more dangerous.
Instead of returning to theb, Theo made his way to the small garden of [Spiny Swamp Thistle]. All but 1 had died since he checkedst, withering away in the suboptimal conditions. The one that remained had grownrger, but underwent no additional changes. The alchemist rolled the problem over in his mind. His use of the [Lesser Potion of Growth] monsterized the nt, but that potion had to be the key. He inspected the growth potion once again, observing several things.
[Lesser Potion of Growth]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.
Effect:
Affect the [Growth] property on any living thing.
It was a standard, drinkable potion. Usually, he would rely on potions that he considered detergents to apply effects to the world around him. He had several examples in recent memory, including the [Alchemic Soil Enhancer]. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core], on the verge of hitting level 12, whispered into his heart. Theo was missing something. There was an element of the potion that wasnt there, and adding that element would remedy the problem.
What could it be, ol Droggie? Theo asked of the empty air.
That innate knowledge sitting in his chest urged him to a solution. There was something that could stabilize the potion, converting it into a world-effect detergent. The next logical leap was easy. It felt like getting the answers to a test just by looking at the question, thebination of his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], [Drogramath Herbalism Core], and his [Wisdom]ing together to produce one simple answer. There was a modifier that would convert the potion, allowing him to apply the growth potion to the nts.
Time to ferment, Theo said, nodding to himself.
Chapter 2.29: Dont Panic
Chapter 2.29: Don''t Panic
Theo paced in hisb, withdrawing and rejecting another reagent from his inventory. He had gone through all of his stores without luck. His intuition whispered vaguely that the things hed looked at werent what he needed. Rifling through the scatter of cabs within theb, the alchemist found something that would fit the bill. Tresk had a small store of [Swamp Onions] in a drawer, all in different states of decay. He picked one up and examined it for the first time in a long time.
[Swamp Onion]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Umon
Swamp Onions grow near the mossy embankmentsmon in the marsh. They blend in with local flora, and can be extremely difficult to spot.
Properties:
[Stench] ???? ????
Something about the [Stench] property spoke to him. Theo scooped the entire cache of onions into his inventory, transporting them to his first fermentation barrel. He added the vegetables and an [Earth Mote], returning the lid and standing back with satisfaction. As he stood there, a strange system window popped into the center of his vision. He hadnt seen it before, butughed when he read the text.
[Aarok]: This is a test of Broken Tusks new message system. Dont panic.
The best way to keep people from panicking was to tell them not to do so. The timers on all three stills clicked off, the hissing of the condensers trailing off after a moment. Theo cleaned them out with his [Cleansing Scrub] and moved to check his stores, only to find a mostly-empty [Dimensional Storage Crate]. Hed been neglecting his herb gathering, and the adventurers guild still hadnt filled his [Fire Smander Egg] order. He stood, taking another deep breath of the strange mingle of scents before going downstairs. It was an opportunity to experiment with the local flora some more.
Fenian caught his attention before he had time to escape.
Theo, these monsters are dropping good equipment, Fenian said, smiling. Have you dug through these piles yet?
The alchemist had paid little attention to the piles at all. They were things that got in his way when he was trying to get up to theb, but now he realized he should have been digging through them.
I have seen no alchemy-specific gear, Azrug said, shrugging. Its allbat stuff.
Well, look at the man, Fenian said, gesturing to Theo. Hes as likely to fall over as take a sure step. Are you wearing pants under there? A shirt?
Theo pulled at the hem of his robe, pulling it up to reveal the threadbare shirt and cks he got when he arrived in Broken Tusk. Fenian tutted with disappointment, searching through a pile of clothes to produce a pair of cks and a shirt. They were both made of a white, cotton-like material, but were of the same design as his current set.
Put those on No! Not in here, you savage, Fenian said, cackling. Inspect them, first.
[Pants of the Dexterous]
[Cloth Pants]
Rare
Scaling
Magical pants, granting the user a bonus to dexterity.
Effect:
+2 Dexterity
[Shirt of the Dexterous]
[Cloth Shirt]
Rare
Scaling
Magical shirt, granting the user a bonus to dexterity.
Effect:
+1 Dexterity
Theos mind went back to his fumbling sprint back in the gravel yard, minutes ago. He was at the base score for [Dexterity], allowing him to move well enough without constantly tripping. If it was any lower than 5, he was sure hed stumble with every step. The alchemist retreated to theb to change, feeling a rush flood through his body. At 8 dexterity, he felt only marginally more nimble. The thresholds for stats that he knew about were at 10 and 20, but a +3 increase was more than nothing. He returned down the stairs, smiling.
I should have thought about that, Theo said.
Me too, Azrug said.
Well, Im going to make my rounds through town, Fenian said. Ill see you before I depart, Theo.
Alright. Take it easy, Theo said.
Fenian paused at the door, turning to grin. I dont think I will.
Azrugughed, shaking his head. He turned to Theo once the trader was gone. At least the monster wave was easy.
Theo didnt know if it was easy, but it went as nned. Xolsas words yed through his mind, but he wanted to ignore them for now. He knew there was something wrong with the dungeon, that much was obvious. The adventurers reports said it had slowed its growth, but by how much? In the alchemists mind, the key was to keep moving forward. There was no sense in dwelling on something he couldnt change, let alone something so out of his reach.
Well be even better prepared for the next one, Theo said.
Aarok showed me his fancy new title, Azrug said, shuffling his feet. Can I have a title?
Im going to give everyone a title for their station, but I havent done it yet, Theo said. The military aspect is the important part, for now.
Right, Azrug said. Well, I made some good money from Fenian. He didnt want most of this stuff, but there were some gems.
Wheres that [Loremaster] of yours? Didnt you say you summoned one? Theo asked.
I did, but Im not sure where they are, Azrug said with a shrug.
The roads just cleared, Theo said. Give them time.
Theo and Azrug exchanged more pleasantries for a moment, the alchemist remembering not to let work consume him. It would be easy enough to shrug the young shopkeeper off, but he really enjoyed their conversations. He reflected on the changes that young man went through already, rising to pursue exactly what he wanted to do. That enduring spirit was reflecting in all Broken Tuskers. They were hard people that worked harder than anyone the alchemist had ever known.
Theo left the Newt and Demon, finding his way south to the recent development of houses near Mianas. He located Gridgen and Sarnas house and knocked, standing outside to appreciate the quality of the seed core buildings. Eventually, a woman appeared at the door. She smiled and Gasem, her son, darted out the door and onto the cobbled streets.
Hes a handful, Sarna said, managing a weak smile.
I wouldnt know, Theo said with a grin. Gridgen found a cave in the hills, didnt he?
Yes, he did, Sarna said, exiting the building to pursue her child. She snatched him up, which he found immensely funny, and returned to the alchemists side. He told me the location and everything, but hes busy with the cleanup effort.
Ah. Would you care to apany me to the mine site? Theo asked.
With this? Sarna said, adjusting the child on her hip.
Both Sarna and Gridgen were two heads shorter than Theo, bearing the stature of Humans. With the alchemists enhanced strength and size, he took the child from the woman and rested him easily on his hip. Gasem didnt seem to enjoy the process, shying away from him and casting a worried look at his mother.
Well, that works, Sarna said, grinning. She started walking southward, happy to have the child away for a moment. Its not far, just at the foot of the hills.
Theo walked the cobbled path with her, using the trip as an excuse to inspect the nts that grew to the south. Hed picked most of the dry areas of Broken Tusk clean many times over, except the south. The group moved beyond the southern gate, something the alchemist wasntfortable with. He left the confines of the city on rare asions, usually venturing to the east to plunder the river. His senses prickled and he held up a hand.
Whats the problem? Sarna asked.
Just a moment, Theo said.
The alchemist could simply buy thend to the south, but he wanted to inspect the prospective mine first.
Are you above ground? Theo asked.
Im cleaning up corpses, Tresk said, sounding disgusted. So, yeah.
Mind shadowing me at the southern gate? Im leaving the walls, Theo said.
Oh, heck yeah, Tresk said.
What are we waiting for? Sarna asked.
Theo exined briefly his fears about monsters outside of the gates. It was a relevant threat, seeing as the monster wave just finished. The alchemist didnt know what kind of trouble theyd stir up with the local monsters, especially considering they had so many around them. Sarna seemed to understand his worries, looking at her child on his hip.
The baby will never rece me, Tresk said.
I guess that means youre here, Theo said,ughing into her mind.
I am. You are safe, little alchemist.
Right, Theo said, pushing south toward the hills. My Tarahek is apanying us in the shadows, just in case.
Tarahek? Sarna asked.
Theo forgot that not everyone was from the soutnds. Even among those in Broken Tusk, no one had seen a true Tarahek in centuries. Luras mentioned his grandfather saying that he knew someone that had done it, but that was it. There was no modern example of the bond in the town, except for Tresk and Theos. He exined the process briefly.
Its like a fake marriage, Sarna said, giggling.
Theo didnt rise at the rudement. He saw the bond as a sacred thing, something that transcended marriage. But, he understood people had different views. Not everyone wanted to swear off romance for the rest of their lives, even if he did.
Its a powerful bond, a voice came from the shadows. We have strong powers,dy.
Sarna startled, clutching her chest and failing to spot the Marshling. So, the sneaky one is yours.
Yeah, thats my sneaky Marshling, Theo said. She gets bonuses for attacking from stealth, so I think shell remain hidden for the time being.
Good idea, Sarna said.
The hike into the hills wasnt as bad as the rise to the north. It was gentle, and the round hills that rose were covered in grasses. Theo plucked 2 new herbs hed inspectter, but his eyes were focused on the crests of the hills. For all his fears, they werent attacked on the way there. They found Gridgens cave and inspected the entrance.
Yeah, I guess this is it, Sarna said. She watched Gasem on Theos hip, smiling. The boy was getting used to the Dronon, even if his appearance was fearsome.
Ill check the inside, Tresk said.
Theo withdrew the [Mine Seed Core] and ced it near the rocky entrance of the cave. The seed refused to prate the stone, a system message appearing in his vision.
Cannot ce [Mine Seed Core] until all monsters are cleared from the cave.
Theo didnt need to tell Tresk that there were monsters in there. A shrieking sound echoed off the walls, filling the hills with a horrid sound.
Theres a lot of monsters in here, Tresk said. I dont know if I can clear them all.
Theo noticed the worried look on Sarnas face. He patted Gasem on the back and turned away from the cave, returning the seed core to his inventory.
Were going to need to clear the cave, first, Theo said. Lets go back to town while Tresk works.
Good idea, Sarna said, scampering fearfully to his side.
Theo summoned his mayors screen, tabbing over to the tactical screen. As they walked the hills, he inspected the options. He could issue a call to arms for the adventurers, pinning a ce on the map to summon them.
How many other adventurers do you need? Theo asked.
Two? Maybe? Better send three, Tresk said.
Theo clicked on a few buttons, selecting a dropdown that requested 3 adventurers from the town. There were a ton of options, including creating a quest with the adventurers guild, setting a bounty on the monsters, and other useful things. He sent the message out just as they returned through the southern gate. Before they reached Sarnas house, he spotted 3 adventurers sprinting over the cobbled streets.
So, Theo said, setting young Gasem down near their house. Do you want to be a smelter, or a miner?
Are those monsters going toe back once you clear the cave? Sarna asked.
I doubt it, Theo said. I think once I set the seed core, they wont respawn.
Then it doesnt matter to me, Sarna said. If Im meant to work, I just need somewhere to put my kid during the day.
Theos brow furrowed. He hadnt considered child care for his new arrivals. No one popped into his mind for the job and he let out a heavy sigh.
Well, thats another problem to solve, Theo said. I need to check interest within the town. To see if anyone wants childcare for their children.
Childcare? Sarna asked, raising an eyebrow. Gasem busied himself with a slimy rock, immediately shoving it in his mouth.
The concept of daycare didnt exist in this world, but he should have guessed that. If they followed the medieval concepts, which seemed to be the theme, there would be wet nurses. It was impossible to be sure, but it brought up another question for the town. Was this meant to be some haven where everyone could drop their kids off at a daycare for free? Or should he let them all simply sort themselves out. Education was another question lingering in his mind. Did it really matter to make children smarter if they could just ce points in [Intelligence] when they got their cores? Theos mind swirled with too many questions, leading him back to his original thought. He needed to take a survey.
Well, that leads me to a question, Theo said. Would you like to drop Gasem off at daycare? A ce where someone else would watch him so you could work?
Sarna thought for a long moment. She pressed her index finger into her chin and hummed.
I suppose that would be nice, Sarna said. Ive never heard of such a thing, though.
Right. Im going to ask around to the other people with kids. See what they think, Theo said.
Sarna shrugged. It would be nice to have a break, she said in a small voice.
Theo pped his hand on her shoulder and smiled. I have some experimentation to do, but well talk to the others about it.
Theo and Sarna exchanged their good-byes, and he inspected the 2 new reagents hed harvested. The first was a cluster of flowers, pulsing with a gentle blue light. They didnt look poisonous, and the alchemists senses said they were fine to taste, so he did. It had almost no vor, what little that came through tasting slightly like rosewater.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Mages Bane] by eating it.
[Absorb Magic] discovered.
[Mages Bane]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
A flower with anti-magic properties.
Properties:
[Resist Magic] [Absorb Magic] ????
This was a reagent that could be useful, or useless. Without a potion to judge it by, he wouldnt be able to tell. Theo also couldnt predict what kind of essence modifier this would produce. The alchemist shrugged, producing the other reagent and turning it over in his fingers. It looked like a hard blueberry, almost the color of stone. As he took a bit, the vor of chipped rocks flooded through his mouth, making him gag. He swallowed the dusty thing, receiving a message for his efforts.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Roc Berries] by eating it.
[Retreat] discovered.
[Roc Berries]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Umon
A berry that grows in mossy hills.
Properties:
[Feather] [Retreat] ????
Even though the [Rock Berries] were listed as food, they tasted far worse than the [Mages Bane]. The properties that came with the berries were almost imprable. Theo couldnt even think of what either would do, but shrugged it off.
To Theos surprise, he received reports about the adventurers progress in the cave. It gave him updates on how many monsters theyd kill, but not what the monsters were or how many remained. He was counting on the system informing him when it was clear, though. Then, he could give the signal to Tresk that theyd taken care of everything within.
Theo returned to theb and checked his fermentation, finding that it was almost done. He made several notes in Basic Drogramath Alchemy before cleaning his stills and prepping them for another run. Today was a day he could enjoy. One filled with alchemy and progress.
Chapter 2.30: Horrible Demon Dog Cave
Chapter 2.30: Horrible Demon Dog Cave
Theo left the distilled essences for the day. He intended to make good on that promise to himself, but he couldnt sit idle. Instead of dashing around theb, trying to get as much done in the time he had left, he moved at a leisurely pace. The scent of the fermenting [Swamp Onions] filled theb, stinging his eyes. Even the open window did little to wash the smell out of the air, leaving it hanging there like a miasma. The distition of that mash was even worse. The moment the condenser dripped the first drops of essence, tears formed in the corners of the alchemists eyes.
Were almost done clearing the dungeon, Tresk said. Were finding some weird monsters. Dogs that walk upright. Theyve got tentacles, too.
Thats disgusting, Theo said.
While he waited, Theo inspected his mayors screen to assess the cost of owning the southern hills. Currently, Broken Tusk expanded 200 paces south of Pergs tannery. A single expansion to the south wasnt enough, bringing the incorporated part of town just shy of the mines location. The mine sat on his map now, an ubeled red pin nestled among the hills. Expanding it by one section cost him 5 gold, then the next cost 8 gold. He swallowed hard as he agreed to the menus request, watching as his funds dwindled. 8 gold, 67 silver, and 52 copper left.
The ground rocked under his feet as the expansion took ce. Theo regretted not sending out a message before he did that. Townspeople were likely freaking out, assuming another monster wave was on the way. The alchemist navigated the new, confusing screen to find a section for town announcements. It took a while of digging, but he knew it was there. Aaroks announcement earlier was proof of that. The Half-Ogre had ess to a simplified version of the mayors screen, including a fancy tactical map.
[Theo]: I just expanded the town. Were not under attack.
Theo frowned as soon as he sent it, shaking his head. At least he didnt say dont panic.
Should I panic? Tresk asked.
No, I just expanded the town. Did you read the message?
Yeah, I read it. Some of it. As long as were not under attack.
Theo pressed his hand against the hot sk collecting the modifier essence.
[Aerosolize]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
15 units (liquid)
When the ss this potion is contained within shatters, a cloud of gas will emerge. The potions effect will be greatly diminished, based on the size of the cloud, applying that effect to all targets within the cloud.
He wasnt sure if this would work, but it was better than nothing. The description said it diminished the effects of a potion, which might be the key. If the nt he experimented on received too much [Lesser Potion of Growth], it could have monsterized. This was all theorization, though. There was only one sure way to know for sure.
Theo transferred the growth potion into a more fragile vial before adding the [Aerosolize] modifier to a [Lesser Potion of Growth], watching a thick cloud of yellow gas emerge from the vial, then get sucked back in. The potion took on that putrid hue, but the smell diminished. That did little for the stench that had seeped into the pores of the wood, and the fabric of the alchemists clothes. He spent some time sprinkling [Cleansing Scrub] around theb and himself, scouring the smell away to leave a pleasant berry scent. He inspected the modified potion before heading outside.
[Lesser Potion of Growth]
[Aerosolize]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.
Effect (modified):
Break this vial to apply a diminished [Growth] effect over an area. Area and strength depend on potion quality and rank.
The sun fell in the west, casting long shadows across the town. Theo had two experiments to run before the day was done. The first was to apply only part of an unmodified [Lesser Potion of Growth] to his nt, something his instincts said wouldnt work. For a potion to take effect, most of the contents needed to be imbibed. That needed more experimentation, but it was a task for another time. The second experiment hed run today was simple. Throw the modified growth potion at his healthy [Spiny Swamp Thistle] and observe the reaction.
The expected result of using part of a [Lesser Potion of Growth] was failure. The expected result from his aerosolized potion was unknown.
Theo approached his lone nt, crouching nearby but preparing to run. With his increased [Dexterity], he wasnt sure if he wouldnt fall on his face. While he felt more nimble, it wouldnt be enough if the monster could free itself from the ground. The alchemist leveled the vial of [Lesser Potion of Growth] and let a single drop fall on the spiny leaves of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle]. Nothing happened, as expected. He poured half the contents of the vial, exactly 1 unit, onto the nt to no effect. Before proceeding with the next phase, he inspected the vial. The contents swirled for a moment, turning a sludge-brown color and thickening.
[Inert Potion]
[Junk]
Common
Created by: Belgar
This potion has been measured incorrectly. It is now useless.
Thats one mystery solved, Theo said.
With a tangential theory confirmed, he moved on to the main experiment. The alchemist took the modified [Lesser Potion of Growth] in hand and stepped back, judging the distance he could throw urately. He furrowed his brow, picking up a stone from the gravel yard and throwing it as hard as he could. It tumbled through the air, falling ten paces away. Theo adjusted his distance from the nt, getting ufortably close and hoisting the potion. In one, jerky motion, the potion missed by arge margin.
Well, dang, Theo said, watching the potion hit a full pace from its target.
The distance didnt matter, though. Theo watched as the vial shattered, green smoke billowing from the point of impact. It rolled over the ground like a creeping fog, enveloping the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] and the gravel yard itself. A thought crossed through the alchemists mind at that point. The gravel yard had been a ce where he disposed of countless failed experiments. Until fire licked at the soles of his shoes, he hadnt considered the possibility of a reaction. Without his new [Dexterity], his scramble across the yard would have ended in disaster.
Is that fire? Tresk asked.
Theo fell on the soft ground, watching as a pir of me rose from the gravel yard. Shards of the hard stone cut at his face, peppering everything around him as a tornado of fire emerged. It raged for a moment, licking at the boughs of the nearby trees, before flickering out. As quickly as the reaction happened, it ended.
No need to worry, Theo said. Just experimentation.
You lost health! Tresk said. Ive never seen your health bar go that low!
Theo took a moment to look at his interface. The Marshling was right, he was missing a quarter of his health bar. Looking down, he spotted the source of the issue. Arge chunk of gravel had wedged itself into toros, near his left shoulder. Only now did he notice the pain, radiating in dull waves through his body. It was the first time hed been injured sinceing to Broken Tusk, and the entire ordeal was strange.
Oh, I got smacked by a rock, Theo lied, ying down the severity of the injury. So, why doesnt it hurt?
I dunno, youre a weird guy. Maybe you like getting hurt, Tresk said. Maybe [Wisdom] mitigates pain.
Theo shrugged it off, pulling a [Lesser Healing Potion] from his inventory. He held the vial in his hand, peering through the red liquid. The alchemist had made thousands of potions by now. Countless people benefited from the healing properties contained within that 2-unit vial. He downed it in one gulp, eyes going wide as the elixir went to work. Therge gash in his shoulder stitched itself together in a single heartbeat, the pain vanishing just as quick. The blood soaking into his robes vaporized, forming a dense red mist that drifted with the wind. His health bar returned to full, and he grinned.
A small crater sat in the middle of the gravel yard, but the nt was unharmed. The green fog hadnt even been washed away by the force of the fire tornado, but it was dissipating. Theo kept clear of the fog until it vanishedpletely, moving to get a better view on his nt. As he approached it, a voice boomed from behind him.
Could you at least use the announcement system if youre going to blow stuff up? Aarok bellowed.
Oops, Theo said, navigating to his menu.
[Theo]: Nothing to worry about. Just blowing stuff up at the Newt and Demon.
Yeah, bitte, Aarok said,ughing.
Theo simply smiled in response, turning to look at his [Spiny Swamp Thistle]. It took little observation to know when a nt grew to twice its previous size. He looked at a few notification windows that had umted during the excitement.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (1%).
[Drogramath Herbalism Core] receivedexperience (1%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
Interestingly, his herbalism core got some experience from that. It was an interaction with a nt, so that made sense. Theos eyes rolled over the area behind hisb. Suddenly, he had the urge to upgrade hisb and take the [Experimentation Room] upgrade. His intuition said it would be a safe way to dispose of old potions, and he wanted to rece the gravel yard with a small garden.
So, thats interesting, Theo said, kneeling to dig up his [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. I found a way to grow nts without turning them into monsters.
I saw you also poached some of my adventurers, Aarok said, folding his arms.
Its a short job, Theo said, waving him away. They should already be done with their task.
What was the job?
They cleared out a mine to the south, Theo said.
In the hills? I didnt know there was a mine there.
Its a cave, currently, Theo said.
No caves, either, Aarok said.
Theo rose, hoisting his prize in the air. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] had grown four-times its normal size.
Nice root, Aarok said.
It is, thank you. The cave wasnt there before I arrived, Theo said. Thats my theory. Perfect quality stone in the north, an endless supply of reagents here in the swamp, and perfect quality metal in the south. Does lumber have quality? I never inspected the raw lumber Sledge makesthose are perfect quality, too. Id put a gold coin on it.
And youd be right, Aarok said, shifting ufortably. What does it all mean?
Thats a question no one can answer, Theo said, shrugging. What would you do, if you were me? Would you run away from this ce, scared of the implications?
Id dig in harder. Id do exactly what youre doing. Exploiting all these resources to reinforce the town, Aarok said, smiling.
Theo simply smiled, feeling that warmth of friendship spread through his chest. He inspected his new [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], gawking as the interface had changed.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]
Common
This [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.
Cultivation:
30%
Unit by volume:
4 units
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] ????
Oh, wow, Theo said. I didnt see thating.
What?
Theo exined the screen he saw, continuing to talk about the implications, so, instead of 1 unit, it produces 4 units. If I cultivate these to be better, theyll produce even more at a higher quality.
So, you need a garden, Aarok said. Mind if I make a suggestion?
Sure.
Get your miners to clear this area before you send them off to mine, Aarok said. You got the farmers so busy, I doubt theyll havebor to spare.
A task for another day, Theo said, cing the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] in his inventory. Tresk should be done soon. Should we get some food?
She is done, Tresks voice came from behind. Theo spun on the spot, his heart skipping a beat as she appeared from his shadow.
Youre going to give me a heart attack, one day, Theo said, clutching his chest.
Tresk extended her arms, opening and closing her hands repeatedly. Forehead.
Theo leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. They got 10% of their Tarahek level from that one forehead press. Normally it ranged from 1% to 5% daily, but they were working together a lot. That action of cooperation sent it skyrocketing more than anything else, and the alchemist needed to find more ways to instigate the bonus.
You should have dinner at the guildhall, Aarok said. Xam cooks for us almost every night.
Doesnt she have a tavern to run? Theo asked.
Aarok simply shrugged. I got my hands on some salt, and actual vegetables.
Yes, were going, Tresk said, nodding.
I still havent made salt, Theo said, following Aaroks path around the Newt and Demon.
He hadnt honestly tried to create salt yet. So many things kepting up that he couldnt split his concentration on, leaving him focused on very few things. The separation of base elements in raw ingredients was a way off for him. He knew that. The alchemist would need a way to alchemically break matter down. It was a far-off dream.
What do you expect? Its been so busy, Tresk said, walking close to her Tarahek. Oh! We named the cave.
You and the other adventurers? Theo asked.
Yeah. Horrible Demon Dog Cave, Tresk said, smiling.
I dont think so, Theo said.
You killed them, right? Aarok asked. Why not Dead Dog Cave.
Thats much better, Theo said.
Fine, but its under protest, Tresk said.
Theo opened his menu as they walked, stumbling a few times as the screen obscured his vision. He named the pin Dead Dog Cave. By the time they arrived at the Adventurers Guild, he was starting to get hungry. The scent of something cooking within didnt help matters. It wafted on the air, something different than he was used to. The scent of savory meat was there, but other enticing smells lingered with them. When the door swung open, he saw Xam working something that looked like a massive wok.
What is she making? Theo asked, trying to get a look at the mix of meat and vegetables.
Meaty veggie things, Tresk said.
As Theo approached the Half-Ogre woman, he saw it was something like stir-fry. Shed jumbled vegetables and meat together with some sauce and was flicking the wok furiously, rolling the contents over themselves. The alchemist bit back ament to Xam, a thought about her horrid cooking until now. The food she was making her looked delicious, unlike her unappetizing perpetual stew.
Theo thought of something more constructive to say. Have you thought about getting a cooking core?
It was just an assumption that such a core existed, but it was logical.
Well, if you want to fund it Ill be more than happy, Xam said.
As if summoned, either by the words ofmerce or the pleasant smell of the food, Fenian entered the building. Every time the man appeared with a new hat, Theo couldnt help but think of the lead Karatan in his driving team. Galflower had a taste for hats, apparently.
I see everyone has smelled this wonderful dish. How do you do it, Xam? Fenian asked.
With care, Xam said, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. She turned the fire down, scooping out a bowl for Fenian to have first.
You have any cooking cores she could have? Tresk asked, pushing her way to the front of the vague line that was forming.
Oh, my, Fenian said, cing his hand on his chest. You dont have any cooking cores? And youve managed to create such a wonderful dish. No, we cant have that.
The Elf trader withdrew a core from his inventory, handing it over freely. Theo didnt get a good look at it, but he knew it wasnt worth much. While the gesture was appreciated, Fenian wouldnt lose much money on that one. There were a slew ofmon cores that went for almost nothing, only costing a few silver. All the same, Xams face lit up.
Why hasnt she bought the core before? Theo asked.
Shes too proud, Tresk said. Even with her tavern doing alright, funds are still tight for her.
Well, that sucks, Theo said, feeling a pang of guilt for having another blind spot.
The alchemist managed to shake the feeling off and grab a bowl of the food. It was much like all the food made in Broken Tusk. The Half-Ogres and Marshlings alike enjoyed simplicity in their cooking. Theo couldnt ce the vegetables, but there were three distinct vors, even when all the textures blended together. It was savory, if not a little too salty. The highlight of the meal was the meat, as it always was. It was cooked to perfection, almost melting in his mouth as he ate.
As Tresk and Theo made their way back to the Newt and Demon, they reflected on how rxing of an evening it had been. They were both exhausted, but it was worth it. Progress came easilytely, but there were many roadblocks in their way. Sleep was stolen from the alchemist as hey in bed, though. While Tresks snores filled the room, he peeked under his covers at the early warning crystal. It glowed brightly in the dark. A slow, yellow pulse.
Chapter 2.31: I Aint Going Through No Portal!
Chapter 2.31: I Ain''t Going Through No Portal!
What? Tresk asked.
The Marshling had pilfered two extra servings of Xams strange stir-fry. She set the bowls out on the table, peering out of the window with suspicious eyes. The bowls were still steaming hot, a benefit of their shared inventory. Theo dug into his idly, rolling his mind of the possibilities. The next monster wave should be a few days off, not imminent. With thest wave finishing only 2 days ago, it felt way too soon. Whats worse, the crystal had shifted to a slightly darker color sincest night.
Highest on the suspect list? That dang wizard, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at Theo. Never trust a wizard, Theo.
Theo leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath. He doubted the level 20 [nar Mage] could do much to harm the dungeon, or instigate a monster wave. If any spell caster were to me, it would be Uharis. The Archmage of the Burning Eye arrived right before the monster wave, even providing the alchemist with a means to detect it. That was suspicious, but hardly proof. Theo would point to himself as the cause of the issue before anyone else, his knowledge of such magic severelycking.
Maybe, Theo concluded with a shrug. Seems like starting a monster wave hurts his cause, though. Xolsa wants a ce to live, away from the cults.
Im distrustful of anything I cant stab, Tresk said. If it doesnt bleed, how can you understand it?
Thats fair enough, Theo said, sipping his moss tea. Instead of worrying about the cause of the problem, we should worry about bolstering our defenses.
Yeah, Fenian is still in town. Buy some guns, Tresk said.
Im broke, Theo said, withdrawing all 8 gold coins from his inventory.
Tresk grinned, reaching into her dimensional sack and cing a pile of gold on the table. By Theos count, there were nearly 30 gold coins in the stack. She had been hoarding gold, but it wasnt a surprise. The adventurers were making a lot of money from the monster waves, receiving a simr bonus per wave. The alchemist didnt want to think about it, but the waves were generating an absurd amount of revenue.
Everyone is getting rich, huh? Theo asked.
The alchemist summoned his mayors screen, tabbing over to the financial tab and sorting everyone by money earned. Theo was on the top, although his ie was almost equal to his expenditures. Aarok came second, although the interface made a note about the money belonging to the adventurers guild. Tresk came next, and a gulf separated the top earners with the rest of the town. Even Zizs stoneworking businessgged them,ing in at 20-some gold for thest 30-day period.
Not that rich, I guess, Theo said.
Rich enough to get new guns, Tresk said.
The pair sat there, theorizing to no end about the source of the problem. Theo was reserved that they would never understand, but Tresk pinned the me on everyone she could. She listed off gods that might be at fault, but none of that lined up with what the alchemist understood. Their conversation was cut short when a system message jumped into the middle of their vision.
[Aarok]: Theo report to the square.
At least he didnt say not to panic, Theo said.
Need an escort? Tresk asked.
Theo felt a twinge in his mind that he might need her des. Despite the message appearing in text, containing no emotional information from Aarok, he knew something was up. They departed from the Newt and Demon immediately, making their way to the square. The alchemists newbination of slightly increased [Vigor] and [Dexterity] saw him up the hill quicker than ever. He couldnt hope to keep Tresks pace, but she stuck to shadow-jumping, anyway.
In the distance, near the ck monolith marking the center of town, Theo spotted a shimmer of light. A silver portal rested near the square, pulsing with a powerful light. The edges of the thing were a defined line of silver, but the center was pitch ck.
Portal, Aarok said, pointing at the portal with his bow in hand. Appeared a few moments ago.
Where panic would seize most people, Theo had an excellent memory. Xolsas words about creating a means of transportation between his tower and the town came back clearly. The alchemist held up a calming hand.
Thatll be our new wizard, Theo said.
I told you wizards were no good, Tresk said from the shadows.
The portal shimmered. The pitch ck at the center of the thing solidified, giving the observers a view of a buildings interior. While the image was flickering and shimmering like the surface of water, Theo could make out some details. The strange, extra-nar Elf stood on the other side of the portal, waving his arms and muttering something. A momentter, he stepped through, emerging onto the cobbles with shaking legs.
Forgive me, mayor, Xolsa said, bowing deeply. I would very much enjoy yourpany at my towerI have something urgent to discuss.
Theo appreciated the mans discretion. Others in the group might not have noticed the slight quaver in the Elfs voice, but the alchemist noticed. There was an urgency that couldnt be exined by excitement for ones tower.
Tresk, lets go, Theo said.
I aint going through no portal! Tresk said, appearing from the darkness.
Its safe, Xolsa said.
Theo didnt know about that. The Elf had told him it wasnt entirely safe in the past, but this was urgent. Without another word, Xolsa disappeared through the floating, shimmering pool and the alchemist followed. It felt like stepping under a waterfall, a cold sensation rushing over his head to cover his entire body in chills. The effect of suddenly traveling into the tower was disorientating, and he fell to the ground in a heap. Tresk followed shortly after, tumbling over him and striking the stone floor with a curse. The center of the portal returned to deep ck, barring passage for any others.
Wee to my tower, Xolsa said, experiencing none of the disorientation. Wee to grave news and bad omens.
A cheery wee, Theo said, rising to his feet.
Apany me to the towers roof, Xolsa said, gesturing to a set of winding stairs. They worked their way up the edge of the tower, snaking through a floor directly above them. While the base of the tower bore a stone floor, every floor after that had wooden floors.
The group ascended the stairs, Tresk and Theo on shaking legs. Each floor held something different, something interesting. Magical equipment, endless curios and trophies, and even alchemy equipment that the alchemist recognized the function of. When they finally reached the roof, the view was breathtaking. They were far enough away from Broken Tusk that Theo couldnt spot it on the horizon.
Ive never been this far into the swamp, Theo said, casting his gaze over the strangendscape. He immediately spotted the dungeon in the distance, a rise of strange stone in the middle of a watery patch.
Wow, nice tower. For an evil wizard, Tresk said.
Im not evil, Xolsa said, wounded.
She doesnt trust magic, I guess, Theo said.
Just so, Xolsa said, waving his hand.
An array of magical diagrams appeared in the air, tracing the circle of the tower and surrounding them. Theo couldnt understand anything written in the air, the floating red text striking an imposing image. He just let his eyes wander over the scene, awestruck.
This is us, Xolsa said, pointing at a circle with some inscriptions around the edges.
If you say so, Tresk said with a shrug.
Ah. Right. You dont understand magical-nar theory, Xolsa said. I apologize. The diagrams you see represent magical influences in the world. My tower lights up like a beacon.
Theo could see it now. The circle Xolsa gestured to wasrger than most of the others. It stood out as though it had a vor all its own. His eyes were drawn to another circle, seemingly off in the distance. It was a different shade of red, with a significantly moreplex pattern. The Elf noticed his attention to detail.
Youve spotted it, Xolsa said. Something is wrong.
I may have seen it, but I dont know what it is.
With a touch, Xolsa brought the strange circle closer. Every other circle shifted to make way for that one, pushing to the side and crowding the edges of the tower. The Elf swiped his hands and it grew evenrger. It wasnt just one circle, but concentric circles crammed in together. The more he zoomed, the more details came into view until an even stranger circle was visible. It was blue,pared to the red of the other circles, and absurdlyplex. It had its own nested rings, creating a tapestry of infiniteplexity.
Your dungeon has been tampered with, Xolsa said.
By a powerful mage? Tresk asked, leaning in to scowl at the circle. Maybe one from the Burning Eye?
Xolsa looked shocked by the promation. His normally cid face twisted into surprise. Unless youre referring to a mage bordering on the edge of godhood, no.
Thisplicated circle is an addition, Theo said, pointing at the offending diagram. I mean, thats obvious.
It is, Xolsa said, shrugging. Despite theplexity of the arcanenguages, theyre easy enough to understand.
I dont see it, Tresk said, frowning.
Cut to the issue, Theo said, waving Tresks concerns away. What is that thing doing to my dungeon?
Withdraw the crystal from your inventory, Xolsa said.
Theo saw no reason not to, pulling the now-orange thing from his inventory. He winced at the new color.
ording to the crystal, were a day away from another attack, Xolsa said, prodding a symbol in the air. The crystal pulsed in response. Do you understand?
Theo did understand, although he didnt want to. He thought the early warning crystal was an ambient thing, collecting magical information from the air and rying it. A different picture entered his mind now. The crystal was connected directly to the dungeons magic, reading the information directly. The implications were massive, even if he didnt want to consider them.
Thats an addition to the dungeons wave timer, Theo said.
Exactly, Xolsa said. You catch on quickly.
I still dont get it, Tresk said.
Just wait, Ill exin, Xolsa said. Someone of great power altered the dungeons magical instructions. No one does this. To change the nature of a dungeon is a task. You mentioned another mage, Marshling. What level was he?
80, Theo said.
Not even close, Xolsa said, shaking his head. A mortal would need to push to beyond level 200 to even think of tampering with a dungeon like this. Imagine a healer of nthier approaching a wounded Human, casting their healing spell, and changing them into a Half-Ogre. Thats the level ofplexity were talking about.
So, do you understand it? Theo asked.
As much as any mage my level, Xolsa said.
A new theory formed in Theos mind. Uharis wasnt acting out of malice or stupidity. In the Archmages eyes, it was a mercy. To pull the veil over their eyes, preventing them from seeing the true nature of their dungeon was out of pity. The nail in the coffin of that theory was the early warning crystal. Perhaps he didnt want them to know how doomed they were, or perhaps he knew they could turn this curse into a fortune.
So, were just going to have a monster wave every 3 days? Theo asked, shrugging.
Hey! That sucks! Tresk shouted.
Calm down, Marshling, Xolsa said, holding up his hand. He zoomed in on a section of the offending circle and pointed at a series of symbols. I cant work with most of this webwork, but theres some that fall into my peoples domain.
Theo wished he didnt have such keen intuition. Xolsa was a nar mage, something the alchemist could extrapte. That meant the offending string of symbols were rted to things outside of this ne of reality. The Elf was connected to thisthe offending change must have felt like a wound to the nature of the world.
Something tampered with the dungeon, Theo started, letting his thoughtse together as he spoke. To draw power from another ne, or to send instructions from another newhatever it is, its affecting the wave timer.
I would ce a gold coin that your intuitiones from your cores, Mayor, Xolsa said. Drogramath is legendary for tampering where he shouldnt.
Theo doubted that. Drogramath seemed to pride himself on the Old Drogramathi script, not arcane scribbles. He wouldnt raise this issue with the Elf, though. This was a magic far outside of the alchemists reach.
What can be done? Theo asked.
Yeah, how do we fix it? Tresk asked. She was clearly feeling left out of the conversation.
The symbols you see here are representations of reality, Xolsa said with a shrug. Theyre not whats actually happening, just something visual to look at. I can create an array of magical beacons to stabilize this additional rune. I am, as you might guess, the single expert on the topic alive today.
Theo leaned against the wall, the crashing sense of confluence entering his mind once again. So many people were drawn to one spot with absurdly particr skills.
Is it hard to do? Tresk asked. Do you need anything from us?
It is simple, Xolsa admitted. As a [nar Mage], I can see that webwork of magic. I see it everywhere. Even when I close my eyes, I see the damned web.
Theo sensed a sore subject there and wouldnt press. He could put enough together to understand the mans pain and the implications of his core.
You cant take your core out, can you? Theo asked.
I would die, Xolsa said with a shrug. My people arent meant to live in this world, so the system created a way for me to survive. A curse and a blessing.
Maybe theres an alchemical solution to your problem, Tresk said.
Maybe. Until then, I simply need your permission to begin my work, Xolsa said, brightening up considerably. I admit. When I spotted the problem, I set up the array without hesitation. I havent slept, but the array ispleted. It only needs activation.
You have my permission, Theo said.
Theo and Tresk lingered on the roof for some time while Xolsa went downstairs. The alchemist wanted to drink in the swamp''s vor from a safe vantage point, spotting groups of monsters roaming through the marsh. The Marshling giggled when a wolf-riding Goblin got too close to the tower, receiving arge fireball to the face. Magic tingled through the air after a while, stinging their skin and sparkling across the swamp. The Elf returned with a smile on his face.
Easy enough, Xolsa said. The array seems stable.
The Elf gestured, and the magical diagrams zoomed, centering back on the intruder. Only a few characters had changed, pulsing gently.
That is all the change we need, Xolsa said. Ill adjust the array, but this requires testing. Ive dyed the monster wave by some time.
Good, Theo said, nodding. Something came into his mind that he couldnt push away. Why didnt you just portal here? Why did Fenian bring you?
Ah, Xolsa said. An academic question. The range is quite poor, and I need a [Mages Tower] to cast the spell.
Makes sense, Tresk said with a shrug.
Speaking on that topic, Xolsa said. Ill operate the portal daily for the adventurers. The distance from here to the dungeon is shorter than from town."
Thats very kind of you, Theo said.
Its the least I can do, Xolsa said. My findings are interesting enough to make the trip worth it. A day of experimentation in this ce has brought me a trove of information.
Xolsa gave Tresk and Theo a brief tour of his tower. Most of what he said made little sense to them, but they appreciated the gesture. Even the alchemy equipment the Elf used was strange. It condensed reagents into small gems that were used as catalysts for spells. The alchemist saw little use for this process in his form of alchemy. Perhaps one day he would be at a level where the method made sense, but for the time being, it was unusable.
He ended the tour by showing off the wards at the edge of the tower. They functioned like the defensive emcements on the towns walls, but had many drawbacks. The rate of fire was significantly decreased, and Xolsa had to be present to operate them manually. ording to him, he had a sense for everything around the tower. Only when he gave the mentalmand would the weapons fire, otherwise he relied on a heavy stone wall that ran around the perimeter of the tower. The section of drynd Theo found him was nice, even with the oppressive humidity of the swamp.
My hope is that whatever fears youve had by my settling here have been banished, Xolsa said, cing his hand on the heavy metal gate that lead out from the tower. Ive searched for so long for a ce like this. The energy in the air is almost intoxicating. Some lingering miasma from your transition, I think. That requires quite a bit of study.
Well, thanks for the tour, Theo said, shaking the Elfs hand. We should get back to town. I bet the militia is assembled at the portal.
Very well, Xolsa said, bowing. Please remember to inform the adventurers of the portal.
Thanks.
Theo and Tresk took the portal, emerging on the other side in a heap once again.
Maybe hes not evil, Tresk said, standing and falling again.
I dont think he is, Tresk, Theo said.
Chapter 2.32: Tradition
Chapter 2.32: Tradition
The air seemed to hang heavy in Aaroks cramped office. The sun shone outside, not showing the regr storms that gued the town during the Season of Blooms. Theo rested his head on his hand, leaning over a wide desk as watched those assembled before him. Aarok, Luras, Tresk, and Theo all sat in that stuffy room, discussing the events.
Youre certain it wasnt Uharis? Luras asked.
Not really, Theo said with a shrug. That doesnt matter. A [nar Mage] was delivered into myp Isnt that curious?
Isnt everything curious about you? Aarok asked with a shake of his massive head. If you question the random crap that happens around you, youll be walking in circles all day.
Theo is grateful for the help, Tresk said, cing a hand on the alchemists shoulder. Were just concerned.
Theo appreciated the use of the term we. He was feeling less like a single entity and more like part of a wholetely. With every level of the Tarahek, he felt closer with hispanion. Their moods were tangled together, a constant fight for bnce.
Do we know how long the wave was dyed for? Luras asked, moving to look out the window.
No clue. That leads us to another problem, Theo said. If the dys are too long, it could be a bad thing.
Because those waves are awesome, Tresk said with a nod. The experience bonus is crazy. And the loot!
Always a mind for money, Aarok said. At least we can breathe for a moment.
Speaking of, Theo said, summoning his mayors screen. Aaroks tally of gear from the monster wave wasntplete. The number kept rising at a steady pace. What ns do you have for the wave cash?
Wave cash? Luras asked, snorting augh.
Unless you need it, I n on cing it in reserve for the guild, Aarok said.
Thats fine, Theo said. Cash reserves are a good idea.
A gentle knock came from the door. Tresks daggers were out in a heartbeat, then she vanished as quickly as they whispered from their sheaths. A momentter, Fenian came through the door with a smile on his face.
Hopefully, Im not interrupting, he said.
Of course you are, Aarok said, puffing up. What do you need, trader?
My vacation is over, Fenian said. Im taking from everyone.
I could use a few things, Luras said, casting a weary expression at Theo.
Theo pointed a finger at Aarok, nodding. Pay for whatever he needs. Out of the Adventurers Guild fund.
Aarok shrugged. Alright, but Im setting a limit. The guild cant blow 20 gold on one purchase.
Theo pulled Fenian aside before leaving the guild. As expected, the trader knew someone who dealt in Karatans. ording to the Elf, the creatures were of the strongest pedigree in thend, but didnt have a price on hand. The alchemist departed with Tresk, leaving the three men to their dealings while he considered all his unfinished business. When he spotted Miana on the street outside, he was surprised she didnt rush him. The ex-mayor was being patient with him, waiting for him to be ready to nt the ranchs seed core.
Tresk apanied him further south than he expected, watching as she kept close to him. With a smile, he patted her on the head.
You dont need to shadow me, Theo said.
Yet, you keep getting into trouble, Tresk said, pressing her finger into her chin. Curious.
I wont leave the walls today, Theo said.
Well, Im leaving my travel powers off cooldown. In case I have toe dashing back to town at a moments notice, Tresk said, beckoning him down to her level. She pressed her forehead against his and vanished on the spot.
Theo worked his way south, picking up Gridgen Dev along the way. With Dead Dog Cave cleared out, the alchemist should be able to ce the seed core for the mine. The soon-to-be-miner took some initiative,missioning pickaxes and shovels from Throk.
Right. Hopefully nothing has respawned, Theo said, approaching the cave.
The alchemist ced the seed core near the mouth of the cave, smiling as it took root. He fed it the appropriate amount of [Monster Cores], causing the roots to snake out and grab onto the entrance. In a sh, beams of timber inserted themselves into the entrance, creating a threshold for the mine. Theo inspected it.
[Mine]
[Dead Dog Mine]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 days
Ore Type:
Copper
????
????
????
Ore Quality: Perfect
Expansions:
None
Wow. Dont know if Ive ever seen one go up, Gridgen said,ughing. This is great.
Right. Now we need to discuss the terms of your contract, Theo said.
Oh, uh Anything would be nice, Gridgen said. Just enough for the family, you know?
Theo wished the man was more assertive, but summoned his contract interface and wrote something up with mentalmands.
[Dead Dog Mine]
Contract
Gridgen Dev shall be the leader of the Dead Dog mining team. He will be responsible for the operation of the mine and recruitment of its miners. Theo Spencer will supply materials and upgrades for the operation of the mine. Gridgen Dev may recruit as many people as he likes to work the mine, but his split of the profits remain the same.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) promises to pay 20% of all potential profits based on market rate. The 20% sum is to be distributed by Gridgen Dev however he sees fit.
Terms:
Gridgen Dev will work the Dead Dog mine no less than 3 days per week.
Gridgen Dev will be responsible for all workers within Dead Dog Mine.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will supply materials as needed to work Dead Dog Mine.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide for the safety of the workers within Dead Dog Mine.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide upgrades at a reasonable rate for Dead Dog Mine.
Timeline:
Renewed every year
Wow, thatsprehensive, Gridgen said with a nervous chuckle. He read for a moment before speaking again. What does potential profits mean?
I may use the metal for other purposes, Theo said. So I want to make sure youre paid for what you mine.
Oh, alright. So, were getting paid per nugget?
Basically, Theo said, shrugging.
If you could adjust one thing for me, Gridgen said, managing a weak smile. The contract says that Ill be working the mine. Could you amend that to say the mine will be worked?
Theo amended the contract, changing it to state that someone under Gridgensmand would work the mine 3 days per week. The Human epted the terms of the contract after that, shing a bright smile at the alchemist and shaking his hand.
This is great, Gridgen said. Now I just need workers.
Theo withdrew all 10 [Miners Cores] from his inventory and handed them over to the man. Ill provide everyone with these cores, but you can hold on to them for now. I also need someone working at the smelter, but you need to be at the mine.
Works for me, Gridgen said with a shrug. I imagine the smelter will be a lot less work.
Ill be honest with you, Gridgen, Theo said, letting out a breath. He looked over the mine, a grin spreading across his face. Im feeling my way through this.
Well, I have a suggestion for you, Gridgen said. He swelled with pride. Smelting operations rely on high input. Ive worked the mines near Falling Pass. We were a 100 worker operation working with 2 other mines, feeding into a single smelter.
Theo nodded. Once again, he found himself to be the one without vital information. He took a moment to appreciate how important Gridgen was to his operation. From what he said before, he wasnt a miner by trade but aborer. This meant he was simply hauling things from one ce to the other, or doing odd-jobs. But he was still on the inside of a massive mining operation that the alchemist could only hope to match.
Theo withdrew the [Smelters Core] from his inventory and handed it over. Find me someone to run the smelter. If thats you, or someone else, I dont care. Once youve found them, Ill draw up a contract for them. If I find someone for the job, Ill bring them to you.
Sounds good to me, Gridgen said, taking the core. When should we mine?
As soon as possible, Theo said. First, help me ce the [Smelter Seed Core].
Gridgen took to the task with excitement. Theos instinct was to ce the smelter as close to the mine as possible, but the man corrected him.
Youre assuming everyone has an inventory power, Gridgen said. Theres going to be times when yourborers have to move this stuff by hand. You want to ce it half-way between the mine and town.
Theo nodded, deferring to the mans wisdom. He found a spot next to the newly-ced road and nted the seed core. It took less [Monster Cores] to root than expected, forming a massive stone structure with an attached workshop. The workshop housed a pitch-ck crucible, but no automatic fire generation methods. His intuition said that whatever heat his current [me Artifice] could generate wasnt enough. Throk had proven himself a capable person for inventing new things, so he wasnt worried. Aside from the immediate ipleteness of the smelter, he had no ore to smelt, anyway.
Right. Start mining, if you can, Theo said. Im an errand boy today, so I need to take care of some other things.
Alright. Well, thanks for setting me up, Gridgen said, smiling.
Theo left the man to his work, finding his way behind the Newt and Demon. The crater in the center of the gravel yard was an eyesore, but he didnt have the time to work on that today. Before working on Mianas problem, he set about clearing a small section ofnd for a garden. He transnted 10 [Spiny Swamp Thistle] nts, burning them in alchemically enriched dirt and taking a few mental notes. Most of the nts looked healthy enough, and he even received some experience in his [Drogramath Herbalism Core]. Something about the cultivation process seemed off, though.
The alchemist knew very little about growing nts. On Earth, everything was dead. His mind drifted back to the book nts of the Swamnds, a tome resting somewhere in hisb. He made his way back to theb, stopping to chat with Azrug before ascending the steps and snatching the book. It was a simple thing written in the low Qavelli script, something designed for everyone to read. It was light on theory, but had a small section about nt cultivation near the back.
There were, ording to the book, methods to breed specific traits on nts that carried reagents. The only method it suggested was selective breeding, which was easy enough to understand. Most nts could be regrown from their parts, carrying over those desired traits. Theo understood that concept easily enough and had to extrapte that information to mean he could use alchemy to speed up the process. So, he was looking to take a sample of nts and extract their best qualities by forcing their growth over a short period. Keep the strong ones and cull the weak.
Easy enough, Theo said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Theo would let those 10 nts settle outside, making sure they took proper root. Then, hed apply his modified [Lesser potion of Growth] and inspect the results. That only left finding out how to make the nt grow another version of itself. This was a problem for the farmers to solve, and a good excuse to check in on his investment there.
Theo made his way to the farm for a quick stop. Banu seemed excited to see him. It was easy to see why. Every field was packed with Zee, the kernels weighing heavily on the endless stalks. As instructed, Banu kept a field near the north end of the farm fallow, ready to receive the [Windmill Seed Core].
Im nearly out of your magical potion, Banu said, letting out a low chuckle. I have concerns with the stuff, but its going well so far.
What are your concerns? Theo asked, leading the Half-Ogre down the road toward the empty field.
Mostly about how this changes thend over time, Banu said.
Theo rarely took the time to think about those things, often to his detriment. He had to assume that, in a ce where magic ran rampant, soaking the earth in potions wasnt a bad thing. But, his mind went back to the explosion in his gravel yard and he let out a breath.
I wont presume to tell you how to run your farm, Theo said.
Thest time he was at Banus farm, he was giving orders, not taking suggestions. It was something he regretted, as the advice of experts had guided him in recent times.
Ah, well, I appreciate that, Banu said, sounding nervous. I was thinking about rotating the fields with your potion, keeping a few natural.
Good idea, Theo said, noting the look of surprise in Banus eyes. If youre making flour for export, I dont really care. I just want more exports.
I understand, Banu said, stopping at the edge of the empty field. Theo stopped with him. We just have a way of doing things heremethods weve used for hundreds of years. Seems like youre stomping on tradition.
Theo felt that one in his heart. He never intended to crush an ancient way of living. He could rationalize it all he wanted, but thats what hed done. There seemed to be two sides to the alchemists life. That of his own interests and that of others, constantly pulling against each other. On his side was alchemy, something that could kick-start these peoples lives. On the other was tradition, and a solid way of doing things. Broken Tusk existed for hundreds of years before he arrived, doing things that worked. Even with a town stuck at level 1, they did it.
Im reserved to the fact that Im not the smartest person here, Theo said, nodding to himself. We need more Zee, but if youre worried about the soil, you can handle it however you want.
Ill decide on something, Banu said, smiling. I want to see the mill first.
Well, Theo said, approaching the empty field. He ced the [Windmill Seed Core] on the ground and watched the roots sprout forth. The good thing is that youre on a pretty high hill. If this thing doesnt run off of magic, youll get a stiff breeze.
He almost didnt have enough [Monster Cores] to get the thing up and running. Most of the cores that dropped during the monster wave went to the adventurers, but hed pilfered a few. When the windmill finally took shape, it was smaller than he expected. It was made of the same sturdy stone that made up all the seed core buildings within Broken Tusk. Therge de started turning immediately and the pair ducked inside to watch a shaft spin, turning arge millstone. Arge lever on the side controlled the height, and as Theo presumed, the coarseness of the grind.
Well, thats a fancy machine, Banu said,ughing. Even without your alchemy, this thing is a boon. Do you know how much myborersined about using the qern?
I bet that was fun, Theo said with a chuckle. Hand milling that huge corn.
So, how do we do this? Banu asked. Its mynd, but your mill.
Use it freely, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. As far as the farm goes, I just want more food for export and use within the town.
Theo didnt want to describe a scenario he imagined where Broken Tusk was under perpetual siege. An eternal attack wouldnt be bad if the things that attacked were edible, but theyd received waves filled with Goblins and Trolls. An internal source of food was the way to go. This would push them one step closer to being reliant on the things that were within these safe walls.
I appreciate it, Banu said with a nod.
We can work out somethingter if need be. I have some experiments to run on my herbalism. More ways to improve the growing process, Theo said.
I cant wait, Banu said. As long as I have the freedom to keep doing it how my parents did, I dont mind.
One thing before I go, Theo said.
He produced the cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory, presenting it for the veteran farmer to see.
I need to Uh Make more of these grow, Theo said.
Banu let out augh, taking the root from Theo for a moment. Youre talking about propagation. Yeah, I understand its not that obvious. With roots like this, you just need to cut off a section, leave it in a cool dark ce for a while and wait for it to chit.
Chit?
Yeah, itll grow little sprouts. Then you can nt it, Banu said, grinning. Well, Im d I know more than you about something.
Thanks, Banu, Theo said, retrieving his root.
He said his farewells and departed. He took the southern ramp from the farmers rise, aiming to head into the newly purchased area between the farm and the river to the east. The tract ofnd was massive, but mostly empty. It was a rocky prairie filled with many grasses that a Karatan might love to eat. The alchemist knew little about those strange creatures and hoped he could get information about them as he went.
While Theos senses might not be as sharp as the adventurers in Broken Tusk, they were sharp enough to know when someone was following him across an open field. He found his way to the edge of the river and waited for the person to arrive. They trudged across the terrain, bearing a sheepish smile on their face. When Miana Kell finally sauntered up to him, he returned the smile.
Right. Lets nt this ranch, Theo said.
Chapter 2.33: Mianas Ranch
Chapter 2.33: Miana''s Ranch
To an outside observer, Miana Kell looked like a tiger whose pride had been wounded. Sharp ws removed and deadly teeth plucked from her mouth. She stood as a calm, patient person. To Theo, this was her natural state. The spiky parts of her personality were a coping mechanism, created to deal with the reality of being without cores. This woman, standing before him with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face, was the real Miana Kell.
This is a wide tract ofnd for this operation, Miana said.
Maybe, Theo said. My n is to incorporate most of thisnd, anyway.
Theo gestured to the wall, which had centered the eastern gate along a path exiting town. That path led to the bridge which spanned the river, giving travelers ess to the dirt road that ran north-south. From this point, Broken Tusk was visible atop a gentle rise, the farmers hill even more obvious. The sum of every life within his town was represented by plumes of smoke and the asional shout of a voice.
Well, I secured my core, Miana said, producing the thing from her pocket.
Are you afraid to slot it? Theo asked.
Theo I didnt have the interface until a few weeks ago, Miana said.
Theo nodded. Youre scared, which is understandable. Youve lived without the system for so long, its going to be weird.
Which is why Im waiting to put this thing in my chest, Miana said, regarding the pulsing orb with a scornful expression.
Theo nodded, finding a decent spot to ce the [Ranch Seed Core]. Unlike most seed core cements, this one came with its own interface. It allowed him to rotate the cement of the building, allowing him to position the long fence in whatever direction he wanted. He settled on the only logical cement, with the front of the building facing the river, and therge paddock ranging off to the west. The core took root, but the alchemist quickly realized he was fresh out of [Monster Cores].
Miana noticed the look on his face, swinging a rugged bag around and dropping it on the ground. [Monster Cores] rolled out onto the ground. Ive been holding onto these for a while.
The pair shoved the cores into the seed until they sated the hungry thing. It took more than most, but not nearly as many as the Adventurers Guild. The roots shot from the ground, wrapping around themselves to form a small farmhouse. It was made in the style of Broken Tusk, with wide stones stacked and magically mortared. The roof was steeply sloped, with a brick chimney. Springing up from the ground next to the house was a massive barn made of fitted wooden ts and painted a tasteful red. Where the houses roof was steep, this one was shallow,plete with a loft. The barn had an entrance on either side, the eastern side leading out into the open and the western leading into the massive paddock.
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Governance Core] leveled up! Level 2.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (0.66%).
Theo dismissed the notification as soon as it came, turning his attention back to Miana and the ranch.
I guess I live here now, Miana said with a chuckle.
The house section of the ranch wasrger than her current home, so Theo considered it an upgrade. The alchemist assigned Miana as the rancher before inspecting the building.
[Ranch]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Rancher: Miana Kell
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 days
Animals:
None
Expansions:
None
It was nothing special, but a start. The biggest thing missing was the animal, but that woulde in time. Theo didnt want to think about the transportation of the Karatan, and hoped there would be some magical means of conveyance to get them to his town.
Well, its not much, Theo said. So, we need toe to an agreement on how youll get paid.
Mianas smile shifted, a painful expression washing over her face. I thought we agreed. I was just going to live here and take care of the animals.
And starve to death while youre at it, Theo said, shaking his head. No, I dont think so. Ill draw up a simple contract if youre so insistent on being destitute. 10 percent of the market value on everything produced.
Theo, thats too much.
I really dont know if it is, Miana, Theo said. The products we make could sell for 5 copper for all I know. Ill set a shorter renegotiation period on this contract just in case.
Theo ignored whatever other protests she had, moving into his contracts screen and drawing something simple up. He didnt want to spend much time on this, preferring to get back to his alchemy and nt experiments.
[Mianas Ranch]
Contract
Miana Kell agrees to run Theo Spencers (Belgars) ranch. This includes all daily operations that are vital to the sess of the ranch. Miana Kell will be paid 10% of the value of every item created, harvested, or gathered on the ranch. Theo Spencer (Belgar) will be responsible for maintenance, upkeep, and the purchasing of animals.
Terms:
Miana Kell will run the ranch to the best of her ability.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) agrees to pay Miana Kell 10% of the market value of all goods created, harvested, or gathered on the ranch.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) agrees to maintain the ranch and purchase all animals necessary for its operation.
Timeline:
Renew monthly.
Wow. This looks so official, Miana said with a nervous chuckle. What happens if I dont hold my end up?
I think magical beasts are sent to tear you limb from limb, Theo said, grinning. I have a feeling the punishment is up to the person creating the contract. So, in your case nothing should happen. This is just so we have our agreement set in stone.
Miana shrugged, epting the terms of the contract. Shed be a fool not to, even at 10% the ranch was likely to make a lot of money. It didnt take a genius to understand that, despite what he said to her earlier. He could extrapte the fact that things grew faster in the swamp. The alchemist could also afford to dump [Monster Cores] into the ranch, elevating it above a reasonable station. He could buy the best upgrades for the ce, ensuring its sess.
So, figure out what you can do with that [Ranchers Core], Theo said. We can upgrade it, if we need to.
Theo, Miana said, pulling him into a tight hug. Thanks.
Theo patted her on the back. Dont worry about it.
Theo left the ranch feeling good about himself. If he took the path that most people would have, the one where he shunned Miana for her initial attitude, he would have lost a valuable member of the town. Instead, his kindness and understanding transformed her into a productive member, someone determined to see the sess of Broken Tusk through. He ryed the story to Tresk, who seemed excited. She was running the dungeon with Xolsa today, which was surprising.
I didnt know he was interested in delving that dungeon, Theo said.
Hes doing all these experiments, Tresk said. Really slowing down my pace.
Well, just give him space to do what he needs, Theo said.
I am! He just ate a random mushroom. That was disgusting, Tresk said.
On a whim, the alchemist checked their shared inventory. He mostly didnt concern himself with it, only using his own inventory and letting her have free reign of the Tarahek inventory. It was filled with junk. Pieces of furniture, scrap metal, and several magical items that wouldnt be useful for anyone.
Heughed, pushing aside those thoughts to make a mental n for his alchemy. On the top of his priorities list was to create potions that would impress Fenian. That led him to the conclusion that he absolutely needed to figure out the second tier essence modifiers. Theos intuition told him it was only a matter of putting the modifiers into his pressure vessel under the correct conditions, but hed been too busy until then.
Theo chatted with Azrug for a while. The shopkeeper produced a small pile of gold, perhaps 20 pieces in all. The alchemist collected what potions werent used for the siege and handed them over before helping him stock the shelves.
No bombs, right? Azrug said, letting out a low whistle. Well, I can get by for a while on a thousand potions.
Plus all your junk, Theo said, gesturing vaguely to the entire shop. Where is that [Loremaster], anyway?
No clue, Azrug said. Its hard to get word outside of Broken Tusk as it is. I asked a trader to pass along a message and I never heard back.
Well, keep doing what youre doing, Theo said.
Yeah, I mean, Azrug said, hoisting a crate from his inventory. I got these from Fenian, so at least I can tidy up the shop.
The shopkeeper set the [Dimensional Storage Crate] behind the counter before withdrawing five more identical ones.
Thatll help with organization, Theo said, nodding. While he wasnt married to the idea of a clean shop, it would be nice to walk a straight path up to hisb. So, this business model Your n is to take all profits from the shop and buy more stuff, right?
Yeah, thats the idea, Azrug said. Im just going to buy a [Loremasters Core] at this rate.
Well, that depends on how fast youre leveling, Theo said.
Im almost level 6, Azrug said.
Theos brow knit tightly, then rxed. It made sense when he thought about it. Azrug was constantly buying and selling stuff, talking to traders to share information, and giving advice about the cost of items. The alchemist noticed a simr thing with his [Governance Core], although hed been ignoring the constant pop-ups. As he thought about it, a trickle of governance experience came in.
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.1%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (0.033%).
It was the smallest amount of experience hed seen so far, but it was constant. Any action he took in the town caused it to tick up, but something like nting the ranchs seed core made a bigger difference.
Things seem to slow down after level 10, Theo said, recognizing the understatement of his words. His progress was cial,pared to how fast he made it to 10. While his alchemy and herbalism cores were teetering on the edge of level 12, they were still a ways off.
Theos mind wandered and he excused himself after a moment, heading up to theb intent on tending to his fermentations. With his stores dwindling, he was left with few options for modifiers to ferment. The one thing he always had in stock was [Moss Nettle], as he used it for his morning tea. With a shrug, he prepared 3 barrels to receive 200 units of the moss each. It wasnt time for experimentation, so he kept the motes the same and withdrew the cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory.
Banu imed the root would grow sprouts, eventually. Theo doubted it would do so within his inventory, and found a small corner of theb to ce the root. He withdrew a piece of parchment and wrote a note in the Low Qavelli script, warning Tresk against eating it. The Marshling had a habit of shoving anything she found into her mouth without regard to its edibility, or who it belonged to. Theo wouldnt explore his growth potions on the raw tuber, instead going to check his garden out back.
The 10 [Spiny Swamp Thistle] nts seemed to thrive in his alchemically modified dirt. Theo could make several assumptions based on them taking root where they did. He could nt things in an area not designated as a farm, which benefited him. There were likely bonuses to growing stuff in a farm seed core area, but he would do without for the time being. The alchemist could also assume the nts that bore his reagents were more than a quirk of the swamp, something more than a thing to be harvested. They were living things that could grow and change over time, the cultivation system reflecting real nt gics back on Earth.
So while he knew little about real nt cultivation, he could make assumptions aided by his cores. The [Drogramath Herbalism Core] whispered the loudest in this regard, while the [Governance Core] seemedpletely inert. From what Theo understood, Drogramath wasnt a Demon God rted to the cultivation of crops, but he was tangentially rted to the growth of reagents. That was obvious enough. The alchemist couldbine his observations of the swamp around him with the words of Xolsa. If the area was thick with Drogramaths energy and the reagents, including the Ogre Cypress trees, were all growing back at elerated rates, then the Demon God influenced the rate of growth of those reagents.
Which means, Theo said, running his gloved hand across the surface of a spiny leaf. I need some demonic Karatan.
The nt had no reply to his ns. This opened a whole new line of thoughts in his mind, things that he carried with him up to theb. Theo passed by Azrug, finding Tresks hidden store of [Swamp Onions]. He stole the entirety of her supply, nning on asking for forgivenesster. In thest remaining barrel, one not upied by the [Moss Nettle], he mashed and dumped the onions in, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
Theo prepared the fermentation as those thoughts ran through his mind. Cores were aligned with certain gods, perhaps even concepts, but why wouldnt that extend to creatures? The alchemist wiped sweat from his brow, returning the lid of his barrel and withdrawing Fenians crystal from his inventory. He squeezed it in his hand. After a moment of mental haptic feedback, the familiar sensation of a connection clicked in his mind.
Ive missed our chats, Fenian said, a forlorn tone in his voice.
Me too, Theo said. I have a question, and I dont trust anyone else to answer it. Well, perhaps that wizard you brought here, but no one else.
You like Xolsa? Hes a strange man, isnt he? Fenian asked. Well, Im on the outskirts of your townI havent even left. Do you need something before I go?
Theo was so absorbed in his own problems, he hadnt considered the Elfs schedule. He let out a breath before continuing.
I think Xolsa is going to fit in very well, Theo said. I just have a question about your Karatan. Galflowerthe ones driving your carriage.
Well, thats a secret, Fenian said. One that I wont consider giving upeven to you.
Theo thought for a moment before responding. Would the Elven trader be so brazen as to parade Karatan aligned with Drogramath in his vige? Yes. Yes, he would. The evidence was clear. The alchemist didnt know the entire Demonic Pantheon, which seemed to sit aside from the Prime Pantheon, the The Potioneer was the least horrible of them all, sitting as a strange outsider.
Your Karatan are aligned with Drogramath, or some other Demonic Outsider, Theo said.
Well, youve spoiled the fun, Fenian said, sounding wounded.
Not intentionally, Theo said. I just thought they didnt seem evil, even if theyre demonic. Which means they have an alignment, likely to an outsider Demon God.
Well, youre right. Some creatures can have alignments. My precious Karatan are different, though, Fenian said. My sweet Galflower is a shade. A reflection of a real Karatan. Gods, this isplicated to exin. Perhaps you were hoping for a Drogramathi Karatan, or something like that, but its not possible. While Galflower enjoys eating my hats, she doesnt need to eat. Therefore, she produces nothing.
Theo felt a measure of disappointment. His intuition hadnt failed him yet, but there he stood in hisb, wrong about something. He doubted himself for only a few moments before correcting his thought-process. The creatures Fenian was talking about were fakes made from some Demon God, not actual creatures influenced by the god.
Your Karatan are copies, Theo said, pushing his thoughts into the telepathic link. But there could be real versions of livestock linked to Drogramath.
Why the sudden interest in Drogramathi Cattle? Fenian asked.
Theo thought about how much information he would divulge. Fenian was a stalwart friend, who had only done good things for Broken Tusk.
I have a few theories about my swamp. Things Xolsa saidbined with my observations, Theo said,ying it all out. My idea was to get creatures aligned with Drogramath to raise here. Theyd grow faster, since things within his domain seem to grow incredibly quick here in the swamp.
Well, Im happy to research the topic for you, Fenian said. Theo could feel his mental shrug. Id like to think your friends with the Burning Eye would know a thing or two on the topic.
Theo didnt want to talk to Sulvan or Uharis if he could help it. The idea of getting their advice on raising livestock seemed foolish.
I dont think so. Which Demonic God is Galflower aligned with? Theo asked.
The hint is in the name. Shade. UzXulven, the Demonic Queen of the Path of Shadows, Fenian said. If Drogramath is an outsider, she is an outsiders outsider. She sits somewhere between the Prime Pantheon and the Demonic Pantheon, something like a bridge.
A bridge of shadows, Theo said, shrugging. A popping sound came from his [Swamp Onion] fermentation barrel. Removing the lid for a moment, he saw it bubbling, putting off an eye-stinging stench. He quickly returned the lid. Something stirred in his chest, a whisper from his [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. Words came to him in a Dronon tongue he didnt recognize. He repeated them through the mental link. UzGodan Bokrak Tal.
Ah, youre familiar with Old Xulvenian? Fenian asked.
Drogramath is, anyway, Theo said, knitting his brow. He wanted me to say those words.
And you did? Perhaps following the instructions of a Demonic Lord isnt the best idea, Fenian said.
Perhaps not, Theo said, closing his eyes. Whats so bad about Drogramath, anyway?
Well, now youre getting into philosophy, Theo, Fenian said. Whats so bad about ntheir? Or Zaul, Delcan, Ulvuqor, Balkor? Because Gods in the Prime Pantheon are considered good, whatever that means. Even Balkor, the Bear God of War, has morals. Drogramath is within the same circle as Zagmon, Demonic God of War and Death. He has no honor, no morals. No qualms with crushing entire civilizations underfoot to get what he wantsand he wants blood. In a closed conversation like this, I have no issues talking about the problem, but be warned. This isnt something you should say in polite society.
Theo rolled that idea over in his mind for a moment. The Prime Pantheon was apparently honorable, while the Demonic Pantheon wasnt. Even though Drogramath was an outsider Demon Lord, this ced him in rarepany. Yet there was still a divide. People didnt run screaming when they saw the alchemist, a Drogramath Dronon. This was too much of a philosophical problem for him to consider, but he wanted to.
Perhaps Drogramath isnt so bad, Theo said.
Perhaps not, Fenian said, a smile spreading into his thoughts. Now, if youll excuse me I have a bridge to take.
Chapter 2.34: Decoy Stash
Chapter 2.34: Decoy Stash
Theo woke the next morning in a haze. The remainder of the previous day was spent securing reagents and distilling his fermented ingredients. 600 units of fermented [Moss Nettle] produced an equal amount of the [Surge] modifier essence. There was even time enough to distill his [Swamp Onion] fermentation down to 200 units of [Aerosolize] modifier essence, which he would reserve for his gardening experiments. Half the [Surge] produced was to make potions, while the other half was for the tricky task of experimentation.
Tresk wasnt happy that he had pilfered her store of onions and demanded satisfaction. She challenged him to a duel at sunset, something that never came to be. The busy Marshling was asleep before the sun even crested the horizon and she forgot about the challenge by morning. Instead, he found her making breakfast in theb. Theo approached, withdrawing the early warning crystal from his inventory and setting it on the table.
Still orange? Tresk asked.
Theo eyed what she was cooking suspiciously. The normal wolf steak had been reced by something resembling a sausage and onions.
I thought I stole all your onions, Theo said.
You stole my decoy stash, Tresk said.
Of course. Also, yeah. Whatever Xolsa is doing, its working, Theo said.
Theo leaned back in his chair, casting his eyes out the window. Too many things had happened in too short a time, leaving him feeling confused. It felt as though hed taken hasty turns in a maze, running on his gut feeling with little else to steer him. Even the advice he received was questionable, but he sorted that out. There were innocent souls in this world that would help him without an agenda. Xolsa was one of those. Having no home of his own left him adrift, unable to anchor himself to the ways of his people.
He let those thoughts drift from his mind, reced by the smell of the strange sausage and sizzling onions.
One day, people are going to have Broken Tusk food on their tes, Theo said.
And Broken Tusk potions in their belt, and Broken Tusk stone underfoot, and Broken Tusk timber in their bridges, Tresk said, smiling as she rolled a fat sausage over.
Exactly, Theo said with a nod. The teakettle whistled, and he poured himself a cup, taking a delicate sip. One thing isnt good enough. We need to do everything.
Well, Im doing my part, Tresk said, ting the strange breakfast. Im getting really good at stabbing.
Theo was reminded that Tresk took something of a hybrid ss recently. He had been wrapped up in his own stuff and hadnt inquired about it. As he cut his first piece of sausage, watching the Marshling swallow hers whole, he asked, how is [Shadowdancer] going?
Its perfect, Tresk said, coughing, choking, then recovering. I only have 1 skill for it so far, but its a good one. I can use [Shadowdance] to move between the shadows. Its effectively a travel power. The bonuses the core gives me are great, though.
Theo mentally activated the phrase [Shadowdance] to inspect the ability.
[Shadowdance]
Shadowdancer Skill
Rare
Cooldown: 5:00
Allows the user to jump between shadows while remaining in stealth.
Effect:
The user must be in stealth and standing in a shadow to activate.
The user may jump from shadow to shadow.
If the user isnt broken from stealth, they may jump to another shadow (maximum 10).
The skill didnt detail how far she could jump, so he assumed it was line-of-sight. This is how she was zipping across the swamp so readily.
Seems powerful, Theo said.
Yeah, the whole ss is great, Tresk said, slurping down her onions.
Theo bit into the first sausage. An herbaceous, greasy vor coated his tongue in an instant. The coating of the sausage exploded under his teeth, making a faint popping noise. It was the strangest, most delicious thing hed eaten since arriving in Broken Tusk, and it made him wonder where the Marshling had bought them.
Are you buying food from Fenian? Theo asked.
Yeah, Tresk said, taking a moment to prepare her tea. I cant even remember what these sausages are called, but theye from the nortnds. Those bear-people.
The Toora, Theo said, nodding. We had one of their people pass through town. Boral I dont know what happened to him.
Cool. Well, I dont care who made it, or how they made it, or what its made of, Tresk said. Its delicious. We should start importing food.
I wanted to make my own food, Theo said.
Yeah? Got any Karatan in those fields? Tresk asked,ughing. Come on. Be realistic, for once.
Theo let out a sigh. She was right. He needed to take things one step at a time. Once he got his ranch running, he could worry about the creation of food, whatever that meant. He could end up exporting Karatan butter, for all he knew. It all depended on how fast the strange cow-like creatures grew.
Yeah. No livestock, no meat, Tresk said, tilting her head after sipping from her cup. Well, I guess we could process the wolf meat we get. Make wolf sausages Well, wed need some spices for that. And we dont have spices.
Im working on a farming concept, Theo said, waving her away.
I saw your nts out back, Tresk said. And you still havent found a way to make salt.
Theo frowned at that. He hadnt discovered the technique to break things down into parts yet. Even the pressure vessel out back couldnt do it, even if it was a step in the right direction. The extreme pressure,bined with magic, removed the impurities from the essences but the waste was unusable. So far, the alchemical pressure vessel spat out solid blocks of junk that seemed unusable. Something in the alchemists intuition told him this was user error, and not a function of the pressure vessel. He brought his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy over to go over while he ate.
I hope you know that book is creepy, Tresk said.
Theo took a moment to look at the cover. The Drogramathi script stabbed like daggers, ending in deadly points and ominous swooping circles. Yeah, its pretty creepy.
While he could recall the contents of the book from memory, there was something about the tactile feel of the thing. He found the section on pressure refining and went over the section regarding waste. The refinery would concentrate the essence by removing the stuff he didnt need. First-run essences were left with traces of all 3 properties, rendering them impure. Refining those essences removed those traces to an extent, leaving behind that waste. That waste was elemental, in a way. It couldnt be further refined to create more essence, but it could be changed to serve a different purpose.
This line of reasoning led Theo to an additional problem to his process. The quality of the waste he was producing was poor, resulting in useless hunks of matter. The alchemist needed to process that waste, or improve the quality of it to produce better samples of those elemental castoffs. He exined the problem in terms Tresk would understand.
More experiments, Tresk said. Im going to convince the adventurers that the portal is safe.
Is it safe? Theo asked.
Its pretty safe, Tresk said.
Pretty safe isnt safe, Theo said.
Safe enough! Theyre adventurers, Tresk said, standing. They got through danger often.
Thats fair enough, Theo said.
Well, Im going to head out, Tresk said, pressing her forehead against his. Thats a lot of experience for breakfast.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (2%).
A simple interaction like this usually garnered 1 percent or less. Maybe it was the sausages.
Bonus experience sausages, Tresk said, nodding sage-like. We gotta eat more sausages.
Theo bid farewell to hispanion, doubting the existence of bonus experience sausages. [Lesser Experience Boost Potions] existed, and the alchemist had brewed them in the past, but nothing to give experience. Tresks line of reasoning simply left him with thoughts of his little garden, and the potential to cultivate herbs and spices. He didnt consider his garden project as overreaching, since it fed into his alchemical experimentation.
Before leaving theb, Theo took a mental catalog of his catalysts. His favorite was [Copper Shavings] but that had to do with avability. Hed bought enough additional catalysts for experimentation and considered them for a moment. He considered the copper to be a first-tier catalyst. [Iron Shavings] would then fall into the 2nd tier, [Grave Dust] the 3rd, and his [Ice Quartz] in a weird realm all its own. Using these catalysts in the pressure vessel was still mysterious.
Theo found his way outside, patting his hand on the storage tanks before moving to the pressure vessel. He pressed the p at the bottom, finding the brick-like waste he hadnt tended to in a while. After adding those to his inventory, he considered his options. It didnt take long to add his 300 units of [Surge] modifier and the appropriate amount of [Iron Shavings] to the mix. With a turn of a knob, the machine hummed to life, rocking ominously before settling down.
The 3 storage tanks on the side of the Newt and Demon contained arge amount of each restoration essence. Theo stood near them for a while, letting a breeze wash over him as he thought about his next move. It would be simple enough to turn every unit of those essences into basic lesser potions, but the profit would be less. He was also considering the prestige of hisb, and the fact that Fenian would be gone for days. If each storage tank held 1,000 of each essence, hed end up with 500 potions of each 2nd tier restoration potion. The task would also take at least a day, perhaps more.
The alchemist decided that more advanced potions were more valuable, and left to wander the area near the river. He collected reagents idly along the way, greeting citizens as they passed. The eastern gate had shifted north, a cobbled road stretched from the center of town to meet it. Beyond that wall was a dirt road, leading to a bridge over the river. Theo left through the gate, cing his hands on the timber of that structure.
It was a handmade thing. A structure that already showed its age, no matter how new it was. The distance it spanned was impressive. The bridge went 200 paces into the river, secured by massive poles driven deep into the riverbed, then secured to a small ind. From there it was another 100 paces to the other side. While the water was calm today, it still rushed by in a torrent of sound and sshing water. Theo turned south, watching as the river wound a bend. From this distance, it was impossible to spot the ocean.
A days walk, perhaps, Theo said, bringing up his mayor map. There was a fog settling in on the south side of the map. The furthest he could see was near his mine, but the river bent east, away from Broken Tusk there. The alchemist scooped up a few [Water Lilies] before turning back for town.
His hope was to find evidence of spices or herbs through the different scenery, but it was more of the same ingredients. The 2 new herbs he discovered near the southern hills, near Dead Dog Mine, werent useful for that idea. A mental timer ticked off, marking the progress of the pressure still. With another hour to go, he returned to town and headed north, spotting Banu. The farmers designated a few fields for their traditional method of farming, leaving the others to grow the alchemists way. It was apromise he could live with.
Theo handed over the remainder of his [Alchemic Soil Enhancer] and avoided a lengthy conversation, heading to the small area hed designated for the adventurers. There were still only 3 homes there, but that would take time. People didnt migrate in waves, it seemed. They came as a trickle over time. When the alchemist finally found what he was looking for, he saw an interesting sight.
That works, Theo said with a satisfied nod.
The sound of tools working stone hit his ears before he caught sight of Ziz and his men. Since thest time he came, the quarry was shallower. Some stone had regenerated, but the stoneworkers adopted a new strategy. Instead of quarrying straight down, they dug distinct channels, running north to south.
Theo! Zizs gruff voice called from a 2-Theo deep channel. What do you think?
Inventive, Theo said, gesturing to the channels. The stone regenerates quick enough. Does it push the water out?
Sometimes, Ziz said, dusting his hands off and pulling the alchemist into a hug. The nt of the hill just drains the water off through the channels.
Theo could picture that working in his mind. If they dug deep in one section, then dug more channels to siphon the water off to the south, the hill would eventually dip enough for them to drain the water off. It was smart, and notbor-intensive.
Very good work, Theo said. How is business?
Extremely good, Ziz said, beckoning Theo into the workshop.
The workshop wasrger than thest time he saw it. Scattered along the ground were gem-bearing stones being processed. Those jewels were trapped within the hard marble and represented an array of colors. Theo spotted purple, red, and yellow within those arrayed. Ziz scooped up a purple gem and handed it over. The alchemist inspected the refined jewel.
[Cut Zaulize]
[Processed Gem]
Rare
A shadowy gem, cut and prepared.
Zaulize, Theo said, knitting his brow. He moved to pick up a yellow gem before inspecting it as well.
[Cut nthierize]
[Processed Gem]
Rare
A holy gem, cut and prepared.
I get it, Theo said. So, do the gems hold alignment to gods?
Ziz shrugged. No idea, but theyre worth a lot of money.
The system is just attaching ize to various gods names to the gem. Zaul is the god of shadows. nthier is the god of healing, Theo said.
Oh, thats fun, Ziz said, smiling. I wonder if theres a Drogramathize.
Somehow I doubt it, Theo said. I have a feeling these only fall into the Prime Pantheon.
Whatever that is, Ziz said. Hey, I have some money for you.
Theo waved him away. Ill take some of these gems instead.
Oh, that works, Ziz said.
And well draw up an official contract, Theo said.
The alchemist made something quick and dirty, promising to only take 10 percent of their earnings. As he thought back on the deal he made with Ziz originally, he was happy with it. The original n was to take most of the stone and use it to make roads, but that wasnt necessary. The towns seed core provided those. Now, with the stoneworkers agreement, it provided them with the materials they needed to repair the town. That reminded him of his agreement with Sledge. She hadnt approached him about their deal to work the forest and collect lumber.
That works, Ziz said, epting the deal. Take as many gems as you want, Theo.
Ill take one of each, for now, Theo said, finding a section of the workshop that wasnt covered in chipped stone and sat down on the ground. I want to export lumber, but I have a feeling Sledge is dragging her feet.
I saw her plying her new trade, Ziz said, shing a smile. You might have distracted her too much.
Indeed, Theo said. That was the impression he got from her, but he could me her. The [Fabricator] ss seemed fun. He imagined her running around, changing peoples houses to suit their needs. So, I need lumberjacks.
Whats a lumberjack, Ziz asked.
Foresters, Theo said with a shrug. Sometimes his thoughts didnt trante as well as hed like. The system could only do so much.
Well, if you want someone chopping trees full time, you need specialists, Ziz said.
Then its too much right now, Theo said. Ill be happy with what Sledge gets me.
Spreading yourself too thin? Ziz asked,ing to sit by the alchemist.
Far too thin, Theo said. Well, Im working on that. Im trying to focus on only a few projects at once.
Only a few, Ziz said, barking augh. That sounds like you. A ranch, a mine, an entire town, and your alchemy business. Just a few.
Theo smiled, punching the Half-Ogre yfully in the arm. They shared augh, only continuing the conversation when it died down.
The n is to set these things up, and let them run themselves, Theo said. Dead Dog Mine is my newest test for that idea.
What a name for a mine, Ziz said, stretching. I get you, though. Its working well for this ce.
Well, I suppose you were my first experiment for that, Theo said, pping his hand over the mans shoulder. And look how youre doing. Making decisions on your own. Advancing this ce without direction.
Were not children, Theo, Ziz said. Put more trust in Broken Tusk and shell treat you right.
Theo let those words linger in his mind for a long time. While he wanted to believe he broke that habit, it was still lingering. He still treated these people like they needed a minder. The mayor didnt need to be involved in every single thing they did.
Then, another test, Theo said, nodding and smiling. I dont need metal from the mine. Not yet. The operation can take a long time to get running. It doesnt matter to me.
So, set them off and let them work the mine, Ziz said. See what they can do on their own. People thrive when you give them the chance. They want to prove you right with the faith you put in them. Or prove you wrong if youve doubted them.
Theo rose from the spot and exited the workshop without another word. From the northern hills, he could see the adventurers homes and the farm sprawling to the south. Those specs on the horizon, those little lives going about their day in Broken Tusk shone brighter than the gems in his palm. That was the genuine treasure of this ce. He knew that.
Theyll thrive, Theo said, pulling Ziz into a sidelong hug. Even if it''s this town against the world, welle out on top.
Ziz answered with a warm smile, simply standing there with his friend. Despite the alchemists intent to manage his time well that day, he spent most of it in the northern hills, among the workers of the quarry. Their tools rung out, echoing through the vast expanse, singing a chorus ofbor and industry. By the time he left, the sun hung low in the sky. No rain fell over Broken Tusk that day, and Theo took it easy. Sausagesand onions seemed like a strange meal to have for dinner, but it didnt matter. The 36th day of the Season of Blooms fell into twilight over the town.
Tresks snores quickly filled the room after they retired for the night. The early warning crystal, shining from underneath Theos bedsheets, stayed that faint orange color.
Chapter 2.35: Magical Metaphors
Chapter 2.35: Magical Metaphors
Tresk produced another strange breakfast the next morning. Theo woke to a rich smell that he couldnt ce, but upon entering theb, he found hispanion cooking aicallyrge leg of some avian creature. She looked up with a smile, constantly scooping the juices up and basting them over the meat. The alchemist had very little in the way of reference for what poultry should look like. On Earth, hed sucked down most of his meals in processed tubes of paste. Even then, he knew the dark, almost ck color of the meat wasnt normal. Sitting on the edges of her copper pan, safe from the intensity of the me, was the juice she was scooping and wedges of some fruit.
How much stuff did you buy from Fenian? Theo asked, taking his traditional seat.
A lot, Tresk said. But, hey. This should inspire you.
I think it will, Theo said, checking on the kettle. It wasnt boiling yet. I was married to this idea of finding creatures aligned with Drogramath, but I think thats a bridge too far.
The alchemist produced a purple gem from his inventory, one of the [Cut Zaulize]. He rolled it over in his palm, but found no answers.
Thats pretty, Tresk said, her eyes going wide.
I bet you think it is, Theo said. Its a gem aligned with your [Assassins Core].
Tresk wanted to take the gem for herself, but Theo refused. There was the inherent danger in her holding something aligned with the God of Shadows, even if she had a piece of that god in her chest. He wanted to run it by Xolsa before conducting any test, but the n was simple. As with most things in his alchemy, he wanted to smash it to powder and try brewing it, or using it as a catalyst. The Marshling thought that was a brutish way to go about it, but he waved her off.
The massive bird leg, a creature Tresk couldnt remember the name of, tasted gamy. Without the addition of the overly sweet fruits to bnce the greasy vor out, it would have been too much. Instead, those wedges cut through the overpowering meat to present a rtively light breakfast. Theo felt overfull by the time they were done, but it only seemed to energize Tresk. She departed shortly, leaving him there to finish his tea.
Theo checked his cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. Fortunately, it survived being in the presence of the hungry Marshling and had started to chit, as Banu called it. Small nodules were poking from the side of the thing, some ending in green sprouts. Instead of reserving some of the root for alchemy, he cut the thing into 4 sections, each having at least 1 sprout on the surface.
Before leaving hisb to tend the garden growing out back, Theo inspected the refined modifier essence he made yesterday.
[Refined Surge]
[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
150 units (liquid)
A refined modifier essence. Add to apleted potion to add the surge modifier. Surge applies bonuses as an instant, temporary effect.
The description was as he expected, but the quality was not. He expected the resulting modifier essence to drop to good quality, but it remained at great. It only took a moment of thought to realize hed swapped out the normal [Copper Shavings] for [Iron shavings], which made sense. The pressure device worked on intent, exactly like the stills, but the catalyst for the reaction affected the quality. The better the catalyst, the better the results. With normal potions, the quality changed the strength of the effect. A high quality [Healing Potion] restored more health. The alchemist hadnt yet discovered what a modifier essences quality did, but he suspected the associated effect would be stronger. It was only logical.
Before moving on to create a modified [Healing Potion], Theo had a seat and retreated into his thoughts. From his experimentation, he knew several things changed the overall quality of a potion. Combining a potion with a lower quality modifier essence reduced the quality of that potion, splitting the difference between the two. After a few moments of thought, he determined the defining factor. The thing that he could change most easily to improve the quality of his potions.
Reagent quality, Theo said with a satisfied nod.
The alchemist could use higher-quality catalysts during the refining phase, or more precise methods during distition and fermentation, but if the base of his potions was poor, the result would be poor. Theos conclusion was that his garden would be vital for crafting potions beyond the first tier.
Theo was short on [Refined Healing Essence] for his current needs. Going downstairs, he found Azrug talking to a small group of people, 5 in all. They were settlers, all formerborers in some destitute northern town. It was a familiar story by now. They worked their way south, finding nothing but expensive lodgings and even more overpricednd ownership. Broken Tusk needed bodies, more than anything, to fulfill the next upgrade requirement. The alchemist beckoned them to follow him out the front door, finding his way to the 3 massive storage tanks on the side of the building.
Well set you up with some shared lodgings, for now, Theo said, withdrawing a barrel from his inventory and filling it with [Healing Essence] from the tank. For now, youll have work duty with Gridgen.
5 sets of eyes turned on him with confusion and hope. A tiny Brogling man was the first to speak after the statement.
Work duty? We get jobs? And a house? he said.
Theo moved to the back of hisb, the entourage following. He cleared the waste trap on his pressure vessel, setting those aside for future testing, and used the magical port on the side to suck up 200 units of [Healing Essence], repeating the process until the storage tank was empty. He dropped in [Iron Shavings], turned the dial and watched as the machine hummed to life. The group startled at the noise, scampering to a safe distance to observe. The alchemist urged them to follow him south, toward Gridgens house.
This is temporary. When you have the funds, Ill sell you a plot at cost, Theo said. Until then, Ill nt 2 houses for you to share.
It was then that Theo regretted not buying more house seed cores from Fenian. He had a few spares, but was running low.
Do we get a wage? the Brogling asked, a murmur spreading through the small group.
A fair wage by Broken Tusk standard, Theo said. Gridgen will figure out your pay. Just follow the road south to Dead Dog Mine.
The alchemist knelt twice, nting 2 [House Seed Cores] near Gridgens home. Hecked the [Monster Cores] to grow the houses, but could still ess the menu and add each new settler as a guest. They looked at him with excited eyes, as though he just handed them a gold coin each.
Any questions? Theo asked.
South. Just follow the road? Theres a mine there? I think we can handle it, the Brogling said, nodding with hispanions.
Without another word, the group trotted southward, over the hard cobbles and toward their salvation. Theo didnt consider it a merciful thing to do. It wasnt something outside of his responsibilities as mayor, and some might consider the act selfish. Theyd get reasonable wages, but he was taking thergest share of the profit. It was also an experiment in its own right, to test how Gridgen would handle 5 new workers.
Theo asked if Tresk could stop by the new houses and feed them monster cores, to which she agreed. He made a mental note that they should start dumping the cores into the Newt and Demon. Putting off upgrades after level 10 made sense, since each level after that was painfully slow. He made his way back to theb and pressed his hand against the wooden wall, inspecting it.
[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]
[The Newt and Demon]
Owners: Theo Spencer (Belgar), Tresk
Shopkeeper: Azrug Slug
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 11 (31%)
Rent Due: 5 days
Expansions:
[Alchemy Shop]
[Drogramath Distition Specialty]
The logic of the system told him level 15 would provide a new upgrade, and ess to old upgrades. The [Root Cer] upgrade was almost entirely useless. It provided a ce that reagents wouldnt rot, but his inventories and storage crates did the job for that. He also didnt take the [Experimentation Room] in the past, because he wasnt aware of the explosive nature of essences. His fear was that the new offered upgrade would be better than the [Experimentation Room].
1,000 units of [Healing Essence] would take a while in the pressure vessel. This left time for Theo to take care of his garden, which wasnt much work. He nted the 4 sections of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] in alchemically enhanced soil, and checked up on the existing 10 nts. Without the constant rain, they were drooping slightly, so he watered them.
Theo then took to wandering the town, finding a minor diversion when a citizen told him the water tower was low. Instead of running water back and forth from the river, he concocted some [Potion of Infusion] to coat the inside of the copper tower. The essence required for the infusion potion might stink, but the resulting effect was anything but gross. After popping the lid on the top, the alchemist watched his potion go to work. It rippled across the copper, permeating unseen pours and hardening the surface against alchemical reactions.
Then it was only a matter of finding enough bored townspeople to run between the river and the tower, filling the things massive capacity. With the tower hardened against alchemy, Theo performed the purification in the tower itself, saving himself a lot of time. It was a much needed distraction, helping smooth over the time it took for his pressure vessel toplete.
Theo found his way to Sledges workshop, finding it empty. He nodded to himself, understanding the allure of her [Fabricators Core] to be too great. The alchemist made a note of that experiment, finding it hard to mentallybel it. The woodworker found something she wanted to do, and he shouldnt fault her for that. There would be more migrants. More chances to find someone willing to chop lumber for a living.
Despite his n to let Gridgen do whatever he wanted with the mine, Theo wandered southward. The excuse was to find more [Mages Bane] and [Roc Berries], but he hoped to get a look at Dead Dog Mine. The southern hills were full of those ingredients, which already solidified a theory in his mind. Reagents grew like nts, as obvious as that thought was. [Water Lilies] preferred the wet, clean water of the river. [Spiny Swamp Thistle] needed damp soil, but not soaking wet, while [Marsh Tubers] needed rotten, fetid swamp water.
Theo harvested several hundred units of both reagents, taking 10 whole nts of each into his inventory as well. The [Roc Berry] bushes were the most difficult, as their roots ran deep, snagging around stones and gripping other nearby roots. The alchemist returned to the Newt and Demon with his prizes, pushing aside his desire to check on Gridgen. He felt like an overprotective parent, his heart urging him to check on them. But that wouldnt serve anyone. It would only create a dependency he didnt want to deal with.
Both the [Mages Bane] and [Roc Berry] nts took to the enhanced soil well. All 20 of them perked up from being slightly wilted, and Theo weighed his options. It seemed best to let them adjust to their new homes rather than dropping a growth potion on them immediately. It wasnt an idea that came from the whispers of his [Drogramath Herbalism Core], though. This was raw intuition, and he could have been wrong.
Those thoughts fell by the wayside when a voice, huffing and out of breath, came from the edge of his building. Xolsa, the normally calm extra-nar Elf, looked disheveled. Mayor, I need to discuss something, he said, doubling over and holding a stitch at his side.
To the tower? Theo asked, smiling.
The alchemists gut reaction to intense situations had deadened to almost nothing. If the monster wave wasing, they were ready for it. If it was something else, there was nothing he could do but listen and prepare. Everything else was wasted energy.
To the tower, Xolsa repeated, hobbling northward.
The portal was still a strange thing, something that sent Theo to his knees when he used it. He sent a message to Tresk while he recovered on the cold stone floor of the wizards tower. She would be there in moments, but he asked her to remain in the shadows. Perhaps it was an idea to get a better measure of the Elf. Either way, Xolsa led him to the roof of the tower, summoning the webwork of runes and sputtering.
I dyed the wave, as you can see here, Xolsa said, gesturing vaguely.
Theo squinted, moving closer to the runes. He withdrew the early warning crystal from his inventory. It hadnt progressed beyond orange, which he took as a good sign.
Everything looks good, Theo said. The crystal hasnt progressed, yet.
Thats the problem, Xolsa said, drawing himself up. He took a long, steadying breath, but the worry still sat on his face. The energy being used to drive the monster wave isnt just something thats altering the timer. Look here.
The Elf summoned another section of the arcane symbols, zooming in on a circr section. Theo could have been staring at anynguage at this point, it made little sense to him. Runic symbols ran along the outside, bordered by a circle, then another set. In the center was a series of symbols that were constantly changing.
So, these are changing, Theo said, pointing. It was the only thing he could observe without hazarding a wild guess. If this is essentially the code of the dungeon, or the magic in the area that means
Theo trailed off. Xolsa watched him expectantly.
Theyre numbers, Xolsa said, nodding.
Ah, Theo said, understanding washing over his mind. Its a counter, then. Counting up, what exactly? Energy.
Energy, Xolsa said, nodding. Heres my theory. Extra-nar power is flowing into your dungeon, like a node. This dungeon is connected to many others throughout the realm, other nodes. Energy flows like a river and we built a dam.
That sounds bad, Tresk said, emerging from the shadows. Xolsa jumped in surprise.
Theo was so ustomed to her jumping out of nowhere that it didnt affect him. He ran his hand over his chin a few times, trying to understand the implications. Even without magical knowledge, he knew that water trapped behind a dam needed to go somewhere. What liquid didnt escape would build up behind that barrier until it burst.
What does this energy do? Theo asked.
Many things, Xolsa said, clutching his chest. Primarily, it is the basis for generating monsters. From what I understand, the system converts this energy into matter, namely monsters and loot. The energy is normally drawn from the area around the dungeon, but your dungeon is leaking.
Theo waved him off. The leak makes sense, he said, pacing to the edge of the tower. He cast his eyes over the rise of stone in the distance. So the dam is building up energy in the dungeon. What happens when its overfull?
Xolsas mouth went agape. Youre too calm for this, mayor.
I cant crap my pants every time something weird happens around here, Theo said. I need practical solutions to the problem, not panic. What happens when it fills up?
A max level monster wave, Xolsa said.
So, the longer we dy the timer, the stronger the wave gets, Tresk said, nodding. She perched herself atop the edge of the towers wall, looking over into the swamp. Sounds fun.
Its dangerous, Xolsa said, sputtering.
So, this is your job, Theo said. The swamp is unforgiving. I need to know how long we can let it go without destroying the town. I need ideas on how to divert that power.
Xolsas brows knit tightly. He walked around the edges of the tower, muttering to himself. Theo caught a few words as he went, but didnt recognize thenguage. When the Elf rounded the circr tower for the tenth time, he stopped. He swiped his hand a few times, summoning more of the intricate magic symbols. This carried on for a few minutes before he turned to regard the alchemist.
The timer is a safety mechanism designed to release the monsters at a level-appropriate range, preventing too much energy from building, Xolsa said, tapping his chin and swiping through the symbols some more. I cannot control it, not with any precision. Not without damaging the dungeon or exploding it.
Now that sounds dangerous, Tresk said.
You understand that everything Im doing is beyond the scope of my level, Xolsa said, leveling his gaze at Theo. Im carried through these motions by the whispering of my core. The voice of my people. I have an idea.
A smile spread across the alchemists face.
Lets hear it.
Stoppering the river gave us a week, Xolsa said, swiping back to the timer. As I mentioned before, the dungeons are linked. Unlike an actual river, we should siphon the energy off to the other dungeons. Have your other dungeons grown recently?
No, Tresk said.
Then there is the w, Xolsa said, going back to the offending section of the runes. It was the section describing the timer, that which the Elf changed with his magic. Im having difficulty imagining a metaphor for you.
Theo didnt need any help understanding it, the entire thing seemed logical. The single river analogy wascking. It was more like a split in a river where the [Swamp Dungeon] was upstream. No, it was more like a
A confluence, Theo said. A point where two or more rivers join.
Chapter 2.36: Food Buffs
Chapter 2.36: Food Buffs
Were still in thend of metaphors, right? Tresk asked. Theres no actual water.
Xolsa had a concerned expression on his face. He was shaking his head, swiping through the symbols.
How did you spot that? Xolsa asked, swiping his hand through the air with a frustrated sigh. How did I miss it?
Because how could that happen? Theo asked.
Exin, please. Im still lost, Tresk said, taking a seat on the edge of the wall.
Theo didnt understand it. He could feign knowledge, because it made sense to him. He considered the idea of Broken Tusk being a confluence of things quite a lot, but it was just something he used to understand the joining of disparate circumstances. The alchemist never thought of it as a literal thing, but there it was. There was more than one power joining on the dungeon, creating an overflow of energy.
Xolsa took the reins of the exnation from there. Theres at least 2 sources of power going into the dungeon. I didnt spot itI still cant. But it makes sense. My theory has shifted, mayor.
Theo is fine.
Ill keep the array Ive created to slow the timer, Xolsa said, and create a new one. If you think of the problem as many rivers joining into one, the solution is simple.
Yeah. Just make sure all the rivers dont join, Tresk said.
Exactly. I wont bore you with the details, but your other dungeons will take the burden. This will space the urrence of monster waves considerably.
Theo still didnt understand. Notpletely. He saw it as a problem where the other dungeons in their area werent pulling their weight, just sending that energy down the line to ind Qavell. If Xolsa could siphon that energy, it would be a boon.
And reduce their strength, Theo said. I feel like we should pay you for your work here.
Xolsa let out a shortugh. This research is worth more than the entire town.
Maybe you should pay us, Tresk said, grinning.
Perhaps I should, Xolsa said.
Dont be rude. This is service enough, Theo said. Keep me updated on this, please.
I will. Now, if youll excuse me, I should get to work, Xolsa said.
Theo and Tresk excused themselves downstairs, taking a seat on the first floor. The alchemist wanted to wait a moment before leaving, as the portals effects were nauseating.
Multiple sources interfering with our dungeon, Tresk said, tutting. I should have figured.
How so? Theo asked with a chuckle. Youre not a mage.
But, it figures, she said. So, what do you think about the wizards opinion?
I dont know. I think hes probing in the dark, looking for answers, Theo said. Hes approaching this cautiously, though. I dont think his magical array thing would do anything to harm our dungeons.
Whatever, Tresk said.
Theo shrugged at that. It really was whatever as she said. Xolsa had a handle on it, and there was nothing they could do until he updated them.
Care to join me through the portal? Theo asked.
The portal? No thanks, Tresk said. I dont feel like vomiting today.
While the Marshling could easily traverse the swamp, the alchemist had few options. He swallowed hard and forded a path through the portal, falling in a heap in the towns square. He drew ragged gasps; the light stinging his eyes. After a moment of recovery, he felt rough hands on his shoulders. Someone was saying something, but he was too disoriented to hear it. Whoever it was tilted his head back and shoved something in his mouth. With no recourse, he chewed and swallowed.
A system message jumped into his vision.
[Food Buff!] Youve consumed a piece of [Savory Zee Bread], crafted by a [Cook].
+1 Vigor for 8 hours.
My food gives buffs, now! Xams coarse voice came after a moment.
In a heartbeat, Theo remembered she got a cooking core from Fenian. How the woman had operated the Marsh Wolf Tavern until this point without a cooking core was beyond him. The vor was moreplex than what she normally made, even for in bread. The alchemist couldnt ce the vor exactly, as he had very little analogs back on Earth, but it was good. It was moist, as far as bread went, and faintly salty with a hint of sweet.
Did you have to assault me? Theo asked, almost unable to keep the food down. The world came back to him in a rush, sending a second dizzy spell through his body. I guess that means the mill is working.
It is! Xam said, undaunted by Theos crabby attitude. Do you have Karatan, yet? Id love to experiment with some butter. Or milkor just some meat.
Theo rose to his feet and regarded her. There was a brightness in her eyes he couldnt avoid, that sense of fulfillment that he wanted for everyone in the town. This wasnt even a n of his own making, but there the Half-Ogre woman was. Standing in front of him with that broad smile on her face. Despite his disorientation, his heart swelled. It was hard not to match her smile.
No, I still need to source my livestock, Theo said. Im taking suggestions on that.
Oh, I have a long list, Xam said, nodding. The Broglings breed these little, horned creatures with an attitude. They bleat and eat just about anything, and Id like a small herd of them. Also, if you could source some
Theo held up a silencing hand. Please tell Miana your wishlist. Shes the stable master for the ranch, so its up to her what else she wants. My only concern is the Karatan.
Right. Im going now, Xam said, bouncing on the spot. Stop by the tavern tonight, if you want a treat.
Xam bounced away, giggling to herself. Theo was left standing there, dumbstruck by her sudden change in attitude. The alchemist returned to the Newt and Demon, collecting the refined essence from his pressure vessel and clearing out the waste port. He then went about theborious process of transferring 1,000 units of [Stamina Essence] to the pressure vessel, starting another run for refined essences.
Has Xam forced you to eat her bread, yet? Azrug asked as Theo entered the shop.
She has, Theo said, smiling. I didnt know taking a cooking core would make her food give buffs.
I guess so, Azrug said. Shes been cooking for years, but shes so damn cheap. Never wanted to buy a cooking core.
What cores did she have? Theo asked.
Core. Just the one. A [Laborers Core], like most of the Half-Ogres here, Azrug said with a wistful sigh. Not anymore, I suppose. Kids are going to get great cores now.
Theo didnt want to mention the reason for that. Azrugs amazing cores were tied to the overflow of energy from the dungeon, he was sure of it. That overflow would continue into the foreseeable future, and it was a blessing. Whatever entity was pumping them full of magic-juice was benefiting them greatly, the result of that magic having far-reaching consequences. The alchemist simply smiled and patted the shopkeeper on the shoulder.
After some small talk, Theo went upstairs to hisb. The pressure vessel took 1,000 units of [Healing Essence] and spat out 500 units, all at great quality, which was more than he could ask for. Since his [Refined Surge] modifier essence was also at equal quality, the resulting modified potions would be that quality. He set aside his essences and approached the [ssware Artifice], shoving motes in until he could generate the 150 vials required for his modified second tier potions.
Theo took a moment of reflection before continuing with the process. [Iron Shavings] would serve as the best catalyst in this situation, as they were extremely cheap and should be the perfect one for second tier potions. He set up a single vial for testing, adding 1 unit of [Refined Healing Essence], 1 small [Iron Shaving], and 1 unit of [Purified Water] to the ssware. The reaction was immediate, putting off the familiar sights and smells of the healing potions. It swirled and bubbled, shifting to a light red color and putting off that sweet smell. Then, it put off a plume of glittering smoke. Momentster, he inspected the result to confirm his idea.
[Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 65 health points.
It was a perfect example of a mid-quality [Healing Potion], nothing toin about there. He turned his attention to the next phase of testing, transferring the potion to a 4 unit vial and adding 2 units of his [Refined Surge] modifier essence. An explosive gout of smoke shot from the top of the vial, clouding his vision and filling the room with a scent like freshly tilled earth. Inhtion of the smoke didnt seem to cause any issues, but it was still choking in its abundance. Theo opened the window, batting away the smoke from his eyes and cursing his shortsightedness.
Once the smoke had cleared, he inspected the resulting modified potion.
[Healing Potion]
[Surge]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
If the user is at full health, add 60 health to their maximum and restore that amount. Effectsts 5 minutes.
The second tier version of the [Surge] modifierbined with the [Healing Potion] was great. While the first tier version onlysted a minute, this onested 5. [Surge] was one of the more effective modifiers that hed discovered, especially for restoration potions. In this case, it would effectively add 60 health to whoever drank it, restoring that extra amount it added.
Theos only issue with this potion was the violence of its creation. He cast his eyes over essences he had assembled, letting out a sigh as he realized what came next. The alchemist returned everything to his inventory and headed out to his gravel yard, checking on his nts while he was there. They seemed to be doing good, although a few hours in the ground shouldnt have affected them that much.
The alchemist tempered his desire to perform a massive reaction, settling down for a series of smaller ones. Plumes of glittering smoke soon reached to the heavens, filling the air with a rushing sound as he kicked off sessive reactions. The process was slow. Even with his superior ability to measure units of liquid, the recipes were precise down to an unknowable uracy.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Theo realized how necessary the experimentation room was. He cast his eyes to the heavens, thinking about a day when it would rain. That would ruin his process, forcing him to wait for a break in the downpour toplete his advanced reactions. With 75 [Surge] modified [Healing Potions] in his inventory, he was satisfied enough for now, moving to hisb toplete the remaining reactions.
Fenian had requested as many potions as he could make, as always, but the modified potions were going to go for a premium. The Elf would need to pay four times the value of a [Lesser Healing Potion] to make it worth Theos time, perhaps more. The alchemist returned to thefort of hisb to perform the remaining 350 [Healing Potion] reactions.
Pulling a chair up to his table and dripping essence into vials was much morefortable than hunching over them out in the gravel yard. Half-way through his work, the trickle of 2 to 5 percent experience messages was enough to send him over the edge into level 12 for his [Drogramath Alchemy Core].
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 12.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (0.66%).
Theos [Drogramath Herbalism Core] wasnt far behind, not after tending his small garden outside. Each action spent working with the nts helped bring that core closer to his alchemy core. In the past, it was always a struggle to keep them in line.
Were going to Xams for food tonight, Theo said, speaking directly to Tresk.
He wasnt sure that he had the [Stamina] for the event, but it meant a lot to the woman. The alchemist was excited to give her support in her new efforts, especially if it meant good food. Tresk was good at making stuff on the fly, but it was always a hodgepodge of whatever they had. A diet of mostly meat didnt seem to offend his Dronon stomach, but a little bit of variety would go a long way.
Sounds good, Tresk said. Any reason?
Her cooking cores are actually good, Theo said. I got a bonus from eating her Zee bread.
Oh dang. She has bread? Alright, Tresk said. Im in.
It was impossible to tell how long Fenian would be away from town, but Theo suspected he could return at a moments notice if needed. He nned on taking it easy through the days, only brewing what potions he needed to, but his bottleneck was resource collection. The alchemist let out a heavy sigh as he rose from the chair, leaving his building and heading directly for the Adventurers Guild. He stood outside for a few moments, remarking to himself how they should really give themselves a name. He shook the thought off and entered, pushing past the groups of adventurers and heading for Aaroks office.
Theo, Aarok said as the alchemist entered. How are you?
Im well. How about you? Theo asked, taking the creaky seat opposite the Half-Ogre.
Very well, Aarok said, withdrawing a crate filled with eggs from under his desk. Next time, request a few less eggs. The adventurers said they had trouble sourcing so many.
Theo grinned, taking 500 [Fire Smander Eggs] into his inventory. My fault. I have a feeling my Tarahek has a monopoly on all the good spots to collect them.
She eats them by the dozen, Aarok said, nodding sage-like. Now, is this a social call?
Not at all, Theo said. I need to post a quest.
Wow. Been a while? Just since the smander thing Right, what do you need?
Do you have that old reagent quest I posted before? The restoration quest. It was named [Supply Run], Theo said.
Yeah, you got a good memory, Aarok said, withdrawing some papers from under his desk. He rifled through them for a minute before spotting the old quest. When the Half-Ogre held the paper up, Theo could mentally click on it to view the quest.
[Supply Run]
Quest
The proprietor of the Newt and Demon is requesting all adventurers to collect reagents for his potion empire.
Objectives:
Collect [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Moss Nettle] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Manashrooms] (1 silver per 500 max 1000)
Collect [Stat-Bearing Reagent] (1 silver per 500 max 1000 each)
Perfect. Up the reward to a silver and a half, Theo said. And update the name to So Much Potion.
Aarok regarded him for a moment with a quizzical look, ending the expression with a shrug. Im guessing you have a new order.
I do, Theo said. Fenian made arge order. Well, I suppose he asked for whatever potions I could make, but I need volume.
How is our new wizard doing? Aarok asked, breaking any pretense of pleasantries. That was his right, though. He was charged with the protection of Broken Tusk.
Theo looked behind him, ensuring the door was closed. Hes doing extremely well. Pulling back the curtain a bit, he said, exining everything he knew about Xolsa. He spared no detail, sharing his thoughts about the Elf.
You think hes looking for a home? And he knows what hes doing? Aarok said, leaning back in his chair. He cast his hooded gaze out the window and grunted. Thats good enough for me. If he halted the monster waves, like you said, thats more than good enough. Thats great.
Think of it like this, Theo said, leaning in. Theres one mortal in this world that could help us with the dungeon problem. One. That mortal is Xolsa. An extra-nar elf that can see the fabric of all this nonsense. He can decipher our problem with the dungeon.
Im not following, Aarok said.
Was he drawn here because he heard about our problem, or something else? Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it. That confluence of events Im always hearing about runs deeper than I thought, Theo said, running his fingers over the papers on the table.
Dont know if I believe in fate, Theo, Aarok said.
Theo waved him off. Maybe not fate. Maybe some unseen hand.
Multiple sources of extra-dimensional energy? Aarok asked, letting out a heavy sigh. You realize it sounds like more than one god interfering with our town, right? Broken Tusk. A mud ball. In the middle of nowhere.
Theo fell into his memories at that moment, something sticking out and ringing like a bell. He looked at Aarok and saw something hauntingly familiar. A chill ran up his spine as a grin spread across his face.
A soldier, Theo said, tipping his head toward Aarok. Looking for a peaceful life, his grin broadened, what a familiar story.
Chapter 2.37: Cooks Banquet
Chapter 2.37: Cook''s Banquet
On a good day, the Marsh Wolf Tavern was busy enough. Of the 20 some-odd tables, half would be filled. Tonight, it was a madhouse. Even from outside the walls, Theo could hear the raucous crowds inside. Those who couldnt fit within stood on the cobbled streets outside, shoveling food in their mouths from copper tes.
Food must be pretty good for this, Tresk said, snorting augh. Think we can get a table?
Theo approached the door, poking his head inside. Xam caught his attention immediately, iling her arms through the air then gesturing at his favorite table, near the bag window. Whatever ambling path the alchemist took to the tavern was enough of a diversion for Aarok to find his way here, sitting at that table with Luras. Both of them had sheepish grinds on their faces.
I didnt know if youde, Xam said, straightening her apron nervously. You have the table of honor, of course.
Thanks, Theo said, smiling.
Woah, Tresk said,ing in behind him. Youre gonna need a bigger tavern.
Xam simply smiled at that, gesturing toward the table. Theo and Tresk took a seat, setting into the noisy environment. Luras had already propped the window open.
She wouldnt let us eat until you got here, Aarok said.
And Im starving, Luras said.
Tresk pulled herself half-way up onto the table, leaning in. How many ways can you prepare wolf meat, anyway?
Id eat it raw, if not for the parasites, Luras said.
Theo spotted Azrug moving through the tables, delivering food to the patrons. The alchemist smiled, noticing the look of concern on the shopkeepers face. His sister pulled him into helping, but he wouldnt stand for that long. His heart was in the shop.
We should have brought the wizard, Tresk said. I like him.
Theo let out a sigh. Xolsa was clearly an introvert by nature. A big event like this would be too much for him. It was better to invite the wizard to something more manageable, like an intimate meal at the Newt and Demon. No sooner did the thought arise than did Xam bring 4 shallow bowls. She dropped them off at the table and departed as quickly as she came, running off to serve another customer.
Soup? Tresk said, grimacing. All this for more soup?
Theo picked up his copper spoon and dunked it in the murky, yellowed liquid and brought it to his lips. There was more vor in this than her perpetual soup. Puddles of grease danced on the top of the liquid as small, round balls bobbed up and down. The base of the soup was delicious,ing in strong with herbs and savory broth. The floating balls were dumplings. Bread stuffed with wolf meat and herbs that danced on his tongue,plimenting the broth perfectly. Without a word, the entire group finished their bowls of soup.
A system message jumped into his vision.
[Cooks Banquet!] Youve consumed the first of three meals from a cooks banquet (Wolf Meat Zee Dumpling Soup). Eat the other two courses to gain a buff.
A banquet? Tresk asked,ughing.
Alright, now this is interesting, Luras said, craning his neck to see what the others were eating. Looks like the main course is a steak with vegetables.
Thest course is a desert, Luras said, standing to spot the other patrons. I can smell fruit from here.
Theos eyes went wide. The fruit in this world seemed scarce. There were a few types of berries in the swamp, but they were hard to find. The alchemists mind went to Xam and how she sourced all this food. He recalled when Fenian gave her the core as a gift, likely costing him almost nothing, but he must have sold her food.
I need to get the ranch running, Theo said.
Next up, Azrug said,ing in with a mock-smile. Char grilled wolf steak with [Water Leeks]. Other side of the river.
What? Tresk asked.
I was going to ask where she got the [Water Leeks], Theo said,ughing.
Of course you were, Azrug said, grinning. Bye.
He darted off before Theo could say another word, scooping up a tray from behind the bar to serve another group.
The group didnt say another word, they simply grabbed their utensils and dug in. The steak was very simr to the Karatan steak Xam had cooked in the past, but better. There wasnt any salt to speak of, or butter, just the natural vors of the wolf steak and a smoky charred finish. But it was just better. The vors were more intense, and they lingered on his tongue for longer. The little green things, which were apparently leeks, had a vor all their own. It was somewhere between a [Swamp Onion] and raw vegetation, but it paired amazingly well with the steak. Tresk let out an audible sigh of satisfaction, patting her belly when she finished her food.
Another prompt came from the system.
[Cooks Banquet!] Youve consumed the second of three meals from a cooks banquet (Char grilled wolf steak with water leeks). Eat thest course to gain a buff.
Oh, that was good, Luras said, leaning back in his chair. How much does that core improve her cooking?
Theo finished thest piece of his steak, letting out a contented sigh. He didnt think the core had much to do with it, not at her current level. Something else pushed her to improve her cooking, even if the core helped. She just needed that spark to get going, to pull her out of that slump.
Im sure the core helps, Aarok said. But shes inspired. That goes a long way for someone like her.
Well, wereing every night if she does this again, Tresk said. She withdrew some [Monster Cores] from her inventory and looked around. Im gonna make this ce bigger.
Tresk, wait, Aarok said, holding up a steadying hand, but it was toote. The Marshling had jumped from her seat and was jamming cores into the wall like it was a mote port on the [ssware Artifice].
Its only level 1! Tresk shouted, dodging away from Aaroks powerful grasp. She jammed faster.
Who is upgrading my tavern? Xam shouted.
Tresk let out a shrillugh, vanishing from sight as the Half-Ogre woman stomped over.
Wasnt me, Theo said, holding up his hands.
Theres another one! I can barely seethere are too many prompts, Xam said. Another cackle from Tresk. Gods, Im going to have to expand this ce. Hold on.
There wasnt enough time to heed her warnings. The floor rocked under their feet as the tavern expanded in every direction. People fell from their chairs, hitting the ground and issuing a series ofughs. When the dust had settled, Tresk stood atop their table in a victorious pose.
Cant say Tresk never did anything for ya, she said, grinning. The first 10 levels are basically free.
The floor space of the Marsh Wolf Tavern had nearly doubled. Those that were cast from their chairs righted themselves, casting their eyes over the ce with a mix of confusion and delight.
Now I need to pick upgrades, Xam said, crestfallen.
You can minimize those, Aarok said, averting his gaze from the woman.
Yes, I suppose I can, Xam said, pressing her finger into her chin. At least theres more space.
Tresk returned to her seat as the Half-Ogre woman moved away, back to her new bubbly self.
Whats up with people in this town not upgrading their stuff? Theo asked.
Its a theme, Luras said.
Well, now theres more room, Tresk said. Thanks to me. Youre wee.
Thank you, Tresk, Theo said.
You should have done it at a different time, though, Aarok said, looking over the new interior with a smile. It is nice, though.
The group shifted their discussion to smaller topics as they waited for thest course. This one took far longer than the others, likely because of the sudden change in the interior. Azrug eventually came to set down the tes, steam rising off the desert. It looked like an apple had been sliced and arranged in a circle around the copper te, baked and dressed with a ze. The group dug in.
For a desert, the dish had a tamed sweetness that wasnt overpowering. It was gentle, and the heat of being baked helped it tremendously. The ze on top was slightly sweet, as though it were an underdeveloped syrup. Theo suspected it was derived from the cypress trees, but he couldnt be sure. Eating food didnt always bring up the property discovery prompt.
They finished the meal in silence, everyone eagerly awaiting the systems prompt as they licked their tes clean.
[Food Buff!] Youve consumed apleted Cooks Banquet.
You require 1 hour less of rest to be fully rested.
After resting, you will gain the following effect:
+1 to all 3 random stats.
The effect might seem minor, but it had big implications. Theo assumed that Xam was below level 10 with her new core, and it was likely amon quality core at that. Once she upgraded it and got some levels, the effects would be absurd. This drove his mind harder into the ranch, forcing him to realize how amazing it would be to have a constant supply of [Cooks Banquets] in the future.
Who knew the power of food would be this strong? Tresk said.
This is big, Theo said, nodding in agreement. Think about how powerful this is going to be.
Theo spotted Xam marching over with a smile on her face. Well? she asked.
It was absurdly delicious, Theo said, grinning. The rest of the group joined in agreement. How much do we owe you?
Ah, well, Xam said, blushing. The cores should cover the cost of the meal.
Nonsense, Aarok said.
How do you put a price on a buff like that? Luras asked.
Azrug appeared without warning, sneaking up behind Xam. Im d you asked. Somewhere near 50 copper, I think. If youre matching it to the cost of our attribute potions, anyway.
Im assuming this is a special asion, Theo said, withdrawing 4 silver from his inventory. He slid it across the table to Xam. Charge a silver for the banquet. Ill cover the cost of anyone who cant afford it tonight.
Xam took the money hesitantly. More blush spread across her cheeks. Thank you.
Most days shes going to offer affordable meals, Azrug said. Even if the perpetual stew will be amazing because of her core, shes going to fix it at a low price. Going back to the single copper stew meals so people dont go hungry anymore.
Then you sell the banquets at a premium, Luras said, nodding. Yeah, thats a great idea.
Theo leaned back in his chair, remembering the hungry look in the childrens eyes when they arrived. He considered himself broke, at the moment, but he could still easily afford to pay for the entire towns meals 20 times over at 1 silver apiece.
You need to hang a sign, Xam, Theo said, leveling his gaze at her. Free meals for anyone who cant afford it. No questions asked.
Thats not very good business, Azrug said, grinning. The smile washed away when he saw his joke didntnd. But I support it. Just making a joke.
Ill cover it, Xam said. You get that ranch running, offer me some deals. Thats all I ask.
Theo smiled. That was one less problem off his mind. When he arrived at Broken Tusk, people were working poverty wages. They could afford a single meal a day, leaving nothing for rent or other expenses. With him covering everyones rent if they couldnt pay, and Xam covering their meals, everyone in Broken Tusk was guaranteed afortable life. But he knew they wouldnt settle for that, not from what hed seen so far. Theyd strive to be better than they were with thatyer offort. Theyd push hard and be the best versions of themselves, like the Half-Ogre woman had.
The idea of social supportworks was strange, at first. Most peoples instincts might be to hold onto all their wealth. But Theos thoughts on the matter werent entirely unselfish. A strong workforce was what he needed, not a pile of gold. It was impossible for him to do everything himself, even if he wanted to. There wasnt enough time in the day, and he didnt have enough core slots. Besides that idea, there was the issue of cores conflicting with each other.
Theo and his group walked outside, making room for others in the newly expanded tavern. The sun still clung to the horizon in the west, painting the swamp with streaks of orange and purple. Xolsas portal, near the monolith in the center of town, flickered for a moment before extinguishing itself.
How is that portal working, anyway? Theo asked.
Adventurers haveined it makes them dizzy for a while, Aarok said.
Beats trudging through the swamp to get to the dungeon, Luras said.
That reminds me, Theo said, looking around to make sure the crowd was far enough away. Well have to worry about the other dungeons soon. If the wizards theory is correct.
Theres always more to worry about, Luras said.
Theo turned on the spot to get a look at Xams newly erged building. It was considerably bigger. The cogs were falling into ce quickly, and he needed to be ready to react at a moments notice. With his friends by his side, he doubted it would be an issue. The alchemist didnt want to look away from the truth anymore. He wanted to stare whatever this destiny was right in the eyes, unblinking and unflinching.
I have to wonder, Theo said. What is Broken Tusk? What are we building here? A safe ce for people? A mercantile empire? An army?
All of those options, Tresk said, pping Theo on the back. Were building everything. You name it, were building it.
Everything at once, Aarok said with a chuckle. That sounds about right.
Theo, a voice came from afar. Gridgen trotted over with his son on his hip, grinning. You sent me more workers.
I believe I promised that, Theo said.
Of course you did, Gridgen said. I just didnt expect them so quickly.
Any monsters show up? Tresk asked.
In Dead Dog? No, Gridgen said, waving her off. Its been really calm. I just had a questionyou said wed get a wage, but I didnt know how that was supposed to happen.
Technically, the system should know to deposit the money into Gridgens inventory, if he had one. Theo wasnt sure what would happen if the man didnt have one.
Well, do you have any copper on you? Theo asked.
Well, a few. I mean, I have 20 of those nuggets in my dimensional bag, Gridgen said, fumbling into a sack with his free hand.
Theo held out his hands, cupping them to receive the nuggets. They went back and forth a few times before the total amount was transferred, a message opping into both of their vision.
[Item Delivered] Youve received an item bound to the contract [Dead Dog Mine].
Automatically calcting value based on best information
Best information received from [Azrug Slugs] mercantile cores
Additional information received from recent sales conducted by [Throk]...
[Copper Nugget] price set to 1c per 10 units.
Gridgen dug into his bag, withdrawing 2 copper that had magically appeared. Likewise, 2 copper had vanished from Theos inventory.
Hopefully youve mined more than that, Theo said,ughing.
A lot more, Gridgen said. Hundreds of nuggets, and we just figured out what we were doing.
Theo withdrew a silver coin from his inventory, splitting it into 100 copper and dropping it into the mans bag. This should get you started. So you can roll out some wages.
Thanks, Theo, Gridgen said. Good to know the contract works, anyway.
The man departed, moving strangely with the extra weight sitting on his hip. The child seemed happy enough about the event, giggling as they went.
I still need someone to smelt the ore, Theo said.
Youll find someone, Luras said. You always find someone.
Alright. Come on, alchemist. We need to get to bed, Tresk said, pulling Theo by the arm. You always get cranky if you dont have enough sleep.
Theo felt himself being tugged away by the Marshling, waving sheepishly at Aarok and Luras as he went. He managed a weak bye before he was out of range. Trudging down the path, the alchemist felt something strange wash through his body, like a hot wind blowing through his cores. As soon as it came, it went, leaving him feeling unnerved.
With a stomach full of food and a mind full of hope, sleep came easy that night. The moment Theos head hit his soft pillow he was out, even before Tresks loud snores could fill the room.
Chapter 2.38: Drogramaths Descendants
Chapter 2.38: Drogramath''s Descendants
Xams banquet was worth the price. Theo woke the next morning well before dawn with a single point bonus in strength, dexterity, and intelligence. He woke the next morning feeling refreshed, having a pleasant breakfast with Tresk. He expected a need from Perg. It had been a while since hed created either the [Alchemic Tannin] or the [Stripping Solution] she used for her process, and she hadnte calling for it. He busied himself with those reactions in the morning, eager to check on his garden and work on the refined stamina essence for the day. With the ingredients on hand, it took very little time to aplish his first task of the day, looking with satisfaction at therge sks filled with the tannery solutions.
Before departing from theb, he mixed a [Lesser Potion of Growth] with the [Aerosolize] modifier. It was time for his cultivation project to enter the next phase, now that his small garden was filled with nts. Entering the gravel yard, he noted the nts were doing well. He also remembered the explosion that had happened from errant potions leaking into the gravel and grimaced. Tresk had already departed for the day, leaving him without the cores to upgrade his shop and get the [Experimentation Room] upgrade.
This was fine for now. The [Aerosolized] modifier seemed to disperse through the air, not affecting the things in the soil. A thought shed through his mind for a moment. Hed only thought of using that modifier for his growth potions, but it seemed like the most powerful. If he applied it to a healing potion, that would guarantee an area-of-effect heal for everyone who inhaled the smoke. He also thought about dropping two at the same time, potions that conflicted with each other, to create an explosion. The alchemist shook the thoughts away. They had enough bombs for another wave. He didnt need to concern himself with that.
Theo learned from hisst attempt at throwing something a few feet. He simply wasnt dexterous enough to aplish the task, using a short-ranged underhand technique this time. The familiar fog came rolling out of the point of impact, boiling over the ground and seeping into the nts. All the nts grew visiblyrger, the cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle] even growing into its mature form. Growth time for reagents in the swamp was short, but with this method, he could reliably make more nts as long as he had the growth potion.
The alchemists theory was simple, but it needed to be proven. When nting something in the enriched soil, could he simply toss a growth potion on top to force it to mature. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle] seedlings grew from small buds sticking from the ground to full nts with broad, spiny leaves. Theo nodded in satisfaction, digging with his gloved hands to reveal a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] that was significantly bigger than the original. He inspected the item before harvesting it.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]
Common
This [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.
Cultivation:
50%
Unit by volume:
6 units
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] ????
Repeating the process, Theo dug up the other 3 he had nted. 2 of them were at the same cultivation level, while one hit 60%. Instead of 6 units by volume, it was 7. He could extrapte this in his mind to mean that a 100% cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] would produce 11 units by volume, which was a massive improvement. There was also the goal of refining these cultivated ingredients, producing higher-quality essences in the process. The alchemist mentally designated the lesser-cultivated roots for grinding, slicing therger one forter use.
Theo was then left with an ufortable truth. While the root was simply to propagate, he did not know how the others would work. Both the [Mages Bane] and [Roc Berries] didnt have tubers growing under them. They both had flowers, but that wasnt helpful. The alchemist grumbled at hisck of knowledge, rising to his feet and dusting the dirt from his robe.
The walk to Banus farm felt like a walk of shame, but the bright faces of the people in Broken Tusk banished that way. While Theo woke up early, he couldnt hold a candle to the farmers. By the time he arrived in their fields, they were already well into their day. Those fields affected by his alchemically enhanced soil were obvious. The Zee grew taller, with thicker stalks andrger fruit. Those using the old method seemed anemic byparison.
Theo spotted the windmill, the massive des held still as the building rested. They were running it, as evidenced by the bread Xam had made, which would be amazing for the town. The alchemist spent some time standing there, watching the farmers work before Banu approached him.
Just taking in the sights? Banu asked.
Theo thought for a moment before responding. He was feeling strangely wistful today, as though everything in the town was amazing. It was a sense of nostalgia that wasnt earned; he simply hadnt lived in the town long enough. He decided that thought was too much of a burden on the farmer.
I am, Theo said with a smile. But Ivee with a question.
Naturally, Banu said. Ask away.
Theo paused for a moment before responding. He felt something fall across his chest, like wayward leaves blown from some unseen tree above. But the farms were clear of trees. Only the sky rested above them, streaked with the colors of the passing dawn. The alchemist shook it off, turning his gaze back to the farmer.
I have some nts to propagate, Theo said.
Banu let out a deep bellyugh. And you do not know what youre doing. I get it. What kind of nts are they?
Theo exined them briefly, detailing the features that he thought were noteworthy. Banu nodded as he spoke, grinning at the end.
Youll need to take clippings of those. Try to keep a few leaves and cut them at an angle. A day in water should have them ready for nting, Banu said.
Right, Theo said with a nod. If you like, I can cultivate some of your Zee.
Cultivate? Arent we cultivating thend, now? Banu asked.
Theo exined his process of alchemical cultivation. He knew it would work on the Zee, since it had the [Alchemy Ingredient] tag on the items description.
So, you can make my nts bigger? Just like that? Banu asked,ughing. Of course you can. Mind giving me a demonstration?
Not at all, Theo said, gesturing to a field with the modified crop. He pressed his hand against a growing Kernel, surprised at the systems window.
[Zee Kernel]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
This [Zee Kernel] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.
Cultivation:
10%
Unit by volume:
5 units
Properties:
[Regenerate Health] [Cure Poison] ????
These are already starting the first stages of cultivation, I guess, Theo said. Must be the soil.
They are bigger, Banu said. So, I guess so.
Theo felt a rustle through the fields of Zee. A hot wind blew from the north, not only washing over him, but through him. A strange sensation flooded through him, then stopped.
Everything alright? Banu asked.
Theo looked around, trying to spot the culprit, but found nothing. Im fine. Just having a weird feeling about something.
Theo produced a [Lesser Potion of Growth] from his inventory, one modified by the [Aerosolize] modifier, and tossed it. He urged Banu to stand back as the cloud of fog gathered at the base of the Zee stalks, snaking through the patch. In an instant, they grew considerably, dwarfing the rest of the fields and painting the naturally grown fields as sprouts.
Youre just intent on recing my job, arent you? Banu asked, pping his knee andughing.
Not at all, Theo said. He inspected a kernel again, finding that it was at 50% cultivation. As expected, the units by volume went up by 4, totalling 9. 9 units per kernel basically doubles your output. But these need to be grown traditionally. We can douse this entire field, but it makes more sense to hold back a few crops and use those as seeds.
Theyll retain that modifier? Banu asked.
Yes, they should, Theo said, thinking back to his experiments. My little test showed that to be true. The cultivation might fade over time, but well figure that out as we go.
Right. So, keep back the big ones you just made and use those for nting, Banu said,ughing. Gods, I never thought working with an alchemist would be so weird.
Theos concentration was broken the moment Banu stopped talking. The wind came again, this time more intense. He cast his eyes toward the farmer, but found nothing. The gust entered his chest, probing at his cores before backing away in an instant.
You didnt feel that? Theo asked, clutching the front of his robes.
Nope, Banu said, shrugging. Whats going on?
Theo! What was that? Tresk asked. Felt like someone just grabbed my liver.
Gotta go, Theo said, turning on the spot and marching away. His heart was pounding, worry flooding into his body.
Banu said something as the alchemist departed, but those words fell on deaf ears. Theo clutched the Order of the Burning Eyes medallion, fearing the worst.
Come back to town, Theo said, his eyes lingering on every shadow around him. That felt like Drogramath trying to touch my soul.
The sensation was undeniable. It was the same energy that permeated the air within the swamp, amplified and directed right into his chest. But there was no rush of wind to follow. No Sulvan running at inhuman speeds to intercede against the Demon Lord.
Im already here, Tresk said. Watching you nowtheres someone following you.
Someone? Theo said, looking over his shoulder. He quickened his pace. Who?
Some tall Human, Tresk said. I cant make them out. Theyre hidden. Keep walking to theb. Im gonna get em.
Theo turned the corner around hisb, pressing his back against the wall and waiting. Another pulse shot out, somewhere from up the road, and rushed through his chest. He winced, feeling a sh of anger welling in his chest. Without knowing how, heshed out against the unwee probing, feeling something strange on the other end. It was as though he reached out with his hand and grasped something warm and familiar. An object hed held a thousand times before, resting in his mental grasp as an old friend.
Then, a figure emerged from around the wall. An oddly tall Human woman wearing little more than a threadbare sack. She was covered in muck, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. Theo withdrew a bomb from his potion, holding it aloft.
Stay back, he said, eyes going wide as she came closer.
Belgar, she said, voice muffled through sobs.
Before Tresk could burst from the shadows she was upon him. Instead of the vicious attack he expected, she pulled him into a close hug. It was only then that he noticed the slight shimmer around her body. The strange field caught the light, and he understood it to be an illusion.
Get your hands off my alchemist! Tresk shouted, bursting from the shadows with daggers leading.
Wait, Theo said, holding up a hand. Lady, are you okay?
Tresk skid to a stop, heaving breath and letting out a low growl. Dont you dare hurt him.
Its been too long, the woman said. I had lost hope ages ago, but then
She moved back, withdrawing something from nowhere. Theo recognized it wasnt an inventory, but a quirk of her illusion. What she withdrew was a potion, one of the first that the alchemist had made.
Theo reached out with his mind, expressing the intent to inspect the woman. It was an ability he never used, as it was considered rude. This was a strange circumstance, though.
[Zarali] Level 32 | Priestess Of Drogramath
The alchemist stumbled back, eyes going wide. I dont know you, he said. Who are you?
Zarali let out a sobbing sigh, wiping her eyes and leveling her gaze with him. Youve forgotten. I would beg our Lord to level this ce to the ground for coring you so, but they may have been your savior.
Youre going to need to borate, woman, Tresk said, growling again.
Zarali managed a weak chuckle. Youre soul-bonded, marked, and ruined.By His belt. What have they done to you? Fine, perhaps this will help your memory.
With a wave of her hand, Zarali dispelled the illusion. Theos mouth fell open as a shimmering wave of energy worked its way from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet. She had long, raven ck hair with horns that matched the shape of her head. Her skin was pale purple with violet eyes to match. The robes she wore were a deep shade of purple, stitched with gold in intricate symbols that the alchemist recognized as Drogramathi script.
Oh, crap! Tresk shouted a little too loud. Theo, she looks just like you! Like, not just another Dronon!
Theo knew the implications. His intuition was good enough to tell him the truth, but there was something else screaming the answer in his chest. It wasnt his cores this time, but his heart. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her, Tresk following closely behind, into the Newt and Demon. The alchemist waved away Azrugs questions, snapping thebs door shut and fixing his gaze on the woman.
I didnt want to consider this idea, Theo said, swallowing hard. And this is going to be too much for you to hear right nowyou should have a seat.
Whats going on, Theo? Tresk asked, bouncing up and down.
Theo gestured to a chair, and Zarali took it. She had a quizzical look on her face, something that mingled with sorrow. Please, she said, her lip quivering slightly. Dont say it
I wont let it linger. I wont lie to you, Theo said, gesturing to the door and nodding at Tresk.
Tresk picked up on what his intent was without words. She swung it open and screamed at Azrug, who had his ear pressed against the door. The shopkeeper nearly peed his pants, screaming back and tumbling down the stairs. The Marshling snapped it shut immediately after.
A question had lingered in Theos mind since he arrived. In all the system-generated text about him, it called him Belgar, or Theo Spencer (Belgar). He had many theories on the topic, but no evidence to back any of them up. His first thought was that the system simply generated him a new body and a random name. Another theory, the one that he came to believe in that moment, was darker in nature.
There was just one answer among his theories. One fact that stuck out among them. Zaralis resemnce to him was too much, sealing his thoughts with conviction.
Your brother, Belgar, is dead, Theo said, bracing himself. Im just inhabiting his body.
The look of devastation on Zaralis face was heart-breaking. She cupped her hands over her face and started sobbing again. Even Tresk felt bad for her. Theo could feel it. The Marshling waddled over and ced aforting hand on the Dronons shoulder, casting the alchemist a worried look.
Way to break the news, idiot, Tresk said.
Tearing the bandage off quickly is better, Theo said. Even though he said that, it didnt help the sobbing woman in front of him.
Hes been dead for 23 years, hasnt he? Theo asked.
Yes, Zarali managed between sobs. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. But its you, brother. Belgar. Your face, your eyes. Your
She broke off again, face back in her palms.
Oh, you are not good with people, Theo, Tresk said.
Im great with people, Theo said.
Yeah, clearly not, Tresk said, snorting augh. There, there little Demondy. Its okay.
Its not okay! Zarali shouted.
Start from the start, Theo said. What happened to Belgar?
Zarali looked up at him with pleading eyes. She took a steadying breath, and the air stung with magic. You and I had our backs against the wall, 23 years ago. In the Veostian Hintends. A silent war with Lord Zagmons cults. She took a moment to steady herself before continuing. I saw you die, then you vanished. Ive been looking for you ever since.
Belgar was a Dronon before Theo got the body, that much was clear. Whoever designed this swap was heartless to do such a thing. The poor woman was scouring the for her dead brother for 23 years. But that man was dead. The alchemist couldnt feel anything but himself within that body. He moved to kneel by her, taking her hand in his and managing a weak smile. He wanted to cry with her, but he wouldnt.
Im not your brother, Theo said.
She shifted ufortably in the chair, looking around theb. I know. I had I wanted to hope that you were. I knew it the moment I swept my power over the town, but I wanted to hope, she said, meeting his gaze. Her expression shifted in an instant, features brightening considerably. My Belgar would have never kept such a horridb. Who created those fermentation barrels? Why, in the name of our Lord, Drogramath the Potioneer, would you use a single-stage condenser system? No bubbler tes? At least you have a [ssware Artifice].
Zarali stood, straightening her robe and wiping the tears from her eyes. She took in a steady breath. This ce is a mess, brotherah, was it Theo?
Well, thats a shift, Tresk said,ughing.
And you arent channeling any of Drogramaths energy, even when it soaks the air? Zarali asked. No, perhaps youre not my brother, but youre a Drogramath Dronon. In my brothers body, maybe, but a descendant of Drogramath all the same. Come, I have some suggestions to make.
Theo watched her move through theb, and a new pain flooded through his heart. This wasnt a sudden shift, as Tresk suggested. She was hiding the pain away, deep in her chest. She pushed it down to ignore what was standing right in front of her, but he had to wonder if it was such a bad thing to do. The alchemist put on a smile, grabbing her by the arm with the intent to give her a tour.
Chapter 2.39: Big Bad Demon Man
Chapter 2.39: Big Bad Demon Man
Zarali was a woman between two worlds. As Theo gave her a tour of theb, including the custom tanks outside, she shifted between sorrow and excitement. The alchemist knew she was processing her brothers death in her own way, dying the grieving process as long as possible. She had many opinions about his setup, only admitting he was doing well when he exined the full story.
Youre doing well for someone transmigrated, Zarali said, nodding happily. Most Drogramath Dronon spend decades on this stuff.
Ive had help, Theo said, gesturing to the copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy on the table.
And Im guessing you got that for a pittance. That tome is more valuable than you know, she said. Lord Drogramath has taken a special interest in you. You should remove that ne and the mark on your chest.
Theo didnt tell her about the strange tattoo that Sulvan metouched gave him. He also wasnt about to give himself into a Demon Lord because someone he didnt know said so. His assessment of the woman was that she was being honest and was actually Belgars sister. He also sensed no hostile intent from her, his superior intuition backing that up. His cores,bined with Tresk, painted her as a harmless, grieving woman.
Not likely, Tresk said. Were not ready to give ourselves up to the big bad demon man yet.
Well, consider yourself lucky, Zarali said. The only reason I trust you is because your cores havent exploded in your chest. If Lord Drogramath approves of this soul-bond, then he approves of you. By extension, I trust you.
He hadnt considered that. He was wearing the skin of her brother, which was bad enough. cing himself in her shoes, Theo would have been angry. But there was a higher power at work here, something that Zarali bound herself to. She was a priestess of Drogramath. The alchemist couldnt decide if he was happy about that. Being a puppet didnt interest him, but the benefits the Demon Lord provided were undeniable.
Lets take it one step at a time, Theo said. Theres a difference between someone born with the cores, and someone like me.
Thats true, Zarali said. She cocked her head to the side and smiled a pained smile. Youre wearing someone elses skin.
Im sorry about that, but I didnt have a choice, Theo said.
Well, of course not, Zarali said.
So, whats your n,dy? Tresk asked.
I dont know, Zarali said. Tears formed in the corners of her already-wet eyes, but she took a deep breath. I didnt n this far.
Well, youre wee to stay here, Tresk said.
Theo didnt know if the Marshling was feeding off of his intent, but that was his thought on the matter. Zarali might be dangerous, but so was he. So was the entire swamp, but that hadnt stopped him yet. Having an expert on Drogramath around was a great thing. He might finally get some answers about the Demon Lords master n. At the very least, she could help them contend with the powerful energy emanating from the dungeon.
Id like that very much, Zarali said. I have a few things to teach you about alchemy, brother. Things that you taught me, actually.
Theo winced at her use of brother. He would embrace it.
Thats a good enough cover for me, Theo said. Well introduce you to the town as my sister.
Thats only going to work for the new people, Tresk said. Everyone else knows you were sent from another world.
Thats fine, Theo said, digging through his mayors screen and essing the alert system. He mentally typed a simple message, hitting send.
[Theo]: Aarok, Luras, Azrug, report to myb, please.
Only a moment passed before Azrug came tumbling through the door, standing at attention with a wide-eyed look. She looks just like you.
This is my sister, Theo said, gesturing.
Azrug screwed up his face, eyes darting between Theo and Tresk. Uh-huh.
They stood there in awkward silence for some time. Eventually the bell rang downstairs, Luras and Aarok ascending the stairs into the crowdedb.
Another Dronon, Aarok said, casting a look at Theo. Should I be concerned?
Not at all, Zarali said, affecting a shallow bow.
So, this is my sister, Theo said, gesturing to the woman. Zarali.
Your sister? Luras asked, grimacing. Surely not.
Well, not Theo Spencers sister, Zarali said, her face flushing slightly. Belgars sister.
Uh-oh, Azrug said.
Theo exined the story as briefly as he could, watching as his sister teared up during the retelling. She busied herself, moving over to the window to look outside.
So, were pretending shes your sister, Aarok said. Not to offend the demonic priestess standing within spell range, but isnt she dangerous? Isnt Drogramath evil?
Zarali sputtered, spinning around from the window and pointing a finger at the Half-Ogre. Evil? Do I look evil? Drogramath is the most misunderstood God in any pantheon. Ones origin doesnt imply their alignment.
She swept her hand, a wave of gentle force spreading across the room. She narrowed her eyes at Luras, pointing again. Youre too young to remember Baelthars hunt. But your [Hunters Core] is aligned with the God responsible for the purge in Gardreth. The Marshling is steeped in Zauls wicked shadows. No, look at yourselves before you judge my patron.
Silence washed over the room for a long time. Azrug finally broke the stillness.
So, misunderstood Demon God? he asked. I can live with that.
Zarali straightened her robes and tutted. Just so.
Thats just an example of how useful she can be, Theo said. If shes willing to settle down in Broken Tusk.
Just like Xolsa, Luras said, nodding.
Zarali spun to face the Half-Ogre, cocking her head to the side. Thats a strange name. One of the Barathier?
He doesnt even know what he is, and Ive never heard of that race, Theo said. Hes an extra-nar elf.
The Baratheir, Zarali said, nodding.
Okay, so how do you know that? Tresk asked.
Im a schr for our people, Zarali said, puffing with pride. A historian, of sorts.
Now that is useful, Luras said. Well, Im good with it. Honestly, whats the worst that can happen? Were already staring down multiple monster waves as it is.
Sure. She has my vote, Aarok said.
Alright. Shes going to shadow me today, Theo said. I could really use some advice on improving my process.
Yes, I shall shadow you, too, Tresk said, nodding.
What? Dont trust me, little Marshling? Zarali asked.
Nope.
Fair.
The group spent some time talking before dispersing. Zarali was a very normal person, considering her tragic past. Once in a room with several people, and with the fits of sobs behind her, she opened up a lot. Serving Drogramath in Qavell had been challenging with the Order of the Burning Eye around. They werent outright hostile to the followers of Drogramath and werent even the sect of crusaders that banished him to begin with. Another group from the west handled that. They were dark crusaders from the Demon Lord Zagmons faction. The order was happy enough to leave Drogramath and his kin alone, intervening only when the demon influenced the realm directly. Otherwise they seemed to have a silent agreement.
This made sense to Theo. Uharis and Sulvan only came to investigate when Drogramath spoke to him directly, or they got word that a new Dronon had appeared. It appeared the Order of the Burning Eye had given him a partial truth, shrouding reality from him. Why they would do that was beyond him. In the alchemists experience, it was better to reveal the whole truth to a person and let them decide. Hiding things only bred discontent.
The group eventually cleared out, leaving Tresk, Theo, and Zarali alone.
Is she always with you? Zarali asked, pointing at Tresk.
I suppose you dont know as much about soul-bonds as you thought, Theo said. Even when shes not here physically, shes with me mentally.
Sometimes its like were one person in two bodies, Tresk said, nodding.
Well, at least shes cute, Zarali said.
Tresks face went a bright shade of red and she buried her face in her hands for a moment, rubbing it vigorously.
Show me your process, brother Theo, Zarali said.
Alright, I have some [Stamina Potions] to brew, Theo said.
Start from the start, Zarali said.
Theo thought for a moment. He was running the restoration potions through the advanced process, but was running short on ingredients. Tresk must have felt his mind searching because she spoke up.
I could use more poison, Tresk said.
Perfect, Theo said, moving to the [Dimensional Storage Crate] and pulling out 100 units of [Widow Lily]. Well start with the essence extraction process for these.
Zarali took a flower from him, rolling it over for inspection. A very impressive base reagent for wild-grown. I saw your garden out back, so youre on the right track there. Continue.
Theo felt awkward having someone more knowledgeable about the process than him in the room. He attached his [Alchemical Grinder] to the top of his [Drogramath Still] and waited for her to say something.
A grinder is very efficient, Zarali said, moving to inspect the artifice. Most advanced [Drogramath Alchemists] prefer the manual ones, but this is good for your level.
Theo fed the [Widow Lilies] into the machine, listening to it grind them up. He stowed away the grinder and retrieved water from his barrel, catching Zaralis expression before she said anything.
I understand why youre doing it this way, but its wrong, Zarali said. [Purified Water] is a fine base, but theres a much better method.
What should I do, then? Theo asked. This was the best way he found to process raw essence.
Use your brain, little brother, Zarali said. Youre a [Drogramath Alchemist], not some fool [Alchemist] in the capital.
Theo thought for a moment. What would be better than [Purified Water]? From what he understood, the water only served as something to carry the essence from the still to the condenser. He stood there with his mouth open, staring into the mash for some time and came up with nothing.
Im missing something, Theo said, feeling a twinge in his cores. Something close at hand.
Hes almost got it, Zarali said, pping a hand over Tresks little shoulder. Watch the gears turn in his mind.
Theos mind focused on his cores. There was a slow, rhythmic pulse in his chest. It was more than just the beating of his heart, but hed never been able to ce the sensation. The topic of alignments and origins of power ran through his mind, those different energies permeating the dungeon. The things Xolsa told him came back in a sh and his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] sang. His face brightened, even if he didnt fully understand what Zarali was edging him toward.
Mana, Theo said after a while.
Well, yes, Zarali said, shrugging. But its more than that. Youre only going off of what you see in the systems messages, but it goes deeper. I feel like a proper teacher.
Zarali crossed the room, dragged a chair over and took a seat. She held her hand out and a purple swirl of magic blinked into existence. Mana takes many forms. Those without cores, or those with unaligned cores, have ess to the primal form. The mana that swells in your chest is aligned with Drogramath.
Theo realized what she was hinting at. He marked her as a good teacher at that moment. Someone who gave up information for nothing was not a good teacher. In his experience, he had to work for knowledge to make it worth it.
I can enchant the water with Drogramaths mana, Theo said.
There he is, Zarali said, grinning. Realizing something a Drogramathi child knows.
Are there demon children? Tresk asked, edging closer to the woman.
There are, Zarali said. For now, continue your process. Well enchant some waterter.
Theo returned the lid to his still and withdrew a [me Artifice] from his inventory, setting both the heat and the timer before cing it under the pot. He moved the condenser over a sk to avoid the essence contaminating his storage tank outside. When he stepped back, he noticed a confused look on Zaralis face.
Thats it? she asked.
Yes, Theo said, feeling unsure of his answer. It felt more like a test by the moment. It runs until its done.
She let out abored sigh, approaching the still and cing her hand on the side. For mass production, this is understandable. I can see why you thought a single heat level was a good idea, but its also wrong.
Shes tearing apart your process, Theo, Tresk said.
Honestly, I do not know what Im doing, Theo said. The entire process has been guesswork from the start.
You guessed in the right direction more often than not, Zarali said. Theres a level of artistry that youre missing here.
Theo tried not to let his shoulders slump. He knew he was pping together techniques driven by his intuition. The alchemist knew her experience was tangential, though. She knew what she knew by watching Belgar, understanding the process second-hand. It was hard not to wonder what secrets were lost through that observation.
Im sure youll have something to say about my mixing technique, Theo said.
I have a feeling there are issues, Zarali said.
So, Theo said, generating several vials, 2 units in size. Does the special Drogramath work in the reactions, as well?
Well, Im happy youre eager to learn, she said. Yes, it does. Are you also using un-energized catalysts?
Theo withdrew an iron shaving from his inventory, cing it in the vial. He mixed his [Refined Stamina Essence] with regr [Purified Water], garnering the violent reaction that he had experienced before. The resulting [Stamina Potion] was at great quality, but the Dronon woman still made a face.
The reaction is so explosive because youre doing it half-way right, Zarali said. The catalyst matters, but infusing it with Drogramaths energy will help the reaction. On the positive side, you have the measurements down perfectly. The potion you made puts those blowhards in Qavell to shame.
Theo, thats a good thing! Tresk shouted, running up and shaking him by the shoulders. Fancy alchemist man. Look at you.
Theo could tell she sensed his disappointment. He took a long breath and nodded to himself. He wasnt just doing alright, he was doing amazingly for someone in his position. The alchemist just needed to shift his mindset, to ept the critiques and learn from them.
Yes, fancy alchemy man, Zarali said, chuckling. Perhaps you need a break. This has been a lot of information. You can let your still cook while we do.
Theo was excited to get out of theb and process this information. They left the Newt and Demon, waving off questions from Azrug to tour the town. They garnered more than a few weary nces from the people in town. A new resident was enough to start the rumors, but another Dronon was something else.
Should I hide my form? Zarali asked. Theyre looking at us strangely.
Theyll get over it, Tresk said, waving her off. People in Broken Tusk like to gawk at new things.
Theo started the tour at the farms to the north, showing off his alchemical advancement of the soil. Zarali was impressed with this, as the Drogramath Dronon did little farming. She exined how their people hunted and trapped for their food, rarely relying on arablend to make their meals. They stopped by Zankirs house, who bought the story that Zarali was Theos sister without turning his nose up at the idea. Tresk wanted to y with the children, but they moved along to the quarry.
Drogramaths energy fades here, Zarali said, sweeping her senses over thend. Theo could feel those senses physically wash over him as she did, the familiar hot wind returning for only a moment.
That makes sense, Theo said. His energy ising from the dungeon.
Now that is interesting.
Well check out Xolsas towerter, Theo said.
Ziz was excited to see a new face, and Zarali was interested in the gems they were finding. She imed that if Drogramaths energy were here, the quarry would produce better gems. Better likely meant gems aligned with the Demon Lord. Finally, they walked the road through town and headed south to Dead Dog Mine. They were intercepted by Perg, who wanted more of the alchemical tannery potions, something the Dronon woman was also impressed with. Theo made a quick stop at the Newt and Demon before leading them on into the southern hills.
Dead Dog Mine was in full swing. Upon spotting the entrance, Theo saw piles of copper nuggets, hundreds of the things all gathered there. A smaller pile held iron nuggets, but it was still impressive. The sound of picks striking rock rang from inside the mine, filling the hills with the sounds of industry. The group stood there for a while, but saw no sign of Gridgen and his workers. Deciding not to disturb theborers, they turned away intent on visiting the wizards tower.
I know very little about managing a town, Zarali said. But I can see youre very good at that.
Im trying, Theo said. Whatever Drogramath did to this ce left it in a state. We have regr monster waves, but the reagent regeneration is absurd.
Thats the power of my Lord Drogramath, she said.
Im sure the wizard is gonna be interested in you,dy, Tresk said,ughing.
Right. Next stop, the portal, Theo said.
Chapter 2.40: Through Any Means Necessary
Chapter 2.40: Through Any Means Necessary
Zarali didnt seem to suffer the same disorienting effects of the portal. Tresk and Theo fell to their knees, working to keep the contents of the stomachs from spilling onto Xolsas well-kept stone floor. The Dronon woman swept her senses over the tower, tutting immediately.
What a strange hodgepodge of power, she said, pursing her lips.
The towers wizard came down the winding stairs, eyes wide with surprise. He rxed upon seeing the trio gathered, letting out a steady breath. Best not to sneak up on a mage like that, he said. Who is the priestess?
Belgars sister. Priestess of Drogramath, Zarali said, puffing with pride. She then said something Theo couldnt make out. Thenguage wasnt familiar to him, and by the look on the mages face, he didnt know it either.
I dont think he knows what you said, Theo said, rising to his feet. His bnce was still shaky, but he stood by bracing himself against the wall. She thinks youre part of a race called the Baratheir.
I wouldnt know, Xolsa said, descending the steps. And I dont believe shes really your sister. Although, Im willing to y along with a ruse, if thats what this is.
Zarali looked slightly offended, but Theo held up a silencing hand. Thats quite fine, he said. Its a very loose lie.
Very well, Xolsa said. Is there any reason for your visit?
Im interested in the power you sensed, Zarali said, brightening up again. My brother told me about your theory regarding different energies.
Ive made some progress on that, Theo, Xolsa said, beckoning them up the stairs.
The roof was aze with the familiar symbols, dancing in a circle to trace the curve of the tower. Theo couldnt make out anything, even with his enhanced memory. Tresks eyes darted everywhere, as though she expected an ambush. The alchemist wouldnt think less of her for the vignce. These were strange times.
I dont understand any of the arcanenguages, not least one so foreign, Zarali said, turning her nose up at the disy. She swiped her hand through the air once and a series of Drogramathi Sigils appeared. Those were things Theo could understand well.
Her webwork wasnt as thorough as the one disyed by Xolsa. It was a high-level assessment of the magical energies in the area with corresponding numbers in a unit the alchemist didnt understand. What he could glean from the disy was that Drogramaths energy was the most prevalent. Zarali swiped her hand again and the symbols changed, disying words that Theo could understand, but the content was mostly nonsense to him.
I dont know what a [nar Mage] is, Zarali said, tilting her head. But I understand the dominance of power. The shade one house casts on another, and those in its embrace. Drogramaths presence here is undeniable, but your approach is wrong.
Xolsa bristled for a moment, quickly regaining hisposure. I consider myself the foremost expert on the matter.
Perhaps, Zarali said, squinting and poking a symbol on her disy. It lit up, then faded away. In terms of where this energyes from, I would bow to a [nar Mage]. This webwork is tooplex for me. Exin your n. Be brief.
Xolsa straightened himself up, snapping his fingers to extinguish his interface. He took his finger and drew a diagram in the air. It was the node theory he exined to Theo earlier. Starting from the left with a circle that must have been the swamp dungeon, and moving to the right with each node having a connection to only one other node.
The power is entering the Swamp Dungeon, Xolsa said. The problem is, its getting stuck there. Theres nothing instructing that power to disperse. The n was to send it over to the other dungeons, but Im having difficulty with my wards.
Well, that much is apparent, Zarali said, chuckling. What little I know of nar spellwork tells me enough. Your approach is tooplicated, and besides you misunderstand the concepts.
Do exin, Xolsa said, puffing up.
Theo had never seen the extra-dimensional Elf so engaged. He also didnt really understand what his sister was talking about. Xolsas theory made sense to him.
How much do you understand about dungeon theory? Zarali asked.
Xolsa shifted ufortably on his feet, some of that puffiness leaving his body. Not as much as Id like.
Zarali dispelled the nodes in the air, grinning at the Elf. I know as much as my Lord Drogramath sought to instill in me. I never understood why this information would be useful, but his ns can take centuries toe to pass. Think of the dungeons as a membrane. If you need a physical representation
Zarali sketched her own version of the dungeons connections. Instead of a linear progression, where each dungeon fed the other in a line, she drew an infinitely connectedwork. Her representation was only five dungeons big, each dungeon represented by a small circle, but it was confusing. Every circle was connected with a line to every other circle. Theo understood what she meant by a membrane now.
Proximity matters, but every dungeon is connected to every other dungeon, Zarali said. So, think about the distribution of magical energy as a wave, rather than a linear propagation and your theory holds water.
Do you know what theyre saying? Tresk asked, cocking her head. Cause I dont know what theyre saying.
Power transfers from one dungeon to all dungeons, Theo said, keeping his voice to a whisper.
A simple way of viewing the matter, Belgar, Zarali said, craning her neck to grin at him. Youre not my actual brother, but youre not a durd.
Xolsa danced on the spot, sputtering something. It was the most animated Theo had ever seen him. That makes sense! Wave propagation! Like the ocean! One wavees up to reinforce another, creating a cascade of power. By the Gods, youve solved it.
See? Zarali asked, still staring at Theo. Not evil. Just misunderstood.
I must show you my wards, Xolsa said. Would you join me in the swamp?
Certainly, Zarali said. Belgar, would it be alright if I spent the rest of the day with this lovely Elf?
Theo blinked hard, trying to line up his thoughts. Sure, he said, finally finding something simple to say. Youre wee to stay at the Newt and Demon tonight.
I have a spare room, Xolsa blurted out. On the second flooryoure wee to it.
Ill stay in the tower, Zarali said. Now, lets get back to waves of energy
Theo turned on the spot without hearing another word and marched down the stairs. The interaction was too weird for him, and he didnt want to think about any of the implications. Not of romantic intent, or Drogramaths master n. Tresk followed close behind him, stopping shy of the portal.
Id rather not, she said, defaulting to the Tarahekmunication.
Theo stepped through without another word, falling to the ground instantly.
It feels like my insides are being turned to goo, Theo said.
They might be, Tresk said. Whats your read on her?
Theo had to think a while about that one. Zarali was weird, but he understood that it might have been a response to her grief. It could also have been an act, a cover to serve her masters will. The only other option was she was insane. None of the options sat well with him, but the benefits were still undeniable. She helped Xolsa solve his problem on a whim, nted with knowledge by Drogramath and sent to the swamp to see it through. He let out a heavy sigh, feeling powerful hands bringing him to his feet.
The alchemist thanked the towns person who righted him, patting the man on the shoulder and stumbling toward the Newt and Demon. He leaned against the front counter, garnering an amount of sympathy from Azrug. The shopkeeper was intent on making sure his employer was well before allowing him to leave. As he waited for the nausea to pass, Theo thought about his rtionship with the young man. Azrug was more capable than ever, running the shop with ease and making more money than should be possible for a low-level merchant.
Thank you, Theo said, stumbling up the steps and into hisb.
The timer on his me artifice had turned off, and the sk hadnt overflowed. Fortunately, the example distition he showed Zarali was small enough to avoid such a disaster. He didnt want to consider the idea of getting poison essence all over hisb. Theo ced the essence in his dimensional chest and cleaned the still out with [Cleansing Scrub], eager to get back to some alchemy. Things had been too wildtely.
How far does this path take you, dear alchemist? a voice came from the far side of the room.
Theo nearly jumped out of his skin, clutching his chest and cursing at the darkness. Uharis emerged, sipping a cup of tea and managing a weak smile. Something lingered behind those stony eyes.
Ive had enough of mages today, Theo said, scowling. Enough of influences from outside forces, thank you. Leave a note and be gone, if you dont mind.
What a cordial way to banish someone, Uharis said, taking a seat.
Theo thought of calling Tresk to his side, but dismissed the idea. She wouldnt be much use against a level 80 Archmage, even if she wanted to. The alchemist simply let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the table and leveling his hooded gaze on the mage.
What do you want, Uharis? Theo asked.
Influences Thats the right word, Uharis said, casting his eyes over theb. There was a forlorn expression on his face that sent a twinge through the alchemists chest.
I assume you teleported into myb, Theo said, gesturing to nothing in particr. Dont think I dont know what youve been doing. You knew about the dungeon timer. You knew about our fate herewhy do I have the feeling you knew about Zarali? Xolsa? Damn! Did you know about the Harbinger, too?
Ah, Uharis said, taking a long sip of his tea. Theo noticed how his demeanor had changed entirely. The drunk wizard thing was an act all along, not that it was hard to see through that. Only a fool would fall for such nonsense. The Harbinger? Not at all.
So, why steer me away from an administration core? Did you really think that was a good pick, or was that another ploy? Theo asked.
Ill be honest, Theo, Uharis said. I never expected this much anger from you.
Theo? Are you alright? Im suddenly super pissed, Tresk said.
Im fine, Theo lied. He couldnt hide the bile in his words, even through telepathicmunication.
What did you expect? Theo asked. Whereas he always treated others with respect by giving them the full picture, Uharis hadnt afforded him that luxury. You havent been honest from the start. And would it kill you people to give me five minutes alone? Its one thing after another with you.
Uharis didnt answer. He swirled his tea in contemtion.
Answer some damn questions, wizard, Theo said, mming his fist against the table. You owe me as much. If your intention was to drive me away from Drogramath, youve done the opposite. Youve sent me into his embrace.
I could snap my fingers, Uharis said, demonstrating by snapping his fingers. And destroy Broken Tusk. I could think and wipe you from this ne.
You would have done so already, Theo said, sweat forming on his forehead.
I would have, Uharis said, letting out a ragged sigh. He slumped in his chair slightly, something that Theo didnt miss. Sulvan thought The Archmages brow knit tightly and he shook his head. He sees something in you. Something hes not telling me. He was right, and I was wrong.
Enough of dancing around, Theo said. Tell me the truth. Why did youe here? What does the Order of the Burning Eye want with me? Am I destined to be evil? To serve Drogramath?
Uharis heaved a breath, a pained smile spreading across his face. Sulvan is eons old. He knows things. I was sent to spy, which you already knew. I detected the abnormality with the dungeon immediately and linked your crystal to it. When I detected Xolsas arrival, I knew somethingrger was at work. Then a Drogramathi Priestess? Thats just too much.
So, what? Theo asked,ughing despite his rage. Im forced to sit at the throne of some Demon Lords destiny?
Drogramath? Uharis asked, cocking an eyebrow. No, hes just a yer in this game. Another piece on the board.
Then Im a pawn? Theo asked.
Uharis winced, rising from his seat. Perhaps I shouldnt havee. If you thought of me as an enemy, that would have been a better oue.
Theo crossed the room, grabbing the Archmage by his robe. Answers, damn you.
Uharis regarded him with an expression Theo couldnt ce. After a moment, he found the right word. Pity.
Im afraid I dont know the truth, Uharis said. I wish I did, Theo.
Theo felt a spike of pain drive through his heart. Tears welled at the corners of his eyes. Hed been running from the truth of everything since he got to Broken Tusk. He was done being someones pawn. The alchemist would forge his own destiny and the Gods could be damned for ithe didnt care. Hed defy the order, Qavell, and the entire if it meant living his own way. Hed die trying.
I can tell you This ce was meant to be, Uharis said. Constructed for one purpose.
And what is that? Theo asked, unable to hide his sorrow. The tears flowed from his eyes, stinging his cheeks and flowing down his face. To suffer? To live in this ce, never knowing what knives are in the dark? Which person who enters my town will be thest? To fall to a Demon Lord?
Uharis ced a calming hand on his shoulder, more than a simple gesture. It sent waves offort through the alchemists body, soothing the edges of his tattered soul.
To live. To be happy, Uharis said, brows knitting tightly in pain. A ce for you, and no one else.
Theo copsed to the floor, clutching his face in his hands. The image of Zarali sobbing came to his mind in a rush, joined by countless other images of unimaginable sorrow. It was the release of months of tension, a single act that poured out of him unabated.
We oppose Drogramaths direct intervention in this world, Uharis said, kneading the alchemists shoulder. Use the power that he grants you. Follow the path in your heart, Theo. Gods know The world will need it.
Theo didnt know how long he sat there, sobbing. At some point, an explosion issued on the far side of theb. Uharis had teleported away. He remained there until a familiar presence pulled him into an embrace. Theo Spencer cried into Tresks chest until his eyes stung, herforting aura eventually calming him.
Its nothing we cant handle, Tresk said, waiting until his heaving sobs stopped. Nothing a few daggers cant fix.
I know, Theo said, wiping his snot onto his sleeve. Its just too much, Tresk. What am I supposed to do here?
You heard the wizard, Tresk said, running her mmy hands through his hair. It doesnt matter if this ce is a construct. Youre meant to live your life the way you want.
Theo looked up, locking his gaze with her pale eyes. The way we want, he corrected. This is our town. And our people.
Well make it work anyway we can, Tresk said. Before long, no one can stop us.
Theo nodded, wiping his eyes against his sleeve. It was stained with as much snot as tears, long streaks of wetness running its length. He rose to his feet and took a steadying breath. The breakdown was cathartic, in a way. A buildup of emotions that had rested in his chest since he got there. An expulsion of anger and uncertainty brought to a singr moment. He felt bolstered by Tresks presence. Herplete certainty in his abilities radiated outward.
Through any means necessary, Theo said, steadying himself against hispanion. I have potions to brew.
Chapter 2.41: Creepy Fish-Men
Chapter 2.41: Creepy Fish-Men
Theos sudden outburst wasnt born of fear, but frustration and anger. It came in a sh and left just as quick, his mind bolstered by his Tarahek. The bond they shared went beyond just skills and attributes, bleeding into their personalities and state of mind. Tresk was a fortress of mental stability. Nothing got to her, and if she fell she got right back up. That sense of confidence bloomed in the alchemists chest. The tasks thaty before him were many, but there was a catharsis in his work.
Tresk stayed with him as he performed his reactions. Instead of turning his [Mana Essence] into [Refined Mana Essence], the alchemist made a bulk batch of [Lesser Mana Potions], totalling 1,000. Theo didnt want to wait, though. He wouldnt sit around for Zaralis instruction on how to enchant his water. There were many things hed figured out on his own with minimal instruction. He wasnt the smartest person around, but that didnt matter. He was persistent and unafraid of hard work. Where most people would give up, hed m his head against the problem until it was done.
Do you have any abilities that use mana? Theo asked, wiping his brow and taking a seat.
The weather outside had stabilized, favoring blue skies with scattered showers. The constant downpour had abated for now. Theo made a note of that. It was only the 38th day of the Season Of Blooms.
Yeah, I have a few, Tresk said,ing to sit next to him.
Theo appreciated her concern for him, but she must have known he was fine. Perhaps her presence was the source of hisfort.
You saw Zarali summon her mana, Theo said. Why cant I do that?
Sure? Why not? Tresk asked. It feels like a tingling sensation in my [Assassins Core].
Do you think thats where the mana is? Theo asked, knitting his brow.
Yeah, maybe, Tresk said, holding out her hand. She grunted, a look of concentration spreading across her features. After a moment, she let out a breath and shrugged. Might be quicker if we ask someone who uses magic.
Theo thought about that for a moment. He didnt want to see Xolsa or Zarali for the rest of the day. His sister annoyed him more than could be exined by an unexpected visitor. The alchemist could tell she was inserting herself into the town and Uharis words sealed that in his mind.
It might, Theo said, holding his hand out with his palm up. But I dont want to see her again today and I dont want to be manipted.
Theo felt something in his cores, but it was strange. There was a well in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] that hed never tapped, and the surrounding seals were tight. Tresk waited with him for the rest of the day, helping him with his alchemy and guiding him blindly through the exercises. She disappeared somewhere near dusk and returned with deep bowls of Xams new stew. The buff it provided was small, nothingpared to the banquet, but the food was delicious.
Before bed, the pair pressed their foreheads together. As with the siege, they received an absurd amount of experience points to their [Tarahek Core]. Something about traumatic events caused an increase in that core. His [Governance Core] ran the daily tally during their exchange, bringing it to level 3.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (25%).
[Tarahek Core] leveled up! Level 13.
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.1%).
[Governance Core] leveled up! Level 3.
Waking the next morning, he started the process all over again. There was so little he understood about his own body, but with Zarali in the picture, he had questions. There was a disconnect between his mind and that body; a borrowed body.
Its not a skill, Tresk said, pouring Theo a cup of tea. She was still doting on him, but he felt her pulling away. So, you should be able to just do it.
Well, I think our theory is right. Infusing the water should be easy. Its like taking the Drogramath energy around us, passing it through my [Drogramath Alchemy Core], and infusing the water, Theo said.
Why dont you practice on a barrel of water? Tresk asked, moving to slide a 200 unit barrel over.
Theo kicked himself for not thinking about that. He was trying to replicate the me Zarali summoned, but what was the point of that?
I never understood what the fermentation barrels were talking about, Theo said, holding his open palm over the water. They ept motes, or mana. I just never thought about feeding them mana.
Thats what Zarali was telling you, Tresk said with a nod. Maybe a hint?
Maybe.
The moment Theo held his hand over the water, he felt something twinge in his chest. Intent made up a lot of the crafting in this world, something he already knew. When he ran his stills, the resulting essence was based on intent. The puzzle was easy to solve at that point. It didnt matter how much he focused on the mana in his alchemy core, it wasnt designed to work the way Zaralis core worked. In an instant, he felt something flood out of his chest. A wave of purple energy fell over the water, causing it to boil and turn a shade of violet in a matter of moments. The alchemist stumbled back, caught by Tresk.
Theos head swam, the room around him spinning uncontrobly. A quick inspection of his mana showed it waspletely empty, all 40 points drained to nothing.
You good? Tresk asked. How did you figure it out?
It was easy once I realized the system would do the work, Theo said. Ugh, Im still dizzy.
Cause youre out of mana, Tresk said, retrieving a fresh [Lesser Mana Potion] from the table and handing it to him.
Theo drank a mana potion for the first time. It fizzed in his mouth like a carbonated drink, stinking his throat as it went down. The vor was uninteresting, a weak mixture of mushrooms and fruit. The dizziness calmed the moment his mana was restored, allowing him to stand on his own. He inspected his new creation.
[Enchanted Water]
[Alchemy Component]
Epic
Water that has been infused with Drogramaths energy.
Alignment:
Drogramath (Weak Bond)
Weak bond, Theo said, reading the description. What do you think that means?
No idea, Tresk said. But, hey! You got your water!
I think that was the first time I used mana, Theo said, grinning.
Good job, Tresk said, pping a hand on his back. See? We dont need anyone.
Theo nodded, turning to smile at hispanion. Thats right.
Alright, Tresk said, holding her hand out. Give me some health potions, Im gonna go dungeoning.
Theoughed, transferring a few potions from his inventory to their shared inventory. Check the shared inventory, he said.
Thanks, Tresk said, beckoning him down for a forehead pressing. He obliged, but they didnt get as much experience as before. She looked out the window, vanishing from the spot before he could say another word.
Theo made a mental n for the rest of the day. He left the Newt and Demon after talking to Azrug. Making his way to the adventurers guild, he saw a crowd of unfamiliar faces outside of the Marsh Wolf Tavern. He ducked inside of the guild before they spotted him. Aarok had the entire order filled by the time he got there. The [So Much Potion] quest wasplete. 1,000 of each restoration reagent and a smattering of stat-bearing reagents, totaling 1,500.
d you got a storage crate, Theo said, transferring the items into his inventory.
Me too, Aarok said. Did you see the new settlers?
Theo winced. He needed people to work in the town, but he didnt want to spend his day directing them on what to do. I need an assistant.
Yeah, Aarok said. Any ns for them?
I need someone to work lumber, and more miners, Theo said. Oh, and a smelter.
Well, theres 10 peopleing to settle this time, Aarok said. Last time it was 5. Theres bound to be someone with decent cores.
Theo took a steadying breath, turning to leave.
You gotta pay me, Aarok said.
Theo turned back around and withdrew the money from his inventory. After forking over 13 silver 50 copper, he left the adventurers guild. The crowd caught his attention before he could slink away, following him down the road and requesting citizenship.
Theo interviewed the entire crowd at once, asking everyone to raise their hands to different questions. Everyone was sorted on housing, either bringing their own house seed, sharing with other settlers, or staying at the tavern long-term. Most had standardborer cores, but a trio had forestry experience. He reserved those three for his lumber project, designated an area for the new miners to settle, and sent 7 settlers off to talk with Gridgen.
Youll be working with Sledge, Theo said, gesturing north.
The 3 humans followed him past the Marsh Wolf Tavern, all excited that there were jobs avable in the town. Theo didnt have a lumber mill seed core, but Sledge cut the trees down without one. He exined their job wasnt just to cut trees, but to ensure the mighty cypress trees were healthy. They were interested in how fast things grew here, and the alchemist smiled at their optimism.
Sledge, Theo said, surprised to see the woman working on furniture. I didnt expect to see you.
Right, Sledge said. Busy with fabrication.
Well, Ive got some new townsfolk that I need you to train, Theo said. He held up a hand before she objected. Im sure you can find time in your schedule. They just need to understand the swamp. How to cut Ogre Cypress. That kind of thing.
Apprentice foresters? Sledge said,ughing. Alright. No one cares about working wood in this town.
Thanks, Theo said. Just get them up and running. The basics. We can worry about our lumber empireter.
Right, Sledge said, suddenly leveling her gaze on a Human man. You! Grab thatno, not that! The saw, you fool!
Theo backed away slowly, watching the Humans scramble around to do what the Marshling wanted. This was the way forward for him, putting the new townspeople with others, instead of directing them himself. He didnt stick around to watch Sledge, praying that she wouldnt be too hard on them. The alchemist knew it didnt matter. An image of Qavell had formed in his mind and it wasnt great. He didnt burden himself with their problems, though. Focusing on Broken Tusk was the only thing that mattered.
I just spotted Zarali and Xolsa walking through the swamp, Tresk said. I think theyre going to hold hands soon.
Maybe they are, Theo said, wincing at the thought.
He has these pirs of magic spread through the swamp, Tresk said. I guess thats his array.
Makes sense, Theo said. He didnt understand how Xolsas system worked, but if it was dangerous Uharis would have warned him. Despite the alchemists anger at the Archmage, he trusted his judgment. It was just too hard to let someone like that into his life. On one hand, it seemed like cheating. On the other, it seemed like subservience. Either way, Theo wasnt interested. We should see how else we can use Drogramaths energy to empower the town.
Sounds good to me, Tresk said. Honestly, he seems less evil than my Patron.
That was a topic Theo didnt want to consider. Zaul, the Prime God of Shadows, seemed like a real piece of work. The influence they exerted on Tresk was mostly bad, turning her into a more angry person. That was why the Tarahek was so important. It bnced them both out, so he didnt mind that his other cores were falling behind. As long as his [Tarahek Core] was his highest core, he feltfortable.
Azrug wanted Theos opinion on some things in the shop before he went into theb. As they talked about what the best cement of things was, the alchemist looked at the shopkeepers earnings on the newest report.
You turned over 30 gold this month, Theo said, interrupting Azrug as he gestured to arge disy in the corner of the store.
Yeah, but it cost me 20 gold, he said, snorting augh.
Theo spotted his mistake. He was looking at earnings before expenditures, which the screen calcted for him. 10 gold was nothing to turn his nose up at, though. By Broken Tusk standards, that made him insanely rich. The alchemist was entitled to an amount of that money, but he wasnt interested in it. He could take 9 gold from the total, but what was the point? If Azrug had a ton of money to y with, he made money. That was now a solid fact in his mind.
Youre doing great, Theo said. Let me know if youre interested in administrative duties in the future.
Not really, Azrug said, smiling. Im only interested in the shop.
Well, keep an eye out for anyone who can lend me a hand, Theo said. I cant spend my whole day running around town.
Understood, Azrug said. Now, I think this disy case is better over here
Theo indulged the shopkeeper. They ended up dragging the furniture around until Azrug was happy. The process didnt take long, and the alchemist was happy to have some bonding time with the young man.
Theb felt different when Theo entered it. He checked the bedroom and behind the cupboards for wizards, but found nothing. The alchemist withdrew a few [Lesser Mana Potions] form his inventory and infused several barrels of [Purified Water]. He set up his [Alchemical Grinder] over the [Drogramath Still], grinding 500 units of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. When he dipped hisdle into the barrel of [Enchanted Water] a swirl of purple mes danced across the surface. He shrugged it off, filling the still and setting it to start.
Understanding the moreplex heating stages was a task for another day. Theo had a feeling he could get Throk to craft an programmable artifice, but didnt want to bother for the moment. He repeated the process for the 2 other stills, starting them with [Manashrooms] and [Moss Nettle]. As the supply of his barrels dwindled, the alchemist realized there must have been a better way to get water for hisb. While the barrels were nice enough, he needed to run them to the river too often.
Theo promised himself he wouldnt do many side projects, but he couldnt help himself. An idea of a pump system running from the river and to the town entered his mind. He filed it away for the time being, running out to his garden to check the growing reagents. The nts were growing well, but out of every 10 he nted, only 1 or 2 grew to an eptable cultivation level. Even as he applied the growth potion, it would take a while to get them where he wanted them.
Banus advice on taking clippings was easy enough, even if Theo didnt know exactly what he was doing. He clipped the best [Mages Bane] and [Roc Berry] nts and rented them. For every 1 nt he selected, 4 would be rented from the clippings. Although he nted 10 of each, only 8 came out the other side at an eptable level of 40% cultivation. Those saplings would feed into the cycle, and he would eventually urge them into 100% cultivation, although he still didnt know what that would do. Instinct said it would generate a new level of quality in his essences, but only time would tell.
Theo returned to hisb, holding an empty vial under the [Drogramath Stills] condenser to inspect the essence.
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Weak Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
Ah, Theo said, shaking his head. Alright, this is good.
In exchange for his devotion to Drogramath, the essence would gain a benefit during the refinement stage. Normally, hed put in 2 units of essence, and gain 1 unit back. If he was reading the description correctly, the aligned essence refined at a much better rate. For every 1 unit of essence, he would get 1 unit back. That changed his view of the refinement process entirely. With the aligned essence, he could make significantly more profit.
Theos mind unraveled the implications of the new essences. It was a weak bond, which meant there was something stronger. If he increases his bond, hed get a stronger effect, or more effects. The alchemist withdrew his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy and made notes. There was nothing in there about bonds, which revealed another fact about the Drogramath Dronon as a people. It was unlikely that an alchemist usually worked closely with a priest or priestess. Zarali likely shared her knowledge of Drogramaths energy with her brother, Belgar. He let out a heavy sigh, resigning himself to his fate.
Zarali was about to be a very important cornerstone of the town. Theo had the Order of the Burning Eyes blessing to keep her there, otherwise Uharis would have killed her. The alchemist needed to exploit this power to the fullest, entwining his process with the Demon Lord.
They need to think of a new name for the Demon Lords, Theo said, tapping his foot in theb. The name didnt sit right with him. Why didnt people call them the Dronon Lords? The Prime Pantheon gets a fancy name, why not the Demonic Pantheon?
Well, youre gonna have to ask Zarali about that, Tresk said. Check the inventory!
Theo opened their shared inventory. It was hard to find anything in that thing, as it was cluttered with junk. There was a stack of 20 [Fald Eyeballs]. He didnt know what a Fald was, or where shed found one, but he inspected it anyway.
[Fald Eyeball]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Umon
The eyeball of a Fald.
[Wake] ???? ????
What the heck is a Fald? Theo asked.
Creepy fish-men, Tresk said.
Where the heck did you find creepy fish-men?
The [River Dungeon].
Chapter 2.42: Shrine to Drogramath
Chapter 2.42: Shrine to Drogramath
The stacks of [Fald Eyeballs] kepting. While Theo distilled reagents, Tresk delved deeper into the [River Dungeon]. Marshling physiology allowed her to hold her breath for a considerable amount of time, but she imed there were plenty of air pockets. Most rooms within the dungeon were enormous caverns with pools of rushing water, a difference the Marshling imed made all the difference. The [Swamp Dungeon] was all gnarled roots and fetid mud by her ount.
Theo distilled down the rest of his ingredients using the enchanted water. He took count of what he had as he loaded 1,000 units of enchanted [Healing Essence] into the pressure vessel. The alchemist had a smattering of modified potions, 500 [Healing Potions], 1000 each of [Lesser Mana Potions] and [Lesser Stamina Potions], and a few random things. It was not his biggest order for Fenian, but he aimed to change that. With the enchanted essences, he could produce an equal part of essences, meaning the 1,000 units of each restoration he was distilling would make 1,000 second tier potions.
Zarali and Xolsa didnt show up in town that day, something that concerned Theo. The dungeons were being overloaded with energy, and he would rather release it sooner thanter. If the [Swamp Dungeon] grew too much in power, they wouldnt be able to fend off the wave. The other side of that problem, the more optimistic view, was that they shunted the energy off of a single dungeon, spreading it out over a wide area.
Theo pushed his concerns aside and spent thete parts of the afternoon sending the essences through the pressure vessel. Nothing about the process changed with the enchanted essences. The alchemist had to wonder how the enchantment would affect the fermentation stage of his process, but that was a task for another day. With the garden taken care of, essences distilled, and pressure vessel working as quickly as possible, it was time for dinner.
Xam, inspired by the sess of herst banquet, put on another. Theo and Tresk were happy to pay for the pleasure, and the alchemist had to promise her he was working on the ranch, even if he wasnt. The meal was the same asst time, but that didnt make it any less delicious. The citizens that were in attendance enjoyed themselves and Gridgen established a ce at the pairs table.
The miners had taken it upon themselves to elect a smelter, something that impressed Theo. When dinner was done, they found their way to the smeltery, and gave the skill core to their elected person. The miners had evene together to buy a [Dimensional Storage Crate] from Azrug, cing it within the smeltery. Theo found he could designate this as a ce for them to deposit the ore, and the money would automatically go to Gridgen. They were going beyond what the alchemist had expected, already gathering thousands of nuggets from the mine.
Banu caught Theo before he went to bed that night, finding him outside the Newt and Demon. The farmers had amazing results from the cultivation process. Once the alchemist unlocked the feature with his growth potion, they could pick out the best Zee crop and raise it within a matter of days, increasing the cultivation percentage to 70%. It was a feat far beyond anything Theo had aplished before, but he was too busy to put his entire effort into the matter.
Theo and Tresk went to bed that night, gaining another burst of experience from their [Tarahek Core] that almost pushed them over level 14. The next morning, everything felt even better. The alchemist hadnt seen Zarali in a little while, giving him time to process her sudden arrival. While he had a sense she woulde to bother him soon, his breakfast was undisturbed.
The Marshling ran off, barely having swallowed her steak whole, leaving him on his own for the day. Theo swapped out the contents of the pressure vessel, ending the run with his enchanted [Mana Essence]. The description on the new essence was right. He got a 1:1 ratio during the refinement process, setting that enchanted water at a special ce of significance. Before undertaking brewing the potions, he instructed hispanion to dump all her monster cores into their inventory.
Hold on, Tresk said, sounding frustrated. I gotta move around the furniture I have in there
Maybe you shouldnt keep junk in the inventory, Theo suggested.
But its my junk. I like it, Tresk said.
After a while, she got rid of some of the less important garbage. Theo was surprised at the quantity of [Monster Cores]. There were hundreds of low-level cores, but a good amount of level 25 cores. She must have been holding onto them from the [Swamp Dungeon], waiting for him to give the word about upgrading the Newt and Demon. With a mentalmand, he inspected the building and looked over the information.
[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]
[The Newt and Demon]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Shopkeeper: Azrug Slug
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 11 (31%)
Rent Due: Today
Expansions:
[Alchemy Shop]
[Drogramath Distition Specialty]
Theo plucked [Monster Cores] directly out of the shared inventory, shoving them into the wall of the building and watching them disappear. The level 25 cores did a lot for the buildings advancement, providing 10% at level 11. He depleted most of her cores by the end, selecting random directions to expand theb until level 15. Upon hitting 15, the system popped up the expansion menu, revealing a new option.
[Root Cer]
A cer for preserving reagents is housed under theb. Reagents ced inside of the cer decay at a slower rate.
[Experimentation Room]
A reinforced room is ced behind theb, creating a safe ce to conduct explosive experimentations.
[Shrine To Drogramath]
A shrine to Lord Drogramath appears in yourb. Make a daily offering of reagents to gain favor.
Effects (effect scales with favor):
If a daily offering has been provided, gain the following effects:
Increase the effectiveness of Drogramath Enchantments (1 level).
Remove all [Stamina] drain while performing alchemical actions.
That was obvious, Theo said, shaking his head.
The road he found himself on was leading this way. It was obvious. He wanted the [Experimentation Room] initially, but had to question that decision. A few explosions here and there never dissuaded him from doing alchemy. The benefits of the [Shrine To Drogramath] were extreme. He had more reagents than he knew what to do with, which would allow him to give tribute daily. Every action he took in theb would cost 0 stamina, which was another amazing boon. Then, there was the increase to his water enchantments, bringing it up a level. All of this also scaled with his devotion to the Demon Lord.
Theo ran it by Tresk before deciding. She thought the other options were extremelyme and that he should go full demon mode. The alchemist thought about it for some time before deciding. While the bonuses from the shrine were good, it was another foot down a path hed been trying to avoid. The alchemist clutched the Burning Eyes sigil in his hand and closed his eyes. He didnt know if he was praying or seeking guidance, but taking a moment like that made him feel better. A burning eye didnt appear outside of his window, shooting fireballs and cursing his choices. Simrly, a giant Demon Lord didnt appear, encouraging him on.
Theos choices were his own. He selected [Shrine To Drogramath].
Theb rumbled under his feet, the same way it did when the building expanded during leveling. A small plinth appeared near the window, abutting the table. It was made of a glowing purple stone with the image of Drogramath sitting atop. Near the feet of the statue was a purple stone bowl. The entire thing radiated aforting energy that Theo couldnt deny. He walked over and withdrew a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory, cing it in the bowl.
Shimmering purple energy descended on theb, a sense of aplishment rushing through the alchemists body. Nothing popped up in the systems notifications, but he knew it worked. Theo almost fell over when a voice came from the shrine.
A wise choice.
Theo stood there, casting his eyes around theb in concern. The voice was wispy, as thoughing in over a wind in an open field. He waited for Sulvan metouched to burst through his door, shaking him by the cor before smiting him. Perhaps Uharis would teleport in, throwing a lightning bolt at his head and removing the alchemist from this ne of existence. But none of those worries came to be. He stood there awkwardly for a long time. Nothing happened.
Drogramath? Theo asked, leaning in to inspect the statue closer.
While the image of the Demon didnt respond, it wasnt what Theo expected. Drogramath looked like any other Dronon, although clearly depicted in the best light. The detail on the statue was impossible. The alchemist could see the Demon Lords bandolier of potions, a tiny vial in one hand and a sickle in the other. Drogramath bore a proud expression, but not one of arrogance.
Theo patted the statue on the head, nodding to himself. Thanks, Drogramath.
No problem, a voice came from the door to hisb.
Theo whipped around, scowling when he saw Zarali standing there. A grin spread across her face and she burst outughing. The sh of anger the Alchemist felt vanished. It was a good joke.
Coming to snoop? Theo asked.
Coming to congratte you, Zarali corrected. I came into town for food, but felt Lord Drogramaths presence grow stronger.
I wonder if thats a good thing, Theo said, turning his attention back to the shrine.
Of course it is, Zarali said, crossing the room. She ced aforting hand on his shoulder. While he didnt want to ept it, she radiated Drogramaths energy. It was a flow of power that felt right to him.
Youll understand if Im reluctant to give myself in fully, Theo said.
People assume Demons are all evil, Zarali said. But see what He provides? Bonuses to alchemy. Increased herblore. How could such a thing be evil?
You have a point.
And youve learned how to enchant water without my instruction, Zarali said, giving a definitive nod. Well, youre on your way to being a worshiper. Anyway, brother, Im not here to ruin your mood. Not today.
Thats good, Theo said.
Xol and I have dyed the monster wave without allowing it to build power, Zarali said. She tightened her grip on his shoulder and smiled. You can speak to himter, but rest assured. Your town is safe.
She turned on the spot without saying another word. Theo knew she had high [Wisdom], she could read people. He was the same way, though. He knew she was giving him space because of his reluctance to ept Drogramath and her. There was no ill will in her body. She wanted to help the town.
Zarali, Theo said, causing her to spin around. A smile spread across her face. Thank you. This is strange for me, but Ill get used to it.
Thats the spirit, Zarali said. Perhaps youll learn to call me sister one day.
One step at a time, Theo said.
Theo watched her leave, thinking about what trust meant. He didnt trust Zarali with his life, not like he did with Tresk. But he trusted her to bring the influence of Drogramath to Broken Tusk. There was a bnce that existed in his mind, something that he wouldnt cross. People like his sister brought something to him, and in turn they got what they wanted. The alchemist wasnt using them; he was just entering mutually beneficial rtionships. His high [Wisdom] score and the whispers in his chest saw no one taking advantage of him, although with the way the town worked that might be impossible. Only the best were drawn to the town. Those with a purpose.
The alchemist didnt waste time after Zarali left. With a sacrifice of reagents to Drogramaths shrine, he ran to the river to refill his empty barrels, purified the water, and enchanted them again. Theo drank a [Lesser Mana Potion] after each enchantment, inspecting the resulting water.
[Enchanted Water]
[Alchemy Component]
Epic
Water that has been infused with Drogramaths energy.
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
It was easy to conclude that a minor bond was level 1, and a middling bond was level 2. Theo could extrapte that information in his mind, understanding that more bonuses woulde from the better water. This put worshiping Drogramath high on his list of priorities, but he didnt know how he felt about the transaction. He didnt know how he felt about any of the gods, let alone the patron he was forced under. It didnt seem like worship back where he was from, where no logical benefit came from doing so. This was a rtionship of convenience.
Theo withdrew a [Fald Eyeball] from his inventory. Tresk was going hard in the dungeon, and the image of her digging out some fish-persons eyeballs entered his mind. It was a grim thought, but he mentally shrugged it off and ran the squelching things through his [Alchemical Grinder].
I guess I have to clean this thing, Theo said, dripping some [Cleansing Scrub] over the teeth of the grinder.
The alchemist settled on a 100 unit distition with his middling [Enchanted Water], determined to find out what the [Wake] property meant. His mind shot to being awake, at first, but his intuition said that didnt make sense. It would be something rted to water, since it came from a fish-person. He returned the lid to his still, started it on his best guess for temperature, and ced a sk underneath the condenser, not wanting to contaminate the storage tank outside.
Theo went out to tend his garden, ensuring everything was growing well, and checked the pressure vessel. He held a vial under the extraction port and withdrew 1 unit of the liquid for inspection.
[Refined Healing Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Weak Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Purity: 70%
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
Things were gettingplicated. Using the enchanted water did more than just give him a 1:1 ratio for refinement, and he had a feeling he should have been doing this the entire time. The essence gained a 20% increase in purity, which would already increase the effectiveness of the resulting potion. The quality hadnt gone up, but it gained an alignment effect, making the end potion more effective. Theo decided at that moment he would worship Drogramath until the end of his days, even if it was just him going through the motions.
The alchemist made several trips back to theb, returning to the pressure vessel to clear out the waste port and add more essence for refinement. Stamina was next, then mana, but he was eager to brew a potion with his new essence. He settled into theb and considered the best course of action. Suddenly, he wished Zarali was around to tell him about catalysts.
No, I dont need her, Theo said, knitting his brow. He was determined to remain independent.
Zarali mentioned something when they first met. She imed he could energize catalysts, but his intuition wouldnt say what that meant. Even the section in Basic Drogramath Alchemy didnt mention the act, which seemed strange. The book seemed to only cover the system-supported actions, detailing nothing rted to the more esoteric forms of Drogramathi Alchemy. Theo nced up at the statue of Drogramath and shook his head.
What do you think, Droggy? Theo asked. Just infuse more power into the catalysts?
Theo waited for a response he knew wouldnte. The Demon God could influence the mortal realm, but only just. He felt a faint whisper in his core, but it was too dull to understand. The door to theb swung open. Azrug stood with a puzzled expression on his face.
You talking to someone? Azrug asked.
Just talking to myself, Theo said, tapping his fingers on the table. He withdrew a few [Copper Shavings] and [Iron Shavings] from his inventory for inspection.
You never talk to yourself, Azrug said,ing to settle down beside the alchemist. His eyes went wide for only a moment before he spotted the statue of Drogramath. Are we worshiping Demons now?
Yeah, I guess we are, Theo said, letting out a sigh.
Alright. Cool. Cool, Azrug said. Should I be worried?
I dont think so, Theo said, gesturing at the statue. Who does he remind you of?
You, Azrug said, not missing a beat. Looks like a Drogramath Dronon.
Yep. Well, Im trying to make some new catalysts but Im at a loss, Theo said, going on to exin how he enchanted the water.
Just do the same thing, Azrug said. Why not, right?
Theo shrugged. The shopkeeper was right, it could have been that simple and he wouldnt lose anything by trying. He had enough [Lesser Mana Potions] tost a normal person quite a while. The alchemist held his hand over the pile of [Iron Shavings] and willed the mana from his core. It flowed on its own, more like a trickle than the torrent he felt enchanting the water. After a moment, the dull iron glowed with purple energy. Thefort it radiated fell on Theos face like the warmth of the sun and he smiled.
See? Not that hard, Azrug said.
Theo inspected the resulting shavings.
[Iron Shavings]
[Alchemy Component]
Common
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Increased stability during reactions.
Increase quality of reaction by 1 level, up to excellent quality.
Shavings from raw iron.
He gawked for a moment, blinking away the text.
This is absurd, Theo said. None of my books talk about using my mana to do this stuff, but its so useful.
Would you have ever discovered it on your own? Azrug asked.
Maybe, Theo said. It would have taken years, though. I dont doubt that I could have figured it out eventually, but without the enchantment technique I was probing in the dark.
So, how good are the potions going to be? Azrug asked.
Theo didnt respond, standing and approaching the [ssware Artifice]. He generated a 2 unit t-bottomed vial and returned to the table. The description of the [Iron Shavings] gave him a hint not to use the enchanted water for the final product, so he poured a unit of [Purified Water] in, introduced the [Iron Shavings], and then his aligned [Healing Essence].
The reaction was far less violent than normal. The second tier reactions typically filled the room with a choking fog, but not this time. It was more like when he performed first tier reactions, a simple effervescence that spewed a bit of smoke. Both Theo and Azrug inspected the potion.
[Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Weak Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 100 health points.
This was the first potion he created at second tier that was of excellent quality. He couldnt guess how much that quality increase helped the potion, butbined with the alignment effect it went from healing 65 health to 100 health. The jump was absurd. All Azrug could do was whistle and shake his head.
Were gonna make so much money, the shopkeeper said.
Chapter 2.43: Alignment Effects
Chapter 2.43: Alignment Effects
Infusing both the water and the catalysts was a game changer for Theos alchemy. There was a barrier that existed after the first tier of potions, presenting an imprable block that made everything difficult. Compared to crafting a [Lesser Healing Potion], the [Healing Potion] required precision and care. The infused catalyst changed that, rendering the process as simple as the original one, and saving the alchemist time.
Theo spent the rest of his day performing the advanced reactions on all of his restoration reagents and preparing the [Fald Eyeballs]. Azrug stuck around for quite some time, taking an interest in the advanced process. The alchemist discovered there was an upper limit to chugging [Lesser Mana Potions]. It wasnt the draining effect of his [Lesser Stamina Potions], but it was noticeable. When the day was finally drawing to a close, he inspected the essence created by the disgusting eyeballs.
[Wake Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
500 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of wake.
The description was vague and required brewing to see the full effects.
Thanks to the reagent he offered to the shrine, the effect on the essence was middling. Infusing essences with Drogramaths power begged him to run it through the refinement process, and he was eager to do so. Theo looked at his stamina bar, blinking away hours of work to see it was only half depleted. He hadnt noticed the subtle thrum of the altar in the corner, but it removed the need for stamina while doing alchemy. He didnt know if the effect carried outside of the shrine, but this alone was amazing.
Theo went downstairs to find Azrug cleaning up. The shopkeeper had left him on his own for quite some time, allowing him to clear out his stock of reagents.
Im going to brew the first batch of second tier stat potions tomorrow, Theo said with a wide grin. The entire thing was too exciting.
Good. Maybe you can reserve some of those for me, Azrug said, gesturing at the mostly empty shelves.
The stock that remained was left over from thest siege. The town had enough to weather another attack, including the arsenal of bombs that Aarokmanded, but Theo would need to create more for the two purposes. He looked on the bright side of things. His new infusion technique cut down on the work needed to create the new potions considerably, marking it as a trivial task. Time was the only thing he was short on.
Whats your take on Zarali? Theo asked.
Seems fine, Azrug said, stuffing gear into a [Dimensional Storage Crate]. How about you? What do you think about her?
I dont know, Theo said. I still dont know. Shes hard to read, but thats her [Wisdom] score showing. Im guessing the [Drogramath Priestess Core] is powerful. She ims she found me because of a potion I crafted, but Im not certain.
What does it matter? Azrug asked. Arent we supposed to be taking every advantage we can?
Azrug was right. It didnt matter how Xolsa or Zarali came to the town, just like it didnt matter how the other settlers got here. The alchemist had been putting off talking to the wizard about the monster waves, preferring to focus on his alchemy, but he didnt want to let it linger much longer.
Youre right, Theo said.
Of course Im right, Azrug said.
Azrug finished up his work in the shop and headed out for the day. Tresk arrived shortly after, and the pair went off to Xams to enjoy her good cooking. It was the first time since Theo arrived in the town that he wanted to go there voluntarily. Her cooking cores were well worth the slot it upied, elevating that simple stew dish to something spectacr. It was a calm night with no sign of either Zarali or Xolsa in the tavern. Before heading to bed, Theo and Tresk pressed their foreheads together and received a moderate amount of experience. It was no more difficult to find sleep with a half-full stamina bar than an empty one, something that seemed strange.
Theo woke the next morning, embracing how busy it would be. Tresk had a few questions about the demonic shrine, but seemed alright with it. The alchemist made his daily offering and enjoyed the sensation offort that rolled off the effigy. The Marshling had pocketed a few bowls of stew into her inventory fromst night, providing that as their breakfast to go with hot cups of moss tea.
I have to go to the tower today, Theo said, sipping his soup. Xolsa hasnt given me an update.
You know, Tresk said, downing her entire cup of tea in one go. I saw them holding hands.
Theo winced. You did not.
I did, Tresk said. I was ranging over the swamp yesterday after clearing the [River Dungeon]. Do you think theyre gonna kiss?
I dont want to think about it, Theo said, focusing his gaze on the soup. Thats a tangled web I cant afford to get ensnared in.
Hah! Just because youve taken an oath against romance doesnt mean you cant watch from afar, Tresk said.
Youre just a slimy little pervert, Theo said.
Am not, Tresk said, crossing her arms. Anyway, the [River Dungeon] got stronger.
Theo thought for a moment, his mind shifting gears. That made sense, if what Xolsa exined was true. If the pair of them distributed the energy over several dungeons, the others would grow. The other effect would be that the [Swamp Dungeon] wouldnt grow as much. The alchemist knew this meant they would have a monster wave soon, and he never felt prepared enough.
Then the other dungeons are getting stronger, too, Theo said, knitting his brow. We can handle the dungeons to the north, south, and east along with the western [Swamp Dungeon], but what do we do for the [Ocean Dungeon]?
Its too far to care, Tresk said.
Well, what are the monsters going to do if they spawn a wave in the ocean? Theo asked.
Tresk squinted her eyes, scratching her head as she thought. Attack the fish?
Maybe, Theo said. Perhaps theyll attack the nearest city.
Im no expert, Tresk said, leaning back in her chair.
The pair spent the rest of their morning chatting about lighter topics. Tresk exined the [River Dungeon], since it was a higher level and was now worth running. Adventurers who didnt have ess to underwater breathing and superior swimming skills wouldnt be able to run it. Theo had a feeling there was an alchemical solution to that, but the Marshling adventurers wouldnt need to worry. Something the alchemist didnt know was that all Marshlings could hold their breath for an absurdly long time, absorbing oxygen from the water through the frills on the side of their heads. Their feet were also webbed, giving them faster swim speed to battle the raging currents of the river.
After Tresk departed, Theo ced the [Wake Essence] into his pressure vessel and headed to the center of town. He had to wait a while for the portal to spring up near the monolith, but the moment it did, he stepped through. The disorientation of the sudden transfer still brought him to his knees, but it was lessening. He heard a surprised sound from within the tower, but couldnt locate the source. Someone was talking, but his head swam.
I didnt expect you so early, Xolsa said, helping Theo to his feet.
Theos eyes adjusted to the towers light, and he saw a disheveled extra-nar Elf before him. His hair was messy, robe creased and dirty. He also had a sheepish expression on his face that was uncharacteristic of the man.
How is the work going? Theo asked. Tell me youve found a solution.
Oh, we have, Xolsa said, brightening up. Zarali has been instrumental.
Good, Theo said. His knees still shook, but he could manage. I dont need to know how you did itI wont understandjust tell me the effects of what youve done.
Well, its quite simple, Xolsa said, eying the stairs for a moment. He coughed into his hand before continuing. The [Swamp Dungeon] was a nexus of power, mainly Drogramathi energy. We simply allowed it to permeate the membrane of the other dungeons.
Meaning the power is going to the other dungeons now, Theo said. Empowering all dungeons.
Not all of them, Xolsa said. Only the ones nearby. Instead of one dungeon growing quickly, they will all grow at a steady rate.
What about the monster wave from the [Swamp Dungeon]? Theo asked.
Well, I suggest we release that soon. We can set the dungeon back on the normal timer to see how quickly it progresses, Xolsa said.
He wanted to do that after ensuring everyone was ready. It was a bad idea to just agree to start the timer before he knew if Aarok and the adventurers were ready.
Ill meet with Aarok first, Theo said.
Perfect. Until then, Ill reinforce the wards Ive created and prepare for the wave, Xolsa said.
Can you participate in the battle? Theo asked.
Yes. I can bombard the force as they leave the dungeon, then momentarily shift my tower out of reality, Xolsa said. Which would send them to the town. Zarali will also provide support for your adventurers with buffs.
Sounds good to me, Theo said, casting his eyes on the portal. His stomach was already objecting to the thought of going through. Ill send a town message the next time I need to talk to you. I hate the portal.
Most people do, Xolsa said.
Theo was through the portal without another word, finding himself on his knees once again. The swirl of the world around him calmed after a time, giving way to the familiar primary avenue of Broken Tusk. He watched as several adventurers went into the port, smiles on their faces. The alchemist spent more time on the ground than he would have liked, but eventually rose to his feet. He spotted Aarok approaching from the guild, shaking his head.
Alright there, Theo? he asked.
Yeah, Theo said. Are we ready for a monster wave?
We are, Aarok said. Are we expecting one?
Yeah, Im going to start the wave timer soon, Theo said. Just wanted to make sure we could handle it. The wave might be stronger than normal, though.
Were ready, Aarok said. Dont worry about that. I still have a lot of bombs fromst time, and Throk has been cooking up some stuff of his own.
Good to hear, Theo said, casting his eyes over the cksmiths workshop. I have a few projects for him to work on.
Well, focus on the wave. Then worry about that, Aarok said, pping his hand over the alchemists shoulder. The adventurers guild has enough resources to handle the wave. Focus on your projects. Theyre important.
Theo felt as though his projects were rather selfish, not important. But Arrok was right. They were helping people and growing the town. Everyone had their duty, and the defense of the town was in the hands of the adventurers guild. The alchemist would have liked it if Zarali and Xolsa attended some meeting with the guildmaster to get some experience operating with the adventurers, but they were ahead of the game. The haze cleared from his head and he turned to smile.
Youre right, Theo said. I need to make more potions.
You go do that, Aarok said, shoving Theo down the street. Let me handle the dirty work.
Theo left, feeling good about his current course of action. Grinding the second tier potions was giving him a lot more experience than normal, which presented another problem. He needed to spend more time in his garden, cultivating those nts to allow his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] to catch up. He knelt in his garden, marveling at the wonders a day did for the nts growing there. Propagating the nts was easy enough, but the problem was doing it at scale. iming a field in the farmers fields was easy enough, but he still felt a twinge of guilt for pushing Banu around. They found a bnce between the traditions of Broken Tusk and Theos mind for advancement, but that didnt mean hed push him around more.
There was enoughnd behind the Newt and Demon to make a decent sized plot, but the problem of magically regrowing reagents came to mind. Those fast-growing nts respected the border of the building, but only just. He had ten paces to work with in his garden before it was imed by the power of the swamp. Any section east of that mark wouldnt be suitable for his garden. He could hold out for an upgrade to the building that allowed him to have a plot ofnd in the back, which seemed likely given the current direction things were going, but level 20 was a far way away.
The [Monster Cores] Theo used to take the building from level 10 to level 20 were many. Tresk wasnt hunting the high-level dungeons anymore, preferring to explore the developing [River Dungeon], so he ruled her out. He could buy them from the other adventurers, but his funds were dwindling. With no other option, he turned his attention away from the garden for the day. The pressure vessel hadpleted its run on the [Wake Essence], leaving it ready for brewing.
Theo withdrew the [Wake Essence] from the vessel, clearing the port and inspecting the result.
[Refined Wake Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
Purity: 80%
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of wake.
The essence had 2 alignment effects. While Theo had already seen the first effect, the second one was interesting. It only appeared after he got his alignment up to middling from his daily offering. This was another amazing benefit to his process, even if the effect only happened once every 100 reactions, it was worth it. He made his way to theb and set the essence aside, tending to the stills before continuing.
The adventurers who fulfilled his quest brought 500 [Stone Flowers], 500 [Water Lilies], and 500 [me Roses]. Theo was eager to see how powerful the stat enhancement potions were, so he prepared his 3 stills. Of all the reagents he worked with, [Stone Flowers] were the easiest to grind for the still. They turned to dust in his hand if he squeezed hard enough. Even the other 2 flowers were simple, but the [Alchemical Grinder] did the work for them. The alchemist took some time to enchant [Purified Water], making a quick trip to the river to refill his barrels. Throk would have a fun time with his pump idea, but he pushed the thought out of his head.
With all 3 of his stills running, Theo turned his attention to the [Refined Wake Essence]. He enchanted arge pile of [Iron Shavings] with Drogramaths energy and set up a 2 unit, t-bottomed vial for his test reaction. The effect from the shrine made the reaction easy, and he trusted in that fact. He added the [Refined Wake Essence], [Purified Water], and an [Iron Shaving] to the vial. The reaction was immediate and tepid, bubbling in the vial for a moment before releasing a strange scent. The smell was a mixture of churning water and decaying vegetation. It put off a slight blue glow.
Theo inspected the potion.
[Potion of Wake]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Allows the imbiber to hold their breath for twice their normal time. The imbiber suffers reduced current and drag while in water.
Effect:
User can hold their breath twice as long.
User experiences lessened effects of water resistance, including current.
Effectsts for 1 hour.
This might have been the greatest utility potion Theo had ever made, based on the number of effects and the length of those effects. It was also very clear on the duration of the effect, something that wasnt always guaranteed. The [Lesser Potion of Growth] didnt denote a time, specifically saying the time was unspecified. The alchemist marked this potion in his mind as something to be sold to Broken Tuskers at a massive discount, perhaps even for free. It would be invaluable to get the different races, which couldnt brave the water so easily, to delve into both the [River Dungeon] and the [Ocean Dungeon].
While the 3 stills did their work, Theo spent his time brewing the [Potions of Wake]. He was even confident enough to perform arge-scale reaction, kicking off 50 units of the essence at the same time. The result was confusing until he remembered the alignment effect on the essence. When he poured 50 units into the sk and performed the reaction, only 48 units were missing. Somewhere between pouring the liquid, and introducing the catalyst, more essence appeared in his sk. He shrugged it off as magic and finished the batch.
When Theo was done with the [Potions of Wake], he ended up with 508 potions instead of the expected 500. He could only imagine what the higher alignment bonuses were.
Theo turned his attention to the stills, which were sputtering by the time hepleted the reactions. They all bore the alignment bonuses up to middling, a fact that put a smile on the alchemists face. He cleared the stills out, adding the 3 sks to his inventory before heading out to the pressure vessel. The alchemist added the [Vigor Essence] to the vessel first before turning his attention back to the garden.
The [Mages Bane] wasnt growing as well as hed like, but the [Roc Berries], and [Spiny Swamp Thistle] wereing along nicely. He selected the best of each, taking enough clippings to increase his propagation on each nt to 15 nts per type. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots] needed to rest in theb before they were ready to go, the only disadvantage of the tuberous growths.
Theo returned those roots to hisb, finding the corner with the sign near it and let out a heavy sigh. Whereas he might feel some mental exhaustion from the tasks of the day, his body didnt show any signs of slowing down. The alchemist nodded to himself and turned his attention to the town.
Chapter 2.44: Ingots
Chapter 2.44: Ingots
Theo made his way south toward the mine. The smelter was operational when he passed by, but decided not to meet the operator untilter. Pickaxes striking stone rang out across the hills the closer he got to the mine. Gridgen stood outside the opening to the mine, wiping the sweat from his brow. The man smiled upon seeing the alchemist, waving him over.
Great to see you! Gridgen said.
Where there once was a massive pile of nuggets outside the mine now rested a single [Dimensional Storage Crate]. Theo nodded in approval.
Youre taking some initiative, Theo said. Thats great. How is the mine?
The mine is great, Gridgen said. I guess the system is smart enough to understand the function of the crate. Weve been getting paid regrly.
Theo hadnt noticed the slow trickle from his inventory, but appreciated the fact. Running to the mine every day to give the workers their pay was annoying with everything going on.
And the smeltery? Theo asked.
Well, we figured its a good idea to get Nira started on experience, Gridgen said. Everyone who is mining is getting a massive amount. Were almost level 5 with our [Miners Cores].
There could be a better evolution for the [Miners Core] out there, which could help keep up with the constantly respawning ore. Even if it was only a select few who received the core, it would be worth it. Until Theo could get his hands on those cores, this was good enough.
Ill need to meet Nira, Theo said. His eye lingered on the crate, but his mind swirled with the miners sess. Youre doing great here. I guess Nira is smelting the ore into bars?
Ingots, Gridgen corrected. About the size of my arm. The ores quality is perfect, but she has a long way to go.
That was very unlike the stone in the north. When Ziz pulled a block out of the ground, shaping it into usable form, it kept the quality. The smelters process was much like the way alchemy worked.
What grade are the ingots?
Great to excellent, Gridgen said, smiling.
Thats far better than Rivers did, even when they operated their pit mine, Theo said. Whats the daily volume for ingots?
Well, we can go talk to Nira, Gridgen said. Until she gets a few levels, our pace is going to be faster than hers.
She also doesnt have a contract, Theo said, knitting his brow. Im going to need my merchant for this.
Theo went into his mayors screen, finding the messaging system and typing out something with his mind.
[Theo]: Azrug, could you please report to the smelter in the south of town.
Thats one way to get him toe, Gridgen said, gesturing to the cobblestone road. Well pay a visit to Nira, then.
Theo followed the man, even though he knew where the smeltery was. When they approached the massive workshop attached to the side of the building, a st of heat came out. The alchemist shielded his eyes, feeling the sting of the fire on his face. A small Human woman worked the oversized crucible, pulling chains to tip it over into molds. Molten metal spread over the surface of the mold, filling voids to take on the shape of the ingots. She spotted them, but didnt cease her work.
Nira, can youe down for a minute? Gridgen shouted. The mayor wants to talk to you.
Nira hopped down from the metal scaffolding which abutted the crucible,nding with a grunt. She was short by Human standards, putting her a half-head taller than Tresk. The woman kept her hair shaved to the scalp and soot covered her mousy features. Theo would have expected her to work in a library, but the way she carried herself painted her as a lifelongborer. She came to stand next to them without a word.
Nice to meet you, Theo said, extending a hand for her to shake. She took it reluctantly, but averted her eyes.
Whats the problem? Azrugs voice came from the entrance of the smeltery. He was out of breath.
You didnt have to run here, Theo said.
I assumed you needed something appraised. I get great experience for that, Azrug said, shielding his face as he entered the workshop. Sure is hot.
Comes with the territory, Nira said, grunting.
Could you show us a sample ingot? Theo asked.
Nira didnt say a word. She walked to the corner of the workshop and came back with arge copper ingot. Theo and Azrug inspected the item.
[Copper Ingot]
[Metal Ingot]
Quality: Excellent
A copper ingot.
The quality of the ingot was at excellent, which was more than Theo expected. Even if it was a low-level recipe, that was still impressive.
Well, the nuggets go at a rate of a copper for 10, Azrug said. How many nuggets go into each ingot?
50, Nira said.
Alright, Azrug said, squinting. My core is telling me the price increases significantly when in ingot form. Ive heard as much from the traders passing through town. So, instead of 5 copper youre looking at 20 to 40 copper a bar.
Interesting, Theo said. He thought about his own process and realized that no one would want raw essence.
The ingots were massive if Theo considered their total volume. A single bar could band at least 10 barrels once it was worked into thin ribbons. But Uharis had given a hint about the true value of the copper. The alchemist could infuse it to be alchemical inert, and he had a suspicion there were other uses for the infused copper.
Im fine with whatever, Nira said, her gaze lingering on the still-hot crucible. I like this.
Well do the same deal as the miners, Theo said. 10% of market rate.
Theo took time to draw up the contract, detailing that she would work in the best interest of Broken Tusk. The moment he finished writing it, she signed it without hesitation.
Fine, Nira said. She abandoned the group and returned to the scaffolding, hoisting the heavy chains to reset the crucible.
Theo, Azrug, and Gridgen left the heat of the smelter. Even the humid air outside felt like a cool winters breeze.
Shes a bit strange, Azrug said, craning his neck to watch her work.
Nira is a loner, Gridgen said. But shes a hard worker. Extremely honest.
Theos read of the woman was the same. She only wanted to work hard and pull her weight, not burdening others. It was a trait he valued highly. If she wanted to seclude herself from the rest of the town, that was her choice, and he wouldnt fault her. The alchemist couldnt deny her ability. There was already a tall stack of ingots resting on the floor of the workshop, ready for export.
Gridgen, youve done a great job, Theo said. Brilliant idea getting her up and running.
Thanks, Gridgen said, grinning.
How many bars do you think shes going to make a week? Theo asked.
Based on her rate? Azrug asked, butting in. Id guess shes waiting for the miners to get more ore. That huge crucible? Man, shes gotta be doing a few thousand bars a week. 2 gold worth of copper.
Thats a silly number, Theo said. Ive always considered copper as worthless. Besides for alchemical use.
Just wait until she cranks out some iron, Gridgen said.
Right, Theo said. Make sure everyone has what they need, Gridgen. I have to talk to Azrug about something.
We could use some [Monster Cores], Gridgen said.
Right. Ill get on that, Theo said, saying farewell and turning north.
Azrug fell in step with Theo as they made their way up the cobbled road. The southern reaches of Broken Tusk were peacefulpared to the bustling center.
So, what do you need to talk about? Azrug asked.
Well, we need to work out our first trade deal, Theo said.
Are we finally going to export stuff? Azrug asked. Thats exciting.
Yeah, I just dont know how to do it, Theo said. I assume you know more about the trade structure of Rivers and Daub.
I do, Azrug said, shing a smile. Traders talk. Rivers is dominated by a trade guild, but we can bypass them if we try.
Because theyre importing their metal from the north, Theo said, his mind going to the metal required to repair the town. Broken Tusk wasnt high enough to need the metal, but Rivers and Daub would be at that point. They were likely paying a premium to import from so far away.
What should we focus on exporting? Azrug asked.
Everything, Theo said. Well offer stone, wood, and metal as a deal. Youll go into the negotiations with all our numbers and work from there.
Azrug took a steadying breath, nodding. I think I can manage.
Theo wasnt sure about that. Compared to high-level merchants, he was a small fish. Are you sure?
If were ying cards, our deck is loaded, Azrug said. Do you think theyre paying 20 copper a bar from the northern smelters? Theyd be lucky to pay a silver after transport expenses. And lumber? You need a special cart to move items like that, theyre too big to fit in a regr inventory.
So, we have it and they need it, Theo said.
And we can undercut everyone else because we have so much, Azrug said. Were going to make some trade guilds mad, but were unaffiliated and we dont import anything.
Which means were untouchable, Theo said, barking augh. They cant tighten the noose around us because we dont need them.
Exactly. And if the trade deal falls through, we can turn our attention east, Azrug said. Or further north. Just not west. Maybe south?
Its good to have a backup n, Theo said. But I want to strategize with you about this, make sure were going into it with a level head.
Well, let me get in contact with the right people, Azrug said. Shouldnt take long, I have a fewmunication crystals now.
The pair had walked all the way to the Newt and Demon. Theo left Azrug there, making his way behind the building to tend to the pressure vessel. He swapped essences out and cleaned the trap, intent on brewing stat potions tomorrow. The alchemist worked his way to the adventurers guild after that, he wanted to have a word with Aarok and Luras about the uing defense. When he entered the guildmasters office, he found an unexpected sight. Zarali and Xolsa were already there, sitting in chairs and craning their necks to grin at him.
We were going to call, Aarok said on the opposite side of the table. Were discussing the next monster wave.
Theo was overjoyed that Zarali and Xolsa had the sense to talk to Aarok instead of him. The alchemist was the mayor of Broken Tusk, but the guildmaster was the right person to run tactical things by. Whatever business they were doing could wait, though. Something lingered in the alchemists mind since the woman arrived.
Id like a word outside, Zarali, Theo said, gesturing to the door.
Certainly we can discuss it in here, Zarali said.
The hall, please, Theo said, opening the door and stepping out. She reluctantly joined him.
If this is about Xolsa, Zarali said, pulling the door closed behind her.
Its about trust, Theo said.
Trust? Surely you trust your big sister, Zarali said.
Theo smiled. Were not really siblings.
Zarali answered that with a frown.
I want you to sign a contract stating you wont bring harm to Broken Tusk, Theo said.
Thats it? Zarali said, letting out a sharpugh. Naturally. Surprised you didnt have me sign it sooner.
Theo drew the contract up through his interface. It detailed her willingness to help Broken Tusk at no cost, vowing never to hurt it or its people through any means, intentional or tangential. He put leeway into the unintentional aspects of her harming the town, but it didnt matter. The moment the prompt appeared for her, she epted.
Zarali, Theo said, cing his hand on her shoulder. Stop by theb anytime you need to talk. I dont know if this is a healthy coping mechanism.
Whats unhealthy about it? she asked, crossing her arms. Consider the rarity of Drogramath Dronon in Qavell. Were all brothers and sisters, in a way. Besides, now that you kneel at the feet of Drogramath, were siblings by faith.
Faith was a strong word for what Theo felt for Drogramath. He had to assume that the people in this world viewed the rtionship differently.
So, you were Belgars big sister? Theo asked. He never had siblings of his own, but he understood that dynamic. Did you look out for him?
As Ill look out for you, Zarali said. There was a shine in her eyes that he couldnt ce. Perhaps it was the love for a sibling. Her face suddenly grew more forlorn. He was nothing like you, Theo. Part of the reason he died. Where youre cautious, he was reckless. He picked a fight we couldnt win.
I dont pick fights I cant win, Theo said, kneading the muscle on her shoulder. I only have one more question for you. Are you really willing to be a Broken Tusker?
Zarali tilted her head and shrugged. Aside from Lord Drogramaths energy here, your town is charming. Any fool can see it will be a powerhouse in the soutnds. Few are equipped to deal with constant monster waves. Priests and priestesses are reserved for thoserger cities, and Id wager none of them have one devoted to Drogramath.
Good to hear, Theo said, gesturing to the door. With that settled, do you want to proceed?
I do.
Theo and Zarali entered the room again, all eyes glued to them. Aarok let out a bark-likeugh.
Just so you know, Aarok said, gesturing to the door. We heard every word. Try finding a more secluded ce to settle your sibling, not-sibling disagreements next time.
Theos face went a pale shade and he shuffled on the spot. It was easy to feign bravado when he was alone with someone, but in front of a crowd it was much more difficult. The entire affair was made more difficult by Zaralis rtion to Belgar.
Oh, drink it up, Half-Ogre, Zarali said, falling into her chair. She cast a sly grin at Xolsa and patted his hand.
Theo assumed a ce at the back of the room,cking a chair. He folded his hands in front of him and stood awkwardly.
Commander, Xolsa said, bowing his head to Aarok. Were prepared to release the monster wave on yourmand. It will be slightly stronger than the ones youve fought in the past, but after this wave it will weaken.
Good news, Luras grunted.
Both Xolsa and I are prepared to apply our talents to the siege, Zarali said. I have minor healing magic, and buffs rted to the consumption of potions.
Even better, Aarok said. We drink potions like water in this town. How soon should we release the wave, Luras?
As soon as possible, Luras said. Weve been running drills since thest wave, waiting for the next one.
Theo hadnt considered a reality where his people wouldnt need him for a siege, but he was feeling out of ce. The only thing he could offer in this meeting was the promise of more potions. Even his funds were running dry from the constant investments he made. Meanwhile, the adventurers were making preparations he wasnt aware of. That was his position, though. He was the Mayor of Broken Tusk, not themander of the adventurers. When the first siege came, he ran supplies and installed the towers without participating in the action. Thats where his ce was, and he was happy there.
Any objections, mayor? Aarok asked, turning his gaze to the alchemist.
None. Im just impressed with how good you are at this, Theo said.
Have a little faith, Luras said. You worry about building this town up, and well worry about defending it.
Right. Dont concern yourself with these meetings unless you absolutely must, Theo, Aarok said. We have everything we need at our disposal. You dont need to stress.
Theo felt a weight lift from his shoulder. He could trust Zarali to do the right thing and he didnt have to worry about the monster waves. It was hard not to worry about theing waves, but the words of reassurance did a lot.
Alright, Theo said, going for the door. Theres a bit of sunlight left. Im going to take care of some things.
Fine with us, Luras said. Take it easy, Theo.
The alchemist left the guildmasters office feeling much better about himself. He made his way out onto the cobbles of Broken Tusk, casting his eyes to the colors of the waning sun. Uharis imed his purpose for being here was to be happy, but hed been tangled up in his own insecurities for far too long. He cast those concerns off, like the mantle of his old life, and headed back to the Newt and Demon. The stills needed tending. The potions werent going to craft themselves.
Chapter 2.45: Contracts and The Seat by the Window
Chapter 2.45: Contracts and The Seat by the Window
Theo sat in hisb, shafts of afternoon light cutting through the window. He ran his finger around the rim of a sk containing [Refined Vigor Essence], the first of its kind hed made. Thanks to the enchanted water, this would be his most powerful stat-enhancement potion yet. Outside, the pressure vessel bucked against the building, processing the next round of essences. The alchemist made a note to talk to Throk about an improved design for the artifice, perhaps even building 3 new vessels so he didnt have to wait for a single essence toplete.
This new process didnt even take modifiers into ount. That was a realm Theo didnt want to open for the time being. He wanted to create enough high-quality potions to make a tidy profit before worrying about such things. There was still daylight enough today to create most of the stat potions, and the effects of the shrine kept his stamina bar in a healthy range. Before moving on to brew his potions, he inspected the new [Refined Vigor Essence].
[Refined Vigor Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
Purity 60%
500 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of vigor.
Something went wrong during the distition process, bringing the essence to 60%pared to the [Refined Wake Essences] 80%. That was fine for now. He was crafting for volume and quality and some corners needed to be cut. Zarali would help him refine the process of distition another day, when they werent preparing for a monster wave.
Theo ced a t-bottomed vial on the table and measured out his ingredients. He filled it with the [Refined Vigor Essence] and [Purified Water] before dropping a [Iron Shaving] in. The reaction was immediate, and thankfully less violent than he expected. The bubbling liquid gave way to a metallic scent in the air, but the fumes were minor. After the reaction settled down, he inspected the resulting potion.
[Vigor Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance vigor.
Effect:
+12 Vigor for 1.5 hours.
The increase in stats was absurd. Theos old stat potions provided 5 in a specific stat, making the second tier more than twice as effective. 12 vigor actually seemed like a dangerous amount of an increase. Theos mind went to what would happen if he consumed a +12 wisdom potion and shuddered to think about the abrupt change in his intuition. The effects would disorient the user, if nothing else. Intelligence was another problem stat, although the alchemist still hadnt found the reagent that increased it. None of this stopped him from setting up arge-scale reaction, ending his session before nightfall with 510 [Vigor Potions].
His vision was a flurry of system notifications as he crafted, and he didnt realize how close his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was to leveling up. It rolled over near the end of the session, and he paused to check the notification.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 13.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (1.66%).
Tresk arrived as thest reaction kicked off. She wasnt interested in the [Vigor] stat, but begged him to let her have some [Strength Potions] when he got to it. He agreed to give her the overflow from the process, something she seemed excited about. As the pair left theb, heading to Xams for dinner, the alchemist clutched Fenians crystal in his hand. As always, the Elf answered quickly.
I was wondering when youd call, Fenian said. Feels like an age.
It does, Theo said. Ive made massive progress with my alchemy, would you mind looking at some potions?
Theo knew if he mentioned the items in the correct way, Fenian could inspect them on his end. It was a quirk of the system he didnt use enough.
Absolutely, Fenian said.
Theo linked the [Healing Potion], [Vigor Potion], and [Potion of Wake]. Fenian took a long while to inspect them before responding, but when he did the excitement bleed clearly into his voice.
Why are these so good? Fenian asked. Ive seen [Healing Potions] before, but they didnt restore 100 healthsomething closer to 60 or 70. And that [Vigor Potion]. Ive only seen them add 8 for an hour. What did you do?
I have a new process, Theo said.
Well, keep doing this new process, Fenian said, hisughing through the telepathic link. By the gods, I dont even know how much money to give you for these. I dont know if I have the capital to clean you out.
We can always trade, Theo said. I want some Karatan, or other farm animals.
Ah. The ranch, Fenian said. Right. Tell me how many potions you can have done by tomorrow, or the day after.
Theo did a mental tally on the amount of potions he could have. He had 1,000 of each restoration potion and could finish making the stat potions by then. That would give him 1,500 assorted stat potions. He ryed the information to which Fenian hummed in response.
I dont know if we can put a price on these, Theo, Fenian said. Well work with 1 silver for the restoration potions and a silver and a half for the stat potions, but Im afraid thats robbery. 52 gold, 50 silver in coin, but we can agree to an amount equal to my stock or the Karatan.
Thats fine, Theo said. This wasnt thergest order hed done with Fenian, but it would be the most profitable. The alchemist hadnt even finished cultivating his reagents yet. Potions resulting from the cultivation project would be even more powerful, adding to their price tag. His process had also changed for the more powerful potions, allowing him to brew them even faster. Can you secure the Karatan?
I can, Fenian said. Ive upgraded my carriage recently for such a thing.
Right. Well agree to that number for now. Ill use your crystal if theres anything I need you to get before you arrive, Theo said.
Indeed, Fenian said. Theo could see the Elf trader rubbing his hands together on the other end, even if it was imagined. Well, until next time.
Bye.
Tresk cast Theo a confused look as they stood near the monolith. The alchemist had been walking automatically during the conversation, his mind drifting off to meet Fenians questions.
The new potions are worth a lot, Theo said. I need to put together a list of things I need him to grab before hees to town.
Cores, maybe? Tresk asked, grabbing Theo by the arm and leading him into the Marsh Wolf Tavern.
[Monster Cores], Theo said, nodding. I need to upgrade the mine and the smelter.
Are we calling the smelter Dead Dog Smeltery? Tresk asked.
The pair found their table near the window.
Nira can call it whatever she wants, Theo said. Maybe I can convince Fenian to help Azrug with the trade deals.
Tresk nodded absentmindedly, craning her neck to get a look at what everyone was eating.
Theo spotted Sledge entering the tavern with a surly look on her face. She stomped over to him and held her hand out. I havent been getting paid. I talked to the miners and they get automatically paid for the work.
Oops, Theo said. Things had been too busy for him to keep up with everyone. How much do I owe you?
I dont know! Sledge shouted. She got distracted for a moment, looking over the food that was being served. And were going to need a seed core building for the foresters.
Take a seat, Theo said. She obliged.
The alchemist drew up a quick contract for her, guaranteeing his new standard 10% market rate and requiring her to perform foresting duties at least 3 days during the week. He left in a stiption that she could delegate the work to others, and that her payments woulde retroactively for what shed already done. Sledge signed it without hesitation.
[Item Delivered] Youve received an item bound to the contract [Sledges Foresters].
Automatically calcting value based on best information
Best information received from [Azrug Slugs] mercantile cores
Additional information received from recent sales conducted by [Sledge]...
[Ogre Cypress Timber] price set to 1c per board.
Calcting board/unit ratio
Ratio calcted, initiating payment of 5 silver.
5 silver coins sprung from the air in front of Sledge, ttering on the table. Her eyes went wide. Thats fancy.
Sorry, Theo said. Let me buy you dinner to make up for it. Everything has been too busy.
Sledge scooped the coins into her hands, shoving them into a bag at her hip. Her expression softened after she got her money and the offer of a free dinner. The crowds rolled in shortly after that, and only then did Theo notice how many tables and chairs were inside. Since Tresk went wild, upgrading the ce on a whim, Xam had brought more furniture in. The capacity of the Marsh Wolf Tavern had increased significantly, allowing the whole town to upy the massive floor space.
Looks like she got different help, Tresk said, gesturing to the bar.
Theo didnt remember seeing the young woman before, so she must have been a new arrival. The alchemist inspect his mayor screen, finding a discrepancy of 5 new people arriving in town. He appreciated not having to run everyone that came through the same tutorial, and noted that someone in hismand structure gave the green light.
Before long, the young woman brought them 3 tes of food, taking payment right there. Theo was happy that she asked if they couldnt afford to pay, meaning Xam was making good on her promise. The dish was a thick broth-based sauce smothering a te of noodles. Large chunks of wolf meat sat atop proudly. The alchemists mouth was watering before he even dug in. By the time he picked up his fork, Tresk was tipping the contents of the te into her open mouth, barely chewing the meal.
Tresk sat awkwardly, chatting with Sledge and Theo as they ate. While Half-Ogres were brusque andcked some manners, they were nothing like the voracious Marshlings at the dinner table. Since Sledge was raised as a Half-Ogre, she seemed to have those manners. When the meal was done, a system message appeared informing them of their food buff.
[Food Buff!] Youve consumed a piece of [Zee Noodles and Wolf Meat], crafted by a [Cook].
+2 Strength for 8 hours.
Her buffs are getting more powerful, Theo said.
We shoulde for breakfast, Tresk said.
That was a great idea. The buff was wasted since they were going to bed soon, but if they ate their breakfast at the tavern, they could take advantage of it more. Theo spotted Xaming across the room to talk, a smile painting her powerful face.
Was it good? she asked.
Theo simply held up his empty te, which he had licked clean.
No idea how you do it, Xam, Theo said. How did you make a sauce?
Theo knew almost nothing about cooking. All his meals on Earth came in a package and tasted horrid.
Its Zee all the way down, Xam said,ughing. Milled Zee for the noodles, powdered Zee to get the sauce to thicken, and Marsh Wolf meat and bones for the rest.
Well, its great, Theo said. Do you serve breakfast?
I do, Xam said.
Do you serve [Moss Nettle] tea? Theo asked, narrowing his eyes. That was a deal breaker for him.
For you? Absolutely, Xam said.
Well, youre gonna see us tomorrow, Tresk said, leaning forward. Make something delicious.
Oh, I wont disappoint, Xam said.
Xam was usually an upbeat person, but like most people in Broken Tusk she had an edge to her. This new profession gave her an outlet that brightened her personality considerably. Since Theo and Tresk had worked on their Tarahek and gained a significant amount of experience, their moods had changed as well. Combined with the reduced stress of running the town, the alchemist was finally feeling more like himself.
I saw your worker, Theo said, pointing to the woman waiting tables. Who approved their arrival?
Xam looked over her shoulder for a moment, turning back to smile. Aarok, I think. They said he didnt want to bother the mayor.
Good, Theo said. How is the free meal program going?
Xam leaned on the table and shrugged. Barely anyone uses it. The miners ate free for a few days, but then they started paying. People cant afford the fancy stuff, just go for the stew.
The stew is way better now, Tresk said.
Its amazing what the cores do, Xam said, nodding. Even without spices, they add so much more vor. The moreplex my dishes, the bigger the buff.
You should do sweet stuff in the morning, Theo said, leaning back.
The alchemist remembered the packaged meals he had back on Earth. There was sometimes a little packet of sweet, chocte-like powder he loved to mix with instant coffee. It felt like a treat, even if it sucked. Both the coffee and the cocoa were synthetic, but hed never had the real thing, so it was close enough.
I think were a ways away from sweet stuff, Xam said, letting out a chuckle.
Thats fine, Theo said. As long as theres tea.
Xam left their table after that, off to attend to other patrons. Theo turned his attention to Sledge, who seemed happy to have something in her stomach. She was happy with her new [Fabricators Core], somehow also juggling the collection of timber. The alchemist realized he knew little about the life cycle of the Ogre Cypress trees, deciding to pick her brain on the matter.
How long does an Ogre Cypress take to regrow? Theo asked.
Sledge leaned in, raising an eyebrow. Why do you wanna know?
Im investing in foresters. I should know how fast the trees grow.
Well, its not a constant thing, Sledge said. When my father worked the forest, itd take decades for a tree to grow up. Now, it can take as little as a day, but never as long as before.
We can elerate their growth, if needed, Theo said.
With potions, right? Sledge asked,ughing. Its all potions with you, isnt it?
Im an alchemist, Theo said. Thats what I do.
Well, those [Foresters Cores] do more than just cut down trees, Sledge said. They can influence the location and speed of growth while promoting a healthy forest. Well, the swamp might be a different story, but thats how it should work. Do we have a buyer for the timber?
Azrug is working on that, Theo said. Ill need to get the foresters up and running before then.
Leave it to me, Sledge said, waving him off. You gave me 3 good people, Ill get them working on getting experience. Just give me the cores and the building.
Theo nodded. He was happy another person wanted to step up and take a load off him. After a moment of silence, Sledge spoke again.
Is your n to own everything in this town? she asked.
I dont own everything, Theo said.
Only mostly everything, Sledge said. Gotcha.
Theo would approve of other businesses, but no one steps up, Tresk said, bristling.
Bah, Im just messing with you. We were dirt poor before you came along, Sledge said, her eyes drifting between him and Tresk. Who would have thought youd take a Tarahek. I dont know anyone else who''s done it. Maybe thats the secret to your sess.
Maybe, Theo said. Have you ever thought of taking the core?
Its not that simple, Sledge said. Theres a lot more that goes into the Tarahek than a want. You have to need it. Like some destiny crap.
I dont really put much thought into it, Theo said.
Maybe you should, Sledge said. You have a real gift there.
The group continued talking after the sun had set. Only when most of the patrons left did they decide to leave, going their separate ways at the monolith. Theo and Tresk walked the cobbled streets of Broken Tusk for some time, admiring the stars in the sky. A cool breeze swept through the swamp, blowing from the hills in the north. The alchemist was reminded of the hot wind that came with Zaralis probing energy, but shook the thought away.
Theo swapped the pressure vessel to process his [Strength Essence] while the slept, doubting that the banging would wake him. It yed a rhythmic song against the building, but that noise wouldnt interrupt the sleep brought on by thefort of his bed. He slipped into his cool sheets, pale moonlight ying through the window, and drifted off soon after his head hit the pillow.
Chapter 2.46: Absurdly Powerful Potions
Chapter 2.46: Absurdly Powerful Potions
It seemed fitting that the day the town intended to release the monster wave was the one when taxes were due. Taxes were collected on a weekly basis, given to the mayor and prepared for the capital. Only at the end of a 30-day cycle would Broken Tusk need to give the money to Qavell. Theo found he could create different spreadsheets in his mayor interface, empowered by the [Governance Core], so he copied the overdue totals into a fresh sheet and gged everyone as paid. This was a problem for after breakfast.
Theo and Tresk found themselves in the Marsh Wolf Tavern for breakfast. Xam served the same noodle dish as the night before, apanied by arge cup of moss tea. As the alchemist sipped on the tea, he detected vors that werent there when he brewed it. He thought his alchemical knowledge made him a better brewer of tea, but that was wrong. Even amon [Cooks Core] made the tea slightly sweet and removed the negative early vors. Even the effects of the meal were like a minor banquet. He gained the +2 [Strength] effect, but also a bonus to stamina regeneration. It was minor, but better than nothing.
Taxes are due, Theo said.
Werent taxes due a few days ago? Tresk asked.
Yeah.
Theo was once again surprised when he looked at the top earners of the town. Ziz and his crew were making absurd amounts of money, followed by Tresk, then a special entry for the Adventurers Guild. The alchemist wasnt high on the list. He hadnt made decent sales in a while, lingering near the bottom of the spreadsheet.
This might be the first time I cant foot the bill for the town, Theo said, slurping down a noodle.
So, people actually have to pay their taxes this time? Tresk asked.
Yep. Ziz owes close to 20 gold, Theo said, letting out a low whistle.
How much do I owe? Tresk asked.
10 gold, Theo said.
10 gold? Are you joking? Tresk asked, letting out a groan. Thats robbery.
Agreed, Theo said. Good news is, I found a spot where I can dump the coins in my mayors interface. It only epts coins, no items.
A coin inventory, Tresk said with a nod. Makes sense. Well, no problem. Im good for the money.
The pairs conversation departed from taxes and lingered on other things. Tresk was excited with how the other dungeons were growing and intended to try her hand at the boss in the [Hills Dungeon] to the north. The location of that dungeon was concerning to Theo, as it sat near the gate. Information rolled in from the adventurers guild about the troublesome cement, marking it as a ce to nt more of the powerful lightning artifices.
ording to Aarok, the east gate was the easiest to defend, but both the north and south gates had an advantage of terrain. Monsters seemed to suffer from stamina loss and would be hard pressed to rush either gate with the hills and rocky crags. The west gate would have been easy to defend, but the monsters that emerged from the [Swamp Dungeon] seemed adept at traversing the deadly mud. An adventurer familiar with the swamp could find the dungeon in an hour, but those from out of town slogged through the muck, taking up to a day to reach it.
All this information struck a strange cord in Theos mind. Multiple people told him Broken Tusk was constructed for him. To be happy. Then why were the put at such a disadvantage? His mind had rolled over the information since he got in the town, trying to piece together his purpose. The only conclusion he could reach was that growth wasnt free. Developing into aplete person was sometimes painful, and the town was no different. The Broken Tuskers were tempered by that fire by the time the alchemist arrived, but now they were being reforged.
Theos thoughts came together, and he turned to consider hispanion. Our adventurers are going to be the best in the world.
No doubt, Tresk said, patting her belly. Well, Im gonna be the best. Everyone else is wee to follow in my footsteps.
Theoughed. Her ssbinations were strange for someone going solo. The alchemist imagined different sses that would work for solo dungeon delving, but hers wasnt on the list. Her highest ss was [Assassin], followed by [Tracker], then [Shadowdancer]. Only by chaining her [Vanish] ability was she able to win fights, quickly disappearing from sight and springing out as quickly as shed gone. The few times hed seen her fight, it was impossible to track her movements. Combined with his potent poisons, she was unstoppable.
I should make you some more powerful poisons, Theo said. Here, I have a task for you. Hand over your tax money and harvest some [Widow Lily] for me. Bring a few whole nts, if you can.
New poison? Tresk asked, perking up. With your fancy new technique? Are you sure? Are you done with your order for Fenian?
As much as Ill ever be, Theo said. Im mostly out of reagents and need some money.
Tresk shot up from her chair, plunged her hand into her dimensional pouch before mming the coin down on the table. She vanished shortly after.
Theo added the money through his mayors interface, watching the number go up with satisfaction. He took his time eating his meal, chatting with Xam as he did. Her personality was so infectiously bubbly at this point that he couldnt help but smile. When he was done with his meal, he made his way back to the Newt and Demon. Azrug was there, who gave the money he owed upon request. The alchemist could see the pain in his eyes, the pain of a merchant parting with his coin.
Before calling the townspeople to pay their taxes, he made an offering to his shrine, and finished up the rest of his reactions. Both the [Strength Essence] and [Wisdom Essence] behaved as expected. They produced absurdly powerful potions, and he knew the [Strength Potion] would be worth more than the others. He inspected one of the 503 [Wisdom Potions] first.
[Wisdom Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance wisdom.
Effect:
+12 Wisdom for 1.5 hours.
The temptation to drink it and see what the effects would be lingered in his mind, but he shook it off. Instead, he inspected one of the 512 [Strength Potions].
[Strength Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance strength.
Effect:
+12 Strength for 1.5 hours.
Tresk would be happy to have 12 [Strength Potions]. He promised her the overflow of the potent potions, leaving 500 for him to sell to Fenian. The alchemist would try to haggle for these potions. They were just too good. He didnt know the exact scaling of the stats within this world, only understanding the checkpoints they provided. If the logic of the system held true, there were checkpoints every 10th level. This included stats and raw levels, meaning these new potions automatically put the user in a higher bracket by simply imbibing the elixir.
Theo sent out a town-wide notice about taxes, writing out a long list of everyone who needed to attend. The newer citizens hadnt umted enough wealth to be considered in this run, and he made a note of that in his message. Before long, a line formed outside of the Newt and Demon. It was a slow process, and more than ever the alchemist wished for someone to do these mundane tasks for him. Until he could find the right person for the job, he would do it.
No single person in the lineined, some even offering to donate more money than was needed. Ziz was especially insistent on this, shoving a pile of gold into Theos hands.
Come on, Ziz said. Im not giving it to you. Im giving it to Broken Tusk. For the defense of the town. Someone said that Fenian ising to town, right? How much do those weapons cost?
10 gold, Theo said, holding his palms up so that no money could be ced inside. But, were fine.
Ziz added a few more coins to his pile, totaling 20 gold. Then this is a request. Buy 2 more weapons for the northern wall. I never expected to make this much money, and I do not know what to do with it.
The amount Ziz wanted to give him was equal to the taxes he owed. But this was the charity that Theo wanted to see in the town. It was a self-interested charity, but it was important. The alchemist senses an imbnce there, and didnt want it to propagate. He felt guilt for holding much of the production of the town, but the stonecutters were doing fine for themselves. They were rich by Broken Tusk standards.
Fine, Theo said, finally epting the gold. We need to work out a better system for this, though.
Sure, sure, Ziz said, a smile painting his wide face. Whatever you need to tell yourself, boss.
ording to the earnings report, youre the boss, Theo said, chuckling. Fine, move along. Theres too many people in this town.
Ziz pped his hand over Theos shoulder before moving along. The line moved slowly, but he got through everyone. Even the mousy-haired server from Xams tavern came to pay her taxes. When Theo told her she had nothing to pay, she got flustered.
I didnt get your name, Theo said.
Theo looked her over. She was a slight woman, a Human by his measure. The alchemist didnt know if there were different Humans here, but he had gotten used to not seeing any. She had long ck hair that fell in waves over her pale shoulders. He had a feeling theing Season of Fire would darken that a shade, but even as the Blooms rains fell away, it was still mostly cloudy.
Alise Plumm, she said, bowing slightly. When she rose, her eyes lingered on him for a moment. Humans were so much shorter than both Dronon and Half-Ogres that it must have been easy for them to be intimidated.
Well, I appreciate youing. You dont owe anything, yet, Theo said. Im Theo, by the way.
Right, she said, shuffling her feet.
Theo stood awkwardly for a moment. Well, if thats all.
Im just really good with numbers. And people, Alise said.
She didnt look as though she was good with people. The woman looked awkward and mousey, but he would take her at her word. She was prodding toward something, his intuition said as much.
Thats good to hear, Theo said, baiting her.
Someone said you might need an assistant, Alise said, the wordsing out in one exasperated string.
Xam would be pretty mad, Theo said, grinning. I dont want to make Xam mad.
I told her it was temporary. Until I found something else, Alise said, nodding to herself. She suddenly found her courage, puffing up slightly. It was a silly gesture,pared to the alchemists considerable height. Its too hard to run a town alone. You need someone to organize meetings, and tax collectionI can take care of administrative things for you.
Theo wanted nothing more than some help with running the town. His mind went back to how Aarok and Luras were handling the preparation for the siege.
I dont know if I can afford you, Theo said.
There was no point in just epting her offer outright. A n to put her on as a trial administrator was already brewing in his mind, but shed have to work for it. Dealing with people was difficult, especially with matters of the town, and he wanted to make sure she was right.
Ill work for food, she said. Until the town makes more money.
Thats noble, Theo said, casting his gaze east. Something familiar echoed in the distance. Fine. Well start you on a trial for a week.
Alise swelled, her shoulders rising as she sped her hands in front of her chest. Theo drew up a provisional contract that would expire in 7 days. It stipted no pay and only minor duties for the woman. She agreed to the terms of the contract in an instant, bouncing on the spot.
You wont regret this, she said, turning on the spot.
Wait, Theo said, withdrawing 5 silver coins from his inventory. She tried to refuse them, but he insisted. It was a pittance, but she could get started with that. I have some tasks for you already.
Yes, mister mayor, Alise said.
I assume you haveborer cores, Theo said, and she nodded. That would have to change. I can create a position with my [Governance Core] and mayor position that gives you ess to some of my screens. You can use those to help you check on everyone in town. Make sure they have everything they need for the siege. Coordinate with Aarok if you need.
Understood, Alise said. Is that all?
For now, Theo said.
She turned on the spot and marched away.
Theo went into his interface, the sound in the distance growing louder. He assigned her the position of Mayors Assistant and gave her ess to a few of the screens. She could view the finance report, citizens list, and tactical map. This would allow her to locate everyone and ensure they were prepared for the siege. Only when he finished assigning her all the roles did he recognize the sound in the distance.
Fenians excitement for the new potions must have been too much for him. Just as Tresk arrived at Theos side, the horrible demonic Karatan thundered down the main road of Broken Tusk.
Hes early, Tresk said. I brought the flowers.
You could have put them in the inventory, Theo said,ughing.
Yeah, but I heard the noise.
Iron-shod hooves struck the cobbles of the town, sending sparks as the horrid creatures came to a skittering stop. The lead Karatan, Galflower, let out a horrifying shriek which Theo knew as an excited noise. Fenians wagon had changed since the alchemist saw itst. It now pulled an additional cart, which was little more than arge ckcquered carriage. The Elf trader dismounted, holding his arms wide. He was, as always, overdressed. Today he wore a flow robe with more ruffles than was reasonable and a hat with a long, iridescent feather.
Theo! My favorite person! Fenian said,ing to embrace the alchemist.
Theo patted him on the back, chuckling. Wee back.
Well, now we have a few things to talk about, dont we? Fenian asked, gesturing to the Newt and Demon. Shall we?
Theo led him into theb, cleaning his stills as the Elf told him the tales of his journey. The alchemist set up his grinder and processed the 250 units of flowers Tresk brought. She stood in the corner as Fenian spoke. He detailed the war in the west. It was going well in favor of Qavelling out on top. There were more political intricacies than Theo cared to learn about, but there was a territorial dispute and the only solution was shedding blood.
Theo started the still and took a seat. He told Fenian about his new process and how it produced such powerful potions. When the Elf got his hands on a [Strength Potion] he shook with excitement.
This is big, Theo, Fenian said. I visited a Master Alchemist in Qavell. Do you know what he said? He called me a liar. When he heard how powerful your stat potions were, he almost assaulted me. No one would believe a level 10 alchemist could do this.
Level 13, Theo corrected.
Even so. Youre operating at a level way above your actual level. Youve almost outssed that same alchemist. I looked at his process. Its slow. And messy, Fenian said, cackling. Oh, my. When they see what youve made here, theyre going to soil themselves. I convinced him to sell me one of his potions. Youve never seen another persons potions, have you? Take a look.
Fenian withdrew an ornate vial from his inventory. It had far too many flourishes and was capped with a silver stopper. Theos [Drogramath Alchemy Core] allowed him to judge the exact contents of any container. This vial contained almost 5 units of liquid, more than double Theos version. He inspected the potion and frowned.
[Vigor Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Beshur
Grade: Great Quality
Drink to enhance vigor.
A product of Beshurs Apothecary.
Effect:
+10 Vigor for 1 hour.
There were a few things to note on the items description. First, it was only great quality. The rank was epic, which was strange. There was a custom tag under the description, detailing the mans business. But the potion was worse than Theos. By arge margin. The alchemist could produce +12 to a stat thatsted for an hour and a half. This was the difference between unaligned alchemy and Drogramaths alchemy.
This sucks, Theo said,ughing. Its 5 units of liquid, too. Mine are only 2 units.
The old codger has been doing this for 50 years, Fenian said, swelling with pride. Youve outssed him in 2 months.
That wasnt entirely true. Theo didnt know how long Belgar lived for, but he had a feeling that some of that skill transferred over to him. At the very least, Drogramaths favor had a lot to do with his sess. The alchemist exined the new situation to the Elf, detailing the arrival of Belgars sister and his new rtionship with the Demonic Lord.
Well, whatever the situation is, I dont care, Fenian said, shrugging. It might be nice having an older sister aroundI always wanted siblings.
So, do we have to worry about these alchemists? Tresk said. She had remained silent in the room for some time, but her mind was always looking for shadows in the dark.
Not likely, Fenian said. A private war would be expensive, and I imagine theyd have trouble doing anything about it. If they know anything about you, they know you have an [Assassin] at arms reach at all times. If they attack you within the town, your weapons will target them, not to mention the political fallout. Likewise, a siege of Broken tusk would be futile. Mercenaries usually have level 20 cores, and Well, youve dealt with a level 30 monster wave.
Yeah, good luck idiots, Treskughed. Theyll find a knife in their back before they get near my Theo.
Just so, Fenian said. Now, shall we get down to business?
Chapter 2.47: Fenians Big Surprise
Chapter 2.47: Fenian''s Big Surprise
Fenian reclined in his chair, letting the sunshine fall on his face from the window. He basked in that light as though he hadnt seen the sun for years. Theo watched him with interest. After inspecting the potions, the Elf trader seemed even more satisfied than before. This was a chance to change the face of alchemy in Qavell, and perhaps the world.
I simply dont have enough money for the potions, Fenian said after a time. Im tied up in other investments at the moment.
We can barter, Theo said.
Of course. The people who buy these potions arent just buying them for their obvious use. Theres an allure there. Both that they are unseen in the kingdom, and that they give the user a slight edge.
Nobles, Tresk blurted out. People with tons of money. Thats the buyers.
Exactly, Fenian said, tipping his head to the Marshling. The feather on his hat bobbled as he did so, almost gracing Theos face from a distance. Weve been friends for too long, so Ill tell you. These potions will sell for a few hundred gold when Im done. Ill get four times my investment for very little work.
You have to consider the fact that we cant go to Qavell, Theo said. I appreciate your honesty, but I trust you.
Yeah, youre cool, Tresk said.
Then Ill let you pick 10 gold worth of items from my considerable stock. Well, thats because I have a secret for you locked away in my carriage, Fenian said. Something worth 30 gold. But well get to thatter.
That works, Theo said. I have a few things I need.
Anything in particr?
Theo exined his n to cut the Ogre Cypress trees and the four people who were supposed to do it. Hecked the appropriate seed cores and skill cores.
I have the perfect thing, Fenian said. He withdrew a [Sawmill Seed Core] from his inventory, a [Foresters Core], and 10 [Loggers Cores]. Well call that 5 gold.
Monster cores for the rest, Tresk said, nodding.
Good idea, Theo said.
Theo had the task of upgrading not only his shop, but the mine and smelter as well. The amount of [Monster Cores] the low-level buildings needed was few, but the Newt and Demon was a hungry seed core building. Fenian gave him a good rate on level 30 [Monster Cores], totalling 100 in all. It was an absurdly low price for the cores, but the alchemist wouldntin. The trader had been buying up every item with the [Defensive Artifice] tag he could find.
This is the part youre going to love, Fenian said, withdrawing 4 different seed-shaped items from his inventory. He ced them on the table for Theo to inspect. Now, look at this one first.
Theo inspected the first defensive artifice.
[Firebolt Tower]
[Defensive Artifice]
Umon
An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlements wall. Consumes motes to generate a bolt of fire, targeting a single enemy. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition.
I sourced the [Chain Lightning Towers] for 10 gold each. These cost me less than a gold, around 70 silver. Now, inspect this next one.
Theo obliged, already amazed that there were different towers.
[Fireball Tower]
[Defensive Artifice]
Rare
An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlements wall. Consumes motes to generate a ball of fire that impacts enemies. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition, and will not fire if the radius of the fireballs explosion will injure members of the connected town.
Increasing in rarity, but not so much price, Fenian said. As you might expect, both towers are going to do less damage than the [Chain Lightning Tower], but these will only cost you 2 gold. On to the next.
[Frost Cone Tower]
[Defensive Artifice]
Epic
An artifice that can be attached to a defensive slot on a settlements wall. Consumes motes to generate a cone of ice magic, freezing enemies in ce. Comes with enemy and friendly recognition.
5 gold each. These dont do any damage that I know of, but they root monsters in ce, Fenian said.
This is insane, Theo said. We can get more coverage at an affordable price.
I have another present, but its in the works, Fenian said, nodding. Something that will empower your towers.
Theo counted his money and thought about the best way to spend it. Going with a spread of towers was the best idea, but which would work? Part-way through his process, the door opened. A bare-footed Alsie Plumm came tracking mud with her dirty feet. Theo winced, but weed her in. Only as she padded across theb did he notice she was missing several toes on her foot, something hed never seen before.
Sorry to interrupt, mister mayor, Alise said, shuffling awkwardly on the spot. The representative of the Adventurers Guild wanted me to inform you he intends to purchase towers with the guilds funds.
You have an assistant? Fenian asked,ughing.
I do, Theo said. One with a few toes missing, apparently. What happened to your shoes?
Alise blushed at thement, angling her feet away from him. Theo kicked himself for being insensitive, but there was an alchemical solution for that. I lost them in the mud.
He noticed she avoided talking about the missing toes. Theo rose from his seat and crossed the room, retrieving a bottle of [Alchemic Regenerative Salve]. He hadnt found a use for it until now, but he felt a swell of pride in his chest. It was an easy way to instill more confidence in the young woman, reversing something she saw as a blemish on her body. He inspected the bottle before handing it over.
[Alchemic Regenerative Salve]
[Alchemy Salve]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Applied to wounds to restore lost digits.
Effect:
Repeated application of this salve will restore lost fingers and toes. The effect is not immediate, often taking weeks depending on the level of the user.
Take this, Theo said, handing her the goopy liquid. Hed never used the stuff, but his intuition and the description gave him enough clues. Apply it to your missing toes once a day. It might take a few weeks, but your toes should regenerate.
Alises eyes went wide and the blush on her face deepened. Really? she asked, voice full of hope.
ording to the description, Theo said. Fenian, do you minding with me to meet with Aarok? The, uh, representative from the adventurers guild?
I suppose it means more money, so certainly, Fenian said,ughing.
Follow me, Alise, Theo said, gesturing down the stairs.
Theo found Azrug working the shop, haggling with a customer. Fenian looked on with pride, a smile spreading across his face. Hes really getting good, the Elf said.
They waited until the shopkeeper was done, finally gaining his attention after a big sale.
Azrug, give Alise a new wardrobe, Theo said. Shes my assistant, so we cant have her losing her shoes in the mud. What were you doing in the swamp, anyway?
Alise blushed some more. Chasing down that grumpy Marshling.
Sledge, Tresk said with a nod.
Sounds good to me, Azrug said.
Theo, Fenian, and Tresk left them there to pick out some clothes. Azrug had crates filled with magical items in different styles. His stock was so extensive, there was bound to be something she liked. The trio made their way to the adventurers guild, finding Aarok in his office. Luras was nowhere to be seen, no doubt preparing for the monster wave. Theo was also happy that neither Xolsa nor Zarali were there. Those two had a habit ofplicating things.
There was no negotiating with Fenian. His prices were beyond fair. The adventurers guild brought 50 gold to the table, almost all of which was made from selling gear from the monster waves. After pooling their resources, and under the guildmasters expert tactical advice, they settled on an arrangement of towers.
Aarok bought 1 [Chain Lightning Tower] for each cardinal direction, nning on spacing them some distance from the gate. He spent hisst 10 gold on 2 [Frost Cone Towers]. Theo spent Zizs money under Aaroks advice, ending with 1 [Chain Lightning Tower], 1 [Frost Cone Tower], 2 [Fireball Towers] and a [Firebolt Tower]. The alchemist then used his own money to buy 1 [Frost Cone Tower], 5 [Fireball Towers], and 20 [Firebolt Towers].
It was a massive investment in the defense of Broken Tusk, but it would be worth it. Theo had learned his lesson fromst time, not willing to leave anything to luck. Fenians words about the alchemists in Qavell also pushed him to spend so much money. If anyone wanted to attack his town, theyd receive a torrent of fire from the walls.
This ce is going to be a fortress, Fenian said,ughing.
The trader produced all the tower cores, which Aarok took. They ended the transaction with 5 [Chain Lightning Towers], 4 [Frost Cone Towers], 7 [Fireball Towers], and 20 [Firebolt Towers] totalling 104 gold between them. It was thergest exchange of money Theo had ever seen in Broken Tusk. Aarok also dipped into his personal funds to buy several [Dimensional Storage Crates] to feed the many turrets. If adventurers had to run too far to get more motes to feed the hungry turrets, they would be significantly less effective.
A pleasure, as always, Fenian said. Now, would you mind following me for the big surprise?
Theo cast his gaze to Tresk who nodded. Sure.
Fenian led his team of demonic Karatan by hand. Up close, they looked less like living creatures and more like shadows of real things. Even as the Elf tugged on their reins, the alchemist had to wonder if his hand would just pass through them. Tresk seemed uneasy around the beasts, but they didnt bother Theo. The group made their way down the gentle slope of the cobbled road, leading down toward the eastern gate.
I think I know whats in that second carriage, Theo said, snorting augh.
Fenian had a sly grin on his face. He was leading them toward the ranch.
Miana spotted them as the crested a hill, excitement visible on her face from a great distance. She was dancing on the spot as they approached the paddock, and with a considerable effort from Galflower, Fenian backed the train of carriages through the gate. Only when the gate was secure did hee around to the back of the featureless container.
Im told the lond Veostian Karatan is the best producer of milk, Fenian said, patting his hand on the carriage. He pped his hand on the side of the container and a creature appeared behind it, tilting its head in confusion.
Karatan were hideous creatures. They were significantly longer than Earths cows, with height to match. Instead of four legs, they walked on six with no evidence of a tail on their hind-end. Their faces were the worst part of them, bearing a mix between bovine and insectoid with snapping mandibles and t teeth. This example of the strange species was covered in a thinyer of wooly fur, a hue between pale brown and red. Instead of lowing, or issuing a series of excited nickers, it simply clicked its horrid mandibles, which Theo took to mean excitement.
This is the male. Or so Im told, Fenian said, gesturing.
Miana approached the animal, reaching out to stroke its fur. There was a look of awe on her face that melted Theos heart. It was as though she was touching the thing shed wanted most in her life. The corners of her eyes were quickly wet as she stroked the things wiry fur. The alchemist joined in, shocked at how pleasant it was to touch the beast. Fenian pped the Karatans rump, sending it trotting off into the distance. He then produced another 5 animals, all with simr fur patterns. These were smaller than the first one, but each had a series of udders that ran the length of their bellies.
And these are the females, all milk Karatan, Fenian said. Milk them daily, or theyll stop producing. As for the diet
Come, Miana said, barely able to keep her eyes off the beasts. She led them to the barn. Theos mouth dropped at the sight.
On either side of the barn, there were 4 pens. Each had a litter of dried Zee stalks on the bottom and each trough contained a ground mixture of [Zee Kernels]. The ce was immacte, as though the Half-Ogre woman was preparing for their arrival since she took over the ranch.
I researched their diet and conditions, Miana said, gesturing to a strange artifice and holding vessels in the barns corner. Imissioned a milking artifice from Throk and storage tanks. The mix in the troughs is actually milled Zee with crushed wolf bonesthey need the bones to digest anything. Im researching how to make sweet butter from the milk. Throk is working on an artifice for that.
Youre prepared, Tresk said, letting out augh.
The herd of Karatan noticed the excitement in the barn and approached the open door. They entered, sniffing the air with their strange faces, before finding the food. Each one of them pushed for the best position and ate happily.
By the Gods, I suppose you know what youre doing, Fenian said, chuckling. I couldnt get them to go anywhere when I bought them. The trader that sold them had to help me corral them.
Theo got to thinking about that. If these were Veostian Karatan, they must have been hard to get. Qavell was at war with Veosta.
How did you get them? Theo asked, cocking an eyebrow. Did you cross enemy lines to get us cattle?
I dont know what cattle are, but yes, Fenian said. I have means to avoid detection from a great distance. The Bridge, you know.
This is amazing, Fenian, Theo said.
Miana approached the Elf and pulled him into a tight hug. He let out a surprised sound, but softened, embracing the woman. Thank you, she said, pressing her face into his shoulder.
Fenian had the good sense to stand still and pat her on the back. This was Mianas dream and it had finallye true thanks to him. He didnt have to go above his station to find the best possible Karatan for milk, but he did. It was a smart move for the long term sess of the ranch, allowing them to make a profit from milk and butter.
Theo thought about the Elf as they stood there, waiting for the moment to end. Fenian had a magical means of transportation that seemed strange, even by this worlds standards. He was kind enough to drop hints to the matter, aided by his cores and intuition. The traders patron was UzXulven, the Demon Queen of the Path of Shadows. The alchemist didnt understand the full extent of the Bridge, but it allowed passage over great distances.
The Demonic Karatan were the key to that, Theo figured. But those thoughts fell away as the pair finally broke apart. Miana went off to run her fingers through the curly hair of the beasts as Tresk, Theo and Fenian broke off.
Better to leave her to it, Theo said.
As they were leaving the farm, Alise came trotting down the cobbled path. She had a wide smile on her face and new clothes. She wore a simple blue silken shirt and a matching skirt that swept the ground. Her feet were now d in leather masins, the same kind Theo had worn for so long. She approached, out of breath and affecting a deep bow.
Thank you for the clothes, Alise said, pausing to catch her breath. Several people in the town are eager to purchase supplies from Mister Feintleaf.
Oh my, Fenian said. Mister Feintleaf. I like the sound of that.
The adventurers guild is preparing for the monster wave, which will happen tomorrow, Alise said, withdrawing a parchment from a satchel at her side. The Towns wizard warns caution against multiple waves, which could happen from any of the other dungeons.
Sounds like you have your hands full, my dear alchemist, Fenian said, pping a hand on Theos back. But you finally have some good help.
Shes really on top of it, Tresk said, eying the Human woman suspiciously. Shes better at being the mayor than you, Theo.
By arge margin, Theo said.
Alise ruffled at that. A mayor is only as good as their support structure.
Spoken like an administrator, Fenian said. Ah, well. I suppose this isnt as impressive as the [Governance Core], but
Fenian withdrew a core from his inventory. It was an umon quality [Administrators Core], a mesh of wood-like material surrounding a ball of white energy. He handed it over to Alise with a bow. Theo knew the value of the item was minimal, likely less than a single gold coin, but the womans face lit up.
Oh, no, Alise said, stammering her next words. I couldnt possibly take this.
If a mayorspetency is only as good as their support structure, Fenian said, thrusting the item into her hands. Then youll need this.
Alise bowed deeply, taking the item from him. When she rose, a wide smile painted her face. I have business to attend to. Thank you, Mister Feintleaf, she said, consulting her scroll. Please visit Ziz, Sledge, Throk, Perg, Gridgen, and Xam before you leave.
Ah, thats quite the list, Fenian said. Very well. Time to make more coin.
Chapter 2.48: Buncha Sneaky Peoples
Chapter 2.48: Buncha Sneaky Peoples
Theo could have bought more things from Fenian, but it felt nice to have some money in his inventory. He was too focused on refining his processes and elevating the town to concern himself with anything else. The result of hisziness was that others in the town were picking up the ck. Only now, staring up at the town from the eastern road, did he realize how important that was. The alchemists n had been to get people to be more independent, but it was hard to consider the right course of action. He simply had to give them direction and step back. No more prodding was necessary.
With the day waning and the exhausting event of dealing with Fenian done, Theo and Tresk wandered together. It was an opportunity to bond more, which they came to understand meant more experience with their [Tarahek Core]. While the pair collected whole nts for the garden, the alchemist inspected his cores.
The first, and most powerful core he had was the [Drogramath Alchemy Core].
[Drogramath Alchemy Core]
Legendary
Alchemy Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 13 (15%)
[Alchemy Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effect:
Increases the synergy of [Alchemy] abilities.
+4 Wisdom
[Unstable Material Handling]
He had 2 skills slotted into the core. [Drogramath Distillery Specialty], which gave him the ability to measure liquids and operate the stills, and [High Pressure Refining], which allowed him to work the pressure vessel. He had an empty skill slot and no idea how to get more skills. They came in 5s on his personal level and 10s on his core levels. Every 10th level for a core offered a skill only within the domain of that core. The 5s were free to use on everything.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core]
Rare
Herbalist Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 12 (52%)
[Herbalist Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effects:
+4 Vigor
There was work that could be done with this core. Theo understood that a cores rarity affected its level. The [Drogramath Alchemy Core] said it was level 13, but it functions much more like a level 50 core. That assumption took into ount things hed heard from Fenian about the other alchemists. Aligned cores operated in a different way than unaligned cores, it seemed. He gave a piece of himself to have that core inside him, but the results were worth it. Within the [Drogramath Herbalism Core] were 2 skills, [Drogramath Herbalism], [Drogramath Fermentation], and [Drogramath Inventory]. The herbalism skill gave him the ability to determine if something could be used for alchemy. The fermentation skill allowed him to use the fermentation barrels, and the inventory was just that.
This core desperately needed upgrading, and Theo had a feeling Zarali would know how to do it. It was a task for another time, but he still wanted to take stock.
[Governance Core]
Legendary
Administration Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 4 (2%)
Advanced [Administrator] core, reserved for leaders.
Innate Skills:
[Command Structure]
[Titles]
[Automatic Books]
Effects:
+2 Intelligence
The [Governance Core] had recently leveled up, and would hit level 5 soon enough. With this core, it was easy to see the effects of the legendary rarity tag. It came with 3 innate skills and interfaced with his mayors screen perfectly. There were still features that he hadnt rooted out, leaving them as a mystery for now. The only skill slotted in the core was [Contracts], which needed examination.
[Contracts]
Governance Skill
Epic
Allows the user to create binding contracts between parties. These parties may be individuals, or entire towns or cities. The extent of the contract is agreed upon, including duration, payment, and expectations, by both parties.
Effect:
Allows the user to track contracts like quests.
Allows the user to create contracts.
Theo knew this was the most powerful skill he had, although he hadnt used its full extent. This was a way to guarantee the safety of the town. He could put a use in the contract that forced the person to not harm Broken Tusk or anyone in it. While he didnt know what the oue of breaking the contract was besides what hed been told, he hoped it waspelling enough to keep being honest. The threat of some strange magical beasting to collect on a debt of life would have to be enough to bind the contract.
Tresk and Theo gained arge amount of experience for the Tarahek core while they rented the garden. They introduced stat-bearing reagent nts to the garden, keeping the [me Roses] as far from the other nts as possible. The strange bush the roses grew on sent cinders sailing off asionally, but it seemed mostly harmless. After applying more aerosolized growth potion to the garden and nning the next expansion out, it was a field of reagents. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle] nts had grown to 90% cultivation, and the tubers it produced were huge.
Theo inspected one [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], noting the massive increase in size.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]
Common
This [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.
Cultivation:
90%
Unit by volume:
11 units
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] ????
His current garden of 20 nts should produce 220 units of essence, but the alchemist suspected there were hidden features to cultivation. The act of spending the rest of the day with Tresk and tending the garden saw growth in 2 cores. The [Tarahek Core] almost grew to level 13, but the [Drogramath Herbalism Core] grew to 13, sending Theos personal level to 12. He inspected his character sheet before applying his free point.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 12
Alchemist
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 65
Mana: 90
Stamina: 75
Strength: 16 (+10)
Dexterity: 8 (+3)
Vigor: 12 (+4)
Intelligence: 16 (+4)
Wisdom: 25 (+6)
Points: 1
The benefit of increased [Intelligence] was already making itself known, and Theo wanted to push it beyond 20 before considering other stats. He applied the single point to [Intelligence], bringing him to 17, counting his bonuses. The effect of the intelligence stat and wisdom stat were very murky, but they paired well together. Unlike [Strength], which made a person physically stronger, they altered the way a person thought. [Wisdom] provided superior intuition into topics, but made the user unable to extrapte information. Only when higher [Intelligence] scores came into y did they see the thread of knowledge winding around a topic.
Thepanions spent the rest of the day rxing. They found their way to Xams tavern when the time was right, enjoying thepany of the other members of the town. Alise arrived half-way through the meal to inform the mayor that Fenian had departed for the day, but promised to return at a moments notice in a time of need. She also informed them there was a meeting among themand structure the next morning for the siege. The new assistant informed the alchemist he needed to give titles and ranks to both Zarali and Xolsa. The priestess got the title Cleric and the wizard Town Mage. They were both ced in a position directly below Luras.
Waking the next morning, Theo and Tresk tended the garden together before returning to the Tavern for breakfast. She served the same thing as the night before, a simple stew dish, but it provided a strength bonus for the day. The alchemist couldnt wait for her to put on another banquet. They took their time with the breakfast, lingering on less important topics as though they could push away the impending monster wave by chatting. Only when Alise came to retrieve them did they give up that hope, trudging over to the Adventurers Guild.
Luras, Aarok, Zarali, and Xolsa were gathered in the cramped office when they arrived. Alise assumed a position in the corner while Theo and Tresk found two chairs added for them.
We have a solid strategy, Aarok said, his face painted with resolve. But you will not like this.
There were some miscalctions, Xolsa said, shrugging.
Thats mostly my fault, Zarali said, cing her hand over Xolsas and shing a warm smile. An unexpected overflow of power.
I assume you have it under control, Theo said.
We do, Alise said.
Theo turned to look at the woman, surprised that she had engrained herself in themand structure already. She had a hunger for this kind of work, and the alchemist wouldnt do anything to get in her way. If shed take care of the boring day-to-day things, he could focus on the bigger picture. Things like trade deals and the collection of resources were more important to him, and this took a lot of the strain off of him.
Theres gonna be two waves, Luras said, cutting to the core of the issue.
Theo turned his head again, locking eyes with the Half-Ogre. There was something different swimming in his eyes, a sense of belonging that the alchemist couldnt ce. It was as though something deep within him had shifted slightly to one side, but he couldnt wrap his mind around it. His gaze lingered for too long and Zarali let out a sharpugh.
My dear brother might finally make use of his cores, she said. Tell me, sweet brother, what do you feel about your friend? she asked, gesturing to Luras.
While she could be annoying, Zarali was right. He scraped his memories, looking for something that made sense. A sh in Luras eyes revealed the truth, but it was no simple thing to riddle out. Only with the increase to his [Intelligence], high [Wisdom], and the innate knowledge of his cores brought the truth to light.
Baelthar, Theo said, squinting at his friend. Right?
[Baelthars Hunter Core], Zarali said. A legendary evolution of the [Hunters Core], and an apt core for such a powerful man.
Baelthar is the Ogre Patron of the Hunt, right? Theo asked. So, you found an aligned core.
Something like that, Luras said, shuffling his feet on the spot. Priestess Zarali helped with that. Baelthar and Drogramath get along, so they say. The trader helped.
Theo almost forgot about the shocking news that thered be two waves. He was too consumed by the primal sensation he felt while looking into Luras eyes.
Two waves back-to-back? Theo asked.
We dont know, Xolsa said.
So, this is a briefing, Aarok said, clearing his throat. Theo and I spent most of our money on defensive towers and Ive arranged them throughout the town. I scattered the [Firebolt Towers] along the wall in even intervals. I ced 2 [Fireball Towers] near each gate, except for the south gate. Only 1 there. 2 [Chain Lightning Towers] at the north, and 1 at every other gate. 1 [Frost Cone Tower] at each gate. [Dimensional Storage Crates] loaded with motes all over the wall.
We have enough potions for the siege, Luras said. But you should be ready to brew more on the fly.
Iveced the marsh with dimensional traps, Xolsa said. Theyll disce some monsters for a short period of time.
Ive consulted with Lord Drogramath, who promised to bless our fighters, Zarali said, bowing her head in reverence.
Theo felt at a loss for words. It was as though the weight of the siege was meaningless. He sensed Tresk feeling the same thing. The only thing they could do was sit there and absorb the information.
Tresk, youre already familiar with your squad, Luras said, tipping his head to her.
I am, Tresk said. Buncha sneaky peoples.
And youve already done enough drills to know your role, Aarok said.
That leaves my sweet brother, Zarali said, grinning. What role will you take? Nothing like Belgar. He hadbat cores.
I dont wantbat cores, Theo said, shaking his head.
Winning a fight doesnt mean fighting, Luras said, his gaze fixed on the middle-distance. Theo ran support thest 2 sieges. That kind of work is instrumental.
Just so, Xolsa said.
The group went on talking about the tactics of the defense. Theo was excited to hear their ns, and how in depth they went. They had prepared for several scenarios, which had different arrangements for the adventurers. The siege coulde from one side, then the other, or both sides at once. Aarok even had a n for if all 5 dungeons unleashed their monsters at the same time. Each n gave the alchemist the same role. Running supplies between the different stations and helping Aarok with the tactical map. After an hour of discussion, the meeting concluded abruptly.
[Aarok]: The monster wave will begin at noon. Please prepare ordingly.
That does it, Aarok said. Now, we wait.
Theo and Tresk excused themselves, Alise trailing behind them. She held a parchment in her hand and seemed to beg for the alchemists attention. When they made it to the monolith he turned to meet her gaze.
Just a quick update, Alise said. I met with the producers of the town and got their long-term ns for production. Only a few had something solid, but Ive urged them to establish growth. The [Administrators Core] lets me use more of the towns features, so Ill keep an eye on that.
How long have you been doing this,dy? Tresk asked,ughing.
Alise blushed. A day?
Seems like youve been an administrator your whole life, Theo said. Youre good at this.
She blushed more. Thank you, mister mayor. Im just trying to earn my keep.
How are the toes? Theo asked.
The woman smiled wide. She bent over and removed a shoe, revealing a set of freshly growing toes at the end of her foot. They were stunted at the moment, but not the small nubs she had before.
I could never afford the salve up north, Alise said. Look! Theyre almost back!
Thats great, Tresk said, leaning close to the womans feet. Youre gonna have new toes by the end of the week.
I can almost wiggle them, Alise said, trying and failing to wiggle her new toes.
Theo was suspicious of the womans aptitude in her position but he assumed the best. Betrayal wouldnte from someone helping him establish his town. The contract would keep her from outright betrayal, and she was fitting in amazingly. All the alchemist could do was marvel at the amount ofpetent people that were drawn to his town.
The group spoke at the monolith for some time, and Alise revealed more about herself. She was shy, but Tresk had a way of wiggling information out of others. The Marshling wasnt sly, just persistent. Alise hadboring cores, but often served as a go-between for a merchant in a small town north of Qavell. She often ran between many people, collecting numbers for shipment quantities or profits. Even without cores, she was expected to do the work of an administrator. It was only once her shell was broken that she gave up the truth.
Throk grabbed Theos attention before he left the square. The artificer was interested in buying all the smelters current supply of iron, something he was more than happy to do. There was no need to haggle. The price established by the system was informed by Throks recent sales, so he had thetest information. Iron bars were slightly more expensive than copper bars,ing in at a solid 50 copper coins per bar. Copper bars sold anywhere from 20 to 50 copper, but the alchemist had a feeling they would sell for the lowest possible price.
Theo and Throk established a contract where the artificer promised to deliver a [Dimensional Storage Crate] to the smelter. In exchange, he could take whatever bars he needed at market cost. Creating the contract meant that the funds would be deposited automatically, and they didnt have to worry about manually exchanging money.
Tresk and Theo lingered there for some time, watching the cksmith do his work. Smithing was the mans primary job, and he was working on a few things for Sledge. Throks skills with his smithing core must have grown more powerful, because each swing of his hammer moved more material. There were even times when a hammer strike made no sense, shaping the metal into impossible shapes. Instead of deforming under the ng of a hammer, he punched a hole straight through it.
Eventually, the pair wandered to the smelter to inform Nira of the new arrangement. She grunted in response, barely noticing them as she worked the blistering hot crucible. They then made their way to the mine, where the miners were still diligently pulling ore from the caverns. Theo made sure they understood the importance of leaving before the siege, and they agreed. With only a few hours until the monsters were scheduled to arrive, they began packing it up.
Gridgen said there was a n for the children, which Theo wasnt aware of. A team of 5 adventurers were assigned to guard the kids specifically, who would have fun activities prepared at Xams tavern. Throk had created an artifice that would y rude sounds if you turned a crank on the side, something the alchemist wanted to see for himself.
As the pair made their way back to the monolith, noon quickly approaching, Tresk turned to Theo with a smile.
Im getting a fart machine from my dad, she said, her smile spreading into a devious grin.
Me too.
Chapter 2.49: Wild Card
Chapter 2.49: Wild Card
Theo and Tresk spent more time than they should have ying with the children in Xams tavern. The fart machine was everything it was cracked up to be, ying a series of 10 sounds that Throk had clearly recorded himself. Zankir and Zansal, who were stationed in the tavern for protection duty, werent as amused by the Marshlings recorded raspberries. The small y area established for the kids was on the first floor, in the center of the room. Sledge had reinforced the walls with her [Fabricators Core], infusing them with marble. While the appearance of the wood ts hadnt changed, if the alchemist knocked his knuckles against the wood, it was hard as stone.
Xolsa had alsoced the exterior of the building with invisible runes, or so Theo was told. When a monster struck the outside of the tavern, they would be sent to another dimension for a short time, reappearing randomly within the swamp.
Theo took time to notice the aesthetic beauty of the tavern, marveling at the strange construction of the building seed cores. The alchemists impression of Half-Ogre construction was one of thick stone blocks hastily shoved together. When he arrived in Broken Tusk, almost every building was made of wood. It was the most plentiful resource back then, giving way to rot and decay. The entire neighborhood north of the tavern had taken on the stone block aesthetic, but of the other buildings in town, only half decided on stone.
That thought implied some decision-making by the seeds, which was strange. These thoughts were a distraction, though. Something to whittle away the time as they prepared for the siege. Tresk departed as noon drew closer, off to meet with her squad of stealth specialists. The alchemist didnt know what she was assigned to do, but there was no better person to lead a squad of sneaky people. A message popped up shortly after.
[Aarok]: Xolsa is preparing to instigate the monster wave. Please stand by for more information.
Theo rose from the floor, making his way to the exit of the tavern. A series of fart sounds followed him, and he couldnt help butugh. The giggles of the children were too much. A system message obscured the center of his view as he set foot on the hard cobbles outside.
[Pincer Attack!]
Monster Wave
Duration: Infinite
Pincer Attack!
The [Swamp Dungeon] and [River Dungeon] have joined forces, creating a pincer attack.
Broken Tusk is besieged on both sides by the Troll Forces to the west, and the Fald forces to the east, resulting in 2 bosses spawning at the same time!
Defeating this wave will result in a greater reward, but the difficulty is increased significantly.
Effects:
2 boss monsters have been spawned simultaneously.
2 distinct armies, operating under the control of their boss monster, have spawned.
Increased reward forpleting the monster wave.
Gain an additional effect forpleting the wave within a time limit (24 hours).
The moment he dismissed that message, another came up.
[Empowered Monsters]
Monster Wave Modifier
Duration: Until Completion
Empowered Monsters!
The buildup of power within the dungeons has be too great, resulting in an empowered wave. The monsters are stronger and less forgiving. Good luck.
Every monster in the monster wave receives +5 to their level.
Effects:
Level +5 for every monster in the wave.
Increased reward forpleting the monster wave.
Both messages seemed horrific, but exciting. The monster wave itself was modified, essentially doubling the amount of monsters Broken Tusk would need to defeat. Then, the [Empowered Monsters] effect made them all stronger. Theo now realized that the amount of towers they bought was likely too few.
[Aarok]: This is as expected. Stick with your teams and prepare to receive Zaralis blessing.
Aaroks town-wide message rolled through Theos mind. He felt his muscles surge with power as the next message popped up.
You have received [Blessing of Drogramath] from [Zarali].
[Blessing of Drogramath]
Spiritual Effect
Duration: 24 hours
A priest or priestess of Drogramath has blessed you with power. You will receive a series of buffs based on the casters willpower.
Effect:
Increased effectiveness ofbat (increased Strength, Dexterity, Vigor by +10).
Double the effectiveness of all potions used while under this effect.
This was an absurd buff. The increase tobat attributes was crazy enough, but the doubled potion effectiveness would be amazing. Combined with the [Troll ying] effect the town had, and the bombs would deal a ton of damage. As the alchemist stepped over the road, he felt his feet fall silently. He pivoted on the spot, noting no sensation of dizziness as he whipped around. The increase to [Dexterity] was the most notable thing about the buff. The alchemist inspected his character sheet before reporting to his team.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 12
Alchemist
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 115
Mana: 100
Stamina: 125
Strength: 26 (+20)
Dexterity: 18 (+13)
Vigor: 22 (+14)
Intelligence: 17 (+4)
Wisdom: 25 (+6)
Points: 0
Theo couldnt imagine how high the adventurers stats were, and had to wonder what the cost of this buff was. Only the deafening sound of explosions to the west was enough to break him out of the stupor, sending him running to the western gate. He spotted the team of porters waiting for him,borers and crafters of the city ready to move supplies around as needed. Aarok stood at the top of the battlements, but Luras was the person who caught his eye.
Luras Trinner, now a worshiper of Baelthar, Ogre Patron of the Hunt, was wreathed in ribbons of red energy. When he let an arrow loose, it sounded like a gunshot. With the enhancement of Zaralis buff, he was releasing arrows faster than Theo could see, peppering the swamp with deadly projectiles. The Half-Ogre didnt even have a quiver on his back, the arrows simply appeared in his hand after he fired.
Thats scary, Theo said, ascending the battlements.
No kidding, Aarok said,ughing.
Another explosion shook the dust loose from the stone wall. A plume of mes rose deep in the swamp, rising into the air like a mushroom cloud. Theo couldnt even see the targets that Luras targeted, but shrugged the ordeal off. The Half-Ogre was level 12 when the alchemist arrived, and would have been even higher. Tresk overtook him as the best adventurer in town, but that gap seemed to narrow. He didnt want to interrupt the focus of the man by inspecting him, and resolved to do itter.
The siege proceeded in an orderly fashion for a while. Theo met with his team and split the workload up. Azrug was among the porters, as were others with either dimensional bags or inventory powers. The alchemists first assignment was to run supplies to the eastern gate. He darted down the street, his feetnding solid on each stone as he went. It differedpletely from the way he normally operated, and when he arrived at the eastern gate, he wasnt out of breath.
The sight that greeted him was not as kind. An adventurer was being pulled through the open gate, blood soaking through his clothes. Zarali swooped in like an angel out of nowhere. Motes of purple energy flowed off her like a river, soaking the air with the power of Drogramath. In moments, the blood soaked back into the adventurers body. Their eyes snapped open, and they took a deep breath. The priestess rested her hand on their forehead, whispering in Drogramathi. It was over in a moment.
I didnt know you could heal, Theo said, approaching the woman. He assumed her healing powers had to do with potions.
Im a priestess, little brother, Zarali said, shing a grin. Now, do your job.
Theo nodded, dumbstruck by the difference in the organization of this siege. He realized, as people ran across the walls, that Aarok was sending messages to squads individually. He was standing on the western gate, observing his tactical map and dispatching orders in a sh. Xolsa was atop the eastern gate, waving his hands in the air and muttering something. The alchemist dropped off his supplies and waited for his next order, watching as the strange Fald came out from the river.
They were vile-looking creatures, the Fald. The monsters were mostly bi-pedal, wearing suits of armor made from rocks and shells. They were hunched over, wearing turtle shells or other debris on their backs as shields with skin the hue of dried seaweed. The face of a Fald was the worst part, a mocking cross between a pig and a fish, with red gills that red from the sides of their necks.
The boss monster for the Fald wave hadnt shown itself yet, but something radiated power from within the river. Theos concentration on the approaching force was broken when Aaroks voice entered his mind.
Theos team. Run the wall, make sure the towers are full.
As though responding to the message, the [Chain Lightning Tower] let out a stream of lightning that tore through the Fald. It impacted one unfortunate creature in the chest before jumping between their ranks. Then, the monsters drew close enough for the [Frost Cone Tower] to activate. The tower itself was a pir of ice with a mote port on the side, reaching to the sky and defying the heat of the day. When it fired, a tight cone of ice issued across the rockyndscape. Each Fald that was caught in the st froze on the spot, rooted firmly to the ground. The peppering fire from the [Firebolt Towers] let out a series of bark-like sts, setting a stato rhythm to the constant fire.
Theo and his team worked their way north along the battlements. None of them slipped on the steep incline of the wall thanks to their increased [Dexterity]. They all felt sure-footed over the stones as if they found hidden footholds among the mortared stones. There was a peace in performing their simple task, even when Tresks health dropped below half several times. The alchemist transferred all his healing potions into their shared inventory and informed the Marshling she could drink them, or spread them around to her squad. He did this several times when they got low, using the unique power to resupply the secluded squad.
Tresks ount of the battle, something she ryed as they went, was one of stalking the swamp boss. As expected, it was another powerful Troll. Theo couldnt help feeling regretful toward hisck of experimentation with their blood, and even more guilty about requesting that the adventurers harvest more of it this siege. The Marshling and her squad made several unsessful attempts on the Troll boss, but had to improvise a new n under Aaroks direction. They led the boss to the wall, where a bulk of the adventurers were waiting. When it approached, they unleashed abination of skills, spells, tower fire, and bombs to bring the boss down.
A message shed the moment Tresk screamed into Theos ear, iming that she got thest hit. Even without his new poisons done brewing, she was having a great time.
[Boss Monster] defeated! Foul Lord Broglog has been in. Defeat the remaining monsters toplete the siege.
This was an especially difficult thing, since they had two waves going on at the same time. The monsters attacking the western side of the city wouldnt relent until they were all killed, and the eastern boss hadnt appeared yet. Aaroks expert tactics saw no holes in Broken Tusks defenses. When a section of the wave got too close to the wall, he issued a rapid series of orders that saw the hole plugged. When the time was right, he ordered a sortie out of the eastern gate, meeting the Fald on the field and testing the mettle of the adventurers.
Under the watchful gaze of the towers, the adventurers lured the monsters into traps. The friendly identification feature of the towers saw no citizens harmed during the counter-attack, and the decimation of the monster wave was absolute.
Theo watched from the eastern gate as the Fald fell in scores. Xolsas magic was strange.The alchemist expected to see fireballs and lightning boltsing from a wizard, but it was a confusing array of dimensional mirrors. He would summon arge mirror-like object in front of monsters. When they stepped inside, theyd vanish. Minutester, the monsters would appear in the center of the field with a confused look on their vile faces.
A spout of water shot from the river, reaching high into the sky and catching the light of the sun. The system provided a message for the appearance of the boss monster, dampening the excitement for seeing such a perfect rainbow over the river.
[Boss Monster] spotted! River Lady Razal has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters, use caution.
The boss monster was a giant Fald made of water. Its form wasnt defined enough to say it had arms, or legs, but the general shape of a creature was there. It seethed over the edge of the river, creeping along the ground and sending jets of water to anyone who got too close. The adventurers retreated to a safe distance and let the boss get in range of the towers. A skeleton crew of fighters was left to defend the other walls as others rushed toward the eastern gate,ying down a constant field of fire at the monster.
Razal was resistant, though. Arrows had little effect on her ever-shifting form, and the towers were the only thing that seemed to stop her. Tresk joined Theo on the battlements, giving him a hug as they watched the monsters plodding path. When it came in range of the [Frost Cone Tower], it started taking more damage. With parts of the monsters body frozen, the adventurers chipped away at its form. It was a slow death that saw sections of the boss chipped off, falling to the ground and reducing the size of it.
When Razal finally approached the gate, a single st from a nearby [Fireball Tower] saw her removed from existence. Theo eyed the water she left behind with hungry eyes. His cores were telling him it was worth collecting. The system produced a message that confirmed the bosses were dead, joined by more bad news.
[Boss Monster] defeated! River Lady Razal has been in. Bonus Wave!
[Bonus Wave!] Broken Tusk defeated the monster wave in 6 hours! Bonus wave: [Wild Card].
[Wild Card]
Monster Wave
Duration: 1 Hour
Wild Card!
Every remaining creature has been removed from the field and shuffled into nearby dungeons. One monster from each dungeon has been promoted to a sub-boss. They will assault immediately.
Experience gained from killing these monsters is increased.
[Monster Wave] gold is increased for each sub-boss defeated.
Sub-bosses guaranteed to drop addition, increased rarity loot.
Aarok was quick to redistribute the adventurers, spreading them across each gate but reinforcing the eastern gate. He was clever enough to understand that if each wave would attack the town, 2 waves woulde from the east. One from the [River Dungeon] and one from the [Ocean Dungeon]. The monsters always targeted the gates, which were the weakest part of the defensive structure.
Dusk loomed on the horizon as the defense of Broken Tusk continued. 5 waves of monsters descended on the town, but their strength was diminished. The system redistributed the monsters, splitting individuals into multiple, smaller monsters to field a sea of weak enemies. Most fell to the powerful towers dotting the walls, while others fell to the hands of adventurers. Theo simply marveled at the efficiency of Aaroksmand, running between checkpoints and delivering motes and potions. He was exhausted and tempted to pop a [Stamina Potion] when the final sub-boss fell. Night had nketed the town when the system message appeared.
[Monster Wave]plete!
925 Monsters Destroyed!
20 gold bonus (paid to the Mayor of Broken Tusk).
Bonus for defeat of 2 bosses, 5 sub-bosses:
Obtained: [Plume of Defiance].
Obtained: 8 gold, 1 silver, 92 copper.
[Broken Tusk] gained new effect: [Coordinated Fire].
Theo felt the hat fall into his inventory. When he removed it, he scowled. It was a fancy cloth hat, fitted perfectly for his head with a band. It was puffed on the top, like dough that had risen irregrly. Sticking out from the center of the hat was a feather that swooped in a wide arc. He inspected it.
[Plume of Defiance]
[Cloth Hat]
Epic
Scaling
Hat granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.
Effect:
During a siege, all potions used by defenders will be 1.25 times more effective.
+1 Vigor
Tresk burst intoughter when she spotted him. She pointed, rolled on the ground, then came up to smack at the feather like a cat.
Its too good not to wear, he said, scowling.
You look like Fenian, Tresk said. Her face went a pale shade of pink, eyes going wide. Oh no
She slowly withdrew something from her inventory. It was a smaller version of the hat Theo wore, tailored to fit her head.
Oh, no! she shouted. The stats are too good not to wear!
Adventurers were gathering together near the center of town in celebration. The jumped high into the air, showing off their enhanced stats. Several of their number performed feats of strength that would be impossible without Zaralis buffs. Theo inspected the new effect on the town, keeping his eyes on his gging stamina.
[Coordinated Fire]
Anything targeted by multiple towers gains bonus damage based on the amount of towers. Each tower adds 0.1 to the damage multiplier.
It was another effect that was incredibly useful. Especially so since they ced more towers on the walls.
The impromptu party didntst long. The monsters thaty dead outside of the walls could be taken care of the next day, and everyone that participated in the fight was exhausted. Theo and Tresk returned to the Newt and Demon shortly after the celebration started. They pressed their foreheads together and received 20% of their level in the [Tarahek Core]. It almost pushed them over the edge into level 14,ing shy by a few percentages. Theo also received a massive amount of experience in his [Governance Core], pushing him from level 4 to level 6. The core evolved to have +3 [Intelligence], but the alchemist didnt have a free point to buy any new skills.
The pair settled down to bed and fell asleep immediately. The battle might have been difficult, but the cleanup that presented itself was worse. Theo felt content in that fact, since they made such an absurd amount of money. The party went on for some time outside before it calmed down. Bothpanions were well asleep before that happened.
Chapter 2.50: Living River Water
Chapter 2.50: Living River Water
Theo and Tresk sat in the Marsh Wolf Tavern the next morning, nursing their tea and groaning. The sudden drop in stats left most citizens of Broken Tusk feeling spent. While the task thaty before them was daunting, the alchemist was eager to inspect the monsters that had fallen. Pieces of the elemental still sat outside of the eastern gate, slowly melting into puddles of valuable reagents. There were also fields of Fald and Goblins, waiting to have their parts harvested. Tresk had already collected a fair amount of [Troll Blood], but the [Searing Regeneration] property didnt seem appealing.
Breakfast was served at the tavern, the same noodle dish theyd had before, but Theo was more interested in filling his belly. While he took no part in the direct fighting, the increase in his stats and constant running took a lot out of him. It wasnt as bad as chugging [Lesser Stamina Potions], but his muscles still ached. The alchemists mind went back to the advice of Essential Alchemy, and the im that low-level potions held no negative effects. He realized now that it meant they wouldnt kill a person, not that there were no side effects. Both the stamina and mana potions had short-term effects, just nothing that would harm him long-term.
Alise joined them for breakfast after a while. She popped her shoe off to reveal almost-grown toes. The [Alchemic Regenerative Salve] was doing good work and taking shorter than advertised. After revealing her toes, she was down to business. She wanted to oversee the harvesting of the monsters to better direct the usage of resources. Without a catalog of what items were gathered, there was no way to know what they could expect to drop with each wave. Theo thought it wasnt necessary, but she was insistent.
After breakfast, Alise made her way to join with Aarok and his adventurers while Tresk apanied Theo to the eastern wall. She didnt want him going out to harvest the elementals bounty without her there for protection. They stopped in to check on Miana before departing. The Half-Ogre woman had the herd grazing in the paddock, which the alchemist didnt know they could do. She insisted it was best to mix in a wild diet to their Zee-mixture, iming it made their coats more plush.
The n is to focus on Karatan wool and milk, Miana said, leading the pair into the barn.
Theo passed by the male Karatan, running his fingers through the things wool as he went. He hadnt considered sheering them down to harvest the material, but it made sense. Their coats were dense and visibly growing since yesterday. When the group entered the stables, Miana pped her hand against the storage tank.
Almost 200 units of milk, Miana said. Throks artifices are getting better by the day. This tank prevents the milk from spoiling, so we can keep it here forever.
Theo inspected the container. There were several artifices attached to the side, each with their own port for motes. Miana was smart to invest in this equipment. It would make her day-to-day life easier and speed the collecting of milk. She was still waiting on the artifice that would help her make butter, but the milk was already flowing. The alchemist thought about Veostian Karatan in the soutnds. Importing butter from the north was always a pain. As with all his export ideas, this one relied on ease of transport. A trader could run the goods to Rivers and Daub within a day, reducing cost significantly. If a trader had to hold onto a product for too long, theyd start losing money. That was only logical.
Beyond impressive, Miana, Theo said. How is the towns enhanced growth working on the animals?
That requires more observation, Miana said.
Their coats have grown, Tresk said.
They have, Miana said. Well see where that gets us.
No ns for butchering them? Theo asked.
None, Miana said, looking slightly offended. Karatan can live for years, often producing milk into their old age. Theres no reason to kill them if theyre still making milk. Besides, we need to get some babies.
Theo would rather have a nice wolf steak thered in Karatan butter than a in Karatan steak, so he was on board with the n. With the amount of milk they produced overnight, he could imagine the butter flowing out of Broken Tusk. Depending on the ratio of milk to butter and the cost per unit, this might be the most productive part of the town.
The pair departed, finding their way to the sloped field outside of the eastern wall. Large chunks of the frozen water elemental rested everywhere. While the smaller sections the adventurers chipped off had melted, soaking into the ground, there were boulder-sized chunks that were still frozen. Theo dismissed the dangers of raw reagents mixing into the soil and approached an iceberg taller than him. He inspected it.
[Living River Water]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Epic
Water taken from the embodiment of a river.
Properties:
[Water Walking] ???? ????
Water walking, Theo said. I dont know if thats useful.
Might be. Why dont you take a bite? Tresk asked.
Theo checked his inventory for poison and disease removal potions before even considering the idea. The danger of eating a reagent was usually in its first property. [Water Walking] didnt seem dangerous, so he chipped off a small shard with his knife and popped it in his mouth. Tresk watched with wide eyes, but it was nothing special. It tasted like pure water. The only notable thing about it was the temperature. It was still very cold.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Living River Water] by eating it.
[Dissolve] discovered.
Thats a weird property, Theo said. Dissolve.
Tresk shrugged.
Youre still eating the reagents? Zaralis voice shouted from afar. Thats disgusting.
Theo turned to spot the Dronon woman approaching from the eastern gate. She tried to hide it, but there was a limp in her step that betrayed her. The alchemist recognized the signs of exhaustion, concluding that whatever ritual she did yesterday drained her beyond reason.
Zarali, Theo said, moving to support the woman. She looked up at him in thanks, but wouldnt say a word. That buff was amazing. Thank you.
Oh,e now, Zarali said, chuckling. What good is a priestess if she cant buff those under her wing.
Theo led her to the chunk of [Living River Water]. There was an absurd amount there, likely more than hed ever use. Once the woman was on stable footing he let her go, watching as Tresk gave an approving nod.
How useful is the [Dissolve] property? Theo asked.
Its a crafting support property, Zarali said. Ive seen the effects of such potions here already, but this would be useful for the miners.
How so?
It wont be worth using it to mine the ore, but they can use it to create new tunnels, Zarali said. The resulting potion is quite dangerous, but youre going to want to dig deeper in that mine. You know what they say about copper and iron.
I dont know, Theo said with a shrug. Im not from this.
Copper and iron lead to seams of silver and mythril, Zarali said.
Ive heard that, Tresk said, bouncing on the spot.
Come, let me help you harvest this, Zarali said, withdrawing a golden hammer from her inventory.
It felt like a strange family outing, chipping away at the ice. Zarali regained some of her strength after a while, but swung the hammer with weak arms and produced few shards. She exined the other method of discovering reagents, which involved more service to Drogramath. Theos shrine would level the more reagents he fed it, but he was limited to one offering a day. Once he crossed a threshold, Drogramath would whisper the third property into his mind. The thing that surprised him most was what the priestess said next.
And eventually hell help you find the next property, Zarali said.
The next one? Theo asked.
The interface that disyed the properties on a reagent only had 3 spots. Even his experimentation with essences revealed they had exactly 3 properties and no more. When the pressure vessel operated, it spat out 2 bricks of spent material, preserving thest for the refined essence.
Belgar discovered the existence of a fourth property after years of experimentation, Zarali said. Then another after that.
This would have rocked Theos understanding of alchemy, but it was all magic. If the system wanted there to be infinite properties on reagents, it could make that happen. But the look on Zaralis face told him the information was lost with the death of her brother. That didnt make it impossible to discover, just something for another time. If the alchemist had to guess, it involved raising his affinity with Drogramath. That much was in.
Theo thought for a moment as he chipped away at the endless field of ice. The way his mind worked had changed. The closer his [Intelligence] got to 20, the more he felt rational in his process. It was even getting easier to dismiss the whispers that came from his chest, although that might result from his rising [Tarahek Core]. Then there was his unaligned [Governance Core] to consider. It was leveling faster than any core he had, thanks to the constant flow of information from the town.
Im impressed you figured out how to infuse the water, brother, Zarali said, hoisting arge shard of ice for him to take into his inventory.
Thats not surprising, Tresk said, her daggers shing against the ice. She carved out a smiley face. Theo can be stupid, but hes determined. You tell him something is possible, and hell do it.
Im not that stupid, Theo said. Im getting smarter.
There is a difference between raising your [Intelligence] and getting smart, Zarali said. Since youre improving on both fronts, youre bing more of aplete person. Combine that with your high [Wisdom], and youll be a force before level 20.
It took several hours to harvest all the ice. Since it was a resource that wouldnt grow back on its own, Theo wanted to get as much as he could. If the [Dissolve] property was useful for mining deep into the earth, he wanted to have as much as possible. The massive body of the elemental provided several thousand units of reagent, resulting in the alchemists stamina bar draining to half before midday.
Tresk broke off from the group, intent on heading to the [River Dungeon], as Zarali and Theo made their way to theb. The priestess wanted to spend time with him today, and he wouldnt say no. With the monster wave over, she was done working with Xolsa for a while. She still had intentions of staying at his tower permanently, and hinted at romantic involvement, but he didnt want to hear any of it. The alchemist wanted to get her opinion on his poison brewing process.
Theo made an offering at his shrine, receiving the powerful buff from his patron. Zarali let out a satisfied sigh as the power of Drogramath washed through theb. She had several pointers on the brewing of poisons, something their patron was famous for. They worked the stills and pressure vessel, sharing stories about their lives as they went. Zarali and Belgar were inseparable in life. They were born from a brood of Drogramath Dronon somewhere Veosta and were tracked down by [Witch Hunters], something that had fallen out of favor in the past century. While the remaining brood of Drogramathi were killed, they managed to escape.
Zaralis tale was sad, but she didnt tell it as such. She detailed how determined they were and held little resentment for those hunters. Belgar got revenge for them, creating improvised bombs that they used to rain death on those [Witch Hunters]. Thats when they went into seclusion before bing embroiled in a Demon war. Belgar met his end and she was forced to wander Iaredin with little hope for moving on. Only her faith in Drogramath kept her going. His whispers promised something great in her future.
To Theos surprise, she wasnt impressed with his past. She thought he was delinquent in his duties to his family, hating the way he gave up everything to serve a corrupt government. He didnt me her. He hated that part about himself, but had long since divorced that old life. In his mind, everything started at the beginning of the Season of Blooms, the year 873 of Balkors Betrayal. The priestess saw that response as poetic, and she epted it.
Theypleted the run of [Refined Poison Essence], and the alchemist inspected his work.
[Refined Poison Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
5 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of poison.
Now, its interesting you havent worked more with poisons, Zarali said.
Why? Theo asked.
Your partner is an [Assassin], Zarali said. You should pump these out for her daily.
Theo knew he had neglected that part of his rtionship again. The only thing that pushed those thoughts away was how busy the town had been. He was working to fill orders with Fenian with no time to stray from those restoration potions. Still, Zaraliplimented his form when he brewed the first potion. Shemended his use of the infused shavings, informing him it was a big step to productivity. They inspected the resulting poison together.
[Poison]
[Poison]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 10 stacks.
Much better, Zarali said with an approving nod. Now, we have some work to do before we move on to fermentation with aligned essences.
I havent even worked with the second tier of fermented essences, Theo said. It was too costly.
Well, it doesnt matter, Zarali said, kneeling to inspect the barrels. These barrels really wont do. Ill need to take them over to your cksmith for modifications.
Fine with me, Theo said.
Azrug entered theb. Theo didnt hear the gentle sound of the bell downstairs, but he was trailed by Alise. Zarali excused herself, taking the barrels into her inventory and leaving theb. The shopkeeper cracked a smile, pointing at Theos silly hat.
You look stupid, he said.
I feel stupid, Theo said.
I think it looks nice, Alise said, pulling a ream of parchment out and studying it. So, Ive been working with young Azrug here and hes made contact with the mayor of Rivers and Daub.
Really? Theo asked. That was fast.
I have connections, Azrug said, grinning. What can I say?
So, whats the news? Theo asked.
Im talking through an agent, Azrug said. But theres a lot going on.
Rivers is under siege, just like us, Alise said. Unlike us, theyre less prepared.
How is that even possible? Theo asked. Broken Tusk was younger in terms of development. A ce like Rivers and Daub, which was actually two towns joined, should have more than adequate defenses.
Lets just say youre a rare mayor, Azrug said. Theyre not handing over public funds to maintain defenses, but they wouldnt go into details with me. So, that all boils down to the fact that they need supplies. Stone, wood, metal, cores, motes, everything. My liaison was trying not to act desperate, but I could tell he was.
This bodes well for Broken Tusk, Alise said, nodding.
And youre helping with the trade? Theo asked.
I am, Alise said. As well as cataloging the takings from the monster wave.
Shes fantastic, Azrug said, jabbing a thumb at the woman. Were realistically looking at getting over market value for the bulk goods. Already talked to Ziz, hes producing enough stone to split between suppliers. Sledge wasnt even aware we were trying to do deals. Gridgen doesnt care.
Right, Theo said, summoning his inventory to look at the [Sawmill Seed Core]. Lumber production will at least double. Are you sorting out delivery arrangements?
Yeah. Theyre going to establish caravans to Broken Tusk, as part of our agreement, Azrug said. That was the first hint they were desperate.
You see, theres a narrow mountain pass heading to Qavell, Alise said, cing her hand on her hip. Thats the traders road, and the monster waves have made it worse. A week-long journey has turned into a month-long battle for your life. When I migrated south, it was treacherous. We pooled our money for a mercenarypany and they paid in blood.
Theo didnt want to respond immediately. He cupped his chin in his hand and thought about it. Rivers and Daub had wealth that he didnt understand, otherwise they would have been overtaken. It could have been an additional tax, a production chain he didnt understand, or exploitable dungeons nearby. His money was on the dungeons, which he had seen bring great wealth into his town. But the takeaway was that each town needed the other.
So, whats the strategy? Theo asked. Aggressive?
Not really, Azrug said. Cordial. Well make concessions to help them out, which gives us footing in the long-term.
Concessions is the wrong word, Alise said. Were simply not gouging them, only charging at or slightly above market despite the current climate.
In return, we get a trading partner for the long-term, Theo said with a nod. In case the well dries up.
Exactly, Azrug said. We snuggled up to Rivers, then we pitch joint ventures, and perhaps one day take them over.
I like the way you think, Theo said. We can also charge them for the inevitable sea-route well establish. If Broken Tusk owns a port, well be unstoppable.
Agreed. You cant expect Fenian to jump every time you need something sold, Azrug said. The magic hes using is dangerous. He might die on one of his trips.
How much of that have you figured out? Theo asked.
Azrug shrugged. None of it. I just know you cant make it from Qavell to Broken Tusk in a few hours without teleportation. And hes not a wizard.
It was better if he didnt know.
Fine, keep me apprised of the situation. I have faith that Alise will make sure we can export the promised amount, Theo said.
I will, Alise said.
Great. This is an excellent first step, Azrug, Theo said, standing to shake the shopkeepers hand before moving to shake Alises. And youre making me feel like a relic.
Just doing my job, Alise said, blushing.
Now, I should go nt this [Sawmill Seed Core] before Sledge caves my head in, Theo said.
Chapter 2.51: Swamp Snapper Mill
Chapter 2.51: Swamp Snapper Mill
There was an empty plot ofnd on the opposite side of the adventurers guild. Thats where Theo ced the sawmill, not wanting to risk cing it outside the walls. He spotted Sledge and her people working the trees outside of the wall with a small contingent of adventurers guarding their progress. The alchemist hadnt considered how dangerous the job of felling the mighty Ogre Cypress was, but as a towering tree came crashing down, it was brought to the fore of his mind.
Ogre Cypress were much like the cypress trees on Earth. Theo had only learned of them from books, as most of the forests back there were long-since dead. The cypress that enjoyed swamps didnt grow exceptionally tall back there. Thats where the Ogre variant differed. They towered to impossible, unmeasurable heights. Their boughs stretched out to shade the vast swamp, and the width of their trunk was wider than 5 Half-Ogres interlinking their arms. Without magical help, Sledge would have a hard time bringing the mighty trees low.
The resounding boom and the following tidal wave of water signaled the fall of a tree. Cheers echoed through the swamp and Theo watched the power of Sledges cores. She was using a [Woodworkers Core], but improvised a method to remove the many scraggly boughs from the side of the raw timber. He watched her climb atop a felled tree and run, at full speed, from one end of the other with a saw lowered. The moment it touched a branch, that limb would fall off with a clean cut.
Theo descended the battlements and fed the building a few high-level cores. The building that sprouted up with squat with a shingled roof. It had a small living area on one side and a workshop on the other. Inside the work area was a massive ded saw, fed by a series of rollers. Sledge could load a sectioned log on the roller and feed it into the saw, which was powered by a mote port. The alchemist realized how nice of a location this was, as there was a section between it and the wall where logs could be stored. He set Sledge as an operator and headed out into the swamp.
With a cadre of adventurers guarding the area, Theo found Sledge working the log. She looked at him with a sly grin, staring down from the top of the massive tree.
Coming to admire my fine work? Sledge asked.
Theo cast his eyes over the other 5 workers, who were manually removing the branches that Sledge missed. Shed gathered 2 more workers since he saw herst, likely part of the 5 migrants who arrived before the siege.
Ivee with cores, Theo said, smiling.
Thank the Gods, one worker said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Theo gave each worker a logging core and handed the [Foresters Core] to Sledge. This is for whoever you elect, he said. This is your operation, so delegate it however you want. Do you want to see your new [Sawmill]?
Absolutely, Sledge said, tumbling from the log and falling face-first into the mud. This didnt seem to dishearten her. She simply stood and wiped the mud from her face.
Theo led the way back into town, gesturing at the [Sawmill]. Ill upgrade it a few times for you. Thats part of our contract, after all. Did you want to go over the upgrade options with me?
Yeah, Sledge said, half-hearing his words as she went to inspect the mill. She nodded in approval, walking through the open workshop to the other side. The work area was open, allowing her to pass the massive logs through with ease. How she was going to haul them here was beyond him, but that was her problem to solve.
You should give it a name before we start, Theo said.
Swamp Snapper Mill, Sledge said, nodding in approval. She held up her hand with a missing finger. One got me earlier.
Theo shook his head. She wouldnt need his alchemical salve. ording to Tresk, the Marshlings regenerated digits automatically. He named the mill and inspected it.
[Sawmill]
[Swamp Snapper Mill]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Operator: Sledge
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 days
Wood Type:
Ogre Cypress
Gardeth Wide Oak
Wood Quality: Perfect/Excellent
Expansions:
None
The quality of the wood was surprising. Everything else was always perfect quality, but the screen imed it was a mix of perfect and excellent. He shrugged it off and fed the mill high-level cores until it hit level 5. He picked random directions for the ce to expand, watching as the building shifted and widened by magic. The process only took a few cores, and the upgrade screen popped up. The alchemist read all avable upgrades off to the Marshling.
[Ogre Strength]
All trees felled within a radius (scaling with the level of the sawmill) will weigh a fraction of their actual rate for all operators of the sawmill.
[Felling uracy]
All trees felled within a radius (Scaling with the level of the sawmill) will fall within a determined direction with great uracy.
[Efficient Sawing]
Increase the speed logs are sawed (Scaling with the level of the sawmill).
The good news was that each option scaled with the level of the mill. Theo didnt have a preference on which one Sledge picked. They all had their merits.
The one that makes logs lighter, Sledge said, nodding. Mostborers have high [Strength], but the cypress are too big.
Theo nodded, selecting the option without opposing her decision. She would be the person managing the mill, not him. He offered more [Monster Cores] until the sawmill hit level 10, where he intended to stop the upgrading for now. The alchemist wanted to go wide with his upgrade efforts, not investing too much in any one building. A new option appeared alongside the 2 others he didnt pick.
[Felling uracy]
All trees felled within a radius (Scaling with the level of the sawmill) will fall within a determined direction with great uracy.
[Efficient Sawing]
Increase the speed logs are sawed (Scaling with the level of the sawmill).
[Baelthars Cunning]
Any action taken to fell nearby trees in a radius (Scaling with the level of the sawmill) will not attract the attention of monsters.
As he read them out, Sledge nodded. She needed very little time to pick this one. Baelthars Cunning, she said. That ones easy.
Theo nodded, selecting the option for her. The building had grown at least 20 paces in every direction, increasing the floor space considerably. The living area on the side could now house the workers Sledge recruitedfortably, and the upgrades were all powerful for cutting down trees. With eyes wide, the workers watched the alchemist upgrade the mill, surprised that hed put so many resources into the project. He departed, allowing the angry Marshling to sort things out from there.
The farmers fields were in perfect bncepared to thest time Theo had checked in on them. The windmill spun endlessly, churning out different coarseness for the Zee kernels and creating arge stockpile of flour. Banu was happy with the way things were going, especially since he stopped using so much of the alchemists potion. While the way forward could be the enriched soil, cultivation was the key. Cultivated Zee grewrger than the regr kind, reaching well over twice the height and twice the units by volume by the time of harvest.
Im working on hybrids, Banu said, puffing his chest out with pride. Experimenting with different splices to create new nts entirely.
Theo hadnt even considered that as a possibility. He had an approach to problems that went one step at a time, never going beyond his bounds. The garden behind his building held pure nts which were quickly reaching maximum cultivation, but hybridization was a logical next step. He wondered if Zarali had considered something like this before congratting the farmer on his aplishment.
The representative that normally came to export the Zee refused to take more than hed ordered, leaving the farm with a massive stockpile. ording to Banu, Fenian sold them quite a few [Dimensional Storage Crates], which allowed for the long-term storage of the crop. Theo mentioned the brewing trade deal with Rivers and Daub, highlighting the possibility of exporting the crop directly to them. They went back and forth for a while before the farmer promised to upgrade his windmill to get expansions rted to efficient milling. The alchemists deal with the farm didnt detail his responsibility to improve their core buildings, quickly learning that the plots of earth represented a seed core building.
Unlike most ces in Broken Tusk, the farm had a slow trickle of [Monster Cores]. This was a keen investment by several generations of Banus family, revealing a foresight Theo thought impossible in the town. The farms seed core had a trait that allowed crops to grow quicker, which exined their shorter seasons. Even with the magical energy flooding from the dungeon, stuff just grew too fast here. With several more stops on his list, Theo left the farmers to their work after a long, uneventful chat.
Theo turned his attention south, passing by the smithy as he went. Zarali was yelling at Throk. He yelled back twice as loud. A grin spread across both their faces and they fell overughing at something. The barrel they were working on together seemedpletely changed from before. The wood had turned a pale pink color and the copper bands bore inscriptions in the old Drogramathi script. He concluded she was teaching him how to inscribe sigils on the copper, likely something to harvest the energy of Drogramath.
The town was buzzing with activity by the time Theo made his way southward. He checked his mayors screen on the way there, finding additions to almost every screen. Alise made a notes section on each screen and scribbled numbers and lists of relevant information. With her at the helm of the daily grind of mayoral duties, he was able to invest his time into alchemy and improvements for his various investments. She was fresh at the job, but took to it like shed been doing it her whole life.
Theo stopped to chat with Perg, who seemed to use less and less of his alchemical tannery potions by the day. She imed it was a secret she would take to the grave, quickly revealing that it was a perk of upgrading her building. The seed core tannery did a lot of the work for her, leaving little room for the alchemists potion to take hold. He had revolutionized her industry, only to find his own technique rendered useless with enough upgrades. She assured him she still needed the potion, just in much smaller quantities. They chatted for a while before he departed, determined to upgrade 3 more buildings today.
It wasnt clear if Nira ever took a break. The woman was working the smelter when Theo arrived, only grunting at him when he arrived. It took a long time to beckon her down from the scaffolding, pulling her aside to tell her about upgrading the buildings.
Sounds good, Nira said.
Theo inspected the smelter before proceeding.
[Smeltery]
[Midnight Damsel Smeltery]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Operator: Nira Weir
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 3 days
Expansions:
None
He was surprised to see that shed given it a name. He also didnt want to inquire about it, noting the sheepish look on her face. The name must have been personal and it wasnt time to dredge such things up. He fed the smeltery cores until it leveled to 5, selecting random directions for the building to expand.
[Preservation of Heat]
Any crucible within the smeltery will retain its heat better, requiring less heat between pours.
[Fanglirs mes]
Reduces the amount of g during smelting, resulting in more usable metal.
[Lightweight Crucible]
The crucible now weighs a fraction of its previous weight.
Theyre all good, Nira said as Theo read them out. Go for the fire gods one.
Fire god? Theo asked.
Fanglir, Nira said, nodding. Elven patron of mes.
Theo bowed to her expertise, selecting [Fanglirs mes] and moving on to shove more cores into the building. Thanks to the high-level cores, it hit level 10 quickly. He read off the new option.
[Preservation of Heat]
Any crucible within the smeltery will retain its heat better, requiring less heat between pours.
[Lightweight Crucible]
The crucible now weighs a fraction of its previous weight.
[Pattern Alloy]
Introducing 2 raw metals that align allows you to pour a patterned alloy.
This one is hard, Nira said, knitting her brow. [Pattern Alloy] is tempting. Thats hard to do by hand.
What value does a patterned alloy have? Theo asked.
Well, assuming when I pour it into bars, the pattern remains, we canbine 2 materials to make a better one. But its more than that. The resulting material will be better than a traditional alloy, Nira said.
Alright. So, what is an alloy? Theo asked.
Nira let out a sharp breath, as though his question was stupid. The alchemist knew nothing about metal working, and less about how metals worked together. After a moment, she continued. Two metalsbined. Thing is, I assume this is different than normal metalworking. Actually, this seems like a high-level upgrade.
Why would we want tobine 2 metals? Theo asked. That seems bad. Copper with iron would just make weak iron.
Maybe, Nira said. Like I said, this is magic. We might end up with some very powerfulbinations. Honestly, the other upgrades arent that great. I have high [Strength] and we have no shortage of motes. So, [Preservation of Heat] saves us on motes, and [Lightweight Crucible] saves us onbor. But [Pattern Alloy] gives us something totally different.
This was the most Theo had ever seen Nira talk. She seemed excited about the possibility of [Pattern Alloy]. If Broken Tusk could produce something unique, that would be an advantage. Since they had no shortage of raw metal, they could afford to experiment with different metal, creating a form of bar metal that no one had seen before. That was a longshot, but itd be worth it to try.
Go for [Pattern Alloy], Theo said. The others arent that useful.
Agreed, Nira said, nodding.
Theo selected the upgrade. Unlike most others hed seen today, Nira wasnt interested in talking. She left him outside the smelter without another word, returning to work the crucible. The alchemist made his way to Dead Dog Mine, finding several miners resting outside. Gridgen wiped sweat from his brow and greeted him with a hug.
Were digging deep, boss, Gridgen said. The miners swear they smell mithril.
I have a solution for that, Theo said. Focus on collecting nuggets, I have a means to make new tunnels.
Really? Gridgen said, cocking an eyebrow. Thats great.
The other miners seemed skeptical, but Theo brushed their stares off. He exined the situation and fed the mine cores. Unlike free-standing buildings, seed core production facilities like the mine or the quarry didnt expand when they leveled up. The alchemist suspected the levels increased the rate of resource spawns, but didnt know for sure. When the building was upgraded to level 5, he read off the options.
[Miner Fortitude]
Mining actions within the mine will consume less stamina.
[Grom Rangs Banishment]
Monsters are less likely to find your mine.
[Miner Quickness]
Anyone with a [Miners Core] (or variant) will move 25% faster within the mine.
There really wasnt a good option here, besides [Miner Fortitude]. Anything that allowed a person to work longer was a great. Theo was happy when Gridgen selected this as his first expansion, choosing that option and feeding the mine more cores. After a moment, the mine hit level 10 and a new option appeared.
[Grom Rangs Banishment]
Monsters are less likely to find your mine.
[Miner Quickness]
Anyone with a [Miners Core] (or variant) will move 25% faster within the mine.
[Automatic Deposit]
Items mined within the mine will automatically deposit into a designated storage crate.
Theo thought this one was an easy pick. The miners wouldnt have to pull the nuggets out from the earth and then walk them over to the dimensional storage crate. They could simply mine something and it would appear in the crate. Gridgen agreed with this one as well, having no interest in [Grom Rangs Banishment] or [Miner Quickness]. Monsters werent a problem, since the southern wall was only 100 paces to the south. Moving quicker in the mine wasnt needed, either. Until the mine grew to such a size that they needed more speed, the current setup was fine.
Well, thats nice, Gridgen said, chuckling. Are you upgrading the smeltery today?
I already have, Theo said. Got some interesting stuff from that one. Now, I need to upgrade my building.
Gridgenughed, pping his hand over Theos shoulder. Youre always working, arent you?
Yeah, Theo said, shing a grin.
The alchemist spent some time talking with the miners. Alise had been by several times to make sure they had everything they needed, something that surprised Theo. He knew she was checking on everyone, but her dedication to the job was absurd. Each miner was happy, although they hinted at Theos n for childcare. That was an idea that hadnt made it that far, although Xams defensive approach with the tavern was a start. He promised to get the n moving once their trade deal was established, something that would inject even more money into the town.
Theo departed after a while as the sun hung low in the western sky. He slicked his hair back as he arrived at the Newt and Demon, intent on getting it to level 20, even if it took every [Monster Core] in his inventory.
Chapter 2.52: Alchemical Gardens
Chapter 2.52: Alchemical Gardens
Well, theyre intent on sending a delegation, Azrug said,ughing. That new sawmill will put a fire under their butts, though.
Theo had just arrived back at the Newt and Demon. His intentions to upgrade the building immediately were parried by the silver-tongued shopkeeper. Rivers and Daub wanted to send representatives from their merchants guild to Broken Tusk to inspect their infrastructure, and Azrug wanted the alchemist as far from it as possible.
Youre good at talking to Broken Tuskers, but those high-riding jerks at Rivers and Daub are going to get a rise out of you, Azrug said.
Theo knit his brow, a strange sensation washing over him. The shopkeeper was right, but that didnt make him feel any better. He would sit in the meeting with his hands in hisp as Azrug and Alise did all the talking. A side of him wanted to take part, but another didnt care. Somehow, he could sense Zaralis new barrels upstairs, and perhaps the woman herself. Unlike her, he couldnt sweep his mind over an area to determine if other people upied a space.
Youre the boss, Theo said. I have one question. Youre not level 10. Can you contend with those people? They have to be high, right?
Im almost 10, Azrug said, puffing up. With more real-world trading experience than most of those blowhards. They have their trade guild to hide behind, making tiny,ughable deals. I move merchandise. I make coin. Their jaws are going to drop open when they see our books.
The difference between Broken Tusk and other towns was amazing. With their unique confluence of events, they produced more raw materials than others. They also had ess to monster waves, seemingly on demand. Then there was the alchemical wares Theo himself produced, bolstering an already lively economy. The only problem they had was the use of those materials, although the trickle-down effect was already noticeable. Instead of sitting on his money like a noble lord, the alchemist distributed it right back into the town without hesitation and he had no ns to stop.
Theos image of the world was developing quickly. Combined with his fading naivete, this positioned him as a dangerous man in the soutnds. Not by raising some mercenary band or level his sword on the horizon, but by the absolute way he was poised to capture trade. There was no mistake in his mind that it was a hostile takeover. No one couldpete with their output aside from Qavell itself, and that wouldntst forever.
The trade deal is yours, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. He ran his hand through his hair, tracing the line of his horns. I have another question, though.
Yeah?
How far are you willing to go with me? Theo asked. Into the title of Duke? How about the title of King? Emperor? How far does the road stretch before us with our trading empire?
Azrug leaned in, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Iaredin. The entire world, if we want. Lean on your friends and well make it happen.
Theo let out a heavy sigh. That was his n. He wanted to take the mud ball and transform it into an unstoppable force of trade, focusing on defensive doctrines of war rather than offensive ones. Every investment he made went toward production or defense, and Aarok had a simr mind for the matter. With a few carriages like Fenians, there wouldnt be anything to stop them from hitting those far-flung ces in the world. Until then, the alchemists goal was to create a shipping empire. Trade ships were well within their reach,pared to magical means of conveyance. He let those thoughts slide away for now, filing them to a deep part in his mind.
Good, Theo said after a long pause. It will be you that spearheads all our deals. I imagine the experience points you get from it will be massive.
I hope, Azrug said.
Theo excused himself without another word, heading into theb. He found Zarali, as he expected, adjusting the contents of theb. She shed him a smile and gestured to the newly arranged contents.
Do you like it? she asked.
Theo didnt really care where his things were in theb. The stills remained where they were, under the chimney to avoid too many vapors building with theb. But she had changed everything else. 4 fermentation barrels were arranged to the cardinals, their new runes shing with purple energy. The alchemist could see she wanted him to inquire about the changes, so he obliged.
New barrels? he asked, boiling his intent down to the basis of need.
Yes, new barrels, Zarali said, scoffing as though he offended her deeply. Youre a fool probing in the dark. You lucked out with the wood. Ogre Cypress is the perfect vessel for fermentation. And you were smart enough to use infused copper, which I would have thought youd never guess.
They just needed some fancy drawings on them, Theo said, smiling. He could read the Drogramathi script on the barrels, but they were nonsense.
Indeed. You can read them, yes? she asked, switching from Low Qavelli to Old Drogramathi.
Theo didnt like Drogramathsnguage when he arrived in Broken Tusk, but it was growing on him. It was full of guttural stops and hard sounds that fell on the ear like a broken drum.
Naturally, Theo said, responding in the Dronons native tongue. I dont understand them, though.
Because youre not a [Drogramath Enchanter], like me, Zarali said. Ill put it simply. They funnel Drogramaths energy in ordance with ck Geometry.
ck Geometry? Theo asked, letting out a sharpugh. That sounds goofy.
Its a horrible name, Zarali said. But it just means theres math you need to understand. Spacing and direction matter.
Theo moved to a barrel, inspecting it.
[Enchanted Alchemy Fermentation Barrel]
[Alchemy Equipment] [Enchanted]
Epic
Created By: Sledge
Modified By: Zarali
A 200 unit capacity barrel capable of fermenting any reagents ced inside. cing a mote with the mash is required for the process to take effect. Additional motes and mana may be required over the course of the fermentation.
Effects:
Creates a fermentation reaction when reagents are ced inside with a mote.
Speed of fermentation is greatly increased, depending on the strength of the mote.
Enchantments:
Siphon Power
Distribute Power
Crafting Speed
Crafting Effectiveness
Alignment: Drogramath
So Zarali was holding on to a few secrets. She was a priestess and an enchanter. Theo should have assumed she had more sses than she let on. At level 30, shed have at least 5 sses avable to her. Uharis imed there was a way to get new core slots that didnt involve leveling, but that seemed like information someone would hold on to without the will to share.
What Im understanding is that youre powerful, Theo said. I imagine adding so many enchantments is difficult.
It is, Zarali said, running her fingers over the barrel. But theres a supply of gems and a Half-Ogre willing to part with them for a pittance.
Thank you, Theo said, never one to be unappreciate of such a powerful gift. Is enchanting a hobby, or what?
I suppose, Zarali said, furrowing her brow. Why do you ask?
The obvious reason, Theo said. You could make a lot of money doing that here. What are the limitations of the enchantments? What can you enchant?
Well, I cant enchant seed core buildings, Zarali said, scratching her head. Other than that, quality of material is paramount. Since the barrel was crafting with rtively suitable material, it was easy.
The gears in Theos mind turned. Carts and boats, he blurted out. Can you enchant those?
Youre nothing like Belgar, Zarali said, a proud smile painted across her face. I love how open and honest you are, and I really wish he would have been more transparent with me. Yes, we can enchant boats to move quicker, under stealth, all of those things swirling in your mind.
Theo withdrew a stack of gold coins from his inventory, setting them on the lidded barrel with a tter. Zarali looked down, counting 20 coins casually. Sheughed, pushing them back toward the alchemist.
Please, take this coin and remain in Broken Tusk forever, Zarali said, her voice half-mocking, half-joking. Swear yourself to me and my causeSomething like that?
Theos face flushed a deep shade of purple. His tail stiffened as embarrassment flooded his body. Whats wrong with that?
Money doesnt solve all your problems, Zarali said. Not least of which a problem already solved. Im here. I cant leave and Ill help you with whatever projects you want. For free.
Not for free, Theo said, returning the coins to his inventory. Broken Tusk pays its people, Zarali. Whatever fee the big-time enchanters charge, well pay it. If you want the money in another form, that works.
This was too valuable to let slip through his fingers. A Priestess of Drogramath was rare enough, but an Enchanter? That was beyond anything he could have hoped for, and it fell in line with his ns for the future. Theos rtively high [Intelligence] allowed him to extrapte this information.
Thats very sweet, Zarali said, a look of pain shing across her face. Ill take the job, Mister Mayor.
Thank you, Theo said, pulling her into a hug. He felt her melt in his arms, the reaction a sister had for the embrace of her dead brother.
Right. Can we move on to fermenting? Zarali asked.
Nope, Theo said, pulling back and producing [Monster Cores] from his inventory. We need to upgrade the building.
Oh, thats fun, Zarali said, letting out a steadying breath.
Theo shoved the [Monster Cores] into his building, watching as the experience skyrocketed. Of the 100 cores he started with, he was down to 30 by the time the building leveled to 20. Joining with the upgrade options was a system message about a level cap, something he didnt expect.
[The Newt and Demon] cannot be upgraded past level 20 until [Broken Tusk] upgrades to a [Large Town]...
[Broken Tusk] can be upgraded to a [Large Town] when the following conditions are met:
Medium Poption: COMPLETE
Expanded Land Ownership: COMPLETE
Upgrade to [Large Town]? Y/N
Nothing happened after Theo agreed to the upgrade. It wasnt a physical change for the town, the status of [Large Town] simply gave him ess to more upgrades. He inspected the upgrade options for the Newt and Demon, reading them out for Zarali to hear.
[Root Cer]
A cer for preserving reagents is housed under theb. Reagents ced inside of the cer decay at a slower rate.
[Experimentation Room]
A reinforced room is ced behind theb, creating a safe ce to conduct explosive experimentations.
[Alchemical Garden]
A garden appears at the back of your shop. nts grown within the garden will grow faster, have a chance to self-cultivate, and other effects unlocked by upgrading the garden separately.
The [Root cer] is useless, Zarali said, dismissing it offhand. You already have [Alchemy Shop], [Drogramath Distition Specialty], and [Shrine To Drogramath], which are extremely important. You were lucky to get 2 aligned modifications so early. So, a garden or an experimentation room Well, its interesting that the garden upgrades separately.
Theo was already leaning to the garden as his selection. The experimentation room would be useful, but it was nothing caution couldnt temper. Combined with Zaralis method for making the reactions more stable, the [Alchemical Garden] was the clear choice.
Im going to select the garden, Theo said.
I would as well, Zarali said, casting a concerned look around the room. All those expansions set my enchantment array off.
She grumbled, moving to rearrange the barrels as Theo selected the garden. The building rumbled, and he rushed to the back window. Where he expected to see a messy plot ofnd, there was a greenhouse. He descended the stairs without another word, rushing out back to inspect his new greenhouse. To his surprise, when he interacted with the new building it popped up as though it was a separate seed core building.
[Alchemical Garden]
[The Newt and Demon]
Building Attachment
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Expansions:
None
It was an interesting screen with less information than the full building. The interesting thing was that it had its own level. The greenhouse came up to the bottom of the second floor on the Newt and Demon, situated five paces away from the building. It reached from that spot to the edge of the gravel yard. There were long troughs of earth inside. Entering the new building, the alchemist was assaulted by an even more oppressive humidity than the swamp. Moisture umted on his face in an instant. When he emerged from the ss structure, Azrug and Zarali were standing there.
Fancy ss house, Azrug said. Whats it do?
Grows things, apparently, Theo said.
It looks handsome. Better than a bare yard of rocks, Zarali said. Brother, do you care for instructions on your new barrels?
Yeah, Theo said. When were done, I want you to give Azrug a list of enchantments youre willing to give out. Nothing too powerful, were going to use them as leverage for our trade deal.
Youre an enchanter? Azrug asked, his mouth falling open. He managed to close it after a moment. Lady, you should have led with that. Were gonna be best friends.
Zarali let out a shrillugh, covering her mouth politely. To the barrels, brother.
The Dronon woman led the way back into theb, Azrug trailing close behind. The shopkeeper stayed in the shop, leaving the pair to their work. Zarali gave quick instructions on how the barrel worked. It now operated on intent. There was a sigil that represented the total charge of the barrel, allowing him to see if it had enough power to perform a fermentation. He no longer had to worry about adding anything besides the mash, and she promised it wouldplete faster than before.
Theo used his grinder to mash [Widow Lilies] into an open barrel. Zarali instructed him to use [Enchanted Water] for this step and the distition step. They set the barrel to ferment and broke off to discuss the other stages of his operation. His stills could receive enchantments to increase performance, but the priestess was unsure about the still provided by the building. Every other part of the alchemists process had been refined to near perfection. The only thing left to aplish at such a low level was the cultivation of the reagents. Thanks to Banus hint, his mind was now on hybrid reagents.
Azrug entered theb after a while, standing awkwardly as the pair talked in rapid Old Drogramathi. They paused to let him speak.
Just a heads up, Azrug said. The trade representatives are going to be here tomorrow.
A trade negotiation? Zarali said, her brows raising. Can Ie?
Why would you want to? Theo asked.
Ah, I have some information I can deploy as ast resort, Zarali said. Something they did. That they dont know I know they did, her voice lowered to a whisper, something illegal.
No theatrics, Azrug said, shaking his head. But youre more than wee. Theyll want to see the [Drogramath Enchanter] for themselves.
Follow Azrugs lead, Theo said, cing his hand on the womans shoulder.
Right. Well need to work this out, little trader, Zarali said. Downstairs.
Azrugs eyes went wide. His body went stiff, turning on the spot as though he was an automaton. He then marched down the stairs without another word.
Run this through the still, then the refinery, Zarali said in Old Drogramathi. Then we can talk about modifiers.
The woman went down the stairs, following Azrug into theb. Theo took time to check his supplies, finding them mostly empty. He and his sister had chatted for so long, the fermentation barrel was done. The alchemist set it inside the still, applying the appropriate time and left it to work while he sorted the garden out. As he finished up with the stills, he heard Azrug shout from downstairs. By the time the alchemist made it down into the shop, he stormed out the front. Zarali had a smile on her face.
Im going into the garden, Theo said. I dont want to know what you told him.
Youll find out, Zarali said, shing a wider smile.
The greenhouse had an incredible capacity from the start. His current crop of 50 nts would fit easily, but he wanted to confirm a theory. Since the information screen for the [Alchemical Garden] came up in its own window, different from the main building, and had a level indicator it should take [Monster Cores]. The alchemist tested, feeding it a single high-level core, receiving a notification from the system. It epted the core, gaining several levels immediately. Another core brought it to level 5, causing the building to shift to each direction he selected. He considered the upgrade options that popped up.
[Sun Orbs]
A series of [Sun Orbs] appear floating inside of the greenhouse. The orbs will adjust to provide the perfect light source for whatever nts are in the greenhouse.
[Recycled Earth]
nts that grow within the greenhouse consume half the nutrients in the soil.
[Weed Killer]
Weeds will never grow within the greenhouse.
It was typical that the first upgrades for a building werent great. These were all good, just not great. Theo thought for a moment about the options. [Weed Killer] wasnt very useful, as there didnt seem to be many weeds guing his crops. [Recycled Earth] was decent, allowing him to apply his alchemical mixture half as often, but [Sun Orbs] was the winner. With [Sun Orbs], he could guarantee that each nt was growing with the exact light source it needed. He didnt need to worry that he was killing his nts because of bad cement, which hed seen with the [Water Lily] test. He selected that option, feeding more cores and expanding the building.
By the time the greenhouse reached level 10, it wasrger by 10 paces in every direction. The troughs of dirt inside had expanded to match, increasing the capacity of the garden significantly. He inspected the new upgrade options.
[Recycled Earth]
nts that grow within the greenhouse consume half the nutrients in the soil.
[Weed Killer]
Weeds will never grow within the greenhouse.
[Drogramath Empowerment]
Latent energy, aligned with Drogramath, will be drawn from the air to enhance your nts. Energy density affects growth rate, cultivation yield, and nutrient usage.
[Drogramath Empowerment] was the clear winner for this one. If it scaled with the energy in the air, the results would be absurd. Hed also learned that aligned expansions were usually great, especially if the person owning the building held the same alignment. Theo inspected the building after applying the upgrade, nodding with satisfaction.
[Alchemical Garden]
[The Newt and Demon]
Building Attachment
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 10 (15%)
Expansions:
[Sun Orbs]
[Drogramath Empowerment]
As the day waned, Theo transferred his makeshift garden into the greenhouse. The nts seemed to perk up immediately, growing visibly before his eyes. His new greenhouse wasrge enough to hold 20 of each nt in each row, with 10 rows total. At full cultivation, that meant each row would yield 200 units of each reagent. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle] was ready for experimentation, something he had put off for the day. For now, he let them settle into the new soil.
Theo finished in the garden, finding both theb and the shop empty, and inspected his newly crafted essence.
[Decay]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
500 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Decay modifier. Decay applies necrotic effects to offensive potions.
He took it back to the pressure vessel, receiving a message from Tresk that she was headed home. Both of them cleaned up with [Cleansing Scrub] before heading out for dinner. Xam served another interesting dish that night, something the alchemist had never seen before. She created small, pea-sized balls of Zee bread that tasted salty and sweet at the same time. Resting atop a bed of the Zee-peas was a wolf steak cut into fine strips. The vors mixed incredibly well and the alchemist was tempted to ask for seconds.
After some conversation with fellow Broken Tuskers, Theo and Tresk retired for the night. They found their way back to their room and fell into bed. The alchemist did his best to dismiss the encroaching feeling of anxiety that came from tomorrows trade deal. He fell asleep after considering Azrugs aptitude on all things trade, leaving it to the young man to sort things out.
Chapter 2.53: No One Out-Sneaks Me!
Chapter 2.53: No One Out-Sneaks Me!
Theo tapped his fingers against the side of a sk. Morning light poured into theb, casting through the trees above to dapple the wooden floor in motes of yellow. Where a sense of dread should have washed over him, owed to theing trade deal, he felt calm. The pressure vesselpleted its run during the night, resulting in 500 units of [Refined Decay] modifier essence. While he tried his hand at refined modifiers before, this felt pure. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core] sang at its purity, reaching out with hungry intent. The alchemist had made an offering to the shrine that morning of [Widow Lily], something that seemed fitting.
Tresk marched into theb, cing a te of Xams delicious food on the table joined by a cup of her tea. Theo managed a weak smile. Hed refused to spend time eating at the tavern this morning, bucking their new trend, and he knew it was all he could do to banish the idea of the trade deal away. While he might be calm, it was only because of his constant motion. He had a feeling that the moment he stopped moving, it woulde back in a horrid wave of anxiety.
Eat up and make me some poison, Tresk said, bouncing on the spot.
Theo obeyed, pressing his fingers onto the essence before taking a bite of the food. As always, it was the leftovers fromst night that the woman served. He inspected the new item.
[Refined Decay]
[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting modifier will be more effective.
High chance to add an additional modifier to the resulting potion.
500 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Decay modifier. Decay applies necrotic effects to offensive potions.
The second tier [Poison] was already incredibly effective, and the alchemist had 500 of them in hisb. Theo had a feeling this modifier was more potent than anything hed brewed before, and a sh of fear ran through his body. It was another item he didnt want to share with others. His poisons carried implications that were better left unsaid.
Keep this one a secret, if you can, Theo said, withdrawing a [Poison] potion and applying the [Refined Decay] modifier. The poison bubbled more than normal, twisting the dark liquid until it glowed with an eerie red-ck color. Writhing seams of decay ran through the length of the potion, pulsating as though it had a heart to beat. He inspected the poison.
[Poison]
[elerated Decay]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Chance to inflict 2 stacks per hit.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 15 stacks. Poison inflicts DOT damage and decay increases the effects of all poison damage.
Stacks of poison take twice as long to fade.
Removing a stack of poison through any means other than the natural expiration of the effect causes the remaining stacks of poison to explode, dealing their remaining damage to the target.
Thats the longest description Ive seen on a potion, Theo said. He could feel the power of the potion, even at a distance.
Tresk let out a lowugh, cradling the poison in her hands. A look shed across her eyes, but she shook her head. Zaul is screaming for this item, Theo.
I have to imagine the item is worth a lot, Theo said, nodding. He didnt want to confront the whispers of another god right now. Theres so many effects on that thing.
Im gonna be real strong, Tresk said, flexing then pocketing the potion.
Theo noticed she ced it in her dimensional bag and not the shared inventory. Perhaps she wanted it close at hand.
And the process is easier with the enchanted water, Theo said. I can keep up with your high demand for poison now, as long as you bring me [Widow Lilies].
Tresk was happy to help Theo perform the rest of the reactions. Despite his confidence with the new techniques, he took his time with these. There was something that radiated malfeasance from the vials, and he didnt want it to get out. It took several hours for them to bottle them all. A sharp knock came from the door shortly after and Alise entered theb.
The delegates are arriving soon, Alise said. Were meeting in the Adventurers Guild.
Alright, Theo said with a nod.
Alise departed, and Theo turned to Tresk.
The Tarahek grows stronger, Tresk said, a wicked smile painting her face. I can feel what you want me to do.
Just shadow them, Theo said.
The alchemist was unsurprised she could feel his intent. As the core grew stronger, their thoughts bled more freely. Theos intent was for her to coat her weapons with the new poison and watch the merchants, although Aarok likely thought of that already. Any hostile action would see the activation of the towers, and the incineration of anyone who dared betray Broken Tusks trust. There was no reason to not be cautious, though.
Tresk scampered out of theb and Theo followed, not able to keep pace with the excited Marshling. He stood in the emptyb for some time, taking a moment to appreciate how clean it was. Azrug had all his new wares in [Dimensional Storage Crates], and the shelves were stocked with a decent amount of potions. It was enough to supply a few adventurers, but they needed more. The Newt and Demon always needed more potions, it seemed.
A thunder of hooved feet echoed through the town. For a moment, Theo thought it was the delegation from Rivers and Daub. After listening to the pattern and the volume of the sound, the alchemist determined it was Fenian. That was a surprise. He made his way north toward the center of time, the sound of the demonic Karatan growing louder. Iron-shod hooves struck the cobbles, sending sparks and magic flying as the carriage drew to a perilous stop at the center of town. Fenian dismounted with haste, affecting a bow to Theo at a distance.
I love that hat! Fenian shouted, turning and marching to the adventurers guild.
Azrug had called the trader to the town, intent on leveraging the mans excellent knowledge of continent-wide trade. The shopkeeper had more tricks than Theo could count and he felt like more of a figurehead the longer time went on.
Theo found the inside of the adventurers guild barren of its normal chatter. A long row of tables had been assembled in the center of the wide hall, chairs ready for everyone. He appreciated the sight, moving forward to greet Azrug.
Before he could hail the young man, his mind filled with Tresks words, a sense of apprehension washing over him.
Yeah, they have a mercenarypany, Tresk said. Guess it pays to be cautious, but thats a lot of guys.
Theo changed his course, finding Aarok standing near the back of the room. The Half-ogre was talking in hushed tones with Xolsa and Zarali.
Hopefully youre aware of the mercenarypany these traders are bringing, Theo said, whispering.
Your spy is slower than mine, Aarok said, shing him a grin.
Theo only now noticed that Xolsas eyes were ssy, as though he were staring into another dimension. He came to with a start, coughing into his hand. Fifty men. I imagine theyre level 20.
Nothing the towers cant handle, Aarok said. Well, I suppose theres an eager [Assassin] trailing them, now.
I guess this is where I take my seat and leave these things to you, Theo said, letting out a chuckle.
Caution is a good virtue, brother, Zarali said, nodding. She inhaled deeply, knitting her brow and giving him a scandalized look. Did you brew poison? By my Lord Drogramath, thats a potent one.
Extremely potent, Theo said, still whispering. Ive never seen so many effects on a single potion.
So, the new barrels worked? Zarali asked, not bothering to lower her voice.
They did, Theo said.
The alchemist cast his eyes around the hall. He felt something strange about the rafters. Ribbons of energy gathered near the corner where a figure crouched. He was perceptive enough to recognize Luras form, bow at the ready.
Right, were not expecting any fighting, Aarok said. Azrug just wanted me to be prepared.
Prepared enough to send Baelthars own into the rafters? Theo asked.
Precautions, Aarok said.
Theo broke off from the group, lingering near the head of the table. He watched Azrug and Fenian speak together, rapidly exchanging information. The alchemist was worried about the young mans ability to head a trade negotiation, but with the Elfs help it should be straightforward. This was especially true if the state of Rivers was as described. They needed materials more than anything else.
The soldiers stopped outside, Tresk said. That looks like a sign of good faith.
Theo ryed the information to Aarok, who nodded. That was to be expected, ording to the Half-Ogre. Crossing from Rivers and Daub to Broken Tusk was safer than traveling to most other towns, but it wasnt without risk. With the recent monster waves, and increased monster activity in general, any movement outside of a fortified area was risky.
Alise darted around the room, leading everyone to their assigned seats. They were meant to stand as the Merchant Guilds leaders entered the building, then take a seat when they did. The poor woman seemed frazzled by the time everyone stood next to their seats, but the door swung open all the same.
5 humans entered the room, each corpulent in their own right. The man at the head of the group was especially wide, clothed in fine furs and jewelry. Theo did not have a good impression of the man from the start, but whatever bile built in his throat was squashed by Alises shrill voice filling the hall. She announced each of the trade members and directed them to their seats. Everyone sat at the same time.
Broken Tusk thanks you for attending this meeting in good will, Azrug said, bowing slightly in his chair. He went around and made introductions for everyone. Each time, the lead merchant named Alran Cherman, bowed his head to that person.
Where I expected a single Dronon, I found two, Alran said, letting out a deepugh.
To Theos surprise, Zarali didnt rise to the statement. She had a cid expression on her face. He wanted to speak out, but had no interest in ruining Azrugs chance.
The only living Drogramath Dronon alchemist in the civilized world, Azrug said, gesturing to Theo before gesturing to Zarali. And the only living Drogramath Dronon enchanter.
Theo saw Alran suppress a look of surprise on his face, but his cohorts couldnt manage it. Shock spread across their faces. The alchemist didnt know if it was a good tactic to put a card like that on the table to start, but the effect was satisfying.
Broken Tusk has a lot to offer, Azrug said. We reached out to Rivers and Daub first.
Not that you had much options, a merchant scoffed.
From here to the nortnds, there is nothing, Alran said, mopping his brow. The mountain passes have grown more treacherous, as you know.
Naturally, Azrug said. So, shall we start?
What came next was the most boring span of hours in Theos entire life. The trade delegation went back and forth with Azrug and Fenian trying to hammer out something that would work. At first, Alran seemed rather interested in trade. He entertained every offer as though hed ept on the spot. Only when they broke for lunch, something Theo never ate, did the mood of the room change. The trade delegation couldnt believe the progress the town had made, and believed the regeneration of the resources even less.
Theo noted a broad grin spreading across Zaralis face and an expression of nervousness on Xolsas. The extra-nar even started fidgeting with something in his hands, a glowing cube. Azrug gave some silent sign and the priestess and the wizard stood.
Curious, Zarali said, pursing her lips. Broken Tusk is self-sustaining, thanks to the power of my Lord Drogramath. She has the blessing of the Order of the Burning Eye, and the admiration of the crown. The favored daughter of Iaredin.
That was poetic, Tresk said,ughing into Theos mind.
The alchemist searched the room but couldnt spot the Marshling. Her stealth abilities were just too good.
No idea where shes going with this, Theo said. These guys are just trying to bully Azrug down on the price. They were going to agree to a cost under market, then they got weird during lunch.
I saw one of them talking with a crystal, Tresk said. Maybe they got more information.
Yet you employed an amateur to spy on her, Zarali said, letting out a sharpugh. Some level 10 hedgemage, a dropout from a schrly cult, no doubt.
She paused for a moment, locking her gaze onto Theo. He could feel her arrogance for this moment, as though she was sitting on this information for a long time.
Watch this, little brother, Zarali said in Old Drogramathi. She switched back to Low Qavelli and continued. If youd be so kind, Xolsa?
Xolsa set his cube down on the table and prodded it. Arcane symbols filled the air, interspersed with images of a town Theo had never seen. He swiped through the images, focusing on a lone tower near the outskirts until a hooded figure was visible. It was a mage overlooking glowing stone tablets. The merchants murmured among themselves, Alran wiping his brow continuously.
I sensed many magical disturbances when I arrived in town, Xolsa said. In a torrent of magical energy, it was difficult to pinpoint each disturbance. As I sifted through the information, I found this. A mage in Rivers and Daub employing scrying devices to observe our town. I intercepted his magic, which was quite weak, and have been feeding him a false image since then.
So, you were already aware of the regenerative properties of Drogramaths power, Zarali said, cing her hand on her hip. And youre stalling, although I cant imagine why.
I believe its a crime to do such a thing, Fenian spoke up, chuckling. The feather on his hat bobbled as heughed.
This is a misunderstanding, Alran said. The cloth he used to soak the sweat on his forehead was dripping.
But Broken Tusk is forgiving, Azrug interjected, calming the mood in the room. Theo couldnt stop appreciating how much hemanded the floor. You approached us respectfully, leaving your mercenaries outside of our gates. You entertained fair offersunder market price, I might addand were willing to go forward with those prices. Well provide as much metal, wood, and stone as you need. And you know we can meet the quotas.
A warm wave washed over Theo, that familiar probing wind. He jerked his head, spotting Zarali concentrating. She leaned in, whispering something to Aarok, who nodded.
Yeah, I see him, Tresk said. Whoops, wrong channel.
What? Theo asked. His heart hammered hard in his ears. He didnt want to show it, but Tresks health dropped, then sprung back up again. The alchemist leaned to Aarok, whispering his concerns. Tresk is fighting something, he said.
The sound of fighting could be heard, even through the thick walls of the guilds hall.
Whats happening, Tresk? Theo asked.
Her health dropped again as Azrug went back and forth with Alran.
Aaroks eyes went ssy. Theo pulled up the shared tactical map and saw movement on the walls and through the town. Tresks health dropped again, springing up just as quickly. A booming sound fired outside, the familiar st of the [Chain Lightning Tower]. Her health dropped again.
Got the bastard! Tresk shouted.
The merchants eyes went wide. They weremunicating with other people, somehow. They cast worried looks at each other, searching for answers. The room went silent for a long time, only broken by the sound of the massive double doors swinging open. Tresk, Zankir, Zansal, Bal, Dal, and Ral appeared. They carried two lifeless bodies with them.
No one out-sneaks me! Tresk shouted, throwing the limp body of a man into the entrance of the hall. His flesh was charred under his armor. The bodies were d in ck leather armor, silken hoods obscuring their faces. The group bound both figures. Zarali casually moved across the room, her purple robes gathering wind behind her before calling upon her healing magic. The figures stirred, shouting against their gags.
Theo rose, mming his fist against the table. He took a deep breath, preparing to unleash every curse that woulde to mind. Aaroks powerful hand pped over his shoulder, forcing him down into the chair.
All ording to n, Aarok said.
I just have one thing to say, Theo said, tempering his rage. He rose, raising his voice for everyone to hear. Youre just Incredibly lucky, he started, feeling meek. The alchemist found his courage after a moment, facing it head-on. If my Tarahek wanted to, she could have skewered you all and no one would have noticed. If she didnt hold back, your discount assassins would be worm food. Take the deal, you greedy idiots.
Theo fell back into his chair, shaking with anger. Tresk pumped her fist in the air, withdrawing her daggers and performing a few moves. Whatever anger he was feeling didnt trante to her at that moment. She was too embroiled in the vor of victory.
We ept, Alran.
Well, Azrug said, holding his arms wide. I think we need to renegotiate.
The resulting conversation wasnt a renegotiation. The representatives from Rivers and Daub had to work to earn the trust of Azrug. They ended up offering to pay market value for all exported goods, including the cost of transportation. Alrans people would now have to arrange regr caravans to transport the goods between the cities. They also opened up to exporting goods to Broken Tusk, although they intended to work that part of the deal outter.
When Azrug was done working miracles, Theo forced each of them to sign a contract with his [Governance] skill. It included provisions that prevented the men from acting against the best interest of this new trade alliance, and Broken Tusk as a whole. The alchemist also forced the assassins to sign a contract, ensuring they could never act against any citizen of his town in the future. They refused at first.
Whats the alternative? an assassin asked after having his gag removed.
ording to thews of Qavell? Fenian asked. I believe youll be executed.
Both assassins signed the contracts without hesitation. They were unbound and allowed to return to their masters, who hung their heads low as they departed the town. The delegation returned to their mercenarypany, the portcullis dropping with a tter behind them. Fenian ced aforting hand on Theos shoulder as they watched the group leave. Tresk was still dancing around, too excited about her victory.
How powerful are these contracts? Theo asked.
Im uncertain, Fenian said.
Quite powerful, Xolsa said,ing to join them.
Miana poked her head out of her barn, squinting to see what was going on. After a moment she vanished back inside.
The contract you made with those assassins is tight, Xolsa said. If they break it, an extra-nar beast will be set loose. It will hunt them for the rest of their lives. Only a powerful mage could stop it. The beast, not the contract. That is unbreakable.
Tresk approached the group, dancing awkwardly. Today was way more fun than I expected, she said. When Aarok told me to look out for assassins, I never thought thered be actual assassins. Well, they didnt have [Assassins Cores], but they did try to kill people. So that makes them assassins.
The entire event rolled through Theos mind. It was a reminder about howpetent his people were. Whatever the merchants from Rivers and Daub hoped to aplish was dashed in an instant. He imagined they nned to take control of Broken Tusk, taking the enchantednd for themselves. He was d it fell t, not progressing past the initial stages.
Tresk beckoned for Theo to press his forehead against hers. He could feel her eagerness to check their exp gain from the trying event. Wherever something big happened with them, they got far more experience than normal. The alchemist put his forehead against the Marshlings mmy skin, watching as a group of messages popped up. Their [Tarahek Core] was on the edge of level 14, but the defeat of the assassins rocketed them to 15.
Woah! Tresk shouted.
This solidified the idea that they were after Theo, and Tresks intervention saved his life. The alchemist checked the core for its level 15 evolution.
[Tarahek Core]
Legendary
Tarahek Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 15 (11%)
[Tarahek] cores are given to those who ept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.
Effect:
+6 Strength
+2 Vigor
The core gained a new slot, +1 to [Strength], and +1 to [Vigor]. As expected, there was already a skill in the 3rd slot. Theo inspected that next.
[Tarahek Dreamwalking]
Marshling Bond Skill
Legendary
Walk in each others dreams.
Effect:
You may dreamwalk whenever both members of the Tarahek are asleep.
Dreamwalking allows you to experience reality while dreaming. Actions taken while dreamwalking will influence your core development, allowing you to gain experience while sleeping. Experience gained while dreamwalking is less than while awake.
Alright, Tresk said, letting out augh. That might be the coolest skill so far.
Chapter 2.54: The Dreamwalk
Chapter 2.54: The Dreamwalk
Despite Tresks urging for them to go to bed early that day, Theo had more to aplish. Fenian was in town unexpectedly, bringing a new gift for Miana. The trader pulled his cart over, Galflower dutifully backing it into the paddock, and summoned the rancher over. The Half-Ogre woman had a look of excitement on her face when she emerged, running over to embrace the Elf.
You got them! she shouted. How did you find a breeding pair?
While some traders might be too cowardly to venture into Gardreth, I have no such notions, Fenian said, bowing.
You went to the undeadnds for some animals? Tresk said, piecing together the story.
Naturally, Fenian said, waving her off. When Azrug told me he required my expertise, I made a brief stop at Qavell before heading to those cursed inds. Theo, you should have seen Beshurs face.
The trader broke out into a deep bellyugh, pping his knees. He used you of witchcraft, a pact with a demon, and so forth. When he heard the Order was watching you closely, his face went white. Im locking that memory in permanently.
Did you manage a good price for my potions? Theo asked.
More than good, Fenian said, pping the slide of the carriage. Four times my investment, as expected. The guilds are in disarray.
Good, Theo said, grinning.
Release the Pozwa, trader, Miana said, dancing on the spot. Her excitement was infectious.
Fenian pped the side of the ck cube again, and 2 creatures emerged. Theo recoiled at first, studying their features. The first was the easiest to look at. It had a mixture of avian and mammalian features with stunted wings at its sides, four legs ending in wed, bird-like feet, and a tail that fanned out like a peacocks, only fluffier. While they both bore the same coloring, an iridescent mix of ck and red, the second of the pair had a fan of chitinous horns growing from its head, six on either side. They were such a confusing amalgam of features, none of which made sense.
What are those? Theo asked, recoiling.
Pozwa, Miana said, kneeling to scratch the quadrupedal nightmares under their chins.
They look mean, Tresk said, tilting her head and stooping low. They came up to her chest in height.
Why are they special? Theo asked. The milk from the Karatan seemed far more valuable than whatever these things could provide.
Well, their horns are prized for scrimshaw. The ivory is incredibly valuable, but they alsoy eggs, Fenian said. He then gestured to his hat, the red-ck plumage bobbling as he did. I harvested a few feathers for my collection. I hope you dont mind.
Theyre perfect, Fenian, Miana said, embracing one Pozwa. It let out a shriek, which she seemed to take as affection.
So, theyre rare? Theo asked.
Pozwa were bred only in Gardreth, Miana said. When the necromantic curse took the duchy, everyone thought they were gone for good. Of course, if you read about them youll learn how hearty they are. These guys will eat anything, and monsters avoid them.
The great Pozwa rescue was harrowing, Fenian said. I assure you, the story is one for the ages. s, I shall not tell you.
Naturally, Theoughed. You just teleported in and found them right away, didnt you?
Its not really teleporting, Fenian said, shrugging. Now, I have to leave before nightfall. The bridge is bing temperamental, and I cant determine why.
Before the trader departed, Theo purchased more high-level [Monster Cores]. He spent 20 gold, cleaning most of Fenians stock out and earning 200 cores. Miana purchased a few things for the ranch, but Tresk had nothing she wanted. They said their farewells and watched as the carriage rode off through the eastern gate.
Alise came to retrieve Theo and Tresk before departing to the Newt and Demon. They met in theb to discuss the extent of the deal, something the alchemist had glossed over in his mind during the meeting. Rivers and Daub were in a bad way, even if they wouldnt admit it. The monster waves were hitting them just as bad as Broken Tusk. They agreed to export wood, metal ingots, and stone directly to the ailing town.
[Copper Ingots] were settled at the lowest market price, which set the current rate to 20 copper coins per bar. They set a maximum weekly allocation of 1,000 bars. This would earn the town 2 gold coins a week for the metal. This was less than Niras projected totals per week, leaving them with a surplus.
[Ogre Cypress Lumber] was settled at a lower per board, but Rivers need for timber was far greater than metal. They settled on a 10 copper per board rate, with an estimated allotment of 3,000 boards a week at 3 gold coins. That made sense, observing how Broken Tusk hungrily consumed the boards to repair damage, even if they had taken none in recent memory. Thanks to the massive size of the Ogre Cypress and Sledges new setup, Alise imed they could produce far more boards than they exported, somewhere in the range of 5,000 boards a week.
Those were the two resources Theo stood to gain the most out of. His deals with Sledge and Gridgen were based on giving them 20% of market cost, which lined up with their deal with Rivers and Daub. The alchemist could pocket 80% of the profits, but his intention was always to put the money to work. His purchase of the [Monster Cores] was intended to bolster the production of those buildings.
The stone was the tricky part to work out. The mountains to the north of Rivers and Daub bore stone in abundance. They worked several quarries at the edge of their territory, bringing in low-quality stone. This is when Theo learned the true value of high-quality stone. For each perfect quality stone block his town consumed, Rivers consumed 5 good quality stone blocks. This allowed Ziz to maintain his connections with the Dwarven stone trader. Only 500 stone blocks were promised weekly at a price of 50 copper a block, totaling 2 gold and 50 silver coins per week.
Alise was kind enough to do the math for Theo, although he found some errors in her addition. The alchemists [Intelligence] was reaching a high enough level where he could mentally multiply numbers, divide things out, and add them up with ease. Including his pay to the miners and lumberers, he would earn 4 gold a week from the lumber and metal. The take from the stone was only 50 silver, but it was more than nothing. He also knew Ziz would dedicate however much money they needed to the cause of keeping Broken Tusk safe.
There were many opportunities in the agreement, though. Rivers and Daub had ess to many amenities that Broken Tuskcked. What the other towncked in regenerative resources, they made up with their farming prowess. From what Theo understood, the farms in Rivers made Banus operation look like a backyard garden. They had roving herds of Karatan, fields fat with grains, vegetables, and fruit. Zaralis enchanting was also ced on the negotiation table, but they intended to work that out at ater date.
The singr thing missing from the entire deal was Theo himself. There were no concessions made to gain ess to his potions. No striking of a deal to empower their town with his impossibly strong elixirs, but Alise had an answer for that.
You were ourst resort, Alise said, smiling. We teased the idea of selling them potions, reserving it for ater date.
Theo didnt know if that was a clever move or not. The more he thought about it, the more he agreed with their decision. He had enough to deal with already, and adding more potion making to the mix would be bad.
When the sun lowered over the swamp in the west, the group departed for the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Theo spotted Throk working on something outside of his workshop and stopped to check on the artificer. A series of copper pipesy on the cobbled street, severalrge storage tanks resting near the water tower. Each had a few artifices sticking from the side, devices that the alchemist couldnt understand.
Tresk told me about this idea, Throk said, catching the alchemists attention. He hoisted a strange section of pipe,rger than the man himself. It was essentially a storage vessel with a pipeing out of either end. Gonna bury the pipes, run a sucker artifice from the river. This baby right here is a mixer. It takes liquid from dimensional storage and adds it on a per-unit basis to another liquid.
Theo understood what he was talking about. He wanted to automatically purify the tainted river water and pump it into the city. It was a genius idea, one that the alchemist had but never expressed to Tresk.
I dont remember telling you that idea, Tresk, Theo said.
I saw it in a dream, she shrugged.
The pair often shared dreams, so that wasnt a surprise.
Well, this is a great idea, Theo said, nodding.
You have no idea, Throk said, shing a grin. He jerked his head, gesturing to the Marsh Wolf Tavern.
Theo had been so consumed by the events of the day that he didnt notice the construction going up behind the tavern. Whatever seed core shed nted was growing slowly. The way Throk mentioned it meant that the water from the river and the new seed core were rted, but he couldnt put them together in his mind. No amount of intuition could solve that mystery, and he let it linger. That thrill of the unknown was too much not to entertain.
What is it? Tresk shouted.
Let it stay a mystery, Theo said, cing a cating hand on her shoulder.
Fine, she said, sniffing the air. But I need some food.
Tresk and Theo departed Throk, finding their way to the rowdy tavern. Citizens were celebrating their first trade deal, even if it wasnt a lot of money. It was the first step to something greater and they all knew that. Azrug got a lot of experience from the deal, sending him soaring to the edge of level 10 in both cores and his personal level. Alise joined the pair after a while near the window, joined by Perg and Ziz.
Xam served something new tonight. Theos eyes went wide when he saw the sauce. It was creamy. A light brown gravy covered a couscous-like Zee-derived pasta with small chunks of meat scattered throughout. Tresk didnt wait for the word to go, she dug in and ate her entire te in moments, requesting another. ording to the Marshling, the food buff didnt stack if you had seconds. The alchemist took his time with the food, savoring every moment. He couldnt remember thest time he had real milk in a dish. It coated his tongue, smoothing the rough edges of the wolf bone broth that was the base for the gravy.
By the time Theo was done eating, he patted his belly and grinned. Perg shared stories about her tannery and how it was doing. She intended to weasel her way into the day with Rivers and Daub, only to be disappointed by the way they turned their noses up at her. She was still doing well for herself, selling most of her leather to Fenian to be resold in Qavell, but her pride was clearly wounded.
Every patron was theorizing about Xams new building, but she wouldnt let it slip. One of her new servers, a lizardfolk man with a severe face, hinted at something wet and wild, but no one could riddle it out. Theo pushed away that keen intuition of his, refusing to let it spoil the surprise. At the edges of his mind, he could feel the answer. Something in his cores imparted a scent into his mind. Churning water mingled with rich minerals, but he pushed the sensation away.
Things started to wind down as the sun set outside. Theo and Tresks stamina were both still above half, and tiredness wasnt a thought. The alchemist noted that the increase in his [Vigor] from the items he wore was likely to me. He seemed to need less sleep, even if he enjoyed sleeping more. The Marshling tugged on his arm, urging him back to the Newt and Demon. She was eager to try out their new skill.
The pair bid farewell to their friends, content with the way the day went. Alise seemed to have something urgent to tell Theo, but Tresk dragged him away before she could chew his ear off. They found their way back to their bedroom and she jumped into bed and closed her eyes, even if sleep didnte so easily. The alchemistughed, sorting his bed out and cleaning himself with [Cleansing Scrub].
What do you think its gonna be like? Tresk asked, keeping her eyes closed.
No idea, Theo said, getting into bed and pulling his sheets up. Im excited to earn skills while I sleep, though.
The excitement for dreamwalking made sleep hard. Both Tresk and Theo had trouble falling asleep, and even when they did, they woke up with a start. Hours passed before they fell asleep. When it finally came, it felt like a cool sheet was pulled over their bodies, wrapping them in a strange sensation. Instead of the world fading to ck, time skipping ahead to morning from their perspective, they fell through the world.
The world swirled around Theo like an angry tornado. Wind whipped at his face as shapeless shapes moved in the distance. He shouted against the raging storm to no avail, but it calmed down with time. The alchemist was left standing in infinite nothing, staring off into the distance. It wasnt what he expected, even if he didnt know what to expect.
Tresk? Theo shouted, listening as his voice echoed back to him.
Moments passed, but nothing. Suddenly, a squat Marshling appeared in front of him with a surprised expression on her face.
Sorry, I had to pee, Tresk said. She looked around and cocked an eyebrow. Not what I expected.
Yeah, I dont know where we are, Theo said.
Maybe we just have to think about a ce, Tresk said, nodding.
Theo couldnt help himself. His mind went back to the western coast of South America, staring out at the boiling ocean as the sun expanded. In a single heartbeat, they were there. Standing on that hill overlooking the devastation of Earth. A wave of pain washed through the alchemists body, beaten down by his [Tarahek Core]. He felt Tresks amazement with the new world, something hed never really told her about. She let out a long gasp, her head darting in every direction.
Wow! Tresk shouted. Is this your home?
Theo looked down at himself, noting that he was still in his Dronon body. He let out a sign of relief. He wanted nothing to do with that old broken thing he left back on Earth. This was a memory, constructed by their Dreamwalking skill. It was nothing but a memory.
This is where I died, Theo said, gesturing to the beach below. Somewhere in South America I think it was Chile?
The pair walked down to the beach together, Tresk letting out a wow every few minutes. Theo understood he could likely just think about the beach, and theyd be there, but the act of walking was fun. The Marshling reached out, grabbing his hand and squeezing when she felt his trepidation.
Its all fake, Tresk said, nodding. We can go back to Broken Tusk if its too much.
No, this is good, Theo said. This is closure. Thats where the Harbinger showed up.
The spot where Theo met his death was devoid of life. His team wasnt there. The Harbinger wasnt there. There was just the seapping against the beach yfully. Tresk yed in the sand for a while, sshing in the water andughing. After a while, the alchemist joined her. They made sandcastles over a patch of sand where he died. Where he watched hispanions die. His mind went back to Yuri and an image of the man suddenly appeared.
Woah! Ghost! Tresk shouted, reaching to her hips. But there were no daggers to draw. Where are my daggers?
Its a dream, Theo said with a shrug. Tresks daggers reappeared at her hips and she let out a surprised sound.
Im gonna stab the ghost, Tresk said, drawing her weapons.
Dont stab Yuri, Theo said, letting out a groan. Well, Yuris ghost.
Who is Yuri? Tresk asked.
Theo felt pain stab at his heart again. That was a long,plicated story. With a wave of his hand, the image disappeared. A friend. Dead.
Sorry, Tresk said. She closed her eyes, concentrating. A dragon appeared before her, glittering scales of molten metal, maw opened and shooting mes.
Theo fell back, but the Marshling woman shouted a war cry and engaged the monster, her daggers shing with deadly poison. The alchemist realized the purpose of this ce. The setting was whatever they wanted, but the reason the Dreamwalking skill existed was to give a chance to practice their skills. With a thought, he summoned an alchemy still. Then, he summoned a barrel of [Refined Healing Essence], then a toy train, a sports car, a wagon, and a M5702A battle mech. He smiled at the weapons tform, noting the perfect detail in the rail guns mounted on either side.
Tresk was mauled by the dragon. ording to the Dreamwalk, she had died. A system message informed them it was impossible to die in the dream, but pain could be simted at whatever level they wanted. It would dere death for her to better emte actual conditions. Theo was piecing together more of the ce, understanding it as a precious training ground. It wanted her to summon enemies that were more her speed, but the alchemist wanted to test the limits of the dream.
Theo banished the items hed summoned, willing them into a new ce. He thought of a ce hed never been, but only seen in the media back on Earth. Thendscape swirled around them, malformed and iplete. Treskughed.
Nope, she said. This isnt doing it for me. Take me somewhere else on your home.
Theo had been to many ces on Earth, traveling around for his job. He didnt allow his thoughts to bubble up, understanding that if he formed a ce in his mind, they would go there. There were the slums outside of Berlins crater, or the toxic waste fields in Norfolk, feeding poison into the Antic Ocean. The southern coast of Georgia was nice, but the water was also toxic. Each ce overseas sent his stomach turning sour, and the ces he saw back home were worse. A memory from childhood surfaced, something from before he was recruited.
The scene shifted again, sending them tumbling into a dense forest. Barren trees stretched to the sky, joined by conifers that refused to shed their needles. Snow nketed the ground, thick and fluffy underfoot. Tresk let out a surprised gasp.
Ive never seen snow! she shouted.
Theo smiled, summoning an alchemy workstation on a stump. He watched as hispanion imagined a Troll to fight. The alchemist plucked a reagent from the air and inhaled its scent. It smelled more like the perfume his mother wore, rather than the [Widow Lily] he held. Dreamwalking had limitations, but also exceptions. He was certain Tresk had never seen a dragon, yet she imagined one and it appeared.
Theo let out a sigh, casting his eyes over the scene. This was a valuable tool, but he couldnt help but let the sorrow flood through his body. He got to work on his experimentations, unbound by the rules of the real world as Tresk battled the Troll. The alchemist performed his trade at the site of hisst happy memory on Earth.
Chapter 2.55: Dying of the Blooms
Chapter 2.55: Dying of the Blooms
The sensation of being awake all night and then waking up was strange. Theo rose the next morning when his body was ready to wake, pulling him out of the Dreamwalk without warning. Phantom warmth from his still lingered on his face and he heard Tresk stir in the bed across the room. She had a concerned look on her face but shook it off.
That was weird, she said.
Several system messages popped up, tallying his skill gain for the night.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (8%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (6%).
[Governance Core] received experience (1.5%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
The experience gains were good, but that wasnt the strength of the Dreamwalking skill. It provided a safe environment where he could test whatever he wanted and effectively removed the need for sleep. The alchemist could move his experimentations to the night and focus on creating potions to sell during the day. During the Dreamwalk, he found the key to heating several reagents. With nothing to do but chat with Tresk and visit exotic locations, Theo could run stills without worrying about losing reagents.
Theos mind sorted out which parts of the ability were the best. He was forced to do more alchemy than herbalism, leaving his gathering core to trail behind. The alchemist would focus on whichever core was trailing, ensuring that each of them would catch up. His [Governance Core] would be hard, if not impossible to level in the dream. There was also the possibility of intruders entering their dreams, something he wouldnt express to Tresk. He already understood how [Tarahek Dreamwalking] worked, either through his intuition or logical reasoning.
Gods, as this world called them, upied domains. These houses were semi-real spaces that upied a dimension outside of the one he currently sat in. They were segmented into pantheons, which could be interpreted asrger domains. The Prime Pantheon held the Gods most people considered good, while the Demonic Pantheon held those people deemed evil. Theo preferred to think of the Demonic Pantheon as the Outsider Pantheon. With information from Xolsa, Fenian, and perhaps Drogramath, the alchemist understood that the Tarahek was its own domain. It contained an actual space they traveled to in their dreams.
So, where Drogramath might control the realm of the Drogramathi, Theo and Tresk controlled the domain of Theo and Tresk. How this realm, if it could be called a realm, influenced the real world was beyond him, but there was evidence for that as well. Breadcrumbs were strewn about his path, following him like a specter. Earlier in the season, when Tresk got her [Assassins Core], she acted more violently. Her impulse control dropped, and sheshed out at anyone without warning. Theo felt her emotions bleed over to him, through that shared realm, but since they had strengthened their domain, the influence of Zaul dropped. A simr thing happened when the alchemist felt the tug of Drogramath at his chest, only snuffed out when he out-leveled his Drogramathi cores with the Tarahek core.
There the truth wasid bare for him to see. His connection with Tresk transcended a simple soul-bond. It was a maic force, likely influencing the world around them. There was no wonder why no one had seen a Tarahek in ages. The [Tarahek Core] was the single most powerful thing in his possession.
Breakfast? Tresk asked, cocking her head at the alchemist. He had beenying in bed, rolling over the intricacies of the domains. As his [Intelligence] grew, so did his rambling thoughts. They got away from him more easily, begging to chase down information like a hungry dog.
Of course, Theo said. How about we keep the Dreamwalk between us.
Duh, Tresk said,ughing. I can feel your brain slicing through the implications.
Theo knit his brow. They were at a point where keeping information from each other was a fools errand. By level 20, the [Tarahek Core] would make it impossible to keep his thoughts to himself, which wasnt altogether a bad thing. The alchemist nodded and got out of bed. He was looking forward to eating the leftovers from Xams tavern.
Unsurprisingly, Alise was waiting outside of the Newt and Demon. Despite the early hour, she took her job seriously. Theo could feel the excitementing from her, bolstered by the trade deal.
Good morning, he said. Want some breakfast?
Certainly, Alise said, nodding. There was something she wanted to say, he could tell.
Get it out, Theo said, gesturing up the road. The group began their journey to the tavern.
Well, I was just thinking, Alise said. As mayor, you need to keep cultural implications in mind.
What? Tresk asked.
Ive asked around and have found ack of preparation, Alise said. For theing festival.
Festival? Theo asked.
Yeah, Dying Blooms, Tresk said, picking something out of her teeth. Everyone makes flower things, and the winner has good luck.
Alise bristled at the simplistic exnation but took a steadying breath. We dont have many festivals in the nortnds, but there is an end of season event for the Season Of Blooms. Its not dissimr to the Festival of Dying Blooms.
Alright, Theo said. The group was approaching the monolith. Adventurers gathered outside of the guild, even as the sun hung low in the eastern sky. Why does that involve me?
The mayor is supposed to kick the festival off, Tresk said. Whats today?
The 46th day, Alise said.
Theo knit his brow. How long is the Season of Blooms?
60 days, Tresk said. Same for the others.
Theo didnt know why he never asked how long the seasons were. He didnt really care, with everything that had been going on. Things were too busy to consider seasons, and it hardly seemed to matter in the soutnds.
So, the year is 240 days long? Theo asked.
It is, Alise said, a look of confusion washing over her face. She wasnt aware that hed been transmigrated to this world, and he had no intention of telling her.
Dronon dont keep time, Tresk said, smiling.
Right, Alise said. Theo could tell she didnt buy it, but would let the topic fall away. There wasnt good reason to keep her in the dark, but there also wasnt good reason to bring her into the fold. Well, the festival runs for 12 days, starting on the 48th. Or so Im told.
Thats right, Tresk said, nodding.
The group entered the tavern, finding a seat and paying for their food. That table by the window had be permanently reserved for Theo and his party, something he appreciated. The interior of the tavern could get hot, even in the early hours of the day. A patrons only reprieve from the heat was that window, although since Tresk had expanded the tavern, there were more windows. Still, it was the alchemists favorite seat.
Food came out quickly, something caused byst nights meal being stored in a [Dimensional Storage Crate]. The tea was made fresh, though, and delicious as ever. Theo dug in as his administrator exined how the festival worked.
Youll give an address at the start of the festival, Alise said. You can offer a prize, but thats up to you. Tradition states that the winner will have good luck for a year.
I wonst year, Tresk said, belching. She had already eaten all her food.
Great job, Alise said. Participants will gather flowers from the swamp and weave them into a wreath. They will then hang it on their door and leave it.
The person with the least-decayed flower circle at the end of the season wins, Tresk said. Banu won for as long as I can remember, but I cheated.
Theo frowned, leveling his gaze at her. That wont do.
Agreed, Alise said, joining Theo to stare at the Marshling.
What? Tresk asked with a shrug. I wasnt caught.
Alise continued, ignoring something that seemed a great offense to her. Every night during the festival, there will be arge party in the streets. Everyone will gather to watch the sun go down, then tour the wreaths.
Thats cool, Theo said, nursing his tea. We should cover the cost of food.
We should also import some decent drink, Alise said. Not sure if youve had Xams grog yet.
Theo had tried no alcohol since transitioning. It was something he kept in the back of his mind. He wanted to be as sharp as possible, but that was a foolish excuse. Liquor was rare on Earth, and the stuff he tried was horrid. When he was embedded with a Russian death squad, they drank something they called paint thinner. It tasted true to its name and held rumors of imbibers going blind. As he recalled the memory he smiled. That was how he met Yuri.
Fine, well finance it, Theo said.
Good, I was hoping youd say that because Ive already ced an order, Alise said. Ive also sorted the finances to pay Xam for catering.
So, everyone eats free? Tresk asked. Dang.
Now, if we could just sort the childcare issue, Theo said.
Childcare? Alise asked.
Well, that sounds like a good project for you, Theo said. He opened his inventory to check his funds, finding that he only had 31 gold left. We need someone to watch the kids during the day, perhaps educate them. This should free more people up to work.
I understand, Alise said. We have a few new settlers who might be interested.
How do I keep missing the new people? Theo asked.
Because Im handling it, Alise said.
Well, I want them to sign one of my magical contracts, Theo said. Since theyll be working with kids, I want to make sure theyre on the level. Xolsa said a magical monsteres for the people who break these contracts. Ill make sure everyone knows that when the sign from now on.
Alise went pale for a moment before clearing her throat. Right. Ill get on it today.
Youre the best, Alise, Tresk said.
The groups conversation shifted away from business for once. Theo and Tresk got Alise to talk about herself, and what she wanted to do for her life. She was happy to serve as the administrator, revealing her true motives after a while. The womans confidence in Broken Tusks ability to grow was absolute. ording to her, the town would grow so fast that it would need a series of governors to manage theirnds. She would be at the top of that hierarchy, gaining a seat of power within Theos eventual empire.
Theo didnt want to consider how transparent she was about it, or that shed understood his intentions with the town. Perhaps the writing was on the wall, but he wanted it to remain a secret for as long as possible. That was a childish thought, though. The evidence was in the trade delegations attempted assassination. There was no doubt in his mind that they intended to take the town for themselves, usurping all that hed built. It would take much more than that to dislodge him from his position, though.
Zarali found the alchemist after a time and Alise departed to recruit someone for child care. The priestess wanted to help Theo with his alchemy process today, and he was more than happy to have herpany. Tresk left to delve into a dungeon, intent on scouting out the [Ocean Dungeon]. They never figured out what happened with that dungeon during a monster wave, and the Adventurers Guild wanted a report. The Marshling had a theory that the ocean monsters went to attack Rivers and Daub, but Theo had his doubts.
Returning to the Newt and Demon, Theo and Zarali found Sledge working in the back of theb. They watched her without saying a word. The Marshling fiddled with the existing pressure tank, swapping out artifices and bolting it to the building, before directing a series ofborers to install 2 new tanks. The way she was securing them to the wall would reduce the annoying rattling sound they made during operation.
Whats going on? Theo asked.
Throk says its a present, Sledge said. Talk to him. He already paid. Leave me alone.
Theo shrugged it off, giving Zarali a tour of his greenhouse. She was impressed that he went for the greenhouse instead of the experimentation room. The pair sorted out the nts, propagating the ones that were ready and tending to the others. The alchemist intended to feed the greenhouse more corester to allow for more nts, but it was currently full of [Roc Berries], [Mages Bane], and [Spiny Swamp Thistle]. It was unfortunate that he couldnt grow [Moss Nettle] in the greenhouse, but there must be a way for him to cultivate the nt. The priestess didnt have suggestions for that.
When Sledge was done with her work, the pair went to investigate.
Ill enchant these for you, but hes done a good job to improve the design, Zarali said, kneeling to inspect the artifices.
I think he knew I wanted 3 of them, Theo said. Now that he doesnt have to wait to import copper, he can bang these out quickly.
Hes a smart little Marshling, Zarali said, running her fingers along the side of an untreated tank. Theo would need to infuse the copper so it didnt react with the essence inside. I imagine most artificers have trouble getting started, but he has a strong base as a cksmith.
Thats a great pairing, Theo said.
Well, shall we do some alchemy?
Zarali was disappointed that Theo hadnt made his offering to Drogramath today. When he did so, she imed he was getting close to increasing his connection with the Demon Lord. The woman could feel it in the air, or so she said. After making his offering, they returned to the greenhouse with a growth potion in hand. The alchemist was eager to put together the three recent aspects of his alchemy. Cultivation, fermentation, and refinement were his newest tools and he still hadnt seen the effects of the cultivated reagents.
Zarali seemed impressed when Theo went through the practiced motions of heating a still filled with cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. The mash, containing 200 units of the cultivated root, was heated perfectly through the process. Theo allowed the mixture to run into his holding tanks, but not into the massive storage tanks outside. Halfway through the process he took a sample of the [Healing Essence] to see what the cultivated reagent had to offer.
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
Cultivated Effects:
Increased effectiveness of resulting potions. Effect carries over through refinement.
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
Youve created a perfect quality essence, Zarali said, stepping back from the table. She cupped her chin in her hand and leveled her gaze at him. How did you know to cut the heat to half, then to full during the process?
Well, sister, Theo said, pping a hand over her shoulder. It came to me in a dream.
Theo felt her wash her senses over him, probing into his cores to detect some secret. It felt like hands grasping at air, as though she couldnt wrap her soul around his. There was a barrier preventing her from doing so, and the alchemist had an idea what caused the obfuscation of his being. The priestess wasnt a slouch, though. She was fiercely intelligent and more intuitive than him. The alchemist could tell she knew something was going on, the gears in her mind turning.
Some ability Im not aware of, Zarali said. Obscuring my senses. Interesting.
Ive gotta have some secrets, right? Theo asked.
Well, you seemed eager to keep me here like some caged bird, Zarali said, scoffing. Ive agreed to stay and lend my very prestigious talents to your cause. You can trust me.
Theo couldnt figure out if there was a point in keeping that secret from her. He wanted as few people to know about the powerful ability as possible, but it seemed like sticking his finger in a dam to stop an ocean. The woman was also the foremost expert on the topic of domains, something he couldnt deny.
Youve only been here a week, Theo said. Im not sure that equals trust.
Then what does equal trust, I wonder? Zarali asked, grinning. She ced her hand over his. Theo felt that familiar wave of sisterly love wash over him, still unsure about how he should feel. Spare me the details, then.
Theo didnt respond immediately. He took the [Healing Essence] into his inventory and left theb with Zarali close behind. Sledge was done with her work on the pressure vessels. The new gauges and ports on the artifice were impressive. They seemed better assembled and of higher quality than before. He inserted the essence and set the machine to work, appreciating the gentle hum that came from the machine. It didnt bounce around like before. He beckoned for his sister to follow, intent on taking her out into the fields where he gathered his herbs.
Look for more [Spiny Swamp Thistle], Theo said. Can you climb a tree?
I can, Zarali said. Although Id rather not. Are you going to answer me?
Yeah, Theo said, digging at the edge of a nt to retrieve the valuable tubers. I have a skill that lets me practice alchemy.
Zaralis face brightened up. He knew she put it together then, almost regretting giving her the information. But their rtionship had alreadye a long way in a short amount of time. She might have been projecting feelings for her dead brother onto him, but they were genuine. The priestess lent aid to Broken Tusk without hesitation, even putting herself near the front of that trade deal to get the ball rolling. People would beat down her door to get ess to enchanting services.
A pocket realm, she said after digging up a few tubers. Thats interesting.
And I do not know what the implications are, Theo said. I figured you were brushing up against the realm with your senses.
I was, Zarali said. The realm has grown significantly more powerful than before, it felt like a drop of water before. Now I sense a river.
So, you knew, Theo said.
Naturally.
The pair gathered a fair amount of reagents. It wasnt much considering the amount he could get adventurers to harvest, but the act of digging in the earth was soothing. They only spent as much time as they needed out behind theb, gathering their refined essence anding around to the cobbled street around midday. Zarali stopped there, shing Theo a devious grin.
Perhaps this will convince you of my intent, Zarali said, withdrawing something from her inventory. He imagined he had the same inventory power as him, [Drogramath Inventory]. It was a small, seed-like object inscribed with tiny runes. It pulsed with purple energy. Ive been holding on to this for quite some time.
Theo didnt need to inspect the object to understand. It was a [Enchanters Seed Core], which would allow her to nt an enchanters workshop. She was implying that if she put the seed down,ying literal roots, she would alsoy metaphorical roots. Something about the seed seemed different, though.
A building? Theo asked. Is that all it is?
Not at all, Zarali said. [Drogramath Enchanters Seed Core]. A specialized building core Ive been carrying for decades. Would you be so kind as to assign me the plot opposite the Newt and Demon?
That would be a decisive act. If she nted a rare seed core in town, binding herself to Broken Tusk, that would solidify his trust in her. Theo had a feeling that enchanter seed cores were expensive, and he couldnt imagine the value of a specialized seed core like that. It was likely worth more than the value of his entire town and then some. He cut out a section ofnd for her, enough to allow for many expansions.
Zarali nted her seed without hesitation, feeding it [Monster Cores] until a ck brick building sprung up. The roots of the seed core wrapped around themselves, snaking to create the shape of the building as the bricks were summoned from nowhere. The resulting building was squat with stained ss windows that held the image of Drogramath. Theo could feel a wave of Drogramaths energy pour from the thing, and the final image was impressive. The roof was made ofyered shingles of purplecquered material and a heavy oaken door had a brass knocker in the shape of a beast hed never seen.
Impressive, Theo said.
It doubles as a ce of worship, of course, Zarali said.
The pair retreated to theb and the day wore on. Theo inspected his refined essence before brewing it into a potion. As with most stages of his discovery and experimentation process, the [Healing Potion] was his standard way of determining their effectiveness.
[Refined Healing Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
Cultivated Effects:
Increased effectiveness of resulting potions. Effect carries over through refinement.
Purity: 90%
200 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
Impressive, Zarali said, letting out a sigh. If only Belgar were as focused as you.
They brewed 1 sample from the essence. The resulting reaction was calm. There was barely any fog that rose from the potion, and even less bubbling. The potion had seams of purple running through the pink liquid, signifying its perfection. Theo inspected the [Healing Potion], the single most powerful creation hed made so far.
[Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 135 health points.
There were several things at y here that made the [Healing Potion] so potent. First was the alignment effect that increased the effectiveness of a potion. Second was the cultivation effect, which did the same thing. Then, the new brewing process sent the quality and rarity of the potion up. The restoration potions provided a very clear picture of the potency of his process. It went from restoring 100 health to restoring 135 health. If the alchemists in Qavell were jealous before, they would be visibly green with envy upon seeing this potion.
Youve really outdone yourself, Zarali said, letting out a wistful sigh. Now, shall we celebrate your aplishment with some of Xams excellent food?
Id like nothing more, Theo said, letting his eyes linger on the systems message for a while longer.
Chapter 2.56: The Anti-Mage Modifier
Chapter 2.56: The Anti-Mage Modifier
Theo woke from his nightly adventure the next day. While the food at Xams was good, Tresk had taken a trip to Rivers and Daub when she was a child. The image she produced in the Dreamwalk was rough, but enough for the alchemist to appreciate the scale of a rival town. It was two cities joined over the river. Even the bridge itself held houses and merchants. He enjoyed the experience boost most of all, focusing on imagining what reagents would grow along the banks of that city.
He emerged from the dream feeling refreshed, finding Tresk to be in a simrly good mood. Life was, as always, present in the dawn hours of Broken Tusk. Xams tavern was more busy than normal and the building outside was almostpleted. After their meal, Theo went to inspect the manyborers working near the seed core building. The roots hadntpletely taken hold yet, and the alchemist pushed off the thought of finishing it himself.
Laborers dug into the earth and under the roads, aided by Sledge. She seemed eager to get the job done, barking orders and working her [Fabricator] magic. The trenches for the pipes ran the short way to the river, cutting a path to where it bent toward Broken Tusk. There was a strange fork in those ditches, sending one length of pipe towards Xams new building. Throk was fiddling with his invention near the bank of the river. The device was different from the ones the alchemist had seen before. A single tank with a pipeing from the bottom rested on a copper frame.
This ising along, Theo said, grinning at the Marshling.
Throk shed him a smile. Better than expected. Wait until you see what Xam is cooking up.
I have an idea about that, Theo said.
What? Tresk asked. What is it?
Youll see, Theo said. Dont spoil the surprise.
Tresk gave Theo an update on the [Ocean Dungeon] while they watched her father work. The monsters that had spawned during the monster wave lingered around the beach, painting it as a horribly dangerous ce for anyone to go. That would be a big problem if the alchemist intended to establish a port there. It was the only white-sanded beach around, ording to the locals of Broken Tusk. To the south were unforgiving crags, as well as the east. Only the western approach to the sea was viable for any reasonable port. Even then, he had his doubts. Approachability from thend was only one factor for an excellent port, and hed need an expert for the full picture.
Tresk departed, leaving Theo with the knowledge that the Adventurers Guild was on the case. A contract was posted and the monsters would be whittled down. The alchemist set his mind on taking it easy, letting his various businesses run themselves, and performing some alchemy. With Zaralis new barrels, he was eager to brew more modifier potions. With 3 refinement vessels, he could actually get some actual work done.
When Theo returned to the heart of town, intent on tending his garden, he found Xolsas portal open. Zarali stepped through and jogged to catch up with the alchemist as he made his way back to the Newt and Demon. As he expected, his garden was full of useful reagents once again. The priestess struck up light conversation as they harvested the [Mages Bane] and [Roc Berries]. Her thought on the berries was that they werent very useful, but the anti-magic flowers would fetch a high price.
I have a feeling that [Mages Bane] will also produce a nice modifier, Zarali said.
Theos excellent memory let him recall each modifier hed created so far. [Web] was still the best for both offensive and defensive potions. [Over-Time] was useful, but not nearly as great. The alchemist dedicated his day to revealing more modifiers, giving him more tools to work with in the long run. They returned to theb, making an offering and selecting which reagent was best for experimentation.
Well, you have enough [Troll Blood] to douse an army, Zarali said, rummaging through his [Dimensional Storage Crate]. And more [Goblin Tongues than I ever care to look at. How about we discover the modifiers for [Troll Blood], [Goblin Tongues], [Fald Eyeballs], and [Mages Bane]?
I dont have a better idea, Theo said. And Im not about to drink blood or bite into a Goblins tongue.
Good idea, Zarali said. Just work on increasing your bond with Lord Drogramath.
The [Troll Blood] was easy enough to mix into the [Fermentation Barrels], but the [Goblin Tongue] required mashing. They fed the still-wet slivers of meat into the grinder and winced at the vile sound it made. Theo had to clean off the [Alchemical Grinder Artifice] between uses, but loaded each barrel with 200 units of their respective mashes. Zarali instructed him on the intent aspect of the barrels, and they began bubbling even before he reced the lid.
The priestess imed to have a good idea for how long it would take to ferment the mixes, so the pair went off to harvest more reagents. It felt like another bonding experience where they shared stories about their lives. Zarali seemed interested in Earth, but had a trepidation that painted her intent clear. She didnt want to probe too deeply into Theos past and was respectful about the entire thing. That just made him more willing to share with her.
I guess you just do what you have to do, Theo said, watching as Zarali clubbed an insectoid over the head. They had been harvesting [Manashrooms] without much trouble, but she senses the approach of a small cluster of monsters. That didnt stop the flow of conversation, though.
We all adapt, brother, Zarali said. How old were you when they recruited you?
Five years old, Theo said, stooping low to inspect the dead insect-like creature. There were valuable pieces of reagent under the monsters carapace, something he hadnt seen before. My dad died in a war, and mom never had it easy. They just scooped kids up and taught us the best way to blow something up.
Sounds familiar, Zarali said, wiping a stain of ichor from her face.
Theo yanked something from under the creatures hard exoskeleton. It was a secondyer of the proactive armor and his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] whispered that it was an alchemical ingredient. He inspected the item.
[Fade Carapace]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Umon
The secondary carapace of a Fade.
Properties:
[Carapace] ???? ????
Ive seen the [Carapace] property before, Zarali said with an approving nod. It should be useful. So, how did this government use you?
Thats a good way to put it, Theo said, wiping the filth from his hands onto the caverns wall. They taught us all thesenguages. How to behave in foreign countries, stuff like that. How to slip in and out of a ce unseen. Social camouge and all that. No one checked kids in the first few years, and we were very sessful. Then things got weird, and they used us in different ways. Taught us weapons tforms, but no real jarhead work.
Jarhead?
Ah, you know. Boots on the ground types, Theo said. They pushed deeper into the cave, finding more of the [Manashrooms]. There werent many people left by the time I was fully grown. The expanding sun caused famine and death everywhere. Only the north was hospitable, and that was fading fast.
Reminds me of Gardreth, Zarali said, letting out a snort of augh.
From what I heard, it sounds simr. Well, were all just sitting in retirement. Everyone was retired at that point. The sun was about to eat our entire. Then some entity showed up and everyone came together to stop it. Not like it would have helped.
So, your thought is that you were already doomed, Zarali said. She found arge mushroom that had cultivated on its own. Theo happily took it into his inventory.
Oh, absolutely, Theo said. I got the call after finally having time to live for a few years. Mom was dead by then, and the only person I had as a friend was Yuri. They put us in the same squad to go kill the entity. We called him the Harbinger.
Id love to hear more about this creature, Zarali said, picking at the side of the cavern. She shrugged, finding that the treasure she thought was there was nothing more than a ssh of insectoid blood.
You know as much as I do, Theo said.
Gods are rarely errant, Zarali said. Do we have enough mushrooms? The fermentation should be done soon.
Theo checked his inventory. They had well over 500 [Manashrooms], which was more than he needed. His intention oning out today to harvest reagents was little more than something to bolster his supplies. Were good.
The pair left the cave and headed back to town. Theo told her more about his life, feelingfortable around the woman. He would have told all of this to Tresk, but she just didnt care. He didnt fault hispanion for that. No one wanted to hear a tragic backstory, and the alchemist had pushed that life out of his mind. It wasnt as though he was looking back on his memories. They were someone elses. He detailed how his division of child soldiers was retired when the wars among the nations ceased. Only when there was nothing left fighting for did they stop. Only when there wasnt blood left to spill did they release him from their grasp.
Youve really pushed all that out of your mind, Zarali said, removing the lid from a fermentation barrel.
So have you, Theo said,ughing.
Zarali managed a weak smile. Some days I manage. Others are hard. Well, these are done. Shall we distill them?
The raw mash from a fermentation gave no hints on what properties they contained. Theo would have to distill them to unlock that secret, and he had an interest in the newest reagents first. The alchemist selected the [Troll Blood], [Goblin Tongue], and [Mages Bane] for distition. Zarali helped him transfer the mashes into the stills and gave him her best guess as to the best heating pattern. Every reagent was temperamental with this process, and the modifiers were even harder. They did their best, tending the stills for just under an hour before theyd extracted everyst drop of usable essence from the mash. He inspected the resulting essence modifier from the [Troll Blood] first.
[Sear]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
200 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the sear modifier.
The only property Theo knew for the blood was the [Searing Regeneration] property. This essence modifier didnt illuminate the effect of the potion, but it could be used on any potion. Some modifiers had restrictions on offensive or defensive potions. He inspected the resulting essence from the [Goblin Tongue] next.
[Desate]
[Essence Modifier]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
200 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the desate modifier. Only usable on offensive potions
This modifier would be useful for poisons or bombs, but Theo would need to apply it to a test potion to see the effects. That was the problem with modifiers. They affected every potion differently, creating an absurd amount ofbinations that could only be known by experimentation. He inspected thest essence modifier, derived from the [Mages Bane] flower.
[Anti-Mage]
[Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
200 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Anti-Mage modifier.
It was another dual-use modifier, but what it did was beyond him. They also failed in getting any of the modifiers above excellent quality, which was expected.
Well, [Anti-Mage] is the clear winner, Zarali said.
[Desate] could be useful, Theo said. I can see a poison that drains the water in someones body. That would be very nice for Tresk.
Sounds like a wicked poison to me, Zarali said, nodding. Shall we run a test on the modifiers?
Theo found that testing the modifiers was always a good idea. As always, he elected to use his [Healing Potions] for testing the defensive essences and [Poison] for his offensive ones. He selected a restoration potion he made the other day to test the [Anti-Mage] modifier first. Introducing the silvery liquid caused the [Healing Potion] to gain ribbons of blue light, descending in a circle from the top of the potion. Both the alchemist and Zarali inspected the potion.
[Healing Potion]
[Anti-Mage]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Creates a shield of anti-magic around the user. For every point of health restored, block 2 points of magical damage.
Instantly restores 125 health points.
Thats a good potion, Zarali said.
Theo thought about it before responding. Hed seen a lot of good potions in his time, but this was one of the best. It bundled the effects of 2 potions into one. He had a feeling that the description was very specific about what it did. His intuition said the user only gained the magic shield for the amount of health effectively restored, not potentially restored. If the user wasnt missing health, they wouldnt get the shield. The alchemist applied the [Sear] modifier to another [Healing Potion], watching as fissures of fire spread through the pink liquid. After the reaction settled down, he inspected the result.
[Healing Potion]
[Sear]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
A wave of fire radiates from the imbiber of this potion, dealing damage to all targets equal to the healing potency of this potion.
Instantly restores 130 health points.
Another great one, Zarali said, letting out augh. Perhaps even better. Offensive healing.
Both are amazing, Theo said, nodding to himself. I think the one with [Sear] is slightly better.
Theyre situational, Zarali said. Last one. Use it on a poison.
Theo obeyed, introducing the [Desate] modifier into a vial of poison he made for Tresk. The liquid grew a dimmer shade, bubbled violently, then settled down. The pair inspected the result.
[Poison]
[Desate]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 10 stacks. Each stack of poison removes an amount of moisture from the targets body, desate them from the inside out.
It was another situational potion. The other version he made for Tresk was better, but this was good. Zaralis disapproving look said it all. Despite thest potion being less powerful than the others, the crafting session was sessful. Both the [Sear] and [Anti-Mage] properties were incredibly useful. Theo still had a few basic bombsying around, something he wanted to correct before the next monster wave, but he thought they would serve as a solid base for testing the effects of his new properties.
Theo withdrew 2 [Basic Firebombs] and 2 [Basic Freezebombs] from storage, applying [Anti-Mage] and [Sear] to both. The Freezebomb seemed to bubble more vigorously than any other experiment they tried before, almost causing the pair to flee from theb. But it calmed down in time,ing to terms with the application of a fire-based modifier in time. He inspected the modified [Basic Firebomb] first.
[Basic Firebomb]
[Sear]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release mes that stick to the target.
Effect:
Fire radiates outward from the point of contact, applying a 1/4 strength DOT effect on all afflicted targets.
The effect was as expected. Instead of setting the target on fire, it sent a wave of fire out and applied a less-powerful version of the DOT to all targets. He inspected the [Sear] modified [Basic Freezebomb] next.
[Basic Freezebomb]
[Sear]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.
Effect:
Roots the target in ce, applying an DOT instance of frostfire.
Theo didnt know what frostfire damage was, and it seemed contradictory. It didnt matter, though. The potion still held its rooting effect, which was its only use. The addition of a damage effect was appreciated. Zarali shrugged at both. They were good, just not overly impressive. Things only got interested when they went to inspect the bombs infused with [Anti-Mage].
[Basic Firebomb]
[Anti-Mage]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release mes that stick to the target.
Effect:
Coats the target in mes infused with anti-magical properties. While on fire, targets afflicted with this fire will take damage equal to 2 times their spells mana cost when they cast any spell.
The potion lived up to the modifiers name. This effect was tailored to stop mages from casting their spells. Theo could only imagine how that would cripple any magic-user, forcing them to wait until the me effect expired. The [Basic Freezebomb] was even more interesting.
[Basic Freezebomb]
[Anti-Mage]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.
Effect:
Roots the target with antimagical ice. Breaking free from the root effect through any means, magical, manual, or through the expiration of this effect, will deal damage equal to 3/4 targets maximum health over 10 seconds.
The Freezebomb with [Anti-Mage] was more like a mage-killer, rather than something to hinder them. People who used magic were more likely to put their points into [Intelligence], causing them to gain more mana. The result of using this bomb on a magic-user would be devistating. They would be trapped in ice. If they teleported away, broke the ice with magic, or stood there, they were in trouble. Zarali let out a whistle after reading the description.
That would kill me, she said. Its based on the targets statsthats vicious. I assume this runs through a resistance check, though.
Then there was the issue of actually hitting the target. That was the hardest thing about using this potion to kill a high-level mage. Theo had no intentions of using the potion on another person, but there would be magical monsters. It was only logical. If someone with a good arm could hit a magical creature, it wouldnt matter how powerful they were. Theyd be dead.
Wanna get dinner? Theo asked.
Absolutely, Zarali said.
Chapter 2.57: The Bathhouse
Chapter 2.57: The Bathhouse
Tresk joined Theo and Zarali to tour her new enchanting building. The buildings interior wasvished,pared to the alchemists expectations. She had cleared everything to the sides of the room, leaving an area down the center for an ornamental rug. At the end of the long rug, sitting under a stained ss window, was a shrine to Drogramath. Entering the building gave the alchemist a sense offort, and his eyes were instantly drawn to the shrine.
Along the edge of the room were tools he had never seen sat atop tables and strewn haphazardly. There wasnt a room for her to sleep in, but Zarali had taken to sleeping at Xolsas tower. She gave them a tour of the building, showing off her impressive tools. The priestess had to tell them how impressive they were, since the descriptions only gave basic information. Enchanting required abination of precision work with an awl, meant to scratch out the rough shape, then gems and her own personal magic to infuse them with power.
The roots of Xams new building were almost done forming. As the trio approached, they noted a crowd surrounding the tangle of roots, scratching their heads. They stopped for a moment to observe the group, a smile ying across both Theo''s and Zaralis face. Both of them knew what it was thanks to their high [Wisdom]. Tresk was still in the dark, but her curiosity was bubbling up.
I give up, Tresk said. What is it?
A bathhouse, Zarali and Theo said in unison. They turned to smile at each other.
You noticed the outgoing pipes, too? Theo asked.
I did, Zarali said. I cant imagine shed need so much water for something like a brewery. Although, Ive never seen a seed core bathhouse.
A bathhouse, Tresk said, barely a whisper.
Knowing these buildings, youll get a buff for soaking in the water, Theo said with a nod.
They made their way into Xams tavern, taking their traditional seat. She was serving a kind of dumpling soup again. It was more delicious than thest time they tried it, if that was even possible. That simple fact painted the [Cooks Core] as something that made things better as it leveled up. Theo let his mind wander to the idea of a level 100 [Cook], and the transcendent experience of eating their food. Perhaps it would be difficult to go back to simply cooked meals after that.
So, Im catering the festival, Xam said, grinning.
What was it? Theo asked. 12 days?
12 days of breakfast and dinner for everyone, Xam said with a nod. 50 heads.
Theo could see the gears turning in her mind. She wasnt reluctant to do the event, she was salivating at the chance to get so much experience.
I assume the bathhouse will be open by then, Theo said.
Xams face twisted into shock. She looked over her shoulders, trying to ensure no one heard the scandalous revtion. How did you know?
Lucky guess, Zarali said,ughing.
Is it going to be coed? Tresk asked.
ording to Fenian, I can upgrade it to have different sections. So I n on having three main areas with private baths avable for rent, Xam said.
So, who is paying for all this? Tresk asked, leaning in. Seems expensive.
Ive got funding from Throk and Luras, Xam said. They helped with the initial investment on the pipework. Kindame the building wont generate its own water, but it will enchant the water to give buffs.
I knew it, Theo said. So, youre nning to survive off people renting the private baths?
Thats the n, Xam said. This is more a service for the town, though. Any outsider adventurers will have to pay a fee.
Theo appreciated anything that helped the town outright, and was overjoyed that someone else wanted to take the reins. He knew it would happen, though. The people of Broken Tusk werent sitting on their hands because they didnt want to help. They didnt have the means to do so before he transformed their economy. Perhaps thinking of himself as the catalyst wasnt the right path. It was theplete transformation of the surrounding resources that injected the economy with much-needed cash.
So, the festival, Xam said. 50 heads. 2 meals a day. 12 days. I was told you were funding this.
Theo tried to smile, but his mental math made that hard. He owed her for 1,200 meals, and wasnt eager to pay that bill. It would cost him 12 gold to pay her, assuming it was 1 silver a meal.
How much per person? Theo asked, letting out a sigh.
Oh, dont get your mayoral undies in a twist, Xam said, letting out augh. Whatever you can pay me helps. Im already swimming in turtle shells as it is.
Turtle shells? Theo asked. He realized after asking that she used an idiom he hadnt heard before. Oh, youre rich.
Exactly, Xam said.
Well, Im guessing youd get 12 gold from the event if I paid you full price, Theo said, intent on keeping his promise.
Give me 5 gold for a job well done, Xam said.
Theo handed over 5 gold coins without hesitation. The thought of her going out of her way, gaining the support of Luras and Throk for the bathhouse idea, made him want to give her the full amount. This brought his total gold down to 26, but he wasnt worried.
And Ill help you upgrade the building when it''s done, Theo said. As a thanks.
Always easy doing business with you, Theo, Xam said, winking. Youre a pushover.
He is, Tresk said. But hes getting better.
The group ate their meal without discussing the bathhouse further. While they were all excited, Theo had other things on his mind. Potions had solved several issues with the town, but they had since grown past needs he could sate. Now it fell to those people, once scrambling in the mire to feed themselves, to raise the town further. Alchemy was integral to the sess of the town, but he couldnt do it alone. The alchemists cores were growing in strength slowly,pared to when he first arrived. The second tier potions were already so powerful, and he couldnt imagine what the next tier brought.
Theo thought about that next tier, wondering what it would bring. Whatever they might be, it would bring a new era of potion craft to this world. The Drogramathi who existed refused to share their wares with the rest of the world. Zarali was so unlike that picture she painted, willing to give herself to Broken Tusk. That might have been a fluke of her circumstances, considering that no other Dronon had received a transmigrator. She had a special anchor in the alchemist, drawing her to the town. The exnation was good enough for him.
Once Theos equipment reached a point that he could satisfy mass demand, everyone would use his potions. He pushed the thoughts away and enjoyed his meal, finding that it hit the spot. When the group was done eating, Theo and Tresk apanied Zarali to the portal. When thepanions returned to the Newt and Demon, they were eager to get into the Dreamwalk.
Theo had more ideas as they entered the Dreamwalk. The longer he confronted more of his terrible memories of Earth, he remembered more of the good ces. Despite theplete destruction of Berlin, there was a pleasant cottage he remembered hunkering down in for some time. They arrived on the edge of a forest, a low stone wall bordering the building. The pair spent their time practicing their arts and sharing their excitement about theing bathhouse. The alchemist brought his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] close to his alchemy core, but it still trailed. They would now hit level 14 at around the same time.
When they woke the next morning, feeling fresh and rested, they departed theb to eat breakfast. Arriving at Xams tavern brought an unfamiliar sight. Long tables lined the edge of the towns square, surrounding the monolith. They were alreadyden with dishes. [Fire Artifices] burned, heating kettles filled with brewing moss tea bubbled. Flowers of all kinds hung, strung along the tables, and the Marsh Wolf Tavern.
Festival! Tresk shouted, pumping her fist. Youre going to have fun with this, Theo. Were gonna make the best wreath.
Theo and Tresk grabbed a te from Xam. The Marshling didnt need to consider whether to sit. She simply downed the leftover dumpling soup in one go, releasing a loud belch and returning the bowl to the taverns keeper. More townspeople began gathering near the front of the tavern. They all shared the same excitement for the festival, and the alchemist was getting in the mood for celebration. As more people grabbed bowls of food, sipping their tea, more eyes turned to the mayor. Only a thoughtful nudge from Aarok revealed the need for a speech.
Theo cleared his throat,manding the attention of the buzzing crowd. More eyes turned to him, and he wasnt certain what he should say.
The Festival of Dying blooms, Theo started, figuring that was as good of a ce to start as any. We stand at the edge of the Season of Blooms and on the precipice of something else entirely. To the new people in town, I wee you. Youve found a rare space among mortals. A space where everyone is given a chance to do their best. Without your hard work, were nothing. So, join with me in celebration of the end of this season. And may the best wreath win.
Theo received apuse for his efforts, even if he wasnt convinced of his speech. It felt awkward to address such a crowd, especially one filled with so many unfamiliar faces. They seemed to ept his words, though. Every mind in that crowd seemed to support him in more ways than he could imagine, bolstering his dream for this ce. Aarok got the crowds attention after that, exining the rules of the festival. He pointed a finger at Theo, emphasizing that cheating wasnt allowed. He couldnt use alchemical means to preserve the flowers beyond their natural life, nor could he use whole nts on his wreath. The wreaths had to bepleted by the end of the day. This evening, the mayor would inspect each one to ensure they were following the rules.
Since there was no real reward for the festival, there was no reason to cheat. Even if Tresk had done sost year, she had done so out of spite for Banus perfect record. After the rules wereid out, and everyone had their food, the citizens of Broken Tusk fanned off into the swamp. The Adventurers Guild provided escorts for groups daring the swamp.
Whats the best flower? Tresk asked. Last year I used the fire ones, but I hid the whole nt in the wreath.
Theo thought about it for a moment. His herb knowledge gave him an unfair advantage. [Stone Flowers] wouldnt show any rot over time, but that was absolutely cheating. [Widow Lilies] wouldst for quite a long time, but not the [Water Lilies]. The alchemist settled on abination of flowers and foliage that would likely notst the entire 12 days, but would provide stark contrast. He led hispanion to his greenhouse, where the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] had grown small buds of white flowers. They smelled like garlic and were aesthetically pleasing, but he doubted their longevity.
Tresk wove a wreath of greenwood branches as they went around collecting the perfect flowers. They harvested flowers from the eastern section of the town, making a wide circle that consumed most of the morning into the north. Theo spotted someone else harvesting [Widow Lilies], but they offered no conversation. Midday came and went. Tresk was particr about the flowers shed ept for the wreath, and they needed to entwine enough of them to provide a striking image. She imed looks were half the battle, since it was up to the whims of fate to win thepetition.
The pair returned to the Newt and Demon, finding that others were doing the same. Even Zarali hung one from her door. Theo had to wonder if Xolsa had a wreath hanging somewhere in his tower. The Elf was in the crowd, at any rate.
Everyone gathered for dinner back at the square. Xam had prepared a banquet-style meal for the evening. The courses ranged from spicy soups to savory meat dishes thered in a cream-based sauce. Theo appreciated the addition of Karatan milk to his diet, and couldnt remember how he lived without it. When the taverns keeper revealed kegs of honied mead from Rivers and Daub, the crowd went wild.
Theo found himself with a tankard of the sweet-smelling drink in his hand before he could object. The vor of the drink was a strangebination of yeasty bread and sweet honey. To his unustomed taste, it was offensive at first. Only when his head began buzzing did hee to enjoy the drink.
Therge group began theirzy wind around the town. Those who had been in town before, experiencing the festival in past years, had understood what kind of wreath to make. The newer additions to the town went a different route. Their wreaths took all shapes and sizes, not conforming to the circr shape. Throk had also decided not to follow the standards of the town. His entry into the contest contained minimal flowers. It was a decorative amalgam of tubes and artifices that yed fart noises on a loop. It also shot sparks, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Once the tour was concluded, everyone returned to the center of town to continue their celebrations. Theo made sure to go easy on the mead, only mildly enjoying the way it made his head swim. He hoped the citizens would get over the new introduction to their diet quickly, as the threat of monster waves was always present. The start of the festival couldnt have gone better, though.
Things settled down as the sun set, giving Theo a chance to appreciate what theyd built so far. The road ahead was long, but he knew they would proceed at a steady pace. He returned to the Dreamwalk with hispanion, intent on gaining more experience. Alises contract expired tomorrow, giving the alchemist a chance to interview her about her position in the city. He knew shed agree to continue her work and wouldnt have it any other way.
Chapter 2.58: Servant of Khahar
Chapter 2.58: Servant of Khahar
Zankir threw a log into his firece, breathing life into the dying embers and sending a sweltering wave of heat through his home. Night had fallen over his adoptive home, a fitting end to the progress made by the small vige. This heat was the one thing that reminded him of home. The swirling maelstrom of power over the town was the only other thing that gave him a sense of nostalgia. That same maelstrom prevented long-rangemunication by the normal means, sending him into a flurry to find reagents.
Zansal padded over, cooing at her child beforeing to rest near the fire.
Ziz says he has it, Zankir said, smiling.
Assuming Ziz doesnt know what it is, Zansal mocked. She wasnt supportive of the n, but it was their duty. Their sacred charge. Surely we can dy.
Hell know.
He hasnt found out so far.
That we know of.
Zansal wrapped her arms around herself, letting out a slow breath. She stood, walking away without another word. Zankir nodded to himself, rising to find and wear his cloak. He secured his scimitar to his side and left into the oppressive humidity of the night. Most citizens of Broken Tusk were asleep by now, but as he ascended toward the quarry he heard the raucousughter of the stoneworkers. They were a strange group among strange people.
Ziz greeted the Khahari near the edge of a ring of light, cast by a roaring bonfire. The Half-Ogre pulled him into a hug, free of suspicion and willing to share whatever liquor they were drinking.
Doing alright there, Zankir? Ziz asked.
Quite fine, Rotgut.
My boys were talking, Ziz said, withdrawing a yellow gem from his pocket. We never took you for gem work. Did you get a new core?
No. The Kherite is sacred to my people, Zankir said, feeding half-truths. They say a piece of the Khahari Desert rests within every gem.
Ah, Ziz said, handing over the gem. If its so important, its yours for free.
Nonsense, Zankir said, producing a gold coin.
Like most in Broken Tusk, Ziz was too generous. Zankir didnt want fellow townspeople to think too little of him. The blood of the town might have been alchemy, but its muscles and bones were adventurers. There was plenty of coin in the swamp, and it would be irresponsible not to pay ones dues.
Zankir remained there for some time, refusing to drink but joking by the fire. The ribbons of me,shing out with the wild wind of the rocky hills, was too inviting to refuse. He saw the desert in those mes. Roving ns of Khahari, all moving under the desert sun with a single purpose in mind. It had been that way of eons, ording to their folk stories. Unlike most people, the Khahari had a way to corroborate their creation myths. Their progenitor was still alive.
The Half-Ogres passed out long before Zankir tired of their festivities. He made his way back into town, passing by his home to walk the streets. Despite his confidence in the n, there was a lingering sense of doubt that wouldnt be so easily banished. Those same stories from his homnd, passed down through stories and songs, spoke of war. They detailed the tumultuous times that gued the world at its creation. Once a seed was nted, it was impossible to stop the roots from spreading. Like a weed.
Zankir returned home after a time, admiration for the expansion this small town had experienced in such a short time. He found Zansal sleeping in the bedroom, too tired to stay awake for the ritual. The ritual circle was devilishlyplex, but thus was the requirement to pierce the barrier in his homnd. It was an eight-sided star, a reagent in each point and the gem in the center. With a swipe of his hand, a few words, and a pulse of mana, he activated the spell.
The room was filled with the dry, oppressive heat of the desert in an instant. A ghostly face appeared, floating in the center of the star. Zankir panicked, smashing his forehead into the wood floor and pressing his palms t.
Who calls? a voice said, washing over him like a dry wind.
Zankir, my lord.
Ah, the voice said. I expected information sooner.
Apologies, my lord, Zankir said.
Are you giving forgiveness to the floor? the voice said. Look upon your patron.
Zankir raised his head slowly, locking eyes with the progenitor of all Khahari. The living ancestor god of all Khahari. Khahar was striking. Even under shaggy fur, and through the distorted image of the spell, he was magnificent. Zankir froze for a long moment before his patron cleared his throat.
Apologies, Zankir repeated.
Better. What have you found?
He lives, as you predicted, Zankir said. In the body of a Dronon.
Soul-sharing? Khahar said.
That is beyond my knowledge, oh great one, Zankir said.
There was a long pause after that. Khahar remained in the center of the circle, a ghostly bust that flooded the room with yellow light.
Theo Spencer, Khahar said, trailing off. Youve done well, Zankir. Well meet soon, with any luck.
The image cut out suddenly. The winds of the sacred desert faded in an instant, and Zankir was left alone near the fire, shaking. Even through themunication ritual, his power was overwhelming. It was like standing naked against a sandstorm, buffeted by the wind and scoured clean of all doubt.
At the door to the bedroom, Zansal stood, her eyes wide.
Hesing? she asked, fear dripping in her voice. What have you done?
Not all Khahari believed Khahar should remain on the mortal ne. No living mortal should have that much power.
Chapter 2.59: Epilogue
Chapter 2.59: Epilogue
Theo Spencer,
49th Day, Season of Blooms,
873rd Year of Balkors Betrayal
Ive switched to English for this one. With Zarali in the town, I cant count on the old Drogramathi script, so this seems like the best idea I have. If theres someone on this that can read English, then they can read anything else I write. Whats the point in that?
Things have taken more turns in the past few weeks than I care to write here, but I suppose thats the point. I had a lot of problems dealing with the sudden rush of emotionsemotions that werent minebut Ive dealt with them. The Dreamwalk has been more than a little helpful in healing old wounds, but its slow. Ive raised my stats enough to recognize my failings and now Im working to improve them.
Thats the first thing Id like to write about. Cores are, as far as I can understand, links. You could think of them as pieces of a realm, or house. Some arent aligned, and others are. Resting in my chest are three cores. Two go to Drogramath and one goes to something else entirely. The Tarahek is my single most important core, I realize that now. Without it, Im like a rudderless ship.
The Tarahek is at war with my Drogramath cores, and its winning. Its like a pocket realm that envelops Tresk and I. If I take more cores, I need to do research on them. I need to know that theyre not aligned with someone else, because if thats the case Well, Id rather not think about that.
So, think of it like this. I started my journey with whatever stats I had back on Earth. Beaten, bruised, and forced into a cause I never wanted had stunted my intelligence. My view of the world had only recently expanded, but my Drogramath cores helped cover up mycking wisdom. Then here I am. In Broken Tusk, getting more experience than should be possible. A sudden growth in both intelligence and wisdom. Your brain changes when that happens. Your thoughts change. I can see all that stuff back on Earth without breaking down, now. Hell, I can even look at Berlin again.
Im smarter. Im more wise. Im stronger, faster, more durable. Those physical attributes make sense, and they wouldnt change your thought process. But intelligence and wisdom? Those are dangerous. And its not really intelligence. It doesnt make me smarter to have a higher score. It makes me think faster, and have better logical deduction. Wisdom doesnt make me more wise, it increases my intuition. I think it also increases something rted to spellcraft, but Ive never cast a spell in my life. Only now am I experimenting with mana, and that has been strange enough.
Breaking into 20 intelligence is going to make me pretty quick on my feet. That leads to a question I have about this entire system. My thought process has already been altered enough by stats, let alone cores. Thinking about Sulvan gives me the chills. He doesnt act like a normal person. Hes more like a bird of prey, always looking around for the next thing to grab. His stats have gone high enough to turn him into something else, and that scares the hell out of me. What happens when I hit level 100? The Theo Spencer everyone knew back on Earth is already dead several times over. What will he be like in the future?
Well, thats a bit too heady for this journal. You really have to take things one at a time, you know? Hey, reader. You there. Strange being from another universe. Take it easy. Dont put so much pressure on yourself, and stop thinking that you have to do everything. Thats something I learned about, make no mistake. The deal with Rivers and Daub was orchestrated to assassinate me, but guess what? My town is filled with badass adventurers who are looking out for me.
To anyone looking to attack my town:e at me. It seems like anyone who is strong enough to take the town has their sights elsewhere. I guess you get to a level where material things just arent where it''s at.
Since myst entry, a lot of things have changed. We have several new citizens to start. I lifted a few that already lived here, so thats good. Gridgen is running the mine. Oh, we have a mine and a smelter now. Xolsa is a wizard who has a tower outside of town (hes incredibly important to the town). Nira smelts our metal, and Alise is my new assistant. Theyre all very interesting people, but Zarali stands out among all the new arrivals.
Imagine losing your sibling. Roving the to find answers, since he disappeared leaving you nothing to remember him by, and the pop. There he is. Doing alchemy in some podunk town in the soutnds. I cant imagine the emotional toll it took on her, but I think shes happy to have anyone. Even if its just an imposter. Thats what I am, after all. Living a stolen life.
Dont worry, mysterious reader. Im already over that. You are very mysterious though, arent you? Im certainly not going to go back and read this crap. That makes me wonder if anyone will ever read this. But thats not important.
Im sure I can break through my next barrier. Something tells me the level 20 barrier rtes to infusing things with mana. Another baby step toward real alchemy. The things these alchemists have been doing will palepared to what Im going to do. Thats right. Im slightly ambitious about my prowess. The other Drogramath Dronon made mistakes. They kept to the shadows when they should have been in the light.
I wrote this a lot faster thanst time. Even with a quill and ink, if you can imagine that. This is enough writing for a few weeks. My hand is cramping.
Farewell, strange reader. Until next time
Chapter 3.1: Lady Administrator Alise
Chapter 3.1: Lady Administrator Alise
Theo Spencer smoothed back his ck hair, letting his fingers linger over the pair of horns that traced the shape of his head. He stood, stowing away the quill, ink, and leather-bound journal into his inventory. It vanished with a faint popping sound. The body he inhabited came from a brood of Drogramath Dronon, tall Demon-like creatures that were as secretive as they were reclusive. He straightened the folds in his silken robe, content with the cessation of constant rain. During the Season of Blooms, in the soutnds of the Kingdom of Qavell, that rain was a fact. It came in sheets daily, fouling dirt walkways. But as he descended the battlements of his walls, soft-soled shoes gently padding against a cobbled road, he realized he missed the horrid weather.
Broken Tusk rested at the end of a small kingdoms territory, bordered by a river to the northeast, a sprawling swamp to the west, and mountainous hills to the north and south. It would have been defensively impressive, if not for the 5 local dungeons. Those dungeons had produced more than their fair share of monster waves in recent times. Investing in defense and production had seen untold growth, an endless supply of high-quality raw materials that they had only just begun shipping off to neighboring towns.
Dead Dog Mine was a recent addition to the town. Theo nodded to Gridgen Dev, a hearty man from the mountainous region north of Qavell. Ayer of dust covered every inch of the man, caked on to sweat producing a glittering sheen. He moved on, not willing to engage with the rowdy miners. He spotted his goal, unexpectedly chatting with the smelter. Nira Weir ran the smelter, a modest woman from the capital who remained reserved even as she adapted to life in the swamp town. She was chatting, a smile on her face for once, with Alise Plumm.
Alright there? Theo asked, poking his head into the smelter.
Both women jumped at his sudden appearance. Dronon, like Half-Ogres, were heads taller than normal Humans. Alise was especially small, her shoulder-length brown hair bobbing as she clutched her chest.
Dont sneak up on me like that, she said.
Nira wandered off, back to her crucible.
Time to renew your contract, Theo said, beckoning for his administrator to follow.
They picked azy path to the eastern gate of the town, perching atop the battlements to get an excellent view of the river. The river cut from the base of mountains to the north and tracked a path south, heading directly for the ocean. Centuries ago, that river dumped directly into the swamp. Only when an Earth Wizard arrived, offering to divert the river, did the Half-Ogres catch up with the rest of the kingdom. Theo doubted the providence of the story. He had theories.
You have a meeting with the Mercantile Chairs today, Alise said, clearing her throat and checking her notes.
Which means you want to keep working for me, Theo said.
Im gettingfortable, Alise said, her face flushing.
Few things got past Theo these days. Only those with superior attributes could get one over on him, and Alise was a fledglingpared to him. She had another motive, but he wouldnt prod. Their magical contract prevented her from hurting Broken Tusks interests. This was thanks to his [Governance Core], the most recent addition in his collection of sses. It had everything to do with managing people and sat as a specialized Administration Core. Alise herself held a standard [Administrators Core] in her chest and was invaluable for handling the more mundane tasks rted to running a town.
We should renegotiate your wage, Theo said.
Ah, maybe, Alise said, looking wistfully over the river.
Like most people in Broken Tusk, she wasnt interested in having money. They loved to make money, but no one seemed to hold on to it for long. Themunity came together, pooling their resources to improve the town. Thisy in stark contrast to the way other towns did business. Rivers and Daub, a town resting at the start of the river up north, employed the aggressive trade guilds popr in the kingdom. They were entities which pocketedrge amounts of profit from the workers. Anyone who didnt refuse that old way of doing things didnt belong in Broken Tusk.
A percentage, maybe? Theo asked, smiling.
Alise looked shocked at the offer, knitting her brow and letting her mouth hang agape. I couldnt.
We really dont make that much, as a town, Theo said. It all depends on the strength of our trade deals. And thates down to you.
Theo was, as always, being truthful with the people that worked for him. Alise was instrumental during the trade negotiations with Rivers and Daub. She was always there to poke him into action, forcing him to stay on the ball where it would normally fall away. She had a knack for this.
Ten percent? Alise asked. Is that too much?
Theos [Intelligence] attribute had grown significantly in the past few weeks. He could easily do the mental math, and his [Wisdom] attribute allowed him to recall the deal they made with Rivers with perfect rity. 75 silver coins a week, he said, nodding. If this was the Broken Tusk that Theo saw when he first arrived, that sum would have seemed insane. Now, it seemed like a drop in the bucket.
You like the percentage-based payment schemes, dont you? Alise said, reaching out a hand for him to shake.
Theres no better way to incentivise performance, Theo said, grinning. Allow me to draw up a contract.
Theo invoked his [Contracts] skill, a skill slotted in his [Governance Core]. He wrote up a simple contract for her to sign. Through the systems interface, he could write at the speed of thought. A message box popped up for both of them to review and agree upon.
[Lady Administrator Alise]
Contract
Alise Plumm shall agree to adhere, to the best of her ability, to the interests of Broken Tusk in all matters. She will handle Broken Tusks needs where Theo Spencer (Belgar) is unable.
Terms:
Alise Plumm shall gain the title of Lady Administrator
Alise Plumm will draw a weekly sry based on the performance of existing and future trade deals.
Alise Plumms sry shall be 10% (before tax) of all profits rted to exports and trade conducted by Broken Tusk.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) shall provide all due support to aid in her advancement.
Alise Plumm shall never harm Broken Tusk, intentional or otherwise, through any action.
Timeline:
Renewed every 3 months
Most people liked to change the wording of a contract, but Alise was fine with it as it was. Since it was a contract created by the system, Theo didnt have to worry about manually paying her. It would automatically withdraw from either his inventory, or the towns inventory.
Things are picking up, arent they? Alise asked.
She was rtively new to the town, only calling it home for a few weeks. She didnt know how rapidly things had changed when he first arrived. Back then, it was a mad scramble to get everything done. There were more things to aplish back then, and their scope was more narrow. Now, they were looking at establishing themselves as a trade empire in the soutnds with an aim to usurp the ensconced trade guilds.
I hope so, Theo said. Lets take a walk, I want to talk shop.
Talk what?
Theo and Alise made their way back to town, passing by the newly established ranch. Miana Kell, the first person Theo had seen upon arriving in this world, worked to milk the Karatan and keep the Pozwa in check. Karatan were pleasant enough once a person had seen them enough times. More insect than cow, they were six-legged beasts with strange, short fur. This breed was specialized to produce as much milk as possible, a Veostian invention ording to his supplier. The Pozwa were horrid. A twisted cross between an irate rooster and an insane goat, they were not fun to look at. The beasts had a fan of horns behind their head, 12 chitinous protuberances that sent Theos stomach turning. They had feathers andid eggs like a chicken, but were quadrupedal. He shuddered as they passed.
Theo discussed his concerns with production, but Alise ayed his worst fears. She was coaching each producer to level up as quickly as possible, and invest whatever money they made back into their seed core buildings. That didnt sit right with the alchemist. It was his responsibility, contractually, to upgrade each building. He needed to have words with the producers of the town, but there was no time today. Not with a meeting scheduled.
The Mercantile Chairs were the only trade tradition Broken Tusk adopted from the northern towns and cities. Unlike Qavells version, the merchants in Broken Tusk saw no need to limit the amount of chairs. Everyone who produced got a say. Theyd even let the adventurers in on it, if they wanted. Of course, they never did.
We need to get a proper town hall, Alise said.
The pair were approaching the building they used to conduct all meetings. The Adventurers Guild building was massive,pared to every other building in town. It was two floors, but sat more like a three-story building. The entrance was wide, a set of well-hewn stones led up to a massive set of wooden doors. Inside was a hall, massive and crowded with people. Among the citizens of Broken Tusk, Half-Ogres made up most of the poption, followed by Marshlings, then Humans. There were a few stragglers that still had to arrive, but Alise got things underway.
It was the towns standard meeting of the minds. Everyone had suggestions on how to make things better, but the focus remained on improving everyones buildings and levels. That would give them the most cost effective way to increase production, then they would be prepared to start trade negotiations across the sea. That was a long-term n, though.
The meeting went on for hours, well past midday and into the scorching afternoon. The topic remained on production, and each Chair imed they were making more resources than they could sell. That surplus went directly into repairing the town, owing to the seed cores magical properties to consume the resources and apply them to the damaged sections of the wall. With the threat of monsters around every corner, this was necessary.
Were limited on trade partners, Throk said.
Throk was a cornerstone of the town. He was their cksmith and Artificer, responsible for creating more amazing inventions than anyone else. Half of Theos alchemy equipment was created by the Marshling, and he was the father of the alchemists Tarahek.
Not least of which because of our location, Alise said with a nod. Qavell is the obvious trade partner.
That sent a murmur through the room. Most people this far out from the capital didnt trust them, not least of which because of the reputation of the Merchants Guild up there. Alise calmed the room after a long moment of distrustful res.
Do you recall when the cults went to war? Alise asked. The room responded with nods. Something happened in Qavell. Mayhem in the streets. Under the kings nose and conducted by the Merchants Guild.
This is the first Im hearing of it, Theo said, snapping out of his stupor. Hed been paying half-attention until now, and hadnt heard anything about a merchants war.
They might need bulk goods, Alise said, shrugging. Who knows.
Perhaps a more measured approach, Theo said. He didnt want to get into bed with Qavell anymore than he already was. Smaller trade agreements with the towns that dot the path north.
Alise nodded, and the room broke out into discussion once again. This went on for a few more hours with no obvious goal in mind. At the end of the meeting, sometime near dusk, Alise took responsibility to find any new contracts and present them to the chairs. Agreements only needed Theos approval, but it was always nice to loop everyone else in.
With the meeting dismissed, Theo found his way away from the crowd and onto the cobbled street outside. A figure twisted in the shadow of a bush, bursting forth and wrapping itself around him, bowling both of them over onto the hard ground. Tresk, a Marshling and Theos soul-bondpanion. She was short, onlying up about waist-high for him, but a ball of pure energy. Like most Marshlings, she had slick skin, like that of a smanders, with a pink tinge to her skin and little frills that stuck from the side of her head.
Were eating spicy stuff tonight, Tresk said, removing herself from Theo.
Marsh Wolf?
Marsh Wolf.
The pair made their way to the only eatery in town, The Marsh Wolf Tavern. Xam, the Half-Ogre proprietor, had only recently got a cooking core. That hadnt stopped her from making some of the best food Theo had ever eaten. The squat, recently expanded building was already packed as the sun dipped lower in the sky. True to Tresks word, the moment they entered the building their senses were assaulted by a wave of spicy air. They found their regr table, ordered, and waited for their food to be served.
We need to find more trading partners, Theo said, propping the window open.
That seat by the window was a prized position, even if it was made obsolete recently. Tresk had expanded the tavern, the magic of the seed core creating more windows along the long, south-facing wall. Most people could easily find a seat with a window, but that center one was the original.
Tresk shrugged in response. Gonna be hard around here. Unless you want to go traitor and trade with Veosta.
I dont imagine the kingdom would be happy if we traded with the enemy, Theo said. Not even the walls could hold back that tide.
Well, theres those lizard-people down south, Tresk said.
The patch of inds? Theo asked, grimacing. Wed need boats. Unless youre volunteering to swim.
Not me, Tresk said, holding her hands up. Boats would be better.
But the creation of boats that could traverse the coast was a long way away. From what Theo understood, there wasnt a functional port on the entire east coast of the continent. Perhaps there were a few small fishing piers ind, but nothing worth noting. The capital, Qavell, wasndlocked. Although he might have tried, it was impossible for him to understand the distance from Broken Tusk to the capital of the kingdom. Adventurers were a bad source of information on that. Disregarding travel powers, most of them could move quicker than a normal person. While they imed a journey to the north took 7 days, the alchemist suspected it was as long a walk as Earths Europe was wide. But people didnt seem to measure things by distance here. Perhaps that was just a Broken Tusk thing.
The image of Sulvan metouched stuck in Theos mind while he waited for his food. The Grand Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye could cross the continent in moments. He just ran everywhere, which struck a hrious image in his mind. By the time a person leveled their cores and themselves up to 130, they were something other than a regr person. They rested on the edge of something Theo might never understand.
The food came in time, two tes of something Theo didnt recognize. Xam Slug herself delivered it. She was fair, as far as the hard-faced Half-Ogres went, shorter than her kin and softer all around. While her personality matched most times, she could match the temper of her race. But the tavern was too busy for her to stay and chat. Since she got her cooking core, that had been the case.
Oh, yeah, Tresk said, rubbing her hands together. While Theo understood how they were supposed to eat the meal, Tresk simply tipped the te into her open mouth. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes from the spice.
The dish was interesting. A curry-like substance rested on milled and rolled Zee flour, reminding Theo of curry over couscous. On the side was a stack of Zee derived tbread, meant for sopping up the overflowing sauce and holding the wolf meat. Xam always used wolf meat, although it wasnt umon to see Marsh Snapper meat. Before she got her cooking core, the food was always nd. Now, even at a low level, it was a treat. Theos eyes watered, sweat forming on his brow as he ate through the spicy food. As he finished the meal, fanning his face, a system notification popped up.
[Food Buff!] Youve consumed a piece of [Spicy Wolf Meat Curry], crafted by a [Cook].
+2 Vigor for 8 hours.
Theo and Tresk didnte to the dinner service for the food buffs. The ambiance wasnt much to speak of, either, especially since Xam started importing liquor from Rivers and Daub. The crowds were rowdier than ever, but the food was worth it. Soon, the Marsh Wolf Hotsprings would open, elevating the town even further. It was another feather in their hat.
Something Theo noticed, as they were preparing to leave, was the excess of strangers in the tavern. With the roads cleared, adventurers must have shuffled themselves southward. The opportunities up north were drying up, not least of which because of the war. The alchemist marked them as a mix of traders and adventurers, but pushed it out of his mind as he left the tavern. Today was busy enough already, he didnt want toplicate it further. The pair returned to the Newt and Demon, their alchemyb and home, entering the Dreamwalk.
Chapter 3.2: Drogramath is an Idiot
Chapter 3.2: Drogramath is an Idiot
The Dreamwalk skill allowed Theo and Tresk to traverse into a strange ce. It was a reflection of a memory, recalled through the minds of both members of the Tarahek. This often painted it with more emotions than logic, twisting reality to suit whatever either of them was feeling at the moment.
Its a mirror to our realm, Theo said.
The pair stood overlooking the ruins of Berlin. A month ago, this sight would have sent Theo running, desperate to wash the image from his mind. Now he stared back at it in defiance. The crater left by the orbital kic bombardment was absolute, leaving no survivors. They stood in ruins of buildings, windows blown out with only a few walls to speak of. Crumbling bricks and the remnants of civilization all around them.
Yeah, its neat, Tresk said. Didnt you see this ce before it got blown up?
Theo nodded. With a thought, the image shifted. Tresk never enjoyed seeing the ruins. She always preferred to train in the busy suburbs outside of Berlin, or that quiet forest somewhere in Canada. The alchemist could never remember the name of that town, but that didnt matter. This was a ce for them to hone their skills while they slept, a skill they took advantage of every night. The Marshling disappeared, scampering off to summon monsters and practice her abilities. The Dreamwalk was the perfect ce for alchemical experimentation.
The limitations of the Dreamwalk realm were only bound by the users imagination and knowledge. Everything worked like the real world. If theyd seen it before, they could reproduce it here with perfect uracy. That was a hard limit, though. Theo could discover new things, such as properties on reagents, but it had to follow the logic of the real world. He couldnt produce something from nothing, gaining knowledge he had no business poking into.
Theo walked for a few minutes, putting some distance between himself and the army of Trolls that was pummeling Tresk. It always took her a few hours to realize she should create monsters that were in her level range. He found a quiet spot, off a main road and near a few trees. It should have been dawn, ording to his memory of this ce, but the sky was just a twisting haze of colors. With a thought, he summoned a facsimile of a person. They were faceless, like a mannequin, just standing there. He found it easier to have something to talk to as he went through his steps.
The basics of Drogramathi alchemy, Theo said, nodding to summon a basic copper still. It appeared on the asphalt, me already flickering below the pot-bellied still. He turned to his facelesspanion. Are you following? Of course not. Essences are the key to good Drogramathi alchemy. Unrefined essences are the basis for low-level alchemy. Simply heat mashed reagents in a still, and youll distill those essences.
Theo summoned a pile of [Mages Bane] flowers and arge mortar and pestle to mash them with. He deposited the mixture into the still, returned the lid, and adjusted the fire below.
This is where the intentes in, Theo said, turning to hispanion. Ive discovered 2 properties for the [Mages Bane]. [Resist Magic] and [Absorb Magic]. Following? When I start a run, I focus on that intent.
Theo manipted the head of his mannequin, forcing it to nod. The result is something like this, Theo said, conjuring a sk of basic [Resist Magic Essence]. But theres the problem.
A bolt of lightning shot from somewhere in the suburbs, staining the twisting sky for only a moment. Theo paused, waiting to see if Tresks pitched battle would spill into his section of the city. It did not. He summoned Throks design for the refinement chamber, a pressure vessel designed to remove the impurities from essences. The alchemist loaded it with the essence and set it to work.
Without my alignment bonuses and upgrades, the essences refine at a half-rate, Theo said, pping the side of the machine. He produced a sk and looked at the [Refined Resist Magic Essence] that poured from the side of the device, half of what he put in. Were skipping a few steps here, but can you see the logic? Where does this go?
Theo walked over to the dummy and forced it to nod its head.
Thats right, Theo said, nodding and moving back to his equipment. Theres more process here to discover. Well, while were on the topic of that Im fairly certain Ive already discovered the next step.
Theo moved to the side of his still, gesturing to summon a [Fermentation Barrel]. He ced more [Mages Bane] mash inside, adding water and returning the lid. The alchemist focused, allowing mana to flow from his body and into the device. Fermentation produces modifiers. Modifiers allow you to alter the way a potion works. Were making potions here, by the way. Thats the entire process, if you want to think of it in the simplest terms. Mashing reagents and cing them in stills produces essences. Those essences can be refined in pressure vessels. Fermentation creates modifiersoh, but that leaves a question, doesnt it?
Theo moved to the pressure vessel, pping the side of it to speed up the process and scooping the alchemical waste from the output port at the bottom. This was the biggest mystery to him. Back in the real world, he had piles of the stuff sitting in [Dimensional Storage Crates], just waiting for experimentation. It didnt matter to him if the waste was useful, but producing a byproduct meant his process wasntplete. He was missing a step.
Well, theres another mystery that might help that out, Theo said, moving to a patch of open grass. Herbs sprung from the ground, growing far taller than they did in nature. These are cultivated Theo looked back, moving to drag his mannequin over to the patch of earth. These are cultivated nts. They produce better results than those grown in nature. I have a theory that once they hit the highest level of cultivation, you can splice them with other nts. I havent proved that yet.
The distant battle came to a head, ending in silence. Theo waited, expecting the inevitable. Tresk came padding down the narrow street. Whatever wounds she suffered from the fight gone through the magic of the Dreamwalk.
Whos that? she asked.
Theo gestured to the faceless person. I call him Bob.
Alright. Is Bob helping you?
Im just talking to him, Theo said, moving over to his fermentation barrel.
Kinda weird, Tresk said. What do you need to talk to Bob for?
It helps me concentrate, Theo said. I was exining basic Drogramathi alchemy to him.
Oh! Did you get to the part about bombs? Hey, thats a good question, Tresk said in one rapid string of sounds. How big can those explosions get?
Tresk was talking about the unrefined way of making bombs. The dangerous way. Essences rarely got along. When introduced together, they typically produced a negative reaction. That ranged from sizzling, to smoke, to something simr to a lot of explosives crammed into a small space. The limit of an essences'' ability to produce a negative reaction didnt scale. Theo had already tested that here in the Dreamwalk.
Thergest improvised explosion is slightly bigger than the one I showed in Broken Tusk, Theo said, producing a replica of the bomb. It was an improvised device, a two-chambered sk with a catalyst in the center. He handed it to Tresk to throw, which she did. It soared through the air, producing a sizable explosion on impact. The problem is that the essences cook off before they can react. They get aerosolized, vaporize, or just get scattered before they can join the reaction.
That sucks, Tresk said.
Theo smiled, patting her on the head. No, thats a good thing. Otherwise, I could just add enough essence to destroy the world.
Oh, right, Tresk said.
Thats about it, Bob, Theo said, nodding to his mute friend. Essencese from reagents. Modifierse from fermentation. Refining essences strengthens them, puts them in tier 2. And I can now imbue water and catalysts with my mana. Well, that ignores the part about Drogramaths influence on our world.
Thats concerning, Tresk said.
Well, at least were safe here, Theo said, casting his eyes over the constructed world. Pretty sure no one can hear us here.
We really havent tested it, Tresk said. Drogramath is an idiot.
She waited, looking at the sky as though the Demon Lord would smite her down. When nothing happened she shrugged, a look of smug satisfaction spreading across her wet face. Theo often struggled to be mad at her. Either through the connection provided by the Tarahek, or his soft spot for people who went goblin-mode regrly, he foundfort in her antics. She was maturing, but it was slow.
The pair moved off from Berlin, shifting through a series of dream-likendscapes through the night. During the Dreamwalk they gained experience as though they had performed the actions in real life. Theo spent his time, in between adjusting to new environments, tending gardens to raise his [Drogramath Herbalism Core]. It was the toughest core for him to level. He inspected the core and adjoining skills sometime through the night.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core]
Rare
Herbalist Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 13 (12%)
[Herbalist Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effects:
+4 Vigor
Raising the cores rating higher than rare was on his list of things to do, but it wasnt pressing. That might have influenced his inability to level it so quickly, but with things being so busy he hadnt had a chance.
[Drogramath Herbalism]
Herbalism Skill
Rare
Drogramath has an eye for reagents. His descendants have an easier time identifying nts that produce alchemical ingredients.
Effect:
You have a sense whether something will produce alchemical ingredients.
+3 Intelligence
[Drogramath Herbalism] was the skill that came with the core. It was the basis of everything he did, allowing him to identify herbs and process them. The increased [Intelligence] was also wee.
[Drogramath Fermentation]
Herbalism Skill
Epic
Drogramath was fond of fermentation. Not only for the brewing of alcohol, but also the strange effect it has on reagents.
Effect:
Fermentations you perform happen rapidly,pared to those without this skill.
Allows the modification of reagents to produce special modifier essences.
+1 Intelligence
[Drogramath Fermentation] was attached to his [Drogramath Herbalism] core as well. This allowed Theo ess to modifiers. Once again, the [Intelligence] was a boon. The herbalism core may have produced the reagents he needed to perform alchemy, but his [Drogramath Alchemy] core was the means to everything else. That core allowed him to create impossible potions, the lifes blood of his entire operation in Broken Tusk. He inspected that core and the rted skills.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core]
Legendary
Alchemy Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 13 (50%)
[Alchemy Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effect:
Increases the synergy of [Alchemy] abilities.
+4 Wisdom
[Unstable Material Handling]
It was an understatement to call the core rare. Even the legendary rarity status undersold how scarce it was in the world. If the information Theo got was true, he was the only Drogramathi Alchemist currently alive. While that was good enough for him, the legendary status made it more powerful than a normal alchemy core. He didnt have the exact numbers, but it was somewhere near 50 levels stronger than themon rarity [Alchemy Core], and it was unlikely that any other core was aligned.
[Unstable Material Handling]
Alchemy Skill
Rare
Allows the user to handle alchemical materials safely.
Effect:
While handling alchemy materials of any kind, youre less likely to cause an unexpected reaction
[Unstable Material Handling] affected more things than Theo could imagine. He understood, through intuition, that this allowed him to work his art. Anyone handling his essences would be hard pressed not to cause an unnned reaction, likely resulting in their demise.
[Drogramath Distillery Specialty]
Alchemy Skill
Legendary
You im heritage to Drogramath, the potioneer. The Demon Kings specialty was distition, allowing you to extract the essence of alchemical ingredients. Distition produces a pure form of extract, although some im it to be more unstable.
Effect:
Allows the user to operate distillery equipment at a significantly increased efficiency.
Allows the user to gauge, by eye, the exact quantity of mixtures in units.
+2 Wisdom
Theo didnt know how hed live without [Drogramath Distillery Specialty]. It was simply the best skill he had, hands down. While the alchemy guilds in Qavell fumbled around with archaic distition equipment, the alchemist operated them all with ease.
[High Pressure Refining]
Alchemy Skill
Umon
Requires: [Drogramath Alchemy Core] level 10
Pressure has an interesting effect on essences. This skill allows you to safely operate a pressure vessel. Learning how a pressure vessel works is up to you.
Effect:
Allows the user to operate an alchemical pressure vessel safely.
Gives the user ess to refined essence identification.
+1 Intelligence
[High Pressure Refining] was the next step in his journey to create truly powerful potions. It allowed him to take a regr essence, which he hade to think of as rank 1, and elevate it to a new level of power. He thought of that next rank as rank 2 potions. Most potions created with the refined essences were doubly effective.
[Drogramath Inventory]
Universal Skill
Legendary
Your heritage gives you ess to the extra-dimensional spaces imed by Drogramath. This ability changes to suit the user, giving them ess to a pocket dimension presented in a way that matches your true origin. Items can be stored in the dimension at will, the only limitation is based on your origins manifestation. Items stored do not encumber the user.
Effects:
Inventory (32 slot, item stack count based on item)
Of course, [Drogramath Inventory] was an absurdly powerful skill. Without this, Theo would be forced to carry around crazy amounts of materials in a satchel. This enabled him to do what most traders did. They stuffed absurd amounts of junk in their inventory. Anything stored within his inventory wouldnt rot, and food would even stay warm.
The Dreamwalk ended as dawn approached. The transition between that strange realm and the waking world was hard to get used to. Theo woke up in his bed, even if hed just been running around the dream world moments ago. He waspletely rested, feeling as though he just got a full nights sleep. Even better was that every action he performed in the Dreamwalk, tranted into the real world. He gained experience for every action he took.
Theo and Tresk woke up, never ones to linger in bed, and made their way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Predictably, Xam served whatever she had on hand from the night before. The topic of discussion was her new building, still growing on the plot behind the tavern. It was the worst kept secret in Broken Tusk. Once people figured out what the pipes were for, they understood the purpose of the building.
That works for her, Tresk said, nodding. Building up excitement before the building is even done.
Im supposed to work with Throk to get the details on the mixers, Theo said.
Huh?
He made these artifices that mix purification essences with the water to automatically purify the water, Theo said. I wonder which would be quicker Boiling the water, or using the essences?
Tresk shrugged, dumping her te of food into her mouth. Theo spotted one of the strangers hed seenst night, catching his eye. The man smiled, making his way over to the table. He was a well-dressed Human, his short hair slicked to one side and expensive silks covering his body. Theo identified him as a trader immediately.
Rud, the man said, reaching out a hand for Theo to shake.
Theo.
Crazy times, eh? Rud asked, shaking his head.
I suppose, Theo said, unwilling to give anything up.
Rud straightened his silks, adjusting a pendant hanging from a silver chain on his neck. He cleared his throat. I represent trade interests in Qavell.
Well, were not interested in dealing with the Trade Guild, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. Tresk shot the man a re.
Rud leaned in, tapping his fingers on the table. Then we have that much inmon. Hardly anything worth talking about, those trade guilds. Not after the war.
Theo raised his brows, failing to hide his interest.
See? Perhaps we can be friends, after all, Rud said, shing a grin.
What happened with the guild? Theo asked.
Ah, thats a story, Rud said, leaning back in his chair. The story depends on who you ask. Some people say the Mercantile Chairs had it out for each other for years and it just boiled over. Others think assassins from the Order of the Burning Eye had it out for the Chairs. Then theres the story about the duelist.
The duelist? Tresk asked, standing up on her chair.
Some Elf from Tarantham, Rud said. Came in and shook everything up. Sent the Chairs into a fit. Then, they ate each other alive.
Where is Tarantham? Theo asked. Hed never heard the name.
Ah, well If you could find it, youd be dead. Supposed to be west, across a sea, Rud said. But thats not why Im here. I work with bulk materials. Raw timber, stone, metal, motes.
Ah, Theo said, spotting Alise entering the building. He waved her over.
Sir?
Mister Rud is interested in buying raw materials, Theo said. Think you can sort him out?
I can, Alise said, bowing. Please follow me to the adventurers guild.
Theo and Tresk watched the two people walk out of the tavern. Tresk punched him yfully in the arm. You just get your minions to do everything now.
Theo shrugged. Whats the point of having an assistant if I dont use her?
They discussed how the trade deal would go. Their current deal with Rivers and Daub was good, but they needed to move more raw material if they wanted to expand the town quickly. The primary raw resources were, as Rud mentioned, wood, stone, metal, and motes. Broken Tusk had no formal way to manage the collection of motes, but that might have been something worth looking into. Stone was collected by Ziz and worked on a ny-ten split favoring the stoneworkers. Gridgen managed the mine, Nira the smelter, and they got the ten percent of the split on their end. Sledge, another Marshling in town, worked the lumber operation and received the same deal.
The pace at which each producer was working was always in excess. They made more resources than the town could consume or sell, which put them in stockpiling mode. Even if Rud wanted to match the deal that Rivers struck, he wouldnt take more than they could make. Theo made a mental note to get with Alise and run the numbers on their productionter. Until then, he turned his attention to the thing that consumed most of his time. Alchemy.
Chapter 3.3: Always Busy
Chapter 3.3: Always Busy
Theo approached the greenhouse, resting on the old gravel yard behind the Newt and Demon. Several small orbs of light floated around the interior, a benefit of the [Sun Orbs] upgrade that provided the perfect light for those nts. His [Spiny Swamp Thistle] cultivation operation was in full swing, a fact made possible by the farmers in town. Without their insight on how to propagate nts, the alchemist would have been stuck in the first stages. When cultivated, nts grewrger than they should have. The one thing he hadnt seen the effects of was the greenhouses newest upgrade, [Drogramath Empowerment]. Unlike most upgrades, the [Alchemical Garden] upgrade provided an entirely new building for the alchemyb. It had its own upgrade path.
Cutting away at the vegetation, Theo hoisted a massive [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] for inspection.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]
Common
This [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.
Cultivation:
100%
Unit by volume:
12 units
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] ????
Theo had been using the cultivation aspect of growing nts to producerger nts, but that was only the start. He knew there was something else to it, even if that knowledge felt far away. A normal [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] produced a one-to-one ratio of essence, and thus potion. The cultivated version provided far more. A fully cultivated root produced over ten-times that amount, and they grew quick enough in the greenhouse. There was a clear w in the way his greenhouse worked, though. His intuition said it was a staging area, meant to be used in tandem with arger facility. These were seedlings in the world of cultivated reagents, ready for nting in arger building.
Those were thoughts for another time, though. The garden needed attention. Weeds gathered near the base of stalks, wing at the cultivated nts like hungry parasites. Theo plucked them all, tossing them from the greenhouse and preparing the magical earth for more crops. There were a few potions the alchemist wanted to keep on hand at all times. Healing potions and potions that removed diseases were invaluable. As he cut down thest nt, moving every reagent into his inventory, he sensed someone approaching the greenhouse.
Always busy, Zarali said.
Theo stood, watching the Drogramathi Priestess enter the greenhouse. She was the spitting image of the body he inhabited, so close in appearance they could have been twins. How Dronon were born was beyond him, so twins could have been an impossibility, but she sure seemed like a twin. When Zarali came to town it was a shock to his system. It revealed a truth that he never wanted to consider, that this wasnt a body created especially for him. This was someone elses body. But Belgar had died, allowing the alchemist to transition into this new world.
Always, Theo said, hoisting a pile of vegetation into his inventory.
I have some time, if you want to go over some more alchemy, Zarali said.
She was as tall as Theo, with the same ck hair and the same swoop of horns rolling over her head. Her face was simultaneously kind and stern, her voice always lilting between words. She wore the robes of her station, dark purple silks with masins that magically repelled dirt. Theo wanted nothing more than to increase his knowledge on Drogramathi alchemy, and Zarali was the perfect person to teach it.
If youve torn yourself away from the wizard, Theo said, shing a smile. I have potions to brew.
Thats the spirit, Zarali said.
They made their way up to theb on the second floor of the Newt and Demon. The downstairs was his shop, but at the top of the stairs were two doors on either side. The left led to theb, and the right led to his bedroom. Both rooms afforded a pleasant view of the greenhouse down below, everything else in town obscured by the boughs of what few trees remained in the towns borders. The Ogre Cypress trees, impossibly tall and thick, dominated every other line of sight.
Theb had grownrger,pared to what it once was. It was a rectangr room, bordered on most walls by either tables, cabs, or barrels. On the far side, near the window overlooking the greenhouse, was a shrine. The altar came from the [Shrine To Drogramath] building upgrade, and provided absurd benefits to potion making. Near the center of the room was a steel te resting under a flue where the many vapors produced by alchemy should have been sucked away. It rarely worked. Under the vent was three pot-bellied stills, their condenser coils feeding over to a table in the center of the room. The first was a [Drogramath Still], an upgrade only avable to members of the Drogramath Dronon race. The next two stills were creations of Throk, which bore a less intimidating appearance. Where the [Drogramath Still] had spikes and purple flourishes, the [Custom Copper Artifice Still] was made of alchemically treated copper.
Always a pleasure to see so much equipment, Zarali said, sighing and running her hand over the [Drogramath Still].
Theo nodded, moving to his shrine to make an offering. He ced an entire [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], the cultivated version, on the small tray and watched as it vanished in purple mes. His daily offerings empowered his alchemy and brought him close to the Demonic God. The alchemist wasn''t sure if that was a good thing, but the benefits outweighed the risks by arge margin. Zarali nodded in approval. He affixed his [Alchemical Grinder Artifice] to the top of the [Drogramath Still] and processed the remaining cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. His strength had grown significantly since he came to Broken Tusk, allowing him to easily cut a root to fit the grinder.
Theo inspected his attributes sheet as the grinder whirred away.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 12
Alchemist
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 65
Mana: 90
Stamina: 75
Strength: 16 (+10)
Dexterity: 8 (+3)
Vigor: 12 (+4)
Intelligence: 17 (+4)
Wisdom: 25 (+6)
Points: 0
The Tarahek was designed to make up for what the other personcked. Theo had a decent base score for [Strength], but the soul-bond core gave him an extra 6, and 2 [Vigor]. The effects of these stats were noticeable, especially those rted to physical attributes. His n for attribute distribution was to first get 20 in [Wisdom], then 20 in [Intelligence], then to obtain gear to make up for his other stats and distribute between the two mental stats every level. [Vigor] had be his biggest concern, after creeping close to 20 [Intelligence]. That attribute directly affected his [Stamina], which impacted his ability to work. He also suspected it influenced the amount of sleep he needed, but with the Dreamwalk that wasnt a problem.
The real issue with his current build was his [Governance Core]. He inspected that core to get a better idea of what he needed to do.
[Governance Core]
Legendary
Administration Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 6 (2%)
Advanced [Administrator] core, reserved for leaders.
Innate Skills:
[Command Structure]
[Titles]
[Automatic Books]
Effects:
+3 Intelligence
The strength of the core was that it leveled all the time. No matter what happened, he always got arge amount of experience just for being the mayor of Broken Tusk. The added [Intelligence] just made it that much better. Every multiple of 10, a core got a free skill. The list of skills was endless, but a few usually stuck out to him in that sprawling list. Theo needed to get this core to 10 as quickly as possible, but the same could be said of his other cores. The higher they were, the better. He popped another mote in the grinder''s side as it came to a stop, urging it back to life. Only then did he notice Zarali standing there, tapping her foot.
Did you hear anything I said? she asked.
No, Theo said, not a word.
Your attention span iscking for someone with such high [Wisdom], Zarali said, letting out a frustrated sigh. I want to redesign your stills.
Of course you do.
Dont be so negative, brother, Zarali said. Were doing great work here. Aside from all that nonsense, Im offering to enchant your stills.
Theo perked up at that. He hadnt seen her skill and a [Drogramath Enchanter], even if she had the building to support the endeavor. When she nted the seed core, it was an act of concession. The value of her building was impossible to calcte, but she nted it in Broken Tusk, offering her enchanting services as a way to build trust. The alchemist was often too trusting, but then again he was building something here. Those that he was kind to pledged their loyalty without a second thought.
Alright, Theo said, checking the temperature on the [Drogramath Still] before moving to fill another with [Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots]. Each had a capacity of 500 units, which would consume the entirety of his stock. Not mentioning your enchantments, how will your modifications improve the stills?
Mostly, it will lower your operation time, Zarali said. My enchantments will do many things, but well work on that. For now, I think we can talk about your process.
I thought we dialed it in pretty good, Theo said.
You have, Zarali said with a nod. I want you to consider a few facts. Belgar was 23 years old. Well, he might have been 25. We really dont remember our childhood. He got his cores at 18, a ratherte age for a Dronon, but he only hit thete 20s in his cores.
Theo didnt need her to spell it out for him. He was moving too fast and missing things as he went, that just made sense. Normally an alchemist would ve away for years to obtain what he had. Those alchemists dabbled over the years, learning the secrets without making progress. That set them up for future sess. It gave them a foundation that they could build upon. No one had ess to the amount of reagents or support he did. The alchemists in Qavell held their secrets away from others, and the Dronon were often in the wilds, away from any support structure. Theo was in a nexus of Drogramaths power, with an entire town to back his every move. It was a unique situation.
So, Ive missed things, Theo said. Approaching level 20 without the knowledge I need to seed.
Just so, Zarali said. Well, you mastered mana infusion rather quickly. Ive long suspected that whoever put you in this body repurposed Belgars old cores, putting them at level 1 so you could start from the start. Memories linger in those cores. Not memories, no. Instinct.
Youre saying Im using borrowed knowledge, Theo said, nodding. He didnt have a problem with that. I need every advantage I can get, so I wontin. What am I missing?
Well work on that, Zarali said. Mana infusion is the barrier for level 20. I dont know the barrier for level 30.
Thats the crux of the issue, Theo said. The sticking point. Im moving faster than I should be, so you cant help me. But you can set me on the path.
Hes learning! Zarali said, speaking to the statue of Drogramath. Well make a Dronon out of you, yet.
Theo adjusted the heat on his stills, summoning a hotter me than before. Working with the temperature on the stills was a big part of distition. It was a skill he still hadnt mastered.
Kinda leaves me with a question for you, Theo said.
I really wish youd speak with more decorum, Zarali said, frowning.
What about you? Theo asked. Living out in the middle of nowhere all your life. Suddenlying to civilizationthat has to be weird for a Dronon.
Zarali shrugged. And so you have more to learn. Perhaps a Zagmon Dronon, or a UzXulven Dronon, but not a Drogramath Dronon. Were a different breed, brother. Before Balkors Betrayal, everyone hated Dronon. They still do in certain ces of the world, but after that war things changed. Regr people realized that not all Dronon were the same. So, Ive been living among the kind races of the world since Belgar died. In Veosta, if you must know.
Theos brows peaked without hismand. My potions made it all the way to Veosta?
Thats exactly how Zarali found him. She came to town with a potion in her hand. Each of his potions bore a tag, iming it was made by Belgar. The idea that his work had made its way across enemy lines, into Veosta, was amazing.
Indeed, Zarali said. Under my tutge, there wont be a corner of this world that doesnt know about our work. Now, shall we move on to another topic?
Alright, Theo said. The stills are set for this run, but I have some fermentation to do.
Theo wanted to make as much [Anti-Mage] modifier as possible, which is why he was cultivating it in his [Alchemical Garden]. He ced the [Alchemical Grinder] atop the first fermentation barrel, a product of the towns woodworker Sledge, and set it to work. Each barrel could hold 200 units of material, causing him to fill all of them. He turned, waiting for Zarali to continue.
We can begin the work that Belgar left off, Zarali said.
His work to break the level 30 barrier, Theo said, snorting augh. Alright. Exin it to me while we harvest reagents.
The entire area within Broken Tusk was safe to harvest reagents. With powerful turrets on the walls and constant patrolling of adventurers, it was safe. Even within the walls there were herbs to gather. The mostmon was the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], although many others grew within sight outside of the walls. Theo simply preferred walking around town rather than discussing things in his stuffyb.
Theres a skill, Zarali said, kneeling to harvest reagents. Its called [Reagent Deconstruction]. You should be able to see it now that you understand the nature of materials.
Theo paused for a moment, summoning his skills screen and using the search feature. Without that search feature, hed be scrolling through the infinite list of skills forever. He found it after a moment and inspected it.
[Reagent Deconstruction]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Rare
Understanding theposition of reagents leads to their deconstruction.
Effect:
Increases the users ability to deconstruct reagents.
+1 Intelligence
Requires: Level 15 [Drogramath Herbalism] and Level 15 [Drogramath Alchemy] cores.
It seemed like a rather horrible skill,pared to his other skills. The only thing that stood out was thebined skill description. Hed never seen a skill that fell under the domain of 2 cores.
Deconstruction, Theo said, nodding. Were talking about properties, right?
Exactly, Zarali said. Youre working with refined essences right now, which is fine. But thats as good as following the instructions in a book.
Theo moved to another nt, a decent example of a [Stone Flower]. Its rocky pedals disintegrated easily, if not handled properly. He could see what Zarali was getting at, even if she wouldnt say it. [Reagent Deconstruction] was a stepping stone. If he didnt take it, hed be out of luck when it came time to break his level 30 barrier. That left him with a thought.
Deconstruction rtes to infusing stuff with mana, Theo said with a shrug. It wasnt a massive leap to say that. Things seemed to bleed from one step to the other, broken into the 10s of levels.
Well, Im d you understand that much. Theres a difference between infusing things with mana and using mana to deconstruct them. Infusions happen automatically. Deconstruction requires skill, Zarali said. Belgar never tested the theory, but he predicted it. Processing reagents goes from distilling them down, to refining them, to creating something else. You began with blindly distilling properties, then you understood essences were a mix of properties, after that you bend those properties.
How does this help me now? Theo asked.
They were picking their way to the western gate, which led onto an open ne split by a river. The other thing of note near the gate was the ranch, run by Miana Kell. Even now, Theo could see her working with the Karatan. Those strange beasts would do more for Broken Tusk than anyone knew. For now, he was content with watching her at a distance, letting her develop the business on her own.
It requires training, Zarali said, winking at an adventurer guarding the western gate. When you take the skill, youll use it by deconstructing reagents. But it doesnt happen automatically.
Which means I need to learn how to use my mana, Theo said. Thats the logical progression. Blindly processing reagents, then refining them, then manipting them. It makes sense.
Im d you follow, Zarali said.
They approached the wide river, watching as a group of Marshlings walked by with fishings in hand. Theo had never seen where they fished, or what they caught. The fishermen of the town were reclusive. Zarali approached the rocky bank, removing her masins to soak her feet in the cool water. Theo joined her.
Sometimes I feel as though people are steering me in a direction, Theo said.
I said as much, Zarali said with a shrug. Drogramath sent me here to give you knowledge and help your town. I told you that.
Not just you, Theo said.
Thats your burden to bear, Zarali said. How is the [River Dungeon] doing?
Theo couldnt see the [River Dungeon] from the bank. It was underwater, buried among that churning river. I havent read thetest report. I think the other 4 dungeons are growing steadily. Not sure if thats a good thing, though.
Its a wonderful thing, Zarali. I have long-term ns of my own, you know.
The alchemist didnt doubt that. With as much Drogramathi energy in the air as there was, she had to have something else up her sleeve. The pair sat there for some time, whittling away the day until the stills in theb were ready. It was a good start in a new era of alchemy for him. Things were shaping up to create potions the likes the world had never seen before.
Chapter 3.4: Cheese!
Chapter 3.4: Cheese!
Theo left Zarali at the river. She wanted to spend time there, but for what reason, he didnt know. The entire time he lingered near the western border of his town, he felt eyes upon him. They werent eyes that pried, digging into his soul to determine his merit, they were kind eyes. Attention that broughtfort and protection. The alchemist knew Tresk lurked near enough toe if he needed it, and he wouldnt have to call for her aid. With her [Shadowdance] skill, she could enter the shadows and leap, 10 times, to any shadow within line-of-sight. While he appreciated her attention, she would have been better delving into the dungeons.
When Theo entered the town once again, he found Miana tending to her animals. Their agreement on the property was informal. Seeing the creatures grazing the fields, happily living out their lives, was enough for him. Even the horrific goat-like Pozwa crowed with excitement, butting each other with their many-horned heads and eating anything that wasnt nailed down. He entered the paddock and approached one of the feathered creatures, holding his hand out t for it to sniff. It bit him.
Thats Bity! Miana shouted. He bites.
Creative, Theo said, shooing the beast away and approaching the Half-Ogre woman.
The years werent kind to Miana. Despite that, she still looked youthful and exuberant. She bore the features of her race, the Half-Ogres, tall and muscr with broad, powerful faces and olive-red skin. Her hair was always kept short, which seemed wise in the presence of the Pozwa. Unlike when Theo first arrived, Miana Kell now held a permanent smile on her face.
Things are going well, Miana said, patting the nk of a Karatan. Im prepared to give my thanks to Fenian.
Miana moved off without saying another word, the intent for Theo to pursue lingering in the air. He followed her into the tall barn, which remained open on the paddock side while the creatures ate in the fields. The barn was a row, on either side, of stalls for the Karatan and Pozwa to rest at night. Tucked in the far corner were a series of tanks and devices meant to harvest the milk from the Karatan, joined by a new set of tools. The alchemist figured they were meant for removing the Pozwas many horns. The Half-Ogre woman hoisted a cylindrical object, holding it over her head.
Cheese! she shouted before handing it over to Theo.
You made cheese, Theo said, staring in disbelief. Milk was enough of a bonus, but cheese? That was something else entirely.
How many farms produce cheese in Qavell? Theo asked.
Plenty, but not cheese like this, Miana said. Try some.
Theo took a bite, finding the vor to be excellent. He never had real cheese on Earth, only the powdered stuff that came with his meals. The texture was divine, crumbling in his mouth, and the vor was a mix between herby garlic and creamy milk. A system message popped up the moment he swallowed.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Veostian Karatan Cheese] by eating it.
[Bind] discovered.
Theo should have figured the cheese could be used for alchemy. The massive wheel that Miana produced was at least 20 units worth. If the properties were good, it was possible that he could make a potion out of cheese. The thought made himugh, but he inspected the cheese.
[Veostian Karatan Cheese]
[Food] [Alchemy Ingredient]
Umon
Unaged cheese made from the milk of a Veostian Karatan.
Properties:
[Suffuse] [Bind] ????
As with most ingredients, the properties meant little. They sometimes rted to the end potion, but often it was impossible to tell what they did. May I? Theo asked.
Sure, Ive got a bunch, Miana said. Theres an idea. I bet the Pozwa horns give you something.
Miana disappeared for a moment, rummaging through a [Dimensional Storage Crate] before returning with a curled, brown horn. She held it out for him to inspect.
[Pozwa Horn]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Epic
Pozwa are said to have a third eye, although thats just metaphorical. These wise creatures produce this rare horn, prized by practitioners of scrimshaw.
Properties:
[Reveal] ???? ????
Dont suppose you can eat that one, can you? Miana said, chuckling.
No, but that property is interesting, Theo said. [Reveal]... I have a feeling this could make a bomb? No, something else. This is big. Please reserve all your [Pozwa Horn] stock for me. Ill buy them all.
Mianaughed. There he is. Big alchemist man with big alchemist money. Fine. I know youre going to argue with me until I agree to take the money.
Theos supernatural sense for things was getting stronger by the day. He felt a connection to the [Pozwa Horn], understanding that it would produce a fourth family of potions. The way the alchemist understood potions broke them down into three categories. Standard potions were ones a person drank, giving them an effect. Detergent-style potions were potions someone poured over something else, his [Cleansing Scrub] was an example of that. Then there were the bombs, potions meant to be thrown at an enemy. He was eager to discover this new style of potion.
How many do you have? Theo asked.
A few just shed, Miana said, disappearing again. She returned with her arms full of the horns, dropping them onto the ground and smiling.
Ill have Azrug appraise them and run you the money, Theo said, swiveling his head to find the sun in the sky. There were still a few hours of daylight left, but not enough to do a full run of the horns. He pulled them into his inventory and turned to leave.
Thanks again, Theo, Miana said.
Theo joined with Zarali on the road, finding her returning from the river. She took as much interest in the [Pozwa Horns] as him, holding one in her hand and rolling it over. They both shared a connection to Drogramath, allowing her to sense the value of the item. When they returned to theb, Azrug was working the shop as he always did.
Could you appraise this? Theo asked, handing the boy a horn.
Azrug was Xams baby brother, a boy that received his cores far earlier than normal. He was shorter than most Half-Ogres, owing to his age, but was the spitting image of his sister. Dark red skin with a mop of unkempt ck hair. The shopkeeper held an excitement for mercantile affairs that was infectious.
Oh, thats from Mianas horrors, right? Azrug asked, taking the item in his hand and shrugging. I cant get a price on it, though. I can only appraise things that have been traded in the region recently.
Meaning Fenian really did bring you a prize, Zarali said, nodding. Where did he say he got them?
Gardreth, but I thought he was lying, Azrug said.
Zarali snorted augh. Gardreth? The Fallen Kingdom, Gardreth? Balkors Demise? The necromantical cursednds? Who is this Fenian?
I dont think well ever know, Theo said. Im buying them from Miana. How much should I give her?
You own the Pozwa, Azrug said,ughing. Dont give her a damn thing.
Theo narrowed his eyes.
I dont know. You want to know the real value? Priceless, Azrug said. I can only guess, but youd get 20 silver minimum. 5 gold maximum. Per horn.
Still want to pay the ranch hand? Zarali asked, cackling.
Right, Theo said, checking his inventory. He currently had 26 gold, 61 silver, and 44 copper. Ill work something out.
Theo went to head upstairs, but Azrug grabbed his arm. Quick word.
The traders, Theo said. That was the only thing that would put such a dire thing on the shopkeepers face. Something happened in Qavell. A merchants war.
Youre well-informed, Azrug said. Theres big implications to that. Were talking about massive shifts to the way Qavell does business. Traders are going to flood out from the city, snatching up all the deals they can.
Theo pinched the bridge of his nose. He thought the implications were obvious, but not everyone saw the world the way he did. Since his [Wisdom] had increased past 20, his [Intelligence] almost there as well, hed been able to extrapte whole ideas from iplete information. Broken Tusks biggest problem, even if they didnt know it, was the stranglehold the Merchants Guild held on the region. They regted everything and coin had to pass through their hands before they allowed it to happen. If the guild fell, everything would change.
Looks like an opening for us, Theo said, sighing.
Why so glum? That sounds like a great thing, Zarali said.
Because it means someone is pulling the strings, Theo said.
Could be coincidence, Azrug said. But its an opportunity to be sure. The floodgates are open now, so were going to see a lot of traders in town. More adventurers too, probably.
Right, Theo said. Bring this up with Alise if you see her.
Sounds good, Azrug said, settling back down onto his chair. You can leave.
Theoughed, shaking his head as he ascended the stairs.
Zarali helped Theo tend to his stills. The run wasplete, leaving him with almost 1,000 units of [Healing Essence]. He inspected a sample before taking it out to the pressure vessels for further refinement.
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.
It could have been better, but for a bulk run the essence was fine. It already overshadowed what the alchemists in Qavell could produce, both in quality and volume. The pair walked around to insert the essence into the pressure vessels outside, inserting motes to power the machines and setting them to work.
Why do you act like that? Zarali asked.
Like what? Theo said, kicking the side of the jumping machine. It settled down after a moment.
Like the gifts you receive are curses, Zarali said.
Theo walked, without talking, to the north-facing side of the building. He checked on his storage tanks, which were currently empty. Everything had been working great since they were installed, and he nned to fill them with the [Pozwa Horn] essence. He thought for a while before responding to herment, not able to put it into words so easily.
Because they can be curses, Theo said with a resolute nod.
Oh, yes, Zarali said, gesturing to the burgeoning town around her. This is such a curse. This cursednd produces nothing but woe.
As if to punctuate her point, a pair of children rain by on the main road,ughing and smiling. Theo waved at them, and they waved back.
Maybe youre right, Theo said. But I can still be cautious.
Theres nothing wrong with a bit of caution, Zarali said. She jabbed her thumb toward a tree nearby. Especially with that following you around.
Theo had already detected hispanion, Tresk. Shed been lurking in the shadows since they got back to the Newt and Demon. He felt herforting gaze grow closer.
Another piece of the puzzle, Theo said.
Dont stress it, Tresk said, emerging from the shadows.
Zarali pat Tresk on the top of the head, smiling. I heard Xam is making something with cheese today.
Theo produced an entire cheese wheel from his inventory, nodding.
Woah! Tresk said, snatching at the cheese. Theo returned it to his inventory before she could get it. Give me the cheese.
This is alchemy cheese, Theo said.
As the sun grew lower in the sky above, the group made their way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern for dinner. It was always packed since Xam got her cooking core, but the mayors seat was constantly reserved. They talked about small things while they waited to be served, watching with jealous eyes as others dug into their cheese-infused meals. Theo was surprised at the amount of cheese Miana had created so far, noting it was enough for export. When the dish finally arrived, served by a new person the alchemist hadnt seen before, it was worth the wait.
Meat was piled high in a ceramic dish, resting atop a bed of Zee tbread and smothered in more cheese than made sense. Tresk did her typical thing, eating the entire meal in moments, as Zarali and Theo took their time. Their conversation shifted several times, centered on the towns progress and how well everyone was doing. The food might have just been a pile of meat and cheese, but it was delicious. Every bite was an explosion of that familiar garlic and herb vor that made the cheese unique. Theo was once again left wondering what a high-level cook would produce.
Part way through the meal, someone came to join them at the table. Luras Trinner had be something of a legend within the town. He was broad-shouldered with a preeminent fierce expression. Much like other Half-Ogres his skin was a dark hue of ochre. The man recently gave up on his dreams, or what Theo thought were his dreams after his uncle died, to take up the life of an adventurer once again. Since that time, hed taken a [Baelthars Hunter Core], which was a specialized [Hunters Core] aligned with the patron of Half-Ogres, Baelthar. He was also Broken Tusks captain of the guard.
I hope you dont mind, Luras said, smiling.
Not at all. I wanted to ask you a few questions, Theo said.
No business at dinner! Tresk protested.
Its about the dungeons, Theo said.
Oh, carry on.
How did the n go? Are the other dungeons growing in strength? Theo asked.
Luras rolled his shoulders, taking a long breath before speaking. From what I can tell, the n worked. Every dungeon is now growing, instead of just the one. I have concerns with all this Drogramathi energy flowing through the air, though.
Oh,e now, Zarali purred. Surely youre not afraid of a little Demonic energy.
Not really, Luras said, shrugging. Just seems like a waste. How much of that mana just floats into the air?
Ah, now Im going to like you, Zarali said. Im working on a project rted to that. Its all secret at the moment, but I promise it will be worth it in the long run. That reminds me, have you found silver or gold in the mines?
Just copper and iron, Theo said.
Dig deeper. Im sure youll find at least silver, Zarali said.
Theo didnt say anything, that was his n anyway. She was being coy about it, but he could tell the idea she had needed magic and precious metals. The alchemist couldnt afford to dedicate any of his time to her project, so he left it at that. The group had a nice dinner after that. Luras was happy to share tales of his adventures in the different dungeons. He even went as far as the [Ocean Dungeon], which was extremely difficult to reach.
Zarali departed for the mages tower while the portal was still open, Luras ran off to do whatever it was he did at night, and Theo and Tresk returned to the Newt and Demon for a good nights rest. When the entered the Dreamwalk, Tresk had a fun idea. Instead of going to strange ces either of them had been to, she brought up a memory of Broken Tusk. It was years ago, from when she was a child. There were no roads, no walls, and hardly enough homes for 20 people.
This is still a strange feeling, Theo said.
I like it, Tresk said, pulling him by the arm. That was my house.
Tresk pointed out Throks building, which had remained mostly unchanged since her childhood. Memories of people didnt appear in the Dreamwalk, though. The closest it could get to replicating them was to create shadow-people, something that creeped Theo out every time. He preferred for the ce to be empty, or for him to summon a group of his weird mannequins. The Marshling ran off to go fight some monsters, and Theo remained in the center of town.
The monolith that still marked the town square was there, looking just as it was in the present day. Theo needed little information to go on. Zarali would reveal a small piece of information to him, and he would run with it. He summoned a few basic examples of a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] and got to work. The first half of the night he spent his time trying to understand how this would work. Without the skill, hed just be going through the motions rather than making any real progress. He split his time between trying to summon his mana, and performing alchemy reactions for the experience.
Some time in the middle of the night, after Tresk had been defeated by her tenth dragon, he managed something amazing. Theo held his hand out, trying to get anything that looked like raw Drogramathi mana to appear. Liquid fire poured from his palm out of nowhere, right when his concentration was about to slip. It pooled there, glowing with the telltale purple energy of that Demonic God. Before he could control the wild mes, they consumed him. He let out a shout of fear, but felt no pain. A momentter, Tresk was at his side.
How did you die? Tresk asked,ughing.
Theo rose to his feet, patting himself down to make sure he was alright. He was fine. I think my mana killed me.
How? Tresk asked.
Theo exined the process he went through, pulling mana out of his body and willing it into his palm. Tresk was unsure of how that should work as she hardly used mana every day. The only way she interacted with the resources was to cast her abilities, she never interacted the manual way. The alchemist sat there for some time, even after the Marshling scampered off, lost in thought. If he tried to get ahead of himself in the real world, the mana would have killed him.
No Dronon had ever entered a Tarahek. None of their kind would have ess to a safe ce to practice this art. Theo returned to a sitting position and brought more Drogramathi mana into his hand. This time, he didnt shout when it consumed him.
Chapter 3.5: Drogramagic
Chapter 3.5: Drogramagic
Should you be practicing that Drogramagic? Tresk asked.
Theo and Tresk sat in Xams tavern, which remained mostly empty during the morning. It was the 51st day of the Season of Blooms, 8 days before the end of the season and the closing of the Festival of the Dying of the Blooms. The alchemist had many things to do before the season ended, but those were mostly self-imposed goals that could fall by the wayside. Alchemy was on the top of his list, but he couldnt see himself hitting level before the season ended.
Its fine, Theo said, waving her away. As long as I dont do it in the real world. Not until I get that skill.
You should talk to Xolsa, Tresk said.
Xolsa was the towns wizard. He was a member of a strange Elven race called the Barathier, although no one knew much about the race. Zarali knew the most about the race, although she hadnt told Theo about it. He held an [Dimensional Wizard] core, which was just as mysterious. The alchemist had reflected on how dangerous that might have been, but danger and Broken Tusk went together like cheese and Zee. As he ate, he split his attention between entertaining Tresk and nning his day.
The Tarahek should be our number one concern, Theo said. Imagine what we get at level 20.
Just as he said that, his [Governance Core] leveled to 7. Benefits for cores only came on multiples of 10, although new skills unlocked along the way. He wouldnt see much growth of his personal level until that core caught up to his others, stagnating his growth for a while longer. Leveling the Tarahek was simple, and Theo had riddled the mechanics out fairly early. Any action the pair performed together gave them experience. If they encountered a difficult situation and made it through with the power of friendship, they got more experience.
Ill agree to that, Tresk said, patting her belly after downing her food in one go. Im crawling toward 20..
Tresk had a few cores to her name, an [Assassins Core], aligned with the shadowy god Zaul, a [Trackers Core], which needed upgrading, and a [Shadowdancers Core], whose alignment Theo didnt know. While her [Shadowdancers Core] was a recent addition, it had been leveling at an absurd rate. She practically spammed her [Shadowdance] skill at every opportunity. With only a 5 minute cooldown and zero mana cost, there was no reason not to zip through the shadows, using it as a travel power.
A quirk of the Tarahek was that Theo could inspect her cores without her permission. He checked out how much progress shed made.
[Assassins Core]
Legendary
Assassin Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 10 (15%)
A specialized [Rogue Core] which focuses on assassination techniques. Can slot either [Rogue] or [Assassin] skills. Equipping this core unlocks the [Assassin] ss. Equipping this core over an existing [Rogue] core will consume the [Rogue] core, setting this core to its current level.
Effect:
Increases the effect of all [Rogue] and [Assassin] skills.
+2 Dexterity.
In order to take the [Assassins Core], Tresk had tobine it with her [Rogues Core], saving her arduous grinding back to 10. Not all cores worked this way, some resetting to level 1 whenbined or upgraded. But she could hit the dungeons daily. Compared to the average adventurer, who might see a few dungeons a year, she was shooting up in the levels at an rming rate. Theo was in the same situation with his cores, but for a different reason. He inspected her [Shadowdancers Core] next.
[Shadowdancers Core]
Legendary
Rogue and Illusion Mage Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 8 (15%)
A hybrid corebining a Rogues Core and a Illusion Mages core. This core focuses on support abilities not provided to rogues by default, and is considered a utility core.
Effect:
Decreases the cooldown of all Rogue(and all variants e.g. Assassin, Swashbuckler, etc) and Illusion Mage skills twice as fast, as long as you remain hidden.
+1 Dexterity.
The [Shadowdancers Core] should have been a higher rarity than legendary. Tresk got the information from a wizard, Uharis, tobine a [Rogues Core] with an [Illusion Mage] core to create the ss. It paired perfectly with her [Assassins Core], providing amazing utility. Her attribute sheet told a story of someone heavily invested in the Rogue-type sses.
Tresk
Bantari Marshling
Level 13
Assassin
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 65
Mana: 10
Stamina: 75
Strength: 19 (+10)
Dexterity: 26 (+6)
Vigor: 10 (+5)
Intelligence: 2
Wisdom: 8 (+5)
Points: 0
Tresk was on track for her goals. Once she was alright with Theo staying in town alone, shed hit the dungeons again. He knew better than to prod her toward that fact, allowing her to realize that he was safe on her own. When they finished their meal, the Marshling departed on patrol duty. Every adventurer did their time on the wall, protecting the town, and today was her day. The alchemist had his mayoral duties with the festival. Hed already contributed his part for the food portion of the festival, everyone ate for free during the Dying of the Blooms, but he still had to judge their wreaths.
Most citizens of Broken Tusk had homes just north of Xams tavern, nestled at the foot of the farmers hill. That area seemed more like a small town than anything else with over 50 homes tightly packed and connected with a weave of cobbled roads. Theo made a note of each house that had dead wreaths, trusting his high [Wisdom] to allow him to remember who was disqualified. He greeted everyone as he went, even spotting Azrug leaving his house to head for the Newt and Demon.
While Theo wanted to check in on the adventurers enve, a ce north of the farmers fields where most adventurers built their houses, he had business at the adventurers guild. The guild was located near the western wall, across the road from Sledges sawmill. He watched asborers hauled an impossiblyrge tree through the gate, dragging it along the ground as though it weighed nothing. The sawmill, named the Swamp Snapper Mill, had a bonus. [Ogre Strength] made it so that a tree felled within a distance from the mill would weigh almost nothing. With the massive Ogre Cypress trees, this bonus was necessary.
[Ogre Strength]
All trees felled within a radius (scaling with the level of the sawmill) will weigh a fraction of their actual rate for all operators of the sawmill.
An upgrade on the town, provided by Uharis the archmage, allowed anyone with permission to insert and withdraw raw resources from anywhere within town. Once the sawmill turned the raw wood into lumber, they simply touched it to store it away. The storage was limitless, something Theo realized he needed desperately. The alchemist avoided the angry Marshlings attention and ducked into the guild without issue. He didnt want to get distracted today. He found his way to the guildmasters office.
Aarok Thane was a massive Half-Ogre, even by Half-Ogre standards. His ck hair was pulled into a topknot today, and his skin was a pale red color. He had a powerful face that was fixed in a permanent look of concentration. Theo could sense Luras lurking around somewhere nearby, the power of Baelthar rolling off him in turgid waves. He wondered if others could sense Drogramaths power flowing off him before Aarok grabbed his attention.
Youve been avoiding me, Aarok said.
Im busy, Theo said, grinning.
Aaroks office was small, but weing. It had a view looking east into the center of the small town. Early morning light flooded in, illuminating the wide table and rickety chairs. Theo took a seat and let out a breath.
Were all busy, Aarok said. I have a report to give not suitable for your assistant.
Alise is more thanpetent, Theo said.
Aarok narrowed his eyes.
Im listening, Theo said, holding his hands up defensively.
Looks like the wizards gamble worked, Aarok said. The [Swamp Dungeon] has slowed down its growth significantly, and were not expecting any waves.
Thats exactly as nned, Theo said.
I have concerns, Aarok said with a shrug. Nothing major, depending on how you look at it.
What does that mean? Theo said, suddenly feeling less bored with the report.
Theres a good chance the other dungeons in the kingdom are growing at a significantly higher rate, Aarok said. He stood near the window, casting his eyes over the town below. If the energy we have here is bleeding into the entirework of dungeons Well, I dont know if thats good.
Theo stood, joining him at the window. What do you think this town is going to be, Aarok? Theres something at work that we cant understand. A force that no one canprehend. From what I can tell, Drogramath found a loophole. Hes not supposed to interact with the world directly, so hes sending his power instead. This ce isnt corrupted, is it?
No, but that doesnt mean we should let our guard down, Aarok said.
We should do the opposite of that, Theo said.
Aarok stewed on that for a while. He and Theo often agreed on matters of defense. They saw the defense of Broken Tusk as the most important thing in their lives, often investing significant sums of money into that task. The result was a town that could repel a level 30 monster wave with ease, and they would only grow stronger. Behind those powerful walls, life was good. It was worth protecting.
I just got worked up about it, Aarok said, letting out a breath. I have no loyalty to the crown, although I also dont wish for its downfall.
So if the northerners get a spike of monsters, thats not our problem, Theo said. Worst case scenario, we get really tight with Rivers, maybe those lizard-folk down south. Hell, the Khahari might join in if its worth it.
I doubt the Khahari are interested in us at all, Aarok said, but I get what youre saying. We could even mint our own currency if we want.
I think the dungeons do that for us, Theo said,ughing. Unless youre interested in seeing my ugly face on a coin.
Thatd be fun, Aarok said, grinning.
Come find me at theb if you really need to talk, Theo said. Im just not concerned with anything that happens outside of these walls.
Good. As long as were clear.
Theo and Aarok talked for a while about other things. The Adventurers Guild had put up minimal effort on their wreath, and it had already died. The culture around the festival was celebration, notpetition, so no one really cared. It was more abouting together and preparing for the long haul of heatwaves toe. Aarok recalled the festival when he was a child, almost 30 years ago. Before the alchemist arrived, food was scarce. Hunters yed the most important role back then, followed by the farmers. They owed the bounty they enjoyed today to Drogramaths energy, flooding thend and forcing things to grow at an absurd rate. The Demon Lord was known as the Potioneer, but he also influenced herblore and agriculture.
That was always part of Theos thoughts when he weighed the value of the Demonic God. Even the pantheon those gods found themselves in was a misnomer. They were Demons because their descendants had horns, oddly colored skin, and their association with a few nefarious beings.The Prime Pantheon was no better than the Demonic one in Theos eyes. The Gods asserted minimal influence on the world, often acting from their respective realms. This influenced the alchemists approach to most things, acting exactly like those Gods, only striking out from his bubble of influence when it suited him. The walls of Broken Tusk were safe, like those godly realms.
Theo departed the guildhall feeling no different about his conviction. There was work to be done at the Newt and Demon. He withdrew the 1,000 units of [Refined Healing Essence] from the pressure vessel and went upstairs, giving his greetings to Azrug as he went. The shopkeeper was excited to see more potions flood into the shop. Hed been running a scheme where he bought all the adventurers gear they got from the dungeons and resold it. The n was to have an appraiser, a Loremaster,e to town to get the most out of the items, but that fell through. He couldnt locate anyone who would make the journey, even if the money was good. Azrug would sit on those items rather than sell them off, more interested in waiting for a [Loremasters Core] than parting with them at a worse price.
Working with essences was easy, if one was in ab blessed by Drogramath. The building had effects that both made reactions easier to predict, and materials safe to handle. In the hands of someone without a Drogramath alignment, or without his cores, the essences were explosive at the best of times. Theo dragged an alchemically treated barrel over, intent on performing advanced reactions 200 units at a time. His first go at the process was to mix 1 unit of essence with 1 unit of water right in the final vial. He learned quickly this was inefficient. Until recently, the only thing holding him back was the vtility of the reaction in performingrge scale advanced reactions. Now, with all those bonuses, he could do so easily.
Theo spent time enchanting more catalysts with Drogramaths power, resisting the urge to try it the manual way. The system allowed him to simply ce his hand over the small flecks of metal and his mana would pour out on its own. The pile of [Iron Shavings] on the table glowed purple for a moment, subsiding into a shimmer that pulsed with the breath of magic in the air. He inspected the aligned catalyst before introducing 200 of the kes into the barrel.
[Iron Shavings]
[Alchemy Component]
Common
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Increased stability during reactions.
Increase quality of reaction by 1 level, up to excellent quality.
Shavings from raw iron.
The alignment effects were absurd, and Theo owed it all to that small shrine near the window. This was his standard, second tier reaction for healing potions. It could be produced in mass quantities, something the Qavelli alchemists could only dream of, and created some of the most powerful potions on the continent. Theo wasnt foolish enough to consider himself the best in the world, yet. There were ces he had never heard of, with people of considerable power that might pale even his creations. He introduced the water and essences, gaining a bubbling, spitting barrel of potion that sent a cloud of red fog into the air.
Theo propped the window, stooping low to peer up through the vents above the stills. Hed been thinking about it moretely, and couldnt shake the feeling that they werent functioning correctly. The alchemist approached his [ssware Artifice], and fed it motes in order to create enough t-bottomed vials to contain his 1,000 potions. As he did, he invoked a skill that allowed him tomunicate to the entire town, belonging to his [Governance Core]. A system message appeared for every inhabitant of the town, popping up in a small window in the center of their vision.
[Theo]: Sledge, can you stop by theb when you have a chance? Its a paying job.
It was easy to motivate Sledge. She worked the sawmill for him, meaning that if he drew her off to do something else and paid her, shed show up in a sh. Theo bottled a single healing potion to inspect the quality, expecting nothing less than excellent.
[Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 125 health points.
Despite easily overshadowing the potions created in the capital, this wasnt the best potion Theo had ever created. He messed up the cooking phase of the potion, burning some of the mash on the bottom. The Newt and Demon had created perfect quality [Healing Potions] in the past, something that was priceless within the small kingdom. There were many factors that went into a potions quality. The skill of the alchemist was foremost, but then came the quality of the distition process, if he used cultivated ingredients, the quality of the catalyst, and the quality of the water. It would have been too much for him to keep track of, if not for his [Wisdom] attribute.
Moments afterpleting the potion, a knock came at thebs door. Sledge didnt bother waiting for a response, she barged in, looking around with hungry eyes. Sledge Grob was a strange woman. Marshling by birth, but raised by a Half-Ogre family, she was constantly spiky. Her skin was a muddy brown color and she had pale gray eyes. She was the same height as Tresk, and twice as fiery.
Paying job? Sledge asked.
Ive just been dealing with it, Theo said, pointing at the vents above the stills. But I really dont think the vents are working.
How much?
Give ya a gold if you can fix it, Theo said, grinning.
A gold coin was far more than the job was worth, but Theo didnt care. Sledge held a special ce in his heart, mostly because of how obstinate she was. The people who didnt want help affected him more than those that did. He saw them as a special case that needed a different approach, but her station also influenced his willingness to part with his money. Ogre Cypress should have been a rare tree, but they grew like weeds in Broken Tusk. That would be a massive export for them, and an invaluable resource when they got to the stage of building sailing boats. The tree also provided a reagent he couldnt live without. [Ogre Cypress Bark] was a chalky, sticky material that sat between the outer and inner barkyer of the tree, and provided two absurdly valuable properties. [Cure Ailment] had saved Tresk in the past, and [Cleanse] was used in several detergent-style reactions.
Theo watched with amusement as the woman jumped atop a still and wriggled her way into the vent. He heard her cursing, her voice echoing from within. Something fell to the ground, covered in soot and burned. A wash of cool air rushed through theb, siphoning through the open window and through the vent. Momentster, Sledge dropped down, covered in filth and smiling with her hand out.
There was some junk blocking the vent, she said.
Theo produced a bottle of [Cleansing Scrub] from his inventory and dumped it over the womans head. A wave of light rippled over her, scouring away the dirt and leaving her pristine. She shivered under its effects. The alchemist produced the gold coin, as promised, and handed it over.
Nice doing business with you, Sledge said, turning to leave.
Just a moment, Theo said.
She stopped, turning to lock eyes with him. More work?
No, I wanted to know how the sawmill is going, Theo said.
Check the dang town storage, Sledge said, barking augh. Yeah, were doing an absurd amount of boards a day. If I poke thosezy bastards, theyll turn over five thousand boards a day. Per day. You realize how much wood that is?
I realize its a lot, Theo said, nodding. At a copper a board, youre generating half a gold per day.
Five silver of which slips into my pocket, Sledge said, rubbing her hands together.
Theos agreement with his workers was standard at 10 percent of market value. His idea was to incentivize them into working harder to make more money. Of course, he didnt pocket the earnings. That went directly into the town, more often than not.
Do you see production increasing in the future? Theo asked.
Get us some more upgrades, and yeah, Sledge said. The boys are leveling their cores, so thats going to help it along.
Thank you, Sledge, Theo said, turning back to his work.
Oh, stop being so formal, she said, pping him on the back.
The Marshling departed, saying nothing more. Theo finished his potions up, then took them down to stock the shop. Azrug was excited to have his hands on so many potions, but the alchemist reminded him not to sell them in bulk. He had an agreement with an Elven trader regarding that, and didnt want to break his contract. Until that man arrived back in time, hed keep experimenting with new ingredients. The next item on his list was the [Pozwa Horns]. Theo made his way upstairs, intent on refining the horns down into essence.
Chapter 3.6: Reveal Essence
Chapter 3.6: Reveal Essence
If not for the powerful jaws of the [Alchemical Grinder], the [Pozwa Horns] would have been impossible to grin into a fine powder. Theo fed the hard horns into the device, wincing as it groaned. But after a few moments, the job was done, and 100 units of powdered horn sat at the bottom of his [Drogramath Still]. The alchemist poured in enough water to get the still started, then set the temperature low and returned the lid. The sps snapped shut, and the magical fire burned underneath. A stiff breeze came from the open window, sweeping over theb and carrying the stuffy air out the vent.
When Theo inherited the building, he hadnt thought to check the vents. There were a few things that remained from the early days that he should check, but the building was barely recognizable as the seed coreb he found at the start. He inspected the shop before continuing.
[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]
[The Newt and Demon]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk
Shopkeeper: Azrug Slug
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 20 (2%)
Rent Due: 2 Days
Expansions:
[Alchemy Shop]
[Drogramath Distition Specialty]
[Shrine to Drogramath]
[Alchemical Garden]
It started at level 1, and each level after that was harder to fill that experience percentage. There would likely be a restriction at level 25 and 30 based on the size of Broken Tusk, but that was a task for another day. He inspected the result of his fermentation, the mash looking ready for distition. Theo moved the contents of the barrels, destined to be [Anti-Mage] modifier essence into his stills and set them to work. The modifier process was fairly simple. Fermentation, distition, and refinement. Each modifier worked in unpredictable ways, but that was the fun of it for the alchemist. He intended to buckle down and make aplete list of every modifier essence and its effects on potions. But that was a daunting task.
The [Anti-Mage] modifier produced potions as the name described. It typically had the effect of draining mana from a magic using opponent, or giving them a penalty for casting spells. He could even make a firebomb designed to punish mages for casting their spells while on fire. For now, Theo left his stills to work to cross the cobbled street outside. Unlike the early part of the Season of Blooms, the sky was clear and bright. It had rained for weeks straight, something the locals saw as a good thing.
Zaralis enchantingb was magnificent on the outside and in. The exterior was a stone block construction, purple wooden ts on top to represent its alignment with Drogramath. Theo pushed inside without knocking, finding the woman knelt in the center of the room in front of a strange device. The alchemist saw ribbons of energy collecting from the surrounding air, sucking into a ck cube that seethed with Drogramaths energy. He shouldnt have been surprised that she was doing this, but he still had an initial reaction of concern.
Brother! Zarali said, crossing the room to pull him into a hug. How rare a visit is from you.
Whats that? Theo asked, craning his neck to see around her.
It umtes raw mana, she said, releasing him to pat her device.
The mana collector stood out among the decorations inside. Tools sat atop tables that crowded the walls, gems scattered everywhere. Banners bearing the mark of Drogramath were draped on the walls and each window was covered with thick strips of fabric, rendering the interior dim. Only the flickering candlelight brought brightness to the dingy interior.
Enchanting stuff? Theo asked, moving with caution to the side of the cube. Is it dangerous?
Enchanting stuff. Yes, I needrge amounts of mana to enchant stuff, and theres no shortage of mana here. Raw, unprocessed mana, Zarali said, letting out a wistful sight. Its mostly safe.
Theo moved away from the cube, running his fingers over the tools of her trade.
I didnt think Drogramath was the patron of enchanters, Theo said. Is your core aligned with him?
It is, Zarali said. My [Drogramath Enchanters Core] will never be as powerful as your aligned core, but its still better than most. Not better than those dedicated to the Dwarven gods, but still. I wont presume this is a social call, do you need something?
Theo had noticed, more in recent memory than ever before, that his high [Wisdom] didnt work well against those with an equally high score. He felt a twinge in his mind as though she was hiding something, but his intuition went no further than that. Still, he sensed it wasnt a malicious n she was hatching. Self-interested, maybe, but nothing harmful.
More of an academic thing, Theo said.
Ah, an area in which I am very educated, Zarali said.
Theo led her out of the enchantingb and up to his ownb. The stills were bubbling away, but there was nothing of their scent in theb. It smelled clean, like the fresh breeze was depositing every corner of theb with a pleasant scent. It was a drastic change that would take getting used to.
I have a feeling about the [Pozwa Horns], he said, gesturing to his [Drogramath Still]. The essence wont make a bomb, a potion, or a detergent. I cant figure out what itll produce.
I would guess the property is something close to sight, Zarali said.
[Reveal], Theo said.
That makes sense, Zarali said. She raked her eyes across theb, as though each slight mistake was an offense to her god. She napped out of it. The Fallen Kingdom was famous for their Pozwa. If the stories are true, the crown held each beast in secluded pens. Guarded, if you can believe it.
Why? Theo asked. What makes them so great?
That depends on which historian you ask, Zarali said. The problem with getting hit with a necromancers curse is, it bes impossible to find records. Anyway, I would say they saw them as sacred creatures.
Theo lowered the temperature on the [Drogramath Still], sensing that the [Pozwa Horn] mash would burn otherwise. He struggled to think of this worlds history. He knew little about Broken Tusk, let alone the rest of the world.
What happened to Gardreth? Theo asked.
The era were inBalkors Betrayalis named because a Demonic God jumped pantheons, Zarali said. A war broke out in the other realms and bled out here in time. 500 years after the war started, Balkor was vanquished. The Prime Pantheon defeated him sopletely that pieces of him ripped through reality. Unfortunately, Gardreth was in the direct path. He left his stain on thatnd and only nthier had mercy, separating it from the maind in an act of defiance in the face of the other gods. While the main continent was healed, Gardreth remained tainted.
Theo knew nthier was the Elven god of healing, but thats where his knowledge on the events at Gardreth stopped. It was surprising to hear the Pozwa survived for such a long time, if thend was as uninhabitable as Zarali said.
That makes me wonder why Fenian went through the trouble, Theo said.
Some men enjoy spitting in the face of whats possible, Zarali said, a thin smile spreading across her face. To your question about the [Reveal] property, I cant say.
The history that Zarali revealed showed just how much influence the gods had, but there was a clear line. They wouldnt act overtly unless absolutely necessary, but Theo couldnt understand that. If they had the power to change the world, why didnt they? But that didnt matter.
I saw some strange alchemy in Xolsas tower, Theo said. He was infusing gems with alchemy. Do you think that could be the way forward with this essence?
No, not likely, Zarali said. You might pick up that skillter, but not now. Not this low. Hes faking the effects with magic, perhaps an experiment of his.
Zarali went silent for enough breaths for Theo to realize she was falling back into her memories. If she had something for the wizard, he didnt want anything to do with it. Rtionship drama often ended poorly, and he couldnt imagine how it would end when the participants were superhuman. The [Pozwa Horn] mash bubbled away, and the priestess went on to lecture him on his stills and how inadequate they were.
Your thought might be that you need more stills, Zarali said, gesturing widely to theb. There was only room for three stills, but he understood her meaning. More equipment meant more essence. But thats not the key to good Drogramathi alchemy. Quality is where you need to go.
Volume has been working pretty well so far, Theo said, shrugging thements off.
It has, and getting more stills is fine, Zarali said, letting out a breath. Theo could tell his attitude toward quality distition bothered her. She was too kind to mention it. Would you argue that higher quality potions sell for more? Would you agree that the higher tier potion, the harder it is to increase that quality?
I dont disagree, Theo said with a solemn nod. My preference is a bnced approach between volume and quality.
We can work with that, Zarali said. Think of how your still functions. It heats reagents with water, extracting the desired property and then condolences it into a liquid. Heat, condensation, essence.
Theo repeated the three parts of the process, it had been his life since he arrived and he was quite familiar with it.
What happens if you run an essence through the still again?
Theo shrugged. Depends on the essence. Ive only done it once, but it should increase the purity of the resulting essence.
The problem being, you lose some essence in the process, Zarali said, a grin spreading across her face. She gestured to the top of the [Drogramath Still], where a pipe connected to the lid. What if we redistilled everything in-ce?
Are you going to suggest we put another still on top of my stills, cause that sounds stupid, Theo said.
Only because you said it, Zarali said. She waved his suggestion away with a dismissive hand. We can create attachments for the equipment that replicate the effects of distition on a smaller scale, and we can do it in sequence. I want to work with Throk to create a [Bubble te Artifice] that takes essence, in vapor form, through the bottom, redistills it in ce, then sends it along.
But that gave Theo another thought. His eyes went for the funnels that sat on the table. They led over to small, 100 unit storage tanks near the wall where he could flush them out to therge 1,000 unit storage tanks outside. Redistilling essences to create better quality essence was nice, especiallying up against the third tier of essences in the distant future, but why was that a separate process? With a genius artificer in town, and enough money to fund the project, why shouldnt he expand his equipment further?
Thats interesting, Theo said, cupping his chin in his hand. I know I can run the pressure vessel on processed essence, but what about vaporized essence?
Lord Drogramath, Zarali said, sping her hands together and letting out a heavy sigh. She crossed the room, wrapping her arms around him andughing. Hes learning! Ill never doubt your wisdom again, my patron.
She pulled away, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. Theo thought for a moment that she must have thought he was an idiot. He started with nothing here. The knowledge he gained on alchemy was through arduous experimentation and hed only been at it for the current season.
So, its possible? Theo asked.
Possible, and the correct way to do things, Zarali said. Vaporized essence should be easier to send under pressure.
Theo narrowed his eyes. His intuition said that Belgar hadnt ever made it that far. He knew their equipment had to be rough, since they refused to join society atrge. The alchemist shrugged thements off, not wanting to spit in the face of good advice. They went over the redesign together, and it was a fairly simple design that relied on Throks uncanny skills. The still would remain as it was, a simple pot-bellied heating device, but everything after that would change. Zarali wanted a stack of bubble tes over the output on the top. It would mix with enchanted water, and force the vapor through another refinement process. A treated copper tube would force the vapor in a loop, entering the top of a small pressure vessel next to the still.
After that, it just needs to be cooled to condense. I see a few problems with my design, but only because Im so used to looking at it from a normal perspective, Zarali said, a wide smile hanging on her face. With an artificer in your pocket, we can ensure the vapor stays at the right temperature as its pressurized.
The n was solid. It was two-fold, of course. The first part with the bubble tes would get Theo to level 30, his intuition said that much. It would ovee the difficulty of refining reagents above level 20. Then, theyd apply the required pressure to turn a regr essence into the second tier of essences. What he had to do to send them into the third tier was beyond him, but the design was adaptive. They could add as many things as they wanted in sequence before the condenser coils. By the time they finished working out the fine details, namely the requirements from Throk, the [Pozwa Horns] were done distilling. Theo inspected a sample with the priestess.
[Reveal Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
1:1 refinement in pressure vessels
Increased purity from refinement
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of reveal.
I get a strange sense from this essence, Zarali said, casting her gaze over the shrine as though it would help.
Thats what I felt, Theo said, setting up a 2 unit ss vial on the table. Lets try a standard reaction.
The standard reaction was what made consumable potions. It was 1 unit of essence, 1 unit of [Purified Water], and any catalyst. Theo had been using his [Iron Shavings]tely, but defaulted to [Copper Shavings] since this was a first tier reaction. The vial bubbled immediately, sending both him and Zarali scattering to find cover behind nearby furniture. The vial exploded, sending shards of ss zipping through theb and peppering the wooden walls. They waited for some time before emerging to find a scorch mark on the table.
Nope, Theo said. Thats going to be the same reaction for my other methods.
Theos [Drogramath Alchemy Core] whispered, but the meaning was faint. A shudder ran through Zarali and she turned to him with concern.
Close your eyes, she instructed. If you removed your mark and that ne this would be easier.
But Theo wouldnt trust doing that. Not now with the breath of Drogramath down his neck. A whisper was more than enough for him and he closed his eyes. Images shed through his mind. Treated copper. Imbued ss. That was it. The whispers gave him nothing more, but they left understanding. With an increasingly high [Intelligence] score and formidable [Wisdom], Theo put the pieces together. Hed made a potion that he ced in the detergent ss before, because of the way it reacted. The [Potion of Infusion] imbued materials with an alchemically neutral property. This was a different kind of essence, but adjacent. The purpose of the essence wasnt to brew it into a potion, but to infuse an object with the property.
There were problems with this application, though. The object needed to be inert, so he couldnt use anything made of base metals. Living objects wouldnt work either, they would cause a reaction. Magical items would reject it entirely. Theo had an idea, darting from theb and scooping a rock that fitfortably in the palm of his hand and rushed back into theb. The alchemist generated an open-topped sk, filled it with the essence, scrubbed the rock of all dirt and dropped it in.
What are you doing? Zarali asked.
Watch, Theo said, pointing at the rock. It bubbled. Im infusing the rock with the [Reveal] property. If it works, the stone will hold the property.
To what end? Zarali asked, crossing her arms.
Theres no end, Theo said. This is just an experiment. If the rock takes the essence, then I have a direction to move in.
The pair watched as the rock bubbled away, clinking against the side of the sk but the reaction grew no more vigorous than that. It settled after a moment and Theo retrieved a pair of tongs, removing the rock and setting it on the table. The excess essence seemed to have spent itself, bing inert. Theo inspected the strange rock.
[Reveal Construct]
[Alchemy Construct]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Poor Quality
Emits a constant field of [Reveal] as long as the construct is powered.
Material:
Stone (Poor Quality)
Effect:
Creates a 1 halm bubble around the construct that removes stealth from any target.
What in the realms is that? Zarali asked, stooping low to inspect the construct.
What the hell is a halm? Theo asked,ughing.
A unit of measure. About this big, Zarali said, gesturing with her hands. Seemed like half a foot to his eyes. How do you not know measures of distance?
Theo shrugged. People in Broken Tusk often used rtive height measurements in the way they spoke, never referring to how tall they actually were.
Its not active, Theo said, stooping close to inspect the rock further. Seams of light ran through the rock now, as though it were imbued with the essence directly. The alchemist understood this was a mostly useless item, but it was a step in an interesting direction. Hed never heard of alchemy constructs, and he doubted anyone else had either. Too many handsid themselves on this one, pushing Theo to create the construct. Between Drogramath giving him the answer and Fenian delivering the Pozwa, the alchemist had to wonder how long someone would take to figure this out on their own.
Feed it mana, Theo said after a moment. He didnt trust himself to do so in the real world. The description said it required power to operate.
Zarali shrugged, holding her palm above the thing to allow a trickle of purple me to pour over the rock. A bubble sprung up around the rock, flickering for only a moment before the construct shattered.
This is amazing, Zarali said, her brows knitted tightly. Aplete failure, but amazing.
Theo stood back, looking at the shattered stone on his table. This was entirely unexpected, leading him to question what else hed missed with the base essences. He made a mental note before moving on for the day. The essence soaked into the rock, imbuing it with its property. Mana activated the rock, which was like a catalyst. In the alchemists mind, it was storing the power of the reagent in a medium, and activating it at ater date. It was the fourth method of performing Drogramathi Alchemy. Constructs.
Chapter 3.7: Geared For War
Chapter 3.7: Geared For War
Theo spent the rest of his day fiddling with the alchemy construct idea. Zarali stuck around for a while, but once Tresk returned home she departed. The Marshling spent her day patrolling the walls of Broken Tusk and seemed to have little interest in the constructs. She was always interested in things that would affect her life the most over the shortest time, and since the construct could barely hold its form she didnt care.
You can really do more dungeons, Theo said as they departed for Xams tavern.
Today, Xam hadid all her food outside in a buffet style. Everyone was guaranteed two meals a day during the festival, which was just a perk expected by the townspeople. Theo was more than happy to provide half of the funding for the event, and the effects were in on everyones faces. They were having a great time. The food tonight was a variation on Zee bread and a cheese sauce with shredded wolf meat. It was delicious, as always.
Ill do more dungeons when Im sure youre safe, Tresk said.
Someone caught their attention, and they turned, giving their greetings and well-wishes for the end of season festival.
I can take care of myself, Theo said.
Tresk let out augh, doubling over and pping her knobbly knees. Yeah, right. Your [Dexterity] is so low, you couldnt stop a one-legged Marsh Wolf.
That much was true. [Dexterity] influenced reaction time and speed, and it was his lowest score. Going from 8 [Dexterity] to 20, which would be an eptable number, wasnt possible. At most, Theo could expect to get somewhere in the mid-teens with the help of gear. It also wasnt workable for him to drink potions all the time to keep that attribute up.
We can bridge that problem somewhat, but I dont think Ill need to fight, Theo said.
Because Ive been shadowing you! Tresk said, stomping her foot. We have to figure out something that works for you.
If it means you go back into the dungeons, Im alright with that, Theo said.
Tresk grabbed him by the arm, dragging him south toward the Newt and Demon. He stumbled along, not willing to stop the Marshling when she had something in her head. When she wanted something done, there was nothing he could say to stop her. Not if she really wanted it. When they entered theb, she began rummaging through Azrugs many crates. The shop wasrge, following the footprint of the entire building except for the staircase at the back. A counter dominated the front of the store, but shelves and tables were neatly ced along most of the walls. One wall was dedicated to a row of [Dimensional Storage Crates], which was full of the shopkeepers equipment.
Why does he have so many things? Tresk grumbled, pulling items out one after the other and shaking her head. Look at all this stuff. Yeah, we can make you a set with this.
Theo just stood by, prepared to wear anything Tresk suggested. She found a shirt, pants, two rings, and a pair of boots,ying them out on the floor and smiling.
Azrug might be mad, Theo said.
Well, you own all the stuff so he can deal with it, Tresk said. He has a few excellent pieces of equipment here. Right, so were going to make up for yourck of [Dexterity]. Put everything on and we can go over it.
Theos preference for magical equipment was stuff that made his alchemy and herbalism better, which were both rare enough. He was inching closer to doing this himself, since Tresk refused to go in the dungeons by herself. The alchemist didnt need to win a fight, he just needed to get away and in range of the towers in town. He needed to survive long enough that someone else could help him.
Theo inspected the two rings first.
[Swift Motions Ring]
[Ring]
Rare
An enchanted copper ring.
Effect:
+5 Dexterity for 10s after withdrawing something from your inventory.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
[Dexterous Ring]
[Ring]
Rare
An enchanted silver ring, etched with designs.
Effect:
+2 Dexterity
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
It was easy to see where she was going with this. In any realistic engagement, Theo would need to withdraw things from his inventory and the [Swift Motions Ring] would give him a burst of short-lived [Dexterity]. The [Dexterous Ring] gave him a t +2 to the stat, which put him at 10. When he slipped it over his finger, he felt his body go over that cliff. He flexed his hands, noting how the motion of his fingers felt smoother.
Youre not stupid. Were going to make you a potion-thrower, Tresk said. Stack enough [Dexterity] so you can toss a potion and get out of there.
Theo nodded, checking a pair of cloth bracers next. He rolled the sleeves of his silk robe up, slipping them over his wrists. They were perfectly cool, as most magical items were. He inspected the bracers.
[Cloth Bracers of Tossing]
[Bracers]
Rare
Enchanted Karatan wool cloth bracers.
Effect:
Increase the uracy of any thrown item.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
Makes sense, Theo said. My uracy isnt great.
Next.
Theo removed his robe, discarding his old, tattered undergarments in favor of the new, magical clothes.
[Shirt of the Dexterous]
[Cloth Shirt]
Rare
Scaling
Magical shirt, granting the user a bonus to dexterity.
Effect:
+2 Dexterity
[Pants of the Dexterous]
[Cloth Pants]
Rare
Scaling
Magical pants, granting the user a bonus to dexterity.
Effect:
+2 Dexterity
I have a pair of each of those, Tresk said. Amazing that Azrug hasnt sold them, theyre absurd. Scaling gear is good, but Ive only seen it with one or two effects.
That put Theo to 14 [Dexterity]. He never wanted to stack gear to raise his attributes, but this made the most sense. They could burden him with magical items to make up for his horrible attributes while he put his free points into the ones that mattered to him. Both the pants and shirt were made of some material that hardly mattered. Magical items felt mostly the same, smooth like silk and cool as a nights breeze. As Theo put his robe back on, he appreciated how nice they felt.
Boots, Tresk said, pointing at a pair of boots.
Theo put the boots on before inspecting the pair.
[Boots of Swiftness]
[Leather Boots]
Rare
Enchanted leather boots.
Effect:
+2 Dexterity
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
Hooray, youre geared for war, Tresk said tly. When you take something out of your inventory, youre going to be at 21 [Dexterity]. That puts you in a realm topete with me.
We could get more [Dexterity], Theo said with a shrug. So I can just sit at 20 at all times.
Maybe, but the system wont let you wear two nes, Tresk said, scratching her chin. She looked him up and down, pointing at the feathered hat on his head. We could rece the hat, but I think its pretty good.
Theo inspected his hat.
[Plume of Defiance]
[Cloth Hat]
Epic
Scaling
Hat granted to the alchemist with the determination to defend his home.
Effect:
During a siege, all potions used by defenders will be 1.25 times more effective.
+2 Vigor
The +2 [Vigor] was too nice to get rid of, and his ne was also too valuable to remove. It was the ne given by Sulvan metouched, providing him the highest amount of [Strength]. He would need to be happy with the 16 [Dexterity].
Alright, now lets go to sleep, Tresk said, suddenly sounding much morefortable. He could feel the ease at which she spoke, something about the spiky edges of her personality fading away.
Theo could im he wasnt tired, but that wasnt true. Even if his stamina wasnt dropping low, he was mentally tired. Not lingering on the edge of copse, but tired enough to look forward to the Dreamwalk, even if Tresk intended to drill him inbat. They retreated upstairs a short time after the sun dipped below the horizon, pressed their foreheads together to get their Tarahek experience, then drifted off into the Dreamwalk.
Tresk arrived first. Theo could tell because when he arrived, he was standing in the Newt and Demonsb. He figured out what her n was quickly enough, and mentally filled his inventory with potions and bombs. His inventory was always empty when he arrived in the Dreamwalk. It only took a few moments for the shadows in the corners of the room to stir. The Marshling might have been a stealth specialist, but her subtlety was oftencking.
Theo withdrew a modified [Basic Freezebomb] from his inventory, and waited only a few heartbeats. That was enough time for the 2 assassins Tresk had spawned to jump from the corners of the room, driving at him with daggers shing. He felt his limbs before hemanded them, his [Dexterity] now sitting at 21 since he took the bomb from his inventory. It shattered against the face of the first assassin, sending him stumbling back. Threads of ice surrounded the man, shooting off to ensnare the next one and then the alchemist fled theb, taking the steps with deft precision until he was on the hard, cobbled road.
The bomb hed used had the [Web] modifier, and he inspected it.
[Basic Freezebomb]
[Web]
[Bomb] [Modified Bomb]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Shatter against a surface to release ice that roots the target.
Effect:
Tendrils of ice shoot from the affected target, applying a weaker version of this effect to 5 adjacent enemies.
The [Web] modifier was one of his best. It multiplied the effects of a potion, usually connecting them with a web. After a moment, Tresk appeared at his side with a wide smile.
The [Dexterity] paid off, she said, waving her hand. Theo knew she was dismissing the creatures she created. Lets prove a point. Take the equipment off and try to run that again.
It wasnt worth running the exercise again. Theo knew he couldnt outpace those assassins without the extra movement speed, especially that provided by withdrawing items from his inventory. But he obeyed, allowing the Marshling to prove her point. Thats when Theo learned something aboutbat in this world. He nned to overpower the two assassins, relying on his high [Strength] attribute to get them, but they were too slippery. Everytime he went to grab one, they simply dodged out of the way, keeping a safe distance from his powerful grasp. They eventually overwhelmed him, killing him with a painless death.
I summoned level 30 assassins, Tresk said, nodding. You dont have to be faster than them, just fast enough.
Theo nodded. He felt himself falling into a familiar rhythm. On Earth, he did minimal hand-to-handbat, but he was still trained. This reminded him of his work back then, part of those horrid death-squads. Berlin shed in his mind again, but he pushed it away. He wasnt ready to confront that fully. But other memories came back. He was cornered in an alleyway, forced to fight his way out. Instead of killing his opponents, he would often send them off bnce and run away. He exined it to Tresk, knowing that she was the only person he could trust with his grief.
Well, thats a good start, Tresk said with a nod. Fighting is a lot about what Attributes you have, but equal parts about what you know.
Theo couldnt help but smile at the woman. Hed been responsible for more lives ended than she could ever understand, but the undertone of her message was clear. This wasnt Earth. He couldnt run away and order a tactical strike on an area. The knowledge tranted. He had to run away and get his many towers to fire on the target, or rely on a potion to take care of the problem.
Let me show you something, Theo said, producing a [Reveal Construct] with a thought. He couldnt make anything he hadnt already created, forcing to give her an example with the useless thing. Go stealth, please. And dont move, I wont be able to track you.
Tresk obeyed, vanishing from sight. Theo didnt trust his mana usage outside of the Dreamwalk, but in here it was safe. He activated the stone with a drip of fiery, purple mana then tossed it in her general direction. The stone shattered in the air, but not before the field passed through where the Marshling was standing. She looked shocked, her eyes darting around as though hed performed some horrible act.
What was that? Tresk asked.
Theo produced another for her to inspect. She took the stone, rolling it over in her hands. This kinda sucks.
Yeah, but think of the principle, Theo said.
Tresk tilted her head to the side, bringing the stone close to her face and furrowing her wet little brow. How?
Imagine that, but bigger, Theo said. He couldnt replicate an example for her. Shed just have to take his word for it.
How much bigger? Tresk asked.
I always think about the extremes, Theo said. Imagine a field asrge as Broken Tusk. Now imagine that it can absorb other properties from my essences. A field that cures diseases, sets enemies on fire, blocks magic. The applications are endless.
Is this still alchemy? Tresk asked. Seems like magic to me. And dont think this gets you out of running drills.
I think it consumes either the essence, the medium, or both after use, Theo said, shrugging. He ignored herments about the drills. This still counts as alchemy, although alchemy is kinda magic if you think about it.
Tresk narrows his eyes at him. Youre already far enough away from the Qavelli alchemists. You really wanna just go all out like that?
I do, Theo said. The alchemist swiped his hand, changing the scene. They were standing by the river, near the bridge outside of the eastern wall of town. Thats the n for the whole town. Now, send more assassins after me.
Theo equipped his gear again, but Tresk refused to summon them immediately. She told him to go about his work and shed insert the attack whenever she thought his guard was down, running off to train on her own for the time being. He shrugged it off, happy enough to know that at least he couldnt get hurt for real here. The alchemist spent his time working with his mana and going over his brewing process. While he wanted to test Zaralis idea for an in-line refinement process, he couldnt get the Dreamwalk to allow him. He felt a gentle buzz in his mind every time he did, rejecting the concept wholesale.
There were few improvements he could make to his process while in the Dreamwalk, and his practice came down to just repeating the steps he knew until it was second nature. Theo could experiment with temperatures, making a catalog in his mind for all the reagents and the best temperatures for the run. Common ingredients were the easiest to work with, but he found cultivated reagents became more difficult. They required more attention than their un-cultivated counterparts, but he made a mental note of those.
Tresks attack came when Theo least expected it. He could still hear her battle raging in the distance when four assassins came from nowhere. His tactic fromst time didnt work, and he was quickly overwhelmed by the sudden press of daggers that seemed to fly from everywhere. The Marshling stood in the distance, tutting.
You fell for the distraction, Tresk said. You need to be focused at all times.
Theo just smiled, watching as the Marshling vanished. No amount of preparedness training would help him here. He needed an advantage that he could keep in his inventory at all times, and the constructs would help with that. The alchemist took part in Tresks drills, never expecting to ovee whatever gaggle of assassins she sent after him as he practiced his alchemy. To his surprise, he got better at evading them. The concept that he could be overtaken at any moment had him keep a mental finger on the trigger of his inventory, ready to open it and throw a modified [Freezebomb] at the closest attacker.
Tresk seemed happy enough with his progress, but the painless sensation of being killed by the fake assassins wasnt pleasant. He spent the rest of the night in that cycle of alchemy and defense. While he didnt elevate himself to the high standards of hispanion, he got slightly better. It was like awakening old memories that wanted to stay dormant, bubbling them to the surface and scooping off the useful stuff. By the end, he was ready to see the light of the real world. To practice real alchemy, which would fuel his advancement.
Chapter 3.8: Quality Goes a Long Way
Chapter 3.8: Quality Goes a Long Way
Theo woke the next morning with one thing on his mind. During his time in the Dreamwalk, with Tresks constant interruptions, he realized this was a chance to understand which potions would be most useful for adventurers. He could simply take a poll to figure out which worked best for them, but people rarely knew what they wanted. In the dreaming realm, he could experiment forever without getting tired. As he walked with Tresk to eat their breakfast, his mind rolled over the possibilities.
Bombs were obvious. They came in as many vors as he could think of and took modifiers well. For drinkable potions, there were too many to count. His n was to root attackers with the Freezebomb, then pop a few potions to let him escape. [Lesser Barksin Potions] would have been useful, but they diminished the imbibers speed. [Lesser Sprinting Potions] were obvious, as were the potions that increased stats. Theo wanted to put his mind to the problem, brewing the most potent of these potions to ease Tresks worries. If she saw him put genuine effort into the problem, shed go back to doing dungeons.
[Roc Berries] have a [Retreat] property, Theo said as they sat down in the tavern.
The Marsh Wolf Tavern was busier than normal. Most citizens of Broken Tusk didnt eat breakfast at the tavern, but since it was paid for they seemed more likely to do so. Alise caught their attention,ing to have a seat with them and breaking Theos train of thought for a moment. Only then did he realize how obsessed he was over the issue, mentally kicking himself as to not do the town a disservice. The woman seemed bubbly today, sitting down and settling in with a smile on her face.
I made a deal with a trader, Alise said, setting something down on the table. Theo recognized it as a [House Seed Core]. No, I didnt overpay.
Why do we need more houses? Tresk asked, tapping her foot impatiently. Theo could tell she was hungry. Hed be lying if he said he wasnt.
We had an influx of people joining the town, Alise said with a curt nod. Almost 70 citizens.
Thest time Theo checked, it was somewhere around 50. A sudden sh of concern spread through his body. Those assassins Tresk exposed him to werent doing him any favors.
Think they would mind signing a basic contract? Theo asked.
A few of your powers extend to me, Alise said, her grin growing broader. Theyve already signed something to the effect of I shall not destroy Broken Tusk, her interests, h h.
Alise was his subordinate in the administration structure of Broken Tusk. The advantage of his [Governance Core] was the sharing of abilities. Hisbat-rted abilities went directly to the military structure, such as his tactical map, and his administration-rted abilities went to his helpers. Alise was for more than just a helper, he knew that. If theborers and craftspeople of Broken Tusk were the muscle and bones, she was the blood. She was the person who kept everything running, leaving high-level decisions to Theo but managing the day-to-day things that would burden him quickly.
Perfect, Theo said, leaning back as a server came with his food and tea. How are we distributing them?
No business at breakfast, Tresk said, glowering.
If we dont do business at meals, business wont get done, Theo said. Tresk bristled, but he felt her concede to his words.
Theyre being distributed based on skill and experience, Alise said, smiling as her food was delivered as well. She took a bite, swallowing the delicious, cheesy food before continuing. More concerns about childcare are springing up.
Thats understandable, Theo said. Can we fund something like that?
With our current deals, yes, Alise said. Ive secured a contract with that gentleman from Qavell, but it was a pittance. He wasnt as illustrious as he imed. We can im the adventurers tax, but I think thats a mistake.
Agreed. That should stay with them, Theo said. Last time I was in a pinch, Aarok was more than happy to help fund the defense of the city.
Why dont people just pay for childcare? Tresk asked, snorting augh. If you got 10 kids, charge the people 1 copper a head.
Theo had never thought of it like that. Even if it was something as insignificant as a single copper per child, per day, the town could supplement that. He spotted Zansal, a resident adventurer and member of the Khahari race. They were desert cat-people, as far as he knew, hailing from a continent to the east. He knew little about the continent, only what his cores wanted to whisper to him, but she was an honest person. She also had a child, something that often impeded her adventuring. He waved her over.
The first thing he noticed about Zansal was that she acted rather sheepish. It was as though shed wronged him, although he couldnt remember if shed done anything recently. Both she and her husband, Zankir, kept to themselves in the adventurers district of town. She averted her gaze, staring at the floor and performing a rigid bow.
How much would you pay for daily childcare? Theo asked, sweeping his suspicions under the rug.
Zansal seemed surprised about the question, searching the faces of Alise and Tresk before meeting his gaze. Theo narrowed his eyes. His intuition went wild when she looked into his eyes, a kind of guilt burning hard. He made a mental note but wouldnt act.
10 copper. At least that much, Zansal said after a long moment. If Kir and I could hit the dungeon, we could afford to pay a lot more.
Theo turned to Alise and nodded. Zansal seemed to take that as a dismissal, slinking away but not unnoticed by the alchemist.
Take the temperature of that price, Theo said. See if everyone else with kids will pay for it. n for a school, anyway. Use a [Seed Core House], or a specialized building if you can find it. Find the perfect nursemaid for our kids.
Alise nodded. Theo sensed a swell of pride in her chest. She was always so absurdly good at her job, he often found himself to be useless for the day-to-day things. But thats where the alchemist shined. Taking care of therge decisions that were hard to make. It was more a matter of taking suggestions from the townsfolk and applying their ideas for the betterment of the town, but it could be difficult. Only after the thought had lingered in the air enough did Theo notice Zansal slipping away, his intuition and cores singing that something was fishy.
What have Zansal and Zankir been up to? Theo asked Tresk through their privatemunication.
He never suspected them of anything nefarious, because bringing a child to the town meant they had something to lose.
Running the dungeons, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes on the Khahari woman slinking away. Your suspicions are flooding through the core, buddy. Anything you want to share.
Just a feeling, Theo said, knowing that his feel for things was often urate. Tail her for the day, if you can.
I love sneaking around and spying on people, Tresk said, letting out an audible sigh. She vanished from her seat as the Khahari woman slipped out the door.
The moment someone gets a travel power, they use it. Constantly, Alise said, shaking her head. What else do we need to do?
Even with Theos amazing memory, things often slipped through the cracks. He could recall anything hed heard or seen at a whim, but that didnt mean his mind was constantly lingering on those topics. If he didnt try to remember, how would he remember?
Increase production, get a town hall, help Throk with his pipe system, Theo said. Im sure Im missing something, but thats all I can remember.
Right. Im off, Alise said, standing and departing without saying another word.
Theo had a few ns for the day. He finished his food and tea and departed for the quarry. It was a reach to assume he could create anything useful with his alchemy constructs, but it started with good materials. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core] sent waves of approval through his body when he thought about the high-quality stone produced at Zizs quarry. Laden with [Dexterity] gear, the alchemy made amazing time to the quarry. Compared to his ponderous way of movement before the equipment, he was now moving at an absurd clip.
Ziz Rotgut originally worked for Perg. He and his gang of 4borers were her muscle, hauling fetid hides around and moving them through the stages of animal hide processing. Ziz always kept his head shaved, exposing his red, almost pink scalp. He was shorter than most Half-Ogres, but the broadness of his shoulders made up for that. The roundness of his belly didnt help matters in having him stand apart from his kin, but like most Half-Ogres he was kind and hard working.
Theo! Ziz shouted, trundling over to scoop the alchemist up into a hug.
The quarry rested at the foot of a small mountain. Theo was never sure whether he should call it arge hill or a small mountain, but the terrain was rocky and sat high enough to give a splendid view of the town. The quarry itself was little more than a boundary marker, designating the sloped pit. White stone caught the light of a cloudless sun, seams of gems cutting through theyers. A woodcutters shack sat near the hole,rger than the alchemist remembered it but still quite small.
Looks as though the stone is regenerating, Theo said, finally released from the mans powerful grip.
We have a few upgrades, Ziz said, grinning. How have you been?
Theo updated him on the discovery of alchemical constructs, detailing his theory about the stone. Putting his theories into words made him realize he only had half the truth, and more questions than anyone on this could answer.
Thats funny, Ziz said, retreating into the stoneworkers shop to retrieve a ledger. I had a wizard stop by, not our wizard, to buy some stone. Said something about using them to bind spells.
Would you mind cutting me a few blocks? Theo asked, gesturing to the stack of stone outside of the shack.
How big?
Quarter halm by eighth halm, Theo said, feeling a swell of pride for using a standardized measuring system for once.
Huh? Ziz asked.
Theo approximated the measurements for the Half-Ogre. It would be a rectangle of stone, small enough to fit in his hand for ease of experimentation. The thickness didnt matter, but as Ziz got to work the alchemist instructed him to make it no thicker than the width of his hand. When a craftsman worked on something, the system gave them an amount of wiggle room. He didnt need to chip away at the stone to make a shape. The stoneworker simply smacked a chisel with a hammer on one spot, and the block split into sheets.
How about that? Ziz asked.
The sections he made were perfect. They were small enough to fit into Theos hand, but thick enough to soak up a lot of essence. As expected, the quality of the stone was perfect. The more pieces he had for experimentation, the better.
Absolutely perfect, Theo said, taking 100 small stone bs into his inventory. I can see this method of alchemy benefiting everyone, but I sense its a long way off.
Ziz shrugged. Whatever works. Looks like exports are going to make up most of your ie.
Thats the towns ie, Theo said. Speaking of, I appreciate the stone youre donating.
Ah, well, Ziz said, rubbing his sweaty, bald head. Dont worry so much about that.
Spoken like a true Half-Ogre. Theo and Ziz talked for some time about little things, such as both their advancement. The alchemist would hit level 13 with both his Drogramath cores soon, while his [Governance Core] stillgged behind. The Dreamwalk had done wonders for his advancement, but his administration-based core couldnt level there, not from what hed seen. He mentioned none of this to Ziz, preferring to keep his Tarahek abilities as secret as possible.
Theo departed, finding his way to the heart of the town. Every day, near the imposing monolith which represented the center of town, a portal opened. Broken Tusks resident wizard opened it daily for the adventurers, giving them a quick and safe route to the [Swamp Dungeon]. When the cool mana of the portal washed over the alchemist this time, he braced himself but felt none of the horrible effects. Previously taking the portal, he found himself sprawled on the ground for minutes at a time. This time it was as though he passed through a cold waterfall, then suddenly found himself standing in a stone tower, the effects of an entric nar Mage hanging from the walls.
The tower was protected with powerful wards that sent monsters away or killed them outright. Theo made his way to the top of the tower, finding Xolsa sanding and adjusting some magical device. The alchemist saw why those wards were needed, looking down into a mass of monsters beating themselves against his defenses. Monsters appeared not only in monster waves. From Theos understanding they could appear anywhere there was magic, and since the swamp was filled with more Drogramathi magic than any ce on the, they spawned in droves here.
Yes, who is it? Xolsa said. That struck Theo as odd. The wizard normally recognized him with some manner of magical senses, as though he was expecting him before he arrived.
Just your friendly mayor. Coming to pick your brain, Theo said.
Xolsa turned around, startled. He was an extra-nar Elf, the Baratheir, with stark white skin that bore seams of blue energy. The pattern on his skin seemed to shift, but Theo never understood what caused the tapestry to shift. The Elf looked at him for a long time before responding, squinting his eyes and scanning him up and down. After a moment, he turned back to his work.
Something is different about you, Xolsa said, prodding a piece of wood into a strange copper device.
I changed nothing, Theo said, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Theo withdrew one of Zizs stones from his inventory, a clean empty open-topped sk, and a beaker of his [Reveal Essence]. He ced the stone inside, drawing the Elfs attention again through the nging of stone against ss.
Uninvited, the wizard came to sit on the hard stone and observe the reaction. Theo could tell the essence liked the marble better than the garden rock he used thest time. He could also tell the effect was far less potent outside of hisb, and he made a mental note.
Whats that? Xolsa asked.
I wanted to ask you that, Theo said. He exined how alchemy constructs worked, to the best of his knowledge. Wizards were often a trove of knowledge.
Yes, wizards have ess to a simr skill, Xolsa said. My senses say youre not doing it right, but I suppose you know that.
Theo nodded to the Elf, smiling. Naturally.
The personality trait the pair shared was the excitement of experimentation. Xolsa was the foremost expert on all matters rted to extra-nar energy interaction, even at level 20. The Elfs im was that he was the most knowledgeable about the subject on the, but Theo doubted it. There were ces neither of them had seen in the world, opening up infinite possibilities for powerful [nar Mages].
I understand this in concept, no further. Magic-users can ce a spell in an object, activating itter. Constructs can be devilishlyplex. Artifices, for example, are a cousin to constructs, Xolsa said, watching as the stone stopped bubbling in the essence. I think its done.
Theo withdrew a pair of treated tongs from his inventory, withdrew the stone and put everything else back into his inventory. Before carrying on, he inspected the new construct to confirm his theory about stone quality influencing the end product.
[Reveal Construct]
[Alchemy Construct]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Emits a constant field of [Reveal] as long as the construct is powered.
Material:
Stone (Perfect Quality)
Effect:
Creates a 20 halm bubble around the construct that removes stealth from any target.
Much better, Theo said. Can you drip some mana into it? I dont have that much control over mine, yet.
I can help you with that, Xolsa said, smiling. The Elf rarely smiled. If youd like to do some training.
I would, Theo said, gesturing to the stone.
Xolsa smiled and held his hand out, palm down. Mana built up on the mans hand, dripping onto the construct. Unlike Theos mana, the [nar Mages] mana resembled the seams of blue on his skin, shifting as the drops fell on the device. After only a moment, the field sprung to life. It consumed them in a bubble, tingling over their skin.
Ah, I can already sense the weakness, Xolsa said, pointing at the construct. Small cracks were forming in the center of the hewn marble, tracing a spider-web throughout its structure. The pair observed for minutes until the stone finally shattered.
Thatsted a while,pared to myst one, Theo said, exining hisst setup.
Quality goes a long way, but theres something else, Xolsa said. A few ws in the design. First, it targets everyone. Second, theres no power regtion method. Third, the magical instructions in the stone are iplete.
Theo understood the first two problems with no exnation. How are the instructions iplete?
I dont think youre meant to use the essence that way, Xolsa said. Gambling is for fools who wish to dispose of their coin, but Id bet a gold that you missed a step.
Theo nodded. That made enough sense to him, he was improvising with this essence as it was. Essences rarely interacted with something without first going through a transformation process. The detergent-style potions needed to be mixed with water in precise quantities, bridging the gap of their power with another essence. Potion-style reactions were performed in a one-to-one reaction between [Purified Water] and an essencebined with a catalyst. The alchemist was amazed this even worked, in hindsight.
I suspect you might need a live medium to make this work, Xolsa said. But thats just a guess. Now, would you care to practice summoning your mana?
Chapter 3.9: Equipment Upgrades
Chapter 3.9: Equipment Upgrades
Theo wouldnt have trusted even Zarali to instruct him on how to produce mana reliably. The system covered that for him with his water enchanting, but without a skill rted to the act, it was up to him to bridge the gap. Xolsa exined it to him. The alchemist could grab a chisel and a hammer, practicing to create the stone tablets Ziz made for him. One day he might get rather good at it, but it would neverpare to what someone could do with a [Stonecutters Core]. With one deft smack, Ziz could create the tablets with minimal effort. But that was where the wizard advised caution. Reliance on cores to do everything often led to devastation after level 30.
Because control is important, Xolsa said, summoning a pool of shimmer blue mana. You can think of it as fuel, but without my exercises it wille out explosively.
While the wizards instruction had been helpful, Theo didnt want to tell him how hed understood the dangers of mana. The exercises were simple enough. To practice, all he needed to do was imagine the mana drawing from his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], pulling it to the surface of his skin, and keeping it there. Xolsa assured him the process was moreplex than that, but the exercise would work well enough.
Mastery over mana aspects takes time, Xolsa said, nodding. You could understand Drogramaths power as though it were your own breath, only to be crushed by Zauls. Every form has a unique vor. Different preferences.
If that were the case, then Drogramaths mana was curious, ingenious, and determined. It was unyielding, yet it wanted to roam. Like the Demonic God himself, it was a contradiction. Theo was happy that Xolsa would spend the rest of the day helping him understand that strange resource. The wizard had better things to do, but the alchemists interest in the topic surely fueled his support.
When Theo finally left the tower, returning through the portal without issue, he understood something about bringing mana out. It wasnt enough for him to try without supervision, but he was happy with the progress. Tresk attended the nightly feast with him, rying what shed observed from Zansal during the day. This sent Theos suspicions of the woman up in smoke. She just spent time with her child, joined the other adventurers on the walls, and helped around town. The alchemist brushed his concerns away, eating the strange, spicy stir-fry that Xam had prepared. It was good, but he was distracted.
Tresk was disappointed when they entered the Dreamwalk. Theo hadnt created the potions he promised to make, meaning that he couldnt test them. At first she seemed angry about that fact, but softened with a grin on her face.
Youll just have to suffer, Tresk said.
True to her word, his entire time in the Dreamwalk was made difficult. Theo fell into a constant state of awareness, but not paranoia. Even with the tools he had, escape became more of an option each time. He reinforced what Xolsa taught him, and made some discoveries about his theory on constructs. The system was avable in its entirety in the Dreamwalk, allowing Theo to scroll through the endless pages while he worked on his alchemy. Something stirred inside him, signifying that his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] had leveled and he immediately switched to tending a field of dream nts before finally inspecting a skill.
[Alchemy Constructs]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Epic
Alchemy constructs can take many forms. Theybine the power of essences with magical bindings and the natural world.
Effect:
Increases the sess of creating a construct.
Constructs require less power to operate.
+1 Intelligence
Requires: Level 15 [Drogramath Herbalism] and Level 15 [Drogramath Alchemy] cores.
Theo would only gain ess to 1 skill at level 15. While Zarali advised him to get [Reagent Deconstruction], he knew that was a long-term thing required to break past level 30. While he had a rocky start with constructs, they could help him now. He saw the potential in those little stone tablets, especially if he had a skill rted to them. The description on the skill also gave him a hint on how to create better constructs, but he still only had theories. He spent the rest of his time in the Dreamwalk dodging assassins and tending his nts until he felt another twinge. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core], [Drogramath Herbalism Core], and his personal level all leveled up. He already nned to dump his free point into [Intelligence], and was eager for the night to end.
When the pair woke in the morning, Theo was greeted with a series of system windows.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 14.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 14.
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.18%).
[Governance Core] leveled up! Level 8.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (1.7%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (1.7%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 13.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
While he didnt expect the [Governance Core] to level up, he wouldnt fight it. He put his free point into [Intelligence], bringing it up to 19 with his modifiers. Once it hit 20, hed reconsider his distribution strategy, but this was fine for now.
Theo made his offering, and went to leave the building, expecting Tresk to be close behind. She grabbed him by the arm and gave him a serious look.
Do you have [Roc Berries]? she asked.
Not enough for a run, Theo said, feeling sheepish under her gaze.
Alright. Were getting some before I leave you for the day. Im not letting you ck.
Theo nodded, being led by the arm to go eat breakfast. They ate quickly, not wasting before heading to the hills to the south, still within the walls of the town. The [Roc Berries] grew there, and were tart, almost chalky berries that had the important [Retreat] property. It would have been better to cultivate the berries to get better potions at the end, but this would do for his testing. Tresk wasnt happy with him promising to brew a potion based on the [Retreat] property and followed him back into theb. To his surprise, Sledge and Throk were leaving when they arrived.
What are you doing here, dad? Tresk asked, eying her father suspiciously.
Zarali hired me, he said, shrugging. Hope it was sanctioned.
Throk was a gruff old Marshling, shorter than Tresk with pale brown skin. He was a cornerstone to Broken Tusks operation. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
Theo, do you have a moment? Throk asked.
To theb, dad, Tresk said, refusing to leave Theos side.
Sledge departed there, wanting nothing of Tresks ire, and the group went up to theb. Theo noticed the work Zarali hired him to do immediately after entering the room. All 3 of his stills had new attachments. A thick pipe ran in a loop to the ground where a new artifice stood. It was much like a smaller still and had an output at the bottom that looped again, running over the table and into a new series of condenser coils. This wasnt exactly what Theo had imagined, but he could see the logic in the design.
Theres them bubbling tes on the top, Throk said, pointing at the thick tubeing from the top of the stills. I wanted to call them agitators, but Zarali insisted. Then, we have vapor condensers at the bottom. Basically, small pressure vessels with refuse releases on the side.
Did she pay you? Theo asked, moving into inspect the new artifices. A system prompt popped for both new attachments.
[Custom Copper Bubble te]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Rare
Created By: Throk
Achieves in-line redistition effects without loss of essence.
Effects:
Increases the quality of resulting essence by 1 grade, up to excellent.
[Custom Vapor Pressure Tank]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Rare
Created By: Throk
Refines essences in vapor form through extreme pressure.
Im all paid up, Throk said,ughing.
Both were amazing. The bubble te just increased the purity of the final essence, which Theo would need going into level 20. But the vapor tank was amazing. He didnt need to run out to the back yard to dump his essence in the massive pressure tanks. ording to Zarali, the vapor needed less pressure to be refined, but he wouldnt take her word for it. He removed the lid of his [Drogramath Still], an action made more awkward by the bubble tes, set his grinder on top and ground 200 units of [Roc Berries] inside.
Throk and Tresk caught up, which amounted to a screaming match in theb about Tresks future. Theo ignored them, dumping his [Enchanted Water] inside and setting the still to work. Their argument grew more intense, but the alchemist went out back to check his nts. To his surprise, the pressure vessels were gone, which was fine with him. He could feel Tresks feelings as he clipped back his nts, pulling weeds and making sure they were watered. She wasnt mad at her father, this was just how theymunicated. As he finished gather his nts, he felt a wave of love fill his heart. They must have gotten to the core of the issue, and as he entered theb again they were hugging.
How many [Monster Cores] do I have left? Theo asked.
Were having a moment, Tresk growled.
Theo bought 200 high-level monster cores thest time his favorite trader was in town, but hed spent most of them. He found them in his [Dimensional Storage Crate] and returned them to his inventory, intent on increasing the size of his greenhouse while Throk and Tresk were having their moment. Of the 200 he bought, there were only 30 left. He went down to the greenhouse and fed motes inside, watching as it grew in size with each level. Every new level for a building gave it more size, maybe 5 halms in whatever direction, but multiples of 5 gave it a new skill. The [Alchemical Garden] hit 15 very quickly, and the options were not incredibly impressive. The system usually listed 3 selections, but only 1 was typically good. He selected the best one.
[Rapid Growth]
Consumetent energy to increase the speed that nts grow within the greenhouse.
That would be absurd. The nts already grew to maturity within a day, but the other options were increased fertilization of the earth and a weed killer. Neither option seemed good, so [Rapid Growth] was the best. He kept feed cores until he was down to a handful. Fortunately, the level 30 cores went a long way and he got the greenhouse to level 20. It was more than twice the original size,rge enough to hold a horde of nts. A single new option appeared, and it was clearly the only one worth selecting.
[Untamed Cultivation]
Increasing the ceiling for how high a nt can be cultivated to 200%.
That changes everything, Theo said, snorting augh.
Cultivation did a few things for reagents. The most important thing, if you asked Zarali, was that it increased the purity of the final essence. Theos main concern with cultivation was how it affected the size of the reagent. For every 10 percent of cultivation, a nt would gain at least a unit in size. A [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] at 100% cultivation was 12 units, which was enough to make 12 potions. He could only imagine that a 200% cultivated root would produce 24 units. It also gave him a clear path for something he wanted to do in the future, which was the hybridization of reagents. But that was a task for another time.
Theo had time to think as he worked in his garden. He could hear the voices of Tresk and Throk from theb upstairs, deciding to give them a moment before he intruded. Only when their voices died down did he go upstairs, finding hispanion smiling there and her father moving to leave. Theo stopped him at the door, dragging him back into theb.
Can you make me something, Throk? Theo asked.
Im always making you stuff, Theo, Throk said, giving him a t look.
Ive been thinking, Theo said, withdrawing a [Seed Core House] from his inventory. He set it down on the table.
Thats always dangerous, Throk said,ughing nervously.
A seed core was the base of all core buildings. They grew magically, fed by monster cores, but the design seemed genius to Theo. It typically had a metal cage containing some seed in the center. With the example on the table, it was an iron mesh cage surrounding a swirling mote of energy that looked like a mix between wood and fire.
How much do you know about seed cores? Theo asked.
Nothing, Throk and Tresk said at the same time.
Same here, Theo said, poking the small sphere. Without waiting for anyones approval, he produced a vial of essence from his inventory and dripped it on the seed core. He gained a shout of concern from Tresk and Throk. Hispanion ripped the bottle of essence from his hand and cast him a re.
Trying to kill us? she asked.
Theyre alchemically neutral, Theo said, shrugging.
Because theyre magic, you dolt, Throk said.
Maybe, Theo said, shrugging. I need you to make me a few cages. Like this. I prefer something with a sp, so I can put stuff inside.
Throk narrowed his eyes at the alchemist. What are you nning? Going to make seed cores?
No, Theo said, waving him off. I just had an idea, based on a skill I can get next level.
Throk grumbled, but nodded. I can do that? Copper? Of course. Well, Im leaving before you blow me up.
Throk departed, not wanting an exnation from Theo, but Tresk remained. The still was done refining the essence and she wanted him to create a potion before he left. She was also interested in his exnation on the seed core, which he returned to his inventory. Theo withdrew a sample of his new essence for inspection.
[Refined Retreat Essence]
[Essence]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of retreat.
It wasnt anything unexpected, but the Theo could feel that it would make a standard potion. He transferred the essence to his inventory and generated a single t-bottomed vial to brew his potion in while exining his idea about the metal cages.
Xolsa gave me a hint about the constructs, although I dont know if he knew exactly what he was saying, Theo said, pulling a vial from his [ssware Artifice]. He said to use a living medium, but thats not what he meant.
Theo mixed the potion with ease, but his mind itched to consult his Basic Drogramath Alchemy book. The mysterious book was written in code that could only be understood once he unlocked skills. He knew that the knowledge he wanted was not there, or that it was still encoded until he unlocked the skill. The potion swirled in the vial, bubbling for a moment before turning a pale green color. He inspected it before Tresk responded to hisment.
[Retreat Potion]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
One second after drinking, the imbiber will be propelled backwards. Distance depends on the quality of the potion.
Effect:
[Retreat] on self.
So, your n is to make a seed core? Tresk asked, following him as he left theb.
A mock seed core, maybe, Theo said. It makes sense, though. A metal cage on the outside to contain everything, a middle part that holds the magic. Im just missing something. I need the skill.
They were out on the cobbled roads of Broken Tusk after chatting for a moment with Azrug. The shopkeeper was irate about some missing stock, but rxed when he learned that Theo had taken it.
Ready? Theo asked, facing his back toward the south.
For what? Tresk asked.
Theo downed the [Retreat Potion] without hesitation. The difference between tier 1 potions and tier 2 potions was massive. If he had brewed the first tier, he would have gone back a bit, but nothing spectacr. With the stronger tier of potion, he was thrown back with absurd force after one second. His feet scraped against the cobbles, but he tracked the fall of the terrain and suppressed a shout of surprise. With his increased [Dexterity], he even maintained his footing when he finally came to a stop. The potion had thrown him from theb, all the way past Pergs tannery in an instant. Tresk came running down the street, shouting her excitement.
Now that is a potion for running away! she shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Theo let out a steadying breath. He didnt want to admit it to hispanion, but the experience was equal parts exciting and nauseating. Tresk celebrated for a while longer and made him promise to brew at least one more of the potions before departing. After she departed, he was left with a different feeling. Brewing the potion took half the time it normally did, thanks to Throks additions to the stills. When the alchemist finally made his way back up the road, a familiar buzzing came from his mind. At first, he thought it was from themunication crystal given to him by the kingdom of Qavell. But it was the trader, Fenian. He squeezed it in his hand, establishing a telepathic link.
My dear alchemist, Fenian said, his smile bleeding into his voice. Care to make me a few potions?
Chapter 3.10: Mines and Mints
Chapter 3.10: Mines and Mints
Your timing is suspiciously aligned with when I create a new potion, Theo said.
He took a seat in hisb, gazing out the window as the voice of Fenian echoed through his mind. The telepathic link was like the Taraheks version, but different enough to render it cumbersome. The entire experience reminded him that the officials from Qavell hadnt contacted him in some time, and thest time he tried to establishmunication, they didnt respond.
Im a man of many talents, Fenian said. Excellent timing is one of them.
The traders are flowing south like a tide, Theo said. Migrants and adventurers, too. Why do I have the feeling that you have something to do with the whole thing?
I dont know what youre talking about, Fenian said.
Even through themunication crystal, Theo could spot a lie. The Elf had something to do with the merchants war, but that was for the better. If Fenian dismantled that establishment, everyone in the kingdom would benefit. Fenian Feintleaf was a strange trader. He seemed more interested in seeing Broken Tusk built up than making a tidy profit, although he also did that. He was Theos link to the outside world, possessing a magical transportation that made long distances irrelevant. There had to be some limitations, but the alchemist never pushed him on the subject.
Potions, Fenian said, repeating his earlier sentiment. If I know you, you have none in your stockpile.
Theo stopped himself from rising to thement, clearing his throat and letting out a breath. Just a few things. The art of alchemy takes time to perfect, Fenian.
Naturally, Fenian said. Well, Im dropping off an order soon. The winds have turned in my favor and I have gold reserves again. Ill buy every potion you craft.
It was hard to think about the trader going broke. He seemed to pull gold from nowhere, but that was a childish thought. The Elf had holdings somewhere, some investment he called on. For a few weeks, Fenian was transporting people vast distances to avoid the rise of the cults. ording to the rumors, those cults were put down and order had been restored. Only now did Theo think the cults were a ruse, something designed to hide the merchants war.
I have some new ones, Theo said, confident that he could brew massive quantities before the trader arrived. Some strange, some useful.
Perfect. See you soon, Fenian said.
Without another word, the connection was severed. The items Fenian coveted the most were obvious. Restoration potions and stat-enhancement potions. Those were the easiest to sell. Theo refused to sell the trader his bombs, any bombs, based on how dangerous they could be. There was also an experience boost potion he could make that was illegal, so he avoided the truffles properties altogether.
Fenian ising to town, Theo said, tapping into his Tarahek power.
Sweet! I bet he has my order, Tresk said.
Something about the way her voice came through let him know she was already in a dungeon. Excitement flooded his body as he realized she was over that hump.
Theo had a n for the days work, but a few items he wanted to create were novelty items. He rummaged through his supplies and located a few things hed need for the days brewing. Tresk always kept a store of [Marsh Tubers] nearby, and the alchemist was intent on extracting the [Solidify] modifier property. He usually had enough [Manashrooms] to brew at least 500 mana potions, but he sat on a surplus. He prepared both ingredients, filling his fermentation barrels before stepping back to inspect the barrels.
[Enchanted Alchemy Fermentation Barrel]
[Alchemy Equipment] [Enchanted]
Epic
Created By: Sledge
Modified By: Zarali
A 200 unit capacity barrel capable of fermenting any reagents ced inside. cing a mote with the mash is required for the process to take effect. Additional motes and mana may be required over the course of the fermentation.
Effects:
Creates a fermentation reaction when reagents are ced inside with a mote.
Speed of fermentation is greatly increased, depending on the strength of the mote.
Enchantments:
Siphon Power
Distribute Power
Crafting Speed
Crafting Effectiveness
Alignment: Drogramath
Although Zarali had made modifications to the barrels, the description only confused him. Siphoning and distributing power were hard to understand, but speed and effectiveness were simple enough. He set the [Alchemical Grinder] to the side and inspected the barrels. Instead of introducing a mote to kick off the reaction, he tried adding his Drogramath-aligned mana. It wasnt like his practice with Xolsa. The mana flowed on its own. He felt something drain inside him as he filled both barrels, nodding with some satisfaction as the contents of each barrel bubbled.
The n was to begin by targeting 2 variations of his standard health potion. The first was easy enough. Using the [Manashrooms], he would extract the [Mana Bloom] modifier property. It was a simple property, adding a mana bonus to regr potions. His second n, involving the [Marsh Tuber] would extract the [Solidify] property, which would allow him to turn his drinkable potions into small, chewable pieces. Hed cut those up, experimenting on if the system recognized them as individual things, then Fenian could sell them as a novel way of restoring health.
Like pills, Theo said, securing the lids of both barrels. Sometimes it helped to bring his thoughts out.
Theo rummaged through his reagents, trying to find something that stuck out to him. Hed cultivated [Mages Bane], but was reluctant to distribute anti-mage potions. That seemed more like a weapon than anything to him, so he skipped those. A creature called a Fade had attacked town recently, and Tresk was more than happy to collect their hard carapace. While he had never made a potion out of the hard shell, his intuition said it was a better version of the [Barkskin] property.
Managing the garden outside was bing a chore, but Theo didnt trust anyone else to take care of it yet. He went outside, chatted for a short time with Azrug, and worked the garden. The [Mages Bane] got a corner of the greenhouse, while the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] took up a majority of the space, even after the expansion. Propagating the tuber-bearing thistle nt was easy enough. The alchemist could cut one section of a single root, store it in a cool dry ce for a few hours, and it would be ready to nt once again. Everything moved faster in Broken Tusk.
Theo returned to theb and set two stills to work, processing their full capacity of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. He filled thest still with the [Fade Carapace], and left theb to take care of some chores. It was a bad idea to neglect his [Governance Core]. He made good time to the mine, passing by Pergs tannery to spot her dead wreath, then by a small cluster of houses meant for the miners and their families. Nira was working the massive smeltery building, as she always was. The sound of pickaxes striking stone met his ears even before he spotted Dead Dog Mine. Gridgen, the taskmaster for the operation, was taking a break outside.
It had be a habit for Theo to pick nts everywhere he went. During his trip to the mine, he stuffed as many [Mages Bane] and [Stone Flowers] into his inventory as he could spot, relying on his [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] to reveal the location of hidden herbs. Gridgen seemed in good spirits, smiling as he spotted the alchemist. The man was more weather-worn than most in Broken Tusk, his pale skin a tapestry of hardbor and scarce meals. He was a Human, although what that meant here was often foggy. His particr brand of Human came from cold nortnds, among the bear-like people called the Toora.
A visit from the boss, Gridgen said,ughing. He pped Theo on the back.
Unlike when Theo first arrived in town, the friendly p on the back didnt move him at all. He stood firm, bolstered by his attributes. He smiled back.
Everyone happy? Theo asked.
More than happy, Gridgen said. I have a few new workers. We added another house to the miners vige. Dead Dog Mine is spitting out copper and iron faster than we can mine it. Walk in, and your pockets fill with ore. Not really.
Theoughed. He had a purpose for his visit. Deeper was better with mines, if he took the hints from Zarali correctly. Mining manually downward was going to be an issue, especially if the stone regenerated. The alchemist needed to know the currentyout of the mine and how to exploit the [Dissolve] property to create new caverns.
Id like a tour of the mine itself, Theo said, pping his hand over the mans shoulder. Gridgen only came up to his chest, and the alchemist found himself constantly stooping to be at eye-level with the smaller races of the world.
Might be a tight squeeze for you, Gridgen said, nodding.
Gridgen handed him antern and Theo stooped even lower, crossing the threshold of that timber-braced entrance. The inside was exactly what he expected. Rough-hewn walls with men and women of all races hitting pickaxes against the walls. When they struck a nugget free, it vanished. The mine was upgraded with [Automatic Deposit], which sent the nuggets straight to a [Dimensional Storage Crate] outside. The most surprising feature of the mine was that it was massive. At first, there was a single sloped path that led down, but it quickly forked off. Those forks had forks, and so on, until the mine turned into an ants hill of confounding passageways. Without his excellent memory, Theo would have gotten lost.
This is the deepest point? Theo asked, pressing his hand against the cold stone. Gridgen nodded, and the alchemist held his hand out. After a moment, the miner understood he wanted the mans pickaxe.
Does the base stone regenerate? Theo asked, mming the pick hard against the wall. Despite inadequate space, he brought a sizeable chunk of stone down with a single hit. Gridgen yelped in surprise as sparks showered them in the darkness.
In some ces, but mostly no, Gridgen said. Weve been digging this tunnel for a while.
Theo inspected the b he dislodged from the wall, finding that it was just poor quality stone. The nuggets in the mine were perfect quality, which just went to show how this ce was enhanced by someone. Who that was still eluded him, but he had theories.
What do you figure the next tier of metal is? Theo asked. Copper, Iron, Steel, Silver, Gold?
Gridgen shrugged at that, setting thentern down on the ground. I worked for silver mines and copper mines, but never gold mines. Everyone targeted the precious metals for coin minting, but we never hit incidental veins.
Incidental veins meaning veins of iron that sprung up near copper. Theo figured that much from the context and nodded. Gridgen was getting at the fact that they were looking for silver veins in the mine, but even veins was a bad way to describe it. They were more like points where the nuggets would pop into existence, clusters that the miners could reliably expect to regenerate.
How dangerous is it to dig deep? Theo asked.
Fairly dangerous, Gridgen said. You can hit a cavern. Filled with monsters and all kinds of nasty things.
That was easy enough to understand. Theo thought about the defenses in his town, spotting a weakness born of his thoughts to secure the mine. The town had a single wall, and unlimited angles of approach. If the mine were to hit a cavern that contained monsters, it made sense to limit the approaches to one. An idea swirled in his mind and he looked around at the hard stone around him.
This stone wont regenerate? Theo asked.
We dug this tunnel a few days ago, Gridgen said. Seems to be holding.
Perfect. I have an idea, Theo said, gesturing for the man to follow him up and out of the gentle slope of the tunnel.
Once they were up in the fresh air and bright sunlight, Theo went over his concept. I have a potion that should dig the tunnels for you. I havent brewed it yet, but Im certain it will work. Dont dig more than one exploration tunnel at a time, and branch everything off that one tunnel you showed me. Dig arge area out in that tunnel, enough for us to mount a defensive pointstuff like metal gates and artificesthen use my potions to dig deeper.
Magical digging? Gridgen asked, leaning on his pick and grinning. You think potions solve everything, dont you?
Theo nodded. Sometimes Im wrong, but it often works out. You understand what the goal is, right?
To avoid monsters and find silver? Gridgen asked.
No, Theo said, smiling. To find both. I dont imagine many people would be insane enough to look for those caverns, but Im interested in farming them out.
Theos mind shifted. Gridgen mentioned something earlier that he had riddled out through something Zarali said. He took a breath, stopped to collect his thoughts, then continued.
Coin minting, Theo said, nodding. Tell me everything you know about minting currency.
Gridgen stuck his hand into a sack hung from his belt, digging around for something. He withdrew a single copper coin and held it up. Somehow youve stumbled on someone who knows a lot about something for no good reason. Well, I worked as a porter for the royal mint for a time. Not the mint directly, but the mine that supplied the mint. What is this coin made of? Why does it have any value?
Theo understood the concept of a currency backed by a precious metal, but here that made little sense. A copper bar wasnt worth a copper coin, and a copper coin contained less copper than the bar. That was a mystery that he never gave much thought, chalking it up to some system-rted backing of the money. When the alchemist was given the first bit of information regarding a topic, he could extrapte to the end with little effort. This one was more simple than he thought.
Magic, Theo said, shrugging. The coins have some kind of magical use, and are soaked in the stuff.
Thats how the royal minter exined it, Gridgen said, flipping the coin in the air and catching it. They have some secret process to press a piece of copper with magic. He said it was extremely dense. As in, theres more magic in a copper coin than in his mana pool. And he had a lot of mana.
Theres the question, though, Theo said, tapping his chin. Coins had mana, but what did that matter? Whats the point of the coins?
High-level crafts, Gridgen said, shrugging as though everyone knew that.
How do we make a mint? Theo asked.
Gridgen blustered, looking at Theo as though he were a crazy person. Youd need a lot of ambient mana. And a specialized building. Whats wrong with your face? Whats the look for? Theo?
Theo had fallen into thought, his mouth hanging open as he realized the implications. The mine already produced copper, and it would produce silver. They had more ambient mana than they knew what to do with. Thats what Zarali was doing. Her long-term ns fell into his mind in an instant. She was umting mana in her enchanting building as a test, not just to satisfy her enchanting needs. Perhaps she was hanging on to the idea until she was certain it would work, but the alchemist had no such reservations.
Im going to brew you some potions to help you find silver, Theo said. Without waiting for a response from the man, he sent a message through the town-wide messaging system.
[Theo]: Aarok, Throk, report to the mine. Not an emergency.
Gridgen exined how impossible what he wanted to do while they waited for the two men to show up. Aarok arrived with Luras after a few moments, they must have not understood that it wasnt an emergency. Throk came shortly after. Theo exined what he wanted. A defensive point in the mine to bolster against the possibility of a cavern breach, and adventurers to man it.
I can build an iron gate easy enough, Throk said, waving him off.
More than happy to spare a few adventurers for the effort, Aarok said. Sentry duty, right?
Exactly, Theo said.
Theo went into detail on his n. This was the first step in a long journey for Broken Tusk to mint their own currency. It was a chance to w independence away from Qavell, and each man standing there on that hill were people he trusted with his life. People who wanted nothing more than to transform their little town into an independent nation-state. The one thing they needed more than anything else was money. Enough spiritstone coins to gain some amount of independence and stop paying the absurd taxes to the crown.
Currently, Broken Tusk owed taxes every month. It was raised recently to support the war effort. Property was taxed 15% on its value, exports 20%, and sales 15%. That meant if they exported anything from the town, they owed 35% of the value of the item to the crown. Luras, Aarok, and Throk were on board, but Gridgen had his reservations. He simply didnt believe they could gather enough energy to produce the coins.
Well, youve gone and ruined my surprise! Zarali shouted from down the hill.
All eyes turned to her. The Dronon woman was stomping up the hill, hands on her hips and a grim look on her face. Im not even done testing the quality of the mana, she said, letting out a huff.
Its pure enough, isnt it? Theo asked, excitement flooding his body.
Zaralis posture straightened, a smile spreading across her face. Of course it is, brother. We just need the building, the metal, and someone with a [Minters Core].
Chapter 3.11: Pills Here
Chapter 3.11: Pills Here
The coin mint was a long-term solution to a long-term problem. Gridgen assured the group that minting coins didnt happen overnight. The only positive side to this new project was that it wasnt illegal, anyone could mint coins if they had the resources. This was because the system often generated coins, giving them out as rewards to quests or for defeating monster waves. The Kingdom of Qavell couldnt regte something like that, not with their limited resources. While the miners could shift their attention to creating new tunnels, they worked at a snails pace.
Theo stood in hisb, appreciating his new refinement technique and preparing his stills for another run. He cleaned the stills with drops of his [Cleansing Scrub], washing away all the junk inside with waves of white light. The [Fade Carapaces] had produced [Carapace Essence], and the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] produced [Healing Essence]. During a monster wave, an animated column of water had attacked the town. It was frozen by the turrets, allowing the alchemist to collect a valuable resource. [LIving River Water] contained the property [Dissolve], something he was certain would help the miners. Without hesitating, he filled the [Drogramath Still] with [Enchanted Water] and the [Living River Water], setting it to distill and refine the precious resource.
Potions fell into a few categories in Theos mind. There were different tiers of potions, but also different alignments. Compounded with that was the fact that they could be modified, or cultivated potions. The fermentation of his reagents was done, allowing him to start those modifiers off on a distition and refinement run. He filled the two spare stills with their respective mashes and set the heat.
Theo set up a few t-bottomed vials to test the reaction for his [Refined Carapace Essence]. This potion would be a refined, aligned, tier 2 reaction. He ced a single enchanted [Iron Shaving] at the bottom, introduced [Purified Water] and the essence in equal quantities, and watched the reaction. It was tepid, as far as reactions went, only bubbling a little and putting off a strange metallic smell. The resulting potion was a brown color, simr to that of a cockroach. He inspected his new creation.
[Carapace Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A defensive potion. Drink to gain segmented tes over your body, significantly increasing your defense.
Effect:
Covers your body with flexible, chitinous tes. Effectsts 30 minutes, or until the tes are destroyed.
The [Lesser Barkskin Potion] mentioned a decrease in mobility, but this one didnt have that in the description. As he expected, it was just a better version of that potion. Theos mind rolled over without hismand, thinking of the best modifier to apply to the potion. By itself, the potion was decent. It gave the user a defense boost, but something was missing. With little thought, it arrived at the usefulness of the [Anti-Mage] modifier. Since he was cultivating the [Mages Bane] flower for a while now, hed umted a decent stockpile of the modifier.
Modifier essences were used to mix with regr potions, or bombs, to create different effects. The results were often chaotic, following a logic the alchemist hadnt decoded yet. He withdrew a sk of the modifier from his inventory, transferred the potion to a 4 unit vial and introduced equal parts of the [Anti-Mage] modifier essence. The result was much like the other potions hed applied the modifier to, gaining ribbons of silver energy that flowed through the brown potion like liquid metal. He inspected the result.
[Carapace Potion]
[Anti-Mage]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A defensive potion. Drink to gain segmented tes over your body, significantly increasing your defense.
Effect:
Covers your body with flexible, chitinous tes. Effectsts 30 minutes, or until the tes are destroyed.
Chitinous tes are covered in a field of anti-magic. Reduces damage dealt by magical attacks, and absorbs those spells to increase the duration of this potion.
Often, a modifier essence would change the nature of a potion to render it less useful. Sometimes, the result was even dangerous. This example was aplete win. It didnt change the way the base potion acted, and simply added a different effect. Now the tes that covered the imbibers body would absorb magic, even extending the duration of the potion. Theo was reluctant to export most things with the [Anti-Mage] property, but this was fine in his mind. He was alright with a defensive use of the property, and created 500 [Carapace Potions] with the property, intending to keep some for himself and send the rest off with Fenian.
Some modifiers were outright monstrous in their effects. In the early stages of brewing potions, Theo had created poisons that would enhance Tresks ability to dobat. At the second tier of potioncraft, hed created poisons that were devastating. He cataloged these in his mind as weapons, not fit for export from Broken Tusk. The pinnacle of his poison making was a [Poison] with [elerated Decay] as a modifier. He withdrew one from his inventory for examination, a reminder of the power he could achieve.
[Poison]
[elerated Decay]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Chance to inflict 2 stacks per hit.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 15 stacks. Poison inflicts DOT damage and decay increases the effects of all poison damage.
Stacks of poison take twice as long to fade.
Removing a stack of poison through any means other than the natural expiration of the effect causes the remaining stacks of poison to explode, dealing their remaining damage to the target.
Each effect was enough to make this potion worth it, but the list seemed to go on. It reduced a targets [Dexterity], it applied a DOT effect, the poison faded slower, and if someone removed the effect it exploded to deal its remaining damage. Something Theo had learned about modifier essences was how powerful they got after the refining process. Since his stills could now refine in ce, rather than transferring to the cumbersome tanks outside, this was something he was interested in. The alchemist organized hisb, sorting through crates of reagents, essences, modifiers, and random junk, before his next phase was ready for testing.
With enough base healing potions in reserve, and the [Solidify] modifier cooking off topletion, Theo could begin the next phase of his experimentation. Before he moved on, he inspected a [Healing Potion].
[Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 135 health points.
Theo long suspected that the alchemists on this continent were ipetent. Hed heard whispers of and in the west called Tarantham, which from context and clues seemed like an Elvennd. The potion he held in his hand was considered the best potion in the kingdom. It restored the most health out of all the other potions, cing it above what the Qavelli alchemists could do. But it wasnt good enough for him. Modifiers were unseen to those same alchemists, and he intended to exploit that fact with his next creation. His [Solidify] modifier came out of the still as a [Refined Solidify]. Just like his [Refined Decay] modifier, this one was amazing. He inspected it.
[Refined Solidify]
[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting modifier will be more effective.
High chance to add an additional modifier to the resulting potion.
1 units (liquid)
Add to apleted potion to add the Solidify modifier. Solidify had unpredictable effects and varies wildly from potion to potion. Typical effects include solidification of the potion itself.
Applying a regr [Solidify] modifier to a potion turned it solid, allowing a person to eat it piece-by-piece to restore health. Theos intuition and hopes sent his mind spiraling to the possibilities of this newbination. Instead of performing the reaction in a sk, Theo generated a shallow ss dish with his [ssware Artifice], transfered the potion and introduced the modifier. It hissed for only a moment before turning solid. Despite being out of a vial, he was able to inspect his creation.
[Healing Potion]
[Solidify]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Turns the liquid of the potion into a solid item, which can be removed from the vial. If eaten entirely, 135 health is restored. Eating small amounts of the solid will restore a proportional amount of health.
Portioning out this potion results in a multiplicative effect of healing potency (gained from [Refined Solidify] modifier alignment trait).
It was often hard to understand the effects on potions, but Theo understood this. The alignment effect from the modifier was transferred to a second trait, increasing the effectiveness of the potion if its split into sections. Theo decided the best method was to split the potion into bite-sized sections, which resulted in 8 individual pieces of the potion. He watched with a curious gaze as the segmented pieces seemed to harden, rounding themselves off at either side into something resembling a pill. The alchemist inspected the result.
[Healing Pill]
[Alchemy Pill]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing pill. Swallow to restore health.
Effect:
Swallow this pill whole to restore 80 health.
If the modifier didnt lend the additional effect, this pill would have only restored 17 health. That meant that each pill received 60% of the power of the potions total healing. Another way to look at it was that Theo had increased the amount of health gained from a single potion by 470%, which seemed absurd. He created a new container for his creation, unsure of how they would sell them, something shaped like a pill bottle on Earth, and ced the ss stopper on top.
When the alchemist created something amazing, something they could sell, he often ran down to show the shopkeeper, Azrug. He found the young man downstairs, haggling with an adventurer over potions and equipment. Theo waited until their business was concluded before moving to thrust the bottle into his hands.
Whats this? Azrug said, shaking the bottle. The pills chimed against the side of the bottle as they rattled around.
An invention, Theo said, grinning. Each pill only cost me one potion to make.
Azrug knit his brow, his mercantile brain rolling over the information. More profit? he asked.
More profit, but you have to sell those, Theo said. And I mean really sell, not just get rid of them. People are going to think youre weird for suggesting they swallow a single pill.
Yeah, this is weird, Azrug said, shaking the bottle again. He withdrew one pill and inspected it then shrugged. Adventurers go off the system description. They never take my word for it, so these will sell. You make any other pills?
I just finished that one, Theo said.
But there was the problem. Most other potions did better with another modifier. Even the [Healing Potion] did better with a different modifier, turning it into a pill didnt suddenly make it more powerful. The shape of the thing was nice, though. Anyone who didnt have a dimensional storage space, such as an inventory, would want them. Theo knew he could do better, but whatever the solution was eluded his grasp.
Good. Go make more, Azrug said, grunting and turning back to the store. Another customer had entered.
Theo left him there, retreating upstairs. The excitement for creating something new blinded him to something he wanted to do earlier. He withdrew his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy and looked it over, trying to find new sections that had been decoded. Nothing new stood out to him. The book only wanted to feed him things he already knew, which was irritating. What hope there was to find information on constructs fell away, leaving him to make other ns. While he couldnt imagine things he hadnt created in the Dreamwalk, he could discover them through the normal methods. That would be his road forward for the skill.
He snapped the book shut and turned his attention back to theb.
By the time the evening drew close, Theo had ab filled with [Carapace Potions] and [Healing Pills]. It was enough to satisfy Fenians needs, perhaps far more than that. Tresk gave asional updates on her delving, confirming that the [Swamp Dungeon] was no longer growing stronger. At least, not at the rate it was before. She had a poor sense for what was useful for alchemy, presenting all manner of monster parts in their shared inventory. None were useful, but he appreciated the effort.
Before Tresk arrived for dinner, Throk arrived to drag the alchemist out. He gave a tour of the pipe system, which still rested in deep uncovered trenches. Those pipes led from the river, where an artifice sucked them up, before heading to a substation. The artificer had outdone himself, creating arge metal box that automatically mixed the tainted water with essence, creating [Purified Water]. That was the theory, anyway. The alchemist had given him precise quantities for the reaction, but he only trusted himself for those measurements.
The input pipes go to the water tower, and the bathhouse. Hotspring. Whatever Xam is calling it, Throk said, grumbling the words. The outputs go back into the river, downstream.
Theo nodded, moving to inspect the mixing station closely. [Purified Water] was a basic alchemy reaction, but it was precise. Every 20 units of water required half a unit of [Purifying Essence]. If Throk got the timing right on the machine, it could provide 20 units of water every 5 to 10 seconds, just to be safe. There was another substation, standing near the purification station, that looked more like the alchemy stills he worked with. The old Marshling picked up on his curious expression.
Backup station, Throk said, nodding to the massive boiler. Ive got a simple line of instructions running between these two stations. When the purification station runs low on juice, it swaps to the boiler.
Boiling water was a fine way to remove parasites and disease. By Theos estimation, the capacity of therger tank was around 1,000 units. From experience, he knew it would take at least half an hour to bring it up to heat, and another 15 minutes to boil. That depended on how hot they set the [me Artifice] that drove the machine. The alchemist shook his head. That wasnt the order he would run them at.
Id run the boiler as the main, Theo said, gesturing to the massive tank. Perhaps run a few boilers in parallll at the same timeand increase the size of our holding tank. Better yet, run a holding tank for the bathhouse and the general water supply.
Theo felt a twinge in his chest, his [Governance Core] gaining a spike of experience.
Sounds expensive, Throk grunted.
It made sense in Theos mind, though. Motes were cheap, almost dirt cheap in Broken Tusk, but essence wasnt. Since the artifice that powered the boiler ran on those motes, it was the cheapest option long-term. Throk would have to create more artifices, pipes, wrangle Sledge to do some modifications, but it was the best long-term option.
Well, since its going to cost more Theo said, gesturing to the area. They were in a small clearing of Ogre Cypress, the area north of the Newt and Demon. The cobbled road sat just a stones throw north, and the massive artifices were an eyesore. I want you to rework these lines. One intake from the river, split it to 4 boiling artifices. A thousand unit capacity each. Split the main line to each boiler and 2 emergency essence purification units. House it all in a buildinghand-builtand join all 6 purification units to a single, massive tank for holding. Take lines from that tank, and distribute it out.
That seems like a lot of
Then, make a new pump to draw water, and send it north from the river, Theo said, nodding to himself. Build another station with a single essence purification unit that feeds into a closed system. For emergencies.
Throk was left stunned by the scope of the new work, but Theo was confident they could get it done quickly. He had the authority to order people around, redirecting their efforts toplete the job in days. The heart of the alchemists idea was simple, but it had ws. It centered around the idea that they needed water, no matter what. The first issue was that essence wasnt infinite. Massive boilers were more reliable, especially under a siege situation. The second issue was the potential for damage during sieges. If the lines were cut, stations destroyed, or any other cmity, they needed a backup.
Theres no sense in building it halfway, Theo said, cing his hand on Throks shoulder. We do it right, or we dont do it at all.
Gonna be expensive, Throk grumbled.
Good thing I own the mine that makes the metal, Theo said, smiling.
But Theo saw that sh of realization in Throks eyes. The original idea was good, but this one was more robust. It would house the ugly equipment under a sturdy roof, shielding it from both the elements and the eyes of the citizens. The alchemist was thinking more about appearancestely, and he couldnt stand the idea of those boilers sitting in a field.
The Marshling held his hand out, still grumbling. 5 gold. Down Payment for the work and materials. I need to hire folks to get this done.
Theo happily forked over the money, pping his hand hard against Throks shoulder. See? I have some good ideas.
Throk grunted his approval.
Chapter 3.12: Dreamwalk Tour
Chapter 3.12: Dreamwalk Tour
Where are you? Tresk asked. I suddenly feel a sense of overwhelming smugness.
Theo couldnt suppress his smile, trailing Throk back to town. He met with Tresk outside of the Marshwolf Tavern. Xam had taken to holding the festivities outside. After the pair took a seat, the alchemist exined the source of that smugness. She didnt have an opinion on the new idea, shrugging it off to await whatever the cook made tonight. It was another variation, unsurprisingly, on Zee-based bread with cheese and wolf meat. The more the days rolled on, the more delicious the dish became.
More people gathered outside than normal, a fact of the recent wave of migrants. Alise was keeping up with cing them all in homes, but there would be a breaking point. The only thing Broken Tusk didntck was space. Before Theo arrived in town, it was sparse beyond belief. That was something that amazed him, even today. How those people clung to life in the unforgiving swamp before the introduction of Drogramaths power. But it was a problem for the young administrator to sort out.
There was a look in Tresks eyes as everyone ate their meal. Theo recognized it as her plotting his demise in the Dreamwalk. He finally had a solution for that, although she might consider it cheating. In his mind, it didnt matter as long as he got away unscathed.
Zarali joined them at the table after a time, settling in opposite the pair and awaiting her meal. She had a sour look on her face that vanished after only moments.
I wish you hadnt revealed my coin-pressing idea, she said, letting out abored sigh.
Theo shrugged. It was a good idea, but he sensed enough problems to temper his expectations. A more attainable goal was his ns for a shipyard near the ocean. That required some research, since hed have to stretch the boundaries of the town a significant distance. There were more issues,pounding the problem. He needed at least 2 rare seed cores, one for a port and another for a shipyard, although that might have been an attachment to the port. Someone would need to build the vessels, then sail them. But the alchemist was never one to worry about doing every step at the same time. He was ponderous in his aplishments, only worrying about what was right in front of him.
A massive share of his [Living River Water] would have been done brewing at theb by now. He turned to Zarali, gaining her attention.
First, we need the metal, Theo said. I have Throk Well, perhaps hes stretched too thin, but hes working on a few projects. Im brewing potions with the [Dissolve] property tomorrow. Hopefully, I can make some tunnels with those.
It should work, Zarali said idly. Dig deep enough. Youll find silver and gold.
How about spiritstone? Tresk asked, shing a grin.
Not a chance, Zarali said. Im not sure if you can craft spiritstone coins.
So, how does this influence the economy? Theo asked, picking at his food as he rolled ideas around in his head. Making money out of thin air sounds suspicious.
Zarali shrugged at that, dismissing his concerns with a gesture. It seems to work. Both Qavell and Veosta mint coins.
Think about it, Tresk said. If no one made the money, even with the system generating coins from dungeons, quests, all that, theres no way thered be enough to go around. High-level crafters wouldnt operate. Wed be doomed.
That was an oddly intelligent thing for Tresk to say. Her mostplex thought usually boiled down to the best way to stab something, but she was right. If the coins were consumed at the end of their lifecycle, and the dungeons and quests couldnt keep up, someone needed to generate enough to meet demand. Theos mind wandered to the next logical step. Most ces didnt have a high concentration of energy in the air. Perhaps the mint was worth pushing up before the docks. Still, he wanted to pick anyones brain who would listen.
So, I have a problem, Theo said, patting Tresk on the shoulder. I want a dock, but the ocean is too far.
Thats not really within my realm of knowledge, Zarali said.
Tresk shrugged. Dont look at me.
Fenian should know, Theo said, nodding to himself. Hell be in town soon enough.
The rest of the meal passed without incident. No interesting topics came up, so Theo spent his time in his mind, thinking about the way the town system worked. As the mayor, he could buy two types ofnd. There was incorporatednd, and unincorporatednd. Most seed core buildings couldnt be built in unincorporatednd, but that option was significantly less expensive than the other. With his current finds, he could buy a snaking, unincorporated path to the bay, but then he was stuck. His logic ended there. That path ofnd needed to be connected to the primary territory, linked with the expensive option. He let out a breath and gave up for the evening. The moment he entered the Dreamwalk, his mind would feel refreshed, as though he slept the entire night.
Ready for bed? Tresk asked, her eyes shing with malice.
I am, Theo said.
The pair retreated, bidding farewell to anyone who would listen, and fell asleep quickly. When the dream world sprung up around then, Theo turned to Tresk.
Youve been to the ocean, right? Recently?
I have, Tresk said with a nod. He remembered her going there to inspect the monsters from the [Ocean Dungeon].
Take us there, please, he said.
In an instant, they were standing on a sandy shore. Mountains rose to the south, and a slow rise of earth to their north. To the east, it was nothing but the endlessp of waves. It was breathtaking, even in the Dreamwalk''s haze.
Unreal, Theo said, taking a steady breath. How close is this to town?
Well, Tresk said, turning south and pointing at the sudden rise of mountains. You could spit and hit the mine from here. Not literally, but you get it.
Theo turned north again, watching the river empty into the bay. What he understood of idealunching locations for sailing vessels included the need for a bay. It would break the fierce waves of the open ocean, giving them a steady ce to build their boats. He filled his inventory with a few items as he surveyed the area, still dazzled with how perfect it was. A singr issue stuck out to him.
This is entirely undefended, Theo said. Far enough from the walls to be dangerous.
Yup, Tresk said, scratching the top of her head. If you want a port here, youll need to extend the wall.
Theo didnt see that as the only option. Something in the back of his mind said there was a way to create something here to act as an extension of the town, without being encased in the same wall. If it was separated from the town, that was one thing. There was also the option to hire an [Earth Mage] and move the entire ocean closer to town.
Think we can walk from here to town? Theo asked. Normally the Dreamwalk didnt want them to move outside of a single scene, but they had done so in ces both of them were familiar with.
Time to test, Tresk said.
It didnt go unnoticed to Theo that she didnt want to leave his side. She had something nned for him, something to test his ability to react to assassins. That was fine with him. He had a n.
Imagine an [Earth Mage], Theo said, gesturing to the river. The ce where the river had entered the ocean had been worn away by years of sand erosion. The constant rush of water had dug the beach back, far from where it originally rested. This was evidenced by rocky inds, and the strange presence of outcrops. They defied the normal contour of thend. ording to local legend, an [Earth Mage] had already reformed Broken Tusk, rendering it easier for the locals to farm.
Im imagining an [Earth Mage], Tresk said, closing her eyes as she walked.
An [Earth Mage] appeared, faceless and generic in appearance. He was made of shadowy wisps, proving that Tresks mental image of the mage wasnt great.
He scoops thend out, Theo said, gesturing to the river. The phantom mage obliged, surprising thepanions.
The ocean rushed in to meet the bowl of water, suddenly missing. The pair continued, instructing the phantom until hed created a channel from the ocean, all the way to the walls of the town.
I didnt know we could do that, Tresk said. We brought the ocean to Broken Tusk!
This was a good n. Theo could hire a mage that made his harbor into any shape he wanted, and the alchemist had always wanted to expand the town over the river. Using an [Earth Mage] gave him a chance to secure his shipyard and port without the need to fiddle with something that might not work. The alchemist folded his arms in satisfaction, looking over the new terrain. The bridge to the north wasnt in sight, they were only at the very eastern tip of their territory, but the channel they created was massive. He couldnt picture a boatrge enough to get stuck in the waterway, and perhaps the mage could reinforce the edges so they didnt erode.
Alright. Good luck, Tresk said.
Without warning, she vanished.
Theo sensed danger before 10 assassins appeared, poised with des and diving for him. The world slowed around him, his [Dexterity] jumping as he withdrew 3 items from his inventory. This was his first chance to practice something hed drilled in his mind a hundred times. He quaffed his [Retreat Potion], tossed an improvised bomb in the air, then threw a [Freezebomb] with the [Web] modifier to the ground. Exactly 1 second after drinking the [Retreat Potion], Theo was hurtled backwards. He felt pain in his neck as he whipped back with unreasonable speed, rocketing away from the scene.
The [Freezebomb] struck first, sending tendrils of ice to wrap around the assassins. Theo ducked when the next part of his n activated. The improvised bomb hit the ground. If this was the real world, his eardrums would have shattered by the sudden explosion. He watched as parts of the dream-assassins flew off, trailing smoke behind them.
Wow, Tresk said, appearing behind him from the shadows. Working out some anger issues?
There, Theo said, turning to her and folding his arms in front of him. Now, leave me alone tonight. Once per night, thats all you get.
Tresk narrowed her eyes at him, tapping her foot impatiently. Alright. Fine. You win. Congrattions.
Im fast enough to respond, Theo said, cing his hand on her shoulder. And we can refine techniques if you find something that can beat memore assassins doesnt count. You can send mages tomorrow.
Tresk seemed to ept that as a response and she vanished once again. Theo smiled, knowing that shed do exactly that tomorrow. But, there was an easy response for mages now that he had ess to the [Anti-mage] property. A carapace of anti-magic would work well enough, along with a few well-ced bombs. The marshling wasnt even focusing on the thing he feared more than anything, though. If a mage wanted to capture him, it would be easy enough if they could teleport away with him. But there was always an alchemical solution.
While Theo couldnt produce new things in the Dreamwalk, he could create them. The difference was that he couldnt make something out of nothing, but he could go through the motions to create new potions. The one thing that eluded him was the function of constructs. Even after he produced a copper cage, treated it alchemically, and shoved a construct tablet inside it didnt work. He spent the night working on that problem, retreating to care for nts or do alchemical reactions when his mind went ck.
I think the key is in the name, Theo said, turning to Bob.
He forced the faceless mannequin to nod.
These tablets arent the starting point, Theo said, throwing a marble construct on the ground. Were looking for constructs. Things that do things. Thats a bad way to define the word.
Bob didnt respond.
Theo went about the night, finding the most efficient way to grind out experience for his alchemy and herbalism core. He still couldnt figure out nt hybridization, but the experience he gained was absurd. Without the need to rest, he could run between a reagent garden, and a row of stills. By the end of the night, the alchemist had a row of 20 stills running at the same time, with a swathe ofnd growing reagents. He kicked off reactions that filled the open air with thick plumes of smoke, threw reagents into piles, and knocked his mind against the construct problem.
When they woke in the morning, Theo gained another series of system messages for his efforts.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (20%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (24%).
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.25%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (6.3%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (8%).
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (0.083%).
Without Tresk bothering him all night, he was able to do a weeks worth of brewing in a single night. He learned a few things about reagent production, but it was mostly going through the motions. The feeling of being refreshed after a night of work was still alien to him, leaving him feeling disoriented whening out from the Dreamwalk. It reminded him of when he first traveled through Xolsas portal, only to a much lesser extent.
There were tasks to aplish for the day, but Theo had finally fallen into a decent rhythm once again. This is when things normally blew up in his face, either as interlopers or monster waves, but as he attended breakfast none of those things happened. Tresks confidence in his ability to defend himself was at an all-time high. He could feel it seeping through their shared core, pulsing in his chest. The Marshling pulled out a dagger for him to inspect, part-way through breakfast.
[Marshthorn]
[Dagger]
Epic
Dagger made from the thorns of an infected Troll.
Effect:
Increase the effects of poison.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
It looked less like a dagger, and more like a giant rose thorn with a handle. It was curved, and dripped with poison. That must have been poison applied by Tresk, since the item made no mention of having innate poison. Theo took a moment to read the description again before letting the dagger fall to the table with a tter.
Thats disgusting, Theo said, wiping his hand off on his robe.
Chill, Tresk said, taking her dagger back. It dropped as loot. Hey! Youre one to talk. Youre always Always digging in the mud and stuff. Thats gross.
True, Theo conceded. At least Im not shoveling Karatan poop at Mianas ranch.
Theo hadnt exploited half the resources that Mianas farm would provide. Hed only tested the cheese and the horns, but there was still more to explore. The Karatan would provide wool, which he had a feeling would be alchemical, and the Pozwa wouldy eggs. The idea of those goat-like thingsying eggs was strange, but if he could turn it into a potion, he didnt care.
The rest of their meal was shared in quiet conversation. Tresk was interesting in his ideas, but that only went so far. She was a person who tackled problems when they came, possessing none of Theos foresight. Over the month, which the alchemist was learning was the entire Season of Bloomsthe words were interchangeablehed improved his ability to n ahead. The woodcutting operation was a means to build his boats. Dead Dog Mine was a way to supply his smelter, it all fed into something else.
Were going to need cloth, Theo said.
Hey! Tresk shouted, mming her hand on the table in mock rage. Then, her face shifted. Not a bad idea. More exports?
Sails for the ships, Theo said, finishing thest of his tea. Ships, or boats?
If your boat aint big enough for another boat to fit inside, its a boat, Tresk said, gesturing with a fork. She never even used the forks to eat. Otherwise, its a ship.
A sudden, suspicious burst of knowledge, Theo said, leaning on to the table.
Tresk let out a long sigh. Theo could feel her building herself up, preparing to regale him with some constructed story.
When I was young, I read a lot of books, Tresk said. Mostly about pirates, and their adventures.
You can read? Theo asked.
She narrowed his eyes at him, and he held up his hands defensively. I can read twonguages, you Towa zana.
Theo didnt understand the words, they sounded strangely guttural. Through his core, he understood they meant something close to bumbling ass, although he couldnt tell if she meant donkey, or his actual butt.
Whatnguage is that? Theo asked.
Tresk straightened herself up. Bantari, she said, looking proud. I can teach you, if you want.
Theo nodded. Tresk was a Bantari Marshling, which he took to mean she was a Marshling from the soutnds. The whispers he got, both through his core and gossip around town, was that this breed of Marshling was a splinter group from somewhere else. They joined the Ogres in the early days of the region. It was all fuzzy, passed down through the generations through oral traditions.
Tresk taught many words, which were effortless for him to pick up. His superior memory made the task easy, but their core also shunted information to him at an instinctual level. She could rattle off a list of words and their meaning, conjugations and grammar structures, and hed keep the information as if he were a native speaker. That frustrated the Marshling at first, but once she recalled his stats, she was alright with it. When they were done ying theirnguage games, the alchemist departed with a few words in Bantari, which made hispanion smile.
The thing on Theos mind was the mine. Throk should havepleted a few orders for him, including the copper cages for his construct experiment, but he wanted to dig deeper in the mine. The defensive emcements should have been the priority, but the way the cksmiths mind worked would have him turning his full attention to the water problem. The alchemist approached the Newt and Demon, thoughts of the [Dissolve] property lingering in his mind.
Maps and Misc Information
Maps and Misc Information
People often ask for maps, and I have them hosted (as viewable by anyone) on my Patreon. This "Chapter" will serve as a ce where I dump all the maps and other supplemental information.
Continent /posts/newt-and-demon-75120066
Local View in Book 1 (the river should be further away, I''ll rework this /posts/wider-shot-on-71258636
Chapter 3.13: The Tunneling Potion
Chapter 3.13: The Tunneling Potion
Theo found no surprises with the [Refined Dissolve Essence]. Zaralis improvements on his stills meant he didnt have to worry about a second process to get the most from his essences, gaining him much needed time. He inspected the essence onest time before deciding on what form of potion to create.
[Refined Dissolve Essence]
[Essence]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of dissolve.
Looking at the faint hue of blue in the essence reminded him of those detergent-style essences. The alchemist set up a sample reaction within theb, relying on his various skills and building bonuses to keep the essence from exploding. He worked his way up from a tenth of a unit of essence to 20 units of [Purified Water] all the way to half a unit of essence, finally getting the reaction he wanted. It bound to the water perfectly, the sk he used swirling and letting off a smell like a fresh sea breeze. Before inspecting the potion, he felt a strange sense shiver through his body. His intuition said it was an intent-driven potion, which would have been a first. He inspected the potion.
[Tunneling Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
After pouring this potion on stone, dirt, or other naturally urring terrain materials, this potion will create a tunnel to the users mental specifications.
Effect:
Removes all naturally urring terrain materials based on users [Willpower], and the quality of the potion.
Potions normally gained their name from the property of the reagent. It was rare enough to see the result gain a different name, but it wasnt a revtion. The [Tunneling Potion] was exactly what he needed, even if he didnt understand the effectspletely. As soon as the miners created the security area, he could begin digging down. It was dangerous, considering the idea of caverns, to just dig without regard. Another idea sprung up in his head, though.
Theo swirled the potion in the sk. If it could remove terrain, they wouldnt need an [Earth Mage]. The water elemental dropped enough of the reagent for him to clear a mountain away, if it worked as intended. As with most things rted to alchemy, it required testing.
The garden behind the Newt and Demon was lush. Too lush. The new upgrade he bought for the greenhouse also enhanced the growth rate of weeds, inviting them in to gue his crop. There wasnt damage to his sprawl of reagents, but it was annoying. He spent a long time weeding that ce out, preparing the cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle] for nting, and sorting them out for distition. Back in theb, he prepared his stills for arge run. He loaded two stills up with [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], then dug into his supplies for thest of his [me Roses]. The trader would be interested in [Healing Potions] and [Strength Potions], they provided the most obvious benefit.
That also left room for experimentation. The stat-enhancing potions would act strangely with modifiers, but Theo still hadnt given them free range to see how well they did.
A bell rang downstairs, Azrugs excited voice chiming in to meet the cheer of the tinkling sound. Heavy footsteps ascended the stairs momentter, Throk throwing the door open with a look of annoyance. The old Marshling took a deep breath, forcing his face into a smile.
Youre working me to death, alchemist, Throk said.
Theo waited for more context, but that was true.
The mine thing is done, Throk said, withdrawing a spherical cage from a dimensional bag at his side. So is this thing.
Excellent, Theo said, taking the mesh.
And Ive got workers tearing up the ground again, making some shoddy building for your boilers, Throk said.
Youre the best, Theo said, finishing up his work with the stills. Ill expand the mine today. Looking for silver.
You wont be satisfied until you strike gold, Throk said. And Im guessing theres gold in the ground, cause thats your luck.
Theo nodded.
Do you know anything about sailing? Theo asked. I have an idea for a harbor
No thanks, Throk said, turning on the spot. Ive got enough Theo work for now.
But I havent even asked
Throk was already gone. It wasnt Theos fault that he was the most useful person in town, but the old Marshling would have declined any work he couldnt handle. That bravado was without substance, just something he did to keep the alchemist from piling more work on him. He wanted to ask about making a port, and the best way to carve outrge sections of earth for a harbor. Even if a Marshling didnt like the water, they seemed at home submerged.
With the defensive room operation within the mine, there was nothing to stop him from trying out the new potion. He brewed 10 of them to start, just enough to get the feel of how they worked, before departing hisb. He looked north while descending toward the mine, noting that the building Xam was working on seemed done. She wouldnt open the bathhouse until the pipework was done, something Theo dyed unintentionally. The alchemist stopped by Niras smeltery before heading off to the mine, finding the Human woman covered in soot and sweat, working the crucible.
Like him, she never took a break.
Question, Theo shouted, trying to match his voice to the ng of metal and the rattle of oversized chains. She shot him a re, which was her way of saying she was listening. Any experience with a coin mint?
That got her attention. She stopped pulling the chain immediately, leaving her ingot mold half-filled. She jumped down from the iron scaffolding, bounding toward the alchemist beforeposing herself. Nira let out a breath, straightened her leather apron and waited.
Any experience? Theo asked.
Not directly, Nira said.
Indirectly, Theo said, nodding. She always distilled things down to a few words, never one to speak more than was necessary. A porter for a mint?
Smelters hand, Nira said, nodding to herself. Poured the silver.
Anything you can tell me about the process? Theo asked.
Nira looked around as though there were eyes lurking behind the Ogre Cypress. She beckoned him into the smelters workshop and lowered her voice before continuing. Youd be a fool not to do it. You own the mine, the smelter, the town. Energy in this ce is, Nira paused for a long moment. Powerful. Puts the Qavelli mint to shame.
Perfect, Theo said. He had a feeling shed know something about it, but shed never offer the information up without prodding. Do you have 2 core slots? Dont level anything you dont want to get rid of, I need someone to work the mint.
Theo turned to walk away, she was usually happy with that amount of information, but she grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around.
Dont puff me up, Nira said, still ncing around for unseen foes. You want to do coins? Silver? Gold?
Whatever we can mine, Theo said. I figure were going to start with copper. Thatll give you a chance to level up.
What about the smelter?
Thats whatborers are for, Theo said. Ill have Alise keep an eye out for [Smelters Cores], and the town will fund it. I suggest you recruit as soon as possible.
Nira answered that with a nod. She smiled before turning away, jumping up the scaffolding and finishing her pour. Someone with that level of excitement for creating coins was the right person for the job, and she was already under his standard contract. Once he got the project underway, it would be useless to keep it a secret. Alongside that was the idea that it was a normal thing to do. From what hed heard, it was almost expected that he would create his own money in time. Without reprisal from the capital, he felt good about that project. But the mine called him.
Gridgen and his men were taking a break outside of the mine. The fruit of theirbor wasnt visible, having been stored automatically in a [Dimensional Storage Crate] near the entrance. The workers greeted him with smiles, waving enthusiastically. He could feel their expectations for more tunnels, knowing that the alchemist would only visit if he had ns to work on the mine.
Good morning, Gridgen said, smiling. The group gave simr greetings.
Time to test, Theo said, withdrawing his [Tunneling Potion] for them to see.
Gridgen led him into the mine. There were several corpses of Goblins piled just inside the entrance, the smell was a choking miasma in the enclosed space. Theo could tell, without inspecting the bodies, that they were very low-level Goblins.
Any issues? Theo asked.
Well, the Goblins just pop into existence sometimes, Gridgen said. Everyone here plunks enough points into [Strength], so a swift hit over the head usually does them in.
No need for adventurer patrols? Theo asked.
None, Gridgen said, leading the alchemist down those narrow passages.
The space inside the mine was too tight for Theos liking, but these miners were like moles. They seemed to enjoy the enclosed space, and none of the problems Theo expected had arisen. They were either too far south, or the magic of the mine prevented floods from happening. Logically, it should have been flooded long ago, but that never happened. The interior was always dry.
Heres the fancy new defensive stopper, Gridgen said, gesturing to arge cavern.
The miners had dug the ce out to allow adventurers room to fight. They created an interiorrger than the size of the adventurers guild,nterns burning on the walls to cast long shadows across the gray rock. Massive iron bars prevented anyone from passing from one side to the other,plete with a gate in the center. Gridgen produced the key, unlocking it and swinging it open. Throks work always amazed Theo, but this was beyond anything he expected. They proceeded to the far side of the cavern and Theo focused on the wall.
Your job isnt to dig tunnels, Theo said, holding the potion up. He sometimes felt a twinge of guilt when he reced someones job with alchemy, although that was rare. Its to mine ore.
Theo dripped the potion on the wall, a rush flooding through his body. He saw the wall in front of him with a ghostly blue outline superimposed on his vision. It reminded him of interacting with things inside of the Dreamwalk, giving him an edge. He poured more of the liquid, letting it pool on the cavern floor, andmanded the system to change the image. It started as a straight hallway, heading to nowhere. The alchemist poured more the entire bottle of the potion, imagining an identical room to the one he was standing in, connected with a short hallway. With his mental approval, the potion went to work.
Gridgen let out a surprised sound as the potion shed blinding blue light, eating at the wall with ravenous hunger. Theo stepped back, the resulting reaction put off a vapor that stung his lungs. But the potion worked away, over the course of half an hour, and the pair just watched. The single potion was enough to make another room of the same size, doing the job in a fraction of the time it would take the miners.
Sure seems like youre trying to take our jobs, Gridgen said, wiping his brow andughing.
We just need to find the nodes, Theo said.
Once again, Theo was reminded that this world didnt work like reality. Ore didnt run in seams along the walls of the mine. They spawned in nodes that replenished themselves if enough time passed. It was just like the reagents Theo harvested for his alchemy. Like those reagents, the nuggets didnt always spawn in the same spot, just a general area. The n was to create a series of exploration tunnels, and more defensive gates. That would ruffle Throks feathers, but hed pay double to get the job done.
You were a porter for the smelters, Theo said, daring to enter the hazy room. The vapors no longer burnt his lungs, it only stung a little. Gridgen coughed as he followed.
Was that a question? Gridgen asked, still coughing.
Theres a logic to the mine, Theo said. I think of it as an extension of the entire seed core building. When you were a nugget-hauler, do you remember where the nuggets spawned?
Well, they just filled up carts, Gridgen said, falling into another coughing fit. Theo approached the far end of the cavern, cing his hand on the wall. There was no evidence of metal here. But I can tell you what Ive seen here.
Copper appears near the topyer, iron is a tad deeper, Theo said, withdrawing another potion from his inventory. He poured it on the ground, imagining a switchback staircase of stone. It started working, and the pair retreated while the man coughed. Lower than that is silver, or something else. Theyll spawn inyers, it only makes sense.
Not sure why you asked if you knew, Gridgen said, sounding slightly scornful.
Theo took a breath of the rtively clear air. I wanted to know if it worked this way everywhere. Remember, Im just guessing based on my intuition. Everything works in tiers
Theo stopped himself before saying in this world. He didnt keep his alien nature a secret because he didnt trust people, it just seemed foolish to sing it from the rooftops. Gridgen had everything to lose bying to Broken Tusk. Anyone with a child got put to the front of the alchemists mental list of trustworthy people. They wouldnt risk their offspring for something as stupid as spying on the town. Besides, he was a hard worker. Theo liked hard workers.
Copper at the topyer, iron just under that, then somewhere between here and the Hells, well find silver and gold, Gridgen said, smiling once again. I follow your reasoning. From what I remember, depth is the determining factor. When we hauled silver, we were deep.
Did you ever see gold? Theo asked.
Never, Gridgen said. Not sure if anyone produces gold in Qavell. If they do, they keep it enough of a secret so no one knows.
The Merchants Guild, Theo said with a nod. They would do anything to keep that a secret, and Ill eat my feathered hat if they didnt have a hand in it.
Whatever you say, boss, Gridgen said.
They waited there for some time. Theo could tell the miasma hurt Gridgens lungs more than his own, likely owing to a difference in physiology. The alchemists ns for the mine were simple enough. For every level he descended, hed have one of his defensive emcements. His cores, or his intuition he couldnt tell, told him whatevery in the caverns deep in the earth werent to be provoked. The more iron they had to chew through, the better. From the other side of those defensive gates, hed run tunnels to probe for silver, or any other valuable metal.
How is the family? Theo asked.
Well, Sarna is happy, Gridgen said. A group of miners were talking in an adjacent tunnel, not willing to brave the toxic air. Shes had a lot of time to spend with Gasem, since we get paid well enough.
Well enough, Theo said, feeling his stomach knot. Their pay wasnt great, but the silver would change that. Youll be living like a king when we pull gold out of Dead Dog.
The miners in the hall were listening in on that. They all cheered.
I dont mean to overstep my bounds, Gridgen said, holding his hands up defensively. But I think youre chewin the bone before youve had your meat.
That was another idiom, likely from Qavell. Theo liked it, and understood the miners meaning immediately. The alchemist often found himself pushing for the best possible thing, but that was a problem here. It could take him a long time to find silver, let alone gold. But the upper levels of the mine already bore copper and iron.
We should expand the upper floors first, Theo said. Right. Youre a miner, Im not. Direct me.
Gridgen was surprised at Theos forwardness. Where he had developed the sense that the alchemist was unapproachable was beyond him, but the miner led the way up the slick path to the top level. They were almost at the entrance before he stopped, pointing at an unfinished tunnel.
Id take a dagger from your Tarahek if this path didnt have copper, Gridgen said.
Theo spent his time, almost until thete afternoon, helping the miners create new tunnels in the upper level of the mine. They were amazed at the speed which the potion dug through the rock, shouting victoriously when a new tunnel was created. The alchemist had to go back to hisb to create more of the potion, but Gridgens intuition was excellent. Of the 30 new tunnels they created, more than half of them had swathes of nuggets, ready for mining. They were embedded in special sections of the rock that regenerated over time. This made them easy to discover, since the potion refused to chew through them.
More than once, a section of rock hung in the air awkwardly. It was a strange sight.
Gridgen pped Theo on the shoulder, grinning. Now we wont have to sit on our hands when the nuggets run out.
Theo talked with the miners for some time, listening to their problems and worries. He felt his [Governance Core] growing stronger as he spoke to them, ignoring the messages that popped up about experience points. Their concerns wereid to rest when Theo expanded the scope of his ns for the mine. It was a pir of their economy, representing one of the three major ways they made money. Wood, metal, and stone would see them all rich in time.
When Theo finally departed from the mine, it waste into the afternoon. He would normally have felt as though he wasted his time there, but the excited looks on the miners faces was worth it. For the alchemist, it wasforting to know that he influenced the production of the town with his alchemy. But as his eyes turned north, back toward the Newt and Demon, he knew his next task involved the brewing of an absurd amount of potions for Fenian. That man was the towns lifeline.
Chapter 3.14: Unfriendly Guest
Chapter 3.14: Unfriendly Guest
Theo spent what was left of the afternoon on reactions. His alchemical garden was at the point where it could produce hundreds of [Healing Potions] per day, but that left a gap for his other potions. Fenian enjoyed walking away from the town with a variety of potions. Attribute-enhancement potions were popr, but the alchemist was interested in brewing more niche potions. While his idea for constructs had fallen to the side, he needed to take the chance to produce for the trader. The cost of his potions had reached the point where gold couldnt buy them. Bartering would be the way forward, which worked well for both Theo and the town.
Tresk signaled she was returning home as Theo wrapped up the days brewing. As he waited for her to return, he went through his mental list of modifiers to discover the best pairing for his stat potions. [Mana Bloom] might work in interesting ways, especially for attribute potions that enhanced [Intelligence]. [Embolden] was mostly useless, as it seemed far too dangerous to use. The effects usually traded mana for health, but the user could die if they didnt have the required mana to fill the gap. By the time the Marshling got back to the Newt and Demon, he had a short list of modifiers that he could use, which led to a singr thought.
He needed more modifiers.
His mind tracked along a familiar path as they walked to the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Anything that arrived in town that came as though it was part of some destiny always made great potions. Theo had yet to experiment with [Veostian Karatan Cheese], but the properties were [Suffuse] and [Bind]. Their wool was likely to create good potions, although he didnt look forward to eating hair to discover properties. The [Pozwa Horns] had already produced an essence that was unique, so that was sorted as an excellent investment. The only thing he had left for those horrid goat-things was their eggs.
Tresk went over her day, Theo splitting his attention as she talked. She met her fair share of new adventurers and had formed a small friend-group among them. The influx of new adventurers to the town was a boon, ording to her. Theo agreed, if only for the increased business his store would draw. It was the first time at the Marsh Wolf that Xam did a repeat of a previous meal, but the curry-like Zee couscous was just as delicious as before. No one had a singleint.
Alise had a few updates, even after Tresk shouted at her about not bringing b business to dinner. She heard about Throks new project, and took the lead on hiring adventurers and organizing the work. She used the towns funds to buy more [House Seed Cores], but otherwise it seemed like a calm week. Xam took the opportunity to point Theo out as the reason her new bathhouse wasnt open. By now, everyone knew what it was and it was impossible for her to keep the secret for more than a few days. The alchemist didnt mind. Throk worked quickly.
Despite Theo not telling anyone about Fenians arrival, others in town seemed to know. Azrug was the likely culprit, having amunication crystal linking to the trader. Everyone seemed to prefer the Elfs prices over the various traders that had been visiting. Theo had to wonder how the man even made a profit, but he shook the thought off.
When Tresk and Theo fell into the Dreamwalk, the Marshlings assassination attempt was poor. The sneaky bomb technique he developed was enough to handle more assassins than she could spawn, and she didnt take his advice on changing the scenario. He was fine with the situation as she abided by their new rule of having only a singr attempt every night. That left him with an uninterrupted night to experiment and refine his process. He took the chance to brew essences from the [Veostian Karatan Cheese], reminded once again that he couldnt create anything new, but he could discover it through the normal process.
Something Theo learned about the Dreamwalk was the boundaries were flexible. If he believed he couldnt do something, then it was so. But there were still hard limits to his abilities inside the dream, even if he felt it growing stronger by the day.
The cheese had the [Suffuse] and [Bind] properties, but neither seemed obvious. When he held a bottle of the [Refined Suffuse Essence] in his hands, it felt strange. Each reaction type failed, and his cores had no suggestions on making it happen. The [Refined Bind Essence] was easy to discover. It would produce a bomb-style potion, and a modifier essence of the same name. Whatever rules bound the Dreamwalk allowed him to pursue that bomb, resulting in an ordinary-looking bomb with a swirl of smoky energy behind the ss. Theo inspected the result.
[Bind Bomb]
[Bomb]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Shatter against a surface to release binding shadows.
Effect:
Bind a target. Time based on potion quality.
This bomb served a niche purpose, but Theo could see its use. His current strategy for binding targets centered on using a [Freezebomb] with the [Web] modifier. He could see this entering the arsenal he carried at all times, and a use for the adventurers who manned the walls of Broken Tusk.
Theo pushed himself in the Dreamwalk, trying to force his cores to advance to level 15. He ran more stills than he would have managed in the real world, tending gardens that sprawled over thendscape. Theyd picked a pleasant memory from Tresks childhood, where she yed in the hills north of Broken Tusk. Even with the delightful view, the alchemist had concerns about his cores advancement. When he only had 2 cores, it was easy enough to understand how that affected his personal level. If they were both level 10, hed be level 10. With 3 cores, that problem became confusing. Instead of providing half of his experience requirement, they all now provided a third, scaling with his level.
Both his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] and his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] were on the edge of level 15, but that would be useless for him. Hed unlock ess to skills he desperately needed, but until his personal level hit 15, he couldnt buy them. His [Governance Core] went to 9 yesterday, but his personal level sat at 13, stubbornly refusing to go higher. Times like this, it was tempting to use the [Lesser Experience Boost Potion], but warnings given by Fenian werent something he took lightly.
ording to the Trader, it affected advancement and was considered illegal in the kingdom. The lesser version of the potion capped at level 10, but he was certain the second tier version would work up to 20. Theo pushed those thoughts aside, working through the night and waking the next morning to a rush of experience, but nothing to push him over the edge. Tresk woke at the same time as him, now that they used the Dreamwalking skill. Before heading off for breakfast, he ran his wheel of [Vesotian Karatan Cheese] through his grinder, made an offering to Drogramath, and set his still working on the first property, [Suffuse].
The leftovers from the night before were delicious, as they always were, and Theo went to make his rounds for the festival. While his wreath stood strong, most others had fallen to the elements. The alchemist tutted as someone in the neighborhood district had used mushrooms for their entry. It wasnt a flower, but he allowed the entry anyway, since the mushrooms had a short lifespan, especially outdoors.
His [Governance Core] drank up each action he performed for the town, sending a series of small experience gains as windows popping into his vision. Theo ended his route at the marble quarry, finding a need to check in with Ziz and his gang of stoneworkers. Thepanionship gave him time to reflect on what hed done in the town, and what needed to be done.
Expansion is important, Theo said, bringing his thoughts to words before the burly stoneworkers. We have stone, metal, and wood production. Trade goods, an enchantereven if shes not doing much yetand a wizard.
You stress out too much, Ziz said, patting him on the shoulder. I heard Throk cursing your name about the new water project.
Theo nodded at that. He might have pushed the Marshling too hard, but hed appreciate it in time. When things got better, people always forgot about the hard work they put in to make something happen. The hirelings were finishing up thest of the changes to the water system; the thought bringing Theo back to his idea of what they produced. Motes were needed to power most everything in town, but they had failed to create anything that harvested them in mass quantities.
I wonder if we can set up a mote collection system, Theo said, tapping his chin.
Dont look at me, Ziz said. You need stone? Gems? I got you. All that other stuff is too much to think about.
Theo reclined on an unfinished pile of stone blocks, looking over his town below. At this rate, theyd break 100 citizens by the middle of next month. That was a point that stuck in his mind constantly. It was a number that seemed absurd,pared to the 20-something citizens he started with. Alise was clever enough about nning the city to make sure everyone had a nice ce to stay, but his thoughts went back to the idea of expansion. They needed morend, and only the area east of town was suitable for habitation.
Those gems are expensive, right? Theo asked.
Extremely expensive, Ziz said. Although Zarali buys almost all my stock now.
Theo didnt have ament for that. She had a lot of money, but he didnt know how.
How are you guys doing? Theo asked. Need anything?
Aborerughed somewhere near the quarry. Ziz smiled.
Were good, Ziz said.
Have you met with any of the new people? Theo asked.
Yeah, I saw Alise throw a few folks out, Ziz said, scratching his chin. She has a great sense for people. She can smell a bad one before they hit the bridge.
Those words were exactly what Theo wanted to hear. No one in town was cking on their duties, which was made clear by the meeting they had with Rivers and Daub. When they brought assassins to take over the town, Aarok, Luras, and the adventurers were ready to intervene. The townsfolk of Broken Tusk fell into their roles with excitement, and thats all he could ask.
Theo spent some time rxing with the stonecutters. They were a rowdy bunch, though, so he made his way down to inspect Throks work as his mental timer ticked away. Instead of taking a straight course to the angry Marshling, he ran around and collected reagents for his potions. The wild reagents werent nearly as good as the cultivated ones, but theyd work for creating mass-production potions.
Xams bathhouse, resting behind the Marshwolf Tavern, looked much like the tavern itself. Dark wood t walls with a blue wood-tiled roof. A sign hung from the door, iming they would open as soon as Theo got his head out of his butt. That would be today, or tomorrow, depending on how fast Throk was working. As he made his way into the fields, across the road from Mianas ranch, he saw their work was almostpleted. The building the workers erected wasnt the most beautiful, but it was better than a few boilers sitting in the middle of the town. Throks workers had already filled the trenches, which meant they were done putting the pipes in ce.
When Theo entered the building, he found his requested boilers in ce, all withplex timing artifices hooked up. Other pipes ran from the boilers to hoppers, mounted on the side of the square building, which he understood was for motes. So long as the hoppers were full, the boilers could run forever. He left the small building, finding his backup system north of the ranch. An even smaller building stood near the bank of the river, but Throk was nowhere to be found.
The new water system was nice, but there was an old problem that Theo never solved. He made his way back to the Newt and Demon, stopping to chat with Azrug as he considered the issue.
Salt mines were a thing on Earth, Theo said. But I still havent figured that out.
You said salt was in everything, Azrug said, leaning over the counter.
Thats true, Theo said. If I could figure out this reagent deconstruction thing, I could pull salt from them.
Well, everyone is buying up your new potions, Azrug said. You should make more.
Go weed my garden, Theo said, grinning.
If I weed those giant nts in the greenhouse, will you brew more [Healing Potions]? Maybe something other than those? Azrug asked.
Theo waved him away. I just need a bigger greenhouse. I suspect theres a dedicated building I could use.
Oh, you mean this? Azrug asked, pulling nothing out of his pocket. He smiled. Just kidding. Thats something Fenian would do, right? Just show up with exactly what you need.
He has a habit of being overly informed, Theo said.
Theo bid farewell to the shopkeeper, walking out the front door instead of up to theb. He needed to spend time in his greenhouse anyway, gaining as much herbalism experience as he could so he could push his core to level. The alchemist maintained the current pattern of the garden, favoring fully cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle] nts over introducing new ones. He had a small row near the northern side of the ss building where he kept his other creations, propagating them asionally so he didnt lose that progress.
There was a problem with producing cultivated reagents that restored mana and stamina. [Manashrooms] were mushrooms that only grew in a dark cave, north of town. [Moss Nettle] only grew in the tall Ogre Cypress trees. Neither reagent was suitable for growth within the greenhouse, limiting his options on which he wanted to grow. A thousand [Healing Potions] at absurd quality was better than a few of each at decent quality. When he was done in the greenhouse, he went to theb to tend to his stills.
Theo moved the sk of [Refined Suffuse Essence] to the side, saving that forter. He cleaned his stills with [Cleansing Scrub] and set them up for another run. The alchemist already brewed enough potions to make Fenians trip worthwhile, but the shop needed more potions. With the stills loaded with cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], and [Stone Flowers], he turned his attention to the new essence.
It was nothing special to speak of. Something about the Dreamwalk blocked his senses when he was there, perhaps a personal failing, but out in the real world it spoke to him as a detergent-style essence. He ran the basic experiment to figure out the essence to water ratio, settling on a strangely dilute mix of the two. It reminded him of the [Tunneling Potion] in its design, but the description was too vague to understand.
[Suffuse Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A potion used to bind two properties to an object, or each other.
Effect:
Bind two properties.
Sometimes the system gave him exact numbers, effects, and side-effects of a potion. Other times it gave him vague hints as to the use of a potion. He set the sk of potion aside, scratching his head in confusion. Theo was snapped out of his stupor, a system message hed been waiting for popping up.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 15.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an enhanced effect: +5 wisdom.
One core down, Theo said, feeling the slight tingle in his mind as his intuition expanded by a fraction. One to go.
Theo left theb, letting his potions cook down. He wouldnt discover the secrets of the [Suffuse Potion], but he suspected it was rted to a skill he hadnt unlocked. It wasnt entirely like the [Reveal] property, but it had the same vor. That led him to think it was rted to constructs. If that was the case, he wouldnt have a use for the potion until his personal level hit 15. The alchemist nned to leave [Reagent Deconstruction] for level 20, taking [Alchemy Constructs] at level 15. His mana control was still horrible, and would require greater practice before he found a use of the skill.
Attempting to level his [Governance Core], Theo split his attention between visiting citizens and picking herbs. The woodcutting operation was going great. Sledge elected someone to be the forester that managed which trees to cut, and which to leave. The Ogre Cypress, despite towering to the heavens like skyscrapers, grew at an absurd rate. With the help of a forester, that process was even faster.
The miners were doing fine, but they hadnt found new metals in the ground. Their new tunnels allowed them to increase production, but that bottlenecked at Alise. The smelter had found an apprentice in record time, even buying her a [Smelters Core] with the towns funds. She must have told Alise about the situation, who then sorted the money out.
As Theo made his way back to the Newt and Demon, he felt a familiar haptic buzz in his mind. He recognized it as Feniansmunication crystal, which he withdrew without hesitation.
Alchemist! Fenian shouted, excitement seeping from his words. Is the far side of the river still clear?
Theo blinked a few times, trying to let his brain catch up to the strange question.
Last I checked.
Perfect! Fenian shouted,ughing into Theos mind. If you wouldnt mind charging your towers, that would be lovely. Iming with an unfriendly guest!
Chapter 3.15: Big Old Horrible Monster
Chapter 3.15: Big Old Horrible Monster
Warning bells ttered, a frantic stato rhythm that sent every adventurer in Broken Tusk into a frenzy. Theo set the rm with a warning, using his town-wide messaging system. Every able-bodied citizen stood ready behind those sturdy walls, ready for whatever Fenian brought with him.
Theo stood with hismand structure, looking out over the short field to the east. Something shimmered in the distance, but Aarok and Luras were too busy forming battle ns to notice. It was all wasted breath and effort against the unknown, but at the core of the alchemists intuition, he knew it wasnt anything they couldnt handle. Fenians mode of transportation allowed him to slip beyond reality, and he would never lead anything too dangerous to the gates.
Call him again, Aarok said, turning to bark more orders to the assembled adventurers.
Hes not answering, Theo said. But his method of transport
Across the river, far in the distance, the world split apart. A gash formed in the air, bleeding shadows like a rolling fog. A carriage, looking like a miniature in the distance, flew from the fissure. Demonic Karatan drove the ckcquer carriage. Fenian stood atop the roof, waving his hands and shouting something. He was still too distant to hear.
His method of transport is instant, Theo said, his eyes fixed on the tear in space.
Xolsa appeared next to him, his swirling eyes locked on the tear in space. Thats curious, he said, withdrawing a notebook and scrawling something.
Ready? Aarok shouted?
Adventurers were moving the defensive artifices around, bringing more of the [Chain Lightning Towers] to the eastern gate. It left the other walls open to attack, but no one could be certain what the trader would bring along with him. Stillness hung in the air, even as Fenian crossed the bridge and approached the gate.
Theos throat seized with what came next. A figure, twice the height of the towns walls, crossed the threshold of the tear. It closed behind the monster, snapping shut like a bear trap. The thing walked with a limp, its entire body made of slick silver metal. It brandished a sword as tall as itself and let out an ear-shattering sound. The portcullis mmed shut as the trader passed the threshold, his demonic Karatan skittering to a stop and letting out mournful chitters of dismay. The alchemist swung around, jumping from the wall with questions.
Are you an idiot? Theo shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. He wanted to punch the Elf in the face, but the moment the thought sprung to his mind, his intuition warned him against it. There was something about Fenian he hadnt noticed before. There was power sitting behind those eyes.
My dear alchemist, Fenian said, holding his arms wide and bowing. Ive brought you a gift!
Looks like a big old horrible monster! Tresk shouted, emerging from the shadows.
Come now, Fenian said, waving them away. Ascend the wall and observe.
Theo and Tresk joined him on the battlements, watching the horror limp across the open fields near the river. It stumbled, falling face-first into the bridge and destroying it. Fenian groaned, cleared his throat, then continued his speech.
I apologize for the bridge, Fenian said, coughing into his hand.
My grandfather helped build that bridge, Aarok said, scowling.
Well, your grandfather would have loved to get his hands on this beauty, Fenian said. Before you attempt to remove my head from my shoulders, Id like to exin myself.
Fenian was always honest with Theo. He hid a few things, but it wasnt the things that mattered. Even if the Elf had done something reckless, the alchemist couldnt afford not to do business with him. He was simply too important.
Go on, Theo said, gesturing to the iling creature attempting to untangle itself from the debris of the bridge.
I was pilfering some Taranthian ruins, Fenian started.
The Elves? Xolsa said, brightening up. No one else seemed as interested in where the ruins where.
The very same! Fenian said, nodding and causing the feather sticking from his hat to wobble. The fun part is, you cant get to these ruins. Unless you have my talentsyes, lets call them that. The monster you see iling around in the river is as old as Tarantham itself, buried for untold eons. Its actually an artifice, if you can believe that.
Theo squinted, trying to force himself to see further. He could make out the whirring of gears on the side of the creature, so that made sense to him. It wasnt a monster at all, just a big hunk of metal andArtificers materials. If it was advanced enough to move on its own and pursue an enemy, it was a trove of materials. Even the metal, which the alchemist assumed was some kind of steel, was worth a lot of money.
Wouldnt you know? Fenian asked, pping Theo on the shoulder. The whole machine is weak to what? Lightning! Isnt that amazing? Not that it matters. It might fall apart before it even reaches the walls.
Id second that opinion, Luras said, his eyes shing with the power of Baelthar.
The materials you gather from the thing will pay for the bridge, Fenian said, waving a dismissive hand.
How did you get it to take the Bridge of Shadows? Theo asked.
I thought that was a secret, Fenian said, pressing his finger into his chin and frowning.
If you were holding the secret against a group of toddlers, maybe, Theo shrugged.
Fenians use of the Bridge of Shadows wasnt a secret, not to the alchemist. It was easy enough to smell the influence of the Queen of the Path of Shadows, UzXulven, on him whenever he came to town. But it was another thing to understand what the trader sought to gain from the bridge. Something in his cores whispered, UzGodan Bokrak Tal, but nothing more, simply the name of the bridge.
He wouldnt be stupid enough to align with UzXulven, Theo said, sending his thoughts to Tresk.
Wanna bet?
He didnt care to wager against that.
At any rate, this is a gift, Fenian said, bowing deeply. I can no longer afford the cost of your potions. So, we revert to the old way. Bartering and gifts.
Theo nodded, watching as the artifice weapon drew closer to the town. When it fell in the river, it was damaged even further. The limp became more pronounced, with more of its inner workings exposed on its side. The alchemist could see a heraldic crest on the front of the thing as it drew closer, the image of apass and a sword. Then, he plugged his ears as the towers hummed to life.
Fenian said something muffled, pping his hands over his ears a little toote as the four [Chain Lightning Towers] fired at the same time. The artifice stumbled back from the force of the strike, but adjusted its footing and pressed on. The artificial monster was saying something now, but Theo couldnt hear. Each tower sent a stream of lightning at the monster, bolts that jumped from the various parts of the thing, quickly joined by the other towers. Cones of frost, fireballs, and firebolts fired off in rapid session.
Fenian was right about the mechanical creation, it was weak. After a few fierce volleys, before the adventurers could even get a shot off, it let out a prolonged sound and copsed, shaking the earth under its feet. The ease of the fight didnt temper the adventurers excitement for victory. They shouted and jeered at the fallen monstrosity, pumping their fists in the air.
Is it dead? Theo asked, turning to the trader.
What? Fenian shouted, digging his fingers into his ears.
Looks dead to me, Tresk said, peering over the wall. The creature was motionless. The gears inside werent moving, and it showed no signs of life.
You must remove the [Power Core], Fenian shouted, still digging in his ears. Then, it will be useless.
Wheres the power core? Theo shouted his question back.
Fenian simply beckoned him to follow. The trader jumped over the wall, rather than descending the battlements and approaching through the gate. Theo trusted his [Strength] and [Dexterity] to carry him safely, so he joined. With a rush of wind, hended harmlessly on the unpaved road outside. The trader approached the fallen artifice, climbed its slick metal body, and withdrew a sword from nowhere. In an instant, he cut through the hard exterior of the artifice, and removed an object.
Power core, Fenian said, smiling. I still cant hear a damn thing.
Theo handed the Elf a [Healing Potion], shaking his head. While Fenian drank, the alchemist inspected the power core. It looked more like arge crystal surrounded by a cage of the strange metal than something that conducted electricity. It pulsed with white energy, but the alchemist put it in his inventory and inspected it from there.
[Power Core]
[Construct Power]
Epic
A device used for the storage of raw, magical power.
Current Power:
25%
The item was in, but something caught Theos eye and something clicked in his mind. While the metal monster might have been an artifice at its heart, it had a literal heart rted to constructs. The design looked simr enough to the idea the alchemist had, surrounding a living medium with metal to create a fake seed core, that it would be useful to study.
Thats better, Fenian said, opening his jaw to pop his ears. Youll find that the machine is made ofWhat is the world in Qavelli? Ah, barrowsteel. The Qavelli word actuallyes from my native tongue, as it rtes to the burial sites of my ancestors. If were talking tiers of metal, this is
Theo interrupted him. He could feel the power of the metal. Third tier of metals. I have a feeling well find this in the mine.
Then youll be rich! Fenian shouted.
Well organize the retrieval tomorrow, Theo said, shouting up at the battlements.
The day was getting toote to worry about the metal monster tonight, and he wouldnt ask his people to work through the night. It wasnt going anywhere, and the towers were trained on that approach. Aarok shouted his approval down, joined by the other adventurers. Once Theo had left the fallen constructs side, others came to poke at the dead beast. The alchemist beckoned for the trader to follow him, intending to get some dinner.
Youve been busy, Theo said, nodding at Fenian.
How can you tell? Fenian asked.
Tresk appeared next to them, grinning. Because youre always busy, big guy.
Instead of leading Fenian back to the privacy of theb, Theo led him to Xamstest offering for the festival. The attack hadnt diminished her spirit to prepare delicious food, and everything was prepared and presented outside. Theo enjoyed the idea of dining outside, so long as the fair weathersted. When the next season was called the Season of Fire, it was hard to see it as anything but sweltering. The trader seemed reluctant to conduct business in front of everyone, but their rtionship had grown closer over the season.
Wevee to the point where I cant afford an outright purchase of your potions, Fenian said, nodding to the server that brought him a drink.
I said Im willing to barter, Theo said.
The smell of whatever Xam was preparing wafted from the interior of the Marsh Wolf Tavern. When the scent singed his nose, Theo felt his pulse quicken slightly. She was making spicy stuff again.
Of course, Fenian said. The guardian is part of that ord. Theo, I thought youd be more excited.
The alchemist realized his demeanor didnt suit him. He cleared his throat and looked at the situation in the best light possible. The metal would sell for a lot, but not a fortune like Fenian would propose. Throk would appraise the real treasure of the encounter as the artificers materials within the thing. [Monster Cores] were more valuable than gold right now, along with rare seed core buildings. Everything that was happening suited him just fine, he was just tired.
Theo dug deep, releasing a breath and focusing his mind on the evening negotiations. Im extremely excited about this, he said, even if he doubted that himself. Well get down to business and see if we can meet in the middle.
As with all things rted to the trader, their conversation wasnt much of a negotiation. The thing that Theo found interesting was that Fenian had a sense for the price of his new potions, after iming there was nothing like it in the kingdom. He could reliably get a silver for the new products, but that relied on the willingness of rich families to spend. They settled on a split between coin and goods for the potions. 30 gold coins seemed like a low sum, but that came with another 30 gold in credit.
And a gift, Fenian said, leaning in. I wish we could retreat to yourb for this one.
The sun started its descent in the western sky, looming over the swamp like a zing sentinel. Xamstest spicy dish was another interpretation of milled Zee, Karatan cheese, and wolf meat. Her twist for this dish was the addition of the spicy [Fire Smander Eggs], which made it much more enjoyable. With the meal done, Theo was happy to go back to theb and discuss whatever sensitive topic Fenian had for him.
Just for good measure, Fenian said, cing a small cube of metal on the second floornding before entering theb.
I need [Monster Cores], a seed core for a coin mint, and any other interesting production buildings you might have, Theo said. He was under the impression that the trader didnt want the others to see the high-cost exchange they normally did.
A mint? Fenian said,ughing. Now, youre clever. Look at this.
Fenian withdrew a gold coin from his inventory, setting it down on the table. Tresk had to stand on her chair to get a good view of the coin. It was like the coins Theo had seen before, but the image rendered on the golden surface was different. While the render seemed simr to the symbol on the front of the guardian artifice, it had enough difference to im a different source. Theo knew instantly, this was a coin produced in a foreignnd. It didnt have theurel crown of Qavells coinage, nor the words that traced the edge of the coin.
It all goes to the same ce when you have an inventory, but you can pull them out individually, Fenian said, nodding to himself. Theyre all standard currency across the world. If it doesnt go in your inventory, it''s a fake.
Where did you find this one? Theo asked.
Fenian only smiled in response, changing the topic.
A mint will cost youWell, a mint, Fenian said.
Just to confirm what I heard, theyre legal? Theo asked.
Yes, you wont have the crown crashing down on you. Not that they could. Theyre busy, Fenian said, his grin turning wicked.
That exined why Theo hadnt gotten word from Qavell. If he was honest with himself, he knew that was better for them. Any undue attention would throw off his ns, and thest thing he needed were meddling princes. Still, the Elfs proximity to how busy the kingdom was didnt sit well with him, but he managed to shrug it off for the sake of profit.
That leads me to something I need from you, Fenian said, withdrawing a seed core from his inventory and setting it on the table. He then withdrew a sack and a book, setting them down next to the seed.
Theo pressed his intent into the seed core, inspecting it.
[Mycology Cave Seed Core]
[Seed Core]
Epic
A core for the ntation of a Mycology Cage. This allows you to cultivate mushrooms.
That solves that problem, Theo said. Whats in the sack?
[Monster Cores], Fenian said, opening the bag for Theo to see. I need a favor. Do you remember the [Swamp Truffles]?
Theo tried hard to forget about those mushrooms. They carried the [Experience Boost] property, which seemed to be more trouble than it was worth.
I remember, Theo said, casting his eyes over to Tresk. She seemed content enough to just exist during the meeting, likely keeping an eye out for threats.
Heres your task, Fenian said, clearing his throat. Im giving someAh, swimming lessons. Im not interested in the experience part of it. I need [Hallow Ground].
It felt odd for someone to reference a property, especially when they werent alchemically inclined. Even with Theos intuition, he couldnt understand what the Elf would do with potions made from the property.
Bombs, or potions? Theo asked.
Fenian stood from his chair, opened the door to the hall and tapped the top of his strange cube. The air shimmered through theb and Theo felt a sense as though a sheet of ice had been ced over his body. The Elf was satisfied enough,ing back to sit at the table by the window.
Brew me the most effective way to repel the undead, Fenian said. Some way to steer them away from me while I work. Theres plenty of ruins to be plundered, such as your Pozwa, but it bes difficult when the damned skeletonse calling.
Theo understood what the Elf wanted to aplish, but a strange feeling washed over his body. The constant whisper of suggestions belonging to his cores was absent, and he understood the purpose of the cube. He was keeping unfriendly ears away, those belonging to the Gods. He wondered if it was to keep Drogromath out, or whoever Fenian called his god. The field shimmered out, and for the first time since he met the Elf, he looked slightly nervous.
I can do that, Theo said.
Hey, that sounds shady as hell, Tresk said, speaking into Theos mind.
Thats no skin off my back, Theo said.
Tresk nodded, agreeing with him in an instant. Theo would insure that whatever he exported couldnt be used as a weapon. That was his general rule for every potion he made, although it was a loose rule.
Perfect! Fenian said, throwing his arms wide. A smile hung on his face. I have a selection of seed cores you might be interested in. Take a look.
The amount of cores he dumped on the table was absurd. They spilled over immediately, ttering onto the ground. Tresk and Theo sifted through those cores for hours, even after the sun went down. As both their [Vigor] attribute grew, they needed less sleep. Only the Dreamwalk lured them to their beds every night.
A few cores stood out, and were all self-descriptive. By the end of it, Theo selected a core simplybeled [School Seed Core], another called a [Weavers Seed Core], and the biggest shock of them all a [Harbor Seed Core].
Ah, thatst one is a bit pricey, Fenian said, smiling. Youd owe me a few hundred gold.
Then, I owe you, Theo said, collecting his seed cores.
Fenian tilted his head like a predatory bird, but softened after a moment. Call it 100 gold, then. Paid at a future date. The upgrades for that one include a shipwright.
Perfect, Theo said. One question, before you retire.
Of course, Fenian said, bowing his head.
I have a potion that can dig out a channel for my harbor, but would it be wiser to hire an [Earth Mage]?
nning to move the ocean closer to town? Smart, Fenian said, rubbing his chin. Some advice? Do it yourself. Your issue is hardening the edges of the channel, although Im sure youve thought of that. Perhaps it''s time your stonecutters got some experience with building.
Fenian withdrew 5 cores from his inventory, setting them on the table. [Stonemasons Cores]. Even if the Elf was feeling generous, nothing he provided was free. He held his hand out and grinned. A gold for 5.
Theo handed the money over without hesitation. It was time for the stonecutters to stretch themselves thin to serve Broken Tusk. Fenians instructions werent lost on him, and a n was forming in the alchemists head to get the harbor project underway. The massive water element left him enough [Living River Water] to cut a wide channel, and still have enough to dig his tunnels in the mine.
As always, Theo said, reaching out to shake Fenians hand. We both prosper when the other is doing well.
Fenian leaned in, grinning again. You have no idea.
Chapter 3.16: Stabby Groves
Chapter 3.16: Stabby Groves
Tresk got clever with her assassination attempt in the Dreamwalk that night. Instead of ordering her minions to attack simultaneously, she staggered them in stages. It was hard to hide intent through the Tarahek, and Theo already had a solution for that problem. His mana control in the real world was bad, but within the dream realm it was eptable enough to not kill him instantly. When he tossed a [Reveal Construct] in the air, bathing the surroundingndscape with a pale glow, it dropped stealth on the 20 assassins shed generated.
Thats cheating! she shouted, looking over the mangled bodies of her creations.
Try again tomorrow, Theo said, patting her on the shoulder.
The Marshling only pouted for a moment, moving off to train ande up with better ways to kill him. Theo could feel she was happy about his sess in thwarting her. That was the point of the exercise, after all.
Thendscape Theo chose tonight was the exterior of Broken Tusk, following that snaking river off to sea. He generated his [Tunneling Potion] and decided on the best way to carve out thendscape. His first attempt ended in failure. He dug from the sea, toward the town, which resulted in the ocean rushing in to destroy the earth at the side. When the sea joined with the river, the effect was worse. This meant there were several problems.
Theos potion worked underwater, but that wasnt the problem. His team of stoneworkers wouldnt be able to move in and reinforce the walls of the harbor with marble. When he dug from the seas side of the harbor, the water came rushing in. If he dug from the rivers side that came to flood the area. Both approaches left him unable to build the stonework.
Standing over the newly refreshedndscape, Theo tapped his chin. It didnt help his concentration that he normally spent his time in the Dreamwalk training alchemy. It was a waste of time, but this was important. The alchemist dug a shallow version of the harbor from the rivers side almost the entire way to the ocean. It was a massive rectangle dug into the earth. This approach was almost workable. The flood of the river was slow, and there were solutions he could employ to empty the basin. Thanks to how low the area of the swamp was, the footprint he created was no deeper than he was tall.
The river filled the shape hed carved out, and Theo reset thendscape once again. He dug the same shape again, only far deeper this time. Deep enough to hold the boats he hoped to create. He worked the channel toward the ocean and imagined a stone wall holding in the massive quantities of soil on either side. At some point, the Dreamwalk was smart enough to know there was a water table, and he hit it. But the harbor continued out to sea, with Theo creating stone walls with his mind and applying his potion to remove dirt. The sea rushed in, but he continued digging his channel out into the bay until it was deep enough for his vessels.
Theo stood back, looking over his work. There were problems to sort out, but hed managed most of them. As long as he could remove the water from the river faster than it could umte, this n would work. A massive surge from the ocean met the already resting river water, creating a brackish mix that spat sea-foam into the air. The alchemist looked over his new harbor and nodded, trotting over to the head of the structure. It woulde almost all the way to the eastern gate, where the bridge used to be. In the Dreamwalk version of Broken Tusk, the bridge remained.
The system refused to allow him to expand the walls of Broken Tusk, but he could imagine it. An expansion east, perhaps a single expansion, would see the wall over the river. Instead of expanding all the way to the ocean, he could save money by creating his own harbor. A sh of pride raced through his body, content with the modification to thendscape. The only mystery left to the process was how the towns seed core would bridge the wall over the river and harbor, but that wasnt a problem for now. It had always been intelligent enough to understand the shift of terrain, automatically cing their gates in the best spot. He hoped for the best.
Tresk had suggestions for the harbor, highlighting weaknesses in the n. Her concerns centered on Zizs ability to do the work, but conceded the point. The stoneworkers would have time to practice on the bridge, and there was no shortage of stone for them to practice with.
Whats your take on Fenian? Tresk asked, sitting on a stump and observing the strange harbor. Hes lying about something.
Little lies, Theo said, waving her away. Small things that dont involve us. For example, he didnt tell us about what ruins he was exploring. But he had to get rid of the guardian. We were just a simple solution. He knew wed be happy to get the materials.
I can live with that, Tresk said.
The Marshling had a soft spot for anyone who had done a favor for her in the past. If it didnt affect her directly, she had trouble rting to others. With time, the Tarahek would give her more of a heart. Shed get more of Theos generosity, he hoped as much anyway. Or perhaps, she was just growing as a pir of Broken Tusk.
Whats the deal with the flooding project, anyway? Tresk asked.
The idea is to dig a channel, so we dont have to take the town to the sea, Theo said, gesturing at therge swathe of earth hed removed. We bring the sea up to us.
How does that work?
Well, thendscape rises, Theo said, making a motion with his hand to exin the point. But if we dig at, or under sea level, we can let the ocean rush in. No need to expand the town out. No need to get close to the [Ocean Dungeon].
Yeah, Tresk said, nodding. Makes sense. Why do we care about boats?
That was a decent enough question. Theo was pulled toward the idea of owning a merchant fleet since the idea first came to him. It would be costly, likely taking years to make money off of the idea. But that wasnt the point. From what he understood, Qavell didnt own a merchant fleet. They didnt have a single vessel to their name, leaving the market wide open. Withoutpetition, they could ferry exotic goods from one ce to the other and make absurd profits for just operating the fleet.
Trade, Theo said, distilling the concept down for hispanion. Well move standard goods, but theres the concept of bringing in scarce materials from ces where theyre abundant.
Tresk seemed to ept that answer. She nodded, motioning for him to take a seat next to her on a log. He did, and she pressed her head into his side. She wasnt nearly tall enough to rest her head on his shoulder, even if thats what she wanted to do.
Ever feel like were getting in over our heads? Tresk asked.
Never, Theo said. No, were right where we need to be. In the thick of it.
Agreed, Tresk said.
Theo felt the pull to get things done in the Dreamwalk, but this was nice. It wasnt wasted time if the time they got was extra to begin with. They just sat there, watching the ebb and flow of the imagined ocean for hours. The sounds and smells were real enough to make the experience extremely pleasant. A tingle ran up the alchemists spine, a sense of belonging that he wouldnt trade for the world. Every moment he spent in this ce was worth the effort it took to keep things running. No where hed ever lived had felt as much like a home as Broken Tusk.
With the harbor problem sorted, Theo turned his attention back to alchemy. He assessed where his current cores and personal level was as he worked the stills and fiddled with constructs. His alchemy and herbalism core were on the same level now, sitting at level 14, while his personal level was at 13. That was enough to prove his idea that each core provided a third of the total experience pool wrong, but he focused on his [Governance Core]. It would hit level 10 the moment they left the Dreamwalk, he could feel it. That brought another problem.
The skill list was endless, and the restricted list was equally daunting. When a core hit a multiple of 10, he was allowed to purchase a skill rted only to that domain. Flicking through the menus, Theo found a few that stuck out. One gave a small reduction in taxes, so small to be useless. Another reduced the cost to upgrade with monster cores, but once again the bonus was small. The one skill that stuck out among the others was [Districting].
[Districting]
Governance Skill
Rare
Allows the user to create and manage districts within their town.
Effect:
Create and manage districts.
Districts will appear on all town-rted maps.
Requires: Level 10 Administration-rted core.
The [Governance Core] was a ss that provided a lot of bonuses up front. The crawl to a higher level would see less benefit than that initial burst, but Theo was happy to y the long game. [Districting] was interesting, if only because it mentioned managing districts. There was something about it that said it would improve something, but he couldnt put his finger on it.
One thing Theo learned about making constructs was their nebulous nature. Without the skill, he was stabbing in the dark. Within the Dreamwalk and without the skill, he was iling at phantoms. The alchemist could only build up so much knowledge without proper experimentation, but he tried anyway. Only when Tresk suggested the concept of Golems did his mood brighten. He filed that thought away, intent on exploiting that nugget of informationter.
Morning finally came, and Theo sat upright immediately. His mind spun with the possibilities, but nothing woulde of the revtion until he got the skill. Golems were enough of a myth back on Earth that hed seen before. The small piece of information contained within Tresks suggestion rted to the origin of the creatures. They were made of inanimate matter, powered by something. Thats what made it click in his mind. He was working under the idea that he could create a pseudo seed core and grow a construct, embedding it with alchemical properties. After seeing the power source in the guardian, he had a solid direction.
Golems, huh? Tresk asked, belching. She ate Xams offering in moments, not even trying to savor the spicy vor. The food was, as always, leftovers fromst night.
Theo ced a few things on the table, clearing away Tresks te to demonstrate. A monster core to power the thing, surrounded in appropriate inanimate matter, then doused in essence to drive its nature.
Tresk leaned in, smacking her lips. The monster core tells it what material to use, the essence drives what it does. Gotcha.
Tresk normally didnt care about this kind of stuff. Not the way it functioned, anyway. She was always interested in using his potions, not so much the brewing part.
Well, time to set districts, Theo said, selecting the [Districting] skill and slotting it into his [Governance Core]. A sense of expansion filled his mind, then faded.
Theo opened his mayors interface and found that his map had changed. A panel opened up on the side,plete with tools to draw out new districts. There was a pen tool, a text tool, and even a fill tool. He chuckled and drew out his districts while he ate his breakfast.
I can change the names at any time, Theo said. What should we name the quarry area?
Rocktown, Tresk said, nodding resolutely.
Theo named the northern stretch of the town Rocktown, then moved on. There was a middle section, between the area with the quarry and the farms, where most adventurers were housed. Tresk apparently knew he was going from the north to the south, and spoke up before he had a chance to pose the question.
Stabby Groves, Tresk said.
Theo named the adventurers area Stabby Groves.
Sea of Zee, Tresk said, naming the farmers area before he could even think about it. And then it was so.
She named the area just north of town Town Time, and the central area Tuskburg before moving on to the other sections of town. The small stretch ofnd between Tuskburg and the vacant hills she named Cool Kids. Those same hills, mostly absent of people, she named The Dreadwastes. The entire area surrounding the mines was simply called Dead Dog, Mianas ranch area was called Cheese Empire, and the section along the wall to the east she named In Memory of a Very Angry Water Elemental.
Theoughed the whole way through. The other members of the town, especially those inmand or administration positions, wouldnt let the silly names stand. But for the time being, it was fun to y with the things the system provided. As if by heavenlymand, Alise came stomping over to the table. She narrowed her eyes at the mayor and huffed a breath.
Most of these names are fine, she said, clearly consulting her administration interface. ButIn Memory of a Very Angry Water Elemental? Thats justTheo, did you let Tresk name the districts?
Yeah, Theo said, sipping his tea.
Well need to change them, Alise said.
Theo waved her off, producing the [School Seed Core] from his inventory. Got you a present.
Alises eyes glittered. She snatched the core up, mouth hung open, as she tried to form words. I just hired a Brogling! she said, finally getting the words toe out. The parents agreed to pay a weekly fee to have their children cared for. This is better!
Theo groaned. He didnt hate Broglings. He just didnt like their names. Whats his name?
Alise had to consult her interface for that one. Graptappin Tublubbin Grappin, she said, stumbling through the words.
Thest Brogling Theo met was named something simr. He just called the man Grub. This guy would also need a nickname. Credentials?
Former researcher for a schrly cult. Zaul, specifically, Alise said. She finally saw this as a meeting, and took a seat at the table.
The mention of Tresks patron had her attention. Zaul? Oh, thats cool. Real cool.
There he is! Alise said, waving over to the tiny man.
Broglings only came up to Theos knee. They looked like puffed-up field mice,pletely with a sweeping tail and short snout. Everytime Theo saw one, their little whiskers were jostling as if they were constantly sniffing the air. The little man came over, doubling over as he bowed. He was wearing a clean ck robe, and a chain hung from his neck. The amulet at the end of the chain held an image of the god Zaul.
Graptappin Tublubbin Grappin at your service, he said.
Do you have a nickname? Theo asked.
None, the Brogling said.
May I give you one?
By all means, mayor, he said, bowing once again.
Bob, Theo said. Youre Bob, now.
Then, Bob it shall be, he said. Im eager to work with the children. I find most small towns dont appreciate the importance of an education.
Have you seen many small towns? Theo asked.
Between here in grot? Just about every small town there is, Bob said,ughing. All those small settlements between Rivers and Qavell, the ins outside the city and those mountain holds between the territories. Then the fishing viges in Veosta, the hamlets in Tarantham. Ive seen them all.
That seemed to be a point of pride for Bob. He was well traveled, beyond any of Theos expectations, which would render another service. The alchemist needed reliable opinions about other nations, and an objective one for the Kingdom of Qavell. He withdrew a single gold coin from his inventory and flicked it over to the Brogling, who caught it with surprising grace. A disciple of Zaul, indeed.
If you wouldnt mind binding yourself to a contract, Theo said, dipping his head.
Id expect nothing less from someone looking to educate and protect the children of his town, Bob said, bowing his head to meet Theos gesture.
The pair spent time writing the contract. It was extremely verbose, detailing all of Bobs responsibilities with the children. Theo made sure to put a section in there regarding the teachers knowledge, and his willingness to share with the town. Broken Tusk was willing to put aside whatever money he needed to better the lives of the children, to an extent.
Not that I dont trust your dedication, Bob said, grinning. When youe to a new town, look for the kids. Are they fat and happy? ying in the fields? Or are they working the mines, starving? Thats a true test of a towns worth.
Theo swelled with pride at thements. They finalized the contract, signing it with their souls. Bob took possession of the [School Seed Core], and Theo carved him out a section ofnd in Town Time. Now he realized how absurd the names were.
Alise had some other business for Theo to attend to, so Tresk left for her daily adventure. The alchemist exined his ns about the harbor, which she thought was a great idea. He still needed to distribute the [Stonemasons Cores] to Ziz and his men, but word got out that they were already nning on recing the ruined bridge with a marble one.
Right, Theo said, smiling to his assistant. Ill pass these cores out. Make sure Bob has everything he needs.
Alise looked sheepish for a moment, casting her eyes away from Theos as though she had something to say. She finally found the courage to say, can I change the district names?
Keep the themes, Theo said, nodding at her. But, yeah. Change them.
Chapter 3.17: Mycology Cave
Chapter 3.17: Mycology Cave
Theo found Ziz and his men hauling blocks from their quarry, down to the river. He watched with amusement, waiting for the group to detect his presence. Only after the men cursed and kicked at the absurdly heavy blocks did they notice him.
An inventory! one shouted.
Theo! Ziz said, huffing to regain his breath. Mind giving us a hand?
More than you know, Theo said, producing 5 [Stonemasons Cores] from his inventory.
Zizs eyes lit up, letting his hands drift over the cores. We were gonna do it by hand.
Paid for by Fenian, Theo said with a nod. Since he destroyed the bridge.
Since he destroyed the bridge, aborer said, letting out a heavy sigh. So, you helping?
Theo nodded, taking the existing blocks into his inventory. To the workers credit, they got it most of the way down toward Mianas ranch. He didnt know how they nned to get it the rest of the way, but it didnt matter. The group went back to the quarry and loaded up the alchemists inventory with blocks. They walked down to the river with ease, everyone joking about how long it would have taken them to do this by hand. Even with their high [Strength], the blocks were absurdly heavy.
The bridge was ruined, barely a post or two left after the guardians rampage. Theo could see the body of the guardian from here, trusting that Alise would organize everyone to dismantle it. If she didnt, Throk would take up the mantle and dig out all the artificer materials.
Ziz and his workers inserted their cores, which told Theo something. Ziz was level 10, and the others either had an empty core slot or were also at level 10. Even without levels and experience, the cores themselves would give the men at least basic skills for stonemasonry. It would be enough to make a crude bridge, but the stoneworkers had been nothing but perfectionists. They met challenges with a stubborn determination that the alchemist always appreciated. It reminded him of himself.
Aborer removed a book from a satchel at his side. Knew this woulde in handy, he said, holding the pages up for Theo to see.
It was written in the standardnguage of Qavell, the Qavelli script, and detailed bridge-making methods. It specifically rted to the use of stone to make bridges, which was perfect. While it was nice that they were prepared for such an event, Theo wanted to pick Zizs brain about his n for a harbor. The stoneworker ordered his men to get a n together while the pair headed down the river. Theo exined his n.
Once we understand how to put blocks together, it should be a breeze, Ziz said, letting out a startled sound.
Someone dropped from the nearby treeline and rushed them, stopping only feet away. He was coiled in pale orange energy, but once the field of power dispersed Theo saw it was only Luras. He had a serious look on his face, leveling his gaze over the alchemist.
Tresk would kill you, he said, growling the words.
I have an escape n now, Theo said.
Does that n involve killing Ziz as you retreat? Luras asked.
Ziz looked fearfully at the alchemist, still clutching his chest from Luras sudden appearance.
Point taken, Theo said, gesturing down the river. Could I hire your services for a few hours?
Luras softened, a smile spreading across his face. Since he took the patron of the Ogres as his deity, hed be harder. More of a weapon. But he was still the same old hunter that Theo met at the start of the season. Naturally, he said, nocking an arrow and nodding.
The river is nothingpared to the ocean, Theo said. This was the first time hed been here in his physical form. It felt strange. Well dig from the river side out, creating the full channel. Then we need to drain the water that the river dumps.
Why not divert the river? Luras asked.
That might work, Theo said, gesturing to the other side of the river. The beach leading out into the bay was wide enough to aplish the task. My only concern is filling it up afterward. My potion eats stone and earth. It wont deposit it elsewhere. An [Earth Mage] is too expensive, or unreliable.
Theo exined all the things he saw wrong with his n, as well as the positive points. Both Luras and Ziz agreed it was best to bring the harbor to the town, cutting out a massive rectangle that allowed boats toe right into town. They both seemed to think the seed core of the town was smart enough to adjust the walls to allow something like that to happen. When they approached the ocean, the alchemist spotted his next problem.
Ah, theres a hitch, Theo said.
A group of Fald, a strange mix between a man and a turtle, stood on the shores of the beach. They were undoubtedly remnants of thest monster wave, milling around without a target. The [Ocean Dungeon] was too far from the town for the waves to attack directly, forcing them to hold in the ocean and the beach forever. Thest wave, each dungeon was shuffled and forced to attack Broken Tusk. Theo hoped that meant all the monsters would die, but that wasnt the case.
Youll need to protect the mouth of your harbor, Luras said, narrowing his eyes. Theres more in the water.
Another roadblock, Theo said, rubbing his chin. The [Ocean Dungeon] was directly in their path out to the bay.
Do you think so? Ziz asked, tapping his foot on the wet bank of the river. Theo could see the gears turning in the Half-Ogres head. I see it as free defense.
Luras raised a brow at thatment.
Think about it, Ziz said. If others dont know about the monsters, theyll get swarmed.
Id feel better if we had towers over here, Luras said. Seems like a risk to any boat we send to sea.
Would you mind setting a contract for the Fald? Theo asked, turning to Luras. The Half-Ogre nodded. Well worry about their viability as a weaponter. For now, keep the beach clear and make sure we have a few adventurers covering Ziz and his workers when theyre away from the walls.
We appreciate that, Ziz said.
Who is funding those contracts? Luras asked.
Theo was just impressed that hispanion had the good sense to think about that. The towns finances were split between the Adventurers Guild and the town itself. He didnt care which pool they drew from, as they often shared the cost of defense.
Whichever, Theo said. Talk with Alise if you need funding. Shell take care of it.
She always does, Luras said,ughing. His eyes went hazy for a moment.
Luras had ess to themand structures tactical maps, which also allowed him to assign adventurers remotely. This feature had been valuable during thest siege, allowing them to move people around as they were needed.
Three adventurers, Luras said, nodding. They scooped up the order as soon as I ced it. Your guys should be safe, Ziz.
Always appreciated, Ziz said.
Theo was satisfied enough with the way things were and headed back with the group. Luras ensured everyone knew their jobs before he left the trio of adventurers to patrol the exterior of the wall near the ruined bridge. The Half-Ogre Captain of the Guard joined the alchemist as he made his way back to the Newt and Demon. They had had little chance to catch uptely.
How is the new core? Theo asked.
Hard to fight Baelthars rage sometimes, Luras grunted.
You need to bnce it out, Theo said. Find another aligned core thatpetes with him.
Luras eyed him for a moment before they entered the Newt and Demon. When they passed by Azrug, entering theb upstairs, he had more to say. How about you? Drogramath cant be easy to fight. Unless youve gone full Demon mode.
Hes a useful tool, Theo said. No, theres something else. The [Tarahek Core]. Its strange. Hard to exin. Imagine the border between two factions, fighting back and forth. The Tarahek keeps Drogramath at bay.
Luras grunted a response, ying idly with some alchemy equipment. The look he had on his face was of a man struggling with the concept. Theos intuition and instincts said he was doing the right thing, but few had ess to the Tarahek. The alchemist withdrew the [Mycology Cave Seed Core] from his inventory and held it up for Luras to see.
A new seed core, Luras said, snapping out of his contemtive mood. For mushrooms, I suppose.
Theo nodded, rolling the metal ball in his hand. He couldnt imagine what Fenians n for the seed core was, or rather the potions it would produce. Even with his intuition, it was hard to predict the moves of the trader. Again, it was easier to ept gifts and put them to use than to worry about the details. Those were problems for thends outside of Broken Tusk.
Give me your honest opinion on the harbor, Theo said. He found a sense offort from the warm, earthy energy the seed core put off.
Wellmand the only navy this side of the continent, Luras said, shrugging at the question. As long as you dont count those paddle-driven craft the lizard-folk use on the inds.
Canoes hardly counted as merchant vessels. Theos mind was still locked on the concept of trading overseas, particrly with the Khahari. The option to trade with Veosta would be sealed off until they settled their dispute with Qavell. Most of what hed heard about the conflict centered around border disputes, which seemed silly. The two kingdoms were separated by a spine of impassable mountains. Unless Qavell wanted to push further into their enemysnds, they would have to be content with what they had. But a greedy mind always saw what others had, thinking it was theirs.
How long is the Veostian conflict going tost? Theo asked, sighing. Not sure if we can handle another increase in taxes.
It wont end well, Luras said. He had a darker look on his face than before. Contemtion was reced with something close to fear. Makes you wonder what the king has in mind.
A king Theo knew almost nothing about. He removed hismunication crystal, the one connected with the capital, and tried it again. The haptic ringing in his mind was ufortable, but once again it bore no fruit. They were happy enough to collect his taxes while ignoring hismunication.
I wanted to get ahead of it, Theo said, crossing the room and assessing the contents of his storage crates. He always felt better when he was organizing things, even if he didnt like doing it. We already showed Rivers and Daub that Broken Tusk is a force. At first, I wanted as much defense for the city because of the monster waves. But now? Now Im wondering what happens when Qavell falls.
Luras picked up on what Theo was suggesting startlingly fast. An alliance with Rivers? It could work.
A defensive alliance, Theo said. A military move that works for both of us.
Because if somethinges from the north, theyre the first line of defense, Luras said. Smart thinking. What does Aarok think?
I havent asked him, Theo said. We only have a trade rtionship with Rivers, and I dont know how theyll react. I just want to be ready to jump on it if the timees.
Theos Drogramath cores whispered that it wasnt a matter of if the time came. It was a matter of when. It was all the more reason to prepare their harbor. That would give them a straight shot to the sea, and represent a lifeline of trade if anything happened in the north. Broken Tusk was positioned perfectly to be a small hermit kingdom, conducting all business from behind the safety of their walls. The alchemist had no interest in taking a crown, but there was more than one way to run a government.
The concept expands out, Luras said. Qavell falls, or changes. We get annexed by someone else, or we have to strike out on our own. The town no longer gets support from the north, and we have to make an alliance. Better to make it from better footing, right?
Right. Better footing, Theo said. Being proactive has worked so far, theres no reason to stop. This town will function as if the world will copse tomorrow. That way, well be ready if it does.
Luras didnt have a response for that.
Im going to nt my seed core, Theo said, holding up the orb of living material.
All the best, Luras said, still pensive.
Theo left theb. He prided himself on his tenacity, but he was also very good at pushing things out of his mind. By the time he reached the back of his building, where he nned to ce the new [Mycology Cave], those worries had melted away. By his estimation, Fenian provided enough [Monster Cores] to get the building up to level 20, perhaps higher. The alchemist owned arge swathe ofnd between his building at the eastern walls, so he selected a spot right next to his greenhouse, off what was left of the gravel yard.
It took very few [Monster Cores] to get the cave started. Theo nted the seed core in the ground, watching as roots sprung up to form the vague shape of a tiny building, then fed his cores. Roots wrapped around themselves, forming something simr to the entrance of a mine. Those wooden roots gave way to stone, sloping down into the earth, with a wooden door frame providing an entrance. The alchemist descended into the building and spotted four rows of nters. They werent raised from the stone floor, but set down in them. It was very simr to the greenhouse, just underground. He exited the building, not wanting to experience the sudden shift in size as he fed it cores.
Theo set a name on the building, then examined it.
[Mycology Cave]
[Shortcut to Mushrooms]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
It was in, which new buildings always were. Each multiple of five would offer him a new potential upgrade. Some upgrades seemed to align with gods. Theo fed cores to the building and inspected the upgrade options, only concerning himself with the clear winner.
[Spontaneous Spores]
Theres a chance that your mushrooms will spontaneously spawn more mushrooms within the growing beds.
The level 10 upgrade was a simr situation. Theo didnt know how he was going to nt the truffles in the mushroom cave, but this new upgrade gave him the option.
[Deep Beds]
Specialize your Mycology Cave for all species of truffles. Your growing beds are now deep enough to grow truffles, and all truffle variations will grow at an increased rate than in the wild.
Some buildings had upgrades that made it more of a specialized ce. Theos alchemyb was dedicated to Drogramath, which would have been a useless option for other alchemists. He wasnt sure if that was an upgrade only he could get. The two options hed selected for the [Mycology Cave] would help tremendously, and he still had at least 2 more upgrades to purchase. [Spontaneous Spores] made up for hisck of knowledge on propagating mushrooms, and [Deep Beds] allowed him to grow his target mushroom.
Theo fed the building more cores, watching in amusement as it grew. The ground shook, but the building didnt increase in size. Only the area underground grew. He selected the next, most logical option.
[Drogramath Empowerment]
Latent energy, aligned with Drogramath, will be drawn from the air to enhance your mushrooms. Energy density affects growth rate, cultivation yield, and nutrient usage.
The level 15 option he selected was one hed selected for his greenhouse. The way it affected the greenhouse was simple. It affected everything. Growth rate, cultivation rate, nutrient density, that skill did it all. And with Drogramaths energy so thick in the air, hed be a fool not to take it. Theo realized that the cave was throwing him copies of skills he got for the greenhouse. When he hit level 20, he selected another valuable copy.
[Rapid Growth]
Consumetent energy to increase the speed that nts grow within the mushroom cave.
He was out of the cores that Fenian gave him, but if the cave followed the same pattern as the greenhouse, the next upgrade was necessary. Theo fed his personal stock of [Monster Cores] into the building. As expected, he found the skill he absolutely needed if he wanted to make crazy potions for Fenian.
[Untamed Cultivation]
Increasing the ceiling for how high a mushroom can be cultivated to 200%.
That was a sure-fire way to make sure the end result of his truffle cultivation would produce powerful potions. Theo inspected the building onest time.
[Mycology Cave]
[Shortcut to Mushrooms]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 25 (21%)
Expansions:
[Spontaneous Spores]
[Deep Beds]
[Drogramath Empowerment]
[Rapid Growth]
[Untamed Cultivation]
Theo only had a vague idea on how to propagate mushrooms. He understood they had spores, but thats where his knowledge stopped. Fenian left him with a book, which the alchemist didnt need to crack open to understand what was inside. The cover had a picture of mushrooms, iming to be Care for Lond Mushrooms. He found a nearby stump and sat down, cracking open the book and absorbing the information inside. After only 30 minutes of research, he found everything he needed. A section on truffle propagation. He snapped it shut and stood from the stump.
Right, Theo said. Time to make some mushrooms.
Chapter 3.18: Like a Plucked Pozwa
Chapter 3.18: Like a Plucked Pozwa
Theo was certain the information provided by the book was not urate to how things worked on Earth. The [Swamp Truffles] worked much like the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] for propagation. There might have been some spores involved, but the way the book described it was like growing a nt from a tuber. Truffles werent the easiest mushrooms to ess, either. They buried themselves deep in the semi-wet soil, typically near the space between the Newt and Demon and the eastern wall. But he only needed one sample to start the cultivation process.
When working with alchemy to speed up the growth of nts, Theo had discovered a problem. Using an undiluted [Lesser Potion of Growth] caused them to be monsterized. That might have been useful in a different context, but it wouldnt work for nt cultivation. Instead, he applied the [Aerosolize] modifier to the potion, diluting its effectiveness just enough to kick off the cultivation process. After that, he just needed to let the nts grow and keep back the best samples for further growing.
They started the cleanup, Tresk said, speaking into Theos mind.
She must have been talking about the guardian outside of the gates. Theo had spotted Fenians carriage near the ranch, so he was still in town. Whatever he forgot to buy would be remembered before the Elf left town.
Any news on the metal? Theo asked.
Theyre still trying to figure out how to cut it away, Tresk said. Oh well. I took a job to check out the [Ocean Dungeon]. I pilfered your potion stores.
Sounds good.
Tresk often stole his potions, but she was frugal enough to understand which potions were off limits. Theo guessed she took some [Potions of Wake], which would allow her to brave the depths of the sea without worrying. It allowed the user to hold their breath longer, and swim better against currents. Until they had a solid n to keep the dungeon at bay, this would be the best way to handle it. The alchemist made a note in his mind to brew more of those potions, experimenting with modifiers to find the best kind. Adventurers would be more likely to brave that dungeon if they had such support.
The one bright spot of the entire problem was that the Fald, the monsters that spawned around the water-based dungeons, dropped the reagent required to make the potion.
Theo dusted his hands off, having applied his growth potion to a truffle. He inspected his first cultivated mushroom before burying it.
[Swamp Truffle]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food] [Cultivated]
Epic
These extremely rare truffles, found typically in swamnds, are prized for their vor and properties.
Cultivation:
10%
Unit by volume:
6
Properties:
[Experience Boost] [Hallow Ground] [????]
This was the best approach hed found to cultivate, although he understood there might be a better way.
Theo made his way to his greenhouse, sorting out those nts for the day. Aside from his daily tasks of distilling as much of his cultivated nts as he could, the alchemist wanted to focus on leveling his [Governance Core]. His alchemy and herbalism cores would roll over to 15 at any moment, leaving him at a bottleneck. His mind itched to get to work on constructs, both his intuition and cores urging him forward on that front. Alchemy was a craft that supported others. Every potion he made was a way to make the lives of others better, and the concept of constructs was no different.
With that in mind, he dusted off his silken robes and straightened his feathered hat, heading upstairs to set his stills to work on his cultivated [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. He dusted himself again once the stills were running, heading downstairs to ask Azrug how he looked for the day. Fenian was with him, discussing business.
Like a plucked Pozwa, Azrug said.
Do you know how close your shopkeeper is to getting his third core? Fenian asked.
Hopefully very close, Theo said. Cant wait to have a [Loremaster].
Did I tell you that? Azrug said, huffing. I dont remember telling you that.
This is the obvious choice, Fenian said. My first pick for him was an [Enchanter] ss. Well, you have one of those now. Also, do you know how rich this young man is?
Azrugs ochre skin turned a little more red around his cheeks. Not my money, he mumbled.
I never check the bnce in the shop, Theo said. He cant have made that much money, could he?
About 200 gold, Fenian said, puffing his chest. The Elf thought of himself as Azrugs mentor, so there was some pride in his words. In coin. Not merchandise.
Azrug had been buying gear from the adventurers, intended to get them identified by a [Loremaster], then selling them to traveling merchants. What he ended up with was an endless supply of equipment, and adventurers hungry for a piece of gear that was just right for them. The shopkeepers stock and Theos deal with Fenian did not intersect, they were discrete things. The alchemists n with that was to show the young Half-Ogre that he had a lot to learn about trade.
Turns out, I dont know a thing about trade, Theo said, shrugging. He felt a sudden need to amend his deal with Azrug. We should renegotiate your sry.
Agreed, Azrug said.
Fenianughed.
Theo waved any idea ofplex negotiations away. He hated negotiations. Just take what you need. Keep as much in reserve as you think you need. Use the rest for yourself.
That might be too generous, Fenian said.
He made the money, Theo said. If the kid can turn 5 silver into 200 gold, I dont want to stop him.
Work out something more formal, Fenian said, nudging Theo in the ribs with his elbow.
Theo let out a sigh, but drew himself up. Azrug was a citizen of Broken Tusk, which meant if he worked with him and created a contract, the alchemist would gain a lot of experience. He wasnt married to the gold made in the shop. It was the one ce people could buy things in town, but it had a fatal w. He knew one day the young man would leave his employment, buying a general store and running that. The shop had always been a ce to distribute potions to the townsfolk for cheap, but it would never gain the benefits of a real seed core building dedicated to trade.
He drew up a loose contract that gave Azrug half of everything he made. In Theos mind that was cruel, but hed put the money into the town. The shopkeeper was doing all the work, and was damn good at it, but he put a use rted to the boy leaving the shop for another job.
You cant hold onto him forever, Fenian said, grinning.
Yeah, but I can make sure he hires a recement before he goes, Theo said. Azrug signed the contract eagerly.
Youve given him wings, Fenian said, leaning in. Let him fly.
Theo pushed him back, nodding. The Elf was being too weird today, and he wasnt interested in dealing with it.
Youll have a shop of your own, Theo said. Whenever you want, I imagine. Ah, hell. Whats the point?
Theo went into his mayor screen, finding the section that assigned citizens titles. He created a new group for merchants. There was only one requirement, made by the system, that kept a townsperson from gaining a lord title. Azrug owned the seed core house he shared with Xam, allowing the alchemist to grant him the title of Lord Merchant. The shopkeepers eyes went wide.
I present to you, Theo said, gesturing with as much ir as he could manage. Lord Merchant Azrug Slug.
Fenian bowed, removing his hat and swiping it through the air as he bent over, his nose almost touching the ground. Long live the Lord Merchant.
It was almost too much for a young man, only 16 years old, to handle. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes, but he grinned through them. When Theo and Feniand didnt release their poses he said, thats enough.
The second you form a guild, Theo said, jabbing a finger in Azrugs direction. Im banishing you to the mine.
I wont, Azrug said, nodding eagerly.
Right. That didnt end well for the Mercantile Chairs in Qavell, Fenian said, throwing his head back and cackling. I heard, thest Chair with a head fled the city! Imagine that.
Yeah, I bet you heard that, Theo said, narrowing his eyes at the trader.
More like saw, Azrug muttered.
I have no idea what either of you are talking about, Fenian said. Im just a simple trader. Thats all.
Once the conversation died down, Theo watched the system notifications roll in. As expected, that gave him enough administration experience to fill half a level in his [Governance Core]. He left Azrug and Fenian to talk as he checked his stills upstairs, adjusting the temperature on them and ensuring they were heading to his storage tanks within theb. When he returned downstairs, he found Alise chatting. Money exchanged hands, and she held something up for him to see.
Town hall! she shouted, jumping up and down. The migrants have been confused about meeting in the Adventurer Guildhall.
There was the thing Theo forgot to buy. He was so focused on getting his expensive harbor, he didnt think about a central ce for his administration workforce. He patted her on the shoulder and smiled.
Oh, Azrug, Theo said, turning to his shopkeeper. Pay Fenian 100 gold. I owe him.
The shopkeepers shoulders slumped. Theo and Alise left the building, scouting out a ce for the town hall.
The center of town held many buildings, and roads headed in every cardinal direction. Down the road to the west, there was the guildhall and the sawmill. Xams tavern sat on the corner of the northern road and the eastern road, while Throks cksmith sat on the corner of the southern road and the eastern road. That left the corner of the southern road and the western road open for the new building.
He said itd be big, Alise said. But, I drained the towns treasury to make sure we could upgrade it.
Mostrge buildings required a lot of [Monster Cores] to get them going. Theo remembered a time when Aaroks guildhall sat unfinished for at least a week, adventurers scrambling to shove cores in as fast as they could. But there was no way around it, and this was the perfect spot.
Theo carved out a section ofnd in the mayors interface, paying the fee to assign the plot back to the town. The system was weird like that. Technically, Qavell owned all thend. When they wanted to buynd, they had to pay the crown. Even then, they didnt own thend. It was more like renting, which always struck the alchemist as unfair. Alise nted the seed core, and the pair of them shoved [Monster Cores] in. Roots sprung up, creating arger building the more cores they inserted. By the time it was done consuming the cores, it was slightlyrger than the Adventurers Guildhall.
The new townhall was massive, but it fit the style of town. Buildings were normally stone construction, or wood paneled walls with smart, colored roofs. Where the other buildings in town had a natural wood color, this one came painted white. It looked like a mansion. Two floors, the second one ending in a purple, tted roof, with massive pirs that held an awning over the entrance. When Theo and Alise entered the building, they were both speechless. The interior was much like the Adventurers Guildhall, with a massive open space after the entrance. It was filled with tables and chairs, arge firece burning on the opposite side of the room. The floor was hardwood ts, polished and treated by the magic of the building.
Alise darted to the far side of the room, falling into a purple, plush armchair and letting out a heavy sigh. Theo followed, spotting hallways that lead from the main foyer off into individual offices and meeting ces. The second floor looked simr, with a tform and well-polished banister that gave a great view of the bottom floor. The alchemist joined his assistant in an identical armchair.
This is nice, he said, looking over the building. The warm fire crackled, washing over him with a wave offorting warmth.
Very nice, she said, letting out a heavy sigh.
They sat in silence for quite some time. Theo even ignored the notifications concerning experience for his [Governance Core].
Lady Administrator Alise Plumm, Theo said, trailing off. He noticed how deeply hed sunken into the armchair, straightening his posture and staring into the mes. I think this might be too much room for just the two of us.
Far too much, she said, waving him off. Its more about the message the building sends.
Theo agreed with that. How are our migration numbers?
Rising, Alise said, going ssy eyed. She was essing her version of the mayors screen. When I started, we had about 2 a week. This week, weve had 30.
How concerned are we about food and housing? Theo asked.
We arent, she said, turning to sh her bright smile at him. Ive had a word with Banu at the farm. Since you made their Zee bigger, theyve had a surplus. I gave orders to stockpile Zee flour. Aarok has the adventurers butchering every butcherable creature they kill, so theres another stockpile.
And we sell it to Xam? Theo asked.
Thats a different agreement, Alise said, waving him off as though he should know the fact. He should have, of course. Effectively, weve changed the agreement with her. It boils down to her getting ingredients for free. Then, she pays us back in the future.
Food on loan, Theo said. How about Mianas operation?
Alise shrugged at that. She gives me everything she makes, then I distribute it. You own the ranch.
Youre paying her, right? Theo asked.
I am, Alise said.
Get with Azrug, Theo said, withdrawing a fire poker from the side of the firece and prodding the logs. He didnt know if this fire was magical or not, but the action was fun. And hire more administrators. Youre too busy.
Im d you noticed, Alise said, grinning. I already hired a few people.
Of course you have, Theo said, reclining back into his chair. Are we making a goodmand structure here?
An excellent one, Alise said. Youre at the top, so you make all the big decisions. Im on the same level as Aarok. Well, now Azrug as well. Aarok deals with anything rted to the military. I deal with everything rted to administration. Azrug deals with everything rted to trade. So, just like Aarok has Luras under him, I have my little team of administrators.
I like it, Theo said. Youre distributing the workers, right?
I am, Alise said. Most new migrants fit into aborer role. ButUgh, she paused for a moment. Stabby Grove has been growingtely.
Theo barked augh. I thought you were going to change that name!
The adventurers refused, Alise said, frowning. Well. We hit 100 citizens today.
Theo didnt know if he had the funds to upgrade the town to the next level.
Whates after Large Town? Theo asked.
No idea, but we should do it, Alise said. But, were currently broke.
We could borrow money from Aarok, Theo said.
Id prefer if we made it ourselves, Alise said.
Theo inspected the town with a thought.
[Large Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 18 (22.12%)
Core Buildings:
Alchemy Lab
cksmith
Greenhouse
Mycology Cave
Large Farm
Windmill
Quarry
Stonecutter
House (x63)
Tannery
Tavern
Adventurers Guild
Hotsprings
Sawmill
Mine
Smelter
Enchanter
Ranch
Townhall
Defensive Emcements:
Chain Lightning (x9)
Frost Cone (x4)
Fireball (x7)
Firebolt (x20)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Turret Emcements]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
[Coordinated Fire]
Current Resources:
Timber: 10,583
Stone Blocks: 4,290
Metal: 6,002
Motes: 382
The adventurers must have been shoving cores into the town. He left it at level 15 after getting it torge town status. Theo only had to hope there was something worthwhile for the level 20 upgrade, as the others were not great. The current, unselected upgrades were [Watchtowers], and [Water Tower]. If something nice didnt show up, hed pick [Watchtowers] and hope theyd provide something that synergized with his other upgrades.
Upgrading the town was a long-term goal. Theo had ns for the immediate future that needed doing.
Whats your take on the harbor? Theo asked.
The harbor is a great idea. Ive heard people talking about it. Youre going to bring the ocean to the town, Alise said. But theres a lot of work to be done with that. We need someone to build the boats, then someone to pilot them. Then, we need to scout out trade locations. That might take a while.
I wonder if Zarali can enchant the boats, Theo said, sinking further into the chair. It was just toofortable. Maybe make them go faster. Catch more wind.
Are you nning on importing the cloth for the sails? Alise asked.
Theo withdrew the [Weavers Seed Core] from his inventory, holding it for her to see. Were gonna grow our own.
Might need to expand the farm, Alise said.
Theo grunted a response, falling into his thoughts. The problem with the farm was that they were out of room. Now that was a problem for another day. He rose from his chair, happy to see his [Governance Core] level to 11. He then headed for the door.
I really dont want to hire an [Earth Mage].
Chapter 3.19: A Treat
Chapter 3.19: A Treat
Theo returned to hisb, dodging the crowd that formed to marvel at the new town hall. He had a sense that his stills were done cooking, and his reserve tanks were full of [Refined Healing Essence]. In his mind, he always considered a good run to have at least 1,000 units of any essence. With the expansion on his garden, he could make one full run, and half of another with a different reagent. While he considered which nt was the most valuable to cultivate, excluding the small patch of [Mages Bane] in the corner of his greenhouse, he inspected a few leftover ingredients.
Monsters often had parts that could be used for alchemy. Fades had their carapaces, Falds had their eyeballs, and so on. But there were a few ingredients that seemedpletely useless on the surface. [Ogre Snapper Spleens] provided the [Poison] property, but there were easier ways to get that one. Theoid out a bottle of [Troll Blood] and a pile of [Goblin Tongue]. He already explored everything possible with the blood, but he considered the tongues for a moment, inspecting the item.
[Goblin Tongue]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
The tongue of a goblin. Its disgusting.
Properties:
[Insatiable Hunger] [????] [????]
[Insatiable Hunger] didnt seem like a useful property. Aside from its use as a modifier. And there was no way he was going to take a bite out of the short, slimy thing to discover a new property. Even after having a single session with Xolsa, he was confident enough that he could dpose reagents without exploding himself, but Zarali still hadnt told him how to discover properties without eating them. Theo took a tongue over to his shrine, making an offering with no effect. He cut the tongue open, probing at the insides and learning nothing. With a heavy sigh, he sat down near the window and considered his options.
Zarali wanted him to take [Reagent Deconstruction] for his level 15 skill, but he wouldnt. [Alchemy Constructs] was too tempting. As hed practiced in the Dreamwalk, Theo pulled mana from his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] and let it dance in his palm. Thats where the mana was, hed learned. Resting in a physical location in his chest, spread over his cores that could handle mana. In his minds eye, he could see two purple stars glowing, mes bursting out and licking his insides. The mana in his hand was like burning water, glittering with the power of Drogramath.
It obeyed hismands as though it was an extension of him, but that came with practice. This was a wild energy that wanted to join the power of Drogramath in the air. Willpower was the only thing that battered it into a usable shape, but still it pulled against his consciousness. Theo tipped his hand, letting the liquid flow over the [Goblin Tongue]. It consumed the reagent in purple mes, ring up and fading out in an instant. The only thing remaining was a pile of unusable ash.
Theo took mental notes on how the sensation felt, withdrawing more tongues and cleaning his stills out. If he couldnt discover the second property, he could at least figure out what kind of potion the first one made. He started a small, 100 unit run for testing. Anything less than that risked burning the mash, which would cause a low-quality potion. The alchemist waited by the window, whittling the time away by practicing with his mana in the real world, and prodding at his constructs.
His problem with constructs was worse than reagent deconstruction. Theo had alchemically treated a copper cage, scooped mud from the swamp, rolled a monster core from a [Marsh Wolf] in that mud, then inserted it into the construct. Nothing happened, but he felt a twinge in his mind as though he were on the right track. Shoving a [Reveal Construct] into the mix caused his chest to swell with intuition. It worked. It should have worked, but nothing happened. Thest piece of the puzzle was the skill.
Theos personal level was on the verge of tipping to 14. Hed put onest point into [Intelligence], then grind for the remaining experience to hit 15 in both his Drogramath cores. His [Tarahek Core] was at 16. That core always needed to be higher than both his Drogramath cores, unless he wanted to give in to the Demon Lordpletely. The afternoon was winding down and someone came knocking on his door. He didnt even hear the bell jingle downstairs.
I felt a sh of Drogramaths power, Zarali said, smiling. She always wore a soft smile when she talked about her patron.
Im almost there, Theo said, nodding to the stack of [Goblin Tongues] on his table.
Disgusting. I never exined these to you, Zarali said, crossing the room and running her fingers along the fermentation barrels. The script of Drogramathi was scrawled all over them, but he still didnt know how they functioned.
If you wouldnt mind, Theo said, gesturing to the barrels. Ive been too busy to figure it out on my own.
They require power, Zarali said. Do you see this series of enchantments?
Theo saw them, and could read them, but they were nonsense. Drogramathi magic usually came as flowery poetry the alchemist had no interest in understanding.
I see them, Theo said tly.
[Siphon Power], Zarali said, tapping the runes. Then, [Distribute Power], she gestured to another series of runes. And then all the other enchantments are powered. [Crafting Speed], [Crafting Effectiveness].
I need one of those power-grabbers like in your building, Theo said.
Power-grabbers, Zarali said, nodding sage-like. Thats what you need.
Of course, Zarali had one of those devices on her. With great effort, she set it on the table and patted the top as though it were her favorite pet. Theo inspected the device.
[Power Siphon]
[Specialty Artifice]
Epic
Created by [????]
Converts raw power into usable mana. Depending on the density of power in an area, the rate that mana is umted varies.
The description provided by the system was simple enough to understand. Theo already knew that Drogramaths power soaked the air in Broken Tusk, and it seemed like a waste not to use it. His mind spun at the possibilities, not only for his mint, but for other uses. But the possibilities answered themselves through logic. Coins were the standard way to store mana, so thats how hed have to do it. Still, it wouldnt hurt to press Zarali on a few issues.
What storage mediums are there for raw mana? Theo asked.
Coins are the easiest, Zarali said. Dont think I didnt see you snag the [Power Core] from that Elven Guardian. Thats another way to do it.
Theo still had the [Power Core] in his inventory. But that wasnt storing mana, it was storing raw power. Youre mistaken, he said, withdrawing therge [Power Core] from his inventory. This only stores power, not mana.
My mistake, Zarali said, running her fingers over the device. Ive never seen one.
Is this a product of an alchemist, or an artificer? Theo asked.
Both, I think, Zarali said, stepping back from the core.
Theo smiled. I was right. There are other powerful alchemists out there.
Not here, Zarali said, waving his statement away. Certainly not in Qavell. This is a product of Tarantham.
The Elves were mysterious, and Theo knew little about Tarantham. But a theory had stuck in his mind for a few days, ever since Fenian arrived with the guardian. There were powerful alchemists over there, people who put the alchemists in Qavell to shame. The Kingdom of Qavell seemed like a child inparison. Thisnd already had its end of days. They had only rebuilt recently, rising from the ashes of destruction to join the wider world. Only they hadnt rejoined it in full, they remained two hermit kingdoms and one destroyedndmass.
About [Reagent Deconstruction], Theo said. Do I need the skill to do it?
Certainly not, brother, Zarali said. But youll train for years before you figure that out on your own. Thats what skills do, after all. They bridge the gap of knowledge, thrusting you forward years at a time.
Fair enough, Theo said, swiveling his head when the timer on his still clicked. It was done running. Speaking of, I have this reagent thats useless. [Goblin Tongues]. Well, the modifier is decent enough. [Desate] is an alright modifier.
You already know this, but some essences can only do certain things, Zarali said. I doubt theres an alternative use for the property. Youll need to discover another property if you want to use that reagent. Well, I suppose you wont want to eat it.
Zarali grinned, moving over to look at the pile of [Goblin Tongues].
Unfortunately, youll need to get better at deconstruction to discover properties with mana. I cant help you there, but would you like to learn how to use your new toy? Zarali asked, gesturing to the ck cube on his table.
The operation of the device was simple enough. It had some way of converting power to mana, so it always had a bit of mana inside. If it ever ran dry, Theo would need to introduce his own to jump-start it. Otherwise, it just sat there. umting raw power and converting it into mana. The moment Zarali started the device up, simply by tapping it on the top, the runes on the side of his fermentation barrels glowed purple. She must have been in an educational mood, because she showed him how she inscribed runes.
Some people call enchanting runesmithing, Zarali said, withdrawing a sharp awl and a gemstone from her inventory. Every aligned enchanter is different, but I weave my enchantments with Drogramathi.
The purple gem melted in her hands, forming a pool of liquid ss in her palm. It flowed onto the tip of the awl and she scratched a few runes into his [Drogramath Still]. These were the same enchantments she put on his fermentation barrels, and the literal trantion was silly. It was a poem about the early Dronon, and their desire to wander. That part drew in the mana. Then, another one about their desire for power, their craftiness wrapped the entire thing toplete the enchantment. Zarali was done with the process in a matter of minutes, skillfully engraving her story onto the still.
And thats it, she said, keeping calm while beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
That takes a lot out of you, huh? Theo asked, leaning in to inspect the still.
[Enchanted Drogramath Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Legendary
Created By: [????]
A 500 unit capacity Drogramathi still with attached advanced condenser. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill. The Drogramathi metal increases the spread of heat, providing an even distribution across a run.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence per run.
Enchantments:
Siphon Power
Distribute Power
Crafting Speed
Crafting Effectiveness
Alignment: Drogramath
The runes glowed to meet the power umted by the [Power Siphon]. That led Theo to a question hed been mulling over for a while. Perhaps he should spend more time talking to his adopted sister, but hed been too busy.
Can you enchant my boats? Theo asked.
I can enchant almost anything, Zarali said,ughing. Dronon were never known for their seafaring abilities, but I can weave a story good enough to enhance an entire sailing vessel. Speed, turning, durability. Well have your fleet moving at a clip even in dead wind.
That was a relief. Theo wasnt interested in sending slow-moving boats out into the open ocean, but the promise of increased performance was enough to put his mind at ease. Zarali was often wise when it came to these kinds of things, but he hadnt gotten her opinion on the harbor. He looked over the [Refined Insatiable Hunger] essence and shrugged. His senses told him it was useless for anything but modifiers, something he missedst time.
Theo exined his ns for the harbor to her, detailing every step of the process to ensure she knew the challenges he faced. She nodded along as he spoke, soaking up the information and processing it with all those years of wisdom, and the aid of her Drogramath-aligned cores.
If you can move a mountain, you should, Zarali said, nodding. Digging a channel to bring the ocean to us is the right move. When you expand the town over the harbor, it will automatically create a gate over the water.
Really? Theo asked. That was one of his worries about extending the town.
Well, I imagine it wont be a town much longer, Zarali said, chuckling. By the time youre done making the harbor, well be a small city.
That was something to look forward to. 100 people didnt seem like many, but when Theopared it to the 20-some they started with, it was absurd. Even with the citizenry sitting at 100, there were just as many visitors weekly. Without his support structure, it would be impossible for him to manage everything. His mind went to the wisdom of those around him, and their endless ability to forestall danger.
Theo looked out his window, spotting the failing sun. It cast the town in an orange glow, throwing long shadows as the day wound down. His conversation with Zarali was a pleasant one, marking the end of the 56th day of the Season of Blooms with excitement for the future. As long as they could keep up with the demand for housing and food, theyd be fine.
Without words, Theo knew Tresk was approaching the town. He could feel her off in the distance, jumping through shadows to reach the town. He didnt tell her, but the quest she was on was one that he instigated. The Adventurers Guild had a keen interest in making sure they could keep the Fald under control.
Want to grab dinner? Theo asked.
I usually dine with Xolsa, Zarali said.
Im sure you love dried meat and wine, but Xam cooks, Theo said.
Dinner time! Tresk shouted into Theos mind.
Alright. Lets go, Zarali said. I enjoy eating outside.
There were even more people than normal around the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Theo didnt know where Xam got the extra tables, but the entire street was blocked by rows of tables and chairs, all lit withnterns to fight the fading sun. Tresk joined with Zarali and Theo, jumping from the shadows and shouting. She was covered in seaweed and still wet from swimming down to the [Ocean Dungeon]. The alchemist tipped a few drops of [Cleansing Scrub] on her head, washing away the filth.
Xams meal tonight was a rehash of an old favorite. Wolf meat stew. Compared to the original version, this was amazing. It had just enough spice to make it interesting, but nothing to offend foreign palettes. Broken Tuskers seemed to like their food on the spicy side. Theo admitted to himself that he felt disappointment that there wasnt anything new. When he was preparing to leave, with all the tables cleared away and the good cheer dying down in the darkness, the servers brought something else out.
What is this? Tresk asked, her eyes going wide. Bread? Sticky bread? Puffy sticky bread!?
Theo wanted to temper his expectations, but that would not happen. Xam let everyone take their fill from the serving trays before clearing her throat and gaining the attention of all in attendance. The alchemists eyes darted between the Half-Ogre woman and the pastry on his te. A pastry. It was made of ky bread, likely Zee, but not her normal tbread. A white drizzle of something sweet-smelling rested artfully on top. He tore his attention away to listen to Xam speak.
A treat! she shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear. The Pozwa are finally making eggs, and I couldnt be happier.
The crowd cheered, and Miana blushed.
This day marks a very important asion, Xam continued. 100 citizens is impressivethank you, Theobut theres something more exciting! The Marsh Wolf Bathhouse is now operational! Thanks to Throk and his boys for working so hard to get the water treatment system operationno thanks to Theoand putting in those long hours!
I was paid! Throk shouted, his next wordsing as annoyed mumbles. Just doing my job.
That got a chorus ofughter from the crowd.
The big room is open for free to all citizens and anyone can rent one of 20 private rooms, Xam continued. I think youll be pleasantly surprised with what weve created here. Enjoy!
Theo knew better than to rush the bathhouse. Tresk was itching to get in there and try it out, but he held her back.
I could use a bath, Zarali said, nodding.
Xam came over, smiling the entire way. She was brimming with excitement. The best room is reserved for you, Theo.
Theo looked up in shock, not expecting any special treatment. Ill still pay, he said.
Its always the same with you, Xam said, sighing. Here, take my money. Oh, I got a problem. Let me just throw gold at it until Im purple in the face. Yeah, thats you.
Theo wasnt happy with how spot on her impression of him was, either in tone or content. He felt his cheeks sting with blush. He ate his pastry, and while it was delicious, he couldnt spare the space in his mind. The idea of the bathhouse was too much.
Sorry about the dy, Theo said. I needed to make sure the water system could survive if anything happened.
And we have a new ugly building to show for it, Xam said, nodding. Just messing with you. Go check out the bath. Ibeled your room. I guarantee its better than that [Cleansing Scrub] youve been using.
Lets go! Tresk shouted.
Theo, Tresk, and Zarali cut the line to the bathhouse. Xam already hired attendants to work the ce. They stood in the front, taking money from people renting rooms and checking a list to weed out visitors. Broken Tuskers got the first crack at the new bathhouse. The interior of the building was already warmer than the night air outside. It was a wide entrance with potted nts lining the walls, a stone floor, and wooden walls. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting yellow light over every surface. An attendant led the trio down a series of hallways, finallying to the back of the building and a doorbeled Theos Room.
Fancy, Tresk said.
The room wasrge and square, with natural rocks bordering a circr pool at the center. Benches rested on the walls, and a window sat high up giving a few of the nights sky. Spigots poked from the walls, and there were drains scattered along the floor. Steam rose from the surface and the scent of minerals hung in the air. The attendant handed them towels, bowed out, and closed the door.
This is very nice, Zarali said.
Theo had learned early on that this world had a different view of modesty than Earth. His time working in close quarters with others had dulled his sense of embarrassment while naked, so he was the first to strip down. Tresk was the first to discover that the spigotsing from the wall were meant for washing up before going into therge pool, and the bathhouse provided powdered soap for the job. The water that came from the walls was ice cold, sending a chill down the alchemists spine. His skin was gooseflesh by the time he lowered himself into the deep pool.
Now this was made for Half-Ogres, Theo said, finding a smooth rock to sit on.
He leaned his head back as the others got into the pool. There was a section shallow enough for Tresk to soak with her head barely poking out of the warm water. A sense of rxation spread through his body immediately, even as the Marshling took to swimming in the massive pool.
Oh, this is nice, Zarali said, letting out a long sigh.
Time passed, but no one seemed to notice. They sat in silence until their fingers pruned. Using the [Cleansing Scrub] was one way to clean himself, but this waspletely different. The cold shower outside primed his body for the soak, and it felt as though the minerals from the water were soaking into his skin, washing away every bit of stress that umted in his muscles. The alchemist couldnt remember thest time hed felt this rxed.
Only when a system message popped into Theos vision did he snap out of his rxed stupor.
[Bathhouse Buff!] Youve soaked long enough in an enriched pool of water, provided by a bathhouse.
+1 to All Stats for 1 Day.
Actions taken use reduced [Stamina] for 1 Day.
Well, I guess wereing here every night, Tresk said,ughing.
Chapter 3.20: House Southblade
Chapter 3.20: House Southde
Theo wasnt surprised where Tresk wanted to spend her time in the Dreamwalk. While she soaked in the bathhouse, not content with the few hours they had in the waking world, the alchemist worked on leveling his cores. Both alchemy and herbalism would roll over when he woke up, he could already feel it, then his personal level would level up to 14. One more level, and he could start serious work on the idea of constructs.
Zarali knit together a few pieces of information for him. The mana-grabber she brought over gave him a few ideas, but hed need Throks help to make it happen. The second part of that idea came from the Elven Guardian, the massive artifice creature that still sat outside of the east gates. Throk would find more artifices, likely a [Power Siphon] within the tangle of metalwork.
Theo recalled seeing Fenian at dinnerst night, although the trader was more interested in eating than talking with others. If he spent any time in the bathhouse, the alchemist wasnt aware of it. He normally spent at least a day in town before heading off to do whatever it was he did. Whether the Elf was actually responsible for the fall of the Qavelli Merchants Guild was beyond even his intuition. A crumbling economy in the north meant exactly nothing to Broken Tusk, and even less when they got the coin mint up and running. He made a mental note to meet with Alise and Azrug tomorrow, going over the towns finances.
From the perspective of alchemy, Theo was doing just fine. Progress had be more important than profittely, so it didnt matter what he was making. As long as that experience percentage went up, he was in a good ce. Another mental note entered his impressive memory. If Fenian had another greenhouse, hed buy it. Perhaps two, or four. However many he could afford. The alchemist found himself not doingrge runs of naturally growing reagents, finding Zaralis perfectionism bleeding into his work. He found a greater sense of satisfaction brewing high-quality potions, rather than the rtively poor ones.
Tresk didnt train at all that night, even if she was edging closer to 20 in her [Assassin] ss and 15 with her [Shadowdancer] ss. She just soaked in the bathhouse, refusing toe out even when Theo asked her to send assassins after him. He was grateful she didnt, because he hadnte up with any new methods of defending himself. At least she wasnt so heartless as to send a dragon after him.
When the morning finally came, Theo saw a string of system messages. Both his cores went up a level, as did his personal level. He inspected the screens before moving on, eager to get a few potions going to barter with Fenian.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 15.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an enhanced effect: +5 wisdom.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 16.
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 14.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
He felt an imbnce in his chest, as hey in bed. While Tresk could happily level her Zaul-aligned cores beyond the [Tarahek Core], he couldnt. It affected him differently than her, and he choked back a feeling of dread. He waited for Drogramath to speak into his mind, for the Grand Inquisitor Sulvan metouched to burst through his door, but nothing happened. After wiping cold sweat from his forehead, he got out of bed and met Tresks eyes.
With the Tarahek growing stronger, they didnt even need words tomunicate the danger.
Ill stick with you today, Tresk said, nodding. Her face was resolute, but her hands were still on her daggers, ready to sh out at a moments notice.
Theo nodded, the sensation of fear fading to give way to another strange feeling. His mind reached out, thoughts racing as though new neurons were forming in his brain. Consulting his attributes sheet, he figured out the source of the change. He expected it, but it was still jarring to get a sudden boost of mental capacity.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 14
Alchemist
Core Slots: 3
Stats:
Health: 85
Mana: 130
Stamina: 95
Strength: 18 (+11) (+1)
Dexterity: 17 (+8) (+1)
Vigor: 17 (+8) (+1)
Intelligence: 21 (+7) (+1)
Wisdom: 27 (+7) (+1)
Points: 0
Buffs:
[Bathhouse Soak]
His attributes were bnced, despite his worries. But he wasnt strong on his own, it was only the bonuses from his gear and cores that made it so. Still, he wouldnt worry about it too much. The increase in mana alone was enough to put a smile on his face.
Tresk helped him with his morning chores, insisting that the more she did the work the less hed have to worry about identally leveling up. She pruned the weeds in the garden, clumsily harvested the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], and kicked off the stills as though she was a professional alchemist. Perhaps shed been observing him more than he knew. They left the stills to do their work while they went to find Alise and Azrug. They stopped by Xams tavern, taking their food and tea with them to the town hall.
As expected, Azrug and Alise were sitting by a roaring fire, eating breakfast of their own. Theo brought over two chairs, stealing them from an adjacent room, and sitting down with them by the fire.
Lord Merchant, Theo said, bowing his head to Azrug before turning to Alise. Lady Administrator.
That put a smile on both their faces. Azrug was always a young man that acted twice his age, like an old soul thrust into the arms of responsibility. He rose to the asion, never doubting his abilities for a moment.
I see you have a personal bodyguard today, Azrug said, gesturing to Tresk. Are we about to die?
Its a demon problem, Tresk said, scarfing down her food. You wouldnt understand.
Theo nursed his hot tea, staring into the mes. The memory of the bath still lingered in his mind, as did the power of the buff in his body. But they had a pleasant breakfast in the town hall, even if a few citizens poked their heads inside to ask questions.
Id like to have a meeting, Theo said after a lull in their conversation. About finances.
Finances? a voice called from the door.
Theo craned his neck to see Fenian grinning in his ruffled robe and audacious hat. The alchemist beckoned him to join them, he was always a source of sound financial advice. The trader pulled a plush, red armchair from his inventory and took a seat. He then produced a bottle and a wine ss, pouring himself a cup and settling into the chair.
Shall we? Fenian asked.
Azrug, have you settled into the position yet? Theo asked.
I dont even know what Im supposed to do, Azrug said, shrugging.
We havent gone over it, yet, Alise said, pausing and turning to greet more peopleing in through the door. She gave them simple instructions then sent them off. They were her new administrators.
You couldnt have picked a better man for the job, Fenian said, smiling at his student.
Ill break everything down, if you like, Alise said. Her eyes went ssy as she consulted her administration screen. Fifty percent of the traders thate to town are running some kind of scam. When they arrive, theyll now report to Azrug for a consultation. Were going to give them tokens and take their names so we know theyre trustworthy.
Im on that list, arent I? Fenian said, smiling.
Always, Theo said, cutting off Alise before she could talk. Fenian should get the prime deals, as well.
Agreed, Fenian said.
Yeah, I agree, Tresk said, belching.
Of course, Alise said, coughing into her hand. Well go over ie first. The town takes most of its money from your holdings, Theo. Since you dont skim the books, everything the sawmill, smelter, and mine make goes into the treasury. Except for the pay the workers get.
Everything else goes to the crown, Fenian said, finishing her thought.
Theo sunk into his chair. The taxes they paid to Qavell were absurd, and theyd only get worse.
Fenian, what happens when we buy our way out of this? Theo asked. My contact in Qavell isnt answering, so Im lost. We pay them 5,000 gold, then what?
Youll get hit with a t tax rate, Fenian said. Something like 10 to 15 percent.
Broken Tusk had a strange taxing system. They paid 15% of the value of every property, 20% of all exported value, and 15% of all sales value weekly. That all went in the treasury, then Theo paid it to Qavell at an irregr rate. He thought it was monthly, but they hadnte searching for their money in a while.
But what are they taxing at that point? Tresk asked.
Well, thats a good question. Im not sure, Fenian said, pressing his finger into his chin and humming for a moment. Total value of the town, Id guess. Production versus seed core value. But its the right move, for certain. If youre not interested in paying, you can always rebel.
That was thest thing Theo wanted to do.
Well raise the money, Theo said, waving the idea away. The motion feltforting, at least. I can see where this goes, though. At that point, we can tax our citizens. Even 5% on sales would go a long way for us.
Exactly, Alise said. She seemed ruffled by Fenians opinions.
The conversation went on for some time without Azrug having much to say. He was absorbing the information more than participating. Alise worked out a few deals for the small towns between Broken Tusk and Qavell, increasing their weekly ie. So far, everyone had provided their own traders but that wasnt always the case. She turned down a few towns because they wanted Broken Tusk to establish the trade route.
Thats a wise choice, Fenian said. I know an honest Qavelli Karatan breeder, for when the timees.
Fenian exined the importance of the Qavelli variant of the six-legged beast. They were smart. Smart enough to follow the same path for thousands of miles, even having some kind of intelligence to take the right path to get to a location. They were tireless, pulling a cart at speed for a week at a time before needing rest. The work animals were his favored creature for the job, before he got his demonic breed.
That falls to Azrug, Alise said, gesturing to the young man. My preference is to recruit from citizens.
I know a few guys, Azrug said, straightening up and nodding. If Broken Tusk can provide the wagons, the Karatan, and the goods, I could move a lot of bulk materials.
Smart, Fenian said.
Tresk had taken to peering out the window, hands resting impatiently on her daggers. Shed given the one that looked like a thorn a name, even if the system already named it. Her fingers yed favorites with Stab Stab over her dagger made of metal and wood.
The group finished up with their discussion, centered on the expansion of the town. Citizens wereing in droves, stretching Alises capacity to house them further than she expected. Fenian entered a deal with her right there in the town hall, offering [Seed Core Houses] at absurdly low rates. Theo used to buy them 5 or 6 to a gold coin, now he was offering them at 15 to a gold. When the meeting was done, Alise and Azrug had to attend to the new administrators and Theo pulled Fenian aside.
I have some more potions, Theo said.
Im nearly broke, Fenian said, grinning. But, my guess is you want to barter.
Theo often found it suspicious that Fenian had exactly what he needed, when he needed it. But he wouldntin about the 4 [Alchemical Garden Seed Cores] the trader had on him. It only made sense, since he had the mushroom cave seed with him.
Where do you find this stuff? Theo asked, taking the 4 cores into his inventory. He now owed Fenian 20 gold. Even the price of his potions wasnt enough to overtake the expensive nature of the greenhouses.
A core like this? Fenian asked. Why, only the finest [Core Smith] could craft something so brilliant.
The Elf was leaving something out. Theo stretched his new [Intelligence] to figure out what he was hinting at, the trader always loved his riddles. But hed pieced enough of Fenians past together to understand what was going on. They were standing in theb, Tresk lurking in the corner, while negotiating over the new seed cores.
When did Tarantham take you back? Theo asked, grinning.
Fenian actually looked shocked at the words. He craned his neck, making sure it was only the three of them in the room before clearing his throat.
I need to be careful with the information I give you, Theo, Fenian said. I hide facts for your safety. To put it bluntly, they havent taken me back. Im using an alias.
The symbol on the Elven Guardian came rushing back to Theo. It didnt feel like much of a revtion, just more of a passing curiosity, but hed already riddled out the Elfs past. To an extent.
Youre not using Southsword anymore? Theo asked, his smile growingrger.
Hah! Fenian said, pping Theo on the back. Nice try. You almost had it. Listen, Theo. Im serious. Look at my face. For once Im serious. Youre content enough to sit in your town and build from here, but others dont have that luxury. Ive walked a long road and theres still much to do. I advise you to stay out of Elven affairs. Theyre quite vicious.
Southde, Theo said, nodding. Fenians reaction said that was it. His original surname was Southde. I understand, and I really dont care. I know youre doing something, likely trying to overthrow the crown or something, but its fine. Hell, give us a couple of years under Qavells yoke and I think the soutnds would rebel.
They certainly would, Fenian said, mopping his brow. Tresk. You, sneaking in the corner. Theo might understand, but you need reinforcement. Dont share this information with anyone.
Im good at keeping secrets, Tresk said tly.
That was true, though. Tresk might have been impulsive and quick to anger, but once she gave her word she stuck to it forever.
I was expelled from my family, Fenian said. The Southdes, as youve determined, and banished from Tarantham. Enough time has passed that the northern houses dont remember who I was, or what I did. So, you get fantastical goods from the Elven homnd. Isnt that lovely?
It is, Theo said, nodding eagerly. He just wanted to know a little information about the traders past.
Youre a disgraced Elven general or something, arent you? Tresk asked, giggling in the corner.
Fenians eyes focused on something far in the distance as a pained smile yed across his face. Something like that. I could teach you a thing aboutbat, youngdy.
Tresk puffed up, but continued her stealthy vigil.
Theo ced his hand on Fenians shoulder and stared him down. Above all else, Fenian. Stay safe. Broken Tusk will always be your ally, no matter what you do. You have my eternal gratitude.
Thank you, Fenian said, returning the gesture with a shallow bow. Now, youre loaded up with new buildings. New [Monster Cores]. And you owe me money. Get to work!
They exchanged pleasantries before Fenian departed. Even Tresk seemed reluctant to let the enigmatic Elf leave, but he had business to attend to elsewhere. Theo meant what he said, though. Every word. There was no one outside of the walls that treated Broken Tuskers like he did, and Theo would never forget that. There was also a familiar power radiating from his chest, something he hid too well.
Whatever Fenians past was didnt seem all sunshine and roses. Whatever path he walked was scattered with bones and blood, but could Theo say something different about himself? As long as his taxes kept going up, there was nothing that the trader could do to Qavell that would upset him. The swamp would rise up.
Looking back on it, Theo realized he should have focused more on his nt cultivation schemes. He was too locked into the idea that one was enough, even when this had been thergest limiting factor to his process. Tresk joined him out in the swathe ofnd he owned, picking the best location for his new greenhouses. She thought it would be nice to give enough room for them all to grow, allowing for sizable gaps of space between the seed core buildings. Between them, they had enough to bring all 4 new greenhouses to level 20, picking the same upgrade path as his existing [Alchemical Garden].
The ss buildings were arranged three on the side closest to the Newt and Demon, with two on the other side. A space between the rows was left clear, giving easy ess to any building. Looking over the new seed core buildings, Theos mind swirled with possibilities. Hed finally have the space to experiment with splicing nts together, creating hybrid reagents. Before attending to his other duties for the day, he stood there and appreciated the sight with a smile on his face.
Chapter 3.21: Drogramathi Iron
Chapter 3.21: Drogramathi Iron
Tresks efforts to help with gardening and alchemy should have been dangerous. Theos instincts, and the many warnings on skills rted to essences, held that to be true. But she worked with the garden with no troubles, even performing several reactions of her own to create potions. It was proof enough for him that their skills bled through to each other, or she was incredibly lucky.
Theo had a big decision to make, though. His ns for the day included checking in on the miners and the loggers, but with his new greenhouses, those could wait. The alchemist needed to select which reagents he would ce in which building. A split between each building would also work, but he needed to have highly cultivated nts if he wanted to perform high-quality potions.
[Mages Bane] was an obvious choice. Theo already had a few of the nts sitting in the corner of his [Spiny Swamp Thistle] patch, ready for propagation at 100% cultivation. That would take some time to fill the many rows out, but the effort would be worth the trouble. It would be lovely to have a cultivated Ogre Cypress tree, but that would be impossible to fit inside the ss building. A task for another day. Tresk urged him to dedicate an entire plot to the [Widow Lily], a nt that produced the [Poison] property. Beforemitting to the idea, he took stock of what he had with stat-enhancement reagents.
The [Water Lily] was particr about where it grew, but his intuition said it would be fine in the greenhouse. [me Roses] would be an issue. The nt, in itsplete form, put off sparks asionally. He would pair that one with [Stone Flowers] to avoid a disaster. The stone-like flowers that grew on the [Stone Flower] nt, hence the name, seemed to be made of actual stone. Theyd resist stray embers just fine. With 5 attributes, and 5 corresponding flowers, he could split the odd reagent with the [Widow Lily] nts.
Theo had only recently recovered the two missing nts he was looking for. The [Lightning Poppy] had the [Increase Intelligence] property and the [Wind Tulip] held t h e [Increase Dexterity] property. They would pair well with each other, then the [Water Lily] could share space with the [Widow Lily]. Tresk was upset that the reagent with the [Poison] property didnt get its own greenhouse, but when the alchemist told her it would produce around 500 units of poison she was satisfied. It was far more than she needed. This was all rtively long-term, though. The nts would take time to cultivate.
Seems like a lot of space for not a lot of nts, Tresk said. She sneered at the small crowd that had formed outside of the greenhouses.
The split buildings only had 2 nts each, as they needed time to cultivate. Theo tossed a bottle of [Aerosolized] [Lesser Potion of Growth] and watched a [Widow LIly] grow to twice its normal size. [Spiny Swamp Thistle] took up the eternity of the first greenhouse, then [me Roses] shared space with [Stone Flowers] in the next. [Water Lilies] and [Widow lilies] had the third greenhouse, with [Lightning Poppies] and [Wind Tulips] housed in the next. That left a building free to grow his [Mages Bane], although he could rotate the nt out for another split design in the future.
Part of the process, Theo said, dragging her arm to press his forehead against hers. They gained far more experience for their [Tarahek Core] than normal, 20% for the day so far. Well have to do this asionally. To keep up with my other cores.
Youre just weak of mind, Tresk said, waving him off with a smile. Gotta have a strong brain like me.
Zaul just wasnt interested in Tresk. Thats how Theo thought of it, anyway. He knew that the truth would elude him for some time, but it wasnt something to worry about today.
Before entering the new cluster of gardens, the pair kicked off a still with the [Living River Water]. With the daunting task of cultivating each nt to the first stage, they had more time than expected.
You just do boring stuff all day, Tresk said, letting out a heavy sigh. I cant handle it.
A day of rest isnt all bad, Theo said. We have more time to talk. I can figure out what kind of potions work for you.
Tresk jabbed a finger at the greenhouse that held the growing [Wind Tulip]. She wanted to get her hands on that potion more than anything. Theo nodded in response. They didnt need words to share the feeling of desire for that potion.
Azrug was missing from the shop, likely dealing with his new station, so the pair went upstairs and brewed some [Tunneling Potions]. Theo was still reluctant to apply any modifiers to the potion, as it already did the job just fine. They departed with the potions in their shared inventory, marching over to the mine. Tresk was excited that there might have been monsters inside, those strange dogs with tentacles, but the alchemist doubted it. Goblins had been spawning there after they cleared it for the first time.
Theo spotted Nira working with a few smeltery apprentices. Unlike some in the town, she took his suggestions to heart and worked hard to get them done as soon as she could. It was a mix of 5 people, Half-Ogres, Humans, Marshlings, and a lizard-person. The alchemist still knew little about the lizard-people, and regretted not learning about their homnd to the south. Again, he faced too much to do in too little time. Things fell by the wayside, and that was fine with him.
Theo! Gridgen shouted from the mine.
Theo heard his thunderous voice even before he heard picks striking rock. He gave a heart wave, snatching Tresks hand and forcing her to do the same. She grumbled.
Should we be worried? Gridgen asked, gesturing to Tresk. Not often you get a visit from the number one adventurer in Broken Tusk.
Damn right, Tresk said.
Theo forgot about the adventurer rankings, but didnt doubt that she was the best. All she did was delve dungeons and kill monsters, even in her dreams.
Its a Tarahek thing, Theo said, cing his hand on the Humans shoulder and smiling. How is the mine?
Good enough, Gridgen said. We havent found anything fancy down there, but we need to go deeper.
Well, guess what? Were here to dig more tunnels, Theo said,ughing. I have a feeling well hit Barrowsteel before we hit silver.
Barrow-what? Gridgen asked. Never heard of it. Are you talking about that stuff theyre pulling off from the big artifice out by the river? Aint called Barrowsteelnot that Im aware of.
Theo waved the question away. Whatever Fenian wanted to call it was no matter to him. It was the next non-precious metal in the tier list. Whatever the next metal is called, well hit that.
Easy enough to find out, Gridgen said. He turned to shout into the mine. Lunch time, boys! And girls. Sorry. He lowered his voice and turned to Theo. We got some new miners, not all of them guys. Kinda shocking when a little Brogling gales in and swings a pick harder than a Half-Ogre.
Theo waited as the miners filed out of the mine. Their numbers had increased recently, 20 by his count. He stopped the Brogling in question before letting her leave for lunch, a meal that few Broken Tuskers took. She was a migrant from Rivers and Daub, which shocked him. It was rare for anyone in the soutnds to migrate further south, let alone to his town. She imed a few of the newer citizens were from further north, before the treacherous passage through the mountains that separated the soutnds with Qavell proper. It required prodding to get her to stop calling it Murder Passage, revealing the real name of the ce as Gronro-Dir. A Dwarven name, no doubt.
People in Gronro are hard, Gridgen said, leading the pair into the mine. Ive only seen the town once, but it was amazing. Their walls scrape against the mountain. Meaning you cant go north unless you go through Gronro-Dir.
Tresk shared a look with Theo. They shared the same sentiment at that moment, one of interest. If their n was to fortify the soutnds from northern aggression, theyd need to make quick friends with the people of Gronro-Dir. The concept of a defensive alliance had been cooking in the alchemists mind for a while. Rivers and Daub was his first option, but he found those people to be too soft for the task. If not for the massive, magically enchanted farms in Broken Tusk, theyd rely on Rivers for their food.
Well, Throk came in and installed all the gates, Gridgen said, arriving at the first gate. A small group of Goblins growled from the other side, swiping rough daggers through the bars.
Oh, hell yeah! Tresk said. She vanished from the spot and reappeared behind the Goblins. Theo turned his back as she did her work. He felt blood stter against his robe and winced. He should have walked to a safe distance.
Theyre not really strong, Gridgen said, shrugging as Tresk stood proudly over the corpses. We usually just bonk em.
I had to get some anger out, Tresk said, letting out a heavy sigh. Feels better.
Theplex of tunnels theyd already created wound a path deep into the ground. It was impossible to tell how far down they were, but 5 sets of stone staircases led them to thetest gate installed by Throk. Each tunnel Theo made was a failure, so far. Gridgen wanted him to focus his efforts on creating a maze of tunnels near the surface, increasing their copper and iron production. That worked, but he was looking for the Barrowsteel, or whatever it was actually called.
Tresk helped with the design of the tunnels, taking a potion in hand and forming rough passages through the rock. Hermand of the potion wasnt as good as Theos, but this was a team-building exercise. The mine didnt have to be well-hewn rock, a rough passage would work.
Hourster, and three more downward passages, they hit their first string of Barrowsteel nuggets. Gridgen was kind enough to remove one of the purple-gray nuggets from the hard stone wall, handing it over for Theo to inspect with a wide smile on his face.
[Drogramathi Iron Nugget]
[Metal Ore]
[Rare]
Quality: Perfect
A raw nugget of Drogramathi Iron. Needs refining.
Demon nugget, Tresk said, nodding. That has a ring to it.
Why am I not surprised? Theo asked, stuffing the nugget in his inventory. Id bet 100 gold coins that Zarali expected this.
So, whats the n? Gridgen asked.
This might have annoyed Theo. Another task to upy his time, but then why didnt have a Lord Merchant if not to put him to work. It was likely that no one else was mining [Drogramathi Iron], which made it a novelty. It would be as strong as Barrowsteel, if that was actually a real thing, and bore the alignment of the Demonic God.
Just mine it as normal, Theo said. Ill have a word with Nira about what to do with the final product, and we can talk to Azrug about the details.
That seemed good enough of a response for Gridgen. He nodded and joined with Tresk and Theo as they carved out more tunnels. When they found enough deposits of the metal, they called it a day and emerged from the mine. The miner had some exciting news about the school. Theo hadnt seen the building go up, but parents were now able to enroll their children in the school. Bob, the Brogling that the alchemist named, was an amazing teacher. He had a knack for connecting to the errant minds of the kids.
Well have to check it out, Theo said.
Tresk and Theo departed, finding Nira at the smelter. She was teaching her new employees how to work the smelter, only pausing toe speak with her mayor. Theo handed over the new nugget and she gave him a t look.
Bit on the nose, she said.
My thoughts exactly, Theo said. Hold these in reserve. Dont let anyone buy them, but smelt them if you have the space.
Speaking of, Nira said, jabbing her thumb at the smelter. Could use a few upgrades.
Theo inspected the smelter, trying to determine how many [Monster Cores] he could spare.
[Smeltery]
[Midnight Damsel Smeltery]
Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Operator: Nira Weir
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 10 (50%)
Rent Due: 3 days
Expansions:
[Preservation of Heat]
[Pattern Alloy]
Theo could afford to get the Midnight Damsel Smeltery to level 15 without worrying about his stock. Why she had named it such was beyond him, but it was hers to name. He shoved cores inside, directing the expansion in whichever direction, until the expansion prompt came up. He discussed the options with Nira, but there was a clear winner.
[Double Smelter]
Your smeltery now has 2 massive smelters. Increases floor space ordingly.
Nira cleared her people out before Theo selected the option. The building stuttered for a moment, rocking ominously before gaining half its width in additional space. Another crucible appeared out of thin air, gaining a series of surprised yelps from the new workers.
That good for now? Theo asked.
Need a bit of a budget for these, Nira said, nodding her head to her new employees. Fenian is still around. I cant afford their cores.
Theo flicked her a single gold coin, bringing his total down to 47 gold, 61 silver. He didnt have an option, though. Their contract stated that he handled the improvement of the building and the cores that the workers used. Since they only got 10% of profits, that made sense.
Always a pleasure, Nira said, gesturing for the pair of them to go away.
I like her, Tresk said when they were well up the road.
Me too, Theo said.
Theo rarely ran around and checked in on his investments, but sometimes it was necessary. He was waiting on his garden to produce cultivated reagents, so there was nothing else for him to do. Their next stop brought them to Sledges sawmill. She had hired more people as well, which was a sign they were making enough profit to befortable. The spiky Marshling didnt want a single thing from her employer, iming they were doing just fine without him. He shrugged the insult off and found the Human man with the [Foresters Core].
Within the sawmill team, he took care of the health of the swamps towering Ogre Cypress trees. The alchemist dedicated the rest of his afternoon to learning about the trees and how the man cared for them. Thanks to Drogramaths power, everything in the area grew at an increased rate. The cypress trees dropped seeds daily, and a sapling would grow to a full-sized tree within a week. This was great for the lumber industry, but created problems. If the [Forester] didnt cull excess trees, it would quickly be a tangled mass of impassible trunks.
The [Forester] was covered in mud, constantly scratching his head as Theo exined the process of cultivation. He was a short, stocky man, even by Human standards, that required multiple exnations to understand a point. Once the alchemist showed him how to inspect the trees for cultivation percentages, he understood. They selected a small group of fresh saplings to apply the [Aerosolized] [Lesser Potion of Growth] to. Once they were exposed to the potion, theyd increase their cultivation naturally.
Only select the seeds from the cultivated trees, Theo said, waving his hand to get the [Foresters] attention. Understood?
Yeah, he said.
Theo left with no confidence in the [Foresters] ability, but he was content with putting in the effort. A cultivated Ogre Cypress would grow evenrger than the current version, providing more wood. Once every non-cultivated tree was culled, it would be a forest of evenrger trees that needed no maintenance. Theo considered the implications of removing a naturally urring tree and went back to express the need to have natural trees in the mix. The [Forester] seemed to understand that much.
The day was busy, but things were winding down. For their efforts, the [Tarahek Core] hit level 17. Theo felt a wave of relief when it did, and reminded Tresk that they needed to do this more often. The best she could offer was half-days, as she was itching forbat. Theo didnt receive her invitation to join her in the dungeons well. He pushed aside his reservations and agreed to join her at least once. The problem was, she wasnt great at identifying reagents. Even if they were sharing some of their skills.
When they made their way back to town, Theo tried to invoke some of Tresks skills. He crouched in the shadows outside of Xams tavern, gaining only a heartyugh from the Marshling. The way skills shared through the Tarahek was something hed need to test in the future. Zarali didnt join them for dinner that night, waiting until theydpleted their meal of Pozwa egg scramble thered in too much Karatan cheese, to invite them to Theos private bath.
They were soaking in the deep pool before the Drogramath Priestess revealed her true intentions.
I could smell the nugget, she said, holding the [Drogramathi Iron Nugget] in her hands. Lord Drogramath whispered that youd found something impressive.
Can we sell it? Tresk asked, dipping below the surface of the water before waiting for a reply.
We can, Zarali said, dunking the nugget under the surface of the water. It gives a nice stamp of our identity on the second tier metal. Anyone using Drogramathi Iron will know where it came from.
Theo had given up on chasing down all the ways that Drogramath affected the swamp. The more they dug, harvested, or chopped trees, the more he realized how deeply that power imbued thend. He let those thoughts wash away, aided by the soothingly warm water he soaked it. It was hard to be concerned about anything while neck deep in the enriched mineral water. Those worries melted away, something for another day.
Chapter 3.22: A Poison for Every Occasion
Chapter 3.22: A Poison for Every asion
Theo enjoyed his soak in the pool for as long as he could. He wasnt as eager to get into the Dreamwalk as he was in the past, owing to his ever-growing cores. [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was at level 15, [Drogramath Alchemy Core] at level 16, with his [Tarahek Core] at 17. His [Governance Core] hit 12 during the day, but it wasnt enough to tip his personal level over to 15. It was on the edge, but not there yet. During his soak, he took time to inspect his cores, making a mental note of his progression.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core]
Legendary
Alchemy Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 16 (10%)
[Alchemy Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effect:
Increases the synergy of [Alchemy] abilities.
+5 Wisdom
[Unstable Material Handling]
[Drogramath Herbalist Core]
Rare
Herbalist Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 15 (12%)
[Herbalist Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effects:
+5 Vigor
[Tarahek Core]
Legendary
Tarahek Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 17 (45%)
[Tarahek] cores are given to those who ept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.
Effect:
+6 Strength
+2 Vigor
[Governance Core]
Legendary
Administration Core
Unbound
3 Slots
Level 12 (2%)
Advanced [Administrator] core, reserved for leaders.
Innate Skills:
[Command Structure]
[Titles]
[Automatic Books]
Effects:
+3 Intelligence
The first thing to note was the importance of attributes that came from cores. The [Governance Core] grew at a slower rate, adding less to his [Intelligence], but that was a tradeoff. It came with several skills from the start, giving him a massive advantage of not having to dump precious skill points into the core. When a core hit a multiple of 10, it got a free skill in that domain. That was easy enough to understand, and without that quirk of the system, it would be impossible to fill each core. He also got a free skill every multiple of 5 with his personal level. A new skill slot opened on every 10th level, adding to the problem.
The issue was, he didnt have enough skills to fill his core slots. That was a problem for another day, but his mind was locked on exploring constructs. His personal level was so close to the edge of 15, granting him both a free attribute point and a free skill, that he couldnt wait any longer. Theo made a n for the Taraheks Dreamwalk, a n to grind herbalism until his hands bled. Otherwise, it was important to slow down on the alchemy in the Dreamwalk. What they really needed was another threat to elevate the [Tarahek Core], giving it a safe lead on his Drogramath-aligned cores.
Zarali had opinions about this, but she was more cautious than normal.
I see the wisdom in your thoughts, she said, cing a wet washcloth on her head and letting out a sigh. Theo couldnt even remember how long theyd be in the bath. The sun was down, that much he knew.
I thought youd be all about embracing the Demon, Tresk said, emerging from under the water.
Zarali seemed lost in thought, cradling her chin in her hand. She sshed the water at the Marshling as she thought. Tresk took this as a deration of war, sshing back as though it were a personal slight. She only stopped when the priestess went to talk again.
Youre a unique case, Zarali said, gesturing to the webwork of marks on Theos chest. The mark that alerted the fanatics of the Burning Eye of any demonic activity.
Theo had noticed that she never pressed the issue. She allowed him to wear both their pendant and the mark without concern. His intuition was enough to say that was odd, seeing as she was aligned deeply with the Demonic Lord. That struck an odd chord from the start, resonating in his mind since his adoptive sister arrived in town. She was nothing like what he expected, even for someone grieving her lost brother. But there was the key to it all. This wasnt really his body. It was repurposed.
If this is all part of Drogramaths n, Theo said, letting out a heavy breath, why does another god need to interfere to make it work.
He hasnt told me, Zarali said. She seemed frustrated by that fact. Understand the way the heavens work. Time works differently there. Slower. Imagine the attributes the gods have. Tens of thousands of points into [Intelligence]. They can press their fingers into the world, and cause a million events to ur.
Theo was done with thinking of heavy thoughts for the night. He never saw his path as a razors edge, but as guided. Things worked out so far, so he wouldnt change them. Even with the power of the Tarahek, he couldnt be confident that it could hold back Drogramaths influence. Not yet.
Which brings us to other matters, Zarali said, pointing at Theos chest. Your herbalism core sucks.
Did you teach her that? Theo asked, looking at Tresk. Hed never heard the priestess say anything as crude as sucks.
I did, Tresk said, grinning.
Youre a bad influence.
For the aligned cores, its harder to upgrade, Zarali said. You need a priest or priestess from the god, a good amount of their raw power, and some ingredients.
Hey, look! Tresk shouted, pointing at Zarali. A priestess!
Exactly, Zarali said.
What are the chances that this makes my condition worse? Theo asked.
Should be fine, Zarali said.
Shortly after that deration, they were kicked out of the bathhouse. An attendant arrived, informing them that the path was closing for the night. The trio left reluctantly, making their way to their respective homes. Zarali went back to Xolsas tower. The only shocking thing about that being the wizard still had his portal open. Tresk and Theo returned to the Newt and Demon, settling in for the night and the Dreamwalk.
Tresk wanted to pick the bathhouse again, but Theo refused. She answered by summoning a few monsters to attack him, a mix of Trolls and Goblins, but his current strategy worked for them as well as it did assassins. The pair split off for half the night, the alchemist tending to imagined nts in the Canadian wilderness, and Tresk battling an endless horde of skeletons. Halfway through the night, he joined back with her to help her fight. She was shocked, at first, but then realized he was just trying to get more experience in their shared core.
Is that all I am to you? Tresk asked, folding her arms and shaking her head. A walking core?
Would it offend you if I said yes? Theo asked.
Nothing offends me, she said, looking grumpy.
Tresk fought in a hit-and-run style. Shed jump from the shadows, apply poison to a monster, then flee. Her current training exercise exposed the weakness in that n. If she couldnt apply poison to something, she had a hard time dealing with more than one. This was the first time Theo realized how important poisons were to her strategy. Without them, a few skeletons were enough to overrun her. They went back and forth for a while, trying to bridge the gap with skill or tactics, but nothing worked.
I need better poisons, Tresk said, throwing her imagined daggers to the ground.
You need different poisons, Theo said. The Dreamwalk is too limited for me to take two steps to make a new thing.
What?
Ive never brewed the truffles into a modifier, Theo said. But Im guessing I can modify your standard poison to stop undead.
Yeah, we should just make me a bunch of situational poisons, Tresk said, nodding. A poison for every asion.
Tresk blustered often, but that was a good n. A poison for mages, for undead, perhaps even specialized poisons that affected families of monsters specifically. If his first line of defense was hispanion, then she needed to carry as many poisons as she could. They switched topics, Theo coaching her on the use of the two specialized poisons they had.
[elerated Decay] [Poison] is your current standard poison, Theo said, producing a bottle of the poison for her to inspect. This poison just made the poison stronger. But [Desate] could be useful.
I can dry people up, Tresk said with a shrug. How can that be useful?
If your enemy is too high of a level, Theo said. You cant bridge the gap in skill or power, but you can dry them up. Large enemies might be a problem, but this could work for smaller ones.
Im not seeing it as useful, Tresk said.
Maybe not, Theo said. But the alignment effect on the new poisons can apply 2 instances of the poison. Double the desation. Besides, this is an example of what we can expect. I think [Anti-Mage] and [Hallow Ground] are going to be the most useful for now.
Yeah, plus Fenian is acting all weird with the mushrooms, Tresk said, rubbing her wet head. We should expect an undead invasion tomorrow.
That was good advice when dealing with Fenians ns. They came together like a hurricane, appearing just off the horizon before Theo could prepare. But there was nothing he could have done about it then. His truffles were cultivating, and theyd soon have enough to startrge-scale production. Until then, the alchemist wanted Tresk to run otherbat drills.
What happens when you lose your daggers, Theo said, snatching them away from her. She looked offended, grabbing them back.
I get em back! she shouted.
Theo withdrew a potion from his inventory, gaining a sudden boost of [Dexterity]. He grabbed the daggers away again and threw them far into the distance. Tresk looked even more offended by that, but without warning he struck her in the face. The Marshling stumbled backward, a look of sheer horror on her face.
You hit me! she shouted.
No daggers, Theo said, dropping into abat stance and raising his hands. It had been a long time since hed done this. What do you do?
Im gonna smack you is what Ill do, Tresk said,ing at him with no sense for what suitable form was. He nted a kick straight in her chest, sending her tumbling back.
Tresk wouldnt learn a lesson if Theo told it to her. She was too hard-headed. The only way hed get through to her was for her to channel her anger into something useful. His lesson here was that she couldnt always rely on her daggers, not when she could be disarmed. She needed to learn how to fight with her fists and her feet when the time came. Only when the little Marshling came in, biting him on the leg, did he realize teeth were an option.
Good, Theo said, shoving her away. The damage they inflicted to each other here wasnt like actual pain, more like an echo. Again.
Theo was almost as quick as Tresk by now. Her cores gave her a massive boost to her stats, but her gear was centered on enhancing poison effects. When she suggested she would just load their shared inventory with extra daggers, he denied her the escape and they fought. Old memories of hand-to-handbat drills came back to the alchemist in those hours. Wonderful memories and terrible memories mingling together to create a tapestry to his old life. It was a catharsis he couldnt have known hed needed.
By the end of an hours-long training session, Tresk had the idea in her head. Shebined her sss skills with basic pugilism to bring the best out of both. Her hit-and-run tactics were on full disy, and Theo was begging her to stop by the end. The point was made, and the Marshling learned.
Now, Theo said, coughing and hacking. He was out of breath, even in the Dreamwalk. I like the idea of backup daggers.
Tresk punched him in the face, bit his leg, and cackled. Me too, she said through a mouthful of flesh. We should fight more.
Theo wouldnt deny her excitement about the friendly spar, even if she took it too seriously. He could feel the experience roll into their shared core. Besides that, these were valuable skills. They didnt need to practice withdrawing daggers from the shared inventory. That was a very simple action. They just needed to get their hands on as many daggers as they could, eliminating two problems. Tresk would hold several daggers in reserve with no poison, and several that had the specialized poisons yet to be brewed. The Marshling could call on whatever she needed at a moments notice, never having to stop to coat her weapons.
It took a while to keep Tresk from attacking him. He convinced her to dedicate a few hours every night to her training, which would grow more intense as they went on. Theo was allowed free use of all his potions, while Tresk was limited to her daggers and nothing else. They would alternate between armed and unarmedbat, just to make sure the information stuck. She took to this n well, as though she only just realized this was a safe ce for her to pummel herpanion.
Theo spent the rest of their time in the Dreamwalk tending reagents, but brewing no potions. He even spotted Tresk drilling her unarmedbat with Goblins in the distance, hiding among the trees and the snow. She was modest enough to admit it was a good idea, but then the alchemist considered the weight that was ced on her. When he met her, she was trying to get out from under her fathers yoke. Throk didnt want her to be an adventurer, but it was her dream. Now she was the best adventurer in a growing town, and that gap between her and others was closing. Perfection often came at a cost, but then again, the others didnt have ess to this amazing training tool.
When the night ended, the morning sun was already shining through the window. Tresk ordered Theo to get to work on her new poisons, running off to grab breakfast from Xam. He didnt have the heart to tell her the poisons wouldnt be as potent as they could be. Without a stock of cultivated [Widow Lily], or [Anti-Mage] modifier essence, it would be weaker than a perfected version. Still, he humored her.
Theo had a fair amount of un-refined [Anti-Mage] modifier essence lying around and several unmodified [Poisons]. As heced the poison with the modifier, he watched the reaction. It glowed with a soft, blue light, only bubbling slightly under his expert hand. He inspected the result before Tresk was even back with breakfast.
[Poison]
[Anti-Mage]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Chance to inflict 2 stacks per hit.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 15 stacks. Poison inflicts DOT damage. Targets inflicted with this poison take 1 point of damage for every mana spent, multiplied by the amount of stacks. This applies to ongoing spells cast before the poison was applied.
Stacks of poison take twice as long to fade.
Removing a stack of poison through any means other than the natural expiration of the effect causes the remaining stacks of poison to explode, dealing their remaining damage to the target.
Now there was a poison built for killing mages. The active casting description was bad enough, but if the [Anti-Mage] effect also inflicted damage for ongoing spells, that was devastating. This was allbined with the nightmarish DOT damage that was already devastating to any target. Tresk arrived shortly after the poison was done, withdrawing food and tea from the shared inventory.
Youre done? Already? Tresk asked.
I had this stuff on hand, Theo said, sliding the potion across the table for her to see. She let out a low whistle, then stuffed it in her personal dimensional storage sack. This isnt even as strong as it can get.
Tresk was already impressed with what he produced. The promise for more devastation was enough to make her giddy with excitement. They ate breakfast, discussing the progress they had made in the Dreamwalk. The [Tarahek Core] got more experience than normal while they were asleep, marking the usefulness of spending more time together in there. The Marshling dered she would spend the entire day away from Theo, delving dungeons and killing monsters.
Theo had ns to perform more town-rted tasks today, but his gardens needed tending. He made an offering at his shrine, then ran the tasks for the day through his mind. The Elven Guardian out front should have been taken care of by now, but if it wasnt hed need to shuffle people around. His new administration staff needed direction, he knew that out of instinct, but it wasnt anything Alise couldnt handle. He mostly wanted to check in on that front. Azrug might need encouragement for his new position, and prodding to get a new person to man the store at the Newt and Demon. All of this hung in his mind, even as Tresk pressed her forehead against his.
Theo was eager to spend more time with his people, as the people of Broken Tusk had truly be his. They were building a new culture, something not seen before on the continent. It was a ce where anyone with a strong back and determination could make a life for themselves. Away from the horrid guilds with their archaic mindsets. Above all else, it was a ce to be free.
Chapter 3.23: Mudball Fundamental
Chapter 3.23: Mudball Fundamental
Broken Tusk was bustling by the time Theo made it to the center of town. It had been long enough since Theo made his way to the general housing area, and he was eager to see what kind of town nning skills Alise had. The poption tracker on his mayor screen increased at a steady rate, signaling the reality of migration. His leather gloves were still dirty from digging in his garden and the strange loam-soil of the mushroom cave. While the truffles showed promise for rapid growth, they had a long way to go to be fully cultivated.
The road heading north, toward the farms, split at a point. To the east, there was the sprawl of houses, where to the west there was a single two story building looming among the trees. That would be the new school, which Theo noted was ced in the perfect location. First, he headed down to walk the many streets of a ce Tresk had named Town Time. ording to his map, it has since been renamed to The Iron Residences, which didnt sit as well as the silly name.
The houses were arranged in a grid, blocks extending out toward the eastern wall. By the time Theo made his way to the end of the housing area, he counted 75 houses, 12 more than thest time he counted. Small vendors had popped up along the streets, the merchants selling whatever at fair prices. It was the first time Theo saw someone producing food at scale that wasnt prepared by Xam. They offered meals for less than a copper, even providing meal ns. If he spotted anything else, he would have banished them from the town for good.
Theo had a single mind for food. Baseline food should have been free, or as close to free as possible. There was no shortage of it, and it seemed foolish to charge citizens for something they needed to survive. It wasnt an entirely altruistic thought, though. Anyone who came to live in town swore loyalty to Broken Tusk through a magical contract. They could only act in the best interest of everyone, and while that struck him as Dystopian, they could always leave.
Several townsfolk greeted him as he passed, looking from windows or cracked doorways. From their perspective, he was doing a good job, although he could only judge by their words of encouragement. Theos reason for visiting this part of town wasnt to inte his own ego, but to make sure that everyone was doing their job as he wanted them to do it. He had no reason to doubt Alises ability, but it was still good to check. His next stop was the school, a straight path from the bustling neighborhood. Perhaps it was more urate to call the housing distract a town in its own right.
The school was a friendly looking building, hosting a yard out back that allowed the children to y. The facade of the building was done in the tasteful tradition of in wooden nks, only showing color on the trim with red. Arge bell hung from a wooden tower at the top, no doubt to signal to children and parents alike when they started and ended. Theo ascended the steps leading to the front door, inspecting the building before entering.
[School]
[Mudball Fundamental]
Owners: Alise Plumm
Operator: Graptappin Tublubbin Grappin
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 15 (92%)
Rent Due: 2 days
Expansions:
[Dormitories]
[y Yard]
[Speedy Education]
Whoever named the school had a good sense of humor, but Theo was more surprised about how far it had advanced. Level 15 was a good starting point for a building in the town, and the upgrades seemed interesting. He wasnt sure why they would pick [Dormitories], but hed inquire with Bob.
The interior of the school was split into individual ssrooms on the left, arge area with a board for drawing in the center and rows of chairs and desks, and what must have been the dorms on the left. The interior was painted with a nauseating array of colors, a clear mark of the children. 10 children watched as Bob instructed from the front of the room, currently going over a map. Every head in the room turned to spot the alchemist.
Mayor! Bob shouted, trundling his little Brogling body over to greet Theo. He waved the children away, sending them out the back door for some free time. I was hoping youd stop by. What do you think?
It looks great, Theo said, nodding. How are the kids treating you?
Broglings have a natural affinity for teaching, and another natural affinity for taking care of children, Bob said, gesturing to the dorms on the left. We even have a few orphans.
Orphans? Theo asked, blurting the thought out. He wasnt aware of any children without parents.
Refugees from other towns. No ce to go, Bob said, looking down at the ground. His mood brightened a momentter. But, nevermind that! The children are keen to learn. I have some of the older ones studying by themselves in the private ssrooms. They teach themselves while they wait for their cores.
Where do they go once theyve earned their cores? Theo asked.
Good question. Im working with your assistant on that, Bob said.
Lady Administrator, Theo corrected. He didnt want people getting confused about who was in charge.
Right. Sorry, Bob said, scratching his furry head. Lady Administrator Alise has been instrumental to Mudball Fundamental.
Theo chuckled at the name. But Bob was doing good work here. It was nice that a child could spend all day with their parents, but those orphans stuck out to him. They didnt have that luxury and this would be a safe ce for them to develop into productive members of the town. The alchemist asked Bob about the specifics of how the children were fed, and was happy to hear that Xam catered for them daily. She had increased her staff to a point where she could focus on creating dishes, rather than running the tavern, attached inn, and her bathhouse.
Bob also seemed ecstatic about his position, iming that the children were sponges excited to learn. Each pupil stood out as the start student in his words. Further digging revealed that the man hadnt seen fit to instill them with any principles passed down by Zaul, the god of shadows. While the Brogling imed him as a patron god, it was mostly for Zauls [Schr of Zaul Core].
At the end of their meeting, Theo flicked the man a single gold coin. It brought his total funds down to 46 gold, but until they found a worker incentive program this would have to do. Bob was grateful for the money, but said it wasnt necessary. Theo insisted.
With his business at the school sorted, Theo found his way to the eastern gate. He checked in on Miana, who wanted nothing to do with him. The herd of Karatan were thriving, and the Pozwa were doing just as well. The only thing she revealed to him was that she was skimming the profits so she could pay for things like [Monster Cores] and feed for the animals. He established a contract on the spot, giving her express permission to do so. It was left loose enough that she could take all the money if she needed, as he really didnt care about the profits. The only stiption he put in was rted to who she sold to, underlining the concept that profit on exports should go directly to the towns coffers.
A trio of adventurers had been trailing him since he left the School, annoyingly named Bal, Dal, and Ral. Theo spotted them keeping a healthy distance, as though they were monitoring him. He invited them up to the battlements of the eastern gate, looking over the deconstruction of the Elven Guardian. Each adventurer, brothers as they were, were almost copies. Shaved heads, trimmed beards, and enough scars to show their true nature as hardened adventurers.
Sorry, boss, Bal said. Bal seemed to be the one to talk first, revealing him as the oldest brother. Just a contract.
Theo stared out over the deconstruction of the guardian, watching as Throk directed the work. Theyd pulled the main section of the things chest apart, revealing an endless tangle of artifice cogwork. The Marshling was salivating over the find, rubbing his hands together andughing. Hed go down after confronting the brothers about the contract.
What contract? Theo asked.
Showed up in the guild this morning, Bal said. Someone wanted you guarded.
Theo didnt need to see the contract to know that Tresk issued it. She might have hid her intentions well, but she wanted to make sure he was safe while she adventured. He turned to look at the brothers, still uneasy about how much alike they looked. It seemed like a waste to have 3 adventurers watching him when 1 would have done the job.
Do you all need to be here? Theo asked.
Dal lost some fingers, so hes useless, Bal said, the hint of a sneer on his face. Ral broke his leg, so were waiting for that to heal up. Were just bored.
Theo huffed a breath. They should havee to him immediately about both matters, and had to wonder about the wisdom of adventurers who didnt know when to turn to alchemy. He ordered them to stay at the top of the wall, then went down to check on Throks progress. It was a brief conversation. The metal was indeed [Barrowsteel], as Fenian imed, and it was harder to break down than they expected. The artifice pieces inside the guardian were worth a fortune, ording to the Marshling. Naturally, he intended to keep them all for himself.
After confirming that there was nothing he could do to help, Theo marched his new bodyguards back to the Newt and Demon. When he arrived, a Half-Ogre woman was standing in the shop section. She made introductions but told her to hold off until he had the time, heading to theb to grab a tin of [Alchemic Regenerative Salve] and returning to his guards. The salve would restore Dals lost fingers, but he had nothing for broken bones. He only assumed theyd tried drinking his potions, so they crossed the street to see Zarali about mending a bone.
Have they tried drinking a potion? Zarali asked.
Didnt work, Bal said, still speaking to his brothers.
Zarali let out a breath, standing from her chair and abandoning her enchanting work. She closed her eyes and held out her hands. After a moment, her eyes snapped open. You have a disease that prevents healing items from working.
[Lesser Potions of Purification] are avable for free at the adventurers guild, Theo said, narrowing his eyes at the offending adventurer.
Oh, Ral said, his eyes narrowing. Really?
Really, Theo said, producing one such potion from his inventory and handing it over. He followed that with amon [Lesser Healing Potion] and the man drank both. The audible sound of Rals leg snapping back into ce sent a shiver up Theos spine, but a look of relief spread across the Humans face.
Hooray, Ral said. Theo took a deep breath, calming himself.
You need to apply that cream daily, Theo said, jabbing a finger at Dal. If you have a question, please head to the town hall and get it sorted with the administration staff there. Dont suffer because youre too dumb to ask for help.
The three brothers just nodded, looking at each other with shamed expressions.
Is that all, Theo? Zarali asked.
Yes, Theo said, pping his hand on her shoulder and casting her a concerned look. For now.
Theo left the enchantersb with his entourage, heading back to the Newt and Demon to meet his new shopkeeper. She was lean, for a Half-Ogre, and he didnt recognize her as a native to Broken Tusk. She was far too shy to be from these parts, and had a mousey appearance despite her massive stature. While most Half-Ogres stood at the same height as Theo, she was a head shorter, likely the shortest of her kind hed ever met.
Salire Hogrush, she said, bowing. A untamed mop of curly ck hair fell over her face, obscuring her ochre features for a moment. Azrug assigned me to the shop.
Theo Spencer, the alchemist said, reaching a hand for her to shake. The 3 brothers watched awkwardly from the door. Tell me about yourself.
The Half-Ogre woman blushed at his question, clearly not used to the direct nature of Broken Tuskers. Then she told her story. Salire Hogrush was from a small town in the mountains leading north to Qavell. It was a fortress town, not unlike Broken Tusk, known for their ability to repel the many monster waves of the treacherous cliffs. There was little room for a merchant, and that was her aspirations in life. Once she heard about the exodus to the south, she couldnt contain herself and left everything behind.
Azrug has been amodating, she said.
Must be weird having a kid be your boss, Bal said, sniggering.
Stand outside, Theo said, casting him a re. The brothers left, grumbling their objections. He turned his attention back to the new hire. Azrug outlined everything, I hope. This is more of a ce for citizens to buy potions at an absurd discount. We mostly export with a reliable traveling merchant.
Everyone has heard about Fenian Feintleaf, Salire said, nodding. You dont topple Mercantile Chairs without getting a few songs to your name.
Right, Theo said, his mind wandering. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Theo retrieved his guards and led them into theb, directing them to sit by the window. They seemed bored to tears, but happy enough to get paid to do nothing. The alchemist was surprised with how interested they were in his process. The [Tarahek Core] had enough lead for him to work on a few minor potions, but he didnt want to push it for now. The alchemist spent some time organizing his crates before setting up his fermentation barrels. With a tap, the [Power Siphon] turned on and he ground [Mages Bane] into the barrels. Thats when the brothers paid attention.
Theo exined every step of the process, from grinding the reagents down into a fine paste, to the introduction of Drogramathi mana to the mix. They were in awe when he transferred it to a still hourster. He exined the difference in tiers of processing, from the basics of distilling reagents down to the enhanced process of refining that essence. The alchemist forgot himself as they observed, missing the chance to brew arge amount of potions. It was better that way, though. He wanted to hold his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] back for a while, and this was a good excuse to take it slow.
After setting his modifier essence up for refinement, he led his gaggle of adventurers off to the mine. They were excited to meet with monsters, but Theo assured them it would be uneventful. Even if monsters spawned, they would be low level Goblins. That dampened their mood slightly. Nira was teaching her new hires how to work the double-smelter, and offered a meek wave before turning her attention back to her work. Gridgen was outside of the mine with his wife, Sarna. Both offered hearty greetings and made fun of the alchemists guests.
Tresk hired them, Theo said.
She worries too much, Gridgen said. I bet you could take all three of them alone.
Theo didnt know where the miner got that idea, even if he was half-right. He had enough escape ns to make it out of a few sticky situations, even if he didnt know what the brothers had to offer on the battlefield. They didnt seem to take the insult personally, collectively shrugging it off.
Nira looked busy, Theo said, patting Gridgen on the shoulder. Has she smelted any demon metal?
None that I know of, Gridgen said.
She has her hands full, Sarna put in.
Theo, joined by Gridgen, Sarna, and the trio of adventurers, went and explored the lower level of the mines. A few of the tentacled dogs lined the walls, dead at the hands of the miners, but it was uneventful.
Gonna hit a cavern soon, Bal said. All eyes turned to him.
Are you sure? Theo asked.
Very sure, Bal said, cing his hand on the stone at the end of one tunnel. Feel how cold the rock is?
Theo ced his hand near where Bal had. The rock was wet and cold, even if he didnt know what that meant. He searched the adventurers face for clues, but it just held a stupid smile. Care to exin?
Caves are cold, Bal said, shrugging the question off. The colder the rock, the closer to a cave. Makes sense, right? But you got a real problem here.
Please, exin, Theo said.
When you hit the cavern, youre going to hit it at a weird angle, Bal said. Likely from the top, which means youre in trouble. How do you get down?
Well, thats a good thing, Gridgen said, shoving himself into the already ustrophobic press of bodies to feel the rock. We dont want anything living down there toe up.
Oh, yeah, Bal said, removing himself from the press. Thats a good thing. Is this going to be open to adventurers?
Theo had considered the idea before. It was his main motivation for hitting a cavern, but he didnt know what would be down there. It could open the gates of hell under his mine, even if hed prepared for the event. Sending adventurers down to retrieve whatever valuable items were down there was a good thing, but sending them to their deaths wasnt.
Once its cleared through the guild, Theo said. Well, this is good information, thank you Bal.
No worries.
Gridgen and Sarna had some smalltalk they wanted to get off their chests. They were excited about the new school, iming it gave them more free time to pursue their own interests. Sarna was, ording to her husband, an aplished miner by now. Even when she was stuck watching their child, shed outpaced Gridgen in a short span of time. Once Theo was sure that none of the miners were worried about mining Demonic ore, he departed from Dead Dog Mine. It was the 58th day of the Season of Blooms, and hed be expected to host the gathering tomorrow.
When Theo left the mine with his bodyguards, he broke the news that the rest of the day would be spent inspecting festival wreaths. They groaned, but came along anyway. There were a few select wreaths still alive, and he didnt know how to judge them. One thing stuck out in his mind above all the other thoughts. He wouldnt allow himself to take the prize, even if the next most viable wreath was wilting away on Pergs door. It felt like cheating to give an alchemist such a task. Still, it was the spirit of the festival that mattered. He made his way back to theb, intent on finishing out the day performing alchemy and cracking the shell of the strange adventurers that had be his bodyguards.
Chapter 3.24: Alchemy Constructs
Chapter 3.24: Alchemy Constructs
Xam served a feast on the night of the 58th day of the Season of Blooms. The Dying of the Blooms festival was the signal that the season was over, but there were still a few weeks left in the season. Theo sat, no longer nked by his cadre of adventurers, with Tresk, Zarali, Xolsa, and the new shopkeeper Salire. They ate through each meal, stuffing themselves with a starter of Pozwa omelets, moving on to a dish of wolf meat curry over Zee tbread, and finishing it with pastries that exploded with impossibly sweet vors. Perhaps it was just because the alchemist hadnt had sweets in so long, but the desert tasted too sweet.
The new tradition was to head directly for the bathhouse after eating dinner, and Theo was eager to invite hispanions to join him. Salire was reluctant to join at first, but a bit of friendly prodding had her marching in step with the others up to the building. Even Xolsa seemed excited to try the bath out. When the group entered the room, tossing their towels to the side to strip down, the new shopkeeper flushed with embarrassment.
Could you use the towels? Just while Im here? Salire asked, turning away.
Tresk was already naked, but she grumbled and picked up her towel. The group followed suit, not wanting to put off a new citizen with something so silly. When they all slipped into the bath, her worries seemed to melt away. Thats when she retold her lifes story.
Theo faded in and out of listening to the womans story, trying to n tomorrow around hosting festivities. During his parade around town after leaving the mine, as he inspected everyones wreaths, he got more [Pozwa Horns] from Miana. The goat-like creatures seemed to shed their horns more often than was reasonable, but they were meant to be a closely guarded secret of Gardreth, so it wasnt surprising. Hed only had their eggs in whatever Xam was cooking, which didnt reveal any of the properties. The shell usually contained the reagent-producing material.
The towel clung ufortably to Theos body as he listened to Salires story. While the town of Boro Hold had little in the form ofmerce, she specialized in buying and reselling adventuring gear. That made her the perfect person to pick up Azrugs good work. But once again, it was hard to focus. One more level in anything, and his personal level would hit 15. Then his attention would be captured by the constructs. A section of Basic Drogramath Alchemy would unlock, and hed get more information than he needed to build his first real construct.
The group swapped stories for hours after that, until the attendant kicked them out again. Theo moved in a haze, bidding farewell to his friends, new and old, and heading back to the Newt and Demon.
So, you really hired adventurers? Theo asked.
Im up to my eyeballs in gold, Tresk said. You cant put a price on peace of mind.
After their forehead pressing and some kind words, the pair drifted off into the Dreamwalk. It was uneventful, even for a realm that existed only when both of them were asleep. Theo avoided alchemy, favoring herbalism once again. They carved out their time to train and Tresk tested her new anti-mage poison. With the monsters they could spawn, it was incredibly effective. She practiced switching between daggers in her inventory, already coated with different deadly poisons, but she wanted more. Theo saw no harm in trying to get her even more poisons, and fully intended to. Even if the risk of the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] overtaking the [Tarahek Core] was high, he couldnt help himself. He was an alchemist.
The Dreamwalk ended, and while his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] stubbornly refused to roll over to level 16, the [Governance Core] had no problem providing thest bit of experience to grow Theos personal level to 15. Theos eyes flicked open, a series of system messages waiting for him to read.
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.1%).
[Governance Core] leveled up! Level 13.
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 15.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
[Theo Spencer] received one free skill.
Even knowing what skill he was going to pick didnt dampen Theos excitement for the level. He selected [Alchemy Constructs] without hesitation.
[Alchemy Constructs]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Epic
Alchemy constructs can take many forms. Theybine the power of essences with magical bindings and the natural world.
Effect:
Increases the sess of creating a construct.
Constructs require less power to operate.
+1 Intelligence
With the extra point in [Intelligence], this made selecting [Wisdom] easy. Hed debated putting points into [Vigor], but it was growing so much with his various core bonuses that it no longer made sense. Perhaps hed alternate between [Wisdom] and [Vigor], but today he felt his primary stat needed boosting.
[Alchemy Constructs] came with a rush of knowledge. Some skills imparted hidden information to the wielder, and when he slotted this skill into his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], he felt a surge y on his mind. Without a word to Tresk, he made his way to Basic Drogramath Alchemy.
The poems and bads that existed before had vanished. The section held the same header, but the content was different. He thumbed through it, finding the Drogramath Dronon to have a low opinion of the art. Still, it held step-by-step instructions on creating the thing his intuition, and rumors hed heard, had hinted at. They were effectively helpers with no intelligence. They followed a series of instructions, theplexity of those instructions depending on their creator, and worked as long as the [Monster Core] that powered themsted.
Theo found his first disagreement with the book immediately. The short-sighted Dronon, only concerned with the power of alchemy as potions, hadnt considered an alternative fuel source. That, or they hadnt delved far enough into the skill to unlock its true potential. Either way, the alchemist intended to split his time today and create his first construct.
Tresk felt his mania for the new skill and went off to retrieve breakfast. Theo poured over the tome, making mental notes that would stick. He was almostpletely on point for his assumptions on the constructs creation. He needed an alchemically treated precious metal cage, a [Monster Core], and a dead ingredient. That was where his knowledge was different. He assumed the base material needed to be naturally urring. But the book advised alchemists new to the skill to work with simple materials. Mud, copper, and low-level monster cores. After mastering that subtle art, it suggested moving on to infuse stone tablets with essence properties.
Another surprising find was that the little golems could act as portable potion dispensers. The examples were thin, focusing on the [Aerosolize] modifier, but Theos mind was already getting creative. The only problem with his n to dive head-first into the creation of constructs was the long list of chores and duties he had to fulfill. When Tresk returned, he gave her the full picture of the skill.
You can make little workers? Tresk asked. Time to fire everyone.
Not sure if they can mine, Theo said. Or cut wood. Im starting small.
Mud golems! Tresk shouted, unconcerned about Theos reservations.
Theo picked at the leftovers fromst nights feast. The tea was the only thing he really needed. He still felt stuffed from the banquet, and enjoyed the +1 to all hisbat stats. Combined with the bathhouse buff, things were getting interesting.
So, youreing with me to do the final judgment on the wreaths. Perg is going to win, Theo said.
But ours is better, Tresk said, ring.
We cant make ourselves win. Thats not fair.
Tresk had a look on her face like she wanted to argue, but she shrugged. As someone who had cheated in the past, Theo hoped she learned a lesson. It wasnt about who won; it was abouting together at the end of a season. There wasnt even a prize for winning.
Theo didnt need to bring his copy of the Drogramathi tome with him to view the pages. Tresk joined him to do the final judging of the wreaths, making fun of him for staring in the distance. She made most of the calls on who was out, and by the end of their hours-long rounds, only two wreaths remained. Something carried on the wind as he inspected one of the two final wreaths, Pergs wreath. A familiar smell of shoe polish drifted from the collection of flowers, sending his alchemical senses into overdrive. He drew back as his mouth dropped.
Perg! Theo shouted, dropping his voice when he noticed a crowd following them around during the judging. He grabbed the Half-Ogre womans arm and drew her close. She had a look of fear on her face. You treated your wreath with my potion? You cheated?
Perg held her hands up defensively, smiling sheepishly. Caught me.
Damn it, Theo said, letting out a breath. The alchemist couldnt let this kind of cheating go unchecked. He thought about it for a moment longer. He really didnt want to win. You win, anyway.
Really? Perg asked, looking around at the crowd. I win?
Yeah, you win, Theo said, removing the wreath from her door and stuffing it over her head. The fumes made her sway on the spot. Thats your punishment.
Perg stumbled off, immediately embraced from the crowd. No one noticed she lost consciousness when they hoisted her on their shoulders. The fumes shouldnt have been fatal, but she would have a horrible headache when she woke up.
Thats what dirty cheaters get, Tresk said, giggling.
Help me with the garden, Theo said, gesturing back toward the Newt and Demon.
No! I paid those brothers to watch you again today, Tresk said, gesturing in the same direction.
Theo saw the trio of mening down the road. They may as well have been clones of each other, and it annoyed him every time. He let out another breath. His duties as mayor were done for the day, and he could force his new bodyguards to help him trim the garden. Tresk vanished before he could object again, jumping through the shadows to go run a dungeon.
Bal. Good morning, Theo said, waving at the oldest brother.
Hey.
The group followed Theo to his greenhouses, and he put them to work. They were all on weeding duty, which had be something of a job. The alchemist watched them, making sure no one touched the reagents while he sorted his cultivating nts. Most nts experienced a fairly slow rate of cultivation, something around 10% per day. This was absurdly fast, by the standards of the world atrge, but Theo had grown fond of his fast-growing town. He was broken from the calming act by a strange buzzing in his mind. It took him a long moment to realize what it was. Feniansmunication had a certain vor, but the one provided by the Kingdom of Qavell had a totally different feel.
Theo told his bodyguards what was going to happen, removing the crystal from his inventory and holding it in his hand. He squeezed it tight, and fell into a shadowy realm, his mind cast into a wide stone tform. Dark shadows obscured everything, even his own body, but he saw the figure of Grub on the far side of the dias.
Long time, Theo said, narrowing his eyes at the man. It was hard not to feel some amount of betrayal. Theyd left him to fend for himself for most of the season.
Things are busy, Grub said. The Brogling bounced when he talked, but none of his form could be seen. It was a shadowy outline of a tiny man. It was hard enough getting a chamber to myself. Not with the war. Not with theWell, nevermind. I wont be collecting your tax in person. Please ensure that all 125 gold, 15 silver, and 33 copper are avable in your towns treasury.
Any chance my taxes are going to drop? Theo asked, ignoring the absurd amount of gold.
Somehow, despite the Broglings vague shape, Theo could sense a deep concern. Grub drew closer, waddling across the wide tform.
Be thankful theres a kingdom to pay, Grub said, suddenly cutting the connection.
Theo was sent hurtling out of the shadowy realm, stumbling back into the hands of a waiting adventurer. The alchemist couldnt tell, but he supposed it was Ral that caught him.
Good news from our home city? Bal asked, smiling.
Always good news, Theo said, lying.
The implications of the message were dire, but Theo pushed it to the back of his mind. He bid the adventurers to follow him up to theb, dismissing whatever his shopkeeper said to him. He paused at the foot of the stairs, taking a deep breath. Instead of pushing those worries for the future away, he cast them out entirely. They were preparing for anything.
Sorry, Salire, Theo said, smiling. His higher stats madepartmentalizing his fears easier. What was that?
I was admiring Azrugs little enterprise, Salire said, not daunted by his sour entrance. Hes only 16? Thats amazing.
Theo ordered his guards up to theb,ing close to his new shopkeeper and taking her by the shoulders. He stared into her eyes, finding all the potential that Azrug had when he started in the shop. Citizens had ess to more means here, giving them the chance to rise above what was normally possible.
Youre on the first step of your journey, Theo said, patting her shoulders. Please dontpare yourself to someone like him.
No, I was just admiring it, Salire said.
Good, Theo said. Because thats you. In a month. Maybe less, Theo said. We move so many items through here, the experience just rolls in.
Ive been meaning to ask about that, Salire said,ughing. Seems like money justes out of the ground here.
Theo actively refused to let his mood be taken down by Qavell. He drew himself up and exined why things were the way they were around here. She listened to every word he said, nodding along. The young shopkeeper wasnt even concerned about the power of Drogramath floating in the air, iming shed seen much worse in her hometown. When the alchemist was satisfied with her level offort, he went to join the brothers upstairs. They were messing with his equipment, and required a firm shouting at.
Alright, Bal said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. The alchemy stuff can blow up. Got it.
Theo processed his existing [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], everything he harvested from the garden with the brothers. The alchemist filled two stills, flushing his reserve tanks and sending the refined essence out to his massive storage tanks outside. That was their purpose, after all. When he was too busy, he could just fill up his exterior tanks and go about his day. He had time enough to grind some [Pozwa Horns] and eat the powder, something that made each brother grimace.
Theo had never eaten ash, but it must have tasted like this. A system message shed.
[Properties Discovery!]
Youve discovered an additional effect from the [Pozwa Horn] by eating it.
[Limited Foresight] discovered.
Theo let out a groan, immediately correcting himself.
Is there a problem? Are you dying? You just licked horn dustwant me to get your sister? Bal asked.
No, thank you, Theo said, rolling his shoulders. This property is too good not to try.
Theo processed 500 units of the [Pozwa Horn], loading hisst still up and forcing his intent on it. He targeted the [Limited Foresight] property and set the process off. He made his offering at the shrine, and regretted the first run of a new reagent being so big. There were usually things he needed to tweak during the run to get excellent quality essence, but the building bonuses did a lot to mitigate that problem.
Before leaving theb, Theo made sure he had everything he needed to make his first construct. He pilfered the shared inventory, stealing a low-level [Monster Core]. It was a level 5 core from a [Ogre Snapper], which seemed like the safest bet. If the golem he created had any instincts from the monster, it would be a bad idea to use a Goblins core.
Didnt know the mayor needed a babysitter! a voice called from afar. Theo spotted Luras, giggling to himself in the distance. Theo thumbed his nose at the Half-Ogre, a gesture he knew the man wouldnt understand.
Before long, the group was outside the western gate, among the loggers and the swamp.
Swamp mud should work the best, Theo said. Theres a bit of a natures element in every piece of nature.
If you say so, Bal said, shrugging. Just watch that snapper.
An [Ogre Snapper] was looming in the distance, its massive shell poking out of the mud. They usually waited there for unsuspecting people, bursting from the muck to im their victim.
When Theo ced the monster core in the center of his copper cage, he let out a surprised gasp. The core floated where it was, glowing with a dim light. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core] flooded him with approval and he moved to the next step. The brothers helped him ther the entire cage with swamp mud, never ones to worry about getting their hands dirty. The mud stuck to the cage, even flowing over the surface to even out the disy. After a moment of waiting, Theo dropped it in the swamp.
Now, the part that might kill me, Theo said, closing his eyes to summon mana to his hand. It flowed from his Drogramath cores, a pool of purple fire. He ced his hand over the ball of mud, scrambling back and waiting.
Should we be worried? Ral asked, uncharacteristically speaking for his brothers.
Maybe, Theo said, watching his creation.
Nothing happened. Theo approached the ball and tilted his head, running through the steps in his mind. He didnt miss a single step. The Drogramathi mana should have been enough to activate the skill. He gently kicked it with his foot.
Come on, Theo said, disappointment flooding through him. Do something.
A whirlpool of mud surrounded the ball. More mud was sucked from the surrounding area with a great squelching sound, joining the ball. It was already the size of Theos head, but it kept growing. After another moment of tense mud-gathering, the mud grew taller. Stunted arms that ended without hands or fingers appeared, then little legs without feet. Eyes made of rocks appeared, and the thing looked up at Theo expectantly.
Good golem, Theo said, reaching out to pet his creation on the head.
The golem squelched in response.
Chapter 3.25: Limited Foresight
Chapter 3.25: Limited Foresight
A thin thread of willpower stretched between Theo and the [Lesser Mud Golem]. It was a strange mix between a foreign will and his own, not battling for dominance, but working together to make the thing functional. There wasnt an attribute for willpower, though. The alchemist knew, through instinct or logical deduction, that the quantity andplexity of the constructs hemanded was limited by that factor. Sheer will.
Great, you made a mud monster, Bal said, edging away from the alchemists creation. The golem smacked its muddy lips in response, trying and failing to form words. But its intent flooded into Theo.
He wants to help, Theo said, patting the golem. How long can you work for, little guy?
The golems intent flooded into him again. A vague series of thoughts that was almost understandable. Theo got the general idea, and determined it would onlyst a few hours before expiring.
Two hours, maybe, Theo said, nodding. He locked that in his mind.
Can I pet him? Ral asked. Theo gestured, giving the man permission.
While the brothers took turns patting the golems wet head, Theo inspected the creature. Most monsters could be inspected, even if they gave little information. The screen that popped up was shocking in its content, far more than he could have hoped for.
[Lesser Mud Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 5
Mud Golems are considered lesser golems. Their strengths lie in the abstract nature of mud, allowing them to move through spaces as small as their Containment Cores. They are friendly, yful helpers.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Copper Cage]
Monster Core: [Ogre Snapper] (Level 5)
Medium: [Enriched Swamp Mud]
Alchemy tes: None
Power System: None
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
Eachponent he used was present on the screen, from the copper cage to the mud he used. Theo took more mental notes on the matter, locking in the additional parts of the screen that read none. His first theory about the constructs was that nature would take care of everything, an idea he revised after seeing the Elven Guardian. Between the information Basic Drogramath Alchemy had, and the guardian, he had an excellent picture of how they worked. The [Monster Core] was the brain, while the cage contained the core. The mud was just the thing that made up their body, but there was more. He could improve the design, giving his creations to ability to operate for longer periods of time.
You know what youre looking at, guys? Theo asked, pping the top of the mud man. The future defenders of Broken Tusk.
I could see it, Bal said, scratching whiskers on his chin. Big old army of mud guys. How strong are they?
What to find out? Theo asked. He felt the golems eagerness to please him. Its only level 5, so go easy.
Bal did not go easy. True to the description of the golem, though, unless the adventurer went for the core, the mud kept reforming. He would swipe the creatures arm off, only to have it regrow after sucking in some mud from the surrounding swamp. But Bal was avoiding the core on purpose, intending not to break Theos new toy. Likewise, the alchemist urged the [Lesser Mud Golem] to restrict movement, not to attack outright. The disy was interesting, making it easy to see the potential of this new skill.
Bal was out of breath and the golem backed off, sensing his opponent weakening. That much of Theos will bled into the core. I yield, Bal said.
The golem bowed with a sloppy flourish, gainingughs from all the brothers.
Today held too much excitement for Theo. The looming celebration tonight hampered his spirit slightly, but his golems worked. He made his way to Throks cksmith, 3 adventurers and a mud man close behind. The Marshling looked up from his anvil, bags under his eyes and let out a groan.
Youre giving life to the swamp, now? Throk asked. Why am I not surprised? And you need something.
Have you worked with Drogramathi Iron yet? Theo asked.
Throk rummaged through a pile of junk, producing a bar of gray-purple metal and smiling. Cant fault you for bringing me cool stuff, he said, gesturing vaguely at his workshop.
It was filled with parts of the Elven Guardian. Pieces of artifice equipment and the strange Barrowsteel littered the workshop. The value of the metal and artifices would have been priceless. Theo didnt notice when Fenian had left the town, but he was gone. If the trader stayed in the town, he would have more things to buy but it was better this way. The bill he owed the kingdom loomed over his head. He shook it off again.
I need some more cages, Theo said.
Throk jabbed a finger to a dimensional storage crate. Filled that one up recently. See, Im getting good at anticipating your needs.
How much?
You own the metal, Throk grumbled. 10 silver for my new apprentices time.
Theo handed over the money and collected the goods. It was a mix of different containment cores in various styles. There were hundreds there, no doubt meant to test the skill of Throks apprentice. They came in square cages, spherical cages, even triangr cages of copper and iron. Theo was now interested in cages made of Drogramathi Iron. He gave Throk a look and the cksmith groaned again.
Dont get ahead of yourself, Throk said. You just got your weird skill. Practice for a while, then use the advanced materials. Why do I have to tell you this?
Theo nodded, giving thanks to the man that always came through for him. Broken Tusk would have been a worse ce without such a good cksmith, let alone his artificer''s skills. The wreath hanging from the Marshlings door, a tangled web of pipes and gears, let out a long farting sound. Perhaps he should have let Throk win the contest on sheer ingenuity.
Before leaving the workshop, Theo discussed the idea of creating their own [Power Cores]. Throk doubted he had the skill to make something soplex, but the alchemist pushed him. After examining the core from the Elven Guardian he grumbled his agreement, but argued that he didnt have the time to work on a new project. They agreed to work on it at ater date.
Theo led his troupe back to the Newt and Demon, kneeling to his golem and issuing a series of mental instructions. He wanted to test how the creature would work on its own, moving far away from its creator and carrying out a single task. A grim part of himself knew the implications of sending a small, low-level creature out carrying a few of his bombs. It was a great tool for assassinations, but he had other ns.
The guards stayed downstairs while Theo checked on histest essence, inspecting a sample.
[Refined Limited Foresight Essence]
[Essence]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
1 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of limited foresight.
Everything was in order, and he gained a higher grade than he expected. Essences never gave away much information. Theos intuition said it could brew a standard potion, or the base reagent could extract a modifier that mirrored this essence. The name alone made his heart beat faster. He set up a simple reaction, enchanting a handful of [Iron Shavings] with his Drogramathi mana, and dipping into his barrels of [Enchanted Water]. He poured the clear essence into a 2 unit, t-bottomed vial then introduced the water and catalyst. It swirled in the vial, turning a spinning mix of gold and silver and putting off a scent like warm bread.
Theo leaned in, inspecting the unmodified potion.
[Potion of Limited Foresight]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
For 6 hours after drinking this potion, the next 4 attacks made against you will miss.
Effect:
For 6 hours, all attacks, magical or otherwise, will miss. This potion may be ovee by gross differences in levels.
Theo must have some bad lucking his way. Between the golem and this, it was too good to be true. A potion with a 6 hour duration was absurd, but one that made an attack miss no matter what? That was too good to be true. Some potions had negative effects if someone drank them back-to-back, but the alchemist couldnt get a good sense for this one. It required experimentation. He drank the potion, feeling a strange sensation spreading through his body. The potion tasted like bread, thankfully.
The brothers were chatting with Theos new shopkeeper, both striking up friendly conversation and showing off their muscles. The alchemist didnt see their physiques as impressive, especiallypared to the massive Half-Ogres, even if Salire seemed smitten.
Hit me! Theo shouted, pointing at Bal.
The brothers must have been annoyed with babysitting the alchemist all day because Bal struck out without further prompting. His fist came in with all the quickness of a seasoned adventurer rocketing at Theos face. It should have been a solid hit. Something changed, almost imperceptible. Theo couldnt tell if it was Bal who changed positions or him, but he felt the wind from the strike blow past his cheek.
What? Ral asked, blinking. Bal looked equally shocked.
Im invincible, Theo dered.
Bal took another shot, missing again. Then another, and another. Only when Theo held up his hands, asking him to stop, did the adventurer stop. He was out of charges on the potion, and would have been clocked in the face if he let Bal continue.
How? Bal asked. He had a look on his face as though Theo had just ruined his entire world. He looked down at his hands, stammering something else.
New potion, Theo said, rushing up the stairs again. The brothers followed. I have a job for you boys.
Uh, does it mean we get some of those potions?
Yes.
There were a few options for modifiers on this one. Dodging 4 attacks was good, but he could use the [Solidify] modifier to create pills, likely reducing the amount of charges to 1 or 2. [Anti-Mage] was an obvious one, likely adding some feedback for missed attacks with magic. There was also another experiment he hadnt had the time to work with, the [Suffuse Potion], but that wouldnt be useful for now. He settled on the modifier that worked more often than not, withdrawing a sk of [Refined Anti-Mage] from his inventory. He brewed another [Potion of Limited Foresight], introducing the anti-mage modifier and watching as a hint of blue was added to the swirl of silver and gold.
Theo inspected the result, giggling with excitement at the result.
[Potion of Limited Foresight]
[Anti-Mage]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
For 6 hours after drinking this potion, the next 4 attacks made against you will miss.
All magical attacks made against you will be reflected to the caster, consuming a charge.
Effect:
For 6 hours, all attacks, magical or otherwise, will miss. This potion may be ovee by gross differences in levels.
Reflects all magical attacks as long as charges exist.
The refined modifiers often produced excellent results. Instead of changing the way the potions worked, they added another effect. The brothers whistled in amazement as they inspected the potion. Even Salire came upstairs, abandoning the shop to see what all the fuss was about.
How much do you think that is worth? Theo asked, grinning at her.
Salire squinted her eyes, clearly using a skill. After a moment, she let out a breath. I cant get a read on it. No one has sold a potion like this in the area recently.
Alright, Theo said. Ill brew the rest of the batch, but were not stocking these.
What? Bal asked, scoffing. You cant tease me like that. Come on!
Theo had to exin the dangers of potions to the brothers, giving the only example he knew of. If someone used [Potions of Growth] repeatedly, their heart would suffer permanent damage. Since there was no documentation on the [Potion of Limited Foresight], he wanted to take it slow before distributing it to the town. Then he would consult with Fenian and ask his opinion on wider distribution. With perfect timing, the bell downstairs rang. A pair of heavy boots stomped up the stairs and the door swung open.
Aarok stood, drenched in mud, followed closely by a golem.
Is this your idea of a joke, Aarok said, gesturing to the amalgam of mud following him.
Theo moved over, pping his hand over the Half-Ogres shoulder and dumping some [Cleansing Scrub] over his head. I was testing my new golem.
Well, good for you! Aarok said. Why are there so many people in yourb?
Theo thrust a [Potion of Limited Foresight] into his hand and grinned. Aaroks mouth dropped open. He looked between he potion and Theo for a while before finally finding words to speak.
How much? Aarok asked.
It requires testing, Theo said, waving him off. The mud attack was another test. Sorry about that.
The golem seemed tough at that, but no sound came out. Just that squelching noise.
I volunteer, Aarok said.
Theoid out the bounds of the test to everyone who wanted to take part. They each needed to visit Zarali after consuming the potion, and couldnt take more than one every 6 hours. He wanted them to expend the charges on the potion, only after having a day where they only took 1, then take another and report to the Priestess of Drogramath. Shed be able to tell if there was anything wrong with them, and only with her approval would he distribute the potion. Each man agreed to the terms without hesitation.
Imagine, Bal said. This is going to make bosses easy.
Maybe, Theo said. But that is the future of Broken Tusk.
Everyone gave him a t look after he pointed at the golem. But the test he gave it was proof of that. The only thing he told the golem to do was to find Aarok, and stter him with mud. It was a simple task, but proved that it could go off and perform a simple, two step task. Find a target, and engage. With upgrades, better materials, and stronger monster cores, these golems could revolutionize the defense of a city. The others werent convinced, but that didnt matter.
Theo chatted with Aarok for a bit, discussing the defense of the city. Xolsa informed him they were expecting a small monster wave soon, but nothing like theyd experienced in the past. Salire went back downstairs to work the shop, as someone had just entered. After an appropriate amount of friendly chatter, the alchemist excused himself with his bodyguards. The golem came as well.
Zarali was working in her enchanting building, and Theo couldnt resist showing off his creation. She wanted him to take another skill at level 15, but was still excited to see a working Golem.
Belgar never took that skill, Zarali said, patting the creature on the head. Said it was useless.
That seemed to hurt the little guys feelings.
Well see, Theo said.
Zarali had a few insights on the creation of a [Power Core], and offered her expertise in the matter. Working with enchanting meant that she was often using a [Power Siphon], and understood their operation well. So a project that would have been just the alchemist and Throk, now included the enchanter.
Imagine tireless guardians, Theo said, letting out a wistful sigh. Just like the Elven Guardian.
Youre a dreamer, Zarali said, a smile ying across her face. You always see the best way to help the town with your creations. So youre on a different path than Belgar. Different motives.
Theo nodded, engaging in some more small talk before departing with his guards. They made the rounds once more. The alchemist watched with interest as the golem deteriorated. It began by walking sideways, then its legs crumbled to dirt, then the core expired. When he inspected the remnants of the construct, the copper cage was useless and the [Monster Core] had spent itself. He felt no sadness watching the thing die, as it wasnt really ever alive. Just an echo of an Ogre Snapper and some mana.
The afternoon wore on and Theo caught several glimpses of what Tresk was doing. They were more of vague feelings than anything, but he felt her triumph as she cleared some dungeon. She was heading back to town early as he made his way to the towns center, prepared to host the festivities. If Xam was true to her word, the feast would start soon and Perg would take a ce of honor as the winner of the festival.
Theo and his group went off course before heading to the festival. They were back out through the western gate, digging in the mud to create a few [Lesser Mud Golems]. The alchemist had to drink a few [Mana Potions] to get the job done, finding a sense of exhaustion washing over him by the fourth golem. His willpower was also stretched thinner than he expected, a problem hed have to remedyter.
The four golems went off to hide behind the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Theo nned for them to emerge after Perg arrived, hoisting her up and carrying her around to celebrate her victory. It was mostly meant as a punishment for her cheating, but he knew shed take it in stride.
Tresk arrived, giggling as she joined everyone at the rows of tables. Something of Theos n leaked out to her. She just gave him a sidelong nce, nodding her approval. When enough people were gathered, Theo started things off with a short speech.
Were here to celebrate the end of the season! he shouted, gaining a raucous response from the crowd. We partake of the bounty, provided by the swamp, and celebrate. While the winner of the festival receives no prize for their participation, they can stand tall, knowing that they didnt cheat and hide it from me for the entire time the festival happened.
Theo red at Perg. He wasnt actually angry at her and knew she thought this was good fun. Half-Ogres were hard to offend.
Im proud to announce that Perg Grott had the longest-living, and most beautiful wreath this year! Theo shouted. The crowd went wild, many peopleing over to p her on the back or give her words of encouragement. Breaking from tradition, Id like to celebrate her win with a temporary gift.
The golems emerged from behind the tavern at a thought from Theo, waddling over to Perg. She looked fearful at first.
Enjoy your time with the Mud Crew! Theo shouted.
Pergs words of objection and shrieks of anguish were drowned out by theughter of the crowd. The golems hoisted her above their heads, working as a collective to parade her around the tables. They squelched their joy for the task the entire time.
Chapter 3.26: Alran Cherman
Chapter 3.26: Alran Cherman
Theo did his best to avoid the wine served at the feast. Xam had imported a watered berry wine from Rivers and Daub. While it was likely not strong enough to affect a Half-Ogre, even by the barrel full, he still shied away from it. The celebrations carried deep into the night, even after the golems melted into mush, but the alchemist and his friends retreated to the bathhouse long before that. Luras joined them this time, taking full advantage of the private bath.
Your private room is muchrger than the others, Luras said, lowering himself into the pool. He let out a satisfied sigh. And the water is hotter.
Theo was joined by Tresk, Zarali, and Luras tonight in his private bath. Salire politely declined, staying back at the party and taking full advantage of the wine. The alchemist took the chance to grill his adoptive sister on the concept of willpower, which she was happy to share her opinions on.
Some say thats a hidden attribute, Zarali said, soaking a cloth in the water, then cing it on the top of her head. She closed her eyes as the water dribbled down her face. Youre already on the path to increase it, using your mana the way you are.
Aarok was pissed about the mud people, Luras said, shing a smile. I havent seen pranks like that in Broken Tusk in years.
I fear retaliation, Theo said.
You should, Luras said, dipping his head below the surface of the water. Tresk was just swimming around.
Willpower develops naturally, Zarali said. I have a few games you can try to increase it, but its part of your focus. Youre already a very focused person.
Theo nodded. That much was true. He often carried out mundane tasks, day after day, with no problem. His ability to focus on a task was enhanced by his attributes and cores. Zarali was of the opinion that they acted as a growth modifier for his natural willpower, meaning that they would only influence someone with an already high will.
Im interested to see what your little mud people can do, Zarali said.
Luras had surfaced already, putting in his opinion. Weapons.
That idea didnt escape me, Theo said. I dont want to say it out loud, but I could send them into a group of monsters with a bomb.
Weapons of assassination, Luras said, amending his previousment.
That too, Theo said, although he really wouldnt say that one out loud. How about tireless guardians that watch the mines. Haulers that move things from one ce to another. Fieldhands. Lumberjacks. Soldiers. They can be anything.
Ive never seen you attached to an idea like this, Luras said, settling down on a rock. You get excited about alchemy, but this? Youre going all in.
Theo was often excited about brewing potions. Histest creation, the [Potion of Limited Foresight], was unrivaled in its power. The value of such a potion was impossible to determine, not without someone like Fenian appraising the thing directly. It also wasnt difficult to brew, following the same steps as all his other potions. An unlimited supply of [Pozwa Horns] meant an unlimited supply of the rare potion, but where did potioncraft stop? Not soon, the alchemist realized with little thought. Theplexity of potions would grow only in their function, influencing different aspects of life.
These are all fanciful dreams of a rising alchemist, though. It was impossible for him to peer into the future to determine his path. Hed just follow it as it wasid before him.
So, a monster wave? Theo said, changing the subject.
Xolsa has been talking about it, Luras said.
Theo withdrew the early warning crystal from his inventory. It had been a long time since hed looked at it, but it was a deep yellow color. When the dungeons were malfunctioning, they put out a wave every week before Xolsa stopped it. The people of Broken Tusk wouldntin, though. The waves brought wealth and a massive boost to experience.
The group lounged in the bath for a long time. Zarali took to teaching Theo a few games to y with his mana. The idea was to summon the dancing mes of Drogramath, and control them to represent shapes. After that, he could focus on controlling the fire outside of his reach. The priestess disyed her aptitude, sending hundreds of balls of fire through the room, letting them dance off the water and assume various shapes. The alchemist was nowhere near that level of control, but it didnt discourage him. He could practice.
They shared small topics after practicing, never lingering on one thing for too long. The end of the season was in sight. Theo learned that each season was broken into 70 days each, meaning they had a 280 day year. The alchemist might have had his intelligence increased recently, but he couldnt figure out what that meant for the they were standing on. He dismissed the concept entirely, only concerned that the next season they faced was the Season of Fire.
If this worlds equal to spring was hot, their summer would be even worse. Theo had an idea, early in his residency in Broken Tusk, for a cooling system. With increased ess to both artifices and reagents, he had another idea entirely. Why not hook the entire town up with central cooling? Throk could whip something like that up in an afternoon. The alchemist didnt dare share his ideas, fearing the retribution of his friends. They would make fun of him for chasing the next, newest thing in his mind.
When Theo and Tresk returned to the Newt and Demon, they descended into the Dreamwalk. The Marshling was immediately disappointed when he used his new potion, tilting the scales against her once again. She was even less impressed when he made mud bodyguards. With any thought of attacking him out of her mind, she left him alone that night. This gave him enough time to practice and experiment with his new skill.
The first thing he discovered was hiscking technique. [Alchemy Constructs] was more an art of putting pieces together than a linear process like standard alchemy. Golems were a puzzle. From the [Monster Cores] Theo had seen, cores he could replicate in the Dreamwalk, each had a unique personality. Goblin cores just wanted to fight, monsterized animals were good atbor, and each specific core held quirks. Theo learned the importance of a good containment core.
Containment cores werent just things that held the [Monster Core] in ce. They were the beating heart of the golem, and when he brought them to life he noticed small changes depending on how he injected his mana. Without his practice on the subject, the constructs would have been useless. Several hours into studying, he injected too much mana into a construct and it exploded. The force of the explosion would have killed him if he wasnt in the Dreamwalking realm.
The amount of mana injected into the thing didnt matter as much as where he injected it. Theo was effectively infusing the metal cages with mana, which acted as the spark of life. When he experimented with the different shaped cages, he noticed a massive change in the golems behavior.
Look at this, Theo said,ying a few cages out for Tresk to see. She was taking a break from fighting, changing the scene from the exterior of Broken Tusk to the bathhouse.
Some are moreplex, she observed, pointing between the cages.
Throks cages had flourishes and points of significance. Small images that stood out among the repeating patterns. His apprentices metal cages were simple things, holding none of the interesting parts. Those cages with more intricate patterns created stronger constructs thatsted longer. The iron cages held the form together for twice as long as the copper ones, and Theo suspected Drogramathi Iron would double that number. His instincts said silver cages would be even better, as the precious metals were often excellentponents.
Theo went through his list of theories with Tresk, centering on a few simple observations. Since she saw them as useful tools, she was happy to share her opinion. They spent an hour going over ways to improve the design of the cages,ing to an interesting conclusion.
The cage uses mana to bind the will of the dead monster, Theo said, pointing at his example sinking to the bottom of the bath. Thats the things brain. Its making pathways based on howplex the cage is.
Whats the best way to make something smarter? Tresk asked, grinning.
Theo pointed between Tresk and himself. Give it two brains.
Then the n formed in a logical pattern. Two cages, one surrounding the other, of various shapes. Eachbination would provide unique attributes and it gave him a clear path forward for integrating external power supplies. The cages could hold a power core, a siphon, and a power to mana converter all inside the golem. That would increase the price of each construct, but it should extend their life. During his testing, he learned that if he fed the cage mana, it extended the life of the construct.
All this experimentation highlighted how valuable the Dreamwalk was. He was getting experience for his cores, learning new things, and testing everything in a safe environment, never fearing a horrible reaction. He spent the rest of his time that night in the Dreamwalk working on the golem problem, intending to bring an additional request to Throk.
Despite his excitement, Theo thought better than to eat his breakfast in theb like a recluse. Tresk joined him at the Marsh Wolf Tavern to enjoy more Pozwa omelets. The Marshling retold her adventures in the dungeons, stating once again that shed gone deeper than ever before. It wasnt a lie, even if shed been to thest room of the dungeon several times. While the [Swamp Dungeon] wasnt growing as fast as it had been, it was still expanding downward every day, gathering strength. The adventurers of Broken Tusk just saw it as a chance to earn a ton of money.
Breakfast was pleasant. Xams tea tasted better every day, somehow gaining an edge of sweetness against the bitter [Moss Nettle]. The peace of the morning was broken when Alise came scrambling over, her hair stered to her face with sweat. Her eyes were wild, but Theo could sense that she was being overly dramatic.
Council, she said, heaving breaths. Alran Cherman. Rivers. Town Hall.
It was easy enough to piece together that information. Alran Cherman was a Mercantile Chair from Rivers and Daub. Some towns in the kingdom worked on a system of representation from the highest-earners, something Theo hated. He nodded to his Lady Administrator, then to Tresk. Thest time they were here, they tried to kill him. The Marshling vanished, and he could feel her rushing to find Aarok and Luras. Broken Tusks guard would go on high alert while the meeting took ce.
Theo drank a [Potion of Limited Foresight].
Alran was a portly man. He wore the same ruffled robes and ostentatious hat as Fenian, a hat that Theo now wore as his [Plume of Defiance], but he didnt wear it well. He was a Human with a balding mop of curly hair, round features and beady eyes. Still, despite his appearance he made good on their trade deal. Alran stood outside of the town hall, hands on his hips with his guards close by.
You have a town hall, now? Finally catching up, Alran said, sneering. He adjusted his expression immediately, coughing into his hand and dropping the act. We have dire news to discuss.
Theo ushered him inside, taking him to a back room on the second floor of their new building. He would normally send a private message to Tresk with instructions on what to do, but he could feel her lurking in the shadows of the back room,pletely hidden in the corner.
Luras is outside. Bals boys are running patrol. Zarali is weaving some magic thing. Youre good, bud, Tresk said.
The room the pair entered had a long table with chairs on either side. It was odd when the two of them sat on opposite sides of the table. At least the view outside of the window was good.
Have you received word from your contact in Qavell? Alran asked.
Theo ran his fingers through his hair, tracing the ridges of his horns. That was alwaysforting. His tail poked out from the open-back chair, swishing like a cat ready to pounce. He could put together enough information from the frantic look on Alrans face. Enough to know bad things wereing.
Sounds like were screwed, Theo said, steepling his fingers and leaning in. My contact refused to give me more information. Just some nonsense about being thankful we have a kingdom.
Alran let out a steady breath, smacking his palms against his face. When his cheeks were sufficiently red, he looked Theo right in the eyes. Ive sent word to Gronro-Dir. We need to have a meetingevery power in the soutnds.
Im interested, Theo said, grinning at the shocked expression on Alrans face. The Chair thought this was supposed to be hard, but it was what Broken Tusk wanted. An alliance of the soutnds. I dont know whats happening in Qavell, though.
War. And worse, Alran said. My spiesyes, I have spiesreport bad news on the Veostian front.
Were losing the war? Theo asked.
Handily, Alran said. He withdrew a length of cloth from his inventory and wiped his brow. Why the king started it to begin with is anyones guess. We had good borders. A delicate line cut by the spine. I live here. You live there. No one wants the damn cursed mountains.
Theo leaned back in his chair. Alran was being too open with his information. If he had spies, he could feed Theo information any time he wanted. The only conclusion was that this was indeed very dire. Still, any overt action against the south would take ages and they werent a big target. Which meant Alran was still hiding something. A bigger threat. The alchemist filed the information away. It wouldnt serve him in this discussion.
Its suspicious, right? Theo asked. The cultists rebellion. Qavell makes war, and they rise. Then, the Mercantile Chairs of the city get their heads lopped off. Whatever forcees for us will break on Gronro-Dir.
If they donte from the sea, Alran said, scoffing.
Im working on that, Theo said. Broken Tusk is happy to offer supplies to Gronro-Dir when the timees. Money, weapons, potions, whatever they need. I have a question. What can you provide?
Theo knew the answer before Alran spoke. He was just trying to poke the sweating merchant.
Food. Wine. Textiles. Adventurers, if theyre needed, Alran said, puffing himself up. Dont take me for a fool, Theo. I made one mistake, but Im not so arrogant to think Rivers and Daub can weather this alone. Weve had enough problems with the monster waves.
That struck Theo in the heart, though. Broken Tusk was responsible for the monster waves, in a way. But he wouldnt apologize and look weak. He was trying to put things in ce, make sure everyone knew where they stood.
Broken Tusk is the industry, youre the farm, and Gronro-Dir is the sword and shield, Theo said, nodding to the man. Were already enjoying a fantastic trade rtionship. Theres no reason to hurt that. An alliance. Three small towns against a kingdom, sounds good to me.
Theo reached out to shake the merchants hand. Alran was dumbfounded, sputtering his objections. He never expected Broken Tusk to agree so easily.
Surely there should be stiptions, Alran said.
Of course, Theo said, shrugging. But were not negotiating here. Not without Murder Passage at the table.
Please dont call it that, Alran said, going white in the face.
Theo and Alran agreed on basic terms, but nothing went into writing. They established an agreement tomunicate at least every other day, sharing whatever information they had. Broken Tusk had little to offer in that realm. The thing that really reeled Alran in was a promise for decreased prices for everyone in the alliance.
Well, now Im very interested, Alran said, smiling for the first time since he got into the small, hot room.
Theo rarely talked to other leaders in this world. He had a few questions lingering in his mind.
Has Rivers ever thought of breaking from the kingdom? Theo asked.
Many times, Alran said. As has Gronro-Dir. I suppose Ill give you a history lesson, if youll have it.
Please, do, Theo said, gesturing to the man.
Alran withdrew a wineskin from his inventory, as well as two cups. He poured one for himself and one for Theo, sliding it across the table. The alchemists advanced senses for alchemical meddling told him it was a simple berry wine, nothing untoward.
After Balkors Betrayal, almost everyone on the continent was dead, Alran started, drinking deeply from his cup. Theo did as well, finding it to be pleasantly sweet and tart in equal measure. ntheir stitched it back together at great expense, defying the other gods. The survivors rebuilt. Ogres sailed, however they sailed, from grot, settling in the southern marshes. Broken Tusk. Settlers came from the north, joining with those Ogres to create the Half-Ogres we know today. Then Qavell was formed. They pushed south, conquering every town along the way. It didnt matter how small the town was, they nted their [Town Seed Cores] and reaped the taxes.
Alran paused for a long moment, leaning forward. My family has lived here since Balkors Betrayal. Almost one thousand years of history, and the kingdom paved it in a month. Weve never enjoyed upation. The curious thing about freedom from these shackles? The price goes up every time we try to pay.
Theo let out a steadying breath. Grub, his contact in the city, always seemed to push him away from the idea of the Duke title. If the kingdom was doing this to Rivers and Daub from the start, what hope was there for Broken Tusk to get out from under their thumb.
I hold no grudge against Qavell, Theo said. But if their ashes mean the growth of a new power, the southern alliance of towns, then Ill dly watch it crumble.
Alran held his ss out, toasting the sentiment.
Well work on the name, Alran said.
Chapter 3.27: Lodestones
Chapter 3.27: Lodestones
Alrans sudden appearance in Broken Tusk sent shockwaves through the town. News traveled fast, even as the town grewrger. As Theo and Alran exited the town hall, the concept of an alliance was the only thing hanging on anyones lips. The alchemist gave a brief tour of the town and brought the Mercantile Chair to do business the way Broken Tuskers did. Atop the eastern wall, overlooking both the Elven Guardian and the nearlypleted bridge.
I was surprised to see a new bridge, Alran said, withdrawing afortable chair from his inventory. Theo sat atop the crentions.
Weve been busy, Theo said. What surprises me more than anything, is that you came alone.
I have my guards, Alran said.
Theos mind had shiftedpletely on Rivers and Daub. He didnt appreciate their duplicitous nature, but he understood where they wereing from. Some people needed to be shown power to understand where they stood. With a shortage of high-level people in the south, this was easy for Broken Tusk to do. Now they sat on the wall as equals, scheming against amon enemy. That brought enemies together, after all.
Yet Im suddenly worried about your safety, Theo said, letting out a sigh.
How kind, Alran said tly.
There were several steps they could take immediately to improve their rtionship with Rivers. The trade deal was a good start, but it wasnt the firm bedrock the alchemist wanted to seal the alliance together.
A road, Theo said, gesturing beyond the safety of his gates.
Every road from Broken Tusk to Rivers and Daub was packed dirt. Conditions were worse at the start of the Season of Blooms when the endless rains came to ruin it all. A sturdy road was a way to decrease the time for travel between the settlements. It would have a practical use, but also a philosophical one.
Alran wiped his brow again. I didnt expect you to receive me so well.
I want to squeeze you for cash, Theo said, grinning. Well, youll want to use my port, and Ill charge your people for the privilege.
A port? Alran said, ignoring Theos snidement. Honestly? That would We wouldnt need Qavell. Not for a damn thing. We could sail to Veosta, The Khahari, grot, or even Tarantham.
That was my idea, Theo said. A fleet of merchant ships, and perhaps a small military navy.
We would dly pay the fee. Whatever it was, Alran said.
Roads first, Theo said. Once my guys figure out how to make bridges, theyre going to build my harbor. Then we can work on the roads, and talk about boats.
Theo and Alran went back and forth after that, discussing the best way to prepare for the future. Their thoughts both centered on the idea of a harbor on the eastern shores of the continent. It wasnt enough to build it. They needed to get the word out that it was functional and ready for travelers. Adventurers woulde from other powers in the world to explore the local dungeons, strike trade deals, and experience the once-dead continent. All this talk got the Chair excited.
Aarok came at Theos request, joining him on the wall. The alchemist requested an escort for the chair, all the way back to Rivers and Daub. The Guildmaster saw how dire the expression on Theos face was, assigning some of the best adventurers and paying out of the Adventurers Guilds private funds.
Traveling from Broken Tusk to Rivers could take as much as a day, if you moved as slow as a normal person. But once a person pumped points into [Dexterity] and [Vigor], that journey would take far less time. Aarok expected them to return by the end of the day, but issued secret orders for some spying. Alran would expect that, though, and Theo hoped the Chair was smart enough to give them a tour.
Once everything was sorted and the Chair was on his way back to Rivers and Daub, Tresk joined Theo to inspect the progress on the bridge. ording to her, their first few attempts were horrible. It copsed twice in one day, and three times the next. Their current iteration of bridgework held enough for someone to cross the wide river, and showed no signs of copsing. Still, the alchemist kept his distance as he spoke with Ziz.
There were moreborers than before. Ziz normally worked with 4 of his friends on stoneworking jobs, but there were twice as many working on the bridge. Everyone was expanding their teams, and for good reason. They were all stretched thin as the town grew more rapidly than they could keep up with. Still, they were excited with the idea of working on a road, promising their skills would expand afterpleting the harbor.
Theo returned to town and had a short meeting with his people. Aarok, Luras, Alise, Azrug, and Tresk all attended. They shared the alchemists feelings on the future of the town, wishing for nothing more than to get closer with their neighbors. Alise took the opportunity tomand the room and give a full report of administrative concerns. Azrug gave a half-hearted report on their finances, looking as though he was tired from the task. Heavy bags sat under his eyes and he slurred his words as though he were about to fall asleep at any moment.
Alise advised he hired administrators to help.
Theo was happy to escape with his sanity. Any more meetings in the day would have worn him down, draining his mental stamina to nothing. There was much to do in the town, more than the alchemist could handle in a single day. Without the ever-growing support structure, he wouldnt get any of his alchemy done.
Bal and his brothers didnt show up to shadow Theo, and a part of him missed them. They were all off testing his newest potion, likely in a dungeon, and Tresk was confident enough to leave the alchemist to his own workings for the day. He had several hours left on his [Potion of Limited Foresight], so that might have helped ease the Marshlings concerns. All the meeting with Alran and concern about Grubs grim message had his mind shooting in every direction. Only when things got stressful did he find the inspiration to move past a hard problem.
Theo made his way back to Ziz and his workers, finding a nice spot by the river to sit and withdrawing a journal. He wrote everything hed learned about constructs. Since the Drogramathi Dronon didnt seem to care about doing it, hed be happy to take up the mantle. Once he was done writing his high-level thoughts, he added a section about power systems.
Its easy, Theo said. A worker hade over to see what he was doing, sitting there by a pile of chipped stone. Why bother with aplex power system?
What? theborer.
Imagine if you had your [Stonecutters Core], but you needed another ss to cut the stone, Theo said, withdrawing a marble tablet from his inventory. That wouldnt make sense. Production chains are fine, but it''s nonsense if a ss cant produce the base materials for crafting. What is the most pure concentration of mana I have?
Uh, theborer said, scratching his head. Potions?
Exactly! Well, almost exactly, Theo said, withdrawing a sk of [Mana Essence] from his inventory. Filling the core of a construct costs somewhere around 40 mana. This essence has about 100 potential mana. He produced a ssware tray, setting his stone tablet inside and then pouring the essence over it. This is my power system. Alchemy. Makes sense, right?
Wait, is power mana?
No, mana is mana. Power turns into mana, Theo said, rolling his shoulders. I misspoke. The golems run on mana. So they can recharge themselves by inserting these tablets into themselves.
Theo withdrew the tablet from the essence with a pair of alchemically neutral tongs. He held it up, letting the excess drip off before inspecting the new item.
[Mana Construct]
[Alchemy Construct] [Mana System]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Infuse an object with mana. Can be used as a disposable power system.
Material:
Stone (Perfect Quality)
Effect:
Holds 150 unaligned mana points. Distribution rate and total capacity limited by quality of materials. Tablet will break after all mana is expended. Cannot be recharged.
A bit moreplex than I expected, Theo said, reading the description a few times.
Severalborers hade over to check out what Theo was doing, but he did have a point. The amount of mana he infused into the golem was 40 points or so, which revealed a w in his strategy. He could keep dumping mana into the golem to keep it alive, or shove a [Mana Construct] inside, which would allow for longer operations. If the [Monster Core] was advanced enough, he could even tell the golems to refuel themselves. All of this for a few units of [Mana Essence]. He imagined mud golems running around with little essence tanks on their backs, but pushed the thought away.
The mostplex containment core Throk had made so far was a single iron cage,ced with intricacies. Theo selected that one for his newest experiment, and a level 10 Fald [Monster Core]. Next, he set the assembly on the ground and shoved a pile of chipped stone over it, watching as the marble attached itself to the new core. He introduced enough mana, then ordered the creature to life.
A stone golem rose, assembling itself from the various chunks of marble strewn around the site of the bridge. It formed a rudimentary face, but still held the stunted limbs of the mud golem. Theo handed over the [Mana Construct], which the golem shoved in its chest, then inspected his newest creation.
[Lesser Stone Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 10
Stone is considered the most practical medium in golem construction. Stone golems are hard working, durable constructs.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)
Medium: [Enriched Swamp Mud]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
There were manybinations Theo could use in golem construction. This seemed suited for work near the river, since the core came from the amphibious Fald. The addition of the [Mana Construct] gave him the sense that it wouldst for about a day before losing power. His only problem with the thing was the added mental strain. It was harder to keep his willpower around the level 10 [Monster Core], but a solution for that itched in the back of his mind.
Say hello to your new helper, Theo said, patting the rocky creation on the head.
Hello, Ziz said, poking his head out from behind the bridge. The golem waved back under Theosmand.
The construct operated by Theos will, not verbalmands. Still, it felt better to issue orders to the little guy out loud.
Stick around here and do whatever Ziz tells you to do, Theo said. When youre low on mana,e back to the Newt and Demon. Theres going to be a crate outside with more [Mana Constructs]. Exchange your current one and discard the other. When Ziz is done working, patrol the mines and kill the monsters that spawn. Understood?
The golem nodded, but Theo made him do that. He could sense the constructs willingness to take orders, but that was the limit. The alchemist had given a few too many orders, which were pared down to a more simple set of instructions. Then, it turned to Ziz and waited.
So, I just tell it what to do? Ziz asked.
You can think of it as a he, if it helps, Theo said. But, yes. Just give him verbalmands.
Ziz didnt hesitate. He ordered the golem to pick up a heavy stone block, carry it to the far side of the bridge, then set it down. Impressed enough with the work, the stonecutters started shouting orders at the stone golem one after the other. Theo left them to have fun, feeling a thread of willpower trailing behind him as he went. The problem of maintaining his will over the constructs was easy enough to solve, although he didnt know how he knew. He made a note of that.
It waster in the day than he liked, but Theo made his daily offering and went down to tend his garden. A lot of the work came down to weeding the nts. Anything he was cultivating just sat there, getting rented every few days. Then, when something was fully cultivated, it was easy enough to just cut away a part of the nt for future growing, and save the rest. It seemed like the perfect mindless task for golems. The only problem was that strand of willpower, floating off toward the bridge.
I need help, Theo said, standing awkwardly after Zarali opened her door. He saw she was working on some enchanting task, but dropped what she was doing.
Certainly! she said, pping him on the back. Construct troubles?
I thought you were the best person to ask about this, Theo said. Im looking for a way to take the mental strain off of so many constructs.
Zarali smiled. She pulled a jewel-tipped hairpin from her hair and handed it over. It was made of copper, tipped with a purple gem on the end.Theo inspected the device.
[Decorative Lodestone]
[Cosmetic Lodestone] [Enchanting Equipment]
Rare
Created by: Zarali
Grade: Perfect Quality
A lodestone acts as a focus point for a persons willpower. Issue amand to the lodestone, which will be repeated to attached artifices, devices, creatures, etc, who ept will-basedmands.
How much does this help? Theo asked.
From what you described, this couldnt handle a single golem, Zarali said. Right when Theo wondered why she even brought it up, she continued. But I can make a bigger one. I use them to split my concentration between enchanting tasks, especially ones that require my full attention.
For someone who had no experience with constructs, she seemed to work in an adjacent field to what he was using. Constructs seemed like an alchemists solution to artifices, although using Throks craft to create autonomous workers was a far off dream. Golems fell into a strange category of magical devices, halfway between an artifice and a potion. As strange as that was.
Zarali invited Theo into herb, crossing the room to retrieve gemstones. What type of mana are you using?
Unaligned, Theo said. Im powering them with essences, now.
Arent you clever? Zarali said, withdrawing a handful of gems. Come up with that one on your own?
I did, Theo said, feeling some amount of pride. The golems ept [Mana Essence] infused marble tes.
Very clever, Zarali said. She closed her eyes and the green gems melted. She poured them onto the ground and it rose up like molten ss dripping in the wrong direction, forming a thin pir of gemstone. Theo inspected the result, but it was close enough to the one Zarali had to do the same thing.
[Large Ornamental Lodestone]
[Cosmetic Lodestone] [Enchanting Equipment]
Rare
Created by: Zarali
Grade: Perfect Quality
A lodestone acts as a focus point for a persons willpower. Issue amand to the lodestone, which will be repeated to attached artifices, devices, creatures, etc, who ept will-basedmands.
Come, Ill show you how it works, Zarali said.
The instation of the device was simple. Zarali asked him where he wanted the golems to work, and she drove the lodestone into the ground near his greenhouses. Then, they went off to form 2 [Lesser Mud Golems]. Theo used a level 10 [Monster Core] from an Ogre Snapper, and iron containment cores. He didnt want to go forward into using theplex version of the cores he had in mind, sticking to the ones that worked. 2 golems rose from the mud outside the western gate, stretching the alchemists will to its limit.
Theo led the group back to his new lodestone where Zarali instructed him on binding them there.
Were going to infuse your will into the gems, Zarali said. It was hard for Theo to pay attention, but he managed.
Zarali went through the steps to bind his will, and it was easy enough. He held the lodestone, feeling something of himself pass into the pir of green gems. Then, he transferredmand of the golems to the lodestone, feeling that thread of will lightening. He took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The longer he was attached to so many higher-level golems, the harder it was for him to focus. It was as though someone pulled a curtain over his consciousness, but freedom from that burden felt like a relief.
Instead of the three threads of will flowing from him, there were only two. One going to the bridge construct, and one to the lodestone.
That helped, right? Zarali asked.
A lot, Theo said.
When you want to issuemands, or change currentmands, just send it to the lodestone, Zarali said. Make sure your [Power Siphon] is on in theb. The lodestone should be able to reach it from here. Perhaps anywhere in town.
Only Zarali would offer to do something like this for free. Theo bound his will to the lodestone, giving his new creations a simple series of instructions. He didnt want toplicate things, so he would have them weed the gardens and pick reagents outside of the greenhouses. The alchemist set up a few [Dimensional Storage Crates] for them to deposit their findings in, and another for them to withdraw [Mana Constructs]. He then tended to his reagents, all while the Drogramath Priestess watched and chatted.
Each greenhouse wasing along nicely. Hed have 100% cultivated reagents soon, even as he was pushing for the new goal of 200%. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was climbing toward that goal, but it was slow. Considering all these things, the alchemist felt good about the day. Without the need to judge wreaths, he was free to pursue whatever he wanted. There was a lot of work to do.
Chapter 3.28: Fenians Hallowed Ground
Chapter 3.28: Fenian''s Hallowed Ground
Theo was done with his greenhouses for the day. He made a list of things he could do for the rest of the day, finding himself falling into a familiar trap. He put too much on his own te too often, drowning in work. Perhaps it was some self-imposed feature of the body he inhabited, preventing him from doing too much alchemy and out-leveling his [Tarahek] core. Nothing would seem strange by now, not even something as a created fate.
It was easy to let those concerns fall away. With properties to discover, various experiments to conduct, and a town to run he wasnt short on tasks. Fenian had already left, but there were still potions to brew. After discovering the [Mana Construct], Theo felt a sudden urge to get some [Manashrooms] cultivated. There was room enough in his mushroom cave, as the truffles had taken to the cultivation process slowly. He stopped by the bridge, borrowing his [Lesser Stone Golem] and heading off for the cave that held the mana mushroom.
This was a precaution, though. Adventurers had been regrly clearing the cave out, often harvesting the mushrooms themselves. When Theo approached, there was no sight of the strange insectoids anywhere. But the golem was aforting presence. The alchemist sent the construct in, not willing to risk himself for anything. It found a patch of the pulsating blue mushrooms quickly, bringing it back to him with an infectious eagerness. He stuffed the mushrooms away and dismissed the golem on his way back to theb. Ziz would be happy to get his helper back.
Against Theos expectations, the [Swamp Truffle] had taken up most of the cave. He had to dig through the beds to retrieve them, only their leathery caps sticking out. He culled almost all of them, selecting a few to go on to the next generation. The [Spontaneous Spores] expansion for the [Mycology Cave] would have been the culprit for their expansion, but he needed room for the [Manashrooms]. After dashing a bottle of [Aerosolized] [Lesser Potion of Growth] against the ground, he left them to grow.
[Hallow Ground] was an interesting property. If a person were fighting the undead, they needed the potion. Thats what Theo determined by Fenians intent. He inspected an old potion he made, something that seemed to have little use at the time.
[Lesser Hallow Ground Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a twenty pace circle around themselves with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the circle, but will be banished when they do so.
It wasnt up to his current standards for potion making. If this came out at the end of a distition process now, hed throw it out. That bit of Zarali bled into him more as the days went on.
Theo had a few tasks to aplish with what little of the day remained. It was midday, but he had enough time to run some tests. His top priority was to get a better version of the [Hallow Ground Potion], and figure out the best modifier pairing for it. He assumed Fenian was delving ruins in Gardreth and needed to keep the undead horrors away from him, so a few modifiers came to mind. [Aerosolize] would likely make the effect a gas cloud, instead of a circle. [Web] would make it target fewer undead, while having an increased effect. [Decay], [Anti-Mage], and [Sear] might all be useful, but it was hard to tell without experimentation.
The alchemist started as he did with most things by sending it through the stills. While he let that work, he bolstered his supply of the moremon modifiers. With the stills all running at full capacity, [Power Siphon] humming ominously, and fermentation barrels bubbling, theb was getting too hot. The idea of a cooling system was pushing itself to the forefront of his mind.
The crates within theb were scattered with so many abandoned experiments, as well as leftovers from sieges. At a point, Theo craftedrge amounts of [Basic Freezebombs] tobat the monster waves. He was left with several units of [Freeze Essence]. It was low-quality, unrefined essence, but it worked perfectly fine for experimentation. The alchemist consulted his mental notes, physical notes, and his copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy before proceeding to experiment. [Freeze Essence] didnt make a standard potion, but his intuition said it could make what hebeled as detergent-style potions.
Thinking about it, marking them in his mind as detergents wasnt urate. It was just the mostmon use for the technique, even if Pergs tannery relied on a stripping solution made from the same method. It was toote to change the name now, so he went forward with the experiment.
The ratio of water to essence followed the standard hed seen before, a tenth of a unit of essence to 5 units of water. It would have been nearly impossible for a normal person to get the amounts right, but that was a strength of his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] he often overlooked. He measured it down to the exact tenth of a unit, watching as the water formed tiny ice crystals. But it didnt freeze, and a new solution was created. He inspected the result.
[Freeze Solution]
[Cooling Agent]
Umon
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Apply to dramatically lower the temperature of anything.
Effect:
Apply enough solution to freeze an object, person, monster, etc.
Theo poured a drop of the solution on the ground without waiting, or thinking, about the consequences. Almost nothing happened. The spot where the solution made contact got rather cold, but it didnt produce the magical effect he expected. Hisb wasnt miraculously cooled in moments, which was disappointing. He poured most of the 5 unit solution out on the ground, only gaining frozen floorboards for his efforts. The alchemist took physical notes on this discovery, underlining Throks name three times before moving on.
Air conditioning worked somehow back on Earth. It had something to do with blowing air over something cold, then cycling that through a building. Theo never paid attention to the way things worked, leaving him to riddle it out with his current knowledge. He settled on the idea of an artifice to blow air over copper tubes filled with his [Freeze Solution]. Throk would have more insight on the matter, and he moved on to inspect his distilling [Swamp Truffles]. Enough of the essence had brewed out for him to run a test on the [Refined Hallow Ground Essence].
Theos new sense for alchemy let him know this essence could be brewed in two different ways. The first was the drinkable version, while the second would be a bomb that held a simr effect. He made one of each and examined them individually.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the circle, but will be banished when they do so.
An increase in the effectiveness of a potion was standard for a jump to the second tier. Theo was disappointed it didnt gain an additional effect, but it made for a more powerful base to apply modifiers. He examined the bomb version, the only difference in their creation being the intent while brewing. A better vessel for the vtile bomb helped as well.
[Hallow Ground Bomb]
[Bomb]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Shatter against a target, or surface, to inflict damage to undead targets.
Effect:
Shattering this bomb against an undead target will inflict scaling damage based on the quality of this bomb.
It was different enough to be useful, but hard to judge. Theo had never faced down undead creatures, but they must have been hard to deal with. It was a passing interest, and he moved on to selecting the best modifiers for the potion version. The bomb could wait until he consulted with someone familiar with undead monsters. Instead of going for the modifiers that made sense, he first went for the ones that didnt to rule them out. The alchemist applied the green-yellow [Surge] modifier essence to the potion, transferring it into a 4 unit vial. He examined the result after the smoke cleared, tilting his head to appreciate the vent that finally worked.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Surge]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to send off a pulse of power that forces undead to flee.
Effect:
All undead within your line of sight have a 50% chance to flee, based on the user''s mana. If any of the undead targets within your line of sight have a greater value of mana, every undead resists the effects.
This potion fell into the category of potions that were tooplicated for Theo to understand. He knew what it did, based on his knowledge and the description, but couldnt tell if it was useful. A mage who used this could cause fields of undead to flee, turning the tide in a battle where the undead forces outnumbered defenders. He decided it was a good potion, and set it aside to show Fenian.
Next up was a more powerful modifier, the [Refined Anti-Mage] essence. The description on this modifier imed it would often add another modifier, thanks to his alignment bonus. This additional modifier was the reason Tresks poisons were so powerful. He introduced the liquids, inspecting the result.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Refined Anti-Mage]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the circle, but will be banished when they do so.
All undead within the radius of the circle will have all their mana sapped, granting it to the target.
All undead within the radius of the circle will be silenced from spellcasting for an hour.
There it was. The overpowered potion Theo expected from the [Anti-Mage] property. It didnt mention the level of the undead target, which meant this would cancel the efforts of any undead magic user. The only problem he could see with it was a person had to be close enough to use the potion. That was enough to level the ying field, but a thought stuck in his mind. He hadnt considered the undead wielding magic.
The [Decay] modifier refused to bind to a [Hallow Ground Potion], as did [Sear]. Theo ran down the list of his modifiers, creating many duds and leaving only the best for less. Best was a rtive term though, because the modifiers he applied were [Web], [Aerosolize], and [Embolden]. [Embolden] had created effects that would kill the user, if they didnt know what they were doing. He avoided it for that reason, but Fenian was clearly looking for effective weapons.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Embolden]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Emboldened Hallow Ground] effect. The imbiber must overpower the will of each undead, in session. Failure to overpower will result in the users mind joining the undeads collective. Sess will put those undead affected under the users control.
Yep, Theo said, nodding to himself. Thats absolutely horrifying.
He sealed the knowledge away in his mind, drawing the potion in his inventory to destroyter. Things like this didnt need to see the light of day. Only a desperate idiot would try to use the potion. Theo knew from controlling the golems, the [Lesser Stone Golem] still sapping his will, how difficult it was to maintain control. He inspected the [Aerosolize] potion next.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Aerosolize]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Shatter to create a cloud of denial.
Effect:
Throwing this potion creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the cloud, but will be banished when they do so.
[Aerosolize] was predictable, and Theo was satisfied with the results. It took the base potion and made it a bomb, which was fantastic. Hed need to modifier the container, as every t-bottomed vial he created was unnaturally strong. When the alchemist used the [ssware Artifice], he could specify the strength of the vials. Now he had a reference point for most of the modifiers, but he moved on to inspect thest one. [Web] was often a great modifier, and he was disappointed he didnt have any [Refined Web] on hand. The alignment effect was enough to make it worth it, but these were baseline tests.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Web]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a web of denial.
Effect:
Imbibing this potion creates a web of denial, applying the [Hallow Ground Web] effect to the nearest 20 targets. Undead, ghost, etc creatures will be banished when touched by strands of the web. Targets afflicted with [Hallow Ground Web] will receive the effect of [Hallow Ground] when the [Web] modifier expires.
That was moreplicated than Theo expected. 20 targets were bound by a web, and any undead that touched the web would be banished. Theo didnt know what banished meant, but that didnt matter. He could imagine a field of undead, all crossing over the web to get banished. That was good enough for him, and he let out a breath.
Theo fell back into a chair, wiping his brow with a cloth. The heat didnt bother him much, but theb was sweltering. Even with the window open, it wasnt enough to stave off the fading sun outside. The Season of Fire was going to be rough if he didnt get his air conditioning idea working. Then there was the new project he promised himself to, the road. Something in his chest sang praises for that idea, but it would be expensive. He should have hammered out a better deal with Alran before he left, something like financial support.
While he always thought solitude would fit him well, Theo was going stir crazy. It was only a few hours since hed talked to a person, but theck of constant conversation was getting to him. It fell with his schedule to check in on citizens, though. With his [Hallow Ground] issue sorted, the only thing he needed to do with alchemy was wait for his gardens to grow. Then hed experiment with cultivated attribute-enhancement essences. He slipped downstairs and found Salire haggling with a customer. The alchemist watched the process.
Azrug was a natural at squeezing coin out of people. The man, a Human, was arguing with his new Half-Ogre shopkeeper. She seemed meek when Theo saw her before, but here in her element she was fierce. When the man asked for an absurdly low price, the cost of potions skyrocketed. When he asked her to include something to sweeten the pot, she took it away. Theo could tell he was giving her a hard time, and felt a swell of pride when she refused to budge. They came to terms after a while.
Impressive, Theo said, moving to p his hand on her shoulder. She blushed.
Sorry you had to see that, Salire said. Traveling adventurers are a certain breed.
Where was he from?
Some no-name town west of Qavell, Salire said, cing the coins shed made for the day on the counter. 10 gold for the pot. Were doing good so far. Just keep my shelves stocked.
Theo withdrew a few unmodified [Healing Potions] from his inventory and helped her restock the shelves. It wasnt a great offering, but it would do to hold people over.
Just take whatever you need from the shops coffers, Theo said, waving her away. She was trying to give the money to him, but he wanted it to stay in the shop. Use the cash to buy stuff from traders. Youll get a lot of experience that way.
Salire put her hands on her hips, her face hardening for once.
How are you in business? she asked.
This isnt my primary money-generating venture, Theo said. This is just where I train new merchants.
Sheughed at that.
Still, I might rob your funds at any moment. Make sure you have enough to live on, but try investing the coin, Theo said. Azrug did well that way.
He still has 100 gold here, Salire said.
Yeah, and I bet he spent 500 on the gear he stocked, Theo said. I just dont want to worry about the shop. I want you to run it, if Azrug isnting back.
He seems very busy, Salire said, her gaze drifting off to the front of the store. Well, if youre taking requests
Im not.
I need some attribute potions, and more of those healing pills, Salire said.
People like the pills? Theo asked.
People love the pills, Salire corrected. I only know because they keep asking for them.
Theo sent a mentalmand to his lodestone outside. His golems were currently searching for whatever they could find, but he reced that instruction with another. Hemanded them to find more [Marsh Tubers], a knotted root that created the [Solidify] modifier essence. He sensed they knew what he meant, leading him to believe they had some of his cores abilities. The alchemist produced his [Mana Essence] and marble tablets and created more [Mana Constructs] for his golems. Salire watched on with curiosity in her eyes.
How do you like it here? Theo asked.
Its weird, Salire said, shrugging. At least she was honest. I heard you havent been the mayor for more than a season. And before you, it was a destitute ce.
Seems like part of someones n, Theo said. If you could answer the question of who created that n, you can have all my gold.
Drogramath? Salire asked.
Maybe, Theo said. Maybe not. Say, what do you know about coin pressing?
Salire knew more about minting coins than Theo expected. She corrected him immediately, letting him know there was more than one method to make currency. Gronro-Dir had their own mint, but they used an upgrade that allowed them to pour metal into a mold. He picked her brain for a while, feeling bold now that he knew a close neighbor was creating money.
They do it for the prestige, Salire said with a defeated shrug. Theyre lucky if they get 10 silver in a week, but I guess that wont be a problem here. You take a breath and get a lungful of Drogramaths power.
Theo nodded. Now he just needed the seed core. Then things would reallye together.
Chapter 3.29: Have Faith in This!
Chapter 3.29: Have Faith in This!
Theo often wondered how he ran the town without support. He stood with Alise as the sun set over Broken Tusk, looking from the eastern wall. The bridge was done, a surprise to everyone, and they were nning for the harbor. She drew lines with her fingers, detailing how hard it was going to be to dig out so much bare earth, then fill in a portion of it with stonework. She talked him out of doing such a deep harbor, favoring only the depth he needed for boats not to run aground.
Tresk had returned from her daily adventures. She was riding the [Lesser Stone Golem], which apparently listened to her will.
Throk already has something we can use to remove excess water, Alise said. Youll have to work closely with everyone to make this work, and I have my doubts.
Theo waved her away. It was the first enormous project of this nature Broken Tusk had attempted, and there were going to be mistakes. It wasnt worth worrying about what could go wrong. Theyd just deal with it when it happened. The biggest problem with the harbor was the 2 opposing forces. The river will fill the hole he made, and the ocean might flow back to do the same. If this world had drastic tides, that would add to the problems. Still, the alchemist couldnt help but feel excitement.
Its going to work one way or the other, Theo said. If the ocean fills in our hole, well load everyone with potions so they can breathe underwater. If everything copses, we can send for an [Earth Mage]. Well make it work.
We should have sent for an [Earth Mage] to start with, one of Alises new administrators said.
Got the coin for that? Theo asked, leaning in and smiling. I dont either. So we use potions and good old Broken Tusk muscle to solve the problem.
The group debated the ideas for some time,ing up with backup ns for their backup ns. Theo saw it as a healthy discussion. He didnt want to stifle his administrative staffs creativity, but he also didnt want them to hinder the project. When bureaucrats impeded progress, thats when hed put his foot down. The harbor was happening, starting tomorrow, and theyd just have to figure out a way to help or move out of the way.
Theo bound his [Lesser Stone Golem] to the lodestone, giving his creation the same instructions as the mud men. There was enough [Mana Constructs] to keep them running for a few days, assuming they didnt degrade with use.
Xam was getting artful with her food creations. She servedyers of bread, egg, meat, and savory sauce in a Pozwa egg. The eggs were roughly the size of Theos head, and the shells were thicker than the width of his little finger. When everyone was done eating the delicious meal, he took their shells into his inventory. It seemed wasteful to throw away good alchemy ingredients.
Zarali didnt join Tresk and Theo to the bathhouse today. They went alone and enjoyed the silence it brought. The pair of them soaked in the hot water without sharing words. They shared something else entirely. Through the Tarahek, they shared thoughts and concepts that transcended words. Without speaking a word of it to each other, they pushed the bounds of the core. Theo got the sense that Tresk had been in a dungeon today, and that she was having a lot of fun. It was hard for him to get much more than that, but he shared his experiences for the day with her.
You brewed potions? Tresk asked, mocking him. What a shocker!
Theo summoned motes of Drogramathi mana and did his best to chase her around the bath with them. She didnt exin why, but she was afraid of those floating wisps. His control of mana was getting better, but it was slow. It was nothing like earning experience to level his cores, he actually had to do the work. But that was a warning he got recently. Level 30 was the cutoff. After that, things would be harder. That was the reason there was a vast gap between people at level 30 and anything higher. You either learned how to control yourself, or you died.
It wasforting, even if the alchemist didnt know why. He was eager to improve himself and his town, and this was a great way to pass the time. Chasing Tresk around with purple fire became less fun when she used her cores abilities, easily dodging the mes. Still, silly games like this were a great way to improve his control and gain experience for his [Tarahek Core] at the same time.
When they retired to the Newt and Demon, well before they were kicked out tonight, they fell into the Dreamwalk. Tresk wanted to give Theo a tour of the inside of some dungeons, and he was eager to see it.
This floor is interesting, Tresk said, gesturing to the surrounding scene.
ording to the Marshling, it was the first floor of the [Swamp Dungeon], as she remembered it from long ago. This was before the dungeon started growing, but it was still fascinating. The entrance of the dungeon stood behind them, a swirling mass of ck and green energy. The dungeon itself was segmented into rooms, the first of which looked like a swampy cave. nts hung from the walls, debris from an abandoned cart was stuck in some mud, but there was no sign of monsters.
When I was trying to start off, this room was hard, Tresk said. She waved her hands, and a group of Goblins and Ogre Snappers appeared. Can you imagine? Five level 5 Goblins almost killed me when I first got my [Rogues Core].
Five Goblins is a lot, Theo said. How do the monsters regenerate?
Depends, Tresk said, shrugging. The [Swamp Dungeon] can fracture itself into multiple instances that bind to your soul. So more than one person can run it at the same time. The other dungeons arent strong enough for that, yet. So everyone just piles in those.
That makes it more dangerous, Theo said.
Yeah. I like danger, Tresk said. Lets go!
The scene shifted. They were standing in arge, circr cave. Around the room were pools of marshy water, nts and bone sticking from under the water. Braziers hung from the ceiling, supported by ttering chains. Tresk waved her hand again, and a two-headed Troll appeared on the far side of the room. Hed seen them before during monster waves.
10th level boss, Tresk said, blowing raspberries. Hes easy. I just sneak past all the floors and kill him so I can go down. Sometimes he rotates out for a one-headed version.
The scene shifted again. They were in a simr room, this time with more water covering the ground. Tresk summoned the next boss, who also didnt attack. This was a team of bosses. A wolf-riding Goblin, a Troll, and an Ogre Snapper. Theo assumed this was the level 20 boss room.
Yep. Level 20, Tresk said, picking up on his thoughts. Theyre kinda hard. Nothingpared to level 30.
Tresk swiped her hands, and they descended the dungeon. The next room was massive, at least twice the size of the previous rooms. There was no morend, just the stretch of swamp. The fires seemed to burn brighter in this room. When the Marshling produced the next boss, Theo could see why the room was sorge. The Ogre Snapper that appeared was massive. Its shell almost touched the ceiling of the room. Every piece of the monsters body was covered in a thick, bony te, as though it had a shell on every limb.
Big old turtle, Tresk said, running over and pping the turtles leg. She barely came up to its knees. I couldnt beat him without the poisons.
Theo studied the snapper for a moment, nodding. That made sense, but the thing must have been slow. A few good [Freezebombs] would lock it in ce, then her poisons would do their work. This might have been a suitable candidate for the [Dessicate] modified [Poison]. But that was academic. Tresk had her own way of fighting, and he wouldnt question it.
Each level the dungeon gets, it gains a new floor, right? Theo asked. Hed never been much to entertain dungeon theory. But knowledge was always useful.
Correct, my student, Tresk said, bowing. Then every 10th floor, they get a boss. I dont think were actually descending to lower levels. This ce would just be all water. This is another dimension, or something.
And Xolsas new wards are working? Theo asked.
Yeah, we havent had a new level to this bad boy in forever, Tresk said, letting out a wistful sigh. On the bright side, the other dungeons finally have bosses.
Theo nodded. Show me Rivers and Daub again.
Tresk shrugged, shifting the scene with a thought. They were standing in Rivers and Daub as it was at least a decade ago. Theo turned north, something he could only do by tracing the path of the river. He spotted the mountains far in the distance, and could even see the cut where Gronro-Dir must have been. Broken Tusk didnt have line of sight on Rivers, but that was a feature of the risingndscape. The only reason he could see where Gronro rested was because of the scale of those mountains.
Gigantic mountains, Theo said, whistling.
Yeah, something about that Elf god, Tresk said, waving it off. Theres a song about it, but I cant remember the words.
Theo was just impressed that her memory of Rivers and Daub was good enough to produce this strong of a picture. The event must have stuck with her, but he wouldnt pry. He could sense it was attached with other feelings. Loss, mourning, and other feelings she didnt want to face.
We need fresh memories for the Dreamwalk, Theo said. How quick can you get from Broken Tusk to Rivers?
Real quick, Tresk said, pulling her daggers out and stabbing at the air. Like that quick.
Seriously, Theo said, leveling his gaze at her.
Less than a day, Tresk said. As long as theres some shaded trees.
How about Gronro-Dir? Theo asked.
Well, so heres the problem, Tresk said, folding her arms. [Shadowdance] allows me to jump from shadow to shadow, but I need to see it. I can jump from here to those mountains if I can spot a shadow. But then Im on a freezing cold mountain.
So, longer, Theo said, nodding.
Yeah, longer, Tresk said. You want me to jump to Rivers to scout? Good idea. Gronro might be a problem, but Ill check it out tomorrow.
I have faith in your abilities, Theo said.
Have faith in this! Tresk shouted, summoning 10 Troll bosses. They attacked Theo immediately. Surprise!
Theo held his own against the Trolls for a while, but they were too overwhelming. Even with his retreat tactic, he wasnt able to get all of them in one go. After Tresk dismissed them, dering him dead, she went off to train on her own. The alchemist saw this as a win, since he could conduct his experiments without her conjuring any more assassins, Trolls, or Dragons to ruin his night.
In the Dreamwalk, experimentation was more valuable than training for Theo. He worked a small patch of ground, growing various reagents to get his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] up, but it wasnt his focus. Understanding constructs just felt important. He started by unraveling the lodestones. He could imagine the one that Zarali built and test it without fear of breaking it. True to her word, and the name of the item, it was an anchor for his will. It still required his mind to work, but it acted like a coprocessor, reducing the strain on his mind.
Next on his list was the usefulness of the [Power Core]. Since hed seen one, he could reproduce it. While it gave the golems an incredibly long operating time, it wasnt worth the trouble. [Manashrooms] were easy enough to grow. His constructs could swap out their own batteries and keep on functioning. Having operational helpers was more important than having perfect helpers, especially if he could make arge quantity of them.
He spent the rest of the Dreamwalk running simtions on the harbor project. This talk would be impossible without magical help. There was just too much dirt running from the bridge to the ocean, and Theo was seeing the wisdom of Alises new n. The potions would run out before he got halfway to the ocean if he dug it as deeply as he wanted. The ocean often rushed in when he tested, following the path left by the river. If Throk said he had a solution, he wouldnt fight it.
Theo got a smattering of experience when he woke up the next morning. The [Tarahek Core] rolled over to level 18, but got no bonuses. Where his other cores struggled to gain experience at this level, the Tarahek didnt care. As long as Tresk and Theo were doing things together, they got experience. They made their way to get breakfast after checking on the constructs. Alise directed them to the town hall, forcing them to bring their breakfast along for the ride.
Alise wanted to hold a meeting to make sure everyone knew what they were doing for the harbor project. She still thought it wouldnt work, or theyd run into something they couldnt solve, but she pushed forward. The harbor was alluring beyond reason. If they wanted to get noticed by foreign nations, this was the best way to do it.
Ziz and Throk were heading up the construction-side of things, sharing the responsibility for removing the water as it was a problem. Alise would measure, n, and correct as they worked. She designated half of the day for the task, repeating until it was done. That gave everyone enough time to handle their other tasks while still getting the job done. After the artificial harbor was done, Theo would nt the seed core and they would all shove as many monster cores in as it would take.
Throk showed off his water-sucking device. He called it that, anyway. It was a simple pump, but it might not have been enough. Theo changed his mind after the artificer produced 15 more identical pumps.
We dont want to expand the city until the harbor is done, Alise said, snapping her fingers to get everyones waning attention. So, Tresk is on defensive duty. Shes rounded up a few adventurers to help us out. Anyone with an inventory is on notice for stone-hauling duty. Ziz and his boys can effectively weld them together with their new skills. Got it?
Everyone mumbled their approval and the group broke. Theo finished his meal long ago, disappointed there wasnt another shell for him to pilfer. He had enough [Tunneling Potions] to get the job going today, but hed need to brew more for tomorrow. Alise pped her hands as she led everyone to the work site, trying to keep the workers focused. She drew people from every profession, and those who hadnt found jobs in the town. Even with taxes looming, she had a decent buffer to get them paid for their work, although most offered to work for free.
The first stage of the harbor was the easiest, if not the most tense. Alise ced sticks in the ground, one on the close side of the river and the other on the far side. She mimed drawing a line, then gestured to Theo. It was his turn to etch the vague shape of the harbor out. Looking down at the distant glint of the ocean to the south made him realize how daunting the task was. He dumped the first potion and cut a line between either side of the riverbank. A single potion was enough to make a line Theos height wide and as deep as Alise needed it. She told him to stop when it was at the right depth.
The group watched as the water rushed to fill the hole, the edges of the shape crumbling in to join the slurry.
That was expected, Throk said, grunting. Just wait for it to get bigger.
No one acted. All eyes turned to Theo and he repeated the process under Alises guidance. She had a good n, and he didnt want to mess it up. Several potionster, they had a square pit that filled less rapidly with water. Tresk passed out [Lesser Potions of Wake]. Shed been hoarding them to run the [River Dungeon], which sat upstream from where they were. Throk got to work.
Before long, a chorus of artifices running filled the air. They pumped the water at a wild speed, sending water in every direction as though shot from a firehose. When they ran out of water to pump, they simply shut down. The artificer was a genius with automated responses from the machines, something Theo appreciated on his timed me artifices.
Zizs team descended into the wet pit, going to work with abandon. They framed the massive walls in minutes, setting wooden scaffolding out with trained precision. This reminded Theo more of the work they did at the quarry. This was their element. He turned his attention, focusing on burning through as many potions as he could. As long as the artifices could keep up and the ocean didnt rush in, they were fine.
The distance they covered in a single half-day of work was equal to half the width of Broken Tusk. Zizs group wasnt done setting walls and floors for the muddy put, but they were working at a steady pace. Theo watched as the Half-Ogre ced a brick against the mud wall, held his hand over it, and fused the two marble stones together. It gave the appearance of perfectly hewn stones mortared to perfection.
This isvished, Tresk said, snorting augh. Marble for a harbor. How fancy.
When the midday sun came and went, Theo inspected the work. Alise was calling for them to stop working for the day, but everyone seemed fervent aboutpleting the assignment. Even if they were paid by the day. The head of the harbor was thicker than the passage that led out to sea. They needed a lot of space for people to moor their boats near the harbor seed core building, but the passage only had to allow a few boats at a time. During the early stages of dumping his potions, Theo had widened it beyond what Alise requested, gaining a firm scolding. But it was better for the long run.
Theo pped his hands to gain everyones attention when they stopped working. The crowd was milling around, edging toward the towns wall to get back to their lives.
Food is on me while youre working, Theo said, gaining a ripple of cheers. Lifetime discount at the Newt and Demon for anyone who finds buried treasure. I keep the treasure, you get 10 percent off.
That got enoughughs to put a smile on Theos face. He gave his thanks to everyone who filtered back toward the town. Ziz and hisborers were stubborn, refusing to leave until they finished the current section of the seawall. Throk was discussing something with them. Some need to brace the wall near the length of the approach. They were nning on using massive metal arches, tall enough to allow ships underneath. Theo offered to pay, since it sounded like a talking point for the town.
Tresk lingered with Theo, helping the stoneworkers where they could. It took most of the afternoon, but it was worth it. They were an eighth of the way toward the ocean and one step closer to their protected harbor.
Chapter 3.30: Antal
Chapter 3.30: An''tal
The garden golems were doing a fantastic job of harvesting random reagents and keeping the weeds at bay. They understood how to recharge themselves using the [Dimensional Storage Crate], and seemed to need no rest. Theo stood in his cluster of greenhouses, kneeling to issue moremands. His audience, 2 [Lesser Mud Golems], and 1 [Lesser Stone Golem], looked on with interest. He made them look like that, but it felt better than just giving orders to soulless creatures.
The mud golems would keep up their good work around theb, while the stone golem would patrol for the night. Hed walk the edge of the lodestones range, searching for enemies. Not that Theo expected any, but it was good practice to learn howmands worked for the constructs. The alchemist ced a [Reveal Construct] within the [Lesser Stone Golem], ordering him to test it.
A field of faintly shimmering light shot out from the little golem. Tresk let out a yelp, revealed from behind theb. Theo knew she was normally lurking in the shadows, but it was still surprising.
Hell look for stealth people, Theo said.
How is he gonna know if he sees a stealth person if theyre stealth? Tresk asked.
Theo shrugged. It was more about how cool the feature was, rather than a practical use.
Tresk led the way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern for dinner. Theo met with Xam in her hectic kitchen, giving her a list of the names he was paying for that night. He paid upfront for a week, a decent estimate for how long the harbor project was going to take. The alchemist returned to the crowded tavern, finding the exterior dining to be superior. It was hot inside the tavern, filled with a strange mingle of sweat and cooking food. While the cooks newest rendition of wolf meat stew was delicious, the alchemist ate as quickly as Tresk.
Xolsa rarely left his wizards tower. When Theo saw him approaching, he feared the worst. The extra-nar Elf handled the magic that slowed and quickened the monster waves. The serious look on the Elfs face gave no information away, he always looked that way.
Youll need to prepare yourself for the next monster wave, Xolsa said. When he approached, Theo could see how worn he looked. It wont rise to your expectations.
Exin yourself, wizard, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at him.
It wont be as powerful, Xolsa said.
Thats good news, Theo said.
Xolsa shrugged. Is it? Well, Ive noticed your little workers.
The golems? Tresk asked.
Xolsa eyes drifted into the middle distance for a moment before locking on to Tresk. The golems, he repeated. There are tales of wizardsmanding minions. I dont have ess to such magic, but I can see their use.
Theo nodded. He felt as though Xolsa wasing at him from a different angle than normal. Something close to academic interest. While they shared an interest in alchemy, only evidenced by strange equipment in the wizards tower, theyd never exchanged notes. The alchemist could only assume the constructs were enough of a motivator for him to start a conversation.
Three golems waddled down the street. Theomanded the [Lesser Stone Golem] to hug Xolsas legs. He patted its head, a phantom of a smile ying across his face.
Theyre made entirely of alchemy? Xolsa asked.
Theo sent the mud golems off, inviting Xolsa to join them and the stone golem at the bathhouse. The attendant was reluctant to allow the creature inside, but bent when the alchemist assured her it would behave. It was his private room, after all. The trio were soaking in the pool momentster, the golem standing close enough so that Xolsa could study it.
The skill does most of the work, Theo said. [Alchemy Constructs].
Very interesting, Xolsa said, prodding the golem with his finger.
Theo exined how they were constructed, showing the wizard an example of a containment core while Tresk swam in the bath. Xolsa exined the magic theory behind golems raised by wizards, and even undead minions by necromancers. The principle couldnt have been more different, as most magical constructs had absolutely no spirit. The golems had a faint soul, driven by the [Monster Core] in their containment core.
But not really a soul, Xolsa said, holding a [Monster Core] in his hands. More like a series ofplex instructions meant to mimic a living being. But theres a decent enough theory to pursue. How close to a real monster are you getting with your creations?
They have no willpower, Theo said, shaking his head. No agency at all. They just do what theyre told.
Xolsa nodded.
Have you heard of a [Coresmith]? Theo asked.
Ive heard tales, Xolsa said. The concept seems too oundish to be true. Cores cannot be created.
Theo sent amand to his stone golem, who waved at the Elf.
Unless they can be.
Xolsas brow knit tight. He cupped his chin in his hand, his eyes drifting off once again. Well, it would be interesting. The [Coresmith] would hold great power.
Theo sank deeper in the water. Deep enough to cover his face, but not his ears. The idea was academic, but interesting. Fenian mentioned there were [Coresmiths] in the Elven kingdom, empire, whatever they were, but he didnt know if that changed much. Most seed and ss cores dropped from dungeons, and they had no shortage of dungeons around Broken Tusk. The issue was, the local dungeons only produced base ss cores. They had seen no seed cores, yet.
Theo found a better rock to sit on, raising his head above the water. Well, what do you think about the harbor?
It looks magnificent, so far, Xolsa said, brightening. That is the single biggest step you can take to get us known afar.
Theo nodded. He couldnt agree more. Tell me if you find a shipwright, he said, chuckling. And someone to sail the boats. Well, how are you enjoying the town?
Couldnt be better, Xolsa said, releasing a steady breath. More Demonic power than I could ever hope to study. Spatial distortions everywhere. Strange realms shing against the will of a Demon Lord, and a merchant who travels the Bridge of Shadows. It is shocking there arent more wizards here.
One wizard is enough, Tresk said, glowering.
I agree, Xolsa said. Speaking of wizards, why didnt you hire one to take care of the harbor?
Theo stretched out his back, trying to find a morefortable position to sit in. His tail scraped against the stones. I didnt want to hire one, he said. I also wanted to show that we could do it. Under our own power, you know? What if we called for help every time we needed it?
You never call for help, Xolsa corrected. You do everything yourself. Only recently have you created support staff. And you hardly use them.
That was true, even if Theo wouldnt say it out loud. He preferred to set people up and let them run on their own. They usually had better ideas than him. With the rate Broken Tusk was growing, other people would im ventures within the walls but he owned the core production.
Hes working on it, Tresk said, spitting water at the wizard. Give him time. He lost his entire world.
Xolsa face went dark, but he let out a sigh and regained control of himself. I understand his position more than you know, sweet Marshling. Ive lost my people as well.
Oh, right, Tresk said. Sorry.
Dont worry, Xolsa said. Well, I should be going.
Dont be a stranger, Theo said, locking eyes with the wizard. You need toe to town more often.
I know, Xolsa said. Then he was gone.
Tresk and Theo lounged in the pool for a while longer. They had less to aplish in the Dreamwalk than normal, but with the [Tarahek Core] at level 18, he was free to push for advancement in his other cores. They left when the attendant kicked them out. The [Lesser Stone Golem] went back to his old series ofmands, walking the streets to find non-existent assassins, and the pair entered the Dreamwalk shortly after.
Theo fell to another attack orchestrated by Tresk, but had a mind to grind alchemy. Creating and operating golems gave a small amount of experience to both his alchemy and herbalism cores, as the skill shared both domains. He went between experimenting with constructs, to failing to splice nts together, to brewing potions. Tresk found him after a while, having the foresight to test his various [Hallow Ground Potions].
The Marshling had encountered undead in the [Swamp Dungeon]. While they were simple raised skeletons, Theo could test the effects of his new potion. Upon drinking a standard [Hallow Ground Potion], a circle of white appeared on the ground beneath him. It stretched out, creating shimmering white ground that pulsed with powerful energy. Tresk summoned a few of the skeletons, who crossed the line eagerly.
The moment one of their bony feet stepped over the edge, white fire spread across their body and they fled. Banishment apparently meant that they ran. And they ran for a long time, sprinting as fast as their skeletal bodies would take them. The [Hallow Ground Bomb] worked as expected, covering the skeletons in white fire and eating away at their bones. The [Web] modifier acted exactly as expected, creating a line between several skeletons that forced the others to flee. When it expired, those affected also ran with abandon. [Aerosolize] was the most useful, creating a roving cloud of white fire.
Theo couldnt test the [Anti-Mage] version of the potion, but was eager to see how the [Embolden] modifier worked. He drank the potion, feeling a thread of willpower connected between him and every skeleton in sight. His mind reeled from the required power, shattering his consciousness until the scene around him split. Then it reset, unable toprehend the effects of the alchemist bing one of the undead.
Unsurprisingly, the [Embolden] property is dangerous, Theo said.
That property sucks, Tresk said.
But the other properties didnt. Most of them were incredibly useful, and Fenian would be happy with them. Theos only problem was whether he wanted the potions for free. Their agreement was that he got the mushroom cave for free, but they should have established a better deal. Since the alchemist had little use for the anti-undead potions, he shrugged it off. At least someone would use them.
Theo was frugal with the rest of his time in the Dreamwalk. The amount of experiments he could run there was limited, mostly by hisck of new things to test. He couldnt move on to experiment with more essence-infused tes, and golems held no more secrets he could reach. He felt a sense of pride at that. When the alchemist hit hisst barrier, he was clueless. Now he carried himself with confidence. This new Tarahek skill was overpowered. Doubling his working time for the day did wonders for his progress. Tresk experienced simr gains, rocketing toward level 20 in all 3 of her cores.
Why she still held onto the [Trackers Core] was beyond him. She showed no signs of upgrading it to something better, but he wouldnt pry. 2 legendary cores were good enough. That would have been her reasoning.
Theo was happy to rise from the Dreamwalk feeling refreshed. It was still a shock to zip out of the strangendscape, only to find himself safe in his bed. Tresk joined him to distill [Living River Water] before heading off to eat breakfast. A pulse of familiar hot wind washed over them at the table, but they dismissed it for Zaralis probing senses. She must have been looking for someone.
Each worker dedicated to the harbor project was there in the tavern. They assumed his offer for food extended to breakfast, so he paid Xam for the week. He didnt have the heart to tell them he only meant dinner, but the cost was less than a gold coin.
Taxes were due today, whatever this worlds version of Sunday was, but Theo saw Alise had already handled it. She assigned someonebeled as a junior administrator to the task. The mayors interface was filled with notes on the correct way to take taxes, including epting a good excuse as payment. Broken Tusk never had a problem with people not paying taxes, not those who could. Everyone else who was too broke to pay taxes was put on another list, detailing people who needed jobs. And there was no shortage of jobs.
The work detail marched out of the gates after breakfast, Tresk included for security, and Theo considered his various operations. If he gave anyone a better payment scheme than he had, he would operate at a loss. They couldnt find traders to buy their goods fast enough, which made the port more important.
Alise directed everyone for the morning. She nned onying everything out then going off to manage the town. The Lady Administrator admitted that Zizs good work put them ahead, and work began. Theo carved thendscape as Throks machines hummed to life. The marble walls held up overnight, even as the pit filled with river water. On the far side of the paved harbor, the snaking river came back to life.
After carving a fair section of the harbor, Theo was out of potions. He needed to head back to theb and brew more, but theborers had plenty of work to do. He was stopped by Tresk, pointing off down the river. A small Marshling, oddly simr to Tresk herself, was marching up the bank.
Hey, boss, he said. At least, Theo thought this was a he. Got a problem on the beach.
Tresk narrowed her eyes. What is it, Thronk?
Thronk? Theo said, grimacing.
Yeah. My brother. Thronk. I told you about him. Didnt I? Tresk asked.
Theo didnt care whose brother he was. Throk was unimaginative with his naming scheme, but maybe it was a Bantari Marshling thing. The alchemist shrugged.
Whats the issue? Theo asked.
Some guy came ashore on the beach. In a rowboat, Thronk said. Thought you ought to know.
Then, the little mud-colored Marshling was off as if it was no concern to him. Theo drank a [Potion of Limited Foresight] and led the way down the river. The walk took a while, but he spotted the small rowboat on the sandy shores of the beach. True to the Marshlings words, there was a Khahari standing on the sands. Barefoot and clothed in little more than a tattered loincloth, the Khahari put off a strange aura of authority. If not for the mans ragged appearance, Theo would have thought he was a king.
Hello, Theo said, waving. Are you lost? Need help?
The Khahari waited for Tresk and Theo to approach before bowing. When he rose, a smile hung on his face.
Im never lost, he said.
Theos eyes went between the rowboat and the man. He certainly seemed lost.
Are you hungry? Theo asked. Theres a town. Up the river.
River? the man asked, looking at the drying trickle of water that normally flooded into the bay. River bed, perhaps.
Want some food, or not? Tresk asked, glowering at the Khahari. Whats your name?
He paused for a long moment, staring into the distance. The smile dropped from his face for a moment before he continued. Antal. You can call me An. Or Tal. Or Antal. Whatever you like.
Im Theo. This is Tresk, Theo said, gesturing to hispanion.
A pleasure, Antal said, bowing again.
Come on. Couldnt have been a quick trip in that boat, Theo said.
Antals gaze went slowly from Theo to the boat. He smiled again and took a few tentative steps. He hummed a tune as he followed, actively refusing to answer the alchemists questions.
Think hes dangerous? Tresk asked.
Maybe. But he looks pretty bad. Could have been lost at sea, Theo said.
Still, we should be cautious.
Theos senses told him nothing about the Khahari. It was as though the ce where the man stood was a void for his intuition, which likely meant the man was a high level. But it made little sense to appear on a beach, be walked into town, then attack. Anyone high enough could just destroy the ce from a distance. No need for subterfuge.
The workers checked on Theo as he passed, informing him they needed more space to make the wall. The alchemist sent Tresk with Antal to the Marsh Wolf Tavern while he went off to brew some [Tunneling Potions]. When he joined back with Tresk and the strange Khahari, he seemed eager.
Id like to work, he said, grinning. If you dont mind.
Yeah, Theo said, flicking him a sliver coin. Antal caught it with little effort. Do you know anything about stonework?
A thing. Or two, Antal said.
Theo made it back to the worksite with his newborer. He sent him off to meet with Ziz, putting him down in the mud with the other stonemasons. It was dirty work down there. They had to shovel out mud that flowed back, move massive stones around in the muck, and set them in ce to keep tons of earth from falling in. The alchemist didnt envy their job, but Antal didnt seem to care. He jumped down into the pit andnded as though hed just taken a step.
The work went on. Theo had several moments where he was just standing around, waiting for theborers to get everything in line so he could cut more ground. They were approaching the section of the harbor that narrowed out, meaning they had less work to do from here. Fewer stones needed to be moved, and less earth had to be drilled out with the potion. Antal worked with deliberate slowness. Every motion of his body seemed nned, almost robotic. But he did it all with a smile on his face.
During his downtime, Theo noticed Zankir and Zansal standing on the eastern gate in the distance. He couldnt tell from this distance, but their pacing painted them as worried. Despite the dead spot Antal created for his intuition, his sense of logic wasnt hampered. When he brushed his intent over the man,boring with excitement in the mud, the system refused to return the mans name, level, and ss.
A powerful Khahari, Tresk said after Theo exchanged his concerns. Question is, what is he doing here and why are the other Khahari all in knots?
And why the hell does he want tobor in my mud pit? Theo asked. He shook his head, not willing to go down that road. There was work to be done.
Chapter 3.31: Spill the Beans
Chapter 3.31: Spill the Beans
Xolsas tower was strewn with what could only be described as junk. Since he arrived in Broken Tusk, bringing all his belongings, hed only umted more. Every avable shelf was full of devices, items, or trash. The wizard himself sat across from Theo, Zarali, and Tresk, taking part in the ongoing conversation. A magical fire crackled in the room''s corner, but it put off a pleasantly chilly wind instead of a hot one.
Theo swirled his mug of wine. It was whatever Xolsa enjoyed drinking, and he enjoyed drinking it a lot. One of the center sections of the tower was now dedicated to casks of the stuff. Where he got it, the alchemist couldnt say. But it was good. Slightly more sweet than he liked, but a pleasant change of pace.
If were talking about powerful Khahari, Antal doesnt show up in the history books, Zarali said. The An family is old enough to appear, though. I dont see a record of Tal, though.
My magic is useless, Xolsa said, shrugging. The Elf looked more dejected than normal.
The group had retreated to the tower for dinner. The day ofboring saw more progress than the day before. Alise said theyd be done before the original estimate, and Ziz took that as a challenge. Theo lent him the [Tunneling Potions] so he and hisborers could do some night working. The alchemist wouldnt object, as Antal rested heavily on his mind.
The Khahari are a strange people, Zarali said, taking a long drink of her wine. They follow a mortal named Khahar. Hence the name. But theyve had hundreds of notable heroes in their history. Strange thing, they all have one thing inmon. They rarely leave the desert.
Why did you specify that Khahar is a mortal? Tresk asked, leaning in. Thats suspicious wording.
Because hes a mortal, by definition, Zarali said, throwing her hands up. By all ounts he was here when the was formed. Lived through every age, and never left his desert. But thats our hint. Hes raised many high-level warriors. This might just be his wayward son.
Theo nodded. The best way to figure this out would be to just talk to the man, but if he wasnt causing any trouble it was hard to justify.
That just leaves Zankir and Zansal, Theo said. Why are they acting weird?
The Khahari worship their heroes, Zarali said, dismissing his thought. They might recognize this man from their tales.
Theo could live with having a legendary Khahari hero in his town. He didnt think Antal would stay for long, but he didnt care either way. He toiled hard in those mud pits, and was currently enjoying the bathhouse. The group gathered within Xolsas tower was left with no answers. They threw ideas at the wall, but nothing stuck. Tresk steered the conversation back to pleasant topics after a while, and the group just enjoyed thepany. The tower was cozy, even with the asional st from the defensive wards outside. Firefly-like bugs floated by the window asionally, adding to the ambience.
We shoulde here more often, Theo said.
Agreed, Zarali said, making eyes at Xolsa.
Id rather you not, Xolsa said.
Well, theres no problem to solve here, Theo said, rising from his chair. Ill talk to Zankir when I can, but it doesnt seem like it''s an issue.
Everyone said their farewells. Xolsa activated his portal again, giving Tresk and Theo a ride back to town. Night had fallen, and while the alchemists stamina was low from a day of work outside of hisb, it wasnt empty. They stepped through the portal and onto the hard cobbles of an empty street. A pale orange moon rose over the northern sky.
Whats that? Theo asked, pointing at the moon.
The moon, Tresk said, scoffing. Come on.
Antalis, a voice came from behind. Tresk jumped. Thats what my people call it. Dark most days.
Theo turned, unsurprised to find Antal standing there.
In the low tongue, the bastard of Qoharin, Qavelli, they call it Aitilis, Antal said, a gentle smile on his face. The orange light cast his sandy fur in a striking light. He had a proud face with a wide muzzle that seemed regal. The crawling adventurer. The midnight sun, the barrier world Ah. Good evening.
Hey, Tresk said, waving. So, are you some Khahari hero?
Antal looked surprised at Tresks directness, but his expression faded slowly back to a soft amusement. I wouldnt say that.
That was all he said without further prodding. He put off an air that felt strangely familiar to Theo. Perhaps this was a Khahari that Belgar knew.
What are you doing here, Antal? Theo asked. There was no better time to ask the question.
Searching, Antal said, his voice drifting off. His eyes locked onto the moon.
Well, did you find what you were looking for? Theo asked.
I think so, Antal said.
The hair on the back of Theos neck stood up. He felt a sense as if they were being watched. The alchemist scanned the road, finding the source of the issue. A pair of ears stuck out from behind the adventurers guild. A Khahari. Likely Zankir or Zansal. Whatever connection they had with this man ran deep. Antal turned his head in a slow, fluid motion to meet the gaze of the interloper. His eyes narrowed.
Begone, Antal whispered. And the offending Khahari was gone. He turned to Theo and smiled before continuing at full volume, are we meant to work tomorrow?
If youre up for it, Theo said. Theborers enjoyed having someone of your prowess down in the pit.
Theyre still working, Antal said, eyes drifting back to the moon. They paid for my bath.
Broken Tusk is legendary for its charity, Tresk said, nodding.
The legendary Theo Spencer, Antal said. It was as though he refused to look at them. And his legendary town. Goodnight.
Then the strange Khahari was off, up the street and toward the inn. Tresk and Theo stood there for a long time, both trying to figure out what just happened. The Marshling pped him on the back to break the silence.
I like him, Tresk said, turning and leaving without another word.
After thwarting Tresks attempt to kill him in the Dreamwalk, Theo summoned a likeness of Antal from his memory. He studied the figure for a long time, standing and cupping his chin in his hand. He scratched his head in frustration, finding the features of the Khahari too familiar to dismiss. Antals coat was like the Khahari hed already seen, a mottled sand pattern, but his build was too familiar. There was something in the way a person walked that could give them away, but nothing came to mind. Like the void Antal made for his intuition. This felt like a piece of his memory was cut out and abandoned.
While he couldnt shake the strange feeling, Theo moved on for the night. He ordered the image of Antal to apany him on his experiments. Last night there wasnt much new to discover, and tonight was worse. The alchemist did the same few reactions hed done many times before,mitting more of the heating processes to memory. He found a few better ways to run the stills, but no more progress could be made until he passed into the level 20 range. Thats when things would get interesting, owing to the power of the [Reagent Deconstruction] skill he skipped.
Boredom took over, and Theo went to train with Tresk. He had no ns to fight anything in the real world, but it paid to stay sharp. She insisted he find a weapon that worked for him, but nothing felt right. Spears were too unwieldy, axes were rough, and daggers just felt too small. He simply fought her with his fists, almost keeping up pace with the rapid tempo of herbat. Between sparring sessions, they shared their thoughts on the way things were going.
We still need boats! Tresk shouted.
We need a ce to build them.
They trained until the morning came and they found themselves back in their beds. After setting his stills to brew more [Living River Water], Theo intended to go get a bite to eat, then lead theborers back into those muddy pits. A knock at the door downstairs and Tresk vanished from where she stood in theb.
Its Zansal, Tresk said. She looks nervous.
Theo descended to the first floor, opening the door to find the Khahari woman biting her nails. The alchemist let her in and led her upstairs. Without prompting, he put a pot of [Moss Nettle] tea on a [me Artifice] and set it to boil. He gestured for her to take a seat, and she did.
You cant trust him, she said after a long silence.
Duh! Tresk shouted, bursting from the shadows. We know he aint Antal. We just cant figure out his real name.
Theo held his hand up, silencing the excited Marshling. Why cant we trust him?
Zankir called him, she said, looking out the window. Not that it matters. He can hear us.
The walls are pretty thick,dy, Tresk said.
Theo knew what Zansal meant, but Tresk was wrong. Antal wouldnt be able to hear them because of the power of the Tarahek. If the man wanted to use otherworldly means of eavesdropping on their conversation, hed have to pierce into their private realm. From what he understood, that was difficult. It was like crossing from the Demonic Pantheon to the Prime Pantheon. A feat worthy of a god.
So, who is he? Tresk asked.
I cant say, Zansal said. Hell know I gave him up.
So, write it down, Tresk said, scoffing. Come on! Spill the beans!
Theo held his hand up to silence her again. You cant tell us who he is. Tell us why hes here.
Zansal took a steadying breath. Its almost impossible tomunicate with those in the Khahari desert. The power there makes long-rangemunication crystals impossible. When we migrated from the north, we received word. He was looking for somebody.
For Theo Spencer, Theo said, shrugging. It was obvious. The question is why?
I dont know, Zansal said. I swear I dont knowand I didnt send word. That was my husband. He reported we found you. It was just difficult to find the materials to do so.
Alright, Theo said, letting out a breath. He really hated all this skullduggery. So, this guy is powerful?
Extremely.
Then theres nothing to worry about, Theo said. Anyone who can kill me but doesnt isnt a threat.
Zansals mouth dropped open. She looked from Tresk to Theo, searching for more information. Thats it?
Yeah, whatever, Tresk said. You cant tell us cause youre haunted or whatever, and he was looking for Theo. Well, he found Theo. And he aint dead.
Zansal stammered, but no words formed.
We can talk with Zankir, Theo said. My intuition doesnt give me a read on Antal, but hes doing good work. Maybe he wants a vacation. Did you ever think of that? Broken Tusk is charming in a lot of ways, and people can feel a deep sense ofmunity here.
Zansal tapped her foot, biting at her ws.
Look, my people are on it, Theo said. Just rx. Go run some dungeons. Get it out of your system.
Zansal stood up and left theb without another word. Her worry hung in the air like a miasma.
Shes wound tight, Tresk said.
Theo nodded.
They departed the Newt and Demon and headed for breakfast. Antal was there, along with all the other workers. The Khahari seemed eager to get back in the mud pits, but held a wide smile on his face.
Wait until you see what your workers didst night, he said. Theyre exhausted, though.
Ziz and his gang all had their heads pressed to the surface of the table. Theo recognized the symptoms of [Stamina Potion] use.
Alise pped her hands at the entrance to the tavern, gaining everyones attention. She looked equal parts annoyed and impressed.
Despite my warnings, someone workedte into the night, Alise said. Ziz! Im looking at you! Wake up!
Ziz didnt wake up.
Someone dump something cold on them, Alise said, letting out an annoyed breath.
Antal took up the task with excitement, emptying a mug of water over the Half-Ogres head.
Im awake! Ziz shouted, throwing punches at the air. Antal smiled.
Alise detailed how much work Zizs crew did. The narrow section of the harbors approach was nearly half finished, which seemed like an absurd amount. Theo didnt want to believe it until they all marched down to the river. The massive hole had filled up overnight, but it stretched far into the distance. It followed the general path of the river, but cut a straight line instead of a snaking trail. Tresk whistled.
Dang, Tresk said. Were going to be done soon if we keep this up.
But you cant keep this up, Alise said, stomping her foot. Theo had never seen her this angry, but she calmed herself down after a moment. The new guy is in charge of the pits, now.
Me? Antal asked.
Yes, you. Any other new guys around here? Alise asked. Another steady breath and her face stopped being so red. Lets get to work.
Alise directed them more closely today. She enjoyed having this much control, and Theo didnt me her. The current harbor was looking amazing, with the wider section near the town looking as though it were ready for ships. The area of that wide harbor area was almost half the size of Broken Tusk. Theyd be able to fit a lot of boats in there.
Antal seemed excited to be in charge of the stonework. Theo didnt know if he had a core for the work, but he worked in the same way Ziz did. He welded stones together with more precision than the other stonemasons, showing significantly more strength for lifting the heavy marble stones.
Do you have a [Stonemasons Core]? Theo asked, shouting down into the pit.
Some of the rough edges of Antal had rubbed off. He seemed more excited than yesterday to do the work and he looked up with a wide grin. I have a legendary [Stonemasons Core]! [Khahari Stoneweaver].
That made sense to Theo. If anything, Antal was holding back. The power that came from each of his stone-welding actions was like the scouring winds of the desert, all rolled into a single technique. He left little designs in the magical mortar, images too small for the alchemist to spot from the top of the pit. It was amazing to watch him work.
Halfway through the days session of digging, pumping water, andying stone, Theo spotted Zankir from the eastern gate. He beckoned the alchemist over, waving until he got his attention. Theo sshed thest of his potion for the day on the ground, etching out another stretch of the approach. Alise glowered at him as he left.
Whats up? Theo asked, shouting from the outside of the eastern gate.
Zankir scowled. Id rather have this conversation in private.
So,e down.
Zankir crossed his arms. No.
Theo shrugged, entering the town and ascending the battlements. Zankir was waiting for him, concern on his face.
Zansal told you what I did, he said. If you want to expel me from the town, thats your decision.
Alright, Theo said, holding his hands up. You guys summon some master [Stonemason] from somewhere, and hees in and helps me build my harbor. Why am I going to be mad?
He is many things, Zankir said. Theo noticed he refused to look in the harbor''s direction. Not just a [Stonemason].
Then stop being weird, Theo said. Tell me who he is and why I should care.
Ive sworn an oath, Zankir said.
To protect Antal, the greatest [Stonemason] alive? Theo asked.
Not to protect him. To protect you, Zankir said.
Ive said it before, and Ill say it again, Tresk said,ing from the shadow of the wall. Spill the dang beans.
Zankir narrowed his eyes. Master of the Sands. Destroyer of HamtalTan. Fate of the Khahari.
It was a long list of titles that meant nothing to Theo. Hed been meaning to learn more about this worlds history, and important historical figures, but even Tresk didnt get it. The Marshling tapped her foot impatiently, throwing her hands up. Both Zankir and Zansal were being too defensive about this Khaharis identity, and it was wearing on the alchemists patience. He didnt care who it was at this point. He just wanted to know.
Zankir took in a lungful of air and closed his eyes. An is the first surname given to the Khahari. Given by our progenitor. At the forging of the world and the scouring of the desert. The man who gave that name is
He trailed off withoutpleting the thought.
The Khahari who gave us the name was Zankir said. He just couldnt get the words out. Theo finally recognized some kind of oath binding the man from speaking, but he was over the game. There were enough pieces of the puzzle in front of him.
Hey! Theo shouted over the open field between the wall and the river. Khahar! Get your butt up here!
The master [Stonemason]boring on Theos harbor moved. Antal was standing at the edge of the pit, then he was standing on the wall. Zankir dropped to the floor, pressing his forehead against the ground and shuddered. His breaths were ragged gasps, interspersed with inane muttering.
Yes? Khahar, a man as old as the and leader of the Khahari, asked.
Chapter 3.32: The Loot is All Ours
Chapter 3.32: The Loot is All Ours
Was that so hard? Tresk asked.
Hmmm? What? Khahar asked.
Zankir was glued to the battlements of the wall. He shuddered as though he wanted to speak, but nothing came out. The absolute power Khahar held over his people was impressive, if not frightening. Theo had it in his mind that Antal was Khahar from the start, but he couldnt find a motive. If what Zarali said about him was true, why the hell would he row a boat across the ocean to visit Broken Tusk? Or was it as simple as needing a vacation, as the alchemist had suggested.
Letting us know who you were! Tresk said, pping her hand over his shoulder. Oh, youre real firm for an old guy.
Khahar smiled.
Could you do something for him? Theo asked, pointing at the quivering mass of Khahari that was Zankir. And give me a little backstory on why you want to visit Broken Tusk so badly.
We shall work, Khahar said. As we discuss this.
Khahar vanished from the wall again, reappearing at the edge of the pit. Zankir gained some of his senses again, but was still muttering nonsense. Theo and Tresk jumped over the wall and joined the leader of the Khahari near the harbor.
Hey, no vanishing while youre on the clock, Alise said. Back in the pit.
Khahar bowed and jumped back into the pit. He moved his blocks into ce, setting them with the magical mortar. It was as though the reveal meant nothing to him, so why travel under an assumed name?
I didnt mean for you to find out so soon, Theo, Khahar shouted from the bottom of the pit. I wanted to take the measure of a new leader. What better way than to see how they treat their workers?
Theo helped transport more blocks into the pit. Those who had inventories were valuable for that task. He loaded his inventory up with stones then climbed down the makeshiftdder theborers had assembled. Those citizens of Broken Tusk that were working at the bottom of the muddy harbor seemed confused about this turn of events.
I found your shores easily, but I have been watching for a week, Khahar said.
Whatever he said was music to Theos ears. It didnt matter what the leader of the Khahari did, just that he came clean with the alchemist. That mattered more than anything.
What kind of man is Theo Spencer? I asked myself that question, Khahar said, lifting a marble block with one hand. He set it in ce, pushing aside the mud with his free hand. Why is he interested in trading with the Khahari?
I heard no one trades with your people, Theo said. Didnt expect contact until we had the port running.
Khahar paused, turning to smile at Theo. There was a warmth there that radiated outward, bathing that stinking pit with a cleansing light.
Thoughts travel my way. Sometimes, Khahar said, setting another block in ce. Intent. Dreams. Errant wills. Most are consumed by the Will of Khahar, but your willingness to establish contact was too strong.
Theo doubted that. He bought some of the leaders story, but had learned to look out for other motives. Even if Khahar heard him from across the ocean, it seemed like a strange way to make contact. Still, there were more interesting questions he could ask an ancient leader.
What level are you? Theo asked.
Ah, thats a good question, Khahar said. He was softening by the moment. You should have seen the world when it was forged, Theo. Chaos. Did you know levels go into the thousands?
In fact, he suspected that was the case. But there seemed to be a tendency of people on this to fight for godhood when they reached a certain level. The alchemist understood Khahars thought process was likely iprehensible. It would take his entire willpower to even speak like a normal person, let alone engage in a conversation.
I thought it might, Theo said, hoisting another block for Khahar to set. How hard is it to think like a normal person?
Always smart, Khahar whispered, not low enough to avoid Theos ears. Its almost impossible. Like instructing an ocean how to dance. Or Ah, well. Its difficult.
It should have been intimidating talking to someone so powerful. But since Drogramath had be a familiar bedfellow, Theo didnt find himself put off. He just wanted to get as much information out of Khahar while he was here. The mans whims could send him off, back to the Khahari Desert, at a moments notice. Even now, the alchemist realized the small rowboat was a diversion or a coincidence. It was part of a n that fell apart too soon for Khahar.
Then something struck Theo. This was all nned. Khahars [Intelligence] attribute was at a level that made coincidence impossible. Hed have everything nned out to an unknowable stage.
It would never take you long to figure that out, Khahar said, chuckling. Theugh seemed fake and Theo was taken aback. Either from Khahars foresight, or ability to read his mind. I cant read minds. I just make predictions.
Im not sure which is worse, Theo said.
Khahar nodded, suddenly sullen. Then he righted his expression and smiled again.
No need to worry about all that, Khahar said. My people dont even know Im gone and Ill be back before you realize. Im just here to watch.
Theo nodded. Overwhelming power like this couldnt be fought, and he was lucky Khahar seemed friendly if a little distant. He rxed in the presence of the god-like figure, helping him set the stones in ce and trying to strike up a conversation. He was d to give a brief history of his people, including a first-hand ount of the forging of the world.
60,000 years ago, the was formed. Khahar skipped some details about how everyone was brought here, but it was a scramble for survival. The system was set in ce the moment they set foot on the, then hell broke loose. Everyone was encouraged to fight to the death until only a few survived from each of their race. Khahar paired with a woman, and they formed the Khahari people who had endured for all those millennia without changing much. Their desert was surrounded by a field of power, known as the Will of Khahar, which acted as a shroud.
When my wife joined the Prime Pantheon, I remained, Khahar said, staring in the distance for a breath. One moment.
Khahar vanished for less than a blink. Then he was back. He smiled again.
The story went on for a while. As the years passed, Khahar became distant. He med the increase in attributes, namely an [Intelligence] over 1,000. Things got harder for him, but he pressed on. Theo felt like the godlike cat-person was pouring his emotions out, but nothing resembling sorrow yed on the mans face. It was a strange contrast, but the alchemist was there as a shoulder to cry on. Even if there werent tears in that mud-strewn pit.
Theo would have gged long before quitting time if not for his enhanced [Strength] and [Vigor]. Even if he didnt have those stats to bolster his body, he would have remained for another word from the leader of the Khahari. It was too strange of a situation to pass up, but he could sense something deep within Khahar. The simplicity ofbor sent him back to a simpler time, where people werent bowing at his feet to gain his favor. That was something Khahar went over. The constant begging for attention from such a powerful being, it was why people normally ascended to godhood.
You give them one ounce of help, Khahar said, welding another string of blocks together, then you owe them for life. Its exhausting.
Broken Tuskers are different, Theo said, running his hand along the perfect mortar. There were sections with images of a cute rendition of Khahar himself, dancing in the sun. Well beg you not to help us.
Khahar smiled. The surroundingborersughed, shouting their words of support. People in Broken Tusk were known for their independence. It was a reason they were so destitute when Theo got there. But it was a strength now, and Theo would do everything to preserve that strength. They were unimpressed with the leader of the Khahari, treating him like anyborer they had ever worked with. A Broken Tusker wouldnt bow to anyone unless they offered a steady job and a te of hot food. There was a charm to that.
Good to hear, Theo, Khahar said, grinning. I can feel that monster waveing on.
Bet you could deal with that in a breath, Theo said,ughing. Sorry. The loot is all ours.
The work went on for hours. Khahar was clearly holding back, trying to limit himself as much as possible to work at theborers pace. Ziz overcame the effects of his stamina potion before midday,ing down into the pit to give directions. He was in no condition to lift the blocks and set them in ce. Throks artifices were working wonders, but the ocean hadnte to y. The alchemist was worried about that, but they were at least a day away from worrying about that. Even with their new rapid pace.
There was a slight tension in the air when Theo called Khahars true name from the battlements of Broken Tusk. Once the leader of the Khahari returned to the harbor as though nothing happened, the tension lifted. Shortly after, it was as though he was equal to anyborer in the town. The Khahari poption in town wasnt high, so no one saw him for anything more than he was. A hard worker, quick with a smile and kind. Before working hours were over, he invited Khahar and Alise to dinner at the town hall. Theyd have the open area of the hall to themselves, the crackling fire giving excellent ambience. Khahar epted.
Hes WHAT? Zarali asked.
The Drogramathi Priestess caught Theo outside the Newt and Demon. He needed to check on his gardens and golems, rearranging the nts to encourage the highest level of cultivation. Zarali followed him to the rows of greenhouses, huffing at him the entire way. A mix of excitement and fear painted her face.
He could rewrite what we know about history, you know? Zarali said, trying a different tactic. If I could ask him a few questions, I could publish the results. An interview with Khahar? That hasnt happened. Ever. No mortal remains from the Forging, I could be
I get it, Theo said, interrupting her rant. Youre wee toe to dinner tonight. Pick his brain, but dont be rude.
Can I bring Xolsa? she asked, eyes glittering with excitement.
Yeah. Alise wants to bring a guest, Theo said.
Zarali looked herself over, scoffing. I cant wear these. I need to changewhen are we eating?
The same time we eat every single day, Theo said, giving her a t look. Just chill out.
Zarali did not chill out. She stormed off, headed to herb.
Theo was happy to get back to something at least tangentially rted to alchemy. The reagents in each greenhouse were doing well to cultivate themselves. The buildings provided the ideal environment for them to grow, even if most of those buildings were almost entirely empty. Meanwhile, the mushroom cave was almost ready for full production and the golems had collected enough random ingredients to do a few runs. They were targeting the [Marsh Tubers], but grabbed whatever they saw. It was mostly [Stone Flowers], [Water Lilies], and [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. The alchemist took his mind off the sudden events by starting 2 of his stills with 500 units of [Stone Flowers], and [Water Lilies]. They werent the cultivation quality he wanted, but more for the store was better. Salire would be happy.
Hey! a voice called from downstairs in the shop. Theo recognized it as the rough sort of thing Sledge would say.
Whats up? Theo asked, descending to the first floor.
Sledge stood with her hands on her hips, that permanent scowl on her face. She was covered in sawdust.
The sky. Ha ha, she said with exactly no emotion. Got a question for you, fancy pants.
You cant know Im wearing pants, Theo said, tugging at his silken robe.
Are you purposefully underutilizing my vast abilities? Sledge asked, narrowing her eyes. Or are you just dumb?
Youre running the mill, right?
I need [Fabricator] work, Theo! Dammit! Sledge said, mming her hand down on the front desk. I need inspiration!
Sledge, thats on you, Theo said. Youre the taskmaster for the sawmill, but I gave you free reign. Assign a person to run it for you, then take fabricator jobs.
No one wants to hire me, Sledge said.
Theo gestured for the angry little Marshling to follow him upstairs. He was certain that most Marshlings were just angry people, but he saw them for what they were. Hard working, dedicated individuals who had a keen sense ofmunity. She followed him upstairs and took a seat by the window, letting out a breath. The alchemist joined her.
Heres what were going to do, Theo said. Im working on a project. Everyone in Broken Tusk is going to want one, and we need you to attach the pipes through the houses.
I wanna do more than justy pipes, mayor, Sledge said, crossing her arms.
Yeah, but you need experience to get more skills, Theo said. Lets start over. What skills do you have?
The [Fabricator] ss was based around the idea that seed core buildings couldnt be modified. If a person took a brick from their house, it would vanish and then the building would rebuild itself. [Fabricators] could modify the structure of a seed core building, and perhaps a towns seed core and so on. Sledge exined that she wasnt even level 5 yet, as she was too busy with the mill. Her only ability was [Modification], which allowed her to rearrange the structure of a building without it rebuilding itself. It was a long road before shed be doing what Theo wanted her to do.
Thats when youll get the [Tamper] skill, Theo said. They took a while to review which skills seemed like the best ones. The alchemist found the skill in his endless list, thanks to the search feature, and inspected it.
[Tamper]
Fabricator Skill
Epic
Allows the user to change the nature of a seed core.
Effect:
Apply unaligned mana to any seed core to change its nature.
Look at the wording, Theo said. It says seed core, rather than seed core building. Thats big.
Theo didnt want to go into where he thought this would go. This was the first step to bing a [Coresmith], he could feel it with his intuition. Like most things with the system, it was training wheels for something bigger.
So, what can I do with this? Sledge asked.
Hard to say, but I think well be looking at some serious upgrades, Theo said. I want you to take that ability at level 10, then if you can spare the point at level 15 take [Synergistic Links].
Theo inspected that skill, which seemed like the real winner here.
[Synergistic Links]
Fabricator Skill
Legendary
Apply production chain links between seed cores.
Effect:
Apply unaligned mana to establish bonuses to production chain buildings.
Production chains mean things like mining to smelting to cksmithing, Theo said.
I understood that, Sledge said, glowering. You dont have to treat me like a baby.
But baby asked for help, Theo said, grinning. He continued before she could p him. Youre busy. I get it. Talk with Alise or one of her henchmen if you need help restructuring the sawmill. Remember, youre the most important piece to my boat-building puzzle.
Sledge swelled with pride at thatment. She puffed her chest out and smiled.
I am, arent I? Sledge asked.
You are, Theo said, patting her on the head. He exined what was so important about the [Fabricator] ss with his air conditioning n. Sledge didnt understand it entirely, the heat didnt hinder the Marshlings as much as the other races. But with Humans, and other cold-weather enjoying racesing to town, this would be important. People would pay a premium to keep their houses cool and seed core houses didnt have upgrades to regte the temperature. Theo just hoped Xolsa wouldnt sell his magically cold fire.
Yeah, I saw an Elf, Sledge said. An Elf. Living in Broken Tusk. Well, they look hard as shells, so theres that.
Theo nodded. He needed to remember to check in with Sledge more often. She needed more direction than the others, and she wouldnte to him for help unless it was dire. The Marshling was happy with his advice, and his promise that she would lead the air conditioner project. The alchemist wasnt sure if the project would pay off, but that didnt matter. Leveling his [Fabricator] was more important, so he would push ahead anyway. Work like this often led to other work. It revealed a hole in the needs of Broken Tuskers that he could exploit.
Im off, Sledge said. Thanks. Oh, and youre the baby. Im not a baby.
Theo couldnt even remember what he was doing before Sledge arrived. His mind felt scrambled from so many weird things happening today, but he righted himself when Tresk sent him a private message.
Youing to dinner, or what? Zaralis about to melt. She cant even talk to this Khahar dude, Tresk said.
Theo rushed out of theb, making his way directly to the town hall.
Chapter 3.33: Overpowered and Awesome
Chapter 3.33: Overpowered and Awesome
Zarali was the only one dressed up for the dinner. Khahar remained in his tattered loincloth. Alise had brought Nira as her guest, both of them wearing their simple clothes, and Tresk was still covered in mud. But Zarali wore a flowing purple gown with fine jewels hanging from her neck. She even did her hair, although Theo did not know how.
The guest of honor has arrived, Khahar said, pping once.
About time, Tresk said, huffing.
Someone, likely Alise, had rearranged the floor of the town hall for the dinner. Instead of the plush chairs sitting by the fire, shed arranged a dining table. She even set it with a nice tablecloth and dinnerware, which seemed a step too far for Theo. He took his seat at the head of the table, granting him a view of the crackling fire. It was warm, but not overly hot in the hall. It was too vast to get stuffy.
Well, thanks to everyone who came, Theo said. I think Tresk picked up the food.
Were waiting on Xolsa, Zarali corrected, clearing her throat.
Hes the Barathier you were talking about, Khahar said, nodding. Strange people.
Right! Zarali said, sounding more nervous than Theo had ever heard her. She produced a journal from nowhere and started writing. I would be honored by whatever youre willing to share.
Khahar smiled, but Theo could sense some amount of annoyance.
Treat it as story time, Khahar. Shes a historianand overly excitedbut I dont want you to feel ufortable, Theo said. Zarali shot him a look.
To be honest, Im content that none of you are pressing your foreheads to the ground, Khahar said, letting out a long sigh. I cant remember thest decent conversation I had. On to the Baratheirrak.
Zarali brightened up, scribbling something down. Khahar told the story of Xolsas people while they waited for the wizard himself. They were originally from this world, sent when everyone else was, but they left to live in some ce that wasnt real. Theo didnt really understand how that worked, but Zarali picked up on everything. They went back and forth for a few minutes before the door opened.
Sorry Imte, Xolsa said. I suspect our guest is disrupting my portal system.
That happens, Khahar said, seeming slightly dejected.
Dont worry, Xolsa said, taking his seat. Whats for dinner?
Tresk produced their food from her inventory, eating hers in one go before dishing out for everyone else. It was whatever Xam was serving at the tavern tonight, the closest thing to an Alfredo sauce on noodles that Theo had seen since he arrived in town. It was served, of course, with wolf meat instead of chicken.
Khahar ate like a gentleman. He used more utensils to eat the simple dish than Theo knew existed, and talked about Xolsas people politely as he did so. It was a tragic tale of loss and mistakes that affected an entire people.
And you never met your parents, Khahar said, gesturing to Xolsa. Because theyre locked away in that self-made dimension. Getting you here would have cost them dearly.
Xolsa smiled, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. I never thought of it like that.
Zarali grilled him about more things that were wrong in the history books. Khahar had a perfect recollection of the past 60,000 years and went on record to correct what was written. He never left the Khahari desert, and people rarely visited outside of the race, but he was happy to recount the world in brief. The Drogramathi Priestess scribbled furiously, trying to keep up with his pace.
So, Alise, Theo said, leaning to the other side of the table. And Nira. How are you two doing?
Were fine, Alise said, brushing some of her messy hair out of her face. Thrilled to be a part of this harbor project. This is going to do a lot for us.
Yeah, Nira said, poking at her food.
We finally nted a house seed. Carved out a really pleasant spot in the south of town, Alise said. She messed with her hair again, a nervous habit perhaps.
Its close to the smelter, Nira said.
And close enough to town hall, Alise said, chuckling nervously.
I never set up the housing area north of the towns center, Theo said with a shrug. The conversation between Zarali and Khahar went on, Xolsa interjecting his thoughts asionally. It was like that when I got here, so we just kept it.
Were zoning out a small section of the southern area of town for housing, Alise said. But that section is going to be industry, but we just love it down there.
We do, Nira said, half-heartedly. It seemed everything she said was half-hearted, though.
Theo picked up on the real purpose of the conversation after a while, but his mind still lingered on the expansion of the town. He consulted his mayors screen, tracing his eyes along the straight line of the eastern wall. The zones he could expand lined up perfectly with the harbor, but hed need to purchase 3 eastward expansions to get all the way across the river. This would enclose the port section of the harbor within the wall, aplishing all his goals in one action. If the wall created bridge-walls like he expected, it would be even more perfect.
Yes, were just happy to have this chance, Alise said, nudging Nira.
Oh. Just so happy, Nira said, her tonepletely t.
No one needs my blessing to have a rtionship, Theo said, holding his hands up.
Leave it to Spencer to miss the point entirely, Khahar said, grinning. They dont want your blessing. Youre her boss. She manages Niras work.
Theos face flushed violet. He thought Alise was shoving her new romantic entanglement down his throat, but she just wanted to know if it was alright. Of course, she managed some of the work Nira did, directing her to focus on one metal or the other. That would be a conflict of interest, but the alchemist didnt care. He picked at his food for a moment, lingering on how urate Khahars assessment of the situation was.
Well, of course, Theo said, keeping his eyes on his te. Its totally fine.
Look how embarrassed he is, Tresk said. What? Girls didnt like girls back on Earth? Youre in a soul-bond with a lizard. Grow up!
That was normal on Earth, Khahar said, nodding. I imagine.
And now we change the subject, Theo said, coughing into his hand.
Alise and Nira had more ns than their involvement, though. The Lady Administrator was helping organize the workers for the smeltery. Zarali bristled when they stole away Khahars attention, but he clearly needed a break.
Minting coins is a fantastic idea, Khahar said. He produced a single, rocky coin from nowhere and ced it on the table.
Theos eyes went wide. He didnt need to inspect the item to know it was a spiritstone coin. It represented 1,000 gold. On the face, it had the image of a desert,plete with palm trees and a small pool. It must have represented an oasis. On the reverse, it had the year it was minted, and some text the alchemist couldnt read. He suppressed an urge to snatch the coin away, pushing that feeling deep down. They already had every advantage in the world here. Broken Tusk wouldnt prop itself up with any more outside help.
How many do you produce a year? Zarali asked, inspecting the coin.
Several thousand, Khahar said. The royal crafters use all of them.
Interesting to actually see that the Khahari track time from creation, Zarali said, cing the coin back on the table. She was right, it had the number 59,584 on it.
We dont care for tracking time by eras, Khahar said, waving her away.
Khahars attention drifted from the conversation. Theo watched as his eyes traced through the air, as though he were following an invisible thread, but it led back to Theo. He stared into the alchemists chest, tilted his head, then traced his fingers through the air. A burning sensation spread through Theos chest.
Oops, Khahar said, blinking rapidly. Im sorry, Theo. I was tracing a strand of power, and I may have
A sound like an explosion came from the far side of the town hall. Theo groaned. Khahar tilted his head, a grimace hanging on his face. Uharis, Archmage of the Order of the Burning Eye stood at the entrance, a staff in one hand and a spell coiled in the other. Khahar waved his hand, and the spell vanished. He didnt rise from his seat, he just gestured for the wizard to join them.
Awkward, Tresk said.
Abomination, Uharis said.
Khahar shrugged.
The doors to the town hall were blown off their hinges. Theo couldnt tell exactly what had happened. It happened way too fast, but Khahar was no longer sitting in his chair. He was standing near the entrance, holding the arm of Sulvan metouched, Grand Inquisitor of the Order of the Burning Eye. Sulvans ming sword was in his hand, poised to strike.
Id rather you not damage this lovely building further, Khahar said.
Sulvan was frozen in ce. The level 130-something Pdin seemed like a force of nature the first time Theo saw him. Now he could see how powerless the man was against Khahars might. Something exchanged between them, some battle of wills no one could see. Then, Sulvans eyes shed and the room was flooded with immense power.
Yet, you remain, Sulvan said. His voice boomed through the hall, carrying with it a power that Theo couldntprehend.
The Burning Eye, Zarali whispered.
You vite your oath, Khahar said. Return to the heavens, you old bastard.
You first.
Theo couldnt believe he was watching a pissing match between two powerful beings. Then it got weirder. Zaralis eyes shed purple. Apparently, the Burning Eyes possession of his faithful was enough for Drogramath to take off his gloves. She rose from her seat, joining the others near the entrance. She walked with more swagger than should be possible, striking an odd image given the beautiful dress she wore.
Why have rules if you dont follow them? Zarali asked, her voice booming to match the others. Why bind my followers while yours run free?
Back to the Demonic realm with you, fiend, The Burning Eye said.
Make me, Drogramath said, growling.
The room filled with yellow light. Theo felt the winds of the Khahari desert blow through the town hall, washing everything clean. He felt as though hed rested for an entire night. His stamina bar was suddenly full. Only now did he notice Tresk wasnt in her seat. Whatever Khahar did broke her stealth and she stood with twin daggers ready to strike out at the representatives from the Burning Eye. Sulvan and Zarali sagged, their eyes returning to their normal hue.
Thats quite enough of that, Khahar said. Archmage Uharis, Grand Inquisitor Sulvan, I apologize for instigating this. It was never my intention.
Zarali snuck away from the action,ing to take her seat back at the table. She slumped in her chair, huffing breath.
Broken Tusk is under our protection, Sulvan said, his voice as emotionless as ever.
Broken Tusk is under your yoke, Khahar corrected, tightening his grip on Sulvans wrist. The ming sword ttered to the ground.
Ascend, you old fool, Uharis hissed. Stay out of our business. Go back to the desert.
Concerning my friend, Khahar said, pointing a finger at the wizard. Ill do as I please.
Uharis vanished.
Clever piece of runework, metouched, Khahar said. How long have you been eavesdropping on the alchemist?
Since the start of the season, Sulvan said.
And you led him to believe this would keep Drogramath out? Khahar asked.
I did, Sulvan said.
There was no lying to the leader of the Khahari. Between the two men sat a gulf of power that was impossible to understand.
Im altering your work, and telling him the truth, Khahar said. This was a pleasant dinner, and Im sorry for activating the rune. But, leave.
Khahar released his grip on the Grand Inquisitor. Sulvan picked up his sword, returning it to its scabbard. They shared an intense stare for a long moment.
I think Ill Sulvan started. Then, he was gone.
I dont think you will, Khahar said. With a gesture, the damaged doors were back on their hinges. The spot burned by Sulvans ming sword was repaired. Everything was back to normal. He returned to the table, taking a seat. Sorry about that.
Hey, what in the hells just happened? Tresk asked, letting out a nervous chuckle.
Alise and Nira stopped trying to escape out the window. They returned to the table reluctantly, not willing to sit.
I disagree with the Burning Eye, Khahar said. Hes not wrong, though. I dont intend to stay in this world much longer The damage to my mind is bing harder to contend with.
It was too much all at once. Theo couldnt find the words to express what he felt. He certainly wasnt surprised that the Order of the Burning Eye was using the runework etched into his chest to spy on him. What surprised him was the activity of the gods. They had a battle in his town hall without throwing a punch, and Khahar banished them with a gesture.
Im not hungry anymore, Nira said.
Expose the rune, Theo, Khahar ordered.
And it felt like an order, not a suggestion. Theo removed his robe, and the dexterity shirt underneath. He looked down at his chest, noticing the glowing runes. They were normally just a scrawl of ck marks on his skin. With a gesture, Khahar changed it entirely.
They can no longer spy on you, and the original intent has been removed, Khahar said. It was never meant to stop Drogramath from possessing you, as you may have thought. Sulvan created it to prevent an interdiction event. They didnt want you crossing into another dimension. Why? I cannot say.
But Khahar knew. He just wasnt saying. If Khahar could see a thousand steps ahead of what someone was nning, Sulvan could see ten steps ahead. The only reason they didnt want Theo to be interdicted was to prevent him from using the Bridge of Shadows. The Order knew Fenian would get it eventually, allowing someone to travel long distances by jumping dimensions, but the question remained. Why?
There was no reason to keep this from Khahar. He knew. Why prevent me from using the Bridge?
To keep you here, Xolsa said, swallowing hard. Thats the only thing that makes sense.
Perhaps, Khahar said, stroking the fur on his chin. He shook his head, then locked his eyes on Tresk. I see a million permutations of events at all times. Fates that havente to pass. Sometimes it feels like Im a puppet, following those motions. A distinct path opened when I removed the interdiction suppression. Youll survive, now.
Theo felt a column of ice seize his spine. His blood ran cold at the idea that Khahar had seen something in the future that ended his life. He might not have had attributes to rival these god-like people, but he could put two pieces of a puzzle together. He was dead before the interdiction prevention was disabled, and alive afterward. The idea haunted him, forcing him into an ufortable silence.
Yay, youre gonna live, Alise said,ughing.
Ive never had so much of Lord Drogramaths power flow through me, Zarali said. Her face was gaunt.
Somehow, the events hadnt dampened Zaralis spirit to get more information out of Khahar. After a cup of tea, and a bit of food, she was back at it.
Theo broke off from the conversation to talk with Xolsa and Tresk, leaving Alise and Nira to recover on their own.
How the hell do I use an interdiction event to save my life? Theo asked.
Xolsa scratched his head. An interdiction event is defined as an event that pulls a person from one ne to another, usually against their will. Khahar wont tell you exactly how, but using the Bridge to avoid your fate makes no sense.
Hey, maybe you can just hide in the Dreamwalk, Tresk said,ughing. Oops. I dont think we wanted to tell you about the Dreamwalk.
Theo then had to exin the Dreamwalk to Xolsa, who dismissed it as a solution to the problem.
Theres a realm between you two, Xolsa said. Ive been studying it from afar. It generates power aligned to your Tarahek, but nothing like another dimension. Still, that skill sounds fascinating. Can you really gain experience while in the Dreamwalk?
Yep, Tresk said. Its overpowered and awesome.
Sounds like it, Xolsa said.
Somehow, the dinner got back on track. Conversation shifted away from the events, even after townspeople came to check things out. Aarok sent a team of adventurers to investigate the disturbance, but they were dismissed by Theo. He didnt need every mouth in town talking about the damn Burning Eye again. It was enough of a problemst time. He took sce because they wouldnt be back. Not until Khahar left the mortal ne.
When dinner was done, no one was tired. Khahar had used a mass-purification skill that banished otherworldly beings, cleansed the spirit, and restored everyones health, mana, and stamina. The side-effect was that it acted as though everyone affected got a good nights sleep and a hot meal. But Tresk and Theo didnt actually sleep. When they returned to the Newt and Demon for the night, they fell into the Dreamwalk. The only ce where they could talk, and no one could hear them.
Chapter 3.34: Avast Ye Newts
Chapter 3.34: Avast Ye Newts
Theo spent little of his time in the Dreamwalk working. He sat with Tresk, going over the events of the day. She retold the story of what happened in the town hall, presenting herself as the fearless hero that was ready to stab the Burning Eye to death. Even with their potent poisons, Sulvan would have swatted her like a fly. But he let her tell the story anyway. The alchemist was more concerned with the portent of death, and what that meant for the symbol Sulvan marked him with.
Khahar had changed the runes significantly. ording to him, it wouldnt prevent an interdiction event. Theo went back and forth with Tresk, trying to figure out if that was a good thing. They also debated what the Dreamwalk was. Their bodies were in the real world, while their minds drifted into this strange realm. The topic turned to Khahar himself near the nights end.
Yeah, but can we trust him? Tresk asked. He knows the future, but he doesnt wanna tell us? Come on.
Theo shrugged. They were sitting inside of the Marsh Wolf Tavern, an empty version of the real thing. The familiar haze of the Dreamwalk hung over everything, casting it in an eerie light.
But, he told us, Theo said. And steered us in the right direction. No, think about it. Hes said a few weird things, so far. Theres just something about him I cant ce. He called me his friend.
Yeah, no one wants to be friends with you, Tresk said, giggling.
Sucks to be you, then, Theo said.
Alright, alright. Im sorry, Tresk said. This guy has got me all bundled in a knot.
He wants to chill out in town, and pretend like hes not super strong. If he drops a few coins while hes here, whats the problem?
Did you see that spiritstone coin? Tresk asked, her mouth falling open. p my tail and call me a turtle, that was impressive.
Is that another idiom I dont understand? Theo asked.
Yeah, Tresk said. Can you imagine that much money?
Theos goal had been to get out from underneath the banner of Qavell since he arrived. Things were shaping up to make that more difficult, especially with the way the war was going. There might not be a kingdom to get away from by the end, but that wouldnt solve all his problems. He ran the scenario through his mind already. If the kingdom fell, what would happen to Broken Tusk? There was some kind of kingdom seed core that ran everything, so what happened if that copsed?
His mind didnt stay on the topic for long. When the Dreamwalk ended, he had potions to brew and a canal to finish. Khahar wasnt the person speeding the project up, though. Ziz and his guys were still going against Alises words and working on the project at night. Theo knew they were doing the same thing tonight after recovering from the effects of using [Stamina Potions]. Still, there was a lot to look forward to.
Salire wasing into her own in the shop, treating it like a learning experience. Theo didnt care how much money she skimmed, so long as she was leveling her cores. He was trading gold for experienced merchants, which hed need more than anything. The idea of caravans hadnt left his mind, even as the port nearedpletion. Even if they were cut off from the northern section of the continent, theyd need to run goods between the three major towns of the soutnds.
The mine was also producing [Drogramathi Iron Nuggets], which would make for interesting alchemical experimentation. Sledge might have finally realized she could direct work, instead of doing everything herself. The golems were just starting to be useful, and the alchemist had ns to get more lodestones from Zarali. His intuition on the matter said he could run 10 of them at the same time with his current level of willpower. He was practicing the things the Drogramathi Priestess showed him, but it was slow work.
That left the excitement for the harbor, and a dangling thread he hadnt fixed up yet. Fenian sold him a [Weavers Seed Core], which he wanted to use to make the sails for the boats. He just hadnt cultivated the right crops to get the job done, and hoped Banu, the local farmer, made progress on his splicing project. If anyone could figure out how to merge 2 nts, it was that guy.
When the Dreamwalk ended, Theo sorted out his stills from the previous days. His holding tanks were half-full of attribute-enhancement essences. He cleaned the stills, dropped in some frozen [Living River Water], and set them to work. Tresk joined him for breakfast at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. It was whatever was left from yesterday with a Pozwa egg on the side. The egg was a meal by itself.
When Theo and Tresk arrived at the work site, everyone except Ziz and his people were ready to go at it. He walked the length of the harbor. The alchemist wanted to stop thinking of it as a harbor. It was a marina connected to the ocean by a canal, but it was easier to think of the entire thing as a harbor. This was thest stretch for the project, although that felt surreal. He stood at thest length of earth that needed to be dug, the ocean in sight. Tresk had to clear some monsters away from the beach, but otherwise it was smooth sailing.
Khahar didnt seem affected by the dramast night. He went back to work, just happy to use his hands and get paid his single silver coin. Seemed like a shame, since the man held at least one spiritstone coin in his inventory.
Theo poured thest potion on the ground, urging it to cut thest section of canal, connecting it to the ocean. The workers had cleared out of the pit just as the ocean came rushing in. The alchemist had never seen so much water move at the one time, and it was going to be a massive problem for the pumps. They wouldnt be able to clear out the surge of the ocean fast enough, and the supply of salt water was endless.
Told you this would be a problem, Alise shouted. Now we have an unfinished section of the harbor.
It was an impossible problem. Perhaps they could have waited for a lower tide, or dammed the ocean somehow, but he was out of ideas. They would just have to deal with an unfinished section of the canal, allowing the dirt to wash out and ruin the beach area. He would just have toe to terms with changing thendscape, and potentially harming it forever.
I never wanted to offer more help than a standardborer, Khahar said,ing over to inspect the issue. But would you mind if I held the ocean back while we finish?
Theo didnt even know that was in the cards. He assumed Khahars abilities centered on a desert theme. If you can, he said, shrugging.
The power of someone at such an absurd level was on disy again. Khahar barely moved. He just swiped his hand and all the water in the canal rushed out into the ocean. A barrier went up at the mouth of the canal, holding the entire ocean at bay.
Well, thats cheating, Alise said, folding her arms over her chest. Whats the point? If he could have just built the entire thing in a blink.
Its only cheating a little, Theo said, although he didnt truly believe it. This was cheating a lot.
Khahar didnt even need to channel whatever skill he used. He was back in the pits with theborers, pushing stones into ce and mortaring them together. Zizs boys showed up a few hours before quitting time and helped with the effort, but Theo just watched. Thest brick went into ce, then the ocean rushed in once again. The workers didnt pause for a break, hoisting massive metal struts into ce over the canal. They estimated the ce where the walls would go, leaving them bare of the metal supports, andpleted the work in a half hour.
The result of a few days''bor, sped up no doubt by the assistance of a god-like Khahari, was a marvel. The main harbor was massive, stretching in the distance to show the churn of the ocean meeting the river. Their canal ran for miles toward the sea, cutting a straight line through thendscape and giving Broken Tusk something they desperately wanted. In moments, they would nt the only harbor on the eastern side of the continent.
The alchemist had enough money in his inventory to expand the towns unincorporated border the 3 spaces he needed, but not enough coin to incorporate it. He spent 30 gold toy the groundwork, allowing him to nt the seed core. This dropped him to 16 gold, not nearly enough to expand his walls around the new building.
Theo held the [Harbor Seed Core] in his hand, feeling the power of the legendary item. It was a silver metal cage surrounding a swirling vortex of water and wood. He could feel the items intent. It needed to be ced near a wide body of water. Ziz and his men were working on a way to deal with the river, but the alchemist couldnt wait. He needed to nt the harbor now. He knelt near the head of the harbor, watching as a crowd formed outside the protective gates of the city.
The moment Theo ced the harbor in the ground, he was knocked back by massive roots springing from the ground. They formed a gnarled shape, but people couldnt shove cores into the tangle of wood fast enough. Theo didnt even invite them to do so, they just did it. He joined in, applying his highest level [Monster Cores] and watching with excitement. The roots took shape, forming a building twice as wide as the adventurers guild. A wooden dock sprung into the harbor, finding purchase in the marble stones. The building looked more like a massive warehouse than a dwelling, sporting the familiar theme of a blue tted roof and wooden sides.
Theo inspected the new building.
[Harbor]
Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 Days
Expansions:
Cheers went up through the crowd. Everyone moved in to inspect the townstest building. Theo even spotted Khahar cheering with excitement. Even if this aplishment meant nothing back in the Khahari Desert, the excitement was infectious. It was a real aplishment.
Theo had enough cores between him and Tresk to get the first 20 levels down on the harbor. They took turns inserting [Monster Cores]. Once it hit level 5, Theo picked the only option that made sense. He thought it should have been a default option for the building.
[Expanding Docks]
Creates new docks based on the level and size of the harbor.
While the building expanded to either side, still noting close to matching the size of the harbor theyd hewn from the earth, another dock sprung up from the water. The level 10 upgrades werent normally impressive, but this one was good. Another dock sprung up as he selected the only option that made sense.
[Dyed Decay]
Power this building with motes to prevent the decay of all ships docked. Ships that remain docked for more than a day will repair themselves, depending on the level of this building and the amount of motes stored.
Theo nodded to himself, ignoring Tresk. She was shouting advice to him on which option to pick, even if she couldnt see the upgrades he did. The level 15 option gave him hope. Hed wanted a separate building for a shipwright to work, but this was even better. It was one of those upgrades that added another building to the mix, which was often just as good as the independent building. The only example of a worse version of a new building was the shop in the Newt and Demon, but they needed this.
[Shipwrights Drydock]
A Shipwrights workshop will appear at the nearest section ofnd adjacent to the water. This feature includes a dry dock, a separate building with unique upgrade paths, and a ramp forunching new boats.
True to the description of the upgrade, a building appeared on the eastern side of the harbor. The marble blocks cut themselves, creating a shallow ramp into the water. The shipwrights workshop wasnt asrge as the harbor building, but it was still impressive. It had covered areas for someone to work on boats before they wereunched, and the slope would make it easy tounch whatever they made.
Oh, thats a good one, Tresk said.
Theo breathed a sigh of relief. He moved with the crowd to the drydock, finding that it was a separate building from the main one. That meant he could send it along its own upgrade path. It was a problem for another day, as his supply of [Monster Cores] was running low. The closer the harbor got to level 20, the more it required. Their level 20 upgrade was utilitarian, but no other upgrade seemed worth it. Theo selected it.
[Fair Winds]
Sailing vessels within 13,000 halms of the port gain the [Fair Winds] bonus. Vessels with this effect may turn sharper, catch more wind, and tread less water.
Vessels that remain within the harbor for at least 12 hours receive this effect for 6 hours after leaving the harbor.
Without his increased [Intelligence], Theo would have had trouble with that distance calction. Since a halm was about a quarter foot, the effect would work out to a mile from the harbor. His motivation for selecting it was to ease turning within the harbor, an issue he foresaw. Even as citizens celebrated around him, the alchemist inspected his new building.
[Harbor]
[Avast Ye Newts]
Owner: Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 20 (23%)
Rent Due: 7 Days
Expansions:
[Expanding Docks]
[Dyed Decay]
[Shipwrights Drydock]
[Fair Winds]
Theo wasnt sure when Tresk could have set the name of the building, but she was giggling so it must have been her. This was a great start, but he still needed to secure the funding to expand the city. The first expansion was 30 gold, the second 40, and the third 50. It was getting incredibly expensive to getnd for the town, but he was sure he could borrow the coin from people in town.
Anyone have 120 gold I can have? Theo asked, shouting to the crowd.
Suddenly, the citizens of Broken Tusk remembered tasks they hadntpleted for the day, walking off and muttering to themselves.
Ill spot half of that, Tresk said.
I can get a quarter, Ziz said, shrugging.
The adventurers guild will cover it in full, Aarok said, appearing from the thinning crowd.
Well split it between the towns coffers, and the Adventurers Guild, Alise said. Like I nned.
Of course Alise had a n for this. The entire project went off the rails, and she was grasping for control the entire time. She was a person who wanted everything to go a certain way, and Theo admired her for that. But in Broken Tusk, things rarely went as nned. They pooled their money, handing it over to Theo, and he expanded the town.
Aarok sent out an alert to everyone in town before the changes applied, warning them to dismount the walls. The group that remained near the harbor cleared the way, giving the expanding town a wide berth. Then, when Theo bought the incorporatednd, the walls rumbled ominously. They crawled across the open fields after the first expansion, edging closer to the river with the second, and bridged the gap on the third. The wall now enclosed the entire harbor area, and as predicted, there was a strange half-wall, half-bridge spanning the river and canal.
On the ocean-side of the harbor, where the wall went over the canal, it rose to an incredible height. It was now high enough to allow ships to pass underneath, and cameplete with a gatehouse-style building that could drop a massive portcullis into the water, preventing ships from entering. It was operated by the same winch system used for the main gates of town. The eastern gate was now located facing north, along the new stretch of wall, with another gate facing south on the opposite side. The section of wall spanning the river wasnt as tall as the canal side, and had a permanently fixed grate instead of a portcullis.
The new wall was exactly what Theo wanted out of the expansion, and then some. They had their harbor, and it was enclosed. Broken Tusk had morend to defend, and there was only one person who could provide the emcements to aplish the task.
Looks like we need to call Fenian, Theo said. Heughed. The trader was going to lose his mind.
And look! Tresk shouted, pointing at the sky. Its barely midday!
Theo remained in the new section of town for some time. Tresk joined him on the new bridge-wall facing south. They stared down the canal that stretched out into the ocean. There was still more work to do, but it felt good. The alchemist had to etch out channels in the bay, ensuring there was enough depth forrge vessels to travel, but it was the first step. The first step in establishing trade to othernds.
Chapter 3.35: The Egg
Chapter 3.35: The Egg
Tresk remained in the harbor for as long as she could. When the sun crawled closer to the early afternoon, she was off. Theo watched her bound off, climbing the hills to the north. He couldnt see her anymore, but he could feel her. With a rush, she was gone. Jumping through each shadow on the winding path to Rivers and Daub. She knew to keep him updated, and he needed to make a call.
Themunication crystal Fenian gave to Theo was a strange thing. The more he learned about long-rangemunication, the more he realized how weird it was. Even Khahar said people couldnt use simr methods directly to the Khahari Desert. It was hard to put his finger on it, but the alchemist suspected a greater force at work. Still, he couldnt deny the traders usefulness.
Theo sped the crystal in his hand, letting the haptic buzz y through his skull.
Theo? Is your town ready? Im bringing a Dragon! Fenian said. There was too much excitement in his voice. A persons smile seemed to carry through the telepathic link.
Har har, Theo said. Hows it going, Fenian?
Better than I expected, Fenian said. I have a solid price on your potions. The Elves are fighting a protracted warwith themselves, of courseand are buying everything up. Well, theyve been buying potions up for about 50 years, but I wasnt in the business back then.
Thats good to hear. What prices are you getting? Theo asked.
They are very selective. Your fancy [Healing Potions] for 2 silver apiece. They said if you can do the same for your attribute potions, theyll go as high as 10 silver. That trantes to about 5 silver each, though. Theyre tough on negotiations and expect deals on bulk orders. So, expect less.
That wasnt the worst-case scenario, though. The alchemists ability to mass-produce potions was getting better by the day. If he ran his stills full tilt, all day, he could make 3,000 potions. Fermenting, distilling, and applying modifiers would take another day, but if he focused on only attribute potions He could put together an order in a few days, and make 150 gold. That didnt seem right, and he didnt know if Fenian had the coin on hand to pay that amount. The only other limiting factor was his capacity to produce the reagents. But he was getting ahead of himself.
Alright. Let me know when youre stopping by, Theo said.
Theo. Have you worked on my other project? Fenian asked.
I have an array of the [Hallow Ground] potions for you. Speaking of that, are you paying me for those? Theo asked.
I thought the cave was enough, Fenian said.
Bring me another cave, and you can have them for free, Theo said. I need another cave to grow [Manashrooms].
Best I can do is 50 gold for a new cave, Fenian said.
Theo thought for a moment. It wasnt like Fenian to withdraw his hand like that. He settled on the idea that the Elf was low on funds, which was likely the case.
Take it out of my next order, Theo said. And, one more request?
Lets hear it.
Find me a nt that I can weave into durable cloth. Canvas, if possible, for my sails, Theo said.
Oh, my. The port? Yes, I know the perfect nt. [Starbristle x] is incredibly strong. Its also blue, like my eyes. Ill bring a few samples from Tarantham. You only need one nt, right? Fenian asked.
A single living nt is enough for me, Theo said.
Perfect. Im near some farms. Ill steal a few for you, Fenian said. Anyway, contact me again when you have potions to sell. Im in the middle of wooing an Elven Noble Lady. Wish me luck!
Before Theo could wish him anything, the connection cut out. He returned the crystal to his inventory and sent out a mental pulse, checking on his golems. The more he practiced, the easier it was to connect to the lodestone from afar. The alchemist got a vague impression of the greenhouses. He gleaned nothing useful from the act, and dismounted the wall to check on them manually. When he arrived, Zarali wanted a word with him.
The Drogramathi Priestess was concerned about the alteration of his mark, but he waved her off. She also wanted to push forward with upgrading his herbalism core, but he couldnt spare the time today. The directions she gave on upgrading the core seemed simple, but he felt as though she was holding something back. Her possession by Drogramath had shaken her more than shed admit.
How are you holding up? Theo asked.
Honestly? Not well, Zarali said, managing a weak smile. Xolsa has been listening to me ramble and sob. Drogramath sent me a message. Well, it was more of a feeling. An apology. It helped a lot.
That just cast the Demon Lords motives in an even more confusing light. If it was hard to understand Sulvans motives, people like Drogramath and Khahar were impossible. Everything seemed to fit in their neat little n for the mortal world, but what they witnessed in the town hall was the first time the alchemist saw any god take direct action.
Theo let Zarali join him in tending the gardens. The greenhouses had a substantial effect on the rate of cultivation. Each of his nts were ready for propagation, and he went about that work. It would take a few days to get each bed filled with reagents, but not as long as it would take outside of Broken Tusk. He then had to worry about cultivating whatever Fenian brought to town, but that was a task for another day. Since he used the flowers to brew the essence for his attribute-enhancement potions, and the stems to create new nts, he skimmed a few 100% cultivated flowers from each type.
This would be easier with a legendary herbalism core, Zarali said.
Maybe, Theo said, pping an ember from a [me Rose] from the air. He snipped the end of a healthy-looking branch and shoved it in the ground. That was usually enough for them to grow.
Are you enjoying the golems? Zarali asked.
Theo could feel them foraging through the area near the Newt and Demon. Each had already exchanged their power supply a few times, but he had enough tes tost them. He took a moment to think about the question. The constructs skill was incredibly useful. It provided utility he didnt have before. Another pair of hands to take care of mundane tasks.
Theyre great, Theo said. We can work on upgrading my herbalism coreter today.
Oh. Exciting, Zarali said.
Were going to check on the mine, Theo said.
We?
Theos [Lesser Stone Golem] waved from outside the greenhouse. Zarali gave him a t look.
I thought you were including me, she said.
Youre wee toe.
Zarali was bored enough to join them down the road, headed for the smelter. Nira was working hard, not distracted by the excitement of the port. Theo waved at her and her apprentices, then pushed on to the mine. Sarna was working near the entrance, in one of the many tunnels the alchemist created near the surface. They were pulling more copper out of the mine than ever, along with regr iron and Drogramathi Iron.
Did your workforce double again? Theo asked, spotting many unfamiliar faces.
Indeed it has, Sarna said, wiping sweat and soot from her forehead. I wonder if were keeping up with the housing demand.
Theo shrugged. Alise would handle it, if it became a problem. Even if he got reassurances to the contrary, he was worried about their supply of food. Importing from Rivers and Daub was an option, but hed rather not.
We should get a bakery, Theo said, inspecting the walls of the mine. He didnt know what he hoped to find here. Just a distraction while he waited for Tresk to return, perhaps.
Now youre talking, Sarna said, pping him on the back. So, were on the edge of a cavern. Whats the n with that?
The cavern was behind several well-ced iron gates, in tunnels designed for a fighting retreat. If they hit anything nasty, the miners could back out through the tunnel and shut the gates behind them. If things got terrible, they could abandon the mine and let the towers take care of the monsters. The southern wall was tangled up in the rocky hills, but he was certain they would reach monsters emerging from the mouth of the cave.
Well have to see what Aarok wants to do, Theo said, scratching the back of his head.
Uh-huh, Sarna said, nodding. What about the god hanging out in our town?
Khahar isnt a god, Theo said, waving her question away.
Kinda seems like a god.
I feel like he has something to say to me, Theo said. He just cant get the words out. Something is wrong with his mind.
That didnt give Zarali or Sarna confidence that Theo had the problem under control. To him, it was like stuffing a hurricane in his pocket. Completely impossible.
Sarna dropped the topic. Zarali was interested to see where the Drogramathi Iron was spawning, so she led the way. The priestess inspected the nuggets for some time, nodding her approval. ording to her, nothing in the cave was a natural deposit, but Theo already knew that. It required further study.
So, Im not eager to test these monster-stoppers, Sarna said, pping an iron gate. But throw us a few good adventurers, and I think we can do it.
If Theo wasnt trying to whittle away the time while his reagents grew, he would have been annoyed. Aarok could handle the situation. Hed know how many people to send, and which ones to send. Instead, Sarna wanted the alchemist to do something about it now. There was a lingering fear there, though. As long as thatst bit of rock stood between them and the next room, the mine would function without worry.
Are things that boring around here? Theo asked, letting out a sigh. Aarok and his people would have been preparing for the monster wave, especially with the newly expanded walls. Theyd need to move the towers around, especially to the new harbor wall.
Do it, Theo, Zarali said.
They were standing in thest room, right past the newest iron gate installed by Throk. The icy part of the cavern wall was ahead, the ce that signaled a portal into an underground world. Theo shrugged. Whats the worst that could happen?
Theo dumped a [Tunneling Potion] on the ground, one of thest he had, and let it go to work. He created arge opening into the cavern, carving out the rock with his mind, then stopped. Everyone stopped, sucking in a collective breath.
What is that? Sarna said, moving closer to the opening.
Theos potion sat eagerly in the rock, wanting to eat more away. But there was an obstruction. Gray, magically hewn rock gave way to hand-carved stones. The alchemist revealed more of the strange structure, tracing along one side of the wall until he found an archway, a massive stone b in the middle. It bore an inscription none of them could read. Not even Zarali.
Alright, the work day just got interesting, Sarna said,ughing. This isnt a cavern at all.
But, it is cold, Theo said. He pressed his hands against the wall and let the chill wash through his body. There was something familiar about this stone, but he couldnt ce it. Like a memory removed from his mind. It lingered with a sense of pull, as though the stones had their own gravity.
The symbols are glowing now, Zarali said, moving closer to the wall.
If Theo had remembered to drink his [Potion of Limited Foresight] that morning, he might have seen the artifice emerge from the doorway. The ck doorway rippled, and a w-like hand snatched his. In an instant, Zarali summoned blue fire to attack the w, Sarna let out a startled yelp and smacked it with a pickaxe, and the alchemist shrieked.
Pain, like nothing hed ever felt before, flooded through his body. System messages popped up as his health drained away. He could feel the ck w sucking his life force from him, draining his blood. Instinctively, he drank a [Retreat Potion] but didnt withdraw a bomb. A surge of [Dexterity] sharpened his reflexes, but the potion didnt work. His body throttled backward, but his hand remained, shattering something in his shoulder. Zarali and Sarna shouted something, but he couldnt hear them. The pain seared his mind, grinding his will into dust. Even the [Lesser Stone Golem] struck the doorway, desperate to defend its master.
As quickly as it started, it was over. The ck w melted back in the door and the alchemist copsed. Time must have passed, but a sickening crunch woke Theo from his unconsciousness. He took a sharp breath and sat up, the chilly cavern floor leaving phantom cold on his back. The alchemist watched the hole in his hand mend. Zarali was chanting something, allowing the healing power of Drogramath to flow through his body. And the door was open.
Theo! Zarali shouted, shaking him. What happened?
Only then did he have time to check the system messages.
[Gic Matching]... [Dronon, Drogramathi Detected] : [MATCH]
[Willpower Matching]... [Above Average Detected] : [MATCH]
[Core Matching]... [Drogramath Herbalism Core]: [MATCH]
[Core Matching]... [Drogramath Alchemy Core]: [MATCH]
[Unknown Core]... [Governance Core]: [SKIP]
[ERROR]: Unexpected realm-ovep detected.
[Attempting Remap]... [SUCCESS]
[Dual Soul] detected. Remapping [SUCCESS]
[Theo Spencer], [Tresk] bonded.
[Opening Sequence]... [SUCCESS]
[Egg] has been bound to [Theo Spencer], [Tresk].
[Power Down]
Theo blinked, trying to force his mind to catch up to reality. The [Lesser Stone Golem] was destroyed on the ground, just a pile of rubble. Sarna had run off to get someones attention, only now returning with a gaggle of miners.
Im fine, Theo said, groaning to his feet.
He noticed what was in the room.
Sitting on a fine pedestal covered with a fine purple cloth, was an egg. A Dronon script ran from the top of the far wall to the bottom. Theo could understand pieces of it, but it was like reading a brokennguage.
You alright? I brought the workers, Sarna said, heaving breath. Whats that say?
Could we please have the room? Zarali asked, her tone frantic.
Sarna, Gridgen, and the rest of the miningborers were happy to clear out of the room. Whatever they expected in this cavern wasnt this. They were all too happy to get as far from the room as possible. Zarali turned to Theo when they had finally all left.
Theo exined the system messages, reading them out for her.
What? Zarali asked, shaking her head. She looked at the text once again, her breath catching in her throat. Tworgnothi.
Theo felt sore and spent. Tworgnothi sounded like a Dronon script, which made enough sense. What it was doing in his mind was another question.
Can you read it? Theo said, making to cross the threshold.
Wait! Zarali said. I dont know what it says. I can only make out parts. Something about a weapon. A horror.
Theo shrugged. Whatever this thing did, it did it. Its done. Thats the curious thing
He didnt want to finish his thought out loud. It was looking for him, but it found Theo and Tresk. Someone set this up. When they did, they neglected to predict that Tresk would be in the mix. That had to count for something, even if the artificepleted its run. Even that part was disturbing, though. Hed never seen an artifice interact with the system interface like that.
Can you make a zone of silence? Theo asked.
Zarali swiped her hand. The air shimmered with purple magic, bathing the newly excavated room in its light. The low whistle of the rest of the cave was drown out immediately.
Khahar! Theo shouted. Im in danger!
Nothing happened. Either Khahar knew it was a bluff, or he couldnt hear them. Either way, no one came running down the tunnel. It was good enough. Theo exined every part of the message, including the part about Tresk. He gave his theory as to someone setting this up, then failing to ount for the Tarahek.
If it was Tworgnoth, Zarali started. She closed her eyes, pping her cheeks and shaking her head. I cant see why the Master of Demonic Artifices would be involved. Hes a core Demon in the Demonic Pantheon.
But that artifice looked pretty Demonic, Theo said.
Well, Zarali said, letting out an exasperated breath. Youre bound to an egg, now. Might as well investigate.
Theo smiled. He knew her curiosity for the egg would get the better of her. He entered the room, still bathed in the zone of silence, and pressed his hand to the velvet cover over the egg. A sense of deep belonging flooded through his body. The egg was the size of his fist and warm to the touch. He removed the cover, spotting the speckled, stony surface of the egg. It felt too familiar. Like pressing his forehead against Tresks.
The system didnt give a description of the thing. Theo took it in his hands and just stared.
I dont recognize the egg, Zarali said.
Maybe a dragon? Theo asked, slightly hopeful. Who wouldnt want a pet dragon.
Dragon eggs are asrge as you are, Zarali said, shaking her head. This is smaller. Your robes are too tight, let me have it.
Theo found he wanted nothing more than to never give Zarali the egg. It wasnt as though he didnt trust her. The egg created something that ran deep into his heart. A new bond that hed do anything to protect. He stuffed it in his robes and shook his head.
We need to figure out what this is. I assume you have books on the subject, Theo said. Zarali nodded. Off to theb.
Chapter 3.36: Double Bonded
Chapter 3.36: Double Bonded
Alise didnt take the discovery of the egg well. Theo found an old satchel in Azrugs crates, although he supposed those were Salires crates now, and nestled the egg inside. He created an open-topped ss cube with thick walls and padded it with spare cloth. His egg was now safely nestled in the satchel, protected by a cage of magical ss. The alchemist felt a sense of warmth flowing from the egg, even as he entered the town hall to take his beating.
Aarok, Luras, Alise, and all her new functionaries were standing in the hall. The new administrators took notes, while Aarok and Luras looked pensive. Alise just looked mad.
I dont have to tell you how dangerous that sounds, Alise said.
Did Zarali rat me out? Theo asked.
Yes, Alise said. Lets see the egg.
Absolutely not, Theo said.
Alise was just trying to make sure everyone was safe, but that wasnt her job. That title went to Aarok and Luras. The two Half-Ogre men stared on for a moment before turning to each other. They shared a long look before shrugging.
Its a setup, Luras said. Just show us the egg, Theo. No one is going to touch it.
Theo made sure he was at a fair distance, mentally holding on to the various potions in his inventory. The moment that thought entered his mind, he took a mental step back and froze on the spot. Everyone in the room, even the functionaries, had a look of concern. The alchemist was just assaulted by a magical door, then he scooped up the egg like it was his own baby. Compared to most normal people, his mind was a fortress. This sudden invasion sent him into a momentary panic.
Reluctantly, he withdrew the egg and held it out.
Khahar? Luras asked.
Its a bonded creature, Khahar said, emerging from nowhere. Spencer is defensive, because they now share a minor soulbond.
You guys just went straight to the living god, didnt you? Theo said, chuckling. He wanted to me them, but he couldnt find the heart to do so. He would have done the same thing. Any reason to be worried?
May I touch her? Khahar asked.
Theo nodded, a ripple spreading through his body. It was a girl.
Khahar ced his hand on the egg for only a moment, then withdrew it. Amon creature, modified by Tworgnoth, UzXulven, and Drogramath. She ispletely harmless.
Thank you, Khahar Your uh Majesty, Alise said. Sorry for the scare, Theo. Cant be too careful with these things.
Theo exined how he was suddenly aware of his defensive behavior, finding it to be the most shocking thing of all.
It is a harmless soulbond, Khahar exined. Think of it as a small version of the Tarahek.
Theo had already given Tresk the entire story. She felt the bond with the egg, too. A deep sense to protect it at all costs that the distance did nothing to dampen. She was jumping back to Broken Tusk now, as the light faded.
So, is this a dragon? Theo asked, still hopeful.
No, its a mundane creature, Khahar said, cracking a smile. Like back on Earth.
But shes going to be powerful, right? Theo asked.
Beyond anything you know.
Alright. Everyone loves the egg. Hail the egg, Aarok said, waving his hand as though to clear away a foul smell. Khahar, youre dismissed. I appreciate your council. Id pay you, but youre rich as hell and a god.
Not exactly a god, Khahar said. His eyes went unfocused, then he shrugged and vanished.
Everyone here knows whats going on, Aarok said, clearing his throat. Were not stupid enough to miss simple details. So far, everything weve found has helped us. The things left for Theo. Thats no reason to let our guard down, but we have to assume one fact.
The egg is important to the survival of the town, Theo said, finishing the thought. Because something ising.
Exactly right, Luras said, his words more a growl than a statement.
Any more information from Fenian on that? Alise asked.
There were a few paths Fenian could take. Theo had put a lot of thought in it, but histest ventures threw him off the scent. The trader established a new rtionship with the Elves under an assumed name, Fenian Feintleaf. He was also trying to destabilize Qavell, which seemed off. Tarantham and Qavell had little inmon, separated by another nation and an ocean. That made his covert actions against the crown personal. Personal matters rarely ended with logical actions.
Just what I can piece together, Theo said.
Lets hear it.
Fenian is trying to topple the crown, Theo said, as though that wasnt a big deal. Only the new people acted with surprise. His motivations are personal, and
Theo paused for a long moment after that. There was too little information to make assumptions on what he would do to aplish his goals. The trader was a whirlwind, and the best option was to stay on his good side.
And hes trying to establish a rtionship with Tarantham, Veosta, or both, Theo said.
Best course of action? Alise asked, turning to Aarok and Luras.
Weather the storm, Aarok grunted. Get that alliance going before the end of Fire. Bolster Gronro. Hunker down.
Those were Theos exact thoughts. Broken Tusk was powerful, if you considered only the three major towns in the south. Khahar would ascend to godhood soon enough, so they couldnt rely on him. That might actually create an awkward situation with the Burning Eye, but that was a problem for another day. For now, it was like Aarok said. Buy weapons, mount them on the walls, and prepare for whatever came seething from the north.
Agreed, Alise said with a curt nod. Now, on to financials.
Theos eyes zed over. He ran his fingers over the egg as she spoke. No one sat down as she detailed their position. The harbor project cost them more than they could afford, and trade deals werent rolling in fast enough. If not for the charity of the other folks in town, theyd be in the hole. Tresk, unbeknownst to Theo, had given the town a sizable loan to pay this seasons taxes. Grub had already collected mid-season, but that was a tenth of what they paid for the end-of-season taxes. The alchemist only interjected when expansion came up.
If someone else could own a bakery, thatd be great, Theo said. Otherwise, Im nning on renting some fields for [Starbristle x] for a textiles industry.
Good, we need ideas for more ie, Alise said. Thats everyones task. Squeeze more money out of this town. Our port is useless without ships, so get on that.
Alise went on until sunset. Theo was exhausted from his encounter in the mine. Gridgen and Sarna even came to check up on him part-way through the meeting. He used the excuse to slip out, sensing Tresk drawing closer. She appeared from the shadows, startling the miners. But she went straight for the egg, holding it in her mmy little hands and staring at the shell.
Thats what was in the room? Gridgen asked,ughing. His son, Gasem, tried to snatch the egg from Tresk. He was too slow.
Yeah, some kind of bonded creature, Theo said.
They traded guesses on what it was for some time. Tresk insisted it was a dragon, despite Khahars advice. She was reluctant to return the egg, but relented when she saw the setup Theo had for it. They made their way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern for dinner, which was something that looked suspiciously like enchdas. The more Theo ate, the more he realized they were exactly enchdas. Xam imed she got the recipe from Khahar, but he didnt believe her.
Theo found Zarali, worn from the day and waiting for him and Tresk to arrive near the bathhouse. They made their way to their private room and went over the day. Tresk left out the part where she went off to Rivers and Daub to do recon. The alchemist soaked in the water, listening to the theories about the egg. It sat near the edge of the water. Somehow, he knew it enjoyed the heat.
A bonded familiar is great, Zarali said, holding her finger up to curtail any agreement. But this is different. It bonded with you both.
Double bonded, Tresk said, nodding excitedly.
Zarali let out a sigh, sinking deeper into the water. Theres no point arguing, is there? This ce is like a tidal wave.
Conversation swept back around to the harbor. The road ahead was long, but no one seemed to care. The townsfolk saw it as a symbol of Broken Tusks power. Theyid im to something no one else in the region could, and that had to count for something. Zarali seemed content enough to count herself among the growing collective.
Tresk dragged Theo back to the Newt and Demon when they were done with their bath. She had a lot to say, and nothing she would put into words. Their only safe ce to talk was the Dreamwalk. The alchemist made a small area between their bed for the egg, wrapping it in a nket and cing a stool over top. He didnt want it getting squashed. The pair pressed their foreheads together and gained a massive amount of Tarahek experience, shooting them to level 19. No bonuses came, but a feeling of eager anticipation settled into the alchemists chest.
They would receive another skill next level.
The Dreamwalk formed around them. First darkness, then a shaded view of a walled city. It spanned over a river, connected by a series of ornate bridges. Their walls were impressive, if sparse with towers. Theo could only spot a single weapon per gate, which was far too few. He didnt know how Rivers and daub had survived any monster waves, let alone several. The alchemist looked down from a tall tower. Tresk must have scouted the ce out from here.
So, theyre split into districts, Tresk said, gesturing to the town below. She swatted at something, then narrowed her eyes. Whats that?
Theo didnt notice it at first. A small mote of light was flying around their heads, as though it wanted their attention. He realized what it was after a moment.
The egg, Theo said. That system message said something about our soulbond.
Egg! Tresk said, snatching the wisp from the air. She cradled it in her hands, cooing.
So, the districts? Theo asked.
Tresk shrugged. Adventurers, crafters, nobles. Lots of nobles. Too many. There are the farms out there, she said, gesturing to the east. The farms werent enclosed in the wall, which was a problem.
The location of Rivers and Daub wasnt great. The city had gone up to take advantage of the river, but that was theirst and only advantage. Open nes to the east, south, and west, with the rocky incline of hills to the north. No side of the ce was easily defensible. It presented a nightmare scenario that could only be ovee with raw firepower. Broken Tusk was in a much simr situation with their monster waves, but they were prepared. Their walls bristled with weapons, and their treasury was fat with motes to power them. This ce felt weak, even through the Dreamwalk.
The air feels thin, Theo said, not knowing what that meant. This was a dream. But it was Tresks recollection of the town, so he supposed those senses came too. He didnt remember feeling this when she took him into her memories from childhood.
Thin is a good word for it, Tresk grumbled. Youre too used to how it is in Broken Tusk.
They went over everything wrong with the town. Itcked enough defenses to withstand much more than a level 15 monster wave, or so they theorized. The reality of it was, they were only used to dealing with high-level monster waves. More towers was always better, unless a town didnt have the motes to power those towers. The mote-collection idea floated to the top of Theos priorities.
Worst case, I get Zarali to make me a lot of lodestones. Then, I can make an army of mote-collecting golems, Theo said. Theyre cheap enough to make. They can scour the swamp.
So, were going to sell motes to Rivers? Tresk asked.
Feel how thin the Power is in the air? Theo asked. Im guessing they dont have the motes to power their towers. Thats why they only have What? Four?
I counted 4, Tresk said.
The scene shifted and they were standing on a wall. Tresk must have snuck across the perimeter of the town, because they could walk around without the Dreamwalk breaking. True to her word, they only had 4 towers, all low-quality [Firebolt Towers], the cheapest avable. Not that the price had anything to do with tower avability. Theo suspected his supplier, Fenian, got them from an Elven source. He couldnt prove that, but perhaps they coulde to an arrangement.
Until then, they walked the streets of Rivers and Daub. Theo didnt need Tresk to tell him the big problem in this town. The wealthy held much of thendscape with sprawling manors that were more like pces than anything else. Mercantile Chairs were a scourge to any fair town. His mind drifted back to his original n to conquer Rivers. It was posturing with Luras, but it seemed like a good n at this point. Especially when they entered the slums.
See, when I came to Broken Tusk, Theo said, pointing at the shacks. Everyone lived like this. There wasnt this divide.
Yeah, well, Tresk said, chuckling. We dont have the resources to take them over.
We also dont have to defend them, Theo said.
Oh, Tresk said, looking around. She shaded her eyes as though the dim light prevented her from seeing clearly. Where did my alchemist go? My precious, loving, charitable alchemist?
Theo punched her in the arm. I get it, he said. Im dropping the first sack of gold coins I mint on the slums.
I tossed a beggar a few silver, Tresk said with a shrug. Thats like putting mud on an open wound. Might feel good now, but you didnt solve the problem.
Alright. This isnt our domain, Theo said, realizing what was going on. He was getting emotionally invested in a problem he didnt understand. The alchemist barely understood how to run Broken Tusk, if at all. His support staff would have better ideas. It was a problem for Azrug to solve.
Oh! This is fun, Tresk said, scampering off down the street. She led him to an imposing-looking building made of ck stone. The prison!
Thats not fun, Theo said. Thats the opposite of fun.
Come on! We need a jail! Tresk shouted.
Everyone in town is under a magical contract, Theo said. Theres no point.
Yeah, but look at it!
The building was impressive, if a bit imposing. It ruined the look of the town, even if he recognized the strategic location of the ce. Right near the slums. Again, he ignored that. His people could sort this out better than him.
They checked out every part of town. Even if there werent people in the memory, the Dreamwalk only seemed to project buildings unless instructed otherwise, Theo got a good sense for the town. They relied on their crafters and farmers for all their ie. The Chairs likely took most of the coin for themselves, and they would have suffered greatly from the increased export tax. The pair settled down in the city. Theo conducted experiments onrge-scale golem operations, and Tresk fought hordes of monsters from the battlements. She even got the towers to work.
There was a hard limit on Theos willpower, even with the lodestones. It was something like 20 golems active at one time, but that stretched him thin. He could work 15 at a time without an issue, which seemed like enough for his mote harvesting venture. Even in the Dreamwalk, the constructs had a good sense for finding items. But there were also experiments he wanted to conduct that couldnt be done in the Dreamwalk. He needed to test the effectiveness of the [Pozwa Eggs]. There was also the mystery of the [Suffuse Potion]. He inspected that one to get a better idea of what he was working with.
[Suffuse Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A potion used to bind two properties to an object, or each other.
Effect:
Bind two properties.
Binding two properties to an object made little sense to the Alchemist. Since properties were effectively essences, that meant it could create a new essence from two existing essences. The only thing that happened when he used the [Suffuse Potion] tobine two essences was a massive explosion, even without introducing a catalyst. Like most things in alchemy, this meant he was missing something.
Theo tried, for about an hour, to pull reagents apart with his mana. They exploded every time he tried, but he learned a few things. True to Zaralis word, he could feel that there were more than 3 properties on a reagent, but it was moreplicated than that. He died in an explosion after trying to rip a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] apart, but got a sense there was something inside there. It was as though there was an entire realm within that one tuber. A sprawling universe where micro-properties were intertwined in some delicate dance. Pulling the reagent apart without knowing how to do it was like splitting the atom.
Before the Dreamwalk expired, he narrowed his thoughts down on the matter. Once he thought of the [Suffuse Potion] as a true binder, it made a little sense. It was a catalyst. in as that. Even with his most refined essence, he couldnt feed it something pure enough to make a connection. Discounting the limitations of the Dreamwalk, he knew he needed something base. The pinnacle of properties. In his mind, he named the elemental properties. Essence so fundamental that nothing could interfere with the [Suffuse Potions] bond.
Theo needed to grind experience more if he wanted to taste the benefit of the [Reagent Deconstruction] skill.
Chapter 3.37: We All Love Zee
Chapter 3.37: We All Love Zee
Theo woke the next morning to find Tresk cradling the egg in her arms. She had a rare look on her face, one of soft sympathy. While hispanion cooed at the rocky egg, the alchemist considered what this new bond meant. It felt as though the Tarahek had strengthened, but the core didnt reflect that. It remained as it was, with no additional bonuses even when it edged closer to level 20. He scrutinized it closely, just to make sure, just to make sure.
[Tarahek Core]
Legendary
Tarahek Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 19 (12%)
[Tarahek] cores are given to those who ept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.
Effect:
+6 Strength
+2 Vigor
It still had the same 3 skills slotted in, [Tarahek Communication], [Tarahek Inventory], and [Tarahek Dreamwalking]. It wasnt surprising, as he thought hed notice an evolution of the core, but it deepened the mystery. If any of his cores randomly got a new skill, it would be that one.
Theo had to argue to get the egg in his care for the day. He had enough means to escape an attack that Tresk wasnt as worried, but she still wanted to cradle the egg all day. He was content with having it near him in his bag. The alchemist only convinced her after drinking a [Potion of Limited Foresight].
I still need to know the long-term effects of these things, Theo said.
Youve been drinking them almost every day, Theo, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes. Feel any different?
Besides the egg? No, Theo said.
They departed shortly after, heading off to eat breakfast. Theos first thought at the leftover enchdas was that Xam was great at reheating food. He quickly realized it was more likely she set them in a dimensional storage container overnight, keeping the same heat from yesterday. People in the tavern seemed more interested in striking up a conversation with him that morning. They wanted to see the egg, although he wouldnt allow any of them to touch it. Some newer citizens had insights into the soul-bound creature situation.
It wasmon enough in the northern mountains. Theo remembered talking to a Toora bear-person from the area north of Qavell. Bora was a pugilist, but the neers in Broken Tusk told him about the more shamanistic peoples of the Toora. Theyd form bonds with wild animals, or newly born ones that fought side-by-side with their bonded person. They seemed to think it was a powerful option; the downside being the difficulty of obtaining a creature.
Theo realized the wisdom of Tresks core selection during breakfast. She broke through level 20 for her personal level, and most of her cores. Her [Trackers Core], and [Assassins Core] both tipped over the edge and she had selected her 2 free abilities. Her [Shadowdancers Core] wasgging slightly, despite her constant use of the [Shadowdance] ability. She shared her new abilities with him for inspection.
[Marked for Death]
Assassin Skill
Umon Skill
Tracked targets receive 2x damage during [Sneak Attacks] while marked.
This skill would seem situational if Tresk didnt already have a [Track Monster] skill from her [Trackers core]. There was also her [Pursuit] skill from the same core, which increased damage by 1.25 to tracked targets. The umon rarity was therefore confusing. The system saw it as something that needed synergy to work, but she already had that synergy. She created a great build, evidenced by the next skill she shared.
[Lingering Poison]
Tracker Skill
Epic Skill
Marked targets that dont detect your presence receive 1.5x damage from poisons.
Then her entire build came together. The hit-and-run style ofbat paired perfectly with the [Trackers Core]. Tresk was officially a terror on the battlefield,ing in hard with her daggers then vanishing away. The [Lingering Poison] ability would make them suffer while she held back, safe from reprisal.
Tresk also held more of a sharp edge now. Her eyes flicked from the corners of the room, flinty and searching. Theo considered her a spiky person at most times, but she was changing into something else. A true assassin. And he couldnt tell if that was a good thing or not. Without the Tarahek, she would likely be off the rails. They bnced each other out.
Alise interrupted the discussion after Theo expressed how impressed he was with Tresks build. The Marshling went off to her adventures for the day, and the alchemist was dragged to the town hall. He hadnt even finished his tea.
The Lady Administrator had information about the influx of citizens to the town. Food was officially a concern, second only to housing. There were too many people, and too few [House Seed Cores] to give them homes of their own.
We cant have that many people, Theo said, shrugging it off.
Well hit 200 citizens before the Season of Fire even starts, Alise said. She peered into the ever-burning fire of the town hall and shook her head.
Theos mind had trouble catching up with her words. It was 10 times the amount they started with at the beginning of the season. An unsustainable number. Xam might have been making a killing, but her supplies werent infinite. Especially not when new citizens were offered free meals. The alchemist groaned, heading for the door without saying a word to Alise. She and her functionaries followed close behind.
When the group passed by the neighborhood area, Theo spotted even more houses springing up, sprawling toward the eastern wall. The roads were more crowded, even if the alchemist felt that was a good thing. His goal wasnt the residential district, though, it was the farm. Alise hadnt renamed it from Sea of Zee yet, so it must have stuck. When they arrived at the sprawling farm, it was thick with the cultivated grain. Uncultivated zee was roughly the size of Theos head, but these new nts were ten times the size. It was an absurd sight.
Banu! Theo shouted, gaining the attention of the farms owner. Banurub was a massive Half-Ogre, skin wrinkled from the constant sun exposure. He had a worn look on his face. I hear we have a food problem.
Not yet, Banu said, mopping his brow. Soon enough, though.
Theo turned to Alise, scratching his chin.
Can we subsidize them? Theo asked.
How do you mean? Alise asked. The functionaries took notes.
The farm currently had 16 fields. Thest time Theo was here, they harvested every week. Before he arrived, cultivating the nts, the alchemist observed the harvesting every 2 weeks, or so. It was hard to say with their farming method of transporting mud from the swamp, letting it bake on a fallow field, then nting. Now, Banu split his fields between the traditional way and the new way.
First, are we low on food already? Theo asked.
Not yet, Alise said.
It was hard to do the math, but 16 fields seemed like plenty to feed 200 people. Then he saw the problem as they walked through the massive farm. Everyone was looking to Theo for solutions, but they hadnt taken the chance to walk around and see the problem. Some fields were nted. Not even the 8 to 8 split on tradition and alchemical growing methods. On both sides of the farm, split by the cobbled road, half of the fields were fallow. For the traditional method, that made sense. But alchemically enhanced soil could produce forever, even if it generated a few monsters.
Banu, whats the deal? Theo asked.
No one wants to work, Banu said, quick to me. That was farmers, though.
They made their way back to the farmhouse on the property, Banus home and the site of the seed core. Theo inspected the farm.
[Large Farm]
[Rotbog Farms]
Owners: Banurub
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 10 (1%)
Rent Due: 7 days
Expansions:
[Fresh Tilled Earth]
[Enhanced Growth]
Theo sighed. Banu, why arent you upgrading your farm?
Banu shrugged.
The problem was twofold. The farm wasnt getting the upgrades it needed, and Alise wasnt being pushy enough about assigning people to farm duty. It might have been dirty work, but it needed to be done. Theos idea for subsidies, where hed fund whatever the farm needed to grow, would still work. But the administration of Broken Tusk needed to take a hard turn. Alises prowess for organization was amazing, but she could be soft. The alchemist wouldnt me her, since she brought the problem to his attention before it was actually a problem.
The more Theo considered that idea, the more he dismissed it. Perhaps she was being nice, but the big decisions still fell to him. She was the Lady Administrator, not the mayor.
We need more farmers, Theo said. And some [Monster Cores] to upgrade the farm.
Its hard to convince people to do farm work, an administrator of Alises said.
Perhaps you could work the farm, Theo said, pointing at the Human. That made him wither.
Id be happy to take more workers, Banus said, shifting ufortably on the spot.
Were already getting a deal from the farmers, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. But food variety is already an issue. I dont want more Zee.
I like Zee, Banu said.
We all love Zee, Theo said. Give me a sample of the 100% cultivated Zee, and Ill get it to 200%. Then, we need to find some other stuff to grow. I want to take a few fields for my own purposes. Then Alise is going to round up everyone without a job and put them to work.
Thats easier said than done, Alise mumbled.
Were not here to do the easy thing, Theo said. Anyone who doesnt want to work the fields goes to the mine. Anyone who doesnt want to work the mine goes to the sawmill, and so on. These are paying jobs, were not forcing people into very. If they dont want to work with the industry we have here, they can start something for themselves.
Alise didnt seem to have the words to respond. Theo was always easy on the people in his town, letting them do whatever they wanted, but that only went so far. He knew that any Half-Ogre or Marshling worth their weight would work until their fingers bled, but the newer people were disillusioned. They didnt know that they could make a living doing basicbor. But those were the bones of Broken Tusk. Hard work and dirty hands made coin here, and the new people would find that out soon enough.
Yes, sir, she said, going ssy-eyed. Of the 150 citizens we have, 30 havent updated me about their job status. Meaning, theyre unemployed.
They slipped through the cracks, Theo said. They must have missed your lecture about getting a job, or your functionaries failed to tell them.
Two of the three administrators winced. The third, a woman who appeared to be Human to Theos eyes stood proud. The alchemist only hoped Alise saw her as the best of the bunch, but that was up to her. He didnt want to get too involved with the administrators.
Right, Alise said, gaining some of herself back. Well work on this.
Theo waved at the new administrators, dismissing them from the farm. Alise looked confused, but he spoke once they were out of earshot.
If any of them drag you down, send them to the fields, Theo said. Youre normally sharper than this.
Ive been offloading my work on them, Alise said, letting out a sigh. I didnt think theyd miss something like that.
Yeah, the Human girl is the only one with a head on her shoulders, Theo said.
Half-Elf girl, Alise corrected. Woman, really. Shes not a girl.
Put her in charge of the other two, Theo said. She can fire them if she wants. They need a fire under their asses.
Hah! Banu shouted, pping his hand on Theos shoulder. Youve changed. All it took was 60 days of hardbor for you to harden. I like it.
Theo smiled. He had things to do today, and didnt want to go on about how people who werent from Broken Tusk didnt get it. Mostly because that thought was wrong. His newfound logic, borne from his growing [Intelligence] score, told him that was wrong. This was an administrative error. In under an hour, hed tracked it from the new citizens, to Alise herself, and right down to those 3 new administrators. Problem solved, and theyd future-proof their food production.
Im getting there, Theo said. Once Fenianes back, well resupply our [Monster Cores].
I have a core dealer, Alise said.
But, were broke, Theo said.
Right, Alise said.
Theo spoke with the pair for a while, reinforcing his idea that the two administrators needed a babysitter. Alise needed to be more selective with the people she picked. She was a rare find.
The two remaining [Lesser Mud Golems] had done a great job keeping the greenhouses clear of weeds, but they were useless for cultivation. Theo found a ce to nt the fruit of a Zee nt, counting on his upgraded greenhouses to bring it above 100% cultivation. If increasing the size of a Zee kernel to 10 times the original size wasnt enough, he nned on doing it again. When he was done, the fields would produce Zee the size of a small Karatan.
Enough attribute-enhancing reagents had reached 100% cultivation. The good thing about those nts was he didnt need to destroy them to get the reagent. The alchemist went around, picking enough flowers from the [Wind Tulips] to brew some dexterity potions and finally test the modifiers. Salire and Azrug were working together in the shop today, so he stopped to chat with them. It was nice having the young man back in the shop for once, but he wasnt there for good.
Theo split his 100 units of [Wind Tulip] into 50 unit batches, one for fermentation and one for brewing. With his [Power Siphon] running, he left it on most days now to power his lodestone, he went back to the gardens for more maintenance. He cleared the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] out, harvesting their roots and renting every avable space, thinned out the [Mages Bane] to get rid of some low-cultivated nts, and tended to the mushrooms. The [Manashrooms] were randomly reproducing, and the [Swamp Truffles] just over 100% cultivation. Unlike growing regr nts, mushrooms were more random. They spawned chaotically, spreading through the cave and making his neat rows uneven.
Zarali was working on a few jobs in herb, but Theo got her for a half hour. She made him 5 more lodestones, all made from the green gems. She imed they couldwork together, sharing the load of the constructs. He took her word for it, cing the lodestones in his inventory. Standing at the door, he withdrew 5 gold coins from his inventory. The alchemist threw them in the enchantingb before darting out and mming the door shut. He was back at the Newt and Demon before she could object.
Bal and his brothers were gathered outside of theb, and Theo ushered them upstairs quickly. They came to report on the effects of the foresight potion, with interesting findings. Ral got sick after drinking 2 potions in a 6 hour period. Other than that, there seemed to be no longsting effects. They even had a signed letter from Zarali. The same Zarali that was banging on thebs locked door. Theo heard coins jingle, then saw 5 gold roll under.
What a nice problem to have. Free money, Bal said,ughing.
Theo returned the money to his inventory, grumbling. He left theb with the brothers, departing from them to ce his [Large Ornamental Lodestones] around town. He had a sense for where they should go to give maximum coverage. They formed a chain ofmand and power, drawing from the [Power Siphon] in theb. As long as they were close enough together, he could string them through Broken Tusk. Thest lodestone went near the western gate, giving the golems a decent range out into the swamp. He tested the range with his existing 2 [Lesser Mud Golems].
Mud golems were the obvious choice for collecting motes out in the swamp. The swamp was lousy with [Earth Motes], and the golems could use the mud to regenerate their bodies if they were attacked. He couldnt do anything about their cores being destroyed, though. For that, he would make [Lesser Stone Golems]. Theo crafted some golems, and was forced to chug a few [Mana Potions] to get them all done. He experimented with different containment core shapes to test their performance, but ended with 7 [Lesser Mud Golems] total, with 3 [Lesser Stone Golems] to guard them.
The strain on Theos willpower was minimal. He felt a faint tickle in the back of his mind, but that was it. Zaralis lodestones were doing their job, and worked a lot better as awork. Theo got some strange looks when he marched down the street with 10 golems behind him. His own little mote gathering army. He checked in with Aarok before sending them outside the gates, making sure the adventurers knew not to attack them. Luras watched him from the western wall,ughing the entire time. The little golems spread out through the marsh, digging through the mud and making happy squelching sounds. The alchemist left them to it.
Theos mental timer on his small runs were done, so he went back to theb. He transferred the fermented mash of [Wind Tulips] to a still, and held the [Refined Dexterity Essence] up to the light out the window. It held a faint green color, and the smell of a summers breeze. Tresk was going to go insane when he showed her the resulting potion.
The alchemist patted the egg at his side and got to work.
Chapter 3.38: Fight Club
Chapter 3.38: Fight Club
Theo wasnt surprised with the [Refined Dexterity Essence] hed brewed. It was made from cultivated and aligned ingredients that had been distilled. It was almost the peak of his ability, missing twice the amount of cultivation and a few levels of alignment favor with Drogramath. But, as with all things rted to Drogramath, establishing a rtionship took time. Not that offering some herbs at his shrine every day was much of a rtionship.
The alchemist brewed a sample of the [Dexterity Potion] and inspected it.
[Dexterity Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity.
Effect:
+13 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.
Before, he had only brewed aligned, refined potions for stats. This one was aligned, cultivated, and refined. The difference between 0% cultivation and 100% cultivation for this potion was apparently an additional point in the rted stat, and a quarter hour increase on the duration. Those were the small increases he was used to, but the result was still monstrous.
It took a while for the still to spit out enough modifier for Theo to experiment with. His new setup meant he could skip a few steps and end up with a better result. Even before examining the modifier essence, he could feel its alignment to an element. Everything about the essence seemed rted to wind, from the way it swirled in the bottle to the scent it put off. The alchemist was unsure how he could have bottled the smell of the breeze, but there it was.
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Great Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting modifier will be more effective.
High chance to add an additional modifier to the resulting potion.
2 units (liquid)
A refined modifier essence. Add to apleted potion to add the elemental wind modifier. Elemental wind is unpredictable. Consult elemental alignments for best effect.
That was unnecessarily mysterious. Elemental wind seemed just vague enough to be a good modifier, but that was hard to say. His instinct said it would make great defensive potions. Something about the elemental wind spoke to him, like flying away on a gentle breeze. He snapped out of the thought and set his sights on his [Retreat Potion]. He had a decent stock of the potions, since it was part of his escape n. The alchemist mixed the [Refined Elemental wind] with his [Retreat Potion] and inspected the result.
[Retreat Potion]
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
One second after drinking, the imbiber will be propelled backwards. Distance depends on the quality of the potion.
At the end of this potions effect, the imbiber will gain [Featherfall] for 10 seconds. Imbiber will fall slowly for the duration of the effect.
A st of elemental wind staggers all targets in front of imbiber.
Effect:
[Retreat] on self.
[Featherfall] on expiration of [Retreat].
[Elemental Wind st] casts in a cone.
The potion improved in every way, a result of the refined modifier essence. Everything those refined modifiers touched turned out better than they started. The investment Theo made into researching the refinement techniques and taking Zaralis advice on improving his current setup, was worth it. This might have been the best pairing of potion to modifier hed ever done, so he took a little time to appreciate his work. The egg in his bag swelled with approval.
While Theo was happy to have discovered the [Elemental Wind] modifier, there was a lot of work to be done. He considered which modifier would bring the best out of the [Dexterity Potion]. His new modifier might work, but he still considered which others would be nice. Having the potion in a pill form could be useful, but diminished effects on stats would turn adventurers away. Theyd always want as much as possible. [Surge] could work, but he didnt see how it could benefit an increase in attributes. His intuition said it would shorten the duration, but increase the amount of [Dexterity] increased. He rummaged through his row of [Dimensional Storage Crates] until he found an old sk of [Refined Surge] modifier.
The [Refined Surge] modifierplimented the [Dexterity Potion] well. They swirled in the new vial, bubbling and putting off a yellow-green vapor that shot up the vent in the ceiling. After a moment, Theo let the reaction calm down and examined the result.
[Dexterity Potion]
[Refined Surge]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity greatly for a brief period.
Gain a small amount of dexterity when this effect expires.
Effect:
+26 Dexterity for 10 minutes.
+5 Dexterity for 30 minutes after initial effect expires.
Now that was interesting. The potion consumed most of the time to create a doubling effect on the bonus dexterity. He couldnt tell if it was worse, or better though. If he drank the potion, it would more than double his current dexterity. Hed be zipping through the town for 10 minutes, but there had to be more than a few downsides. Suddenly changing attributes was disorienting. Even with 5 dexterity improvement he got from withdrawing items from his inventory wasnt easy to handle. Hed have to leave it up to the adventurers to tell him if it was worth it. A sudden burst of strength, or vigor might be the difference between winning a fight and losing a fight.
The [Dexterity Potion] with the [Refined Surge] modifier led to a strange thought. How much [Intelligence] did it take to get the weird precognition powers that Khahar disyed? Or the absurd speed that Sulvan showed. Even with his rtively low scores, he could riddle the answer out. Cores often provided stats when they were leveled. A persons overall level did matter, but it was only a single point into a stat every level. If he had 10 cores, all adding 10 [Intelligence], hed have an extra 100. That was something to consider for core synergy. But Theo always thought of building himself like a generalist, getting the most from every attribute.
It was too much to worry about for now, and he dismissed the entire idea. The only thing that mattered at that moment was that he had decent potions to enhance every attribute, and the means to grow them at 100% cultivation. Theo had enough [Refined Anti-Mage] to test those out, so he did so. He inspected the result after brewing the potion, a swirling mix of silver and green for his new [Dexterity Potion].
[Dexterity Potion]
[Refined Anti-Mage]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity.
Creates a magic shell around the imbiber. Spells cast against the imbiber must perform a check. If the attackers primary attribute is less than the defenders primary attribute, the attackers spell does half damage.
All damage halved is redirected to the caster.
Effect:
+13 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.
[Magic Shell (Dexterity Check)] for 15 minutes.
Failing [Magic Shell (Dexterity Check)] inflicts halved damage back to the caster.
This was what Theo expected from high-quality essences. [Anti-Mage] was the property that kept on giving amazing potions, all geared to stopping mages. The alchemist had little trouble from mages, excluding Uharis, but it was worth investing in. It was the most stable modifier, often producing the best results. If he wasnt careful, customers might assume he was nning a secret war against mages all over the. It might be a title he could live with.
While he didnt think the [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier essence would add much to the [Dexterity Potion], it had a clear elemental alignment. Since this was all a test run, he could part with more essence for the sake of experimentation. Even if the potion wasnt useful, it would be worth checking out. Theo applied his [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier to another [Dexterity Potion], having to brew another of his attribute-enhancement potions to check the effect. He inspected the result.
[Dexterity Potion]
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity.
Drink to increase speed scaling.
Effect:
+13 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.
For 1 hour, your physical speed scales 1.25 times better than normal.
The rules on the aligned modifier essences stated they might provide an additional modifier to a potion, but Theo had never seen it happen. If it could provide 2 modifiers, it did. He assumed the situation here was that the [Dexterity Potion] could not provide a second modifier for the [Refined Elemental Wind], and he couldnt me it. Raw [Dexterity] increased the speed of the user. It was hard to understand the effect, but it was significant. If the potion applied to all the users [Dexterity], then this was big. He set that aside in his mind as the possible biggest winner of the day.
Theo contacted Tresk about the potions, asking her which shed rather have with her. Since the potions didnt stack, something she imed to have tried before, it came down to the situation.
The speed one wins out, Tresk said. The burst one sucks, and the anti-magic one is situational.
Theo made a mental note of that, and the pairings for the other attribute potions were clear. Each one would pair best with their respective elemental modifiers. That would unlock more potential for scaling improvements. He could imagine that [Strength] potions would scale with physical strength, [Vigor] potions with durability, but [Wisdom] and [Intelligence] were always a mystery. The alchemist worked a knot out of his neck, rolling his shoulder and cracking his back. He was hunched over the table for so long, it was well into the afternoon.
The store below would have to wait for some attribute potions. Theo spent a small amount of time brewing [Lesser Potions of Purification] from his leftover stock. He set one still to distill some [Refined Healing Essence], another to make [Preserving Essence], and thest for [Supple Essence]. Perg had note around for more of her alchemical tannery supplies in a while, but she should have been getting low. Hed have to remember to swap them out at days end, distilling some [Purifying Essence]. It was hard to predict when an epidemic would spread through the town.
Theos governance core hit 14 as he was heading downstairs, something that no longer surprised him. He found Salire haggling with some people for gear and he waited for them to finish.
Getting the hang of it? Theo asked.
Just about, she said, giggling. Its kinda fun.
Yeah, Azrug seemed to enjoy it, Theo said. He could sense his golems doing something abnormal, but couldnt get the full picture through the lodestones. How much money are you skimming from the store?
Enough to eat and pay my bills, Salire said, running her fingers through her hair nervously. Feels wrong to take more.
Ah, just set yourself a sry, Theo said. I dont know what the hell to do with this store. Seems like its just a ce to train new merchants.
Might not be a bad idea, Salire said. Just watch out. Azrug was talking about opening a general store.
Well, I knew he would, Theo said. You might be obsolete.
Salires face flushed. She ran her fingers through her hair faster, rubbing the back of her neck as though it held all the stress in the world. Do you think so?
Well, youll learn an important lesson if he does, Theo said. You can make this ce more profitable. Lean into the strengths.
Salire stopped rubbing her scalp, turning to him. She had a look in her eyes that said she had a n. Theo just smiled back, patting her on the shoulder.
I have some work to do, she said, withdrawing a notebook from nowhere and writing frantically.
Theo left her there to figure it out. If he was telling the truth, hed say he wanted nothing at all to do with the store. He enjoyed the work where he took orders, rather than just making whatever he thought people would buy. A test of Salires ability would be for her to shift the business away from that model,ing up with something truly amazing. Something to stand out when a hundred different shops popped up in town. He made his way to check on the smelter and the mine.
The alchemist found no differences in either industries, besides the production of [Drogramathi Iron Ingots]. He took one for himself, for future testing. The mine had a minor change. Theyd boarded up the ominous room in the bottom levels. No one wanted to go down there with the creepy pedestal. They had more employees than ever, and they were digging tunnels themselves.
Theo made his way over to the sawmill next. A part of him just wanted his [Governance Core] to level more, but it was a dual-purpose visit. Beyond his wildest expectations, Sledge wasnt there. When he asked the workers, they said she was off doing her [Fabricator] job, which pleased him. The second part of the visit was to check on the golems. He made his way to the top of the battlements, but he heard the shouts and jeers before he ascended.
Whats going on? Theo asked the adventurer at the post.
Oh, uh, they said, looking suddenly guilty. Nothing, sir.
Theo looked out over the battlements, finding a group of adventurers. Including Tresk. 2 of his [Lesser Rock Golems] were battling a single Ogre Snapper, surrounded by a ring of cheering adventurers. He watched as the adventurers threw coins on a log, cing bets on who would win. He let out a groan, narrowing his gaze on Tresk. She felt his eyes and turned, then vanished.
I thought you were running dungeons, Theo said.
No idea what youre talking about, Tresk said.
Theo withdrew a [Reveal Construct] from his inventory, activated it and tossed it near where Tresk disappeared. She appeared, wide-eyed and crouched in the marsh. Instead of turning to face the alchemist, she ran into the marsh, waddling through the thick mud.
The battle was reaching its conclusion. Slowly. Theo sent a mentalmand to his lodestonework, summoning all of his golems. The fight went on for a few minutes before the snapper was overwhelmed by the mud golems. Heughed when the adventurers let out a groan. Some of them went to gather the coins from the log.
I think those coins are mine! Theo shouted, pointing at the pile of silver on the stump. The adventurers scattered.
Theo amended themands for his golems, including a stiption that if one golem was in trouble, they would alle running. They epted his orders and went back to work, leaving the Ogre Snappers corpse where it was. Several momentster, an adventurer came to loot and skin the creature. Adventurers had a way of passing the time when they were bored.
There was something about that Half-Elf administrator that stuck with Theo. She seemed far sharper than the others, so he expected the farming issue to be resolved. The alchemist left the wall and headed for the farm. Another dual-purpose visit. There was a lot more activity at the farm, but not as much as he expected. Banu gave a brief report, stating they would do a lot better with the help. Theo silently med him for the failure, but with things growing quickly, he wouldnt verbalize his concerns.
As Theo made his way north, through the farm, he realized his visit to the northern stretch of the town had three purposes. He spotted the sprawl of adventurers houses between the Sea of Zee and Rocktown. There were far more than before, which meant Stabby Groves was growing. More adventurers was better. As long as they didnt waste their time betting on golem fights.
Rocktown was doing fine. Ziz and his guys were taking a break from the bridge and harbor job. They were handsomely rewarded, but they were used to that. The quarry was a goldmine of gems and rare stone. As long as their contact in Qavell was still buying stone, they were set for life.
Doing alright, Ziz? Theo asked.
Ziz reached out, grabbing Theos hand hard. Doing excellent! he shouted, trying to overpower the alchemist. Youre a big strong alchemist now, arent ya?
Zizughed, releasing Theos grip. The stoneworkers [Strength] was still much higher than his own, leaving his hand and arm sore.
Yeah, let me chug a [Strength Potion], Theo said with augh. See how strong you are, then.
Zizughed again, loud enough to send the sound echoing off the surrounding hills.
Come on in, have a drink, Ziz said, gesturing to the growing stoneworkers building.
The other 4 workers came and gathered in the small building, cracking open a keg of some swill. Theo admired that about Ziz. Their team should grow, but they were making so much money they didnt need to. This was a bad business move, and after several drinks the alchemist got brave enough to share his thoughts.
Yeah, well, Ziz said, stillughing. Youd have to be an idiot not to do that. See, were smart. Aint we, boys?
Theborers cheered in agreement.
We only need folks with the [Stonemasons Core], so weve been buying them up, Ziz said. Were modeling ourselves after the Qavelli army.
Ziz meant that he and his crew were the core team, or the regrs. Theyd give others a less-favorable rate, and call them irregrs. Although, the more Theo thought about it the more he realized that didnt work well for Qavell. They were getting crushed in the Veostian campaign. He wouldnt bring that up with them. He simply asked for another drink and demanded everyone toast the quarry.
The more Theo spent time with heavy drinkers, the more he wanted a potion that neutralized the effects of the alcohol. Hed need to steal some Sanchrin nts. Until then, he humored theborers by drinking way less, but celebrating just as much.They were more than just a cornerstone of the town. They were his friends.
Chapter 3.39: No Spoilers
Chapter 3.39: No Spoilers
Shafts of sunlight broke through Theos window, but that wasnt the reason he woke from the Dreamwalk. Emerging from that ethereal realm was more like stepping from one room to the other, only to appear in hisfortable bed. Tresk scampered off to theb before he had time to say anything, but he justid there. Even with the increasingly oppressive heat of Fire barreling toward them, he enjoyed the warmth of his sheets.
A strange sense of tension was building in his body. Theo ced his hand on the egg to find somefort, resulting in excitement building in his chest. The [Tarahek Core] was edging closer to level 20 by the moment. Thanks to the Dreamwalk, his other cores werent slouching either. But today would give way to a blur of alchemy and administrative duties he wasnt sure he was ready for. At least the egg was there.
Breakfast! Tresk shouted, entering the room and glowering. I require breakfast!
Theo sipped his tea and ate his leftovers in Xams tavern. Khahar found a different table, isted from the townsfolk to take his breakfast. The more the leader of the Khahari spent time in the town, the more he seemed like a fixture. But even the admission of the man himself painted that as a facade. He was here for a short time, bound for some heavenly realm no one seemed to know a thing about. There was just something strangely familiar about Khahar that lingered on Theos tongue. He couldnt wash away the sense no matter how hard he tried.
Work cut those thoughts short. Theo had a sense that Fenian would arrive any day, which would require him to have a selection of [Hallow Ground] style potions ready for the man. The Elf expected the potions for free, and would offer another mushroom cave for 50 gold. What the alchemist was truly interested in was more nts for the farm. Something from the Elven continent would be nice, adding an even more exotic re to Broken Tusk. The trader was smart enough to bring a selection of nts, wasnt he?
Fenians anti-undead arsenal was based around two styles of potion. Drinkable, and throwable. The [Hallow Ground Bomb] targeted only undead, but dealt scaling damage. Scaling damage likely meant a percentage of damage based on the creatures maximum health. [Hallow Ground Potion] with the [Aerosolize] modifier would create an amazing zone of denial for any approaching undead, and the one with [Web] sent strands of banishing power to the nearest 20 targets. Theo didnt want to think about the horrors of the [Embolden] one. The other variations were good, but he wanted to make Fenian pick which ones he wanted.
Maybe Ill make the Elf squirm, Theo said, staring in the distance.
Fenian? Tresk asked, wiping her broad mouth clear with her sleeve.
Yeah, he should be in town soon, Theo said. That sense in the back of his mind pulsed.
Hesing from Gardreth, Khahar said, suddenly at their table. The Khahari leader had a pensive look on his face. I expect hell be here in the morning.
Thats where he got our Pozwa from, Theo said.
More exciting news, Tresk said, bouncing in her chair. Were going to hit 20 in the Tarahek today.
Khahari smiled. Of the futures I see, the most likely oue will be interesting.
How cryptic, Theo said, chuckling. No spoilers.
The more time Khahar spent in Broken Tusk, the more ufortable Theo was getting. Not because he wasnt a good man, or goodpany. It was the idea that he was running from something no one could see. A responsibility to his people he was abandoning. Another responsibility to leave the mortal realm. What kind of impact was his presence having on the world, if any?
This world is built on a foundation of destruction and growth, Khahar said. He couldnt read peoples minds directly. He just saw the future. No big deal. From the first Shattering, to Balkors Betrayal, weve seen it. Those who read the signs know.
That another ising, Theo said with a shrug, finishing Khahars thought.
Karasan knows as much, Khahar said.
King of Qavell, Tresk said, sensing Theos confusion. Hed never heard the name of his king.
Theo shook his head, waving away a bubbling thought. Why go to war with Veosta if he knows disaster ising?
Khahar considered the question for a long moment. His eyes always went ssy when he was looking elsewhere, into the future, or whatever else he could do. Eventually, his brow furrowed.
I dont know.
Maybe he didnt know, or maybe he was hiding something. The passing match Khahar had with the Burning Eye and Drogramath was proof enough that the gods were up to something. Even more concerning that a deity from the Prime Pantheon, the Demonic Pantheon, and an aspirant were talking as though they knew each other. To save himself from being read by Khahar, Theo kept that to himself. There was something between them.
Khahar, the Burning Eye, UzXulven, Tworgnoth I wonder who else is involved, Theo asked. Tresk shrugged.
No opinion.
You must have an opinion.
Nope.
How long are you sticking around for Khahar? Theo asked.
As long as I can get away with, Khahar said. My people already set members of the clergy sailing, but they wont be here for a while. Were not known for our sea-faring abilities.
Not that you have to worry about it. Mister teleport, Tresk snorted.
Its not teleporting Not exactly, Khahar said. My movement is more like bending the rules. Reach my level, and you can tell the system where you want to be.
Sounds like cheating, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes. No one likes cheaters.
Yeah, but maybe Khahar, can you cheat for me? Theo asked.
No cheating, Theo! Tresk shouted, gaining the attention of the other patrons.
A small cheat, Theo said. We already have a guy who can teleport all over the world, but I never asked him to bring crops for our farm. I want some exotic stuff. Maybe a staple crop from each major civilization.
Do you know how many major civilizations there are? Khahar asked, smiling.
No.
Then you havent earned a cheat, Khahar said. Ill tell you what my picks would be, if I had your resources when I started. From Tarantham, I would pick [Ansatari Wheat]. From Iaredin? Zee. You already have that. Id select [Bulb Blobs] from grotthe Ogres are terrible at naming things. [Khahari Cacti] from my home. [Fairy Apples] from Partopour, and absolutely nothing from Bantein. Those people wouldnt know food if it bit them in the ass.
Theo had heard of, or seen, something about grot in the past. But Partopour and Bantein werepletely new to him. Other civilizations, resting in ces of the world too distant to matter to him, had never graced his ears. But Fenian could get them for him, even if there was a massive problem. Those nts grew in certain climates. A problem for another day. The alchemist would focus on cultivating the Zee to produce even more food.
Well, I appreciate the suggestions.
Theo finished his breakfast and bid farewell to Tresk and Khahar. His first stop was to check on the progress of his golems. They were burning through his [Mana Constructs] at an unsustainable rate, but there were always more [Manashrooms]. The alchemist patted the egg, resting near his side, and nodded to himself. The drop-off crates for the motes were packed full, and the golems had taken to just leaving them on the ground. He sorted out his greenhouses for the day, harvesting what was ready and renting. The [Lesser Mud Golems] were still too unintelligent to handle the gardens.
Alises Half-Elf assistant intercepted Theo on his way to theb.
We havent been properly introduced, she said, affecting a deep bow.
Theo bowed back. Maybe the Elves bowed a lot.
Gwynestarea Whisperstream. Please, call me Gwyn.
Theo. How can I help you?
Alise gave me free run on the food problem, Gwyn said.
Theo studied her for a moment. If he looked hard enough, he could see both features of the Humans and the Elves. She was as tall as a regr human,ing up to his chest, with stunted, pointed ears that werent quite Elven. She had a head of long, well-kept ck hair with gray eyes. Like most administrators, or those that didnt needbat armor, she wore a loose robe and boots suited for the muddy environment.
Any ideas? Theo asked.
Ive been in talks with Guildmaster Aarok about the problem, Gwyn said. She couldnt hide the smile on her face. Unless the corpse of a [Marsh Wolf] is butchered within a day, it fades. Most adventurers take what they need and leave the rest to the swamp. With your approval, I want to issue an order to the adventurers.
Theo rubbed his chin as though that was a hard request. Hed be lying to her if he said he knew the adventurers were just abandoning good meat in the swamp. That brought another problem, though. If the adventurers brought in a bunch of wolves, who would butcher them?
Im d youre taking your role seriously, Theo said. I wish I could say the same about your peers. How much meat are we leaving in the swamp daily?
Several hundred units. On the low end, Gwyn said. I dont believe the town has the funds, but we need to establish an industry around the idea.
Any volunteers?
Were in luck, Gwyn said. A Toora family moved in recently. The matron has a [Butchers Core], and shes prepared to ept a contract for the position. Sledge agreed to lend part of her workshopeven if its outdoorsuntil we get the [Butchers Seed Core].
Theo couldnt help but grin. This was what he loved about having an administrative staff, especially if the people doing the administration were smart. The food problem cropped up, and Gwyn handled it swiftly.
Have you sent your peers to the farm yet? Theo asked.
The sawmill and the mines, Gwyn nodded. They were oddly excited about it.
Good. Fenian is going to be in townter. Ill see if he has the seed core we need. Start looking for your recement. I want administrators who know what the hell theyre doing. Well review your contract at the end of the season, Theo said.
Gwyn looked slightly offended. Youre not nning on firing me, are you? After I fixed the problem so swiftly?
The opposite. Ill grant you the Lady Administrator title at seasons end if you keep it up, Theo said. That brightened her up. I want you to watch Alise and make sure she doesnt slip up again. Theres too much crap to do, and I dont want more crap falling through the cracks. Understood?
Yes, sir, Gwyn said, straightening her back. She looked so proud.
Find more people like you. Do you already have an [Administrators Core]?
Yes, I do.
Perfect. Who is managing the farm project?
That would be me.
Excellent Theo said, trailing off. Gwyns eyes snapped to the east. A sound like an explosion echoed through the town, followed by the thunder of otherworldly hooves. Fenian is here.
With thoughts of exotic nts and a well-run chain of food production in his head, Theo made his way to the town square. The ttering team of demonic Karatan made their way over the eastern road, wreaths of ck-purple energying off the lead beast in waves. Galflower always seemed like the most willful of the team, and Fenian had said as much. That was about it for information the Elf would give up about the UzXulven-aligned things.
Fenian dismounted his carriage train, now trailing three carts behind the lead one. They were all in the same style ofcquered ck materials, almost featureless whenpared to the lead car. The Elf was anything but featureless, wearing his trademark ruffles and flourishes that would put a king to shame. He pulled Theo into a tight hug before the alchemist could object.
Always a pleasure to see you, Fenian said.
Lets discuss things in my office, Theo said, gesturing to the town hall.
Naturally.
Theo didnt really have an office in the town hall. There was a room that he used, when he needed to, but hed nevery im to it. Until Broken Tusk builtpetent support staff, that building would remain to be used for functional purposes. They couldnt spare the [Monster Cores] to upgrade it, and didnt havepetent staff to make it worth it. The office gave a decent view of the city below, affording them the sights of the western wall, and the swamp beyond. The alchemist fell into a chair at the head of the table. Fenian took the opposing seat, all the way on the other end.
How is the project going? Fenian asked, setting a small ck cube on the table and activating it.
What project? Theo asked, snorting augh. The town, the god roaming around my streets, or your mushrooms?
All of them? Fenian said, shing a roguish smile.
Theo set out single examples of the [Hallow Ground] potions hede up with. He didnt see the need to answer the other questions. Fenian inspected them all, satisfied with each. How many have you produced?
The samples, Theo said, gesturing to the table. I can have 500 to 800 of whatever you need today.
Such a hard working alchemist. How did I get so lucky?
Viewing the gifts that were thrown at Broken Tusk with a spiteful eye was a bad move. Theo never asked for what he got, but he never turned it down. He never looked at those that gave him these things with scorn, burying them in his heart forter revenge. The alchemist was happy to ept and exploit them every day. Fenians arrival in the town was no different.
Im suspecting a conspiracy more by the day, Theo said. I also have an assortment of other potions, if you want to see those.
Naturally.
Fenian focused on the modified stat potions Theo had made so far. Variations of the [Healing Potion] was always wee to the trader, and would make for good trading. Of course the Elf had a [Butchers Seed Core], an uncultivated [Starbristle x] nt, and a [Ansatari Wheat] nt to offer. The alchemist considered the food shortage problem sorted, and would dedicate several fields to the x nt.
Keep the wheat in your inventory until you have the means to nt it, Fenian said. As resourceful as I am, I havent been able to find a [Farm Greenhouse Expansion]. Ive searched, though.
The great and powerful Fenian Feintleaf unable to find an item? Theo asked, grinning. Never thought Id see the day.
Even I have my limits, Fenian said. So, down to the marrow of it. Ill buy up all the [Healing Potions], and modified attribute potions. Shall we negotiate?
Negotiation with Fenian was more about bncing the scales of money with items. Broken Tusk needed [Monster Cores] more than anything, along with a few odd things. Theo didnt offer his [Retreat Potion], or [Potion of Limited Foresight] for trade. While he was happy to offer the wide world attribute, and restoration potions, he wasntfortable doing so with the powerful potions.
They went back and forth for a while. Fenians stocks were shockingly low, but Theo got several hundred [Monster Cores], a [Butchers Seed Core], and another [Mycology Cave Seed Core] on top of 50 gold coins. The money seemed like nothingpared to mounting expenses, but it was always nice to have cash on hand.
So, Fenian said, concluding their business. Khahar lives in Broken Tusk, now?
Im not sure thats a good thing, Theo said. Hell be leaving soon.
Interesting, Fenian said. Anything interesting happen? With Rivers? Murder Passage?
Leave it to Fenian to poke his nose in their problems. Theo exined the idea of an alliance, using Gronro-Dir as a spearhead against whatever wanted toe from the north. Their n was in the early stages, and required the people in Rivers and Daub to get their heads out of their asses. Broken Tusks administrative team hadnt even gotten in contact with Alran Cherman, the trade representative of Rivers. That twin-town could have solved their food problems, but once again they preferred to be independent.
I always thought that anything south of Murder Passage should go their own way from the kingdom, Fenian said, adjusting his fancy hat. Whenever Theo saw the mans absurd hat, he realized he had one too. I have no love for the kingdom. Mark my words, the war with Veosta will spell the end of them.
Theo tapped his fingers on the table. His high [Wisdom] gave him intuition enough to feel between the words.
Whats going to happen when your nes together?
Fenian leaned in, a smile ying across his face.
I never said it was my n. Make sure you stock Gronro-Dir with these potions once the alliance is formed, Fenian said, holding up a [Hallow Ground] potion. I have a feeling that Balkor isnt done with the gifts hes given on our fine continent.
Theo filed away the statement with the other suspicious things the Elf said. Overthrowing the kingdom seemed like a task that one man couldntplete. How soft had Qavell be over the past season? Or was it a matter of unseen attrition, leading to a necessary war with Veosta? The alchemist only had questions and feared the answers the trader would give. He was missing a piece of the puzzle.
Caution was important, but Theo had to work on Fenians [Hallow Ground] order. He concluded his business in the town hall, watching as others filed in after he left. Citizens of Broken Tusk often took advantage of the tradersrge stock and excellent prices.
Chapter 3.40: Dreampassage
Chapter 3.40: Dreampassage
Fenian agreed to stay the night in Broken Tusk. His Karatan needed to recharge, and that gave Theo enough time toplete the [Hallow Ground] order. The order was simple enough to fill, but there were experiments the alchemist had left on the shelf in favor of production. As he filled thest of the vials, night drawing closer by the moment, something he wished to put off for a few more days happened.
It was impossible to stop the progress of the [Tarahek Core], and Theo was mostly happy when it leveled up. Increased defense against unwanted intrusion to his mind was excellent and the bonuses were always good. The problem came with Tresks excitement for new skills, and level 20 would bring a new one. It also became hard to understand whether they were in a new realm of power, as multiples of 10 often separatedrge jumps in power. Though the alchemist tried to ignore the level-up, a loud snapping sound came from behind him, followed by manic cackling.
Teleportation! Tresk shouted. She wasing out from the bottom of the [Hills Dungeon] when they spokest. There was much to examine, so Theo started with the new skill.
[Tarahek Dreampassage]
Marshling Bond Skill
Mythic
Slip through your dreams.
Effect:
Either member of the Tarahek may [Approach] the other once a day, resetting at midnight. [Approach] distance depends on the level of the [Tarahek Core] and the stability of the bond.
Mythic, Theo said, his brow knitting tightly. It was above legendary, but that hardly gave him a sense for the abilitys power. He inspected his core, finding a +3 to [Strength] and [Vigor] from the old values.
[Tarahek Core]
Legendary
Tarahek Core
Bound
4 Slots
Level 20 (1%)
[Tarahek] cores are given to those who ept a Marshling life-partner. You cannot change the skills inside the core, or remove it at any time.
Effect:
+9 Strength
+5 Vigor
Theo felt a surge in his muscles as his [Strength] hit 20. There was no noticeable change from his [Vigor], but +3 wasnt enough to phase him anymore. But the important part was that the [Tarahek Core] was well above his others, now. The Theo-Tresk bond was strong enough to nket them in a protective realm.
Very nice, Theo said, nodding. He inspected the [Tarahek Dreampassage] skill again. Something formed in his mind that he pushed aside for the moment. It wouldnt be productive to linger on the mechanics of the skills. How far away were you?
At the bottom of the [Hills Dungeon], Tresk said, snorting augh. Seems like a decent range. Once a day? Thats awesome.
Theo nodded, lost in thought about the ability. He double-checked his stock of various [Hallow Ground] potions, removing his [Drogramathi Iron Bar] from his inventory and staring at it. The alchemist sent a mental pulse to his lodestones, finding that all his golems were hard at work in the swamp. Theyd switch to patrolling the town soon, bolstering the adventurers on their night watches.
Hey, I feel a swirl of uncertainty in your little brain, Tresk said, poking Theo in the chest. Whats up?
Ill tell you in the Dreamwalk. Go run to Xams and Ill teleport to you.
Theo didnt want her to worry about anything, so he pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He wasnt concerned, just deeply interested in how things were ying out. More than anything, Khahar needed to leave the town. More attention from powerful people wasnt something he was interested in. As it stood, the alchemist had to hope the Order of the Burning Eye turned their attention to the Khahari and not him.
Tresk had scampered off the moment Theo told her to, and she gave her signal several moments after that. It was hardly enough time to prepare him, but he activated the [Tarahek Dreampassage] skill. A sh of images rushed by. A dream-like world where he and Tresk had toyed around in shed, then faded. Then he was standing in the Marsh Wolf Tavern. People let out yelps of surprise. Fenian, sitting in the corner nursing a drink, raised an eyebrow.
Helluva way to make an entrance! Xam shouted from behind her counter.
Xolsa, who was eating his meal with Zarali, rushed over to grill the pair. Theo took his seat with Tresk while the Elf rattled off a list of questions.
Even short-range teleportation is tricky, Xolsa said. One wrong move and poof! Youre in the ground!
It didnt feel like teleportation, Theo said, grinning. It was pretty fun, after all. More like Just moving a few steps.
He didnt include the part where it felt like waking up from the Dreamwalk.
Yeah, super neat. Wheres my food! Tresk shouted.
Calm your tail down, you impatient lizard! Xam shouted.
Tresk slumped in her chair, folding her arms. She forgot her anger in moments, babbling back and forth with Xolsa. Theo noticed Fenian didnt take his eyes off them the entire time, but he never approached.
Dinner that night was a square-cut piece ofyered wolf meat, bread, and a cream-based sauce that reminded Theo of biscuits and gravy. It was far better than the versions he had in the past.
Anyway, you were going to get dragged into a meeting tomorrow, Xolsa said. Guildmaster Aarok has a report on the state of the dungeons, and were expecting a monster wave soon. The short version is, the dungeons have slowed their growth. But I have something more interesting to talk about.
Theo looked around the tavern. Citizens were leaning closer to see what the wizard had to say, so the alchemist waved it away.
Lets talk about it tomorrow morning, Theo said.
Of course. Dinner and all that, Xolsa said with a nod.
And all that, Tresk said, chuckling. Theo has to eat. Get big and strong. Strong boy!
Dont talk with your mouth full, Theo said.
Meh. Hey! Fenian! Grumpy looking Elf! Tresk shouted, waving her arms at the trader in the corner. Wannae see the bath?
Fenian looked surprised. He looked around as though there was another grumpy Elf roaming the tavern, but eventually shrugged and nodded. Xolsa and Zarali invited themselves to Theos private bath, which he never minded. The alchemist just focused on enjoying the delicious food, savoring every moment of thepletely not nd offerings that had be a regr urrence.
Theo, Tresk, Fenian, Xolsa, and Zarali all filed into the private bathhouse. The massive pool wasrge enough to hold arger party, but it was more pleasant to have less guests. They all lowered themselves into the pool, except Tresk who dove, and let out a collective sigh of relief. Discussion broke out sporadically, ranging over mundane topics.
Perhaps a few more days in town wont hurt me, Fenian said, having stayed rtively silent for the soak.
What is the n, Fenian? Theo asked, draping a wet cloth over his twin horns like a tent. The warm water dribbled over his face, tracking lines down his angr face.
To build an empire, Fenian said without missing a beat.
A trade empire, right? Tresk asked, emerging from the water. Maybe she could hear underwater. Theo didnt know.
Fenian shrugged.
Hes going to kill the king, Zarali said. Take the throne, perhaps. Although I dont know if Qavell is worth ruling.
Hardly, Xolsa said, dismissing the concept with a wave of his hand. The seams of blue running through his skin seemed to pulse with the flow of energy in the air. King Karasan is well on the way to killing himself. If Fenian wants the throne, he need just stand near it and wait.
That actually got augh out of Fenian, but there was a sardonic look in his eyes about it. A hard glint to his normally cheery demeanor that rang as true for Theo.
I keep others out of my machinations for their safety, Fenian said. I made the mistake of bringing an old friend on an adventure some weeks ago. Her des were appreciated, but I underestimated the toll it took on her. We were right on the spine, you know?
The spine? Theo asked.
The mountains between Qavell and Veosta, Zarali said, always the teacher. An agreed border, if only because its a pain in the ass to cross.
Well, we met with a [Priestess of UzXulven] and had a merry jaunt through the Bridge of Shadows, Fenian said, chuckling. Apparently, the Queen of the Path of Shadows didnt agree with the priestess decision! Can you imagine? Well, we fought off the Queens minions atop my caravan, barreling over the Bridge and fighting for our lives. When we emerged, my dear old friend departed forever. I even paid her!
I cant imagine you fighting, Tresk said, swimming around the pools center.
Im quite good at it.
Yeah, take that veil off your cores, Xolsa said, shing a grin. Well see just how good.
Hah! A discerning man, Fenian said, sinking lower into the pool. Is there some potion in these waters that makes a man more chatty? I considered doing it.
The group tried to guess Fenians cores. The consensus was that they were aligned with a powerful god, but Theo knew even if they guessed the right core the trader wouldnt say. His money was on a shy assassin-type core and a mythic trading core. Although, the more he thought about it the more he realized the mans trading prowess wasnt great. He could just move great distances, giving him the advantage over other traders.
Starlight filtered through the windows of the bathhouse to mingle with yellow candlelight after a time, but the conversation continued. The group was kicked out before anyone could discover the elfs true cores, but their debate was fun enough. Xolsa and Zarali departed for the tower while Fenian joined Theo and Tresk on their walk to theb.
I really mean it, Theo, Fenian said. My goal is to spare as many innocent lives as possible. I dont want to embroil others in my grand quest.
Bitte for that, Tresk said. Broken Tusk is basically married to you.
Fenian nodded. And I apologize for that. Ill tell you anything you want to know. Just realize that youre in the dark for good reason.
Do you, or your actions, pose any threat to Broken Tusk? Theo asked, staring the Elf right in the eyes.
Fenian paused before answering. The moment you appeared in this town, you set off a chain of events that no one could stop. He waited a moment before jabbing a finger at Tresk. She is the reason things are going to get worse before they get better. But this world is meant for cycles like that. Annihtion is an important part of growth. To answer your question, no. Theing events would happen with or without me. Im just making sure everyone is ready.
The undeniable confidence that Fenian had was infectious. Theo wanted to believe everything he said, and likely would save for some reservations. The trader had only ever prepared them for what was toe and was likely working with whoever orchestrated Broken Tusk from the start. Intuition and hard-won experience revealed that much to the alchemist. But a phrase echoed in his mind as they approached the Newt and Demon.
She is the reason
Theos intuition told him that statement was more pointed than it would appear on the surface. Like the mirror version of a catalyst in alchemy. An obstruction to someones n that could shift the course of fate. An unexpected roadblock.
I see, Theo said.
Well, I dont, Tresk said, folding her arms. Yall always talking in code and crap. Hows a lizard supposed to follow along?
In time, Tresk, Fenian said, patting her on the head. Well, Im off to enjoy Xams hospitality. Ill see you tomorrow for the potions. So long.
Tresk and Theo stood in their room, lingering in the expanding puzzle of their lives before the Dreamwalk. She had questions about what everything meant, but he silenced her through their [Tarahek Communication] ability. Every surface of the town had earstely. They delved into their safe realm before continuing the discussion.
Theo looked over the dream-version of his new harbor. He imaginedrge ships in the distance and ordered them down the canal. It served no purpose, but was fun to watch.
So, whats the deal? Tresk asked.
The ship passed under the wall-bridge, entering the massive port and heading for the docks. Theo sat on the wall, watching as ghostly sailors unloaded goods that hed imagined. A pulsing ball of light zipped around the scene, the egg always eager to participate in the Dreamwalk.
Not sure, Theo said. That was his honest assessment of the situation. Someone put me here to do something. Did Fenian mean that when you showed up, it changed that persons ns? Remember Miana? How she lost her core slots, like they were preparing me to take over the town I mean, how rare is the Tarahek?
Look around, stupid, Tresk said, smacking him in the back of the head. A mythic skill at level 20? The Dreamwalk? Pretty freaking rare. You gotta have a connection with another persons soul to do the Tarahek. And one of those persons needs to be a Marshling.
Youre thinking too small, Tresk, Theo said. Khahar said he could see a million possibilities every second. Now imagine the gods. How much can they see? Why didnt they see thising?
Well, now youre thinking too small, Tresk said. She waved her hand and a giant Marshling appeared on the horizon. Its head went past the clouds, cloaking its face in obscurity. Behold. The Marshling god Uh Marshy. Damn, I fumbled the joke. Point being that another god is meddling.
Theo waved at Marshy in the distance. They waved back. I mean, big reveal with Khahar being in town. Gods are just people.
Yeah, super powerful people, Tresk said.
There was a connection there that Theo couldnt quite make. Hed curse his low [Wisdom] attribute, but it was pretty high. He was satisfied with his precognition as it was, and wouldnt spend more time than needed frustrating himself over the puzzle pieces that just wouldnt fit. Overlooking the gift they had, the Dreamwalk, was a foolish thing. To sit there and contemte unchangeable facts was beyond idiotic. Grinding experience and running experiments was the way to go.
Tresk agreed with the sentiment and ran off to fight Marshy, the fictional Marshling god.
Of Theos outstanding experiments, the only one that interested him was the golems. There were always essence modifiers, distition techniques, and random alchemy stuff to test but the golems were just fun. He knew they werent sentient creatures, but they were just so damn cute.
The golems had more abilities than just manualbor, but arge gap in Theos research was the creation of constructs. Constructs were, from what he understood, things that could attach to golems. In the information screen for golems, that would show up under the Additional Modifications section. The alchemist imagined a clone of one [Lesser Stone Golem] he had defending the town while he slept, and inspected it.
[Lesser Stone Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 10
Stone is considered the most practical medium in golem construction. Stone golems are hard working, durable constructs.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)
Medium: [Enriched Swamp Mud]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
The amalgam of stone lumbered around, wandering without any orders issued by Theo. He imagined a [Reveal Construct] and beckoned the creature over. It made a sound like tumbling rocks as it approached, tilting its rocky head as it approached.
So, the idea is that youd run around and reveal stuff, Theo said, pressing the [Reveal Construct] into the golems body. It sucked it in. The white wisp made an excited sound. Theo inspected the golem again before testing further.
[Lesser Stone Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 10
Stone is considered the most practical medium in golem construction. Stone golems are hard working, durable constructs.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)
Medium: [Enriched Swamp Mud]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct], [Reveal Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
Abilities: [Reveal] (5 charges)
Well, we were wrong about that, egg, Theo said. He turned to look at the floating ball of energy, realizing they still needed to name it. Cant just call you egg forever.
The wisp floated up and down, signaling its agreement. The faintest sense of emotion flowed from the egg, nothing close to what he felt from Tresk. But it was getting there.
Five charges, Theo said. He issued a mental order to his golem to use the [Reveal] ability.
A wave of barely visible force flowed from the golem in a sphere, washing over Theo harmlessly. As expected, the charges were reduced to 4, but the alchemist got the sense that some power had been used from the [Mana Construct]. A tradeoff for having more than one charge. The downside with the [Reveal Construct] was its size. Without arger bubble, the golem could only reveal targets that were nearby, which seemed to spit in the face of the point. But it was progress all the same.
Theosundry list of things to do grew by the moment, but this one was exciting. When he delivered his potions to Fenian tomorrow, hed have ample time to work on experiments. The alchemistughed.
Yeah, right. Like anything works that way in Broken Tusk, Theo said, turning his gaze to the massive, lumbering Marshling in the distance. Mark my words, Marshy. Xolsa will have horrible news for me tomorrow.
Chapter 3.41: Soft Hands and Fair Faces
Chapter 3.41: Soft Hands and Fair Faces
Theo woke the next morning feeling refreshed. Good experiments within the Dreamwalk, a new ability, and the waving away of cloudy thoughts found him eager to meet the day. Whatever happened, he was happy to face it with a smile. Experience gain from the night was good, but not enough to push anything over. The [Governance Core] was a sponge that absorbed all actions within the town, hurtling it forward every second. The damn thing would overtake his alchemy and herbalism cores any day.
Tresk was in rare form. As they made their way out of theb, waving at passing citizens, she talked about their new skill. Even after she devoured her leftover swamp-style biscuits and gravy, she went on. Theo let her ramble on about the skill, even after they ate their fill.
You coulde to the bottom of the [Swamp Dungeon]! she shouted.
How would we get out?
Damn. Youre right.
Fenian came to collect his [Hallow Ground] potions, bringing with him a live nt. The [Starbristle x] was exactly what Theo needed to get the sails for his future shipping industry going. It would take time to cultivate them high enough to be worth nting at the farm, though.Fenian stopped being standoffish and returned to his normally jovial self. The Elf described the massive profits hed made so far and promised to remain within the Broken Tusk until the end of the day. That gave Theo time to think of the other things hed forgotten he needed. Alise and Gwyn should have handled the [Administrator Core] situation, and the citizens were capable of buying whatever they needed for their own businesses.
After meeting with Fenian, and watching Tresk depart for the dungeons, Theo considered his growing list of things he needed to do. He nted the [Starbristle x] nt in his garden before finding Aarok by the square, iming they needed to have a meeting with all the higher-ups. Xolsa had something dire to portent. The alchemist also needed to sort the butcher situation, a task generated by Gwyns swift attention to the food problem. Then there was his new mushroom cave, more [Mana Constructs] for his golem army, upgrading his herbalism core, and more things that didnte to his mind immediately.
As the portal in the center of town flickered to life, blurred edges like broken ss with a sheen of imprable darkness in the middle, Theo decided Xolsa came first. Aarok was still rambling when he stepped through the portal, the world spinning for only a moment before he appeared in the wizards tower. The wizard himself stood awkwardly on the far side of the room, staring into Zaralis eyes.
Awkward, Zarali said.
Not really. Lets discuss whatever you have for me, Theo said, gesturing to the stairs.
Zarali joined them, always in the know for whatever horrible disaster awaited them. Xolsa summoned the array of magical symbols on the roof, creating a tangled webwork of angry red symbols mingling with happy blue ones. Theo had a basic understanding of what was going on, but only by instinct. He couldnt read the symbols or make sense of them, he just got a feel for what they did. Even then, it was vague.
Look at this, Zarali said, poking her finger into one symbol.
No touching, Xolsa said, smacking her hand away. This is an active array.
From what Theo understood, the symbol in question was part of the formation that dealt with the dungeon system atrge. It was the sinew that held thework together; the thing that ryed information. The symbol pulsed between red and blue, slow and with purpose. Unlike the other fluctuations in the array, this seemed deliberate. There was a pattern.
A signal, Theo said, boiling down an absurdlyplex problem to a simpletons estimate.
Hes so smart, Zarali said, grinning.
He has eyes, Xolsa said. The pattern is too constant to be anything other than a message. A signal.
But that gave way to a problem none of them could solve. From Theos understanding, dungeon cores worked in a mysterious way. They were part of a collective that shared information and energy, and might be at least a bit self-aware. They grew in level when raw power was introduced and could generate creatures, money, and items. But thats where the alchemists knowledge on dungeons ended.
Thats cool, Theo said, nodding. He studied other parts of the array, finding it to be mostly like he remembered. There were small alterations that could have been anything. But, they were just symbols preserved in memory by his [Wisdom]. What would it mean if the other dungeons were sending a signal?
Anything, Xolsa said. My working theory is that this is a response to the changes we made.
Which brings us to a point, Zarali said. Mister Feintleaf
Oh god, no, Theo said, groaning. He thought about how Khahar could think a thousand steps ahead, and how Sulvan could see 10 steps ahead. The alchemist could see two steps ahead without effort. What did you promise him? Where did he get the core?
He doesnt have it, yet, Xolsa said. I would need topromise my morals, and some ethical issues, but he promised to put me in contact with a [Priest of Tworngoth].
We consider Tworngoth to be an ally of Lord Drogramath, Zarali said.
Theo ran his hand over his horns forfort, then switched to stroking the egg. An egg engineered by the Demon Lord Tworngoth. Or was it a Demon Lady? The trustworthy lords anddies of the Demonic Pantheon could be counted on a single hand. Drogramath the Potioneer, UzXulven the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows, and Tworngoth the Master of Artifices. What was one more Demonic entity in the town?
Alright, Theo said. Tworngoth offers you a core and you take it. Where does that get us?
Besides another step toward someone elses n, Theo thought.
What? Tresk asked.
Even my thoughts arent safe anymore, Theo said. Somehow, that wasforting.
Nothing.
What? Well, a legendary [Dungeon Engineer] core would help my current studies, Xolsa said. I already consider myself the foremost expert of dungeons on Iaredin. Not to rival the True Elves in Tarantham, but Im getting there.
Think of a childs yground. Like the school in town, Zarali said. Outsiders are already paying us to hit the dungeons. If we can control the process more closely, we can tailor their experience.
You see this as a money-making opportunity? Theo asked. His hand hadnt left the egg. The alchemist did enjoy havingrge sums of money.
More than that. Xolsa swiped through the web of arcane symbols. I would have better control of thiswork. We could understand things better.
Theo nodded, realizing what they brought him there for. Xolsa wanted permission to do this, which was fine with the alchemist. The nar wizard already handled most of their issues with the dungeon, so that wasnt a concern. Any idents that happened was a chance to strengthen their adventurers for whatever disaster Fenian foretold. No matter what, it was a win.
Go for it, Theo said with a nod and a smile. Find me some damn shipwrights while youre at it. And some sailors.
Thats on you. Esteemed mayor, Xolsa said, punching Theo in the arm. The Elf was far more yful than normal. He must have been sitting on this for a while.
The group fell into theorization of how the ss would work,ing to no solid conclusions. Having scorn the Burning Eye, Theo was happy to wee another Demonic presence in town. It would have been nice if someone from the Prime Pantheon wanted to sponsor the small town, but no one had approached. Thergest presence of that Pantheon was Zaul, who didnt seem to care what Tresk did. By the end, the alchemist was scolded by both Zarali and Xolsa. He hadnt been practicing his mana control, and had put off upgrading his herbalism core yet again.
Theo darted through the portal before they could convince him to upgrade the core right there. He couldnt miss his meeting with the administration staff.
Town Hall aws buzzing with activity. The spacious atrium was filled with people, talking amongst themselves. Theo found his way to a meeting hall, stuffed with familiar faces. From the administration staff, Alise and Gwyn were seated at the far end of a long wooden table. They had several new people with them that he didnt recognize. Aarok had the representatives from the adventurers guild, including Luras, Zankir, Zansal and a smattering of others. Azrug sat with Fenian, Salire, and Miana. There were others, but the alchemists study of the room was cut short when all eyes snapped to him.
Packed house, he said, clearing his throat and taking his seat at the head of the table.
All other business aside, Alise started, we received a letter from Alran Cherman, representative of the Trade Coalition from Rivers and Daub.
Fancy title, Azrug mocked.
Alise stared him down, forcing him to wither under her gaze.
Its a proposal of a formal defensive alliance, Alise said. Between Broken Tusk, Rivers and Daub, and Gronro-Dir. Weve already sent our formal eptance, but we want to hammer out terms.
The summit will take ce in Rivers and Daub, Gwyn said, taking the floor ceded by Alise. Where we will propose that Broken Tusk shall be the seat of power.
Theo wanted to say something goofy to break the tension, but nothing came. He knew nothing about the people in Gronro-Dir, but what he knew of Rivers said they were unlikely to ept it.
This is, of course, overreaching, Alise continued. Were hopeful that theyll offer equal power.
Thank god.
Alise and Gwyn went back and forth, detailing their strategy. They had already sent spies to Gronro-Dir and Rivers to determine their abilities. Rivers was the biggest problem, with their prolific corruption and support of the merchant ss. Gronro-Dir was the real gem in the alliance deal. They were a mix of Toora bear-people, Half-Ogres, and Humans that were hardened by their namesake. Murder Passage held several dungeons that seemed to spew creatures at a rate faster than Broken Tusk. Thanks to this quirk of the area, they were flush with magic items, monster cores, and hardened soldiers.
Theyll only grow stronger with what we can provide, Alise said.
In terms of trade, were talking about cores, items, and thats it for Gronro, Azrug said, taking the floor for their financial interests. They desperately need stone, metal, lumber, and motes. Those walls get beat harder than a cursing Half-Ogre child.
Gronro will ept, then, Theo said with a nod.
Rivers is going to ept. Now that we have a port, Alise said. Once we have sailors and ships? Every town from here to Veosta is going to want to enter into a formal agreement.
They went back and forth for a while before Fenian spoke up.
I feel as though Theo doesnt trust me as muchtely, Fenian said.
I trust you plenty, Theo said, narrowing his eyes. Stop being so shady, though.
Ill be as shady as I need to! Fenian dered, standing for a moment then sitting down again with an awkward cough. I may have a solution to your boat problem, but ites with strings.
No one responded. The Half-Ogres were rowdy at the best of times, but something about a formal meeting calmed them greatly. Everyone just watched and waited until the Elf spoke again.
The stringse in the way of Ah, whats the best way to put this? War criminals, Fenian said.
That got augh from the group.
Nothing untoward. No murderers or anything like that The civil war in Tarantham is reaching an end, Fenian said. A house Im quite familiar with is losing. Would you care to know what theyre famous for?
Ship building, Throk grunted. Theo didnt even see him glowering in the corner.
A sweet for the sweet Marshling! Fenian said, producing a square confection from his inventory and tossing it at Throk. He caught it in his mouth, nodding with approval.
Wed be taking refugees? Theo asked. Fine by me.
The administrative staff voiced their approval, then a wave of agreement spread through those gathered.
Were happy to have as many Elves as you think need safe haven, Alise said.
Im d you mentioned that! Fenian said, grinning. I said strings not string.
Fenian produced a sack from his inventory. He tossed it across the table. Itnded with a rattling thud, the items inside shifting. Theo opened the sack, finding exactly 100 [House Seed Cores].
I hope your 100 Elves enjoy the taste of wolf meat and Zee, Theo said, narrowing his eyes at the trader.
Theyll be executed by the empire, so Im sure theyll learn to love it! Fenian said. Calm down, my dear alchemist. The 250 Elves Im bringing have all been primed on their new home.
The color drained from Alises face. She stammered. 250?
Yes, the civilians are separate from the ship builders. But theyre part of the same deal, Fenian said.
Theo slumped in his chair, falling into thought. No, 250 new citizens was a great boon. Fenian wouldnt lie about their willingness to integrate into Broken Tusk society, so theyd make great workers. His mind swirled with the possibilities. Everything hed heard about the Elves painted them as artisans of the highest quality. A town could only hope to have that many of the people show up at once, even if it put a strain on the town. If the alchemist had learned anything about managing this ce, it was that with the systems features he could expand rapidly.
Were happy to take them, Theo said.
Whats the split? Aarok asked. Manualbor, artisans, adventurers?
Uneven split favoring workers, Fenian said. Most of House Wavecrest was annihted. I have whats left, roughly 260 souls, sequestered in a Ah, well dont worry about that.
Workers are good, Azrug said with a nod. We can always find something for them.
Agreed, Theo said. Are they shy about working the mine? The farm? The lumber mill?
Absolutely not. Despite ourpletely gorgeous appearancesoft hands and fair facesthe Elves of Tarantham are no strangers tobor.
Whats the chance we can feed 250 more mouths? Theo asked, turning his attention to Alise.
How soon are theying?
Four days Make it five days, Fenian said.
If we can get the butcher going, Gwyn said. Her eyes went ssy as she consulted her administrator screen. Theo smiled, happy that theyd sorted the core problem on their own. Well enter a rationing phase.
But only if they tried to produce all the food themselves. Drogramath blessed thends with absurd growth rates, but that didnt mean they couldnt lean on their allies for help. Theo turned his attention to Azrug and smiled.
Then I ask the Lord Merchant Azrug, Theo said, nodding his head to the young man. Contact whoever you can and work out a deal for the food. Alise and Gwyn, work on zoning these new [House Seed Cores]. Get the information from Fenian on what these people are going to be doing and zone them ordinglyI dont want an enve of Elves, Marshlings, Half-Ogres or whatever. I want them to integrate. Also coordinate with our gorgeous trader here to make sure they have the right cores for their jobs. Questions? Comments? Concerns?
I think its foolish to rely on Rivers, Throk grunted. Grow the food here. Thats what I say.
The administrations number for food is based on current [Marsh Wolf] meat rates, Luras said. Were forming a special team of adventurers that collect their corpses to be butchered in town.
Broken Tusk was already defined by multiculturalism, Azrug said, shrugging. Another culture isnt going to harm us. I mean Do they speak Qavelli?
Most do, Fenian conceded. A grin spread across his face. Taranthian isnt that hard to learn, though.
Theo barely had a handle on Qavelli and Bantari, let alone anothernguage. He worried about it for a moment before he realized that Fenian had made a joke. Heughed.
Oh my! Fenian said, fanning himself. What a coincidence! Your refugees will arrive on the exactst day of the season. Hmm, strange.
Another ripple ofughs spread through the room. The meeting went on for hours after that, everyone working to hammer out details that really didnt matter. Alise and Gwyn had formed a new group within the administrative staff meant to weed out bad administrators. The Junior Administrators were a group of sheepish youngsters that looked equal parts eager and scared. But when the meeting ended and everyone cleared out of the meeting hall, Alise and Theo remained.
I just wanted a word, she said, blocking the door.
Theo had a lot to do today. He hadnt even touched any alchemy for the day and was itching to do so. But he smiled and sat back down at the table, finding the look on her face worrying.
Please, Theo said, gesturing for her to take a seat.
I wanted to say Im sorry, she said. She couldnt look at him.
For what?
When you trusted me to run things for you, I thought I could do it. I really wanted to do it, Alise said. But when things slipped through the cracks, I couldnt forgive myself. I cant find a way to make it up to you. How can I live with myself if I fail again?
Theo tried not tough. It came out as a stifled chuckle, which drew her attention.
Allise Plumm. Lady Administrator Alise, you stumbled. Im not about to rake someone over the coals because they messed up. If we punished people for messing up, Id be locked away in a cell.
But the food, Alise started, trailing off.
You gave the job to someone else because you were busy, Theo said. Remember that if the work you assigned falls to you, it ultimately falls to me. Lets dust our hands off and think about those refugees. You and Gwyn have a better system now. We fail, we learn, we move on. Thats it.
Alise sat there for some time. After a time, they both stood. She had her eyes locked on the floor, but approached and pulled Theo into a hug. He ced his hand on her back and waited for her to stop, but she didnt. They just stood there for a long while, letting whatever fear and anxiety she had built up over the weeks fade away with a hug.
Chapter 3.42: Withdrawing From Hammer Range
Chapter 3.42: Withdrawing From Hammer Range
Alise and Theo stood on the road west of the square, looking over a plot ofnd next to the Adventurers Guild. They decided on the best ce to nt the [Butchers Seed Core]. Being so near to the guild would make it easy for adventurers to drop off their carcases, also incentivizing the action. The woman destined to run the building, a hulking Toora from the mountains north of Qavell named Whisper, seemed impassive for its cement.
Too hot, she said, her growling voice carrying on the air like the rumble of winter air through dead trees.
Im working on that, Theo said. It was mostly a lie. His air conditioner project hadnt moved in weeks.
Alise debated the womans pay for a while as Theo looked on. He sent his senses out to feel what his golems were doing, and found them working in the swamp. One golem, presumably smarter than the others, warned they were low on [Mana Constructs]. He expected them to be all out by now.
Thats fine, Whisper said, epting the condition of Alises deal. It was a percentage-based production deal, just like the other producers in town. But since Whisper would run an important industry, just like the farms, she would receive subsidies if the pay was insufficient. This was all written into Theos [Contracts] ability, including a section rted to Whispers loyalty to the town, and signed in moments.
Theo left Alise with the new butcher and headed off to solve a few problems with a single stroke. He nted his new [Mycology Cave Seed core], feeding it enough high-level [Monster Cores] to bring it up to his existing caves level, and entered his first cave. The [Manashrooms] had reached 90% cultivation, which was good enough for him. Seeding his new cave with the mushrooms was easy enough, and he collected what he could to brew some [Mana Essence] and [Freezing Essence].
Salire was working the shop when he entered, a smile hanging on her face. When she approached him with a business proposal, his first instinct was to brush her off. After a single breath, he matched her smile and beckoned her to follow him into theb. Theo cleaned his stills, organized the clutter, and started two stills off with 250 units [Manashrooms]. The first would be for his [Mana Essence], the second his [Freezing Essence]. Salire detailed her n as he worked.
Patrons cane into the shop and ce an order based on a list, Salire said. She even made a mockup of her nned menu on a sheet of parchment paper. It had selections for the base potion, and checkboxes for Theos current list of modifiers. They put in the order, and wait! You dont have to worry about stocking specific things because people will request them.
Theo saw that as a fantastic idea, but his mind was always wandering. The big problem there was keeping essences on hand to fill orders. He considered the tanks he already had, some half-full of various essences, and decided hed need more. Massive 1,000 unit tanks filled with all kinds of essences were easy enough to build, giving him ess to them. Maybe some kind of automatic self-flushing system that ran [Cleansing Scrub] through the lines and dispensed essences at the turn of a knob. Maybe that was just too much, but Throk always loved a new project.
The alchemistughed at that.
Did youe up with this all on your own? Theo asked.
Azrug helped, Salire admitted.
Good Always good to ask him, Theo said.
Some people might feel bad blood between themselves and Azrug, but Theo understood the culture in Broken Tusk. The young man had no agreement to be the alchemists ve, and the shop was always a jumping-off point for the merchant. No one knew Broken Tusk better than a true Broken Tusker. The alchemist snapped out of his thoughts when he saw his new merchants eyes glittering with expectations.
You have my full approval, Theo said. Offload all the gear as quickly as you can to make room for this new n. Actually, sell it all to Azrug. If he wants his general store, hell want stock. Start taking orders for potions as soon as you feelfortable.
While the essences brewed, the pair discussed the best way to execute the n. It wasnt hard to conceive of an order-based system for the shop. It only made sense, considering the difficulties of stocking mass quantities of potions that no one wanted to buy. Patrons could pick what they wanted from a menu, while they kept basic things like [Healing Potions] on the shelves. This gave Salire more experience than just buying and selling things. Shed get better with people, giving way to the possibility of running a trade operation between Broken Tusk and other towns.
This is just great, Salire said, bouncing up and down on the spot. She was too spunky for a Half-Ogre. Must be all that northern air dulling her sense of brooding.
Let me know if you need anything else, Theo said, extracting thest of the [Freezing Essence].
Salire gave her thanks and ran back downstairs. Theo considered his newly brewed essences alongside his idea for more storage tanks. Maybe that was a bit too much work for Throk. Maybe he just needed to organize hisb better, get some more [Dimensional Storage Crates] in a more sensible order. Perhaps he was just beingzy about it.
Theo crafted enough [Mana Constructs] for his golems and set them in the crate about back. A pair of [Lesser Mud Golems] were doing their job in the greenhouses by clearing away weeds and tending the nts. He spotted a pile of discarded vegetation and bit back the urge to create a n golem.
Experiments first, then we can make more golems, Theo said, urging himself back into theb.
As Theo sacrificed a piece of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] to his shrine, gaining no additional benefits for now, he inspected his [Freezing Essence].
[Refined Freezing Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting potions will be more effective.
Chance to consume half of required essence during brewing.
Cultivated Effects:
Increased effectiveness of resulting potions. Effect carries over through refinement.
Purity: 82%
250 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined essence of freezing.
It was a great essence, as far as those things went. The current application he had for the essence was a [Freezebomb], but that was a waste of essence. Lurking in Theos memory was an old recipe for a cooling agent, something that fell like his [Cleansing Scrub] recipe. Those detergent-style, or cleaning-style potions were meant forrge-scale applications. The alchemist ran his fingers over his [Drogramathi Iron Bar], considering whether he should do more than one experiment at the same time. He shrugged.
Screw it. Why not?
Throk wasnt happy to see Theo. Whenever the alchemist approached the smithy, it was to deliver a missive of work. More work than the old Marshling wanted to do, considering how busy he already was.
Begone! Throk shouted. We dont need a new aqueduct.
Oh, dang. Thats a good idea, Theo said, scratching his head.
No!
Theo held out his bar of Drogramathi iron, grinning. The ck-purple bar, as long as his arm and heavy, caught the sun. Throk softened significantly on spotting their new metal.
I just need some shavings, Theo said. Figured you had the magic touch.
Throk did indeed have the magic touch. Logic didnt factor into his smithing. He could shape metal into impossible things with a few smacks of his hammer. The Marshling pulled something that looked like a cheese grater on a stick and got to work. Each stroke of the tool brought sloughs of shavings off the bar, sending them tumbling to the ground. Theo just watched with a grin on his face, enjoying the sight. It only took him a few minutes to shave down the entire bar, leaving a pile of thousands of shavings. The alchemist scooped them up into his inventory and tossed the cksmith a copper coin.
For your troubles, Theo said.
A copper!? Throk shouted. Theo tossed a silver coin,ughing as he ran out of the cksmiths hammer range.
Back in theb, Theo enchanted a pile of the shavings with his mana before inspecting the result.
[Drogramathi Iron Shavings]
[Alchemy Component]
Rare
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Increased stability during reactions.
Increase quality of reaction by 1 level, up to excellent quality.
Shavings from raw Drogramathi Iron.
There might be some unpredictable reactions between reagents and these shavings, depending on if nts had alignments. Theo couldnt think of any god or realm that wouldy domain over the [Manashrooms], so he shrugged it off and performed some test reactions. With his vent working, the failed reactions didnt fill the air with cloying smoke. He didnt even need to open a window, and got the numbers right on the mix after a while. The resulting 5 unit solution was as clear as ss with lines of frosty blue running through it. He inspected the result.
[Freeze Solution]
[Cooling Agent]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Apply to dramatically lower the temperature of anything.
Effect:
Apply enough solution to freeze an object, person, monster, etc.
The recipe was extremely efficient. 5 units of [Stabilized Water] to 0.1 unit of [Freezing Essence]. The 11,000 units of [Freeze Solution] he could create seemed like an absurd amount, but that depended on how it worked. There was also an issue with the way the potion worked, something Theo hoped to solve with another experiment.
As Theo tipped the solution over onto the ground, he noted how it froze the wooden boards. The amount of cold air that came off was minimal. How air conditioners worked back on Earth was a mystery to him. He only understood that there was something passed between something else that cooled some coils, thus cooling the air. Well, this world had magic, didnt it? Why not cool the air directly? And the best way to do that was
[Aerosolize], Theo said, holding a sk of the modifier in his hand.
The only issue was that hed never modified a solution. His intuition said it might work, but gave no guarantees. After the first sk exploded, sending a stter of solution that made the alchemists robes stiff with frost, he worked on getting the quantities correct. The low concentration of properties in the solution meant it needed less of the modifier essence to do the job. Theo pushed his ability to measure small quantities, dripping an amount of modifier so small into the solution that it was nearly impossible to measure.
The reaction swirled in the sk, turning the solution a faintly yellow tinge. It stained the seams of frosty blue a deep purple, but remained otherwise unchanged. Theo held it up for inspection, smiling uncontrobly.
[Freeze Solution]
[Aerosolize]
[Cooling Agent] [Modified Cooling Agent]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Apply to dramatically lower the temperature of the air.
Effect:
Apply enough solution to lower the temperature of the surrounding air.
This effect lingers, constantly cooling the surrounding air until the effect expires. Length depends on the quality of this potion.
Air conditioner in a bottle, Theo said, dripping the solution on the ground.
Instead of freezing the wooden nks, the solution created a hovering sphere of frost. It put off a constant wave of cold air that cooled theb. After a few moments, the amount he dripped was too much. Theb became frigid, and the alchemist opened a window to let some warm air in. He studied the reaction and timed it mentally. The wisp of white faded after around 5 minutes, but the effects were clear. Frost had formed on the interior of theb, coating every surface with a spiderweb of crawling, frozen moisture.
This cant be good for the potions, Theo said, shaking his head.
But the first step to bringing air conditioning to this world was here. The artifice that would drive it was equally simple. Theo imagined a simple copper box with a fan, attached to ducts that moved the air around. Throk always had better ideas, but thats how he saw it.
[Swamp Dungeon] is deeper than ever, Tresk said, her voice sing-song. Sure you dont wannae on down?
Id rather do anything else, Theo said.
Shame. You could be a battle alchemist, Tresk said.
I could be anything. I want to be a normal, boring alchemist.
Aint nothing boring about you.
As Theo went to leave the Newt and Demon, Salire had a few fine details she wanted to chat about. She grilled him about the modifiers he could make, but he had to reinforce the idea that some things werent for sale. She didnt get it at first, but he repeated himself until she understood how dangerous some things were. Most of their clients would be Broken Tuskers. If an outsider killed themself with his potions, not that big of a deal. But hed feel personally responsible if a local did. She understood his meaning and made notes to amend her list.
Theo passed by Throks smithy without stopping. He wanted to stop in and propose the idea, but made a show as if he wasnt going to. The alchemist was checking in with Bob at the school. Mudball Fundamental had grown since hed seen itst. Both in size and the amount of students they taught. Bob was out back with several younger townsfolk the alchemist didnt recognize. The children were undergoingbat drills, which was whatever to Theo. It reminded him of his childhood.
Bob had a lot to say about the student. The only other Brogling Theo knew was Grub, and that guy was a dick. It wasnt good for a persons mood when a kingdom crumbled around you. Themunication crystal in the alchemists inventory was still silent. No one on the other side, and no response when he called.
Clever bunch of rascals, Bob said, climbing on the fence to meet Theos gaze.
They talked about what kind of education the critters were getting. Theo wasnt horrible interested, but they seemed to get a thorough run of educational pirs. Writing, reading, skinning animals, fighting. Normal things.
Theo checked in with Banu at the farms. The old farmer wanted nothing more than to keep things the way they were, but this was a wellness check for the health of their food-production industry. Things would go better once the Zee was cultivated to 200%, doubling its size yet again. Other than hiring a few new people, there were no changes at the farm. The alchemist headed back to Throks, only to be intercepted by Zansal.
He needs to leave, she said.
Khahar will leave soon enough. He said theres boatsing for him, Theo said, waving her off. Why are you so against him?
Zansal seemed at a loss for words. Hes going?
Yeah, said hes going to be a god or whatever, Theo said. Try talking to the guy.
Zansal stopped, bowed, and shook her head. Were not allowed to talk to him.
It was a nice day. It was warm, but not too warm. There was no rain, but a scatter of shielding clouds that kept away the harsh sun. Theo had sorted out some issues with the town, had a guarantee for 250 new hard-working citizens, and the possibility of a safeguard against disaster with an alliance. If Zansal wanted to bring her doom and gloom into town, she could go do it in the swamp. Far away from him.
He was looking for you, Zansal said.
Theo kept walking. She caught up after a moment.
He could have found me if he wanted to. Seems like he can be anywhere at any time, Theo said.
When hes inside of the realm of the Khahari, yes. Thats true, Zansal said. But once removed? His mind fades. His body fades. He fades.
Theo stopped walking. Khahar was looking for him. Theo Spencer. Not Belgar Curious.
I can ask him to leave, Theo said, shrugging. I figured he just wanted a vacation from the god-like life. A break where he could pretend to be normal. I mean, hes been talking like he likes it here.
Im sure he does, Zansal said. She still had a sharp look about her, but had softened slightly. He admires you. Theres a ce in our history I dont
But the woman trailed off. Theo gave her a hard look, but ced his hand on her shoulder. He understood what she was saying, and was forming a theory about the leader of the Khahari. She didnt need to say any more, and he didnt want to hear it.
Hell go, Theo said. Well be fine.
It didnt matter if she believed it or not. The Khahari looked up to the guy like he was a saint. Well, he was as near to a god as anyone so maybe that was true. But Theo didnt see Khahar that way, and he never would. He was just another guy working in the mud, helping form the harbor. Just another guy.
Throk! Theo shouted. Hed shaken Zansal for the moment, and earned the ire of the Marshling. I have a job!
Gods, no, Throk shuddered. Im behind.
Well, this can happen whenever. Im not picky, Theo said. Arent you always ufortable in the heat?
Marshlings love the heat.
Well, have I got a product for you, Theo said, producing a sk from his inventory. Introducing This stuff.
Theo poured the smallest amount on the ground, forming a ball of pulsing white energy. It released a wave of cooling air that washed over the pair in a wave. Throk closed his eyes as the breeze came, letting out a sigh.
Alright, Throk said. Maybe Marshlings dont love the heat. What do you need?
Chapter 3.43: Old Tworg
Chapter 3.43: Old Tworg
Throk banged out an overly efficient design for the air conditioner in mere minutes. The man had a mind built for artifices, and Theo couldnt help but think of the Demonic God Tworgnoth. The way the Marshling pped together a treated copper frame, installed a fan, and worked the artificing internals within moments was amazing. It was a simple design. Too simple to meet the needs of the alchemists n.
The entire point of the air conditioning project was to provide Sledge a way to level her [Fabricators Core]. He wanted a series of pipes that led to an outside unit, but that wouldnt work with Throks design. The cksmith had a straightforward approach to most things, and this project was no different. A rectangr cube, made of the treated copper, sat in the workshop. Hed fashioned two fans, one on either side of the hollow cube, to draw air through. A tank on the top released the cooling solution at a set rate, adjustable by a knob on the top.
This is amazing, Theo said, tilting the machine so it blew cold air on his face. One problem.
I work miracles, Throk started, leaning against his work table with a heavy sigh, and youin.
Disregarding the fact that this will make you rich, I wanted something for Sledge to work on, Theo said. If the units just sit inside someones house, whats the point? I expected her to run pipes everywhere, changing the seed core houses for some sweet experience.
Throk tapped his chin with his hammer. How the man didnt knock himself out was beyond Theo. Like the example artifice sitting on the workshops floor, the gears in the Marshlings head were turning.
She could still mount them in the homes, Throk suggested. We can shift the design so the controls are on the side. Or the bottom. Then mount them up high so the cold air falls down.
That might give her decent experience. Perhaps if she installed a unit in each of the 100 new houses they had to nt
I have a job for you, Theo said, smiling. Throk groaned.
What? Didnt you take an apprentice? Theo asked.
Yes. Theyre all useless, Throk said, jabbing his thumb back into the workshop.
Where Throk hit his anvil with grace, his apprentices were just smacking metal against metal. It wasnt a pretty sight. Theo consulted his mayoral screen, trying to find the root of the problem. Alise always added the right tags to citizens so they could be searched up based on their experience and cores. The kids in the cksmith were the best fits for the job, so that wasnt the issue. The more he thought about it, the more he realized this was something worth calling a meeting for.
Alright, Theo said, trying to jump-start his mind. This is a luxury item. I want you to get with Sledge. Work out a price for each unit. Well install a few for free, then the word will spread. Sound good?
Better than your normal orders, Throk said. Normally youd just say to do it, then Id have to do it.
Right. Next point. Do you need help from the town with your operation? Theo asked.
I dont need a damn thing, Throk said.
Theo nodded, taking the prototype unit in his inventory and bidding farewell to his friend. Throk being so defensive meant he needed help. It was another thing that slipped through the cracks, but wasnt surprising. He was so spiky with everyone; it was hard to know when he really needed help. Before departing, he examined the cksmithing building.
[cksmiths Workshop]
Owners: Throk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 10 (20%)
Rent Due: 5 days
Expansions:
[Even Heating]
[Strict Labor]
Unsurprisingly, Throk had put little effort into upgrading the building. Theo wasnt surprised anymore when he saw stuff like this. Maybe it was a trend born from Mianas pact to keep the town at level 1, but it had to stop. No building in town should be below level 20, otherwise they were missing out on amazing upgrades. This led to a second problem. They needed a workshop geared to artificing. The alchemist considered this as he made his way to the center of administration.
It was nice to see the town hall buzzing. The young administrators were fielding questions from citizens in the atrium, hosting impromptu sessions near the fire. Theo found Alise and Gwyn in a meeting with Ziz and Gridgen, and found a seat. Everyone stared at him when he plopped into a chair, but he waved them away. They were discussing production quotas and the distribution of workers. The subject was dry and uninteresting, but mercifully short.
How can we help you, mayor? Alise asked, ushering Ziz and Gridgen out.
Im concerned about Throk, Theo said,ying it out as inly as he could. How much money does the town have?
Were creeping back to 100 gold, Gwyn said, clearly consulting her screen. Theo didnt know why he asked. He could have checked.
Would it pay to have another town-sponsored project? Theo thought about the problem before suggesting a solution. Throks work was important to the town, but he had his own business to run. The issue was, his work was so important because of his corebinations. A cksmith that was an artificer worked so well together, nothing else would do. But his current apprentices werent making the cut. The alchemist scratched his head and groaned. There seemed to be no solution to the problem.
If we get him a building for his artificer work, does that solve the problem? Theo asked. No, it doesnt. We need another person with that specific corebo Then we need to upgrade Throks corebination.
Upgrade? Alise asked, looking confused. You alright, Theo?
Assure me we have the absolute best students for Throk, Theo said.
I dont think anyone fits his requirements, Gwyn said, taking the reins. ording to the notes, theyre all either too stupid or toozy.
The problem is, hes a genius, Theo said, standing. He wouldnt find his answers here. Alright. Thanks for your time. I just needed to verbalize it.
Alise had a few items for him before he left. Her first draft for the Elven poption distribution was done, and it looked great. They were evenly spread acrossboring disciplines and would be housed ordingly. The neighborhood area would house something like 70% of their poption, the rest going to Stabby Grove, Dead Dog, or nearby Cheese Empire. She repeated how much she hated the names, but theyd stuck.
Thats perfect, Theo said. Let me know if we have any changes.
Gwyn also had a few items about the junior administrators. They were inviting citizens in to give their opinions on the town. This gave the new administrators time to cut their teeth before moving on torger projects. There was a n to split the administration staff into domains, but that was far off. Gwyn and Alise would handle everything until then. Theo left the town hall, the egg twitching in his satchel as he went.
Yeah, were off to see Zarali, Theo said, petting the egg. The surface seemed warmer than before.
Fenian was chatting with Xolsa and Zarali in the wizards tower. It was shocking to see the Elf hang around for so long.
A few questions about Tworgnoth, Theo said, pulling the Drogramathi Priestess aside. Xolsa and Fenian continued their discussion on the [Dungeon Engineers Core].
A few questions about why you havent upgraded your [Drogramath Herbalism Core], Zarali said, cing her hands on her hips.
Its on my list, Theo lied. How do we get an artificers core aligned with old Tworg?
Old Tworg, Fenian said, snorting. You pledge yourself to the Master of Artifices. Strike a deal, and all that.
Sounds like youre suspiciously familiar with the topic, Theo said, staring at the trader.
I might have a demonic core. You never know, Fenian said, his face impassive.
He has at least one, Zarali said. A [Priest of Tworgnoth] can create a [Tworgnoth Artificers Core], or you can strike a pact with the god himself. Thinking of taking up a new trade?
Nah, this is for Throk, Theo said. Hey, Fenian. Do you have an artificers workshop seed core on ya?
Does a Pozwa howl at the darkened moon of Antalis? Fenian asked, cing his hands on his hips and grinning. The answer is yes. 15 gold.
Gold changed hands and Theo ced his new [Artificers Workshop Seed Core] in his inventory. Throk would never spend the money, and the alchemist didnt have time to spare to wait for him to scrape the gold together. What the hell did that guy even spend his cash on? It didnt matter. It was done, and a decent solution for one of two problems. This brought him down to 51 gold and nothing to spend it on.
Actually, I need some more high-level [Monster Cores], Theo said.
Down to 25 gold.
Theo left the three people to their discussion and headed for the roof of the tower. The day was fading by the moment, but he took time to appreciate the swamp below. The Ogre Cypress trees towered high enough above the marsh to afford a decent view. Most days were clear enough to see to the dungeon, but today it was obscured by a low-hanging fog. Monsters scurried around in the mud, hunting and being hunted by adventurers. Once Xolsa got his new core, they could worry about turning this ce into a theme park.
All you can y. Five gold, Theo said, smiling to himself. The egg in his satchel wiggled.
The alchemist withdrew his journal, an inkwell, and a quill to write some notes down. Something that fell by the wayside was his desire to write a guide to Drogramathi Alchemy. The swamp below gave him ample inspiration, but time didnt favor him. With a wistful sigh, he took the portal back to town and sent a mental ping to his golems. They were doing their thing. Following his instructions and collecting too many motes. He chatted with Tresk and practiced his focus for a while before heading to the mine to check on the miners.
Nira had her apprentices honed to a razor-sharp edge, unlike Throk. She just stood by and watched as they worked the smelter, pumping out an endless supply of ingots for the town. Gridgen and his men were happily working the mine, excited to give the alchemist another tour.
We had our first real monster scare, Gridgen said, gesturing for Theo to follow him down the switchback stairs.
They approached the revealed chamber where Theo found the egg. Blood stained the walls, faint but noticeable. That confirmed another theory. The deeper they dug, the stronger the monsters that spawned were.
The gates worked, Theo said, looking back at the gate they just passed through. It was bent in sections, but still functional. Put a work order in with Throk. Rece those with Drogramathi Iron.
Yes, sir, Gridgen said, saluting. Nothing the adventurers couldnt handle.
The mine was the biggest sess story of Broken Tusk, as far as Theo was concerned. Theo didnt even care about the weird room with the egg, it was just another hidden thing for him to find. One in a long list of constructed junk just waiting to be revealed.
Your people are safe, though? Theo asked.
With the gates? Yeah, Gridgen said. Weve only seen monsters spawn while were in here once. And we were on the other side of the mine.
It would still be nice if they had around the clock protections. Copper might not have sold for much, but like Theos potions it was a numbers game. A n formed in his head. Something he could test in the Dreamwalk tonight.
Gridgen was always happy to chat about whatever. His son, Gasem, absolutely loved Mudball Fundamental. It wasnt just a school, but a daycare and a training center rolled into one. As they talked about the kids progress, Theo realized how nice it would be to have something to keep normal citizens safe during a siege. A castle, maybe? A bomb shelter? Maybe they could all cram into his mushroom caves. Another problem for another day.
Tresk signaled she was done in the dungeon for the day, iming thest boss kicked her ass. The miners were wrapping up their work anyway, so they joined Theo in locking the ce up for the night. While the miners went ahead to Xams, the alchemist held back to nt his new seed core. Without Throks permission, he found a pleasant spot on the mans property and nted the seed, feeding it enough cores to grow it to level 1.
Tresk appeared from nowhere, stumbling as she came into existence behind Theo.
Woah! Thought you were going to dinner, Tresk said, folding her arms. Shed used their new ability to exit the dungeon quickly, giving her a few more minutes of dungeon time.
Just taking care of some stuff.
Tresk shrugged, scampering off without waiting for him.
The building sprung up like seed core buildings did. Roots sprung from the ground, wrapping around an amorphous form. With enough power, the writhing roots twisted into a concrete form. The new [Artificers Workshop] looked much like the smelter. There was an attached building that was an open-air workshop, scattered with tables and equipment with a sheltered interior. It was an all-board construction with a tted roof painted blue.
Theo assigned Throk as the owner and inspected the building.
[Artificers Workshop]
Owners: Throk
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 5 days
Expansions:
None
Nothing crazy there. Theo left a sack of [Monster Cores] inside the building, giving Throk the option to pick his upgrades. Theo might think he knew which upgrades were the best, but it was best to let someone who knew what they were doing take care of that.
Theo ran into Miana on the way to dinner. She pulled him aside wordlessly, dragging him to the ranch. It was a short walk from the center of town, so it wasnt a big deal. The alchemist often found himself just picking at his food, taking his time as his Tarahek dumped the entire te in her mouth. The Pozwa were kind of cute, anyway. In their own way.
Look, Miana said, pointing at the stable.
It was hard to see in the low light, especially at a distance. But there was something in the stable, nestled in a ball of hay. Theo moved his head around, finally catching a shimmer. It was an egg.
More Pozwa eggs? Theo asked. They had plenty of those.
Karatan, Miana said, her voice reverent. Our first little baby Karatan.
Thats awesome, Theo said. His urge to enter the paddock faded when he saw the mother of the egg prowling nearby. Whats the life-cycle for a Karatan egg?
Should be an entire season, Miana said. Well see if that drogramagic works on the livestock.
Any ns to expand the livestock program? Theo asked.
Yeah, got something real specialing up, Miana said. Fenian just brought me the core, so well see how it works.
Theo patted her on the shoulder. Alright, then. Keep your secrets.
Its a [Monster Tamers Core], Miana said, grinning. The damn Elf let me buy it on credit, but Im out almost 100 gold. Extremely rare. Been working with the bastard since I got the ranch to find the thing.
Miana exined her n with the new core. She wouldnt reveal the alignment, but it would allow her to domesticate any monster. Well, any monster based on her level and skills. Shed start off with monsterized versions of small creatures, like the [Fire Smanders] in the swamp, then work her way up. This was a synergy Theo didnt expect to find, but the Half-Ogre woman had discovered it. Anything that exploited the overly abundant supply of monsters was great. They could domesticate the monsterized critters and sell them off, or keep them for themselves.
Im sure were willing to cover some of your debt, Theo said.
So I can be in your debt? Miana asked, scoffing. She cleared her throat, straightening her posture. Sorry. Id like to make this work on my own. Even have a small team of people helping, now.
No, I appreciate that, Theo said.
When Theo arrived in town, others in his situation might have thought of Miana as an adversary. She was hard as they came in Broken Tusk, owing her flinty edge to her circumstances. While she lost some of that brusque behavior, she was still hard. Just differently. This would be a massive industry if she could get it rolling, and the alchemist wanted the town to be there for her in any way they could.
Broken Tusk, as a member of the Kingdom of Qavell, wouldnt profit from her venture. It wouldnt make money on most things that were sold in townthat all went to the kingdom. But Qavell wasnt there for them anymore. Blind loyalty no longer made sense, and secession was the way forward. Once they went independent, taxes collected would enter the towns coffers. Even if they only collected 5% of sales, banishing export fees, they would be rich. The question of how to secede without paying the high price.
Theos intuition told him to wait it out. Something would happen.
When Fenian visited the town, he often brought with him exotic food. For the Broken Tuskers, exotic meantrge hunks of meat. Steak. When Theo met with Tresk at the Marsh Wolf Tavern, they dug into a weird dish. Massive Karatan steaks with a side of Zee draped in ayer of cheese. It was weird. And delicious.
Theo had ns to test different forms of golems in the Dreamwalk tonight. He had a feeling that the material he made them out of determined how good they were at a task. Mud golems were great at digging through the mud, so that was an easy one to understand. If he could make one out of nt material, perhaps theyd be better at taking care of nts. A golem made of metal just made sense for defense. He wanted to create a copper golem to help defend the mine. That would require him to either increase his willpower or remove a few [Lesser Mud Golems]. Fewer mud golems might be a good thing. He already had crates of motes and nothing to do with them.
Another export opportunity, perhaps.
When dinner wrapped up, the tavern filled with a more rowdy crowd than normal thanks to the Karatan Steaks, Theo and Tresk made their way back to the Newt and Demon. The egg twitched as the alchemist nestled it in his sheets. Tresk didnt seem to mind that he carried it most of the time. She was often adventuring, after all.
The Dreamwalk sprung up around them as sleep took over. A group of assassins lunged for Theo, rekindling Tresks need to drill him constantly. Hed fight them off the best he could and move on to experimentation. There was no need to waste such a gift.
Chapter 3.44: Plant Golems
Chapter 3.44: nt Golems
Theo had an arsenal of responses for Tresks assassin attacks now. The [Potion of Limited Foresight] gave him enough wiggle room to enact his n, while the [Retreat Potion] allowed him to gain distance. Only when the Marshling summoned a literal army, would he die in the Dreamwalk, but still she wasnt satisfied. There were several ws with his tactic, all around the idea that he couldnt drop his nuke if there was an ally nearby. While the [Tarahek Dreampassage] didnt work in the Dreamwalk, it would make for a potent weapon.
But once the dust had settled from a failed defense, Theo got to work on testing new golems. Hed never seen a containment core made of [Drogramathi Iron], and couldnt convince the Dreamwalk to allow him to produce it, but it allowed him to work with different mediums. Tresk lingered in the harbor with him, eager to see what the nt-based golem would look like.
Theo added the finishing touches on the golem, but felt the need to speak about something that had bothered him for a while. The wavespped against the edges of the stone harbor, ghostly shipsing and going at the alchemists will. It was just a distraction. I know who Khahar really is.
Tresk poked her knife into a pile of vines, leaves, and branches. Uh-huh. Grand conspiracy mode Go!
Not sure about grand, Theo said, shoving his newest containment core into the pile of nt matter. It was made from a [Monster Core] belonging to a level 10 Fald Interloper and made with the standard treated iron. His version in the real world would be made of Drogramathi Iron. When I left Earth, the guy who sent me said everyone who was alive would be sent.
At this point in the development of the Tarahek, talking seemed more like a suggestion. Theo could feel Tresk picking up on his thoughts. She often suppressed them in the real world, waiting for the Dreamwalk to share information. Sometimes she defaulted to the [Tarahek Communication] skill, which seemed safe enough. But in their own realm, they were absolutely free from unfriendly ears.
So, thats a thought, Tresk said, plopping down on the ground. She wiggled her fat little tail with interest. Why havent we seen other outworlders?
Because whoever was left on Earth was the seed poption for this world, Theo said. Khahar was among them. Meaning, he was alive when Earth ended but Well, I think he knew me.
Thats a problem. Since you didnt have any friends, Tresk said, chuckling. Sorry. Im putting on my serious pants.
I appreciate it. Notice how Khahar avoided a lot of the worlds history regarding the early days? He just talks vaguely about them. That guy just wont admit it, Theo said. He could infuse the golem with mana, bringing it to life, but he dyed. Hed known this for a while now, and Tresk must have known too, but he never wanted to say it aloud. What did it matter? That was 60,000 years ago.
So, this Harbinger guy saves your worlds poption. Brings them here for reasons. Then what? Waits 60,000 years to drop you? Not making sense, buddy, Tresk said.
I never said it made sense why, but it fits, Theo said. I can think of about 15 people who would have an interest in checking in on me. The squad they formed to find the Harbinger. Morales, Bawa, Valkov, Belchev I cant remember thatdys name, though. My family was all dead. The North American Confederationsmand was down to a few hundred people. I grew up with Mark. He might have been alive when it ended, but I cant be sure. My
Theo stopped himself. The more he wrapped his mind in his old life, the worse he felt. Even in the Dreamwalk, a sick feeling spread through his stomach, mingling with an old fire that had died decades ago. The longer he spent in the Tarahek, the less those coals smoldered. He reflexively reached for his silver locket, only to find the mark of the Burning Eye. What a sad parody.
Im sure she was great, Tresk said, patting Theo on the shoulder. She scrunched up her wet little face. Let me see Right, so all those people you murdered in that Berlin Alliance thing were dead, too. Even that dude you thought was cool. What about thatdy with the East Asian Independent Force?
Tresk was digging around in his brain. Hed never told her about the political entities back on Earth, let alone a rag-tag group like the EAIF.
Dig deeper, Tresk, Theo said, sighing. She died before the end.
Well, stop blocking memories out, Tresk said.
Theo blocked everything out. His willpower wasnt great, but it was growing thanks to his use of the golems. Khahar has to be one of my squad, someone atmand, or someone I cant remember. Thats the end. Doesnt matter, anyway. Hes here. He needs to leave. Conversation over.
Tresk nodded. She took to ying with the floating spirit of the egg, giving Theo room to breathe. He appreciated it. She was just trying to sort this out, and he brought the subject up. Instead, he shifted his thoughts to this world. How simr it was to Earth. When the end came, creeping over the decades, people didnt spread out into the countryside. They bunched up in cities. It was no longer about sprawling suburban areas, but massive tenement buildings. Nations became cities almost overnight. That was a reminder of the way the soutnds of Iaredin operated. Gronro-Dir, Rivers and Daub, and Broken Tusk.
No apology needed, Tresk said, ruffling Theos hair. Well talk to the guy about it when hes ready. No sense pushing a uh God? Is he a god?
Just about, Theo said. Once he ascends, its going to be trouble. Mark my words, were going to see the dawn of a new era. Well call it Khahars Ascension.
Theo pushed the idea of a war in heaven away and focused on his work. He introduced enough mana to kick-start his new golem. The vines swirled around the containment core, branches and leaves forming to a writhing mass of vegetation. The vague form of a person took shape. Stunted arms and stunted legs with a rudimentary head lumbered, awaiting orders.
Hes a cute one, Tresk said, hugging the new golem. Good boy.
[Lesser nt Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 10
nt Golems excel at tending to the natural world, while also having mildbat capabilities.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)
Medium: [nt Matter]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
Perfect, Theo said, grinning. His old worries washed away in an instant. Now I have a gardener. Want to see the next one?
Absolutely, Tresk said.
Theo tried to make a golem out of [Copper Nuggets], but it failed. When he used [Copper Ingots], it failed simrly but exploded. Alchemy often exploded if it wasnt performed correctly. He then went for [Alchemically Treated Copper Ingots], but found the golem wouldnt form. Tresk kept himpany for some time, but scampered off after a while. The alchemist wouldnt me her, it was getting frustrating.
What do you think, nt golem? Theo asked.
The [Lesser nt Golem] shrugged despite being singed from the previous explosion. The eggs spirit floated around, dive-bombing Theos head as though it knew the answers. Try as he might, the alchemist couldnt figure out what the little guy knew. He resorted to creating random items to understand the spirits intent.
Theo created an alchemy still, a gun, tters of cheese, Marshy the god of all Marshlings, and finally a burning brazier. The spirit reacted to that, bobbing over the lit me with excitement. The alchemist could feel the things excitement for that idea.
Fire? Theo asked, looking at his pile of copper bars. So, does it need some [Fire Essence] to melt the bars and take a form?
The spirit flew around, even more excited than before.
Free hints from the magic egg spirit, Theo said. He wasnt surprised by anything. No matter how weird it was.
The Dreamwalk could be picky about what Theo could do within. Sometimes it let him run experiments, and other times not. The rules were that he could do something if it was a single logical step away. He soaked a stone tablet in [Fire Essence], gaining a new construct for his efforts. The alchemist inspected his new [Fire Construct].
[Fire Construct]
[Alchemy Construct]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Emits a field of heat.
Material:
Stone (Poor Quality)
Effect:
20 halm bubble of heat, controble by the user. Strength of the heat depends on the quality of this construct.
The egg spirit floated around the construct, rubbing its ethereal form up against it.
Are you a dragon? Theo asked. You like fire. A lot.
The [Fire Construct] wasnt useful for much, as far as Theo could tell, but if it could help the golem form itself out of the [Copper Ingots], that was good enough. He ced the containment core, [Mana Construct], and [Fire Construct] within the pile of ingots. It erupted in mes, the copper melting to take the same vague form as the [Lesser nt Golem]. After a moment, the golem cooled. It looked much like the other golems, but made of poorly formed copper. It had gaps in its joints, devoid of copper, but seemed to hold together. Theo inspected his newest creation.
[Lesser Copper Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 10
Metal Golems are excellent atbat. They serve almost no use elsewhere, and require new [Fire Constructs] to repair themselves. Metal Golems without an installed [Fire Construct] will be more useless the longer they operate.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)
Medium: [Copper Ingots]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
Theo should have figured the metal golems would be great forbat. It only made sense. Another advantage of the Dreamwalk was that he could test them here, and understand their capabilities before sending them in the field. The alchemist imagined a single, fishlike Fald with a rusted iron sword. With a thought, the monster attacked.
The first bout was one-sided. Like most of the people like monsters, Fald were feral inbat. Sticking low to the ground, the creature came in with a wild strike to the side. The [Lesser Copper Golem] didnt flinch as the attack scraped against its arm. But there was the golems weakness. It lumbered toward the monster, taking ponderous steps until the fish-thing was in range. Once it wrapped its crude arms around the Fald, it was over. No amount of iling and screaming could keep it from the golems suffocating grasp.
Theo made a mental note about the encounter. To the level 10 Fald, the [Lesser Copper Golem] was unstoppable. Even the [Lesser Stone Golems] would have been damaged from the attacks. That made sense, though. Stone golems werent designed solely forbat, they were the all-rounders. The alchemist continued the test, summoning two Fald, then three, and so on. Only when the battle was five-to-one did the golem finally die, suffering a death by a thousand cuts.
As expected, Theo said, nodding to the eggs spirit. Five against one is great, though. Theyre technically the same level, so thats a lot of power.
The eggs spirit offered no insight on whether this was good or not.
While Tresk stopped by a few times to check in on the golem project, Theo just focused on collecting as much information as possible. Once a metal golem was injured, it required another [Fire Construct] to repair itself, along with [Copper Ingots]. The [Lesser Mud Golems] could just pull from the swamp, which ced the metal golems in a different category in his mind. They werebat specialists with an expandable lifespan.
Perhaps theyll make great mine guards, Theo said.
Whatever their final use, Broken Tusk would have at least one [Lesser Drogramathi Iron Golem] tomorrow. Seemed absurd not to try something so ridiculous. Theo imagined himself going to a meeting with the people of Rivers and Daub nked by 10 such golems. That would make them crap their pants. Maybe they could bolt swords onto the golems.
But that was enough experimentation with the golems for one night. Theo wanted to grind out as much experience as he could. As he tended his gardens, he had a sense that his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] would hit 15 in the morning, while his alchemy core was right on the edge of hitting 17. The [Governance Core] would ascend to 15, while his personal level creeped closer to 20, currently at 15. At that point, hed have a big decision to make. He needed a new core.
Throk would do well with an artificer core from Tworgnoth, but that led to another thought. If a person took cores that conflicted with each other, what happened? Khahar would be able to answer that question, so he reserved it for the daytime. From what the alchemist understood, it all depended on what those cores were aligned with. If he paired a Grom Rang, Dwarven God of Mining, with Fanglir, Elven God of Fire, there shouldnt be a problem. But looking at another pairing, Lord of War and Death Zagmon with the Queen of the Path of Shadows UzXulven, and hed have a problem. Those two just didnt get along.
So, the problem fell to the experts. Theo didnt need an answer, he just wanted a good start on the problem.
Theo spent the remainder of the Dreamwalk grinding levels. He didnt have more experiments to run, so it only made sense. While he spent more time chatting with Tresk, they had nothing big to discuss. When the morning finally came, the alchemist sprung up before the Marshling could, racing her to the door. Unfortunately, she still had the [Dexterity] advantage.
Nerd! Tresk shouted, sprinting out of the Newt and Demon.
At least Im not groggy anymore, Theo said, patting the egg in his satchel.
The Season of Fire was showing its namesake. If it was warm when Theo arrived in Broken Tusk, it had now be sweltering. Even with the sun barely poking over the horizon, it was almost unbearable. The air conditioner in his inventory became more tempting by the moment, but he had a use for that. Hed donate it to Whisper. The Toora bear-people were from a horribly cold ce north of Qavell. Shed appreciate it far more than anyone else. But first, it was time for breakfast.
The day didnt truly start until Theo had a cup of tea at Xams tavern. He remembered a time where he brewed all his own tea, but even his alchemy core couldntpete with her cooking. Everything she made just tasted better. The alchemist sat with Tresk at a table, eating leftovers fromst night and sipping his tea.
Hey, Khahar, Theo said. And then the Khahari man was there.
Yes?
You know I appreciate how you just dont answer our questions before we ask them, Tresk said, leaning in. The whiskers on the mans face twitched.
Most people see it as rude.
Phew. I know, right? How about that heat? Tresk asked. Her tail swiped from side-to-side excitedly. Getting kinda hot, huh? Like Mexico hot. Ya know what Im saying?
Khahar narrowed his eyes at Tresk. Theo kicked her under the table. She yelped.
Core alignments, Theo said. I want to know what happens if you use two cores that dont agree.
Nothing good, Khahar said, rxing. He reached into his chest and pulled a core out. He didnt even flinch. It was a basic [Artificers Core]... Kind of. The metal cage looked pure to Theos eyes. It shone with impossible brightness, even the white glowing center seemed somehow better than any core hed ever seen. This core is roughly 59,000 years old. When the world was young, there were no alignments. I dont have a single aligned core to my name.
Wow, Tresk said, propping herself up on the table to get a better look. What level is that one?
12,582, Khahar said.
Theo gawked. Theres no upper-limit to levels?
None at all, Khahar said, reinserting the core into his chest. Were straying from your question, but theres a reason you dont see many people beyond level 30, let alone level 100. 30 is the first hurdle for most. Well, some struggle to get beyond 20. Then the problem bes edging past 100 without going insane. The more you ascend, the harder it bes to keep your mind. By my stage? I dont think any have gone this far, but most strive for godhood, no matter how minor the domain.
How do you keep it together? Tresk asked, her voice almost a whisper.
Khahar ced his hand on his chest and closed his eyes. I often dont. The longer Im away from my domain, the worse it gets.
Why dont you go back? Theo asked.
Khahar opened his eyes and smiled, cing a furry hand on Theos shoulder. You havent figured it out yet. Youre on the right track. Im from Earth. I just need to see you get it before I go. I need to see that spark I remember. That way, I can leave this realm happy. Ill know its in good hands.
Theo just stared. So, it was a game to him. A fun little thing someone did before they went off to fight with gods. The alchemist couldnt imagine the mans mind was all there, even if he did know him from Earth. Him? Could it have been a woman? There was nothing that said they had to keep the same sex when they were sent over. It could be literally anyone.
A near-perfect memory, Khahar said. Ive dropped enough hints, Spencer. To your question. Research cores that will help you with the town. Well, it wont be a town much longer, will it? Anyway, you have the aptitude to do anything you want. If you must take abat ss, I rmend something in the support realm. Hmmm Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any.
Khahar produced a small wooden box from nowhere. Theo went to inspect it, but the system refused to give him a prompt. It was ornate, iid with gold and jewels. The closer the alchemist got to it, the more he realized it was covered with an impossibly smallwork of absurdlyplex symbols. They had a faint yellow glow and were written in thenguage of the Khahari. Anguage that Khahar himself likely devised.
What is it? Tresk asked, bouncing up and down.
This is how I spit in the face of the gods, Khahar said, his muzzle twisting into a wicked grin. Something will happen. Something nned for eons. When it does, the box will open and you will change fate. Again.
Chapter 3.45: Thim
Chapter 3.45: Thim
Theo dodged a downpour of questions from Throk, running from the center of town with the Marshling in pursuit. He lost him behind the town hall, circled around, and found his way to the new butchers building without incident. The old man would refuse to ept the new building, so it was best to leave him to it. In time, hed ept the gift and use it to better the town. That was the way things always went with the codger.
The new building rested near the Adventurers Guild, across the road from the sawmill. It took the form of a wood t building with a blue shingled roof, matching the spreading motif of the town. The entire thing was quaint, but Whisper had settled into it as though it were her home. Theo found her butchering the bodies of several wolves, even disying skill in skinning them. She had a sad smile on her face when he entered, but bowed her head as a greeting.
Mayor, she said simply, resuming her bloody work.
Still too hot for ya? Theo asked.
Its all this fur, Whisper said, looking down at her body. Under her bloody apron was fur matted with gore. It marred the interesting mottled patterns of brown and gray.
Well have Sledge install this properly, Theo said, withdrawing the air conditioner from his inventory. That caught the womans interest. I worked with the cksmith to get you morefortable. I understand the home of the Toora is quite cold.
Frigid, Whisper said. She dropped her cleaver and moved over, hands reverently stroking the artifice.
I dont have a sales pitch, Theo said with a weak shrug. This entire n was half-baked from the start. A need forfort with no obvious solution. I just want you to tell everyone how great the air conditioner is, so Throk can sell more.
Conditioner? Whisper asked. What condition does it put the air into?
Its just a box that blows cold air, Theo said, flicking the switch on the side. He had it set to the lowest setting, which would provide a drip of potion every half-hour. The alchemist exined the controls and provided a sk of modified [Freeze Solution].
This is amazing, Whisper said, standing in front of the artifice and closing her eyes. I was nning to leave the town The heat is just too much. I can purchase more from the angry Marshling?
Yeah, and stop by The Newt and Demon if you need more of the potion, Theo said. Its cheap to make, but this shouldst you a while.
Im going to turn it all the way up, Whisper said, cranking the knob on the side. I shall purchase more.
Problem solved. It had been a long time since Theo could fix an issue with so little effort. Whisper was hot, so he cooled her down. But the problem he solved wasnt the one he set out to solve. Sledge was the issue. Her need for experience outweighed the need forfort, even if the two goals were aligned. As much as the alchemist didnt want to deal with the erratic Marshling, now was the time. He left the butcher and made his way over to the sawmill.
Sledge was more like Nira than Theo realized. Hed assumed most in Broken Tusk would bungle a job involving organizing people, but she was doing great. The Marshling had everyone outside of her mill, directing them for their daily tasks. Her team had grown significantly, resulting in a tightly packed crowd,pared to the earlier scatter of folks. It was a sight that warmed the alchemists heart. Anything that required less of his touch made him happy.
And, youre off! Sledge shouted. Make mama proud!
Theo winced. She was still weird.
Everything going well, Sledge? Theo asked, approaching the glowering woman.
Fine as ever, Sledge said. Got these mud-sucking Pozwa broken into amand structure. The business just runs itself!
Do you have enough time to work on your [Fabricators Core]? Theo asked.
Plenty. Been doing minor upgrades for townsfolk. Trying to get my next skill. You know how it goes, Sledge said.
The biggest surprise was that she wasnt mad. It was easy to feel as though these people fell off Theos radar, falling into obscurity. With so many things to do in town, that wouldnt be a lie. But that was the point. These people needed to build their businesses up on their own, running them in whatever way they saw fit. The stars of the town were Ziz, Nira, Sledge, and Gridgen. All required no guidance and produced vast quantities of resources.
Once you get a decent skill, let me know, Theo said. Until then, talk to Throk. Hes going to have air conditioners for you to install.
Air what?
A quick exnation of climate control saw the Marshlings head nodding. Soutnders didnt mind the heat, but that didnt mean they wouldnt enjoy something to cool their homes. With a boatload of elves on the way, that just brought the problem into focus. Theo chatted with her for a while about her operation. The man she elected to carry the [Foresters Core] was getting better by the day. Regeneration rates of the famed Ogre Cypress trees were increasing, and the quality of the wood was better. Sledge imed it was better, anyway. To Theo, every perfect quality board looked the same.
You dont see the knots? Sledge scoffed. Look at the difference!
The alchemist nodded. The two boards she held up looked the same. I see it now, he lied.
Departing from Sledges, Theo realized he had to face Throk. If he wanted some fancy Drogramathi Iron containment cores, hed need to take ashing.
Always better to ask for forgiveness, Theo said, approaching the angry Marshling.
Theres no forgiveness for you, alchemist, Throk grunted. But he didnt look up from his work. He was fiddling with some artificeponents from the Southde Guardian, something that was still lingering outside the eastern gate.
I thought youd like a fancy new workshop, Theo said.
Yeah, well You didnt ask. Im not broke.
You sure act like youre broke, Theo said. That statement got a steely re from the man. Keep it up, and Ill hire another cksmith.
Throk couldnt hide the interest on his face. He looked up from the cogwork, knitting his brow. That might work.
Youre supposed to take apprentices, Theo said. Train them up so they can do what you do.
Throk grunted. The only one with potential is that kid. He jabbed his finger at a small, bearded man. He looked like a man to Theo, anyway. Mustve been a Dwarf.
A new arrival? Theo asked. He didnt remember seeing the person in town.
As new as theye, Throk said. He turned, raising his voice to his sheepish apprentices. All but the Dwarf flinched. Im about to fire every one of you! Except Thim!
Yeah, we all love Thim, Theo said, craning his neck to get a better look. The young Dwarf was grinning. Thim, care to take a walk with me?
Dont you poach my only good apprentice, Theo, Throk said, leveling his gaze at the alchemist. Ill take your damn legs.
I wont. Promise, Theo said, beckoning for the Dwarf to follow.
Like most Dwarves, Thim was a study thing. A head of brown hair, concealed under a green cloak, with a massive brown beard. Bushy eyebrows, te-gray eyes, and features as hard as stone. Theo led the Dwarf behind hisb, collecting vegetation for his next experiment. After his talk with the new cksmith, hed convince Throk to make him a new containment core.
Whatever youve heard of the Rhomthrong is shit, Thim said, watching as Theo trimmed his garden. Were sturdy folk, make no mistake. Honest and hardworking as any. Ive already been through the ringer with your functionaries. They like me.
When you give someone a chance to talk without asking a question, Theo said, tossing a thick patch of weeds into a pile, they often tell you what theyre most afraid of being asked.
Arent you just a regr damn philosopher, Thim said, scoffing. Care to read my palm while youre at it?
Thim would fit in with the Marshlings and Half-Ogres well. A hard edge would take him far here.
Ill just say I dont know where Rhomthrong is. Or what people live there, Theo said. I know hard work when I see it. I know potential.
Good for you.
If Throk says youre any good, then youre good, Theo said. The man wouldnt even take his own son into the shop. The boy works the river now.
While it was still new to Theo, the stronger his connection to the Tarahek realm got, the more he could feel other realms. The Dwarf held a vor he couldnt recognize, something cold like the mountains, but as fiery as the forge. He either had a contradictory set of cores, or his main core was just that way. A split between those two conceptslikely a Dwarven god. Thim was silent.
Zarali could throw out some magical sense, feeling people around her. Theo knew how to inspect people, but his senses were clumsy. He focused on the Dwarfs chest and forced his will inside. Thim flinched as though an icy hand had reached out to grasp at his heart.
Borhig, right? Theo asked after a time. His senses didnt tell him the deity the Dwarf was under. Dwarven God of cksmithing. Is that correct?
Obvious guess, but yeah, Thim said.
Im still working on that, Theo said. This might seem like a confrontation, but I just wanted to make sure youre up for the job. Throk is over-worked. I cant rely on having a single cksmith in town, and you look like the man for the job. Youre not an apprentice, though.
Not by a long shot, Thim said, shifting on the spot ufortably.
Theo produced a [Drogramathi Iron Ingot] from his inventory, walking over and handing it to the Dwarf. Are you familiar with this?
Thim narrowed his eyes. Demon metal. Strong as the mines are deep. Never seen an ingot. Never seen a scrap that wasnt pulled off some Dronons corpse.
Exactly, Theo said, back to his pruning. I have a theory that the only Demon-aligned metal is produced by Zagmons brood.
Thim flinched at the mention of the Demonic God of War and Death.
That would be my experience.
So the Dwarves had some in-built hatred for Zagmon. Every gentle race that walked the should have a hate for that guy, from what Theo had heard so far.
I need you to make me something from the ingot, Theo said, finalizing his pile of debris. He exined the containment core and its purpose. Thim nodded the entire time, asking for more details but seemingly satisfied with the job. The alchemist reached out a hand for the Dwarf to shake, which he did. Theo Spencer.
Thimamuri Ironmoore, Thim said, nodding. Since youve riddled my core out
A zing furnace emerged from nowhere. It was dark ck with a roaring fire resting in the mouth. A momentter, an equally dark anvil sprung from the ground to join it. Without missing a beat, Thim nestled the ingot into the coals and urged his magic furnace to go to work. Within several minutes and exactly four swift strikes of a hammer, the Dwarf produced a perfect containment core made from the Demonic iron.
Sometimes you need to bring the forge and anvil to you, Thim said, shing a grin.
Theo inspected the item.
[Drogramathi Iron Containment Core]
[Containment Core]
Quality: Perfect
A containment core used for the production of constructs and golems. It is made of Drogramathi Iron.
The alchemist mentally severed his connection with one [Lesser Mud Golem], making room for his new golem, and suspended a level 10 [Monster Core] inside. He removed a bottle of [Infuse Essence] from his inventory and treated the core. Thim watched as he inserted a [Mana Construct] and the core into the pile of vegetation. After adding the smallest amount of mana, the pile of nt matter twisted to life. The Dwarf jumped back in surprise.
Collect the fully cultivated nts and deposit them into that crate. Restore your mana with that one, Theo said, inspecting the creature as it lumbered off.
[Lesser nt Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 10
nt Golems excel at tending to the natural world, while also having mildbat capabilities.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Drogramathi Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 10)
Medium: [nt Matter]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
This was much like the example Theo made in the Dreamwalk, only with a different core. From an outsiders perspective, the difference wouldnt be obvious. But even without connecting the golem to the lodestonework, the alchemist felt far less pull on his mind. It made sense, since the containment core acted as the creatures brain. With better materials, that brain became more capable. Smarter wasnt the right term to describe itthey werent intelligent. It simply reduced the load on his mind.
Theo flicked the Dwarf a gold coin, judging that the amount of Drogramathi Iron left was enough for 9 more cores. 9 more of those, please.
Alright, Thim said, loosening his shoulders. Now youre speaking mynguage.
The Dwarf made quick work of the other containment cores, making it look like a joke. He might have been young, by Dwarven standards, but he was incredibly skilled. Theo knew that Throk could have run circles around him, but there was hope for Broken Tusk to have another skilled cksmith.
Take your time with Throk, Theo said, watching as the Dwarf dismissed his forge and anvil. You dont need his blessing to work in town, but you dont want to be without it.
Ill admit. The asshole is already growing on me. Reminds me of home, Thim said, bidding farewell.
Another job done. Theo stood in the cluster of greenhouses for a while, only moving to check on the cultivating Zee. It had a few more days of growth left before he could send it back to Banu. That only left one more thing to do for the farm before hed be satisfied, and several more items to aplish for the shipyard to be functional.
Medieval ships, Theo said, patting the egg at his side. Well need more than wood and cloth to make that work.
Another problem for another day.
No one seemed to want to bother Theo today, and he was happier for it. He ordered his golems back to the Newt and Demon and reced them all with better versions of themselves. The team of golems working the marsh was reduced to 3 [Lesser Mud Golems] and 2 [Lesser Stone Golems]. He experimented with different metals for his metal golems, but found even regr iron to be too difficult. The alchemist defaulted back to copper, something he knew would work. It took a while to adjust the lodestonework in town, but by the end of it he had his team.
2 [Lesser nt Golems] would work the greenhouses night and day. 3 [Lesser Mud Golems] apanied by 2 [Lesser Stone Golems] for the swamp, and 3 [Lesser Copper Golems] to run around the mine and along the walls.
Upon returning to the Newt and Demon, Theo had a chat with Salire about how her n wasing along. Azrug hadpletely abandoned the shop, all his time going toward trade efforts, so he wasnt interested in buying up the excess gear. The new shopkeeper was happy about that, giving her time to gain confidence in haggling with the growing poption of adventurers in town. Shed already made a stack of gold coins, and the alchemist encouraged her to go wild.
But it was Theos ideal day. No one came to disturb him when he worked the stills. He created an array of essences that would work for Salires new n. With enough excess [Manashrooms], he even distilled some [Refined Mana Essence]. Xolsa might be happy about that. The key was to have enough essences on hand, without making too much wastage. If people came in asking for something he didnt have, that would be a waste of time.
All thoughts of time wasted went away when Theos core conspired against him. Before midday, his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] went up to level 16. Then, in the early afternoon his [Governance Core] hit 15. Since the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] didnt want to be left out, it hit 17. This caused a cascading effect that sent Theos personal level to 16. He didnt want to rush his free attribute distribution, so he sat near his opened window and consulted his attribute sheet before deciding.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 16
Alchemist
Core Slots: 4
Stats:
Health: 100
Mana: 140
Stamina: 110
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 16 (+8)
Vigor: 19 (+8)
Intelligence: 21 (+7)
Wisdom: 27 (+7)
Points: 1
Another point in [Wisdom] wouldnt hurt, but it seemed a shame to leave [Vigor] out of the game. Theo had a strange spread of stats. The [Tarahek Core] gave him more [Strength] and [Vigor] than he should normally have, resulting in a mash of stats. The first idea he had for point distribution was just to pump everything into [Wisdom] and ignore everything else. Now that he had cores supporting his attributes, it made more sense to get them to the thresholds then move on.
Theo reminded himself of the rules of the system, starting with the threshold of attributes. Stats got a boost in effectiveness every 10 points he put in. Whether that was points applied, or the total for that attribute was beyond him. Every personal level he got a point. Every 5 personal levels he got a skill point. When a core hit a multiple of 10, it got a free skill specific to that core. The growth of attributes attached to cores was entirely random, but seemed to be every 5 levels. All this thought just brought him back to putting [Vigor] over the 20 point threshold, so he put in his point.
It was hard to judge if he felt healthier after applying the point. But he could feel something, as though he had more energy to spare. Not just in that his stamina had gone up to 115 from 110, but something more base about his body. The alchemist shrugged it off, turning his attention to the organizational mess of hisb. It was time to separate his [Dimensional Storage Crates] out to make more sense. Thats the only way Salires n would work.
Chapter 3.46: Time is Short
Chapter 3.46: Time is Short
Grand dreams sometimes died in the face of practicality. A system of pipes and tanks wasnt off the table, but a simple organization of thebs storage crates would go a long way. The supply of unrefined essences was dwindling, giving way to only refined essences in Theos stock. While it wouldnt be safe to dispose of those low-tier essences, it was easy enough to jam them all in a single [Dimensional Storage Crate] and forget about them for now. The process of organization had taken a few hours. The alchemist ran between the crates, his stills, and his fermentation barrels, targeting the most useful essences and modifiers.
From the perspective of an adventurer, [Anti-Mage], [Solidify], [Web], and [Aerosolize] were the most useful modifiers. For essences, restoration, and attribute-enhancements were the most valuable. Patrons might ask for other things, though. Stocking and organizing was about reducing the time it would take from receiving an order andpleting it. No order would take more than a day, though.
The [Lesser nt Golem] sent a signal into the lodestonework, signaling that it was done tending the garden. It went through the list of orders it had, and found one, shambling off into the thin forests within Broken Tusk to find more reagents. Of the 3 [Lesser Copper Golems], Theo selfishly kept one near hisb. When the Elves arrive, hed have 10. It didnt hurt to make a good impression, even if that impression was one of awesome power.
Theo let out a heavy breath. When he felt anxious, he often busied himself with other things. Zarali had gently pushed him to upgrade his herbalism core, and it was time to make that happen. He locked his eyes on the shrine to Drogramath in hisb, letting his gaze linger over the form of his deity. It was too much like a Dronon to deny the reality of gods. They were just people with more power than others. Reading between the lines, the alchemist understood what everything Khahar said meant. The true meaning, not the cryptic junk he left on the surface.
The gods in the Prime Pantheon were all from Earth.
The thought of pledging his loyalty to some person back on that doomed was disheartening. But time changed a person. Even months could ease old wounds and dull the edges of a personality. 60,000 years would have altered thempletely. So Theo left hisb, heading across the street to Zaralis enchanters workshop. She was often back by thete afternoon, having left Xolsas tower to tend to whatever work she was entertaining.
Theo, Zarali said as he let himself in. How do you feel about Elves? Are we certain they can be trusted?
Theyll sign the magic contract, Theo said. Same as everyone else.
Oh, I would enjoy seeing an Elf ripped apart by a magic beast, Zarali said, sighing. Anyway, how can I help you?
Time to upgrade this core, Theo said sullenly.
Zarali pped her hands together, letting out a shriek of excitement. With one deft motion she threw the table in the rooms center aside, then snatched a rug from the ground and tossed it. Beneath were Drogramathi enchanting symbols arranged in a series of circles. In Drogramaths style, the symbols were written as stories. Short snippets about a Dronon conquering death, or Drogramath himself ascending to the Demonic heavens. What a hrious contradiction.
This is a very simple spell, Zarali said. Well, it would be simple But Belgars [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was only at rare. We never had time to upgrade it to legendary. So! We need to jump two rarity levels, which is more expensive.
Do you need money? Theo asked tly.
Of course not, Zarali said, waving him away. Just stand in the center of the circle and lets go!
Hold on. Im not jumping in some demon circle just because you said so, Theo said, crossing his arms. How long is this going to put me out for? What do I have to give?
When we did the ritual for Belgar, he wasnt out for more than a few minutes, Zarali said. What we have to give, as you say, is quite a lot of materials. Oh, my! Look at all this Drogramath-aligned metal we suddenly have. Convenient, isnt it?
Too convenient, Theo grumbled, moving into the circle.
He could leave his herbalism core at its current rarity, but his abilities would suffer. Since the constructs ability was tied to both alchemy and herbalism, he wasnt getting the most out of it. This was a necessary move, even if he didnt like it.
Take me all the way to mythic, if you wouldnt mind, Theo said.
Zarali cackled, pping her knee. Oh, good joke. Now, stand still. Let me know if you experience any pain.
The pain was immediate and mind-numbing. In a sh, it was as though Theos chest was filled with angry, ming bees. But as quickly as it started, it ended. The room faded to ck and the pain was gone. The alchemist found himself in a new room, not unlike that which he went to when talking to the Qavelli representative. A single, shadowy figure stood at the opposite end of the room. The swoop of the mans horns and swishing, thin tail gave him away as a Dronon.
I admit to some deception, the figure said with a shrug. He had a calming voice. Not what Theo was expecting. Not from a Demonic Lord. But the faithful are often easy to deceive.
Drogramath, Theo said. He didnt know whether to bow his head or spit in the Demons face. So, am I getting my new core? Or am I screwed?
The new core, I should think, Drogramath said. Time is short. The realm of your Tarahek is growing too strong. An unintended twist that bore more fruit than I could have imagined. nthier, Parantheir, Zaul, Ulvoqor, UzXulven, Tworgnoth, Toruaun, and Khahar. Those are the realms you can trust for your next core. Select myself, UzXulven, and Khahar as your towns patrons, in that order, when you upgrade Broken Tusk next. Again. Time is short.
Theos mind swirled. His superior memory would ensure he remembered every single word, but it struggled to understand the meaning. Drogramath was nothing like he expected, and in an instant the meeting was over. The alchemist didnt have time to ask another question. The Demonic God flicked his hand and the room faded into nothingness.
He gasped for air, waking in a cold sweat in his bed.
Theo! Tresk shouted, pping him across the face. Youve been asleep for ten years!
Shut up, Tresk. You stupid idiot, Luras said.
It was funny!
Aarok grunted his disapproval.
Someone bring me up to speed, Theo said, his mind still reeling from the encounter with Drogramath.
Theo, Im so sorry, Zarali said.
Theo had time to take stock of his surroundings. Tresk, Aarok, Luras, and Zarali were all crowded around his bed. Morning sunlight flooded through his window, casting them all in a halo of yellow light.
Zarali messed up your ritual, Luras said, his eyes burning with the power of his Ogre Patron.
I didnt mess it up, Zarali said. I did exactly as He said.
Theo ignored their bickering and inspected his cores, finding that Drogramath kept up his end of the bargain.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core]
Legendary
Herbalist Core
Bound
3 Slots
Level 16 (25%)
[Herbalist Core] given to the descendants of Drogramath.
Effects:
+5 Vigor
[Rare Material Handling]
While his friends argued about who messed what up, the alchemist inspected the new skill attached to his herbalism core.
[Rare Material Handling]
Herbalism Skill
Rare
Allows the user to handle rare reagents without destroying them.
Effect:
Some reagents are too gentle to be handled by normal people. This skill allows you to handle those reagents without destroying them by touch.
It was a skill to match his [Unstable Material Handling] skill, although he found no reagents he couldnt handle. That meant there were nts in the world he hadnt discovered yet.
Enough, Theo said, snapping out of his thoughts. The room went silent. It was a ploy by Drogramath, but he delivered. My core is upgraded, and thats the end. No more shouting, I have a headache.
I really didnt mean to do it, Zarali said.
Tresk must have been reading Theos mind, or his emotions. She shot him a wide-eyed look, but kept her mouth shut. The Marshling knew that if he had a good reason to hide information, she wouldnt force the issue. The group talked, but Theo fell into his thoughts. His first real encounter with Drogramath had ended in a way he couldnt have expected. Where he expected a fearsome creature he found a man.
Just a man, Theo thought.
The group let out a gasp of surprise as Tresk disappeared. Only a few heartbeatster, her voice filled his mind.
Teleport to me.
Theo obeyed. The Dreamwalk shed by, then he was standing on a hill. A chilly breeze blew from the north. Broken Tusk sprawled out in the distance to the south. Tresk knew exactly what he needed at that moment. Perspective.
Spill the beans, Tresk said.
Theo ryed the events through theirmunication skill. He spared no detail, making sure hispanion knew he didnt feel in danger. The cold snapped away in an instant. Warmth like nothing he had ever felt washed over him. It was dry and inviting, as though part of an ancient family home.
What are you going to do when you die, Khahar? Theo asked. His heart thumping in his chest like a drum. He stole a look at the Khahari leader, who smiled.
I dont know about you, but Im going directly to hell, Khahar said, grinning wider. Although, that strip club in the sky is sounding more appealing by the day.
Were there any strip clubs left? By the end, I mean, Theo asked.
No. No there werent, Khahar said.
Whats a strip club? Tresk asked, keeping her voice to a whisper.
A ce where nude women Khahar started.
So, you and Drogramath, Theo interrupted. I mean Damn, is it even safe to talk aloud?
Around me it is.
Youre working together? Theo asked. Where did you send Sulvan?
Antalis, Khahar said.
Theos brows knit tightly. It was now too much information to take in. Was it Drogramath, Khahar, or someone else that had a n? And where did that n go? A catastrophic event wasingan event they thought Theo could survivebut there had to be a n. While the alchemist now knew Khahars true identity, it didnt seem to matter. With a deep breath, he stroked the egg at his side. It was always at his side, now. None of it mattered.
Didnt know you could live on the moon, Theo said, gesturing to the town below. Doesnt matter, though. Does it? Look at the harbor. People running around like little ants We dont even have any boats, but I can feel their excitement from here. Look! A refugee train. Weve been getting those often. Is it reallying together? Just like that?
Looks like it, Tresk said, finding a rock to sit on.
Rivers and Gronro have also seen an influx of citizens, Khahar said. The situation in Qavell is Horrible.
You could fix it all, right? Theo asked.
Ive done that before, Khahar said. It doesnt end well.
Theo nodded. Im good. Thought it would be worse when I finally saw that guy, but Im good. Still cant shake the feeling that Im a pawn, though.
You were a pawn, Khahar said. Someone orchestrated this entire scenario, but they didnt count on one factor. I can see a million futures. I discount the ones with the least likely probability. Whoever did this never expected a new Tarahek.
So Theos survival hinged on a fluke with Tresk. Something that shouldnt have happened, but it did. There were still more questions than answers, but it hardly mattered. The way forward was clear, and hed done everything he could to prepare. 66 days seemed so short, looking back on it.
Doesnt matter, Theo said. We got work to do. You can go home, Khahar.
Khahar shrugged. Id like to see the Elves onest time before I leave.
Suit yourself, Theo said. Mind giving us a ride back to town? Would that be cheating?
Theo was standing with Khahar and Tresk in front of theb. There was no spatial distortion when they moved. They were simply standing in one ce, then another. No one even noticed them arrive. People just walked around them as they appeared. Like so many things before, the alchemist washed his hands of the situation. It wouldnt do to dwell on something he couldnt change. The right move was to work, making Broken Tusk better than it was before. More weapons, more people, more food A higher chance at survival.
Right. Time to call a meeting, Theo said. Thanks for the ride, Khahar.
My pleasure.
[Theo]: Administration staff, please report to the town hall meeting room. This is not an emergency.
Always good to tell them its not an emergency. That always works, Tresk said.
Alise assembled her staff at a moments notice, cramming everyone in the small meeting room. Aarok, Luras, Zarali, and Azrug were also there. Fenian had departed while Theo was unconscious. The staff was concerned, but Theo waved all concerns for himself away. Zaralis process worked, and the alchemist had more information on which realms to trust for the future. That was a big win, and he expressed that sentiment to everyone.
Just d youre not dead, Zarali said. She looked like she was going to be sick.
Well, it ended well, Theo said. I know Drogramath is an ally.
Im disappointed you ever thought otherwise, Zarali said, drawing herself up. In ssic fashion, she recovered in moments.
Thats fine, Theo said, waving her away. Id just like a report from the administration staff on how were doing. Food, resources, trade deals. All that stuff.
Alise cleared her throat. Despite our original estimate of 200 citizens before the first day of the Season of Fire, were now expecting 300. At minimum. Without counting the Elves.
That would have impacted our food quotas, but Azrug has taken care of that. If you would, Lord Merchant? Gwyn said.
I shoved a hot poker up the collective asses of Rivers and Daub, Azrug said with a shrug. Altered our original deal, so now we have wagon trains of dried fooding in. I got the food at a steal, so were attaching it to the free food initiative we started. Funny thing about Broken Tuskers, though.
No one is taking it, Alise finished. There are jobs enough for everyone, so everyone is working. Making a decent wage and buying their food. So theres two options they can take. Cheap dried food provided by the town, or expensive meals prepared by the tavern.
But it was as important to be self-reliant. Throk had made thatment before, and Theo couldnt agree more. The alchemist hated when systems were built without the idea of failure in mind. But it was a good start.
Do we have any trade deals with anything north of Gronro? Theo asked.
Several, Azrug said. If you want my opinion, we need that harbor to function. Were sitting on piles of resources with no way to trade them.
Once we do get boats, I can enchant them to move faster than anything else on the ocean, Zarali said.
The conversation devolved from there. Theo got what he wanted to hear. These check-in meetings were too important, and he wanted to do them more often. Another scandal like the farm situation would be horrible. The alchemist sat and listened to their strategies, agreeing where it was appropriate and declining otherwise. It was the perfect salve to an unsavory event, leaving him feeling excited and confident. When they finally broke off, sometime around midday, he went to inspect his town.
[Large Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 19 (22.12%)
Core Buildings:
Alchemy Lab
Greenhouses (x6)
cksmith
Artificers Workshop
Large Farm
Windmill
Quarry
Stonecutter
House (x231)
Tannery
Leatherworker
Tavern
Adventurers Guild
Hotsprings
Sawmill
Mine
Smelter
Enchanter
Ranch
Townhall
Butcher
Defensive Emcements:
Chain Lightning (x12)
Frost Cone (x7)
Fireball (x10)
Firebolt (x25)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Turret Emcements]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
[Coordinated Fire]
Current Resources:
Timber: 32,501
Stone Blocks: 15,000
Metal: 20,000
Motes: 5,000
While the towns level hadnt made progress, that was part of their n. They needed more citizens to make that work, and it was only a matter of time before they had another flood of people. Theo consulted his mayoral interface to inspect the map. Alise pointed out a few areas they could expand easily, creating morend for homes. Purchasingnd to the west, into the swamp, wasnt ideal. But there was plenty ofnd to the northeast. After that, they could expand from the harbor to the east, taking over the vast prairies. Xolsa needed to get his [Dungeon Engineer] core so they could do something about the [River Dungeon], which now sat north of the harbor.
Another notable thing toe out of the meeting was that Aarok had purchased more weapons for their walls. Theo still wanted to get Sledge to work with Throk to create an automated mote-feeding system for the artifices, so that might be their next project. The old Marshling would moan about how he didnt want to do it, only to eventually cave. There was also the need to get rid of their resources. They were packed to the gills with all the important ones, more than they could ever spend repairing their walls and buildings. Some of those resources were now being traded for dried food, but that was fine. Production was at an all-time high.
Theo looked forward to the meeting with Rivers and Daub, and Gronro-Dir. Whatever alliance they formed would form the basis of the soutnds power, and their ability to fight whatever wasing. Azrug had expressed his n to create an ovend shipping operation, and he had a [General Store Seed Core] in hand. The young Merchant Lord was reluctant to reveal this information, but Theo had expected it.
The truth is, Theo said, patting his egg. Seeing that guy took a weight off my shoulders.
The egg chirped in response.
Chapter 3.47: Pills Here
Chapter 3.47: Pills Here
Theo stared at the egg in his satchel. There were no cracks visible on its surface, just the same familiar sheen. He pressed his fingers against its surface and waited, but there was no movement. The egg had be such a fixture. The alchemist didnt know what hed do when it hatched. He didnt even know what was in it, despite Khahars statement that it was simply a mundane creature from Earth. He shrugged it all off and returned to the Newt and Demon. While he could feel Tresks tiredness from staying up all night with him, shed be fine. [Stamina Potions] didnt seem to have long-term negative effects.
We have our first order! Salire said, bouncing excitedly when Theo entered the shop. Orders, actually. Theres a few.
Theo nodded, taking a sheet of paper from the woman. It was more than just a few items, though. She followed him upstairs, watching as he made his daily sacrifice to the Drogramathi Shrine.
100 [Healing Pills], 200 [Mana Pills], 25 [Carapace Potions] with [Anti-Mage], 1,000 bombsWere not doing thosea lot of attribute potions, and a hell of a lot of restoration potions, Theo said, scratching his head. Ive never made a [Mana Pill].
Exciting, right? Salire asked. Did I do good, boss?
No, you did great. I like this format, Theo said, setting the paper down and assessing his stores. He had enough essences on hand to make everything except the [Carapace Potions]. The alchemist sent a mental message to his [Lesser nt Golem]. The creation had already tended the garden for the day, depositing everything in the barrel. It also reported back that he was running low on [Mana Constructs].
Thank you, Salire said, grinning.
Theos new shopkeeper was leveling her unaligned merchant core quickly, giving her ess to a general price of the items she was selling. She raised their prices, even for natives of the area, but maintained a deep discount for members of the Adventurers Guild. They were already paying a premium for the right to delve into the dungeons and would need the potions. People with healing cores seemed to be few. The alchemist got to work on his potions, inviting his shopkeeper to chat as he did.
I wonder if I should take a healing core, Theo said.
[Healing Pills] were some of the easiest items to make as far as potions went. He generated a sk for the purpose. The [ssware Artifice] was a square sk that would have little purpose in other reactions. But since it was a square, he could cut the resulting solid mass into little cubes. The alchemist introduced the [Solidify] modifier, double-checking that the vent was open. It reacted immediately, turning the pale pink liquid opaque. With a few quick shakes of the sk, a blob of solid healing thumped onto the table.
Maybe, Salire said. Youd need to find a god willing to take you.
Theo grunted. Maybe that wasnt the answer. He rattled off the list of eptable gods given by Drogramath. nthier, Parantheir, Zaul, Ulvoqor, UzXulven, Tworgnoth, Toruaun, and Khahar. Which of those would you pick to help the town?
Theo cut the pills into sections, using his [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] to create perfectly sized rectangr cubes. He nned to perform the action several times, creating a surplus stock for the store to sell. [Refined Healing Essence] was not in short supply.
Well, ntheir is the healing one. Right? I doubt youd enjoy aligning with the duelist Parantheir, or Zaul. So, UzXulven, Tworgnoth, Toru, and Wait, Khahar isnt a god, Salire said, chuckling. Unless hes part of some weird pantheon.
UzXulven, Theo said, pausing his work. He shrugged and continued. What good would the Bridge of Shadows be to him?
Theo started his still to run some [Fade Carapaces]. It wasnt an essence he kept on hand, but seemed popr enough with adventures to run a batch of 500 units. He talked with Salire while he worked, exhausting her knowledge of aligned cores before summoning Zarali to hisb. The alchemist found that picking the brains of people not in the know was a great approach. Normal people like Salire had an untainted view of the world, and they usually provided vital information.
When Zarali arrived, she had dropped all of her previous reservations about knocking Theo out. The process worked, after all.
So d to see you up and moving again, Zarali said.
Never thought Id see a Dronon Let alone two, Salire said, chuckling.
You should visit grot, sometime, Zarali said, patting the woman on the shoulder. Your ancestors mingle openly with every manner of Demon.
Ill pass. Ogre food never worked for me.
Theo went back to work, finishing the [Healing Pill] order and moving on to the [Mana Pills]. While hed never crafted them, it was the same recipe as thest. His [Solidify] modifier stock grew thin, but he simply started another still and set the timer. Theb was growing hot with 3 bodies mingling and 2 stills running. Thepany was too good to dismiss either Salire or Zarali, and the pair seemed to get along.
A [Priest of UzXulven] core would be lovely, Zarali said.
Meh. Im not too interested in teleportation. Besides, Fenian had his carriage blessed to use the bridge, Theo said. Why couldnt I?
Fair enough, Zarali said, watching as Theo poured his [Refined Mana Essence] into the square sk. He mixed in the [Solidify] modifier and they watched as it hardened. Oh, how Id love to see a Toruaun Dronon. From what I understand, she doesnt hand out priest cores.
Interesting. Theo checked his still running the [Fade Carapace]. That reagent wasnt as picky as others, happily running at full heat for the entire distition cycle. He swished the sk of distilled essence, finding it to his high expectations. What does she stand for?
Mystery, Zarali said, doing something suspiciously like jazz-hands. They say not even the other Demonic Gods know what she stands for.
That was a lot to think about. Not only that, but if Theo wanted a core from any of these gods, hed need to contact them or their representatives. After asking Zarali, even she admitted she couldnt generate a new Drogramath core. The resulting thought the alchemist had was obvious. There was another Drogramathi Priest out there that could do it. They werent alone in the wide world, just confined to their little continent.
As expected, the [Mana PIlls] were simple to craft. Theo cut them into cubes, setting them aside as he did so. After finishing his first square sk, he inspected a sample.
[Mana Pill]
[Alchemy Pill]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A mana pill. Swallow to restore mana.
Effect:
Swallow this pill whole to restore 75 mana.
Theo didnt have a sample topare to, not having crafted any [Mana Potions] recently, but this was great. This single pill would restore half his total mana, although he rarely used it. That was a shame, leading him to think more about things that would take advantage of his unused pool. Whatever ss he took for his level 20 slot needed to take advantage of that. Something inside him urged him to take another Demonic core, avoiding the Prime Pantheon. Drogramath listed allies in that group of gods, but he couldnt guess at what would happen when the war kicked off.
What cores would you produce, Khahar? Theo asked.
Combat cores rted to hit-and-run tactics, and magic rted to the magic of the desert, Khahar said, appearing from nowhere.
How about Toruaun? Theo asked, not looking up from his work.
Ward magic, often rted to reactive effects, Khahar said.
Thats cheating! Zarali said, a look of horror spreading across her face.
Theo ignored her protests. Could you put me in contact with her, or her representatives before you go?
Easily, Khahar said, smiling. Your egg is hatching.
The egg chirped.
Yeah, shes been making noise, Theo said, finishing the [Mana Pills]. Im guessing youll cheat now that Drogramath spilled the information. My intuition says Toruaun is my best bet, so I have synergy with my useless mana pool.
Khahar, youve broken down a timeless mystery in moments, Zarali said, huffing. What right do you have to peer into the Demonic Pantheon?
I was there when it was formed, Khahar said. I watched her ascend.
Oh.
Toruaun has more synergies than just your mana pool, Khahar said. If shell grant you a demon mage core, youll have ess to spells which can enhance your town.
Sold, Theo said. Thanks.
My pleasure, Khahar said, vanishing.
Salire chuckled nervously. Just casually summoning a near-god to yourb. No big deal.
We were friends, Theo said. He shut his first still off, satisfied with the essence it produced. The alchemist cleaned it out with a few drips of [Cleansing Scrub] and rubbed the egg in his satchel. He set aside the excess essence he didnt need and got to work on the [Anti-Mage] [Carapace Potions]. When my world was dying, what little government there was left fought over everything. Yuri Volkov was a bastard, fighting for the Moscow Alliance. I spied on his people a few times. He caught me. We got drunk and settled it over poker. Cards, since you dont know what poker is. Yuri was shit at Texas HoldEm.
Zarali gawked. You settled a disputewhile spying on another kingdomby getting drunk? ying cards?
It was a different time, Theo said, lining up some t-bottomed vials for his reaction. We were supposed to kill enemy spies, but we rarely did. Only the real assholes did that. There was a silent agreement to settle our differences in other ways. Hey, then he became a great friend when the world went shitter.
Wait. Youre an outworlder? Salire asked.
Theo often forgot he was trying to keep that a secret. Now that he thought about it, aftermunicating with Lord Drogramath, he didnt know why. Secrets got him in trouble in the past, both on Earth and in Broken Tusk. But it didnt matter. This batch of [Refined Carapace Essence] was perfect quality, and would produce some absolutely amazing potions. Whatever adventurer had ordered these was in for a treat.
Yeah, Theo said.
That seemed to be enough for the shopkeeper. Zarali pressed Theo to ask Khahar for more information about the mysterious Demoness. The alchemist didnt really care. If Khahar said it was a good pick, then it was the best pick. Hed find whatever information he could after they put him in contact with her representative.
Since the [Lesser nt Golem] had been tending the greenhouses, Theos time was freed up considerably. His cultivated attribute reagents might have been ready for distition, but the alchemist only had a few hundred of each essence on hand. It wasnt enough to fill the order, but it was a start. Both Salire and Zarali let out a yelp when the golem came to deliver some attribute reagents at Theos request.
Thanks, little guy, Theo said, patting the twisting mass of vines and nts on the head. It made no sound, but the egg chirped.
Theo worked his stills as he chatted with his friends. Xolsa showed up at some point, no doubt summoned by Zarali, to give his advice on Toruaun. While the wizard didnt know the secrets of the gods mysteries, he could extrapte information.
I would absolutely take that core, Theo, Xolsa said.
Theb was even more crowded now, making it difficult to move around and work the stills. Theo thought about dismissing everyone, but he was having too much fun crafting theories with them. There was nothing better than looking forward to getting a new core, trying to find how it synergized with his other cores.
As you know, my nar wards are already effective, Xolsa said. Butpared to someone with a specialized core, Im an amateur. Even at level 1 youd be a boon to my operation. We could easily wrangle the dungeons for my n.
The theme park? Theo asked,ughing.
Yes, that, Xolsa said.
Everyone had an opinion on the best level 20 core to take, but Theo wouldnt decide right away. Khahars option would likely be the best, but it was important to keep an open mind. If something cropped up that would help the town more, the alchemist would take that. Any mana-using ss that aided his cause was worth consideration. This also brought up a thought about the difficulty of leveling past 30, as so many others had said before.
By level 30, Theo would have 5 cores. Each core would need to level in order to advance his personal level. Then at level 50, Hed have 7 cores and so on. That all assumed that he didnt use other means to generate a core slot, which Uharis had said was possible. His cores twitched at the thought, as though there were some solution to the problem. But it was another problem for another day. Filling the orders for people in town wasnt just about making money anymore. It was about providing his people with the means to get stronger by running dungeons and killing monsters. If they really wanted to turn this ce into a theme park, they needed refreshments. Potions sold at a premium to visiting adventurers. Another machine that printed money.
Zarali was always happy to sit around and watch Theo make potions. Perhaps it was her way of apologizing for putting him through anguish, but he didnt mind whatever the reason. Salire had to scamper off to attend to the shop when the alchemist was almost done with the attribute potions. Making new [Dexteirty Potions] gave him a chance topare the effects of using [Iron Shavings] and [Drogramathi Iron Shavings]. He examined the pure iron version first with a [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier for reference.
[Dexterity Potion]
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity.
Drink to increase speed scaling.
Effect:
+13 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.
For 1 hour, your physical speed scales 1.25 times better than normal.
Without wasting essence, and without a base sample topare to, he created another [Dexterity Potion] using the [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier and his new shavings.
[Dexterity Potion]
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity.
Drink to increase speed scaling.
Effect:
+14 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.
For 1.25 hour, your physical speed scales 1.30 times better than normal.
Shavings were described in books as catalysts. Theo had observed that they were better described as binding elements. Not binding agents, but elemental things that brought a potion together. Whether it was a bond between the water and the essence, or a potion and a modifier, the catalyst served as a way to bring those things together. Something twinged in his mind as he considered the idea, but he had to push it away for now. The base effect of the potion had barely changed, but the effects added from the modifier were enhanced slightly. The reasoning behind this was that the potency of the catalyst also increased the potency of alignment effects, which were bound through the catalyst.
Once again, Theo found himself the foremost expert on the topic in his realm. But it wasnt easy to forget that there were other followers of Drogramath out there. Someone in some far corner of the world could have all these secrets tucked away, either in their mind or a tome. Anything to show up the alchemists in Qavell was worth it, though. And it wasnt as though Drogramathi Iron was in low supply. All these thoughts led to more experimentation while potions were brewed and the stills were run.
Interesting effect about the demon iron, Theo said, producing another [Drogramathi Iron Ingot] from his inventory. I realized a reactivity test is in order.
Without waiting for Zaralis approval, Theo let a drop of essence fall on the iron. The normal reaction would have been a horrible hissing and popping, often resulting in a small explosion. Hed been treating the Drogramathi Iron as though it were a normal metal, but a grin spread across his face when he realized. Drogramathi Iron was naturally alchemically inert. That only made sense. It was a metal aligned with the master of potions himself, so it tracked. While this was a nice bonus, it added little to the alchemists needs. He could already treat metals with a solution.
No big gain there, Theo said, shrugging. But Zarali went on about how amazing it was.
This is the power of our Lord Drogramath, she said proudly. Isnt it amazing?
She turned to Xolsa, who stammered for a moment. Absolutely amazing.
The [Lesser Copper Golems] sent a signal through the lodestonework that they were engaging something inbat. But as soon as it came through, they sent the all-clear. Those were the golems working the mines, meaning something had spawned in the dying hours of the day. Gridgen and his people must have finished work for the day, forcing the monsters to spawn.
Can we upgrade the lodestones? Theo asked. I want more golems.
You can upgrade your willpower, Zarali scoffed. Look inward before you rely on tools, dear brother.
Youve been neglecting your mana control, too, Xolsa said. Thatll be important if you take a mage-type core.
Ive been practicing, Theo said, half-lying. He practiced in the Dreamwalk, where he felt most safe.
Zarali nodded. We can upgrade them, but Id rather see you grow your will first. Then worry about getting more fancy toys.
Ill work on both, Theo said, finishing his work for the day. He delivered the items to Salire, his stomach grumbling. He missed dinnerst night and breakfast that morning. And his bath. That was Zaralis worst crime against him. No one should be deprived of Xams amazing cooking, or her amazing bathhouse.
The alchemist left hisb, intent on eating until he puked.
Chapter 3.48: Strong Walls Will See You Through
Chapter 3.48: Strong Walls Will See You Through
Theo finished his second helping of Xams Zee and wolf meat pasta bake. He washed the meal down with some imported mead and let out a satisfied sigh. With the world conspiring to some unknown end, it was nice to get back to enjoying the little things. The Marsh Wolf Tavern was more crowded than ever, and the staff had set tables outside to amodate each patron. The only stain on the pleasant meal was the pestering of citizens, asking for cold juice to power their new air conditioners.
Word spread at the speed of a small town, the way it always did, and folks were buying up Throks new offering. The cksmith would make a fortune, and Theo would line his pockets by selling the [Freeze Solution]. Without his mushroom caves, this would be an impossible taskpared to the demand. But as the evening wound down the alchemist directed all requests to Salire. He went to the bathhouse with Tresk for a nice soak.
They had the private room to themselves tonight, not willing to share on such a strange day. Thepanions sat in silence, without a need to verbalize their feelings. There was a new mingle of emotions joining their realm. The egg, which now bore cracks on the shell, sat near the warm water and wiggled. It was hard not to throw theories around about what would be inside. Tresk was still set on a Dragon, but dragons were hardly mundane.
It might be a chicken, Theo said. One must always beware of chickens.
Whats a chicken? Tresk asked. Oh, annoying little flightless birds. Got it.
How deep can you dig into my brain? Theo asked. He couldnt seem to skim the Marshlings thoughts, let alone form full ideas.
I just close my eyes, Tresk said, closing her eyes and pressing her fingers into her temples, and poof. I see the chicken.
Theo closed his eyes and focused, trying to imagine something from Tresks childhood. In an instant, a younger version of Throk popped into his mind. Broken Tusk was far smaller back then. Far dirtier, too.
I guess it worked, Theo said, keeping his eyes shut.
That led to the idea that they would soon just share a brain. Theo couldnt decide if that was a good thing or not. Their mingling of emotions was intimate enough, but now theyd share thoughts without trying.
I talked to Fenian about my next core, Tresk said, floating in the water on her back.
Testing his new ability to read her mind, Theo dug through her mind for the memory. There it was, sticking out like a beacon. Tresk burst from the shadows, cornering the trader and grilling him on the best core for her to take at level 20. He treated her as though she was an overly excited toddler, giving her all the information she wanted, but coloring his opinions. The Elf had something to gain by suggesting a [Parantheir Duelists Core]. The memory came with more information than the alchemist wanted to sift through, but it seemed to hold a lot of synergy with her current build.
Youll be better at one-on-onebat, Theo said, repeating what hed seen in the memory.
With a fancy sword.
Do you even like swords?
Fenian said theyd give me a real little one.
Theo nodded. What was a dagger if not a really little sword?
Soaking in the bath was more than just getting clean. Everyone could easily clean themselves with [Cleansing Scrub], but the soak was more. For Theo and Tresk, it was their daily rest. While the Dreamwalk left them feeling physically rested, it was still important to reset mentally. The egg seemed to agree, wiggling near the bath with increasingly powerful motions. With no ns to help the creature emerge, they just bathed in silence.
The staff at the bathhouse kicked them out after a time, clearing each patron out for the night. Broken Tusks streets were flooded with those enjoying the bath, who promptly dispersed. Theo cast his eyes to the moonless sky, wondering if Sulvan was staring down at the from some unseen moon. Khahars power was a parody of what should be possible, and represented a middle-finger to the gods. What the Burning Eye said might have been more pointed than the alchemist realized. No one should remain in the mortal realm with so much power.
Never gave the moon much thought, Theo said, walking the cobbled streets with Tresk.
The dark one, or the light one? Tresk asked.
Either.
Qavelli and Bantari adopted their names from the Elvennguage Taranthian. Antalis is the ck moon, Tresk said, pointing in a vague location in the sky. Cant see it, cause its dark. Duh. Telbaris is the shifting moon. Different colors whenever it shows up.
How often does it appear?
Tresk shrugged.
The history of this world was still mostly a mystery to Theo. He absorbed the information Khahar gave to Zarali, but hardly understood it. Iaredin was in a period of stagnation, something brought on by Balkors Betrayal. After the Elven God of Healing repaired thend, Qavell sprung up to war with Veosta without missing a beat. The alchemists intuition said King Karasan spread himself too thin over too fast a time. Broken Tusk was proof enough of that. It was all radio silence from those representatives in the kingdom.
Id have to guess that a kingdom requiresrge amounts of resources, Theo said.
Wow, I wonder where wed find those, Tresk said, chuckling. They entered the Newt and Demon together, heading upstairs and falling into the Dreamwalk without hesitation.
Theo stood overlooking Broken Tusk on that hill to the north. The shift from the real world to the Dreamwalk was bing effortless. By the day, it felt more like passing through rooms than entering an unfamiliar state of being. Their conversation didnt falter during the shift.
Do you think we have enough resources to support a kingdoms core? Theo asked. Isnt that quick? Going from level 1 to a nation in a season?
Use your brain, smarty pants. Just like Broken Tusk was a small town, when we finally snatch independence from the north itll be a small nation. Hey, look at the eggs spirit.
The floating wisp of white had grown since they entered the Dreamwalk. It took on a new form, almost distinguishable as a real thing. But the edges were still blurry, too mercurial to make out. She would hatch by the morning, bringing a new member to their little group and just as much mystery.
Cant imagine a core for a kingdom is cheap. Wed still need to raise the money to buy independence, Theo said.
Maybe well get lucky and something bad happens to Qavell.
Is that lucky? Theo asked. He was reminded too much of his old work. With a thought, he shifted the scene to the crater of Berlin. A once-proud nation-state annihted because of that sentiment. Could you pull the trigger?
Theo shifted the scene again. It was a moment frozen in ce. Plumes of earth shot up, fire mingling with dirt as the orbital bombardment cleansed thend of life. In his hand, the alchemist held the detonator. The trigger that disabled the defenses of a nation, opening the sky to certain death. Rendering it to dust. He remembered what he felt during the operation. Nothing.
Maybe, Tresk said. For all her ruthless nature, that was something few were willing to do. Theos actions were indirect, but the result was the same. But Fenian sure would. That man has it out for someone in the kingdom.
Id love to disagree with you on this, Tresk. I really would. But if someone dissolved Qavell, wed have an easier life.
Think of it like this. People are fleeing the city already. Theyre not stupid. The majority of the poption will migrate east or south. Those who cant wield power for the betterment of their people dont deserve it. King Karasan included.
But it created more problems than most realized. Poption discement wasnt a simple thing. The other towns and cities of the continent wouldnt be ready for an influx of people, not like Broken Tusk. The more people saw the swamp town as a refuge, the more theyde. And Theo would be there for them with open arms. Anyone who signed a magical contract was allowed in, and if they didnt sign it he would happily offer them their boats to anothernd. The Khahari to the east, the lizard-folk to the south, the Ogres to the west, or the Elves in the same direction. One way tickets: one gold a head. Whatever worked.
Theo blinked the image of Berlin away, shifting the scene back to Broken Tusk. Back on that hill. He drew across thendscape with his finger, painting the gray hills and green fields with red. From here, it was easy to see that east was the best expansion direction. Up to the river, where the [River Dungeon] might threaten citizens, it was clear grasnd. Mianas ranch could expand northward, butting against an endless sprawl of houses. The alchemist jabbed his finger along the path he drew, dotting it with ces where taverns and general shops could be ced. Once they conquered the [River Dungeon] with Xolsas new core, they could push further east.
Always keeping the sacred swamp safe, Theo said, verbalizing his expansion n. Well take the east, the north, and the south. But west? Thats our yground. Our theme park.
Tresk nodded, drawing lines of her own. She turned, gesturing to the sprawling hills behind. I got a n.
The Marshling continued drawing her lines. Straight lines that connected four points in the town. No way around it. Only one dungeon in our area is easy to get to. Then you gotta swim to the bottom of a raging river. The [Hills Dungeon]? Thatll take most level 1-20 people a day to get to, unless they have a travel power like me. Not because of the distance, but because of the terrain.
The [Swamp Dungeon] isnt much better, Theo said, gesturing vaguely west. He couldnt see the dungeon from here, but he could see Tresks lines leading off into the distance.
The [Mountain Dungeon] is worse, Tresk said, gesturing to her south-running line. The solution?
Roads. Highways. Tunnels, Theo said, reading Tresks mind. Ziz is already working on building a team of road-builders, right? Were going to connect Broken Tusk with Rivers soon enough. Then they can work with Gridgen and the miners to make a tunnel to the [Mountain Dungeon] in the south, and the [Hills Dungeon] in the north. And a highway to the [Swamp Dungeon]. How quick can someone get to the [Swamp Dungeon] if theres a raised road?
An hour, Tresk said, not missing a beat. Shed put a lot of thought into this. Talking about your theme park with Xolsa, right? Imagine little general stores right outside those dungeons. Keeps surrounding the entrances with guards. Artifice weapons to mow them down when they spawn during a wavewere talking about total control of the dungeons. Treat them like the resource they are.
Resources, Theo said, his thoughts coalescing.
This entire game had been about resources from the start, so it made sense. A [Dungeon Engineer] core falls into thep of the towns wizard, and thats supposed to be a coincidence? But Theo couldnt discount the hard work theyd put in. He shifted the scene back to his arrival in town. 20 houses clustered at the foot of the farmers hill with a scatter of ramshackle buildings around the towns square. He forced the image back to Broken Tusk today. It was sprawling byparison, the walls dominating much of the terrain.
So, you really met Drogramath? Tresk said, the worry in her voice in.
Yep. Seems like a good guy, Theo said. Makes you wonder what hes nning.
What theyre nning, Tresk corrected. Who cares. Strong walls will see us through anything.
Theo cast his gaze to the floating egg-spirit. It was forming into a more-solid thing by the moment, resembling a forming embryo. Of what kind, he couldnt say. His money was still on it being a chicken.
Well. Time to exploit or twist of fate, huh? Theo asked.
Yeah. Time to grind experience.
Tresk shifted the image back to the harbor, finding a ce near the river to summon creatures. She wasnt interested in calling more assassins, so that was nice. Theo was able to put his focuspletely into his art. The alchemist already understood his level 20 barrier for the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] and the [Drogramath Herbalism Core]. Mana-infusion seemed like a simple technique, but it was devilishly hard to master. When he used the fermentation barrels, it was as simple as holding his hand over them and letting the mana flow. But when summoning mana manually, it was more like controlling a wildfire with his mind.
A line of ten copper stills bubbled away as Theo blew himself up with his own mana. The golems hed created regarded him with annoyance as the moved random objects from one ce to the other. The ghostly ships that Theo summoned dropped off invisible goods, bringing somefort to the alchemists mind. Gaining mastery over his mana was nothing like he expected. It wasnt a calm meditative action. It was a battle for control over that fire. But each time he pulled mana from his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] he got a little better at holding it in his hand. Its desire was to consume him whole. A battle of wills between the alchemist and the mana filled the harbor with a purple glow.
Well, egg-spirit, Theo said, dusting himself off after dying again. I wonder if my next core will have a different vor of mana.
Theo closed his eyes, looking into his cores. He was eager to learn spellcraft, whatever form that took, but couldnt run before he walked. The more he thought about it, the more he realized hisck of knowledge on the subject. Xolsa seemed to just cast spells, so how did that work? He poured an entire bottle of refined essence over the head of a golem to study the effects, nodding when the creature exploded in a shower of shredded nt matter. Shifting his attention, he studied the effects of essence on a [Drogramath Iron Ingot].
It was still fascinating how it worked as a catalyst, but remained non-reactive otherwise. Logic said that anything alchemically inert wouldnt interact in any way, including as a catalyst. But logic failed in the face of the system. The iron just worked, and that was the end of it. It was imbued with something that made it work, and trying to discover the logic was an exercise in madness. With these situations, Theo just epted it and moved on.
The Dreamwalk was always a safe-haven for Theo to express himself and experiment with ideas, though. The only thing itcked was outside information, which made for a stifling experience when he wanted to discover new things. He shifted away from mana control, and worked on his defenses against random assassins again. While they couldnt use the [Tarahek Dreampassage] here, he could imagine how it would help him get out of a bad situation. The tactic to prevent assassinations was still very simple.
Theo generated a [Retreat Potion] with the [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier and inspected it.
[Retreat Potion]
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
One second after drinking, the imbiber will be propelled backwards. Distance depends on the quality of the potion.
At the end of this potions effect, the imbiber will gain [Featherfall] for 10 seconds. Imbiber will fall slowly for the duration of the effect.
A st of elemental wind staggers all targets in front of imbiber.
Effect:
[Retreat] on self.
[Featherfall] on expiration of [Retreat].
[Elemental Wind st] casts in a cone.
He experimented with the [Elemental Wind st] effect,bining it with a [Potion of Limited Foresight], [Carapace Potion] with the [Anti-Mage] modifier, and [Freezebombs] modified with [Web]. The foresight potion allowed him to dodge 4 attacks once every 6 hours, which gave Theo enough time to react upon being attacked. Hed just need to have one of those active at all times. Next, quaffing a [Carapace Potion] summoned an encumbering shell of chitinous tes that would punish any mage attacks and prevent most physical attacks. When he drank the [Retreat Potion], 10 assassins diving in to kill him, green wind shot out in a wide cone. The faceless assassins stumbled back as the alchemist shot back with enough force to snap a normal persons neck.
Theo found his footing, fluttering to the ground tond gently. The [Freezebomb] he left behind exploded, shooting icy webs out to capture those stumbling assassins. In the worst case, he could chug another [Retreat Potion], even if it damaged his body. Drinking another [Potion of Limited Foresight] wouldnt be unwee, even if it put him in bed for a few days. Anything was better than dying, and his intuition was saying it was more likely by the day.
Ten [Lesser Copper Golems]shed out at a group of 20 assassins, whirling around to protect their master. Theo didnt even need to drink his potions when the metal golems got involved, they were far too fearsome. The only problem with this tactic was, hed need to know there was an attacking. It wouldnt work to have all his worker golems dedicated tobat, or the other way around. Another experiment saw that 3 metal golems wouldnt do the job against many assassins. They needed to be right on top of the alchemist when the attack happened, so he reworked their orders.
Instead of trying to fight the assassins off, Theo had them use their massive bodies to hold down 3 assassins. In a scenario where 5 assassins attacked, that left Theo with 2 to deal with. It was less effective when he summoned 20 assassins, but Tresk stopped by to appreciate his dedication.
Well, Tresk said. Feels like morning ising. You ready to meet Beepy?
Were not naming the egg-thing Beepy, Theo said. No matter what it is.
When ites out beeping, youre gonna change your tune.
Chapter 3.49: Goose
Chapter 3.49: Goose
We cant call him Cheepy, Tresk said, frowning at the wiggling chick.
Theo and Tresk woke to the sound of a small chick chirping happily near the alchemists bed. It had a dark ck bill, simr patterns around its all-ck eyes, with a mix of yellow and gray downy plumage. Unlike an Earth chicken chick, which could easily fit in the palm of his hand, this one wasrge. Beepy, or whatever name the pair decided onter, wasrger than the Dronons head. It chirped, snapping at the air as though expecting food.
Its not a chicken, Theo said, inspecting the creature. Hold on, can I inspect it?
[Goose]
[Familiar]
Stage:
[Gosling]
Master:
[Dreamrealm of Terogal]
Level 1
Description:
Geese are known as the most loving creatures in all the realms. Any rumors spread to disparage these honorable creatures will be met with a flurry of feathers and bill.
Affinities:
Fire
Thats a goose! Tresk said, moving to snuggle the creature. It seemed to hug her back, wrapping its stunted neck around her.
Just a goose, Theo said, reading the description several times. It sounded like something someone wrote, not like something generated by the system. And what was Terogal?
Guess we have a name for our Dreamwalk, Theo said, keeping those things between him and Tresk.
Cheep, the goose responded, the sound echoing through his mind.
Oh, cant wait for my mind to be filled with honks, Theo said, patting the goose on the head. Lets name it Jeff.
Were not naming the goose Jeff! Tresk shouted. I wont allow it.
She needs a name.
Despite the goslings need for food, the pair descended into arguments for the creatures name. The debate only ended when Khahar appeared from nowhere, his hands full of squirming grub-like creatures. He ced them in Theos hands without a word and smiled at the squawking gosling. The alchemist held the worms above his new familiar, who titled her head back and opened her bill. He dropped a few grubs in, silencing the constant chirping.
I shall name her, Khahar said, his face taking on a pensive look.
Theo was suddenly worried. The goose looked a lot like Jeff to him. If Khahar named the goose something stupid, could he live with himself? This would be the things name forever, what if she didnt like it? There was little he could do but wait for the verdict.
Alexandria DGoose, Khahar said, cracking a smile. Alex for short.
Alright, thats pretty good, Tresk said, still hugging Alex.
In the blink of an eye, all the tension left Theos body. The gosling chirped happily at the new name, bobbing in the Marshlings grasp. But the alchemist now felt like a mother hen, realizing they had nothing prepared for Alex. Shed need a safe ce sleep at night, and rest during the day. Food, water, everything a pet needed. But she was more than a pet, and the implications of her master on the system screen was big. She wasnt bound to Theo or Tresk, but to the realm that was expanding between them. Alex was bound to the Dreamrealm of Terogal.
Exining what that realm will be is cheating, Khahar said, petting the goose. But she has some interesting potential. Shell be sapient, after a while.
Sweet, whats that mean? Tresk asked.
Shell have a consciousness, Theo said. Already seems like she has a mind of her own.
Alex had wriggled free of Tresks grasp and pped her webbed feet on the wooden floor. She explored the cramped room, pecking at anything that looked remotely edible and chirping the whole time. Theo found it hard to tear his eyes off the little goose.
How do we level her up? Tresk asked.
The normal way. She needs goose experience, Khahar said. Let her do goose stuff, and shell level quickly.
Alright. Breakfast time, Theo said, pping his hands. No dawdling.
Theo turned without regarding Khahar. The leader of the Khahari disappeared momentster, off to do his own thing. Tresk followed behind Alex, making sure she could take the stairs without issue. The gosling pped its stunted wings with each step, making frantic chirps when she fell behind. The alchemist waited at the bottom of the stairs, watching as hispanion corralled their new goose.
One step at a time, Alex, Tresk said, patting Alex on the head. Take it easy. Youre gonna be a big strong goose one day, arent you? A fire-breathing nightmare goose!
Once on t ground, Alex found her feet. She waddled along the cobblestone path to Xams tavern, keeping up with the alchemists long strides. Tresk had to help her with the steps at the tavern, but the gosling managed. They found their usual table, pulling a new chair over for the goose, and waited for the server toe by. Theo ordered 2 tes of the leftovers, and 2 moss teas. Hopefully, the strange grubs were enough of a breakfast for the excitable gosling.
No pets allowed, Xam said,ing to the table and crossing her arms.
Alex is a familiar, Tresk red, hands on her daggers.
Just joking, Xam said, chuckling. The Marshlings zealous attitude did not put her off. Thats the egg, right? The one youve been carrying around.
Theo still had the satchel at his hip, keeping it there despite not needing it. Now that Alex was out of the egg, he felt that sense offort washing over him constantly.
Yeah, her name is Alexandria DGoose, and shes precious, Tresk said.
Alex chirped in response.
Xam pet Alex on the head, cooing at the gosling. Such a good little birdie. Arent you precious?
A dagger appeared in the goslings tiny bill, ttering to the floor.
Hey! Thats my backup dagger number twelve, Tresk said, snatching the weapon up and stowing it away. No rummaging through the inventory!
4 more daggers appeared from nowhere, finding a simr fate. Then a pile of stone, actual garbage, a dresser, and finally a scattering group of angry bugs. Alex waddled from the chair to chase the bugs, pecking at them and swallowing what she could catch down.
Theo blinked the scene away. The status bars in the bottom left of his vision had be such a staple he hadnt even noticed. An additional set of bars joined Tresk and Theos,beled as Alexandria DGoose. She had ess to their Tarahek powers. Which meant she had a [Tarahek Core] inside her chest. That only made sense, Alex had chirped into their mind.
Wait, Theo said, rushing out of the tavern. Alex seemed distraught that he left so quickly, but no one else did. He focused his mind on Alex and invoked the [Tarahek Dreampassage]. Instead of appearing in the tavern near Tresk, he appeared near Alex.
Oh, damn, Tresk said.
Theo inspected his [Tarahek Dreampassage] skill.
[Tarahek Dreampassage]
Marshling Bond Skill
Mythic
Slip through your dreams.
Effect:
Each member of the Tarahek may [Approach] any other member once a day, resetting at midnight. [Approach] distance depends on the level of the [Tarahek Core] and the stability of the bond.
The wording had changed slightly. It referenced a single member of the bond before, but now it seemed more inclusive for additional parties. Theo searched his memory, trying to find a time where an ability had evolved like that. [Tarahek Communication] had changed before. That left the lingering question of ability evolutions, and how he could instigate them again. For now, it was a neat thing they could do, creating another anchor point for them to teleport. He checked the description of each [Tarahek Core] skill, finding them to no longer talk about just two people.
Alex is a member of the Tarahek now. What does that mean? Theo asked.
Dunno. I for one wee our new goose overlord, Tresk said.
Cheep.
Alex drew a lot of attention in the tavern. Everyone wanted toe over to say hi to the newest member of Broken Tusk, despite the constant flow of migrants. Some had stories of other bonded creatures, but only Xolsa knew about familiars. He was a young wizard, but the more Theo learned about his past the more he realized it was as hard as it was brief. They left the tavern to discuss the new goose at the wizards tower, finding that she preferred standing on the ledge of the roof.
Id take Khahars words and let her be a goose for a while, Xolsa said. Until she grows to her adult age, she wont have ess to the monster evolution options.
Xolsa had exined that familiars were much like roving monsters, only bound to a person. Wizards normally did this to enhance their strength, but it wasnt unheard of to find an egg. The Elf consulted one of many books on the topic, but found nothing about a pair of people sharing a familiar. Theo didnt mind what the oue was. The emotions that normally flowed from Tresk were anger and determination. Alex put off a constant, calming vibe that seemed to affect both of them positively.
For now, it was fun to marvel at the gosling. New things in Broken Tusk often had implications that were hard to deal with. Theo nned on taking it easy today, letting his golems tend the garden for the morning. Alex needed a proper introduction to the town, and Xolsa supported the idea. Her intelligence and empathy would grow like any person, feeding off her surroundings to form her personality.
Keep in mind, shell be powerful, Xolsa said, inspecting Alexs feathers and measuring her. You cant expect something like this to end in a mundane animal. Shes already monsterized, if you care to think of it like that. A few levels, and shell be spitting fire thanks to her affinity.
So cool, Tresk whispered, stroking the gosling.
Dont forget the monster wave today, Xolsa said. Ill have a better sense of what to expect soon, but were expecting an all-out assault again.
Thats fine, Theo said. Come on, Alex. Lets get a tour.
Aarok and his adventurers would handle the wave. They hardly needed Theo anymore for the assault, only his potions. Several town-wide alerts went off, informing the adventurers that they should remain within the walls for today. They all had their units, and were expected to respond at a moments notice. Tresk decided to stay with Theo and the gosling for the tour, since she couldnt head off to fight in the dungeons.
First stop, Theo said, gesturing widely to the town square. The middle of town. Nothing really going on here, but youve already been to the tavern. Theres the town hall, and down that street is the sawmill, butcher, and adventurers guild.
Cheep.
Theo introduced Alex to everyone he saw, gaining a mixture of reactions. Some thought it was ridiculous to introduce a creature, others couldnt get over how adorable she was. Salire was standoffish about the gosling, but put on a brave face. Nira and her hardened smelters melted at the sight of Alex, making formal introductions and taking turns holding her. Someone was feeding the Midnight Damsel Smeltery [Monster Cores], as it had grown significantly over the past week. They were pouring more molten metal than ever before, racing to beat the previous days record.
Niras workers could only expand so much before she had to dump massive quantities of [Monster Cores] into the building, urging it further along. But no upgrade came to get a third crucible, and they were at a productional stand-still.
Another building, or you need to upgrade the town, Nira said. Why havent you been upgrading the town?
Ive been waiting for the buildings to catch up, Theo said.
Well, theyre caught up.
And that was all Nira had to say on the subject. Theo added it to his mental list.
Gridgen and his miners didnt mind the gosling, but they werent overly excited to see her. The miners were more interested in singing the praises of the metal golems, who were still tirelessly defending the mine. The golems had orders to protect each miner, and while the monsters still werent strong enough to pose an actual threat, they still worked hard. Miners loved nothing more than anything that worked harder than them.
Theo gave a tour of the mines interior, leading Tresk, Gridgen, and Alex down the passage where they found the egg. Blood-sttered golems stood sentry outside of that dark stone room, but the gosling seemed excited to see the room. She pped her little stunted wings, trying to return to the plinth where her egg rested, but failed. When the alchemist ced her atop the dark stone, she just chirped excitedly. But the miners had dug new tunnels out of the hard rock, revealing more spawn points for nuggets. Like the smelter, their production was increasing by the day. Even the miners themselves were growing stronger, most pushing past level 10 and a select few edging towards 20.
The miners were smart enough to keep their exploratory digging to the top levels of the mine, targeting copper and iron but hoping to hit silver. Theos n for a mint required massive amounts of copper. Once Nira got her specialized minting core, shed need to grind levels to mint higher-tier coinage. Theo would have to face whatever rested in the deep ces of the rock before getting the coveted [Silver Nuggets]. For now, he was happy to see them increasing their daily production.
Fenian better make good on his promise of the ship builder, Theo grumbled as they left the mine. But his grouchy mood was washed away with a single chirp from Alex.
Oh! Show her the harbor, next! Tresk shouted.
Theo wanted nothing more, but the next stop was Mianas ranch. The baby Karatan hadnt hatched, but the Half-Ogre woman was eager to see Alex. She nestled the gosling in her arms, cooing at her the entire time. The visit came with a list of things they needed to do for Alex, including dietary information and sleeping arrangements. Miana promised to drop everything off at theb before noon.
The harbor had seen some changes. Aarok ordered the new weapons to be ced on the new section of wall,pleting the towns defenses. Alex chirped excitedly to see this part of town, having an infectious eagerness to ssh in the harbors water that almost saw Theo taking the plunge. Unlike in the Dreamwalk, the bridge-gate on the southern side of the harbor was closed. No ships came to Broken Tusks port, and it was a real shame. But that would soon be a distant memory.
Theo picked up his mostly-cultivated [Starbristle x] from the greenhouse, finding that his [Lesser nt Golem] had propagated the nt on its own. The small corner he reserved for test subjects was now filled with the strange nt, and the alchemist took a moment to inspect it. It was a flowering nt, with leaves that looked like tall des of grass ending bristling blue flowers. The sample he inspected was twice asrge as the original, sitting at 135% cultivation. It was good enough for mass nting, so he scooped up 10 live nts to give to Banu. That guy could propagate anything.
Banu didnt care to see Alex, but what Theo saw disappointed him greatly. Gwyn had sorted the worker issue out perfectly. Almost every field was packed with people working thend, sorting the Zee nts out. What hurt the alchemist was theck of upgrades. The farmer was making enough money to buy his own monster cores, but his stubbornness just wouldnt give in. A quick breath and a wave offorting warmth from the gosling dulled the edges of his harsh words. Where he wanted to throttle the farmer for disregarding his advice, his words came like a scolding parent.
No upgrades? Theo asked, cing his hands on his hips. I thought we talked about this, Banu.
Things have been tight, Banu said, mopping his brow.
Uh-huh, Theo said. What with all the free money youre getting from the town. Come on, we need to sort this out. Now.
Banu stammered, but followed Theo to the seed core buildings center. The farmhouse was nice enough, even for a single-floor situation. Theo had more high-level [Monster Cores] than he knew what to do with, and began jamming them in the building. He wasnt the owner, so he wouldnt get the prompt to select the upgrades. That didnt matter, the farmer had great intuition.
With increasing [Intelligence], Theo could understand the upgrade cost for buildings. Before, it seemed to be arbitrary, but he got it now. If a building was under the level of the cores used, it needed around 5 cores to hit a new level. Plus one, in some cases. That part still didnt make sense. He experimented with an equal-level core at first, then cores that were a level lower, and so on until the building hit level 15 and got the first upgrade. [Monster Cores] that were a lower level than a building worked on a less-effective form. At level 11, the building ate 10 level 10 cores. Level 12 took 20, and it seemed to scale from there.
Banu made his selection and Theo moved on, feeding cores until the building hit level 20. The alchemist noticed new fields spring up to the west. The farmer expanded the farm in that direction, expanding the level-ground created by that ancient Earth Mage. When the alchemist went to inspect the farms upgrades, he realized how good these upgrades would be.
[Fresh Tilled Earth]
Anything fertilizer-baring substance tilled into this soil will be doubly effective.
This was an upgrade Banu had already selected. It was likely the reason why the swamp mud did so well with fertilizing the fields. This was a possible synergy for Theos potions, but it was hard to say without experimentation.
[Enhanced Growth]
Reduce the time required to grow nts within the farm by a significant margin.
[Enhanced Growth],bined with the naturally fast-growing effect of Drogramaths power was a killer. While a normal growing season might have been around 30 days on this, Banus selection of this upgrade made it half a week or less. But the reason for the farm creating new plots ofnd was the next upgrade.
[Scaling Expansion]
New fields will be generated when this building is expanded. Expanding in any direction results in the leveling of terrain, providing the perfect growing surface.
So the upgrade sorted out the strangely shapednd. That was beyond useful, something that Theo wouldnt pass up for the world. Banu made a great pick with that one.
[Drogramathi Cultivation]
Your power is now aligned with Drogramath. Fields present in an area of high Drogramath Energy will provide higher yields.
Theo stared at the upgrade for some time. His mind couldnt process the depth of dedication a Half-Ogre would have to possess to pick this option. While people didnt outwardly hate the Demon Lord, there was still a stigma. Banu could have selected it from a logical standpoint, but that man wasnt very logical.
Banu, youd seriously align yourself with Drogramath? Theo asked.
Big ol Demon Lord has done nothing but good for us, huh? Banu asked, sounding moderately offended. Seems a shame not to pledge to whoever is gonna help me out. Demon or not.
Theo pped a hand over the Half-Ogres shoulder, smiling. He might have known, but that was a massive step forward for the people of Broken Tusk. It would make it easier to set their patron to Drogramath when the time came. Whenever that was.
They finished their business at the farm, handing Banu the [Starbristle x] nts and leaving it at that. The farmer didnt need instructions, hed nt them today and get massive fields of the nt rolling before the sun set. Tresk remained silent for the visit, happy enough to just be there with the gosling. Zizs ce was next, and the stoneworkers were all too happy to see the baby goose.
Zizs cadre had expanded significantly, although he still kept outsiders at a distance. His idea of creating a group of core stoneworkers, and another group of auxiliaries was fine by Theo. He shared his idea of making raised roads, tunnels, and so forth and the stoneworkers seemed to think it was a great idea. While it was a problem for another day, that didnt stop them from drawing up ns on a tattered piece of parchment.
All these thoughts for the future fell away when a bell echoed up from the town below. It was a slow ring that could only mean one thing. A town-wide message popped up to punctuate the thought.
[Aarok]: Defenders to your stations. Weve sighted the monster wave.
Chapter 3.50: Zoot and the Wave
Chapter 3.50: Zoot and the Wave
Goblins stumbled through the swamp west of Broken Tusk. Theo stood, nked on either side by [Lesser Copper Golems] with Alex perched on his shoulder. The gosling was excited to see the oing attack, but jumped and nearly lost her footing when the bombs went off. Throk was getting more creative with his defensive artifices, but they hardly seemed to matter. The alchemist stuffed the scared goose into his satchel, leaving enough space for her to poke her little head out if she wanted.
What an appreciable change of pace, Theo said, watching as citizens and adventurers carted the motes around. 8 of his golems were helping with the job, transporting the supply of motes theyd collected to the walls. The first wave we had was a bit of a nightmare.
How Xolsa had instigated a simple wave was beyond the alchemists understanding. Theo wouldntin. It gave him a chance to see how well Aarok had drilled the adventurers. There was no misunderstanding between them now. Each unit was drilled to perfection, often leaving the walls for a sortie. The Goblins would have trouble pushing into the range of the turrets, let alone to the walls. He walked the walls, finding his way south to Aaroksmand post.
Wooden poles held up a hide awning, shading Luras and Aarok from the sun. Adventurers came in, giving status reports, but most of themands were given through the tactical interface. Theo checked the interface, finding each adventurer segmented into distinct squads. Some ran to the north, checking on the [Hills Dungeon], others to the east for the [River Dungeon], and so on. There was no activity outside the swamp.
Most towns dont have such a mind for defense, Khahar said, appearing from nowhere.
Thats because most towns dont have to worry about it, Theo said. Weve got 5 dungeons to think about, so weapons were our first concern.
Luras grunted, leveling his gaze at the Khahari leader. How quick could you level this rabble?
In a blink, Khahar said. But then, how would you get stronger?
Theo nodded. He leaned over, trying to stifle augh. Hey Yuri, remember that one time you got set up by thatdy from the Asia Alliance?
I cant even recall her name, Khahar said, trying and failing not tough. Left me out to dry. Why? Because I cheated at her dice game. The nerve.
What? Luras asked.
I tried to go back, Khahar said, ignoring the Half-Ogre. Figured if I could get strong enough, maybe I could turn back time. Save the. As I learned, it wasnt our that was destroyed. It was the universe.
Bummer, Theo said, watching a Goblin get zapped. Alex twitched at the booming sound of the turret, but everyone else was used to it. Not sure if my current position is much better. I often feel like a puppet.
Because youre short-sighted,, Khahar said. Aarok barked orders to a passing adventurer. Its going to take you a long time to understand this, Spencer. When you arrived, you were a pawn. When you took the soul-bond, the person who pulled the strings lost control. The moment you were out of the Burning Eyes reach, Drogramath betrayed him. Flipped the entire operation on its head.
Then Drogramath is pulling my strings, Theo said.
Wrong. Your realm grows stronger by the moment. If Drogramath cant pull your strings, hell do the next best thing. Make sure no one else can pull your strings, Khahar said. Your heart beats once, and the gods have made a thousand moves in the heavens. Time marches slow down here, but in the adjacent realms? Well, maybe all this information is cheating. But youre making your own decisions now.
Theo never felt as though he was following someone elses n. The more he thought about it, the more he realized this whole experiment seemed like a failure. Even with 2 Drogramathi cores, the Demon Gods influence seemed miles away. But could the same be said for Fenian Feintleaf? One more cheat.
Does Fenian intend to harm Broken Tusk? Theo asked.
Khahar leveled his gaze at the alchemist, piercing him with the power of the Khahari Desert. Who do you think knocked their ns off course? When hes done with the first stage of his n, remember that empathy.
Theo looked over the wall again. Yuri wouldnt lie to him. If he said Fenian was on the level, that was the end. Khahar might think the alchemist had some love for the kingdom, but he was wrong. The only thing he felt was disappointment. Unless King Karasan showed he cared about anyone in the south, it would be a good thing if Qavell fell. Especially if they were expecting something big to happen, failing to inform their subjects. At least it was a good example of what not to do when running things.
Khahar remained near themand tent, giving no advice on what they should do for the battle. Both Luras and Aarok seemed to dislike, if not hate, the Khahari leader. But that was Half-Ogres. They trusted authority as much as a rabid Marsh Wolf, and those with power even less. Theo just listened into the reports being given, eventually finding himself running motes for the northern section of the wall. Goblins had slipped past their defenses and were making a run for the section near the farm.
Many of the crates stationed near the farms turrets needed a resupply. Civilians were manning those stations, feeding motes into the turrets as quickly as they could fire. This section of wall wasnt well-defended, but Aarok showed his mettle as a tactician. Theo spotted Tresk in the forest of Ogre Cypress below, weaving her way through the Goblins back ranks with a team of stealthers. To his surprise, the Marshling made an excellentmander. Her group executed hit-and-run tactics expertly, never lingering long enough to draw the mass of seething monsters. They were methodical, leaving poisoned Goblins to writhe in the dirty marsh before moving on to another section of the monster wave.
Theo picked up on chatter from passing adventurers. They spoke of a group of hooded figures in a copse near the river. When they brought it to the alchemists attention, he deferred to Aaroksmand. If migrants were on the road to the east, they should be safe from the wave. He made his way to the northern section of the wall, finding none of the crates in need of resupply, and moved on to the eastern wall. The alchemist tracked a path to the harbors wall, trying to see what the fuss was about. He drank a [Potion of Lesser Foresight] just in case there was trouble.
There were no migrant trains visible from the wall, despite it being a clear day. Theo sent a mental signal to his lodestonework, recalling his remaining [Lesser Copper Golem] and standing perched on the wall. The terrain to the north was a gentle slope ofnd, the road following the rivers path. He spotted the cluster of trees the adventurers spoke of, but couldnt see anything strange. Broken Tusk didnt own thend that far out, so people might have been roaming the area. He walked the perimeter of the harbor, finding nothing suspicious on the other end before meeting with the adventurers who saw the figures.
Bal and his 2 brothers were the ones who saw the people, but none had much to say.
Just a few people, Bal said. Thought wed make the report, cause you never know.
Right, Theo said. Too far out for any detail.
Exactly, Dal said, nodding.
Alright. Keep it up, Theo said, petting Alex within his satchel.
Theo made his way around the eastern part of the wall, spotting nothing unusual on the river-facing section of the town. Even from a distance, he could see Niras smeltery working even under the siege. Gridgen and his people werent in the mines, or they were too deep for the alchemist to hear the ringing of their picks. Tresk sent a few messages, updating him on the situation. This would be their cleanest monster wave, but that was the point. Xolsa was trying to control the conditions of the wave, and he was getting better by the day.
The solitary walk along the wall was rxing. With Alex nestled in the bag, Theo was left alone with his thoughts. When the sieges came, he couldnt help but feel useless. But it was his hard work that made the defenses possible at all. He set down the groundwork to establish the walls, and the weapons. Without the alchemists funding, no one this would have been possible. One day hed need to face the reality that he was the leader here. Not Aarok, or Alise. While he didnt expect them to challenge his authority, he needed to remind himself of that fact. A wave of encouragingfort came from Alex, washing away all his doubts.
If they wont respect my authority, theyll respect the goose, Theo said, patting the gosling on the head. She chirped in response.
Theo made his way back to themand tent without haste. Some sections of the wall in the south of town were at such an extreme angle, it was hard to take the steps. Without the constant raining, there was no chance of slipping, but it still paid to be cautious. By the time he made it to the western battlements, hisst metal golem caught up with him. A familiar warm wave passed over him as he approached themanders of the siege. Zarali had joined with Aarok and Luras, casting the alchemist a concerned look. She pulled him to the side.
Did you feel that? she asked.
Reminds me of when you were scanning the town for me, Theo said, chuckling.
Because thats what it was, Zarali said. Another sh of warmth signaled her using her senses to scour the town. But she shook her head. Strange. A priest could be searching for you, so stay sharp.
Theo gestured to his metal bodyguards. They got me covered.
Aarok and Luras had overheard the exchange, giving their opinion of the sensation. If the Goblins had a shaman amongst them, they could direct the attacking forces to target the leader of the town. That was just a theory, but it made as much sense as anything. When Theo directed his intuition on the matter, he got nothing. All theories for the matter fell away when a lumbering troll appeared in the distance. The alchemist groaned. Trolls blood sucked as a reagent. Hed take a water elemental any day over the vile Trolls. A system message apanied theappearance of the boil-ridden monster.
[Boss Monster] spotted! gue Lord Gripstink has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters, use caution.
Like most Trolls, gue Lord Gripstink was a massive creature. It had a face permanently dumbstruck, mouth hanging agape with beady eyes darting every way, covered in boils that dripped hissing liquid. Unlike most Trolls, Gripstinks sores and boils all dripped that foul liquid. Any ce it touched seemed to wither away in an instant.
Its quite important he doesnt reach the wall, Zarali said, all concern for Theo washing away. Have you crafted a [Potion of Cure gue]?
Nope, Theo said, trying and failing to blink away the image of the disgusting Troll. Do you have the recipe?
I only know of the property from Throneroot, Zarali said, managing a defeated shrug. Aarok, you must instruct your adventurers not to attack this thing directly. Dont touch that foul liquid, and dont engage in closebat.
Aarok didnt hesitate. He sent out a town-wide message advising everyone to steer clear of the boss. Theo searched his memory for the [Cure gue] property, but found nothing even simr. [Cure Ailment] and [Cleanse] were his closest options, but if this was a specific disease, theyd be in trouble. Since Zarali mentioned it by name, the alchemist assumed that was the case.
Alright, Theo said, gesturing to his metal golem bodyguards. You three are up.
The golems shuffled off withoutint, obeying their master absolutely. Aarok tried to object, but Theo shut him down.
Theyre not intelligent, and they cant get sick, Theo said. Damn, I should have made more before the attack.
Well keep the thing at range, Aarok said.
Get the bomb-throwers in range, Luras said.
Im a bomb-thrower, Theo said, suddenly realizing he could help. Ive got some gear that helps me throw stuff.
Get to the gate.
Theo sprinted off, passing his golems and standing with the other throwers at the western gate. The Troll was lumbering in the distance, still too far away for bombs to be effective. While the alchemist was confident he couldnd bombs near the monster, the towering Ogre Cypress made getting a direct hit impossible. But his bag of tricks was hardly limited. His inventory was full of utility bombs, meant to get him out of the range of assassins. Luras came over shortly, giving orders on what bombs should be thrown well. He was far more prepared for this scenario than Theo would like to consider, but that gave him a sense of pride.
With a [Freezebomb] modified with [Web] in his hand, Theo prepared to let loose. The pattern for throwing the bombs was the first pattern they established. They would root the boss in ce, toss standard [Firebombs] to apply a fire-based DOT effect, then throw another [Firebomb] with the [Surge] modifier to consume the effect and apply massive damage. The important part was to maintain a fire effect at all times, avoiding the Trolls impressive regeneration abilities.
There was no target in the world that deserved a bomb to the face than a gue Troll. The monster lumbered over a wide expanse of soggy ground, stumbling as often as keeping his feet underneath him. Each plodding step brought him closer to bombardment, but they came slow. Luras ced as many glowing red arrows in the things bulbous body as paces a Marshling would take between the wall and the creatures position. There was nothing Theo could do but wait, anticipating the moment where his bomb would soar through the air. True to his increasing [Dexterity], his aim was true.
Webs of iceunched from the point of impact, binding both the Troll and the surrounding goblins down in a tangle of tendrils. Momentster they were broken by the first [Firebomb], then the next with the [Surge] modifier, and another. The fetid Troll became a funeral pyre on the swamp, representing the death of uncertainty and the proud call of all Broken Tuskers. Those on the wall shouted with delight as the Troll burned. The alchemist kept a mental grip on his improvised bomb, preparing for if things went wrong. But between the rooting effects of the sts of the [Frost Cone Towers], bombardment of bombs, Luras well-ced arrows, and massive damage of the [Chain Lightning Towers], the boss was reduced to a pile of ash.
It wasnt a slow process. Theo was surprised with how many hits the thing took before it died. The Troll left a trail of slimy goo along its march, nts rotting in its wake. Aarok knew better than to let that trail of filth stay where it was, ordering the bomb-lobbing adventurers to burn the swamp with the alchemists [Firebombs]. But the familiar system message popped up the moment the gue Lord died.
[Boss Monster] defeated! gue Lord Gripstink has been in. Bonus Wave!
[Bonus Wave!] Broken Tusk defeated the monster wave in 3 hours! Bonus wave: [Aerial Attack!].
[Aerial Attack!]
Monster Wave
Duration: Infinite
Pincer Attack!
The [Swamp Dungeon] has generated aerial enemies!
These half-bird half-Elf creatures dont care about your walls! Hope youve invested in ranged attackers, or wall-mounted weapons.
Defeating this wave will result in a greater reward, but the difficulty is increased significantly.
Effects:
1 flying boss monster has spawned from the [Swamp Dungeon]. She leads a group of aerial enemies!
Increased reward forpleting the monster wave.
Gain an additional effect forpleting the wave within a time limit (24 hours).
Ah, shit, Aarok said, issuing orders to the citizens of Broken Tusk.
Everyone in the town was sent to find refuge indoors. He ordered adventurers to remain with ranged attackers, getting inside if they couldnt find a partner. Most adventurers in town were melee attackers, rendering them obsolete. Theo saw a problem with running motes to the towers while they were bombarded by aerial enemies, but remained at the western gate. Alex let out a concerned chirp.
They got me! Tresk shouted into Theos mind, only to appear beside him a momentter.
Nevermind, Tresk said. They came flooding out of the dungeon. Like a flock of angry birds. They were cussin, too.
The adventurers waited on the wall, spotting the clouds of bird-like monsters after a few minutes. Tresks squad rushed through the open gate, trailed by several others that were trapped out in the open. When the bird-things drew close enough for Theo to see, he recoiled. They looked like Elves twisted into the form of birds. wed feet with mottled plumage covering their nude bodies. They had wings where their arms should have been, ending in jagged talons. Even their faces were vile, beaked and chittering as they were.
The first assault saw the air filled with the scent of singed feathers, a smell not unlike burning hair. The [Chain Lightning Tower] fired volleys, joined by their less powerful [Fireball Towers], and [Firebolt Towers]. While the [Frost Cone Towers] froze the monsters in ce, forcing them to drop from the sky, the bird-things were smart enough to fly patterns around them. Aarok issued orders frantically, eyes glued to his tactical map as he rearranged adventurers. More than once, he redirected Luras to free a captured adventurer, resulting in a scramble to feed them healing potions from the damage of the fall.
Theo felt his body go weightless as his eyes were glued to a captured adventurer. He fell just as quick as he rose, spotting a bird-person above him. His [Lesser Copper Golems] took the attack personally, snatching the bird from the air and pummeling it on the battlements. Tresk also took this to heart, seeking monsters to graze with her poisonous knives.
The battle went on like this for a while, a wild scramble to reposition the few ranged attackers in town. Xolsa saw the most kills, warping reality around clouds of the beasts and ending the life of the boss. Theo didnt even get to see the boss monster until it plummeted into the center of town. The first part of the monster wave only took 3 hours, but the bonus wave consumed the afternoon. When the system message finally shed, the defenders of Broken Tusk were tired and wounded. Zarali had established a station for healing in the center of town, right near the fallen corpse of Flight Lady Zoot. The alchemist relished the waveplete message.
[Boss Monster] defeated! Flight Lady Zoot has been in.
[Monster Wave] [Ring of Terogal]
[Ring]
Epic
Scaling
An enchanted gold ring, iid with the image of a Dronon and Bantari.
Effect:
Reduces the cooldown of all Tarahek members by 2%.
At first blush, it wasnt a very useful item. 2% wasnt much, but it was a global cooldown. And it scaled. The inscription was also pleasant to look at, and Alex took to pecking at the golden band. Since the ring scaled, it would grow more powerful with the alchemist. One day, it would be useful.
Theo didnt know the golems could get excited, but he felt that sensation filtering through the lodestonework. The [Lesser nt Golem] was the one to send the message, insisting that the alchemist meet it outside the tavern. When he went, the crowd parted for the golem who was holding 2 items in its arm-like appendages. The first item was a feather, simple in its design and roughly the size of his palm. The second item was a long, jagged talon. Inspecting them both, the alchemist had mixed feelings.
[Zureah Talon]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
The menacing w of a Zureah.
Properties:
[sh] [????] [????]
At least it revealed that the creatures were called Zureah. Like with most hard reagents, he couldnt eat this one right away to discover the second property. He also wasnt eager to eat the feather.
[Zureah Feather]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Epic
The feather of a Zureah, said to hold the creatures affinity for flight.
Properties:
[Levitate] [????] [????]
How the feather was more rare than the talon was beyond him, but the [Levitate] property seemed useful. It would require experimentation, but this seemed like a great reagent. Theo sent a mental order to the golemwork, instructing them to focus on collecting as many feathers as possible. If they didnt get as many talons, he wouldnt mind. Just the idea of floating through the air appealed to him.
I wouldnt have to walk, Theo said with a nod.
Theo, Aarok said, whistling to get the alchemists attention. Tresk appeared near the alchemist, as though shed been stalking him. She was still on edge from the siege. We need a word.
Theo brought his mug of mead, his eyes lingering on those few adventurers without limbs. Alchemy could solve this problem, he knew it. As he followed Aarok toward the town hall, he rolled his options through his mind. The [Alchemic Regenerative Salve] could regrow fingers and toes, so it stood to reason there was something more powerful for limbs. During his time in town, hed noticed several people with scars, or missing eyes in Sulvans case. Without a proper healer, the alchemist would need to find a solution.
Aarok said something, but Theo was in his thoughts. His previous attempts at the [Alchemic Regenerative Salve] were done with low-grade materials. He was certain that refining his process would produce a better salve, perhaps even one powerful enough for the job. Those suffering from unexpected amputations were healthy, thanks to the power of the potions, so they werent dying from infections or rted ailments. But it was a shame to see the defenders of the proud town brought low, and the alchemist would do anything to see them whole again.
Theo, Aarok said, tapping him on the shoulder.
They were standing in a room with themand staff, and administration staff. Aarok, Luras, Alise, and Gwyn stared back at him. Tresk poked him in the side while Alex nipped at the new ring on his finger. He didnt remember entering the town hall, so he drained the rest of his mug and put on a brave face.
Right. Why are we here?
We have a meeting in Rivers and Daub tomorrow, as I just said, Aarok said. We expect you to attend.
Theo cleared his throat. Of course he should attend. He owned the town. His mind swirled at the thought, difort stemming from the idea of leaving the safety of the walls. Instead of letting himself sumb to those fears, he bolstered his mind with a n. Yuri wouldnt help. That old Khahari bastard would make this a lesson about reaching out to the other towns in the area to strengthen the alliance. The only option he had was to go on foot, leaving Alex back in town. Theo and Tresk could teleport to her when the meeting was over, spending as little time away from home as possible.
Naturally, Theo said. This is a political meeting. Im guessing that Alran Cherman guy convinced the leader of Gronro to meet in Rivers. The n is toy it out like it is. No matter what anyone says, were the strongest town in the Soutnds.
Well Luras started.
Theres no well about it, Theo interrupted. It was time to shit or get off the pot. Both Fenian and Khahar told us the end ising, whatever that means. Theyveid out how things are going to work. Period. Gronro will be a bastion against whateveres. Rivers will crank out food, and well make sure both are capable of the task. Once our shipwrights arrive, well make boats. Contact the other nations and form alliances.
Wow, someone grew a spine, Gwyn said, snorting augh.
More than a spine. A purpose, Theo said, thumping his fist on the table for dramatic effect. No one has us by the strings, and I mean no one. Well propose an alliance like this. Broken Tusk is the brain, Rivers the heart, and Gronro the sword and shield. Any objections?
Luras grunted, and Aarok nodded. Tresk just shouted, Yeah!
That works for me, Aarok said.
No objections, Alise said. I have some long-term ideas for Rivers, but the first step is to get them to join a defensive alliance.
Once they realize how much they need us and Gronro-dir, we can throw more weight around, Gwyn finished with a nod. Until then, we need to disy our power.
Were young in their eyes, Theo said, feeling his face get hot from the mead. But well make them see that time isnt a factor.
Aarok took the table and went through the step-by-step n for the meeting. The trip would take a day for a mundane person, and half a day for most level 10 to 20 adventurers, but Azrug hade through with his new venture. The young merchant had secured Qavelli Karatan and wagons. The beasts were known by all merchants for their ability to gallop along trails tirelessly, often needing no instruction from their driver. Theyd leave at dawn and arrive before midday with a group of hardened adventurers.
But were not leaving the town undefended, Aarok said.
I have a few tricks for our own defense, Theo said, rubbing his hands together.
Alise and Gwyn sorted out some other business about the cleanup efforts. No one was permitted into the swamp until the sludge left from the gue Troll was burned away. The task would be annoying. It wasnt easy to burn away sludge that mixed with water, but the administration had already tasked Xolsa and Zarali with the problem. The wizard had a solution, but it would take time. Until then, theyd just burn what they could.
Im off to take a bath, Theo said, exiting the meeting once theyd concluded business.
No one joined Theo and Tresk for their nightly bath. Alex didnt want to get in the water, but she was happy to y by the side of the pool. The pair shared no words rting to their n for tomorrow, only letting feelings and memories flow between them. Theos n was simple. Hed create new [Lesser Copper Golems] to join them on the trip, 10 in all. After deactivating his current non-metal golems, hed leave a cadre with Alex in Broken Tusk. 5 on the road, 5 back to guard the gosling. When the meeting in Rivers was over, they could teleport back to town.
Yuri, you still around? Theo asked. Nothing happened. Khahar?
Khahar was suddenly in the pool. He let out a sigh and reclined in the water. A pained look lingered on his face. Not for much longer.
See any futures about our trip to Rivers?
Theres a low percentage chance that assassins will attack on the road, Khahar said. Curiously, I cannot see who their master is. If you go on foot, they will attack. By wagon, only a 5% chance. With your golems, it''s likely impossible to happen.
Sounds like cheating, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes.
Khahar shrugged. Im fading, so I dont care anymore.
What about Alran? Theo asked. Is he going to try anything?
I think hes seen the importance of an alliance, Khahar said. He knows the people of Broken Tusk wont follow an oppressor.
Good news, Theo said, sinking further into the bath. Wanna stick around and soak?
Naturally.
Khahar and Theo exchanged stories about the old days. Given the chance, neither would return to their old world if they could. Things werent going well, even if the soon-to-be Khahari God could turn back time. Hed have to rewind it back to the industrial age to stop the path they set themselves on. Even then, he had his doubts. With his own hands, he helped shape this world. Counting all its ws, it was far better than where they came from.
Tresk remained silent for most of the bath, onlymenting on the strange inventions Earthlings came up with. Khahar finally revealed how desperate things were when this was seeded.
The strangest thing, though, Khahar said, running his wed fingers through Alexs feathers. She chirped happily. There were no Humans. Maybe whoever brought us here thought we needed different bodies to adapt, but our modern Humans in this worlde from Elves. Someone from Earth got ced in an Elf body, so they worked on making a race that looked like they used to look. Funny how we hang on to stuff like that.
Theo nodded. He realized how much hed miss having an old friend when he was gone. It brought him more thanfort andpanionship. Khahar brought a sense of confidence that he hadnt had since arriving. Others might look at his work back on Earth and think hed be a man of conviction, but that couldnt have been farther from the truth. Their unique form of spy craft was different. Enemy spies were often close friends, and everyone was just following orders. Kill orders on others often ended in failed attempts, and the governments eventually gave up on the idea. It reminded the alchemist of how Khahar wanted to spit in the faces of the gods now.
Whats in the box? Theo asked.
Cant tell you whats in the box, Khahar said. Whats the point of telling you whats in the box?
Cause I wanna know.
You cant know.
Because if you say whats in there, the gods will know? Theo asked.
No, because its a surprise, Khahar said,ughing. God, I forgot. You cant handle surprises, can you?
Hes horrible at surprises, Tresk said, giggling.
The conversationsted until they were kicked out of the bathhouse. People were still celebrating in the streets, and Theos golems were still hard at work outside the walls of Broken Tusk. Theyd work through the night if the night watch let them. Even then, they might keep on going even after being told to stop.
Time to enter Terogal, Khahar said, smiling.
You meant to say good night, Theo said, pping Khahar on the shoulder.
Naturally.
Feeling better than he had in a while, Theo made his way back to the Newt and Demon. Reports still rolled in, but they were tepid. Monsters were spawning from the other dungeons, but not in amounts that were concerning. No one had sighted the strangers out near the trees. But it was time to go to bed, off into the Dreamwalk where the alchemist could grind more levels.
Alex was happy to sleep wherever, finding a cluster of nkets in the rooms center to curl into. Within moments, the room swirled around Theo. The ethereal world of the Dreamwalk sprung up around him, recing reality with the personalized realm. The gosling took on her true form here, waddling around with her webbed feet to peck at the ground near the river. While she was busy with her goose stuff, the two members of the party went over their n. It was always good to wait until they had privacy.
But there were few changes they needed to make to ensure Alexs safety. Theyd hand her off to Miana, surround her with golems and whatever adventurers needed a contract before leaving the town. It would have been more risky to take her with them than leaving her here. Broken Tusk had massive guns on the walls, after all.
When it came time to split off, Alex wanted to stay with Theo. The alchemists ns for the nights Dreamwalk was to grind out alchemy and herbalism experience. When he got his imagined stills set up, the realm refused to let him distill his new reagents. Once again, it was particr about what they could do.
Doesnt matter, Theo said, working his stills. At least I havepany thats not trying to kill me.
Alex chirped her response.
The [Drogramath Alchemy Core] rolled over to level 18 during the night, with the [Drogramath Herbalism Core] almost hitting 17. Theo didnt get a system message while in the Dreamwalk, but could feel it in his chest. Both his [Governance Core] and [Tarahek Core] gained a massive dump of experience from the siege, enough to push his administration-based core over the edge into 16, but not enough for the Tarahek to advance.
During his brewing, golem construction, and tending of gardens, Theo reflected on how his alchemy was going. There seemed to be a limit to what he could do at his current tier, but something scratched at the back of his mind. The hints were all before him, as they always were. Working with his current selection of reagents was limiting. Once he unlocked the [Reagent Deconstruction] skill at level 20, hed understand the nature of his ingredients more. Until then, he could use the skill from his herbalism core to make inferences.
[Rare Material Handling] was a skill that surprised him when he got it. The only reagents hed seen didnt need much special handling. Once distilled into their essence form was when he worried about handing it off to a normal person, but the reagents? Those were all fine to handle. No matter how he tried to project his mind, to twist it around a possible future, Theo couldnt see what rare materials would mean for alchemy. His intuition said it would be different, but he couldnt determine in what way.
Alex was an excellent helper. She didnt physically do anything, but her calming presence added more to the Dreamwalk than anything else. Theo couldnt feel the regr sh of hate that Tresk exuded during their training. It was more a focused calm, like a properly trained fighter. It was a sudden shift that left the alchemist thinking about the lodestones Zarali had made. Perhaps the little gosling acted much like those, spreading the mental weight of conflicting realms out over the Tarahek. He shared the information with Tresk, through theirmunication ability, and she came to visit them by the river.
Maybe, Tresk said with a shrug. Im feeling less pissed off with the goose around.
Alex chirped and nodded.
Im certain no one has done this before, Tresk said.
The number of people who held a Tarahek in this world was likely low, if not zero outside of their bond. Khahar might know, but then again he might not tell the truth. It seemed the longer the man spent outside of his desert kingdom, the worse off he was. Why he didnt just pop back to the desert in an instant to rest was beyond the alchemist. Yuri now functioned on a level that was impossible to understand. He was beyond normal logic.
Theo and Tresk sat by the river for some time, sensing the end of the Dreamwalk drawing near. The Marshling summoned a sunrise for them to watch,plete with the massive, fake Marshling god Marshy. Tresk was a horrible dancer, and so was the massive smander. For the first time since hed met her, Tresk just sat there. She didnt fidget, or y with the knives at her hips. She allowed the true power of the Tarahek to consume her, giving in to that calming sensationpletely.
By the time morning came, Theo couldnt decide if it was a change he enjoyed.
Chapter 3.52: A Visit to Rivers
Chapter 3.52: A Visit to Rivers
Azrug was a man who took his job seriously. While he was absent from the Newt and Demon, hed been working on a project. Theo felt pride sh through his chest when he saw the Karatan-drawn carriages, 2 in all. These creatures were unlike those being milked at Mianas ranch. They were thinner and more muscr. Even their insect-like faces seemed sharper, meant for distance hauling and speed rather than milk or meat production. The carts they drew were open-topped, their wheels spiked with treads. It was hard to miss the glowing purple scribbles running along the side of the carts. Theyd been enchanted.
While the arrangements were made suddenly, Theo hardly minded. His inventory was loaded with copper, [Drogramathi Iron Containment Cores], and various potions and constructs. He had already dismissed every golem besides his 3 [Lesser Stone Golems], and a single [Lesser nt Golem]. When they were deactivated, they melted into puddles before their containment cores exploded into purple fire. The alchemist went to check with Miana for the fourth time before departing Broken Tusk for the first time.
Take care of her, Theo said, feeling the pain of leaving a member behind. A mantra yed through his mind. This was the best thing for her. The safest option.
I think theyll sort out her safety, Miana said, pointing at the 5 [Lesser Copper Golems] prowling around the ranch. Or them.
Theo ced a contract in the morning, spending several gold to wrangle everyone who wasnt on guard duty. Zarali and Xolsa offered their services to defend the gosling, but were redirected to be the townsmanders for the day. The ranchs position near the eastern wall afforded it more defenses than most ces in town, decreasing the chances that the little goose would be attacked. None of this put the alchemists mind at ease. Unless Alex was with him, he wouldnt consider her safe. Even if shed be safer here.
Ill ensure her safety, Khahar said, appearing behind Theo to offer hisforting warmth.
Thatll do it, Theo said, turning around to grin at his old friend.
Khahar merely shrugged.
Alright, folks! Azrug shouted, pping his hands. My Karatan cant jump through dimensions, so we gotta get moving.
Tresk apanied Theo to the rearmost carriage. They climbed inside and cast puzzled looks at the series of leather straps littering the benches. Azrug took charge in the lead cart, providing a demonstration on how things would work.
One strap isnt enough, Azrug said, holding up a single strap. Two isnt, either. You need to use all three straps. Over each shoulder, and around your belly. If youre not strapped in when I give the word, youre gonna tumble out the back.
Theo felt a sudden need to master the straps. He got the shoulder ones on without issue, but the one meant for his waist was being difficult. Tresk had hers done in moments, and leaned over to help the alchemist. They had it sorted before the call to head off was issued. No one else in the caravan had trouble with their straps. Before the young merchantsmand came, he drank a [Strength Potion] for good measure. His muscles swelled with power, suddenly tossing him into a new realm of power. Gripping the bench, he braced himself for the call.
Off to Rivers and Daub!
The caravan shot off like a bolt. Each cart had a team of only 2 beasts. But between those 2 creatures, they generated an impossible amount of force. Theos head bobbed from side to side, Alise and Gwyn in the lead carriage faring far worse. They shouted as the carts took off, an unending scream that echoed over the hills even after they jumped the bridge.
Ill take Fenians carriage next time, thank you, Tresk said, gritting her teeth.
Dont talk, youll bite your tongue, Theo said.
Cheep, Alex said.
Azrug undersold the power of the Karatan. From his asional shouts of surprise, it was clear he even didnt expect this. How long the trip to Rivers took was beyond Theo. It was a blur, but by the time they reached the town straddling the river, his [Strength Potion] had expired.
Rivers and Daub was a different town in person. The Dreamwalk did little to convey how sprawling it was, and how weak the walls looked. People of all races walked over the paved roads, sharing confused looks at the arriving caravan. Theos teeth chattered after he dismounted the cart, his butt numb from the ride. It took a few moments to appreciate the town.
The south-facing gate of the town was adorned with a single defensive artifices. Even worse, it was a [Fireball Tower], not the more powerful [Chain Lightning Tower] version. The alchemist studied the skyline as he assembled 5 [Lesser Copper Golems], bringing them to life right outside of the gates of their new potential ally. The copper ingots half-melted, forming into rough shapes. With the new [Drogramathi Iron Containment Cores], he hardly felt a strain on his mind, even if his connection to the lodestonework was too distant to sense.
Azrug spoke with a guard who directed him to bring the carriages inside the town, then directed the others to their meeting ce. The party shuffled into the town, heads swiveling around to inspect the buildings.
These are mostly hand-built, Luras said, his brow knitting tight.
Not a good sign, Theo mumbled.
Scouting time! Tresk said, vanishing from the spot.
Theo ordered 2 metal golems to trail Alise and Gwyn, keeping 3 to defend himself. They walked the streets, getting odd looks from each citizen. The minder directing them where to go went through great effort to avoid the less-affluent parts of the town. These were ces that the alchemist had seen in the Dreamwalk, and he made a note of the show. They looped around the circr town, crossing over the river and finding their way to the nobles district. Each building in this area was massive, often containing well-maintained gardens out front. The people here were friendly, offering their greetings to the delegation. It felt like too much of a facade.
Their journey didntst long. Rivers and Daub wasnt massive, and the guard picked a quick path to the towns administration building. This was a seed core [Town Hall], that looked nothing like the one in Broken Tusk. It was an all stone construction with columns and wide steps out front. Massive stained-ss windows covered the front, and the door was made of etched copper-like metal that bore detailed images.
Just updating my memory of this ce. Not much has changed, Tresk said. The party from Gronro is waiting at the north end of town.
Theo sent his acknowledgement without words, trying to hold back hisughter from the interior of the town hall. Twin pirs lined the atrium, the floor a sleek polished marble. By each pir stood a plinth with a sculpture, each wall adorned with detailed paintings or tapestries. Groups of silk-d administrators moved around the ce like they had somewhere to be, casting the delegation from Broken Tusk in a dirty light.
Fancy shit, Aarok grunted.
Mayor Spencer, a voice called from across the hall. Theos golems stomped in behind him, turning their faceless gaze over the room. If youd join me, were ready to start.
What about us? Alise asked.
This is a meeting between leaders, the administrator said, trying and failing to hold back the impatience in their voice. Follow me.
Im bringing my pets. No worries, Theo said, waving them off.
Aarok and Luras werent alright with this, but they had no choice. Theo kept his mind on his [Tarahek Dreampassage] ability, ready to get the hell out of there at a moments notice. He was led down a series of halls that gave his enhanced memory a workout. The golems kept pace, and they soon found themselves in a massive meeting room. Two men were standing inside, discussing something. When Theo entered the room, they fell into an ufortable silence.
Introducing Mayor Theo Spencer, the administrator said, bowing. And his creatures.
Theo entered the room, ordering his 3 golems to cover his nks. The first man was Alran Cherman. On paper, he was the trade representative of Rivers and Daub, one of many mercantile chairs the town held. The reality of it was clear, though. The employer of assassinsfailed assassinsran the show. He was portly, draped in fine green silks with a head of greasy, thinning hair slicked back. The next man was a Dwarf. Even by Dwarven standards, he was short. He had a head of well-oiled long, ck hair and a beard to match. The Dwarf wore chain armoryered over padded cloth with a sword at his hip. His face carried the scars and pits from years of conflict, his gray eyes maintaining the same edge.
Theo, so nice to see you, Alran said, holding his arms wide. He gestured at the table. Allow me to make introductions
Grot Stormfist, the dwarf said, waving the formalities away. Lets get on with it.
As long as there arent assassins waiting in the dark, Theo said, approaching the table and taking a seat.
Apse of judgment, Alran said, wincing.
Each man took their seats, Grot near the massive windows, Alran on the far side of the room, and Theo nearest the door. The alchemist ordered 2 golems to defend the door, and one to protect him.
Not that yourecking in defense, Dronon, Grot said, gesturing to the golems. Didnt know we could bring friends.
Youre free to drop your sword out of the window, Theo said.
Point taken.
I dont know about you, but administrators do gabble on, Alran said, sighing. While Im certain your staff will be upset, Id prefer to do this between the genuine leaders of each town.
How oddly wise, Theo said, leaning in.
I have my moments, Alran said. So, the assassins I sent. We wont make progress until we deal with that topic.
Im here in good faith, Theo said.
And armed to the teeth, Grotughed.
More than you realize, Theo said.
Right, Alran said, clearing his throat. We can head out into the courtyard and fight it out like savages, if you like. Run me through in front of my people. Would that please you?
Not even a little, Theo said, letting out a sigh.
The assassins were a distant memory by now. That y was a desperate attempt to seize power, yed by a man who underestimated his enemy. While Broken Tusk could take Rivers and Daub for themselves, dere some kind of civil war, it wasnt the right move. This idea of an alliance was about more than just a single town. It was about building something that could rival Qavell in the north, even after whatever disaster befell it.
Business, Grot said. Were all screwed if we donte together.
Exactly, Alran said.
Tactically, you could ignore Gronro in your little everything is so great soutnds deal. But we are the rock the tide will break against, Grot said.
Youre more than that, Theo said. Youre the sword and the shield. When the hordese south, we need you in fighting form.
Wow, someone who agrees with me, Grot said, staring at Alran. Shouldve just been the Tusk-Gronro alliance.
Rivers has plenty to offer, Alran said, chuckling nervously.
Yeah, whatever, Grot said, waving the merchant away. Undead from Gardreth. Thats what were dealing with.
Theo gasped for dramatic effect. Hed already put the pieces together, though. Alran clutched his chest in shock. The merchant stammered, his eyes darting between the alchemist and the Dwarf.
Theyve never crossed the sea, Alran whispered.
Now they have, Grot said, nodding. You know how the crown has gone silent? Yeah, theyre too busy dealing with the wave of undeath spreading across the eastern reaches of the kingdom.
Theo fell into his thoughts. Fenian knew the undead wereinghow did he know that? None of it seemed to matter at that moment. Because of the Elven merchants scheming, the alchemist now stood with a bargaining chip. This entire council would now y to whatever tune he set, unable to deny the usefulness of the potions resting in his inventory. The best way to approach this was to y it cool.
Youre well informed, Grot, Theo said, nodding to the Dwarven representative.
Doesnt take much, Grot said, sighing. My first report came in yesterday, from a migrant train. Then more reports came in, iming to see strange magic rolling onto the shore. Some amount of undeath touches the eastern shores, but no one lives there. Its moving ind.
What are we going to do? Alran asked. His face looked gaunt.
We form our alliance, Theo said. Not equal partners, not part of the same nation Independent partners with the same interest. We can let our administrative staff work the details out, but Broken Tusk is eager to aid the people of Gronro-Dir.
Grot raised a brow, saying something as Theo withdrew a [Hallow Ground Bomb] from his inventory. He set it on the table, silencing the dwarf before he could continue. The other men took a moment to inspect the bomb, turning their attention to the alchemist.
This is the worst of my weapons for fighting undead, Theo said, withdrawing the more powerful [Hallow Ground Potion] modified with [Web]. He let the men look it over.
Youre offering us weapons to fight the undead a day after I learned thats what we face, Grot said, narrowing his eyes at Theo. The golem behind Theo moved to the side, but stopped whenmanded. Pardon me if Im suspicious.
Theo leaned in, smiling. Then die. I dont care what you think. Youre not here to think. Im not just offering you ess to these weapons, which I might say are worth more than you can afford. Im offering you ess to my dungeons and my potions.
Lots of hard talk for a Dronon, Grot growled. You think you can take over Broken Tusk, and a seasonter rule the south? My family has stood strong at Murder Passage for generations.
You have two options. ept, or die, Theo said.
Alran seemed like a scared mouse. He tried to make himself look as small as possible as the two other men leaned in over the desk. Theos golem grumbled while Tresks murderous intent spiked in the alchemists mind.
Grot leaned back in his chair, letting out a heavy breath. After a moment, heughed. Damn, the Humans in Gronro have softened me. Been too long since Ive knocked heads with another true Dwarf, let alone with a Dronon. The sword and the shield, huh?
Exactly, Theo said. Broken Tusk is happy to sharpen your edge, and bolster your defenses for the tide.
As is Rivers and Daub, Alran said, his voice breaking.
Boil it down. Weve all got treason on the mind, Grot said, rxing after a moment. Theos golem backed off, and the tension dropped from the room. Qavell has been an absent father for too long. Even before they dropped out of sight, they were rubbing me the wrong way. You can count me as the rock in our arrangement, but King Karasan? Hes up to something.
Agreed, Theo said with a nod. The war with Veosta is nonsense.
It doesnt help matters that Tarantham is backing Veosta for the war, Alran said, studying the faces of his peers. After a moment, confusion washing over Theo, the merchant grinned. Oh, for once, I dont feel like a drowning rat in this conversation. Veosta is now allied with the Tarantham Empire. Unless we actively cut ties with Qavell, well be swept up in the storm.
Youre joking, Theo said, blinking away his confusion. That seemed like important information Fenian should have delivered. How long before they reach Qavell proper?
Doesnt matter, Grot said. Theres a reason no one goes to Gardreth. A reason nthier split it from the continent. It would take a miracle to stop the undead fromying waste to the hearnd of the Kingdom of Qavell. The Elves will find only ruin.
Unless the kingdom had ess to an alchemists potions, Alran said, tapping his chin.
Absolutely not, Theo said, ring at the merchant. Theres no way Im jumping to save the kingdom. They wouldnt afford us the same luxury.
Agreed, Grot said.
It never hurts to ask, Alran said. Then this is it. Three small towns against the world. What do you think our chances are?
Excellent. If we work together, well be fine, Theo said. As far as Im concerned, the alliance is formed. Well let the administrators work the details out, but feel free to amend whatever agreement theye up with.
Agreed, Grot said. I want to see this in writing before Imit.
We should distributemunication crystals, Alran said. Between the members of the alliance.
Good luck finding those, Grotughed.
I know a guy, Theo said.
Everything is clear out here. I guess theyre finally on the level, Tresk said. I feel the meeting went well. Nice job putting your foot down.
The group allowed their conversation to fall into logistics. Theo offered Azrugs race Karatan to run supplies for the time being, something the young merchant likely had in mind anyway. If he didnt have that in mind, he would. It would be important for transferring both goods and messages between the towns until they got a hold of long-rangemunications. Letting his rough edges fall away, Grot was excited about the alliance. Gronro stood alone for so long, her people had forgotten what it was like to have someone at their back.
The sun was setting by the time their meeting ended. Administrators from all 3 towns were hammering out the details of the alliance. Theo trusted them to do the right thing, joining with Tresk on the streets of Rivers and Daub. They stood on the bridge, watching as people passed by. It would be nice to think of every citizen of the town as an enemy. Someone to stand in their way. But even the nobles of the town were just people. Some were insufferable, but they were still people.
Its hard not to worry about the people in the north, Theo said, keeping his concerns in the Tarahek.
Cant save everyone, Tresk said.
Theo just nodded. He instructed Tresk to take a poke around Gronro while they were in the region. She imed that between the [Elemental Wind] enhanced [Potions of Retreat] and her [Shadowdance] ability, she could make the trip in an hour. The alchemist didnt doubt it, looking over toward the towering crags. She vanished on the spot, and he waited there for her to give the signal.
The sun was setting by the time Tresk reported, and they both activated their [Tarahek Dreampassage] ability. Even with the Marshling being further north, their realm was strong enough to carry them back to Broken Tusk without an issue. They fell through the winding path of dreams, arriving in Mianas stables. Alex was there, chirping happily.
Chapter 3.53: A Visit to Rivers
Chapter 3.53: A Visit to Rivers
It was hard enough to spend time away from the gosling, no matter how little, but harder still to leave once Theo had returned. The junior administration staff had things for the alchemist to look at, but Tresk promised to stay with Alex. Things had moved quicker than expected. The sudden meeting at Rivers and Daub increased the pace of an already hectic few days.
The town seemed more somber without their support staff andmanders. Theo found his way to the town hall, led by a gaggle of administrators to meet with Zarali. Where Xolsa had a mind for war, the Drogramathi Priestess seemed more suited to administration. But even a day of management left her hair frazzled and her expression dazed. The alchemist pped a hand over the bedraggled womans shoulder and smiled. She jumped at the contact, eyes darting as though she was asleep standing up.
Theo! How did it go? she asked. Didnt expect you until tomorrow.
It was great, Theo said. Threw my weight around and all that. How are things here?
Were scrambling to get everything in order. I cant read Alises handwriting, and Gwyn isnt much better, Zarali said, knitting her brow.
Theo checked his mayoral screen, finding a section where the pair had scribbled endless notes. Hepared these to the hand-written notes Zarali held and confirmed they were the same. It was a list of what needed to be done before the Elves arrived tomorrow. The houses Fenian meant the refugees from House Wavecrest would need to share homes. The chattering administration juniors confirmed all those homes were nted, ready for their upants. Food still needed to be distributed to [Dimensional Storage Crates] for distribution, but otherwise, things were looking good.
Looks like youre mostly done, Theo said. Should we expand the town to impress our new townsfolk?
The administrators gave a series of ovepping sounds that were a mixture of agreement and disapproval. Theo stared them down for a moment, dismissing them to distribute the food before the refugees arrived. Zarali let out a sigh of relief, falling into a plus chair near the fire. It was too hot for a fire, but Half-Ogres always loved when there was a fire burning.
Why not? Zarali asked. Im already exhausted, and I have done nothing today. Just walked around with a group of chittering children. How does Bob do it?
Lets go, Theo said, grabbing her by the hand and hoisting her to her feet. She trailed behind him, too tired to keep pace. Standing near the towns monolith, the alchemist consulted his map.
The town held a few sections that were logical to expand. They already owned all the immediate area around Broken Tusk as unincorporatednd, so they couldnt build there. But the best ce to expand was to the east and west of the farm, by one expansion, and expand that until it met with the northern wall. Naturally, that was too expensive. Buying property around the town was getting absurdly expensive. Each purchase would set him back 10 gold, at the minimum. But without the property, they couldnt upgrade the towns status, resulting in an inability to level it to 20.
Well settle on the eastern side, for now. Thend between the farm and the quarry is perfect for housing. Once I get more money, I can think about taking that section with the farm to the east, Theo said.
Uh-huh, Zarali said. Theo poked her in the arm, but she didnt respond.
Theo ignored her, checking the next upgrade stage for the town.
[Broken Tusk] can be upgraded to a [Massive Town] when the following conditions are met:
Large Poption: COMPLETE
Expanded Land Ownership: INCOMPLETE
If he had the money, he could hit whatever was after [Massive Town] right when the Elves arrived. But ie was slowing down, and would only get worse when the undead attacked Gronro. For now, he needed to be happy with what he had. Theo selected several expansions, starting from Stabby Groves and working his way eastward. Each purchase was more expensive than thest, resulting in him spending 50 gold between 4 expansions. The ground under their feet rumbled as the walls readjusted themselves. The alchemist realized he should have sent a notice when shouts of fear rose from the townsfolk.
[Theo]: Just expanding the town. No need to worry.
Theo checked his money, his warning not calming anyone in the slightest. 25 gold, 61 silver, and 44 copper. It seemed a shame to keep that much gold in his inventory, but there was nothing to spend it on. Perhaps Azrugs caravans would provide him with something worth buying. For now, he clicked the button to upgrade the town to a [Massive Town]. It provided no benefit, but allowed him to push Broken Tusk over the level 20 mark. It only took a few [Monster Cores] to push the town over the edge.
The upgrade screen popped up, disying the familiar [Water Tower], and [Watchtowers] selection. But the level 20 option was great. It was something Theo could have only dreamed of. The alchemist read through all the options anyway, just to make sure.
[Watchtowers]
Your [Small Town] will gain watchtowers ced along the border. The watchtowers will move to match the edge of your borders, should you expand. 12 watchtowers will be ced.
[Water Tower]
Your [Small Town] will gain a single 1,000 unit water tower in its center. The tower will not automatically fill.
[Synergistic]
Enables the [Production Chain Synergy] ability on all buildings within town. Linking buildings requires a [Fabricator]. Results of synergies vary based on the skill of the [Fabricator].
How could he resist the [Synergistic] option? Broken Tusk had enough production chains to make it worth it. Theo thought about the [Weavers Seed Core] in his inventory, and his eventual n to use that to spin his [Starbristle x]. Once the shipwright got to town, hed have a better idea for what other parts of the shipbuilding chain theyd need. But this was too good not to pick. After selecting the upgrade, he inspected his town while Zarali fell asleep standing up.
[Massive Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Kingdom of Qavell
Mayor: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Qavell]
Level: 20 (15.11%)
Core Buildings:
Alchemy Lab
Greenhouses (x6)
Mycology Cave (x2)
cksmith
Artificers Workshop
Large Farm
Windmill
Quarry
Stonecutter
House (x352)
Tannery
Tavern
Adventurers Guild
Hotsprings
Sawmill
Mine
Smelter
Enchanter
Ranch
Townhall
Butcher
Defensive Emcements:
Chain Lightning (x12)
Frost Cone (x7)
Fireball (x10)
Firebolt (x25)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Turret Emcements]
[Synergistics]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
[Coordinated Fire]
Current Resources:
Timber: 40,101
Stone Blocks: 17,006
Metal: 18,108
Motes: 8,418
Theo sneered at the owner of Broken Tusk. Whatever was happening in the north would change their fortunes, but it was hard to tell if that was a good thing. The normal road to gaining independence came with purchasing a dukedom. That wasnt even full freedom, it was just less taxes. The alchemist needed the disaster in the north to go well for him. He held onto that idea of reaping taxes from the region, creating a constant flow of money he could use to enhance the region.
Done working? Tresk asked, trotting through the square. She cradled Alex in her arms, the gosling constantly chirping. You had fun with Auntie Miana, didnt you? Got to see all those big scary Pozwa. Good girl.
Mostly. Should I dump cores into the town, or upgrade buildings? Everything can get past level 30, now, Theo said, tapping his chin.
Buildings, Tresk said. No need to waste cores when we need another status upgrade.
Theo nodded. I think its time for some recon.
Hell yeah.
Theo deposited Zarali through Xolsa portal, checking with the administrators that everything was good for the night. When he was satisfied, the alchemist ordered his 5 remaining [Lesser Copper Golems] to guard the Newt and Demon. It paid to be cautious.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex fell into the Dreamwalk together. They appeared on a snowy mountain, the lond of Rivers and Daub stretching to the south. Every other direction was craggy mountains reaching into the sky like jagged daggers. Gronro-Dir was a horrid ce. The buildings were squat, some built into the mountain itself. They had a wall, but it was under-defended and the interior of the town was tiny. The alchemist estimated it was about the size of the farm in Broken Tusk.
Yeah, I wasnt impressed, Tresk said.
But Gronro had one thing going for it. There were only two approaches to the town. North and south. Anything attempting to attack would need to brave the bitter cold and jagged peaks of Murder Passage. Theo walked the wall, finding ack of defensive towers. He was d that cold didnt trante to the Dreamwalk, but concerned about his allysck of defensive capability.
They defended this for how long? Theo asked, looking out over the north-facing wall. The approach was horrific. A narrow passage, only wide enough for two Half-Ogres to walk shoulder-to-shoulder, ending on either side with a plunge. Deep valleys were on either side of the path, at the bottom of which were more jagged rocks that would shred anything. Oh, thats how they did it. Right.
Put a few [Chain Lighting Towers] on this bad boy, Tresk said, patting the wall. And you got yourself a defensible position.
Alex chirped her agreement, jumping off the wall. Theo watched her go, unconcerned for her safety. Dreamwalk rules applied for everyone in the realm. She couldnt be hurt.
So, the meeting, Theo said. He exined how it went. Tresk pumped her fist when he got to the part about throwing his weight around. She had concerns about Rivers and Daub pulling their weight, but agreed it seemed weird to leave them out.
They want to be the breadbasket, Theo exined. But well out-produce them soon.
Tresk tapped her fingers on her daggers, humming for a moment. Why cant they get their own patron?
Well, nothing says they cant But ourtent poweres from the dungeons, Theo said. Working with Xolsa had increased his knowledge on the function of godly power. It shouldnt have been as simple as asking a god to fill a dungeon with power.
They have a dungeon here, Tresk said, pointing northward.
In the distance, behind a haze of snow and clouds, was a dungeon entrance. It was hard to see from the walls, but there it was. Theo shifted the scene, arriving on the walls of Rivers and Daub. Tresk helped him scan the horizon without asking questions, but they werent able to spot a dungeon.
Im sure they have a dungeon around here, Theo said, squinting to see farther. It didnt work. They must. Right?
Not so sure about that, Tresk said.
Theo fell into his thoughts while they searched. That would put Rivers at a massive disadvantage. Then a realization washed over him. It wasnt a problem of having an overpowered growth rate. Banus farm had several upgrades that allowed him to grow stuff far faster than normal. Mianas ranch likely had upgrades that worked simrly.
Thezy bastard, Theo said, shaking his head.
You think he doesnt have seed core farms? Is that psychopath growing stuff by hand? Tresk asked, gasping. Surely not!
Shouldve inspected the town, Theo grumbled. Were hoping Alise and Gwyn are sharper than I was. That was the point of leaving the administrators to hammer it out.
Well be better leaders than the king, Tresk said.
Theo didnt want to think about that, but it was true. He was setting himself up to lead the three towns in the soutnds. While the alchemist didnt want to lead them, it was necessary. They had the resources to make everyone else better. If Alise and Gwyn didnt stipte it in the defensive agreement, he would request the disbandment of all mercantile chairs. That was a poison that had no ce in towns, always leading to greedy bastards getting theirs and screwing everyone else. Their goal was always to give people the chance to work and be part of something bigger than themselves. All these people needed was a chance. Broken Tusk just needed a bit of cash, and the right connections, and it rose to dominate within a season. How far would Rivers and Daub go with the same opportunity?
Cant forget Gronro, Tresk said, invading Theos thoughts.
Im just worried about what happens if Qavell falls, Theo said. But there was a logical element to that. The alchemist could step through the logic of the world ande to a singr conclusion. Qavell likely has a seed core for the kingdom. Nation Seed Core, maybe? Take the logical step. If we remove our [Alchemy Lab Seed Core], the bonuses inside would cease to function.
If the nation core thingy goes away, our [Town Seed Core] stops working, Tresk said. Her expression was grim.
Pray that Fenian knows whats going on, Theo said.
Theo shifted the scene back to Tresks memory of Gronro-Dir. She walked with him as he inspected the buildings. While the Dreamwalk wouldnt allow him to inspect the seed core buildings, he assumed the ramshackle ones werent seed cores. They had it hard here. The Marshling pointed out the seed core mine nestled against a rocky outcrop. That was the towns only exportable item. They didnt even have a smelter to process the nuggets. Without room to grow food, this ce was destitute.
Reminds me of Broken Tusk, Tresk said, a sad smile ying across her face. Not anymore, though.
If no one wanted to migrate to Gronro, Theo wouldnt be surprised. It wasnt appealing in any way. But the town was more important than the others defensively. Controlling that singr path to the soutnds was vital to everyones survival. Grot Stormfist would get more aid than Alran, at first. But at least the leader of Rivers and Daub understood the importance ofing together in a time of crisis. That was a starting point the alchemist could work with.
Grot was much like the little Theo had seen of other Dwarves. That race reminded him of the Half-Ogres, in a way. They were stubborn, perhapscking the kindness that lingered in the hearts of all Half-Ogres. How Qavells culture of greedy merchants had bled beyond the hard walls of Gronro-Dir was a mystery.
A hard road made harder by our refugees, Theo said, snapping the scene away from Gronro and back to Broken Tusks port. Heres the most important thing. Let me know when you get annoyed. Feels like I talk about this harbor more than anything else.
Alex chirped, falling into the water of the harbor.
Yeah, youre annoying, Tresk said. But this harbor is everything. Once were cut off, Fenian is our only supplier.
It was hard to tell if that was a bad thing. Fenian brought many of the items Theo took advantage of. The only thing the Elven trader didnt provide was supplies. Food, materials, and so on werecking when he came to town. That set the soutnds alliance up for famine if something disastrous happened. The harbor was insurance against that exact scenario. More than that, it was a portal to the wider world. Qavell was just too insr.
Tresk and Theo talked about the problem at length, spending the first quarter of the night going over the best trade partners. Separating themselves from the kingdom, as soon as possible, was the best option. Even considering the consequences of losing seed core buildings, it was better than being trampled by Elves. How their refugees yed into making deals with Tarantham was yet to be seen. The alchemist hoped there was mercy in the heart of the Elves. Either way, they either made enemies passively by not leaving Qavell, or actively by epting House Wavecrest.
They returned to Gronro-Dir before splitting off for the night. Theo spent his time convincing the Dreamwalk to create undead, but it was a failure. Tresk must have really believed shed seen a dragon if it let her create those, but undeath was a step too far. He tested the defensibility of the northern wall against other enemies.
A horde of goblins thundered down the narrow pass, most of them falling off the cliffs to the sides. The ones that made it to the gate were easy enough to pick off with bombs, even without the help of the towers. There was no room for the creatures to fight. A single [Firebomb] forced a retreat, spreading the mes among their ranks. When Theo created more goblins than hed ever seen in one ce, the result was the same. With a horde 3 to 4 goblins wide, they marched up to the gates and received bombs to the face.
Gronro-Dirs biggest weakness was flying enemies. Theo didnt have experience fighting off high-level people, but he hoped the scenario wouldnt y out. Even with Broken Tusk bristling with towers, someone like Sulvan would make it through. The alchemist felt pushed, the way he often did, to solve that future problem before it came about. When Khahar left, and the followers of the Burning Eye returned from the moon, he needed to be ready to fight them off.
Because why not send your enemy to the moon? Theo asked, looking up into the sky. He still hadnt spotted the dark moon Antalis. That was the problem with a moon that matched the color of the nights sky.
Pushing away his thoughts for defense, Theo summoned alchemy and herbalism equipment to practice his trade. He cycled between brewing potions, growing crops, and working on his mana control. Xolsas words echoed through his head as he brought mana from his core to his palm. It felt smoother by the day, his power over his own body expanding. Soon hed befortable summoning his mana outside the Dreamwalk. Later hed have the confidence to pursue a mage ss.
3.54 - Ill Drink to That
3.54 - I''ll Drink to That
Despite Theos expectations, there wasnt a massive portal outside the towns walls. No elves poured through, flooding Broken Tusk in the early hours of the morning. Instead, he had tea and ate a breakfast of sweetened Zee porridge at Xams tavern. The citizens of the town didnt notice the absence of their military and administrative leaders, though. Tresk cradled Alex near the window in the Marsh Wolf Tavern, watching with interest as groups came and went from the building.
There was an energy in the air that was infectious. People talked about the Elves. They chatted about their future lives, bolstered by the hard work of a noble race. But there were also reservations. What few natives of the region remained all had worries about the dilution of their culture. Even now, with the poption of the town reaching toward 300, the natives were outnumbered. That struck a sad chord in Theos chest, but he moved past it. There wasnt time for slow growth. They needed able-bodied workersas many as wouldeand they needed them now.
Theo spent the early morning reviewing the list of Elves provided by Fenian. There were over 250 set to arrive, giving way to a suspicion that there would be more still. If the Elven trader made good on his promise to bring along sailors and shipwrights, it would be fine. The trade would be even as long as he brought those things. Istion was on everyones minds, and if they didnt produce the means to trade with foreignnds, Broken Tusk was doomed to fail. But there were other matters to attend to.
Boss, Salire said, entering the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Fancy time to disappear. People are beating down the door for the air conditioning thing.
The [Freeze Solution]? Theo asked.
His mind swirled before she formed a response. There should have been plenty of [Swamp Onions]ying around, but they werent fermented. With his [Lesser nt Golem] hard at work, there were enough [Manashrooms] tost a lifetime. Before Salire had opened her mouth, Theo resolved to sort that problem out.
Thats the one, she said. I want to sell them in 10-unit sks. One silver per sk.
Theo found it easier to bite back his next words. Air conditioners werent a right, they were a privilege. Broken Tusk was already doing so much for her citizens, they didnt need to give out free air conditioners and [Freeze Solution] as well.
Perfect, Theo said. Ill get working on that right now. Ill make enough tost you a lifetime.
Thank you, sir, Salire said.
Not a problem.
Oh! I forgot to say. Azrug came along and bought up all the old gear from the shop, Salire said.
Theo paused, his teacup half-way to his mouth. He then took a sip. He got his [Loremasters Core], he said, nodding to himself. Expect that general shop to pop up any day.
Good. I can unlock some properties on my gear, Tresk said, rubbing her hands together.
Theo talked with Salire about her ns for the near-future. While she was originally from Gronro, she found sce in the hard-working nature of her people. The Dwarves had a hardened sense of responsibility that didnt include the welfare of their own people. She missed the kindness that rested in the hearts of all Half-Ogres. That warm-hearted nature might havee with jibes, or challenges, but it was there all the same. When the conversation wound down, Tresk left Alex and excused herself to meet with Xolsa about the towns defense. The alchemist walked with Salire back to the Newt and Demon to tackle the day.
1 [Lesser nt Golem], and 5 [Lesser Copper Golems] remained in town. The nt golem worked the greenhouses and caves, although each of them sent a signal that they were low on [Mana Constructs]. Theo assembled another [Lesser nt Golem], and kept the metal ones for now. Until Aarok and Luras returned, he didnt trust the defenses of the town. The alchemist sorted the mana issue first, burning through thest of his marble tes and [Mana Essence]. He linked the new golem to the lodestonework, watching as his metal golems patrolled the newt and demon. Alex chirped her approval.
There were enough [Manashrooms] in the delivery crate to run the stills all day. The nt golems were more than pulling their weight, allowing Theo to fill all 3 of his stills with the easily mashed mushrooms and set them running. Finding a stash of [Swamp Onions] was hard, though. The alchemist found 100 units worth in the shared inventory and pilfered those for fermentation. After dropping those in the fermentation barrel, and setting Zaralis power umtor to work, he departed theb.
It was a lovely day for a walk, so Theo took Alex the long way to Zizs ce. She snuggled down in his satchel and chirped at all the sights, interested in returning to Mianas to check in. The Half-Ogre rancher was working with her Pozwa, sending them to the far side of the paddock to collect their horns. Theo didnt envy the job, those creatures looked and sounded horrific. She came over after spotting Alex, and took the gosling into her arms.
How is my favorite little goose? Miana asked, cooing.
Alex chirped a response. Theo got the feeling that she meant she was doing well, but felt strange interpreting for a bird. That didnt stop Miana, though.
Yes, Auntie Miana gave you all the good stuff. You need to tell your daddy he needs to increase the protein in your diet, Miana said, stroking the gosling. She looked up, narrowing her eyes at Theo. That means meat. Worms. Bugs.
Theo nodded.
We need some bugs for Alex, Theo said.
Im already on it. Digging through the swamp, Tresk said.
Cheep.
Today was a day to take it easy. Theo chatted with Miana about her ranch. Things were going slowly, but she nned on building her empire one brick at a time. She was as concerned as anyone about their ability to export goods. The entire process was on hold until they sorted the harbor situation out, a fact that didnt sit well with anyone. Exporting locally was the only option until then, something that relied on Azrugs hellish carriages. But the weather was nice, and the farm animals were happy. That counted for something.
Theo left the ranch and headed east, to the harbor. Alex wanted to y in the water for a while, so he allowed her. It was only when he spotted a big fishing to investigate the vulnerable gosling that he pulled her out. She needed a pond to y it. This was far too dangerous for the baby.
Banu had good news about the farm. The [Starbristle x] took to the soil like a weed, growing at a predictably absurd rate. He already had a quarter-field nted with the x with no ns to stop. The new farmhands were also doing extremely well. They worked the fields, the mill, or hauled goods between storage crates. The farmer promised he knew how to harvest the x, and Theo didnt doubt it.
The expansion of both the town and the farm had resulted in two new fields to the west. Banu guaranteed those fields to Theos projects, but was eager to talk about payment.
If you can get a price on them, Ill give you market price, Theo said with a shrug. Wait for Azrug to get back, though. His core should automatically gather information from Rivers. Assuming they buy or sell textiles.
How did that meeting go? Banu asked.
Better than expected.
Theo talked for a while. His mental clock said his stills had a long run to go, and it was his only task for the day. Once Fenians Elves showed up, it would be a madhouse. For now, it was more important to enjoy the rtive silence.
The section of town named Stabby Groves had seen growth. Some of theing Elves were adventurers, so houses were nted in the area. Where there was once a few isted cottages now rested a full neighborhood. Theo passed by Zankirs home, spotting the man inside by a roaring fire. The alchemist knocked on the window, causing the Khahari man to jump. He then rushed over to the door and pulled him inside.
Have you seen Zansal? Zankir asked.
Nope. Whats up?
She wont talk to me. Not since I brought Him here. No, I was just following orders and she turned her back on me. She wont forgive me.
Theo had wondered how Khahar knew he was in Broken Tusk. ording to the god-like man, while he was in the Khahari Desert he wouldnt fade away, but his power to reach out was diminished.
Khahar, Theo said, trying to predict which direction the man would appear. He popped in right behind the alchemist.
Yes?
Zankir hit the ground, pressing his forehead against the wooden floor.
Can you sort out your followers? Theo asked. Zankir is getting divorced if you dont fix this.
Is this true, my child?
Zankir didnt respond. He stayed on the ground, shaking.
Ill have a word with your wife, Khahar said.
Hey, Yuri. Wanna check out the quarry? Theo asked. He assumed the problem was solved. Zansal just wanted Khahar gone, and that would be sorted in a few days. He could worry about ying marriage counselor once that happened.
Sure, Khahar said, leading the way out of the building. Theo followed. Leave your children alone long enough, and they create stories about you.
Hands-off approach, huh? Theo asked. How long did you leave them alone to create that kind of mythos?
Ah, a thousand years, Khahar said. I poured myself into maintaining my realm after discovering a disparate thread of fate. The one that carried you to this world.
How does that look? Theo asked. He couldnt imagine what maintaining a realm was like. He just had to exist with Tresk to keep his realm strong.
Theo spotted Bal, Dal, and Ral before Khahar could respond. He winced when he spotted Rals missing left leg. He hobbled around with a pegleg as his brothers cheered him on. That hit too close to home. There had to be a way to regenerate the missing limb.
I sat in my temple. Mind focused on maintaining the realm, Khahar said.
Meaning your realm is diminishing, Theo said, turning his gaze away from the injured adventurer. Hed sort them outter.
While Khahar could likely heal them, or provide the knowledge of how to heal them, Theo didnt want that. His old friend was leaving. If Drogramath proved anything, it was thatmunicating after leaving the mortal realm was difficult. It was a crutch. The alchemist needed that motivation to push forward. To heal his people.
The pair walked the path north, taking the incline slowly to the quarry. That rise in thendscape always provided a splendid view of Broken Tusk. Theo stopped to appreciate it.
None before me have brought a realm to this strength before ascending, Khahar said. I have allies on the other side, but no peers.
Whats it like on the other side? In the other realms?
Much like this, Khahar said, gesturing down to Broken Tusk. Like Terogal, my realm will be a ce of my making.
Thats some multiverse shit, Theo said, waving at Ziz. The stoneworkers always got too excited when the alchemist stopped by.
Were excited! Ziz shouted, his workers joining with him. Since my Dwarf buyer dropped off, Im just shaping blocks for the road. And the highway thing. And the tunnel.
Itll be a famine of coin until we get the port operational, Theo said.
Im leaving instructions with my people to count you as a trade ally, Khahar said. Once Im gone, theyll need lumber. We have a navy, after all.
That was the whole point, wasnt it? Theo asked. Trying to get in contact with you. Well, all''s well that ends well. Right?
Right.
Anyway, take a mead, Ziz said, shoving a mug of mead in both Khahar and Theos hands. None for the little goose. Sorry little guy.
Little girl, Khahar corrected.
Sorry, little girl, Ziz said, nodding at the chirping gosling. Can you get drunk, cat-guy?
I cannot.
No worries. Time for a little day drinking, Ziz said.
Theo really needed to get the Sanchrin nt. Any time he went to Zizs ce, he left drunk. But the stoneworkers paced themselves this time. They mirrored the rest of town, taking it easy for the day. The group just sat on piles of stone, watching for any sign that Fenian was on the way. The alchemist tried calling the Elven trader, but there was no response.
Themunication crystals are unreliable while hes off the mortal realm, Khahar said.
How are the refugees doing? Theo asked.
Its difficult to look into Tarantham, Khahar said. Im feeling less inclined to bend space by the day.
Ill drink to that, Ziz said, downing another mug of mead.
Only the constant notifications from the golems pushed Theo to aplish his task. Ziz was working on marble stone tablets, creating a gigantic pile in the stoneworkers workshop. He offered them for free, and the alchemist didnt decline. After shoving them in his inventory, a cloud of dust appeared on the far side of the river. Azrugs caravan, magically enhanced by Zaralis enchantments, came barreling down the dirt road.
Theyll move faster once we get that road going, Ziz said, belching.
Better get down there. Alise is going to tear me apart, Theo said. I bailed on them.
Rest in peace.
Theo and Khahar left the hilly north of Broken Tusk, stopping by the Newt and Demon to make some [Mana Constructs]. They watched as the golems crowded the [Dimensional Storage Crate], recing their spent power sources. Each golem gave him an eyeless look of disappointment. Since no one sent a town-wide message, the alchemist went up to hisb to brew a few [Freeze Solutions] for Salire. It didnt take long, as the essences were done brewing. She was appreciative that he made the project his priority, and she had enough potions to satisfy the town for a few days.
[Alise]: Theo, please report to the town hall.
The fun is over, Theo said,ughing. Khahar just smiled, then vanished.
Alise was waiting for Theo in therge meeting room in the town hall. She looked oddly well-rested, her posture and face holding no signs of anger. When Theo entered the room, she smiled.
That went well! she said, pping. You must have lit a fire under their asses.
Theo barked augh, taking a seat at the wooden table. He looked out the window, watching the people pass over the street below. I didnt expect that.
Well, you left us there with full authority. The groundwork you set resulted in the formal creation of the Soutnds Defensive Alliance. Congrattions, were traitors.
If were wrong about the undead horde, were in trouble, Theo said. But I dont think were wrong. I assume Azrug is handling our caravans to both towns.
He is, Alise said. Hes recruited drivers, and has a seed core buildinging from Fenian. We came to an agreement with Gronro. Theyre trading silver and iron nuggets for those potions you showed him, and ess to our dungeons. Rivers requested help sourcing seed cores for their farms, and in exchange theyre trading us food. Well need to negotiate on providing them with defensive towers.
Thats perfect, Theo said. Hopefully it wasnt stressful for you or Gwyn.
Shes getting the hang of it. Honestly, Im just happy to havepetent help, Alise said. Id like to see Nira before the Elves arrive. Do you have any other business?
None.
Alise left in a hurry, leaving Theo there feeling like an ornament. He left the town hall, pushing through the new administrators and making his way to the Adventurers Guild. Everyone was piled in a meeting room there, and the alchemist let himself in. Tresk and Xolsa were giving a presentation about what happened while everyone was gone. Aarok, Luras, and a contingent of adventurers were nodding at every word. The entire presentation was not necessary. Nothing happened while they were gone. Monster activity was low after the wave, leaving the town in absolute peace.
Xolsa had some interesting readings about the power flowing into the dungeons. Something was pushing back from the north. His theory was a corruption of necromantic magic, something his current skill set wasnt useful for dealing with.
Well prepare to wee our new wizard, when hes ready, Xolsa said, gesturing to Theo. Ive already written a guide to magic for Toruaun. All based on theory, of course.
The Elf withdrew a massive tome from nowhere, letting it fall on the table with a thud. Theo pulled it over to himself, making a show of how heavy it was. He groaned upon opening it. The entire thing was written in thenguage of the arcane, something he knew almost nothing about. Xolsa tossed another book on the table.
First, learn Axpashi. Then you can read my notes. No, dontin. Your mana control is already pathetic, the least you can do is learn Axpashi. No. Stop whining. On to other business, Xolsa said, licking his finger and pointing it in the air. He grinned when the bells rang frantically outside. We have visitors.
Tresk vanished from the spot. Luras and Aarok scrambled, rushing out of the room and the Adventurers Guild. Theo walked with Xolsa, both shaking their heads.
The Bridge of Shadows has a specific vor, Xolsa said. Although, Ive never felt it open this wide.
Theo joined with everyone on the walls of the harbor. North, past the bridge, the air shimmer with dark energy. A crack in space formed, soon shattering to reveal a haunting image. It was like staring into a dark window, the other side reflecting a reality that didnt exist. There was a bridge made of twisting smoke and shadows. Standing on the bridge, led by a darkcquered carriage, were hundreds of Elves.
3.55 - House Wavecrest
3.55 - House Wavecrest
The glittering portal remained open for far too long. Theo got more ufortable the longer the Bridge remained open, even after Fenian drove his Karatan team out from within. The Elven refugees seemed to march in an endless line, more than the original promised number. Alise and her administrators desperately tried to keep a count of heads, but it was impossible. The Bridge finally closed with a snap, the darkness from within retreating in moments.
Thats a bit more than 250, Tresk said, nodding to the crowd.
As Theo went down to greet the new members of Broken Tusk, he noted what a terrible state they were in. Gaunt eyes and sunken cheeks revealed the truth of the matter. Each Elf, even the children, were emaciated. Many were scarred, burned, missing limbs, or wrapped in bandages all the same. But hope glimmered in their eyes, burning against the reality of war.
My dear friend! Fenian shouted, dismounting his carriage. Galflower snorted her disapproval. Apologies for the excess of refugees. We fared far better in the escape than expected.
Fenian, Theo said, grabbing the Elf by the shoulder and pulling him to the side. These people look horrible.
Fenian nodded, lowering his voice. Things were bad, Theo. The empire was hunting down members of the Wavecrest family. Theyve been living in a cave.
Damn, Tresk said, cradling Alex.
Alise! Theo shouted. Get on it. Process everyone.
That snapped the administrator out of her stupor. She stood, looking over the crowd with a pained expression. She scurried down the wall after that, ordering her group of junior administrators around.
Youll want to meet their patriarch, Fenian said, turning on the spot to snag an older-looking Elf.
The man was as gaunt as the others, his brown hair showing streaks of gray. Upon seeing Theo, he bowed at the waist. Gaeleithia Wavecrest. Unwitting patriarch of House Wavecrest. Please, call me Gael.
Fine collection of half-dead Elves you got there, Tresk said.
More than half-dead, Gael said, rising to give a pained smile. We have business to discuss. Please The children.
Theo nodded his head to the administrators. Bob was among them, helping the children aside to get food and water. The alchemist spotted more than a few of his healing potions being administered.
Well go to the town hall, Theo said, leading the way back into town.
Gaels steps were uneven. While Fenian unted his grace, the leader of House Wavecrest stumbled with every step. Tresk was there to support the man as they went while Theo was busy rolling the situation over in his mind. He should have expected it to be this bad. They werent running from a pack of cuddly bunnies, they were fleeing a civil war. The destruction of their house. But Broken Tusk was prepared, the way it always was. Theyd over-prepared for a reason, he reminded himself.
Gael sunk into a chair in the town hall. Theo remained standing while Tresk ran security in the area, disappearing into the shadows. The alchemist signaled his golems, instructing them to monitor the refugees. Just in case.
Broken Tusk wees her newest citizens with open arms, Theo said, producing a [Stamina Potion] and a month-old bowl of wolf meat stew. Gael took both and ate without words. Im afraid youre out of the empire, and into a worse situation.
Im sorting that out, Fenian said.
Theo leveled his eyes at the trader. Ive already sorted it out. The Soutnds Defensive Alliance is formed, and were ready for whatever undead horrors youve unleashed.
I have nothing to do with the undead, Fenian said.
Uh-huh.
Honestly. Well, I have ns for them. But they moved on their own, Fenian said.
Do your ns involve destroying the kingdom? Theo asked.
Nope.
It was hard to be mad at Fenian. Theo had plenty of time to prepare for whatever crap he was pulling, and it only benefited them. If the insane Elf could destroy the kingdom, everyone in the south would be better off. Assuming he made good on his promise to bring sailors and shipwrights.
Where are my shipwrights? Theo asked.
Among the refugees, Fenian said. I picked them up along the way.
We cant thank you enough, Gael said, looking much better after his potion and stew. You wont regret this, honored mayor. Those who remain in House Wavecrest arent noble by birth. Were workers.
Old Gael here was a carpenter, Fenian said, pping him on the shoulder.
Theo had seen the name on the iplete manifest. It was a grim thought, but everyone who was left alive in the house was worth taking into Broken Tusk. They were workers, a few artisans, and craftsmen.
So we have a problem, Theo said. What is the empire going to say about me taking in House Wavecrest? Theyve allied with Veosta, so were just waiting for them toe knocking.
Theyve allied with Veosta? Fenian asked, raising a brow. Really? Well, theyll have to slog through fields of undead to destroy your alliance.
Im always disappointed when Im better-informed than you, Fenian, Theo said, sighing and dropping into a chair. Please tell me your n is for the betterment of the world.
It absolutely is, Fenian said, withdrawing a spouted y jar and four stout sses from his inventory. He set them down on a table, pouring out wine and handing it out. A single ss remained for Tresk to take at her leisure.
Theo sipped the wine. It was tart, almost unptable, but he drank.
One piece at a time, alchemist, Fenian said. Is the Lord of Sand still here?
Khahar appeared, looming over the group. Im happy to see whats left of House Wavecrest alive.
Honored Lord, Gael said, bowing. You tter a dying house.
Dying no longer, Khahar said. Not behind these walls. Not with these people.
Not with the alliance formed, Theo corrected. Fenians undead will break against Gronro-Dir. House Wavecrest has to do its part to guarantee the safety of our domain. I just need to know your people will put in the work. Once theyve recovered, of course.
Gael stood, looking much more hale than before. He bowed again, rising to meet Theos eyes with a fierce gaze. By my life I swear it. Youll question how you lived without Wavecrest brawn in your town.
Theo nodded. But it wasnt good enough. He drew up a contract for Gael to sign, something simr to the one he agreed with Alise on. The text detailed House Wavecrests willingness to integrate into the town, and never bring harm to Broken Tusk by any means. Intentional, or otherwise. Once the leader of House Wavecrest signed it, the alchemist was happy. Alise and Gwyn had the arduous task of getting the other Elves to sign the contract.
Just like that, huh? Theo asked, turning to Fenian. You moved a faction of Elves across the sea in moments.
A special request to UzXulven, Fenian said, his face going dark. At significant cost.
Were in your debt forever, Southde, Gael said.
Fenian turned, grinning. I know.
Theo let that hang in the air. He didnt have the will to confront what that meant. Perhaps these Elven matters should be left to the Elves. Once Gael had recovered enough, they left the town hall and found an orderly line of refugees forming outside the eastern gate. Every member of Broken Tusk was along that train of Elves, administering food, potions, and tea to soothe their weary spirits. The smiles that hung on their faces spread a sense of warmth through the alchemists body.
This is the Guildmaster of our Adventurers Guild, Theo said, introducing Gael to Aarok. And the captain of the guard, Luras. Azrug is our Lord Merchant, and over there youll see Lady Administrator Alise.
This is quite the sight, Gael breathed.
Wait until you see this, Azrug said, gesturing north.
A cloud of dust rose from the north over the rise of earth. Even in the light of day, Zaralis purple runes glowed to battle the choking dust. One of Azrugs carriages raced down the dirt path, almost throwing its portly rider along the way. Theo couldnt believe it when he spotted the driver. Alran Cherman held onto the reins, his pale face dripping with sweat. He pulled alongside the train of Elves, tossing wooden crates to the ground and shouting invitations.
Food for all! he shouted. Eat your fill!
Part of the deal, Azrug said,ughing. We settled on an open-refugee policy. As long as they sign your magic contract, they get full citizenship to any of the 3 towns. The moment Alran learned we wanted to help Rivers, instead of conquering it, he became a humanitarian.
Lord Slug, Alran said, pulling his cart up to Theo and Azrug. Which arm of mine shall I cut off to take this carriage off your hands?
Youre wee to use it for a while, Azrug said, waving him off. Dontin to me when it runs out of power in your power-starved region.
I shallin, Alran said, dismounting the cart and patting the Karatan on their heads. Mayor Spencer. I see your refugees have arrived.
They have, Mister Cherman, Theo said, bowing his head. It was hard not to feel humbled in the presence of so many peopleing together. We appreciate the help.
Indeed. I have more supplies to distribute at the head of the line. If youll excuse me, Alran said, bowing and leading his cart by foot toward the gate.
Theo watched as the Elves dug through the boxes hungrily. He winced, thinking back to the famine that struck Earth. It was a tale too close to home, and he didnt care to relive it. Unlike back then, there were magical means to make sure these people were always fed. Theyd have well-paying jobs the moment they recovered. Clean water, food, and shelter in the meantime. But none of it mattered if they didnt get the damn harbor working.
Fenian, walk with me, Theo said, gesturing toward the harbor.
Certainly.
Azrug and Gael stayed behind. Theo felt Tresk lurking somewhere in the shadows as they approached the harbor, finding Sledge in deep conversation with a group of 20 Elves. Even without inspecting them, or asking for their professions, the alchemist knew they were sailors. They had the look of old salts about them.
You call this a harbor? an Elven woman shouted, herugh booming over the waves. Might as well be a damn duck pond. And who are you to say what I can build, shorty?
Ill show you short! Sledge shouted, swinging at the woman.
Fenian moved in, far faster than a normal trader should have been able to move. He scooped up Sledge, and tossed the Elven woman to the side. Each motion was more graceful than anything Theo had seen. Every footfall was a silent, purposeful thing that routed the fight before it started. He stood, dusting his frills with a grin on his face.
Now, were going to y nice, Fenian said. May I introduce Laedria Wavecrest. Master Shipwright and all-around pain in the ass.
A pleasure, Laedria said, rolling her shoulders. Me and little Sledge here were just ironing out some details. Im your new shipwright. And Im not impressed.
Youre wee to return to Tarantham, Theo said.
Laedria wore simple shirts and cks, dirty and torn from their ordeal. She kept her brown hair short, and her blue eyes had a sharp edge to them. But there was a tiredness in those eyes that betrayed her boisterous words. Like the other refugees, she was tired. Like most Half-Ogres, she needed a good knock on the head to get her mind straight.
Nope, Laedria said, giving one resolute nod. She marched over, holding her hand out for Theo to shake. I understand you, mayor. Laedria Wavecrest. Running from war and happy for any safe harbor.
A pleasure, Theo said, shaking the womans firm hand. While Im happy to see you and your workers eager to get to it, you need to rest.
Theres no rest for us, mayor, Laedria said. Just running, killing, and dying. If I dont get my hands on a delightful piece of cured timber here in the next few minutes, Im gonna lose my mind.
Theo turned, gesturing to the towering Ogre Cypress trees. All eyes followed, lingering over that forest. That is Sledges source of lumber. Look around and use your eyes before you talk with your heart. Im guessing even Tarantham doesnty im to such magnificent trees.
They dont, Fenian put in,ughing. Scrawny little oaks.
Not sure how well cypress does for boats, Laedria said, sighing. But lets do it. Im not waiting a second more.
Fine, Theo said. Things are going to be busy, so stick to the nning phase. Let the administration staff know what you need, and youll get it.
Got it.
Theo and Fenian stuck around in the harbor for a while. Sledge and Laedria tried to fight again, but they broke off before drawing back their fists. The alchemist ordered a single [Lesser Copper Golem] to tail the new shipwright with instructions to break up fights if they happened. The pair got on well after a while.
How are things in Tarantham? Theo asked, leaving the harbor with Fenian.
This happens often with the Elves, he said with a weak shrug. My house had the same sort of purge. We ept it as a fact.
That sucks, Theo said. But not my problem. This is great for us. Were useless without that shipwright. Once we have boats in the water, were opening tradingnes.
Good idea.
Fenian was happy to help with the refugees, intending to stay in town for a few days. The trader had a hard exterior at most times, but held a clear soft-spot for his countrymen. Under the guidance of the administrators, the refugees were processed quickly. Theo found his way to Mudball Fundamental a few hours into the procedure, standing outside the y yard to watch the new children. Once they had food in their bellies, all worries about the world they just left vanished.
Bob remained in the y yard, shouting at overzealous Broken Tusker children when they got too rough. Elf children didnt y like Half-Ogres, or Marshlings, but there were enough Human kids at the school to make things run smoothly. Once the parents of the children were released into the town, they came to watch everyone y with a mixture of pride and sadness. Some openly cried near the fence, but the alchemist took them as tears of joy. But this wasnt a refugee camp. This was a full integration of a fallen house. It was nothing like those camps on Earth.
The children invented a game on the spot. It was like Earths version of tag, but with Broken Tusk rules. Someone was the monster, and all the others were regr people. Whoever yed the monster got a ball of mud. Once another child was hit with the mud, they became a monster, and so on. During the hour that Theo watched, the rules changed to include force fields, freezing powers, and more that he couldnt follow. It devolved into a yard filled with dirty kids, so the alchemist handed over a sk of [Cleansing Scrub] before moving on.
Theo reserved his desire to work on alchemy projects to check in on everyone throughout the day. Sledge and Laedria were at her workshop, going over the details on the boat project. Most refugees took the chance to rest, finding their shared residences and sleeping for the day. Only a few Elves worked so close to their ordeal. Xam organized a massive feast, setting out tables in the streets and inviting everyone to join. But Alise came to find the alchemist, pulling him into a meeting with Aarok, Luras, Gwyn, and Azrug. Tresk joined them in the town hall with Alex cradled in her arms.
The administrators had reports to deliver. Each of the new 290 residents signed the contracts withoutint. Most didnt read it, just agreeing and shambling off to their new homes. From the window of the meeting room, Theo could see the new citizens feasting in the streets. He made a mental note to invest in a bard, or someone who could y music for these events. The constant shouting of celebration was nice, but it could use some music.
We got a few gems, Aarok said. Some hardcore adventurers to bolster our roster.
Mean sons of bitches, more like, Luras said, brooding in the corner. They might fit in better at Gronro.
No spellcasters or priests? Theo asked.
Absolutely none, Gwyn said. Were talking about a house of 50,000 people. Reduced to 290. Theyre lucky to have survived from the stories I heard.
I want everyone to force these people to rest, Theo said, thumping a finger against the table. They need time to process this crap.
You think so? Tresk asked. Thats not what you did.
Theo drummed his fingers on the wooden table, letting his ws chip away at the surface. Tresk was right, even if he didnt want to admit it. Working hard was a great way to forget past losses. It gave him a chance to work through it at his own pace,ing to terms with things while being useful. Perhaps being of use to the town would give them a new purpose, washing away that foul taste of defeat.
Fair. Encourage them to take a break, Theo said. Now, is anyone else starving?
3.56 - A Man Must Have His Secrets
3.56 - A Man Must Have His Secrets
Xams feast was legendary. With food provided by Rivers and Daub, and the expanding production of Broken Tusk, she wove an array of dishes that brought the two towns together on the table. The Elves ate, despite already getting their fill, and were happy to socialize with their new neighbors. Theo and Tresk took a table outside, giving their usual table to the refugees and enjoying the hot evening air. It was only getting hotter by the day.
Try this, Tresk said, shoving a baked, turnip-like vegetable into the alchemists hand.
It was a mix between a spicy radish and a sweet potato, and not to his liking. But he ate anyway, just happy to see the new citizens mingling. He wanted to make a speech, but nothing came, as though a nket was ced over his thoughts. They came as half-formed, muffled things that seemed more like the ramblings of an emotional teenager than a leader. Best to keep those things inside.
We still dont have salt, Tresk said, snatching the potato-radish back and taking a massive bite. Might wanna get on that.
Theo waved her away. Salt was far from his mind, even if the solution might be simple. While they could just boil the seawater, he could already hear Throkining about creating the artifice to harvest the resource. There was also the problem of their ess to the sea. Without reliable guardtowers, any devices nted near the coast were prone to destruction from the [Ocean Dungeon]. The problem was easier to put off when the idea of limited trade came to mind.
Until we have boats, Im not focusing on exports, Theo said. He pointed to their new shipwright, Laedria, drunk and dancing on a table. I still need [Sanchrin Leaves] to cure hangovers.
Yeah, but I like salt, Tresk said. Alex chirped her agreement.
Theo nodded. He liked salt too. The alchemist looked over the new numbers for hisbor force. Almost 300 newborers meant a spike in production, but it came at a cost. Broken Tusk didnt have the infrastructure to support so many workers. That would be their task, then. Expanding the depth of the mine, upgrading the sawmill, sowing new fields at the farm, and doubling down on Zizs construction projects.
A handful of Elves had no designation in the mayoral interface. Their jobs were yet to be determined, but there were so few of them. Those were the artisans of House Wavecrest, destined to be producers on their own. Then there was Azrugs new venture to consider. A caravan to the other 2 towns was beyond important, it was vital. Everything led back to the stoneworkers new project. The road.
There was groundwork to beid on that front. A shallow ditch to rece the existing dirt path, gravel to line the bed, and magically-ced cobbles on top of that. The cost of the road would be astronomical, if they were paying market price for the cobbles. Ziz generously offered each stone for free. Cut off from the north, there were no buyers for his stone. The workers imed that even the stock of stone in the towns infinite storage might not be enough to do the job. But now they had thebor. It could be done.
When dinner was drawing to a close, Theo invited Fenian and Gael to join him at his private bath. The Elven trader rubbed his hands together, nodding with a stupid smile on his face. The patriarch of House Wavecrest was reluctant, but joined them all the same. He insisted on covering himself with a cloth, instead of going full native in the nude.
Whatever, Tresk said, diving into the pool naked.
Theo lowered himself into the pool, setting Alex to the side and letting out a sigh. These rooms needed Throks air conditioners. There was nothing better than soaking in a hot bath while the outside temperature was freezing.
Youll have boats soon, Fenian said, removing his many articles of ruffles and entering the pool. Gael followed, preserving his modesty.
First steps to our tradework, Theo said. Well need to scout ces out. I figure well make contact with the lizard-folk down south first.
A wise decision, Fenian said with a nod. Theyre the closest.
Im afraid Im out of my depth, Gael said with a weak shrug. Trade was never my strength.
Take a page from my friend Theos book, Fenian said, sshing Theo in the face. Rise to the challenge.
Theo wasnt sure if he ever rose to the challenge. Hed been bumbling through leadership from the start, trying to tear himself away from personal projects to serve his people. That was a funny phrase to think of now. His people. Because the Bantari Marshlings and Half-Ogres of thend had truly be his people. From the moment he arrived in town, they treated him like one of their own. Warmth spread through him, hot enough to rival the bath water, when he thought of how the Elves were epted.
But Fenian was hiding more than he was sharing. The alchemist had trouble deciding if the situation with the undead was good. He didnt know how far those necromantic powers went, or if they had limits. The image of long-dead warriors dotting the horizon gave him chills. Like most challenges that came his way, it only made sense to over-prepare for them. That meant more [Hallow Ground] potions, and a solid way to deliver them. Something better than just tossing them over the walls of Gronro-Dir and praying for the best.
What level are you, Fenian? Theo asked, the thoughting to him in a moment. He reached his senses out, poking the trader in on the shoulder and receiving no system prompt for the inspection.
A man must have his secrets, Fenian said.
You have enough secrets for an entire town, Tresk said, blowing bubbles in the water. But we know you have an aligned trading core, and a [Paratheir Duelists Core].
His house was known for their alignment with Paratheir, Gael said with a shrug. It wasnt until King Karasan
Ah, lets not give the game away, Fenian interrupted. Were saving that fact for the finale.
Gael just nodded, sinking lower into the bath. Fenian knew that Theos intuition was high enough to ce the pieces of the puzzle. He was a few parts shy of the truth, but had enough to know Karasan betrayed House Southde. The history of Iaredin painted that as a strange situation. This didnt give hints as to the Elven traders age, but it revealed that Qavell had dealings with Tarantham before Qavelli-Veostian rtions crumbled. By the alchemists estimation, that could have happened in recent memory, or as far back as 300 years.
Whatever slight he brought on your family Hopefully your punishment fits the crime, Theo said.
Fenian just smiled, scooting over to pat Alex on the head.
Without a response from the Elf, Theo turned his attention to his levels. It was an excellent time to grind levels now that trade was cutting off. The amount of [Hallow Ground] potions Gronro needed would provide a massive dump of alchemy and herbalism levels. While his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was creeping along, almost at level 17, the [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was sprinting ahead. The alchemy core would hit 19 soon after the herbalism core hit 17. The alchemists [Governance Core] saw a massive spike of experience when the Elves arrived, sending it to the edge of level 18, currently sitting at 17.
Sometime during the busy day, Theos personal level rolled over to 18. He ced the point in [Intelligence], wanting to dump more points into the attribute most likely to influence spellcasting. All that put him 2 levels away from level 20. Once skills rolled over to 20, hed have a massive pool of free skills to pick from. When a core hit a multiple of 10, the system gave a core-rted list of skills, which he could pick one of. [Reagent Deconstruction] was obvious for his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], even if it was a skill shared between alchemy and herbalism. Then there was the [Governance Cores] skill. That would be hard, and it would pay to consult with his administration staff on that one. Anyone with an [Administrators Core] in town shared some of his abilities.
Then there was the problem of finding a demon mage core aligned with Toruaun. Theo had already thumbed through the book on the Axpashinguage. While his high [Wisdom] stat didnt grant him a perfect memory yet, it was close. But memorizing a list of words and grammar was different thanpletely understanding anguage. That would take time. The alchemist couldnt understand Xolsas theories about the Demonic God of Mysteries, but he was edging closer. He was hopeful that the Dreamwalk would allow him to spawn the book in for some light reading while grinding levels.
Conversation had sprung up around Theo, but he hadnt taken notice. He was lost in his thoughts, making progress on future decisions. Once the chatter wound down, he interjected his own rambling thoughts.
How much do you know about Toruaun? Theo asked, nodding at Fenian.
Almost nothing, Fenian said. Thats the idea, isnt it?
Never saw her on the Bridge?
There are few visitors to the Bridge of Shadows, Fenian chuckled. Ive seen your Lord Drogramath there. Once. But the Bridge isnt a material thing. It doesnt link one point to another. The space inside is more of a suggestion.
Should I take an UzXulven core, instead? Theo asked.
I dont rmend it, Fenian said. Since Azrug has an [Ulvoqor Loremasters Core], that ss is off the table. A [Tworgnoth Artificers Core] might be nice, but I dont think you have the aptitude. You dont seem like the healing type, or a melee fighter. No, I think a defensive mage ss would be best to add to your arsenal. A defensive demon mage is even better.
That was Khahars opinion on the matter, but it always paid to get another mind thinking about the problem. Since Azrug got a loremaster core, as Theo suspected from his sudden purchase of the old gear, that would be redundant. Hed never been interested in creating artifices, so a defensive mage seemed like the best option.
Khahar said he could put me in contact with Toruaun, Theo said.
I bet he can, Fenianughed.
Ive already made contact, Khahar said, suddenly sitting in the pool fully clothed. She says you have potential.
Gael swallowed hard, averting his eyes from the Khahari. Tresk sshed him. Khahar sshed back, cracking a smile.
When and how will she contact me? Theo asked. Id like to know the specifics of how her demon mage ss works.
Khahar shrugged. The Baratheir is better-informed than one would expect. Just read his book, its mostly urate.
Xolsas people were called the Baratheir. Of course it was something that Khahar would know, he knew everything.
Theo felt the fading of an age more in that moment than any moment before. The end of Balkors Betrayal reverberated in the alchemists bones. Keeping such strangepany didnt help matters. Gael was curious enough, but Fenian and Khahar made the sceneughable. In the near-future, the Khahari leader would ascend to something else. Hed be a god, whatever that meant. People around the world would take his core, doing his bidding and reaping the rewards he gave. The Elven trader schemed, perhaps under the thumb of one or more gods. If the entity that brought Theo to this world was the Harbinger, Fenian was the Harald.
Tresk seemed to care about none of it. She yed in the water as though it were any other day, sshing people yfully. Some of her murderous intent had faded away, likely absorbed by Alex. It still smoldered in her heart, fading to dying embers of a life lived weeks ago. Because things moved fast in Broken Tusk, perhaps the world atrge. She talked with Khahar about devoting herself to Paranthier, which he thought was a good idea. Fenian took this as validation of some path he was on.
You should tell them your other name, Khahar said, tilting his head to Fenian.
Stick to one name, Tresk growled.
Ill tell them when Im ready, Fenian said.
The group wasnt kicked out of the bathhouse tonight. Xam had told her people to keep it open as long as possible, but Theos party had their fill of the enhancing water. They left, Khahar vanishing the way he always did, and lingered on the streets for some time. Fenian left to spend time with his countrymen while Gael was eager to get more rest. Theo, Tresk, and Alex went back to the Newt and Demon to delve into the Dreamwalk realm of Terogal. They slipped into their sheets and through the ethereal curtain that segmented reality.
Theo twisted the scene to the harbor the moment the Dreamwalk resolved around them. Something stuck in his mind, still offending him hourster.
The harbor isnt small, he said, gesturing to summon four massive ships. In Earths history they would have been galleons of some kind. He didnt know the specifics, but they had 3 sails and towered into the air. There was room for each ship to turnfortably in the harbor, towed by ghostly lines running to shore.
Looks big to me, Tresk said with a shrug. Neither of them knew much about boats. Did that Elf get to you?
Theo shook his head. That was all just posturing.
Tresk wanted to run a fewbat drills. There were no new potions to test out, so it was more of the same. Theo couldnt see any holes in his strategy. The Marshlings attempts proved that to be true. Unless an army was attacking him, the alchemist could ensure his safety with their standard method. Flying enemies were now on the table, but they couldnt develop a decent strategy for them. The best idea was to keep Alex in town as an anchor point, teleporting behind the walls when things got bad.
Theo was delighted to see he could summon Xolsas books and read them in the Dreamwalk. The limits of the realm were absolute, though. If information wasnt in his mind, he couldnt view it. There were sections of the Axpashi manual that he hadntmitted to memory, so those were missing. But it was again a problem of understanding it as anguage, not a set of symbols to memorize. Like Drogramathi enchanting script, it was more about painting a picture than giving symbols that represented something.
What little the alchemist could read of the Toruaun tome painted the Demons magic asplex. Theo started his work by setting up his stills and getting them running and creating greenhouses to tend imaginary crops. While he moved between them, he worked on his mana control and understanding Xolsas book. Going between the Axpashi book and the Toruaun book bore more fruit than focusing on either, but his concentration strained to spread between the many tasks. Things would be better if he had more time to spend in the Dreamwalk.
The closer Theo edged to level 20 in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], the more he realized his assumption about mana control to be correct. That was the barrier that separated the teens from the twenties. The key to breaking the barrier for his [Drogramath Herbalism Core] was cultivation, another thing he already had down. Broken Tusks constant prepared nature reflected his own in regards to sses. Others might have been waiting for the signal to go, but the alchemist was already running.
There were few reagents Theo had ess to that he didnt know the proper heating stages for. When the Elves came to town, he didnt have time to test the Zureah reagents. But the Dreamwalk wouldnt let him distill those. Another problem with the [Zureah Talons] was that they were just as hard as the [Pozwa Horns]. Theo was confident his grinders could handle them, but there was always a chance theyd need to be smashed by someone with high [Strength]. Even without the distilled essence, the alchemist had a sense for each property.
[Zureah Talons] had the [sh] property. The alchemist got the sense that it was something for attacking, but also dangerous. He was reminded of the [Embolden] modifier, which often had horrible side-effects. The [Zureah Feathers] were a different story. They held the [Levitate] property, which the alchemists senses said was exactly what the word implied. Those kinds of properties were often tied to the quality of the potion. In this case, it would be the height of levitation and duration.
A school of experimentation Theo had been ignoring was the constructs for his golems. His previous experiment showed that golems could use the tes to effectively cast a spell, but there was a part of the whole he was missing. While he didnt expect to master the constructs skill in a day, there were too many pieces he was missing.
Theo spent the night going between his experiments, grinding out his cores. Alex kept himpany in the harbor. Unlike the real version, she was free to y in the water without fear of fishing to eat her. Tresk stayed to herself, fighting fields of monsters and perfecting her hit-and-run tactics. Thest monster wave shook her confidence, but that was a good thing. If she ever becamefortable with her abilities, that would be worrying. When she gave up on improvement, she wouldnt be the same person. A woman like her saw minor failures as major ones, always pushing her forward.
The night came to an end, the experience rolling in over the system message when Theo returned to his bed. With no sense of drowsiness, he set his mind on the task at hand. It was time to grind more alchemy.
3.57 - The Punishment is Death
3.57 - The Punishment is Death
Theo sat at his regr table with Alise, Tresk, and Alex at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. It was clear they would need more ces for townsfolk to eat. Xam was working hard to keep everyone fed with luxury meals, but for the first time she had to turn people away. The backup system of dried and fresh food stored in [Dimensional Storage Crates] would bridge the gap for now. Until then, the alchemist enjoyed his position of power, sipping on his moss tea and eating through the leftovers from the feast.
Alise exined the schedule for the day, something Theo wasnt looking forward to. Hed nned to grind more alchemy and herbalism levels, and sort out his golems. Instead, that same position of power forced him to check in with all the production groups of the town. He hadnt even worked with Sledge for the towns new upgrade. But the refugees, hungry to dig into the towns coffers, wouldnt wait for anything.
At the current market rate, wed be fine, Alise said, tapping a quill on a ream of parchment. She hadnt touched her food, or her tea. But our trade contracts from the north have already been canceled. People are fleeing south, and well be cut off soon.
It wasnt a great first day of the season. Word had alreadye to Theo that Laedria might not be what she imed, but that didnt diminish the hard work she put in. The woman was up all night with Sledge, working on sourcing their materials for the boats. A list of required materials had alreadye his way, and it boiled down to timber, ropes, cloth, and pitch. If he hadnt nted the [Starbristle x], that would put them behind by a few days. All that concern for boats fell away to ensuring the Elves were settled into jobs.
How long can we fund the town without trade? Theo asked.
Alise shrugged, underlining some numbers on her parchment. A few weeks. Maybe.
Alright, Theo said, standing. He hadnt finished his tea, or his meal. Alex chirped, begging to go into her satchel. The alchemist scooped her up, cing her inside. Tresk dropped some worms in the bag. Lets make the rounds.
It didnt matter which stop they made first. The sawmill was closer, so that made sense. When Theo and Alise approached Sledges operation, the Elves mingled with their new neighbors in orderly rows. The Marshling taskmaster was shouting orders, pointing her finger and making grand promations. She wouldnt need help, but theyd check in on her anyway. It took a while for her to finish her speech.
All good? Theo asked.
50 new workers, Sledge said,ughing. Yeah, Im real good. Real good! Im great!
You didnt sleep, did you? Theo asked.
That woman, Sledge said, narrowing her eyes at the alchemist. Is a monster. She has an unlimited supply of energy. I suspect stamina potions.
Theo nodded. Despite Sledges erratic behavior and sleep deprivation, she had organized her operation well. She never issuedmands for work directly, favoring a military-like structure where orders filtered down. Each group had theirmander, who nned for the day, and everyone reported to the operator of the sawmill. That freed the Marshling up to do her fabricator work and reduced her stress greatly. The addition of 50 additional workers didnt affect her at all.
How is the boat project? Theo asked, snapping his fingers to get Sledges attention.
Thatdy is organizing everything, Sledge said. You got her list of supplies, yeah?
So, Sledge was useless until she got some sleep. Theo pped a hand on her shoulder and moved on, happy enough with her organization to check on the next producers. Alise was worried about the Marshlings ability to work without sleeping, but it was fine. Everything was fine.
If the forester can keep up with their pace of cutting, it should be fine, Theo said, reassuring himself. He made note of the piles of [Ogre Cypress Bark] next to the sawmill. Perg hadnte calling for a while, which would be worrying if he wasnt so busy.
Ill just put a checkmark on the wood list item, Alise said. Farm?
Sure, Theo said.
The streets of Broken Tusk were busier than normal. The familiar faces of Humans, Half-Ogres, and Marshlings were now mixed with Elves. It was reassuring to see they werent so gaunt. A day of rest and a good meal did wonders for their health. The school was also packed, the y yard filled with screaming children. Despite the noise, it was a pleasant sight.
Banus farm was packed. Theo found him scrambling around the fields, barking orders to his farmhands. Unlike Sledge, his organization was chaotic. There was nomand structure, and no wiggle room for the Half-Ogre. Orders came from him, and no one else, creating a mad scramble to nt and harvest whatever he said. Where the sawmill got 50 workers, the farm got 100.
You need better structure, my friend, Theo said. Banu gave him an empty stare.
We can assign an administrator to help, Alise said.
Oh, not that again, Banu grumbled. Not with what happenedst time.
Then Ill send Sledge, Theo said with a nod. Banus stare grew more vacant, a hint of panic in his eyes. Sort out a structure, or Im sending sledge. Got it?
Banu swallowed, nodding. Ill sort it.
Theo doubted the farmer would sort the problem out, but they could check inter today. The worst case scenario meant that someone like Gwyn would help manage the farms restructuring. In hindsight, the alchemist should have fixed the problem before it was a problem.
You cant fix everything without growing pains, Theo said as they moved down to Stabby Groves. The Elven adventurers that lived here were missing, likely already working with Aarok on assignments.
Were going to rename these districts, Alise said, scowling.
Theo still didnt care what the districts were named. Until they actually did something, it was just vor text. When the pair approached the quarry, they were met with an empty worksite.
Working on the road, maybe? Theo asked.
Likely, Alise said, making a note on her parchment. Ziz talked about structuring his workforce like the Qavelli army. Regrs and irregrs.
Theo voiced his agreement. Ziz always had a decent way to manage his people, taking a simr approach to Sledge. The difference in approach came down to numbers. The lumber operation utilized a massive force, all lumped together, while the stoneworkers segmented their people into specific jobs. How that tranted to building roads would be interesting to see.
ording to the reports from the administration staff, Ziz got 75 workers for his operation. Alise and Theo left the quarry, ascending the battlements of the wall and walking to the eastern gate. It was faster to take the road south, but this gave them a chance to bump into Elven adventurers. When those fighters spotted the mayor and his administrator, they stopped and performed a salute by cing their palm over their chest and bowing. That kind of respect and discipline was unheard of in Broken Tusk. Normally, the alchemist would get a smile and a nod.
The wall was better patrolled, now. Aarok did a great job stationing the refugees along the wall. Theo even saw some of them maintaining the artifice towers, shoving motes inside to keep them powered. Once the pair made their way to the north-south running section of the eastern wall, they spotted Zizs crew. They were shoveling out the old dirt road, cing gravel in the bed, and setting stones with their [Stoneworkers Core] powers. At a distance, it was a sight to behold.
Heres the question, Theo said, leaning against the crentions of the wall. Do we go down there and give them my extra [Tunneling Potions]?
Alise drummed her fingers on the hard stone, humming for a moment. Wouldnt he have asked for them if he needed them?
Maybe, Theo said. Could be him trying to build teamwork. Look how coordinated they are. One team to dig, one team to ce the gravel, one team to set the stones Hey, someone on the team has an inventory power.
Theo watched as an Elf pulled some stone from nowhere, almost tripping and falling over. A Half-Ogre from Zizs original crew rushed over to steady the man. Then theyughed about it.
Alright, its absolutely a bonding thing, Theo said, dismissing the matter. Theyll hit the bridge soon. Damn, theyre moving quickly.
Some people think the Elves arent a physically powerful race, Alise said. Im wondering if its just a thing with House Wavecrest, or all the Elves, but theyre hard workers.
Thats exactly what Broken Tusk needed. Hard workers who knew the value of putting in the sweat. The Elves working on the road below werent dainty things. They were in the dirt and the mud like the Half-Ogres, not shy to get filthy for the cause. Theyd fit in.
Just south of the eastern gate was a sharp turn, jutting out over the river and enclosing the harbor. Ziz and his workers shouted promations of greatness from below when they spotted Theo and Alise on the wall. The pair only cleared out when the invitations to get dirty came,plete with mud balls hurled at speed. On the eastern wall of the harbor, Laedria spotted them and ascended the battlements.
Big day, boss! she said, pping Theo on the shoulder. Im collecting materials. Got any pitch? Tar? Uh Glue?
I can work on that today, Theo said.
Yeah, alchemist seems like the right ss for the job, Laedria said, twitching. Her team was asleep in the shaded sections of the harbor. Got any stamina potions? Like Any? I need some.
I suggest you rest, Theo said. I have your list of materials, and Ill get them ready today.
Yeah. Rest. No, Im good. Alright, bye, Laedria said, jumping from the wall. She rushed over to her workers, kicking them away and shouting. Alise and Theo moved on before she returned to the wall.
That wasnt the weirdest thing Ive ever seen, Theo said once they were clear of the harbor. But its up there.
The shipwright went into his mental list of people to watch. She was too important to lose because she refused to sleep. Theo and Alise descended the battlements beyond the harbor, working their way through the sparse forest to find Niras smeltery with only a few new workers. There was nothing to do here, so they moved on after exchanging pleasantries. Gridgen was outside of Dead Dog Mine when they approached. He was smiling, which Theo took as a good sign.
Cant say Ill turn away good workers, Gridgen said,ughing. The Elves dont seem built for the mines, but they sure are working.
No issues? Theo asked.
Well, there arent enough nuggets to mine, so were working on expanding the tunnels, Gridgen said. Couldnt be happier with the arrangement.
Gridgen invited them in for a tour. The top level of the mine had been expanded significantly, snaking in all directions to get at the [Copper Nuggets]. The nextyer wasnt as well-dug, but provided a few new spots to get [Iron Nuggets]. When they reached the bottomyer of the mine, near where Alexs egg had been found, there were even fewer new tunnels. Thatstyer held only [Drogramathi Iron Nuggets] for now, but Theos hope was to find silver. His intuition said it would appear either on thestyer, or the ironyer.
With everything being so busy, it wouldnt be wise to dig deeper. Gridgen shared that concern. His team wasnt structured like any of the others. Mining seemed to be solitary work, with only enough space for one person to swing a pick in the tunnels. It was more of a mental game than anything, bncing the stiflingly hot conditions of the mine while keeping ones sanity from theck of sunlight. But they seemed happy enough to take a more leisurely pace, often returning to the surface for breaks.
Might need venttion, Theo said, standing in a long tunnel on the copper level. The sound of picks rang through the mine, creating a deafening noise that gave him a headache within moments. And ear protection.
I dont think the mine requires attention, though, Alise said, clearing her throat. Not with the current emergency.
Alises biggest weakness was her limited foresight. Theo couldnt fault her for it, though. Everyone had their strengths, and her greatest skill was to handle problems immediately. She was reactive, and that had merit. Times like these made it hard to n for the future. Having someone who focused on the present made those problems vanish as they cropped up. Integrating the refugees was proof enough of that.
Theo wasnt much better at nning for the future. He nned for all possibilities, not the most likely one. That was something he could work on, but his goal was to establish an amazing administration structure to bridge the gaps he had. Gwyn was more cautious with her nning, but she hadnt had the chance to run with it. Sarna, Gridgens partner in the mine, came to interrupt the alchemists thoughts. She gave her opinion on the mines operation, but every word lined up with what the alchemist already heard.
Alise checked the mine off her list and the pair went to check on the artisans of the town. Throks cksmithing workshop was buzzing with activity. Most of the potential smiths were gone, leaving only a few promising pupils. Thim had his own workstation now, and the cksmith himself was nowhere to be seen. The Dwarf shouted his greetings, beckoning the pair over.
Ya really made the boss mad, Thim said. Been in that new workshop you gave him for a few days.
Hell get over it, Theo said. Since hes gone, how are your new apprentices working out?
There were a few Elves that had the knack for cksmithing. Some even had cores, ording to Thim. But cores didnt make the cksmith, it was more about personality and drive.
Well enough. Not that we have many orders, Thim said, setting down his hammer. Everyone just wants the Bantaris artificer work. Air condensers for everyone.
Air conditioners, Theo corrected. That works. Any opinions on the refugees?
Absolutely none, Thim said, drinking from a wineskin. Theyre working. Theyre getting paid. Who cares?
There was amotion on the far side of town. Theo poked his head out of the cksmith and watched as people stopped in the street, casting concerned looks north. But the bells didnt ring, and Aarok didnt send a town-wide message, so he ignored it. He downed a [Potion of Lesser Foresight], just in case.
Alright. Thanks for the help, Thim.
Theo knocked on the door of Throks artificer building, but got no response. After knocking the third time, the Marshling shouted back in anger. It was best not to disturb an angry Marshling when they were working, especially not one as angry as Throk.
We should check with the admin staff, Alise said, pointing toward the town hall. Make sure everything is lined up for the day.
The town hall was filled with citizens and the junior administration team. Gwyn was directing the chaos, but it seemed to be routine things. Some Elves werent assigned jobs, and they were upset about that. It was only a group of 3, but they insisted on being ced on teams they didnt deserve. Especially not the one iming to be an enchanter. One inspection revealed him to be a level 3borer. Further investigation showed his only core to be a [Laborers Core]. There wasnt time in the day to worry about setting everyone up with their dream jobs.
[Aarok]: Theo, report to the guild. Not an emergency.
Is it ever an emergency? Theo asked.
Were good for now, if you want to go, Alise said.
I mean, the message said I gotta go. So Enjoy this rabble, Theo said, gesturing to the angry Elf.
Theo made his way to the Adventurers Guild. A small crowd had formed outside, all talking amongst themselves. There was time enough in the day to gawk at whatever the guild was doing, but not enough time to work? The alchemist took a deep breath. People could take breaks if they wanted, they only owed him 3 days ofbor a week. That was the standing agreement, anyway.
Inside the guild hall was no less chaotic than the outside. Adventurers talked amongst themselves, a tone of anger spiking their every word. Theo found his way to Aaroks office, eyes lingering on the crowd surrounding something on the ground. When he entered the cramped office, he found it not as stuffy as before. Only when he spotted Throks air conditioner in the corner did it make sense to him.
Bit of trouble, Aarok said, sitting behind his table and scribbling something in a leather-bound book. He gestured for Theo to take a seat and sighed. Well, we figured out what happens when someone breaks your contract.
Theo searched his memory. The crowd in the guild''s atrium were all surrounding something. A cloth strewn over something, but what was it?
Ah, Theo said, inspecting his memory closer. How many?
Three Elves, Aarok said. Registered with the Adventurers Guild and assigned to patrol the marsh. We just hauled them in, still taking witness ounts.
Thats Luras job, right? Theo asked, letting the memory of the red-stained sheets fade from his mind. What exactly happened?
Early report says they tried to take out another adventurer, Aarok said, leaning back in his chair. Well, they picked the spot well. Out of range from our towers, and out of sight from the other adventurers. An Elf on the wall saw the air split open, then some beast jumped out and Well, Im sure you saw it. They were torn to shreds.
Theo leaned back, falling into his thoughts. His early impression of the contracts skill was that the punishment would fit the crime. The entire situation seemed grim, but it was a clean way to deal with new citizens. If they would sign a contract, then break it immediately, they deserved what they got.
Its a great example for the new citizens, Theo said, shrugging. They read the contract, right?
They did, Aarok said, leaning in. Not sure youre the same Theo. Figured youd have a negative reaction.
Theo took a long moment to respond. Theres one simplew in this town. Dont harm Broken Tusk, or her people. Thats it. If someone cant follow that, we cant help them.
So, the punishment is death? Aarok asked, raising a brow.
I assume they did more than just plot the murder? There had to be an attack, right? Theo asked.
There was, Aarok said. The person they targeted was attacked, but thats all the information I have. Shes still alive.
Then, yes. The punishment is death, Theo said.
Aarok was pleasantly surprised by that. He fell into conversation about other things, mostly about their new citizens. 3 bad actors out of the 300 wasnt cause for concern. Everyone else was acting in good faith, and all the adventurers hed recruited, aside from the 3, were more than pulling their weight. They worked with a professionalism never seen in Broken Tusk before, bringing with them a breath of fresh air. It was not unlike the cool breeze that filtered through the air conditioner in the room.
3.58 - Free Crystals
3.58 - Free Crystals
An attempted murder wasnt the best start to the Season of Fire. Theo sat discussing the issue with Aarok, staring out the mans office window and idly responding. He was lost in his thoughts, pondering the situation. There had been attempts on his life before, but never on other members of Broken Tusk. That fact hit hard, but it came with good news. The contracts worked, and they extended out to protect his citizens. There was nothing to be done about outside forces, though.
My biggest concern for security is the inquisition of the Burning Eye, Theo said, breaking away from his thoughts and dismissing whatever topic was at hand. He exined what Khahar had said. That they were on the moon.
Didnt know you could live on the moon, Aarok said, shifting ufortably in his seat. Also didnt know the old Khahari could send them there.
Theo suspected there were many things they didnt know about Yuri. But he wouldnt voice them to his friend.
Youre bing less of a guildmaster, Theo said. More of a general.
Id rather not think about it, Aarok said. He failed to hide the smile on his face. Not gonna lie. I love it.
Your boyhood dreams of military service areing true, Theo said. Any contact with that Dwarf from Gronro? I had a feeling he wanted to cut his peoples teeth in our dungeons.
On the dungeons, Aarok started, taking a moment to collect his thoughts, were eagerly awaiting Xolsas new core. Once he can control the dungeons better, well start a training program for anyone in the alliance.
What the Soutnd Defensive Alliance aplished, in the eyes of the kingdom, was treason. They made a bet on Qavell copsing, or being whittled down to a point where theyd need outside help. With each day that went by, the adventurers looked more like soldiers. Theo feared the day that people showed up to their gates, but it might only be a matter of time. He dismissed the thought before it derailed the conversation.
I hope you have a n for their training, Theo said. And ours, of course.
Theres a flexible n in ce. Fenian made big promises about the [Dungeon Engineer] core. One promise was instanced dungeons, where more than one party can run it at a time. Currently, everyone just flops into the same dungeon. Even if he makes only two instances, we can double our training time, Aarok said.
It was hard not to think about the Dreamwalk. That would be an absurd skill to share.
I want you to work on preparing for the undead, Theo said. Once the refugees are settled, focus on that.
Are you giving orders?
No, just expressing my intuition, Theo said. Which is rarely wrong. All we can do is imagine the scenarios, and train for our expectations. Youre on the walls of Gronro-Dir. Skeletons and whatever flooding down the path. What do you do?
What would I do? Aarok asked, scratching the stubble on his chin. Line the damn thing with towers and feed them motes.
That works for a regr monster wave, right? Ive got a potion design specifically for the undead, though. I can confidently supply enough to handle a normal-sized wave of undead, but what if that wave is endless?
Aarok shrugged it off. Well, what could you do against an endless monster wave?
There was no answer to that. Theo felt himself missing a chance to create something greater than what he had. Perhaps a system of pipes that poured the potion over the attackers, like the old medieval castles. Instead of boiling water and tar, they could dispense [Hallow Ground] potions. But the quantity required for that would be unsustainable. Not for a long time, anyway. It was just impossible to n for an enemy theyd never seen.
Something to think about, Theo said. Maybe we can send scouts north to get eyes on the undead.
Dont discount your new allies, Aarok said. Grot has a head on his shoulders. Id be shocked if he didnt have eyes on them already.
The statement brought a new thought to Theos mind. They wanted an easy way tomunicate between the towns, and Fenian was still staying in Broken Tusk. The trader gave both Theo and Azrugmunication crystals, so he must have a source. Only now did the alchemist think about the cost of that item, withdrawing both it and the Qavelli crystal from his inventory. On a whim, he squeezed the one provided by the crown and got nothing. He held it up for Aarok to inspect.
Why havent they contacted me? Theo asked. Qavell is big Right? Maybe theyre strong, but if theres an enemy at the gate, why didnt they call?
Aarok rubbed his chin some more. There was a glint of recognition in the Half-Ogres eyes that was hard to shake off. What are we talking about? Im not as quick as you, Theo.
Theo didnt think he was quick at all. But the pieces were falling together. Maybe the undead are moving on their own. Maybe this was nned, he paused, rewording his next statement in his mind to avoid mentioning Khahar directly. The big cat person said there was a n for me, but it fell apart. That smells off to me. Something about the whole damn thing stinks.
When you suspect a conspiracy, ask one simple question. To what end? Aarok asked.
Gods or otherwise, what would someone gain by destroying Qavell? Perhaps it was a way to spit in nthiers face for saving the continent. Both the Elves and House Southde had a stake in seeing King Karasan dead, even if Theo couldnt figure out why. Aaroks question rang in his mind. To what end? This wasnt something hed solve by considering the facts in the guilds office. There was no trail to follow when the answer was so distant. The alchemist pushed the thoughts from his mind, shaking away his uncertainty.
To what end, Theo repeated, swiping his tail through the air as the question fell away. Well, fair enough. We need more information.
Agreed.
Aarok went back to discussing practical defenses for the town. Theo entertained the conversation until it was exhausted, taking his leave from the guild. The bodies were still downstairs, but the crowd had thinned. Gael was waiting to speak to the guildmaster, apologizing to the alchemist about his peoples behavior.
No harm done, Theo said, pushing his way out into the streets of Broken Tusk.
Fenians carriage was parked near Mianas ranch. The Elven trader was petting the Pozwa, trying to imitate their chittering shrieks. While the creatures didnt enjoy it, Miana wasughing. Theo pulled him aside to ask about themunication crystals.
How many? 2? Quite fine, Fenian said, producing 2 crystals from nowhere and pressing them into Theos hand. They just need to touch these, then theyll work. These are low-grade versions, so they dont have the world-wide range of mine.
Theo blinked away his confusion, but it didnt work. How much? he asked.
For free.
Theo just stood, staring at the Elf for a long while. The grin never dropped from Fenians face. When the alchemist turned, he walked away slowly, waiting for the shouts to follow him. But there was nothing. He had his crystals for free. Fair enough.
It was thete afternoon by the time Theo made his way back to the Newt and Demon. He summoned his golems to organize their ranks. The alchemist got to work behind hisb, near the greenhouses. He went with 1 [Lesser Stone Golem] to guard 2 [Lesser Mud Golems] in the swamp. Theyd be on mote duty, harvesting the bounty of the swamp. The 5 [Lesser Copper Golems] were fine. He just didnt need as many motes as the [Lesser Mud Golems] were harvesting, so additional defense for the town was great. That left him to create 1 more [Lesser nt Golem] to tend the greenhouses. While 1 seemed to work decently, there was only so much it could do.
With the golems sorted, Theo turned his attention to providing them with power. His stock of [Mana Constructs] was dwindling, but thanks to the [Lesser nt Golem], the second mushroom cave was full of [Manashrooms]. The alchemist sent a list of mental orders to each golem, sending the mote team out to the swamp, the nt team to the greenhouses, and the metal team roaming the town and mine.
Theo dodged questions from Salire, heading up to theb with an inventory filled with [Swamp Truffles] and [Manashrooms]. She followed him, forcing him to look at a ream of parchment filled with orders. The alchemist wanted to protest, but there was around 20 gold worth of orders. Being low on cash meant he had to shift his priorities. There wasnt much time left in the day, but half the orders could be filled with essences he had in theb.
How do you like the Elves? Theo asked, starting off with the [Healing Pills].
Theyre very nice, Salire said. I always thought they were too good for us mud-folk. An adventurer Elf is trying to woo me. I think.
The Elves were like most races on the, even if they seemed like istionists. Tarantham was the first ce Theo had heard of that held a single race, although his information was spotty. It hardly mattered, with the amount of work to do in theb. More stills would go a long way, but the floor space was too small. The Newt and Demon could produce massive quantities of potions, but there was room for improvement. An assistant would be the best, but there was no Drogramathi Dronon with the alchemy core banging on his door for a job.
Theo transferred enough units of [Refined Healing Essence] into his square sk, having a thought before inciting the reaction. The alchemist used his makeshift pipette to ce less than a unit of the essence into a t-bottomed vial. He swirled it around, watching as the pink liquid coated the sides of the pristine ss.
An experiment, Theo said, handing it over to Salire.
She took the vial and cast a concerned look at him. A normal person might not see the change, but Theo could. It went a darker shade of red, small bubbles forming at the bottom.
Swirl it around, Theo said, gesturing to the vial. Salire obeyed despite her confusion.
The moment she moved the liquid, it bubbled angrily. It went from a clear liquid to a frothing mess of sputtering sparks and smoke. Salire dropped it to the ground, shouting and scrambling to the door. After a few heartbeats, the violent reaction was over. The shopkeepers anger did not abate.
What was that? she asked, sputtering, not unlike the essence.
I knew others couldnt handle the essences, Theo said, adding enchanted iron shavings to his square vial, then leveling it out with enchanted water. This reaction was controlled. It bubbled, spewed a small amount of smoke, then became arge sk of [Healing Potion]. Ive never seen it, though.
Salire blustered. Id rather not be an experiment.
But Tresk touched the essence before. Thats curious, Theo said, introducing the [Solidify] modifier to the mix. It hardened in a moment, going opaque. He dumped it out on the table and cut the lump of potion into pills. Salire huffed near the door. It was so little of the mix, it wouldnt have hurt you. [Healing Essences] are the most stable I have. Imagine if I handed you [Fire Essence].
Doesnt change the facts, Salire said, straightening herself up.
Imagine if someone came in here and messed with my stuff, Theo said, gesturing to theb. He issued an order to a single [Lesser Copper Golem]. An order to guard theb at all hours of the day. Is that carelessness? Well, I dont know. I had the idea of bringing in an assistant, but they wouldnt be able to do anything.
Salire took a deep breath. So, you were sure it would not kill me?
Yeah, Theo said, cutting another section of the solidified potion. What do you think the best option is? Focus on producing more, or what?
I think you should focus on quality, Salire said.
There was wisdom in that, of course. Zarali always talked about the quality of potions, and Theo could feel something in his chest about that. The next tier of potions might bepletely different, it was impossible to tell. Nothing came to mind when he thought about ways to refine his potions further. Maybe there were more fermentation processes, or another way to use the pressure vessel. But it seemed like a faraway dream, even if he was standing near the edge of level 20.
Healing pills done. I agree with you. Quality over quantity After we make a crap-load of potions, Theo said. Whats next?
More requests for bombs. Poisons. Stuff on your cklist. But there are also more attribute potions with different modifiers.
One item stuck out that was interesting enough. It wasnt on his list, as he didnt list the elemental potions. Someone wanted a [Strength Potion] with the [Elemental Fire] modifier. Theo couldnt remember who he told about the elemental modifiers, but he could guess what the effects of the potion would be. When he applied the [Elemental Wind] modifier to a [Dexterity Potion], the physical trait that scaled with the attribute got a multiplier. He withdrew an example from a nearby storage crate, inspecting it.
[Dexterity Potion]
[Refined Elemental Wind]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance dexterity.
Drink to increase speed scaling.
Effect:
+14 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.
For 1.25 hour, your physical speed scales 1.30 times better than normal.
Theo was shocked Tresk hadnt stolen this one. It was made with the enchanted [Drogramathi Iron Shavings], with cultivated ingredients,bined with alignment effects. The alchemist didnt have [Refined Elemental Fire] on hand, but he had enough [Refined Strength Essence] to get everything started. By the time dusk came, with the help of Zaralis enchantments, he could have a sample ready. The alchemist started a fermentation barrel with [me Roses], and busied himself with the other orders while he waited.
Salire was happy to stay and chat. Whatever anger she felt from holding the sizzling vial had passed, and she was back on friendly terms. Theo made a note to increase his stockpile of his standard essences. As always, restoration, purification, and attribute essences would always sell. People rarely needed the [Potion of Purification], but when they did, they needed it immediately. He checked the items from the list, digging into his store of essences. Some requests wanted strangebinations of modifiers, but he didnt object. Whatever customers wanted, hed make. As long as they werent outright weapons.
That rule of providing no bomb-style potions to citizens was wearing thin, but Theo didnt want to abandon it. There mighte a day where a regr [Firebomb] didnt seem like such a destructive weapon, but that day wasnt today.
An order on the list that surprised the alchemist was one from Rivers and Daub. Alran must have requested the 100 [Hallow Ground] potions, because it was just listed as undead killing potions. Instead of blowing off the request, Theo took it seriously. Instead of providing the man with a useless version of the potion, he crafted 100 [Hallow Ground Potions] with the [Aerosolize] modifier. He inspected the result, finding no differences from the ones hed made before.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Aerosolize]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Shatter to create a cloud of denial.
Effect:
Throwing this potion creates a fifty pace circle around the point of impact with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the cloud, but will be banished when they do so.
This version was the easiest to use, and most effective for dealing withrge groups of undead. That was Theos assumption, anyway. Without a practical application, it was hard to say which version was the most effective. He told Salire to make a note to Mister Cherman about the cost of these potions. As part of their alliance, Broken Tusk promised to provide these undead-killing weapons at a cheap price. When he ced the order, he expected to pay full price.
Almost as if he doubts our alliance, Theo said with a sigh, finishing the [me Rose] fermentation and transferring it for distition. That man needs to learn to trust.
When your fate is in the hands of others, its often hard to trust, Salire said, nodding to herself. Felt like that when I left Gronro.
Theo pushed down the guilty feeling in his chest. Salire came to Broken Tusk for a better life because she wasnt built for thebat of Gronro-Dir. It wasnt his fault that she had a hard time to start. She was doing so well now. He couldnt tell shed ever feared her future aftering to his town. The alchemist continued with his work, asking her more about how she felt upon arriving in town. She reversed her previous statement, iming that it was just the nerves. But a move, no matter the world, was a hard thing. She left behind family and friends to join this experiment.
The timer went off on the still right when dusk set in over Broken Tusk. Theo crafted a [Strength Potion], using [Enchanted Drogramathi Iron Shavings], and introduced his newly crafted [Refined Elemental Fire] to the mix. The red-tinged potion red, seams of living fire spreading through the vial. While the reaction was stable, Salire stepped back. The alchemists experiment left asting impression on her. But he examined the result all the same, finding his expectations to be true.
[Strength Potion]
[Refined Elemental Fire]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance strength.
Drink to increase physical strength scaling.
Effect:
+14 Strength for 1.75 hours.
For 1.25 hours, your physical strength scales 1.30 times better than normal.
[Refined Elemental Fire] enhanced a persons physical strength, just like [Refined Elemental Wind] enhanced a persons speed. Those were the easy ones to guess, and how the elemental-line of modifiers influenced [Vigor], [Intelligence], and [Wisdom] was beyond him. But that was a problem for another time. Theo crafted the 10 [Strength Potions] in the order, and handed everything over to Salire. They didnt fill every order, but it was close enough for the day. It didnt help that Tresk was screaming in Theos ear to get to the tavern. It was dinner time.
3.59 - Dgoose
3.59 - D''goose
An uneventful day was a good one. Theo had finished his work in theb, finding his way to Xams tavern with his friends. Tonights meal was a variation of the wolf meat stew, this time infused with Karatan cheese. A single day after arriving in town, the Elves were settling in well. The alchemist could see their eagerness to forget the past, finding it a mirror to stare into. Alex pecked at some Zee bread, prancing around the table as they ate.
It would be wise to meet with Fenian before he left town. Others had collected their goods from the trader, but Theo didnt have outstanding orders. There had been no request for bulk potions this trip, leaving his pockets too empty. Even filling a 20 gold order from townsfolk, spread across many adventurers, wasnt enough to keep the town afloat. All hope now rested with the shipwright.
But no one came calling, even as Tresk and Theo slipped into their bath. The Marshling seemed somber,pared to her normally bombastic nature. He could feel her mind churning through information, trying to make connections between something. How shed be so good at hiding her thoughts was beyond him. That was a question for the Dreamwalk, though. The alchemist dismissed his doubts before the crept up on him.
The only thing that could make the bath better would be an air conditioner, Theo said, sighing. Even keeping his head above the water did little to stifle the lingering heat. Fortunately, the showers outside the bath ran cold water. Once the Season of Fire set in, it might be too hot to bathe.
Check it out, Tresk said, holding something up for Theo to see. She must have held it in the shared inventory. It was a core. Elven God of Duels. Parantheir.
Theo let out a slow breath, sinking further into the bath. He wanted to be upset about another goding to town, but the support they provided was undeniable.
Thats your solution to closebat, Theo said, nodding. Need to figure out your [Trackers Core], next.
Working on it, Tresk said, nodding. Been asking around, but I dont think anyone around here knows much Marshling lore. Let alone Bantari.
That much was true. Even the local Marshlings held little of their cultural heritage. The lizard-dudes to the south? Theo asked.
Thats my best bet, Tresk said.
That lined up well enough with their current ns. Once their boats were on the water, those inds to the south were their first stop. Even if the lizard-folk didnt want to trade with Broken Tusk, it would help to get the word out. Once merchant vessels knew they were open for business, people should flood in for trade. Fees on imports alone would help pad the coffers, but making first contact was the most important part. A harbor was a way of signaling that a town was open for business. Thats how Theo hoped it would go.
They didnt linger in the bath for long. Tresk and Alex were eager to get into the Dreamwalk, but Theo examined the gosling before leaving with them.
[Alexandria DGoose]
[Goose]
[Familiar]
Stage:
[Gosling]
Master:
[Dreamrealm of Terogal]
Level 4
Description:
Geese are known as the most loving creatures in all the realms. Any rumors spread to disparage these honorable creatures will be met with a flurry of feathers and bill.
Affinities:
Fire
She had advanced, but not much. While her outward appearance might have changed, it was hard to tell since Theo saw her everyday. He ced his hand on the chirping gosling and judged that shed grown, if only slightly. How familiars worked was beyond him, but her calming presence was enough to make it worth it. The group made their way back to the Newt and Demon, running into several people on the streets. They politely pushed past as the sun dipped lower behind the horizon and entered the Dreamwalk.
The schedule in the real world was unforgiving. Theo wanted to work on something that would imitate pitch, since alchemy seemed the best bet, but hadnt had the time. Instead, he watched as Tresk departed near the harbor and focused on developing his mana control. It was simple enough for him to draw that fiery purple mana from his core and hold it in his palm now. Repeated practice made the process reliable, even if he didnt trust himself in the real world. But that was fading as time went on. There was no point in practicing in the Dreamwalk if he didnt apply what he learned in real life. Thats what Xolsa would have said.
Theos time in the Dreamwalk became a race to gain as much experience as possible. With Throks basic timing device, he practiced what it would be like to run 5 or more stills in real life. He found it easy to run 10 at a time, not caring about the result, but operating 5 was difficult if he expected quality essence. There was also a strain that came with running so many stills, as though part of himself was tied to the process. In the real world, he found this strain pressing gently on his chest when running his current setup. But that exertion was like a phantom of itself in this realm. The weight was lighter.
Alex had gone with Tresk tonight, leaving Theo alone with his ghost ships and his thoughts. The alchemist summoned Marshy on the horizon, waving to the fictitious god. Somehow, that looming creatures presence wasforting. He felt restless that night. Running between so many stills had be afort, but there was a lingering anxiety that built in his mind. It had been a while since he ran up against the first barrier in this world. Back when he was under level 10, struggling to find the secret to advancement. Coming up against another barrier, this time with much more knowledge, allowed him to identify the source of the block.
It wasnt a mental thing, he realized. At thest barrier, Theo felt irritable. That barrier put up more than just a block against advancement. It weighed on his heart and mind, forcing a sense of uselessness down his throat. With increased willpower, the alchemist pushed back. He knew the way to advance this time. Zarali had dropped enough hints to send him into the next bracket, but it was the one that loomed at level 30 that gave him pause.
This is the part with training wheels, Theo reminded himself. Thats what Khahar said. This is easy mode.
Forcing his will against those fears for the future, Theo turned his attention to his stills. More stills wasnt the answer. Larger stills might work, but that brought more problems. Even the current design had problems. Heating a mash from the bottom worked when there wasnt a lot of liquid inside. But the more alchemical mash he added to a pot, the higher chance the bottom would burn. Burnt reagents meant lower quality potions. Throk was going to hate him. He needed a new design for the still. That annoying reality sent him into a spiral of questions, none of which he had answers for.
Theo summoned a likeness of his [Drogramath Still]. It was a magic item provided by the seed core building. He fell down that spiral, letting it consume him. The still was made of [Drogramathi Iron], that much was clear. Since it was part of the building, there was only one person who could enable modifications. Sledge needed to work with Throk to change the still. The alchemist stretched his will over the Dreamwalk. It didnt want to create arger version of the still, but it wasnt the master here. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he focused, drilling into the fabric of the realm. Hismand over the golems had strengthened his will, honing it over the weeks. A loud pop issued after a moment, the air shimmering to reveal a 1,000 unit [Drogramath Still].
It was the same design as thest. Unnecessary spikes everywhere, butcking the enchantments provided by Zarali. Theo tested his theory about burning the bottom of the still, finding that to be true. He imagined several [me Artifices] and stone plinths of various sizes. The alchemist arranged them around the still, leaving the single me underneath, and adding four to the sides about half-way up the still. This added ayer ofplexity to the run. Heating the still was no longer as easy as flicking a switch at a certain temperature. He had to keep all the mes at their lowest setting. But it worked after exhausting experimentation.
The key was to arrange the mes at the right distance, providing the right heat. This would make calcting the perfect run for reagents a nightmare, but that wouldnt be a problem. Once Throk got his hands on the project, hede up with some genius way to distribute the heat around the still. The old Marshling might even have a better method by now. Perhaps a way to heat the metal directly, but that was up to him to solve. For now, the alchemist was happy with the stills. He was even happier with the way hemanded the Dreamwalk.
Tresk returned after a while, whistling at the new, massive still.
Felt something weird shiver through the realm, she said, pping the side of the still and burning her hand. She cursed. Thats hot.
Theyre always hot, Theo said. I forced the Dreamwalk to let me have a big still.
I forced it to make Marshy, Tresk said, pointing at the horizon.
Alex chirped her agreement, conjuring bugs to eat.
See? She gets it.
It seems easier for you, Theo said, making a mental note of that. No idea why.
Tresk shrugged, scooping Alex. She dumped the gosling into the harbor and watched her swimming around. Theo took a break from his experiments, sitting at the edge of the water and kicking his feet.
It really feels like something ising, huh? Tresk asked.
Theo waved the question away. He wasnt afraid of what was outside of the walls anymore. Preparation was the thing that would save them, and they had plenty of that. Maybe a bit too much.
Im more worried about going broke before we get our boats rolling, Theo said. Cant figure out the pitch thing.
Is that your job? Tresk asked, snorting augh. I thought that angry ship-buildingdy was working on the problem.
Isnt it my job? Theo asked. He really couldnt tell. It seemed like something an alchemist would do.
Not sure it is, buddy, Tresk said, pping him on the back. Thought I saw her workers boiling a bunch of wood.
Ogre Cypress? Theo asked.
Yep.
If anything could produce pitch, it was the fleshy white part of the Ogre Cypress trees. The first two properties on the item were [Cure Ailment] and [Cleanse]. There was a possibility that the third one could be something sticky, good enough to be used as caulking for the boats. Then again, Theo had the [Solidify] modifier. But that would simply work on potions, not the gaps of boards. Then again, this might not be his domain. With a sigh, he resigned himself to trusting the knowledge of an expert. If they boiled the bark to get their pitch, thats how Broken Tusk would do it. Theo needed those boats.
The haze of the Dreamwalk seemed to float by as Theo considered the days toe. He held a request in his mind, something he wouldnt verbalize to his new shipwright. Those boats needed to be done yesterday. Even a small boat would be a boon. When he thought about the problem more, it stuck out more. The endless loop of amplifying worry was cut. Calming waves of warmth flowed from Alex. The alchemist forgot why he was so concerned. There was plenty to be done in town. They had Fenian as a contact, and 2 towns to trade with. Everything would be fine.
Theo wouldnt want it to stop, but the sudden shift in his thinking didnt go unnoticed. He watched Alex ying in the water, wondering what kind of lodestone she was.
Ever notice how calming she is? Theo asked, pointing at the ying gosling. I get worried about nothing and then Well, there she is.
I noticed, Tresk said. Dunno if shes doing it on purpose, but its been cutting through my murderous rage.
Well count it as a good thing.
The pair split off again, tending to their own training. Theo kept his focus on his alchemy core, but didnt neglect his herbalism core. Getting his personal level to 20 was the n, and it didnt matter if his herbalism core was along for the ride. The [Governance Core] would provide more than enough experience to push him over the endthe damn thing was almost at level 19.
The Dreamwalk ended after many more tests with the stills. Theo got a notification that his [Tarahek Core] leveled to 21, and his [Governance Core] leveled to 19. He walked with Tresk to eat the leftover wolf meat cheese stew, something he didnt know hed like at first. But as a breakfast option, it was too heavy. The alchemist cut it with Zee bread, dipping it into the stew and sipping his tea between bites. That was enough to tone down the overpowering vors and jump-start his day.
See, if I go to Throk first That just sets the day up for disaster, Theo said.
Well, I can feel you itching to talk to the Elf trader, Tresk said. Shed already dumped the soup down her gullet.
Before Theo could decide what to do, Alise found him in the tavern. She joined them for breakfast and took her time eating the leftover stew, chatting about small topics. The most important topic she covered was Sledges fabrication abilities. Alise and Nira had the Marshling install an air conditioner in their house, mounting it high on a wall. The cooling effect was impressive, but she was edging closer to an ability to exploit the [Synergistic] upgrade on the town. With more people ordering her fine work, it was only a matter of time.
Alise, Theo, and Alex left Tresk to her adventuring. They marched over to the town hall and took theirrge meeting room, taking their time to get settled. Gwyn was missing from the meeting, off handling some issues with the Elves for the morning. That left the pair of them to get down to something Alise seemed proud of.
I spoke with Fenian, Alise started, tapping her fingers together and grinning. He wasnt interested in hauling bulk goods, but Ive convinced him.
Just like that?
No. Not really. Ive been wearing him down over the past few trips, Alise said. It was Niras idea, actually. Sheined we werent exporting enough metal. Saw it as a shame.
What buyers is he targeting? Theo asked.
Elves. I think. Taranthians? Taranthiams? How do you say the people of Tarantham?
Taranthians, Theo said. Which house?
The dominant house, actually. The one that destroyed House Wavecrest. House Baelstar.
Thats not ominous or anything, Theo said.
There was some moral issue there the alchemist couldnt find. This wouldnt count as direct trade with the Elves, since Fenian was acting as a fence. It was still a solution for the short-term, putting a stop to their hemorrhaging finances. It might not have sat right with him, putting his entire fate into Fenians hands, but there was nothing they could do until the boats were built.
This is our only n, Alise said. He wont have a price for us right away, and hell be gone for about a week.
I like it, Theo said. Thanks for sorting that out. Anything else to report?
Just a lot of numbers about the new Elves. We lost a few morest night, Alise said. Only 2 this time.
They broke the contract? Theo asked.
They did. But Im not surprised. I had them marked on my list as trouble-makers. They refused to sign the contract until I threatened to kick them out.
Anotheryer of defense.
Exactly, Alise said, pping her hands to punctuate the idea. Well, I have a candidate for your tailoring position. They slipped through the cracksdidnt report all their coresbut theyre not happy about working the fields.
Funny, Theo said, running his wed fingers through Alexs plumage. She nestled in his bag, chirping as though he owed her worms. It was possible he owed her some worms. They could have avoided that if they were just honest. Maybe the contract-breakers put a fire under their asses.
I think so.
Should I nt the [Weavers Seed Core] near the farm, or in the towns center?
Were looking at the center of town as more of an artisans area, Alise said. Theres a lot of unused space between the center and Mianas ranch.
Theo consulted his map, finding plenty of free plots around the monolith. Any of them would be fine, but it made sense to keep it away from the sawmill. Whisper, the butcher, didnt seem to care about the noise, but there was no sense exposing others to it. The alchemist rose from his chair and looked out the window, peering down at the road that ran north-south. He could see the Newt and Demon from here, along with part of Zaralis enchanters workshop. An idea hit him before he could resist.
Maybe its time to see if our fabricator can tell the roads where to go.
3.60 - Be the Best You
3.60 - Be the Best You
Theo stopped by the Newt and Demon to set the stills to work. Salire stopped him to discuss their current orders, going over the things he missed from the other day. The interruption would have annoyed him, but she produced 10 gold coins from nowhere. The shopkeeper had a sheepish smile on her face, holding the money out with a nervous hand.
I heard about the towns money problem, Salire said. She was too nice for her own good. A person with less honor would have pocketed the money and said nothing of it. Theo wouldnt have noticed.
Were fine. For now. Sit on the cash and try doing something with it, Theo said, waving her away.
All 100 gold of it? Salire asked, wincing. It was likely the most gold shed ever seen.
I forgot Azrug bought all our old gear, Theo said, looking around to the [Dimensional Storage Crates]. They would have been empty by now. Reminds me to ask Fenian about a mint He seems busier than normal. Right?
I wouldnt know.
Alright. Give me 75 gold, keep the rest for whatever. Like I said, use it to start a new scheme. Level your cores, Theo said, pping a hand on the womans shoulder. Be the best you.
Thank you, Salire said, bowing slightly. Shed been around the Elves.
Theo ced the money in his inventory, intending to lose it as quickly as possible. If Fenian had the mint, hed buy that. Otherwise it would go into the towns coffers to pay wages. Either way, he didnt want it sitting too long. Unspent money was a waste, after all.
The alchemist kicked off all his stills, dipping into the reagents his golems were harvesting. He made a note to check on the greenhouses and caves more often. After cleaning each still, he mashed [Manashrooms] for the first, [Swamp Truffles] for the second, and [me Roses] for thest. Throks artifice timers made it easy to set the me and walk away. Of all his projects, the idea of mass-producing potions aligned best with the [Swamp Truffles]. It was better to have far too many [Hallow Ground] derived potions than the others, with the undead approaching. Again, it was best to let Throk get over whatever he was having problems with.
Theo flushed the contents of his storage vessels inside, cing them in 200 unit sks and storing them away with his new organization system. He checked therger, 10,000 unit exterior tanks and found them at various levels of fullness. They contained healing, stamina, and mana essences that were of dropping quality,pared to his new creations. It would be worth holding them there, though. Emergencies were hard to n for, and any essence was better than none.
Fenian was still around, socializing with Elves. They broke off upon seeing their mayor approach, bowing their heads and moving on. The Elven trader performed an overly exaggerated bow.
My lord, Fenian said, his voice quivering. Thats how they treat you. How are things, my dear alchemist?
Theyre fine, Theo said. Stop bowing. Did you find the mint?
No. Not yet, Fenian said. A devilish task. Ive been sent a different task from that lovely woman Alise.
Right. The bulk materials. Think you can get a good price?
Not likely. But Ill get a price. Material trade in Tarantham is regted. The Bridge cant prate the Khahari Desert, so thats off the table. The Veostians are broke, and Qavell Well, theyre not buying anything at the moment.
So, you really are fencing the materials. Whatever works. Where are you going?
Excuse me?
Alise mentioned you were leaving for a week, Theo said, locking his gaze onto Fenians eyes. He felt apulsion to exert his will. Perhaps it was Alex in his satchel urging him on, or his own intuition. But after a moment, nothing happened. The Elf remained silent for a few heartbeats, then shrugged.
A debt to be paid, Fenian said, grabbing his left forearm and wincing. I think youre ready, though.
Ready for what?
Fenian massaged his forearm, closing his eyes. I may need more of the potions before I leave. The [Hallow Ground] ones. And a few special requests. Ill pay this time. [Potions of Limited Foresight], [Potions of Retreat], the [Elemental Wind] enhanced [Dexterity Potion], and anything you have that works against mages.
Theo let his intuition y the logical course of actions out. Each item would help Fenian run away, and fight a mage. A question lingered in the alchemists mind. Who the hell did the Elf intend to fight? Another question. What was his end goal? To what end?
Im happy to do it. Even if you wont tell me what its for, Theo said.
For the sake of the continent, Fenian said. He moved closer to Theo, leaning in and lowering his voice. I am bound not to speak of it. Remember your contracts? When the job is done, I can tell you everything. I promise. Just a little more trust. One more step into the darkness.
This wasnt just a matter of trust. Theo trusted Fenian with almost everything. The Elf had done nothing but good for him and his town, so why would now be any different? Perhaps another leader might see the descent of the undead as a bad thing. But not Broken Tuskers. The unspoken words on everyones lips sang freedom from the kingdom. Open rebellion, if necessary. The alchemist ced his hand on Fenians shoulder.
Were with you, Fenian. No matter what the hell youre doing, were right there with you. If Qavell has to fall Well, were happy to see it, Theo said.
Fenian nodded. That was all he could say, though. Theo could almost feel the bonds of a contract radiating from the man,ing off in wreaths of strange power. It was like raw mana leaking into the air, forming chains that pulled him down.
Just so, Fenian said, taking a long breath. Im d to hear it. Keep the faith, Theo. And work on my potions.
Ill have them done today, Theo said. An arsenal.
Theo didnt want to tell the Elf the potions would be effortless. Maybe if he pretended it was difficult, he could raise the price a few gold. There was no point working on the potions until hed made his rounds, but as the alchemist worked through the streets of Broken Tusk, stopping first at Sledges sawmill, he realized the problem of the day. The workers at the sawmill said the marshling was off servicing homes and installing air conditioners. It was a matter of going door-to-door, asking everyone when they saw herst. He felt as though he was going in circles, until he finally caught up with her at a home near the smeltery.
I have a question, Theo said.
Sledge was standing on adder, leaning against the interior wall of a home. She wove bone-white mana into the boards of the wall, mounting a stand for the artifice air conditioner. The homes owner watched on, sping their hands together with anticipation. The marshling refused to answer Theos question, waiting to finish her process beforemunicating. She walked over to the homeowner after she was done, holding her hand out. The owner dropped several silver coins, putting a smile on her face.
What is it? Sledge said, snatching herdder and making for the door.
Youre interacting with the [House Seed Core] when you do that, right?
That I am, Sledge said. Thanks to your goofy air-cooler, Im getting a load of experience. Keeps me away from that psychotic elf, too. Out there just burning trees.
Right, Theo said, keeping up with the stomping Marshling. Hed see what the progress on the boats was today. Just after he talked to Sledge. Could you interact with the [Town Seed Core]?
Sledge stopped. She spun around, almost hitting Theo in the head with herdder, swishing her fat tail across the smooth cobbles. Alright, Theo. You have my attention.
Theo gestured to the road they stood on. It was one of 2 major roads that ran through town. North-south, and east-west. His n was to create smaller roads that shot off from the main thoroughfares, creating small districts of town like the neighborhood. Those dirt roads were built before they got the [Roads] upgrade on the town. The system must have identified them as such, and generated the cobblestone road for that section. Now it fell to the fabricator to do that. He exined the general idea of telling the [Town Seed Core] to make new roads. She nodded the whole way through.
Alright. Yeah. Maybeit depends on howplex the magic array for the roads system is, Sledge said. The sight behind the scenes for something simple like a [House Seed Core] is dead easy to understand. A few instructions here and there and poof. I can install something. But telling it to make new roads? Might be a challenge. You got a ce in mind?
Theo led Sledge to the area near Zaralis enchanting workshop. If they could take a section of road, sending it toward the wall, then north to connect near the Adventurers Guild, it would be perfect. Theyd create a series of roads running north to south, sectioning the area off and allowing more artisans to move in. Including his weaver. The Marshling studied the road for some time, abandoning herdder and pressing her face against the cobblestones. The alchemist thought he could hear her sniffing the road.
Oh, yeah, Sledge said, standing after a while. She swiped her hand through the air, summoning a glittering white series of symbols. It wasnt exactly Axpashi, but it was simr enough that Theo could read pieces. Wee to thenguage of creation. Looks a lot like that arcane babble, right? Wrong! Its not. This is the big daddynguage of the world, Mister Mayor. The scribbles that made life.
A bit dramatic, Theo said, leaning in to study the array. Like most arrays, it was represented as arge circle bordered by symbols. The inner workings were all interconnected smaller circles, each representing a concept. After studying it for some time, the alchemist understood very little of it. There was something about roads, another bit about expansion, and a suspicious mention of ducks and other waterfowl. How do you interact with the nodes?
Like this, Sledge said. She beckoned dripping white mana to her hand, then shoved it through a node in the array. The ground trembled beneath their feet for a moment and she tutted. Dont be like that, baby. Work with mama.
Theo winced.
Right, so itsplex. Looks like I can Yeah, just gonna reach in here and Nope, thats not the one, Sledge said, the cobbles beneath their feet vibrating. The stopped when she twisted her hand the right way. Alright, there it is. Lets make a line that way
A dotted yellow line appeared on the ground, heading toward the western wall. The wall wasntpletely visible from here, but the way the line changed and bent revealed that Sledge was still fiddling with the system. After a moment, she got it to extend west, then cut a 90-degree angle toward the Adventurers Guild. Theo just watched in shock as the Marshling worked her magic. This was magic, after all. Fenian told him this was a form of magic, but he didnt believe it until that moment.
Youre a genius, Theo said. The line solidified on the ground, then the ground rumbled again.
Theres a bunch of features the seed core doesnt support, Sledge said, digging her hand deeper into the floating array. Pretty sure this is going to consume materials from the towns storage Not that weck materials. Just a warning, you know?
Sledge turned her hand, mana bleeding into the air to cast motes of glowing white light to the ground. The town rumbled again. Stones sprung up from the ground, moving out to cover the yellow line. In moments, where there was just soggy soil was now a road, perfect in every way. The Marshling couldnt hide her grin.
Alright. That was the coolest thing Ive seen in a while, Theo said, pping her on the back. She swayed on the spot, swiping a hand to dismiss the array. You alright?
Took most my mana, Sledge said. She paused for a moment, then looked up at Theo. The Marshling tried to make her eyes look bigger, a frown spreading across her face. How am I going to work for the rest of the day? How am I going to feed my family?
Theo groaned. He withdrew a gold coin from his inventory and ced it in her hand. Thats for future work, too. No way Im paying a gold every time we need a road.
Why not?
Theo red at her, but she just shrugged.
Worth a short, right? Sledge asked. Im more than happy to lend my talents where theyre needed. No need for payment. Im keeping this coin, though. But, hey. Theres limitations youll want to hear about.
Such as?
Cant make anything outside the walls, yet. Theres a skill I can getter that lets me turn exterior buildings into pseudo seed core buildings. For now? Just within the walls. This is also taxing on me. Im not joking when I say it took most of my mana, but it took something else. Like the town was sapping my willpower for the day. Thats happened before when I installed 30 air thingies in a day.
Theo nodded along as she spoke. Those were some very lenient restrictions. The skill she mentioned was the most interesting part. The alchemist was already talking with Ziz about different projects outside the towns gates, so that would be perfect. They already had the bridge. The road Zizs guys were constructing was another example.
Alright. Im going to have a word with my staff about you, Theo said. Well want to take you on as the towns fabricator officially.
Which means?
Youll be Lady Sledge Grob, Theo said. Youll also get paid for your jobs. Mostly, I want you to know how important you are to us.
Theo had never seen Sledge show much emotion besides anger. Was greed an emotion? But at that moment she blushed, averting her gaze from the alchemist and stammering. Alex chirped excitedly from her bag.
Fine by me, Sledge grumbled.
Theo tried to engage in some small talk, but Sledge imed to be too busy. She brushed him off and stomped away, forgetting herdder. When he shouted after her, she scurried back to grab it, and continued to stomp away. The alchemist found a spot to nt his [Weavers Seed Core], favoring the first turn of his new road. He nted it, and fed enough high-level monster cores to grow it. There was no sense in upgrading it until he had his weaver inside. It was always better to ask the operator what the best option was.
With that sorted, Theo went back to theb to check on his distitions. They were still going, so he hadnt been gone for that long. While he waited for them toplete, he worked on Salires checklist and a few of Fenians potions. The alchemist mass-produced his best [Hallow Ground] potion, the one modified with [Aerosolize]. That drained thatst of that modifier, but gave the Elf 100 new potions to work with. It was always fun creating the [Elemental Wind] [Dexterity Potions], though. Once the stills were done running, he had enough to fill yesterdays order of potions.
Before heading downstairs, Theo crafted enough [Mana Constructs] to keep his golems going for a few days. When he went down, Salire had a new list of requests from patrons. Half-way up the stairs, a town-wide message came in from Aarok.
[Aarok]: Theo, please report to the Adventurers Guild. This is not an emergency.
Not sure if its just a thing, now, Theo said, turning around on the stairs. But we really dont need to say that everything isnt an emergency.
Salireughed, a nervous smile on her face. Think its urgent?
Everything is urgent, Theo said, drinking a [Potion of Lesser Foresight]. He felt thetent power of precognition flowing through his body, spreading like a dull fire in his chest. Ill be back.
Like a good mayor, Theo went straight to the Adventurers Guild. It was full of people checking out contracts on a big board. There was even an attendant epting new contracts behind a heavy oaken desk. The alchemist stopped by there first, putting in an adventuring contract for [Swamp Onions] with a limit of 5,000 units. The clerk happily epted his money, scurrying off to post the contract on the board. The adventurers nearby howled with delight.
Easy contract! one shouted.
Theo realized it might have been better just to create [Lesser nt Golems], then send them into the swamp. But there was something about posting a paper contract that was just delightful. The look in the adventurers eyes was worth it.
Aarok was waiting in his office with Luras and Bal. The triplet brother looked shaken, nursing a tea in the corner. Both Half-Ogres had a grim look on their faces.
Weve had another attack, Luras growled.
The air conditioner, nestled in the top-left corner of the room, kicked on. It flooded Aaroks stuffy office with a cleansing breeze. Theo didnt know how to respond to the information. If Elves wanted to betray their contract, dying to some magical beast, that was their concern. Not his.
More dead Elves, Theo shrugged.
Not an Elf, Bal said, nodding to himself. He took another sip of tea.
Young Bal here barely got out with his life, Aarok said, gesturing to the man. Seems hes chugging your [Lesser Potion of Foresight] every day. Dodged some guys attacks and got out of there. Attack happened in the swamp, just outside the dungeon.
I just wanted to kill some Goblins, yknow? Bal asked,ughing a mirthlessugh. This guy jumped out of nowherehooded bastardand took a few swings at me. Hah! I already drank your potion, Theo. All he got was air.
Have you dispatched anyone to investigate? Theo asked.
Our best tracker, Luras said.
Funny. Theo thought Luras was their best tracker. His heart sank when he realized who their best tracker was.
You sent Tresk?
Tresk, where are you? Theo asked.
Tracking some bad guys. Thats my job, Tresk said. Oh, shit!
The mortal realm parted, and Tresk appeared next to Theo, dripping with mud and both daggers drawn. She heaved breath, looking around. Thats my panic button, she said, turning to look at Aarok. They got away, boss.
3.61 - Red Smears
3.61 - Red Smears
You cant just send her out like that, Theo said, locking his eyes on Aarok. The Half-Ogre wouldnt give, staring right back.
Ill remind you what we are. By your own words, were a military force, Aarok said. He didnt budge, either in demeanor or position. Shes the only one with an escape option like that. Now, do you mind letting my little soldier give her report.
Theo felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Bal wasnt the most powerful adventurer in town, but he was good. Ranked top 10 in the town, even if they hadnt shuffled the rankings since the Elves arrived. Tresk was still ranked first, Luras trailing at a close second. If the Marshling had to run away using the [Dreampassage] ability, that meant all her other skills were on cooldown. Even with multiple forms of escape, she had to resort to that one.
Please, Theo said, gesturing. He sank into a chair and sighed. There was no reason to go for everyones throat.
Just a couple slick bastards, Tresk shrugged, dripping [Cleansing Scrub] over her head. Waves of white washed her clean in moments, removing theyers of mud. I thought I had the jump on this one guy, but then his friends jumped out of the forest north of the dungeon. They were fleeing to the mountains.
Did you see their faces? Aarok asked, still staring Theo down.
Obscured by some magic crap, Tresk said. Hooded in ck. I cut one of their arms with my dagger. Theyll be lucky to keep the arm with Theos poisons.
Bandits? Theo asked.
Perhaps, Aarok said, finally looking at Tresk.
We expected that, Theo said, straightening up. Are these the same people we saw near the river? Either way, what are they after?
Why dont you just ask Khahar, Luras said, chuckling.
There are threads of fate I cannot pull, Khahar said, appearing near Bal. The Human adventurer yelped in surprise.
That left a sour taste in Theos mouth. He looked at Tresk, who didnt seem shaken at all. She held herself with the pride of the strongest adventurer in town. Being a leader meant taking control, but also understanding where he wasnt useful. The alchemist was familiar with subterfuge, but this was different. If someone asked him to attack Broken Tusk, he wouldnt start by picking off people on the outskirts of town. He would infiltrate and sabotage. This seemed more like a petty robbery.
But why would such skilled people need to rob? Running the dungeon made more sense if they just wanted money.
No hints? Tresk asked, grinning at the Khahari leader.
None.
I think its bandits, Theo said.
No one said otherwise, Lurasughed. People were driven from the north, it only makes sense.
But the look Khahar gave Theo said it was more than that. He might not have used his words tomunicate the dire situation, but it was there in those eyes. Eyes that faded further from the mortal realm by the day. The walls of Broken Tusk were strong. These bandits, or whatever they were, wouldnt strike at the heart of the town.
We have a n for this, Aarok said. Sending our only [Shadowdancer] to engage was the first step. We needed information. Now we know theyre strong enough to worry about.
Which means well issue a general call to arms, Luras said. No more solo adventuring until we sort the problem out. Everyone who goes outside the walls, goes with a team.
That was a decent n. If Tresk had backup, she could have taken the group. Theo could feel that in his heart, information was bleeding over through the Tarahek. Shed underyed the condition of the man she struck. The potions were strong, and almost impossible to remove unless there was a specialist there. Even the alchemist would have trouble curing his own poisons.
Good n, Theo said with a nod. Do what you have to, Aarok.
I will, Aarok said, moving on to discuss specifics with Luras.
Tresk was upset that she had to stay within the walls for the day. Theo wouldnt let her risk it since her [Dreampassage] skill would be down until tomorrow. But she understood, vowing to stick by Theos side for the rest of the day. They left the meeting after a while, departing the Adventurers Guild to arrive at town hall. Another meeting with Alise and her administration staff.
Theo exined the situation. The sawmill team needed heavy escorts now,pared to their lighter ones. Golems would bridge the gap ofcking manpower, running around town and protecting the citizens. Half-way through the meeting, Xolsa and Zarali showed up to give their opinions.
No signs of tampering with the dungeon, Xolsa said. He had a broad smile on his face. Ive just been leveling my [Dungeon Engineer] core, so Id see.
Drogramath is silent, Zarali said. Unsurprising. Whats the big deal, anyway? A few rogue bandits shouldnt grind our town to a halt.
Better to be cautious, Theo said.
The door of the meeting room opened again, and Fenian strolled in. He sauntered across the room, the many bangles on his wrists ying a merry tune. The Elf took a seat, kicking his feet up on the table.
So, bad guys? Fenian asked. Shall we meet them in the marsh at sundown?
Id rather not, Theo said.
Bet you could take them, Tresk said, grinning at the Elf.
Fenian just shrugged.
Could you take them? Theo asked.
Id have to see them first, Fenian said. But I dont make a habit of fighting without understanding my enemy.
Didnt think you fought at all, Alise muttered.
You have a lot to learn about our trader, Theo said. Its a hot topic of spection. What cores does our illustrious trader have?
I never kiss on the first date, my dear alchemist, Fenian said, waving the question away. Ill promise you this. The next time they attack, they will be but red smears on the road.
Is that really a promise? Theo asked, leaning in.
While most had theories about what cores Fenian was hiding, Theo knew. At least one of the Elfs cores was a [Parantheirs Duelist Core], which must have been a close-range fighting core. He might have others, but that was his highest level core. How high was beyond anyones guess. Anyone but Khahar, perhaps. The important thing for the alchemist to consider was the storied past Fenian never revealed. The fate of House Southde and their association with King Karasan. At every turn, the Elf walked a path paved in blood and stone.
It is, Fenian said, shing a grim smile. Not even 10 of Zauls strongest assassins could best me.
Think so? Tresk asked, jumping up from her chair.
I do.
Tresk moved in a blur, falling into the shadows and jumping from them in a single heartbeat. She appeared behind the trader, fist cocked back and ready to deliver a blow to the back of his head. Fenians chair flew across the room, propelled by the force of him standing so suddenly. The Marshlings strike hit air, and she tumbled forward to smack her face into the hardwood table.
My face! Tresk shouted, pressing her palms into her forehead.
At least you can take one of Zauls okay-ist assassins, Theo said, producing a [Healing Potion] for Tresk to drink.
No fighting in my meeting room! Alise shouted, pointing at the ruined chair at the far end of the room. You owe me a chair, Tresk.
Tresk downed the potion, the welt on her forehead disappearing. Yes, maam.
Adventures are children, Alise huffed. Dont think I wont smack you with a wooden spoon, Mister Feintleaf.
Yes, maam, Fenian said, producing a wooden chair from nowhere and sitting on it. My point stands. I wont start my mission until the interlopers are dead.
Well, I appreciate it, Theo said, finding it hard to express his feelings. It was easy to thank the Elf for the trade he provided. But for protection, that just seemed weird.
There was other, boring business to attend to. Alise had financial reports, and wage forecasts for the Season of Fire. Theyd go bankrupt in a few weeks without Fenians offer for material trade. Theo handed over 50 of his 100 gold to the cause.
You know You can add this to the towns treasury, Alise said, touching the gold. It vanished.
I knew that, Theo said. He didnt.
When the meeting was over, everyone went off to do their own thing. Tresk joined back with Theo, heading to theb to make more potions for Fenian. The process went quickly, since the Marshling seemed to handle the essences well. She could act as his assistant in theb, even if she couldnt perform the reactions herself. After they were done there, they headed off to the farm to check on the [Starbristle x] production.
Banu had made his first harvest of the new textiles, renting the ever-cultivating crop to expand his production. The more the farmer expanded his core building, the more fields hed have. But, it was hard to convince him to do anything. There was nothing Theo could do about it now. He left with an inventory full of his new crop, and headed to drop it off at the weavers building.
Despite Tresks desire to get out and adventure, she had a great time running around with Theo. It gave them a chance to talk in person. Their discussions were normally through the [Tarahek Communication] ability. While that was fine, there was something different about talking to each other in person. Alex also enjoyed having both of them so near, chirping from her bag constantly. The Marshling fed her a constant supply of random bugs, worms, and whatever other crap she had in her inventory.
When it came time to drop the materials off at the weaver, Theo found a scrawny, gray-haired Elf waiting outside. She was tall by Elven standards,ing up to the alchemists shoulders. The older woman wore threadbare cks and a shirt with no shoes. When she spotted the grouping around the corner, she bowed low and made her introductions.
Sarateil, she said, casting a nervous look at Theo. She pressed her palm into her chest. Kaya
Oh. I dont think she speaks Qavelli, Tres said, scratching her damp, hairless head. She switched to Bantari. You speak any lizardnguages?
I dont think she does, Theo said, noting the confused look on the womans face. He switched to Drogramathi. How about Demonnguages? No? Axpashi?
You scared her, Tresk said.
Theo assumed the womans name was Kaya, from her gesture. But the roughness of the Demonic tongue had scared her. The alchemist switched back to the Qavellinguage. Not that it mattered.
This is your building, he said, gesturing to the weavers workshop. He produced a stalk of x from his inventory. Can you turn this into thread? Sails for my boats?
Kaya had a confused look on her face, but she took the item from Theo and nodded. She pushed into the workshop without another word, and the pair followed. The Elf paused at the far side of the room, in front of something that looked like a giantb. She held her hand out, shaking the bundle of x in her other hand.
She wants more, Tresk said, nodding to Theo.
The alchemist produced all the x he had, cing it in the rooms corner. That seemed to be what Kaya wanted. Each stalk of the x nt had a long, dried section ending in a tangle of seed pods and smaller sticks. The Elf grabbed a handful and ran it over theb, which removed all the extra material at the top, sending it tumbling to the ground in a pile.
Shes getting rid of the seeds, Tresk observed.
Keen eye.
Kaya moved her handful of x to the other side of the room, near the window. She set it on a table, found the nearest blunt object and began beating the hell out of the x. Theo winced at the first strike, but kept his cool. The womans strength and endurance were impressive, and she had the Starbristle pulverized in a few minutes. Kaya then produced a dull knife and raked it against the stalks, removing some more of the exterior sections of x. The next step was to take the stalks and run them through a finerb near theicallyrge one. Within a few minutes, the rough nt was looking like a bundle of shining blue thread.
Kaya said something else in her nativenguage, gesturing to therge spinning wheel that dominated the rooms center. She sat down, and worked her magic. To Theo, it looked as much like magic as anything else, because within a few minutes she had a bobbin loaded with smooth, blue thread. It wasnt rough, like Theo expected. The alchemist thought it woulde out the other end looking more like twine. But that was the difference between a mundane weaver, and one with a core.
Payment, Theo said, knitting his brows. What was the best way tomunicate that this was a paying job? He arrived at the solution quickly. Contracts.
Theo drew up a contract for Kaya. He hoped the magic in the [Contracts] skill would trante the text for her. When the prompt showed up, Kaya made an excited sound then babbled in her nativenguage.
[Starbristle Weaver]
Contract
Kaya Wavecrest will provide Broken Tusk with 3 days ofbor per week to spin [Starbristle x] into [Starbristle Thread]. At her own pace, she shall weave the [Starbristle Thread] into [Starbristle Cloth] for the construction of sails. She shall earn 15% of market value on all items produced. Theo Spencer agrees to support Kaya Wavecrests endeavors to ensure her sess within Broken Tusk.
Terms:
Kaya Wavecrest will work the [Weavers Workshop] no less than 3 days per week.
Kaya Wavecrest is responsible for all workers she hires, including distribution of funds.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will supply all materials for the weaver to work.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will ensure the safety of all workers.
Theo Spencer (Belgar) will provide [Monster Cores] to upgrade the weaver.
Timeline:
Renewed every year
Theo thought he had some logic to the way he drew up payment on contracts. It was more of a feeling if someone got 10%, 15%, or 90%. She made no changes to the contract, sending it back to Theo with her magical signature. Kaya reached out, still speaking in Taranthian, and shook his hand.
Hey, I guess she likes it, Tresk said,ughing.
We need to tell Gael about this, Theo said, watching as the woman got to work. If his people need tutoring in Qavelli, someone needs to provide it.
Agreed, Tresk said.
Theo inspected the thread that Kaya produced before leaving the workshop.
[Starbristle Thread]
[Textile]
Umon
Starbristle x is known for its alluring color and strength.
The contract automatically filled in the prompt for [Starbristle Cloth], but without an example Theo couldnt figure out how to inspect it. That didnt matter, though. They had a way to make cloth. Somethingrge enough to create sails for his boats, and the system message said Starbristle was known for its strength. The alchemist would need toe back with an interpreter and find the best upgrades for her workshop.
While he was thinking about his boats, Theo figured it was a good time to check on how the pitch production was going. Tresk joined him out on the street, listening to the calls of Kaya inside. They supposed she was saying goodbye, and moved on. Laedria Wavecrest was at the port, overseeing several bonfires raging on the paved ground. He didnt want to yell at them for burning a grease stain onto his beautiful harbor, so he bit back the words bubbling from his throat.
Mister Mayor! Fancy you showed up, Laedria said. See, I havent been paid for my goodbor. Im out here choking on smoke and making your [Ogre Cypress Pitch] without a single copper coin in my hand.
Have you built a boat? Theo asked.
Well, Ive made pitch. And assembled some lumber, Laedria said, crossing her arms.
Theo reminded himself of the proper way to deal with someone like Laedria. If this was someone else, he would have fawned over her efforts. Pitch was a big deal. But Laedria Wavecrest was a pain in the ass. She wanted to knock heads with others for no good reason, and needed a good knock in the head back.
Food is free in town, if you cant pay. You have housing and food. Show me even part of a boat, and well talk terms, Theo said. Until then, Ill assume youre worthless.
Hah! Laedria said, thumping her hand on her chest. I like you, mayor. You want a n-damn boat? Ill give you a boat.
Theo thought about the expression she used for a moment. ntheir was the Elven God of Healing, so that was her way of saying god damn. He tried to hide the smile on his face, moving over to inspect the pitch she was creating. Through burning the [Ogre Cypress Bark], running it over a fire inrge copper pots, she had produced [Ogre Cypress Pitch].
[Ogre Cypress Pitch]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Pitch]
Rare
Pitch useful for sealing.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Im not eating that, Theo said, looming over a pot of foul-smelling sludge.
No one asked you to! Laedria shot back, cackling.
The harbor had more problems than just needing boats. They needed someone to run the harbor alongside their shipwright. Theo couldnt think of anyone for the job, but hed find someone. For now, the harbor was on its way to being the most vital part of Broken Tusk. The alchemist watched the team of Elves stoke fires, his mind swirling with ideas to improve the process. Throks [me Artifices] would have been better to work the [Ogre Cypress Bark], but it would be nice to let Laedria and her people sweat over this. A person like her needed hardship to find their ce.
3.62 - Well Face It Together
3.62 - We''ll Face It Together
Tresk and Theo spent the rest of the day working on potions for Fenian. They didnt limit themselves to what hed requested, making anything that fit with his theme of defensive potions. Although the day was fading, they pushed toplete an example of a [Vigor Potion] with the [Refined Elemental Earth] modifier. Any chance to test the effects of a new modifier was a good chance, so he took it.
Theo held thepleted vial up for inspection, noting the brown-yellow tone and flecks of glowing yellow material behind the ss.
[Vigor Potion]
[Refined Elemental Earth]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance vigor.
Drink to increase resistance scaling.
Effect:
+14 Vigor for 1.75 hours.
For 1.25 hours, your physical resistances scale 1.30 times better than normal.
[Vigor] was a defensive attribute, even if it influenced stamina directly. Health scaled directly with the attribute, although Theo hadnt noted the scale. The problem was the vague way it described resistances. They were physical resistances, but what did that mean? Tresk thought it was a good potion, so they made 10 for Fenian to sample. If the Elf was sticking around for a few more days, they could make more for him before he departed.
Well, a hard days work done, Tresk said, dusting her hands off. She had barely helped, but it was more help than he expected.
A job well done, Theo said, patting the Marshling on the head. Time for dinner?
Alex chirped.
Xam had been feeding her tavern [Monster Cores]. It expanded to the east, encroaching on the space upied by the bathhouse. The building also pushed north, threatening no other buildings. The Marsh Wolf Tavern also seemed taller, as though it got another floor. When they had expanded the building was beyond him, but it had to be during the day, when he was too busy to notice. Theo and Tresk entered the tavern, noting the significant increase in area.
Got a new dining floor! Xam shouted over the constant buzz of conversation. Go upstairs, I have a table reserved for you.
Theo and Tresk shared a look. Theyd both be lying if they said they didnt appreciate the special treatment. The first floor of Xams tavern was nice, but the second was amazing. With the sun fading outside, the windows on the second floor caught more of that dying light. Downstairs, the kitchen and bar area took up much of the area, but the second floor didnt suffer from that problem. It was filled with tables, packed from thending of the stairs to each corner of the room. A single booth, roped off with a sign reading for the mayor sat on the east-facing side of the room.
Oh. Fancy, Tresk said, jumping into the walled-off section.
Theo moved around the rope, sitting to find the seats far morefortable than the normal wooden chairs in the tavern. Each chair in the booth was upholstered in something that looked like red silk, stuffed withfortable material. There was a small hay-strewn box in the booths corner with a small name tag.
It says Alex! Tresk shouted, jumping up to snatch the gosling from Theos satchel. She ced her inside, patting the creatures head as she nestled amongst the hay.
Theyre really trying to spoil us, Theo said, chuckling.
Before long, an employee came along with tesden with sd. Thats the only way Theo could think to describe it, anyway. Piles of leafy vegetables drizzled with some mixture of oil and Karatan cream and cheese. Tresk turned her nose up at it, but with a bit of prodding she ate.
Alright, this is good, Tresk said, finding it hard to dump the entire te in her mouth at once.
By the time their tes were cleared, the second floor had filled. Theo felt like a lord in his little box, staring out his window and waiting for more food. Before long, the server returned with two tes of Zee pasta, covered in a cheesy sauce with flecks of green [Water Leeks] sprinkled on top. The next course also came with cups filled with the mead from Rivers and Daub. Before the server left the table, they set a small cup down. It was filled with worms.
Theyre treating you like a queen, Alex, Theo said, dumping the worms into the goslings little enclosure.
Alex pecked at the worms, happily slurping them down. She was growing more by the day. Her plumage had changed, bing less downy as her body grew. While it was hard to tell when shed be something more than a gosling, change woulde soon.
As with all of Xams cooking, the meal was impossibly delicious. Cheese was cheating, but Theo wouldntin. His investment in Miana paid off daily. He would have given any amount of gold to see fresh Karatan cheese and milk served with his meals. And the Half-Ogre tavern owner had never been happier to sling Mianas products, weaving them into every dish she made.
Luras joined them after a while, squeezing his broad frame into their little booth. It had seats for 6 people, and a tablerge enough to amodate more. He looked more grumpy than normal until the mead came and he dug into his Zee pasta. After a few drinks, and a full belly, he got more conversational.
Cant believe they beat you out there, Tresk, Luras said,ughing. Maybe we gotta take your number one spot.
From my cold, dead hands, Tresk said, glowering.
How have you been, Luras? Theo asked, changing the subject.
Great, Luras said. He averted his gaze from Theo.
When Luras took his [Leatherworkers Core], it left a sore spot. He was forced into the position unfairly, acting on the wishes of a dying rtive. Now, in his position as the Captain of the Guard, he hit his stride.
Luras likes to guard people, Tresk said, nodding. She spoke the words with no malice. Just an observation of a friend, even if he was a rival.
I dont see as much action as people like Tresk, Luras said, taking another massive drink of mead. But you cant put a price on protecting people. Might even take an [Administrators Core].
Maybe theres a core for guards, Theo said. Hopefully youre drawing a good sry.
Good? No, Im rich. By Broken Tusk standards? Extremely rich, Luras said,ughing. He mmed his fist on the table to punctuate his point, sending the dishes ttering around. This is a job I could have only dreamed of. Gods Do you remember when you got here? We were skulking around in the mud, hunting turtles to survive.
Im honestly not sure how you guys survived, Theo said.
We didnt, Tresk said, her eyes going unfocused. Broken Tusk was on the decline for years. When the Ogres left, they created a void. When Qavell swooped in, they installed a yoke.
Luras nodded, raising his ss and taking another swig. Before Theo showed up, there was nothing worth exploiting here. Just the meager taxes we provided. Then boom. Suddenly the hills are rich in ore and marble. Land cluttered with more dungeons than any other region. The trees are growing faster than weeds. Yeah, bet theyre mad about missing out on that.
Yeah, screw them, Theo said, raising his ss. To treason.
Others in the tavern heard Theos toast. Apparently, his voice was too loud, because a chorus of voices echoed his sentiment back.
To treason!
Everyone on the second floor drank to that, Elves included. That was the way Broken Tuskers rationalized what they were doing. It wasnt exactly treason, but they were on the edge of dering their independence either way. Some taxes were still withdrawn from the town automatically, while others required manual collection. Coins slipped out of their pocket weekly, and every building in town still required the owner to pay property tax. The administration had halted that collection, even if the timer ticked down daily.
Theo saw little reason to collect taxes on the value of a property. Once they broke from Qavell, hed do whatever he could to rearrange that. If someone spent the money on a seed core building, and thend, there was no reason for them to keep paying for it. His n was to remove taxes that people paid to live. That should be free. Instead, hed ce less-steep taxes on sales and exports. Anything sold in Broken Tusk to Broken Tuskers would be tax free. Hed work out the details with his administrators.
The important point was to keep the town from bing another merchant-controlled city. Rivers and Daub disyed how that could go wrong in spectacr fashion. The slums on the western side of their town were a testament to that, revealing the selfish nature of those in power. Theo wondered if he could keep himself from temptation, but the evidence was already in. The moment he got a little money, it went right back into the town. He still enjoyed the luxuries provided by his position, but wanted to keep those minimized.
So long as the people were happy, so was he.
Luras had a fun time that night, even after he gotpletely hammered. Tresk and Theo had to help the Half-Ogre back to his house, passing by the old leatherworkers workshop that no one was using. It was a sore reminder, but the drunk didnt seem to notice. After depositing him in his bed, the pair made their way to the bathhouse. The sun had set, but there was no reason not to get a nice bath. That private bath was anotherfort that the position of power provided.
What a day, Tresk said, sinking into the pool.
Theo found the bucket he used to bathe himself before hopping into the mineral-rich pool and filled it from the cold tap. He set it near the pools edge and ced Alex inside. She didnt care for the hot water of the tub, often preferring to just sit around the edge. The gosling now chirped happily from her bucket, full of worms andfortable. They bathed for quite some time, but the staff had reinstated their rule about staying toote. Tresk, Theo, and Alex were kicked out of the bath. They returned home without another thought.
The sleeping arrangements in their little apartment had changed little since Theo got there. His bed sat on the east-facing wall with the window, while Tresk took the interior wall. They both had nice goose feather beds, a fact they wouldnt reveal to Alex, and it wasfortable enough. With the Dreamwalk, it seemed as though the quality of the mattress didnt matter. Instead ofying in bed, waiting for sleep toe, it was more of an agreed uponmand that sent them into the dreamwalk. While it was nice, he never had trouble going to bed in this world. The days were too exhausting to do anything but rest.
Theo considered his current core levels, alongside his personal level before getting in bed. His [Drogramath Alchemy] core should have rolled over to level 19 today, and his [Governance Core] would roll over tomorrow. [Drogramath Herbalist] would hit level 18 in its own time, still trailing behind everything. That should be enough experience to send his personal level to 19. Then it was just a single level to unlock a new core slot.
I need to study, Theo said, watching as Tresk got into bed.
Why? Your Axpashi is getting better, Tresk said. Can we continue this discussion in Terogal?
Theo nodded, hopping into bed and checking on Alex. She was snug in her makeshift bed, ready to sleep. They needed to improve her sleeping area, but that was a task for another time. Instead, he and Tresk issued the mentalmand that sent the world spinning. Momentster, they arrived in the Dreamwalk. The haze lifted after a moment, revealing the harbor once more.
So, heres the damn problem, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at Theo. I dont think those are normal bandits.
Theo blinked a few times, trying to force his thoughts to catch up with the moment. He could normally feel his Tarahekpanions deception. But shed kept it from him so expertly, perhaps afraid of someone listening in. But the [Tarahek Communication] skill should have been between them. And the goose.
What? Theo asked.
Didnt want to tip anyone off, Tresk said, shifting the scene to the swamp.
Theo spotted a group of 5 people, as hazy as Tresks memory of the event. He spun around, finding the dungeon to the south, spinning again to find a forest of Ogre Cypress and the mountains to the north. He slogged through the marsh,ing close to a prone figure.
I cant see many details, Theo said, stooping low to look at the ethereal man in the mud.
Well, this is when I hit them. And my memory aint so great, Tresk said. Four were fanned out near the forests edge, one ranging ahead. Looked like a fighting retreat to me.
Theo inspected the scene closer. The figures by the forest were even hazier than the one crouched in the swamp. The man was clutching his forearm, and the people near the trees were rallying.
Would bandits be this supportive of an injuredpanion? Theo asked, pointing at the 4 people.
I doubt it, Tresk said. Maybe a tight-knit group of career bandits. But Im not convinced. The magic they hit me with Hold on
The scene changed again. Tresks memory of the magical attack was even more blurry. A red wave came from the line of trees, undefined. Theo got a sense of the attack from the memory, but it was even more hazy than the physical appearance. He couldnt sense any magical properties from the magic, and let out a heavy sigh.
So, it was almost like a wave of blood, Tresk said.
Theo took a deep breath through his nose. He could almost smell the scent of rust in the air, but it was too distant. With all this information, he had to wonder what those people were really doing. They scouted near the river, then acted near the dungeon. If they wanted to sabotage a dungeon, the [Swamp Dungeon] was the worst pick. The [Ocean Dungeon] was the easiest for that task, even if they had to go underwater to do it. Nothing his intuition could tell him added up.
Wave of blood, Theo said, pushing his [Wisdom] to its limit. I dont get it. Either what kind of magic that is, or why they were here. How did the attack start?
Tresk changed the scene again. She created a ghostly representation of herself hiding behind a tree, looking over a singr figure lurking in the swamp. The others near the tree werent visible yet, waiting for theirpanion to return.
I saw that weird magic obscuring his face and attacked without warning, Tresk said, changing the image to show her emerging from the persons shadow. He turned, blocking the strike with his forearm. I had your best poison on [Stab Stab]. The one with [elerated Decay]. Got four hits on the guys arm before the magic happened. Then I ran.
Theo nodded. Yeah, dont mess with magic.
Anyone afflicted with that poison would have a hard time surviving. [elerated Decay] increased the damage of all poisons, and removing the poison manually caused all stacks to apply at once. If the manspanions could heal him, he would lose the arm. Theo had no doubt in his mind about that. His poisons were beyond deadly. Tresks [Trackers Core] also provided the [Linger Poisons] effect, which increased the damage of poison on targets she tracked by 1.5 times.
My lingering question, Tresk said, drawing the daggers from her hips and stabbing the ghostly visage of the interloper. What level is this guy if he didnt go down choking on poison?
That was a question Theo didnt know if he wanted answered. It was bad enough to think about a band of low-level bandits roaming around, but if they were a high-level group That was far worse.
We need a n to take them out. Think Fenian can do the job?
Hes hiding something, Tresk said. I think his [Parantheir Duelists Core] is at least level 30.
Really? Theo asked, shaking his head. Surely not that high.
Tresk returned her daggers to their ce, leaning in. I think he was holding back when he dodged me. Couldve moved way faster.
Fenian moved fast enough in that encounter to dodge Tresk. How much faster could he have moved? But Theo didnt want to entertain any more questions. Thats all they were finding with this problem. More questions.
Grasping at things beyond his reach was a futile thing. Theo realized that long ago. It was a quagmire, as much as the swamp outside the western gate was. Doubts and questions were as likely to suck a man under as the marsh itself. If he was well-practiced in anything, it was the art of ignoring massive problems to push forward. Because without more levels, more wealth, and more notoriety what was the point of their little experiment?
Theo pressed his forehead against Tresks and smiled.
Whatever happens, well face it together, Theo said.
Tresk nodded, her expression setting with determination.
Together.
Alex chirped her support.
3.63 - Khahar Departs
3.63 - Khahar Departs
Sunlight filtered through the window in Theos room, casting shafts of light through the dusty air. He couldnt remember thest time he dumped a bottle of [Cleansing Scrub] over his bedroom, but that was the least of his concerns. A barrage of system messages clouded his vision, worse than the particles of dust in the air. So many cores had rolled over to new levels that the window took up most of his sight.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (8%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 18.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (5%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 19.
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.5%).
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.2%).
[Governance Core] receivedexperience (0.2%).
[Governance Core] leveled up! Level 20.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (5%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 19.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
Spending the entire night in the Dreamwalk was doubling his progress. It was better than the real world for grinding levels, even if the products he made didnt matter. Theo considered where to put his free point, but more [Intelligence] would help over anything else. One more level, and hed find himself with a magic-based core. That assumed that Khahar made good on his promise, contacting Toruaun and setting him up with a demon mage core. While he didnt normally like leaving things to chance, the alchemist had few other options. Hed take his time to pick the skill for his [Governance Core].
He inspected his attributes screen, distributing the free point into [Intelligence].
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 19
Alchemist
Core Slots: 4
Stats:
Health: 105
Mana: 160
Stamina: 115
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 16 (+8)
Vigor: 20 (+8)
Intelligence: 23 (+9)
Wisdom: 27 (+7)
Points: 0
That single level meant a lot. Perhaps not as much as the ascension into the level 30 range, but it was big. Another core meant he could lend himself better to the defense of Broken Tusk. With his Axpashi improving, hed leafed through Xolsas book in the Dreamwalk. With enough of it memorized, he saw how the Elfs theories about the core would benefit him and the town. He theorized that the Demon Ladys wards were much like limited-use enchantments. They were all reactive, and could be applied to almost everything. The example given in the book was a miners pick with a ward to imbue it with greater power, allowing the miner to take a few strings with impossible strength.
Tresk ced her hand over Theos shoulder, breaking him from his thoughts. He turned, finding her with a faint smile on her face. They shared more than just feelings, now. He didnt need to tell her about his excitement for the new core. It just bled between them, turning their thoughts brackish with a mingling existence.
Breakfast time, Theo said, rubbing his hands together.
Another thing to be excited about was their private booth. While their table by the window was all but reserved, they still had to contend with the crowds. The pair left theb, running into a gaggle of people on the street. There were more fresh faces in town, not ounted for by the surge of Elves. More refugees, fleeing from the north to find a home in the swamp town. Theo was d to have them. Strong back and determination would win their little rebellion, if it ever came to that.
The booth was as pleasant asst night. Theo swept his tail through the air, watching as Alex nestled in her box in the corner. The view outside the window was better, even if obscured slightly by the bathhouse. He could see the boiling rooms where the towns water was purified. The adventurers walked the walls, guarding it more like soldiers than anything. They moved in groups of three now, never straying far from their squads. More like a military every single day.
Theyre more like mercenaries, Tresk said, reading Theos thoughts.
Maybe. Soldiers get pay. Whats the line between soldier and mercenary? Theo asked.
Tresk tapped her fingers on the table, humming for a moment. During her thinking, the server brought the leftovers fromst night. This time, there was no mead, only the deliciously sweet moss tea.
Thank you, Theo said, flicking the server a silver coin. It seemed wise to tip now that he had a private booth. That act added to the illusion of his power.
Soldiers fight for a cause. Mercenaries fight for money, Tresk said, finally allowing her thoughts to form.
But you cant assume the motives of every adventurer in town. Theo picked through his leftover sd, finding only thergest chunk of crumbly Karatan cheese. Were not a nationyetbut thats exactly what these people are fighting for. The town.
Yeah, keyword yet on that whole thing. Tresk pushed the sd to the side and devoured her meal. But, youre right. Theyre something else entirely. An adventurer army.
Theo nodded, sipping his tea. How many of them fight for the top ranks?
Maybe everyone in the top 20. Not that anyone can catch me, Tresk said, posing heroically. No, but theyre talking about integrating our non-guild with Rivers and Gronro. I heard that Dwarf-dude is losing his shoes trying to get in on that deal. Aarok already has a few of his guys running the [Swamp Dungeon].
Theo picked through the parts of his food that he liked. The tea was the only thing he really needed to get the day going, but it was hard to resist the cheese. Once the silence had set in, Alex chirped, as though she had something to add to the conversation. Her sounds became more frantic as the moments rolled on, ending with her tumbling from the box and pecking at their heels.
Calm down, bird, Tresk said, picking the growing gosling up to cradle her. Whats going on?
The chirping continued. But a sound issued from outside the tavern sent Theos blood running cold. A spike of adrenaline flooded him as the frantic tter of warning bells issued from the walls. It started with a single, distant bell ringing rapidly. Then it was joined by others along the wall. Tresks daggers were in her hands in an instant, and she disappeared into the shadows.
A few heartbeatster, she sent a mental message to Theo.
Ships. On the horizona whole damn fleet, she said.
Cheep!
Theo stuffed Alex in his satchel and ran from the tavern, downing a [Potion of LImited Foresight] and rushing to the town square. Aarok was sprinting, his footfalls matching the frantic pace of the balls. The two men joined on the road, headed for the eastern gate.
An attack? Theo asked.
No idea.
There was no sign of an attack at the eastern gate. Aarok ascended the battlements to get a report, and Theo sprinted south to the other side of the harbor. Up on those battlements, he could see ships far in the distance. They rolled in on a bank of fog, obscured so that none of their features could be discerned. Adventurers scrambled around him, pushing past on the narrow path and asking for orders. Theo just stared.
Theyve finally arrived, Khahar said, appearing behind Theo.
An attack? Theo asked. No one would be suicidal enough to sail up the river to face their towers. Right?
My people. The clergy of my culte to take me home, Khahar said. He let out a slow breath.
All the tension released from Theos body. His shoulders rxed, giving way to the logic of his mind. Khahar had mentioned that his people wereing to get him, even if the Khahari leader could just teleport back to his home. The tension came back when Tresk sent another message.
Im about to jump onto the boat and murder these idiots! Tresk shouted.
Stop! Theo shouted back. Theyre Khahars people. Come to collect him.
Man. Alright. Standing down.
Theo opened his mayoral interface and wrote a message, sending it town-wide.
[Theo]: Theyre Khahars people. Everyone stand down. Report to me, south of the harbor on the wall.
Theo realized the scale of the ships he was seeing. The mouth of the river was miles away, but the sails still stood proud on the horizon. Moments ago, theyd loomed like harbingers of their own. Now they seemed more tame and inviting, heralds of a mans ascension into godhood.
Are you ready to go? Theo asked.
Khahar leaned against the wall. He looked tired. Its not death, like you might imagine. Honestly, I cant wait to be gone. Spencer Theyre insufferable. They hound me day and night. Khahar, what is your great wisdom? How can I be a better person? I dont know! Stop being an asshole.
Theo tried not toughhe really did. But in moments, both he and the god-like figure were holding stitches in their sides,ughing at the absurd situation. Once the alchemists breath came back to him, he looked at his old friend. Those unfamiliar eyes shone with excitement. A new adventure.
How long will it take? Theo asked.
Instantaneous, once I get back, Khahar said. Time moves slower in the godly realms. Depending on the strength of the realm, it will move even slower. With the power I umted, Ill have a realm powerful enough to rival thebined Pantheons.
Then what? Theo asked. To what end?
Khahar cast Theo a knowing look, a smile creeping into his face. Then Ill shatter the barrier between the pantheons. Kill Zagmon, Fanglir, the Eye, and a few others.
So, nothing big? Theo asked. Just rx for a while. Take it easy?
No such luxury. If my math is right, a second in this world will equal a year in mine. Time in the heavenly realms is the currency. Thats why the gods have such trouble influencing the mortal realm. Imagine if you started a n down here, and watched your agents take plodding steps.
Will you be watching me?
Ive already reached an agreement Well, I cant say exactly what agreement I made with who. Yes, Ill watch over the Soutnd Defensive Alliance.
A tter of footsteps issued behind the pair. Aarok, Luras, and every adventurer in town came running, crowding the wall and the area beneath it.
Theyre your people? Aarok asked, hand itching toward the dagger at his hip.
They are, Khahar said, gesturing vaguely to the sea. Come to collect their wayward god.
With the joking over, Khahar reverted to soundingpletely bored.
Can you keep that promise? Aarok asked.
Unfortunately, Khahar said, letting out a heavy sigh. Its been nice living here. I wish I could stay for longer. But my task can fall to no other.
The chatter from the adventurers was the only sound near the wall. Khahar just stared off toward the coast, as though this was something hed been dreading for a long time. Theos hope was that he would be happier in the heavenly realm. If being near his own people was so burdensome, then that should have been a relief.
Cat people are going ashore. Im tailing them. Heh. Get it?
Alex chirped from Theos bag, scrambling to remove herself from it. Khahar turned, smiling at the gosling and scooping her up. Frantic chirps led to the man nodding as though he understood. He produced a handful of wiggling beetles, holding his palm t for her to peck at.
You take care of him, Alex DGoose. You hear me? Khahar asked.
Theo spotted the figures moving along the river. They were all Khahari, dressed in shades of yellow and brown. The one leading them wore a tall hat, decorated with gleaming yellow gems. The cat-person looked ancient, gray streaking through their fur. Aarok and Theo just watched them approach, eyes asionally flicking to the towers. Just in case.
Lord Khahar! the lead Khahari shouted. He got to his knees, pressing his forehead into the dirt. The time hase for you to ascend. Please! Dont make your faithful wait a moment longer!
It took Theo a long moment to realize whatnguage the Khahari priest was speaking. Khahar stood next to Theo, a massive grin on his face. Onest joke from Yuri.
Did you teach your people Russian? Theo asked, mouth hanging open in shock.
Khahar burst outughing, pping the wall. After a while, he wiped tears from his eyes.
I told them it was the holynguage, Khahar said, trying to stifle hisughs. The system made me start with Khahari, but I still remembered all my oldnguages. Ah. Good times.
If not for his endless mingling with people in Moscow, Theo wouldnt have understood the joke. The Russiannguage the Khahari priest spoke was rough. The pronunciation was bad, even while shouted, but the alchemist got the point. But it was nice to see more of the old Yuri. The good-natured jokester.
Thats how I remember you, Theo said, pping Khahars shoulder. Tossing jokes until the end.
Khahar nodded, turning and pulling Theo into a hug. The alchemist tried to keep his head in that moment. But something hot stung at the edges of his eyes, breaking the surface to trace a line down his cheek. He hugged his old friend back with everything he had, pulling away only to watch Yuris grin spread across that cat-persons face.
A trade ship will arrive soon. See ya in heaven, Yuri said, disappearing and reappearing with his people outside the wall.
See ya in hell! Theo shouted down in Russian. That got the attention of the group of Khahari priests. They looked up as though the alchemist hadmitted some mortal sin. Yuri justughed, walking toward the beach without another word.
Alex pecked at Theos shoe, so he picked her up. He cradled her in his arms, pressing his face into her plumage. Tresk emerged from the shadows, producing a small length of cloth from nowhere and holding it out for him to take.
A hankie for these trying times? she asked.
Theo took it, dabbing his eyes. Even with an audience, he didnt care. It was like losing Earth again. Even though he knew it would happen, the moment that Yuri departed hurt more than he thought it would. Only the calming wave offorting from both Alex and Tresk banished those feelings away. The slow murmur of chatter from the adventurers, kicked up again by Khahars departure, helped him snap out of it. He returned the handkerchief to Tresk and nodded his approval.
Right, Theo said, pping his hands together. One problem solved. A million to go.
Come on, Aarok said, reaching out to grab Theo by the arm. His attempt missed, thanks to the [Potion of Lesser Foresight]. Tresks daggers were in her hands. She crouched low, ready to vanish into the shadows and strike. The Half-Ogre gave her a t look. We need to talk about this. In private.
Use your words, dummy, Tresk said, refusing to return her weapons to her hips.
Lets go, Luras said, turning away.
Theo shrugged, following them through the crowd on the wall. He made a note of how his potion activated when Aarok attempted to grab his arm. That meant the Half-Ogre intended to restrain him, not just grab his arm. So even grappling counted as an attack.
Aarok acting real funny all the sudden, Tresk said.
Her concerns were apparent through the Tarahek, but Theo didnt agree with her feelings. Aarok wasnt trying to control them. He was scared. The alchemist didnt me him. As Khahar walked along the river, headed for a fleet of Khahari warships, Broken Tusk was left at the mercy of one god. The Burning Eye might see this as a chance to act. The group found their way to Aaroks private office, all taking seats in the cool air.
Now were open to an attack, Aarok said. As much as having a powerful person in town is bad, now we have a target on our backs.
You think so? Luras asked, leaning against the wall. He never seemed to sit in these meetings. If the eye was so petty, wouldnt he have acted?
Is the eye even a boy or a girl? Isnt it just a big old eye? Tresk asked, scratching her head.
The eye doesnt have an agent to act, Theo said. Did I mention Uharis and Sulvan are on the moon?
What? Aarok asked, blinking slowly. Theo could see his mind trying to catch up with reality.
Khahar put them on Antalis, Theo said inly. I dont know if they can get back, or how long that would take.
Yeah, screw them, Tresk said. Well get strong before they get back.
Level 130 strong? Lurasughed.
Yeah! Maybe I dont know, Tresk said, her ego deting a bit.
The situation wasnt good, but this was Theos fault. He should have thought about the implications of having someone that powerful in his town, throwing his weight around. They knew he would leave one day, leaving an opening for other gods to act against them. Especially the ones that they pissed off.
We hang our hopes on one thing, Theo said, knocking the table to gain attention over the argument. Luras and Tresk had engaged in a shouting match over the issue. Its the same hope weve always had, right? Drogramath will protect us, if ites to gods attacking us. They cant act directlyKhahar was an exception. He wasnt a god, yet.
Consider the fact that Khahar promised to attack the other gods the moment he ascended, including the Burning Eye, Aarok said, finally helping Theo be the voice of reason. Theyll be too busy with him to worry about us.
This was normally the time that Tresk would promise to stab the Burning Eye personally, paying no heed to the fact that he was a god. But Theo felt the response building in her mind reach a measured conclusion. It was strange.
And well be ready for whatever elsees with that, Tresk said.
3.64 - To Found a Kingdom
3.64 - To Found a Kingdom
Theo avoided confronting his feelings about Yuri departing. All this time he was thinking of him as Khahar, another man entirely, and that wasnt a lie. So much time in this world had changed him, but there was a glimmer of that Russian spy in there somewhere. But as that realization hit him, another one of sce came in just as strong. He didnt belong in this world. The realm of the gods awaited him, and there couldnt have been a higher calling than that. Right?
Aarok went on about the defense of the town, doubling patrols and increasing the size of squads. But Theo was left feeling a deep sense offort where he expected grief. Reports rolled in from adventurers about the departing Khahari, others from the walls stating that everything was quiet. If the Burning Eye had ns to strike, he didnt y his hand now.
More concerning reports came from Aaroks lips, telling of reports from Gronro-Dir.
Theyve already been hit, Aarok said. A small wave of [Skeletal Warriors] made their way down Murder Passage.
That reminds me, Theo said. I have amunication crystal for both leaders.
The midday sun filtered through Aaroks lone window. Just like Theos bedroom, this room could have used a few units of [Cleansing Scrub]. There was dust in the air, blown around by the constant buzz of the air conditioner. The alchemist sshed some cleanser on the ground, watching as the magic scrubbed the room clean. It didnt remove the particles of dust in the air, leaving them floating through the shafts of light. Maybe that was a change he could make for the air conditioners Throk had invented. An air purifier.
But those were just idle thoughts brought to stave the usatory staresing from Aarok and Luras. Tresk didnt seem to care.
Those would have been useful, Aarok said.
I have to hand it to them myself, Theo said. They attach to the first person they touch. Thats what Fenian said.
Fine. Well sort itter. But I had a point, Aarok said. Their defenses are crap. We should send aid.
In what form? Theo asked. Arent we already helping by training their people?
Immediate aid. Even a single [Chain Lightning Tower] would help, Aarok said.
So, its a matter of money, Theo said. Right. You want to split the cost with the town?
Assuming Fenian has one, Aarok said, softening a bit. If we cant get one today, theres no point.
Theo let it sink in for a moment. Undead had already reached as far south as Gronro. What that meant for the nortnds was beyond him, but it couldnt have been good. There were also the towns between the south and Qavell to consider. How long could they hold out without the aid of the kingdom? All these facts made the defense of Murder Passage even more important, cing it at the top of the alchemists priorities.
Did we misjudge something? Theo asked, trying to see a w in their logic. Theyd prepared well, but had no experience working with other towns. If the horde descended on Broken Tusk, theyd be fine.
Were new to this, Tresk said. Well stumble a few times, but well get it.
Tresk is right, Luras said, cutting off Aarok before he could speak. We cant expect to get it right every time. Aarok is doing his best.
The phrasing of that statement was specific. Theo took a moment to study the Half-Ogre guildmasters face. Anger lingered on his face, but the thing resting behind his eyes was fear, and disappointment. He realized, perhaps a littlete, how this affected Aarok most of all.
I said we, Theo said, punctuating the statement by smacking his fist on the table. No one in themand structure carries a burden alone. If everyone in this roomand the administration staffmissed something as simple as arming Gronro, were all to me.
Broken Tusk doesnt carry the burden of outsiders, Tresk said. Were not some well-funded empire.
Well said, Luras said, patting her on the head. Theo often forgot how close they were before he arrived.
Fine. Done grabbing each others butts? Aarok said, huffing a breath. Heres the n. Ill spend the guilds funds on towers. Well use Theos contracts to give them on loan to Gronro. Pitch in whatever you can from the towns funds, and your personal funds.
I have some cash, Tresk said with a shrug.
Yeah, me too, Luras said.
I have 50 gold to pitch in, if needed, Theo said. But that was all his money.
Right. Perfect. This doesnt leave this room. I dont want people thinking were in a financial pinch. If they think we need to collect money from random people Yeah, I dont know what theyll do, Aarok said.
Theo could see the Half-Ogres nerves wearing thin. He didnt realize how stressful the defense of the town was, let alone the defense of another one. The alchemist stood, cing a hand on his shoulder.
Well sort it out. Stop stressing, Theo said. Ill find that Elf and see how many towers he has in stock.
Theo turned to leave the room without another word, Tresk following close behind. The Marshling cradled Alex in her arms, kissing her on the head. Aarok and Luras remained, falling into discussion the moment they cleared the room.
It was getting harder to find Fenian in town. Even if the traders carriage train was resting near the ranch, the Elf himself was nowhere near it. Theo had to run around town, asking if anyone had seen him before getting a tip. He was near the mine, hanging out with the miners and trading tales to anyone that would listen.
Theo and Tresk headed to the southern part of town, finding Fenian outside the mine. He was standing on a crate, all the miners of Dead Dog Mine sitting cross legged and enraptured.
...and then I said to the Shadow Prince, if you want him,e and get him!, Fenian said, ending the statement with a flourish. Oh. The alchemist is here. Sorry, but Ill have to continue this story another time.
The miners issued a collective groan, all eyes turning to Theo.
I need some towers, Theo said, shrugging off the stares.
Business? A worthy reason for interrupting a tale, Fenian said, jumping from the crate and grabbing Theo by the arm. He dragged him down the road, Tresk following closely behind. I have 2 [Chain Lightning Towers] in my inventory. Thest towers Ill get my hands on for a while.
Standard price? Theo asked.
Indeed, Fenian said.
Theo removed 20 gold from his inventory and handed it over. If everyone was in such dire financial straits, he was happy to carry that burden. The less the people felt the strain, the better.
Thanks, Theo said, cing the turrets in his inventory. Actually, I wonder if you could deliver these to Gronro for me. And themunication crystals.
What was the point of me handing them over, then? Fenian asked,ughing. Let me see I have to leave tomorrow. Its a long journey, but I suppose I can stop by Rivers and Gronro. As a favor.
Does that mean youre heading north? Theo asked.
Yes, but cardinal directions mean little on the Bridge. Theyre more vague suggestions than anything.
Could you take someone with you? One of my administration needs to have Grot sign a contract.
Of course. No problem, Fenian said, ying with the feather on his hat. Anytime the trader was around, it reminded Theo of his own absurd hat. I heard Khahar left town. Finally.
Is that cause for concern?
No. You should be fine. They will be busy.
Fenian either knew more than he was letting on, or he was just guessing his way through this. At that moment, Theo couldnt figure out which was worse. But he was reminded of the traders intentions. At every turn, he was there for the betterment of Broken Tusk. He was more than an ally; he was a friend.
How is Galflower doing? Theo asked. He knew better than to ask how the Elf was doing. Better to ask about his favorite Karatan.
Oh, shes loving it, Fenian said, giving Theo an excited look. Days ago, she was grazing on the rampant energy of the Taranthian hignds. Now she gets more of her favorite food. Drogramaths unfiltered energy. Its the closest thing to her preference. Which is UzXulvens power.
Since he had the Elfs attention, Theo led him to the eastern wall. Fenian wouldnt normally follow him around like this, but he seemed bored. They toured the defenses, spotting that the shipwright team were making the rough shape of a boat. They talked about the town, and the importance of the alliance. Somewhere near the eastern gate, near the bridge, theynded on Qavell.
What happens if Qavell is destroyed? Theo asked. What happens to the towns connected to the [Kingdom Core].
Theyll degrade, Fenian said. You can feed them motes and materials to prolong the effects of the magic, but its only a matter of time. Youll need another [Kingdom Core] to keep it alive.
Im not interested in running a kingdom, Theo said, peering into the distance. He hoped to spot those bandits, but there was nothing to the east or the north.
Good news! Fenian said. You can select many governments.
Can you find me a [Kingdom Core]? Theo asked.
Im having a hard enough time finding your mint, Fenian said after a long pause. I know a Coresmith in Tarantham, but theyre backed up. To get a [Kingdom Core], youd need to delve into a high-level dungeon and get really lucky. Or get an equally high-level Coresmith to do the job.
How high? Tresk asked, reminding everyone that she was always lurking in the shadows.
Ive heard about level 80 dungeons dropping them. Good luck finding a level 80 dungeon, though. Seems about the same level for the Coresmith, but thats more about the persons skills, Fenian said. His eyes lingered over the harbor. I cant wait to see ships docking there.
Theo paused for a long moment. There was no way theyd find a [Kingdom Core] on short notice, and despite the traders words he didnt want to be a king. Only time showed him he wanted to be a mayor, but that was tenuous. If there was an option where he could save Broken Tusk, Rivers and Daub, and Gronro-Dir without making them his subjects, that would be ideal. He wanted them to have autonomy, to an extent. Maybe a duchy.
But all the thoughts of expanding his power led him to think about Fenians involvement.
Why are you helping us? Theo asked. Actual answers only.
Would I ever lie to you?
Yes.
Fenian let out a heavy sigh. He averted his gaze from both Tresk and Theo.
When House Southde fell, it wasnt a quick thing. The empire cut us off from the [Kingdom Core] and let us die a slow death. They knew they couldnt take us on brute strength. Wed have depleted their army. What good is one champion against famine?
Fenian let that hang in the air for an ufortable amount of time. The same thing that happened to Broken Tusk happened to House Southde. It was different, but simr enough to send a twinge of pain through Theos chest. Qavell left the soutnds to rot over time, not directly removing them from the kingdom.
So, I see my people in your town. When I arrived, I saw those hungry eyes. But the path to strength isnt paved by handouts. The stones and mortar set in that road are hard won battles, Fenian said, letting those words linger in the air. Youve already paved your road with hard work. With sweat and blood. With stone and orepotions and lumber. And some luck. Im just making sure you get what you deserve.
Theo felt a rush of emotion from Tresk. That hit home for her more than him, and he felt the years under the yoke of Qavell weigh heavily on his soul. The Bantari peoples, and the Half-Ogres native to Broken Tusk, were driven to near extinction over several hundred years. King Karasan would regret his decision to turn his eyes from the town. If the undead horde didnt destroy his kingdom, the Soutnds Defensive Alliance woulde knocking in a few years. The twin heart the alchemist shared with Tresk guaranteed it.
Music to my ears, Tresk said.
Alex chirped her agreement.
I already said it, but were with you, Theo said.
I know. When my next job is done, Ill return to Broken Tusk for refuge, Fenian said. When you establish your seat of power, I hope you ept an old friend. Even after what he has to do.
Always.
Fenian was a master of changing the subject. Theo had pushed him, over the days, to talk more inly. While the Elf was happy to do so, it came with a weight that stifled the air. When he changed the subject back to Galflower, and by extension Alex, the alchemist was happy to entertain it. The Karatan that drove his carriages werent familiars, but they shared a special bond. When asked if Alex could bond with UzXulven, using the Bridge, Fenian couldnt answer.
The price might be too heavy for you, dear alchemist, was Fenians onlyment on the matter.
Theo, Tresk, and Fenian spent hours talking about whatever. Whenever things roamed to serious topics, they were quickly diverted. Eventually, the Elf asked about his potions. The alchemist was happy to lead the way back to the Newt and Demon to show off his wares. Salire was in the shop talking with a customer. She bowed her head at the Elf trader but offered no other words, too engrossed with a paying customer to pay them any mind.
The first potion Theo showed Fenian was the [Vigor Potion] with the [Refined Elemental Earth] modifier. The alchemist inspected it as he handed it over.
[Vigor Potion]
[Refined Elemental Earth]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance vigor.
Drink to increase resistance scaling.
Effect:
+14 Vigor for 1.75 hours.
For 1.25 hours, your physical resistances scale 1.30 times better than normal.
The scaling effect is the important part here, Fenian said,paring the [Vigor Potion] and a [Dexterity Potion]. Yes, the attribute enhancement is great but These potions would be effective no matter what your level. Hard to say what price Id get these for. Anywhere from 5 to 20 silver a potion, depending on the buyer.
The problem with making more powerful potions was finding the right buyer. Thats why Theo was focusing on making tailor-made potions for the citizens of Broken Tusk. The point with that wasnt to make a massive profit, but to provide the most benefit to his people. Everything influenced everything else. If the adventurers were performing better, theborers could work without fear theyd be eaten by a monster. If theborers were happier, they produced more, which made more money for the town.
There woulde a time when Theo had to renegotiate his contracts with everyone, something he didnt know how to approach. The more industry he owned in town, the more he felt like a fascist dictator. Those thoughts never stopped him from expanding his holdings, which didnt help matters. He wondered what the difference between someone who held all the power for the good of their people, and one that held it for themself was. But he was never one for politics. He just wanted to see his town, and the alliance grow. Maybe that was enough.
I dont feel like negotiating, Theo said. Were in a transitional period, and Broken Tusk considers you a close ally. Whatever you can pay.
Well settle on the bare-minimum of market value, Fenian said. With a 10% discount because you love me so much.
Fenian was very interested in the [Potions of Lesser Foresight]. Theo made sure he knew the limitations of the potion. Anyone who drank them could only drink one every 6 hours, otherwise theyd grow deathly ill. Theo had plenty of [Pozwa Horns] from the ranch, and began brewing a full batch for the Elf as they went over the other potions. Fenian needed as many health, mana, and stamina potions as they had, but took interest in his other creations. Especially poisons.
We dont normally sell poisons to outsiders, Tresk said. But youre our dude.
The one with [Anti-Mage] interests me, Fenian said.
This was the poison that Tresk considered a mage killer. She wasnt wrong. As Theo inspected the poison, he reflected on how deadly it was.
[Poison]
[Anti-Mage]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Chance to inflict 2 stacks per hit.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 15 stacks. Poison inflicts DOT damage. Targets inflicted with this poison take 1 point of damage for every mana spent, multiplied by the amount of stacks. This applies to ongoing spells cast before the poison was applied.
Stacks of poison take twice as long to fade.
Removing a stack of poison through any means other than the natural expiration of the effect causes the remaining stacks of poison to explode, dealing their remaining damage to the target.
If a mage didnt understand the effects of the poison, they would die quickly. If they did understand the effects, they were locked down for the duration of the poison. Both options meant it earned its name and reflected Fenians desire to fight at least one mage.
After the [Pozwa Horns] were distilled into [Lesser Foresight Essence], and brewed into a variety of potions with different modifiers, they settled into negotiations. Theo paid little attention to this part, letting Fenian set the terms. The alchemist was just happy to have weapons for Gronro, and more [Monster Cores] than he needed. They ended the deal, settling on 30 gold for potions worth far more than that. Those potions included an array of [Hallow Ground] potions, both in bomb form and otherwise.
Well, this has been an eventful day, Fenian said, stuffing everything in his inventory. Pretty Half-Ogre Lurking on the other side of the door. Care to join us for dinner?
A lilting, stammering voice came from the other side of the door before Salire stumbled inside. Her red-tinged skin was stained a deeper shade as she tried to get the words out.
Well take that as yes, Tresk said, giggling.
3.65 - Blood and Stone
3.65 - Blood and Stone
Fenian, with too much elegance, twirled his fork in Zee pasta before slurping it down with grace. Life is better when you have a private section at a tavern.
Theo, Tresk, Alex, Fenian, and Salire sat in the private booth at Xams tavern. While the day wasnt as busy as it had been in recent memory, the alchemist enjoyed the slow pace. The food was great, even if he declined the imported mead. While he felt no aversion to the drink, he simply enjoyed water with his meal. When something was produced as the fruit of Broken Tuskbor, it tasted sweeter than any mead could.
No progress had been made on finding the strange people lurking outside the walls. Theo received reports that Zizs team, working on the road, hadnt been osted. Patrols around the dungeon had tripled, even through the night, and the alchemist dedicated a small team of golems to roaming the area.
Fenian and Salire chatted, although Theo couldnt tell if it was with more than friendly interest. The Elf often sought to tter those around him, so it likely meant he was interested in her in a mercantile capacity. Perhaps she was his next project, like Azrug was. No matter his intentions, it was nice to have morepany at the dinner table.
I wanna tour the road tomorrow, Tresk said. Ziz made some progress. Theyre well beyond the bridge.
Theo picked at his foot, considering the importance of the road. Maintenance on the road will be a problem. Can we incorporate it into the town, somehow?
I think so, Fenian said.
But he left it at that. The Elf normally had far more to say on these matters, so it was disheartening. Running the town was hard enough without having to guess at how things worked. If they couldnt bring elements like the road into the town, Broken Tusk would simply need to establish a permanent group that maintained buildings without seed cores. Ziz would sort that out. He had already proved himself worthy of the position. Expanded projects, such as the highway and tunnel, would fall under their umbre. Once again, Theo thought too far ahead. It was better to focus on what was right in front of him.
Yeah, we should see the road, Theo said.
Assuming its safe enough, Salire said.
Fenian puffed his chest out, grinning. Its always safe enough with Uncle Fenian around.
Maybe this was a chance to get that mysterious band to reveal themselves. Theo had enough tricks up his sleeve to stay safe, even if he was attacked. It would take the force of a god to stop him in his tracks. But there was something in Fenians eyes that revealed he knew something. A glimmer of knowledge he wasnt sharing. It was as though the Elf was expecting something to happen without revealing what that was. The alchemists intuition told him it was a good thing, even if it didnt tell him directly. So much of dealing with superior intuition was about trust. His Drogramathi cores whispered their approval. No matter what happened, it would end well.
The conversation around the table didnt stray far from Broken Tusks situation. Fenian was confident theyd have boats soon, and promised to put them in contact with traders from far-offnds. Theos disappointment rested with Khahars departure. While it was nice to see an old friend, he left nothing to give them a head-start on trading with the Khahari. When they came to collect their leader, they left no instructions on initiating trade. Perhaps that was Yuris way of keeping his promise to not cheat, but it stung more than he expected.
There arent trade routes from here to the Khahari Desert, Fenian said. Well need to map those out ourselves.
Khahar said trade ships would arrive. Although, I dont know how long that will take, Theo said.
Or how many of them will be left, Fenian said. Why dont you make the journey to the holy desert? Scared of sailing?
If the monsters onnd are anything to go by, the ones in the sea would be worse. Theo drummed his fingers on the table. He might have been afraid of the monsters at sea, but the killer would be boredom on the open ocean. Weeks or months confined in a ships cabin. It didnt appeal to him.
Its been an age since I sailed, Fenian said. When I first arrived on the continent.
Yeah, screw that, Tresk said.
Fenian paused his elegant consumption of the noodles. Dont you have an affinity for the water? As a Bantari?
Maybe fresh water. Shallow pools, Tresk said, leaking back with a contented sigh.
So what happens after Khahar ascends? Theo asked. It was nice to have a calm evening, but those questions lingered like smoldering coals in his mind.
Chaos in the heavens. They dont want him to ascend, you know. Most of them, anyway, Fenian said. I have theories, but nothing more. The process of bing a god isnt documented.
Theo picked at his food, pushing the noodles around and slurping up the strays when he wanted. There was a lot to consider with Khahars ascension. Followers of other gods mighte to cause trouble in Broken Tusk, but theres no way the leader could have stayed here forever. The road ahead was uncertain, but that was nothing new. A wave of calm flowed from both Alex and Tresk, the Marshlings confidence overwhelming. Whatever happened, theyd sort it out.
Their conversation diminished again, shifting to smaller topics. Fenian was evasive about his current trade deals, and Theo let him have that. When the Elf departed, hed take with him either Alise or Gwyn to form a contract in Gronro. That led to talks about wider trade, something Broken Tusk needed desperately.
How about a bath? Theo asked, finally having his fill of the food. He left his te mostly full, a knot in his stomach. Tresk didnt seem to notice.
What danger? Tresk asked, jumping into the hot pool and swimming around.
The group had moved from the tavern, finding Theos private room at the bathhouse and settling in. The alchemist set the enchanted Khahari box near the pools edge, studying the many strange symbols on the surface.
On the road, Theo responded idly. When we go to inspect it.
Oh, just bring your army, Fenian said, settling into the bath. The water came up to his shoulders and he let out a contented sigh. Should be good enough to deal with some bandits.
Also we have you, Tresk said, sshing water on the Elf. He didnt flinch. To swoop in and save us.
It wont always be that way.
Theo was half-listening, focused on the box. What would Yuri leave him that would make a difference? Why did it have to be sealed away? There were too many questions to face, and the bath was far toofortable. But Fenian took notice, edging over to stare at the engraved container.
Fenian cocked his head, poking the box before shrugging. Did he say what was inside?
Nope. Just said Id need it, Theo said.
Bet its useful, Tresk said. He took that spiritstone coin away. The one I stole.
Allow me to tell you a tale of my people, Fenian said, cracking his knuckles. Themon belief is that the Elves have been in Tarantham since the dawn of the world. Endless creatures of wonder and might. But that is not the case. Like many things in this world, we were sucked into that cycle of destruction and rebirth.
Why does that happen? Theo said, cutting the Elf off before he could continue. How does it happen? The system seems more like a well-tuned program than a naturalw.
Fenian failed to hide the smile on his face, although he tried. Because the bastard gods were meant to stay where they are. This is my theory, of course But they bent the rules. You only need to look at Balkor entering our realm to see that as true.
Bah, Tresk grunted, sshing around with Alex. How can you know?
Fenian shrugged. Back to my story. Destruction and rebirth. Gods and cores. Levels and teaus. We experienced rapid expansion in my house. More than the empire would suffer, so we were destroyed. You two are leveling faster than anyone Ive seen beforethanks to ideal conditionsand it makes me wonder about you. If youll fall into that cycle. Wouldnt it be nice if that cycle was gone? Forever?
Theo looked to the wooden rafters above. The world was ruled by the system, and those rules determined the cycles. It might have been unintentional, but thats the way it went. The alchemist had covered level 1 to almost 20 in around 70 days. But that wasnt exactly true. He thought back to when he started using the Dreamwalk and the sudden boost to experience it gave him. He doubled his daily experience gains, adding to the confusion of his progress. It was confoundingly quick.
But how would you stop the cycles? Theo asked.
Fenian shrugged the question away. Excellent question.
Theo filed those statements away in his mind. There was a special boxbeled weird stuff Fenian said somewhere in his consciousness. The Elf wasnt prone to philosophical ramblings, but it got him thinking. If the cycle destroyed Qavell, they were better off for it. Assuming they could find a [Kingdom Core]. That made Broken Tusk guilty of enjoying the fruits of the cycle, whatever the cost. Once again, more questions than answers. He settled into the water and let out a contented sigh. What concerns he had he could share within the Dreamwalk.
It was just after dusk when the group departed the bath. Fenian stayed at the tavern, leaving the trio to wander under the moonless sky for a short time. But each member of the Tarahek desired the same thing. Thatforting sensation washed over them the moment they hopped in bed, vision swirling to deposit them in the harbor.
Weird talk from Fenian, Tresk grunted, scooping up Alex and depositing her into the safe harbor. What was his story about? Something about the Southdes?
He meant we cant avoid the cycles. Trying to prime us for when Qavell falls, Theo said. Thats my guess. Hes high enough in level so I cant use my intuition to its fullest.
Tresk grunted her response. Theo could feel her ambivalence to the topic, but that was typical. She had the right idea, though. Fenian handed out exactly as much information as he wanted, never giving more than he needed. That often left the alchemist grasping at unseen futures, twisting himself into knots when he didnt need the added stress. With a thought he summoned his regr fare. Distition stills and nt beds, ready to help him climb toward level 20.
Whats that? Theo asked, pointing to the short rapier in Tresks hand. It was only half the length longer than her normal daggers, but thin-ded with a basket guard.
Gotta make papa Parantheir happy. Right? Tresk asked. Theres a skill Im interested in with the [Parantheir Duelists Core].
What is it?
Fenian exined it to me. Something about isting a target. Synergizes with my other cores.
Theo nodded, watching her scamper off into the distance. Alex let out an excited chirping noise, diving into the safe waters of the harbor. His concern was still on hermon [Trackers Core], something she didnt seem willing to part ways with. [Track Monster] worked with [Marked For Death] directly, allowing her to deal twice the normal damage on her first attack out of stealth on marked targets. Combined with her [Trackers Cores] [Lingering Poison], it made for a brutal build focused on quick strikes and the attrition of potions.
But thats the w, Alex, Theo sighed, tending to his stills. Both of us are useless after the first bout.
She chirped in response.
The night went by the way it normally did. Theo busied himself with sifting through Xolsas research as he tended both the stills and his gardens. Tresk summoned various monsters to test her techniques and was oddly measured about it. Normally shed summon a dragon first, then work her way down until she wasnt dying immediately. She learned a lot on how to use the rapier, but didnt seem convinced it was the best fit. But that was the weapon of Parantheir. Or so she imed.
The next morning came, and it seemed more peaceful than most in recent memory. The group made their way to Xams tavern, finding their private booth and settling in for tea and leftovers. Excitement welled in all members of the Tarahek. Theyd purposefully kept away from the road, giving Ziz time to extend it over the river, then to the north. With the team working for days without harassment from either monsters or the bandits, it seemed safe enough. Regr patrols from the adventurers guild didnt hurt matters.
Theo felt energized after his moss tea. He spotted Ziz and his workers heading out for the day, crossing down the north-south road by the tavern and heading east. The alchemist ran up beside them, nudging the stoneworker.
Wevee to inspect your work, Theo said, grinning.
Hah! Well, prepare to be impressed, Ziz said, rubbing his calloused hands together. Weve got the technique down well enough. Thought wed burn through what few [Tunneling Potions] we had, but the trenches we need are so shallow theyst a while.
Good to hear, Theo said, gesturing for the stoneworker to lead the way.
Miana waved as the group passed. She was tending to her animals, letting them out in the massive pasture to clean out the stables. Theo hoped her core building had something to help her with that. Although, now that he thought of it the droppings might have alchemical uses. He shook the thought from his mind, focusing on the literal road ahead. It stretched from the eastern gate, heading east towards the new stone bridge over the river. To the south was the harbors wall, and the portcullises situated over the rushing river.
So, you might know, but we have a solid technique, Ziz said, stomping his foot on the white stone road as he went. It seemed firm, and wide enough for two carts to travel side-by-side. We dig a trench, put fat gravel at the bottom, thinner at the top, then leveling sand if we need it. The new guys mostly need the sand, those with a few levels in our cores can handle it fine.
Its quite sturdy, Theo said, stepping onto the bridge. So is this.
The bridge was an all-stone construction, arching to span the river without support on the bottom. Another quirk of the free-standing things made by the stoneworkers. The road turned after the crossed the river, heading north and tracking a path along the water. It was a healthy distance away, and Ziz went into detail about how important the gravel was for drainage. The leader of the stoneworkers was excited to talk about his work, but so were hispanions. The group had grown, but only the original team was walking the road this morning.
Theo looked to either side of the road, spotting the mountains north of Broken Tusk to his left, and more mountains in the distance on his right. It seemed safe enough, but he drank a [Potion of Limited Foresight] anyway. It was habitual by this point.
So, Im guessing you have an inventory now, Theo said, gesturing to the group.
Zizughed. Yeah, were not interested in hauling stone this far out. One of the boys took a [Traders Core] just for the inventory.
Yeah, I cant imagine living without it, Theo said.
Tresk paused on the road, cradling Alex in her arms. She cocked her head to the side, knit her brow, then let out a breath. Ah, shit.
It happened faster than Theo could respond. With a river to their left, clear fields to the right, this seemed like a ce immune to ambushes. When 5 red-skinned, horned figures emerged from nowhere ahead, his blood ran cold. One Zagmon Dronon in the rear raised a staff high, filling the air with a keening that sted out like an explosion. Red, thorny vines burst from the ground and seized Tresk, binding her where she stood. Ziz and his men had their makeshift weapons out, but another Dronon had already sprinted toward the group. Toward his target.
Theo.
Deft strikes that depleted the potion. Faster than anyone hed seen before. But Theo had already withdrawn his improvised explosive, although he was fearful of the results. Using it so close to hispanions would cause one thing. But it didnt matter. The leather-d Dronon was quicker than him, crouching and pivoting to ce the sole of his boot on the potion. He kicked it away with enough force to send it sailing far into the distance.
Tresk shouted. Zizs men did a hopeless battle with the other Zagmon Dronon. And Theo struggled for his life.
But the assassin was toying with him. Theo withdrew a [Freezebomb], only to have it pped away. Then a [Retreat Potion], finding a simr effect. The alchemists face twisted into a grimace. There was only one thing he could think of to escape. Something to buy even a moment of time. He focused on his [Dreampassage] skill.
Even as a dagger sliced through the front of his silken robe. Ripped through his undershirt. Pierced his skin and parted bones searching for his heart. A shout of pain rippled across the scene. Theo shared a look with Tresk before
Theo Spencer vanished from the mortal realm.
3.66 - TeroGal
3.66 - Tero''Gal
Theo! Tresk shouted. She struggled against the vines holding her tight, rolling herself over to protect Alex as she dug for her dagger. Each motion brought a wave of agony.
The Dronon said something in a tongue she didnt recognize. Likely one of the damned demon tongues, but she could sense the confusion in their words. They all shared looks, even as the warriors in the group batted away hammers and awls. She didnt like being toyed with. Not like this. And where had Theo gone? She couldnt feel him nearby, but he wasnt dead. Shed know if he was dead.
Im gonna w your eyes out! Tresk shouted, gnawing on the magical vines.
The Dronon mage turned to regard her, leveling his gaze. He was an older man, wearing ceremonial robes and hoisting a staff made of bones. It looked gross, and the vines tasted disgusting. It was like chewing on a pile of ants. Where has he gone? the mage asked in Qavelli.
How the hell should I know? Tresk asked, grunting. She withdrew a dagger from her shared inventory, but it ttered over the stones, out of reach. Cursing, she wiggled her hand through those vines. Thosecerating vines.
The mage approached, stooping low and paying no attention to the battle behind him. That assassin who tried to kill Theo came close, standing behind the mage and crossing his arms. Where? You are his soul-bond. Both of you. Dont struggle.
Have you tried checking in your butt? Tresk asked, chuckling at her own joke. She winced when theugh forced the spike of a vine into her side.
You should take this more seriously, the mage said. What hope does a level 20 have against a 100?
Yeah, that sucked. But the scaling damage on her poison might do something to them. Enough to make an arm fall off or something like that. Good enough trade for such a smug piece of
The mage rose, squinting and looking southward. Tresk did everything she could to crane her neck, even as the vines drew more blood. There was nothing to see over there, but the Marshling felt something. Like a storm bearing down on them, thundering hard and full of fury. A snap like lightning echoed over the road, then a man appeared on the road. Arms crossed, Fenian Feintleaf grinned.
Ive gained my share of titles over the years, Fenian said, scanning the scene. Everyone stopped fighting. Zizs men edged away with instinctive self-preservation. Perhaps you know a few.
Stay out of this, Elf, the mage said.
My title as Champion was The Gale of Parantheir, Fenian said. A rapier appeared in his right hand, blue-silver and iid with more adornments than Tresk could count.
Youre not the only Champion to walk the world, the mage snarled. Energy gathered near his staff, but didntsh out.
Thats a bluff, Alex, Tresk said, whispering to his gosling.
No, but Im looking for some new titles, Fenian said. Another de appeared in his left hand. A rapier that seemed to be made of pure shadow. As though it sucked in all the surrounding light, almost formless. What do you think about
It didnt matter how much [Dexterity] Tresk had. It was impossible to follow Fenians next move. The road beneath his feet cracked, then fissured, creating a trench that spanned 100 paces in either direction. Silver-blue fire shed with impossible shadow as the Elf struck out at the first Dronon. He didnt just kill the man standing near the rear of the formation. He annihted him.
Shadow hurricane? Fenian asked, pursing his lips. No, no Too cliche.
The assassinunched an attack. Tresk had never seen someone shut down sopletely. She was sure there was a parry in there somewhere. Maybe a feint, but it didnt matter. The Dronon assassin was simply gone after an exchange of strikes.
I suppose it doesnt really matter, Fenian said, tapping his foot. You cant really give yourself titles, can you?
Fear yed across the Dronon mages face. Pants-crapping fear.
Another series of exchanges saw the other warriors destroyed in moments. Fenian stood before the mage, dual rapiers glowing with their respective powers. Each eye took on the hue of a god. Parantheirs blue-silver in his right, and the depthless shadow of UzXulven in his left. Then there was a pause in the fight, as though the two men were battling each other in their minds. Tresk dismissed the idea when she felt a re of power from both parties. A torrent of red me burst from the Dronon, but it was battered down by twin fires from Fenian. Brutal fires that consumed everything of the mage, leaving nothing but a
Greasy red smear! Fenian said, chuckling as the vines faded away. Thats what I promised, right?
I think I remember that, Tresk said, rising to her feet with a groan. She popped a healing potion and felt her skin knit back together. You really messed them up!
I held back, Fenian said with a bow. Both of his rapiers vanished.
We alright? Wheres Theo? Ziz asked, scampering back to the scene. His eyes went wide when he saw the damage to the road. Better than dead, I guess.
Fenian fixed his eyes on the ce where Theo vanished. He didnt seem surprised about the attack at all. Tresk would put a stack of gold coins on the idea that the Elf knew what was going to happen. It was like he wanted this to happen. What did that mean?
Ah, Fenian said with a nod. Hes safe. Just Ah Not here. Well, here is rtive.
Alright. How do I get my boy back? Tresk asked.
We wait. About five more seconds Ah, there he is, Fenian said.
Theo gasped as the de crushed his ribs. The pain shed for an instant, but was banished just as quickly. Then he was falling through something. Imprable darkness and twisting shadows all around. A gentle descent, then things came into view.
A dark bridge stretched in either direction. It was vaguely the shape of a stone bridge with ornate railings. Shadowy cobbles jutted here and there, but there seemed to be nothing over the edge. It reminded him of themunication crystal he used to talk with the capital. Back when they actually listened to his calls.
Hello? Theo asked, watching the coiling shadows below. Anyone there?
Strange circumstances, a soft voice came from behind.
Theo twisted around, spotting a hooded, cloaked figure. Her features were obscuredpletely.
UzXulven? Theo asked.
Not quite, she said, drawing closer. She held her hand out for a moment, then nodded. Interesting skill evolution. Not sure that ones been done before.
What?
Your interface is obscured here. You cannot see the message.
Where is here? Theo asked.
UzGodan Bokrak Tal, she said.
Theo looked around. If she wasnt UzXulven, but this was the Bridge of Shadows, what the hell was he doing here? It snapped in his mind in an instant.
Toruaun, Theo said.
Perhaps you are worthy of a core, she said, a smile bleeding into her voice. My sister allowed me to approach you here when she felt you fall.
Theo rubbed his chest, finding the wound there. The damage to his flesh was real, but the pain had gone. But what did it mean to physically enter the Bridge of Shadows? Was it an actual bridge, or another realm? Perhaps something between the twoa realm that connected realms. That was the only thing that made sense, but he couldnt understand how he got here. Thest thing he remembered doing was using his [Dreampassage] ability.
How did I get here?
An interdiction event, Toruaun said.
Theo knit his brow. Where was I going?
Terogal.
Theo took a deep breath and held it for a few heartbeats. That made little sense. Did you interdict me?
My sister did, Toruaun said, withdrawing a notebook and a ss core from nowhere. I give the same instructions to all my followers. I do not suffer priests and I do not speak to my followers. This is the first andst time we will speak.
Theo took the items, flipping through the book. Each page was written in what must have been Toruaun Drogramathi and disyed a series of strange symbols arranged together. It was around 50 pages.
Are these different sigils for spellcasting? he asked.
This is the first sigil, Toruaun said. He could hear that grin in her voice yet again. Learn this and perhaps Ill teach you more. Until then Good luck.
The Bridge seemed to consume Toruaun. Theo was left standing alone. Enough time passed to allow his mind to catch up. Urgency flooded through him. He was safe, but what about Alex and Tresk? The assassin was powerful.
Funny. He said youd arrive but I didnt see it, a voice said. It didnte from anywhere.
UzXulven, Theo said. Who else would have such power over the realm?
Hope you dont mind me plucking you from your journey. My disciple is cleaning up on the mortal ne. Dont worry, she said. Its very curious. I never thought Id see such mastery over an infant realm. Well, perhaps the two of them.
My friends are safe? Theo asked.
Theyre fine. Fenian is destroying them, she said. Your arrival was unexpected, but wee. Hope you had a good chat with my sister.
Theo felt something about this realm, as though it were brushing up against his mind. It wasnt a probing sensation, but an ufortable irritation that rubbed his psyche raw. He could fight it, pressing his willpower against that of the gods but it wasnt a contest.
My power over this domain is absolute. Think of it as though every molecule within this ce has no doubt that I am the master, UzXulven said.
That was an excellent description.
With his friends safe, Theo didnt feel so uneasy. He allowed himself to rx, allowing that authority of the realm to wash over him. It was aforting sensation, like resting while traveling. Where do we go from here?
No spoilers, right? she asked,ughing. Ah, I cant wait to see the next person to tread the Bridge. What a time to be a god.
Theo was headed to Terogal before this. Thats what the Queen of Mystery saidshe said he was going to the Dreamwalk. While he didnt fully understand it, the alchemist knew he shared a realm with Tresk and Alex. The Dreamrealm of Terogal had never seemed like an actual ce to him. It was a ce that lived in his dreams. A result of the [Dreamwalk] ability. And what was the Bridge for, if not to connect the realms?
Before you go, I feel a stern lecture is in order, UzXulven said, her voice echoing over the shadowyndscape.
There it was. Just beyond that curtain of shadows, nestled somewhere in their embrace. His realm. The ce where his authority wasw. Theo reached out with his will and grabbed onto that idea as the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows rambled on about responsibility. He pulled hard, holding the [Dreamwalk] skill in his mind.
Wait, Im not done UzXulven started. But it was toote. The shadows swirled and Theo was gone from another ne of existence.
Puffy clouds floated above in a blue sky. Soft grass underfoot. A gentle breeze blew across growing wheat, blowing the scent of the crop into Theos nose. The tension of the day flooded from his body as he walked, letting his hand trace a path along the nts. Out onto a grassy field with a creek running through it, feeding into a small pond. Beyond that was nothing. It was as though the world ended in a drop. The edge of Terogal. The edge of his world. Where the authority belonged to two people and a goose. A snap of willpower and system messages flooded his vision.
[Skill Evolotuion]!
Your [Tarahek Dreampassage] ability has evolved!
[Tarahek Dreampassage] has evolved into [Terogal Dreampassage].
[Interdiction Event]!
A god of the Demonic Pantheon has started an interdiction event!
Your ascent to Terogal has been redirected to UzGodan Bokrak Tal.
This is a domain controlled only by UzXulven. Assail it with your forces to capture.
You have 0 troops with you.
Entering passive mode.
Theo shook his head. That was a lot that happened in a short amount of time. The messages imed his [Tarahek Dreampassage] ability evolved when he used it, sending him to his private realm. Then UzXulven tore him from the path and ced him on the bridge to meet with the Queen of Mystery. Thest part was the most interesting. The gods could attack each others realms. But where did that put him? Why had the system ced him on the same stage as the gods? Surely he couldnt hope topete.
Then again, UzXulven willed her realm to look like a bridge. Not this beautiful, verdant field that Theo found himself in. He knelt near the water and scooped it up, sipping a mouthful. It tasted like fresh springwater, filling his mouth with a cool sensation that traveled all the way to his stomach. It seemed real. He removed his shoes, sitting at the edge of the pool as he inspected the damage to his chest.
Easy enough to fix, Theo said, finding that his inventory power was active. The fire of a [Healing Potion] raced through him, stitching the flesh back together in an instant. But there was no pain. Time to inspect the new skill. I guess.
[Terogal Dreampassage]
Marshling Bond Skill
Unique
Slip through your dreams. Through reality.
Effect:
Each member of the Tarahek may travel into Terogal, while awake, once per day. Once within, you may choose to exit and return to the point you left, or [Approach] another member of the Tarahek. The duration within Terogal depends on the level of your [Tarahek Core], strength of your realm, stability of the bond, and willpower.
That was frightening. Of all the Tarahek skills, that seemed like the most powerful. ording to Khahar, time moved differently in heavenly realms. Hed been sitting near the pool of water for a few minutes. How much time had moved in the real world? While he was eager to get back to hispanions, this was a good time to test the skills limits. This wasnt the Dreamwalk hed seen in the past. It was entirely different. Rising to his feet and leaving his shoes behind, Theo worked his way around the floating ind.
Terogal had the fields of wheat, the spring, brook, and pond. But on the far endsomething Theo decided was southwas a small cottage. It was much like those in Broken Tusk. Those that were in the town before he arrived. Faded wooden walls with a blue tted roof. Inside, a fire burned that put off a sensation closer tofort than warmth. The small writing desk was inviting, but he left the cottage, finding his way back to the edge of the floating ind.
Legs over the side, Theo watched the clouds swirl below. After a while he saw something. Looking closer, drilling down with his willpower, he noticed it was his friends moving in incredible slow-motion. Fenian was kicking off from the road, two rapiers zing with strange colors in his hands. Tresk was trapped under that curtain of vines. The alchemist found he could move the image around, but it only went so far. It was centered on the other members of the Tarahek.
Fair enough, Theo said, watching the image. But Im the master here. Right?
The air seemed to shiver, responding to his statement.
How long is a minute outsidepared to here? How long can I stay?
Theo didnt know how he knew. But he knew. He could remain within the realm for five minutes on the mortal ne. He would experience twelve hours within, although it wouldnt pass like regr time. If his mind slipped, time would slip away from him. But that was all he wanted to know. He allowed his concentration to slip, watching as the image below sped up. Fenian destroyed the DrononZagmon Dronon by his guessand freed Tresk from the spell. He smiled, sensing that the world around him was slipping away. Like the other members of his soul-bond wanted him back now.
No time like the present, Theo said, grinning to himself. He jumped from the side of the ind, forgetting his shoes behind and plunging into the clouds. Intent on [Approaching] Tresk.
The clouds parted, darkness whipped by for only a moment, and then he was standing on the ruined road. Barefooted and smiling.
Whered your shoes go? Fenian asked, cocking his head to the side.
Theo tumbled over, caught in Tresks embrace.
I felt you go there, Tresk whispered. I wanna do it. How do I do it?
But she knew. She just wanted to stay on the mortal ne for a while longer, hugging him over those cracked stones. Ziz and his gang stood back, stammering but unable to get the words out.
Its a strange thing, Theo, Fenian said,ing over to hoist the group to their feet. Even the most knowledgeable schr of Tarantham couldnt tell you what that was. Tell me What is it like to touch the heavens?
Theo extricated himself from Tresks grasp and slung an arm around the Elfs shoulder. Lets see where this road goes. Then Ill tell ya.
3.67 - The Throne of the Arbiter
3.67 - The Throne of the Arbiter
The wraiths within the Bridge of Shadows seemed tepid today. Theos appearancethe appearance of a weak mortalhad given them pause. Fenian enjoyed his moments of peace, riding atop his ck carriage. The enchanted Karatan seemed happy enough to gallop on without a direction, but the Elf wondered if he was content to do the same. He knew where they were going, but hesitated.
Give a man a minor realm and he thinks he owns the heavens, UzXulven said, appearing on the carriage from a boil of shadows.
Fenian winced. The form she took was hauntingly familiar. A simple yellow dress embroidered with golden thread. And a face that haunted every sleepless night of his life. But he wouldnt rise to the bait. Not this far into his journey. Instead, he flicked her Elven ears.
Do you even remember your mortal form? he asked.
Nope, she said, reclining on the drivers bench. Well, thats a lie. I just dont think about it. So, why do you even need that thing?
Because none of our ns work without it, Fenian said, tightening his grip on the reins.
Is it our n now? she asked,ughing. Arent you so generous.
But the generous one here was the Demonic god. She brought herself into this scheme when he asked for her power. All she needed to do was to lend him the power of the Bridge, but she went beyond that. iming him as her champion. With the full power of Parantheir and UzXulven, there wasnt a mortal alive who could withstand his fury. But that drew attention. Disys like he just performed were dangerous. But perhaps it was time to do away with caution.
Can you see how the central cities are faring against the undead? Fenian asked.
Not well, she responded, not sitting up from herfortable position. Youre certain theyll seek the [Town Seed Cores]?
If the madness of their master is anything to go by, then yes, Fenian said. If Khahar kept up his end of the bargain, it wont matter either way.
UzXulven hummed.
The shadows formed a gap ahead and the Karatan chittered excitedly, then nervously. Harsh light stung Fenians eyes as they burst through the veil of reality, the carriage shaking ominously as they transitioned. The smoothe shadow brickwork of the bridge, to a ravagedndscape. Galflower pushed through the first row of undead skeletons, sending their bones ttering along the rocky ground. The Elf reined her in, withdrawing a potion from his inventory and cocking his arm back.
Steady, my sweet Galflower, Fenian said, tossing a [Aerosolize] modified [Hallow Ground Potion] at her feet.
A cloud of white rushed out, and the skeletons screamed. Blue magic leaked from their eyes, collecting in a miasma over the ground and lingering there. Bones fell to the ground, unbound by Balkors necromancy. Those outside of the fifty-pace circle didnt dare to cross it. They leered from a distance with eyeless sockets.
Phase onepleted, Fenian said, pping his hands together.
The area outside of the circle was thick with undead. There were remnants of a city in the distance, but the stonework was crumbling to dust. Even the air was filled with the fetid miasma of the Demon Gods curse, filling Fenians lungs and stinging them with every breath. He dropped another potion at his feet, and the air seemed to clear. Not enough to draw a lungful of clean air, but enough to give him room.
Now, Fenian said, withdrawing an ancient map from his inventory. Where is that toe?
It was fortunate the alchemist created so many potions for this trip. Landmarks were scarce in Gardreth, even though Fenian had already scouted it out. It was once attached to the continent before being split off. A surgical cut by ntheir to save the rest, but in doing so hed obscured the topology. If that god were watching what he was doing, he wouldnt be happy. Not in the least. Two days and two nights without sleep, tossing potions and fording ahead through the endless undead.
This must be the right ce, Fenian said, falling in a slump on the stained ground. Some skeletons still have some meat. Thats a good sign, right Galflower?
The Karatan chittered, a sign he took to mean agreement.
Fenian dug into the crater as the twin moons rose. He could see the edge of the dark one, and the full orange one. It was a sight, but the digging was brutal. Rocks, fallen trees that were covered with rubble, and
Ah! Fenian said, tossing another potion at his feet. The ground rumbled in response and the trader cheered. The surrounding undead joined with him. A chorus of ghostly screeches.
Excavating the rotting bone was a chore, but he didnt falter. Digging out the sides, he finally got a good look at it. About the size of his torso, with seams of blue running through it. Fenian dropped another [Hallow Ground] potion at his feet before hoisting the thing above him.
Damn, thats heavy! he said, stumbling and dropping it behind him.
Fenian tightened the rope around the fragment, climbing up the pit and tying it off on the carriage. Another potion on the ground, and a few more spread for good measure, and he ordered his team to drive forward. Slowly, thest fragment of the Demonic God Balkor rose to the surface. For the first time since his demise, the full power of the necromantic god was released onto the world. But the blue seamsthose points of the dead gods powerwere subdued under Theos potion.
We might need more, Galflower! Fenian shouted, dragging the bone to insert it to the rear carriage. And a few more points into [Strength].
The carriage buckled under the weight, groaning as though responding to the weight of its importance.
Lets really mess things up in the capital. Shall we? Fenian asked.
Id rather you not bring something like that in my domain, UzXulven said. The Bridge is under attack. Thanks to you.
Fenian waved her off. He focused on the road ahead. That long road, stretching off into infinity. Did you want to see it? he asked. Bet youve never seen the bone of a dead god.
Because were not meant to cross into the mortal realm, she said, sitting on the bench and looking stern.
Is this going to be another lecture? Fenian asked. You agreed to the n.
And what happens when Karasan catches you near the capital?
You used to be fun, Uz, Fenian said, snapping the reins.
Im still fun, she said.
But she wasnt. The Bridge rocked under them, sending the carriage train skittering for only a moment. The powerful team driving it righted its course in a moment. That would have been the other gods. Angry about what she allowed him to do. Well, theyd be busy enough in moments. Busy with the phase two of their n.
The old bastard needs to ascend, Fenian said, gritting his teeth. It all hinges on his distraction.
Well, where is he? The Morning Star, as you said. The Arbiter, you imed, UzXulven said. Arbitration of what, exactly? Sitting in a temple and performing ancient rituals? Just ascend, you fool!
For once, we agree, Fenian said, almost tumbling out of the cart when the ground shook again. Were here. I may call upon your power.
Dont. I wont have enough to spare.
Then well hope Parantheir is paying attention Did the Bridge just grow silent, or is that me? Fenian asked.
Hah! Hes doing it, UzXulven said, pping excitedly. Oh? What? No, I will not consent to a new set of rules Hey! Fenian! Dont
But Fenian had already found a seam in the shadows. Galflower plunged through, the cart ttering against a well-worn dirt path. Strewn with rocks and fallen undead alike at the northernmost town between Qavell and the Soutnds. Drybrook, the second tost failed defense of the Kingdom of Qavell.
And a perfect spot to bury the bone of a dead god, Fenian said, whooping excitedly. Oh, calm yourself Galflower. Theres a good girl. Its only temporary.
More potions flew, clearing the way over the infested road. Night lingered overhead, but by the light of the orange moonshifting toward redFenian steered the carriage toward the walled town. He spotted the defenders on the wall and pushed down the guilt he felt. They would never survive the siege anyway, right? There werent undead rising from the bodies of the defenders yet, but theyd fall in time.
Galflower barreled through another line of undead, Fenian pulling the reins tight to lead her to a burnt-out farmhouse. Close enough to the walls to inflict damage, but not close enough to be discovered. He tossed more potions out, clearing a path for him to drag the damned bone and bury it again.
Were going to need a long break after this one, Fenian said, groaning as he jumped from the carriage. Dont move, my sweet. Allow me to do my work.
The Karatan were happy to live within their cloud of undead-repelling mist. Fenian dug at the hard-packed earth, cursing as he hit rocks and roots. Nothing his enhanced strength couldnt handle, but annoying. He took breaks to study the battle outside the ring of purification, applying more potions as required. Where the undead went, a taint followed closely behind. The befouled earth where the potion touched seemed purified, sent from a sickly shade of brown back to vibrant greens where the grass grew. It was as though time itself was going back, reverting to its normal state.
Two man-heights underground seemed good enough for the burial, and the Elf worked on dragging the bone to the hole. Skeletons and the freshly dead crowded near the edge of the ring, not daring to cross but watching. Fenian knew they were without a master, just feeding on thetent energy of Balkor. And still the regret lingered. The sins of a leader fell to his people in times like this. It was true that the undead were marching even before he intervened. Something had stirred them up, sending them toward the capital, but the help they received in crossing the ocean was immense.
Everything led back to King Karasans betrayal. Fenian scooped thest shovel-full of dirt over the hole, patting it down, before withdrawing a silver bracelet from his inventory. How long had it been since hed looked at it? There was little he needed to fuel that rage in his chest. It burned daily. For centuries now, and showed no signs of subsiding. If he could drive only the smallest of thorns in the side of Qavell it would be worth it. But if Khahar did as he promised, it would be a spear instead of a splinter. A death-blow to the damned pretender.
Ascending the carriage and tugging on the reins, Fenian found that the Bridge was reluctant to have him. He expected an attack from the defenders of the town, but they were far too busy. UzXulven should have had enough energy to allow him passage. The Elf let out a heavy sigh, removed a wineskin from his inventory and unstoppered it. Reclining on the carriage, he looked up at the edge of that dark moon. A smile spread across his face, thinking of the Burning Eyes minions stuck up there. Wandering around in that monster-infested ce, fighting for survival every day.
Id wager theyre eating fetid moon-monster meat, Fenian said, chuckling to himself. Did you see thising, my old friend?
I did, a voice from behind answered. That familiar voice.
Oh, you positively love pretending you wont get your hands dirty, Fenian said, not daring to look back. It was best to keep his eyes on the moon. I wonder if you can still feel anything. How long has it been since you could have been called a mortal?
I cannot say, the voice responded. Im content with this experiment, though.
Are you? Fenian asked. Even after I put one foot on my path?
Your path is the true path. The way things were meant to be.
But you could have fixed it. With a blink. Or a wiggle of your eyebrows. Fenian let out a heavy sigh. It wasnt as though he hated godly figures. They were just so pompous. As though they could lord their power over the mortals and get away with it. Well, they could. But that wasnt the point.
I dont lord my power over anyone, the voice said.
But youre happy to read my mind. How about a favor for fixing your broken system? Allow me to see Khahars ascension.
It was brutal. And swift. The system wasnt ready for him. Changes were necessary.
As nned.
Fine. The Bridge will be stable after youre done Viewing the event. So long.
Fenian cracked his knuckles. Fluttering feathers sounded from behind him, and the presence of the being was gone. The Elfs mind tumbled through realities.
The ritual for Khahars ascension was tedious. His mind was unraveling by the moment, splitting his consciousness and sending fissures through his psyche. Yet those Khahari still chanted, begging for him to rise and fix the world. That was a dream too far, he knew well, but his followers didnt need to know. Maybe they did. His concentration faltered for a moment and he watched the western coastline of his continent, spotting crab scuttling across the beach. It snapped again, down into the caves beneath a city to the mushroom grow-caves. Again, to the sky high above his domain.
Enough, Khahar growled. His focus faded by the moment. Moments that crawled by in his high-level vision.
The Khahari leaders attention snapped to the ziggurat, desert stretching into the distance. A million Khahari were assembled there, only a portion of his people prepared to take the journey with him. He wouldnt reveal his knowledge to them. The fact that they might not make it. That this promisednd was nothing but another form of existence. An ill-fated n prone to failure.
We are ready, the high-priest said, bowing on the ttened top of the structure.
Khahar sat on his throne, pressing wed fingers into his head. The system prompt hed seen for uncounted eons popped up again.
[Ascension]
Youve collected enough power, and expanded a realm far enough to ascend to godhood! Declining this prompt will have consequences. The higher your attributes get, the more difficulty youll have dealing with the real world. Once your mind passes a point, you will no longer control yourself.
(It is rmended that you ept this prompt the moment you get it. Leaving it will result in permanent damage to your mind that can only be reversed by epting this prompt.)
[Y/N]
That taunting window. A promise for release from this torment. Resistance brought by the strongest of wills and faith in his cause. Khahar mentally epted the prompt and the world around him melted. A ripple of power issued from the temple, reducing it to a city-sized crater in a moment. People in the far reaches of the world would feel the effectsthe sudden ascension of an overly-powerful god.
Darkness crowded Khahars vision, but the pain in his mind was gone. The heavy weight of cores in his chest diminished to nothing. And he was finally free. Even the darkness was inviting, rolling over him like aforting nket. Relief. Ease from the pain hed suffered. He could see it clearly now. 50,000 years of torment. Was it worth it? Why did he try to do this in the first ce? Then the system messages came rolling in. Thousands of them.
All cores removed
Personal level at ascension (rounded): 10,000
ERROR: Unable to calcte [God Core] level. Overflow.
SOLUTION: Recalcting theoretical power maximum.
Completed
Assigning [God Core] at level 100.
Personal realm strength at ascension (rounded):ERROR
ERROR: Strength of realm is too powerful. Overflow.
SOLUTION: Recalcting theoretical power maximum.
ERROR: Overflow Recalcting
SOLUTION: Theoretical power maximum raised.
Assigning [Ascendant God Core] at level 100.
Core count and level at ascension (rounded):ERROR
Assigning [Arbiters Core] at level 100.
Approaching The Arbiters Citadel. Please ascend the throne to name your realm.
Khahar skimmed for the most interesting messages, but all those were expected. Hed overflowed the systems maximum count for stats and created a new realm. Something outside the normal flow of the gods. The n worked. That feature, nestled somewhere in the code that ran their world was forced to revert to the way it was. Reversing the inane rules ced on it by the previous gods. Those restraints were lifted.
More than that, Khahars mind was clear. The pain was gone and his thoughts came in ordered patterns. One thing after the other, not a jumbled mass of potential futures and events. His eyes were in his head, although he stood in darkness. They didnt flit over the entire world at once, forcing him into a state of constant agony. He was free.
In a blink, he appeared in his new realm.
Kahak, he said, finding himself standing on endless dunes of sand. Before him stood a citadel, impossibly high and constructed of gray stone. Behind him, those one million souls kneeled. He turned. Without a word, he ordered them to begin building as he ascended to the Throne of the Arbiter.
3.68 - The Fall of the Heavens
3.68 - The Fall of the Heavens
Khahars calctions were correct. Well, mostly correct. The flow of time in the heavenly realms was strange, but no more strange than back on the mortal ne. With his absurd attributes hed experienced time as a coge of events, rather than a linear progression. At least here he could count one moment passing after the other. One thoughting, then going.
The throne room of Khahak was massive. Perhaps the size of his old capital back in the Khahari desert. His followers rushed around the massive space, fading in and out of existence. A shimmering portal appeared before him at hismand, allowing him to view the mortal ne. But he could also view the other realms, crowded as they were. The Prime Pantheon was scrambling, but the Demonic Pantheon seemed calm. All except for Zagmons cursed realm.
Sire, weve repelled the first attack, the high-priest said.
From Zagmon? Khahar asked, enjoying the way his thoughts flowed.
Yes, sire.
Prepare for a counter-offensive, Khahar said, a smile spreading across his face. You have a century to ready the troops.
Yes, sire. And a visitor. He only needs your consent to enter, the high-priest said.
Who?
ntheir.
Khahars smile broadened. Allow him in.
Reality parted before the throne. A stately Elf appeared, d in pure white robes with flowing hair to match. He held a staff with the symbol of his realm. Intertwinedurels made of gold, working their way down the staff to the floor. The god took a knee.
We beg your forgiveness for this intrusion, Arbiter, ntheir said. My aim has only ever been to serve the mortal world.
So it has been noted, Khahar said. Yet you share a Pantheon with the Eye. With Fanglir.
Ivee to give introductions, not excuses, Yuri, the Elven God said. None of the gods alone can challenge you, but theyre questioning your authority as a collective.
Is that so? Khahar asked, rising from his seat and crossing the wide space between them. Arbitration doesnt mean pacifism. I am the arbiter. The collective judge of you. Whomever I say is guilty is. The authority is thus.
Of course, ntheir said, bowing his head lower. We look to your wisdom. And I beg for your mercy on the mortal world.
My interest has only ever been in protecting the mortals. I will not poke my head in their affairs. Neither will any of the other Pantheons.
Just so.
ntheir departed. It might have been a momentter, or a few years. But then the century shed by in a blink, and Khahar found himself on the bone-strewn fields of Zagmons realm. The Dronon forces of war crumpled beneath the ascended Khahari. Continents were raised, castles destroyed, and the Arbiter climbed the steps of the demonic gods citadel. Casualties were a strange thing in the heavens. Souls didnt just die, they went back to their realm. So long as their patron was alive.
I suppose you think youre quite clever, Zagmon said.
The Demon god sat atop a throne of bones and blood, peering down with fearful eyes. The citadel of Zagmon overlooked pools of blood, fields of corpses, and other unpleasant things. Hed fashioned himself a world of death and torture. How no one in the expanded pantheons of the universe had done away with this monster was beyond Khahar. Arbitration was necessary.
Quite clever.
I hope this isnt personal, Arbiter, Zagmon said.
Khahar studied the Demon for a while. He appeared like the other Dronon of the world. Swooping horns with skin tinged the color of their nature. The Zagmon Dronon were all red, a deep shade like the devils of Earths lore. But he was more muscr than those depictions, with a belt of skulls, a heavy ive by his side, and a thick te of oozing armor covering his body.
Because your agents attempted to kill my friend? Khahar asked. That was certainly one reason Zagmon would die first.
Your friend? Your Harald, Zagmon said,ughing wryly.
Khahar stood for a long moment, still finding his new thought process to be difficult. Then he joined the Demon God inughing, crossing the distance between them before wrapping his hands around the creatures throat. He squeezed.
Youve been one step behind this entire time, Zagmon, Khahar said. Let the truth be heard by those in this room, and them alone. Theo Spencer was never meant to be the Harald. As I ascended the throne of Arbiter so will my agent ascend the throne of Harald.
Khahar leaned in, whispering the name of his agent into Zagmons ear. The Demon Gods eyes went wide before godly life faded. Before the realm of the dread Dronon God of War crumbled around them, turning to ash.
As hard as it was to convince himself to take a break, Theo forced himself. Each citizen seemed to have sworn an oath to keep him on his ass for as long as possible. Sitting on a rocking chair outside of Xams tavern, he watched people move around and work. Alise had already returned from Gronro-dir with the contract signed. A Khahari trade ship had arrived in the harbor, remaining there until they worked out a deal, and all seemed well.
Alex chirped somewhere under his chair. She managed to deftly avoid the rise and fall of the rocking chair, turning it into a game. But boredom was getting to Theo. He crumpled up another sheet of paper and tossed it to the side, retrieving a fresh one from his inventory and starting again. Several lines into his journal and someone approached, disturbing his concentration.
Roads going well, Ziz said.
Theo looked up and smiled. Lets go for a walk. Im bored.
Ah, well, Ziz said. I dont think you should go out so soon. Tresk would skewer me.
Well just walk the wall, Theo said, dragging his old friend along.
That Yeah, that should be fine.
Theo and Ziz ascended the battlements, Alex following closely behind. She had trouble with the steps, but the pair waited for her at the top. Looking out to the swamp to the west, they spotted golems moving around and adventurers doing their thing. House Wavecrest had integrated well enough, but there were too many things left hanging. The alchemist leaned against a crention.
Ral still doesnt have a leg, Theo said, letting out a sigh.
Yeah, but he doesnt seem too upset about it, Ziz said. Are you trying to solve that one with alchemy?
Of course I am, Theo said, snorting augh. Thats all I ever do. Fix stuff with alchemy.
The alchemist removed the [Toruaun Mages Core] from his inventory and stared at it for a long while. The book shed given him was impossible to understand. Xolsa was trying to figure that one out, but hed made little progress. Theo suspected the point was only he could understand it, but he didnt have the heart to deny the mage. Those skills for nar magic would be more useful in theing times, but for now it was just time to restore.
So, what was the Bridge like? Ziz asked.
Theo shrugged. Dark. Lots of shades moving in the distance.
Not as morous as I expected, Ziz said. Any word from Fenian?
Theo ced the core back into his inventory, shaking his head. It couldnt be helped. That was only yesterday. How much progress could the Elf had made in that little time. And what was his n? That was a fact beyond everyone. Just a mystery lingering in the air forever. Like a foul smell in a cramped room. The group began walking the perimeter of the town, heading north to the quarry first.
Ziz had made progress with the quarry, designating his workers to handle most of the daily operation. He had more than one pit now, and had figured out the best way to drain the constantly regenerating stone. Like most in Broken Tusk, they were taking a break. They stood there for a long time, looking down on both the operation and the town.
Sure is hot, Ziz said.
At least it isnt muggy, Theo said.
Yeah Hey, what is Tresk doing, anyway? Ziz asked.
It was hard not to notice. The Marshling wasnt rxing like everyone else. Despite her shouting orders for everyone to chill, especially Theo, she was out scouting for more Zagmon Dronon. Once she learned who their master was, she was on the hunt. It made sense that adventurers couldnt take breaks, though. Not when so much had happened in such a short time. He exined the situation to Ziz, who simply shrugged.
Thats Tresk for ya, he said, grinning. So, how are you feeling about being attacked?
Theo took a long time to think about that question. He felt little, if he was honest with the Half-Ogre. He could have been mad at Fenian for noting to the rescue sooner, but that was all part of the n. Maybe it was a coincidence, but he suspected the Elf knew the [Tarahek Dreampassage] skill would evolve. So he needed to experience that fear of his life ending to get something much better. A bit of hardship for a new, overpowered skill was worth it.
Im fine. Did you know skills can evolve? Theo asked.
Can they? Ziz asked. Not sure if Ive heard about that.
Well, I got a skill evolution out of it, Theo said. All part of Fenians n, I think.
Theres a thought, Ziz said, pping a hand over Theos shoulder.
Did they force you to talk to me? Theo asked.
Nah. Just saw you in front of Xams. All sad.
Im not sad.
Mncholy?
Hmmm Not sure about that one.
Wistful.
Thatll do, Theo said, pushing off from the wall and making his way east. Both Ziz and Alex followed.
The group moved along the defensive wall, spotting the bridge to the east when they turned to walk southward. Over the eastern gate, thening to rest over the harbor. The single Khahari ship docked there sat high in the water, as though it was never meant to cross the sea. But it was long, with two tall masts that gave the bridge-gates little room to breathe. Theo had to wonder how quickly Khahar could have returned to his desert continent. In an instant, he realized, but maybe the ceremony of his people would have dragged the process out.
There might be effects on the mortal ne, but that was hard to say. With only a short trip to his own realm, the alchemist wasnt certain of much. The Dreamwalk itself had evolved. When he visited the realm at night, it was the familiarndscape. Anything he could dream up would appear, but that was just a mirror image of the minds of those within the Tarahek. When he visited it in person, it was the floating ind with the creek and the cottage. Withdrawing a stalk of [Wheat] from his inventory, he contemted how strange that was.
Things conjured in the Dreamwalk were left there, no more substantial than dreams themselves. But traveling to Terogal was different. Those things were real. He could bring them back to the mortal ne, although he hadnt tested doing it the other way around. These uncertain rules left him feeling uneasy. He wouldnt let it slip through his fingers. There was no point in that. He needed to do everything he could to press his advantage.
We need to name the war with the undead, Ziz said, watching the dockhands work below. Gotta be something shy.
Do you have anything in mind?
Ziz offered a weak shrug. How to get boned in 44 simple steps?
Theo narrowed his eyes. Have you been talking to Tresk?
Maybe.
That matter did fall to the Soutnds Alliance to sort out. Whatever Tarantham and Veosta wanted to call the war was up to them. Theo had no doubts they had a name for their ongoing conflict, but he wondered what they were fighting for. If the reports from Gronro-dir were urate, thend they left behind was tainted. A state that the [Hallow Ground] potions reversed.
The alchemist withdrew the enchanted box that Khahar gave him, running his fingers over the sigils. It seemed like people were setting him up for sess. Perhaps that was putting it too generously out of the alchemists favor. As though it was diminishing the hard work theyd done here so far. A helping hand didnt remove the value of what theyd done. No matter how short of a time theyd been at it.
Ive got some ns cooking in my head, Theo said, nodding to himself. Once things calm down in the north.
Calm down, eh? Ziz asked, chuckling. You mean when our kingdom is destroyed. When were cut off from the capital and left to fester.
Feeling a sudden wave of wistfulness? Theo asked, yfully punching his friend in the arm.
Fear, more like, Ziz said with a nod.
Half-Ogres fear nothing, Theo said.
If only that were true, Ziz sighed. Hey, whats your box doing?
Theo looked down, spotting the lighting from the ornately decorated box. It hadnt changed otherwise.
The wall beneath their feet rumbled. A wave of power washed from the north and shouts rose from the harbor below. A few jostling momentster and everything was calm. Tresk appeared at Theos side in an instantlikely using their new ability.
Bad news! Tresk shouted, breathing hard. I felt that in Terogal! Holy moly!
What? Theo asked. What happened?
I think Oop! Yep! There it is! Tresk shouted.
A series of messages shed into Theos vision.
[Connection Severed]
Your connection between [Broken Tusk] and [The Kingdom of Qavell] has been destroyed.
Connection destroyed through core chain
Drybrook (Core Destroyed)
Stonesbed
Heartpass
Barrowsdeep
Gronro-dir
Rivers and Daub
[Broken Tusk], [Gronro-Dir], [Rivers and Daub] have been ced in one-day state of suspension.
Calcting
[Soutnds Alliance] temporarily formed.
Your towns will share power generating resources (motes, coins, etc) until one town gains a [Kingdom Core].
Please contact the owner of your civilizations [Kingdom Core] if you have further questions.
Theo read through the notification several times, his heart thumping hard in his ears. Then he heard a snap and a creak. Looking down, he saw Khahars enchanted box opening. He saw the cage of metal, white light pulsing steadily inside. He saw what Yuri had left him. A gift fit for a king.
A smile spread across the alchemists face.
3.69 - Epilogue
3.69 - Epilogue
Theo Spencer,
5th Day, Season of Fire,
873rd Year of Balkors Betrayal
Well, the privacy of my writings is no longer in question. No living mortal outside the bond can tread in Terogal. Well, just to be certain Im writing this entry in Axpashi. Yeah, its a strangenguage with many quirks. You cant really understand it until you understand that its tied to the standardnguage of magic. Super happy I wasted time learning it, since thenguage of Toruaun is nothing like this.
Thanks, Xolsa! Ya damn space Elf.
Elves. I got a lot of those in my life now, and Im not sure if I care for them. Yeah, alright. Ill calm down. This whole thing with Zagmon has me feeling spicy. Tresk worked with me to defend against regr threats, but we didnt see thating. How could we, though? She said the Zagmon mage was level 100. I cant imagine what the assassin was. Well, I could. But I dont want to. He was too damn fast. Too clever.
Well, theyre all dead now. Funny how you think you know a guy. Fenian sold himself as a simple trader, although that was clearly a lie. Turns out, hes something called a Champion. Tresk said hes the Champion of two gods, but Im not sure how that works. It doesnt matter, though. We need him as much as he needs us. Does he need us? I dont know. He brought Elves to my town to help with thebor shortage. Beefing this small town up to be something worth talking about in the Soutnds.
Well have boats soon enough. Maybe just fishing boats but those still count. Laedria Wavecrest is our shipwright. One of those Elves brought by Fenian. All of House Wavecrest seem like hard-working people. Well, besides those trouble-makers. But theyre dead, too!
The magic contracts I force everyone to sign are working. Id wax on about a persons free will, but I dont care after being attacked. That event left no scars, but it pays to be careful. I still think the crime fits the punishment with the contracts, but testing would require someone breaking those rules. It doesnt seem worth it, when you consider the horrible beasts that came to destroy the Wavecrest rule-breakers.
I suppose I should write more about Yuri, but I just cant find the words. In the messed up world we left behind, we were something close to friends. He remembered that after migrating to this new world, holding on to whatever we were for an absurd amount of time. His giftes with no strings attached, right? Sure.
I got a new skill that lets me make golems. Theyre great workers, and a constant trickle of experience. Ill take the skill that lets me deconstruct reagents when I hit level 20, which is going to be awesome. Maybe. Its vague. My stats are leveling out. More of a generalist approach thanks to my supplementary stats from cores and skills. That was never my intention, and I wont put more points into the other attributes. My n is to dump things into wisdom and intelligence so I can understand these inane symbols for my new core.
Yeah, like most of Dronon magic, Toruauns vor is more like poetry than Axpashi runic magic. The book she gave me is 50 pages for just one symbol. What the hell does that even mean? Queen of Mystery. Yeah, thats a damn good title for her. But theres a bright side with the stuff she said. That god wants nothing to do with me! Hooray! I dont have to sit here and worry about another one breathing down my neck.
Oh! I just had to pause my scribblings to talk to someone. A god? Said his name was Benton, which was a shock. Seemed like an Earth name to me. All the infant realms are nestled against each other, so it wasnt as though he was a powerful god. Said he ascended at level 100, which just seems wrong. Anyway, he invited me over for a chat in his little realm but the system wouldnt let me leave. Apparently Im not a god.
What am I, then? How realms work is beyond me. If I had to summarize them, its a manifestation of something on the mortal ne. Alright, hold on. Think of nes asyers of existence. Like an onion? No, thats a horrible analogy. Like tes stacked in your cupboard. Again, thats just not right. How about intersecting nes in three-dimensional space. They all converge at some point, either near the mortal nes center, or off to infinity. But they share thatmon anchor point, and never converge with each other.
nes, realms, holds. Whatever you want to call them, they seem to share the same local space. That segments them into Pantheons. Terogal, which is my realm, shares space with the low-level gods. Theyre people who were kinda powerful in life, but not powerful enough to y with the big boys. The Prime and Demonic Pantheons are the most powerful ones. I suspect the Prime one is full of Earthlings.
Alright. Im on a roll here. These heavenly realms intersect with the mortal realm. At those points of convergence, the gods power can be felt. Yeah, they can influence other ces in the world and maybe they can shift where their realm intersects, but thats the important part. They cannot converge on the same spot. Well, they shouldnt. That seems to go against the systems rules. How did Ie to this conclusion? Think back, mysterious reader. Tresk, if youre reading this, dont think too hard. Your brain might explode.
Drogramath said he could no longermunicate with me. Forget whether that makes sense. Hes never tried to talk to me before, except when he tried to interdict me. The Tarahek is blocking him out. Because the nes cannot ovep. Meaning hes ceding control to me. Why the hell would a god bow out like that?
Things are going to get interesting. Im going to expand my realm. Bathe the entire soutnds in this weird power and see what happens. If my suspicions are right, the system is going to recognize my growing power in Terogal and give me some upgrade options. How do I know that? Because its all upgrades all the time, baby. Look at everything around us. Towns, kingdoms, cores, buildings.
Well, you certainly are a mysterious reader. Coming into my realm and reading my journal. Perverse, dont you think?
Until next time.
THEO IS A NERD. HE WRITES WEIRD NOTES IN A WEIRD LANGUAGE I CANT UNDERSTAND. NERD!
ALEX WAS HERE.
JUST KIDDING ITS ME TRESK.
LOVE YOU.
4.1 - Nascent Realms
4.1 - Nascent Realms
A gentle breeze blew across the wheat field in Terogal. The scent of the crops drifted through the cracked window of the cottage, the wind fluttering the pages Theo was working on. His forced break on the mortal ne was bing daunting, more than any hard days work ever had. But here there was sce. A break from reality in his perfect little realm. The wind stirred up, growing cold as a thought drifted through his mind. The alchemist looked up from his journal entry and felt something drift through his mind.
Visitors? he asked himself. At this time of day? In this nascent realm?
Chuckling at his own joke, he rose and approached the door. Sending a mentalmand of eptance, he felt the wind grow colder. Then a man appeared near his wheat field, a fanged smile on his face. One of the Toora. A race of bear-people hed seen a few times. This one bore a shaggy coat of white with only the gentlest mottling of gray. Robed in frost-blue, barefooted, and smiling endlessly.
Ho there! the man shouted, waving like an idiot. It reminded him of Tresk.
Hi, Theo said, approaching and shaking the mans hand. A paw, really.
Didnt know a new god was in the infant pantheon, he said, brushing his hand across the wheat. His eyes lingered over the confined space. Small ya got here.
Theo shrugged, gesturing for the god to follow him. Im not a god. Want some tea?
Id love some tea, the Toora said, following him to the cottage.
Theo kicked the [me Artifice] to life and set on a pot of fresh spring water, sprinkling [Moss Nettle] inside. The alchemist found a plush chair that hed brought from the mortal realm and sat down.
Not a god? the man asked. Oh! Where are my manners? Im Benton. Toora God of Frost and Winter. And death. Working on that death part.
Theo, the alchemist said, offering a nod. Not a god. Just a man.
Never heard of something like this, Benton said.
Ive never heard of someone in this world holding such a in name, Theo said.
Really? Its quitemon. With my people. Who are the Toora. Benton kept his eyes on the pot of tea. He sniffed the air, clearly unfamiliar with nts of the southern swamps.
That was to be expected. If the Toora were istionist before, theyd be holed up by now. The war in Qavell had reached a breaking point. Theo was in his private realm avoiding the meeting he was meant to attend on the mortal ne. The endless discussion of upgrading the town, picking a kingdom style, and assigning leader roles. It was nice to fall away from all of that, even if only for a few hours. It didnt matter. They wouldnt notice hed been gone for more than a few minutes.
Benton noticed Theos pensive expression. He leaned in. Were fortunate. To be in such a protected position during the war.
How do you mean?
Well, if the rumors are true theres a purge in the high heavens, Benton said, tapping his foot. How long on the tea?
Only a few more minutes. Let it steep for a while. Theo popped the lid and stirred the contents around. He almost didnt want to ask about the War in Heaven. But when you shared tea with a god, no matter how minor they were, you just had to ask. How is the war going?
Zagmon is dead, Benton said. The Eye is dying. Fanglir fled his realm. So, I guess it depends on which side you take.
And which side do you take, Benton, God of Winter and Death?
Well, Zagmon was the old god of death. For the Demonic Pantheonyoull be familiar with thatso thats good for business, Benton said. My fears rest with the Arbiter.
It felt as though someone poured cold water over Theos head, the sensation trickling down his spine and producing gooseflesh. Yuri actually did it. Rose to the heavens and took an advanced position. Something above the gods, perhaps. An Arbiter. Now that would be interesting.
Works for me, Theo said. Zagmon tried to kill me.
Who hasnt Zagmon tried to kill? Benton chuckled. The kettle whistled.
Theo poured out two cups of unsweetened tea. It wouldntpare to the delicious stuff that Xam made back on the mortal ne, but all senses seemed to be dulled in his infant realm. The Toora took the mug in his paw and sipped, nodding with approval. The alchemist rose from his chair and beckoned his fellow realm-holder to follow. Off to the edge of Terogal, to observe the workings of the mortal realm.
Check it out. Theo sat near the edge of his ind, dangling his legs and sshing some tea on himself. The clouds swirled below, producing the image of the meeting he had fled. Frozen in time, his administrators were still reacting to his disappearance. Benton joined him.
Wow, this is interesting. A realm without ascension. Is this a new thing?
I suspect not, Theo said.
The Toora god had nothing to say to that. However friendly he might be, there was a reason for his visit. Information was useful to everyone, even those in the heavenly realms. Allies were even more valuable. Here on the peaceful ind of Terogal, none of that seemed to matter. It was just a safe retreat. Somewhere to hide away from mortal problems. The alchemist found his thoughts were clearer here. As though the attributes he had on the normal ne didnt interfere. Nor did his cores.
You can change what the viewing thing looks like, Benton said. Through your god interface.
I dont have one of those, Theo said.
Oh, right. Not a god, Benton said with a chuckle. Hey, want to check my realm out?
Theo shrugged. Why not?
A wave of a paw and an icy portal appeared. The Toora gestured for Theo to enter, but when he went to step through it, he mmed into a solid wall of ice. The pair stood for a long moment, just staring at the entrance with puzzled expressions.
Not a god, Benton repeated,ughing a great bellyugh.
I spilled my tea.
Despite being a god, the Toora had a lot to talk about. He was aware of the war in the nortnds of Qavell, but cared little for them. His people had retreated to their mountain homes, climbing high into alpine environments to wait out the undead. As a new god in their minor Pantheon, he bore little responsibilities. He spent most of his days walking around his realm and enjoying the cold. Several hours of discussionter, and Benton was ready to leave.
Feel free to stop by. When Im here, Theo said.
I will. Few of our neighbors are this friendly. None have offered me tea, although a few tossed spears, Benton said, chuckling yet again. A sh of icy-blue light, and the Toora was gone, leaving Theo alone with his thoughts once again.
Back to the edge of the ind, peering down to his Tarahek. The figures had moved. Tresk was shaking her fist at the sky, likely annoyed that Theo had left her to deal with the meeting. The alchemist saw Alex, the third member of the Tarahek, honking excitedly on the wooden table.
With his thoughts in order, it was time to return. Focusing on his [Terogal Dreampassage] ability, the alchemist invoked [Approach] on Tresk. The clouds below swirled to swallow him. A sh of a darkened Bridge, and his bare feet graced the wooden floor. The shouts of anger began immediately, and continued even after he assumed his position at the head of the table.
Alise, Gwyn, Luras, Aarok, Azrug, Tresk, and Alex were assembled in the room. Alise and Gwyn handled most administrative duties within the town, but Theo considered Luras and Aarok to be more important in this matter. Perhaps that wasnt giving the administration staff enough credit, but a mind for war seemed more useful in these trying times.
You cannot just vanish in the middle of a meeting, Alise said. She seemed angry.
He was gone for a minute, Aarok said, waving the administrator away. If I could vanish for a moment to collect my thoughts, I would.
Theo picked up the [Kingdom Core] left behind by Khahar and ran his fingers over the surface as his friends argued. This was a heavy weight to shoulder, but it was the perfect solution. Something his old friend foresaw.
Im the mayor, Theo said, cutting through the din. I wont be one for long, though. Will I?
Archduke Theo Spencer, Tresk said, chuckling.
Do we agree? Theo asked. The [Free City Alliance] option is the best one. Right? With the titles being Duke, Duchess, Archduke, Archduchess.
Does that even make sense? Gwyn asked. Surely wed need to be a Dukedom to have those titles.
Theo squeezed the orb of metal in his hand, summoning the screen hed seen earlier that day.
[Broken Tusk] is unconnected with another [Kingdom Core]. As the leader, youre eligible to upgrade your town to one of the following civilization types:
Kingdom
Empire (requirements not met)
Duchy
Free City Alliance
There were only a few options that interested him. Each came with unique structures for organizing towns and cities, but few interested him. Even fewer still interested his support staff. The empire seemed fun, but they didnt have enough connected towns and cities to make that happen. Theo drilled down on the other options for inspection.
[Kingdom]
Civilization Type
Description:
Kingdoms are notable for a single leader who makes all the decisions. Whatever town is designated as the seat of the kingdom will pull all other towns and cities under their control.
Effects:
Every connected town is required to pay monthly taxes to the owner of the kingdom.
Increased experience gain for allbat-rted skills for every citizen under the kings banner.
Decreased experience for all nonbat rted skills for every citizen under the kings banner.
[Duchy]
Civilization Type
Description:
Duchies are subordinate states under another civilization-type (often a kingdom or an empire). While the ruler of the duchy answers to whatever nation they are subordinate to, they may operate with more autonomy than towns or cities under that nation.
Effects:
Reduces taxes owed to owning nation. Rate determined by level of your [Kingdom Core].
Increased experience tobat-rted support skills for every citizen within the duchy.
[Free City Alliance]
Civilization Type
Description:
Free City Alliances are civilizations that consist of nation-states that share power. The town or city where the [Kingdom Core] is nted determines which town or city gains majority rights. That town or city will be dered the nations capital, serving as a hub for the other towns or cities. Other towns or cities within the sphere of influence of the capital will gain all the bonuses from the capital, but its up to the leader to determine policies.
Effects:
Minor increase to all experience gained to all citizens.
Speed of travel on roads between nation-states is increased.
Of the options [Free City Alliance] was the best. Not because it provided the best bonuses, that might go to the [Duchy]. The thing that made the alliance appealing might have been only in name. It would allow at least some autonomy for Rivers and Gronro, not binding them as vassals to Broken Tusk. But there was the hidden problem with raising up towns under hismand. Theyd likely be reluctant to fall under his yoke, damaging their already strange rtionship.
As for the titles, those were random. Theo was given an endless list of titles from king to despot. The selection he fell in love with was those for the [Duchy] option, and the system didnt care if he mixed and matched. There was a certain ring to Archduke Theo Spencer that he couldnt deny.
We can pick whatever titles we want. But I like the duke ones.
Alise cleared her throat. My vote is for the [Free City Alliance]. I suppose I dont care what the titles are.
The alliance gives us flexibility, Aarok said. Its the loosest one in the list, allowing us to nudge our allies into a position we like.
Yeah. Instead of putting a knife to their throats, were just waving it around, Tresk said.
Im assuming we can level the [Kingdom Core]. Just like we level the town, Theo said. His mind wandered for a moment. Thinking about the other thing in Khahars box. An object for another time. Everyone at the meeting was eager to solve this problem now.
Their conversation went on into thete afternoon. Theos stomach was rumbling by the time theyd all agreed to pick the [Free City Alliance] option. He was going to pick it anyway, unless someone had a good argument against it. The alchemists mind was on Gronro to the north. Without his [Hallow Ground] potion shipments, they would have already fallen. A fact that wasnt lost on their leader, Grotgrog Stormfist. As stubborn as dwarves were, Theo had only received a short message through hismunication crystal. But a thank you was all he needed.
The administration team asked for Theo to hold off on nting the new core for a day, and he agreed. Just having it in his inventory brought some peace of mind, and he was hesitant to nt it. That brought on a new range of responsibilities he needed to prepare for. The silver lining in all of it was that they already had an informal alliance with both towns in the Soutnds. nting the new core just made it all real.
Xams tavern was more packed than ever. If she hadnt designated a booth for the future archduke, it would have been impossible to get a table. She was serving some variation on her now-famous Zee noodles with cheese sauce and tall mugs of Rivers mead. The alchemist declined the alcohol and picked at his meal, watching as Tresk fed individual noodles to Alex. The goose had gained the ability to move about on her own, although she was still only slightly bigger than the alchemists head.
Gotta make you big and strong, Alex, Tresk said, opening her mouth as she angled the noodle into the creatures bill.
Can we say that my break is over? Theo asked. Id like to get back to work.
Of course, Tresk said. Just needed a day, didnt you? All rattled up from the attack.
I wasnt rattled.
Maybe a little.
Theo let out a slow breath. Perhaps a little.
It hadnt affected him at all. Something about falling into the realm of the Bridge of Shadows, and then his own personal realm scrubbed his mind clean. The attack from the Zagmon dronon was rapid and precise. A gambit aimed at killing the alchemist. And it would have worked if not for the skill evolution. That twist of fate.
If not for the privacy of the booth, Theo would have had to field questions about the destruction of the chain between Broken Tusk and Qavell. That didnt stop people from poking their heads over the side and asking if everything would be alright. Word normally traveled fast in the growing town, but it was worse since everyone saw the system message. All he could say was he had a solution to the problem. Keep calm and keep working.
With half a te of Zee pasta eaten, Theo led his group ofpanions out of the inn and toward the bathhouse. The buffs it provided were fine, but the rxation the mineral water brought was the real winner. There were long lines for the public baths, but the group made their way to the one reserved for the mayor. The alchemist washed himself under a spigot as Tresk dove into the hot pool of water. She swam to the edge and beckoned the growing gosling inside, giggling as the creature chirped with excitement.
A slow breath and Theo lowered himself into the hot pool, rolling his shoulders and closing his eyes. Nothing worked stress out of his body like that calming pool of hot water.
I wonder what Khahar is up to, Tresk said, emerging from the pool to spit water onto Alex. The gosling chirped angrily and chased her around.
If hes the man I remember Hes choking the life out of Zagmon, Theo said.
Tresk shrieked, swimming away from Alex. Think so?
I hope, Theo said. He continued, telling Tresk about the Toora god Benton. She was as surprised as him that another god could cross into their realm.
We have neighbors. Thats a good thing, right? Tresk asked, allowing Alex to nip at her face as she fell into thought. I wonder if thats going to be a problem. Being near the gods. Were not gods, Theo.
Im not even level 20.
Makes it stranger, right? she asked. Wish we had more information on the Tarahek.
Theo chuckled. Any information on that would be nice. But here we are. Working our way through it as always.
With a few less allies.
And more enemies? Im not sure about that one. The only people Im worried about are stuck on the moon.
Yeah. That sucks too.
The pair spent enough time in the bath to prune their fingers. Tresks amphibian-like skin didnt prune up as well as Theos, so they used him as the indicator. Heading back to the Newt and Demon, the alchemist paused to stare at the sky. There was a moon that shifted colors the way Earths moon changed phases. And another dark moon that wasnt visible. He thought he spotted the edge of something, like a great scythe in the sky. But it onlysted a moment before a bank of clouds came to obscure the sight.
Come on, Tresk said, dragging him along. Weve got experience to grind.
4.2 - Archduke Theo Spencer
4.2 - Archduke Theo Spencer
Ghostly ships pulled into the harbor at the Dreamwalks version of Broken Tusk. Theo sat on the harbors wall, watching as they came and went at hismand. Spectral sails caught an imaginary wind, sending ripples across the water and pushing the gosling along. While this was a ce for grinding experience, it also served as a point of quiet reflection. Tresk never saw it that way. Off battling with imaginary clones of the Zagmon assassins, she found herself at home amidbat.
Just fighting through it, I suppose, Theo said.
Alex chirped in response.
Theories about the Dreamwalk and Terogal were tossed between the pair and Xolsa regrly. While the Elf was busy training up his new core, he begged Theo to bring him along to the infant realm. That was a literal Bridge the mortal couldnt take. Not without invoking a Tarahek of his own. Even then, Theo suspected a new realm would have been generated. Under the right circumstances. Things crafted for eons by people of immense power. A question lingered in the air. The same question that gued the alchemist from the moment he arrived in town.
To what end?
But it wouldnt do any good to sulk. Four phantom stills appeared from nowhere, along with beds of growing nts. Theo got to work on the same recipes hed done before, whittling away the time he had in the realm and inspecting his attributes.
Belgar (Theo Spencer)
Drogramath Dronon
Level 19
Alchemist
Core Slots: 4
Stats:
Health: 105
Mana: 160
Stamina: 115
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 16 (+8)
Vigor: 20 (+8)
Intelligence: 23 (+9)
Wisdom: 27 (+7)
Points: 0
His current build was truly diverse. The more time he spent looking over the book given to him by the god, the more he realized the importance of the [Wisdom] attribute. It did other things, he was sure about that, but the primary function seemed to be memory. How powerful his will was derived from that attribute, but documentation on the subject seemed scarce. What schrly cults still existed on the continent seemed unwilling to share what they knew.
Looking forward to his build, Theo knew the most important thing was to find a selection of skills once he hit level 20 in all cores. Leveling was simple enough to understand, once a person got a few levels and paid attention. Attribute points were given at every personal level. Free skill points, points that could be spent on any skill, were given on multiples of five in the personal level. That was a function created by the system to allow a person to catch up with new cores. Core slots appeared on multiples of 10.
Cores gained a domain-specific skill every multiple of 10, often starting with at least one skill inside if the user got them naturally. Shoving a new core in your chest resulted in no free skills. Hitting level 20 meant that Theo would have a free-domain skill to pick, and hed likely use it for his new mage core. Then he needed to select a skill from the endless list for his [Drogramath Alchemy Core], [Drogramath Herbalism Core], and his [Governance Core]. All of them were close enough to hitting the next domain. He was certain he knew the concepts to break through that barrier.
Some cores presented challenges every 10 levels. Things that a person needed to understand about their cores to advance. These were the training wheels of the system, ensuring that no one would get too powerful without understanding how not to blow themselves up. The alchemist doubted the practicality of that, owed to the rumors hed heard. Those who advanced beyond level 30 often found themselves dead. How much of that was due to other people was beyond him.
The [Drogramath Alchemy Core] would get the [Reagent Deconstruction] skill. Theo inspected that one as he worked the stills.
[Reagent Deconstruction]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Rare
Understanding theposition of reagents leads to their deconstruction.
Effect:
Increases the users ability to deconstruct reagents.
+1 Intelligence
Requires: Level 15 [Drogramath Herbalism] and Level 15 [Drogramath Alchemy] cores.
This would give him a massive advantage. Understanding reagents was a crucial skill for any alchemist, but this was something that went beyond that. A step into a greater world of alchemy. A new domain. But he hadnt selected a skill for his herbalism core yet. There were attractive options, but Theo nned on holding off until he understood the deconstruction skill.
The [Governance Core] was another matter entirely. Some options were locked behind invisible requirements. In the skills menu, they appeared as darkened boxes that revealed nothing of their contents. Neither the requirements nor the skill itself. His hope was for something that helped him rule over multiple towns.
Near the end of the night, with Theos cores pushing close to level 20, Tresk dragged the alchemist over to the road where theyd almost died. She ran through scenarios in which they could have won, but the margins were slim. Worse was the fact that they could only have won, ording to the simtion, if the alchemist dropped his improvised explosive on everyone. The result was death for all gathered.
I think we got lucky with that one, Tresk said. Talk about a no-win scenario.
There was another way they could have won, but Theo didnt want to mention it. Tresk hadnt trained her newest core up very high, resulting in a weak core that couldnt keep up with such a gap in power. Her new [Parantheir Duelists Core] had a skill to iste enemies.
No use worrying about it, Theo said. Im hopeful about my new core. Perhaps some defensive options.
How would you know? Tresk asked giggling. You decided to take a core for ady called the Queen of Mystery. It could just summon turtles for all you know.
Xolsa had created a guide for what he thought Toruaun stood for. His unique ability to control nar magic gave him some insight on that, but it was his magical education that gave him the edge. He suspected she was a god that favored warding magic. Reactive magic that was based onplex triggers. How those wards manifested was a mystery, but if the alchemist knew Dronon gods it would have to do with writing a poem and hoping for the best.
For the rest of the Dreamwalk, Theo and Tresk yed with Alex and created theories about the new core. The alchemist did it to avoid thinking about the task thaty before him. Upgrading the town into a kingdom was daunting. Even though it was something he wanted for a while now, the added responsibility was crushing. What was the point of building a decent administration staff if he didnt intend to use them? He already assigned them lord anddy titles. Those seemed more like decorations than anything, but drove them women forward to work harder.
When the Dreamwalk finally ended, Theo remained in bed for some time. Tresk dragged him out, sensing the trepidation and shing her ever-present devious grin. Out into the streets of Broken Tusk where citizens gathered around the dark monolith. They spotted him and the low drone of conversation descended into hushed whispers. Parting to either side, the group formed a path to the monolith. To the center of town and the heart of Broken Tusk.
Theo cleared his throat. I dont really have a speech prepared. We just got lucky.
A few voices shouted over the crowd. Approving words praising the forming alliance. Theo jammed his [Kingdom Core] awkwardly into the monolith and prepared for the systems message to pop up.
As expected, there were a bunch of civilization types to pick from. He selected the [Free City Alliance], then used the interface to enter the remaining information. After typing the titles in mentally, he was presented with a wide-area map. Selecting the only two towns in range, Rivers and Daub, and Gronro-dir, he pressed the buttonbeledplete. A rush of power flooded through the town, radiating outward in a circle. The ground shook for a moment, but no visible changes were made to the town. Another message popped into his sight.
Congrattions [Archduke Theo Spencer]!
You are the founder and leader of the [Soutnds Alliance].
[Alran Cherman] in [Rivers and Daub] has been granted the title of [Duke].
[Grotgrog Stormfist] in [Gronro-Dir] has been granted the title of [Duke].
Every town or city within the sphere of influence will now draw power to maintain themselves from this [Kingdom Core].
Please consult with your kingdom interface for more options and statistics about your nation.
And just like that, were traitors! Tresk said, cheering.
That sent a ripple of cheers through the crowd. Independence was a thing longed for in Broken Tusk. A thing the citizens wanted far longer than the alchemist had been their mayor. But these strange circumstances had made that dream a reality. Something that wouldnt have been possible without the intervention of Khahar. When he went to inspect the monolith, he was now given two options. He could inspect the town itself, or the alliance.
[Small Free City Alliance]
Name: Soutnds Alliance
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Level: 1
Core Towns:
Broken Tusk (Capital)
Rivers and Daub
Gronro-Dir
Current Energy:
50%
Upgrades:
None
Just like that, the Soutnds were no longer allied with Qavell. They were independent, whatever that meant. Theo noticed the energy level of the town, and wondered how theyd replenish that. It was just another thing in town that ate money, which meant they needed to make more money. Out of reflex, the alchemist pulled hismunication crystal from his inventory and squeezed it. As the crowds cheered around him, he felt disappointment flood through him. There was no answer.
I hope Fenian is alright, Theo said, jostled by the crowd.
Im sure hes fine! Tresk shouted. Mister Archduke.
Working their way through the crowd, Theo, Tresk, and Alex shoved into Xams tavern. Assuming their normal seat in the private booth, they waited forst nights leftovers to be served. While they waited, they enjoyed the delicious tea prepared by the cook. It was far better than anything Theo could make himself, despite having skills rted directly to distilling things. Cooking and alchemy were just too different.
Aarok and Alise shoved their way into the booth before the food even came. The Half-Ogre had an excited look on his face, while the Human administrator seemed reserved.
So, we did it? Aarok asked.
Theo wanted to be modest about what just happened, but he couldnt hide the smile on his face. We did it. Independence.
Now we get to ruin your breakfast, Alise said, offering a sheepish smile. The alliance is formally a thing. Yay! Now we need to work on bolstering Gronro.
Gronro-Dir was at the forefront of the undead defense. What reports Theo had read painted the situation as grim. There was now no travel between Qavell and the soutnds possible. They didnt know if the undead were limitless, but it seemed that way. The only saving grace was the defensibility of the Dwarven town. Another name for the town was Murder Passage. A single approach from the north led up a narrow stone pass. On either side were steep drops, allowing the defenders to toss potions from thefort of the walls. Their current strategy was to keep the narrow pass covered in [Hallow Ground] potion, keeping the skeletal army at bay.
Any ideas? Theo asked.
Aarok chuckled. Oh, I want you to take a guess. Hes slimy. Hes grumpy. A genius with artifices.
Throk has something? Theo asked. The man was always a genius with building stuff.
We have a winner, Alise said. She withdrew sheets of paper from her satchel andid them on the table. Just as food arrived.
Theo thanked the server, watching as Tresk gobbled her food up, before picking at his own. Each design seemed interesting, but the alchemist couldnt understand what he was looking at. One seemed like a catapult and the other a water cannon. The inner-workings were absurdly detailed, but he got the idea.
The sprayer thing might be a problem, Theo said, jabbing his finger onto the first design. The catapult would work, but whats the point? Just toss the potion.
Whats the issue with the sprayer? Aarok asked.
Potions want to be used as whole-unit mixtures. Although, now that I think about it
Theo fell into thought, leaving everyone at the table hanging. Potions reacted in a standard way. Well, most of them did. There was the essence element, which held the properties, the catalyst which created the reaction, and the base. Enchanted water was the typical base, although regr purified water could be used. A reaction could take ce in exact unitsthe amount of units needed for the final productor in mass quantities. Technically, he could perform a mass reaction of [Hallow Ground Potions] in arge container, then attach that to the sprayer.
The issue was, Theo had never tried doing that before. Every time he made a potion, he portioned it out after a mass reaction. Potions that failed to react would create an inert potion, which was useless. But a sprayer mechanism seemed genius. He imagined adventurers running around withrge tanks on their backs, spraying a fine mist of [Hallow Ground] like the methrowers of Earth.
It might work, Theo said, concluding his thoughts. I need some time to work on this, though. Alise, can you field all the questions that are going toe in. From the other members of the Free City Alliance?
Alise withdrew twomunication crystals from her bag and smiled. Theyre already calling. Once youre done here, you need to head to the harbor. Azrug and Gwyn are talking with the Khahari traders. They want your approval.
Alise excused herself from the table, leaving Aarok to stifle augh. Theo ran his hand through his hair, tracing the swoop of his horns. A few eager flicks of his tail and he was over it. Having the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability meant that he could retreat and rx any time he wanted. His own personal little break area.
Whats your take on everything? Theo asked.
Me? Im loving it, Aarok said. Been looking forward to this day for a long time.
We all have, Tresk said, dangling a noodle for Alex to swallow.
What fuel does the [Kingdom Core] take? Theo asked.
Dont look at me, Aarok said. I do not know.
Theo epted the response and busied himself with his meal. Picking through to find chunks of the cheese, he sipped on his tea as the conversation shifted. Aarok and Tresk shared stories about the old days. From when they were kids and the town was little more than a collection of shacks. The Marshling made fun of him for trying to join the Qavelli army, and he made fun of her for trying to be an adventurer.
Yeah, well Im the number one adventurer in town, Tresk said, puffing out her chest. Chief stabber. Hey! Why dont I have ady title?
Do you want a title? Theo asked.
No. Just seems like you would have given me one by now, Tresk said.
Well, you should check out the dungeons, Tresk, Aarok said. Xolsa has been experimenting on the [River Dungeon]. Hes got some interesting results.
Welp. Guess thats what Im doing today. Your turn to watch the kid, Theo, Tresk said, vanishing from the spot.
Theo set his bag on the ground, clicking his tongue until the gosling jumped inside. He sat there awkwardly for a few moments before he realized Aarok wanted to apany him to the harbor. Rising from the table he let out a breath.
Its within the walls, Theo said. You dont need to babysit me.
Aarok shrugged. Whatever you say, boss.
But youre still going to follow me?
Yeah.
Tresk?
Yep.
Theo departed from the tavern and made his way east, towards the harbor. He stopped by the ranch and tried to force himself to love the Pozwa and Karatan. It didnt work. Even as they came over with chitters and bleat-like crows, he wasnt sold. Both creatures were horrible and he wouldnt care for them himself. Looking down at Alex in his bag, he realized how much he missed Earth creatures. What few were left when he was there, anyway. But there were still images of them he could have viewed. Gic replicas stored away.
The harbor wasing along. The single boat that rested in her massive embrace was manned by a few Khahari. Most imposing among them was the cat-person standing on shore, talking heatedly with Azrug and Gwyn. Theo took his time approaching, keeping his eyes on his new shipwright for a while.
Laedria Wavecrest reminded Theo more of a Marshling or Half-Ogre than an Elf. She was hard to work with, only getting to it once she was taunted. But her work spoke for itself. Between her and the new Starbristle industry, she had created a mostly finished boat. It was small, about a quarter the size of the Khahari vessel with a single mast. But the blue fiber used to weave [Starbristle Cloth] was beautiful. It floated in the harbor now, although the Elfs team still worked on it. Leaks seemedmon with her version of the pitch, but this was the first one. It was a big deal.
Fancy archduke title over here, Azrug said, jabbing a finger at Theo. Couldve just called yourself Theo Spencer, Master of the Universe.
Thats too long, Theo said.
But you have to admit the absurdity of it, Gwyn said. Been a mayor for a season. Now youre running an alliance of towns.
Theyre small towns, Theo said.
System says were a massive town, Azrug said.
Theo took a moment to study the young Half-Ogre. He could say the same thing about Azrug. Going from not having cores to functioning as their chief merchant in a season. But civilizations werent built in this world over eons. Certainly Qavell had enough hardship gaining a foothold on the continent, but with magic there was nothing to stop the alchemist from expanding as quickly as hed like. Including the trade deal with the Khahari.
So, shall we talk terms? Theo asked, turning to regard the trader.
4.3 - The Cork
4.3 - The Cork
The Khahari trader seemed like a nice man. He bore mottled desert-patterned fur. Sand-colored patches mingled with dark brown spots, revealed by his mostly-bare torso. When Theo reached to shake his hand, the grip was firm and assuring.
Call me Zol, hed said, struggling with the local tongue.
We can do business in the sacred tongue, Theo said, speaking in Russian and leading the man toward some shade. It was getting dreadfully hot today already. A taste of the bitter heat toe.
Khahar was a prankster in everything. Boisterous and unerring in his ways. ording to the man, when he was transmigrated to this he taught his people Russian. As a joke. He convinced them it was the sacrednguage of their heavens, and kept the joke going for 60,000 years. That was dedication the alchemist could admire.
I wasnt aware anyone spoke it outside of the Khahari Desert, Zol said with a nod. You were truly a friend of my master.
Theo found a crate to sit on, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. Will the Khahari remain in the desert? What are you guys going to do without a master?
Azrug cleared his throat, then spoke in the Qavelli tongue. Were over here if you need us.
Zol shot a look at the Half-Ogre, then his gaze dragged back to Theo. They dont speak the heavenly tongue? Good. My lords ns are not for others to understand. We dont understand themwe dont question them. From his seat of power in heaven, hell give usmands. Now, trade.
Fair enough. The entire race of cat-people worshiped Khahar like a god. He was a god now, but even before that they considered him a deity. Theo shifted the conversation to trade, but it was difficult. Zols Qavelli was bad enough that when Theo had a question for Azrug, there was a brief back-and-forth. But the hour-long discussion bore fruit. Stone was in abundance in the Khahari homnd, but theycked timber. That wasnt a surprise. The entire continent was a desert.
Gwyn and Azrug offered some tentative numbers, negotiating a high price for the wood. But there was a concession in their deal. The Khahari werent just valuable for their buying power. They had ess to the other continents of the world. Existing tradeworks that spanned beyond what Theo knew about. While he understood the existence of ces like grot, Partopour, and Bantein, he only knew of them by name. Zol had contacts in each of them. Trade empires willing to crack open the fruit of a newly founded nation.
Zol withdrew a bottle of yellow liquid from nowhere, joined by 4 sses. He poured out a mouthful in each one and passed it out. To seal the deal.
Theo let the liquor burn all the way down into his stomach, but another quirk of Yuris humor shined through. It was a poor attempt at replicating Vodka. While he enjoyed the gesture, the alchemist drew up a proper magical contract to write the deal in stone. It wasnt much to start, but the gesture meant more than the flow of coins.
Advice for you, Archduke, Zol said before departing.
Please, Theo said, gesturing for the Khahari trader to continue.
You are a friend of the Khahari, because youre a friend of our god. Others wont see you as such. When they approach your port Double your patrols.
Theo pped his hand over the mans fury shoulder. I appreciate the advice. Ill let my captain know.
That said, I would like to tour your town, Zol said. See what he saw.
Youre our guest, Theo said in Qavelli, gesturing for Gwyn toe over. This is one of my advisors. My administrator, Lady Gwyn. She doesnt have the time to be your personal guide, but shell give you a brief tour.
Anything for the Archduke of Broken Tusk, Gwyn said, stifling augh.
Theo departed without seeing them off, making his way to head back into town. Only to be stopped by Laedria Wavecrest. He suppressed a groan, his eyes lingering on her boat bobbing in the harbor. While he wanted to get working on the [Hallow Ground] shooter, boats were more important. They were the most important thing in town, there was no denying that.
How is it going? Theo asked, letting the annoyance fade from his mind in an instant.
How is it going? Laedria scoffed. She gestured at the boat. Going pretty damn good! First boat. What do you think? Wanna name it? I bet you wanna name it.
The Cork, Theo said.
Cork? Oh! Cause its small and bobbing in the ocean, right? Hah-hah, Laedria said. Seriously, do you like it?
Theo approached the harbors edge, looking out over the first boat built in Broken Tusk. This was a massive achievement, even if it was tiny. What style of vessel is this?
Fishers, Laedria said. Her crew hovered nearby, as though they expected high praise from the alchemist. We make Fishers, Traders, and Spears.
Light, medium, heavy, Theo said, nodding. I understand. What kind of pay are you and your team expecting?
Ah, well, Laedria said. She shifted in ce, shuffling her feet along the stone ground. Im kinda crap at this part.
That sucked. Theo was bad at it as well.
Well work something out, Theo said. Currently, we dont have much trade to talk about. And youre not participating in the trade, yet. How much did you make for crafting a boat like this back home?
Laedria shrugged. Couple gold?
Theo scratched his chin, tapping his foot as he thought. What kind of business was this? He didnt need fishing boats, so why would hemission more fishing boats? The Cork was a proof of concept, nothing more. He withdrew 25 silver from his inventory and handed it over, gaining a confused look.
I said a couple gold, Laedria said.
And I dont need a fishing boat, Theo said. I want you to make this work as a business. Find the fisherman in town, and sell the Cork to them. Build me a Trader-style boat, and I''ll pay you in full. Howrge are they?
Well, theyre more than four times the size of this little guy. Twin-masted and high-running in the water. Big hold for a lot of stuff, Laedria said.
And how much did you earn for those?
10 gold under contract. That is to say, we had employment under House Wavecrest, so the rates were lower than if we were frence, Laedria said.
Then youll have your 10 gold, Theo said, producing 5 from his inventory and handing it over. Under the assumption that you and your people will serve not only as my shipwrights, but trainers.
For sailors? Laedria asked. Get some [Sailors Cores] and were in business. Anyway, you have a deal.
Theo drew up a simple contract for the deal. He set no time limits for the shipwright to produce a ship, only that hed pay a t rate. The alchemist didnt neglect to detail the part about him giving her 5 gold upfront for the construction of a new boat, promising to deliver the other 5 onpletion. It was a petty sum for something so important, but that was only the start of the cost.
Laedria was happy and signed the contract, leaving the alchemist to depart from the harbor. He headed up the slow incline, back toward the town proper, and thought about the additional costs. Cores for the sailors, payment for the farmers working his fields, and the seamstress working his cloth. Then enchantments for the boats, some way to attack [Dimensional Storage Crates], and so on. 10 gold was the least of his investment into this project, and it needed to produce results soon. But those were worries for another day. He just hoped his typical incentive of payment would push the shipwright to new heights.
The next problem Theo needed to solve was one he didnt know all the conditions of. He saw enough from Throks designs of the potion-spewer to know the challenges, so he headed off for theb. Alex chirped when they entered, begging him to let her out to greet their shopkeeper, Salire.
A, you missed Auntie Salire? the Half-Ogre woman asked. I missed you too, little feathered thing.
Hows business?
Slow, Salire said with a vague shrug.
Theo offered an equally apathetic shrug.
You have a few orders, if you wanted to tackle those, she said, scratching Alex behind the left wing. A scatter of copper coins to insult your illustrious title, Archduke.
So, how long do I have to suffer these jokes? Theo asked.
Until you build a prison. And throw us all in for making them.
Fair enough.
Spacing out for a moment, Theo connected his willpower to the lodestonework outside. He sensed his golems working hard on the tasks hed given them. The [Lesser nt Golems] were doing well in the greenhouses, making sure his stock never ran dry. There was something in thework about the [Lesser Metal Golems] fighting something, but that was standard for the mine. There were often low-level monsters spawning there, even if they were the weird tentacled dogs. But the crates upstairs were filled with enough [Hallow Ground Essence] and [Swamp Truffles] to work for todays experiments.
Leaving Alex downstairs, Theo began his experimentation by brewing arge batch of [Hallow Ground Potion]. He made a small offering at his shrine to Lord Drogramath before considering the best approach. The massive sk on the table held enough potion to create 50 individual [Hallow Ground Potions], so his next step made sense. Stuffing the sk in his inventory, he left theb and found his way to an empty field to the west. He passed by his seamstress'' house, locating a decently vacant area. Alex stayed behind with Salire, too busy enjoying the scratches.
Adding 50 units of the [Refined Aerosolize] modifier to the mix, and watching the subsequent bubbling reaction, Theo prepared to experiment. First, he scooped a single unit of the potion from the mix into a t-bottomed vial and tossed it on the ground. Nothing happened. He inspected the massive sk to ensure the main potion was still stable, despite being at an odd measure.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Refined Aerosolize]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Shatter to create a cloud of denial.
Effect:
Throwing this potion creates a fifty pace circle around the point of impact with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the cloud, but will be banished when they do so.
It was perfectly fine, unlike that bit of silvery liquid on the ground. Theo went over, knelt down and watched it turn a foul shade of brown. With his mentalmand, he inspected the liquid.
[Inert Potion]
[Junk]
Common
Created by: Belgar
This potion has been measured incorrectly. It is now useless.
As expected, when the potion was separated from the base in an odd number, it was turned to junk. He returned to therge sk and scooped out the correct amount of potion and sshed that on the ground. The system was happy enough with that delivery method, creating a massive cloud of silvery-white that hovered just above the air in a circle. ording to the description of the potion, it was fifty paces in a circle. Any undead that crossed the line would be banished, whatever that meant.
The testing was clear, and Theo returned therge sk to his inventory. When Throk created his device to shoot the liquid, it needed to dispense an exact amount. The advantage was that it didnt need to hold individual potions. The thing could have an alchemically inert tank that dispensed the liquid. A 100 unit capacity tank could shoot 50 times, as each potion took 2 units of the liquid. That might not be practical, but it was something that a [Dimensional Storage Crate] might help.
Theo headed over to Throks ce and found the cksmiths shop devoid of the Marshling. Instead, he found the apprentice Thim. Thimamuri Ironmoore was a strange Dwarf. Not in appearance, though. He had a bushy beard and a bad attitude, squatter than the Humans of this world by several heads. The brusque Dwarf gave him a nod and a grin.
Youve driven the cksmith from his workshop, Thim said. Thats a crime worth punishment under Borhig.
Borhig has no power here.
Calm your ass, Demon, Thim said, waving him away. The Marshling is in his workshop. The artificer one.
Theo rolled his shoulders. He didnt realize that other gods were a sensitive point for himself, but there it was. It didnt help that he knew little about Borhig, Dwarven God of cksmiths. How are you settling in? Theo asked.
Well enough. Throk gave me a thrashing when he figured out I wasnt actually an apprentice. But were on good terms now. I fill in for him here when hes too busy. Hey, thanks for asking. Mister Archduke.
Theo shot him a re and then walked away, not breaking eye contact. After disappearing behind the workshop, the alchemist reappeared to re a little more. Just to send the point home. The Dwarfughed and then he was off again. Throks artificer workshop was right around the corner, and the sound of creative Bantari cursing from within revealed that the man was inside. Three sharp knocks and another series of curses.
Come in, you idiot!
Theo let himself inside, finding Throkboring over something that looked vaguely like the drawings hed seen.
Oh, if it isnt the
Make an Archduke joke. I dare you, Theo said.
Big old stupid Archduke. I was getting there, Throk said, pping his hand on his newest artifice.
Theo spotted the barrel. It was the design that would work best. So the Marshling had gone ahead and worked on that concept. Good. Alright. I did a simple test, and this design is going to work best for shooting the potion.
It was my favorite design. Look here Yeah, right behind the tank. Its just a simple pump like the ones I used for the water. Only high-capacity.
Interesting, Theo said, leaning in. Delivering bad news to Throk was an art. The alchemist hadnt mastered that art, but he was trying. He stalled for a moment, pointing at various things he didnt understand before he gave up. Youll have to change the design.
Why?
The potion needs toe out in exactly 2-unit bursts, Theo said.
Why?
Thats how the potion works, Theo said. I dont make the rules.
Yeah, maybe you should. Archduke over here cant even make the rules.
Theo let out a dramatic sigh. Well, if youre not up to the job. Im going to need to
Alright, alright. I get it. Sorry for giving you a hard time about the title, Throk said, grumbling. What do I need to do again?
Theo exined the problem in detail, but the genius mind of the artificer had a solution. Instead of just drawing from a tank and spitting it out the front, he could attach a 2-unit tank near the barrel. Once it was loaded, he could apply pressure with his artifice magic and then release the potion all at once.
Does it matter if ites out as a wild spray? Throk asked.
Theo shrugged. This requires more testing. Id say work on this design, and then we can test it Actually, Ill just leave some potion here for you to test with.
Youre alright with me just shooting the magic undead-killing potion like that? Isnt it precious?
Sure, but I have a cave filled with the truffles, Theo said. Id rather have a functional artifice. And Well, it just seems like too much effort to use anything else.
Fair enough, Throk said, prodding at his artifice.
Theo measured his expectations for the artifice weapons. There were already system-generated weapons they could mount to the north-facing walls of Gronro-Dir. Those ran on motes, a rtively abundant power supply. The one thing Throks idea had going for it was that it could spew whatever potion they wanted. For the [Hallow Ground] potions, that meant dousing thend with something that would instantly kill all undead. Assuming banishment was the same as death.
The potential for an anti-undead weapon like this was more than just in service of Gronro-Dir. This was the first step forward to something bigger for Theo. When the threat of undeath first arose, ideas had been swirling in his mind. Because if something was undead, it was difficult to kill. That was by definition of the word, but the reports hed received from Gronro proved that true. It wasnt enough to just destroy the undead, they needed to be banished. All of them.
Thus Theos idea of dropping potions from the airhowever that might workwas born. It had evolved with Throks idea, bing a different n entirely. Now he had the desire to spew massive quantities of the potion down onto the undead from a safe height. How to get to the safe height was another question, but the alchemist took problems one step at a time. Which led to the next thing that would piss the poor Marshling off.
I need some more stills, Theo said. Drogramathi Iron, if you can swing it.
Throk gave him a t look. Isnt yourb full enough already?
Yeah, but You know, Theo said, shrugging. He hadnt nned on lying about this. Drogramathi Iron is better.
Throk let out a bbored sigh. Alright. Ill work with Thim to get you a few. How many do you need?
At least 4.
Youre going to be the death of me.
4.4 - Level 20
4.4 - Level 20
Theo left Throks workshop grinning to himself. The Marshling hadnt questioned him further on the project, not after gold was exchanged. His request for the new stills was tied to the discovery he made in Terogal. While the Dreamwalk wouldnt allow him to bring in items from the mortal ne, the realm didnt mind at all. Where the Dreamwalk acted as a mirror to the real world, sheathed in dreams, Terogal was its own,plete with the standard rules of the system.
The excessively hot day, and demand from the citizens for more air-conditioner liquid, revealed the value of that pocket realm. So long as his greenhouses and mushroom caves could keep up with demand, he could pop into Terogal to craft up potions. Perhaps without the bonuses provided by the alchemyb, but it was better than nothing. There were many projects that required volume over quality, and Theo decided the best ce to craft those would be Terogal.
On his way from the workshop, Theo was intercepted by Alise and Gwyn. They had news to share and dragged him over to the town hall, leading him into a spacious meeting room on the second floor. Cold air blew from a metal box in the rooms corner, cutting through the humidity of the day. The alchemist assumed his position near the window, and waited for news about his allies.
Alise cleared her throat before speaking, a smile hanging on her face. As you might imagine, both our allies are excited about the [Kingdom Core] you nted. Gronro requested formal aid. You can view the request in your mayor screen. Well, I guess its an Archduke screen, now.
They have a days worth of your potion, Gwyn said. So, weve sent some adventurers over to bolster their forces. Rivers is alreadyining about something.
Theo tapped his fingers on the table. He knew Rivers was going to be a problem from the start. The way the mirrored Qavell was bad for everyone, leading to a group of corrupt nobles that pushed everyone else down. The alchemist found that sentiment rich. He owned most everything within town and determined the rates withoutpetition. Every dictator must have thought themselves incorruptible.
Your call on Rivers, Theo said. We need to create a formal system for them. Something to make sure they pay their fair share.
Its more delicate than you can imagine, Alise said with a sigh. Weve been working on a strategy. Azrug wants to starve them out financially. Not sure I like that idea.
Theo thought for a moment before responding. The only ce anyone could export anything was through Broken Tusk. With the pass to the north cut off, it just wasnt possible to move goods without going through the port. He could charge Rivers whatever he wanted for use of the port, or buy everything they wanted to export at a low rate then export it himself for a profit. But he had to think about what his idea for the town was. From the start, he wanted Rivers and Daub to work with him.
Theo sighed. The problem was their trade guild. They were called the Chairs in Qavell, a system Rivers had replicated. A few people controlled all trade within their town, resulting in rampant over-charging and collecting of dues.
Rivers needs to dissolve their trade guild, Theo said.
Gwyn and Alise shared a look then nodded at each other. Azrug was working with Fenian on that before he left, Gwyn said. He suggested starving them out. As in, create different rates in the port.
Those unaffiliated with the trade guild get our standard export rates. While those with the guild get hit with a massive fee, Alise said, finishing the other Lady Administrators thoughts.
That seemed aggressive, but Theo didnt have any better ideas. While it was nice to hope that Alran would just do the right thing, that didnt happen. On those open nes between two powerful towns, Rivers and Daub found themselves in an ideal situation. They could seize the moment and reforge themselves, or get the hammer from the other two. That was all there was to the problem.
Tell Azrug I like the n, Theo said. Meanwhile, were bleeding cash until we can get our trade fleet up.
If you think were bleeding now, Gwyn said, chuckling nervously. Grot from Gronro told us how we keep the power of the [Kingdom Core] up.
Money? Theo asked. Go figure. Seems like we could really use that coin mint.
And Fenian is in the wind, Alise said.
Zarali and Xolsa illuminated us, Gwyn said. Coins are pressed with power, right? What is thetent power in the air used for? Its used to generate the monsters in the dungeons, as well as quests. Which in turn generate coins.
Meaning the adventurers going into the dungeons are harvesting the processed power by killing monsters, Alise said. Meaning Aarok is going to help the town out until we get trade going.
Thats fortunate, Theo said, still tapping his fingers on the table. Any silver or gold from my mine?
I dont have a recent report from the mine, Alise said.
The juniors were taking care of that. I didnt see any mention of silver or gold, just an increase in general production, Gwyn said.
Well, Gridgen knows I want silver. Ill trust him to sniff it out. Alright. Good news about everything else. Bad news about money. Gwyn, could you please tell Throk that my stills are high-priority?
The administrator groaned. Yeah, yeah. Hes gonna yell at me.
He certainly will, Theo said. But Im worried about potion production. If I fall behind, Gronro is in trouble.
Got it, mister Archduke.
Theo snorted augh. Alright. Come find me if you need something. Im going to Well, I better not say.
The pair stopped him before he left, having a few more administrative things to talk about. It was mostly about the Elves within the town, and how they wanted to formalize anguage program for them. Theo was fine with that, seeing as his his weaver Kaya didnt speak Qavelli. While the alchemist was working on learning the Elf-tongue, it wasnt going well.
Finally released from the meeting, Theo headed off for hisb. He found Salire downstairs and chatted for a bit. It was hard to catch up with the woman, but she had several more requests for the day. There was a rush of peopleing in during the morning, all looking for weird stuff. The alchemist made his way upstairs after a bit and used his [ssware Artifice] to generate many vials and sks for his trip.He took an [Enchanted Fermentation Barrel], two stills and their parts, then went outside theb to look at his [Dimensional Storage Crates].
The [Lesser nt Golems] were great at collecting and tending his various gardens, including the mushroom caves. So good that they were filling the contents to bursting, leaving reagents scattered on the ground nearby. He collected them all in his inventory, focusing on the [Swamp Truffles], snatched a few more things he forgot in theb, then focused on his [Dreampassage] ability.
The world around him swirled, and he passed over that dark Bridge yet again. Then there was the soft grass of Terogal under his feet, and the pleasant breeze that blew without end. He took a deep breath and copsed on the ground. The grass tickled his face as he stared up at the perfect blue sky, thick clouds floatingzily by. Theo experienced no fatigue while in his private realm. He hadnt tested if it would drain his stamina, but he suspected it would be minimal.
Then you have to question, Theo said, finding that speaking aloud in the realm helped him think. Does my mana drain? Maybe.
Theo found a t area near the mouth of the spring to set his gear up, finishing by cing a table near the condensers. While he was low on [Swamp Onions], he had enough to do a 200 unit test run of fermentation. He started by grinding 1,000 units of [Swamp Truffle] up for the stills, adding his [Enchanted Water] to each to top them off. The alchemist let out a hoot of excitement when the [me Artifices] kicked to life. They werent generated by the system, but a creation of Throk.
While the stills and the [Fermentation Barrel] were working, Theo turned his attention to the sheet of paper Salire had handed him. It was filled with new orders from customers. People were mostly interested in his [Healing Pills], now. It was nice to see that they were a sess, and they were easy enough to make with enough of the [Solidify] modifier. Time moved strangely as he crafted, but the experience rolled in all the same. Every worry about the way things were going in town melted away in his private realm, and before long he saw the notification he was waiting for. The [Drogramath Alchemy Core] rolled over to level 20.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (1%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 20.
Obtained free [Drogramath Alchemy] skill point for hitting level 20 with this core.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an additional skill slot!
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] gained an enhanced effect: +6 wisdom.
A rush of aplishment flooded through Theo. It was more than a normal level up, it was the breaking of the level 20 barrier for that core. He was right about the block, it had to do with mana control and how that influenced reagents. While he didnt understand itpletely, it was the only thing required to break through. The alchemist scrolled through the list of abilities, finding the one that hed coveted for a while sitting there.
[Reagent Deconstruction]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Rare
Understanding theposition of reagents leads to their deconstruction.
Effect:
Increases the users ability to deconstruct reagents.
+1 Intelligence
Zarali was convinced that this was the best skill he could have taken. As he selected it and slotted it into his core, he didnt know if he agreed. It would be useful, he knew that much, but how usefulpared to other skills? It was one of those things that required practice, which made it even more of a gamble. That didnt dampen his excitement for the skill, though. Even as the stills and barrel went to work, he headed over to his table to practice.
As expected, the skill used mana to deconstruct materials. What Theo didnt expect was how difficult it would be. His first hour of practice resulted in scorch marks on his table, having exploded the reagents rather than deconstructing them. He took a break to tend to the stills, cleaning them out and setting them for another run with attribute-enhancement reagents. While he worked, he thought about what went wrong.
When he pushed his mana into the reagents, they resisted. But a thought urred to him the moment he finished loading up his stills.
Reagents are made of properties. And thats a bit meh because properties are just aspects of magic, Theo said, holding his hand over a [Wind Tulip].
The alchemist focused his mind as he drew mana into his hand, watching as the purple mes danced. He allowed it to drip over the green flower, keeping the concept of wind in his mind. During refinement of the nt, he found that the modifier was [Elemental Wind]. That seemed to be the reagents base property, something that was inherent to it. As the liquid fire dribbled over the flower, thick smoke rose, leaving behind a pile of green ash.
At first, Theo thought hed destroyed another sample. Until he realized what had happened. Focusing on an actionable property like [Elemental Wind] had burned away everything else, sending it into the air as smoke. What it left behind was the base of the properties, something more primal than anything hed seen before. He poked his finger into the pile, willing the system to inspect it.
[Primal Wind]
[Primal Essence]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Reduces the chance of vtile reaction while bonding.
1 Unit (powder)
The primal representation of the [Wind] property.
Double-weird, Theo said, scratching his chin.
The quality was too good for a first try, and the alignment bonus came through. There was only one thing to conclude from this round of experimentation. His theory about extracting pure essence-stuff was correct. More impressively, the effects of hisb tranted to his personal realm. That meant there was some manner of soul-bond between him and theb, which he couldnt decide if he liked or not. Did he share a simr bond with every building he owned? It was impossible to tell without more experimentation, but he went further.
Concentration goes a long way, Theo said. But theres more, I think.
Theo could always rely on there being a ton of junk in his shared inventory with Tresk. He searched before he found something suitable. A pile of mundane nt leaves that Tresk had gathered near the ocean. He couldnt recall what they were called on Earth. They typically grew near the coast and should have had enough concentrated salt within for him to split away from the base nt. The alchemist ced 10 units of the leaves on the table and urged more mana into his palm. He focused on the idea of salt. That specificpound, nothing vague.
The stuff you put on food, Theo said, trying to make his will manifest.
The purple fire dripped, eating away at the pile and sending smoke spewing into the air. It bubbled for some time, but was swept away by the constant breeze. It left behind a pile of dense crystals, exactly 3 units by weight. He inspected it to be sure.
[Salt]
[Food] [Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Theo scratched his head for a while. While excitement begged release, this produced a confusing situation. Hed refined a mundane item into an alchemy ingredient with [Reagent Deconstruction]. This was a tough concept to wrap his mind around, as he was under the assumption that magical items were magical. Mundane items were not. Having not discovered the first property was not confusing, though. That required intent, and hed never eaten raw salt intending to discover a property. Why would he have? He licked his finger, dipped it in the salt, and had a taste.
Yep. Salt.
The two properties revealed were [Ease] and [Repel], both of which would need testing. If either were useful, this would be a great ingredient to distill. Those nts grew all over the ce on the coast, sprawling out with no end. But, there were orders to fill in the shop so he got back to work.
A task for another time, Theo said, going down the list of requests.
It took a few more hours to get everything ready. Theo had a hard time figuring out how much time hed spent in Terogal, but he couldnt feel the power waning. Instead, he remained there to practice his skill and experiment within the realm.
The wheat field seemed of little use, but Theo couldnt bring himself to remove it. He didnt know why, but it brought a great sense of nostalgia. The cottage was fine enough, and when he entered to write down some notes he saw that someone vandalized his journal entry. He chuckled, stuffing it in the drawer and writing his thoughts on a new page. Terogal would be a great ce to practice his new core, but he noticed his mana had depleted. A supply of [Mana Pills] would be necessary if he wanted to make the most of this ce as a practice realm.
Stamina wasnt diminished as greatly as mana, though. That might have been an effect from theb, though. But time rolled by, and the alchemist found himself more eager to return to the mortal realm. Heading over to the edge of the ind, he looked down to observe Tresk and Alex for a while. The gosling didnt join him on his journey, although maybe she should have. The Marshling was fighting through some foul-looking dungeon, appearing to be frozen in ce. With his inventory full of the orders and more [Refined Hallow Ground Essence], he pushed off and descended into those clouds.
A momentter he was standing in theb with only five minutes having passed in the real world. It was hard not to grin when he heard Salire knocking on thebs door, then letting herself in.
Also, Theo Just dont feel like you have to rush yourself for the orders. Okay? she asked.
Of course not, Theo said, withdrawing all the requested items from his inventory and setting them on his table.
Oh. Alright, Salire said, awkwardly moving to collect the items. Guess were just gonna ignore that, huh?
What do you mean?
I mean I checked your stocks. You didnt have enough. Now you do, Salire said, chuckling. Since Im getting paid, Ill ignore it. Just be happy that my weird bossb is missing a table, a barrel, and 2 stills. Yep.
Exactly, Theo said, pping a hand over the womans shoulder. d youre reasonable.
Theo fished the salt from his inventory, scooped it up from the table, and held his fist out. Want some salt?
Theo departed theb, leaving behind a confused shopkeeper with a handful of salt. While he trusted Gridgen to do the right thing with the mine, it wouldnt hurt to check up on the man. Thebat signal from the [Lesser Metal Golems] didnt help matters, either.
4.5 - Status and Schemes
4.5 - Status and Schemes
Dead Dog Mine was a valuable asset to Broken Tusk. While the influx of Elves had bolstered their ranks, there was no longer a trickle of people asking for citizenship. Theo found Sarna Dev outside of the mine, instructing some of her newer hires on how to work the mine. Theo waited nearby, eyes lingering on the crate outside. It was full of nuggets ready to be smelted, ted to be ingots for export. He thought about their export strategy, and how it had evolved over the weeks.
Without the northern pass, and with Fenian in the wind, it was impossible to send anything afar. Every trade deal theyd made with buyers in Qavell vanished. Coins that once flowed now dried up like a creek bed in a drought, leaving the alchemist to fret by the mine. Now those resources were bound for the towns within the Free City Alliance. Rivers would get a trickle at an absurdly low rate, while Gronro got the most.
Do you know if undead drop loot? Theo asked through the [Tarahek Communication] skill.
Alex chirped a response in his mind before Tresk could speak. The alchemist pat her on her little head.
They drop stuff in the dungeons. But I dont think the undead attacking our alliance are generated by the system, Tresk said.
Theres a thought. How were they generated?
No clue, Tresk said, her voice sing-song.
And that was their conversation. The Marshling was pushing herself hard to level up her new core. Theo withdrew the box Khahar gave him, staring at the contents. The even smaller box within contained several vials with seeds. And a letter. Reading it for the first time was like a punch in the gut. A heartfelt message and instructions on how to grow the impossibly rare nts. But those thoughts fell away when Sarna snapped her fingers, gaining his attention.
How can I help you, mayor? she asked.
Actually, its Theo stopped himself. He liked that old title better. Its about the mine. I just wanted to check on production.
Then why do we give production reports? Sarna asked,ughing. Come on. Ill give you the tour.
The Human woman led him around the mine, showing him the new veins theyd struck. They werent actually veins, just sections of rock that spawned in the nuggets. Columns of stone rested in the center of passageways, rich with glittering copper. A few levels down, and Theo was impressed with the expanded iron tunnels. Further still and he saw the purple-ck nuggets of [Drogramathi Iron]. She gave him the numbers on their production and he was satisfied enough.
Silver is still a problem, huh? Theo asked.
Weve been focused on expanding the upper floors, Sarna said, closing an iron door behind her.
Theo had the idea to create staging areas in the tunnels. Large, defensible rooms that rested in choke-points. Down a dimly lit hall, he spotted a [Lesser Metal Golem] standing over the bodies of several demon-dogs. The alchemist was certain they had names, but he hadnt bothered to learn them. Just another strange quirk of the system that wanted to make the mine more dangerous.
Your guys are doing all the work down here. I even saw one use the gate, Sarna said. Then theres the doom room. Thats what the miners call itthey hate it.
There was a reason they hadnt dug deeper from this point. When Theo discovered the room with his [Tunneling Potion], he found Alex. After that, it seemed too dangerous to dig deeper. Fear of a cavern beneath had stayed both his and the miners hands. Instead of backing away from the problem this time, Sarna got Gridgen and they got to discussing the idea of digging deeper. They toured more of the mine, and the pair had another discovery to show.
Solid, Gridgen said, swinging a pick against a pale gray wall. It reverberated in his hand, but produced no chips.
This is the edge of the mine, Theo said, looking back onto the darkened tunnel from where they came. Its massive. Wait, that means no one can mine from the other side, right?
Yeah, thats a good thing. But that might not bode well for your idea of finding a cave, Gridgen said.
Theo tapped his foot for a moment, a new nervous habit hed picked up. Something within him whispered that if they dug down, theyd find a cavern. It wasnt the normal whisper hed experienced from his Drogramathi cores. Those had been mostly silent. It was something else. As though the [Tarahek Core] was doing the whispering. Alex chirped.
Alright, Theo said. Well, do you guys need anything? Are we good on the whole mine project?
Better than good, Sarna said, puffing her chest out with pride. Give the word and well dig down.
Theo thought for a moment before responding. Lets take a look at the bottom level again.
Theo, Gridgen, and Sarna made their way back to the bottom floor. It was nice to see all the Elves working, and they all seemed happy enough. Even if some still didnt speak the native Qavelli tongue, they got by with gestures and a few words. The most important thing was that they were fed, clothed, and housed. It would be a disservice to Fenians big n if he let those people down.
The group examined the bottom floor again. Gridgen summoned a few miners to knock some walls in around the strange Demonic shrine, but they got no response from the devices within. On the other side was more rock, simply confirming their theory that the room had been ced by a god magically. Discussion and prodding went on for hours without an answer, but it was enough information for Theo to move forward.
Just keep doing what youre doing, Theo said. Ill talk to Aarok and see what he thinks.
Whatever you want, boss, Gridgen said.
The day waned, and Theos stomach grumbled. He got the sense that Alex was also hungry, and fed her a few worms on their way to the tavern. Stepping out from the mines and into the humid air of the Season of Fire covered him a sheen of sweat that didnt seem to fade. The alchemist picked at the hole in the front of his robes as he went, noting that the fabric had stitched itself back together slightly. Slowly, but it was working.
Tresk signaled she was headed for the tavern, but Theo picked up Aarok on the way. The Half-Ogre was doing his thing at the Adventurers Guild and seemed eager enough to eat.
Been a while since youve invited me, Aarok said.
Not sure Ive ever invited you, Theo said. You normally just drop in.
Todays menu was interesting. While mead was served nightly, Xam had prepared some Karatan steaks from Rivers and Daub. Once Theo told Tresk about the dish, she appeared next to him in an instant, using their [Terogal Dreampassage] ability. The party sat, Alex in her little box, and they waited for their food.
Thought I already gave you approval for the mine thing, Aarok said, sipping his mead.
Things change. I wanted to make sure, Theo said.
You have my approval, Aarok said. I think of it like this, right? If theres stuff underground, we should get it. There might be some fancy alchemy ingredients, right?
There may be.
Or monsters, Tresk said with a nod. You know me. Always eager to kill monsters. Stab stab stab.
How about Gronro? Theo asked. How are they actually doing?
Extremely well, Aarok said. Theyd have been overwhelmed without your potions, which Well, I dont really want to say anything.
Come on.
Its odd. Right? Aarok said. His face took on a hard expression. You had a potion ready before the undead attack.
Theo let out a sigh, shifting his gaze to the window. Light faded over the town outside, casting long shadows across the bathhouse. Hed wondered if Fenian had used him for that purpose, or if there was more to it. It would be impossible to predict what the Elf was doing, leaving all questions as useless to ask.
Is your concern about Fenian? Theo asked. Youre assuming he caused the undead, right? Well, good for him. Aarok Broken Tusk has independence.
Aarok leaned in, looking over his shoulder then back at the alchemist. And youve imed a realm. Another impossible thing in a town of impossible things. When does it end, Theo?
Its my realm, too, Tresk said, ring at the Half-Ogre. Oh! I met that Benton guy. God of death winter?
Death and winter, Theo corrected.
Youre talking to other gods? Aarok asked, letting out a sigh of frustration. You want me to tell you about protecting the mine Meanwhile youre off talking to weird gods.
Hes a minor god. In an infant realm. From what I understand, he just ascended. Was only level 100, Theo said.
Aarok pped his face, and continued to do so until the food was delivered. Tresk had already devoured hers by the time he stopped smacking, leaving angry red marks on his cheeks. Alright. Im going into optimistic mode. Here it goes. Any moment now. Another series of ps. What do we always do when you pull some crazy crap out of your butt? We exploit it. How can you exploit this realm thing for the town?
I already am, Theo said.
Yeah, I saw your stills, Tresk said. And a powdery substance that looked suspiciously like Salt.
Salt? Xam asked, poking her head into the booth.
Do you make a habit of eavesdropping? Theo asked.
I do. And Im running low on salt, she said with an excited nod.
Theo rolled his shoulders, trying to work out a knot that was forming in his upper back. This was a problem that needed to be sorted like a Broken Tusker. Seize whatever weird crap happened by the hair and make it work.
Im happy to sell you salt, Xam, Theo said.
Im happy to buy it, she said, holding her hand out. Gimmie.
I dont have any on me. Its been a busy day.
Deliver it here, and youll have coin. Market rate, of course, Xam said, vanishing before anyone could say anything more.
Theo cut a bite out of his steak, forking it and staring at the meat for a long moment. Aarok was always going to find out about the realm. The alchemist was bad at keeping secrets, but did that even matter? He trusted these people in town with his life. Often enough to call them his brothers and sisters, not just numbers on a spreadsheet in his interface.
Time moves differently in Terogal, Theo said. 5 minutes out here is like 12 hours in there. So, I get an extra 12 hours a day to work on projects.
How in the hells does that work? Aarok asked.
Magic! Tresk shouted.
I can imagine hundreds of scenarios where it would be useful. Time-sensitive tasks that require alchemy. I can bring things between our realm and the mortal ne, so thats even better, Theo said.
Alright, Theo. I dont need to say this, do I? I trust you to exploit it for our gain, Aarok said.
Always for the betterment of Broken Tusk, Theo said. Now, can we talk about something else? Id like to eat.
Aarok honored his Archdukes request and changed the topic away from the alchemist. Instead, he talked about the training program theyd established for the residents of Gronro-Dir. The surprising part was that hed also roped in some people from Rivers and Daub. Cut off from the unified Adventurers Guild to the north, they didnt have support. Without the Half-Ogres offer, they would have disbanded. Lacking funds to continue, and holding only one regional dungeon, they needed Broken Tusks guild.
So they signed contracts, facilitated by Alise, that put Rivers and Daubs Adventurers Guild as a vassal to Broken Tusks. That gave Theo an idea, which Aarok had already thought of. It was another way to free the small town from the nobles, creating the possibility of a coup.
Theo leaned in after hearing the news, fixing his gaze on Aarok. Ive seen how a coup goes, my friend. Ive been in the streets when they rounded the other up. Do you understand how that ends?
Dont act like youre the only one with blood on your hands, Theo, Aarok said, throwing his shoulders back and locking eyes. You cant pretend like you dont have ast resort. Last resort. Thats what this is. Not our first pick.
Theo rxed, leaning back in his chair. It wasnt a horrible idea. In fact, it was his first idea for making Rivers more useful to them. He and Tresk had discussed the idea of taking them by force and installing their own leadership, but that would never end well. But as ast resort, it wasnt bad. Instead of pursuing that idea any further, the alchemist thought about Alran Chermans most valuable feature. He tapped his foot a few times before nodding to himself.
Cherman might give up the reins willingly, Theo said. What if we let them pick a leader, and Alran can take up a different position.
The alchemist felt the idea flow from his mind and through the [Tarahek Core]. Into Tresks stabby little brain. Spymaster? she asked.
Theo nodded to himself. That wasnt a bad idea. Alran was far too informed for someone in such a small town. He knew about the war with Veosta before he should have, and the undead attack. Which meant hiswork of informants was vast, or just extremely good at what they did.
We could use a Spymaster, Aarok said with a nod. Think hes willing to give up his position as head of the Chairs? To be a spy full time?
I suspect hes already a spy full time. Theo chuckled. Thats me going full Broken Tusker. Finding what a person is best at and making them do it. He could be listening right now. If so, please contact me so we can discuss this.
Aarok snorted augh. Alright, I need to head out. Thanks for the food.
No bath? Tresk said, offering him puppy-dog eyes.
No. Ive got something to attend to, Aarok said, standing. As much as Id like to take a bath Gotta settle for the bath in a bottle.
Aarok departed. Tresk and Theo shared a look, then a shrug. They made their way to the bath and settled in for the evening. They discussed the problem over their privatemunication,ing to no definite conclusion. But the alchemist understood the importance of being informed about his enemies, having served in that role many times before. He couldnt stop his mind from wandering to Yuri. To Khahar, fighting a war in the heavens. Perhaps that man would fight wars forever. Ceaseless engagements without respite.
But there were other things to talk about before the pair entered the Dreamwalk for the night. Theo had been putting off his [Governance Core] pick for a while, but not forck of trying. The options didnt appeal to him, but that was before the nting of his [Kingdom Core]. Now there were a few things that caught his eye, clearly unlocked by his role as Archduke.
[National Status]
Governance Skill
Legendary
Grants the owner of a nation the ability to view information about their nation. This skill includes amunicationwork between all towns and cities within spheres of influence.
Effect:
Grants a new tab in your administration screen, allowing you to view information about your nation.
Allows you tomunicate with the leaders and administrators of subordinate towns and cities.
Grants a portion of your existing administrator skills to your subordinate towns or cities.
Thats one of them skills, Tresk said, floating in the water as Theo read it off to her. Where you just gotta take it. Right?
We havemunication already, but it would be nice if we had a different one. Currently, only the person holding the crystal can use it, Theo said. And I think Alise and Gwyn can only use it because I set the Lady Administrator title for them.
Kinda silly that you just pass out lord anddy titles like theyre candy, Tresk said.
Why? I can take them away whenever I want, Theo said, waving her away. It costs nothing, and grants them more privileges to use our shared administrator interface.
Just saying. Some people might take offense to that, Tresk said.
Those people can go kick rocks, Theo said, closing his interface.
The alchemist wouldnt select the skill tonight. If the leaders in the other towns called him sote, it would be annoying. Instead, he would do it tomorrow morning. It was time to have a bath and nothing more, so he soaked in the warm water and let his worries wash away. Aaroks words wereforting, even if they came from such an aggressive person. He had a mind for war, even if hed never fought one. He and Luras were ted to join the Qavelli Irregrs before they were discharged. A blow to their egos, but the training remained.
Theo checked the status of the nation when they were done with their bath. He found that their energy had dropped from 50% to 45%, and decided it was time to experiment before bed. It was a brief experiment. Inserting one gold coin brought the energy of the town up 10% from where it was. But that wouldnt remain static. The alchemist knew enough to understand it would cost more as the nation grew. As the requirements of the towns within it burgeoned.
Tresk, Theo, and Alex headed off to their beds in the Newt and Demon. A sh of an idea passed through his mind, but he half-way dismissed it. Wouldnt it be nice if they had a house to call their own? Not just a room next to theirb? An idea worthy of pursuit, once he wasnt worrying about generating enough money so an entire nation wouldnt go under.
4.6 - Eggplants and Realms
4.6 - Eggnts and Realms
A tangle of nters loaded with reagent-bearing nts spread into the distance. Alex hunted in the underbrush, desperate to find bugs and worms to stuff into her bill. Theo brushed his hand along the leaves, not feeling the same sensation as he did in Tero''gal. It was a dull sense of feedbackpared to the more-real realm, whatever that meant. The more time the alchemist spent away from the mortal ne, the more he wondered what it was to begin with. Was it reality as he knew back on Earth, or another reflection cast by the system?
Questions without answers seem to gue him, now. But that wasnt among his chief concerns. Grinding experience had be his singr focus, everything else giving way to that need to advance. While his other cores were gaining experience, feeding points into his personal level, he had hit a wall. The conclusion was logical, though. Without all 3 of his current cores at level 20, his personal level wouldnt advance. So hed summoned more nters than he needed, found a steady pace of work and went at it.
Tresk approached from a distance, finding a ponderous path through the wooden boxes. Theo greeted her with a nod, but shed been offtely. It was as though she was constantly thinking about something, and the answer was clear. Since the attack, she hadnt reacted. No additionalbat training, or clever tricks with potions.
Because they didnt work, Tresk said, chuckling. She was getting better at reading his mind by the day. Spent all that time working on our strategy and it fell apart.
So, youre giving up? Theo asked.
Tresk let out a sharpugh. Like hell Im giving up. I hired 5 adventurers to shadow you all day. Real mean sons of bitches good at stealth. Gave them orders to bonk you over the head and drag you back to town if you left.
Theo was less surprised than he wished he was. That was on-brand for the woman. Under the spiky exterior, she did it out of love.
I appreciate it, Theo said, focusing his mind. If he tried hard, he could feel some of her emotions and thoughts. Not as clearly as she could, but it was there. Youre waiting for me to get my next core. To see how good it is as a defensive ss.
Yup, Tresk said, pointing a finger at the book he held. Any progress with old Tor-whatevers secretnguage?
Standard Dronon nonsense, Theo said with a shrug.
Each page of the book shed given him was a piece of an overall pattern. He didnt have the word to describe it urately, but it was like the spell arrays Xolsa used. Each piece of the overall array were words in her own made-upnguage. Those words were ced in a sequenced, circr pattern on the page. Since Toruaun had given him the key, it was easy enough to understand. Those individual symbols connected with the other, creating a webwork of other arrays. Knowing where to connect them was a matter of attaching one part of the story to the other until it all flowed.
Good news on that front, Theo said, turning the book around for Tresk to see. The first spell she gave me is defensive. Hard to tell with the story-telling nature of her magic, but I think it makes a temporary magic shield. Shell? She calls it a shell, if I had to trante it into Qavelli.
Well, theres a question for ya. Is it a constructednguage, or something more ancient like Axpashi? Tresk asked.
Have you been dumping points into [Intelligence]? Theo asked.
No. Im stealing your brain juice.
I think theres a general Drononinguage somewhere. Toruaun based her magguage off of that, Theo said. I know, because its simr enough to Drogramathi.
Sounds boring. I mean, super interesting. Whatever. Thenguage part is boring, but the spell part is cool, Tresk said. We need to expand our realm so you can practice in Terogal more.
Theo expected a massive surge in his power when he got his new core. He still didnt understand Toruauns spellpletely, but Xolsa could help with that. The Elf had been too busy working on his [Dungeon Engineer] core, but that would stop soon enough. Once he had an understanding, hed simply have to help the alchemist. There were too many questions about the way the magic worked. It wasnt the time to think about those things, though. The Dreamwalk was fading, and Theo had enough experience to hit level 20 in his [Drogramath Herbalism Core]. Once he left the dream realm, hed be hit with choices.
Since Theo pointed out Tresksck of training, she decided to take thest bit of the Dreamwalk and do more training. The Marshling produced a series of weapons and forced him to try them out. He found none of them to his liking. Not the small daggers, the sword the size of him, or the spears. They all felt weird in his hands.
With a thought, Theo produced the service weapon theyd given him to kill the harbinger. For the time, it was considered an antiquated weapon. Gunpowder wasnt just on the decline, it was basically useless, but the people who sent him to kill the Harbinger insisted it would work. Something about maic eleration and depleted uranium would pierce whatever defenses the creature had. It hadnt worked, but the weight of the weapon in his hands was afort.
Now, if I could have one of these, Theo said, charging the rifle on the side. It made an extremely satisfying mechanical sound. Wed be in business.
Damn, boy. Yeah, maybe we could build guns. You wanna go out there and shoot people? All pacifist and everything.
Theo sighted the weapon, resting his finger on the trigger. A long, steady breath and he squeezed slightly, then let up. Memories of the Harbinger came back. He didnt shoot back then, did he? Everyone else did, but he didnt. The alchemist allowed the weapon to fade into nothingness without shooting.
Thats a matter of synergy, Theo said. Unless we find a ss that uses guns, whats the point? Ive had the idea for a cannon for a while, but the towers basically do that. Well leave this for another time. Maybe when I build my airship.
Your what?
Theo waved her off. That was still an infant idea in his mind. He strove to keep those creeping ideas out of his head, focusing on what he could work on now. Instead, the pair talked about what they could do now that would help the town. Money, training, and ideas were the concepts they settled on. Although boats were the most important thing, the shipwright could only work so fast.
When the Dreamwalk ended, Theo sprung up from his bed. The system greeted him that morning with a series of messages.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 20.
Obtained free [Drogramath Herbalist Core] skill point for hitting level 20 with this core.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] gained an additional skill slot!
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] gained an enhanced effect: +6 Vigor.
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 20.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
[Theo Spencer] received an additional core slot.
With theplexity of Toruauns magic, Theo went with another point into [Wisdom], putting him at 29. The additional point in his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] put him at 21 [Vigor]. He selected the [National Status] skill and slotted it into his [Governance Core] before looking over the skills for his herbalism core. While there were selections that seemed good, they came with a problem. He had enough new things to learn without adding another thing to the list. But one skill stuck out to him.
[Grove Tender]
Herbalism Skill
Rare
Drogramaths legendary desire to nket the world in reagents has been tranted to this skill. Your sess in tending to nts will increased significantly.
Effect:
Increase the rate of growth for all nts you tend.
Increase the survival rate of all nts you tend.
Reduces the chance that spirit nts will wither under your care.
+1 Intelligence
Every part of the skill was alright. Not amazing, just decentpared to the other options. But it was thest line under the effects section that gave Theo pause. He removed the wooden box from his inventory, withdrawing the note written by Yuri himself and smiled.
Spirit nts, Theo said, running his finger of the assorted seeds. You have to wonder if he nned this out.
What are those?
Legendary nts that are notoriously difficult to grow, Theo said. So hard that you cannot grow them without the correct skills. And they take a long time to grow even with the skill.
So, youre taking that skill. Right? I mean, Khahar gave you the seeds, Tresk said, poking her finger at the box. That means theyre worth growing.
Theo selected the skill and slotted it in his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] without question. He felt a mental ping and ignored it for the moment, returning the box to his inventory. Opening his administrators interface, he found the new section promised by the [National Status] ability. He found information about both Gronro-Dir and Rivers and Daub, detailing their ie, production, citizens, and so on. But there was also a small window. A chat box.
Grot: What the hell is this?
There was even a small image of the Dwarfs face as an icon on the side. Theo suppressed augh and responded, mentally typing his message.
Theo:Just a new feature. Hows it going up north?
Alise: Hey! Theo, we need to talk about this. You cant just unlock skills and not tell me.
Grot: The north is fine. Running low on them cloud potions, though.
Theo: Theyre undead-killing potions.
Grot: Whatever. I need more. Gonna run out today.
Theo: Ill have my people work on it.
Alise: Are you ignoring me?
Grot: Nice talking to you Archduke. Gotta kill some undead ;)
Alright, Im not cool with the Dwarf using emojis, Theo said, shutting the interface off. Thats one step away from filling my interface with eggnts.
Egg-what? Tresk asked.
A loud series of bangs came from the front door downstairs. Theo winced, but grabbed Alex to use as a shield and went downstairs, flinging the door open. Alise didnt look happy with this turn of events, but she didnt look thrilled either. She looked as though she just got out of bed, still wearing a silken nightgown that swept the dirty ground.
Why are you ignoring my messages? she asked.
Theo held Alex in front of him. The gosling chirped,then nipped at the air between them.
I figured youd be here to beat down my door. No need airing our dirtyundry in the group chat, Theo said.
Group what? Alright, exin.
Theo exined the new skill, reading the description for her to hear. Since she was one of two Lady Administrators, she shared many of his skills from the [Governance Core]. Apparently, that extended to his nation-wide skills.
Basically, I was going to tell you, Theo said. Figured it would be nice for you to have. You know, so we dont need to use the annoying crystals.
I dont think the crystals are annoying, Alise said, crossing her arms. But her face softened after a moment, then her eyes went ssy. But this gives us an insight into what each member of the nation has. Oh! Im going to skin Alran alive. Hes been lying about his stockpiles.
Surprised? Im not, Tresk said.
As long as youre angry at someone else, Im happy, Theo said with a shrug.
Alright. Im going to gather my people. I havent even had breakfast, Theo, Alise said.
Yeah, I like your nightgown, Tresk said, giggling.
Alise narrowed her eyes, turned on the spot, then stomped away.
Hope shes not too pissed, Theo said, opening his interface to check the messenger. Heughed.
Alran: I can exin.
Alise: Exin when I peel the flesh from your bones, you worm!
Gwyn: Well have a meeting. Calm down, Alise.
Alise: >:|
Alright, am I missing a button here, Theo said, inspecting the interface. He couldnt find anywhere to type out the emojis. Maybe if I just think about an emotion while typing Oh. Yep.
Theo::P
Alran: Hes sticking his tongue out at you. Direct your ire toward the Archduke, please.
Alise: >:(
Enough of that, Theo said, closing his interface. Im not about to watch politics devolve into a series of rude emojis.
But you could.
Theo shook his head, heading out without saying another word. He stuffed Alex in his satchel and headed off to eat leftover steak. Assuming there was any left over, that was something that Xam often sold out of immediately. Still, she had a way of cooking up something simple that was still delicious. The group took their seats at the booth and sipped on tea as they waited for their breakfast to be prepared.
Oh, Tresk, Theo said, opening their shared inventory and removing one waxy, green leaf. Meant to ask you where you got this. On the coast, right?
Yeah, theyre all over the ce.
Can I ask why you have them?
Tresk popped the leaf into her mouth and began chewing. It''s yummy.
Fair enough. Mind collecting more? Like A lot more? Theo asked.
Yeah. No problem.
Unfortunately, Xam didnt have any steak leftovers fromst night. Instead, she provided delicious Zee tbread, thered in gravy and ground wolf meat. It was a pleasant meal, but the gravy didnt go very well with the sweetened moss tea. Something about the savory dish sat at odds with the sweetness of the earthy tea. That hardly seemed to matter. Comparing the spread before him to the wolf meat stew the tavern was known for before she got her cores, this was a feast.
When the meal was done, Theo handed over Alex for the day and headed for the monolith. Tresk was on wall patrol duty today, and wouldnt venture outside of the protective range of the towers. She rarely got to spend one-on-one time with the gosling, owing to her constant delving of dungeons. But the alchemist didnt have to wait long for Xolsa to open his portal, and stepped through the moment the shimmering pane of ck ss appeared. He stumbled, then righted himself, finding the Elf standing there with a look of surprise on his face.
You really should give it time to stabilize, Xolsa said.
Im a bit of an expert on dimensional travel, now.
Doubtful. Come. To the study, Xolsa said, gesturing to the twisting staircase that encircled the interior of the tower.
Xolsa had a collection of interesting artifacts. Things that werent just limited to the realm of magical practices. He had several alchemical devices that Theo was interested in. With his limited time, he had no chance to ask about them. Today was no different. The alchemist withdrew his [Toruaun Mages Core] from his inventory and held it out for the Elf to inspect.
Is it finally time? Xolsa asked, his normally cid face looking excited. For me to no longer be the sole mage of Broken Tusk?
It is, my friend, Theo said. He took a seat in a red, plush-looking sofa and set the core down on the table. Then he withdrew the book that the god had given him and got to exining everything.
The Elf watched with a mix of emotions that ranged from shocked to impressed. Once Theo exined how he thought Toruaunsnguage worked, Xolsa could make some sense of it. He imed to have some racial skill that helped withnguages, but the alchemists theory was that he was simply incredibly smart.
Theres a few things to discuss here, Xolsa said, steepling his fingers. UzXulven brought you to UzGodan Bokrak Tal to speak with Toruaun. Then, she allowed you to pass into Terogal. Damn, thats interesting.
The Elf rummaged through his things for a moment, finding something to record the information. His pen flew across the pages, writing faster than the speed of thought.
Ive used my [nar Mages Core] for years to pass over the Bridge to go from one ce to another, Xolsa said, drawing a simple diagram on the page. But never through.
Why not? Theo asked. Its easy enough for me. Your core should have some skill that lets you pierce the realms, right?
Right. But guess what? No one invited me to take the Bridge. Unlike you Well, thats interesting. Right? If you think about it, just having a core doesnt allow one to take the Bridge, Xolsa said, tapping his pen on the page furiously. He leftrge blots of ink to stain the page. But youre saying your mortal body goes to Terogal? The whole thing? What about Tresk?
Yeah, Tresk goes too, Theo said.
Fascinating, Xolsa said. And you said Terogal rests with the infant realms. Thats even more interesting. I need to research this. Could you please call on me the next time you go to that realm?
Absolutely, Theo said. Id like to understand it more myself. Its all a bit You know Weird.
Extremely weird.
So, how is your new core? Theo asked.
Oh, you wouldnt believe the things I can do, Xolsa said, chuckling. Heughed for long enough to make it maniacal. Im experimenting on the [River Dungeon] to start. It takes a lot of mana, but Ive been able to manipte the way it works. We can have instances, lockouts for certain people I can make it so only those with passes can enter.
Instances. So more than one group can run it at a time, Theo said, nodding. How many can you support right now?
Right now? 2. But my core is still low, Xolsa said. More importantly, I have a better idea of how the energy is fed into the dungeons. And something even more interesting.
Whats that?
Remember how I told you there was more than one source of power for the dungeons? Thats why theyre growing so quickly? How we sent the power off to other dungeons in thework, triggering a massive monster wave?
I remember.
Want to take a guess which realm has be the second most dominant one? Next to Drogramaths, of course.
Theo only had to think for a few heartbeats to conclude which realm it was. He tapped his foot a few times before looking the Elf in the eyes. Terogal.
4.7 - For Science
4.7 - For Science
A wash of magical energy rolled over the wizards tower. The sting on Theos skin was disconcerting, and a visible plume of purple magic rose from the [Swamp Dungeon] in the distance. Arrays filled the air before them, the magical makeup of the dungeon systemid bare. But it wasnt a simple task to understand those sigils. While the alchemist could read them with decent proficiency, that didnt mean he could understand what they meant. Even Xolsa had trouble with that.
The color of Toruauns core, currently resting in Theos palm, seemed to shift. It was an iridescent glow that never settled on a single hue for long, cycling as though driven by some unseen force. The alchemist had dyed inserting the new core into his chest, if only to gain some room to think. His thoughts came slowly, crawling along through the mire ofplication. The twists and turns he found in his new life were not unlike that swamp below. Bubbling with unseen danger, fetid at times, and otherwise mysterious.
Dying wont do you any good, Xolsa said, prodding at a few more symbols. A satisfied nodter and he turned to the alchemist, cing a hand on his shoulder. Best to stitch the wound quickly.
Theo shrugged, holding the core out for a few more moments before cing it against his chest. The fabric where the robe had been torn was still mending, as well as hisyer underneath. Cold metal pressed against his bare flesh for only a moment before shifting light poured out, grasping to ept the new core. Pain shed for only a moment, then there was nothing. Just the warmfort of another slot in his chest filled. The alchemist inspected his new core, reading it aloud for Xolsa to hear.
[Toruaun Mages Core]
Unique
Mage Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
A mage core given by the Queen of Mystery Toruaun. Little is known about the Demon Goddess.
Innate Skills:
[Sensitive Weaving]
The Elf let out a groan. Could it be more vague? Wait, what was the rarity?
Unique, Theo said, scratching his head.
What? No, that doesnt track, Xolsa said, producing notes from nowhere and inspecting them. He mumbled to himself for a while before jabbing his finger into the page. Here. I have a record of a Dronon who died and was Examined. They had a Toruaun corea mage style core.
Theo thought for a moment, flitting through his near-perfect memory to search for answers. But the ability to recall whatever he wanted didnt mean he could force logical connections between those things. The pair traded ideas for a while before it came to him. Something hed heard a while ago.
Its the wrong core, Theo said, reading the name of the core again. I was supposed to get a [Toruaun Demon Mages Core].
Xolsa sputtered. What? How in the realms does that work?
Whats the difference? Demon mage versus mage?
Its just what the mages of the Demonic races are called, Xolsa said. Toruaun forged you a new core. Why?
I guess they dont call her the Queen of Mystery for nothing, do they? Theo asked.
Xolsa sighed. Fine. The skill attached to the core is extremely standard. It reduces interruption rates for spellcasting.
Theo examined the skill.
[Sensitive Weaving]
Mage Skill
Rare
While casting spells, your rate of interruption is decreased.
Effects:
Reduces the chances that your spells will fizzle when your concentration is broken.
Fair enough, Theo said. Alright. You got a kettle? Some tea? You need to help me look through these skills so I can pick the best one.
Of course.
Theo and Xolsa settled into the study. The Elf lit a [me Artifice] and put on a kettle, mixing his own tea in a mortar and pestle. Unlike the moss tea the alchemist was used to, this version was made of many different leaves. It had a pleasant bouquet that filled the room once ced in the hot water. Then the pair got to work, going through a list of near-endless skills. They quickly narrowed it down to a few picks, and learned a great deal about what kind of magic Toruaun represented.
Its painful to be right so often, Xolsa said, unable to hide his smile. The striations of glowing blue on his skin shed for a moment. [Surface Application] is the winner here.
Alright, Theo said, scrolling through the list. He found the skill in question, then examined it.
[Surface Application]
Toruaun Demon Mage Skill
Legendary
Subverts the nature of your wards, allowing you to ce them on any surface.
Effect:
When casting your warding spells, you may apply them to any surface.
The length of time your wards remain on mundane items is halved, based on intelligence.
Wards applied to magical itemsst for a day, plus a day for every 10 intelligence you have.
Tell me why this is useful, Theo said.
Xolsa grinned. I was right about the way the Queen of Mystery works. Yes, you can stop apuding. No, youre too generous.
Theo simply stared.
Xolsa cleared his throat. Wards are a standard form of magic. I use them very often. The mostmon ward is a shield.
The Elf gestured, mana flowing from his core to form a semi-transparent barrier in the air. It was in the shape of a circle, and pulsed with pale blue energy.
Magic wards and physical wards. The most basic form possible, Xolsa said. Take my wards out in the swamp for an extreme example. Ive applied them to enchanted standards, a medium for them totch onto. They detect, redirect, and manipte the power of a god.
Right. Two extreme examples, Theo said with a nod. That was a good way to give an example of how something worked. Show the most and the least of something. He liked it. Give me an example on how you think Toruauns spellcasting is going to work.
Why not cast it now? Xolsa asked with a smile. Produce that book she gave you, and well give it a go.
Theo gave the Elf another look. He was hesitant to work with mana in the real world, even if he was getting better by the day. But this was the point in his advancement hed been preparing for. There had been enough practice. He removed the book from his inventory and set it on the table. Xolsa poured two cups of tea. The alchemist took a sip.
Damn good tea, Theo said.
Its my own blend. Now, were going to ward this stone, Xolsa said, setting a mundane stone on the table. Remember the parts of spellcasting. Intent, focus, and mechanism.
Exin those before I blow your tower up on ident, Theo said.
Intent. What do you want the spell to do? Focus. Keep your mind on the task. That part allows your mana to flow into the spell. Mechanism. Thats the spellcasting method. Well use chanting for this one. Its the easiest.
Disadvantages of chanting?
Xolsa shrugged. You need to chant. It leaves you open to attacks, and everyone can hear your spell. Easy to counter-spell, isnt it?
Theo thought about the task before moving forward. Hed always thought of Toruauns spell as an array, rather than a chanted thing. But his mind twisted around the problem and found a solution quickly. The way the rings attached to each other was the key to understanding the story hidden within. So, instead of reading each page individually, hed need to jump between pages and string the words together in a chant. Without his increased memory, this would be an impossible task. As it stood, he could do it without referencing the book.
Ready? Good. Hold your hand out, and start the chant. Keep all those things in mind, Xolsa said.
Before starting the process, Theo sensed that this was his favorite way to interact with systems. Sometimes he needed to put tremendous effort into what he was doing. Summoning mana from his core was one of the biggest points of pain for him, but he could feel this was an automated thing. He began chanting the story. It was about a group of Dronon that had encircled to defend themselves against an attacking army. They fought and died for thirty days before they were ovee, resulting in the destruction of their people. It was a sad tale, and the alchemist doubted it was real. But that wasnt the point.
Mana flowed in a constant rate from his new core, iridescent motes thattched onto the rock. On his third go through the chant, something snapped. The rock glowed, shifting colors rapidly, then stopped.
Done, Xolsa said, pressing his hand onto the stone. Heughed. Perfect. Inspect the stone.
Theo obeyed, pressing his fingers against the rock.
[Rock]
[Mundane Item]
Common
An uninteresting rock.
Wards:
[Lesser Defense]
Naturally, the alchemist inspected what [Lesser Defense] was next.
[Lesser Defense]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive barrier. Barrier only responds when attacked.
Trigger:
Attack
Duration:
1 day.
Alright, thats kind of awesome.
Kind of awesome? Xolsa asked. You really arent naturally attuned to magic. This is amazing. Let me tell you the rule of wards. You cannot apply them to mundane items. Ever. Applying them to magical items is difficult. Meaning
Were out here breaking the rules. Again, Theo said, chuckling.
More than that, Xolsa said. Based on this, and what Ive already studied, you can use these on potions. Because what does [Surface Application] say? You can apply it to any surface.
That would make for amazing synergy. But what would [Lesser Defense] do with a potion? No, that wouldnt work for a potion. Hed need to discover more wards to chant. For the sake of thoroughness he inspected his mana, finding that it had taken about 20% to cast the spell. For such a small object, and such a small spell, that seemed like a lot. But the alchemist was new to this spellcasting thing and tucked that away into his mind for another day.
Watch this, Theo said, pulling a stick from his [Tarahek Inventory] and smacking it against the stone.
Xolsa shrieked. A barrier sprung up around the rock to protect it, catching the entire force of the blow. The stick shattered in half, the errant end spinning across the room missing the Elf narrowly.
Careful! Xolsa shouted, looking back with dismay. The stick was lodged between two books. He sighed, returning his attention to the rock. The ward is still active. Look, its returning to the inert state.
The barrier around the rock faded, but the ward remained. The pair theorized how many charges it had, and Xolsa determined it was linked to the amount of mana used in the spell. He also suggested the quality of the spellcasting had a major influence on the resulting ward, and that Theo should practice with everything.
What happens if I throw the rock at someone? Theo asked. Would the ward activate? Throw the rock at me, Xolsa.
Im not throwing the rock at you, Xolsa said.
Come on. For science.
Xolsa groaned, grabbing the rock and tossing it as hard as he could manage at Theo. It wasnt that hard, but hard enough to activate it. But nothing happened.
See, intent matters more than anything, Xolsa said. There was no intent to attack the rock, so the ward didnt activate.
But that led Theo to think of the many ways wards could be used. The implication was that he could alter the intent trigger, setting up different scenarios for usage. It also led to the next biggest problem with the spell.
Not really super useful, Theo said. Just putting a little barrier on stuff.
Its Kinda useful. Not extremely so, but you know. Low-level magic is that way, Xolsa said. Leave the book with me, and Ill see what I can do. Its locked in that memory of yours, right?
It is, Theo said. Xolsa I appreciate the help, man. I really do.
Im an Elf, not a man, Xolsa said. To have another spellcaster in town is a boon. We seem to be a rare breed.
Agreed, Theo said.
Instead of heading out straight away, Theo lingered to enjoy his tea and talk to the Elf. His work on the dungeons had taken most of his time, so he wasnt able to explore the implications of Terogal. Since things were going well, it didnt seem like an emergency. But then the topic shifted to the Elfs rtionship with Zarali and how it was evolving. It was getting more serious and they were considering marriage and a situation more dire than anything the Demonic Gods could bring their way.
Im not even sure if we can have a child, Xolsa said.
Youll never know unless you try, Theo said, resting a hand on Xolsas shoulder. He regret his words immediately. I didnt mean to say that so creepily. I mean, who knows what races can mix.
Everything, technically. But Im not from the mortal ne, Xolsa said. I appreciate the support, but I was just curious if youd be interested in heading our marriage.
Not really sure what that means, Theo said. I dont think you do marriage the same way here as we did back on Earth.
I dont know my peoples tradition. Zaralis people dont have a tradition. So wed do it in the Broken Tusk tradition, Xolsa said.
Which is?
A fistfight, Xolsa said, nodding.
Oh.
Im kidding. A ceremony and a party. Nothing insane.
Well, thats easy enough. Id be happy to marry you.
Would you? Xolsa asked. Youve been strange about the rtionship.
It was tactful to pause for a moment to allow his thoughts to gather. Theo had found his thoughts easier to contend withtely. His ability to silence both his attributes and his cores was growing, that was already an effect hed observed. But it also affected his emotions, helping him dismiss the ones that bled through his [Tarahek Core] and banish thoseing from his Drogramathi cores. The answer came to him suddenly.
Khahar said something about this, Theo said. Going into his own realm would help his broken brain. Wait, does that mean my brain is broken?
Xolsa shrugged. Broken is rtive. But, that might be the case. Again, we need to study your private realm.
Theo felt something twinge in his mind. He checked the stack of status bars in his vision and found that Tresk had suddenly lost stamina, and a bit of health. Coming in to mingle with a sense of danger were reports from his lodestonework. Not from hisbat golems stationed in the mine, but those wandering around town.
You alright?
Chirp!
Some monsters charged at the eastern wall, Tresk said. Just a small group. No biggie.
Monster attack in town. I better go, Theo said.
Dont forget about me. Send me a message when youre nning on delving into Terogal, Xolsa said.
Alright. Again, thanks.
Theo paid close attention to the sensation he felt as he passed through Xolsas portal. He focused on the idea of nes, and skimming over the bridge as he went. To the alchemist, it felt more like threading a path around the other realms, as though he was a drifting ship in space that got caught in the gravity ofs. That singr moment he spent between realms felt longer this time, giving him a glimpse of that darkened void between ces.
Heading over to the eastern wall, Theo found several adventurers looting monsters that had scaled the wall. Tresk was there, directing the work and organizing a scouting party. Theyd head out to investigate what caused the attack, then report it back to the administration. Investigations like this normally fell to Xolsa, so the alchemist would see him again before the day was done.
Report, soldier, Theo said, grinning at hispanion.
Buncha frog-people, sir! Tresk said, performing a salute she could have only learned from his memories. Gave them a good stabbing.
Wanna see something cool? Theo asked.
Uh, only always.
Theo summoned the golem that had helped with the fight. One of his few remaining [Lesser Mud Golems], normally tasked with scouring the marsh for motes. The alchemist knelt near his creation, held his hand out and began chanting the only spell he knew. Tresk was nearby to shout words of encouragement, hooting with excitement every time a mote traveled from his hand to the golem. He managed worse this time, chanting the spell four times before it stuck. The golem shivered.
Alright. Try smacking it. When you do
Tresk didnt wait for further invitation. She coiled her fist on the spot and drove it hard into the golems chest. The barrier sprung up in an instant to intercept the attack, forming that pale, shifting barrier. Doubling over and cradling her hand, the Marshling let out a series of curses Theo had never heard before. They were as foul as they were creative.
I meant with a weapon.
You couldve told me! Tresk shouted.
I was in the middle of telling you when you attacked.
Alex chirped, then honked, then produced a plume of smoke from her bill.
Drink this, Theo said, withdrawing a healing potion from his inventory and handing it over to hispanion. He kept his eyes on Alex. Did he see smoke? From her mouth?
Yeah, she spat fire earlier, Tresk said, downing the potion. Her hand twisted back into ce in an instant, and she let out a sigh of relief. We got a fire goose!
Theo! a voice sounded from below. Azrug was there, waving his hands wildly. Do you have that order? For the Dwarf?
For Gronro? Theo asked, shouting his words back.
Yeah, Ive got a carriage ready to go. Were leaving within the hour.
That wasnt nearly enough time to get his potions ready. He was low on [Swamp Onions], but Tresk kept a secret supply hidden in theb. But what was the point of having a personal realm where time moved slower if he didnt use it?
[Theo]: Xolsa, report to myb. Its time to do the thing. You know which one.
Does that mean you got them? Azrug asked, squinting against the sun.
4.8 - Essence Bonding
4.8 - Essence Bonding
The scent of pungent [Swamp Onions] wafted through theb. Tresk refused to give up her secret store of random reagents, but Theo followed his in tuition. Some of her memories flooded into him, and he realized there was a new hiddenpartment in his wall. When she had the time to do something like this, let alone coordinate it with Sledge, was beyond him. Xolsa arrived in theb just in time for the alchemist to stuff a mound of onions into his inventory.
How long will you be gone? the Elf asked, wheezing.
Five minutes, Theo said. Thats my estimation.
And how long will it be on the other side?
Twelve hours, Theo said. Are youing along?
Doubtful. I need to understand how the skill works before I attempt to pierce the barriers. Then, youll likely need to invite me. If what youve said is true.
Of course its true, Theo said. Let me know when youre ready.
Xolsa didnt chant whatever spell he cast. He performed a series ofplex gestures that left trains of glowing blue energy behind. The room darkened around them, the shadows growing long and air growing stale. Boards beneath their feet groaned as a sheet of ck ss appeared in the air.
The Elf grunted, strained by the power of the spell. You may proceed.
Not wanting to spend any more time in his darkenedb, Theo activated his [Terogal Dreampassage] ability and fell through the realms. That mirror hovered above the Bridge for a moment, then the alchemist was standing on those shadowy cobbles. Wraiths moved in the distance, along with shes of golden fire.
UzXulven! Theo shouted. Let me pass.
Why? a voice came from behind. Youre peeking.
Theo exerted his authority as the master of Terogal. The stones around him bent, as though sinking down into nowhere. UzXulven, wherever the Mistress of Shadows was, pushed back. A little more force of will, and he would have passed on into Terogal, but the alchemist paused. It was always good to test the limits of ones powers.
Cheeky. Arent you? she asked.
My friend is just studying my realm, Theo said. Hed already formed his theory about the Bridge and its purpose. So long as he held a realm, she couldnt keep him here. Not against his will.
Drogramath wanted to talk to you, but hes upied, UzXulven said. On the tenth day of the Season of Fire, my Champion will return to your town. If you could crack the limb-regeneration salve, that would be lovely.
Is he in danger? Theo asked, suddenly feeling less brave.
Hes a dual-Champion. Hes always in danger, UzXulven said.
Theo felt the world swirl around him, but he held onto the Bridge. The surrounding railing bent inward, as if drawn by an immense force. Nothing is free. Give me a hint on the salve.
Shadows shivered in the area under the bridge. The air bristled with brief rage, then a sigh issued from every direction. Bind two potions together that have [Regeneration] and [Healing]. Apply a [Solidify] modifier.
Was that so hard? Theo asked, forcing his authority over the hole forming at his feet. He plunged through,ing to rest on the soft grass of Terogal. He made his way to the cottage, writing his thoughts out.
That was likely the thing Drogramath wanted to talk to him about. Binding two potions wasnt something he had done, but he simply needed to trace the lines of coincidence to find the answer. Fenian brought Veostian Karatan to Broken Tusk, which produced [Veostian Karatan Cheese]. The [Suffuse] property would do the trick. More than gaining a free hint, the alchemist had spat in the face of a god. And it felt good. He wasnt interested in ying games with them. They needed to understand the extent of his growing authority.
I came here for something, right? Theo said, chuckling.
Instead of getting to work right away, he made his way to the pond and sat by the bank. He stared up at the cloudy sky, spotting Xolsas strange mirror somewhere near the fluffy clouds. Time passed by, perhaps an hour, before a popping sound issued behind him.
Realm buddies! Tresk shouted. Alex honked awkwardly, waddling over to the pond and jumping in. I figured why not. RIght?
This is our first time in the realm together, Theo said. Did UzXulven give you trouble?
Nah, I told her to bite me.
Me, too.
Theo exined the situation with Xolsa, pointing to the ck pane of ss in the sky. Tresk threw rocks at it for a while, but it was too high to hit. What the man could see of the realm was a mystery, but they discovered it drew unwanted attention. An icy wind approached from nowhere, requesting entry into Terogal. The alchemist agreed, and the ice-rimmed doorway opened. The smiling form of Benton walked through.
Did you guys see the weird ck thing in the sky? he asked.
Yeah, dont worry about it, Tresk said.
Fair enough.
Want some tea? Theo asked.
Crowding into the cottage, Theo made some tea for the group. The kettle whistled after a while, and the alchemist poured the liquid out. Once again, it was nothingpared to Xams tea. But it was good to start a conversation about small things. Benton was a conversationalist, even being the newly crowned God of Death. Even by his own words, he didnt know what that meant.
More of a metaphor, hed said. More than once.
When the conversation died down, Theo got to work on his distition while Benton and Tresk broke off. They had apparently taken to training west of the wheat. They used blunted weapons, and limited abilities, but both had a great time. While the god was new in an unknown pantheon, he had some impressive moves.
Theos brewing process was standard. He ced what onions would fit in the fermentation barrel and injected his own mana inside. While waiting for those to finish, he processed some attribute-enhancement reagents and set them to process. There was also the need to brew [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] into [Refined Healing Essence] and [Refined Regeneration Essence]. It didnt take the entire time-limit within the realm to aplish the task, and he joined with the fighting pair when he was done.
This is unfair, Benton said, panting and resting on the soft ground. I never got to see my realm before I ascended. Let alone dragging items from the mortal ne along.
Yeah, its awesome, Tresk said. Except when your soul-bound partner steals all your onions.
What are you hoarding 1,000 units of onions for? Theo asked.
A rainy day!
Theyll spoil if you dont store them in a crate.
Yeah, but then youll find them.
When did you even have time to collect them, let alone hire Sledge to make a secret panel in the wall?
I do what I want!
Time to go, Benton said, backing up through an icy archway that appeared from nowhere.
Oh, I got your waxy leaves, Tresk said, rxing immediately.
Theo was going to ask her when she had time to do that, but he gave up. She likely used her [Shadowdancer] abilities to teleport to the coast, then teleport back. Instead ofining, he found them in their shared inventory. He moved to the table and set some out, beckoning Tresk over to see his new process. Alex remained in the pool, happy enough to swim around and honk.
Tresk seemed impressed enough to see the process. She got bored after the first hour of billowing smoke and piles of salt, and jumped in the pool to y with Alex. Theo worked between his stills and the worktable. He made sure there were enough [Aerosolize] modified [Hallow Ground Potions] to keep Gronro happy. He inspected one example once the bulk of the order was done.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Refined Aerosolize]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Shatter to create a cloud of denial.
Effect:
Throwing this potion creates a fifty pace circle around the point of impact with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the cloud, but will be banished when they do so.
Some of Theos newest potions were impressive with the amount of text they crammed into his sight. This potion was elegant in its simplicity. A weapon designed to fight undead and nothing more. It was the most useful modifier by his estimation, far more useful than the [Embolden] modifier. That modifier had created fear in the alchemists heart. It was effectively a willpower check that, when failed, would add the users mind to the undead collective.
The alchemist turned his attention to the advice given to him by UzXulven. He brewed a single [Healing Potion], and a [Regeneration Potion]. There was nothing extraordinary about either potion. Excellent quality on both with no modifiers. Withdrawing a [Suffuse Potion] to inspect it, Theo considered how to proceed.
[Suffuse Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A potion used to bind two properties to an object, or each other.
Effect:
Bind two properties.
That was a vague description. Two properties could be bound to an object, or each other. But a potion wasnt just properties, was it? A potion was a mixture of different things, brought together to create an effect. Theo often thought of potions more as effects than properties, as those properties were the more base element of a potion.
More primal! Tresk shouted from the pool, picking up on his thoughts.
More primal, Theo repeated, nodding along.
Following the advice from the god, he considered his options. Theo verbalized his thoughts on the process, bouncing things off of Tresk and she yed in the water. They examined the description on the [Suffuse Potion], as well as his only example of the primal essences.
So, primal essences are representations of properties, Theo said. They are purified properties, meaning
He gave Tresk time to answer.
We use them with the [Suffuse Potion]. Yeah, the system has a roundabout way of getting to that one. But it makes sense.
One question left. Do they need a catalyst to react? Theo asked.
Tresk pursed her lips and hummed. Assume the [Suffuse Potion] acts as a catalyst first. Since those just do the job of a binder. If theres no reaction, then yeah. You can use shavings to kick-start the reaction.
She really was stealing his brain power. Resting in their private realm could have caused that, though. Or it was just the fact that she had nowhere to be. They could rx in this ce without worrying about running out of time. Whatever the case, it was time to experiment on that theory.
When Theo attempted to use his [Reagent Deconstruction] skill on a potion, it exploded. Not in spectacr fashion, but as though the liquid began to suddenly boil. It spilled out the top, shooting into the air bubbling furiously. After a few moments, and a concerned Marshling, the reaction stopped.
Alright, Theo said. Guess we have to get our primal essences from the source.
Removing [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] from his inventory, Theo got to work breaking those down. After a few failed attempts, onest plume of smoke issued from the worktable. The resulting primal essence pulsed with a faint red light. The alchemist inspected his new pile of dusty [Primal Healing].
[Primal Healing]
[Primal Essence]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Reduces the chance of vtile reaction while bonding.
1 Unit (powder)
The primal representation of the [Healing] property.
There was nothing surprising about the result. It was simply a purified sample of the [Healing] property. Theo thought about other applications before he moved forward. If he used this to brew a healing potion, it would technically be stronger. Since raw essences were filled with little pieces of other properties, they often reduced the quality of the end product. He moved on without testing that theory, applying his mana and new skill to create a pile of [Primal Regeneration].
[Primal Regeneration]
[Primal Essence]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Reduces the chance of vtile reaction while bonding.
1 Unit (powder)
The primal representation of the [Regeneration] property.
Both primal essences shared the same pale red color. The version representing regeneration had shes of green that traveled through the pile. They also bore the faint scent of sweetness, almost smelling like roses. It was hard to tell with deadened senses, though.
Alright, Theo said, setting a sk on the table. Time to test.
Pouring the [Suffuse Potion] in first, Theo scooped up the [Primal Healing] powder and dropped it in. Nothing happened. It fell to the bottom of the sk like sand, settling there and remaining with no further action. With a shrug, and Tresk hovering close by, the alchemist introduced the next primal essence. The reaction wasnt as exciting as hed hoped for. But it was beautiful.
Both powders swirled in the sk, creating a cyclone of liquid that issued a bright red light. The sk rumbled for a moment on the table beforeing to rest. Theo inspected the resulting potion.
[Regenerative Potion]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A potion designed to regenerate missing body parts. Regeneration length depends on the quality of this potion.
This was exactly what he needed, and there was a lot to dig into about the items description, but Theo found something to be off. Why had UzXulven said to apply the [Solidify Modifier] to the potion? It would do the job, going off the description alone. Since modifiers changed the way potions acted, perhaps the one with the modifier was simply better.
But this was a massive advancement for Theo as an alchemist. This was a third tier potion. The thing that gave it away was the quality of the potion. Another point was that hed done no distition to reach this result. Perhaps there was a process he could use to refine the primal essences, but it was interesting. The alchemist couldnt use this as a method of generating vast quantities of potions, though. This version of the process was incrediblybor-intensive.
Look at that, Tresk said, pping. That triplet guy is gonna be so happy.
So will Fenian, apparently, Theo said. Lets modify it.
Theo withdrew a sk of [Refined Solidify] from his inventory and applied it to the potion. The potion bubbled, then emitted a faintly foul odor before turning into a jelly. The alchemist inspected the result, finding out why UzXulven wanted him to apply the modifier.
[Regenerative Potion]
[Refined Solidify]
[Potion] [Modified Potion
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Apply this salve to the affected area to regenerate a body part. Regeneration length depends on the number of daily applications and the quality of this potion.
Well, there ya go. You can use this more than once, Theo said. With the other one, Id guess a person could only drink it once. Any more than that, and theyd get sick. Or worse.
I cant even remember the name of that guy who lost his leg. Tal? Pal? I see him hopping around all the time, Tresk said. Dont look at me like that. He hops! Ive seen it.
Might be time to head back to the mortal ne, Theo said. I feel my grip over this one fading.
Yeah. You have the recipe to regrow limbs. Thats pretty cool, Tresk said, nodding with approval. Youre like a pharmacy in a flesh suit!
Earth pharmacies couldnt cure lost limbs.
Yeah, but you get the point.
Theo put everything back in his inventory and headed for the edge of the floating ind. He had the potions that Azrug requested, and a way to cure Fenian when he arrived. That was concerning, but when wasnt the Elf cause for concern? Without a target to focus on in the mortal realm, the alchemist thought about the ce that he left. He didnt need to, though. His skill steered him in the right direction, sending him stumbling back into theb.
The ck mirror shattered. Xolsa was thrown back, mming hard against the back wall. sks and vials went tumbling to the ground as the Elf groaned. Theo tripped over something, almost pitched to the side, then came to kneel near the downed man.
You alright?
Xolsa groaned, withdrawing a [Healing Pill], and a [Mana Pill] from nowhere and popping it in his mouth. Feedback. From the spell.
Figure anything out? Theo asked.
Yeah. Theres as worth of magical arrays that bind the realms together. Even more nketed over the damned new ones.
Even with all his affinity for extra-nar travel, Xolsa couldnt even peer into Theos realm. Benton said something about the infant realms being protected, but he thought that was from the other gods. The alchemist helped the fallen Elf to his feet and dusted him off, removing shards of ss and splinters of wood from his robes. Footsteps thundered up the stairs, and Azrug stood with a concerned look on his face.
What was that? he asked, standing and looking around the room.
Magic feedback, Theo said. Dont go peeping into realms.
Never nned to, Azrug said.
Theo withdrew the [Hallow Ground Potions] from his inventory and handed them over to the young trader. Azrug gave him a skeptical look for a moment, but he shrugged it off. No problem. Just ying with magic in yourb. Theo, Ive got my [Loremasters Core] leveled up to a decent spot. If you ever need something identified. Not today. I gotta go.
I appreciate the offer, Theo said. Keep up the good work, kid.
Azrugughed. Yeah, no problem boss. Keep tossing wizards around yourb.
4.9 - Fairy Plum Seeds
4.9 - Fairy Plum Seeds
A fire crackled in the wizards study. Zarali knelt near Xolsa, who was seated in afortable armchair. He nursed a cup of hot tea as the priestess ran the purple energy of Drogramath over his head. Errant embers from that power filled the air, crowding the stifling heat with their forms. Theo watched with concern, but said nothing. Her healing powers were minor, but they could stitch together more than the alchemists healing potions. Wounds of the mind.
There were many advantages to attempting to jump through the realms for the wizard. His highest-level ss was based on the concept, and his people werent from the mortal ne. Logically, he should have been able to peer into Theos private realm. Especially with the owner of that domains permission. Instead, he was attacked. Only his familiarity with such magic saw him through without lifelong injuries.
Ive never heard of a mortal being attacked with a [Mind Hunt] spell, Zarali said, pressing a bubble of purple mes into the Elfs head. He winced.
So, hes fine. Right? Theo asked.
Zarali shot him a look then jerked her head. Stay here. I need to talk to our impetuous Archduke.
Take your time, Xolsa said, reclining in his chair.
The pair descended to the first floor of the tower, standing near the shimmering portal. Zarali took a deep breath, muttering words offort to herself. There was a tension in the air that only belonged to lovers in peril. Only now did Theo realize what a bad idea it was to allow Xolsa to spy on his journey.
Ill exin this so your mushy brain can understand, Zarali said. A god attacked his soul. Directly. If theyd done so from their ne, he would have been fine.
But he was half-way into the other realms, Theo said. He said he was just going to look. I didnt expect him to follow me.
The priestess rested a hand on Theos shoulder and managed a weak smile. Then you have a lot to learn about your wizard. About the way he thinks, and what hes willing to do to learn something new.
Alright. I understand. But did he learn anything?
I imagine he learned a lot, Zarali said. Youre not meant to travel between realms as a mortal. Hes been researching how Fenian does it, and has concluded that the Bridge is an exception.
Theo tapped his foot. I figured as much. UzXulven had a message for me from Drogramath.
What did our master say?
She wouldnt give it to me.
Zaralis gaze drifted to Theos constantly tapping foot. She cleared her throat and he stopped. From what Drogramath shares with me, Theo Its bad. Zagmon and Fanglir are dead. But Damn, I dont even want to consider what the other implications are. When Khahar ascended, he didnt waste a single moment. He went on the offensive. A murderous rampage.
So the realms are dangerous.
The high realms are. The lower realms should be fine. Your realm. Thats strange to say, isnt it? Youre standing right here. Youre not a godwhat does that mean?
I wont even think about that problem. We have a bigger one. Is Xolsa going to be alright?
Theres no potion you can brew that can cure him, Zarali said.
Theo doubted that with all his beings. Even his cores rose to scream their objections. Zaralis biggest blind spot was her long-dead brother. Belgar was many things, but a genius of potioncraft wasnt one of them. The alchemist didnt want to trample on the mans grave, but the evidence was clear. He had a narrow focus, andcked all the advantages he had. If there was a potion that could help Xolsa, Theo would find it.
But there is something, Theo said.
Care to make friends with nthier? Zarali asked, chuckling. Perhaps you could beg for a miracle.
Im happy to beg, Theo said, casting his eyes to the ceiling. Elf healer. Please help.
Zarali pped him on the back of the head. A little too hard. But a grin spread across her face. Youre a clown, brother.
Ill tell you what I am. Im determined. Tenacious. No citizen of mine is going to be wounded forever. Well, what happens to him? Is he in pain?
Some amount of pain. Hell experience decreased mana, health, and stamina regeneration for a time. Im basing this conclusion on a simr spell, but it could be different, Zarali said.
Give me an idea of the potential cure, Theo said.
You cannot heal him, Theo.
Please.
Anything that mends a soul should help. Priests that belong to a healing-based god should have the spell at an early level, Zarali said.
I only know of nthier, Theo said.
nthier from the Elven part of the Pantheon and Udok from the Dwarven one, Zarali said. Theres also Spit from the Ogre pantheon. But thats unreliable. Better than nothing, though.
Spit? Theo asked.
Specifically, hes Spit, Ogre Patron of Curing Things Most of the Time, Zarali said, letting out a frustrated sigh. Yes, thats his full title. Youre meant to say it every time. I didnt make up the rules.
Alright, Theo said, turning to face the portal. Put in a request at myb if you need anything, alright? Maybe I can brew something for his pain. Otherwise, we can load him up with potions until I cure him.
Such confidence. Suitable for an Archduke, Zarali said, giggling.
Theo passed through the portal before she could say anymore. An older version of himself would have been disturbed to see a close friend injured. But those feelings werent useful for helping people. As he walked north, toward the district Tresk had named Stabby Groves, he forced his will on the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability. But that was an absolute within the system. He couldn''t force it to reduce its cooldown. He walked past the massive neighborhood north of Xams tavern, and withdrew the wooden box from his inventory.
Coincidence? he asked, shaking his head. Maybe.
But those nts would take great effort to grow. A corner in one greenhouse, maybe. One seed at a time. That hardly solved the problem now, but the alchemist sought to split his efforts on the problem. But first, it was time to heal a wounded adventurer.
Hey there, Theo! Ral said.
The bald headed human rose from a chair, resting near the front of his home. It was nestled among the other homes belonging to adventurers in town. When the man stood, he stumbled, leaning on a shaped piece of wood to make up for his missing left leg. It had been torn off near the knee, but hardly seemed to diminish the mans spirits.
Where are your brothers?
Oh, you know. Off adventuring while Im stuck hopping around, Ral said, managing a wry chuckle. Feels like yesterday I was out there with them. Testing your silly potions.
Theo nodded, reining in his emotions. Instead, he withdrew the [Regenerative Potion] from his inventory and held it out.
Booze?
A potion, Theo said. A salve, really. Ignore the system text. Dont drink it. You might grow an extra spleen or something.
Whats it do?
Theo pointed at the mans leg. Restores your leg. Simple as that.
No, Ral said, shaking his head. His brow knit tightly. Fancy Demon priestess said that was impossible. So did that other guy.
Theo forced the potion into the mans hand. Being a Broken Tusker means ignoring what people say is possible. But, youre the first person who is going to use it.
How does it work?
The potion seemed simr enough to one hed brewed in the past. His old example only restored lost digits, not entire limbs. Theo exined that to the adventurer, detailing the need to apply this one multiple times a day. When asked, the alchemist agreed to supervise the first application. They entered the mans house and positioned Ral on the bed for easy use. The stump that was left was clean with well-knitted flesh. That was the power of the healing potions.
How am I going to get it out of here, Ral asked, tipping the potion upside-down. The gel inside didnt move.
Theo snatched a spoon from the side-table and fished a pea-sized quantity out. Ready?
Whats there to be ready for? Ral asked.
The moment Theo pressed the spoon to the mans stump, he shouted in pain. In an instant, he was covered in a sheen of sweat. Arching his back, Ral screamed loud enough to attract other citizens to the house. Zankir entered the room with des drawn, rxing once he spotted the alchemist.
Help me hold him down, Theo said, unable to manage the writhing man. Zankir came over, applying his significant strength to the effort. But even after Ral calmed down, the Khahari man wouldnt make eye contact. He turned around and left the building. So much for water under the bridge.
Ral did not regain consciousness. Theo sent a town-wide message, ordering his brothers to return to their home. When they did, they seemed incredibly concerned. Until they saw the potion Theo had brought. The pair agreed to look over their brother, allowing the alchemist to leave. What he left behind was a slightly longer leg on one of the towns adventurers. That counted for something, didnt it?
Theo made his way south, back toward hisb. When he passed by the cksmith, the gruff voice of a Dwarf called out to him. Hey! I got your order!
The alchemist spun, spotting Thim waving like an idiot. The Dwarf had an expression of pure joy on his face, grinning widely. He saw what he was so excited about. Not the 3 stills Theo had ordered, but 5 impressive pieces of cksmithing and artificer work. They were made of the Drogramathi Iron, and were allplete with [Custom Drogramathi Iron Bubble tes], and [Custom Drogramathi Iron Vapor Pressurizers]. He came over to run his hands over the smooth metal, shaking his head in disbelief.
Throk gave you a hand? Theo asked.
More than a hand, Thim said,ughing. Did all the artificer work on these. Cursed the whole time, but what do you think?
Theo inspected one example, shaking his head yet again when he read the description.
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Artifice Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Epic
Created By: Thimamuri and Throk
A 500 unit capacity Drogramathi Iron still with attached advanced condenser and internal heating element. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill.The internal heating element provides an even heating of the still, preventing burning.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence.
Reduces the chance of producing low quality essence.
Attachments:
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Bubble te]
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Vapor Pressurizer]
While itcked enchantments, this was still a work of art. Theo inspected each one, finding the details beyond anything he expected. Throk was extremely good at cksmithing, but Thim was the genius in that realm. With the pairing together, they had created a still worthy of the alchemists art.
How much do I owe you? Theo asked.
No idea. You gotta talk to the boss for that, Thim said, turning and leaving without another word.
Theo drew the stills into his inventory, each action creating a silly popping sound. Then he turned, looking at Throks artificer building and hesitated. He drew in a deep breath, queueing some jokes up in his mind before heading over. The Marshling was working inside, although working was generous. With a heavy iron bar in one hand, and a rude gesture in the other, he was bashing an artifice to pieces.
Bad time? Theo asked.
Throk turned, ring.
Just trying to settle up on what I owe you for the stills.
All the gold in your inventory, Throk said. He rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. I dont know. Labor, I guess. Its your metal. Your fancy artifice workings from that dead guardian.
Theo shrugged, approaching the wreckage. Whats the issue?
The viscosity of your damn potion. I think, Throk said. No, dont get your pants in a bunch over me. This is part of the process.
Theo narrowed his eyes, looking at the ruined pile of metal. I have a fun question that might help get your mind off of it.
Alright, Throk said, raising the bar onest time to smash his creation. Lets hear it.
Think you can make something that can fly? Theo asked.
Gods, Theo. I dont have the time to
Im not telling you to make it. Im asking if you know if something like that could work.
Well, you gotta be specific about stuff like that. Alright? Cant juste hobbling in here all like Oh, Im the fancy Archduke Im going to make a flying machine.
I dont sound like that.
You do. But, yeah. Ive read about Hold on, Ive got a book here in my pile.
Throk crossed the room, digging through a pile of scraps. Near the bottom was a leather-bound book. He cracked it open to a page with diagrams for a flying ship. It looked like a normal sailing ship, but with many artifice attachments to the side. Instead of a mast, it had an attachment that looked like an engine. The design didnt leave him impressed.
While flying artifice vessels aremon enough, they have quite a few weaknesses. Youll see them in military applications, but only if theres a mage onboard who can counter-spell powerful magic. See, its easy to ruin artifice work with magic.
So, youd need powerful wards to fly something like this? Theo asked.
Oh, no. I know that look in your eye, alchemist. You want to waste your time going down another expensive road, thats on you.
Look, Im not saying you need to work on this today. Just keep it in mind. Alright? Theo asked.
Why? Are you nning on flying around your little kingdom?
Im nning to dump a million units of [Hallow Ground Potion] on the undead.
Oh. Yeah, thatll do it. Alright. Ill look at the problem. But no guarantees.
Hey. Youre actually using Thim, now. Maybe thatll free up some time.
Yeah, yeah. I get it. Youre picking on the old Marshling today.
Theo stood awkwardly for a few moments. So, how much do I owe you?
Theo left the artificers workshop a few gold lighter. Gold was important for expansion, and feeding the nations hungry appetite, but time was the most valuable resource. A sense of unity had spread through Broken Tusk. Even the Elves seemed interested in seeing the new nation prosper, although perhaps it was time for a meeting with the leader of House Wavecrest. With his time freed by pressing matters, the alchemist assessed his golems through thework, approaching his greenhouses.
The [Lesser nt Golems] had done well to maintain the reagent-bearing nts, keeping them alive and happy. They could even promote the cultivation of the nts, selecting those with the highest percentage and propagating them onward. Unlike the [Lesser Mud Golems], they had an affinity for the work. The currentyout of the greenhouses leaned heavily to [Spiny Swamp Thistle] production. [Mages Bane] also had its own greenhouse, although Theo left a corner free for experiments. Then, the others were split between the various attribute-enhancement reagents.
Withdrawing a vial of seeds from Khahars wooden box, his eyes lingering on the note left behind. Theo found a corner in one greenhouse and withdrew 2 seeds from the 10 within. Before shoving them into the magically enchanted earth, he inspected the item.
[Fairy Plum Seed]
[Spirit Seed]
Mythic
Grows a small bush that produces Fairy Plums. Growth rate and production of fruit is extremely slow.
Without the [Grove Tender] ability, it would be impossible to manage the final nt. This was the next level of alchemy. Something others in the world could only hope to aplish, even with the backing of a god. There were likely nts such as these in Tarantham, the continent the Elves called home, but nowhere near the Soutnds Alliance. The alchemist ced 2 thumb-sized seeds into the ground, spacing them out, then buried them. A quick mental instruction to his [Lesser nt Golems] roped them off as off-limits. He wouldnt have his mythic seeds destroyed by over-eager golems.
While he was within the greenhouses, Theo went around and checked on his nts. Most had reached 200% cultivation, and were producing absurdlyrge fruit. His new [Grove Tender] ability would make that process even easier. Eventually, there would be another reagent worth growing. Checking on the mushrooms in his cave, he noted a simr circumstance.
After a brief chat with Salire, Theo made his way to theb and ced 2 of his new stills down. Hecked enough tables, but his intention was only to do arge run of [Manashrooms] to power his golems. The mushrooms were easy to process, far easier than something like [Pozwa Horns] which required fine grinding. He crushed them with his hands, watching as blue juice flowed down his forearm. His eyes were drawn to the hole, still repairing, in his robes. That minor wound had healed almost instantly.
Unlike Ral, Theo said, topping the water off in one still. Or Fenian. What kind of trouble are you in, friend?
The internal [me Artifice] on his 2 stills clicked to life, and he activated the external one for thebs built in still. There were many buildings in town that could use an upgrade, including the town itself. Then there was the problem of upgrading his nation. The nation wouldnt be tied to the level of each town, as that would have promoted upgrading towns in the Kingdom of Qavell. The nations progress was likely tied to the level of the capital.
There were many industries Theo owned in town. The butcher, mine, sawmill, weaver, harbor, and alchemyb were all his to maintain and upgrade. He also had a stake in the stonecutter and quarry, but that was a minor investment that had already paid for itself. Ziz and his men were impossible to control, so it was best to leave them to their own.
Sitting near the slow boil of the stills in that stuffb brought a sense offort to Theo. Things were more real on the mortal ne. The heat felt hotter, the bubbles were louder. Nothing was muted in his senses, allowing him to drink it all in. Even the system message shing, informing him that his [Governance Core] hit 21 and his [Tarahek Core] hit 22, wasnt enough to break that calm. Even after the sheen of sweat covered his body.
4.10 - Honk
4.10 - Honk
Pale evening light shone across the ins northeast of Broken Tusk. From his perch on the wall, Theo could almost spot the ce where he was attacked. Slightly too distant and already repaired, the ce should have struck him in the heart. A dagger-like spike driven into his heart, thrust by the Zagmon assassin. But those feelings never came. Not just from theforting defensive towers resting near him, but the strength of the bond in his chest. Tresk stood nearby, looking out over the horizon as Alex honked.
Shes real honky today, Tresk said.
Theo nodded in response, still staring off in the distance. Plumes of dark ck smoke rose from the harbor, a signal of the shipwrights ineptitude. That might have been harsh, but the alchemist had high standards when it came to the creation of materials. Especially when those materials ran so close to his expertise. He recalled the description on the [Ogre Cypress Pitch], a material generated from the burning of the massive trees. It wasbeled as an [Alchemy Ingredient], cing it firmly in his domain.
But he wouldnt fault Laedria for working hard, trying to fulfill his order for a trader-style ship. Or was it a boat? Whatever the name of the vessel, the creation of pitch was the slowest part. His [Reagent Deconstruction] ability might be able to help, but it required experimentation. And time.
Is that a boat? Tresk asked, pointing toward the harbor.
Running down the channel, headed out to sea, was a single-masted boat. The Cork. Theo squinted, trying to get a better look at it, but it was too distant. They could only see the top of the mast as it passed down that wide waterway.
I guess someone bought it, Theo said.
Bet it was Thronk, Tresk said, chuckling.
Get a few fishings on that thing. Skirt around the harbor, maybe fish the channel out to the open sea Yeah, theyll pull in some fish, Theo said.
Thinking of buying my brothers business? Tresk asked. Sounds like you. Fascist.
Theo almost rose to that, but realized the word suited his rule of the town. But he had no interest in buying a fishing business, let alone one owned by Thronk. It was a miracle the man even fed himself, let alone made any profit. The fishers of the town relied on [Water Motes] for their ie. It was a silly strategy, seeing as [Earth Motes] were much moremon. But theyd survived all these years, so who was he to judge? They were low on his list of priorities, as always.
Maybe they need some help from the state.
Fascist says what?
Theo narrowed his eyes at Tresk.
Alright, she said, holding her hands up. I just skimmed that word from your brain. Youve been thinking about it.
With a sigh, Theo turned to regard his town. He saw the people moving around below, concluding their business for the day. Not that the fading light stopped Sledge from working her ass off. An Ogre Cypress fell in the distance, rumbling the ground. It was a sound that all citizens were used to by now. No one below flinched, and life went on.
Is your shift over? Theo asked. Im hungry.
Youre never hungry. But, yeah. Lets eat.
The pair enjoyed a pleasant dinner at Xams tavern. There were no unexpected interruptions to ruin the mood, and they soon found themselves soaking in the hot bath. Worries melted away as they discussed small topics. Alex was looking more like a real goose by the day, although her stage was still at [Gosling]. At level 6, shede a long way from when she was hatched. They still hadnt figured out how to maximize her experience gain, but she was doing fine on her own.
Think shell ever talk? Tresk asked, gesturing to the swimming gosling.
Youre the one thats good at reading my mind. Can you read hers? Theo asked.
Kinda. All I get is a great sense that I should be eating bugs, Tresk said, shrugging.
While the desire to check the conversations in his kingdom screen was great, Theo avoided that. Hed checked it at dinner, and was disappointed to see the shouting match between Alise an Alran. The leader of Rivers and Daub had hidden resources from her, and was doing his best to mend hurt feelings. At least he was trying, though. It wasnt a surprise that the man would be trouble, not when their first interaction was an assassination attempt. Now his actions affected them all.
Putting aside those unpleasant thoughts, Theo enjoyed his bath. He took a stroll with Tresk afterward, not enjoying the warm night air. It was nice to stay up when the moons were out, even if the darkened one was nearly invisible. He searched for a long time without spotting it, but foundfort in the idea that the inquisition of the Burning Eye was stuck there. They stopped by the harbor, spotting the Corking into port. As expected, Tresks brother was the captain. Instead of sticking around, they wandered toward theb.
Heading into the Dreamwalk for the night, Theo had several goals. Without the need to grind experience, he wanted to learn more about his new magic. He also needed to find a weapon that worked with both his new wards, and his potions. There was an idea, but he couldnt get each tobine. He started by focusing on his gear, those pieces that allowed him to throw things better.
Throwing weapons aremon enough, Tresk said, summoning a simple throwing knife. I throw stuff often enough. Especially poisoned stuff.
Toruauns magic is based on reactive intent, Theo said, creating his own knife. Maybe I can work with that.
Not to mention your constructs. Whats stopping you from just tossing constructs at people? Stone knives, maybe?
Theo settled on the idea of a throwing weapon making sense. But it would be more than something it hit someone with. Abination of warded, poisoned, and construct-infused throwing weapons might be worth pursuing. That gave him the flexibility to use them as poisoned throwing daggers, or ward delivery systems. Without an expanded knowledge of Toruauns magic, his n hit a stand-still.
They settled down in the dream version of Broken Tusks harbor to talk it out, watching as Alex yed in the water. Theo retold the story of Xolsa being wounded, and shared his worries for the Elf. His initial confidence in finding a cure ran up against the reality of the injury.
Your best bet is to import a healer, Tresk said, nodding to herself. She kicked her feet in the water, shing water at Alex. The gosling produced a honk-chirp of disapproval.
Im going to study magic tonight. Throwing weapons are a good idea, I need to learn more spells, though, Theo said.
Alright. Im gonna fight stuff.
Theo nodded, watching as hispanion disappeared.
The first [Advanced Ward] Theo had learned was [Lesser Defense]. Pieces of that spell linked together, creating the story that fueled the spell. The alchemist summoned writing material, and began theborious process of writing everything down. With a vision aid, it might be easier to understand how he could create another node to feed the spell. He spent hours in the dream realm staring at the paper, writing new things in the strange, customnguage of the Demon God with little luck.
Alex waddled out of the harbor after a while, trundling over to the paper and cing a wet, webbed foot on the page. Theo gave her a look. She honked in his face, jabbing her bill into the page.
Alright, Theo said, looking at the part of the spell shed indicated.
From what he could understand, the portion of the spell shed doused was the defensive part of the spell. Hed taken to thinking of it like spokes on a wheel, where each segment connected to a hub, and a wheel to create the entire thing. While it was moreplicated than that, this helped him visualize how other pieces would fit in. The damp footprint pulled everything together in his mind.
Why didnt I see that? Theo asked.
The story was rife with filler. Connecting phrases that had something to do with the magic, but they were less important than the relevant sections. He saw the part of the story about the Dronon forming their defensive wall as the meat of the spell. That was the thing that gave the spell life. Understanding that, he found another section that curled around it. The part of the story where the Dronon counter-attacked seemed especially useful. It was the trigger for the spell. The alchemist drilled down onto each piece, finding more as he went. Until he realized how hard his [Toruaun Mages Core] was spinning in his chest.
Because the story matters less than the connective tissue? Theo asked.
Alex produced an angry honk.
Because Wait, is there a connection elsewhere? Theo asked.
A honk of approval.
Out of instinct, Theo produced a small vial of [Reveal Essence]. Toruaun had thrown him off the trail. There was a connection between the forms of magic each Demon God used. Holding his hand out, Theo focused on drawing the primal nature of the [Reveal Essence] out. ck smoke rose from the vial, leaving behind a grainy dust that glowed silver. The Dreamwalk objected to his actions, but he pushed against it. Asserting his authority over Terogal and the Dreamwalk. It obeyed, for now.
Theo poured the [Primal Reveal] into his hand and stared at it for a long time. Between that powdery substance and his spellcraft, there was a connection. Some fundamental state thatpleted a circle. Not one to ignore the whispers of his cores, especially in the Dreamwalk, the alchemist licked his finger, pressed it into the dust, then ced it on his tongue. A rolling sense, like lightning dancing across his tongue, and then he felt something flood into his mind.
But system messages were hesitant to show themselves in the Dreamwalk, no matter how hard he forced his authority. Alexs growing honks got him curious as to what the primal essence had added. The alchemist poked around in his interfaces before he found something. In his core screen, where he viewed all his currently slotted cores, there was a menu near his [Toruaun Mages Core]. A list of spellponents.
Bingo.
Honk.
There were a lot of confusing parts about the spells, but Theo could view the pieces hed learned in the interface. There were 3 entries in the list, each providing a description of the parts mode, the story hed use to craft the spell, and the effects of theponent.
[Attack]
[Ward Trigger Component]
Causes a ward to activate when attacked.
[Shield]
[Ward Effect Component]
Generates a shield, based on conditions.
[Reveal]
[Ward Effect Component]
Generates a field of reveal, based on conditions.
The most important thing Theo took away from it was that alchemy fed directly into his magic, now. He drew out the same spell hed used before, following the parts of the story in his interface. Now the story was about a group of Dronon who were hiding from an enemy attack. They were still thest of their kind, and they were still losing the battle. But when he chanted the spell, applying it to an imagined stone, the ward contained within was different.
[Lesser Reveal]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Reveal]. Field only activates when attacked.
Trigger:
Attack
Duration:
1 day.
Thest observation he made was that this form of taking alchemy effects and applying them to Toruauns magic didn''t go the other way. Theo didnt have ess to the [Defense] property on any reagents, and he couldnt create it from the spellponent. Stabbing the small stone with a dagger, Theo noted the field of [Reveal] that sprung up. It was very simr to using the property as a construct, but once the field diminished the stone was still active.
Thanks for the tip, Theo said, patting Alex on the head. You are a smart goose, arent you?
She honked in response, but the alchemist could feel more from that sound than just a honk. There was an underlying appreciation and willingness to work together. The alchemist stood, nodding as he realized the error in his ways. He should have been helping the gosling train, right?
Alright, Theo said. So you can breathe fire, now?
Alex honked in response.
Lets work on that.
Theo worked with Alex for the rest of the night, coaching her on the fire attack. When they began, he got the impression that Tresk had already begun working with her. There was an underlying knowledge the gosling had about the mes, as though it were inherint within her. When she produced the first plume of fire, it struck a ridiculous scene. Still downy, and barelying up to the alchemists knees, her bill opened up and fire rushed forth. The ball of feathers produced a stream of fire like a methrower, only stopping to cough up clouds of ck smoke.
Fire goose, Theo said, patting her on the head.
While training with Alex, Theo spoke of advice as much as he did theories. Ideas on how to help Xolsa get over the soul-ying attack that bore no fruit. The only potions he had that cured specific things were his disease-curing potions and those that restored either limbs or digits. Nothing in his current arsenal healed the soul directly, but there were several unexplored options.
Ive always held the idea that the [Reagent Deconstruction] skill would allow me to learn more properties, Theo said, watching as Alex shot another plume of fire. Nice one.
There was a list of ingredients that Theo hadnt found the second property to, yet. Let alone the third property. Zarali imed there was an entire universe of properties within each reagent, leading to further problems. But, the alchemist was content with understanding those that were readily avable. Discovering the second property was done through eating the reagent, but his skill would discover the others.
Focusing on which ones make sense, Theo said, ducking his head to avoid another fireball. [Spriggan Hearts] might have a useful third property. [Rejuvenate] might be helpful, too. [Swamp Truffles] might be worth inspecting. [Living Water]? Yeah, maybe. [Pozwa Horns] would give me a hat trick. Nothing elsees to mind.
Honk.
Right. We also have to consider thebinations of reagents, Theo said. Reducing essences to primals, then binding them with a [Suffuse Potion]. That could open a world of potions all on its own. What properties, whenbined, would cure the soul?
Chirp. Honk.
No, I dont feel as though [Regeneration] and [Cure Ailment] would work, Theo said.
Honk.
True enough. Were talking about an extremely specific type of cure. I wouldnt have thought [Healing] and [Regeneration] would create the limb-restoration potion.
Honk.Honk honk.
Well, if I had more undead pieces, I could test that. Ive only ever seen a [Reanimated Skeleton Fragment], and that was system-generated. It produces the [Withering] property, which is alright for poisons. Not so much for cures.
Honk honk honk honk chirp.
Indeed. We assume the undead attacking Gronro are reanimated by Balkor. Which means, of course, if they produce reagents theyll bepletely different. Balkor fell, right? Honk. If he fell, then there are pieces of him. You have to think about what those pieces produce, huh?
Alex nodded.
Are you talking to the goose? Tresk asked. Can you actually understand her?
No. Just feels better if I pretend I can, Theo said. Exining a problem aloud can often be helpful.
Or Hear me out on this one Youre going nuts.
Well, Im currently sitting in a dream realm. That dream realm is a reflection of my personal realm, which seems to be another dimension. Talking to my smander-person life-bonded soul-mate thing while watching my goose shoot fire, Theo said, running his fingers through Alexs feathers. Insanity would be an easy exnation for this.
Alright. Point taken, Tresk said.
I talked to your dad about making an airship, Theo said, breaking away from the previous topic.
How did that go? Tresk said, drawing herself up. She did her best impression of her father. Dont I have enough work already? Youre working me to the bone, alchemist. Im just so mad and grumpy all the time.
He reacted better than that, Theo said. Seemed interested in the problem.
Flying ships, right? Okay, Ill bite. Whats the drawback? Why dont we see them everywhere?
Theyre hard to operate, ording to him. Its easy for someone to mess with the magic that runs the artifices. Wed need someone with powerful counter-magic potential to fly one, Theo said.
Someone with a ss dedicated to warding, and ab filled with [Anti-Mage] potions? Tresk asked, wiggling her tail excitedly. Alright, Im on board. Screw the sailing ships, we need a flying one.
Theo waved that thought away. There needed to be a drawback to flying ships, if most people used sailing ships. The continent wasnt as advanced as the others, but there should have been some flying machines. It was likely a matter of cost, since artifices ran on motes. They likely ran on a lot of motes, making them prohibitively expensive. But the idea just wouldnt leave his mind. He imagined himself flying over Rivers and Daub, lording over them with a massive airship.
Kinda sounds like a weapon of war, though, Tresk said.
I dont object to us having weapons of war, Theo said. Thats just a fact of life. I just dont want to sell them to other people.
Alright. Lets go. The dream is ending. We can ask around to see what people know about airships. Hey, if only there were a bunch of people from a more-advanced continent in town.
Funny how things fall into ce like that.
4.11 - Property Discovered
4.11 - Property Discovered
Theo spewed tea on the table of his private booth. Meeting with Gael over breakfast, hed learned the reason sailing vessels were so prevalent in the world. The cost of materials for a single, fisher-style aircraft numbered not in gold, but spiritstone. Disying only a single engine for propulsion, and four for levitation, these crafts contained some of the rarest materials an artificer could find. Compared to their sailing cousins, they were slow, cumbersome, and expensive to operate.
Thats why weve made it as sailors, Gael said, producing a rag to wipe down his face. We can outfit a fleet for the cost of a single airship.
Time to shelve that idea, Theo said, poking at his meal. He was suddenly far less hungry.
I didnt mean to bring you down, Archduke, Gael said. Thats just the reality of it.
No, dont worry. I wouldnt want a lie, Theo said. How are your people doing?
Gael sipped his tea, pausing for a long moment. Aside from the traitors? Were doing very well.
No chance them Elves areing for you? Tresk asked.
None. Thews are specific about traitor houses. We fled, as is afforded to us byw, so they cannot pursue. All sins are forgiven, Gael said.
It was a strange system, but Theo didnt question it. House Wavecrest fled Tarantham, and the Elven Empire was happy to let them go. It would be nice to establish trade deals with the Elves. But theyd let the smoke clear. Focus their efforts on other nations more willing to trade with the alliance. While Broken Tusk had massive quantities of exports ready to go, there were simply no shipsing to get the materials.
What are we sitting on? Theo asked, opening his administrative interface. Alise and Gwyn had spreadsheets detailing their potential profits. Productionpared against previous trade deals. 10 gold a week, and thats us reserving materials for our town.
The alchemist tapped his foot, cycling through the screens. He found those detailing the production of the other towns in the alliance. Compared to Broken Tusk, the numbers were dismal. Gronro had a small mine, but it wasnt much. Rivers and Daub actually had decent food production, but the overhead listed for the trade guilds was criminal. Theo took a deep breath and let that pass.
I have a question, Archduke, Gael said.
Im listening, Theo said, his foot tapping quicker.
I wanted to create an Elven council of
Absolutely not, Theo said, not waiting for the man to finish.
We just havent found representation in the administration, Gael said, holding his hands out in a cating gesture. We dont have a say.
Youre refugees, Tresk said, ring over from Alexs box in the corner.
Theo held up a silencing hand and nodded. I will never allow people to split off in town. Im not here to split you up, and ruin your culture or whatever, but your people were integrated into the citizenry of Broken Tusk for a reason.
Gael fiddled with his tea, sensing the tension. I feel adrift.
Sailing pun! Tresk shouted. Love it.
Stop being so dramatic, Theo said. Broken Tusk isnt a melting pot. Its a ce for people without a home. Both the Bantari and the Half-Ogres have no cultural link to this ce. Nothing that goes back over What, 200 years?
About that, Tresk said. 300 for the Half-Ogres, I think.
Im not even Theo stopped himself. Not everyone knew he was an outworlder. Im not even from this world. Neither is Xolsa. Look, why dont you serve with the administrators?
With those women? Gael asked. I saw Alise shout at someone the other day.
Yeah, theres some shouting. Ill even grant you a lord title if you do a good job, Theo said.
Gael brought the tea to his lips again, taking slow sips. He pursed his lips after a moment and shrugged. What would I be doing?
Some people felt aimless like that. They found themselves adrift, as Gael said, in the sea of Broken Tusk. They might have moved with the flow of the tide, but that didnt mean they took part. The Elves didnt steer that ship they found themselves on, and that came with a sense of powerlessness. Like a ship without a rudder, they drifted.
My administration staff handles everything in town. They coordinate with the Lord Merchant, help organize defenses with my Captain of the Guard, and other minor tasks.
Alright, Gael said. Im interested.
Theo worked the details out with the Elf. Gaels heart was in the right ce, but segmenting the Elves into another ss within town was a dangerous move. How quickly would they split off after making that decision? Did the alchemist have the right to prevent something like that from happening? None of that mattered. It was his town, and his nation. Hed run it however he saw fit. The only evidence needed for his effective leadership was the growth of the town. Sure, he was cheating with the power of Drogramath, but that didnt matter. It was his.
Ill report to Alise, Gael said.
Yeah. Earn your title, Tresk said. Speaking of, I still dont have a title.
The alchemist red at hispanion. He knew that wasnt important to her, but she still asked. There wasnt a good title to give the Marshling, though. She never took part in politics, or anyrge-scale projects. Tresk was an excellent adventurer, but that didnt warrant a title.
Youll earn a title when you do something worth giving a title, Theo said. Also, yes. Gael, please keep Gwyn and Alise off my back. Id like to get some things done today.
Theo enjoyed his breakfast, even after dealing with Gael. When the Elf departed, the pair settled on who was watching Alex that day. Tresk wanted to delve the dungeons today, having scheduled some work with Xolsa to tune them. The alchemist didnt know what that meant, but he didnt care either. The wizards experiments on the dungeons seemed fruitful, and there hadnt been a wave in a while. That was a good sign, or a bad one. Time between waves often influenced their strength.
Zarali was working in her enchantingb. When the alchemist entered, he found her inscribing something on a nk of wood. The same Drogramathi script she used to tell the story of her people, however imagined they were.
Brother, nice of you to stop by. I have amission from the fisherman, she said.
Settling in on a chair, Theo sat to watch the priestess work. She wasnt certain that the Ogre Cypress wood worked the same way on a boat as it did on his fermentation barrels. Hed forgotten she was such a cautious person, and enjoyed watching as she tried a few enchantments. The power condenser hummed in the rooms corner, focusing Drogramaths energy to produce glowing purple runes on the length of wood.
I can almost understand those, Theo said, kneeling near the enchantments to inspect them.
Ive been trying to forget that youve taken a core from Toruaun, she said, tutting. Why didnt you take a mage core from Lord Drogramath?
Does he even offer mage-style cores? Theo asked. Two of his cores in my chest is enough.
Well, we should work on your spells.
Xolsa has been helping me.
Dronon magic is different, Zarali said. She moved to the far side of the room and turned the power condenser off.
Toruauns magic was a lot different than what Theo had expected. A strange brand of chanting that even Xolsa didnt expect. The alchemist would have been upset about learning Axpashi for no reason, but hed be lying if he said it wasnt fun.
How about a disy? Zarali asked, breaking Theo from his thoughts.
With a shrug, Theo found a length of unused wood. With a sharp breath, he held his hand out and chanted the [Lesser Reveal] spell. He got it in 2 tries this time, leaving behind the reactive ward as an inscription of shifting color. Zarali came over to inspect his work, nodding with appreciation.
They seem like neighbors, dont they?
What? Theo asked, thinking for a moment. Oh. Wards and enchantments. Yeah, I thought they were the same thing for a while.
But this ispletely reactive, Zarali said. And it doesnt require a power source? Interesting.
Theo found his way back to the chair to rx. I thought youde asking about it sooner.
Zarali offered him a weak shrug. I thought about it. Figured youd want some time alone with the new core.
Well, I got that skill you were hounding me about. [Reagent Deconstruction], Theo said.
Oh, Zarali said, leaning in. Now that is a skill worth talking about. Come. Ill instruct you on Belgars techniques.
They departed the enchantmentb, bound for the alchemyb. After a brief chat with Salire about iing orders, Theo led his adoptive sister into hisb. His desire to remove the bedroom from the building and building somewhere else for him to sleep was still burning in his mind. Theb was feeling more cramped by the day, but it would require some modifications from the towns [Fabricator].
Zarali seemed surprised that Theo had understood the method for breaking essences and reagents down. She expected to present a revtion about primal essences. Instead, she was surprised that hed figured out how to use those primals for his magic. It was a path she hadnt expected, but that was no surprise. There was no one living that held both Toruauns cores and Drogramaths cores. A dangerous fact, if not for the backing of Terogal. Corebinations could be dangerous, if one wasnt careful.
We should go through the list, then, Zarali said, cing her hands on her hips and huffing. Theo had stolen her thunder. At your level, you should get at least the third property. And the second and third for those you havent eaten.
There were many reagents on that list. The task of listing the reagents he needed to check was daunting, let alone using his mana reserves to discover those properties. With a [Mages Bane] flower on the table, Zarali guided him through the process of discovering the third property. It wasnt much different than his attempts to break materials down. He focused on the skill, and his intent to find the next property, allowing his mana to flow over the flower. The deconstruction sent plumes of ck smoke into the air, shing a notification in his vision.
[Property Discovered]!
Deconstructing the [Mages Bane] has revealed the property: [Mana Seep]
That was easy enough, Theo said. But it took some mana.
Right. Youre meant to do this over time, although you can drink a potion if you need, Zarali said, pping her hands. Lets get going. Theres a big pile of reagents to get to.
[Roc Berries] were a useful reagent. They provided the [Retreat] property, which was something Theo wanted to use to escapebat. When he was attacked by the Zagmon assassins, it was useless. But that didnt mean it wasnt worth producing potions made from the berry, so he deconstructed one. The smoke rose, and it revealed the [Wind Shell] property. Theo dismissed the notification and sat down, a headrush sending his vision fuzzy.
You still need to get used to using your mana, Zarali said, tutting.
Im fine, Theo said, holding his head. He had only used about 25% of his mana, so the sensation was unexined.
After some light conversation, the alchemist was ready to get back at it. His mana had regenerated slightly on its own, but hadnt recovered the lost percentage. It was enough to continue, though. The [Widow Lily] had been a particrly annoying reagent to deal with. As it was poisonous, he couldnt eat it to discover the property. When the gout of smoke shot from the reagent, reducing it to ashes that floated away at the slightest disturbance, the alchemist nodded with approval. The poisonous flower had two more properties, [Maim] and [Devour].
No additional information came with the names of the properties. Theo and Zarali were left to specte. Alex put in the asional honk, and an even rarer chirp when she felt the need. But the alchemist took another break, recovering his senses once again before pushing forward.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] was Theos favorite reagent. It was easy to work with, and produced powerful healing potions. The reagent was native to the region, and grew in abundance even before his arrival in the town. The smoke that rose from the root was tinged with reds, giving it the appearance of an evil cloud. [Reagent Deconstructed] revealed the third property on the root to be [Flourish].
It was time to rest, yet again.
I could have all this done in my realm, Theo said. But its more fun out here.
Id like to learn more about your realm, Zarali said.
Theo forgot that he hadnt spoken to her about it much. Shed been distant for a few days, likely busy with whatever enchanter works he was doing. There was little to say about Terogal that she couldnt figure out on her own. Like the god she worshiped, he had a private pocket of space that he could retreat to. Unlike Drogramath, his realm didnte with the same level of power.
I know it will work out, Zarali said, cing aforting hand on Theos shoulder.
She mistook his silence for pensive contemtion. He wasnt worried about any of that junk, he was thinking about the best ways to exploit his realm. In the past, hed responded negatively when she pushed him to embrace Drogramath. But these were different times, even if it had only been weeks. Thefort of Terogal spread through him like a wildfire, now. It wreathed him in self-assuredfort, banishing away any malicious thought. The Tarahek bond had bloomed from love, and was nourished in the goals that Theo and Tresk shared. It would only continue to grow in power.
I have a feeling it will, Theo said.
Exhaustion creeped in by the moment, grinding Theos motivation to get all his reagents down to nothingness. He managed two more reagents before calling it quits. The [Moss Nettle] produced the [Stamina Burst] property. It seemed simr to the second property on the reagent, [Stamina Surge], but the alchemist had a feeling it was different in application. Thest reagent he processed for the day was a [Manashroom], which revealed the [Distortion] property. That one seemed impossible to guess at, so he didnt attempt it.
Coming to rest in a chair, sweat beading on his forehead, Theo found his stamina and mana drained to almost empty. He ate a [Mana Pill], watching as it restored most of his mana, and then rested. It wouldnt be wise to consume anything to increase his stamina. That often had consequences, such as an inability to sleep and the jitters. Instead, he talked with Zarali about the future of the town and her work.
Ive got faith, Zarali said once mention of the undead was brought up.
I dont think Drogramath cares about the undead.
Not in him. In Gronro, Zarali said. Theyve done an incredible job holding the line, so far.
And we get to sit here, not a worry in the world.
Dont be so pessimistic, Zarali said, ring. Your people are supporting them with supplies. More than just your potions. Theyre wellpensated for their work.
That was true enough. Gronro-Dir could be the force theyd always wanted to be, something like an army of mercenaries. Aarok was already taking them around the dungeons to train them up. Banus ever-growing farm would feed them well enough, especially with the Guilds harvesting of the wolf meat. There might be a day when the fishers even provided something worth note.
Were working on weapons designed for the undead, Theo said.Artifices that shoot potions. Like a stream of water.
Clever. Who came up with that?
Throk.
Of course. That Marshling is devious, Zarali said. Saw him toying with some explosives the other day. Out in the swamp. Suspiciously, I thought I detected a potion in the air after the explosion.
Aforting silence washed over the room for a long moment. Theos mind lingered. How is Xolsa?
Do you want the truth? Of course you do, youre not a pessimist. Youre a masochist. Hes declining, Zarali said.
Theo tapped his foot on the wooden floor, his eyes going unfocused. He was right to fear a soul-ying by a god, and was surprised that Zarali wasnt as scared as he was. She could have been hiding it, though. A knock at the door brought him out of his stupor. Sledge didnt wait for an invitation. She barged in with a wide smile, hands on her hips, to strike a heroic pose.
Guess who figured out how that synergy crap works? she asked.
Theo stood, gathering all the reagents he could think of testing along with both [Stamina Potions] and [Mana Potions]. With his inventory packed full, he regarded the Marshling with the best smile he could muster. He tucked Alex under his arm and stretched his will through the realms.
Give me five minutes, Theo said, pulling Alex with him through the realms. Then well get to work.
Passing through darkness, Theo saw that the Bridge was in a much better state. He lingered for only a moment before falling onto the soft ground of Terogal. In an instant, the power of that realm flooded through his body. His mana and stamina crawled to full quicker than it would have on the mortal ne. The fear for his friend washed away in an instant.
The alchemist set the remaining reagents out as Alex ran over to the spring-fed pond. An icy wind blew through Terogal, sending a dulled chill up Theos spine. Benton stepped through, holding his arms wide and shouting with excitement.
My favorite neighbor! the bear-person yelled.
My favorite lord of death! Theo shouted back,ughing.
Have you ever seen a god of death so cuddly? Benton asked, folding his arms. I think not. Hows it going? I sense urgency in your realm.
Theo nodded, turning his attention to the remaining reagents on his table. I need to cure a friend. Got hit with a soul-ying magical attack from a god.
Which one?
Hard to say, Theo said.
Gonna use alchemy to fix it?
Theo turned his attention away from the reagents and stared at the Toora god. Unless you have a priest in the south of Iaredin that can cure it.
Nope. I got good herb-lore, though.
Excellent. Lets get to work.
4.12 - Synergistic Links
4.12 - Synergistic Links
Bentons joyous spirit was infectious. His bellyughs,bined with the effects of Terogal, set Theo in an excellent mood. Theyd taken a break from going over the reagents to have tea in the cottage. No heat came from the fire burning in the firece, just a sense of increasingfort. The tea was hot, but not too hot, and the bear-god had even brought scones. The alchemist wouldnt pause, considering how the hell that worked. He simply dipped a lemon-vored scone in his moss tea and ate.
You should get a hobby, Benton said, spreading more confections on the table.
I have enough work. Dont need a hobby.
Benton left the cottage, returning with a [Pozwa Horn]. He ced it on the table and chuckled. Your brain is going to turn to dust. I was thinking. Had a few decades to do that, didnt I? Thinking about your little mage core. Do you know what scrimshaw is?
Theo ran his fingers over the twisting horn. Nope.
Carving stuff out of ivory. Out of bone, Benton said, withdrawing a knife from nowhere and going to work on the horn. In a few moments, he produced a finger-sized figurine. It was a Toora, perhaps even an image of the bear-god himself. Pretty cool, right?
It looks like you, Theo said, taking the carving. He rolled it over in his hands, appreciating how much detail was represented in such a small space. Think itll help?
In more ways than one, Benton said with a shrug. We thought the Pozwa were extinct. Gardreth held them in secret, and when the Fallen Kingdom fell Well, we thought they were all gone. But theres more than alchemical uses for those horns.
It was easy to follow Bentons logic. But it was rude to steal the mans thunder. What do you mean?
Materials like these hold enchantments well. I think it should work for your new magic just as well, Benton said.
Youre saying I should make my weapons out of [Pozwa Horns]? Theo asked, idly scratching his chin. His n was to use the high-quality stone from Zizs quarry.
Yeah, stuff you can just throw. Or set them down like little totems, Benton said. I got the idea from my homnd. From my people. We have a ss that uses totemic magic. Usually made of wood, but Ive seen bone before.
Interesting, Theo said.
Mediums were often important in magic. Taking the golems as an example, Theo could see the wisdom in the gods words. But that depended on how well the horns took his wards. Another example to consider was making the horns into a construct. It wouldnt work, since they were alchemically reactive. But the alchemist could extract the properties from primal essences, and apply those to the carved horns. That led him down a trail of thought that was dizzying. His processes would change with the addition of his [Toruaun Mages Core].
Listen Think it over. Im just giving suggestions here. Im going to pop off into some adjacent realms and see if anyone knows anything about curing a soul-ying, Benton said, cing aforting hand on Theos shoulder.
One question before you go, Theo said, staring at the carved figure. Why are you helping me?
Didnt I say? Benton said,ughing. Our neighbors are assholes. None have invited me for tea.
Thank you.
Outside the cottage, an archway of ice rose. The Toora God of Winter and Death stepped through, vanishing from Terogal. It grew cold for only a moment, but that sensation subsided within moments. Theo was left in his cottage, snacking on scones and drinking his tea. He looked at the knife left behind by Benton, taking it in his hands and rolling it over. It seemed like a mundane thing, not noteworthy in any regard. But as he held it, pressing the de into a length of horn, he found it dragged through the material with ease.
Magic knife, or weird god rules? Theo asked.
But the knife had no system message. When he pressed his intent upon it, nothing happened. A sense as though this thing existed only in his realm, just like those lemon-vored scones, flooded his mind. Hed seen stranger things, but it was as though his hands moved on their own. They carved away at material as he watched, half-expecting the result of the possessed creation to be magnificent. The resulting sculpture was anything but impressive. The alchemist had produced a lop-sided figuremeant to represent himselfthat looked more like a mutated goblin.
It was calming, though. Hours passed as he made more abominations. Alex yed happily in the pond outside, although they should have been training. Snapping himself out of his trance, Theo sat near the pond with his growing gosling. He let time slip through his fingers, worries melting away as those moments passed, before the gate opened. Icy wind blew, stirring the stalks of wheat, and then the echoingugh of the bear-god filled the realm.
That was an adventure, Benton said,ing to rest near the pond. The area where he stood seemed to bloom with frost, touching the edge of the water and freezing it. Touched the edge of the high-heavens, and even the demon-realms, and found something interesting.
What did you find?
Well, one of the Drogramathis spirits was hiding within an infant realm, Benton said, groaning to a seated position. He dunked his feet in the water, freezing it. Alex honked in anger, moving far away from the spreading ice. Had a few words with him. Talked a lot about Telbaris. Spirits are weird that way.
Did you catch his name?
Nope. Hes wayward. Trying to find his way back to the mortal ne. But thats not possible. So hes losing his mind. I sent him back to his masters embrace Well, anyway. Telbaris. The shifting moon. When shes green, you can trundle off into the swamp and find yourself a flower.
Theo narrowed his eyes, mind spinning. What am I looking for?
A flower that blooms only when the moon is green. It doesnt glow or anything like that, so youll need a light. But, theres a hidden property on the flower. Grind it up on a te of Drogramathi Iron, set it on fire, capture the smoke, then use some ability on it. The Dronon said youd have it if you were a decent alchemist.
Hidden properties? Theo asked.
The way property discovery worked was well-established, wasnt it? A hidden flower in the swamp. One that only bloomed when the moon was green. That seemed like a tale, rather than fact. But with no other options, and Bentons trustworthiness, Theo had no other options. The steps seemed easy enough. [Reagent Deconstruction] was the ability he was talking about, there was no doubt about that.
Yeah, he said youd know what to do.
Thanks, Benton, Theo said, nudging the bear-god with his elbow. I really appreciate it.
Hey, no problem. Im bored out of my mind, so Ill help however I can, Benton said. Did you ever think youd be friends with a god?
Youre not a powerful god, are you? Theo asked.
Nope. Thats true. Im one of the weakest, Benton said. I ran into a Bantari god. Two of them. Twins, maybe?
I didnt think the Marshlings had gods.
Well, when youre in these new realms youre a god in name only. We get a realm, we get to poke into the mortal world a bit, but Its not like the high realms. Nothing like the Prime Pantheon, or the Demonic one.
But gods seem to have something inmon, Theo said. Good timing. Whats the phase of the moon tonight?
Benton grinned, revealing his sharp teeth. Green.
Interesting, Theo said. Anyway, look at the horrible creations Ive made.
Theo and Bentonughed for hours about the horrible scrimshaw hed created. The god asked if he could keep a few, and the alchemist was too happy to rid himself of the abominations. With the solution to Xolsa problem resting in the swamp, the pair chatted about realms and what they meant. They only lingered onrger topics for a while, preferring to talk about the small things of the world. The way things were before Benton ascended, and how his departure brought in a new era for his people.
The Toora bear-people, those peoples living in the mountains north of the Kingdom of Qavell, had a long, proud history. They had survived the cataclysm that destroyed the continent. Safe in their mountains, they spent their time reconnecting with their ancestors. They were a shamanistic people, and wanderers by nature. With the help of those that came before them, they settled down. They built something worth talking about.
When Qavell came to dominate them, they resisted. It was difficult for the kingdom to gain a foothold, losing soldiers, and so they settled on an agreement. Not quite the proud future they tried to forge, but not the subservience chained around the necks of the other towns in the kingdom. Benton had watched the undead wash across thend before he ascended. Hed seen them crash against the walls of Qavell before turning their eyes southward, as though their attention were caught by something else.
Mortal interference, Benton said with a sage-like nod. Someone is steering those undead.
Why?
To spit in the face of the gods. To show them how impotent they are. Theyre bound by their rules, but only when it suits them. It was their responsibility to clean up the mess left behind by Balkor, but theyve failed, Benton said.
That seemed like a point of hate within the bear-god. Theo wouldnt disagree. He only hoped Khahar was making good on his promise to make them pay. He needed to trust that Yuri would do the right thing. To bring them to heel and make the heavens a better ce. But what that meant was beyond mortal thinking. In realms where years passed in a day, how many moves had already been made?
The conversation shifted, and Theo battled his instinct to keep on working. It was nice to soak his feet in the cooled water, chatting with anyone. Benton had gone through simr trials as the alchemist. Leading people in a time of crisis, far before he was ready. Things moved fast when magic was involved. Too fast for the mortal mind to process. But thats why he had his private realm, wasnt it? A literal pool of reflection for him to sit by, enjoying silent moments without interruption.
Tell me about your artifice work over there, Benton said, gesturing to the stills and fermentation barrels.
Theo had ced 3 of his 5 new stills within Terogal. Hed reced his older stillspletely, and couldnt be happier. He went on for as long as Benton would listen, telling him about all the features. Each peace that hed had a hand in creating, and the master artificer whod forged them. But as time dragged on, speeding and slowing as the alchemists concentration shifted, it was time to go.
Great talking with you, Benton said, shaking Theos hand. If I dont spot you crossing the Bridge, make sure to send me a mental message. I dont want to miss our visits.
Me either, Theo said, grinning at his godly friend.
The alchemist scooped Alex up under one arm, watching as Benton departed from his realm, and then fell over the edge of the ind. The Bridge was still in silence. There was no sign of battle anywhere, and as he approached the mortal ne, he saw Zarali and Sledge arguing.
A man doesnt just vanishHoly hells! Sledge shouted.
Theo ced Alex in his satchel andughed.
Wasnt quite 5 minutes, brother, Zarali said, grimacing.
Yeah, but I found what I needed, Theo said. Sledge, do you know about a flower that blooms when Telbaris is green?
Were not going to talk about you vanishing? Whatever. Yeah, Ive heard of it. In stories.
Whats going on, Theo? Zarali asked.
Got some insider information, Theo said. Its a long story, but theres a reagent in the swamp that can cure Xolsa.
Really? Zarali asked. She didnt sound hopeful. Who gave you this information?
A Drogramathi, Theo said. He wouldnt reveal that the information was second hand. Benton was as trustworthy as they came. A wayward spirit.
What are we waiting for? Zarali said, crossing the room without prompting. She had the door opened when Theo spoke next.
Only blooms when Telbaris is green. At night, Theo said.
The priestess rxed. Youre certain?
Theres nothing else we can do but wait, Theo said. Youre wee to do more research until tonight. If youd like to join me, that is.
Zarali paused for a long moment. Theo informed Tresk through theirmunication skill. When she was done in her dungeon, shed head to the guild and round up some adventurers for a stroll through the swamp at night.
I will, Zarali said. Thank you, Theo.
No worries, Theo said, waving her away. He downed an unmodified [Stamina Potion], watching his stamina bar fill. The energizing effects rushed through him, reducing the fatigue hed felt that day. Lets go, Sledge.
Alex honked, and the pair were off. Sledge led him down the southern road, making a line directly for the twin-smelters. Theo waved to Nira, who refused to wave back. She was instructing her workers and didnt have the desire to give greetings.
Can you see all those lines? Sledge asked, bouncing excitedly.
Nope.
Sledge exined she could see lines running from each building. They fell into discussion on why she could see them, but he couldnt. While Theo had purchased an upgrade for the town called [Synergistics], it was the [Fabricators Core] ability [Synergistic Links] that allowed her to see them. She exined the skill to him.
[Synergistic Links]
Fabricator Skill
Legendary
Apply production chain links between seed cores.
Effect:
Apply unaligned mana to establish bonuses to production chain buildings.
So anyone with that skill was only useful if the town they were in had the upgrade. That seemed like a very specific skill, but it depended on the bonuses they provided. Sledge exined the process, and more importantly, the requirements.
Links cost the three Ms, Sledge said. Money, motes, and materials.
Alright, Theo said, folding his arms. Thest thing he needed was another expense. But he was too excited about the upgrades. Sledge shared the upgrade she wanted to apply to the nugget processing chain.
[Efficient Processing]
[Synergy Link]
Linked to:
[Smelter], [Mine]
Cost:
1 gold coin, 100 [Iron Bars]
Maintenance Cost:
100 Motes per week
Description:
Create a synergy link between a [Smelter] and a [Mine]. Nuggets which are mined from the attached [Mine] and processed in the attached [Smelter] are produced faster.
Effect:
Nuggets mined in the chain and produced in the chain will smelt 15% faster.
The cost wasnt that bad. If they applied a few of these to the town, the costs would ramp up rapidly. Theo produced a single gold coin and handed it over. He approached the smelting building, withdrawing the [Iron Bars] without invitation. Nira didnt turn her attention away from her work, too focused on the process. There were enough motes in the towns infinite storage to maintain the effect. With the alchemists [Lesser Mud Golems], that wouldnt be a problem.
Sledge held the coin above her head, standing on a pile of loose iron. Theo felt mana flowing from her [Fabricators Core], forming as motes of floating blue energy. They lingered in the air for a moment before forming a solid line that shot between the smelter and the mine. The pair watched as the line faded into nothing.
There we go! Sledge said, stumbling on the spot. She held her head. Alright. That took a lot out of me.
Theo moved to steady the Marshling, but she pped his hands away. Fair enough. Think you can do more?
Maybe one more, Sledge said. After Ive had a mana potion. Wink wink.
Theo produced a [Mana Potion] from his inventory and handed it over. She drank it down in one go, belching loudly. Trying to flex her muscles, or strike a heroic pose, she stumbled again. This time, the alchemist caught her before she fell. Alex let out a honk. While Sledge recovered, he thought about the best link to make next. While he would like to have a link between the farm and the weaver, the most important one would be between the sawmill and the harbor.
Sledge moved on her own after Theo summoned a few golems to carry her. Once the [Lesser Copper Golems] had their hands around her, she could miraculously walk. They made their way to the sawmill, where a gaggle of people worked to cut the massive Ogre Cypress trees into boards. The Marshling hummed to herself as she looked through the options. They all followed a theme of using the materials between the two buildings. But she settled on one, sharing it for the Archdukes inspection.
[Thick Boards]
[Synergy Link]
Linked to:
[Sawmill], [Harbor]
Cost:
5 gold coin, 500 of any [Wood nks], 100 [Iron Bars]
Maintenance Cost:
200 Motes per week
Description:
Create a synergy link between a [Sawmill] and a [Harbor]. Boards milled at the [Sawmill] and used in construction at the [Harbor] will add additional attributes to produced boats.
Effect:
Boats produced with boards milled at the [Sawmill] and used at the [Harbor] will produce a random enhancement on the finished boat.
Theo withdrew the materials from the towns storage, setting them on the ground. Sledge clutched 5 gold coins in her hand, holding it above her head. She swayed on the spot as she applied the link, and copsed afterward. Nothing a [Mana Potion] and a [Stamina Potion] couldnt cure, but she left the encounter with a horrible headache. The act brought the alchemists funds down to 49 gold, but thatst link was worth it. Perhaps that would invite the shipwrights to work faster. Who knew what bonus theyd get?
4.13 - Wolves and the Spymaster
4.13 - Wolves and the Spymaster
The sound of horns shing echoed across the t in near Mianas ranch. Those horns locked together, the heads of the demonic-looking creatures twisting to gain purchase. But the fight was broken up as soon as it started. A ranch hand ran over, swatting at the beasts and whistling. The Half-Ogre proprietor of thend came over to lean on the fence, watching as Theo observed the scuffle.
Want a pet wolf? she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Scampering around the womans legs, clinging to her thigh-high leather boots and spitting balls of smoke, were no less than 5 smanders. They were red, streaked with ck with sharp teeth and slitted eyes. Tails thrashing, they sent a volley of harmless smoke at the alchemist. Alex red at them, ready to release fire of her own.
Seems like all you have is [Fire Smanders], Theo said.
Im working my way up.
Miana found and bought the [Monster Tamers Core] on her own. She learned from those around her, tackling smaller creatures rather than going directly for the wolves. Unprompted, she exined how the core worked. Monsters spawned either in waves, or in dungeons, were unavable. She could only tame those that wandered on their own, but they needed to be monsters. If she tried to tame a wild Karatan, that wouldnt work. The creature needed to have a [Proto Core] inside them, or the magic would fail.
Are we going to see some Half-Ogres riding some wolves? Theo asked, chuckling. Thats something Id pay to see.
Agreed, Miana said, turning around and snapping her fingers. A ranch hand stood at attention, stumbled over, then waited for orders. Grab the Archdukes [Pozwa Horns].
The young Elf scrambled away. Theo produced the scrimshaw abomination from his inventory, handing it over for the woman to inspect.
Whats this supposed to be? she asked. Those monster-dogs from the mine?
Supposed to be me.
Keep practicing.
Bentons idea for Theo to take something up unrted to his cores reminded him of Miana. The tangled web of deception didnt evade him, but he preferred not to think about it. She was without her cores for at least 20 years, forced to live life with no sses. But she got along. She did her best to hold up her end of the cursed deal. That web had fallen away. Untangled itself from her heart and revealed a hard-working woman with a passion for animals. There was no better corebination for her.
Theres a moral question to consider, Theo said. Instinctively, he let his senses fall onto the lodestonework. His golems were working away. Someined there were few [Mana Constructs] left in the chest, but hed get to that today. Before night fell. Id happily send my golems out to die. What about tamed creatures?
Think I havent thought of that? Miana asked. She kicked behind her without looking, nting her foot on the head of a charging Pozwa. The creature chittered before backing away. When I tame the wolves, I see them as support creatures. I wont ce one with irresponsible adventurers.
Fair enough, Theo said.
The alchemist looked at Alex. He wouldnt send her intobat, not even with her fire attacks. The gosling hopped from her bag, then onto the fence. She stretched her wings and honked, some of her downy feathers falling away. Her neck was growing longer, and the yellow coloration of her down was giving way to a pattern of gray. She honked at Miana, who picked at waxy feathers and shook her head.
Shes growing fast, Miana said. But you need to help her remove all these little baby feathers. Look, you can see her adult feathersing in.
Theo inspected his goose, seeing that new feathers were emerging from her flesh. They were covered in a waxy coating, something that Miana picked off with her fingernails. Alex honked and chirped with excitement with every gesture, preening the area afterward. The Half-Ogre woman was always good with animals, but the alchemist didnt know when shed worked with birds. Let alone Earth geese.
Im wondering if her growth is tied to her level, or time, Theo said.
Likely both, Miana said. My Karatan have levels. Level 10 is adulthood for them, but were rearing a baby thats pushing adulthood at level 5.
You can never discount the energy in the air, Theo said. I never thought it would work on animals, but here we are.
You wanted Demonic Karatan, Miana said, leveling her gaze at the alchemist. You wanted to warp my precious babies.
Theo shrugged. That was true, but the n didnt work. To distract from an old sin, the alchemist gave Alex amand. Shoot some fire, little fire-goose.
Alex honked, tilting her head back before shooting a plume of fire into the air.
How does that work? Miana said, having taken several healthy steps backwards.
Magic.
Theo had fun spending time at the ranch. He whittled away the day, practicing some carving on the edge of the paddock. The Elven ranch hand returned after a while with the [Pozwa Horns], handing them over to the alchemist. Hisst task for the day wouldnte until nightfall. Rounding up adventurers for the event fell to Tresk, leaving the alchemist free to y with the Pozwa and Karatan. Alex wasnt interested in ying with the farm animals, though.
Walking back to the center of town, Theo saw a troubling sight. Near the monolith, where a ck portal normally rested, was nothing. Xolsas condition was worsening. A sharp reminder drove its way into his mind, and he rushed back to hisb. Waving to Salire, then scrambling up the stairs into hisb, the alchemist found the ingredients to craft several [Regenerative Potions]. When Fenian returned, hed need them if UzXulven could be trusted.
Finishing up with the potions, another idea came into Theos mind. Salire shouted something at him as he rushed out of the Newt and Demon. He hurried north, then took the avenue west to the Adventurers Guild. The building was buzzing with activity, even after a partial-hush washed over those assembled. He spotted Tresk talking to some adventurers, but took the stairs to the second floor. One knock on Aaroks door and he let himself in to find a meeting in progress.
Gwyn and Alise looked up, and Lurasughed.
War meeting? Theo asked, finding an inconspicuous corner to stand in. I just have some concerns.
Since youre here, Aarok said, shifting in his seat. The air that blew from his air conditioner made the room bearable. It was normally too stuffy. Alise wants to attack Rivers.
Theo shrugged. So long as he didnt have to deal with it, he didnt really care how they resolved the problem with them. But they already had a n. Didnt they?
I thought we had a strategy for that, Theo said. Surely Azrug talked about it.
Well, perhaps if that Alran Cherman son of a
Remember to breathe, Gwyn said, interrupting and cing a calming hand on Alises shoulder.
That guy has enough gold and food stored tost a decade, Luras said, grunting. Didnt see fit to share. Still doesnt want to share.
An attack sounds expensive, Theo said, waving the thought of war away. And wed drop our link with Gronro.
Azrug thinks we can starve them out, Gwyn said. Not literally. But with supplies.
We can also threaten to cut them off from the [Kingdom Core], Theo said. Resolve this a different way, we dont need to fight. Get Alran to give up the Chair position and dissolve the others. Hes better as a spy than a leader.
Aarok shared a look with Luras. I like that.
Why are you here? Alise asked.
I think you meant to say Why are you here, Archduke, Luras said,ughing. Dont forget the pecking order.
Theo entrusted Gwyn and I with Lady titles, Alise snapped. She took a steadying breath.
Alright, Alise, Theo said. Weve been here before. Whats going on?
Shes stressed out, Gwyn said. She has too much work managing the other towns as well as Broken Tusk.
The new problem is the old problem, Aarok said.
Theo folded his arms, tapping his foot. I sent Gael Wavecrest to help you guys.
Were getting him up to speed, Gwyn said.
Alright. Direct action time. Theo opened his administration interface. He opened an empty conversation with Alran. Just between them.
[Theo]: Report to Broken Tusk tomorrow.
[Alran]: I havent done anything. Tell your dog to back off.
[Theo]: Report to Broken Tusk tomorrow or an army will arrive at your city. From the north and the south.
[Alran]: You dont have to do this.
[Theo]: You wont listen to anything else!!! Just show up, dude. We have a proposal for you, and youll like it.
[Alran]: Stop being coy.
[Theo]: Youre going to dissolve the Merchant Chairs, give the Duke position to someone else, and take a new title.
[Alran]: Thats all? Youre getting your undies in a twist over this? Whats the new position?
[Theo]: Spymaster.
[Alran]: Oh, my. Ill be there tomorrow. Bright and early. You wont be disappointed, Archduke. <>
Theo winced at the sight of the emoji heart. Done.
The group had been arguing. Theos focus was on the conversation, so hed missed all of it.
What? Alise asked.
Theo pushed off from the wall and shrugged. I messaged Alran. Hes interested in dissolving the Merchant Chairs, installing a new Duke, and taking the Spymaster position.
That was easy, Aarok said.
Alise seemed to dete. The alchemist ced aforting hand on her shoulder. Sometimes that woman was like a dog with a bone. She wouldnt give it up for anything, even when something better came along. There were facts that Alran couldnt ignore. Rivers and Daub would fall without Broken Tusk. That might have been only because Gronro would fall in line with Broken Tusk, but there it was. The Duke of Rivers never wanted to be a leader in that way. His interest seemed to rest solely with spy craft.
The entire exchange reminded Theo of Luras. When the Half-Ogre was forced by his dying uncle to take a [Leatherworkers Core] instead of the adventuring core he wanted. Forced into doing something he didnt want to do, hed be sullen. A grim conviction to honor the memory of a dead family member. Alran wasnt so different.
I should just resign, Alise said.
Yeah, well put you on the battlements of Gronro, Theo said. No, this is my fault. When you blew up on Alran in the chat, I should have stepped in.
Youre the Archduke, Aarok said, chuckling. Thats your job.
Theo tapped his foot. Failure is part of learning. Broken Tuskers learn better from failure than anything else. Im sorry youre stressed out, Alise. I should have concluded that I could bully Alran earlier.
Understanding how to throw your weight around in a leadership role is difficult, Luras said. Consider that Alran didnt take Alise seriously because shes only a Lady. Not a Duchess.
Theo cleared his throat. Right. Now that weve got that sorted, I need toy out some Uh, bad news.
The alchemist had only put this together in thest few moments. As he crafted the limb-regeneration potion, his mind lingered on Fenian. Things followed that man over the Bridge. The Elven construct was a good example. If he couldnt send a warning beforehand, he would have sent it through the next best thing. UzXulven delivered that warning, although she shrouded it in as many shadows as her realm contained.
Fenian is going to arrive the day after tomorrow, Theo said. I suspect hes going to arrive with trouble. Hell be wounded with some horrors trailing behind.
ssic Spencer, Luras said. Well prepare for a defense.
Assume were looking at an army, Theo said. The good news is, I think I can sense when hes close.
Aarok gave Theo a discerning re. I assume this is rted to when you disappeared on the road.
I have ess to a godly realm now, Theo said.
Gwyn let out an audible gasp. Theo didnt think it was anything special, but that was far from the truth. No mortalid im to a physical realm. Not even Khahar had that ability in life. The Khahari leaders realm was intangible, although it washed over most of the Khahari desert. From what the alchemist understood about it, he was the first mortal with a realm and the only one who could visit it.
This is my surprised face, Aarok said. His face didnt change.
Unexpected, overpowered Karatanshit abilities are normal, Luras said.
There was more Theo wanted to tell them. He wanted to talk about how his realm ovepped Drogramaths. How he shared tea with a god every day. That might be too much information for the meeting.
Fine. Thats it for today, Gwyn and Alise. Id like to have a private word with our Archduke, Aarok said.
The pair of administrators seemed reluctant to leave. After a few tense moments, they went. Luras and Aarok gave Theo a piercing look.
How far does this road go, Theo? Luras asked.
The alchemist fell down into a now-vacant chair. He let out a sigh, then a shrug. Convergences. Like two riversing together to form somethingrger. Fates mingling together to form something else. Something new.
Something brighter? Aarok asked.
I think so, Theo said. Mymand over Terogal is absolute. Well, its one third of the equation. Alex and Treskmand it, too.
The realm has physical effects, doesnt it? Luras asked.
The power is already bleeding into Broken Tusk. Rivaling Drogramaths, Theo said. Khahar is making a mess of the heavens. Fenian is up to something, pushing things here on the mortal ne. I cant help but think were all part of something else.
Aarok stood, nodding resolutely. Nothing different, then. Business as usual in Broken Tusk.
Agreed, Luras said.
Of all the people in town, Luras and Aarok were those Theo trusted the most. Outside of the Tarahek, that is. Both were stalwart Half-Ogres. Honorable and wise beyond their years, the pair of them had a non-nonsense attitude toward everything.
Whats your opinion on Alise and Gwyn? Theo asked.
Well, Gwyn is the level-headed one, Aarok said. Id promote her to the leadership position over Alise, but
But what?
Well, whats the point? Luras asked, finishing Aaroks thoughts. Alise needs to suffer to grow. Take her Lady title away. Throw her to the gutter. Where does that get you? A step back and a person short. A smart person, Theo. Dont forget that.
People dont grow overnight. As much as you want that to happen, Aarok said. Keep throwing her into the fire. Shell learn.
Nothing got Broken Tuskers down. Not when everything went to hell and the chips were down. They just kept fighting no matter what. They saw the best in people, even if they didnt deserve it. Adaptive, and wise. That was the Broken Tusk way.
The conversation steered away from serious things. Theo sat and spoke with his friends about his realm. About how they could leverage those things for the betterment of their town. For their nation. The alchemist produced [What] from his inventory and ced it on Aaroks table. Simple, uninteresting wheat that one would find on Earth.
A nt from your home world? Aarok asked, raising the bristled crop for inspection. Seems kinda small.
Its uncultivated, Theo said with a shrug. Might be nice to have some proper bread.
Still curious about the whole realm thing, Luras said.
But no discoveries were found within Aaroks cramped office that evening. Theo departed after a while, finding his way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern for some dinner. The power of the [Stamina Potion] flowed through his body, jolting his senses to wakefulness. Since gaining the Dreamwalk ability, the alchemist experienced something other than tiredness. On the rare asion he stayed up beyond dusk, his body produced something closer to an urgency to return to that dream realm. With his senses buzzing, and the conversational hum of the tavern, he was brought to a higher state of wakefulness.
It didnt help that Tresk had invited their entire adventuring party for dinner.
Im paying for it! she shouted, shoving her body weight against a table. She was joining several together to allow the 10 adventurers shed recruited to sit together.
Most of those seated at the table were familiar faces. Old adventurers that were there when he arrived in Broken Tusk. Gael joined with them, although he held no cores forbat. He simply wanted to sit with the other Wavecrest Elves that were present. The old Elf, looking as though hed been drawn thin like iron under the hammer of an over-eager cksmith, offered a sheepish smile.
Your administrator is depressed, he said.
Shes working on herself, Theo said, finding a seat with the head of House Wavecrest. And quite young.
To be a fiery youth again, Gael said with a sigh.
Im fiery! I got youth! Tresk shouted.
Theo scooted his chair closer to Gael. I have a representative from Rivers and Daubing tomorrow. Their Duke, Alran Cherman. We need to make sure youre in on that meeting. So you can get used to the way administrators work.
Gael nodded. Im ready.
Good. He seems interested in changing his title from Duke to Spymaster, Theo said, My hope is that it goes well. The previous strategy of pushing him away only caused more problems. We need to bring him into the fold.
Im sure your more experienced administrators would have more to say about it, Archduke, Gael said, bowing his head.
Yeah, I dont need you to take care of the entire thing. I just want you there so you can learn, Theo said, drumming his fingers on the table. Nah, Im just looking at every shadow. Jumpy. Something is going to happen on the 10th. Not sure how worried I should be.
As worried as you can manage, Tresk cackled. When was thest time Feintleaf brought anything fun through that portal.
4.14 - Swamp Adventure
4.14 - Swamp Adventure
The swamp outside of Broken Tusk was bathed in a pale green light. Theo stood with the group of adventurers, looking up at the night watch that had posted themselves over the western gate. Telbaris shone above, providing that deceptive light, battled back bynterns. It would be an arduous task to find a green flower bathed in green light, after all.
But the threshold between the town and the swamp was one that Theo rarely crossed, if ever. Standing before it was like standing at a curtain of dreams, filled with promise and danger. Tresks insistence to bring along so many adventurers made the task ptable, but as the alchemist shuffled his bare feet on the cobbles he felt a sense of fear. If hed practiced his Toruaun magic, he would have felt better about it. While arming himself with potions had broughtfort before, now he only felt unease. Uncertainty of his own abilities.
Those dark ces in the swamp, ces shrouded in shadow, were his partners home. She regarded him with a steely expression, then one of confusion. Wheres your shoes?
Terogal, Theo responded, looking down.
Tresk grumbled, withdrawing a pair of dexterity-enhancing boots and handing them over. Theo slipped them on, watching by candlelight as they resized themselves to fit him. Waterproof and all that, Tresk said. Cant say much about you going knee-deep in the damn mud, though.
Thanks, Theo said.
Im watching you from the shadows, alright? You have a guard of 3 adventurers, and the rest are going to scout for the flower, Tresk said. Yall hear that? Do I have to repeat myself?
A thunderous chorus from the adventurers. No,mander.
Theo often forgot she was in charge of anything, let alone all the stealth-style adventurers in town. With no more ceremony, the Marshling vanished from the spot and the adventurers pushed forward. The alchemist spotted Zankir, assigned to guard duty. The Khahari man gave a smile, then a shy nod.
Dont fear. Khahar is with us. Zankir flexed something, letting out a burst of golden-brown light. The power of the Khahari desert. Of Khahar himself.
The mud took half of Theos legs on the first step, and he grumbled. The [Cleansing Scrub] potion was the only thing that could save him from this ce. A potion, or spell that kept him above the level of the mud would have been ideal. But it was not time toin. Xolsas life was worth moments of difort.
Did he give you a core? Theo asked, staying close to Zankir.
Even in the darkness, Theo could see the sad smile on the Khaharis face. Sal wasnt happy. At first. But shese to understand what our lords intentions were.
Resting his hand on the gosling in his bag, Theo noted the rapid rise and fall of her little chest. She was sleeping, which brought up questions about the Dreamwalk. Thest time this happened, it appeared as an endless void of ck. He hoped she wasnt too scared. But she was a smart goose. Shed figure it out.
His ns are far from over, Theo said. Did he designate you as his Champion?
That title goes to another, Zankir said. But he whispers of Khahak. Of our people, and their ascension to the high heavens. Its inspiring.
Agreed, Theo said, keeping his distance from a tangle of webs. Deep in a ball of silky web was a faintly glowing spider about the size of his hand. A [Marshlight Spider], monsterized but passive. They hid during the day, onlying out at night to hunt. He was a good friend. Well, I guess that was a long time ago. And hes not really dead, so theres no sense talking like that.
Curved des whispered from Zankirs hips, catching the green light of the moon with a deadly glint. The mud at his feet stirred away, but he rxed. The advanced team got it. Snapper in the mud. Hed have been better dead,pared to how he was. The torture of a mortal body.
That was a torture Theo knew all too well. Without Terogal, his mind was often not his own. Only recently had he felt more like himself. Like the person he knew on Earth. While he didnt view that as a good thing, hed made progress since those times. Since that silver chain clung around his neck, dangling like the lost memory it was. Now he had a different love in this world. Something strange, but altogether deeper. The bond transcended exnation, plugging that gaping hole expertly.
Tresk appeared near the pair suddenly, her eyes darting around. Shoulda brought a wizard. There are spirits around tonight.
Spirits? Theo asked.
Wisps, if you wanna call them that, Tresk said. Immune to physical damage. Need a good pew pew to kill them. You know, fire or something like that. Theyre drawn to sadness, so dont be sad.
Without warning, she waddled away, waiting for her abilities to go off cooldown.
The attacks from my [Khahar Sandyers Core] are magical, Zankir said with a chuckle. Although, why would she bother asking? Keep it close, everyone. Eyes open. Damn wisps glow like the sun, so they shouldnt be hard to miss.
The idea of the journey was to push far into the swamp, a trivial task with Xolsas portal. With the Elf out of action, they had to hike through the treacherous swamp. Attacks weremon from snappers, wolves, goblins, and the wisps. But the tight formation of the adventurers,bined with those ranging forward, made the search simple enough. Areas near the town were picked clean by either loggers or adventurers. Raised sections of the swamp were the best areas to check, as they provided a break from the constant sloshing of boots.
Resting on a hill that rose only knee high above the churning mud of the swamp, the party took a break. Blue lights moved somewhere in the distance as Tresk gave orders to fan out from their position. Lanterns scrambled off into the night, but Theos eyes were locked on the sudden rise of rocks in the distance. It seemed only a pile of stone, if not for the swirling portal standing before it. The [Swamp Dungeon]. Hed never seen it so close before, only from the wizards tower that loomed in the distance.
I hope Xolsa is doing good, Theo whispered, mostly to himself.
Zankir, who took it upon himself to guard Theo personally, let out a sigh nearby. It would be a shame if our only wizard perished.
Hey, Im a wizard now.
It would be a shame if our only good wizard were to perish.
The yfulment put Theo in a much better mood. The jittery effects of the [Stamina Potion] were wearing off, giving way to a sense of calmness. Did the adventurers get orders not to touch the flowers? the alchemist asked. It would be a shame if they touched the flowers. Sometimes reagents are quite reactive.
Im sure our fearlessmander gave the order, Zankir said idly.
Theo withdrew two chairs from his inventory and set them down on the peat-strewn ground. He sat down before beckoning his guardian to do the same. Zankir refused. The alchemist shrugged, sending a mentalmand to his golems to converge on the swamp. His intuition imed there was no danger, but it paid to be careful in the swamp. The lodestonework was distant, so themands filtered through as sporadic things. There was no guarantee they went through.
Hey, check this out, Theo said, finding a random rock and warding it with [Lesser Reveal].
Fancy wizard man, Zankir said, stifling augh. What does it do?
When you attack the rock, it reveals invisible stuff, Theo said.
That sounds useless.
Yeah. I need more of the trigger sigils. Imagine one that triggers when it senses an enemy, Theo said.
Now that sounds useful, Zankir said. Whats the duration?
Theo and Zankir talked about the applications of warding magic. The Khahari had a few good ideas, and decided that the limiting factor was the triggers. If he only had one for attack, then they were almost all going to be useful. But if he could derive more properties from the primal essences, and shove those into wards, theyd be useful. As a seasoned adventurer, he didnt take to the idea of binding them to [Pozwa Horn] idols.
But everyone needs a hobby. Dont they?
Taking those words to heart, the alchemist withdrew one of Tresks knives from their shared inventory and produced a [Pozwa Horn] for carving. The dagger didnt cut as clean as Bentons godly knife, making the task much more difficult. But it was something to do under that green moon. Something to keep his mind focused as Zankir stood watch, vertical-slit pupils scanning the horizon in a constant vigil. What danger found them on that ind was put down immediately, never given more than a step on the loam.
For all the danger around them, the swamp was a beautiful ce. The wisps that danced over the thick mud cast blue to mingle with the moons green. There were few natural bugs in the air, which made little sense in Theos mind. Sounds of things fluttering overhead, among the tall boughs of the Ogre Cypress trees. Only the asional sound of battle drew away from that sense of wonder.
Alright, Tresk said, appearing from nowhere. Got some greenish flowers. Lookin like tulips or somethin.
Lets go, Theo said, standing and following the Marshling into the swamp.
They trudged closer to the [Swamp Dungeon] than Theo had ever been. A partial bridge ofnd spanned the space between the ind and the dungeon. Not enough to keep out of the fetid mud, but enough to make the journey easily enough. Tresk led them closer to that dungeon, that towering pile of stones. It radiated a strange energy. It was as though the stones sought to draw the alchemist in. Inviting and dangerous at the same time, a contradiction of states that sent his heart beating faster.
Theo craned his neck, looking almost directly up. Ive never been inside a dungeon.
Count yourself lucky, Zankir said. The [Swamp Dungeon] is gross.
Adventurers had found something near the rear of the dungeon. Tucked near the trunk of an Ogre Cypress was a vining, spiny nt that clung to the bark. Theo came closer to the nt, his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] whispering as he drew closer. It whispered of the power within those sparse flowers. They werent like other reagents in the area. They were different. Tresk reached a hand out to touch one and the alchemist shouted.
Dont!
Tresk froze, looking back to cast him a confused look. Theo moved forward, holding a green flower in his hand. He sent his intent to inspect the item, letting out a steady breath as he did. It was a spirit nt.
[Soul Bloom]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Spirit Flower]
Legendary
Impossibly delicate flower that blooms only once a moon phase. Improper handling will result in the destruction of this flower. Grows in ces containing high spiritual energy.
[????] [????] [????]
Fancy, Tresk said, leaning close. Why cant we handle them?
Theo busied himself picking as many of the rare blooms as he could find. There were only 10 of them on the trunk of the tree, and he doubted their ability to find more. The reason he could handle the spirit nts was his [Rare Material Handling] ability. Without that, a normal person couldnt ce a finger on the [Soul Blooms]. He exined it to hispanions, who nodded along.
Heres another question for ya, Tresk said, nodding as though she knew the rules as good as anyone. How are you going to distill them? Low-unit runs are hard enough. Who knows if your still can even handle them?
She was simply reading his mind, or his feelings. It would be impossible to run the spirit nts through the stills. Hed have to work them down to their primal essences and brew from there. The disadvantage to that technique was in volume, but he didnt need a lot of the potion. Just enough to help Xolsa, and anyone else who suffered a soul-ying.
Ill work them manually, Theo said, coveting the blooms in his hands. He ced them in his inventory, not willing to let them sit in the open air any longer.
The group continued their search of the swamp. As the hours swept past, they realized it was just the one nt within the swamp. At least within their limited search area. They trudged through the swamp, spotting lights flickering in the distance. Not distant enough to be people just outside the gates, but others wading through the swampy waters. A group of Elves stooped low, holdingnterns above their heads to inspect the murky water.
Frogs, one said as Theo approached. Delicious frogs.
The Elf was young, although the alchemist didnt know what that meant for their race. The intensity with which he stared at the water meant these frogs were worth catching. But Theo had never seen frogs in the swamp. A hand blurred into the water, sinking deep into the mud. Wrenching his hand from the muck, a smile spread across the Elfs face as he withdrew something that looked vaguely like a frog. Instead of the normal four legs, the thing had eight. And instead of legs, they were tentacles.
Why is it always tentacles? Theo asked.
Upon closer inspection, Theo realized the frog only shared one characteristic with the frogs he knew back home. Wet, bumpy skin and a general color palette of green-brown. Other than that, even the things face was different.
Thats an octopus, Theo said.
Octofrog, Tresk said, with a satisfied nod. Frogopus?
Ive heard the Elves call them Hags, Zankir said.
Yeah, Hags, Tresk said. Used to eat them when I was a kid. Kinda a kids food, dont you think?
Theyre delicious, the Elf said, rising to his full height. He stuffed the frog-thing in his bag and smiled. Boil them quickly, then soak them in cold broth. Leave it for a day, then eat it up.
Well, enjoy your frogopus, Theo said, waving at the strange Elf. Also, dont stray too far from the walls. Unless you want to die.
Death is a worthy price for the frogopus.
Theo departed before someone could say frogopus again. There was some interesting linguistic opportunity there that he couldnt quite grasp. Why would the Qavellinguage have a word for frogs? As anguage, Qavelli was a patois, or creolenguage. Derived from something that existed before the settlers came here, and bastardized beyond recognition, the Qavelli people had adopted something and made it their own. But frogs?
Pidginnguages aside, the night had been a sess. Theo often found himself in possession of rare items. Sometimes he thought about those items value, but they often served a purpose rather than a mary value. Even taking clippings from the spirit nt left him feeling as though he couldnt force the flower to reproduce. Unlike the pristine seeds Khahar left him, those in the wild seemed not only uncultivated, but feral.
Can a nt be feral? Theo asked. No one answered and he decided it didnt matter.
The point was, there was no point in worrying. The trip outside the walls had been exciting. Not only just because of the flowers, but because of the adventure. If the alchemist had a few more things in his toolbelt, hed be happy to delve into dungeons and fight monsters. He wouldnt fool himself into thinking hed serve any role other than support, but seeing something new had sent that shock of adventure through his mind.
The group didnt break immediately. They stood in the towns square, watching lights behind windows and retelling their adventure. While Theos [Stamina Potion] wore down by the moment, he couldnt stop himself from participating in the talk.
Yeah, and then Theo left his chair in the swamp, Zankir said, trying to keep his voice low. It was hard when he wasughing between statements. Can you imagine? Someone is going to trudge their miserable butt to the dungeon, only to find a fine wooden chair waiting for a resting buttock.
Tresk put on her best pompous voice. She bowed at the waist. Honorable chair of the swamp. Venerable furniture of the bog. What is your wisdom?
What is your story, dear adventurer? Theo asked. Sit, and regale me.
The group carried on for some time. Too loudly, perhaps. They were near enough to the butchers building that the door swung open. The Toora woman, Whisper, strode forth. Theo shrunk back, trying to get behind Tresk. The Marshling was more suited to take the angry blows of a woken-up bear-person. But Whisper produced links of dried wolf sausage from nowhere, thrust them into Zankirs hands before turning around and vanishing back into her building.
The group of adventurers shared concerned looks with their Archduke, then burst outughing again. They split up the dried sausage and chatted for a while as they ate it. No one else seemed to care, and Whisper didnt burst forth with more dried meats. Theo and Tresk broke off from the group after a while. Alex was still asleep in the satchel, snoring with the asional honk-like snore.
It was hard not to ignore sleep entirely and process his new flower. As Theo drew closer to his bed, exhaustion set in. With a few drops of [Cleansing Scrub] over his head, the alchemist kicked off his new boots and settled into his bed. His desire forforts was growing by the day. Their bedroom was too small, with too few amenities. A nice ptial manor, perhaps on a raised bit of earth with a sturdy fence, was in order. Concerns like that washed away as he fell asleep, dropping into the dream realm.
4.15 - Respite
4.15 - Respite
The Dreamwalk was filled with various representations of dried meats that night. They tasted of almost nothing. As Theo sat, munching on a length of dried something, he reflected on his progress. Grinding experience in the dream realm was good, but he couldnt push the realm far enough to allow experimentation with the [Soul Bloom]. Instead, he was left to face the progress hed made in the past few days.
The alchemists [Drogramath Alchemy Core] was at 21, matching his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] for once. His personal level had not budged from 20, and seemed reluctant to gain anything but small percentages of experience. The [Tarahek Core] just soaked experience, hurtling to 25 with little effort. His [Governance Core] was simr, hitting 22 the previous day.
Of all the cores, the easiest to level should have been the [Toruaun Mages Core]. Theo held the idea that should have hit 10 in days, but the core had been stubborn. It was only level 2, and the alchemist was the one to me. Focusing on too many other things had spread him thin, but that was no surprise. Alran would arrive in the morning, and Fenian the day after that. Hed been treading water for days.
Theo warded another rock with [Lesser Reveal], tossing it into a pile containing hundreds of the stones. His mind wanted to be annoyed with theborious process, but the results were clear. Without the restrictions of mana or stamina, he was free to cast as many spells as he wanted. The alchemist could explore whatever fancy came to his mind without fear that hed blow himself up. Experience rushed in like a tide, filling his [Toruaun Mages Core] to the brim.
Honk.
Alex swam, kicking her little goose feet in the harbor of Broken Tusk. Theo had lost his concentration, stemming the endless tide of ships visiting the harbor. With a thought, he brought more. His mind had wandered away from the Dreamwalk. It hadnded firmly on the challenge of extracting the hidden property of the [Soul Bloom]. The gosling swam over, and the alchemist scratched at her itching feathers for a while.
We need to wake up before Alran gets to town, Theo said. Find the property on the flower, and make a potion.
Alex honked a response, but there was some meaning there. She seemed concerned about something, but he couldnt understand what the problem was. Thinking for a moment, he noticed the issue with his n.
Because finding a property Even brewing an essence doesnt mean weve got the answer, Theo said. I destroy the first sample, giving me 9 attempts at the potion.
Another honk with concern.
Thest time Theo used primal essences, hed applied them together with a [Suffuse Potion]. With a thought, he summoned a table and a scatter of equipment. He shook a vial of pink [Primal Healing]. The powder clumped near the bottom, only freed after vigorous shaking. Without experimentation, he had drawn few conclusions to the function of primal essences. They were used with the [Suffuse Potion] to bind properties together, creating an entirely new potion. But could they be used alone?
The first experiment was a failure. Mixing a unit of the powder with a unit of [Enchanted Water] yielded nothing but an explosion. The dried meats, summoned by Tresk, scattered and fell into the harbor. Theo stretched his willpower of the dream realm, feeling for cracks in his authority here. It pushed back against his intent to discover something new within the realm. He pushed harder, but the Dreamwalk was firm on this. There wasnt enough information in the real world to simte the action, leaving him to guess.
Theo spent his time forming theories and warding various objects. The Dreamwalk had no problem with his experimenting with the effects of wards on different materials, which seemed unfair. Hed never put them on anything but rocks. Why wouldnt it push back against that? Thinking of the realm like a living thing with its own decision making wasnt a pleasant thought. But it made sense.
Checklist for tomorrow, Theo said, sensing dawn nearby. Cure Xolsa. Figure out how to mix primals with water.
Get some more of that wolf meat, Tresk said. She appeared from the shadow cast by the mound of rocks. The Marshling took a bite of a sausage. Im addicted.
It doesnt taste like much, Theo said. Not in the Dreamwalk.
That didnt stop her from eating another entire sausage as they waited for dawn toe. In an instant, the realm faded, and they were waking up in their beds. Theo studied himself for any adverse effects before shrugging. He felt as rested as he ever had, even after staying up far past his bedtime. The motivation for leaving the physical world for his dream realm was one of practicality. If he spent more time there, hed grind more experience. But the limiting nature of the Dreamwalk often caused problems.
The next problem came as a series of angry knocks from downstairs. Rushing downstairs to see what the problem was, the alchemist found Alise. She looked angry, but not at him.
Alran is already here. Arrived before dawn, she said.
Alex came waddling up behind Theo, honking back at Alise.
No worries, Theo said. He tapped his foot as his thoughts fell into ce.
The alchemist checked his inventory, finding everything he needed to figure out Xolsas problem. He had enough reagents sitting in there to test the function of primal essences as well. Tresk appeared behind him, her gaze drifting from side-to-side as though she expected an attack.
Alise, find Aarok and bring him into our meeting room in the town hall. Just me, you, and Aarok. Tresk, could you buy breakfast for everyone from Xams and have it delivered to the room?
Sure, Tresk said with a shrug.
Right. Im going to take care of some things. Ill be there in five minutes, Theo said, tucking Alex under his arm.
Youre taking her? Tresk groaned. I wanted some time with DGoose.
Fine, Theo said, handing Alex over. Five minutes.
Without another word, Theo vanished from the spot. He held onto the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability in his mind. He passed over the cid oceans of shadow, then found his feet firmly on the ground of Terogal. Counting up, he only reached 12 before a mental request filled his mind. Cold washed over the realm for only a moment, then Benton stepped through his archway. It vanished in a moment, and the god seemed in good spirits.
Why are you the only one to visit me? Theo asked, making his way to his work table.
Benton looked only moderately upset about that statement. I brought scones.
Yeah, alright. Youre my new best friend, Theo said, removing two chairs from his inventory and setting them near his work table.
Ill make the tea, Benton said, scampering off to the cottage.
The bear-god let out a low whistle when Theo withdrew the [Soul Bloom] from his inventory. He ced it on the table and felt the magic of the thing radiate through Terogal. The kettle bubbled nearby, filling the air with a faintly earthy smell. It was too dull to enjoy, andcking whatever Xam used as sugar.
Its nice to havepany while Im here, Theo said, gesturing to the empty, floating ind.
Yeah. At least you have me. Old, reliable Benton.
Dont make me suspicious, Theo said, sighing.
Hah! Then a trade. Theres a new war kicking off in the heavens. Guess who started it? Another mortal, Benton said. Chased an Aspirant into the heavens. Been fighting his way through the Prime Realms for a while. Were taking bets on how long hests.
That would be Fenian. Theo let his thoughts swirl around the Elf. Hed chased someone into the realms, but that should have been impossible. UzXulven was bending the rules, allowing him to shift between realities. But why? Who would Fenian hate enough to chase into such a dangerous situation? Questions without answers were better left by the wayside.
Thank you, Theo said, patting the god on the shoulder. Pretty sure I know the Elf youre talking about.
Really? Think hell make it? I could use some insider information.
Hell make it. Without a doubt, Theo said. What is an Aspirant, though?
Someone who can ascend, but hasnt, Benton said.
King Karasan, Theo said. Do you know who is backing the Aspirant?
Nope. No one does. Thats why its so exciting!
Theo wouldnt disagree with that. But he had to wonder how long their fight would go on for. Time moved strangely in the realms, but he didnt know if that meant it moved that way for other mortals. It was, as always, too confusing to care about. Not when he had a job to do.
The alchemist followed the instructions he was given about the [Soul Bloom]. He ground it up, lit it on fire, caught the smoke, then applied his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability on the fumes. A system message shed into his vision, and he cocked his head.
[Property Discovered]!
Youve discovered the secret property of the [Soul Bloom] spirit nt! [Soul] property discovered.
[Soul]... Thats not the property I was expecting, Theo said, his brow knitting tightly.
You know, Ive been researching the way Drogramath does alchemy, Benton said. The bear-god prepared tea for them, setting cups out and arranging scones. And that seems like a weird property. Doesnt look like it fits.
Youre right, Theo said, tapping his fingers on the table. So were looking at using a [Suffuse Potion] to bind the [Soul] property to another.
Well, lets see what other properties you have.
That wasnt a short list. Theo listed all his avable properties while nursing his tea and nibbling on his scone. It was delicious, tasting something like a berry-filled pastry. But the vors were muted, as was the scent. [Healing], [Rejuvenation], [Regenerate], and [Cure Ailment] were prime candidates. Four properties with nine attempts seemed like a surefire way to get the job done, but the alchemist wasnt sure.
When he attempted to extract the primal version of the [Soul Bloom],ying a sample out on the table, his intuition was proven right. The spirit nt was like nothing hed worked with before. Instead of being a passive thing on the table, the flower fought back against his will. They shed there in Terogal, and the flower came out on top. It burst into mes, sending sparks of blue mana flying in all directions. The bear-god yelped, pitching backwards on his chair and tumbling to the ground.
8 attempts, Theo said, letting out a steadying breath.
Theo thought better than to continue with the experiment without a break. Benton had some words of wisdom, and the pair chatted about shing willpowers for a while. The [Soul Bloom] had some amount of will. It wasnt a kind of sentience, as though it could make decisions, but there was something behind those green petals.
Alright, so youre familiar with shes of will, Benton said, rubbing his hands together.
I am.
But youre failing to realize what your realm is all about, Benton said. Youre still a baby, crying for your mommy, but this ce is yours. You just need to im it.
Theo wandered, listening as the bear-god followed closely behind him. He found his way to the inds edge and peered over. A twitch of his mental focus, and the image of clouds faded to show Tresk ordering food at Xams. That was easy enough to do. Even sending messages to his golems seemed without effort, but it was controlling them that was the hard part. Just having them rest in the back of his mind was a constant drain on his will. Thinking about it as a subconscious process that ran through his mind all day brought the concept into a clear light.
This reminds me of controlling my constructs, Theo said.
Perfect! Benton said. What constructs? Artifice-links, or what?
Golems. I guess its more of soul-binding, Theo said.
Yeah, makes sense with the Tarahek. The Toora shaman do something simr. You use a [Monster Core], right? Yeah, thought so. Have you tried to use a core that was higher than your level?
Nope.
Good. Cause let me exin what youre doing. [Monster Cores] are proto-cores, right? If theres something in your chestlike a web around your coresthats your soul. Take a flicker of that idea, just the smallest glimpse, and thats a monsters soul. Not a reflection, but the smallest shard of a soul When you make a golem, youre dominating the soul of a monster.
With my willpower, Theo said. Which is why its hard to keep so many of them on a leash.
Exactly. But guess what? Think of your realm as a big soul, Benton said, shrugging. Not actually the way it is, but close enough for our purposes. Take your willpower, tap into the power of the realm, and there ya go.
Theo thought for a long moment. Long enough for his perception of time to fade, rendering the image below in real-time for only a blink. He gained control of the realm once again and nodded to himself. This made as much sense as anything. He moved, setting another [Soul Bloom] on the scorched table and concentrating.
When he reached out with [Reagent Deconstruction] this time, he didnt just think about gaining the property of the flower. He thought about dominating it with his will. Forcing it to break down through sheer determination. Something flickered when he reached out to the realm, but it was distant. By the time hed grasped his fingers around Terogal, the reagent exploded again.
Maybe I was wrong, Benton said, hiding near the wheat field.
I was there, Theo said, watching as an ember burned into his robe. I could feel it. As you suggested. 7 more tries.
But the alchemist wouldnt take each attempt. This time, when he reached out to the realm around him, he found it easy to grasp. Terogal understood his intentions this time. He worked with him, forcing itself into a twin-domination of the flower. They pushed together against the green flower, forcing it to produce the primal essence he needed so desperately. A brief battle of wills and the flower went up in smoke. Benton shouted again, but the explosion didnt follow. Only a pile of green powder remained on the table.
You did it? Benton asked.
Dont be surprised. It was your idea.
The resulting primal essence was as expected, but Theo inspected it anyway.
[Primal Soul]
[Primal Essence]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Reduces the chance of vtile reaction while bonding.
1 Unit (powder)
The primal representation of the [Soul] property.
Then came the difficult decision of which other property to bind it to first. Something within him tried to whisper advice, but he was deaf to it. The realm of Terogal interfered with Drogramaths power, fizzling it out to nothingness. Pressing forward, the alchemist selected the first property to bind. He extracted [Primal Healing] from a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], pushing aside his desire to test primal extraction on refined essences. A quickbination of [Primal Healing] with [Primal Soul] yielded an explosion.
Benton wasnt the fearless god Theo might have thought. Hidden behind the cottage this time, the bear-god peered out with fearful eyes. Is that going to happen every time?
Theo grunted his response. He was too focused on the reality of the situation. 5 more tries.
The next primal to test was [Primal Rejuvenation]. Theo extracted the powdered essence from a [Spriggan Heart], finding the object to have no objections to his actions. He performed the same task on another [Soul Bloom], draining his will to extract the precious powder. He stumbled, falling back before powerful hands caught him. Benton offered a sheepish smile.
Bit taxing, isnt it?
Theo steadied himself, trying not to sway on the spot. A deep breath, and he was ready to mix the primals. Benton ran for it. Swirling like a bottle maelstrom, the essences mixed then bound in the [Suffuse Potion]. But the mixture continued to swirl. The granuals inside chased each other ceaselessly, unable to bindpletely. Another muted whisper from his core.
Whats happening? Theo asked, flicking his finger against the ss.
Youre the expert, Benton said.
Theo waited for a while, not letting time slip away from him. He watched the reaction within, and came to a simple conclusion. Its a slow reaction. This is going to take hours toplete.
Have you seen that before?
No.
Trying the next two properties, [Cure Ailment] and [Regeneration] brought explosive results. Theo crossed those off his list. His intuition said the potion he brewed, the one still reacting on the table, wasnt what he needed. He tapped his foot on the soft grass and chewed at his fingernails. Benton was saying something, perhaps words of encouragement, when an idea came to mind. Something lingering deep in his subconscious. Something that made him wonder if the memories were his own.
Without hesitation, the alchemist withdrew a vial of [Trolls Blood] from his inventory. Benton feigned gagging, but Theo focused his mind on the first property of the substance. [Searing Regeneration]. Holding his hand over the vial of blood, the alchemist focused on his [Reagent Deconstruction] skill. A plume of fetid-smelling smoke left behind a vial of powder. It glowed like embers, shifting between pale gray and searing red.
Thats nasty, Benton said.
Agreed. Its my least favorite reagent, Theo said, preparing another [Suffuse Potion]. He added a unit of [Primal Soul], [Primal Searing Regeneration], and watched.
The potion swirled together, much like thebination of [Primal Soul], and [Primal Rejuvenation]. The particte danced, but refused to bind. Something in Theos mind told him this would take hours, if not days. He checked the real world, finding Tresk leaving Xams tavern. There were hours left in his trip, leaving him alone with the bear-god.
Wanna help me practice my magic? Theo asked.
Oh! I like magic, Benton said. Ive decided I dont like alchemy, though.
1.16 - You Can Never Have Too Much Training
1.16 - You Can Never Have Too Much Training
Theo ran his fingers through his hair, straightening it the best he could before stepping off the ind. He slipped through the space between worlds like a ghost, only briefly shing over the Bridge. That shadowy world was once again filled with conflict, a signal that Fenian was drawing closer. While it was an assumption, the alchemist figured it was a good one.
Stepping as though it was normal, Theo appeared in the meeting room of the town hall. Tresk offered a simple wave, while both Alise and Alran shrieked. The alchemist didnt break his stride,ing to rest the head chair. He stirred his tea, grabbed some Zee tbread, and regarded those gathered before him. With plenty of time to consider the meeting, he presented a cold exterior. On the inside, excitement buzzed for his magical progress. Benton had insights, after all.
Were here to put old things behind us, he said. If you havent left your feelings at the door, then leave.
The Archdukes eyes were locked on Alise. He didnt me her for the problems with Rivers. Those sins fell on Alran, who shifted ufortably in his seat. Like a good spy, he was concerned about his situation. There was nothing worse thancking information when you were in the business.
Ive brought nothing but good intentions, Alran said.
As have I, Alise said. Im ready to settle this misunderstanding.
Right, Theo said. Benton said they would be more hostile to his intentions. The alchemist made a mental note about the bear-god.
So, Alran is a dirtbag who hid his stock of gold and food, Tresk said, setting the table the way only an assassin could. Alise is a hot-head with a mean temper. Dirtbag gives up his seat, dissolves the Chairs. Hot-head goes home to her lover. Were all happy.
Theo cleared his throat. That was the breadth of their conversation today. Put so simply, it sounded silly. But there were more subtle things in motion there.
And Alran gets our support as a Spymaster, Theo said. Which god gave you cores to do the spying?
Alran shifted ufortably again. He might have been a smart man, under all that fat and bluster, but he wasnt smart enough to spy from such a great distance. Even with agents, the task would be too much. From experience, Theo knew spies were the first ones to jump ship when things got too hot. His mind spun out ideas, ranging from autonomous constructs to flying, drone-like creations.
Well, youve got me by the tail, Alran said.
Wasnt Fanglir or Zagmon. Theyre dead, Theo said.
You cant really kill a god, An said.
Ulvoqor, Theo said, nodding to himself. Good, hes an ally.
Perhaps you should be the spymaster, Alran said.
Im too busy.
But it was obvious. Ulvuqor represented knowledge in the Prime Pantheon. Most considered them a neutral god, and the concepts represented lined up with spy craft. There was also the chance it was a specialized core, designed specifically for the task. How the head of a merchant organization got ahold of the core was a mystery, but the motivation was not. The core would make deals effortless. Updated prices across the globe, the sudden shift of the wind at his fingertips
[Ulvuqor Spys Core]. There. Simple as that, Alran said. I can view through the eyes of any agent without detection, enhancing their stealth abilities at will.
Didnt expect that, Theo said, leaning in over the table. He took tentative bites of the t bread, washing it down with tea. Well, that settles it. Doesnt it?
Im not sure it does, Alise said, drumming her fingers on the table. We need to solidify his position in the nation. Give him a title, a contract, and so on.
Youre willing to dissolve the Chairs? Theo asked.
Im prepared to do so, Alran said. Ive been watching my allies closely. And Ivee to realize something.
That youre super weak and stupid? Tresk asked,ughing.
Weak, not stupid, Alran corrected. Smart, Id like to think. Only a smart man would bow when he knows hed be bested before the fight started. You were nning to remove me from my position by force.
We were, Theo said, nodding. Which means you have agents in my town. Thats fine. First, tell me everything you know about the war. Both of them.
Alran finally brightened up. He threw his shoulders back and his eyes shimmered with a pale silver light. Veosta has retreated beyond the spine. Theyre having trouble holding back the tide. Karasan is missing from Qavell, and the undead have pushed to their gates. The surprise is that there are interlopers on Iaredin. Masked soldiers my spies dont recognize, conducting hit-and-run tactics in the sea. Hamstringing fleets from Tarantham.
That was to be expected. Theo didnt know who would want to attack the Elves, but it didnt matter. Karasan being missing lined up. He was likely fighting with Fenian in the heavens. Why they fought was beyond the alchemist, but that hardly mattered. It was nice to know that the spine was holding, leaving the Veostians alive for a time. He wanted to trade with them, if there was anything left of their nation at the end of the war.
Any spies in the Khahari desert? Theo asked.
A few, Alran said. Nothing interesting there, I assure you. Khahar ascended, taking several million of his people with him. What remains are custodians. The southern inds are sending a small trade fleet north. Theyve gotten word we have a port to trade. Partopour also has a single scout vesseling, as does Bantein.
Seems like you could have told us that, Alise said, trying not to fume.
I was gathering information, double-checking everything before bringing it to the Archdukes attention, Alran said.
There were several times Theo had reported information before getting the whole picture. The crater that was once Berlin shed in his mind for a single moment, but it vanished before it could take hold. Alran was more clever than he thought. Farseeing abilities like these would be useful. Not just useful. Vital.
Thats an impressivework of informants youve gathered, Theo said.
Alran swelled at thepliment. Decades of work.
Lets set the terms of the contract, Theo said. You use your abilities to better the nation, dissolve the chairs, and offer a decent Duke or Duchess. Youll promise never to harm our people directly, give away information, and so on.
What do I get? Alran asked.
The full support of the nation, Alise said. As our official spy master. ess to our resources. Our port. A potential for you to spread your web tighter over the globe. Your spies dont work for free, do they?
Theyre indebted, Alran said, offering a grim smile. But those terms are more than agreeable. Ive been eager to shake off the mantle of Chair for some time. I have no love for the Merchant Chairs. No love for Rivers and Daubnot that you should tell anyone that.
He has a love for his craft, Tresk said, nodding with approval. She climbed on the table, crawling across to poke a finger in the spys chest. I like that.
Me, too, Theo said. He went into his administration interface. It was hard to find Alrans name. He had to select the optionbeled Rivers and Daub to find the man. You want Spymaster or Lord Spymaster?
Alran rubbed his hands together. Id like the one with lord in the title, please.
Theo made it so, closing the interface to draw up the contract. They went back-and-forth on the matter, changing things to suit the needs of both towns. Everyone was d with an absurdly verbose contract, binding each party to specific needs. When the tension in the room cleared, they sat and ate breakfast.
This was the first time Theo had spoken to Alran about things other than their towns. The Spymaster was eager to share tales of his journeys. Before hed settled down as a Merchant Chair, he was an adventurer. With several cores, all rted to stealth, hed traveled the world and made his fortune. After gaining his spy core, he settled down and pushed things from afar.
My ns changed when Theo took over Broken Tusk. They changed again when you mentioned a position as a spy, Alran said. He sipped his tea with grace, bringing the cup to his lips and slurping politely.
How many backup ns did you have? Theo asked. For if we didnt work with you.
He really was like me, wasnt he? Alran asked, looking for sympathetic responses from both Tresk and Alise. The Marshling nodded excitedly while the Lady Administrator gave a curt nod. Four ns. Including this.
The Spymaster withdrew something from nowhere, cing it down on the table. It looked like a jumble of artifices duct-taped together. They surrounded a pulsing core. Radiating an energy of pure chaos, the item vibrated on the table. Alran stored it back in his inventory, chuckling.
That would have split a hole in the realm. Allowed me to jump onto the Bridge and get out of here. Some sunny beach in the Khahari Desert, An said. There was a tone of pride in his voice, and Theo wouldnt me him. Splitting reality like that wouldnt have been easy.
But the path on the other side would have been dangerous, Theo said.
The meeting had gone on long enough. One mention of the Bridge and his mind darted back to his injured friend. Xolsa, resting in his tower. Waiting for someone toe up with a solution for his illness. Theo withdrew the potion hed crafted from his inventory, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face. Ignoring the questions of his staff, he inspected it.
[Reforge Soul]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion reforges a mortals soul. The process is extremely painful, but all impurities, imperfections, and scars are cleansed.
That looks expensive, Alran said, leaning to get a better look.
Instead of pulling it back, Theo held it out for the man to inspect. The Spymaster let out a whistle, shaking his head.
You couldnt even put a price on this, Theo said, staring into the silver substance. It was more opaque than his normal potions, holding flecks of both red and silver powder. It caught the light from the window, glinting in the sun. Or this one.
The alchemist withdrew another potion for the group to inspect. While the [Reforge Soul] potion was made with the [Primal Soul] and [Primal Searing Regeneration], this was the failed attempt using [Primal Rejuvenation] and [Primal Soul].
[Cleanse Soul]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion removes the yearly requirement for soul-forging tasks. This potion may only be drunk once per season (70 days).
I dont even know what soul-forging is, Theo said. Is that like core forging?
Never heard of it, Alran said, shrugging.
Dont look at me, Tresk said, crossing her arms. Does it make me stab better? No? I dont care.
Archduke, you could scour the world asking for coin for those potions, Alran said. And you would find not a soul willing to give you a price.
Priceless potions, Alise said with a nod. Well, Spymaster, I just wanted to say Im very happy that wevee to an agreement, and I apologize for yelling at you.
It was good fun, Alran said, waving a dismissive hand. This is a calling for me. Something like youd never believe. I can serve with my passion. How many people can say that?
To the Soutnds Alliance, Theo said, holding his teacup in salute. The others joined, and they drained the moss tea away.
Theo nodded for Tresk to join him, leaving Alran and Alise to mend fences. Hed steered them both in the right direction, but now it was up to them to finish the job. As their leader, he needed to find that bnce between telling people what to do and putting them in the right direction. Too firm a hand led to folks relying on him for everything. Too gentle, and hed find himself with rogue factions within his nation. It was a fact he wasnt ready to face, but time wouldnt wait for him. His confidence was bolstered beyond anything possible before thanks to Terogal. Twelve hours of reflection a day did wonders for him.
Could you prepare a group of adventurers. I need to go to Xolsas tower, Theo said, using theirmunication skill.
Tresk saluted and disappeared, leaving Theo in the town hall. There were crowds forming below. The junior administrators were handling requests from citizens. Getting them on paper and shuffling those words off to whoever needed to hear them. He even spotted some people who werent from town. This was the center of the alliance, so that made sense.
Theo made his way out of the town hall and onto the street. He took a breath of the stifling morning air, thanking the sparse trees overhead for their cover. The heat of the day was ramping up, something the Season of Fire would make worse by the day. He walked to Zaralis ce, not surprised to see her working on something within. He could feel the presence of the enchantments, even read some of the script. The alchemist should have told her hed found a cure earlier. She was trying to fix her betrothed with Drogramathi enchantments.
I figured it out, Theo said, producing the potion from his inventory.
Zarali looked up from her work. Her eyes were rimmed red. Hurrying over, she inspected the potion. Joy mingled with sorrow as she wept on her brothers shoulder. Minutes passed before her words became understandable.
I knew youd figure it out.
Did you? Theo asked. He stopped himself before going on. It didnt matter who was right, he had the cure for a failed soul-ying in his hands. Right, you did. Tresk is assembling a team of adventurers to escort us to the tower.
Thank you, Theo, Zarali said, pulling him into a tighter hug.
Theo hugged her back, letting out a sigh as she rested her head on his shoulder. Xolsa meant more to her than he first expected, but their bond ran deep.
Id lie if I said it wasnt a fluke, Theo said. That bear-god I mentioned was helpful.
Zarali couldnt shower enough praise on Theo, but the alchemist had to remind her of the risks. The potion said the process would be extremely painful, but she promised she could handle it. The priestess had been hiking all the way out to the wizards tower daily, taking care of him as he rested. But things were getting worse. The wound, which she expected to close, had widened. Theo didnt want to share his theories.
The first he had was that Xolsa wasnt from this n. As an extra-nar being, the rules might not apply to him the same. The second theory was that the wound was just that deep, and perhaps his extra-nar nature was the only thing that prevented a true ying. In the alchemists mind, the mention of ying wasnt in regard to killing someone. A soul-ying attack was deeper than that. A strike meant to remove someone from existence entirely. He shook those thoughts away as Tresk sent a mental message.
Were ready, Theo said.
Near the town square, an army of adventurers stood ready. Trainees from Gronro-Dir stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the local adventurers. Aarok and Luras headed the group, standing at attention before an army, 100 strong. At the sight of their Archduke, they saluted, offering different gestures depending on their culture.
When the Archduke calls, Aarok started.
We answer, the group finished, a thunder of voices that echoed through the town.
Tresk was somewhere nearby,ughing her ass off.
Aarok approached the alchemist, bringing him close with a sly smile. Just a training exercise. Organization, formations, stuff like that. Tresk said were just going to the tower, but you cant throw these chances away.
Understood, Theo said, letting his eyes linger on the soldiers.
Soldiers. Thats what they were. Arrayed like that on the cobbles of his town. Disciplined peoples, holding no regard for their disparate races. Cultures shed together like the armor they wore. Elves from Tarantham, d in their finely crafted scale armors. Dwarves from Gronro, wearing pitted and burned te armor. Bantari Marshlings and the wayward Half-Ogres, wearing a hodgepodge of whatever they could strap to their bodies. There were even at least two Humans from Rivers.
Aarok and Luras must have been having a st. When they gave the order to march, the army filed out into distinct columns. They didnt segment themselves by race, or their hometowns, but by specializations. The stealthers, led by Tresk, went first into the swamp. Then those wearing heavy armor, close-range fighters mostly likely. Then the ranged folks, some holding bows and others throwing weapons.
Bringing up the rear were the only two spellcasters. Theo, representing the only standing wizard in town, and Zarali. A chant of words, exalting Lord Drogramath, and the army moved faster. Her blessing fell over them like a soothing rain, washing away the heat. With unnecessary organization, they forged a way through the swamp. To save their wizard.
Its a bit much, Theo said, leaning in tough with Zarali.
A training exercise, he said, Zarali giggled. I think Aarok is worried about our wizard.
You can never have too much training, Luras said, falling back to walk with Theo and Zarali. Not when an army of bones is knocking on your door.
4.16 - You Can Never Have Too Much Training
4.16 - You Can Never Have Too Much Training
Theo ran his fingers through his hair, straightening it the best he could before stepping off the ind. He slipped through the space between worlds like a ghost, only briefly shing over the Bridge. That shadowy world was once again filled with conflict, a signal that Fenian was drawing closer. While it was an assumption, the alchemist figured it was a good one.
Stepping as though it was normal, Theo appeared in the meeting room of the town hall. Tresk offered a simple wave, while both Alise and Alran shrieked. The alchemist didnt break his stride,ing to rest the head chair. He stirred his tea, grabbed some Zee tbread, and regarded those gathered before him. With plenty of time to consider the meeting, he presented a cold exterior. On the inside, excitement buzzed for his magical progress. Benton had insights, after all.
Were here to put old things behind us, he said. If you havent left your feelings at the door, then leave.
The Archdukes eyes were locked on Alise. He didnt me her for the problems with Rivers. Those sins fell on Alran, who shifted ufortably in his seat. Like a good spy, he was concerned about his situation. There was nothing worse thancking information when you were in the business.
Ive brought nothing but good intentions, Alran said.
As have I, Alise said. Im ready to settle this misunderstanding.
Right, Theo said. Benton said they would be more hostile to his intentions. The alchemist made a mental note about the bear-god.
So, Alran is a dirtbag who hid his stock of gold and food, Tresk said, setting the table the way only an assassin could. Alise is a hot-head with a mean temper. Dirtbag gives up his seat, dissolves the Chairs. Hot-head goes home to her lover. Were all happy.
Theo cleared his throat. That was the breadth of their conversation today. Put so simply, it sounded silly. But there were more subtle things in motion there.
And Alran gets our support as a Spymaster, Theo said. Which god gave you cores to do the spying?
Alran shifted ufortably again. He might have been a smart man, under all that fat and bluster, but he wasnt smart enough to spy from such a great distance. Even with agents, the task would be too much. From experience, Theo knew spies were the first ones to jump ship when things got too hot. His mind spun out ideas, ranging from autonomous constructs to flying, drone-like creations.
Well, youve got me by the tail, Alran said.
Wasnt Fanglir or Zagmon. Theyre dead, Theo said.
You cant really kill a god, An said.
Ulvoqor, Theo said, nodding to himself. Good, hes an ally.
Perhaps you should be the spymaster, Alran said.
Im too busy.
But it was obvious. Ulvuqor represented knowledge in the Prime Pantheon. Most considered them a neutral god, and the concepts represented lined up with spy craft. There was also the chance it was a specialized core, designed specifically for the task. How the head of a merchant organization got ahold of the core was a mystery, but the motivation was not. The core would make deals effortless. Updated prices across the globe, the sudden shift of the wind at his fingertips
[Ulvuqor Spys Core]. There. Simple as that, Alran said. I can view through the eyes of any agent without detection, enhancing their stealth abilities at will.
Didnt expect that, Theo said, leaning in over the table. He took tentative bites of the t bread, washing it down with tea. Well, that settles it. Doesnt it?
Im not sure it does, Alise said, drumming her fingers on the table. We need to solidify his position in the nation. Give him a title, a contract, and so on.
Youre willing to dissolve the Chairs? Theo asked.
Im prepared to do so, Alran said. Ive been watching my allies closely. And Ivee to realize something.
That youre super weak and stupid? Tresk asked,ughing.
Weak, not stupid, Alran corrected. Smart, Id like to think. Only a smart man would bow when he knows hed be bested before the fight started. You were nning to remove me from my position by force.
We were, Theo said, nodding. Which means you have agents in my town. Thats fine. First, tell me everything you know about the war. Both of them.
Alran finally brightened up. He threw his shoulders back and his eyes shimmered with a pale silver light. Veosta has retreated beyond the spine. Theyre having trouble holding back the tide. Karasan is missing from Qavell, and the undead have pushed to their gates. The surprise is that there are interlopers on Iaredin. Masked soldiers my spies dont recognize, conducting hit-and-run tactics in the sea. Hamstringing fleets from Tarantham.
That was to be expected. Theo didnt know who would want to attack the Elves, but it didnt matter. Karasan being missing lined up. He was likely fighting with Fenian in the heavens. Why they fought was beyond the alchemist, but that hardly mattered. It was nice to know that the spine was holding, leaving the Veostians alive for a time. He wanted to trade with them, if there was anything left of their nation at the end of the war.
Any spies in the Khahari desert? Theo asked.
A few, Alran said. Nothing interesting there, I assure you. Khahar ascended, taking several million of his people with him. What remains are custodians. The southern inds are sending a small trade fleet north. Theyve gotten word we have a port to trade. Partopour also has a single scout vesseling, as does Bantein.
Seems like you could have told us that, Alise said, trying not to fume.
I was gathering information, double-checking everything before bringing it to the Archdukes attention, Alran said.
There were several times Theo had reported information before getting the whole picture. The crater that was once Berlin shed in his mind for a single moment, but it vanished before it could take hold. Alran was more clever than he thought. Farseeing abilities like these would be useful. Not just useful. Vital.
Thats an impressivework of informants youve gathered, Theo said.
Alran swelled at thepliment. Decades of work.
Lets set the terms of the contract, Theo said. You use your abilities to better the nation, dissolve the chairs, and offer a decent Duke or Duchess. Youll promise never to harm our people directly, give away information, and so on.
What do I get? Alran asked.
The full support of the nation, Alise said. As our official spy master. ess to our resources. Our port. A potential for you to spread your web tighter over the globe. Your spies dont work for free, do they?
Theyre indebted, Alran said, offering a grim smile. But those terms are more than agreeable. Ive been eager to shake off the mantle of Chair for some time. I have no love for the Merchant Chairs. No love for Rivers and Daubnot that you should tell anyone that.
He has a love for his craft, Tresk said, nodding with approval. She climbed on the table, crawling across to poke a finger in the spys chest. I like that.
Me, too, Theo said. He went into his administration interface. It was hard to find Alrans name. He had to select the optionbeled Rivers and Daub to find the man. You want Spymaster or Lord Spymaster?
Alran rubbed his hands together. Id like the one with lord in the title, please.
Theo made it so, closing the interface to draw up the contract. They went back-and-forth on the matter, changing things to suit the needs of both towns. Everyone was d with an absurdly verbose contract, binding each party to specific needs. When the tension in the room cleared, they sat and ate breakfast.
This was the first time Theo had spoken to Alran about things other than their towns. The Spymaster was eager to share tales of his journeys. Before hed settled down as a Merchant Chair, he was an adventurer. With several cores, all rted to stealth, hed traveled the world and made his fortune. After gaining his spy core, he settled down and pushed things from afar.
My ns changed when Theo took over Broken Tusk. They changed again when you mentioned a position as a spy, Alran said. He sipped his tea with grace, bringing the cup to his lips and slurping politely.
How many backup ns did you have? Theo asked. For if we didnt work with you.
He really was like me, wasnt he? Alran asked, looking for sympathetic responses from both Tresk and Alise. The Marshling nodded excitedly while the Lady Administrator gave a curt nod. Four ns. Including this.
The Spymaster withdrew something from nowhere, cing it down on the table. It looked like a jumble of artifices duct-taped together. They surrounded a pulsing core. Radiating an energy of pure chaos, the item vibrated on the table. Alran stored it back in his inventory, chuckling.
That would have split a hole in the realm. Allowed me to jump onto the Bridge and get out of here. Some sunny beach in the Khahari Desert, An said. There was a tone of pride in his voice, and Theo wouldnt me him. Splitting reality like that wouldnt have been easy.
But the path on the other side would have been dangerous, Theo said.
The meeting had gone on long enough. One mention of the Bridge and his mind darted back to his injured friend. Xolsa, resting in his tower. Waiting for someone toe up with a solution for his illness. Theo withdrew the potion hed crafted from his inventory, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face. Ignoring the questions of his staff, he inspected it.
[Reforge Soul]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion reforges a mortals soul. The process is extremely painful, but all impurities, imperfections, and scars are cleansed.
That looks expensive, Alran said, leaning to get a better look.
Instead of pulling it back, Theo held it out for the man to inspect. The Spymaster let out a whistle, shaking his head.
You couldnt even put a price on this, Theo said, staring into the silver substance. It was more opaque than his normal potions, holding flecks of both red and silver powder. It caught the light from the window, glinting in the sun. Or this one.
The alchemist withdrew another potion for the group to inspect. While the [Reforge Soul] potion was made with the [Primal Soul] and [Primal Searing Regeneration], this was the failed attempt using [Primal Rejuvenation] and [Primal Soul].
[Cleanse Soul]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion removes the yearly requirement for soul-forging tasks. This potion may only be drunk once per season (70 days).
I dont even know what soul-forging is, Theo said. Is that like core forging?
Never heard of it, Alran said, shrugging.
Dont look at me, Tresk said, crossing her arms. Does it make me stab better? No? I dont care.
Archduke, you could scour the world asking for coin for those potions, Alran said. And you would find not a soul willing to give you a price.
Priceless potions, Alise said with a nod. Well, Spymaster, I just wanted to say Im very happy that wevee to an agreement, and I apologize for yelling at you.
It was good fun, Alran said, waving a dismissive hand. This is a calling for me. Something like youd never believe. I can serve with my passion. How many people can say that?
To the Soutnds Alliance, Theo said, holding his teacup in salute. The others joined, and they drained the moss tea away.
Theo nodded for Tresk to join him, leaving Alran and Alise to mend fences. Hed steered them both in the right direction, but now it was up to them to finish the job. As their leader, he needed to find that bnce between telling people what to do and putting them in the right direction. Too firm a hand led to folks relying on him for everything. Too gentle, and hed find himself with rogue factions within his nation. It was a fact he wasnt ready to face, but time wouldnt wait for him. His confidence was bolstered beyond anything possible before thanks to Terogal. Twelve hours of reflection a day did wonders for him.
Could you prepare a group of adventurers. I need to go to Xolsas tower, Theo said, using theirmunication skill.
Tresk saluted and disappeared, leaving Theo in the town hall. There were crowds forming below. The junior administrators were handling requests from citizens. Getting them on paper and shuffling those words off to whoever needed to hear them. He even spotted some people who werent from town. This was the center of the alliance, so that made sense.
Theo made his way out of the town hall and onto the street. He took a breath of the stifling morning air, thanking the sparse trees overhead for their cover. The heat of the day was ramping up, something the Season of Fire would make worse by the day. He walked to Zaralis ce, not surprised to see her working on something within. He could feel the presence of the enchantments, even read some of the script. The alchemist should have told her hed found a cure earlier. She was trying to fix her betrothed with Drogramathi enchantments.
I figured it out, Theo said, producing the potion from his inventory.
Zarali looked up from her work. Her eyes were rimmed red. Hurrying over, she inspected the potion. Joy mingled with sorrow as she wept on her brothers shoulder. Minutes passed before her words became understandable.
I knew youd figure it out.
Did you? Theo asked. He stopped himself before going on. It didnt matter who was right, he had the cure for a failed soul-ying in his hands. Right, you did. Tresk is assembling a team of adventurers to escort us to the tower.
Thank you, Theo, Zarali said, pulling him into a tighter hug.
Theo hugged her back, letting out a sigh as she rested her head on his shoulder. Xolsa meant more to her than he first expected, but their bond ran deep.
Id lie if I said it wasnt a fluke, Theo said. That bear-god I mentioned was helpful.
Zarali couldnt shower enough praise on Theo, but the alchemist had to remind her of the risks. The potion said the process would be extremely painful, but she promised she could handle it. The priestess had been hiking all the way out to the wizards tower daily, taking care of him as he rested. But things were getting worse. The wound, which she expected to close, had widened. Theo didnt want to share his theories.
The first he had was that Xolsa wasnt from this n. As an extra-nar being, the rules might not apply to him the same. The second theory was that the wound was just that deep, and perhaps his extra-nar nature was the only thing that prevented a true ying. In the alchemists mind, the mention of ying wasnt in regard to killing someone. A soul-ying attack was deeper than that. A strike meant to remove someone from existence entirely. He shook those thoughts away as Tresk sent a mental message.
Were ready, Theo said.
Near the town square, an army of adventurers stood ready. Trainees from Gronro-Dir stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the local adventurers. Aarok and Luras headed the group, standing at attention before an army, 100 strong. At the sight of their Archduke, they saluted, offering different gestures depending on their culture.
When the Archduke calls, Aarok started.
We answer, the group finished, a thunder of voices that echoed through the town.
Tresk was somewhere nearby,ughing her ass off.
Aarok approached the alchemist, bringing him close with a sly smile. Just a training exercise. Organization, formations, stuff like that. Tresk said were just going to the tower, but you cant throw these chances away.
Understood, Theo said, letting his eyes linger on the soldiers.
Soldiers. Thats what they were. Arrayed like that on the cobbles of his town. Disciplined peoples, holding no regard for their disparate races. Cultures shed together like the armor they wore. Elves from Tarantham, d in their finely crafted scale armors. Dwarves from Gronro, wearing pitted and burned te armor. Bantari Marshlings and the wayward Half-Ogres, wearing a hodgepodge of whatever they could strap to their bodies. There were even at least two Humans from Rivers.
Aarok and Luras must have been having a st. When they gave the order to march, the army filed out into distinct columns. They didnt segment themselves by race, or their hometowns, but by specializations. The stealthers, led by Tresk, went first into the swamp. Then those wearing heavy armor, close-range fighters mostly likely. Then the ranged folks, some holding bows and others throwing weapons.
Bringing up the rear were the only two spellcasters. Theo, representing the only standing wizard in town, and Zarali. A chant of words, exalting Lord Drogramath, and the army moved faster. Her blessing fell over them like a soothing rain, washing away the heat. With unnecessary organization, they forged a way through the swamp. To save their wizard.
Its a bit much, Theo said, leaning in tough with Zarali.
A training exercise, he said, Zarali giggled. I think Aarok is worried about our wizard.
You can never have too much training, Luras said, falling back to walk with Theo and Zarali. Not when an army of bones is knocking on your door.
4.17 - The Cure
4.17 - The Cure
The small army split off half-way to the wizards tower. They hardly needed one escort, let alone the army. Today, the swamp was calm. Unlike the other night, when wisps and wolves seemed to poke their heads out of every corner. Theo still viewed the exercise with respect, locking the image in his mind. It seemed significant. A turning point for the alliance, although it had only just formed.
A point of pride for Aarok, and a sense offort for Theo.
Walking up the gentle ramp of the tower, bringing his soggy feet onto the wide gstones, Theo felt something. A prickle of energy ran up his spine, sending the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He held a hand out, stopping Tresk and Zarali where they were.
Did he leave his defenses up? Theo asked.
Maybe, Zarali said. A wave of energy flowed from the priestess, mming against something near the tower. A bubble of energy appeared, covered in Axpashi runes and bristling with power. Well
While Theo could read some of the spells wrought in the air, he couldnt make out their meaning. Images of well-intentioned explorers shed into his mind. People exploring ancient ruins, only to find their end at the hands of a long-dead wizard. The power within Xolsas barrier radiated outward, warning those with magical senses away.
Thats a problem, Theo said, studying the symbols. Why would he throw up a barrier?
He was talking about something, Zarali said, taking a deep breath. Theo could feel her on the verge of tears. A wave of emotion to match the strength of that shield. He thought someone was after him. Through the veil.
The veil being the ce between realms, Theo said, leaning closer to observe the runes. Energy crackled, and electricity jumped to sting his nose. Yep. Thatll kill us.
Think hell share the secret of the murder shell with me? Tresk asked, getting too close to the barrier. Theo held a hand out, keeping her from going closer.
The alchemist didnt respond. He flopped onto the floor, sitting cross-legged near the barriers edge. His mind shed as he inspected his memories of applicable potions. Potions were always the solution, after all. [Anti-Mage] was one of his favorite modifiers. He had an arsenal of the potions within his inventory at that very moment. But their usefulness was questionable. Theo flicked through them in his mind before he settled on one.
Youll thank me for being over-prepared, Theo said, withdrawing a [Carapace Potion] from his inventory. He inspected it, a sense of aplishment washing over him. It paid to have so many potions at his fingertips.
[Carapace Potion]
[Anti-Mage]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A defensive potion. Drink to gain segmented tes over your body, significantly increasing your defense.
Effect:
Covers your body with flexible, chitinous tes. Effectsts 30 minutes, or until the tes are destroyed.
Chitinous tes are covered in a field of anti-magic. Reduces damage dealt by magical attacks, and absorbs those spells to increase the duration of this potion.
Theo, we should think about this, Zarali said.
But Theo had learned to trust the description of potions. And it wasnt as though he was going to drink a single potion, that would be foolish. Since the effects stacked, there was no reason not to drink as many potions as he could. Without waiting for more objections, the alchemist quaffed his potions. A [Dexterity Potion] with the [Anti-Mage] modifier gave him +13 [Dexterity] and a [Magic Shell] effect. A [Vigor Potion] with [Refined Elemental Earth], giving him +14 [Vigor] and a scaling bonus to his resistances. Both tasted simr to fizzing mud. He drank a [Regeneration Potion], his [Anti-Mage] [Carapace Potion], then finally turned to regard hispanions.
Chitinous tes sprung up around the alchemist as his entire body buzzed. The tes were heavy, stifling his movement. His body objected to the sudden increase in attributes, making his movements strange. A visible field of anti-magic fizzled around him, the dual-effects warring with each other.
Dont bother yelling at him, Tresk said, bouncing up and down with excitement. This is gonna be so cool.
Theo drank hisst potion, winking at his adoptive sister. The power of the [Retreat Potion] sent him hurtling backward at impossible speeds. He mmed hard against the wizards door, causing the wood to splinter, but it didnt break. Bolts of lightning sprung from the barrier, mming into the twin-barriers fizzling around the alchemist. It arced onto his chitinous tes, the potion absorbing the attack entirely only to fall away momentster.
Tresk gave a thumbs-up.
That was dangerous! Zarali shouted. Her voice came in a wavering tone, as though the barrier blocked more than just entrance. It distorted the air around him, sending a strange feeling of electricity through his being. But the lightning had stopped.
Were still good! Theo shouted, giving Tresk the thumbs-up back.
Want me toe? Tresk asked.
You cant go! Zarali said, groaning. That was so incredibly dangerous.
Lady, I can pass through realms. Two of us is better than one, Tresk said, vanishing from the spot with Alex.
Shed reappear wherever she was done in Terogal, likely 5 minutes from now. Theo still didnt know what she did with her time in the realm besides training with Benton. It didnt matter. All the excitement for using his potions had distracted the alchemist from his goal. His friend was in trouble. Somewhere within the tower, dying from a soul-ying. While Zarali shouted something at him, he redoubled his concentration. Focusing his mind on the task at hand. He entered the tower and closed the door behind him, drowning out the shouts of protest.
The situation was real, now. Theo had wanted to test some potions, and he was happy that they worked, but now was the time for caution. Xolsa was paranoid. There could be more traps. He quaffed an [Intelligence Potion] and a [Wisdom Potion] before sitting on the floor to have a think. His mind rushed with the sudden +13 to both attributes, sending him reeling and light headed. Both attributes burst through thresholds, sending his thoughts racing at an ufortable pace.
Suddenly, he had a better understanding of the barrier outside. It wasnt created by the wizard himself, but the tower. An automated response meant to defend its owner. While that was aforting thought, the alchemist wanted more than his logical reassurances. He needed Alex and Tresk by his side to bounce ideas off of. Instead of forging ahead, he waited for five minutes.
With an indistinct popping sound, Tresk and Alex appeared before him. She struck a heroic pose. Phew. Really gives you time to think. Doesnt it?
It does, Theo said, the cocktail of potions still thundering through his system.
Alex honked, then spat a small gout of fire.
Talked to Benton. He went off and found that dead Dronons spirit again. The spirit was impressed with your work, and wants to live in Terogal, but I said I had to talk to you first, Tresk said, taking a deep breath. Well, anyway [Reforge Soul] is dangerous, so we need to be there to feed Xolsa healing potions. The spirit guy said to apply [Healing Essence] directly to the wizards chest before we make him drink the forging potion. Itll reduce the pain.
Theo nodded, standing and looking at hispanions. Twelve hours had passed for Tresk, allowing her to sort her thoughts. The alchemists mind was a whirl of ideas and emotions that he found difficult to direct. With his friends, hed find a way to pull them in. To make those errant things obey hismand.
Lets gooooo! Tresk shouted, pointing to the staircase.
Theo led the way, counting on his lingering [Dexterity Potions] shell effect to mitigate any magical attacks. But the floors were clear of traps, and they found the wizard asleep in his bed. Heaving breath and covered in a sheen of sweat, Xolsa had never looked worse. The markings that covered his body, normally shifting with a constant pulse of blue energy, were dim. The alchemist could feel the power in the mans chest fading, even if he hadnt mastered that skill. Zarali would be useful here.
He should have givenmand of the tower to someone else, Theo said,ing to kneel next to the bed. We could disable the shield. Damn.
Get to work, alchemist, Tresk said, rummaging through the room. Check the top floor, Alex.
Xolsas breath came in ragged gasps. Theo got near, checking what he knew to check and shaking his head. The mans pulse was slow, his breathing shallow. mmy skin and eyes that remained unfocused when exposed to light. The alchemist started with the [Healing Essence], unceremoniously pulling the Elfs robes up and dripping it on his chest.
Sorry, bud, Theo said, watching as the essences sizzled. Hed never applied it directly to the skin, and doubted it was safe.
Before continuing, Theo set out everything hed need on a table. [Healing Potions], [Stamina Potions], [Mana Potions], his [Reforge Soul] potion, and a pitcher of drinking water to start. He considered his more esoteric potions before moving on. On instinct, the alchemist tipped Xolsas head back and poured a [Vigor Potion] inside. The Elf drank it weakly, coughing and muttering something.
How did he get so bad? Theo asked, watching as Tresk rummaged through the room.
Mustve happened overnight, Tresk said. Zarali is a worrier. She would have said something.
Were gonna start, Theo said, gesturing for hispanion toe over. Help me hold him.
Tresk waddled over to the bed, jumping andnding atop the Elf. She held both his arms down, putting her minimal weight on his torso. Lets go.
Theo poured the [Reforge Soul] potion into his friends mouth. Xolsa let out a guttural scream the moment the potion slid down his throat. The room filled with shifting hues of red and blue, pulsing between them. Alex came down the stairs, honking repeatedly. The alchemist understood the honks to mean there was nothing on the roof. The Elfs mouth opened wide, shafts of solid blue light shooting out.
Damn! Tresk shouted, struggling to keep the Elf under control. Once that light goes, feed him a [Healing Potion]. Maybe a regen, too?
Yeah, Theo said, trying his hardest to keep the Elf still. Well just shove everything down his gullet.
There was no care needed when pouring potions down the Elfs throat. Common potions like [Healing Potions] didnt have a cooldown, or adverse effects when taken back-to-back. Several minutes into their efforts, when the light had died down, the tower shimmered around them. Momentster, Zarali came wailing up the stairs. She threw herself over Xolsa, lingered there for only a moment, then called upon the power of Drogramath. The intensity of the request sent a ripple through the realms, something that Theo, Tresk, and Alex felt in their bones.
The worst is done, Zarali said, stifling sobs. His soul is knitting together.
With the priestess support, keeping Xolsa alive became effortless. She sent a constant stream of Drogramathi mana into the mans body, pulling together the parts of him that were burnt by the reforging. Theo applied more [Healing Essence] to the Elfs chest, finding himself feeling more like a member of a trauma team than an alchemist, Hours passed, but the light faded.
The reforging waspleted.
Xolsas breath came with the steady rising and falling of his chest. His sweat-soaked body dried out, aided by a pile of damp cloth. Best of all, Zarali imed that his soul had been made stronger. Forged into something better than it was before, with all the cracks and dents mended. The group copsed with exhaustion just as Aarok ascended the tower.
Everything alright? he asked.
It is. Now, anyway, Theo said, mopping his brow.
Alex honked with encouragement, letting a small stream of fire out of her bill.
He must have crashed overnight, Tresk said, bringing another length of cloth soaked in water. Hed be dead if we didnt find the right potion. Forget waiting for a healer to show up, he had hours.
Is there a lesson to be learned here? Aarok asked.
Yeah. Dont poke your head into the realms unless youre ready to get your soul in, Theo said.
While Theo and Tresk departed with the main force of the adventurers, Aarok left soldiers behind. Guards were stationed outside of the tower, meant to hold a respectful vigil for the night. While the alchemist was happy to see his friend in a better state, he had concerns. Not just about what the wizard had done, what with poking into the realms and all, and not just about his willingness to facilitate those actions. Fenian would arrive tomorrow. He trudged through the swamp with Tresk, sharing his concerns.
Fenian has never been in serious trouble, Theo said. And look what hes brought through the Bridge. That damned giant construct. Artifice-weapon. Whatever it was.
The soldiers marching ahead showed interest in the topic. Aarok fell behind, holding the pair back to get out of earshot. With the midday sun overhead, they constructed their stratagem.
Weve got a big problem, Theo, Aarok said. Defensibility of the eastern side of town iscking.
That was owing to the shape of the walls there. During previous attacks, they enjoyed a four-sided wall, with no strange nooks. Now, with the town expanded past the river only where the harbor rested, they had a vulnerable spot. But Theo wasnt so sure that was allogether bad. It just depended on where the Elven trader appeared. The group made their way back to town without incident, Luras and Aarok joining them to the eastern wall.
This actually works, Theo said, shrugging. Theres something about the space over the river, right on the road, thats screaming to me.
Me, too, Tresk said.
Like a rip in reality. A ce where Fenian can bring his carriage. Hell appear in the same spot hes always appeared. Theo took only a moment to draw a line in his minds eye. If somethinges through the portal to the Bridge, its going to get mmed by the harbors wall. Then, the eastern wall.
Aarok grunted a response. Luras simply nodded before saying, Decent crossfire. Wed have a better idea if the [River Dungeon] spawned some monsters.
The river dungeon was gently north of the bridge, at the thickest point of the river from there until the sea. From what Tresk had said, it was deep and difficult to reach. Theo shook thoughts away, trying not to imagine what would happen when they expanded the town over the dungeon.
We can sprint for another upgrade with the town, Theo said, drumming his fingers on the hard stone. Not sure if that will help.
How about trying to upgrade the nation? Aarok asked.
They hadnt tested how that worked. Theos intuition said it was just like upgrading the town, just more expensive. How many [Monster Cores] do we have? Between us? I have about 200 level 30 cores. Dont look at me like that, Ive been saving them. Im busy.
Ive got a few hundred at level 20, Aarok said. Luras pooled his cores with the guild, so he had none to offer.
Yeah, I got like 500 between level 5 and 20, Tresk said, picking something out of her teeth. Only then did Theo realize shed been chewing on those waxy leaves.
I keep forgetting to make salt, Theo grumbled. He pped his hands, banishing the thought away. Lets do some testing.
The group moved to the monolith in the towns center. Theo understood the mechanics of building upgrading, but they were convoluted. Using a [Monster Core] above or at the level of the building resulted in a t rate of experience gain. 5 cores to advance to the new level. Applying a [Monster Core] under the level of the building was more confusing. It dropped off at a rate, likely defined by some mathematical function. But the point was, underleveled cores were less effective.
Were starting at level 1, at 0% experience, Theo said. Ill apply a [Monster Core] at level 30, so well see how well they work.
The [Monster Core] easily slipped inside the monolith, moving with the intent to upgrade the nation, not the town. Theo checked the nation afterward.
[Small Free City Alliance]
Name: Soutnds Alliance
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Level: 1 (2%)
Core Towns:
Broken Tusk (Capital)
Rivers and Daub
Gronro-Dir
Current Energy:
45%
Upgrades:
None
Rats, Theo said, tapping his foot on the hard cobbles. 50 to upgrade to level 2. I mean, that makes sense. Nations are expensive.
Alright. Lets shove this frogopus full of cores! Tresk shouted, withdrawing a pile of cores from her [Dimensional Storage Sack].
I could go for some frog, Luras said, watching from a distance.
As expected, it took 51 cores to upgrade to level 2. But Theo observed something annoying on the next go. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of his [Intelligence Potion], but he came up with the form for upgrading the nation.
Annoying, but not horrible, Theo said. 50 plus the nations level.
At least its not exponential, Tresk said, giggling.
It took some effort, but the Soutnds Alliance hit level 5. Theo looked over the upgrades and snorted augh. They werent great.
[Zorp]
Once per day, you may transfer resources between towns. Quantity is limited to nations level at a rate of n*100. E.g. At level 1, you may transfer 100 of any resource, at level 2 you may transfer 200 of any resource, and so on.
[Trade Boost]
Carts traveling between towns within the nation will travel 1.5x faster, so long as they are designated for trade.
[Share Information]
Allows leaders to send mental messages to each other. Limited number of messages per day, based on nations level at a rate of n*10. E.g. At level 1, you may send 10 messages, at level 2 you may send 20, and so on.
[Share Information] is useless to us. [Trade Boost] is alright, but I wouldnt want Azrugs carts to break the sound barrier.
Leaving [Zorp], Tresk said,ughing. Zorp! What kind of word is that?
Thats the sound someone makes when they teleport, Aarok said, nodding. Ive heard it before. The saying is extremelymon.
Theo reluctantly selected the [Zorp] option, although he disagreed with the naming. By the time the nation reached level 10, they were almost entirely out of [Monster Cores]. But when the new option arrived, the alchemist rubbed his hands together.
[Controlled Fire]
All tower-style weapons, mounted to mounting points using the [Defensive Emcements] require 1/3 less motes to operate, and fire 1.25x faster.
Perfect, Theo said. He didnt consult his friends before selecting it, and went on to inspect the nation.
[Small Free City Alliance]
Name: Soutnds Alliance
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Level: 10 (1%)
Core Towns:
Broken Tusk (Capital)
Rivers and Daub
Gronro-Dir
Current Energy:
45%
Upgrades:
[Zorp]
[Controlled Fire]
A t rate was nice, even if Theo liked upgrades that scaled. He wouldnt say no to a quarter better firing rate. The group discussed what they could do to make things better. The alchemist had an idea, utilizing his newest core. They lingered there for some time, but for his n to work he needed someone. Then he spotted a group of burly Half-Ogres walking over the bridge, headed back to town. Theo grinned.
Hey, Ziz! Theo shouted, once the man was within range. Want a job?
4.18 - Big Rock
4.18 - Big Rock
The effort to move a massive b of marble from the quarry to near the eastern gate was titanic. It had taken most of the day and no small amount of help from the locals. Theo stood before the rough-cut stone. It stood twice his height, having rough alcoves carved where Ziz intended to hew blocks. But the stoneworkers was happy to give it up, submitting to the alchemists whims for defense.
Big rock, Tresk said, pping her hand on the upright monolith.
Use your words.
Why do we need a big rock, good sir? Tresk asked.
Alex honked, joining her voice to the questioning.
Check it out, Theo said, holding his hand out.
Chanting the words to the [Lesser Defense] ward, Theo felt more mana flow from his cores than ever before. The air crackled with magic, visible motes of Toruaun mana drifting and popping in the wind. On his sixth chant of the spell, the alchemist popped a [Mana Pill]. Sweat formed on his brow from the effort, straining both his concentration and his mana. By the tenth chant, and another pill, the spell fulminated.
Space distorted around the stone for a single breath. Ziz let out a whistle of approval. The spell had bound to the stone in spectacr fashion, gaining Theo 25% experience in his [Toruaun Mages Core] for his efforts. But more than that, he had something between where Fenian would appear and his town.
Exin the idea to me, Aarok said, gesturing vaguely to the stone. Looks like you just made a big spot where Ziz needs toy more road.
Theo gestured to the far side of the new stone bridge. The portal will appear there. And whatever Fenian brings with himes along. He traced his finger, drawing a straight line between the bridge and his new stone. Anything that bursts from the portal will hit the stone.
Oh, so the stone absorbs random attacks. Tresk nodded, cupping her chin in her hand. Interesting tactic, fine sir. Absolutely splendid.
Yeah. Laser beams, fireballs, flying exploding monkeys. Just seems like a low-effort defensive measure, Theo said.
Aarok shrugged at that. The effort to bring the stone over was indeed minimal. Ziz donated the stone to the town for free, and Theo made his own mana pills. If the rock caught a single attack, it would pay for itself. And it wasnt stationary. They could move it to a new spot or add new stones. Once the alchemist had consumed more primal essences, hed be more flexible. Hed have more effects at his fingertips, although a new trigger method was what he needed.
We have the soldiers from Gronro for Fenians arrival, Aarok said, holding one finger up. He continued with more fingers. [Healing Potions], your limb-regeneration thing, tons of motes for the towers. I think were ready for whateveres through.
Good. Have you checked on Raltely? Theo asked.
Yeah, he has a little baby leg right now, Aarok said. Its creepy, buting along.
Excellent. Baby leg aside, thats good to hear.
Another hole plugged in the never-ending saga of Theos need to be a mother hen, Tresk said, nodding sage-like.
I feel like a mother hen, Theo said. His mind drifted.
Hah! Hes thinking about upgrading buildings. With ourst few [Monster Cores], Tresk said,ughing. Look at the mother hen go!
It was hard to be mad when she was right. HIs mind had gone directly to using thest of the cores he was sitting on. With their purpose served, he wanted to rid himself of the rest. Sledge hadnte calling since she applied thest 2 synergy upgrades. The alchemist didnt know if he wanted her toe back, as those upgrades cost resources to maintain. But there were several buildings he could bring up to level 10 with the few cores he had.
First, there was Whispers butcher. The Toora woman didnt seem to need anything. Once she got the air conditioner, she was happy. Even if her building could be seen with frost rimming the windows. Kaya, the Elven woman that didnt speak Qavelli, ran the weaver. That could use a few upgrades, but once again it was a matter of need. Neither citizen had been loud about their desire for upgrades, cing them firmly on the back burner.
Now would be a great time to help them out.
Off to upgrade buildings, Theo said, dismissing the crowd without another word.
The citizens of Broken Tusk were ustomed to their Archdukes sudden shift of attention. It wasnt as bad in recent times, but the memories lingered. He made his way to Whispers ce first, finding her inside. She was butchering animal carcasses and bowed her head when she entered. Theo wished his robes were twice as thick the moment he stepped in, almost slipping on a slick of blood-ice. He noted the cleanliness of her fur, thanks to a simple leather apron.
Everything going well? Theo asked.
Yes, she said, bowing her head again.
Im going to upgrade your building to level 10.
As you will.
Easy enough. Theo inspected the building before proceeding.
[Butcher]
[Hoary Frost]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Operator: Whisper
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 1 Day
Expansions:
None
Dunno what Hoary means, Theo said.
Its poetic, Whisper assured him.
Alright. Gonna read off some upgrades. Tell me what you think, Theo said.
To upgrade the building to level 10 would be simple. Even low-level cores would work here, and they had plenty of those. It was only an issue of upgrading when the buildings level was too high, but these fledgling buildings were a joy to work with. The alchemist shoved low-level [Monster Cores] inside, reading the upgrades out when the building hit level 5. He favored the rear of the building for expansions.
[Cold Storage]
A new room appears in your building. Food items ced inside will not rot.
[Keen Knives]
Knives used for the purpose of butchering will be more effective.
[Spoge Prevention]
Allows you to process more from each animal carcass.
Whisper tapped her chin for a while. Theos sense for these upgrades wasnt great. The building was already ice-cold, he knew nothing about butchering, but maybe there was value in getting more from each animal?
[Keen Knives], Whisper said.
Theo nodded, picking the upgrade. He shoved more cores in the building, selecting random directions for expansion. When the time came, he read the level 10 upgrade out to her.
[Drying Room]
A new room appears in your building. Processed food items ced in this room will dry at twice the rate as normal. The room is humidity and temperature controlled, resulting in perfectly dried meats.
Thats a good one, Whisper said, smiling. I want that one.
Theo selected the [Drying Room] upgrade and the building lurched beneath their feet. A door appeared to his right, but Whisper was already moving to check it out. The room was small, with several metal bars with hooks hanging throughout. It felt dry in there, like the desert powers of the Khahari with none of the sandy after-effects.
Thank you, Whisper said.
And that was all that she said. She left the drying room and got back to work on the wolves, cutting them down for consumption. If they werent careful, theyd be exporting more dried meats than stone and lumber.
The Weavers shop was on the newest road in town. South of Zaralis workshop, and slightly north of Luras old leatherworking shop, a road branched from the main. It headed west, toward the swamp, creating a small grid where new buildings were meant to go. Currently upied by only Kayas weaver, it was lonely. A few deft knocks and the aging Elven woman opened the door, offering a curt nod of her head.
Come in, she said, unable to hide her smile.
Youre speaking Qavelli! Theo shouted.
Some, she said, holding hand out. She was urging him to slow down.
Im upgrading your building, Theo said, gesturing to the cramped space inside.
On the far end of the interior were racks that contained lengths of [Starbristle x]. The blue x was amazing when processed correctly, disying a hue like a tropical oceans waves. Slight variations from light to dark gave the finalized cloth a wave-like appearance, and the sample of sailing canvas she was working on was amazing to behold.
Yes, she said.
Theo inspected the building before continuing.
[Weaver]
[Fields of Blue]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Operator: Kaya Wavecrest
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 1 Day
Expansions:
None
No surprises that she hadnt upgraded, but he liked the name. It was a reference to the massive field of cultivated [Starbristle x] at the farm. Or maybe it was a reference to the ocean? Or a bunch of ships on the sea, disying the Starbristle sails? Whatever the case, it was nice. Instead of reading the upgrades out to Kaya, the alchemist urged her to read them herself. She could do this by inspecting the building alongside him, although giving those instructions was tough enough.
[Fiber Remation]
When processing fibers, experience less loss from the process.
[Soothing Mist]
The building is filled with a constant cooling mist that imbues all processed fibers. The resulting cloth will be softer.
[Efficient Spindles]
Your weaving process is more efficient, resulting in a significant time-reduction when turning thread into cloth.
These were actually decent upgrades. Theo didnt know if the [Soothing Mist] upgrade was decent, but that didnt matter. The others were great. Kaya didnt have the words for which upgrade she wanted. She repeated a word in the Elven tongue a few times before letting out a breath of frustration. Snatching a spindle from her work area, she held it up.
Gotcha, Theo said, selecting the [Efficient Spindles] upgrade.
The level 10 upgrade was interesting, and Theo could tell Kaya was torn.
[Tough Fibers]
Cloth produced in this workshop will be stronger than it normally would.
She wanted [Fiber Remation], but [Tough Fibers] would be perfect for their sail-making industry. After some pidgin-conversation, they agreed on [Tough Fibers]. To make up for it, Theo took the building up to level 15.
[Processing Room]
A new room appears in your building. All processing actions performed inside the room will be faster, and consume less stamina.
Kaya jumped up and down for that one. Theo selected it without question, feeling the building rumble under his feet as a new room appeared. It was an empty room, but the Elf moved her equipment in without hesitation. The alchemist helped. Processing the x was the most annoying part of the process. Smacking the fibers andbing them out lookedborious, so anything that helped the process would be nice.
When Theo turned to leave, Kaya pulled him into a hug. The alchemist awkwardly patted her back as she poured thanks in her native tongue. He left her workshop with an armful of cloth he didnt need. But it was nice to see the product of the weaver, even if hed take it directly to the harbor for the shipwright to use. [Starbristle Cloth] was soft for something made of x. He hadnt experienced it back on Earth, but assumed it would be coarse. Instead, the sailing canvas was soft and strong at the same time.
Dismissing the idea to make T-shirts, Theo visited his town hall. While the building could be upgraded, he hadnt done so. He stood outside of the white building for a while, trying to find a good name for it. Naming buildings wasnt necessary, but it always added ir. A bit of personality on an otherwise uninteresting structure. Alise should have found a good name for it by now, so he named it T-shirts for sale.
Naming things stupidly often brought her out of the woodwork.
Theo entered the building, waving to the functionaries who worked there. He made his way to the meeting room on the second floor, the one with north-facing windows, and found Alise, Gwyn, and Gael inside. They stopped talking, waiting for him to plop down in a chair.
Can we help you, Archduke? Alise asked.
Parchment ruffled, then a quill and ink ttered onto the table. Theo consulted his notes about Toruauns magic, finally withdrawing Xolsas book of theories before he answered.
No, continue, Theo said, sketching out new diagrams.
It took a moment for the group to carry on, but they managed. The problem with warding magic was the trigger. With only one trigger to his name, Theo was stuck with attack. That one factor limited him in his weaving of spells, leaving him feeling as though the core was useless. Hidden inside those endless, confusing poems about Dronon fighting things, there was an answer.
Rewriting that portion of the spell manually didnt work at first. The more the group prattled on about issues within the town, the closer he got to the answer. Something about the low buzz of their excited conversation felt inspiring. There was a pattern in Toruauns stories. Something about the way the parts of spells connected spoke to him, and he rewrote a story.
Using the sections of the spell for the [Reveal] spell effect, Theo wrote a story about Dronon hidden in the forest. They werent defending this time, they were waiting for someone. An ambush of an enemy force. Several rewritester, and something clicked within the alchemists mind. It was like gears turning over, changing to a faster pace in the cycle.
You sure look pleased with yourself, Alise said, gazing at the alchemist over a sheet of parchment.
Theo didnt respond, he held his hand out and chanted his new spell. Focusing on the table, it took five tries to get it right. When the spell took hold, the table shivered. He inspected it, drilling down to the wards description.
[Lesser Reveal]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Reveal]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
1 day.
Cool, Theo said. Your table will now reveal enemies.
Thanks. I guess, Alise said, chuckling. You really dont need anything?
We have some reports if you want to be bored to death, Gwyn said.
Bore me to death, please.
The reports were more boring than Theo could have imagined. Alise only brought a single item to his attention that was interesting. Between the farms, hunting in the swamp, and a sudden influx of fish, their food reserves were bolstered. So much that they had spare food to export. That brought into question the usefulness of Rivers and Daub.
Thats why were restructuring them, Gael said. He seemed awkward at the table, but the Elf was doing his best. No need to beat him down for being weird when he just started the job.
Old Gael here has a lot of insight, Gwyn said, nodding to her peer. Who knew. Being the leader of an Elven house has its advantages.
Barely a leader, Gael said, shaking his head. Barely surviving before Feintleaf saved us. But, youre not wrong. Ive seen mistakes in Tarantham. Mistakes Id rather not see replicated in the Soutnds Alliance.
Were eager to install different industries in both Rivers and Gronro, Gwyn said.
And were talking about keeping track of upgrading the buildings, Alise said. Her eyes went ssy. Even the town hall isnt who named the town hall T-shirts for sale, and what is a t-shirt?
Mustve been Tresk, Theo said, waving the question away. Better find a better name before she does it again.
Fine, Alise said.
So, whats your take on Alran? All of you.
Gwyn offered her opinion first. Reminds me of a wayward soul. Just trying to do what he loves, then he gets stuck doing crap work.
He emted the Mercantile Chair model from the Qavelli dogs, Gael said, chuckling wryly. A model doomed for failure.
Alises eyes refocused. It was a better end than taking his head. Once we opened the gates for him, he went wild. Been feeding us reports since he left town.
Any update on that? Theo asked. You know. Undead army and all that.
That part of the war is going fine, Alise said. Fine for us, anyway. Throk is working on new weapons, but your potions are doing the job for now.
Always good to hear, Theo said standing from his chair. See, the ward I put on the table is excellent.
Why?
Because it didnt activate, Theo said, turning and leaving the town hall.
Long shadows dominated the streets of Broken Tusk by the time Theo was done in the town hall. He had no desire to upgrade the town hall today. Instead, he sent a mentalmand to Tresk. It was dinner time, and if the scent wafting from the north was anything to go by, the food would be delicious tonight. Settling into his booth, he waited for hispanions to arrive.
After sipping on a mug of mead for a while, Tresk finally arrived. She was out of breath, but excited. Aarok had ordered her to oversee the changing of the guard for Xolsas tower, and the wizard had regained consciousness for a few moments. He was out again, but improving.
Their wait for the food was short. Tresk rubbed her hands together as the server ced bowls and tes on the table. Buttered Zee bread was bing amon food in the town, but that didnt make it any less delicious. Theos eyes were on the bowls of creamy soup, though. He never cared much for fish, what little hed had on Earth, but the soup was great.
Caught by my brother, Tresk said proudly.
You never talk to your brother, Theo said. How can you possibly have pride in anything hes done?
Alex doesnt talk, but we still love her, Tresk said, shrugging.
Theo conceded the point, although he disagreed. The Bantari were truly a mysterious group.
4.19 - Unholy Army
4.19 - Unholy Army
Theo flicked his wrist, sending a stone skipping across the harbors water. Ghostly ships flocked in, the way he alwaysmanded them to, as Alex honked a happy honk. The sky above had been boiling, as though something rubbed against the edge of the Dreamwalk. Some unseen force that none of the members could get a sense for.
Theo skipped another stone. Another day in this strange world.
Those days hade like a procession. Marching forward against his protests. But the conflicted feelings had all but vanished. Between the Dreamwalk, an immaterial representation of a bond, and Terogal itself, he felt much better. The alchemists mind was finally stitched back together. Not how it was before, but something different. A blend of five elements that, with proper perspective, were easy enough to identify.
There was the old Theo from Earth. From that mans many traits, the new version selected his determination and steely willpower. He left behind the cruelty and spite. A life soured by pointless service. The new Theo was there, too. Charitable beyond reason. He always the best in everyone. Pieces of Tresk now rested in his mind. Paranoia, vengeance, and a mind for subterfuge mixed to create a cocktail of difficult traits. The new version of himself picked at the vengeful part, leaving much behind.
Honk.
Then there were the pieces Alex brought. The young goose had a sense of wonder about the world that Theo couldnt leave behind. Whether this was a reforging of his own will, or something that happened on an unconscious level, he couldnt say. Then there was thatst piece of himself. It was a mystery to him and he doubted others could have a better sense of where it came from.
A need for power. A phantom representation of something. Theos theory was that it was a lingering piece of Belgar, buried somewhere deep in his subconscious. Or the realm of Terogal itself, the Dreamwalk, his exposure to the manifested realms. The alchemists list wasnt short, leaving him with more questions.
Theo skipped another stone, turning to regard Alex.
Not that it matters.
Honk.
Are you brooding? Tresk asked, appearing from nowhere.
Im thinking. Not brooding.
The difference?
Intent.
Theo and Tresk had already created a n for tomorrow. It was the day Fenian would arrive, if the gods could be trusted. The moment they spotted the extent of the trouble he brought, theyd duck into Terogal and examine it from their realm. There, they could form a better n. Something that might actually work for the defense of the town.
Check it out. Tresk shifted the scene.
Tresk, Alex, and Theo were standing on the east-facing wall of Broken Tusk. They looked out at the field below, which now held the defensive rock. An imaginary portal opened on the far side of the river, revealing an army of ghostly figures. The scene froze before the imagined creatures proceeded forward.
Youre missing something. Theo added his prediction of events.
A ck carriage appeared at the head of the formation, mounted by Fenian Feintleaf. The Elf, like the ghostly warriors, were frozen in ce.
Tresk nodded, leaning over the side of the wall. She clucked her tongue a few times, tapping her foot impatiently. Doesnt matter what he brings. Were looking at the same weaknesses.
How about this? Theo shifted the scene, recing the ghosts with a massive ball of fire.
Well, then that aint our problem. Tresk stepped the simtion forward a few paces. Fenians carriage was consumed by the ze. She froze it again.
Theos intuition screamed against that possibility, though. It would be monsters, perhaps undead. Undead monsters? There was a connection between King Karasan and the undead. UzXulven was clear, though. Fenian was being pursued. Over the Bridge of Shadows.
I cant put it together, Theo said, drumming his fingers on the wall. I feel like Im missing something.
Lets see. Recap time! Tresk shouted, striking a pose. Fenian stirred the undead, likely leading them to old sourpuss Karasan. Something something, Fenian arrives in the godly realms.
Pursued by the king? Theo asked.
Tresk pointed her finger in the air, nodding. Or forces adjacent to the king. Remember how the big bad cat daddy talked about cleaning house in the heavens?
Theo cleared the scene below. He essed his near-perfect memory. Fanglir, Zagmon, and the Eye. A giant red Dronon, a floating eye of fire, and a generic Elf appeared below. Each stood behind Fenians carriage as though in pursuit.
Cool. We got a bunch of gods and no idea how they y into this. Totally useful. Sorry. No, youre missing the bigger picture. Shadow mommy has to let them over the Bridge, right?
Theo groaned. If you call the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows shadow mommy again, Im throwing myself into a volcano.
Tresk nodded. Noted. So, tactics. Big army,ser beams, fireballs from hell, or whateveres out of the portal attacks. How do we respond? Standard Broken Tusk tactics. With a twist.
A twist?
The hard-asses from Gronro have been drilling sortie tactics. Tresk cleared the scene, then generated a wall of armored fighters. They stood before the gates with shields and spears. Leveling them against nothing. Fan out. Give Fenian space to bring his carriage in. Bam bam. Done.
The bam bam came as an approaching ghostly army. Tresk simted Fenians run into the town, behind the walls. The group affected a fighting retreat, supported by imagined towers and defenders from the wall. More training for the warriors of Gronro-dir than anything reasonable. Theo shrugged, clearing the scene below again. He ced Fenian on the far side of his stone, then let a fireball loose from the bridge.
A shield sprung up around the stone, catching the rolling ball of me before it could pass. A crack snaked its way down the length of the stone, nearly splitting it in half. But that was the point of the rock. Even if it fell away, eating one massive attack would be worth it.
How close is dawn? Theo asked, stretching his senses out. It was near.
Yeah, lets wake up and get some breakfast.
Theo nodded his agreement. The Dreamwalk swirled around them, spinning out into nothing but a memory in moments. With no reaction to the transition, all members of the Tarahek rose from their beds. The sun hadnt risen yet, leaving them in the darkened room attached to theb. Stretching to work out a knot in his back, the alchemist rose to greet the day.
Ive been thinking of buying a mansion.
Really? A big house? Do we need a big house?
Theo adjusted his robes and the silly hat on his head. He dropped some [Cleansing Scrub] on himself, Tresk, and Alex. He rolled his shoulders, finally getting the knot out from his back. Not sure that we need it.
But you want it. Treskughed, pping a hand on his back.
Theo sent his mind out to his working golems for a moment, following Tresk down the stairs. The constructs were doing their job, just as instructed. They were great. Especially since he got distracted so often. At this rate, hed need more [Dimensional Storage Crates] outside to hold the excess reagents. He also had piles of the waxy leaves to dpose into salt, a task hed put off for a long time.
Tresk threw the front door open, but it smacked against something. Someone yelped and fell back, tumbling on the ground. The Marshling rushed over, cursing under her breath. You okay, dude?
An Elven man rubbed his forehead. Even in the darkness of the pre-dawn light, Theo could see the welt forming on his head. He came to stand next to the man, feeding him a [Healing Pill].
Thanks, the Elf said, epting a helping hand to rise to his feet. Came to rouse the squadmanders. Aarok is assembling the squads early. Full patrols all day.
Tresk groaned. Can I get breakfast first?
Hes providing rations.
Tresk red at the Elf for some time. She turned to Theo. Get me a te and some tea. Put it in the shared inventory.
Theoughed, cing aforting hand on hispanions shoulder. Ill put two in there.
Your presence has been requested at the Guildhall, Archduke, the Elf said, bowing. Although Captain Thane said it wasnt as urgent as assembling the squads.
Captain Thane, Tresk said, snorting augh. Just call him Aarok.
He needs a better title. Grand Commander. Supreme Commander. General?
The Elf shrugged. Is that all sir?
Yeah, you can go.
Tresk grumbled, then took a long breath. Send me a message before you run to Terogal. Well time it so we can spend the most time as possible in the realm.
Alright. Good luck.
Tresk disappeared without saying another word. Theo wondered about what the system considered shadows with her [Shadowdancer] abilities. He worked his way through the town, finding the door to the Marsh Wolf Tavern closed. A few knocks saw a confused server opening up, looking the alchemist up and down.
Archduke?
Uh. I need food.
Well, were not open oh, the worker turned around as Xam shouted.
Let him in, you fool!
Guess thats sorted.
Theo and Alex found their booth on the second floor. Moss tea came out in moments. The alchemist stored one cup in his shared inventory, although he had to clear out some junk to make room. He ced half of a teakettle on Tresks empty chair, and several lengths of frayed rope on the ground. When the food hed ordered came out, he stored two tes in the shared inventory for hispanion.
The alchemist checked his interfaces, finding a new conversation with Alran.
Alran: This isnt overstepping my bounds, is it? Im your spymaster, arent I? I have rumblings from afar about your friend Fenian.
Theo: Go on.
Alran: I knew youd be receptive ;)
Alran: I have an informant in a Veostian cult. They follow Fanglir, but not in the traditional way. Anyway, theres word of a massive fight in the heavenly realms.
Theo: I figured as much. How does Fenian y into this?
Alran: I think hes helping fight the war. Well, hes fighting in it. Their got sent stories of a ck and blue hurricane of death. Twin-hands of UzXulven and Parantheir.
Theo stopped picking at his food for a moment. He sipped his tea and nodded to himself as Alex honked happily. This was some nonsense of the highest order. If Fenian was fighting with godly figures, or at least their forces in their realms, that was some serious power. But as the alchemist had learned, power often came at a cost.
Theo: Youre aware were expecting him today, arent you?
Alran: I am. I dont have the details, but I believe he retreated from whatever he was doing.
Theo: And how do you know? If you dont mind my asking, spymaster.
Alran: Not at all. I have another informant in an Ulvoqor cult. Theyre documenting things the best they can. From what Ive heard, it seems like he was hunting for someone. Someone that didnt belong in the heavens, just like him.
Theo: Thank you Alran. Were expecting an attack today. Please mind your southern border, and let us know if you need reinforcements.
Alran: Understood. Im attending to bussiness ;) ;) ;) in Rivers today. Need to take out some garbage. If you get my meaning ;)
Theo: Thank you, Alran. Ill keep you posted.
Whatever that meant. Theo updated Grot on the situation. The Dwarf didnt care. He just wanted more supplies for his war effort. The grouchy bastard would need to get in contact with the administrators if he wanted to do that. The new [Zorp] ability might help with that, though. Finishing his meal, the alchemist paid his server. Xam gave him the food for free, but that wouldnt stop him from throwing a few coins for the effort.
Honk!
Theo understood a bit of that honk. Alex had felt something shiver in the material of space, as though something was rubbing against reality. The more time he spent in Terogal, the better his sense for the dimensional disturbances got. His mind drifted as he found his way to Aaroks guildhall. He was ushered into a meeting. Alise, Gwyn, Aarok, and Luras were all in attendance.
The conversation was single-minded. On a gods warning, they prepared for Fenians arrival. None took it lightly, since the warning had been so grave. Gwyn had prepared a triage of potions for the Elf, including those intended to grow limbs back. Alise focused her efforts on spreading the word to citizens. Luras and Aarok were organizing the troops.
Theo fed them what theories he had, including his n to hide in his realm when the attack came.
Once there, I have 12 hours to your 5 minutes. I wont take the entire time, but Ill be able to form a n if anything unexpected happens. Theo shuffled through the papers that Alise had provided. She did a good job assembling troop quantities, types, and so on. There was also a contingency for a long-term siege. Ill have ess to my alchemy equipment so I can make whatever potions we need.
The group saw that as a good thing, but didnt want to incorporate it into their n. There might have been moments to respond, not minutes. The next time the conversation died down, Theo inserted himself again.
Any updates on Xolsa?
Hes recovering, Alise said, a smile lingering on her face. Thest report Zarali gave me was great. Hes working on standing and walking.
Theo leaned back in his chair, nodding with approval. He let out a sigh of relief, and tension left his body. The [Reforge Soul] potion hed brewed was a miracle. The window to craft the potion was extremely limited. It was unlike any other potion hed made, and the ingredient to create it was the rarest thing hed found. The alchemist fell out of his thoughts. His will stretched as far as he could send it, sensing something strange in the distance. But it was familiar.
Honk!
Agreed. Theo felt what Alex was saying, even if she could only honk her thoughts. Space had torn open somewhere, but it didnt feel like the bridge. The alchemist waved away the concerned looks from those gathered in the war room. Thatll be Xolsas portal.
Theo rose from his seat, affecting a shallow bow. Message me if you need me. I really need to check up on him.
Alise was the most reluctant to let Theo go from the meeting. Aarok eased her fears, sending him off to check on his wizard friend. The alchemist picked up his pace as he trotted to the towns center. The shimmering pane of ss rested near the monolith, pulsing with uncertain power. Without waiting for an invitation, he plunged through.
A sensation like cold water rushing over his back flooded through his mind. The alchemist was standing in the wizards tower in an instant, spotting Xolsa resting on a chair. He heaved breath, sweat forming in thick beads on his brow.
Couldnt resist could you alchemist, Xolsa said, offering him a faint smile.
Zarali stood nearby, a sheepish grin on her face. He refused to rest. Said the portal was more important than his life.
Alex popped through the portal momentster, honking and flicking her tail feathers back and forth. She honked several times before approaching the Elf, nipping at his robes. Xolsa ced a shaking hand on her, stroking with the direction of her feathers.
Youre alive. Theo could not keep the smile from spreading across his face.
Leave it to you Theo.
Leave it to you to find a cure in such a short time, Zarali said. No, darling. He had help.
Theo nodded. Youre lucky Im rubbing elbows with gods, Xolsa.
Thank you.
But that was all the Elf could do before his head tilted back, his breathing in exhausted gasps. Zarali moved toward him, propping his head forward with a pillow. She beckoned Theo to follow her up the stairs, leaving Alex behind to keep the manpany.
Zarali and Theo looked out over the swamp below. Several monsters ran around, but there were no adventurers in sight. Even in the early light of dawn, they could spot creatures moving around. Xolsa glowing wards rested at regr intervals, lighting up the marsh.
Cant thank you enough, Theo.
No thanks required. I got him into that mess.
Zarali took Theos hand in her own and squeezed. Doesnt mean I cant thank you, brother.
Ill say this, Zarali. The moment Theo started saying that, he wanted to hold back. But she wasnt a woman who enjoyed when one withheld information. The alchemists intuition told him the potion would do more than just heal the wizards scars. He was gaining a better understanding of what Xolsa was. That potion will take its time. But he wont be the same.
Zarali cast Theo a concerned look. What do you mean? Is he crippled for life? Damaged?
Theo thought about how to respond for a long moment. He stared off into the swamp. Xolsa wasnt from this world. The only thing holding him together was his [nar Mages Core]. There was something wrong with his soul. An ipatibility with this world. This was a theory that had been bubbling up in the alchemists mind for a while.
Xolsas soul is notpatible with this world. The description of the [Reforge Soul] potion is clear. It removes all impurities, imperfections, and scars
Imperfections, Zarali said, blinking rapidly. Theo, do you think
In the distance, a bell ttered rapidly. Theo felt a strange sense of danger drive a spike through his heart. Reality was being torn apart. He quaffed a [Dexterity Potion] modified with [Elemental Wind] and dashed down the stairs and through the portal before Aaroks warning even came up.
[Aarok]: This is NOT a test! Everyone to your squads. Weve gotpany.
4.20 - Fenians Return
4.20 - Fenian''s Return
Theo stood with Tresk and Alex on the east-facing wall of Broken Tusk. Across the bridge, a portal shimmered with an imprable ck sheen. The group stood ready to drop into Terogal the moment they spotted what chased Fenian. Aarok shouted orders to hismanders, casting an annoyed look at the Marshling. Someone had to pick up the ck of Tresks stealther squad, leaving them on their own until she returned from their realm.
I bet five gold that we get a giant fire monster, Tresk said, cing the coins on the walls edge.
Theo drummed his fingers on the walls edge. His intuition said it was a force of something, likely adjacent to undead. He yed the series of events out in his mind. Fenian wanted to lure Karasan out. They ended up either on the bridge, or another gods realm. There were gaps in his knowledge of the events, but it ended in a deadly chase across the Bridge.
The alchemist narrowed his eyes on the portal. It shivered.
Are ghosts a thing here?
Yeah.
Ten gold on ghosts.
Aarok pped a single gold coin onto the wall, ring at the pair. One gold to shut you up.
A force of power rolled across the open space between the river and the walls. Dust fell from the mortar. Every defender on the wall was pushed back by the force of the energy, steadying themselves and locking eyes on the portal.
Theos stomach twisted into knots as a ck carriage burst from the opening. Nausea spread through his body when he saw Fenian riding atop. The man was beaten bloody, his left arm and leg severed and bleeding freely. He held one silver-blue rapier in his remaining hand, swatting arcs of ming power behind his carriage.
The adventurers brave enough to perform a sortie were already out of the gates, lined up in their gleaming armor. They formed a wall of shields and spears, ready to catch whatever came forth. Tresk gripped Theos hand tightly, sending waves of confidentfort into his heart. Alex honked with reassurance.
Spectral figures flooded behind Fenian, moving in a tide. Tresk, Alex, and Theo fell into Terogal the moment they appeared.
Theo popped his shoes off the moment hended in his realm, letting out a heavy breath. The reassurance of his realm washed over him, even after the icy portal sprung up near the field of wheat. Benton stepped forth, waving with excitement.
What a twist! he shouted.
Theo moved to the cool water of the stream, sitting on the edge and soaking his feet. Tresk came to join them. They summoned an image of Broken Tusks defense in the sky below.
What are those, Benton? Theo asked, gesturing to the field of green figures pouring from the portal.
Lost souls. Wraiths. Benton fell down near the waters edge, gazing off into the shifting image formed in the sky. Folks that had nowhere to go when they died. Looks like someone set them on that Elf without an arm or a leg.
The image below moved in slow-motion. The wraiths boiled over thendscape. Those in the front were floating, or jumping, over the river rather than using the bridge. There were hundreds of them already. More poured through the portal by the moment.
Theo withdrew an unmodified [Hallow Ground Potion] from his inventory and inspected it. The description was clear. It would work on ghosts. He couldnt stop his mind from spinning out the events that led him here. Fenian created the means for him to produce these potions in mass quantities. Now Fenian needed help against the wraiths.
Is that irony, or Theo asked, trailing off.
Coincidence? Treskughed. No, thats Fenian being himself.
Thats a lot of ghosts, Benton said with a nervous chuckle. Bet he was traipsing realms he didnt belong in.
Is that a thing? Theo asked.
Yeah. You dont mess with another gods realm. Or ya get the ghosts, Benton said. Im guessing there. Never tried it myself.
Cool. Theo watched the ghosts moving across the field for a few minutes. Everyone gathered was content enough to just watch and think. Alex yed in the water, honking and shooting small balls of fire into the air. How long do you think we have, Tresk? Two hours?
Yeah. Maybe three.
Could you prepare these [Swamp Truffles], Theo said, removing a massive pile of the things from his inventory. Tresk nodded, scooping them up and moving off to the new fancy stills. The alchemist withdrew parchment from his inventory, along with some of his crude bone carvings.
I see where this is going, Benton said, rubbing his hands together. And I like it.
Theo smiled without looking up. He focused on his [Toruaun Mages Core] and reviewed the spells hed created. Since he had discovered the [Detect Enemy] trigger for his wards, hed been itching for a way to use them. The alchemist sketched out a concept for his new spell, detailing a group of Dronon fighting against the undead. The spell had no potency, and wouldnt bind to anything until he unlocked the property as a ward effect.
Got some drips, Tresk said, holding a ss vial under the output of one still.
If anyone other than Tresk were to handle that essence, they would explode. Theo took the container, recing it with one from his inventory. He focused on the [Hallow Ground] essence within, then sent it into a plume of acrid smoke with his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability. The primal essence it left behind glowed white, echoing with the power to repel the undead. He licked his finger, dipped it in the vial, then pressed it to his tongue.
Knowledge flooded through Theo, adding the [Hallow Ground] effect to his [Toruaun Mages Core]. Benton, he said, turning to regard the bear god. Mind making some carvings for me?
Benton rubbed his hands together, withdrawing a knife and lengths of ivory from nowhere. It would be a pleasure.
Theo and Tresk watched the stills while they carved. She came over after they had created several gleaming statues, wanting to try her hand at the craft. The Marshling was better than Theo starting out, but she was impatient. She was obsessed with getting the shape of the frog-like frogopus into the ivory, but it was tooplex.
Benton worked masterfully. He created likenesses of Fenian, Theo, Tresk, and even himself. He carved figures of various creatures, ornate rods with decorative engravings, and even a bracelet. Theo broke off after a while, rewriting his spell to work with the [Hallow Ground] property. During the process, they worked the stills and created [Hallow Ground Potions] with the most useful modifiers. That came down to brewing almost every potion with the [Aerosolize] modifier to create a zone of denial for the approaching wraiths.
In the mortal realm, the wraiths were approaching the gates. Fenian had sent his cart flying through the front gates and the warriors were moving into position to battle against a foe they couldnt beat. Theo inspected his new ward before they moved forward.
[Lesser Hallow Ground]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Hallow Ground]. Field only activates when enemies are banished when within range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
1 day.
Theo and Tresk split the ivory idols, taking 25 each. They also split the finished potions between them, the Marshling taking most of them. The alchemist would focus on keeping the gate clear of ghosts while she ran off to distribute the potions and seed thend with ivory.
I wonder if you could have mounted this defense without your realm, Benton said, groaning as he rose to his feet.
I had a few [Hallow Ground] potions in my inventory. The towers are hitting the ghosts, so it might have worked. Theo held an ivory figure of himself in his palm.
Something about the scrimshaw spoke to him. It was as though the material took the effects especially well. He clutched the figure in his palm and nodded to the bear god. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
Hey, happy to help, Benton said, pping a hand on Theos shoulder. Im rooting for ya.
Theo held a figure in one hand and a potion in the other. He nodded to Tresk. Alex honked.
Terogal faded around them. While passing through the realms, Theo saw the Bridge this time. It was filled with glowing green wraiths. Packed so bad they were falling over the edge, into the abyss below. He thought he heard a voice cry out in the distance, one belonging to UzXulven, but it was faint. A sh of bright white, and a blink before he was standing back on the battlements.
Aarok was shouting with panic, the adventurers scrambling to get out of the way of the iing ghosts. Theo tossed a potion at his feet, then the ivory idol down to the road below. The potion exploded into white fog, covering the battlement fifty paces in both directions. A bubble of pure light burst from the ground below, forming in a dome roughly half the size of the potion below. It was still enough to cover the entire entrance of the gatehouse.
A chorus of shrieks rose from the ghosts below. Tresk was already tossing potions and figures everywhere, nketing the area in thick fog and shimmering bubbles. She went north, so Theo headed south, dropping potions and wards as he went. He sessfully covered the section of the wall where the ghosts impacted, but some had made it through.
The sounds of a strange battle issued from within the town. Steel ringing off against cobbles and shouts of adventurers rose. Aarok found Theo gazing back into the town, pping a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
Take these, Theo said, shoving several figures and potions into the mans hand. Rece the others if they fade.
The alchemist jumped from the wall before themander could respond. He broke into a sprint, finding areas where the ghosts were attacking his citizens. They didnt fight with swords and shields. They drained life away from people, hovering over them like the specters they were. Sucking health in streams of glistening red mist. Theo banished a group of the foul green wraiths, sending them back to whatever realm they clung to.
A wave of power rolled over Theo, sending him falling to his ass on the hard cobbles. He spotted Zarali in the distance, holding a staff high and chanting something. Every time she mmed her glowing purple staff against the ground, another wave of energy came forth. Each pulse sent the ghosts spinning off, phasing through buildings and scattering away. Following close behind was Xolsa, clutching his side and wincing with every step.
We need to get him to the battlements, Zarali said.
Theo popped a [Strength Potion] imbued with [Refined Elemental Fire]. His muscles surged with power as he scooped the wizard up as though he were a baby. The alchemist darted across the town, taking the steps of the battlements two at a time. He set Xolsa down gingerly, steadying the man as he looked off at the fields of ghosts. The Elf was ssy eyed, wobbling on the spot.
The portal wont close on its own, Xolsa said, reaching a hand out. He struggled against an invisible force. His hand wouldnt close.
Theo ced a ward at their feet, then watched as it sprung up immediately. A gout of ghosts from those surging into the town washed up, mming against the barrier and vanishing. The alchemist withdrew an [Intelligence Potion] imbued with [Refined Elemental Lightning], tilted Xolsas head back, and forced it down his throat.
The Elf gasped, choked, then straightened. Xolsa reached out again. Ribbons of blue energy whipped off his body, burning the wall where theyshed. Space warped around him as he channeled a spell. The portal in the distance quaked, rumbling the ground for miles around. Theo almost lost his bnce as he stood with his friend, steading both himself and the wizard.
Xolsa crushed the portal into nothingness. His hand snapped closed, removing the portal from the far side of the bridge. Then the Elf copsed, caught by Theo as he fell. Zarali was ascending the steps, stumbling as she came up but otherwise unhurt. She mmed her staff into the ground again, sending another wave of banishment outward. Wraiths scattered the wake of the spell.
He did it, Zarali said, a tone of hope in her voice.
Now we just need to kill all the ghosts, Theo said.
The alchemist opened his administration interface, finding the tactical map. Aarok was always good about drawing on it. He watched as it updated in real time. Drawings on the image of the town where the ghosts were and what ces needed reinforcement. Tresk had distributed the potions, giving way to more clouds of anti-undead magic that sent the wraiths packing.
Theo found a chat log about Fenians condition, sending his heart thumping hard in his chest. It was bad. The alchemist overrode some of Aaroksmands, ordering a squad to escort Xolsa somewhere safe. They arrived in moments, four members of a Gronro squad. They saluted, and happily took some [Hallow Ground Potions] before running off.
Fenian needs your healing magic, Theo said, grabbing Zarali by the arm and leading her away.
She had spaced out, watching as the squad took care of Xolsa. Theo knew she wanted to be with her betrothed, but he would be fine. As long as those badasses from Gronro were with him, he was fine.
Fenian was being treated in the town hall. When Theo and Zarali burst through the door, they found citizens huddled in fear. He ced wards throughout the ce, then shot up the stairs with his sister. Zankirs des whispered from their sheaths when the alchemist entered the room. He rxed in an instant. Back to working on the Elf.
Fenian looked horrible. Missing an arm and a leg was the least of his problems. The Elfs entire body was covered in endless cuts and punctures. Zankir fed him another [Healing Potion], shaking his head. Zarali came to his side, tossing her staff away and pressing both her hands into his chest. When she spoke next, her voice came as a distant thing. As though she were talking in an adjacent room.
Lord Drogramath. Hear my prayer. Fulfill your oath to your faithful. Save this man.
The prayer was simple. Not much fluffpared to how she went on about the purple bastard. But Theos thoughts of doubt fell away in a moment. Zaralis back arched as her hands flung to the side. She let out a scream of pain, then drove both of her palms back into Fenians chest. The Elf let out a grunt of pain, wiggled a little, then went silent again. The priestess copsed to the side in a heap.
What was that? Zankir said, casting his eyes around the room.
The air stung with magical power. Theo knew the vor of it all too well. The stink of a god whod made themselves known on the mortal ne. He checked Zarali, propping her head up on a bit of [Starbristle x Cloth] from his inventory, then turned his attention to Fenian.
Hes alive, Theo said, watching as the mans wounds closed. The arm and the leg were still gone, but he wasnt bleeding anymore.
Only just, Zankir said, pressing his palm into the Elfs forehead. I think Drogramath simply increased the effectiveness of your potions. Id forced him to drink enough regeneration potions to heal anything.
Theo didnt want to, but he looked at Fenians stumps. The flesh had healed over as though the wounds were old. Like the scars forming on his chest, they were cured.
This is going to suck, Theo said, withdrawing his [Regenerative Potion] from his inventory. The potion hed prepared for when Fenian returned. He dipped his fingers into the sticky salve, then spread it across the Elfs stumps. Damn, sorry. Better to start this now.
Theo monitored the fight through his tactical map as Zankir helped him undress Fenian. The Khahari fighter ran off to grab a bed, returning shortly after the alchemist worked a robe over the Elfs head. The pile of ruined cloth that were his fancy clothes sat to the side, caked with blood, green ichor, and mud.
Tresk kept Theo informed about the fight. They had more than enough [Hallow Ground Potions] to keep the undead at bay, but many had retreated after the portal vanished. Alise was already coordinating with Gronro to send potions down to Rivers and Daub. Everyone expected the worst, even as the battle in Broken Tusk calmed.
Zarali woke when the fight was nearly over, jolting into a seated position. She screamed. Where is he?
Theo didnt need prodding, he knew who she was talking about. Hed been monitoring the list of injured people. First floor of this building. Our infirmary, apparently.
Zarali bolted to her feet, and fled the room. Theo and Zankir both fell onto their backs, breathing sighs of relief. Fenians breaths came slow and steady as though he were in a deep sleep. When the alchemist felt sure enough that the fight was over, he felt the Khahari to care for the Elf.
Aarok stood on the east-facing wall of the town. He gazed off into the distance, a strange smile on his face. Theo edged closer, cing aforting hand on themanders shoulder.
You alright?
Me? Im fine, Aarok said,ughing. He gestured to the pile of gold coins on the wall. It hadnt been disturbed from its spot. Looks like you won the pot.
4.21 - Wraith Cleanup
4.21 - Wraith Cleanup
Theo smacked the rump of an enchanted Karatan. One of Azrugs many carts barreled through the eastern gate, tearing a path over the newly built road toward Rivers. They had called for aid shortly after the wraiths disappeared from the gates. The administration of the town determined this was the fastest way to get them the potions they needed to defend their town.
Tresk gave constant reports through the military administration interface about wraith locations. More worrying than the lingering ghosts was a message Theo had received from Alise. Fenian insisted on seeing him and refused to share information with anyone by the recently minted Archduke of the alliance.
Alexs feet pped over the cobbles as she joined him, headed for the town hall.
We need a hospital. Theo entered the town hall, his eyes casting over the wounded held there. Whatever the ghosts did to them, it was deeper than normal surface wounds. A big one.
Fenian had his own room on the second floor. It had a decent view of the fields behind both the town hall and the Adventurers Guild. A sh of white shone from the western battlements. Another potion thrown to drive off the damned ghosts.
Fenian groaned, rubbing at his stumps. He didnt lift his head from the bed. His eyes were locked on the ceiling. Theo that was close.
Close? No shit, Theo scoffed, approaching the Elfs bed.
Ribbons of invisible energy sloughed off the man, as though he were a snake shedding skin. Theo felt the sting of them in the air. The foul taint of some far-off realm. Something that was certainly attracting the wraiths. The alchemist ced a [Hallow Ground] carving under the cot, then knelt near his friend.
Start by telling me why and how you traversed the realms, Theo said.
Fenian finally turned to look at Theo. His face was still battered, one eye almost swollen shut. They were wounds too grave for the potions to heal immediately. I didnt expect Karasan to flee so far. Let alone into a dead realm.
Which dead realm? Theo asked.
Fenian shivered, shaking his head. His face paled, going slightly green. Id rather not say. Oh, but the gears are turning in your head. I can see them. Fine. Balkors realm.
The betrayer in Balkors Betrayal? Theo asked. He thought about it for a moment before shrugging. Why not. What happens when a god is killed?
Killed? Fenian asked, groaning into a seated position. He copsed momentster. You dont kill a god. Not entirely.
Fine. How did Karasan flee into the godly realms?
Hes an ascendant. Naturally. And he has something I need, Fenian said.
Theo let the silence set in between them. This had to do with Khahar, he was certain about that. Yuri was always known for his big ns, even back in the day. Things that everyone was certain would never work. Somehow, he always pulled them off. Whether it was spying missions,bat operations, or just stupid dice games with foreign spies, he always got the job done.
The alchemist felt something. As though someone were standing right behind him. He turned, finding no one. It was a familiar sensation. The attention of a god. Theo took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He could feel the edges of those realms. They scraped together here, too many to count. Too much attention from too many gods.
Lets try this, Theo said.
The dust in the corners of the room fell in cascading sheets as the room shook. Theos force of will exploded outward, smashing against all those spying realms. Terogal rose like a tiger from the reeds, battering the other realms away in an instant. The invisible strands of power fell away from Fenian and he gasped a breath. Angry cries issued through the ether. Over the Bridge and into the alchemists mind.
Too bad.
You need to teach me that trick, Fenian said, breathing easy now.
Where is UzXulven and Parantheir to protect you? Theo asked. Whats the point of being their champion if they wont help you?
Theyre busy. Spent some of their power helping me through the realms, Fenian said. His voice came in that familiar cadence once again. Almost sing-song and too self-assured. Since youve dropped a privacy field, youll be happy to know that Khahar did the deed. Fanglir, Zagmon, and the Eye are all dead. As dead as they can be. Their realms are in ruin and he lords over the ashes as the Arbiter.
Whats the implications of being an Arbiter?
The gods were always meant to have a watcher. But they changed the rules after the game had started. Your friend Yuri has set things straight, though. Mostly. Theres a few more pieces to put together.
What does it mean that I have my realm? Not just a realm represented in the mortal ne, but a real realm? Theo asked.
Part of the design. A n that spans eons, I think. Im just uncovering the outer bits of that n. Pieces from what I can put together. From what Khahar told me, you know. After his ascension. Fenian paused as though he were collecting his thoughts. Theo could sense this was something hed kept secret for a long time. Not like I can go anywhere. Not until my limbs regrow. That lovely woman told me you applied a new potion.
Yeah, youre going to have baby limbs for a while, Theo said, pointing at the Elfs stumps. Story time.
Right. Story time. Fenian cleared his throat, coughing and hacking up green mucus. Theo dabbed the edge of the Elfs mouth with a section of his Starbristle cloth. Thank you. The Eye had ns for you from the start. He mapped out your progress to the day, and was quite angry when it didnt y out his way. Khahar tipped the scales, although I dont think he ever knew it was you. Theo Spencer from Earth.
Theos brow knit tightly, then he released the tension in his body. Of course. He seeded the Bantari in Broken Tusk. Because of the Tarahek.
There he is, Fenian said, pping his one arm on Theos shoulder. He can be smart sometimes. Mostly, we keep him around for his good looks.
How could he predict a bond? Theo asked, regretting the question the moment he asked it. His hand went for the locket that no longer hung from his neck. An item lost on his old body. On Earth. Nevermind. Where is Karasan? Do we need to kill him?
Id absolutely love to kill that snake. Fenian let out a frustrated breath. Hes too slimy to catch, though. No, I need to change tactics. Well, I destroyed his kingdom. Thats a start. Oh, theres a problem. The undead have uh well, theyve gotten out of control.
Oh, really? The horde of undead you unleashed on the continent has gotten out of control? Was it ever under control? Theo asked.
Well, it was. Then it wasnt. Depending on your reaction, I may or may not have done a bad thing.
What did you maybe do?
nted a bone from the fallen god Balkor under a small town near Qavell. Hypothetically bringing with it the power of undeath, and the unending hunger of the living dead to the continent. This all depends on your reaction, of course. I didnt do it if youre upset.
What an absolute nightmare. Theo had to take a moment to see how he felt about the situation. The undead were a problem, that was true. But were they something that impeded Broken Tusk and the newly formed alliance? Not really. They created a barrier that protected them from a Qavelli response. Even a Veostian assault would be hard to muster.
My reaction depends on how permanent the undead are, Theo said.
Theyrepletely undying, now. The first wave of undead that left Gardreth were reanimated undead. With Balkors bones around, theyll keep creating new undead. From monsters, people, even nts if theyre sapient enough.
On a scale of one to ten, Im five upset, Theo said.
Oh! I can work with that. Then it was me! I did it!
Whats the endgame? Theo asked.
Fenian gripped Theos forearm hard, a manic look shing in his eyes. My Throne, Theo. I need my throne. So do well, lets worry about mine first. Oh, the Span has fallen to the undead. Veosta is under attack.
Cool. Were not just war criminals anymore. Now were doing genocide.
I didnt create the cycle of life and death. I just thrive in it, Fenian said.
The trader had more information to deliver, but it was about trade deals. Representatives from far-off nations had heard the first whispers of a free port on the continent, and would arrive shortly. Fenian had a n for the undead, but the n was to make a n. Otherwise, he wanted them to scour the nortnds. Qavell city still stood, as well as Veosta city, but that seemed like a matter of time.
Veosta willst the longest. They have High Priests of ntheir. The Qavelli are godless, and will fall ordingly, Fenian said.
Perfect. So, Im guessing youre not doing any trading runs in your condition.
Not now. I just need a day to regain my strength. I was fighting for years in the realms this way. Lost the leg first. Then the arm. You know how it is.
Theo shook his head, rising from the bedside as someone entered the room. Alise came in with reams of parchment, approaching Fenian with requests for items. He seemed happy to fall into his old life, even if that whole thing was a lie. The alchemist left the town hall to meet with Aarok and Luras about the fight after getting word that Xolsa had mostly recovered. One less thing to worry about.
Aarok was pissed about the battle. He hadnt considered ghosts as an enemy, and ced an order with Salire for infinite [Hallow Ground] items. Heined when she refused to write him down for infinity potions, but took his order all the same.
We need a giant bubble of that potion, Aarok said.
I think I need a few more levels for the giant bubble ability, Theo said,ughing.
Can you imbue this? Luras asked, holding out a single, iron-tipped arrow.
Theo chanted, passing his hands over the item several times. He wasnt used to his new spell, and the process took several attempts. His mana drained away as he warded the arrow, applying the [Hallow Ground] effect with a [Detect Enemy] trigger.
Looks like it, Theo said. Anti-undead arrows? Well, I dont think the effect is as strong as on the bonework.
Then well use bone-tipped arrows, Luras said, nodding. Add that to our arsenal.
Theo checked his inter-townmunication system. There were chat logs between Alise and the other leaders. They had the ghost problem under control, but it was like putting out fires that started themselves. A game of wraith-based whack-a-mole. But the effect of the frantic battle, and creating so many different potions and wards, was a ton of experience for the alchemist. Enough experience to send his personal level to 21. He spent the free point in [Wisdom] sending him over the threshold of 30 as he stood with hispanions.
A rush of insight flooded through him. It wasnt like when he increased his stats over a threshold with potions.
As with everything in Broken Tusk, things got back to normal quickly. People were already working again by the time Theo left the eastern wall. He wandered to the shipyard, finding the frame of more than one boat in progress. They were farther along than he expected, and the angry Elf Laedria Wavecrest waved excitedly when she saw him.
Trade boats! she shouted, gesturing vaguely to the skeletal ships. Gonna be some big bastards. Good thing you dug this channel so deep.
I counted on it, Theo said, approaching the woman. He pped a hand on her shoulder. Any chance you can increase your production?
Im building two boats at once, my guy, Laedria said,ughing. What more do you want?
Three. Maybe four at once? Theo asked. He shook his head immediately after that. No, this is fine. Are you being paid?
By your administrators. Was hoping wed get a bonus when we finished them.
Of course. The Soutnds Alliance is buying all the trade boats you make. Well work out an amount, but I cant see them being worth anything less than 100 gold.
Thereabouts.
Yeah, well see. We still have a cash problem, Theo said. His eyes lingered on the boats for a long moment. Until he heard the tter of bells in the distance. The frantic ringing that meant trouble was around.
[Aarok]: Foreign ships sighted entering the canal. Gronro divisions, if youre not too wounded to fight, report to the eastern approach wall. Broken Tusk divisions, same. Prepare for battle.
Oh, hes pissed today, Laedria said, chuckling. She still joined Theo as he darted for the south-facing side of the harbors wall.
The pair ascended the steps in moments, leaning over the edge to squint against the afternoon sun. Three massive ships wereing in a line up the canal. They bore standards Theo didnt recognize.
Hey, theyve got coalition gs. From Partopour, Laedria said.
Theo turned to the Elven shipwright. Friendly?
Oh, yeah. Well, mostly. Sometimes. They normally have a g with a sword if theyre gonna gut you.
Theo watched as troops assembled on the adjoining wall, leveling weapons and preparing to attack. A voice boomed from the lead ship, magically enhanced as slurring in poorly spoken Qavelli.
Is Broken Tusk open for business? the voice echoed across the town. Do you require aid from the horde of ghosts that washed over our ships?
Theo didnt know if the ships were close enough to hear him, but he cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted back. We dont require help. But we are open to trade.
I am Miltar Sharp. Trade Admiral of the Partopour Trade Fleet, the voice boomed back. We are requesting a peaceful docking with Broken Tusk. With whom am I speaking?
Archduke Theo Spencer, Theo shouted back. Leader of the Soutnds Alliance. Traitors to Qavell.
We have no love for the Qavelli bastards, Miltar said. Nor do we care what your position is among them. As the acting representative of the Partopour navy in this region, I extend my hand in wee, Archduke Theo Spencer.
Tell them to raise the gates, Theo ordered. Laedria scampered off.
The ships approached, waiting for the gate to be lifted. The hung unnaturally against the canals current, owing to the upgrade ability of the shipyard. Theo finally got a decent look at the Trade Admiral. His features were somewhere between a normal Human and Half-Orc. His skin was tinged green, and he had small tusks protruding from his lower lip. The man wore a red tricorn hat, with a sweeping coat that didnt befit the hot day. His crew worked the sails, scattering on the deck of the three-masted ship.
The gate rose.
Theo watched as the ships passed under the massive gate. The crews went into motion on the three ships, mooring them at the dock. No one disembarked. They waited until the alchemist hurried around the harbor, standing under the towering vessels.
Permission toe ashore? Miltar asked, waving excitedly at Theo.
Permission granted!
Miltars men threwdders over the bows of their ships. The Trade Admiral was the first to descend, although his crew was already scattered around the docks. Theo appreciated the respect this man gave him. More than any other leader had ever managed for him.
Thank you for the warm wee, Miltar said, bowing.
Theo bowed back. The Soutnds Alliance is eager to make new friends. Especially her esteemed guests from Partopour.
Miltar fanned himself with his hand, feigning a fainting spell. My, my! You know how to greet a guest, Mister Theo Spencer. Would it be agreeable for my crew to unload wares for disy on your dock?
Please do, Theo said, gesturing to the open spaces of the dock. There was plenty of room for them to set up vendor stalls. Could I invite you to my town hall? Youll have to excuse the mess, we were just attacked.
By all means, take your time my good man, Miltar said. Oh, a procession.
Theo spun around, finding hismand structure approaching. Azrug, Alise, Gwyn, Luras, and Aarok approached. The alchemist got a sense that both Alex and Tresk were uneasy at first. They were shaken by his sudden sway in emotions. He could feel the Marshling lurking nearby, but the goose was right at his heels. Honking.
Theo introduced everyone, including Alex, to the Trade Admiral. He removed his hat, revealing a balding head, and bowed to everyone as they were introduced. The formality and kindness of the exchange had everyone taken aback.
It is always a pleasure to see Half-Ogres in the wild, Miltar said, following Theo up the road. As a Half-Orc, I see them as distant cousins.
Really? Aarok asked.
Were all lost children, us half-breeds. Miltar pped a hand over Aaroks shoulder andughed. May I ask if the ghosts were a part of the undead in the region? Ive heard bad things about them, but
But theres none here, Theo said, gesturing to his town. There were wounded here and there, but it appeared things were back to normal. Weve taken precautions.
As traitors often do, Miltar said with a nod. No offense meant to those traitors present, of course. Death to Karasan and all that. To be honest, Partopour doesnt care. Were interested in one thing. Trade.
4.22 - Miltar of Partopour
4.22 - Miltar of Partopour
A group had gathered in a meeting room in the town hall. Theo sat alone with Miltar and one advisor from the Partopour trade ship. The alchemist wanted his first meeting with another nation to happen alone. Without the influence of his over-zealous administrators who were busy enough as it was. He hoped the impression of the wounded downstairs wouldnt foul the rtionship before it started.
A junior administrator brought tea after long moments of silence. When the man left, Theo gestured to the pot. Mister Sharp. Trade Admiral Sharp? He poured three cups of tea, stirring them before distribution. Before I subject you to my Lord Merchant, I had a few questions.
Miltar shared a look with his assistant. The other man was another Half-Orc. Their race wasnt as tall as the Half-Ogres, or the Dronon of this world. They were closer in height to Humans with simr builds. The assistant wore a practical coat and a button-up shirt he left open. He had no hat, but disyed the same balding pattern.
Of course, Miltar said, holding his arms wide. This is a rare asion.
Theo nodded. He wondered how often a new nation sprouted up. Im hopeful about our future rtionship. An opportunity for your people to dock on the continent. Were a safe port above all else, and a neutral party in global politics.
Miltar sipped his tea, nodding with approval. He cast Theo a look that said it all. The Half-Orc suppressed the smug expression as quickly as it came, something the alchemist appreciated. The representative from Partopour was sitting with a child. An inexperienced upstart that had not proved himself. Not on the continent, or the global stage.
Ill say one thing before we continue, Miltar said, withdrawing a potion from nowhere. He set it on the table. Theo didnt need to examine it to know it had his name on it. It was one of his early-stage potions. First tier. Poorly made. When someone rivals our best alchemists with their first offerings, we get curious.
Theo considered his options before responding. How arrogant would it have been to pull out histest offerings? To show the trader that the potion he held, however hed gotten it, was garbage. The alchemist withdrew an unmodified [Healing Potion] from his inventory, setting it on the table.
Weve made improvements to the process. Theo tried not to tap his foot nervously.
Vast improvements. Miltar slid the potion over to himself, inspecting it. Now, do you have questions?
Dang, my pulse just quickened, Tresk said into Theos mind. You nervous about something?
Tresk knew why Theo was nervous. Her ability to infiltrate his mind grew by the day. Why she was so much better at using the bond was beyond him.
Fine. Just meeting with a representative from Partopour.
Neato. Im watching from outside the window.
Id love to learn more about your culture. You can meet with my Lord Merchantter, but thats what Im interested in. Azrug will take care of any deals you want to make, dont worry about that, Theo said.
Miltar shared a look with his assistant. He shrugged. Certainly. Partopour is a republic, and mostly neutral in global dealings. We upy a small continent between the Khahari Desert and Tarantham. Were politically neutral with both nations.
That was a good sign. Theo wanted to engage with people where there were no strings attached. The first people he expected in his port, after the Khahari, were private traders. Not representatives from a nation. If Partopour was as neutral as they said, this was perfect. They could establish trade deals and sell their resources without worrying about bacsh.
Something caught his attention in his administration interface. The conversation paused, but he held his hand up for a moment. Alise was talking with representatives from Rivers and Gronro at the same time. The ghost problem was settling down, but they had stirred up the undead. A wave crashed against the Sword and Shield, and they called for reinforcements. The alchemist sent a few quick messages to his administrators.
Sorry. War and all that, Theo said, clearing his throat. Im happy to hear that, I really am. Broken Tusk has a lot to offer, not just potions. We have ess to a rare type of wood called [Ogre Cypress], and a type of iron called [Drogramathi Iron].
Miltar kept hisposure, but Theo saw a twitch in the mans eye. The alchemists high [Wisdom] gave him insight on that. As he expected, the metal was rare. What a person could dig up from their mines depended on regional, cultural, and ownership factors. There was likely something to do with the Drogramathi power in the air, too.
Dont worry, Theo said. I wont be involved in the negotiations. We also have perfect-grade stone. Marble.
Well, were here to trade. Arent we? Miltar asked, letting out a chuckle. Weck ess to rare materials like you have here, but were industrious.
What I need most is a coin mint, Theo said. Although that seems like a dream the more days pass.
Miltar let out a sharpugh. He nodded. Theyre hard to find. The only [Core Smiths] I know if that can do the job are Elves in Tarantham. Im sure youre familiar with how they deal.
Theo nodded. Right, then. I suppose were done here. You can speak to Lord Azrug about trade.
If you wouldnt mind answering a few questions, Miltar said just as Theo stood to leave.
The alchemist sat back down. Alright.
I told you about the governmental structure of Partopour. How our people operate, and our core values of neutrality. How about Broken Tusk and the Soutnds Alliance?
Theo froze on the spot. He gazed down at his tea, which was untouched. He had put less thought into this than he should have. There wasnt a governmental structure. Theyd thrown together things as quick as they could, never giving it much thought. His thoughts formed as he sat there, realizing the nature of the [Free City Alliance] was all he needed.
We selected the [Free City Alliance] for a reason. We formed the alliance before we formed the nation to protect ourselves. The first idea was to defend ourselves against Qavell. When the undead came, it forced us to grow closer. Each town operates as its own government. While I hold the highest position, I dont desire to tell the other leaders how to run their town.
And your ideals?
A fair shake for anyone who wants it. Opportunities provided by the state for everyone to live infort, if they want it. Any citizen can be whatever they want. Were here to provide them with protection and opportunity.
Sounds likemunism, Tresk said.
I assume you own everything in this town, Miltar said.
Not everything, Theo said. But Ill admit, I own more than I should. Then again, I sent all funds from my profits into the town.
And your people have your word on that. Nothing else, Miltar said.
Theo shifted ufortably in his seat.
Communism! You corrupt Archduke. Shame. Shame. Shame!
Youre not wrong, Theo said. This setup is a gateway for corruption.
Just something for you to chew on, Archduke Spencer, Miltar said. He smiled, showing more of those stunted tusks.
Do you think my contracts are unfair? Theo asked, leaning in over the table. He felt like that child Miltar saw him as. How would the Trade Admiral see this question?
Depends on the contract.
Theyre all based on profit-share, Theo said. Not for goods sold, but goods produced.
Trying to make yourself feel better, Theo? Your stuff is more than fair, dont let this guy get under your skin.
Hes not getting under my skin. Hes right. We own the entire townand a nationpeople cant exactly say no to us when we offer them a job.
Miltars expression faded from a studious stare into a surprised look. So, they make something and they get paid? Thats an interesting approach.
Interesting in what way? Theo asked.
Normally workers get a sry. But thats interesting. I assume this motivates your workers?
It does, Theo said. Everyone busts their asses because the more they produce, the more they get paid.
Well, perhaps I was wrong to judge you, Miltar said. Ill reserve my first thoughts until Ive met with your administration staff.
Theo rose, bowing to both men before leaving. A junior administrator was waiting for him outside of the room. He instructed them to find Azrug and Alise. Then he handed over the potions that Gronro desperately needed. Hed held onto some of his [Hallow Ground] potions for Broken Tusk, but they needed them more. The administrator darted off, leaving him standing on thending. He looked down, nodding to himself as he noticed less wounded.
People were being treated quickly. From what he could tell, [Stamina Potions] did the trick to cure whatever the ghosts were doing. Maybe that was a stopgap solution, but it was good enough for now.
Not sure why you had to poke me like that, Theo said.
You needed it, my dude. Sometimes you dont act unless you get emotional. Your contracts with people are more than fair. Often too fair.
Honk!
Theo stepped out into the humid afternoon air. The days were getting even hotter, although he didnt think that was possible. While I dont want to agree, youre right. First impressions are important.
Hope the Half-Orc likes us!
Honk!
That didnt matter. Theo turned around, walking back into the town hall to find where Xolsa was. If Partopour wanted to trade with the alliance, they would. He stood inside the wizards room for a few moments before his mind shot back to the present. Zarali stood over him, applying a wet rag to the Elfs forehead.
How is he doing? Theo asked.
Zarali turned, offering a smile. Better than expected. Even if that move took a lot out of him.
Theo signed, falling into a chair. He ran his fingers through his hair, then traced the shape of his horns with his fingers. Good. And you? How are you doing?
Quite fine. Now that hes healed, anyway, Zarali said.
I should make some more [Hallow Ground Potions.
Yeah. After the ghosts? Might be a good idea.
Theo had already used his trip to Terogal for the day. He could crank out an absurd number of his potions if he had another visit avable. Instead, he sat there with Zarali for some time. She had thoughts on when she wanted to have her wedding. She hadnt picked a season to host it, but that seemed like a distant thought. Xolsa was recovering from something that should have killed him. The town and alliance were safe. There were new traders at their doorstep. What more could they want for?
The alchemist left the town hall, standing in the wide atrium for a while to watch thest of the wounded file out. Aarok had a report for him, but it was expected. Gronro needed help, and they were answering. He made his way back to theb, finding Salire there with a stack of new orders.
People want the [Hallow Ground] potion? Theo asked.
And the standard stuff.
How was the fight for you?
Fine. Just fine, Salire said, stretching behind the counter. A ghost sucked some life out of me. Wasnt fun, but I just downed a few potions.
Theo nodded. That was the way to solve problems in Broken Tusk. Drink a potion, have a rest. Everything would be fine.
I have a suggestion. Depending on how grumpy you are today. Salire cast a nervous smile the alchemists way.
Im at five out of ten grumpy today, Theo responded.
Oh, perfect. Maybe you should take an apprentice.
This again. Theo thought about this often. The only reason it annoyed him when someone brought it up was because it was a mostly impossible task. Even handling the base-level essences was a challenge for anyone without a core. That came down to a normal, unaligned alchemist at around level 50. The only other path was to take a [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. Even then, that only unlocked the first tier of potions.
To make anything moreplicated, theyd need the [Unstable Material Handling] and the knowledge of how this stuff worked. Theo cast his eyes to the ceiling and hummed for a moment. Salire joined him, looking up.
What are we looking at?
Trying to figure out the best way to ask Drogramath for help, Theo said.
The Demon Lord always felt so distant. Even with the shrine upstairs. Theo thought of the mage core in his chest, rolling the sequence of events over in his mind. That took the power of two members of the Demonic Pantheon to happen. The Elves in Tarantham had [Core Smiths] that could create ss cores. He doubted theyd ever even think about making a demonic core.
Salire leaned in over the counter. Is he listening?
No. I dont think he is, Theo said. I need to figure that problem out, but youre right. If we had an apprentice working on standard potions, things would be better for me. Do you have any interest in alchemy?
Not really. I dont even really have my mind set on trade. Salire shrugged, falling back into her chair. Not really sure what I want to do.
Theo stood there for some time, letting his mind and intuition roll over the problem. Not the problem of Salires profession. That was something she needed to sort out on her own. He thought about getting an apprentice. Beyond that, he thought of bringing other Dronon into the town. But Drogramathi Dronon were elusive people. He knew little about their culture. Just that they were reclusive. Secretive with their techniques.
Zarali had let it slip in the past that they were born in broods. That made it possible that they didnt have parents. Something like thatpounded the problem, leaving the alchemist without answers. Beyond that, there was nothing that said a Half-Ogre, or an Elf couldnt take a Drogramathi core.
Salire joined Theo upstairs into theb. She had been kind enough to purchase more [Dimensional Storage Crates] to ce upstairs. The golems had been doing their own thing for a few days now, collecting mushrooms and inserting them into the exterior crates. The shopkeeper transported those [Swamp Truffles] upstairs, saving the alchemist the trip.
Theo loaded all his stills up with the truffles, not bothering to distill down more essence for the random orders. He had enough [Refined Healing Essence] on hand to sort them all out. The alchemist ced his grinder atop the first still, processing 500 units of mushrooms before moving on to the next one. Salire followed him as he worked, oddly interested in the process despite her previous words.
How important is the grinding phase?
Simultaneously less and more important than the other phases, Theo said, moving on to thest still. At Tier 2 and 3, the grind still doesnt matter a lot. For the distition process, water and heat dispersion are still the most important aspect.
Theo didnt have enough barrels of [Enchanted Water] for the task. He held his hand over a barrel and let the mana trickle from his body. It dripped into the water, half-liquid half-me as it mixed. Salire watched with interest.
What does the [Enchanted Water] do.
It makes the essence better in every way. Theo finished with the barrel, adding it to the first still. He needed to repeat this process several times, filling each still to the top. He downed a mana potion and got back to it.
This used to be a two-part process, right?
Yeah, there was a massive pressure still outside, Theo said, jabbing a finger toward the window. We reced it with a condenser coil.
So the essence gets the refined tag, right?
Thats more than just a tag. It has physical properties, too. Its more pure. Closer to the property than before. Watch. Theo withdrew what little [Refined Hallow Ground Essence] he had from his inventory. I couldnt give you a percentage of purity, but this refined batch isnt perfect. It has impurities from the other properties attached to the [Swamp Truffle].
Without waiting for her words of understanding, Theo applied his [Reagent Deconstruction] skill on the sk. The silver essence inside went up in smoke, filling theb with a hovering cloud. The [Primal Hallow Ground] that was left behind held the familiar silver sheen. He was just disying an example for the shopkeeper, but it gave him some ideas. He could use the primal version of the essence to make a third tier potion. An experiment in the Dreamwalk was needed.
This is as close to the property as I can get right now. Its still not perfect.
How stable is thatpared to the refined essence?
Theo had to think about that for a minute. Stable, or unstable. I dont really know. Technically more stable, but I wouldnt test it.
Understood, Mister Alchemy.
Theo exined the next part of the process. They had to wait for the slurry to heat evenly. Salire had some suggestions about recing the medium from water to something more unstable. She also suggested stirring the mixture, perhaps with an artifice. The alchemist had stirred a mixture in the past, but it had little effect. But these werent the wandering thoughts of someone uninterested in Drogramathi alchemy.
Would you take a [Drogramath Alchemy Core] if I found one? Theo asked.
The smile that spread across Salires face was slow. She raised her eyebrows. Thought youd never ask.
4.23 - Advanced Hallow Ground Potions
4.23 - Advanced Hallow Ground Potions
Miltar and his assistant stayed for dinner within the walls of Broken Tusk. There was a discussion in the administration interface about how foreigners should be treated within the walls. Theo didnt have any actionable ideas, and the Half-Orc was enjoying himself. The alchemist didnt invite the man into his private booth, sitting down for some time with his closestpanions.
Even if one of thosepanions was a goose.
So, were gonna make some serious profit? Tresk asked.
Theo had watched the reportse in from both Azrug and Alise. The traders visit would be profitable. Far better than any deal theyd made ovend. The alchemist was interested in making long-term deals, though.
Naturally, Theo said. I dont think theres another producer of our iron in the world.
Sure, sure. Does this realistically solve our money problems, though? Tresk asked.
Theo thought about that for a moment. Broken Tusk didnt have money problems. Being rich or poor counted for nothing when theycked the supplies to do what they needed. Progress didnte from the slow building of a nation. It came in fits and starts, a fact brought by the magical nature of nation-building. While they needed money to buy seed cores, there was no rule against plopping down a thousand homes in a day. The only limit was the seed cores and [Monster Cores].
That was an interesting point to reflect on. A mirror to gaze upon during the waning hours of the day. Broken Tusk had gone from nothing to the leader of a nation in a season. While Theo no longer saw the passage of time as the sequential procession of days, he was aware how short of a time hed lived in this world. After a long pause, he found his answer to Tresks question.
Money problems? Yeah, maybe. What we need is a longsting rtionship. Theo filtered through some reports written by the administration staff. Curiously, they said they could make the trip from Partopour to Broken Tusk in a few days.
Magic, buddy. Isnt it amazing?
So, they have enchanted ships. Or ships with artifice enhancements. At that point, why not just fly? Theo asked, and held his hand up before Tresk could respond. I know. Magic interference and whatever. Plop right out of the sky.
Dont look at me. Its a miracle that the Ogres even got here. Let alone the Bantari. Tresk had finished her food long ago. As always, she had dumped a pile of noodles directly down her throat. It was funny how she ate more like a goose than Alex. Canoes, ya know? Thats what the Bantari have.
The pair chatted in the booth for some time. Tresk had a fun day leading a team of stealth-style adventurers around. Alex enjoyed her time shooting fireballs at ghosts. Theo doubted the goose did more than annoy the creatures, but at least she had a good time. After tea and cookies, the group departed for the bath.
There was nothing better after things went ass-up than a good soak. Dropping into Terogal daily had be something that soothed Theos mind more than anything. After soaking, they headed off into the Dreamwalk.
The world swirled around Theo, their bedroom dissolving into nothing as they entered the dream realm. Tresk dropped them into an old memory. Broken Tusk before the alchemist had arrived. It was a keen reminder of how quaint the ce was before.
Alright, anything you need to share? Theo asked. Tresk gave him a confused look. Assassins? Demons from another dimension? Giant, sapient chickens bent on the destruction of the town?
Why you gotta assume the worst? Treskughed. No. Nothing weird. Just the ghosts that tried to eat the citizens of our town.
Theo narrowed his eyes, but nodded. Alright. Sure.
A dragon flew over the town, spewing fire on the southern side of town. Thats where a scatter of homes and the smelter was. Tresk had summoned the monster, and her thoughts on such a creature were clear. Shed never seen one before, so there were things about the dragon that were wrong.
I think the legs are too short, Theo said, watching as the dragon destroyed trees and turned rock molten.
The dragons legs shrunk, bing shorter.
Now he just looks sad, Theo said.
Even from this distance, Theo saw tears form in the dragons eyes.
Make him pink.
The dragon was pink.
Why are you so much better at this than me? Theo asked. Even if he tried, he couldnt produce things hed never seen before.
Dunno. If youll excuse me, I have a dragon to y.
Tresk disappeared without further exnation.
Theo forced his will upon the Dreamwalk. He nned to focus on one recipe tonight. It wasnt something hed created in the real world, and he intended to bend the dream realm to his will. Just like Tresk did.
The alchemist got the idea when he showed Salire the [Primal Hallow Ground]. He hadnt thought about it when he consumed it for his wards, but giving her an example brought the idea to his mind. The base of his third tier potions was the [Suffuse Potion], which bound two properties together. While the results were strange, they were all powerful.
Useful? Theo asked, patting Alex. Maybe not. Interesting? Absolutely.
Theopiled a list of interesting primal essences tobine with [Hallow Ground]. [Anti-Mage] was obvious and rote at this point. The elemental essences could be effective. [Sear], [Over-time], [Web], [Fire], [Retreat], and [Poison] were also candidates. The alchemist didnt gain a sense forpatibility with those just by thinking about them. And he hadnt made most of those into primal essences before.
Thats where his willpower came in. The alchemist forced himself on the Dreamwalk. He attempted to convince it he was the master here. It would bend to his will. But it felt like mming his fist into a sheet of steel. Banging his head against a brick wall and expecting it to crumble. The harder he pushed, the more a sense of pain rolled through his mind. Until he felt it present apromise.
Theo was attempting to tell the Dreamwalk to general the primals for him. The message it sent back was clear. It would bend, but only if he did the work here. As if he were in Terogal, or the mortal ne. The alchemist withdrew the essences he needed, and applied his mana to the vials. Smoke rose near the old riverbank. ck plumes carrying an acrid scent into the air. Alex yed near the shore, shooting small fireballs at the rising clouds.
The Dreamwalk had relented, allowing Theo to break the rules. A strange sense lingered about that. Like it wasnt his will that had broken the dream realm. The alchemist cast a confused look at Alex.
Did you do that?
Honk!
Well, youre getting far better at honking. So, were happy. Right?
Honk! Honk!
Cool.
Of the primal essences Theo made, each one seemed to agree with his n. Conceptually, each essences could bebined with the [Suffuse Potion] and the [Primal Hallow Ground]. While they still hadnt seen mage-style undead, that didnt mean it wasnt worth using that as the baseline. Like the other suffuse-style potions, this one required time to brew. After the alchemist ced them in arge sk, the mixture boiled. He moved on the others, creating simr reactions that would just take time.
Theo pushed away from the table hed summoned, looking over his potions. Alright. Those are going to do their thing, Alex. Were gonna fight.
Alex gave a weak honk.
Not ready to train?
She honked again. Theo got the sense that she wasnt ready for that. Not yet. But there was something else he could help her with. Theo might have been a fledglingpared to Xolsa with magic, but he was learning. He sat cross-legged on the ground, lifting and resetting the goose a few times before shed stay still.
How does your magic work? Theo asked.
Honk!
Theo generated a stone, then enchanted it with a ward. The rock shimmered for a moment, then a field of [Reveal] sprung up. Thats magic.
Alex waved her head around as though she were attempting to dislodge something from her throat. Then a gout of fire shot out, a stream that reached high into the sky.
So, not magic? Theo asked. Is your fire more of a natural process?
Honk.
Not quite?
Honk.
Theo was more confused about how the gooses fire worked than before he started working with her. It didnt help that each honk came with a flood of information. Things that felt more like feelings than words. Alex honked a few more times, pping her webbed feet on the wet grass. The alchemist understood the basic meaning. She meant that her fire ability was somewhere between a spell and a skill. Maybe she had ess to other spells, but they were all by feel. Nothing fancy like his spell interface.
Xolsa would know what all this means, Theo said. From what I understand, spells are crafted in the system interface. In my case, I can create the spells on paper and weave those into objects.
Alex honked and Theo interpreted.
You have something like that?
A few more honks.
Oh. Then the answer is simple. I was right. You need to train.
A few honks, sadder this time.
Of course it''s hard, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt try.
Alex honked again. Theo narrowed his eyes. Say that again.
Bugs.Eat bugs.
Alex honked the words, but Theo swore he understood them. He could have been interpreting the honks, but thats how he heard it.
We can eat plenty of bugster, but you need to practice your fire attacks, Theo said.
How?
Well, lets start with this, Theo said, summoning a small Goblin.
The creature appeared, dancing on the spot. Theo ordered it to stay where it was, but he gave it a copper-tipped spear to sell the illusion. There wasnt any point in training againstpletely stationary targets, but Alex needed to start somewhere.
Alright. Kill the Goblin.
It took some convincing to get Alex to shoot her first fireball at the creature. Theo felt her affinity for living things, which struck him in the heart. She couldnt bring herself to harm the Goblin until he convinced her it wasnt real. The goose shot a fist-sized fireball at the monster, sending it tumbling back.
I wonder why your affinity is fire if youre a peaceful goose, Theo said, clearing away the old Goblin and summoning a new one.
Life,Alex said.
You dont have the life affinity. Theo took a moment to check on his potions. They had hours left to brew. You have the fire affinity.
Want life affinity.
Theo fell into a seated position near Alex. He pushed down the desire to send her forward on this path. To pursue the fire affinity. The alchemist thought about all the times he told people to reinvent themselves. He thought about the times where hed reinvented himself, both back on Earth and here.
You want to be a healer? Theo asked.
No yes.
She didnt have the words to express what she wanted. While she was just a goose, a weird one engineered by Demons, she already hadplex thoughts. Theo could feel what she was thinking to an extent, but it wasnt like when Tresk felt his feelings. It was vague.
You want a life-based affinity, but you dont want to be a healer? Maybe nature magic? I dont know a damn thing about that, little goose.
Nature!
Theo nodded. If there was a way to change her affinity from a destructive to constructive one, hed find it. The alchemist inspected the goose.
[Alexandria DGoose]
[Goose]
[Familiar]
Stage:
[Goose]
Master:
[Dreamrealm of Terogal]
Level 9
Description:
Geese are known as the most loving creatures in all the realms. Any rumors spread to disparage these honorable creatures will be met with a flurry of feathers and bill.
Affinities:
Fire
Affinities. Plural, right? Theo asked.
Yes!
Alright. Thats a path forward, anyway.
They could only theorize on how to get more affinities. For now, it was enough to specte. The potions brewing on the tablepleted one after the other near the end of the Dreamwalk. Tresk had a great sense for how much time they had left, while Theo didnt. She even imed to see outside of the dream realm sometimes, although that had been rare for her.
The alchemist inspected his potions, assessing them for usefulness.
[Purge Undead Magic]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion purges all magical ability from the drinkers soul. Must be consumed by an undead.
That was incredibly specific. Good luck trying to get an undead to drink a potion. How would he even get a skeleton to drink a potion? But that was a question for another time. This potion didnt have a modifier, and the alchemist had the sense that it could be modified.
That might be the first time that [Anti-Mage] sucks, Theo said. Alex honked a response of approval. He inspected the next one made from [Sear].
[me of Dual Sleeping Gods]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Releasing this potion from its bottle will create a slick of mes thatsts 2 hours. All undead whoe in contact with the mes are afflicted with [Searing Hallow Ground] for 1 minute.
That was the fanciest title that Theo had ever seen on a potion. He got the sense that the title came from the fact that both Balkor and Fanglir were dead. As dead as gods could get, anyway. So, they were sleeping as far as the system was concerned. The effect was incredibly powerful, though. The alchemist poured some on the ground nearby, watching as the potion spread. It rested on the surface of the grass, white mes leaping high into the air. Alex honked with surprise.
Theo summoned a skeleton, then ordered the monster to walk into the fire. The mes rushed onto the skeletal form of the creature, consuming it entirely. Pieces of it broke away, falling to the ground as ash. It didnt take long for the mes to consume itpletely.
Put that one on the good list, Theo said, moving on to the [Over-time] version.
[Slow Undead]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion slows the drinker. Must be consumed by an undead.
This one was a stinker. There was no way around it. Even after adding the [Aerosolize] modifier, it might have still just been garbage. That was the point of the Dreamwalk experiments, though. To find out whether these would work or not.
That one is going in the trash. For now, at least, Theo said. Lets inspect the [Web] version.
[Bomb of Link Undead]
[Bomb]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Throw to ssh against targets. All targets affected by this potion will have their health pooled. All targets affected must be undead. Increases the damage every target takes based on the amount of targets restrained.
This one was just in good. Theo wasnt sure about linking the health of all the undead, but everything else about it was awesome. If the effect remained for a long time, he could use the potion to whittle down many targets at once.
Yeah, this one is just good, Theo said.
Alex honked.
Next, were looking at the [Fire] one. Come on. Who doesnt like fire? Just kidding.
[Undead Annihtion]
[Bomb]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Throw at a single undead target. If the targets resistance against fire fails, the target will explode. This effect can chain up to 20 times.
Oh yeah. Thats the stuff, Theo said. We have our first winner, Alex.
Alex honked.
Next up, the [Retreat] property. See, I didnt want to do this one at first. But then I got thinking about it, and well, you never know with these suffuse potions.
[Return Undead]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion returns you to your masters seat of power. This potion may only be consumed by undead.
Thats just weird, Theo said, narrowing his eyes. He read the description several times. That could be useful, right? I guess I dont even know what banishment means for undead targets. So, sending them back to their master would do what, exactly? Balkor is dead, and he caused the reanimation. Does that send the undead into the heavenly realms? That seems problematic.
Honk!
Last one. [Poison].
[Crumbling Undead Phage]
Poison
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Undead targets inflicted with this phage will break down in time. This effect may jump to a total of 256 targets, no matter how many targets you infect.
Tresk is gonna love that one, Theo said. 256 sounds like a lot of targets, but not really. Think about how many undead are outside the gates of Gronro.
Tresk appeared from nowhere. You rang?
Just made this sweet legendary poison, Theo said, thrusting it into her hands.
Oh, this is cool, Tresk said. But I hate fighting the undead. They dont got no blood.
Yeah, might be worth making it a bomb with [Aerosolize]. Did you beat the dragon?
No. Still no. Hes too strong.
Well, you made him that way. Make him weaker.
Then whats the point? If I cant beat the strongest thing I can think of, why bother?
Theo nodded. That was Tresk. Oh, Alex wants to eat bugs and get a new affinity.
She always wants to eat bugs. Alex? I thought you liked fire.
No, Alex said, her thoughts radiating through the minds of both Tarahek members.
Oh. She can talk now. Neat.
4.24 - Big Ideas
4.24 - Big Ideas
Theo sat with Tresk and Alex in their booth at the Marsh Wolf Tavern. People came and went outside their little bubble, but they paid little attention. The goose had given a series of requests, mostly for bugs and new worms shed never eaten. The Marshling had trouble convincing her that the worms they had were the best worms.
The alchemist wasnt so sure. He upied himself with the north-facing window of their booth. If he popped the window open, craning his neck outside, he could see the artificers workshop. Throk had piles of gears and other stuff that looked like junk outside. Pieces of the old Southde artifice guardian that he hadnt yet found use for. Other strange devices were strewn about with little thought to organization.
Close the damn window! Xam shouted beyond the booth.
Theo snapped it shut, turning to gape through the narrow entrance of their booth.
Youre letting all the air out, Tresk said.
Throks first round of projects had been useful for the town. Between his skills as an artificer and his genius in smithing, the man had saved them more than a few times. Now hed gone into some insane spiral of strange inventions. Things that Theo had no name for. Or a use. This morning the Marshling tinkerer had assembled vast lengths of pipes, each with a whirring artifice in the center of the span.
Gotta be pumps, Theo said, watching as the angry cksmith mmed a hammer against the side of a pipe. It rumbled ominously.
For what, though?
Tresk shrugged.
Hes your dad. Theo picked at his food, pushing aside the things he didnt like. But the trader had brought with him a tomato-like thing. Slightly more bitter and acidic than the version on Earth, it was good. Chopped and mixed into a Pozwa egg omelet, and it was even better. The alchemist thought the addition of diced Zee was a bit much.
Good luck figuring his brain out. Did he ever work on our airships?
Theo was certain he exined this. Tooplicated. I was thinking of adding artifices to our boats.
Im down to ride some speed boats, Treskughed.
Theo tapped his foot rapidly, a thought entering his mind. That was the most dangerous thing for the alchemist to experience. An errant thought that sent his mind spiraling down unending passages. He imagined an airship flying from the north. From Karasans seat of power in Qavell. Or the east, where the Elves called home.
Air defense, Theo said.
Huh?
Werecking air defense. Throk worked on that potion sprayer. Maybe he cane up with a new idea. A potion cannon.
Youre always talking about potions. Potion this. Potion that. When are we gonna talk about stabbing?
A stabbing cannon? Theo asked. A cannon that fires knives?
Go on.
Theo shrugged. He wasnt being serious about the idea. You can read my thoughts. Better than I can read yours.
Yeah, youre right. Just seems impolite.
When has that stopped you before?
Man, youre on a roll today! Tresk shouted. Alright. Airships, right? I see a few problems. I can see the air defense weapons in your memory. Those ones you disabled in Berlin. How did those work?
When Theo first arrived in Broken Tusk, he never wanted to think about those things. War was hell, and hed divorced himself from all of its bloody trappings. But when he cast his mind back to that operation, he didnt feel the same sick sense in his stomach. He saw the memory through a clinical lens.
We destroyed the Berlin alliance with a kic bombardment, Theo started, sipping his tea. They used two methods to defend against this. The first was to intercept whatever orbital tform we used, and the other was an air defense cannon. Do you know what electricity is? sma?
Uh. I get the idea, Tresk shrugged.
Anyway. They would shoot whatever was in the sky out of the sky. Easy as that. They used a big particle beam cannon to do it. I dont know exactly how they worked, but we wont be using Earth science. Well hurl big hunks of metal, or potions. Doesnt matter.
Sounds like a weapon of war.
Yeah, were past that. If Throk can make magic pumps, magic fires, and all that crap he can make something that speeds up a round to absurd speeds, Theo said.
Then you just have to worry about operating the artifice. Training, Tresk said.
Theo tapped his foot faster on the wooden floor. He didnt know if this was the right move, but it seemed like a fools game to ignore Throks skills. When the air-based monsters came to attack, they were always at a disadvantage. But those monsters always descended to attack, resulting in their demise from the towers. What if a target was too far away for them to attack?
A dark thought entered Theos mind. What if they could put something in orbit? What if they could strike at Karasan without leaving Broken Tusk? He pushed the thought away.
Yeah, lets not do that, Tresk said, reading his thoughts. Youre quickly entering the realm of war crimes.
Theo nodded. Well stick to defensive measures. Think Throk will be pissed if I ask him to build something for me?
Maybe. Worth a shot.
I need to check up on his sprayer project, anyway, Theo said. Got any ns?
Bugs, Alex said.
Well, she wants bugs. Im going to do some dungeons.
Theo had enough things to do today. Fortunately, the administration staff handled the traders well. Theyd already done their deals, earning a hefty sum for the town. That money went directly into the town itself, reserved forter use. Mostly, Alise earmarked it to pay the workers over the Season of Fire. In the towns administration interface, shed created different sections for money storage. The Worker Fund wasnt to be touched, and she had some strange notes about payouts from the fund.
Alise intended to keep everyone on the contracted payment scheme, plus a productivity incentive. Workers earned more money the more resources they exported through the port. People like Ziz would make less from that fund, since he owned most of the quarry. But workers in Dead Dog Mine would make out like bandits.
When the group finished eating breakfast, Tresk went off to do her dungeons. That left Alex with Theo. The goose continued to insist that she needed more bugs. She just kept shouting about the bugs, never rifying what bugs. The alchemist left the tavern, following the goose as she hunted for her prey. The wandering path took them near enough to Throks [Artificers Workshop] to see the extent of the Marshlings rage.
Hey, Throk, Theo said, raising a tentative hand.
Throk was crouched near a pile of junk. He looked back at the alchemist and narrowed his eyes. You say it, and Ill pummel your archduke''s ass into the ground.
Watch your tone, I have an attack goose, Theo said. Alex shot a small ball of fire into the air. Throk actually flinched.
Need anything, alchemist? Throk asked, suddenly softening.
Not really. Just wanted to know about your potion sprayer project.
We already have one in service, Throk said, waving the question away. Up on the walls in Gronro. Theyve automated their defense by spewing your undead-killing cloud potions.
While that made sense, it surprised Theo. So, do you have some spare time?
Does it look like I have time?
Theos intuition told him to push the Marshling. Throk was out here, digging through his crap, because he had nothing else to do. Thim was a great cksmith, likely taking most of the boring cksmithing jobs from the Marshling. When his mind wasnt busy, he got to work on whatever else he could think of.
I think you do.
Throk grumbled. What is it?
Theo exined the idea of a cannon that used artifices to speed up an object. He emphasized the concept of not using an explosive charge to send the object forward. The alchemist detailed that it needed to send something as delicate as a potion, or as hard as a chunk of [Drogramathi Iron].
I got something that might work, Throk said, disappearing into his workshop without another word. When Theo didnt follow, he shouted back, do you need an invitation?
Theo entered the cluttered workshop. Just like the exterior, the interior was strewn with garbage. Throk had ess to storage crates, so he must have been organizing his stuff. The alchemist watched as he assembled something for disy. He set out a long, rail-like artifice on a table after clearing it away. Once a mote was ced in the side, it hummed. Then he took a length of regr iron and set it atop the device. Instead of making contact, it matched the pitch of the hum and floated there.
Youve invented maglev, Theo said, chuckling.
Huh? Throk asked. Well, check this out.
Throk adjusted something on the device, then tilted the bottom section upward. The bar of iron didnt move. It was locked in ce above the artifice. He adjusted a dial on the side, and the bar moved forward until it fell off the front, ttering to the ground.
If I can get it right, I canunch that bar at some absurd speeds.
So, youve invented a maglev and a rail gun, Theo said, nodding with approval. Nice.
Alright. Exin both of those to me.
Theo was happy to exin both concepts. Throk had intended to use the device to make a carriage without a Karatan. One that followed tracks. Basically, he wanted to make a train. He didnt have the words for what he wanted to make, but the alchemist was on board all the way. That just made the Marshling more excited.
From here to Rivers, well need some serious metal, Throk said, unfurling a length of parchment. Hed already drawn up the ns. Which means I need you to give me metal. And money. And more metal, because I came up with a way to feed motes to artifices automatically.
Throk was full of surprises today. He showed how his hopper-tube system worked. ording to the Marshling, he gained a skill that let him interface two or more artifice systems. One artifice could be programmed to do a number of things. First was to report that it was low on energy. So the operating artifice could send word back to a hopper that it needed motes. Those systems could be chained to a central system, but there was the problem. Theyd need an absurd amount of pipes to make it work.
How many men and how long. To get this thing rolling? Theo asked.
Not so fast, alchemist. Youre not very smart, are you?
Theo shuffled his feet on the spot. No need to be mean.
Throk snorted augh. Grow some thicker skin. Were not jumping headlong into this one. Were going to build a test. I just need permission to use the tract ofnd between Pergs ce and the harbor.
Permission granted.
I can have an example read for you real quick. Maybe today if I can figure out how to adapt this to a wooden carriage.
Youre going to use wood for the train car?
Heres the problem, Throk said, setting up his maglev example pieces. He ced the iron bar over it, allowing it to hover, then pressed down. It took little force to make the bar touch the rail. Weight.
Theo approached the experiment, resetting the iron bar. He saw a few other problems he would not mention to Throk. The alchemist tilted the device all the way on its side. The iron bar was locked in ce, seeming to ignore physics. That was a good thing for this project.
Alright. I want you to have an example ready whenever you can. Well pull everyone for this. Its too cool not to do. After your example is ready, were going into full safety mode. I want to see impact tests, Throk. Send one of these bastards down a track at full speed. Ram it into a brick wall.
A smile spread across Throks face. Oh, I love it when you get all involved. Ziz already signed up, hes already working on the tracks base.
Theo nodded. This is what he wanted out of his citizens. Pushing forward on awesome projects like this without asking for approval. He realized this would rece Azrugs carriage system to an extent, but those carriages normally held only supplies. They were too fast and too bumpy for regr people to enjoy. No, this new project was a money-making opportunity. Who wouldnt pay a shiny silver coin to ride between the towns?
Alright. Report directly to me when youre ready. Ill smooth everything over with my Lady Administrator.
Throk snorted augh, then pushed past Theo without another word. The alchemist left the workshop, finding Alex picking through the sparse grass for bugs. She joined him as he headed back to theb. Although he intended to work on his new potions, he arrived at theb to find Salire ready with a list of things to work on. Miltar had put in a request. A massive request.
You told him these were off-limits, right? Theo asked.
There was a sign on the counter that read We do NOT sell bombs. Miltar had still requested them.
He offered to pay an absurd price, Salire said with a shrug.
Theo had never sold a bomb. He didnt have a price to give for the bombs. But Salire had invented a price for the defensive-style bombs. Bombs like the [Freezebomb]. Miltar had offered 10 silver each. The alchemist rubbed his eyes until he saw spots, shifting and glowing in his vision.
No. Hell have to be happy with the 1,000 other potions he ordered, Theo said, grimacing. He really ordered a thousand potions? Are you kidding?
He paid upfront. Outsider pricing, Alise said, dumping a massive pile of gold onto the front desk.
100 gold coins. Youre joking, Theo said, pulling 10 coins to the side. He took the other 90 into his inventory.
Yep. Im a good salesgirl.
Damn right. Okay, Theo said, freezing on the spot. I need
Reagents.
Right. Okay. Reagents, Theo said, darting out the front door and behind the building. He saw his [Lesser nt Golems] working.
Upon seeing the alchemist, the golems sent a mental message into the lodestonework. They were low on [Mana Constructs]. To the point where the [Lesser Copper Golem] had shut down earlier that morning. Theo hadnt noticed.
Damn, alright guys, Theo said, adding more [Manashrooms] to his inventory. Give me five minutes.
Theo darted back into the shop, his inventory filled with everything hed need to fulfill the request.
How long is MIltar still in town? Theo asked.
Not sure, Salire responded, falling back into her chair.
Im taking this with me, Theo said, holding the order form up. Alex, lets go.
Alex honked, joining Theo as he fell through the realms. The pair passed over the Bridge for only a moment. It was far more calm than it had been in the past. He caught a sh of something in the distance, over that shadowy bridge, but it seemed normal. The alchemist popped his shoes off the moment hended in Terogal, feeling the soft grass under his feet. He didnt hesitate, heading directly for his three stills.
An archway of stone and ice appeared near the wheat field. Theo had already put on his first batch of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] for the order of [Healing Pills]. Benton stepped from his realm, shaking ice from his shaggy coat. He stood there in the faux-sunlight for some time before approaching the alchemist.
Been a hell of a few days, the bear god said.
Alex honked in agreement, offering no words.
Tell me about it, Theo said, adjusting the heat on his stills. Did your realm suffer from the weird ghosts?
Nothing I couldnt handle, Benton said. We only had a few stray wraiths. I saw the chaos on the mortal ne, though. As far north as Gora Sat.
Theo paused his work. Gora Sat was the name the Toora people used to describe their home. It was a mountain range north of Qavell. The alchemist was horrible at estimating distance, but that was at least a thousand miles away.
They made it that far? Theo asked. They originated in Broken Tusk. My town.
Of course you were the source of the problem, Benton said, pping a hand on Theos back. Why am I not surprised?
But youre serious. They were at the World Spine?
Yep. Just a handful, but they caused some problems with my people. Benton withdrew a stone chair from nowhere, setting it down on the ground with a thud. He sat, withdrawing a knife and a length of bone from his inventory.
Did you help them?
Nope. New rules.
A memory shed in Theos mind. UzXulven said something to that effect when he was almost assassinated. She said that she wouldnt agree to a new set of rules. Now that was interesting.
The gods got a system message, didnt they? Someone changed the rules of how you can interact with the mortal world, Theo said.
Well, we can use a vessel to visit. It has to be our champion, and we pay a high price to do so. Godly resources, you know.
Theo paused his work. Zarali had channeled the power of Drogramath to heal during the ghost attack. Was that considered channeling the god?
Who set the new rules? Was it just the system? Theo asked. But he already knew the answer.
Yeah, some new guy. A brand new ascendant that the system called the Arbiter. It said he was always supposed to exist, and that he now enforced the rules of being a god.
Theo tapped his finger on an empty vial. Now that is interesting.
4.25 - Poor Application
4.25 - Poor Application
Theo had a lot of time to consider Bentons words inside Terogal. His priority was to finish Miltars order, but after that he was left with his thoughts and random tasks. The alchemist brewed more potions to sell in the shop, covering the basics of healing and mana restoration potions. But he alsopleted several batches of attribute enhancing potions.
Alex was content to y in the small pond, even after Benton left. Theopleted a reaction for thest of his potions, then settled down near the pond. He dangled his feet in the water, sshing at the goose asionally. The image of the real world over the inds edge focused on Tresk. She did what she always did. The Marshling took her job as an adventurer seriously and rarely went a day without killing a monster.
Theo exited his private realm when his time was done. Alise had waited the five minutes for him toe out, and was happy to ept the potions hed crafted. Tresk checked in on him as he retreated behind the building to check on his nts. Shed felt him go into the realm and was naturally concerned.
Were fine. Justpleting a few orders, Theo said.
Alright. Keep me in the loop.
She wasnt as worried as thest time Theos life had been threatened. That would have surprised him, but her confidence was growing by the day. While he wouldnt bring it up, they were both benefiting from their shared realm. It helped keep his thoughts ordered, and reduced the worry that came with his unnatural intuition. It often felt as though his thoughts werent his own, and he didnt know if he should me the realm or Khahars ascension.
Theo checked his administration interface, ensuring his guests were behaving themselves. Gael had taken that project on, writing reports about the vendor stalls the sailors set up in the port. He reported the exchange of a lot of gold. The items didnt draw people in because they were useful. They wanted to have something from afar. Something that wasnt produced within the town.
Alise had penned reports about the usefulness of the dock beyond just a means of connection. Miltar was happy to pay a fee to sell his wares within the town. It wasnt a massive sum of money, but it was enough to line the towns pockets. More than theyd get without buying the dock, anyway. But the sailors arrival had brought with it high spirits. The people in Broken Tusk saw it as a beacon of hope. Theo wandered the streets, listening to those hopeful voices.
Theo walked south, inspecting the smelters for a time. Embers drifted from the open workshop, carrying on the hot air only to extinguish themselves on the ground. The heat was already oppressive outside of the smelter. Even at a distance the smelters heat was exhausting to endure for more than a few moments. Nira and her people worked within, drenching each other with water as they worked.
The area around the smelter had built up slightly. Both the mine and the smelter had workers that didnt want to walk far to get to work. They built their homes in the area. Some didnt even follow the path of the road, nting their [House Seed Cores] up on hills, or in slight depressions in the terrain. The area wasnt as organized as the massive neighborhood north of Xams tavern.
But there was a charm to that.
An orderly town might be easier to get around, but there was something about the disorder that made it feel more human. Theo walked to the mine and thought about how the buildings were ced. His previous thought about the disorder of humanity faded when he spotted a lone house far in the distance. It was one thing to go against the grain, and another entirely to make ones house in such a horrid spot.
Theo waited awkwardly outside of the mine. Gridgen usually came out to greet him, but all he saw were random workers. They greeted him well enough, but no one stopped long enough to hold a conversation. Alex had been wandering around, eating bugs, and when presented with the chance to go in the mine, she declined.
Gridgen had made good progress on digging more tunnels. Hed expanded the level that mined copper and iron. But Drogramathi Iron was still hard to get. The alchemist stood outside the holding gate, looking in toward the ce where they found Alexs egg. More than ever, he was certain there was something under the town. But projects were pushed back as time went on, and the mines extra duties suffered.
The purpose of the mine was never to find random passageways into the underworld. They were fine hauling absurd amounts of nuggets out.
Theo didnt have to chase down anyone for a report. Gwyn had posted theirst weeks production, and it was looking good. But with only 50 [Drogramathi Iron Nuggets] mined, they wouldnt have much to export. The alchemists other ventures were doing well. The weaver was producing absurd amounts of [Starbristle Cloth], something that Miltar was very interested in. Another thing the trader was searching for was lumber, although he had no desire to buy their stone. Gems were another item he wanted, but Ziz wouldnt part with those.
The day whittled away as Theo stopped in on all his people. His wandering march through town always ended in the same ce. The area between Pergs tannery and the harbor. Throk had been working on his device for a while. It had started as nothing more than a pile of items strewn around. Before long, the artificer had assembled a length of track. Sledge came in to help set up the wooden cart. Finally, Ziz and his boys built a thick stone wall at the end of the track.
Theo watched as Throk adjusted his artifices. It was just a long bar of iron with artifices embedded within. As the alchemist looked upon the Marshlings creation, he couldnt help but say, looks like a monorail.
Dunno what that is, Throk said, making another change to his devices.
The thing looked like a monorail with an open wooden cart on top. A single bar rested under the carriage, causing it to float as though locked in ce above the rail. Throk would need to solve several problems with this setup. He needed to feed motes to the track, but also the cart itself. It wasnt workable to feed the motes manually. They needed an automated system, or nothing at all.
Right, Throk said, finishing his work. He smacked a metal box with a bunch of dials and buttons on it. This isnt the final version. But this thing talks to all the tracks at once, but I only have a dumb fire mode right now.
Alright, Theo said, stepping back and crossing his arms. Why dont we start out slow? Just make it go to the end of the track. Dont hit the wall.
I think we can do that, Throk said, pressing a few buttons on the panel. Stand clear of the wall. Just in
The cart vanished. Well, part of the cart vanished. The boards that created a tform at the base had remained on track, secured to the hovering artifice. The rest of the cart was torn away, falling to where the track started. An ear-shattering crash filled the area. Theos hands went reflexively to his ears, covering them as the stone wall exploded. Shards of rock fell from the sky, peppering those gathered. Everyone took cover under trees, shielding their heads from the deadly rain.
Maybe a bit fast! Throk said, wincing as a shard hit him in the head.
Ya think? Theo asked.
Once the dust had settled, they inspected the stone. The militia arrived momentster, investigating the sudden explosion. Theo waved them off, checking out how the wall had been turned to powder. There was no sign of the cart, or the device that sat under it.
Yeah, way too fast, Throk said, inspecting the stone. Thought I did all the math right.
Clearly not, Theo said. Well need some safety measures. But this is good. Itll work as a weapon.
I wanted it to work as transport, Throk said, crestfallen.
The crowd that had gathered to see the maglev experiments failure chatted. Theo turned to look at their reactions. Most seemed to think it was interesting, not expressing an aversion to the new method of transport. But he spotted a strange sight among the group. Miana stood with a [Marsh Wolf] at her side. The same creatures that roamed the swamp, attacking adventurers whenever they could. He waved her over.
Alright there, Theo? Miana asked. Heard this was going to be transport. Not a weapon.
Both, actually, Theo said. At least the rails underneath seemed undamaged. Even if Throkmented, kneeling near them to assess the damage. You have a wolf.
Ah, yeah, Miana said, patting the creature at her side. It whimpered, closing its eyes as she stroked the monsters fur. I got myself wrapped up in a job for Aarok. Hes convinced we can breed a domesticated version of the wolves, then stick Marshlings on their backs for cavalry.
Miana had a [Monster Tamers Core], but Theo didnt think she was doing anything with it. He was under the impression shed use it to capture monsters like the [Fire Smander], using the domesticated version of them to harvest their delicious eggs. Mounted Marshlings was the furthest thing from his mind, and he doubted their usefulness. Aarok had more experience here, though. If themander thought it was a good idea, the alchemist wouldnt step in the way.
Alex didnt care for the wolf. She held her wings out, honking repeatedly. No matter how annoying she was to the creature, it didnt even nce at her. Miana had trained it well. Perhaps the goose could learn something from the program.
How hard is it to tame them? Theo asked.
Not hard at all, Miana said. They need to be equal-level with my core. That was the hardest part, but the levels came quickly after I found a few nests of smanders.
Theo warred with himself on how he felt about the tamed monsters. He watched as Miana lovingly stroked the wolf, showing it as much affection as she did her farm animals. His first thought was to use the animals as fodder, exactly like how he treated his golems. But watching the wolf push into the Half-Ogre womans hand changed his mind on the spot. Theyd work better as bonded pairs with citizens. As creatures meant tofort folks and provide something more than just a weapon of war.
Theyre cute, Theo said, kneeling to inspect the creature. He lifted the wolfs lip, inspecting its sharp teeth. It was more plump than the wild monsters in the swamp. Pinning its ears back, the wolf whimpered at the alchemist. Bet you could do some damage, huh?
The [Marsh Wolf] let out a yipping bark, licking Theos hand.
The process is kinda annoying, Miana said. I have to tame them, then bond them to me. If I want to transfer them to another person, I then have to do the bond all over again. And I can only have one tamed monster at a time. Releasing them reverts them to their monsterized state.
Throk came trundling over. He spotted the wolf and narrowed his eyes, then took a few steps back. Found the problem. My control panel made a feedback loop. It made all the rails use their stored power at once.
Which is perfect for the railgun, Theo said.
Throk grumbled. Well, Im ready for another test. Although, well just be floating the connector rail instead of a full carriage. Sledge is mad that I destroyed her creation.
Naturally, Theo said, approaching the testing area.
Instead of the full carriage on top, Throk used his backup bar of iron. Like thest one, this had various artifices attached to it. When the Marshling set it over the rail, it floated like before. When he pressed a few buttons on his control panel, it moved. Slowly. He cranked a dial until the speed increased, then stopped it before it hit the end of the track. The thing could even reverse.
Ill get it to a point where it doesnt need a person manning the controls, Throk said. Other than that, well start working on the monorail soon.
And my weapon? Theo asked.
Throk gave the alchemist a t look. Come on, you needy bastard. Lets work on some designs.
Throk ordered his people to clean the area up, and prepare forrge-scale production. They were his assistants from the cksmith. Like most people in Broken Tusk, they desired to specialize in one thing. What ended up happening with everyone was a generalization. cksmiths did a bit of artifice work, even if it was just in a helping capacity. Theo went off with the Marshling, ascending the walls to sketch out some designs.
So it needs to spin and tilt? Throk asked.
Theo had sketched a simple design. A ring that allowed the gun to spin, and something to allow for tilt. Firing would be manual, but he doubted thered be an issue there. If Throk did what he said, the weapon would send a hunk of metal off at absurd speeds. Aiming would be easy.
Right. Basic functions, Theo said. But we need maximum speed out of the muzzle.
Muzzle?
The long bit that shoots things out, Theo said. Is it possible to reuse your sled?
Sled? Oh, right. The carriage mechanism. Yeah, maybe. Maybe not. Throk tapped his chin for a while. He drew a quick sketch on the parchment.
Throk detailed the carriage mechanism as it already existed. He then drew an attachment on top that had a forward-facing hook. That would allow the sled to hold onto something as it was elerating forward.
And then we have other rails after theunch-point to slow the sled down. Once the sled slows, the projectile willunch forward. Throk nodded after his statement, satisfied with the idea.
That was the thing with Throk. He was always grumpy when Theo brought him ideas. But the alchemist never forced him to do uninteresting things. They went on a journey together, solving weird problems with artifices. Thats how to hook the Marshling on a task. Show him something cool and weird, and he got on board.
Well see aboutunching potionster, Theo said. That requires a lot more experimentation.
The purpose of this new weapon Youre nning on targeting airships, right? Throk asked.
That was Theos first thought, but not thest. He imagined batteries of these things on the ports walls, aiming out at sea. Small forts on the coast, perhaps even on the mountains. But their immediate use would be to take down unfriendly airships, if those ever came.
Weve never gotten ahead by staying still, Theo said. If I know airships exist, I need a defense against them. We know Qavell didnt have a sea-faring navy. What about one in the sky?
Youd think theyd have sent them by now, Throk said, folding his arms. Open rebellion and all that.
Yet Im still worried.
Well, this is your money, Throk said. By the way, all this crap is expensive.
Of course it is. Just send the costs to the administrators.
Looks like I got a lot of work to do.
Theo and Throk departed the wall. Alex had not only stayed behind, but had followed Mianas wolf. The alchemist used his connection with the goose to find her harassing the Karatan at the ranch. Miana took it in stride, her deep love for all animals clouding her jugement.
Come on, Alex, Theo said, clicking his tongue. Leave those poor cow-bugs alone.
Battle! Alex said, her thoughts flowing into Theos mind.
They dont wanna fight you.
Yes! They do!
Come on. The Karatan and Pozwa are important. Theyre not familiars. They do not have the power to fight you.
Fine.
Even through the telepathic connection, Alex seemed disappointed that she couldnt fight the farm animals. Miana came to the ranchs edge, leaning over the paddock fence and grinning. The goose fluttered to a post, stomping with her webbed feet.
Shes got a strong spirit, Miana said.
I think shes frustrated, Theo said, stroking the goose. She ruffled her feathers, honking loudly. Then she shot a fireball. She wants to change her affinity. Or get a new one.
Oh? What affinity is she looking for? Maybe I can help.
Alex told me she wanted a life affinity. Or something rted to life.
Nature?
Nature! Alex honked. I want nature!
Guess she wants nature, Theo said.
Alex, it should be easy. Miana came up to the goose, holding the creatures head in her hands. We just need to expose you to a naturally aligned energy, feed you a few motes.
I want motes!
What motes? Theo asked. My inventory is crowded with the damned things.
[Nature Motes], Miana shrugged. Should be plenty in the swamp.
Theo nodded. His [Lesser Mud Golem] collected all kinds of motes. The alchemist had several [Dimensional Storage Crates] filled with motes of all kinds. He had a n to hoard them, then sell them when traders came. But traders didnt seem too interested in motes. Or he was a bad salesman. Likely thest option.
Perfect, Theo said, pping his hands together. Well start on that tomorrow, Alex.
I want it now!
Theo stared at his goose for a few moments. I think were entering the teenager phase.
Alex honked.
4.26 - Goofin Around
4.26 - Goofin'' Around
A crack-like boom echoed through Broken Tusk. Theo unplugged his ears, cheering with the other citizens. The crowd that gathered to see the artificers newest deathtrap had urged the Marshling to put on a disy. He obliged, making rapid adjustments that created a supersonicuncher. A dumb fire rail gun. The weapon sent objects spinning off in random directions, breaking the sound barrier and deafening those that had gathered.
This is a noise ordinance vition, Aarok said, digging his elbow into Theos ribs.
The alchemistughed. This went far behind a noise vition.
Yeah, but it''s cool.
The shadows parted to Theos side, and Tresk emerged, wiping the muck from her face. I heard that in the dungeon, dude!
They heard it in Rivers and Daub, Aarok grumbled.
Throk loaded another random object onto theuncher. He hyped the crowd up, encouraging them to plug their ears before he set a chunk of marble into space. The artifice groaned. The rock was gone, and the sled was at its end position. Theo dug the wax out of his ears, trying to clear away the constant ringing. This couldnt have been healthy for anyone.
Tresk jumped up and down, pumping her fist in the air and screaming. Alex honked.
Lets wrap it up, Throk, Aarok said.
Just doing some test fires, Throk said. Just one more.
Aarok groaned. One more. Then were tearing this thing down.
The Half-Ogre walked away without waiting for confirmation. Theo followed, then Tresk and Alex.
Well have some airship killers soon, Aarok said. Theo noticed he raised his voice higher than normal, no doubt battling that same ringing.
Wanna have dinner? Theo asked.
Aarok gave him a t look at first. Then his hand went to his stomach and he nodded. Yeah. Id like that.
Tresk, Theo, Alex, and Aarok assumed their seats at the private booth. With the sun gging in the sky, dipping lower by the moment, the Marsh Wolf tavern was filling up. As themander of Broken Tusks growing army, Aarok wanted to share his concerns. But the alchemist steered the conversation away from those heavy things.
Monorails were never really popr, Theo said, sipping his mead. Alex munched on a te of bugs and worms. And no one really invested in maglev. Well, what Throk is doing isnt really maglev. Thats magic.
Dunno what that is. Aarok didnt sip his mead from Rivers. He guzzled it.
Mas. They used mas to levitate a train. Made it go extremely fast.
Imagine one of my dads trains that ran from here to Qavell, Tresk said, giggling. Youd get there in a day.
Maybe a shorter time, Theo said. Depends on how fast we can get it to go without tearing itself apart. The best use for the train is moving people, right?
Because of [Zorp]. Tresk nodded.
I dont see the value in a railed transport, Aarok said, folding his arms. Azrug is doing fine with his enchanted Karatan.
The entire maglev project had little to do with practicality. Theo wanted to pursue all technology. Especially since he found another use for the general principle. He wondered what other defensive weapons they could make from Throks inventions. There were practical reasons, too. The more the Marshling worked on artificing, the more experience he gained. That resulted in better artifices, which had be vital to the survival of Broken Tusk.
Throk had finally epted that he should take apprentices. If not that, then at least workers. That had been a point of friction for some time, and the alchemist was d they worked it out.
This is more about building things for the sake of building them, Theo said. Youve been abroad, Aarok. What kind of things have you seen?
Aarok shifted ufortably in his seat, leaning back and sighing. Been to Qavell. And Veosta. Both me and Luras thought we were some hot-shot sell swords.
Tell us about Qavell, Tresk said, bouncing excitedly.
Qavell is a ringed city. The closer you get to the middle, the heavier the defenses. Taking a walk from the outer wall to the inner one would take you a day. Not because of the distance, although that is considerable. The checkpoints. Gods, the checkpoints. Aarok beckoned a server over, gaining another mead for his efforts. Karasan was so paranoid about keeping his kingdom safe that everyone became paranoid. From the ground up, everyone thought someone wasing for them.
There must have been good things. Theo shrugged. There was always a silver lining.
The food was great. The military was disciplined.
Tresk blew raspberries. Come on. There had to have been more.
Aarok drank his entire mead in one go, leaving a wet spot on his upper lip. He belched. Well, we could learn from their farming techniques.
Oh? What do they do differently? Theo asked.
They had few farms behind their walls. All the farmers were out there in the open, but thats where the militaryes in. There was always someone on watch in the farms. There were little watchtowers spread through the farm, so if they saw somethinging they rang bells.
Thats a cool idea, Tresk said with a nod. Assuming we have the adventurers to spare for it.
We do, Aarok said.
How about Veosta? Tresk asked.
Spread out like you wouldnt believe. Small walls, but a lot of highly skilled adventurers protecting the area. Aarok let out a sigh. Luras and I were ready to pledge our lives to those Elves.
No one wants to take a soldier with [Laborers Cores], Theo said, smiling. You know, Id love to get in contact with the Toora north of Qavell. Or those lizard-folk down south.
I dont even know what the lizard people are called. Do they have a [Kingdom Core]? Aarok asked.
Tresk shrugged. No idea. Dad never told me what they were called. Hes never been to the homnd.
He said he knew someone that took the Tarahek, right? Theo asked.
No. Hes a liar if he said that. Tresk cleared her hands off the table as the server came with their food. She mustered the self-control required to not eat the te of cheesy Zee pasta to continue her story. We have stories about a Bantari Marshling taking the Tarahek, but thats a mothend story. A lizard-person and a Marshling took the bond, then eventually ascended to the heavens together.
Hey, we already did that, Theo said.
Not by a long shot, bud. Tresk took her te, tilted her head back and dumped the entire thing inside. She swallowed it all. There isnt a name for what we do. All breaking the rules over here.
How do you know that other Tarahek bond didnt do it? Aarok seemed skeptical about the entire thing. But there was a tone of gravity to his voice.
Guess we dont. Maybe this is normal.
Theres nothing normal about you, Tresk, Theo said.
Damn right. Im unique.
I am unique, Alex said, then honked.
Aarok shared more tales about his time as a wandering adventurer. Theo knew little about it. Luras didnt enjoy talking about it, either. Both of them had dreams of joining one army or the other, finally settling for the Qavelli Irregrs. That group held soldiers from various backgrounds. Those that werent suitable for the standard army. They were fodder.
Not that the face of war in the past mattered anymore. Balkors undead created a ticking time bomb that had just gone off. Now there was no sense in waging war on the continent unless an army came with a [Hallow Ground] potion for every man. Or a priest powerful enough to banish the undead. Both options seemed rare enough to make the effort impractical.
Tresk shared the stories of her people from her homnd. The Bantari Marshlings lived alongside another race of lizard-folk in rtive harmony. They were a shamanistic culture, believing more in the importance of ancestor spirits than anything else. A small group of the Bantari migrated to the swampy area around Broken Tusk when they met with the passing Ogre explorers. Theo never understood the motivations of the Ogres to settle in the swamp.
More than anything, both Theo and Tresk wanted to uncover the history of the region. It seemed so shrouded in mystery that no one had a consistent story. They were just two cultures smashed together, resulting in something unique.
I bet Azrug knows more than we do by now, Tresk said. If the poor boy wasnt busy all day. Every day. Maybe he could tell us.
Hes been leveling that [Loremasters Core] like crazy, Aarok said, shaking his head. The system gives him bits of information, but so far it hasnt been useful for anything but unlocking properties on gear.
The conversation went from here to there, never lingering on anything important. The more drinks Aarok had, the more he revealed how proud he was. Broken Tusk had transformed in a short time, revealing the true power of the Half-Ogre people. He forgot to include the Marshlings in his grand statement, and got a re from Tresk.
Bath? Theo asked.
Not me. Gotta run the rounds, Aarok said, rising from his chair. He wobbled on the spot before getting his legs.
Tresk, Theo, and Alex went to take their bath. Their conversation never left the lizard-people to the south. There were a few trade-worthy ships that would be done within days. Once they had enough sailors to use the boats, theyd head straight for those inds to make contact.
Theyll be happy to see their long lost kin, Tresk said. Especially since we still speak thenguage. You dont want that kind of barrier.
Hey, maybe we should sail down there. Might be fun, Theo said.
Tresk spit water across the hot bath, hitting Alex in the side. The goose honked, spreading her wings to shoot a fireball at the Marshling. She went underwater before the fireball hit.
No fireballs inside, Theo scolded.
Might be fun, Tresk said, tapping her chin. But we always seem toe under attack when we leave the town.
That was true.
Well think about it.
The bath was pleasant. Something more than just his busy life forced Theo to slow down. The progress on his cores had slowed to a crawl. His [Toruaun Mages Core] edged closer to level 6 by the day, but everything else had stagnated. Everything except his [Governance Core]. His highest core was his [Tarahek Core] at 29, followed by the [Governance Core] at 26. His alchemy and herbalism cores had been at level 22 for a while. His personal level was also at level 22.
Tresk had experienced a simr slow-down in her progression. She had to contend with leveling a new core just like him. Her [Parantheir Duelists Core] was more difficult for her to level than she expected. Neither of them seemed too concerned to rush to higher levels, though.
We have a unique advantage, though, Theo said, removing himself from the bath to dry off.
People get weird when they go past level 30, Tresk said, taking their conversation to their private [Tarahek Communication] ability.
But we have Terogal. I cant get my mind off the Tarahek you mentioned.
Search our real, Alex said.
Terogal is limited to adjacent realms. People who are as weak as us.
Disappointed.
The group finished up their bath, drying off and heading for home. Theo let out a wistful sigh as he looked at their building. It was a wonderful ce and he didnt mind the cramped space. But he couldnt help but think about what arger manor would do for hisfort. A ce toe and rx. To write his thoughts by a fire, even if it was horribly hot outside. They entered the Dreamwalk without dy, settling into bed for the night.
Theo found himself on an empty street in the slums of Rivers and Daub. Tresk was standing nearby, nodding with approval. She must have brought them here, but the alchemist didnt know why. It was a depressing reminder of the towns situation.
We have a frame of reference, Tresk said with a shrug. I want to go back and make sure that Alran is doing his job.
That would be easy enough to do with Tresks [Shadowdancer] ss.
Tomorrow, when we wake up, I want to go to Terogal and brew some of my new potions, Theo said. They have the long brew time of the suffuse potions, so I can leave them there and pick them up the next day.
Tresk summoned one of the new potions from nowhere, holding a bottle of [me of Dual Sleeping Gods] in her hands. You need to make more of these.
Theo nodded, although he wasnt eager to perform more experimentation. There were endlessbinations of primal essences that he could use, and some were t-out bad. The good news about that was he could now do it in the Dreamwalk, so long as he could wrap his will around it. He walked the streets of Rivers and Daub with Tresk as he thought out loud.
I feel more at home when were in Terogal, Theo said.
And I feel better here. I mean, where is here? What is this ce? Physically.
That was a metaphysical question Theo wasnt prepared to answer. He had ways of thinking about the Dreamwalk, but no solid idea of what it actually was.
Were two halves, right? Theo asked. Thats what were bing, anyway. Two pieces that make a whole. What if thats what the Dreamwalk and Terogal are?
Makes enough sense to me. But then you run into another problem, Tresk said, tilting her head with her hands on her hips. Is the Terogal we visit even real?
Theo shrugged. Benton visits. He seems real.
Unless he isnt.
Theos brows knit tightly. He stared off into a hovel of a home. Trash was strewn everywhere. He could even smell the filth of the town. He felt a trickle of Tresks thoughts enter his mind. It wasnt the same was she could read his mind, but it was more than hed ever felt before. The alchemist knelt, pressing their foreheads together. He felt more of a rush this time, as though concrete ideas were passing between their minds.
Maybe the Dreamwalk is the idealized version of Terogal, and what weve been visiting is the practical version, Theo said, keeping his eyes closed.
Tresk pulled away. Maybe. Something like that. She turned her back on him, lost in thought. Her mode shifted in an instant. Im gonna kill that dragon tonight. Gonna drink dragon blood!
Then she vanished.
Theo let out a sigh, wandering off from the spot to mount the battlements of the slums. He summoned rows of alchemy equipment. Stills, fermentation barrels, and a table filled with ssware. Today felt like a decent enough day to discover some more legendary potions. Mostly, he was interested to see what weird names the system would give them. But it was an arduous process that would take all night.
Even with the advantages of the Dreamwalk, Theo spent the entire night fiddling with suffuse potions. Hebined every primal ingredient he could think of, making potions that did many things. The alchemist performed side-experiments while he worked, inspired by his visit to the smelter. Tresk informed him it was an hour before dawn by the time he was done. They inspected his creations together.
That is so adorable, Tresk said. She held the vial of semi-viscous liquid up, smiling. You were thinking about Nira when you brewed this.
[Freeze Solution]
[Solidify]
[Cooling Agent] [Modified Cooling Agent]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Perfect Quality
Apply to dramatically lower the temperature of anything.
Effect:
Apply enough solution to freeze an object, person, monster, etc.
This gel will evaporate over time, delivering a continuous dose of cooling to an object, person, monster, etc.
There was a time where I couldnt have performed a new reaction in the Dreamwalk, Theo said. But Tresk was right, he was thinking about Nira in the smelter for that one. Those conditions were horrible, and no amount of air conditioning would solve that. But a gel the smelters could rub on their skin would work perfectly.
Theo moved on to his next potions. While the [Solidify] modified [Freeze Solution] was a second tier potion, these were all third tier. Hed already destroyed the one he was most worried about, although Tresk had sensed what he was doing. They both vowed not to speak about it and moved on.
So, we have some interesting ones here. I brewed a bunch of useless ones, but these are the winners, Theo said, retrieving the first potion. This one has variations for all the attributes.
[ntheirs Restore Wisdom]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion removes all permanent status effects that reduce [Wisdom].
See, thats not a condition I was aware I could get, Tresk said, inspecting the vial of faintly glowing blue liquid.
Yeah, that one made me worried. Anyway, this one is messed up. The Dreamwalk really didnt want to fast-forward on it. It takes something like a year to brew, but it finally relented. Pretty sure we shouldnt have this.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Removes the meta barrier between your soul and your [Wisdom] attribute. This potion may only be consumed once during your lifetime. You may only drink one soul elixir, including those for other attributes.
What the hell is a meta barrier? Tresk asked.
No clue. Should be powerful, though, Theo held the vial of glittering liquid up to the light. Flecks of color danced inside a murky liquid, as though it contained an entire gxy within. Next up. Ibined [Carapace] with [Limited Foresight].
[Perfect Block]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion allows the user to absorb 100% damage from a single attack. This potion may only be consumed once per month.
Theo considered this to be the best potion hed ever crafted. Not because it was a potion with practical uses, but that it absorbed all damage from a single attack. It didnt matter how powerful the attacker was, their damage would simply be negated. Someone at level 1 could absorb a blow from a god. That idea sent shivers down his spine.
Maybe I can finally beat the dragon, Tresk said.
The brew time is horrible on that one, too.
While there were more potions with uninteresting effects, most of the reactions Theo tried that night failed. When a primal essence rejected its counterpart in a suffuse reaction, the response was violent.
With thoughts of defeating a dragon in real life, Tresk led Theo into the real world.
4.27 - Thirst for Adventure
4.27 - Thirst for Adventure
Theo brushed his hand over the plot of wheat in Terogal. Hed dyed doing anything with it before understanding its significance. Like the small house and the stream, there was meaning to everything here. After eating breakfast with Tresk and Alex, he ducked into the realm for some solitude. It only left him with a sense of confusion, unable to put the pieces together.
The wheat growing in the fields was small. Compared to the crop hed seen in agricultural domes, it was tiny. Theo remembered the part of the nt holding the grain to be roughly the length of his forearm. Massive kernels of the seed made the nt heavy, often requiring reinforcement with stiff metal rods. This example was barely the length of his pinky finger.
Benton hade, keeping himpany while he brewed his potions. That led to a conversation about the significance of the grain.
Theres plenty of breeds of wheat around, Benton said with a half-hearted shrug. Why give so much thought to this one?
Because this is from my world. Untouched by the gic modifications we made. Theo plucked the fruit of the nt, holding it to the sunless sky.
I think youre looking into it too much, Benton said. What are we brewing today?
Well, perhaps you can help with that, Theo said. He had a row of [Wisdom of the Soul] potions brewing on a table. He got the sense they would take a year toplete. The absurd part about how time worked in the heavenly realms was that he would only need to wait 3 days in the real world. The alchemist exined the text on the potion, asking if Benton had heard of something like that.
A single-use potion? As in, you can only drink it once? Benton scoffed. Well beyond my abilities. Never heard of a soul elixir.
Theo nodded. He doubted anyone had heard of it. If they had, they were keeping their mouth shut for obvious reasons. What would you do if you could make a world-changing object? Something bad. More than that. Something evil.
Benton furrowed his fluffy brow, casting Theo a concerned look. Id bury that knowledge deep in my mind. Lock it away and forget it existed.
Theo nodded again, trying not to smile. Benton was more simr to him than the alchemist first thought. The bear god might not admit it, but he had a hard streak to him. Something that said he would do anything to preserve his people, no matter how much blood he had to spill. But they both had a line they wouldnt cross. The alchemist had found his hard line in the potion he discovered in the Dreamwalk.
I found a different potion, Theo said, busying himself with his stills. Im happy that the ingredients are rare. Horribly rare. Almost impossible to handle if you dont follow Drogramath. He paused for a long moment, rolling his shoulders. Im d you agree with me.
Well, theres plenty of fun potions you brew, Benton said, pping a wed hand onto Theos shoulder. How about that gel?
The alchemist had brewed a massive supply of the cooling gel for Nira and her workers. He removed one from his inventory and held it up, for Benton to sample. They both dipped their fingers inside, the bear god having trouble working it into his fur.
Like a pleasant breeze washing over your skin, Benton said with a sigh. Youll be rich selling this in the Season of Fire. Only going to get hotter down there.
Theo turned his attention to his brewing potions without responding, finding that his realm was cluttered with vials. He had selected several versions of the [Hallow Ground] suffuse potions for brewing, never intending to let them leave Broken Tusk. He made a massive batch of [Crumbling Undead Phage], as it affected the most targets. The alchemist only made one version of [Return Undead], since it seemed weird. Sometimes those strange potions were useful in a pinch. While he only made one of each type of the potions, he also brewed a lot of [me of Dual Sleeping Gods].
As expected, each suffuse potion was confusing. It was hard to tell if they were better than the standard tier 2 potions.
Tea? Benton asked, rubbing his hands together.
Absolutely, Theo said. He had finished everything he wanted to do here, even gaining a single level in his [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. It had crawled to level 23, leaving his herbalism core behind.
Benton was great at making tea, but that wasnt the best part of having a tea break with the bear god. He often brought baked scones. The pair sat down in the cottage, listening to the fire crackle as he spread a cloth over the table. Unfolding it revealed many scones, all filled with something sweet. Theo went for the lemon-like filling.
How much time passes in your realm? Theo asked, nibbling on his scone. Compared to the mortal ne, that is.
Oh, I think your realm is slower than mine. Slightly more powerful, if you look at it that way. Benton removed a brick of tea from nowhere, scraping some off the edge and into the teapot with his carving knife. But you cant raise any army, can you? No souls heading to Terogal.
We live strange lives, Benton, Theo said, finishing his first scone. He went for another, this one with pockets of jam nestled in the pastry. It tasted like raspberries.
Strange lives require powerful friends. Benton used his knife to stir the tea before returning it to the fire. Youll be happy to hear that the heavens have calmed. People are falling in line with the Arbiter. It helps that he stopped murdering gods.
But gods cant really die, can they? Theo asked, gesturing with his scone.
The gods talk, you know? Even here in the lowest heavens. When they ripped Balkor apart, what happened? His soul was so weak, he slipped between realities. To live in the void, if you can believe that. Benton shuttered at the word void. Thats a fate worse than death.
The conversation grew light after that. Bentons realm was a ce of decay in some ways, but also the revitalizing effects of winter. The realms that gods created were often ces of their own making. ces that they willed into being to exemplify their values. While the bear gods realm was covered in a constant sheet of snow, hed dedicated his followers to baking. Without a frame of reference, Theo decided that was as good a cause as any to follow.
Theo enjoyed the lighter conversation. Hed rather learn about the celestial baking techniques Benton had learned than the turmoil of the heavens. The bear god hade up with interesting ways to deal with the constant cold. Something that reminded the alchemist of the agricultural domes on Earth. For the second time today.
Feels like youre running out of time here, Benton said, chuckling. Maybe Ill head out.
Youre always wee, Benton. You bring the best tea. And the best pastries.
Benton offered a wave and a smile before departing through his icy gate. A breeze rushed through the archway. Thefortable warmth returned in moments, leaving the alchemist alone once again. He peered over the edge of his floating ind, shaking his head. Tresk was force-feeding Alex motes. The image was frozen with the Marshling cramming the rounded objects down the gooses throat. A fireball was springing from her bill.
Cant leave them alone for five minutes, Theo said, tutting. He double-checked the items in his inventory, making sure not to forget the cooling gel.
The world swirled around him as he jumped from the inds edge, sailing over the Bridge of Shadows for only a moment. The realm seemed normal today, the same way it had for a while now. There was no sign of the ghosts, or any intruders. Theo hoped Yuri was implementing some stricter rules about using the bridge.
A fireball sailed into the air, mming against the boughs of a tree above.
Eat your food! Tresk shouted, turning to look at Theo sheepishly. I thought I had more time.
You found [Nature Motes]?
Bought em, Tresk said, going back to work. You want a nature alignment? You gotta take your medicine.
No! Im full! Alex shouted into their minds.
Fine. But youre eating moreter. You got me?
I will eat when Im ready.
Shes getting better with words, Theo said, kneeling to pat Alex on the head. They were standing off the side of the main road, gaining strange looks from those citizens passing by.
Getting big, too, Tresk said, standing to measure the goose with her hand.
When standing without extending her neck, Alex now stood to the center of Tresks chest. Shed gained a lot of weight, and lost almost all of her gosling plumage.
Im going with Tresk.
Thats fine, Theo said, patting Alex on the head. Just stay safe. Okay?
Yes, father, Alex said, a tone of sarcasm in her voice.
Tresk and Alex both waddled off before Theo could say anything else. He stood and watched his two idiots run into the distance, off to get into trouble. Because wherever a Marshling and a goose went, there was bound to be trouble.
There were no administrative things that Theo needed to handle today. The administration staff submitted daily reports, which were mostly uninteresting. Alran had been submitting the results of his spying, which had brought few interesting things to the nations attention. There were reports of Veostian movement against the undead, but until recently it had been a tepid response. Now Alran said that Tarantham was backing them up with priests of ntheir.
Alran was well-paid for his information. Alise was scheduled to inspect the transition of Rivers and Daub. Theyd elected their new leader by a vote, and further voted to remove the trade guilds entirely. That upset a few people, and Theo wasnt willing to read the full report. Things got bloody.
Look at me! a voice called in the distance.
Theo spun around, spotting Fenian barreling down the street. He was seated on some contraption that looked like a safety nightmare. An artifice-powered wheelchair. The Elf almost ran him over as he passed, hit the breaks, and drifted around the corner. Momentster he returned the other way,ing to rest before the alchemist.
Fenian had both his regrowing limbs wrapped in cloth and wore a simple robe over his body. None of this diminished his spirits, though. He held a massive smile on his face. Good morning, my dear alchemist! Like my new ride? I think Ill keep it after my limbs grow back.
Come with me, Theo said, turning on the spot to walk down the street. Toward the smelters.
Oh, I love when youre all serious.
Not serious, just want to talk while I walk. And while you roll, I guess. Did Throk build that for you?
No, I picked it up a while ago. Thought it was fun. Never expected to use it, Fenian said with a wistful sigh. I really hate being stuck like this.
Youre recovering well, though. Especially for a man who defied the heavens.
Citizens got out of Fenians way. Not out of respect, but fear. He was heavy on the controls, often lurching forward without warning.
My n didnt even work. Karasan is alive. He still has what I want, Fenian said. Put a nice glob of spit in his eye, though.
What is it you want?
Spoilers, Fenian said, singing the word. Anyway, I see youre putting one of Khahars gifts to good use. What about the others?
Theo wanted to punch Fenian in the arm, but resisted. Khahar had told him about the [Kingdom Core] and the spirit seeds. They take a long time to grow.
Wow, if only you had a magical ce where time moved differently.
Theo let out a frustrated breath, then tried not tough. He wasnt surprised anymore when Fenian knew more than he should have. I have a problem with that, Fenian.
Hes so serious! Fenian shouted. Just clear away the damned wheat and nt the spirit seeds. Clear half of it, if youre so attached.
Youve been to Terogal, Theo said, his intuition going into overdrive. He stopped on the spot. You knew the Zagmon assassins wereing for me, didnt you? How could you have known that using the [Tarahek Dreampassage] ability when I was in danger would make it evolve?
Khahar told me, Fenian said. I could have killed your attackers at any point. Theo, do you trust me?
No. Yeah, a little. I meanyes, I trust you.
Khahar told me about the skill evolution. He said there would be Zagmon assholesing for your head, because they thought you had something their master needed. Guess what? Their master is dead. Oh! He told me something hrious when I visited his citadel.
You saw Yuri? Theo asked.
Yes, I went to his Khahak while I was chasing Karasan. Extremely unoriginal name , but hes not known for his creativity.
So, what did he tell you thats so funny?
Uharis and Sulvan are still stuck on Antalis. The moon? You know, the dark one you cant see? When the Eye was killed, they lost their cores. The wizard can no longer teleport.
Theo tried not tough at the situation. He already knew those guys were stuck on the moon, and had assumed Uharis would figure out how to teleport back.
That seems cruel, Theo said. But he stillughed.
Well, theres an entire civilization up there, if you can believe it. I never knew, and Im not sure anyone else knows.
The world has enough problems to deal with. We dont need an invasion from the moon people.
Fenian went on about the moon people as they approached the Midnight Damsel Smelter. There was a story behind the name, but Theo had only gotten pieces of it. He stood there, waiting to get the attention of Nira, but it was difficult. Eventually, she red at him with annoyance before marching across the street.
You cane into the smelter. You know that, right?
Thanks, but no thanks, Theo said, withdrawing a barrel of his cooling gel from his inventory. Rub this on your skin.
No thanks.
Hes too forward, isnt he? Fenian asked. Inspect the barrel of glowing goo. Youll find it to be useful.
Nira brightened up when she inspected the item. She thered the stuff on her body and let out a sigh of relief. Alright. I can reduce the beatings. Work conditions will absolutely improve with this stuff.
Hah. She has a sense of humor, Fenian said, zipping in circles on his wheelchair.
Thanks boss. Weve been going full tilt, but might need to expand. Nira offered a shallow bow. Weather has been getting worse, huh? Heard youre making a killing off that magic air cooling stuff.
Theo didnt like to look at the stores finances. When he was forced to, he saw how many sales they made for the air conditioners. The fuel for the machine wasnt the expensive part, but some people in town enjoyed cranking them down to freezing conditions. The one in the Newt and Demon ran at afortable temperature, and he hadnt needed to rece the cont yet. He chatted with Nira for a while before departing for the harbor.
Today was azy day for Theo. Whatever that meant when you were the leader of a bastard nation. But things were running themselves nicely, and he needed to make sure Laedria wasnt goofing off. When he arrived at the harbor, he found she was doing the opposite of cking. Instead of the frames of two trade-style ships, she was working on four. They were all in various stages ofpletion.
Archduke! Laedria shouted. Check out my boats!
Fenian had trouble getting his wheelchair to get down onto the dock. But he aplished the task before almost throwing himself into the harbor. The trade ships were gone, taking their market stalls with them.
Looking great.
Yeah. Weve already been training people up on The Cork. Got a small group of twenty willing to be sailors. Mostly Wavecrest refugees. Of course.
The boats were impressive. Theo was tempted to call them ships with the way they towered over him. Each boat was to be a two-masted ship. A main mast and a foremast, both to be adorned with the bright blue Starbristle sails. Zarali said something in the past about enchanting the boats, but the alchemist doubted her desire to do more than care for Xolsa as he recovered. That was fine. They had a navy to train and more boats to build.
Very nice, Theo said, pping the hull of the mostplete boat.
Laedria looked nervous out of nowhere. She normally was too boisterous to get a good read. Hey, uh. Got a request for you. But Im not sure mister Southde is gonna like it.
Fenian shrugged.
Lets hear it, Theo said.
Im not here to insult the abilities of Mister Southde. He saved our house, and we owe him a debt, Laedria said, sighing. But I want to go back to Tarantham.
For what? Fenian scoffed. To die? That would reduce the size of our Archdukes navy by one. Youll be sunk.
Maybe. But we left some good folks behind.
Surely you can just go get them, Fenian.
Not possible, Fenian said, driving in circles. My masters are angry with me as it is. Not sure UzXulven would allow any passengers, let alone a few hundred more.
Youd have more sailors, Archduke.
Theo thought about this for a long moment before he responded. He saw how insistent Laedria was about the recovery mission. This wasnt just dangerous for the sailors on the boats. This was dangerous for the Soutnds Alliance. How would they react if an Alliance ship wandered into their waters? It was obscenely dangerous and a waste of resources. The alchemist shifted his way of thinking. To the new way he weighed projects.
Where are they?
Southern end of the continent. Outside of imperial reach, Fenian said. In thends once belonging to the Southdes. In a cave. She could get in and out without notice.
Alright, Theo said, tapping his foot. Two requests and you can have one of my boats.
Anything, Laedria said.
First, you cant go. You can pick your team, and you can have one of my boats, but you cant go.
Thats understandable, Laedria said, bowing her head. Whats the other request?
The rescue must be cool. Heroic. Daring. Brave. If I hear youve sent sailors off and they didnt battle a kraken, I wont hear any more of your requests.
Laedria furrowed her brow. She looked at Fenian. Is he serious?
Im afraid he is. Unfortunately, Theo has seen me make one too many daring escapes. Now he craves the nectar of adventure. The worst thing someone could possibly desire. A good story.
Oh alright.
4.28 - Home and Hearth
4.28 - Home and Hearth
Theo understood the source for his lusting after adventure. When Yuri showed up in townwhen the alchemist figured out who he wasthere was a rush of recognition. The old days back on Earth were bad, there was no denying that. He wouldnt forget the famine, the war, or the mass extinction of his world. But there was an underlying theme among all the spy-like people who worked for the nations. It was all bullshit, so they may as well make it as interesting as possible.
Those who settled scores with murder were handled. They were removed from the pool of cooperating agents, reced with others willing to y the game. It was a twisted game. The only game they knew.
Theo stood in the harbor with Fenian, watching as Laedria worked on the boats. The alchemist had shared stories about Yuri. The things he did back on Earth. Those final moments.
Where does your road go, Fenian? Theo asked. Ive always thought you were out for revenge.
I am. Fenianughed. King Karasan had a hand in killing someone dear to me. Ages ago. Eons now that I spent time in the realms. But then I discovered something. He has something I need. Anyway, tell me about your projects. What are you working on, my dear alchemist?
Theo had to think about that for a moment. He was working on a lot of things. Leveling the town and the nation had taken a backseat to other things. The alchemist had his eyes on a new upgrade at level 25 for Broken Tusk, so his immediate goal was to expand the town out. He exined that part of his n to Fenian, going on to detail the importance of his weapons and transport projects.
My Toruaun core is alsoing along nicely. Very powerful for a low-level core, Theo said with a nod. I was also looking into getting Throk an artificer core aligned with Tworgnoth. I was going to add more synergistic links to the town, but those are expensive. I need more golems harvesting motes. Oh, and you owe me a mint.
Fenianughed. So, not much? Just rxing and enjoying your time as Archduke? I have to say, I love that title. Very pompous.
Theo narrowed his eyes at the Elven trader. Alright. I get it. Should have picked another title.
Im most interested in your transport system. Ive heard about something simr in Bantein. Yes. Motes seem to be a limiting factor for you.
Theo wondered if Zarali was still hung up about him cheating with the golem system. His willpower had expanded, but it was hard to understand how far that went. Currently, he could support 10 golems. The alchemist needed 2 [Lesser nt Golems] minimum to keep his greenhouses going. There was a constant flow of motes from his [Lesser Mud Golems]. The [Lesser Stone Golems] and the [Lesser Copper Golems] were for defensive purposes.
Power production for the golems was simple enough. The [Lesser nt Golems] harvested more [Manashrooms] than they consumed, even if there was processing involved. As long as Theo remembered to brew [Mana Essence], theyd have fuel forever.
Casting his mind into the lodestonework, Theo felt around for his golems. They were all working tirelessly. Some dug in the mud for motes, others fought low-level monsters in the mine. The next big thing for the golems would be a construct that automatically harvested power from the air, then converted it into mana for their use. That was a problem the alchemist hadnt cracked.
How about my mint? Theo asked, his mind returning to the moment.
I have one on order, Fenian said. Just tied up at the moment. Say, can we visit Galflower?
Where is she?
Fenian led the way to Mianas ranch. When they arrived, the Half-Ogre woman opened the gate to the paddock to allow the Elf inside. The massive purple glowing creature bound across the field, almost knocking the wheelchair over. Theo busied himself with his administration map.
Expansions were getting expensive, but the alchemist remembered what hed heard. He wanted another farm to the east, near the river. Expanding the town out and over the river was cheap if he didnt incorporate it. That would leave it outside of the wall, which represented a danger to the workers. Theo bought 6 expansions to the east, leaving them outside of the walls. It drained his gold to almost nothing but he shrugged it off.
Fenian, I need to visit Zarali and Xolsa, Theo said, waving as he walked away from the giggling Elf.
Certainly! See ya!
Fenian is doing a lot better, Theo said.
Yeah? Did you see his little baby limbs?
No. Id rather not.
Ral almost has his left leg back! You should see that guy hobble around, Tresk said,ughing into Theos mind.
As expected, Xolsa was with Zarali in the town hall. They had their own room on the first floor, and were the only people left with injuries. The Dronon Priestess was fine, even if it seemed the injury her partner took hit her harder.
Theo, she said, looking up with tired eyes. How are you?
Im well. How about you, Xolsa? Theo said,ing to sit next to the bed.
A lot better than before, Xolsa said.
It was hard to tell if the extra-nar Elfsplexion was back to normal. It normally sat between gray and blue, but seemed duller than normal. But the striations of glowing energy that ran through his body seemed bright. They pulsed with some invisible tide, shing different shades of blue.
Going to have a word with your girl, Theo said, grabbing Zarali by the arm and hoisting her to her feet.
By all means, Xolsa said, waving them away.
Theo led his adoptive sister into the atrium of the town hall, closing the door behind them. Whats up with him? he asked. Looks like hes doing better, why not let him out of that bed?
A sh of annoyance ran across Zaralis face. It disappeared in moments. The wound he took from the soul-ying was bad. But your potion did damage.
Theo felt the pain of regret fall over his chest. What?
Calm down. Zarali produced a tired smile. Your [Reforge Soul] potion was a lot for him. It remade his soul, brother. Now his body is trying to adapt to a new soul. His people were never meant to live on the mortal ne.
Xolsas people were weird, but Theo had never put much thought into it. There was an array of strange races in this world, so he never put stock into it. He remembered Zarali calling them the Barathier, but he didnt really know what that meant. Not until he thought about it. After traveling to Terogal to see the weird system messages meant for the gods, he had a better idea of what the Barathier were.
Wait. What do you know about his people? The Barathier, was it?
Youll know more about that than me by now, brother, Zarali said. Theo could tell she was using every bit of her willpower to suppress an indignant tone. She was tired. Worn down by the sight of her partner set prone like that.
Worst of all, she was right. Interesting, if you think about it, Theo said. I didnt understand what extra-nar meant. I understood the word, but not the meaning. There are ces between ces, Zarali. Imagine us. Here on the mortal ne.
I can do that.
Now imagine Drogramaths realm. Then a space between here and there. UzXulven created the Bridge to allow travel between those ces, which Im fairly certain was never the design. I think Xolsa is from the in between ces.
An extremely interesting academic proposal. But, how does that help him? Zarali asked.
Theo had started talking before his thoughts had formed. He was walking down a logical path, tracing the cause of Xolsas arrival without considering what it meant for his condition. He shook his head, clearing away the miasma of uncertainty.
It just means that I can ask around in the heavenly realms. See if anyone knows something that could help him. Theres a very friendly bear god that Ive been talking to. Theo paused for a long moment. He said his [nar Mage] core was the only thing keeping him together. Yeah, I think theres something weird going on with his body, soul, and cores. Im officially on the case, Zarali.
Zarali ced aforting hand on Theos shoulder. I hope your investigation yields more information than Drogramaths. Hes been ignoring my prayers.
Khahar ced new rules on the gods. I doubt he can talk to you directly. He certainly cant intervene.
Yet power still flows from the dungeon, Xolsa said, appearing at the door.
My love, Zarali gasped, rushing to the door to support the Elf.
Dont make me brew a sleeping potion, Theo said.
Xolsa managed a smile.
If anyone can solve this, its you, Xolsa said.
Not because youre smart, Zarali said, jabbing a finger at Theo. Because youre stupid and tenacious. Youll bang your head against the problem until you pass out.
Theo shrugged, turning on the spot. As he walked away he called over his shoulder. Just living my best life.
The alchemist stood outside of the town hall for a long time, taking deep breaths. He needed his thoughts ordered if he wanted to figure this out, and the sight of Zaralis tired eyes wasnt helping. Belgars connection to her wasnt helping matters, flooding him with a brotherly need to save his sister. But rushing the problem wouldnt help.
Hah, Theo said, snapping his fingers. He turned on the spot to regard his town hall. If theres a [Reforge Soul] potion, why isnt there a [Reforge Body] potion?
Intuition only went so far. Theo was working on a suspicion that he felt was wrong, but it was the only way forward. Until then, he withdrew a low-level [Monster Core] from his inventory. He pressed it into the town hall, repeating the process until it hit level 5. Upgrading buildings always made him feel better. The first set of upgrade options popped into his vision.
[Home and Hearth]
Citizens of this town will have their minds soothed while within the town hall. They will also require less rest than normal.
[Massive Hall]
Increases the size of the town hall, adding a third floor.
[Underground Complex]
Adds an underground, customizableplex to your town hall.
It was rare that the first three upgrades a building presented were this awesome. Theo would have epted any of them, but went with [Home and Hearth] for his first upgrade. He continued shoving cores until he got it to level 10. He inspected the new option before making a decision.
[Beacon of Hope]
Radiates a sense offort to all citizens within a radius of the town hall.
Turns out, I should have done this ages ago, Theo said.
He thought about the upgrade for a while. It would be nice to have more space in the town hall, if only to make it more impressive. But the [Underground Complex] upgrade didnt seem as helpful as [Beacon of Hope, so he selected that one. Theo jammed more cores into the building until it hit level 15. The next upgrade option popped up.
[Efficient Taxation]
All taxes are automatically deposited into a lockbox within this building.
Finally a stinker, Theo said,ughing. He could already do that with his [Governance Core].
Oh! Are we upgrading something? Fenian said, his voiceing from up the road. I love upgrades.
Done with your Galflower? Theo asked, selecting the [Massive Hall] upgrade option.
Fenian started talking, but the building lurched to one side, then the other. The whitewashed exterior expanded upward, rising until a third floor had magically appeared. Like the bottom two floors, it held windows that gave a splendid view of the surrounding town.
When the building was done moving, Fenian spoke. Yes, I had a good time. Thank you for asking.
Theo nodded, adding more cores until the building hit level 20. A crowd had formed, the way it always did, and Alise stormed from the interior of the building. During the upgrade process, the town hall had been expanded to either side as it leveled. The addition of a new floor was enough to draw her out of her office.
A little warning next time? Alise asked.
The next option was interesting.
[Efficient Movement]
Increases the speed of all citizens, and their vehicles, when traveling on roads connected with this town hall.
The basement option just wasnt appealing to Theo. He didnt like a room without a window. It seemed unnatural. He selected the [Efficient Movement] option before inspecting the building.
[Town Hall]
[T-shirts for sale]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 20 (25%)
Rent Due: 5 Days
Expansions:
[Home and Hearth]
[Beacon of Hope]
[Massive Halls]
[Efficient Movement]
Those are some fantastic upgrades, Alise said, shaking her head. I thought theyd all be trash.
Yeah, thats what I thought, Theo said, his brow knitting. Well, thats enough of that.
Oh, look at me, Fenian mocked. The fancy archduke. Bored with the tasks of the peasants.
Yeah, join me Fenian, Theo said, leaving the crowds behind.
The pair traveled south along the main road, finding their way to the Newt and Demon. The alchemist could hear Salire inside, haggling with someone about something. He gestured to the lot on the far side of the road, next to Zaralis enchanting workshop.
I want to put a mansion there. Do you have a mansion seed core?
Fenian gave him a t look. I was joking about you being a fancy archduke. You dont need a mansion.
Come on. Wouldnt it be neat? I could have a house. Instead of sleeping next to my smellyb, I could sleep in a real room. Maybe have a dining room. A study.
Fenian withdrew a seed core from his inventory. A gold cage surrounded a pulsing core of shifting light. I owe you my limbs, dont I? And my safe passage through Gardreth. Go on, my dear alchemist. Youve earned it.
Theo took the [Manor Seed Core] from Fenian, holding it in his hands. It radiated a power that wasnt found in the [House Seed Cores]. He thought about the cement for a moment. The manor could go to the south of hisb, as that space was empty. But there was something about having two of his own structures on the same side of the road that made him feel ufortable. The original n was the best, so he nted it on the western side of the road, south of Zaralis workshop.
You know, I was saving that seed core as a gift to an Elven lord, Fenian said, driving up to the spot where the tangled roots sprouted from the ground.
Theo inserted cores into the seed core, feeding it until it sprouted. I appreciate it, Fenian. Youll always be a friend to the alliance.
The alchemist was thrown back when the building sprouted. Hed feed the seed too quickly, causing the roots to il around before they wrapped into the form of a massive building. It built itself in the style of Broken Tusk homes with a blue roof. But the siding was rendered in a pale lc, almost off-white. It was twice the size of the Newt and Demon, already two stories without upgrades. The pair checked the exterior around the back, finding a dark iron fence spanning a hundred paces into the distance.
This is a big house, Theo chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
The inside was even more impressive. It opened with a stout atrium. There was a ce for him to ce shoes and coats in that entranceway. It opened up to a massive sitting room overlooked by a balcony on all sides. Plush sofas surrounded arge wooden table, and there was arge firece on the left wall. Fenian let out a low whistle.
More impressive than I expected, Fenian said. I should get one of these for myself.
Theo wasnt certain what hed do with all the space. The building needed air conditioning. Maybe more than one unit to keep therge interior cooled during the unforgiving Season of Fire. The bottom floor had a kitchen, sitting room, and several small bedrooms. Upstairs there were more bedrooms than Theo could count, including a massive master bedroom with an attached bathroom. There was also a massive study on the second floor,plete with walls of empty bookshelves and an excellent view of the town outside.
Unfortunately, Fenian couldnt make it up the stairs to inspect. Instead, they made their way outside to inspect the building and consider upgrades.
[Manor]
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 5 Days
Expansions:
None
Fenian helped Theo insert [Monster Cores] until they gained their first upgrade path. The alchemist read them out.
[Endless Comfort]
While rxing within the manor, you are ced in a state of extremefort.
[Expansive Gardens]
Expands the rear garden. Fruit trees and flowers will grow automatically.
[Service Competence]
All workers with servant-based cores will gain increased experience while performing their duties.
Servants? Theo asked.
Oh you must hire servants, Theo. I need you to hire several buxom Elves to serve you chilled Tarantham wine.
Theo selected the [Endless Comfort] upgrade. He fed the manor more cores until the level 10 option popped up.
[Cer]
Adds a cer to the manor. All items ced within the cer will not decay.
Theo thought about this one for a while, but he was more interested in the garden. He selected [Expansive Gardens] for the level 10 upgrade, then added cores until it was level 15. While his supply of high-level [Monster Cores] was low, he had a ton of low-level ones. He inspected the next upgrade with Fenian.
[Bonus Dining]
Eating meals in your dining room will grant additional bonuses.
Hard to say, Fenian said. Id go for the [Service Competence] upgrade, but you seem opposed to having servants. I mean, your town is run by them but hey who am I to judge?
Theo selected the [Bonus Dining] upgrade. The alchemist decided that level 20 was fine for the day. He inserted cores until the next upgrade popped up, inspecting that one with Fenian and signing.
[Reduced Taxes]
Reduces the amount of taxes this building requires by 25%.
Well, since you hate the idea of servants, I guess you should pick the cer.
I hate cers, Theo said.
Theres only one option, then, Fenian said, pping like an excited child.
Theo reluctantly selected the [Service Competence] upgrade.
Fenian pped like an idiot again, then rubbed his hand together. Come, Theo. Lets find the plumpest Elf in Broken Tusk that needs a job.
Im hiring an old man. Just to spite you.
4.29 - Mansion
4.29 - Mansion
We got a mansion! Tresk shouted into Theos mind.
Theo stood on the third floor of the town hall, looking down at Fenian on the first floor. The Elf was grumpy that he couldnt ascend the stairs to speak with Alise, and the administrator refused to go downstairs. She was still mad at the alchemist for upgrading the building without warning the inhabitants. Shed fallen over, hitting her head and receiving a grievous injury.
Seriously, Theo. Thats careless.
I follow my whims, Theo said with a half-hearted shrug. Look, youre fine. Right?
Physically? Yes. Emotionally? No.
Alright. Im sorry, Theo said, locking his gaze onto the administrators.
He was serious about his apology, too. Not just something he wanted to say to get her to stopining. A reckless streak had entered the alchemists life, and he didnt know if it was for the better. Alise kept her eyes locked for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
Youre forgiven. For now. But only because these upgrades are good.
Excellent. Now, I need a servant, Theo said.
Alise gave him a t look. Why?
I have a manor. I need someone to clean it.
No, you dont. You have [Cleansing Scrub]. Just dump it on everything.
Theo beckoned for the administrator to follow him, leading her into a meeting room. Fenians idea to have a maid or butler was interesting, but thats not what the alchemist wanted. Alise had stopped being his personal assistant long ago, going off to do bigger things for the alliance. He was left without someone to run his mundane errands. While he could live without an assistant, he wanted one. Why shouldnt he have one?
I miss my assistant. Theo ced aforting hand on Alises shoulder. He saw her sag slightly at the touch, and recognized the meaning. She was stressed from her duties. I think you need an assistant, too.
I have too many. Alise let out a heavy sigh, then her eyes went ssy. No, Gael is ready to take over some of my workload. That allows me to transition to matters of the nation. Alright, any preference?
The oldest, ugliest man you can find, Theo said. Actually, a local Half-Ogre or Marshling would be great.
Right. I have a few people requesting transfers from state-run ventures. Ill interview them.
Theo chatted with Alise for a while. He wanted to make sure she was doing well, and not just posturing for his sake. After some quizzing, the alchemist decided Gael was indeed ready to take on more responsibilities. Hed share power with Gwyn as they had nned, allowing the army of junior administrators to take over the little things. While things moved fast in Broken Tusk, some stuff just took longer.
Did you find one? Fenian asked. How big are her
Alright! Theo shouted. Thats it. Im building a golem to be my administrator.
Im sure you could shape a golem to the form of my choosing.
Theo bent down, pressing a finger into Fenians chest. Im gonna make it look just like you.
Oh, my, Fenian said, fanning himself. Even better.
Theo let out an exasperated breath, storming out of the town hall. That was the only way he could hide the smile on his face as he left. But the Elf was close behind, pushing his artifice-powered wheelchair into action. While Fenian was high-energy, his help was valuable. He was a good friend, and the alchemist wouldnt trade that for anything. Instead of pushing him away, he led him back to the Newt and Demon to share his wisdom with Salire.
The young shopkeeper was ecstatic to soak in his wisdom. Theo was free to work on his alchemy.
There were no new orders at the shop. People were buying the excess potions he made, and Theo couldnt be bothered to care. Instead, he spent the midday hours working on [Freeze Solution] for the many air conditioners in town. While his stock was holding strong in the shop, the days were only getting hotter. The alchemist toiled away until a knock came from his door. Salire poked her head in.
You have a visitor. Alran Cherman.
Oh. Really? Send him up.
Theo put down the sk he was working on, cing his hand on his hip as he waited. His eyes dragged over the room, locking on the statue of Drogramath. The shrine was still epting offerings, but his alignment hadnt increased. Just as an idea was forming, the pudgy form of Alran entered the room. A grin painted the mans face.
Spymaster Cherman, Theo said, crossing the room to shake his hand.
Archduke, Alran said with a chuckle. Apologies for the unannounced visit.
Ah, Theo said, looking around hisb. It was messy. It smelled like burned rubber and freshly dug earth. Lets move to my manor to discuss matters.
Alran made a sound as though he were pleasantly surprised. As they departed the Newt and Demon, Fenian tagged along. Salire was disappointed, but the Elf promised toe back and instruct her more on her duties as a merchant. The group rested in the massive first-floor sitting room, the fire dead in the firece.
Libations are in order, Fenian said, withdrawing a bottle of something from his inventory. He then brought forth wine sses, setting them on the wide table and pouring a ss for everyone. To the alliance. And spies.
Theo toasted to that, taking a sip of the tart drink. It wasnt good, but he put on a brave face.
An excellent vintage, Feintleaf, Alran said, shifting his weight to be morefortable on the couch. Of course this isnt a social visit. I wanted to speak face-to-face with you, Theo.
About what?
Things are moving faster than I expected, Alran started, taking another sip of wine. Im free to spend my time spying, now that I dont manage Rivers. So, heres a few points. Veosta has been reinforced by Tarantham. Qavell is holding on somehow. Partopour, Bantein, and the Khahari are holding back. Theyre waiting to see who rises from the ashes.
Interesting turns of events everywhere, Fenian said, swirling the wine in his ss. I assume Gronro is holding strong.
They are. But the undead arent abating. Theyre growing stronger by the day, if the reports are urate. My spy in Qavell says its bad. Theyve lost a wall, Alran said.
But not their leader. Theo nodded. They needed to cut the head off the snake, otherwise this would go on forever. How strong is King Karasan?
Hes powerful enough to ascend, Alran said.
Fenian smiled, tipping his ss to the spymaster. Hes level 152.
I cant figure out why he hasnt ascended. Alrans eyes were now locked on Fenian. The spymaster didnt like being uninformed.
King Karasan must remain on the mortal ne. If he gives up his mortal body, he loses possession of an artifact.
An artifact you want, Theo said.
One I need. Hes kept the artifact in a dormant state, aligning himself with the traitor gods. If he activates it, hell assume a new role. And he wed his way to the top with the Kingdom of Qavell. He wont give that up.
Alran nodded. My spy reported your battle with the king. Seems like you were aiming for the exterior wall.
That was the only way to get him to flee. I had him cornered in Balkors dead realm when he tricked me. The bastard. Fenian let out a heavy sigh before draining his ss. He poured himself another. But I have a backup n.
Of course you do. Theo smiled at that. Fenian was prepared for everything. How does this news affect us?
Alran shrugged. Not much. We have our port to the world while Qavell does not. Theyll starve out eventually. I suspect theyll reach out soon enough.
Theo tapped his foot. He fell into thought, stretching his mind to imagine the ways theyd do that. The administrators in the kingdom could no longer contact them through the [Kingdom Core]. There might be a way tomunicate between nations, but that felt wrong. What the alchemist wanted to do was lead an attack on Qavell, leveling it before they fought off the undead. Perhaps that was too grim, even for the old version of himself.
How would they do that, Fenian?
A messenger, perhaps.
Perhaps or certainly? How would they get here?
Maybe an airship, Alran said, holding his ss out for a refill. But my agents in Broken Tusk said youre preparing for that.
Theo nodded. He would have been disappointed if Alran wasnt spying on him. Thats exactly what he would do in this situation. Whats the correct response if I spot an airship approaching?
Make no mistake, Theo, Fenian said, gesturing with his one good hand. You shoot it down. If you see Qavells colors flying on an airship, you st it out of the sky.
That was already his n.
Oh! Alran said, leaning forward in his seat. Speaking of aggressive action. Some Ogre Warlord has taken an interest in the alliance. I almost forgot because my Ogre spy is an idiot, but theyreing to offer help.
Fenian perked up. Really? Well, thats not part of the n.
Why? Theo asked.
grot doesnt enjoy sending emissaries. Fenian drank more of his wine. Theyre happier sending war parties. That should make for an interesting conversation.
If Half-Ogres were aggressive, Theo couldnt imagine how bad the full-blooded Ogres would be. But if Alran said they wereing for peaceful purposes, he wouldnt turn them down. On that line of thought, things were going far better than hed expected. The internationalmunity didnt care that the Soutnds Alliance were traitors. That painted Qavell in a far worse light than he first thought.
The group shifted to talking about theories, rather than fact. Alran was happy with his recement in Rivers, but wouldnt speak much of them. Fenian was all mysterious about everything, the way he always was. During their drinking and joking, Tresk and Alex arrived to enjoy the new manor. They ran around honkingboth of themwhile they checked out every single room in the ce.
I dont like the tavern, Alran said, looking around the interior of the manor. Would you mind if I stayed here tonight?
Yeah, me too, Fenian said.
I dont care. Maybe we could get Xam to cater dinner. I have a big dining room, after all.
For the first time in a while, Theo wasnt tempted to leave the sofa. The [Endless Comfort] upgrade made the seat impossibly soft. He felt himself melting into it, washing away his desire to leave. Even when a knock came at the door, he didnt want to stand up. Fenian rolled himself over, letting whoever it was in.
Theo! You will not believe this! Fenian shouted. That got him out of his seat and over to the door.
Standing at the door was a young Half-Ogre woman. Theo remembered seeing her in town, and cross-referenced his memory to find what she did for a living. She was one of the few floating people in town who went between jobs. Sarisa Fletcher was the height of most Half-Ogres. A good two feet taller than the Humans, and a head taller than the Elves. Well-built for manualbor, she now wore different clothes than those meant forboring. A well-fitted ck long-sleeve shirt with a bow near the neck, and a white ankle-length skirt. Pale ochre skin, hazel eyes, and raven ck hair. The hallmarks of a local Broken Tusker.
But she was pretty, and Fenian was drooling.
Sarisa bowed low, doubling herself over. Sarisa Fletcher. Alise sent me because of my core. She said that you have a job for me.
Alise had conspired with Fenian. Theo was certain that was the only way the administrator would send someone like her. The situation would boil over if he didnt act fast.
Theo let out a long breath. Fenian, go to your room.
I dont have a room.
Find one.
I dont want to.
Theo red at the Elf. Then behave. I need to get Sarisa up to speed. Come, lets sit.
Sarisa finally stopped bowing. She followed Theo to the sitting area, finding afortable ce to rest. The alchemist didnt know what to think about a Half-Ogre that acted so proper. He couldnt tell if she was trying to fit into her new role as a maid or if thats the way she was. The alchemist made introductions to everyone seated at the table, drawing up a contract specifically for his new assistant.
If youre going to be around us, youre going to hear stuff we dont want repeated, Theo said. She signed the restrictive contract without hesitation.
I understand.
I wanted an old man because Fenian is a hound dog. Not sure how he hasnt banged his way through half the town.
How are you sure I havent?
Mister Feintleafs charms never worked on me, Sarisa said, smiling. The tusks protruding from her bottom lip were smaller than the average Half-Ogre. It gave her a more Human-like appearance.
That hurts.
Theo went over Sarisas duties. He mostly needed her to run between various ces and deliver information. The alchemist often found himself without the time to run around town, ordering people around. That left him little time to do the things he needed to do for the town and his alchemy. Hed been neglecting the advancement of his mage core for that very reason, leaving him itching for someone like her.
Is she my servant as well? Tresk said, appearing from nowhere. Alex came honking down the stairs.
Shes an assistant. No, you can hire your own. Youre rich.
Bah!
We were just talking about dinner, Alran said, smiling at Sarisa.
Im on it, she said, rising and bowing before departing.
No one had to tell her to head off to Xams to get dinner. She departed without another word, heading north to cater their food for the night. Everyone gathered in Theos manor shared their thoughts about the woman. She was far too tame for a Broken Tusker, something Tresk was convinced would break in time. Most people from the town were high-strung. The alchemists observations of his people showed that to be true in every case.
People broke off into their own conversations after a while. Theo was shocked to see Tresk partake in some of it. She had no desire to run off and adventure now that they had the manor. That sent him out back to inspect the gardens. The ck metal gate spanned an area twice asrge as the house. While there were trees growing, and strangely shaped bushes, there was no fruit to be found. When he arrived at a small pond, he paused. Alex waddled behind him, jumping into the water without hesitation.
I like this, she said.
I think Ive been working too hard, Alex, Theo said, sitting by the pond. Might be time to take it easy for a while.
Is that an option?
It might be. We have workers now. People who are aligned with my mission.
What is your mission?
Theo had to think about that for a long time before responding. Alex was happy to ssh in the pond while he thought, honking and diving in the shallow water. His mission had been to make things better, but there were roadblocks. Things that threw themselves in his path. But what he said was true. Broken Tusk had people now. Competent people who could help run not only a town but a growing nation.
Sure, that path was paved with blood and stone. People had died. A nation had crumbled, even if Theo didnt have a direct hand in that. But things were better for it.
To keep the citizens of the Soutnds Alliance safe. To bring order to this world.
You want to rule the world?
Not like that, Alex. I want to set an example so people can see whatpassion is all about. It doesnt mean being weak. It means being strong.
How whimsical.
How do you even know that word?
Because I have a big brain.
Theo reached out, stroking Alexs slender neck. Yeah, youve got a huge brain.
He spent a good amount of time in the garden. The others came to see it, and the manor had more visitors than Theo cared to count. By dinnertime, the party intending to dine had grown. Sarisa arrived with a team of people from the Marsh Wolf Tavern toy out the food on the massive dining room table. She litmps, set the table, and stood nearby.
Theo, Tresk, Alex, Fenian, Alran, Perg, Azrug, and Miana all sat at the table. The alchemist was at the head position, nked by his new assistant. Xam had prepared Karatan steaks that night, something that must have been imported for Partopour. Tresk kicked an air conditioner to life in the rooms corner, cooling the sweltering interior as the group dined.
Alise picked me for a reason, Sarisa said, keeping her voice low enough to go unnoticed by the others at the table.
Why is that? Theo asked, cutting a chunk off his steak and cing it in his mouth. As always, the rare meal was weed.
I have a [Maids Core]. Thats the one I got when I came of age, Sarisa said. Theo turned to look at her peerless gaze. He noticed the constant searching in her eyes. I also have a [Baelthar Guardians Core].
A defensive ss? Theo asked. The others around the table chatted, enjoying the new ce to eat.
Sarisa smiled, hand still tucked neatly behind her back. She shifted her stance, the head of a short spear bing visible.
Theo turned back to the table, stifling augh. Guess I have a bodyguard, too.
4.30 - A Secret Most Evil
4.30 - A Secret Most Evil
Alise must have been plotting for a while. Moving all the right pieces behind the scenes so Theo wouldnt notice. If she had approached him to assign him a permanent bodyguard, he would have declined. Not because he was too proud, but because it was a waste of resources. The walls were safe, after all. The alchemist sat in his massive library, shelves still empty, as Sarisa exined the situation.
Theres another one! Tresk said, poking her head from behind a curtain.
The others attending the dinner party were still chatting in the dining room. Tresk and Theo had retreated upstairs to discuss things with the new assistant. Arge Half-Ogre man now stood at her side, baring most of the same features as the woman. The alchemist marked them as siblings before they exined themselves. Hed seen both of them around town, the man being a member of the Guild. Rowan Fletcher, owner of a potent stealth-style core. Tresk was hismander.
Rowan Fletcher, sir, the Half-Ogre man said, bowing. He wore the same style of clothes as his sister. A ck button-up shirt with white pants. That couldnt be practical forbat. He looked too dapper for a Broken Tusker.
So Alise orchestrated this? Theo asked.
Yes, Rowan said, still bowing.
Theo sunk deeper into his chair. He wanted to be upset, but could not produce the reaction. They should have led with Rowan as his butler. That would have made things easier. But a sibling pair struck something within him.
How is Rowan in the field? Theo asked. The pair of assistants remained silent.
Hes a beast. [Baelthar Shadowstalkers Core]. That guy is good at making sure monsters dont move. In my squads, hes a floating specialist.
I like him, Alex said. The goose nipped at the mans ankles, but he didnt flinch.
Theo let them stew before he spoke again. Siblings, right? Rowan, youre the big brother.
Thats right, Rowan said, still bowing.
You can stand up straight. Youre my bodyguards, then?
Thats the idea, Sarisa said.
And servants. Assistants. Whatever you want to call us.
Theo let out another sigh, sinking deeper into his chair. If he went any lower, his back would be on the seat cushion. This is the sort of loyalty he didnt want. He understood a Broken Tuskers desire to support him, but this took it too far. Maybe that was a good thing, though. The alchemist always imed there were endless jobs within the town, why should he deny a pair of citizens that wanted guard duty? Or servants, for that matter. They could do whatever they wanted with their lives.
Same contract as your sister, Theo said, drawing up a duplicate of Sarisas contract. Rowan signed it without hesitation. Youre the better fighter, Rowan?
Rowan and Sarisa shared a look.
Thats debatable, Sarisa said.
Fine. Ill leave the assisting and guarding to your discretion. You can maintain your own homes, but I rmend you stay here. Both of you are excused from your duties with the guild.
Aw, man, Tresk groaned. Youre taking my boy away?
Theo gave her a t look, shaking his head. I dont need protection sometimes. I need it all the time, right?
Man. Fine. Im gonnain, though.
You alwaysin, Tresk.
Not always.
Always, Alex said.
Sarisa and Rowan had aprehensive n for their duties. They exined it together, detailing how theyd been working with Alise for longer than Theo expected. Even more surprising, it was their idea. Mayors normally had a guard detail, while national leaders had even more. The alchemist had been unprotected for too long, and he wouldnt disagree with their assessment.
Instead of turning in at their regr hour, Theo and Tresk worked with the new guards to ce wards throughout the manor. The alchemist constructed several figures carved from bone and enchanted with [Reveal] for the pair to use. He also opened all the stock of the Newt and Demon for their personal use. They ended their parade around the manor in the kitchen.
Id like it if you wore armor, though, Theo said. Gear with stats.
Sarisa and Rowan shared one of their looks. Something they seemed to do often.
We thought a mage would notice, Sarisa said, grasping a locket at her neck. The maids outfit dissolved in a sheet of gray smoke, revealing chain armor over a padded gambeson.
Rowan followed, revealing his light leather armor.
An illusion, Tresk said, gawking. Alright, you guys are cool.
With that sorted, there were only a few more things to do before bed. Theo described his schedule to the new assistants, including his ability to drop into an adjacent realm once a day. His [Tarahek Core] was bound to level to 30 at any moment, resulting in a new skill. Both Sarisa and Rowan nodded as though that was a normal thing.
Were going to bed, Theo said, heading to the second floor with Tresk and Alex. See you in the morning.
Goodnight, Sarisa and Rowan said in unison.
During the day, Theo had moved their beds from the Newt and Demon to the manor. Alex nestled in her little box while Theo and Tresk fell into theirfortable beds. They drifted into the Dreamwalk after only a moment.
Alright, whats your read on them? Theo asked, feeling the soft grass of a random field depress under his feet.
Broken Tuskers through and through. Ive known both of them my entire life, Tresk said. Theo felt a sense of pride when she said that, her emotions flooding through their connection. Their parents still live in town. Theyre both a few years older than me. I think Rowan is like 30? Yeah, serious old man energy.
How about you, Alex?
I love them. They are my best friends.
Good enough for me.
Theo had little he wanted to aplish in the Dreamwalk tonight. He watched as Tresk ran off to fight more dragons. The alchemist sat in the field for some time, letting the breeze wash over him. As always, the sense was dulled in the Dreamwalk. It was nothing like the intense sensation he got in the mortal realm or Terogal.
Instead of worrying about the development of his assistants, Theo shifted the scene to the current version of Broken Tusk. He took up position on the eastern wall, looking toward the river. Treskined about the sudden shift. A dragon swooped far in the distance, tossing her a good mile with a swipe of its tail. Alex honked with delight.
Farms run by golems near the river seems like a good idea. Theo imagined ghostly farms stretching out, north of the east-running road and west of the river. Spectral monsters attacked the farm and the golems within, killing them all. But no Broken Tuskers get hurt.
Oh! My turn! Alex said.
The ground darkened below their feet. A massive, feathered airship appeared above. The hull was made of wood, but mottled with bright white feathers. A set of wings stretched to the side, pping unevenly. It stayed in the air, despite the physical impossibility of the vessel. Alexs imagination wasnt there yet, but it was a good start.
Want to test Throks gun? Can you remember it in detail? Theo asked.
I can. I am good at remembering things.
Alex turned, honking at the ground below the battlements. A poor recreation of Throks weapon appeared. It tilted to one side before falling over into a heap. Theo swiped the image from the Dreamwalk and remade it with his near-perfect memory. The alchemist jumped from the wall,nding near the weapon. The goose did her best attempt at flying, something she still hadnt mastered. She fell in a tangled mess of wings and webbed feet.
The goose-ship lingered overhead, pping in unpredictable intervals. Theo helped Alex up, untangle her from herself, before loading the weapon. Throks designs were always easy enough to understand, but this one was moreplex than most. The modifications hed made to the rail system made it doubly confusing with controls for both theunching rail and the braking rail. With the hook in ce, and a dense bar of [Drogramathi Iron] as the payload, the alchemist cranked theuncher up to maximum.
Ready? Theo asked.
Ready!
The moment Theo pressed theunch button, the railgun exploded. It did send the payload to destroy the goose-ship, but it destroyed itself in the process. Both the alchemist and Alex were sent flying back by the violent, unnned deconstruction of the weapon. The airship above spun, pping uselessly against the gaping hole in its center. If this were the real world, both witnesses to the firing of the weapon would have been dead.
The final design requires safety features, Theo said.
No! That was awesome! Alex shouted into Theos mind.
The goose had been spending too much time with Tresk. But Theo couldnt help but smile at the familiars excitement. They got back to working with Throks first design, testing to see how fast it couldunch a potion. There was a bnce between the toughness of the ss, and the maximum speed the object could beunched. Too thin, and it would explode onunch. Too thick and it wouldnt detonate when hitting Alexs imagined ship.
What about your mage-thing? Alex asked.
Theo tapped his foot on the cobbles of the town. A dragon swept through the air above, attacking Alexs airship. From the ground, the alchemist could see Tresk battling away on the deck, dying several times during the exchange.
We couldbine [Detect Enemy] with some sort of fire effect, Theo said, withdrawing the appropriate reagents to aplish the task. But the Dreamwalk doesnt take kindly to me breaking the rules.
How about I help, Alex said, honking repeatedly.
Theo shrugged. He was willing to try anything in the weird realm. The alchemist held the shell of a [Fire Smander Egg] in his hand, focusing with his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability. The Dreamrealm pushed back immediately, then Alexs well swooped in. They pushed against the rules of the realm, and it gave way without much of a fight. Together they extracted the [me] effect for Toruauns wards. They repeated the process, taking usefulponents until they had an array to test.
Oh, I have high hopes for [Force], Alex said.
Theo had high hopes for a lot of the effects he had learned. [Force] and [me] both came from the eggs, but there were others. [Poison], [Maim], and [Devour] fell into his dangerous category, all from the [Widow Lily]. [Wind Shell], from [Roc Berries] might be interesting but he had doubts. Perhaps it was time for the goose to learn a lesson.
Having the ability to make potionswards for that matterdoesnt mean you should, Theo started. He imagined the potion hed crafted with Tresk. The one he didnt even want to think about. The liquid inside was a sickly green color, swirling to mix with a deep purple. Do you understand how dangerous this is?
Oh, extremely dangerous, Alex said, honking and bobbing her head.
So you understand why we can never let this potion reach the real world.
Yes, I understand. Im not a child.
Theo let out a frustrated breath. What about the properties are dangerous?
Alex pecked at the potion with her bill. She was examining it. Theo joined with her, examining the potion.
[Imbue Phctery]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion removes your soul from your body, transferring it to an object of your choosing. Creating a phctery designates you as undead, specifically a lich. You gain innate power of all undead creatures (based on your level and willpower), but may not level up through the normal system.
It was a vile thing. Theo had identally discovered a way to create a potion that made the drinker undead. Worse, it made them a lich. His cursory investigation into what being a lich meant didnt bode well. The drinker would be immortal, so long as their phctery remained intact, but they would be undead. Theydmand Balkors hordes, twisting the souls of the dead to suit their needs. It made his stomach turn.
This potion is evil, Alex said, nodding her head.
Yet Im not evil.
While we have powers, using them isnt always an option, Alex said. We hide things like this away, so that others dont use them.
Not only do we hide it, we never talk about them. Any Drogramathi alchemist that can brew one of these should do the same, although I doubt any exist on the mortal ne.
Can you be sure?
Absolutely not. And theres going to be other potions like this. Other potions that arent morally gray like my bombs. Evil potions, Alex. Things that could ruin peoples lives.
We are the protectors of those secrets, Alex said, spreading her wings and pping. I will protect the secrets with my life.
Good goose, Theo said, patting her on the head. Chances are high that I was ced in Belgars body because I have a strong moralpass.
Everyone has a breaking point.
Theos stomach twisted into knots, but he pushed it down. Well take steps to make sure we never get to that point.
Thank you for the lesson, papa. Now, can we blow stuff up?
Theos first attempt at applying the [Lesser me] ward to a bar of [Drogramathi Iron] failed. Even when Alex added her willpower to the problem, it didnt work. They switched to a bar of regr [Iron] and it worked the first try. The aligned metal just didnt want to take the effect. They inspected the ward before tossing it at an airship.
[Lesser me]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [me]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
1 day.
Theo loaded the bar of iron into Throks imagined contraption. Alex made sure there were enemies on the deck of the airship above. That would activate the trigger on the ward. They dialed the speed back on theuncher, sending the bar soaring at their target with an ear-splitting snap.
Ooooo, Alex said.
As expected, the bar punched a hole through the side of the feathery airship. But the moment the enemy on deck came into range, the bar emitted a field of fire thatshed at the ship. mes spread across the ship, consuming wood and feathers alike. It floundered in the air for a moment beforeing crashing down on the harbor, setting everything aze.
Yeah, thats effective. Assuming they dont have magic to counter projectiles.
Again!
Alex reset the scene, clearing the fire away and adding a fresh airship to the sky. Next up was the [Lesser Force] ward. The description wasnt worth inspecting as the pair were only interested in the practical application. They loaded another bar with the effect, and sent it up. The effect was less impressive, sending the ship tilting to the side for only a moment. There was still a hole in the side, and the enemies on deck were sent tumbling off.
Not as impressive.
Theo nodded. The next wards to test were best observed on the ground. He understood the effectiveness ofunching a heavy bar of iron, but wanted to observe how these wards affected targets up close.
First up is [Poison]. I think we know what to expect, Theo said.
Alex conjured a group of five Goblins. They mingled around the streets of Broken Tusk, tightly packed so they could observe the poison. Theo enchanted a bar of iron with the [Lesser Poison] ward before tossing it into the group. A bubble sprung from the iron, coating every creature in range with a sheen of green. They coughed, stumbled around, but didnt die from the effects.
Not bad. You can make everyone on a ship sick.
Combined with the effect of having a hole punched in an airship, that might have been worth keeping on hand. Alex cleared the board, preparing more Goblins to test the [Lesser Maim] ward. When Theo tossed the bar of iron, most of the Goblins took a knee. Upon closer inspection, those who had been affected had broken limbs.
Interesting, Theo said, kneeling near a Goblin to inspect the damage. Some werent affected.
They resisted the ward. Cool!
Alex cleared the area again, generating fresh Goblins for their testing. Next was the [Lesser Devour] ward, something Theo hadnt even tested in potion form. The moment he tossed the warded bar of iron into the group, the air swirled with magical power. Once again, some Goblins resisted the effect. The ones who failed whatever invisible check was at y didnt fare well. Around one creature, glowing blue jaws appeared, taking a literal bite out of the monster.
Both Alex and Theo flinched back when the effect took hold. The Goblins thrashed on the ground, screeching and pawing at lost limbs. The goose cleared the scene away before they could see more of the carnage.
That might be a dangerous one, huh? Alex asked, managing a weak honk.
Lets try [Wind Shell] next, Theo said, eager to clear the image from his mind.
Alex brought the airship back while Theo warded an iron bar with [Lesser Wind Shell]. Once again, the description gave away nothing about the effects. They loaded Throks cannon, shot the bar, and observed. The moment the bar impacted the side of the ship, a field of forceful wind sprung up. It whipped the people on deck into the air, sending them flying over the side with force. The airship fared just as bad as those unlucky, imagined people, sending it flying hard to one side.
That was far more effective than [Force], Alex honked.
Hey! Tresk shouted, appearing next to the pair. Are you guys having fun without me? Shooting my dads gun without me? How dare you!
Alright. Lets show her the good ones, Alex.
Oh, with pleasure!
4.31 - Apprentice
4.31 - Apprentice
A rush of memories flooded through Theos mind as he woke the next morning. Thest person to have prepared breakfast for him when he woke up was Tresk. That felt like a lifetime ago. The Marshling had already torn off from their new room, jumping from the second floornding and rushing into the dining room. The alchemist could feel her excitement through their connection. He and Alex waddled from their beds, heading downstairs with no haste.
Those who had stayedte at the manorst night had already cleared out. Sarisa and Rowan had already cleaned up the mess. The assistants were waiting near the dining room table, a spread of Xams cookingid out. Theo took his spot at the head of the table and let out a sigh. There was enough food there for everyone.
I understand the servant aesthetic. I really do, Theo said, gesturing to the spread over the table. He pulled a teapot close to himself before going on. While were not putting up appearances, you guys are wee to be chill.
The siblings shared one of their looks then nodded, taking seats at the table.
Ive prepared a report, Sarisa said, clearing her throat.
Theo couldnt tell her not to continue. She was already rattling off information about the nation before he could stop her. Instead, he busied himself with his breakfast. Sipping his tea, he digested the information the assistant provided. The newly elected leader of Rivers and Daub was scheduled for a visit today, but that would be handled by Alise and her gang. One of Laedrias boats was ready to sail, but their only boat, The Cork, had experienced issues in the bay that required a meeting with Aarok and Xolsa. Salire also had new orders for him to fill.
There was more information, but the alchemist was left to ponder how the assistants had gathered so much. He wanted to question it, but pushed that out of his mind. This was a good thing. Now Theo didnt have to run around town, chasing everyone down to give him reports on whatever they were working on. He let out a sigh of relief.
Sarisa, tell us about yourself, Theo said.
I was born here. Raised here, Sarisa said without missing a beat. I remember the day you fell into the Zee fields. Then how rapidly everything changed.
Shes always wanted to be an adventurer, Rowan said, chuckling. But she never had the heart for it.
Then it was impossible to get a decent core after getting stuck with my [Servants Core].
Hardbor like the rest of us, Rowan put in.
Honestly? Sarisa asked, shrugging. I always thought you were an idiot, Theo.
Tresk snorted, shooting streams of tea out of her nostrils.
You took massive steps to move this town in a direction, and I still dont know if it was the right direction.
It certainly isnt, Rowan said. But thats not the point.
No, it isnt, Sarisa said, nodding to her brother. Theo felt like a listener in the conversation, rather than an active participant. The point is youre a Broken Tusker, because were all idiots. Were just groping in the dark, hoping for the best.
Damn right, Tresk said, holding her hand up for Sarisa to high-five. The assistant left her hanging.
While I appreciate the sentiment, Ive beencking a few things for a long time, Theo said.
He needed help, Tresk said. I think I was suppose to help him, but you know. Im just too spunky.
Stop being so self-aware, Theo said, ring at Tresk.
Youre self-aware.
Honk!
Anyway, Im excited for Sarisa and Rowan. Theo took a sip of his tea. Make sure you guys arent working all day. Once I get my reports, I dont really care what you do.
Well be guarding you, Rowan said.
And what about you, Rowan? Theo asked. Tell me about yourself.
Not much to say. Hard-working Broken Tusker. Thats me, Rowan said. I was too young when Luras and Aarok ran off to their adventures. Always thought Id grow up to be a military man like them. Nope. Laborer.
Do you enjoy long walks on the beach and the scent ofvender? Tresk asked.
Theo groaned.
The beach is full of monsters and I dont know whatvender is.
Theo shifted the conversation away from introductions as swiftly as he could. He made sure the assistants knew how important the boats were. Aside from the introductions, the mornings breakfast was calm and rxing. Once everyone was done eating, the alchemist left with Alex to sit in the back garden. Rowan apanied him on guard duty, sticking to the shadows.
The order Salire needed done today wasntrge. It was the same standard thing that adventurers needed. Mostly healing potions and stamina potions with the asional pill. Another style of potion that had be extremely popr was the elementally infused attribute potions. There was one element for each attribute, and the effect seemed obvious. They enhanced the effect based on the attribute. So, dexterity made someone faster on a scaling factor. Strength made them stronger. And so on.
After his rumination in the garden, he headed off for the Newt and Demon. Salire was, predictably, sitting in the shop below. She wore a floral summer dress today, something Theo had never seen worn by someone in town. He cocked an eyebrow and stared for a while.
Arent you married? she asked with a chuckle.
Kind of, Theo said, not averting his gaze. Is that imported? It looks great on you.
A hint of blush turned the Half-Ogres pale orange skin a darker shade. Citizens in Broken Tusk had no mind for fashion. This was the first time Theo had seen someone try harder than just simple shirts and cks.
You think so? Salire asked. Despite her shyness, she did a twirl which made the dress billow out.
Absolutely, Theo said, looking down at his own clothes. His outer robe had almost mendedpletely. There was the smallest pucker where the fabric was knitting itself back together. The hat he wore on his head still bobbled everywhere he went, the feather trailing and making him feel like an idiot most of the time.
I dont know. That trader from Partopour was an expert salesman. They knew well enough to bring dresses that would fit a Half-Ogre.
Or they could magically resize the clothes. Theo felt Rowan lurking somewhere nearby. He couldnt get an exact location like he could with Tresk, but he was there.
Well, I meant to ask you if you want to live in the Newt and Demon.
Oh? Oh! Really? Salire asked.
You could also live in the manor. Whatever you want.
Um I dont know.
Theo opened the door to the shop, listening to the bell jingle. Rowan, could you grab a bed from Sledges ce? For the upstairs room in myb.
Right away, the shadows said, coiling before turning into a Half-Ogre.
Whichever works for you, Theo said, returning to the interior. Im going to work on these orders.
Alright. Thanks, Salire said, sounding slightly flustered.
Alex did her best to fly up the stairs, but needed help half-way. In theb, Theo noticed something curious. Upon entering, his intuition went off. Combined with his memory, he realized things had been moved around in theb. There was a stain on the shrine to Drogramath as well, and his mind swirled. When itnded on a mundane conclusion, he shook his head.
Have you been praying to Drogramath? Theo asked, poking his head into the stairway.
Alises face, a darker shade of orange, appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Uh! Is that a problem?
Theo shook his head. Come on up.
Wow! She likes you. I wonder what kinda like that is, though, Alex said.
Like a daughter trying to impress her father, Theo said, keeping those thoughts inside. He didnt want to embarrass the young woman. I dont know if theres room in my heart for romance.
Theo continued two conversations, which would have boiled his mind before being transported to this world. Now he found the task easy. He kept his mentalmunication with Alex while showing Salire the proper way to make offerings to the shrine.
I feel that hole, Alex said. Like a deep pit in your chest.
Ive filled that pit with other things, Theo said, cing a flower on the shrine. It erupted in purple mes, then vanished. With friends so close, Id call them family.
Maybe you could tell me about that person who made the hole.
Id be dredging up terrible memories, Theo said.
Perhaps youll realize that ignoring your problems doesnt solve them.
Do you really think I could get a Drogramath core?
Theo snapped his attention to the conversation he was having with Salire. He split his concentration again, focusing on his golems as he considered her question. The golems needed mana tablets, and the woman needed to set her expectations low.
Not sure how the distribution of cores is going to work now, Theo said. Im certain that Khahar has limited the ability of the gods to interact with us. Zarali kinda confirmed that, so we need to figure it out. Come on, help me with the stills. Well do a run of attribute potions.
Salire pped her hands together with excitement. To Theos horror, Tresk had gotten into the conversation about the alchemists love life on Earth.
He had a girlfriend, Tresk said, giggling into their minds. When his sun ate his, he was clutching a silver locket. But she died before the end, so she didnt get transmigrated.
Oh, a girlfriend? Alex asked, honking.
Theo stood over his stills, checking that they were clean for the run. With his three 500 unit custom stills, he could distill vast quantities of potions. Theyd focus this run on the mostmonly used attribute potions. His garden of [Wind Tulips], [me Roses], and [Stone Flowers] would produce essence for each physical attribute. Dexterity, strength, and vigor.
The most important thing as someone starting out is to understand essences, Theo exined. This was a lesson hed already given Salire. There isnt a living Drogramathi Dronon who would share this information. Reagents have three or more properties, and you need to have discovered those properties to distill essences.
Because distition requires intent! Salire said with excitement.
Right. So, were doing two runs today. Gonna take it easy. First run is going to be attribute potions, the next one is [Mana Essence] for my golems.
We should do a third run, Salire said.
What for?
[Hallow Ground Essence].
While their supply of the essence was vast, there could never be enough [Hallow Ground Essence]. Theo tried not to look at the numbers for how many of the potions Gronro went through. It was expansive, and the alchemist was interested in looking at alternatives. But there was a problem there, too. The Soutnds Alliance needed the undead to keep the north off their back. At first, Theo thought Qavell had fallen. New information revealed that to be untrue. He doubted the king would take their betrayal kindly.
Theo agreed to do a third run, and they got to work. He let Salire do everything she could, which mostly involved processing the reagents. She set the shredder up, ran the reagents through it, and added the [Enchanted Water] to the mix. Then she set the lids on, dialed in the temperatures, and set the stills to work. The Half-Ogre was smart enough to ensure the 1,000 unit holding tanks in theb were full before using Throks system of storage. With those tanks, they didnt need to watch the run the entire time.
Rowan returned with the bed in time. He ced it in the room and informed Theo that he was needed at the adventurers guild. Salire made her way back to the shop as the pair departed. Within the guild hall, Aarok was in his normal room on the second floor. Sarisa was waiting for Theo when he arrived, nking him as he joined the meeting.
Fancy bodyguards, Aarok said, shaking his head. Right. Lets get to business.
It was only a meeting between Theo, Xolsa, and Aarok. The alchemist turned to the wizard and nodded. Feeling any better?
Significantly, Xolsa said. But he didnt look great.
Aarok cleared his throat and began the meeting. There were problems with the [Ocean Dungeon]. The issue was that it was creating monsters that gued the coast. That wouldnt have been a big deal, but the dungeon was under water. A seas worth of water. The administration staff had been brainstorming ideas, but they hadnte up with anything clear.
Someone suggested building a bridge that went out to the sea, but the same old problem remained. There was just too much water, even in the rtively shallow bay. Theo had a stupid idea but he kept it to himself for now. The conversation went on, Aarok exining every avenue they had pursued. Xolsa was in the meeting because of his [Dungeon Engineers Core]. If they could get the haggard Elf down to the dungeon, he could work his magic. That might cause issues, but it was worth it.
So, Theo started, drumming his fingers on the table. Stop me if this sounds stupid.
You shouldnt open with that, Aarok said.
We could freeze the water.
Stop. That sounds stupid, Aarok said.
Just give me a chance here, Theo said. The problem is you cant build a weird waterproof tower around the dungeon so we can ess it. Why not just freeze it and well tunnel our way to the dungeon?
Ive heard worse ideas, Xolsa said,ughing then coughing.
Hes still recovering. We cant expect Xolsa to swim to the bottom of the bay. So, well freeze it.
Aarok grumbled a little, but nodded. Thats the worst idea Ive heard so far. But it might actually work. I need to talk to Alise about it, though. Wed pull people from your other project.
The maglev? Theo asked. Freezing an ocean should be easier than building the maglev.
Somehow I doubt that. Come on, lets head to the sea, Aarok said, standing from his seat. Youre staying Xolsa.
The Elf frowned, but nodded. He put on a brave face, but he was in pain. At least he wasnt dead.
Im guessing the goon crew ising with us, Aarok said, jabbing a finger at Theos new assistants.
Youre a goon, old man, Rowan said.
Yeah, I am. You got your crap to freeze seawater, Theo?
Yup. Lets go!
Theo sent a mental message to Tresk about where they were going. She feigned confidence in his new bodyguards abilities, but he felt her jumping through the shadows. When the group passed by the harbor, the alchemists breath caught in his throat. There was a boat bobbing around in the harbor. Ready to sail with those bright blue sails. He stifled a scream of excitement, following Aarok along the canal to the southern beaches.
As expected, they ran into monsters along the way.
Apparently, the spear that Sarisa disyed in the manor was for indoor use. The weapon she produced out in the open was a massive thing. It looked like an ax and a spear had a baby. During the fighting, she stuck near Theo to protect him. Alex stayed back, too. That left Rowan and Aarok to take care of the vile Fald fish-people. The Guildleader of Broken Tusks Adventurers Guild wasnt as impressive as the Shadowstalker.
Rowan locked the Fald in ce, denying the small group any movement. It was then the simple task of killing them where they stood. They worked their way to the beach, clearing along the way and looting [Monster Cores]. When they arrived at the beach, Theo removed his shoes and dipped his toes in the water. As expected, the bays water was extremely warm.
Stop ying in the surf, Aarok grumbled. See if your potions work.
Theo didnt want to. He took time to look out onto the bay, and back up into the canal theyd made. To both the east and the west were hills that quickly became mountains. The westerly hills were closer than those far to the east. There was plenty of space to expand the town that way. The alchemist concerned himself more with the texture of the sand between his toes. The scattered shells and little sea creatures that skittered just under the surface. Alex honked, swimming in the shallow water. He took a deep breath before Aarok yelled at him again.
Right, Theo said, withdrawing a [Freeze Solution] from his inventory. I need to see how viable this is. Let me measure out how much it takes to freeze a fixed section.
The alchemist experimented. The [Freeze Solution] froze the ocean water easily, despite the salt content. He started with a small patch near the shoreline, dripping his solution out until a chunk of ice formed. Then he worked his way deeper into the water, escorted by everyone gathered. He felt Tresks nervous eyes on him as he waded deeper.
Interesting, Theo said, dripping his solution as he stood up to his thighs in the water. The potion gathered on the surface of the ice, and seemed to push itself down through the column. Instead of freezing outward, it was freezing downward. The problemes with volume. How far out is the [Ocean Dungeon]?
Pretty far out there, Tresk said, appearing from Theos own shadow. She already held arge rock in her hand, tossing it with precision into the ocean. About there.
Not that far. 100 paces, or so? How deep does it get?
Hard to say, Aarok said. Ten man-heights?
Theo imagined ten Half-Ogres stacked one on top of the other. The [Ocean Dungeon] was fairly deep. But there were other concerns. He could always brew enough potions to freeze the entire ocean, given enough time. They would need to excavate a stairway into the ice, giving Xolsa a path to work his magic. For his proof of concept, the alchemist created a walkway from ice. It was sturdy enough to hold everyone gathered without issue.
Because the [Freezing Solution] works by freezing the water below the currently frozen section, Theo said, standing atop his ice bridge. We can drill down to the [Ocean Dungeon].
Aarok rubbed his chin, nodding with approval. How many of those potions are you going to need?
A few thousand, Theo said with a shrug.
I can have it ready by tomorrow, Tresk mocked, cutting Theo off before he said it.
Theo cleared his throat. Yeah, whenever you guys are ready.
4.32 - Tarahek Command
4.32 - Tara''hek Command
Salire waved her hands in theb, desperate to clear the air of the smoke. Theo had entered theb moments ago and simply stood there as she fought against the billowing clouds. When she spotted him at the entrance, she gave him a sheepish smile.
You touched the essence, didnt you? Theo asked. Are you alright?
Im fine, Salire said, coughing.
Theo crossed the room, opening a window and fanning the smoke outside. Good. That stuff can be explosive. Good thing it was just an attribute essence.
Im sorry, Salire said, still coughing.
Never be sorry for trying to do something you want to do. Except if you blow someone up, Theo said, turning to Rowan. Could you get Zarali for me?
Rowan simply bowed, then left the room. Sarisa stayed behind, helping with the fanning efforts. Once they got the room cleared, Theo distributed the stored essences into sks, storing most of them but leaving some out for brewing. Instead of lingering on the mistake Salire made, they got to work on the next set. [Manashrooms] were far easier to process than any other reagent. The soft mushrooms fell apart in a persons hand, removing the need for the grinders.
Even without a core, Salire could handle this part just fine. She just couldnt touch any distilled essence, and Theo needed to be the one to start the stills. The woman didnt have the intent created by a [Drogramath Alchemy Core] yet. After they got the stills ready for a [Freeze Essence] run, Zarali showed up.
Hello, brother, Zarali said, crossing the room to give him a big hug.
Hello to yourself, Theo said, chuckling. Whats up?
Xolsa is in great spirits, Zarali said, grinning. I think your little trip did him good.
Thats great, Theo said, pushing his adoptive sister to arms-length. So, I need to have a word with Drogramath.
Zarali scoffed. Her expression soured considerably. Good luck with that. It feels as though my prayers fall on deaf ears nowadays.
Theo stood there for a long moment. He tapped his foot nervously, lost in his own thoughts, as both Zarali and Salire sulked. Having a perfect memory didnt mean recalling everything unbidden. The alchemist had to will himself to ess those things, and something that Drogramath said had slipped his mind for some time. They needed to select patrons for the town, but when did thate in? He didnt want to consider the implications that Khahar and Drogramath were working together, but there it was.
Ill be back, Theo said, rummaging through his stores.
Hes gonna disappear, Salire whispered.
Theo stuffed various reagents into his inventory. Wannae, Alex?
Oh, yes!
Both Theo and Alex fell through the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability, passing over the Bridge andnding on their familiar ind. He got to work on his stills, expecting Benton to arrive at any moment. The alchemist wanted to run as much [Freeze Essence] as he could, even if that wasnt the purpose of his visit to the realm. The bear god might have answers on how he could dedicate his town to a patron. Until the Toora arrived, he worked on his stills.
The upgraded version of Throks stills were a joy to work with. Alex yed in the pond while he worked, and once those were filled, he shifted his gaze to the plot ofnd containing the wheat. He inspected the crop, unsurprised at what he found.
[Wheat]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
Amon nt often milled into flour.
Properties:
[Healing] [????] [????]
Bentons archway rose when Theo was halfway done with clearing the wheat away. He was stuffing it all in his inventory when the bear god appeared with boomingughter.
So good to see you, Theo! Want some tea? Perhaps a few scones?
Yes, please.
The pair settled into the cottage and brewed some tea. Benton seemed more excited than normal to see Theo.
I have a question, Theo said, nibbling on his scone. Do you know how to select a patron for a town? Or a nation?
You need a temple, Benton said. It can be any old thing. A proper seed core temple, or just some shack that a priest has blessed. I think you also need a shrine in the temple.
Theo nodded. Of course it was that simple. He appreciated that the system would let him designate any building as the temple. That made things easy, assuming Fenian didnt have the right seed core with him. And of course he didnt, because he would have offered it. Khahar, Drogramath, and Fenian were all working together on something. That was obvious.
That makes things easy. Theo nodded, sipping his tea. How are things in your realm?
Oh, were plodding along. Expansion is hard when you dont have many followers, Benton sighed. But were having a great time as a lower realm. No drama from the big guys. Just scones and tea all day.
How does that work, exactly? Theo asked. Time moves differently here, right? Can people reproduce?
No, they cannot. Not at my level, anyway. Any of my mortal worshipers that want to ascend to my realm can. And anyone who worshiped me that dieses on up to thend of eternal winter. My followers dont age in my realm, but your mind works differently once you leave the mortal ne.
I had noticed that, Theo said.
Except youre still a mortal so I bet thats weird.
Pretty weird. So, can a soul die once in your realm?
They can die. Unfortunately.
Interesting. I wonder how I can get followers up here
Who knows? More scones?
Yes, please.
One of Theos experiments was still brewing in the realm of Terogal. His suffuse potions should have taken a year to finish on the mortal ne, but up here theyd be done in a few days. They sat on the table near the pond, bubbling away in their sks. Just like those potions, the alchemist nned on nting the spirit seeds given to him by Khahar. That was the ascended mans intentions from the start, but Theo hadnt caught on. Once he was done with his tea with Benton, he approached the plot ofnd.
I have these spirit seeds, Theo said, withdrawing the box from his inventory. Theyre supposed to take a long time to grow.
Thats interesting, Benton said, picking up a [Fairy Plum Seed] for inspection. Yeah, nt these here. Grow some extremely rare spirit fruit.
Ill do a few to start. Theres no need to get crazy, Theo said.
I mean maybe. What else are you going to nt here?
Good question. I dont have an answer, Theo said, jabbing a thumb back toward his stills. Im gonna freeze the ocean, though.
Thats a n I can get behind, Benton said, rubbing his hands together. Freeze the entire while youre at it. Should grow my power.
Theo gave hispanion a discerning look. He doubted that. All that didnt matter. It was time to nt the various fruits. Theo started with the [Fairy Plum Seed], nting two a good distance apart. He tilled the soil with his hands, burying both seeds at the same depth. While he didnt know if it was correct, he went with his intuition.
Each seed that Khahar had gifted him had a different name. Theo managed to nt 5 types in his cleared area, 2 of each. [Dragon Apple Seeds], [Xotl Orange Seeds], [Gorgon Cherry Seeds], [Fairy Plum Seeds], and [Devil Peach Seeds]. Each one radiated power, even after nted in the ground. Benton was excited to see what they would be, but had his doubts as to their growth rate. That left the pair to mind the stills, drink tea, and muse threads left unexplored.
The [Wisdom of the Soul] potion had been a strange thing the moment Theo discovered it. The description imed there was a meta barrier between a persons soul and their [Wisdom] attribute. But no one knew what that meant.
Doesnt help that the Dronon are so hesitant to share information, Theo said.
Ive got an idea. Why dont I head off, talk to some folks around the realms, and see if they know anything.
Theo shrugged at that. Benton had pulled greater feats out of his ass in the past. He had hours of watching the stills in front of him. Hours still of brewing and bottling his potions. Why not?
Benton trotted through his gate, leaving Theo to consider his next course of action. His purpose for entering Terogal was to figure out the religion thing. It felt like a quest with several steps. Salire needed a core from Drogramath, but they couldnt talk to old Drogy. So the alchemist had to go to his realm to talk to a bear god and so on. It was a wee reprieve, though. The bear left some scones.
Theo fed Alex some [Nature Motes] as they yed in the pond. He swapped out his run of [Freeze Essence] for a smaller run of [Mana Essence]. The goose was disappointed about theck of bugs, and the constant shoveling of motes into her stomach, so the alchemist withdrew some of Tresks store of insects from their shared inventory. He didnt want to consider how that worked with time moving slower where he was. Over the edge of the ind, he saw the Marshlings face frozen inughter.
With only a few hours left on the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability, Bentons portal rose up. The bear god stepped through, covered in ayer of snow andughed. That was a journey.
Howd it go? Theo cleaned out his stills as his friend walked over.
Well, theres a wayward alchemists soul wandering the lower realms. Ive talked to him before, hes interesting enough. He rambled on for hours, like souls do, but Ive digested most of what he said. Based on my notions of what something like that would do, of course.
Alright. Anything interesting?
Think of your soul like a web stretching between your physical body, and your spiritual body. That web interprets the signals from your spirit and cores to your physical being. What would happen if you broke down that barrier?
Theo didnt have a damn clue what would happen if this theoretical barrier broke down. The entire system was magic as far as he was concerned. Most things in this world were magic, hardly following rules of physics. Conservation of energy was meaningless here. Objects had more power than they ought to, often stored in impossibly small containers. So if there was a barrier between the meat of his body and the ethereal part of his soul, so what?
Even his intuition, another magical thing here, couldnt give Theo the answer. Is the web acting like a filter for the system?
Well, a little schrly debate is in order. What does it mean to be more wise?
Ive never understood it. The thing I notice the most is my increased intuition. Which is magic, by the way.
Magical indeed. I think that if you drink that potion, one of two things is going to happen. Benton rubbed his hands together. Theo could tell he had some grand theory about this entire affair. Breaking the meta barrier means you no longer get the system benefits of the attribute. Thats the bad option. Second option is that it increases the connection,yering your wisdom directly over your body.
Both options suck, though, Theo said. Youre either denied the benefits from your attribute, or you have too much of a good thing.
Really? With all youve seen on the mortal n, you think suppressing an attribute is bad? What would have happened if Khahar brewed this potion? Toned down his fading mind.
Theo shook his head. If Khahar could have done it, he would have done it. Pretty sure he had at least one high-level alchemy core.
This is the fun part. The only way to figure out what the potion does is to drink it.
There was a level of excitement to that idea. They could read the description of the potion all day ande no closer to a solution. The only way to know was to drink it, and Theo wasnt about to do that. He filed it away in his mind with the horrible undeath potion.
A purely academic discussion. Theo nodded at the bear god. Right?
Sure, Benton shrugged. Not like Im going around to brew potions.
Benton sensed the conversation about the potion was over. Instead, they spent thest few hours of Theos visit drinking tea and discussing the realms atrge. Whispers of the Soutnds Alliance had filtered up to the lower pantheons. There were a range of opinions, most concluding that the alchemist was some kind of antagonist in the Qavelli conflict. More worrying was the other whispers.
Dead gods are rising, Benton said, keeping his voice low. wing at the high pantheons. They want to return to the world.
Theo sipped more tea. Im not sure theyll like the way the heavens are now. Maybe theyll make an attempt on Khahar.
Benton chuckled. Good luck with that!
The remainder of Theos time in Terogal was pleasant. When the time came, the alchemist tucked the goose under his arm and bid farewell to his friend. They jumped from the side, using the [Approach] ability on Tresk. They snapped into existence next to the Marshling, startling her.
By the gods, you cant sneak up on me like that. Im unsneakable.
We thought itd be funny oh well, I guess now is a good time.
A system message shed up the moment Theo started talking.
[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (2%).
[Tarahek Core] leveled up! Level 30.
[Tarahek Core] gained the ability: [Tarahek Command]
Woohoo! Tresk shouted. I was waiting for that to happen. Weve been stuck at 29 for a few days, huh?
Theo inspected the new ability.
[Tarahek Command]
Marshling Bond Skill
Epic
While within the Taraheks sphere of influence, you gain the inspiration ofmand.
Effect:
While within the influence of your bond, reduces the negative aspects of increased attributes and cores.
Also increases your ability tomand all other Tarahek abilities.
The description was more vague than normal. But the effects were clear. Theo felt something wash over him once the skill was added to his core. Thest bits of his mind that had been clouded by his attributes and various cores were gone. He stood, blinking on the battlements of Broken Tusk. A sense of calm washed over him, and he could feel both Tresk and Alex experiencing the same strange sensation.
I was hoping for aser beam, but this is nice, Tresk said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Theo scoffed at that. This was something he just talked to Benton about. But it was moreplex than just a skill that he activated in his core. If the bear god was right, and there was ayer between his body and spirit, he could now feel it. Like a sheet that had been draped over his thoughts, obscuring them from inspection. He could now pull that sheet back with great effort, opening or closing the floodgates of his attributes and cores.
This requires practice, Theo said, closing his eyes and feeling that sheet in his mind.
It feels like someone sttered mud on my thoughts my whole life, and I just wiped it away.
Honk!
There was too much testing to do in order to figure out how it worked. Theo always understood there was an influence from cores and attributes. Especially the mental attributes, intelligence and wisdom. Those did more to change the way a person thought than anything. Entering the Dreamwalk reduced the effects of that sensation by a little. Terogal banished it away. But if the moment he exited that realm, the sensation of an outside force pressing in on his mind was always there.
Now it was gone. Entirely.
The shadows burst to life at the base of the wall. Sarisa jumped from the ground to the top of the wall in a single burst of strength. Her massive pole-ax-thing leveled as she scanned the area.
She said you should have been back by now, Sarisa said, still scanning the area.
My bad. Theo held his arms up apologetically. We can go back to theb now. I gotta talk to Zarali. I mean we could get some tea first. Would you mind making me some tea? Bringing it to the garden at the manor?
Sarisa blinked a few times, her mouth hung open. Yeah. Sure. Rowan is watching you now.
In a sh, Sarisas armor vanished, reced by that maids outfit. She jumped from the wall, then ran off to make some tea. Theo and Tresk were left trying not to giggle. But Alex honked, and they all broke out intoughter. After a good fit of the giggles, the alchemist headed over to hisb to help Salire out. Before heading off for more tea, he pulled Zarali aside.
I want Xolsa in the manor, Theo said. Until he has recovered.
Arent you sweet? Zarali asked, patting her brother on the shoulder. Im sure hell be delighted. Ill bring him over for the tea.
Theo stayed behind to help Salire get the next batch of essence going. She knew where hed be, so there was no reason she should blow herself up. Again. When the alchemist headed off, he was confident she wouldnt do anything stupid. For now, he needed to sit down with Zarali and iron their temple out. He didnt know if it was good fortune or bad when he arrived in his garden to find Fenian chatting with Zarali.
Got any temples in your bag? Theo asked, approaching the trader.
4.33 - Farming
4.33 - Farming
Theo sat with Zarali, Xolsa, and Fenian in his garden. They had arranged wooden chairs in a semi-circle around a low wooden table. Sarisa had already given them their tea by the time the conversation got rolling. The Elf didnt have any temples in his inventory, but he was happy to drink the tea and rx. The alchemist got a quick look at his growing limbs. It was a slow process.
Why didnt I know about this technique to build a temple? Zarali asked.
Not my domain, Theo said. Ill pull the stoneworkers off their job to build something nice.
Thats selfish. Fenian sipped his tea and shook his head. How many other projects are they working on?
Only two. Or three, Theo said, having a good thing about it. Maybe four.
Just build a shack, Xolsa croaked.
Despite the extra-nar Elfs recovery, there was a long way to go. Theo felt as though he understood more about the mans condition after talking with Benton. There was that concept of a spirit attaching to a body with a web. The web was the soul, and the potion he was fed rebuilt that connection. The alchemist imagined a process where a persons mind was rebuilt, synapse by synapse. Neuron by neuron. It would be slow and painful.
Have you tried using your core abilities since you almost died, Xolsa? Theo asked.
I closed that portal.
Zarali ced aforting hand on Xolsas knee. Hes had some difficulty.
That was enough confirmation for Theo. He exined the theory about a soul connecting parts of the body. When questioned on how he came up with that, he told them about Benton and his helpful nature.
Look at this guy, Fenian said,ughing. Hes cheating!
Doesnt matter how I got the information. Im certain we dont have to worry about Xolsa. Theo stirred his tea, ncing over at Rowan hiding in the bushes. He had a request for that sneaky Half-Ogre. Hes going to heal over time Rowan, could I ask you to do something?
Rowan emerged from the bushes, striding over to stand at attention. Fenian pped his hand against his leg with excitement. Could you fetch Ziz for me?
Right away.
The Half-Ogre vanished before Theo could say anything else. Fenian giggled. Both Zarali and Xolsa shook their heads.
The group talked about small subjects for some time. Half-way through their tea, Theo was summoned to the Newt and Demon to swap out some essences. When he returned to his garden, Ziz was standing awkwardly off to the side. The alchemist dragged over another chair for the man to sit in.
You hired Rowan? Ziz asked. I remember this one time, Rowan and his sister What''s her name? Oh, hey there Sarisa. Yeah, he got his head caught in this stump. We were all just kids, but we wereughing so hard. One of the other kids peed their pants fromughing so hard.
Theoughed, craning his neck to see Rowan go a deep shade of red. Excellent. No, Rowan is awesome. So is Sarisa. Ziz, you want a job?
I want more jobs like I want a swamp snapper to snip my buttcheeks. Just kidding. I have a few teams now, so we can handle more work.
We need a temple to Lord Drogramath, Zarai said, scooting to the edge of her seat. She still held aforting hand on Xolsas knee.
Oh, a big fancy temple? Hand built? Ziz asked, raising a brow. Within the walls?
Yeah, inside the walls.
You want one of my buildings inside your walls, Mister Archduke Mayor Lord Spencer?
Thats the idea.
Ziz rubbed his hands together. Theo saw him doing the math in his mind, reallocating people for jobs so he could make his mark on the town. Almost every building within town was a seed core building. Those that werent were shoddy at best. Even the newest construction, the buildings that housed the water system, were built by Sledge. She wasnt known for her aesthetic choices.
Ill do it for free.
Oh, shut up. Fenian scooped up a stone and tossed it at the Half-Ogre. Charge him a premium.
Uh. Ziz looked confused. Im charging a premium.
Attaboy! Fenian hooted.
Well work something out. As for zoning, theres a lot of space to the west of my shop. Stake a spot there out, figure out what materials you need and what people, and well get working whenever you want.
Ziz rose to his feet, nodding. Alright. Okay. My mind is racing here. This is gonna be so cool. Zarali, how evil do you want the temple to look?
As evil as you can make it.
Theo groaned. Dont make it evil. Make it magnificent.
Well split the difference, Ziz said. Half-evil, half-magnificent.
Good enough.
Ziz dashed off without another word. Theo opened his administration interface and added some notes about the job. This would get him in front of his administration staff being upset about his pulling them away from jobs. The stoneworkers were ted to do more work than just the maglev. That group was working on several interesting projects that the alchemist hadnt heard of yet. He realized how important those other things were,pared to his monument to a Demon God.
We should get some statues, Theo said.
Fenianughed, pping his knee. Theo wants statues of himself. How original.
I can see it now. The faintest hint of a smile yed across Xolsas face. Two statues on the canals edge. Theo and Tresk. What a nightmare.
Zarali giggled. And a giant goose in the middle of the harbor!
I want a statue of Fenian. Theo jabbed a finger at the Elven trader. Feathered hat and all.
Youre wearing a feathered hat too, Archduke.
Yeah, but I make it look good.
Fenians brows knit tightly. He felt around at the hat on his head, looking slightly crestfallen. My hat looks good. Doesnt it?
Hats arent really my thing. Xolsa waved the question away, averting his gaze before he was drawn into an argument.
It looks lovely, Zarali said, failing to hide the patronizing tone in her voice. Youre a lovely little unique boy and we all love you.
Fenian tried to fold his arms but didnt pull the grumpy look off with just one arm. Im filing aint to your administrators for harassment.
Once the group had their fill of tea, Theo headed back to hisb to work with Salire. He trusted Zaralis zeal for Drogramath to lead her in instructing Ziz on the building. While the alchemist had a desire to work on the town itself, leveling it up some more, hecked the [Monster Cores]. Returning to theb, he found the Half-Ogre woman working with a customer, so he found his way upstairs.
The runs were almost done for the day. They could have done more, but it felt like a rxed day for the town. Theo worked on restocking his modifiers, shoving various things into fermentation barrels before heading out back. The stills would run themselves as he worked on creating more [Mana Constructs] for his golems. Hemuned with them by the greenhouses.
Golems were strange, no matter how Theo looked at them. It wasnt the weird appearance or their specialization through materials. The way they functioned was strange. As he stretched his senses out, washing over his working golems, something within him said he could have more. His willpower had expanded, and he couldnt tell if it was from his new ability or something else.
A nt golem emerged from a mushroom cave, seeming to nod for a moment before depositing something in the [Dimensional Storage Crate]. Alex waddled around the corner, honking.
Come look at this, Alex. I could use a second set of eyes. Theo approached one of Zaralis [Lodestones], pressing his fingers against the gem on a pole.
What am I looking for?
The alchemist sent his will into the lodestonework, feeling a prickle on the back of his neck. He felt different from thest time hed connected to thework. Now he could sense the small bit of himself that rested in each of the gems. Not quite a piece of his soul, but something significant enough to rymands between the golems. He turned to regard the goose.
Ive been trying to understand how to expand my willpower for a while, Theo said, kneeling to the gooses level. That was bing less difficult by the day. Alex was growing. What would happen if you added your will to the mix?
Honk! Im not sure. Alex approached the lodestone, pressing her bill to the item.
Theo was interested in expanding his golemwork, that was true. But he was also working on a theory he had discussed with Tresk. As we grow in power, we be more simr. Tresk and I thought the Tarahek would make us one person eventually. That might be the case, but we can exploit that.
While he didnt understand why, both Alex and Tresk had a higher willpower than him. The alchemists idea was that their will was more forceful than his, leaving a longersting impression. Whatever the case, the goose had little trouble forcing her mind into the lodestonework. She made a surprised honk as her mind flooded through the system, splitting between the golems all at once. When she pulled back, something of her was left behind.
Excellent. Theo ran his hand over the lodestone again, nodding with approval. The force of the gooses authority had bolstered the power of the stone, rendering it capable of supporting more golems. I can support 5 more, I think. Then another 5 when Tresk does this.
Theyre curious creatures. Alex approached the nt golem, poking it with her bill. There are sections in the system prompt for siphon systems and modifications. Why have you not modified the golems?
A good question. Firstly we need a siphon system that works. That requires a mana battery, and one of those power-sucking cubes. Like the one in myb. It powers all the enchantments in there.
Still, they should be modified. Yes?
Maybe. Any modifications would suck power from the [Mana Construct]. I would imnt another construct, and that one would suck power from the [Mana Construct] to activate.
Have you tried enchanting them with your [Toruaun Mages Core] spells?
Theo held his hand out to the golem, chanting his [Lesser Hallow Ground] spell with the [Detect Enemy] trigger. He was getting better at the wards, leveling that core slowly. It still took him a few attempts to ward the golem, but it stuck. The [Lesser nt Golem] glittered with white light for a moment before subsiding. What was left was a 1-day duration ward and a confused looking golem.
Yep, that works. No mana required. But low duration. Hmmm.
This isnt a big deal. Theo reviewed his current golem loadout, thinking about which medium would be best for his needs. Perhaps it was best to reserve those slots for his farming project. Lets go extort my friends for items. Then we can work on my other project.
Tresk thinks about that a lot, Alex said, pping her wings to keep up with Theo. She thinks you work too much.
Tresk works too much. I work less than her.
Yeah. Thats just what she thinks. Shes been happy youre rxingtely.
Yeah. Me too.
No one had cleared out from the manors garden. Theo was able to convince Zarali to give him more lodestones, but it was a fight. Only after he agreed he wasnt cheatingthat he had added Alexs willpower to theworkdid she give up a few more lodestones. Fenian was happy to hand over a [Farm Seed Core] for the new automated farm. There was some teasing about the alchemists need to constantly move, but he brushed them off. A true Broken Tusker got things done before they needed to be done. Not after.
Theo and Alex stopped in to help Salire with the stills, setting up the final run of the day and doing a few reactions for the shop. It was nothing the alchemist hadnt done before, and made for uninteresting work. The pair stopped by Mianas ranch to find a horrifying sight. Several Marshlings from the Adventurers Guild were practicing riding [Marsh Wolves]. The monsters seemed reluctant to have a rider, but the Marshlings were having the time of their lives.
Galflower and her group of enchanted Karatan were grazing in the fields. Theo could feel them sucking the energy from the air, consuming both the power of Drogramaths realm as well as Terogal. That was a can of megalomaniacal worms he didnt care to open. Not today.
Not enough cores to upgrade the town, but enough for a low-level farm. Theo nodded at the guards of the eastern gate. Sarisa and Rowan emerged from the shadows, nking the alchemist.
We should have more guards outside the walls, Sarisa said, casting a concerned look over the open fields.
Theo gestured to the towers on the wall. Well be within range of the towers.
Rowan grunted a response. Alex honked.
The first thing about nting a [Farm Seed Core] that Theo found odd was the option he got when he buried it. This section ofnd was within the unincorperated section of the town, allowing him to nt seed cores. It wasnt something hed done before, but that wasnt the interesting thing. A base-level farm started with a few fields of their own. 2 to start, which revealed something about Banus farm. The grumpy farmer had tilled most of his fields by hand.
Interesting enough. Theo buried the core, then fed it [Monster Cores] until the roots sprouted up. Those roots formed the shape of a small shack, then spread out to create two sprawling fields. We wont need more than those two for now.
I want to help with the golems!
Alrighty, Theo said, plopping down onto the damp ground. He removed materials from his inventory, setting outrge piles of vegetation, constructs, and [Monster Cores]. While he worked, he chatted with Sarisa. Where did you guys get the illusion nes?
A trader, Sarisa said, holding her big ax at the ready. Theo still didnt know what to call it. That fellow from Partopour had a selection.
Damn. Ive been thinking about fashiontely.
Because he saw Salire. She looks so pretty! Theo wants to be pretty.
They cant hear you, Alex. Theo assembled his first golem, a [Lesser nt Golem] with a [Fald Interloper] core at level 10. Anything higher than that felt as though it would get away from him. Too much power in one lump of living nts. He used the standardized form of containment core, one made of [Drogramathi Iron]. Those were the most efficient.
What did she say? Sarisa asked, watching as Theo worked on the golem.
She said I want to be pretty, which isnt wrong. Salire, the woman who works in myb, just got a new dress. It suits her extremely well, and it made me think about dressing better. Appearances, you know?
Ive got a spare butler outfit, if you want it, Rowan said, chuckling.
No thank you.
A. You didnt lie to them about what I said! Thats so cute.
Theo had to pop a few [Mana Pills] to get the job done with the golems. They didnt consume much of his mana, but with 5 golems it was enough to drain him dry several times. He bound the new golems to the nearest lodestone, leaving their orders empty for the time being.
It was now time to cram cores into the farm.
The upgrades they had made to Banus farm were mostly okay. The only upgrade Theo didnt want for his automated version of the farm was the [Fresh Tilled Earth] upgrade. That upgrade increased the effectiveness of fertilizer, but the alchemist didnt n to do high-volume farming. This was just going to be some passive nonsense he did because he could. Instead, he inspected an alternative which he thought would work better for his purposes.
[Speed nting]
Any action taken to nt a seed on the farm will be faster.
More seeds nted meant that his golems could concern themselves with other things. Theo didnt want his golems running around to fetch fertilizer, applying it to the field to consume their work time. He followed the upgrade path for Banus farm for the other things, inspecting the farm when he was done.
[Small Farm]
[Honk if youre hungry]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 20 (0%)
Rent Due: 4 days
Expansions:
[Speed nting]
[Enhanced Growth]
[Scaling Expansion]
[Drogramathi Cultivation]
Theo frowned, casting a look at the goose. Did you name the farm?
Yes. It is our backup n for food. So people should honk if theyre hungry. You know. Like I honk all the time.
Im curious to know how you and Tresk can delve into my memories. More curious to know how you always pull out the nastiest things.
Honk!
Find some bugs if youre hungry. Theo withdrew some [Dimensional Storage] crates for the farm, setting them in the shack. He filled them with [Mana Constructs] and [Wheat] before issuing hismands to the golems.
The golems would work the farm outside of the walls, nting and harvesting the uncultivated wheat. Theo could have set this project up better, but it was just a test. Once themands were set in ce, the shambling [Lesser nt Golems] shuffled off to begin their work. Theo stretched, rolling his shoulders to work out a knot.
Alright. You guys wanna go hang out in my garden for a few hours?
4.34 - A Temple
4.34 - A Temple
It was difficult to build things back on Earth. Humans there couldnt carry impossibly heavy blocks of marble in magical inventories. Setting those massive stones in ce was a chore unto itself. Medieval people usedrge wooden cranes. It was dirty, back-breaking work. But not here in Broken Tusk. Ziz and his gang were already building the foundation of the new temple. They had no shortage of stone, not with the magically regenerating quarry. No shortage of initiative, either.
Theo watched as they set the foundation stones by hand. A stoneworker would lift a block above his headperhaps just showing offbefore setting it in ce on leveled ground. They applied mortar to bind the stones together. Whether that binder came from an ability, or was applied manually from their inventories, the effect was the same. It dried almost instantly, anchoring the rocks together with a grip that simply wouldnt give.
The alchemist had no way to know how long this task would have taken on Earth. The way Zizs men were working, he thought it would take them only a few days. It was no surprise, judging by the pace they built the road. In ssic fashion, the stoneworkers didnt n to build a small temple. They had their mind set on a grand scale, roping off arge section of earth and shoveling away to make it level. It appeared they nned to fit the entirety of Mianas ranch inside.
This was the type of project Theo had been itching for. Somethingrge, stupid, and interesting. It would lead to something good, that was certain, but standing on the outside it seemed like a waste of time and resources. Only Drogramaths urging for him to dedicate the town to a patron proved that to be false. It would have a use. Whatever that might be.
Lets dedicate the temple to Marshy, Tresk said, bouncing up and down next to Theo. She was among the many citizens moring for a better view at the construction.
Marshy isnt real.
We can make him real. If we just believe hard enough.
Pretty sure it doesnt work that way. The good news is, we can see the temple from our back garden.
Tresk scoffed. Yeah, thatll drive down the housing prices around here. No one wants to live near a church.
You made that up.
Yeah.
Tresk stepped behind Theo, entering the shadow he cast from the fading light of the day. An instantter, and she was gone. The alchemist didnt need to look for long to see what had sent her running so quickly. Alise approached, hands on her hips at first. Then her expression shifted, and sheughed, pping Theo hard on the shoulder.
She always runs when Im angry.
I would if I could. Theo turned his gaze away from the administrator, watching Ziz and his men do their work. It certainly was a sight. Thanks for Sarisa and Rowan. Sneaky move, but I appreciate it.
No problem.
I thought youd be more angry. You know, about me pulling Ziz off of projects.
Alise gestured for Theo to follow. They made their way toward the harbor as they spoke. Toward the masts of boats bobbing in the water.
If you want to drag them off your other projects, I dont care. Throks artifice project is unnecessary already. So if youre pulling Ziz off other vanity projects, thats fine.
Theo chuckled. That was one way of putting it. I saw some other projects lined up. A highway to the [Swamp Dungeon]. A tunnel through the northern mountains.
Yeah, and youre over here wanting to freeze the sea. And theres a farm outside the walls that no one told me about.
I thought youd be more angry about that.
Well, I had a meeting with Trevas Parn. The newly elected leader of Rivers and Daub seemspetent. More than Alran ever was. And that portly man has settled into his role as a spymaster well.
Theo tapped his chin. That was a good thing, wasnt it? They had no problems with Grot, the leader of Gronro-Dir, but that was because he was too busy. Alran just needed a firm hand to put him in the right position. If this new guy, Trevas, would just fall into line then that was for the best.
Has Trevas done anything for the poor, yet? Theo asked.
Im pushing him hard on that. We had our meeting today, and things got heated.
The pair pushed beyond the area that Theos greenhouses dominated, into the open fields and sparse trees. This area had always been a ce of quiet reflection as the alchemist made his way to the harbor. Although he listened as Alise continued, he couldnt help himself. He thought about how nice it would be if they designated some areas in town as parks. Calm ces where a citizen could eat a meal, or meet up with friends.
Alise continued. We threatened military action against Rivers. Trevas tried to call our bluff, but Aarok already had people in position. Several squads from the Gronro divisions and our own adventuring squads. We overcame their defenses without bloodshed.
Wow. Theo paused where he stood, imagining his future park. He saw a ce near a boulder that would be lovely for a fountain. Bet that lit a fire under his ass.
The pair continued walking, crunching through the sparse underbrush. It did. I got him to sign a contract, but I have my doubts.
They walked in silence for some time. Theo dragged his mind away from the park idea and faced reality. It was nice to daydream, especially in Broken Tusk. But those images of a peaceful park were reced by the things hed seen in Rivers. The squalor of the slums and the opulent manors of the Trade Chairs. The alchemist felt the sudden urge to burn it all down. As they approached the harbor, spotting the newest ship floating proud, he considered how to respond.
Rivers and Daub needed something to contribute. Theos mind wandered as he stood near the docks. Laedria shouted something at him, but he held up a silencing hand. He released his minds grip on that thought the moment he saw the Elfs reaction. She was excited about the new boat, and he was cutting her off. A deep breathter, and a wide smile graced his face.
Did you name it, yet? Theo asked.
Laedria pped her hands together, jumping with excitement. Yourpanion came by earlier with a list of suggestions.
It would be called Boaty Boat Boat if Tresk had anything to say about it. Theo studied the proud ship floating in the harbor. It was a two-masted boat, significantly longer than the less impressive Cork. Sailors were on deck, practicing whatever it was sailors did with trained precision.
Truly amazing, Theo said, gazing at the boat. Has Zaralie to enchant it, yet?
Ah, well. Shes been a bit busy with the wizard.
Theo turned to Alise. Did Zarali put in a request for someone to care for Xolsa? No? Of course not, could you get someone to handle that? Hes staying in my manor.
Naturally.
Wait for the enchantments, but Id love a diplomatic mission to the lizard inds.
Laedria nodded with approval. Yeah, we can do that. Shes pretty fast on her own, but once we get the enchantments shell cut through the water like a Brogling through Zee.
Because Broglings are famous for their consumption of Zee, Theo said, missing the idiom entirely. Alright. Thats awesome. Make sure to take some Bantari with you when you go. Also bring a gift. Gold? What do lizard-people like?
No idea, Alise said. Theo could tell she was making notes in her interface. Well talk to some of the elder Bantari Marshlings to figure that out.
The name, Laedria interrupted. Ya gotta name the boat.
Tusks Pride, Theo said, nodding.
Lame, Alise said, waving the name away as though clearing a smell from the air.
Wave pper. Laedria nodded to herself. That was one of Tresks ideas.
Evenmer, Alise said.
Well, damn Alise. I dont see youing up with awesome ideas, Theo said.
Ive been sitting on one. The Wavecrest.
Ah, damn. Thats a good one, Laedria admitted. Honors our house name, and sounds really cool.
Yeah, alright, Theo conceded. Thats a cool name for a boat. It has my vote.
Right, well sort everything out for the trip down to the southern inds. Ill get with my people to find a minder for Xolsa so Zarali can get to work. Alise made some more notes in her interface, nodding to both Theo and Laedria.
Sweet. Hey, you guys wannae aboard?
Theo shared a look with Alise. Uh, yeah? Of course.
Workers on the docks yanked on massive Starbristle ropes, dragging the boat closer to the dock. It hit the side of the lumber with a dull thud, angling well enough for them to climb a ropedder on the side. Theo ascended with ease, turning back to help Alise up thest bit. The deck of the boat was wide. Bright blue ropes ran through the rigging above, down to cleats on the gunwale and to other ces. The wheel rested on a raised tform, giving the captain a great view of the water ahead.
The Ogre Cypress had made a fine ship. It was clearly tougher than the Earth version of cypress trees. The workers had stained it with something, bringing out the darker shades of the wood. A mixture of darker browns mingled with yellow to create a bright pattern only set off by the pitch that plugged the gaps between boards. The nature of the cypress trees meant that they needed to shave them down from their massive form to create the two masts.
The Wavecrest, Theo said, smiling as he ran his hand across polished rails. With more toe, right?
Laedria was nearby, grinning as Theo inspected the boat. We''ll have a fleet before long.
Im guessing the boat is lighter than the ones youre used to building in Tarantham.
Far lighter. Weve had to weigh her down a bit in the hold. Otherwise shed just pitch to the side and roll over.
How easy would it be to adapt this for an airship? Theo asked, inspecting everything about the boat. Second question. Do you have designs for warships?
Laedriaughed, pping Theo on the shoulder. The alchemist grunted, falling forward a few steps. Yeah, this is the material youd want for an airship. Far lighter than Tarantham Oak, but also tough as nails. And yeah. I have the Wavecrest Houses designs for warships.
Theo inspected the area on the deck. Well hold off on those for now. Once Throk irons out his weapon design, I want those fitted on all our trade ships.
There was enough space to mount one of Throks rail guns. The old Marshling needed to work out a system to rotate and pitch the gun, but it shouldnt have taken up too much space. If the gunwales were in the way, obstructing the shot from the deck, they could raise the weapon up to clear that obstacle. Judging from the few tests they did, any other ship would need some serious defenses to stop one of their iron bar slugs.
Got a mind for war, Archduke? Laedria asked.
I have a mind to defend our sailors. Best way to do that is with a big gun.
Agreed, Alise said with a nod. Throk is focusing on the weapon project for now. Hes been reporting to me about his challenges, but nothing he cant handle. Not with Thim covering the smithy. He should have a working weapon and transport system soon.
Theo tapped his foot on the ships deck. It made a nice sound as he thought. You know my biggest concern is enemy airships.
Karasans airship, Alise corrected.
I want enough of Throks guns in town so that when we spot the ship, we can light it up.
Youre assuming Karasan isnt some kind of genius, Laedria said. Bastard is responsible for the fall of a few houses in Tarantham, if you can believe it. Hes clever, Theo. There wont be a frontal assault.
Then hell hardly expect when our airships nket his city in fire.
Big talk, Laedria said. Think you can stomach killing civilians?
Nope. Youre right. I had a different n for the airships. Something to help with the undead.
Laedria and Alise chatted, taking Theosing silence as a sign to talk about the boat. The n for airships was loose, but the alchemist had the idea of dropping massive amounts of [Hallow Ground] potions on the undead creatures. For now, they needed the army of skeletons as a buffer between them and the angry king. But the sun was setting. His stomach was growling in protest, begging him to return to the manor for dinner. Hed missed his bathst night, and felt knots forming in his muscles that only the hot spring water could help.
After wrapping up business at the docks, Theo returned to his manor. The moment he came within range of the buildings influence, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. The scent of the food inside doubled that effect, drawing him to the dining room. Tresk sat at the head of the table, drumming her fingers impatiently. Alex was already eating a pile of bugs near the corner, honking. Zarali, Fenian, and Xolsa were also gathered here tonight.
Finally! Tresk shouted, jabbing her finger at a seat. Your servants wont give us food until you get here.
Theo found his seat, helping himself to a mug of Rivers mead. Sarisa and Rowan had catered food from the Marsh Wolf Tavern yet again,ying out a spread for the party to enjoy. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits except Zarali, who was upset about needing to leave Xolsas side to do work. While he imed to be fine, he wore a mask of exhaustion that he couldnt hide.
Conversation around the table came between mouthfuls of Zee pasta with a cheesy sauce. The cheese produced from Karatan milk was extremely pungent, but it went in line with what the locals enjoyed. Fenian put in his opinion on most things, but Theo noticed how he shied away fromrger topics. He was hiding something, or running from something. Either way, the Elf would have his hands full when he fully healed.
Xolsa also had big ns for the future. His [Dungeon Engineers Core] was leveling at a steady rate, although it had been halted since he was injured. The road to recovery for him was slow, often measured in the improvement of mobility. But no one could give him a full time for recovery, and Theo didnt have any ideas to speed the process.
Once dinner was done, Theo Tresk and Alex went off to have a soak in the bath. The alchemist thought about how it would be nice to have a closer bath, although that was a selfish thought. Sarisa and Rowan apanied them, but they stayed outside of the private bath room. The water was as warm as ever, spreading a sense of calm through his body the moment he lowered himself to soak.
Tresk did her normal thing of swimming around therge pool, only surfacing to ssh the nearest person. Theo just soaked, letting his worries wash away with the water.
I feel less stressed, Theo said, taking the chance when Tresk surfaced.
Yeah. That rage I was experiencing from my cores is just about gone.
I would like to feel rage, Alex said, honking. Or perhaps serenity.
Those are conflicting feelings.
They are extremes. Extremes are fun.
Theo could feel that Alex was close to getting her nature affinity. She was never tied closely to fire, even if she developed her skills in that domain well. He wasnt sure why she wanted to align herself with those things, but it was her life. The goose often felt less like a familiar and more like a hanger-on to their [Tarahek Core]. An independent little goose that did whatever she wanted.
One day youll be a powerful goose-thing, Theo said. Shes alreadyrger than Earth geese.
Really? Tresk asked, studying the goose.
Alexs plumage had mostlye in. There were still patches that were too fluffy, but it was mostly gone. She now bore the markings of an adult canadian goose from Earth. Her slender neck was marked by solid ck, only ending with the brown on her body and strip of white on her head. It was hard not to wonder if she was going to continue to grow without end.
Yeah, shes big. Well, thats a problem. Isnt it?
Why?
You wont fit inside eventually. If you keep growing like this.
Oh no!
No worries. Well build a temple for you, Tresk said. Did you see Ziz and his boys?
Theo had indeed seen Ziz. They were still working, and would likely not stop until the temple was done. When they passed the construction site earlier, the alchemist saw that they had set all the foundation stones and had moved on to working on the walls. When Ziz got obsessed with a project like this, he went all in by chugging [Stamina Potions] until it was done. Thats likely how he got the road done so quickly.
Well see what happens when Zarali blesses the temple.
No one seemed willing to carry the conversation after that. A deep sense of rxation filled the souls of each member in the Tarahek. It was only when Sarisa and Rowan intruded, iming the staff wanted them gone, that they headed back to the manor. The streets were quiet when they left. The moon glimmered a golden color tonight, although the dark moon wasnt visible. No one was awake in the manor, even though a fire burned brightly in the sitting room.
Theo said goodnight to his assistants, working his way upstairs to flop into his bed. He nodded at Tresk before delving with her into the Dreamwalk.
4.35 - Baby Arm
4.35 - Baby Arm
The Dreamwalk was the perfect ce to test the viability of the ocean freezing project. Theo stood with Alex on the deck of an imagined version of the Wavecrest, gazing down into the murky water. Somewhere below was the dream version of the dungeon, resting on the bed of the bay. Tresk was off somewhere, likely fighting dragons. She had been cagey about her progresstely, likely because she was hitting a wall.
Hitting walls like this was natural in the systems progression. They popped up out of nowhere. Theos first theory was that they happened on multiples of 10, stopping a persons progress before they could roll over to a new realm of power. While his [Tarahek Core], [Governance Core], and [Toruaun Mages Core] had experienced massive growth, the same couldnt be said for his alchemy and herbalism cores.
The alchemist plopped one of Throks early sprayer artifices down onto the deck, fiddling with the spraying nozzle to aim at the water below. Is the sprayer the right tool for the job?
Im just a goose, I dont know. Alex honked.
Then what happens if we cage the dungeon?
Well, I know that one. The system will yell at you if you put objects too close to the dungeon.
And how do you know that?
Tresk tried to build an effigy of herself near the [Swamp Dungeon]. Since shes the best adventurer, she wanted people to know. The system yelled at her when she built it too close.
Alright. Theo loaded his sprayer up with [Freeze Solution]. He flicked a switch on the side and let the device spray. Ice formed on the water immediately, freezing it solid in moments. Then the ice worked its way down toward the dungeon. How waterproof do you think the stonework will be?
Depends on who builds it. Ziz has an ability that creates a perfect seal between stones using mortar.
So, youre listening to what people say more often than I expected. The ice bobbed in the water, pitching at a strange angle. But the sprayer continued its work, loading the bay with more of the solution. This is gonna take a while.
With the Wavecrest anchored firmly in the bayTheos influence further keeping it still in the waterthe alchemist set up his stills on the deck and got to work on grinding experience. nters, stills, fermentation barrels, and rows of tables crowded the ship. Alex yed on the ice as they chatted.
There was something very wrong with the way cores leveled. Logically, his personal level should have been an average of all his cores. That was clearly not the way things worked, since his average core level was about 20 while his personal level was 22. Instead, every action performed with a core provided an amount of experience to his personal level, depending on the cores level. His level 6 [Toruaun Mages Core] did not give as much personal experience as his level 23 [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. Making things more fiddly, his level 28 [Governance Core] didnt give as much experience as the alchemy core!
Slightly confusing, Theo said, adjusting the direction of the sprayer.
Almost as though some cores are more important. Perhaps thats the rarity?
Thats not what it felt like to Theo, though. It felt like the system wanted to base personal experience gain off of a single core, while the other cores were supplemental. For now, he shrugged it off. There was a good reason his experience was dragging with his alchemy core, and the slow pace of his herbalism core was clear. The new farm should help the herbalism core.
But for my alchemy core, Theo said, standing before a still and tapping his foot. Were missing something.
The slightest twinge flickered through the alchemists mind. Alex was probing his thoughts, less elegantly than when Tresk did so.
Third tier potions! Alex shouted, honking and pping over the ice. She pitched over, falling into the bay. She narrowly avoided being sprayed by the freezing solution.
Yeah, Ive just been brewing [Healing Potions]. But those are what Im calling second tier.
You should write a book.
Yeah, that was a good idea. If Theos n worked with the temple, Salire would need a guide on how to level a [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. He pulled up his administration interface, created a private notes section, and wrote things down.
Good idea. First, well note how to brew first tier potions.
That process was easy enough. A new Drogramathi alchemist only needed a simple copper still, reagents, and purified water to create essence. Then they only needed shavings to make a potion. The step that advanced a person to the next tier was pressure treating, done either in an evaporation pressurizer, as in his current model, or a pressure still. While Theo could create third tier suffuse potions, he hadnt figured out the secret sauce for regr third tier potions.
Something to do with the liquid, maybe.
Tonight seemed like a good night for experimentation. While Theo thought about what to rece his still water with, he observed how well the [Freeze Solution] was working. A column of ice had formed under the surface, stretching at least half-way to the dungeon below. It had rolled over several times, creating odd sections of ice that stretched off in weird angles. But the sprayer continued its good work.
I run into this problem often. Theo stood over a still, looking down at the bubbling liquid. He had removed the lid of one to observe the effects of salt water mixed with reagents. It was reacting violently. Hitting my head against a wall with no guidance.
Be happy with the progress you have made. Alex followed her supportivement up with an encouraging honk. The ice is forming well. What is the n with the ice?
My first idea was just to send Xolsa down there to fix the dungeon. Theo scratched his head, looking down at how the ice spread. It really didnt consume that much solution. Like I said, Im thinking of building a waterproof tower around it.
That sounds like a bad idea.
Ive had worse ideas. Weve been talking about turning the dungeons into something like a theme park. If visitors wanted to use the [Ocean Dungeon], wed need to have it essible.
Your first thought about that is an underwater tower?
There might have been a better way to do it. Theo couldnt think of a better way, though. He needed to run the idea by Xolsa before he pulled the trigger, but it was a straightforward way to get ess to the dungeon. He had to consider how the monsters spawning from the dungeon would respond. How this affected a monster wave.
What if I justify it by saying well take the underwater tower above water? Turn it into a weapons tform or something.
Im not sold.
Theo grumbled. Most people just went along with what he suggested. Instead of trying to convince her with words, he imagined away the ice. He was happy enough with how it worked. They could dig down into the ice, creating a hollow cylinder all the way to the bottom of the bay. Instead, he reced it with what he imagined would be the final product. A marble tower that went under the water, surrounding the rocky dungeon entrance below. He imagined a staircase that ran along the outside, giving easy ess to the bottom.
From the deck of the boat, Theo looked out onto the bay. With monsters below and approaches from the sea from almost every direction, this ce wasnt defensible. The underwater tower sprung up, stretching high above the waves of the bay. The alchemist connected that tower with a new one on shore with a bridge, supported in the center withrge marble pirs. Several more underwater towers rose from nowhere, filling the bay with weapons tforms. A ghostly navy loomed on the horizon.
From here, we could hit anything between the canal and the barrier inds with Throks new weapons.
Alright, Im feeling this a little more, Alex said. A little town of interconnected towers. Maybe we can put tforms near the water so the fisher people can use them.
Now were talking. Multiple uses. Thats how Ill sell it.
How viable is it to keep the sea out?
Theo didnt have a good sense for that. He had a feeling that what he was doing in the Dreamwalk wasnt falling in line with how things would work in reality. Stretching his senses over the dream realm, he pushed against it. It wouldnt budge until Alex reached out with him. They forced it to follow something closer to reality, modeling the tower to be like something Ziz could build. A roar of water rushed into the towers, flooding them in an instant. They wobbled, almost copsing.
Wow, that waspletely expected.
Alright. Just another problem we have to fix. Nothing to panic about.
Im sure well find some magic water repelling potion you can use.
Maybe. We can talk with Ziz when we wake up. See what he thinks about the idea.
Yeah. Lets go back to working on your alchemy problem.
Theo worked on the problem with Alex for hours. They tried various mediums for boiling reagents. Everything from Goblin blood to sand. Once that proved to be a dead end, they worked on changing the water used for distition. That was more of a shot in the dark than anything, though. Altering the [Purified Water] seemed to be the way forward, but there were only so many ways to approach the problem.
The pair quickly found themselves resting on the deck of the Wavecrest, watching as most of the bay froze over. Theo left the spraying artifice on, even after he created a crowd of towers, just to see what would happen. The shadows swirled on the deck, and Tresk stepped out.
Wow, sleeping on the job? Tresk asked, pressing her boot into Theos leg.
Meh, were taking a break.
A break from what, Tresk said, gesturing at the towers. Creating a bunch of useless towers?
Theyre not useless.
Maybe notpletely, but you guys suck at designing defensive structures. Tresk waved her hand through the air. The dream realm bent from the enormity of hermand. Theo thought it would crack under the pressure, but it held firm. A momentter, the scene had rearranged itself. There. Thats a much better design.
The location of the [Ocean Dungeon] ran in line with one of the canals walls. Tresk extended the edge of the canal all the way to the dungeon, ending that underwater wall in a tower. She mirrored the effect on the canals opposite side. All along the length of the wall were towers of increasing height. A wedge of other towers, expanding in either direction until they hit the coast, formed the shape of an arrowhead.
If youre going to go big, then go big, Tresk said. Once we have a tower over the [Ocean Dungeon], well need a way to get people out here to maintain it. A big walkway makes the most sense. Then we go with the same theme, making towers with dads artifice shooters along the path.
This was good. It reminded Theo of something hed seen back on Earth. When medieval met with cannons, the design of defensive emcements changed. What good was a straight wall of brick when a few well-ced shots from afar could make it crumble. Instead, they created forts with little points on the outside, allowing them to field long-range cannons that covered each other. Since Tresk designed the towers in a wedge, theyd be able to fire out to sea at the same time.
There was also something about the design that was imposing. It would tell visitors that they meant business, and they could stop people froming into port without paying.
I love this design, Theo said, studying the towers. Perhaps we can file this under really cool but impractical projects, if you know what I mean.
Yeah. Thats a lot of stone. Tresk waved her hand again. The lead towers were reced with stone statues of her and Theo. I like this option better. Maybe we can putser beams in their eyes.
Theo looked up at the stone version of himself. The eyes glowed red, then it shot a solid bar of energy out to sea. The statues were too much, but this fell in line with something the alchemist had been interested in for a while. Ever since Ziz built the stone bridge over the river, hed been thinking about structures that werent seed core buildings. The system-generated buildings were better by a long shot, but they came in predetermined designs. There was no wall of towers with guns on them seed core. Not that he knew of.
Oh! We could put fire on the towers, Alex said, lighting the tops of each towerand the statueswith roaring mes. A weing sight for our visitors.
That makes us look evil. Theomanded the fires to dim. They crackled, then reduced to respectable campfires. Better.
I like mine better.
The group discussed the best way to defend the coast. They determined the best way was to just build a line of towers on the coast, never going out to sea. That left the problem of the [Ocean Dungeon] unresolved. By the time the Dreamwalk was ready to end, they had settled on the two designs and resigned themselves to asking around town for opinions.
If we could just move the dang dungeon, wed be set. Tresk tapped her chin. Whoops, thats dawn. Lets go.
Theo had no say in what happened next. The Dreamwalk swirled around him, sending him tumbling back into his sleeping body in an instant. He rose, blinking away the confusion in his mind. It was better when Tresk gave him more warning than that. But the little Marshling was already out of her bed, scampering off without a word. The alchemist found his way to the dining room, getting a report from Sarisa while they waited for food.
The more time Theo spent around his new assistants, the more he had a sense for the magic that cloaked their forms. Hed been neglecting his magical training, but that was to be expected. Xolsa had always been the person to push him forward. Now he was left to be distracted by whatever shiny new thing jumped into his mind. The reports delivered were mundane. Nothing had happened in the night, and the events of yesterday were all ording to n.
Once all the freeloaders had gathered for breakfast, Rowan served them. Theo charged them all with the task of thinking of a better defensive idea for the coast. The opinion was split, but it seemed Xolsa would have the final word.
Youre too many steps ahead, Theo, the Elf said. Get me down to the dungeon, then we can talk about what to do. Once I understand where the [Ocean Dungeon] is at, Ill have a rmendation.
Tresk forced the conversation away from the problem after that. Theo picked what he wanted from his breakfast before taking his tea, retreating to the garden. Zizs guys had worked through the night, which was expected. From hisfortable chair, the alchemist could see walls poking up over the shrubs and the fence. Those crazy Half-Ogres would work until they copsed.
Xolsa joined Theo out in the garden, eventually. He was joined by his minder, an angry little Marshling that the alchemist hadnt had the time to meet properly. He was just there to make sure the Elf was alright, nothing more.
I have the strength to see the dungeon today. If you have the desire, Xolsa said.
Theo wanted nothing more than to get the [Ocean Dungeon] under control. He agreed to the Elfs ns, but didnt depart immediately. That was wasted energy. Instead, he asked Sarisa to inform the Adventurers Guild and the administrators about their n. They would need a unit of the regrs to guard them while they did their work, and someborers to excavate the ice once it had been set. She departed after a quick bow, jumping over the fence instead of taking the gate.
She takes things too seriously, Xolsa said, falling into a fit of coughs shortly after that.
There has to be a potion that can help you.
If Drogramaths power cant help me, I dont know if theres a potion that will.
An unexpected twinge of guilt shot through Theos chest. He should have never agreed to let Xolsa spy on his realm. He should have known that there would be consequencesthe rules were very clear about a mortal delving into the realms. It was a foolish thing to think the extra-nar Elf would have been an exception.
It should heal with time. Right?
Xolsa managed tough before coughing again. It is getting better Theo. Theres just some things that dont heal overnight.
Like my little baby arm! Fenian said, almost flipping his wheelchair as he entered the garden from the manor. He had his recovering limb exposed. Theo looked away as quickly as he could. It appeared as though someone had grafted a childs limb to his body.
Thats absolutely disgusting.
This is your handiwork, my dear alchemist. Bask in its glory. Fenian edged closer to Theo, poking him in the face with his new limb. Bask!
Im basking, alright? Theo asked, standing up and edging away from Fenian. But that thing is creepy.
There we are. Keep basking.
The longer I know you, the more I realize how weird you are.
Fenian pretended to be offended. Theo, do you realize how long I spent fighting Karasan in the realms? Eons! We fought in the deepest dungeons and the highest peaks. Until atst! I smote my enemy upon the mountainside.
But you lost the fight. Theo narrowed his eyes at the Elf.
Alright. I made thatst part up. He cut off my arm and leg and I ran away like a coward. Are you happy? Now I am sad.
Theo groaned, jumping over the fence so that the Elven trader could not pursue.
Im not done! Fenian shouted. Come back so I can wave my baby arm in your face again!
NO!
4.36 - A Soul Come to Roost
4.36 - A Soul Come to Roost
Theo stood on the deck of the Wavecrest, marveling at how Laedrias crew worked. Alise had assembled a small team for the task, although the administrator herself was missing from the boat. Tresk, Alex, Rowan, and Sarisa had joined to guard the alchemist, while one squad of ranged adventurers and another of front-liners stood crowded on the boat.
Look at them work those ropes, Tresk said with a nod. I do not know what theyre doing.
It was impossible for Theo to understand what every rope did. But the upgrades on the harbor were doing a lot of the heavy lifting. They coasted through the churn of river and sea water as though it were nothing. The alchemist finally gained appreciation for just how amazing the canal was. Two of their trader-style ships could fit in the waterway at once. But the constant bucking of the boat caused Xolsas pale skin to turn a strange shade of green. Zarali was nearby, offering words offort.
Theres the Cork! Laedria shouted, pointing off into the distance. A single-masted ship, baring the hallmark blue sails of Broken Tusk, looked like a dot on the horizon.
Guess its safe enough to fish that far out, Theo grumbled. Perhaps the [Ocean Dungeon] wasnt as much of a threat as he first thought.
The Wavecrest pushed through the final length of the canal, a stiff breeze pushing from ind. The sails overhead billowed, catching the wind and sending them lurching forward. Even without Zaralis enchantments on the boat, the clipped over the waves as though racing to the dungeon. Laedria let out a hoot of excitement, the sailorsing to cheer with her shortly after.
Theo braced himself against the gunwale, locking his eyes on the horizon to avoid seasickness. Once the boat had cleared the area near shore, the turgid waves calmed down. It wasnt a ssy bay, but it was calm enough to stave off that feeling of nausea in his stomach. Tresk wasnt doing much better than him, but it didnt affect Alex at all. She honked with excitement, shooting fire off the side of the boat that had the sailors scrambling to snap her bill closed.
The bay was massive. It was enclosed on the east and west byrge tracts ofnd, crowded with hills and mountains. To the south were chains of barrier inds, shielding the bay from whatever squalls brewed in the open sea. Here the water was warm and inviting. As sea spray doused those onboard, Theo could feel the heat from the saltwater. Laedria wasnt interested in just taking them to the dungeon. She angled the Wavecrest out to those barrier inds, something the alchemist wouldnt object to.
Before long, they pulled alongside the Cork. Thronk and his Marshling fishermen were onboard, waving up to the crew with excitement.
Finally! he shouted, jumping up and down on the small deck. Another boat in the bay!
Youzy lizard! Tresk shouted down at her brother. Get back to work!
You first!
Nerd!
Thats quite enough of this, Theo said, but it was hard to keep his gaze off the barrier inds.
The inds that separated the open sea from the bay were sandy things, dotted with patches of grass and tropical trees. Crustaceans scuttled along the shore, snapping their ws defiantly. The sea was a vast spread of blue, twinkling with specks that looked like shining diamonds. Without a cloud overhead, the heat bore down on the crew. Only the breeze provided relief.
Tresk and Thronk argued for some time, but Theo noticed the behavior of the Elves. The members of House Wavecrest took deep breaths, closing their eyes to take in the senses of the sea. This is where they wanted to be above all else. This was the ce where they were the most at home. Once the Elves were happy enough with seeing the open ocean, they plotted a course for the [Ocean Dungeon]. The Marshlings argued until their shouts no longer carried over the waves.
Theo was left to set up one of Throks sprayers while the crew dropped the anchor. The Wavecrest swayed with the wind until they trimmed the sails, leaving only the gentle rock of the sea. Tresk pointed out where the dungeon should have been, and the alchemist activated the sprayer. It was more temperamental than the version he summoned in the Dreamwalk, but it would do the job. Ice spread across the surface of the bay, snaking outward before digging into the columns of water.
This is going to take a while, Theo said, withdrawing several sks of [Freeze Solution] with the [Solidify] modifier from his inventory. He set it out for everyone onboard to keep cool.
Youve been holding out on us, Laedria said, thering the mixture on her skin.
This is avable for purchase in my shop, Theo shot back, winking at the Elf.
Wow, what a generous man, Zarali said, still coddling Xolsa on the deck.
Theo cleared his throat. Getfortable. This is going to take a few hours.
Tresk wasnt content with sitting around and waiting for things to happen. She assembled some members of each adventuring team for a journey to the bottom of the bay. Of course they needed Theos [Potion of Wake] to get the job done, and he was happy to provide what little he made. They all jumped in the water, despite Laedrias protests, and swam to the bottom of the bay. The Marshling kept him updated about how things were going, making note that there were only a few Fald swimming around.
The [Ocean Dungeon] was still at a low level, at leastpared to the [Swamp Dungeon]. Theo hoped that meant that Xolsas job would be easier. But the Elf was getting greener by the moment, no longer able to keep from vomiting over the side of the boat.
If only I had some [Sanchrin Leaves], Theo said, rubbing Xolsas back as he puked. Zarali gave him a pained look.
Would that help him? she asked.
The description says it relieves nausea. But I dont have any.
Anything else that might help? Zarali pleaded.
There was only one thing that Theo could think of that might help someone stop vomiting. He withdrew a clump of [Moss Nettle] from his inventory, smashing it in his hands until the yellow liquid flowed from the moss. He handed it to Xolsa, stopping the Elf before he popped it in his mouth.
Chew on this. Swallow the juice, but not the moss.
Xolsa nodded once, then ced the moss in his mouth. He chewed for a while, spitting several times and coughing a lot, but eventually he let out a sigh of relief. While Tresk updated Theo about the dungeonit seemed fine to herhe ran through the other reagents in his inventory. Chewing on raw reagents would produce a minor effectpared to the distilled version. Of the many things the alchemist kept on hand, [Moss Nettle] was the best candidate. He withdrew a sheet of [River Kelp] and shoved it back into his inventory when he smelled it.
Too fishy, Theo said. Thats just gonna make him more sick.
Theo scrolled through his many items. He spotted a potion he meant to put into the shop and pped his hands together. He withdrew a [Vigor Potion] from his inventory, inspecting it before handing it over.
[Vigor Potion]
[Refined Elemental Earth]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance vigor.
Drink to increase resistance scaling.
Effect:
+14 Vigor for 1.75 hours.
For 1.25 hours, your physical resistances scale 1.30 times better than normal.
More vigor should help with feeling sick, right? 14 vigor is a lot, Theo said.
Zarali helped Xolsa tip the option back. The Elf shook after quaffing the entire thing, blinking rapidly. Then he stood up straight, looking around the deck of the boat with fresh eyes.
The hells it worked, Xolsa said. I dont feel so sick anymoreTheo I dont feel as much like a pile of Karatan dung.
Zarali ran her fingers through Xolsas hair. She bit her bottom lip, staving off tears. The stress of his condition was getting to her. But not everything fell to Theo to fix. If the alchemist fixed the Elfs soul all the way, it would take him a long time to figure out the correct method. For now, hed be happy that he was standing straight for once.
Theo handed over all the [Vigor Potions] he had, then settled in on the deck for a long wait. It took the sprayer longer than he expected to create the column of downward-facing ice. Tresk and her advance team had swam back and forth several times before the ice spread outward, signaling that they now had a connection to the bays base. The adventurers confirmed that momentster.
Theborers were at the ready, prepared with pickaxes to hew a path downward. On a whim, Theo tried his [Tunneling Potion]. It worked. The man in charge of theboring squad gave the alchemist a confused look as the ice etched itself into shape.
Were still getting paid, right?
Naturally, Theo said.
The [Tunneling Potion] made quick work of the column of ice. Theo directed it to move in a circr pattern, creating a spiral staircase of ice all the way to the bottom of the bay. While Xolsa and the adventurers prepared to go under, the alchemist manned the sprayer to insure it wouldnt melt around them. Alex stayed with him, along with some adventurers, theborers, and the crew from the boat.
It made for a pleasant bit of rxation. Theo spent his time admiring Throks artifice device. The man hade a long way from making heating elements. It appeared the only limitation to his ability was his imagination. On that thought, he wondered how high the Marshling had gotten with his core. Then he got suspicious that the old man had done a sneaky thing, taking an aligned [Artificers Core] with no one knowing. That fell in line with how the man behaved, after all.
Thats Marshlings for ya, Theo muttered.
Tresks telepathic reports about the dungeon were uninteresting. The only notable thing was how spry Xolsa seemed to be. He was moving normally now, and was even joking at the bottom of the ice stairs. The Elf worked his [Dungeon Engineers Core] on the dungeon below, messing with the way it worked until he was satisfied. Just as the ice was failing on the exterior of the column, the group ascended to board the boat.
How did it go? Theo asked, helping Xolsa to the deck.
Very well, Xolsa said. The [Ocean Dungeon] is barely level 10, so it was simple to tame. I changed the flow of energy, redirecting the excess to the realms. It will no longer spawn monsters around it, and we can control when the wavese.
But Tresk started.
Xolsa picked it up before she could continue. We need to clear the dungeon just about every three days. All that energy has to go somewhere, even if I redirected most of it.
So, well need to build the silly tower. Tresk nodded, proud of her contribution to the conversation.
I would like to have ess to the dungeon for regr upkeep. Xolsa withdrew a pen and parchment from nowhere, dropping to the deck to scribble notes. Im rmending that we redirect resources to make the same amodations for every other dungeon. Including the [River Dungeon].
Theo couldnt believe how different the Elf was acting. Moments ago, he looked as though he was going to copse. Now, chewing on the moss with a [Vigor Potion] running through his body, he seemed like a new man. Both things were non-addictive and could be taken one after the other with no issues. There shouldnt be a problem with that, but the alchemist needed to monitor it.
Ziz and his guys are going to be pissed that were not working on the maglev, Theo said.
They can wait. Xolsa waved an impatient hand. And youve been cking on your development. You need to practice your wards more. Turn your alchemy into magic, doubling your effectiveness. Come, we need to meet with Alise before shes buried so deep in bureaucratic crap that she has to clear the muck from her eyes.
Theo stood at attention, offering a mock-salute. Yes, sir.
The Wavecrest left the massive chunk of ice to melt on its own, making its way back to town. Despite going up-river, the boat seemed to be pulled into the harbor by the power of the upgrades. When Theo disembarked from the boat, he felt himself sway on the spot. He sent his assistants off to call for an emergency meeting, something he knew Ziz would be upset about. Alise might be pissed about it, but she could deal.
Maybe thats why shes always mad at you, Tresk mused. Youre always pulling her in every direction.
Theo waved the thought away. Im the archduke, remember? Im supposed to be a jerk.
Without stopping for anything, Theo and his group made their way to the town hall. Sarisa reported everyone was gathering for the meeting, so they made their way to the massive meeting room on the second floor. There was now a third floor to the building, but they had not moved the meeting area. Xolsa, Theo, Tresk, Rowan, Sarisa, and Zarali were gathered around therge table before anyone showed up. The alchemist studied the extra-nar Elf as they waited, studying his behavior. He just seemed normal.
Thats a good thing, Tresk said, reading Theos thoughts.
Very good! Alex put in. He looks so happy.
This might be a temporary solution. We need something longsting.
All members of the meeting gathered in time. Alise wasnt annoyed at all, despite Theos thoughts on the matter. She was excited that the alchemist went above what he normally did to bring the group together. Ziz seemed to appreciate the break, his body covered in a sheen of slick sweat.
When Theo went to speak, Xolsa took the reins.
Were gathered to go over some important facts about our dungeons, Xolsa started, standing from his chair and gesturing at the group. They arent normal dungeons. Theyre weird things connected to the heavenly realms. These dungeons need more attention than normal dungeons.
Zarali had her hands sped together, watching as her beloved spoke well for the first time in a while. Theo just hoped it wasnt a momentary surge of energy, and that the potion and moss actually helped his condition. There was a pause in what the Elf said. The alchemist took that as a chance to speak.
Ziz, can you make water-tight stonework?
Hells yeah I can. The stoneworker looked manic. Theo would have questioned it, but doubted the man had slept since yesterday.
Theoid out the n for the underwater tower. Ziz responded as though the job would be effortless, then the table turned to discussing the practicality of defending the coast. When the conversation dragged on, Xolsa brought it back to the subject at hand.
ess to the dungeons is more important than defending the coast, Im afraid, he said with a solemn nod.
I can expand my team to take on more jobs Ziz fidgeted as his thoughts gathered. But that only goes so far. Well have the temple done soon enoughfaster if Sledge gets off herzy butt.
If our n is to make more hand-built things, we need arger stoneworking team, Alise said. Weve had an influx of cash, and were expecting more traders any day.
Theo fought the urge to steer the conversation away from the topic. But he wouldnt steal Xolsas thunder. The Elf went on with animated gestures, bouncing ideas off of Ziz for better dungeon ess. Alise chipped in when she could, helping them riddle out the best approach for each one. Since there were five dungeons, there was a massive amount of work to be done.
This might be a chance to get some migrants from Rivers and Daub. Alisemanded the floor again.
Migrant workers, huh? Theo asked. I think we have a better chance of getting the Ogres to stick around.
Ogres are on their way, Alise said. Alran has made that clear. It seems theyre not seafaring people, so its taking them a while.
There was a lot to take in about their ns. Theo was feeling overwhelmed by it all. Perhaps that sensation didnte in a negative way. Like a rush of information flooding his mind, he needed time to process it. Snap judgements were the things he was known for, but not now. Now he could retreat into his realm for five minutes to understand what he was thinking. The alchemist took Tresks hand and Alexs foot in his hands, pressing himself against the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability. They sensed his need and pushed with him.
Be right back, Theo said, vanishing from the spot.
They passed over the Bridge, which showed no changes, beforending in Terogal. Theo made to walk forward but stopped. Bentons icy gate sat awkwardly on the grass, the bear god himself lingering nearby. The moment he spotted the group, he stammered, gesturing toward a figure.
The vague shape of a man, transparent and shrouded in a purple smoke, floated near the gate. It floated over the grounds of Terogal,ing to kneel before Theo. It looked like a ghost. The figure was only vaguely the shape of a man, showing absolutely no details. The alchemist could have been imagining the way it knelt, but then the voice came.
Allow me into your realm, the ghost said.
Benton ran over, grabbing at the ghost. His hands passed through, grasping nothing. Sorry about this, Theo. I told him not toeI really did. He followed me through your gate when I sensed you entering your realm.
Theo looked down at the purple ghost. He could hear his heart hammering hard in his ears. It drowned out the sound of Treskughing. She felt it too. The Marshling knew who the ghost was. All members of the Tarahek knew where the figure hade from and why he was here.
Your name, Theo said, staring down at the wayward soul. A lost spirit that had lived between the realms all this time. One that had denied its gods request toe home after death. What is it?
Come on, Benton groaned. Dont do this to him, man.
I can handle myself, Theo said, fixing his gaze on the bear god. But the ghost remained silent. I can sort out the soul of Belgar without your help.
4.37 - Commanding The Realm
4.37 - Commanding The Realm
This is the most awkward thing Ive ever been a part of. Tresk folded her arms, staring at the floating purple spirit.
Theo had suspected that Belgars soul woulde back in one form or another. He had been entertaining the idea that the Dronon never truly died, and had only been snatched up by a god when he fell off that cliff. Now the picture was clear. When he died, his soul went to ascend to Drogramaths realm. But he refused. People on Earth often thought ghosts would linger if they had unfinished business.
And you have a lot of unfinished business, Theo said.
The floating purple spirit flickered, then issued a sound like pain. It was melodic, echoing over the open fields of Terogal like a sad song.
So, youll want to decide swiftly, Benton said, fidgeting. Hes trespassing in your realm, so his soul will break down.
Please. My sister, Belgar begged.
Well, damn I dont know how to ept a soul into Terogal. Theo looked over to Tresk and Alex. Do you?
No idea. This is all new to me.
Dont look at me, Im a goose.
Just click ept in your god interface. Look! Hes fading by the second. Benton seemed the most concerned out of everyone.
The darkest response would have been to do nothing. To let Belgar fade into non-existence right there in Terogal. But that man was a treasure trove of information. He had a different way of thinking about alchemy than Theo, meaning hed know interesting techniques. Perhaps the secret to pushing past the third tier barrier. As with most things in their strange realm, it was just a matter of pushing to figure things out.
Theo wrapped his will around the realm with an iron grip and squeezed. The ind under their feet shook. Tresk let out a scared yelp as the alchemist pushed harder against the realm. His authority wasw here. Why wouldnt it obey? Then Alexs will joined the fight, crashing against the realm with goose-like vigor. It took the Marshling a long while to pick up on what they were doing, but soon her power joined theirs. Terogals will crumpled against theirs.
A thin veil had been wrapped around the realm, like pond scum on the surface of water. As Tresk, Theo, and Alex crashed through that barricade, a torrent of information flooded through their minds. The authority of the realm to govern itself was eroded in moments, siphoning from Terogal to the collective Tarahek cores of those gathered. The alchemist took in a sharp breath, wrapping that authority around himself and hispanions.
A system message appeared.
[TeroGal]
Mortal Dreamrealm
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 0
Souls: 0
Expansions:
None
Pending Requests: 1
Holy hell. Its seed cores all the way down, isnt it? Treskughed.
Theo ignored thatment, navigating to the pending requests to ept Belgar into the realm. Twisting light wrapped around the ghosts form, reinforcing its fading shape with a multicolored shine. The dead Dronon drew himself up, mimicking the motion of taking deep breaths. He held his arms wide, the sense of a smile exuding from the figure.
Atst. At gods damnedst! Belgar flexed his reinforced form, looking around the realm. I never thought Id make it this far.
Now you have some exining to do, Theo said, crossing his arms and staring at the ghostly form.
Benton chuckled nervously. Lets have some tea, alright? I brought scones. Your favorite, Theo.
The bear god knew how to bribe Theo. While the alchemist doubted it was true lemons in the lemon poppy scones, it was close enough for him. The party entered the cramped cabin, sitting at the crowded table to brew tea and snack on confections. Tresk ate hers in one bite, the way she always did. Alex picked at hers while Belgar stood in the corner. Brooding.
The ghost couldnt drink the tea. He just stood there, taking a deep breath before moving on to his story. When I died When I was killed, I saw the look on Zaralis face. I knew that would break her. I put her in a position where she needed her brother to survive. Because I was a horrible sibling and a worse friend.
Great way to start introductions, Tresk said, snatching another scone.
Belgar nodded his ghostly head. Its the truth. Now that Ive pledged myself to your realm, outworlder, Im bound to your service.
Go on, Theo said, his eyes lingering on the pot of tea. Benton made some great tea.
Lord Drogramath pulled me back home. I lingered on the Bridge for some time. Then something interesting happened. Someone snatched up my bodyI could feel it. My body. My cores. All my hard work to be given to some damned outworlder. I didnt know at the time it would be an outworlder. But I refused Drogramaths call. I lingered in the space between spaces until I could make a move.
Until I found him, Benton said, offering a weak shrug. He sloshed the teapot, cracking the lid to sniff the contents. After an approving nod, he poured tea for everyone. He had answers to your alchemy questions, Theo.
I decided my soul was worthless, Belgar said. Not worth giving to my Lord, and not worth sending into the void. If I could offer it up to deliver a single message, I could live an eternity in torment. Under the thumb of an undeserving outworlder.
Keep going hard on Theo. He deserves it, the dirty outworlder. Tresk gave Theo a mock-sneer. Coming into our universe! Stealing our demon bodies!
You mock me? Belgar asked, drawing himself up.
Tresk jumped on the table, reaching her hand out and squeezing. Kneel, worm!
Belgars ghostly form knelt, letting out a pained grunt. Tresk had authority over Terogal and all its souls. Including the wayward soul. She pointed an usatory finger at the spirit. Dont act like Theo asked for any of this crap! He never wanted to be part of someones n. He never wanted to leave his, even though it was getting eaten by the sun. Do you know what he wanted, you freaking idiot? He wanted to die! To leave all that pain and suffering behind, but some wizard-bird threw him into this mess! Now he just wants to be happy.
Theo blinked a few times, eyes locked on Tresk. The Marshling was excitable most of the time, but when she defended her friends she was vicious. The alchemist held up a hand. A request for her to let the spirit go. Belgar breathed a sigh of relief when the pressure released. Benton looked like he was about to bolt for his portal.
You need me to deliver a message to your sister. Theo took on an authoritative tone, trying not to sound as annoyed as he was. What is it?
She must have found you by now. Belgar was still kneeling on the ground. His transparent head looked up, searching Theos face. She would never have given up. Tell her Im sorry. Tell her to move on with her life.
Theo let out a sharpugh. It escaped him without hismand. Move on? Belgar, shes getting married. Yeah, shes kinda obsessed with me because I have your body, but she moved on a long time ago.
I dont believe you.
Well, damn! I dont care if you dont believe me. Theo mmed his fist on the table, nearly spilling the precious tea. You wanna skulk in the shadows to throw a pity party, go ahead. I dont care. Were trying to enjoy some fine tea provided by Benton. This is a ce of rxation, so if you dont want to party, then your ass has gotta go.
Yeah! Alex shouted, shooting a small ball of fire through Belgars form.
Belgar looked crestfallen, if a ghost could show that emotion. He floated over, then through the wall of the cottage. Theo took a steady breath, releasing it slowly. The alchemist brought the cup of tea to his lips and sipped. It was as delicious as eversomehow better than Xams version. That was saying a lot, as the cook was getting better by the day.
So, uh, Benton said. How about that weather?
Dont worry about him, Theo said, waving the bear god off. He needs time to sulk. Ive known people like him in the past. Thinks the word revolves around him. Now, could you pass the scones?
Benton seemed reluctant to let the topic go, but did so eventually. The conversation shifted to the state of the Realm of Winter and Death. They were developing new things by the day, leveling up the realm by adding fresh Toora souls. Some were lost in the void, while others were dying in the war with the undead. Theo was just happy that the souls of the dead werent being trapped on the mortal ne by Balkors power.
So I says to Aarok, I says, Tresk started, Fald? Looks like a Hald to me!
Theo didnt get the joke, but Bentonughed.
Hald are another kind of creature, Benton exined, noticing Theosck of response. Why did all of you drop into the realm, though? If you dont mind me asking.
Theres a lot going on in the town. Theo sipped his tea, pushing Belgar far out of his thoughts. We were in a meeting, and I needed time to think.
Ah. Then I dropped a bomb on you. Benton fidgeted some more. Sorry about that.
Bah, he was gonna show up, eventually. Tresk dumped another scone in her mouth, not allowing her tastebuds enough time to enjoy the delicious treat. Guys like him never give up. Im sure once he gets over himself, hell be super helpful.
Speaking of, Theo said, rising from his chair. I have some potions to check on. Now that Im thinking about it, what do you do when youe to the realm, Tresk?
Oh, I just hang out and talk with old Benton here.
Huh.
Theo left the cottage, making his way over to the spread of tables and stills near the bubbling creek. Belgar lingered nearby, inspecting the stills. The alchemist ignored him, looking over the suffuse potions that were still brewing. His intuition told him they would be done tomorrow. Roughly a year of time would have passed in the realm, but only a few days outside. These were mostly powerful variations of the [Hallow Ground] potions. Something to be used sparingly. A [Wisdom of the Soul] potion also brewed among them. Something that the dead Dronon seemed to take an interest in.
I almost brewed that one, Belgar said, gesturing with wispy fingers. The recipe was a gift from Lord Drogramath.
Theo smiled. I figured that one out on my own.
Almost. I told you where to find the [Soul Bloom].
Fair enough. Im not evenpletely sure what it does.
It removes the pesky intuition youre constantly experiencing.
Why would I want to be rid of that?
Because it unlocks a new screen in your interface where you can read the intuitive thoughts. Your thoughts be more your own.
That interested Theo greatly. But he found himself unable to trust Belgars opinionpletely. He didnt feel as much pride as the Dronon for alchemy. It felt more like a situation than a gift he was truly good at, although that might have just been imposter syndrome. But at that moment, looking at the spirit floating near the stills, he felt the need to test the Dronons methods.
Come, Theo said, reaching his hand out and forcing his will onto the ghost. He wasntmanding him, he wasmanding the realm. Belgar would need a more solid form if he wanted to help do a few runs. Lets brew some potions.
Belgars form became slightly more solid. He looked down at his ghostly body, flexing fingers that had more substance than before. The Dronon reached out, grasping a t-bottomed vile and picking it up. He let out a surprised chuckle of delight. By all means, lead the way.
Theo didnt really need to do any runs while he was here. But his inventory was constantly cluttered with reagents, and he wouldnt waste the 12 hours he had in Terogal by sitting around. He produced everything he had on hand,ying it in tight bundles on the ground for Belgar to inspect.
I see youre cultivating your own reagents, Belgar said, picking through a pile of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. Something I never achieved. Not with our nomadic lifestyle.
Belgar held a single root up to the sunless sky, nodding with approval. This is the most perfect example of a healing root Ive ever seen.
Please, be my guest. We can do a run of [Healing Potions] if you want.
Youre over level 20, my good man. You should be running [Greater Healing Potions], Belgar said, shaking his head.
Ah, I havent figured that problem out. Not yet.
Belgar tilted his head, putting off the sense of a sly smile yet again. Then tell me your thought process.
Theo exined how the mash of reagents bound to the liquid medium in the still. Belgar nodded along as he went on about impurities, extraction, and pressurization of vapors. There were several techniques in there that the spirit didnt know about, but that was only forck of equipment. There was raw skill there that the alchemist was jealous of. An intuition that went beyond attributes.
Youre on the right track, Belgar said, floating over to a still. He hoisted a grinder atop the lid, and fed it roots. This took me a decade to figure out, so its good to see Lord Drogramaths good graces havent been wasted on you. Tell me more about how reagent properties bind to your [Enchanted Water].
Theo exined what he knew. More in-depth this time while Belgar processed the reagents. It was hard not to wonder if the Dronon still had his cores, so the alchemist asked.
Theyre echoes of my old cores. I wont be able to do what you do, but I can mirror it to an extent. Youll have to start the processbut youre changing the subject. If you cant stop the system from adding junk properties to your essence with intent, what could you do?
Theo smiled at the spirit. This information was valuable, but he was happy to see that he had judged Belgar correctly. He was a fiery person with a passion for his craft. Even in death, he retained all those skills. Instead of going to their corners like children, theyd work out their differences over a still. Brewing potions.
A secondary process?
There it is. The fire of our Lord in your eyes. Ive never met another Drogramathi Alchemist, so I dont know if this is the way forward. Belgar dragged a bucket over near the stills. It took him more effort than it should have. Were going to do what I called a dilute enchantment. Do you have any [Refined Healing Essence] on hand?
Theo had a lot of that on hand. He produced a 100 unit sk from his inventory, handing it over. Belgar nodded with approval. This is a fine essence, Theo. All this equipment is doing you good. When I brewed, it was done in a copper cauldron with a cobbled-together condenser pped on top. Ive never seen stills this advanced. Anyway
Belgar scooped water from the creek, then dripped a tenth of a unit of essence into the bucket. Theos eye told him the rate was one part essence per one thousand parts water.
Enchant this water, please, Belgar said, gesturing to the bucket.
Theo held his hand out, focusing on drawing mana out from his core. Purple fire dripped from his fingertips, sizzling over the surface of the water. A puff of red smoke rose from the bucket. The alchemist leaned in, sensing that this was an item to be inspected. He inspected it.
[Unbound Enchanted Dilution]
[Alchemy Component]
Rare
Water that has been infused with Drogramaths energy.
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Property:
[Healing]
Theos brows knit tightly. The water carried the property over. Everything Belgar had been saying clicked together in an instant. The diluted essence in the enchanted water would make the separation of the properties almost absolute.
There it is. One more process for that, though. We still have to distill the water with hard liquor to make it bind. That gives you an alcohol base, whichpletes the third realm process.
Realm? Theo asked,ughing. He tried to p Belgar on the shoulder, but his hand passed through. I call them tiers.
Thus is the way of Drogramathi alchemy. I believe we alle up with our own terms.
Im writing a book on the topic.
Really? Id love to read it when its done. Now, let me show you how to make hard liquor. Got any Zee?
Tresk scratched her head, watching Theo and Belgar by the stills. Minutes ago, it seemed as though they were going to rip each others heads off. Now they were best friends, brewing stuff in a magical realm. The more she tried to understand it, the more distant the meaning felt.
What the hells, man? Tresk asked, shaking her head at Benton. I thought Theo was gonna bite that guys head off.
Theo isnt unreasonable, Benton said. He sees the value in having another alchemical expert in his realm. Belgar has been through a lot. I tried to nurse him back to sanity in my realm, but it was difficult.
Bah. I was hoping for a slugfest.
Be grateful, Tresk.
What? Why?
This helps us more than you know. But it also helps Zarali. When we leave Terogal, well tell her that Belgar is safe in our warm embrace.
Yeah, thats true. Wait, Tresk sniffed the air. Are they making booze?
4.38 - Dynamic Incorporation
4.38 - Dynamic Incorporation
Theo would be lying if he said he was not ufortable with Belgars arrival. That possibility had lingered in his mind for quite some time. And why shouldnt it? His understanding of the afterlife in this world was minimal. Even as he graced the heavenly realms, he couldnt put his finger on those mechanisms. But those fanciful thoughts fell by the wayside when he considered what to do next.
No progress was made at the meeting after he arrived back at the town hall. His mind had twisted itself into knots, leaving him unable to make a decision on anything. That responsibility would fall to the administrators. It was their job.
Zarali needed to know. It was unfair to hide the facts from her. Cruel, even.
Tresk and Alex had already rushed downstairs to eat their breakfast, leaving Theo alone with his thoughts. He sat on his beds edge, waiting for his mind to gather.
Anything I can help with? Sarisa asked. She stepped into the room with a pained expression on her face.
Is it that obvious? I met Zaralis dead brother in my realm.
Oh. Thats awkward.
Indeed. Whats the best way to tell her?
Quickly.
That was easy enough to say. But delivering the message was moreplex than that. Her mind was already a swirl of conflicting emotions from Xolsas partial recovery. But that came with its own worries. It was a temporary fix that didnt cure the problem. Perhaps it would help him make a full recovery, but that wasnt a guarantee. Now her dead brothers soul lived in the realm of the person who stole his body. A confusing wash of emotions flooded through Theo.
Bring her here, please.
Would you like me to bring you a cup of tea?
I would, thank you.
Theo waited on his bed. When Sarisa returned, she handed the alchemist a teacup on a saucer. Zarali followed closely behind her, looking more worried than hed anticipated.
Zarali, theres no way to put this gently. Belgars soul is in Terogal, under my protection. Theo sipped his tea, waiting for a response.
Zarali stood as though frozen in ce. Her mouth hung open as she processed the information. She stammered, messed with her hair, then let out a frustrated breath. Really? Shouldnt his soul have gone to Drogramath?
That was a long story to tell. Sarisa lingered in the rooms corner while Theo went over all the information he knew. Belgar had been hiding between the realms. If that wasnt dangerous enough, he ducked between the realm of dead gods and the spaces between, always trying to find a way back to the mortal ne. When his old body was upied, it lit up like a beacon. When Terogal was formed, he hatched a n.
He sounds happy, Zarali said, closing her eyes. Her hands were shaking.
Theo set his tea down, pulling his adoptive sister into a hug. I thought about keeping the information from you. This is too much for one person to endure.
The Priestess of Drogramath sobbed into Theos chest. Sarisa gave him an awkward look for only a moment, trying to avert her gaze from the moment. But Zarali needed to get it out of her system. Too much in too short a period had worn her down. After a while of crying, she startedughing.
Whats so funny?
Thats Belgar. The stubborn asshole I remember.
Theo wiped the wetness from her cheeks, shaking his head. Hes pretty good at alchemy, too.
Damn. I wish there was a way to visit him. I know. Dont get your undies in a twist. I know what happened to Xolsa. We will not make that mistake again.
There might be a way. But I hope we can just set this aside for now. You can write him letters. Mortal objects persist in my realm.
Oh, thats such a good idea. DId he have anything for me? Zarali asked.
Not really. He just wanted you to know he was there.
The pair lingered in the bedroom for some time. Theo sipped his tea over the silence, Sarisa shifting ufortably in the corner. When they were done with their moment, the alchemist went downstairs to have breakfast. He wouldnt share the information of Belgar to anyone else. That was up to Zarali to spill, not him. Instead, he enjoyed his meal as the group that lived in his house chatted.
Theo, Rowan said, leaning close to the alchemist to whisper. We may need to talk with Ziz and his crews.
Theo let out a heavy sigh. Rowan didnt need to exin it to him. They were likely working themselves to death on the various projects. I understand.
The Dreamwalkst night was a time for reflection for Theo, but it was also a time to practice the brewing techniques taught by Belgar. Creating grain alcohol was easy enough. It followed many standard alchemical practices that made the process simple. Mash the Zee, use a standard fermentation process, then distill it down. The night was something of a breakthrough.
Theos cores experienced widespread level-ups. His [Drogramath Alchemy Core] hit level 24, while his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] hit 23. The [Governance Core] went to level 29, and his [Toruaun Mages Core] was 7. When his personal level hit 23 from all the activity, he pped a point into [Intelligence]. He felt aimless with his attribute distributiontely, spreading his selections out over the various stats. Generalization wasnt a bad thing, though.
Time to have a word with Ziz, Theo said, excusing himself from the table.
Dont worry! Tresk shouted after Theo. Ill watch the goose today!
Theo made his way out of the manor, feeling Sarisa following closely behind him. He circled around the road in front of his house, spotting the mostlypleted temple. Ziz and his boys were working like insane people, setting blocks into ce even at this early hour. There were at least 20 people working on the project, all part of the mans expanded projects groups.
Ziz! Theo shouted. The Half-Ogre was perched atop a wall,ying stones like his life depended on it. Wannae down here?
Not really!
Theo scowled up at the stubborn man. The workers had erected temporary scaffolding on the temples side. The alchemist climbed them, refusing to let Ziz get away with this. They were going to burn themselves out before they even got to the other projects. He grumbled the entire way up, standing at the structures top and looking down at his town. Hed never seen it from this angle.
You guys are going a little nuts with this, huh? Theo asked, grabbing the side of the stone structure when the scaffold swayed in the wind.
Theo,e on! Ziz said, withdrawing a marble block from his inventory and setting it in ce. A sh of lightter, and the stone was set in ce with expert precision. Did your assistants rat me out? Were resting! I swear!
Ziz was tweaking like hed just injected [Moss Nettle] directly into his heart. But he didnt look that bad. Theo doubted he was taking [Stamina Potions] every day. The man would be dead on his feet if that was the case. There was just an underlying mania with the way he spoke. Like a man who had too much work and not enough time.
Are you sure? Theo asked.
Yeah, Theo. I have a team of 60 workers now. Were working in shifts.
What about you?
Yeah, I work more shifts than the other people, but Im sleeping. Donte down on me for being a badass stoneworker.
Theo glowered for a moment, but relented. Ziz was a focused guy. While the alchemists mind wandered from one thing to the other at break-neck speed, the Half-Ogre locked in a problem and never let go. But he also knew himself.
Alright, are you sure? Theo asked.
Ziz gave him a knowing smile. Yes, dad.
Theo rolled his shoulders. The Zarali thing had really gotten to him. This wasnt the person he was trying to be. Check this out.
Theo withdrew a [Retreat Potion] from his inventory. One infused with the [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier. Screw this, Im out, he said, downing the potion.
A st of wind shook the scaffolding as the alchemist was thrown back. Ziz let out a shout of surprise as Theo soared over the town. Once the [Retreat] effect expired, [Featherfall] took its ce. All of his momentum was removed, allowing him to glide gracefully to the ground. After a few awkward moments of falling in slow-motion, his feet hit the ground somewhere behind the Newt and Demon. He dusted himself off and made his way to hisb.
Along the way he thought about the progress Ziz had made. They were working quickly on the project, and would likely be done in a few days. The only thing that seemed to be a problem was the roof, but Sledge would sort that out. That angry Marshling hadnte calling in a while, so she must have been happy with how things were going.
Salire was working with customers, so Theo made his way upstairs. Belgar had helped make some alcohol for third tier brewing, but there was a problem with that. Each run of the new medium needed to be specific to the property he was trying to extract. That added ayer ofplication to the alchemical process. Now he needed to store vast amounts of liquids in hisb. For now, the rows of [Dimensional Storage Crates] would have to do.
Theo got working on creating a few [Unbound Enchanted Dilutions] to match his most popr potions. If the alcohol-making process was just a little different, he could save some time. Unfortunately, the property needed to be introduced before it was turned into a grain spirit. The alchemist dedicated three barrels for now, each destined to create about 200 units of the dilution. He introduced a single drop of [Refined Healing Essence], [Refined Stamina Essence], and [Refined Mana Essence] to each barrel, then prepared the mash.
Making something with Zee? Salire asked, entering theb with a smile on her face.
Weve had a development, Theo said, preparing the grinder. He prepared his mash as he exined the situation with Belgar. Salire nodded along as he told the story.
Thats weird. Alchemy advice from a dead Dronon. The Dronon who used to be in that body. Too weird for me, man.
Right. Just take notes on the process, its pretty simple.
Salire did as she was told, but this hardly applied to her. It would take her a while to work herself up to this level. That assumed Drogramath would even grant her a core. It was best not to worry about that. The worst case scenario had her leveling up a crappy un-aligned core, but they wouldnt worry about that now. She was so excited about the idea that the alchemist wouldnt stop her hopeful banter. Instead, they brewed potions.
There were a few orders that came in, and they were easy enough to make. As always, it was the standard fare. Fenian shouted from the first floor at one point, so Salire went to check it out. When she returned, she ryed the message. Hes bored.
Tell him to wait, were almost done, Theo said, kicking off theirst reaction of the day. The alcohol would take time to ferment, even in the magically enchanted barrels. But he didnt go down when the process was done. He waited an impolite amount of time to let the Elf stew.
Heading downstairs, Theo found Fenian inspecting the potions on the wall. Finally, he said, turning his wheelchair to greet the alchemist.
Hey, Fenian, Theo said, holding his hand out. Give me some [Monster Cores].
Fenian scoffed. Excuse me? Just give them to you? What do you think this is, a charity?
Come on, man. Ill pay for them.
What are you going to use them for?
Im upgrading the town. Come on, Im bored.
Am I boring? Salire asked, looking slightly hurt.
No, youre not boring. I just have the mind of a magpie.
Fenian and Salire nodded at the same time. Thats true.
The trader always had a good supply of high-level monster cores. With the town sitting at level 20, it wouldnt take many cores to bring it up to 25. Despite recent expenses, both Theo and the town were flush with cash. Any time he had a little money, he burned it as fast as possible. With most of the towns needs met, that had been a hard thing to do. They negotiated a price for more [Monster Cores] than the town needed, draining some of the alchemists gold away.
Theo checked the towns finances as they walked to the monolith. Fenian rolled, of course, but the screen told a different story than one of high gold reserves. Zizs crew was expensive. While he provided the stone for almost nothing, it wasnt free. Compared to the prices the stoneworker got from the northern stone traders, he was losing a lot of money. But he made up for it in the fees he charged to keep his crews working night and day.
The alchemist silently inserted 50 gold into the towns treasury after they approached the monolith.
The town is about ready to burst. Fenian pressed his palm against the ck stone and nodded. You wont be a town anymore.
Then we just need people. Theo inserted cores into the stone like he was feeding a vending machine. I have the sense that we can upgrade to 25 without more people, but 30 is off limits.
Good. Feed the town, my dear alchemist.
Theo was already doing it. Fenian didnt need to be weird about it, but here we was. Baby arm pping in the wind like it wasnt strange. You know, I never realized how much spending thousands of years in a heavenly realm would mess with your mind.
Bah, that wasnt the problem. Not really.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 21!
Then what was the problem? Why are you acting so silly?
Fenian let out a breath, then shrugged. Zarali wasnt the only one in town struggling with their emotions. Tensions were running high. It was likely the calm that had settled in over Broken Tusk. I saw a mirror image of myself in the king. Were more alike than I previously thought. You have to understand that time doesnt mean the same thing over there as it does here
Theo knew that all too well. He shoved another core into the monolith and nodded. Time could slip away from him in the realms. Hours could pass in a blink if ones mind were to slip.
Especially in someone elses realm. Fenian nodded his head at Theo.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 22!
We got to talking. Between our epic battles. I learned more about him and the other way around. Anyway, I decided to stop brooding so much!
Well, Im d, Theo said.
[Broken Tusk] has advanced to level 23!
Now help me shove cores into this town, I have an upgrade I want to take.
Fenian and Salire helped jam cores into the town until it hit level 25. There were a few interesting upgrades he could pick from, but there was one that had lingered in the alchemists mind for some time. Now that Ziz and his crew were building hand-built things it seemed to be the perfect time. He inspected the upgrade before selecting it.
[Dynamic Incorporation]
Using a [Fabricator], you can incorporate hand-made buildings into your town. These buildings will act as seed core buildings, but they function at a much lower level.
Oh, thats a nice one.
If Fenian was pleased, Theo was pleased. But there was no way of knowing what they needed to do with Sledge to get the buildings to work properly. This would result in some experimentation with an angry Marshling. Notably, the town hadnt be something other than a Massive Town, even after hitting level 25. The alchemist inspected the town before moving on for the day.
[Massive Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Theo Spencer
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 25 (1.83%)
Core Buildings:
Alchemy Lab
Greenhouses (x6)
Mycology Cave (x2)
cksmith
Artificers Workshop
Large Farm
Small Farm
Windmill
Quarry
Stonecutter
House (x398)
Manor
Tannery
Tavern
Adventurers Guild
Hotsprings
Sawmill
Mine
Smelter
Enchanter
Ranch
Townhall
Butcher
Weaver
Defensive Emcements:
Chain Lightning (x12)
Frost Cone (x7)
Fireball (x10)
Firebolt (x25)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Defensive Emcements]
[Synergistics]
[Dynamic Incorporation]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
[Coordinated Fire]
Current Resources:
Timber: 50,243
Stone Blocks: 10,011
Metal: 9,123
Motes: 15,500
The window that popped up was unwieldy. At this point it had several pages that Theo had to tab through, making it a horrible experience. The group discussed the new upgrade there by the monolith. It was nice seeing people walk past them, going about their lives without fanfare. Things were settling down into afortable pace. Fenian went off after a time, wheeling himself along the cobbled path. Salire had the shop to attend to. Potions to sell and all that. Shed also check the fermentation barrels while the alchemist faced down the dragon.
Sledges people seemed to be just as busy as Ziz and his crew. The only difference was that they didnt need to be this busy. Lumber production was crucial to the towns sess, but she took her job too seriously. When she wasnt working on [Fabricator] jobs, she was cracking the whip at the sawmill.
Hide! Sledge shouted after spotting Theoing down the road.
Someone else has to say hide, Sledge, Theo shouted back. Otherwise I know youre there. I have something fun for you to do.
Theo approached the sawmill, spotting the Marshling hiding behind a stack of logs. How fun? she asked, not removing herself from her hiding spot.
Well, youre going to turn a normal building into a seed core building.
Sledge popped up. Alright. Lets go.
4.39 - Therapy
4.39 - Therapy
Well, how am I supposed to do the thing if it isnt done?
Sledge gazed up at the unfinished temple. Zizs crews were working on it constantly, but it was far from finished. The blocky exterior didnt look evil. Magnificent? Maybe. At that moment, it looked iplete, and Theo had not considered what theyd do when they arrived. He snapped himself out of it in a moment, though. There was a reason for them to be there.
I brought you here to get a feel for your core. How it interacts with the towns upgrade.
Alright, keep your shoes on. Let me see. Sledge closed her eyes, her wet face twitching asionally. Vague pulses of mana came from her chest, uncontrolled and unmeasured.
Even the alchemist could feel how unpracticed she was in the [Fabricators Core]. After long moments of magical groping, she wrapped her will around the building. It was like a kitten wrapping its paws around prey. Yeah, I got the system to recognize my connection to the building. It feels like a weaker version of a seed core building to me.
Excellent. Theo pped his hands together. Lets go practice on something thatspleted.
Within the walls of the town, there were a few buildings that had been built by hand. Theo and Sledge made their way to the shacks that housed the water boilers. There they sat down on the muddy ground, giving the Marshling time to wrap her cores power around the building again. Unlike the unfinished temple, this one took her a while. The alchemist coached her in the best way he could, helping her feel her way around the magical energies. It reminded him of when he first started understanding his Drogramathi mana, and how he applied it to alchemy.
I dont think the system is happy about this building. Sledges eyes were closed, face twisted in a pained grimace. Im not getting a message like I normally do with seed core buildings.
Theo was certain that she had the right skills. Sledge had not been training as hard as she should have, although he wouldnt me her. It was hard to expect everyone to be as fervent as him about development. A good leader wouldnt yell at her for beingzy, they would work with her. So, the alchemist sat down and walked her through the steps of manipting her mana.
You have the basics. Theo sat with her, cross-legged and focusing on his own cores. His intuition said that her technique was wrong. The way he used his mana was one of infusion, or dposition. She needed to focus on wrapping that mana around the building, then pushing her will into it. Think of it like a fight. Youre trying to restrain the building.
This might have been the most troubling building they could have picked. Theo doubted it had a parallel with any seed core buildings. It was a shack that housed boilers, nothing more. Core buildings normally came in vors of shops, production chain buildings, and so on. But Sledge was relentless with her efforts. Bantari Marshlings had an innate willpower that the other races of the worldcked. More than the Elves, Dronon, Half-Ogres, they were known for their stubborn willpower.
Sledge drank [Mana Potions] as they worked on dominating the boiler shack. It took hours to make progress, but her will seemed absolute. Once Theo presented the problem as a fight, she was all in. The ribbons of mana were now visible to the naked eye. Outside of any magical senses, theyshed against the building like strangling vines. Another hour of failed attempts and the exhausted Marshling screamed.
Youre mine! Sledge shot to her feet, holding her hand out with palms opened.
The tendrils of mana formed into solid roots. They wrapped around the building, buckling the shack. It creaked under the pressure of hermand, the wood warping slightly. Sledge closed both of her hands and the roots dug deep into the ground. Shimmering with raw, unaligned mana, the building flexed then settled.
You did it! Theo shouted, holding his hand up for a high-five.
Sledge pped his hand weakly, then fell back onto her butt to draw ragged breaths. Yeah. Hooray for me.
There was no better time to see if it had worked. Theo examined the new building while Sledge rested on the ground.
[Boiler Shack]
Owner: [Broken Tusk]
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: 7 Days
Expansions:
None
The ownership defaulted to the town. Theo probed the building with his senses, but found little there. It seemed somewhere between a hand-built building and a seed core building. He withdrew a [Monster Core] from his inventory and held it near to the buildings wall.
Wait! Sledge said, clutching her head. Her face was twisted into a pained expression. Got a system message when you tried that. Theres a cooldown period for the new building. You need to wait two days before you can add upgrades. Something about the system recalcting for a new building type.
Theo returned the core to his inventory, his brow knitting his as looked at the shack. No one has built a [Boiler Shack] in 60,000 years?
Cant wait to bang my head up against the backup shack.
Theo nodded, his mind drifting off. He didnt need his intuition to tell him Sledge was acting strangely. She was very easy to work with today. Too open to learning new things, meaning something was off. He joined her back in the mud, withdrawing a clump of [Moss Nettle] from his inventory. Chew on this. Swallow the juice, not the moss.
Sledge took it withoutint, shoving it in her mouth and chomping away.
Anything going on that you want to talk about?
She fidgeted with her clothes, picking at errant threads. Growing up, I guess.
I dont even know how old you are.
25. Not that bad looking for a 25-year-old Marshling, huh?
Theo had no frame of reference for how a Marshling should look at that age. Throk had to be at least 50, but he looked just as young as his daughter. He had to search the Tarahek to see that Tresk was around the same age as Sledge. You look great. So, youre maturing? Thats it?
Things were bad when you got here. Theres some people in town who say its your fault.
Theyre not wrong. Theo shrugged. That was a fact. Someone had manipted the town to suit their needs. It was likely Khahar or Drogramath, but he had long suspected Fenian was involved. He was surprised that more people didnt see him as the viin.
Well, thats not my point. Just taking a jab, you know?
I know.
Things are more stable here. We got money. We got food. Sledge was poking around the edges of what she wanted to say.
Theo forced his intuition on her, the same way he bent reality in both Terogal and the Dreamwalk. She held something deep in her heart. A hope that she had never shared with anyone.
What is it you want, Sledge?
Babies. Is that weird? Sledge asked, looking up at Theo with a searching nce. A clutch of crazy little kids running around town. Tossing mud. Getting stuck in hollowed out logs.
Theo couldnt hide hisugh. When she shot him an angry look, he pulled her into a hug. Everything is stable, so you want kids. Thats totally normal. Who is the lucky Bantari dude?
Huh? Bantari can reproduce asexually, my guy. We all have at least once clutch in us. Even the guys.
So, how does that work? You just think really hard and you get eggs?
Something like that.
But youre still worried about something, arent you? He could feel it in her words. A silent fear for the future? Perhaps it was something else.
Were all so busy. Who is gonna raise them?
Theo pulled her into a more firm hug. Bob and his educators, for starters. Child care is free, remember? Even if you dont want to send them off to school every day, you could just force your woodcutters to watch them.
Sledge looked up with wet eyes. Yeah? You think its a good idea?
Absolutely. Have you seen Marshling babies? I want to puke every time I see heyre so damned cute.
A silence set in between the two. They sat on the damp ground, basking in the heat of the day, while they rolled it over in their heads. Perhaps this was always a point of selfish desire from Theo. Now that he knew Marshlings could have babies whenever they wanted, that opened possibilities. Tresk could do it, right? But that would put her out of action, removing her from a vital role. They needed more citizens, no matter the cost.
Sledge stood without warning, pushing away from the hug. Alright. Come find me when the temple is done. I have a lot to think about.
What she left behind after leaving was a void where Theos thoughts wouldnt gather. He telepathically told Tresk he was ducking into Terogal, then fell through the realms on the spot. Passing over the Bridge of Shadows, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Even the nothingness that rushed by felt calm, as though the realms themselves were still.
Theo kicked his shoes off when his feet hit the soft ground of the realm. It was silent for a long moment before Belgars voice echoed from the other side of the ind. Only then did he realize thendmass was bigger. Perhaps only a few paces on every side, but it was noticeable. The alchemist trudged across the floating ind, finding his way to the shallow pool of water. There Belgar rested near the bank, his form more solid than ever.
Good morning, Theo. Is it still morning?
Just about midday, actually. Theo sat near the water, dangling his feet into the pool. How has the realm been?
My thoughts are still forming on the matter.
Theo wasnt sure what he thought of Belgar, yet. The impression of the man he got before meeting him was one of a spoiled demon. Someone who had taken pride in his work with nothing to back it up. The reality was far different. Dronon were constantly on the move, typically serving their respective masters. They were the only race he was aware of that was tied specifically to a god. A singr god. Drogramathi Dronon were different from Zagmon Dronon. Drogramath gave the Drogramathi a clear set of instructions.
Run and hide.
That forced Belgar to work with simple tools to perform his alchemy. He never had a building with amazing upgrades. Never had ess to artificers to make him new gear. The man didnt have ess to amunity. All this struck Theo as a cruel twist by Drogramath. But as with most things involving the heavenly beings, they had ns that stretched on forever.
Zarali was excited to hear you were alive. Theo might have fumbled the delivery of that one. She hadnt even written him a letter, yet.
She was always the strong one from our brood.
Theo shrugged. Time to cheer up. Benton should beyup. There he is.
The frigid archway opened up near the pool of water. The bear god, Benton, stepped out with his arms wide. Greetings!
Theo sprung up from the pool, his wet feet pping against the ground. Good to see a friendly face. How is your realm doing?
Very well. Were working on a few interesting projects. Little domed areas that fight off the constant cold. Not everyone loves eternal winter, no matter if theyre Toora souls or not.
Time for tea?
Of course!
Benton and Theo made their way to the cramped cottage. Before long, it was filled with the scent of the potent Toora tea and confections. The alchemist shared the progress they had made in his mortal town. There were concerns about theing Ogres, but it was nothing they couldnt handle. Coastal defenses were stillcking, but that woulde in time. For now, the alchemists mind was focused on building everyone up. That and defending the northern border.
Im also thinking of drinking the [Wisdom of the Soul] potion. Theo dipped a scone in his tea, then took a bite. It was, as always, delicious. Benton required exnation on what the potion did, which the alchemist was happy to do.
Sounds like you lean on your Wisdom more than anything. Benton stirred the pot of tea, furry brows rising when Belgar stepped into the room. Greetings, Belgar.
Hello, Benton. Belgar took his ce at the table. His form was corporeal enough to interact with objects at the table. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a scone. Wisdom is your best bet for the Soul potions. But only because you have this realm.
Theo nodded. He was happy to see Belgars thoughts aligning with his. Did you experience the negative effects of a high Intelligence when you were on the mortal ne?
I did. Belgars ghostly eyes lingered over the table, never locking onto the others. That might have been my downfall.
I never put many points into Wisdom or Intelligence. Always went for the physical attributes.
A wise choice. Belgar sipped his tea. You should always take [Intelligence of the Soul] if you dont have a realm. Thats my thought. Otherwise, Wisdom is the way to go.
All my third tier suffuse potions are done brewing for now, Belgar. Should we do another run today?
Today? Belgar asked, his eyes lingering on the middle distance for a while. He snapped out of it. Ah, yeah. Good idea.
Bentonughed, pping his knee. Hard to remember, Theo. Thest time you came here was yesterday. Belgar has been here for quite a few days. A hundred-something days.
I let the time slip, Benton. Like you showed me. Otherwise, I would have gone insane with such solitude. Belgars form flickered for a moment, then re-solidified.
Both Beton and Theo picked up on the souls troubled thoughts. They didnt need high attributes or godly abilities to tell them the man was troubled. But they knew that confronting a troubled mind like his directly wasnt the right way. He might have been holding on by a thread, but it was working. He was too stubborn to release control.
Instead, Theo invited Belgar to inspect hispleted third tier potions. They were focused on killing the undead. But they were all test potions, never meant to win the war. Instead, mass-produced potions were the way to go.
I dont think an industrial crafting effort like yours has been done for our Lords alchemy. Belgar inspected thepleted suffuse potions, nodding with approval. I would expand your efforts as far as possible.
I started working on making third tier potions with your method. Theo nudged Belgar with his elbow, but the effort passed through the souls body. Had some business to attend to before I started.
Well, let me run you through my knowledge. Again.
Belgar seemed eager to be an instructor. He gave his rundown of how Drogramath made potions. Theo had learned almost everything about base-level potion-making by himself. Gaps were filled by high-level alchemists, but those people were guarded with their secrets. Instead, it was a constant slog through experimentation. But the instructions were more than wee.
While they could have run third tier potions within Terogal, Belgar was more interested in disying his aptitude of the basics. It was a ploy for him to mess with the custom stills. Theo had to wonder what the man was doing all this time. Sulking in the realm, no doubt. They split their attention between brewing second tier potions, like the [Healing Potions] that sold so well in the shop, and chatting with Benton.
It was a rxing trip to the realm, but like all things it needed to end. Theo said his farewells after the 12 hours were up and jumped over the side of the ind. When he left, Belgar was in much higher spirits. That was achieved in no small part by the alchemists constant reminder that Zarali was alive and well. Her thoughts were on her long-lost brother, and he even wrote a note to be carried to the mortal ne.
Theo appeared where hed left, bumping into someone and falling to his butt.
Sorry, Sarisa said, holding a hand out for him to take.
Theo looked down and shook his head. He forgot his shoes again. No worries. She reached down, offering him a hand to get up. He epted. There has to be at least four pairs of shoes in my realm.
Anything interesting happen?
That was harder to answer than it should have been. Im officially the therapist to a Dronons soul.
Soundsplicated.
It is. Im off to brew some potions.
4.40 - Blessing the Temple
4.40 - Blessing the Temple
Comforting breezes didnt roll through Broken Tusk during the Season of Fire. Theo had abandoned all hope of being sweat-free outside of the air-conditioned buildings in town. As with all alchemical experimentations, a cracked window was vital. The alchemist stood with Salire, looking over their batch of spirits from the previous day. They had created enough to run the three major restoration potions, but no more.
Always take it one step at a time. Theo transferred their newest creation, the [Bound Enchanted Dilution], to holding containers. When you create too many changes, youre bound for failure.
Salire nodded, watching as the alchemist moved the liquid around. He poured it into a clean still, leaning over the edge to inspect it.
[Bound Enchanted Dilution]
[Alchemy Component]
Rare
Alcohol that has been infused and bound with Drogramaths energy.
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Property:
[Healing]
Question, Salire said, reading over the description of the item. Your bond has been at middling for some time. Why?
That was a question Theo couldnt answer. He suspected it had to do with the way Khahar had changed the rules for gods. But that could be wrong. When he met with Drogramath, the Demon Lord seemed intent on forcing Theo to select him as a patron. Assuming that strange god only had his best interest at heart, the alchemist could extrapte the information.
Perhaps a temple is needed to go above middling. Maybe Khahar messed up the system. Im not sure. Prepare the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], please.
Salire nodded, running off to search through their storage crates. She had bought several dresses from the traders from Partopour. Most were in floral patterns, but all of them looked supremelyfortable. Alignment bonds increase the effectiveness of potions and can be increased by making daily offerings.
She did that often enough that it wasnt weird. As a hopeful alchemist, Salire often repeated information so it would stick in her head. Perhaps she could invest more points into Wisdom.
Were doing one standard for the [Healing] property. My bet is that the system tags the new essences with bound as a property. Refined Bound Healing Essence. Something like that.
Wish I had that kind of intuition. Salire fed gnarled roots into the grinder, adjusting the dial on the side to get a better mash. The machine whirred, crunching the soft root with little effort.
Ive been thinking about that. Theo withdrew his new [Wisdom of the Soul] potion from his inventory, holding it in his hand while Salire worked. Belgar told me what this potion does. It removes my intuition. Moves all those intrusive thoughts into a system message.
Really? Is that useful?
It was incredibly useful. Immeasurably so. Theos intuition often impeded his thought processes. Intelligence was just as bad with that, but Terogal had fixed some of that. But the Wisdom attribute was etched too firmly in his mind to be dislodged that way. Even in his personal realm it pecked at his thoughts like a hungry crow, often more a distraction than anything. It made him feel distant. Removed from the real world, sending him spiraling down what if scenarios.
I think so. Belgar agrees.
Cause its always good to trust the soul of the guy whose body you stole.
Fair point. Theo approached the still, turning knobs on the side to set the temperature. He couldnt get away with single-temperature runs for much longer. Well set this for about an hour. Maybe less, depending on how hard Zaralis enchantments work. Whats that sound?
Like a magpie finding a new treasure, Theo surged for the front window. When he opened it, he saw Sledges carpentry crew working on the temples roof. The stoneworkers had some trouble getting the foundation of the building together, but not the carpenters. Half the roof was already done and they were pping boards down like old professionals.
Theyll be done with that today. Salire edged closer to Theo, pushing her body against him to peer outside. Like most Half-Ogres in town, she had the strength to toss him around. The pair gazed at the new building for some time, appreciating how it loomed ominously in the distance.
What do you think I should do with the town, Salire? Theo asked.
She looked the alchemist in the eyes, face twisting in confusion for a few moments. What?
I own half the businesses in town. More than half, actually. Should one person own so much stuff?
The pale orange on her cheeks flushed a darker shade when she realized he was asking her such a serious question. He often saw everyone in town as a peer. Not lower or higher than anyone else.
Uh, well I dont know.
Good answer.
Most businesses you own already have a good payment structure. Based on production, right? You just kinda let me take whatever I want from the store, which is a poor business model. In ssic fashion, Salire got her feet under herself in the conversation in an instant. Youre afraid of losing the ability to control where your resources go, arent you?
If I need some stone, I want it when I need it. Same with wood and metal.
Salire let out a long sigh. She settled in on the windowsill, pushing Theo mostly out of the way. Hard to say. Id change the way youre doing it if I was in charge.
How?
This is a problem of ownership. Take your deal with Dead Dog Mine. They split up ten percent of the value of every nugget mined. But they dont own their ability to make money. You do.
Whats the alternative?
Well, I wouldnt give the mine to Gridgen. Id give the mine to the workers. Change the ownership of the mine to Broken Tusk, then strike a new floating contract. Anyone who wants to work the mine can work it. They can organize themselves however they like.
That only works because we know the people of Broken Tusk are good.
Yeah, so whats the problem? Salire cast him a prating look.
Theo had been feeling more like an oligarch by the day. Like a dictator who wanted to hold on to everything within the town. No one had brought it up so far. Well, Tresk had. But she liked to poke fun at him, so that didnt count. Exports were going to be a massive money-maker in the town. Once more traders showed up, it would be a flood of coins. Thats when he had to think about changing the structure. When their coffers were so full they couldnt spend it, the citizens should get the excess.
Theres a lot to think about.
Theo and Salire continued to chat. He practiced his magic and bone carvings while they waited for the essence to run, remembering the words of Xolsa. If he remembered to keep a steady pace of practice, he could have his [Toruaun Mages Core] up to 10 within a week. That would unlock ess to a new skill.
Once the first sk was filled with pale pink liquid, Theo took it to the side for inspection. Hed wanted to wait for the run toplete at first, but Sledges distraction proved only temporary.
Huh, Theo grunted, inspecting the essence. Thats weird.
[Refined Bound Healing Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence] [Bound Essence]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Poor Quality
Purity: 75%
200 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined, bound essence of healing. Used to create healing potions.
Hah! Why is that weird? You called the name.
Look who created it.
Oh. Why does that feel ominous?
Theo searched his intuition for something, but was left with no answers. This had something to do with Belgar aligning himself to Terogal. The system must have registered that the dead Dronon had a new life, even if it was just in the heavenly realms.
Pile it on the curiosities of the day. So, how should we brew this?
Salire stood ram-rod straight, her eyes going wide. She was often confident, but could be caught off-guard like this. Stammering, she withdrew a notebook to consult. Theo snatched it, holding it behind his back. She groaned.
I know how to make the low-tier potions. But Im worried about the higher ones.
Exactly. What would we normally do?
Salire exined the process step-by-step. Theo agreed with her on the worries sheid out. Their standard catalyst might not work for this reaction. What he wouldnt tell her was that he was confident using enchanted [Drogramathi Iron Shavings]. There were other catalysts within theb she could pick that would work. They were things the alchemist never touched, since he had ess to the rare iron. Both [Grave Dust] and [Ice Quartz] might work to stabilize the reaction. But [Iron Shavings], [ky Agate], and [Copper Shavings] would not work.
Are [Drogramathi Iron Shavings] third or second tier? Salire asked.
Theos mind shifted away from theb. Ance of momentary pain drove through his mind and he was distracted. After a few confusing moments, he cast his mind over the lodestonework, finding that one of his [Lesser nt Golems] in the fields outside of Broken Tusk had been in. He held up a hand for Salire to wait, consulting thework. Other golems were moving in to investigate, but then the warning bell rang outside.
Just a moment.
After a few confusing minutes of lining up golem reports with information in the administration screen, Theo determined the problem. There was a small monster attack on my little farm. Looks like the adventurers sorted it.
Oh. Alright. So, the iron?
It should work. Whats the only way we can know?
Experimentation?
Exactly.
Theo was out of enchanted [Drogramathi Iron Shavings], forcing him to create a new pile in hisb. The process was simple enough, but he was left with the next step of potion-making. He quizzed Salire on the right way to experiment, but she got the answer without effort. The alchemist assumed he needed to use the same water he used to create the essence to brew the potion.
Always do a small reaction first, Theo said, setting up a t-bottomed vial. He dropped the [Drogramathi Iron Shavings] in the bottom, then added the water and the essence. As the reaction kicked off as a flurry of bubbles and steam, he felt the power of theb flex around him. It contained the violent reaction, making it little more than a disy of frothing potion. When the reaction wasplete, they were left with their first third tier potion.
Wow. This is the least impressive vial Ive ever seen, Salire said, inspecting the potion.
Theo grunted. This is practical. No need for a fancy vial.
Really? Do you really think so? Have you inspected the potion?
He inspected the new potion.
[Greater Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 175 health points.
Theres that name again. Theo never expected to be concerned about seeing his name on potions. Youre right. The bottle isnt good enough. Lets design a new one.
The problem with creating a new vial was that Theo liked the old one. It was simple. Easy for a person to withdraw and drink. But the pair went into a design phase for the new vial. Salire sketched ideas out in her journal while they set the other stills to brew stamina and mana potions. The alchemist rejected any idea with extra stuff on the side. She eventually sketched something that would work.
The regr vials were cylinders. Nothing more. t on the bottom with rounded edges and an open top. The only fancy thing about them was the ss stopper on the top. Thanks to the [ssware Artifice], producing fancy vials was a simple matter. Theo approached the machine, which had already been loaded with motes, and imagined the vial. Instead of a round bottom, it would be a triangle. Each point would swoop up toward the stop, creating a fancy angle that was still easy to hold. It wouldnt be too narrow at the top, but would still taper off to create a pleasing angle.
The stopper is where Salire went nuts. She sketched a cartoonish version of Theo and Tresks face to be embedded on two sides of the three-sided stopper. On thest side, she sketched out a fancy version of the shops name. Abbreviated, of course. The machine whirred to life, spitting out a single vial at the alchemistsmand. He smiled as he looked upon the little N&D embossed on the stopper.
Alright. I like this, Theo said, cing his hand on Salires shoulder. It costs the same amount of motes. Just leave the sketches by the machine so we have a unified design.
Not that you need it. Salire ran her fingers over the new vial. With your memory and all that.
They got back to work. Salire couldnt do most of the brewing process, and she stared out the window a lot. Theo understood it was because she thought the temple would instantly give her ess to an alchemy core. That might have been right, but he wanted her to temper her expectations. But once the essences were done brewing, they had something else to look at. The alchemist kicked off the reactions for the mana and stamina potions and set them both down for inspection.
In your fancy vial, of course, Theo said, pushing the [Greater Mana Potion] across the table for Salire to inspect.
[Greater Mana Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A lesser mana potion. Drink to restore mana.
Effect:
Instantly restores 150 mana.
Im certain no one makes these. She stared at the potion, running her fingers along the ornate vial.
Dont count on it. The Elves have a monopoly on cool stuff. Check out the other one.
[Greater Stamina Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A stamina potion. Drink to restore stamina.
Effect:
Instantly restores 115 stamina points.
There were parts of the process that needed improvement. The quality could be improved, which would squeeze a few more points out of all the potions. Then there was thebination of modifiers, which would really set the potions off. But todays experimentations were over. A knock came at the door shortly after they had finished with the work. Zarali stepped in with a big smile on her face.
I can feel him calling, Theo. Time to bless the temple.
Theo poked his head out of the window. There was a mostlypleted roof sitting atop the building. Even with the fading light of the day, everyone seemed eager to get the temple up and running. While it seemed like something that could wait for tomorrow, the alchemist agreed to attend the ceremony. His actual motive was to help Sledge use her [Fabricators Core]. She needed all the coaching she could get.
As with most things in town, the temple drew eyes. And crowds. Theo had to wade through the gathered throng, pushing his way to the front steps. It was imposing to look up at the massive building. Larger than every other building in town, and spanning to a height that would rival Xolsas tower, Zizs people had created something special. Made of white stone and straight angles, they had captured the sinister vibe more than anything else.
The building was constructed with one concept in mind. Simplicity of design. At the front of the building, where the steps and entryway were located, there were two identical towers. The roof was peaked in the center, made of sturdy Ogre Cypress and stained a deep shade of blue. The rear of the building held a rounded section with open windows. Theo ascended the stairs to be the first to enter the mostlypleted temple. Aside from the workers, of course.
It was entirely bare in the interior aside from a Marshling sitting cross-legged in the center. Open windows lined either side of the massive walls. Spiraling staircases sat in the turrets, allowing ess to those high ces in the temple. Theo approached Sledge,ing to sit down next to her. Zarali and Xolsa were close behind.
Got it? Theo asked.
Just about, Sledge grunted, teeth gritted in concentration. Just a few more minutes.
Roots of unaligned magical energy pped harmlessly against the temples walls. The sound of the magic yed like chimes across the empty walls, echoing endlessly. Theo felt a deep connection with this ce. It was reaching out, desperate to grasp onto something. Almost as though the building itself was begging for a patron. To fulfill its purpose.
The sun had dipped low by the time Sledge got a handle on her abilities. She needed an unending supply of [Mana Potions] to keep her going. Everysh of her root-like magic brought the temple closer to heel. Her eyes snapped open and she drew a quick breath.
There! Sledge shouted.
The rootstched on, grabbing the massive building and holding firm. Voices of surprise came from outside the building, then the scattering of feet over cobblestones. A sheen of magic rolled over the stones, sending the bright marble glowing even brighter. Once the lights settled down, Theo forced his will into the building for inspection.
[Temple]
Owner: [Broken Tusk]
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1(0%)
Rent Due: 7 Days
Expansions:
None
My turn, Zarali said, mming the end of her staff down onto the stone floor. A wave of Drogramathi mana flowed from within her, washing over everything like a cleansing me. She chanted a tale of blessings in the Drogramathi tongue This went on until the sun was below the horizon. Onest wave of purifying manater, and her eyes snapped open. Done. It told me the owner of the town will see patron selections.
A screen sprung up for Theo to view.
[Temple] has been blessed!
Please select three from the following realm-holders to be your towns patrons.
Drogramath (Grodulharak)
ntheir (The Realm of Healing)
The Arbiter (Khahak)
Parantheir (Duelists Refuge)
The list was longer than Theo expected. He scrolled through the entire thing, the crowd around him waiting for his selection. As he neared the bottom of the list, his heart skipped a beat. His eyes went wide as he viewed thest selection on the list.
The Dreamwalkers Tarahek (Terogal)
4.41 - Patrons
4.41 - Patrons
Theo found it hard to keep his emotions in check. It took everything he had not to react to the sight of his own realm on a list. This was something he should have expected, yet there it was. A decision reared in the moment, batting away any good senses with surprise. Tresk picked up on it immediately, clearing the excited crowd away. She grabbed Zarali and Theo by the arm and dragged them away from the citizens.
Problem! the Marshlings voice was hushed, filled with concern. Big dang problem!
Zaralis face was painted with a mixture of confusion and pride. She was happy with what she had dhat much was obvious. I dont understand.
Theo looked around, ensuring they had a wide enough berth from prying ears. Terogal showed up in the list of realms.
Really?
What does that mean? Alex injected herself into the conversation, even if Zarali couldnt hear her.
I dont know what it means. Theos mind reeled, grasping at the implications. He poured his intuition into the thought, but found no resolution.
Terogal shouldnt be strong enough to show up on the list.
Xolsa cleared his throat, approaching from the crowds edge. Not to be that guy, but this is entirely possible. Weve been feeding your realm pure heavenly energy for a while. Hard to predict the oue of that.
Theo tapped his foot. He didnt like being ced in situations like these. When his back was against the wall, he did irrational things. Mentally, he rolled his senses over the [Wisdom of the Soul] potion. Tresk punched him in the arm, feeling his intentions through their shared cores. While the alchemist had dragged the system prompt to the edge of his vision, it remained the focus of his attention.
While realms existed on another ne, there was a proximity to them. Not in the same way that physical ces had distance, but with influence exerted on the mortal n. They were like endless disks of reality all stacked in a neat pile. Some ovepped with others. How vain would it have been to pick himself as his worshiped deity?
What do we know about this process? Theo turned to Xolsa, searching the Elfs face with his intuition. At full strength, no longer waid by his illness, the wizard gave nothing away.
But Zarali was the first to answer. This should unlock boons based on the god we pick. We cant predict what that means for your realm, but for Drogramath? Ill have a closer link with himso will you.
Does that mean we can talk to him? Directly?
Not directly, Xolsa answered. Which is a guess. Were assuming Khahar changed the rules.
Us, Drogy, Catboy, Tresk spoke into Theos mind.
The only other option on the list that appealed to Theo was Parantheir. Tresk was developing her duelist core by the day, but that seemed like a waste. Her suggestion was the best, but it never hurt to take counsel.
Suggestions? Theo asked.
Zarali and Xolsa shared a look, but it onlysted a moment. Your realm, Drogramath, and Khahar. Those are the only logical choices.
Selecting those options in the menu felt like pulling a bandage off quickly. Theo clicked them, then epted before he could change his mind. Consequences be damned.
While he expected something to happen, there was nothing but the faint shimmer of energy over the white stones. The crowd behind them voiced their approval, noting the subtle change.
Well? Theo asked. Thats it, I guess.
You did the right thing, Alex said, honking with approval.
Theo felt Sarisa and Rowan lurking somewhere nearby. They reacted to the tense situation the way they always did. Preparing for battle. But nothing came. The only action in the temple was the voices of people. Happy chats that did a disservice to the seriousness of the situation. With a final shrug, the group moved off. Onto the manor for some dinner before bed. Along the way, Xolsa and Zarali shared their theories on what would happen. The alchemist interjected with his knowledge, sharing that it could take three days for the temple to finish integration.
To Theos surprise, Laedria was waiting at the manor. She had a devilish grin on her face and invited herself into the alchemists home for evening tea. Instead, he asked his assistants to bring them some beer in his study. Only the light from homes and those carryingnterns shone from outside. Torches and candles held high to inspect the new temple, despite thete hour.
Sitting in a plush chair, Theo looked outside. He sipped his beer, waiting for the shipwright of House Wavecrest to ask whatever it was she wanted. But she came with good tidings. It was a pleasant change.
Were gearing up for our trip, Mister Archduke. The Wavecrest is heading to the lizard inds, and were fitting two boats for the Tarantham rescue mission.
With a boat in reserve, I hope.
Of course. Well wrap everything up sometime tomorrow. Depending on the tide, they might head out as early as midday.
Theos mind let go of the temple. It moved on with practice forgetfulness, refocusing on the boats. This was the end of an era in his mind. Something they were building to since House Wavecrest arrived through the damned portal. Now the house would reim more of their people, no doubt bringing them to town.
I hope Zarali enchanted the boats. As she said shed do.
Laedria nodded, sipping her beer. Theo gazed at his empty library, wanting to kick himself every time he remembered his book. A promise made to Salire, and a promise broken. He still didnt have enough written for her to start. Just a few scribbles to himselfnothing approaching an instructional book.
She did well. Provided us with everything we need to skip across the waves like a thrown stone.
Theo nodded back, taking another long sip of his beer. Like all the beer they imported from Rivers and Daub, it was more of a mead. He wasnt certain if they used honey to sweeten it, and he didnt care. Sarisa and Rowan entered the room shortly after, carrying with them a small table and tonights dinner.
ck moon tonight, Theo, Sarisa said as she set the small table. Stay safe.
Tonights dinner, as always provided by Xam, was a Broken Tusk ssic. Wolf meat stew. Unlike the original version of the dish, this one had vor.
So, Laedria, Theo started, sipping the broth from the stew. Are you enjoying Broken Tusk?
Laedria stammered for a moment. Her brow knit and she drained the rest of her beer. After wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she met the alchemists gaze. I like it. Been kinda weird, to be honest. But Im settling in. Trying to find a strong Half-Ogre husband.
People have babies on the mind. Not sure whats causing that. Youd think people would want to be distant with the heat.
Laedria leaned in over the table. More heat is better.
Theo chuckled, shaking his head. That seems to be the case.
How about you? Laedria asked. Youre an outworlder, right? How do you like it here?
A jolt shot through Theos chest. He furrowed his brow, leaning back in hisfortable chair. That might have been the first time someone asked me that.
The question lingered in the air. Well?
Im still not sure if Im someones pawn. My mind has changed more over the past seasons than any other time in my life. The attributes, my Tarahek Yeah, everything is weird.
Didnt ask, Laedria said, offering a sly smile. I asked how you liked Broken Tusk.
Theo felt his cheeks get hot, violet spreading across his face. As much as he fancied himself cool under pressure, Laedria had a way of stripping people bare of their ego. I like it here. The people are nice, and were making a difference. Arent we?
Dont sell yourself short. Laedria took a big scoop of stew into her mouth, mumbling something around the bite. After a moment she swallowed, smiling with bits of food in her teeth. Even if a god is helping, youre wielding the power well.
Having a private meal in the study was a strange feeling for Theo, but he enjoyed his time away from the chaos downstairs. asionally, the conversation in the dining room would drift upstairs. Raucousughter and the crashing of dishes carried all the same. Laedria wasnt much of a conversationalist. She was more like a Broken Tusker than the alchemist could ever hope to be. Always straight to the point, talking about business until she was out of breath.
The shipwright had big ns for their navy. Not just a mercantile group of boats, but warships. She imed those were far off, and they should focus on getting trade ships rolling. The problem there was her ess to designs forrger ships. Shed have to wing it, which Theo was confident she could do. He joined with the group downstairs when things had calmed down, making small talk but eager to get to bed. The excitement for the new temple had everyone too energized to get to sleep.
Theo and Tresk suffered from no such problems. Even with their stamina bars above half, they would have no problem getting to sleep. The Dreamwalk was a powerful ability for a lot of reasons, but that was a massive advantage. They made their way to their room, falling into the Dreamwalk within moments. Sarisa and Rowan could handle the rabble back in the real world.
Tresk stretched, then rolled her shoulders. Alright. What do we think about the whole temple thing?
Alex waddled through the tall grasses outside of Broken Tusk. She jabbed her head into the distance, as though gesturing. But nothing happened. The goose muttered something into their minds, then tried again.
I think Drogramath and Khahar expected that to happen. Did you see the title it gave us? The Dreamwalkers Tarahek is oddly specific.
This is the Dreamwalk, right? Were Dreamwalking. Im the Dreamwalker. Youre the Dreamwalker.
Yeah, maybe.
Is your alchemist''s senses tingling?
Just my sense that this has a connection we cant see yet.
No matter how much they went back-and-forth on the topic, they would never find the answer. Not within the Dreamwalk, without ess to those responsible for whatever plot was unfolding. Instead, they went off to work on their own things. Theo stayed with Alex, watching as she did the weird neck-pointing thing. While he wanted to ask what she was doing, it was always better to watch the silly goose try things out.
The alchemist was intent on working on the book. His administrator interface was filled with notes, but they were all loose. He started by bringing them together into stages. At the start, the book should describe the tiers of potions. It should stress the skills Theo thought were best for a Drogramathi Alchemist, and the order they should be taken. While he went for constructs first, [Reagent Deconstruction] was the best pick for the second tier. While he fiddled with the formatting and the flow of information, he practiced his spells. The Dreamwalk allowed him an endless supply of mana, making experimentation easy.
Why am I so worried about safety? Theo asked, ce a ward on a small piece of bone. He felt the trickle of experience flow through his core.
Because alchemy go boom! Alex said, shooting a fireball into the air. Fire is easy, but this nature thing is weird.
Theo closed his administrator interface, setting his notes aside for a time. He sat near the goose, watching as she tried to summon something rted to nature. While she was working toward a nature aspect, her connection with fire was already developed. Every time she tried to cast a nature-aspected spell, there was a flicker of something. It wasnt the same intensity of magic he felt when she used her fire abilities, but something was there.
Theres a long road ahead of you with this. Just keep practicing.
Alex nodded, going back to her work. Tresk was fighting more sensible monsters tonight. While she was amazing with her daggers, something about Parantheirs preferred weapon threw her off. That Elven god designed the cores his followers got around using rapiers. They used quick strikes, just like a rogue, but focused on dueling. Fenian had described an ability that locks a person into a one-on-one duel. The Marshling struggled to fit this into her kit, but she was getting there. Slowly.
Theo couldnt really say what he was building his cores out to be. He didnt fit in any adventuring party, and that was fine with him. Grinding Toruaun experience was boring, but there was a lot to learn about the way wards were formed. The more practice he had casting those spells, the easier they were to chant. Any change in the way he said the words affected the spell.
Focusing only on his [Toruaun Mages Core] that night brought it to level 9. One level away from getting his next skill with the core. That would also send it into the next tier of power, which he was eager to explore. Alex had made some progress with her nature aspect. She was convinced she made some grass jiggle during the night, but the alchemist wasnt sure. It could have been the phantom wind that washed over thendscape.
Tresk reported her progress with her rapier. Fenian had given her some pointers on how to use it better in her kit. It functions best as a backup. I mean, the idea makes sense. What happens when I break out of stealth and cant defend myself?
Makes sense. Is it working out?
Kinda? Im still working on it. I can still coat my rapier in poison, so I have synergy there. Fenian said my footwork sucks and I dont understand the first thing about swordsmanship. What does he know? Hes missing an arm and a leg.
True.
Dawn ising, Tresk said, looking up at the sky. It looked the same to Theo. Maybe we could rx today. You know, take a day off?
Theo stared at Tresk for a long moment before crossing the distance. He pinched her wet little cheek, shaking his head. I thought you were a dream-Tresk for a moment. My Tresk would never say that.
Oh,e on. Were always busting our butts. Why cant we have a A beach day or something?
Because the beach is filled with monsters, Alex said.
Well, dang. Screw me for trying to get Theo to stop working for five minutes.
No, I like the idea. Maybe we can just roam around. Checking up on all our people.
That kinda sounds like work.
We can do it casually.
Alright. Thats a good enoughpromise.
With a snap, Tresk ended the Dreamwalk. Theo rose from his bed, finding that the Marshling was already heading downstairs for breakfast. The alchemists administrative panel was thankfully short on updates. He withdrew a notebook and pen, working on the start of his alchemy manual in physical form. While there was a lot to do, getting those first few words on a page in logical format was a relief. The group around him talked, joking about this and that while he worked.
Tresk epted that working on the book wasnt the same as his normal work and gave him a pass long enough for him to write the first few pages. His hand hurt by the time breakfast was done, although hed barely touched his food. Pozwa eggs were toorge to eat in one sitting, anyway. He took a few bites, gulped down his tea, and fought back his desire to get back to work.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex stopped by the Newt and Demon before heading off for their nned day of rxation. No one in the group could resist the urge to check up on the harbor. They spotted Zarali aboard one boat, weaving Drogramathi magic into the very nks that held it together. Three boats sat proudly in the harbor, bobbing with the waves. Laedria was happy to show the new boats off, but still hadnt named them.
After finishing up at the harbor, they went for a walk along the battlements of the town. Passing by the small farm outside of the walls, Theo saw that some of his crops were destroyed. The remaining [Lesser nt Golems] had fixed things up well enough, but Tresk gave him permission to create new golems to tend the farm. The wheat was growing well enough, Even with an entire plot being destroyed. That was the point of the throw-away farm, wasnt it?
Satisfied enough with the farm, the group moved on. Alex practiced her new magic along the way. This time, Theo could see that she stirred the crops below with her magic. Nothing as impressive as her fire magic, but it was growing. As they traveled along the way, a strange energy hovered in the air. A tingle like Drogramaths magic, but different. The alchemist couldnt understand it, and dismissed it.
Reaching Zizs stoneworkers shop revealed a strange sight. No one was working the quarry today. Upon closer inspection, Theo found the man himself sleeping inside the shack. He might not admit it, but the stoneworkers had been chugging [Stamina Potions] to get their work done. They needed to take a break.
Theo jumped in surprise. So did Ziz. The frantic ng of bells sounded down below in the town. Tresks weapons were already in her hands. As she melted into a shadow, Sarisa and Rowan sprung from shadows of their own. Their massive pole-axes were in hand, leveled and ready for anything. The alchemists eyes rolled over the town below, toward the fields outside the eastern gate. There seemed to be nothing. The administrators were scrambling to figure out what was spotted in the towns interface.
Tense moments passed until the administrators sorted things out. The adventurers ranged through the town while Theo sat on that hill. Ziz asked questions, but Theo had no answer. Until a few words shed into the ongoing discussion in the interface.
Ah, Theo let out a steady breath. The Ogres are here.
4.42 - Bilgrob
4.42 - Bilgrob
There was a strange sense offort that came from the mad scramble. While it was a time of danger, Theo enjoyed watching the army assemble themselves in the harbor. They were an army now. If the adventurers wanted to call themselves something else, that was fine. But as they arrayed in their practiced formations, they looked like an army to the alchemist. He made his way to the harbor, checking in with Aarok and Luras at theirmand post to get an update.
All this for a single ship? Theo asked, letting out a disappointed sigh. See, if my guns were operational, we could just sink it.
From his perch on the wall, Theo could see the approaching boat clearly. Even calling it a boat was generous. Logs wereshed together with strips of leather, a single man standing aboard and rowing. The figure was massive. At least twice as tall as a Half-Ogre, holding simr enough characteristics for the alchemist to figure it out. A lone Ogre rowed a raft for thousands of miles.
grot is far, right? Theo asked. Did this guy row that dinky raft all the way from grot? Am I missing something?
Aarok grunted. Best to be careful. Right?
Yeah, I guess. Lets see how he gets up the canal.
Sarisa left with Tresk to join the stealther unit of the army. They ranged down the canal, heading off to gather intelligence on the approaching Ogre. Since it was a day meant for rxation, Theo withdrew a chair from his inventory and sat down. Reports flooded in through the administration screen as he worked on his book. Compared to Basic Drogramath Alchemya book that hed long-since abandonedhis approach was practical. Instead of hiding information in poems about dead Drogramathi warriors, he presented all the information in readable Qavelli.
Rowan, do you know if theres something like a printing press we can buy? Theo asked, knowing that the man was always lurking nearby.
Something to make books? Yeah.
Keep an eye out for one. I need to make at least one copy for Salire when Im finished.
Aarok cleared his throat. The Ogre approaches. Want to talk to him, or should I just drop arge stone on his head?
Hes a fast one, huh? Theo asked, standing to look over the wall. The Ogre was waving up at them, a stupid expression on his tusked face. The alchemist cleared his throat, shouting, so his voice carried. Hello there! Who the hell are you?
An emissary! From grot,e to pay with the leader of the lost tribe!
Hes talking about you, Luras chuckled, digging his elbow into Theos ribs.
I never got the hang of itdoes anyone know what level he is?
50.
Theo could only shrug. The Ogre below bobbed in the turgid canal, only held where he was by the upgrade effect from the harbor. The alchemist turned to Aarok. Your call.
Open the gate! Aarok shouted, looking down at the Ogre below. Well meet you in the harbor.
That seemed to satisfy those gathered. While Aarok assembled his army in a defensive formation in the harbor, the approaching Ogre didnt care. He paddled his way through the wide span of water, wrapping a leather rope around a piling. When he dismounted the raft, the dock flexed under his weight. Theo moved in for closer inspection, descending the battlements and joining the crowds on the dock. The Ogre was massive, as expected. His skin was a far darker shade than the Half-Ogres of the town, close to the edge of dark red-brown than ocher. He wore robes of puke-green that did nothing to hide his massive gut.
You must be the leader! The Ogre shouted, gesturing at Luras. I can feel the power of Baelthar flowing through you.
Luras shuffled awkwardly on the deck, gesturing to Theo.
Youre led by a Demon? Oh, thats what my Patron meant the Ogre trailed off, approaching Theo with reverent steps. He knelt at the alchemists feet, bowing his head. Even on his knees, the Ogre was as tall as him. The Ogre Empire sends its regards, mighty Demon. My patron has urged me to make introductions for our two peoples. To reunite our lost tribe.
Theo cleared his throat. Uh Rise, Mister Whats your name?
Bilgrob, the Ogre said, rising to his full height. Worshiper of Spit.
Huh. Spit, eh? Alright. Rowan, could you please fetch us beer and bring it to my garden.
Rowan bowed.
Several kegs, if you dont mind, Bilgrob said. Rowan nodded, then vanished.
Come with me, Bilgrob. Ill be honest. I dont know if I have a chairrge enough for you.
Im content sitting on the floor, mister Well, I didnt get your name, did I?
Theo. Archduke of the Soutnds Alliance.
Oh, and a mighty alliance it must be.
Bilgrob seemed interested in gawking at everything as they passed by. Whatever thoughts stirred in that massive head of his were kept there, onlying out as interested hums. True to his word, the Ogre sat on the ground as Rowan produced several kegs of Rivers and Daub mead.
I brought my own cup, Bilgrob said, holding out a barrel with a handle.
Certainly, Rowan said, emptying an entire cask of mead into the mug. Ill be near.
As will two others, apparently, Bilgrob said with a chuckle. With a wave of his hand, the garden shook with magical power. Sarisa and Tresk were revealed lurking in the bushes. They shared an awkward look, then removed themselves from the tangle of growth.
Theo nodded, sipping on his mead. Where do we start? You said you worshiped Spit?
My Lord Spit, yes. Ogre Patron of Curing Things Most of the Time.
Thats a mouthful. Why exactly did he send you here?
My patron wants to bring the Ogre Empire close to its lost children, including those in Broken Tusk. He sent me here as a peace offering. To cure your sick and mend your wounded, but It appears the lost tribe has a powerful alchemist amongst them. Interesting.
I had assumed you wereing to establish trade rtions. Does Spit want you to help with the tide of undead?
Ah, so you knew I wasing. A powerful alchemist indeed, Bilgrob stopped speaking for a moment, looking up into the sky. His brow furrowed. Does the wizard normally spy on you like this?
Huh?
A scrying spell, Bilgrob said, reaching up as though plucking a thread from the air. He yanked hard, and the air shimmered with power, then fizzled out. Hah! Thatll have that pesky wizard on his ass for an hour.
Theo chuckled nervously. The town wizard is just excited for a visitor. Especially one from grot.
It was impossible to read Bilgrobs true intentions, but Theo felt no malice from the man. His faith in Spit was strong, but the Ogre patron didnt seem evil. At least the mead was good.
What do you think of my proposal, Archduke?
Ah, what was that exactly? Your proposal, that is.
Id like to stay in your town. Provide healing where I can. In exchange, I want to act as a liaison for the Soutnds Alliance and the Ogre Empire.
Theo sipped his mead, thinking for a long time about this. The exchange seemed more generous than any hed seen from the other nations. While his experience was minimal, this was a pleasant change. That sounds agreeable to me. I have to ask if youre willing to sign a contract.
A magically binding contract? Certainly!
Theo and Bilgrob worked on the contract together. They chatted as they went through the sections of the writing. The alchemist left the section on the Ogres responsibilities loose. He focused on protections for the town and the alliance, wording it with grave intent. While he wasnt sure if it would work, he hoped that the phrasing of the contract would provide a more brutal punishment.
When both parties were finished, signing the contract together, Bilgrob tilted his head to the side. He squinted, then dug some wax out of his ear. My patrons voice is muted here. There is a very strange confluence of energies here.
Hey, thats a thousand gold word around here, Theo chuckled. Investigate, but I would appreciate it if you didnt alter the flow of heavenly power.
Bilgrob smacked his lips, as though he were tasting the air. I dont recognize this realm of power. A new realm, maybe? No, tastes too strange. Too weird. Hmmm
Well just sweep that under the rug for now. Make introductions to the town. Meet with my administrative staff to get started.
Alright, Bilgrob said, trailing off. He muttered to himself, standing up before jumping over the iron fence.
That went well, Tresk said,ing over.
Bilgrob was nice. Nicer than Theo expected him to be. The Ogre suspected the energies in the air were strange and it was hard to me him. Anyone who was trained to detect godly realms would have noticed something was weird. Instead of focusing on how that would go wrong, he centered his mind on how it could go right. The more help they had with the unwieldy realms, the better.
Right, Theo said, reclining further into his chair. He withdrew his book and some scrimshaw to practice his magic.
Arent we gonna follow him around? Make sure hes cool? Tresk asked, huffing.
You said we were rxing. Theo took another sip of his beer. Right now, I wanna hang out in the garden and write about alchemy.
Tresk took a deep breath. She found a chair nearby and sat down, fidgeting with her leather armor. I didnt think youd want to take it easy.
Well, Im calling your bluff.
While there were many ways to use wards, Theo felt his ability to wield them was still an infants grasp of the world. His current strategy was to attach the wards to objects and throw them. That was an alchemists thought process. His first brush with the true application of the wards was to apply them to a stone in front of town. The shielding effect was impressive, and there was no reason they couldnt do that more often.
Theo sent mentalmands to his golemwork. Hemanded his metal golems to find boulders and space them around the outside of the wall. Tresk seemed happy enough to sit around in the garden for a few minutes, but she was too bored to stay there.
Ugh, why dont we go walk around or something? Tresk asked. She had onlysted about 10 minutes.
Sure, Theo said, putting his notebook back into his inventory. The few [Lesser Hallow Ground] totems hed created gave him a little experience. The real experience would be in enchanting the boulders the golems were collecting.
The group headed off. Tresk, Theo, and Alex led the way with Sarisa and Rowan lurking in the shadows behind them. Alise updated the notes for the day in the shared administrator interface. Bilgrob was a big hit within town, but that came with some drawbacks. Spits magic was a strange thing, and it was something the alchemist wanted to witness for himself. But there were citizens with sicknesses that the Ogre was happy to cure.
It wasnt hard to convince Tresk to let him enchant the rocks the golems brought. It wasnt like grinding other cores. Grinding the [Toruaun Mages Core] was like chanting weird poetry while in a seated position. The Marshling qualified that as rxation time, even if she was looking for ways out of her own promise. She was stubborn like that. The alchemists mage core rolled over to 10 sometime before dusk. With it came the task of searching through endless abilities.
Still not sure I understand what it means to be a wizard, Theo said, scrolling through that list.
Dont look at me. Im a stabber. I stab.
Theo nodded. There was one ability he was interested in taking. He inspected the description before going through with it.
[Ward Propagation]
Toruaun Demon Mage Skill
Rare
Infuse your wards with a feedback loop that consumes raw power.
Effect:
Double the length of all your wards.
Not every ability pick was going to be amazing. Some were just alright, but at least this one had great utility. If his magic could linger for a longer time, he wouldnt have to tend his little rock barriers outside of the town. He selected those, then moved on to a pathetically sized boulder the golems had collected.
For now, Theo was warding the stones with [Lesser Hallow Ground], and some [Lesser Reveal]. It was unlikely that the undead would make it this far, but the ghosts got him thinking. When they attacked the town, there was little defense against them. Now with his rocks running off the [Detect Enemy] trigger, hed feel safer. His mind lingered on defensive weapons as he walked the walls exterior. It was too difficult to walk the section ofnd between the eastern gate and the area near Zizs quarry, so they mounted the battlements from the inside.
Do you think Im too paranoid? Theo asked, looking down at a pair of golems. They were shoving their weight against a giant boulder.
Damn, I dont think youre paranoid enough! There could be ghosts anywhere. Undead rolling up the hills in a blinkwed never know!
Im having trouble here. Even with the connection I cant tell if youre joking.
Oh, Im as serious as a heart attack. Just the thought of those boney bastards at Gronro gives me the creeps. We gotta purge them all, Theo. They gotta die.
Not sure if you can kill an undead. Theyre already dead, right?
You know what I mean.
Were already doing everything we can to develop the adventurers in town. Ill be happy as long as the rail gun works.
Nah, we gotta think bigger. Like We gotta think about making an undead nuke.
Not sure about that one. I have a few ideas for anti-undead weapons, but a nuke isnt one.
Bah. No fun. Why not?
That was hard to exin in a few words. Theo thought about it as they walked around. The effect of bombs didnt normallypound. The best he could do was make an improvised bomb Maybe dunk it in a barrel of [Hallow Ground Essence]? The alchemist wasnt confident that the mechanics would work out on that one. It would make more sense just to bomb all the undead back to the hells.
Thinking on that
You didnt answer the question! Tresk shouted, stomping her foot.
You can read my mind.
Yeah, but its rude.
Theo exined why an anti-undead nuke might not work. He wasnt confident either way, but Tresk was happy with any exnations.
So, people often say hells. But we dont have hell, do we? Not the way we had it back on Earth.
Your mistake is equating this ce to the old ce, my dude. Its just a way of saying things.
They moved off to hang out at Zizs quarry for a while. The masons were resting and nning for their next move. They were a group in town that seemed like their own country. While they interacted with everyone, and were true Broken Tuskers, their level of organization and drive was unending. The Half-Ogres were happy to chat, and even happier to make fun of Theo for taking a day off. As always, they offered beer.
Its impolite not to ept, Theo. Tresk had already chugged down several mugs. Nothing wrong with a little day drinking.
Theo popped [Mana Pills] as he walked around the quarry, warding whatever he could find. He stooped low, inspecting the nts that grew there. Nothing alchemically valuable seemed to grow in the northern hills, aside from stray [Stone Flowers] and [Roc Berry] bushes. One n he had from long ago had nevere to fruition, and it was mildly disappointing. With so much godly power in the air, making nts grow faster, he expected that power to change the local reagents. Alex joined him near a bush, poking at it with her bill.
I feel your disappointment.
No I mean, yes. Im moderately disappointed. Theo took the [Stone Flower] in his hands, watching it crumble. The uncultivated version wasnt of much use. But you cant hold it over yourself when something doesnt work. Youre going to fail in life. But the more you fail, the better you get.
Alright, dad.
Oh, youre sassy today.
Alex honked. Im close to getting my nature affinity. So close.
Shadows swirled behind Theo. He didnt turn to regard Sarisa when she came out from the shadow of a pile of stone. Im organizing a garden party tonight.
Oh? Theo turned, regarding his assistant. Whats the asion?
Bilgrobs arrival. I just wanted to know who to invite.
The normal people Make sure to invite Salire, though. I dont want her to think Im neglecting her.
Not to be rude, sir
I dont have eyes for her, Theo said, shaking his head. Well, maybe I do. But not in that way, it would be weird. Like a teacher getting with a student, you know?
Im not sure I do.
From the start, Salire just wanted to learn alchemy. When she couldnt she settled for the shopkeeper position. Now, she might get a core. Im the teacher, shes the student. Theres trust in that, Sarisa. Trust I dont want to break.
Also youre leashed to an angry lizard.
Theo looked over at his angry lizard, who was downing another mug of beer with the Half-Ogres. There were a lot of Marshlings in town, but that one was his. When he first heard about the life-partner bond, he was told it would leave him devoid of romance in his life. He had pushed it out of his mind, but those were rumors. Things that Throk said in the early days of his arrival in Broken Tusk. The system message he saw when he took the bond didnt mention that at all.
Im wondering how much of what people understand about the Tarahek is true. I dont think it ces restrictions on romantic interest.
Sarisa scoffed, looking down at herself. She looked all around, as though searching for other examples of romantic partners. Surely not. Id be running through every house in town if I was the Archduchess. If you know what I mean.
Im afraid I know exactly what you mean.
Theo reached for the familiar silver chain at his neck. Something that hadnt hung there since he was on Earth. No matter how much he practiced away that motion, it never faded. He wouldnt trade his bond with Tresk for anything. She was a powerful ally. But that hole in his heart still throbbed asionally. Jagged edges that would never be smoothed clean by time seemed to prickle in his chest. Made worse by the idea that maybe she had survived. Against all odds, maybe she made it to this world.
The alchemist almost stumbled forward. Powerful arms wrapped themselves around him. The unmistakable smell of the swamp and onions. Slightly wet skin pressed against his cheek. Not everything ends like in the stories, Theo, Tresk said. Not every love is the same.
Theo rose to his feet, bringing Tresk with him. She dangled from his neck, unwilling to let go. He ced his hand over hers and nodded. I suppose we have a garden party to attend.
4.43 - The Garden Party
4.43 - The Garden Party
Sarisa and Rowan had worked closely with Xam to get the garden party going. They organized the catering, which was easy enough, but also decorated the area. Arge table dominated the center of the space. Magical lights hung from the iron fence. There was even a Broken Tusker ying a strange, violin-like instrument at the far end of the manors garden. Like most things in the town, the music was rough and raucous. The people set to gather there were arriving as a trickle, moving into the space as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
The guest who stuck out among everyone was Bilgrob.That wasnt a surprise. If anyone wanted to talk to the Priest of Spit, they needed adder. Fortunately, the Ogre was kind enough to kneel when someone spoke to him.
You know the worst part about this stuff? Tresk asked, muttering from Theos side. She seemed to want to be closer to him recently. He almost regretted letting those feelings enter his mind for the first time since he arrived. It bled through. You gotta be all happy. Smile at everyone and whatever.
We dont have enough gatherings like this. Theo looked over at the crowd. He spotted Salire talking with Fenian.
Jealousy? Tresk asked. Really!? Please dont tell me you like Salire. What about old Tresk? Am I chopped liver? Why is that saying in my head?
Thats an Earth saying. I am jealous. Because hes going to steal away my future apprentice. Lure her in the same way he got Azrug.
Where is that spiky little bastard, anyway?
The administrative reports say hes taken time off to level his other cores.
Tresk wrapped her arms around Theos waist. It was all she could manage, since the top of her head barely came up to his belly button. What day is it?
The 17th.
We got time, but well have to n the next festival.
The soutnds of Qavell celebrated at least one festival per season. Since each season was 70 days long, that left little time for celebrations. This little garden party was the perfect thing to break those long periods of nothing up. After seeing the way the guests talked with each other, all having a good time, he was interested in doing this more often. Tresk remained as an ornament while they mingled among the crowd. Sarisa kept the party as invitation-only, making it more manageable to talk.
The thing that excited Theo the most was that no one expected him to give a speech. He never captured the spirit of things when they forced him up on a podium. Instead, it was just a pleasant gathering with Xams amazing cooking. With the amount of mead the town imported from Rivers and Daub, the alchemist knew the brewers were getting rich.
Zarali was there with Xolsa. The priestess had many theories about how she could create Drogramathi cores using the temple, but the wizard was interested in giving Theo a hard time. With his health improving, he went back to being the mother hen of magic. The alchemist wouldnt me him, though. There was a seriousck of mages in town, and it was only getting worse. The split between cores was weighed heavily out of favor for magic-users.
Much of Theos time at the party was spent being lectured by Xolsa on the value of wizards. The alchemists prior experience with magic-users told a different tale, though. Uharis, as far as anyone knew, was still on the moon. Without his Burning Eye core, it was unlikely hed return to the. But there was always that chance.
Not to intrude, Bilgrob said, approaching the conversation. It was hard for him to not intrude. He was massive. His eyes pierced Xolsa for a long time before he continued. I can feel the scars on your soul healing, Elf. Im sorry we havent introduced ourselves yet.
Youre the talk of the town, Xolsa said, holding his mug up to toast the Ogre.
The alchemist did a fine job patching your soul up, Bilgrob said. Theo could sense the caution in his voice, although his intuition was barely a whisper. I hate for this to be the first thing I say to you, but there are lingering problems.
Zarali pulled Xolsa close, a look of concern painting her face. Bilgrob sat on the ground, trying his best to be at eye-level with everyone. Tresk would have to sit on Theos shoulders to aplish that, but she still went on her tippy-toes.
What problems?
May I? Bilgrob asked, a mote of green mana forming in his hand.
Xolsa shared a look with Zarali. The Drogramathi Priestess nodded nervously.
The Ogre closed his eyes, then the ball of energy rushed into Xolsas chest. He let out a surprised gasp, but there seemed to be no negative effects. Bilgrob mumbled something to himself, nodding along. Theo put together that the priest was looking at something within the elf, like a doctor looking over a report. When his eyes finally snapped open, he had a confused look on his face.
Now that is strange, Bilgrob said, rubbing his chin. He hoisted his barrel-tankard and took a long drink. Where are you from?
I dont really know.
Hes part of the Barathier, Zarali answered.
A catchall term for extra-dimensional creatures. Not at all specific enough. Bilgrob turned, nodding at Theo. I dont think the alchemist knows what he did for you, wizard. But your soul is having trouble adjusting to this universe. Well, nothing a few treatments from me cant help. May I?
Of course.
A pulse of green magic flowed from the Ogre, wrapping itself around Xolsa. It soaked into his skin, the markings on the Elfs flesh shing sympathetically for only a moment. Then it was gone.
What in the realms does that mean? Xolsa asked. Rats will be more likely to bite your toes, what did you do?
Ah, well, Bilgrob started. My patron works in strange ways. When I heal people, he leaves behind a gift.
Theo and Tresk removed themselves from the situation before it got ugly. Xolsa was logical enough to understand that the Ogres healing came at a cost. But the rest of the party didnt seem to care about that little corner of the garden. It went on for hours. Farter into the night than the alchemist was normallyfortable staying up. His stamina bar drained as the night went on, but it was easy. He didnt need to entertain the people there, allowing him to enjoy the night.
When people cleared out from the garden, some simply entered the manor for rest, Tresk, Theo, and Alex made their way to the bedroom. The alchemist thanked Sarisa and Rowan for an excellent party and headed straight for the Dreamwalk. The room swirled, then they were standing in a sterile room. Grated floors below them and metal walls on every side. A small table sat in the center of the room. The only door leading into the room slid open, a dark figure stepping through.
Raven ck hair, cascading over pale shoulders. A figure walked into the room and Theo panicked. Injecting his will into the Dreamwalk, he sent them flying far away. Out onto the coast of South America, where treesy on their sides. A wastnd to fight away that image. The ghostly form of the Harbinger standing over the corpses of his old squad. Temporary friends in thest breaths of a dying world.
Dont do that, Theo said, balling his fists at his side.
I didnt do a damn thing! Tresk shouted. You steered us on the way in.
Theo looked down at Yuris body, covered in thatfortable environmental suit. The Harbinger stood over them all, looking down with his bird-like features. The alchemist realized what had happened. But today wasnt the day to confront old ghosts. She wasnt even real. That was just a memorya sad recreation from a life long dead.
Sorry. I thought you were probing my thoughts.
Im always probing your thoughts. Which is why Id never make you relive that. Come on, dude. Who do you think I am?
I am here, also.
And we love you for it, Alex. Youre the best goose.
Thank you.
Tresk wrapped her arms around Theo. She squeezed him tightly. This is why we always pick a ce near Broken Tusk to hang out in the Dreamwalk. He doesnt enjoy reliving that stuff. Anyway, She flicked her hand and the scene shifted. Back to the garden party. Bilgrob sat on the ground, the scene frozen in time. What do you think about the Ogre guy?
Theo took a deep breath. Hes nice. I cant feel any bad intentions from him.
Yeah, I like him. Id never let him heal me, but hes cool.
Theo shook off the feelings of uncertainty. A smile spread across his face as he stooped low, scooping up Tresk and pulling her into a hug. Im going to work with Alex tonight. Help her with the nature aspect while I refine my new alchemy process.
Tresk gasped for air. An alchemy pun? While youre crushing me?
Let me crush you for just a little longer.
The Marshling groaned, but offered no further resistance. When they were done hugging it out, she ran off to fight some monsters. Her technique for the rapier was developing, even if it was slow. Theo wondered if Fenian had any genuine interest in helping her learn the de, or if this was another one of his selfish endeavors. It hardly mattered to Tresk. Shed figure out the best way to use the weapon no matter what. And she had the perfect ce to practice.
Theo made notes for his book in his administration interface while he worked with Alex. They found a pleasant spot just outside of the manors garden for her to practice her nature affinity abilities. He was convinced that if she understood how her powers worked shed get an idea of how to cultivate new powers.
There was something about Belgars third tier process that struck Theo as strange. He considered that it might have been his insight, giving him clues for the fourth tier process. But the way the alcohol helped properties bind during the distition process seemed strange. It felt like a temporary solution to a wider problem, almost as though he was emting something bigger. He worked on variations of the alcohol brewing method, desperate to improve on the process.
Falling into his work was an easy way to forget all of the problems he faced. The shining jewel of the entire thing was that it was getting better. They had a handle on the undead problem, even if it was frightening to consider how close those things were. Ziz and his guys would work on the weird underwater tower soon enough. After that, theyd have a monorail heading off to Rivers and Daub, and Gronro-dir. This was the most proactive time since he took over the town.
Alex made some progress with her nature aspect, but Theo could feel she was missing something. As a growing goose, shed need to put everything she had into learning about herself. That wasnt a thought the alchemist expected to have, but stranger things had happened in the town. By the end of the Dreamwalk, he had made little progress on improving Belgars third tier distition technique. He had seen some areas to improve, but those were mostly time-saving measures.
Alright, Tresk said, pping her hands together. Theo and Alex had hardly moved from their spot. The Marshling was covered in blood and viscera. Time to go. Dawn is approaching and yeah, Sarisa and Rowan areing up with tea.
Theo shook his head. Youre so much better at that than me.
Yeah. Im a dreamer.
The scene swirled, sending the group back into the real world. Theo sat up in his bed, looking over at Tresk. How far away from our bodies can you see when were in the Dreamwalk?
Tresk shrugged, tilting her head back and forth. Uh Not that far. Its more of a general sense.
Weird. Alex honked, removing herself from herfortable goose box.
Breakfast was pleasant enough. Most of the guests who had attended the partythe ones who remained in the manorwere hung over. That resulted in a delightfully silent breakfast, leaving Theo to write notes on his developing instruction book. Once they were done there, Tresk went off for patrol duty. Alex and Theo had a brief meeting with Alise and the administration staff. The only thing of note was the merchant fleet departing. One boat was bound for the southern lizard inds, while two others were heading off to Tarantham.
Alise wanted to write those two boats off as losses, but it seemed too nihilistic for Theo. The Elves were confident enough in their abilities that they shoulde back in one piece. The administrators had to go through Taranthamw to determine the validity of the rescue. So long as they didnt engage directly with the empires military, it was within thew to smuggle more members of House Wavecrest out.
After an incredibly boring meeting, Theo was excited about getting to theb. Salire was waiting for him, bouncing excitedly in yet another floral-patterned sundress. They went over the pending orders before heading up to theb.
Shockingly, people dont seem to care about the new potions, Salire said with a shrug. She had drawn up all the new orders, but even as she tried to sell them people were interested in tier 2 potions more.
Theyre familiar with the second tier potions. We arent making as big of advances as normal, so thats a problem.
Ah! I have an idea. Salire seemed excited about this idea of hers. Lets make some attribute potions. Theyre going to go nuts for those.
Attribute potions had always been a big hit. Theo and Salire discussed the best attribute potions to start with. Unsurprisingly, that resulted in them setting up the stills to create strength, dexterity, and vigor potions. At least the budding alchemist could start with a run of the Zee-based alcohol. That left the alchemist to work on his book, reading out parts to make sure they were understandable.
What better way to make sure the book makes sense? Theo asked, watching as Salire did her work. While he knew she was responsible, it was best to keep an eye out. Especially as they drew closer to the brewing phase.
No better way. No sir, Salire said, stirring the mash. If things dont work out with the alchemy, you could always just make spirits.
Theo looked up from his book. Youd go blind drinking that. Please dont drink our alchemy liquor.
I mean. I might have had a sip. She shed a knowing grin.
The alchemist returned to his book, adding a footnote with a warning about drinking the Zee liquor. I might have snuck a few sips.
I knew you werent humorless, Theo.
Just mostly humorless.
Late in the afternoon, Theo and Salire had created three distinct enchanted dilutions. One for each of the physical attributes. They had also made progress on the book, edging it closer to apleted state by the day. Once he was done with the body of the book, hed pass it off to her for proofreading. It didnt matter if there were grammatical mistakes in the text. But errors rted to Drogramathi alchemy could be deadly. He aimed to plug those quickly.
The remainder of the day was consumed with brewing their new essences. As with the restoration potions they had tested before, the resulting essences were not an eptable quality. Even with the small changes Theo made, they were missing part of the process. He hadnt returned to Terogal today, and continued to put it off. It was a day of learning for Salire, and he didnt want to miss it.
Theo pped his hands together. Right. Create a few of your fancy vials for me. Well brew a small batch before the day is done.
Honk!
Not you, Alex. I was talking to Salire. Well start with vigor.
There was no sense in creating a small batch of these potions. People would buy anything that enhanced their attributes. Even if the potions were only one point better than the older ones, everyone would fall over themselves to get at it. As withst time, the potion was temperamental. The alchemist focused on mixing the essence, careful not to jostle the vial as he worked. It was a violent reaction, right on the edge of an explosion, but it stayed stable enough to produce a usable potion.
Theo ran his finger up the side of the fancy vial, studying the glowing yellow liquid within. He inspected the new potion, unsurprised at how superior it was to the old version.
[Greater Vigor Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Drink to enhance vigor.
Effect:
+19 Vigor for 2 hours.
Significantly better, Salire said, studying the potion. Imagine binding it with a dilution modifier. How good would that be?
Theo turned, smiling at his assistant. Youre talking like an alchemist. Yeah, we should make a batch of modified tier 3 potions. I guess its a good time for a test. What should we be concerned about?
As the alchemist turned away from the [Greater Vigor Potion], Salire considered the question. He got to work on the next two potions,bining the ingredients at the same time. Both reactions were more than a hair unstable, but they held together. The way to know if a reaction was horrible was the final grade on a potion.
Unsurprisingly, both the [Greater Dexterity Potion] and the [Greater Strength Potion] were copies of the [Greater Vigor Potion]. They were on the edge of making a potion that sent someone two tiers above where they were in terms of attributes. It was hard not to think about the implications of the potions.
Are these potions dangerous, yet? Theo asked, holding the glittering vial of red liquid in his hand.
Ah. Forgot about your rules. Doesnt seem too dangerous to me. Uh, what do you think?
Theo shrugged. Ive already given out attribute potions that rival the best. Why not make it absurd?
Yeah! Thats the spirit!
4.44 - Poker with the Gods
4.44 - Poker with the Gods
Theo didnt know what to think about his new life as a glorified postman. He stood with Belgar in Terogal, watching the dead Dronon read a letter from his sister. It was written in exquisite Drogramathi with more flourishes than the blockynguage deserved. The spirits body had gained some substance over the past few days. While counting time wasnt a sure thing in the realm, the days would have felt more like years in here.
The same taunting screen that showed up for buildings in town imed that Terogal was still Level 0. At least it had one soul. Even if that soul was a brother who wouldnt stop fawning over his sister. Even after he died, he joined a realm belonging to the person who usurped his body. Strange things that always led somewhere even stranger.
Well, Im d youre adapting my techniques, Belgar said. He folded the note, cing it gingerly on the worktable. Youve hit the experience slowdown near Level 30, yes?
It was more of a grinding halt. The first ten levels were a breeze. Then it started getting a tad slower in the teens. Reaching Level 20 was like a punch to the gut. But people in this world often said things about Level 30. Thats where the training wheels were thrown off the bike entirely. Level 30 was where most people died.
Thats right. Except for my [Tarahek Core] and my [Governance Core]. Those are still leveling like I never hit a barrier.
Belgar nodded, wisps of purple energy trailing along his brow. Something of a strange smile spread across his face, distorted by his ghostly appearance. That soul-bond you have is strange. Its ignoring several rules that I wont even get into. You also hold two antithetical cores in your chest.
Theo shook his head. Belgars information was old. Toruaun and Drogramath werent enemies, let alone opposites. The short list of gods the alchemist had in his mindthose conspiring to change the worldhad both the Dronon on board. I think they get along now.
Belgar scoffed. Then cleared his throat. Perhaps. Youll understand that some of my memories from my mortal life are iplete. More feelings than anything. Im Well, Im working on it.
The angry Dronon spirit needed a friendly hug. Too bad his form was still immaterial. Instead, Theo gave him a hearty thumbs-up and moved on. There was work to do.
The work that needed done in Terogal today wasnt about alchemy. Not directly, anyway. Zarali had a lot of theories on how she could help Salire gain a Drogramathi core, but they were all theories. Belgars time on Iaredin showed him as the brains of the brother-sister operation. Theo grilled him about everything, but gained almost nothing in return. When Benton finally arrivedapparently busy with some matters of death and winterthey broke for tea and scones.
Theo was mixing in honey to his tea when the ground below his feet trembled. He cast a confused look to his guests, who both shrugged. Is that normal?
Benton spread his hands across the table when the rumble came again, calming the chattering teaware. Absolutely not normal.
A twinge of recognition spread through the alchemists mind. It was almost like
Knocking, Belgar said, finishing Theos thought. Then it came again.
Intuition spread out like a web, snaking through the possibilities. Theos mind reeled as he discarded falsehoods and embraced the possible. The knocking came again as his mind raced, then settled on a conclusion. His mind reached out, affirming the entry of a far-off being. Running outside, he spotted a sandy archway springing from the ground. Roughly hewn yellow stones formed a doorway, and a Khahari stepped through.
Before he had even fully materialized, Theo had Khahar in a bear hug. The Arbiter smiled, hugging him back. Then he looked to Benton and Belgar. With a nod, both men disappeared with a faint popping sound. That almost didnt work, Theo.
What? Banishing my tea-enjoying friends?
Khahar simply smiled, then gestured toward the cottage. Both men assumed their spots at the table, picking up where Benton had left off in the ceremony. These scones are quite good. No, that was simple. My nned ascension almost fell apart. Fenian nearly bungled the Ah, well. All that is in the past, isnt it?
Sneaky as ever. So, how are you allowed toe into my realm? Theo asked.
Khahar tilted his head, smiling. Im the Arbiter. I can do whatever I want.
Really? Cause if that was the case, you would have shown up sooner.
When Khaharughed, it was Yuris oldugh. That sameugh that would boom out during drinking games. Over the cards in some musty cer in Moscow. Youre not wrong about that. The rules Ive put into ce are specific. Meant to tie the gods hands until we can sort other matters out.
Is this the part where you say you cant tell me what youre nning?
Khahar thought about that one for a long time. He sipped his tea, busied himself with his scone, but there was something clearly different about him. His eyes didnt dart in his head, searching through realities. He didnt seem distant. The man was present. He was happy.
When this world was created and seeded, it was left as a nk te. A simple ss system to get things going and nothing more. The intention was for people to rise to godhood, where they could change the system to suit the mortals. Thats the funny part about gods, isnt it? Once they have power, they dont want to let it go.
So, your n is to change the system?
Khahar nodded. The other funny thing about gods Theyre quite good at plotting. What better way to protect the system they hold so dear than to create a system for the system. Ive destroyed the first seal with my ascension. The Throne of the Arbiter is mine, and no one can dethrone me.
So, why not just snap your fingers and destroy the system thats giving you trouble.
Ah, Khahar said with a smile. Then it wouldnt be a very good system, would it? No, theyve ced other checks on that. A kind of council that needs to form.
A council of what, exactly? Theo couldnt help but think of how he yed into this. He had always been a pawn to Khahar, even if that wasnt the best way to put it. Alright. So, you want me on this council?
Now is not the time for that. Were far off from where you y into this n. But youre ying your part well. All I can do is apologize for your forced ignorance. I cannot speak freely about this secondary system. See? Thats the genius of it. Because how does one ascend to the council if they dont know what to look for?
Theo let out a contented sigh, sipping on his tea. Well, Im happy about one thing at least. My old drinking buddy is back. Sipping tea instead of vodka, of course.
Khaharughed, mming his fist on the table. The blow was measured, barely rattling the cups and spoons on the wood surface. He wiped tears from his eyes after a moment, sighing happily. Well, I can visit more often now. Ive designated Terogal as a realm to investigate. Since you have so many visitors, I can pass arbitration on you whenever I feel the need.
An official investigation? Im honored.
Khahar told the story of his ascension to the heavens. The gods were not happy when he took the throne. They went into their corners and prepared to assault Khahak, but it was toote. The Realm of the Arbiter struck first, cutting out the descenders like a cancer from the pantheons. The heavens were on fire for eonsrealm time, of coursebut in the end, they all fell. One-hundred gods were purged from various pantheons. But Yuri had a more startling revtion.
Theyre dead. Not like before, when a god would fall. No, I killed them. Never to rise again. Their souls were annihted. Unlike Balkor.
Ice ran down Theos back. Almost like youre implying that Balkor is nning aeback.
Its another one of those things I cannot reveal. But you can draw conclusions for that information. Ah, speaking of that You should take the [Wisdom of the Soul] potion. Your realm shields you from most of the ill-effects thate with advancing in level, but Wisdom is the hardest attribute to stop. And its your highest attribute.
Noted, Theo said. Khahar just glossed over the return of a dead necromantic god. But the pieces were thereliterally. People said that Balkor was the only god to cross into the mortal realm with his heavenly body. That brought the fury of every pantheon down on him, striking the god dead over the Fallen Kingdom of Gardreth. That ce had been a font of necromantic energy ever since. Then the undead spilled over onto the continent, invading Qavell and ruining most of thend. The body of a dead god, huh? Thats what drives the undead?
Smart man. But I didnte here just to talk business, Khahar snapped his fingers. Belgar and Benton appeared just outside of the door. A pack of ying cards appeared in his hand. Lets teach these guys how to y Texas Holdem.
Benton and Belgar were confused when they reappeared. Then slightly fearful when they spotted the god of gods sitting at Theos little table in his little cottage. They warmed eventually when Khahar began exining the rules. He even summoned little chips for them to bet with, although the currency was all imagined. The alchemists mind was cast back to the old days.
Somehow, Theo said, folding another hand. Our days of murder and mayhem seem like good times.
I know what you mean, Khahar said, tapping the table. Call.
Benton looked ufortable with his hand. He shifted in his chair, then added to the pot. Never took you as the murderous type, Theo.
It was a different time. Theo watched as Khahar cleaned up the table yet again. No one could win against him, and no one was trying. It was the motion of dealing the cards and sipping tea that they were here for. Not the thrill of victory, but the warmth ofpany. A different ce, too.
I do not understand this game. Belgar red at the cards as they were dealt. He had to exert force to hold them in his hands, making it more difficult for him to y. Khahar had replenished his supply of chips several times. I understand the rules, but not the purpose.
Its a game of deception. And odds, Khahar finished dealing the cards.
Hardly fair against the highest level god, Belgar grumbled.
But the game went on, as did the conversation. Despite being the grumpiest person in Terogal, Belgar eventually opened up about himself. He was a regretful man who held a spiteful view of the life he had led. Even after being reminded that he was the master of his destiny, not Drogramath, he wouldnt give it up.
Benton proved to be the spirits opposite. The bear-god was full of love for everything and everyone, despite being a god of death. Because he was a god of death, ording to Khahar. Everything was about cakes and tea with that guy. His encouraging attitude was infectious, defeating Belgars nihilism with ease. What was left was a hearty game of poker that everyone enjoyed.
Something begged Khahars attention and they had to end the game. But the Arbiter promised to return for more games, even if it wasnt daily. This was a realm for private work, after all. They couldnt just spend 12 hours screwing around with cards. Theo stood with Belgar and Benton outside of the cottage. Khahar had just returned to his citadel, leaving a lingering sense of the deserts heat in his wake.
I was gonna wait for a better time to tell you, Theo, Benton started, looking sheepish about his statement. But theres a few souls in the void that are looking for homes. I was worried about arbitration, but Khahar said nothing about Belgar being here.
Benton was worried that having souls in Terogal would be against the rules. But a realm grew in power for several reasons, one of them being the collection of souls. More souls meant a more powerful realm, which was something Theo desperately needed. Terogal was one the one thing between him and certain death. Well, perhaps something less dramatic, but thats how it felt.
Anyone you bring around needs to be interviewed first. I dont want my realm loading up with a bunch of jerks.
Of course, Benton said, nodding his head. The ones that have found their way into my realm are mostly Dronon. Some are too weak to ascend to the higher realms, so theyve remained in our lowly section of the heavens. Others are wayward. Unable toe to terms with the doctrine of their master.
Zagmon Dronon? Theo asked.
All vors, but yes. Some of Zagmons lost children need a home.
That was a hard pill to swallow, but Theo would take it, anyway. He wasnt interested in judging someone by their origin. While he had only had unpleasant experiences with Zagmon Dronon, that didnt mean they were all evil. And now they were without a god. What happened to those people lost in the void? Would they just float around forever without finding a home?
Like I said. Interview first, then Ill talk about epting them.
As with most trips to Terogal, Theo was forced to think about what he left back on the mortal ne. Salire was having a lot of fun doing potions today. After the departure of the small fleet, there was little else to do in town. Ziz and his guys were ready to work on the underwater tower, but that was a project that required many people. Sailors, stoneworkers, artificers, cksmiths, and so on. The project might have been stupid, but it tied in well with the alchemists ns to fortify the coast.
He spent his remaining time in the realm with Belgar, working on items for the shop. The dead Dronon still held cores in his spirit, but they were mere echoes of their former selves. He didnt have the control of someone with a mortal body, and the effects of his cores were pathetic whenpared to the real thing. But that was one thing that didnt seem to bother him. For a man so proud of his abilities in life, he didnt care that he wasnt as good in death.
For the spirit, pride came as knowledge. His memories of mortal life werent perfect, but they were damn good. For a man who spent thousands of years fighting for survival in the void, he was brilliant. Theo couldnt stop himself from wondering what this guy could have gotten up to if he wasnt in prematurely. The details around his death were foggy. Like Zarali, he would only say that the Dronon was thrown from a cliff. A secret war they wouldnt borate on.
Alcohol was the key to the Level 30 barrier, Belgar said, helping Theo clean out a still. They had a few more batches to make before they were done for the day. That makes me wonder about the other barriers.
Impossible to say. Could be somebination of alcohol and mana infusion. Does the system know to create new tiers of things as you level? Does that go on forever?
Belgar attached the grinder to the top of the artifice still, struggling with his immaterial form. But he managed the task well enough. Impossible to say. Youre better off asking your friend. The Arbiter.
Fair enough. He imed to be level 12,000 when he ascended.
Belgar shook his head. No one man should have so much power.
Theo had nothing to say about that. He just wanted to get the work done, then return to the mortal ne. But he was happy to chat with Belgar about other things. It was hard to get a man like him to talk about anything other than regrets, so that remained a slow process. Theypleted not only the orders they had received in the shop, but some extra things to stock. Random purchases didnt ount for many of their sales, but it was good enough to line their pockets.
Well, its been a st, Theo said, giving Belgar another thumbs-up. I can hug you when your form gets more solid. Right now its about like touching slightly thick air.
Im working on it, Belgar said, fumbling with something on the table. He gestured to it, rather than picking it up. For my sister.
Another note? Theo asked, scooping the letter up. I hope you guys are hashing things out.
Yes. Its difficult to be a hovering older brother when all you can do is send notes. Belgar let out abored sigh. But better than nothing. Better than the void.
Alright. Enjoy your hundred-some-odd days in solitude.
One-hundred forty-four days, Belgar corrected. Benton keeps mepany, mostly. I havent hopped realms since I got here, though. Working on that one.
Well, Theo said, approaching the inds edge. He looked down, spying on Tresk and Alex for a moment. Ill be back tomorrow. Stay sane.
As Theo plunged over the edge, he heard Belgar say, Ill try.
4.45 - Wisdom of the Soul
4.45 - Wisdom of the Soul
You should really talk to more people before you drink thatoh, hes drinking it.
Salire watched in horror as Theo downed his [Wisdom of the Soul] potion. His feet had only pressed against the wooden floor of the alchemyb for a moment before he withdrew the potion. The effects were instant and intense. The alchemist fell to the ground in a heap, the potion worming its way through his body. After traveling from his stomach to the ce where his cores were, it ate away at something.
A distressed honk issued somewhere in the distance.
Damn you, Theo! Salire said, rushing over to crouch by the prone Dronon. Do you ever think?
A few fitful spasmster and Theo rested on the hard ground. His vision swirled before him as the potion finished its good work. Terogal and the Tarahek had done wonders to ease the constant barrage of mind-altering attributes. But they were nothingpared to this. His thoughts came in ordered patterns, even as his new assistant shouted for help. One thing after the other, never interrupted with a poke from his intuition. Those intrusive thoughts were now relegated to something else entirely.
Im fine. Theo said, reading over a system message he had never seen before.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
Salire Hogrush shows concern over your condition. The concern is genuine. The [Wisdom of the Soul] potion has already done its work. You are in no immediate danger.
Are you sure? Salire asked, pressing her palm against his forehead.
Shadows stirred at the rooms corners. Three figures burst from those dark ces, two with the dang pole-axes and one with a dagger and a rapier. Tresk, Rowan, and Sarisa looked over the scene with concern, eyes lingering on the prone alchemist.
Who am I stabbing!? Tresk demanded.
No one. I just had a potion, Theo said, standing to his feet. It was a heady rush. Khahar said it was fine.
You talked to Khahar? Tresk asked, still staring. That guy is trouble.
Salire stood nearby, hands on Theos shoulders to keep him steady. He appreciated the gesture. While the effects of the potion had subsided, he still felt like hed topple over at any moment. The alchemist stuffed a wad of [Moss Nettle] into his mouth and chewed. It had the vor of dirt with a sprinkle of lemon juice. He was not surprised to see another wisdom notification pop up.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
Chewing on some raw reagents seems to grant the imbiber a less-potent version of the reagents property effects.
This is gonna take some getting used to, Theo grumbled, finding a sturdy chair to sit on.
Youre fine, then? Sarisa asked, still holding her weapon firmly.
Im fine. Thanks for worrying, but thats just part of the process.
Tresk, Sarisa, and Rowan cleared out of the room reluctantly. They left Theo behind with an overly excited Salire. She grilled him about the effects, wanting to know how it had changed his mind. It was a simple exnation. The alchemist had considered the way attributes messed with his mind from the start. Hed spent long hours considering the interaction of cores, and how those gods affected the wielder.
I brewed some stuff for the shop, Theo said after finishing his exnation. When he stood, he stumbled. But Salire was there to catch him. Thank you.
Let me put some tea on. Tell me how your trip into Terogal went.
Salire shuffled off, activating a [me Artifice] and putting a pot of water on. Theo retold his experience in his private realm. Twelve hours of poker and tea. Conversations that revealed some of the Arbiters plot. His new wisdom messages popped up asionally, telling him that the woman was interested in the story''s content. There seemed to be no ulterior motive. This new existence would take some getting used to, but it was nice.
Sarisa, do I need to be anywhere today? Theo asked.
The assistant stepped from the shadows, bowing her head. Youre not obligated to be anywhere today. Ziz and his men are working on the underwater tower. Throk has made progress on your weapon tform. The new Ogre is still running around healing everyheres a bit of rat problem now.
A rat problem?
The Ogres magic has unintended side-effects. The mostmon one is the attraction of rats.
Theo tapped his chin a few times. Do we have rats? Regr old rats? Four-legged rats, pointed faces, long scaly tail?
Six legs, Sarisa corrected.
Two tails, Salire put in.
Of course. Why not? Theo shrugged it all away.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
Hybrid animals were likely the result of seeded peoples maniption of indigenous fauna. A selective breeding program that resulted in Earth-like creatures. But not quite.
Theo rose to his feet. He wanted nothing more than to watch Ziz and his guys work on the underwater tower. That was one project that seemed silly. When he got to his feet, he didnt sway as badly. The moss was doing its job.
The temple should be done incorporating into the town soon enough. Then Im sure well get you a Drogramathi core.
Salire looked up at him with hopeful eyes. She wanted this badly. The alchemist just hoped she wouldnt be disappointed. He ryed his intentions to Sarisa, then bid farewell to the budding alchemist. Bilgrob passed by as he exited the Newt and Demon, waving and grinning. At least the Ogre priest was getting along in town. Better than could be said about the Elves when they first arrived.
Breaking eggs and all that, Theo mumbled to himself. Rowan, are you near?
Of course, Rowan said, stepping from the shadows.
Good. Lets go check on Ziz.
The group made their way to the harbor first. It was empty of all boats, and the crew that was left behind was pitiful. While Laedria was working on several more shipsroughly the size of her first generationshe was working at a slower pace. They tracked a path along the canals wall. Khahars handiwork was there on disy. The stone wall seemed almost seamless in ces. Zizs good work was a stark contrast to the work of a god, after all. But function went a long way in Broken Tusk.
Theo picked what little reagents grew near the canal. Without the bank of the river, several ingredients would be harder to get. [River Kelp] was among them, although he had never found a good use for those. The [Hone Edge] property from the [River m Pearl] would also be missed, but only because he had never found a good use for it. But a few [Water Lilies] were essible from the waters edge. He had little use for them, as they were uncultivated, but any experience was good experience.
It took them a while to work their way to the beach, but what they saw was amazing. The only boat remaining in Broken Tusk bobbed on the bays waves. Crews of workersbored on spans of ice. Not just over the dungeon, but jutting from the edge of the canals wall. They were expanding the walls out, creating the defensive structure Theo had wanted from the start.
Oh, theyre really going at it, Rowan said with an approving nod. Get an idea in that mans head and he goes all in.
Theo nodded to a worker as he stepped onto a section of finished stonework. It was hard to ssify the structure. The stoneworkers had created an underwater wall, much like the marble wall that held the canal together. It ran out into the bay, holding the angle created by the river they had straightened. He could walk two healthy paces in one direction and still have room to step. The structure was equal on both sides at the moment, reaching roughly half-way toward the dungeons location.
What a mighty fine bridge? Theo asked, turning to his assistants. Would you call this a bridge?
A causeway. Sarisa offered.
Underwater wall, Rowan said.
Ziz! Theo shouted. The Half-Ogre was working on the other side of the wall. What is this thing?
Ziz shrugged, looking up from his work. He had chipped ice in his beard and a stupid look on his face. A defensive structure! Were gonna end them both in towers so we can put your guns in them!
Oh, fair enough, Theo said, scanning the horizon. The Cork was out there, fishing away near the barrier inds.
Since the canal was already wide enough to amodate massive ships, the walls that extended from there were also wide enough. Theo imagined a gatehouse somewhere along the lengthy span. Somewhere for boats to be checked before they entered the town. Copsable defenses were a great idea. A forward post like this could be abandoned in case of an attack, allowing defenders to retreat to the walls of the town. Sledge would work overtime to use her [Fabricator] skills on these structures.
It was nice to see the technique working, though. Theo had his doubts about it, but it was simply the best way to create a structure under the water. There might have been a way to fabricate the walls, then move them in here. But that seemed like morebor with more specialized tools. Instead, theyd take advantage of the magic in this world. Freeze the ocean, then dig it out. Stupid, but effective.
This was a task that might have been too much for other people. But Ziz had a way oftching himself onto a problem and creating workable solutions. Theo and his assistants watched for some time before the sound of an artifice wheelchair crunching on gravel came from behind. Fenian cursed as he failed to get his chair up onto the wall. Sarisa and Rowan rushed over to lift him up, setting him down gingerly on the white marble.
Lovely day for a roll, isnt it? Fenian asked.
Theo chuckled. What do you think about the extension to the canal?
Its lovely. And weird. What was the point of it again?
Theos Wisdom of the Soul told him that Fenian already knew, and was just trying to get a rise out of the alchemist. Were mounting defensive guns and providing ess to the [Ocean Dungeon]. But you know that.
Do I?
I chugged a new potion that lets me see my intuition in text. Theo cast the Elf a sly smile.
Oh. Maybe I should be more careful with my words. Fenian giggled. Look at my arm, though.
The Elf waved his arm around. It was still floppy, but had formed into something closer resembling a mans arm. The limb regeneration process would end in a few days, giving him freedom of movement once again.
What are you going to do when youre all healed up?
I need to flush out Karasan again before he returns. Ill be honest. I didnt expect the capital tost this long. They should have fallen by now.
Theo knew little about Qavells defenses. He only knew that people spoke of their defenses as good. Multiple walls with weapons bristling from every avable surface. The alchemist assumed they could not create undead killing weapons, though. A few high-level priests would be effective at holding back the tide, but they were limited in number without the ability to toss potions all day and night. Or spray the potions over their walls like they did at Gronro-dir.
Where is he hiding, anyway?
Between the veil, I think. Something I didnt n for. Khahar was supposed to sort that out on his end, but here we are. Adapting as we always do.
There was something satisfying about watching Ziz and his crews work. He had gone from only having himself and five workers to creating a small army. They applied Theos potion to the surface of the water, letting that freeze the loweryers, then repeated the process. Eventually, the pir of ice would reach the bottom of the bay. Then they got to work cutting it out with a mixture of [Tunneling Potions] and muscles. After creating a work area all the way to the bottom, they built their stonework.
The crews had taken their structures to a new level, though. The wall they were building wasnt just stones stacked on one another. At the top, there was a decorative lip, carved with various images. It held an artistry that Theo hadnt seen in the town before, stirring something in his heart. Survival had been a concern for quite some time. But perhaps there was room for art.
After getting his first taste for rxation, Theo decided thats what he was going to do today. The crews took breaks in shifts, and the alchemist departed during one of them. He worked his way through town, apanied by his guards. Luras was running drills with the military outside of the eastern gate, near the bridge. They stayed for a while to watch the various formations and practice duels that formed out on those fields. His golems working the small farm had collected a fair amount of wheat, so the alchemist took that into his inventory.
Banus farm was going extremely well. The farmers were getting rich off the cost of the [Starbristle x], and it showed. They were eating well. The other plots ofnd were producing more than ever. Filled to bursting with highly cultivated Zee, these fields could sate the hunger of the entire town. Far from where they started out. Far enough from the panic of food shortages to make all the effort worth it.
Theo worked out a deal with Banu to use their windmill to grind the wheat into flour. Since it fell under the current contract, there was no need to amend it. The farmer would take the wheat from the golem farm, then grind it up on the farmers hill.
An automated farm, huh? nning to rece us anytime soon? Banu asked, his arms folded. As always, the farmer had suspicions about everything.
Just another experiment, Theo assured him, turning to his assistants. Could one of you make sure that Xam is aware of this flour? Id like some real pasta.
Rowan bowed his head, then vanished. Sarisa remained.
To the north of the farmers hill was an area Tresk had named Stabby Groves. This was the ce where most of the adventurers called home, but that was changing. A sprawl of homes spread out from the main road, creating a grid-like pattern of houses. It was unlikely that everyone who lived here was an adventurer. Theo stopped by Zankirs ce but no one was home. Instead, the alchemist surveyed the area.
Weve got some expansion potential to the east and west here, Theo said, gesturing in either direction. He had his administration screen up and was visualizing potential expansions. When we run out of room for homes here, we can dip into the space south of Pergs tannery.
Might be time for another big project.
Theo grunted a response. Thend south of the smeltery was rocky and uneven. Hills sprawled out to the south until they became the mountains at Dead Dog Mine. Cutting into those hills would beborious, even with the [Tunneling Potion]. And the essence that made that potion was limited. It came from the [Living River Water] that the alchemist had collected during a monster wave.
Make a note for me, please. If a traderes by with [Living River Water], Id like to buy all of it. Anything with the [Dissolve] property, actually.
Noted.
How do you think the town ising along?
Were a lifetime away from where we started. Sarisas gaze lingered out over the farmers hill in the distance. I think your focus should be on gaining more citizens.
Theo tapped his chin. That was a big problem. I expected Khahari refugees, to be honest. When the traders from Partopour showed up, I expected people to immigrate from there. It isnt happening.
Sarisa nodded. We got lucky with the Elves, didnt we?
That was an understatement. House Wavecrest had been the biggest boon to the town. They were hard workers and smart. Well, the ones that didnt break their contract and die. Those that held true to their contracts were now integral members of town.
The journeys through town Theo took were always enjoyable. He spent time with other citizens, checking in on independent people who barely needed his help anymore. By the time dusk was approaching, he had worked up an appetite. The lights inside of the manor were already burning brightly when he returned. True to his word, Rowan had informed Xam about the wheat flour avable at the farms windmill. The alchemist settled in with those that refused to leave his home, taking his seat at the head of the dining room table.
Sarisa and Rowan served tes of wheat pasta thered in Xams signature Karatan cheese sauce. There was a vast difference between pasta derived from Zee flour and wheat flour. As Theo took his first bite, he closed his eyes. The sensation the texture gave him sent him back to Earth. He savored every bite and ate far more than he normally did.
This is heaven, Theo said, barely paying attention to the conversation around him.
Treskughed. Give the man a little taste of Earth and hes satisfied.
The meal was pleasant, though. The group continued their hearty conversations even after Tresk, Theo, and Alex headed off for bed. A constant roll of sound could be heard downstairs, even as the group drifted into the Dreamwalk.
4.46 - Throwing Stuff
4.46 - Throwing Stuff
It was easier to imagine the defenses of Broken Tusk in the Dreamwalk. Theo stood near the coast, imagining the walls that Ziz was working on. He imagined them further, sending them out into the bay, then constructing imaginary towers. He topped it off with the gate he wantedanother portcullis-style gate that would drop into the ocean onmand. The walls would serve as causeways whereby folks coulde out to check on the [Ocean Dungeon]. If Sledge could incorporate the entire thing into the town, that would be even better.
Alex spent her time in the Dreamwalk with Tresk, leaving Theo alone to think about the problems they faced. The town had taken care of the mostmon problems and were only left with future problems. That was an excellent position to be in, but it was a luxury provided by the wall of undead to the north. He went over his ss cores as he thought about it, feeling no nagging sense from his intuition. The Wisdom of the Soul screen seemed to refuse to pop up in the Dreamwalk.
Theos [Governance Core] would hit level 30 tomorrow. But the [Tarahek Core] had ardently refused to rise above that level. While all members of the bond noticed it, they paid it little mind. That core had a mind of its own. As he messed around with various tasks, all taking ce on the new defensive seawalls, the alchemist felt his [Drogramath Herbalist Core] roll over to 24, which caused his personal level to hit the same level. But it was getting hard to know which attribute to ce a point into. At least he could inspect his personal screen within the Dreamwalk.
Theo Spencer
Drogramath Dronon
Level 24
Alchemist
Core Slots: 6
Stats:
Health: 115
Mana: 190
Stamina: 125
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 16 (+8)
Vigor: 22 (+8)
Intelligence: 26 (+9)
Wisdom: 30 (+7)
Points: 1
Ah. I should have expected that, Theo said, studying the screen. It no longer imed his name was Belgar. A curious turn of events.
It was as though the system was correcting itself, which seemed like a frightening prospect. Khahar had mentioned a system on top of the systemcould that have been a system designed to manage the other one? Something that corrected the way things worked when they went wrong. The Harbingers Gift that he received seemed more like a coiled spring by the moment. Something bound to explode at any moment, releasing hidden intentions.
Theo shook himself, looking at his attributes once more. He didnt want to go deeper into Wisdom anymore. With his modifiers, he was sitting at 30, which was good enough. Vigor had been a great option. The effects of that attribute were measurable. Intelligence was one attribute that was hard to define, but directly influenced his spellcasting. The world swirled around him as he moved himself, finding Tresk and Alex fighting a small horde of goblins outside the gates of the town.
Oh, fancy alchemist! Tresk grunted, driving her rapier into the heart of a goblin. Come to grace us with your thoughtful presence?
Theo side-stepped an approaching goblin, kicking it in the side. It crumpled. Tresk had summoned low-level goblins to help Alex train, which was a sweet things to do. He smiled at her. I came to ask about attributes, actually.
Well, grab a sword. Or a rock. Were bonding!
The instinct that came first was to summon a bomb and kill all the goblins at once. But that wasnt the spirit of Tresks game. She was training Alex, so it only made sense to act like a normal person would. This brought back one of Theos old problemssomething he still hadnt solved for himself. If he were to find himself inbat, what weapon would he use?
He saw almost no merit in using swords and daggers to fight. Without the correct skills, he would be open to attacks. Spears and those weird pole-axes Sarisa and Rowan used made more sense. He could get a lot of distance, keeping himself safe while he hacked away. Bows, crossbows, guns, and so on didnt appeal to him. He had no moral objection to the things, they simply didnt fit with his strengths. Throwing things, like bombs, fit in with his abilities.
Theo held his hand out, imagining one of his scrimshaw creations. Starting with his [Cloth Bracers of Tossing], and ending with his ability to enchant items twice. Once with his warding abilities, and the other with poisons. As for poisons, he had war crime levels of poisons at his disposal. He had created them for Tresks hit-and-run style ofbat, but this would do. A bone knife appeared in his hand, weighted the way he thought a good knife should be. It wasnt part of his training on Earth, but the system would take care of the dexterous part of the act.
The bone knife glowed under his words, taking on the ward of [Lesser Force]. He repeated the process for several knives as Alex and Tresk fought on. mes soared into the air, and he even saw pitiful vines reaching from the ground. Once his stock of throwing knives wasplete, the alchemist dipped them all in a potent second tier [Poison] modified with [elerated Decay]. It was one of his most vile poisons.
Im ready.
Youd have been dead five times by now.
Im all about preparation, Tresk. Give me enough time and I could kill the gods.
I wish I doubted that. I really do. Alright! ytime is OVER!
The goblins vanished in puffs of smoke. When the haze cleared, four boss Trolls stood in the looming fog. Each was level 30, and none waited around for the Marshlingsmand. Theo froze for a moment. Not out of fear, but in awe of how far Tresk hade. She wove a dance of death around one Troll, striking at it before vanishing just as quickly. Like a sh of lightning, she brought her monster to its knees with little effort. Veins of ck tracked deadly paths along the creatures skin, leaving behind rotting flesh.
Theos mind honed to a razors edge. Time seemed to slow for a moment as he practiced the motion mentally. Five bone knives soared through the air, mming into one Troll at nearly the same time. It was lifted off its feet, then sent flying back like a thousand-pound baseball. The creature slid across the ground, a web of deadly poison spreading across its body before it even hit the ground. The alchemist repeated the process, sending five deadly projectiles for the remaining two Trolls. He let out a steady breath when he was finished, straightening his robe and nodding.
That should do it.
The Trolls writhed on the ground, screaming in agony as their flesh sloughed off in sheets. It wasnt one thing that made the dagger effective. The confluence of events required all his throwing gear, his affinity for the bone weapons, the poison, and the wards.
Damn, alright! Tresk shouted, cracking her knuckles. Alex honked awkwardly. We gotta get you some different gear, buddy. Do you think theres a ss that just throws stuff?
There might be, Theo said. Im pretty good at throwing stuff.
Youre great at throwing stuff. If there was a Throwing Stuff Olympics, youd get the gold, buddy.
Tresk was sparse with herpliments. She had dug into his mind to make the olympics reference, but he appreciated it all the same. The Marshling went over his gear with him, selecting pieces that werent as effective for this style ofbat. His [Robe of the Defender], which reduced stamina usage for people around him, had overstayed its wee. It had repaired itself, but was now less useful than his other gear.
Azrug will have stuff for you.
Isnt he on vacation?
Tresk only shrugged. She had an interest in making sure the three of them were a fighting force. After the ambush with the Zagmon Dronon, she had been strangely distant about training. Theo felt her apathy toward the idea, seeing him as a lost cause forbat. His disy in the Dreamwalk had awoken something frightening in her. A n unfurled in her mind to train him into the ground, making him a dagger-tossing machine. A quirk of the Tarahek was that she could feel his old habits dying off. His aversion tobat was fading. It was hard to tell if that was a good thing.
For the rest of the Dreamwalk, Tresk ranbat drills. She emted the situation that almost got Theo killed before, and other variations of that. His throwing weapon technique was effective, but that marked him as a back-liner. Those who rested on the edges of a fight were often targets, ording to her.
But thats why I have Sarisa and Rowan. Right?
Yeah, but that means I have to train them. Tresk grumbled, pulling her rapier free from another Trolls skull. This is a step in the right direction, though.
That was a more positive statement than she normally made. Theo saw that as a good thing. Their training went on for the rest of the Dreamwalk, ending only when the dawn drew near in the real world. Tresk ended their training session by dragging them all out of the dream realm, sending them into theirfortable beds.
The scent of freshly brewed tea was the first thing Theo could sense in the real world. Then the smell of something freshly cooked, and a chattering conversation from downstairs. He rubbed his eyes, then swung his feet out of bed. Tail swishing and toes wiggling, he lingered there for some time. If he was truthful with himself, he would admit that he was excited about the systems new designation for him. Belgar was close at hand in Terogal, but he felt more distant than ever. For the first time since he got here, the alchemist felt as though he were in his own body.
Downstairs, the scene was lively. Fenian was testing his new leg, falling over more times than he stayed upright. Everyone crowded around the massive dining room table. Sarisa and Rowan flew around, serving those that wanted food and topping off cups of tea. Theo followed Sarisa as she went to the kitchen, cornering her there for a quick chat.
Tresk is concerned, Theo said, watching the unsurprised look on the Half-Ogres face.
When isnt she?
Well, were working on me. My ability to fight.
Sarisa looked him up and down, then chuckled. Youre about as useful as a feral Ogre Snapper in a fight. Nobat cores, right? Unless you count that mage core.
Theo cleared his throat. Right. Were going to do some training sessions in the real world. I just wanted to warn you.
She cleared sweat from her brow with a small length of cloth, then nodded. I appreciate it. Actually, Im interested to see what you can do.
Theo helped her serve everyone at the table before they both took a seat. Instead of ordering breakfast from Xams, Sarisa and Rowan had cooked the meal themselves. They were smart about it. Instead of trying something fancy, they went for something simple. Fried Pozwa eggs with Karatan steaks. The only meal that would have represented the Half-Ogre appetite more was a b of fire-cooked wolf meat.
While breakfast was good, Theo was excited to see Azrug for the first time in a while. The young Half-Ogre had upied his time with the dealings of a Lord Merchant. Tresk, Alex, Sarisa, and Rowan joined with the alchemist after breakfast was done. Only the Marshling knew where Azrug had set up shop, and when they got there it was disappointing.
Hes running his shop out of a house? Theo asked, making a face as though he had just smelled something foul. How unlike him.
Nice to see you, too, Azrug said, poking his head out of the front door. Supply lines are screwed. I cant get a [Shop Seed Core].
We need to look at your gear, Loremaster, Tresk said, striking a pose.
Oh, youre paying for something today? Well,e on in!
Azrugs shop was just the first floor of the house crowded with shelves. It was located in the nned neighborhood area, nestled among the tightly packed homes. Theo had missed it, because he never went to the neighborhood. The shopkeepers other venture was the stables near Mianas ranch. Something that the alchemist was nning on recing with his monorail.
Tresk browsed the shelves, but defaulted to asking Azrug what stock he had for throwing things. The thing about the items he stocked was that they were different. Loot dropped by monsters often had properties locked away, but he had a [Loremasters Core]. High enough to unlock the second property on most low-level gear. His shelves were piled with gear that had at least two effects, sometimes three.
The amount of useful crap Tresk intended to buy from Azrug was staggering. She was prepared to spend a small fortune to gear Theo out, and he wouldnt object. While the pair went over the synergy of the items, Theo looked over the things the young shopkeeper had collected. There were likely several spiritstone coins'' worth of stuff in there. Once they were done selecting items to buy, they went over the gear.
First, were getting rid of that stupid [Plume of Defiance], Tresk said, holding out a leather hat. It had a wide brim and a pointed top that had flopped over to the side. The color seemed to shift from green to dark brown. The alchemist inspected the item.
[Wizards Hat of the Poisoner]
[Hat]
Rare
A Karatan leather hat once said to be in the possession of a foul Poison Mage. It seethes with malicious intent.
Effect:
Increase the effects of poison.
Increase the duration of poison.
[Effect Locked]
Theo ced his old hat into his inventory, then put the new one on his head. Despite logic, it fit perfectly over his horns. Do I look like a wizard, yet?
Youll look less like a wizard by the time were done, Azrug said, producing the next item.
This one is dedicated to your throwing ability, meant to rece your [Robe of the Defender]. It synergizes with your scaling [Shirt of the Dexterous]. Tresk ran her fingers over the item. It was a padded shirt with tails that would go over his thighs. As the alchemist removed his robe, he inspected the item.
[Gambeson of the w]
[Cloth Gambeson]
Epic
A gambeson belonging to a member of a secret order of assassins.
Effect:
Throwing weapons will travel 1.25 faster than normal.
Dexterity granted by items increases the speed at which throwing weapons move by 0.1 times per point.
[Effect Locked]
Theo pulled the ck-dyed gambeson over his head. Tresk helped him secure the ck iron sps around himself. While it was a more form-fitted piece, it was just asfortable as his robe. But the new outfit exposed his pants and boots, making the ensemble look silly. It didnt help that he had a wizards hat on.
Dont you have a robe that does the same thing? Theo asked.
Robes are out of fashion. Its all about the gambesons now. Tresks words had confidence, but the sense he got from her was one of lies.
Its too good not to wear, Theo said with a huff. Alright, whats next?
Both pieces of gear fed into his new strategy of throwing stuff. Even without his idea of using knives, this made him better at throwing potions. So long as they applied a poison effect. While Azrug didnt have any gloves for him, he offered to use his Loremaster abilities to unlock another property on his [Cloth Bracers of Tossing]. That proved to be a great thing. The alchemist inspected the result.
[Cloth Bracers of Tossing]
[Bracers]
Rare
Enchanted Karatan wool cloth bracers.
Effect:
Increase the uracy of any thrown item.
Missing the intended target with a thrown item increases the uracy of your next attempt. Stacks 10 times. Stacks expire after 1 hour.
[Effect Locked]
Combined with the first effect, the bracers were now awesome. Theo liked the idea that hed get more urate as he missed targets.
Just a few more things, Tresk said, tapping a pair of pitch ck leather boots with her finger. This one is my favorite.
Theo slipped the boots on. They had deep treads and came up to his knee. That would be perfect for stomping around the marsh. As always, they were absurdlyfortable for boots. He inspected them.
[Leather Boots of the Defiler]
[Leather Boots]
Epic
Boots belonging to a long-dead necromancer. These boots root the user to the ground, enhancing all necrotic effects.
If both of your feet are nted on the ground when you apply necrotic damage, the effect is doubled. This effect is removed if either foot leaves the ground while the necrotic damage is taking ce.
[Effect Locked]
[Effect Locked]
Go look at yourself in the mirror, Tresk said, gesturing to the far end of the store.
To Theos surprise, there was a full-sized mirror in the corner. He went over, checking himself out in the mirror. He looked more like a discount viin than anything else. What he didnt notice was the soft clink of coins behind him. The exchanging of a fortune behind his back. When he caught onto it, spinning around, there was no evidence of the coins.
How much was it? Theo asked.
Ill never tell, Tresk said, wiggling her eyebrows.
Theo forced his will into her mind, but it was like running up against a brick wall. She noted the intrusion and smiled, sauntering over to pull him into a hug. No price is too much to keep my Theo safe.
The alchemist patted Tresk on the head, unable to keep the smile from his face.
Alright. Lets go mess around. Throw some daggers.
Hell yeah!
4.47 - Upgrades and Adventure
4.47 - Upgrades and Adventure
Gasses bubbled up from the turgid swamp. A mixture of decaying vegetation and stagnant water that release more foul smells than Theo could identify. The trilling calls of distant insects punctuated every squelching boot within the mire. Tresk led the way, keeping out of the shadows but staying low. Alex, Theo, and Sarisa stalked behind her with a level of stealth that waspletely unnecessary.
The [Swamp Dungeon] had pushed beyond level 30, but the creatures within the area werent always so lucky. [Ogre Snappers], and [Marsh Wolves] were amon sight out here. The adventuring body of Broken Tusk had long since out-leveled the area, but it represented a chance to train. And the Marshling only knew one way to do things. Through stealth. The alchemists ce in any organized defense of the town would be as a back-liner, that much was true. But this is the way she wanted to train.
Tresk issued a series of sharp hand-signals. They were leftover pieces of the Qavellian army on the small swamp town. Things picked up by both Aarok and Luras, then disseminated through the adventuring folks in town. Theo didnt need to understand the signals. He felt the marshlings intent through the motion, signaling that there was a snapper up ahead. While everyone but Theo and Alex had some stealthing ability, everyone remained visible. If only for the alchemists sake.
Another quick signal. Sarisa fanned out to the right, while Tresk went to the left. A snapper was buried in the mud with the top of its shell exposed. When in position, Sarisa, with her [Baelthar Guardians Core], mmed the blunt end of her poleaxe into the creatures shell. A geyser of mud shot high into the air, painting the area in ayer of brown-green muck. The Marshling flinched, but didnt move. Her instinct to strike before a fight got out of hand was strong, but Theo felt her desire to see him work in a real-world scenario burning like a bonfire.
For all their preparation, the resulting fight was brief. Theounched a single bone dagger with his most powerful poison at the turtle. It stuck into the monsters side like a hungry leech, sucking away its life in moments. The turtle fell in a heap, letting out a low sigh before dying.
That was anticlimactic, Alex said, honking.
How urate are you with those things? Sarisa asked, wiping mud from her face.
Theo had ced his free point into Dexterity. But the gear was what made him precise with his throws. There was a strange interaction between his attributes and his ability to throw, though. Dexterity and Strength were the logical picks for someone going for a throwing build. But Wisdom had a measurable influence on the action. The alchemist withdrew an untreated knife from his inventory, judged its weight, then let his Wisdom guide him. He snapped his wrist and the dagger went flying toward a tree.
Fairly urate. Theo gestured toward the tree. Pinned under the knife was a tiny Fire Smander half-way up the massive Ogre Cypress.
Did we finally find something Theo is good at? Inbat, I mean, Tresk said, not bothering to clear the muck from her face. Hes great at potions, dont get me wrong. But for a future super soldier, hes always been so wimpy.
I resemble that remark.
Sarisa and Tresk descended into a conversation about Theos abilities. Military minded as they were, they discussed the best position for him in battle and how he could best use his tossing abilities. It wasnt even a question before. He was always providing support during monster waves, but now he could make a difference. But the alchemists mind lingered on other things. The group moved through the swamp as they chatted, putting him to the test each time they encountered a monster.
The thing that upied Theos thoughts was his Toruaun core. Every 10 levels was a segmentation of power and understanding. He reviewed the book he was working on for Salire. The secrets of Drogramathi alchemy put a firm barrier between first and second tier potions. Anotheryer in the process that produced more powerful potions by adding another step. For alchemy, it was a refinement technique based on applying pressure to essences. What would it be for his wards?
They spent half the day in the swamp, but it turned out to be a lure. Tresk had intended to take Theo down into the [Swamp Dungeon] that day, but he refused. The alchemist had enough materials to fight through the swamp, but when faced with enemies at a higher level than himself, he refused with no uncertain words. The Marshling was grumpy about it for a while, but opened herself to his feelings. She felt the trepidation and backed off immediately.
All in time, right? Tresk asked, patting Theo on his lower back. She simply couldnt reach any higher. Youre free for a few hours. Then Ive got more training nned.
Free from hisbat obligations, Theo made his rounds through the town. His first stop was the Newt and Demon to check on Salire. He found her praying before the idol of Drogramath, no doubt asking for him to bestow a core onto her. He doubted it worked that way, but tried not to be judgemental.
Oh! Salire said, rising and dusting her pretty sundress off. Sorry, I was just
Theo waved her off. I get it. You have your heart set on a demon core.
Salires cheeks flushed a dark shade of maroon. She suddenly busied herself with a ream of parchment, detailing the orders for the day. There was good news on the new potions. Citizens were willing to pay a premium for the third tier attribute potions, which was no surprise. The soon-to-be-alchemist had already worked her ass off that day, creating enough liquor to get the entire town drunk ten times over. While it was dangerous, she was able to create the unrefined version of the dilution without blowing up theb.
What werecking, Theo said, snapping the lid of thest still closed. Is more space. More of Throks advanced stills.
Salire rubbed her hands together, a gleam of recognition in her eyes. Are we upgrading theb?
Theo nodded. He had enough leftover cores to get the building to 30 if he wanted. A Wisdom of the Soul notification popped up, iming it was confident that 30 was their current cap. It left out what mechanism kept them at that level, but hed take it.
Well get two upgrades, but the space is the most important part. Ill send it north and south so I dont crush my greenhouses.
Theo chatted with his apprentice as he shoved cores into the building. While he maintained a conversation with her, his mind drifted elsewhere. Perhaps it was abination of his Wisdom and Intelligence, but he found the act to be effortless. The thing his thoughts centered on was how to upgrade his wards. More Wisdom notifications popped up, pointing him in the right direction with every errant thought. Just before the building hit level 25, he came to a simple conclusion.
It makes sense, Theo said, cutting Salire off as she spoke. She cleared her throat, looking at him with concern. The Half-Ogre had just been talking about a suitor she had spurned. The alchemist pushed on. You can think of pressure treatment for essences as a way of reinforcing them, right?
Uh, sure? Salire asked, cheeks flushing again. Ive always thought of it as a refinement process. Getting rid of impurities.
Theo tapped his chin, then ran his hand over his horns. I wonder if Drogramath Dronon horns are a reagent.
You alright? What were you just saying?
Theo shook his head, centering his thoughts. He thought he had figured out how to get his wards to the next level, but it may have been abination of things. Second tier is pressure refinement, and third tier is mana infusion. I think second tier wards need a circle of reinforcing Toruaun scriptsomething to bolster the nature of the ward. But now I see its more like footnotes? Something that helps the spell stabilize itself. Like removing the impurities from essence.
That implies that Toruauns magic is simr to Drogramaths alchemy. Salire and Theo sat with that thought for a long time. The alchemist let it wash over himselfa sense of recognition that he already knew.
How close are the other demon skills? Theo asked. And what does that mean? Why are they so simr?
A Wisdom of the Soul notification popped up, trying and failing to draw lines between the demon gods. He didnt have enough information to figure out their secret. But there were secrets there. And they wouldnt go uncovered forever. Salire just shrugged, gesturing to the [Monster Core] in the alchemists hand. He shoved it into the building, expanding it out yet again. The system notification popped up, presenting him with several choices for upgrades.
[Root Cer]
A cer for preserving reagents is housed under theb. Reagents ced inside of the cer decay at a slower rate.
[Experimentation Room]
A reinforced room is ced behind theb, creating a safe ce to conduct explosive experimentations.
These two upgrades had been there since the start of Theos alchemical journey. [Root Cer] was absolutely useless with the arrival of [Dimensional Storage Crates]. While he was tempted to take [Experimentation Room] several times, it just didnt seem worth it. Not unless the room had a way to vent gasses, which wasnt described in the upgrade screen. Instead, he checked the third upgrade option.
[Internal Liquids Storage]
Adds a [Liquid Storage] attachment behind yourb. This storage method can be interfaced with your existing systems. All liquids added to the storage system will be stored separately, causing no unexpected alchemical interactions. Base capacity is 10,000 units.
Well, thats just miles better than the other ones, Theo said, selecting the [Internal Liquids Storage] option.
Theb buckled under their feet, sending things ttering to the ground. The stills sloshed ominously. Both Theo and Salire rushed to the window, spotting a massive copper tank outside. The alchemist focused on the attachment, causing a notification to pop up.
[Liquid Storage]
[The Newt and Demon]
Building Attachment
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: [The Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Expansions:
None
See, those are the best kinds of upgrades, Theo said, nodding at therge tank. We can upgrade that, then get more use out of it. Since its part of a seed core, we dont have to worry about things going wrong.
Thats awesome.
Pulling his head into theb, Theo spotted new pipes running all over the ce. Now he had to figure out if he wanted to finish upgrading the building, or upgrade the [Liquid Storage] first. He tapped his foot, thinking about which upgrade would bring him the most joy right then. After a quick nod, he decided to finish with theb first. The alchemist shoved more cores into his building, resuming his chat with Salire.
I have enough low-level cores to get the [Liquid Storage] attachment to at least level 10. So, were good. Anyway, what were you telling me about that over-eager Marshling?
Salire resumed her story where she left off. There was a Marshling in town that had taken a fancy to her. He delivered [me Roses] almost every day until he nearly burned himself. After that he swapped to [Widow Lilies], which struck a nerve with the budding alchemist. Even outside the alchemical arts, they were considered portents of death. That didnt stop his over-eager nature, and he continued his courtship.
I cant see myself with him. But he just wont stop.
Theo tapped his foot. I could have him executed, if you like.
Stop! Salire said, punching him in the arm. But a smile hung on her face.
Youre being too nice to him. He sees you as a local Half-Ogre. Theyre very pushy. I wouldnt be surprised if he still loved you after you hit him in the face.
What am I going to do?
Talk to Xam. Shes good at dealing with suitors. Im pretty sure the moon-wizard Uharis wasing on to her.
Theo continued to shove cores into the building, talking with Salire about other things. But he took her concerns seriously. Some guy not getting the hint was one thing, but when was that harassing behavior? Or maybe he was thinking too much about it, and it was actually a cultural problem. His mind flung back to Earth, and the troubles he had with rtionships. People preferred short-term arrangements back there, seeing as the world was being swallowed by a sun. He was one of the people who valued a good partner. Someone who was more than just a fun night in some dingy Moscovian hovel.
Only now, long after taking the Tarahek with Tresk, did he think he could finally move on. The alchemist wanted to snatch at the silver locket on his chest. The metal, faded from too manyforting clutches, had a personality all its own. But that chunk of memories was likely melted on the surface of a dead, fused with his old body. A corpse in a field of corpses. Dead memories and dead lovers.
Theo? Salire asked.
Theo blinked away his stupor. His technique for splitting his thoughts had failed, consumed as he was by the past. The alchemist cleared his throat, inserting thest core into the building. The system notification popped up, but he took a moment to appreciate the amount of space they had gained. Now the vents overhead could hold more stills, giving them more production capacity. He pushed those old memories to the back of his mind, locking them away yet again.
Upgrade time, he said, consulting the newest upgrade for his building. Salire looked on with concern.
[Lab Extension]
This upgrade adds a third floor to your building. The entire top floor will contain more floor space for your alchemy equipment, as well as a vent system doubled in size. The second floor will be split between sleeping amodations and a wide-open area for experimentation. Your first floor will remain as a shop.
Now that is an upgrade, Theo said, chuckling.
Thats a good one Salire trailed off, eyes searching the alchemists own.
Theo selected it, bracing himself as the floor rumbled beneath him. The stills vanished from the spot. The ceiling above shifted, no longer holding the massive ck iron flue that sucked away all the vapors. The staircase was now a switchback staircase, leading up to the newly-created third floor. He darted up those stairs, whistling as his new work area. There was far more room on the third floor, as it didnt have to support the bedroom. Instead of a cramped interior, there were nowrge windows he could open, giving him an amazing view of the town. The building had magically transported the stills to their new spots, resting on tes of iron.
This is cool, Salire said, inspecting the new room.
Theo blew out a sigh. She was perceptive, which was a great quality to have for an alchemist. A natural affinity for noticing small details would get her far in the business. That was one of his weaknesses. Missing those little things. Alright. Say what youre going to say.
But Salire didnt say anything. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into aforting hug. Some people were annoying when it came to these things. Tresk would have just huffed and left the roomsomething the alchemist would have appreciated. This approach was eptable, though. He lingered there, hugging the Half-Ogre back with a smile.
A nice hug can make things better, right? Salire asked, her voice hopeful.
Theo pulled away, holding her by her shoulders. Hugs make everything better. But you know Im an outworlder, right? Want to hear a story?
Salire nodded, now eager that the alchemist would open up. He began at the start, because it only seemed appropriate. Detailing his years in the youth program, then all the spying and the killing. Everything was painted in blood until he met her. Then things changed. The pair proceeded downstairs to upgrade the storage tanks as he rambled on. Words spilled out of him without hismand. A catharsis brought by dumping every errant feeling hed felt over the past 40 years.
Salire was a good listener.
Theo fed cores into the [Internal Liquid Storage]. It was a good ce to stop his story. This was all he was willing to share with anyone. That part of the tale never sat right with him. An unfair hand dealt by fate. A life ended too soon. In a world with an expanding sun, bathing thendscape in deadly radiation and sunlight, nothing had ever seemed darker to him. No one deserved a second chance less than him.
First round of upgrades, Theo said, cutting his story off and reading the upgrade options.
[Expanded Capacity]
The size of your tanks doesnt grow, but the capacity does. Adds another 500 units of capacity for every level.
[Even Flow]
Liquids flow through the system at twice the normal rate.
[Suction System]
Every pipe generated by this attachment has a mote-powered vacuum.
Obvious upgrade, Salire said,ughing.
Capacity, right? Since it scales.
Yep.
Theo selected the [Expanded Capacity] option before shoving more cores into the tank. A smile hung on Salires face. A warmth spread between them, as though the feelings he shared left behind a little fire. Something to keep away the darkness. Next upgrade. Ah, kinda sucks.
[Preservation]
Liquids stored in these tanks will not rot.
Can essences go bad? Salire asked.
Theo wasnt sure. Given time, they might be unstable, but rotting? He doubted that would ever happen. Instead, he selected the [Suction System] upgrade. The Half-Ogre agreed that was the best pick between the three options. The alchemist inspected the attachment before moving on. Level 10 was plenty for now.
[Liquid Storage]
[The Newt and Demon]
Building Attachment
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: [The Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 10 (5%)
Capcity: 15,000 units
Expansions:
[Expanded Capacity]
[Suction System]
Good bit of upgrading today, Salire said with a nod. Theo inspected the Newt and Demon.
[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]
[The Newt and Demon]
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Shopkeeper: Salire Hogrush
Faction: [Broken Tusk]
Level: 30 (2%)
Rent Due: 2 Days
Expansions:
[Alchemy Shop]
[Drogramath Distition Specialty]
[Shrine to Drogramath]
[Alchemical Garden]
[Internal Liquid Storage]
[Lab Extension]
Yeah. We did good. Also, thanks for the talk. Feels like my mind is finally centering itself.
Time and good friends have a way of doing that.
Yeah. They do.
4.48 - Spirits of Terogal
4.48 - Spirits of Tero''gal
Theo rested near the pond in Terogal. Belgar had unfurled the letter written to him by Zarali, and was reading it again. That would mark his tenth time through the letter. The alchemist had spent most of his day working to get better at tossing his infused daggers. Having swapped to blunted wooden knives, Tresk had put him through his paces. Near the days end, he retreated into his private realm for some rxation.
If you dont mind me asking, Theo said, gaining the attention of the Dronons spirit. What are you two saying to each other?
Shes catching me up on what I missed, Belgar said, setting the letter aside.
The spirits form became more solid by the day. He had gone from little more than a wisp, to something simr to a corporeal form. The strange thing was that he didnt look like Belgar anymore. Not the body that Theo inhabited. The form he now took was his own making. Some internal version of himself that he had held in life. His features were more angr than his original body. Angr features with deep-set eyes gave him a more demonic appearance.
Thats a lot of time to miss out on. Theo let the cool water wash over his feet.
The pair chatted for some time. Nothing of importance, of course. But the act of bonding with the man who used to use his body made Theo feel uneasy. Even if Belgar didnt seem to care. Their conversation was only cut short when an archway of ice rose, resulting in a stumbling Toora god. Benton looked flustered, but managed his expression before approaching them.
Alrightphewgot a few spiritsing in hot, Benton said, wringing his hands together.
Belgar brightened up, his newly formed brow knitting in disbelief. From which brood?
All over the ce, Benton said. A shiver echoed through his body. Ten spirits. All drifting between the realms like gods damned phantoms.
Ill keep them in line, Theo. Belgar gave the alchemist a quick nod.
Theyre bound by an oath. Im not worried about them going rogue.
Benton pped his hands together once. But the results? Youre going to be shocked. Anyway, are you ready for them?
The moment Theo nodded, the icy portal teemed with magical energy. Ten spirits, all like Belgar when he first appeared in Terogal, marched out. Theo recognized which brood each came from with ease, spotting the color of their spirits. He made an assumption about two of them, though. Two from Zagmon, four from Drogramath, two from Tworgnoth, and another two he couldnt identify. After a moment of observation, he concluded they were from Toruauns brood. The hue of their spirit shifted through a range of colors, cycling with an upheaval of emotion.
The Dreamrealm of Terogal was filled with a chorus of confused voices. Only when Belgar came over, exuding a calming presence that washed over the crowd, did they stop their chatter. He gave a brief speech about being calm, wrangling those turgid wisps until they had settled down. After that, they were happy to listen to him speak. Only two Drogramathi Dronon left through the portal.
Benton leaned in as Belgar spoke, whispering into Theos ear. The ones from Zagmons brood have nowhere to go. No choice but to ept whatever fate you have to offer them.
Thats too much power for one man, Theo said.
The alchemists mind drifted away from the scene. Back to Broken Tusk, where hed already happily taken in refugees. Perhaps that was a selfish thing on his part. He epted those people to power his own burgeoning empire. Well, it was a trade alliance, but it felt more like a one-man empire by the day. More workers meant more power, that was obvious. But did the same rules apply here? In Terogal? He wasnt about to turn away people who were in need. And it cost him nothing to house them here in his realm.
When Belgar finished his talking, eight Dronon spirits knelt before the alchemist. They swore what men and women in their situation would swear. Undying fealty. Sadly, they didnt have an option. The Dronon could take their chances in the void, or flourish here in Terogal. The alchemist didnt care which option they picked, and he epted them all as one. Underfoot, the realm rumbled. The alchemist felt his mind spread out over the realm like a thin sheet of silk, nketing thendscape as it begged expansion.
Theo swayed on the spot before Benton caught him. The first time is rough, the bear god exined.
What am I supposed to expect? Theo asked. His willpower wrapped itself around that sheet, holding firm to keep the realm together.
That was enough souls for a few level-ups. Your realm is going to expand.
The sensation Theo felt in his mind was like when he upgraded buildings on the mortal ne. A sense of expansion that was normally followed by a screen. The screen that showed up on buildings when they leveled was a prompt, asking for a direction to expand in. This was the raw form of that expansion. A primordial request from the system itself. A request that was supposed to filter through a god core. Instead, it ran through his body like a bolt of lightning.
Theo copsed to the ground as his mind tried, and failed, to wrap itself around the request. Every nerve in his body burned as though held over a roaring fire. Benton shouted something he couldnt hear. Belgars panicked footfalls came next. Someone was shaking the alchemists body as his mind reached further. Past the veil, over the Bridge of Shadows, and into the mortal realm. He reached for the only thing he knew he could trust in this world.
Time froze in Terogal. The sense of burning faded in an instant. Theo looked up from his position on the ground, blinking away his confusion. Belgar and Benton stood over him, shouting something at each other. They appeared as statues, locked in some eternal conflict. He felt something familiar. He heard a snap somewhere distant. Then Tresk and Alex tumbled through the air, mming hard into the ground. The Marshling looked up, offense clear on her face.
What the hell, man!? Tresk shouted, pulling herself to her feet. Did you just interdict me?
Me too!
I dont know what happened, Theo said. But the pain was gone. His grasp on the silk sheet had diminished, but it was still held in his will. I was epting some souls into the realm, then it felt like someone was lighting my body on fire.
Theo took a moment to collect his thoughts. This shouldnt have been possible. Tresk and Alex had already visited Terogal today. They should have been locked out. But should made little sense in the otherworldly realms. If his instinct was to reach for Tresk and Alex, then they were the solution to his problem.
Alright. Guess time is just frozen, the Marshling said, poking Benton on his face. New trick, or what? Who are all the spirits?
Dronon spirits, Theo said, observing the frozen crowd of kneeling figures. I think you need to help me wrangle Terogal. I think thats why I reached out for you.
Tresk pointed an usatory finger at Theo. Lets not stir things up, okay? We got a sweet deal here, but it''s on a knifes edge.
The ground underfoot rumbled. Another loud pop. Then Khahars rumbling voice washed over them. I cant leave you alone for five minutes without something happening, huh?
Theo turned to the Arbiter. Reflexively, a smile spread across his face. Did youe here with a bit of exposition?
Khahar chuckled, striding across Terogal with his godly swagger. Yeah, we thought this might happen. Your realm is more of a proto-realm. I just had a chat with the Twins about it. You need to join your mind with Tresks, then force yourself on the realm. Time should resume after that.
The twins? Tresk asked.
The smile that spread across Khahars face belonged to Yuri. Lopsided and far too toothy. The only other Tarahek thatsted long enough to ascend to godhood. Twin Bantari Marshlings.
Tresk jumped up and down on the spot, pping her hands. Marshy!? she shouted.
Neither are named Marshy. Anyway, get to it.
Theo and Tresk closed their eyes at the same time. The alchemist shared the weight of that sheet. When the Marshlings willpower came into y, it wasnt like his firm grip. It felt like a mountain falling onto the sheet,ying it t and holding it there with sheer authority. The scene cracked with a pop. The ground rumbled again. Before the spirits came into the realm, it was easy enough to see the edge of the ind. It now sprawled out into the distance, expanded to such a distance as to make it almost impossible to spot the edge.
This is Level 2? Tresk asked, blowing out a steady breath. Damn. Already so big.
Khahar nodded, his eyes locked on the Marshling. That didnt pass Theos notice. Why is she so much better at this than me?
I dont know, Khahar said, his voice flinty. It wasnt in my predictions, and I cannot feel the source.
The source of what? Alex asked.
Khahar turned, regarding the goose. Her willpower is like an endless spring. Themand she holds over your realm is beyond anything Ive seen.
Tresk shrugged. Im just really willful.
Hmmm. Khahar turned away. Be good, Theo. Im in the middle of something.
Without exining himself, the Arbiter was gone. Time sped up in an instant. Benton and Belgars shouts filled the area, then derations of confusion.
What just happened? Benton asked, chuckling nervously.
We got it under control, Theo said. He addressed the spirits. Wee to Terogal. Belgar will be your guide. Please dont cause trouble.
A chorus of agreement issued from the spirits. Belgar was confused, but led them away toy the ground rules. Theo, Tresk, Alex, and Benton made their way to the cottage for some tea. The bear god busied himself with the kettle before sitting down at the old wooden table.
How did you interdict her? Benton asked, his voice almost a whisper. I thought that was a forbidden thing. With the new rules.
Theo had already rolled the problem over in his head. He could only draw one conclusion. I think the Arbiter is bending the rules. Tresk and I are close, thanks to the bond. So close, that you might convince the system were the same person.
This theory was inspired by several things. First was the bleeding of emotions through the core. Then the deep level ofmunication they had. Last was the systems designation of Theo as a person in the world. It had originally listed him as Belgar, with his true name in parentheses. Now it just called him Theo Spencer. The moment he brought the owner of the body back into existence, it dered them entirely different things.
Youre saying you tricked the system because of a core? Benton asked, chuckling. Well, it worked. So thats weird.
Tresk shook her head. Her pink skin was getting paler by the moment. I dont feel so good, Theo.
It has limits, Theo said, nodding. That made sense. He didnt have the same kind of willpower as her, so holding her here was too much. See ya in a second, Tresk.
With a wave of his hand, the alchemist sent both Tresk and Alex tumbling back to the mortal realm. They disappeared with a satisfying popping sound, leaving behind an ufortable silence in the cottage.
Youre firmly in the realm of weird stuff I don''t want to consider, Theo, Benton said with a nod. He poured two cups of tea, producing several delicious lemon scones from nowhere. But, hey. At least this is fun.
Theo chatted with Benton at the table. Belgar was already putting the new spirits through drills. The pair could hear him prattle on about strengthening themselves by absorbing the power of Terogal. That could have been true. The spirit could have also just been asserting his authority.
When they were done with their tea, Theo walked the outside of his realm. Several features had appeared on thendscape. Clusters of rocks, a small forest, and several vacant homes. Belgar had been doing a good job of attending to the spirit fruits, but the alchemist didnt know if he was ready to deal with those. It seemed as though the faster he introduced things to his daily work life, the moreplicated things got. He shoved one of each fruit in his inventory, leaving the rest for storage crates in the realm.
The floating circle ofnd had grown to twice its normal size. Benton apanied Theo to the edge. They gazed over, watching in ultra slow-motion as Tresk exined why she had winked out of existence for less than a second.
You know you can travel back by willing yourself there. Right? Benton asked.
Yeah. But jumping off the edge is cool, Theo said, falling backwards off the ind.
Benton shouted something back, but Theo couldnt hear it. As the alchemist passed over the bridge, he felt UzXulvens pull. She urged him to stop by the bridge. As he pressed his willpower against hers, he felt she was the better match. But without his consent, it was a losing battle. She only left him with a thought. A whispering string of words that lingered in his mind.
Tread carefully. The Arbiters hold isnt absolute.
Theo felt his feet hit the wooden floor of his dining room. Everyone had gathered for dinner in his manor that night, eating the good food provided by Xam. All eyes turned to him when he arrived. While they were used to him vanishing for five minutes at a time, they were all confused about Tresk snapping out of reality for a fraction of a second.
The alchemist cleared his throat. How about that weather?
Theo rested himself on a rock in the Dreamwalk. He stared off over some unfamiliar horizon, tapping his foot. Tresk wanted to train tonight, but he was so lost in his thoughts as to be unreachable. Instead, she worked with Alex. The goose was close to mastering her new affinity, something that had only just showed up in her interface. Her connection with nature was weakpared to her connection with fire. But the constant trainingdrills issued by Treskhad brought her to the mid-teens of her levels.
A dog-sized goose, Theo mumbled, watching as the pair trained. A smander-woman with an iron will. Well, what does that make me?
A pensive demon! Tresk shouted, dodging a strike from a Troll.
What do you think UzXulvens warning was about? Theo asked, walking close to the battle.
Tresk thrust her rapier, skewering the Trolls heart. But those creatures were known for their regenerative power. Only the most potent poisons, or the constant application of fire, would kill the creature. Shes a paranoid idiot. You know whowhoops, the Marshling ducked, nearly taking a club to the face. You know who Im worried about? Toruaun.
That was a good thing to be concerned about. Theo liked his [Toruaun Mages Core], but there were too many things about it that rubbed him the wrong way. It should have been listed as a Demonmages core, but it wasnt. The mysterious god gave it to him freely. No strings attached? Yeah, right. The Demon Lords never worked without strings. Enough rope to bind a person head to foot, more likely.
Matters werent helped by her title. The Queen of Mystery.
When everything went sideways in the heavens, there were only a few yers. Khahar conspired with at least a few gods to get his throne. Parantheir, UzXulven, and Toruaun were the ones Theo knew about. On the mortal side, Fenian had a hand in the gods ascension. There was no doubt in the alchemists mind about that. But his thoughts fell away as he realized the brick wall he was running up against.
Alright, he said, imagining a handful of imbued knives. Im ready to train.
Good! Tresk snapped her fingers. The Trolls vanished. She snapped them again and another creature appeared flying above them. Were fighting a dragon.
Tresks interpretation of a dragon was likely incorrect. Theo noted many simrities to what he expected from the creature, but hrious differences. It had a fat stubby tail that seemed useless for flying. Its wings were shorter than they should have been, and it had a stunted neck. The face looked too close to a fish, although it did have the fangs he expected from such a creature.
The problem with fighting Tresks dragon was that she saw them as invincible. The first pass the creature made over the rolling fields killed all threebatants. On the tenth pass, Theo realized that the scales of the monster were imprable. Another wave of deadly dragons fire, and the Marshling called for a break.
Where did you even see a dragon? Theo asked.
Oh, dad had this story book. He used to read it to me when I was a hatchling.
Was the dragon in the story invincible?
Yep!
Whats the point in fighting an unkible enemy?
No-win situations are real, Theo. You know that better than anyone.
That stung more than he thought it would. He couldnt tell if she was talking about his current situation, or what happened back on Earth. Either way, it left him feeling hopeless. But sensations like that didntst long in the Dreamwalk. After a short break, they were back at it. Dying at the ws of some invincible red dragon named Firedeath. Another few hours of that and the alchemist felt like maybe they could win.
Its just a matter of getting past the scales, he said, putting out a small fire on the ground.
Thats the spirit! Tresk shouted. Lets go!
4.49 - Dragons Breath
4.49 - Dragon''s Breath
Theo drummed his fingers on the table in his newb. His night in the Dreamwalk resulted in predictable oues. The dragon was too strong for them to beat, and he doubted Tresk intended for it to be defeated. After a light breakfast, he came to theb to inspect the new area and read his daily administration reports. While Zizs progress on the tower was predictable, there was an interesting note about Throk.
The Marshling artificer had been working hard on Theos new weapons. He had finished the base model and was testing it today. The alchemist expected to look out the window, spotting a fleet of airships descending on his town at any moment. But it was peaceful for now. The only thing that broke his concentration was the opening of theb door.
Oh. Didnt expect you here so early, Salire said. Thisb is too empty.
The pair shared pleasantries then got to work on estimating the capacity of the newb. With the area only dedicated to stills, their production capacity would go through the roof. Theo was now looking down the limitations of manpower, rather than equipment. He still needed tomission some new fancy stills from Throk, but that guy was so busy. He also had to consider an additional difficulty to get over. State mandated alchemy runs.
Gronro-Dir had done well with their supply of anti-undead potions, but they required a restock today. While theb had a fair supply of the essence, it was best not to be caught with ones pants down. With the golems working around the cock, the alchemist had more than enough [Swamp Truffles] stored to make a big run. He drummed his fingers on the table without end, Wisdom of the Soul messages popping up here and there. It offered ideas for the best way to make the runs, and estimated quantities for Gronros current stock.
Right, Theo said, interrupting whatever Salire was saying. He cleared his throat. Sorry. Im going to work with some dangerous materials. Sarisa? Ah, there you are. Lurking in the shadows as usual. Could you ask Thim to construct ten [Custom Drogramathi Iron Artifice Stills]? Thank youwell pay when the order ispleted.
Salire let out a long whistle. Thats a lot of stills.
Right away. Sarisa was gone in moments, rushing down the stairs. Rowan was still somewhere nearby. Lurking like his sister always did.
Now, I have something interesting to show you.
Theo withdrew a [Dragon Apple] from his inventory. He held it gingerly in his hand, snatching it back when Salire went to reach out for it. It was shaped like an apple from Earth, but was covered in a thinyer of scales like a dragon. The thing weighed far more than it should have. The alchemist inspected the spirit fruit.
[Dragon Apple]
[Spirit Fruit]
Mythic
The favored food of dragons older than time itself, these fruits are said to increase the strength of whoever eats them.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Ive never seen a mythic item, Salire said, her eyes locked on the apple. Cant I just touch it.
Without [Unstable Material Handling], it would likely explode.
Oh. No touching, then.
Even in Theos hands, the thing felt like it was going to burst at any moment. He returned it to his inventory while he thought about his next course of action. Eating the fruit would be the fastest way to get a property unlocked. He could also use his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability, but the Wisdom of the Soul message popped up. It warned against using his ability on the fruit. The conceptual weight of the fruit was too much for his level to carry. The result would be devastating.
Then there was the problem of eating the fruit. Even with his ability, digging his teeth into the thing might set it off. Cutting it with a knife that wasnt perfectly imbued with alchemically neutral properties would also result in an explosion. Theo and Salire talked about this for a while, concluding that Khahar wouldnt have given the seeds if he wasnt meant to use them. He brought the apple out again, plucking a petal from the side. It revealed the wet fruit beneath, glistening in the morning light. To his surprise, his [Drogramath Alchemy Core] sang when he held the petal. It was a reagent.
[Dragon Apple Petals]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Epic
Petals from a Dragon Apple. These are said to have been used by the ancient priests of the dragon order during ceremonies.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
So, we need to peel them before we process them. The petals are a reagent, Theo said, handing the item over to Salire. She held her hands up as though he was trying to shove wet garbage into her hands. It should be safe to handle for you.
Reluctantly, she took the petal and rolled it over. No properties unlocked for me. Nothing new there.
Theo nodded, removing all the petals from the fruit. He was left with a red, wet piece of fruit in his hands. The juice that touched his skin sent a fiery feeling climbing up his arm. As he searched around, he couldnt find a better ce for the item to rest while it was out of his inventory. Everything else might have been too reactive. Instead of thinking about the problem too much, he held the fragrant fruit up to his face. After only a moment of hesitation, he took a bite.
The [Dragon Apple] tasted like nothing else Theo had in his life. It was like every kind of apple all at the same time. There was a certain spice to the vor that had him questioning whether it wasnt cinnamon. He chewed, then swallowed. Two independent system messages popped up.
[Property Discovered]!
Eating the [Dragon Apple] has revealed the property: [Dragons Breath]
[Spirit Fruit Consumed]!
You have eaten a portion of a spirit fruit. Your natural strength has increased slightly. You may only eat one whole spirit fruit per day.
Theo ryed the messages to Salire, stroking his chin as he thought about it. He couldnt speak on the quality of the property, but maybe that wasnt the point. Maybe he was just supposed to eat one of these fruits every day. By his estimation, the spirit nts he had in Terogal were enough for him to have one each day. When he considered creating a farm of the fruits in his realm, a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
The conceptual weight of the spirit fruits is great. After holding the fruit, you realized the connection those fruit trees have with the world. It would be impossible to house more than a few trees in Terogal. Additional conceptual weight would crush the realm, marking it as a bad idea.
Guess this is my private reserve.
Theo estimated that there were close to two units of fruit left. He considered the idea that he could make little baby stills for such small runs. Until he could get that done, hed need to use his best equipment to process the fruit. Instead of running it through the grinder, he mashed it up by hand. When the pieces fell into the purple-ck of the still, he winced. But nothing happened. The pulverized red fruit rested without issue. The alchemist breathed a sigh of relief. Salire had run for the door.
Oh. Guess were fine. Hah. I knew wed be fine.
Sure you did, Theo said, preparing some [Enchanted Water] for a tier 2 batch. Without some [Dragons Breath Essence], he was stuck creating an inferior product.
How are we going to do this? Salire asked, watching as Theo introduced the water to the mix.
Carefully. Manual controls on the heat. Ill let my Wisdom of the Soul guide me if I need. Make sure we have clean ssware on hand. I dont wanna be caught with my pants down.
Salire nodded, scurrying around theb to get things ready. They had moved the [ssware Artifice] upstairs, so the assistant generated a few fresh sks in different shapes. Theo doubted the shape mattered, but it wasnt a bad idea. Depending on how reactive the essence was, it was possible hed need to shove it in his inventory as quick as he could.
Could you take notes? Theo asked, snapping the lid closed before crouching near the control panel. I need to focus.
With a notebook in hand, she prepared to scribble everything down. Theo held the knob to the heat control, ready to turn it to the lowest setting. His Wisdom of the Soul popped up immediately, iming there was a risk of an explosion. The alchemist made sure Salire took that down in her notes before he considered what just happened.
Dragons? High heat? Theo asked, focusing on that idea. His Wisdom of the Soul notification didnt appear this time. Alright. Here we go.
The ck knob on the side of the still clicked through its heating stages, settling on the highest option. The room was immediately bathed in a sweltering heat that defied the muggy conditions outside. Theo desperately wanted to crank his air conditioner up all the way, but stayed crouched by the still. The contents within bubbled, then sizzled. He remained there, waiting for something else to happen. No messages came, and none of his experience told him what to do here.
Theo had expected this batch to be more challenging. But the key was to keep the heat on as high as possible for the entire run. It only took a few minutes for the mash to boil down to nothing, sending the vapor through the various tubes to be condensed into a refined essence. Two units of bright red essence dripped into the holding sk. It shimmered with a mix of glowing oranges and reds. The alchemist cut the heat to the still. Another Wisdom of the Soul message popped up when he went to pop the lid. It was safer to let the scraps cool down.
[Refined Dragons Breath Essence], Salire said, keeping her distance from the essence. A mythic quality essence. Thats an achievement, right?
Theo nodded as he observed the essence. It didnt like being in the second tier form. The liquid was almost willful in that way, putting off waves of displeasure. Before it could do anything else, he stowed it away in his inventory. But his short time with the essence revealed much. It would create a drinkable potion, like many other essences, but was offensive, not defensive.
This will make an interesting potion. Theo gathered the things he needed to brew. [Enchanted Water], [Drogramathi Iron Shavings], and one of Salires new fancy vials.
The alchemist withdrew his sk of essence. Only long enough to drip a unit of the liquid into the vial before returning it to his inventory. The essence swirled on its own, colors shifting in thick bands. He could feel the heating off of it, rolling in waves that matched the shifting colors. Carefully dropping in a single shaving of iron, he waited. While the essence bubbled slightly, it seemed to have no other negative effects. He introduced the [Enchanted Water] next. When a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up with a warning, he grabbed his assistant by the shoulder and forced her to the ground.
A plume of fire erupted from the vial. If not for the magical vents above their heads, the entireb would have been engulfed in mes. The fire ranged for only a moment, but the heat it put off was intense.
Are we alive? Salire asked once the deafening rush of mes had died.
Theo stamped out small fires in theb, nodding. For now.
Apleted second tier potion rested on the table. It shifted the same reds and oranges as the raw essence, but no longer put off such a menacing aura. Theo approached it with caution, cing the ss stopper on the vial before inspecting it.
[Dragons Breath Potion]
[Potion]
Mythic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to produce Dragons Fire.
Effect:
For five seconds after consuming this potion, the imbiber will produce Dragons Fire from their mouth. This fire can be directed in whatever direction the imbiber is facing. This effect cannot be cut short, it must run its course.
Come on, Theo said, groaning. How am I not gonna go test this out?
A figure emerged from the shadows. Rowan ced his hand on Theos shoulder. Are we going somewhere?
The alchemist tapped his chin, thinking about the best ce to test the potion. The ocean made the most sense. He had a feeling that Tresk had been underselling the dragons in their dreams. Combined with how temperamental the essence was, the effect that this potion produced was likely devastating.
Either the bay or somewhere without nts. I dont wanna start a forest fire.
The sea it is, Rowan said, turning around to exit. Theo and Salire followed him.
Hey, what are you up to? Tresk asked. She must have sensed the excitement he felt.
Nowhere. Just made a fun alchemy discovery.
One that requires you to leave town? Yeah, Im watching you buddy.
I have Rowan with me. Im fine.
Uh-huh. Im shadowing you now, pal. Bet you dont know where I amwhat are you doing? Put the reveal construct awayI get it!
A bubble of reveal popped up, removing Tresks stealth. She was crouched around the back of the Newt and Demon, hiding between two [Lesser nt Golems]. It was easy to find her. Alex was nearby, honking and eating bugs from the ground. Instead ofining about it more, the Marshling joined the procession to the bay.
It was nice to take a trip out to the water. Not only to test out the potion, but to see the progress Ziz and his men had made. They were almost done with the causeway-things leading to the towers. But they must have been running low on the freezing solution he had given them. That was a problem for another day. The alchemist didnt want to deal with a monster wave from the [River Dungeon]. They found a stretch of beach far from the workers.
The waves rolled up the sandy shore, creating a soothing sound that gave Theo pause. He withdrew the [Dragons Breath Potion] from his inventory and held it for a long moment. It felt more dangerous than anything he had made in the past, but Wisdom of the Soul had some advice for him. Based on the description and a bit of logic, he knew the fire would spew from his mouth. Once hispanions were far enough away, he prepared to quaff the potion.
Ready? Theo asked.
Lets go!
Theo tipped his head back, the fiery potion sliding down his throat. It was like drinking liquid fire. The sensation of burning went all the way down until it settled somewhere between his mouth and his stomach. Then something built in his throat, rushing upward intending to escape no matter the cost. The alchemist opened his mouth, eyes going wide.
A bar of red-orange fire escaped his mouth, cutting through the air like a white-hot de from a cksmiths forge. It was devilishly hard to control, but Theo angled it down toward the water. Steam rose in great clouds, Zizs workers shouting in horror. The alchemist dragged the Dragons Breath, slicing through a barrier ind in the distance. It caught fire immediately.
After the five seconds was up, Theo looked down at himself. His new clothes were on fire.
Stop, drop, and roll! Tresk shouted, shoving Theo to the ground.
The ocean swirled where it had been struck with the Dragons Fire. So much water had been boiled at once that there were eddies of strange currents flowing through the bay. Ziz was angrily stomping down his causeway, no doubting to give the alchemist a piece of his mind. He was approaching them by the time Tresk extinguished the mes.
What in the hells was that? Ziz asked.
Dragons Fire, Tresk said, wiggling her eyebrows.
I took notes on the reaction! Salire said with excitement. That was destructive!
I almost pissed my pants, Rowan said, wiping the sweat from his brow. What was that potion?
Another mysterious gift from Khahar, Theo said. He sorted through his thoughts on the matter, listening as everyone chattered about the new potion.
This potion fell firmly in the weapons of mass destruction category. Worse than that fact, he felt like crap. The potion had drained something vital from him, tapping into something deeper than attributes. His Health had gone down a little from the fire, but the biggest hit was his Stamina. Using the Dragons Fire had removed nearly all of it, forcing him to pop a [Stamina Potion]. Without the boost, he would have fallen asleep right there on the beach.
Theo worked with Salire to amend her notes of the process. A crowd of workers had gathered, all chatting about the alchemist who spat Dragons Fire. The dangers of using the potion were clear. It did damage to the user, and anyone around them with the intense heat. That was ast-resort weapon for a truly desperate person. If used in a forested area, the damage would be extensive.
So, well just mark that as dangerous, right? Salire asked, nodding happily. d we dont have to go through that process again.
He didnt have the heart to tell her they had other spirit fruits to test.
4.50 - Champion
4.50 - Champion
Khahar had left Theo an interesting gift. A gift that would be useless to any other alchemisteven one who had such an unfair start as Theo. The key to using the spirit fruit was Terogal. Time moved at an absurd pace in there, giving the fruit time to mature. And the old Moscovian spy knew it. He knew about Terogal, and the alchemistsmand over it. Like some grand game of interdimensional chess, he was shoving pieces into ce from behind the scenes.
It was nothing out of the ordinary for Theo.
After the bombastic experiment, Salire and Theo returned to theb for more experimentation. But Thim had arrived, interrupting their process to take measurements on the existing stills. The old Dwarf imed to have some ideas for improvement on the current design of his equipment. Improvements were always good. While they waited for more privacy, the pair ran two batches of [Refined Hallow Ground Essence]. Reports from Gronro imed the supply was running low, and they were increasing their daily usage.
Something had stirred the undead in the north. If not for the deadly approach to Murder Passage, the town would have already been overrun. As it stood, Gronro-Dir was still the shield. Still the sword, ready to cut out into the endless hordes with a hateful de. Each military mind in the Soutnds Alliance seemed content enough to remain defensive. Only Alran Cherman voiced concerns about the stability of their ponderous approach to warfare. But without a solution, they remained behind the shield.
Thim finished his work, allowing Theo to withdraw the [Dragon Apple Petals] from his inventory. They were scaly red things, reminding him of the scales of the dragon that Tresk summoned in the Dreamwalk. The alchemist almost chipped his tooth trying to bite into the hard scales. They were flexible, but nearly impossible for him to get a chunk off of. He fell back to his method using the [Reagent Deconstruction] ability.
How is this batch going? Theo asked, closing his eyes to focus on the petal.
Salire scurried around the wide-open space of the newb. The [Dragon Apple Petal] went up in smoke before she had a response. The alchemist ignored the system message for a moment, listening to her report. Weve got drips. Thats what Tresk says. Drips!
[Property Discovered]!
Youve discovered the first property of the [Dragon Apple Petal] spirit nt! [Dragons Dance] property discovered.
Using [Reagent Deconstruction] to discover properties was hit-and-miss. It was best used for finding the secret fourth property of a reagent. But with enough willpower and determination, an alchemist could find the others as well. It was a matter of sifting through the strange powers coursing through those nts.
[Dragons Dance], Theo said, tapping his fingers on a wooden table. Interesting. If this is anything like the apple itself, itll be destructive.
By weight, each [Dragon Apple] would provide the same amount of essence for the main part of it, and the petals. With two stills producing [Refined Hallow Ground] essence directly into the buildings storage, Theo decided to test the new feature. The pipes that hung from the ceiling were moderately flexible, allowing him to ce them directly under the condenser of the stills. He snaked one down to the third still, inserting an [Earth Mote] to power the suction feature.
After he set up a small batch of the petals, a knock came from the door. Zarali entered, her normally flowing hair frizzy. She had a look of mania on her face. Both of you!
Then she ran out the door without another word.
Theo and Salire shared a confused look, then shrugged. They set the automatic shutoff for the stills, estimating the time before leaving theb. The alchemist locked up, flipping the sign to closed before heading off. Zarali was scampering off in the distance, headed directly for the new temple. Even with his magic senses so stunted, he could feel the energy in the air. The unmistakable scent of freshly ground herbs, burning coal, and something else that he couldnt identify. His pulse quickened.
Drogramath, Theo said, taking a deep breath.
This was the end result of incorporating the temple into the town. The process took a few days, but it seemed as though it was done. Drogramath now had a direct line to Broken Tusk. Just as Khahar had nned.
Arge crowd had formed near the temple. Adventurers from Aaroks army were gathered to form a line, keeping people out of the temple for now. Shouts of disappointment, and some anger, rose from the crowd. Theo pushed past the crowd with Salire close behind. He felt her nervousness in the air. Heard it in her voice when she asked for words offort.
Should be fine, Theo lied. Drogramath is nice enoughhes just short. No, not in stature. He gets to the point.
The temple was still mostly empty. Sledge had been building furniture and decorations inside, but it was sparse. Near a raised dais, Zarali knelt. She kept her head bowed before a ghostly figure. Drogramath stood, peering down at his priestess. The Demonic God wasnt what Theo had expected. While they had met in the past, it was through the shadowymunication method. Now he was standing there in full detail. A bandoleer stretched across his chest, filled with potions. He wore a simple leather coat, nts poking from each pocket. Sturdy leather boots with deep treads. He looked like an alchemist. Not a god.
Like all other Drogramathi Dronon, his skin was a deep shade of purple. His ck hair fell over his shoulder, almostpletely straight. The God of Potions was missing his left horn.
Just follow my lead, Theo whispered, taking a deep breath. Salire was practically vibrating. The alchemist raised his voice as he approached the massive figure of his patron. Ive done as you asked, Drogramath. The temple is built.
And yet, Drogramaths voice boomed over the temple, rattling the furniture. You dedicated it to yourself.
And you.
My Lord, I
Drogramath held up a silencing hand, stopping Zarali before she could get the words out. He let out a breath that swept through the temple. Youve brought an apprentice. I cant help but notice she isnt Dronon.
Those seem in short supply, Theo said, standing to stare up at the god. Salire has a knack for the art.
The art, Drogramath said, shaking his head. He grumbled a low rumble that shook the foundations of the temple. You are but a mewling worm under my
The Demon God trailed off. His head swiveled, then his eyes narrowed. He took a very deep breath and nodded. There was something going on in Drogramaths realm. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up, revealing more information than Theo had any right to know. The Potioneers realm was under attack. That was likely the status quo in the high heavenly realms.
Am I not a good servant? Theo asked. We both know this is an unconventional rtionship. But something has rubbed me the wrong way from the start.
Our ns are imprable to a mortal. But, please. Do go on.
Why didnt you make me your champion? Theo asked. Was that your n for Belgar before he died?
Drogramath issued augh that nearly deafened Theo. The god doubled over, shaking his head as his cackles filled the air. Theo Spencer! You are a fool! I put my faith in a jester! In a damned cosmic moron destined to doom us all! Oh, this will make for some excellent poetry. Oh, there once was a man named Theo. His head was so swollen, what an ego! He said, like a loon, Ill be a god here soon! And
A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up. Theos eyes went wide, his heart hammering in his chest. All his time in Broken Tusk, and he could never shake the idea that Drogramath was as much an enemy as anyone else. All these days passed without him noticing a simple fact. A legendary core was powerful, that was an obvious fact. But how much better was it than amon-rank core? Twice as good? He was far more innately skilled than double the baseline.
You son of a bitch, Theo said, staring up at the god. Drogramath was still reciting rude poetry. When the hell were you going to tell me?
I certainly dont know what youre talking about, Drogramath said.
Lord Drogramath Zarali started.
Drogramaths head spun. His gaze bore a hole into the priestess. She silenced herself immediately.
You think youre so smart? Theo asked, balling his fists up. That wasnt even a poem! Thats called a limerick, you idiot!
Maybe if you werent so dumb, youd have known you were my champion from the start! Drogramath shouted, pointing an usatory finger at Theo.
Theo knew little of the rtionship champions held with their gods. One thing he did know was that they were closer to each other than anyone else holding aligned cores. His mind unraveled all the times he was touched by the power of Drogramath. When the Demon God attempted to interdict him. His core whispering information to him like a damned walkthrough. If the alchemist had taken the time to talk about it with Fenian, he would have known. If he had taken more interest in the champions of the world, it would have been obvious.
I guess were both idiots, then, Theo said, his gaze locked onto Drogramaths.
At least we can agree on that.
Uh, guys? Salire asked. She had prostrated herself on the ground, only tilting her head to peak up at the argument. Is this constructive?
Both Theo and Drogramath cleared their throat at the same time. I suppose not, they said in unison.
Dering a champion is an investment, Drogramath said, crossing his arms. Youve already paid for yourself, Spencer.
Theo narrowed his eyes. Are you from Earth? No one from this world addressed him by hisst name.
Its too soon to peek behind the curtain. But, no. Im not. Anyway, you wouldnt have done as well as you have if I told you. Khahar ran the predictions on that path, and it ended poorly. You needed someone nearby that was a champion so youd get the idea. Then you needed to figure it out on your own.
Drogramath moved off that topic way too quickly. Even without Wisdom of the Soul Theo was getting ideas about the gods origin. Fine. Well thank you for making me your champion. Which means Well, I guess I can ask a favor.
Your apprentice.
My apprentice, Theo said, gesturing back to Salire. She has a knack for alchemy. And passion.
I dont give my cores to anyone but Dronon.
And Im not a Dronon. Not culturally, anyway.
Hmmm Alright, fine, Drogramath waved his handzily. Salire was sent flying through the air, impacting the ground and groaning. The sound of two spheres of metal hitting the ground nearby echoed throughout the temple. Done. Now that were done with our shouting match, Ill tell you something. Fenian needs to seed in his n. Karasan must die, and youre going to help him.
Arent I already helping him? Theo asked, keeping an eye on Salire. She was breathing. The shock of being forced to take a new core wouldve been great, but she would recover. What else can I do?
The answer lies with the fruit. Cultivate them, and youll unleash weapons on this world that have never been seen before. It will catch the king by surprise when he fights Fenian next.
The entire exchange was jarring. Theo and Drogramath went at each other like brothers, fighting for some stupid reason neither could remember. And just like brothers, they had cooled down just as quickly. The sudden onset of hot emotions, then the instant cooling left the alchemist feeling drained.
Will I be able to talk to you here again? Theo asked.
Yes. The cooldown is long, but well meet here again.
Holy hell, this is like watching one guy argue with himself, Tresk said.
Theo turned, spotting her with her face against an invisible barrier near the entrance. Drogramaths power had created a shell of privacy, allowing them to converse without interruption. But the Marshlings statement gave him perspective. He had gained perspective through her eyes on his situation.
As though sensing the alchemists shifting priorities, Drogramath spoke. Youre free to attend to your new assistant, Theo. I must speak with my priestess.
Thanks, Theo said, his thoughts drifting here and there. He scooped up the Half-Ogre woman and her discarded cores, carrying her out of the strange purple field and out onto the street.
Is she alright? Tresk asked. People are saying you sacrificed her to Drogramath to make the town more powerful.
Thats absurd.
But maybe?
No. Come on. Where is that Ogre staying in town?
The tavern. Want me to carry her? Tresk asked.
Theo looked down at the limp woman in his arms. A twinge of guilt shed through his mind. This was what she wanted, but she wasnt warned of the price. He could only hope it was worth it in the end. He shook the thought out of his mind, fording a path through the crowd toward the tavern. While they walked, he used his telepathic connection with Tresk to update her on what had happened. She didnt seem shocked at anything he said. Sheter revealed that she was eavesdropping through their connection.
Bilgrob? Theo asked, poking his head into the tavern. But the question was unnecessary. A massive figure sat on the floor in the taverns corner, sipping arge barrel of booze. The alchemist approached, holding Salire out.
Bilgrob belched. Touched by a god? Yeah, Ive seen this before. Spiritual shock from taking some cores. Yeah, yeah. I got a spell for that. Hold on.
The Ogre ced his barrel of liquor on the ground, then took a deep breath. He chanted some words in a strange tongue. Ribbons of light sprung from the ground, wrapping themselves around Salire. They tightened, then vanished. The sound of a frog was heard croaking somewhere in the distance.
All done. Ive soothed the torment in her soul. Also, every frog-like creature on the continent ispelled to find their way to her.
What? Tresk asked.
Bilgrob chuckled. Yeah, Spit is funny like that. The magic alwayses with a downside. Anyway, she needs to rest. Get her in bed. Make sure she gets plenty of hard liquor.
Thanks, Bilgrob, Theo said, pausing for a moment as a message appeared.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
Bilgrob wasnt exaggerating. Any frog-adjacent creature confined to the continent is making ns to find Salire. To do what? Who knows. Who cares, weve got frogs to worry about.
That was a bit of a willful message from the wisdom pop-up. It was always wise not to ignore such a pointed message from the intuition-based message. The swamp was filled with those little octofrog-things. Hags. Theo tossed the Ogre a few gold coins for the effort, even though the Priest of Spit imed to refuse payment. He headed off for the manor with Tresk, finding a pleasant room for Salire to recover in.
Rowan, Theo said, knowing the man was always close at hand. Watch over her. Prepare for frogs.
For frogs?
Millions of them, apparently, Theo said, wiping the beads of sweat from his brow. You should practice a stomping motion, then discover the best way to remove frog guts from the hardwood floors.
Rowan stammered, but Theo didnt wait for him to respond. The sh of anger he felt when meeting with Drogramath had faded to a smoldering ember. If this was the old him, he would have gone on the warpath. Demanding answers from Fenianperhaps even from the god himself. He took a deep breath, centering himself. The Elven trader warned him about this. Not this specifically, but the twisted path he walked. Only now did the alchemist realize why he was so amiable to the concept.
It was confusing enough to think that a piece of his heart wasnt his own. That his decisions were influenced by Tresk, and Drogramath from afar. But now it seemed as though the God of Potions had been influencing him closer than he knew. More of a voice in his ear than a distant whisper. Through the power of Terogal, all those voices had been silenced. What remained was Theo Spencer, true to the systems resignation of the creator tag on items. Those little pieces of other people were cast out, leaving the purest form of himself.
Tresk picked up on what Theo was doing as he walked to Fenians room. The alchemist slipped through her grasp as he threw the door open, locking his gaze on the wheelchair-bound trader.
Fenian turned the chair, shing a smile. What did I do this time?
How do you know when youre a champion? Theo asked.
Fenians face brightened up. Oh, did he finally do it? Did he make you his champion?
An intuition message popped up. When those messages were certain about something, it was the truth. Fenian wasnt lying. He didnt know that Drogramath had made Theo his champion from the start. If he was keeping that from the other conspirators, what else was he hiding?
The question, Theo said.
Youll know it in your heart. A closeness with your god. They can only select one champion, and every god does it differently. There. Thats your answerso spill the beans.
Sometimes it was hard to focus on living when there were so many weird things going on around town. Theo drew a steady breath, watching the excitement on Fenians face fade. For all his blustering, the Elf was wise. His perception cut through most of the bull, biting deeply into the truth. Being a twin-champion didnt help matters.
Oh, that little rapscallion. Im going to give Drogramath a nice thrashing the next time Im in his realm, Fenian said, blowing out a frustrated breath. Come. Sit. Let uncle Fenian instruct you, Champion of Drogramath.
4.51 - Complications
4.51 - Complications
Fenian had a lot of information about being a champion. But as much knowledge as the elf had, there were holes. Something had changed in the way the system worked regarding champions. They were originally avatars for the gods to inhabit. That changed when Balkor used the feature to bring his heavenly body to the mortal realm. That was viewed as a bad move by all gods, and he was quickly cast down in the Kingdom of Gardreth. Champions now acted as pirs of their respective gods, given innate abilities beyond anything someone with an aligned core could do.
But the plot wasnt lost on Theo. The more Fenian told him about his condition, the more he came to believe it. He epted Drogramath as his patron in that moment, realizing all the good that hade of it. In that action, he let the Demonic God into his heart. That innate power bloomed like a Water Lily in the rain, spreading through every part of him in a sh. Then it subsided, battered into submission by Terogal.
If Theo had epted his ce as a champion before his realm grew in strength, that power might have burned through him. How much of Theo Spencer would have been left after the transformation? Unlike Fenian, he wasnt that high of a level. With the realm backing him, the invigorating power of Drogramath only nudged him closer to his old self. The entire ordeal was a relief. Someone else had plotted this entire thing out, and it came to a good end.
Close the book, Tresk said, miming the action. And move on with life. This is an absolute win!
Theo agreed. Alex honked.
Now that youve epted Drogramath, you can move beyond middling for your bond, Fenian said.
Theo picked Alex up, tucking her under his arm. It was getting more difficult by the day to hold the goose. Shed be the size of a pony before long. He grabbed Tresks hand, then nodded to Fenian. Well be back.
Alex and Tresk tumbled with Theo through the realms. The Marshling yelled something about uninvited interdiction, but thats not what he did. He simply forced them to use their [Terogal Dreampassage] abilities in tandem with his. They fell through that tunnel until the Bridge of Shadows was in view. For the first time since he gained the ability, the alchemist steered them toward the bridge.
Stepping on the bridge was likending on semi-realm cloud material. Darkness swirled in every direction. The realm of living shadows spread out in every direction, surrounding the endless bridge. A softugh echoed somewhere in the distance.
Hey Uz, Theo said, waving at the roiling sea of shadows below the bridge.
Oh, are we moving on to nicknames? the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows voice came from every direction. I didnt know we were so close! Maybe we can have tea, build some shadow-castles! Oh, itll be a delightful time.
That sounds fun, Tresk said. She tried and failed to remove her hand from Theos grasp. Hey, I wanna build some castles.
I have a question, Uzxulven. Theo looked out over the shadows. The goddess must have still felt the sting from thest time he snubbed her. When he was interdicted to the Bridge, he borrowed Tresks willpower to escape the ce. A question about this. Tresk and I.
The little mouse wants to know why hes tip-toeing around dragons. How cute.
Thats a good analogy, Tresk said, nodding with approval.
My first thought was that Drogramaths power was protecting me when we traveled through the realms. When Fenian chased the king through the realms, he was pursued by wraiths. Mortals arent allowed here, after all. That got me thinking. Systems on top of systems, you know? Why is the system protecting us? Why does it feel like it wants us here?
Shadows on the bridge gathered together, creating an unimaginable darkness. After a moment it parted, revealing the goddess. Uzxulvens shadowy hair floated behind her as though weightless, a stream of constant shadow-miasma trailing with each step. The whites of her eyes stood out in the darkness. Haunting beacons in the gloom.
For you are the Dreamer, she said, gesturing to Theo. And she is the Dreamwalker. Twin roles. A doubled mind to cut through the darkness, maybe. y your role or fall. Step in line or die. Tick-tock!
The Dronon love their poems and riddles, dont they? Theo asked, not falling for the queens antagonizing tone. Tell me this ends well. All this conspiracy and subterfuge.
Uzxulven approached slowly, each step silent over the bridge. Behind a mask of shadow, Theo could feel her smile. Trapped in another persons crusade. Yes. I would say this path provides the best end for everyone.
Now you just have to worry if shes lying to you, Tresk said with a chuckle. Spoilers! She is.
So much resentment in such a little package.
Im not resentful. Im vignt. Im peerless! Tresk shouted. Youre resentful!
This would have seemed like a strange sight to the uninformed. What were mortals whenpared to a god? But it didnt work like that here. There was an order to the heavens that was set straight by the Arbiter. To exact revenge for such behavior, Uzxulven would need to enact a grand design on the mortal ne. Shed need to work through her followers, the same way Zagmon did when he tried to assassinate Theo. Meaning it wouldnt be worth her time to take revenge for such a slight.
Then there was the unorthodox concept of what the Tarahek bond was. The gods knew more than they were letting on with that whole thing. Where Theo had previously thought to be on the treacherous de of a knife, he now found himself punching as an equal. Whatever that meant. With a nascent realm, barely able to support itself, he wasnt drawing many followers. Just the lost souls of Dronon. All these thoughts resolved to the same ce at the same time in an instant.
Were interested in working with you, Uzxulven, Theo said, nodding at the queen. Since our interests align.
And how in the hells do you figure that? she asked, huffing a breath. A Brogling does not bargain with a mountain.
Youre blind if you cant see where this goes, Theo said. It was hard not to look off into the distance. To where the Bridge spanned for eternity. You shaped your realm for one purpose. So people could travel between the realms. Now youve been hamstrung by Khahar. Well, I suppose a demonstration is better than anything else.
Theo gathered his own willpower, then grasped at Tresks. He felt her shrink away from his probing senses at first, only relenting when she felt that it was his searching grasp. Interdiction was an interesting concept, and the idea had changed since Khahar rose to power. The ability of a god to bring someone into their realm relied on a few factors. Between the realms of gods rested vast expanses of nothing. An imprable void. He punched a hole through that space, tearing a rift that poured forth frigid air.
Youre showing your ass again, Theo, Uzxulven said, ring.
Just a demonstration. Ill be back to talk to you about thister, Theo said, pushing through the rip in reality. Tresk and Alex followed with him, forcing their way into the realm of Winter and Death.
An expansive world of constant snow and craggy spires stretched in all directions. Nestled near the foot of a great mountain was a cluster of buildings, all centered around a massive bonfire. The group forded a path through the snow, pushing until their feet met with soft earth. Heat radiated from the fire, washing over them withforting warmth. Hundreds of confused Toora eyes turned their way, then the booming voice of someone familiar.
Theo! Tresk! Benton shouted, trotting over. He left deep tracks in the mixture of mud and snow. What are you guys doing here?
Proving a point, Theo said, hugging himself for warmth. And now were leaving. Im going to freeze to death.
Benton released a bellowing bellyugh as Theo tore reality open again. Tresk was silent as they crossed the barrier between this realm and theirs, letting out a long sigh of relief when their feet touched warm Terogal grass. The Toora gods icy archway sprung up momentster and he stepped through with a confused look on his face.
The mechanism by which the Tarahek could pass through the void and into lower realms was clear to Theo now. He had considered how Benton was able to achieve such a thing, then extrapted based on the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability. When he used that skill, he was sent over the Bridge of Shadows and into his realm. When Benton traveled through the void, he used an archway. A miniature version of the Bridge. The Toora god was creating a tiny interdiction event on himself and a few select others.
We dont need a bridge, Theo said, turning to Tresk with a smile. Not sure why, but we can pass directly through the void.
Very academic and all, Benton said, nodding his head to a crowd of spirits. But you might have bigger problems to consider.
At least 50 souls of various colors hovered near the small pond. Belgar was talking to them about something, and they seemed rapt at attention. What is going on? Theo asked, breaking out of his thoughts.
You have some kind of conceptual weight in the void. The souls that are hiding out in the ce between ces are starting to hear about your refuge.
Oooo, more power? Tresk asked. Yes please. I dont understand a damn thing Theo is saying, so this is a nice break.
Theo didnt even know if he knew what he was saying. He felt like he was talking out of his ass, trying to connect dots that werent there. But he was certain he was on the right track. Uzxulven was kind enough to drop a hint about that. If he thought of the void as a dream, the titles she gave them made sense. If he considered Fenians role, and the throne he was meant to assume, it made even more sense. Once the pieces fell into ce, hed have a better grasp on it. For now, there were spirits to consider.
Theye with some grim tidings, Im afraid, Benton said, leading Theo over to the gathered crowd. Say hello to every survivor from the undead that were unleashed.`
Belgar finished his speech, then bound over to the group. His form was bing more solid by the day, although his body was still somewhere between solid and ethereal. The alchemist could see the shape of his horns now, and the texture of his hair. Pretty interesting spread of souls. Different races, mostly affected by undeath. Theyre finding safe havens all within the lower realms.
Benton cleared his throat. Theo, Id like to have a word.
Tresk and Alex stayed to talk with Belgar while the pair made their way to the spirit fruit farm. Once they were out of earshot, the Toora god sighed. Something is keeping those souls on the mortal ne. Likely the necromancy, but it has me worried.
That sounds bad. We just had a chat with Uzxulven, but shes not being talkative.
Cant trust gods in the Demonic Pantheon. Nothing but trouble.
Theo just nodded, although he didnt agree. While the spirits could barely talk, he wanted to interview them all before epting them into the realm. With Belgar as a taskmaster, he was certain they wouldnt cause problems. In the worst case scenario, he could eject trouble makers into the void. The alchemist pped his hands before the group, putting on his best smile.
Hello, and wee to Terogal. Im sure youre all eager to hang out by the pond and have some tea. But I have some ground rules, first.
The spirits attention-span was short. They held on for as long as they could while the alchemist went on about their ideals. By the end of it, several had wandered off to check out the spirit fruit garden. Right when they were thinking about jumping into the void, he extended his invitation to the realm to each of them. They all agreed.
Thend underneath rumbled. Theo fell on his ass as the realm expanded in every direction. When the earthquake ceased, Terogal now expanded far enough for thendscape to disappear over the horizon. A series of notifications popped into his vision. It was hard not tough.
Upgrade options, Theo said, shaking his head. It really is seed core buildings all the way down, isnt it?
Yup. Have fun with that, Benton said, chuckling. Ill go explore your realm while you sift through Wow, two whole upgrades. Have fun.
Yeah, have fun nerd, Tresk said, scampering off to y with the spirits.
Belgar lingered nearby, crossing his mostly solid arms as Theo went through the first round of upgrade options. Just like on the mortal ne, he had three options to pick from. The alchemist read the options aloud.
[Soul Vault]
Creates a vault to store souls in. Souls stored in the vault will not participate in society, but will be held in reserve.
[Harvesting Array]
Harvest the power of the souls within your realm, storing it for future use. The amount of energy siphoned from your souls will not affect their development.
[Bubble]
Creates a bubble around the realm, increasing the skill required to enter without invitation.
Excuse me? [Soul Vault]? That seems cruel, Belgar said.
Theo agreed at first, but then got to thinking about it. That would be a good ce to put the undesirable souls, if they were to enter his realm. He shook the thought off at once. Eternal imprisonment wasnt a fair punishment for most crimes. Death was a better punishment for the most severe offenses, so he dismissed that for now. [Harvesting Array] was interesting, but only because of thatst sentence in the description. Like the vault, that could have been a nasty little upgrade.
[Bubble] seems good, though, Belgar said. A protective bubble around the realm? Prepare for the future?
The inevitable future where someone attacks my realm? Agreed. If the realm is attacked, is a shield more useful? Or power?
Depends on what you use the power for.
Agreed.
Pick [Harvesting Array].
Theo and Belgar spun around to spot Khahar. Neither of them had felt his entrance into the realm. Oh. Hey.
You can adjust the amount of power you siphon from the souls. Set it to the lowest option, Khahar said, staring at the space in Theos vision where the upgrades were.
Can you see this screen? Theo asked, gesturing vaguely at the floating box.
I can.
Theo mentally selected the [Harvesting Array], never one to turn away Khahars good advice. Next up we have huh.
[Defensive Towers]
Towers will appear throughout the realm. Any interlopers attacking the realm will be targeted by these towers. The power of the towers depends on the amount of souls within the realm, and the amount of stored energy.
Pick that one, Khahar said, pointing at the [Defensive Towers] upgrade.
Well, duh. Synergy, right? Theo asked, selecting the option. All done. Two upgrades.
Khahar smiled, cing a hand on Theos shoulder. When I ascended to Khahakafter I killed ZagmonI spent several hundred years looking through upgrades. What a pain.
Huh, yeah, Belgarughed. God problems. Am I right?
Theo turned to the dead Dronon. You seem chipper today.
Belgar held his hands out, spinning in a circle. Look at me! Ive almost got a body back. Not my original body, though. A better one.
Youre looking good. Well, uhm Khahar? You got a minute to hang out? Check out my new realm?
Of course. Ive already sorted the problem you caused with Uzxulven and Bohor.
Bohor? Oh. Bentons realm? Theo asked, not knowing how he knew the name. It was just one of those things that itched at the back of his mind.
Yes. Now, lets see what Terogal holds.
Theo, Belgar, and Khahar spent hours walking around the newndmass. The realm was nowrger than the southern tip of the Soutnds Alliance. A new mountain range had formed to the north of the pond and the cottage. Forests to the west, and a miniature sea to the east. The south was just sprawling prairies and sparse clusters of trees. The Arbiter helped the alchemist understand his ce in the realm. A few brief instructions, and he revealed that they had some amount of control over the realm. Not like the way they could manipte the Dreamwalk, but so long as they werent under attack they could teleport throughout the realm.
Resting atop the mountain, giving everyone a fantastic view of the sprawling realm below, Theo let out a contented sigh. What are you setting me up to be, Yuri?
Youve already figured it out, Khahar said.
Well, I havent, Belgar put in. And its cold up here.
I think you want me to be a different kind of Bridge. Like the Bridge of Shadows.
Ah, close. But no, Khahar said. Youre getting better at dragging yourself through the lower realms. But whats themon thread between UzGodan Bokrak Tal and Bohor?
Im wee in both realms.
Youll figure it out. Anyway, why cant you just be happy? Khahar asked, pping a hand on the alchemists shoulder. It nearly tipped him over the edge. Youre managing two towns, now!
Hes never happy, Belgar said.
Im happy! Theo said.
Even you dont believe that. Youve been brooding since you left the mortal ne earlier.
I just dont know where I fit in up here, Theo said. The minimum level for godhood is 100, right?
Its not that hard to get to 100. Khaharughed, shaking his head. Thats part of the problem. The progression on the mortal ne is weird. Its iplete. Like the Monitor System had an idea for the first 30 levels, then forgot everything else. It made getting to godhood too easy, and rewarded the first string of idiots brutal enough to get there. Were gonna change that.
Uh-oh! Belgar said, giggling. Someones gonna purge the heavens!
Worse, Theo said. Hes going to change the way the system works.
The three men stared off into the realm of Terogal. Theo had never been more unsure of anything in his life. But Yuri was acting like himself again. That smarmy little Moscovian. That know-it-all bastard who had an out to every problem. Surely there was someone that would object to his n. Perhaps the same star-bound, feathered entity that started this whole thing. That was a reality the alchemist didnt want to see topletion.
Duty beckons, Khahar said, his voice sounding distant. A momentter, he vanished.
I dont know about you, but I could go for some scones, Belgar said, kicking his feet over the ledge.
I think youre right, Belgar. Im tired of this mise. Lets stuff ourselves until we puke.
Theo grabbed Belgars hand. The scene shifted before them, transporting them instantly to the cottage. Brewing tea and the sharp scent of lemon scones wafted from within the small house.
4.52 - Ward Upgrades
4.52 - Ward Upgrades
The concept of time was difficult to grasp within the heavenly realms. There were no guarantees on the progression of sections to minutes, then minutes to hours, within Terogal. Only a persons willpower allowed them to see that passage clearly. But there was a distinct advantage to resting within the realm. Any effects brought by a bond with a god, increased attributes, or other system-generated mind-altering states of being were rendered inert. The entire thing seemed design to remove the horrid condition a person would find themselves at above Level 100.
Tresk had an unnaturally strong willpower. She counted the seconds and minutes as though they were on the mortal ne, scoffing when Theo asked how many hours had passed.
Five minutes since youst asked me! she shouted.
Even Benton had things to attend to in his own realm, having departed several hours ago. Theo, Tresk, and Alex stood in an open field, watching as a gentle wind blew the surrounding grasses. Things like eddies formed atop that tall grass, dancing like water sprites in the fields. They watched Belgar and the ill-formed spirits, working to fell trees from the vast forest. He had a n to create a small town by hand. Something that seemed absurd at first, until the alchemist considered the lone topic on his mind. The passage of time within the realm.
They could visit for twelve hours a day before upgrades. Tresk predicted that time would at least double. Five minutes would pass in the real world, and twenty-four hours would pass there in Terogal. While it was a chance to grind experience, the alchemist saw it as a chance to rest. Unburdened by the needs of the real world, he could appreciate the little things. Like scones and tea.
The small stream, fed by cool waters from a bubbling stream, had expanded. It snaked its way over the terrain, curving until it ran through the forests. Theo plunged into those depths, taking notes on the Earth-like trees around him. They were mostly pines, rising to the sky with sparse branches near the base and bushy little things near the top. Some old live oaks dotted the area, creating clearings with their greedy boughs. The group rxed under one such tree, breathing a collective sigh of relief.
This is nice, Tresk said, shredding fallen leaves as she rxed. The Marshling could not sit still under any circumstances.
Very rxing. Alex preened her feathers.
Theo put off his need to talk about business. His mind had a tendency to wander, even here in Terogal. He kept his mouth shut, enjoying the endless roll of hours that flowed by like water from the stream. It bubbled somewhere nearby. Somewhere under the branches of Earth trees. What a strange thought to consider.
Tresk announced that the skill would end soon. Theyd be sent tumbling back to the mortal ne. Theo imagined Fenian tapping his foot, waiting for them to return at any moment. Five minutes in the real world to twenty-four hours in Terogal.
What a charmed life we live, Theo said with a chuckle. Heughed even as an unseen force pulled him by the navel, sending them all falling through reality.
Fenians room came into focus momentster. The Elf was still in his wheelchair, tapping his fingers impatiently on the armrest. A neat trick that most would kill to get.
Yeah, I understand your n, Theo said, nodding at the Elf. But I have a question of far more importance.
And what might that be? Fenian asked.
Whats for dinner? Tresk asked, finishing Theos thought.
In the short time they were gone, Salire had stirred from her slumber. When Theo went to check on her, she was trying to fight her way past Rowan. Only when the alchemist ordered her to rest until at least tomorrow did she calm down. The Half-Ogre assistant seemed frazzled by the newly minted alchemists eagerness.
Shes stronger than she looks, Theo, Rowan growled.
Theo didnt care to remember when it had be a tradition to have dinner in his manor. But the table was long, and Sarisa always bought too much food from Xam. Perhaps it was the [Endless Comfort] upgrade that made even the roughest chair feel like a pillow of clouds. Whatever the case was, the dining room was packed with people tonight. Enough folks to fill every seat around the table, then another spot for Fenian to pull his chair up to.
Dinner was predictably delicious. The conversation swayed here and there, but Theos eyes were locked on Fenian. The conversations on the Bridge of Shadows and in Terogal got the alchemist thinking more about his motives. After the tes were cleared away, the alchemist invited him for a chat in the garden.
Oh, trying to get me alone? Fenian asked. Youll have to do more than wine and dine me, my dear alchemist. Im hard to catch.
Theo groaned, walking out into the expansive garden. Fenian followed closely behind, guiding his artifice wheelchair over the ledge, and out into the damp grass. It was still as hot as ever in the Season of Fire with no signs of letting up. But the thing lingering on the alchemists mind had nothing to do with the weather.
Im no stranger to your ideals, Fenian. Theo busied himself with weeding the garden, plucking stray sprouts of green from the manicured area. How many innocent lives are you willing to let fall for your ns?
Were direct tonight, arent we? Someone must have ruffled your feathers in the other realms.
Theo was familiar with simr doctrines. Not Fenians deflection, but his attitude toward casualties of war. That idea had seen most of Earths poption annihted. Left with what? A few domed cities clinging to survival. Outlying areas so irradiated they would never recover. Wisdom of the Soul didnt need to tell him who had made the undead problem worse.
I cant help but think about all the people that died. Because of what you did.
Fenian steered his wheelchair over a hump in the earth, edging toward a thorny bush. Do you know the problem with an outside view?
Whats that?
Fenian reached his good hand into the bush, pushing past the leafy exterior and into the tangle of brambles within. He withdrew his hand, holding it up to reveal a trickle of blood tracing its way down his forearm. Everything gets messy on the inside.
But is Karasan that bad?
How can I put your mind at ease? Fenian asked. He stroked his chin, lost in thought. The undead were already moving, heading for the weakest settlements. The kings n was always the same. To hide away and leave them to die. This put his ns to hide the Throne of the Herald back a few steps, but not enough to stop him. Hed just wait. What I did was mercy.
How the hell is that a mercy?
Well, it was very tricky. When a person dies, they normally get cast into the void. They go through trials until they find their way to their patron. If they dont find a realm to call home, theyll likely die. Then theyre off to the hells. Torture for eternity and all that nonsense. What I didrather genius, reallywas to make sure they found a home.
Where did you send them? And how?
Balkors old domain. Rotting. Fading. But still there. Somewhere in the void. So, youre left with a question. Arent you? Is Fenian evil because he brought the undead down swifter, or is he a saint because he guaranteed everyone involved an afterlife?
Theo would have called him evil. Back before he gained his own realm, filled with dead people that seemed happy enough. Belgar was the best example for that. He was now living a life free of his mortal bonds, allowing him to enjoy himself. The alchemist saw the pieces that Fenian wasying down, and he didnt know if he liked the conclusion. Some spirits that had died to the undead came to Terogal on their own.
You want me to go get them, dont you? Theo asked,ughing. You want them to live in Terogal.
Maybe, Fenian shrugged, smiling sheepishly. Ill just say this. Karsan set his kingdom up to be destroyed by Balkors remnants. He built Qavell to harvest power from the towns he neglected. For the singr purpose of suppressing the throne. So I couldnt reach it. So that he could lord over his little kingdom, reaping the rewards of an imperfect system. One designed to go through cycles of destruction and suffering.
Theo tapped his foot on the wet grass. What does the throne do?
It is one of several. One in the high heavens, one on the mortal ne, and a few in the void. The Throne of the Herald gives the upant domain over the mortal ne. It would give me the ability to change things here, Theo. Thates with time, of course. I must upy the throne for a long time. Undisturbed.
Theo groaned, then shook his head. He took a steadying breath, tapping his foot faster. Fenian had already told him enough to put his mind at ease, but this new thing? Although he said nothing about it, the Elf wanted the throne in Broken Tusk. A curtain of undeath to the north to defend it. But in those moments of contemtion, the alchemist saw the silver lining. People had told him that this world was built on development, then destruction. An endless cycle that no one could break.
So, youre the guy? Theo asked. The one thats going to make the entire world better?
Despite the blood on my hands, that was always our intention. I assume youre sympathetic to my cause.
Unfortunately, I am.
Theo needed a distraction to process the information Fenian gave him. A pleasant rest in the Dreamwalk would do him wonders. He had things he wanted to work on. New spells to cast for his mage core. Not some grand design wrought by Fenian and Khahar. And god knows who else. There were several thrones. Meaning more conspirators. But remaking the world to be better was a noble cause. Things werent the way they were meant to be, and there were powers stopping that change from happening.
Alright. Im going to bed.
Theo, Fenian said, rolling after the alchemist as he walked away. Youre still with me, arent you?
Im with you to the end, Fenian, Theo said, smiling. Until were both dead from your over-reaching need to assume this throne. Until the world sees us as the viins because your convoluted n involves killing a continent of people.
Yes. Thats all very good. But what rises from the ashes will dwarf anything that came before. Peace, my friend. Peace atst!
Theo walked away before Fenian could draw him in anymore. That man could stab him in the belly and make him feel guilty for getting the knife dirty. Tresk was waiting with Alex in their bedroom. There were a few reports avable in the administration screen, but the alchemist ignored them for now. Instead, he fell into bed and off to the Dreamwalk.
Oh, youre feeling spicy tonight! Tresk shouted the moment their feetnded on soft ground. She had directed them to a dream version of Terogal.
Is this ironic? Theo asked. A dream version of a heavenly realm?
No, just weird.
Theo exined everything that had happened with Fenian. Tresk was sympathetic toward the Elfs ideals, pushing the alchemist over the edge. If she agreed with his methods, then he was onboard. They were already too deep and there seemed no sense in stopping now. It would either pan out, or theyd all be dead.
Tresk tricked Theo into practicing his throwing knives for a while. He only took part in the training for a few hours before his mind wandered, breaking his concentration. He excused himself, wiping goblin guys from his clothes and moving to a small section of forest to practice his magic. While he had already figured out a way to craft second tier wards, he hadnt put those concepts into practice. Drogramaths crude limerick would have given enough of a hint.
The Drogramathi tongue was poetic. One thing Theo hoped to aplish by putting his own thoughts down in a book was to dispel the mystery of thenguage. His copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy was useless by now. He paused for a moment.
What do you call Toruaunsnguage? Toruauni? Toruaunese? Toruish?
Theo shook away the question, moving on to his work for the day. He imagined parchment and a pen, then wrote several spells out in their circr form. This was an introspective task, making the peaceful forest the perfect ce. Even the battle in the distance wasnt enough to draw him away from the work. After several hours of messing around with reinforcement rings of poetry, he found a rather simple solution.
A spell forged with the Queen of Mystery, Toruaun, should be equally mysterious. The reading order was often nonsense, going from one part of the ring to another without reason. So why not continue the story on the outside of the ring? Theo expanded one of his simple spells, [Lesser Reveal], writing more of the hidden Dronons tale on the outside of the ring. He borrowed some willpower from Tresk, convincing the Dreamwalks system to allow him to discover something new.
It came together in a sh. The mana requirement to cast the second tier spells was far greater than the first tier. Theo focused on infusing a rock with the new spell, only to find himself drained by the end of it. He imagined more mana, then pushed on until the ward wasplete. A in gray rock pulsed with power for a moment, the shifting words of Toruaun emzoned on the surface. He inspected the ward, satisfied with his newest aplishment.
[Reveal]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Reveal]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
5 days.
Sometimes the system was stingy with information. The second tier ward had a significantly longer duration, and the power from within was greater. Theo imagined a goblin nearby, close enough to activate the ward. The dome that sprung up was massive, easily twice the size of the old one. He spent more of his time in the Dreamwalk working on his other wards, memorizing those patterns so he could use them on the fly.
Theo could cast his wards without applying them to an object. But that method always seemed to fall t for him. Almost as though Toruaun herself designed his core for a specific purpose. To apply wards to objects, rather than channeling them as a spell.
The temptation to create a ward out of the powerful properties produced by the [Dragon Apple] was overwhelming. The system allowed him to absorb the property by imagining some [Refined Dragons Fire Essence], but the story didnte easy. He gave up when it had be twice asrge as his normal wards, revealing theplexity of understanding such an intricate property.
Fortunately, the [Dragons Dance] property gave up its secrets easily. That wasnt a surprise. The rarity on the [Dragon Apple Petals] was only epic, not mythic like the fruit itself. Theo wrote a story about Dronon performing a dance of death, defeating their enemies by crushing them underfoot. When he applied the ward to a stone, it shattered. Instead, he imagined a length of carved bone. That took the spell easily, revealing intecing lines of text on the surface that glowed with colors shifting between red and ck. The alchemist inspected his new ward, unsurprised by the description.
[Dragons Dance]
[Advance Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Dragons Dance]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
5 days.
This was an interesting way to approach alchemy, Theo realized as he held the bone. They hadnt brewed the potion-version of this property, yet. He set it down, got to a healthy distance, then summoned a goblin near the ward.
Theo flinched back as the goblin appeared. The reactive bubble surrounding the bone turned a fiery red. Streams of silver swirled through the sphere,shing out at everything with impunity. Magical des wove a dance of death, felling trees and vegetation as readily as the goblin itself. When the spell expired, the creature was nothing more than a stain of red on the ground and a lingering mist in the air.
Chalk that up to dangerous crap, Theo said, nodding to himself. He then applied the ward to a few bone daggers and ran off to find Tresk and Alex.
Tresk was running the goose through some drills. A small army of Trolls waited for the signal to attack while the Marshling rattled offbat tactics. Theo watched for some time, noting how Alexs control of her nature aspect had developed. She was a true Broken Tusker already, facing a problem with nothing but force of will and determination. Great vines sprung from the ground near the feet of the Trolls, wrapping around the ankles with deadly thorns. Once she had constricted a group of the monsters, she opened her bill and issued forth a massive fireball.
Trolls writhed against the burning vines, their flesh coveredpletely in something like burning pitch. Theo watched with pride as his growing goose took out a fair number of the Trolls.
Shes getting better, Theo said, nodding with approval.
Yeah, why do I have the feeling youre gonna show us something cool? Tresk asked, jumping up and down with excitement. Just throw the dagger already!
Theoughed, withdrawing a warded bone dagger from nowhere. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it sailing at the burning Trolls. Pieces of the imagined creatures sailed from within the resulting sphere. It churned them into red paste, killing the weakened monsters with rtive ease.
Cool. Just gonna show off like that? Tresk asked.
It was cool, wasnt it?
Tresk grumbled. Yeah. It was awesome.
4.53 - Xotl
4.53 - Xotl
Theo listened with waning interest to the conversations floating around his dining room table. His thoughts centered on the concept of his manor. At first he thought it would be a ce where he could be alone with his thoughts. That was an impossible thing from the start with the way Broken Tuskers were. As time went on he realized that the purpose of the manor was to bring people together. It was a sanctuary of formless meetingsthe governmental nonsense they had to deal with stripped away to reveal a cozy spot to share tea. Folks stopped by when they wanted. They stayed in whatever room was free. Rowan and Sarisa kept it safe and clean.
Wisdom of the Soul messages would pop up as he pondered how things were going. Fenians n became clearer to him by the day. It was always important to consider what the Elf said. To dig through the double-meaning and shrouded words to unearth something close to the truth. Instead of worrying about what that future held, Theo would prepare himself for the inevitable. That meant having talks with both Xolsa and Zarali.
The extra-nar Elf held more secrets than he knew he had, and through conversation, Theo learned more about his strange people. What little there was to glean, that is. Xolsa didnt have memories of his home. After breakfast, Theo brought him aside into one of the many side rooms littering the manor for some tea and scones pilfered from Bentons hospitality. The alchemists administration interface swirled with things marked TODO, but they could wait.
Youre finally pushing yourself. Magically, of course, Xolsa said.
This was the cycle of that mans personality. Swinging from a curt headmaster to aforting teacher, depending on how hard Theo was trying. A knock came at the door, Sarisa showing herself in.
Salire is here for you, she said.
Ill meet her at theb. Thank you.
Without a word, the Half-Ogre woman ducked out of the room. Theo turned his attention back to Xolsa and their rolling conversation. Ive worked out most of Fenians n. I always thought he was using me to get what he wanted. But I think he wants Tresk.
Not to keep her, I hope, Xolsa said.
No, of course not. When I gave you the potion to repair your soul, I realized something. You were given the designation of an extra-nar Elf which is interesting. As if being born outside of the mortal ne is a normal thing.
Isnt it?
Theo couldnt stop himself. He scoffed, shaking his head in disapproval. The more time he spent in his private realm, the more he understood about the heavens. After taking a few souls into his care, the alchemist understood even more. Souls were a finite resource, generated on the mortal ne, not one of the many godly nes. One didnt need high attributes to understand where this went.
Youre from another ce entirely. Anotheryer were not aware of. Well, Im not aware of it. Theo sipped his tea. He didnt have the stomach to eat more scones. When he faced a problem with no solution, his stomach twisted into knots.
Xolsa withdrew a ream of parchment from nowhere and began scribbling things down, humming as he wrote. Interesting idea. Id love to argue against the evidence, but Well, here I am.
Youve never thought of this before?
Ive thought of it many times. Since I arrived on this ne as a child. Since my parents abandoned meto fend for myself, Xolsa let out a frustrated breath. But I cannot peer behind the curtain. No matter how much I try.
Your core, Theo said, letting his thoughtse together. Its unique, as far as I can tell. Distill your abilities down for me, please.
An alchemy pun? Really? Xolsa asked.
He described his abilities and the spells he had learned over the years. It seemed like a standard mages core, themed around manipting the nes locally to get some effect. He could create a pane of extra-nar ss that monsters would fall into. His ability to interface with dungeons was unrivaled. Especially after getting the [Dungeon Engineers Core]. But there was a gap in his abilities that seemed rather obvious. It was something both of them had experienced together. When Xolsa tried to poke his head into a heavenly realm, he was sent reeling.
Put everything together, and what do you have? Theo asked. Xolsa held his theories back, waiting for the alchemist to answer his own question. We can assume youre from somewhere other than the heavenly realms. Between them, or somewhere else entirely. Can you make a portal into the void?
Xolsas eyes darted around the room for a moment, his thoughts gathering. Thats where I send the monsters.
A stupid idea entered Theos mind, and he entertained it. He wasnt as skilled as Tresk in manipting their Terogal abilities, but he was certain he could teleport out of the void if he encountered any problems. His Wisdom of the Soul messages agreed. Shadows swirled somewhere nearby and the alchemist groaned. He turned, ring into a dark corner of the room.
I was gonna tell you.
No, you werent! the shadows objected. You were going to jump into the void without me. How is that fair?
Well, I need an anchor so I can get back. So you cante.
We both know Alex is the perfect anchor.
Compromise. Ill just stick my head in the void, thene right back out.
Tresk emerged from the shadows, her arms folded. Theo could feel what she was thinking. She wanted to find the link between Xolsa and the void as much as him, but held more caution in her heart than him.
Do I have a say in this? Xolsa asked.
Maybe. Depends on what you have to say, Tresk grumbled.
Ive poked my head in there before. There isnt much to see. A literal void.
Tresk let out a low growl-like sound, then a frustrated sigh. Fine. Open the portal to hell. What could go wrong?
With a few gestures and words, Xolsa opened a shimmering rectangle into the void. It hovered in the rooms center, seeming to absorb the surrounding light. Theo rose, approaching the portal for inspection. Tresk approached it from the other side, grunting and humming as though she understood what was going on. The alchemist poked his head inside.
True to Xolsas word, it was an endless void. Darkness that stretched in every direction. Tresk did the same on the other side. While they couldnt see each other in the infinite darkness, they could feel each other. Two beacons ringing out among the inky ckness like lighthouses on the shore of some turgid sea. They withdrew themselves from the portal at the same time.
Did you feel that, Theo? Tresk asked.
Not sure. Smelled like burnt toast.
Maybe your brain was just frying. Tresk nodded at Xolsa, who closed the portal. I felt another will in there. Like someone pushing back against me.
That was interesting enough on its own. Theo had thought of the void as an empty ce. A ce where lost souls went when they were trying to get to their realms. The people of this world referred to multiple versions of hell, instead of the singr like on earth. While it might have been an experiential thing the dead went through, he couldnt shake the feeling of connection. Wisdom of the Soul offered boxes of information he already knew. It couldnt make the connection yet.
Tresk, Theo, and Xolsa sat down to share their thoughts on the matter. No one could reach a conclusion that made sense, though. The best they could do was to establish assumptions based on the existence of a willpower present in the void. Who or what it was settled in on the edges of their knowledge. They had just enough information to make the mystery interesting, but not enough to solve it.
But the entire exercise helped Theo understand Fenians ns better. Even if he didnt dive into the void. It helped him understand why he had been set up in this swamp town. He understood why he and Tresk were brought together. The morning was dragging on. If the alchemist didnt get moving, Salire would find her way to the manor. It was time to get to work.
Theo excused himself from the parlor, leaving behind more questions than answers. Even worse, he had stirred up Xolsas imagination. It was always a bad idea to get a wizard fired up about something. Seeing people out on the street, unbothered by this new mystery, was refreshing. He greeted citizens that passed by. He even spotted Perg for the first time in a while, lurking near her tannery. That woman was up to something, but it would have to wait.
Salire was waiting outside of the Newt and Demon. She was dancing on the spot as he approached, twirling the hem of her newest dress. Dancing wasnt really something Broken Tuskers did. When they did, it was bad. The Half-Ogre woman was quite good at it, though. Unbidden, a smile spread across the alchemists face as he approached. Why are we so excited today?
Read your memos! Salire said, still dancing. Why do I give the administration goons reports if you dont read them?
Theo cleared his throat awkwardly.
The new stills are here!
That was all the reason Theo needed to rush up to the third floor of the building. Salire was close on his heels as they arrived, spotting the rows of new distition equipment. Even at a distance, he could tell they were different than thest model. There was a blocky ir in their construction that was clearly Dwarven. Thim had a hand in this. There was no doubt.
Ten stills, Theo said, walking the rows. Thats a lot of equipment. And one of them is already running.
Sorry. I mean. Im not sorry, Salire giggled. I finally woke up in the middle of the night. Been working on first tier potions ever since.
Theo didnt know how long he expected her recovery to be. But she was in perfect health, now. It reminded him of the time he watched Azrug recover from getting his first cores. That thought sent a pang of guilt running through his chest. The boy had been so busy as a Lord Merchant, he didnt have time to socialize. The alchemist read his reports in the administration interface. He had even gone over to the new shop to check it out. But they didnt have the time to sit and talk. It was a shame.
So, Thim and Throk made some modifications to the design of the stills, Salire said, standing near the foremost still. She held her hands out as though she were a saleswoman pitching him something fancy to buy. Improved heating elements. Streamlined capacities. Basic programmable run cycles. And some adapters so we can hook this up directly to the new pipe system. What do you think?
Theo pressed his hand against one of the inactive stills, inspecting the item.
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Artifice Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Epic
Created By: Thimamuri and Throk
A 600 unit capacity Drogramathi Iron still with attached advanced condenser and internal heating element. The advanced condenser allows for a more efficient cooling of essences, decreasing the time needed to distill.The internal heating element provides an even heating of the still, preventing burning.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence.
Reduces the chance of producing low quality essence.
Attachments:
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Bubble te]
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Vapor Pressurizer]
[Custom Artifice Timer]
The big changes here were the capacity and the [Custom Artifice Timer]. All the other features were things that Theo had seen in the past. As he inspected the artifice, he saw the changes they had made to the heating element. Throk and Thims first attempt at creating an embedded heating element was good, but it had ws. The key difference was in the controller. It could now heat zones within the still, starting at the bottom and working its way up depending on which zone he selected. That would be useful. Alchemical mashes burned on the bottom. Rarely did the sides burn.
Very impressive. More impressive that they built ten. Did Throk take a break, or something? Theo asked.
He finished a different project. Had some time.
What project would that be? Was he helping with the underwater tower?
No, I saw him running some pipes outside the walls. He had Sledge help him with getting them under the wall. Something about pumping seawater into town.
What the hell does he need seawater for?
Salire didnt know. But it only took a few minutes of digging through the endless progress reports of the administrative screen to figure it out. Theo cursed under his breath. Things had gotten so busy that he pushed projects aside to make room for others. When he first saw the [Reagent Deconstruction] ability, the only thing he could think of was breaking things down to their elemental parts. That wasnt exactly the way the ability worked, but if he tried real hard it just might.
To see Throk swooping in, stealing away the production of salt, hit him hard at first. A momentary sh of anger that gave way to a reasonable mind. Theo should have ordered pumps, boilers, and tubes to process seawater into salt to begin with. The fault rested solely with him, not the enterprising Marshling. This was a direction the alchemist had hoped people would move in. Industries they established on their own would create a flourishing economy. The anger faded as quickly as it came, reced with a sense of pride.
Salire couldnt stop talking about alchemical processes. Her new cores opened a world of possibility for her. And she had the best equipment owned by any Drogramath Dronon so far as Theo was aware. He peeled the rind from a [Xotl Orange], setting them on one of the many tables in the room. The scent of the fruit was like the imitation orange drink the alchemist had back on Earth. As his assistant went on, he considered what exactly a Xotl was, and why it would have an orange named after it. He shrugged, popping a slice out of the fist-sized fruit, then into his mouth.
A message popped up.
[Property Discovered]!
Eating the [Xotl Orange] has revealed the property: [Xotls Undercurrent]
[Spirit Fruit Consumed]!
You have eaten a portion of a spirit fruit. Your natural dexterity has increased slightly. You may only eat one whole spirit fruit per day.
Hey! Salire shouted, falling out of her trance-like state. Did you eat another spirit fruit? It smells like spirit fruit in hereyou should have told me.
Want a slice? Theo asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
That smoothed things over quickly. She took a slice of the orange and took a tentative bite. Her eyes closed as she let out a contented sigh. Yeah. Thats good. Huh. It says I cant learn the property.
Really? Does the system say anything else?
Im too low.
Sad times. Lets brew a potion. Figure out what this undercurrent property is about.
There were other things to do within theb. Salire was desperately trying to create some potions to fill orders, but her skills werent there yet. Confined to the lowest tier of alchemy, she had created some interestingly poor quality potions. He never expected to see such horrible potionse out of hisb, but that was to be expected. Only a person with blinders on could look at his past and think those first potions were good. They werent good. They were horrible.
The difference between applied alchemy and theoretical alchemy came down to intuition. As expected, with Wisdom being the most important attribute, creating potions was more art than science. Even if they were using exact numbers to bind things together, there was finesse involved. The new stills proved themselves in brewing the spirit fruits essence. With isted heating zones, Theo dialed it in to only heat the bottomyer of the still. The result was an even, low heat that drew out the best parts of the [Xotl Orange].
With so little of the essence avable, it wasnt worth creating a dilution and running the potion again for the next tier. Theo did what he did with hisst fruit, settling for a second tier potion. Salire aided him, but only in a support capacity. She grabbed things when he needed them, and took notes on the process. While this process was already well documented, it didnt hurt for her to get a refresher.
The reaction was immediate and violent. The air extraction system whirred above them as the potion put off a cloud of green smoke that smelled like the sea. Inside the ornate vial was a potion that swirled with a mixture of blues and greens, flecks of silver running through it like ore through stone.
[Xotls Undercurrent Potion]
[Potion]
Mythic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a Xotls Undercurrent.
Effect:
The imbiber must be underwater to consume this potion.
For five seconds after consuming this potion, the water directly beneath them will be a vortex that sucks in all surrounding water. Like the mighty deep sea Xotl, everything within range will be pulled within the churn of water.
This potion kills you, Salire said, her tone mocking.
She was right, though. Theo stowed the potion in his inventory, intent on destroying it when he had the chance. He created potions like this on asion. It wasnt something that would kill mass numbers of people, or spread harm throughout the world. But he couldnt see someone using this potion while underwater and not killing themselves. That put it in a special category of potions that he would never brew on purpose.
Excellent. Theres bound to be a few duds until I explore the other properties on the orange. But now, lets check out the rind.
Salire rubbed her hands together. I got a good feeling about this one.
4.54 - Eat It! Eat It! Eat It!
4.54 - Eat It! Eat It! Eat It!
Orange rinds didnt taste very good. Theo winced as he chewed through the tough exterior of the [Xotl Orange], forcing it down. It refused to go down without a fight. Salire watched nearby, her face tense with eager anticipation. When it finally hit his stomach, the alchemist shivered, then burped.
Absolutely disgusting, he said. How did you convince me to eat it? I should have used [Reagent Deconstruction].
I just shouted Eat it! Eat it! Eat it! and you did. Salire pped her hands together. Come on. Tell me what the new property is.
Well, Im understanding a few things about these mythical creatures. Assuming a Xotl is a mythical creature. They all enjoy one thing. Dancing.
The property revealed by eating the rind of the orange was Xotls Dance. It didnt take a genius to figure out where this was going. Each spirit fruit represented some mythical creature. Each of those creatures also represented an element. Dragons for Strength, Xotls for Dexterity, Gorgons for Vigor, Fairies for Wisdom, and Devils for Intelligence. The system had created lines between Demons and Devils, but the alchemist couldnt figure out if that mattered.
A few customers arrived at the shop downstairs while they brewed a sample potion for the orange rind. Salire was dropping not-so-subtle hints that she wanted a promotion within the shop, and Theo pretended not to notice them. He didnt know how much money they made offhand. He didnt even know how much he paid her, and thats the way he liked it. As long as the coins were flowing, there was no reason to care.
I wont promote you for no reason. Theo fiddled with the new stills, sensing that it was near the end of its cycle. A slow drip of [Refined Xotls Dance Essence] was dripping into an open sk. Just because you have the same cores as me, doesnt mean youre some big-shot.
Doesnt it? Salire asked.
Theo stood, gazing out the window for some time. She was more eager than he was when he first started. A person more deserving of Drogramaths admiration than him by a long shot. She was harder working and smarter. But the dice fell as they did, and there was nothing he could do about it. I want you to take it easy. You have certain disadvantages that I didnt.
Im not that much shorter than you are, Salire said, holding her hand t on her head. She swept it out through the air,ing into contact with Theos chin. Less than a head shorter.
Theo tried not tough, but he couldnt hold it in. Something I noticed about the system is that there are hidden things. Hidden attributes, hidden statuses Im sure I could think of more. No, thats about all I can think of. Anyway, take willpower for example. I thought it was the representation of someones will, based on how their physical brain worked. Turns out, Tresk had overpowered willpower and no one knows why. Not even the gods.
So, my willpower is the problem? Salire asked.
No. Im Drogramaths Champion. Which means he gave me special powers and I dont know what those are.
Well, that just gives us more reason to move me to full-time potion duty.
How do you figure?
Salire withdrew a notebook, holding it up with pride. Behold. How to be Good at Demon Alchemy and Other Stuff. What better time to dument the differences between a normal person and a Champion?
Is that the name were going with for the book?
Its a work in progress.
Theo shrugged. Alright. But youre responsible for paying whoever runs the shop. Take it out of the money you give yourself from the shop.
Salire blew raspberries. Jokes on this guy. I dont pay myself anything!
Ignoring the statement, Theo turned to the nearest shadow. Sarisa? Rowan? An instantter, Sarisa appeared, shaking her head. Please find someone to run my shop. I prefer Half-Ogres.
It didnt pass his notice that Salire blushed at the statement, turning away from the pair to busy herself sorting vials that didnt need sorting.
Youre missing a meeting.
Anything important?
Two controlled monster waves. Today or tomorrow. The containment tower for the ocean ispleted, but Xolsa wants to purge the lingering magical energy in the dungeon. Then he can tame it like he did the [Swamp Dungeon]. I told them you were low on the [Tunneling Potion], so they want to instigate another wave from the [River Dungeon]. The wizard is convinced he can influence what boss spawns.
Oh, thats fun. Maybe I can do some damage during the next wave. Anything else that I should be aware of?
We have a small Hag infestation. Aarok is working with Miana to train wolves to kill the critters.
And is that going well?
It is.
Perfect. Thank you very much, Sarisa. Take your time finding Salires recement.
Understood.
Sarisa vanished into the shadows. Baelthar was an interesting patron for the Half-Ogres. Like Zaul, all the subsses that the Ogre god created had something to do with hiding. Well, he was the Ogre Patron of the Hunt, so it made sense. But between various cores offered by gods, they usually had very different kits. Luras had a ranged aligned core with Baelthar, and was often hiding before he struck with his bow. It might not be significant, but it certainly was interesting.
Theo picked up his newly brewed [Refined Xotls Dance Essence], swirling it in the sk. It moved like the tide, flowing from one side of the ss sk to the other unbidden. A mixture of dark green and pale blues, it was a pretty-looking essence. Salire was already setting up for the reaction,ying out the catalyst, water, and fresh decorative vial.
Why do you like Half-Ogres so much? Salire asked as Theo performed the reaction.
The reaction for the essence was less violent than thest. It swirled in the vial, like Theos thoughts churning in his head. A plume of green-blue smoke rushed from the top, filling the room with a haze. The extractor fans above them sucked the smoke out. Marshlings are erratic. I dont fully trust the Elves. Half-Ogres are honest and hard-working.
Well, Im partial to Dronon myself.
Theo gave her a sidelong nce. No, youre not. If youre talking about me, I just have the shell of a dead Dronon. Although the Dronon souls in my realm are all rather nice. Maybe I like the Dronon, too. Come to think of it, Ive never been let down by a Toora. The bear-folk always have tea. And theyre great at baking. Have you tried a Toora gods scones?
Why would I have tried a gods scones?
Theo withdrew one of Bentons legendary confections from his inventory. He handed it over to Salire as he inspected the new potion. She took a small bite, let out a squeal of glee, then turned her attention to the potion while munching.
[Xotls Dance Potion]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a Xotls Dance.
Effect:
The imbiber of this potion creates a shroud of water around themselves. Like the Xotl gracing the depths, this field repels all water based on the potions strength. Any creating entering the bubble of air will be hit with an instance of [Xotls Dance], inflicting damage and reducing their movement speed.
That is a weird potion, Salire said through a mouthful of scone.
This potion wasnt dangerous. At least there was that. Theos mind stretched itself, trying to see how the potion would be useful for their underwater projects. But the problem with the potions derived from spirit fruits was one of volume. In his mind, hebeled this as emergency potion for if I fall into water and still can drink a potion. It was a very specific use-case.
It would be wise to spend an entire day discovering the various effects of the spirit fruit, but Theo had other things on his mind. He stowed away the newest potion, waiting for Salire to finish her scone before going into lecture mode. Grinding low-rank potions was fine, but if she wanted to have a fun time leveling between 10 and 20, she needed to understand how her mana worked. Looking back on it, the alchemist now realized why his low-level mana was so potent. It wasnt the mana of a normal Drogramathi Alchemist, it was the mana of a Drogramathi Champion.
Perhaps these facts would give the young Half-Ogre an easier time with the progression, but it was still abor. He wrote out a series of instructions for her to follow, then went through the cycles a few times. She had a hard time with it, but that was expected. The difference between them was that she was getting a head start on the matter. She wouldnt need to struggle through it as much. Or so he hoped.
This was the perfect time for a break. Theo left theb in Salires capable hands, then wandered the streets of Broken Tusk. He stopped by Whispers butcher first, finding one of his administrators ordering some sausages. Gwynestarea had been an intelligent member of the team from the start. As a Half-Elf from Veosta, she knew the meaning of working in an environment with many cultures.
Hows it going, Whisper?
Very well, Whisper said, gesturing to the air conditioner sting ice-cold air. Perfectly cold.
Theo nodded with approval. How about you, Gwyn?
Busy. As always. I hope you dont mind, but Ive been using your private bath.
Yeah, thats cool.
The alchemist lingered for a while, ordering whatever Whisper rmended. She had apparently be known for her spicy sausages. That was an unexpected turn of events, as Theo only viewed her as a base-level production asset. He never expected her to venture out on her own to make her own food. Once again, he was reminded that the peoples of Broken Tusk were inventive. He departed with a string of sausages after paying Whisper. Gwyn went her own way, off to the administration building, no doubt.
There were plenty of things for Theo to do. Even with that in mind, he returned to his manor with a string of sausages in hand. The faint buzz of activity echoed throughout the open spaces of the ces, and he found his way to the kitchen. Fenian was talking with someone in one of the many drawing rooms, and someone elses voices carried from somewhere more distant. Sarisa and Rowan had the kitchen fully stocked with food and cookware. A small stove, operated by an artifice me, rested near a shallow bay window.
From the window, Theo could see the garden outside. Bilgrob was sitting in the garden, cross-legged with his eyes closed. The faint swirl of magical energies tinged the air, even from behind the window. He found a seasoned iron pan, ced it on the fire and fried up some sausages. The kitchen was immediately filled with sizzling, popping grease from the meat. An aroma like chorizo filled the area, drawing the attention of the other inhabitants of the manor.
Cooking? Fenian asked, wheeling himself into view.
Fenian had recovered from his wounds. Theo could see the spot where the new arm and leg had grown in, as they were far paler than the rest of his body. Just felt like having something. You know?
I always feel like a sausage.
So, your n. For me, Theo said, pushing the sausages around in the pan. Which realm do you need me to take you to?
Fenian pped his hands together. He winced, shaking his new arm as though the act was painful. His countenance recovered immediately. Balkors realm. I thought you would have figured that one out by now.
Theo flipped the sausages. They were burning on one side, while the other was mostly untouched. He adjusted the heat on the artifice, then removed the pan from the heat. A dead realm, huh? Youre going to lure Karasan there. Then what?
Ah, thats one of those spoilers, isnt it?
While he understood more about the realms every day, that was still outside of his reach. Logically, Fenian would want to trap Karasan somewhere that he couldnt get away. From the stories the alchemist heard, they werent evenly matched. The Elf would win in a one-on-one. But the King of Qavell was slippery, falling through the various realms and the void to get away. He returned the sausages to the heat as he considered the implications.
What are the chances you survive? Theo asked.
At least fifty percent.
Are you nning on resurrecting Balkor?
I hadnt considered it, but thats not a bad idea. How do you resurrect a god, exactly?
Theo gave Fenian a t look. While he always wanted to be annoyed with the Elven trader, there was a charm with his coyness. This little dance they did where the trader pretended that neither of them knew a damn thing about any of this. Yeah, his n was likely to resurrect Balkor. It wasnt a true resurrection. If what he had heard was true, gods didnt truly die.
I imagine bringing a powerful soul to his realm might work, Theo said, removing the sausages and cing them on arge te. Of course, that soul must be willing to join the realm.
Must it? Fenian asked. He winked. I must have missed that detail. May I have one?
Theo skewered one sausage with a fork, then handed it to Fenian. He grabbed one for himself, taking a tentative bite. It was hot in both vor and temperature, forcing the alchemist to second-guess his decision. But the vor was there. Good spice meant good seasoning, and Whisper had done an excellent job.
Theyre quite good, Fenian said, fanning his mouth. A bit too spicy for my taste.
So, you need a ride to Balkors realm. But you can already travel over the Bridge, right? Theo asked. But when you leave the bridge through your pact with UzXulven, youre viting the rules of the heavenly realms. But if I break the rules, what happens?
Thats for the Arbiter to decide.
Thats devious.
Indeed.
Will Karasan go for the bait?
He will.
When Fenian was certain about something, that was the end of the conversation. They found their way to a sitting room on the first floor. It gave them a lovely view of the street outside. The people passing by. People that didnt know they were conspiring to topple a kingdomalthough what there was left of that kingdom was anyones guess. While the Elf imed to dislike the spicy sausages, he helped himself to more.
When you assume the throne, what changes? Theo asked.
Well, the thrones were always meant to be a means of regtion. A way for the best of the best in any realm to assume a seat of power outside the machinations of the masses. A system atop a system with someone at the helm.
Thats what Yuri did, right? He changed the way the heavens work.
Yes, but the thrones are connected. You see, Karasan is part of a group that believes the system is fine as it is. Do you agree with him?
I dont have a say in that. Theo paused for a moment, watching as a couple passed by on the street. It was hot out there. Sweltering, even. They held hands, pushing themselves close to each other as though it were a cold winters day. Whatever my purpose here is, it''s not to judge.
I wouldnt be so sure about that.
Theo shrugged in response. I dont think Karasan was running his kingdom well, but who am I to say? Im not the judge that gets to condemn countless thousands to death.
Are they really dying, though?
That was a discussion they had already had. Theo had no desire to retread old ground, let alone entertaining the idea of who was more worthy of genocide. It was an old song and dance hed seen too many times on Earth. Maybe that meant he was numb to the entire process, making him the worst judge in this case. With Yuri calling the shots from his heavenly realm, that made things worse. But the fact was, Broken Tusk and the Soutnds Alliance was in too deep and there was no point in pulling out.
But a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up that caught Theos attention. It was something that would have entered his intuition before, but he should have caught it on his own. Fenian was hiding something, that was obvious. But so was Karasan. The message imed that the extreme measures the Elf was going through could only mean there was an equal measure on the other side of the coin.
Ignoring Feniansst statement, Theo said, What is Karasan hiding? What sins is he carrying?
Fenian smiled around a sausage, breaking it off then chewing for a moment. Something Im sworn not to tell. Im not being slick with this one, Theo. Im bound to secrecy. If this gambit fails, then eons of nning goes up in a puff of smoke. Just like that. Gone.
Message received, Theo chuckled. This reminded him too much of the Berlin job. I need time to practice, though. I interdicted myself into a lower realm, but the high heavens are far.
As long as you know the mission, I can wait.
They ate the entire string of sausages together, sweating and discussing how much trade had changed. Fenian had been out of it for a long time by now, but his understanding of trade wasnt limited by his condition. He had contacts around the world, feeding him price changes and trade route blockages. Their continent wasnt as important as the others. grot, the home of the ogres, had beenpletely unaffected by the undead. Tarantham, Partopour, and Bantein felt the reverberations of the undead but nothing terrible.
This world was built on the idea of construction and destruction. An endless cycle that the inhabitants became all too used to. That was the concept Fenian and Khahar wanted to destroy. No matter the cost, it was worth it. So long as Broken Tusk never came to harm.
4.55 - Wards and Wills
4.55 - Wards and Wills
It was always a good idea to get some fresh air after talking to Fenian. That guy had so many grand designs going on at the same time, it left Theo feeling drained. How could one man be so single-minded? The alchemist shook off the dust of ambition and went off to check on a few projects. Projects always made him feel better.
Outside of the manor, in the heat of the Season of Fire, things were normal. The alchemist stood on the roads edge for some time, waving at people as they passed by. A breeze blew in from the east, bringing with it the faint scent of the sea. There must have been a powerful gust pushing up from the bay, flooding over the harbor and then the town. The sparse grasses that grew throughout town shook, as though through anticipation. Theo took a deep breath and headed off to the boiler shack.
One advantage of turning mundane buildings into core buildings was their longevity. From what Theo understood, the buildings would never decay so long as there were supplies to keep them repaired within the town. Broken Tusk had infinite storage for materials, allowing them to stockpile absurd amounts of materials. It was part of the strategy that Aarok and Luras cooked up, which wasnt much of a strategy at all. Turtle up, and hope they could oust whatever it was that came to get them.
The boiler shack was an unassuming building between the Artificers Workshop, and Mianas ranch. It rested among saplings and a scatter of unused lumber, humming away endlessly. Even at a distance, the alchemist could feel that the building was ready for an upgrade. Unlike the temple, which seemed hellbent on remaining without upgrades forever. Inside were a group of boilers, fed by copper pipes that snaked their way underground.
Theo pressed the first [Monster Core] into the building, nodding to himself as the building epted it. He didnt get the same feeling he got from true seed core buildings. It was as though this building was siphoning power from the town itself, much like the synergistics upgrades. The alchemist thought about those synergy upgrades as he shoved cores into the building. They were useful, but expensive.
There were several things to note about the way incorporated core buildings worked. As Theo leveled the building up, he observed that the building did not expand in size with every level. Next, the boiler shack leveled past level 5 without receiving an upgrade. That seemed like a low cost to pay for the chance to make any building a core building, and as the shack reached level 10 he finally got a prompt to apply upgrades.
Of course, this process was different as well. He wasnt presented with a list of three things to pick from. He was presented with one option, which was automatically epted by the building. Anything was better than nothing. Theo inspected the Level 10 upgrade.
[Efficient Purification]
All water purifying devices within this building will operate more efficiently.
Less resources to run the shack was good. The shack contained both artifices to purify the water, and a backup alchemy based system. While his original n was to only use alchemy to purify the water, it was soon made evident that they should take advantage of the natural resources of thend. Motes were in abundance. Why not use them? The alchemist continued on with the upgrade, intent on seeing what Level 20 would bring him. As expected, Level 15 brought nothing. At least Level 20 brought something interesting. He inspected the option, only after it selected itself.
[Rapid Heating]
The time required to purify water by heat is halved.
That was a pretty good upgrade. Theo knew little about how long the individual boilers took to heat the water up. The [me Artifice] design Throk had used to design the shack was pretty old. They made up for this fact by putting a bunch of heating elements in there. It was likely that the upgrades the alchemist just applied only brought the boilers up to standard. That was a better alternative than bothering Throk for another job.
One less angry Marshling to deal with, Theo muttered, exiting the building.
Level 20 was fine for now. The boiler shack didnt really need upgrades. Not like the other production buildings in town. It was just a fun thing to do. Before heading off to inspect Zizs work, he renamed and inspected the building.
[Boiler Shack]
[Love Shack]
Owner: [Broken Tusk]
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 20 (2%)
Rent Due: 4 Days
Expansions:
[Efficient Heating]
[Rapid Heating]
Heh.
The harbor was an interesting mix of people. Laedria had recruited a few foreign workers to help her build the boats. Theo didnt recall seeing another trade ship enter port, but brushed it off. She also drew from the rowdy natives of the town, bolstering her gging work force. The bulk of her people were sailing to Tarantham or the lizard inds. Those mysterious inds, just a hop and a skip over the ocean to the south, still didnt have a name in the alchemists mind. The Elven shipwright was far too busy to speak, but gave in to brief pleasantries before vanishing behind a halfpleted boat.
Focusing on building a fleet of trade-style ships, Laedria had thrown herself into her craft. Theo knew nothing of boats, but they floated. Better still, they moved when the sails caught the wind. Shadows swirled nearbythest stretch of shaded area from here to the beachand Rowan sprung forth. He looked frustrated. Maybe slightly annoyed.
Hot day, Rowan said, grimacing.
Theo fished a vial of the cooling gel from his inventory, holding it out for his bodyguard to take. Rowan tried, and failed, to dump it over his head. Instead, he thered it on his skin, breathing a sigh of relief. The alchemist tried some of the gel, putting thin strips of it on his neck. The effect was immediate and intense, as though someone was holding ice cubes against his skin.
This stuff is pretty nice, Theo said, leading Rowan toward the retaining wall of the canal.
They walked along the canals edge like kids on railroad tracks. The water flowed from the river, racing through the tract ofnd before impacting the rushing seawater. Rowan had a few things to say as they walked. Both he and Sarisa were interested in actually training with Theo and Tresk. A desire for more power wasnt at all umon for people. It didnt really matter what world they were in, they always wanted either themselves or things to be better.
Been a few slow weeks, huh? Rowan asked.
The coast was in sight by the time he asked the question.
Mercifully slow. Like any good summer should be.
Thats what you call the Season of Fire, right?
Yeah. We also dont just cram all the days into one season. We have a few months per season.
Weird.
Before Zizs work, the retaining wall ran to the ocean and stopped. Theo stood at the edge of the old end, staring off at the Half-Ogres newest creation. Two causeways raced out into the bay, both ending with a tower that stood taller than the walls back in town. A bridge spanned between the towers near the top. The walkways out to sea were wider than the wall in the canal, allowing four people to walk shoulder-to-shoulder. The pair walked out onto the path, passing by other citizens as they went.
It was nice that people wanted to get out and enjoy nature, but there were dangers involved. From what Theo understood, the dungeon didnt spawn monsters directly on top of itself. Those generated monsters could spawn anywhere around the dungeon, circumventing the original idea of the underwater tower. The new value of this effort rested in the concept of controlling the dungeon with Xolsas [Dungeon Engineers Core].
Damn, this is pretty, Theo said. They had arrived at one tower and had taken to ascending the stairs. Built directly into the tower itself, the stairs spiraled upward. Tiny windows gave them different views of the world outside, until they emerged onto the bridge spanning the two towers.
Im uncertain of the defensive value here, Rowan said, folding his arms. But it does look neat.
I agree, Theo said, gazing out into the bay. He could see the Cork fishing near the barrier inds in the distance. Barely more than speck on the horizon. Come. Lets ascend to the top. Then the bottom.
Theo and Rowan stood atop the tower. They could almost see Broken Tusk from here, but it was too distant. A low haze had fallen over the swamp, which was unsurprising. The alchemist leaned over the edge of the tower, spotting fish moving around in the calmer sections of the bay. The area at the top of the tower provided enough space for Throks rail gun, but little else.
Hmmm. Did you end up serving in the Irregrs? Theo asked.
Didnt get that far.
Huh. You already told me that, didnt you? Well, how would you defend the bay?
Rowan looked back toward the canal, then out to the bay. He scanned the area, some kind of instinct taking over as he formed a n in his mind. Imagine you have a weapon to repel invaders. The new gun youre working on. Why wouldnt the invaders have something simr?
Theo smiled at his bodyguard. Making the assumption that attackers wouldnt have simr technology was silly. Assuming they didnt have siege techniques beyond hisprehension was another folly. Broken Tusk had always relied on the powerful nations of the world being too busy to deal with them. He stood there for a long time, his mind splitting in several directions as he thought.
Several of those disparate strands of thought joined together at the same time. Something shivered in his chest as the realization of another ward trigger flooded into his [Toruaun Mages Core]. Theo knelt to the ground, pressing his hand against the warm stone of the tower. He searched it tentatively, squeezing out as much of his senses as he could. They were underdeveloped, giving him only a vague sense of how agreeable the stone was for his wards.
Seems like this would take a lot of mana, Theo said, drawing himself up again.
Your warding magic?
The alchemist drank an [Intelligence Potion]. His mind buzzed as though stung by electric bees. Thoughts expanding out like a balloon, he understood slightly more of what he needed to ward the entire tower. In Toruauns tongue he chanted a new spell, his mind focused inward as he cast. Mana flowed from his body like the river feeding into the sea. An endless pour into a gluttonous mouth.
Ten high-grade [Mana Potions]ter, and the spell was taking shape. Pure mana from the Demon Queen of Mysteries stung the air. Rowan swatted stray clouds of the magic away as though he were pping at hungry mosquitoes. The spell formation wasnt even thatplex. He formed the [Shield]ponent of his spells with the [Detect Attack] trigger he had just learned. Inteced with a few extra supportive rings, it wasnt even the most difficult spell circle he had crafted. But binding it to the entire tower was daunting.
You alright, boss? Rowan asked.
Theo gritted his teeth, downing another [Mana Potion]. Good thing these potions dont fill me up, he grunted. Yeah, this binding is . Feels like theres an entireyer of spellwork under this thing.
How does it normally feel?
Like Im painting the spellwords on a wall. Now it feels like Im attaching each point of the spell to a ce on the tower, Theo said. He continued his chanting as Rowan watched, concern flitting across the Half-Ogres face.
Hold on. No, not literallykeep doing your thing, Rowan said, running into the tower. He vanished for quite some time.
Theo managed to attach more of the spell to the tower, slicing parts out that werent working for different poems. Each failure resulted in a small spike of experience for his mage core. It felt like he was wrestling with the tower itself. Almost like it had a will of its own.
Yep! Rowan said, huffing as he ascended the stairs. Sledge did the incorporation thing on the tower already.
The alchemist groaned. After the revtion, he could feel it. He wasnt wrestling with the stones of some massive tower, he was fighting against the willpower of the town. The moment he thought of a battle of wills, he could feel something in the back of his mind. A scouring spotlight examining his distress. A faint popping sound issued from behind him, then a squeal of excitement and a honk.
Did somebody think about willpower? Tresk asked. Well, Ive been described as having a mountainous willpower, dwarfing all others by more than one person. Even a god!
Theo groaned, wrapping his mana around the stable formations and keeping them there. Khahar said it was like an ocean.
I thought he said mountain, Tresk said.
Help me, please.
The pressure of the towns will lifted in an instant. The spell snapped into ce without another word chanted. Theo fell back in a heap, breathing a sigh of relief. Only now did he realize how low the sun had gotten in the sky. It was closer to dusk than noon by this point.
Damn. Thanks, Theo said.
And I helped! Alex proimed.
Yes, youre a good goose. Who''s a good goose? You are!
The underpinnings of the ward felt slightly different. All that work to get the spellwords attached to the right spots had left something of a mark on the tower. Something Theo could follow with his weak senses, tracking connections throughout the building. He couldnt tell exactly what it was, but histest mage ability for his core had changed the spellwork.
How fast do you think Xolsa woulde if I called him? Theo asked, examining the ward.
Immediately, Tresk said.
Theo sent an alert for the wizard toe to the tower, then read the description on the ward.
[Defense]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive barrier. Barrier only responds when attacked.
Trigger:
Detect Attack
Duration:
5 days.
The second tier version of the [Defense] ward wasnt much to look at. But the magical base of the ward was powerful. The principles he learned from the action were more important than anything else. Theo could ward the walls. With whatever he wanted to, so long as he had Tresk nearby. The Marshling wouldnt mention it, but the effort she put into overpowering the town was vast. Something deep within her had drained away, leaving exhaustion in its wake.
Easy as pie, Tresk said, hiding her shallow breaths.
Lets check it out while we wait, Theo said, leading the way down the stairs.
The group gathered on the causeway, standing far enough to see the effects of the shield. But they were close enough that Theo could toss a dagger to activate his new ward. Once everyone was assembled, he removed an unimbued knife from his inventory and tossed it with force, directly at the tower. Before the weapon could tter against the white stone, the familiar shield sprung up. It moved in uneven patterns at first, as though it was struggling against its own shape. Shimmering white energy sted outward until it formed the shape of a bubble covering the entire tower.
Thats a big shield, Rowan said, gazing at the spectacle.
We should shoot it with a rail gun, Tresk added.
Honk!
The ward settled down after a while, copsing into the tower and bing inactive. The group chatted about the new defensive measure while they waited for Xolsa. After a few minutes, his shimmering portal of blue and silver sprung up along the causeway. The wizard stepped out, Zarali following close behind.
Hey guys, Theo said, waving. Look what I did.
Youre studying? Xolsa asked. Without being berated by me? Magical experimentations, and I didnt need to p you upside the head?
Our little Theo is growing up, Zarali cooed.
Xolsa chuckled dryly, then held out his hand. A webwork of arcane symbols sprung out, forming an ever-expanding circle from his palm. The air stung with magical power, visible motes of energy flowing from the Elfs body. Without warning he closed his fist, sending a ripple of power over the waves to either side.
There are some very interesting interactions going on here, Xolsa said, withdrawing a small ck notebook and a pen. He took some notes. Im d you called for me. This might help me understand a problem Im
The Elf narrowed his gaze, spinning around to re at his portal. A confused-looking Half-Ogre stepped out of the portal. Uh. This isnt the town
Xolsa stomped over to the lost adventurer, shoving him toward the glowing portal. Give me five minutes. Ill point the portal back to town when Im done here. Shoo! Off with you!
The adventurer fell into the portal, hands held up defensively as the Elf banished him. With a frustrated breath, Xolsa turned back to the group. Now. Where were we? Right. Magic. Your bindings are weak. Anchors are almost non-existent.
But it worked.
Im proud of you, Theo, Zarali said, pping her hands.
But the ward was a team effort. Without Tresks willpower the spell wouldnt have formed. Those underpinnings werentplex, it was the opposing will that made the task hard. The alchemist settled on his first analogy as the correct one. Painting a picture versus connecting distinct pieces of an image. While he wanted to do it, Theo decided not to shoot their new tower with a rail gun.
4.56 - Lizard Dudes
4.56 - Lizard Dudes
Terogal was unrecognizable. Theo stood near his fields of spirit fruit, eyes lingering over the crowds that had assembled to wee him. Benton and Belgar led the procession, singing a song and waving banners. The alchemist was immediately ufortable with the admiration. He had hardly provided anything to the lost souls of the void. But safe haven and a diet of spirit fruit did wonders for the wayward spirits. The assembled weing party wasnt even the most noticeable change about the realm.
With the expansion of thendmass, and expansive forests, the lost souls had created a town. The workmanship of some buildings was questionable, and the road didnt always move in a straight direction. Wisps of smoke rose from chimneys while the scent of baked goods lingered in the air. Benton pulled the alchemist into a tight hug,ughing as he gestured to the assembled group. They represented a vast range of races from the world, even some he hadnt seen before.
This is like nothing else, Theo, Benton said, refusing to let him out of the hug.
Alright I still need to breathe in this realm.
Benton released him, pping the alchemist on the back. I knew there was something funny about your realm from the start. Its like a ma for lost souls.
Theos eyes lingered not over the souls he had epted, but those awaiting his approval. Another fifty-something people were waiting for his blessing. Were things getting out of hand, or was this just a one-off rush of the lost hearing about his realm? As if answering his thoughts, space rippled nearby and Khahar stepped out.
Good to see you mingling, Theo, the Arbiter said with a chuckle. He nodded to the bear god. Come for a walk, old friend.
Theo didnt object, he just fell in line with Khahar, tracking a path around the gathered ground and through the vige. The closer he got to the homes, the more he realized how well the spirits had done. Without cores, they had assembled an eptable grouping of homes. That was more than he could have done. The duo found their way to one harvesting array. It was a grouping of metal tes, coated on top with a ck material, that spread out like the petals on a flower. Dotting the area were massive towers that stabbed skyward. Those were little more than in stone towers, each topped with a gem.
Khahar sat on a log, hunched forward with his hands steepled. This is about as far as I saw before I ascended.
Yeah, Id like to know what this is. Terogal doesnt make sense, if you think about the way the other gods work.
Well, youre not a god. The system doesnt know what to do with what you are, so it lets you tap into the god system. When each throne is upied, youll be something else entirely.
Neat. How do I get Fenian to Balkors realm? Theo asked. He hadnt taken a seat next to his old friend. There was still much of his realm to explore. Even more when he epted those spirits into his embrace.
Youve been practicing. Youll need Tresk and Alexs power.
My interdiction practice. Gotcha. So, is this my entire purpose? To slingshot Fenian so he can kill Karasan so he can take the throne so he can do what, exactly?
Remake the world, of course. No, this isnt your purpose. Ive said this before, but I didnt know it was you that was being brought over. All I knew was that there was someone entering the body of a Drogramathi man. Drogramath and I conspired, pushing things over the eons to make your bond happen. The key is the twins, you know.
The twin Marshling gods? Theo asked.
Yes. They found a simr path to godhood, but Well, theyre not true gods. Theyre like you. Destined to sit where you sit, they bit the hands that fed them.
They bit your hand. But you dont seem mad about it.
Khahar shrugged. You cant fault someone for taking control of their destiny. Making themselves more than they were.
So what happens if I refuse to help?
Khahar turned his gaze to Theo, piercing him with those sand-colored eyes. While I hope you wont do that, I wont stop you. Well adjust our n and move forward. Time marches on.
You know I believe in Fenians idiot n too much. Hes bringing Balkor back, isnt he?
Not really. Kind of. Well, were going to find out. Balkor broke an oath no god can break. He moved his physical body into the mortal realm. We dont know what will happen to his soul when his realm is returned. Perhaps thats just another scheme in a long line of schemes.
Alright. Enough talking shop. How are you doing? How is Khahak and the other realms?
Khaharughed Yurisugh, cing aforting hand on Theos shoulder. Order has been restored to the heavens.
Theo and Khahar chatted for a few hours. The spot he had selected near the forest was lovely. Errant breezes blew across the open fields, rustling the leaves within the forest. It created a pleasant, soothing sound that seemed to wash away all the alchemists worries. The Arbiter was spending a lot of his time enforcing thew of the heavens. When he wasnt doing that, he was pursing things he enjoyed back on Earth. Things he couldnt do as the leader of the Khahari. Fishing, ying cards, and of course his metalworking.
Yuri had worked his way through the Moscovian spywork as a support specialist, not an asset. Theo had only seen the mans metal sculptures a few times, and he wasnt impressed. Art wasnt the alchemists strongest affinity, and he wouldnt pretend otherwise. At the end of his life, he had gained a new appreciation for the things his old friend created. Something to leave behind. Even if it would have been destroyed by the sun.
Khahar departed after having some tea with Benton. The bear god had brought some new confections. Sweet things that Theo didnt even have a name for. As always, they were incredibly delicious. Then it was time for business. epting the new souls into Terogal. They all formed an orderly line and pledged themselves to the realm. After getting the alchemists blessing, the wandered off to explore their new realm.
With every soul epted, the realm grew a bit more. It was hard to tell how much it was growing, but Theo assumed it would double in size after he finished. He would also get another upgrade, which he was looking forward to. But the work was exhausting. He realized it was taking more than his physical stamina to ept the new people, dipping into a resource he didnt know he had. Some manner of spiritual endurance trickled out of him with every new soul.
Theo moved away from the group after finishing the job, mopping his brow with a rag. He stripped down, stowing his clothes in his inventory, before plunging into the cold spring water. His body seized with the shock at first, but quickly adapted. The water was cool and clear, a purifying current to scour the stain of exhaustion from his soul. When Belgar drew close to the pool, taking tentative steps, he withdrew Zaralistest note and exchanged it for the Dronons.
The spirits Theo had epted gave him three upgrades worth of levels. Three upgrades he had to thumb through, finding the best one. While the alchemist had intended to select the [Bubble] upgrade, the three new ones he was presented with were pretty good. He went through them one at a time, reserving his judgment until he was done.
[Anchor Point]
Creates a spiritual anchor point within your realm. So long as there is power within your realm, you may use this anchor to navigate through the void.
This upgrade was questionable to Theo. He didnt have trouble finding Terogal, thanks to his Tarahek skill. The urge he had was to take the skill, then dive into the void to make it work. But the other upgrades were also very good. He didnt select the upgrade, moving on to inspect the next one.
[Landscape Maniption]
Allows the owner(s) of this realm to manipte thendscape. They may move, add, and change thendscape at the cost of realm power.
Theo selected this upgrade as one of his three picks right away. Changing the way Terogal looked would be awesome. Currently, it was a nk reflection of what he and Tresk wanted out of their realm. But there were spots that would be better suited for other purposes. The alchemist moved on to thest avable skill.
[Guardians of Faith]
Guardian of Faith allows the realm to generate heavenly defenders. The amount of defenders is equal to half the total number of souls.
This one was interesting. The alchemist didnt know how good the souls in his realm were at defending it. He had the towers, but that was it. This was aparison of [Bubble], [Anchor Point], and [Guardians of Faith]. He could only pick two. Several hours passed by before he decided. More souls woulde, and he would get the option to pick [Anchor Point] again. For now, he picked [Guardians of Faith] and [Bubble]. He inspected the realm after that.
[TeroGal]
Mortal Dreamrealm
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 26
Souls: 109
Expansions:
[Harvesting Array]
[Defensive Towers]
[Landscape Maniption]
[Guardians of Faith]
[Bubble]
Pending Requests: 0
Theo didnt have the desire to craft anything while he was within the realm. He got dressed and picked a [Fairy Plum] from the grove and moved off, traveling through his new realm without an aim. No one joined him, leaving him to his exploration. The alchemist took his first bite of the incredibly sweet fruit before getting a system message.
[Spirit Fruit Consumed]!
You have eaten a portion of a spirit fruit. Your natural wisdom has increased slightly. You may only eat one whole spirit fruit per day.
[Property Discovered]!
Deconstructing the [Fairy Plum] has revealed the property: [Fairys Blessing]
As always with the spirit fruit, the properties seemed tied to some lore. Theo didnt know what a fairys blessing would be, but it was the fruit representing Wisdom. And it was delicious. A bit too sweet for his taste, but that was to be expected. Even the sweetest thing Benton could create paled whenpared. But the rate at which the fruit grew was slow with only a few sprouting every real-world day. At first, the alchemist thought the residents of Terogal were eating them. He was corrected earlier, and had thought nothing more of it.
There were bigger problems to consider within the realm. With the expansion of the realm came the expansion of his time within. But even those extra hours werent enough for him to travel across the length of thend. He made it as far as a mountain range to the west before giving up at the base of those jagged crags. As the owner of the realm, he should have been able to move around it freely. But whatever technique allowed him to do so escaped his grasp. Instead, he rxed in a forest, near a babbling brook.
Something to note about Terogal was that there was no wildlife. No creatures roamed thend. There didnt seem to be seasons, although things grew. It was a confusingparison between here and the real world. Theo thought about that for a while before diving back to the mortal realm. Food had already been prepared, and he was eager to eat.
Fenian was looking more healthy by the day. Theo was confident the man could stand, but he remained in his wheelchair. The alchemist ate as quickly as he could, dragging Tresk over to the bathhouse. As expected, others had weed themselves into his private room. He didnt mind, happily sharing it with the other citizens. No matter how much they insisted, he made them stay. Tomorrow was a big day, and it was all he could think about.
ording to Alrans reports, their liaison to the lizard inds to the south would return tomorrow. Withpany. That was enough to drive Theo to bed as quickly as possible, sending him, Tresk, and Alex off to the Dreamwalk. As always, the Marshling was eager to strategize. The alchemist wanted to go over their cores.
The progress for their [Tarahek Core] had ceased. It refused to gain another point of experience and they couldnt figure it out. Theos alchemy and herbalist cores were moving along, although it was quite slow. His [Governance Core] had recently reached level 30, and fell in line with the [Tarahek Core], refusing to move. He would inspect the avable skills for that coreter. The only core of his that was getting decent experience was his [Toruaun Mages Core], which was at level 14.
Same thing for me, Tresk said, dangling her feet over the harbors edge.
Theo picked through skills for his [Governance Core]. Thest ability he got for that core was [National Status], something that seemed made for leaders of nations. It allowed him and his administrators to see information about the entire nation. The ability created a new tab in their administration screens, providing vital information about the other towns in their territory. He was searching for an ability that synergized with [National Status]. Instead, he found a few abilities that would help the towns during attacks, settling on one.
[Rally]
Governance Skill
Epic
Grants the leader of each town the ability to use the [Rally] effect once every 5 days. This effectsts one hour. The cooldown is per town leader.
Effect:
[Rally] grants all allies within a town enhanced abilities. Increases all attributes by 1.25x, damage by 1.15x, health regeneration by 1.5x, mana regeneration by 1.75x, and stamina regeneration by 1.5x.
The cooldown on that ability was bad, but the effect was good. Theo selected that as his level 30 ability for his [Governance Core]. Then he and Tresk got to discussing their halted progress.
I bet it has to do with our personal levels. Once those get to level 30, well be good, Tresk said.
That might be true. Or theres another barrier. People are always talking about level 30. The training wheelse off after that.
That sounds scary.
Theo stroked Alex, shaking his head. No, we just need to be ready. I think were more prepared than most.
Especially since youre a champion. How does it feel?
No idea. Ive been one this whole time and I didnt know it. I dont know what it feels like to not be a champion. You saw how Fenian fought those Zagmon Dronon. Do you think I can do something like that?
Doubt it! Tresk shouted, falling back to stare up at the sky. Youre the champion for a nonbat ss. Just makes your potions better, doesnt it?
Theo fell back with hispanion onto the hard ground. Yeah. Thats true. He continued, exining the situation in Terogal. Tresk had apparently already visited today. She just forgot to tell him about the line of souls waiting for some kind of absolution. But she was excited to see how their world had changed. And eager to exert her will to teleport around the ce. If anyone could do it, she could.
They lingered on the topic of their realm and Fenian for a while. Tresk was the most distrustful person Theo had met in his life, but she liked the Elf. That might have been because of her internal doctrine of burn it all to the ground and let the gods sort them out. Theo had to convince himself that they were doing the right thing. That the souls would arrive in a better ce after they were gone. He still didnt believe it. What he knew was that he knew less than Khahar. He knew who Yuri was sixty-thousand years ago.
It was good enough.
Theo and Tresk had been spending more and more of their time rxing. They didnt grind experience while they were in the Dreamwalk today. They hung out and helped Alex get better with her nature aspect. The Marshling was a shockingly good teacher. That was only because the system that familiars got fell in line with her strengths. It was more about understanding herself as a goose with magic powers than selecting an ability from a list. The way she summoned the vines fell closer to maniption of will than anything else.
Alexs control was increasing by the day. Once she broke into the realm of nature, she took off like a goose in flight. Her powers focused on the maniption of natural elements, such as nts, but extended beyond that. The vines she conjured werent a magic spell that summoned vines. She forced her will into existing nt life, twisting it to be those vines.
You have an affinity for this, Theo said, watching as Alex forced a de of grass to be a spiked vine.
Affinity? Tresk scoffed. Nah. She has stubborn, hard-headed willpower. Just like her mama.
Mama! Alex honked.
Or shes borrowing the will from you.
Hey, theres no shame in that. You do it all the time, Tresk said. But, no. Im not lending her a drop of my will. Shes doing this all herself. Arent you, cutie?
Honk honk!
Alex often reverted to her goose-self when she got excited. She pped her wings, honking repeatedly as more vines sprung up. Once she got the hang of her nature powers, Theo would consider her one of three wizards in town. She would likely be the second-most skilled user of magic. He was always hopeless when it came to magical studies, always sticking to what he knew. But the power of his [Toruaun Mages Core] was being wasted. Wasnt it?
The alchemist would look to Alex for inspiration. Motivation to be better at the gift given to him by the Queen of Mystery. Even if that gift came with invisible strings he knew were there. Theo turned to the goose and smiled. Alright. Back to training. We need to meet some lizard-dudes tomorrow.
Lizard dudes! Tresk shouted, pumping her fist. My ancestors!
Hoooonk!
4.57 - Meeting the Lizard-Folk
4.57 - Meeting the Lizard-Folk
Theo could hardly think about breakfast the next morning. Despite Xams amazing cooking, his mind was firmly ced on the date. It was the twentieth day of the Season of Fire. The day when the expedition to the lizard-inds was scheduled to return. The alchemist knew that his excitement was an emotion belonging to Tresk. Her thoughts seemed centered entirely on her ancestors. The chain of inds that held her people was istionist, ording to Fenian.
There were several things to be concerned about with the alliances first contact. They could react poorly to outsidersing in, even if it was lost kin. Theo busied himself with his breakfast, focusing on the way things could go right. If he allowed his thoughts to linger on how things could go wrong, he would fall into a spiral. It was best to stay on top of those things.
What do you think they call themselves? Tresk asked.
Theozily speared a sausage with his fork, shrugging. The lizard-folk? Not sure.
Humantiles, Tresk said, nodding with resolute conviction. Mantiles? I like that one better.
You just put the words human and reptile together. I dont think an entire civilization would build their identity on that.
But they could!
Theo busied himself with his administration reports, unable to keep hisughter back. Tresk gave him a sly look, nodding to herself with approval. There were a few things to note within the reports. Gronro needed more juice to fight the undead. That wasnt surprising. They effectively got the means to keep the undead back for free. It wasnt an arrangement the alchemist hated. Since the brave defenders in the north provided a protective curtain, he would pay any price.
As expected, the tactical maps and chat that Aarok had ess to was on fire. The small fleet of boats they had in the bay had reported no activity that morning, so there was no reason to rush. Any attack on the town would take ce onnd, anyway. Theo skimmed through the messages, anyway. It was better to be prepared than to be caught with his pants down.
Xolsa wrote a fewints to the town about the monster waves. He had failed to check the schedule to see that the expedition was returning today. Instead of taking charge of his mistake, he med others. There was a tone of frustration in hisints that resonated with Theo more than he cared to admit. The alchemist liked doing things when he wanted to do them, not on someone elses schedule.
Tresk left with Alex and Fenian to join the militia. The Elven trader was well enough to stand. Anyone who would attack the town with him around was in for a surprise. Theo remained behind, sipping tea with Rowan and Sarisa for a while before heading out to talk with Salire. There were always orders in at the alchemy shop, and it wouldnt hurt to get another batch of [Hallow Ground Essence] rolling for the day.
While it was difficult to handle the raw truffle, the alchemist was happy enough to let his apprentice take the wheel on this one. There were enough truffles in his stocks to supply Gronro for a while, so a bit of waste wasnt bad. Salire needed the practice, anyway. Well, she needed to grind a ton of experience and practice her mana control. Unlike Theo, she hadnt abandoned her dreams of bing a shopkeeper. She still held that core in her chest, leveling it every day. Without the responsibilities of running a town, she was free to pursue that.
Before they headed off to the Newt and Demon, Theo lingered near the entrance of his manor. It was normally bustling with activity. That morning, it was cleared out. It was a kind of silence he didnt know he hated. The alchemist left before more of the deafening sound could darken his day, heading off to meet with the bubbly Half-Ogre. She was, as always, excited to get to work. Rowan and Sarisa ran off to help with the assembling military while they prepared a fair amount of their [Swamp Truffle] stock.
The task was a simple one with so many stills. Thim and Throks modifications to the old design made things easier. The tube system running overhead made it easier still. Gone were the days of worrying about mixing two essences. The magic of the building took care of that, and the pair pulled flexible pipes down from the rafters. They attached them to the condensers outputs and activated the suction feature.
Are you that worried about the envoy? Salire asked.
Theo was standing over a table, carving out and enchanting several bone knives. He looked up from his work, tilting his head to the side as he thought about it. Being worried about everything kept him alive back on Earth. A paranoia that always rested below the surface, no matter how cool his countenance. Im worried about everything. So, yes. Im worried about the lizard-folk. Do they even speak Qavelli?
You know more than just Qavelli, right?
Well, yeah. I hope they speak Bantari.
Hmmm. What are the chances of that?
Wisdom of the Soul suggested that they might speak a sisternguage of Bantari. That was based on Theos knowledge of the Marshlings migration to the maind. But if the boat returned from the inds, they made contact.
The work went on for a while before Theo was called into action. He made a fewst-minute adjustments to the stills before handing it off to his assistant. The administration staff had assembled with some of the military staff in the harbor. Alise, Gwyn, and Gael representing the admins. Aarok, Luras, and Alran were there to represent the military staff. Azrug stood off to the side with Xolsa, Zarali, and Fenian.
The Cork reported to me a few minutes ago, Alise said, bouncing on the spot. She was more excited than normal. They reported that all is well on the deck. A few lizard-folk and our own people.
Good. Guess I was worried about nothing, Theo said.
The group stood on the battlements on the harbor, looking over the canal and out into the bay. The Cork wasnt even visible at that moment, but Theo would trust their reports for now. Tension, hanging in the air, broke after several minutes. In ssic fashion, the Broken Tuskers got bored of being worried, breaking into small groups that chatted about the iing lizard-folk. The alchemist sensed Tresk nearby, running around with the stealthers to do whatever it was they did. He guessed they were ranging around the canal, or down near the shore.
An hour passed with nothing happening. Then the advanced scouts reported sightings of their boat pushing through the bay. It was escorted by the Cork and one of their remaining merchant vessels. Theo finally got a look at the emissaries from the lizard-folk as the boat worked its way up the canal. Dressed in flowing robes of gold, a blue-skinned scaly lizard-person stood near the front. They were far taller than Marshlings. Almost as tall as a Half-Ogre or Dronon. Where a Marshlings features reminded the alchemist of a smander, or an axolotl, this lizard person looked more like a ssic lizard. Blue scales, with greenish frills on their head that blew in the wind.
Sword at their hip, and a quarterstaff in hand, they struck an imposing image.
Ready? Alise asked.
Damn. Im supposed to give some kind of speech. Right? Theo asked, rubbing his chin. Do we know if they speak Qavelli?
Im not sure, Alise said, checking her notes.
Theo cleared his throat, descending the steps as the ships passed by underneath. He locked eyes with the lizard-person for a moment, then felt an intense pressure wash over him. It faded in a moment, but was still noticeable. The alchemist rolled his shoulders, then found his way to the dock. What few dockhands were left tended to the vessel, positioning and dropping a gang nk.
You got this, buddy, Tresk said, sensing his difort.
Fenian rested aforting hand on the alchemists shoulder. He was just d that the baby''s arm was gone. Make your opening statement in Bantari. This is Xquiq Akubae. A spiritual leader of the Saetalein Yaax.
Yeah, that would have been useful when we were eating breakfast.
Fenian shrugged. I didnt know which one they would send.
Theo took a deep breath as the majestic lizard-person descended the nk, attended by several other lizard-folk. He tried his best to keep his ent out of his speech, channeling some of Tresks knowledge. Wee to Broken Tusk and the Soutnds Alliance. My name is Theo Spencer and I wee you.
Tresk was suddenly at his side, radiating a sense of extremefort.
I ept your wee, Xquiq said with a shallow bow. Xquiq Akubae Saetalein Yaax Nojoh.
Did he say his name was Squeak? I like it, Tresk whispered.
The lizard-person emissary smiled, nodding to Tresk. I am happy to be called Squeak within your borders, lost sister.
Squeak spoke perfect Bantari. Far better than Theo could manage on his own. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up, providing the alchemist with a bit more information about the lizard-person. His name was Xquiq and he was from the city of Akubae. He was part of a subrace called the Najoh, which belonged to the Saetalein Yaax chain of inds to the south. The alchemist felt some familiarity with the style of those names, but it was a distant thing. As though he had seen simr text in a book a lifetime ago.
Shall we discuss matters in private? Theo offered, gesturing toward the town.
Of course, Squeak said with another shallow bow. I hope my attendants can apany me.
Absolutely. Do you need any snacks?
Oh, I wouldnt say no to snacks.
Rowan, could you get a cheese tter or something from Xam? Theo asked, turning to locate his bodyguard. He couldnt spot the Half-Ogre, but Gael stepped up to the te.
Tresk joined by Theo and Squeaks side as they walked the streets of Broken Tusk. The lizard-mans guards lingered back with the administration staff, trailing close behind them.
You caught us in a rare time of peace, Squeak said, his lips curled. Theo suspected that was his attempt at a smile.
Ah, well Were at war. I guess, Theo said with a shrug. Im sure you heard about the undead.
Our seers have brought that to my attention. Although I hope you understand, I am not the leader of my people.
Were just happy to make contact with the sons and daughters of Saetalein Yaax, Tresk said, nodding eagerly.
Is that so? Squeak asked, raising one scaled brow. Perhaps youll enjoy learning Yaxian. The localnguage.
Broken Tusk is very excited to take part in cultural exchanges. But Ill be honest with you. Were more interested in trade than anything else. Alliances with outside nations, Theo said. The group was approaching the town hall.
Squeak clicked his tongue, then nodded. That is understandable.
Theo spotted the administration staff rushing up and down the staircases, clearly just having prepared a room on the third floor. The group ascended, finding themselves in amon meeting room. It gave them a pleasant view of the western gate and the surrounding businesses. Citizens went about their days as though it were any other. Unbothered by the envoys arrival. They all took their seats within the meeting room. Fenian, Azrug, Gwyn, and Gael all waited in the wings, leaving the meeting to Tresk, Theo, and Alise.
It was a curious thing watching Alise attend the meeting. She had prepared well for her meeting with the Yaxi people, but she had neglected to learn any Bantari. The administrator had a confused look on her face, but nodded along when anyone spoke.
Forgive me if this is rude, great leader of Broken Tusk, Squeak said, bowing his head toward the alchemist. But why is it you wish to conduct trade? One doesnt require a satet to see you are well-off.
Theo looked to Tresk. He didnt understand one of those words.
Uh Well Tresk said in Qavelli. High perch?
That was good enough for Theo. He nodded as he understood the meaning. Good observation. But we gained this position by being proactive. And some really favorable conditions. As much as we could provide you with important goods, you could do the same for us.
Well, Im happy to hear that.
A knock came at the door, then a procession of people carrying trays. Dried meats, cheeses, and t Zee bread scattered across tters. They were arranged over the table neatly, and Squeak was immediately licking his lips. He was the first to reach over, grabbing both cheese and meat even before the porters left.
You would have won me over with the cheese alone, Squeak said, tossing a small brick of cheese into his mouth. He closed his eyes as he ate, finally letting out a heavy sigh as his eyes snapped open. Before we talk trade, I would present you with an offer.
Please.
Open borders and a ferry that runs between our twonds.
Theo turned to Alise, expecting her to object. He realized she couldnt understand the man, so he repeated the offer.
Oh, I dont see a problem with that. I need to run it by Aarok, but every Bantari Marshling in town is talking about this meeting. This is a chance to exchange cultures that none have had in the past. Seems too good to pass up. Right?
Agreed, Theo said in Qavelli. He switched to Bantari again. Were excited about that. Were building out our fleet, but Im sure we can use the boats for a double-purpose. Trade and passengers shouldnt be a problem.
And youll skip across the ocean quicker with our assistance, Squeak said, smiling. Not through magic or technology. We fished the coast of the maind in the past. We know the best routes.
We cede to your wisdom, Theo said,ughing.
Alright. Were best friends now, Tresk said, drumming her fingers on the table. I need to know. Do people like me still exist in Saetalein?
Squeak gave her a heart-warming smile. Even with his lizard-like features, there was a warmness that radiated forth. They are called Wotox. They are simr to the Bantari in both appearance andnguage. Which is why we are able to have this meeting, I suppose.
Tresk and Squeak spoke about unimportant things for quite some time. The envoy of the lizard-folk was happy to go on about his homnd. The Marshling wouldnt stop asking stupid questions, and he wouldnt stop answering them. But Theo let them go on for as long as they wanted. He knew that she needed this. It was always just under the surface for her.
And it was strange to consider how close those inds were. Somehow, the Yaxian people remained cloistered. It wasnt as though they were entirely uncontacted, they just didnt like hanging out with other peoples. But the Bantari werent just some random group of Humans, Elves, or Ogres. They were descendants of the Wotox.
Squeak let his eyes drag between Theo and Tresk, a smile resting on his face. You must have expected me to ask this, he said, chomping another piece of cheese. How did you achieve the Tarahek bond?
Theo and Tresk shared a look, trying not to let the surprise they felt bleed into their expressions. This was the question that had lingered in the alchemists mind. Surely the progenitors of the Bantari race should know more about it. He didnt need his Wisdom of the Soul messages to let him know Squeak was being truthful. Better to weasel his way out of the question.
We dont know how it happened. Well, I suppose we felt it, Theo said. After that, it was easy to establish the Tarahek.
Squeak leaned in. And that realm Im feeling? he asked, sniffing the air. It is a heady mixture of mortal and godly scents.
Thats moreplicated, Theo said.
Squeak smiled once again. No matter. There have been several Tarahek bonds within the jungles. My people record their histories. Down to their daily activities. Those who hold the bond are considered sacred. You must be familiar with Bahat.
The Twins, Tresk said, filling in the gaps of Theos knowledge. Weve heard of them. Thats about it.
Rising to godhood with the bond is said to be difficult. But those two managed. Perhaps youll make it there one day. Squeak suddenly pped his hands together. Right. Let us talk about trade.
Theo left the room, inviting Azrug and Fenian in to take over. Tresk was going to stay behind to y interpreter. The alchemist had learned long ago to leave all things rted to trade to those more capable. He had been criticized for his trade skills in the past, and didnt care to endure more of the teasing. He met with Rowan and Sarisa outside of the meeting room.
He seems nice, Theo said. His people want to reconnect with the lost Bantari. To have some kind of cultural exchange program. Anything shady out here?
Rowan grunted.
Fenian would have detected it, Sarisa said. But, no. He brought like four people total. Hardly an invasion force.
Depends on the level of the invader, I guess. Alright. Im going to help Salire with this order for Gronro. Let me know if Im needed.
Rowan and Sarisa nodded as the alchemist departed. The meeting with Squeak was more pleasant than he had expected. All the nervousness about making a good impression vanished in an instant. They just wanted to have a line ofmunication with the lost Bantari. It didnt pass his notice, though. The interest Squeak took in Terogal. But that seemed benign.
Oh, man, Theo said to himself. What about a maglev over the ocean?
Deep in concentration in his artificers workshop, Throk felt a shiver run up his spine.
4.58 - Beach Stuff
4.58 - Beach Stuff
Hills rolled far into the distance, racing to the edge of the horizon. All parts of Terogal were unnamed and unexplored. A vast virginndscape only explored by the spirits that lived here. Those lost souls seemed reluctant to explore with their masters approval. Or perhaps they were happy enough with the growing vige near the spring. Theo had fallen into the realm for some peace and was joined by Tresk and Alex. After some tea and sweetsprovided by Benton, of coursethey hiked in a random direction.
Standing on a spar of strange, glittering rocks, Theo looked out over his domain. It was hard to tell how much time was passing within the realm. And it was hard to care with the view they had. The alchemist felt as though he had a better idea where this was going. Logical extraptions of the information he had led him to face an interesting reality about this private realm. Most gods shaped their world to be what they wanted. From what little Khahar had said about Khahak, it was shaped as a fortress for the Arbiter. UzXulvens shadowy realm was formed to be a bridge between worlds. Bentons realm was the embodiment of winter and death.
But Terogal was different. It was formed from the bond of the Tarahek. If there was an ideal that formed the world, it was one of cooperation and friendship. And it was a world. Thats what Theo wasing to realize. The bond was forming an entire ce outside of mortal reality. He had theories about where Fenians goal would take them, most of which involved the formation of realms.
Because what is it that sets the mortal realm apart from the heavenly realms? Theo asked. Second question. Do you think we can move through our realm easier?
Tresk shrugged. That was my first thought, but Nah. I cant think of it any other way than interdicting myself from one point to the other, and it doesnt work.
Perhaps you should study with Xolsa. Learn more about how nar magic works.
Theo stroked Alexs slender neck, nodding with approval. The goose was gettingrger by the day.
Yeah, maybe. Hey, how about we just enjoy the view for about five seconds before we talk shop. Good?
The alchemist nodded, gazing off into the distance. There was something unsettling about the world, as it didnt experience night. Tiredness and the passage of time were a suggestion here. But even more disturbing to him was theck of alchemy ingredients. Perhaps that was a hint brought by the heavenly system as to the realms origin. There was a field of in Earth wheat growing in the prepared field. Before he had harvested most of it. At first, he thought those little things were hints. Some kind of connection to Earth. Through the lens of time, Theo realized it was likely a reflection of subconscious things.
The group walked without aim, climbing the mountains to the west, then descending into a valley below. The ground leveled out in time, then dipped until something came into view. Far in the distance, resting like a sheet of piercing blue with little specks of white, was a body of water. Inspired by the spirit of discovery, they pressed on for timeless hours before reaching the water. The strand of white sands was marked with beach grasses and palm trees dotted along the coast.
Salt water! Tresk shouted, sshing around with Alex. Waves came with slow,pping motions.
Theo popped his shoes off, storing them in his inventory, and waded until he was waist-deep in the warm water. He studied the sandy bottom, looking for life. But there was nothing to find. The realm only seemed to generate nt-life. Given enough time, would other life evolve? Likely not.
Im thinking about ecologytely, Theo said, swishing his hand through the water.
Oh my god, Theo. Is this our beach episode? Tresk asked. p on the sunscreen and break out the cooler!
There is no sun, and I dont have a cooler.
Alright. Spoilsport, Tresk said. A crate appeared in her hands suddenly. She waddled back to shore, dropping it down. She then produced two lengths of Starbristle cloth that looked suspiciously like beach towns.
Did you prepare for the beach episode? Theo asked, approaching cautiously. Whats in the box?
Snacks. Beers. You know. Beach stuff.
Theo popped the lid open, finding an array of snacks and open-topped mugs of Rivers mead. With a great shrug, he plopped onto his beach towel and grabbed a beer. Cheese and dried sausages were bing a popr snack in Broken Tusk. Whisper had arge part in that effort.
The alchemist took a sip of his cold mead. Terogal was different than the Dreamwalk. Everything felt muddy in the dream realm. It was as though he was experiencing things through a sieve. Everything was sharp here. Almost a perfect analog to the mortal realm. Time was the only sense that came in fits and starts. Tresk grabbed her own beer, and a fistful of snacks beforeying down on her towel.
Were past the honeymoon phase, the Marshling dered.
I dont know. I still like you.
No, with the realm. Were just enjoying our time here, rather than grinding experience constantly.
That had been a topic that had crowded Theos mindtely. He was getting very good at rxing. That was a necessary feature of the leveling system, though. While more effort meant more levels, there were roadblocks. The blockaids that kept him from leveling could be mental, but they could also be skill-based. It was always good to take a back-seat and enjoy the beach episode.
The pair took turns specting as to how big their realm was. All members of the Tarahek agreed it wasrger than the Soutnds Alliance. Benton had informed them that this kind of growth would have been dangerous. If they didnt have the protection of the Arbiter, other realms might get interested in them. Especially when Terogal rose out of the minor realms, finding itself with morepetent gods who didnt need to follow the rules of a childs sandbox. But it was all spection.
Theo had thought of seeding reagents within Terogal, but that n fell apart before it started. nts that bore alchemical ingredients didnt seem to spread. He was reminded of how the nuggets in his mine spawned. They were generated as nodes, rather than naturally urring material. It was the entire reason Broken Tusk was sessful. Whoever pulled the strings behind the scenes had given him an unfair start.
Tresk and Theo stuffed their beach episode stuff into the shared inventory to walk the length of the white sands. Alex waddled close behind them, darting off to y in the water here and there.
Surprised we havent turned this ce into a way to produce more stuff, Tresk said. We got some workers, after all.
Ive thought about it. But I have a few problems with the idea.
Like what?
Fenian convinced me he was doing the right thing because all those souls would just go to the heavens. What happens when we capture those souls and force them to work forever?
Freebor?
Its just another kind of torment. Why not make this ce more like the heaven from my Earths lore?
Which one?
Theo shrugged. One of the good ones. Where you just hang out all day. Live the good life.
Im not opposed to the idea. Hells, the only reason I brought it up was because youre always pushing for more things. More production. More people. Levels. So on.
Yeah, Im working on it.
And youre doing well. Ive been having a great time rxing. Enjoying yourpany.
And mypany, right? Alex asked.
Of course.
The groups aimless wandering produced nothing but exploration. Thendscape of Terogal was vast and varied, but each section was always warm. Even the mountain passes were only slightly colder than the lond areas. Without ess to thend masss edge, they could watch their point of return in the sky. The scene they viewed moved even slower than before. By the time the group wanted to leave, they had found where the beach curved. They poked their heads into a dense jungle, but went no further before piercing through the realms.
UzXulven didnt interdict them as they returned to the mortal ne. The Bridge was silent. Theo took that as a good thing, stumbling as hended back in the manor where he started. Tresk ran off, leaving him with Alex. The pair took seats in one of the many rooms in, giving the alchemist time to review the days administrative reports.
Alise was writing one, which he watched in real-time. The lizard-folk had little natural resources to offer. ording to the administrators they were a shamanistic people who valued connection to spirits over worldly things. But theirnds had a lot of dungeons, resulting in an excess of both items and cash. Azrug was interested in scooping up those items, and Squeak was interested in stone for their temples and metal for their smiths.
After reading the report for a while, Theo left with Alex to check up on Salire. She had cleaned everything out and was running some first tier [Lesser Healing Potions] to get experience. The alchemist worked with her for a while, running her through mana-control drills. When he summoned a drop of his mana into the real world, it zed with purple fire. Hers was like a dim ember, barely casting enough light to be visible.
Youll get it in time, Theo said, unconfident in his words.
I know. Gotta keep practicing.
Theo departed from theb. Three people were on his mindtely. He stood outside of the tannery and took a deep breath. There was absolutely none of the foul smell that had previously marked the area. He knocked on the front door and waited. Perg cracked the door, a wide smile painting her face when she spotted the alchemist.
Been a while, she said, nodding to him.
Yeah. You know how it is.
Archduke and all that.
Yeah. How is it going?
Perg threw the door open, revealing the pits of her seed core tannery. Going well enough. Let me show you around.
The tannery hade a long way. Perg was processing hides manually before Theo showed up. He reced the arduous dehairing and curing process with an alchemical one. Now she did everything with the seed core building, making it even better. But she only made leather. She sold the cured leather at market value and nothing more.
You should take over Lurass old workshop, Theo said, looking down in a pit of slime. The building had an upgrade that eliminated the smell. Thank god.
Yeah? Sounds like more work.
Theo shrugged. Hire someone, then. That building is just sitting theresomeone should take it over. Have you considered taking an aligned crafting core?
Ive thought about it.
Think about it some more. You know Im always looking for stuff to fund.
Moneybags over here.
Dont be a stranger, Perg. Stop by the manor. Hang out.
Ill think about it, she said with a wink.
Theo left the tannery with a strange feeling. Half-way to Niras smeltery, he realized what it was. People usually just did what he said because he had money and means. But Perg was living her best life. Just making leather stuff and enjoying her time off. The alchemist was understanding why that was a good thing.
Nira had gone absolutely ape-shit with her smeltery business. Theo didnt remember approving more smelters, but there were more smelters. Three buildings now stood in a row, all with the double-crucible upgrade. She had at least twenty people working while she stood back, supervising. The alchemist approached her, pping a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. She spun around, fists up as though ready to fight.
Oh. Just you, Nira said, rxing. Thought you were Gridgen.
You guys having trouble?
No. He likes to scare me, Nira said, turning her attention back to her workers. She shouted curses at them, instructing them on the proper way to work the crucibles.
The heat that came from the triplet smelters was unreal. Parts of the cobblestone road were ckened by the constant heat. No nts grew near the buildings, creating a ring of charred earth. As expected, Nira wouldnt say a word unless required byw. The alchemist was happy just to watch the process, making sure his investment was running smoothly. While he had invested money to get the smeltery running, the ingots produced here and sold at market value funded public works.
That thought made Theo feel better, anyway. He departed the smelter without saying another word to Nira. The Midnight Damsel was half-way between the towns heart, and Dead Dog Mine. Gridgen and his wife Sarna had done an excellent job running the mine so far, and they hadnt changed the name given by Tresk. The weird tentacle dogs were still spawning in there, so why not?
Of all the industries in town, mining was the busiest. Theo climbed the hill that led to the mine, passing by more people than he remembered meeting. Most would have a [Miners Core]. Those that didnt would have some kind ofborers core. Neither operator of the mine was outside, so the alchemist plunged into the dimly lit interior. They had expanded the first tier of the mine significantly, giving them ess to more copper. The next level down, where the iron spawned, had even more tunnels carved out. Only the Drogramathi Iron level had seen little progress.
Theo found his way to the gate system, letting himself and Alex through, until they arrived at the familiar room. It was the ce where he had first found the gooses egg. A Tworgnoth artifice that bound the creature to him forever. The alchemist pressed his hand against the stone, feeling the heat from below. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up with information he had already assumed. It was likely that there were expansive caverns below.
And its reasonable to assume that there are monsters down there.
Could be, Alex said, honking.
You remember nothing about this artifice. Right?
Nope.
No secret knowledge about whats below?
Noooope.
Theo lingered near the old, spent artifice for a while. Footsteps echoed through the tunnels. The alchemist turned, spotting Gridgen descending the ramps with a wide smile on his face. He had his young son, Gasem, with him. Were still waiting for permission to dig deeper.
That was a hairy situation. Theo could give the order to dig deeper, but he didnt want to go over Aaroks head on this one. It wasnt a matter of who was right and who was wrong. It was a matter of the towns safety. Assuming there were monsters below was a good idea, but that wasnt the end of the story. Once they cracked through, they would need a workforce to manage it. Guards, artifice weapons, and so on. Time that the workers didnt have right now.
Id rather be on my toes about this, Gridgen. Anyway, how are things going in the mine? Is everyone good? Theo asked.
The miner kneaded his shoulder, then shrugged. Everyone is fine. Just fine. Some folks were talking about more pay, but I dont know. Not sure what wed do with the money.
Theo nodded. He hadnt worried about that problem until that exact moment. But this was going to be amon theme over the next few weeks. That brought into focus the need to have a ferry between the alliance and the lizard-folk. Everyone was getting stir-crazy being locked behind the walls of Broken Tusk. No, it wouldnt be a singr solution. He couldnt predict what kind of vacation people wanted to go on. The alchemist would focus the towns efforts on getting the maglev ready, and operating the ferry.
People need to spend their money, Theo said. What if you could visit Gronro or Rivers? Within a day.
Youre talking about the new transport system, right?
Yeah.
That would be nice. Get out of the town. See some of this alliance were a part of.
Theo scratched his chin, letting his thoughts form on the matter. He sifted through his administrative reports, finding that Ziz was working on the maglev now. That was good. So long as Throk could pull himself away from his work, the project would be done quickly. The alchemist made notes in the administrative reports, allocating more funds to the project.
Broken Tusk was fairly flush with cash right now. There was no reason to sit on it like a dragon hoarding wealth. As always, the alchemist wanted to distribute that money into the town through investments. And there was no better way to do it than with massive projects that defied logic. He chatted with Gridgen, getting a tour of the newly expanded mine, as he dug through recent reports. He focused on the report brought back by the expeditionary force. They took basic measurements of distance on the way to the lizard inds.
Gods. How am I going to do this conversion? Theo asked as the pair finished their tour of the iron level of the mine.
Huh?
Theo watched as Gasem yed with Alex. The basic unit of measure they used here was a halm. Meaning that all the reports from the ship came back in halms, ahthalms, and so on. The alchemist ruffled his hair and pulled on his horns as he tried to do the conversion in his head. A halm was about half a foot. So the distance from Broken Tusk to the inds was approximately the same distance to Gronro. Maybe a bit further.
Gridgen. Tell me the truth.
The miner shifted nervously on the spot. Alright.
Is it unreasonable for me to build a train over the ocean?
Uh Gridgens eyes darted around the mine. Is this one of those questions that youll take yes as an answer?
No.
Then I think its a great idea.
Theo nodded. Throk is going to be pissed.
4.59 - Azrug, the Loremaster
4.59 - Azrug, the Loremaster
Throk was pissed. The angry little Marshling had stopped shouting just long enough for Theo to make a few soundsnot quite words, but grunts of objection. Hands on hips, the artificer red at the alchemist.
Youll want trains that go to the damn moon after this, Throk said, letting off a series of curses Theo had never heard. His voice turned from angry shouts to a low mutter. He must be bored. The damn alchemist has been drinking too much of his own supply.
Im not bored. I just think
No, youre bored. Where is my daughter? Cant shee to talk some sense into you? Do you know how expensive something like that would be? How deep is the ocean between here and the inds?
I hadnt considered it. But a connection between
Throk interrupted again. Lets make a deal, he said, pping his hands together. His face had shifted from anger to one of an annoyed parent. You have other projects, right?
I do.
Do one of those. Leave me alone while I iron out the problems with the rail. Then you can bother me with another impossible task.
Theo didnt feel dejected by the way Throk shot him down. He hade to the artificers workshop to pitch the idea, not order him to begin construction. But the Marshlings sharp words had brought everything into perspective. There was a project he was interested in working on. And he was more than a little bored with the towns progress. His mind went back to that ce in the mine. Where sections of the stone were warmer than others.
I appreciate you, Theo said.
Yeah. I know.
As Theo left the artificers workshop, he had genuine concerns about the mine project. He had put it off for a reason. But the miners and the military were two parts of the town that werentpletely buried in other projects. They were avable for work, and could likely start immediately. The alchemist made his way to the Adventurers Guild building, checking the various reports in his interface. He passed by citizens as he wrote his proposal for the mine, including a n to use his Toruaun magic on the iron gates for added protection.
Worst case scenario, Theo said, reading as he wrote the message out. Well nuke whatever is down there.
Sounds like a solid n, Sarisa said,ing up behind him.
Do you really think its a bad n?
Sarisa shrugged. Salire is looking for you.
Theo grumbled, turning around and heading straight for the Newt and Demon. The budding alchemist was working with a customer, but handed him a note about her work. There was a problem with her run of [Hallow Ground Essence] that needed attention. Something about the distition process going wrong.
Well, this is interesting. Theo lifted a sk of sludgy, ck liquid.
The essence that Salire had distilled was considered alchemical junk by the system. He inspected the Drogramathi Iron still, finding caked-on residue clinging to the sides. Theo scraped a piece off with his knife, holding it up to the light. Drogramathi mana flowed from his chest and into his arm, surfacing through his fingers to light the offending residue on fire with purple mes. Something about the way it was deconstructed was wrong. The smoke it produced didnt have the right scent, and the appearance of those fumes was too dark.
I cant say that Ive seen this before. Walking to the far side of theb, the alchemist withdrew his old copy of Basic Drogramath Alchemy. He flipped to the first section on distition, reading through text he had memorized long ago.
Shes new, right? Sarisa found a chair to drag over, then sat down. She smoothed the ruffles in her illusory dress. New people make mistakes.
Hmmm. Mistakes are one thing, but this entire batch is ruined. Im assuming she ran this at the right temperature, so what happened?
Theo ran through everything he could think of. He had never seen a batch of essence be ruined so thoroughly. And it wasnt as though the essence had failed to distill because of her skill. The [Hallow Ground Essence] could be brewed by someone at Level 1. Technically. He dismissed the idea that his champion status could be the reason, moving on to more logical things. By the time he was inspecting the equipment itself, Salire had finished working with the customer.
I dont know what happened, sir. The Half-Ogres ochre skin paled to a pale shade of yellow-brown. She had a look of worry on her face.
First rule of alchemy. Add this to the book. Unless you blew theb up, you havent made a mistake. Were these the truffles grown in my mushroom cave?
Yes. I used them just like you showed me. I focused on the [Hallow Ground] property and everything.
Curious. Theo scanned theb, finding loose truffles on a table.
This wasnt a problem with the equipment. And it wasnt a problem with Salires technique. Theo had taught her himself, and she had created many [Lesser Mana Potions] on her own without incident. The truffles were more temperamental, but not by much. Compared to something like spirit nts, the [Swamp Truffle] behaved much like [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. It was very cid. An extremely stable reagent for what it did. He picked up one half-way processed truffle. The core of the thing looked different than he remembered. Slight striations of blue ran through it, mottled here and there.
This is the sample you used? Theo asked, sending a series of instructions to all his golems. He recalled them through the lodestonework, sending them into the mushroom caves.
Yeah. Just the stock your golems collected.
Youll be happy to know that you made no error, Theo said, holding the mushroom up for her to see. Can you spot the problem without examining the item?
Uh... It looks normal. Right?
What happens when you examine it?
Salire shrugged,ing close to press her hand against the mushroom. Looks normal. [Swamp Truffle]. I cant see the first property, though.
Theo ordered his golems to purge the mushroom caves, separating them into four distinct storage crates. They went to work as he inspected the new mushroom.
[????]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid Mushroom]
Epic
A unique hybrid mushroom created from a Manashroom and a Swamp Truffle.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Now that is a first, Theo said. You said that this was a [Swamp Truffle]?
Salire nodded. Theo felt a tingle in his mind, then a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
It is like that this mushroom was spontaneously hybridized in your mushroom cave. This is likely a rare urrence, but the close proximity and rapid cultivation of the mushrooms forced this to ur. Both the name and description are ceholders. You should contact a Loremaster.
Theo sent an alert to the town without hesitation, splitting his concentration to check on the golems. They were working to identify and remove the hybrid mushrooms. Once Azrug arrived to inspect the mushrooms, he could provide more information. Until then, the alchemist wrote everything down and exined it to Salire and Sarisa. No one in the room knew this could happen, and it was an amazing turning-point for his various cultivation projects.
A few sharp knocks came at the door for theb. Sarisa opened it, bowing slightly as the young Lord Merchant entered. You rang? he asked with a smarmy grin.
Theo tossed the truffle across the room, nodding with approval as the man caught it. Got something interesting for you. We identally created a new kind of mushroom.
A new mushroom? Just for me? Azrug asked,ughing. Oh, you spoil me. Lets see
Ribbons of white-blue manaced their way around Azrugs body. Theo grimaced at the uncontrolled technique. Somewhere in the alchemists mind, he remembered that the loremaster was just a boy. Likely somewhere between fifteen and eighteen years old. After a few moments of untamed mana, a smile yed across his face.
The good news is, my [Loremasters Core] worked on the truffle.
Whats the bad news? Theo asked.
Azrug tossed the mushroom back, which Theo caught deftly. He inspected the mushroom again.
[Azrugs Truffle]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid Mushroom]
Epic
A unique hybrid mushroom created from a Manashroom and a Swamp Truffle. This mushroombines the holy power of the Swamp Truffle with the freezing properties of the Manashroom.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Did you just name the truffle after yourself? Theo said, looking up in disbelief.
Yep. The system said that every [Swamp Truffle], [Manashroom] hybrid will be named [Azrugs Truffle] from now on.
Were all traders this smarmy? Was it the destiny of everyone who made their living selling goods to be just a bit of a dick? Theo still found it impossible not to smile. He flicked the trader a gold coin, shaking his head. Thanks.
Azrug chatted with Theo for a while before leaving. The young Half-Ogre had been enjoying his time as the towns chief merchant. He learned fast, as most people in this world did, and had settled into striking deals with whoever woulde to Broken Tusk. ording to the reports, he was also instrumental in the ousting of Alran Cherman from the mayor position in Rivers and Daub. He now focused his efforts on creating his store and stables. As the young man departed, the alchemist took a bite of the truffle.
Make a note. Theo spoke through a mouthful of mushroom. It had an unpleasant vor, like pennies mixed with a scoop of earth. Unless you have a sufficiently advanced herbalist core, you cant spot hybrids.
[Property Discovered]!
Eating the [Azrugs Truffle] has revealed the property: [Hallow Frost]
Interesting. This will require experimentation.
As does everything, huh? Salire no longer looked dejected. But she seemed worn. I thought I really messed up.
Several shambling [Lesser nt Golems] entered the room, carrying the untainted truffles. They ced them down on a table then left, off to serve their other duties. Ill make sure the golems put each type of mushroom in a different crate. I suggest that you try again with the right mushroom.
Thanks! Salire said, most of her cheery attitude returning in moments.
Were off. Let me know if anything else goes wrong.
Theo and Sarisa departed, heading for their original destination. But this was the life of an alchemist. One who had taken on an apprentice. If he was truthful with himself, he would say that he wasnt ready for one. That he hadnt spent enough time in this world to be deserving of anyones respect, let alone passing knowledge down. That must have been what most champions thought when they were chosen by a god. The difference was that most people who were chosen knew they were chosen.
The alchemist lingered in the street for a moment, eyes locked on the temple. Do you think Drogramath would answer if I called?
Sarisa shrugged. I wouldnt know.
He made his way to the temple anyway, standing on the massive marble steps for quite a while before heading inside. It was mostly empty, with a few people standing in quiet reverence off in the corner. Dimly lit as it was, those figures were rendered as little more than shadows. Theo stood before the dais, looking up at the ce Drogramath once upied. He prayed, begged, and cursed in his mind. But nothing happened.
Guess he doesnt want to talk, Theo said, turning on the spot. Perhaps he can sense my intentions.
Sarisa and Theo left the temple behind. He couldnt deny that there was a great sense offort when he was within the temple. It was as though a small piece of Terogal was there, hiding just below the surface. He made his way to the guild, then searched around for a while before he found Aarok in a meeting. He spoke with a member of Gronros little army, signaling the alchemist to sit and wait while they concluded their business.
Theo busied himself with notes as he waited, detailing everything that happened with the hybrid mushrooms. The [Hallow Frost] property might be interesting to use, assuming it was just abination of the [Freeze] property with the [Hallow Ground] property. That would make for an interesting set of potions. More than likely, it was something else entirely. A random variation on both things, taking either the best or worst pieces of each.
How can I help you, Archduke? Aarok asked. He had bags under his eyes, and a worn expression on his face.
Id like to start a war with an unknown subterranean race of horrific lizard-monsters. By the end of the day, if possible.
See? If you actually spoke like that, wed get more done. You wanna crack the mine?
Yeah, I would. First, I need to know if youre doing alright. You look tired. Are you getting enough help with your duties?
Aaroks boomingugh filled the room. A genuine smile spread across his face, tusks glittering in the afternoon light. Never let it be said that Theo Spencer isnt a concerned leader. I was up all night doing some training with the boys. I have plenty of help, but thanks for the concern.
Just checking. So, the mine.
Yeah, we can crack on through. How many people do you want on standby?
All of them.
Yeah, Ill just casually assemble thebined forces of three towns.
Surely you mean two towns.
Dont call me Shirley. Just kidding. Tresk said that the other day and I cant stop thinking about it. Rivers has a few recruits. You want to crack through today? Of course you do.
Theo exined the only idea he had so far. The miners were convinced that there was a passage, or a cavern directly under the ce where they had found Alex. He wanted to send a golem down there to check it out before anyone else got their hands dirty with adventurers waiting to defend the tunnel.
In the worst case, I can nuke the opening. Or we can copse the tunnel.
Aarok shrugged. Each approach has tactical merit. I know youre eager, but give me a day to get everything together.
I have an idea, Theo said, withdrawing an oldmunication crystal from his inventory. He held it tight in his hand, then felt the magic activate.
Theo! Why are you using this old thing? Fenian asked.
Come over to the guildhall. I need to ask you a few questions.
Oh, yes sir. I love when youre somanding.
Theo returned the crystal to his inventory before the Elf could say any more weird things. He talked with Aarok about mundane things, drilling down to make sure the Half-Ogre was doing well. He loved his position as a military leader, iming that it felt like he was back to training for the irregrs. After a few minutes, a knock came at the door and Fenian stepped in. The Elf took a seat.
Both limbs working? Aarok asked.
Better than ever. I used to have a scar on my left arm. Like the arm, the story is lost. A cruel fate, Fenian said with a heavy sigh. What was it you needed, alchemist?
Theo exined the n, and asked if Fenian would join them as they breached the mine. But he didnt want to dig surface-deep with the trader. He wanted to go deeper. Would you know anything about some hidden civilization of lizard-folk waiting for us underground?
Well, now that you mention it Fenian trailed off, tapping his chin with his newly regrown finger. Ive read tales of underground monsters and Elves. The tomb of house Southde in Tarantham is said to be connected to one such system of caverns.
Is this a story or the truth? Aarok asked.
Likely true. Ive only poked my head into that underworld. There was an underground dungeon back home that I took care of.
And the hidden part? Theo asked.
What? Fenian asked.
This is the part where you do some sly wink without telling me what the truth is. You want me to fling you through multidimensional space? We need a little more trust.
Oh, youre crabby today. Fine. You found your familiars egg in that mine, right above the spot where youre going to dig through. I have been plotting with several godly figures for a few centuries. As well as a few mortals. You know how it is. Anyway, someone seeded a few things on the mortal ne for you to find. Including Alexs egg. Tworgnoth nted the device that kept her alive. Tworgnoth does nothing by ident. He is a plotter. A schemer.
Aarok let out a frustrated sigh. So, a Demon god wanted Theo to find the tunnel? Is that a good thing?
Fenian shrugged. I think so. Theyve held up their end of the bargain so far by giving him the tools he needs to seed. The things required to support us while we enact the grand n.
Oh, theres that bit of mystery! Theo said, jabbing a finger at Fenian. He smiled yfully, then punched the Elf in the arm.
Ack! Thats still tender, you savage! Fenian shouted, rubbing his arm.
As long as we have your swords ready, well face down whatever is under the mine.
Theo felt much more confident with Fenian around. The man was a monster inbat. A damned dragon could fly out of the hole, and the Elf would take care of it. But the words he spoke lingered in the air like a stale smell. Things had been organized for the alchemists transition, but not for his benefit. These circumstances were designed to aid another group to do something.
I do have a schedule to keep, my dear alchemist, Fenian said. You must hurl me across realities after we crack through the mine.
Yeah, yeah. I get it, Theo said, waving him away. Ive been practicing. Might even be able to drag you to Terogal.
Oh, that would be lovely.
4.60 - Laying Down The Law
4.60 - Laying Down The Law
A strange, disjointedndscape spread as far as Theo could see. The tunnel, made of something between marshmallow fluff and stone, was lit by fairy lights that danced on currents of air. Tresk had done her best to imagine what the tunnels under the mine would look like, but she couldnt stop thinking about the fluff. But it was all spection.
Dinner had been the usual whos who of people popping in for the free food. They had enjoyed a nice bath before dropping into the Dreamwalk. It had taken Tresk several tries to get something resembling a cavern system going, and Theo wasnt sure it was worth the effort. Instead, he imagined them back in a ce he was all too familiar with. The scene shifted in an instant, bringing them to the area near Tworgnoths artifice.
Hey! I thought that was pretty urate, Tresk said.
urate to what exactly? No, it doesnt matter, Theo said. His thoughts wandered away from the mine. This is weird, but I have a good feeling about whatever is underneath here.
How could you possibly know? Alex asked, ruffling her feathers. She shot a small gout of fire, punctuating her thoughts.
That wasnt a question easily answered. Theos intuition had always worked in weird ways within the Dreamwalk. But after taking the [Wisdom of the Soul] potion, it had redoubled its strange efforts. The time he spent dreaming now felt more hopeful than ever. Before, all those thoughts from other people clouded his judgment. They formedyers over the real Theo, making him feel more like a puppet going through the motions.
Youre thinking too much about self, Tresk said, shaking her head in disapproval. You have too many versions of you in your head.
Ive put a lot of thought into it. Maybe it isnt worth retreading old wounds.
Agreed. You were Theo the killer, the regretful soldier, the puppet of Drogramath, the bosom buddy of Tresk, and now youre something else. Tresk ced her hands on her hips, grinning. Summarized it pretty well, didnt I?
Yeah, that was pretty good. Theo knelt down, pressing his hand against the warm rock. He was imagining the warmth, but it still felt good. Lets talk cores. Levels. Progression.
Im making great progress, Alex said, spreading her wings wide and pping to create a breeze in the tight mine.
We arent, Tresk said, giggling. So theres a cap at 30, huh?
Im certain we need to get our personal level to 30 to advance.
Theos two Drogramath cores were on the verge of hitting level 25. They were bing more stubborn with every level, making it a slog to achieve any progress. Tresk had experienced something simr with her [Shadowdancers Core] and her [Assassins Core]. Like the alchemists pair, those cores seemed tied to each other. But she was closer to 30 than him by this point, edging toward 28 in both of those cores.
Mine are stuck at 24, Theo said, scratching his chin. Theyll roll over at any moment, but you know. Kinda annoying.
We just gotta grind, grind, grind! Tresk waved her hands through the air with a flourish. The scene before them shifted to a familiar scene from Terogal. The sprawling fields and sparse homes with a constant breeze that carried pleasant scents.
Theo took a deep breath and smiled to himself. Some part of that private realm carried itself into the Dreamwalk, connected by some unseen strand of power. For dramatic effect, he snapped his fingers and summoned a row of Drogramathi Iron stills and crates of imagined supplies. I have a feeling about the mortal realms system.
Uh-huh, Tresk said, screwing up her face. A dragon appeared in the air, frozen in ce. What might that be?
Fenian and Khahar said as much. Theres something wrong with it. The progression is all messed up. As though we were never meant to get past level 30, let alone 100.
Tresk seemed disinterested in what he had to say. But she paused for a moment, scrubbing the top of her bare head with her nails then letting out a breath. We should hit level 30, then see what we think. Use Terogal to figure out how it was meant to be.
Theo imagined a grinder and got to work on the stills. Tresk seemed interested in talking now, which was an interesting thing to observe. Her mind felt more focused than usual, as though she was exerting great effort to narrow it to a point. Great idea. What do you think well find?
That whoever made our world is dumb.
A harsh assessment that Theo wished wasnt true. But where did the fault of stupidity lie with the system? Who created the system in the first ce? There were too many questions to be answered, and not enough time to consider them. Tresk dropped the subject and ran off to fight her dragons. Alex joined with her, eager to grind out her familiar levels and hone her ability with the nature affinity.
Theo focused his efforts on understanding what went wrong with Salires distition. He had a good idea before he had left theb, but it was important to replicate her mistake in a safe environment. After less than an hour of testing, he confirmed her problem was with a property mismatch. She had focused on the [Hallow Ground] property when distilling the truffle, but the hybrid mushroom didnt have that property. He set up several batches of the [Hallow Frost] property.
The system that controlled the Dreamwalk fought back against his actions, but Tresk corrected it. In Theos mind, it felt like a mother lording over her children. Snapping out only once when the child got out of line and setting them straight. It wasnt the parenting he would have done, but the system wasnt a child. It was a
What even is the system? Theo muttered to himself, working the knobs and gauges of his stills.
In this world, that was like asking what are atoms? Or something else that a science-minded person would understand. Theo had always been woefully uninformed about the technology of his own world. If someone were to ask him how the weapons he used daily functioned, he would draw a nk. Something about sma, or supersonic rounds. Science must have been predictable for those that understood it, but the system was far more understandable. The guns he used back on Earth didnte with an item description.
Theo created enough [Refined Hallow Frost Essence] for testing. He withdrew a sk of thepleted, second tier essence and swirled it around. The liquid was simr to both the [Freeze Essence] and the [Hallow Ground Essence], disying bands of silver that mingled with blue-white. He got the impression of a banishing cold. A perfect mixture of both essences. Unlike the binding method he used to produce the suffuse potions, the hybrid reagent had created a blending of the two properties. From the outside, the alchemist had the impression that this would make a throwable potion. Somewhere between a bomb and a drinkable potion. There was a strange middle-ground with potions. Sometimes they seemed designed to be used as bombs, and would be useless without modification.
It was always best to create a second tier potion for testing. The third tier ones were better, but it was a waste of time. Especially in the Dreamwalk. Theo performed his standard brewing method for the potion, adding the catalyst to watch the reaction. While dreaming, the reactions were never as impressive as in the waking world. He watched the essence swirl tepidly. The smoke that rose from the top came in thin wisps. The alchemist leaned in, inspecting his newest creation.
[Hallow Frost Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Apply to a surface or creature to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Applying this to any surface, including creatures, creates a one pace circle with the [Hallow Frost] effect.
Targets inflicted with [Hallow Frost] will take banishment damage every time they act. Actions include spells, abilities, movement, attacks, and so on.
Thats a weird one, Theo said, tapping his foot.
The effect on the potion waspletely unexpected. It hadbined concepts from both properties, but the way it came out was weird. This was unlike any base potion Theo had ever created. Surface-application potions at this tier werent a thing. Those potions had to be modified to create an surface effect. The [Hallow Frost Potion] would be a candidate for Throks sprayer artifice. It would also make an amazing weapon for fighting the undead.
Theo could imagine a few scenarios where this potion would be useful. A fighter could cover themselves in the stuff, then wade into a group of undead. Depending on how long it took for the banishment damage to take hold, they might be unstoppable. The alchemist continued to grind experience as he thought of the applications. He felt himself creeping toward level 25 in his Drogramath cores and his personal level as hebored. That level woulde with another big decision.
The Dreamwalks end came with a rush of sensations. Theo watched as his [Drogramath Herbalist Core], [Drogramath Alchemy Core], and his personal level all rolled over at the same time. Combined with the sudden ejection from the dreaming world, the alchemists head swam. He dismissed the notifications andid in bed, staring up at the ceiling of his luxurious bedroom.
That was a trip.
Stay in bed, Tresk said, popping out of her bed and patting the alchemist on the forehead. Im off to grab some grub.
The single attribute Theo had to pick wasnt the hardest decision he had ever made. His Dexterity was still quite low, especially whenpared to his Wisdom. Since he wanted to be better at throwing things, he put his point into dex and inspected his attributes sheet.
Theo Spencer
Drogramath Dronon
Level 25
Alchemist
Core Slots: 5
Stats:
Health: 105
Mana: 190
Stamina: 115
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 18 (+8)
Vigor: 20 (+8)
Intelligence: 26 (+9)
Wisdom: 30 (+7)
Points: 0
Good to know that my name changed there, too, Theo said. He hadnt checked his attribute sheet in a while, but the system was catching up with him.
Now came the arduous task of sifting through hundreds of skills to pick from. Theo had little interest in spending his free skill on his [Governance Core], and his Drogramath cores had enough skills to make him happy for now. If he needed something from those two cores to break the Level 30 barrier, he would buy them at Level 30. That forced him to turn his attention to his [Toruaun Mages Core]. That core was going to be more important as time went onhe knew that instinctively.
Theos [Toruaun Mages Core] currently had three skills. [Sensitive Weaving], which decreased his rate of interruption while casting, [Surface Application] which made him better at applying wards to things, and [Ward Propagation] which made wardsst longer. He sifted through the skills he could pick for the core, finding that most were blocked by level requirements. The alchemist went back to double-check that there was nothing exciting for his other cores before settling on a Toruaun skill.
[Linked Wards]
Toruaun Demon Mage Skill
Epic
Allows the user to link their wards.
Effect:
Wards can now be linked to work together. This operates outside of the spell crafting system, and must be done by an ad hoc basis.
Wards that are linked may produce new effects, increased durations, etc.
Wildcard skills were fun to use. Theo understood enough about Toruauns wards to know this would be an interesting one. In all his time working with her magic, he found wards to be independent things. They didnt y well with each other, and revealed now possibilities of linkage. The alchemists mind unfurled, applying his knowledge of the art to hint at powerful spellwork. This was something he would need to consult with Xolsa on, but he knew it was the right choice. Even without the popup he got from Wisdom of the Soul.
The skill linked with his core seamlessly, allowing a trickle of knowledge to flow into his mind. First and second tier wards were made different by the addition of more spellworkyers. This new skill added something simr to discrete wards. They would no longer be closed systems, but pieces of a whole Theo could exploit. He let his mind wander as he rested in bed, imagining how the wards could interact. Like the fabric of the spells, he could interlink two shielding wards. Instead of springing forth to shield one target, they couldbine to make arger shield. The same concept applied to field-based damage wards, revealing wards, and so on.
Theo headed down for breakfast, finding that his friends were already digging in. He helped himself to a few chunks of a fruit he didnt recognize and fell into his thoughts. Fenian was there to remove him from the sanctity of his mind, kindly questioning him about his abilities in Terogal. Fortunately, Tresk was there to answer. She was confident that she could fling him to any realm she wished. The alchemist had his doubts about it, but Balkors realm was dead. He imagined it wasnt in the high heavens at all.
After breakfast, Theo made his rounds through town. Aarok and his people needed time to organize. That was the im, anyway. Gwyn had voiced her objections about cracking the mine, so the administrators went into meetings to sort it out. The alchemist excused himself from those duties, finding his way to theb instead. A sense of pride shed through his chest when he spotted Salire working the stills. She was creating a batch of [Hallow Ground Essence], something he smelled before even entering the building.
Much better when you use the right ingredients, Theo said, checking to make sure the product she was creating met his expectations.
I really thought I messed upst time, Salire said.
Theo nodded. She had messed up, but it was no fault of her own. Unlike Salire, he didnt have suchplex things as hybrid reagents to deal with. He had every advantage handed to him, almost making a mockery of her learning experience. But he wouldnt let that get him down. Not when he had someone to share alchemical delights with.
Remember the first rule.
Right. No one blew up.
The upgrade pipe system in theb allowed Theo to check their supplies of essence at a nce. There were a few orders that needed filling, so he stuck around to brew some potions before opening up the mine. With the vent system functional above, he didnt bother opening a window. That would only let the cold air out and letting the humid air of the season in. There was no end in sight for the Season of Fire. There were forty-nine days left under the oppressive weather. If thest change was anything to go by, it would be sudden.
Salire required a few nudges in the right direction for her brewing technique. She might have been a natural at the art of alchemy, but it didnt hurt toy a solid foundation for her. The alchemist couldntin about herck of practice with her mana. He remembered a time before Xolsa was injured. A time when all he did was put that training off. Like most things in alchemy, cultivating a base of knowledge took time. And grinding.
Theo noticed the administrators hadnt sorted their disagreements out. Even though it had been several hours since they began their meetings. Some were concerned about the dangers of opening the mine. The alchemist couldnt decide if his feelings of annoyance were justified or not. His people were moving at the pace of politics and it irritated him. He snapped out of his concentrated annoyance when a pair of thumbs pressed firmly into the muscles in his shoulders. Spinning around, he saw Salire with a smile on her face.
Turn back around.
Theo did so, summoning his administration screen once again. Salire kneaded the tense muscles in his shoulders. Im trying not to be a dick with my administrators.
Salire pressed the heel of her palm into the center of his back. Something cracked, sending a wave of satisfaction through the alchemist. Youre the archduke, right?
Thats my problem, Theo said, wincing as the Half-Ogre cracked another row of vertebrae. No one voted for me.
Theres a fatal w in your logic. No one voted for the administrators, either.
Theo felt the shadows stirring somewhere in theb. His magical senses werent developing well, but Sarisa practically tore a hole through them when she came out of hiding. I vote that youy down thew. Assert dominance.
Salire found another tight muscle in the alchemists back and worked it into putty. He let out a breath, still holding himself back from yelling at the administrators. It could be as easy as ordering them into line with his interests. But they ran the town most of the time, leaving him to do whatever he wanted. If he took away their ability to govern when he was gone, what was the point of having them?
Ites down to one simple fact, Sarisa said, making herself known by mming the end of her spear into the ground. This isnt an administrative issue. This is a military issue.
That was the piece he was missing. This wasnt the concern of the Lord and Lady Administrators. This was Aaroks decision. One could argue that the military leaders of Gronro and Rivers had a say, but not the administrators. They werent discussing how to n a road or feed their people. The conversation was about exploring the caverns beneath the town.
The alchemist turned, cing a hand on his apprentices shoulder. Thanks for that. You too, Sarisa. He titled to one side, feeling a few more bones crack in his back. Much better. Lets goy down thew.
4.61 - The Underworld
4.61 - The Underworld
Theo tapped his foot, ring at the many people gathered in the town halls meeting room. There were too many people here for a decision he had already made. Aarok headed the table, a frustrated look hanging on his face. Gwyn, Gael, and Alise looked sheepishly off to the side, joined by their gaggle of administrative aides. It was only by the good graces of Drogramath himself that they had only wasted a few hours of the day debating something that was already decided.
Im not here to scold you like school children, Theo said, looking at each of his head administrators. Each turned their gaze away. Make your case briefly, or Ill dismiss it.
Alise stood, gritting her teeth. It didnt pass Theos notice that she red at Gwyn for a moment too long. Our concerns are for the towns safety.
Then do something about the dungeons, Theo said, already having the retort on standby. Or the Zagmoni assassins. Or the damned undead banging on our front door. Alise, sit down. Gwyn, please stand and state your concerns.
Alise sat down, deting in her chair. Gwynestarea Whisperstream rose, standing tall and proud like her Elven cousins. She was a Half-Elf from Veosta. An intensely intelligent woman who only ever made the town better. Theo waited for his Wisdom of the Soul messages to roll in as she spoke.
The deep ces of the world are better left where they are, Gwyn started. There was nock of confidence in her voice. She spoke with genuine conviction. I didnt expect the archduke to view a brief conversation as a roadblock. Im voicing my concerns and nothing more.
Youll have to be more specific for me, Gwyn, Theo said. When I want to dig a hole, I want it dug that day. I assume you read my proposal.
I have read it, Gwyn said, looking at him with defiant countenance.
Theo liked that. Gwyn was going to overtake Alise as the lead administrator soon. He was excited that someone in his employ had the fortitude to stand up to him like this. The Wisdom of the Soul message that followed was enlightening. She was hiding something about her ancestors homnd. The Tarantham Elves knew something about the underground areas of the world, and she was holding back.
Fenian has offered his services, Theo said. Ill remind you he was selected by two different gods as their champion. What is it you know about the underground caverns?
Gael stood, his face pale. Theo shot him a re, but he didnt relent. If youll allow me, archduke.
Lets hear it.
House Wavecrest has no experience with the underworld. But weve all heard the tales.
Think about it logically, Gwyn said. What monsters lurk in the darkness? Monsters that havent been disturbed for how long, exactly?
Theo was just happy that they were bringing up good points. His first impression of their way was one of obstinate administrators. Instead, they brought some good points. The hard edge of his anger faded into pride. Aarok, what do you think?
Aarok shrugged his massive shoulders. I would have shut them down if they didnt have good points.
Luras?
Theyre skittish, Luras said, chuckling. But Im happy to give caution when its due.
Theo pped his hands together. Im surprised and excited by the caution. Our administrators stepped up to take control of a situation they perceived as dangerous.
So, what? Aarok asked. Were not digging?
Oh, were digging, Theo said, gesturing for everyone to rise. He had a good feeling about this idea. Drogramath felt close at hand today. It was as though he had something to say. Off to the temple.
Theo dragged a procession of administrators and adventurers behind him, marching them directly to the temple. The moment he set foot in there, he felt that familiar presence. When he approached the dais this time, he knew it would work. Who better to judge our decision than one of our patron gods?
Arent you one of our patron gods? Aarok muttered.
But this one is impartial, Theo said, holding his arms out to his sides, palms up. He closed his eyes, whispering in Drogramathi. Drogramath.
What little light filtered through the open windows in the temple dimmed. Flicking purple fire sprung up around the raised tform, then the ghostly image of Drogramath appeared. Theo looked up with a smile on his face, his eyes lingering on the gods broken horn.
How dull, Drogramath said, letting out a sigh that stirred the mes. Youve dragged me out of important experimentation for what? Permission to dig a hole? Dig as many holes as you want, champion.
Did Tworgnoth ce the artifice containing my familiar in that spot specifically? Theo asked. Did he want me to find the cavern?
One of Drogramaths brows raised. No shit.
What will we find down below? Danger?
Drogramath sighed again. I see what youre doing, champion. Fine. To appease the minds of your people, Ill say it. Tworgnoth ced the artifice where he did so that you would dig below. The caverns are connected throughout the world and contain many dangers. And many treasures. The area directly under Tworgnoths artifice is upied by a race of creatures friendly to all Dronon. Now, may I please go?
Thanks, Drogramath, Theo said.
Drogramath only red back, then waved his hand. The spectral image of the god vanished. The alchemist turned on the spot, shrugging. Does that satisfy your concerns?
Gwyn smiled, shaking her head. Yeah. That works for me.
Me too, Gael said.
Cant get clearer than that, Alise chuckled.
They would have reached that conclusion eventually. Summoning Drogramath to dispel their fears might have been a cheat, but it worked. Gwyn and Gael seemed especially reluctant to ept Theo for his word. That was moderately concerning. Not because of their trust for him, but their fear for whatever it was underground. Tresk poked into the alchemists mind, dipping in to get a feel for the situation.
All good? She asked. Can we go to the caves now?
Almost, Theo responded. Aarok has a few things to sort out. I imagine he will call our forces into action. Just in case.
Another chance for the man to flex his big old muscles, Tresk said.
Theo nodded as though the Marshling could see him nod. He departed from the temple, leaving his administrators to sort themselves out. It wouldnt do to hold their caution against them, so he dismissed the matter in his mind. Instead, he focused on what Drogramath said and the gods behavior. It was almost as though he had called a friend who was in the middle of baking a cake. Nothing special to see here. Just a mortalmunicating with a god.
Unlike the myths on Earth, the gods in this world worked differently. If a god wanted to smite a person here, they needed to send agents. Balkor made the mistake of bringing his heavenly body to the mortal realm, which resulted in his death. The alchemist had already decided that god wasnt a good title for them. Well, Khahar was a god if ever there was one. But everyone else up there in the high heavens? Nah.
Makes you think, Theo said, wandering toward the mine. How messed up is the god system?
He got a few concerned looks from those citizens passing by, but none offered responses. The alchemist stopped in on Nira and her smeltery operation. She was sitting on a log, watching her people work with a faint smile on her face.
Theo, she said, nodding in his direction.
Nira.
It was mesmerizing to watch folks working the smelter. Sparks flew from the crucibles as they poured molten metal. Waves of heat washed from the building like an unstoppable tide. The warmth it brought would have been afort in a tundra, but here in the swamp? It was stifling. A strangting nket of heat that brought beads of sweat to Theos forehead in moments. He couldnt figure out how the people working here had tolerated it before his cooling gel. They sat in silence for long moments before he stood.
Gotta go.
Sure.
Aarok gave the order to the adventurers to assemble at the mine a half-hourter. Theo met up with Fenian outside the entrance to Dead Dog Mine shortly after that. He smiled, watching as the Elf moved around without issue. The topical, limb-regeneration goo did its job well and there was no sign ofsting damage. He was ready to be thrown through the realms, a task the alchemist felt he could do. If he should do it was another matter, but he tried not to concern himself with those problems.
Ready for whatever is inside? Theo asked.
Theres nothing on the other side, Fenian said, shaking his head. Your people are worried about nothing.
Drogramath said there was a race of people down there that liked Dronon.
Well, Im not aware of such people.
Guess you cant know everything.
Theo walked away before Fenian could retort. He met with Aarok and his guys, then had a brief meeting with Gridgen. The miners had a bottle of [Tunneling Potion], reserved for just such an event. Most notably, the alchemist didnt see the administrators around. That put a smile on his face.
We do the heavy lifting, Aarok said, noting the expression on the alchemists face. They make the decisions.
Hmmm.
A procession entered the mine. Theo, Fenian, Sarisa, Rowan, Tresk, Alex, Luras, and Aarok led the way to the lower levels. They broke off near the lower level. The adventurers prepared the area forbat while the alchemist applied several simple wards to the iron gates. He double-checked the daggers in his inventory, bringing several out just in case things got weird.
As always, Aarok said, his booming voicemanding the attention of all those gathered. Were sticking our hand in a hole. We dont know whats in that hole, but we dont care. Broken Tuskers dont look before they leap, do they?
That got a chuckle out of the group.
Unless theres an undead dragon in the cavern, were fine, Fenian said,ughing. No one elseughed. There isnt an undead dragon down there. Trust me. But maybe? Just kidding.
Words of confidence, Aarok grumbled, holding a bottle of [Tunneling Potion] out over the hole. Ready, Fenian?
Im ready, the Elf said, withdrawing his rapiers from nowhere. They filled the tunnel shadows and blue-silver light that battled against one another.
Aarok tipped the potion over the hole, then stepped back. Fenian fell into abat stance, holding his left rapier to the side and his right one leading. The potion ate away at the stone in moments, creating a circr hole that went straight down. When it ate through thestyer of rock, the tunnel was filled with the smell of sulfur and an intense heat. It rushed forward, wind howling for a moment before subsiding.
Everyone good? Aarok asked. A murmur blew through the crowd. Everyone was fine.
Theo tilted his head to the side, clutching a dagger. I heard something. A voice.
Fenian nodded. It sounds like a man. Speaking gods, I dont know what that is.
Theo edged closer to the hole. Tresk grabbed him by his new gambeson and held him. He could sense her intent to keep him from falling, and poked his head over the edge. A strange sight greeted him. Below was an amalgamation of rocks with a beady set of eyes staring up. His brow knit tightly when the rocks waved.
Hello? Theo asked, uncertain.
The being responded with a rapid series of words. The alchemist only caught a few of them, then stepped back. Theres a pile of rocks. Talking. It kinda sounds like
Like someone chewed up Toruaunsnguage and spat it out, Tresk said with a chuckle.
Theo leaned over the edge again, listening more intently this time. The rock creature below continued speaking rapidly, never even taking a breath between words. As it spoke, the alchemist understood more of thenguage. It wasnt his mind unraveling theplexities of a Dronon tongue, though. The rock was speaking a heavily ented Dronon tongue. This wasnt thenguage of Toruaun.
Do you speak Drogramathi? Theo shouted back. Or Bantari, Taranthian English? Russian?
Thenguage of the sand! the rock-thing shouted back in horrible Russian.
Theo leaned back, looking at his friends with a t expression. Another one of Khahars jokes. He poked his head back over the hole, continuing on in Russian. I hope youre friendly.
Yeah, were super friendly, the rock said. The cat told me to stand in this tunnel, so I stood in this tunnel.
Theo sighed. How long have you been standing in the tunnel?
The rock-man counted on his fingers, then shrugged. I dunno!
My name is Theo. Im the archduke of the alliance on the surface.
Igor! A pleasure to meet you, horned one.
Theo backed away from the hole again. Alright, Khahar brainwashed the rock people so they would be friendly to me. Someone fetch me Zankir and Zansal. And adder.
Several adventurers ran off, heading up through the tunnels. Theo poked his head back over the hole. Tresk tightened her grip on his clothes. Are there more of your people down there?
Oh, yeah. We have an entire city. Thousands of people like me, Igor said. We had a war going thest time I was home.
Zankir and Zansal arrived, carrying adder between them. Theo updated them on the situation, then requested that they escort him into the hole. They shared a confused look, then agreed. Igor seemed incredibly friendly. The alchemists Wisdom of the Soul popped up a few times, agreeing that the rock dude had no ill intentions. The adventurers ced thedder in the hole.
Iming down, Theo shouted into the hole. Could you make some room?
Absolutely! Igor said. When he moved, the cave was filled with scraping sounds. Like rock on rock.
It only made sense to send Fenian first. He didnt speak Russian, but there were few things down in the hole that could best him inbat. Zankir and Zansal went next, followed by Theo, Tresk, Rowan, and Sarisa. When the alchemists feet touched the ground of the cavern below, he cast his eyes around the area. Light filtered through the circr hole above, providing a halo of light where they stood. He got a better look at Igor, who seemed to be little more than a vaguely humanoid shaped pile of stones.
Denizens of the sands! Ignore eximed.
He speaks the holynguage, Zansal sneered.
Come! Follow me! Well see my people together. Down this tunnel. Igor gestured vaguely and the group followed.
Fenian led the way, but he had ced his weapons back into his inventory. Tresk melted into the shadows, then ranged ahead. But it didnt take the group long to find the exit of the tunnel. They came out into a darkened world that sprawled on forever. The cavern they exited into was lined in ces with glowing fungus. Flying creatures could be heard overhead, somewhere in the distance. Flickering on the horizon, miles away, was an arrangement of lights that defied nature. The alchemist narrowed his eyes, focusing to see the edge of walls. A city under his town.
Thats a sight, Fenian said, staring into the distance. I retract my remark about there not being a dragon.
What? Theo asked, giving the Elf a concerned look.
Fenian pulled Theo down, pressing their cheeks together. In the citys center, there is a dragon. His voice had an edge like a sharpened dagger. One of the metallic kind.
Abort mission? Rowan asked.
You guys freaking out about our dragon? Igor asked with a rocky chuckle. Shes been protecting the Stonehome for thousands of years. Only wakes up when theres danger.
Theo got the impression that the dragon had been there for longer than that. He didnt know exactly when Khahar had enacted his n, but it was at least ten-thousand years ago. Likely more. The alchemist had been led here by Khahar, which meant it was a good thing. At least, he hoped it was a good thing. Before proceeding forward, they paused near the tunnels exit and sent their people forward to scout. That gave him some time to ask Igor about his people.
The rock-people didnt have a name for themselves, but they had adopted the culture seeded by Yuri. But the dragon had interested Theo the most. It didnt pass his notice that Fenian had locked his eyes on the beast from the start, ring at it as though it owed him money for one of his trade deals. The alchemist pulled the Elf aside while his people scouted.
Exin dragons to me, Theo said.
They arent real, Fenian said. His eyes never left the dragon. Theyre stories the Elves tell their children. Something to be afraid of if you misbehave.
Theo gestured to the vague form of the dragon in the distance. Yet, there is a dragon.
It is a concerning fact that was concealed from me. Which makes it dangerous and important.
From what Igor said, the dragon was a protector of the stone people. She acted as their leader and protector. Underground, there were caverns like this that stretched throughout the entire world. Civilizations that never saw the light of day called the deep ces home. Deep versions of all the surface-dwelling races made their lives down here. Wisdom of the Soul offered a few suggestions, but nothing solid. Just guesses, like echoes in the vast caves.
Can we meet the dragon? Theo asked, turning to Igor.
Of course! Shell be happy to see you.
4.62 - The Nameless City
4.62 - The Nameless City
The scouting team reported back after a few hours of eerie silence. The path from the tunnels entrance, to the walled city waspletely clear of monsters. Zankir had gone along with them to ensure the friendly nature of the rock-folk along the way. They had found the stony people tending crops of rock-like mushrooms near the citys exterior and were weed with open arms. Igor was true to his word, and weed Khahari, Dronon, and their friends with hearty greetings and bone-crushing hugs.
Theo had time to consider this underground ce. His senses told him they were far deeper than they should have been. He suspected a nar pivot between the ce above ground and this underground world. It wasnt as stark of a difference as the realms, but he could feel it. Someone held domain over this ce, and he couldnt determine who that was.
Ziz and his boys worked with Throk to construct Drogramathi Iron gates at the tunnels entrance. Before the group left for the city, Theo warded them and assigned severalbat golems near the passage. But all their caution was unnecessary. This wasnt the world he expected to find here, but he was happy to have found it. The alchemist found himself in a meeting with Alran Cherman near the newly constructed gate.
Did someone ask for spies? he asked, rubbing his hands together. This is a great honor, archduke. I really must say that a few more times.
How does your spying power work? Theo asked. Do you need a willing participant?
While I have willing spies throughout the world, they dont need to agree with me. Dont worry about it.
Alran was all too eager to brave the darkness of the underground world. Theo shrugged it off, happy to get more information about the strange people by whatever means necessary.
Oh, you guys are going to love the mushrooms we grow down here, Igor said as the group departed. Youre an alchemist, right?
I am, Theo said.
Igor rattled off the mushrooms they had cultivated. Theo was happy to look around, eyes lingering on all the strange flora and fauna. nts and animals had adapted to the underground conditions. There must have been monsters that lived here, but the only things he saw were small, insect-like creatures. Nothing threatened them on their way to the city. As the walls came into closer view, the alchemist realized just howrge they were.
The walls of the rock-people city were at least twice as tall as Broken Tusk. They bristled with artifice tower weapons, putting off faint fields of magical energy that stung Theos nerves. The gates swung open as the group approached, revealing a bustling city within. Thats when Theo realized it wasnt just rock-folk within the town. Eyes seated in fleshy heads turned their way as they passed through the streets. The alchemist spotted analogs of the surface races down here, all with lighter tones to their skin, often bordering on stark white.
Wee to Oz, Tresk said with a chuckle. How freaking weird is this?
All under our noses. Theos mind spun out of control as they walked through the city. The ce was massive, marked by towering structures made of stone. People ran around the streets, bathed in magical lights that hung in mid-air. He recognized the importance of an alliance with these people, especially when they crossed into a bazaar. Vendors shouted in strangenguages, selling their wares for the day. All under the ominous presence of a town-sized slumbering dragon.
The city was designed as arge square. Thendscape rose the closer they got to the center. In the middle of the city was a massive tform made of decorated stone. Igor performed several warding gestures as he approached the massive form of the dragon. Everyone stared up at it, in awe of the scale. Broken Tusk would have trouble housing the creature. Even considering the expanded districts.
Pogosophoro, binder of kin! Igor shouted. He turned to Theo, his rocky face shifting to something of a smile. We call her Pogo.
The dragon stirred slightly, giving the alchemist a better view. The scales on the creatures skin wererger than he was tall. She was the color of brushed bronze, glittering where the light hit her scales. Four-legged with a set of massive wings, she struck an imposing image. When her head turned slightly, the group was washed with a torrent of hot air issuing from her nostrils.
Pogo didnt open her eyes, but she spoke. The voice came from everywhere at once, almost as though she were speaking into their minds.
You have brought them, she said. Finally.
It was difficult to understand the enormity of the dragon. Theo searched Tresks feelings, finding a simr awe. Around him, his people stood with mouths agape, desperate to wrap their heads around Pogo. From afar, she looked more like a massive bronze statue. Those rock-people and under-versions of the surface races lingered near the massive dais. The alchemist got the impression that they respected the dragon, but did not treat her as a god.
Tresk nudged him in the ribs and whispered, say something while I study her. Im gonna have a perfect recreation for the Dreamwalk.
This is unexpected, Theo said, trying to hype himself up. We were led here through strange circumstances, and Im afraid I dont have the words.
The massive dragon snorted something like augh. She didnt raise her head, but her amber eyes searched through the crowd. I put it inly, then. In the Third Era, I made a deal with a Khahari. One who refused to ascend. I was to guard this cavern. In exchange, he didnt exterminate me.
Sounds like a crappy deal, Tresk muttered.
There are worse fates, Pogo said. I wee you to the Nameless City. The rock-folk were never ones for naming things, so they never bothered.
If Khahar put the dragon here, there was a reason. Theo couldnt wrap his mind around why he would put a dragon in an underground cavern, but Yuri was never one to exin his actions. Well, why not ask the source?
Do you know what Khahars intentions were? Theo asked.
These caverns stretch throughout the world. He was worried you woulde under attack from the unsavory races that call this ce home. None have passed my protection. All have died.
Oh, sweet. Another shield, Tresk said, pping her hands.
So, uh wanna join a nation?
No. But Im happy to forge trade deals with your people. So long as you keep your spy from weaving his fetid magic. Pogos eyes shifted, locking onto Alran.
Right. No spying, Alran, Theo said, pointing a finger. The mans shoulders slumped slightly, and he moved to the back of the group. Im sure we have much to offer your people.
Indeed. Your entourage is free to roam the city while we work out the details. Off with you, little ones.
Those that had apanied Theo to the underground world were sent off to explore the Nameless City. It really needed a name, but none of the rock people seemed eager to give it one. The alchemist stayed with the dragon, pulling a chair out of the Tarahek inventory and having a seat. Pogo was interested in a few things that Broken Tusk had on offer. Especially the Drogramathi Iron. Everyone loved that stuff. The underground world had a bounty of reagents to offer, as well as a rare metal that wasnt avable in surface mines.
Pogo imed that Tworgnothi Copper was the best for making artifices, and Theo believed her. Several hourster, they had both signed a bnced trade deal. That left the alchemist free to explore the city on his own. It was a sprawling thing, housed in a massive cavern. The ceiling glittered with glowing fungus, while themps on the street cast eerie lights. He met with Fenian, Tresk, and Alex in a local tavern.
Well, that was unexpected, Fenian said, gesturing for Theo to take a seat.
The chairs were horribly ufortable. Theo lowered himself into the stone chair and grimaced. It seemed everything was made of stone around here. The patrons of the tavern were a hodgepodge of races. While the rock-folk were the dominant race, there were those surface analogs. Elves with impossibly white skin. Dwarves with theplexion of knapped onyx. There were even lizard-folk that glowed in the darkness. But each of them had a hard edge to them, as though living down here was a daily trial.
The good news is they ept surface money, Tresk said, gesturing to the pale white Elf woman serving them beer. The Marshling tossed her a gold coin. Thanks,dy.
The Elf bowed, then walked away. Theo tipped a [Potion of Limited Foresight] into his mouth before tasting the beer. It wasnt great. But it wasnt horrible, either. It was a standard, unsweetened ale that was a bit too hoppy for him. Still, it was wet and he was thirsty. The eyes of the patrons within the tavern never strayed from the group for long. But it was unsurprising that all attention was on them. The one man within the ce that kept the alchemists attention was an Elf wearing a ck mask with a single hole for his right eye.
I dont know what I expected to find here, Theo said, sipping his drink. But it wasnt this.
Right? Fenian asked, chuckling. Khahar should have told me about this. No idea why it was kept from me like some big secret.
You got a bad feeling about it? Tresk asked.
No! Thats the strange part, Fenian said. My cores are singing this ces praises. Both UzXulven and Parantheir have whispered to me. They like it.
Theo felt nothing from Drogramath. As always. The Dronon god seemed uninterested in the ce, but that might have been a feint. He always liked to pretend to be uninterested, no matter what. There were things down here that would interest any alchemist, though. A new range of reagents to test. Not that there was much time for that. The alchemist had to wrap his mind around Fenians n first.
How long will it take you to trap Karasan in Balkors dead realm? Theo asked.
Im not sure. It should have workedst time, but the gates were closed.
Why would the gates be open? Tresk asked. She drained thest of her beer. What changed?
My patrons told me as much.
That was questionable, but Theo didnt know how to question it. He didnt have a sense for how the realms in the high heavens were doing. He had certainly never pressed himself up against a dead realm. But he was aware of the gate-like quality that realms had. Benton used one to get into Terogal.
Maybe we should go to Terogal. Poke around to see, Theo said.
Youre the experts. I dont care how you get me there, Fenian shrugged.
Theo turned to Tresk, asking her opinion without opening his mouth.
Yeah. I think I can take an inventory of dead realms. Poke around a bit.
Just dont enter Balkors realm, Fenian warned. Karasan will know someone is there, and hell act too soon. We dont want him dropping a city on Broken Tusk. Not yet.
Theo narrowed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head. I need to bring a letter to Belgar, anyway. Check on the spirits. You know how it is. God stuff.
Strictly speaking Fenian started.
We know were not gods, Tresk interrupted. Jeeze, why are you so literaltely?
Im on edge.
Theo checked on his people before diving into Terogal. It was surprising to see that everything was going well. Things normally went wrong right about now. The only exnation was that things would go wrong soon enough. Their bad luck would umte, then burst forth in spectacr fashion. The alchemist nned on stopping by the Bridge to see if UzXulven had any advice. As long as she thought it would work, they were in the clear.
Alright. Lets go.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex fell through reality, slipping into the ce between ces. As they passed over the Bridge of Shadows, the alchemist steered them to the dark expanse. Theynded without issue, and it seemed as calm as ever. He had to shout a few times to get the master of the houses attention. Shadows coiled around them, then the form of UzXulven appeared. Hands on her hips, she tutted.
No confidence in my champion? What a shame, she said.
Hey, Uz! Tresk said, waving. Alex honked.
Hello, UzXulven said, waving awkwardly. Balkors realm is open again. My champions efforts were sessful.
What happens after that? Theo asked.
What does he always say? Spoilers! No. Just kidding. Im not certain, but theres a chain of ownership for the Throne of the Herald. Karasan owns it, but does not sit on it. So, thats causing some problems.
Wow, what a selfish jerk. Tresk shook her head in disapproval.
Right? UzXulven said. She shook her head, hiding whatever amusement yed on her shadowy face. Anyway, your n should work. Now leave me alone.
Theo and Tresk shared a look. The alchemist sent them along their way, deciding not to annoy the god any longer. Theynded in the Terogals town and were met with excited cheers from the still-forming spirits. The alchemist found Belgar and handed over his note. As expected, Bentons icy archway sprung up and the bear god stepped out.
Tea? he asked.
It was strange to see more than one building in Terogal at first. But Theo was warming up to the idea of the spirits constructing a town. They had expanded it even if no new spirits had arrived. Benton brought a new blend of tea today, something that was less sweet than what he normally liked. It was a mature taste. A vor that the alchemist didnt altogether enjoy. But the confections made up for that. Fried donut-like things and spongy cakes spread across the table. Tresk went wild with the powdered sugar he brought, covering everything she ate in a thickyer.
Benton came with news of his realm. They were inspired by the spirits within Terogal and had entered a boom of construction. The destendscape often made it so that the spirits there wanted to snuggle up, preserving their warmth. But with more buildings, the bear god was confident they could live a more enjoyable life. Theo had little advice for that. The spirits in his realm just did as they pleased. He never asked them to build a little town. He certainly didnt ask for them to engage in artistic endeavors. Even if the sculptures they were creating were getting more realistic.
One thing that made Theo excited was the disposition of the souls in his realm. They didnt treat him like a god. After finishing the tea, they toured the expanded town. People waved as they went past, but offered nothing more than a hearty greeting. There was no groveling, praying, or anything weird like that. They were just people living their lives. It was a reflection of Broken Tusk itself. Like a mirror image, rendered with vast artistic license. Until Terogal was exposed to the wider heavens, they were protected from attack. Thats what Benton said, anyway.
Alex wanted to stay back in the town to y in the spring while Theo and Tresk wandered off. They hiked through Terogal, finding ces they hadnt seen before. The entire time, they probed the edges of the heavens with their senses. It wasnt an exact skill they were using. Like the ability to sense someone back on the mortal ne, it was more of a feeling. The Marshling was far better at it than him. It took several hours, but she had a decent sense for which realm was Balkors.
The duo had found their way to a rise right outside of town. It provided an excellent view of the ce. Rolling hills below them, and a stiff breeze blown from a mountain range provided a pleasant environment.
There are hundreds of thousands of dead realms, Tresk said. Yeah, I can feel it. Some are shuttered. Like, theres no way anyone could ever get there. But a few are open. And one stinks.
Stinks like what? Theo asked, plucking a de of grass from the ground. He tried to sp it between his thumbs and whistle, but it didnt work.
Like death.
Yeah, thats our realm. Remember that one. How far is it?
Distance is rtive. Thats the strange thing, though. I feel as though I have some authority over Balkors dead realm.
That made little sense. From what Theo understood, authority over realms came from two things. The first one was absolute authority, which they both had over Terogal. Then there was self-authority, which represented itself when they were visiting another realm. Absolute authority gave them permission to do whatever they wanted, while self-authority made it so no one could hold them in a realm they didnt want to be in. He dismissed the matter, assuming the authority she felt was just her actualized will in the other realm.
Well toss him across the void tomorrow, Theo said.
Yeah. I cant feel him on the mortal ne when hes too close to that dragon.
Lets leave Alex with him tomorrow. That way, we have something to focus on as we interdict him.
A calm silence set in on the hillside. The Tarahek fell into thought as one. Worries bled together, mingling with excitement. Things were getting interesting in the heavenly realms, and their progress on the mortal ne was going well. Despite the army of undead beating down their door to the north, they were doing good.
Did you hear about Sledges eggs? Tresk asked.
Theo was aware that Sledge wanted to have kids, but didnt know she would actually go through with it. Really? We need to make sure that Bob has enough resources to handle more crazy Marshling kids.
Yeah. Good luck, you little Brogling.
4.63 - Zureah Materials
4.63 - Zureah Materials
Terogal provided a much needed break from the underground world. Theo felt all his worries for the ce melt away in an instant as he looked over the rolling fields of his realm. He was disappointed that no new souls had arrived within the realm, but what could he do? There was no ce to hang a sign in the void that said this way for a good time. That might put off the wrong impression, though.
Owning a realm, which was effectively a new world, gave the alchemist an interesting perspective. He didnt want to change the way these new people were developing their society, and it didnt seem to need changing. Terogal was closer to a utopia than Broken Tusk could ever be. No one rushed him with reports when he entered the realm. Just a bunch of smiling faces and quick nods.
Yeah, I was thinking about that, too, Tresk said.
Theo shot her a look. Digging through my thoughts?
Im always digging around in there. Cavernous.
So, what was I thinking about?
About when some big bades and stomps on our little town. You want to bring Broken Tuskers here.
Well, that wasnt exactly what he was thinking about. But it had been on his mind. Hisst failsafe against some disaster was to interdict everyone in Broken Tusk, bringing them to the safety of Terogal. And reason lent itself well to the problem Fenian was stirring up. The undead were a core part of his n. But what happened when that n came topletion? What if the undead went away, and Qavell marched to war. The alliance would be broken underfoot, and everything they worked for would crumble in an instant.
The moment we send Fenian away, we need to kick Throk into gear. I want my rail guns.
Yeah. Youve already got my dad signed up for transcontinental railroads. Whats a few guns after that?
This was often a point of contention between Theo and Tresks thoughts. She was excellent at conflict, but not nning for it. Like most Broken Tuskers, the Marshling prepared for battle at thest moment. The alchemist wanted to cover all options before the threat arrived. And they still had a [River Dungeon] monster wave to deal with. That would be the order of things, then. Monster wave, Fenian, defenses. Easy enough, so long as Aarok and Luras agreed.
Even without his Wisdom of the Soul ability, Theo knew his administrators would object to some things he would do in the future. He hoped they had confidence in him enough to ept his strategy. He snapped out of his mise and looked inward, to the bank of knowledge stored in his mind. As with all things, he searched for an alchemical solution to his problems.
There was a long list of potions he had yet to craft. And several properties he didnt want to explore. Properties like [Devour], which likely created a poison, and even more likely inflicted great pain on the person unlucky enough to feel the sting. Theo went over those properties with Tresk as they sat atop a hill. A delightful breeze blew in, soothing them with every gust.
How about the Zureah stuff? Tresk asked.
[Zureah Talons] and wings provided levitation, or offense-rted properties. Theo had only discovered the first property on both, but the reagent was decently rare. The bird-people, called Zureah, spawned with the [River Dungeon]. They could stock up on monster parts from that wave, so the alchemist added it to a metal list of things to test.
Cant forget the spirit fruits, Theo said.
Except theyre rare.
That was always a problem. Mass production was better for most potions. Especially in defending Broken Tusk. Theo had to consider how long it would take the undead to clear out, if they cleared out at all. Then how long it would take Qavell to get moving. He would assume the worst, and estimate their arrival to be seven days after the Elf was gone. That was plenty of time to discover new properties, and create new bombs.
Property binding is also an option. Ive only scraped the surface of primal essences. Then theres the reagents that grow in the caverns underground Suddenly, I have a question.
Huh?
Do the rock-folk name anything?
Doesnt seem like it.
We should send Azrug down there to name everything. Im annoyed that someone would name their city Nameless City.
Yeah. That sucks, too.
Theo and Tresk hiked back to the town, spending hours wandering with little aim. Belgar must have smelled the alchemists intent, because he joined him near the small work area. Compared to the grumpy soul that arrived in Terogal, the dead Dronon was now chipper and excited about most things. But he was especially excited about his sisters letters. He held the newest one in his hands, pressing it to his face asionally.
Well, Im going to mingle, Tresk said, turning away from the table and walking away. Alex honked nearby, swimming in the cool spring water.
Do you remember any interesting reagents? Theo asked.
Belgar leaned over the table, a smile spreading across his face. The more time he spent in the realm, the sharper his features became. He was almost solid enough to make out details, but he was a way off from beingpletely corporeal. The shocking thing was that he didnt look like Theo. Instead of regaining the image of his old body, he seemed to forge himself a new one.
Youll never appreciate the unique flora and fauna of the swamp, will you?
Theo tapped his foot, then shook his head. I know Ive been spoiled.
Belgar pped a hand on the alchemists back. No need to be a grouch about it! Lets get to work. Do you have any samples on you?
It was hard not to smile. Alright. First, I have a [Zureah Talon] with the [sh] property.
Ah, Ive seen that property. Its weird. Ground into a poultice, it increases the damage of the users next attack. When distilled, it behaves strangely.
Strangely?
It can create a spectral sh, as if from a sword, when used as a bomb. Or, it adds that shing effect to the users next attack.
Interesting, Theo said. He withdrew two [Zureah Talons] from his inventory. The alchemist held his hand over the first reagent, applying his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability to draw out the second property. He did the same for the next reagent, extracting all three properties before withdrawing another sample for examination.
How many talons do you have on you, boy? Belgar asked, chuckling.
Too many.
[Zureah Talon]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
The menacing w of a Zureah.
Properties:
[sh] [Desperate Attack] [Berserk]
Those seem dangerous, Belgar said.
The names didnt inspire confidence, that was certain. Theo prepared two stills for small runs, and Belgar helped. The grinders had some trouble with the talons, but it wasnt as difficult for them to grind as the [Pozwa Horns]. They let the pair of still do their work to extract the [Desperate Attack] and [Berserk] properties while they moved on to other reagents.
I have more of these [Zureah Feathers] than I know what to do with, Theo said, withdrawing one from his inventory.
Belgar took a feather in his hand and nodded. The [Levitate] property is solid. I would still be alive if I had a [Lesser Potion of Levitation]. Lets discover the other properties, though.
Theo withdrew three samples again, sending the first two up in smoke to discover their properties. After applying his champion Drogramathi mana to the reagents, he inspected the remaining one with Belgar.
[Zureah Feather]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Epic
The feather of a Zureah, said to hold the creatures affinity for flight.
Properties:
[Levitate] [Feather Shield] [Whirlwind]
This was the exciting part. Trying to guess what a property would produce was always fun, but Belgar hadnt seen [Feather Shield] or [Whirlwind]. They fired up two additional stills before pulling up chairs. People-watching had be of the dead Dronons favorite activity in the realm. Theo couldnt me him. While he could still see through most of the people, they were bing more solid by the day. They went about their lives as though nothing had happened. It was as though they hadnt died.
The refined essences werepleted in the order they were brewed. Each potion Theo created was still middling in its bond to Drogramath, no matter what people said about the temple increasing that level. Perhaps he wasnt praying enough, or in the right way. But as he set out the essences for test reactions, he realized that people didnt really pray. Not like back on Earth. Zarali was the only person he had seen truly praying.
Patrons, Theo said after a long pause.
What? Belgar asked.
Everyone should call the gods patrons. Because theyre not gods.
Belgar pped a hand on Theos shoulder. Couldnt agree less. Brew the potions.
Theo went through the motions of making a simple, second tier potion. It was something he had done thousands of time before. More than an exercise, or an art, it had be a series of motions that he made mindlessly. They inspected the first potion when it waspleted.
[Potion of Desperate Attack]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
To be quaffed in dire circumstances. This potion exemplifies the Zureahs tendency to perform attacks that put their lives in danger.
Effect:
The next time the drinker attacks an enemy, they gain the Desperate Attack effect.
When Desperate Attack is activated, 50% of the drinkers total health is consumed.
1.50 times the amount of total health is applied to the drinkers attack.
See? Belgar asked. That potion is a trap. Fifty percent of the drinkers total health.
Meaning they could kill themselves with the potion.
Exactly. Anything that concerns total health percentages is scary.
That reminded Theo of the searing regeneration modified effect on potions. It often created things that would kill the user as often as it would help them.
But wait, Theo said, moving to brew the potion with the [Berserk] property. Theres more!
Unlike the [Potion of Desperate Attack], this next one seemed to fight against Theos will. He had experienced this in the past. Willful potions werent umon, and most potions that used the third property of reagent were like this. He took his time, making sure his core allowed him to measure exact quantities. After adding the catalyst to the vial, the alchemist watched as the essence boiled within. It turned a dark shade of red, mottled with ck. A few momentster, the reaction calmed down. What was left was a mixture of the two colors, running in bands along the potion.
Nasty looking thing, Belgar said, stooping low for inspection.
Indeed.
[Potion of Berserk]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
To be quaffed in circumstances without hope. This represents the Zureahs tendency of fighting to the death.
Effect:
The next time the drinker attacks an enemy, they gain the Berserk effect.
When Berserk is active, 98% of the drinkers total health is consumed.
2.50 times the amount of total health is applied to the drinkers attack.
If the drinker is still alive after the attack, they enter a state of Berserkers Rage.
The drinker will no longer recognize friend from foe, and for the next twenty seconds they cannot be killed by reducing their health to 0.
Each attack they perform will contain the power of the original Berserk effect, without consuming 98% of their total health.
Well, screw that potion, Theo said. This is the second-most dangerous potion Ive ever crafted.
Hmmm, Belgar said, tapping his chin as he read the description again. Im not so certain.
How could this possibly be useful?
Combined with a [Life Ward] effect, this could be a powerful weapon. True, the user would need to make sure theyre at full health before they use it but the effect? An invulnerable fighter on the battlefield.
Twenty seconds of invulnerability, Theo corrected. Without a sense for friend or foe. What is the [Life Ward] effect?
Zarali and I used to brew [Lesser Potions of Life Ward] from a root that grew in the Veostian Hignds. After drinking it, all the damage you take over the next minute is restored if your health reaches 0.
Thats insane, Theo said. And incredibly situational.
But notice the wording of the [Potion of Berserk]. They cannot be killed by reducing their health to 0. Is there another way?
There must be. It wouldnt mention it, otherwise.
The alchemist couldnt decide if the [Potion of Berserk] was good. If he could find something with the [Life Ward] property, it would turn any fighter into a demon. Theo had a sense that the potions description was leaving something out. The [Berserkers Rage] effect likely held more secrets. He shelved it in his mind as something to brew if he found the [Life Ward] property on anything. Until then, it was time to move on.
Right. Ill have to find that other property to use this correctly, Theo said, nodding. As always, your knowledge is helpful.
Anytime.
Next were the essences they had distilled from the [Zureah Feather]. Theo expected less from these, and was happy to brew two potions that wouldnt kill him. The reaction of the [Feather Shield] property was mild, especiallypared to [Berserk]. The ornate vial swirled with green energy, then settled down almost immediately. Both he and Belgar leaned close, inspecting the next potion.
[Potion of Feather Shield]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Surrounds the drinker with a shield of feathers.
Effect:
For 10 minutes after drinking this potion, the imbiber will gain a shield of feathers.
Drinker will be more difficult to hit.
If an attackernds a hit on the drinker, there is a 5% chance that the damage is negated.
This is a solid defensive potion, Belgar said. Compared to [Barkskin] and simr effects, it doesnt have any drawbacks.
Yes, but the effect is less impressive. Bing more difficult to hit is nice, but I like negating damage entirely.
Still, you never know whatbinations you can make.
True. And I have thousands of these feathers.
Ah, Ive missed this. Belgar let out a long,bored sigh. Drifting in the void doesnt hold a candle to alchemy.
I couldnt agree more.
Next up was the [Whirlwind] effect. The first impression that Theo got from the property was that it was an attack. But as he held the [Refined Whirlwind Essence] in his hand, he realized that wasnt the case. Like the [Feather Shield] property, this was a defensive potion. It reminded him of the scent given off by the [Retreat Essence]. He performed the reaction without thinking much about it. The essence swirled in the vial as though driven by a powerful squall. It didnt settle down much, even after the reaction ended. The potion looked more like a hurricane in a bottle than a liquid. Both he and Belgar inspected it.
[Potion of Whirlwind]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Surrounds the drinker with a whirlwind.
Effect:
The drinker is sent into the air in a direction of their choosing.
The whirlwind left behind knocks all enemies back.
Interesting, but itcks the Featherfall effect, Ber said, tapping his chin.
Rename it to the Potion of St, Theo said, chuckling at his own joke.
Belgar joined in,ughing with him. There were some interesting potions in the bunch. The [Potion of Feather Shield] had its uses, and might be even better at third tier. Those potions born from the [Zureah Talons] were likely the best, but it was debatable. Without a potion with the [Life Ward] property, they would be impossible to use safely. Even then, it would be tricky.
Potions that had a clear effect without drawbacks were always the best. But Theo wasnt looking for something that restored health, or increased a persons attributes. He was looking for a weapon. Only, he didnt expect to find the means to create a living weapon. The modifiers he could ce on the [Potion of Berserk], or his future [Greater Potion of Berserk] would likely be equally insane.
Belgar seemed to have gotten his fill of potion-making, and Theo couldnt agree more. Instead, the alchemist told him the story of the underground civilization. The only thing he was interested in was obtaining a sample of the dragons scales, iming it would create an amazing potion.
Theo had his doubts about that. The dragon had almost no presence when they met. Which meant it was powerful enough to not emit anything that would disturb his senses. Conceptually heavy reagents like that, including the spirit fruits, were difficult to deal with. Processing them required special skills and handling techniques. Certainly a dragons scales would be the most difficult thing to turn into a potion. But there was still a small part of the alchemist that wanted to know. Who wouldnt want to know.
The real world beckoned, in time. Theo, Tresk, and Alex spent no more time in the realm thanst time. Without more spirits, the power of the realm didnt grow. But it was enough for them to get their heads straight about the situation in the caverns. Allies were always important, especially if they had things to trade.
The alchemist looked toward the sky, willing the group back to the mortal ne. The next time they visited this private realm, they would throw Fenian into the fire. What hell followed in his wake required reverence. And caution.
4.64 - Cookies and Poker
4.64 - Cookies and Poker
Theo stood on the walls of Broken Tusk as the day faded, expecting lightning to strike at any moment. The Season of Fire had been especially tame for rain,pared to the Season of Blooms. But the thunder he expected came in the form of demonic assassins, the sudden arrival of some errant prince to the Qavelli throne, and so on. But it didnte. The sound of peaceful insects drift in from the swamp. People chatted below about their day, and what they nned to do tomorrow. No lightning came. No thunder boomed in the distance. The silence was almost more unsettling.
Both deals the alliance had struck in the past week were profitable. Squeak, from the lizard-folk, forged a deal concerned more with culture than profit. Pogo, in the underground below, had her sights set on protecting the Nameless City. Things were going well without hitches for once. But tomorrow would see Fenian off to something no one in town could understand.
The Elfs journey into Balkors dead realm would have been impossible without Xolsa. The extra-nar Elf had taken a hit for the team by prying into Terogal. Theo and Tresk hade to understand the error of his approach, but had yet to tell him their solution. They were both waiting until after Fenians departure to invite the wizard into their realm. If a person were to force themself upon a realm, the patrons would shift their gaze to them. But if that same person were forced to traverse the Bridge, plopped into a realm by an interdiction event, everything was by the book.
That list of strange, unwritten rules seemed to grow by the day. Navigating it was a minefield unto itself. Theo pushed off from the wall, then descended into the town below. Something in his chest told him things would change soon enough. The world would be a better ce sooner than he expected, but the form it took was still unknown. He skipped dinner entirely, and went straight to bed. Without Tresk or Alex.
The Dreamwalk was a ce that required all participants to be present. The alchemist found himself in an in-between ce of thick shadows and heavy air. Tresk had done this once before. She didnt enjoy the experience, but Theo found himself at peace. Aarok wanted to kick off a monster wave tomorrow after Fenian departed. Fortunately for the Elf, Azrug volunteered to watch the enchanted Karatan with the help of Miana.
Theo had time to reflect on his own in that strange ce. Broken Tusk was a very defensible location. It was bordered on the north and south by impassable mountains. To the west, there was the sprawling swamp. Only the east provided an avenue for attack, and even that would leave a sieging force exposed to the withering effects of the magical towers. Added to the deadly mix was Throks guns, which would bepleted soon enough. The alchemist had seen to that through the use of piles of gold coins. But as ever, it was the sky he feared most.
The scene shifted without warning. Theo found himself standing on the eastern battlements of the town, gazing off into the rolling fields. Tresk and Alex stood next to him, both holding postures of impatience.
Couldnt have waited for us?
I needed a minute to think.
Penny for your thoughts?
Theo exined what had been going on in his mind. Not just about Broken Tusk, but the Soutnds Alliance. The Soutnds Region of Qavell was very easy to defend. Just like the town itself. Everything from Broken Tusk to Gronro-Dir was encased in mountainous regions. The only ess to the sea between the two towns was the harbor and beach. As always, it wasnt thend, the sea, or the underground that the alchemist feared. It was the sky.
The alchemist shifted the scene, bringing them to the walls of Gronro. It was an old memory of Tresks, something she had gained by scouting the region. He would never get over how defensible the area was. A path, perhaps wide enough for a single merchants cart to traverse, connected the town to the northern mountain passage. Crags stabbed skyward in all other directions. It was a nightmare for any assaulting parties. Especially the undead, who often tumbled into the chasm below.
An imagined airship appeared above the town, looming among the wispy clouds. Even an airship would have trouble getting here, Theo said, gesturing to scoot the ship along. Operating at high altitudes was a problem on Earth. Im assuming this is no different.
Nah, youre missing the point there, Tresk said, swiping her hand through the air. The undead stirred below. Ribbons of sickly energy rose into the sky. Remember what dad said? Magic is an airships worst enemy.
Interesting. Theo imagined a map of the area in his mind. Assuming Qavell couldunch an airship from the capital, they would have to run a course to the east. It would be a horrid scenario, exposing them to even more of the undead. The closer they get to Gardreth, the worse it gets. More magicing from the Fallen Kingdom.
Yeah. Theyll go north, Tresk said with a sharp nod. She traced her finger through the air, making a wide circle before clicking her tongue. Then around and over the sea.
Bentons people wouldnt act against the crown, Alex said. Theyre hiding right now. Waiting for the curse to lift.
But who would take the reins after Karasan dies? Theo asked. He shook his head, breaking loose thoughts away. Of course, he has descendants. Doesnt he? Kids?
Tresk nodded. Ive heard about them. Daughters and sons.
So, if Fenian is scheming with the patrons Karasan is likely scheming, too.
Reasonable.
The scene shifted once again. Tresk transported them to the piers outside of the harbor, looking out over the expansive ocean. This is where theyll strike.
Theo couldnt help himself. Heughed, gesturing to both towers. Two rail guns appeared on the towers, then an airship in the sky. This is what I felt. I knew we would run into problems with the administrators soon. I felt it.
You think theyll try to stay your hand? Tresk said, cackling. Good luck!
Well need to override them. We should slip the Adventurers Guild an order to fire on sight when we get the guns set up. Highest payload.
No mercy! Tresk shouted.
Agreed, Alex said, honking and shooting a small ball of fire. So long as the airshipes within the time we expect, we can assume that it is Qavell.After Fenian leaves, the airship should take about a week to arrive.
How do you figure? Theo asked.
Alex seemed to shrug her wings. Just estimating based on assumed speed and the distance.
Theo turned his attention to the airship above. He had imagined a flying ship, like the ones Laedria created. That was the most reasonable assumption, based on Throks findings. An airship needed to be light enough to fly, and would likely rely on magical defenses rather than physical ones. The alchemist imagined a payload of his improvised explosives, potions that took advantage of the vtile nature of Drogramathi alchemy. Firing only two shots, the rail guns annihted the airship. Twin explosions issued at the same time, reducing the imagined hunk of wood to nothing but ash.
There were other payloads they could send, though. Theo dragged his mind away from war crimes, and simply focused on the fastest way to down the ship. Drogramathi Iron slugs warded with [Dragons Dance] would be the most effective. But he didnt discount the idea of using [Anti-mage] infused loads, either. That required experimentation. Instead of running off to train, both Tresk and Alex stayed behind to help him create new slugs. He needed the Marshlings willpower to extract the properties of the [Mages Bane] flower, turning it into a poem for his [Toruaun Mages Core].
Throk had refined the firing of his rail guns down to a simple process. The sled thatunched the shot was the most important to Theos application. The alchemist imagined a Drogramathi Iron slug, rifled to make it spin better in the air. He then sat down with hispanions to mess with his new skill, [Linked Wards]. Unlike the regr spell crafting system, linking wards together had more to do with creativity than following a pattern.
Have you ever tried to put two wards on the same thing? Tresk asked.
I havent, Theo said, looking down at the hunk of purple-ck metal in hisp.
The group spent several hours experimenting. They all felt the same goal form in their minds. The desire tobine the [Anti-mage] property with [Dragons Dance]. The two poems were so different, it seemed impossible to get them to work together. Both Tresk and Alex drew on Theos knowledge of Toruauns secretnguage to create new tales. But something finally stuck. They realized that, like the second tier wards, there was an inter-linking of words required to get the [Linked Wards] skill to work. The alchemist only knew it was working when the skill spun in his chest, singing a happy song as he applied a new ward to the metal shot.
A faint sheen of chromatic energy rippled across the Drogramathi Iron slug. Everyone leaned in to inspect the effect.
[Dragons Antimagic]
[Advance Ward] [Linked Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Dragons Antimagic]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
5 days.
The system loved generating vague references with wards. They drilled deeper, inspecting the [Dragons Antimagic] effect mentioned in the description.
[Dragons Antimagic]
The dragons dancebines with the anti-magical effects of the anti-mage property. This effect creates a field of anti-magic thatshes out in a violent dance of death.
Effects:
Creates a sphere of des that deals massive damage to all targets, living or otherwise.
Targets hit by the des cannot use magic for one minute.
Any non-living targets affected by the magical restriction will be unable to operate for the allotted time.
Thats an anti-airship weapon right there, Tresk said, hooting with excitement.
Not only was the effect monstrously powerful, but it came with a ruthless slug. The wards field would react when it came in contact with the ship. But after that? The slug would do immense damage to the vessel, rendering it useless. If the des of death didnt tear it apart, the supersonic hunk of Drogramathi Iron would. Theo ran simtions, summoning and shooting down airships with ease.
This is perfect, Theo said. He held up a Drogramathi Iron slug, testing its weight in his hand. Throk already has a small arsenal of these.
Well, thats what were doing tomorrow, Tresk said with augh. Maybe you could make me some more poisons.
Tresk was already using his best poison. There might be improvements he could make, but that was doubtful. She was disappointed when he told her. But it was more important to practice his wards on the towers near the piers.
Once I start my hybridization program with the reagents, Ille up with a better poison, Theo said.
That seemed to satisfy her enough. After settling the matter, the group envisioned more scenarios of attack. They found holes in the towns defenses, and made notes to plug those up. None of them felt as though their paranoia was unwarranted. There were people out to get them, and it was important to brace themselves before the attack came. Not after.
The Dreamwalk ended as it often did. Theo felt himself being tugged out of the imaginary realm, sent hurtling into hisfortable bed. As always, he awoke to find Tresk already scampering out of bed. The scent of cooked meat drifted up the stairs, causing his stomach to rumble. Groggily, he found his way down the stairs and into the dining area. Fenian was already there, tapping his fingers on the table nervously. He might not care to show it, but the Elf was worried about what happened next.
After breakfast, there were a few meetings requesting Theos attendance. He declined them, and prepared to send Fenian packing. Aarok and Luras gathered in the manor, just in case anything unexpected happened. Alex jumped into the Elfsp, preening herself as Theo and Tresk prepared to depart for Terogal.
Remember to talk to Uz, Fenian said, nodding to himself. It was the most nervous the alchemist had ever seen him. I have faith that youll interdict me correctly, but
We can talk to Drogramath if you need, Theo said.
No, that wont be necessary. Im ready.
Theo shrugged, grabbing Tresks hand. See ya in a sec.
The pair fell through the realms together. They slipped through the fabric of the mortal ne, then passed over the bridge. Tresk urged them to the surface of that shadowy spot, and they bothnded on it without issue. Without prompting, the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows emerged from nowhere. As always, her face was a mask of imprable shadows.
h, h, UzXulven said. Yes, this should work. No, I dont know the details.
Id be morefortable if you were here as a backup, Theo said. Can you catch him if he falls?
Thats the n, anyway, UzXulven said, pacing on the bridge. Balkors realm has been more active than normal, so I assume this should work. His dead soul can feel the kinging. Pray the king doesnt know that this is a trap.
Theo wanted to trust Fenian and UzXulven. But he didnt. He steered himself and Tresk away from the Bridge, even as the queen shouted after them. A momentter theynded in Terogal, among the smiling souls that had taken residence there. It only took a single thought, but the world shifted slightly. The alchemist summoned the Arbiter with little effort, catching the sandstone-colored gaze of Khahar.
It will work, Khahar said, striding over to ce aforting hand on Theos shoulder.
Seems like a n you could have done yourself, Khahar, Tresk said, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. Oh, unless you made a rule that you have to follow. So, you tied your own hands. Hah!
Something like that, Khahar said, smiling. Are you going to bring him here before sending him to Balkors domain?
Tresk shrugged. My n was to send him straight there.
You can do that? Khahar asked, seeming doubtful.
Oh, yeah. I bet I could toss him into your domain if I wanted. Watch this! Tresk scrunched up her face, then grunted. Nevermind. Cant interdict the Arbiter.
Theo pat the Marshling on the shoulder. It was worth a try. Why dont you bring him here first. So he can see our realm.
Khahars expression didnt evade Theos notice. This wasnt a normal thing to do. Perhaps the power he and Tresk had gained was outside of his expectations. The alchemist was certain that interdiction was now a banned practice. But Yuri had ced a loophole in that rule, allowing them to do it. Why? Because they werent patrons. They were mortals whomanded a fully realized realm.
Alrighty. Here hees, Tresk said, closing her eyes.
Theo felt Tresk wrap her willpower around the realm. Her senses spread through realities, snaking between ces until she found Alex on the mortal ne. To the alchemists surprise, she grabbed both the goose and the Elf, then tugged. Twofer! she shouted, yanking like a fisherman hooking into arge fish.
It was the most impressive interdiction even Theo had ever witnessed. He always considered dimensional travel to include one important fact. One needed to pass over the Bridge of Shadows to reach the realms. That was a fact lodged firmly in his mind. But as Alex and Fenian appeared in Terogal, he realized that Tresk skipped that step entirely. She made a hole in the voidrge enough to drag both of them through, then mended it shut like a surgeon closing a wound.
Tresk ced her hands on her hips, wiggling her eyebrows. Huh? Pretty cool, right?
Fenian looked around, his mouth hanging open. Not exactly what I expected, he said, licking his lips. This isnt Balkors domain.
This is Terogal, Theo said.
Fenians eyes dragged over the scene, then locked onto Khahar. He bowed his head.
Tresk is great at not following the n, Khahar said with a sigh. How long can you hold him here, Marshling?
Heh. You gods with your rules. Hes here forever. Until we reverse-interdict him back to the mortal ne, or he takes the bridge. Tresks smile beamed.
That shouldnt be possible, Khahar said.
Possible-schmosible. I did it. Deal with it.
Theo studied Fenian as Tresk bickered with Khahar. Spirits who trespassed in a realm broke down if they werent invited. The Elfs body showed no sign of wear. He was wrapped in an aura of protection, something provided by the Marshling. She had dipped into the system and given him a pass to be in Terogal forever. An interesting turn of events. As if punctuating his thoughts, an icy doorway opened. Benton stepped out, holding a te with cookies.
Anyone hungry? he asked. His eyes darted around, then went wide. Oh! A mortal? Arbiter, is that a mortal? Should I go?
Stay, Khaharmanded, his voice rough as gravel. Id like some of your tea, Benton. And a few cookies.
Right, Fenian said. He looked more nervous than ever. So, am I going?
I think he should stay for tea and cookies, Tresk said. Dad always said not to travel on an empty stomach.
Agreed, Theo said, pping a hand over Fenians shoulder and grinning. Maybe a few games of poker. Why not?
4.65 - Hallowed Realm of the Dead
4.65 - Hallowed Realm of the Dead
Foul odors didnt seem to carry as well in Terogal. That was a good thing, considering the amount of bodies crammed in the small cottage. Benton, Theo, Tresk, Fenian, Khahar, and Belgar all sat at a round table. The Elf let out another frustrated breath, then tossed his cards across the room.
I dont care for this game.
Khahars lips twitched, hinting at a smile. You have the best poker face Ive ever seen. I dont understand how youve lost this badly.
Deception in the real world is easier. This game is a farce.
Fenian was frustrated, but not from the game. The longer he sat in Terogal, the more Theo understood the extent of his n. That n held more facets than just killing the king of Qavell and iming the Throne of the Herald. Khahar hid those pieces of the n perfectly within the realm, but the Elf wasnt so skilled.
Might as well get going, Theo said, standing to dismiss the matter.
Everyone filed out of the cottage. Tresk cracked her knuckles and rolled up her sleeves. They bunched up, then rolled down her scrawny arms immediately. But she wasnt a Marshling that cared for ceremony. She steepled her fingers before sending her senses through the realms. Theo could feel it, like an itch in the back of her mind, as she quested. Khahar nodded with approval.
Shes frighteningly good at this, he said. I cant sense an ability hmmm.
If shes hiding an ability, Theo started, smiling at hispanion. Shes hiding it well. Could it just be aptitude?
I doubt it, Khahar said. It must be a hidden ability.
Ill never tell. Alright. Are you ready, Elf-boy?
Two rapiers appeared in Fenians hands. The silver-blue one for Parantheir, and the shadowy one for UzXulven. Khahar knows what to do if I dont return. Send me to the dead realm, you angry little Marshling.
It took only a snap of her fingers for Tresk to send Fenian away. Space didnt warp around him. There was no visible indication that he had gone, but he was. A cold silence settled in over the brightndscape of the realm.
Well, this is awkward, Belgar said, folding his ghostly arms in front of him. I expected an explosion.
Hmmm. I must go, Khahar said, vanishing without another word.
Thats not ominous, Benton grunted. He turned to regard Tresk. Any insights, little savant?
Meh. He zorped back to Khahak, and I cant see that far.
Youd tell me if you had a hidden ability. Right? Theos feelings for and with Tresk shifted by the day. They were mostly synchronized now, leaving no room for lies.
No ability. But I dont want Khahar knowing that. Heh.
It made more sense that Tresk had an innate ability tomand the realms. It fell in line with Theos thoughts on Khahars long-term ns. The grand scheme involved him, but it was in a supporting role. Tresk was the genuine star of the show. Like most things with the long-lived people, there would be more twists and turns before the end. So long as the walls held firm, both in the mortal realm and Terogal, everything would turn out fine.
Belgar cleared his throat. I dont mean to be presumptuous. But the spirits here spend a lot of time without you. Ive been giving them tasks.
Not a bad idea, Theo said. Are they getting bored?
Bored? No, but theyre restless.
Whats the difference? Tresk asked.
Were mapping the realm. Most of us havent been in a heavenly realm, so we dont know what we should be doing. Benton has been helpful in that regard.
Oh, do go on, Benton said.
Terogal isnt like the other heavenly realms. ording to Benton, Belgar nodded at the bear god.
Right. Normally, theyre a reflection of your station. Mine is cold and without life. Khahars is a fortressor so they sayand so on.
UzXulven has a bridge, Tresk said, giggling.
Right, Benton said. She formed her realm into the concept of a bridge, which links realms. But Terogal? This is just a ce. Like a different version of the mortal realm.
This wasnt news to Theo. Terogal was described as a mortal dream realm in some system descriptions. His theory was that it was the manifestation of their Dreamwalk ability. A way for Khahar to bypass some rules in the monitor systems coding to allow them to own a heavenly realm. The most urate description of the realm was that it was a dream made manifest in the heavens. The alchemist wasnt eager to share this information with anyone. Not because he was afraid they would abuse the knowledge, but because of the implications.
Watch this! Alex shouted into Tresk and Theos minds from afar.
They heard wings pping in the distance, then the p of webbed feet on packed mud. The group swiveled their heads to spot the goose taking off into the sky. She soared high, then off into the distance.
She finally learned to fly, Tresk mused, watching as the goose became little more than a speck against the sprawling sky. Once shes big enough, Im gonna ride her.
Thats a sight Id pay to see, Belgar said. Combat goose.
Theo wasnt eager to get back to the mortal ne. Instead, he consulted the maps that Belgar and the souls had drawn up. They had already estimated the size of the world in halms, but the alchemist converted them into miles because halms sucked. If they were right, Terogal wasrger than the continent Broken Tusk rested on. It would only continue to grow. But would it wrap around like a spherical? Or would it just go on forever, like some weird t ne in the void?
Alex flew overhead as Tresk and Theo met with the various souls of the realm. They held less reverence for him than the people of his own town, which felt like a relief. There was something about being a lost soul that made one independent, and he wouldnt have it any other way. Someined of listlessness, but Belgar promised to give them more tasks. There were too many questions to give anyone solid answers, so they settled on an open promise of excitement.
They hiked through thend, following the various maps to find points of interest. Dotting thendscape were the structures generated by the system upgrades. The towers here reminded him of those on the walls back home. But the naturalndmarks were nothing like the swamnds. Clear streams ran from the snow-capped mountains, emptying into massivekes. Like everything in the realm, there was no wildlife. Just an endless sprawl of Earth-like nts and open fields. Those nts grew at a normal rate, though. Unlike the trees outside of Broken Tusk, the dream nts had nothing to feed off of. Or the pseudo-physical forms they took werent entirely adapted to absorbing magical power.
Theo and Tresk watched Alex swoop down into ake, plunging beneath the surface. She honked with excitement, pping her waxy wings to remove the water. Belgar lingered nearby with a group of souls. All who followed the group had an appreciation for nature, and Terogal was happy to provide.
I wonder where this turn leads us, Theo said, pulling Tresk close.
Nowhere good, she grumbled.
I dont know, Belgar offered. Youve already saved some lost souls. Count that as a victory.
Yeah! one soul shouted, pumping their spectral fist in the air.
Lets just hope this isnt the end of Fenians journey, Theo thought, eyes locked on the goose in theke. Lets hope he didnt rush into this likest time.
Traveling to a dead realm was nasty business. Fenian didnt want to do this. He wanted nothing to do with Balkors power, but every turn of his life had shunted him closer to the damned demon god. Khahar had reassured him it was all part of somerge n, and that the dead Dronon was part of it. Only, he had to do all the heavy lifting. Luring the king into a false sense of security, then into the dead realm. The unveiling of hidden powers locked away for a century.
Ive gotten myself into it this time, havent I? Fenian asked himself.
Balkors dead realm offered no response. The act of being interdicted into Terogal, and then into the unpronounceable realm of Hoch. It was a sprawling ce that contained nothing but rot. Semi-organic structures loomed high into a pale green sky. The scent of death carried on a stagnant breeze, blowing nothing but a stomach-churning odor into the Elfs nostrils. His steps squelched underfoot as he pushed forward. To the ce where the god had fashioned himself a spire.
Like Khahak, Hoch contained a massive tower in the center. In the early days of the first ascendancy war, the Dronon God of Necromancy had carved a niche for himself. A ce where no other god would dare attack, lest their servants be turned against them. Schrs of the time had done their best to document the fight, but those records were mostly lost. All that remained were ruined realms that none could see. It hadnt even been that long since he died. 873 years. A blink in the grand scheme.
Ah, there you are, Fenian said, surmounting thest rise.
King Karasan stood, back against the seething green stone. His elegant Elven countenance was locked in a permanent grimace. His mages robes swept the ground behind him as he pushed off, ck hair streaked with white trailing as though driven by the wind. I see youve had enough time to recover.
How is the old home? Fenian asked. Infested with Balkors cast-offs yet?
Almost, Karasan said. Should I die here, my son has a n to destroy your pets.
Otherwise, youll be the one to wipe the Soutnds Alliance off the map. I have to say, Im impressed you havent dropped a city-sized fireball on them.
Bringing errant towns to heel is nothing new, Southde. Or fallen Tarantham houses, for that matter.
Oh, please. If you define the ughter of a people as obedience, youre a fool.
Karasan sighed, then shrugged. As always, he treated this as a matter that bored him. They were all like you. All craved one thing. Death. The desire to rejoin lost loved ones. You held back in ourst fight. Why?
Put it together, my king, Fenian sneered. He tightened the grip on both of his rapiers.
Would Parantheir make you his avatar here? I dont think so. Neither would UzXulven, Karasan said, his eyes focusing on the space between them. Bored as ever. You couldnt beat me in the void. Or in the minor realms. You didnt use [Parantheirs Challenge], because you knew you would die. So, you lured me here in the hope that a dead god would help you? Maybe that would work. If Balkor rose against mewhich he wontyou stand a chance. Perhaps the alchemist has given you some anti-mage potions, which might help. If my mana pool wasnt so vast.
Everyone has a weakness.
Im sure of it! Karasanughed. Im content with my life. Ill die here, if thats what needs to happen. But perhaps you should consider the weight of the station. The system has not epted my suggestions as Herald. But Im rambling on. Lets see your trick.
Fenian sent his senses into his soul where his cores rested. Everyone saw him as the wielder of a legendary [Elven Traders Core], and that was true. He also had his [Parantheir Duelist''s Core], and his [UzXulven Duelists Core]. Few might guess he got his hands on a [nar Mages Core], which had done him little good. And not a living soul on the knew about his other two cores.
I had to let you win the first fight, Fenian said, licking his lips nervously. That was the only way you would follow me here. I had to be a servant of UzXulven, so she would let you use the bridge. Before all that, I needed to sow the seeds of doubt.
What doubt might that be?
Doubt that any of Balkors followers were left alive.
Your wife was thest, Karasan said. Not that it matters. With Balkor dead, his cores were removed from his followers.
Interesting thing. Balkor never died. Notpletely, Fenian said, gesturing to the realm. This ce withers, but doesnt perish. When he was cast down to Gardreth, it was a feint. What necromancer worth their weight stores their soul in their body? Even gods.
Fenian had never seen Karasans face so much as twitch. But the slight raising of his brows told him everything he needed to know. The king reached for a magical item in his possession, but the duelist activated his [Parantheirs Challenge] ability.
[Parantheirs Challenge]
Parantheir Duelist Skill
Epic
Challenge all surrounding enemies to a duel. No one may leave the designated area until a victor is crowned.
Effect:
All hostile persons, or monsters, are locked in a duel with you. No party may leave until the other is dead.
Walls of shimmering silver-blue energy emerged from the rotting ground. Karasan winced, holding an ornate ck sculpture in his hand. The stone of the statue crumbled onto the ground, burning with green fire until there was nothing left. This was it. Either Fenians gamble paid off, or he was dead. The ability wouldst until one of them was dead on the ground of Balkors domain, feeding the gging spirit of the god.
This is it, then, Karasan said. Grace me with the name of the core before we fight to the death.
Cores, Fenian corrected. [Balkor Mage Hunters Core], and [Balkors High Priest Core].
Karasans face twitched again. Your wifes?
Fenian nodded, crouching on the spot. Karasan held his hand out, channeling his magic. The duelist kicked off from the ground with such force that pieces of fetid ground broke off, shooting back to m against the barrier. He spun in the air, bringing both rapiers against the kings powerful barrier at the same time. Coated in anti-mage poison as the rapiers were, they sucked away at the magical power. A shockwave of antimagical energy shot in every direction. The king buckled.
But one didnt be the king of Qavell through idle scheming. Bolts of electricity shot in every direction, bouncing against the barrier. Fenian deflected several with his swords, only seeding in sending them bouncing faster. Karasan twisted his hands through the air, performingplex magical gestures that brought spikes of arcane energy drilling into the duelists body. His mage hunting core sang, drinking the energy in and filling him with power. The pair broke their stalemate, standing apart and staring daggers.
It seems you have too many tricks, Karasan said, unable to hide hisbored breath.
Were just getting started.
The Wanderer had known nothing but rage for almost a thousand years. His mind hadnt been his own since Balkors false death. He raised his head in recognition for the first time since that day, gazing up with rotting eyes. The white towers of Qavell stabbed toward the heavens, as though defying the gods themselves. A boiling mass of undeath surrounded him. Seething creatures that groaned and rattled in response to the duel. He wheezed, clearing away a thousand years of dust and mucus from his throat.
A shiver ran through the army of undeath. There were new bodies here. New vessels he didnt remember from the fall. He wheezed, then cleared his throat again. A trickle of his old power returned to him, affording him consciousness enough to know.
West, he croaked. Themand rippled through the undead. A word of power that drove them on.
Fenians body and spirit felt broken. He drew ragged breaths through one ruined lung. Both Balkor-aligned cores rested somewhere nearby. Somewhere near the corpse of a fallen king. The realm shivered around him, filling with new unlife. The fight had gone on far too long. It was a sh in the panpared to the heavenly scale of time, but to a mortal? He had spent years fighting with the king in that box. With nowhere to run, they were forced to fight with abandon.
That barrier had fallen, bringing with its demise a rush of stinking air. After evacuating the bile in his stomach, Fenian had copsed. The next thing he felt was the copsing and rebuilding of disparate powers. Gears turned somewhere, then locked into ce. To own the Throne of the Herald was an honor. And a curse.
Thats sorted, I suppose, Fenian wheezed.
Yet, another voice said, wheezing from all around him. You cast away gifts.
I have no interest in serving you, Fenian said. Just used you, didnt I? A means to an end.
Hmmm, the voice hummed. Did you figure out my phctery on your own? You drew it so close to the Qavelli settlementsyou must have known.
Balkor, I dont know the extent of your madness. Fenian gazed up at the green sky above. Even the putrid clouds above made him sick. What I know is that youre needed.
Life to life, undeath to death, Balkor said, his voice bright.
The schrs of old thought you were too smart to move against the other gods. They figured you had a n. You were close with Drogramath. So, I figured why wouldnt you hide your soul away?
Indeed. But youre dying, Elf. Im happy to ept you into my realm Or perhaps I could grant you eternity.
Fenian shivered. He expected to be able to walk out of the realm. All his tricks should have brought Karasan low in moments, but the old man was crafty. Now he was bleeding out in the realm of a risen god. He obtained the throne, only to ept a leash. How fitting.
Were not that desperate, Fenian said, pulling a healing potion from his inventory. The first few he drank only dulled the pain. Maybe this one would work.
Balkorughed. Fine. I had to try, you know.
What happens with the undead on the mortal ne?
Theyre headed west.
Why?
Hah! Impetuous. Fine. I suppose the Herald ought to know.
Balkor revealed his ns to the prone Elf. Perhaps the throne wasnt worth the price.
The Watcher stood on the surface of Antalis. Iaredin spread before him, a blue-green gem floating in the vastness of space. Things hadnt gone the way he expected, but they were interesting enough. Fenian had proved to be more capable than any of his other candidates. And he was born here. That was the most interesting part. His feathers ruffled as he turned, spotting the two men that had hounded him from the start.
Weve done all you asked for, the grumpy pdin said.
Every single thing, the wizard added.
Service doesnt guarantee mypliance, the Watcher said, shaking his head. The corners of his beak-like face rose to something resembling a smile.
Were never ascending, are we? the pdin asked.
Both had lost their cores in the coup. The Watcher could flick a single feather and send them back to the. He could do the same motion and turn them into living gods. He could do anything he wanted. But he wouldnt. Because rules existed for a reason. If he stomped around creation, meddling with the systems, they would grow out of his control. Both men reminded him of the people he seeded on this world. They were too greedy for their own good. Too eager to abuse the power given to them. Next time, he would employ a tighter leash.
Ascension was never guaranteed.
Yet you allowed that Khahari to do as he pleased, the wizard said, snorting augh. Hardly fair.
He has operated within the rules. You were too weak.
What other options do we have? the pdin asked.
The only option they had was ironic. Can you see the realms from here? Youre ascendant, arent you Sulvan metouched?
Sulvan shifted ufortably in ce. He kicked up a cloud of white powder, sending it drifting over the destendscape. The pair always refused to mingle with the peoples that lived on Antalis, thinking them weak. The systems rules said that anyone over level 100 could sense the realms. If they were strong enough, or wise enough, they could even ascend to godhood. Whatever that meant for the ants on this world.
I am.
And you, Uharis Bouched, are on the cusp.
Yeah, Uharis said, grimacing.
There is a new realm. A thing that grows in power by the day. You know the owner.
Sulvan clenched his fist, gritting his teeth. The Watcher chuckled.
Beg him, and he may ept you. You have the means.
Because there was no greater irony than begging the man they attempted to control for help. And Theo could do it with the help of Tresk. That Marshling girl had surprised the Watcher at every step. No one, either brought here or born here, had the aptitude that she had at controlling the realms. Soon enough, she would realize her full potential.
On the mortal realm below, the First Prince of Qavell sensed his fathers death. The city of Qavell rumbled, unleashing magical energies that had been dormant since its construction. The Watcher nodded with approval.
4.66 - A Dark Pact
4.66 - A Dark Pact
An ornate cab, older than the kingdom itself, soared across a spacious sitting room. It mmed against decorated pirs, falling into a thousand pieces to the ground. Servants and attendants scattered, fleeing First Prince Hanans rage. Under all his finery, he seethed. He drew ragged, growling breaths. Only the soothing words of a ck robed figure brought his temper down. Because that temper was legendary among the people of Qavell.
This is good, the robed creature said. All ording to n.
And what n is that? Hanan asked, spinning to re into the imprable darkness of the figures hood. The king is dead!
Long live the king, the figure said, gesturing to the prince.
Stow your scheming, beast.
It didnt matter what Hanan wanted. Karasan had fallen, foolishly pursuing his damned rival into a realm. From the start, the fool king had done nothing but put his people in danger. Starting with the war in Veosta, and ending with his inaction when the undead arrived. There was no protecting the people outside of the walls. They should have activated the city from the start. But, no. Now it all fell on hisp. The corpse of a kingdom.
The ritual has already begun.
Hanan wheeled, leading with a gauntleted fist that tore through the dark creatures face. He felt nothing as it passed through, then watched as the darkness reformed around his fist.
Damn you.
The pact, the creature said.
Hanan removed his fist from the pool of shadows, turning and shaking his head. He cast his eyes over the frescos on the walls. The history of his people was a haunting reminder of hubris. Qavell now stood on the edge of a new era. Perhaps the newly formed Soutnd Alliance would have mercy on him. But he knew the creature wouldnt allow it. Perhaps they were strong enough to banish it. Or perhaps he would die. Thest option was the one he hoped for the most.
Fine, Hanan said, stomping out of the room. Activate the sigils. Perform the ritual. Youre going to do it anyway.
Qavell wasnt the most defensible city. It was open on all sides, open nes as far as the eye could see. If one were to stand on the ruins of the outer walls, they could see the curve of the in the distance. As the city rumbled below, the only sight was the exodus of the undead. Fields of skeletons, rotting corpses given life, and other horrors shambled westward. None inside the city knew where they were going, or why they fled, but they celebrated.
Four hundred years ago, the foundations of the mighty city wereid. Both the [Kingdom Core] and [Town Core] pulsed with power as dark Core Smiths performed their rites. Thousands of souls, destined for their godly realms or the void, were sucked into the stones of the city. The ce where the magic of the seeds met with natural earth cracked. That crack quickly became a fissure, then a ravine.
Until the city rose.
Mighty fine weapons you have, Bilgrob said.
After returning to the mortal ne, Theo had thrown his weight around. The administration wasnt happy. Throk most certainly wasnt happy. But as he stood on the towers near the piers, gazing at his new rail guns, he knew it was necessary. His magical senses were still weak, but he could feel it. Something in the distance rumbled the bedrock. Two distinct magical energies flooded through the world like a tide of untamed power.
Indeed they are.
Preparing for war? the Ogre priest asked.
Yeah. Want a demonstration?
The rail guns worked splendidly. Theo had to clear the team of adventurers that was manning the station so he could inspect the weapons. He loaded a in Drogramathi Iron shell, fed it a mote, then pointed it in a random direction. The adventurers were far more skilled at operating the weapon, but this was simply a demonstration. He set the dial on the side of the gun, then smacked the firing button. The weapon filled the air with a loud cracking sound, sending the slug hurtling through the air. It mmed into a distant ind, sending a plume of sand high into the air.
Your prey must berge, Bilgrob said, cing his massive hand on the alchemists shoulder.
Airship-sized, I think. Were working with Gronro-dir to arm them.
And what of that rail system Ive heard so much about?
Throk is working on it. Hes taken an artificing apprentice, so hopefully that goes faster.
The biggest problem with the rail line was the toughness of the carriagepared to its weight. Copper was too brittle, Iron and Drogramathi Iron were too heavy. But Tworgnothi Copper? The old Marshling had determined that it was incredibly strong and light. Simr to aluminum on Earth, but with more impressive structural properties. There was already a prototype outside of his workshop, something that dragged in crowds of people. The metal also provided bonuses for all artifices constructed with it.
Spit doesnt take sides, Bilgrob said, leaning against the walls edge. He heals and provides chaos. Nothing more.
Ive heard about your Ogre magic. Thats what caused the rat infestation.
Rat-like creatures, Bilgrob corrected. Ive heard you dont build weapons of war.
I dont sell weapons of war. I only build them for defensive purposes.
Hmm. How different are those paths?
Theo shrugged. He didnt care how different those paths were, because he knew how important these weapons were. He was certain there would be an attack from the air. It was only a matter of where that attack came from. What Bilgrob was suggesting was toy back and let them attack, which was insanity.
Never confuse defensive capabilities with a willingness to defend. Within these walls, its all sunshine and roses. Out there? You need to face the reality of that, Bilgrob.
The Ogre gave a massive shrug. Ogre culture had two sides. Abject brutality, and infinitepassion. It was weird.
I dont disagree. So, the rail. Whats thepletion time on that?
Ziz and the gang alreadyid the foundation. Raised stonework next to the road they built. All white marble, of course. Throk and his guys just need to go through andy the rail, and the power rys. We dont want to have stations where people feed motes into the track, so he made an automated system.
Then I heard a n to go south. To the inds.
Yeah, thats more challenging. Theoughed at his own ambition. The rail to the lizard-folks inds was going to be a nightmare to build.
We have one fact on our side. The waters between here and there are mostly shallow.
But what is mostly shallow? Theo asked. A hundred halms?
Something like that.
May as well just freeze the entire ocean at that point.
The logistics of any long-distance road over water was a nightmare. The best idea Theo had was to create pylons that went down into the seabed. They would stretch lengths of Drogramathi Iron between them for support, as it was the strongest material they had. Ziz and Nira gave him some early estimates on the span they could achieve that way, and the alchemist wasnt happy. It was still a worthwhile pursuit, but there were other things they could do with their time.
Airships were something Theo was interested in from the start. Throk refused to build one, due to safety concerns, but there was a middle ground. If he could make an artifice that provided force to a vehicle, he could make speedboats. Not like the ones on old Earth, but artifice-powered sailing ships. Then there was thetest notification in his administration window. The alchemist pushed off against the wall, punching Bilgrob yfully in the arm.
I have a meeting.
Spit watch over you.
There was an all-hands meeting for all members of the Soutnds Alliance. Both Grotgrog Stormfist and Trevas Parn were attending remotely, representing Gronro-Dir and Rivers and Daub respectively. Theo made his way to the town hall, stopping only to shield his eyes from the sun and look up to the sky. Alex flew overhead somewhere, honking with excitement as she patrolled the skies. The moment Aarok discovered she could fly, he put her on patrol duty.
As expected, the meeting room was crammed with people. Theo found his seat at the head of the table, nodding to everyone as they drummed their fingers on the table. Perhaps he had kept them waiting for too long.
Alise cleared her throat. Right. Weve had a development.
A big development, Gwyn said, pping excitedly.
The undead are moving off, Aarok said, spoiling the administration teams surprise.
Moving off? Why? Theo asked. His thoughts twitched, and a Wisdom of the Soul message appeared. He didnt want to read it.
Im collecting information on that, Alran said.
Theo fell back into his chair, letting out a long whistle. He read the message, then shook his head. It was certain that they were moving off because Balkor was alive again. Being the God of Undeath must have meant he hadmand over those creatures. The group chattered with ideas, none of which hit the mark.
So, Balkor is back, Theo said, cutting through the chatter with so few words.
What? Aarok asked.
Theo rubbed his hands together, letting his thoughts gather for a moment. Mercifully, everyone remained silent as he thought. Karasan is dead. Fenian killed him in Balkors dead realm. The soul of an ascendant being, and a holder of a throne, fed the demon god.
Uh is that good? Gael asked nervously.
The undead are moving off, arent they? Theo said, running his fingers through his hair.
A junior administrator spoke up. Yup. But what theyre leaving behind is horrible.
It took Theo a few seconds to realize that the administrator was speaking for Grot. They were using the message system to ry information.
They already cleared out from the gates? Theo asked, leaning in over the table.
Uh he says Yep! Theyre gone. But the ground is corrupted. No one can walk on it without getting sick.
This was within Theos expected oues. That much necromantic energy in one spot would lead to some horrific consequences. Thend around Qavell would be tainted for years toe.
Were experiencing something simr, the administrator representing Rivers said. A slight corruption of thend.
Does the alchemists potions have an effect? Alise asked.
Minimal, Grot said through his proxy.
Is it possible to bring me samples of the corrupted soil? Theo asked.
En route.
The administration from all towns took the opportunity to hijack the meeting. They shifted to mundane topics, but it was necessary. Theo was left with a feeling of unease and excitement. The undead had been a buffer, but it was good they were moving on. Once Qavell was dealt with, they would have free reign of thends to the north. So long as Tarantham or Veosta didnte to im them. Both Rivers and Gronro offered to support the rail initiative, which brought some much needed cash flow to the project.
Next, they covered the standing trade agreements and general flow of cash. Broken Tusk had not recovered after their ess was cut off from the rest of the continent, but it was improving. Drogramathi Iron seemed to be the biggest draw from foreign parties. Theo let the admins go wild. It was easy to target them as problem children of his growing alliance, but they were just doing their job. Without them, the day-to-day problems encountered by citizens would have been a grind.
Trevas, the new leader of Rivers, was doing well. Unlike Alran, he had an altruistic nature. He gave a few reports about his town and how things were improving. But that was part of his agreement with the Soutnds Alliance. While they still didnt have formalws, most agreed that trade guilds were nonsense that did nothing to help the average person. It wasnt as though capitalism was ouwed but trade guilds always fixed prices and made things worse for everyone.
The meeting concluded around dusk on the twenty-second day of the Season of Fire. Theo met with Sarisa, Salire, Rowan, Tresk, and Alex at Xams tavern. Instead of eating in the manor, they all nned to eat at the Marsh Wolf then hit the baths.
Steak? Tresk asked, scooting into the booth. It was awkward to fit everyone inside, but they didnt seem to mind. Yes, please.
Im just happy we got most of the rats, Rowan said, stretching.
Theo withdrew a notebook and created a table listing all the reagents that might help restore thend. Practiced understanding told him that there was a solution already. He just needed to find it.
What was it like? Salire asked, leaning in over the table with dreamy eyes. She stared at Tresk. Sending Fenian through the realms, that is.
Oh, it was easy, Tresk said. Just boop! Tossed him over. Turns out, I cant use it on anyone. All the conditions are hidden from me. Go figure.
Its better that way, Theo mumbled, scribbling a n out.
You could try not working for five minutes, Tresk said, elbowing the alchemist.
Theo snapped his notebook shut, then smiled. She was right. The undead were leaving. It didnt matter why they were going, just that they were gone. Whats the next holiday in the soutnds?
Embers, Sarisa answered with a nod. We make a big fire, write our dreams on a sheet of paper, then burn it.
I always hated Embers, Rowan grumbled. Why start a fire when its already too hot?
I thought most Half-Ogres ran a fire in their house all the time, Theo said, chuckling.
Yeah, but a big one is different! Tresk shouted.
I think we should do a mid-season celebration! Salire bounced in her seat.
Tresk sighed. That would be awesome.
Once the train was built, everyone could travel from both Gronro and Broken Tusk to Rivers in a matter of an hour. Assuming Throk could get the thing running at break-neck speeds safely. I like that idea, Theo said, nodding with approval. We could tie it into the opening of the train system.
Nothing better to show your wealth than a big party, Sarisaughed.
The sun set over Broken Tusk the way it often did. Her citizens were safe behind her walls bristling with defensive weapons. Night watchmen patrolled the walls, investigating disturbances and responding as needed. None behind the safety of that ce knew that the dawn of a new age had fallen over the mortal ne. Fenian had taken the first step to right a broken system. The world he dreamed of was one where destruction wasnt part of the cycle.
Two stars brightened in the sky above the Span. The ce that segmented the continent into two pieces, Veosta and Qavell, had been a bastion against the constant attacks from undeath. The defenders there didnt know the meaning of the new stars. One for the new Herald, and the other for the Demon God of Undeath. Unseeable by their eyes were the two new stars that had formed. Ancient gates were unlocked. The monitor system was made more whole.
As the thrones of the Dreamer and the Dreamwalker gained metaphysical materialism, the monitor system shivered with recognition. It was closer to its true form. Two down. Two to go.
Glossary
Glossary
Theo Spencer - Transmigrator from Earth. Alchemist.
Tresk - Bantari native from Broken Tusk. Stealther.
Alexandria DGoose - Goose familiar.
Sarisa Fletcher - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Stealth/defensive fighter.
Rowan Fletcher - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Ranged specialist.
Miana Kell - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Former Mayor. Rancher.
Luras Trinner - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Former Qavelli Irregrs applicant. Ranged stealther. Follower of Baelthar.
Throk - Bantari native from Broken Tusk. Smith. Artificer. Grumpy.
Banurub - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Farmer.
Xam Slug - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Tavern owner. Cook.
Azrug Slug - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Young merchant lord.
Jarson - Human adventurer from Qavell.
Thronk - Bantari native from Broken Tusk. Fisherman.
Perg Grott - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Tanner. Owns a tannery.
Oruk - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Laborer.
Begrut - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Tanner.
Aarok Thane - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Former Qavelli Irregrs applicant. Commander of the guard.
Ziz Rotgut - Half-Ogre from Broken Tusk. Stonecutter. Owns a quarry.
Sledge - Bantari native, adopted into Half-Ogre family, from Broken Tusk. Woodcutter.
Gridgen Dev - Human from the northern reaches of Qavell. Manages Dead Dog Mine.
Sarna Dev - Human from the northern reaches of Qavell. Miner.
Gasem Dev - Human child from the northern reaches of Qavell. Child.
Ger - Nojoh from Qavell. Adventurer.
Bal - Human from Qavell. Adventurer.
Dal - Human from Qavell. Adventurer.
Ral - Human from Qavell. Adventurer.
Viz - Nojah from Qavell. Laborer.
Xolsa - Barathier from parts unknown. Wizard.
Zarali - Drogramathi from a lost brood. Priestess. Belgars sister.
Nira Weir - Human from the northern reaches of Qavell. Smelter.
Alise Plumm - Human from the northwest region of Qavell. Administrator.
Graptappin Tublubbin Grappin (Bob) - Brogling from parts unknown. Schr of Zaul.
Salire Hogrush - Half-Ogre from Boro Hold. Merchant.
Whisper - Toora from the Spine. Butcher.
Thimamuri Ironmoore - Dwarf from the lost mountainhomes. Smith.
Gaelethia Wavecrest (Gael) - Elf from Tarantham. Patriarch of House Wavecrest. Administrator.
Laedria Wavecrest - Elf from Tarantham. Last living shipwright from House Wavecrest. Shipwright.
Kaya Wavecrest - Elf from Tarantham. Weaver for House Wavecrest.
Zankir - Khahari from Khahari. Fighter.
Zansal - Khahari from Khahari. Fighter.
Alran Cherman - Human from Rivers and Daub. Trader. Ex-mayor.
Trevas Parn - Human from Rivers and Daub. Administrator. Mayor.
Grotgrog Stormfist - Dwarf from Gronro-Dir. Warrior. Mayor.
Fenian Feintleaf - Elf from Tarantham. Trader.
Sulvan metouched - Human from parts unknown. Champion of the Burning Eye. Inquisitor.
Uharis Bouched - Human from parts unknown. Archmage of the Burning Eye.
Lauris - Human from Qavell. Administrator.
Banthub - Nojoh from Qavell. Administrator.
Thistum Stonebreaker - Dwarf from the lost mountainhomes. Trader.
Azmuil - Dwarf from the lost mountainhomes. Trader.
Antal (Khahar) - Khahari from Khahari. Ascendant.
Miltar Sharp - Half-Orc from Partopour. Trader.
Karasan - Half-elven King of Qavell.
Hanan - First Prince of Qavell.
Xquiq - Nojoh emissary.
Igor - Rock-person from the Stonehome
Pogosophoro - A dragon
ntheir - Elven God of Healing
Parantheir - Elven God of Dueling
Fanglir - Elven God of Fire
Zaul - God of Shadow
Delcan - Human God of Building
Baelthar - Ogre Patron of the Hunt
Spit - Ogre Patron of Curing Things Most of the Time
Ulvoqor - Elven God of Knowledge
Grom Rang - Dwarven God of Mining
Borhig - Dwarven God of cksmiths
Udok - Dwarven God of Mining
Balkor - Dronon God of Necromancy
Drogramath - Dronon God of Alchemy
Zagmon - Dronon God of War and Death
UzXulven - Queen of the Bridge of Shadows
Tworgnoth - Dronon God of Artifices
Toruaun - Queen of Mystery
Benton - Toora God of Winter and Death
Edward - Human God of Tedding
Iaredin - The name of the world.
Antalis - A ck moon orbiting Iaredin.
Telbaris - A moon orbiting Iaredin that shifts colors per day.
Qavell - Kingdom headed by King Karasan.
Veosta - Half-elven puppet state.
Tarantham - Elven empire headed by Emperor Kuzan.
Gardreth - Kingdom destroyed when Balkor descended to the mortal realm.
Bantein - Human-run empire.
Partopour - Human-run republic.
grot - Ogre-run chaotic government (no specific governmental seats).
Khahari Desert - Khahari theocracy.
Dreamrealm of Terogal - A minor realm owned by Theo and Tresk.
Khahak - The Arbiters citadel.
The Realm of Healing - Realm owned by nthier.
Duelists Refuge - Realm owned by Parantheir.
Primordial Realm - Realm owned by Fanglir.
Und - Realm owned by Zaul.
Iron - Realm owned by Delcan.
Eternal Game - Realm owned by Baelthar.
GROG - Realm owned by Spit.
Grodulharak - Realm owned by Drogramath.
Groktal - Realm owned by Zagmon.
Uzgodal Bokrak Tal - The Bridge of Shadows. Realm owned by UzXulven.
Togal - Realm owned by Tworgnoth.
Bohar - Realm owned by Benton.
5.1 - Tainted Soil
5.1 - Tainted Soil
Wavespped gently against the white marble pier below. Seabirds flitted overhead, joining their calls with thepping waves. The salty scent of the ocean wafted with gusts from the bay. Sitting atop one of two towers, Theo Spencer looked out over the endless sprawl of water. It was only segmented by the chains of barrier inds, breaking some of the open oceans worst offerings. While the little port saw little traffic, a merchants ship was visible on the horizon. Flying the colors of Partopour.
Angry calls from the birds above signaled Alexs sentinel position among the clouds. The goose had taken the sky like a goose. Unsurprised, but still worried like a mother hen, he pushed off the wall. Breathing onest breath of the sea-driven air, the alchemist descended from the tower. Fishes of all kinds held near the pier. They pecked at the edge of barnacles and nt life, searching for food around the structure. Looking out along the long track of hewn marble, it was hard not to appreciate how many things had changed.
The Soutnds Alliance was strong. What theycked in manpower was made up for with weaponry. All three towns in the alliance were heavy with defensive weapons, all of which were magical. System-generated towers that could hold back waves of monsters, and artificer-built rail guns that delivered withering payloads. As ever, the walls of Broken Tusk held firm. Within those walls were an amalgam of peoples. Cat-folk from the Khahari Desert to the west. Elves from the solitary nation of Tarantham. Native Bantari and half-ogres, along with lizard-folk from the south and full-blooded ogres from the west.
And humans. One of the most curious races on Iaredin was the only race from Theos home world on Earth. The histories of this ce were unclear on their arrival. They were soft,pared to the half-ogres. But more even-tempered than the marshlings. But ones origin hardly mattered in the alliance. Sweat was the bread of thend, and merit was her butter. All were weed into the expanding alliance.
So long as they signed the contract.
Theo worked azy path over the pier, then into the harbor. He looked up at the weapons on the walls, then over to the shipwrights constructing the towns future. It was the twenty-third day of the Season of Fire. A red letter day for any wishing to trade with foreign parties. The harbor would soon be crowded with folks looking to buy exotic goods. So the alchemist made his way out of the harbor. As far away from the bustle as possible.
Let the administrators handle it, he told himself, ducking through the eastern gate.
Azrugs newest venture was visible from there. Arge barn that sat to the north of the ranch. What a shame it would see little use after introducing the maglev train. The same train that he nned on sending over the ocean to the south. As always, Theo bit off more than he or his people could chew. But thats the way they liked it.
Most people in town didnt know why the undead scourge had broken off their assault. They were unaware of the secret war Fenian Feintleaf had fought against the king of Qavell. They were equally unaware of that kings death, and the shifting of power that moved in the heavens. That thought sent a shiver down his spine, but he pushed through. The undead had left behind a taint on thend. The northernmost town in the alliance, Gronro-Dir, was contending with a gue.
The little bell above the door at the Newt and Demon rang. Theo stepped into the first floor, which was a shop, and waved to his assistant. Salire had known to leave him to his machinations. She nodded politely, then went back to counting her money. Since the representatives from Gronro had brought a sample of the soil, she hadnt wanted to go to the third floor. If the alchemist was honest with himself, he didnt want to.
Alright. Theo let his thoughts trail off, cracking the windows and organizing theb. Rows of alchemy equipment, mostlyrge distition stills, crowded the space. But in the corner, there was a single y jar. Filled with dirt.
The shadows stirred near the rooms corner. A powerful frame emerged from the gloom, materializing to reveal the half-ogre Rowan. He rolled his shoulders, then pulled up a chair.
Back to it, then.
Indeed.
Even being near the soil put Theos stomach into knots. The venttion hoods above head clicked on automatically as he cracked the jar, releasing the necromantic foulness into theb. It burned their lungs and sent their stomachs churning. But the work needed to be done. The alchemist had only been working on the problem for a day, but he learned quite a lot.
Lets review
Rowan had proven to be a font of knowledge with all things necromancy. It was odd to consider at first. But his patron was the ogre god Baelthar. Ogres were known for one thing. Chaos.
Theo cleared his throat and went over what they knew. Power permeated every corner of the world. It was the raw form of energy that was typically linked with a patron god. In Broken Tusk, the realms of Terogal and Grodulharak were king. Those two realms belonged to Theo and Tresk, and Drogramath. Everything within the area was soaked in that power. From the rocks, to the dungeons. It all had the scent of those two realms on it. When the undead moved from their resting ce in Gardreth, they had brought with them the stain of Balkor. The taint of Hoich.
Power didnt dissipate quickly, though. And the energy that soaked into thends was not strictly raw power. It was processed, then crapped out by the rolling hordes of the undead. When raw [Refined Hallow Ground Essence] was dripped onto the soil, it reacted. Only slightly, but it was noticeable. Theo performed a demonstration on an isted sample. Both men nodded, already knowing the effects.
Sarisa is working with Zarali and Xolsa on the problem, Rowan said. Hisplexion looked more green than red today. Theo imagined his own face looked simrly putrid. No progress.
Theo returned the lid to the y jar, swallowing hard. He had tried to take it into his inventory, but that only made the effects worse. Not even a Priest of Spit can banish it. I imagine even ntheirs followers would have trouble.
Rowan grunted a response, tapping his finger on a length of parchment. It contained all the effects that Theo could craft into potions. The problem was, all the anti-undead [Hallow Ground] potions destroyed undead. Not what they left behind. He jabbed his finger into the parchment. What about this one?
Theo didnt have a chance to respond. His Wisdom of the Soul ability popped.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
[Mana Seep] is a property that transfers mana from one target to another. Your understanding of the property isnt great enough to know the efficacy. Combining the [Mana Seep] property with the [Absorb Magic] might have an effect on the tainted soil.
Wisdom says maybe not, Theo said, slumping in his chair.
Screw this. Rowan stood suddenly. Lets go for a walk.
Theo didnt need a written invitation to leave the jar behind. He joined with the half-ogre, stopping briefly to chat with Salire. She wanted the jar gone as soon as possible. Working around it was horrible. No one disagreed.
Near the towns center there was a pir of ck stone. Slightly off from there was a pulsating portal. Xolsas contribution to the adventurers of the town was always appreciated. Theo and Rowan stepped through, finding themselves flung through reality and into the wizards tower. Conversation from the floors above filtered down, echoing off the stone. A single candle burned nearby, casting the interior in a pale orange glow. The men ascended the stairs to find the wizard and his betrothed in deep conversation.
Any progress? Theo asked.
From the look on your face, Id say were about even, the wizard responded with a sharpugh.
Compared to when he was injured, Xolsa was doing great. With his vigor restored, so was his heart. Zarali was the sister of the man who originally owned Theos body. A man who now rested in a heavenly realm, working hard on the problem just the same as them all. Theo copsed into afortable armchair, letting the conversation wash over him. He searched his memory for anything useful, letting Wisdom messages enter his vision asionally.
Of course, the wizards theories were more refined. Not everyone thought like an alchemist. Xolsa approached it as a problem of magic. Something to be dispelled or transferred to another ce. Zarali saw it as a matter for the patrons. Something those heavenly beings could siphon away in an instant. As they spoke, Theo withdrew some salt from his inventory. It was an industry that had been taken away from him due to inaction.
You know, he said, interrupting the conversation. Some cultures on Earth thought that salt banished evil.
Salting the earth sounds like a good way to kill all the nts. Zaraliughed, shooting her adopted brother a sly smile.
Theo responded with a hum. At some point, Xolsa made everyone some moss tea and served it. Unlike the stuff Xam made, it waspletely unsweetened. Those earthy notes that the tea was known for came out in force. He brewed it strong and without sweeteners. It was an acquired taste. As was everyones habit of burning fires in the middle of this worlds Summer. Or not running their magical air conditioners. The tower was sweltering today.
The conversation shifted to alchemical solutions, demanding Theos attention.
Once again, the problem is with the [Hallow Ground] property. My assumption is that the answer wille by creating a hybrid nt, then binding those hybrid properties with a suffuse potion.
The question remains. Which properties? Rowan wasnt asking a question. He was repeating a question that had lingered on both their minds since they started.
Reagent hybridization was an unknown method to the alchemist. Something he had only discovered identally. But there was a skill he could take soon, which would let him force the hybridization of the nts. That just brought the same question back around again. Which nts? Going from his experience, he would likely try the wheat from Earth first. Whenever a powerful being screwed with his life, they left behind clues from him to solve problems. It was as though they predicted everything. But instead of fixing it themselves, they left it to him to fix.
The conversation shifted yet again. There was only so much the group could handle before they wandered off.
So, the wedding, Zarali said, cing her hands in herp and leaning in. Youre officiating it, arent you Theo?
Of course. Any idea when you wanted to do it?
Not yet, Xolsa answered. Were concerned about the celebration in Rivers. We want the day to be special. Not overshadowed by Treason Day.
Theo couldnt contain hisugh. He had forgotten, or wanted to forget, that his people wanted to make a new holiday. The name they picked for it was typical of the region. No tone of seriousness for their independence. The administration staff was working with the new mayor of Rivers and Daub to kick off the festivities. Since Gronro-Dir didnt need to defend the northern border so much, they were free to attend. They nned to tie the party in with the opening of the maglev. A fitting time to celebrate.
We should invite everyone. Theo had been excited to see the weddinge together from the moment he was told about it. Love in the swamp was hard. Harder still when it was between a demon and an extra-nar elf. Oh, I forgot. Theres a tradering to dock at the port.
Both Xolsa and Zarali sprung up, shocked expressions on their faces. No! All the good stuff is going to be gone!
Without another word, they darted off. Rowan remained where he was, shifting the illusory tie around his neck. Theyre too high-energytely, he said.
Agreed. Well break for now. I need some time with my thoughts.
Rowan just nodded, then rose from his chair. He descended the stairs at a leisurely pace, then through the portal. Theo was left among the trappings of a wizard. Alchemy equipment, magical devices, and curios of all sorts littered the tower. While there were adventurers who passed through this ce often, there was never a risk of theft. Not with those handy contracts in ce. Although the town had grown to over five-hundred people, it was still small enough that everyone knew everyone.
Theo climbed to the roof of the tower, looking out over the [Swamp Dungeon] in the distance. He smiled as he saw adventurers training in the swamp. They fought with giant turtles, goblins, and wolves. He was reminded of the gristly wolf meat stew he enjoyed when he first arrived in town. The way the vors did nothing to mingle together brought a strange sense of nostalgia. He left the tower, walking the streets of his town.
Mudball Fundamental was fuller than it had ever been. Children yed in the yard. The operator, Bob, had organized the children into a hierarchy. The older ones managed the younger ones. Chaos was the result. Theo smiled as he watched the children battle each other with sticks. Mud was tossed at every opportunity. Broglings were small, but when needed Bob whipped the kids into shape. Mostly through verbal warnings, which always carried an undertone of malice. His instruction was borne from the patron Zaul, a shadowy figure in the Prime Pantheon.
A moment of your time. A voice came from behind Theo, carrying with it the warm sands of the Khahari.
The alchemist spun, finding one of their cat-person residents, Zankir, grinning a fanged grin. Whats up? Care for a walk?
A walk would be lovely.
They headed off, onto the main road that headed north. Before the Khahari said anything, they were passing by the sprawling neighborhoods of the town. Every day, there were more houses that popped up there. All to prepare for the good ship Wavecrest to return.
I was speaking with themander about this, Zankir started. Theo had never seen him choose his words so carefully. He sent me to ask you.
So, ask.
North of the sprawling, crowded neighborhood were the homes of adventurers. Tresk had named it Stabby Groves, and no one seemed to want to change it. The cluster of buildings along the road had grown over the days, but not by much. Folks wanted to live crowded together, not on the fringes. Quick ess to the shops and services was likely the cause.
I want to form a new unit, Zankir said after a while. And I want to be themander of the unit.
What would this unit do?
They would manage the automated and manually fired weapons of the alliance. There is a hole in your strategy, archduke. You cannot leave this matter to the administration. They do not understandbat.
That was true. Alise and her people often stepped on the toes of the military. Good idea. You need toe up with a good name, though.
Sandscourge Company, Zankir said instantly. He had been thinking about that for a while.
Ding! Good name. Theoughed, patting the man on the shoulder. Where do you sit in themand chain?
Just under Aarok.
That was fine. The more weapons they made to defend themselves, the harder it was to keep track of everything. Theo had learned early that he should defer to professionals. Since Zankir was a double-agent for Khahar, he must have been good at managing things. He also had a kid, which meant he was used to dealing with short-tempered folk like the half-ogres. Because half-ogres could often act like children.
They ironed out the details of the position as they walked through the town. Up the slow rise toward the quarry, then back again through Stabby Groves. Over the farmers hill, and back into the town proper. Theo created a new lord position, and made the Khahari sign another contract. By the end, Zankir was now the Lord Commander of the Sandscourge Company. As expected, he got to work right away. Darting off like an excited child with a new toy.
Now, Theo said, cracking his knuckles. Time for some serious alchemy.
5.2 - Procession of Souls
5.2 - Procession of Souls
None of the areas within Terogal were named. Despite the residents'' rtively long time here, they just hadnt bothered. Theo soaked his feet in the cool waters of ake that spanned as far as he could see. The namelesske was a refuge within the realm, providing some much needed solitude away from the demands of the town. He had even dodged Benton on his way here. All that remained was the rustling of leaves nearby, and the gentle gurgle of a nearby stream.
Resting in his palm was a sample of [Wheat]. Magically generated, or magically transported to this ce, the crop had always taunted Theo. A reminder of the old world, or a helping hand in the new one. It was always impossible to tell which it was. There were versions of the nt grown here, but the system recognized those as [Ansatari Wheat]. But this sample was unchanged by the world. Protected in the realm, it had remained as it was on Earth.
When the alchemist broke the reagent down with his [Reagent Deconstruction] ability, the results didnt surprise him. Neither did the Wisdom notification. He pinched the stalk between his fingers, twirling it as he inspected the items description.
[Wheat]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
Amon nt often milled into flour.
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Sow]
The [Sow] property was what he needed. Even without the helpful windows, he knew it would impart thend with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Yet he remained by theke. Alone with his thoughts. He wished he could see through the realms as proficiently as hispanion, Tresk. But he knew even she couldnt see what their friend Fenian was up to. If he needed help, he was on his own. The swarthy elf could take care of himself. Right?
Ah, there you are.
The familiar voice came with the padding of spectral feet over soft ground. Belgar came to sit next to Theo, lowering himself onto a rock and offering a faded smile. It was the soul of his bodys original inhabitant. By the day, his form was moreplete. But it was still transparent. The features werent right, either. The man was making a new form for himself.
Ill toss you a gold coin if you tell me what youre thinking about, the spirit said.
I tried not to think about it. But we were right about the wheat. Theo held up the reagent to punctuate his words.
Now we need to brew it, Belgar said, pping a hand on his back. Youre not always this dour, are you?
Not always, Theo said, pushing himself to his feet. Youre right. This is exciting. Im excited.
Belgar grabbed Theo by the shoulders and shook him. Exciting! Lets walk back to the vige.
The ces between the vastke and the vige the spirits had built was vast. It wasnt a distance that a person would normally walk. But both time and distance meant different things in a realm. The journey went by in what felt like moments. But the duo had covered a vast distance by foot. They passed through rolling hills, jagged ravines, and other picturesquendscapes. All to find themselves among the wandering spirits of the realms. Refugees of the void.
Each spirit that passed the master of the realm waved with excitement. By the day, they were bing more solid. More a part of Terogal. But the few pieces of equipment Theo had brought from the mortal realm werent great. Four stills, old and underperformingpared to those high-tech things waiting for him back in theb. But they would do just fine for a quick experiment.
Belgar was already preparing the minimum run for the stills. 10 units of the [Wheat] went into a still, along with an equal measure of [Enchanted Water]. They had enough [Refined Hallow Ground Essence] to drown the sea at this point, so it wasnt required to make more. The fumes from the distition smelled right. This felt like the path he needed to take to purge the tainted soil.
Were talking truly industrial levels of the potion here, Theo said. Ten thousand units of cheese, wheat, and enchanted water. Might even push a fourth tier potion if we try.
Belgar drummed his fingers on the hot still, not seeming to notice it should have burned him. Yourb has the capacity. But how long will the suffuse potions take to bake?
Theo chuckled. That was a good way to put it. All suffuse potions needed time to cook. The time required for them toplete varied depending on the rarity of the ingredients. Truffles, cheese, and wheat werent the rarest things the alchemist had worked with. Shouldnt be bad. Ill brew them on the mortal ne, then let them steep here.
Time really was difficult to understand in Terogal. Originally, the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability let him visit the realm for twelve hours. Now it was something like eighteen to twenty hours. Still, only five minutes passed on the mortal ne. That brought with it a confusing sense of disorientation that was always impossible to shake. Enough hours slipped away from Theos grasp for the distition toplete. There were noplications with the [Refined Sow Essence] and nothing to note about the item itself.
Belgar watched with pride as Theo forced his mana into two vials of essence, breaking them down into their primal version. The next step was to take the powdered essence and introduce it to a solution with the [Suffuse Potion]. If the essences didnt work together, the potion would simply explode. But as the alchemist introduced both the [Primal Sow Essence] and the [Primal Hallow Ground Essence] to the mix, they bound without issue. He then stepped back, cocking an eyebrow.
Huh. It feels like theyll only take a few hours tobine. Theo leaned close, tapping the side of the sk. Im still concerned about industrial production.
A sense of deep cold shivered through the realm. Theo flinched at first, then turned expectantly. An archway of icy stone rose from the ground. It filled itself with a pane of clear ice before the massive form of Benton, the Toora God of Winter and Death stepped through. As always, he had a fanged smile on his face and a booming bellyugh of standby.
Tried to dodge me! he shouted, hisugh carrying throughout the entire realm. You know I wouldnt let you get away without my sweets.
I was busy.
Busy busy busy. Hes always busy, Benton said, pping Theo hard enough on the back to send him tumbling forward. Come on. Tea time.
Benton always made the best tea. His scones were equally delicious. Despite his title as the God of Winter and Death, he was the sweetest person Theo knew. He had learned that the title was mostly rted to the seasons and had little to do with killing people. People that died in snow storms often found themselves in his realm. The toora set up his kettle in the small cottage and got to brewing tea.
I guess your n worked, Benton said. What few souls have entered my realm talk about a new star rising. Well, I guess hes an old star.
Theo nodded. That was always going to be the end of Fenians journey. Balkor, he said, pausing for a moment. Im not sure what I think about it. I had a hand in resurrecting the Demon God of Necromancy.
Life to life, death to undeath, Belgar said, nodding. His eyes were locked on the brewing kettle. Everyone loved Bentons tea.
Thats an old saying. Benton noticed the confused expression on Theos face. Necromancy is neither good nor evil. Its a natural force.
Seems like a lie to me. Considering the corrupted soil north of my alliance.
Consider this, Benton swirled the tea kettle, spilling a small amount onto the ground through the spout. He didnt move to clean it up. The necromantic energy left behind by Balkor didnt go anywhere. It remained in the ruined kingdom.
It was bound to escape, Belgar said.
Fenian just pushed forward the schedule? Theo asked, clicking his tongue. I think its more likely he intentionally spread the energy, then expected me to clean it up.
You are cleaning it up, arent you? Benton asked, raising one furry brow.
Thats besides the point. Theo gestured to the empty section of table in front of him. And wheres my scones? Im addicted, Benton. You need to provide me with the object I desire.
The bear godughed, then plucked a wicker basket out of the air. He set it on the table, uncovering the delicious treasure within. Theo went straight for the lemon-vored ones, setting it before him and licking his lips. His opinion of Fenians actions didnt matter. There was a job to do, and he would do it.
Enough posturing, Belgar said, snatching a treat of his own. How is your realm, Benton?
Oh! The domes are done. Everyone was very excited to get out of the cold. But we realized something. They need the cold to survive.
Thats irony. Right? Theo asked.
Uh No, Belgar said. That just sucks.
There were unwritten rules in Terogals cottage. Conversations about work were to be kept to a minimum. Tea was always to be served. If sweet treats were avable, they were to be provided to everyone gathered. And if the Arbiter showed up, everyone was required to y poker. Theo didnt write the rules, he just followed them. The conversation that followed strayed further from business by the moment. Until the group was sharing stories about their old lives.
Theo, Belgar, and Benton all had something inmon. They had died. Theos old body was destroyed by hiss sun before he was rescued by a benevolent being. Belgar fell off a cliff, and no one knows what happened to his body after that. Benton gave up his mortal body to ascend to the heavens, iming a new realm as his own. They were a triumvirate of weird individuals.
Hours rolled on as they drank tea, ate sweets, and talked about nothing at all. These were times where Theo was at his best. Neither alchemist noticed when the potion outsidepleted. They didnt even realize it until Benton had left to return to his realm.
Thats a lovely surprise! Belgar said. Good guess.
Theo inspected the potion, nodding with approval.
[Hallow the Soil]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Purify any naturally urring soil of all alignment-based befoulment.
This was big. Theos first thought was that he would need to hybridize nts to make this work. But that was a skill outside of his reach. Instead, his research into suffuse potions had proven fruitful. There were still problems about the scale of production. There were thousands of miles ofnd that needed to be scoured clean. Without a way to deliver the potion without getting his people sick, it was impossible to carry out the task.
Belgar chatted for a while, trying toe up with good ideas. Theo wasnt certain any of them would work. He suggested everything fromunching the potions from catapults, to strapping tanks to trained wolves. The only idea that appealed to the alchemist was the airship. And that was a way off.
Alright, Theo said. Fingers crossed. Im going to return to Broken Tusk to test the potion.
Belgar formed a cross with either pointer finger, grinning and nodding with excitement. Theyre crossed!
Theo let himself drift through the realms before he could correct the excited dronon. The scene swirled before his eyes, smearing for a moment before dragging into darkness. A familiar pull tugged at his ankles, and he let it take him. The Queen of the Bridge of Shadows was attempting to interdict him through the realms. Shadows swirled where darkness once was. Until a bridge appeared. It spanned in either direction forever. Dotted with pale gray lights, washing everything in monochrome, the Bridge was always intimidating. Moreso today, thanks to the procession of faceless figures that marched over the shadows.
Theonded among those people. None looked up at him. They all marched on, each step falling at the same time. A shiver ran down the alchemists spine as the shadows gathered, revealing little of UzXulvens form.
You dont call. You dont write! Theo, I thought we were allies.
UzXulven always had a monotone voice to match her monochrome world. But today, there was a tone of forced excitement in her voice.
Whats up?
Just some information. Fenian seeded in his task. He has assumed the throne.
Wheres the hidden but?
But hes dying.
Theo let his mind spiral outward. Fenian wouldnt have engaged Karasan if he couldnt win. No mortal wounds could have killed him. The elf was packed to the gills with enough healing potions to support an army. There was only one thing he could think of. Betrayal. Balkor must have performed a soul ying after he came back, forcing the elven duelist on his knees. Yeah, there were a lot of gods that wanted him on their side.
Can you take something to him? Something created on the mortal ne?
Of course!
From his inventory, Theo withdrew a [Reforge Soul] potion. It would remake the elfs soul from the ground up, removing all wounds Balkor could have inflicted. The recovery time wasnt good. And it hurt like hell. Slip this to him if you can, the alchemist said, holding the potion out.
A shadowy hand reached out, plucking the potion. Oh, youre devious. Think Balkor smote his soul?
Theres no way Karasan got the better of him. So, yeah. Since Drogramath didnt help me when I asked, Im assuming gods cant or wont cure a soul ying.
Youre correct. We wont. Against the new rules.
Hmmm. Theo turned his attention outward, back to the mortal realm. I need to go.
Wait! Dont you want to know about these dapper individuals? UzXulven asked.
This was the part where Theo normally left without another word. He didnt like UzXulven, but there was an opportunity. When a patron formed their realm, they did so specifically. Each realm was partly a reflection of their personality. But it was also a specialized thing, meant to aplish a specific goal. The Bridge had been created to literally bridge the realms, giving people ess to both the heavenly realms and the mortal ne. Instead of hurtling through the void like Theo did, they could cross the Bridge. This was great for souls who were stuck in the void, or headed to their eternal resting ce. But recent developments made it less useful. Which represented an opportunity.
Who are they?
Im so d you asked. Recently in mortals without a realm to call their own. Balkor is causing a stink, so they have nowhere to go. Hmmm, I wonder if theres a realm that could benefit from a sudden influx of souls.
Are you sending them to Terogal?
Oh, I could.
Is there a price?
Ah, well. Hold on. Even under the mask of shadows, Theo could see her screwing her face up. I did that in the wrong order. You were supposed to trade the souls for the potion.
Theo shrugged. Then our business is done, UzXulven. He paused for a long moment as his thoughts spread through adjacent realms. Something is going to happen, isnt it? A war?
UzXulvenughed, politely covering her mouth. Even though no one could see her mouth through the shadows. Sharp as ever. Another ascendancy war, if you can believe it. Were hoping for your support in theing conflict.
I dont involve myself in wars.
What if wares to your doorstep?
Then well respond.
Good enough! Oh, Ive wanted to do this for a while. What with how you constantly leave while Im talking, UzXulven said, letting out a contented sigh. Begone.
Theo felt something snatch at his midsection, then hurl him through the realms. He broke through the membrane of reality near the voids edge, then continued to fall until he saw the mortal realm. It took more effort than he would care to admit to steer himself in the right direction, but Tresk provided an excellent anchor point. Momentster, he snapped back into the mortal realm with a faint pop.
Oh! Tresk let out a surprised sound. Thought you were going back to where you came.
Theo was standing knee-deep in mud. He grimaced, looking out over the vast swamp. Ugh, what are you doing out here?
Patrol day! Tresk said, hugging Theos mid-section. She left behind a mud stain. How did it go?
We have a potion.
Oh, sweet! Lets get back to town. Watch your step, I think theres some turtles under here.
Something mped onto the alchemists toe and shook its head. As he pitched over, falling face-first into the mud, he cursed the name of the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows.
5.3 - Cheese King
5.3 - Cheese King
Theb in the Newt and Demon was getting worse by the moment. Theo had battled his way back to town, fighting against the sucking mud and biting turtles. Covered in mud, he dumped a vial of [Cleansing Scrub] over himself before entering. Salire had gone somewhere, likely attempting to avoid the constant sensation of illness brought by the soil.
That stuff is very gross, Tresk said. She went to pinch her nose, but realized she didnt have one. Dang lizard face.
Im thinking this potion isnt strong enough to do all of Qavell, Theo said, dumping out a sample of the soil. But it should get us started.
The alchemist tipped the vial, allowing some of the liquid inside to coat the soil. Running through the sample were seams of green. The potion soaked into those streaks immediately, glowing with golden power. Looking closely, he could see the battle within the dirt. The necromantic energy fought against the [Hallow the Soil] potion for control. But the potion did its work well, scouring the entire sample clean.
Woohoo! Tresk shouted, pumping her fist. Do the big one next.
Theo dumped the entire potion into the y jar, then shielded his eyes. Golden light filled theb, bringing with it a strange mixture of scents. The potion itself had a pleasant smell that he couldnt pin down. Something like freshlyundered clothes. The soil had a foul stench, like rotting meat left out in the sun to bake. While the mixture was unpleasant, it didntst long. The potion cleansed the soil, leaving behind nothing but regr dirt. His stomach immediately unknotted itself, leaving behind only the faintest sense of unease.
Well need to produce this in massive quantities. Do you know where Salire went off to?
Nope.
Okay. Perfect. Theo eyed his stills, then sent his thoughts out to his lodestonework.
The golems working his pop-up farm had collected a massive amount of Earths wheat. He sent an order for them to march over to theb, bringing as much as they could carry. Once the order was sent, he turned on the spot and headed out of theb. Tresk followed behind, but went her own way once they were outside. Her duties to the stealther squads in town were absolute, and she did good work. Their scouting was vital to the towns safety.
Miana, Theo called from the edge of a wooden paddock.
The half-ogre was grooming one of her many karatan charges. She waved happily, stood up from her stool and jogged over to the fence. Yeah?
How much [Karatan Cheese] do you have?
Miana held a knowing grin on her face. She leaned in over the fence, pressing her finger into Theos chest. Youre going to ask me for a Theo amount of cheese, arent you? Is this official business, or have you just developed a taste?
Im always official. Mister official over here.
How many units?
No less than a thousand.
Miana grimaced. Youre going to cause a shortage.
No other option. Were talking about the undead here.
Miana gestured back to her herd of Karatan. The horrific bug-cow hybrids were something Theo would never get used to. I only have so much livestock. Isnt that trader from Partopour here?
Does he have cheese?
I dont think so.
Then I need your cheese. Give me the cheese.
Miana sighed. Fine. Ill see what I can do. For the sake of your alliance, huh?
Theo shook his head. She was still dealing with some stuff. Unlike most people in town, she was put in a horrific position. When the town was founded, she was held hostage. Forced to keep it at a low level. All for Theos sake, and all at the hands of Yuri. Well, Yuri never admitted it was him. But the writing was on the wall. When it came time to settle up for the cost of the cheese, he overpaid her by a considerable amount. Then he pretended not to hear her protests as he walked away with thousands of units of delicious cheese.
Maybe I will start a cheese empire, Theo giggled to himself. Build a nice cheese tower.
Creating the [Hallow the Soil] potions wasnt really an issue. Theo consulted a map of the region in his mind on his way back to the Newt and Demon. He had difficulty estimating the square miles he would need to cover in the Soutnd Alliancesnds. The number ballooned to absurd heights when he considered the ces between the alliance and Qavells capital. He had crafted thousands of potions in the past. But none of those projects were this massive. Or this vital.
The bell above the door rang as Theo stepped into the shop. Salire was behind the counter, looking far more energetic than before.
The smell is gone!
Indeed it is. I found a solution to the corruption problem, but
But we need a lot? I figured.
The alchemists apprentice was getting the hang of everything. But she was still locked into performing first tier reactions, and hadnt shown as quick of advancement as him. She was still invaluable in theb, though. Only Tresk had been able to handle the vtile materials before, and she was always too busy. The duo headed for the third floor, breathing in clean air for the first time in a day.
My sanctum is restored, Theo said, letting out a contented breath.
Salire giggled. So, whats the n?
The only way we can get the Suffuse property is from cheese. Theo removed a wheel of [Veostian Karatan Cheese]. Thats a massive problem. Especially with the undead headed west. We cant import ten-thousand units of the cheese if the ce thats known for it is gone.
A dark thought made itself known on Salires face. Theo cleared his throat. Not that Im certain the undead are going for Veosta. Just a guess.
More than a guess, Id bet, Salire muttered.
Right. So, the underground. Has Azrug given it a name?
Salire shrugged.
Theres a lot of reagents down there. Mostly mushrooms. We can cultivate mushrooms, so I need to know everything they have there.
Salire brightened up at thatment. She withdrew an assortment of reagents, then set them out on the table. Theo tried to hide the prideful look on his face. His apprentice had taken the initiative while he was busy, likely heading down into the underground to collect reagents. None of the first properties were revealed to the alchemist, but the half-ogre went through them one-by-one. None had the properties he was looking for.
So, heres what were going to do. Theo held the first wheel of cheese over a still. He crumbled it in his hands, letting the pieces fall onto the cold Drogramathi Iron below. Well brew all of these, and Ill check each reagent with [Reagent Deconstruction]. Sounds good?
Right!
Theb was quickly filled with stifling heat. Salire turned on the artifice air conditioner, but it was a losing battle. Theo prepared the stills and set them to work. Then he turned his attention to the ten reagents resting on the table. He went through them, applying his mana to deconstruct them. As expected, there were reagents that had some of the same properties as nts on the surface. The [Lifeshroom] had all the same properties as the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. One sample was just an uncultivated [Manashroom].
A mushroom at the end of the line felt promising. Unlike most mushrooms Theo had encountered, this one was as hard as stone. He could break sections of it off with his alchemically inert knife, but otherwise it would need to be ground with the grinder artifice. As the alchemist deconstructed the reagent, revealing all three properties, he rubbed his hands together.
There it is.
Salire was adjusting the heating settings on the stills. She spun around, nearly brushing against one. Found it?
Yep. Theo held up the [Dragon Talon Mushroom] for inspection.
[Dragon Talon Mushroom]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
This mushroom resembles the w of a dragon and is inedible.
Properties:
[Hone Edge] [Distortion] [Limited Foresight] [Suffuse]
There were no new properties on the mushroom. Theo had to push himself to reveal the hidden fourth property, but he found it. Now it was only a matter of having the space in his mushroom cave to house them. After that, they would have an infinite source of the property. Once the reagent was cultivated, the yield would be even better than his cheese method.
Perfect! Salire shouted, pping with excitement.
Yeah, we might actually get our industrial production going. How rare is the mushroom in the underground?
Pretty rare.
All right. Watch the stills, I need to tend to the mushroom caves.
Behind the building were a cluster of buildings. To the left of those were two entrances that went underground. A [Lesser nt Golem] wasing up from the first [Mycology Cave], carrying an armful of [Azrugs Mushrooms] with it. Each cave was at level 25, and Theo was certain he could push them to 30 without a problem. There might be problems pushing them any further, though. Both the alliance and the town itself needed upgrades. But that was incredibly expensive.
Broken Tusk was currently at [Massive Town] status. Theo was certain the next upgrade would require them to be a [Tiny Town]. The upgrade path went tiny, small, none,rge, and massive. None meant there was no prefix, so it just appeared as Town, or City. If the Wavecrest returned from Tarantham, they might have another fifty citizens. Not nearly enough to meet the requirement of a city.
It was one of those things. To get more people, he wanted to clear the way north of Gronro. To do that, he needed to upgrade his buildings. And of course, to upgrade his buildings he needed more people. It seemed like an endless cycle, but the alchemist pushed that thought out of his mind. It was time to upgrade both caves to 30, and reorganize their contents.
Theo shoved Monster Cores into the first building, expanding the interior as he went. When the new upgrade option came up, he read it thoroughly.
[Terogal Empowerment]
Latent energy, aligned with the Dreamrealm of Terogal, will be drawn from the air to enhance your mushrooms. Energy density affects growth rate, cultivation yield, and nutrient usage.
Arent we double-dipping?
The caves already had [Drogramath Empowerment]. That upgrade was already amazing for enhancing growth rate. And now he could do it again with his own realm? Perhaps one day a [Khahak Empowerment] upgrade would appear, allowing him to dip even further into the overpowered patron features. For now, he was happy enough to select the upgrade. Theo did the same thing for the second cave, then inspected one as a sample.
[Mycology Cave]
[Shortcut to Mushrooms]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (15%)
Expansions:
[Spontaneous Spores]
[Deep Beds]
[Drogramath Empowerment]
[Rapid Growth]
[Untamed Cultivation]
[Terogal Empowerment]
Of course the upgrade was amazing. But the space within was the thing the alchemist was after. He entered the first cave, and noted how far it had expanded. Then it was a matter of organizing the existing mushrooms, which mostly involved a difficult choice. Both [Swamp Truffles] and [Manashrooms] were vital to his operations. He tapped his foot on the soft ground for a while before throwing his hands up in frustration.
I need them both!
Theo stomped out of the cave, then followed a straight path east. Once the harbor was in view, he cracked his knuckles and nodded to himself. With any luck, the traders from Partopour would have seed cores. They would likely charge him an absurd price, but he needed all his mushrooms growing. There was no other option.
As expected, the harbor was packed. Theo spotted Merchant Lord Miltar hawking his wares under a banner. Citizens from Broken Tusk bustled in the open-air market, tossing coins at products as though it was their final days. The alchemist shoved through them, finding his way to the shouting merchant.
Archduke! Miltar shouted with excitement. He then performed a deep bow. I didnt think wed see you on this trip.
Been busy, Theo said, having to raise his voice above the loud crowd. I need some seed cores.
Come! Board my ship. Well discuss this in my cabin where it isnt so LOUD!
Theo followed the human trader onboard. The deck of the ship was massivepared to the trading vessels they were producing. Near the raised section where the wheel was, there was a door. The pair ducked inside, and the constant roll of loud conversation died in an instant.
Ah. Thats better, Miltar said, slumping slightly.
The room was spartan. There was a bed in one corner, and arge desk and chair dominating the center. The interior was lit by crystals that hung in ornatenterns. A small ck box hummed in the corner.
[Mycology Cave] seed cores, if you have them, Theo said.
Ah, I might have some, Miltar said, pulling random items out of his inventory. You know, Ive heard the strangest rumor.
Uh-huh. Whats that?
The undead are moving off!
Theo nodded, watching as the man withdrew a carved wooden duck. And theyve left behind a serious problem. Tainted soil. The entire continent will be uninhabitable before long.
Unless you do something about it. Right? Miltar smiled a blinding smile. Anyway, I have a single [Mycology Cave Seed Core]. Fifty gold.
Theo folded his arms. That wasnt a horrible price. He could get it from Fenian for fifteen to twenty-five gold, and expected to be gouged within an inch of his life. Sounds good. Oh, do you have any illusory nes? The ones that change your clothes.
Fresh out. I have a coat, if you want it.
The heat within the cabin was awful. The padded gambeson Theo was forced to wear for safety was bad enough. Why would he want a coat of all things? Not sure if youve noticed, but were in a swamp.
Oh, but this is no ordinary coat, Miltar said, withdrawing a jet-ck coat from his inventory. He swished it through the air, shaking the material out.
The coat was sized to the approximate height of a half-ogre. Or a dronon. Two sets of buttons ran the length vertically, and arge hood was attached to the cor. As cool as the thing looked, it also looked very hot.
Inspect it, Miltar said, noting Theos hesitation.
Theo did so.
[Coat of Rake]
[Leather Coat]
Epic
This coat once belonged to a mysterious dark-elf. He was said to live in a moon.
Effect:
The wearer of this cloak will have the [Extreme Comfort] status.
The first attack made against the wearer, per day, will bepletely absorbed.
All attacks made while the wearers feet are not on the ground deal bonus damage.
Please note, the [Regted] status rtes to a persons body temperature. I have a ring that does the same thing.
Theo took the coat into his hands, feeling the material. It seemed to be made of leather, but was supple. It was also stylish enough for him, although he was never one for fashion. He gave the trader a t look. How much?
This is a priceless artifact.
Its only epic. A fair amount of my gear is already epic.
Ah, but does it make youfortable? Also, note how the back end of the coat is split near the middle. Room for your tail. Tell you what. Ill sell you the seed and the coat for seventy-five gold.
That was robbery, of course. Theo was used to getting his gear for free, or at cost. But the [Coat of Rake] wasnt just good for keeping him cool. It had the [Minor Foresight] effect on the second property, and an interesting effect as the third property. He hadnt tried aerobaticbat yet, but this could be useful. When his feet werent touching the ground, this item would take effect. Otherwise his [Leather Boots of the Defiler] would be in y. The cost wouldnt even drain his fundspletely. Alchemy had been making money constantly, even if the town wasnt doing so well.
Sixty. Remembering that Im the archduke.
Oh, the old Im the leader of this ce so youll cut me a deal y? Alright, alright. I like it. Miltar rubbed his hands together. How about forty and a crate of your anti-undead potions.
How many is a crate?
Call it fifty.
Theo reached out a hand. Deal.
Miltar shook Theos hand, then let go of the coat. The trader withdrew the seed core and handed it over. The alchemist took out his mid-tier [Hallow Ground Potions] and handed those over, along with the gold.
I love when business goes well, Miltar sighed.
On a serious note, Theo said, tapping his finger on the desk. How is Partopour viewing the undead threat?
Were unconcerned at the moment.
What if I told you that I was almost certain the undead were moving west? Toward Veosta, and perhaps Tarantham?
Well, that might raise our level of concern.
What about the fact that they can traverse the sea?
Ding! Higher. Anything else?
Theo considered how much information he should include. Balkor is alive.
Oh, Miltar blinked a few times. The smile faded from his face. How many potions can you spare?
Im not producing the worlds supply of [Hallow Ground]. Doesnt Partopour have alchemists? Any specialists in distition?
We have a guild. There certainly arent any Drogramathi alchemists.
Theo had to think about this for a moment before he acted. A part of him wanted to hold onto all of his secrets. Isnt that why Belgar died? Isnt that why Drogramaths dronon were on the brink of extinction? There was no way that [Hallow Ground] could be used against the innocent. The [Experience Boost] property was dangerous, but it wouldnt kill anyone. The alchemist withdrew a length of parchment and began scribbling.
These are instructions on how to distill the [Swamp Truffle] into [Hallow Ground Essence]. Im including warnings to only brew the first tier version. It should be strong enough. Theo then withdrew a cultivated [Swamp Truffle] from his inventory, setting it on the table. And a sample for your people to seed in a [Mycology Cave].
How much? Miltar asked.
Theo didnt care how much he was paid for the recipe. If the other nations didnt prepare themselves for the undead, there wouldnt be a soul left to trade with. Free with a caveat.
Oh?
Spread the recipe to Bantein, the Khahari Desertwherever. I have a bad feeling about the undead. I think were just getting started.
5.4 - Terogals Sea
5.4 - Tero''gal''s Sea
Rows of mycology caves stretched in every direction. Theo stood, tapping his foot on the hard-packed ground, staring at the dream-like creation. After he got the idea to spread his alchemy to the world, he realized they wouldnt be able to produce industrial quantities of the mixture. He had spent most of the Dreamwalk working on a way to dumb it down, but that brought challenges. The alchemist let out a steady breath, then pushed off against one caves entrance.
Casting his eyes to the sky, he saw Tresk and Alex doing battle with a dragon. A real dragon, this time. She had always been a dreamer. She came up with interesting things in the Dreamwalk without ever having seen it. Now that she hadid eyes on a dragon, she could reproduce it here without issue. Theo fell into an instinctive crouch when the earth beneath his feet rumbled. A shiver ran across the mirror realm.
What was that? Theo muttered to himself. The words carried to the sky, to Tresks ears. She appeared beside him.
Woah! Can you feel that? she asked, closing her eyes to focus.
Theo felt the little marshlings senses spread out over the imaginaryndscape. Her thoughts slipped through the cracks in the dream, then out into the wider realms. After a moment, her eyes snapped open.
Something happened in the realms. Just felt like a a Pop! Then nothing.
The alchemists mind couldnt rest on that idea for long. It wandered almost immediately, falling back to his problem. Drogramaths form of alchemy was known to the unaligned alchemists of the world. They could eventually gain ess to distition, but it was considered a high-level skill. Almost ascendant. At Level 50, someone with an [Alchemists Core] gained ess to the skills required to distill essences. Before that, they created salves and poultices to help people. Theo could make those things. But he had never tried.
Well see what that was when we get back, Tresk said, patting Theos shoulder reassuringly. No need to worry, my precious.
Hmm? Oh, right. No, we expected that. It just means that Fenian is alive. He must be working with Khahar to rearrange the realms.
When the Dreamwalk ended, Theo found himself in a listless state. He wandered down to the dining room, so lost in thought that he didnt greet those that greeted him. The alchemist left the manor with a te of food. Sarisa and Rowan both trailed him at a distance, ever dutiful.
I need your help, Theo said, patting Salire on the shoulder. She stiffed for a moment, then nodded and followed him to the third floor of the Newt and Demon.
Okay. Im not sure I can really help.
Are those traders still in town? Theo removed a [Swamp Truffle] from a storage crate and set it on a table.
Yeah.
Perfect, Theo pulled the hood up on his coat, suppressing a sigh as theforting effects washed over him. We have a problem. Were both Drogramathi Alchemists.
How is that a problem?
Because Id bet Partopour doesnt have the facilities to make enough essence to defend themselves. We have to dumb ourselves down and figure out how the normies perform alchemy.
Oh! Salire bounced across the room, withdrawing an old book from the shelf. Gromdraths Introduction to Alchemy is a good read.
She had spent a lot of time thumbing through basic alchemy books over the years. It was a hidden aspiration of hers, but one that was difficult to achieve. Even the standard form of alchemy was dangerous to perform, limiting practitioners to those who could afford apprenticeships. The book she had ced on the table was much like the others he had read. Unlike Drogramathi Alchemy, each method of creation was well-documented.
Each reagent can be processed three different ways. But what those ways are depends on which property you want to extract. Every reagent is different. So while pickling might work to extract the first property of a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], but would reveal the third property on a [Manashroom]. Its all random!
Write a list of the processing methods. Lets get to work.
Standard alchemy was smelly, boring work. Theo and Salire busted their butts for most of the day to try every manner of property extraction on the [Swamp Truffle]. Pickling, nching, roasting, toasting the list went on. It only got worse when the standard methods failed, and they beganbining effects. In the middle of the afternoon, they unlocked the secret. The truffles needed to be brined in seawater, then roasted over a wood fire.
Salire was masterful in her preparation of the poultice. Not that there was much to do. She smashed the mushroom up, then added a catalyzing agent. What was left was a ckened paste that smelled like week-old unwashed feet. Theo pinched his nose, leaning in to inspect his apprentices creation.
[Hallow Weapon Coating]
[Weapon Coating]
Common
Created by: Salire Hogrush
Grade: Poor Quality
Coat your weapon with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Enemies struck with that weapon will experience the effects of [Hallow Ground].
There it is, Theo said, nodding with approval. Not as good as the essence-based potions, but what do you want? Sarisa, could you prepare a few crates of my cultivated [Swamp Truffles]?
The half-ogre woman appeared from nowhere. She bowed, then nodded. How much?
Half the stock out back. Thank you.
Salire was bubbling with excitement. She turned to the alchemist, pping her hands and giggling. This is big, right?
World-changing, Theo said, pping a hand on her shoulder. Write the recipe down, and deliver it to Miltar.
After Salire took off, Theo was left with his thoughts. He could never remember that other nations didnt have ess to Drogramathi Alchemy. The undead were a world-level threat, werent they. He ground the heel of his foot into the ground, unsure of his own logic. Without an understanding of Balkors motives, it was impossible to know. Was he heading to Tarantham to get revenge on the elves? That was a motive, if one assumed he was cast down by ntheir without a n. If the demon god let himself be defeated, as might be the case, then revenge made little sense. So why head west? Something could be hidden in Veosta. Or the mountains that cut through the center of the continent.
Theo let out a frustrated breath, then dismissed the matter. He sent a quick mental message to Tresk, then fell through the realms. UzXulven didnt beckon him this time. He flew over the Bridge, then pierced the veil into Terogal. The scent of fires burning, and the sound of people cheering and dancing hit him first. He felt Belgars hand on his shoulder before his other senses came to him. A smile was on the spirits face.
Wee back. Did you see the news?
I havent. Whats going on?
The people celebrating in the distance only grew louder. They had gathered in their little vige, and were dancing around arge bonfire. Theo spotted a few wayward souls waiting for approval near the bubbling creek, but he turned his attention to Belgar.
Khahar made a move. We got a system message that imed the time scales of all heavenly realms were now standardized.
Oh. Really?
Yep. Theyre bracketed now. Low realms like ours have five minutes on the mortal realm to twenty-four hours here. The rate is different as you go up, but the message didnt tell us.
That was a nerf for Terogal. Theo was excited to see how much time dtion they could take advantage of. But the universe didnt revolve around him. This was likely a move to level the ying field in the high heavens. Belgar was silent as the alchemist moved to ept the new souls into the realm. He did so idly, hardly noticing as the realm leveled. He blinked away the messages, nning to decide on his upgradeter.
How are things? Other than the time standardization?
Good, Belgar said with a shrug. Im close to achieving a solid form.
Youre looking better every day.
Every year for me, Belgarughed, punching Theo in the arm. Are you going to select an upgrade?
Theo turned his attention back to the system notification. He already had a lot of upgrades for the realm. None of which he actually used. It was a weird thing where he didnt spend all his time here. He didnt understand what most of them did, but the most interesting one was [Landscape Maniption]. Combined with [Harvesting Array], he could change the realm to look like whatever he wanted. Yet he hadnt. The alchemist had watched the realm develop organically, and had little desire to interfere. Well, there was one thing he wanted
Upgrades, Theo said, nodding. Right. Ive got a fun one.
[Simted Reality]
Your realm will better simte the mortal realm. It will now experience a day-night cycle, weather, and realistic fauna patterns.
Something that had bothered Theo since he gained the realm was theck of reality. It was somewhere between the Dreamwalk, and the mortal ne. Night, rain, and some critters would help make it feel more like home. Belgar nodded with approval.
Come with me, Theo said, gesturing vaguely to the west. Ive always wanted something in this realm.
Belgar followed close behind. They passed through the sprawling forest, then through a deep valley beforeing to the rolling hills that rested below a mountain range. It was all randomndscape that was generated from something. Theo had theorized that most gods took the [Landscape Maniption] skill immediately, then formed their realm based on what they wanted. There was something missing from Terogal that Theo had wanted from the start. A wide ocean with a protected bay.
No idea how this upgrade works, Theo said. But as soon as he said it, he thought about the upgrade. An interface appeared.
Thendscaping interface was detailed. He could paint the terrain manually, or plop pre-made things down anywhere he wanted. The alchemist quickly selected the ocean painting tool, then nearly fell over. When he selected the tool, his vision was ripped from his eyeballs. It soared high into the sky, providing him with a zoomed-out view of thendscape. He felt Belgars hands steadying him, and the worried words that came with it.
Im looking at the realm from above, Theo said, trying not to fall over. This is the most ufortable thing Ive ever experienced.
You good?
Theo dragged the brush across thend. Now it was Belgars turn to almost fall over. Thend under their feet rumbled. Where there was once rolling hills, there was now a roughly dragged section of sea. Salty air filled the alchemists nostrils shortly after, and he continued to paint. With each stroke of his brush, the realms energy depleted. By the time he ran out of power, he had painted a sea below the mountain. It stretched almost as far as they could see, curving along the horizon. A sheet of clear water, almost exaggerated by how blue it was, glittered into the distance.
Ah, Theo said, exiting the interface and falling onto his butt. How do you like my ocean?
Belgarughed, a worried expression painted on his ghostly face. I like it. Dont do that again. Not while Im around.
Come on, Theo beckoned, heading down the slope to the shore. He had even painted a sandy beach on this side of the sea. The far side remained rocky. The alchemist popped off his boots and sunk his feet into the sand. Wavespped against his ankles, bringing with it a perfectly cooled sensation that radiated upward.
Think theres gonna be fish? Belgar asked.
I hope so. As long as the [Simted Reality] upgrade does its job.
The spirits of the realm had felt the rumbling and were gathering near the beach. Once they spotted the sandy shores, they ran down in droves. Theo watched as his people crashed against waves, swimming out and sshing around as though they were children. That gave him enough time to inspect the realm.
[TeroGal]
Mortal Dreamrealm
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 30
Souls: 120
Expansions:
[Harvesting Array]
[Defensive Towers]
[Landscape Maniption]
[Guardians of Faith]
[Bubble]
[Simted Reality]
Pending Requests: 0
Wisdom of the Soul told him it would be harder to upgrade the realm after this. He would need more souls per level if they wanted to grow its strength. The souls of the realm were talking about making rafts to take out onto the water. Others were excited that there might be fish, or wild game they could hunt. Theo could twist this realm to be whatever he wanted. It could be a factory world where he produced obscene amounts of potion. It could be a massive forge that made weapons day after day. But this ce was a slice of heaven. Afy, wild ce that seemed to stretch on forever.
At some point, Bentons icy archway opened up. Where Theo expected only the toora to step through, another man came. He was a balding, stocky human with a worn-out tunic and bare feet. He held on his face a look of reservation.
Theo! Benton shouted, dusting the snow from his shoulders. I brought a friend!
Hello, Theo said, waving stupidly.
Hi, the man said. His voice was gruff.
This is Ed. Hes the Human God of Tedding.
Of what?
Ed groaned. Is everyone going to ask me what I stand for? Tedding. Thats where you take material and spread it out into a field.
Thats horribly specific, Theo said. Anyway, wanna y in the water?
Uh, yeah? Benton asked, scoffing. Must be nice that you get to work in a temperate climate. Im still stuck in eternal snow.
Ed wasnt a man of many words. He was happy to soak his feet in the water, and watch all the souls y, but he wouldnt take part. Benton exined he was a brand new god, originally from Bantein. The guy had leveled a [Farmers Core] to 100 somehow. After a betrayal from his family, he had enough with the mortal world and ascended. That was apparently a popr thing to do, especially with the undead remaining a threat. Most people who could ascend would.
Theo and Benton returned to the town, sitting down for tea in the cottage. After they had exchanged stories for a while, something curious happened. A small mote of light appeared on the table. It pulsed with energy, but did nothing else.
Whats that? Theo asked, leaning in. He poked it, but his finger just passed through.
Not sure Ive ever seen something like that. Not in my realm.
The orb pulsed some more, bringing with it garblednguage that neither man could understand. They just drank their tea, ate scones, and watched the orb try and form something like words. But nothing came. Theo told his bear friend about his brush with normal alchemy, and how boring it was.
Not everything is easy, Benton said with a chuckle. Oh, look. The words are getting clearer.
Theo help, the orb said.
Hello? Theo asked, leaning close to the orb. You have the wrong number!
Stuck moon help
Stuck on the moon? Benton asked. Someone is stuck on the moon? Can you even get to the moon?
Ah, crap. I know who that orb belongs to. Theo drummed his fingers on the table. Thats Sulvan metouched. Grand Inquisitor of the Burning Eye.
Huh. Grand Inquisitor of squat. Seeing as the eye is dead.
Dead-ish, but yeah. Sulvan. Can you hear me? Go screw yourself!
Benton chuckled.
ept realm the orb said.
ept my butt! Theo and Benton cackled, swatting at the orb. But it didnt go away. Ah, whatever. Khahar? Yuri? Can you hear me? What should I do about this orb? Can you arbitrate this for me?
A quick snap, then Khahar appeared in the cottage. He had a deck of cards in his hands, but cast a confused look at the orb. Thats against the rules, he said, gesturing at the orb. He swatted his hand through the air, then the orb vanished.
Are you here to beat our asses at poker? Again? Benton asked.
Yes.
Khahar delt, then poured himself a cup of tea. He won the first few rounds, but Theo finally won on a lucky hand.
Sulvan and Uharis were meant to stay on the moon forever, Khahar said, dealing another hand. I guess theyre like cats without ws, though. Ive been rejecting their petitions for ascendancy for a while.
Theo chuckled. Thats so petty. I love it.
You could interdict them to your realm, if you wanted to.
Why would I do that?
Khahar shrugged. He finished dealing the cards out.
Was there any merit to epting either man into his realm? Were they trying to be trouble-makers, or had they actually learned their lesson? There was value in bringing them here, but only because Theosmand of the realm was absolute. He could cast almost anyone out at a moments notice, sending them to their home realms or the void. The only person he couldnt toss out was Khahar, but that wasnt surprising.
Do you think they could atone, Yuri? Theo asked.
I think so.
Why are you rejecting their petition for ascension, then?
Because godhood wouldnt give them the chance to atone. I have a feeling that another being is meddling with my ns, though.
Huh.
This was something Theo would discuss with Tresk before he decided. Perhaps a few dewed cats were exactly what they needed.
5.5 - Riding the Maglev
5.5 - Riding the Maglev
Theo stood on the shore of Terogals ocean. He looked out over the sea, smiling to himself. Creating a version of his realm in the Dreamwalk always felt like a vain thing to do. But the sea he had made was a beautiful, pristine thing. Unlike the real-world version sitting outside Broken Tusk, the waters were clear and cool. The bay in the mortal realm was filled with sea muck, and was often murky from the flow of the sea into the bay.
Tresk was somewhere nearby. She had taken the news of Uharis and Sulvan poorly, and was currently killing dream-versions of those people. Alex hadnt helped the matter, iming she would poke their eyes out with her little wed toes. If someone was messing with Khahars ns, it was best if Theo took control of those people. Or maybe they were just that desperate.
The Dreamwalk ended, depositing Theo in hisfortable bed. He remained there for some time, looking up at the ceiling long after Tresk had departed. When the scent of the food from below became too much for him to resist, he removed himself and put on his coat. The effect of the magical clothing was doubled within the manor, making it almost impossible to leave without feeling some difort. The dining room table was stacked with delicious food. Xam outdid herself more as the days rolled on.
Tresk had a few meetings with the Aarok and his staff today. Alex had be an important early-warning system for the town, thanks to her flight ability. She was also fooling around with her nature affinity, working with the farmers to grow crops faster. Theo had a meeting with Throk today, which was exciting. The artificer needed go-ahead on the tram project. The only thing in the notes was MEET ME. MY SHOP, a message penned by the marshling himself.
Theo bid farewell to his friends before heading off to the Newt and Demon. He worked with Salire to get the stills in order for the day. They had started mass-production of their new potion, but the batch they were running today would be the first third tier version of the [Hallow the Soil] potion, likely making it a [Greater Hallow the Soil] potion. The alchemist had already nted and upgraded his third mushroom cave, nting the [Dragon Talon Mushroom] for cultivation.
After getting ten Drogramathi Iron stills running, Theo headed off. He passed by a few people, who seemed excited for the uing celebration. Of course they knew about it, even if the event wasnt officially announced. No one could keep a secret in Broken Tusk, and he couldnt me them. Once the maglev was operational, there would be little need to distinguish between the towns.
Throk was outside of his workshop, hands on his hips. About time!
Busy as always, Throk. What do you have for me?
Well, do you remember that upgrade you gave to sweet, precious, darling Nira?
All right I remember.
Alloys, right? Well, we got to do some experimenting. That girl is a genius. Far smarter than you, and better looking.
Theo nodded. Were getting to a point, Im certain of it.
Yeah. She made me an alloy. Drogramathi Iron and Tworgnothi Copper.
Theo paused for a moment to think. Copper didnt alloy with iron. Copper wouldnt even weld to iron, so that made no sense. He shook his head, clearing away his old Earth logic. Both Tworgnothi Copper and Drogramathi Iron were magically infused metals. They didnt follow logic.
Interesting, Theo said. Im guessing the alloy has properties that are useful to us.
Check it out yourself, Throk said, holding out a bar. The ingot of metal alloy had bands of purple-ck running through bright orange. The alchemist inspected it.
[Azrugium Ingot]
[Metal Ingot]
Legendary
Quality: Excellent
An Azrugium ingot.
Theo gave the marshling a t look. Did you let Azrug name this?
How could you tell? Anyway, feel the weight. Lighter than either Drogramathi Iron or Tworgnothi Copper. And stronger than both. Throk was far more animated than normal. And he was waiting for the big reveal. The marshling edged closer to the double-doors of his workshop. Wanna see?
You already made something? Are you serious?
Behold! Throk shouted, yanking on one door. It swung open, revealing the train car within.
The entire car was made with the Azrugium. Theo shuddered as he thought of the alloys name, but was so dumbstruck by the quality of the car he almost pushed it out of his mind. The entire thing was made from the metal. It was far more sleek than he expected, and even had ss windows near the front to prevent a field of bugs from entering the passengers mouths. It could seat ten, with five on either side. Even the artifice work waspleted, tucked up in the undercarriage.
Theo approached the tram car, running his fingers along the angles. He grabbed it, and lifted it with almost no effort. This thing is light, Throk. Damn, how do you do it?
Heh heh heh, Throk said, hands on his hips. This might be the best thing Ive ever made. We worked on the shape for a while. Squeezed more speed out of it than expected. I even bribed Ziz and his guys to create a return track for the maglev. As you might imagine, Ill be running more than one train.
Astounding. It really is, Throk. I never imagined Id see something so impressive. Have you run it, yet?
Yeah, weve been doing test runs. Had to rece some old track with the Azrugium. One thing were missing is conductors.
Near the front of the train car was a single seat for the operator. That would require training, but even Theo recognized how easy the controls were. In the undercarriage, Throk had created a webwork of artifices. He exined what they did, which was even more impressive. There were speed regtors, power sensors, and even a simple monster detector. While there were no counter-measures, those could be addedter. Not that there was a monster alive who could catch up to this beast.
Both the train and the track need power. Motes, of course. Ive finally perfected my mote delivery system. We just need to feed the hopper in Broken Tusk, and the entire track will be powered. If the tram senses that any track in the line is without power, it will stop. Boom. Done. Safety.
Were paying you for this, right?
Youre paying me a fortune. But Im not in it for the money. Im in it for speed!
What are we waiting for? Lets get it out on the track.
Already got one ready for you. Lets go.
Theo followed Throk outside of the workshop. Over the eastern road, and through the eastern gate. Alongside the road that Ziz and his guys built was now a raised track. It was roughly the height of the alchemist, supported by tall white marble pirs. At the tracks end, on the Broken Tusk side. Was a small station. Alongside the track itself was another track. The return line. Both tracks connected together, allowing someone to ride from one end to the other without turning around.
Lets go, Throk said, grumbling as he ascended the stairs into the station. A cart was waiting for them.
Theo entered the train car, finding a seat and buckling himself in. He cinched the leather straps over his shoulders, then rocked back and forth. The maglev artifices effectively glued the train to the track, making it impossible to rock the car.
Ready, Theo said, holding onto the straps.
Alright. Ive got a route programmed so my conductors only need to press this button, Throk said, gesturing to a single red button. It runs through all the safety crap, then follows a course. At each checkpointcheckpoints are the power-generating sections of the trackit runs another safety check. Lets go!
The train eased out of the station, sliding over the track with no friction at all. The ride was absurdly smooth, but they pulled out at roughly walking speed. People below waved as they eased over the river, then took a bend. The train increased to running speed as they took a corner. Even at that low speed, Theo felt his stomach bottom out as they turned. The train leveled out, aiming directly north along the road.
From here, Throk said, turning and shouting back at Theo. Its a straight shot to Rivers. How long do you think itll take?
Azrugs roided out karatan could make the trip in about an hour. An hour?
Heh heh heh. Better hold onto something.
Once the track had cleared the first hill, it sped up. It hit the pace of a normal karatan quickly, then kept speeding up. Once it reached the speed of Azrugs karatan, Theo was certain they were going as fast as possible. The wind whipped against the cart, but it didnt budge to either side. It flew straight as an arrow, even after Theo was certain he would release the contents of his stomach on the newly created car. Then it doubled the speed of the karatan. Tripled. Quadrupled. The world outside the train rushed by in a blur of sound and color. The alchemists nails dug into the leather straps as he grit his teeth.
Throk only shouted excitedly, holding his hands over his head as though they were riding a roller coaster. Only fifteen minutes passed before the cart slowed down, pulling into the Rivers station. Theos eyes were dry, and his voice hoarse from the constant yelling.
Holy hell, Theo said, drawing ragged breaths. Are you kidding?
We aint done! Throk shouted, mming his fist on the button again.
The train took off again, gaining a chorus of surprised shouts from the citizens of Rivers below. Within thirty minutes, Theo had traveled from Broken Tusk to Gronro-Dir. He exited the tram wide-eyed, his heart pounding. He stumbled down the tform, looking at the town of his allies for the first time. The alchemist had only ever visited Gronro in the Dreamwalk. It was a fortress set between two massive mountains. The defenders on the walls waved down, cheering. Throk was pumping his fist in the air, cheering himself on.
That was amazing, Theo said, digging his finger into his ear. Perhaps we could have windows on all the openings.
Nah. Too heavy. Deal with it.
Azrugium was truly amazing. Throk had juiced so much speed out of the train that it was unbelievable.
Wee to Gronro, Archduke Theo Spencer, a voice called from the battlements.
Theo looked up to spot Grotgrog Stormfist, cheering with his men along the wall. It seemed impolite not to drop in. He was already here. Hello! Were testing the train! he shouted back.
Come in for a drink, wont ya? This calls for celebration!
Oh, dont mind if I do, Throk muttered. For all his bravado, when the marshling approached the gates of Gronro, he did so on wobbling legs.
Gronro was a town dominated by dwarves, humans, and half-ogres. When the gate swung open, the sound of cheering was almost as deafening as the whistling wind on the train. Theo had a mug of foul-smelling ale in his hands before he could object. Grot pulled him into a hug, then punched him in the ribs and kicked his shins. That was apparently a proper dwarven way to greet someone.
There was a foul miasma that hung over the town. Theo felt his stomach turn, and it only got worse as the celebration moved closer to the northern battlements, closer to the ce the locals called the scar. Theo ascended the northern wall with Throk and Grot. The group looked down at the destruction below, just over the stone bridge resting over the ravine.
Thend outside of Gronro was tainted. Compared to the soil sample he had been delivered, Theo couldnt stomach the endless sprawl of befouled earth. It pulsed with Balkors wretched power. No nt life survived the tainted energy. The alchemist truly understood how important it was that they healed thend. ntheir certainly wasnt doing anything about it. So it fell to the mortals.
But the foul air didnt affect the dwarves the same way. Grot imed it had something to do with their ancestry, tracing back to their underground homes. Better for them, but that didnt stop Theos mind from prioritizing this problem. By the time he was ready to leave, several members of the town wanted to ride down to Broken Tusk. Even if a return journey wouldnt be avable.
The dwarves that joined Theo and Throk on the train screamed with excitement the entire time. They blew past the Rivers station and headed directly for Broken Tusk. The alchemist almost couldnt handle the shock of traveling such a great distance in such a short time, but he was impressed. This would change the alliance forever. And Grot was quite happy that he had already found a solution.
Theo stumbled out from the train, nearly falling over as he descended to ground-level. He wanted to kiss the solid earth. To roll in the mud and never ride the damned train again. But it was just too good not to use. And if they got one of those running all the way to the lizard inds? Yeah, they would be in business for sure.
So, what do you think? Throk asked.
I think youve just changed the world, Theo said, patting the marshling on the back. Our little corner of the world, at least.
Throk smiled widely. Happy to help.
Theo drifted to one side as he walked away from the station. He wondered if the people in town would wee the rail with open arms. They certainly were excited, all crowded around the area. But they hadnt ridden it yet. Once they had a taste of the speeds that thing could do, they might change their tune. Broken Tuskers were surprising, though. The crowd that lingered all wanted a ride, but Throk wouldnt start operations today.
Riding the maglev had counted as Theos meeting, but he had to get into it with Alise and her gang. He found his way to the town hall, then the massive conference room where she waited with Gael and Gwyn. They started by updating him on the massive profit they made trading with Partopour. Broken Tusk was gaining attention on the worlds stage, but perhaps not for the right reasons. Instead of recognizing merit, the other nations were amused at the way they had survived disaster. Since disaster was a part of life on this, it had been viewed as hrious instead of heroic.
Salire reported you shared an anti-undead recipe, Alise said, sifting through piles of notes. Are we really worried about the undead crossing the sea?
I wont present it as a guarantee. Something had been tingling in the back of Theos mind. Balkors hidden n. But Im almost certain that Fenian survived his encounter. Which means I cant be certain what Balkor is nning.
Does it matter? Gael asked. Isnt he bound to the heavenly realms?
Maybe. Theo picked at his teeth, trying to think of anything but Balkor. His mind flung back to the beach in Terogal. He should have told the souls to build a little beach house there. Maybe an outside bar The alchemist shook his head, breaking those thoughts away. He might not be. Could be that hesmanding the undead from the high heavens.
None of our concern right now, Gwyn said, nodding. Her face was set in a firm expression, lips pursed tightly. Were just happy to have a solution to the gross stuff the undead left behind. The administration is sitting on its hands, waiting for you to save us all.
I have Salire, now, Theo said. Thats a small mercy. I think our first step is going to be to aerosolize the potion, then drop it over Rivers and Gronro somehow. That might help get rid of the lingering effects. Then we can concern ourselves with pushing the undead curse back.
Gwyn shared a look with Alise. They nodded.
Are we going to reimnds to the north? Under the banner of the alliance?
Theo grimaced. Yeah, that might be a good idea. But did they have the resources to do it? At that point, why would the Soutnds Alliance stop there? They could clear thend from Broken Tusk all the way to Qavell, then reim Gardreth. Maybe they wouldnt establish towns in all those ces, but they could clear the way for others. It was a novel thought.
Maybe. Well clear thend, then worry about what we do with itter. Hard enough managing everything south of Gronro.
Agreed, Gael said, wiping his brow. And were looking at a possible response from both Qavell and Tarantham, depending on how the Wavecrest does.
Right. Well, lets Theo paused for a moment, tilting his head to one side. Whats that?
The rapid sound of a hammer bouncing off a bell issued somewhere in the distance. Everyone at the table shot up, then ran to the window. A smile crept across Theos face.
Speak of the devil.
5.6 - Invaders
5.6 - Invaders
Theos feet barely touched the ground as he dashed forward, propelled by the power of a dexterity potion. The administration interfaces were filled with information. Aaroks messages flooded through the town, banging in the alchemists mind like the repeated ng of the bell. The Wavecrest wasnt alone. ording to the reports, they were trailed by ships flying the gs of Tarantham.
The rescuers might have taken his advice too literally and performed a daring escape.
Gael sent Theo an endless string of personal messages. The old elf couldnt keep up with the alchemist, and resorted to dumping paragraphs of protocol into the interface. There was some important information in there. Enough advice to avoid kicking off a war with the elves. That would be disastrous. The alchemist jumped from the wall in the harbor, spun in the air, then downed a [Retreat Potion] imbued with the [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier. One second passed, then he was rocketed backwards by the power of the potion. His coat billowed in the wind, the hood whipping against his ears ufortably.
The moment the potions effects wore off, Theo glided to the ground. As his feet hit the solid stones of the pier, he spun around and ran for the towers. He drew sharp breaths on the top of the tower, narrowing his eyes to spot the oing fleet of ships.
What do I do? the adventurer manning the post asked.
Theo opened his administration interface and read through the information provided by Gael. The Tarantham Empire was all about protocol. Saving refugees wasnt against theirws, but trespassing in their waters was. So the fleet was pursuing them because they had crossed that line. ording to good old Gael, they wouldnt attack the Wavecrest once it was in port. But there was more.
Just wait, Theo said, keeping his eyes on the horizon. His stunted magical senses stretched out, but only made it as far as the edge of the tower.
Long moments rolled by as the Wavecrest crawled across the bay. It was limping into port. Limping. The fleet could have caught up with it at any moment, but it didnt. All part of a posturing threat. Before long, Gaels ragged breaths came from the towers spiral staircase below. He fell onto his back, gasping for air as he looked skyward. Theo gave him enough time to recover from the sprint.
Wait for the Wavecrest to make port. Then fire a warning shot, he said, mopping the sweat from his forehead.
How big of a warning shot?
Asrge as you can manage.
Theo turned to the adventurer and nodded. The half-ogre swallowed hard, then dug through a dimensional crate on the floor. He withdrew a little present that Throk had created, then seated it in the sled of the rail gun. A few sharp words to the sister-tower had them loading the same shot and taking aim. The alchemist retrieved a Drogramathi Iron slug from the crate, then chanted the [Dragons Antimagic] linked ward. Just in case.
Here ites, Theo said, looking over the edge of the tower. The Wavecrest had cleared the outer section of the pier, gaining speed from the harbors upgrades.
The fleet had taken a position out in the middle of the bay. ording to Gael, they would remain there to blockade the port unless the proper protocols were followed.
Shes snug in port, the adventurer said, giving Theo the thumbs-up.
Fire when ready.
The adventurer gave the signal to the other gun. Theo plugged his ears as the supersonic rounds wereunched high into the sky. Throk was a genius artificer. He had created a timing device that would detonate the improvised explosives over an area. Kind of like a nuke.
The blinding light came first. Two balls of fire appeared above the ships. An instantter, those vessels were sent pitching either way. The shockwave mmed into Theos chest, knocking the wind out of him. The adventurer manning the gun was knocked off his feet, clutching his head. Assuming the gunner position, the alchemist loaded his [Dragons Antimagic] round and prepared to fire again. Those defenders that had assembled on the pier were knocked off their feet. Some had fallen over the edge, finding themselves in a churning sea.
Gael, who had been below the towers edge during the explosion, rose to his feet. Look, he said, pointing at the lead ship. Now they shall limp away! Hah!
The ships were turning. Slowly, but they were turning. Time for the elves to tuck their tails between their legs and get the hell out of alliance waters. Theo didnt flinch from his spot on the gun. His eyes were trained on the ship. His round was loaded into the rail gun, ready to fire. But the message he sent was received by the fleet. They plotted a slow course around the barrier inds, then out into the open sea.
Well arent you useful? Theo asked, pping a hand over Gaels back. So, that was posturing?
Rules. The empire thrives on rules. If we didnt show them we could defend ourselves, they would have stayed there for the season. They will send a delegation, opening up a channel for trade.
Really? After we nuked them?
Thats the way it works. Gael leaned against the wall, looking off into the distance. The emperor will recognize power. He hates weakness.
Theo! Aaroks voice carried from down below. That was a good explosion! Did we win?!
Theo descended the stairs after tipping a [Healing Potion] into the downed adventurers mouth. Gael joined him across the pier, where both the military and administrative branches of the town were waiting. They ryed the story with no fanfare.
Alise took notes, nodding along the entire time. Thankfully, we have Gael. Im guessing it would have been a bad idea to sink them.
That would have been war, Gael said, rolling his shoulders. Ack. Im not meant for running. If anyone needs me, Ill be asleep for a week.
The group rushed off to the harbor, leaving Gael to lick his wounds. The Wavecrest had already docked in the harbor, and was unloading the passengers. They looked horrible. Bloodied, bruised, and malnourished The elves looked like they had been through hell. The captain of the ship, a plucky elven man, cheered as he exited the ship. Theo let the administrators do all the talking, busying himself with the administration of healing potions. Bilgrob and Zarali joined in. The ogre mended wounds that were too great for either of them to handle.
As expected, Xam arrived with a feast for the refugees. Sixty elves. All crammed in that tiny merchants ship. Looking over the poor folk, Theo couldnt stop the sensation building in his chest. They had suffered long before being rescued. Living in a cave with nothing to eat but what they could steal from the empire. He couldnt decide if Tarantham was to me. Perhaps they would get theirs when the time came. When the undead marched beneath the sea.
Sixty souls meant sixty new contracts. This influx ced Broken Tusks poption at 602 people. The strain that Theo had expected to feel with so many new peoplethest time they saved people from Taranthamhadnte. The alliance sat on a surplus of food and homes. As expected, the refugees were appreciative. They signed the contracts, epted temporary housing, and were generally excited.
Theo turned away from the group part-way through, moving off with Aarok and Luras for a private conversation.
That was concerning, Theo, Aarok said, ring off into the distance.
The trio walked a winding path through the town, heading for the eastern gate with no other destination. Im not sure what you mean.
World-stage stuff, Luras growled. We can pick off ships from the bay, but what happens when someone sends an ascendant attacker?
Without Fenian to defend us Aarok trailed off, shaking his head. Who am I kidding? Were always on that knifes edge, arent we?
Outwardly, it would appear so. But this business with Tarantham was standard. All ording to Gael, of course. As long as they danced the right way, nothing would happen. The other nations were concerning, but not so long as they were busy with the undead. Maybe. Lets just stay ahead of it, right? Were friendly with Partopour, arent we?
Yeah. Thats true, Luras grunted.
Most of today had trickled away to various things. Theo hadnt expected the Wavecrest to return, but it was a wee sight. It gave him a taste of something he needed desperately. He needed people in the town. People in the alliance. Bodies and souls to help him prepare for whatever wasing. That drove him forward to do betterto recruit more people to the cause. But when it came down to defining his mission, he drew a nk.
Luras and Aarok chatted idly as they walked. Theo was lost in his thoughts. Was Broken Tusk a beacon of hope, or just another yground? It didnt matter how someone defined this ce. The people were fed, clothed, and housed. They wanted for nothing, giving them the chance to pursue their dreams. Those dreams might have been small alone, but together they created something bigger. Like many small mesing together to create a ze. The alchemist would dance around that fire as long as he could.
I said were going to run patrols all night, Aarok said, punching Theo in the arm. It was the only thing that snapped him out of his thoughts. Wanna join?
Theo thought for a moment. Sure. Why not?
Take the first shift with Tresk. She already volunteered, Luras said, jabbing his index finger skyward. So did she.
Alex was somewhere up there, flying circles around the town. If they were worried about elven infiltrators, it was a goofy thought. Better to be safe than sorry, though.
Theo broke off from Luras and Aarok, meeting Tresk and the gang back at the manor. Sarisa and Rowan were preparing food for the night, as Xam was busy with the refugees. The alchemist enjoyed their cooking, although he always ate light anyway. The discussion around the table was of the new elves. Of course it was. Alex sat in the alchemistsp as he ate, picking at his food and honking to interject her thoughts.
Got your big boy pants on tonight? Tresk asked, poking Theo in the shoulder with a three-tined fork.
Ive got my big boy coat, and my big boy boots. Good enough?
Perfect. I love night patrols.
Do you? Were always asleep just after dusk.
True, true. Tresk nodded, pursing her scaly lips. But one can dream.
Aarok organized the first watch for the night, creating temporarypanies and units. Theo, Tresk, Rowan, and Sarisa were ced in the same unit. They were in charge of patrolling the wall. Alex was in a group all her own, tasked with flying over the town and providing much-needed intelligence. They had evenmandeered the train to run patrols between the three towns. The alchemist wasnt sure how they would spot anything in pitch ck, going mach one.
Before heading off for their assigned posts, Aarok had the adventurers meet in the town square. Theo had a snide thought about that. Adventurers. The Adventurers Guild was still calling itself that, but it had be something else entirely. A military force. Although it was defensive, it was still a military. And the half-ogremander loved ying the part of the wise general. He gave a speech about the importance of the operation. How the lives of everyone depended on their actions. He had the attention of the rowdy folks for about a minute before they lost interest.
Tresk was the unitmander, and was quick to throw around orders. It boiled down to marching along the wall as a group. Nothing fancy.
Ooo, I can see a lot at night. I want to fly at night more often, Alex said, speaking into Theo and Tresks minds.
Theo got a sense for what the goose could see. Through their bond, he could see shes of Broken Tusk from the air. Lights shone in the darkness, tracing a path along the wall. She had already watched the elven ships set up on an ind, making repairs. Her orders were strict. No interaction.
Twilight settled in over the town, plunging it into a deep darkness. Theo followed behind Tresk, carving intricate patterns into wolf teeth. The marshling wasnt happy that he didnt take his job seriously, but the alchemist shrugged it off. Sarisa and Rowan were therethey would spot anything before he did.
There were a few refugees wandering around the town. Escorted by the original refugees of Broken Tusk, they were taking in the sights and sounds of the silent town. They kept their voices low, and their eyes cast at the ground. asionally, they would raise their heads to look up to the sky. Maybe Taranthams policy of exterminating fallen houses wasnt a good thing.
The group ran into another patrol. Tresk went into full military mode, giving a swift report before performing a strange salute. After the first few rounds on the walls, she led them down into the town. They searched around the areas where the new elves were staying, making sure everyone was in bed. The marshling asked brief questions of the folks who were out walking the town. Their responses all lined up with the idea of being cooped up in a cave for years, or a stir-crazy feeling that came from boarding the Wavecrest.
There were a few monster attacks from the [River Dungeon] throughout the night. Xolsa had wanted to instigate a dungeon wave, but they had to put it off for a few days. Now the monsters inside had grown restless, and were overflowing into the river. While it was problematic, it was nothing the towers on the walls couldnt handle.
Throk had perfected an interesting addition to the towns defenses. A series of tubes snaked their way through the town, attached to each tower. A person only needed to fill a hopper with motes, and the power would be delivered with ease. Theo wanted something like he had in Terogal, where power was gathered and distributed automagically. Unfortunately, things didnt work that way on the mortal ne. They had to do everything manually here, which was a pain.
Woohoo! Tresk shouted, pumping her fist.
A tower had just zapped a group of fald emerging from the river. They sizzled for a moment before falling back into the river. Theo chuckled, leaning over the wall. The night patrol wasnt that bad. It reminded him of when he wandered off in Terogal, and no one came to bother him. The sound of swamp insects singing their song overshadowed any conversation. Everyone was content to keep their thoughts to quick bursts, rather than drawn-out things.
I cant wait to ride that thing, Rowan said, gesturing into the distance. A streak of light raced in the distance.
Id rather not. Even under the dim light of a torch, she looked pale. That thing is too fast.
Oh, it is. Theoughed. Throk made me ride that thing. Zipped all the way to Gronro in about a half-hour.
Seriously? Rowan asked. Gods, thats so fast.
Do you remember walking to Rivers when we were kids? Sarisa elbowed her brother, then giggled.
Took us the whole day if we hitched a ride. They made us sleep outside the walls. Just two dirty little urchins.
Tresk shrugged. I dont really remember you two growing up.
Cause your dad kept you cloistered in his shop. Thats why youre so weird. Rowan grinned.
Im not weird. You are.
I really thought we were thest generation of Broken Tuskers. Sarisa had a sad smile on her face. Now look at us. Taking on the world.
Felt like we were taking on the world back then, Rowan said. Do you remember that one time What was Banus dads name? I cant remember.
The old half-ogre farmer? Sarisa asked. I cant remember either.
Anyway, we got into his vegetable garden. The old man always grew vegetables. From the homnd, hed always say. Remember how we stole that ogre pumpkin?
Sarisa grimaced. Do you remember how long I was in bed? Waiting for my arm and leg to heal?
Rowanughed. Oh, I remember. I had to carry you to the chamber pot so you could
Yep! I remember, too! Sarisa interrupted, pping a hand over Rowans mouth.
You guys have so many stories, Theo said, shaking his head. Im always thinking about that. How many little stories get lost because we dont write them down.
Feeling homesick? Sarisa asked.
Dont ask him. Tersk scoffed. He had a horrible childhood. Sold into very.
It wasnt very.
Okay, uh Tresk cleared his throat. His dad died, so his mom signed him up to some super secret military group. They brainwashed him and sent him to be a child soldier.
I was a spy.
A spy that killed people.
Rowan and Sarisa shifted ufortably. Theo shook his head.
Thats all done. My world was dying before I was born. We just had a good time while we could. Nothing more. But this world? It has a chance. We have a chance to turn it into something better.
At what cost? Tresk asked. You think Khahar and Fenians n is gonna work?
It already is. Isnt it? Theyre changing the monitor system.
How far does that go? By the end, were gonna have a totally different system down here on Mortal.
Yeah. The way it was meant to be before the first beings messed everything up.
Sarisa cleared her throat. So, anyway. About that pumpkin
5.7 - Aaroks Dream
5.7 - Aarok''s Dream
Theo had grown to dislikeboring away in the Dreamwalk. When he went to bed that night, he corrected his thinking. The dream realm was a ce to grind experience, while Terogal was the ce where he could rx. With that in mind, he focused on raising his Drogramath cores, figuring they were the only way to increase his personal level. Now that both his cores matched in rarity, they leveled at about the same speed.
The alchemist rested in his bed, eyes wide open as he looked over his interface. Alchemy, Herbalist, and his personal level had all ticked up to 26. His poor [Toruaun Mages Core] was still at Level 14. Xolsa might have been mad, but it often took him a while to work himself up to a seething rage. Theos attributes were all over the ce at this point. Tresk had told him that generalization was a good thing, so he dumped thetest point into Dexterity. One more point and he would be at 20 Dexterity, which woulde with a boost. Every 10 attribute points came with the same boost, often providing a new realm of power.
While those realms of power werent documented very well, they were clear. Wisdom of the Soul suspected it was something to do with the way the system was iplete. It was as though the mortal system wanted to segment people into ranks, but couldnt.
Busy day, Tresk shook Theo, trying to pull him out of bed.
Theo reviewed his administrative interfaces, finding that Alise had created a schedule for the day. Nothing too intense. Open house at the Town Hall by mid-morning, tea with the administrators after that oh yeah, and a monster wave at midday! Xolsa had estimated the uing monster wave to be somewhere between Level 30 and 50. They had let the [River Dungeon] go for far too long, resulting in an umtion of power. Since the dungeons converted that power into both quantity and quality of monsters, they were in for a ride.
Quick breakfast, Theo said, getting to his feet and slipping on his coat. Then we have a strategy meeting with Aarok.
Yay, Tresk said, twirling her index finger in the air. Strategy meetings. My favorite.
Honk!
At least Alex found her ce in the army. Theo pat his familiar on the head. She was getting bigger by the day. If she stretched out her slender neck, it could reach up to his chest. Before long, she would berger than Tresk.
The trio ate a quick breakfast before making their way to the adventurers guild. There were some new arrivals from Tarantham that would fight against the monster wave. Theo wanted to have hope in their abilities, but they looked worn down. Tired beyond anything that a potion would help, they needed bedrest and some leisure time before they were in fighting form. There were still a few among the new elves that stuck out to the alchemist. There was a young man with a [Coresmiths Core] that shone amongst the rough gathering ofborers, artisans, and adventurers.
The problem with Coresmiths was their difficult learning curve. Or so Theo had heard. Like the [Drogramath Alchemy Core], the Coresmiths had a vast learning curve. The materials required to create any cores were also extremely expensive. It just reminded the alchemist that he still didnt have the coin mint that Fenian promised.
Aaroks office in the Adventurers Guild was always stuffy. Even with the air conditioner, he couldnt seem to get the stale scent of body odor and dried monster blood out of the air. The half-ogre leader of the guild sat at the head of the table with a series of maps strewn out before him. There was no difference in their strategy for defense. Since Xolsa could spawn the wave at will, they only needed to sit back and let the monsterse to them.
Theo could hardly pay attention as he thought of the [Living River Water] that the boss would drop. He interjected several times, making sure the adventurers knew to use as many freeze-style attacks as they could. That would ensure that his yield of water was maximized. If the bosss water soaked into the river itself, or the ground, it would be useless.
We get it, Theo. Luras smiled over the table. Alchemy reagents are more important than lives.
In some cases.
Aarok shook his head, trying not tough. We know what were doing. Ive got units from Rivers and Gronro ready to go. They want to get out on the field and get some real-world practice.
Theo didnt like that part of the n, but he didnt have Aaroks experience. If the grizzled half-ogre wanted to send some dwarves out to face fade or fald, that was on him. It wasnt as though either race of water-dwelling monsters were difficult. So long as they were out of the water. There was one main differencepared to thest time Broken Tusk had defended against the [River Dungeon]. They now had a harbor, which bordered the southern section of the river. It stood to reason that the monsters would head there directly.
Were reorganizing the towers right now, Aarok said, jabbing his finger into the map. Stripping a few from the western wall, and installing one of Throks guns on the eastern wall just in case.
Aaroks finger traced a path over the wall. He pressed it into a section of the eastern wall nearest Mianas ranch. Theo wasnt sure they could mount a rail gun there, but he nodded anyway.
Well need Theo to use his magic on the walls before we kick the wave off, Luras traced his finger along the map.
They wanted Theo to ward most of the wall. It would requireplex, interlinked wards that would take him hours toplete. The alchemist suppressed a groan, only looking up to nod resolutely at hismanders. He wasfortable overriding much of what his administration team told him, but matters of war? Yeah, that was best left to the experts. None of Earths spycrafting methods would work on a wave of monsters, so it was best to leave it there.
Aarok and Luras went over a few things. To Theos surprise, Zankir had a few things to say. Since he was now the captain of the newly formed defense-based unit, he had much to say. He mostlyined about having only one gunnery team.
Your squads will still be at the piers, Aarok gestured to that section of the map. Were not dropping our guard just because theres a wave.
Understood, Zankir said, nodding. Youll see the Sandscourge Company pull its weight today.
Theo smiled as the pair patted each other on the back. It had taken Zankir a while to get over Khahars arrival. Well, if the alchemist really thought about it the Khahari man had betrayed Broken Tusk. Since the result was a [Kingdom Core] and a reunion with his old best friend, he let that all go. He also reflected on how nice it would be to have more Khahari in town. It was bing more of an elven town with each passing day.
Thats it, Aarok said, pping his hands together. Everyone knows their post. Well have a town alert before we start. Youre all dismissed unless you have other duties.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex lingered in the office as the others departed.
Are you living out your boyhood dreams? Theo asked, smiling at Aarok.
The half-ogre chuckled, running his fingers through his hair. Somehow, I didnt imagine it would be this stressful.
Luras elbowed Aarok in the ribs. Cheer up,mander. You were made for this job.
Hah! Something like that. At least we have the dungeons under Xolsas yoke.
Tresk and Alex remained in themanders office while Theo headed off. He made his way to the Newt and Demon, finding Salire handling town-rted business. She was handing out their stock of bombs, enhancement potions, healing potions, and so on. Those things were earmarked for the town during emergencies, so they were either sold at a massive discount or given for free.
Im going to work on the new potions, Theo said, patting Salire on the shoulder. She gave him a smile-grimace hybrid expression. Let me know if you need help.
Up in theb, there was enough clutter to upy Theos entire morning. He cleared away the mess into a crate, vowing to clean it properlyter. Of course, he wouldnt. Creating a proper third tier suffuse-based potion was going to be difficult. But the first part of that task was to distill as much liquor as possible. Banu had already delivered absurd amounts of [Zee Kernels] to theb, allowing him to get ten mashes started. Once the distition had started, the alchemist turned his attention to the bottles of [Refined Sow Essence] and [Refined Hallow Ground Essence].
Wisdom of the Soul popped, giving him some much-needed information. To create a proper tier three suffuse potion, he would need to use both essences to create an unbound dilution. It was a concept that was effortless to think about, but almost impossible for Theo to approach. Essence didnt y well together. The [Suffuse Potion] took the essences and made them y nice. A [Unbound Enchanted Dilution] was just mana-infused alcohol that had an essence mixed in.
Theo clenched his teeth, tapped his foot, then drummed his fingers on a table for good measure. Another message imed it could work if he introduced essences directly to the dilution. Maybe. An experiment was required.
The alchemist dug through his crates, finding a few bottles of liquor. He tilted his head to the side, searching through his near-perfect memory. There were at least three bottles missing. Someone had been getting drunk off of alchemical hooch. He shrugged, withdrawing a few sks before heading downstairs. Salire was struggling to deal with the massive number of adventurers in the shop, so he sent a message to Gwyn. She arrived promptly, bowing at the door before entering with a gaggle of junior administrators.
Theo pointed at several crates within theb. Bombs, attribute potions, restoration potions. Prices are listed at the desk. Come on, Salire.
The alchemist dragged the shopkeeper out of the building by the arm, despite her objections. They found their way to a secluded section of town, far enough away to prevent the spread of any fires. Without my gravel yard, I need a new ce to test explosive experiments.
Explosive? Should I be worried?
Explosions are a part of this life, Salire, Theo said. It was hard not to smile at her. She was always so excited to explore new alchemy, then worried when they got to the part where things blew up. He ced a sk of liquor on the ground, then stepped back. Third tier suffuse potions. So, I often thought of those potions as third tier already so
Does this mean youre going to craft a fourth tier potion?
I guess we could think of it like that. Maybe third and a half? No, this batch is strictly third tier. Were going to bind two second tier essences, then brew them into a suffuse potion. This is something else entirely.
Let me see if I understand the n. Were experimenting to see if we can make an [Unbound Enchanted Dilution] with two essences, which lets us brew third tier essences of either essence and uh we
Theo scratched his head. Yeah, were doing something else entirely. Were taking base essences and priming them to be only suffuse-made potions. We could distill each one on its own, then just bind it as a standard suffusebination.
Seems like the result would be more powerful this way, Salire said with a nod. The potency would increase, because youre telling the essence what its going to be in the end.
That was a fun way to think about it. Since each essence, no matter how pure, had elements of another property from the base reagent, they were always imperfect. While a perfect potion didnt exist, if they tailored each step toward the suffuse route, the resulting [Hallow the Soil] potions would be more potent by default. It might also affect the speed that the suffuse potion brewed.
Phew! Theo mopped his forehead reflexively, but he was perfectlyfortable. He experienced the sensation of being in a humid environment, but was perfectly content. His coat was paying for itself. He chugged a [Greater Vigor Potion], pausing for a moment as he felt himself be significantly more tough, then proceeded with the experiment.
Theo created an unbound dilution with both essences, then observed how they interacted when introduced to the alcohol. As he watched, he noticed how the Zee liquor acted as barrier between the two essences. They didnt want to react violently, as they were too busy being suspended in the solution. Both he and Salire stood back, expecting a violent reaction. But nothing happened.
Okay. We learned something.
We still need to distill it. And we need a seed sample of both third-tier essences.
But look, Theo said, holding the solution up. It has both properties. Sess?
Sess, Salire said, smiling softly. Back to theb.
As annoying as it was, in order to make their special version of the suffuse potion, there was a lot of brewing to be done. It was too much work to get done before the monster wave, but that wouldnt stop the duo from trying. First, they needed to create [Unbound Enchanted Dilution] for both potion types. After that, they needed to distill the resulting [Bound Enchanted Dilution] to create third tier essences for both properties.
Salire operated in a supporting capacity, often pulling the pipes around from the [Internal Liquid Storage] feature to dispense liquor. Theo handled all the measurements for all ten stills, relying on his [Unstable Material Handling] ability to prevent disaster. They split the stills in half, five working on the [Sow] property, and five for the [Hallow Ground] property. The result would generate five-thousand units of [Bound Enchanted Dilution], which would result in five-thousand units of the final [Hallow the Soil] potion. If the potion came out with the standard naming scheme of [Greater Hallow the Soil] it was third tier. If it was any other name, it was fourth tier.
Theo went downstairs to help Gwyn with the adventurers. After sorting those needy people out, he left Salire to manage the stills so he could ward the walls. The alchemist was cutting it close, but both projects were important. He joined with Xolsa on the battlements, who was gazing off into the distance.
Busy day, Theo said, producing a bottle of [Mana Pills] from his inventory. He got to work, chanting the firstyer of his [Defense] array.
Ah, your wards are improving, Xolsa said, pausing and waiting for Theo to respond. But the alchemist was chanting aplex spell, and didnt want to break his concentration. Right. I can feel the way yourecing the magic over the wall. Since the wall is generated by the system, it''splex to interact with.
Xolsa had a lot of experience in messing with system-generated things. Ever since he got his [Dungeon Engineers Core], he had delved head-first into that realm. And he was far better than Theo at it. One thing the alchemist had noted was how willful the walls were. He found the same thing to be true with the integrated towers at the piers. Everyyer of spellwork that wasid had to be done so expertly. It was like drawing a circle in chalk over a cracked sidewalk. Every line he made had to connect over those cracks, never breaking the form of the wards array.
Theo took a deep breath, popping a [Mana Pill] into his mouth and swallowing. One down. A million to go.
Youre not practicing as much as I would like, Xolsa said, tutting. But I suppose youre busy. You know, I always wanted you to look at the wards that Ive seeded throughout the swamp.
I have a feeling those wards are different. I doubt they work with Toruauns magic.
Theo felt Alex flying somewhere overhead. He focused on her for a moment, catching shes of the ground below. Aarok had assigned her to keep an eye on the coast, making sure no interlopers came to ruin their day.
Im learning plenty by just watching you. Dronon magic is strange, isnt it?
Why? Theo asked, waiting before he began the next ward.
Spells are typically cast through three modes. Chanting, somatic gestures, or channeled. Remember how I had you learn Axpashi? That is thenguage youre supposed to be chanting when you form a ward. But youre not drawing from raw magical energy, youre pulling from Toruauns realm directly.
That sounds problematic.
Its the problem with all aligned cores. I wonder can you feel Toruauns power as you channel?
Theo thought about that for a moment. He had been exposed to a lot of godly power. Ever since he arrived in this world, the area was so soaked with Drogramaths raw power that it was hard to tell what was normal. Even though he had ventured to Rivers and Daub, he still felt the lingering effects of that energy on his body. When he drew from his [Toruaun Mages Core], he felt something.
Shes so subtle, Theo said, shaking his head. Its like feeling for that one spot of warm water in an icy stream. I can sense it for a moment, but no longer. It slips through my hands before I realize which gods power is flowing through me.
That might be a problem caused by your patron. Drogramath. How does it feel being a champion?
Once again, Theo was reminded that he had always been a champion. He didnt know what it was like to be a normal Drogramathi Alchemist, so he couldnt say. Id bet that was the problem. Wisdom of the Soul agrees.
Xolsa nodded, fiddling with his robes. Speaking of. I was wondering if you could make one of those for me.
A soul potion? Which one?
Intelligence, of course.
Absolutely. Give me three to four days.
At your leisure.
Theo turned his attention back to the wall. At least Xolsa was mad that he hadnt been keeping up with his magical studies. It was hard enough juggling his other cores, let alone one that needed such intensive research. The alchemist fell into a rhythm in his chanting, finding it easier to weave theplex wards by the hour. Before he knew it, the monster wave was ready to kick off.
5.8 - Intruder
5.8 - Intruder
Theo drummed his fingers on the battlements edge, humming a tune as he waited for things to align. Aarok and his boys sure did like to make things official. Gathered in neat rows below were the forward-facing units of Gronros shield bangers. The alchemist didnt have a better name for them. The damned dwarves were as likely to kill the monsters through sonic means as they were through swords and spears. He had never seen a more rowdy group of people, even considering the half-ogres in Broken Tusk.
Luras had given the alchemist a boring job, which was understandable. Theo was on support duty, defending the back-liners and carting potions around like some glorified merchants cart. The more he looked down at the soon-to-be battlefield, the more he appreciated his role on the wall. Tresk moved somewhere in the shadows, urging her squad into various positions, then changing her mind. Rowan was with her, but Sarisa remained back.
Standard monster wave stuff, Theo said. Nothing ever goes wrong in a monster wave.
Sounds like a good way to curse us all. Sarisa shook her head.
Broken Tuskers werent superstitious. They were practical people. Still, it was better not to tip some cosmic scale with snidements like that. Theo cleared his throat, then nodded. Good point. What do you think is going to happen?
Sarisa fanned herself with her hand, breathing a frustrated breath. Were going to sit out in this heat. Then were going to fight, which will make me hotter. Then Illin, and well go home when its done.
You should get one of these coats. Theo fanned his coat out to either side, pping it to provide a breeze for his assistant. Maybe they could provide us with cool drinks while we fight.
Do you understand you are the they in this situation? Sarisa cracked a smile.
Oh. Thats right.
Aarok made a few announcements about Xolsa starting the monster wave. Theo waited patiently on the wall, focusing on the river far in the distance. A shot of pain ran through his head for a moment, forcing him to grab at the area. He found only hair and horns, discovering no sign that he was wounded. The pain pulsed with the beat of his heart, quickening by the moment. The alchemist pitched over to one side, caught by Sarisa as he tumbled to the ground. Bells sounded throughout the town as fish-like creatures emerged from the river.
What happened? Sarisa asked, pressing her fingers into the alchemists head. She withdrew her hand, finding no blood.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
It is reasonable to assume that your connection to the town also connects you to the dungeon. Since you selected Terogal as one patron realm for Broken Tusk, you are tied to the mysterious magic of the dungeons.
Did you feel that? Theo asked Tresk through their mental connection.
Yeah, like someone just drove a spike through my dome. What the hell was that?
Theo exined what the Wisdom of the Soul message had told him, but he could offer no more information. He could only assume that the things Xolsa was doing to the dungeon werent natural, and there was some kind of feedback. But the pain had gone as quickly as it came, leaving him as soon as the wizardpleted his work. The alchemist stood, patting his assistant on the shoulder.
Im fine. That cant be good, but Im still alive.
Sarisa maintained the worried expression on her face, but nodded. Whatever you say, archduke.
Any adventurer on the wall could see the perfection ofbat that the shield bangers from Gronro performed. Theo admired their formations, watching as they split into defined groups, spread out, or formed various shapes. The first wave of monsters mmed into them, joining in a wild melee. Broken Tusks version of cavalry showed up next, sweeping in from either side and harrying the monsters. Marshlings rode wolves, charging in from the side with shing weapons and gnashing teeth.
Do they even need us? Theo asked, leaning against the wall.
The boss hasnt appeared yet. Think well get another water elemental?
Thats what Im hoping for. Theo stared at the river. Under that current was the [River Dungeon]. The boss would spawn once it had released enough monsters.
Zarali and Xolsa appeared on the wall after some time. They were holding hands and grinning at each other.
Fine day for a stroll, Theo said.
It is. Isnt it? Xolsa said.
Actually Theo exined the pain he felt in his head when the wave started. Not sure if thats normal.
Nothing is normal with you, alchemist. Xolsa could only offer a shrug. You could have a connection with the dungeons. We already know the dungeons are connected to the realms, so it makes sense. Why you experienced pain is beyond me.
It could be the effect of power siphoning, Zarali said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. My brother might know something more.
And Theo could take Zarali to see the guy now. That wasnt a subject he had broached yet. Interdicting a mortal from this ne to a heavenly ne was risky business. There was no guarantee that UzXulven would let them pass. Tresk was getting better at that by the day, butpared to an actual god? She didnt stand a chance.
I dont know if I should say this. But I can bring you to Terogal, Theo said, holding his hands up to silence his adoptive sister. But I cant say for sure.
I remember what happened when I looked at your realm. Xolsa leveled an usatory look at the alchemist. How can you be sure you can bring her?
We brought Fenian. So its Ugh, Theos eyes fluttered. He fell back, caught once again by Sarisa. The alchemist grabbed her arm, gritting his teeth.
Xolsa, Sarisa, and Zarali were shouting something to him, but all Theo could hear was the sounds of battle below. He focused on that chorus of voices, shouting war cries and mming shields. But there were no shields. He couldnt hear them anymore. His mind swirled, drifting away from the mortal ne until it snapped onto Terogal.
Tresk picked up on Theos intentions before he executed his thoughts. With one hand he grabbed Sarisa, and the other Zarali. The world swirled around them, finally breaking until the trio tumbled through the realms. The two women shouted as they fell over the Bridge. UzXulven was somewhere below. He couldnt tell where, but he felt her approval flood over him. Reality parted again and the group floated over Terogal, falling gently into a crowd of confused spirits.
Theo! Zarali shouted.
Terogal is under attack, Theo said, spinning to point in the distance. A section of the sky had buckled, revealing a twisted indentation.
Sarisa had her spear and shield out in a snap, then took a position between Theo and the intrusion. Tresk appeared a momentter, daggers shing from her hips.
Where they at!? she screamed. Im gonna gut them!
Sister! Belgar shouted somewhere in the distance.
Theo, Tresk, and Sarisa left Zarali behind. They dashed across thendscape of the realm, heading for the strange anomaly in the sky. The alchemist wouldnt soon forget the way his assistant fell into line, charging through a strange realm at a hole in the sky without a question. They ran as quickly as they could through the rolling hills and low valleys until they came to stand beneath the scar.
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What now? Tresk asked. How am I gonna stab that?
A tense silence settled in over the de. The chirping of insects issued from every direction, joining with the low whistle of the wind through the trees. Theo kept his sight locked on the section of the realm that had been torn open. He felt Tresk spread her senses through the realm. She poked her mind into the defensive towers, but they were inactive.
Is this an attack? Theo asked, looking around in confusion. Wouldnt the towers be active?
Sarisa dug the end of her spear into the ground. She shook her head. I have no clue. Im new here.
The scar in the sky looked as though someone had dragged a massive w over a pale blue sheet, revealing a void of ck on the other side. The edges were jagged, glowing with an energy that pulsed with the beat of Terogals heart. Standing there for long moments that stretched to hours, the group waited. Waited until the scar shivered, and something fell out.
Is that a What is that? A squirrel? Tresk asked.
What is a squirrel? Sarisa asked.
The creature that had fallen out of the scar looked like a glowing red squirrel. Like the spirits of the realm, it was ethereal. Pulsing with a slow rhythm, the creature looked up and cleared its throat.
Apologies for the intrusion. The creature didnt move its mouth. Sound just issued from its being with a chime-like quality. We couldnt find another way tomunicate.
Yeah? Spit it out before I stab you, squirrel, Tresk said, crouching low. She was preparing to strike.
You have reason to distrust me. I know that. But we have no one else to turn to.
Theo felt his stomach drop. He recognized the voice. It was a voice he had hoped to never hear again. Uharis.
Ah, was it that obvious?
Uharis had been a pain in Theos ass since the start. He was an inquisitor, along with the High inquisitor Sulvan metouched, who had given him trouble in the past. Their plot to control Theos life had failed spectacrly. The result was the destruction of their patron and the annihtion of their cores. But not before Khahar sent them to the damn moon.
Hows the moon?
The squirrel shuffled its legs, huffing. Its boring. And cold. Which is why Im here. Well, Im not here. This is a spell that Ive cast at great personal expense. Sulvan and I
Shut up! Tresk shouted. Your dumb ass is stuck on the moon and thats that.
Theo turned, nodding with approval to the marshling. He watched as she closed her eyes, mustering all the concentration she could.
Wait. Before you banish me, listen to what I have to say. My patron is dead. I am without a home. We could be vital to rebuilding the continent. We
Tresk reached out, closing her hand in the air. Theo felt her wrap her will around the scar, then force it shut with sheer power of will. The squirrel screamed something unintelligible before the opening closed with a snap. Drawingbored breaths, the marshling fell to one side. Sarisa was there to catch her, easing her to the ground.
Sulvan metouched? Sarisa asked, a wild expression in her eyes. Grand Inquisitor of the Burning Eye? Youre kidding.
Indeed. Hes ascendant. Theo tried to force his thoughts to gather, but they wouldnt. Tresk did the right thing by shutting the intrusion, but would this be the end of it? Their request was obvious, though. They wanted a path back to the mortal ne through Terogal. Which means they had already tried to convince UzXulven to let them use the Bridge, and she denied them. Can we summon Uz?
Im not doing much of anything, Tresk groaned. That took a lot out of me.
Theo scooped hispanion up, then walked back to the center of Terogal. Sarisa followed behind, the spear still clutched firmly in her hands. As expected, he found Benton, Belgar, and Zarali dancing near arge fire near the vige. Other spirits roamed around, performing their own dances. It was a joyous reunion, and the alchemist couldnt help but smile. Tresk could stand on her own by the time they returned.
What happened? Belgar asked, breaking away from the celebration.
Im not sure. Benton, do you know how to summon UzXulven?
Summon a demon god? Here? To Terogal? Uh Benton furrowed his furry brows, shaking his head.
But the bear-gods keen wisdom wasnt needed. Theo felt something swirl in the back of his mind, echoing throughout the realm. It was a request for interdiction. He epted it, then waited. A shadowy gate appeared, rising from the earth as though pushed from below. The center of the portal was an imprable mass of shadows. The figure that stepped through was obscured, but her dress dragged behind her.
Theo gritted his teeth for a moment, then let out a breath. Tea?
UzXulven gestured vaguely in the direction of the cottage. Theo left everyone behind as he and the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows followed close behind. She snapped the door shut when they entered the cottage, then took a seat. For the first time, the alchemist watched as the shadowy veil dropped from her visage. She was a noble-looking dronon with charcoal-ck skin. The swoop of her horns was elegant, decorated with jewelry. An ornate diadem rested atop her head, glittering with ck jewels.
Theo got to work on the tea.
Quite cozy for a mortal realm.
This is the only mortal realm.
Hmmm.
Theo set the kettle on the fire, then added some moss. An awkward silence set in as he brewed the tea. UzXulven gazed into the distance, her expression unreadable. She epted his invite to the realm, so that was a good start. Maybe the patrons were starting to see him as something other than an annoying gnat on their butts. He didnt even know it was possible for folks from the higher realms toe down to this level. Then again, Terogal was weird like that.
So, you have an annoying wizard pestering you, too?
Indeed. He assaulted my realm.
Hah! Just like wizards, isnt it? Poking in matters that are far above them. UzXulven still held no expression on her face. She didnt even make eye-contact with Theo.
The alchemist prepared the tea, pouring a cup out for both of them.
Do you have any advice?
UzXulven sipped the tea, nodding with approval. Most people put too much sugar in their tea. Too much sugar, too much honey. That takes away from the vor, doesnt it? How is one to appreciate the subtle vors of a drink when its sickly sweet?
Is that a metaphor?
Yes. Dont dilute your realm with fallen angels. The spell Uharis Bouched cast is incredibly difficult. He wont have it in him to cast it again for quite some time.
The door swung open. Khahar grunted as he entered. He closed the door behind him, then took a seat at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. Howdy.
Oh, dont you howdy me, you usurper, UzXulven hissed.
Funny that you turned to this old bag before me, Khahar said.
Old bag!? Oh, youre funny. Nothing like a drunk Moscovian asshole to run the realms. UzXulven pushed herself back, then slumped in her chair.
Funny. It took you a few thousand years to show me your face. Khahar shed a toothy smile.
We have more inmon than you think, UzXulven muttered. He looks up to me. Dont you, Theo?
Uh, well. Theo paused for a moment. Maybe a moment too long. Ive always looked up to you. The Bridge has always been important to my people.
See? He practically loves me. Might take an UzXulven core as his next. And were kin. Blood is a strong connection, Khahar.
The blood of the brother is
Shush! Im still mad at you.
So, about Uharis Theo looked awkwardly between the two patrons.
I denied him entry because he was rude. UzXulven folded her arms. He sent them to the moon. Not me.
Khahar sipped his tea. Thats up to you, Theo.
What would you do?
Id let them in. Then bind them with so many contracts that they could never hope to escape. Sulvan has requested godhood at least five times every day since he was banished. He has sought other ways to escape Antalis.
UzXulven made a disgusted face. I cant believe you sent them to the dark moon. The people there are rude.
That they are.
Khahar, UzXulven, and Theo enjoyed their tea. No one said anything for quite some time, leaving the alchemist to his thoughts. There was no way to go about this that didnt ruffle feathers. Both Uharis and Sulvan had been massive jerks when they were on the. They threw their weight around, attempting to manipte him into doing what they wanted. They were even part of the n to make him serve the Burning Eye. Only Drogramaths intervention saved him from that fate.
Once UzXulven calmed down, she brought some interesting news. Being the patron of Fenian, she could tell that he had taken the potion she sent him. But the moment that item passed through the barrier between worlds, Balkor closed his fist around his realm. She wouldnt be able to do it again anytime soon, removing the option of sending more things to their friend.
But Theo couldnt help but see a lot of Yuri in Khahars eyes. They were once enemies, werent they? Both had orders to kill each other, and both had avoided doing it. After a few scuffles, sure, but they grew to be close friends after that. If there was a path to redemption for the pair, the alchemist would help find it.
Would ntheir give them cores? Theo asked, leaning in over the table.
Khahar smiled again. There he is. The clever man I knew.
ntheir gives cores to those who take vows. Binding vows, mind you, UzXulven said. Could I have more tea?
Certainly, Theo said, busying himself by brewing more tea.
If you get them both to take ntheir cores, theyll be forced to do the right thing.
Looks like I have an ultimatum to give them.
5.9 - A Trip to the Realm
5.9 - A Trip to the Realm
Belgar and Zarali hugged each other endlessly. They cried,ughed, and had a good time in each otherspany. The souls in Terogal were happy to see more mortals in their realm, giving them a sense of energy they hadnt felt since their mortal lives. UzXulven and Khahar had departed after arguing over petty things, but that was to be expected. The Queen didnt get what she wanted in his takeover and felt jilted.
Do I have to go back? Zarali asked, turning to give Theo those puppy-dog eyes.
If you stay, youll be here for almost a year. Were also not sure how well mortals do in Terogal.
Sarisa raised her hand. I dont wanna stay.
Me either, Tresk said, swaying on the spot.
UzXulven is warming up to Theo, Belgar said, hugging his sister again. She might let you visit more often.
Heh. Ill be able to overpower her soon enough. Tresk rubbed her hands together.
Theo didnt care either way. Zarali could stay, or she could go, but his time in the realm was limited. At least he understood what that shooting pain in his head was. He couldnt help but consider letting Uharis and Sulvan into his realm. They had wronged him, but if they took ntheirs cores, the world would be a better ce. The Elven God of Healing was the only patron who had cores effective against the undead. If you didnt count the tangential effect Drogramaths cores had on them.
The group lingered in the realm for some time. They had twenty-four hours to kill, so Theo took Sarisa on a tour of the realm. She was struck by how massive it was. The hills and valleys stretched on forever, and he brought her to the sea he had created. Swimming in the shallow ces near the sandy shore were little fish that darted around. Thetest upgrade, [Simted Reality], had introduced animals to the realm.
This is an entire world, isnt it? Sarisa asked, marveling at the fish.
Almost. Its not asrge as a real, but were getting there. One soul at a time.
You pluck souls from the void, then give them a home? Reminds me of something.
Theo nodded. This was the same thing he was doing with Broken Tusk. In his town, he harbored those that didnt have another ce to go. Refugees from the elven wars, mostly. Here in Terogal, the spread of races was vast. They were mostly dronon, but not exclusively. Sarisa had a lot of questions about the realm. It was one thing to hear about it, but to experience it was altogether different. The passage of time was something that caught people off guard. Even Fenian had trouble keeping a handle on the way time moved in here.
As time went on, both Zarali and Sarisa seemed less eager to stay in the realm. It wore on them strangely,pletely dissimr to the way it wore down spirits. They werent just uninvited, they didnt belong. Tresk had recovered enough to stand, and had gained enough of her energy to face the monster wave that waited for them. Theo grabbed both women as he prepared to depart, not willing to put the strain on hispanion.
UzXulven should be more eager to send us through this time, Theo said, holding on tight. She showed me her face, after all.
The realms parted, allowing the group easy passage back to the mortal ne. Theo targeted the ce where he had departed on the wall, spotting the scenes of battle from a distance. Only a few minutes had passed since they left. Xolsa was tapping his foot impatiently as they appeared.
What was that about?
Realm was under attack. Theo leaned over the wall, checking the battle. It hadnt moved much. Uharis was trying to break in, so we pped him on the wrist. I thought I would need Zarali and Sarisa, but I didnt.
So you interdicted them? Seems risky.
That was true, but Theo wasnt thinking when he did it. He had just snatched the two closest people that could have made a difference in a fight. While he was confident in his throwing abilities, he could only do so much. But what he learned was that he could drag along mortals into his realm, so long as he stayed on UzXulvens good side. She seemed to like him. Perhaps she would make for a keen poker yer in the future. That shadowy face coulde in handy when bluffing.
Zarali was excited to be reunited with Xolsa. They hugged and kissed before the Drogramathi Priestess went over the story of her adventure. There was a look of jealousy on the wizards face. But the more excited Zarali got, the less he seemed to mind that she had gone without him. The adventurers fought below as the pair warmed up to each other again.
Alex circled overhead, feeding information to Tresk who then fed it to Aarok. The monsters were well contained near the river at first, but they were getting the upper hand. Each monster outleveled the adventurers by at least ten, and they were gaining momentum. The front-liner shield bangers were performing a fighting retreat,ing under the protective gaze of the towers. The rail gun hadnt fired yet, reserving its deadly ice-based rounds for the boss.
They sure looked practiced, Theo said, chuckling as he looked down on the fighters. The back-liners covered them as they retreated while the towers did the heavy lifting.
At this rate, well see the boss, Sarisa said.
Theos assistant remained close, although there seemed to be little danger. But she took her job seriously, and remained on her guard. The only problem was that her visit to Terogal had ced a haze over her eyes. It was as though she was back in that realm, frolicking in those fields and ying in that water. The alchemist just smiled, remembering his initial shock when he visited the Dreamwalk for the first time.
There she is, Sarisa said, gesturing toward the river.
Theo had fallen into his own thoughts and hadnt noticed the swirling waters of the river. He narrowed his eyes, waiting for the boss to spawn. Sure enough, the moment the bosss head poked out of the water, he got a notification.
[Boss Monster] spotted! River Lady Zara has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters, use caution.
The boss removed itself from the river, sloughing over the edge and sending waves of herself crashing forth. Theo rubbed his hands together, salivating at the chance to get more [Living River Water]. He had made sure his people were stocked with ice-based attacks this time. Between the towers, bombs, and the rail gun, there was enough ice to freeze the entire boss solid. The alchemist flinched as the sound of the rail gun firing sounded throughout the town. Most everyone else gathered there also felt the shock of the round.
Before River Lady Zara had even removed herself from the river, a sizable chunk of water had been removed from her head. The area surrounding the hole had frozen over and was spreading quickly. As with most things involving monster waves, things went slightly sour. The monsters rushed forward, assaulting both the eastern gate, and the harbor gate. Several creatures pushed through and the defenders within the town swooped in to support the retreating adventurers.
Theo withdrew a bone throwing knife from his inventory, and tossed it into the wild mass of monsters below. It impacted one in the chest, sending it falling on its back. Then the field of [Dragons Dance] erupted, shredding the nearby monsters into a fine mist.
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Oh, thats effective.
But between the towers and the adventures with ranged weapons on the walls, Theos warded throwing daggers werent making the impact he had hoped for. The boss monster waded through the field of monsters, caring little for its own kind. Creatures were washed aside with the tide of living river water, casting them away from the area in a great torrent. Zankir barked orders to hispanies, focusing on the boss. Several of the gross fish-people scaled the walls, using the piles of fallen monsters asdders.
Watch it, Sarisa said, sweeping her massive spear through the air. The few unfortunate monsters that got in the way were sent tumbling back to their deaths. The air filled with the scent of stagnant water and stinking monsters. The half-ogre bashed her shield forward, sending more monsters over the edge.
Theos wards sprung up as the water elemental struck out at the wall. A shimmering, prismatic barrier caught her attack. The water that remained fell over it, falling to the ground and sweeping some monsters away. The barrier cracked in ces, but remained mostly stable. Each shot from the [Frost Cone Towers] staggered the bosss attacks, slowing the creature more by the moment. Adventurers tossed bombs, freezing it further.
This was the most chaotic boss encounter the alchemist had witnessed in Broken Tusk. Well, aside from the troll that broke through the wall. That was bad. But with all the weapons they had umted, and all the levels each adventurer had gained, he thought this was going to be a simple fight. When his barrier cracked overhead, he realized how wrong he was. Sarisa held her shield high, and Theo tucked underneath it. Even her strength couldnt hold back the river. It sent both of them tumbling off the wall, and onto the ground below.
Fresh air refused to draw into Theos lungs. Desperate to suck in a lungful, he rolled on the ground, clutching fresh wounds on his head. He chugged a [Greater Healing Potion] and turned his attention skyward. The half-frozen water elemental loomed, striking out at anyone who was near. From his prone position the alchemist tossed a bone dagger, watching it arc before impacting the ground near him.
More freezing bombs flew through the air, freezing outreaching appendages. Magically infused arrows impacted the boss, sendingrge chunks of ice mming into the ground. Theo rolled to one side, still taking enough blunt impacts to inflict damage. Powerful hands scooped him up, dragging him away from the fray. The space between the eastern gate and Mianas farm had be a wild battle with no defined front. Aarok barked orders somewhere in the distance, corralling the willful adventurers to do his bidding.
There was some kind of strategy at use here. Theo finally found his feet, turning to spot Zankir smiling at him. The Khahari didnt remain there long. He darted off, joining with the adventurers to batter the fish-people back.
I underestimated the quantity, Xolsa said, jogging up to stand near Theo.
The alchemist held his hand out and channeled a spell. An ufortable sensation spread through his body. The unfamiliar act of creating a ward in real-time, rather than imbuing an item with the effect, felt like using his non-dominant hand for a task. Eventually, a defensive ward sprung up around him and Xolsa, glittering with the prismatic light of Toruaun.
Thats why we have Aarok, Theo said, gritting his teeth. A chunk of ice fell, impacting the barrier and falling away as smaller shards. Maybe we should get more walls.
Aarok slipped through the barrier, pping a hand on Theos shoulder. This is a lovely forwardmand post. You! Tighten up that formation! Dont let them go north!
I could do without the shouting.
Youll live. Saw you take a tumble. Everything turning right in that head of yours?
Fine. Just fine. Theo focused on his ward, feeling mana trickle from his chest as he maintained the form of the spell.
Theo acting as a real defensive mage. Xolsa tutted, swiping his hand through the air. Aplex array formed, causing his spell to fulminate in moments. Twenty monsters were sent spiraling off into the void. Careful. Aarok might reassign you for the next fight.
Yeah, Im thinking about it. Aarok grunted, swiping through the air as he interacted with his military interface. Theo pulled that screen up, nodding with approval. Themander was drawing lines on the map, directing the adventurers into various positions. For now, hes my mobilemand post. Can you move this thing?
Theo nodded. He could move it, although it would beborious. The water elemental was staggering back, losing more of her form by the moment. Pushing forward, and dragging the barrier along with him, the alchemist spotted the damage to the wall. It was far worse than the time the troll broke through. Arge section of the wall had been destroyed, taking Throks rail gun with it.
Well be ready for the bonus wave. No way this elementalsts much longer.
Zarali is ready. Im almost certain were getting a new wave modifier.
I could use the rewards, Aarok muttered.
Theo could only maintain his barrier. The words of Toruauns poems repeated in his mind, barely holding on to the shape of the shield. They passed byrge chunks of [Living River Water]. It was enough to stock hisb for a long time, providing him with the valuable [Tunneling Potion]. But for now, he walked. Aarok shouted. And Xolsa tossed spells around. The alchemist was happy he wasnt in charge of the fight. It was a chaos only Aarok could manage.
The fight went on for longer than it should have. Everyone held their breath collectively as the elemental fell, waiting for the system message to appear.
[Boss Monster] defeated! River Lady Raza has been in. Bonus Wave!
[Bonus Wave!] Broken Tusk defeated the monster wave in 3 hours! Bonus wave: [Death From Above].
[Death From Above]
Monster Wave
Duration: 30 minutes
A strange creature has spawned high in the sky. This creature will continue to descend, destroying everything if it touches the ground. Inflict enough damage on the creature to avoid being crushed!
Effects:
1 Borotal has spawned high in the sky. It will descend at a constant rate until it hits the ground.
Increased reward forpleting the monster wave.
Thats a new one! Aarok shouted. All eyes in the town turned skyward.
A mountain had appeared in the sky. It blocked out the sun, casting a massive shadow over Broken Tusk. If it wasnt bad enough that a mountain was falling on the town, the monsters from the wave still lingered around, fighting in the streets of Broken Tusk. Theo saw Zankir run, shouting orders to his gunnery teams. Within only a few moments, explosions issued from the mountain above. Large sections of rock fell, impacting the ground. Theo winced from the st wave of his improvised explosive bombs, barely holding on to his barrier.
Zarali! Dont cast it! Aarok shouted.
But Zarali was already chanting a spell. She couldnt hear Aarok over the sound of a falling mountain. The [Blessing of Drogramath] spell fulminated, filling every defender with increased power. Theos heart skipped a beat as he referenced his memory of the effect.
[Blessing of Drogramath]
Spiritual Effect
Duration: 24 hours
A priest or priestess of Drogramath has blessed you with power. You will receive a series of buffs based on the casters willpower.
Effect:
Increased effectiveness ofbat (increased Strength, Dexterity, Vigor by +10).
Double the effectiveness of all potions used while under this effect.
Oh, crap, Theo muttered. If Zankir shoots another potion, hell
The Borotal overhead shattered. Massive sections of stone fell off, careening down toward the town. Theo spread his will as far as it would go, extending his barrier to a breaking point. He watched as a town-sized chunk of mountain hurtled toward him. In an instant, the mountain vanished. A system message appeared.
[Monster Wave]plete!
1,080 Monsters Destroyed!
30 gold bonus (paid to the Leader of Broken Tusk).
Bonus for defeat both wave bosses:
Obtained: [Tulwar of the Stalker].
Obtained: 5 gold, 1 silver, 82 copper.
[Broken Tusk] gained new effect: [Defensive Effects].
Theos ears rang from the effect of the enhanced bomb annihted the creature. He was d that the thing vanished when the wavepleted. Even if they won, that would have been a disaster for the town. Looking around, the damage didnt seem that bad. Some buildings took hits, but the walls earned the bulk of the attack.
Why did it give me a sword? Theo asked, holding up the massive weapon the system granted him.
Well, that didnt go as nned. Aarokughed it off, but there was an edge of nervousness in his voice. I was expecting a normal boss.
And Zankir just had to take it into his own hands.
Could have ended much worse.
All Theo could do was shrug. The adventurers had done well to use as many freezing bombs as they could. Piles of frozen [Living River Water] were strewn throughout the town. This was going to be a hell of a cleanup effort.
5.10 - You Gotta Try
5.10 - You Gotta Try
The damage to the eastern gate was extensive. Theos wards might have prevented aplete annihtion of the wall, but it didnt stop the elemental from running wild. Chunks of frozen [Living River Water] had impacted buildings as well, adding to the list of things that needed tending. The alchemist picked his way through a field of the ice, watching as the precious reagent melted away. He couldnt stuff his inventory full of the stuff fast enough.
Broken Tusks administration was busy examining the effects of the damage. Even now, only an hour after the attack, the wall was rebuilding itself. Stones, surrounded by glittering motes of light, lifted themselves from the ground. Other stones appeared from nowhere, forming out of raw magic. All the while the resources of the town drained, patching the damage magically. More interesting than that was the effect that the nation had on the damage.
The [Kingdom Core] that powered the Soutnds Alliance also drew on its own energy. It drained away its stores, helping the towns rebuilding process. The magic was thick enough in the air to see, casting everything in a gentle shimmer of blue and purple. Theo sneezed after inhaling a thick cloud of magic. He didnt stop to question how that worked, moving on to collect more precious river water.
Despite the damage, celebrations had already kicked off near the town square. Someone had lit a massive bonfire, and a gathering of citizens was dancing around it. The newest batch of elves yed tinny instruments and beat on hide drums. Theo spotted Tresk amongst them, having the time of her life.
I may have miscalcted.
Theo turned, finding Xolsa looking pensive. The nar elf rarely held a look of guilt on his face, but this was close enough to it. The alchemist pped a hand on his shoulder. Clearly. The boss was too difficult.
Xolsa shrugged, tapping a pen into a length of parchment. If we recalcte for the other dungeons, I think we have a problem.
When dont we have a problem? What is it?
I need to instigate a wave from every other dungeon. That should purge the magic well enough.
Thest thing Broken Tusk needed right now was another wave. Theo thought for a while before responding, but the answer was clear. If they allowed the power to build in the other dungeons, it would only be worse. Xolsa wasnt one to mess his calctions up, which was strange. Perhaps his new position as a dungeon engineer had thrown him off. Whatever the problem was, it needed to be sorted.
What level are we talking about? For the [Mountain Dungeon] and [Hills Dungeon]?
Those dungeons have grown very little. Id estimate theyre between Level 15 and Level 20. But we can do more to dampen their strength before theye.
How?
Clearing bosses and monsters within.
Folks dont like running those dungeons, Theo said with a sigh. And I dont me them. Theyre a pain in the ass to get to.
Doesnt matter. It has to be done. Xolsa slouched for a second, then straightened himself. Ill need Aarok to cooperate. Can we give an incentive for clearing those dungeons?
Of course. If we need to. What about the [Swamp Dungeon]?
The adventurers run that daily. We shouldnt have a problem. Thats also the dungeon I have the tightest grip on, as its close to my tower.
They didnt bother discussing the [Ocean Dungeon]. Of all the dungeons around town, that one was the weakest. Xolsa had theories why that was. Based on the position of the dungeons, the [Swamp Dungeon] and the [River Dungeon] were in the direct path of the power flowing from the heavenly realms. From there, it spread like tendrils throughout the world. The stronger a sequential link was, the more power a dungeon was given.
Boiling it down, Xolsa said, tapping his chin with his pen, painting it with ink. Theres nothing important in the chain after the [Mountain Dungeon] or the [Hills Dungeon]. Which gives me more cause for concern. There are more powerful dungeons somewhere in the world. And were feeding them a steady diet of Drogramaths power.
Yeah, I try not to think about that. Theo scooped up another chunk of ice.
Understandable. When I level my [Dungeon Engineers Core] more, Ill have more information for you. Until then, were just guessing.
Aarok didnt take the news very well, but there was nothing anyone could do. They needed to kick off a monster wave as soon as possible, then another after that. What he didnt mind was the need to soften the dungeons before the wave was triggered. He saw it as a chance to sharpen his soldiers. Long-term engagements to military action werent umon. So he imed. The half-ogres eyes twinkled a bit too much when the idea entered his mind.
Round everyone up, Aarok said, rubbing his hands together as he turned to Luras. Well split them into teams. Send them into the dungeons until they drop.
Sounds fun, Luras said, turning away with a chuckle.
Youre sadistic, Theo said. I like it.
The administrators roped Theo into a tour of the town. He wanted toin, but it was a good chance to see the damage. From the wall, it was hard to tell which buildings had been hit. The Newt and Demon took a ncing blow, as did the manor. Whispers butcher had some of the worst damage, but that didnt stop the toora woman. She was cutting meat outside on a long wooden table as though nothing had happened. Sledges sawmill had a copsed roof. The worst of the damage came to Theos farm, outside the protective walls.
Thats hardly surprising, Alise said, folding her arms. I think your golems are dead.
Theyre beyond dead. Theo stooped low, scooping up a pile of scorched vines. How did they even get burned?
No idea. I hope they werent worth much.
That was the point of the exterior farm, though. Only the golems worked that farm, meaning that no one was ever at risk. Those golems were fairly cheap and easy to make. Constructs were a field that Theo had made little progress in. After he sorted the power system out, he dropped it as an important project. One day he hoped to have self-sufficient golems, but the methods to create siphoning systems eluded him.
Nah, Theo said, stacking nt matter into a pile. Theyre cheap. Theyd be cheaper if the containment core didnt melt when they died. But, its a chance to fuse a higher-level core.
Alise watched as the alchemist made several piles of nt matter. He had enough spare [Alchemically Treated Drogramathi Iron Cages] to build more, so why not? But the golems he had been crafting were all ssed as lesser. As he infused the core, bound it to the pile of wilting nts, and shoved a [Mana Construct] into the mix, excitement washed through him.
Oh, hes gonna be a big boy, Theo said, watching as the golem rose to life. I used a Level 20 core. Should be the second tier this time.
Its gross, Alise grimaced, watching as the nts writhed on the ground.
The nts coiled around the core, pulsing with energy. Then it sprung up, assuming a muchrger version of the old [Lesser nt Golem]. Theo felt the creature pull on his willpower, challenging him for a moment. The sensation was more difficult to manage than the older version. This would reduce the amount of golems he could have on the lodestonework. It would only be worth it if the new golems pulled their weight. The alchemist inspected his creation, nodding with approval.
[nt Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
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Level 23
nt Golems excel at tending to the natural world, while also having mildbat capabilities.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Drogramathi Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Interloper] (Level 23)
Medium: [nt Matter]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Mana Construct]
Siphon System: None
Additional Modifications: None
Clean this mess up, Theo said, jabbing a finger toward the ruined field.
The golem shambled off.
Should you be so mean to it?
Theo thought for a moment. He shrugged. Golem! You look great!
Alise huffed. Youre trying to get a rise out of me, arent you?
Maybe. Do you know anything about constructs? Theo asked, working on another identical golem.
Not much. Ive always thought of them as a shared craft between artificers and enchanters. I guess theyre also shared with alchemists. Maybe just Drogramathi Alchemists.
Thats really urate. Theo nodded with approval. Everyone approaches the constructs differently. I soak mine in essences, Zarali infuses hers with mana. Im not sure what Throk does, but Im certain he can do constructs. Ive had a problem with the golems for a while. They can ept modifications, but Ive never done much with those.
Let me guess, you cant spare the time to experiment.
Theo finished another golem, feeling the sense of mana draining from him mingle with his fading willpower. Eventched to the lodestonework, the golems were drawing too much from him. Two is enough for now. Hopefully, they can do the job of five. No Yeah Maybe. I need to make time, though. Theyre so cool.
Autonomous workers are always good, Alise agreed.
Hey, help me pick up all this ice before it melts, Theo said, scooping up a small chunk of ice.
Alise joined with him, stuffing ice into her inventory. The most annoying part about the process was stooping so low, then snatching up the cold ice. Even Theos new coat couldnt stop the cold from seeping through his gloves.
From the description on your golem, it seems like youre supposed to use a different power source. Alise assumed a pensive posture, crossing her arms and tilting her head to one side. It takes refined mana, right?
Yeah, the mana needs to be refined. The golems cannot run off of raw power. Throk was working on the battery system that elven construct used, but it was beyond him.
Thats sad. Seems like something Throk could figure out in a minute.
Throk always figured stuff out quickly. Theo had given the topic thought in the past, determining that the marshling artificer was running into a wall because of his approach. Instead of thinking about the idea of creating a battery and going from there, he was trying to reverse engineer it. If the alchemist had learned anything about elves, it was that they were always creating amazinglyplex things. And those things wereplex for the sake ofplexity. But there were more problems than that.
The only reason the [Mana Constructs] work is because theyre magical. The system handles everything for me. I dont have to worry about charge, discharge whatever the magical version of current and resistance is.
Its worth looking into. I heard yourbat golems did some decent fighting.
Did they?
Theo searched the lodestonework, finding that several [Lesser Copper Golems] had been damaged during the siege. He was disappointed that they didnt report it to him, but it hardly seemed to matter. The damage was on the surface, and they had already raided Throks stores of copper to replenish themselves. Something worth investigating was how golem tiers were influenced by materials. Was there such a thing as a [Copper Golem]? Or did the next rank need to be an [Iron Golem]?
The alchemist shook his head, disconnecting from thework as Alise said something about how brave the golems were. She really liked golems.
The more I think about it, she continued. The more I realize how neat the golems are.
I can see a situation where I have a lot of golems. Maybe if Tresk let me borrow her willpower.
Not happening.
Theo clicked his tongue.
Why not borrow it from your special realm?
Well, that was a thought. But Terogal didnt really have a will of its own. It kinda did. But not really. Maybe?
Im undecided, Theo said. Seems like controlling a golem with other golems. I dont know if that would work.
Worth a try!
Theo shrugged. Alise was right. He had already discovered so many things by just trying. He closed his eyes, letting his mind drift through the realms. Tresk could do this way better than him, but he had watched her enough to get the general idea. The surprising thing was that the realm felt closer than ever. Instead of drifting through the void, the alchemist felt his mind edge toward the temple. With some effort, he connected his lodestonework there. It felt strange.
Did it work? Theo asked, watching his golem working in the distance. The golem is still moving. The mental load feels lighter. Sess?
Sess! Alise shouted, tossing a chunk of ice at Theo. He caught it, stowing it in his inventory. See? Its always worth trying.
How the load was reduced was interesting. Terogal, or more likely Tresk, was fighting back. Theo had the sense that there was a throughput limit. A willpower bandwidth, or something like that. Like many things, it required testing. But it was enough to get the alchemist started down that road. If there was a tangible connection between his willpower and the realm, it was worth exploring.
The golems went about their duty, cleaning up the ruined farm. The damage done to the small building near the farm would be repaired. Eventually.
Yeah. Always worth a try, isnt it? Theo scooped more ice into his inventory.
Not to bring business into this, but Alise cleared her throat, putting on her best smile. I hit a roadblock with Pogo.
Pogosophoro was the dragon that lived under Broken Tusk. It was a recent discovery with unknown implications. Of course, the creature was ced there by Khahar. Her purpose was to protect the underground passage leading to the town, but eternal life hadnt been kind for her motivations.
How so?
Well, they dont want what were selling. Trade is going to be difficult to establish with the rock-folk. And the dragon ignores me half the time when I go to see her.
Can we be happy with her as a silent guardian? Do we know what monsters live underground?
Can we be happy? Absolutely. Aarok and his soldiers have done some scouting. Like the overworld, the underworld is filled with towns, dungeons, and monsters. Like a mirror society of ours.
It was hard for the alchemist to form an opinion about the new area below his town. The situation felt like a towering stack of blocks, threatening to fall over at any moment. Not because it would boil over, causing conflict, but because of the threat of the unknown. There were too many new things down there that they didnt understand, and it would only get worse. A formal alliance with a dragon meant little if he didnt understand the dragons intentions.
These people always have an ulterior motive. Thats all I know.
I agree, Alise nodded fervently. That was my first thought! Since I started my position, Ive watched as powerful people drew themselves to you. Like frogs to Salire.
Theo heard the croaking of a frog-like creature in the distance and shivered. He shook his head, remembering the tower of blocks. Thats why I dont want to push it too hard. Theyre doing their own things, and we cant babysit them.
Thats fine by me. For now, we wont worry. There are other things that concern me, though. How worried are we about an attack from Qavell?
The king is dead, right? He should be, anyway. We can only prepare for when theye marching down. Ah, I have an idea.
Yeah?
Lets focus our efforts on purging thends north of Gronro. We can always feign ignorance if theye knocking.
Alise sighed. Of course. What else can we do? I have reports from Rivers and Gronro that the first round of treatments you sent are working well. Especially in Gronro, where the corruption is the worst.
Yay. Youve been reading my reports, right? We have a mass-production method. Ill have third tier [Hallow the Soil] potions soon. Then we simply need a distribution method.
Alise only nodded a response, picking more of the ice up. Theo went into his thoughts, both testing the connection with Terogal and pondering their situation. Throks sprayers were pretty good. Maybe they could strap backpack artifices to peoples backs, then have them head out into the cursednds. That seemed dangerous. Mortars, maybe? Rail guns that shot the potions out over thendscape? More feasible!
Oh, Theo said, turning to Alise. What if we make an airship that shoots the potion down? That would be cool. Right?
While it might be cool, Throk has concerns about that idea.
Theos shoulders slumped. Yeah, he told me about magical interference. An airship needs powerful anti-magic enchantments to work in areas of strange power.
Even Gronro reports the asional malfunction with their artifice sprayers. If only we had a wizard in town that specialized in warding, Alise said, feigning a dramatic sigh. Then all our problems would go away.
The way Alise thought of Theo as a wizard in any regard was kind. He was a fumbling alchemist, trying his hand at the most simple form of warding he could get his hands on. Creating a bubble of anti-magic around an airship was simple to think of, but much harder to implement. It was a problem of creating a bubble that prevented magic from entering, while not affecting the magical artifices on board.
Well. Like you said, I gotta try.
Alise smiled. You gotta try.
5.11 - Faux Coins
5.11 - Faux Coins
Treskstest imagining of Gronro waszy. Theo stood on the imagined walls, looking down at what she imagined to be the area. It was rendered without enough resolution, painting the entire area as blocky and unimpressive. The alchemist cut his arm on a sharp edge as he leaned over the wall, cursing the marshlings name.
I cant be bothered, she said.
The remaining cleanup in the mortal realm had gone well enough. Theo had been satisfied with their progress. After excusing himself for dinner and a bath, he plunged into the Dreamwalk with Tresk and Alex. While the marshlings rendering wasnt ideal, it was good enough.
We face two problems, Theo said.
Three. Tresk held up three fingers. The undead, Uharis, and Qavell.
Theo ran his fingers along the edge of the jagged walls, nodding. The most concerning of those issues was Qavell. Alran, the spymaster within Broken Tusk, had no new information on the city. That was more concerning than anything, seeing as he knew about things happening a world away. The alchemists initial thought was that the crowned prince wouldunch airships, taking the path between the maind and Gardreth to reach the Soutnds Alliance to the south.
The undead are a work in progress, Theo said, shaking away the thoughts of Qavells prince. We need to talk to ntheir if we want the Uharis n to work out. And Qavell? Thats the wildcard. How hard is it for you to talk to those in the high heavens?
The Prime Pantheon has a lot of magical warding over their realms. I can send a message, but thats about it.
If Uharis and Sulvan took ntheirs cores, they would be bound by the gods passive nature. That would neuter them, removing them from Theos list of enemies. At least they would be inquisitors in a righteous cause.
Lets make ntheir a priority. We know he saved the continent when Balkor fell the first time. Maybe hes interested in finishing his good work?
Thats worth a short.
Maybe ask the dragon? Alex honked.
Good luck moving the dragon. Theo grumbled.
Yeah, Ive been disappointed in old Pogo. I tried to pick a fight with her yesterday, but she didnt move.
Lets not add the dragon to our list of problems.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex discussed their problems for some time before splitting up. The alchemist shifted the scene to an area outside of Broken Tusk, near the river. It was far more pleasant than the low-resolution form of Gronro. That ce was depressing enough as it was. It needed nothing to help it along. Instead, he turned his attention to his leveling progress. As expected, both the Tarahek and Governance core were stubbornly locked at level 30. The upside to the problem was that his alchemy and herbalist cores were now lined up in levels. Both sat at 25, ready to roll over to 26 at any moment.
The connection between Drogramaths two cores was stronger than ever. Theo closed his eyes, focusing his thoughts inward. The heat from the stills he had imagined rolled over him for a moment, but then he felt the firm connection between the cores. After Drogramath had told him he was a champion, a minor change had settled into his soul. That sensation was a kind of unity he couldnt exin. Like the towns synergy feature, they seemed to work as a pair.
Theobored away in the Dreamwalk, writing notes in his interface as he worked. By the time dawn came, he had enough experience for both cores to hit Level 26. The [Toruaun Mages Core] joined with the festivities, hitting Level 16. All this activity caused the alchemists personal level to roll over to 26 as well. He woke in his bed with a fresh point to spend.
Ding! Theo said, cing a single point into Dexterity. He felt a rush of agility fill him as it tipped to 20.
That was thest point Theo nned to ce into Dexterity for a long time. With gear and core bonuses, every attribute was at 20 or higher. But it was a problem for another time. The alchemist noticed several notifications in his administrative interface, requesting meetings. He wanted to ignore Alises request, but it seemed urgent. Throk wanted a meeting, which was rare. Finally, Salire needed help in theb.
Could you stuff some food into the shared inventory? Theo asked. Tresk hadnt dashed out of the room yet. She only nodded before rushing downstairs to get breakfast.
The alchemist rose, stretched, patted the goose, then headed off for Throks workshop. The old marshling woke early and didnt take breakfast, unlike much of the town. As expected, he was waiting in the artificersb with a grumpy expression. With his hands resting on his hips, and his short stature, he looked like a child throwing a fit for candy.
Airships? Throk asked. Really?
That conversation was private and not meant as a work order.
Im busy enough as it is without airships.
Are you?
Throk kicked at the ground, some of the grump fading from his face. Not really. Rail is done, isnt it? Were not doing the over-the-sea rail for a while, are we?
So, what you meant to say was Theo, can I please work on the airship project?
Yeah. Come here. No, not in the workshop. Out back.
Theo followed Throk around to the back of the workshop. Resting on a log was something that looked suspiciously like an old-era Earth jet engine. Turbines with an intake on one side, and a narrowed exhaust on the other.
If youre building a jet, Im all in.
A what? No. This is a hover engine. Ive been working on it since I got my core, but a few skills revealed the secret to make it work. Well, skills and something else.
Whats the something else?
Money! Yeah, its literally powered by gold coins, Throk said,ughing as he pped the engines side. A part fell off, ttering to the ground. Yeah, lets not turn it on. Bit of a test.
Throk was in a better mood today than Theo had expected. But an engine that ran on gold coins wasnt gonna work. Tell me we have a better idea than a gold-powered hover engine.
There are a few problems. Right? Ignore all the issues with magical interference and you have an artifice that requires massive amounts of refined mana to run. To the workshop.
Theo followed Throk into the workshop. There were too many strange machines to count, but one stood in the center of the room. It appeared to be a massive hydraulic press, only with far too many extra doodads hanging off the side. The marshling had a look of pure pride on his face as he approached the machine.
Care to guess what this is?
Turtle crusher.
Close.
Theo inspected the thing for a while longer. It was a press. That much was clear. As the alchemist came closer, he looked at the te of the artifice press. He then noticed the function of some artifices on the side of the machine, but could not put it all together. Only when a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up did he get it.
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Discount coin press?
There it is! Throk shouted, pumping his fist in the air. This is a makeshift version of a coin press. It cannot create system-generated currency. What it can do is refine power and press it into magically reactive metal. Tworgnothi or Drogramathi metals should take to the process.
Throk held up a coin-like object for inspection. Theo took it in his hand, flipping it over. Both faces were nk, but it felt enough like a real coin to fool him. There was magical potential stored inside.
Exin something to me, Theo said, appreciating the heft of the purple-ck coin. Motes are refined pieces of mana, right? Have you run tests to figure out how your coinspare to motes?
Think of it this way. A single mote has about 10 mana worth of energy. These coins sit at about 200.
Thats absurdly impressive. Whats the catch?
Yeah, theyre hard to make. I have the ns all made up, but I need two buildings the size of your manor and another building the size of yourb.
Theo blinked slowly. It took little mental math to know that threerge artifices meant only one thing. Explosive failure. Where do you n to put these buildings?
Oh my. You doubt me? Throk said. He was on a streak. Follow me, dear alchemist.
Theo felt a shiver run up his spine at that phrase. Fenian always called him my dear alchemist, and the utterance of the phrase left a wider hole in his heart than he expected. Throk led the way through town as the pain in the alchemists heart eased. There was always a risk when taking on a god. All that pain washed away when the alchemist spotted a strange structure near the quarry. There were rolling fields filled withrge boulders between the quarry and the eastern wall. No one built there because it was too annoying to level the ground. Now there was a massive stone structure made of glittering marble.
What the hell is that?
My st chamber. Come on.
The st chamber was stupid. Theo approached the gate of the chamber, gawking at the thickness of the walls. It was about five-times as thick as the walls that surrounded the town. Eachyer of stone was supported by ayer of metal. Massive metal sheets, thicker than the alchemists forearm, provided a shieldingyer. And, of course, inside there were three massive buildings. They were all made of Tworgnothi Copper and Drogramathi Iron, sitting beneath a wooden roof to shield them from the elements.
You already built them.
Of course I already built them. This is my artifice coin pressing operation. I need your blessing before I start production.
All right. Exin how this crap works.
Sure! Throk said, more chipper than Theo had ever seen him before. The two things on the side are industrial power condensers. They suck power from the air, then turn it into mana using artifice condensers. I already had that one figured out, so it wasnt a problem to make bigger versions of them.
Those are the things most likely to explode. Right?
Yeah. When power is refined into mana, it bes vtile. The key was to use Tworgnothi Copper in the condensers and containers. Raw mana is weird. Burns everything it touches. So, containment is necessary. The next thing we have is the press. When youpress Drogramathi Iron until its red hot, you can infuse it with mana.
Theo didnt want to approach the machines. He had a deep understanding for how dangerous this stuff could be. It wasnt because he didnt trust Throk. When a person messed around with crafting recipes far above their level, bad things happened. Alchemy was a great example, as it was always vtile.
The discs youre manufacturing Can they power the towers?
The towers, the rail. Everything.
Why doesnt the press melt when youre making them? Isnt it made of Drogramathi Iron?
The press is made from an alloy of Drogramathi Iron and Tworgnothi Copper. The same stuff I made the carts out of.
Youve outdone yourself. Im giving you my blessing, let me know if you need it in writing.
I will. Alise is going to be mad, but look at that wall.
I saw the wall. Theo edged backwards out of the work yard. Not sure how I didnt see you building this thing.
Me and the boys threw it together over the course of two days. No big deal.
Throk shared a few more details about his new machines. Theo was interested in a small version of the power siphon, which the artificer imed he could do with ease. If they werepact enough, it would be a step in the right direction to create golems that could go forever without needing to be recharged. The alchemist departed from the new, massive artifices and headed off to his next meeting.
Alise was in an ongoing meeting with the other administrators in the town hall. They were talking about their next steps on several things, including the undead. To his surprise, they didnt have a problem with Throks new project. That resulted in several hours of boring meetings about almost nothing. While Alran was there, he provided no new information about the state of Qavell. What he had to add to the meeting was slightly troubling.
I lost contact with all my spies in Qavell at the same time. They werepromised simultaneously, or something else.
I dont like something else, Theo said.
Alran shrugged. I can offer no more information. Magical interference, maybe? But my skill normally pierces through the most ardent defenses.
There was nothing more they could glean from the matter. The meeting ended, freeing Theo to work on the thing the meeting was about. Heughed as he made his way to the Newt and Demon, where a small group of frog-like creatures had gathered. One frog left a trail of frost wherever it went, while another left little pools of fire. The alchemist waded through the creatures to enter his shop. Several made it inside, and they were unceremoniously tossed out the window.
Do we have any frog repellent? Salire groaned. The hard-working woman was up on the third floor, working in theb.
I dont think so.
Next time Bilgrob wants to heal me, just let me die. This isnt worth it.
Ill make a note.
Theo had seen a few frogs in town, but nothing like this. He decided that Bilgrobs spell attracted every frog-like creature, but those things had to travel to reach their destination. If they didnt do something about it soon, it might be a problem. But unless the frogs found their way into the stills, they wouldnt impede the creation of potions. It took a while for the alchemist to get his apprentices mind off of the frogs, but they got to work.
Everything is ready, Salire said, gesturing to the various equipment she had cleaned and prepared.
The most annoying part about creating third tier potions was the alcohol infusion. Salire and Theo had worked to create 5,000 units of [Bound Enchanted Dilution] for each reagent. They split the batch in half, using five stills for [Hallow Ground] and five stills for [Sow]. Thebor itself wasnt terribly hard, but the alchemist had worked up a sweat by the time they rested.
Great job, Theo said, sagging into a chair. We have enough suffuse potions, right?
We should. At least for a test run, Salire said, finding her own chair. Have you read the reports from Gronro?
Theo had, in fact, ignored the reports from Gronro. They were running tests on the soil and hade up with a rating system.
The more green the soil, the more they figure its corrupted. Our current second tier potion is doing a good job, but
Theres too much area to cover. Theo nodded. Of course that would have been a problem. Every square halm ofnd between Gronro and Qavell was corrupted. And corruption spreads more corruption. It was an endless loop.
I ran some numbers. Salire produced a notebook from nowhere. At our capacity, we can clear thend in about twenty years.
Theo groaned. This wasnt a problem they could solve with alchemy alone, but he didnt have any other means. Not unless ntheir took mercy on Uharis and Sulvan. Or sent some of his elven clerics over to help clean thend up.
But we can halve the time with the third tier potion.
It wasnt very encouraging, but it was a start. Theo and Salire worked on their book while they waited for the stills to finish the run. The alchemist wanted to do anything to take his mind off the next part of the process. Creating primal essences to bind with the [Suffuse Potion] wasbor-intensive. Instead, they fixed mistakes in the book and created more based on their current industrial process.
I had another idea, Salire said, crossing a long section of information out. We could make a regr alchemy book.
Hmmm.
Before making the recipe for mundane alchemists to use [Swamp Truffles], Theo would have disagreed. But there was no such thing as too much information. Salire was already delving into normal alchemy more by the day. It was a way to distract herself between her duties in the shop or in theb. Unlike Theo, she didnt have a nation to run, giving her free time to do interesting projects.
Theres a cultural connection with the Drogramathi concerning mundane alchemy, Theo said, lounging in his chair. Most Drogramathi dont settle down. As far as I know, this is the first industrial operation of his alchemy.
I had never seen a dronon before you. You hear stories about folks running into them, but thats it. They show up, get what they need, then leave.
Theyre given instructions from the various dronon patrons to hide. Why? I dont know. Seems like theyre fighting each other, rather than fighting against the other races of the world.
Do you think thatll change? Salire asked, sounded hopeful.
Not soon. The patrons have to change first. That doesnt seem likely.
The stills bubbled away over the hours. The internal storage of the building filled with third tier essence. Theo and Salire whittled the time away, talking about whatever and working on their books. When the timers went off on the stills, the alchemist rubbed his hands together. It was far too exciting to get a crack at a third tier suffuse potion.
5.12 - The House of Healing
5.12 - The House of Healing
Theo fell into one of the many ufortable chairs in theb. He sagged as he chugged a mana potion, wiping sweat from his brow. Creating suffuse-bound potions was annoying, especially at scale. The vents above theb sucked wisps of smoke, clearing the foggy air. Salire waved her hand in front of her face, trying to clear away what fumes lingered.
We need to experiment, Theo said. The sense of emptiness left in his chest from low mana lingered. Even after chugging several potions. To find out if this is worth it.
Are you good?
Well enough to continue.
The n was to createrge barrels of the new [Hallow the Soil] potions. After they were ready to stew, the alchemist could take them to Terogal. Since every suffuse potion needed time to sort itself out, that was the only way to deliverrge quantities of the new potion. Theo and his assistant worked on stuffing as much stewing essence as they could in distinct barrels. The mixing potion emitted the scent of tilled earth and grave dust. It was a heady mixture that had them both reeling on their feet.
Lets get some air, Theo said, waving for Salire to join him.
The pair found their way out onto the streets and into the heat of the Season of Fire. Covered in a sheen of sweat, they wandered across the street to the manor. Upon entering, they were sted by a wave of cold air. Sarisa and Rowan kept the ce chilly. Sinking into soft armchairs, Theo and Salire let out a joint sigh of relief.
That might have been thergest run Ive ever done. And I still need to take them to Terogal.
Oh! Salire brightened considerably. Maybe I coulde with you!
Mortals shouldnt tread in the mortal Dreamrealm. But Theo and Tresk had ignored that fact several times already. Why not?
If only it was as easy as saying it, though. Theo and Salire rxed for an hour before finding the energy to stand. They returned to theb, stuffing the barrels of mixing essences into the alchemists inventory. They waited for Tresk to respond, which took her longer than it should have. She was with the teams weakening the [Hills Dungeon] and the [Mountain Dungeon]. Once she gave the go-ahead, he felt her will flood through his body.
Ready? Theo asked, grasping Salires arm.
Ready!
Theb fell away around them. Salire shouted in fear as they fell over the Bridge of shadows. Theo groaned as he felt the master of this realm beckoning him forth. Since UzXulven had been on friendlier termstely, he obliged.
Quick stop.
Salire screamed as they angled toward the bridge, floating down tond on the semi-solid surface of the Bridge.
Busy body! UzXulven shouted from the shadows.
Hey, Uz. Whats up? Theo asked. Salires eyes darted around, taking in every detail of the realm. It wasnt a friendly ce. Almost every surface was a mixture of shadow and semi-realized stone. The entire ce was muted in color, almost monochromatic. The Queen of the Bridge of Shadows did not show herself.
Thought you ought to know. Fenian is doing better.
Is he still in Hoich?
Yes. Still trapped in Balkors damned realm. Ah, who is this scrumptious little mortal youve brought?
Salire squeaked, tensing up.
My apprentice.
UzXulven stepped out of the shadows, gliding across the bridge. She kept herself cloaked in shadows, as was normal. Only the faintest outline of her form was revealed. I like her.
She has a knack for alchemy. Hard to ask for more than that in a student.
Agreed. So, why are you here? UzXulven asked, tilting her head to one side.
I thought you summoned me.
Ah. See, you were drawn here without knowing why you wanted to be drawn here. That happens sometimes.
Intent often mattered in this world. Perhaps there was ayer that ran deeper than that. A need to see something through, even if Theo didnt know what it was he needed to do. It only took a few moments of thought before he realized what he wanted to ask.
Can I use the bridge to reach the High Heavens?
UzXulvenughed. Oh, my. You are ambitious, arent you? Where are you nning to go?
The Realm of Healing.
UzXulven blew raspberries. That stuffy realm? Why? Oh! The upstarts on the moon. Right, I heard whispers of your n.
Can we do it?
Hmmm.
There was a long pause. The longer UzXulven remained motionless, the more worried Theo got. There was a gap of power between the realm. While he had been breaking the rules for the realms, this was something that seemed one step too far.
Alright! Sure. Why not? Let me just knock
Another long pause. The realm shivered in response.
Oh! UzXulven said, jumping on the spot. He responded quickly. Thats surprising. A door will appear on the other side. Take it to return to my realm, then you can head off to do whatever weird alchemy stuff you had nned.
An archway appeared on the bridge. Right in the center. It was an ornate wooden door, trimmed on all sides with gold iys. A single red gem sat at the top of the frame. As the door cracked open, Theo felt a different kind of power rush through. Each patron had a different vor to them. UzXulven was always shady, giving the power in her realm a feeling of deception. This was an original power altogether. The alchemist felt a sense offort and love fill his soul.
Are we Salire asked, trailing off.
See you in a second, Uz, Theo said, grabbing Salire by the hand and pressing on. They passed through the door without issue, although the alchemists stomach turned slightly. He was blinded white light that seemed toe from everywhere.
Once his eyes adjusted, Theo looked upon ntheirs realm. They stood at a marble footbridge outside of a massive silver city. Elves were gathered near a river, ying harps and eating berries. They looked up for only a moment before returning to their leisure. Salire stammered, her head raising slowly as her eyes traced a path over the central spire of the city.
Come. Amand issued from everywhere and nowhere at once. Theo and Salire were sent hurtling through ntheirs realm, stumbling to stand in an open-air room. Elves gathered here and there, pouring over books and writing things down. Standing at the head of the in room was a man d in equally mundane garb. He spun on the spot, revealing his visage.
ntheir was the inest-looking elf Theo had ever seen. A shirt and cks that had seen wear over the years, barefoot, and long blonde hair. He had simr features to that of Fenian, too sharp and angr. But there was a kindness behind his green eyes, a fact made more clear when he smiled. Creases formed in the corners of his eyes as he held his arms wide.
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Wee. Yes.
Huh? Theo asked. He cleared his throat, straightening up. Salires eyes were darting everywhere and she was stammering. The alchemist kicked her in the shin. She stood up straight, eyes locked forward. Excuse me, lord. Yes to what?
ntheirughed, the creases near his eyes doubling. Please, dont do that. Dont call me lord, Theo.
What should I call you?
ntheir. The Holy Storm. John. Whatever works for you, ntheir winked.
Okay. Now, the yes.
Ill grant cores to those fanatics as long as they ept my terms. Come, have a seat. Ive cultivated an Earth-like grape here in my realm.
The furniture in the realm was simple. Wooden things that were roughly carved. Salire was sweating. When she sat down near the patron, she was shaking. ntheir smiled, cing a hand on her shoulder. In a moment, she rxed.
Youre not the first person to travel through the realms. When I joined the Prime Pantheon, mortals came and went over the Bridge of Shadows regrly. These realms were more like amusement parks. The mortal realm was a yground.
Until Balkor ruined it?
No. It was ruined long before Balkor pulled his little stunt.
An attendant came, holding a bowl of purple grapes. She ced it on the table, bowed, then left the room. ntheir plucked one grape, popping it into his mouth. Theo tried one, finding them simr enough to Earth grapes. Not that he had anything but grape-vored stuff.
Did you die at the end? ntheir asked. The end of Earth.
Yeah. When the sun swallowed us.
Thats good. Others were taken before us. They have met interesting ends.
Theo leaned in, his mind spinning. The picture of what happened after Earth was destroyed was confusing. He was sent far into the future,pared to the founding members of this. Sixty-thousand years, to be exact.
Youre from Earth, Theo said. He wanted to hear himself say it.
ntheir smiled again. I was. I fled Berlin.
Theos stomach twisted itself into a knot. The taste of the grape on his tongue had soured in an instant. The only thing he could think about was getting out of ntheirs realm. Running as far away from it as possible. But the Elven God of Healings soft smile spread a radiantfort throughout the room. He pressed two fingers into the alchemists forehead. In an instant, the sense of guilt was gone. Just gone.
I forgive you.
Those three words resonated through Theos soul. Somewhere and sometime distant, he felt both Tresk and Terogal rumble with recognition. Sheets of guilt fell away. The patina of the past was scoured clean, leaving only the brightness of the alchemists soul.
ntheir stood, swiping his hand through the air. Every other elf in the room vanished. About Uharis and Sulvan. I have one rule. Infinite forgiveness. If I couldnt follow that rule, how could I hope to make my followers do the same?
You you Salire stammered. Healed the continent. Didnt you?
ntheir turned, nodding to her. I healed it. I blessed it. I allowed life to flourish. Until the others in the Prime Pantheon put a cor around my neck.
Why would they do that? Theo asked, finding his voice once again. It came with more confidence this time, as though it no longer filtered through ayer of the past.
They like to control things. They thought the system was fine the way it was. No reason to change something that challenged their power. But Yuri has done more for us than any other god. Then Fenian risked his life to save Balkor. Bnce is restoring.
There were too many questions to ask and not enough time. Theo found it hard to tangle with the new emotions that spread through his body and mind. He just got magical trauma therapy from a god. How did someone move forward from that? Reflexively, he wanted to apologize for what he did to Berlin. But there was no need. It had been forgiven absolutely. It was as though it never happened at all.
So, we can count on you? Theo asked. To help us, going forward?
Youre positioned to do more than anyone else can. Yuri took the Throne of the Arbiter to leave that gap. A gap in the rules of the monitor system. Look. You can even drag mortals through the realms. Curious!
How should I proceed with Sulvan and Uharis?
You and I have a connection, now, ntheir said, picking another grape. He popped it in his mouth. Invite me to your realm if you need help with them. Ill even give you a hint. Youre connected to both of them. If you reach out with the power of your realm, you can talk to them on the moon.
On the moon Salire said, trailing off. Her eyes were fixed on the middle-distance. This was too much for her, and Theo was getting worried.
Theo felt a strange sensation racing through his mind. This wasnt the first time he had experienced it. Any time he interacted with Khahar, Fenian, or heavenly beings, a sense of being overwhelmed filled him. But the grace given by ntheir had removed something from his mind. Any weight tied around his neck was just gone. Confusion was reced by confidence.
Well figure it out, Theo said, reaching a hand out to shake.
ntheir smiled, yet again, and shook his hand. d youre on board. Youre free to stay in the House of Healing. If you find that troubled minding back, stop by. Have some grapes. We have hacky sack tournaments weekly.
Theo considered staying. But as he looked at Salire, who had begun pulling her limbs in to form a defensive ball, he decided to go. The alchemist nodded to his apprentice. We should go. For now. But Ill be back, John.
ntheirughed, gesturing. The same fancy door appeared in the rooms center, and Theo dragged Salire through. The scene shifted the way it had before, and they were suddenly standing on the bridge. UzXulven was there, waiting with her hands on her hips.
Hes hot, right? she asked.
Noment, Theo said, centering his focus on Terogal. He was nice.
He was Salire trailed off for a few tense moments. He was hot.
Right? UzXulven wiggled her eyebrows.
Were off, Theo said. Stop by the realm if you need to talk. Ive got potions to age.
UzXulven nodded, dropping some of her bravado. Under that veil of shadows, there might have been a faint smile. Nothing to match the shining brilliance of ntheirs dazzling teeth, but still. Theo pushed through the void, dragging Salire along behind him. She didnt make a sound as they tumbled through the realms. A momentter theynded in Terogal, weed by crowds of spirits. Belgar was among them, pping a hand on his back.
Wee! You wouldnt believe the time weve been having! Khahar has brought us the gift of football!
And so he had. In one nearby field, the spirits had established goals, and a field painted with all the lines. Theos instinct was to cast aside his responsibilities and y a few rounds. The alchemist shook his head, focusing on the woman standing next to him. He took Salire by the arm and led her to the cottage. As expected, Bentons archway sprung up. The bear followed close behind, sensing someone in need of some hot tea and sweet scones. Belgar seemed to understand what was happening, breaking off from the group to calm the rowdy spirits.
Theo exined what had happened. Apparently, mortals werent meant to gaze on the true form of prime gods that way. Even someone as pure as ntheir was too much for her to handle.
Just a bit of shock, Benton said, draping a fur nket over Salires shoulders. She was hunched over the table, visibly shaking. Once we get something warm in her belly, shell brighten up.
I hope so, Theo said, looking across the table at his apprentice. He realized now that he should have dropped her off in Terogal before heading into the Realm of Healing. We got to meet ntheir, though.
Oh, really? Benton asked, raising a furry brow. How was he?
He was Theo hesitated. What words could he use to describe someone so in? He was kind.
Thats what Ive heard. A guy like that has no ce in the Prime Pantheon. Amongst such snakes.
Agreed. Things really have calmed down in the heavens, havent they?
Yep. After the Arbiter standardized the time scale, things got more stable. Feels like everything flows better.
Benton poured tea for everyone before removing sweets from his godly inventory. He set them down on the table, removing the thin cloth that covered them. Theo went for the lemon-vored ones, the way he always did. Salire reached out a hand, a hand growing steadier by the minute, and grabbed a berry-filled one. She brought the mug of tea close to herself, allowing the steam to wash over her face.
Getting better, she said, although most of the color had drained from her face.
Bentonughed. His bellyugh was always afort. No need to worry about me. Just a low-level god here. I dont have the heights of power that ntheir wields.
How powerful is he? Theo asked. He really knew little about ntheir.
Strong enough that he could have taken the Throne of the Arbiter. But they say his vow is absolute. He refuses to kill, no matter what. Even when he purges the undead, he epts their souls into his realm.
Theo let the silence set in around the room. Only the sound of the crackling fire pushed through to his mind. There was a new stillness in his thoughts that he didnt want to consider. If he had known the kindness of ntheir from the start, maybe things would have yed out differently. Even with everything that happened, he knew kindness didnt defend towns.
After a long while of silence, Salire finally spoke. Id like to y that weird game.
Football? Benton asked with a chuckle.
Ser, Theo corrected.
Khahar said it both ways.
5.13 - The Moon Landing
5.13 - The Moon Landing
The serfootballwhatever game went on for hours. Theo was horrible at the game, finding himself at a loss for where he should stand. Belgar was a natural. He did all the impressive sports things, even if the alchemist didnt know what they were called. Of course, the souls within the realm had been ying the game for almost a year. And they werent ying with standard rules.
Salire and Theo sat in a chair by the sidelines, watching the souls y their game. Benton joined them shortly after, panting and short of breath.
Its good for the soul, Benton said, gasping for air. I think.
The barrels of [Greater Hallow the Soil] were aging near the stream. Theo had put off contacting Uharis and Sulvan for as long as he could, but the hours were passing quicker than he expected. He stood, feeling inspired by the selfless care of ntheir.
Be right back. Theo vanished, warping himself to some distant ce in Terogal. He stood by the sea, and was quick to tip his toes in the water. This time, he remembered to put his shoes into his inventory.
If connections mademunication across dimensions simple, Theo would find contacting Uharis an effortless task. He stood in the water, watching as the wavespped over his feet. Push and pull. Ebb and flow. Like the power of the realm itself, the waves pushed and pulled. The alchemist held onto whatever strands of power he could find. He imagined them as threads, and gathered them with his willpower. Those connections he held with so many people lit up in his mind, but he focused on the former members of the Cult of the Burning Eye.
The scene on the beach faded, reced by a stretch of deste nothing. ck stone underfoot, Theo stared at the disheveled forms of Uharis and Sulvan. They turned to regard him with hate and confusion.
Do you know how difficult that spell was? Uharis snapped.
Feels pretty easy to me, Theo said, looking around the ck moon of Antalis.
Hes not really here, Sulvan muttered, his voice as gravely as ever.
Uharis sputtered, whipping his long white beard over his shoulder. Youre a mockery! Of everything I studied. Every moment I spent pouring over musty books. Wasted!
Pull yourself together, Sulvan muttered. Hes here, isnt he?
No hard feelings, right? Theo asked. He didnt want to seem arrogant. But he couldnt keep the smile from spreading across his face. Your foul god is dead. Mine isnt.
Oh,ugh it up, you insufferable outworlder. Did you travel through space and time just to mock us?
Theo looked around the surface of Antalis. He nodded to himself. Time was moving slower here than it should have. Instead of reaching out to project himself onto the moon, he had projected a bubble of his realm. Uharis and Sulvan were standing in that bubble.
It would be more urate to say that I bent time and space, Theo said, nodding to himself more fervently. That makes more sense.
Uharis groaned, preparing to dispense another barrage of insults. Sulvan drove his fist into the wizards stomach, sending him doubling over.
Forgive us, Master of Terogal, Sulvan said, taking a knee. Uharis lost the contents of his stomach. Well renounce our bond with the Burning Eye. In the most absolute of terms.
Not sure why I knew you would be the reasonable one, Sulvan. Theo watched Uharis squirm on the ground. He would be lying if he said he didnt enjoy it. You wanted to purge the world of evil? How would you like to be a Pdin of ntheir?
Sulvan raised a single eyebrow. Would he ept us? The Eye and the Healer were natural enemies.
Im sure hell bind you in contracts until you cant breathe.
I ept.
I dont! Uharis coughed from his prone position. I wont ept anything from you, bastard!
Electricity tingled in the air. Uharis must have had another mages core in his chest, because he tossed a bolt of lightning. It passed harmlessly through Theo, arching off into the distance. The moment it left the bubble of influence, it froze in the air.
Guess this is an extension of my realm. Which means my authority is absolute. Kneel.
Uhariss face mmed into the hard rock of the moon. He sputtered and gasped under the authority of themand. Sulvan didnt even flinch, eyes locked on the alchemist.
I pledge myself to the Elven God of Healing absolutely, Sulvan said. And I will atone for everything I have done. No matter the cost.
Uharis tried to draw in breath, only wheezing in the process.
Ill tell the big man that youre ready. If Uharis is prepared by the time ntheir epts you, he cane along. See ya soon.
Theo felt a prickle of something crawl up his neck, then tingle the back of his skull. The sound of the beach returned in an instant, and he drew a deep breath of salty sea air in. Sweat had formed on his brow while he was gone. The alchemist dabbed it off, then warped space around himself once again. He appeared in the vige of the spirits. They were still ying their game. Benton had a concerned look on his face.
Not sure what that was, the bear god said.
Petty revenge, Theo said, taking a seat alongside Benton and Salire. Uharis Bouched was an asshole. Sulvan metouched, on the other hand, was pretty nice about the situation.
Nasty people, Salire said, shaking her head. Where are they?
The moon. The dark one. Just hanging out with moon people, I guess.
Benton frowned. Are there people on the moon?
Thought I saw a city in the distance, Theo said, recalling his memory of the surface with perfect rity. Or mountains.
Either or, Salireughed. Just an entire civilization living on the moon or mountains. No big deal.
The group had a goodugh. While it was fun watching the people y ser, their time in the realm was drawing to a close. Theo bid farewell to the spirits and Benton before grabbing Salires arm. They fell through the fabric of reality,nding on the Bridge before heading back to the mortal realm.
Got a message for you, Theo said, waiting for the shadows to pool. UzXulven stepped out of the darkness in time, and he ryed his message to her. Sulvan was ready to work for ntheir, while Uharis wasnt. The alchemist left the Bridge without feeling the slightest guilt. It wasnt his problem to make people do the right thing.
After what felt like the journey of a lifetime, Theo felt his feet hit mortal ground. Salire maintained a constant look of overwhelmed awe. The alchemist felt Tresks intentions before she appeared from the shadows. She burst forth, hands on her hips.
Why do I feel lighter and more joyful? Anyone got a puppy I could hug?
No puppies here, Salire said,ughing nervously. We met ntheir and and Theo went to the moon.
Aw man. Did I miss the moonnding?
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Yeah. Dont worry, it sucked. Theo found a chair for Salire to sit on, and forced her to rest. This wasnt something that potions could fix. She needed time to process what she saw.
Tresk concentrated for only a moment, and Theo felt her brush her senses against his. She was searching his memory for what had happened, rather than asking for a retelling of the days events.
Looks like the old elf god unblocked your chi, Tresk said. She nodded, whipping an imaginary beard to the side. How honorable. When do we cultivate?
What are you talking about? Theo asked with a scoff.
I feel unburdened by the past. Suddenly, I have a need to ascend.
Theo chuckled, watching as the little marshling performed her interpretation of martial arts moves. She was pretty good, even if she was just making stuff up. After a while she got tired and sat down on the ground. The alchemist felt her fall back into her thoughts, reying different things in her mind. Whatever ntheir had done was a boon beyond anything he could imagine. Tresk was right. There was a lightness to his thoughts that he could have never imagined before.
On Theos mental checklist of things that needed to be done, there were too many items. Throks new method of collecting power was big. He was also on the heels of airship technology, which would be interesting. That left an item for the alchemist to aplish. Warding against unwanted magical attacks. He also needed to n for the celebration in Rivers and Daub, but that mostly fell to the administration. Xolsas [Intelligence of the Soul] potion was brewing with Terogal, and would be ready soon enough.
Research time, Theo said, gathering a few things. You staying here, Salire?
Salire nodded weakly. I just need some time.
Theo scratched his chin for a moment, then nodded. Coming, Tresk?
Yeah. Lets go experiment with junk!
As Theo exited the building, he stopped on the streets of Broken Tusk. Rowan?
The half-ogre man emerged from nowhere. Yes?
Give Salire something to do. An emergency that requires alchemy. She needs a distraction.
Certainly, Rowan said, vanishing yet again.
Theo headed north, toward Zizs quarry. The areas north of the town proper offered the most silence. His stroll was interrupted when Tresk grabbed at his coat, climbing up him like a tree until she perched herself on his shoulders.
Onward, mighty steed!
Tresk was lighter than Theo had expected, so he simply moved forward. It didnt hurt that her bnce was insane.
I should make you a [Dexterity of the Soul] potion, Theo said. Although Im unsure what itll do.
Yeah. Give me the fancy potions. Ill drink them all.
Ziz and the boys were carving stones at their quarry. They offered hearty greetings and barrels full of mead. Theo and Tresk declined, finding afortable spot where they could observe the town below and work on their problem. They started by sharing their thoughts on the whole ntheir thing. Both agreed that he was the patron that suited the ex-members of the Burning Eye the best.
What better way to reform people than to force them to be good!
Theo was at a point where he could take any property he knew from alchemy, and trante that to a ward. Even with the ability that helped feed wards for longer, he would need to constantly reapply them for an airship to operate. Tresk helped him go over his list of properties, and they were both disappointed when they found the solution.
Feels like you put Mages Bane in everything, Tresk grumbled.
The first property on the Mages Bane flower was [Resist Magic]. Theo had never distilled the flower into essence to extract that property, always preferring to ferment the flower as a modifier instead.
Lets see, Theo said, writing a poem in Toruauns flowery script. Im not happy using the [Detect Attack] trigger for the wards.
Tresk nodded, plucking a piece of grass from the ground. She wedged it between her two thumbs and attempted to blow. No sound came out, despite her intentions.
What do you think about a trigger that works by activating when magical interference happens?
Tresk leaned back, tossing her de of grass to the side. I like it.
Theo paused before writing anything else. Shouldnt you be in the dungeon?
Yeah. Its kinda crowded, though.
Turning back to his work on the paper, Theo came up with an approach. He came up with the [Detect Adverse Magic] trigger, which should only deploy the ward when it senses damaging magical energies affecting the thing it was bound to. Simple enough, as long as it worked. The problem was that the alchemist didnt fully understand the waytent magic would interfere with the artifice hover engines. He warded a nearby rock to inspect the effect.
[Deflect Magic]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive barrier that impedes all foreign magical energy from entering the bubble.
Trigger:
Detect Adverse Magic
Duration:
5 days.
That might do it, Theo said. Not sure how we can test it, though.
Tresk shrugged. Maybe we should take it to Gronro. Give it a real test.
Theo scratched his chin, unsure if that was good enough. I think we need to take the entire engine up there. Think your dad will let us borrow it?
Why not? For science!
Theos eyes lingered on the fading light of the day. Shafts of foggy sunlight shot over the western horizon, stabbing over the swamp like the constant reminders they were. Time was what the alchemist needed most and had the least of. Even with the Dreamwalk and Terogal, he felt behind himself. But since ntheir had poked his forehead, the march of time seemed less important. He sat on his rock, watching as the evening sun dimmed into twilight. Tresk lingered nearby, sensing the stillness and drinking it in with him.
Theo leaned over the walls of Gronro-Dir. Below was the imagined version of the undead taint. Within the Dreamwalk, he hoped to prove his new ward. Fortunately, Tresk had made a trip to the northern town when the undead were still assaulting it. She had a good enough mental impression of the ce to replicate the taint of undeath.
It sure does stink, Tresk said, leaning over the walls edge. Did it stink this much when I went there?
Perhaps youre adding extra stink to set the mood, Alex said.
Field of corpses, in various stages of dposition, had a way of stinking a ce up. With a thought, Theo purged the concept of smell from the Dreamwalk, bringing everyone great relief.
First stage of testing, the alchemist said, smiling to himself. There was no better ce to test their theories. He created a mana siphon from nowhere. The ck box glittered, already interacting with thetent necromantic power in the air. A low-level power condenser.
Its getting all shiny, Tresk said, leaning in to inspect the siphon.
Sections of the artifice were sizzling from the raw power in the air. Whatever material the device was made out of reacted poorly. No one was surprised when it exploded, sending shards of itself peppering the area.
That would have been deadly, Theo said, picking arge chunk of metal from his skull.
Treskid prone on the ground, her tongue sticking out. Bleh. Youve killed me.
Me too! Alex put in.
Despite hispanions behavior, Theo made mental notes of the reaction. From observation, he determined that the influences in the air werent just unrefined power. There was refined mana there, turning the churn of influences into a deadly magical mix. It was shocking that any magical devices worked in this area, let alone powerful ones.
How have Throks sprayers been operating out here?
Dunno, Tresk said, imagining one. The sprayer stood near the wall, squirting essence down below.
Theo could feel the reason more than see it. Throks sprayer was the simplest artifice that could be created. It had minimal parts and drew almost no power. The sprayers could run for weeks without sumbing to the withering power of undeath. The alchemist tried a few more artifices he had seen, finding the breaking point to be somewhere between the sprayer and the siphon. A hover engine, even at a high altitude, would most certainly be affected.
Thats our baseline, Theo said, imagining Throks engine. Now we figure out if this power affects inactive machines.
Tresk busied herself by summoning other things. She brought in various magical things, starting with items. Normal items werent affected by the power. Only things that actively drew power suffered from the necromantic energy. That included devices that pulled power from motes, or Throks new fake coins. Interestingly, powerful potions reacted negatively. That was more concerning than anything else.
Engine has no response when its inactive, Theo said, summoning a coin to fall into his hand. But when we activate it
A moment after inserting the coin, the engine tore itself apart. It exploded in a ball of green mes, decimating most of the wall. The Dreamwalk was stretched to its limits to simte the response, almost buckling under the pressure.
Well, we have all our gooses in a row. Heh, Tresk giggled to herself. Main event?
Time for the main event.
Theo repaired the damage to the wall, resetting the scene. He summoned a new engine to test, then knelt to chant his spell. The moment he began to chant, he felt the power of undeath swirling around him. It felt like an attack on his cores. The energy welled in the surrounding air, then rushed in. The alchemist only just managed to finish the spell before he was overwhelmed.
Thats not good.
Theo took a steadying breath. No casting in the undead zone. Got it.
The moment he put a coin into the engine, the prismatic barrier sprung up. The surrounding power assaulted the ward, smashing against the side. Mana sparks fell to the ground, sizzling on the wet stone. But for all the shing lights, the engine hummed, hovering just above the wall.
And now the boring part, Theo said, finding a seat. We wait to see how long itsts.
5.14 - Grimelings
5.14 - Grimelings
The wards had proven more longsting than Theo had expected. Surrounding the table in the manor were the usual characters. The alchemist thought about his experimentations as he watched hispanions eat breakfast. Xam had outdone herself by making something simr to sausage and eggs. She was even producing Earth-style wheat bread, which was a treat. Xolsa couldnt get enough of the bread, thering a toasted slice with enough karatan butter to stop his heart on the spot.
Busy schedule today, Sarisa said, flitting around the table to pass out butter and fill cups with tea. Aarok wants to do two waves.
Thank god. Theo poked at a pozwa egg. He turned his attention to the sausage, cutting a piece and popping it into his mouth. It was extremely salty, and mildly spicy. Cant wait to get that over with.
The dungeon had been weakened significantly. Between Xolsas efforts to engineer them, and the adventurers constant barrage of attacks, the [Hills Dungeon] and [Mountain Dungeon had been removed of their fangs. Broken Tusk would have the pleasure of stomping two waves somewhere around Level 10. All projections imed it would be a breeze, and Theo was inclined to believe the wizards words.
Outside, the haze of early morning fog was burned away by the oppressive sun overhead. The result was humidity so intense, one could cut it with a knife. Theo lingered in his air-conditioned manor for as long as he could, until Rowan pulled him aside.
I poisoned some children, the half-ogre said.
Theo blinked several times. Huh?
While you were busy, I poisoned several children. A very mild poison that made them sick.
Theo pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes shut tightly. Alright. Sarisa cured it?
Rowan smiled. Quickly. Her confidence was boosted afterward.
All''s well that ends well I guess? Poison adults next time, please.
It was quite mild.
Still.
Rowan nodded.
Theo departed his manor, heading directly for the Newt and Demon. Tresk and Alex were on duty today, so they would be busy. Everyone in the Tarahek felt lighter, and the alchemist couldnt help but whistle a tune as he headed to hisb. Salire was there with a wide smile on her face. He gave her a few tasks to manage theb. His chief concern was the production of more grain alcohol, and its storage in the upgraded tanks of theb. The half-ogre woman told him the harrowing tale of how she saved seven children yesterday.
Excellent job, Theo said, nodding and feigning a smile.
So, what did ntheir do to you? What was he talking about when he said he was fleeing What was it?
Berlin, Theo said. He found it odd that his mind didnt recoil on itself when he thought about that mission. Things got bad on my world. Poptions shrunk to where people crowded in single cities. Entire nations were reduced to mega cities. Everyone was at each others throats. So how do you conduct warfare when the enemy can shoot whatever you send right out of the sky?
I really dont know, Salire said, chuckling nervously.
You send a spy who disables the defenses. We nted charges to destroy their weapons. Then boom. An entire nation destroyed in a blink, Theo snapped his fingers to punctuate his point. And I guess ntheir was there. He must have fled with the other refugees to Moscow.
Salires expression shifted, bing stony. You were a bad guy?
This was what? Twenty-five, thirty years ago? Anyway, whatever ntheir did it made me feel like I had never done it. And it feels good.
As long as were not nning on annihting another nation.
Hmmm.
Theo had to rationalize the destruction of Qavell. Despite what ntheir had forgiven him for, the kingdom was filled with innocent people. The only thing that made him feel better was the same thing that made him feel better on Earth. Balkors undead were heading west no matter what. Fenian had only sped up their march. The alchemist shook the thoughts out of his mind, turning to smile at his apprentice.
ntheir really helped. Im excited to see what he can do with our help.
Salire brightened considerably. He was so nice!
Im going to invite him for tea in my realm the next time I visit. Wannae?
Ah, well. No, thank you.
After Salire was settled in her task for the day, Theo left to check in with the military. Xolsa was sitting with Aarok and Luras, discussing the uing wave. They were determined to get both waves done today, no matter what. Even if the eastern wall wasntpletely repaired, they all had a desire to get it over with. While the wizard could have been wrong about the dungeons, it was unlikely. They wouldnt spawn both waves at once, so it shouldnt have been a problem, anyway. If something went sideways, they wouldnt start the next way.
Easy as that.
Theo dodged a meeting with Alise and the administrators, heading directly for Throks workshop. The marshling was interested in hearing the results of the testing and had some input. He agreed with most of the alchemists points about magical interference, but was surprised to learn how active the power was.
Could that be an effect of the Dreamwalk? Throk asked.
I wont say no. Theo drew on his near-perfect memory to remember the way things interacted in the Dreamwalk. The simtion seemed urate, but it was hard to tell. Were nning on doing a real-world experiment before we give the go-ahead.
Bleeds into another problem Im having. Throk scratched his head. These things need to be manned. Floating tforms of death. Who would be willing to ride them?
No one, I imagine. Theo sighed. Can you control them remotely?
Yes. But there are a few problems with that.
Throk went into a speech about sending artifice signals over long-distance. He had taken a skill that let him control his devices remotely, but the range was short. The more he exined it, the less it made sense to Theo.
Dont you do remote reporting with the mote tube system?
Yeah, but I send the signal through the tubes themselves, Throk said with augh. Not exactly the best way, but it works.
Can you send a signal through any metal?
Yeah, thats the skill. But I dont like the image of holding a long rod of copper up in the air. Attached to a floating tform.
How about a wire?
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A long copper wire? Throk asked, nodding. That might work. We can braid them together to increase their strength.
If that fails, Theo said, nodding to himself as his thoughts gathered. We can put a golem on the airship. If we install a lodestone nearby, the range is pretty good.
Your golem range might not be as good as a simple braided wire, though. Could they even operate simple controls?
Lets call the golem idea a backup n, all right?
Yeah. Good call.
Theo and Throk worked on some specifics for a while. They were both confident in the wire, more than the golems. But even then, they would need an operator on the ground to move the device around. The advantages of the wire was that they could minimize the weight of the flying tform. Which meant they could load it up with more potions, increasing the effectiveness of each flight. Their meeting went on until the bells rang. Aarok sent a message to the town, calling everyone to their stations.
Theyre itchy today, huh? Throk asked, grumbling.
Departing from the artificers workshop, Theo reported to the wrong post. While he was certain he was meant to arrive at the southern side of town, he was meant to be on the northern end. Sarisa joined with him as he sprinted, passing by normal folks as he went. Those who couldnt fight at all were sent to shelters. Those shelters were guarded by teams of adventurers, ensuring that no one would be in danger while the fighting was done.
Zizs quarry was buzzing with activity. The wall to the north of the stonecutters'' area was filled with adventurers. Theo found his ce amongst them, watching as the advanced units sallied outside the gate. The alchemist had never liked thendscape north of town. It was a steep rise of rocky faces and jagged cliffs. The increased elevation did nothing to soothe the heat of the day, making it even worse.
I love this part, Sarisa sighed. The calm before the storm.
You might like it less if you were down there. Theo gestured to thebined forces of Gronro, Rivers, and Broken Tusk below. They assembled in orderly rows, leaving gaps for the jagged crags. The alchemist chanted his wards on the walls, weaving his standard shield alongside a magic-resistantyer.
The sortie from the defensive forces was incredibly sessful. The monsters that came from the [Mountain Dungeon] were a kind of troll. Unlike the boss trolls, they seemed to be made of stone. That made their movements slow, rendering them as easy prey for the experienced fighters. What trolls that werent destroyed by the extended forces were quickly mopped up by the towers and ranged attackers. It was the single most boring wave Theo had ever experienced.
This reminds me of the first goblin wave we had, Theo said, leaning over the wall. He sighed, watching the soldiers below have a fun time with the fight. We didnt have towers back then. Or trained fighters.
I remember it. Sarisas eyes focused on the middle-distance. Theo could almost feel her going back in time to relive the experience. Now we can spawn a Level 10 wave without batting an eye.
What was Broken Tusk like before I showed up? Theo asked, watching a trolls head be separated from its shoulders.
Sairsa offered a weak shrug. Boring. Nothing really happened. I remember watching a lot of my childhood friends leave when they got their cores. They all left to do something bigger, and I never med them.
Theo flinched as the lightning tower nearby fired an arch of electricity. He spotted the boss shortly after, dismissing the system message that popped up. They were used to fighting troll bosses by this point. The key was to apply fire to any wounds inflicted on the monster, or to douse it in mes. Aarok did both, ordering his people to send firebombs while they kept a safe distance. It was the shortest monster wave the alchemist had ever experienced.
The reward for the monster wave was equally unimpressive. A few gold, and a ring that allowed him to see in the dark, but only when the moon was blue. The alchemist tossed his spoils into his inventory, then joined with the roving band of soldiers. Citizens cheered as the army moved southward, heading for the next dungeon. Xolsa estimations were correct and withoutplications, for once. The alchemist met with Tresk and Alex to chat for a while as Aarok prepared for the next wave.
That was unimpressive, Tresk grumbled, crossing her arms and frowning.
Agreed, Sarisa said. I was surprised to see that the clearing strategy worked.
Yeah, thats the problem. No one wants to run the [River Dungeon] because its underwater. Tresk let out a frustrated breath. Were finally clearing away the [Ocean Dungeon], but only because theres a weird underwater tower.
The Adventurers Guild even had a bounty on each dungeon. Clearing it would provide a person with money. That incentive had not driven people until the traders from afar began showing up. Now everyone was concerned with getting thetest trinket from Partopour. And so, they were braving the depths of each dungeon to earn some cash. essibility was still an issue for the [River Dungeon], but once they had some time that would be solved. The checklist of things to do in Broken Tusk seemed endless.
Theo smiled as he watched the armies assemble. Compared to the mountainous region of the north, the hills to the south were more forgiving. The alchemist greeted Gridgen and his workers as they passed by. While the mine had seen more activity in recent days, they were hard workers who kept their heads down and got the job done. Only the leader of the mining team came out to greet them. And he didnt remain for long, vanishing into the mine as the army passed.
Sarisaughed, pping. This is so funny, she said as they approached a shallow cave set into the rise of the hill. People used toe here to make out.
Here? Theo asked, gesturing to the rocks. Under the rocks? There are spiders under there.
We cleared the spiders out.
We?
Sairsa went a bright shade of red, but soon regained control of herself. Some of us like to have fun.
The army assembled outside of the gate, and Aarok did his thing. It didnt take him long to get control of everyone, ensuring that his forces were prepared for the fight. There were several adventurers who were injured from the previous fight, so Theo passed out potions to those that didnt have them. After everyone was ready, the alchemist and Sarisa found their way to the wall. Tresk ranged ahead with the steal units, while Alex took to the sky.
What the heck is a grimeling? Theo asked, leaning over the wall as the wave started.
Havent heard of them, Sarisa said, squinting to see into the distance. Oh, hes calling for a retreat.
Theo and Sarisa watched as the adventurers pulled back in a fighting retreat. The alchemist got a good look at the grimelings. They were knee-high puddles of muck thatshed out with tentacle-like appendages. He decided they were elemental-like creatures, and determined that a retreat was the best option. When attacked by an adventurer, they seemed to form themselves around the weapon to avoid damage. But once the army was safely behind the walls, both the towers and a line of adventurers throwing bombs got to work.
While the little monsters were almost immune to physical attacks, they werent so resistant to fire, lightning, and cold. Their little bodies werent suited for climbing the wall, but they could push themselves through the portcullis. Theo threw a bone dagger imbued with [Dragons Dance] inside of the gate, shredding a field of the gross monsters.
Theyre nasty, Theo said, pressing the sleeve of his coat over his mouth. Smells like I dont know? Tar mixed with sewage.
Sarisa looked pale. No kidding. No wonder people dont run this dungeon.
Theo couldnt imagine what a high-level grimeling would have done to the town. Even the Level 10 monsters gave them trouble, slippery as they were. Only the towers, bombs, and warded daggers had any effect. The battle went on far longer than it should have. The monsters had spread out to the east and west, circumventing most of Aaroks n. Adventurers ran off with bombs in hand, desperate to cut them off before they reached any other gate.
Alex swooped from the sky, making runs on the fields of grimelings with her fire attacks. Thorny roots would spring up from the ground, magically binding the monsters in ce. Then she would fly over the fields, spraying them with gouts of deadly fire. The goose yed a key role in hunting down the stray monsters, and after several hours of fighting the boss finally spawned.
Grime King Sludge, Sarisa said, retching. I can smell him from here.
Were gonna need a lot of [Cleansing Scrub].
As expected, the boss was arger version of the grimelings. It looked like a living pool of tar, pulling itself through the hills with tendrils that shot out with force. The monster issued a squelching war cry as it approached the gates. Towers fired one after the other, covering the monster inyers of fire, freezing it in some ces, and stingrge chunks off in others. Theo let loose his most powerful daggers, those infused with the [Dragons Dance] property. No matter where he threw the daggers, the monsters face always seemed to drift to another part of its body.
This sucks! Tresk shouted, stomping her feet. I cant even do anything.
The wisdom of Aaroks strategy proved itself as the sludge threw itself against the gate. Most of the creatures body had been sted away, rendering it almost useless against the sturdy walls. If the adventurers hadnt been clearing the dungeon out, this wave would have been a nightmare. Theo was thankful for themanders foresight on that, and watched as the grime was whittled away to nothing. The wave ended, rewarding the alchemist with another few gold and another useless item.
Those assembled near the gate cheered in response to the boss falling, and there were no bonus waves to follow. Thank god for that. Theo was exhausted from the fight, even though his stamina had drained little. He dripped [Cleaning Scrub] on the wall, descending the battlements to inspect the fallen monsters. Pinching his nose, he knelt to inspect the goo they left behind.
[Grimeling Ooze]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Umon
The stinking goo left behind by a grimeling.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Good thing stuff doesnt stink when I put it in my inventory, Theo said, sucking the liquid into his inventory.
5.15 - Tea Parties
5.15 - Tea Parties
Theo passed through the fabric between realms, holding Tresk and Zaralis hand. As they passed over the Bridge, he felt no invite from UzXulven. He took it as a good sign. The moment they hit the ground in Terogal, his adoptive sisters face lit up. She darted from the spot, jumping to crush Belgar in a hug.
Potions are done, the spirit groaned, desperate to push his sister off.
Typically, the souls did whatever they wanted with the realm. What they had chosen to do with their time was strange, though. The game they had created was now the most popr thing in the realm. There were now four fields of leveled earth, and well-maintained grass for them to y on. Theo didnt want to think of it as ser like back on Earth. It had evolved into something else entirely. He certainly didnt remember there being two goals on each side.
Theo left Zarali and her brother to their hugging, and went off to check his potions. He popped the lid from one barrel and examined the resulting potion.
[Greater Hallow the Soil]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Purify any naturally urring soil of all alignment-based befoulment.
This was the most powerful version of the [Hallow the Soil] potion the alchemist had crafted. But experimentation would tell how effective it was at purifying the taintedndscape. At least this meant that his experimentations were a sess. And Salire was working on the next batch by brewing their alcoholic base. After that, they would enter full-scale production mode. It was a prospect that sent a tingle down Theos spine.
Very exciting, the alchemist muttered to himself.
A familiar knocking sensation entered Theos mind, followed by an unfamiliar one. He epted the first, watching as the icy archway sprung up. After a moment of thought, he epted the next one. A golden gate, iid with too much finery, sprung up next. A moment after Benton stepped into the realm, ntheir joined with him. The elven god brought with him a sense of calm that washed over everyone. The heads of every soul turned to spot the god in the in clothes.
Beautiful realm, ntheir said, his eyes dragging over thendscape. Your souls discovered football.
Theo approached the elven god with a smile on his face. Khahar brought it over. They changed the rules, but what can you do?
Not much.
Uh Oh Hi, Benton waved awkwardly. Nice to meet you. Er Lord?
ntheir is fine.
Tea? Theo asked.
Benton scampered toward the cottage as Theo and ntheir walked together. Everywhere the elven god went, he seemed to bring with him a sense of deep calm. The alchemist wanted to drink that in, allowing himself to bathe in the light. It was like being in a warm bath,plete with pleasant smells and waves offorting warmth.
Always busy, arent you? ntheir asked, finding a seat in the crowded cottage. I cant imagine your luck. A mortal realm that you can visit. And youre a champion. I would guess your advancement is quick.
Pretty fast. We have a perfect storm of things in Broken Tusk.
Benton fumbled with the teapot, almost dropping it on the ground. When ntheir smiled at him, the bear gods hands seemed to calm. They waited patiently for the tea, but helped themselves to sweets as they waited.
I have everything lined up for Sulvan, ntheir said, pausing for a moment. Shame Uharis didnt care to join.
I didnt expect either to ept. But Uharis was the wildcard, so that makes sense.
Hell spend time on Antalis. That should soften him. Then well be ready to ept him.
So, I dont want to overstep my bounds But
I love statements that start that way. ntheir smiled, selecting a berry-filled pastry. You just know the next statement is going to be loaded.
Well, why ept them at all? Wasnt the Burning Eye an enemy?
If I only epted souls from my domain, my realm would have crumbled long ago. Did you forget my speech about infinite forgiveness?
Theo remembered it. He just didnt know if he believed in it. Forgiveness was one thing, but infinite forgiveness? That kind ofpassion would get a person killed, and he wasnt sure if thats the path he would follow. Redemption is one thing, but I just cant rte.
You dont need to. Youre your own person. Live your life however you see fit. Sulvan will be a useful tool. So would Uharis, if he epts my cores.
Benton brought the steaming teapot over, pouring everyone a cup of his custom mix. ntheir epted graciously. Theo had been taking the bear gods amazing tea for granted, and gave his thanks.
This is strange, Benton said, chuckling as he took a seat.
Is it? ntheir asked. The old gods used to meet this way all the time. We would gather, and watch our followers down on the mortal ne.
What changed? Theo sipped his tea, finding the vor to be perfect. As always.
The rules changed in the first era. The gods were barred from visiting each others realms.
Theo felt another mental knock. He recognized this one, and epted it right away. Several momentster, after some polite sipping of tea, the unshrouded form of UzXulven walked into the room. She dusted her shoulders off, nodded to the group, then took a seat.
Cant miss out on Bentons food, UzXulven said, waiting politely for him to pour her tea. The bear god poured her arge cup, and she thanked him.
UzXulven wasnt around for those days, ntheir said, nodding toward the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows. Shes part of the second era gods.
UzXulven grumbled before straightening her shoulders. I was always jealous of you. Nice to finally meet you in person, though.
Agreed, ntheir said. Ive missed this so much. I can only handle spirits that want to worship the ground I walk on so much.
Theo wasnt sure where he stood in this hierarchy. Perhaps Terogal was neutral territory for everyone. Of course thats what it was. A mortal dreamrealm that allowed anyone to visit wasnt a normal thing. It was a new era for the gods.
Yet, Drogramath hasnt visited, Theo said, sipping his tea. Curious.
Hah! Good luck with that one, UzXulven muttered. He rarely talks to me. Old ntheir here responds more than my own blood.
Dont be too hard on him, ntheir scolded, like a father reprimanding his child. Drogramath has been making moves for untold eons. Hes defensive and scared.
Especially after what happened to Zagmon, UzXulven grumbled. Anyway! I was watching the progress of the undead. Theyre assaulting Veosta. Does that sting, friend?
Stolen novel; please report.
ntheirs face darkened for only a moment. He offered the table a warm smile. All part of the n.
Why would Veosta be important to you? Theo asked.
Veosta is the bastard colony of half-elves, UzXulven said. Well, thats kinda a useless sentiment, isnt it? Want to exin?
ntheir took a bite out of his pastry and nodded. He washed it down with a sip of tea. The first people to arrive in the world were all humans from Earth. We were all ced in new bodies. Elves, cat-people, goblins, ogres Curiously, none of us were given human bodies.
None? Really? Ive seen humans, though.
UzXulven chuckled. Youve seen elves, my friend.
Its elves all the way down, ntheir sighed. There were a few people who refused to ascend during the First War of Ascension. They stayed behind like Khahar, and tried to make Earth-like things. Like humans. The pozwa in your town are an experiment to make goats. The karatan are an abomination meant to be cattle. It never really worked, but the humans were the closest thing they came up with.
Not sure what I think about eugenics, Theo said.
Benton chuckled, asserting that he was indeed still at the table.
Thousands of years have a way of making people focused, ntheir said. Every human you see is actually just an elf made to look like a human. Oh, well.
Theo couldnt stop himself fromughing. That was a very godly response to the topic.
Veostas destruction is one thing, but Qavell
A loud snap issued from UzXulvens side of the table. Khahar appeared behind her, mping his hand over her mouth. We talked about this, the arbiter growled.
Yuri. Nice of you to join us, ntheir said, gesturing to the single remaining seat.
UzXulven had a look of terror in her eyes. Khahar remained there for long, tense moments. Eventually, he released his fellow god and strode across the table. He took his seat and nodded. Could I please have some tea, Benton?
Certainly, Benton said, fumbling with the teapot. He poured out a cup for Khahar, then busied himself by making another pot.
If Theo cant know it on his own, you cant tell him, Khahar grumbled. Ill create a binding agreement with the gods. Otherwise Well
Otherwise we cant alle here to hang out, ntheir said, holding his teacup up as though to toast. We understand, old friend. Id rather not lose this new hangout spot.
Theo considered the thoughts that swirled around in his mind. He was only a few pieces of information away from knowing what happened in Qavell. But his Wisdom of the Soul ability wouldnt activate. The alchemist felt it churning in his mind, but it wouldnt produce the result. He concluded that Khahar was messing with it. That was more than fair. There were some secrets of the world that needed to be kept secret, and he wouldnt pry. It wasnt worth damaging the tea parties he hade to enjoy so much.
Khahar sipped his tea, grabbing one of Bentons famous pastries. He seemed bored as he nibbled on it, eyes lingering on the space between those that had gathered.
Do you have a champion, ntheir? Theo asked, breaking the silence. All eyes turned to the elven god.
I do! She is a stalwart champion. Has been for hundreds of years now.
He has a preference for passive followers, Khahar said. And we love him for it.
Im the fabric holding everything together, Arbiter. If the mortals couldnt heal themselves, wed all be doomed.
The tea party went on for endless hours. Theo listened to the stories that Khahar and ntheir told each other. They were careful with their words. At points, the alchemist could feel them holding things back. It was the most pleasant time he ever had in Terogal. The elven gods warmth filled the realm, setting everyone in a great mood.
Time passed in the strange way it always did in Terogal. Theo gathered Zarali, who was eager to make overly polite introductions to ntheir. UzXulven departed with them,ing to rest on the Bridge rather than proceeding to the mortal realm. That would have vited a list ofws in the high heavens. The alchemists feet finally touched ground in his town, bringing a different sense offort.
Well, that was lovely, Zarali said. I do miss Belgar. Hes living an entire life in your realm.
Funny how that works. What am I supposed to do today?
Im not your assistant.
Zarali went her own way, leaving Theo to dig through his administration interface. He was supposed to be nning for the festivities in Rivers and Daub. Instead, he headed for theb to meet up with Salire. Rowan and Sarisa checked in with him, then went off to do their own things for the day. The alchemist promised to inform them if he nned to leave town via the train.
Even on the first floor of the Newt and Demon, it was hot. Theo smelled the scent of brewing liquor from theb above. He made his way to the second floor to check supplies before sending his senses through the lodestonework. His golems were hard at work, rebuilding the fields, harvesting nts from his greenhouses, and guarding the mine. As nothing seemed out of order, he made his way to theb.
Ah! Salire said, pping her hands. Did you get the stuff?
Theo produced a barrel of the [Greater Hallow the Soil] potion. Salire inspected it with glee. Nothing had changed about the description, but the silvery liquid radiated a sense of power. The alchemist wasnt sure if this was a third, fourth, or fifth tier potion. He only knew that it was powerful. The perfect thing to restore thend to what it once was.
ntheir was light on details, Theo said, stowing the potions away. Out of every patron, I expected him to take action against the undead.
Salire shivered. Dont remind me of the heavens. Im not interested in going back anytime soon. I just wish you would have trusted me to recover on my own.
Figured that one out, huh? Theo asked with a nod.
I appreciate distractions. Dont get me wrong.
Theo and Salire worked to get the next batch of potions ready. The store on the first floor had been mostly depleted from the monster waves, but taking care of the undead befoulment was at the top of their list. Adventurers could do without their healing potions for a few days while they sorted the industrial production of [Greater Hallow the Soil]. Today, they would run a batch of base alcohol for the high-tier potion. And it would take all day. At least his new apprentice was grinding experience like a fiend.
After sorting theb out, Salire joined Theo at the town hall. Alise was looking over a list of supplies needed for the three-town party. They were rolling an existing holiday, Embers, into a holiday of their own making. Treason Day. At the turn of the Season of Fire, Broken Tusk sought to celebrate their independence from Qavell. Some administrators in the alliance were of the mind that they vited nows of the crown. Others knew the truth. Whoever was in charge of Qavell City woulde knocking.
Thats what rail guns were for.
I bought all the beer, wine, mead, and so forth from everyone. Including imports from Partopour, Salire said, poking a finger into her paper. The numbers were staggering. Decorations. Music. A troupe of traveling ogres will perform a y.
Traveling ogres? Theo asked. First time Im hearing about this.
Right. Anything else?
Salire had some suggestions to make the party memorable. In ssic half-ogre logic, she suggestedrge bonfires burning in the streets of Rivers and Daub. Theo wasnt so sure about that, but he was distracted. Alran Cherman, the spymaster for the alliance, was chatting with Gwyn and Gael. The alchemist sauntered over, cing a hand on the mans shoulder.
Normally, no news is good news, Theo said, pulling his spymaster to the side. When ites to Qavell? Im not so sure.
Alran chuckled nervously. Then were of the same mind, he whispered. Come.
Theo walked with the spymaster, finding a corner to whisper their skullduggery. Alran seemed his normal, calm self. Aside from the whispering.
Thest thing my spy in Qavell said was something is happening. Then silence. My people in Veosta talk about a losing war with the undead.
How is Veosta responding?
Evacuation. Theres talk about ntheirs championing to save the day, but I doubt it. The elf lord never extends his influence outside of Tarantham. The elves like to keep to their homnd.
Do you think theyll be safe on the elven continent?
I have absolutely no doubt theyll bepletely fine. Even if the undead walk the ocean, they wont stand a chance against Elven God of Healing and his core-holders.
The undead are being controlled by Balkor, arent they? Theo asked, rubbing his chin. The edges of his mind stretched out, trying to find a motive for the Demon God of Undeath. What does he want?
Destruction?
No, he would have pressed against us. Were an easier target than the elves, arent we?
I wouldnt admit that in front of Aarok, but yes. Compared to the Taranthian Empire, were ants underfoot.
Which implies an intelligent motive. Meaning theres a n.
What about your godly friends? Why not ask them?
Theyre bound in heavenly contracts. Khahar showed up when UzXulven tried to tell me what happened in Qavell.
Alran cursed, spitting on the ground. And our friend, mister Southde?
Fenian? Hes in the wind. I only know that he is alive.
Alran hummed, scratching the growing stubble on his chin. He wasst in Balkors realm, right? Have you mentally prepared for the worst-case scenario?
What would that be?
That Fenian Feintleaf is an undead servant of Balkor.
No, that wouldplicate matters too much. Khahar was insistent that Fenian hold the Throne of the Herald. The Arbiter saw a million steps ahead, this would have been part of the n. Theo still couldnt see how sacrificing so many people was in line with the long-term n, though. For the first time since he came to this world, he sent a secret prayer to ntheir. A prayer to keep the lost souls safe. If the elven god wouldnt take them in, he would.
Id rather not consider that. Remind me to ssh him with a [Hallow Ground Potion] the next time I see him.
Alran produced a vial of the same potion from his coat. It was nestled in a hidden bandoleer. Ahead of you, alchemist.
Trust is hard to earn. Its even harder to win back.
Indeed. Could I make a request?
Of course.
Double our wall-based weaponry.
Theo intended to triple it.
5.16 - Tram Ride
5.16 - Tram Ride
Theo squinted against the horizon. Wind whipped at his face, sending tears welling in his eyes. Those tears were pulled away by the force of the wind as the alchemist rode the tram. He sat crowded with other citizens of Broken Tusk, intent on seeing Rivers and Daub. Tresk held on with both hands, gritting her teeth and cursing the entire ride. When the train pulled into the station, everyone on board breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Screw that thing! Tresk shouted, jumping out of the tram.
Theo found his legs in time, stumbling out of the train and onto the wooden tform. Music sounded in the distance, and there were people partying outside of the town. Trevas Parn, the newly elected mayor of Rivers and Daub, approached the train with a beer in either hand.
Archduke! he shouted,ughing as Theo and Tresk stumbled off of the tform and onto the firm ground. He shoved a beer in each of their hands. Wee to Rivers! To Treason Day!
Thank you, Duke Parn, Theo said, wobbling on the spot. He sipped his mug of beer, nodding with approval. It was the local brew, something simr enough to mead for him to enjoy. Things are already starting, huh?
Indeed, they are. And you must be Tresk Oh, shes gone, Trevas said, scanning the area. Tresk had vanished, off to scout the town. Shall I give you the tour?
Lead on.
Rivers and Daub had seen a substantial change. Theos heart twanged with recognition as they entered the town, following a path along the river. The town was named as it was because it was originally two towns. On one side was Rivers. On the other, Daub. They hadbined into a single town at some point. In recent memory, they were run by Alran Cherman. A corrupt man who only had an interest in lining his pockets. Broken Tusk had put him to better use, under threat of death.
Now the town thrived.
Youll remember this side of town fromst time, Trevas said with a chuckle.
The duke gestured to stacked rows of buildings. Thest time Theo was here for a tour, they were the slums of the town. Each building had looked like burned-out shanties. Filth was strewn along the streets, and citizens lived in horrid conditions. Trevas had transformed the area into a beautiful, verdant garden of well-maintained houses and cheerful people. Little gardens, filled with local flowers and saplings dotted the area.
This is amazing, Theo said. How did you manage it in such a short time?
We get a subsidy from the alliance, Trevasughed. Thought you would have known about that. We turned the slums into free housing. The only catch is that citizens who take advantage of the housing need a job with the town.
Theo walked the renewed streets, nodding at everything with approval.
This ce looks clean, Tresk said, speaking into Theos mind. Hes not hiding the slums anywhere.
The slums were on the western side of the city. Almost everywhere around Rivers and Daub were low, rolling ins. This made construction easy, both for seed core buildings and manually built ones. A group of citizens danced by, singing a song and sipping from filled tankards of mead. The alchemist watched with a smile as they passed by.
Were taking advantage of the port in Broken Tusk, Trevas said, gaining Theos attention. Happy to pay the fee, of course. Rivers and Daub hasnt sold this much produce in ages.
Funny how that works, Theo said, continuing his tour throughout the western district. It was almost entirely housing on this side. Farms stretched far into the distance at the towns edge, and the alchemist realized how much Trevas had expanded that operation. When we were connected to Qavell, we barely sold anything. Now that were cut off, were making a fortune.
Well, also remember Trevas trailed off, smacking his lips as he thought. Qavell provided more food for the world than you would think. Especially local produce, such as Qavelli Berries and Ansari Wheat.
Interesting.
Once the tour of the western district was done, Trevas led Theo to the eastern district. This was the original seat of corruption in Rivers and Daub. They had emted the merchant chairs from Qavell, resulting in a vampiric rtionship between the merchants and the citizens. The buildings here were all much better quality, despite the recent renovations. All the towns artisans, merchants, and nobles were housed here.
Im sure you read the reports, Trevas said, shifting ufortably on the cobbled road. But this was a grim ce only weeks ago.
Theo had glossed over those reports. What happened?
Oh. Well You see, the merchant lords wouldnt give up their seats. So, Alran Well, he disposed of them.
Long live the revolution, Theo muttered, pushing on with his tour.
The repeated cycle of destruction and rebirth present in this world had always stuck out to Theo. He didnt like it. It reminded him of the way things had gone back on Earth. Only, they never got to experience the rebirth part of that equation. They got to enjoy a long line of destruction, with no hope of recovery. While he hoped Khahar had some grand n to make things right, he realigned his thoughts on the present.
Trevas finished his tour at the town hall, inviting Theo inside for some tea. They had something inmon, at least. The duke of Rivers and Daub had administrators covering the days events, leaving him free to worry about other things. They sat in a well-furnished room with the window cracked open. Rivers had yet to adopt the air conditioner technology used in Broken Tusk, resulting in a sweltering interior. At least they had [Cleansing Scrub].
I hope youre enjoying your position as mayor. And duke.
I have seen little about the duke part. Trevasughed, sipping his tea. But, yes. Im enjoying my position as mayor.
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The duo chatted for some time. Theo could feel Sarisa and Rowan somewhere in the shadows nearby. Tresk was scouring the northern reaches of the town, desperate to find something that implicated Trevas as a traitor to the alliance. But no matter how long she searched, even with the help of Alex in the sky above, she couldnt find anything.
How has the corruption been? Theo asked, moving on to his third cup of tea. He didnt care much for mead.
Its not great, Trevas said. But I know our brothers and sisters in Gronro have it worse. So we dontin.
Theo pushed himself out of thefortable chair, pulling his coat closer. Show me.
Trevas led the way through the town. The streets were now thick with people celebrating the holiday. Most were already drunk, although it wasnt even noon. Those that remained sober were on guard duty, keeping an eye out for any troublemakers. In Theos administration interface, he had seen notes made by Alise to give the guards in Broken Tusk a day of their own. They were taking the celebrations in shifts.
Just up near the northern stretches, Trevas said, drawingbored breaths as they walked. Weve had several peoplein about illnesses rted to the corruption. The farmers burned one field, but nothing major.
The ground changed to a vile shade of green near the northern gate. Theo could feel the necromantic energy emanating from the ground. Even standing still, he could feel it spreading by the moment. If left untreated, the rot would spread to all corners of the continent before long.
This is worse than I expected, Theo said, kneeling to inspect the befouled soil.
I was told you were working on a treatment, Trevas said, fidgeting with his hands nervously.
Theo withdrew a barrel of the [Hallow the Soil] potion from his inventory. It fell to the ground with a loud thunk. He popped the lid, scooping a two-unit sample size with a sk and dripped it on the ground. Like the [Cleansing Scrub] potion, the ground exploded with light. From the point where he sshed it, the potion worked its way out. Perhaps a foot in each direction. Two halms, by the local measurements. He made a note of that in his mind, and continued to spread the potion. Trevas watched in amazement as the corruption was banished from his town.
I didnt know you had finished the potion, the duke said, gawking.
Yeah, take this, Theo said, producing a sk and holding it out. Well purge it from the town, then work our way out.
The archduke and the duke worked together, scooping up small amounts of the potion and spreading it on the soil. Ripples of light rolled through thendscape as they worked. A small, rowdy crowd gathered nearby as the pair worked. One among them had a stringed instrument, and began ying and singing an improvised tune. Trevas went red in the face as they worked, but within a few hours the corruption was beaten back beyond the towns border.
Im leaving this with you, Theo said, patting the half-empty barrel of [Hallow the Soil]. Just keep the corruption at bay for now. Were working on a way to disperse the potion over a wide area.
Thank you, Trevas said, pping a hand on the alchemists back. This calls for celebration!
Of course, the celebrations had already started on the streets of Rivers and Daub. The citizens didnt need the dukes permission to drink, lighting fires, and sing in the streets. Theo was left with a feeling of aplishment as he watched those people celebrate. But he was also left with a realization. This region, the middle of the southern edge of the continent, was thest enve of Qavelli culture left. Gronro to the north had a harder edge to them like the dwarves, while Broken Tusk to the south held a unique blend of ogre, marshling, and human cultures.
Theo found himself in the thick of the celebration. He desperately searched for a theme. The Dying of the Blooms festival had a contest and everything. The Embers holiday devolved into dancing around bonfires and drinking far too much. Although he had hisints about the specific themes of the holiday, the alchemist joined with his people around the fires. He even spotted some of his administrators dancing around a fire, and spied Alise singing a song to Nira.
What a sight, Theo said, turning away from the festivities to find a quiet corner. He slumped against a stone wall, sensing Rowaning forth from the shadows.
Big party, the half-ogre grunted.
I thought there would be more to it.
Some people need to release their frustrations. No reason to stop them.
Theo nodded, watching as a pair of humans tumbled down some stairs. He allowed his mindset to shift. Away from a taskmaster and toward an enjoyer of parties. Celebrations were never something he was interested in on Earth, but he saw the value in them here. Citizens of the alliance lost themselves around those bonfires. As they danced, their troubles seemed to melt away. Perhaps that was due to the titanic quantity of booze they had, but still. It hardly seemed to matter at the moment.
Rowan and Theo roamed the party, finding nomon theme between the various roads and alleys of the town. The alchemist found that he liked this celebration more than thest festival. It was free of constraints, allowing those participating to express themselves however they wanted. That allowed him to melt into the background as an observer, rather than a participant.
Lining the bank of the river were people. They cheered, and jeered, as something happened in the waters below. Theo watched them throw coins on the ground, betting on whatever was happening. He angled his way through the crowd, pushing to the rivers edge. Standing on a single log were two figures. Tresk and Grogrog Stormfist, the duke of Gronro-Dir, were rolling a log. Each had a tankard of mead in their hand, and were chugging it as though their lives depended on it. When either person finished their drink, the crowd would shout a number before tossing them another sloshing mug.
Theo withdrew a cold coin from his inventory, tossing it down onto the ground. Like the others around him, he shouted his bet. One gold on the angry lizard!
Tresk shot Theo a look, but chugged her beer even faster. The battle raged on for minutes, each participant downing a seemingly endless supply of booze. The alchemist cheered the entire time, certain that his champion would falter at any moment. The marshling wasnt great at holding her liquor, and he could sense her gging more by the moment. Keeping the log in ce was a feat unto itself, so the spectacle was worth the price of admission.
Shes faltering, Rowan said, gesturing toward Tresk.
The little marshling had indeed lost her bnce for a moment. Through their connection, Theo could feel her mind fading away from the task. The mead was taking its hold on her, dulling the edges of her senses. Before long, she wouldnt have the coordination to stay upright. That prediction only took a few minutes toe to fruition. Tresk pitched over the edge, yelping as she sshed into the cold river water below.
Never challenge a dwarf to a drinking contest! Grot shouted, returning to his chugging. He took a deep breath. Who''s next!?
Another challenger jumped onto the log, but quickly found themselves in the river. Theo sensed that Tresk had retreated to their private realm to recover, but was too busy cheering for more challengers to care. Minutester the marshling appeared at his side, cracking her knuckles.
Im gonna do it again.
Theo left the logpetition, finding simr contests going on throughout the town. Perhaps that was the soul of their new hybrid holiday. Lighting fires and testing each others strength with interesting battles. The least interesting thing he witnessed was a fire-jumping contest. Guards within Rivers and Daub refused to allow folks to spread embers throughout the streets. The result was pathetic fires that anyone could jump over.
The guards within the town were an interesting sight. Before the alliance had formed, Theo thought of them as weak. But Aarok was building them up to be more than anyone could have imagined. No longer able to rely on the protective curtain of the crown, they were now subjected to the same training as everyone else. Their willingness to change in the face of a threat was inspiring.
Falling into a steady rhythm of watching people party, and inspecting the infrastructure of the town, Theo made his way through the festivities.
5.17 - Purge
5.17 - Purge
Tresk groaned, rolling and falling out of her bed. Ugh. My head.
The poor marshling crawled along the ground, finding a spot in the room where the sun wasnt shining. Theo threw his legs over the edge of his bed, watching the poor creature curl into a ball. She went too hard yesterday. No matter how many times Grot beat her on the log, she kept trying. While she expected the Dreamwalk to cure her hangover, it just didnt happen.
Too bad I never found sanchrin, Theo said, finding a bucket to ce near hispanion. You should retreat to Terogal.
Alex honked, pping her wings in agreement.
Good idea, Tresk groaned. Then she vanished on the spot, set to return in about five minutes.
Theo went down for breakfast, finding Xolsa and Zarali already eating. He found a seat and looked over the spread that Sarisa and Rowan had gotten from Xams tavern. She was smart enough to know that people would search for greasy food. Sausages, oil-fried pozwa eggs, and a strange hangover cure that contained mostly fire smander egg shells. The alchemist passed on the cure, going instead for a te filled with sausages.
Our Theo is wise enough to know, Xolsa said, jabbing his finger into the air. A leader never gets too drunk.
He has an aversion to drinking, Zarali said. She poked at the sausages on her te. Be nice.
I was mostly interested in how far Rivers hade. Theo took a small bite of a sausage, finding the vor to be explosive. Whisper had a secret blend of spices she wouldnt reveal to anyone, no matter how much they begged. Their new duke is doing well.
The conversation rolled on, mostly falling on pleasant topics. Both Zarali and Xolsa had seen Treskpeting in the log-rolling contest. Both agreed it was foolish to challenge a dwarf to drinking. After the conversation died, resulting in a temporary wave of silence in the dining room, Tresk thundered down the stairs. She snatched several things from the table. After shoving them down her throat, she darted out of the building without a word.
None seated at the table saw this as odd.
After chatting for a while, Theo left the manor and headed off to theb. Salire wasnt there, which likely meant she was hung over from the night before. The alchemist rummaged through her notes down in the shop, finding that there were several orders in for restoration potions. A quick thought to his lodestonework, and his nt golems were carrying supplies upstairs for him.
Theo designated three of his stills toward the production of restoration potions. He would use the remaining seven to create [Greater Hallow the Ground] potions. He ground [Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots], [Manashrooms], and [Moss Nettle] into three stills. The golems came in part-way through the process, bringing enough supplies to bolster his emptied stocks. While the new crop of [Dragon Talon Mushrooms] werent cultivated to their fullest, they were close enough for this batch of [Suffuse Potions].
By the time Theo got most of the ingredients ground and the stills boiling, Salire stumbled into theb. She had dark circles under her eyes, and pulled away from any source of light.
Theres a cure for hangovers, Theo said, finishing thest of his stills. He moved to the far side of the room, cranking his air conditioner to full.
Why havent you brewed it? Salire grumbled, walking like a zombie throughout the room. She was looking for something.
Id need a sample of the sanchrin nt.
Do we have any [Fire Smander Eggs]?
Youre after that half-ogre hangover cure, arent you? Xam is serving it.
Salires hooded gaze scraped over the room,nding tly on Theo. Be right back.
Theoughed to himself, then double-checked his stills. They were all set on automatic runs, which wouldnt require his attention. The three restoration essences were distilling straight into barrels, while the [Refined Suffuse Essence] would go directly into the buildings storage. The alchemist once again turned his attention to the lodestonework, closing his eyes to probe the strength of his willpower. When he had first attached thework to Terogal, the connection was tenuous. But as the days rolled on, that connection grew more stable.
Time for an upgrade, Theo said, ordering his army of nt golems to the back of theb. He assembled piles of vegetation as he waited for them.
The strength of the golems connection to Terogal had grown to a point where he was confident they could all be upgraded. He turned each [Lesser nt Golem] into a [nt Golem], watching with satisfaction each time they assembled themselves. The second tier golems were stronger, faster, and more intelligent thanks to their higher-level cores. While he had made no improvements to their containment core, the monster core upgrade was enough.
The alchemist returned to theb to find Salire crunching on raw smander eggs. He excused himself, making his way to Throks workshop. The angry marshling was there, working on one of his hover engines.
This right here, Throk said without even turning around. Is a small version of my power condenser.
Theo spotted the device. It was a small, glowing artifice packed into a Drogramathi Iron cage. He could feel it sucking ambient power in from the surrounding air. Throk didnt stop there, though. He turned, holding another device in his hands. It was a metal frame that seemed perfectly shaped to fit the alchemists mana tes.
I already tested this with a discarded mana construct of yours, Throk said, holding it out for Theo to inspect. The siphon should charge your construct, allowing your golems to operate for longer periods of time. The recharging will degrade the constructs, so theyll need to be changed weekly? I dont know.
Excellent work, Theo said, taking the artifice from Throk. I was just working on my golems.
Well, theyre doing good work out in the field. Throk sighed. Folks like the wheat youre growing. And I know those copper golems have done good work in the mine.
How many of these can you produce? Theo asked.
Ill give you a trickle. Gearing up for full-scale production on my remote sprayer tform.
That was exciting. Judging by the Tworgnothi Copper cablesying around the workshop, Throk had taken Theos advice on controlling the airship remotely. That project was turning out to be more of a floating tform that sprayed potions from up high, but it didnt need to operate at a high altitude. If the airship-thing was controlled remotely, there was no risk that the operator would get sick from the necromantic taint.
How are your normal sprayers operating in Gronro? Are they doing well?
Theyve been doing fine, Throk said, waving Theos concerns away. Not enough moving parts for magical interference.
Next question. What do you think about the ambient necromantic mana lingering in the air? Is that going to reinfect thend once weve purged it?
Were in triage mode. Throk banged a wrench against the side of some machine. It kicked to life, humming in the workshops corner. Better to focus our efforts on one thing at a time.
Theo knew that was true, but couldnt help himself. He understood a bit more about the way that power leaking from realms worked. Like a newly born star, the resurrected realm of Balkor would have been bright in the nights sky. As the he chatted with Throk, the alchemist summoned a [nt Golem] for testing.
Oh, youre going to do it here? In myb?
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Why not?
I dont know. What if it explodes?
Theo regarded his golem, thinking about that possibility. The containment core should have been strong enough to prevent the thing from exploding. That was the most over-engineered part of the golems, after all. Since all the power passed through that containment core, there shouldnt have been an issue. Throk was too used to the alchemists promises of no explosions, forcing him to take the golem outside for testing.
Were recing the siphon system, and the mana system, Theo said, urging the golem to kneel to his level. Unlike an artifice, we dont have to wire this manually. Everything should just work.
Lets hope so.
Theo withdrew the crude mana construct from the golems chest. It sagged,rge sections of decaying vegetation sloughing off in sheets. He jammed Throks new condenser into the things chest before slotting his old mana construct into the new battery device. While the old mana construct needed an upgrade, this wasnt the time. The alchemist was happy enough to get this one steppleted. With everything inside the golem, he sent a mentalmand for it to awaken.
The golem drew the various pieces of vegetation into itself. It swelled as visible motes of mana drew inward, seeding the creatures mana construct with power. Momentster, it moved, searching formands from the lodestonework.
That worked. Shockingly, Theo said, inspecting the golem. Everything seemed to function, but the amount of power it drew from the air was low. The only part I have to work on is the mana construct in your battery system.
You could always use my coins, Throk shrugged. Or a te of Drogramathi Iron, maybe? Well, we would have to worry about discharge rates
Throk had some ideas on how to make that part of the golems better, but Theos mind centered on one fact. The golems should have been immune to the power of Balkor. If anyone needed to go out into the area north of Gronro, they could. The fleeting thought that his golems could act as massive siphons, removing energy from the air, left his mind as quickly as it entered. The necromantic magic that ruined thend was mana-based, not power-based. The difference was subtle, but mana was refined power. And Throks new artifices epted power, not mana.
Theo was once again reminded that this was a problem for another time. Instead of fretting about it, he inspected his new golem and made ns to go to Gronro-Dir today.
[nt Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 20
nt Golems excel at tending to the natural world, while also having mildbat capabilities.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Drogramathi Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Fald Scrier] (Level 20)
Medium: [nt Matter]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Tworgnothi Copper Battery]
Siphon System: [Tworgnothi Copper Siphon Artifice]
Additional Modifications: None
After chatting with Throk for a bit, Theo left to head to theb. Despite their industrial production of the [Greater Hallow the Soil] potion, he didnt have the confidence he expected. This was the cure to heal thend, but they needed so much. The quantity required was staggering, and the more he thought about it the more he wanted another solution. But like the old marshling said, there was only so much they could do. The Soutnds Alliance needed to focus their efforts on what they could change now. Like, right now. The folks in Gronro had it the worst, so immediate action was required.
The alchemist stuffed Drogramathi Iron bars into his inventory, soaking a construct tablet with [Fire Essence] as Salire watched him work. Theo double-checked his supplies before opening his administration interface, creating a new note. Alise would be mad if he didnt tell her he was headed to Gronro to work on the corruption problem.
You sure you dont want toe? Theo asked, packing a fewst-minute things away into his inventory.
Im certain, Salire said,ughing nervously. Someone has to watch the stills. Right?
Theo only nodded his response. Maybe it was time to upgrade theb again. But more alchemy equipment didnt mean more potions. Theb was at its capacity based on supply, rather than production. It didnt take long for Alise to sign off on the trip to Gronro-Dir. Everyone in town had been worried about the town, although they didnt express it. That problem was a shadow hanging over everyone.
Ready? Theo asked, waiting and watching the shadows. Momentster, Rowan and Sarisa emerged. They nodded in unison.
Iming, too, Alex said from afar. Theo could sense her circling overhead.
Can you keep up?
Well see.
The journey to Gronro-Dir would have taken days, if not weeks, on foot. Throks absurdly fast tram made the trip possible in an hour or two, depending on factors the marshling wouldnt exin. Theo reflected on theck of fixed rail systems in this world as he made his way to the tform. He would put money on the fact that Bantein and Partopour had something simr, if not another transportation system entirely. Tarantham seemed too stuffy to embrace such things, though.
Theo and his assistants climbed into the train car, strapping themselves in with a surly-looking dwarf. The attendant at the station waited for the all-clear, then sent the cart hurtling down the track. Opening ones eyes and looking directly forward was a recipe for disaster. The alchemist kept his eyes shut tight as thendscape whipped by, preventing his eyeballs from drying out in an instant. No conversation could ur during the trip. The passengers listened to the sound of wind rushing by, and the asional hum of the cart as it shot up a hill.
When the tram finally pulled into the Gronro station, all passengers disembarked on shaking legs. Theo felt the oppressive presence of the necromantic energy swirling around him in an instant. The guards near the main gate looked pale, almost sickly. Even the sky above glowed with an eerie green hue. Grot waved at the group from the gates, a smile painting his face.
Wee, archduke! he shouted, seemingly unaffected by the foul air. Theo felt sick to his stomach.
Duke Stormfist, Theo said, bowing his head slightly. Sorry for the unannounced visit. I wanted to see the stain of Balkor myself.
Look around. Grots face darkened slightly. The mountain itself screams in agony.
Gronro was at a considerably higher elevationpared to both Rivers and Broken Tusk. Nestled between two mountain ranges, the town had been the ideal spot to stop the undeads advancement. Grot had held Murder Passage the entire time, never losing a soldier during the fight. But now the people were gging. Balkor had left behind a befoulment that would continue unless they intervened.
Off to the wall, Theo muttered, pping his hand on Grots shoulder as he went. Is everyone holding up?
Only just. Were taking it in shifts. Folks get sick. They run down to the Tusk to get some rest, then return when theyre ready.
I dont envy your position. Theo watched a group of slumped soldiers as they passed. Whatever this sickness was, it ran deep. The alchemist paused as they passed by the towns monolith. That doesnt look like Broken Tusks monolith.
No, the one in your town is weird, Grot said, standing next to the root-like structure of his monolith. Broken Tusks crystalline monolith looked as though it could be made of onyx, or obsidian. The one here in Gronro appeared more like a tangle of roots, formed into the shape of a pir with little blue fruiting crystals on the knotted surface.
The towns seed core felt weaker than Broken Tusks version. With what little magical sense he had, Theo reached out and felt theposition of the seed core. It wasnt low-leveled. A Level 20 seed core town should have flooded his weak senses with an errant will. But there was almost nothing behind the town. If he tried, the alchemist could pierce through the things will and dominate it. That wouldnt bring anything, positive or negative.
Strange, Theo said, moving off from the towns center.
The northern walls werepletely abandoned. Theo and his assistants ascended the battlements, peering over the edge to the endless expanse of undeath. Piles of skeletons created mounds almost as tall as the walls in the distance. The narrow bridge had been cleared, but the ravines below must have been filled with Balkors leavings. Everything was soaked in the necromantic energy. Even the stones beneath their feet.
Im worried the energy is going to soak into your town seed core, Theo said.
If it hasnt already, Grotughed, regaining some of his humor.
The alchemist withdrew a barrel of his [Greater Hallow the Soil] potion in a barrel. He produced a sk, dipping it into the solution and sshing it on the ground. The effect was immediate and violent. Light soaked into the stones, washing across half of the northern wall to scour it clean. In a sh, all those on the wall breathed in fresh air. The color returned to Grots face.
Thats something else, the dwarf said, kneeling to inspect the stones.
Theo thought back to his experiments in Rivers. He used the same amount of potion to cover the same amount of area, gaining the same result. This meant that the potion didnt care how foul the ground was. If it was only slightly tainted, or corrupted absolutely it would clear it away.
We can cover the entire town today. Then some of the corruption outside of the northern gate, Theo said, licking his lips. Despite his expectations for fortitude, his stomach was twisting in on itself. Being so close to the corruption made him want to vomit. I might have something else, too.
Sarisa, Rowan, and Grot all grabbed sks and joined with the alchemist. The purged Balkor from Gronro over the course of hours. Those pale-faced soldiers in the town regained theirposure the moment the town was cleared.
It worked. Theo breathed a sigh of relief.
Grot pped him hard on the back,ughing. Was there ever any doubt?
Theo declined to answer, turning his attention to the area north of town.
5.18 - Clearing The Way
5.18 - Clearing The Way
Ripples of pure white light washed over the bridge outside of Gronro. Theo worked with hispanions to drive Balkors influence back, sending the befouling necromantic magic retreating into the mountains. The alchemist reserved half a barrel of [Greater Hallow the Soil] for the southern section of town, but intended to scrub as much of the northern section clean as possible. Destroying the source was more important than addressing the residual energy.
Theo stepped over the bridge, approaching a pile of skeletal remains cautiously. The pile of bones seethed with more of the demon gods power, and the potion didnt affect it. I dont think these skeletons are dead.
Can skeletons die? Rowan grumbled, releasing a single arrow into the pile. It didnt move.
Grot approached the pile, then dug through it with abandon. We hit some skeletons with conventional means. The dwarf withdrew a skull with glowing green eyes from the pile. It chattered, emitting a low, whispering moan. Yeah. Its still alive.
Back in the pile, Theomanded, watching as the dwarven dukeplied.
Once the skull was back in the pile, Theo tossed a [Hallow Ground Bomb]. He watched with satisfaction as the pile of bones lit up with white mes. After a few minutes of burning, every undead within the heap was truly dead. The souls that were trapped within the skeletons were sent into the void, where they would find their way to their new homes. That might have been Balkors realm, or another god entirely. It was hard to say.
The group got back to work, clearing piles and curing thend. Theo pulled Sarisa aside as they worked. A thought had been lingering in his mind since they started their work that day. I have two ideas.
Here we go, Sarisa said, smiling.
The towns core is weak. I can ward it with my newest ward easily. That would create a safe bubble around the town.
And the second idea?
Theo sshed some [Greater Hallow the Soil] potion on the ground. He watched the wave of light wash over the ground. I can ovey my realm over the town. That was my first idea when we got here. Before I felt how weak the towns core was.
Sarisas amused expression shifted to concern. You can do that? Would that do anything?
It was worth experimenting with things like this. Theo nned on warding the town, rather than ovepping his realm here. But any avenue of power was worth pursuing, so it was important to consider it.
It would remove Balkors influence entirely. But Im not confident I could do the entire town.
Then go with the ward. No need to stir up a demon god.
Theo nodded, getting back to work. He let that reckless part of himself fall away, favoring something that would protect the town rather than bolster his own confidence. As he worked around the craggy area, he constructed a new ward in his mind. Combining both concepts of anti-undead essences, and magic repulsion, he could create a linked ward that did a bit of both. Thanks to his [Detect Adverse Magic] trigger, the spell was easy enough to craft.
The group finished their work, meeting back at the gates to observe the changed area. The haze of green that lingered in the air had been banished. When they breathed in the air, it felt crisp and pure. Of course, Grot withdrew a barrel of stale-smelling beer from his inventory. Theo politely had a mug, but refused another. The guards within the town poured out into the cleaned area, kicking off an impromptu celebration. Of course, the alchemist had more work to do.
Theo felt Alex flying overhead. She might have been confident that she could keep up, but that proved not to be the case. After hours of work in Gronro, she caught up. He could feel her exhaustion from the flight, and beckoned her tond.
I cannot fly fast, Alex spoke into Theos mind.
I can see that, Theo said, watching as the goose sagged on the spot. You can ride the train back home. Well leave as soon as I finish here.
Thank you.
Taking a seated position near the towns core, Theo got to work on his newest spell. Sarisa seemed interested, kneeling nearby and watching him work. The moment he pressed his willpower against the town, he felt it fall away. There was virtual no defense against his probing, which made sense. He wasnt casting a negative effect on the town. The spell he wove was two parts, requiring him to chug a few [Mana Potions] while he cast. First, heyered the concept of the [Deflect Magic] ward he had created before.
[Deflect Magic]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive barrier that impedes all foreign magical energy from entering the bubble.
Trigger:
Detect Adverse Magic
Duration:
5 days.
Theo linked another ward to that one, binding it together with his [Linked Wards] ability. The result was a ward that bound the effects of [Deflect Magic] and [Hallow Ground] together. He inspected the resulting ward after weaving them together.
[Deflect Necromantic Magic]
[Advanced Ward] [Linked Ward
Creates a reactive barrier that banishes all undead-aligned magic.
Trigger:
Detect Adverse Magic
Duration:
5 days.
It only took a few moments for the ward to activate. A silver barrier sprung up from the towns seed core, spreading out over the town in an instant. It epassed the entire town, bringing with it shouts of surprise and awe from the citizens. Theo slipped to one side, tripping over his own feet. Sarisa was there to catch him.
Took a lot out of you.
Theo nodded. It took something more than mana to create the ward. And he wasnt done. The alchemist went back to his sitting position, withdrawing supplies from his inventory. He ced a pile of [Drogramathi Iron Ingots] on the ground, then got to work binding a new [Monster Core] to a containment core. He tossed the core onto his pile of metal, then his [Fire Construct]. It erupted in mes, melting the iron instantly. The [Drogramathi Iron Golem] rose, the ck-purple metal glittering in the afternoon sun.
One more experiment, Theo said, channeling the same ward he used on the town onto the golem. It was much easier to brand the hulking metal golem, and the barrier sprung up immediately. Hes a walking undead cleaner.
The golem regarded Theo without expression. It was a nk te, waiting for orders. The alchemist withdrew two more things. A lodestone to bind his will to, and a [Mana Construct] to power the golem while it worked. This wasnt the ideal n. The alchemist had wanted a golem that would walk around, sucking up the ambient energy in the air. But for now, he could set the golem to scour thendscape while he wasnt in town.
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As with most things, there wasnt one solution that would fix the corruption problem. It was a long list of things he needed to do. The most important thing was to change and adapt as they went. Balkors energy was a living thing. There was no reason to assume it wouldnt shift to meet the alchemists measures. Perhaps that meant it would double down, growing more powerful and resistant to the [Hallow Ground Potions]. Or maybe the undead would return.
Thats something, Sarisa said, looking up at the golem. As with all the second-tier golems, it was huge. Unnecessarily so. Whats he gonna do? Guard the town?
An undead cleaner, Theo repeated, driving the base of his lodestone into the ground. Hell wander around, clearing the mountains while were not here. And if I link him to Terogals will
Theo had to focus hard on the lodestone. He added a fraction of his willpower to the stone before linking it to his realm. He felt a thread of connection spear through the void, then into Terogal. Distantly, he felt the power of his lodestonework in Broken Tusk falter. Thatwork should have been smart enough to release one golem from its control, making way for this new one.
I can tell what hes doing, Theo finished, looking up at his creation with pride. He wove a series of instructions into the lodestone. The golem would walk around the mountains, clearing away the corruption with the ward. It would return to town when low on power and report back if it found anything odd.
The hulking golem lumbered away, drawing a crowd from the locals as it went. Before long, Grot came asking about the intimidating thing. Theo exined it, and the duke seemed happy enough. These were the three means the alchemist intended to use to clear the town of corruption. Golem sentinels, undead-clearing potions, and town-sized wards. It was a lot for one man to do, but he was up for the challenge.
Can you find your way back to Broken Tusk? Theo asked. Sarisas face took on a look of confusion. Im headed to my realm. From there, I can jump to wherever Tresk is.
Oh. Uh Can you bring me along?
Me, too? Rowan asked, approaching in a drunken stupor.
Theo shrugged. Grab the goose, Rowan. Sarisa, take my hand.
Rowan scooped Alex up, nuzzling his face into her plumage. Sarisa grabbed Theos hand tightly. She was mmy, meaning she was nervous. Most people didnt like falling through the void, but the alchemist enjoyed it. The infinite ckness put things into perspective. Theo and Alex dropped through the veil, leaving Gronro-Dir at the same time. UzXulven didnt summon them onto the Bridge, allowing them passage directly to Terogal.
The spirits were doing their own things, and there were even a few new souls to the mix. Theo epted them errantly, watching as familiar archways sprung up. UzXulven, Benton, and ntheir entered the realm at the same time. They said nothing to the alchemist, chatting amongst themselves as they moved into the cottage. Rowan and Sarisa just looked around, dumbstruck as ever.
After epting five new souls into his realm, Theo headed to the cottage for some tea. Hispanions joined him, but Alex teleported away. He felt her head for the sea. Off to hunt some fish, no doubt. The alchemist found his seat at the table, listening in on the conversation as Benton made tea. ntheir was an extremely supportive conversationalist. He encouraged both Benton and UzXulven to pursue pet projects they had been working on. After light conversation, scones, and some tea, the Elven God of Healing turned to Theo.
Are you ready to transport Sulvan? ntheir asked.
Theo took a sip of his tea. Im ready if youre ready.
We should do it outside, ntheir said, standing and dusting the crumbs from his in robes. Just in case.
Theo left with the elven god. Instead of bringing Sulvan to the town of souls, he teleported himself and ntheir far away. There was a mountain range to the west, just beyond the sea he had created, that was isted enough. In a snap, both men appeared in a heavily forested area. Conifers grew skyward, and the sound of forest creatures skittering in the underbrush echoed off their trunks. A delighted smile yed across the elfs face.
Im ready when you are, ntheir said.
Closing his eyes, Theo felt for connections with his willpower. It was as though a million threads spread out from him in every direction. Through intuition, he focused on one. Sulvans thread felt like a cool summers breeze. The alchemist wrapped his willpower around that thread and tugged, sending a strange sensation spreading through his body. A momentter, and a loud popping sound, Sulvan metouched appeared in the forest.
Sulvans eye was still missing, and his face was a webwork of old scars. But the humility that now lingered in his remaining eye was shocking. The big man took a knee, casting his gaze to the ground. I am not worthy of forgiveness, Lord ntheir.
None of that lord stuff, ntheir said, waving the thought away. Rise, Pdin of the Eye.
Sulvan rose to his feet, eye still glued to the ground.
Too bad Uharis didnt want toe, Theo said.
Give him time, Sulvan said.
ntheir cleared his throat. I dont like pdins. Therefore, Im not offering you a [ntheir Pdins Core]. Im offering you a [ntheir Clerics Core]. Is that agreeable?
I live to serve.
And serve you shall. ntheir chuckled, punching Theo in the arm. Sulvans heart was so wrapped up in his service to the Eye, that he couldnt see how much the beast warped his heart. When the Eye hears about
A loud snapping sound came from behind ntheir. Khahar appeared with a scowl on his face.
Sorry, Yuri, ntheir said, wincing. Im just excited to see this mans redemption.
Sulvan took a knee once more.
Mortal, Khahar said, looking down at Sulvan with spite. If it was within my ability, I would strip you of your personal level. Reset you to Level 1 and watch you flounder through the ages.
I ept whatever punishment I deserve, Sulvan said, head still bowed.
Really? Khahar asked, surprised.
Yes, Arbiter.
Oh, my. This might get interesting, Khahar said, snapping his fingers.
Terogal warped around Sulvan. Space bent, but the ex-inquisitor remained motionless. Theo felt his intent through the realm, like an echo. He had spent his entire life serving the Burning Eye. But he wasnt a willing servant. The Eye had bent his will, filling his mind with whatever nonsense suited the dead god. Well, perhaps not a dead god, since ntheir slipped up earlier. All that regret poured off him like an open faucet, flooded through his body and soaking into the surrounding air.
All 100 Levels you gained while in the Eye''s service have been purged. A fact only possible by your willingness to serve ntheir, Khahar said, looking down on Sulvan with an expressionless gaze. Rise, Cleric of ntheir. Are you prepared to serve?
Theo watched in awe as Sulvan stood. He was smaller. Less broad in the shoulders, and shorter. A pair of gray eyes stared back at Khahar. Twoplete eyes. The scars that tracked the mans face were gone entirely. Other signs of age had been purged, such as the lines at the corners of the mans eyes. A smile crept across his face.
You understand what I ask of my followers, right? ntheir asked. Forgiveness. One day you may have to forgive even the Eye. Are you prepared to do so?
Ill do anything to atone, Sulvan said, locking eyes with ntheir.
Theo felt his conviction in the air. The fire of the Eye had been reced with another kind of warmth. Heat that spread from his chest. It was absolute and unwavering. A sh of light issued from Sulvans chest.
Now, lets y some poker, Khahar said, twirling his finger in the air. They all appeared outside of the cottage in an instant. Each one of them filed into the building, finding a seat at the table as the Arbiter produced his deck of cards.
Look at him, Benton said, gesturing to Sulvan. Reborn and all that.
Sulvan remained silent, finding his seat at the table. The bear god poured him a cup of tea, and scooted a berry scone across the table. The newly reborn Cleric epted the food with humility, but he couldnt hide his constant smile. After ying poker for several hours, Khahar had to take his leave. ntheir remained to chat with Benton for a while, but Theo pulled Sulvan aside. He teleported them to the ocean where Alex was still hunting for fish in the water.
Uharis wille around, Sulvan said, looking at his hands as though they werent his own. Do you know his surname?
Bouched, right?
All followers of the Eye get new surnames, Sulvan said, removing his shoes. He approached the beach, digging his toes into the sand. Those with the Bouched surname are the most fervent.
While that was interesting, there was only one question lingering in Theos mind. I need to ask, he said,ughing. Are there really people on Antalis?
There are, Sulvan said, nodding and smiling. An entire civilization living up there. Living their lives.
Do they have ess to the system? To cores?
They do. But I have a question for you.
What is it?
Have you forgiven me? Truly?
Theo didnt have to think about that one. He had experienced the effects of a cores influence before. Even if Drogramaths intentions were good, the demon god had tried to manipte him. Sulvan had at least 100 Levels in his Eye-aligned core. The alchemist couldnt imagine how devastating that would be for a persons personality. Over those 100 Levels, Sulvan would have be an entirely different person. The man standing before him was the true Sulvan.
I forgive youpletely, Theo said, cing a hand on the clerics shoulder. ntheir didnt say it, but Im pretty sure youreing back with me. To Broken Tusk and the alliance. I trust you around my people, but
Ill sign a contract, Sulvan said. Already signed one with ntheir, but Im happy to do it again.
Theo and Sulvan lingered near the ocean for the rest of their time in Terogal. While they spoke little, they shared a lot in their silence. When the time came, they found Sarisa and Rowan. The alchemist linked arms with Sulvan and Sarisa while Rowan held the goose. Tresk was standing guard on the walls in Broken Tusk, and the group fell through the void toward her.
5.19 - Sulvan Flametouched
5.19 - Sulvan metouched
Shafts of sunlight filtered through the boughs of the cypress trees overhead. Theo and his groupnded on the walls of Broken Tusk, right behind the dutiful marshling. Tresk turned, eyes narrowing the moment her sight locked onto Sulvan metouched. The alchemist expected her daggers to appear in her hand, then the attack that would follow. But she remained where she was, looking more puzzled than angry.
Whats he doing here?
Sulvan stood, slightly less tall than he was before. His normally imposing demeanor had been drawn out of him by ntheir. Now he seemed just as likely to providefort as an inquisition. With a slight bow of his head, he regarded Tresk. Through sacrifice, I have been given another chance.
Tresk crossed her arms and snorted. Didnt think you were gonna bring him back so quickly. Thought youd make him squirm.
Uharis can do squirming enough for the both of them, Theo said, dismissing the tension in the air with a wave of his hand. How many people remember how much of a dick Sulvan was?
Almost everyone who was here when you arrived remember him, Sarisa said, making herself known. Just another dickish bully from the outside.
Theo grunted a response, his mind drifting away from the problem. People would ept Sulvan because they needed to. He doubted that there were many holders of a ntheir core outside of Tarantham. And once the cleric got some levels in his new core, he would be vital to fighting the undead. In the alchemists mind, all was forgiven. Things lined up perfectly to bring Sulvan here. Transporting someone from the moon to below was a massive feat. It required the approval of both UzXulven and Khahar.
Lets go, Theo said, turning on the spot. Sulvan fell in line behind him.
It was a quick walk to the Adventurers Guild. The ce was bustling with people from Broken Tusk, Gronro, and Rivers and Daub. Theo pushed his way through those people, finding Aarok in his office on the floors above. The half-ogres mouth hung open as Sulvan took a seat, folding his hands in hisp as though he were an attentive student.
All right, Aarok said, mouth hanging open. This is a development.
Theo forestalled eaching question, exining the situation. As always, Aarok listened to the newest string of weird circumstances the alchemist presented. He nodded along, eyes never leaving Sulvan.
So you can teleport to the moon? Aarok asked, scratching his head.
This was theplicated part. It wasnt really teleportation. Theo had borrowed the authority of UzXulven and Khahar to poke a hole through reality using the Bridge. He then invited Sulvan to step through. This was an act only aplished because of their connection. Khahar or UzXulven could have denied the transport. The alchemist had a feeling that the other throne-holder in the world, Fenian, had a say. Whether he could say anything was still a mystery.
Yeah. Kinda.
Are you certain hes on our side?
Ive been reduced to Level 30, Sulvan said. Each personal level I gained while in the Eye''s service has been stripped.
Oh. Okay. Aarok leaned back in his chair, smiling. I could take you, then. Half the towns adventurers could take you. That works.
I doubt he started with an ability to help with Balkors magic. Theo drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair, staring into the middle-distance. But this is a start.
Alise wont have a problem with it. Aarok gave a massive shrug. Shes from Veosta or whatever.
Alise is from an area north of Qavell, Theo corrected. She wasnt here when Sulvan was a problem. Sorry, Sulvan.
Sulvan shrugged.
Were going to sign a contract, then Ill introduce him to the administrators, Theo said, pulling up his [Contracts] ability. He began drafting his standard contract. After that, well get him a ce to stay and a stipend for his healing abilities. You can heal, right?
I was gifted two spells by my lord. [Cure Wounds] and [Purge Disease].
Perfect, Theo said, typing away. Well work out the details, but youll have enough to live on. I suppose I should ask. Do you have any ns?
My n is to follow the word of ntheir. Once I have atoned, I have business to settle elsewhere.
Excellent. Very mysterious, Theo said in monotone as he copy-pasted most of his old contract. He made sure to change the names. Once he was done, he sent the contract over. Sulvan didnt read it. He signed it immediately.
Time for introductions, Theo said, rising to his feet. Dont glower at Alise too much. Shell take it personally.
Theo and Sulvan bid farewell to Aarok. They headed over to the Town Hall, finding it even busier than the guild. Seeing so many peopleing here to solve their problems gave him pause. He didnt want to be the sole person these people came to. The alchemist had built his administrative team to sort those things out, leaving him to work on projects like this. He heard the cleric beside him muttering a prayer to ntheir.
Better than worshiping demons, I guess, Theo breathed, ascending the stairs to the third floor.
Theo cracked the door to the meeting room open, spotting Alise, Gwyn, and Gael lounging. They all looked exhausted. The alchemist entered the room, putting on his best smile.
Guys, this is our new cleric, Theo said, gesturing to Sulvan.
Awful big for a cleric, Gael grumbled. A cleric of which god, archduke? Weve had just about enough of Spits magic.
Tada! Hes a follower of ntheir.
Gael sputtered. I think not. Hes hardly an elf.
Alise narrowed her eyes at the cleric. Sulvan?
She wasnt supposed to know about you, Theo whispered.
Isnt he supposed to be on the moon? Gwyn asked, still slumped in her chair.
He was. But I went and got him. From the moon. Now hes here to help.
The administrators all shared looks, then shrugged collectively.
Whatever. Weirder things have happened, Alise said with a sigh. Like the dragon? The dragon who still refuses to make a solid trade deal.
Theo let out a slow breath. He thanked the town and its tendency to produce weird scenarios. The administrators broke off into their own conversation,ining about various things. The lizard-folk from the south were hard to work with. Bantein had sent a representative, but the requirements for trade were arduous.And, of course, there were the frogs. Well, frog-like creatures. After Bilgrob, follower of Spit, healed Salire when she got her demon cores, the frogs approached.
Once the group had settled down, Theo excused himself and Sulvan. After a quick tour, the cleric seemed eager to do anything else. True to his devotion to ntheir, he went off to heal citizens. That left the alchemist recalcting his day. His mindnded on theb in an instant, and he was off to meet with Salire. After pushing his way through a field of toad-rabbit hybrids, he entered the Newt and Demon.
Were gonna need something to wipe our feet on, Theo said, noticing the trail of slime he left. After sshing the ground with [Cleansing Scrub], he made his way upstairs.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the vition.
Salire seemed less frightened by the frogs by the day. She stood in theb, taking notes on something. When she turned and spotted Theo, she smiled. The next batch [Greater Hallow the Soil] was ready for brewing, along with 500 units each of the standard restoration potions. The stock in the shop downstairs was filled with low-tier potions, but the citizens didnt seem to mind. Still, it was good to have some good stuff waiting for a high-roller to buy.
Nothing to report, Salire said, turning to jot something down. Less requests for attribute potions, with more requests for weird stuff.
Theo joined with her, checking the stock of essence in the buildings magical storage. This batch had produced less essence for the undead, but with Gronro purged they didnt need as much. Until Throk figured out his floating tform thing, the alchemist considered them in a holding pattern. He worked with Salire to create barrels of the brewing [Greater Hallow the Soil] potions, burning some of the day away getting those sorted.
During the bottling process of the restoration potions, Theo had some time to think. When they had finished the task, he turned to Salire. Lets leave a few stills empty this time. Should give you room to work on leveling your core.
Salire offered him a sheepish smile. Thanks. I was about to ask Thim to build me a few stills for myself.
Theo nodded. The rush to get the anti-undead potions together had left her floundering. He picked three stills for her to work with, then prepared to load the other seven for another round. Working near the stills drew beads of sweat onto Salires forehead. The alchemist wasfy in his coat and avoided bringing the topic up. It was never a good idea to gloat about a coat.
After the stills were running, Theo retreated to the second floor of the building. It had be a storage area, but was also great for experimentation. While Salire ran downstairs to work with customers, he went through his long list of reagents and their effects. During downtimes, he liked to experiment with unused reagents. It often resulted in new, exciting potions.
There were more spirit fruits to consider, but Theo didnt have the desire to discover those. The results of spirit fruit distitions were often something too impractical to use. Even [Dragons Dance] was risky. The alchemist withdrew a vial of [Grimeling Ooze] from his inventory, setting it down and leering at the contents. The sooner he forgot about those disgusting little creatures, the better. With no desire to eat the ooze, he deconstructed the reagent to discover its properties. True to the items description, the cloud of smoke it produced smelled of rotten eggs. He inspected the ooze.
[Grimeling Ooze]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Umon
The stinking goo left behind by a grimeling.
Properties:
[Sludge] [Filth] [Rust] [Deteriorate]
Every property was disgusting. Theo waved his hand through the air, desperate to clear away the foul stench. Nothing worked, so he abandoned the idea and left theb. Salire shouted something about vile smells as he left, forcing him to pick up the pace. The alchemist picked azy path toward the harbor, excitement flooding him when he spotted a trade vessel. Foreign traders had bemon enough in town that it wasnt news. That was a great thing for Broken Tuskers and Broken Tusk. He dangled his legs over the harbors edge and watched the folks from town visit the traders stalls.
If Theo could get a few more boats in their fleet, the Soutnds Alliance could be a trade powerhouse. Once again, it was a problem of production and consumption. The alchemist didnt know if thats the road they were going down. He only ever wanted this ce to be a safe spot for people to live. A harbor in a storm. But the decision didnt rest solely with him. The administrators handled most of the trade deals and there were people in town who had spent their entire lives here. They had more of a im to the alliance than him.
Im just the figurehead, Theo said, withdrawing a [Reanimated Skeleton Fragment] from his inventory. Continuing with his discovery of new properties, he dposed the fragment in his hand. The smoke rose into the air, leaving behind a pile of primal essence in his hand. Guess Im okay with that.
Are you talking to yourself? Alex asked from somewhere above. Is that healthy?
You tell me.
What are we doing? Tresk asked, joining in the conversation. We being sad today?
Im not sad, Theo said. Im proud of all the Broken Tuskers. Theyve aplished a lot.
Oh. Yeah. Im super proud. Yay!
Me, too! Alex said.
Theo smiled to himself, pulling another skeleton fragment from his inventory. Alex and Tresk carried on about how proud they were about different things. He really was happy with the way Broken Tusk was going. Khahars little experiment was going well, and all Theo had to do was ride until the end. He inspected the fragment.
[Reanimated Skeleton Fragment]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Skull fragment of a skeleton reanimated by necromantic powers.
Properties:
[Withering] [Hone Edge] [Assail] [Animate Dead]
Theo groaned. This was amon reagent. Why did it have the [Animate Dead] property? He returned the fragment to his inventory, scratching his chin. [Assail] was a new property to him, so that might have been useful. But a property that animated the dead? That was dangerous. The only positive use he could think of for the property was in suffuse potions, or through linked wards. Both approaches would produce a different effect entirely, and might provide another anti-undead weapon. It was a longshot, so the alchemist invested little thought into it.
A small cluster of frog-octopus-things swam in the water below. They suctioned half-way up the seawall before falling back into the water. Once again, Theo was left to think about anti-frog measures. And once again, he drew a nk. The only potions he could brew that targeted a type of monster were his anti-undead potions. He pushed himself to his feet, heading over to Town Hall. Alise and the gang were too busy with their duties, so he pulled a junior administrator aside.
The overly-excited half-elven man had a lot of information about frogs. Since Bilgrobs casting, Alise had invested a lot of junior admin time into frog research. The most interesting part of that research was that there was a race of frog-people in the world. The records they had didnt say where the frog-folk were from, but it was good to know. Through experimentation, the administrators had discovered that frogs didnt like being near spicy things.
Hardly helpful, Theo muttered, flipping through the notes. We cant spice-bomb the town.
Lady Plumm was certain you would find a solution.
Theo looked up over the notes. Alise had too much faith in him. There wasnt an anti-frog property he could cast. We may just need to wait for it to pass
Ah.
Of course, that got Theo thinking. He handed the notes back to the administrator, then walked off deep in thought. When he arrived back at theb, Salire was dealing with a customer. He went upstairs, grabbed a few things, then headed back down toward Throks workshop. The grumpy marshling was banging a hammer on something, but the alchemist spotted what he was looking for.
Im taking this, Theo said, snatching the backpack sprayer the artificer had been working on.
I dont care, Throk grumbled, not looking up from his work.
Theo didnt use it often, but he had a mortar and pestle in his inventory. He withdrew it, sitting on the side of the road to grind a pile of red eggshells. Afterbining a unit of ground shells with normal drinking water, he snatched up a nearby frog-lizard hybrid. A single drop of the liquid sent the creature squirming in his hand. After setting the frog on the ground, the alchemist watched as it ran as though its life depended on it.
Excellent, Theo said, grinding more eggshells. He created more of his non-alchemical mixture, loading the sprayer until it was filled. Citizens were watching him with curious expressions as he loaded the sprayer on his back. He cleared his throat, approaching the field of frogs outside of hisb. Begone!
With a pull of the trigger, Theo released a misting stream of spicy water. The frogs squeaked in chorus, dashing in every direction to get away. Notably, it didnt seem to harm the frogs. Perhaps they absorbed the liquid through their skin, sending a burning sensation throughout their body. A Wisdom of the Soul message appeared, confirming with certainty that the frogs wouldnt be harmed.
I got a present, Theo said, entering the shop. Salire was still dealing with a customer, so he bottled his excitement and took a seat.
The transaction took longer than he expected. The alchemist sat awkwardly as Salire sold some potions. Once the customer was gone, she shot him a confused look and faked a smile.
Yay. A sprayer, Salire said, pping half-heartedly.
This is a spicy sprayer, Theo said, unsping the backpack and setting it down. One-to-five ratio of fire smander eggshells to regr water. It makes the frogs run.
Salire grimaced. Uh-huh.
Oh,e on. Strap it on. A demonstration will ease your mind.
Salire pulled the sprayer on, tightening the straps while giving Theo a concerned look. You sound like a crazy person. You know that, right?
Just test the sprayer. Some functionary at Town Hall had done research. No idea how he found out that frogs hate spicy stuff, but he did. Look! Frogs! In the distance!
Theo and Salire exited theb. Sure enough, there was a scattering of frogs in the distance. They hopped along the ground, their little eyes going wide when they spotted the poor half-ogre. She held the sprayer wand at the ready, doubt still lingering on her face. She pulled the trigger, releasing a stream of water that sshed against the creatures. They emitted the same squealing sound, and retreated the moment they were hit.
Woah. It worked?
I tested it! Theo shouted. Why is this the one thing you doubt me on?
Because I look like a nerd, Alise said, looking over her shoulder at the pack.
Yeah, but you wont be osted by frogs.
Salire sighed. Yeah. Youre right. Thanks, boss.
Youre wee. Lets go squirt some frogs.
5.20 - The Tunnel to Nowhere
5.20 - The Tunnel to Nowhere
The twin mountain ranges of Gronro-Dir stretched in either direction. Theo stood on the imagined walls with Tresk and Alex, gazing off into the distance. The alchemist had even rendered the bubble surrounding the town, protecting it from the lingering corruption. It shimmered in the early morning air, battling against the concept of necromantic power.
Well, it looks a lot better, Tresk said with a nod. Alex honked with agreement. That was a lot of potion, though.
Theo nodded, gazing off into the distance. The area around Gronro-Dir had consumed almost all the [Hallow the Soil] potion he had created. One solution was never the answer. Between my potions, golems, wards, and Sulvan well have a fighting chance.
Yes, Alex said, honking in agreement. But ording to history, didnt it take ntheir himself to purge the continent before?
A small wrinkle, Theo said. If ntheir approved of Sulvan, then the god has a n.
Hmmm. God or patron? Tresk asked,ughing.
ntheir was the first god I met that actually acts like one. I wish he was the one that made me champion.
Tresk and Alex remained silent. They didnt have as strong opinions on the gods as Theo did, and he could feel their minds wrapping around the problem. Things were gettingplicated in the heavens and no one knew Fenians true purpose, yet. As one, the Taraheks thoughts centered on the lost elven trader.
Maybe we could look for him, Tresk suggested. You know. Probe the other realms.
Thats the problem. Can your mind reach Balkors realm?
His ce is a steel box. No way Im getting my little brain in there.
We cant search every realm. But we can ask around, Alex said.
That was as good a n as any. The group discussed it further, but didnt draw any conclusions. The Dreamwalk was its own steel box. Only Tresk could send her mind outside of this ce, and it wasnt far. She had a limited view of the area around their sleeping bodies, but no more. They couldnt reach out to probe the realms until they were out on the mortal ne. Until then, Theo decided to casually grind experience and rx.
Like Terogal, the Dreamwalk had be a ce where he preferred to mentally rest. Despite that desire to rx, the alchemist still gained considerable bursts of experience. During the business of brewing potions with Salire, he had hit Level 26 in alchemy core, herbalist core, and his personal level. Those three things were synced perfectly, and he made the decision to ce a point into Intelligence. Thanks to his busy schedule, he hardly noticed getting the levels and was well on his way to Level 27.
There were no new secrets for Theo to discover in the Dreamwalk. He was certain that the key to getting past Level 30 had to do with his distition methods. Adding alcohol to the mix had been the key for his alchemy core, and he had a feeling that the key to his herbalist core rested with grafting nts. Either that, or something rted to cultivation methods. It was always impossible to tell what the system wanted him to do for advancement.
Perhaps thatck of information was something that Fenian and Khahar wanted to fix. While they imed their goal was to remove the destructive cycles brought by the system, they seemed eager to change other things. And Khahar was eager to make sweeping changes. Theo just hoped he was considering the repercussions.
Dawn came quicker than Theo expected. His eyes snapped open and his fingers instinctively grasped at the air. He had just been holding a vial of essence when Tresk abruptly shut the Dreamwalk off. She was already jumping out of bed to teleport down to breakfast. Both the alchemist and Alex were left there in their respective beds, looking off through the window to greet the rising sun. The alchemist eventually rose, cracking his knuckles and resting there on the bed. He took a moment, considering all the good graces he had been given before starting the day.
Sarisa had cooked breakfast herself. Instead of buying meals from Xam, she had created a spread of Whispers sausages, eggs from Mianas pozwa, and little fried dumplings made from Earth-style wheat. Theo was feeling oddly peckish and sat down to enjoy the meal. He waited for everyone to take a seat, including his two assistants, before digging in. While Sarisa wasnt as good at making moss tea as Xam, it was still great.
Id rather not remember the old days, Theo said, taking a bite of one sausage. The exterior crunched, as Sarisa had over-fried it in the pan. The alchemist loved it.
This is kinda better than Xams cooking, Tresk said, dumping another teful of sausages and eggs into her mouth.
Sarisa cackled from the far side of the table. Rowan buried his face in his hands.
Shes been leveling a [Cooks Core].
Damn! Tresk shouted. Damn! I should have known it! You sneaky little ogre.
Heh heh heh.
Theo had expected both Sarisa and Rowan to take service cores earlier. As Tresk danced around the table, making up an off-key song about their new cook, he thought about the [Service Competence] upgrade he got for the manor. The upgrade would give all workers in the manor increased experience for servant cores. Whatever their reasons, he was happy if they were happy. And judging by the way Sarisa and Rowan smiled at the marshlings dance, they were happy.
There wasnt much going on inside the administration interface today. Alise had an interesting report on something Ziz was working on, so Theo nned to investigate that. Throk had submitted a report about his floating tform project. It had hit a slight snag, but would move forward soon enough. Duke Grot Stormfist also had a delightful report praising the efforts of Broken Tusk. He swore a thousand generations of loyalty to the alliance and offered to marry off his next child to whomever Theo wished.
Theo made a note in Grots overly excited report regarding the importance of keeping the corruption at bay. He also refused the dukes generous offer of marriage. After eating breakfast, the alchemist made his way over to theb to store theirtest batch of [Hallow the Soil] potions. While he didnt enjoy the burning sensation that filled his eyes when Salire was around, he appreciated theck of frogs.
That really worked, huh? Theo asked, entering theb at the same time as his assistant.
It sure does burn the eyes but you cant argue with the results.
Of course, Bilgrob didnt have a clue how long it would take for the frogs to stop chasing after her. Theo just hoped that Sulvan could fill the role of town healer before long. The alchemist pulled his thoughts away from pepper bombing the entire town, focusing on the stills. With each run of a new essence, he and Salire got a little better at managing the process. She couldnt handle some of the unstable materials, but knowing which ones she could touch went a long way to help.
Lets hold this batch back, Theo said, patting the filled barrels. Well leave the three for you to work for and do another run.
It was effective. Right?
Theo exined the problems he faced as they worked. He used the buildings internal storage to dispense infused alcohol into the stills, then drew from his golems stocks to grind and process the reagents. Once the fires were lit, the alchemist turned his attention to his golemwork. The farm was back in working order, and the new [nt Golems] were doing an excellent job at the greenhouses. A thread of will spread through the realms, reaching him with a foggy sense of actions. The golem working in Gronro was wandering the countryside, using his ward to clean it up.
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The bell rang downstairs, and Salire dashed off to greet the customer. She had ns to grind out first tier healing potions for the day, using Theos stock of [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. After only a few moments, she came back upstairs with a confused expression. Sulvan said he could have free mana potions.
Yeah, Theo said, turning to check his stills onest time. Hell be healing people, so he gets mana potions for free.
Theo joined Salire downstairs, finding the newly christened Cleric of ntheir standing there. He wore threadbare robes and a calm expression. Good morning, Theo.
Hows it going?
Im well. Thank you.
And that was that. Sulvan got his mana potions and headed off to heal some people. With no exciting alchemy projects to work on, Theo headed off to the next interesting thing. Ziz had made some progress on the bridge to the lizard-folk. ording to the administrative report, it came from a very Earth-like technique. The alchemist stopped and chatted with a few people as he went. They were mostly people visiting from Gronro, showing their appreciation for the purged corruption. They had families and loved ones still in the town, so all efforts to heal thend were appreciated.
Passing through Stabby Grove, and climbing the hill to the Quarry, Theo spotted massive marble pirsying on their sides. Ziz spotted him approaching from a distance and ced his hands on his hips. He had a big, stupid grin on his face.
Do you like my giant, silly marble pirs? Ziz asked, pping the side of one.
They were indeed silly. Far too massive to move by any means the town had. The new constructions seemed to be an incredible waste of precious stone. But Theo reserved his judgment. Ziz didnt do things just because he wanted to.
Youll need to exin this to me, Theo said, gesturing at the lone pir.
Ziz raised a single eyebrow, leaning against the pir. Watch this.
With a resounding pop, the pir disappeared. Ziz turned, waving his hands through the air for a moment. The pir popped back into existence, now resting vertically on the unevenndscape. It began tilting to one side, but came to settle on the gravel below. Theo stared up at the massive pir for long moments. It was taller than the Newt and Demon was. And far too heavy for anyone in town to have moved.
Thats the reaction I was expecting! Ziz shouted. Complete awe!
How did you do that?
New ability. I can stuff anything I build into an inventory and realign it in the real world.
Theo had read the administrative report on this, but seeing it was another thing entirely. It reminded him of prefabricated parts of bridges back on Earth. They would build structures onnd, then use heavy machinery to put them in ce. This technique would absolutely work to build a bridge over the water. Assuming one thing.
Can you ce the structure underwater?
Yep. Already tested it.
How many will you need?
Zizughed. A few hundred. At least. This is an old design. I made the baserger, which requires more stone. Which means Ive had to import stone for the first time.
Theo scoffed. Youre exceeding the generation speed of the quarry?
Yep. And this entire n only works because we can weld the stones together. Weve worked it so the structures are strong. Far stronger than anything weve made before.
Theo had a lot of questions about how this would work. But creating something like this was the first step. Ziz could now take a boat south of the alliance and drop pirs into the ocean. The alchemists mind reeled as he realized how hard that would be. Ziz needed different depths for different parts of the ocean. He also needed to connect each pir. Those pirs needed to be a certain height from the ocean, and he needed to ount for the tides. It was a dizzying array of problems that needed to be solved for this to work. But if he learned anything about bored half-ogres, it was that theyd do anything to avoid being bored.
You have my full support, Theo said, marveling at the support standing upright. Financial, if you need it.
Actually, we need potions. Those digging potions? You know?
The [Tunneling Potions]? Theo asked.
Those are the ones. We started digging a tunnel through the southern mountain ranges. Just off from Dead Dog Mine.
Theo checked his administration interface onest time. There were no surprise meetings, or emergencies that had popped up since he read itst. What are you guys doing today?
Digging a tunnel, I guess, Zizughed. Just me and you. The boys are building more pirs.
Theo and Ziz departed the quarry, heading down the angled path toward the adventurer housing. You already measured the depth of the ocean? the alchemist asked, putting things together.
Just out to the barrier inds. Ten-thousand halms out.
The people of Broken Tusk needed to adopt freedom units. Ten-thousand halms was somewhere between a mile and five miles. Depending on who was measuring the distance. No one seemed to agree on the exact length of a halm.
Youre a craft man.
Theo had enough [Tunneling Potion] tost quite a while. The recent spat of monster waves had also given him enough [Living River Water] to make as much as he wanted. He even had to buy more storage crates to stow the frozen water away. On their way to the mine, Theo stopped by the smelter to check on Nira. She was dutifully working the sweltering furnaces, so he settled for a hearty wave from the road. The ufortable heat was too much for his coat.
Just off the beaten path, Ziz said, pushing through the sparse underbrush.
Ziz and his boys had done almost nothing to the side of the mountain. They had cleared away some topsoil, and scratched at the face of the rock with little to show for it. Theo shook his head, withdrawing a [Tunneling Potion] from his inventory. How far is it?
I really dont know, Ziz said with a defeated shrug. No one has surveyed this area. And we dont have instruments good enough to get a read.
Naturally, Theo said, tipping the contents of the potion onto the wall. He felt the familiar wash of a foreign will enter his mind. With a simplemand, he ordered the potion to proceed forward.
This would cause problems in the future. Of course. The mountains were a natural barrier, preventing any attacks from this direction. It only made sense to install defenses at both sides of the entrance. Theo was drawn out of his thoughts when Ziz produced a glowing crystal from nowhere. It lit the darkened tunnel, revealing glittering gray rocks in all directions. The tunnel they were cutting out of the mountain had to berger than most tunnels they dug with the potion. That required more potion to dig the tunnel.
Several hourster, the pair sat in the darkened tunnel. They had to run back to theb to get more of the potion, only to return to the tunnel without a break. The crystal Ziz held cast long shadows on the wall, flickering slightly.
I dont think this mountain ends, Theo said, letting out a sigh.
We should have hit the other side by now, Ziz grumbled.
Magical space, maybe? Did we intersect the mine by ident?
I dont think so.
This is going to be a lot of track to build. Then weve gotta cross the sea.
It was your idea!
Theo cleared his throat, producing more of the potion and fording on. Several full vials of the potionter, and a pinprick of light shone through the far wall.
Light! Ziz shouted.
Theo pressed his face against the cold rock, earning himself a sight of the ocean below. Far below. This thing is gonna be a roller coaster.
A what?
Onest potion and the wall gave way. Air rushed into the tunnel, almost pushing the two men back on their butts. Once their eyes adjusted to the light, they looked down to the ocean below. It wasnt a sheer drop, but the angle was aggressive.
Dang. The mountain looked smaller from the sea.
From his vantage point, Theo could see the barrier inds in the distance. They were facing directly south, meaning that Broken Tusks port was to their left. Neither of them could spot the port, but there was a speck on the horizon. Either a tradering in to the town, or the Cork fishing near the barrier inds. Either way, this was a massive move in the right direction.
Well need support pirs here, too, Ziz said, looking down below. Then its a straight shot to the lizard inds.
Did we clear that project with Squeak?
I think so. Maybe. I dont know.
Theo shrugged. The lizard-folk seemed passive enough not to care. He and Ziz walked back to town,ughing the entire way. Carving the tunnel out took a lot of time, but walking through it was a breeze. They joked about the roller coaster, and the implications of safety.
Imagine going over the edge, Ziz chuckled.
Id rather not.
5.21 - The Wavecrest Sails
5.21 - The Wavecrest Sails
The wind whipped, catching in the sails of the Wavecrest with force. The boat lurched forward, capturing the stiff breeze to send the vessel sailing down the canal. Theo leaned over the railing, looking down at the murky water below. The river met the ocean here, creating a brackish churn of spume. With Laedria at the helm, and Alex flying high above, they forged a path into the bay.
You didnt have toe along, Ziz said, leaning over the rail with Theo.
Nah. Riding a boat is fun.
That seemed to be enough for Ziz. He stomped over to the helm to flirt with Laedria for a while. Theo hadnt been far out into the bay before, let alone wrapping around the area to see the southern tip of the Soutnds Alliance. The water here was a murky shade of green-blue, caused by silt stirred by the ever-moving tide. Beaches spanned only a few hundred feet to the west before turning into the craggy mountain.
Theos head swiveled to see the sights and breathe in the scents of the ocean. It was a joy to watch the sailors do their things. Even with Zaralis enchantments on the boat, they worked hard to get rigging in ce and angle the sails. In less than half an hour, Laedria ordered the sails trimmed and the anchor dropped.
There it is! Ziz shouted, shielding his eyes from the sun. The industrious half-ogre had hung a bright red sheet outside of the tunnel exit. The area closest to the coast is the shallowest. Duh. So I have a few stunty columns to ce here.
The half-ogre moved to the boats edge, waving his hands through the air. He did a few more gestures as though he was guiding the pir to the bottom. With a satisfied nod, the pir snapped into existence. But it didnt just delete the water around the pir. The ocean was forced away from the structure, sending a wave to crash against the ships hull. Everyone braced themselves, grabbing onto whatever was near. After a beat, Ziz chuckled nervously.
Shouldve expected that. But look!
The pir stood perfectly in the water, standing at a perfect angle. Ziz exined that his new skill allowed him to ce objects in the terrain, and came with angle checking and everything. The result was a pir that had sunk into the seabed, far beyond the topyer of mud. After cing the first one, the ship moved across the bay to ce more. Theo enjoyed his time on the deck. Especially when the half-ogre ced the structures down. It became a bit of a ride.
Thats the open ocean? Theo asked, squinting against the blistering sun overhead. It held a deeper blue color, and none of the murky green of the inshore waters.
Yep, Laedria said,ing to p a firm hand over his shoulder. Well be sailing out there to ce these stones. Working our way over to the lizards.
Theo inspected the line of pirs. Ziz had an ability to line his structures up perfectly. It was a perfectly straight line of pirs with every center lined to the inch. They all stood up straight, ready to receive the bridge.
Lets take her out into that wide blue, Laedria said, rubbing her hands together. She shouted orders at her sailors,manding them to make way for the sea.
Theo watched as they passed between two inds, narrowly avoiding scraping the bottom of the boat on a sandbar. Life clung to those inds. Patches of grasses and dotted palm trees marked the inds. They were bordered by rings of white sand and mottled with tiny crabs and other creatures. Sea-garbage had washed on on the far side of the ind. Seaweed mingled with pieces of rotting wood in the froth of sea foam. The scent of salty air and decaying sea life and nt matter lingered in the air. It was a strangely nostalgic scent.
This is where it drops off, Ziz said. The inds mark the shelf. Its called a shelf, right?
Yeah, Laedria said,ing down from the helm. Thats what I call it, anyway. Were in deeper water. Take measurements.
Ziz found his measuring device. It was a rope with knots tied at equal intervals and a stone secured to the end. He plunked it into the water, waited a few moments, then marked the knot. Even at speed, the weight of the rock sent the measurement device to the bottom in moments. The half-ogre stonemason seemed happy with the depth, and the Wavecrest pushed on.
Despite Zizs fears that the ocean would get too deep, they sailed for hours without seeing much of an increase. The pir that the half-ogre had disyed back at the quarry would be tall enough for their purposes. Even if the oceans depth increased between here and the lizard inds, it wouldnt be too bad. Everyone on board was satisfied with the test, and Laedria ordered her people to make way for the harbor.
Theo realized what the trip into the ocean had done for him. He saw thends of his people from a new angle. Putting aside how interesting and fun the bridge to the lizard-folk inds would be, sailing out to sea brought a new perspective. Zizs new ability also showed him that others were outpacing him. Drogramaths alchemy was a discipline thatcked specialization. Given the chance, other cores would outpace his own in specific areas. All he could feel was pride for the stoneworker and his new method of building bridges.
We got a long way to go, Theo said, leaning over the edge.
Ziz lost his lunch over the boats edge, but smiled through the difort. Dont worry about where well be. You cant worry about that stuff.
Are you telling me to live in the moment?
Thats exactly what Im saying, Ziz said, wiping vomit from his lips. Im not made for the sea.
A sense of general nausea lingered in Theos gut. While he hadnt blown chunks, he was on the edge. I dont think I am, either.
Only after the boat was moored, and Theos feet were onnd did he decide he really enjoyed sailing. Perhaps only brief trips out of the bay, but it was enjoyable. Alex honked somewhere above. The alchemist had ryed a few messages from the goose about Zizs line of support pirs. She imed they were straight from her position in the sky, but the stonemason was confident in his work. It never hurts to double-check, though.
Theo checked the vendor stalls on his way back into town. He didnt find anything that interested him, aside from a scatter of [Monster Cores]. After buying several gold worth of high-level monster cores, he found his way to the greenhouses behind hisb. He didnt trust the golems to detect a random splicing of two nts, so inspected each one himself. There were no sudden mutations within any of his greenhouses, or his mushroom caves.
The good news was that the [Dragon Talon Mushroom] was cultivating itself well. The jagged hard-edged mushrooms grewrger every day, and the golems knew enough to pluck the ones with lower cultivation ratings. Hybridizing nts had been a goal of Theos for some time, but the [Azrugs Truffle] was a mistake. It made more sense tobine reagents that had simr properties, butbining nts intentionally was likely a skill he needed to unlock.
The door to the greenhouse swung open, and Throk stepped inside. He had that look on his face every time he made something cool, so Theo dropped what he was doing and followed the marshling.
Ran into some problems, Throk said, pushing his way past the cluster of greenhouses. Hovering is easy over short bursts. Over a longer time, stuff blows up.
Did we solve the exploding problem?
No, not yet. But Im getting there. I wont bore you with the details, but Ive got interference problems, mana transfer problems lots of problems.
Throk opened the door to his workshop. Inside was a hover engine simr to the one Theo had seen before. He wasnt up on the way artifices worked to know what had changed and why. All he knew was that it differed from the one he had seen before.
How about a demonstration? Throk asked.
Absolutely, Theo said, taking a few steps back. He didnt want to explode.
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Throks development of the hover engine had been a slow thing. Bing proficient with artifices meant understanding how eachponent interacted with the others. Combined with the collection of those piecesa collection process the grumpy old marshling wouldnt sharethis made for an annoying task. The artificer prodded at his machine, loading it up with one of his synthetic coins. It hummed to life, rising a hair from the metal stand on which it stood. The sound was deafening.
This is cool, Theo shouted, his voice barely carrying over the sound.
Right? Feel that? Magical buildup in one of myponents, Throk shouted back, prodding at the machine with an alloy rod. Once I figure out how to vent that extra magic, were golden!
Theo waited patiently for Throk to disable the device. It took longer than he wasfortable with, but the engine finally went silent. As with most extensive projects in Broken Tusk, it was hard to tell if the tform would still be useful for the task when it waspleted. There was always room for airships, though. The marshling exined his ns for the future, detailing a process to refine the engine. Developing a better hover engine meant developing a better maglev.
The techniques feed into themselves, Throk said with a nod. Airships would be easier to run from here to the lizard inds.
Except people are always telling me about the dangers of magical interference. So, we didnt consider airships for that project.
Your fancy wards solve that problem, right?
Permanently? No. We need to do more testing. My shields only stop ambient magic. And the biggest problem I was told about was magical attacks. Thats why people dont run airships, right?
Throk shrugged. Not so sure about that. Problem is that we dont know.
Which looped back to Theos worries about airships. They didnt know enough to say for sure that anything would work. What they did know was that the maglev worked. They had the supplies to make stupidly long rail lines. So why the hell not?
Anything that keeps our people busy is good, Theo concluded. Instead of worrying about which one is best, lets just build both.
Throk rubbed his hands together. I like the way you think.
Theo left the artificersb, promising town funds for yet another project. He knew he could supplement every project with his personal earnings anyway. Turning his attention to the towns finances, he found they were making a killing with the harbor. Every ship that docked had to pay a fee. Then they had to pay another fee based on the amount of goods they sold. Word from both Partopour and Bantein imed that the price was lower than most other ports. Gronro and Rivers were selling their wares through the harbor, adding more coin to the mix.
But with profits came expenses. The [Kingdom Core] needed charging. Ziz needed his stone, and it was always wise to import food. Folks might have liked their mud-grown food, but variety had been appreciated in the past. The high expense of the rail projects was offset by a need the citizens had. People wanted to travel to other ces, if the results of the tram were anything to go by. That made both the airship project and the rail project vital.
On his way back to theb, Theo spotted Salire walking through the streets. She swept the path before her with a spray of choking spicy water. A sea of frog-like things parted, dashing off into the lightly forested areas in town. Waiting for a chance to strike again. She offered a shy wave, making her way to Town Hall.
Theo sent a quick mental message to Tresk and Alex, inviting them both to Terogal. He made his way to Zaralis enchanters workshop, inviting her instead. She jumped at the chance to see her brother again, hugging the alchemist.
Lets go!
I need to grab some stuff, Theo said awkwardly.
Oh. By all means.
Snatching the barrels of [Hallow the Soil] brewing in theb, the alchemist prepared to depart for his realm. Zarali signaled that she was ready, and they fell through the void. UzXulven didnt invite them onto the bridge, but a sh of odd light signaled her transfer to Terogal. The moment the rolling fields of his private realm came into view, the alchemist spotted her gate appearing.
Ill be in the tea room! UzXulven shouted, exiting her portal and entering the tiny cottage.
We need a bigger meeting area, Theo said, making his way to the collection of homes the spirits had built.
The tea shack is too stuffy for my liking, Zarali said. Her eyes went wide whens he spotted Belgar. Brother!
Both Dronon came together, embracing each other in a hug. Belgars form was bing more solid by the day. There were only faint patches of wispy purple energy on his body. The new body he had forged for himself was different from the original. Zarali didnt seem to care, embracing her brothers new form. Theo set his barrels near the alchemy work area, then headed for the cottage. His purpose for this visit was to do some alchemical experimentation and to allow the barrels to brew. But UzXulven had be something of a conversationalist.
Where is that bear? UzXulven asked, craning her neck to see out of the cottages entrance. I require tea and scones.
Theo put the teakettle on, then found a seat at the round table. Sometimes hes busy.
I can see into his realm. He isnt busy. Hes baking.
Not wanting to wait, Theo pressed an issue that lingered in his mind. Any news on Fenian?
A pained expression shed across her face. Sheughed, covering the hurt. But Theo saw it. Hes working himself out of a jam. Instinctively, UzXulven looked behind her, expecting Khahar to appear and p a hand over her mouth. He didnt show.
Theo stretched his weak senses through the void. He visualized the different realms as bubbles floating in a sea of ck. While he could imagine Balkors realm, he couldnt prate the bubble. The slightest brush against the Demon God of Necromancys realm revealed to him that not even Tresk could get through.
Are you peeking? UzXulven said with a scoff. Of all the whelpish, upstart, no-good things to do.
Theo grinned. I dont see Khahar mping his hand over my eyes. If the Arbiter says I can do it, I can do it.
UzXulven crossed her arms. Your tea isnt as good as the stuff the bear makes.
Your monochromatic bridge is ugly.
UzXulven mouth hung open. Her eyes slowly drifted across the room, locking onto Theo. How dare you.
Theoughed, cutting himself off when he felt another presence in his realm. Benton stepped through his gate outside. He entered the cottage, tutting when he saw the alchemists water boiling. The bear god snatched the kettle up, tossed the water out, and started again.
Yay! The man who can make good tea is here. Hooray!
I brought cookies, Benton said, unloading the contents of his inventory. It was, as always, filled with confections.
Theo grabbed a in sugar cookie, nibbling on it while Benton got set up. He paused, smiling at UzXulven. But for real. Can I help Fenian?
He was certain the potions you brewed him would be enough.
You could invite Balkor to your realm, Benton said with a shrug. He plopped a sachet of tea into the boiling water.
Any chance of corruption? Theo asked.
Thats not how realms work. He would need to overpower your authority here, which is Well, thats impossible, UzXulven said. Watch!
The Queen of the Bridge of Shadows swiped her hand through the air. A wave of dark fire rolled over Theo, engulfing the cottage. The mes passed over him harmlessly, not even scorching the interior of the building.
That attack would have leveled a city on the mortal ne, UzXulven said, nodding with satisfaction. In a ce where you have absolute authority, its a stiff breeze.
Theo closed his eyes, reaching out to his imagined version of Balkors realm. Confident that the demon couldnt affect Terogal, he sent an invitation. Within a single heartbeat, it was rejected. He declined.
Of course he did, UzXulvenughed. She paused, her eyes going wide. Do you feel that?
Theo saw the notification before he felt anything. Drogramath was attempting to enter Terogal and had requested a friendly entry. The alchemist epted, but didnt dare stand from his chair. Momentster, the form of the Potioneer lumbered through the door. He was taller than mortal depictions. Even the rendering provided by the temple in Broken Tusk. With dark purple skin, a coat simr to Theos own, and his left horn missing, Drogramath entered the cottage. He cleared his throat.
May I share in your tea? he asked awkwardly.
Wow, UzXulven said, leaning in over the table. Wow, wow, wow. I havent seen you in twenty-thousand years, Droggy.
Dont call me that, Drogramath scowled.
Please, Theo said, gesturing to an empty chair. Take a seat.
Thank you, champion, Drogramath said, sitting and folding his hands in hisp. I see youre collecting the souls of lost dronon. A noble cause.
Do you remember the First Ascension War? UzXulven asked, sighing as she took a bite of a cookie.
I wish I didnt.
We used to meet like this! UzXulven mmed her fist on the table. It didnt move an inch. Dont you miss this?
Drogramath shifted in his chair. He cleared his throat, eventually. And smiled. I miss it dearly. Weve be insr.
By design, UzXulven grumbled.
Not anymore! Benton said, pulling the pot of tea from the fire. He poured everyone a cup of tea before taking his seat again. Seems to be no restrictions here. Anyone cane.
Thanks to me, UzXulven muttered. No one appreciates the support gods.
I appreciate you. Theo smiled.
I also appreciate you, Drogramath said with too much gravitas.
Benton clicked his tongue. Come on. Cookies arent gonna eat themselves.
The strange group grabbed at the sweets and drank their tea.
5.22 - Chatting with Droggy
5.22 - Chatting with Droggy
A calming breeze blew down from the mountains west of the Terogal Ocean. No one hade up with a better name for the ces here. Things were always referred to as the ocean, or the mountains. There were many mountains within the realm. Certainly, there was only one ocean. But the cornerstones of history that saw things being named werecking here. It just was, and the beings within the realm epted it.
Drogramath adjusted his coat, popping his boots off awkwardly as he approached the white sand beaches. The demon god dug his toes into the sand. The phantom of a smile graced his face, before it returned to a neutral countenance.
I like your realm.
Really? Theo asked, finding a fallen log to sit on. Ive noticed how the gods all pick themes.
My realm is a confusingndscape of ss structures. Massive greenhouses to grow my reagents. Drogramath looked off into the ocean. The sound of the wavespping against the shore yed a calming melody. Balkors was a word of undeath. Tworgnoth rests on a copper throne, in a cogwork realm. This seems more like the mortal realm than anything.
The entire exchange had been weird. Theos thoughts hadntnded on how he felt about the situation. Yuri prevented gods from interacting with the mortal realm, but that didnt stop the owner of a Mortal Dreamrealm. Whatever that was. The alchemist could invite whichever god he wanted into his realm. They coulde to sip tea, or dip their toes in the ocean. Any thoughts of ascension wars, or ploys back on the mortal realm seemed to fall away. The facade of power melted, revealing the gods for what they truly were.
Youre just people. Arent you?
A simple question, with a difficult answer, Drogramath said. The demon god flinched. Ah. An official warning from the Arbiter. He doesnt want me telling you the truth about Dronon.
Dont get yourself in trouble for my curiosity.
Drogramath shrugged. He seemed so easily defeated. The gods were so long-lived, perhaps he stopped caring a long time ago. That energy Theo had witnessed at the start of all this had somewhat vanished.
The world was seeded. You know that, dont you?
Yes.
We call the first conflict for the heavens the First Ascension War. Or the First War of Ascension. People from Earth were seeded Ah.
A loud pop, and Khahar appeared behind Drogramath. The Arbiter was scowling.
Why bother giving us free will if we cant tell him? Drogramath asked, sounding bored. Why does it matter if he knows?
Khahar red. He was at war with himself.
When the world was seeded, Khahar said, picking up where Drogramath left off. People from Earth were sent first. Not everyone was sent at the same time. Youre a good example of that, Theo.
They say things were good for a while, Drogramath said.
Khahar scoffed. We were at each others throats from the start. But ascension was never an option. Not until the Second Seeding.
Drogramath shrugged. The first races were the elves, the dwarves, and the Khahari. When the Dronon were seeded things erupted. Ascension was unlocked, and we were behind.
Enter the cycle of destruction and rebirth, Khahar said. The best theory is that a different being brought the Dronon here. One of malicious intent.
The baleful eye, Drogramath sighed. What a mockery.
The point is, Khahar continued. There might be a Third Seeding. Or a fourth. We just dont know when it will happen.
That was too much information for Theo to process at once. The Dronon werent from Earth. And there might be more people from different cesing to this. They werent exactly aliens though, were they? Everyone in this world was an alien. Nothing native existed in this world. What a haunting thought.
Why tell me? Theo asked.
Good question, Khahar growled.
Because he deserves to know. This Mortal Dreamrealm is outside of the n, isnt it? Anything outside of the n stinks of him.
Khahar answered before Theo could ask. That Baleful Eye Drogramath was talking about The Harbinger set this world in motion, then stepped away. The other being left a series of instructions hidden away in the system. This ce is likely a result of that.
So, wait I thought I was caught in a heavenly pissing match. Youre saying the dick-measuring contest is even bigger?
Well, when you put it like that Drogramath trailed off.
Im saying we dont know. Until we have control of the system, we can never know. Even then, Im not sure we can do anything about it.
Okay, Theo said, standing and stretching. Im going to push all that crap out of my head and take a walk.
Neither Drogramath nor Khahar called out as the alchemist walked away. He might have had more pieces to the puzzle, but he wasnt sure if he wanted any of them. And Yuri wanted to take control of the system? Thats what those thrones were about. Taking control away from the monitor system so they could hunt down whatever vestigial code the Baleful Eye left. Theo walked along the beach for some time before the demon god came to walk with him.
Youre the first Drogramathi to do industrial alchemy, Drogramath said, keeping pace with the alchemist. At scale, anyway. I had a small operation back in the day.
How does that work? Theo asked, trying not tough. Did you show up with a [Drogramath Alchemy Core]?
Drogramath chuckled, perhaps for the first time since Theo had met him. I had a basic [Alchemy Core]. Before the war, it evolved into a [Demon Alchemy Core]. Now I just have an [Alchemy God Core]. I dont care for god-level alchemy, though.
Did you always intend for Drogramathi alchemy to be so helpful?
Youre missing the point. My alchemy outpaces every other ss in the first leg of the race to ascension. By Level 50, every ss youre helping will do their own thing better. Priests can heal better,borers can build better, and so on. Youre a generalist. With all the good and bad thates with that.
What was the name of your?
Ard. Doesnt sound right in the mortal tongue, but close enough.
What uh was the base for your species? We were apes.
Drogramathughed again. Something close to the reptiles of this world.
Fun. A real life lizard-dude.
Indeed.
Drogramath must have thought that Theo took offense to this new information. But he didnt. It was like being told a moon was mming into the. What was he going to do, stop the moon? It was so far out of his reach that he didnt care. He would enjoy his time in the Soutnds Alliance and that was that. No need to worry about anything else.
You should stop by, if you can, Theo said, gesturing vaguely to his world. This must feel close to being on the mortal realm.
It really is. The closest Ive seen was Baelthars realm. The Eternal Game. Its an endless forest filled with beasts to hunt. The biting bugs are horrid, though. The ogre ims it helps with the realism Drogramath trailed off, shaking his head. Vile little midges.
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Anotherfortable silence set in between them. Theo could feel that the demon god had something to say, but didnt know how to express it. After a moment, he gathered himself up and spoke. It was nice to see Zarali, Drogramath said. Her brood had a hard time with life.
Seems like every new batch of Dronon has a hard time.
They do. Better than it used to be, though.
How does that work? Can you spawn new dronon in from your realm?
Not exactly. But kind of. We only need one living dronon to make more. We possess a follower, then create a clutch of eggs through them.
Theo winced. Alright. Less details.
The conditions are specific, but we end up with a brood. Theyre born with the ability to care for themselves, but theyre still children.
Man. We should get a brood of Drogramathi in Broken Tusk.
Perhaps in a few years. My resources are dwindling.
Theo and Drogramath walked the beach of the massive ocean. The demon god was eager to chat about whatever, although several topics seemed off-limits. The more time they spent together, the more the potioneer seemed to brighten up. He was even smiling by the end of the conversation, and the alchemist thanked the grace given to him by ntheir. Perhaps spreading those good vibes was more valuable than anything else.
Naturally, Drogramath had to appear before Zarali before he left. Both she and Belgar pressed their faces into the dirt when they saw him. They openly wept, making conversation impossible. Theo watched from afar, then busied himself with other things. He waited for them to finish up before taking his charge back to the mortal realm.
Theo stood before a row of imagined stills, looking off into the scenery that Tresk had created. His trip into Terogal had presented many questions, but it was also a relief. He got to meet Drogramath face-to-face. That was fun. He also learned a bunch of weird stuff he didnt know what to do with. To ease his mind, he decided to exploit the Dreamwalk to test some reagents out.
A beam of pure firenced through the air, scattering the clouds above. Tresk wanted to fight against dragons. Again. So long as the massive beast didnt disturb his equipment, he didnt really care.
First up was the [Grimeling Ooze]. The stuff was absolutely foul. It stank before being added to the stills, and now generated a putrid miasma after being heated. The alchemist distilled the Sludge, Rust, and Deteriorate properties as second-tier essences. He didnt have a good feeling about any of them, but it was worth investigating. Another lone still was creating essence for the Assail property from the [Reanimated Skeleton Fragment].
Perhaps he should have asked Drogramath about the dangerous properties on some reagents. But it was all part of the concept of a generalist. If he could do everything, then some things were bound to be dangerous.
Theo banished the grimeling stills away the moment the essence was done brewing. All three sks were filled with a murky, brown-green liquid. It was the most color he had ever seen in an essence. He moved to his worktable, preparing a vial for the first reaction.
Huzzah. Im sure sludge will produce a useful potion, Theo said, mocking the nasty little sk on his table. He mixed the essence with enchanted water, then added metal shavings to kick off the reaction.
The scent was almost unbearable. Although he was in the Dreamwalk, the alchemist doubted that the smell would leave his mind soon. He didnt know what he expected, but he inspected the resulting potion anyway.
[Potion of Sludge]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
The drinker sweats a thick, stinking type of grimeling sludge.
Effect:
For one hour, the drinkers sweat is reced with grimeling sludge.
Straight in the trash, Theo said, banishing the potion forever. Absolutely not. Nope.
The second essence, [Refined Rust Essence], had a slightly red color to it. It smelled slightly less than the other potions, but perhaps that was simply Theos nose dying a slow death. As he crafted the essence into a potion, he was surprised at where his hands led him. Sometimes, potions didnt want to be brewed as a standard potion. This one wanted to be a bomb. The alchemist went through the motions, adding his enchanted water and flecks of iron to create a [Rust Bomb]. He inspected the result.
[Rust Bomb]
[Bomb]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Covers the target in a sludge that eats away at all metal.
Effect:
Unless cleared away or purified, this sludge will eat all metal (magical or otherwise) for fifteen minutes. The rate of dposition depends on the rarity of this bomb.
While the [Rust Bomb] wouldnt go straight in the garbage heap, it was weird. There was one situation that Theo could think of for this bomb. When Fenian led the giant elven construct to their gates, this would have been perfect. Any metal-based monsters would be destroyed with ease. But there werent any, as far as he knew. Since the potion destroyed magical metal items, there was a scenario where he could toss the potion at a knight, depriving them of their weapon and armor.
You go into the maybe pile, Theo said, moving on.
Next up was the Deteriorate property. It was an unlockable property, but that didnt mean it was good. The impression Theo got from looking at the essence was strange. Memories of the [Cleansing Scrub] came back to him. There was an entire ss of potions that were considered cleaning agents. Those potions were normally poured over things, rendering some kind of effect. The alchemist added the essence to a vial, mixing equal parts enchanted water and a metal shaving. The reaction wasnt as gross-smelling as the others, but it was still foul. A plume of ck smoke filled the air as the reaction urred. A momentter, the potion was ready for inspection.
[Potion of Deteriorate]
[Cleaning Agent]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Submerging any item in this potion for at least one day willpletely destroy it.
Effect:
Items (magical or otherwise) submerged in this potion will be destroyed without a trace.
Items must be of equal or lesser strength to this potion.
Length of time taken to destroy items depends on the rtive power between the potion and the item.
I dont even know what to think about that one, Theo grumbled.
The grimeling was, as expected, a useless creature. There might have been a niche use for the [Potion of Deteriorate], but Theo couldnt think of it. Even in a scenario where he needed to destroy a dangerously powerful item, that item''s power was the problem. The description of the potion said it couldnt destroy items more powerful than itself. So, he moved on to the next potion.
The [Reanimated Skeleton Fragment] was an interesting item. Theo had already confirmed that this fragment did not drop from undead out in the world. Those undead generated by Balkor dropped nothing, unless they were carrying something in life. The fragment came from dungeon-generated monster versions of the undead. It held a property, withering, which was useful for poison modifications. Hone Edge was a decent property. Reanimated Dead was one of those properties he wouldnt touch even if he needed to. That only left the vial of green-silver liquid in his sk. [Refined Assail Essence].
From the outside, Theo had the sense that the Assail property was much like Berserk, or Desperate Attack. It would draw on the life of the imbiber to power an attack. He mixed the essence with enchanted water, watching as a faint cloud of greenish smoke rose from the vial. The scent wasnt unpleasant, but was distinctly rted to the smell of gravedust. Gravedust, being a catalyst in the alchemical world, had a smell between fire-cracked bones and fresh earth. He shook his head, casting off his musings to inspect the potion.
[Potion of Assail]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
The next physical attack performed by the drinker ignores all resistances.
Effect:
Applies the [Assail] property to the drinkers next attack. This effect ignores all resistances, regardless of their source.
This potion came with implications. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up, confirming what Theo was thinking.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
The wording of the item prompt is too specific. Generally, resistances are considered to be a reduction in damage, or a resistance to that damage. But, the prompt ims that the source of those resistances doesnt matter. Anything protected by system-generated resistances would be vulnerable to this potion. While you dont have enough information, this potion might even eliminate the damage reducing effects of the invisible rank function.
Wisdom of the Soul was often cryptic. Theo had to remember that the ability granted to him by the [Wisdom of the Soul Potion] was taking guesses at points. The only drawback to the potion was that it limited the effect to physical attacks. The alchemist wasnt much of a physical attacker, so it was something for Tresk.
Theo stretched, rolling his shoulders to relieve imagined tension. His alchemy session was fun, even if it was stinky. The most satisfying part about alchemy was taking a reagent and refining it into something usable. The resulting potion might be useless, but knowing if it was useless or not was the important part.
Tresk shed a sense of recognition through the Dreamwalk. Dawn was drawing closer, and she was interested in getting an early start on the day. Theo finished up his experiments and prepared himself to fall back into the real world.
5.23 - One Zorp Too Many
5.23 - One Zorp Too Many
Some of the sweltering heat notable in the Season of Fire was diminished today. It was the thirty-first day of the season, and a bank ofden clouds had moved in from the north. Theo walked from his manor, gazing up at the sky through the boughs of the mighty cypress trees as he made his way to the town square. The experiments in the Dreamwalk had left him feeling satisfied. Like the clouds overhead, he plotted azy course through the town.
There had been a distinct influx of foreigners in the alliance. Folks from afar had sailed from overseas. Most notable among them were the Khahari. Despite Khahars deration of friendship, what remained of his theocracy didnt seem interested in visiting. Only those Khahari calling themselves adventurers crossed the sea, interested in either the newly formed Soutnds Alliance or the undead to the north. In either case, the tourists were a considerable source of ie.
The most jarring thing about the morning walk was when Theo spotted a copper-skinned dronon in the distance. He identified her as tworgnothi. Unsurprisingly, she was chatting with Throk outside of his workshop. The alchemist pressed on, opening his administration interface and sorting through his notes. Todays agenda was sparse, but the interface had be a trove of information. Alise deleted nothing she or others wrote in the interface.
As Theo approached the monolith, he felt it pulse with recognition. There was a hidden will in there. Something that swelled when it recognized its master. The alchemist hadnt decided if that was a good thing. But there was work to be done. He didnt intend to upgrade the [Kingdom Seed Core] today. Instead, he would focus on the town itself. Each seed core building in town was limited by the level of the town itself. While they hadnt experimented with the limits, he guessed a seed core building couldnt be more than five levels away from the [Town Seed Core].
With Tresk and Alex busy doing things for the Adventurers Guild, and the administrators spinning their wheels, this was the perfect time to upgrade buildings. Broken Tusk was currently Level 25. Getting it to 30 was a breeze, but that wasnt the hardest part. Looming in the upgrade selection menu were the same two options he had seen since the start. [Water Tower] and [Watchtowers]. While [Watchtowers] was ater addition to the ever-rolling list of upgrades, it had remained one of the less useful ones.
There was normally only one new option per five levels. Theo looked at his upgrade interface, confused why there were three new options to pick from. The alchemist inspected the strange ones first.
[Water Purification]
Your incorporated water boilers can be upgraded. This upgrade will make your current water purification system more efficient, drawing on the power of your Kingdom Core. Your current water purification system will be reced if this upgrade is selected.
This was the first time that the system reacted to something he had done to the town regarding upgrades. The upgrade wasnt good, but it was interesting to see the options offer more than one thing. Nothing couldpare to the next upgrade, though.
[Dungeon Information]
Allows anyone with the administrator title in this town to view information about every local dungeon.
The presence of a Dungeon Engineer in your town enables the selection of this upgrade. If the Dungeon Engineer leaves your town, revoking their citizenship, this upgrade will be refunded.
Theo was certain he would take this one. But this was an upgrade dependent on a person. Since Xolsa had the Dungeon Engineer ss, he had spawned an upgrade for the entire town. Even more interesting was the condition that it would be refunded if he left. The alchemists mind spun at the implications. The skill itself was very interesting. Xolsa could check on the dungeons, but he had to go there and put his mana into the dungeon. So on, and so forth. This eliminated the need for the elf to stress himself.
The alchemist stopped salivating for a moment to inspect thest upgrade.
[Zorp]
Allows you to instantly transport materials between storage containers in your town.
Zorp sucked. The Zorp ability for the nation was good. But transporting things between production chains in town had never been a problem. Theo had also gained infinite storage for the town, although that was only for resources like lumber and stone. [Dungeon Information] was too good, though.
Theo turned, finding that a small crowd had formed. He waved sheepishly, then turned back to his work. It was an event when he upgraded the town. That meant everyone else could increase the level of their buildings. No one else seemed interested in upgrading the town, but that wasnt their responsibility. As the buildings got higher in level, they required more cores to increase their level. That increased the expense, and made folks less likely to fork over the money.
Were going with [Dungeon Information], Theo said, nodding to himself. The crowd politely pped. His face went a darker shade of purple. He distracted himself by inspecting the town.
[Massive Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Theo Spencer
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (20.33%)
Core Buildings:
Alchemy Lab
Greenhouses (x6)
Mycology Cave (x3)
cksmith
Artificers Workshop
Large Farm
Small Farm
Windmill
Quarry
Stonecutter
House (x528)
Manor
Tannery
Tavern
Adventurers Guild
Hotsprings
Sawmill
Mine
Smelter (x3)
Enchanter
Ranch
Townhall
Butcher
Weaver
Defensive Emcements:
Chain Lightning (x12)
Frost Cone (x7)
Fireball (x10)
Firebolt (x25)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Defensive Emcements]
[Synergistics]
[Dynamic Incorporation]
[Dungeon Information]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
[Coordinated Fire]
[Defensive Effects]
Current Resources:
Timber: 20,122
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Stone Blocks: 0
Metal: 3,020
Motes: 20,000
That was interesting. The resources in the town had been climbing for a while now. Ziz was really digging into the towns stock of stone for his projects, reducing the count to nothing. Theo relied on his administrators to sort that out when there was damage done to the town. Seeing as the eastern wall had repaired itself, they must have been doing something right. Metal and timber numbers were also going down. Broken Tusk was exporting more materials than ever.
Yay, Theo said, turning to his administration interface. Now lets see what this new upgrade does
It didnt take the alchemist long to find the Dungeon Information panel in his interface. He opened it, getting a status screen listing six dungeons. Six? Wasnt it five? Swamp, river, ocean, mountains, hills. Theo spotted the problem. The sixth dungeon was listed as Underground Dungeon. Interesting. Each entry gave him information about the dungeons level, how close it was to a wave, and other interesting facts.
[Swamp Dungeon]
Level 35 Dungeon
Monster Types:
Goblin, Wolves, Undead
Description (from loremaster):
This dungeon was seeded after the destruction of the continent. Balkors Betrayal marked the destruction of almost all the dungeons in the region. Once the Swamp Dungeon was fed the invasive power of Drogramath, it ascended in power.
Trends:
Power trending down (strength decreasing).
Level trending up (one level over the past week).
Thread Level:
Minimal. No monster wave predicted.
Each dungeon had a description like that. But the more useful at-a-nce feature was the list of every dungeon. Theo inspected that quick info screen, gawking.
[Swamp Dungeon] L35 No Threat
[River Dungeon] L18 No Threat
[Mountain Dungeon] L15 No Threat
[Hills Dungeon] L10 No Threat
[Ocean Dungeon] L20 Imminent Threat
[Cave Dungeon] L95 No Threat
Theo made a note not to mess with the cave dungeon. That dungeon must have been near the dragon, Pogo. Hopefully the creature was handling it. Maybe the rock people were secretly extremely powerful. But the alchemist didnt like seeing a Level 95 dungeon in his interface. That meant it was near, and the idea rubbed him the wrong way. A shiver crept down his spine as he drilled down on the entry for the [Cave Dungeon].
[Cave Dungeon]
Level 95 Ascendant Dungeon
Monster Types:
Golems, Cave Fald, Trolls
Description (from loremaster):
Loremasters level is too low to provide additional information on this dungeon.
Trends:
Gathering power for ascendancy.
Level trending up (two levels over the past week)
Thread Level:
Minimal. No monster wave predicted.
No big deal, Theo grumbled. Just a dungeon trying to achieve godhood.
The implications for that one were too much for him to deal with right then. But this supported an idea that Theo had been kicking around about how seed cores work in this world. When he used his wards on seed core buildings, he felt something pushing back. Although the will that fought against him was minor, it was there. Enough to say Im here, and that was significant.
The alchemist turned away from the monolith, heading out for his next stop. The crowd parted, allowing him to leave. He hadnt bought a bunch of monster cores for nothing. The next stop for the day was the Harbor. Avast Ye Newts had been the most important building in town for a while now. It opened the world up to the Soutnds Alliance, giving them ess to all the other nations of the world.
Theo walked the slight decline toward the river, smiling when the scent of salty sea air hit his nose. The chatter of people engaging in trade with whatever merchant had docked filled his ears next. A small, single-masted boat was docked in the harbor. It was a khahari vessel, if the alchemist had to guess its origin. Made of wood that seemed bleached by the sun, and sails with too many tatters. He approached the core building, which was a warehouse just off the wooden dock area.
The harbor sat at level 20, with 4 extremely useful upgrades. [Expanding Docks] made it so the wooden docks that bordered the harbor would expand with the buildings level. [Dyed Decay] slowed the aging of ships docked. [Shipwrights Drydock] was the reason they could build boats at all, providing a workshop for the shipwrights to work in. Last was [Fair Winds], which made it easier for boats to move within 13,000 halms of the port. Of course, that measurement came out to about a mile. Depending on the systems version of a halm.
Theo shoved [Monster Cores] into the building, intending to give it 10 levels today. Each level made the area slightly bigger. When it expanded, the ground rumbled beneath him. The wall, generated by the town itself, pushed out with the upgraded harbor. The dock rearranged itself. People shouted in fear and excitement. The first upgrade notification popped up, and he weighed his options. It didnt take long, and he selected the one that made the most sense.
[Safe Harbor]
All sailing vessels docked within this harbor will not experience the effects of weather. High winds, torrential downpours, and other negative weather effects will no longer affect the vessels, although those boats will still catch moderate wind in their sails.
If a big storm kicked up, hitting the harbor, the boats would be safe. Easy pick. Theo shoved more cores into the building, his eyes lingering on the drydock. Laedria had put a few cores into that building, but had gained no significant progress. His attention was drawn back to the upgrade screen when it popped up, providing more upgrade options. The new upgrade that appeared was the best, so he selected that one.
[Automatic Repairs]
So long as a person with a shipwright-style core is in the harbor, ships that are docked in the harbor can be repaired automatically. The resources required to perform the repairs will be drawn from local, or town storage. The shipwright may decide to ept or decline requests for repairs.
Ding, ding. Another business opportunity. Theo had seen the shipwrights performing repairs on vessels as they came into port, but this made their job a lot easier. Laedria would appreciate that one, making her day-to-day life easier. The alchemist nodded with satisfaction, heading over to the dry dock.
Hey! an annoyed voice called after him. Laedria trotted, catching up to Theo. As always, her leather apron was covered in sticky tar. Upgrading my stuff?
Someone has to do it, Theo said, gesturing to the dry dock. I can leave it to you. If thats what you want.
Whaaat. No. Im just being
Being a Wavecrest, Theo said, winking. Stubborn bunch of elves.
Hey, we didnt survive the purge by being nice, Laedria said, pouting.
Fair enough. Help me pick the best upgrades for the dry dock. Theo began shoving [Monster Cores] into the building.
Sure thing, boss.
Since the [Shipwrights Drydock] upgrade generated a new building, it could be upgraded. This was something that Theo had left to the future for some time. If he wanted Laedria to make more boats, she needed the right equipment. With artisans, that came down to a powerful set of seed core buildings. The drydock leveled to five without an issue, presenting the alchemist with three upgrade options.
[Speedy Assembly]
All parts of the ship-building process are faster. Tar sets quicker, wood cures faster, and workers are invigorated as they assemble a ship. This effect doesnt trante to non-shipwright rted tasks.
[Plus One]
All ships assembled in this drydock will increase by one rarity rank. Ships retrofitted in this drydock may gain an additional rank, depending on the level and skill of the shipwright.
[Magical Winch]
Any shipwright may ess a magical winch which hoists boats from the harbor, onto the drydock. This is considered a purely magical device, consuming motes or coins to operate.
Each option was good. But Laedria had a favorite.
The winch, she said, bouncing up and down. Oh, please get that one.
Why? Theo asked. The other options were really good.
Because I cant retrofit anything in the drydock right now. If I could hoist the boats out of the harbor, I could do a ton of things. Including retrofitting foreign ships. Meaning Money!
Theo nodded, selecting that one as their first option. He continued to put [Monster Cores] into the building, selecting random directions as it expanded. The next upgrade option appeared, and he read it out to Laedria.
[Expanding Bays]
The drydock will gain more bays the higher the buildings level is. This will add approximately one bay every twenty levels.
Oh goodness, Laedria said, hyperventting. These are all good. Uhm. Okay. [Expanding Bays], for now. But I really want [Speedy Assembly].
Theo selected [Expanding Bays]. We can pick that one next time.
As long as nothing awesome pops up.
Leveling a building to 10 was easy peasy. Theo could use low-level monster cores to aplish that. His one problem was that his spread of cores thinned out between 10 and 30. That forced him to use the higher-level coresthe more expensive coresto bridge the gap. He dumped several gold worth of cores into the building, then read the Level 15 upgrade option off to Laedria.
[Safe Travels]
After being serviced in this drydock, vessels will gain increased speed and durability for seven days.
That one stinks, Laedria said, bouncing up and down with excitement. Get the other one.
Theo selected the [Speedy Assembly] upgrade, then added more cores. The drydock reached level 20 with ease, and he was presented with another upgrade option. He read it out for Laedria to decide on.
[Cranes]
Every bay in the drydock gains a magical crane. These cranes are powered by coins, or motes, and have a high weight capacity.
Laedria shook Theo by the shoulders. That one! Do you know how hard it is to move those masts into position? We could make bigger boats with this upgrade!
After being jostled back and forth, Theo nodded and selected the upgrade. He took no offense to the violent shaking. Laedria was excited about these upgrades, and he wouldnt dampen her spirits. He pressed on, bringing the building to level 25. Second tost upgrade for the drydock today.
[Rollers]
Each bay in the drydock is equipped with a roller, which makes moving boats in and out of drydock easier. This upgrade is static, and requires no coins or motes to operate.
Stinky upgrade. Get the [Plus One], Laedria said, fanning the air away from her face.
Theo picked [Plus One], then went back to his work. The drydock expanded, gaining two bays at some point. The ground rumbled slightly as it pushed into the area upied by the wall. It finally hit level 30, and the alchemist read thest upgrade out for Laedria to pick.
[Dynamic Scaffolding]
Any shipwright operating the drydock may summon magical scaffolding. This scaffolding consumes coins or motes to operate, providing a customizable working surface for the shipwright.
Might not seem like it, but that one is awesome, Laedria said, nodding to herself. Cant express how many times we had to go buydders from Sledge.
Alrighty, Theo said, picking [Dynamic Scaffolding] as thest upgrade. There ya go. A level 30 drydock.
Oh, Im just so excited, Laedria said, practically brimming with energy. She danced on the spot, hugged Theo, then ran off to inspect her new building.
Theo watched as the crazed elf summoned glowing tforms, then climbed them. He nodded, then inspected the building.
[Drydock]
[Plug Yer Bunghole]
Owner: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (0.15%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Magical Winch]
[Expanding Bays]
[Speedy Assembly]
[Cranes]
[Plus One]
[Dynamic Scaffolding]
Theo narrowed his eyes. When the hell did Tresk name this building?
5.24 - Dead Dog Upgrades
5.24 - Dead Dog Upgrades
Theo took a break before pressing on with his building upgrade crusade. Tresk might have given the drydock a crude name, but at least it added characters. It wasnt as though sailors were strangers to rude words and crass jokes. The amount of curses that flung from the harbor was staggering. It seemed to be a constant stream of rude limericks and words that would make the alchemist blush.
For his break, Theo headed off to check on a few old friends. And there was plenty to see in town. Compared to when he first arrived, Broken Tusk had changed entirely. It was hard to imagine that only a season and a half had passed. The alchemist moved through the bustling streets of the town, nodding to people as they passed by. He stopped in to check on Perg, first.
Hello? Theo entered the tanners workshop, finding the half-ogre woman working hard.
Look who came to grace me with his demon goodness, Perg said, removing herself from the tanning pit. She was covered in a thinyer of goo.
Hows it going, Perg?
Well enough. Making some real money with these foreignersing to town. They love wolf leather.
Theo nodded, engaging in polite conversation. Perg had be somewhat insr in recent times. She kept to herself, working hard in her tannery and never bothering others. Unlike most others in town, even those native to the area, she was content to live a quiet life. The alchemist reflected with her on that, part of him wishing he could do the same. He had found bnce recently, but it was very recent.
Once he was done chatting, Theo headed out. He aimed to catch up with Xam and Miana, but he spotted the tworgnothi woman once again. The alchemist was drawn to her. It wasnt his goal, but in the heavens he had saved more than a few dronon souls. There was no administrative report on what the woman was doing here, or how she got here, but he needed to know.
Theo approached Throks workshop timidly. He waved at Throk and the tworgnothi woman, smiling. Hey.
Ah, there he is, the woman said. Her voice wasnt as cold as he had expected. There was a brightness that radiated the ideals of Tworgnoth. It was a pleasant change,pared to both drogramathi and zagmoni concepts. She had ck hair like most dronon, with copper-colored skin. Like a true child of the demon artificer, she wore a work apron, heavy boots, and a pair of thick leather gloves.
Theo! Throk shouted. About time you came poking your head in. This is how did you pronounce it?
The womanughed. Tweliagia. Most who speak Qavelli have trouble with it. Call me whatever you like.
Lia, Throk said. Well just take the middle part of your cursed name so us soutnders can pronounce it.
Theo, the alchemist said, reaching a hand out. Lia shook it, nodding. I didnt expect to see another dronon. Not with the undead.
Right. I was working in the Khahari Desert when my lord called me here. He said there was a lizard-folk man who wanted a [Tworgnoth Artificers Core], Lia said, smiling at the marshling. He also thinks I can help with the incursion.
Shes damned skilled, Theo! Throk shouted, puffing with pride. Puts my work to shame.
Tia smiled, patting Throk on the head. He seemed to melt a little. Hes doing his best with what he has. An unaligned core wontpete with a demon core, after all.
Please. If you need anything at all, let us know. We have ess to Tworgnothi Copper, Drogramathi Iron, and an alloy made of the two. Anything for a child of Tworgnoth.
Lia smiled, nodding. Do you treat all wandering dronon so nicely?
We have had no wandering dronon, Theo said. Just a priestess of Drogramath and some Zagmon assassins.
Lias face darkened slightly. I heard about what Zagmon did. He deserves what he got. Just because were considered demons doesnt mean we cant get along with the other races. Dont you think?
Couldnt agree more, Theo said. His excitement for meeting another dronon was too high, and he recognized that. The alchemist took a breath, calming himself. She might have been a servant of a friendly dronon god, but that didnt mean he could spill all his secrets. Once again, youre wee to stay as long as you need. If you need some cash, well provide it. Youre giving Throk a splendid gift.
Yeah. Bumping elbows with demon gods, Throk said, snorting augh. Not something I expected to do.
I appreciate your hospitality, Lia said, bowing her head. Ill be around for a while.
The thing Theo wanted more than anything was to house more dronon. He wanted the Soutnds Alliance to be a safe ce for them to live. A ce where they could stop running and settle down. There werent many people in the world who hunted the race down. Not with the Eye being destroyed. But the thousands of years before that had etched into the very bones of all dronon. It was now a reflex to run away. Lia seemed different, though.
If you dont mind me asking are there more tworgnothi in the desert?
A few, Lia said with a shrug.
I want to find the scattered dronon. Give them a ce to stay.
Thats noble.
Theo felt awkward after that. Lia wasnt as excited about it as him. He smiled politely, then excused himself from the artificers workshop. Lia was helping Throk work on his various designs. With the support of the Demon God of Artificers, he could do great things. That required time, and practice.
Wow, that was weird, Tresk said, appearing at Theos side. And she was nice. Way nicer than Zarali.
Yeah. She was, Theo said. He stood at the town center, deciding on a direction to travel. Arent you working?
Im on my mandated break, Tresk said. What are you doing today?
Upgrading buildings. Which is kinda fun.
Im all about upgrading buildings. What do we have?
Ziz and his guys maintain their own levels, so not them. Throk is responsible for his crap, so not him. What about the school?
Is that your responsibility?
ording to the contract it is.
Since Sledge is gonna have her babies, its a good idea. Well need to expand the crap out of that school.
The school was a good ce to start. Theo made his way over, standing outside of the y yard. Kids of all races and ages were ying in the mud, which had be something of a tradition. Bob was somewhere nearby, doing his best to keep the kids in line. As expected, the schools level hadnt budged since thest time Theo upgraded it. It was level 15 with three upgrades. [Dormitories] made afortable area for the kids to stay. That upgrade was vital for the orphans, who had nowhere else to call home. [y Yard] was a no-brainer, it gave the kids a safe area to y outside. And [Speedy Education] allowed Bob to teach them easier. That was the most important one, as it reduced the amount of staff they needed to teach the kids.
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Tresk lingered around the area while Theo shoved cores into the seed core building. Bob came outside the fenced, shouting angrily as the building jumped beneath his feet.
Ive got sleeping babies in here!
Sorry, Theo said, smiling. But Im making your building bigger.
Ugh. Theyre already awake, I guess.
First was the Level 20 upgrade option. Since Bob was already there, Theo consulted with him on what the best upgrade would be. Thankfully, the first one was easy to pick.
[Second Floor]
Adds a second floor to the school. The operator of this building can designate what the rooms on this floor are used for.
More space is always better, Bob said.
Theo agreed. The more people they got in town, the more kids there were. He continued to add cores to the building, reading the new option for level 25 out for Bob to hear. The teacher was interested in the new option.
[Shelter]
Adds a basement level to the school. This basement is highly resistant to damage, providing a safe shelter. All sapient beings under the age of 12 that enter this room will take less damage, be less fearful, require less food and water, and be well rested easily.
This was perfect. One problem Theo had faced in the past was keeping people safe when a monster wave attacked. Once a boss monster breached the outer walls, everyone in the town was in danger. But the children were especially vulnerable, making this an easy pick. Not only could the kids hide in the shelter, but when the town wasnt under attack, they could use it for other things.
Theo inserted cores into the building until it reached level 30. This was as far as he intended to get any building in town, not wanting to upgrade anything too far. Since it was a matter of having enough [Monster Cores], he didnt to spend them all in one ce. The average level of his high-level monster cores was around 30. Leveling a building beyond that would have diminishing returns. The alchemist read the next upgrade for Bob to pick.
[Nourishing Meals]
All meals eaten by sapient beings under the age of 12 while within the school will be more nourishing. Children who consume food within the school will gain more nutrition from less food.
Quality food wasnt a problem for Mudball Fundamental. But Bob was insistent that this was the best pick, so Theo picked it. The educator was happy with the upgrades, and the expanded space of his school. Since each level added a few feet of space to a building, he now had a lot more floor space to work with. Added onto that were the two new floors.
Thanks, Theo, Bob said. Now, if youll excuse me, I have babies to get back to sleep.
Theo nodded, watching as the brogling went off to his duties. The alchemist inspected the building before moving on.
[School]
[Mudball Fundamental]
Owners: Alise Plumm
Operator: Graptappin Tublubbin Grappin
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (92%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Dormitories]
[y Yard]
[Speedy Education]
[Second Floor]
[Shelter]
[Nourishing Meals]
At least the administrators had figured out how to suspend rent. Alise and Theo were on the same page about that. The money earned from taking rent from citizens was minimal. It was better to give those people the tools to do something profitable, then tax them there. The difference between the approaches was drastic. Zizs operation was taxed at a t rate at the end of his production cycles. That tax was based on the amount of money he made from sales. Dead Dog Mine was taxedpletely differently. The state owned the mine, which meant the individual workers were not taxed at all. Instead, they were paid for their production. Broken Tusk itself processed the ore, then sold the ingots.
With Dead Dog Mine on his mind, Theo headed south. He passed by the cluster of smelters operated by Nira, waving at the people within from a distance. He didnt care for the heat of the smelters. Even with his fancy coat. The alchemist passed through a small neighborhood outside of the mine. Most people who worked the mine wanted to be closer, resulting in a spotty neighborhood that rolled over the hills, seemingly without order. Several miners were outside of the entrance, lingering with golems and adventurers alike. Security had increased ever since they discovered the cave system below.
Hello, Theo said, waving at the group. They waved back, and he got to work on the upgrades.
Dead Dog Mine was at level 10. One of the lowest in town. Theo was embarrassed that it had taken him this long to get to the mine, but things had been busy. He sorted through his inventory, ordering the remaining [Monster Cores] he had on him. The alchemist was almost out of low-level cores, and his supply of high-level cores was dwindling. The mine currently had two upgrades. [Miner Fortitude] made the workers less tired when they mined. [Automatic Deposit] made it so that any nuggets mined would appear in a [Dimensional Storage Crate] outside of the mine. Both were great upgrades, and the other two options given were pretty interesting. The mine hit level 15, presenting him with three options.
[Grom Rangs Banishment]
Monsters are less likely to find your mine.
[Miner Quickness]
Anyone with a [Miners Core] (or variant) will move 25% faster within the mine.
[Rock And Stone]
Anyone with a [Miners Core] (or variant) will clear away rock and stone 50% faster.
[Grom Rangs Banishment] and [Miner Quickness] were both older upgrades. [Rock And Stone] was the new one, and Theo didnt know which was better. Monsters werent really an issue anymore, so he dismissed the first one. He couldnt decide if it was better to move faster, or to clear stone away faster. He polled the nearby miners, and went with their rmendation. They imed that [Miner Quickness] would help them a lot, especially since the mine had expanded considerably. It took them too long to get to the bottom floors, and it had annoyed them for some time.
Theo added more cores until the mine hit level 20. He was presented with the old options again, and a new one. By now, a crowd of miners had formed around him. They had an interest in making sure he picked the right options, so he didnt me them. He read the upgrades out for everyone to hear, resulting in an indistinct murmur of conversation. The alchemist inspected the new option.
[Grom Rangs Tenacity]
After working in the mine for an hour, anyone with a [Miners Core] (or variant) will gain an increase to their Strength and Vigor. This effect increases every thirty minutes, up to eight hours.
The miners normally worked four to six hour shifts, so they agreed this would be the best option. Theo selected it, smiling to himself as the miners discussed the upgrade options. He had never seen them so involved in the process. But perhaps they had never been given the chance. The mine hit level 25 with ease, presenting him with yet another option.
[Escape]
Once per day, anyone with a [Miners Core] (or variant) working in the mine may instantly teleport to the entrance. This ability costs no mana and casts instantly.
There was an uproar for that option. Every miner assembled agreed that this option was awesome. They gave their opinions as to why that was. Gridgen had created so many tunnels that ran so deep that getting to the surface was a problem. When a persons shift was done, they wove a path through the maze-like mine to reach the surface. Several miners imed they had been lost in the mines before, forcing them to hunker down for the night. As Theo wasnt interested in forcing his people to sleep in the cold mine, he picked that option.
One more, Theo said. The crowd cheered. He fed thest few cores to the mine and read the option for everyone to judge.
[Rail Carts]
Magical rails,plete with magical rail carts, appear within the mine. The rail carts are powered by coins or motes and can be summoned by anyone using a [Miners Core] (or variant). These carts can only be summoned at the entrance, allowing a miner to ride to their intended section of the mine with ease. The carts vanish after all upants disembark.
The crowd went nuts. Once again, this was an option that improved the quality of the miners lives. They theorized on how amazing the upgrade would be, or how fast the carts would go. But the one thing they all agreed on was that Theo should pick that option. The alchemist was happy to obey, selecting [Rail Carts] as hisst upgrade for the mine. Theo inspected the mine now that he was done upgrading it.
[Mine]
[Dead Dog Mine]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Operator: Gridgen Dev
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (2%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Ore Type:
Copper
Iron
Drogramathi Iron
????
Ore Quality: Perfect
Expansions:
[Miner Fortitude]
[Automatic Deposit]
[Miner Quickness]
[Grom Rangs Tenacity]
[Escape]
[Rail Carts]
While they still hadnt found silver or gold, things were looking up for the mine. Nothing in the systems description of the building included the cave below. But Theo understood that to be some weird stuff created by Khahar back in the day. He left the mine before the crowd got too rowdy, heading back to his manor for some rest. The alchemist wasnt sure when Tresk had slipped away, but that was how she worked.
Theo settled into the garden behind his manor, finding a shaded spot to sit. The heat of the day only seemed to increase, no matter where he sat. Thanks to hisfortable coat, the weather felt perfect. That wasnt the case for everyone, though. Somewhere in the distance, he could feel both Alex and Tresk suffering from the heat.
5.25 - Grinding
5.25 - Grinding
A world of worlds spread before Theo. ss bubbles floated in a green void, each one filled with a tiny world of its own. After Drogramath described his realm, the alchemist was eager to replicate it in the Dreamwalk. It would be a worthy goal to catalog the way the patrons of the heavens formed their realms. He had learned that most created specialized areas, meant only for the strengthening of their masters. That only made him want to keep Terogal pure even more.
This ce kinda stinks, Tresk said, slipping over the surface of a ss bubble. Alex flew above, honking in agreement.
I think were supposed to be in the bubbles.
Or maybe Drogramath lied about his realm to throw you off.
Maybe. You know whats funny?
What? I love a good joke.
Theo smiled, turning to hispanion. It was hard not tough as he told the story. When he showed up in the temple, he was all bluster. Puffed up like a mad little frogopus. Then I met him in person, and he was like a shy kitten.
Tresk chuckled politely. She didnt find the scenario as hrious as he did. He wants to pretend that hes tough while in the heavens. But then you meet him in person, and hes a little scared nerd.
Almost every god that Theo had met was friendly enough. He suspected that if he met Zagmon in the heavens, even the Demon God of War would have been pleasant. That might have been a mechanism of the realms themselves, as no patron could assault another without dering all-out war. The alchemist waved his hand, sending them inside one of the many ss bubbles. Inside were the fields of reagents that Drogramath had nted. As expected, the seeds to fight the undead had been nted in Broken Tusk long ago. Likely by the potioneer himself.
This ce sucks, though. Youre right. Theo felt dizzy looking up at the ss dome overhead. The other orbs looked distorted, as though viewed through a funhouse mirror. It wasnt pleasant.
The only realm weve seen that doesnt stink is ntheirs realm. The Realm of Healing? House of Healing? Which is it?
The capital is the House of Healing. The world is called the Realm of Healing, but even that is dizzying. Theres this mist that hangs in the air, and the ce is far too humid.
Thats why our realm will just be a world. Nothing crazy, right?
Theo couldnt agree with her more. All members of the Tarahek were annoyed with the ss world, so they transported themselves to another area. Antalis, the darkened moon above the. It was bleak, but the was visible below. A little green-blue gem hovering in a void of ck.
Im going to do alchemy on the moon, Theo dered.
Im gonna fight a dragon on the moon!
Tresk ran off with Alex, intent on fighting a copy of Pogo the dragon. Theo got to work on his alchemy grinding, summoning stills and plots ofnd to practice his craft. He would hit Level 27 in his two cores tonight, bringing them one step closer to evening out with his others. His [Toruaun Mages Core] had been crawling along, but he once again neglected it. Sensing that was a bad idea, he added some warding to his list of goals for the night.
It was a good chance to reflect on his mage-style core. The core, given to him by the Queen of Mystery Toruaun, was weird to start with. It was a modified ward-style mage core, specializing in warding objects instead of generating wards ad hoc. Strangers still, the pieces of the wards he crafted were drawn directly from his alchemy. Theo could take almost any effect from a potion, imbuing an object with that power. When the core hit Level 20, he would gain another valuable ability. If he focused hard, grinding the crap out of the core, he could bring it even to his others quickly enough.
And that might need to happen. No one had answers why his cores had stopped leveling. Even the [Tarahek Core], which seemed immune to most system-based shenanigans, was stuck at 30. Each of his other cores might need to be 30 to advanced past that mark for all he knew. Or something else was happening. Some other nonsense brought by Khahar and Fenian. While he knew they were toying with the monitor system, he didnt know the extent of that tampering.
To practice his wards, Theo infused things with simple shielding wards. What he wanted to get better at was the [Linked Wards] skill, which allowed the alchemist tobine two different wards. Like the suffuse potion in alchemy, attaching wards together was hit-or-miss. Some things produced amazing results, while others were mostly useless. Others still were outright dangerous. But the key to working with [Linked Wards] was to understand they operated outside of the standard spellcrafting system. They worked by manually cramming wards together, meaning they required extensive experimentation.
Theo devised a way to help both of his Drogramath cores along. Since the [Alchemy Constructs] ability was shared between both his alchemy and herbalist cores, he got a bit of experience for both when he messed with golems. The only problem he had with golems was the way the willpower requirement rose as the strength of the golem increased. From the Dreamwalk, he couldnt feel his golem running around in Gronro. But when in the waking world, he could sense the massive draw of will it took from Terogal. Distance, strength, and intelligence level were the biggest factors for operating golems.
A golem made of wood lumbered around in the distance. Theo studied his creation, looking up from a boiling still to note the strengths of the [Wood Golem]. Alex sensed the creatures affinity for nature before he did. The creature was somewhere between a stone golem and a nt golem. It had an aptitude forbat, and for caring for nts. The alchemist destroyed that golem, moving on to see how far he could push the definition of golem.
Theos next test was to create golems made of various rare metals. Both Drogramathi Iron and Tworgnothi Copper worked, but the Dreamwalk buckled slightly at the creation of both. The more rare the material, the harder it was to keep the creation together. He moved on, working his stills as he stretched his mind to create more. The system absolutely refused to allow him a golem made entirely out of water. It did allow him to create a golem made entirely out of flowers, and another made of des of grass. They werebeled as [Grass Golem] and [Flower Golem], but seemed to work exactly like a [nt Golem].
The limit on organic material was nts. Theo shook his head, looking at the pile of wolf corpses he had jammed a containment core into. Shouldve guessed, he said, moving on.
The interesting part of that experiment was the resulting [Bone Golem]. It was a horrid mass of bones that Theo dismissed as quickly as he could. He continued working throughout the night, trying to push himself to get as many levels as possible, and learn as much about the golems as he could. He managed to hit 27 in his alchemy, herbalist, and personal level. The alchemist also got level 18 for his Toruaun core. Not too shabby for the night.
Going with his current theme of trying to get Intelligence to 30, Theo ced his free point there. It brought him to 28. While a lot of his Intelligence points came from bonuses on his cores, he would be happy enough when the modified score was 30. Then he had to figure out where to put his other free points. It was a good idea to go wide, rather than focusing on a single thing. Dexterity was likely his next pick.
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The Dreamwalk seemed to end in a snap. Theos eyes snapped open in the realm world, blinking away sleep and adjusting to the dawn light outside. The scent of freshly cooked food drifted upstairs, driving the alchemist to rise faster than he wanted to. Tresk was already bolting down the stairs, leaving him to stretch for long moments with Alex before heading down. The goose honked, signaling her need to move around. Theo agreed. Unless he got moving, hed stay in bed for far too long.
Sarisa and Rowan had created more delights with their growing skills. Theo enjoyed his breakfast, but his mind lingered on the underworld just below the town. With the days schedule seeming tame enough, he made ns with his assistants to head down to chat with the dragon. Right after he sorted another batch of [Greater Hallow the Soil] for the clean-up effort. The good news on that front was that the various measures he had installed in Gronro were working. The barrier around the town had stopped the tide of corruption entirely. Combined with the potions and his wandering golem, things were looking up.
After finishing his breakfast, Theo headed over to theb to chat with Salire about their production levels. Since she was enjoying the use of three stills, the alchemist kept that the way it was. After checking how much essence they had produced, he was satisfied that they could reduce the amount of [Greater Hallow the Soil] they were already producing. That was based on the idea of beating the corruption back over the long-term, though.
Of course, the real problem, Theo said, sighing as he leaned over a table. Is that were putting a lot of stock in Sulvan.
Salire was wearing a different floral dress today. This one had puffy sleeves and she had taken to wearing a leather apron over it to keep it safe. She had others that were damaged from exposure to alchemy reagents or simply the fumes. I think were spreading our efforts wide enough not to care. Not like anyone else is helping us with the undead.
Theo grunted, nodding. He wanted to be mad at the other nations for not helping them with the undead corruption. But the alchemist felt partially responsible for the entire fiasco. His closeness to Fenian, and the result of the elfs adventures left him feeling like a party to the release of the undead. No matter how many times people told him, he still felt at fault.
Im gonna go see the dragon today, Theo said, shaking off his guilt as quickly as it came. Who doesnt like dragons?
Just about no one Ive talked to. Folks are scared to go down there. Not just because of the dragon, but the rock people.
Damn Russian rock folk, Theo said, shaking his fist in the air. Lets get these reactions done, then set up the stills for the day. Can you cart thepleted potions we have over to Alise after I go?
Yup!
Theo and Salire worked on kicking off reactions first. They burned through their stock of essences, setting up more barrels of the brewing potion. It would take a few days for them to finish brewing here, and that would be fine. Without a way to distribute the potion, it was best just to stock up for now. Once Throk had finished his weird flying tform, they could do tests to see how effective of a dispersal method it was. Until then, they were keeping the corruption back and waiting for ntheirs y to pan out.
With everything set up, Theo headed out to meet with Sarisa. Rowan was already lurking somewhere in the shadows, and popped out when he exited the building. Both were mildly excited to see the underground area again. As they passed through the mine, folks gavepliments about the new upgrades. Theo smiled the entire way, finding a random miner to help lead them to the underground passage. The mine had be such a webwork of confusing tunnels, it was easy to get lost.
Oh, hey, a friendly voice said as Theo moved through the final passage. He turned, spotting Igor the rock-person.
Just hanging out in a tunnel all day? Theo asked, pping his hand against the hard shoulder of the rock-person.
All day. Every day, Igor said, his rocky face twisting into something close to a smile. Mind if I escort you?
Please, do.
Theo was confident that whatever brainwashing Khahar had done on the rock-folk was absolute. Betrayal down here wouldnte from the rock-dudes or the dragon, but the other races that called this underworld home. The group walked over the rockyndscape. The alchemist and hispanions found it hard for their minds to adjust to this new realm. Glowing mushrooms glowed overhead, giving the impression of stars glittering in the sky. They spotted the Nameless City in the distance before long and plunged into the bustle.
There was always a ring of reverence around Pogo, the dragon that inhabited this ce. Her scales seemed to shift colors, depending on the light that shone down from those mushrooms. The crystalmps the people in the town used for light cast her in a shade of green, while the local fauna shone over her body as though she were the color of bronze. She lifted her head, snortingzily as she spotted the party.
Hello, archduke. Can I help you?
I was just checking in, Theo said with a shrug. I know my people have been trying to strike a trade deal, but havent had luck.
That is their fault, not mine. I cannot help you.
The ancient dragon cared little about things from the surface. And the rock-people werent much better. They seemed content down here, only serving as eternal sentinels to Broken Tusk. But the alchemist had noticed the presence of other races. People who might need what was grown on the surface. While the underground area was already notable for the Tworgnothi Copper, there could be more stuff down here. Theo was always proactive about securing supplies.
But as Theo looked at the sleepy gaze of the dragon, he realized something important. There was a dragon guarding the underground entrance to his town. If there were other races down here who wanted to trade, they were likely hostile.
Beyond your town, how safe is it?
Not very.
Theo clicked his tongue. These tunnels go throughout the world, right? How far is the nearest friendly civilization?
Not far, but the deep elves are between us and them.
Im guessing these elves arent cool?
Theyre the opposite of cool. Theyre mean-spirited creatures that make war as often as they can.
Theo had seen a few pale elves in the Nameless City. But he could sense Pogos annoyance with him today. For whatever reason, she had dropped her matronly attitude and acted more like the silent guardian. The alchemist bid farewell to her, then headed off to explore the town some more. The dragon breathed a sigh of relief when he left, leaving him feeling as though she were hiding something. He shook it off, and found a rock-person shop.
Unsurprisingly, the rock-folk sold a variety of supplies for adventurers. The most interesting thing they sold was a map of the underground area. Thankfully, they epted surface money. Which was the same as underground money, since the system generated most of the coins in the world. The alchemist made his way to the local tavern, sitting down with Sarisa and Rowan. While none of them were hungry, they ordered drinks to ease the mind of the barman.
This stuff is gross, Rowan said, looking down at the mushroom-based alcohol before him.
Were just being polite, Theo said, unfurling the map. Dont drink it. Look at this, though. A hand-drawn map with damn, thats a lot of factions.
Instead of presenting strongholds of power, all unified under one banner, the map was a mess. The map only included the areas of the Soutnds Alliance, including the ranges to the west and north. In that small pocket of undergroundnd, there were hundreds of independent factions. Deep elves, deep lizard-folk, and other deep variations of surface dwellers were all represented there. No two towns or cities shared the same faction.
I cant read this, Rowan said, squinting at the map.
Yeah, Khahars idea of humor. Thenguage of the underground is Russian. Ha-ha. Funny, Theo said, shaking his head. He pointed at each of the strongholds, reading out the names of the factions. Each one is different. The maker of the map listed if the people were friendly, but it gets better.
A section at the bottom of the map had a funny little part. It dated the map, stating that it was about a season old. In that time, a fair number of these factions would have fallen with new ones taking their ce. Politically, it was an absolute nightmare. The only reason they could rise and fall so quickly was through [Kingdom Cores]. That small note on the map exined how factions would capture the cores, passing them around to build new kingdoms.
The underground might be doomed, Theo said, shaking his head. We cant establish a rtionship with a nation that is gone next season.
That wouldnt be good for business, Sarisa said. We should also be concerned that the dragon may fall one day.
Leaving Broken Tusk wide open to attack, Rowan grunted. He sipped his drink reflexively, then spat it back into the cup. Ugh.
A single eye had lingered on Theo since the group came into the bar. Under a mask of stone, a one-eyed deep elf watched the alchemist and hispanions. The man stood, walking to stand near the groups table.
Strangers, he said in almost perfect Qavelli. I have news from the north. If youre interested.
5.26 - Twist
5.26 - Twist
The one-eyed elf wore dark leather that hugged his form. Wrapped around his shoulder was a tattered ck cloak, hood pulled up over his head. The stone mask he wore on his face was etched, chunks chipped away in some ces. His lone eye stared at Theo, a deep shade of purple that burned with passion. Both Sarisa and Rowan had gone to summon their weapons, only stopping when the elf made no move.
Have a seat, Theo said, gesturing to the empty seat at his table. He removed a [Greater Potion of Limited Foresight] and drank it, watching as hispanions did the same.
Surface liquor? the elf asked, sagging into his chair. His shoulders slumped, breathsing in sharp gasps.
Naturally. The beer down here isnt to our liking.
Nor is it to anyones, Id wager.
What kind of information do you have? Theo asked, drumming his fingers on the table. And whats the price?
Theo could hear the smile in the mans voice when he spoke next. Astute. First, allow me to introduce myself. I know how you are, Archduke Theo, but you may call me Twist.
Nice to meet you, Twist.
Indeed. I was tasked with killing Fenian Southde before he imed the Throne of the Herald. As he has imed the throne, slipping out of my grasp, Ive abandoned my duty.
Theo instinctively reached for a dagger hidden in his coat, stopping only when he saw Twists inaction. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
It is likely that this man was sent by King Karasan to assassinate Fenian Feintleaf. He speaks Qavelli purposefully. He knows about the throne, but didnt state that he wanted to im it.
More information is required to draw a conclusion on what his intentions are, though.
Youre well-informed, Theo said, rxing slightly.
I have my methods, Twist said, coughing into his mask. I wish I could have seen them fight. Such a shame that the elf is stuck in Balkors realm.
Theo half-expected Khahar to show up, mping a hand over the masked elfs mouth. But nothing happened. He knew too much to be a normal dweller of the underground. Everything he said was pointed and undisguised.
How do you know this? I have my methods isnt a valid answer.
Twist broke into a coughing fit. He rolled his shoulders, nodding. People always want answers, dont they? Fine. Im a failed ascendant. Former servant of Balkor. I removed his core when he fell, cursing me. Been climbing ever since
Twist coughed some more, stifling any more words that begged release. Theo was left feeling dumbstruck. He realized quickly that the elf was being honest because he needed help. But what did it mean to help a former servant of Balkor? He couldnt decide if it was a good idea. Since Twist was being so forting with information, it didnt hurt to ask.
So, what do you need from me? In exchange for this information you have.
Ah, well I need transport to the ce where Qavell once was.
That sounds like a riddle, Theo said with a sigh.
Twist shrugged. Do you think the undead were limited to the surface? The corruption is spreading to the underground. Its only a matter of time before even this town is overrun. There. Thats free information. Can you get me where I need to go?
Theo only offered a shrug at first. Eventually, he said after a pause. But it might take a while. The path from Gronro to Qavell is long. Every step is corrupted.
An honorable promise, Twist said, reaching his hand out for Theo to shake.
Theo shook the elfs hand, finding his grip to be firm. We can formalize this agreement with a contract.
Later, Twist said, falling into a coughing fit once more. He tilted the bottom of his mask up, spitting onto the ground. First Prince Hanan is headed for Broken Tusk. Hes being coerced into doing so by another. I dont know who.
Rowanughed. He would need an army to attack the alliance.
And he has one.
And the means to cross the corruptednds.
He has that, too.
Theo leaned in, narrowing his eyes at Twist. How?
He lifted the entire city into the air, Twist said, letting out a satisfied sigh. A feat of his Dark Coresmiths, I think. Qavell itself is flying toward your alliance.
Theo fell back into his chair. Yeah, that would be a problem. Taking out a fleet of airships was one thing, but an entire city? Nuking it was easy enough, but he had to consider the civilians within. After a few more moments of contemtion, he nodded to himself. This was still within Broken Tusks means to repel. The alchemist opened his administrative panel, issuing direct orders to Zankir. He detailed what Twist had told him, and issued new orders. Instead ofunching deadly loads, they would only fire anti-magic rounds at the city. That would reduce casualties to a minimum. From there, theyd figure the rest out.
This is valuable information, Theo said. Youre giving it so freely.
Karasan never paid me, Twist said. And his son, Hanan, is innocent. It costs you nothing to keep preparing, and much more to get me to Qavell.
Fine. I think this arrangement is eptable. What do you n to do once youre at Qavell? The ce where Qavell was.
That is the one secret I shall keep, Twist said,ughing to himself. Then he coughed some more.
Do you need a health potion? Theo asked.
It wont work.
This was a lot of information to process. Twist fell into silence as Theo went through his administrative interface. He made notes from what the pale elf had told him, getting every detail down for Alise and her team to see. He put as much text, color, and warning-sign emojis in the title to grab peoples attention. After that, he drew up a formal contract for the elf to sign. There was some back-and-forth, but they agreed on something simple. Twist didnt want to stay in Broken Tusk, but he wanted progress reports on his trip to the north. He didnt care if they went overnd, sea, or air. He just wanted to get there.
I need to discuss this with my people, Theo said.
Twist shrugged. Ill be here. Couldnt kill Fenian thest time I saw him, so Im left feeling listless.
After paying Twist his agreed upon stipend of fifty silver coins, Theo left with his assistants. They rushed out of the underground area, bidding farewell to Igor before they left. Alise was already blowing up the administrator chat feature. She and the other administrators were throwing theories around, most of which questioned the information given to them by Twist. By the time the alchemist made his way to the town hall, a small team had assembled.
Gael and Gwyn werent called into the meeting. Alise wanted to set an intimate stage for the meeting. She and the spymaster, Alran, sat in the third floor room. Theo entered with his two bodyguards, all of whom had a slightly vacant expression on their faces. Each of their thoughts were wrapping around the scenario, trying to find the w in the masked elfs story.
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Well, thats fun! Alise shouted,ughing as Theo took a seat at the long table. An entire city flying to kill us?
Theo cleared his throat. Yeah. Thats interesting. How does this line up with what you know, Alran?
I dont know a thing about the city flying, or some interloper manipting the crown.
Great, Alise groaned.
But! I have records of a masked elf working for Karasan. What little information I have says he is afflicted with a condition. A curse.
That lines up perfectly with what he said. Theo tapped his foot. And all he wants is to visit the ce where Qavell was.
More importantly, Alise interjected. How fast can a city fly?
Not quickly with all the necromantic corruption. Theo referenced his memories on his artifice experiments. It didnt matter what kind of magic the city was using to fly. If it was using magic, it would have a hard time leaving the area, let alone making the trip to the Soutnds Alliance. Atop that rested the effectiveness of the alchemists anti-magical arsenal.
Alise pped her hands together once. Her eyes gained a bright glimmer. This is good. Tying up thest loose end.
Alran copied Alise, pping his hands together several times. This is fabulous. This advanced warning will do wonders.
The meeting went on. Eventually, Aarok and Zankir arrived to discuss defensive measures. With the Khahari man now in charge of the towns defensive measures, he took an interest in the topic. The natural approach was to focus their efforts on defending Gronro. But everyone had their doubts about that idea. It came down to whether Qavell would approach from the north or the east. The group discounted the idea of a western attack.
How far can a city fall and not kill everyone inside? Aarok asked, yawning. The meeting had gone on long enough to test them all.
Not far, Zankir said. Are we at a point to consider asking for reinforcements?
From whom? Alise asked.
The Khahari, Zankir shrugged. He acted as though the answer was obvious, but the Khahari had shown no desire to help them. Aside from some basic trade, they had been absent since the ascension of their god-king.
Why not? Theo asked. Except itll take a week to sail there. Then another week to await a response.
The conversation degraded slightly, but Theo was happy with how determined Zankir was to be good at his job. He forced the group to watch as he drew up maps and defensive ns. They would move towers and rail guns around until they had enough coverage to be satisfied. Combined with that effort, Throk would be asked kindly to create a score of new weapons. His hovering tower project just wasnt as important as defending the alliance.
We should fit Rivers with more guns, Zankir said, gesturing to his map. Rivers wasnt well-defended. Not like Broken Tusk and Gronro. Two rail guns at least. Maybe more.
With enough ammo to stop a city, Theo added. Which brings a problem. I can only ward so many shots a day.
Research more methods to shoot anti-magic shots, Aarok said. Use one of our standing guns.
Once again, the conversation swayed. Theos thoughts drifted away,nding squarely on making new ammo for the guns. When the meeting was over, the alchemist headed off to talk with Xolsa and Zarali. As expected, the soon-to-be newlyweds were hiding away in the wizards tower. If there was anyone in town who knew anything about the topic it would be them.
The tower was filled with the stale scent of incense. It was this lingering musk that Theo couldnt decide if he enjoyed the scent or not, pressing on toward the top floors. Xolsa was on the top floor, poking his fingers through a scattered webwork of arcane symbols. The alchemist observed for a while, then cleared his throat.
Ah! Xolsa said, turning and clutching his chest. You frightened me.
Sorry. I just had some questions.
Sure, of course. But look at this, first. The wizard beckoned Theo closer, gesturing to a cluster of sigils floating in the air. The [Dungeon Information] upgrade you got for the town has done a lot for my research.
Really? Theo stepped closer, pretending he studied the magicalnguage of Axpashi as much as Xolsa thought he did. I thought it only added stuff for me.
It reveals useful information from anywhere. I dont need to go to the dungeon to inspect it anymore.
That was very useful. It was always annoying taking Xolsa to the dungeons for inspection. Looking at the scatter of magical symbols reminded Theo of the [Cave Dungeon] below his town. He shivered at the thought, turning to his friend to question him. About that high-level dungeon
Yes, that was very interesting. Wasnt it?
Worrying, actually.
An ascendant dungeon? Why, I could never imagine such a thing.
Doesnt that imply some level of sapience from the dungeon? Like, isnt it alive?
Good question. Maybe. Ask your godly friends if you want an answer. All I know is it seems safe.
How can you be sure?
The dragon clears it daily, Xolsa said, nodding to himself. In your interface, you see a limited readout for the dungeon. I get the full picture. She has cleared all 100 floors every day for at least ten years. The record only goes back so far.
Theo shook his head, only moderately disappointed that Xolsa had missed the most important part. And what happens when someone ces a powerful thing near our town? It goes wrong. Or right. I guess it depends.
Bah, who cares? Well copse the mine if the dungeon goes rampant. Oh. Right. Did you have a question.
Theos mind had been flung in different directions, forcing him to take a second before he pressed on. There were a few things he wanted to ask the wizard, and a gift to deliver. To start, he withdrew the [Intelligence of the Soul] potion from his inventory and held it out. A look of excitement spread across Xolsas face as he grabbed the potion.
I forgot! Oh, youre my new best friend, Theo.
Yeah. Just be ready for the side-effects. You might notice a drastic personality change.
Understood.
As for my question
Theo exined what he knew about the problem of Qavell flying down south. The wizard didnt seem half as surprised as he should have been, going straight into magical theory. The speech was long, and overly dry. After he was done ranting, the alchemist let his mind condense the information. If someone were to abuse their [Kingdom Core], hooking into it and using it as a power source, they could perform many interesting feats of magic. A flying city might have been a bit much for the power the seed core would provide, but it was within reach.
And it would experience a dramatic level of interference from Balkors power.
At least he was concise on that point.
Meaning the route to the east is likely, Theo concluded.
Right. I wouldnt fly the damned thing at all. But theres some mysterious figure pushing the prince into action? Hard to imagine who it could be.
Who knows? I might need your help working on anti-magic weapons to bring the city down, though.
Xolsa cocked his head to one side, an amusing expression spreading across his face. And what will you do once youve downed it?
Theo could only hope that when the time came, he could bring the city down safely. After that, they could deal with deposing the prince. Or the guy pulling the strings. Until then, it was only a matter of bringing them to heel. Xolsa seemed to take that as a fine response, rambling on about the work he had been doing with the dungeons. After thetest rant, they brainstormed on the best way to approach bringing a flying city down.
The rail gun was likely the best delivery method in existence. Flinging spells at a distance was a problem. But tossing something imbued with a spell was rtively easy. The only thing required for using the rail gun was something that could handle the stress of beingunched, and a ward. While Xolsas specialty was magic, he could offer nothing else to issue. Theos specialized wardCing core put him ahead of the wizard for this problem. But he promised to get involved if the city drew close to Broken Tusk.
Where is Zarali? Theo asked, realizing that she wasnt around.
Oh, those ruffians at the harbor hired her for a job. Enchanting the new boats, you know.
Huh. Alright, then.
Xolsa wasnt one to chat unless he had something to chat about. Once he had expelled all the information he had about the dungeons, he went silent. Theo let himself out of the tower, finding his way through the portal and back to town. There was a moderate buzz rippling through the citizens, especially those with the Adventurers Guild. Word had gotten out immediately, the way it always did. Folks already know that Qavell wasing to attack.
Nothing new, Theo muttered, turning away from the shimmering portal.
The alchemist headed down to the harbor, then along the canal to the seaside defensive area. He found his way to one tower, nodding to an adventurer as he climbed thest steps. The half-ogre on station nodded back, then departed from his post without question. Theo looked upon the newest model of Throks rail guns. It had changed little from the first prototype, leaving little room to think of new ideas. These were the weapons they had to fight against Qavell.
[Dragons Antimagic], abination of the [Dragons Dance] and [Anti-mage] wards, seemed purpose-built to stop a flying city. The field it createdshed out with des, injuring anything or anyone inside. But the second effect was more important. It stopped magical items from operating for a certain time. The potency of the ward might not be enough to affect an entire city, but there was a reason people didnt zip around in flying machines all the time. They were often very vulnerable to anti-magical effects.
Theo let out a steady breath, looking out over the bay. He had done everything he could to prepare. But it was still worth testing his Drogramathi Iron shots. The explosions from his wards looked awesome if he hit the distant mountains just right.
5.27 - Anti-Magical Infusion
5.27 - Anti-Magical Infusion
A shattering snap rang over the bay outside of Broken Tusk. Theo nodded with approval as his Drogramathi Iron shot drilled through the air, mming into a distant mountain. A field of anti-magical Dragons Dance sprung up, shredding the stone into fine chunks. Those pieces tumbled into the bay below, settling under the calm waves.
The alchemist had learned little from his newest experiment. The rail guns still had an absurd range. They still hurtled projectiles at impossible speeds. And nothing he could do changed the way his wards worked. He had a line of reasoning with the Deflect Magic ward, but hadnt been able to pursue it. Drumming his fingers on the side of the stone tower, he turned to his connection with hispanions.
Im headed to Terogal, Theo said, transmitting his thoughts to the other members of the Tarahek.
Bring me back some cookies.
Falling through the realms had be a mundane thing. Theo slipped through the veil between the mortal realm and the void, gliding weightlessly over the Bridge until he felt the familiar tug of the mortal dreamrealm. In a blink, he appeared on the soft grasses of the small vige. Belgar had sensed his approach and was jogging across the widewns, a smile hanging on his face. The dronon spirit had gained much of his corporeal form. Small streams of purple energy came from his eyes, but his body was otherwise whole.
Hey, Belgar said, waving awkwardly. There are some souls for you to review. More dronon.
Theo pped a hand on Belgars shoulder, nodding. Which brood?
A scatter between the allied demons. Belgar gestured, beckoning Theo to follow.
A group of decaying souls was gathered near what had be the viges square. Twenty souls gathered, emitting faint ribbons of multicolored light. The longer they stayed without invitation, the more their bodies were given back to the void. Theo examined them one-by-one, happy enough with them to allow them in. There was even a single soul from a Zagmoni Dronon. That one had been lost in the void since the defeat of its master. Each soul signed a basic contract that bound them to the realm. The moment they did, their ethereal bodies gained a sense of purpose, drifting off to join their kin in the vige.
We didnt get a level for that, Theo said, inspecting the realms status screen.
[TeroGal]
Mortal Dreamrealm
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 30
Souls: 145
Expansions:
[Harvesting Array]
[Defensive Towers]
[Landscape Maniption]
[Guardians of Faith]
[Bubble]
[Simted Reality]
Pending Requests: 0
That made sense, though. People had told Theo from the start that things got harder after Level 30. That idea must have tranted to the realms as much as it did the mortal realm. The amount of souls he had collected seemed like a pittance,pared to the people in Broken Tusk. But this was a slow crawl to power, cing Terogal firmly in the lower realms for a long time. The alchemist was content with this, and moved off from the square.
Benton and Drogramath are already here, Belgar said, pointing at the cottage. The small stone building had increased in size since thest time Theo was here.
Theo shook his head, allowing his mind to wrap itself around the scenario. How does it feel? Seeing your former master in person?
Belgar chuckled nervously. Disappointmentes to mind.
He isnt what you expected, is he?
No, he is not. He used to speak to us on the mortal ne. He was always somanding. Here, hes just another dronon.
Never meet your heroes.
While Theo was happy to spend hours of his trip to Terogal chatting with the spirits, he had a purpose foring today. He headed to the expanded cottage, finding there to be plenty of room. Drogramath and Benton were both sipping tea, and snacking on cookies. The alchemist sat with them, getting his own cup and soaking in the ambiance. A fire crackled in the corner, the scent of the burning wood mingling with the steeping tea. Under all those powerful smells was the sweetness of the cookies.
Working on something? Drogramath asked.
Theo had withdrawn a length of parchment and was writing out some ns. It was, of course, a n to get the Demon God of Alchemy to help him out. Im looking for the best way to bring Qavell down without killing everyone inside.
Benton sighed heavily. Finally. Khahar had us all mute on the topic until you figured it out.
He refused to let us tell you Hanan had raised the city until you figured it out on your own. Part of the new rules.
Theo exined his problem. The delivery system they made was perfect, but the thing they delivered wasnt. Drogramath scratched his chin as he listened, nodding along as the alchemist spoke. He then shrugged. You wont make progress unless you figure it out on your own.
Well, I know the solution. Constructs, Theo said, circling that section on his page. Once I figure out how to bind two essences, I can make a powerful anti-magic field with potions alone.
Drogramath nodded, a smile creeping across his face. Constructs were the answer for an important reason. Wards were great if he knew he would use it in the next few days. But the process to imbue shots with Toruauns magic was time consuming and tiresome. If he could take the best parts of the Deflect Magic ward,bining them with a general anti-magical field, he would be set. But the demon god offered nothing more than his coy smile.
Benton shifted the subject after that, detailing the way his realm was changing to bake better confections. The Realm of Death and Winter was almost always frozen over. That made baking difficult, resulting in the construction ofrge domed cities. As the bear god rambled on, Theo turned his attention inward.
Karatan Cheese contained a valuable property. While he had found the underground mushrooms with the same property, the cheese was his first experience with the Suffuse property. But the second property on the cheese was Bind. The first use of that property was to create a bomb that would bind people and monsters on the spot. But Theo had a feeling that he could do something more with that essence, rendering it as a literal binding agent for other essences.
Before moving on, he considered how constructs worked. Alchemy Constructs was a skill he took early on. At first, it allowed him to bind essences to mundane objects. His first experiment with that was a sphere that revealed all targets inside. The next step was the creation of Mana Constructs, which were the first power source of the golems. Theo found himself at the next phase of that skill. He thought about which two essences would produce the correct result.
The Anti-Mage property came from the Mages Bane flower. They were plentiful in Broken Tusk, growing farrger than the uncultivated version in the wild. The problem came with the second property. Theo dismissed all properties that came from the spirit fruits within his realm. The souls here had been eating most of those, and he wouldnt tell them to stop. The alchemist wrote a list of his avable reagents, and the associated properties. He pressed his finger into each one, thinking about how useful it would be for the task. When he touched the list item for the River m Pearl, Drogramath coughed. And Khahar appeared with a snap.
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I see and hear everything, the Arbiter said.
Just have something caught in my throat, Drogramath said, mming his fist against his chest and coughing some more. These cookies are drier than normal.
Hey Benton pouted.
Khahar scowled for a few moments, then took a seat at the table. Before long, he had a pile of cookies and pastries before him along with a cup of steaming tea. Theo returned to his work.
River m Pearls were easy enough to get. Drogramath must have wanted him to use the Infuse property, which was interesting. Theo had the sense thatbining those two things would force the property into an object. So when a Drogramathi Iron shot hit the city, it would soak into the foundation like a poison, stopping the flow of mana within.
Easy enough, Theo said, heading out from the cottage. The group waved as he left, but offered nothing else. The alchemist made his way to the stills he kept in the realm.
While he wasnt eager to turn his realm into a factory world, he saw no harm in using a few stills for his work. His inventory was always cluttered with junk. There were enough sks of old Refined Anti-Mage Essence tost him a while, but only a scatter of River m Pearls. The cheese empire was doing well though, crowding more than their fair share of slots in his inventory.
Theo got to work, clearing out two stills with a vial of Cleansing Scrub. He mashed the cheese by hand, crumbling it into the first still with ease. Turning to the River m Pearls, he scratched his head. Ziz normally crushed these for him, resulting in several awkward moments. The alchemist smacked the pearls with a hammer, but could not turn them to powder. A wayward soul, one of the first that had arrived after Belgar, offered to give him a hand. Together, they ground a handful of pearls into powder.
Thanks, Theo said, waving as the soul headed off.
The alchemist topped each still off to the correct level, relying on his Drogramath Distillery Specialty to measure the amount exactly. Setting the heat for the cheese was easy. He had done it too many times before, even if the heating elements on the stills in his realm werent as advanced as those in hisb. The pearls were another matter, though. Theo guessed the right heat on those, relying on the idea that most hard things required a higher temperature while distilling to extract the most effect. He took mental notes as the stills worked, considering how he would approach the next leg of the task.
A single Drogramathi Iron shot sat on Theos worktable. The object was technically alchemically neutral. There was a single case where it was. Drogramathi Iron Shavings would react alchemically, but only when introduced as a catalyst during brewing. His experience said the metal should absorb essences to be a construct just fine. As long as the two essences bound, there shouldnt be a problem. Of course, this opened a can of worms Theo wasnt eager to face.
Suffuse was a property that bound potions together, but it did not bind essences. Theo viewed it as the difference between welding metals togetherpared to creating them as an alloy. Using the Bind property would create the alloy, while the Suffuse property welded two properties together. This was a new form of alchemy, meaning it was dangerous and required much experimentation.
Time slipped by as Theo considered his approach. It almost left his grasp, sliding away from him several times as the potions brewed. When they were done, he set out three sks containing his experimental essences. Anti-Mage, Infuse, and Bind. The order that he introduced these things together mattered. Adding Anti-Mage to Infuse would cause an explosion. The alchemist grabbed his sks, then transported himself far away from the vige. He sent his mind to the far edges of his expanding world, settling in a conifer forest somewhere west of the ocean he had created.
Creatures scurried somewhere in the distance, rustling through the underbrush. Theo tried and failed to get a look at them, but turned his attention back to his work quickly. He ced an empty sk on the ground, returning every other sk but the one containing Refined Bind Essence. Using a pipette, he pulled the smallest sample he could from the sk. He dripped it into the empty sk, then waited for anything weird to happen. Once he was satisfied, he drew from the Anti-Mage sk. The moment the essences touched, they sizzled. After a tense moment, they settled.
Ah. More forgiving than normal, Theo said, getting on his hands and knees to measure the contents by eye. The extra Anti-Mage essence that wouldnt y well with Bind had sizzled off, turning into vapor. The alchemistmitted the ratio to memory. He added the exact amount of Refined Infuse Essence, then watched the mixture swirl in the sk. After the cloud of blue-white smoke had cleared, he inspected the result.
[Anti-Magical Infusion Essence]
[Bound Essence]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Poor Quality
An essence bound by the Anti-Mage and Infuse properties.
There it was. Theos alloy. He mixed the rest of the essence he had on hand, creating only a few units of the essence. Back on the mortal realm, hisb had enough of the reagents in stock to make hundreds of units. But River m Pearls werent something he collected regrly, leaving a gap in his production. The alchemist sent his mind back to the vige, finding the Drogramathi Iron shot waiting for him on the table. With no desire to wait, he infused the shot with his new essence, then inspected the resulting construct.
[Anti-Magical Infusion Construct]
[Alchemy Construct] [Projectile]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Infuse an object with anti-magical properties. Anything this Drogramathi Iron round hits will be drained of magical potential.
Material:
Drogramathi Iron (Excellent Quality)
Effect:
When struck by this shot, objects and all magically operating devices will be drained of their mana. Drains 500 mana, or 1,000 power depending on the distance of the device from the point of impact.
The round shimmered with white-blue energy. A smile spread across Theos face as he looked at the shot. It was perfection. There were several advantages of this method over using his wards for the task. The magic would never fade from the iron. It would maintain the effect for a long time, although the alchemist couldnt say how long. He could also create the rounds industrially. When a construct was created, it soaked an amount of the essence up. He could make a big tub and drop the shots in. Easy as that.
Quite a weapon you have there, Drogramath said,ing from behind to ce a hand on Theos shoulder. I got in trouble for telling you.
How much trouble?
A p on the wrist. You should understand how much Khahar wants you to survive this.
Theo paused before responding. Drogramath didnt need to say anything, he knew what that meant. Whatever was driving First Prince Hanan to attack Broken Tusk wasnt normal. The alchemists money was on another rogue ascendant, but it was hard to say.
Do you see a scenario where we save Hanan and his people? Theo asked.
So long as you have the right weapon when the timees, youll be fine.
Is the thing controlling him mortal?
A loud snap issued from behind them. Khahar stood there, arms crossed with a scowl on his face. The rules exist for a reason, Theo. You can figure it out from the information you have.
Yeah, but this is your n, right? Theo asked. Just tell me what to do, and Ill do it.
I cant.
Is it an ascendant?
No.
For gods to be worried about something, it had to be an ascendant or another god. Theo put it together moments after that. A god was acting on the mortal ne somehow. It wouldnt be a champion. They wouldnt be strong enough to manipte a kingdom. Meaning it was a god acting in some obfuscated way. Assuming this being was too powerful to be defeated by normal means, there was only one other way.
So, I can use the authority of my realm to get rid of this thing? Theo asked.
Khahar simply nodded.
See? He already knows, Drogramath grumbled. Just tell him who it is.
Id rather not.
I bet I could teleport to the thing. If only for a second.
Khahar shook his head. You dont have enough of a connection with this person to do so.
Theo mimed checking items off a list in the air. He knew exactly who it was, and it opened a frightening realization about the events that had transpired with the undead. Balkor might have had a more intimate level of involvement with the movement of the undead than he thought. That brought questions that no one could answer for him. For now, he was content with the idea that he could banish whoever was forcing First Prince Hanan into this position.
I guess hes King Hanan now, isnt he? Theo asked, tapping his chin.
Yes, Khahar said. Its important that he lives.
Easy to say, hard to do, Theo said. An annoying buzzing filled his mind, as though his thoughts scattered away to solve this problem on their own.
Khahars eyes widened as he flinched back. A look of surprise washed over his face as he tilted his head to the side. Theo. You should answer that.
Answer what? Theo asked.
Thinking about it for a moment, Theo realized how familiar that sensation was. He hadnt felt it since Qavell stopped calling him, but it was the buzz of amunication crystal in his mind. They werent supposed to work in the heavens. He knew that because Fenian had trouble calling from the Bridge. The alchemist withdrew the crystal from his inventory and squeezed it. His mind rushed as his willpower stretched to make the connection. His thoughts were flung through the realms, until a familiar voice entered his mind.
My dear alchemist! Oh, thank the gods. Well, not this one. Hes an asshole.
Theo blinked away his surprise. Fenian.
5.28 - Imbue Phylactery
5.28 - Imbue Phctery
Theo took several steadying breaths, all while Fenian babbled about being trapped in the realm of a necromancer god. The good news was that he had indeed killed Karasan, resurrected Balkor, and survived. But only just.
Im just happy more time hasnt passed. Balkor has been lording over me as though he did me a great favor, Fenians voice echoed through Theos mind. He held the crystal tightly in his hand, unsure of what to do. The potion you sent me saved my life, but Im afraid it wasnt enough to escape.
Good to hear, Theo said, nodding. It was hard to contain his excitement. But sending the potion hade at a cost. They had to find another way to send stuff to the elven trader, as UzXulvens actions had closed that bridge. Perhaps it was as easy as Just take the Bridge. Leave.
Leaving requires permission. Well, I have a n for that. Listen closely
Fenians n was horrible. Theo shook his head the entire time the elf described his hair-brained scheme to escape Balkors clutches. The alchemist was certain the n wouldnt work. The first step was to deliver a few items to Balkors realm, which the demon god surely wouldnt allow. Then the wayward trader wanted to die and be reborn on the mortal ne. The various gods gathered in Terogal seemed to have no opinion.
Just give me more information, Theo said, trying not to let the frustration he felt bleed into his thoughts. Ille up with something. So long as we can use these stones to talk, we can work it out.
I have faith in you, Theo. But consider my n. Balkor isnt the bestpany, and Im bored out of my mind. A man can only be on the verge of death for so long until hes bored to death!
Fenian cut the connection through the crystal after rying everything he knew. Theo was left in his realm, feeling more confused than helpless. He couldnt believe that the elf didnt have an exit strategy. If his n boiled down to entering Balkors domain, killing Karasan then hoping for the best, it was an ill-conceived n.
Why is it my job to save Fenian? Theo asked, turning to the gods standing near him. You guys are way more powerful than me. This doesnt make sense.
Rules, Khahar said. A stable world requires rules. If we break those rules, whats the point?
Instead, were going to bend the rules. Theo massaged the bridge of his nose, pinching his eyes shut. Fine. Guess Ill add this to my list of projects.
Both Khahar and Drogramath seemed as though they wanted to tell him how to do it. But they couldnt. Instead, Theo went off in his mind to think of a way to break Fenian out. Even with Tresks considerable willpower, it wasnt possible to interdict him. The owner of a realm, especially one so old and powerful, wouldnt allow it. Perhaps they could bend the rules a little, sending an item into the realm. That came with its own problems, but was the first thing the alchemist thought of that he didnt shoot down immediately.
Im not gonna solve this in a day, Theo said, stretching. Im headed back to the mortal realm. Pretty sure I can do better testing there.
Once again, the pair of gods looked eager to speak. But after a long pause, Theo determined they wouldnt. He fell through the realms,nding back where he had left. He felt Tresks mind consuming the information he had learned, sapping away his knowledge and forming her own opinions. But there were important things to attend to. The alchemist made his way back to the manor, intent on eating and taking a nice long bath. Sarisa and Rowan had already started making dinner, and he sat alone at the overly-long table waiting for hispanions.
Tresk appeared from the shadows, plopping into her chair and slumping. If that knife-eared bastard got himself stuck, why do we have to pull him out?
Cause no one else will.
Honk!
Theo went to the front door, letting Alex in. She honked in appreciation, then found a spot on the floor to rest.
I have a few ideas, Tresk said. We need outside help for all of them.
Theo was never as good as Tresk at reading the minds of the Tarahek. He still got vague impressions of what she was feeling and had never learned how to skim her mind. It was a trait unique to her. Well go over your ideas in the Dreamwalk.
The group ate their dinner, then spent time in their private bath at Xams bathhouse. Tresk was good about not bringing up her ideas, but Theo could feel them brewing in her mind. They entered the Dreamwalk as soon as possible, the sun barely dipping below the horizon when they delved. The alchemist shifted the scene when they arrived, recreating Balkors realm as described by Fenian.
Hoich was a realm of undeath. Everything lingered between a state of living and death, and appeared as a mockery of the real world. Rolling fields of bones and twisted trees dotted thendscape. The air was filled with a foul scent and an oppressive green aura clouded everything.
I dont like this ce, Theo said, shaking his head. Fenian has been trapped for a few hundred years. I think his bravado was false.
Yeah. Screw this ce, Tresk said. Alright. First n.
Tresk imagined a version of Fenianying prone on the ground. Theo didnt remember him looking like such a damsel in distress, but he dismissed the thought. The marshling showed her n to sneak into Balkors realm somehow, steal away the damsel on the back of a dragon, and return to the mortal realm. She exined none of the steps, including how she would get there or how she would convince Pogo to take part.
Okay My turn? Theo asked.
Uh. Sure.
Theo didnt have a n. He exined Fenians n instead. Hes convinced he can reincarnate on the mortal ne. This n will not work, but he wants us to rip his [Elven Traders Core] from his chest, then bring it back to the mortal world.
Yeah, not gonna happen. That requires us to go there. And we cant go there.
Right? Thats what I said. But that got me thinking.
I can feel something brewing in your brain, buddy, Tresk said, rubbing her hands together. Let me hear it.
Theo imagined a [Imbue Phctery] potion. The purple-green thing swirled in the sk, emitting an aura stronger than the imagined realm itself. He and Tresk examined it.
[Imbue Phctery]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Imbibing this potion removes your soul from your body, transferring it to an object of your choosing. Creating a phctery designates you as undead, specifically a lich. You gain innate power of all undead creatures (based on your level and willpower), but may not level up through the normal system.
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Were gonna turn Fenian into a lich? Tresk asked.
ording to the description, this removes someones soul from their body. Im not confident we can get ourselves into Balkors realm, but an item? Yeah, I think we can do that.
Fenian gets the bottle and a rock to stow his soul, then we get the rock back here. Then he dies?
Research is required, Theo said, nodding.
But that was the basic n. Theo had thought the phctery potion was useless, borderline dangerous when he first discovered it. Now they faced a tough decision filled with assumptions. Fenian had to ept the n to start. Then they had to find a way to return the object he ced his soul into back to the mortal realm. Finally they would need to resurrect their friend.
Thats a fitting oue, huh? Tresk asked. He used the undead to get what he wanted, now he has to be one.
We should run the n past the gods before we do it, though. Theyll tell me the right answer if Ive already discovered it.
Tresk and Theo went back and forth on the matter. They argued about the logistics of this n, and the need for another. The problem was that Fenian entered Balkors realm when he was dormant, allowing him to pass without question. Now that the god was awakened, he would never let him leave. Not unless they did something drastic. The marshling was convinced that even this wouldnt work, and nned to pursue other avenues.
Theo was certain that Xolsa would have some valuable information about the heist. The extra-nar elf hadnt traveled through the void since he came to the mortal ne, but he had an innate sense for it. That was the alchemists first stop after the Dreamwalk ended. For now, he let those worrying thoughts fall away to focus on leveling his cores. He spent his time brewing potions, constructing golems, and tending sprawling gardens. Of course, the pair shifted the scene before they got to training. Neither cared for the rotting smell within Balkors realm.
When morning finally came, Theo withdrew from the Dreamwalk feeling fresh. While there was a lot of work to do outside of his newest project, he wanted to visit Xolsas tower first. After checking in with Salire, of course. The half-ogre woman had been doing well enough on her own, but there was still a lot of stuff she couldnt make. She also couldnt touch the advanced essences without blowing them up,plicating matters. The alchemist helped her in the first few hours of the morning, setting everything up to brew on its own. Their stock of Hallow the Soil potions wasnt thinning, but the defenses he had ced in Gronro needed attention.
Another thing to tend, Theo said, pping a hand on Salires shoulder. Im off to see a wizard.
The citizens in the town were in a good mood today. Those that Theo passed by on his way to the portal waved excitedly, or offered hearty greetings. He stepped through the shimmering portal, finding himself on the first floor of the tower in an instant. As expected, Xolsa was musing about the dungeons on the roof.
Come! Look at this! Xolsa shouted the moment he spotted Theo. The elf waved him over, far too excited for the early hour of the day.
Theo had trouble understanding what the floating cloud of sigils said. He stared at it for a while, hoping that Xolsa would tell him what it was. The alchemist cleared his throat. What am I looking at?
Your new upgrade allowed me to create automations. I can move power around through our local dungeons, making sure none are growing too fast. When one dungeon gets too high, this procedure will send power to another.
Thats actually cool, Theo said, leaning closer to get a better look. He still couldnt make sense of the sigils, though. Howplex can you make thosemands?
At my skill level, theyre fairly basic. I assume that will change with time. The worrying part of it all is the level of power has been fluctuating. We gained an increase in power yesterday. Slight, but noticeable.
Theo nodded. A few souls joined my realm yesterday.
Yep. Thatll do it. Lets remember that. The more your realm grows in strength, the stronger our dungeons get.
It was a concept that had scared Theo from the start. The only thing they could do was to be proactive, making sure everything was managed by the day. The alchemist cleared his throat, his thoughts about the dungeons falling away. I had a question.
Oh, right! Xolsa said, pping his hands and turning to meet Theos gaze. Whats going on?
Theo exined his n to send an item into Balkors realm, then bring it back. Xolsa didnt need to know what item he was sending in there, though. The elf nodded along politely, then swiped his hand through the air to clear the cluster of sigils. He began drawing a diagram with his finger. It represented the realms as orbs floating in the void, each with their own bubble protecting them from intrusion.
You cant force yourself through this barrier, right? Xolsa said, gesturing to the bubbles.
Thats right.
Youck the authority. But what is authority? Ownership rights established by the system. Just like you cant ess my inventory, you cant force yourself into Balkors realm.
Im following you.
Good. What happens if we try sending something owned by Balkor back to him? Xolsa asked, his brows raising.
That was a damn good idea. Balkor was the only god to ever break into the mortal realm, so far as anyone knew. Pieces of his heavenly body were still around, spreading corruption wherever they went. If they found a piece of bone and shoved it through the bubble, as Xolsa had represented, it might work. They might even piggy-back a potion on that.
How about returning the bone to the mortal realm? Theo asked.
Easy enough. I can tag it with a marker, returning the item. That should work even across the realms.
Theo felt excitement welling in his chest. But he paused, tilting his head to the side as he observed Xolsa. Youre happier than normal.
Oh! Wondrous! Xolsa said, pping again. Im d you noticed. I have quaffed your potion, reducing the effects of my above-average intelligence.
We should investigate a way to take more than one of those potions. Im not looking forward to how more Intelligence makes me feel.
A great idea. For now, I can only thank you.
Theo shrugged. Its the least I can do for the towns wizard.
Oh, how splendid, Xolsa said, smiling. Want to learn more about my dungeon project?
Not really. I have some ammunition to make.
Of course. Off you go!
Theo left the tower feeling more confident about Fenians problem than before. Even if the whole lich thing was a no-go, there was a chance they could use the item-teleporting strategy to their advantage. As always, he prepared himself to switch between strategies when appropriate. It had worked well before and he knew it would work well now. The alchemist departed from the tower, taking the portal back to the towns square.
Theo, a familiar, grumbling voice called from behind.
Theo turned, spotting Sulvan approaching. The man had embraced the lifestyle of ntheir, assuming a humble posture and the clothes of their order. The god of healing preferred colors of white, blue, and gold. Sulvan wore simple robes of blue and white, with a dangling golden chain disying the image of his patron.
How is it going?
Well enough. Ive had trouble adjusting, Sulvan admitted, his eyes locked on the ground. Like my mind has been torn apart and remade. As though Ive been transported back in time and left to reconcile who I had be.
One step at a time.
Indeed. ntheirs blessings are endless. Im leveling his core, but progress is slower than I would have liked. I wanted to help with the undead.
Just take your time. Youll get there.
Sulvan nodded. It was odd to see him so small. When Theo had first met the inquisitor of the Burning Eye, he was an imposing figure. But even back then, the man was fair. So long as the alchemist wasnt breaking those stupid rules, everything was fine. Uharis was the real problem within the Cult of the Eye. Now the jerk was stuck on the moon.
I appreciate the kind words and the warm bed. I hope I can live up to your expectations, Sulvan said, bowing at the waist. He departed shortly after, his eyes locked on a horizon Theo couldnt see.
Theo messed around town for a while. There was nothing for him to do until thetest batch of Hallow the Soil essence was brewed. Once his intuition told him it was ready, he headed back to theb to check it out. Salire was busy with a customer, leaving him to check the stills and sort out the resulting essence. After all the essence was in the buildings storage, he got to work cleaning each still and setting up the resulting essence to make Hallow the Soil potions.
Salire joined him in time, setting everything up to brew. They would take a while to turn into the true potions, so they were ced into barrels and set aside. Theo considered the stock in hisb, and remembered the seriousck of River m Pearls. It was the one reagent he didnt have easy ess to, but was required to make the Anti-Magical Infusion Constructs.
Feel free to use the stills, Theo said, pping the side of a Drogramathi Iron Still. I need to talk to Tresks brother about harvesting ms.
Salireughed, watching as the alchemist departed from theb. He headed off to the harbor and was unsurprised to see the Cork not docked. The fishermen were already out in the bay, harvesting the bounty of the sea. Theo waited for a while, not willing to do much else than watch the boats as they came and went. Thronk brought his boat into port, eventually.
It wasnt hard to convince the industrious fisherman to turn his attention to the river. A few gold coins and promises of more had the little marshling eager to scour the river for pearls. Theo made sure he knew that the only thing he needed were the pearls, not the ms themselves. Instead of waiting for a more opportune time to start his new venture, Thronk unloaded the fish he and his workers had caught and went straight for the river.
Works for me, Theo said, smiling to himself.
Excitement bubbled in his chest for the new shots for their weapons. If everything went right, they could stockpile the Drogramathi Iron Shots, rather than relying on his wards. When Qavell finally arrived, they would be ready to shoot it down.
5.29 - Dont Turn Fenian Into a LIch!
5.29 - Don''t Turn Fenian Into a LIch!
Theo, Tresk, and Alex stood among gods. In the realm of Terogal, UzXulven, Drogramath, Benton, and Khahar had gathered for tea the moment the Tarahek entered. The expanded cottage was perfect for fitting more people, allowing everyone to sit around arge table, enjoying sweet treats and sipping on delicious tea. This wasnt the alchemists intentions when he asked hispanion to join, but it was nice to take a moment before poking various bears.
So Theo took a long pause, watching as the head of four gods turned to him. We have a n for Fenian. Just wanted to see if anyone has a problem with it.
We put a lot of thought into it, Tresk added, nodding.
If the lizard came up with the n, my champion is doomed, UzXulven said.
Tresk glowered, but somehow managed to keep her temper in check. She took the lead, exining the n. The marshling took care to express how the n had several parts. If one part wasnt viable, they could move on to another n with the other parts. The most important thing to note was their ability to send an item into Balkors realm. Everything else could float around.
Your n is to kill my champion, UzXulven said, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. Thats hardly a n.
The n before was for him to off himself, then magically reincarnate. Theo shot a look at the shadowy god. She could be so spiky.
It should work, Khahar said. Youve figured out the meaning of heavenly authority on your own, so I can tell you that. Fenian has to agree to be a lich, though.
What other options do they have? Drogramath stared into his cup, not wanting to meet the gaze of the others.
He could ascend, Benton shrugged. Right?
He cannot, Khahar said. Holding the throne prevents him from ascension.
We could attack Balkors realm. Drogramath shrugged, clearly not interested in his suggestion. Or blow it up.
Killing my champion! UzXulven protested. Let me bring Parantheir into your realm, Theo. See what he has to say about you murdering our champion.
Moments after giving the suggestion, Theo felt the familiar tickle in his mind. Parantheir had requested entrance to Terogal. He knocked on the bubble of the realm politely, and the alchemist didnt know if he should ept. After only a breath of hesitation, he epted.
Greetings! a boisterous voice called from the threshold of the room.
In stepped Parantheir. Flowing strands of raven ck hair followed behind the elven god. Piercing amethyst eyes scanned the room. The gods smile lit up the room, beaming for all to see. He was d in silver armor, ornate in every ce it could be. Resting on his hips were two rapiers, each adorned with more gems than Theo could count. Without missing a beat, he strode across the room and took a seat at the table.
So this is the Mortal Dreamrealm Ive heard so much about. Is it to be our new ce of meeting? Our new sanctuary? Parantheir didnt drop his smile as he looked around the table. There was something infectiously bubbly about him.
Wee. Were just talking about Theo paused. There was no good way of saying it.
Turning your champion into a lich, Tresk finished.
Oh? Now that sounds interesting, Parantheir nodded, leaning in over the table. Who tasked the mortals with the rescue? Send me, Khahar. Ill have the boy back before you can scratch your furry ass.
Watch it, Khahar growled. Unless you want to dere war, Hoich is off-limits.
Pah!
You dont care. Of course you dont care. UzXulven sighed, smacking her forehead into the table. She groaned, refusing to pick her head up.
Tresk exined the n to Parantheir, who nodded along politely as she talked. That smile never dropped from his face.
Well, Ive seen stupider ns work, the elven god of dueling scratched his chin. You said his current n was to die, reincarnating on the mortal ne? I doubt it would work.
It wont work, Khahar said. His soul would remain trapped in Hoich. Which is the problem.
The arguments went back and forth for a while. Theo wasnt surprised with how everyone felt heated about the problem. There was no simple solution, unless Khahar wanted to tear down all he had worked toward for sixty-thousand years. Turning Fenian into a lich was the best n, and that rubbed the alchemist the wrong way. Unless they discovered way to remove the elfs soul from his body without him bing a lich, this was the best method. And the gods agreed.
It might be nice to have an undead on the team. What with the
Parantheirs words were cut short. Khahars hand pped over his mouth in an instant. Youve read the rules, elf.
Parantheir nodded his agreement. Khahar removed his hand, narrowing his eyes as though predicting another outburst.
Well get to that partter, I guess, Parantheir said. By the way. Who made the cookies?
Benton raised his hand, a nervous smile on his face.
Excellent work, sir. Im eager to try more of your creations.
The party spent some of their time at the table discussing ns to help Fenian. But folks broke off into conversation about other things, rendering the strange scene even stranger. Theo mostly watched, especially when Tresk joined in to throw her non-existent weight against the gods. The alchemist had expected gods to treat mortals like children, but that was almost never the case. While the gods interacted in the godly realms, they werent able to meddle on the mortal ne.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex broke off from the group, sending themselves to the far-flung reaches of the realm. Standing on a mountainside, they looked over a slice of their world. The alchemist withdrew the crystal given to him by Fenian, squeezing it tightly in his hand. He felt the familiar buzz in his mind as the two crystals connected. A linking threat wormed its way through the realms.
My alchemist! Fenian said, his voice dripping with dramatic ir. Tell me youve made progress. I cannot stand being taunted by Balkor for another year.
Pretty sure we can get you back Theo let his thoughts trail off as he thought about the only option they had. How do you feel about bing a lich?
Well, I dont like the idea at all!
Theo scratched his head before responding. It was the best idea they had so far, but he realized hisck of knowledge on lichdom. Thats the only way we could find to get your soul out. Cant you strike a deal with Balkor?
Thats the problem. He wants me to be an undead to join some empire hes forming.
Theo sighed and shook his head. Is Balkor there? Can you tell him toe to my realm?
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I suggested as much to him. He hurled a series of insults so damaging I may never recover.
There was no progress to be made with Fenian. He was being too stubborn, and Theo found his patience waning by the moment. Well look for another way. Just hold tight.
Not like I have anywhere to go. Not like Im dying or anything. Take your time.
Theo grumbled, returning the crystal to his inventory.
At least hes in a good mood, Tresk said, giving Theo the thumbs-up.
The time-dtion provided by Terogal gave Theo time to think, though. He had noticed how closely Khahar was observing the problem, meaning there was a solution at hand. He went over all that was avable to them with Tresk. Neither minded the icy wind whipping across the mountain, although the howling wind made conversation difficult. Theymunicated with their connection, expressing their thoughts as ideas rather than words.
They decided that Drogramaths behavior was the key to figuring it out. He had been averting his gaze, trying not to lock eyes with Theo. There was an alchemical means to sort Fenian out. The trio teleported to the ocean, sitting at the edge of the dunes to watch the wavesp against the shore. A few minutes of silent conversationter, and the demon god of potions himself wasing to take a seat nearby.
I miss the ocean, Drogramath said, polishing a pink apple on his coat. He took a bite. Never cared for spirit fruit, though.
Theo narrowed his eyes. What do you prefer?
Roc Berries.
Returning to the town square, Theo loaded his inventory with Fairy Plums. The Tarahek returned to the mortal ne, finding themselves at the spot where they left. Sarisa and Rowan were somewhere in the building, leveling their servant cores.
The rules the gods have to follow are silly, Theo said. Tresk joined him as he headed for theb.
He can suggest what we should do, but cant tell us? Khahar needs to get his house in order.
Agreed. He wants me tobine the Fairys Blessing property with the Retreat property. Still doesnt fix one problem.
Finding a bone, Tresk said with a nod. We might have to stretch the intent with that one.
Salire was working in theb when they arrived. She chuckled nervously, waving away a cloud of smoke. One of the most important things about starting with alchemy was to blow a few things up. With the extractor fan on, Theo ground his Fairy Plums up, taking one still in the rows of stills. Next, he prepared the still for his Roc Berries, finding them equally simple to grind. Those berries weremon enough, and theb always had arge stock of them. Although the Fairy Plums had been growing for a while, the two-hundred units in the still represented everything he had.
So, what are we doing? Salire asked.
Long story, Theo said, leaving the temperature low on both stills. Pretty sure Drogramath just told me how to make a potion that should bring Fenian back without turning him into a lich.
Uh-huh.
We just need a bone from Balkor. One of those skeletal minion bones might work, though.
Any bone they used to send the potion to Fenian would need toe from outside of Gronro. All bones within would have been purified by the hallowed aura. The alchemist stretched his will as far as it would go, sending his senses to the metal golem patrolling Gronro. He ordered the construct to deactivate its aura and search for usable bone samples. The golem sent back a faint message, but it seemed to understand.
Im just here for the ride, Tresk said, kicking back in a chair.
Can you send the potion from here? Theo asked.
Yeah. So long as Uz doesnt stop me.
Why do I feel so out of ce? Salire asked, holding her hands up as though she didnt even want to touch the subject.
Theo ignored his assistants statement. Most people felt out of ce with the heavenly realms. Because they werent supposed to be involved. How about we go over what youre working on.
Salires nervousness melted away. Well, its taking me forever to get to Level 10. But Ive been practicing my mana control, and Im excited to get to work on second-tier stuff.
Theo inspected the stills that she had running, finding the standard brews for restoration potions. Not only were those great for practice, but they sold well. Everyone needed some healing, even with Sulvan in town. The alchemist had some pointers for her, but there was hardly anything to criticize. Salire had helped write the book on standard Drogramathi Alchemy, after all.
Salire faced a pretty interesting problem that Theo had considered before. She was working with high-quality equipment, and highly cultivated reagents. That left her fighting an uphill battle, honing her skills to fight against those things as she learned. Theo almost felt guilty about it, but as he watched the skill with which she worked the stills, he realized how valuable it was. A less tenacious person would have given up a long time ago, but her persistence was inspiring.
So, how does this process work? Salire asked, watching as the rare Fairys Blessing Essence dripped into a ss sk.
Suffusion? Theo asked, scratching his chin. Thats why your mana practice is so important.
Theo went into lecture mode, not noticing that Salire was just being polite. She had already edited and corrected a few things in their co-authored book about the topic. He went on about pulling impurities out of essences for too long. Tresk giggled in the rooms corner, shaking her head. It was still fun to babble on about alchemy, especially around someone who was interested in it.
When the essence was done distilling, Theo swirled the Fairys Blessing Essence in its sk. It was faintly pink and smelled like cherry blossoms. Unlike regr essences, this one sparkled if the light hit it correctly. The Retreat Essence was already familiar to him. While he often modified the resulting potion, the alchemist always had some kind of Retreat Potion on hand, just in case he needed to make a quick retreat.
Well work with single-unit amounts for now, Theo said, pouring a unit of the Fairys Blessing Essence into another sk.
The alchemist held his hand over the sk, concentrating on his mana. Like the other spirit essences, this one was willful. He let the mana in his chest crawl through his body, dripping out of his palm like water. It infused into the essence, drawing out the impure parts with plumes of acrid smoke. After clearing the cloud away, he took a look at the primal essence. It was little more than a pile of pink ash at the bottom of the ss container, still glittering with flecks of white and red. Theo found the Retreat Essence much easier to deal with, creating the primal essence for that easily.
And we have plenty of Suffuse Potion, Theo said, plucking a sk of Greater Suffuse Potion from one of the many storage containers in theb.
Adding the three ingredients together, Theo watched as they reacted. The liquid bubbled, leaving frothy foam at the top. Some suffuse potions required a lot of time to brew. Others didnt. It depended on the way the two primal essences interacted, along with some unknown magical nonsense. Theo got the impression that the swirling mixture before him wouldnt take long. A few hours at most.
The waiting game, Tresk said with a sigh.
Salire, once we get our m River Pearls in we need a decent batch of those running. Theo rummaged through their supplies, checking what else they had on hand. Thanks to the golems, they were doing well enough on the basic things. As he checked the crates, the golem in Gronro sent him a mental ping. Ah. The golem found some bones.
Good! Tresk shouted, her boredom bubbling over. Lets go!
Theos first reaction was to object, but the brewing potion would take about two to three hours to finish. Just enough time to take the train to Gronro and back. Finally, he shrugged and departed from theb. They left Salire behind to work on her alchemy. While she made excuses about watching the shop and leveling her core, the reason for her refusal was clear. Most people didnt enjoy riding the tram.
As Theo and Tresk loaded into the next avable train. They sted down the track at obscene speeds. While the marshling cheered, the alchemist grimaced. They still hadnt sorted out the windshield problem, resulting in a constant st of air as they traveled down the track. The journey didnt take long at all. Theo departed from the train on shaky legs, marching to the town square to deactivate the ward ced upon the towns seed core. Once it was clear, he had the golem march the bones inside and stowed them in his inventory.
Look at that guy, Tresk said, patting the golem on the leg. Strong independent boy.
Throks artifices are working well, Theo said. He was happy that everything was running normally. He sent the golem back to work, then ced his ward back on the town.
As the group was preparing to leave, Grot came to check what was going on. He was happy enough that Theo was visiting his town, let alone checking on their little experiments. The mayor had nothing to report about the undead corruption. Things were going well in town. Fewer people were getting sick, and some wildlife was returning to the mountain pass. It was only a matter of time before they figured out how to push that bubble outward, cleansing more of thend.
The new ward willst five days, Theo said, shaking Grots hand. Send me a message if I dont refresh it.
Will do! If theres any way we can help with the cleanup effort, let me know. Id like to reim more of the mountain.
Theo nodded, heading off with Tresk to catch the next train. The conductor had specifically waited for them, but was growing impatient. They boarded the train, zipping down the line at break-neck speeds. The alchemist tried to shut out the sound of the wind whipping by as he reviewed his administrative screens. He referenced the sections with ns for curing the corruption, which only made him frustrated. With everything going on, he had gotten distracted from the task.
Remind me to make an army of golems to scour thend when we get back, Theo spoke into Tresks mind. She onlyughed in response.
Half-way back to Broken Tusk, Theo felt a haptic buzz in his mind. He sifted through his interfaces before finding a new chat started by Alise.
Alise: Salire says youre gonna wanna see the new potion. ims itll solve all your problems. Whatever that means.
Theo: :O omw
Alise: >:|
5.30 - Potion of Return
5.30 - Potion of Return
The afternoon sun shone over Broken Tusk, rendering it in shades of orange mingling with green. From the train, Theo and Tresk were given an amazing view of the town. Atop a hill, speeding at an impossible pace, they glimpsed their town from afar. It was a rare sight for the alchemist. The images fed to him by Alex didnt do the ce justice, and they were soon speeding into the station. He exited the train with wobbly legs and a general feeling as though he would vomit at any moment.
Theo tried not to walk too fast toward hisb, as though he had any shame for the excitement he felt. He imagined how peoples eyes would linger on him, wondering what exciting discovery theb had made. If Salire was coy about the new potion, he was confident it would work. She wasnt in the store when he arrived, or on the second floor experimentation and storage room. The half-ogre apprentice was on the top floor, a big smile on her face as she hid something behind her back.
Try to contain your excitement, Salire said, the smile on her face tugging further at the corners of her mouth. She whipped an ornate vial around. It had far more details than her normal decorative vials, even disying a ss gem near the top.
Theo crossed the room, taking the vial gingerly. The liquid inside was a swirling mix of pink and blue as though two parts refused to mix. But as he inspected the potion, he realized it was apleted potion. A Tier 3 suffuse potion that would save Fenian.
[Potion of Return]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Imbibing this potion will return the drinker to the ce where they were born. If that location would bring harm to the drinker, the next nearest location will be chosen.
This is it, Theo said, staring at the potion.
The alchemist got a Wisdom of the Soul popup, and a general sense from his alchemical intuition. He could feel the metaphysical importance of the item. Distance didnt matter. Neither did the realm which a person was sent to. His Wisdom message informed him that if he drank it, he would be taken to where Belgar was born. Not Earth.
Yeehaw. I can teleport about as far as I can throw a rock, Tresk mocked.
Isnt it wonderful? Salire asked, bouncing on the spot.
Theos first impulse was to contact Xolsa for a consultation. But would the wizard be able to resist the urge to drink the potion, returning to wherever he was born? No, that man knew how dangerous it was to mess around in the void. There was no guarantee that the extra-nar elves even had a home out there, let alone one that could support life. The alchemist sent a message, summoning the wizard to hisb.
We could send this now, Theo said. We could get Fenian out of Hoich right now. Thats insane.
Thats dangerous, though, Tresk objected, pointing a finger in the air. Fenian was born in Tarantham, right? Where a civil war is raging.
Tapping his foot, Theo considered the best course. He needed to talk to UzXulven about this. It would take them a week to get a ship to the continent, and another week to bring him back. The alchemist had too many concerns to act now. As sad as it was, maybe Fenian was safer in Balkors realm than anywhere else. He needed medical treatment when he arrived. ntheirs own hands would be best, but Sulvan could manage.
Damn. We have it, but Theo paused. Xolsa entered the room, a stupid smile on his face. The elf snatched the potion out of the alchemists hands, nearly pressing it against his face.
What a find, Xolsa said, his voice barely a whisper. Youve done it, Theo. I can feel it. This potion will pierce the veil.
Theo considered taking his potion back, but decided against it. Salire had only bottled it. They had enough to make ten more of the same potion. Instead, he thanked Xolsa for his expert opinion and left theb. Tresk trailed behind him, sensing his intent. They headed for the temple. With his Dreampassage ability on cooldown, he had no other way to contact the gods. The only one that would answer him was Drogramath, and that was good enough.
The temple had a scatter of people praying to their respective deities. Theo felt as though he was showing off when he approached the dais, looking up at the windows and holding his patrons name in his mind. Drogramaths recognition shivered across the realms. A breath passed, and the form of the demon god appeared near the altar, towering high above.
Fool mortal! Drogramath shouted. I was experimenting. And youve drawn me out of it!
Theo cleared his throat. Cut the tough guy act. I need some help.
The ethereal image of Drogramath cleared his throat. His eyes, like massive glittering purple orbs, scanned the room. Fine. What do you need?
Theo exined the situation. He wasnt looking for a solution, though. For once, he was looking for guidance. The pieces he had to put together were scattered. If Fenian drank the potion, appearing in the center of a conflict he would die. The alchemist needed to know how much strength the elf could muster, which potions he needed to steal a boat and leave the elven homnd, and how much UzXulven could help.
Wait a moment. Ill return to the temple after I have gathered information. Youll owe me after this. Just so were clear.
Nodding, Theo watched as the image of his patron vanished. He turned, feeling Tresksforting thoughts flow off her like an untamed river. All she had to do was share a smile and it brought his spirits up. What few people were in the temple were muttering amongst themselves, marveling at the appearance of a real god.
This is way better than being a lich, she said.
Agreed. Are you up to the challenge? Think you can reach Hoich from here?
Tresk blew raspberries. I could reach Khahak from here, dude. So long as I had one of Khahars bones.
It was concerning that they couldnt find a genuine piece of Balkor, but this should be fine. Tresk wasnt overstating her abilities here. She could pierce the veil, sending whatever items Fenian needed into Balkors realm without detection. That level of will and control was surprising, but she had this innate affinity for the task. Five minutes after Drogramath vanished, he reappeared in the temple with a smile on his face.
It took some convincing, but I invited UzXulven to my realm, Drogramath said. There was a look of pride on his face that was undeniable. The elf is confident he could escape anything with the right potions. Unfortunately, without his enchanted carriage he cannot use the Bridge. Old-fashioned escape is the only option.
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Drogramath gave Theo a list of potions that Fenian requested. UzXulven had served as an intermediary for a conversation. Theomitted those potions to memory, intending to make everything he didnt have today. The time dtion of the realms meant that for every minute he spent getting ready, four hours would pass in the divine realms. He thanked his patron for his time, then dashed out of the temple.
Theo burst into theb, causing Salire to jump in fright. Prepare those stills. Get ready for a big batch.
Fenians request was pretty standard, but it revealed a lot about his situation. He wanted all the restoration potions they could make, but that was no surprise. He also neededbat potions, and an assortment of bombs. Retreat potions, Limited Foresight potions, Featherfall potions. The list went on. While Tresk worked on the delivery method, Theo and Salire worked the stills. There were also items that the elf didnt request, which the alchemist intended to include.
Even after the sun set outside, the group worked on the project. Tresk stood before arge, mundane crate with her hands on her hips. Theo had already popped a Greater Stamina Potion, and was feeling buzzed from its effects. He stood next to the crate, tutting.
You just taped the bones to a box, he said, kicking the boxs side.
Yeah, well Itll work.
Salire was dead on her feet. She brought thest of the potion over, cing a modified Retreat Potion into the crate. It was filled to the top, almost to where the lid wouldnt fit. Tresk was convinced that all she needed was a vessel to carry the potions. Anything within that container would pierce the veil. Theo wanted to doubt her, but the level of confidence she had was unreal.
Last thing, Theo said, finding empty spaces to ce bone throwing knives. He had warded them with Dragons Dance Thats it. Right?
Yep, Tresk said, kneeling near the box. She withdrew a hammer and nails from nowhere and sealed the crate shut. Thats it. We ready?
Ready as well ever be, Theo said with a nod.
Ready! Salire brought forth thest of her energy for a cheer.
All the color drained from the room. Theo looked at hispanion in shock. A visible well of manifested willpower pooled at her feet, bending the light. Things fell off tables as she drew on thebined will of herself, the Tarahek, and Terogal. The alchemist felt his golems copse in the distance, some bursting into mes. The marshlings concentration was absolute as their realms authority filled the room. Salire went rigid, falling over with a thunk. The alchemist fell to his knees.
So long, box! Fenian Southde, Tresk shouted, pouring everything she had gathered into the wooden crate. With a snap, it vanished.
The color returned to the room in an instant. The building groaned as it shifted back into ce. Salire took in a sharp breath, then began coughing.
Holy shit, Theo said, coughing as the breath returned to his lungs.
Salire tried to say something, but just ended up in another coughing fit. Before long, someone was beating on the door downstairs. Theo was unsurprised to find the towns guarding to investigate. The general rm had been raised, a bell ttering somewhere distant. The army was assembling to defend the town, and the alchemist had to talk them down. Aarok and Luras showed up, sleepy-eyed and in their full gear.
That was us, Theo said, holding his hands up apologetically. Sorry.
Dammit, Theo, Aarok said, ring.
It was pretty cool, Luras said.
Go call off the guard, Aarok said, waving Luras away. Lets go. You got some exining to do.
Theo invited Aarok up to theb. Salire was still recovering, sitting in a chair and drinking something strong. Tresk was doing a jig and Alex was honking with excitement. The alchemist exined what had happened, but the moment he reached the climax of the story he felt something twinge in his mind. The familiar haptic buzzing of a call from themunication crystal in his inventory. He withdrew it mid-sentence, squeezing it tightly in his hand.
Dear alchemist! This is the worst n ever! Fenian shouted into his mind. It dropped me in a war zone!
Theo clicked his tongue. We were worried about that.
Fenian exined his situation. Balkors pride had been wounded when the box appeared. Since time moved differently in the heavenly realms, Fenian had to bargain for his freedom. Through smooth-talking trickery, the elf escaped. When he arrived in Tarantham, he appeared in a burned-out city. Two armies were engaging each other, and he burned through half the potions Theo gave him just to stay alive. He was currently running for the coast, intent on stealing a boat to escape.
But youre not a lich, Theo said. That counts for something.
Yes, I suppose it does. Also, you could have left a note. When I tossed one of your daggers, it turned a group of soldiers into paste! Oh, the experience gains were magnificent, but the shock was damaging to my psyche. Also, Im naked!
Juste back alive. Alright?
Ill do my best!
Fenian cut the connection through the crystal. Theo breathed a sigh of relief, rying the tale to all those gathered. Salire had regained herposure, and Aarok was shaking his head in disbelief. This ordeal ended better than anyone could have expected. The Herald was now back on the mortal ne, even if he was in danger. The alchemist could feel some amount of order restored to the world. It was as though another piece of something important had been set in ce.
Aarok withdrew a wineskin from his inventory, drinking directly from it. Well, now that you woke me up, we can have a drink.
Theo took the skin when offered, and chugged more than his fair share. Tresk drank some as well, but continued dancing. Salire drank more than anyone else. There were some things a mortal body wasnt meant to witness. Aarok went off to smooth everything over with both the administrators and his army. Theo and Tresk escorted the shell-shocked assistant to her house, then lingered outside under the stars.
I find it hard to remember that those even exist, Tresk said, pointing skyward.
The setting of the sun did little to stifle the constant heat brought by the Season of Fire. Theo gazed at the stars, not even needing to give his response to hispanion. This felt like a turning point for them. The holder of the Throne of the Arbiter was in the heavens, and the holder of the Throne of the Herald was on the mortal ne. It didnt hurt that they had removed their friend from Balkors realm, but that was another thing to consider. The Demon God of Necromancy didnt seem to keep Fenian there out of malice. From everything the alchemist heard, it sounded more like he wanted to recruit him for something.
Why would the other gods support the resurrection of another if it wasnt for the greater good?
We should get some sleep, Tresk said, resting a hand on Theos shoulder.
Theo didnt look away from the stars. He knew it was the best option. The Dreamwalk had a way of soothing all the rough parts of his mind, just as well as Terogal did. He simply rose, walking down the road with hispanions. Alex waddled along, honking on asion. They locked up the Newt and Demon before heading off to the manor. Sarisa and Rowan were in the sitting room, sleeping on the sofa. The scent of food still lingered in the air. They had made dinner, set everything out, then waited for Theo and Tresk to return.
Theyre tuckered out, Theo said, smiling at his assistants. Come on guys. Get to bed.
Im up, Rowan said, bolting upright then falling on his face. Ow.
Theo helped the pair get to bed before sitting down with Tresk and Alex to eat the cold food. It was still good. When they were finished, they headed upstairs and fell into the Dreamwalk. Tresk summoned a calming scene, soothing both of their minds. Instead of getting to work, they sat on an imagined sandy beach to watch the waves.
Pretty sure Im supposed to do something big, Tresk said, fidgeting with a seashell.
Yeah. Kinda obvious, isnt it?
I thought so, Alex chimed in, diving into the water.
Mortals arent supposed to hold a tangible realm. I think Khahar changed that when he broke the systems limits. Theo pushed his feet through the white sand, digging his toes in as far as they would go.
A smile crept across Tresks face. The members of the Tarahek often didnt need to share their thoughts verbally. Theo knew she had already found what she was looking for. That thing that would give her great power. Maybe she had ascended those steps already, or already had one foot on the first one. The alchemist didnt know if he wanted to take the steps when it was his turn, but perhaps it was toote to turn back.
The group didnt get any work done in the Dreamwalk that night. They sat on the beach, sharing both silence and stories about Fenian. That elf had enough luck to pull him through anything.
Hell be fine, Theo said, reassuring himself as much as Tresk. Hes always fine.
5.31 - More Golems
5.31 - More Golems
The sound of the dwarven smith Thims hammer rang out in the early morning. He formed it into a spherical cage of Drogramathi Iron, magically setting glowing hunks of iron into ce with his ss core. Theo watched nearby. Artisans were always happy to get rush orders because they got paid rush prices. With Tresks movest night, most of the alchemists golems had been destroyed. The sudden sway of willpower had annihted their containment cores, ruining the monster cores within.
But it was a good time to reorder his ranks of golems, anyway.
Hows that? Thim asked, limping over to produce a still-hot iron cage.
What happened to your leg? Theo asked as he inspected the cage. Of course the containment core was perfect. Thim had made more improvements to the design. The more he understood the way Drogramathi Iron worked, the better his skill with the material became.
Old war wound. Acts up sometimes, Thim grunted. How many do you need?
Ten, please. Theo backed away from the hot metal, then withdrew his payment from his inventory. He took a bit more gold out. Better make it twenty.
Thimughed. Always easy doing business with you, Theo. Say, I have a question
Thim wanted to expand his cksmithing operation. He imed there was a seed core building that was aligned with Borhig, the Dwarven God of cksmiths. Theo was reminded of an elf that had arrived on the Wavecrest. That person had imed to have experience doing core smithing, but it turned out to be useless to the town. While the elf had served as an assistant to a coresmith, they had never done the job themselves. That meant the only way they could get an aligned seed core building was to find one from a dwarven coresmith.
And where are we going to find one of them? Theo asked, leaning against the smithy while Thim worked.
Well, we just have to get a messenger to the mountainhomes.
Theo just smiled. Dwarves had always been a mystery. While dwarves were happy to spend their lives with the other races, most of them talked about those mountainhomes. And where is the nearest mountainhome?
Technically, Gronro-Dir. But that tiny town is nothingpared to the others. No, well want to get in touch with the forts near the spine, or those gracing the southern mountains in the Qavelli Region.
Which means, Theo pped his hands together. We have to clear the undead corruption.
Ah. Yeah.
Let me know when my containment cores are done, please. Im off to be yelled at by my administrators.
Hah! Better you than me.
Theo nodded, leaving the smithy. Of course Alise wanted a meeting with Theo. She had requested that Tresk show up to the meeting too, but the little marshling refused. She had a catch me if you can mentality, which the alchemist wasnt against. He took the long way to the town hall, stopping by a few ces before finally arriving. The meeting was already ongoing, and everyone stopped talking when he entered the room. With a shrug, he sat and listened to the state of the realm.
To his surprise, Theo found Alise didnt mind thete night disturbance. She was more interested in the heavenly implications of the act.
No one here knows whats going on in the pces of the gods, Alise said with a weak shrug. And you dont seem eager to give reports on those matters.
Theo cleared his throat. I only bring things up when you guys need to know.
Perhaps you should consider that we need to know more than youre saying, Gwyn said with a t look.
Well, thats fair
Theo had to think for a moment before exining what was going on in the heavens. He really had little to report. Khahar had brought order to the heavens with an iron fist. It was the only way the Arbiter could get everyone in line, and it was working for now. What the alchemist didnt know was Khahars endgame. He had taken the Throne of the Arbiter, setting it up so that Fenian grabbed the Throne of the Herald right after him. Then he put things in motion to sit both Theo and Tresk on a throne each.
Why? Theo asked. I dont know. Remaking the universe at the worst and fixing all the weird rules in the system at best.
Thats less information than I expected, Alise said.
Gael drummed his fingers on the table. After a pause, he shrugged. I see why youre not sharing much about the heavens.
Terogal is very insr. The godse to have tea and eat sweet things. Theyre pretty guarded with their information. Thats just how the rules work.
Good. Very good. Well move on to other matters, Alise said. She clicked her tongue when Theo went to stand. This one concerns you, Theo. Zizs newest project has failed spectacrly.
Theo sat down again, raising an eyebrow. What happened?
Building a bridge across the sea is harder than expected. He set one section as a test, and it copsed when a very minor storm swept through.
Thats a setback
Indeed. Hes back to the drawing board on that project for now. I suggest you have a talk with him about it.
Will do.
The meeting went on. These meetings were so boring that it made Theo want to fall asleep at the table. But he had enough respect for what these people were doing to stay awake. These slogs of meetings were necessary to keep the alliance running and were designed to make sure each citizen was getting what they needed. Mercifully, the meeting didnt go on for too long. The alchemist left, heading over to the smithy to collect some of the wares he had ordered. With containment cores in hand, it was time to create new golems.
Theo assessed his current need for golems. The Small Farm, operating outside of the walls, needed four lesser golems or two of the upgraded version. The mine required exactly none. Those metal golems he had constructed to guard the ce had be obsolete thanks to adventurer involvement. The greenhouses behind the Newt and Demon required anywhere between one and two lesser golems, and one upgraded version would take care of the ce nicely. Based on his intuition, the alchemist could handle eight to ten, depending on how much will he siphoned from Terogal.
Four golems here, four roaming the necromantic wastnd? Sounds good, Theo said, nodding to himself. He cracked his knuckles,leaving the spot to gather his supplies.
The first stop was Throks workshop. The marshling had been working on more batteries and siphon artifices, stocking the work area with his creations. Theo bought everything he had on hand, along with the excess copper bars. Next stop was the Newt and Demon, where Salire was working the shop on the first floor. The alchemist waved politely, then ascended to the second floor to treat his containment cores and create Hallow Ground constructs. The second floor was always more dreary, never seeming to get enough light without the help of candles. Annoyed with the somber room, he relocated to the third floor.
Several stills on the top floor of the building were bubbling away. Salire had her experiments running in three of the stills, leaving others free for the production of Hallow Ground potions. Theo paused before moving forward, tapping his foot as his thoughts gathered. The hovering tform project wasnt moving forward as quickly as he would like. Mass production wasnt working, and he decided the path forward for now was the golems. The single golem he had roaming the area north of Gronro had done excellent work. How about four of them?
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Treating the containment cores was easy enough. Theo selected eight Monster Cores to insert into his creations. There was a creature called a Fald Scryer, which had served as an excellent base for his previous nt Golem. The scryers core was aligned with wisdom, making them excellent herbalists. For his metal golems, destined to be sent to Gronro, he selected Level 20 Goblin Spellflinger cores. One of the rare magic-casting goblins, the Spellflingers were aligned with intelligence. And any creature roaming the corrupted area would need sharp decision-making skills.
After assembling his materials, Theo bumped into Salire on his way out of theb.
Oh! Any direction, boss? she asked, smiling.
Theo tapped his chin, trying to think of something for her to do. Salire was great at self-study, and rarely needed direction. Could you prepare the materials for another Hallow the Soil run? I think you can make the Suffuse Potion on your own, right?
Yeah, I can manage that.
I need to go to Gronro to rece my golem, and refresh the ward on the town.
Sounds good, Salire said, moving off. She was already withdrawing materials from the spatial storage crates before he even got to the door.
As Theo left the Newt and Demon, he thought how far she hade. Not by being a champion, like he was, but through sheer determination. He gathered nt material in his greenhouses, picking out the burned-out core of his destroyed golems. The containment cores had been destroyed almost entirely, leaving piles of ash where the golems once were. The alchemist created one nt Golem for his greenhouses and mushroom caves, inserting the battery and siphon into the seething mass of nt material. After a moment, the creature rose, linking to the lodestonework and awaiting orders. A beatter, and it essed the already-existing orders in the nearby lodestonework.
Theo turned from the greenhouses, heading directly for his small farm. The golems that had been destroyed there burned some of the wheat. He created two nt Golems for that small farm, and ensured they drew from the right instructions in the lodestones before moving on. That was the entire point of the farm. The alchemist didnt want to touch it. He didnt want to put his hands on a single stalk of wheat, or get his hands dirty in any way. It was absolutely self-run by the golems, and would remain that way forever.
The farm was a small experiment on that front. With enough lodestones and borrowed will from Terogal, Theo could run most of the town with golems. The quarry, sawmill, mine, and even therge farm could be operated by golems alone. Perhaps when Salire took the constructs skill, they could expand the golem-run things in town. For now, he would focus half of his capacity on removing the corruption.
Rowan, Sarisa? Theo asked.
Sarisa popped out of nowhere,ing to stand beside the alchemist. Yes?
Lets take a trip, Theo said, double-checking his inventory. He had the materials to create the Fire Construct required for metal golem construction, and the apanying metal. Off to Gronro.
Sounds good.
Sarisa fell in line behind Theo as they headed for the station. The train was half-way between the towns, giving them a moment of respite before heading off.
How do you like the job, so far? Theo asked.
Sarisa shrugged. More boring than I expected. Were still treating it as though youll be ambushed at any moment.
Might be better that way, Theo said, feeling an ufortable itch spread across his midsection.
Sarisa sighed. Wish we could have been there when those Zagmon goons attacked you.
To see Fenian fight? Theoughed. That was something else.
Sarisa paused for a long moment. Theo could feel as though she had something to say, but was holding it back. In true half-ogre form, she couldnt help herself. Seems unfair. Powerful people gravitate toward you.
Yuri set most of that up. Everyone here knows him as Khahar, but I knew him back before all this. He always had a knack for fixing things, and I guess he sees the system in the same way.
You really think our system is broken? Sarisa asked, somewhat incredulous.
Yeah. Take a look in the history books. What little there is. Or gaze northward, to where Qavell once was.
Sarisa grunted, then nodded. Decent point. How would you fix it?
Theo had to think about that one. Shouting for change was one thing, but enacting it? There were so many little things at y in this world that it was hard to say how to fix it. Limit a persons lifespan to start. Maybe break up the progression of leveling to make it clear how the realms of power work.
Whats a realm of power?
Theoughed, shaking his head. He exined his observations on the way the system worked. Every 10 levels, there was a jump in power. But that wasnt even the worst part about the system. If I could only change one thing, it would be the way Wisdom and Intelligence work. I found a solution for my Wisdom, but Well, as my Intelligence gets closer to 30, I feel myself slipping away. Im finding it harder to care about things.
You drank a potion, right? Just drink another.
You can only drink one soul potion.
Bummer.
The train arrived with merciful timing. Theo and Sarisa boarded, and then they were off to Rivers, then Gronro. Throk still hadnt sorted out the problem of a windshield for the train. And the alchemist didnt care for being whipped by a constant drive of hot wind. The temperature got slightly better when the train made its stop in Rivers. A few people got on, headed north. Dropping slightly more, the temperature was far more pleasant up in Gronro. The high altitude wasnt enjoyable, but disembarking the train was the highlight of the alchemists day.
What are we doing here? Sarisa asked, standing with Theo outside the stone walls of Gronro-Dir.
Golems and wards, Theo said, sucking in some fresh mountain air. Talking with Grotgrog Stormfist as well, if he has anything to say about it.
Sure enough, Grot came trotting through the south-facing gate before Theo could even enter the town. The dwarf with his bushy beard bounced on the spot, smiling as he shook the alchemists hand.
Your demon magic is working wonders! he shouted, pping Theo on the lower-back. The alchemists tail swished defensively, swatting at the dwarfs hand. Lively one.
Theo proceeded forward, and Grot fell in line beside him. The ward really scoured this ce clean, didnt it?
Yep. And your golem cleared the entire mountain pass up. Before it exploded.
Sorry about that.
Gronro-Dir was the most dwarven town Theo had ever visited. Well, he had only visited four towns during his time in this world. While none of the town was built under the mountain, most of the buildings were constructed into the side of the crags on either side. Those buildings standing free were made from the same gray stone that entombed the ce.
I read a report that Qavell is approaching, Grot said, scoffing. What kind of horrid human magic are they weaving up there?
Nothing good. Youre stocked with my new shots, right?
We are. Loaded up in those fancy weapons you sent us. Ready to fire at anything that flies.
Those were the orders. Anything found in the skies above the alliances territory was to be shot down with Theos new constructs. The administration had already cleared the action with the other nations they were in contact with. Both Bantein and Partopour had been warned, and a message was sent to the Khahari without response. Anyone viting the airspace only had themselves to me.
Theo was most eager to tour the northern wall of the town. He ascended the battlements with Grot and Sarisa, looking out over a changed scene. The foul miasma that had once hung in the air had been cleared entirely. The alchemist saw a distinct line in the distance where his golem had been clearing, and the puddle of metal it left behind.
For the first time, Archduke Spencer, I offer you a tour over the bridge! Grot shouted, pping Theos back again. Come on!
Theo and Sarisa joined him, crossing the bridge. On either side were chasms that seemed to go on forever. The stone bridge they crossed was sturdy, but still held the purified bones of some undead. After crossing the bridge, they stood on the open rocky fields of Murder Passage. Mountains rose on either side. This was a monumental moment for the alchemist. His golem had cleared more area than he could have hoped. He could only wonder what four of them would aplish.
Withdrawing materials from his inventory, Theo turned to Grot. Ill send you a message if the golems get out of the lodestones range. The pole with the crystal on the end? Youll have to move that closer to them if they get too far.
I can do that, Grot nodded.
The first step to constructing metal golems was to pile bars of metal on the ground. Theo ced four equal piles of metal on the ground, then got to work on the containment cores. Once those were inserted, he ced a Fire Construct in each, then stepped back. Each pile burst into mes, the intense fire turning those bars into molten metal. Each formed into the general shape of a humanoid. The alchemists shoulders cked as the intense weight of the creatures drew on his willpower. After a moment, they connected to the lodestone and eased the burden.
Once the golems swapped over to their battery, each stood at attention. Theo repositioned the lodestone, then prepared himself to ward all four golems. While casting the Deflect necromantic Magic ward didnt cost much mana, it was taxing when applied to things with their own will. Casting it on the town took a lot out of him, but not so much the golems. Silver barrier sprung up around each golem as Theo warded them, chugged Mana Potions, and repeated the process. After checking that each of their siphons and batteries were working, he sent them off to clean the mountain pass.
Three more thanst time, Grot said,ughing. Theyll have the continent cleaned in a day!
Theo wasnt so sure about that. But the golems would do an even better job cleaning the area than thest ones. These were built with power siphons, which would pull necromantic energy from the air and convert it to mana. While that might corrupt the golems, the ward they brought with them would certainly do a lot to take care of any residual corruption. The alchemist turned away from the mountain pass, smiling at the dwarven duke.
Were getting there, Grot. Slowly.
5.32 - The Pale Elf
5.32 - The Pale Elf
Theo let out a sigh of relief as he departed from the train. The conductorughed as he stepped off, allowing others to board before resuming his back-and-forth path. Standing there with Sarisa, the alchemist spotted a familiar face grinning from near the gate. Azrug waved as the duo approached, looking unapologetic in his fancy clothes. The more time that passed, the more the young man looked like Fenian. Too many ruffles for one half-ogre.
I got a problem, Azrug said, providing no other greetings. He pushed off the stone wall, beckoning Theo to follow him.
With a shrug, Theo followed the merchant. Azrug had done some interesting thingstely. He had two businesses in town. His item shop earned him the bulk of his coin, while his stables were effectively bankrupt. No one ran beasts ovend anymore, and the only creatures to take care of in town were the wolves, karatan, and pozwa in Mianas ranch. But he had taken the failure in stride, focusing on his item shop.
So, are you going to share your problem? Or is it a secret? Theo asked.
Ah. Well, I think youll just want to see it first. Just a quick walk to the farm.
This gave Theo a chance to view a part of the town he wished he frequented more often. Traveling north from the main road, he got to see Xams tavern and bathhouse. Next up was the school on the left and the tightly packed neighborhood on the right. The farmers hill rose in the distance. That ce was a remnant of some powerful mage back in the day. The wizard had diverted the river, raising thend to allow people to farm. That was before the town was made into a seed core town for the Kingdom of Qavell.
Theo, Azrug, and Sarisa climbed the hill to the farmers fields. At first, everything seemed normal. Fields of zee were growing in their various states. Farmhands scratched their heads at the edge of fields, shrugging on asion. Banu himself just leaned against the farmhouse, shaking his head.
Notice anything weird?
Theo didnt remember when Azrug got in the habit of ying weird games like this. He approached the field, brushing his hand against the stalks of zee. Then he noticed the beads of fruit growing near the stems of leaves. Larger than a grain of processed wheat, they were covered in something like corn silk and smelled sweet. After a moment of thought, the alchemist realized what had happened.
They hybridized on their own? he asked, clicking his tongue. How did that happen? My wheat field is pretty far.
Who knows? Azrug asked, plucking one bundle of fruit from the stalk. He held it out for Theo to inspect.
[Throks Weed]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid nt]
Epic
A unique hybrid nt created from a zee nt and wheat nt. This ntbines the healing properties of both zee and wheat.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Theo gave Azrug a t look. Throk isnt going to like that.
A smile spread across the young merchants face. Thought youd like that.
Inspecting the nt, Theo found there to be no issues. As far as zee went, it was a weird nt. The fruit normally grew at the top, resulting in a fewrge kernels, depending on the individual nt. The fruit here grew on the sides, near where the leaves sprouted. But so long as the yield was simr or better, there shouldnt have been an issue.
So, whats the problem? Theo asked.
We need to know if this stuff is safe to sell. And eat.
Theo had the impression that being dragged here was solely for Azrugs amusement. He held the nt in his hand, ring at the merchant as he deconstructed the reagent. It went up in a plume of smoke; the ashes falling to the ground. It revealed the Efficient Healing property, which was in line with both wheat and zee. While the alchemist had never seen the property, he could assume it was safe. He repeated the process, finding the next two properties to be Efficient Regeneration and Aura.
I dont see any negative properties. Do we have a grown version of the crop?
Hey Banu! Azrug shouted, waving the farmer over.
Banu trotted across the farm, dabbing his forehead with a cloth. Yeah?
Tell him how fast it spread.
Yeah. Like a wave, Banu said, chuckling nervously. nts just started being different.
I dont see a problem with farming Throks Weed Ugh But youre saving kernels from the same field, arent you?
Yep.
Theo knelt near a nt, inspecting the way it grew from the ground to the top. Depending on howrge the fruit got, the hybrid nt might produce more than the old version. It hardly seemed to matter, though. There was no going back from where they were. Every field in the farm had been infested with Throks Weed.
Do you have any untainted samples on hand? Theo asked.
Just a few. Not enough to rent quickly.
Well, that doesnt matter. Hand the samples over to me and Ill get it sorted.
Banu ran off to grab what few unchanged samples of zee he had stashed away. The n for those was simple. Under closer observation, Theo could make sure they didnt randomly hybridize into another nt. This was honestly the best oue, considering the concept of monsterized nts. At any point, a nt could monsterize if given the right condition. The only conditions Theo had found for that was the introduction of too much growth-stimting potions. Thats why they relied on the power of seed core buildings instead of alchemy.
Once Theo had his samples, he stowed them in his inventory and chatted with both Azrug and Banu. The merchant seemed excited to name more random things, but his Loremaster ss core had given him insights on more than just items. Each new thing he discovered gave him insight into the history of thend. He joined with the alchemist on his path north, to the quarry, and shared the tales he had learned.
I mean, were all aware of the original seeding of the world. From what those old people let slip, Azrug said, picking at his teethzily. But just consider how much stuff has happened here. Wars were fought. Kingdoms rose and fell. My core has been drip-feeding me information about the kingdom that was here before Balkors fall.
Really? Theo asked. How old was that kingdom?
Pretty old,pared to the length of time kingdoms normallyst. The longeststing single-body government in the world has to be the Tarantham Empire. That only works because theyre always killing each other in small batches. The system wont give me the name for the ce that was here before us, but it spanned the entire continent.
Theo was aware, to a lesser extent, of this kingdom. He knew that the Qavellinguage was based on whatever came before. Something he tried not to think about often were the bones they stepped on every day. It struck too close to home.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the vition.
Did you learn anything interesting? How vague is the system when it tells you about the old kingdom?
Journal entries. Bits from old books. Folk tales. I got one page from the king of that kingdom. King, leader whatever. It was so mundane. Aside from the invasion from the north.
Maybe itll go back further in time the higher your core gets.
Thats my hope. Its not really useful, but very fun to read all that old stuff.
The group was approaching the quarry. The sound of chipping stone and grunting half-ogres issued over the sloped hillside. Ziz and his boys were forming bs of stone into blocks. Despite their failure with the bridge, he had a big smile on his face when he spotted the alchemist.
Theo! How are ya?
Good. Just came to check on my favorite stonemasons.
Were the only stonemasons one elf muttered. The half-ogres around himughed.
Zizs workers had expanded recently. Unsurprisingly, they were still almost all half-ogres. But the influx of elves had resulted in those fair people joining his ranks. It wasnt simple work. Working the quarry was back-breakingbor that required them to dump attribute points into Strength and Vigor.
You heard about the bridge. Didnt you? Ziz asked.
Theo smiled. I heard it was a massive failure.
Yep. Ziz stretched, seeming almost apathetic to the colossal failure. When we set the tform on the pirs, the waves and the wind just knocked it over. Can you imagine that much stone tumbling over from the weather?
The amount of stone required to make the pirs sturdy is too grand, Azrug said, waving his hand through the air. The entire project is a boondoggle.
Yeah, but it was fun, Ziz shrugged. Were setting our sights on more manageable projects. Just keeping busy and stockpiling stone before wee up with something better.
Good to hear it didnt crush your spirits, Theo said, pping a hand on his friends shoulder.
Hah! Never! Ziz shouted, striking a pose.
The group chatted for a while, but Azrug was dragged away by his duties. Theo carried on polite conversation with Ziz. The problem with the alchemists work today had his mind spinning. nts rarely hybridized in his greenhouses and mushroom caves, but it had happened before. That event resulted in the creation of Azrugs Truffle. While the new reagent was interesting, it spoiled an entire batch of Swamp Truffles. Further study was required to understand what was going on.
Theo left the quarry after a while, walking with Sarisa back to the Newt and Demon. He nned to clear space in his greenhouses for the untainted zee kernels, but a dedicated greenhouse would be better. That way, they could keep all their baseline samples safe from the ravages of random hybridization. Until someone with a magical carriage that could traverse dimensions arrived, that wasnt possible. Perhaps traders would bring seed cores with their ships, but that had not been happening.
Sorting through the tangle of overlyrge nts in one greenhouse, Theo found a spot to nt one zee kernel. This seemed like a lot of effort to preserve something that closely resembled giant corn, but the zee had cultural roots in the region. Thest thing Theo wanted to do was to strip away the culture that half-ogres and marshlings had built here. He kept the remaining kernels in his inventory, preserving them for as long as he held them there. After offloading some junk in his own inventory, and clearing out some crap in the Tarahek shared inventory, he turned away from the greenhouses.
Interesting, a cool voice came from around one greenhouse. Theo recognized it, after a moment of thought, as belonging to the pale elf, Twist.
Are you allowed on the surface? Theo asked, moving to catch sight of the masked elf.
Twist stood there in white robes, hood pulled up over his head. His clothes were tattered from the years, ripped and torn in various spots. Especially around the sleeves. But no part of the elf was exposed to the sun hanging above. He jabbed a thumb back toward a group of Broken Tusk adventurers. With an escort. Your reagent farming operation is interesting. Using golems to care for them is smart.
Are you an alchemist? Theo asked, walking away from the spot. Twist followed, forcing his minders to follow as well.
No.
I dont know anything about your people, Twist, Theo said. He had nowhere to go, but didnt want the pale elf to linger around hisb. What do you call yourselves?
Not for you to care. Everyone else calls us deep elves, and thats good enough.
Are you rted to surface elves?
No.
While Twist was being annoying, that was good information to have. Theo was always interested in learning more about the various races in the world. He could reveal one fact about the deep elves from that statement. Twist could have been misinformed about his races origins. The deep elves might havee from the surface elves, but they might draw their lineage from another race. It was also possible that they were a seed race. The alchemist still didnt understand where any of the lizard-folk came from, or the ogres. Every race that couldnt track their lineage back to the start could have been another seed race.
Our Loremaster, Azrug, would be interested in talking to you, Theo said, moving in no direction in particr. He headed north, toward the harbor.
Have you made progress on your promise? Twist asked, ignoring what Theo saidpletely.
We have, actually. The path north of Gronro is clearing by the day. I have a few methods to remove the undead, but it is slow.
As expected. If you dont deal with Qavell before you clear the way, I will need to find another path. That is undesirable.
If youve got a defensive weapon tucked away somewhere feel free to bring it out.
Twist ignored thement, following Theo up the battlements near the harbor. Several foreign ships were docked there, unloading or loading cargo. The alchemist recognized the gs of Bantein and Partopour, but there was also a much smaller boat belonging to the Khahari. Khahars people hadnt made good on his promise of trade, but it was hard to say how his absence affected them. Broken Tusk would be happy with any trade.
Why dont you travel the underground to reach Qavell? Theo asked the question, but knew the answer.
Because thats where my people live. Locked in constant war.
Theo nodded, but didnt respond. Instead, he climbed a long staircase down to the harbor below. With Twist still following him like a lost puppy, he talked with several vendors to check their supply of seed cores. It was disappointing to learn that Tarantham was the worldsrgest producer of seed cores, and they had stopped exporting when thetest civil war kicked off. One trader had something simr to a greenhouse, but it wasnt the same. Instead, it was something altogether more interesting.
Ive never seen one, Theo said, holding the Herbalists Workshop Seed Core in his hands. How much?
Never one for negotiation, the alchemist settled for the over-priced seed core and left the harbor. He made his way to Sledges sawmill, but didnt find her there. The workers directed him to the school instead, where he found the marshling hissing at several children. She was lurking over a wooden crate, stuffed with straw. Inside were a few spotted eggs, roughly the size of Theos fist.
Oh, Theo said, blinking away his confusion. Your clutch.
My babies, Sledge hissed, snapping her jaws at the alchemist.
Think you could get Bob to watch those for a minute? I need a new road.
Babies, Sledge responded, jerking her head toward the clutch.
Perhaps another day, Twist said with an amused tone.
Theo left the school without his Fabricator, making his way back to the Newt and Demon. The alchemist had wanted a road running from the main avenue, heading east next to hisb. After his first n crumbled, he considered the next-best ce to put his new workshop. The next building south of theb was Pergs tannery. Theo counted out twenty dronon-sized paces before selecting a spot for his new workshop.
Is this what you do all day? Twist asked, watching as Theo pressed the seed core into the ground.
Sometimes. Other times Im helping folks with stuff. Or brewing potions.
Fighting the undead?
I dont really fight, Theo said, stepping back to watch the seed core grow. Roots sprung from the ground, wrapping around themselves. He had a feeling that this one would take a minute or two to form, even with the help of some Monster Cores. I just toss bombs. Sometimes knives.
Throwing knives can be effective, though. Twist nodded.
Theo had absolutely no idea why Twist was hanging out on the surface today, but he didnt like it. Everything he had heard about the deep elves painted them as people who enjoyed waging war more than anything. Mercifully, the elf stopped talking to watch the new seed core form into a building. The roots tangled amongst themselves, and a pulse of recognition radiated from the core. For the first time, the alchemist felt the seed cores will feeling out around itself. It probed the surrounding buildings with faint willpower, then sent tendrils off to the other buildings. He realized it was getting an impression for the buildings around itself to blend in.
Thats new
Wisps of will pulled back, and the seed core constructed itself. It matched most of the local buildings, forming a stone foundation with wooden walls. Sometimes the seed cores would go for all-stone construction, while other times they would assume abination of stone and wood. Narrow windows formed near a heavy wooden door, then the roof emerged from a tangle of dark roots. A straight, stone chimney poked from the top of the building, seeming to burst from a blue roof.
Cute, Twist said, entering the building without asking Theos permission.
Come right in, Theo grumbled. Make yourself at home.
5.33 - Herbalists Workshop
5.33 - Herbalist''s Workshop
Twist had be an annoying carbuncle on Theos otherwise-pleasant day. It wasnt through the deep elfs words or actions, but his mere presence. He didnt make noise when he moved, and only spoke when needed. Those things left the alchemist feeling a strange sense of foreboding that he couldnt shake off. He did everything he could to turn his attention away from the elf to focus on his new building.
The interior was pleasant enough. It was a single room with a firece, a table with chairs, and a few shelves for storing things. Very little light found its way through the slitted windows, casting the interior with darkness. Twist enjoyed those shadows, finding his way to a chair and taking a seat. There was afortable sense to the workshop that brought a great sense of ease to the alchemist.
It seems wise to have an herbalism workshop, Twist said, his single visible eye lingering on various things in the room before moving on.
I never thought about it, Theo said. He took stock of his Monster Cores, finding that he had enough to bring the building to at least 10. There were always the vendors selling their wares in the harbor. But I agree.
Inserting Monster Cores into the Herbalists Workshop, Theo selected each expansion to go behind the building. While there was enough room on either side for both the workshop and theb to grow, he wanted to be cautious. Monster Cores dwindling in his inventory, the alchemist felt another ripple of will as the first upgrade selection appeared in his vision. The workshop had hit Level 5.
[Radiant Growth]
nts will grow quicker andrger within a radius based on the Herbalists Workshop level.
[Research]
nts inspected within the workshop will disy additional information. The amount of information revealed depends on the level of the workshop. The type of information revealed depends on the cores of the workshops owner.
[Terogal Inspiration]
The owner of this workshop may select growing areas (including fields, nt beds, pots, etc) to spontaneously grow nts from the realm of Terogal.
Twist said something, but Theo ignored him. There was a lot to take in here, and the alchemist wanted to take every one of the upgrades. Sometimes a building would present decent upgrades for the Level 5 upgrade, but these were all great. Radiant Growth would be an easy pick. Everything within the greenhouses would likely grow at an increased rate. Research was also interesting. Theo could only guess as to what kind of information he would get from that one. Terogal Inspiration might have been the worst pick, only because he could just go to Terogal.
What are the upgrades? Twist asked, apparently repeating the thing he said before. He did so in monotone, looking from hisfy chair as though bored.
Theo read the first two out, but made one up for the third. No reason for the random deep elf to know about Terogal. Last one increases the chance of hybridization, he lied.
The first is the best, Twist concluded.
With another chance to get the Research upgrade, Theo agreed. He selected Radiant Growth and got back to shoving Monster Cores into the building. The interior expanded to the east, making the building a quarter as long by the time it got to Level 10. After hitting the next upgrade level, Research and Terogal Inspiration appeared alongside a new upgrade. The alchemist inspected that one, reading it out for the strange elf.
[Experimental Garden Plot]
A small garden plot appears behind the workshop. Anything nted within the plot may be closely controlled. Cultivation rate, hybridization rate, growth rate, etc, may all be changed. If the owner of this workshop does not have an herbalist-style core, some features may be restricted.
Thats what were looking for, Theo said, releasing a contented sigh.
Twist only nodded as the alchemist selected the upgrade. The building rumbled for a moment. Through the narrow windows, Theo saw the garden plot spring up behind the workshop. He was getting a better idea of the purpose of this building the more upgrades he saw. The greenhouses were made to grow nts, but there was a research aspect to the Herbalists Workshop. With Level 30ing up for his Drogramath Herbalist Core, this building might pair perfectly with his next ability.
But Theos supply of Monster Cores had run dry, and the day was growingte. He gestured to the door and Twist stood up and slumped to one side.
The underground is so boring, Twist groaned.
Not my problem, Theo said, smiling from the door.
The pale elf marched out of the building, but stayed there on the road.
You dont have to go home, Theo said, waving and smiling at the elf. But you cant stay here.
Without further warning, Theo allowed himself to slip through the veil of the mortal world. Observing the sensation as he fell, the alchemist felt more at ease in the void than ever. He focused his will, finding it patheticpared to Tresk, and lingered in the darkness for longer than normal. One could imagine the structure of the mortal realm, void, and the heavens asyers of fabric. Between the heavens and the mortal world was the void. Spanning over that void was the Bridge. After piercing through that thin fabric, a person or spirit could go anywhere they wanted. With the appropriate approval.
Heavenly words within the fabric of the heavens were likes drifting through a starless universe. Traversing between those things was a matter of will and permission. Theo urged himself forward, only flitting over the Bridge for a moment before moving on to his own realm. The moment hended, he sensed the presence of other heavenly beings. Drogramath, UzXulven, ntheir, and Benton were in the expanded cottage. He could smell the scent of confections and brewing tea from the viges center.
A few souls for you, Belgar said, trotting up to greet Theo.
Belgar waspletely formed. The form he had created for himself was distinct from his old one. Theo was happy that he didnt need to stare into a mirror every time he came to his realm.
Thanks. How are things going?
Very well. Foot races have be popr amongst the souls.
That sounds fun, Theo said, imagining the various souls in his realm racing around. He got an idea, but kept it in the back of his mind untilter. For now, he was happy to ept the 40 souls into his realm.
We have a spread this time, Belgar said, gesturing to the gathering of souls.
When souls gathered in Terogal, they always seemed so worn-down. The longer they stayed in the realm without permission, the more of their essence was dragged away by the void. Theo still wasnt that excited to ept Zagmoni Dronon into his realm, but they seemed repentant. He could cast them into the void if they did anything nefarious, anyway. But there were other interesting souls today. Some elves, humans, and even a stray marshling.
Thats not a bantari, Theo said, epting the marshling into his realm. Doesnt look like one from the lizard-inds either.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the vition.
No, Ive never seen one of their kind. We can ask them in a few days when they have their senses.
Theo approached one soul and grimaced. They had been torn to shred by the void. The soul was little more than tattered streams of blue-green energyshing from a central core. Could you go grab ntheir. Please? he asked, turning to Belgar with concern on his face.
Oh, yeah. Be right back.
Belgar dashed off, leaving Theo alone with the soul. Seeing a souls core was never appealing. It was a small ball of dancing light in their chest, and this souls core was weak. He only got a few moments to study the being before ntheir came to the alchemists summons.
What do we do about souls like this? Theo asked, gesturing to the tattered ball of energy.
Ah, ntheir said, approaching the soul. He pressed a hand into the core. A momentter, it vanished. I sent him to the House of Healing for now. He needs time to recover, then helle back here.
How does that happen? Too much time in the void?
Indeed. When a person dies, their soul enters the void. If they have a strong connection with a god, they will gravitate toward that god. But if they have doubts, or they have been scorn by their god, the journey will be hard.
Yet, some souls thate here are years old. Decades. How long can they live in the void?
Centuries, or millenia Id guess. ntheir shrugged. Someone like Khahar could live in the void forever. The strength of their soul core determinese on.
Khahar had appeared behind ntheir, a stern look on his face. He doesnt know about that.
Well, he does, now. ntheir folded his arms. The legendary patience was present nowhere on his face.
I knew about soul cores, Theo objected. Not exactly. But knew that everyone had something in their chest that held their other cores.
Khahars serious expression faded, then he smiled. Fair enough.
Anyway, ntheir said, clearing his throat. He knows about hidden attributes. The soul core is one and it is tied to willpower, dimensional stability other stuff, too. But that guy will yell at me if I get into the specifics.
Khahar nodded. Yes. Yes, I will.
Since youre here, Khahar Can a spirit ever return to the mortal ne?
Yes. But it would be like a soul without a realm entering a realm. They would onlyst for so long. Mortals have a limited time in the realms, too. Unless youre a precious, special boy like you.
I am special, arent I?
Terogal was a great ce to get away from the stresses of the mortal realm. When the conversation with the gods died down, he went off to work on the project Belgar inspired. There wasnt much to it, but his Landscape Maniption upgrade allowed him to reform the world however he saw fit. The realm had been siphoning power from the souls and collecting ambient energy from the void for a while. The alchemist made his way to the far side of the vige built by the souls, looking out over the rollingndscape.
Since the souls had taken up foot-races, Theo thought they might enjoy other leisure activities. He activated the Landscape Maniption ability, and got to carving. From the vige, he carved a wide footpath to the northwest. Along the way, the alchemist created different features. At one point he created a tall hill for the souls to hike up with switchback paths cut into rocky cliff faces. At the top of that hill he carved out a pic-style area for the souls to observe a sprawling forest below.
Onest touch, Theo said, poking his finger into the interface. A small pond appeared in the clearing below.
Theo zipped along the trail, adding differentndmarks where he saw fit. The trail snaked a path from the vige to the Sea of Terogal. Thats what the locals had been calling it, anyway. Along the hard-packed earth trail, the alchemist ced clearings where the souls could construct buildings. Caves for them to explore. Cliffs for them to climb. He thought about all the fun things he would want to do if he were here for eternity. The souls here were trapped, in a way. They were saved from the void, but that didnt take away from their imprisonment. Unless they were epted by another realm, this was all they had.
At the beach, Theo stood in the sand and looked out over the water. More fish hade to swim those waters. While he knew little about fish from Earth, he could recognize many of the critters living in the forests. Squirrels, rabbits, boars, and so on. All native to Earth, now brought to life here in this realm. The alchemist could feel his time in Terogal wearing thin. He sent himself back to the vige, then found Belgar chatting with other souls. Everyone seemed excited enough about the trail, and promised to use it for racing each other.
That wasnt Theos intention with the trail, but whatever made them happy. He bid farewell, falling through the veil andnding right back where he started in Broken Tusk. Mercifully, Twist was gone. And the merchants were still in the port. After pilfering some of the profits from his shop, Theo went to the harbor to buy more Monster Cores. Almost every merchant who docked in the harbor seemed to sell the cores, so he bought from the one giving the best price.
The upgrades for the Herbalists Workshop had proven to be too interesting for him to resist. Daylight was fading, but Theo wanted to get at least one more level out of the workshop. He headed over, shoving cores into the building until it hit Level 15. Along with the Research and Terogal Inspiration upgrades, a new one popped up for his consideration. The alchemist inspected the new upgrade.
[Splicing]
Herbalist-style abilities thatbine two (or more) nts will be more sessful in a certain radius around the workshop.
Intentionallybining two nts was something Theo had on his mind for a while. The only problem was one ofbor and time. It was hard enough keeping up with regr reagents. He couldnt imagine dealing with a doubling, or tripling of those things. It was still a great upgrade that he intended to pickter, but for now he selected Research. The building shivered with recognition, likely sensing the pile of reagents within his inventory. The alchemist withdrew a Mages Bane flower and inspected it.
[Mages Bane]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
A flower with anti-magic properties.
Research:
Infused with a mixture of Drogramath and Dreamrealm power.
Fast growth cycle with great anti-magical properties.
Hidden fourth alchemical property.
Properties:
[Resist Magic] [Absorb Magic] [Mana Seep]
That was interesting enough to make it worth taking the upgrade. The description of the upgrade imed that different information would show up depending on the level of the building and the cores he had in his chest. He already knew about the mixture of powers in the air, but it was nice to see the system confirm that it was both Drogramath and Terogals energy mingling there. Theo headed off from his new workshop for now, crossing the street to enter his manor.
Tresk had alreadye home for the night, and was waiting patiently at the table. As patiently as that woman could wait. She was fidgeting endlessly. She looked up from the table, waving at Theo. Xolsa and Zarali areing over for dinner. Think theyre gonna pitch their wedding date.
Theo found a seat at the massive dining table. That would be nice.
Right? Get some more babies in town. Every baby is a future worker.
Theo grimaced, but nodded. Oh, I saw Sledges eggs.
Did you? She wont let anyone get near them. Tresk sighed, shaking her head. Shell get over it, but for now I heard Bob is keeping his distance.
She hissed at me.
Youre lucky she didnt bite you.
Zarali and Xolsa showed up for dinner eventually. Sarisa and Rowan had already served the food, taking their own seats to dig in. It took the lovebirds a while, but they eventually broached the topic of their marriage.
Were always putting things off, Zarali chuckled. But weve settled on a day.
The first of Death, Xolsa said, nodding.
Theo winced. Setting a wedding on the first day of a season called the Season of Death seemed like a grim portent. But if they were happy with it, he was happy. Sounds good to me. As long as youre prepared to move it around.
Of course. Things happen, Zarali said.
What style of wedding are you guys doing? Tresk asked, belching after consuming her entire meal in one go.
A great question, Zarali said, shooting a re at Xolsa.
Ah. Thats a problem, Xolsa chuckled nervously. I dont know what my people do for weddings, and dronon dont get married.
Do a Broken Tusk wedding, Tresk said.
What does that entail? Xolsa asked.
Lots of fighting. Lots of booze. If someone isnt seriously injured by the end, it wasnt a good wedding.
No, thank you. Zarali shook her head.
Just do your own thing, Theo said with a shrug. Make it up as you go along and let me know if you need any support from the town. Everyone likes a festival, anyway.
The conversation swayed from here to there. Each culture in the world had a different way to do their weddings. By the end of the conversation, Xolsa and Zarali were talking about picking traditions from several cultures, along with inventing a few of their own. Before taking the Intelligence of the Soul potion, the wizard would have shrunk away from so much responsibility. He seemed positively bubbly now, and it only reminded the alchemist that he needed to find a solution for his own growing Intelligence.
After dinner, Theo, Tresk, and Alex went off to have a hot bath at Xams ce. The attendants were nice, as always, and a good soak did a lot to remove whatever stress the day brought. Once cleaned and thoroughly hot, the Tarahek headed off for the Dreamwalk.
5.34 - Pursued by Frog-Like Creatures
5.34 - Pursued by Frog-Like Creatures
A familiarndscape spread into the distance from Theos vantage point. Standing on the battlements of his imagined town, he looked down to the harbor below. With little effort for his two main cores, he nned to toil the night away to hit Level 28. But it was as important to not neglect his Toruaun core, which was now teetering on the edge of Level 20. The alchemists head swiveled, spotting Tresk and Alex doingbat with some imagined hydra-like dragon creature. Heughed to himself, moving down into the harbor to set up his alchemy equipment.
Theo thought about where his various projects were going, and found that he was happy with the undead scouring scheme. The most valuable potions produced by the Newt and Demon were the restoration, curative, and attribute-enhancing potions. Salire had been handling the brewing of those potions, leaving him free to work on whatever weird side-project he wanted. Then there was the ufortable fact that he needed another core to fill the slot he would gain at Level 30. Another demon core, perhaps? Something to pair well with his Governance Core made more sense than anything. Something he didnt need to babysit like his other cores.
On Top of his consideration for cores, Theo wanted to pick a direction for his attribute distribution. The current n was to use items and core bonuses to increase his Dexterity, making him more viable inbat. So far, the only viability he found in a fight was his ability to run away, or hide behind folks while he tossed warded daggers. The alchemist ran his fingers along the surface of an imagined Drogramathi Iron still, feeling the pits and marks on the surface as though it were real. He popped the lid open, fitting his grinder on top and listening to the artificee to life.
Dexterity was a good attribute to pump. With his Intelligence at 28, he was worried about the effects that came with pushing that beyond 30. His Wisdom was only safe because the Wisdom of the Soul potion he drank, leaving him feeling vulnerable to the mind-altering effects of a higher Intelligence. He cocked his head to one side, popping the grinder off from his still and reseating the lid. After setting the temperature, he allowed his mind to drift. In an instant, the alchemist appeared where Tresk and Alex fought against the hydra.
The monsters many heads snapped at the air, often digging deep trenches into the ground when it missed. Tresk danced around the hydras feet, dodging attacks expertly as Alex rained fire from above. Theo just watched at a safe distance, never interrupting hispanions battle. Things calmed down, and the marshling approached, heaving breath and smiling to herself.
Whats up?
What is it like to have Dexterity above 30? Theo asked, seeking to sate his curiosity.
Tresk cupped her chin in her hand, narrowing her eyes. She hummed for a moment before nodding to herself. Dexterity is hard to exin. Compared to when I was a little shrimp, it feels like my body and mind are closer together. Does that make sense?
It didnt, but Theo scoured Tresks thoughts through their connection to get a better idea of what she meant. His mind drifted, pressing up against hers. Their thoughts formed into something greater for a moment, casting off the concept of individual self for only a moment. What the marshling meant to say was that each of her muscles was linked to her mind closely. So close, that each thought of movement was rendered more as instinct rather than concentrated effort.
You cant control how you move as well, Theo said. And can only operate on instinct. You enter something of a battle trance when you fight. Got it.
Yeah. Thats what I meant to say.
As expected, the negative effects of a physical attribute werent as bad as the mental ones. Intelligence made a person cold, and logical. Wisdom made them unable to connect with things happening in the real world, sending them spiraling down a series of what if based on intuition. If Dexterity removed the barrier between thought and action, Strength would do something simr. That just left Vigor. Would a person get so tough that they felt invincible? It was hard to say.
Theo watched Tresk as she got back to work with Alex. They were practicing teamwork duringbat, and the alchemist felt pride fill his chest as he watched the goose. She had done well learning how to work with her Nature affinity. Thorny vines sprung from the ground where a hydra stood, wrapping around its legs and holding it firm. She then immted the creature, causingyers of the monsters flesh to slough off in sheets. But the regenerative power of the imagined monster was great. But not great enough to ovee Tresks poisons.
The alchemist left the scene of the fight, heading back to his stills to work on his alchemy and warding. The rest of the night was uneventful potion grinding. As he had expected, Theo hit his various level goals before the Dreamwalk ended. Before Tresk brought them out of the dream, he ced his free point into Vigor. After hear Tresks difficulties with Dexterity, he didnt want to risk anything. Without warning, the marshling dragged them all out of the dream.
Theos eyes snapped open. Shafts of light pierced through the hazy morning fog outside. The temperature in the room was pleasant, but the alchemist understood how brutal the heat would be outside.
I cant wait for the Season of Death, Theo said, pushing himself out of bed. Tresk had already dashed downstairs, leaving him alone with Alex
I dont mind the heat.
You were born here, Theo said, patting the goat-sized goose on the head. How big are you going to get? Any much bigger and youll have to sleep outside.
Nooo I want to sleep inside.
Theo smiled at the way the gooses feathers ruffled. She puffed herself up, pping her wings and honking. Then well have to pry Sledge away from her eggs to make bigger door frames.
Honk!
Head down for breakfast, Theo walked absentmindedly. His Toruaun Mages Core had hit Level 20, giving him a new skill slot and a free skill to select. He sat at the table, getting his te of food and splitting his attention. Sarisa and Rowan were checking in with him, but they went silent as the alchemist searched through his selectable abilities. Ward-style mages were meant to channel the wards, typically creating reactive fields around themselves. But Toruauns speciality was enchanting items with her warding magic. The abilities aligned with her often reflected this.
Ward Propagation and Linked Wards had done a lot to open the ss up, giving Theo many options for warding objects. He scanned through his new selections, finding a few that synergized with those two abilities. After flipping through the items for a while, he paused.
Now that is strange, Theo said, inspecting the ability.
[Intuitive Nodes]
Terogal Mage Skill
Epic
Magic bound to the mortal ne draws on the rtive power of Terogal by establishing a connection between the two nodes.
Effect:
All spells cast may be empowered by the Dreamreal of Terogal.
The power drawn from Terogal may empower a spell to: reduce mana cost, increase duration, increase potency, etc. Only one boon may be applied.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any urrences.
This skill can only be used once per day, resetting at midnight.
Theo understood Terogal was a real realm. He had been there, and other gods had recognized his ce in the heavens. But seeing an ability from his own realm appear was trippy. Did that mean he and Tresk could grant people cores? He didnt feel as though he could create cores. Putting aside the shock of seeing the ability, the alchemist considered the Intuitive Nodes skill very good. He focused on the realm of empowerment. Increasing the power of a wards duration was always good, but increasing the power of the effect was good too.
With his new selection slotted into his core, Theo turned his attention to the table. Both Sarisa and Rowan were staring at him as though waiting for a response to something.
Ah. Sorry, what did you say? Theo asked.
Rowanughed, mming his fist on the table. I told you he was spacing out! Hes done that to me before.
He just answers stuff automatically. In his own little world, Sarisa cooed.
Theo smiled, unable to disagree. He reflected on his increasing Intelligence score, and how that made him distant from everything. It was an unfortunate side-effect he needed to nail down. Sorry. My mage core hit Level 20 and I got distracted.
Anyway Rowan is taking the day off, Sarisa said. We already organized another guard from the Adventurers Guild to help guard you.
And Tresk said she could teleport to you in a moments notice, Rowan added.
Thats all quite fine, Theo said. He removed a Potion of Limited Foresight from his inventory and drank it. Just in case, though.
Just in case, Rowan agreed.
After Rowan departed, Sarisa exined what was going on. The half-ogre guardian had taken a fancy to someone in town, and intended to woo her. Theo groaned at the word, but he never wanted his assistants to be permanent servants to him. Days or weeks off were fine with him, so long as they organized recements. Of course, there was no race better as a guardian than a half-ogre. The one Sarisa had hired from the guild took his job as seriously as the rest of the Broken Tuskers.
Theo headed out for his first stop of the day, making his way to the Newt and Demon. Salire was waiting for him outside, wearing a new dress for the day. She spent her free time with the merchants, it seemed, as every day she had something new and fun to wear. Sarisa stuck to the shadows while the rent-a-guard apanied the alchemist into the building.
So, were stocked on first-tier attribute potions and restoration potions, Salire said, showing off the well-stocked shelves. I also took the liberty to forge a few trade contracts with the merchants.
Good terms? Theo asked. In reality, his interest in trade had waned over the past few weeks. Profits drawn from the mine, sawmill, and his minor stake in the quarry had been enough to keep him happy.
Prices that would make Azrug wet his little pants, Salire said with a wide smile.
What are the other nations interested in?
You wont be surprised. Defensive potions, restoration potions, and attribute potions. Im also skimming some Hallow Ground essence from our process to sell off.
Theo nodded. Their industrial Hallow Ground production had gotten to a point where they had excess. He trusted Salire to skim as much as she needed and no more than that. Profiteering from a global crisis? Shame.
Salire shrugged. If they have the coin, Im selling. Deal with it.
I am really happy that youve taken over the shop. You have a Merchants Core, right?
Yep. Helps seal the deal.
Alright. Come on. Lets see what we need to do today.
Theo, Salire, and the rented guard went to the third floor to check their stock of essences. Since usage of the Hallow the Soil potion had diminished, they had plenty of it on hand. Until Throk got his sprayer tform working, that fact would remain. Today was a day to make something fun, though.
We really havent been pushing modified potions,tely, Theo said, nodding to the unused fermentation barrels in the rooms corner. Do we have a section for that in the book, yet?
Ah, not really, Salire said, withdrawing hand-written notes from her inventory. She consulted them, tracing her finger across the pages until she came to the section. Just a small bit here.
Lets go over how that works.
The Hallow Ground property had always made good base potions, but Theo had never put stock in it as a modifier. Going with his theme of fun things to do, he withdrew Swamp Truffles from a storage crate and prepared them for fermentation. Fermenting items had as much to do with the water added as the items ced inside. The alchemist went over the process of mashing the truffles, adding Enchanted Water, then applying his own mana to begin the process.
You can use a mana siphon to power these things, Theo said, pping the ck box that Zarali had created. But you can add your mana manually. How is your mana control going?
Salire held her hand up and a pool of ming purple mana appeared. The strain of the action yed inly across her face. But she was way better at it than he was back in the day. Getting there
Now, I can sense that the truffle doesnt want to be fermented, Theo said, kneeling near the barrel. He could feel the process pushing back against his will. For a moment, he saw the thread of intent between himself and the barrel. With considerable effort, his mind against that thin strand. It buckled, then copsed as the fermentation process started. This is gonna take a while.
Very interesting, Salire said, scribbling some notes. Anything interesting we can work on while it does its thing?
We could tour the new Herbalists Workshop, Theo said with a shrug. That might be fun.
Salire pped her hands. Oh! I saw it earlier!
Theo smiled, leading the way out of theb. The guard insisted on going first, holding his hand out while he cleared the road outside. With a sharp nod, the dutiful half-ogre ranged out onto the street, spear in hand and a scowl on his face.
He takes his job seriously, Salire said as they crossed the scant few feet between theb and the workshop.
Thats not a bad thing, Theo said, opening the door. He was pushed back by the guard, who rushed inside as though there was something to fight.
While they waited for the guard to clear the area, several frog-like creatures had gathered near Salires feet. She sighed, withdrawing the sprayer from her inventory and putting it on. After squirting them in the face, they retreated.
How long is that supposed tost? Theo asked.
Bilgrob said it should have been over by now, she grumbled. But it isnt.
Theo split his attention as he gave a tour of his workshop. He gave Salire a friendly tour, but fell into his own thoughts as he did so. That side-effect from the ogre priest should have been over by now. When the tour was done, he had the idea to ask Sulvan for help. Instead of finding the Priest of ntheir himself, the alchemist sent Sarisa off to find him before heading back to theb. All three members of the group hung out in the shop-level of the building.
Here we are, Sarisa said, leading the way with Sulvan close behind.
What is the issue? Sulvan said, a kind smile ying across his face. That expression made Theo shiver, if only for a moment.
Salire exined the problem. The priest nodded along, then came to kneel by the half-ogre. Before being regressed and epted by ntheir, Sulvan would have towered over the woman. Now he was a head shorter than her, with a bit less muscle. He held his hands out, allowing the pure mana of the elven god to flow into his palms. After a moment, he shook his head.
This is beyond my skill to heal, Sulvan said. But it is called Spits Reverberation. The power of the hex is equal to the power of the healing magic he used.
And Bilgrob reversed damage inflicted by Drogramath, Theo said, blowing out a breath. You can see what the illness is called? Any other information?
The duration is set to twenty years, Sulvan said, clicking his tongue.
What!? Salire shouted. Im going to be chased by frogs for twenty years?
Frog-like creatures, Theo corrected.
Salire red.
You dont have a way to reverse hexes, alchemist? Sulvan asked.
Theo went through his mental list of cures. He hadnt even considered reversing Salires condition. The only thing he could think of was a potion he had created to cure Tresk. The Lesser Potion of Purification removed one affliction instance from the drinker. His intuition said that it didnt include hexes, but higher-tier versions might.
Maybe it depends on how the purification potion scales.
Worth a shot, Salire grumbled.
The Cure Ailment property was incrediblymon in the swamp. It came from Ogre Cypress Bark, which was absurdly easy toe by. There were piles of it at the sawmill, cast off from the sawing process. If that didnt work, they could go through each of their existing reagents to find something that might cure the hex. Theos mind was dragged back to reality when the guard, Sarisa, and Sulvan sprung to their feet. The sound of bells rang in the distance.
What now? Theo asked, opening his administration interface. Within moments, Gael was issuing orders directly to Aarok. Ah. Kuzans delegation is here.
5.35 - High Commander
5.35 - High Commander
The bells ceased their ttering. An alliance-wide message popped into everyones vision. Gaels calming words listed a series of protocols that needed to be followed as the fleet from Tarantham approached. Despite his words of warning, each rail gun that could gain line-of-sight was trained on the ships bobbing in the distance. Theo rushed to the piers outside of the harbor, dashing up the steps to meet with the leader of House Wavecrest.
They were faster than I expected, Gael said, nodding to the bay.
Ten ships rested in the bay, swaying with the motion of the waves. Each was far more impressive than anything Broken Tusk had produced. Each disyed deck cannons that looked suspiciously like Throks guns. Theo took in a sharp breath, calming himself and stifling an urge to act. Gaels instructions were simple. The ships would anchor and send a smaller ship to negotiate.
Are you sure about this? Theo asked.
Im certain, Gael said with a nod. As a sign of respect, they will dock out here. Well perform the negotiations right down there.
Despite the elfs calming words, the adventuring army was out in force. Theo watched the map of the town fill with tactical orders, lining everyone up for a counter-assault if that were toe. Even the newly minted fighters from Rivers and Daub were taking part. All the alchemist could do was watch and wait. It took a while for the fleet tounch a smaller craft. When they did, it zipped across the harbor, propelled by some unseen magic.
Theo and Gael descended the steps, standing out on the pier to greet the representatives. Only two figures stood aboard the rowboat. The first was a man who reminded the alchemist too much of Fenian. He wore a ck cuirass over an ornate padded gambeson. Matching ck cuisses guarded his thighs while engraved greaves and sabatons protected his shins and feet. With a matching ck full-visored ck helmet tucked under his arm, he jumped from the boat, to the pier and bowed. The woman apanying him remained in the boat, wearing less impressive robes but brimming with magical potential.
Greetings, Archduke Theo Spencer. Lord Administrator Gaeleithia Wavecrest.
Gael bowed at the waist, and Theo followed suit. A pleasure, the elf said, eyes glued to the pier below.
After both parties had risen to their full height, the armored elf continued. I am High Commander Elmonteir Northwind. Serving as Mouth of the Emperor for this encounter.
The elf flicked a gauntleted hand through his hair, sending the perfectly groomed strands of raven ck over his shoulder. Elves really had a ir for the dramatic.
In this capacity, I serve as the Mouth of the Alliance, Gael said, bowing slightly.
Elmon smiled, holding his arms open as though he was expected a hug. Theos brows knit together when Gael opened his arms, hugging the man as though they were family.
I didnt think youd get out, Elmon said, nodding to Theo. Im guessing this one had something to do with it.
Among others, Gael said, breaking off from the hug.
I never approved of the purging of House Wavecrest. Elmon shook his head, his face darkening. The fleet hasnt been the same since.
Gael responded in the Tarantham tongue. Theos knowledge of thenguage wasnt enough to understand the idiom, but Elmonughed in response. He noticed the confusion on the alchemists face. It means that the past is behind us. Youre lucky to have him, archduke. Many wars have been started because outsiders dont understand our ways.
Theoposed himself. It was easy to remember back to a time when he had to bite his tongue to save his skin. This was no different. He could poke the bear of Tarantham now, but his people would suffer. They couldnt hold their own against the empire. Instead, he bowed slightly. He has been invaluable.
Indeed, he has, Elmon said, pping a hand over Gaels shoulder. Theo could sense the nervousness in his friends body. Lets get to it, shall we? The empire is always interested in raw materials. Our spies have informed us you have discovered nodes of demon metals. Youve even made them into alloys.
We have, Gael said with a nod.
The empire is ready to offer a trade deal for those resources. As well as rights to dock civilian airships in your port.
Theo shared a look with Gael. The archduke would like to make a statement.
Elmon smiled, rolling his shoulders. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up, informing Theo that the High Commander didnt like this breach of protocol. What is it?
Were expecting an unfriendly visitor, Theo said, gesturing vaguely northward. The entire alliance is a no-fly zone. We have a no-questions-asked shoot-first policy at the moment.
Ah, youre worried about the city flying to destroy your alliance, arent you? Elmon asked,ughing. May we continue, Gael?
Yes, High Commander.
All civilian airships from Tarantham emit a signal. This signal cannot be copied. The empire would provide you with one, allowing you to know the exact position of our airborne civilian fleet. Were also willing to provide you with tactical information, assuming youre willing to send me home with a parting gift.
Theo nodded to Gael. He would dump all the raw materials in town on those ships for some more information.
We agree, Gael said. The Alliance will provide you with a thousand of each resource before you depart. Stones are in block form, approximately 10 units. Metals are in bar form, approximately 3 units. And lumber is in square board form, approximately 50 units.
Excellent, Elmon said, pping a hand over Gaels shoulder. Our spies have been watching your progress, archduke. The method used to fly the city is an art performed by Dark Core Smiths. They are an abomination. Our spies in Qavell have reported something interesting. They are unaware that you have developed anti-magical shots.
Will our current strategy work? Gael asked.
Only if you aim at the right ce, Elmon said, withdrawing a sheet of parchment from nowhere. On it was drawn the image of a city and an inverted mountain below it. Red circles were drawn here and there, detailing the ces to fire Theos anti-magic shots. A gift from the emperor. But There is a problem aboard that flying city. Something our spies cannot get a handle on.
Theo bit his tongue.
What information do you have? Gael asked.
A being were not familiar with is controlling the crowned prince. Ah, I suppose hes the king now that his father is dead. We lost contact with a spy when he got too close to the entity. He withdrew another sheet of parchment from his inventory, handing it over. This is the full report. Redacted, of course.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.
The alliance wishes to increase our donation to the empire, Gael said, taking the sheet from Elmon. Generously.
Elmon bowed. He withdrew two items from his inventory. An ornate silver artifice, and amunication crystal. He handed them to Gael. Please handle the loading of materials, Gael. My people are tired from the journey.
Without another word, Elmon jumped back into the small boat. In a sh of magic, it soared across the water. Back to the fleet. Gael breathed out a steady breath, sweat visibly umting on his forehead. Im getting too old, Theo.
Was that good? Did we do well?
We made out like bandits, Gael said, finally smiling a genuine smile. When the empire is generous to foreign nations, it means they want what they have. Kuzan doesnt colonize, so he relies on trade.
Theo had too many questions to ask. The entire thing was strange. He had viewed Tarantham as enemies for a while now. Especially since Fenian rescued House Wavecrest. But the elven protocols trumped feelings. Since the members of the house escaped the empire, they were protected byw. The alchemist rattled off questions and Gael answered them.
Tarantham didnt send their airship fleet for jobs like this. While they could reach anywhere in the world in a matter of a week, they still maintained a sea-borne navy. The donation that they just made was a gesture of good faith. The tradition of giving away something for free was started a long time ago and was based on a system of tributes in the empire. If Gael offered nothing to the empire, they would have seen it as an insult. Finally, the spies.
Of course they have spies, Gael said, practically rolling his eyes. Just be happy they have spies in Qavell. Look at this.
The document was written in the Tarantham Script. Theo could pick up a few things, but Gael had to trante for him. It detailed a dark entity that had taken residence in Qavell. Whatever it was, it had made a pact with the king before he died. After Karasans death, that pact passed down to Prince Hanan.
Heavenly origin? Theo asked, gawking at Gael. Certainly not.
They wouldnt have written it down if they didnt believe it.
That might have been good, though. Any god operating directly on the mortal ne was at a disadvantage. Theo could think of a few ways to kill it with no preparation. That brought a more concerning concept, though. Hanan wasnt agreeable to Qavells direction. He seemed to want nothing to do with the Soutnds Alliance and was eager to shake off the mantle his father had put upon him. So long as the information provided by the elves was good, there was a chance at peace with Qavell.
If youll excuse me, Gael said, gesturing to the approaching ship. I have a ship to load.
Theo nodded, watching as Gael dashed off to help organize the materials. The ship that sailed to the harbor was interesting. It was like the ships that Laedria Wavecrest, the shipwright, had constructed. The most notable difference was the way it sat in the water. The alchemist noticed how it rode atop the waves, most of the hull not sinking beneath. Aboard the ship were many elves, all adorned in glittering armor. It was hard not to gawk. After he had his fill, the alchemist went to get debriefed by Alise and Gwyn back at the town hall.
How was it? Tresk asked, sending her thoughts into Theos mind.
He gave her the executive summary of the events, which had her thoroughly bored. Apparently, the army was expecting an exchange of fire. But everything had gone the way Gael said it would.
Thats a good thing, Theo said, shaking his head. Be grateful were not dead. Im pretty sure the empire could tten us if they wanted to.
Bah! Youre right, but I can stillin!
Theo entered the town hall and all heads turned to him. Administrators and citizens alike all stood as though expecting some good news. The alchemist gave them the thumbs up, then headed upstairs to the reserved meeting room. Alise stood at the back of the room, biting her nails. Her head swiveled to him as he entered. Gwyn was lounging in a chair, feet kicked up on the table. She didnt seem to care what was going on, which he approved of.
Tell me it went well, Alise begged. Gael hasnt updated his report, yet.
It went swimmingly.
Really? Gwyn asked, raising an eyebrow. Thought wed be dead by now.
Theo gave a report of what had happened, including the information they had gained. He could live without the trade deal, but the imperial spies were top-notch. There was actionable information in those reports. The alliance was no longer waiting around for whatever drifted over the mountains. They knew what it was, and how to bring it down.
Im not happy about this dark entity, Alise said, pacing nervously. Its another wolf in the ass!
Ive never heard that idiom, Theo said with a nod. That was a good one.
How many wolves do you have in your ass, Alise? Gwyn asked, a sly smile ying across her face.
At least three!
Once Alise had time to digest the information, she calmed down. The woman had a tendency to get worked up over things like this, but she eventually saw how valuable the exchange was. After that, she firmly joined team Tarantham and began singing their praises. Theo wasnt so sure about the empire and what they wanted, but they had made good on their promises so far. Well, it was the promises of Gael that had proven to be true.
In time, Aarok and Luras entered the makeshift war room to give their thoughts. The fleet from Tarantham was still loading materials onto their ships. Porters from Broken Tusk were loading their inventories up and carrying it to the dimensional storage on the ships. Once they were loaded up, they left without another word. Gael came into the meeting room, finding an empty chair and copsing into it.
I need a vacation, he said, cing the airship detection artifice on the table.
You did great, Alise said, pping. Without you, we would have started a war with the empire.
Seriously, Aarok said. Take a week off if you need it, Gael. You deserve it.
I just need to take a breath, the haggard elf said, dabbing his brow with a blue length of cloth. I knew Elmonteir back in the day. Could almost have called him a friend. They sent him because they knew I was handling the negotiations.
Were your houses close? Theo asked.
Gael shrugged. Not that close.
Theo sat, listening to Gael tell old stories about him and an old friend. Something lingered in his mind that he couldnt force out. Not just the approaching city, or the dark being aboard. It wasnt anything that Elmon said, it was something he didnt say. There was no mention of the rogue elf, Fenian Southde. They would have known him from his original name, not the adopted surname of Feintleaf. The delegation didnt provide information on the missing elf, nor did they ask about him. Which meant they knew everything they wanted to know about the man.
While the others chatted, the alchemist withdrew hismunication crystal and squeezed it. He felt the familiar sensation of haptic buzzing in his mind as the magical items connected. A few momentster, Fenians voice filled his mind.
You have the worst timing, dont you? Fenians voice was hushed.
Just checking in. We had a delegation from Tarantham visit town.
Ah. Thats good information. Whichpany?
No idea. Some guy named Elmonteir Northwind.
So, the Northwind Company. Perfect! How many ships?
Ten.
Excellent intelligence, my dear alchemist. Heres a progress report Im making my way to the coast. Assumed a new identity and scrounged up some coin. Ill be on the sea in a few days, heading home.
Theo paused for a long moment, smiling to himself. Fenian had never called Broken Tusk home before. Maybe you could hijack a civilian airship.
Too dangerous. Theyll hunt me down if I do that. Theyre less likely to miss a single-masted boat, though. Ah! Damn! Gotta go.
Fenian cut the connection off. The brief conversation left Theo feeling happier than before. There was a lot of bad that came with that elf, but the alchemist needed to believe in the cause. Perhaps that was just a lie he told himself to gloss over what could be war crimes. But Balkors undead wereing no matter what. And without the Demon God of Necromancy in his realm, those creatures would still bang against the Soutnd Alliances door.
Theo? Aarok asked.
Theo blinked, returning themunication crystal to his inventory. All eyes in the room were locked on him. Huh?
We were talking about throwing a party, Alise said, shaking her head. Are you paying attention?
I am now that you said party.
5.36 - The Holy Modifier
5.36 - The Holy Modifier
A group of elves had produced a series of drums, varying in size. They beat a steady rhythm near a zing bonfire, joined all around by the citizens of the alliance. Theo watched the festivities as they spread from the towns square. It took little for Broken Tuskers to celebrate and he was happy to see the elven refugees joining in. The normally stuffy, protocol-driven peoples from Tarantham wereing out of their shell. While it had taken time, the first wave of those migrants had integrated fully.
Gaels name was on everyones lips. Perhaps it was just the elf following a series of rules, but the result of the negotiations had sent his name to a ce of honor. Theo felt the sterile thoughts creeping into his mind, driven by his increased Intelligence. A spark of warmth battered the icy ideas away, drawn out of his chest by the Tarahek bond. He pushed away everything else, desperate to focus on the celebration at hand.
Come dance with me, Tresk said, emerging from the shadows.
Theo held a hand up, shaking his head. Not again.
You. Woman in the shadows, Tresk said, jabbing her finger at nothing. Dance with me.
Sarisa emerged from her own gloomy shadow, a smile ying across her face. Lets do it.
No one had taught Broken Tuskers how to dance. Theo winced as he watched whatever it was that Tresk and Sarisa were performing. He sipped his cup of Rivers mead, allowing the warmth to spread from his belly. The edges of his nerves dulled as Salire took a seat next to him. While she didnt say a word for quite a while, her presence wasforting. Of all the things he had helped build in the town, her rise as a Drogramath Alchemist had been impressive.
That Hallow Ground modifier finished fermenting, she said after a stretching silence.
I almost forgot about it.
It might make a new weapon for the undead.
Theo nodded in response, taking another sip of his mead. He never really loved the mead. This batch wasnt as good as thest one he had tried. Something like sour honey mixed with watered beer. He suspected thats exactly what it is. After another long silence, another came to sit on the log the alchemist was resting on.
What a day, Alran said, groaning into a seated position on the log. I didnt think anyone still had spies in Qavell. Leave it to the elves, huh?
Ill drink to that, Theo said, toasting his spymaster. Do you think the empire is being honest? With their promises, that is.
Yeah. They write their contracts in blood. So long as we follow it to the letter, were good.
Shouldnt you be partying, Theo? Salire asked, blowing out a frustrated breath. It''s all work with you.
You brought up the essence modifier, Theo said, wagging a disapproving finger at her.
Yeah but alchemy is fun. Politics are boring.
She wasnt wrong. Theo liked to shuffle the boring parts of managing the alliance to his administrators, leaving him free to do as he pleased. His mind and desire drifted away from the celebrations,nding squarely on hisb and the experiments within. The alchemist rose, nodding to his budding student as they departed from the party.
Theres a problem with modifiers, Theo said, leading the way south toward theb. You can use a first-tier modifier with a second-tier potion, but you run the risk of blowing yourself up.
As with everything in alchemy, Salire nodded.
Theo let silence fall between them as he thought and walked. The third floor of theb was cast in bright sunshine, driven by the mid-afternoon sun outside. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of stale ingredients and failed experiments. That acrid scent smelled more like home than anything he could imagine. Salire had understood the assignment and ran off to assemble a selection of first-tier potions to start their experiments. He waited expectantly for her to return, and she withdrew a notebook with the intent on writing his waxing ideas.
Creating second-tier modifiers is more about mana control than anything. Theo gestured to the fermentation barrels. The purity of the fermentation determines how well it runs through the stills. We cant rely on high-quality ingredients to make up for ourck of skill.
Salire wrote that down.
To make a first-tier modifier, we just run the fermented liquid through the stills. How do we make second- and third-tier modifiers?
Same process as regr essences? Salire asked.
Theo nodded. Ive only ever made second-tier modifiers, and Im worried about how it will bind to the enchanted dilution.
Salire nodded, scribbling her notes. Thats why youre worried about the purity of the modifier essence. It might not bind.
Exactly.
Theo transferred the contents of the fermentation barrel to a still, adding a catalyst and setting the heat. The unrefined, fermented modifier juice seemed temperamental. As a property, Hallow Ground seemed unwilling to be a modifier. But between the level of the building, the alchemists growing willpower, and the quality of the equipment within theb it couldnt resist.
Ive been trying to figure out how to define will, Theo said, double-checking thetch atop the still. He had decided on what willpower was in this world, but it was important to test his student. As much of a mockery of the system that was. What do you think it is?
Salire looked up from her notes, a sh of fear spreading across her face. That expression devolved into confusion and she clicked her tongue. Tenacity?
That was my first thought. Strength of will. Then I observed something about alchemy. Specifically when starting the stills on a batch. How do we know which property the still will extract?
Intent.
My thought is that willpower is manifested intent.
Theo and Salire retreated to a corner in the room. She took a seat while he clicked the knob on the air conditioner, flooding the room with a wash of cold air.
So why do you and Tresk have so much intent?
I havent figured that one out yet. The obvious answer is that we hold a realm. Khahar did some crazy stuff because he held a pseudo-realm. Kept his mind in check, no matter how high he got. Teleported some guys to the moon.
Did he actually teleport them, though? Or did he jump to the moon?
Theo shook his head. Thats above my paygrade.
Theo and Salire went back-and-forth on the topic of willpower, and the extent of Khahars powers on the mortal realm. It didnt take long for the topic to shift to the report given to them by the Tarantham highmander. It should have been impossible for any god to act directly on the mortal ne. Yet Theo trusted what Elmonteir Northwind had told him. The still bubbled away as the pair discussed the topic,ing to a simple conclusion. Khahar had organized things in a way that allowed the alchemist to achieve a Mortal Dreamrealm. Then he cut everyone else off.
But what if someone else was grandfathered into the scheme? Theo asked.
Could be, Salire said, nodding with excitement. But youre confident you could beat a god?
Theo had to think hard about that one. He could likely banish a god, unless the god had some trick up their sleeve. I think were going to have our asses saved by Fenian again.
Why?
Theo cleared his throat. His eyes lingered over theb, dragging to the spot where the sk had filled to the top. The still was done running and they could begin their experimentation. But this was too interesting not to entertain.
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Khahar ascended the Throne of the Arbiter. Fenian ascended the Throne of the Herald, Theo withdrew a copper coin from his inventory, flicking it over to Salire. Two sides of the same coin. If Khahar is in charge of the heavens, what does that leave for Fenian?
The mortal realm, Salire said, nodding as her face brightened with recognition. How many times is Fenian going to save our butts?
A few more until Tresk and I ascend, Theo said, pushing himself to a standing position.
What? Salire asked, jumping up from her chair. You will not leave Broken Tusk, will you?
Theo shrugged. I doubt it. Tresk said she had a foot on the steps to her throne. But I dont feel like Im on the same continent.
Just dont leave us. Alright?
Theo paused. No one in the alliance was ready for what he wanted to do. Never.
Salire smiled. Any hit of worry drained from her face as she bounded over to the full sk. Her expression shifted, then went slightly sour. Her pale orange half-ogreplexion went slightly paler. What
Theo inspected the modifier.
[Refined Holy]
[Essence Modifier] [Refined Essence Modifier]
Legendary
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Alignment Effects:
Resulting modifier will be more effective.
High chance to add an additional modifier to the resulting potion.
Potency of the modifier increased
200 units (liquid)
A refined modifier essence. Add to aplete potion to add the holy modifier. Holy is the essence of life and divinity. It is the direct opposite of death.
Taking a step back, Theo narrowed his eyes on the essence. He had learned about elemental properties, especially in concern to attributes. But he had seen nothing mentioning holy or death elements. After collecting herself, Salire withdrew her notebook again and scribbled away.
This is interesting, Theo said, leaning close to inspect the essence. It was a swirl of pale gold with flecks of intense silver within. Holy Ground had always manifested with a sheen of silver, and it was interesting to see the pure form of it represented with gold. Life and divinity Now what does that mean?
Should we even touch it? Salire asked.
Theo shrugged. Im something of a divine myself.
The sk felt warm from the brewing process, but that warmth spread up the alchemists arm and into his chest. He was reminded of all the times he had stood before gods and the power they radiated.
We gotta make potions with it. Right? I mean,e on!
Theo agreed and moved over to the table of potions Salire had prepared. He let his intuition take the lead, identifying a few potions he thought it would work with. Holy alignment meant the potion would bind well with anything that supported life. The alchemist wrapped his mind around the concept, trying to find a new way to make a weapon. But every path it took led him to see the supportive nature of the Refined Holy essence modifier.
Lets hit the standard stuff first, Theo said, pulling a Healing Potion forward. Salire prepared a vial to amodate the extra unit of liquid, setting one of her ornate t-bottomed vials nearby.
Lets do it! Salire shouted.
Theo tipped the sk of Refined Holy into the empty vial, then added the correct amount of Healing Potion. The mixture reacted calmly, mixing together in a swirl of gold and pink. It pulsed with more golden light, filling the already bright room with holy radiance. It calmed down. Both Theo and Salire leaned in to inspect the resulting potion.
[Healing Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 175 Health and applies Holy Resonance.
Holy Resonance activates the next time the imbibers health drops below 50%. When this condition triggers, the drinker will restore the same amount of health as when the potion was first drunk.
Two potions. One bottle, Salire said, nodding with approval. Thats just good.
It was an excellent potion. Far better than Theo could have imagined from something so simple. There was absolutely no time-limit described by the system, so he assumed the effect wouldst forever. The system had a way of taking everything literally with their descriptions, so the alchemist had no reason to think that wasnt the case.
People in town are going to go nuts for this one, Theo said, pushing the vial to the side. Which one next? Stamina or Mana?
Salire bit her lip, then nodded to the mana potion.
Mana it is. Here we go.
Salire pushed an empty vial forward and Theo added one unit of Refined Holy. He then tipped the entire Mana Potion inside, tapping the ss vials against one another to get everyst drop. The reaction was simr to the Health Potion, swirling peacefully until the gold and blue hand merged together. Bands of gold swirled through the final potion, moving as though stirred by some unknown hand. The pair leaned in for inspection.
[Mana Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 180 Mana and applies Holy Resonance.
Holy Resonance activates the next time the imbibers mana drops below 50%. When this condition triggers, the drinker will restore the same amount of mana as when the potion was first drunk.
That is awesome, but just the same thing, Theo said.
Im guessing the Stamina Potion would do the same thing. Salire wrote the results in her notes, but seemed quite pleased with the modifier effect. Boring! Lets move on to something more interesting.
Salire slid a Hallow Ground Potion forward. This potion created a banishment circle around the drinker, which would destroy any undead that stepped inside. Taking a potion and modifier derived from the same property typically had great results. Theo pulled the potion toward him, mixing it with the modifier essence and watching the reaction. The silver of the potion mingled with the gold of the modifier, swirling together with more intensity than the other examples. Less violent than most reactions, the interaction between the two was still notable for its intensity.
Lively one, Salire said, getting closer to observe the reaction. When it calmed down, they both inspected the result.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Holy Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the circle, but will be afflicted with the Holy Judgment effect.
If the imbiber of this potion is aligned with a deity, the souls of the dead will be sent to that realm to await judgment. The afflicted shell will be destroyed.
Oh, damn, Salire said, stepping away from the potion. What does that mean?
Theo had an idea on how to use this, but he wasnt sure about ripping the souls away from the undead and sending them to his realm. He wasnt eager to entertain people who had been trapped in their mortal shells for however long Balkor had bound them. It was a potion that required conversation with heavenly beings. Those that would answer his questions without being silenced by Khahar, that is.
Next one, Theo said, leaving the table and rummaging through his storage crates. Theb always had some Potions of Purification sitting around. Just in case someone from the town got sick.
Are you thinking what Im thinking? Salire asked, bouncing excitedly.
Theo returned to the experimentation table, adding the potion to an empty vial. He poured the appropriate amount of modifier essence in and watched the reaction. It was as calm as the restoration potions, only swirling in the vial and producing minimal fumes in the air. Something about the scent and sight of the gold-white potion gave the alchemist hope. He and Salire leaned in, inspecting their newest creation.
[Potion of Purification]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Imbibing this potion will remove mostmon ailments. Only one effect can be removed at a time. This potion is imbued with holy power, expanding which ailments can be cured to include poisons, physical damage-over-time effects, hexes, curses, etc.
Effect:
Removes most afflictions from the drinker. Can only remove one effect per potion drunk
Hex, Salire breathed, hands trembling as she reached out for the potion.
Theo couldnt suppress the smile that spread across his face. It was obvious from when they started working with the Holy modifier. It enhanced all supportive potions, including curative ones. Their base Potion of Purification didnt cover the wide range of affliction types required to remove the hex. But the Holy modifier took care of that. He also noted the other interesting affliction types it cured, including curses. This would be helpfulter, no doubt.
Can I? Salire asked.
That was the whole point, Theo said, gesturing to the potion.
Time to live a frog-free life, Salire said, downing the potion in one gulp. She winced, then shrugged. Tastes like nothing. And Oh! I got a system message! Spits Reverberation is gone!
Hooray!
Salire pulled Theo into a tight hug. She had been gued by the frogs for so long that he didnt me her for reacting so strongly. With the strength of a half-ogre, she squeezed him. The pair remained there for some time before she pushed away, the corners of her eyes wet.
Okay, Salire said, removing the sprayer from her inventory and setting it to the side. Now I want to party.
5.37 - Old Gods, New Gods
5.37 - Old Gods, New Gods
The cottage in Terogal was stuffier than normal. A fire crackled in the firece as several gods sat around the table, sipping tea and trading war stories of times-gone-by. Theo watched as Drogramath, UzXulven, ntheir, and Benton chatted about the way things were. The bear god was the one with the fewest stories to share, barely having been born in the previous age. But he brought a mortals perspective to how things were before Balkor descended from the heavens.
I remember seeing him, Benton said, nodding nervously to himself. Even from the mountains, I saw him.
Im pretty sure everyone saw that upstart pierce the clouds, UzXulven snorted augh, gesturing wildly enough to spill some tea on the table. Then we pounced, casting him to the ground.
Theo took azy sip of his tea. Sure was effective.
UzXulven red, but ntheir chuckled. He has us there. I knew the Demon God of Necromancy had a n, the elven god said. Who could have known it was this long-winded?
The conversation went on for some time. Theo had spent his time at the part on the mortal ne, and required something calmer to soothe him before bed. The gods were always willing to travel to Terogal for a nice cup of tea, and they all behaved well enough to make for goodpany. The alchemist enjoyed his time there, but a nagging knock mmed against the side of his consciousness. He dashed outside, looking up as though he expected to see Uharis breaking through his barriers once again. But there had been upgrades to the realm since then.
What is that? Belgar asked, rushing over to stand with Theo.
Clearing away the clutter of his mind, Theo focused on his realm. The gods could knock on the door of his realm if they wanted entry. It was normally the polite tapping of knuckles on the door. Whoever was requesting entry was pounding with closed fists, demanding entry. But within the realm of Terogal there were only two masters. The alchemist allowed his mind to calm, then granted whoever it was entrance.
A loud snap issued throughout the town square. An archway of blood and bone rose, far taller than the other portals Theo had seen. A figure, at least twice the height of the alchemist, stepped through with drunken swagger. Whelp! the figure shouted.
ntheir came out from the cottage, still holding a cup of tea. Oh, my. Thats Spit.
Spit. The Ogre Patron of Curing Things Most of the Time sauntered over the verdant grasses of Terogal. As an ogre, he was absolutely massive. The god was at least twice the size of any half-ogre he had seen, with broad shoulders, dusky brown skin, and a shaved head. His features were exaggerated with massive tusks sticking from his bottom lips, and little more than a loincloth wrapped around his waist.
I would invite you for tea, but I think youre too big, Theo said, waving awkwardly.
Spit snorted, then spat on the ground. He approached Theo, looking down at the alchemist. He held a clenched fist before him. Lets fight.
Id rather not, Theo said, looking around at the other gods for direction. They all shrugged. The alchemist felt safe because higher realms couldnt dere war on lower ones. Is this about your hex?
Of course it was. The frogs were funny, but you dismissed them! Before the frog-folk even got there, Spit grumbled, cracking his knuckles. Just like a demon to dismiss such fun.
Im sorry. The frogs were annoying. Ogre magic is annoying.
Spits hand moved in a sh, closing around Theos head and squeezing. The alchemist stood there, watching as the god strained with no effect. UzXulven had showed him that gods dont have power in another gods realm unless they had dered war. Even then, they couldnt approach the ce through the normal means. There was an entirely unique path they had to take.
Bah! Spit shouted, glowering down at Theo.
This has been entertaining, ntheir said, waving a dismissive hand. But I grow bored of the angry ogre routine.
Yeah, me too, UzXulven said, yawning dramatically. This is why no one takes you seriously, Spit.
Plenty of people take me seriously.
They really dont, UzXulven said, walking over to ce aforting hand on Spits lower arm. That was as high as she could reach. Outside of grot, youre a joke.
Spit frowned. But the frogs were funny.
Oh, they were so funny, UzXulven said, patting his arm consolingly. Lets bring the tea and the sweets outside. Have a pic for the mighty Spit.
Spit nodded, the angry frown still hanging on his face. Theo watched as UzXulven, ntheir, and Benton carried the tea and the food outside. They brought a table to keep it off the ground. Ever since creatures arrived in the realm, they brought with them insects. Those critters would have loved totch onto the crystalized sugar pastries that Benton had brought. Spit took a seat on his butt near the table, folding his arms in hisp as he waited for someone to pour him tea.
Much better. Try Bentons tea. Youll change your mind about Theo, UzXulven said, pouring the ogre god a cup.
Theo watched as the massive ogre picked the cup up by the handle, using far more grace than he should have possessed. With his pinky out, Spit sipped the tea. The frown on his face melted away, and he nodded. This is excellent tea.
Only the best, Benton said, chuckling nervously.
Spit drained his tea, smiled, then ate the cup. Another. Please.
Benton winced, his eyes going slightly wide. Of course.
Thats how the daily tea party in Terogal gained a new, angry patron. After airing hisints, Spit calmed down a lot. He ate every teacup he was given, but Benton seemed to have an infinite supply. When the conversation had evened out, Theo excused himself to have a word with Belgar.
Could we rebuild the cottage again? Theo asked, gesturing to the too-small structure. Make it big enough for ogres.
Belgar stared at him for a moment. His glowing purple eyes red in recognition before he smiled back. Sure. Why not?
The things the souls had built were impressive. It didnt matter if they hadnt created tools to build things, or organized any specific group to do the work. They had so much time to do whatever they wanted that none of it mattered. The time in the heavens had evened out, resulting in twenty-four hours passing for every five minutes in the mortal realm. For each day that Theo experienced in mortal time, a year passed up here. The alchemist spent some time discussing this with Belgar before leaving. Instead of heading back, finishing dinner, and entering the Dreamwalk, he took a stroll along the trail he had created. Belgar joined him.
You should do more things like this, the eager dronon said. They passed by a group of souls, half-drifting over the dirt path.
Well have an entire world to build on top of before long.
Belgar scoffed. This ce is alreadyrge enough.
That was thest thing they said before falling into afortable silence. After getting their fill of streams, valleys, and other interestingndmarks, Theo departed for the mortal ne. The Bridge of Shadows shivered as he passed over, sending forth its approval. He fell back into his chair, surrounded by his friends. Tresk was in the middle of telling a story.
So anyway, I started stabbing, she said, withdrawing a knife and stabbing at the air.
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I dont recall you stabbing Alran, Sarisa said.
Because she didnt. Rowan shook his head in disapproval, but he was smiling.
But I coulda. Oh hi, Theo.
How was your trip? Sarisa asked.
Theo took a moment, allowing his thoughts to gather. He had gotten into the habit of just leaving the gods in his realm. ording to Belgar, they spent a lot of time there, oftening and going as the days passed in the heavens. Spit might have been a problem, but he couldnt do anything about it. For all the blustering an ogre could produce, it wasnt enough to damage the realm.
Very fun, Theo said, briefly exining the walking path he had created. Unfortunately, the craze of foot-races had diminished. Birdwatching was the next big thing. Belgar has a new body.
Zarali was talking about that, Tresk said, giggling. Says she doesnt recognize her own brother.
The conversation swayed between topics. Sarisa had made some great food, but Theo didnt feel up to visiting the bathhouse tonight. Despite the Coat of Rake, he wasnt enjoying the way this worlds summer dragged on forever. Instead, he retreated to the Dreamwalk with Tresk, eager to feel the nothingness within. They slipped into the dream effortlessly. The marshling constructed the image of the rocky passes outside of Gronro-Dir.
Perfect ce to fight a dragon, she said. Or that weird pale elf.
Theo nodded. It was the perfect environment for a dragon to toast a marshling. She didnt stand a chance against even the weakest dragon. If such a thing existed. The alchemist dedicated himself to grinding experience, something he had been shying away fromtely. He turned away from his urge to discover new things, leaving that for tomorrow. Instead, he focused his efforts on producing third tier potions to extract as much experience points for his alchemy core. For his herbalist core, he simply grew crops, and constructed golems.
Intuitive Nodes had been an interesting ability. Between batches of imagined potions and imagined crops, Theo considered that ability. The Dreamwalk pushed back when he used it, but the joined will of the Tarahek broke it without issue. The important thing he learned was that the ability had a doubling effect for his wards. A ward thatsted five days wouldst ten days with the ability. The alchemist assumed that meant the power of an effect would also double.
By the end of the Dreamwalk, Theo had pushed his two main cores to Level 29, as well as his personal level to the same stage. His Toruaun Mages Core hit Level 22, which was no surprise. Thanks to infinite mana, he could cast spells repeatedly. Before leaving the Dreamwalk, he considered where to ce his free attribute point. Vigor was the way to go. The Tarahek did a lot to reduce the mind-altering effects of attributes, but he didnt want to push his Intelligence to 30 until he had a solid n. A duplication of the soul-style potion was needed.
Rise and shine! Tresk shouted, dragging all members of the bond out of the Dreamwalk.
Theo felt himself jolt in his bed. He didnt bother yelling at Tresk. She was already gone. And of course, she had already wolfed down her breakfast by the time he got downstairs. He took his time, reading through administrative reports as he had pozwa eggs with some wheat bread. It would have been nice if Alex stuck around for breakfast, but she was on city-watch duty. She had been ordered to watch for Qavell since they got their information. Both Twist and the highmander from Tarantham had helped to solidify their defensive strategy, and the goose was necessary.
With Rowan still on vacation, Theo was joined by Sarisa in the shadows, and the rent-a-guard following close behind. There were no administrative things to worry about, so he headed straight for the Newt and Demon. Salire wasnt even in yet, giving him time to create a n for the day. The new Holy modifier from the fermented Swamp Truffles already had interesting interactions with potions. The alchemist had a slew of random potions that produced dangerous effects, and his experience with the art told him the modifier was the perfect thing to calm them down.
Theo was excited to try out the modifier, but Salire deserved to see the changes it made to their potions. Instead, he checked on his golemwork and checked the stock within theb. The golems were all doing fine. Even those with the new artifices were going strong. Within theb, there was arge amount of first tier essences ready for brewing. Salire had been going hard, making sure she had enough things to provide for the patrons of the shop. Those essences wouldnt make the best potion, but they would do in a pinch.
After checking the supplies, reorganizing the old ssware and reagents, dusting the shelves, sweeping the floor, and dumping Cleansing Scrub on every avable surface, he got to work. Salire wasnting, and it wasnt his ce to force her to work every single day of the week. The alchemist turned to the grump half-ogre guard standing in the rooms corner, thinking for a moment before he spoke.
Could you watch the store? Theo asked.
The half-ogres face twisted into confusion. I dont get paid to run a shop.
You can keep all the money you make.
The guards face lit up.
All the items are organized, Theo said, shooing the guard away. The guard left without another word, a smile lingering on his face.
Sarisa stepped from the shadows, hand over her mouth as she chuckled. Do you hate him that much?
No. Someone has to watch the shop, Theo said, organizing materials for his first experiment. And youre good enough to guard me.
Sarisa shrugged, finding a seat in the rooms corner. Youre the boss. I guess.
Theo nodded. He withdrew a potion from a storage crate and ced it on the counter. The Potion of Desperate Attack was on the line between safe and dangerous. It took half the drinkers health, returning one and a half times the amount taken as damage on their next attack. The alchemist prepared a vial to transfer the potion into, then withdrew a sk of Holy modifier. The potion had settled to a shade of crimson that shimmered with ck striations. While he hadnt seen potions settle between colors as they rested, Theo didnt see this as odd. He poured it into the new vial, then added the golden Holy modifier.
The Desperate Attack potion swirled, bubbled, and spewed fumes into the air. Within a moment, the built-in artifice extractor clicked on, sucking away the foul air. It smelled of dried blood and berries. After the reaction settled down, Theo leaned in to inspect the new potion. As expected, the Holy modifier changed the resulting potion drastically.
[Potion of Desperate Attack]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
To be quaffed in dire circumstances. This potion exemplifies the Zureahs tendency to perform attacks that put their lives in danger.
Effect:
The next time the drinker attacks an enemy, they gain the Holy Desperation effect.
When Holy Desperation is activated, attacks made by the drinker will consume 1% of their health. Once 25% of their health has been consumed using this method, they will release an attack equal to 2 times the amount of health taken. This attack triggers during their next attack.
That took the edge off of the potion. Instead of taking fifty percent of a drinkers health at once, it took twenty-five percent total. The fact that it only took one percent at a time was a boonpared to the old version. Theo couldnt decide if this was a good potion, but at least it wasnt a bad one. He moved to his next potion, the Potion of Berserk. This one was almost all bad. It took ny-eight percent of the drinkers health, dealing that back as damage on their next attack. The worst part was the Berserkers Rage effect, which turned them into a killing machine. The drinker cant be killed for twenty seconds, but they also cant recognize who their friends or foes are.
Yikes, Theo said, withdrawing the dangerous potion from his inventory. He was convinced that this would end poorly, but it was worth a shot.
The alchemist ced an empty vial, pouring in the orange-colored potion before introducing the Holy modifier. It reacted violently, bubbling, fuming, and spitting as though trying to escape from the vial. Theo took a few steps back and waited for the reaction to finish. When it was finallypleted, he moved in to inspect the resulting potion.
[Potion of Berserk]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
To be quaffed in circumstances without hope. This represents the Zureahs tendency of fighting to the death.
Effect:
The next time the drinker attacks an enemy, they gain the Holy Berserk effect.
When Holy Berserk is active, the drinker connects with the power of the closest-aligned realm. 50% of the drinkers health is consumed.
Depending on the realms strength, an amount of damage is added to the next attack, multiplied by 2.
If the drinkers connection with their realm is stronger than the being they attack, they will enter a state of Holy Berserkers Rage.
The owner of the realm will temporarily assume the drinker as a vessel, controlling them like a puppet. The drinker will gain temporary health based on the realm owners strength.
Each attack they perform will contain the power of the original Holy Berserk effect. When this effect expires, the drinker will restore 25% of the original 50% removed health, plus 1% of all damage dealt.
Theo let out a steady breath. That was a hard potion to understand, given his position as a realm-holder. At least it didnt take almost all of the drinkers health, meaning it wasnt deadly for the imbiber. The numbers were hazy, though. There was no way to know if the amount of damage dealt was worth losing all that health, but it was better. He concluded that this wasnt a potion for anyone without a realm. Unless it was a friendly god, this was just a way to allow the gods into the mortal realm.
Seems like this breaks some of Khahars rules, Theo said, listening to the bell ringing downstairs. After a moment, the sound of footsteps ascending the many stairs came from below.
Salire, with her shoulders slumped, entered the room. She had bags under her eyes, and herplexion was pale. Why dont we have Sanchrin? she groaned.
Hangover? Theo asked, beckoning for her toe over. You should have taken it easy.
And who is running my shop? Salire asked, shuffling over to take a seat. Are you doing alchemy without me?
Theo smiled at his assistant. Come on. Well do some more.
5.38 - The Future
5.38 - The Future
Mid-morning sun filtered through the foggy ss of the Newt and Demon. Salire sat with her head propped, eyes wide as she blinked away her hangover. The potions Theo had crafted were resting on the table, awaiting inspection. But the half-ogre alchemist seemed to have trouble focusing her eyes, thanks to the pounding headache and her sour stomach. A cure for hangovers wasnt a weapon he was ready to unleash on Broken Tusk. The resulting parties would shake the foundations of the, likely causing an orbital shift that would destroy the.
Theo chuckled to himself, startling Salire. What? she asked groggily.
Nothing. Youre just normally taking notes.
Salire groaned, rising to her feet like a marite being pulled by its strings. She shambled to a storage crate, withdrawing a sk of Freeze Essence. Without hesitation, the half-ogre sshed it in her face and screamed. A thick sheet of ice formed on her face, encasing both it and her shouts of protest. One deft smack and the ice shattered. At least she looked awake.
I think Im good, Salire said, eyes wider than they were before. She ced her notes on the table, pping her cheeks before finding her pen. Theo gave her a few minutes to inspect the potions, awaiting her stunned response. These are weird. Theyre not as deadly as the base potions.
Exactly. The Holy modifier took the edge off.
What other horrible potions do we have?
Those were the worst. Aside from the one I had nned to send to Fenian. Not sure how this would affect a lich-creating potion.
Why not try?
Theo had to think about that one before diving head-first. Perhaps it was his increased Intelligence attribute, but a pinch of caution went a long way with potion-making. He waited for Wisdom of the Soul to pop up, which it did. The message wasnt helpful, only iming that it was impossible to know how the potion would interact. The alchemist considered the alignments of potions, and came to a solid conclusion.
Death is the opposite of Holy, Theo said. My guess is that we would have an explosion.
Best to avoid explosions, Salire said, nodding. Ill dig through our reserve stock for anything interesting.
Before long, Salire had organized a gaggle of different potions. Her most interesting pick was the poison potions. But the one Theo wanted to see the most was the Limited Foresight Potion. That potion was already powerful enough on its own, so he selected it as his first test. He transferred the potion to arger vial, then introduced the Holy modifier. The liquids mixed instantly, producing almost no reaction. When a potion modification behaved like that, it normally meant they were closely aligned. Both Theo and Salire leaned in to inspect the resulting potion.
[Potion of Limited Foresight]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
The imbiber of this potion may view a random future event from the location they drank the potion.
The drinker may only experience the effects of this potion once every month. If another person imbibes this potion in the same location as the original drinker, they will experience the same event.
Theo stared at the potion for a long time. Salire remained silent as his mind wrapped itself around the potion. The potion didnt describe how far in the future the drinker would see. And it imed to be random, with no stated weight on the importance of the viewed event. The alchemist scratched his head, unable to decide if it was a good thing.
Drink it, Salire said, tapping her fingers on the table.
Theo turned to his assistant, brows knitted. What?
Were both thinking about it. Just drink it.
Theo wrapped his fingers around the vial, then gave hispanion a confused look. Where had the caution from earlier gone? He wouldnt have quaffed the potion if he wasnt so disappointed with the result. He tipped his head back, drinking it in one go. Salire watched with excitement in her eyes.
The alchemists vision faded.
Salire shouted something, but Theo couldnt make it out. He felt as though his sight had been plucked from his eyes, then transported to a ce high in the sky. Without a body, he simply observed an alienndscape. A crater, slowly filling with water from an adjacent sea, scarred thend. The alchemist observed as a wash of mes scoured everything from thend. Trees were incinerated in a heartbeat. Stone was made molten. The vision panned to the side, revealing more of theplete destruction.
In an instant, the vision ended. Theo felt himself falling back like a sack of bricks. He caught himself, and his heart pounded. Without a body, he was unable to experience any emotion. Now that his sight had been ced back, a feeling of dread crept over him. The crater was Broken Tusk. The entire alliance was destroyedmaybe the. Whatever fear he felt in his heart didnt trante to his face. Another gift from the ever-increasing Intelligence attribute.
Well? What did you see?
Theo shook his head. Nothing interesting. Broken Tusk. Maybe a week from now, he lied.
Bummer. Lets make another! I wanna see.
Lets not, Theo said, a fake smile spreading across his face. Lets find a potion to modify that isnt disappointing.
Salire sighed, then gazed at the collection of potions she had assembled.
What the hell was that? Tresk asked. What did you see? Was that Broken Tusk?
In the future, Theo said, biting the inside of his cheek.
Well, damn! How far in the future?
I dont know.
Tresk went silent. Salire had made her selection, but Theo could feel the Tarahek chewing on the information. He wanted to keep it a secret, but was that the right thing to do? Was the future set in stone? The alchemist shook his head, picking up the potion that his assistant had selected.
Potion of Sludge. This is the potion that turns yours sweat into ooze, Theo said, giving her a t look.
Yeah. It sucks, so the effects might be good. Right?
Theo shrugged. As long as it didnte with visions of the future, he would try anything. The potion looked like a nightmare to drink, and the alchemist regretted ever brewing it. He tilted the vial to the side, watching as the contents oozed. It was far too thick to drink. cing it over the vial, they waited for the contents to transfer. It took several minutes.
Im calling a meeting with Aarok, Tresk said. I watched what you saw, Theo. That aint good.
That could be a million years in the future. We dont know.
Id rather be cautious, Alex said, interjecting.
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Theo grumbled, watching as thest of the potion oozed into the vial. He cleared his throat, withdrawing a single unit of the Holy modifier. The potion and the modifier mixed together better than he expected. The ck ooze lightened, then lost almost all its viscosity. While the scent it produced was something between wet socks and flowers, the resulting potion didnt look that bad. Both Theo and Salire leaned in to inspect the result.
[Potion of Sludge]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
The drinker sweats Holy Water.
Effect:
For one hour, the drinkers sweat is reced with Holy Water. Undead creatures will gain the Banishment effect if theye into contact with this water.
That just made a weird potion weirder, Salire said.
Sweating Holy Water? Theo asked, tapping his foot. Im not mad. Just disappointed.
Theo had trouble thinking of a use for that one. Maybe if the undead were repelled by the scent of the Holy Water, this would work. It might have had a niche use, but he couldnt think about it. Instead, they moved on. Salire had selected a lot of potions, and one of them was bound to be useful.
Here we have the Hallow Frost Potion, Salire said, gesturing to the blue-silver mix on the table. Made from our very own Azrugs Truffle!
I still hate that name, Theo said, transferring the potion to a new vial.
The base potion was decent enough. It was just a mix of a freeze bomb and a regr Hallow Ground potion. The alchemist introduced the golden modifier, watching as the potion reacted. He was satisfied with how well the potions got along, watching as the blues and silvers of the potion mixed with the gold of the modifier. Theyced together, creating strands of color throughout the resulting potion. Both he and Salire leaned in, inspecting the new creation.
[Hallow Frost Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Apply to a surface or creature to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Applying this to any surface, including creatures, creates a one pace circle with the [Holy Frost] effect.
Enemy targets inflicted with [Holy Frost] will take banishment damage every time they act. Actions include spells, abilities, movement, attacks, and so on.
Friendly targets affected by [Holy Frost] will heal an amount of damage based on the amount of undead banished during the duration of this potion.
See? Salire asked, jumping excitedly. A good one!
It was a good one. Especially if a person were fighting the undead up-close. Theo read the description several times, noting the one weakness of the potion. If the Holy Frost effect faded quickly, a person would need to stay within that circle. Otherwise, they could drop the potion, move on and keep healing. With a little testing, he could determine if it was good or not.
The bell rang downstairs. Salire instinctively stood up, but waited when she heard the footsteps ascending the stairs. Theo knew what wasing, and wasnt surprised when the hulking form of Luras stepped through the door. Emergency meeting, he grunted, jerking his head back toward the door.
Dammit, Tresk, Theo said, sighing. Were not done, Salire. Sarisa, please stay here.
Sarisa looked around awkwardly. You sure?
Yeah.
Theo left with Luras. As they moved through the town, he was reminded of when he first arrived in Broken Tusk. Luras had been the person to show him the ropes, exining the system and how the town operated. That wasnt very long ago, but somehow it felt like a lifetime. The alchemist felt a wave of relief spread over him when they passed by the town hall, heading for the Adventurers Guild instead. Outside of a meeting room were a half-ogre and elven adventurer, standing guard. They moved to the side, allowing the pair entry.
Inside the meeting room were Tresk, Alex, and Aarok. Luras found a corner to stand in, and Theo took his seat at the head of the table. You could have waited until I was done working, the alchemist said, nodding at Tresk.
Tresk simply shrugged.
Were keeping this a secret, Aarok said. Are there any details Tresk missed?
I doubt it, Theo said. Shes gotten good at probing my memories.
Retell what you saw anyway, Aarok said.
Theo relied on his memory to tell the tale, sparing no details. Both Aarok and Luras nodded along as he spoke, taking in every detail. The alchemist watched the memory again in his mind, extracting even the smallest detail. When the story waspleted, both men nodded.
Thats way bigger than we are now, Aarok said. At least three-times our size if your description is urate.
Pretty far in the future, Luras put in.
Theo only wished that he had never drank the potion. Now he was worried about what would happen to the town. But Aarok was right. As he thought about the memory, he realized just how far in the future that must have been. The crater was absolutely massive, stretching far to the north. It even bit into the mountains on either side of the rivers path. Whatever event caused the destruction of the area was far away. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Im not sure if theres any force around that could cause that amount of destruction, Aarok said. You said that Khahar had the gods bound up. Theres no way they would intrude. So this is some apocalyptic event we cant prevent.
No need to worry, Luras said, nodding in agreement.
I wanted to make sure we met with the big boys about this, Theo, Tresk said. When I watched the memory, there were some things that bothered me. Just stuff that isnt where it should be. My first concern was that it was Qavelling to squash us.
Aarok waved a dismissive hand. Even they dont have that kind of firepower.
It was hard to tell if they were trying tofort him, or if it was the truth. Theo took a few long moments to think about it, and decided that hispanions werepletely right. It wasnt a near-future Broken Tusk he was looking at in that vision, but one far enough in the future that he didnt care. Once again, he was reminded of the past. Back on Earth, they had known about the destruction of their. He was content with it back then, but now
Theo pushed his n into the back of his mind, guarding it from Tresk. He understood why the crater was there. Why Broken Tusk wasnt burning in the mes.
The alchemist smiled.
Well, I should get back to my alchemy, Theo said, rising from his chair.
Aarok looked at Tresk, who nodded. Yeah, hes happy.
Good. Let us know if you get more weird information, Theo, Aarok said.
The town was buzzing outside of the Adventurers Guild. People chatted about what new merchants would show up at the docks, and expressed hope for the future of the alliance. That was driven by the sess Theo had pushing back the undead corruption to the north. He took azy path through town, passing by the monolith. It reminded him he should focus his financial efforts on getting more Monster Cores to level both the town and the buildings up. For now, his sights were set on the Newt and Demon and the experiments within.
Sarisa was waiting outside of theb, arms folded and a sharp look on her face. Anything I should be concerned about? she asked as he entered the building.
Nope. Actually, it was a false rm. Spy stuff, you know.
Uh-huh.
Oh! Salire said as Theo entered theb. I was going to clean up. Didnt expect you to be back.
Im just happy your hangover is gone.
Oh, its still here. Im just awake.
Lets do a few more potions.
Salire insisted they try the Dragons Breath Potion next. There was only one in stock, and they took forever to make. Theo looked at the potion before attempting to bind a modifier to it, trying to detect any objection to the Holy modifier. Nothing stuck out to him. The Dragons Breath Potion was likely aligned with fire, meaning it should bind just fine. But the strength of the swirling red-ck potion might be a problem. He shrugged, pouring the potion into a new vial and introducing the golden modifier essence. The liquids reacted violently. A gout of fire burst from the vials spout, glittering gold mingling with the orange-red mes. The room was filled with the scent of sulfur and flowers. Theo and Salire took positions behind a table, watching the reaction from a safe distance.
Fortunately, theb didnt catch fire.
Is it done? Salire asked.
Theo inspected the ceiling for damage. It was charred, but nothing the building couldnt repair on its own. Seems good. Lets check it out.
Both Salire and Theo edged closer, inspecting the potion when they finally crept near the work table.
[Dragons Breath Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Mythic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to produce Dragons Fire.
Effect:
For five seconds after consuming this potion, the imbiber will produce Holy Dragons Fire from their mouth. This fire can be directed in whatever direction the imbiber is facing.
Friendly targets will gain the Holy Dragons Reprieve effect, healing minor damage and reducing iing damage for one hour.
Enemy targets will gain the Holy Dragons Purge effect, taking Holy Fire damage.
The Holy modified Dragons Breath Potion took care of some issues with the original one. This new version wouldnt kill allies, which was a boon. Theos biggest concern with the base potion was that it would harm anyone near the dinker. Since a person couldnt cut the stream off, that would have deadly consequences. This version got rid of all that.
Well take this as a win! Salire said, pumping her fist in the air.
Agreed, Theo said, stashing the potion into his inventory. I think weve learned a lot from this.
Yeah, we really did.
Theo and Salire agreed that this was enough alchemy for the day. Instead of packing it up and doing something else, the alchemist helped set up a seven still run for Hallow Ground Essence. That would leave her with enough equipment to perform her own distitions, allowing her to work on her levels. Once everything was running, he excused himself from theb and headed out into town.
What are we doing? Sarisa asked. Want me to stay behind again?
No. I wanted to take a trip to Gronro.
Sarisas face went slightly green. Really?
I need to check on my golems.
Sarisas shoulders slumped. Hey, boss. Is it toote to ask for some vacation days?
5.39 - Weaver and Butcher
5.39 - Weaver and Butcher
The harbor spread below Theo. He clicked his tongue, looking down at the empty areas where traders ships should have been. The alchemist flicked a gold coin into the air, catching it before releasing a sigh. Upgrading buildings always brought a sense of aplishment, but without traders to buy Monster Cores from that wouldnt happen. After lingering there for some time, he departed. Half-way back to the towns center he realized something.
We have a trader.
From the town square, a road ran to the east. A while ago, the only thing along this road was Xams bathhouse and Mianas ranch. But the industrious half-ogre Azrug had created two ventures of his own. His stables had been a flop after the creation of the railroad, but his other business was doing very well. After a short walk, Theo spotted Azrugs general store resting atop a slight hill. He had been operating out of a house for a while, but it was nice to see the young man finally getting his stuff together.
Theo entered the general store, stopping just at the threshold. Youre not Azrug.
A wiry elf sat behind the counter, looking around and shrugging. Nope.
Do you guys stock monster cores?
The elf snorted, thenughed. Yeah. Of course.
Theo cleared his throat, approaching the counter and getting an idea for the price of the cores. Azrug was charging slightly higher than what the alchemist considered a wholesale price. Most merchants docking at the port offered that slightly discounted price, making the cost easier to stomach. After throwing a bit of weight around, the archduke got less than wholesale, as he bought the entire stock of the store out.
What a joy, the elf said in his native Taranthian tongue.
Goodbye, Theo said, responding in his pidgin version of thenguage. He really needed to work on memorizing thenguage more.
The cost of the Monster Cores wasnt so bad. Theos funds were constantly bolstered by his various holdings around town. Before upgrading the town to the next phase, which should make it a city instead of a town, the alchemist wanted to bring most buildings up to level 30. Fortunately, that was a rtively short list.
The smelters, sawmill, small farm,rge farm, manor, town hall, herbalists workshop, weaver, and butcher were all the standard buildings that he was in charge of below Level 30. Until he got an ability to take advantage of the Herbalists Workshop, he wouldnt worry about that one. The Weaver was top on his list, as it made an absurd amount of money. Not only was the Starbristle x useful for ship making, merchants bought it at a premium. That was because Tarantham wasnt exporting it anymore, and they had been the global source for the uniquely colored cloth for as long as anyone could remember.
Weaver first, Theo said, making his way over to the small building by Zaralis Enchanters Workshop.
Kaya ran the weaver. She was an older elven woman who kept to herself. Theo suspected she was still in shock after her house escaped from Tarantham. She spoke no Qavelli at all, and seemed eager to keep it that way. The alchemist entered her building and nodded his head. She was working on processing a new crop of x and barely paid any attention to him.
Please help, Theo said in Taranthian. Upgrades.
She nodded, smiling up at him. The lines near her eyes deepened. Theo noticed a younger elf in the room, not even an adult. She worked the various equipment in the room with the older elf, averting her eyes from the alchemist.
The building, named Fields of Blue by Kaya, had three upgrades. Efficient Spindles made her weaving more efficient. Tough Fibers made all cloth produced in the building stronger. Processing Room added another room to the building. When actions rted to weaving were performed in that room, they consumed less stamina and were faster. It was the room they were currently standing in. Theo cleared his throat, selecting Monster Cores that were close in level to the building. As the building leveled, he expanded it in random directions. There was enoughnd in any direction. So long as he didnt expand it to the road.
[Terogal Empowerment]
Threads woven in the Weaver will be empowered by the Dreamrealm of Terogal. The resulting fabrics will be more durable with a slight resistance to magic.
Theo struggled to trante what he read into understandable Taranthian. After several agonizing moments of snapping his fingers, the little girl spoke up. In her squeaky little voice, she offered to trante. The alchemist was surprised at first, but was happy enough for the help. When the description had been tranted, Kaya gave him a t look. She said something in her native tongue, but he caught none of it.
She doesnt want to be a ve to your realm, the girl said.
She could select the other upgrades.
The girl went back and forth with Kaya for a moment before turning back to the alchemist. She wants the empowerment upgrade.
Whatever worked for her. He selected Terogal Empowerment and added more cores to the building. Digging through his Monster Cores gave him time to think about the influence his realm was having on the real world. The more it grew in strength, the more the realms influence was seen in the mortal world. It was a boost to his ego he didnt need, but the alchemist would snatch at any strand of power he could grasp.
Next one, Theo said as the building hit Level 25. He read the description for the girl to trante.
[Mana Loom]
A Mana Loom appears in the Weaver. Cloth created with this loom may be imbued with the weavers mana. The weaver may determine what aspects of the cloth to improve.
She wants that one, the girl said after only a moment. Theo didnt need the confirmation. Kaya was excited about that upgrade.
The alchemist selected the upgrade and went back to work. While he had a good scattering of cores from the Level 20 to 25 range, his assortment of cores between 25 and 30 were sparse. With his n to make each upgrade as efficient as possible, this fact annoyed Theo. He burned a few Level 30 cores but the result was the same. The Level 30 upgrade option appeared and he read it for Kayas little friend to trante.
[Metal Threads]
Using a corresponding upgrade for the Smelter building, the Weaver can create delicate threads made from metal. These threads can be crafted into metal cloth.
Theo paused, considering the upgrade as the girl tranted. How did that work? The answer was almost certainly magic, but he still had questions. After a while, Kaya shook her head and said something. The girl tranted.
Metal weaving is difficult, the girl said, shrugging. Too difficult for grandmother.
Theo nodded, reading off the two other options that were presented when the building was originally nted. Kaya went with the Soothing Mist upgrade.
[Soothing Mist]
The building is filled with a constant cooling mist that imbues all processed fibers. The resulting cloth will be softer.
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That works for me, Theo said, patting the girl on the head. Good work on the trantion.
The girl didnt respond, instead turning to help her grandmother some more. Before heading out, Theo inspected the entire building to appreciate his work.
[Weaver]
[Fields of Blue]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Operator: Kaya Wavecrest
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (5%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Efficient Spindles]
[Tough Fibers]
[Processing Room]
[Terogal Empowerment]
[Mana Loom]
[Soothing Mist]
Good enough for now. None of the upgrades seemed very impressive to him, but Kaya seemed satisfied with them. He left the Weaver and was unable to get the idea of metal threads out of his mind. The entire concept seemed so absurd that he now needed to see some. But if the weaver said she couldnt do it, he wouldnt press the issue. An area that the alchemist was woefully ignorant of was the needs of those who didbat. Would clothes woven from metal thread be useful for adventurers? Perhaps they were just a shiny status symbol. Instead of making his way directly to his next stop, Theo wandered for a while and thought.
The Holy modifier had opened a new realm of potion making for him. Theo passed by Xams tavern, deep enough in thought not to notice Sulvane up alongside him.
Busy day? Sulvan asked.
Theo looked over at the smiling face of Sulvan metouched. It was a sight he thought he would never see, but there it was. Thanks to their history, the expression came off more as creepy than endearing. Just upgrading buildings. Nothing taxing. How goes the healing?
Well enough, Sulvan nodded. Im trying to not be frustrated with my progress. Orck of progress.
I only recently learned that I was cheating from the start, Theo said. Champion of Drogramath and all that.
The order suspected you were his champion. But champions usually sing their own praises from the highest towers.
Theo wanted to keep as far away from that topic as possible. His way of dealing with ditching an old life was to never talk about it, pretending it didnt exist in the first ce. Youre doing ntheir proud.
He tells me as much. Whispers into my dreams, mostly.
I have to go out of my way to talk to Drogramath, Theo chuckled.
Sulvan walked in time with Theo, the smile still lingering on his face. Hes like a loving father. Compared to the Eye
If I could make cores, Id give you one, Theo said with a wink.
I have a feeling ntheir can provide my atonement better than you.
Too true.
Where are you heading? Did we just walk in a circle?
Ah. The butcher. I have a lot of buildings to visit, but I like Whisper. Shes nice.
Most bear-folk are.
From what Theo had seen, that was true. He could only hope that they were truly safe up in their mountain homes. Benton imed that his people were fine, but it was hard to say. The undead themselves were falling as a threat, but the corruption they left behind was a constant reminder.
Sulvan ced a hand on Theos shoulder after a few moments of silence. That same smile still lingered on his face. Have you actually forgiven me?
Theo paused on the road. I was assured that the price for going against ntheir was steep. Only someone who wanted to change would take his core.
Cores, Sulvan said with a nod. Just checking. Have fun with the butcher.
Sulvan departed without another word. He had a spring in his step as he went.
Whispers Butcher was located to the west of the town square near both the Adventurers Guild and Sledges Sawmill. The building was only Level 10 with the Keen Knives upgrade that increased the effectiveness of butchering, and Dry Room which added a new room to the building. Whisper didnt seem to care that her building was at a low level. When Theo entered the Butcher she simply nodded and continued to process a wolf. She was skillful with the knife to the point where the alchemist considered herbat potential. The alchemist shook his head, dislodging thoughts of abat butcher from his mind.
The butcher didnt stop working as Theo upgraded her building. While the interior should have smelled of blood and butchered wolves, none of the scent prated the extreme cold within. As a toora, Whisper kept the interior as cold as was physically possible with Throks air conditioners. The building soon reached Level 15, prompting the alchemist to select a new upgrade. He reviewed the new offering, reading it off to the busy woman.
[Bonus Items]
Depending on the level of this Butcher, butchered creatures may contain additional loot.
May I keep the items? she asked.
Theo shrugged. Sure.
That one.
Theo continued his process after selecting the Bonus Items upgrade. The building grew in random directions, adding a healthy amount of space to the interior. Whisper didnt stop her butchering. She didnt even raise her head to see what he was doing. The building hit Level 20 before long, presenting them with another option. Theo read it aloud.
[Purification]
Creatures butchered in this building are less likely to carry parasites, diseases, etc. Also allows the butchering of naturally poisonous, or otherwise toxic creatures depending on the level of the butcher.
Whisper had to think about that one for a minute. She even stopped her butchering, tapping her knife on the massive butchers block as she thought. After a minute of contemtion, she shrugged.
That one.
Theo obeyed, selecting the Purification upgrade. He hadnt heard of people suffering food-borne illnesses in town, so didnt see the value. But he wasnt the butcher. The alchemist thought about that as he shoved more cores into the building. Whisper got back to work. The Level 25 upgrade option appeared and he read it out for her.
[Live Storage]
A building appears behind the Butcher. A single living, non-sapient creature may be stored in this building forever. They will not experience time until they are removed.
A grimace spread across Whispers face. It was often hard to read the expression of a toora, but Theo could tell she was suddenly pissed off. He held his hands up defensively, ready to disarm whatever situation he had instigated. But after a few steady breaths, she waved her hand in the air and shook her head.
Not that one.
Alrighty. Ill just read the other two options, Theo said before reading the other options for her to pick from.
Theo didnt need to wait long. He read Cold Storage out first, which simply added a way to store meats for a long time. That was useless in the face of dimensional storage. The next one was of some interest to her, though. Spoge Prevention would allow her to get more meat from each creature she butchered. She selected that one, but seemed too distracted to get back to work. Whisper just red into the middle-distance. The alchemist tried not to think about the connection between her and the Live Storage upgrade. Perhaps it was just a moral objection. He moved on, inserting more cores into the building to bring it to Level 30.
Yeah. Thats just weird, Theo said, reading out the next upgrade. Do you worship Benton?
Dont like minor gods.
Theo read the upgrade out for Whisper to consider.
[Touch of Bohor]
Through deathes life. Meat produced in this Butcher will be more sustaining and filling.
Unless there was another Bohor, the upgrade was referring to Bentons realm. That brought questions about how all this worked. He remembered back to when Khahar told him about interdiction and the way people were connected. Perhaps meeting Benton and forming a friendly bond had enabled the buildings seed core to pull from his realm. There was too much to consider there, and Whisper already had her answer.
That one.
Theo selected the upgrade, then inspected the building.
[Butcher]
[Hoary Frost]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Operator: Whisper
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (15%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Keen Knives]
[Drying Room]
[Bonus Items]
[Purification]
[Spoge Prevention]
[Touch of Bohor]
Theo chuckled. He had misheard the name of the building the first time. Whisper was satisfied with the upgrades, simply nodding as the alchemist left the building. He headed out onto the street, stretching and looking around. Sledge still wasnt working the Sawmill. There was very little activity outside of the Adventurers Guild. Adding to the dullness of the day, there wasnt even much going on in the administrative screens. There were a few more reports about monster attacks underground, but that was it. Standard monster dogs spawning amongst the ore, quickly put down by Aaroks men.
The calmness of the day brought a sense of foreboding to the alchemists mind. He shivered when he thought of the city approaching his alliance. With all the spies feeding him information, he was confident in their defenses. Theo made his way away from the Butcher, shaking those intrusive thoughts away as he searched for the next thing to do.
5.40 - Drogramath Dedication
5.40 - Drogramath Dedication
A mossy forest, filled with conifers, smooth boulders, and bubbling streams stretched as far as Theo could see. He touched the bark of one tree, finding it to be a fair recreation of Earth trees. Tresk had pushed herself as far as she could go to imagine the dreamndscape, and the alchemist was impressed. While she refused to give up her secrets, there was clear progress in the dream''s quality. In the distance, she fought with a creature from the same origin as the forest. Trees crashed. The sound of boulders being split in half from a heavy sword grated against the alchemists senses.
Theo moved to a clearing far from the battle, creating his alchemy equipment and getting to work. His day on both the mortal ne and in Terogal had been uneventful. The wee reprieve gave him time to focus on something that now hung tantalizingly close to his grasp. Achieving Level 30 would bring with it a flood of new abilities. One each for alchemy and herbalism, and a free-pick skill. If he was right about the progression in this world, it also meant his other cores would unlock, allowing him to progress in those as well.
After starting the stills and cultivating a decentlyrge plot ofnd for growing reagents, Theo hesitated. He could spend his time in the Dreamwalk exploiting the features within to find more uses for the Holy modifier. But that had be something Salire enjoyed. Instead, he focused his efforts on finding the reason that the modifier had been so hard to fermentst season. He imagined a table, then a few cultivated Swamp Truffles for experimentation.
Reagents had rarity, but that hardly seemed to impact Theos ability to distill or ferment them. A Zee Kernel had just as much of a chance to produce a powerful potion as a Swamp Truffle. And the difference between those reagents was a rarity ofmon and epic. Reagents with a higher rarity produced potions and modifiers that were harder toe by. The rarity reflected how many of an item existed. Or something like that. The alchemist still didnt have a handle on how that worked.
The alchemist applied his mana to a truffle, breaking it down into the powdered primal version of Hallow Ground. Smoke rushed upward from the process, dispersing in the air after a few moments. Somewhere between the primal essence on the table and the dissipating smoke was the answer. He performed the same demonstration on a Zee Kernel, finding the quality and scent of the produced smoke to be different enough for note.
Something about impurities, Theo muttered to himself, waving away what colored smoke lingered above his head.
Breaking reagents down with the Reagent Deconstruction skill was an interesting example of what made a reagent a reagent. There was a physicalponent to every reagent. A physical thing a person could hold. Reagents could often be eaten, giving a person a minor version of the propertys effects. More than that, the Reagent Deconstruction skill could extract whole elements from reagents. Theo was never much of a chemist, but he understood enough about trace minerals in nts to know those things were in there. Salt from seawater was the best example he had.
On the magical side of things, all reagents held their three standard properties, and a hidden fourth property. And more, if some of the information Theo had was to be believed. Those two halves of the coin led him to think of the probleming from the weight of the magical properties. He conducted his experiments that night, thinking on the topic and making only theories. His n to make sure both his alchemy and herbalist cores hit 30 at the same time faded as he drew his conclusions near dawn.
Theo stood near Tresks pitched battle. She was fighting a massive, horned serpent he didnt recognize. I think the alchemy system is busted, he shouted. The marshling performed a rolling spin over the creatures back, leaving behind a trail of poison and blood.
Oh, yeah? Tresk asked, shadow-teleporting away from the snakes strike. Somewhere above, Alex honked and shot a fireball.
Yep. All the reagents are in tiers. Which means you have to be at a certain level to work with them properly.
Tresk was impaled by the snakes horn. She trashed, kicking at the things face and cursing. The marshling clicked her tongue and the creature vanished. We almost had it!
Did you? Theo asked.
Nah. But your reagent theory tracks with what weve seen with alchemy. Big smart boy.
I am a smart boy arent I?
If you say youre a smart boy, youre no longer a smart boy.
Theo nodded in agreement. He felt something twinge in his chest, then remembered his ongoing alchemy experiments back in the clearing. A bigger rush filled his chest, almost making the Dreamwalk feel like the real world. A system message appeared.
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (0.3%).
[Drogramath Alchemy Core] leveled up! Level 30.
Obtained free [Drogramath Alchemy] skill point for hitting level 30 with this core.
Level up! Tresk screamed, jumping into the air and pumping her fist. Guess you missed the train on your herbalist core.
I got distracted with alchemy tonight, Theo said.
Level 30 was unlike any level he had achieved so far. The free skill was great, but there was something else. He recalled feeling a simr sensation when his Tarahek Core got to Level 30, although it didnt happen with his Governance Core. Tresk was ready to end the Dreamwalk, which was with him. The alchemist needed time to look over his skill options, and doing so over breakfast was appealing to him. In a sh, the world melted around them until they once again appeared in bed.
Tresk was off before Theos eyes could fully open. The alchemist took his time heading downstairs, looking through the endless list of skills he could pick from. He tried not to look at them between level-ups, since most were unavable for viewing until he hit that level. Otherwise, he was staring at a list of skills he couldnt pick.
Sarisa had made her standard breakfast, which brought a great sense offort to Theo. Most seemed to enjoy a variety of food, but he had always preferred the same thing for breakfast. If he ate breakfast at all. His work on Earth made breakfast the easiest meal to skip, as his early hours always seemed to be crammed with things to do. Here in Broken Tusk, he had time to sit and rx. But that old habit remained and he poked at his food while scrolling through the list. Something had already caught his eye, but he wanted to give the other new entries a fair chance.
Anything interesting going on today? Sarisa asked.
Theo looked away from his screen for a moment, finding the half-ogre assistant standing with her hands on her hips. Is Rowan still on vacation?
Yeah. A few more days, she said, shaking her head. Things have just been boringtely.
Theo paused, his brows knitting slightly. Boring is good. Right?
Sarisa offered a faint shrug. Not really.
She was a fiery half-ogre that reminded Theo more of an amped-up version of Aarok than anyone else. He returned his attention to the screen, scrolling on. Im sure you could head off to the dungeons if you needed to blow off some steam.
Not a bad idea.
This tale has been uwfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Theo narrowed his selection as he ate breakfast, finally making his pick. He inspected the ability onest time, realizing that it was the only pick. Even if he considered just the rarity rating, it was amazing.
[Drogramath Dedication]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Unique
The holder of both a Drogramath Alchemy Core and a Drogramath Herbalist Core dedicates themself to the potential of both cores.
Effect:
Removes the meta barrier between the core users soul and both Drogramath Alchemy Core and the Drogramath Herbalist Core.
Both cores may never again be removed.
All other cores will be considered sub-cores, and may no longer add to your personal level.
All other cores will be capped at the average level between your Drogramath Alchemy Core and Drogramath Herbalist Core.
Unlocks the potential to evolve any core into a Drogramath variant.
This wasnt just an ordinary skill. Drogramath Dedication changed the way the system worked, and there was a lot to take in. Theo sat in silence as he considered how far-reaching this skill was. He considered the meta barrier first. Removing the meta barrier meant that his cores would no longer influence his mind. That was the most simple way to exin it. It was a topic that the alchemist could talk about for hours, but removing the meta barrier on the cores meant that there was no longer a divide between himself and the cores. They would be a part of him, rather than metal cages floating in his soul. The effect would be a vast increase in his ability to perform alchemy, as though those cores were both no longer influencing him, and an integral part of him. He wanted that more than anything else in the long list of effects.
Next was the removal of the cores. Theo had never removed a core, let alone his most powerful ones. Perhaps he would start, now that he was standing on the edge of Level 30 for his personal level. This effect would not be an issue for him.
The next one was both interesting and haunting. His other cores would be considered sub-cores, which wouldnt add to his personal level. This paired with the next item on the list, capping his other cores at the average level of his two main cores. Both effects wouldnt be a problem, and would make the leveling system easier for him to deal with. The haunting aspect of these effects was that this was his idea on how to make the system better. Main and sub-cores were something that he had thought about in the past. And there it was, disyed in a unique skill. Convenient.
If thest two effects were a downside, thest effect made up for that. Theo knew he could trust his interpretation of the text. The system was always clear with effects, and never tried to use double-speak. Except with potions. Those were always weird. But if any core could evolve into a Drogramath variant that would be powerful. As the champion of Drogramath, Theos Drogramath cores were more powerful than his other cores. If he changed his Governance core to a Drogramath Governance Core, it would get stronger by default.
Damn, Theo said, drumming his fingers on the table.
Something on your mind? Sarisa asked.
Theo snapped out of his contemtive mood, looking up to see the smiling, tusked face of his assistant. He had tough at himself for getting so absorbed in a new skill. Let me read you this description. Tell me what you think
Sarisa nodded along, or made faces when Theo read the skill out to her. When he was done reading, she shook her head. Want my honest opinion?
Naturally.
This skill means youre willing to go all-in with Drogramath. Is that something you want? Truly? Sarisa asked. There was a hint of something in what she said.
But there was a problem with her logic. Theo couldnt assume he could get as powerful as Drogramath before he acted on his n. While he was in the mortal realm, he had to treat himself as a person needing the help of the gods. Everything he did here was reliant on Drogramath, or ntheir, or UzXulven. And now he counted Drogramath as more than just a patron, but a friend. And he couldnt create his own cores, yet. Her unspoken suggestion was to wait and rece his Drogramath cores with Dreamrealm cores, then take a simr ability. When Sarisa flicked his forehead, he snapped out of his thoughts.
Sorry. Youre right, Theo said. If I could make my own cores, this wouldnt be a problem. But is it wrong to draw on the power of the gods?
Of course it isnt. Im bound to Baelthar, and would be happy to ept more of his power. Just thought you should pause before epting that skill.
She was right, of course. A skill like this required deep thought. Thanks. I appreciate your advice.
Sarisa snorted augh. Yeah. Dont get weird on me.
Theo set aside the skill for now, leaving his bonus skill unselected. He cleared his te away, heading off from the manor and making his way to the Newt and Demon. The hired guard trundled along behind them, seeming more bored with the calm pace of the day than even Sarisa. Salire was waiting in the shop section of the building, brightening up when she saw the alchemist and his guards. She had been in a lovely mood since they cured the frog problem.
More experiments? she asked.
And something more, Theo said, gesturing for her to follow him up the stairs. Mind watching the shop, grumpy guard?
Are you kidding? I made a goldst time, the hired guard said, rubbing his hands together.
Theo headed upstairs, then exined the new skill to Salire. He wanted an alchemists opinion on it. Sarisa watched on, her arms folded over her chest as she listened. The alchemist hoped she wasnt offended with him looking for a second opinion.
This is hard, Salire said, releasing a sigh. There are good things and bad things.
Sarisa smiled from the rooms corner, nodding to herself. Thats what I said.
Ill take a day to think about it, Theo said. Maybe consult with Drogramath himself. I dont know if the gods create these skills themselves, or if the system generates it for them.
What better way than going straight to the source? Sarisa asked.
Lets do some alchemy, Theo said. Thatll clear my head.
There was the standard lineup of work that they had to do. Theo needed to check in on the golems in Gronro, but hadnt had a chance. He could feel their faint responsesing from such a distance, but needed to see it for himself to form an opinion on their effectiveness. For now, it was more important to get more of the Hallow the Soil essence prepared for distribution.
Were seeing a slight increase in the quality of the essence, Theo said, holding a sk of the liquid up to the light. There was more rity in the silvery sheen. Nothing thats going to tip the scales.
Im getting better at the heating patterns, Salire said, holding up a notebook. It was filled with the names of reagents and the proper heating times during a batch.
The improvement was slight, and it didnt matter for their current application. But the point was that Salire was getting better at this. While she wasnt the primary brewer of these essences, she helped more than she should have been able to. And Theo was proud. They moved on to produce some of the potions at second tier, favoring speed over potency for this batch.
I only have one Holy experiment to try today, Theo said, moving away from the brewing Hallow the Soil potions to inspect his supplies. He found a second tier unmodified Poison.
Oh! Salire eximed. A holy poison How does that work?
Theo swirled the purple mixture, smiling at the vial. Salire was already preparing a vial to transfer it into, but the alchemist was reminded of the first time he made a poison for Tresk. His instincts told him this wouldnt make an amazing poison. But the elemental foundation of the Poison wasnt death. It might have been simr, but it wasnt death. The golden Holy modifier mixed with the purple Poison, resulting in a moderately violent reaction. But it settled down, resulting in an even mixture of swirling purple and gold. They both inspected the resulting potion.
[Poison]
[Holy]
[Poison] [Modified Poison]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Wisdom by 5.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 10 stacks. Each stack of the poison adds increasing Holy damage based on the strength of the wielders patrons realm.
Allies afflicted with this poison will instead be purged ofmon poisons.
As expected, Theo said to himself, reading over the description a few times.
Not great.
This was another Holy potion that got more powerful based on a gods realm. Instead of trying to figure it out himself, Theo ced the Poison in the Tarahek inventory.
I have a poison for you to try, he said, speaking directly into Tresks mind.
Ooo! Holy!
Well let Tresk try it, Theo said, patting Salire on the shoulder. Now, lets get more Hallow Ground essence brewing. After that, Im taking a trip to Gronro.
5.41 - Reagent Splicing
5.41 - Reagent Splicing
Theo stood outside of the northern gates of Gronro-Dir. He let out a low whistle, and couldnt spot the lodestone anywhere nearby. Duke Grotgrog Stormfist cackled somewhere nearby, drinking in the alchemists stunned expression. Miles from the northern gate, snaking along the mountain passes, thend was healed. What few mountain grasses inhabited the area had returned. Non-monsterized critters scurried around the rocky paths. Even the air felt cleaner.
Is it better than you expected? Grot asked, pping Theo on the back. The alchemists tail swished instinctively.
Far better, Theo said, pressing on up the road. Sarisa followed closely behind, her weapon at the ready.
The necromantic corruption had lost some of the steam it started with. It hadnt been that long since the undead were here, but their influence was waning by the moment. Theo knew it was because the forces of undeath were being led west, toward Veosta. Perhaps they had already reached that city. It was hard to know if the elves nned toe to aid their lost kin, but at least it wasnt here. As the group walked, Theo got a few ideas to make this process better. For now, he wanted to take in the sights.
How far does this road stretch? Theo asked.
Forever. Or a few days walk. Depends on how fast you are.
That was the problem with estimating distance in this world. No one had a standard pace, so no one ryed the right amount of time it took to get from one ce to another. The alchemist had estimated the distance between Broken Tusk and Qavell to be somewhere between eight-hundred and twelve-hundred miles. From the maps he had seen, the mountain road went on for about a quarter of that. At least two-hundred miles of mountain road before they would hit anything resembling opennd.
Have you seen any more undead?
Not at all. Been silent up here, Grot said, taking a deep breath. Peaceful. Finally.
Theo grunted a response, moving further up the road. It took him a while to reach the ce where Grot and his people had moved the lodestone. The golems were in the nearby hills, scouring thend of all that necromantic energy. The alchemistmanded them to return so that he could refresh their wards. He cast his spells as they came in, and chatted with Grot some more.
I want to put some stakes in the ground, Theo said, gesturing to the roads edge. And ward them. If the corruptiones back, all this work will be wiped away.
Good idea. Are we going to war with the north when this clears up?
Absolutely not. Our information says there is no one to go to war with. If anything, well try contacting the toora.
Those bear-folk know how to make a home in the mountains, Grot said, nodding with approval. Almost as good as dwarves!
Speaking of. I also want to find those old mountain homes. Were not going to war, but I want more allies.
Grot had some rude things to say about the other dwarven strongholds, but Theo ignored it. He had an actionable n to reim the continent for fair people and he wouldnt squander it. He had been feeling stretched too thin,tely. But after things calmed down with Tarantham and Fenian escaped from Balkors realm, he was feeling full of energy. Clearing an entirendmass didnt seem so difficult anymore.
With the golems refreshed, Theo stood on the mountain road and prepared to do something he wasnt very good at. Just give me a moment, he said, closing his eyes.
Oh, yeah, Grot said awkwardly. Sure.
Theo sped his hands together, fidgeted with his coat, and ground his teeth. But nothing came. Sensing magic was his weakest skill, and it had never improved. No matter how much he ignored it andined. The alchemists eyes snapped open and he let out a frustrated breath. Nope. Cant do it.
Cant do what? Grot asked.
Figure out if the magical power in the area is diminishing.
Oh, yeah. About half as strong as it was when the undead were here, Grot said, waving a dismissive hand.
Right, Theo said. Grot must have had a mage core of some kind. He didnt see dwarves as being mages, but whatever. There it was. Im thinking our artifice tform can start working on this area. Makes me think the necromantic energy would go away on its own. Eventually.
Grot shrugged. How far in the future is eventually though? Im happier if were clearing it ourselves.
So, about those posts.
The group returned to town, finding anythingying around that would either stand upright on the rocky road, or could be jammed between a pile of rocks. They collected Ogre Cypress Boards, rusted weapons, old carts, and so on. Theo had an innate sense for which of those objects would hold a ward well enough. Bone would have been best, but there werent piles ofrge bones sitting around. The alchemist chuckled to himself as he thought about that. An army of bones had left, right when he needed some bones. But the wards he could produce would be good enough.
Sarisa wedged an old spear into a pile of rocks, shrugging as it tilted to one side. Good enough?
Yeah, Theo said, kneeling near the pile to recite his poem for Deflect Necromantic Magic. When the spell wasplete, a silvery orb sprung up to cover some of the road. Not perfect. Better than nothing, though.
This is going to take all day, Sarisa groaned.
Maybe longer. Theo dragged the cart filled with junk, then jogged over to ward the weapon Grot had ced in the rocks.
Theo, Sarisa, and Grot worked through the entire day. The alchemist took a five-minute break, heading off to Terogal to ask Drogramath about the new skill. Old Droggy wasnt there, and wouldnt answer his summons, so he just had tea with Benton, ntheir, and UzXulven. They had opinions on the skill, but they varied from god to god. As his time in the realm was running out, and the alchemist was preparing to leave, Drogramath finally answered his summons.
I was upied, Drogramath said, seeming more grumpy than normal. He took a deep breath, wringing his hands. What is it, champion?
Theo exined his problem with the Drogramath Dedication skill. He expressed his concerns, and asked questions about who made the skills.
That is for you to decide, Drogramath said. He looked around as if expecting someone to stop him when he started speaking next. You cannot create cores of your own, so you cannot dedicate your cores to yourself.
Drogramath paused, waiting for Khahar toe p a hand over his mouth. After a moment of nothing, he shrugged. This is a Dreamrealm. You asked who generates skills? The system. So while you might see some Terogal abilities show up in your town, or the cores of those within your domain, you will never generate a core.
Meaning theres no reason to not ept Drogramath Dedication.
Youre already my champion. Were tied closer than you know.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Might as well get closer, huh? Theo asked. Drogramath shrugged a response. Would you take the skill?
I would. Theres a hidden part of the skill that negates the influence of all sub-cores. And without the meta barrier for your two main cores, youll have an easier time leveling past Level 30. Most people dont make it to Level 50, let alone 40.
Theo had heard that line a few times. Not that exact line, but the belief that folks had a hard time after 30. It wasnt just that the experience was harder to get, but the system took the training wheels off. Alchemy was a great example. It was almost impossible to screw up a base potion. An alchemist could do it with their eyes closed. But at the third tier, everything got absurdly hard. If a brew was off by fractions of a unit, it would explode. Ipatible reagents? Explosion. Giving an essence a funny look? Yep. Explosions.
Im going to take it, Theo said.
Do it before bed, Drogramath said. The change is painful, and you will likely have vivid hallucinations.
That was good to know. As long as I dont need to be healed by Spit, Im fine.
Yes. That ogre is insufferable.
Agreed. Well, thanks foring all the way here for me. Let me know if you need me to do your bidding in the mortal realm.
You already are. Just keep clearing the taint of undeath. After you reach the spine, youll confront the
Khahar appeared with a hand over Drogramaths mouth. Hey, Theo.
Theo waved awkwardly.
The gods are getting used to their new restrictions, Khahar said, ring down at Drogramath who shrugged. After a moment, the demon god was released.
My apologies, Arbiter. I thought he had figured out Figured out that thing.
Hes almost got it, Khahar said. But remain sensitive on the subject.
The pair continued to talk about the rules, but Theo felt himself being dragged away from Terogal. His time had already expired on his skill, and his consciousness slipped away by the moment. Okay, Theo said, wincing. Gotta go.
After passing over the bridge and through the void, Theo reappeared near Sarisa and Grot.
Funny watching you vanish like that, Grot grunted.
Yes. Hrious, Sarisa mocked. But we should go.
It was getting darker by the moment. Running around the mountain road, spending mana, and dragging the heavy cart had reduced Theos stamina to a sliver. He and Sarisa bid farewell to Grot and caught the train out of the mountain town just before night fell. Their stomachs were growling when they arrived back in Broken Tusk, and Tresk was upset that her dinner didnt get made. After eating a hastily prepared dinner, the alchemist paused before going to bed.
Tresk sat in her bed, sensing his hesitation. Even Alex waited to see what he had to say, honking from her ever-growing straw-stuffed box.
Im going to take Drogramath Dedication, he said.
I would have done it already, Tresk said, curling up into a ball. Come on. We got serpents to fight.
Tresk fell into the Dreamwalk before Theo could stop her. He shrugged, opening his free skill pick menu and finding Drogramath Dedication. The alchemist made sure he was snug in his bed before he picked the skill. And he was d that he had done so. The pain was immediate and intense. He felt the skill slot into his Drogramath Alchemy Core. Then the barrier dropped between his soul and his two cores. He could feel them grinding together as they moved around in some unseen space in his chest. They swirled, radiating with power as all his other cores diminished. All but the Tarahek Core.
Theo grabbed on to whatever he could find, gripping it tight as pain radiated through his body. This went on for endless moments, but only about a minute had passed. He finally took a sharp breath. The transformation was done. He allowed himself to slip into sleep, falling into the Dreamwalk. A momentter, he was standing in that familiar mossy forest.
Dang. What took so long? Tresk asked.
The transformation was painful, Theo said, looking around the area. He focused on his senses and his thoughts, trying to detect any differences. I dont feel different.
You dont look different either. Still a demon.
So much had happened after he took the skill that it was hard to catalog everything. Theo remembered the cores moving around. He recalled how his Toruaun core and his Governance core had waned, and how the Tarahek core did the exact opposite. The core that represented his soul bond didnt care that the alchemist had taken a skill making it a sub-core. It didnt want to be a sub-core, and had simply refused. Fair enough.
After those physical sensations, there were the mental ones. Drogramath hadnt been intrusive into Theos thoughts for a long time. But as his champion, there was always a little bit of something in the back of Theos mind. Like with the Wisdom of the Soul potion, that small voice was expunged. Unlike that potion, the voice now seemed to be more of a feeling. While it wasnt quite intuition, it was close.
Im gonna go fight a snake, Tresk said, scampering off into the distance.
Unless something had gnawed Theos leg off, Tresk would not worry about it. That made him feel slightly better about the decision. Deciding to focus entirely on his herbalist core, the alchemist found an open section of the forest and generated arge plot ofnd to practice on. He generated a pile of nts to work on, and knelt in the tilled earth to nt them. The moment his hand touched the nt he felt something strange shoot through his body. A kind of recognition he had never experienced.
Theo held the Spiny Swamp Thistle up for inspection, finding a new appreciation for the nt. Deep in his chest, his Drogramath Herbalist Core resonated with the nt. After staring at it for some time, he got to work. With each nt he put in the ground, he understood the sensation a little more. But it wasnt until nearly half-way through the night that he decided on what exactly that feeling was. As he had thought earlier, the core was more a part of him than ever. The part of Drogramath who loved caring for nts spread through him like a wildfire.
I guess I really love nts now, Theo said, patting the ground near the thorny stem of a thistle.
There was also the ufortable sensation brought by his other cores. It was as though they didnt belong, and Theo determined it was because of the level cap he now experienced. His Governance Core was above his intended level cap, providing a bit of difort. But he worked through it, grinding away his nts until sometime near dawn. When he finally saw the message he had been waiting for.
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (0.5%).
[Drogramath Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 30.
Obtained free [Drogramath Herbalist] skill point for hitting level 30 with this core.
[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (0.08%).
[Theo Spencer] leveled up! Level 30.
[Theo Spencer] received one free point.
[Theo Spencer] received one free skill.
Theo swayed on the spot, returning to a kneeling position when the rush of levels hit him. That was a bit much.
Once he had recovered from the head rush, he considered where to put his attribute point. Not wanting to tempt fate just yet, he put another point into Vigor, bringing it to 23. Next he had to look through a nearly endless list of skills to pick for his herbalist core. This wasnt as hard of a decision as his free pick for the alchemy core. The entire point of the Herbalist Workshop was to get this one ability. He inspected the skill he intended to pick.
[Reagent Splicing]
Herbalism Skill
Epic
Allows the user to create hybrids between two nts. The sess of this action depends on thepatibility of the two nts.
Effect:
Gain innate knowledge on how to splice nts. Amount of knowledge gained depends on the amount of herb lore the user has on that nt.
Greatly increases all splicing actions on reagent nts.
Gives a measure of control over which properties carry over to the spliced nt.
An easy pick. The line about herb lore was slightly confusing, but Theo guessed it had to do with how much he knew about how a nt worked as a reagent. His base of knowledge for that had grown significantly, meaning he should be able to work with a lot of reagents. He had seen nts hybridize on their own, but splicing had been a skill the alchemist wanted for a long time. Since the early days with the farm, he wanted to have control over how ntsbined. Thest line of the effects list was the most important, though. Breeding reagent bearing nts that did exactly what he wanted was powerful.
Theo was happy with his pick, and abandoned the imagined farm. He wandered through Tresks imagined forest, looking over the long list of abilities he could take from his free Level 30 skill. That list offered him a selection from every one of his cores aside from the Tarahek core. The result was a confusing grouping of skill that were hard to ssify. He came upon Tresk fighting the same snake as before. She was being gored while Alex wrapped the monster in ming vines. He did not intend to work anymore today. He wanted to watch hispanion fight a snake.
5.42 - Garden Plot
5.42 - Garden Plot
The dining area in the manor was filled with the scent of a cooking fire and a freshly made breakfast. Sarisa had created more than her normal dish to celebrate the return of her brother. He was still in town during his vacation, but she thought it was fitting to make him something nice for his first day back. Theo was under the impression that he would have been gone for longer, but there he was. The half-ogre man didnt have a mild scowl on his face like normal. He was smiling.
Must have been a good vacation, Theo said. He smiled as he dabbed a piece of wheat bread into the runny part of his pozwa egg.
An excellent vacation, Rowan sighed.
You guys can take days off, Theo said with augh. You dont have to work for weeks before taking time.
Sarisa shrugged at the suggestion, reclining slightly in her chair as she sipped moss tea. Maybe you should take the same advice.
I have a twenty-four hour vacation every day. Into a world I can shape to be whatever I want. Theo smiled at his assistants. Terogal had be a personal vacation home for him and Tresk.
He has a point, Rowan said.
Rowan and Sarisa went back-and-forth on the importance of a good half-ogre work ethic. Theo went into his own mind, finding the information from the Reagent Splicing skill unfurling in his mind. He now understood the best way to splice many of his reagents together. Some were obvious things. The alchemist had spent time propagating his reagents by taking clippings or seeds, so some methods transferred over. Those that didnt were provided by the skill, only leaving him to decide which to try first.
The only thing left for Theo to decide was a core for his new core slot. With how much time alchemy, herbalism, and magic took from his schedule he didnt want anything that was active. He was more interested in a core that was passive, like his Governance Core. That required research, which would take time. There was also the idea of transforming any of those cores into a Drogramath core, which might have interesting effects. There were too many things to think about when there were nt hybrids to make.
The alchemist finished his meal, chatting with Sarisa and Rowan for a while before heading out for the day. Salire was already at the Newt and Demon, swapping the essences out and preparing for another run of Hallow the Soil. She already had the required suffuse potions brewing, which was surprising. Salire had done some independent experimentation, finding that she could brew that potion just fine. So long as it was at second tier or below, which is what they were running. The pair had abandoned the n to do third tier potions, as it had an extra, annoying step.
Youre getting better by the day, Theo said, helping Salire load some Dragon Talon Mushrooms into the grinder. Are you going to take over myb?
Be careful, Salire said, pointing a finger in warning. I just might.
Theo smiled and got back to work. With the way things were going, there might be enough room in the alliance for two alchemists. Once he got his hands on some Town Seed Cores, and reimed somend in the north, it would be open season for expansion. That came with problems from whatever nations could reach them from the north, resulting in the need for defensive measures up there. But he only had ns to make more friends, not enemies.
Salire and Theobored, preparing only two stills for a batch of Refined Suffuse Essence. As they worked, the alchemist felt as though he was gliding around theb. Lacking the meta barrier between his alchemy core and his soul had resulted in a feeling of extreme excitement when performing alchemy. His assistant pointed this out.
Youre normally so brooding, she said, watching him dance across theb.
Ah, Theo said, suddenly remembering to be embarrassed about the act. Ive been making mental notes about the effects of the meta barrier. Alchemy feels like a part of me, now.
Salire danced from one foot to the other. Oh, Im going to take that skill.
Theoughed with her, cing his hand on her shoulder and nodding. I think you should. The meta barrier is this membrane that makes you feel like someone else. I hate it.
Speaking of I dont want to make assumptions, but I might need a soul potion.
Wisdom? Theo asked.
Yes.
Are you feeling the effects?
Not yet. But Im getting there. I put a lot of my points in Wisdom to start, but changed to Vigor for my other job.
No worries. Ill start the potion the next time I go to Terogal.
Thank you!
This is only a temporary fix. You can only drink one soul potion, and if you pump Intelligence like me youre going to need two of them.
Yeah
This problem ran deep, and Theo knew that no solution was on the horizon. The only thing he could think to do was more alchemy. The alchemist pped his hands together, gaining Salires attention. I have a task for you.
Im ready, she said, showing far too much conviction.
Make a list of each reagent we have ess to with the idea of splicing two together. Imagine which would make the best matches.
Salire withdrew a notebook, then flipped through the pages. I can do that. Already have a list of our reagents.
Perfect. Im going to clear some space in the greenhouses, and prepare the experimental garden plot.
Lets do it!
Salire was more excited about the task than Theo had expected. He left theb and headed to his greenhouses, finding everything to be the way he left it. The nt Golem was doing its job by preventing hybridization, clearing the weeds away, and other general maintenance. Each greenhouse was packed with reagents, all growing at ever-increasing rates thanks to the various upgrades he had applied. The alchemist ordered a few corners in each greenhouse cleared to make way for hybrid reagents. There was no better time to push his alchemy as far as it could go.
After he finished creating a new set of orders, he went next door to the Herbalists Workshop, finding the garden plot behind the building. Any upgrade that had the text appears behind the workshop, building, etc meant that building was upgradable. The plot could hold nine reagent nts, depending on the size. It was made of a low stone wall with a gate, within which was freshly tilled earth. Inside the plot, the air seemed still. Almost stiflingly so. Despite the open-air arrangement, the inside of the plot was sealed from the outside world. He inspected the plot before moving on.
[Experimental Garden Plot]
Owner: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
None
The upgrades produced by the attached plot might be good, but that wasnt what Theo was after. He wanted more area to test his new reagents. And there would be a lot of reagents to test if his new sense for alchemy was anything to go by. The alchemist shoved cores into the building, trying to be as efficient as possible. Each level the plot gained saw the gray stone wall moving a foot or so in any direction. When the plot hit Level 5, the list of three upgrades appeared.
This narrative has been uwfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
[Precision Control]
Gives the owner of this plot the ability to control cultivation rate, and growth rate on a per-nt basis.
[Nurturing Soil]
The soil within this plot will always provide maximum nutrients. nts within will never wither, and will always have the exact amount of water required.
[Perfect Climate]
Every individual nt within the plot will experience a perfect environment for growth. The preferred temperature, soil quality, humidity, etc of an individual nt does not affect the others.
This was an herbalists dream. Theo felt a shiver of excitement run through his body as he read the description on each upgrade. He wanted them all. Precision Control was the least useful, but he could iste nts instead of setting rates for the whole plot. Nurturing Soil would make it so he didnt need to assign a golem to the plot. Perfect Climate was something he would pick down the line. Either when there was no other good option, or when the building got high enough. But he didnt have any non-native nts, and if he did he would use his new splicing ability to alter that nts preferences. He selected Nurturing Soil for his first upgrade.
Before moving on to the next upgrade, Theo took a second to inspect the features of the plot. It imed to allow him to alter factors of growth for all the nts. With a touch and a little mental prodding, a new system interface appeared in his vision.
[Experimental Garden Plot Controls]
Cultivation Rate: 0%
Growth Rate: 0%
Hybridization Rate: 0%
Watered Rate: 100%
Nutrition Rate: 100%
Avable Spots: 12
Spots upied: 0
Environmental Condition Preset: Humid Swamp
Soil Preset: Rich Swamp
Now that''s some fine control. Theo could press a button near some entries, changing the rates. The interface was easy to use, but he moved on. There were more upgrades to get. He inserted more Monster Cores into the building, watching as it expanded to gain more plots. Three rows of four became four rows of four by the time it hit Level 10. The new upgrade appeared alongside the old ones. The alchemist inspected his new upgrade option.
[Stable Conditions]
Unstable nts ced within the plot will not degrade. Any drastic magical expulsions will be contained, never leaving the plot and leaving the other nts within the plot unharmed.
Drastic magical expulsions was a fancy way of saying explosions. Theo hadnt considered exploding reagents before, but now that they were messing with splicing it was possible. This upgrade fell into the same category as the Perfect Climate upgrade. He didnt need it now, but it could be usefulter. Instead, he went for the Precision Control upgrade. Then he was back at it, shoving more cores into the building. The four by four arrangement because five by four when it hit Level 15. A new upgrade popped up. The alchemist checked his supply of cores before inspecting the upgrade, finding that it was dwindling once again.
Rats, Theo said, inspecting the new upgrade.
[Recovery Factor]
A small tank of magical energy appears near the Experimental Garden Plot (this tank is not upgradable.) The tank epts motes, which are converted into liquid magical energy. This energy may be used to stabilize recently spliced nts, ensuring they survive the splicing process.
Theo didnt have to think long about that one. Since he was new at the splicing game, this would y well with his current ns. He selected the upgrade, then went around the side of the plot to watch the magical tank appear. A device that looked like one of Throks artifices appeared. The stout little copper tank had a mote port on the side, and a gauge showing how much magical energy it had. The alchemist inserted one mote, watching the quantity of magical energy inside increase. Upon closer inspection, he found a list of controls for the tank.
[Recovery Factor Tank]
Stored Energy: 5%
Release all energy
Release energy to specific nt
Purge tank
Set specific instructions
The buttonbeled Set specific instructions had a series ofmands he could issue. Theo could tell the tank to release energy onto a nt, sustaining it so it always had energy. He could do the same for every nt. There was even an option to only release energy in an emergency situation.
Very interesting, Theo muttered to himself. He scratched his chin, inserting motes and observing the tanks energy increase.
He hasnt talked to himself in a while.
Theo looked up from his tank, narrowing his eyes at Rowan and Sarisa. They had been whispering conspiratorially. He stood, pointing at his assistants. You leave me alone. Im having fun.
He never has fun, Rowan said in mock shock.
By the gods. Was he reced?
With a copy, perhaps.
A joyous copy.
Rowan grabbed his sister by the shoulders, shaking her. Can we keep him?
Theo turned away so they couldnt see his smile, stifling augh as he got back to stuffing cores into the garden. The vicious mockery only went on for as long as the half-ogres had attention, then the area behind the workshop was silent yet again. Only the gentle rumbling of the plots expansions filled the air as the alchemist worked. The notification popped up, allowing him to pick an upgrade for Level 20. He inspected the newest option, noticing the five by five plot before him.
[elerated Research]
Researching reagents originally grown within the plot will reveal more information.
It was hard to tell if this one was good. Theo hadnt worked with the research aspect of the workshop enough to pick it just yet. Instead, he went through the other options. He settled on Stable Conditions instead. If anything could go wrong in the plot, an explosion would be horrible. He was satisfied with where the plot was at, stepping back to get a better look at it. The low stone walls had expanded out enough to house five rows by five columns of nts. Before going to check with Salire, he inspected where the plot was for now.
[Experimental Garden Plot]
Owner: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 20 (12%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Nurturing Soil]
[Precision Control]
[Recovery Factor]
[Stable Conditions]
Theo nodded with approval before returning to theb. Sarisa and Rowan followed behind, one remaining in the shadows and the other out in the open. The alchemist had gotten used to their shadowing, and hardly noticed them anymore. Salire was still working on the list of items and potential hybrids, but it was alreadyprehensive. Something that was missing from her analysis of reagents was elemental alignment. As he thought about it, he realized he didnt have much of an expansive understanding of the topic. Just raw instinct and assumptions.
When youre done, meet me at the workshop, Theo said, collecting a few reagents Salire had already set aside.
Ill be done soon, Salire said, writing furiously. Just about there.
Theo returned to the workshop, settling into the unfamiliar interior. There was something strange about doing work rted to alchemy in the new building. He rearranged what little furniture was in there before opening two windows to get a breeze going. He would need to have one of Throks air conditioners installed if he wanted to work without the oppressive heat. He finally settled down at the table, pulling an ufortable chair up and sighing as he sat into it.
With a single Mages Bane flower on the table, Theo focused to let the wisdom of his unimpeded cores settle in. He couldnt tell if it was intuition, experience, the research upgrade, or the state of his new cores but he knew it was a Lightning alignment reagent. He also knew that meant it would hybridize with other Lightning nts easily. He treated this as an exercise to test how his new cores interacted with his mind. After a few simple tests, Salire arrived at the workshop.
I like the new ce, she said, dragging a chair over to the table. Needs more furniture.
Agreed. Let me see your list, Theo said, holding his hand out. Salire ced the notebook in his hand, already opened to the right page.
Salire had identified a lot of stuff that made sense. She had used the logical idea to line properties up by effect type. Healing reagents with healing reagents and so on. Theo didnt see this as the way to create hybrid nts, but it was a start. His thought was to first take nts that would work with the splicing process first. Only then could they look at properties that worked together.
This is a good start, Theo said, flipping between the pages. I have a feeling that thistle and zee wontbine, though.
I wrote everything that might work, Salire said, scooting closer to press her finger into the page.
It feels weird, Theo said, digging deep to find a way to express this new intuition. Like all my experience ising together tobine with the power of my cores. I just know zee and thistle wont mix. But I think Mages Bane and Lightning Poppy will.
You have more experience with zee and thistle than you do with those two flowers. Especially in growing them. You helped with the farm.
That might have something to do with it, Theo said with a nod. Okay. Lets focus on one thing at a time. I need to learn how to use my new Reagent Splicing skill.
5.43 - Reagent Splicing
5.43 - Reagent Splicing
The Herbalists Workshop was far too stuffy for most people. Salire was sweating even before they got to work on the experimental reagent splicing. Theo was perfectlyfortable thanks to his Coat of Rake, but he sympathized. But those concerns melted away under the weight of recent changes. Not only his ascension to the next realm in both his alchemy and herbalist cores, but also the workshop itself and his eptance of the Drogramath Dedication ability. His thoughts felt as though they teetered on things he already knew, and the seemingly limitless knowledge of Drogramath himself. It was a heady experience that would take getting used to.
Theo was adept at pushing past this mental difort, andid out the first two reagents he nned to experiment with. Earth Wheat, and the local Spiny Swamp Thistle. Both had a deep alignment with earth and held something simr to the Holy element. But not quite. Using the Research upgrade of the workshop, he confirmed his suspicions.
[Wheat]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
Amon nt often milled into flour.
Research:
Infused with a mixture of Drogramath and Dreamrealm power.
Medium growth cycle with excellent healing properties.
Will easily provide the base of a splicing operation.
Hidden fourth alchemical property.
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Sow]
The Research upgrade provided information that Theo had seen before. The Wheat was aligned with Drogramath and Terogal, which wasnt surprising. It had a slower than normal growth cycle, which he had seen in the small farm. But the newest bit of information imed it would provide a good base for reagent splicing. The alchemist drew on his innate knowledge, understanding that one nt would be the base, and the other would be grafted on. Both nts would be cut just above the root. The top of one would be grafted onto the other with mana. Easy enough.
What do you think? Salire asked, pulling Theo out of his thoughts.
Wheat and Spiny Swamp Thistle was on her list. Theo expected thebination to work fantastically. With twoplete samples, roots and all, the alchemist cut both nts just above the roots. He took the roots and part of the stem from the wheat, cing the spiny stem from the Swamp Thistle on top. The alchemist held his hand over where they joined, closing his eyes as he focused on his Reagent Splicing skill. Even before using it, he felt how simr it was to Reagent Deconstruction. Unlike the destructive skill, this one would bind both nts together. Mana welled into his fingertips, eager to magically weld the two nts.
Should work like this, Theo said, pressing his fingers onto the seam. ming purple mana flooded the space between the nts, stitching the two pieces together in an instant. He opened his eyes, looking down at the nt.
Interesting, Salire said, watching as the mana worked its way up and down the nt. It didnt just form the two samples together. It changed them both entirely.
Very interesting. Ah. More interesting things.
As the purple mes danced over the spliced nt, a system message appeared.
[Reagent Splicing]
Attempting to splice Wheat with Spiny Swamp Thistle
Splicing sess chance: 95%
Wheat properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Sow]
Spiny Swamp Thistle properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Flourish]
Perfect match for [Healing] property. Generating evolved property.
Shuffling all other properties
The fire intensified, forcing Theo to shield his eyes. While he was blinded, he thought about the prompt. An evolved property was interesting, and he remembered seeing one on the nt that Azrug named Throks Weed. The mana died down, revealing thepletely changed nt. It was somewhere between a tall stalk of Wheat and the stout Spiny Swamp Thistle. It had characteristics of both, but how it produced the usable reagent would take some time. The nt would need to grow first.
Neat! Salire said. But it''s all question marks.
Theo inspected the nt, finding that his assistant was right.
[????]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid nt]
Epic
A unique hybrid nt created from a Wheat nt and a Spiny Swamp Thistle.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
That was an annoying aspect of hybrid nts Theo wished wasnt real. Anything that someone had yet to discover showed up with the question marks. It made sense that a hybrid between Wheat and Spiny Swamp Thistle resulted in an unidentified item. No one had ess to Wheat before it created itself in Terogal. The two other times the alchemist had seen this happen was with nts that were local to the area. Since Broken Tusk hadnt been developed properly, the local flora hadnt been explored.
Im going to strangle Azrug if he names this something stupid, Theo said, narrowing his eyes at the new nt.
Should we get him now?
Theo looked down at the new nt he had created. Sections of the stalk already showed signs of instability. He had to look close to see those things, drawing on his new knowledge to identify small burned lines that others would miss. The splice was a sess, but if he didnt nt it in his Experimental Garden it would degrade. He exined as much to Salire before heading outside to nt his new creation. Once in the soil and the proper settings toggled on the build expansion, the nt stabilized.
Well wait until theres a few of them for him to check, Theo said, standing and dusting himself off. For now, well make sure this one is happy.
Salire had some observations about the process that she verbalized. Theo listened to her assessment and agreed that there would be problems down the line. The system imed that the splicing should have had a ny-five percent sess rate, but there were obvious issues with the forceful process. The alchemists assumption was that he was meant to perform the splice, then ce it into a stable environment immediately. They went back into the workshop, selecting the next two nts to work on.
This one stuck out to me, Theo said pressing his finger into Salires notebook. It was her entry for Roc Berries and Wind Tulips.
Going with the elemental alignment concept? Salire asked, putting a check next to the entry.
They just feel like they match. Especially considering how they grow. Theyre both little bushes that enjoy rocky soil. Combined with the Wind alignment, I think they will work well with each other.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Lets do it!
Theo had to uproot a Wind Tulip and Roc Berry nt from his greenhouses for this experiment. He inspected both, finding the research section of the nt to im that the Roc Berry nt would serve as a better base than the Wind Tulips. He cut them both near the root, then bound them together with his mana. A system message popped up, detailing his progress.
[Reagent Splicing]
Attempting to splice Roc Berry with Wind Tulip
Splicing sess chance: 100%
Roc Berry properties:
[Feather] [Retreat] [Wind Shell]
Wind Tulip properties:
[Increase Dexterity] ???? ????
Unknown properties
Your herb lore isnt good enough to produce a stable spliced nt.
Shuffling properties.
The system could have just pped him in the face if it wanted to be so rude. Theo thought of his herb lore as more than good enough, but he cleared his throat and carried the nt out to the garden plot as though his pride wasnt wounded. The resulting nt was a gnarled, question mark filled entry that took to the soil instantly. Since he brought it to the nourishing soil so quickly, there were no negative effects visible on the trunk or the branches of the nt. Just a mildly burned section where it was spliced.
Im not so confident about this one, Theo said, producing an example of the Wind Tulip flower from his inventory. Make a note that we should examine the properties of a reagent before splicing it.
Noted, Salire said, jotting the information into her notes. She joined with him back in the workshop where he intended to break Wind Tulips down to get better than good enough herb lore.
Ill show you good enough, Theo grumbled, applying his mana to a sample. It broke down into a primal essence, revealing the first of two new properties. He repeated the process for both the third and hidden fourth properties before examining the tulip.
[Wind Tulip]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Poppy enchanted with elemental wind. Grows near concentrated wind fonts.
Research:
Infused with a mixture of Drogramath and Dreamrealm power.
Slow growth cycle with heavy alignment to wind.
Binds well with Roc Berries. Serves as the fruit-generating part of thebination.
Properties:
[Increase Dexterity] [Retreat] [Air de] [Wind Walk]
Theo had never seen Air de or Wind Walk. He felt as though Air de was a weapon coating property, while Wind Walk was an enhancement-style potion. The research feature of his workshop also revealed more about how well it bound with the Roc Berry nt, which was encouraging. The two nts also shared a property, which should make the splicing process smoother. As all this information was not revealed to Salire, he read everything out for her.
Im mostly interested in the new property, she said, writing the information down. It gives me the impression that it would be a great stealther potion.
Really? Theo asked, thinking about it for a moment. She might have been right about that one. Lets splice two nts together again so we can observe the difference. For science.
For science! Salire shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Theo performed the same splicing he had done before, sacrificing another two nts from his greenhouses. He made sure the golems had orders to rent those, drawing from the cultivated living nts he already had. When the Drogramathi fire filled the room with blinding light, the alchemist saw the system message that confirmed his herb lore was good enough.
[Reagent Splicing]
Attempting to splice Roc Berry with Wind Tulip
Splicing sess chance: 100%
Roc Berry properties:
[Feather] [Retreat] [Wind Shell]
Wind Tulip properties:
[Increase Dexterity] [Retreat] [Air de] [Wind Walk]
Perfect match for [Retreat] property. Generating evolved property.
Shuffling all other properties
That was better. The resulting nt even seemed more stable than before. Theo and Salire rushed it out to the garden before anything could happen. It was best to avoid explosions when possible.
Oh, thats strange, Salire said, kneeling close to inspect the nt. The first one we made didnt have an item name, but this one does.
Theo squinted, then leaned in to inspect the nt.
[Zephyr Berries]
Rare
A curious little berry I discovered while hiking the hignd areas near Zban. To my surprise, the berry was unnamed and undocumented. Therefore I shall name it the Zephyr Berry after the breezes that blow through thesends. In thend of kings. In the year 280 of the Second War of Ascension, Pugma has discovered this berry.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
That is the weirdest thing Ive ever read, Theo said, leaning back from the nt. Did some random guy wax poetically about finding a berry?
From the Second War of Ascension, no less.
When was that? Theo asked, trying to remember the names of the ages. The First War of Ascension took ce sometime between five- and ten-thousand years after the world was seeded.
Twenty-thousand years ago? Im not sure. Ive always been bad with history.
Theo had also heard about the Zban empire or was it Mazzlebar? Bazzlebon? It didnt matter. He was certain that was the long-lost empire that upied this continent. Well before it was destroyed by Balkor. Perhaps even longer ago than the rise of Tarantham.
Pugma, Salire said, making a sour face. What sort of name is that?
I dont envy someone with that name.
Splicing new nts had really eaten away at the day. While it had been discovering new things, Theo wanted to address something with Throk. The hovering tform project should have been well on its way, and he was eager to see what something like that could do. The alchemist departed from his workshop, walking with Salire to theb before heading off for the artificers workshop. He was happy to see everyone going about their daily lives, uninterrupted by whatever nonsense this world sought to throw them.
Throk could hardly be seen in the smithy anymore. He spent nearly all his time in the Artificers Workshop, toiling away to make interesting devices. Theo passed by the smithy, waving at Thim. The dwarf had taken the ce over entirely, even training several apprentices of his own. Remembering a time when the dwarf had pretended to a novice, the alchemist pushed on to the workshop. It was right around the corner, hugging the bend and across the street from Xams tavern.
Theo peeked inside of the workshop, finding Throk pressing a handheld artifice against one of his fake coins. Once the alchemist was certain that the artificer was in a decent enough mood, he crossed the threshold into the workshop. Piles of old artifices were strewn around. The power core to the elven automaton rested in the corner, mostly disassembled by now. Perhaps that was what gave the marshling the information he needed to create self-sustaining batteries for constructs.
Are you going to lurk, or do you have something to ask? Throks question rumbled across the workshop. Such a small creature shouldnt have been capable of inspiring such dread.
Checking on the hovering tform, Theo said.
Throk ced his device on the table, pausing as though in thought. I have it working pretty well, actually. The cable idea paid off. He turned around, revealing the lopsided smile on his face. Want to go for a ride?
Theo had never wanted to do anything less than ride the hovering tform. He nodded in agreement, and searched his inventory for the potion that would save him from a deadly fall. His emergency Retreat potions were always close at hand, especially those modified with Refined Elemental Wind. That would grant him the Feather effect for ten seconds, reducing his fall speed if the tform failed. The alchemist followed Throk around the workshop, finding the tform resting in the junk-strewn field behind both the Artificers Workshop and the smithy.
Why are you holding a potion? Throk asked, adjusting settings on an iron box. The box was connected with the tform by a spool of Tworgnothi Copper wires.
Im an alchemist. Ever see an alchemist without a potion in their hands?
Throk actually issued one sharp, bark-likeugh. Fair enough, he said, pressing one final button.
The tform raised into the air slightly, tilting to one side as the engines buzzed to life. There was a bit too much rattling for Theos liking, but it was hovering. Tilting his head to one side, the alchemist could almost see something happening near the engines. Just outside of his weak magical sight, there was an interaction between the tforms magic and the power soaking the air. He pressed his hand on the metallic surface of the tform, activating his Intuitive Nodes and selecting the duration option as he chanted a spell. The marshling grumbled his objections, but within a few tries the Deflect Magic ward activated. A shimmering prismatic barrier sprung up around the tform and the rattling stopped.
Ah. Guess that works, Throk said, stomping over to inspect the tform. I thought there was a problem with the hover engines. Guess not.
Throk performed a demonstration of the tforms capabilities. After applying the ward, it hovered like a dream. He had even installed safety railing. It went up smoothly, hovering exactly where the marshling told it to before descending smooth as delicious karatan butter.
I didnt think it was ready, Throk said, scratching his chin. But I guess the ward was the key.
Shouldve guessed, Theo said, clicking his tongue as he thought.
Theo and Salire had been creating enough Hallow the Soil potion to choke most of the soutnds in purifying mist. But it wouldnt be enough to cover the area they wanted to cover in the north. They could load the thing up with guns, shooting an anti-undead shot at the ground. Or perhaps it was better to air-drop golems in ces that were too hard to reach by foot.
Oh, just spit it out, Throk moaned. Are we going to Gronro or not? I gotta hook up the cargo cart to the train if were going.
Lets go, Theo said. Lets put your weird hovering tform to the test.
My tform isnt weird. Youre weird.
5.44 - Just Hangin Out in a Dungeon
5.44 - Just Hangin'' Out in a Dungeon
Throk had quite a few attachments for the train. Theo had thought little of the depot building near the end of the trains line, but it was filled with different styles of cars for the train. He even had a little artifice that dragged them along the hovering track. Of course, each piece of equipment was made of Azrugium. Theo shivered as he thought of that name. They hadnt madews in the alliance, but perhaps that should be the first one.
Shouldnt take but a minute, Throk said, kicking his artifices to life. The cargo car hovered on the track, and was pulled along toward the station.
Theo double, then triple checked all his equipment for the excursion. He had returned the Retreat Potion to his inventory, as he didnt ride the contraption behind Throks workshop. Both Sarisa and Rowan wereing along for the experiment, but the alchemist spent his time reaching out to thework of golems in Gronro. They were still doing as ordered, marshling along the rocky paths of the mountain to clear away the scourge. The information he got back from them was muddy, as it had to pass through Terogal to reach him.
Once the cargo car was attached to the train, Throk ran off to find strong half-ogres to help load it. After that, the four members of the party boarded the train and prepared for another whirlwind journey.
Im just gonna crank this up, Throk said, popping a panel near the conductors station and fiddling with the internals.
Youre gonna what? Theo asked, eyes going wide as he searched for a way to secure himself. He hooked his arm under a bar, then looked through his inventory for a Strength Potion.
There we go, Throk said, pping the conductors panel. Hold onto your butts.
Theos stomach felt as though it never left the station while the rest of his body hurtled down the track. There was a reason the tram didnt run at full speed. It was impossible to hear anything, as all members of the party were buffeted by the powerful wind. Everyone held on, closing their eyes as they traveled northward. In between the rush of wind, the alchemist could hear Throk howling with delight.
Eyes wide and dry from the ride, Theo looked upon Gronro-Dir. The trip had taken half the time, and several years from his lifespan. Please, he gasped. Dont do that again.
We have the return journey! Throk said, cackling as exited the train.
Ill just teleport, thank you, Theo said, joining with Throk on shaky legs. Grot was there to greet them, and he seemed in better spirits than ever.
Archduke! he shouted, shoving a mug of beer into the alchemists hands. I didnt know you wereing today.
Either did I, Theo said, downing the beer in one go. He gasped, then cursed his Vigor.
So, what are we doing? Your golems are doing well enough, Grot said. We had to move the lodestone a few times a day. Every day!
Thats good to hear, Theo said,posing himself as he gestured back toward the train. Were going to apply some curative potions to the mountains. Hopefully we can give the golems some help.
Works for me. Are your friends going to be alright?
Theo looked back, finding that both Sarisa and Rowan were vomiting near the train. Yeah, just give them a minute. Maybe a few minutes.
Maybe an hour, Rowan croaked, vomiting again.
Grot went to get some folks to help with the tform. They only unloaded it from the train car before Throk activated the hovering tform, moving it through the mountain town with ease. Interested eyes turned to them as they marched it through the town, angling for the northern gate. The marshling had to hover it over the gates to get it through, but his new fake coins burned longer and stronger than motes, making the job easy. When they arrived outside of the northern gate, Throk affixed a sprayer artifice to the tform. Theo loaded it with Hallow the Soil potion.
You know, Sarisa said, still looking green from the ride. I was thinking about this n of yours.
Theo had allowed his mind to wander through the local lodestonework, pinging the golems that seemed to have wandered quite far to the north. He ordered one to return, as he had no intentions of operating the tform. What is it? he asked, dragging his thoughts away from the golems.
The goose is part of your bond. Isnt she?
Yes, she is, Theo said.
So she has ess to your shared inventory power.
Uh-huh.
Couldnt she drop the potions?
While that was a good question, it wasnt well-informed. The problem with dropping a potion is the spread. The sprayer allows us to cover a wide area. Especially from the air.
How high up is this going to go? Rowan asked. Theo could see it in his eyes. He wasnt sure which of them was going to operate the tform.
Theo judged how high they would need to go by eye. For maximum spread without sending the potion to a useless mist, they would need to be about fifty feet in the air. About as high as that crag, he said, gesturing to a jagged outcrop of rocks.
Thats not bad Rowan trailed off, scratching the stubble on his chin.
Alright. Up you go, alchemist, Throk said, jabbing a finger at Theo.
Im going to make my golem ride the tform, thank you, Theo said.
Too heavy. Get your demon ass up there.
Theo considered his options. He didnt want to ride the tform. He would rather do almost anything else, including retreating into his realm and teleporting to Tresk. The alchemist stammered, trying to make up an excuse on the spot. But the longer he floundered, the more he noticed a smile spreading across the marshlings face.
Oh, you son of a
Throksughter drowned out Theos string of curses. Did you see him sweat?! Throk howled. Someone check our archdukes undies.
Both Rowan and Sarisa wereughing as well. Theo couldnt help butugh at himself. Because Throk had told him the tform would bepletely automated. The sprayer was operated from the ground, not the tform. The only reason they had constructed it as a tform was for utilitarian purposes. They could use it elsewhere, but for this task, it waspletely remote.
I only just got the remote operation working, Throk said, working the controls to raise the tform into the air. As long as I have a control receiver, I can put any artifice on the tform.
Thank god, Theo said, watching as the artifice ascended.
Lets do a simple test, Throk said, working the control panel like a video game controller. He pressed a button and the sprayer squirted a small amount of liquid onto the ground. He moved the nozzle around, checking each function before he was satisfied. Now the fun part. Lots of walking. Lots of spraying.
Grot joined with the group as they walked the cleansed mountain path. Throk operated the tform, watching with satisfaction as it hovered ten feet from the ground. Theo felt a sense of wonder as he walked over the mountain pass. Every single rock, outcrop, and crag had been purified of the necromantic energy. Evenpared tost time, there were more wild creatures running around and mountain grasses clinging to what little earth was present. At this pace, they would clear their way through the path by the next season. If they used the sprayer, it would be done far sooner.
Theo checked the wards he had ced around the area as they went. He had Grot run back to town to grab some more junk for him to cast his spells on, and the duke returned in short order. He came back with a team of workers that helped ce the junk along the path. It hardly seemed necessary, though. Balkors energy was waning by the day, which was interesting to consider. The corruption his undead left behind would be there forever if not dispelled. But the energy acted as a fuel, feeding and causing the scourge to spread. Without that energy, Theo only needed to remove what was there.
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The path wound through the mountains. The party walked for about an hour before they found the ce where the golems were working. Theo had already ordered the one he had summoned back to work, but he recalled them yet again so he could inspect their wards and power sources. Throk took great interest in that.
Are the siphons working? Throk asked, trying to inspect the golems but finding nothing for him to inspect.
Theyre working great, Theo said. His Drogramath cores allowed him to inspect the creations. Both the siphons and the batteries were functioning perfectly. His golems no longer needed toe back to theb to be powered up again.
Can you pull a siphon out for me to check?
Theo held his hand out in front of a golem, and the siphon just popped out. He handed the artifice to Throk who nodded with satisfaction. After giving his golem its power supply back, the alchemist reapplied his wards and ordered the golems to get back to work. They shuffled off, scouring more of the corruption away.
As the group moved forward, they stepped into the domain still corrupted by Balkor. Thendscape, despite being made up of mostly rock, looked sickly. There were no creatures here. No sparse grasses clinging to the stones. Only a pale green aura that made everyone feel sicker than Throks train ride.
Here we go, Throk said, sending the hovering tform into the air.
The sprayer nketed thend with a rolling silver mist. Everything it touched was purged of the necromantic sickness, curing it in an instant. Each sweep of the sprayer saw hundreds of square feet of area cleared away in a blink. Theo watched in amazement as Throk walked the tform forward. He covered an area that would have taken the golems hours in a matter of minutes. The marshling wasughing the entire time.
This is good, Grot said, the excitement he felt clear in his voice.
It was beyond good. Theo needed this area clear for a few reasons. It wasnt just that the necromantic aura was making everyone sick, or that they needed more ovend trade. He had made a promise to the pale elf Twist. That masked man needed to get to Qavell, and the alchemist wasnt about to go back on his promises. This was also a chance to expand the holdings of the alliance.
With Throks speedy train, he could happily travel from Broken Tusk to Qavell in a day. Maybe two days, depending on which speed setting they were using. Folks had different ways of expressing how long it took to travel ovend. Some karatan had enough endurance to gallop for days without rest. The best karatan could go for days, and navigate on their own.
But Theos goal would be to expand the nations borders along this mountain path first. Then he would establish another town in the north where the mountains ended. That would be a defensible spot that was also ideal for trade.
What do you think Balkors minions are doing? Sarisa asked,ing up alongside Theo. She poked him in the side with the butt of her spear.
Honestly? I dont know. If he wants revenge on ntheir for his defeat, hell attack the elves.
Sarisaughed. Do you think the undead could destroy Tarantham?
A grimace spread across Theos face. They had discussed this in the past. The theory that felt most possible had lingered in his mind for some time. I think he wants revenge, so hes going for Veosta. They dont stand a chance.
Ah. Thats grim.
The group spent some time operating the tform, but they didnt intend to do all the work themselves. Throk gave Grot and his people instructions on how to operate the tform. He made the duke work the tform for a while, correcting him when he was misusing it. After that, the marshling gave him a sack of fake coins. Theo gave the leader a fair amount of Hallow the Soil potion, but reserved some for himself. Dusk was fast approaching, and Theo didnt intend to spend the night here.
Where are you? Theo asked, sending his mind toward Tresk. He couldnt feel her very clearly.
Just hanging out.
Theo narrowed his eyes. In a dungeon?
Yeah.
Alex, where are you?
Flyin around.
In a dungeon?
No. In the sky.
Could yound? Im going to teleport to you in five minutes.
Sure!
Alright, guys, Theo said, patting Sarisa and Rowan on the shoulder. Have fun with the trip. Ill meet you back in town.
Lazy. No good. Stupid teleporting Hey, cant you take us with you
Theo fell between the veil before Sarisa could hurl any more insults. He felt the Bridge of Shadows ripple with excitement as he passed over. UzXulven sensed he was traveling to Terogal. A momentter, the alchemistnded in his realm. Before he even looked around, he could sense a lot of souls waiting for his approval. He blinked against the bright, sunless sky above and looked upon a field of souls. Belgar was there within moments, a nervous look on his face.
Yeah. Thats what I was thinking, Belgar said, jerking his head toward the crowd. Lots of elves and half-elves.
Terogals interface imed there were 117 souls waiting for approval. He scrolled through the list of applicants, finding that Belgar was right. Most of them were half-elves. He didnt need to be told where they hade from, but intended to ask once he had epted them. Several archways sprung up as UzXulven, Benton, ntheir, Spit, and Drogramath entered the realm. They waved at Theo, but headed toward the renovated cottage. It had been maderger to allow Spit entrance.
See you in a minute! ntheir shouted, smiling as he waved at Theo.
Could you fetch me a chair, Theo said, nodding to Belgar. And grab me a cup of tea once Benton has it made.
Sure thing, Belgar said, scampering away.
Theo began the interview process, where he learned the truth of Balkors assault on Veosta. Almost every soul that arrived had been without a patron. They all had unaligned cores, or had put little faith in their gods. All were eager for a new life. That gave Theo some amount offort. Since he had allied himself with Fenian, the weight of the dead hade back. ntheirs purging of his mind had eased that, but this sight did more than anything. The dead were being given a chance to live a life where they would have everything they ever wanted. They lived a life of quiet leisure with as much food, water, and entertainment they wanted.
The alchemist got through fifty souls before he found one with more will than the others. He was an elf that didnt have the same vacant stare and incorporeal form as the others. His appearance reminded Theo of the way Belgar looked a few weeks after he arrived in the realm. Mostly formed, but still hazy around the edges.
I was a general, the elf said, pausing to look at the ground. Although I cannot remember my name.
Youre more here than most new souls, Theo said, inspecting the screen provided by the realm. What happened?
Weve been fighting the undead for a while now. A foreign trader brought an alchemical solution to our problems and it was going well for a while. But we had a breach, and I was there.
Tragic, Theo said.
The army was led by a single undead. Perhaps a lich, the elf said.
Theo couldnt shake the feeling that this guy was trying to vomit as much information as possible. He was trying to help the alchemist.
Could you describe him?
Hunched over. Green skin, although that might have been rot. He was intelligent.
Theo felt a sudden,forting presence behind him. He turned, finding ntheir with that permanent half-smile on his face. And now he knows, he whispered, cing a hand on the alchemists shoulder.
Theo turned back to the soul, realizing what ntheir meant. He epted the elf into his realm before turning to another applicant. Who is it? Who is leading the army?
Lets see if you have put it together. If Khahar shows up, youre not there yet. Ready?
Theo couldnt help butugh. It was a curious way to test thews that Yuri had put in ce. Yeah, lets see.
Balkor had three ces where he stored his soul, ntheir said, looking around and smiling. No Khahar.
A loud snap issued behind ntheir. Khahar stood there, arms folded. I dont appreciate you making a game of my rules.
But isnt it fun?
Kinda, Khahar said,ing to stand near Theo and ntheir. But the creature leading the undead isnt Balkor. Think of it more as an echo. He is a different person. Confused. Scared. Angry.
When I get confused, I also destroy the world, Theo mocked, winking at Khahar.
Har har. I dont like this loss of life either, Theo. But I have seen where this ends. And the world is better for it.
Trust me! I wont blow it all up! ntheir said, sping his hands together. That was your promise from the start, wasnt it?
Are you not satisfied with what I have aplished? Khahar asked, ring at ntheir.
Im over the moon, ntheir said. Sometimes literally. Things are going well, even if there are casualties. Most of the elves who died in Veosta entered my realm, where they will be happy forever. Some came here, although I dont know why.
I know youre right, Khahar, Theo said, epting another soul into the realm. When are we going to im the next throne?
Soon enough. Theyre still cooking.
Whats mine gonna be called?
Well dub you the Idiot Who Asked Too Many Questions, Khahar said, flipping Theo the bird.
Oh that has a certain ring to it, ntheir said.
Theoughed with his godly friends for a while. Belgar brought him some tea and a chair and Khahar and ntheir went to go have tea in the cottage. The new souls brought the total count of souls to 292, but it only gave him one level in the realm. The alchemist felt the power of the realm expand, but he didnt get any new expansions. When he was done with the souls, he joined with hispanions in the cottage. Heavenly tea was just so delicious.
5.45 - Glantheirs Tears
5.45 - ntheir''s Tears
Theo almost felt bad about leaving Throk, Sarisa, and Rowan behind in Gronro. But the train ride was far too ufortable, so he had simply teleported to Alex back in Broken Tusk to wait for his assistants. They had shot him a look, but softened after finding the catered food provided by Xams tavern. The alchemist now sat in the Dreamwalk, looking over an endless list of skills that he couldnt hope to pick from. He had picked the skills for his herbalist and alchemy core, but had also gained a free pick for his personal level hitting Level 30.
To make matters worse, Theo had to find a core to fit his new core slot. When considering new cores, his mind centered on the idea of both synergy and passive management. His alchemy and herbalist cores worked together directly, the gathering ss feeding into the crafting ss. His Toruaun core was then fed by both cores, providing him the means to craft more powerful spells. The Governance Core was entirely passive, providing both the town and the nation with improvements. Those bonuses ranged from better administration panels to battle maps and even the contracts they relied on to keep order within the town.
The only odd core slotted into his soul was the Tarahek Core. It was based entirely on his bond with Tresk, which set it apart from the others. Rather than providing a defined set of powers, it gave a nket of useful things to make life easier. It didnt pass Theos notice that the core also contributed to his mental stability and control over Terogal.
Theos impulse was to select an aligned core. Since he could just go to the realms and ask a god for their core, that would be simple. But the description on his Drogramath Dedication ability imed he could turn normal cores into Drogramath cores. That was tempted, even if the god himself wasnt willing to describe the other cores he issued. The alchemist knew about the priest-style cores. He had seen Zarali inbat, and noted that she was a support mage. There was no need for a second support mage core.
Broken Tusk had at least one skilled artificer, smith, smelter, woodcutter, stonemason, and miner. So most production-based cores were off the table. That left esoteric cores.
Perhaps theres a core for golemancy, Theo mused, falling back onto the soft mosses of the forest. He gazed into the boughs of the trees above, spotting the unmoving sun above. Tresk was somewhere near. Fighting the damned horned snake.
A core that increased the power of his golems would be wee, but that got his thoughts on another track. Xolsa had a core that made him mostly immune to the effects of spatial travel, which was quirky for a core. Willpower was another one of those hidden attributes, and seemed to affect just about everything. If there was a core that increased a persons willpower, the alchemist would feel the effect far more than an ordinary person. Even if this worlds people were anything but ordinary. His control over Terogal would increase. He could have more golems and operate them more efficiently. The alchemist would even have greater control of both his passage through the void, and his control of Terogal outside of the void.
Willomancer, Theo whispered to himself, nodding.
That decision also lined up well with his need to pick a new skill. He rose from the mossy floor, dusting off the bits of vegetation that clung to his coat. Tresk and Alex were fighting in a clearing. The snakes tail swept through the forest, shattering the trunks of trees as though they were toothpicks. Theo withdrew his knives, chugged a few potions, and joined in the fray.
Theo stood on the streets of Broken Tusk, flicking through administrative reports. There were a few annoying things, but also something that excited him. Alise had been setting aside Monster Cores for upgrading the alliance. She also wanted a meeting aboutbat preparedness, which Aarok had responded to with enough creative curses to fill a book. She backed off after that, finally getting the hint that the administrators administered and the adventurers fought. He put those town politics aside and made his way to the town hall. It was as bustling as ever.
Alise had made herself an impressive office on the top floor. It gave her a decent view of the town. Theo let himself in, finding her poring over a stack of papers. At least she smiled when he entered.
Im ready to upgrade the alliance, Theo said, sauntering over to take a seat opposite her. I didnt know you were hiding away Monster Cores for the job.
Indeed, I have been, Alise said, gesturing to a dimensional crate in the rooms corner. The level of the buildings is bound to the level of the town. And the towns level is bound to the kingdoms level. But there is also good news. Throks new coins can contribute to the alliances energy, which saves us a big headache.
Theo nodded. Buildings could go ten levels above the town, but a town could go twenty levels above. He guessed. They hadnt done enough testing to say it worked exactly that way, since both the alliance and the town had poption counters that gated upgrades. As always, Alise was thorough with her daily reports. There was something else the alchemist was interested in.
I saw an increase in weapons on the walls. Is that because of Throks new tube system?
That was Zankirs idea, actually. As the Captain of the Sandscourge Company he was given sweeping powers over the towns defense. And he has taken his job seriously. Alise sighed, shaking her head as she smiled. It has actually been a weight lifted from my shoulders.
Im d to hear it. Shall we upgrade an alliance?
Alise shuffled some papers, stowing some away in her desk drawer while leaving others on the table. Absolutely. The other upgrades are useful, but I want to see something amazing.
After leaving the town hall and approaching the towns monolith, Theo was reminded of how strange the object was. Other towns had wooden monoliths, made of the same stuff he saw when a new building was sprouting. This one was a solid ck rock that shone like obsidian. It held both the Town Core and the Kingdom Core. The alliance had two upgrades. Zorp, which allowed them to transport resources between any town in the alliance. Controlled Fire was an upgrade that made wall-mounted towers far more effective. They required less energy, and fired faster.
Alise withdrew some notes, gesturing for Theo to shove the cores he brought in his inventory into the alliance. Unlike a building, which required five equal-level Monster Cores, the alliance required an absurd number. From testing, they found it was fifty equal-level cores plus the level of the alliance. That meant it would suck down sixty cores for a single level.
This is going to be expensive, Theo said, watching the pile of Monster Cores diminish in his inventory. How much of our budget should we put toward this effort?
Ive been leveraging our trade deals to stock Monster Cores. A few hundred cores here and there really adds up.
How about Tarantham? Have we had another ship from them?
Weve had small boats dock at the port. Curious civilians.
That sucked. The trade deal with Tarantham was expensive, and it needed to pay off. But it didnt escape Theos notice that the deal itself was an olive branch, rather than a profitable venture. He trusted Gael to do the right thing, and since the elves hadnt attacked, he considered it a sess. The only way this world would get better was if people stopped blowing each other up every other year. Tarantham had been an amazing example of how that could work, even if they blew each other up to aplish it. At least they didnt destroy the entire continent. Instead, they had an impressive string of rulers that seemed unchanged since anyone could remember.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
This isborous, Theo said, sighing dramatically as he put cores into the monolith. As always, a small crowd had gathered to watch.
It isnt as morous as people expect, Alise said, clicking her tongue.
Ah. Level 15. Finally, Theo said, reviewing the upgrade options. There were two options left over from the start, and a new one for them to review. He didnt even need to read it out for Alise. It appeared in her administration interface.
[Trade Boost]
Carts traveling between towns within the nation will travel 1.5x faster, so long as they are designated for trade.
[Share Information]
Allows leaders to send mental messages to each other. Limited number of messages per day, based on nations level at a rate of n*10. E.g. At level 1, you may send 10 messages, at level 2 you may send 20, and so on.
[Disaster Shield]
Expend great amounts of energy to divert or disperse a harmful weather situation, and other natural disasters. This upgrade works on hurricanes, earthquakes, mana storms, tornados, etc.
Alise grumbled, shaking her head. None of these are great. Both Trade Boost and Share Information are useless to us. And Im not certain how often well use Disaster Shield. How would we know if a disaster wasing? Does it activate automatically?
Id take Disaster Shield over anything else. But I agree. It isnt great.
Select Disaster Shield. Pray for something better at Level 20. So long as I did my math right, we can get the nation that far.
Theo agreedpletely. The first two upgrades solved problems they already took care of. At least Disaster Shield would be useful sometimes. He also didnt know what a mana storm was, but was quite interested in having a shield against it when it came. He selected the Disaster Shield upgrade and got back to inserting cores into the monolith. Before long, the next upgrade option appeared.
[Defensive Barrier]
Any town in the nation may draw on the stored energy of the nation to shield their town or city. The strength of this barrier depends on the level of the alliance, town, and the amount of avable energy stored.
This is interesting, Alise said, tapping her foot on the ground. The nation upgrades havent been great, but they all follow a theme. They operate on the idea of providing something to an entire nation. I also suspect there are buildings that allow us to increase the energy storage of the alliance.
That was interesting enough. But Theo wasnt impressed with the upgrade. Compared to the things he got for single buildings or even the town, the upgrades wereckluster. It took little discussion to decide on the Defensive Barrier upgrade. Although they had brought the alliance to Level 20, it didnt change from being a Small Free City Alliance. They didnt have the poption to increase it from there, but at least they werent gated from progressing. He inspected the nation.
[Small Free City Alliance]
Name: Soutnds Alliance
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Level: 20 (5%)
Core Towns:
Broken Tusk (Capital)
Rivers and Daub
Gronro-Dir
Current Energy:
62%
Upgrades:
[Zorp]
[Controlled Fire]
[Disaster Shield]
[Defensive Barrier]
Not as impressive as I had hoped, Alise said, sighing. At least we can upgrade the town. But Ill leave that to you.
Of course. Hey, before you go any progress with the underground people?
Not really. Pogo has agreed to some basic trade, but thats all.
We need to be grateful that shes there at all. The more I talk to that Twist guy, the more I realize how brutal it is down there.
Agreed.
The crowd dispersed once Theo and Alise went their separate ways. There was no tone of disappointment in their voices, just excitement that they got to witness the nation being upgraded. From what the alchemist had heard, this was a guarded process in other nations. The Kingdom Core and Town Core were rarely nted where people could see it, giving Broken Tuskers an excellent view of the process. But he turned his attention away from both the nations upgrades and the buildings within the town itself. He had to face the horrific idea of chasing down Azrug to name his new nt.
Thank god Pugma named that other one, Theo said, a shiver running down his spine. I couldnt deal with another Throks Weed.
As expected, Azrug was working in the small item shop. Instead of doing business out of a house, he now had a dedicated building. Theo felt a sense of pride as he looked over the industrious merchant. While little time had passed since the young man took up the mantle, he had created something truly great.
The exterior of the building matched the aesthetic of Broken Tusk. It even further reflected Azrugs half-ogre roots with stone walls and high-set windows. Sometimes buildings would get wood paneling, while others times they got stone. It all depended on what the seed core wanted to do. The interior had wood floors. Arge area with shelves and disy cases dominated the rooms center while each wall was filled with more disy shelves. Azrug himself sat behind a wide counter, writing something in a ledger.
Need more monster cores? Azrug asked, barely looking up from his book.
I need your Loremaster services, actually, Theo said.
Azrug looked up, locking eyes with Theo. The alchemist red. I wont name them anything silly.
Are you sure? Have you been hanging out with Tresktely?
No. Maybe a little, Azrug said with a shrug. What am I naming?
A nt. Hybrid of Wheat and Spiny Swamp Thistle.
Azrug craned his neck, looking at the entrance of the shop. He stood, crossing the room to flip a sign near the front to closed. We coulde up with ideas along the way. How about Stinkweed?
It doesnt stink.
Stenchblossom?
Still, it doesnt stink.
Something wille to me, Azrug said, leading the way outside.
Theo feared the worst as he led Azrug to the Experimental Garden behind his Herbalists Workshop. The half-ogre crouched near the nts there, nodding in approval as he read Pugmas entry to the world of herb lore.
Interesting. This guy discovered a hybrid nt in the wild. The Second Ascension War was over thirty-thousand years ago. Ah, I got a hit from my Loremasters Core.
About what?
The Zbans. War-like proto-humans, apparently. They were still more elf than human that point and had broken off from huh. Tarantham.
How long has that empire been around? Theo asked.
Since the Second Ascension War, apparently. Got a bit of information about Pugma as well. Nothing interesting, just his dietary habits. Now, for your new herb Oh, interesting. I got some Earth lore!
Theo cocked an eyebrow. Really?
Combine harvesters, huh? Giant machines that harvested the wheat interesting.
Anything else?
Nah. Just some lore about the Spiny Swamp Thistle. The nt is newer than we realize. A result of ntheirs rescue of thend. Which makes sense, since it has healing properties. Time for a name and description.
Theo watched nervously as Azrug worked on the new description. He saw the half-ogres eyes sh as he entered information into his Loremaster interface. After a few tense moments, he pulled away and smiled.
I tried hard on this one. Are you proud of me, boss?
Theo inspected the nt.
[ntheirs Tears]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid nt]
Epic
When a demonic god tore an entire continent into pieces, ntheir was there to stitch it back together. This thorny hybrid represents the sadness he left in his wake.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Theo pulled back from the nt, shooting Azrug a confused look. I was expected to see ntheirs Entire Butt as the name.
Im not all fun and games, Azrug said with a wink. Sometimes Im a poet.
5.46 - Fairy Potions
5.46 - Fairy Potions
After finishing up with both Alise and Azrug, Theo went to hisb to check on Salire. He was joined, as always, by Sarisa and Rowan. Before he even entered the building, he could smell the scent of simmering mashes on the third floor. From that scent alone, he detected his assistant was working on some standard Hallow Ground Essence. He ascended the stairs, finding the half-ogre moving between the stills to adjust the heat. She looked up with a sheepish smile, nodding to the alchemist.
Theo inspected each of the stills. Salire was working on essences that were first tier, which was well within her skill level. Everything seemed fine to him, but she had been diligent in keeping track of the heating times for different reagents at various tiers.
Looks good to me, Theo said, summoning the buildings internal essence storage to check their stock. They always kept at least a few units of healing, mana, and stamina essence on hand. Just in case. As the town and alliance expanded, that number would need to grow.
Thank you, Salire said, dabbing sweat from her forehead.
She inquired about the sprayer project Theo had kicked off. It was hard for him to say how it was going. Once the essence consumption reports rolled in, he would have a good idea of how much they needed to produce. His first impression was one of excess. They had stockpiled too much of the Hallow the Soil essence, and wouldnt need as much as they had made. The alchemist preferred to have more than he needed, though.
Alchemy had be something other than simply helping people. Folks around town relied on the alchemist for many things. Cleansing Scrub kept people and ces clean. Restoration potions made sure the adventurers could keep fighting and curtailed any idents that would render workers bedridden. Curative potions were consumed daily, banishing a long list of diseases created by the swampy environment. Theo imagined the role of the Newt and Demon changing in theing days. As it had with the problem of undeath, theb would create potions that solved specific problems. But it was important not to forget the little things.
Where do you think ourb is going? Theo asked, falling into a chair and kicking his legs up on a table.
Ourb? Salire asked, fidgeting with her hands.
Theo shrugged, smiling up at his apprentice. Thats my question. This is bing more of a shared space for both of us. Theres no way I can do the workload required by the town. So, where do you see us going?
Salire had to think about the question for quite some time. She paced between the stills, cing her hand on top of the boiling hot surfaces a few times. She removed her hand, cursing, but did it again a few times.
I like the idea of sharing theb, Salire said finally. She shrugged as though she didnt believe her own words. Not that she couldnt imagine herself being that integral to theb, but that she didnt deserve it. Our cures, enhancement, and restoration potions are vital to the alliance. With so few healers, people rely on us.
Youre saying were good with what were doing? Theo asked.
Of course.
What about research? Theo asked. Advanced potions like the soul potions. Reagents that are hard to find. Or too difficult to cultivate without a skilled hand.
Salireughed as though she couldnt believe Theo. But she was smiling. Thats the way things are now. I handle the low-level potions while you work on the research.
Theo nodded in agreement. That was true, wasnt it? Salire wasnt useless. Far from it. She had taken to the art of alchemy better than he had. And she doesnt have any of the cheats that he does. With her help, they discovered several important things. Including the Hallow the Soil potion. At the very least, she was a knowledgeable sounding board. At best, she was an ever-expanding well of knowledge and skill. He pushed himself out of his chair, pping a hand on the half-ogres shoulder.
I think what I learned is that Im not doing enough. Doesnt seem like a lot of time in thisb. But were the two most advanced alchemists in the world. By default.
That doesnt sit well with me, Salire said, shifting ufortably on the spot.
Think about it. Drogramath dedicated himself to alchemy entirely. When he hands out a core, ites with a Level 50 skill from the standard form of alchemy. People spend decades working on that and we get it day one.
Salire fell into silence, casting her eyes to the ground. Theo watched as she chewed her cheek, trying to wrap her mind around how important they were. He didnt want to impart a sense of arrogance into her, but there was a deeper meaning to their purpose here. They held the legacy of Drogramath in their hands. From what the god himself said, there were few or no remaining Drogramath Dronon on the mortal ne. While that was created by the way the race reproduced, it was still a fact.
We can only do our best. Right? Salire asked.
Right! Theo said, pping his hand on her shoulder again. Lets make an offering to the shrine, then Ill go down to the second floor to do some research. You stay up here and keep working the stills.
Salire nodded, joining Theo to the shrine in the rooms corner. Each offering they made to the shrine added to an invisible experience bar. The building maintained the bond with Drogramath, not the alchemist operating the equipment. He ced a Widow Lily on the shrine, watching as it went up in purple mes. For just a moment, he could feel his god draw slightly closer.
After making the offering, Theo left Salire to work on her own things. He went down to the stuffy second floor, clearing away a few tables and lighting candles. Rowan and Sarisained about the heat in the room, so they kicked on the air conditioner. It was brutally hot outside today, without a single cloud to help. The alchemist could produce several tiers of potions at the moment. First tier potions were simply distilled, then brewed. Nothing fancy went into those. Next were second tier potions, which required the essence to be put under pressure. The method they used for that stripped thest step, pressurizing the essence while it was still in vapor form. Third tier potions were made by infusing pure alcohol with an essence, thenbining that with a second tier essence during the distition process. The resulting essences were the most pure they could produce, embodying a chaotic level of power.
Thest form of potion-making Theo had discovered was through the Suffuse Potion. By breaking down essences into their primal, powdered form, he couldbine them together. The resulting potions were often random, but essences with simr propertiesbined well. The alchemist thought of these potions as default third tier. Although the fourth tier was out of his reach, he considered suffuse potions made from third tier essences to be fourth. Those were the greater potions of the world that represented a level of power that was hard to consider. Modifiers worked simrly, producing potions that had parts of both the modifier and the base potion.
Theo withdrew an Ice Quartz from his inventory. It was a pea-sized gem, so delicate it seemed to melt in his hand. The item kept its form, but only just. Catalysts were less important in potion making. The alchemist had decided that fact was because of thebs stabilizing features, but it could have been his status as champion. Iron Shavings worked fine, even at the second tier, but Drogramathi Iron worked better. Even if the metal wasnt alchemically reactive, it still worked as a catalyst.
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The alchemist withdrew a sk of Refined Fairys Blessing Essence from his inventory, cing it on the table for inspection. Within the sk, the faintly pink essence swirled on its own. Theo could feel the power of the essence pouring from the top of the sk, washing over him with a heady mixture of power and intent. It was derived from the Fairy Plum, which was the spirit fruit that represented the Wisdom attribute. That troublesome attribute. He had used that essence to create the Potion of Return. It made him think about Fenian.
Theo withdrew a vial before pouring a unit of the essence inside and topping it off with Enchanted Water. He swirled it, watching as motes of white formed within the liquid. After a momentary pause, he dropped a single Drogramathi Iron ke inside. The potion swirled and bubbled, putting off the sweet scent of fruit. He made a mental note of the timid reaction of the potion before inspecting it.
[Fairys Cunning Potion]
[Potion]
Mythic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to experience the Fairys cunning.
Effect:
For one hour after drinking this potion, the imbiber may see five seconds into the future.
Only one future-sight potion may be imbibed per day.
Repeated use of this potion may producesting problems.
It wasnt surprising that the potion was dangerous. Five seconds into the future wasnt much, but it was something. Theo smiled to himself as he considered how he would use the potion to his advantage. In abat situation, it made sense. The line in the effects section about repeated use was frightening, but the alchemist was already aware of potions like that. Any potion that made a personrger would leave longsting heart problems. He was certain there were other potions that caused problems, but had discovered none.
Fairy Plums were rare things. Theo had a garden of them in Terogal, but those came with problems. The first issue was that they took forever to grow. The second problem was that the spirits within the realm needed the spirit fruit to survive. He hadnt confirmed this theory, but any spirit that ate the fruit regained their full form quicker than those that didnt. Belgar owed hispleted form to the fruits, which made it hard for the alchemist to want to use them. There was also a conceptual limit to the amount that could grow within the realm. Some hard-coded thing from the system that prevented him from making a fruit farm.
Theo produced a few more vials, brewing a handful of the potions into vials geared toward modifiers. He would find a solution to the fruit problemter. For now, he wanted to see how the fairy potion took to modifiers. The Holy modifier had joined the ranks of useful modifiers. Anti-mage was his go-to, but for this experiment he started with Holy. The alchemist introduced the golden modifier to the potion and scooted back in his chair. He winced as he prepared for the explosion, but was treated to a pleasant bubbling and a renewed scent of fruit in the air. Both Sarisa and Rowan shot a look as though to say should we be concerned? He gave them the thumbs-up, turning back to his experiment to inspect the resulting modified potion.
[Fairys Cunning Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Mythic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to experience the Fairys cunning.
Effect:
For fifteen minutes after drinking this potion, the imbiber may view another part of the world of their choosing. Magical counter-measures may impede the imbibers ability to see into guarded ces.
Only two far-sight potions may be imbibed per day.
Leaning back in his chair, Theo blew out a steady breath. How vague could he be with the potion? And how did it work? The alchemist needed to know how the potion worked right then and there. It was hard to hold back his excitement as he scooped the potion up, preparing to down it.
Hey, hey, hey, Sarisa said, rushing over. Just quaffing a random potion?
Theo looked at her and shrugged. Why not? Looks safe.
Looks like a swirling, bubbling vial of pink and gold, Sarisa said, cing her hands on her hips. As in dangerous.
Hark, Theo said, pointing at the far side of the room. Rowan is stealing your wineskin.
Sarisa whipped around, ring at her brother. Theo downed the potion. The rush was instant and intense. The room around him went ck as he felt the potions intent. He felt the half-ogres hand on his shoulder, but ignored it. The potion was waiting for him to instruct it, which he did. First he gave the impression as though he wanted to see the floating city of Qavell. But that request was rejected. Instead, he imagined the coastline of the continent in his mind. Based on how fast a lumbering city might go, he selected one section of the coast. A shock of electricity ran through his body. Wind rushed by, deafening him as the other senses of his body dulled. He no longer felt Sarisas hand on his shoulder.
Theo tried to shout, but nothing happened. He was floating miles above the coast on the eastern side of the continent. He saw why Qavell had never built a port here. The water met against solid rock that rose high into the sky. Wavespped against the stone below as the ocean spread far to the east, north, and south. The alchemist figured out how to move his vision around, although it took great effort. Far in the distance, south of his floating position, there was a floating speck. A spike drove itself into his head when he looked at it and he was suddenly thrown out of the vision.
...idiot! Sarisa shouted.
Theo fell back out of his chair, hitting his head on the ground. He groaned, clutching the back of his skull as Sarisa berated him.
Was it worth it? she asked, grabbing him by the cor and shaking him.
It really was, Theo croaked. Ive spotted Qavell.
Sarisa released him in an instant, blinking in confusion. Really?
Yes. About half-way between where they started and here. Along the coast.
You saw it? Rowan asked, pping the side of Theos face as though to revive him.
Stop hitting me, Theo said, batting the siblings hands away. I saw it for about a second before I was thrown from the vision. Maybe because there was a woman pping me in the face.
I didnt hit you that hard.
Theo rubbed his face, feeling the heat on his cheek. Sure.
I need to report this, Rowan said, rummaging through the satchel he carried with him. He produced a map of the continent. Show me on the map where the floating city hurt you.
Theo pressed his finger into the map and nodded. A few miles south of there.
Earth measurements, Rowan growled. Dont worry. I wrote the conversion down.
And then Rowan was gone, off to report Theos findings to Aarok. The alchemist rose, approaching his desk shakily. He sat there for a moment, inspecting his mind for damage. But there was nothing. Someone had created a field of magic around Qavell that interfered with the potion. He didnt think it was likely that anyone detected him, but did it matter? The city wasing to destroy the alliance. It wasnt exactly a stealth mission.
Sarisa, Theo groaned, holding his head. He let out a ragged sigh. Could you get a Stamina Potion from Salire?
Sure, Sarisa said, patting him on the shoulder.
Check to see if we have a Greater Stamina Potion in stock.
Of course, Sarisa said, running off.
Theo looked up from his feigned difort, adding more Holy modifier to another vial of Fairys Cunning Potion. He swirled it, speeding the reaction up. He could hear Sarisa stomping up the stairs as he downed another potion, then watched as the room went ck. Once the potion was ready for his intent, he imagined Vesta on the western coast of the continent. The alchemist was once again thrown through reality until he was floating above a sandy coastline.
This time he wasnt miles in the air, only a few hundred feet. He looked over the destruction there, finding nothing but undead and ruined buildings. While he wasnt immediately rejected from the vision, he felt something within the endless ranks of the undead. They were standing around, shivering on the spot or otherwise contorting in strange ways. That same sensation prickled in his mind again. A figure strode out onto the beach, its body covered in dark cloth with a hood concealing its face.
What a surprise, it said, looking up to the exact spot where Theo floated. What can I do for you, Champion of Drogramath?
5.47 - This Aint Zalaban
5.47 - This Ain''t Zban
Theo iled in his mind, desperate to move or dispel the potion. Nothing worked. He could only look around the remnants of Vesta as words came into his mind but were never spoken aloud. The figure belowughed, soon releasing a rattling cough that chilled the alchemist to the bone.
What spell is that? the figure asked, shambling closer to get a better look at Theo. Alchemy, of course. What a strange effect. Ive never seen it.
The figure tilted its head to either side, as though he was trying to understand what Theo said. Again, heughed. Youre quite untrained with magic, arent you? Express your intent through magery. Use your mana. There it is. A little louder, please. My form is still new.
Who are you? Theo asked, feeling the words echo through the air. He couldnt tell if they were actual words. They seemed closer to manifested intent than anything else. But the figure below chuckled, his face still hidden by the hood.
Ill tell you one thing, champion, the figure said, gesturing to the undead around him. These bones make for poorpany, so I wee you to the Ashes of Vesta. But I do not have a name. Do you?
My name is Theo, the alchemist responded. The more words he used, the easier it seemed to be.
Wee, Theo. Your name carried on the winds of magic in the soutnds. And I apologize for the trouble my minions caused. I fear that I my progenitor didnt think this n through. You may call me the Wanderer, until I discover a better name.
Theos mind twitched. The fear of his situation melted away. The more he examined the state his mind was in, the more he realized he was in no real danger. This wasnt like moving through the realms, where his physical body was sent to another ce. This was a thread of his mind, stretched across the world. If this form was destroyed, it wouldnt matter. The bacsh in Broken Tusk would be minimal, and he would be fine. After he calmed down, he knew exactly who he was talking to.
Shouldnt I call you Balkor? Theo asked.
Oh, hes quick, the Wanderer said, turning to tap his knuckles against the skull of a skeleton. Theo spotted the bone-like appendages of the man and mentally recoiled. Yes, and no. Balkor created an imprint of his soul during the First Ascension War. How long ago was that?
Fifty-thousand years ago. I think, Theo said.
Ah, the Wanderer said, turning to the city he just destroyed. This isnt Zban?
It isnt.
The Wanderer was a lich. Theo understood this based on what Fenian had told him about Balkors fall, and how he used a phctery to lure the undead to Qavell. The necromantic power of an undead army brought him back to life, but it wasnt the current incarnation of Balkor. It was an imprint of him from thousands of years ago, back when an empire still ruled the continent. The lich that stood amongst the undead below him wasnt the modern day version of Balkor, but one that lived before ascension. There were many things to think about with that, but the alchemist didnt have the time. He had to y therapist to a lich.
But I got what I came for, the Wanderer said, running his hand over something under his cloak. They were hoarding it.
This is weird, Theo said. He tried to shrug, but couldnt. I just wanted to put that out there. From my perspective, youve been assaulting my towns with the undead.I appreciate your apology, though. Do you have them under control?
Absolute control, the Wanderer said, turning to look at his minions once more. He turned back to Theo, pulling his hood back to reveal a skeletal face. Im afraid Im at a loss. I have it. But what should I do now?
Theo constructed the narrative in his head. Balkor had a few ces to keep his soul, just in case it was destroyed. This made it so he wouldnt fall out of power. So long as he was alive, his realm wouldnt fallpletely. When he descended to the mortal ne, he brought an old phctery along just in case. Fenian found it, brought it to Qavell, which created the Wanderer. The alchemist imagined there was a period where the new version of Balkor wouldnt have all his senses. He likely came to Vesta looking for something the old version needed. As he went, more of his senses came back. Now he was lost and confused. An unwitting party to this massacre.
Theo wouldnt ce me anywhere. That wasnt his ce. He had about five minutes left to convince the lich to pull his necromantic powers in. To stop spreading the corruption.
Youre corrupting the continent with your power, Theo said. But I dont think it was your intention.
No, the Wanderer said, turning once again to his minions. They followed me here. I have only recently gainedmand over them and and myself.
Draw your power into yourself. We may be able to help.
Could you? On the other side of the continent?
Were purging thend of the necromantic power. Well work our way north, then to the west.
Do you n to kill me?
Yes. Of course the answer was yes, but there might be another way. Like any power in the world, necromantic power wasnt bad. Well, it didnt need to be bad. Theo based this conclusion on how ntheir handled Balkors incursion. If the Elven God of Healing wanted to get rid of the demon god, he could have. But he didnt. Which meant there was at least some value in keeping him alive. But the alchemists time was running out.
If youre a problem, well banish you, Theo said. If you draw your power in, staying on that side of the spine, we wont have a problem.
And I have your promise. Thats it? the Wanderer asked.
My time is limited. My promise is that well purge undeath from thend up until the spine. Then well stop there, leaving you to do whatever it is you want. So long as you stop spreading the corruption.
The wanderer looked around, nodding to himself. Theo could feel the effects of the potion slipping away.
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I think I like that, the Wanderer said, nodding to himself. Theo could almost feel him smiling, but the lichs skull was constantly grinning. Ill start by ah, your potion is fading. Farewell!
Theo gasped, looking up at the wooden ceiling with wide eyes. Both Sarisa and Salire stood over him. Both had their arms crossed with sour expressions on their faces.
You lied to me, Sarisa said.
Theo smiled back, patting himself down. There was no damage to his body or mind. But he had a lot to process. The wanderer was pleasant to talk to. Maybe it was because the lich hadnt talked with anyone else, but there was a glimmer of hope within him.
Are you okay? Salire asked, pressing her hand on Theos forehead. The light in your eyes went out. They were just ck.
Perfectly fine. Theo pushed himself to his feet, not even needing the help of hispanions. They had removed him from the chair. He paused, letting his thoughts gather. The encounter was too confusing to process all at once. I saw someone.
Who? Salire asked, cutting off Sarisa before she could grill him further.
A lich. The potion lets you see distant ces. I saw Vesta. Well, whats left of it.
You did what? Sarisa groaned. That sounds dangerous.
He was really nice.
How many dead people was he standing on top of? Sarisa asked, narrowing her eyes on the alchemist.
He wasnt standing on them.
Her gaze intensified.
A few. Hundred. Thousand, Theo said, adjusting the scope of the Wanderers destruction as he spoke. I understand, Sarisa. Not a good move.
Sarisa took one steady breath, rolling her shoulders as she calmed down. She had more questions about what Theo had seen and how he was seen. He exined everything that he could, emphasizing that he understood how dangerous the situation was. The temptation to see Vesta was just too great. Both Qavell and Vesta were high on his list of interesting ces on the continent right now.
Because I made first contact with him, he has a good impression of the world, Theo said, jabbing a finger at nowhere in particr. He was confused. Recently resurrected and leading an army he didnt want.
At least you threatened him, Sarisa said with a shrug.
While he seemed intelligent, he was also clueless about what was going on.
Alise is going to piss and shit herself if you tell her, Sarisa said, scratching her head with both hands. She continued doing so for a few moments, groaning in frustration.
More info is good. Besides, talking with an echo of Balkor has to be one of the more normal things Ive done.
As long as youre alright, Salire said.
Alise would be a problem. But something like this wasnt for her to consider. Theo had been trying to keep military and administrative matters separated as best he could. Therefore, she had nothing to do with it. Instead, it was a matter for Alran and Aarok. The alchemist wanted to stay as far aways as he could, so he wrote a report for someone else to take over. He made sure to detail the fact that the Wanderer could have sent him packing at any moment, and kept the line of magicalmunication up as a show of good faith. After he had his report written in the administration interface, making sure to limit the ess to the document, he turned to hispanions.
Ill have a chat with the gods. See if I can get anyone to vouch for the Wanderer, Theo said, turning to pass through the void. Sarisas hand pped over his shoulder.
Careful, Theo, she said, her tone one of friendly concern. Make sure you ask the right one.
I know just the god, Theo said, chuckling as he felt the ground fall out from under him.
Instead of heading directly to Terogal, Theo took the stealth approach. When he passed over the bridge, he halted his progress. The bridge loomed below him as he descended, and he felt the familiar presence of UzXulven. The shadows twisted on the bridges edge, soon revealing the gloomy form of the demon god.
What are you waiting for? she asked. I havent sat around for a year not to get my tea, Theo.
Mind if I stop by the Realm of Healing, first?
Ah. Then well have some tea? she asked.
Of course.
Be my guest, UzXulven said, gesturing vaguely to the bridge. An expanding portal appeared, revealing the realm behind it. Theo thanked her and stepped through.
Even before the alchemist set foot in the verdant gardens of ntheirs realm, he smelled the familiar scent of Qavelli Berries. A pair of elves, both wearing light white robes, giggled as Theo passed by. He waved with a nervous smile, then pushed through the beautifulndscape. The alchemist had been here once before, and he was again reminded of how gorgeous this ce was. Though he hadnt explored it well, he imagined the entire realm was like this small area. He ascended winding stairs, soon finding himself before a massive open-air building. ntheirs presence was near.
Theo, ntheirs voice came drifting through the white stone building. Theo followed it, finding the god of the realm standing before people of all races.
Hey, hows it going? Theo asked, waving awkwardly to the group. More giggles. Can I ask you a question?
ntheir nodded and the crowd of people dispersed. He waited until the group was gone before he spoke. How can I help you?
Theo narrowed his eyes, then shook his head. Youre being nice, arent you?
Naturally. I watched as you contacted him. You handled it rather well.
The elven god crossed the room, pouring something from a silver pitcher into two silver goblets. He brought them over and handed one to Theo. The alchemist took a sip, finding that it was just juice. While he expected wine, he appreciated the slightly tart juice. ntheir led him to a patio on the far side of the building. Elegant chairs and tables littered the area. Below were sprawling forests and rolling hills. Far in the distance was a snow-capped mountain.
I figured you would have given him a chance, Theo said, leaning on the white stone railing. I mean, what did I do? He was on the other side of the continent. We havent thrown a Hallow Ground Potion on him or anything.
No, but those were the first words he has heard from a mortal since gaining a new form. Balkor from the first age was a different man entirely. Yes, hes a lich now. While there might be some who think of undeath as a perversion, it doesnt need to be. It can be no more dangerous than the dungeons.
Good to know, Theo said, sipping more of his juice. ntheir took a seat. Thats encouraging. With that out of the way, I hope I can count on your support in the future.
For advice? Certainly. I have an agent moving to contact the Wanderer.
Hopefully for a friendly chat.
Among other things.
That was a greatfort. Theo breathed a sigh of relief knowing that ntheir was on the case. If things went wrong, the agent would take care of any problems that arose. Because agent was just a code word for a champion. Once again, the alchemist was reminded of Fenian. Currently trapped in Tarantham, the elven trader was supposed to steal a ship and sail for Broken Tusk. The conversation turned away from business, though. ntheir was interested in chatting about memories of Earth. Theo was surprised with himself. He found those old descriptions of their old home to be a greatfort. Compared to the reality of that wastnd, the descriptions were pleasant.
Perhaps it is time to go, ntheir said with a smile. Id like some tea.
Yeah. I got what I need to know, Theo said, edging his consciousness away from the Realm of Healing. Wannae with me?
Sure.
Theo found it oddly simple to bring ntheir along with him. He pushed both of them through the void, then over the Bridge of Shadows. Within a breath, they were emerging through the veil and into the realm of Terogal. The alchemist was just happy there wasnt a gaggle of souls waiting for approval. Instead, he saw the many gateways of the other gods springing up in the open field. Belgar was trotting over to greet Theo and ntheir.
We have invented a new sport! Belgar shouted, jumping on the spot. Behold!
The spirits had invented rollerding. Theo shook his head, trying to remember if he mentioned roller skating or rollerding to any of the souls. They had to make modifications to his roads, somehow paving them with a solid material that seemed to be poured concrete. While he had no idea how they did it, it was necessary. The alchemist imagined people rollerding over a cobblestone road. That would have ended in more injuries than anything else.
Theo! Benton shouted, waving him over. Spit, Drogramath, and UzXulven were already entering the cottage. Come on! I got some new tea.
ntheir made a delighted noise. Lets go. That man is revolutionizing the heavenly tea industry.
Theo smiled, joining by the gods side as they entered the cabin. The alchemist feltplete ease washing over his mind. ntheir had a way of doing that.
5.48 - Utility Potions
5.48 - Utility Potions
Theb in the Newt and Demon was crowded. Sarisa, Rowan, and Salire had listened to Theos request, only pulling Aarok and Alran in for a brief meeting. The leader of the Adventurers Guild had brought Xolsa in on it, in a surprisingly wise move. When the alchemist reappeared from his twenty-four hour rollerding and tea-sipping adventure, he found himself surrounded by those people. He cleared his throat, waving awkwardly to each of them.
Are you aware of a spell called Mindhunt? Xolsa asked, pressing his finger into Theos chest. It must sound awfully familiar.
I didnt have my soul yed, Theo said, crossing the room through the crowd and finding a seat. Good to see you, too.
Did ya learn anything from the heavens? Aarok asked.
That was the kind of attitude Theo wanted to see. Not usations, but a constant pressing forward to solutions. He exined what ntheir had said, and that it should put everyones mind at ease. No one but the elven gods champion could have been assigned to the job. The most powerful god in the heavens had sent his first inmand on the mortal ne, so there was no need to worry. Aarok and Alran were worried.
It took Theo a while to go over every piece of information he had, all the while being berated by Xolsa. An hour of that was enough to sate the alchemists need for pestering conversation for quite some time. Only when the pressing group of people left hisb did he feel at ease. He wouldnt be using the potion anytime soon. Especially with Sarisa watching so closely. Before getting back to work, he withdrew Feniansmunication crystal and squeezed it. The buzzing filled his mind twice before the elf picked up on the other end.
Alchemist! I keep forgetting to call you, Fenian said with more joy in his voice than the alchemist had heard in recent days.
Where are you at? Theo asked. Are you alive?
Naturally. Takes more than an army to stop this elf. Im sailing with a group of pirates! Can you imagine? Pirates!
Sounds exciting. How long until you get to town? We still have your karatan and carriage.
Perfect. Im not sure how fast these pirates can move this old washtub of a boat. A few days. A few weeks. Months? Hard to say.
Keep me updated. Weve had a few developments Id like to talk about in person.
Certainly. Now, if youll excuse me, I need to participate in a rum guzzling contest.
Before Theo could ask what that was, the call was disconnected. The alchemist was left looking at the concerned faces of Salire, Sarisa, and Rowan. Fenian is on his way back.
Rowan turned to the others in the room, finally shrugging. I think it was worth the risk.
Come on, Rowan, Sarisa groaned. Youre going to encourage him.
Dont pretend like were not up against some serious power. We offer to risk our lives for him every day. So what if he wants to do it for the sake of an entire nation?
A nation of how many? A thousand? Sarisa asked.
More than the one were protecting.
Theo held up a silencing hand. Rowan and Sarisa were always very professional, but they were siblings. If he let this continue, it coulde to blows. Xolsa lectured me enough. But dont pretend as though I wont use the potion again. Ill be smarter about it next time, though.
You better be careful next time, Sarisa said. How are we going to protect you against mages from afar?
Salire raised her hand timidly. I would have taken the potion, too. We figured something out about our two biggest problems. In a matter of moments.
Sarisa grumbled. At least make sure the wizard is here the next time you take it. Or make him take it.
Theo appreciated how concerned Sarisa was. He had hired her and her brother to guard him, but they had be more than that. Most people in Broken Tusk saw the alchemist as a native, although he was not. Once everyone had calmed down, he considered what other work they could get down. He hadnt even shown them the base version of the potion, which was powerful on its own. This experiment revealed two types of potions to him. Far-sight, and future-sight potions. Both seemed dangerous and useful.
Instead of getting back to work, Theo discussed his findings with Salire. They moved down to the shop, where she could handle customers as the discussion rolled on. Once they had made a resolution to test the other spirit fruits, they moved on to other topics. While he was in the heavens, he poked at the gods for a good core option. Each had refused to answer his questions, citing the bindingws that Khahar now enforced.
Im not good at those things, Sarisa said with augh. Ive been swapping cores since I got them. Only Drogramaths alchemy ever felt right for me.
Night was drawing closer as their conversation rolled on. Theo had a few experiments nned for the Dreamwalk, so he didnt want to get anything going here on the real ne. Instead, he invited Salire over for dinner at the manor. She epted, naturally. Sarisa and Rowan might have been annoyed with the alchemist, but he had a feeling they would still make some delicious food. The group headed to the manor an hour before sunset, stepping out into the brutal heat and heading over to the air conditioned building.
Theo fell into one of the manyfortable chairs in the sitting room, sighing and casting his eyes to the ceiling. Tresk had already skimmed his memories of the far-sight potion, and was forming opinions. He could feel her mind twist around the danger versus the reward of getting information from far away. She was undecided, but at least she wouldnt yell at him. Both she and Alex arrived at the same time. The alchemist shook his head, getting a good look at the goose. She was taller than the marshling, even when she bent her slender neck down.
Youre going to ride her soon enough, Theo said, gesturing at the pair.
We already tried, Tresk said, waving a dismissive hand. She isnt big enough yet.
Yet, Alex said, speaking through the Tarahek. But I am close.
Theo patted the goose on the head, feeling her slick feathers under his fingers. She had grown with her level, and he couldnt help but examine her.
[Alexandria DGoose]
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
[Goose]
[Familiar]
Stage:
[Exceptionally Large Goose]
Master:
[Dreamrealm of Terogal]
Level 24
Description:
Geese are known as the most loving creatures in all the realms. Any rumors spread to disparage these honorable creatures will be met with a flurry of feathers and bill.
Affinities:
Fire
Nature
There were a few things to note. Her stage was at Exceptionally Large Goose, which was weird. Alex had started off as a Gosling, or a baby goose. She then became a Large Goose, and now an Exceptionally Large Goose. Since Miana had tamed the Marsh Wolves, marshlings had ridden them like horses. Judging by the size of those creatures, Tresk wasnt far away from riding atop Alex, which would be a nightmare on the battlefield. The goose had also expanded her affinities, taking up nature fully. It was almost at a point where she could control natural elements as easily as she could control fire.
Dinner was pleasant, though. Sarisa and Rowan prepared something Theo hadnt eaten in a while. They ced the tes on the table, revealing a meal of seared karatan steaks with a pile of karatan butter on top. As a side, they had prepared grilled greens that the alchemist wasnt familiar with. He cut into the steak, finding a cool pink center. The meat was so tender it seemed to melt in his mouth before he had to chew it,bining with the butter to create a distinctly rich vor. The salt, pepper, and otherworldly spices atop the steak sent him over the edge. Those greens on the side didnt ck, either. They were abination of asparagus and broli in vor, providing a deep earthy offset to the richness of the steak.
Youve outdone yourself, Theo said, finding himself clearing away his te for the first time in a long time.
All we need to do is serve him big bs of meat, Sarisa said, chuckling from the other side of the table. And our boy will grow up big and strong.
They grow up so fast, Rowan said, wiping a fake tear from his eye.
Theo smiled back at them, unoffended by their prodding. Those around him went to significant efforts to get him to act as though he were actually the archduke of a rising nation. But he knew he could rely on them to correct him when he was being an idiot. Or too impulsive,passionate, and so on. Even Alises pestering served a purpose and the alchemist would never discount it. Even if he was annoyed.
The rest of the meal went well. Theo watched as his friends ate, and engaged in friendly conversation about whatever was on their minds. Rowan wouldnt stop talking about his new love. The dining party groaned every time he brought some new facet of his girlfriend up. He reveled in each annoyed sound, basking in it like a lizard warming themselves on a hot rock.
Dusk fell over Broken Tusk by the time everyone was done with their meals. Theo and Tresk could have fallen into the Dreamwalk earlier, but they both enjoyed the friendly conversation. Even Alex tried to put her thoughts out there, but could only produce honks out loud. The marshling was happy to trante for her, adding every goofy remark the familiar had to add. But the night wore on, and the Tarahek headed upstairs to fall into their private dream.
Tresk had a thing for the mossy forest, dropping the party between those familiar trees. Theo had another location in mind, though. With a thought, he shifted the scene to represent the ruins of Vesta. The marshling scoffed, looking around as she shook her head.
Figured you wouldve brought us here. Is that the guy? The lich? she asked, looking at Theos approximation of the Wanderer.
Thats him, Theo said, walking over to poke the figure in the face. His skeletal body didnt move. And all his friends.
I dont care for this ce, Alex said, honking her disapproval.
It was a grim ce. The delightful sandy shore betrayed the level of destruction. But the Dreamwalk only went as far as Theo could remember from his position in the air. Everything after that was a hazy smear of gray and green. The alchemist shifted his thoughts, finding nothing to gain from the scene. He transported them to a mountain top near the eastern coastline of the continent. Tresk almost tumbled down the sheer drop, cursing as she adjusted her footing on the rocky surface. Although he had only seen it for a moment, Qavell was represented in as much detail as possible in the distance.
Wow. That was worth seeing, Tresk said, squinting into the distance. You think we can take that thing?
Theo had no impression of the floating city other than the brief visual. If there was a magical impression to be gleaned, he couldnt feel it. That was due to hiscking senses, or the effects of the potion. It was impossible to say. Thanks to that fact, he had no idea what they were up against. Only the hints he had been given informed their defensive n.
We need to. But we dont have to stay here all night. Id rather go back to the forest.
Right? I love that ce.
Theo nodded in approval, and the scene shifted back to the imagined forest. Tresk and Alex had a meeting in a clearing while he set his alchemy equipment up. They were working onbat synergy, highlighting each of their weaknesses to improve. Alex was great in the air, but the moment shended she was useless. Tresk needed to strike from stealth, with poison on her weapons, otherwise she would need to retreat into the shadows. This meant that the goose was a distraction. And she was damn good at it.
They scampered away as Theo considered something Salire said. Potions with powerful effects were cool, but the little things mattered. Maybe more than the big things. The alchemist imagined a me Rose, a chair, and a table to work on. He deconstructed the rose, revealing thest two properties but leaving the hidden property for now. He inspected the rose.
[me Rose]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Rose enchanted with elemental fire. Grows near sources of me, or fire-creating material.
Properties:
[Increase Strength] [Hauling] [Relentless]
Increase Strength was the property that produced Strength Potions, which made the rose a valuable reagent to grow. But Theo had never seen the Hauling or Relentless property on any other reagent. With a sweep of his hand, he generated some stills to create essence from the flower and got to work. The alchemist ground some imagined me Roses, then added Enchanted Water. He turned the heat on two stills, focusing on those two new properties for testing.
The n was to create them as a second tier potion, not wanting to bother with a third tier for testing purposes. Second tier potions had be the baseline for everything, as they were easier to make and represented a better sample than the third tier. Theo waited around for his stills to finish. He could have forced his will on the Dreamwalk,pleting them almost instantly, but the forest was pleasant. He watched the branches sway above him, not eager to do more work than he needed to. Things had felt like a grindtely, so he wanted to take it easy.
When the essence finished distilling, Theo imagined vials, catalysts, and more water for the next step. He started with the Hauling property, finding that the potion it created produced a tepid reaction. The resulting potion was a pale shade of red, bordering on pink. The alchemist inspected the potion.
[Potion of Hauling]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Great Quality
Allows the imbiber to haul items with great ease.
Effect:
For the next hour, all items carried by hand will weigh a fourth less than normal.
This potion doesnt take into ount the imbibers Strength attribute.
That was an interesting potion. It made sense that the me Rose would produce it, and perhaps some people in town would find a use for it. Even if some folks had an inventory power, this potion would have been useful when they were building the harbor. Those stone blocks were heavy as hell.
Theo turned his attention to the next potion, brewing it and finding the reaction to be more violent. The Relentless property created a less docile potion. The alchemist watched the reaction as it bubbled, some of the liquid foaming over the edge of the vial. When it calmed down, he leaned in to inspect the potion.
[Potion of Relentless]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Great Quality
The imbiber no longer feels pain or fatigue while under the effects of this potion.
Effect:
For the next thirty minutes, the imbiber no longer feels pain or fatigue.
The imbiber may overdraw their mana while under the effects of this potion, instead drawing from their health or stamina pool. The amount drawn from Health is 2:1, while Stamina is 3:1.
Theo nodded. Someone might have found that potion useful, but he didnt. He turned away from the table, happy enough to find one potion that was good. The alchemist joined with Alex and Tresk, once again facing down the horned snake.
5.49 - Looking for a Core
5.49 - Looking for a Core
Theo red at his te. While Tresk had already downed her food and ran, he was left to look at the mass of burned sausages and over-cooked eggs. Compared to the tes before Rowan and Sarisa, piled high with perfectly cooked food, he felt betrayed.
Am I being punished? Theo asked, pushing the inedible food around with his fork.
You need a reminder, Sarisa said, snapping into a sausage and smiling across the table. Not only do I protect you, but I also cook your food.
Fair enough, he said, withdrawing a bowl of soup from his inventory. Steam rose from the surface, and he watched as globules of fat danced on the surface. This bowl was at least a month old, but his inventory had preserved it perfectly. The lesson I have learned is to always have a back-up n.
Rowan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Thats not a bad lesson, but not the one my sister was trying to instill.
Better than nothing, Sarisa said with a shrug. I wont deny that Im happy to have closure on the whole undead thing.
Im not sure if I would call this closure. Theo dipped his spoon into the soup, fishing out a piece of wolf meat. This was from the first batch of food that Xam made with her Cooks Core. It was far better than the stuff she served when he got there, but nothingpared to what she cooked now.
Sarisa and Rowan talked with each other about the situation, but Theo inspected his administrative interface. Ziz had requested some of his time today. After the bridge idea failed, he had to go back and evaluate his options. The man was convinced he could make the concept work, although there was no evidence that he could. A simple barrier remained in ce. The ocean was vast and powerful, battling against any attempt to tame it with storms and high waves. No matter how deep they drove the foundation of that bridge, it would always topple.
Digging underground was an option, but it would suffer from the same problem as the bridge. There didnt seem to be avable bedrock on the seabed. Perhaps if they dug deep enough they would find it, but physics would alwayse back to bite them in the ass. Airships were an option, but Xolsa had been consulted on that one. The storms that were kicked up in the sea were spurred on by errant magic, once again bringing the same problem they experienced with the necromantic energy.
The lizard inds werent even a prize. Those people had culture to offer, and little else. It wasnt as though they werent as advanced as the rest of the world, but they kept themselves small for a reason. Through those actions they had managed to avoid the purges that gued the rest of the world. Instead of hurtling forward with seed core buildings and bustling poptions, they remained small and mobile. Even their citizens limited the progression of the cores, swapping them out often enough to avoid the systems inevitable march of destruction.
Theo finished his soup, but waited for his guardians toplete their meals. Sarisa was mad at him, but that didnt mean she didnt have a job to do. The alchemist was reminded of the Zagmon assassins when he had the urge to leave, and remained until they were done. Once everyone was done eating, they stopped by theb to check on Salire and the Herbalists Workshop to inspect the new nts. Everyone was smooth sailing today, so they made their way through the town, toward the quarry.
Stabby Groove, the section of town upied mostly by adventurers, had grown considerably. Elves now outnumbered everyone else by arge margin thanks to House Wavecrest. That was a problem for another day.
The quarry had grown considerably since thest time Theo had visited. Ziz spotted them from afar and prepared mugs of mead. The alchemist took his cup and drank, knowing that the half-ogre wouldnt ept anything other than an empty mug in return. He handed it back, putting a smile on Zizs face. Rowan and Sarisa reluctantly drank their own.
Got my message? Ziz asked,ughing. Funny how I have to go through the administrators to talk to you.
Theo scoffed. Juste find me if you need me.
No worries. I wanted to talk about a few projects. If you dont mind.
Theo agreed, and the pair walked to the edge of the quarry. Normally, the stone would be somewhere near the top. Ziz typically carved a stairway into the quarry, allowing his workers to walk down to find the best stone. The entire marble quarry produced perfect quality stone, and hadnt stopped since they found it. Now the stone seemed quite low, and it was easy to see why. There were more workers with Stonecutters Cores than ever, chipping away at the rock with hammers and chisels. They guided massive stones as they fell, ensuring that they didnt shatter. The entire operation was going well, especially now that Ziz wasnt using the stone to make a bridge to nowhere.
I had to lick my wounds for a while, but Im ready to get back at it, Ziz said, pping a hand on Theos back.
Whats the n?
Ive got about three ns, he said, withdrawing parchment from his inventory. He ced it on one of many marble stone blocks, holding it down with chipped pieces of the stone. Have a look.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Theo leaned in, finding oddly detailed sketches of projects, along with descriptions of what those projects were. The first project was a logical one, and something the people in town wanted for quite a while. They would build a bridge over the swamp, just outside of the western gate. That bridge would span all the way to the dungeon, providing an off-ramp to the tower as well. While this project wasnt necessary, thanks to Xolsas portal, there had been times when the wizard was too sick to maintain the portal.
The next project was one that was just practical, and they needed this one. Ziz wanted to tame the river near the river dungeon, creating another underwater tower like the one in the bay. There were a few logistical things that made this project hard, but the solution was on the sheet of parchment. Diverting the river had been an abandoned n way back when, and it once again resurfaced. Theo thought this was the best way to aplish the task, and approved of it entirely.
The third project was vague. Ziz wanted to do something with the tunnel they had carved near the mine, but didnt know what to do with it yet. The original n was to use that to connect to the over-water bridge, but it was now defunct. Theo shook his head, looking up at the half-ogre. Thats a problem for another day.
Agreed. Check out thest one, Ziz said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Theo turned his eyes to thest project. It could only be described as extremely ambitious. Broken Tusk was a town bordered by mountains on three sides. Only a rtively narrow passage to the northeast allowed them ess to the rest of the alliance. Ziz wanted to reim some of thatnd for the alliance.
You want to cut the top off of the mountains, Theo said, giving Ziz a t look.
No, not the mountains, Ziz said, gesturing to the hills behind him. Just the hills. Well top those,y a nice foundation of stone and invite people to live there.
Perhaps, Theo said, still not believing it was a good idea. My potions arent strong enough for the job. We would need an Earth Mage.
Theyre just ideas, Theo, Ziz said with augh. Im not married to them.
But Theos thoughts had already retreated inward, to a problem he was already facing. There were two things left over from his advancement to Level 30. His free skill pick had remained where it was,pletely untouched as he couldnt find a good fit. But he also had a core to pick. His newest core slot was something he wanted to fill with a willpower-based core, but what about Earth Mage? How many times had the town been without one when they needed one?
Maybe we can do it, Theo said, tapping his chin. Which one do you think is the most important?
The river, Ziz said without hesitation. Which requires some elevated approval.
Theo understood the meaning of Zizs words right away. Youll have my full approval on that one, buddy. And whatever funds you need to do it.
Always appreciated. Should I send the bill to yourb, or Alise?
Once again, Theo understood. Send it to myb. Ill let Salire know to pay you from my personal funds if you need it.
Thats why I love doing business with you, Theo. Youre just so damn easy.
Theo remained at the quarry for a while, chatting with Ziz. The thing he hated the most was dropping in on a citizen and leaving before they could talk. Those interactions felt too transactional, often leaving the alchemist feeling like a bad leader. He wasnt a good leader, but he didnt want to feel that way.
I have some people to talk to, Theo said, turning away from the quarry. See ya.
Theo headed back into the town, Sarisa and Rowan trailing behind him. He talked with a few people along the way. A few folks hadints about stuff, and he promptly entered what they said into the administration interface. Their concerns were mostly around theyout of the town, and their inability to ce stuff where they wanted. That should have fallen to Alise, Gwyn, and Gael.
Where are we going? Sarisa asked as Theo angled toward the portal. I dont like the portal.
No one does, Theo said, stepping through. Of course, he didnt feel the same disorienting sensation as the others. The more time passed, the more inclined he was to use extra-nar travel.
A few adventurers were standing on the first floor of the tower, chatting with Zarali and Xolsa. They were discussing the evolution of the Swamp Dungeon, and the appearance of new monsters on the lower floors. Theo found the topic interesting, and didnt interrupt while they were talking. When they were finally done, the wizard beckoned him over.
What is it you require, Theo, Xolsa said, pping him on the back. It seems as though you always need something when you visit my tower.
Truthfully, I dont care for your tower, Theo said, poking his head out the front door. He looked out over the swamp, still holding it as a ce to be feared in his mind. Im thinking about broadening my skills. Taking up another mage core.
Xolsa shared a surprised look with Zarali. She ced a hand over her mouth, giggled, then said, oh, my.
I can help with that, he said,ughing and leading the way up the stairs. He stopped on the second floor, gesturing for the alchemist to have a seat.
The second floor of the tower had been designed to be a study. Books littered shelves on the wall, while random magical devices were strewn around in no particr order. Both Xolsa and Zarali took seats and waited for him to speak. Theo paused, thinking about what advancement meant to themparing it to how he viewed it. Most people werent as eager to advance in levels as Theo was. From the moment his feet touched ground on this, he had been going non-stop. While he had gotten better at taking time to enjoy life, he was still busting his ass daily.
Zarali didnt care at all about leveling. She was more concerned with deepening her connection with Drogramath, and understanding everyst thing about his form of enchanting. Xolsa was more interested in studying things to understand them. Those things were often rted to his mysterious origins, and his nar Mages Core. There was no better pair of people to talk to about a new core, though.
Zaralis willpower was monstrous whenpared to Theo. Xolsa was the most skilled mage the alchemist knew.
Okay. I want a new mage core, Theo said. But I have some questions about willpower and earth magic.
Zarail and Xolsa shared a look, nodding to each other. Lets hear it.
5.50 - Earth Sorcerers Core
5.50 - Earth Sorcerer''s Core
Unfortunately, Xolsa had adopted a local Broken Tusker tradition. As Theo sat with him and Zarali in the wizards tower, a faint fire crackled in the firece. If not for the Coat of Rake, the alchemist would have been ufortable. Instead, he sat among those musty tomes with hispanions feeling as though he was experiencing a cool summer breeze.
Earth magic is interesting, Xolsa said, rising to pull a few books from his shelves. It might pair well with your personality.
As in, youre stubborn, Zarali interjected.
Xolsa nodded in agreement, returning books and pulling new ones as he went down the line. He returned to the plush sofa, setting the books down and spreading them out over the table. After a moment, he selected one and opened it, flipping through the pages before finding what he was looking for.
Your desire to increase your willpower is a problem, Xolsa said, holding the book out for Zarali to take. He then found another and began flipping through that. But there might be a solution.
Yes, willpower is difficult to train. Most crafting cores give you a bit, but not enough to make a difference.
We can consider exploiting the system with spells and potions, but that might not be enough for you, Xolsa said, shaking his head. I have a better idea.
Theo waited as the pair went back and forth, searching through books to find what they were looking for. Eventually, the wizard nodded to himself and ced several books on the table, open to the pages he wanted.
First, we need to talk about magic. Do you remember when I had you learn Axpashi?
Of course, Theo responded in thenguage. I love ducks.
Xolsa gave him an annoyed look at first, but smiled. Decent. For a cker. Most mage-style cores open magic to their users with three distinct modes of casting. Channeling, which means that you form magical arrays in your soul. Chantingthats the one you usemeans that you form the array through words. Somatic gestures allow the caster to make arrays with hand gestures, like this
Xolsa performed a series of rapid hand movements. A magical circle appeared in the air before him,ced with intricate sigils. Theo pped.
Thank you, Xolsa said with a bow. The system tags all cores that use that form of spell work as mage. Your mage core is based off of that, although I think it was originally a demonmage core before it was altered. There is another mode of casting, though.
Thats where Ie in, Zarali said, jabbing her elbow into Xolsas ribs. He grunted, giving her a look. Priest-style cores use faith to cast spells. We request the power from our god, usually through prayer, and the spell is granted by that god. But there is another style of magic.
There is another style of magic that uses your will. Spells are formed through instinct, but theres a problem, Xolsa said.
Theo inspected the book. Whoever had written it distinguished between magery and sorcery, and determined that the second one was almost useless. Compared to a spell cast through an array, one woven with ones willpower was absurdly weak. It was the difference between tossing an exploding fireball, and hurling a ming dart.
I should hamstring myself to get more willpower? Theo asked, looking up from the book.
Thats the point, isnt it? Xolsa asked. The magic you use will be weaker, but your willpower will expand considerably. Also, sorcery is better at interacting with the natural world. If you want to perform earth magic, that might be the way.
What kind of core am I looking for? Theo asked.
A Earth Sorcerer''s Core, Xolsa said. Traders should have them. Theyll sell them for cheap.
Theo drummed his fingers on the cushion of the sofa. This was perfect. Getting a weak, seemingly useless core, worked perfect for his current n. He would buy the core and evolve it using his new Drogramath ability, turning it into a Drogramath Earth Sorcerers Core. The alchemists base-level willpower was weakpared to Zarali, but with his ess to Terogal he could easily put her to shame.
This is perfect, Theo said, rubbing his hands together. You guys are great.
Oh, please go on, Xolsa said, fanning himself.
Theo stayed in the tower for a few hours, talking to Xolsa and Zarali. The way was shaping up to be a rxing one, even if there were some new items in his administrative screen. The alchemist wrapped up at the tower and headed back to town. Sarisa and Rowan had not traveled through the portal with him, instead waiting on the other side back in town. They just hadnt gone through it enough to build up their tolerances, unlike most of the adventurers in Broken Tusk.
Ziz was looking for you, Sarisa said, jerking her head toward theb. He dropped off some requests with Salire.
Ah, Theo said, looking around for a moment. His body wanted to go in two directions at once. The harbor and theb. After shaking away his intrusive thoughts, he angled toward theb and headed off. Lets see what he needs.
On the first floor of the Newt and Demon, there was no one to be seen. Theo sniffed the air, detecting the scent of something familiar. He had to pause for a few long moments to identify what it was. Salire was running the stills upstairs. The smell was that of churning river water mixed with something more metallic. It was the Living River Water being run through the stills, and one of the least offensive scents produced in essence making. The alchemist headed upstairs, cing his hands on his hips when he saw his apprentice working diligently. The reagent she was working with was forgiving, allowing her to perform all steps of the process alone.
Shes all grown up, Theo said, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.
Salire turned, revealing the big smile on her face. I knew you would say something like that. Ziz dropped by for some Tunneling Potions. He said you were covering the cost. Is that true?
Yes. Were covering whatever expenses he has with his new projects. I just dont want to burden the town.
Salire chuckled nervously, returning to her work. Im not sure we can afford it.
Theo waved her objections away, walking over to check on her work. Everything looked fine from where he was standing, but it took little to get the Living River Water going. When you work with Ziz, you have to understand what he means. Well provide his workers with their standard rate and cover the cost of the potions. Hell provide the stone for free, as always.
Stolen story; please report.
Oh. Guess I dont know the secret rules, Salire said.
Theo shrugged. No point digging our hands into each others pockets when were trying to build something nice.
Only outsiders seemed to misunderstand the way they did things in the town. Anyone who wasnt a Broken Tusker was more selfish than someone who was. There were many people looking in from the outside, objecting to the way they did things here. Those people could keep their coins. Perhaps they would use that money to fill a pool in which they could swim. They would do so alone, of course. Sad and alone. The alchemist shook the thoughts from his mind, unwilling to entertain the whims of others.
Salire had started three stills to make arge batch of Tunneling Potions. While Theo would assume he could produce fifteen-hundred units of essence from that, the apprentice would have some loss. It would be far more than enough to finish the river job, and would leave a surplus for them to useter. The alchemist admired how smart that was, as he didnt enjoy doing one-off brews when they needed it. It was always better to have it on hand all the time, only doing new batches to bolster their supplies.
Youre doing well, Theo said, patting Salire on the back.
Thank you, she responded, her eyes snapping back to the stills.
Before heading to the harbor, Theo checked their current stock of Refined Hallow Ground Essence. Over in Gronro, Grot had been giving reports of their Hallow the Soil Potion usage. It was far less than the alchemist had expected, representing another surplus. They would burn through their current stock in a few days, but that was all the time theb needed to replenish. If the Wanderer made good on his deal, then it would be even easier to push back the corruption with his help. ntheirs n remained his own, and the alchemist wouldnt concern himself with it too much.
Do we have traders in the harbor? Theo asked.
Some from Tarantham, and one from Bantein, Salire said. She always enjoyed hitting the stalls. They always had cool stuff to buy, and their prices were cheap enough.
And one Khahari ship. If you could call it a ship, Sarisa said,ughing to herself.
Strange, Theo said, tapping his chin. The Khahari hadnt been engaging in tradetely. That might have been because their boats sucked, but Anyone wanna make a bet?
Sure, Rowan said, straightening up.
I bet you a copper coin I can say which trader has the exact core I need, Theo said.
Rowan narrowed his eyes. He grumbled. I like bigger stakes, but sure. My copper is on the ship from Tarantham.
Ill take Bantein, Sarisa said, producing her own copper coin.
Put me down for the Khahari ship, Salire said with a wink. Theoughed at that. Theo knows it will be the Khahari ship because Khahar orchestrated this before he ascended.
Rats, Rowan said.
Theo pat Salire on the shoulder. She gets it. Khahar could see into the future to an extent. Im guessing he predicted this.
Rowan cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. Buy everything they have.
What? Theo asked.
If youre right, then Khahar assumed you would know what you needed. But what happens if theres something there that you need, but you dont know you need it? Rowan asked, puffing his chest out. Im a genius.
Theo didnt want to admit it, but that was pretty smart. He had no ns to buy everything offered by the Khahari traders, but picking up quite a few of their wares was a good idea. You are, the alchemist said with a nod. Thats actually clever.
Actually? Rowan asked, the look of pride fading from his face. He now looked offended. Ill have you know, I was the smartest boy in our ss when we were growing up.
Sarisa grimaced, looking at her brother in disbelief. A turtle was in our ss.
He wasnt officially in the ss, Rowan objected. Snappy didnt take any tests, so he was only an honorary member of the ss.
I saw him take a test, Sarisa said.
You did not.
But he could have!
Theo pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. He only did so to hide the smile on his face and stifle hisughs. Once the bickering was over, he left Salire to her work in theb and made his way to the port. Instead of taking the road to the north, which ran east near Mianas ranch, he walked through the sparsely wooded area behind hisb. Both the greenhouses and the experimental garden plot were doing fine. The nt Golems saw to that.
Even before they reached the harbor, Theo could see the masts of the massive ships from Bantein and Tarantham. Those built by the elves had a sleek design that seemed as though they couldnt handle the open ocean and would tip over at the slightest breeze. The ships from Bantein had a stockier design, sitting wide and low in the water. They seemed made for war rather than trade. But the moment the alchemist crossed over the wall, he saw the pathetic offering from the Khahari. Their single-masted ship was dwarfed by the tworger ones, looking as though it would have trouble sailing in ake.
Look at that, Rowan breathed.
The merchants had set up stalls throughout the harbor, flying gs and barking their offerings. Theo wasnt sure how much money they actually made by selling to the alliance, but it must have been worth it. Broken Tuskers were always parting with their money to buy foreign goods. Once the north was clear of the undead, that trade would balloon even further.
Should we bother with the others, Sarisa asked, gesturing to the human and elven merchants. Or should we go find the cheat option?
Theo had no interest in distracting himself with other things, and was certain that his hunch was correct. He approached the Khahari stalls, browsing what they had out. There were a few interesting whole nts that he wanted to buy, but he didnt see a collection of cores. Khahar had mentioned that his little kingdom had coresmiths. He leaned in, inquiring about any cores in Russian. That fact still tickled him.
No cores this trip, the man said, waving him away.
Oh. Are you sure? Hiding it in your pockets, maybe? Theo asked.
No.
Huh, Theo said, turning away from the stalls without buying anything.
Cores? You looking for cores? a human vendor for Bantein asked, beckoning the alchemist over.
Theo red at the Khahari trader for a moment, earning a shrug in return. Yeah. Do you have any sorcerer cores?
Oh, yeah, the man said, raising a brow. Got plenty of those. But wouldnt you like to buy something more expensive?
Let me see your wares, vendor.
Theo had never seen so many cores. The Bantein vendor had enough cores to choke a dragon, including a lot of stuff the alchemist couldnt have imagined. Sure enough, he had a Earth Sorcerers Core for purchase. Only one silver, and the vendor had twenty in his ships dimensional storage. He inspected the core after purchasing it.
[Earth Sorcerers Core]
Common
Sorcerer Core
Unbound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
A sorcerer core focused on the earth element.
Innate Skills:
[Earth Attunement]
This was the most in core Theo had ever seen. It wasnt particrly interesting on the surface, wasmon rarity, and came with onemon skill. The alchemist drilled down, inspecting the skill.
[Earth Attunement]
Sorcerer Skill
Common
Allows the user to sense and manipte materials aligned with the Earth element, which includes dirt, stone, sand, etc.
There was a level of excitement that came from this core and the attached skill. Not because of the raw power they representedthat was minimalbut the potential. He turned away from the grumpy vendor, nodding and thanking him for the core. Theo approached the Khahari vendor, intent on buying some of those nts.
5.51 - Rocky
5.51 - Rocky
While Theo was excited to test out his new core, he instead returned to the Khahari traders to inspect their nts. He was disappointed that he was wrong about them at first, but then realized the wisdom in inspecting their wares. A Wisdom of the Soul message confirmed that, stating that it would have been annoying for the traders to bring cacti and desert grasses across the sea. Especially in such a small boat with a tiny crew.
How much for the three? Theo asked, gesturing to all the nts the traders brought. Naturally, he used Russian instead of Qavelli.
A gold, the trader said, looking at Theo as though he was bored of the entire venture.
The alchemist found a few other trinkets that didnt seem useful at all, and presented them as a package deal. The trader agreed without a fight and Theo realized he could have talked them down. But the deal was done and he was now the proud owner of three weird nts from the Khahari desert. He sucked them into his inventory rather than carrying them by hand and left the busy harbor. As he was going, he thought about expanding the town and establishing a market area on the far side of the river. He made a note of it in the administrative panel, assigning Azrug and Gael to the task. Even if they couldnt find a seed core, they could use the Dynamic Incorporation upgrade on the town to make a less-powerful seed core building.
Theo withdrew the nts behind his Herbalists Workshop, setting the y pots near the garden for inspection. The first was the easiest to understanding, as it appeared simr to the cacti back on earth. Bulbous leaves sprouted from the stem, disying bright red fruits with barbs on them. The alchemist examined those fruits without touching them.
[Khahari Cactus Fruit]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]
Common
The fruit from a cactus known to grow throughout the Khahari Desert. This fruit is considered sacred by the Khahari people.
Research:
Infused with intense energy from Khahar.
Long growth cycle with magic properties.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Easy enough, Theo said, inspecting the fruit closer. But you cant just pick them. These spikes have barbs. Theyll dig into your skin and never let go.
Nasty little things, Sarisa said, shaking her head at the stout nt.
What about this one? Rowan asked, stooping low to examine another nt.
The second nt looked like a tumbleweed, round and bushy with dead-looking branches and leaves. Sand-colored flowers sprouted all over the nt, giving the impression of a desert-borne cotton. Theo examined those flowers, finding that it was exactly as he expected.
[Khahari Cotton]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
Cotton known by the Khahari people to inste against the oppressive sun. Clothes made from this material will keep the wearer cooler while providing excellent protection from the sun.
Research:
Infused with intense energy from Khahar.
Long growth cycle, quick bloom cycle with excellent textile potential.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Finally. More cloth, Theo said.
Does that say it makes cold clothes? Sarisa asked, shoving Rowan out of the way to inspect the flower. She reached out, but had her hand pped away by Theo.
Note the barbs, Theo said, withdrawing an inert bone knife from his inventory and lifting the flower.
Does everything in the desert have spikes? Rowan asked, chuckling nervously. He edged away from the nt.
Lets find out, Theo said, turning to thest nt.
This was a strange nt. It was smaller than the others with a fat trunk and two slender leaves. Between those leaves was a single flower that shimmered between ck and purple. Without examining the flower, Theo could feel the items affinity for poison. As he inspected the item, he determined it had custom text set by a loremaster. That usually meant it was a hybrid.
[Nights End]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Epic
Upon the end of the night''s kiss, I found it. In myst moments, I curse it. This flower is death.
Research:
Infused with intense energy from Khahar and Zaul.
Long growth cycle, slow bloom cycle.
Extremely deadly to the touch. Handle with extreme caution.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
Rowan wasnt the only one to edge back this time. Both Theo and Sarisa joined him at a healthy distance after reading the description of the item. The loremaster failed to put which nts had hybridized to create this one, and the warning wasnt clear. The research section of the item put away any questions as to how deadly the flower was. Edging toward the nt, the alchemist tapped the side of the pot to return it to his inventory.
Im not so sure about that one, he said.
Did they ride with that thing? On a boat? Rowan asked, scoffing. Absolute insanity.
Theo knew exactly what to do. If he could figure out the properties of the nt, he could create an antidote. While it was too dangerous to handle in the real world, the Dreamwalk would protect him. The alchemist was content to put the two nts that wouldnt kill him and everyone he loved into the Experimental Garden Plot. He mentally documented the best way to nt and propagate each nt. The cotton had little seeds that were tucked under the puffy sand-colored balls, while the cactus could just be cut at any part and rented. His biggest problem was hisck of greenhouse space, which wasnt helped by theck of seed cores from the vendors.
The best ce to test the Earth Sorcerers Core might have been the Dreamwalk, but Theo was eager to test it out now. He held it out and inspected the object, finding it to bepletely in. Even the power from within seemed weakpared to the other cores he had seen. As he pressed it into his chest, he realized how long it had been since he slotted a new core. The sensation was unfamiliar, but wee.
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Anything? Sarisa asked, inspecting Theos expression.
The alchemist double-checked that the skill was slotted into the core, which it was. He didnt feel any different than he did before, but realized that he should expect such a reaction. After taking the Drogramath Dedication skill, each core that he slotted didnt influence him at all. There was aplete barrier between himself and the core, making it feel like a distant thing. Only when he actively focused on the core did he feel some effects of the Earth Attunement skill.
Interesting, Theo said, looking around the area.
The surrounding ground pulsed with faint green energy. His mind felt somehow connected with the dirt beneath his feet, tugging on his senses as though trying to get his attention. He reached out with his new skill, pressing his mind against that energy. But nothing happened. Theo had trouble understanding what the disconnect was, but decided it was a matter of simple practice.
Lets go for a walk, Theo said, turning away from his garden area and picking a random direction.
The hills to the north were a fine ce if he wanted to interact with only dirt, but the area near the mine had more rocks. Theo felt the need to practice this new skill on small stones before he could move on to dirt, but one thing was obvious. When he attempted to move the ground near the greenhouses, he felt something tugging on his willpower. He had be familiar with it by falling through the realms. When he went to the moon, it was the biggest disy of willpower control he had shown in his life in this world.
So, when do you start casting spells? Rowan asked, jogging to keep up with the alchemist.
Once I figure out how to connect this core with my willpower, Theo said, nodding to citizens as they passed.
Not as though youre a novice spellcaster, Sarisa said, pping Theo on the back. Ive seen you make some serious wards.
Theo had to think about that for a moment before responding, but she wasnt wrong. Toruauns magic was weird, even whenpared to Xolsas Axpashi casting. When creating a ward, especially using the Linked Wards skill, there was a level of intuition that went into the casting. The alchemist had to shut off part of his brain to cast them correctly, pushing away his logical side to get a handle on things. He had a feeling that sorcery was like that, but different. It should have been easier for him, falling in line closer to willpower maniption with his Tarahek Core.
The group passed by the smelters, then into the hills dotted with homes. People who ces their houses in the southern side of town didnt care for roads. They just imed a plot and ced a seed core down with a mind for the view, rather than essibility. Theo spotted one house atop a rocky hill, and he couldnt figure out how the owner got to the front door. It led to a sheer cliff.
Lots of stones here, Theo said, kicking a loose cluster of rocks as they approached the mine. He waved to the miners working there and they waved back.
Whats the n? Rowan asked, sounding bored with the whole thing.
Theo focused on his new core, once again seeing the world light up with green energy. Each stone at his feet was a mote of shimmering green, pulsing with the beat of his heart. He reached out to a piece of pea-sized gravel and seized it with his will, focusing on the sensation he felt when he traveled through the realms. After simting that sensation, he felt a rush flow through his chest. Mana flowed from his body in all directions, undirected and untamed. Both Rowan and Sarisa stepped back.
Youre glowing purple, Sarisa said.
Looking down, Theo realized he was indeed shing with the purple fire of Drogarmaths mana. When he checked his mana levels, he realized that none had been consumed. He looked back to the gravel and forced his will upon it. The aura of mana red again, intensifying until the tiny stone floated a few inches from the ground.
Interesting, Theo said, breaking his concentration and allowing the stone to fall. This is a weird ss.
Lifting the little stone hadnt even consumed a single point of mana. It hadnt even pushed his willpower to the limit. At least a system message appeared, informing him that his Earth Sorcerers Core gained some fraction of a percent experience. Over the next few hours, he lifted small stones with his mind. While he didnt make any amazing breakthroughs, he got good enough to lift a stone the size of a chickens egg into the air.
I have an idea, Rowan said, rising from his position on the ground. He had found afortable spot to rest while Theo yed with rocks. He turned to his sister and nodded. You remember the focus training we used to do?
Uh Frog-stick? she asked.
Yeah. This old guy was training us to fight. He would force us to hold a long stick out, then bnce an octofrog on the end.
How does that work? Theo asked, scratching his head.
Youre supposed to prevent the frog from jumping off the stick. You move it side-to-side when the critter goes to jump, then it wont jump, Rowan said.
Sarisa sighed. The point is you hold a stick up and bnce a frog. You should do the same thing with the rock, but instead of a frog and a stick, you use your magic and a rock.
That wasnt a bad idea, actually. Willpower usage was more instinctive than anything, and Theos instincts were honed. His mana shed out as he reached for another egg-sized rock. He guided it above his head and held it there with his willpower.
Like this? Theo asked. He didnt look up to see the rock, instead feeling it with his new core.
Exactly, Rowan said, pping a hand on Theos back.
The rock fell, bouncing off of Theos horn. He tried to snatch it with his power before it fell, but failed. The alchemist waited for the rock to settle before reaching out again and grasping it with his mind. He lifted it up, holding it above his head once more.
Now you should go do other stuff. Keep doing the rock thing until it bes second nature, Sarisa said, shoving Theo in the shoulder. The rock fell again. Once you can maintain focus while being smacked, youll have it.
Theo nodded in approval. Sarisa and Rowan could provide random interruptions to his focus. Stuff he couldnt predict. Perhaps this was just a way for them to smack him around, but it would do wonders for his focus and willpower.
Perfect, Theo said. What do we have left on our agenda?
Let me see, Sarisa said, grumbling as she pulled up her version of the administrative panel. Theo watched as her eyes went ssy. She finally clicked her tongue. We could go talk to Azrug about the market.
Excellent, Theo said, pping his hands together. The rock fell once again. Lets go!
Ill bring some spare rocks, Rowan said, gathering stones from the ground.
During the walk from the mine to Azrugs new shop, Theo dropped his stone fifty times. But on thest leg of the walk, he was shoved twice by Rowan and didnt drop the rock. Everyone considered this a great sess, and the low draw of mana meant he could do this forever. They entered the half-ogres shop, finding the young man counting coins behind the counter. He looked up, making eye-contact with Theo before his eyes shot up to the rock.
Whats with the floating rock? Azrug asked, a look of confusion spreading across his face. And the purple.
Theo held his hand out,manding the rock to sit upon his finger like a bird. This is my newpanion.
Rocky, Rowan said without missing a beat. Sweetest living stone youve ever seen.
Go say hi, Rocky, Theo said,manding the stone to float over to Azrugs counter. The gray rock danced across the counter, tapping against the wood surface in an uncoordinated rhythm.
Isnt he darling? Sarisa asked.
Azrug raised an eyebrow, looking down at the dancing stone. He waved sheepishly at the rock and forced a smile. Hi, Rocky.
Theo lostmand of the stone and it fell onto the counter, ttering and rolling onto the floor.
Well, youve killed him, Rowan said, crossing his arms and tutting.
I did not! Azrug shouted, scooting his chair back and away from the crime scene. I didnt touch him!
You breathed on him. Sapient rocks are allergic to half-ogre breath.
Azrug pped his hands over his mouth. Only a momentter, he narrowed his eyes on the trio. You bastards.
Oh, look, Theo said, wrapping his will around the rock once again. He brought it back on the counter, forcing it to dance once again. He lives!
Har-har, Azrug said, swatting at the rock. What do you idiots want?
Theo cleared his throat, pulling the rock back above his head. I wanted to talk to you about the market idea.
Alright. Im happy to discuss business. After you exin the rock.
Theo gave Azrug the rundown of the rock and how he was training his new core to work better with his willpower. The young half-ogre red at him the entire time.
Im still calling it rocky, he said, letting out abored sigh. Why do you need me for the market project? Sounds like a Ziz problem.
I wanted your input on capacity and design, Theo said. If were expanding east and north, were talking about a lot of real estate.
Azrug withdrew parchment from his inventory, red at Theo for a while, then started sketching ideas out. They worked together for a while, brainstorming about the best way to construct the market. Everything would be built by hand, which gave them a chance to create a custom market, rather than something provided by a seed core. The biggest concern was the design of the town after the created the market. Once they had expansions to the north and east, the towns center was no longer in the center. Therefore, the market would be the center and there would be districts surrounding it.
This is my best idea, Azrug said. If the plot you buy is the same size it has been, well have plenty of room for a market. And I rmend dedicating the entire expansion to the market.
Azrug went on about how important an extensive market area was. As things opened up, they would need more space for traders from abroad and local. Theo also liked the idea that the area could be used as a fairground during seasonal celebrations. Once they had agreed on some details concerning the cement of permanent structures, the alchemist headed out to submit the idea to Gael.
Say goodbye to Rocky, Theo said, making the stone vibrate in the air.
Bye Rocky. I hate you, Azrug said, forcing a smile on his face and performing several rude gestures.
5.52 - Reshape The Land
5.52 - Reshape The Land
The Dreamwalk spread before Theo, the imagined version of Broken Tusk representing a perfect image of the actual ce. He had spent the rest of his day working on his core. The gap between his willpower and the power of his core was shrinking at an rming pace, and he couldnt stop thinking about how strange of a core it was. Unlike most cores, the Earth Sorcerers Core relied almost entirely on willpower and skill. Some cores were useless without skills, while others needed skilled spellcraft to be useful. This one was just different.
Mind if we destroy the town? Tresk asked, elbowing Theo in the ribs.
Go for it. Im going to try something it might be cheating.
Oh. Think anyone can stop you in here?
Nope.
There were quite a few dangerous potions that Theo had crafted. The nastiest ones came from the Hallow Ground property, often producing potions rted to the undead. Of those many potions, there was one that mentioned the imbibers will. The alchemist imagined a version of that silvery potion in one of Salires fancy vials. He held it up for examination.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Embolden]
[Potion] [Modified Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Emboldened Hallow Ground] effect. The imbiber must overpower the will of each undead, in session. Failure to overpower will result in the users mind joining the undeads collective. Sess will put those undead affected under the users control.
Embolden had been the most dangerous modifier essence within theb for a long time. Potions like this had usurped it, bringing in a new age of secretive alchemy. ording to the description, he would need to overpower the will of undead creatures. Depending on how many undead there were, the challenge would be greater. The problem was the failure condition. If he didnt overpower those undead things, he would join whichever necromancer had created them.
Thats where the Dreamwalk came in.
The Dreamwalk was a unique space among unique spaces. Rules didnt matter here. There was a time where it had a will of its own that overpowered both Tresk and Theo. The marshling was the first one to rise above, and the alchemist followed closely after. They now had near perfect control of it, which hopefully meant that he could pull himself out of any simted control of undeath.
Theo shrugged, feeling confident in his abilities. He imagined a single undead skeleton at first, making sure that the thing belonged to the Dreamwalk, instead of any specific deity. The creature shambled toward the alchemist, grasping at the air with bony hands.
Theo popped the ss stopper on the vial and downed the liquid within.
The imagined world went ck. Theo stood with the undead thing in a nk arena. Without warning, he felt something assail his mind. Almost toote, he realized he needed to fight back without hesitation. The alchemist sent his will wide, smashing against that of the imaginary skeleton. Once that initial wave of willpower came crashing down, the skeletons will crumpled. The dark arena vanished in an instant, and the undead monster was now under his control.
Theo ordered the skeleton to move around the area before doing a little dance on a rock. He nodded with approval, finding that a single skeleton wasnt enough to overpower his will. But there was an important lesson to be had. If his willpower wasnt extended already, his defenses were low. Anything that sought to perform an attack based on willpower could snake into his mind without warning.
Note to self practice keeping that barrier up.
Two skeletons appeared as the first vanished. They limped across the street, jaws snapping as they reached for Theo. He downed another potion, this time with his expressed willpower extended, and crushed the will of them both in one fell swoop. They fell under his control an instantter, right after the darkened arena vanished.
What are you doing? Tresk asked,ing to sit on a rock.
Yeah, what are you doing? Alex honked.
Theo exined his n to increase his willpower by exploiting this potion. Tresk thought it was a stupid idea at first, but then she read the description. It reminded her of physical training for adventurers. The training they did presented no change to their levels or experience, but they got stronger. After that, she cheered the alchemist on as he summoned five skeletons. He repeated the process until he found his breaking point.
A small army of skeletons shambled through the streets of Broken Tusks, arms outreached and bones ttering. Theo quaffed his potion, encircling the eighty undead creatures within his grasp. His willpower spread out like a bubble, soaking through each skeleton. It seemed like a simple thing at first. But once one skeleton resisted the effects of his willpower, another followed suit. Those he had already dominated were freed from their prison, sending a shiver through the alchemists body. The wave of undead willpower came crashing down on him like a tidal wave, sweeping any sense of self away.
Theo gasped for air as Tresk pped him in the face. He wasying on his back, his tail painfully bent under his body. While he had mmed his head on the cobblestone street, he didnt feel the pain. The Dreamwalk saw to that.
Guess thats your limit, Tresk said, patting Theo on the head. She pumped her fist in the air. I didnt even help you! Its time to go beyond!
Theo pumped his own fist into the air. Yeah!
Tresk had a way of getting people riled up. Theo was good at avoiding that infectious nature, but he allowed himself to fall into that contagious fervor.
Do eighty again!
Okay! Im gonna do it!
This was where the Dreamwalk came in as a requirement for this n to work. While Theo was working with an amount of undead creatures he couldnt control, he didnt feel any change in his personal willpower. But when he fought, and lost, against a group that he couldnt handle, he felt the needle move. It wasnt a slight move, either. The alchemist tried dominating eighty undead again, and easily beat them. The number went up to eighty-five the next time, which he lost to.
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This process repeated itself for the entire night. Tresk kept her fight nearby, selecting another giant horned snake to battle. When Theo lost his battle with the undead, she came over to p him in the face. In reality, she was resetting the conditions within the Dreamwalk to release him from the Dreamwalks control.
When dawn drew closer, Theo felt exhausted. He had never stepped into the Dreamwalk tired, and left tired. This would be the first time that happened. But the number of undead he could control had skyrocketed from eighty to four-hundred. There wasnt even enough room within Broken Tusk to aplish this, forcing them to change the scene to a wide-open field. Even then, it was hard to cram all those undead into a fifty pace area. Proper cement was required to get them all in.
Do you feel more willful? Tresk asked.
Theo could feel Tresks intentions. She wanted to do the training herself, but had allowed him to be the first person to test it. But he felt as though his willpower had expanded to unthinkable levels in a single night. Where it was a puddle before, it was now a duck pond.
Do you want the truth? Theo asked.
Uh duh.
Theo thought about how to quantify the progress to her. But the amount of undead he could handle was a decent representation of how much he had improved. By a factor of five. I think.
Youre five times more willful, huh? Tresk asked, tipping her head back and barking a singleugh. Yeah, were doing this every dang night.
There were likely diminishing returns with this technique, but she was right. There was no reason not to exploit it. Theo wanted to test his new core within the Dreamwalk, but waited. It would be better to show off how far he hade in the real world. Tresk announced that dawn was approaching shortly after, and she pulled them out of the Dreamwalk. Instead of dashing downstairs, she stared at him for some time with a big smile on her face. Her excitement for the improvement bled through the core. She wasnt even trying to hide it.
Stuff your face quickly. I wanna see you move some big rocks.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex went downstairs to get some food. Rowan and Sarisa had already prepared a simple meal of pozwa eggs and wheat bread. The alchemist ate as quickly as he could, finding the act to be annoying more than anything. While he was excited to test the core, he liked to sit and chat while he enjoyed his meal. This was something that Sarisa picked up on.
Youre in a rush.
We did some wacky stuff, Tresk said, cackling. Theo is eager to test it.
Clearly.
Tresk actually waited for Theo to be done before heading out. She joined him, walking out onto the streets of Broken Tusk to find an appropriate boulder. They found one near the road, stuck in the ground to the south of the Herbalists Workshop. The marshling was jumping up and down, cheering him on.
Ready? Theo asked.
Ready!
Theo invoked his Earth Sorcerers Core, focusing on therge stone with his willpower. He willed it to move up, neglecting to impart amand of slowly. The boulder shot into the air, slipping from his will as it rocketed skyward. Half of the alchemists mana vanished in an instant.
Ah, crap! Tresk shouted.
Theo squinted against the sky, searching for the errant rock in the air. Feathers ruffled next to him as Alex took fight. He watched her soar, scanning the skies for her target. She kept going on until she was a tiny dot against the pale blue sky.
I got it! Alex said. Oof! Thats a heavy rock!
Tresk and Theo watched the sky as the goose descended with the rock. She ced it gently on the ground, avoiding any serious problems.
When did you get so strong? Theo asked. The boulder wasrger than Tresk.
Ive been working out, Alex said, preening.
Theo cleared his throat. Clearly.
That was awesome! Tresk said, rushing over to hug Alex. Youre the strongest goose in the entire world!
I know.
Hey Theo, lets try that again. This time with less danger.
Theo nodded, turning his attention to the stone once again. This time, he eased his will onto the rock. Mana seeped from his soul, but he made sure that wasnt going wild either. The boulder rocked to one side, then rose into the air. The alchemist held it there with his will, finding that the hardest part of this was keeping it from shooting into the air. Maintaining a steady stream of willpower and mana was more difficult than keeping the stone aloft.
Great job, Theo, Tresk said, patting him on the back.
What are you guys doing? Salire asked, jogging down the street to see what all the excitement was about.
Levitating boulders, Theo said, moving the rock through the air. Pretty cool, huh?
Oh, thats neat, Salire said, staying at a healthy distance. What was all that shouting about?
Tresk and Theo shared a look. Nothing, they said in unison.
Theo ran the situation down for Salire. She thought it was dangerous, but wouldnt argue with the results. The group talked about how far the power could be taken, all while the alchemist tossed the rock around.
So, the only reason youre so good at this is because of some hidden attribute? Salire asked, tapping her chin. That sounds like cheating.
Yeah, but no one has stopped us, Tresk said, rubbing her hands together and giggling.
How far does the power go? Can you pull the stones from buildings? Salire asked.
Theo dropped the boulder, turning his attention to the foundation of the Herbalists Workshop. His mana wove with his will, but nothing happened. It wasnt as though the will within the seed core was fighting against him. It just wouldnt work.
Nope.
Very interesting, Salire said, withdrawing a notebook and jotting something down. So, what was the point of this?
Theo thought for a second, almost forgetting what the point of the new core. To increase my will. And move some soil around in the town.
Nice. Do you need theb today?
Salire always had an academic attitude to most things. She was also very curious about how stuff worked, especially with the things Theo was doing.
Just leave one still for me. Im going to upy myself with this new core for most of the day. But theres a Khahari flower I want to distill.
Yes! Tresk shouted. The new poison flower? The deadly one?
Theo nodded. Thats the one.
Excellent, Tresk said, steepling her fingers. Tell me when you are done, alchemy man. Come, my minion.
Yes, master, Alex honked, waddling after Tresk as she walked away.
Once Tresk was out of earshot, Salire turned to Theo. Is she evil?
Kinda.
Theo chatted with Salire for a bit, but he wanted to get over to Zizs ce. The half-ogre would be impressed with his new powers. He just knew it. It was a good chance to test the core on a wide scale, as well. The alchemist departed, bidding farewell to Salire as he walked north toward the quarry.
There was still the problem of his free pick. Theo hadnt found a skill that stuck out to him. He could pick something for his new core, but that seemed wasteful. Both his Alchemy and Herbalist cores just got new skills, so he had already picked the best ones from those lists. The alchemist reflected on his new pick as he walked to the quarry,ughing at himself for picking something that required so much work. At least it fed into his other cores by increasing his willpower. Once he got it to a decent level, it would be worth the effort.
Theo passed through the various parts of town, checking on Banus Large Farm as he went. They had the Throks Weed problem under control, and had true zee growing in a few fields. Thankfully, the old farmer had taken the random mutation in stride, seeding it into a few fields.
The alchemist approached the quarry, finding Ziz and his boys back at full strength. They were mining the hell out of that quarry, pulling more stones than ever from the pit.
Hey! Theo shouted down into the pit. Ziz looked up, shielding his eyes. He smiled when he spotted the alchemist. Wanna see something cool?
Of course! Ziz shouted up, rushing over to thedder. What is it?
Theo smiled down at the stonecutter. The ability to reshape thend.
5.53 - Deadly Toxin
5.53 - Deadly Toxin
Theo reached a hand out, helping Ziz remove himself from the deep quarry. The woodendder strained under his weight, but held. The half-ogre pped a hand on the alchemist shoulder and beamed a smile.
Dont dy, Ziz said. You dont get that look on your face often enough, Theo.
It requires some exnation, Theo said, gesturing for the man to follow.
I get it, Ziz sighed. Gotta ease into it.
One might think that a Level 2 core would be useless for most things, Theo said, picking a path through the stonecutters camp. He angled north, toward the rolling hills that turned into mountains in the distance. But I found an interesting exploit in the system.
Ziz rubbed his hands together. What is it?
Theo wanted to show Ziz how he could move dirt around, but that wasnt something he practiced. Instead, he found a massive pile of gravel left by the stonecutters. The alchemist reached out with his Sorcerers Core, not even gesturing to wrap his will around it, then invoked his skill. He jerked his head to the side and the entire pile moved as one, hovering over the ground and falling in a heap ten feet to the left.
Damn, Theo, Ziz said,ughing. Level 2? What are you gonna do with that thing at Level 10!?
It hardly matters, Theo said. Im exploiting the fact that this core runs on willpower. I could keep it at Level 1 and be just as effective.
Well, damn. You want a job? Ziz asked, chuckling. He gestured to the various hills within his work area. Thend was hardly t. Could you even out my workspace? We were going to shovel it by hand, but never had the time.
Theo reached out with his Earth Sorcerers Core, probing the area that Ziz had gestured to. It was a mix of stone and earth, which might be a problem. But if the alchemist needed the ability to manipte the terrain. This had been something he wanted to do since they started doing projects around here. If he could moverge amounts of dirt, he could even speed up the river dungeon project.
Lets have a try, Theo said, approaching the rolling hill.
The hill itself was a mound of dirt and stone that sloped at a low angle. Theo imagined that the best way to take care of this back on Earth would have been to use a tractor with one of those big scoop attachments on the front. He never learned what they were called, but had seen them being used before. The alchemist checked his mana before proceeding, popping a Mana Potion and centering his mind.
Theo estimated the hill to be about twenty feet wide. It wasnt asrge as some of the other hills, but the amount of dirt in that five-foot rise was substantial. He imagined that big scoop, spreading his will over the length of the hill. The alchemist gathered his willpower and mana, pressing against the mound of dirt and pushing as gently as he could.
Wow! Look at that!
A mostly invisible force drove the dirt forward, ttening thend as it went. The dirt gathered upward, extruded from the hill as Theo worked. After only a foot of pushing, the force of the hill was too great, and the alchemist was forced to rethink his strategy. He wrapped his will around the dirt that had been piled up, and flung it to the side. Repeating the process, he leveled thend and removed the hill. Each time he ran into a boulder, he had to extract it and continue on.
That wasnt so hard, Theo said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
No kidding! Look at this! Ziz shouted, stomping on the ground Theo had cleared. That took you five minutes. We would have been here all day. I have a question about the limits of the core, though.
Ziz put Theo through a battery of tests. He wanted Theo to remove a cube of dirt from the ground, which was easier than the alchemist expected. He then wanted him to carve a pattern into the ground, which was a bit moreplex. The alchemist had to break the pattern down into chunks, imagining each of the parts as individuals.
Theo held a length of ground in the air, just over the section of ground he had extracted it from. He ced it on the ground nearby, allowing the form of the dirt to disperse. Clods of dirt tumbled to the side, some returning to the hole where they just were. The alchemist could tell what Ziz was testing him for. The river project needed some precise cuts in the earth. While the Tunneling Potion might have gotten the job done, this new method was better by a long shot.
Onest thing, Ziz said, withdrawing arge stone block from his inventory. Thanks to one of his skills, the half-ogre could hold the block in the air for a moment, cing it right where he needed it. Can you move that?
The stone was roughly the side of a half-ogre in height, and twice as wide. Theo had the impression that the block was just out of his reach, but he tried anyway. Wrapping his willpower around the stone, he tugged. It moved up slightly, but no amount of mana or will could get it to move. He gave up after a few attempts.
If this is for the river project, Theo said, taking a deep breath. Why would you need my new power?
Things might get out of alignment. I can take it back into my inventory, then bring it out but everything needs to stay in ce. If you can hold them in ce, were golden.
Right. I can practice, though. I might be ready by tomorrow.
Perfect. Were gearing up to start the project. Have I exined it to you?
No, but I think I know what youre going to do.
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Well, listen to the expert
Ziz exined his n for the river project. Theo was surprised to learn that he had consulted Xolsa on the project. If the river around the River Dungeon was diverted for too long, the dungeon would be unstable. They needed to create an offshoot from the river upstream, diverting it into the harbor somehow. Once it was diverted, ZIz and his gang had to build a tower around the river dungeon. Which is where things got weird.
The Ocean Dungeon is fine, right? Ziz asked. But we keep that thing dry pretty much all day.
So, why isnt it unstable?
I asked our local wizard the same thing. We identally tricked the dungeon into thinking it was still in the ocean. So long as the water is close enough, everything is fine. The River Dungeon needs water flowing around it most of the time, meaning its more temperamental. So says the wizard.
So the tower needs doors or something. That you can open and close?
Exactly. Im going to build a pretty extensive structure over the river to allow for that. Well dam the river after carving a section for it to flow into the harbor. Then well build a bridge and the structure over the River Dungeon. Complete with my fancy watertight doors. Well, mostly watertight.
Sounds ambitious.
Which is why I need your new fancy power.
Theo thought about it for a moment before responding. It might take him a few days to get himself ready for the project. Alright. Give me a few days. Ill expand my willpower, and we can test to see if I can lift those blocks. Every day.
Ziz reached out a hand for Theo to shake, which he did. I look forward to it, Theo.
The alchemist left the stonecutters area, feeling renewed confidence in Zizs n. This one was more thought out than some others he had attempted. And the Earth Sorcerers Core would add a lot to the effort. Broken Tusk finally had an earth mage, and Theo couldnt believe it was him who had stepped up. He always expected a random person to appear, sent to the town by Fenian or Khahar.
Theo made his way back to theb, finding Salire dealing with a customer. He waved at her before climbing up to the third floor. Before she settled into the shopkeeper part of her role, the woman had started four stills with Hallow Ground essence. That reminded the alchemist to check his interface, finding that the Salire herself had scheduled a delivery of Hallow the Soil potions forter in the week. There was even a note informing the alchemist of his responsibilities.
Huh, Theo said, not entirely interested in creating the same potion yet again. Instead, he turned his attention to the handful of deadly flowers in his inventory.
The Nights End nt barely had enough flowers on it for a batch. While he had ced the entire nt in the controlled Experimental Garden, doing so had brought with it a sense of unease. Theo didnt need to bring the flowers out of his inventory to know they were deadly. A flower that was more potent than the Widow Lily was frightening. He weighed his options, then headed outside. Just in case. Salire gave him a look as he passed, raising a brow as if to ask what the hell he was doing.
Theo found a field with no one else around. If things went wrong with the deadly flower, he would duck into his personal realm to find a cure. It was a reckless n, but with the option there he might as well. The alchemist withdrew the flower from his inventory, letting it fall to the ground rather than to touch it. He held his hand out, urging ming purple mana into his palm before allowing it to drip onto the flower. After focusing on his Reagent Deconstruction skill, the flower burst into purple mes, reducing it down to the primal form of the essence.
The first property on the Nights End flower was called Venom. Theo wasnt surprised, but the thought of the property came with deadly weight. The more he thought about it, the lessfortable he was distilling the essence in hisb. The cloud of smoke that the flower released stung his nose, filling his lungs with a burning sensation.
Make sure not to breathe that in, Theo said, fanning himself and coughing. He waited to make sure the poison hadnt taken hold. After a few minutes, he decided he was clear.
Theo entered the Newt and Demon once again, getting another confused look from Salire. He smiled and nodded before heading up to steal a still from theb. After cing one in his inventory, he took it outside. He set it up out back, near the greenhouses and his working golem. The alchemist got the sense that a still close enough to the building would gain the upgrade benefits, so he was happy enough. He ced what few flowers he had, around ten units, and started the artifice heater.
I need a safe spot to brew dangerous potions, Theo said, smoothing back his hair. There was the Experimentation Room upgrade for his building. But that always seemed like a waste. And the description said nothing about preventing deadly fumes. It only prevented damage from deadly explosions. Perhaps a custom building was in order. Another day.
Instead of handling the flowers, even through his gloved hands, Theo allowed them to drop straight into the still. He found a stick and crushed them, which took little effort. Flowers were always the easiest to mash. Well, Living River Water just melted, so there was that. With the attached vapor condenser on Throks custom still, the alchemist focused on a second tier potion for testing. Tresk would be happy with whatever new poison he produced from the Venom property.
Theo pulled the lid shut, snapping thetch down. He observed the still for a while, judging how much of the fumes from within got out. It wasnt as bad as he expected, but still enough to be worrying. The vents within theb might have been good enough to clear the air, but he wasnt interested in taking chances.
While he waited for the still to do its job, the alchemist practiced with his new core. He didnt focus on his willpower, instead going through drills to understand the connection between his will and mana. But the still finished with the Refined Venom Essence faster than he expected. The alchemist looked at the vial of seething green essence on the ground, reluctant to approach. He summoned the nearby nt Golem over, ordering the construct to move the vial into an empty field.
Thanks, Theo said, transferring one unit of the essence into an empty vial. He stepped back after pouring it, expecting the essence to react. While it smelled like death, it didnt react. The alchemist added a unit of Enchanted Water then dropped his catalyst inside. The reaction was immediate and violent.
Theo kept his distance from the plumes of green smoke, moving to either side when it billowed toward him. When the reaction had calmed down, he moved in for inspection. The liquid was a shimmering green with bands of ck running through it. The alchemist read the description on his new poison.
[Venom]
[Poison]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Coat your weapon with a deadly venom.
Effect:
Venom floods through any target afflicted by this poison, dealing slight damage over a great period of time.This poison is likely to persist for days at the lowest quality, and years at the highest.
Venom is persistent and difficult to remove. Removal attempts are less likely to seed.
Thats just horrific, Theo said, stoppering the vial and pulling it into his inventory.
That potion might not have been useful for Tresk. Perhaps there was a situation where she encountered a monster that was hard to pin down. Or if she wanted to assassinate a person and ensure the job was done no matter what. The alchemist pushed those thoughts out of his mind and moved on with his day. There were more reagents to test.
5.54 - Veil
5.54 - Veil
Theo pinched a fluffy, sand-colored piece of Khahari Cotton between his fingers. Despite the spines underneath the blossomed flowers, this nt felt much more inviting than the one that produced the Venom property. That small, cotton producing bush had many more flowers than the Nights End nt. It was a fact the alchemist was grateful for.
The nts Theo had bought from the trader werent in their proper spots yet. He could ce the cactus and cotton bush within a greenhouse without issue, but had concerns about the Nights End nt. The alchemist turned away from his Experimental Garden Plot, plucking the tiny seeds from the underside of the cotton. He pulled those into his inventory before making his way back to the Newt and Demon. The scent of something foul wafted from theb upstairs.
What is going on? Theo asked, waving his hand to clear away the thick smoke. Alise was coughing in the corner. The alchemist popped a window open, allowing some of the smoke to escape.
Once it was clear, Alise could finally speak. There were tears in her eyes from the acrid vapors, and she had a guilty look on her face. Sorry. Tried to do something I wasnt ready for.
No kidding, Theo said, approaching the offending still. It was hard to tell what had gone wrong, but the piece of alchemy equipment was covered in ayer of soot. Did you try something out of your reach?
Yeah. I wont make that mistake again.
Interesting reaction, Theo said, running his finger through the soot. He could feel that the resulting reaction was alchemically inert. There were no traces of what this once was left behind. What were you going for?
Hallow the Soil. But the Suffuse step threw me off.
Theo withdrew his knife, scraping some of the crud from the side of his still to ce in a ss vial. He stowed it in his inventory, not sure if he would ever have a use for it. Being a packrat meant filling ones inventory with as much crap as possible. He ced the Custom Drogramathi Iron Still back where it belonged, having shoved that in his inventory beforeing in. The alchemist then withdrew some Cleansing Scrub and cleaned away the equipment tainted by that soot.
Im really sorry about that, Salire said.
We need a list of rules on the wall. Rule one Alchemy is messy, Theo said, winking at his apprentice.
Salire nodded, regaining her confidence. I was close, though. It almost worked. Maybe I could get a hand?
Theo agreed, but wanted to start the small batch of the Khahari Cotton first. While his n was to use this stuff for textiles, it didnt hurt to investigate the properties first. He shredded several bulbs of cotton by hand, reserving one for his Reagent Deconstruction skill, and filled the still with enough Enchanted Water for the batch. The alchemist held the single fluffy piece of cotton in his palm, injecting it with Drogramathi mana and watching as it went up in smoke. The scent it produced was strange. Sand didnt really have a smell. But the smoke it produced smelled like sand.
Strange, Theo said. The property revealed was Veil, and he couldnt wait to test it out. He carried the handful of Primal Veil Essence to a Dimensional Storage Crate, dumping a few other items in while he was there. He turned back to Salire. Lets get working on those potions.
While Salire could create the baseponents for the Hallow the Soil potion, she couldntplete the batch through thest step. She had ruined a good amount of the essence, but it hardly seemed to matter. The nt Golem managing the caves worked day and night to make sure they had enough truffles to choke a dragon.
At least the Sow property was easy enough to source. Theos Small Farm had been destroyed before, but it didnt bother the golems. When he ordered them back to work, renting everything that had been lost, they did so withoutint. As the alchemist worked on preparing the Hallow the Soil potion, he thought about expanding that farm. He had picked every seed from the Khahari Cotton, giving him enough for a starter crop. As long as he kept a sample of the cotton within his Experimental Garden, he would be fine.
Theo and Salire worked for several hours on a batch. The alchemist found the act of working on potions meditative, and fell into a groove with his apprentice. Her skill with the art came from patience. Unlike Theo, who always wanted to run head-first into problems, she took a step back to evaluate what was going on beforemitting to anything. When she reached the same level as him, she would do great things. Even without being a champion.
Come on, Salire said,ughing as Theo sealed thest brewing barrel of Hallow the Soil. Lets see what the new essence does.
Theo removed the sk containing his Refined Veil Essence, holding it up to the light to get a better look. The essence within was, unsurprisingly, sand-colored. It swirled with the ss container, seeming to move as though blown by those warm desert winds Khahar used to talk about. The alchemist took the ornate vial handed to him by Salire and began mixing. He added a unit of the essence, a single shaving of Drogramathi Iron, and a unit of Enchanted Water.
Lets see what we get, Salire said, taking a healthy step back but watching with an intense gaze.
The mixture swirled within the vial, turning a transparent color of the same shade. Both Theo and Salire didnt wait, they inspected the resulting potion.
[Potion of Veil]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Shield yourself from prying eyes.
Effect:
Imbibing this potion shields the drinker from unwanted attention, magical or otherwise.
This potion encases your soul in a thin veil. While it doesnt make the imbiber invisible, it does make it less likely for anyone to notice them for any reason.
Mages performing scrying-style magical actions cannot detect you, unless their magic significantly overpowers the effect of this potion.
The description on the potion was beyond interesting. It was very specific with how the veil worked, stating that it absolutely didnt make a person enter a hiding state simr to stealth abilities. Theo thought that this might have been the thing that Khahar wanted him to find from those Khahari traders. But there were still more properties on the cotton, and all of those on the cactus fruits.
This tale has been uwfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
I wonder if this works with that fairy potion, Salire said, drumming her fingers on the table.
Salire was talking about the far sight potion. Theo had a decent idea of how the Fairys Cunning Potion worked. While it might help him use the far sight potion, he wasnt confident it would protect him. Unless it guarded him from Souly, or Mindhunt actions it wouldnt be worth the risk. Xolsa had yelled at the alchemist enough to make him reluctant to use that potion again. But the ability to see far-away ces was alluring. He wouldnt deny that.
Im certain it would shield a persons soul during the far seeing, Theo said, picking the vial up and holding it against the light pouring from the windows. But the thread that connects a persons projected consciousness and their soul would be visible. I wouldnt risk it in areas of high magic.
Ah. Theo learned his lesson, Salire said, tapping her chin and nodding. Curious!
Theo pped a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. Im going to check on my farm. Theb is yours.
Yes, sir!
Before leaving theb, Theo sent his senses wide. His will traveled through the lodestonework, where he found his nt Golems working hard at the Small Farm. He took it a step further, sending his senses far to the north. Thest time he had tried this, it was impossible without tunneling his will through Terogal. This time was different. The alchemists will spread far to the north with ease, connecting with the golems there in moments. One had been destroyed through an ident, but they were still going strong.
Ah, thats interesting, Theo said, probing forward.
The golems had taken advantage of Theos increased willpower. The good folks in Gronro hadnt moved the lodestone for a while, as it had gotten so far away as to be annoying. But with the increase in the alchemists willpower, their range had also increased. They were ranging farther to the north than he could have expected, and that led to another interesting fact. The Wanderer was making good on his promise. The necromantic energy in the area was lowering on its own. It became less persistent, and more willing to be removed by the various holy effects acting upon it.
Theo stopped by Mianas ranch on his way to his Small Farm. She had let her creatures outside the graze. That included the wolves, which didnt graze so much as they ran around and yed. When she spotted him, she came over for a quick chat. Things were going well at the ranch. She was making money. People were happy with her products and trained monsters. Miana Kells life had turned around after being in an impossible situation.
Theo departed after chatting for a bit, making his way through the northernmost eastern gate. Right outside of that gate was his little farm filled with wheat. He approached the small building, which acted as a farmhouse and opened the door. Two adolescent marshling were sitting inside, nibbling on unprocessed wheat stalks. They looked up at the alchemist with wide eyes before sharing a horrified look with each other.
Hello, the biggest of the two said.
Theo blinked a few times, then shut the door. Marshlings were weird, a fact that came with living in Broken Tusk. He turned to the building, shoving cores into the wooden structure. The Small Farm, named Honky if youre Hungry by Tresk, only had two fields at level 20. The alchemist hoped bringing it to level 30 would add at least one more field, as he didnt want to get rid of his wheat. While his operation didnt rival Banu and his Large Farm, it produced enoughbor-free food to provide for the town. He sold it to Banu and Xam at rock-bottom prices, often nevering to collect. A few copper coins here and there just werent a concern.
The building rumbled as the farm expanded. Two little voices shrieked in terror from within the farmhouse. Theo was certain he heard one of them shout, Im being eaten alive! He smiled to himself, kicking the side of the building a few times to get more shouts of horror. The alchemist then inspected the new upgrade option he was presented, finding it to be more than suitable. It was exactly what he was looking for.
[More FIelds]
What a Small Farmcks in size, it makes up for with character. Adds an additional field to your Small Farm.
Theo selected that as his Level 25 upgrade. The two marshlings burst from the building, scurrying away into the hills. One paused at the top of the hill, making a few rude gestures.
Thats our home!
Go live in the orphanage! Theo shot back, reaching out with his will to rumble the ground beneath the childs feet. It dashed off, screaming some more.
Youre not very good with kids, Tresk said, speaking into Theos mind.
Im great with kids, Theo said, shoving more cores into the building.
Most people dont delight so much when they see a child running away in terror, Tresk said.
Theoughed, but didnt respond. He watched as a fenced field appeared near his other two fields, sprouting from the ground like a nt. He continued expanding the building, sending it off in whatever direction seemed most suitable. The Scaling Expansion upgrade for the building came into effect turning the three fields of the farm into four. Thest upgrade of the day appeared, and he read it.
[Persistent Water]
All fields require half as much water as before.
The upgrades were almost a second thought. Theo just needed more fields, rather than interesting upgrades. He selected the Persistent Water upgrade before inspecting the Small Farm.
[Small Farm]
[Honk if youre hungry]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (5%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Speed nting]
[Enhanced Growth]
[Scaling Expansion]
[Drogramathi Cultivation]
[More Fields]
[Persistent Water]
Theo found one of his Dimensional Storage Crates he kept nearby for supplies, adding the Khahari Cotton Seeds. He essed the nearby lodestonework, adding new instructions. The two new fields would house the Khahari Cotton, leaving the original two fields for the Earth Wheat. After fiddling with those settings for a few minutes, the alchemist noticed a group of peopleing down from the wall, led by Luras. The alchemist waved as the half-ogre approached.
Some kids said they were nearly eaten by a demon, Luras grunted.
Theo shrugged. Im not sure how everyone doesnt know who I am. Im not a bad demon, Luras! I promise.
Luras tried not to smile. But he did. Are you scaring kids now?
They were holed up in my farmhouse, Theo said, gesturing to the building. Eating raw wheat. They were basically eating straw, which has to be a choking hazard.
Youre feeling smarmy today, Luras said.
Theo waved the lingering concerns away. They got scared when I upgraded the building.
And the earthquake?
Oh, check it out, Theo said, reaching his will out to a section of dirt beneath Lurass feet. He carved a square section out, just as he practiced, and held it together as he lifted.
Luras narrowed his eyes at Theo, hovering about three feet off the ground.
Pretty cool, right? Theo asked.
Luras grumbled. Yeah. It is. Does it work on rocks?
Yep.
Can you throw one?
Uh-huh.
Theo ced the cube of dirt back into the ground, then rooted around with his will to find a good rock. He found one that was roughly the size of his head and pulled it out with his core, pushing dirt away as it went to make the process easier. The gray stone hung in the air as the alchemist looked for a target.
Can you get it over the river? Luras asked,ing closer to stand next to the alchemist.
Absolutely, Theo said. He let his willpower and mana go wild, dumping everything he had into the rock. It shot through the air, swifter than an arrow, clearing the river with ease. Hey, didnt youe out here to yell at me for scaring the children?
Yeah. How big can you go? Luras asked, gesturing to a boulder near the road. Is that too big?
Were just gonna have to find out, my dear friend.
5.55 - Dam That River
5.55 - Dam That River
Theo and Luras spent way too much time seeing how far the alchemist could throw rocks. One moment the half-ogre wasing to yell at him for scaring children, and the next he was giggling when boulders soared through the air. That was the core of the half-ogres in Broken Tusk, though. An essence of authority mixed with child-like yfulness. But the day was wearing thin.
I should have been back at my post a few hours ago, Luras said, scratching his chin. Sorry. Gotta go.
Theo watched as Luras went, dragging his eyes across thendscape. There was a pile of boulders on the far side of the river. Im not cleaning that up, he said, willing himself to fall through the realms.
The alchemist arrived in Terogal, finding a few stray souls waiting for his approval. Things had slowed down, especially now that the wanderer wasnt feeding the void fresh soils. All the gods that frequented the cottage appeared, and he spent twenty-four hours within the realm chatting, eating sweets, and ying whatever games the local souls had adopted. While hiking was still popr, groups of souls splintered from the purists to create fresh activities. Rollerding hadntsted long, but cycling had. The bikes had four wheels and front and back chain drives. Theo was puzzled as to how they created the machines, but chalked it up to weird spirit magic.
Theo returned to the spot on the road, finding that not much had changed in the five minutes he was gone. The sun was setting over the western horizon, barely poking over the mountain range, signaling that dinner was close at hand. He returned to the manor, chatting with Tresk along the way.
The little marshling had been making more progress in her cores than he expected. She had even pushed beyond the Level 30 barrier, something that Theo still struggled with. Tresk knew it was because he was too distracted with shiny things.
A distinctly fishy smell emanated from the manor. Theo smelled it even before he entered, but when he crossed the threshold he was assailed with a confusing mingling of fish, herbs, and spices. There was also a citrus undertone to the scent. He found his way to the dining table, having a seat and waiting for the meal to be served. Sarisa and Rowa seemed to know exactly when he wanted to eat.
Sarisa emerged from the kitchen after a while, bringing with her tes piled high with food. She set Theos portion down, moving on to serve everyone else. In the center of the te, there was a single cut of fish. The alchemist didnt recognize what kind it was, but it wasyered on top of green vegetables with a green sauce. Resting atop the fish were small slices of a citrus fruit, one he again didnt know. Scattered around the outside of the fish were more of the greens.
Thank you, Theo said, finding that the fish ked with the gentlest touch of his fork. He scooped some greens and sauce with his first bite. The rich and oily taste of the fish was offset by the green sauce, cutting some of the offensive bite. The greens he had scooped enhanced the vor of the fish, bringing out the meaty quality. This is actually great.
Did you expect anything less? Sarisa asked, giving Theo the stink-eye.
I dont care for fish, Theo said, preparing another bite. But I like this.
Once the meal was done, Theo and Tresk dropped into the Dreamwalk with full bellies. The marshling ran off with Alex to fight some more imagined creatures, while the alchemist focused on increasing his willpower. The Earth Sorcerers Core was a good excuse to move some rocks and dirt, but the true reason he needed more willpower was the floating city. Those gods that dropped hints told him another god was acting on the mortal ne. Why Khahar didnt just zap the guy was beyond him, but it hardly mattered. It fell to Theo to increase his willpower so he could trap this god in a bubble of his own realm.
But how does one trap a god? Theo asked, watching as the skeletons shambled toward him.
Theo thought back to the time he teleported himself to the moon. There were many things that had to fall into ce for that to happen. Uharis had already opened a trail for him to follow with the spell he had cast. The alchemist had a deep connection with both the Burning Eye and Sulvan. Both Uharis and Sulvan were ascendant candidates, which lit their souls up like beacons in the mortal ne. He was almost certain he had no connection with this new god, unless it was a piece of the burning eye.
A field of skeletons came under Theos control as he rolled through the list of suspects. When that provided no answer, he backed his line of thinking up. Thrones were a metaphysical representation of a concept. The system often talked about meta aspects regarding how close they were to the system itself. Khahar sat atop the Throne of the Arbiter, which granted him absolute domain over the heavens. Fenian had imed the Throne of the Herald, which should have given him domain over the mortal world.
Why hasnt Fenian acted? Theo asked himself, tapping his chin.
Fenians powers as the Herald could have been stunted. But that didnt sound like Fenian at all. For the first time in a long time, Theos thoughts went back to the Harbinger. That was the name his people back on Earth gave the entity, and he doubted it was the things true name. The bird-like creature had seen him at thest moments of his life on Earth, ushering souls from that doomed to their new home.
Theo snapped his fingers. He was almost certain of the answer. If Khahar couldnt stop the god on the mortal ne because he couldnte down, that made sense. But Fenian should have domain over the problem. This wasnt a god from this world. If the Harbinger could move between dimensions, or across space, or whatever, another being could too. Which led to more problems. Would the alchemists domain be enough to stop something that wasnt ying by the rules?
Im overthinking this, Theo said, rubbing his face. Khahar said I could stop him with my domain, so I can stop him. Stop second-guessing yourself, Theo.
Another field of skeletons appeared. Theo flushed his concerns out of his mind, getting back to work. His progress on dominating the undead tapered off through the night, but he was still making progress. By the time dawn came, his progress was stifledpletely. He couldnt stuff enough undead creatures in the circle of his potion to progress. This cheat had resulted in a willpower that increased so great, it was hard to measure. It was likeparing someone at Level 1 to someone at Level 100. There was no metric topare them.
Stolen from its rightful ce, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Tresk pulled them out of the Dreamwalk, scampering down the stairs the way she always did. Sarisa had prepared some oil-fried pounded steaks with Pozwa eggs for breakfast. Theo enjoyed that far more than the fish, but he wouldnt say so to his guards face. Her cooking was getting good enough where he suspected she had taken a core for the task.
To Theos surprise, Zizs proposal to divert the river had been submitted and approved with ease. Alise had a lot of notes in the proposal, but her concerns for the River Dungeon were great. There was also a request from Gronro for more faux coins and Hallow the Soil potion, although he also reported that it was easier to remove the corruption now. Things were looking up for the remation project, but the alchemist had fears that Tarantham would stick their noses into it. Considering what the Wanderer did to Vesta, he was certain they wouldnt be forgiving.
After finishing breakfast, Theo stopped in at the Newt and Demon to check in on Salire. She needed some help with mixing the Hallow the Soil potion, but only took up an hour of his time. The construction project could wait, as Ziz had to get all his stuff together before they could do anything.
Theo approached the river, cing his hands on his hips as he studied its span. He checked his inventory, making sure he had plenty of Mana Potions to do the job. It wouldnt be easy carving another canal out, but it had to be done. Sarisa and Rowan lurked nearby as he walked some of the river. It didnt take him long to decide to divert the river to the far side, instead of the near side. The alchemist crossed the bridge, then inspected the wall around the harbor.
This looks good, Theo said.
The harbor had been carved out, extending the river itself in either direction. If Ziz dammed the river before the River Dungeon, Theo could divert the flow of water from that point straight into the harbor. If they did it all at once, the water levels wouldnt even drop. The workers were assembling on the side of the river closest to the town. The alchemist headed over to check in, finding Ziz ordering his people around.
Almost ready to start? Ziz asked.
I have some questions about the canal Im digging, Theo said, gesturing to the far side of the river. Is it possible to connect it to the harbor on that side?
Yup. We need to knock out some stones for that to work, but thats not a problem. It just wont look as fancy under the drydock.
So long as we add stone reinforcements for erosion.
Absolutely. You know, the workers are eager to see your new core at work, Ziz said with a wink.
Theo smiled politely. Its less of my core they should be impressed with and more my willpower.
Hey, whatever it is, theyll be impressed. Let me get things ready before you carve.
Theo watched as Ziz assembled his people. While he waited, the alchemist visualized how he was going to do this. Carving something that was the exact width of the existing river might be too hard. He didnt know if he could make up for that with depth, but he doubted it. Instead, he nned on chugging Mana Potions back-to-back until the job was done. After another fifteen minutes of waiting, the workers were ready to spring into action.
Ziz walked with him to the far side of the bridge, tracing a path with his finger. Take it from there, right before the dungeon. Leave me about five ogres worth of space to work.
Are we measuring things in ogres?
Doesnt everyone?
Theo gave Ziz a t look. Even the stonemason used halms when he could. Anything else?
Make sure we get an angle that doesnt create too much turbulence against my dam. And dont carve from the river, do it about two ogres away. Well dam it and cut the connecting section at the same time.
Understood, boss, Theo said,ughing as he turned to the rolling fields before him. They were mostly t, which made his job easy. Only the area near the harbor was hilly enough to be concerned.
The alchemist reached out with his core, painting a section half the rivers width wide and about four ogres long. He dug into the earth, gripping it with his willpower as he heaved. Mana drained away from him by the moment, ticking off in his vision like a countdown timer. Theo forced the earth upward, carving a perfectly rectangr shape. He lifted the mass of dirt and stone high into the air, pushing it clear of the hole and allowing it to drop with a thunderous thud. The workers went wild, cheering and pumping their fists in the air.
That was a lot of dirt, Ziz said, patting Theo on the shoulder. Do you need a chair? Maybe a cold beverage?
Theoughed, chugging a Mana Potion. He reached out, digging an equal-sized chunk of thendscape out. He dropped this mound of dirt on the other, creating a massive hill. I only drink Newt and Demon brand Mana Potions, he said, withdrawing another from his inventory. He gave a cheesy smile and a wink. Avable for purchase now at all retail locations.
Are you drunk already? Ziz asked,ughing. Damn, boys. Bring out the beer!
Theo realized quickly how good this was for his willpower. Scooping the dirt out and holding there was arduous. Even with his Coat of Rake on, he was sweating by the second scoop. But he was egged on, inspired to go faster and harder by the cheers of the workers. They had created a system to reinforce the oddly square river offshoot with timber supports. But despite his speed, it took the alchemist more than half the day to carve everything out. With his stamina gging, he chugged a Stamina Potion for the first time in a long time.
Lets go! Theo shouted, hoisting thest section of the offshoot out of the ground. The potion made him feel as though had just ingested a years worth of coffee in one sitting.
Zizs workers had jumped into the harbor, knocking out a section of the wall to allow water to spill in. The result was a backflow effect, temporarily lowering the level of the harbor to dangerous levels. Once the river was connected to the harbor, Theo went back to the ce where he started.
Ready to drop a dam? Theo asked.
Let me know when youre ready, Ziz said with a nod. He intended to use his new skill to produce a pre-made dam. The skill allowed him to move prefabricated structures as though they weighed nothing. But the skill onlysted a few seconds.
Lets go, Theo said, reaching out with his core. The moment he seized the section of earth, Ziz produced a stone dam from his inventory. The half-ogre ced it downriver from where the alchemists offshoot was. While the dirt lifted, the dam went in.
Ziz, Theo, and the workers all leaned in, watching as water rushed into the new river, draining from the old one. The new river was a churn of froth and dirt that calmed down with time. Watching Zizs people get to work was inspiring. They set up artifice pumps to draw water from the river, spraying it over the river dungeon. As long as they exploited the behavior of the dungeon, everything would be fine. Thats what Xolsa said anyway.
This is slightly moreplicated, Ziz said with a chuckle. We need to get this structure built in about What did he say? An hour? Yeah, no problem.
Theo swallowed hard, looking down into the river. The pile of stones below was the River Dungeon. A ce he had never seen in person. It was nestled on the muddy bottom of the river, its shimmering portal now visible. He watched as the construction effort began.
5.56 - Private Army
5.56 - Private Army
It was always a pleasure watching Zizs team get to work. They had created so many weird structures, starting with the bridge and the harbor, that they were now a well-oiled machine. Instead of going with a tower design, which was required for the ocean dungeon, they did something different. First, they reinforced the edges of the river with stone walls. Theo helped them smooth the area out as they worked. Next, the created a stone base on the riverbed.
Watching how far the workers hade was amazing. Theo watched one half-ogre with a stack of marble stone blocks in one hand and his other hand free. He would ce a brick down, passing his hand over it to apply magical mortar, and move on. Each block took about a second toy, and there were twenty workers. The alchemist swept his will over the riverbed, helping to smooth it out as they worked. There were sections where the workers wanted to drive massive pirs, and it was another area the alchemist was helpful in.
Sure you dont want a job? Ziz asked,ughing as Theo helped guide another support column.
I just might, Theo said, driving the pir deep into the ground. He pped the side of the marble structure. This bad boy aint going nowhere.
The supports were required because the entire river was going to be covered. This was a feat of engineering that would have been impossible back on Earth. The weight of the stones would have copsed any logical support system. But this wasnt earth. Ziz and his team could weld stone together, creating a near-perfect bond. That allowed him to create attice support structure. The point of the rivers stone ceiling was for the tube-like structure being constructed around the river. It gave them perfect control over the amount of water allowed to rush over the River Dungeon while still providing easy ess for adventurers via a spiral staircase.
While he was at it, Ziz nned to take the covered river idea all the way to the harbor wall. It might look awkward when we expand the wall, Ziz said, admitting the ns shorings. But well sort that outter.
This would have been at least a week-long job without Theos help. As the work went on, he saw how useful he could be in the construction business. The dam almost copsed at one point, but the alchemist held it back with his Earth Sorcerer Core. That gave time for the stoneworkers to get down there and put in some reinforcements, tying it to the marblettice. When he let go, the dam held.
Dusk came and left, giving way to twilight. The group still worked, and Treskined they werent in bed yet. The workers had litnterns, magical and mundane, to keep going until they were done. Theo refused to leave, fearing another dam incident.
Just a few more things to get going, Ziz said, dabbing his muddy brow with a cloth. But I think this is pretty solid.
Theo jumped up and down on the covered river,ughing as the stones supported his weight. This is just wild.
The fisher folks are gonna yell at you, Ziz, Tresk said.
Yeah. They have the ocean now. They can deal with it.
Sarisa and Rowan came parading to the work site with ttersden with food. Ziz groaned as the attention of all his workers was drawn away from the work, dying thepletion of the job by about an hour. Theoughed at the half-ogre, helping himself to a te of Karatan steak. Once everyone was well-fed, the river was ready to be opened once again.
Theo reached out with his core, finding it hard to hoist the entire dam up. He strained, getting it most of the way there before the rushing water put a stop to his n. The workers had to attach ropes to the dam while the alchemist chugged Mana Potions, eventually pulling it free from the slurry of churning river water.
That was a close one, Theo said, wiping his brow. He reached out again, filling in the temporary river with the dirt he had extracted.
That was a massive advantage of using the Earth Sorcerer Core instead of the Tunneling Potion. While the potion removed the dirtpletely, the core allowed him to use the dirt afterward. It took Theo longer than he would have liked to fill in enough of the offshoot river to keep the water from soaking in. By the time he was done, it was around midnight. Tresk was pissed, but that was nothing new. She was so focused on advancing that any change to their schedule was an affront. They returned to the manor, copsing into their beds and drifting off into the Dreamwalk.
Theo came up with an idea to increase his willpower while working within the constraints of size. Human-sized skeletons wouldnt fit within the Hallow Ground potion modified with Embolden. But skeletal hamsters? They absolutely would. The alchemist stood in a field of vering hamster zombies, shoving as many as he could into that circle. His first attempt failed. The amount of hamsters that could fit within the circle was greater than he had expected. After resetting with a reasonable amount of hamsters, he found sess.
Before long, Ill have an army of bugs to contend with, Theo said, booting one zombie hamster into the distance. Can bugs be zombies? Who cares?
Theos Earth Sorcerers Core had advanced to Level 4, which might have been impressive in another core. Getting that core to a point where it would be useful was effortlesspared to many others. He was once again reminded that he needed to make his free pick, but felt uninspired to do so. The alchemist wanted to wait until his newest core was higher, or when it evolved into something rted to Drogramath. There were skills under the sorcerer category that werent tied to any specific school as well. While he only had ess to a few, which added nothing he wanted, that meant he could get more as time went on.
Banking a skill for so long was something Theo had never done. He had always grabbed new skills impulsively, snatching up whatever he could to enhance his life and abilities. But with so many moving parts, it was hard to justify that behavior. Silent observation was required as he attempted to push himself in one direction, rather than barreling toward every new thing all at once. It might have been time to do more core swapping, using his newest slot to bring in other cores that relied on willpower.
Research is required, Theo said, growing bored of the endless parade of hamsters. He banished them with a thought, heading off to see what Tresk was up to.
Tresk was finally done fighting the giant horned snake. But the thing she had summoned wasnt much better. Theo watched as she and Alex battled with a massive skeletal dragon. The alchemist sensed her thought pattern, understanding that she wanted to be prepared for the worst case. Pogo, in the underground below, turning into a skele-dragon would have been that case. It wasnt logical to assume that she would turn undead, but he didnt me the marshling for being prepared.
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I like the dragon, Theo said, watching as Tresk wove an agile pattern through the attacks of the dragon.
Gotta be ready for anything! she said, grunting as she took a tail-swipe to the face. Ow.
Theo joined in, offering his warded daggers to the fight. He didnt train enough forbat, although he knew it was a worthwhile investment. There were just so manyyers of defense around him it was hard to care. Although this was in the Dreamwalk, and not the real world, the exercise was still nice. It didnt hurt that his warded daggers were devastating inbat. The group fought until the dream ended, which was far shorter than normal.
Theo made his way downstairs to have breakfast, trailing behind Tresk as always. She was excited about something she didnt want to share. Instead of eating the breakfast that Sarisa and Rowan had made, she shoved it into the Tarahek inventory and dashed out of the door. Alex found a ce to sit by the table and enjoyed whatever bugs, grains, and other scraps she enjoyed.
The breakfast today was more of the deep-fried meat ttened with a mallet. Rowan had thought to spice things up by adding some of Whispers sausages and a side of mashed zee kernels that seemed close to grits. Each item was cooked to perfection, especially the zee grits. They were served with a fat piece of karatan butter on top. The heat from the food had partially melted, oozing over the side and soaking into the other items on his te. The alchemist ate more than normal that morning, although he felt none of the side-effects of the Stamina Potion he drank the previous day.
After checking the administration interface to ensure there wasnt anything that required his attention, Theo sauntered over to theb. Zarali wasnt in her enchantingb, but that wasnt a surprise. She didnt care for the upgrade bonuses, and did most of her enchanting on-site, or in Xolsas tower. The alchemist had felt her drifting further away from him, but he couldnt be mad. She could see her brother again so it only made sense.
Theo could smell that Salire was already working on something before even entering the building. He knocked his knuckles against the metal sign outside, smiling as he remembered the time when it was made. On the second floornding, he identified what the budding alchemist was working on. The unmistakable scent of Moss Nettle, Spiny Swamp Thistle Roots, and Manashrooms hung in the air. She was working on some second tier restoration potions, which the shop always needed.
Good morning, Theo said, counting the stills in use. Salire was usually kind enough to leave at least three stills open, but five were free today.
Hey! I saw that weird road you guys made yesterday. What the hell is that about?
An entrance to the River Dungeon. It does kinda look like a road, doesnt it? Theo asked, immediately distracted from the reason he came here.
It does.
He produced hisst puffy piece of Khahari Cotton. The golems were working hard to fill the new fields in the Small Farm with the cotton nts, but it would take a bit for those to grow. Especially since they were uncultivated. The alchemist allowed mana to pool into his hand, soaking into the cotton and setting it on fire with purple mes. The second property was revealed to be Flutter, which the alchemist couldnt imagine the effects of. He would need to wait until the crop sprouted to find out.
Theo sent his mind through the nearby lodestonework, checking on his golems. With the expansion of his willpower, he felt the ability to control more than ever. There were enough nt Golems within town to do most jobs, but there was an area of golemancy that he hadnt exploited enough. With his current willpower, the alchemist estimated that he could control anywhere from twenty to thirty second tier golems. Those were the ones without the lesser prefix. That number was up from about eight, maybe ten. So why not create a small army?
Ill be back, Theo said, pausing at the door. Maybe. I get distracted.
Yeah, you do.
All the ore being produced from the mine belonged to Theo. As did the ingots produced by the twin smelters. Nira kept her stock of Drogramathi Iron bars, Tworgnothi Bars, and Azrugium alloy bars at the smelter. The alchemist made his way there, iming as much as he could without making anyone mad. He then headed to Throks ce, happy to find piles of Tworgnothi Copper Batteries and Tworgnothi Copper Siphon Artifices avable for purchase. He bought twenty of each, draining most of his funds.
Back at theb, Theo assembled Fire Constructs to both construct and keep the golems working. The second tier versions of the Metal Golems didnt have the same problem as the first tier. He assembled pile after pile of the ingots, cing containment cores, artifice batteries, and siphons inside of thepleted creatures. Several hours of workter, and a few wildfires that spread from the constant flow of molten metal, the alchemist looked upon his new army.
Excessive, isnt it? Rowan asked, leaning against a greenhouse. Theo had selected this field because it was the least likely to catch fire.
Theo looked back at his twenty Azrugium golems and shook his head. It wasnt excessive. He was controlling the golems with his mind, not even tapping into Terogal. They barely drew on his mind, only tugging at the edges. If he connected this group of golem soldiers to a lodestonework, he could double their number without issue. The alchemist issued amand for the golems to form loose ranks. They were easily twice his height, each a hulking figure of lumpy purple-bronze colors.
Now Im kinda scared, Rowan said, chuckling nervously.
Theoughed. Yeah, they were pretty scary. He tapped into the lodestone nearest the greenhouse, judging that its range had increased since he cheated his willpower up. The alchemist segmented themands for the nt Golems and the Metal Golems. He issued amand to the Metal Golems to patrol the walls and area around the town and pursue enemies until they reached the edge of their range. They were to fight to the death, targeting enemies of the town. The golems understood that, breaking into squads and heading off.
Should I report this to Aarok? Rowan asked.
Please, do. Hes going to freak out, Theo said, jogging to catch up to one golem. He tapped it on the side, inspecting the creature before it left.
[Metal Golem]
[Alchemy Construct]
Level 28
Metal Golems are excellent atbat. They serve almost no use elsewhere, and require new [Fire Constructs] to repair themselves. Metal Golems without an installed [Fire Construct] will be more useless the longer they operate.
Containment Core: [Alchemically Treated Drogramathi Iron Cage]
Monster Core: [Goblin Skirmisher] (Level 28)
Medium: [Azrugium]
Alchemy tes: [Mana Construct]
Power System: [Tworgnothi Copper Battery]
Siphon System: [Tworgnothi Copper Siphon Artifice]
Additional Modifications: [Fire Construct]
It didnt take long for Aarok toe check in on Theo. The alchemist was following one group of the battle golems, making sure they were following orders correctly. Since their orders were so simple, and their cores high enough for them to solve problems, it shouldnt have been a problem.
Summoning an army? Without my permission? Aarok said, shoving Theo yfully.
Theo alchemist sent a mentalmand. Four golem heads turned, locking onto the half-ogre. Aarok held his hands up, a nervous smile spreading across his face.
Im revolting, Theo said.
Against yourself? Aarokughed.
With a wave of his will, the alchemist sent his golems off to do their work. Whats up? Theo asked.
Just a request, Aarok said, visibly rxing. Allow ourmanders to issue orders to your private army.
Then it wouldnt be private, would it? Theo asked, adding themand to the lodestone near the greenhouses. Done. It wont override mymands, but you can assemble them. In an emergency, theyll do whatever you say. So long as the person is recognized by the town as amander.
Thanks, Theo.
5.57 - Children of the Shard
5.57 - Children of the Shard
The ufortable warmth in Xolsas tower almost prated Theos Coat of Rake. Why the wizard had gone beyond what normal Broken Tuskers considered normal was beyond him. The alchemist lingered on the first floor for some time, looking out over the swamp outside. Magical sigils red in the distance, drawing power to protect the tower. If the alchemist was a wizard, he would have ced his tower anywhere else. The hills. Perhaps on a mountain somewhere. Even underwater would have been more favorable than the bug-infested swamp.
I thought I heard someone, Xolsa said. Theo turned to see a gentle smile on the wizards face. Wont youe up for tea?
Theo agreed, ascending the stairs. Xolsa had gone through a few changestely, and was still adjusting. The cold logic that came with a high Intelligence attribute had been scoured by the Intelligence of the Soul potion. It left behind a man closer to what he should have been, although there were still lingering effects from his core. Not everyone could have the benefit of a spirit bond. Perhaps they should.
Zarali waved as Theo found a spot in the sitting area on the second floor. This room was hotter than the downstairs area, somehow challenging both the humidity outside and the smoky heat normally found in homes within the town. Xolsa busied himself with the tea, cing a copper pot on a Fire Artifice and arranging a wooden box filled with loose tea leaves.
How can I help you today? Xolsa asked.
Im here to talk to Zarali, actually, Theo chuckled. But Im sure youre excited about the cage around the River Dungeon.
Ziz outdid himself on that one, Xolsa said, nodding in agreement. He even incorporated the running water, as I requested.
Zarali giggled, tossing some bauble at the wizards back. Theo was a part of that effort, love.
Was he? Xolsa said, turning and tilting his head. Theo felt a wave of something flow over him. It probed ufortably at his cores. Oh, right! The new core.
Has it worked to increase your willpower? Zarali asked.
Theo swallowed a lump in his throat, pretending that the missing suffix of brother to all her statements didnt wound him. It has helped slightly. But Ive found another method that increased my willpower a hundred-fold.
Zaraliughed, stopping to knit her brow when she saw Theo was serious. Surely not.
I just raised twenty Metal Golems, and I could do twenty more with ease. Without a lodestone.
That was quick, Xolsa said, leaving the tea to brew while he took a seat.
I think your willpower dwarfs even mine Zarali trailed off.
Theo didnt know what to say to that. He was taking advantage of something that was entirely unfair, diminishing the effort of another. The alchemist shook those thoughts away. There was too much to do with too little time. He needed all the cheats he could get.
And this is just the start, Theo said. If I draw on my realm, I gain a temporary boost. Enough to bend the mortal realm and travel great distances.
Talk is fine, Theo, Xolsa said, chuckling. But if it isnt defined by the system, it cannot be measured. If it cannot be measured, none of us knows how to help you.
Theo had to think about that one for a moment. It was a good point. The power he was talking about was all within the Terogal Dreampassage skill. That was his connection to his realm, and the source of the realm-bending ability. There were no time limits, mana costs, cooldowns, or other system-rted pieces of information. In the way he always used, Xolsa had dropped a hint as to the fundamental problem with the ability. Without practice, it was useless.
We could start small, Theo said.
Xolsa and Zarali said something, but Theo was already focused. He used the practice he had with his Earth Sorcerers Core to wrap his willpower around himself and the two lovebirds. He remembered the meta method he had used to transport himself through the realms and onto Antalis, the dark moon. The alchemist used his willpower to draw in a piece of Terogal. A bubble of shimmering, prismatic energy formed around the trio. Plush gras rested beneath their feet.
I think it is prudent that we find a different ce to test this ability, Xolsa said, panic bleeding into his voice. Im not eager to see a piece of my tower torn asunder!
Theo threw the bubble through space, tracing one of the many threads that connected him with others in the world. In a snap, the tower vanished. Xolsa, Zarali, and Theo were still seated on the ufortable chairs from the tower. But Aarok sat, scribbling something at a wide wooden desk. Themander looked up with an annoyed look.
Can I help you? Aarok asked.
Just testing something, Theo said, refocusing his willpower. He targeted Grot from Gronro-Dir. That was a distance worth checking. Xolsa was sputtering something. Can we bring him along?
The scene shifted again. Grot was guzzling a beer, one in each hand. He looked around in confusion, kicking at the grass beneath his feet. While Xolsa and Zarali hade along for the ride, Aarok had not.
Theo! When did you get into town? Grot asked, offering the alchemist a beer. And you brought a sofa? And grass?
This is interesting, Theo said, swiping at the beer. His hand passed through. See yater, Grot.
Alright? Sure? Grot said, looking more confused than before.
Time for myst trick, Theo said, sending his willpower even more distant. There was one thread of fate that was connected to him stronger than the others. In a sh, the group was sitting on the darkened deck of a ship. Fenian Feintleaf looked over the edge, staring at the starry sky above. He spun around, a mixture of anger and shock on his face.
Theo? Fenian asked. What in the name of Emperor Kuzans balls are you doing here?
Seems familiar doesnt it? Theo asked, winking at Xolsa. The alchemist had put together what this reminded him of. Shall we return to the tower for discussion?
Yes, please! Xolsa shouted. I do not do well on ships.
Theo gestured as though he intended to poke Fenian in the forehead. The elf swatted at his hand, catching only air. Later, the alchemist said, releasing his hold on the bubble.
The group was back in the tower in an instant. The teakettle was whistling, and all members of the party were seated. Theo had learned something important, thanks to Xolsas encouragement.
I would appreciate if you never did that again, Xolsa said, grumbling as he went to make the tea.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any urrences elsewhere.
That was fascinating, Zarali breathed. You figured out the mechanism, didnt you?
Theos mind went back to a time when hemunicated with Qavell through a special crystal. Unlike mostmunication crystals, this one sent him into a shadowy realm where he could talk face-to-face with someone. Mostly. No details were visible, but the concept was the same. Using the crystals, the two holders minds were dropped into a realm, but their bodies remained on the mortal ne.
Terogal differs from most realms. It is a Mortal Dreamrealm. What I can do is take a chunk of it, and move our souls around the.
There were more implications beyond that, but Theo wasnt sure. The structure of the universe was hard to understand. Was the mortal realm just another realm within an endless void, or was it something more? Answering that question wouldnt even tell him where Terogal sat within that scheme. The alchemist figured it must have been beyond the void, resting with the other realms but now he had his doubts.
Do you think I could travel directly to Terogal? Without using the Bridge of Shadows? Theo asked.
Xolsa was grumbling, but he finally let out a sigh as he poured tea. Maybe. It depends on where your realm rests in the membrane of reality.
Theo sensed a long-winded exnation of how the universe workeding on. Xolsa did not disappoint, and there was no better man to ask about the problem. The wizard suspected that the mortal realm was within the same metaphysical space as all the other realms. Like pearls on a ck sheet. A membrane separated them, guarded by the Bridge of Shadows.
Depending on your authority, you could bypass the Bridge. Assuming Khahar set it so the rules dont apply to your realm, Xolsa said with a tired sigh. He paused, biting his cheek. Which might mean
Darling, dont go down that road, Zarali said, shooting up tofort Xolsa.
If he practices enough, he could pierce the veil, Xolsa said with a shrug. He could contact my people.
That was a wrinkle Theo didnt expect. Xolsa was from a group of people called the Barathier. Hriously distinct elves from another dimension. But they were rted to the elves from this world, although no one knew how. The wizard had been flung to this realm by his people at birth, sending him over with a damaged soul and a unique core.
Of course I can do it, Theo said, puffing his chest out. I have more cheat codes than anyone else on the, so why not?
Dont give him hope, Theo, Zarali said, narrowing her gaze at the alchemist.
There was no need to seed hope. Theo was certain he could do it. With enough time and practice, he imagined that nowhere would be safe from him. As he considered what he would do next, he was slightly vulnerable with the pair.
After I ascend the throne, it shouldnt be a problem, Theo said.
Xolsa was the one to narrow his gaze this time. How certain are you that this throne is for you? And not another?
Theoughed. Just look at the name. The Dreamwalkers Throne is mine, because no one else can get to it. Ive Ive seen things. I know how this ends.
How boring, Zarali said, sinking into her chair.
Theo took his cup of tea and sipped it. He remembered why he came here in the first ce. I almost forgot. I need another Lodestone.
Zarali barked augh. All that for a Lodestone? Certainly, Theo. Im confident your willpower is strong enough.
Both Zarali and Xolsa were good at dropping ufortable topics. They shifted the conversation straight to their wedding date, and the traditions they intended to adopt. Following the alchemists advice, they were going to mix everything together. Dronon didnt have any wedding traditions, so they would draw from elven, Broken Tusk, and Qavelli ceremonies. When the conversation was dying down, the alchemist departed from the tower with a new lodestone. Zarali had already prepared it for him, anticipating the day where he would raise his willpower to an eptable level.
Time to piss off Uz.
Theo stepped out from the portal and paused. Just as he had projected a piece of his realm into the mortal realm to shoot his soul around the globe, he pulled another piece in for another reason. The bubble rose around the alchemist and he allowed himself to slip through the realms. Instead of piercing that veil, he drilled through it, aiming directly for Terogal. The bubble popped when it rejoined with itself. He only had to wait a few beats for UzXulvens shadowy portal to appear.
Excuse me? UzXulven said, stomping out of her portal. Her dress of shadows flowed behind her as she approached the alchemist, pping him across the face.
Theo smiled back, feeling nothing from the p. Just testing something out.
Whats the point of the bridge if you dont take the damn bridge!? UzXulven stomped her foot.
It might have been fun to bypass secure parts of the system, but that just presented a problem that needed to be fixed. You should thank me. I found a w in the system.
UzXulven spat on the ground. Are you gonna fix it? No! Of course not. You are so annoying, Theo. I hate you.
Bentons icy portal rose in the distance. Wanna get some tea? Theo asked.
UzXulven rolled her eyes. Duh. Come on.
Soon enough, all the gods that visited the domain were there. Even Khahar stopped in, clearly sensing the rule-breaking that the alchemist had done. UzXulven, Benton, Theo, Drogramath, Spit, Khahar, and ntheir assembled in the cottage. They sat at a massive table built by the souls within the realm, and waited for the bear gods delicious tea.
He didnt vite the rules, Khahar said with a shrug.
But what if more dreamrealms sprout up? UzXulven said, tapping the side of her head. Think, Khahar! Think! You remember the twins?
I remember them.
It could happen again!
Khahar held up a silencing hand, his whiskers twitching. Theo watched with interest. You may petition to have the powers of the Bridge extended to prevent such interdiction actions.
I wanna do that, UzXulven said, jabbing a finger at Khahar. Im here to keep the riff raff out, arent I?
You are.
So let me do it, UzXulven said, ring at Theo. You disgust me.
Theo could only smile through UzXulvens hatred. He understood why she was so mad, but he wouldnt have done what he did unless he knew it was necessary. Khahar wasnt a slouch, though. He picked up on what the alchemist was trying to do.
Theo thinks he can contact the lost realms in the void, Khahar said with a smile. Perhaps he wants to bring them to the mortal realm.
Good luck, UzXulven said, shaking her head. I never made it happen.
I despise the void, Spit said, growling.
You hate almost everything, Benton said, chuckling.
The lost tribes always have a home in the Realm of Healing, ntheir put in.
It would take a being of immense power to bring them back, Khahar said, stretching uncharacteristically. Who knew a group of wizards could splinter a piece of the mortal realm and send it adrift.
Theo stared at Khahar. He hadnt given free information in a while, but that was a big hint. If a chunk of the mortal realm was floating in the void, it was outside of every gods ability to bring it back. The rules stated that gods couldnt interfere with the mortal realm. The alchemist suspected that chunk was included. And it wasnt likely that the piece was a tangible part, like andmass. It was a meta piece of the world, which seemed messed up.
What part of the world was broken off? Theo asked.
UzXulven looked at Khahar with an annoyed expression. Khahar nodded. An old piece of the system. We used to have these big hunks of crystal that regted aspects of the world. They made sure the world was bnced, but those damned wizards took the whole system with them.
The First War of Ascension was glorious! Spit shouted. I ate many elves. I do miss the shiny rocks, though.
We all miss the shiny rocks, Spit, ntheir said, patting the ogres shoulder.
If only there were someone that could bring it back, Khahar said with a dramatic sigh.
I get it. You brought me here to be your errand boy, Yuri, Theo said, swapping to Russian for dramatic effect. Lift this rock, Theo. Cultivate this nation, Theo. Travel through the void and bring some shiny rocks back, Theo.
Khaharughed.
What is the little demon saying? Spit asked, mming his fist on the table. Why does he speak thenguage of the Arbiter?
The conversation rolled on as everyone enjoyed Bentons delicious tea and food. Khahar was in a better mood than ever, often smiling at the table. Things must have been going well in the heavens. Part-way through the tea party, the Arbiter leaned in and dropped one more nugget for the alchemist.
You know what Baratier means? Khahar asked, raising an eyebrow.
Im guessing I dont know the real meaning.
Children of the Shard.
5.58 - Eyes on Qavell
5.58 - Eyes on Qavell
A spread of sausages, pozwa eggs, tea, and whole roasted zee sat on the table in Theos manor. He had spentst nights Dreamwalk working on his willpower, but the effects of his potion were dwindling. What he gained from that training was a massive boost in willpower that made any core based on that concept powerful, even at Level 1. But there was another aspect to this power he needed to consider. It was a gift, given to him by Yuri who had poked the cogs of fate into motion a long time ago. The alchemist now found himself as one of those cogs. Not as a drone to do someones bidding, but a man with a job. A task that neededpletion.
Whats the problem, babe? Youve barely touched your giant demon-goat-bird eggs, Tresk said, poking Theo in the cheek.
Theo removed himself from his thoughts, looking down at his cold te of food. The marshling must have sensed his thoughtfulness, or read his mind, because she normally was already off on some adventure. Im good, he said, turning instead to his administrator interface and picking at his food. Anything interesting going on with you today?
Test flight with Alex, Tresk said, jabbing her thumb back at the goose. Alex looked up from her te of bugs, grain, and random pieces of vegetation and honked weakly. Were hoping to scout for Qavell.
Theo hoped Fenian would arrive before Qavell got to the alliance. He had leaned on the Herald in the past, and would do so again. The mortal realm was his domain, after all. If there was a god in that flying citywhatever form it might takehe could make a difference. Just like Khahar could snap his fingers in the heavens, changing the way the system worked up there.
You? Tresk asked, stealing a sausage from Theos te.
Potions orndscaping. I have a request from Grot to do some mountain-moving up in Gronro.
That sounds ever so boring, Tresk sighed. If you need me, Ill be riding a goose into battle. Farewell.
Tresk swooned on the spot, cing the back of her hand over her moist forehead. She stumbled around the table, then through the front door, sighing the entire way. Alex waddled behind her, almost unable to shove her bulk through the threshold.
Whats gotten into her? Sarisa asked, stealing another of Theos sausage.
Oh, you dont speak crazy marshling? Theo asked, jabbing a fork into hisst sausage before someone swooped from nowhere to steal it. Shes excited to see the city fall.
Are you?
Excited? Not really. We have to juggle the matter carefully. We need to disable the city, then banish whatever god attached itself there.
Theo reflexively sent his willpower out, searching for anything that felt like a damn floating city approaching his town. Xolsa had yelled at him about that before. Most magic users had a magical sense that they could send out, probing things. Someone who was good enough could sense distant magical things. But the alchemist had leaned on his willpower, never developing a sense for magical things. He tried. But the only sess he found was his Earth Sorcerers Core and its ability to sense the Earth element.
Confidence levels are low?
Theo found that question the hardest to answer. He was confident in his potions and his people. But the new power he was cultivating wasnt solid like those things. It was mercurial, and unknowable without a status screen. How strong was his realmpared to a piece of a god in the mortal realm? Then another thought. What if even Khahar was wrong? Before he left to be the Arbiter, Khahar was technically a mortal. With a sneeze, he could have destroyed the. What if there was another. One from those old days the gods loved to wax on about.
Uncertainty is high, Theo said. The difference mattered.
I know what will cheer you up, Sarisa said, pping a hand on Theos shoulder. Lets go poke some turtles with sticks. See who can get the closest.
For a moment, no longer than a single breath, Theo considered wading into the swamp to poke turtles. Although he tried to dismiss it, the thought lingered. Working all day, every day, wasnt healthy. Alright. Lets go poke some turtles.
What? Rowan said, looking out from the kitchen. Really? You wanna y poky snappy?
Lets go! Sarisa shouted.
But I need to check on theb. And the deadly herb in the garden, Theo said, sucking his breakfast into his inventory. Hed finish it while they poked turtles.
Theo checked in on Salire, discovering that she was running the low-level potions wing of their business well enough. This was a turning point for his alchemy. Something that he wanted to approach with caution. Fourth tier potions would not be easy to make, especially when he had beenzy about mastering the third tier ones. If he had learned one thing from alchemy, it was that each phase built on the next. The example that he thought of was the pressure treating process, which taught him about impurities. Alcohol distition had shown him how to iste properties to a high degree. Whatever came next would expand on the concept of reagent purity, and he had no desire to rush it.
Thanks to the settings in the Experimental Garden Plot, the Nights End nt hadnt grown, or wilted. It was suspended in time, flowerless in that square plot and unable to kill more schrs. Satisfied enough to take a day off in the swamp, he turned and left his buildings behind. Both Sarisa and Rowan were excited, singing a song about a man getting his hand eaten by an Ogre Snapper. It instilled low levels of confidence in the alchemist.
The game is pretty simple, Sarisa said, handing Theo a stick as they left through the western gate. HIs thoughts went to building projects. A pleasant road through the swamp was needed. You poke the turtle with a stick. Whoever uses the shortest stick without being chomped wins. No magic.
Gotcha, Theo said, pressing forward into the swamp. He was tempted to snap his stick as small as it would go, but remembered how quick those snappers were. Even at a low level, the swamp was their domain.
As they plowed through the swamp, Theo had time to think about which potions he wanted to work on. He had to grow enough Khahari Cotton to test the Flutter property, so that was out for now. The mental reports sent by his nt Golems imed it was going well. Spirit fruit potions were off the table for now, so he ignored them. That left bringing his standard potions to third tier, messing around with modifiers, and blending nts with his new building. It was prudent to have a stock of powerful potions ready for when Qavell arrived.
Stolen story; please report.
Theo made a list in his mind. First were the most important potions to anyone serving in an army or as an adventurer. Healing, Stamina, and Mana potions. The next-most important ones were attribute-enhancing potions, of course. Greater versions of those would turn the local defenders into monsters, allowing them to punch 10 Levels above their current level. Next were defensive potions. Barkskin, Carapace, and Limited Foresight. And finally escape potions. Return, Retreat, and Featherfall. Thest potions on his mind were his secret weapons. Negative potions infused with the Holy modifier like Desperate Attack, and Berserk.
If Fenian wasnt here by the time Qavell attacked, he would give Tresk a Holy Potion of Berserk, and a Potion of Desperate Attack with the same modifier. Theo would also distribute those to themanders, especially Luras, Aarok, Sarisa, and Rowan. The alchemist would reserve a stock of Dragons Breath Potion, modified with Holy, for himself. Those would be in short supply. Each of these potions needed to be brewed at the third rank, making the task daunting. So long as he had enough time to prepare, Qavell would fall. He was confident.
Theres one! Sarisa shouted, getting low in the mud.
An Ogre Snapper thrashed in the murky waters ahead, sensing the groups approach. Theo waited to see what the finer rules of the game was, watching as Rowan snapped his stick short. Perhaps a bit too short. He charged at the turtle, imposing his desire to be first. Theo and Sarisa watched as the man pressed the stick into the turtles face, had the stick eaten in one chomp, then had his arm pinched between the beasts beaked mouth.
Rowan screamed, punching at the turtles head. He was released a momentter, vanishing into the shadows before returning near the group. After chugging a potion, his arm twisted itself back into position.
You got too greedy! Sarisa shouted with augh. Theo didnt miss the concern on her face as she made sure her brother hadnt sustainedsting injuries. My turn!
Sarisa snapped her stick at half the original length. Theo saw where it was going before it happened. She was savaged, thrown to the side, and forced to crawl back to the group covered in mud.
The key to the game, Theo said, approaching the turtle with his full length stick. Is to gost. That way, youll always have the longer stick.
The next thing Theo remembered was being face-down in the mud, being dragged away by Rowan and Sarisa. He could almost hear their manic cackling through ears caked in swamp junk. After quaffing a potion, he stared up at the with a nk expression.
No one wins this game, do they? Theo asked. This isnt even a real game.
The turtles were smaller when we were kids, Sarisa said, nodding at Rowan. Right?
Oh, yeah. For sure.
Who won? Theo asked.
Everyone got chomped so no one. Lets do it again!
While Theo wanted to be annoyed with the game, it was actually fun. Only because they had an endless supply of potions that would heal their wounds in moments. Otherwise the game was deadly, even against low-leveled monsters. The alchemist took the chance to reduce some stress of theing attack. Being eaten by giant turtles had a way of putting the world into perspective. He nned his distition batches out, marking everything he needed to do in his mind. To produce so many potions, all of which were different aside from the Holy modified ones, would require a lot of liquor. All that booze had to be infused with different essences, meaning he would lean heavily on the Internal Liquid Storage feature of the ce.
After half a day of messing around in the swamp, everyone was tired enough to take a Lesser Stamina Potion and return to the town. They applied Cleansing Scrub to themselves before entering again.
See? I told you he could have fun, Sarisa said, shoving Theo.
The alchemist moved the rock she was stepping on, sending her stumbling forward. Rowan roared withughter, drawing the attention of nearby citizens.
We got eyes on Qavell, Tresk said, her thoughts bleeding into Theos mind. He saw shes of the floating city, plodding along the cliffs near the coast. Theyre approaching Broken Tusk directly.
Theo needed to take a breath to understand if that was good or bad. Qavell was alwaysing, but at least they were approaching from the best angle. He watched through Tresks eyes as a bolt of energy jumped from the hovering city. Itshed uselessly against the mountains, sending piles of rocks tumbling to the sea below. The whole thing seemed neutered,pared to the image he had conjured in his mind. Instead of a dark fortress, brimming with magical potential, he saw an impotent rock drifting on whatever wind would carry it.
Im slightly disappointed, Theo said, watching as Tresk and Alex retreated.
Looks like easy pickings. Bet I could solo it.
I doubt that, Theo said. Were still talking about an entire city.
Meh. Agree to disagree. No worries, were heading back.
Tresk made sure to add thatst part so Theo wouldnt worry. Rowan was trying to get his attention, but the alchemist imagined the angle of approach for the city. It traced the line of the coast perfectly, likely using the mountains for cover. Whoever had devised this n was an idiot, though. Approaching Broken Tusk that way assumed they would have no response. King Hanan would know that, wouldnt he? Theo only hoped whatever mad god was driving the city forward was so foolish, and the king would be open to negotiations.
What was that? Theo asked, turning to meet the confused gaze of Rowan. The alchemist withdrew hismunication crystal, the one linked with Fenian, from his inventory.
I was asking if you wanted to jump off a cliff and see who survives.
Thats one step too far, Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. Ah, Tresk is writing her report to Aarok. Good. Means I dont have to. Anyone seen Zankirtely?
Prowling the wall like a hungry Marsh Wolf, no doubt, Sarisa said.
Zankir had been given the honor of managing the wall-based defenses of the town. Every tower and artifice cannon in town was under hismand, including their cement and operation. Theo headed to the walls, walking them for a bit before bumping into the khahri man. He still wore twin scimitars at his hips, sticking with the theme of his people.
I need an operations report, Theo said, pping a hand on Zankirs shoulder. How many rail guns do we have and where are they?
Zankir barked augh, a grin spreading across his face. He showed those sharp teeth,plete with long fangs. Twenty rail guns. Enough firepower to annihte Qavell. Positions are spread even along the wall, and two in the towers in the sea.
Qavell ising from the east. Northeast, Theo said, pointing out over the harbor. I want all the batteries pointing that way. All of them.
How good is your information?
I just watched the city floating to the north, tracking the coast.
Thats pretty good info, Zankir said, nodding with approval. Do I have to wait a week for approval to get this rolling? And get my funds?
Theo asked about the cost of the workers needed to get that done today, and withdrew a single gold coin from his inventory. Thatll cover it. Get it done, Zankir.
And what are my firing orders? Zankir asked.
The anti-magical shots. I want Qavell saturated.
Excellent. I know Im only working the walls here, but I had an idea.
Lets hear it.
What if we shot them from here where they are now?
5.59 - Bombardment
5.59 - Bombardment
The distance between Broken Tusk and Qavell was something like a hundred to two-hundred miles. If Theo had to guess. He remembered a time on Earth when making firing solutions was easy. They could poke a screen a few times and send a shot from orbit. The alchemist would have dismissed Zan¡¯kir¡¯s idea right away if it wasn¡¯t possible. Withoutputers, the shot was difficult. But with a spotter and a lumbering target?
¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Theo said with a nod, putting a smile on the man¡¯s face. ¡°Any idea how you¡¯re going to do it?¡±
¡°Shoot and pray?¡± Zan¡¯kir asked.
¡°Just about. Work with Aarok to get a scout from Gronro up on the mountains. They can use themunication feature of the alliance to coordinate shots. You¡¯ll have at least a few days to get it rolling.¡±
¡°Exciting. I¡¯ll need a ship. Of course. Can¡¯t get a good angle behind the mountains.¡±
Theo wrote it up in the administrative panel, giving everything he needed to get the job going. So long as it didn¡¯t screw up his job of moving the guns to the northeast side of Broken Tusk, it was worth a shot. The Captain of the Sandscourgepany scurried off to get it done. At least he seemed excited about it, even if it didn¡¯t work. Everyone was tense with the approach of the city. A few fun shots might help them blow off steam. At least they could feel as though they were doing something.
With that sorted, Theo headed back to theb. Salire was practicing with something he didn¡¯t expect. She hadmissioned Throk to create a small version of the pressure vessel he had used to create second tier potions. Like him, she didn¡¯t want to glide to the higher tiers without understanding why they were doing things. She seemed shy about it, blushing when he entered the room. But there was nowhere to hide the tabletop pressure vessel, and she couldn¡¯t avoid an alchemist¡¯s keen eye.
¡°Not a bad idea,¡± Theo said, crossing the room to inspect the free stills. Only three were upied. ¡°Add that to the book.¡±
¡°Already have,¡± Salire said,ughing nervously. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll ever produce books? For distribution?¡±
They would need equipment to do that. Specialized artifices or maybe a ss core. ¡°Keep an eye out for the gear we need to do it. From the traders thate into the docks.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Theo pulled one tube from the ceiling, filling severalrge ss sks with various essences. He sorted them into crates, making room for hisrge batch of alcohol. That caught the attention of Salire, who watched him work but didn¡¯t say anything.
¡°A thousand units of zee liquor,¡± Theo said, leaving the booze within the building¡¯s storage. ¡°Good, but not enough for what we need to do.¡±
¡°Want to do a batch of Spit Juice again?¡± Salire asked.
¡°Spit Juice?¡± he asked.
¡°That¡¯s what Bilgrob calls it. He¡¯s been buying some from me.¡±
Theoughed. ¡°Of course the ogre priest would buy zee-shine. Yeah, I¡¯m thinking about five-thousand units.¡±
Theo exined all the things he wanted to make. Salire grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote, nodding along. They agreed there was an order to make these things, starting with the restoration potions. If things got bad, they would need a lot of those. The budding alchemist ran off to grab some zee from the farm, leaving Theo to organize the batch in his mind. He needed to save his daily trip to Tero¡¯gal to allow the potions to brew. He instead organized his stock of Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, Moss Nettle, and Mana Shrooms, intending to do full runs of those. Once he had those reagents from his nt Golem, he checked Salire¡¯s expanding book while he waited.
Salire had a way with words Theo could never hope to achieve. Her writings were informative, but not overly so. Instead of stuffing the text with written information, she relied heavily on diagrams. The alchemist¡¯s favorite figure was the one concerning alchemist advancement, which was a simple flowchart. Each part wasbeled with the corresponding information below. She must have written the page several times to get it just write. The corners of the pages were filled with nuggets of information. Notes on where she should move a section, or a revision that required aplete re-drawing of the page.
¡°I had a thought,¡± Salire said as she entered the room again. She transferred the zee into a crate, turning to smile at Theo. ¡°I was researching cores that use willpower¡ You know, since you took the Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core?¡±
¡°I remember,¡± Theo said, leaning against the table. He watched as she withdrew single zee kernels from the storage, measuring them by eye before cing them in a still.
¡°You said you were looking for something to spend your free skill point on. I was digging through some old books, talking to that schr of Zaul¡¡±
¡°Bob? At Mudball?¡±
¡°Yeah. He said there was a universal Zaul skill that enhanced the effectiveness of a person¡¯s willpower. Said you could equip a Zaul core, take the skill, then dump the core.¡± Salire nodded to herself, unable to hide the expression of pride.
¡°Did you write the skill down?¡±
¡°No, he didn¡¯t have a copy of it written. Just his memory from his time with the cult. You can infuse your willpower into any ss-based action, but it costs something. No, he doesn¡¯t remember what it was. Maybe an item or currency.¡±
¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± Theo helped Salire get the lid on the still, starting their first thousand-unit batch. ¡°Seems like a good pick. I just need to put a piece of Zaul in me.¡±
Salireughed nervously. ¡°Yeah, might be awkward. Have you seen him in the heavens?¡±
¡°Nope. Most of the Prime Pantheon doesn¡¯t care for Tero¡¯gal. At least they haven¡¯t reached out.¡±
¡°Perhaps contacting him first would be prudent.¡±
¡°Good idea, Salire,¡± Theo said, popping the lid from the second still.
There were enough restoration essence on hand to create enough Bound Enchanted Dilution for about a thousand units of each restoration essence. Theo didn¡¯t want to think too far ahead, only focusing on one project at a time. He and Salire worked to get all ten stills running zee liquor, which might have been too much for the intended purpose. But it was always worth having more liquor for third tier binding on hand.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any urrences.
The brew time for ten stills wasn¡¯t long. Most of the work came from loading and cleaning the stills, but with the Internal Liquid Storage upgrade, Theo could store the zee liquor as it was distilled. The artifice sucked the liquid up as it dripped, removing the need to sort it. This allowed Theo and Salire to take seats, rxing in their stuffyb. Neither liked the air-conditioner too cold. The alchemist knew it was her way of blending in with the locals, even if she wasn¡¯t born here. The brewing booze didn¡¯t even smell great,ing out as clear, colorless, and odorless.
Although it wasn¡¯t as bad as it used to be, half the day was gone by the time Salire and Theo finished with the zee liquor. But that would sort them for the entire batch of potions meant for the fight against the flying city. They moved on, cleaning each still with Cleansing Scrub. The alchemist pulled a hose above his head, filling one still with the exact amount of alcohol he needed to make a bound dilution. He added second tier Refined Healing Essence and set the heating element to the right temperature. He repeated the process for mana and stamina, filling three stills and setting them to work.
¡°Strength, Dexterity, and Vigor. Right?¡± Salire asked, rummaging through dimensional storage crates.
Wisdom and Intelligence attribute potions weren¡¯t as useful for the people of Broken Tusk. They were mostly ranged and melee sses that had little need for those attributes. This wasn¡¯t Theo¡¯s first time brewing third tier attribute potions, but he had done so infrequently enough to make the process seem strange. With the restoration potions sorted faster than he expected, he moved on to filling three more stills with liquor and binding those to the Strength, Dexterity, and Vigor refined essences. At least that part of the process felt familiar enough.
¡°Getting something higher than good quality on these potions would be nice,¡± Theo said, adding the amount of essence he needed to each mixture. ¡°But I think this is a wall for me to bang my head against.¡±
Salire only offered her reassuring words to him, helping as much as she could with the stills. Her level wouldn¡¯t allow her to interact with the bound dilutions. An explosion would result if she touched any part of the process. The task was made more annoying by the amount of steps, but the alchemist had expected this. He powered through the monotony, treating the brewing potions like an assembly line. Once the restoration bound distition was done, he started the final leg of that brew. When the attribute potions were ready, he started those as well.
¡°Could you prime the fermentation barrels for more Holy modifier?¡± Theo asked, stepping back from a still. A plume of smoke rose from within as he applied Cleansing Scrub.
¡°Maybe. Not convinced I can handle it.¡±
Theo watched as Salire did a test on the modifier fermentation process. She had the skill, but needed more practice with her mana. Like him, she had trouble controlling magical things, falling t without close tutoring. Although the Holy modifier was hard to extract, she got the process going. The alchemist studied as she applied her mana and nodded with approval. It was better to use one¡¯s own mana when practicing. Using the artifices provided by Zarali was a poor way to practice the skill of fermentation. At least Salire understood that.
The administrative panel was on fire with discussion. Alise was worried about the n to fire at the floating city, but she gave up after a while. From what she wrote, Theo assumed she was worried about starting anything, But if the city was going to attack, it was going to attack. No amount of hopes and dreams would keep them away. Instead, it was better to be prepared. It was better tounch an offensive before they rained death on the small town in the soutnds.
Zan¡¯kir had taken over every boat avable to him and had fitted them with Throk¡¯s rail guns. He¡¯d be taking random shots soon enough, although Theo doubted he would deplete the warded rounds he was provided. Those would expire soon, so perhaps it was a good idea to dump their stock. Instead of waiting for Grot in Gronro to get his butt in gear, Tresk had volunteered to ride Alex and spot the city. But the goose was tired from their adventure, and they barely made it out of the town before Alex gave up. To cover such a distance in so little time seemed like an amazing feat. Until Theo realized they took the train to Gronro before flying to the east, over the mountains. It sounded like cheating, but he wouldn¡¯tin.
The mission was, of course, not approved by anyone. But that didn¡¯t stop them. Theo¡¯s mind was soon filled with Tresk¡¯s reports, which he was expected to enter into the town¡¯s administrative panel. Zan¡¯kir used some questionable notation to record. ¡®About one thumb to the right of that big rock¡¯ didn¡¯t seem like an urate range-finding technique.
Theo had all six stills working to brew the final third tier potions as he took a break. He watched the action from Tresk¡¯s point of view, swallowing hard as she dodged attacks from the floating city. Alex was more nimble than he expected, but they used the mountains for cover, only poking out to see if shots hit. A round whistled through the air, striking against a barrier without doing damage. After a few more shots, Zan¡¯kir getting their aim dialed in, an enchanted shot mmed into the shield. It flickered before vanishing. Two more rounds followed, hitting the stones of the outerwall and shing with red-blue energy. The city tilted to one side, barely maintaining altitude.
¡°That¡¯s actually working?¡± Theo asked,ughing to himself. ¡°Why is that working?¡±
¡°What?¡±
Theo exined the situation to Salire, who was confused as though he was babbling to himself. As he did, he watched through Tresk¡¯s eyes. Enough shotsnded on the city to bring it into the water, sending a tidal wave radiating in all directions. The alchemist could only imagine how angry King Hanan was within those walls. He giggled to himself as he thought about it. A few minutester, and more relentless attacks, and he was summoned to the harbor to enchant more shots.
¡°Gotta go,¡± Theo said, waving at Salire. ¡°Can you handle this?¡±
Each produced potion would be sucked into the internal storage, meaning Salire didn¡¯t have to touch it. ¡°Got it, boss. We¡¯re working on the heavy stuff tomorrow. Right?¡±
¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll do the fun stuff tomorrow.¡±
Zan¡¯kir had assembled four ships in the harbor. Theo knew they were working on a few boats, but hadn¡¯t expected them to be fit to sail. Each was fitted with one rail gun on the deck, and all were firing into the sky. The angle was impressive, but not as entertaining as the ear-shattering sound they produced. The alchemist saw why it was easy for them to zero in on the target. With a spotter and enough rounds, they had closed the distance with ease. Rail guns on Earth could achieve that range, but not withoutputers.
Theo found a ce behind the harbor wall to enchant rounds. He chugged mana potions as he applied wards to each one, not stopping his chanting until each was ready to fire. Zan¡¯kirmanded the guns, but Tresk and Alex were pulling out by the time he was done. The alchemist watched as they retreated, seeing a sad-looking Qavell among the surf. He almost felt bad for it. They must have expected the n to work, or at least get them closer to Broken Tusk. But that¡¯s why people don¡¯t invest their efforts into airship fleets. He had been warned about this when he had the idea. Anything that could fly would be knocked out of the sky by magical interference. And they had developed a weapon targeting one flying city in particr.
The firing died. Theo¡¯s ears were still ringing, but a Health Potion sorted that out. Zan¡¯kir was soon with him, smiling that bright white smile.
¡°How¡¯s that for results?¡±
¡°Absurdly impressive. They didn¡¯t have counter-measures.¡±
¡°Just like Throk said. Anything that¡¯s gonna fly is gonna die.¡±
¡°Wise words. What¡¯s your n?¡±
¡°Tresk agreed to be my eyes, along with Grot in Gronro,¡± Zan¡¯kir said, shielding his eyes to look at the fading sun. ¡°We¡¯ll resume bombardment until the thing doesn¡¯t move anymore. If I had to guess, they¡¯ll fix whatever we broke by morning.¡±
What a brutal approach to the problem. An old part of Theo appreciated it. They would make whatever god that pulled Hanan¡¯s strings pay for every inch of that coastline. And the nuclear option wasn¡¯t off the table. If this didn¡¯t work, he was ready to see the city stopped forever. If Fenian didn¡¯t arrive in time, that might be the only option.
¡°Make sure someone gives you a bonus for this idea,¡± Theo said, wrapping his arm around Zan¡¯kir¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go get Zan¡¯sal. We¡¯re gonna have a feast at my mansion.¡±
¡°Oh, fancy boy,¡± Zan¡¯kir said, freeing himself from Theo¡¯s grasp. He performed a dramatic bow. ¡°I¡¯ll bring my finest attire, my lord.¡±
¡°Only the finest, Lord Zan¡¯kir,¡± Theo said, matching the absurdity of the bow with one of his own.
5.60 - Zaul
5.60 - Zaul
Theo reclined in his chair, watching as the gods argued over what Zan¡¯kir had done. Khahar had a yful smile on his face. The alchemist had finished his work for the day, gathering all the potions from theb to brew in Tero¡¯gal. After setting those potions aside, the gods had assembled for tea. They had been spying on him, watching as the floating city was bombarded relentlessly. As always, each had an opinion.
¡°Big city fall down!¡± Spit shouted, throwing his head back and wheezing withughter.
¡°One has to wonder how they constructed the flight system,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, tutting. ¡°I thought our big bad was supposed to have some teeth.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t say more than I have,¡± Khaharmented. ¡°All is going ording to n.¡±
ntheir had the most heart-warmingment of all. He leaned over, cing a hand on Theo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You could have blown it up. Good work.¡±
The group of gods gave no hints on the mystery, though. No one would say who was pushing King Hanan along, but each time Theo asked, they seemed pained to answer. Khahar didn¡¯t even re at him when he asked, making it even more concerning. The alchemist had narrowed his list of suspects down to a handful of gods, all of whom were dead. That left the beings operating outside of the world at fault, which seemed impossible to deal with. But with their floating city floundering in the water, Qavell wasn¡¯t a threat anymore.
¡°I just want to thank the Arbiter,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, inclining her head toward Khahar. ¡°For fixing the bridge so quickly.¡±
Khahar gave her a nod back. Theo had tried to subvert the system again, but found it impossible to bypass the bridge. Perhaps his role as the Dreamwalker was to test these things. To find ways around the system so they could be patched. He was quite good at finding weaknesses in things. Back in the day anyway. If he was selected for this role by Khahar, then that made more sense.
Uz¡¯Xulven went into detail about how the floating city worked, and Khahar didn¡¯t stop her. It was impossible to move a town or kingdom core once it was nted. Unless someone screwed with the core itself. High-level Coresmiths could fiddle with the way cores worked, but that work was dangerous. Even Khahar only dabbled in the art, and he was a master of most things before he left the mortal realm. After the two cores were changed, a series of hover engines were ignited and fed a steady supply of magical energy. She didn¡¯t know how they were powering it.Theo took a sip of his tea, finding himself delighted by the conversation. The gods were excitable at the best of times, but they had worked themselves into a fervor. He stepped away from that excitement for some fresh air, looking over the souls of those in his realm with a smile. They had gone from one fad to another, but their desires were cyclical. Each had a pair of crude rollerdes strapped to their feet again, and they sailed down the cobbled path with chattering teeth.
Coming to Tero¡¯gal wasn¡¯t just about allowing potions to brew, though. Theo let out a steady breath as he reached out with his mind. He found a shadowy spot in the Prime Pantheon, almost imperceptible with his Willpower. Zaul¡¯s realm was called Und, a ce of eternal darkness. Uz¡¯Xulven enjoyed the shadow motif, but Zaul embraced it. The alchemist felt a tickle of recognition, then an invitation. He epted, stepping through the ces between reality. As expected, the other side was imperceptible darkness.
¡°Finally,¡± a voice rasped from afar.
Theo felt around Zaul¡¯s realm, but gave up after he felt nothing but chilled air. The ground under his feet was hard stone, and the air smelled wet. ¡°Hello, Zaul. I have a few questions.¡±
The god¡ªwherever he was¡ªblew out a breath. ¡°As it should be. Those who operate in darkness are forgotten. I am forgotten. Khahar has forgotten me.¡±
Maybe Theo should have asked Khahar about Zaul before going to Und. He assumed everyone in the prime pantheon was of stable mind, but the Burning Eye was a prime god. So was Fan¡¯glir. He swallowed hard, nodding into the darkness.
¡°My Tara¡¯hek has a Zaul core user,¡± Theo said. ¡°She hasn¡¯t forgotten about you.¡±
¡°And your town has my prophet. What do you need from me, demon?¡±
¡°Would your cores give me ess to a willpower ability?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Can I have one.¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°Why not?¡±
Zaulughed. Maybe somewhere distant, or right into Theo¡¯s ear. It was impossible to tell. ¡°You walk in the shadows like an oaf. Not worthy of my core.¡±
¡°Alright. Good talk,¡± Theo said, turning intending to leave.
¡°Just a moment,¡± Zaul said, a little too fast and worried about how he had been talking. The alchemist felt the shadows draw closer. Cold hands drew around his shoulders and a feeling entered his mind. Not words, but a sensation that was impossible to ignore. ¡°Khahar thinks he¡¯s clever. Games. He ys games with the world.¡±
Something heavy fell into Theo¡¯s hand. He recognized the detailed surface of a ss core. While he tried to say something, nothing came out. His mind was still processing those feelings.
¡°He cannot see it. Cannot sense it. Don¡¯t worry, demon,¡± Zaul said. ¡°The information will unravel in your mind. Tell no one.¡±
Theo was flung from Zaul¡¯s realm. He barely managed to put the core into his inventory before he stumbled out into Tero¡¯gal. The alchemist stood there for a long time, gazing off into the distance. And the information unfurled in his mind. The thing that was controlling King Hanan wasn¡¯t evil. Attributing malice to natural forces was useless. The entity was something else entirely, but it nned to destroy the Soutnds Alliance. Not because it wanted Theo and his people dead, but because Theo was an aberration. Zaul didn¡¯t know the whole truth, but the information he imnted in Theo¡¯s head made him dizzy with knowledge.
The gods were still chatting in the growing cottage. Khahar didn¡¯t know that Theo knew. He didn¡¯t know about the core in his inventory. The potions were done brewing. The alchemist grabbed them, nning to inspect them after he returned to the mortal realm. Without a word to his godly friends, he passed through the realms and appeared in his manor.
¡°We got a problem,¡± he said, transmitting the thought to Tresk and no one else. ¡°Read my memories.¡±
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Tresk was always quick about this stuff. She was far better than he was at viewing memories with perfect rity. ¡°Holy crap! There was another Harbinger? And it''s stuck in the system!? What the hell!?¡±
That was the information Zaul revealed. The echo of another Harbinger-like being was stuck within the system like some horrid echo. It had taken a body and was forcing the king to do its bidding. Theo¡¯s ability to manipte his own realm might not work on something like that. What a massive wrinkle in an otherwise wless n.
¡°We need to keep this quiet. Zaul also gave me a core to use,¡± Theo said. ¡°Not sure if I should be honored or pissing my pants.¡±
¡°Why not both?¡±
Honk!
Theo opened his inventory, selecting the core that Zaul had given him. He stopped before reading the description, wondering if he should keep this from Khahar. The only downside to it was that Yuri wanted him to have only enough information to win without cheating. That kept the system running correctly, since everyone was following the rules. The alchemist read the description of the core.
[Zaul Shadowspirit Core]
Unique
UNDEFINED Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
Sneaky, sneaky. Undetectable. Use your willpower to shield your soul, Theo.
Innate Skills:
[Spirit Weaving]
¡°That core ain¡¯t right,¡± Tresk said. Theo could feel her shaking her head in his mind. ¡°Undefined?¡±
That was concerning. Why the hell was Zaul giving him a leg up? That god didn¡¯t seem to like him, let alone love him enough to put his neck on the line. The alchemist couldn¡¯t make sense of his motives, but at least he could understand the core. Shielding his spirit was an important thing to do if he wanted to travel through the realms. Xol¡¯sa had exined projecting one¡¯s consciousness like dragging a thread across the world. It could be cut at any moment. He inspected the attached skill.
[Spirit Weaving]
UNDEFINED Skill
Unique
Be careful with this one, Theo. I have created this skill for you and you alone.
Effect:
Weave your willpower around your soul, preventing prying eyes from spying.
Once per day (resetting at midnight) you may weave this power into a spell, skill, ability, crafted item, etc. The signature of your willpower is left behind, enhancing the resulting effect, item, etc.
Theo realized Bob had led him to Zaul, likely on the god¡¯s orders. Salire had exined this skill to him, which was the only reason he sought the god out. The alchemist removed his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core, putting it into his inventory, and inserted Zaul¡¯s core. A sh of something wove through his chest and it took him a few breaths too long to realize his soul was cloaked in shadow. It bunched against that glowing ball in his chest like a protectiveyer.
¡°Dreamwalk,¡± Theo said without another word. They had already eaten, so it didn¡¯t look weird to retreat. Tresk agreed and the Tara¡¯hek went upstairs and fell asleep.
Theo felt soft grass beneath his feet. Tresk had generated something calming to help the alchemist get his mind sorted. He hadn¡¯t even looked at the potions he made, which were at an impressive level of quality.
¡°Alright. Break it down for me so I can understand,¡± Tresk said with a sigh. ¡°Zaul is my god. Why does he care about you?¡±
¡°Good question,¡± Theo said, biting at his nails. His only theory was that Zaul had a grudge against Khahar, or some pride to save. So he generated a core and skill only for Theo as a jab. Even in the Dreamwalk, he could feel his willpower wrapped around his soul, like a protective nket.
¡°Theo goes to fight Harbinger 2. Harby strong. Attack Theo soul,¡± Tresk said, nodding. ¡°Zaul give Theo weapon. Theo strong.¡±
¡°That¡¯s one way to summarize it,¡± Theo said. The hints he was given on how to beat whatever was controlling Hanan lined up with a soul-style attack. The gods had used a Soul ying attack on Xol¡¯sa once.
¡°The way it feels reminds me of something,¡± Tresk said, running her fingers across her teeth. She felt the pointy ones as though that would help her think. ¡°You ever get scanned by Zarali?¡±
¡°A few times. When she first arrived, it felt like something warm was washing over me. It was pleasant.¡±
¡°Most magic users have this bubble they can send out to scan stuff. Like how you can inspect someone¡¯s information. They can tell more about you by sending their magical power out or something. I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t do it.¡±
¡°You¡¯re saying that Zaul is helping me because I¡¯m magically inept?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°Fair enough.¡±
For once, Tresk and Alex stayed around to watch Theo mess with his new core. He had already advanced his willpower to a point of absurdity, so controlling the thing that had formed in his chest was easy. He sent it out like a bubble, formed intricate shapes, and experimented with ways to do something useful with it. But Tresk didn¡¯t have magical senses, and neither did Alex. No one in the Dreamwalk knew if his soul was shielded or what that meant. And since everyone there was a member of Tero¡¯gal, they weren¡¯t affected by whatever influence it would have on them. Real world testing was needed.
Tresk scampered off to fight whatever nightmare creature she generated that night. That left Theo with alone time enough to inspect the potions he had made. He did so from memory. The third tier versions of the restoration potions were already well-known to Theo. But the ones he and Salire had created in theb were a higher grade, meaning the effects were stronger. A Good Quality Greater Healing Potion restored 175 health, but the Great Quality ones he had crafted restored 185. The attribute potions went from 19 to 20 in their respective attributes.
The real change woulde when Theo brewed the dangerous potions, meant to be mixed with the Holy modifier, at third tier. With only second tier examples to think about, he could only imagine the next level for those potions. He joined Tresk and Alex, watching as they fought a giant, winged chameleon. With a thought, he generated a bar of Drogramathi Iron and quaffed a Potion of Berserk with the Holy modifier. This was a potion too dangerous to test in the real world. When he attacked the lizard, he would lose half of his health and get possessed by the owner of his realm. Which was him. And Tresk. And Alex.
Theo approached the tail of the creature and smacked it as hard as he could muster. His health dropped to half, Alex and Tresk went rigid, and his health shot up to twice what it should have been. The chameleon¡¯s tail split off from the force of the attack, and was sent flying into the open meadows. The alchemist felt a strange melding in his mind. There was a barrier that kept him free from the Tara¡¯hek¡¯s influence. Normally, it prevented Tresk or Alex from being him. In an instant, he was no longer just Theo Spencer.
¡°Oh, crap. This is weird,¡± Theo said as Tresk spoke through him. ¡°Honk.¡±
The alchemist stumbled to the side, unable to coordinate himself with so much influence acting on his body. Tresk tried to move his right side, while he tried to move the left. Alex tried to make him honk in fear. Tresk brought the rod of iron up, striking the lizard monster as it fell upon them. The force of the blow bent the rod at the middle and sent the massive creature tumbling back. He stumbled to one side, then the other before falling face-first on the ground.
¡°I don¡¯t think we can use this,¡± Theo said, driven by Alex.
¡°Nope. This is too weird,¡± Theo said, Tresk this time.
With a great shake of his head, Theo reset the Dreamwalk and freed everyone from the weird, fleshy prison.
¡°Hey, I got an idea,¡± Tresk said, shaking her head and blinking rapidly. ¡°Let¡¯s never do that again.¡±
5.61 - Theo is a Sad Boy
5.61 - Theo is a Sad Boy
The Potion of Berserk was aplete failure for the group. While the power it provided was absurd, Theo doubted they would ever coordinate enough to use it correctly. They tried a few more times without sess, giving up when it was clear everyone wanted to drive. Tresk went back to her training with Alex, and Theo practiced with his new core, finding it hard to do much of anything without feedback. The advantage the core brought was substantial, though.
Since Theo now had a Zaul-aligned core in his chest, he had ess to a long list of the god¡¯s skills. This included willpower based skills, something he hadn¡¯t expected. The alchemist assumed the Spirit Weaving skill was the one Bob told him about. But there were a few that had simr enough effects, and they were usable at Level 1. He narrowed it down to one, which he could exploit, since it was a universal skill. Before the Dreamwalk ended, just near dawn, he inspected the skill.
[Shadow Wrap]
Universal Skill
Epic
Cloak an item in shadows, fueled by your willpower. Depending on the type of item, a different effect is imparted. All items will be undetectable with magical detection techniques, regardless of level.
Effect:
Once per day (resetting at midnight) you may wrap an item in willpower-fueled shadows. A higher willpower creates greater effects. This effectsts one week (seven days).
Weapons will gain shadow damage.Armor will gain extra resistances.
And so on.
There were a few strange things to note here. First, it was a universal skill. For what the skill did, that didn¡¯t make the most sense. Next was the fact it could be used at Level 1, which seemed tailored to Theo¡¯s new strategy. It seemed like a stranger version of Toru¡¯aun¡¯s type of magic, and was poorly exined. Even whenpared to what the Queen of Mystery put in the information text for her skills and core. Since this skill could be slotted into any core, it was a simple decision. Anything that took advantage of his growing willpower was worth investing in.
¡°Ready to go?¡± Tresk asked, sensing that Theo was approaching the end of his investigations.
¡°Yeah. Hit it, you little lizard girl.¡±
The group was dragged out of the Dreamwalk with a bit more force than normal. Theo suspected the skill wasn¡¯t happy with the way they had abused it to test the Potion of Berserk. Tresk was slow to get out of her bed, feeling just as much of the feedback as the alchemist. They made their way downstairs to find what Sarisa had prepared for them. And she didn¡¯t disappoint.
When Tresk and Theo sat down, she brought two steaming tes over. A fluffy yellow egg, wrapped in on itself like an omelet, sat in the center of the te. A red sauce simr enough in texture to ketchup to be ketchup had been drawn in a circle around the eggs. Small pieces of greenery poked from the omlete¡¯s edges, joining with crispy fried mushrooms.
¡°Pretty sure I outdid myself with this one,¡± Sarisa said, winking as she went to grab her own te. Rowan was already seated, waiting to inhale his food.
Theo¡¯s inventory was filled with potions meant for the fight with Qavell. He would bring those to the Newt and Demon to hold and inform Aarok they were avable for the army to grab. They had never put their deal in writing. They tossed theb a few coins for their efforts, but both parties knew this was the cheapest option. It took the burden off of the adventurers, ensuring they could fight without fear of getting killed. That made them fight harder.
The alchemist sent his willpower out to check on his golem army. A bubble of something spread from his chest, washing over the room and darkening each corner. Sarisa and Rowan were on their feet, weapons springing from nowhere, before he could talk them down. The good news was that the golems were still on patrol, having taken it upon themselves to range outside of the walls and hunt nearby monsters.
¡°What was that?¡± Sarisa asked, jabbing her spear through the air. ¡°Get down, Theo. We¡¯re under attack.¡±
Treskughed. Alex honked.
¡°I forgot about that,¡± Theo said, cooking up the lie in an instant. ¡°I took a skill that gives my willpower a tangible form.¡±
¡°Why does it feel so depressed?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Theo is a sad boy. Don¡¯t pick on him,¡± Tresk said.
¡°If you could stop, that would be lovely,¡± Rowan said.
Theo withdrew his willpower, having got what he wanted to know from the lodestonework. Just like magic users, he would need to train this new manifestation of his willpower to control it properly. That meant a trip to the tower. He watched as hispanions discussed this new power, eating his food. He loved eggs, especially when drizzled with fantasy world ketchup. It wasn¡¯t quite the same as he remembered from Earth¡¯s packaged meals, but close enough. When breakfast was done, he bid farewell to hispanions and headed off.
Tresk and Alex had been tasked with spotting for Zan¡¯kir again. They had no ns to stop the bombardment. Before making his way to the portal, the alchemist checked in with Salire at theb. She agreed to prepare the stills and ingredients for a few third tier runs and was excited to receive the potions they made yesterday. She busied herself by stocking the shop, and he headed off.
Theo stepped through the portal, arriving in the tower in an instant. He was tempted to feel around with his willpower, but judging by the reaction Sarisa and Rowan had he might end up at the end of an angry wizard¡¯s spell. Instead, he ascended the stairs to find Xol¡¯sa and Zarali lounging on the second floor. They were always hanging out on the second floor, just sipping tea and reading books. What a charmed life.
¡°Theo,¡± Zarali looked up, tilting her head to one side as though she heard something in the distance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±
Xol¡¯sa gave Zarali a confused look, setting his book down. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
Theo felt the familiar sense of someone¡¯s magical senses washing over him. The warmth spread through him, but halted at his soul. The cloak of shadows around his soul shielded him entirely.
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¡°I can¡¯t sense him. At all. He¡¯s not there.¡±
Xol¡¯sa¡¯s magical senses felt nothing like Zarali. His was cold, whereas her¡¯s was loving. ¡°What nonsense trickery have you pulled this time, Theo?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. So, you can¡¯t sense me?¡±
Xol¡¯sa passed his hand through the air. Magic sigils formed in a trail behind his fingers, forming an intricate array. A pulse rushed out from the circle, passing around his soul. ¡°That spell was fairly advanced. I can¡¯t detect you.¡±
Theo looked up, smiling at the wooden ceiling. He allowed his will to spread out, covering the group. Like the Dreamwalk, he was certain that no one could hear them inside the bubble. Not Drogramath, Khahar, or any other god. Tresk and Alex were the only ones that could pierce that bubble. ¡°Not even the gods can hear me, now. I think.¡±
Zarali seemed to shiver. ¡°I would support that idea. My connection with Drogramath feels strange.¡±
Theo had to agree. When his bubble of shadows was protecting him, his position as Champion of Drogramath felt weak. He would need to test to see if Zaul was spying, though. He needed to find a way to exploit his willpower even more if he wanted to aplish his goals. But this was a great start. For the first time in a long time, the alchemist wanted to talk to Uharis. He didn¡¯t know a more powerful mage.
¡°So, here¡¯s what happened¡¡± Theo ignored the advice Zaul gave him. The shadow-dude was a weirdo who was unlikely to have any close allies. Theo? had a town filled with people he trusted with his life. He exined what had happened in the heavens and how he nned to use the new core to take advantage of his burgeoning willpower.
¡°If you could hold off with the bad ideas,¡± Zarali said, nodding with a concerned look. ¡°For at least a few seconds. Just stop trying to anger the gods.¡±
¡°But, more importantly,¡± Xol¡¯sa said,ughing to himself as he rose. He made his way to his many books, pressing his finger against each until he found the one he was looking for. He pulled the musty tome out, and held it for Theo to take. ¡°You can do aura training.¡±
¡°There he goes,¡± Zarali said. Theo spotted how she stopped herself from rolling her eyes, coughing into her hand instead. ¡°Ever the schr.¡±
¡°Naturally,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, waving a dismissive hand. He looked around the room, studying the shadows in the corners. ¡°It has the form of a normal aura, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°The form, but not the textures,¡± Zarali said.
¡°Zaul is helping you make up for your¡cking magical ability,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°It means he knew you were increasing your willpower. And a thousand otherplications with godly politics that don¡¯t involve me.¡±
That was how mortals often thought, though. Theo stopped himself from seeing them as mortals and gods, feeling far morefortable thinking of them all as just people. Complications was a good way of putting it, but that¡¯s the way it went.
¡°So I just read this?¡± Theo asked, holding up the book. It was thicker than most given to him by Xol¡¯sa.
¡°And practice. At my tower, if you can spare the time. And check your administrative notes. I¡¯ve done some calctions on the flying city.¡±
¡°Just remember,¡± Theo said, punctuating his statement by jabbing the book in the air. ¡°If you need an absolute sphere of silence, ask me. We can finally have some privacy.¡±
Theo pulled his willpower in, wrapping his soul in theforting shadows. It was nice to have a better feeling for what his willpower was. He tested removing the core and inserting his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core. The sensation was unpleasant, but not the pained response he hade to expect based on Luras¡¯s testimony. Lower level people had trouble swapping cores, he hade to learn. The shadowy cloak around his soul faded, but the alchemist was aware of the willpower left behind. It was easier to visualize, even without the Zaul Shadowspirit Core. He swapped them once again and the cloak returned.
Xol¡¯sa had made an entry in the notes section of the town¡¯s administration screen. Theo bid farewell to his friends, heading back through the portal as he flipped through them. The wizard had theoretical schematics of the mechanism that floated the city, including power requirements. The alchemist wasn¡¯t confident that he calcted the city¡¯s mass correctly, but it was a decent ballpark. They were burning a gold coin¡¯s worth of energy every second to float, and twice that to move forward. Xol¡¯sa had theorized the city was moving at a brisk pace when they started, but slowed the closer they neared Broken Tusk.
Whatever creature helped Hanan move the city had cut too many corners to make it effective. Throk¡¯s words echoed in Theo¡¯s mind. Flying artifices were dangerous. The Wanderer might have decreased his necromantic energy in the area, but it was still there. Qavell had been battered since the moment it took flight, and there was only one endpoint. The bay outside of Broken Tusk, resting with the waves.
Theo entered the Newt and Demon, finding the shop unattended. Salire had added a bell on the counter in case she didn¡¯t hear the chiming of the bell at the door. He made his way upstairs and found her sorting ingredients, most of which weren¡¯t ones he requested.
She turned and smiled at him. ¡°I had an idea!¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°We have enough reagents for the dangerous potions. Some of them, anyway. But there are a few others¡ Although I did start fermenting more Holy modifier. Kinda,¡± Salire said, gesturing to the burn marks on that side of the building. ¡°My first attempt fell t.¡±
¡°Which potions should we make, then?¡±
¡°I was thinking Limited Foresight, Assail, Poison, Desperate Attack, and your Rust Bomb.¡±
Rust Bomb was a fun one, which piqued Theo¡¯s interest. It produced a sludge that would eat away at metal for fifteen minutes, and a third tier version of the bomb would be interesting. The only problem was the smell. Grimelings were nasty creatures. The reagents they left behind had a smell that was doubled when distilled. The alchemist shrugged before nodding to himself.
¡°Let¡¯s get to work.¡±
Salire was ahead of him. Pozwa Horns would go through the alchemical grinders sometimes, but were often too tough for the artifices to handle. She had hired Ziz to turn a fair amount into powder. Since Ziz liked smashing stuff, he did it for free. The duo worked to get essences for each of their targets, preparing five stills for the batch. What essence they didn¡¯t use for the third tier brew would go into reserve, allowing them to make moreter. That was the key to third tier, the alchemist realized. Having enough essence in stock to create the dilution.
One still got the Pozwa Horns, Another got Widow Lily, Reanimated Skeleton Fragments, Zureah Talons, and¡ Grimeling Ooze. The scent from the ooze was instant and disgusting. Theo and Salire had to evacuate the building, opening every window and dousing every surface with cleansing scrub as they waited. The fog it created with a choking miasma that lingered long after the brew would be done. Folks passing on the street covered their noses, or retched.
¡°I don¡¯t care for the ooze,¡± Salire said, gagging.
¡°Ooze,¡± Theo said, studying her expression. She gagged again.
¡°Stop!¡± Salire shouted, pping at Theo ineffectually.
Theo considered doing it again, but resisted. He thought a bit of difort was the least Salire could endure to pay for suggesting the Rust Bomb recipe. He couldn¡¯t imagine how other alchemists did this. He imagined they simply didn¡¯t. A memory of Perg¡¯s original tannery came into his mind. Everyone avoided that ce based on the smell alone.
¡°Let¡¯s take a break,¡± Theo said, turning away from hisb and heading toward the Herbalist¡¯s Workshop. ¡°I want to look at some nts that need splicing.¡±
¡°Oh!¡± Salire said, wiping her hand over her mouth to clear away some spittle. ¡°I had some ideas about that.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡±
¡°Well, we need to research ntheir¡¯s Tears, but I have some notes for you to look over. But I can just tell you what I found.¡±
¡°Alrighty,¡± Theo said, entering his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop. He narrowed his eyes. Two small marshlings were sitting on the far side, ying a game with stones. They looked at him in fear. ¡°Just don¡¯t touch anything, children. The garden outside is dangerous.¡±
¡°We know,¡± one shot.
¡®Your observations?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Do you remember Throk¡¯s Weed? Of course, you remember everything. Its different than Zephyr Berries. So, why did zee plus wheat create something different under different circumstances?¡±
That was a good question. Wild hybridization must have been different than controlled splicing. ¡°A keen observation, Salire. Now, let¡¯s turn to the topic at hand. Which nts to smash together with another.¡±
5.62 - Silly Splicing
5.62 - Silly Splicing
¡°We could try something silly,¡± Salire said, kneeling to pat the marshling children on the head. They giggled.
¡°I¡¯m feeling pretty silly. What do you have?¡±
¡°Attribute reagents. Let¡¯s smash them together and see what happens.¡±
That wasn¡¯t a horrible idea. Attribute reagents were all flowering nts, which should meld together. They might fight against one another because of their innate alignments, but even in that wheel of elements there wereplimentary things. Theo could imagine fire and earth getting along well, while fire and water wouldn¡¯t. Some schr would have already created an elemental wheel, but the alchemist relied on his mental estimation of the task. Wisdom of the Soul was there to support his thoughts with a brief message.
¡°My Wisdom of the Soul ability says we should try me Roses and Stone Flowers first.¡±
¡°I vote we follow your wisdom.¡±
Theo left Salire in the workshop to y with the children while he collected samples from the greenhouses. He gave new instructions to his golem there, finding it easier by the day to manipte them. Halting by the door with two nts in hand, he scanned his lodestonework with his willpower. The Metal Golems were more willful than the other ones. They had formed a mob and were marching to the mine. There was some kind of monster surge in that area, forcing the miners to evacuate. The golems had responded faster than Aarok, and would likely clear the area with speed.
¡°I need more golems,¡± Theo said, giggling to himself. It felt good to exploit things like this.
As Theo made his way back to the workshop, he remembered squadposition back on Earth. He spent little time in the ¡®regr¡¯ army, but remembered they contained people with different specializations. An army of Metal Golems alone wouldn¡¯t be great, so he intended to break the ones he had created into squads and add different golems to their ranks to spice things up. He shook the thought loose as he entered the workshop, cing the whole nts on the work table. Salire dragged herself away from the children, watching as the alchemist spliced the reagents together.¡°This is locked behind a skill, right?¡± Salire asked.
¡°Like most things, you could do this without a core. But I doubt it would hold. Perhaps I just have a ck thumb, but I¡¯ve never been good with nts.¡±
Theo took the base of one nt, the me Rose, and grafted it onto the top part of the Stone Flower. Mana soaked into the ce between the nts, fusing them together. All nts were weak after a splicing, no matter how well they got along. The rocky leaves of the Stone Flower wilted, drooping downward. The alchemist rushed it out back, nting it in the Experimental Garden Plot before it could wither awaypletely. He worked with the settings in the garden¡¯s interface, creating the perfect environment for the nt to grow. Unlike the Night¡¯s End nt, he allowed it to experience the normal flow of time.
¡°The nt should change,¡± Theo said, mounding dirt near the base of the newly spliced nt. ¡°But it worked. We have a new hybrid.¡±
Theo had expected what came next. Another Loremaster had already discovered this hybrid, which wasn¡¯t a surprise. There were several nts only native to the area, but he doubted the me Rose and Stone Flower were among them. He inspected the new hybrid nt.
[Magma Bloom]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid nt]
Rare
Found near active volcanoes, this nt feeds from molten rock to nourish itself. Discovered by Jamsen Albarat on the third day of the second month, 1248 Era of Darkness.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
¡°Yeah, but what is the Era of Darkness?¡± Salire asked. ¡°Magma nts are fine and all, but I wanna know about the Jamsen guy.¡±
Just because one culture called an era of the world one thing, didn¡¯t mean others would. That was interesting enough. ¡°Good question. I¡¯m interested to see if this will burn my greenhouse down.¡±
¡°That¡¯s one way of looking at it. How long is this going to take to finish?¡±
The Magma Bloom was more stubborn than some others. ¡°No clue. Better to leave it to do its work.¡±
¡°Next!¡± Salire shouted, looking back at the Newt and Demon. Smoke was stilling from the windows, although it had lessened. ¡°I think we have time.¡±
The nextbination was wind and water, which seemed obvious enough. Theo went back to the greenhouses, gathering a Wind Tulip nt and a Water Lily nt. Instead of picking out all the nts he wanted to work with for the day, he nned to go back and forth. By the time he returned to the workshop, the little marshlings were gone. The alchemist nned to lock the door this time, if only to discourage the scamps from ying near dangerous things. That seemed to be the life of a kid growing up in Broken Tusk, though. Poking turtles and getting stuck in logs were all the rage.
As expected, the two nts created a hybrid easily enough. Theo felt resistance when he started, finding that Wind and Water weren¡¯t as close of friends as he had expected. The leaves drooped worse than thest experiment. Instead of waiting, the alchemist rushed it out to the Experimental Garden Plot and nted it, dialing in the settings and observing. The leaves perked up a bit, and the spot where he had fused the two nts together became solid.
¡°Another one,¡± Salire said, tapping her chin. ¡°Who are all these Loremasters and what happened to them? This guy seems deranged. Did he write a poem in the description of a reagent?¡±
Theo inspected the nt, not wanting to miss out on any juicy Loremaster gossip.
[My Dear Sweet Love]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid nt]
Rare
My dear Grogan. On the summer¡¯s breath I found you,ying in a field. Amongst the Thropton, a sight so cute I reeled. I¡¯ll fall upon your scaly bosom and truly be a man.
[????] [????] [????]
¡°It might be my turn to vomit,¡± Theo said, dismissing the screen. ¡°That is the worst item description I have ever seen. Full stop¡ªthis dude professed his love to a lizard-girl with a flower. How cliche is that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Salire said with a weak shrug. ¡°Some girls might like that kind of thing.¡±
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the vition.
¡°Oh, god. Don¡¯t tell me this would work on you.¡±
Salire offered a shy smile. ¡°It would one-hundred percent work on me. Until the lovesick frogopus eyes wore off, and I realized people would read a love letter on an item description until the end of time.¡±
Theo had no desire to witness what a lovesick frogopus looked like, let alone their eyes during such a time. He prayed to every god he could think of that there was a way to undo what a loremaster had done, but knew it wasn¡¯t likely. The worst part was that he now had to think of the reagent as My Dear Sweet Love. What a pain. But the smoke had lessened from within theb. He buttoned his coat, pulling it over his mouth as the pair headed to the Newt and Demon. They entered, swiping vials of Cleansing Scrub through the air as though banishing demons.
¡°The power of Drogramathpels you,¡± Theo said, sshing Cleansing Scrub on the wall. ¡°Begone foul stench.¡±
¡°Begone!¡± Salire parroted.
Theo was feeling lighter than ever after Zan¡¯kir¡¯s idea to attack Qavell early. They could hear the faint snap of the rail guns in the bay, once again bombarding the city. Tresk and Alex were sending reports to the city, adjusting firing lines and updating everyone on the status of the city. Qavell had taken off during the night, plodding over the waves inst night¡¯s darkness. But the moment dawn came, and the flying spotters got out there, it was once again sent to the waves. As Qavellnguished in the salty water, Broken Tusk prepared to take it by force.
Salire led the way upstairs, sshing the cleaning potion along the way. It took them a while to get all three floors smelling good. But when they were done, it was the cleanest the building had ever been, only rivaled by the time when theb was nted. However long ago that was.
¡°This is all on you,¡± Salire said, gesturing to the stills. ¡°If i touch the third tier reaction, we¡¯re going to have more to worry about than a stinkyb.¡±
Theo nodded, getting to work on the next phase of brewing. Five stills were filled to the top with unbound dilutions, so he went between them and bound them with his mana. Next, he prepared five more stills, transferring the liquid between them in perfect quantities and kicking off the next process. Instead of heading off to do something else, he remained there to study the heating cycles they needed to do. Salire took notes as he observed each still, adjusting the heating elements by intuition.
This kind of research was boring to do, but required if they wanted to get a decent grade out of the potions. The alchemist went between the stills for several hours, keeping up with Tresk¡¯s reports in the administrative screen. Qavell had activated a shield that prevented the shots from hitting, and they were running out of his mana-sucking warded shots.
¡°Could you fetch me some Drogramathi Iron Shots?¡± Theo asked, holding his hand out.
Salire ced her notebook in his hand and nodded. ¡°How many?¡±
Theo checked her notes, finding that she had created rows and columns to track the heating. ¡°As many as Throk will give you. Oh, while you¡¯re there could you buy all Throk¡¯s Tworgnothi Copper Batteries and Tworgnothi Copper Siphon Artifices?¡±
¡°Yep!¡± Salire said, dashing off.
Once she was gone, Sarisa stepped from the shadows. Theo often forgot she was there. ¡°I could have done that.¡±
¡°Let the girl get some air,¡± Theo said, waving the fumes out of his face. He made a note for a heating adjustment on the still containing the Limited Foresight batch. ¡°This ce is foul right now.¡±
¡°Thoughts on the approaching city?¡± Sarisa asked.
Theo looked up from the notes after jotting a timing note down. He forced a smile onto his face. ¡°I¡¯m nervous. I have a feeling that we need Fenian to win. And Fenian isn¡¯t here.¡±
¡°You read Tresk¡¯stest report, right? They have guns of their own. Almost clipped her with a shot.¡±
¡°Yet they didn¡¯t think to bombard us. Which means they¡¯re short-range weapons, or they¡¯re idiots.¡±
¡°I¡¯m leaning to the theory that they¡¯re moronic. Or King Hanan is hamstringing the operation.¡±
¡°I¡¯m on team Hanan. He¡¯s not his father.¡±
¡°Well, there¡¯s one question I have. Are you prepared to swing the sword if the timees?¡±
Sarisa was asking him if he could kill King Hanan if it came to that. He would do so without mercy. Things were bnced on too thin of a knife¡¯s edge to worry about that. Sending a person¡¯s soul to the heavens was easier to do than convincing them to do the right thing. But the alchemist knew it wouldn¡¯te to that. His intuition said that if they destroyed the monster controlling Qavell, everything would be peaches and sunshine.
Theo expanded his willpower, covering the room and shielding them from prying eyes. Sarisa shivered, shooting him an annoyed re. ¡°We¡¯ll see how far my new weapon gets me. Let me make a call.¡±
Theo withdrew themunication crystal from his inventory, squeezing it tightly in his hand. He felt the haptic buzz in his mind as it called Fenian.
¡°Alchemist! My dear, sweet alchemist.¡±
¡°How are the pirates?¡±
¡°As drunk as ever! Have you ever sailed with a band of drunk elven pirates? No? It isn¡¯t enjoyable, I¡¯ll tell you that much. I¡¯ve mopped up enough vomit for one lifetime and n to take a long vacation after this.¡±
¡°We got a wrench in the works,¡± Theo said. Fenian was aware of Qavell, but hadn¡¯t been briefed properly.
¡°A what in the where?¡±
Theo exined what they were up against. Fenian listened along as though he knew nothing, but was quick to answer with the truth.
¡°I¡¯m well aware of that miscreant, Theo. There are some implications as to the old holder of my Throne, King Karasan, and I believe Khahar will be properly pissed off.¡±
¡°So, you can beat it?¡±
¡°Absolutely. So long as I can arrive before you¡¯ve been destroyed.¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t Uz¡¯Xulven enchant your boat? Make it go over the bridge?¡±
¡°Because she¡¯s mad at me, my dear friend. Like a scorned lover, she thinks I¡¯ve wronged her. Threatened to take my cores and everything. Could you imagine?¡±
¡°Of course. How long are you going to be?¡±
¡°A few days. We ran into some problems near Tarantham, turning this week-long voyage into something a bit longer. But we¡¯re at a good clip now. Strong enchantments here on the Godyer¡ªgods what a name. You can expect us in a few days. Right at thest moment, I think.¡±
¡°Keep me updated, alright?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Sure. Of course. Ah, I have to go. Another grog drinking contest. Farewell!¡±
The connection was cut before Theo could say his farewells. It was stable, considering that themunication crystal was piercing through his shadow-infused willpower. There were likely implications that the crystal was connected with his soul, making his aura an antenna rather than a dampening field. The alchemist didn¡¯t care to consider those facts right now, turning his attention to Sarisa¡¯s expectant face.
¡°Fenian is close. The Herald will save us. I¡¯m sure about it.¡±
¡°There he goes again,¡± Sarisa sighed. ¡°Putting all his faith into an elf.¡±
¡°I have no confidence that I can kill it on my own. Maybe I could wrap my willpower around it and drag the thing to Tero¡¯gal¡ Or the Bridge. I could do what the Bara¡¯thier did and break a chunk of the mortal realm off.¡±
Sarisa¡¯s confused expression shifted to disgust. ¡°You could do that?¡±
Theo knew he could do that. But the section of reality he could break off was small, only a fraction of the bubble he could make with his willpower. He knew it because he had seen it in the future, thanks to the Holy infused Potion of Limited Foresight.
¡°Yeah. Best not to worry about it yet.¡±
¡°Yet? Are you seriously nning to send part of our world into the void?¡±
¡°Yeah. One day. But I¡¯m not strong enough. I have to find the lost Bara¡¯thier first to bring the shards they stole back. These things are connected. They have to be.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re just telling people now?¡±
Theo gestured to the bubble around them. ¡°This is the first time I can speak freely outside of the Dreamwalk. Do I have to tell you not to repeat this?¡±
¡°No, I can keep a secret. I just hope you know what you¡¯re doing.¡±
¡°Me too.¡±
5.63 - Pass the Pie!
5.63 - Pass the Pie!
After Salire returned to theb, they were prepared to start the brewing process. All third tier potions needed some time to brew within a sk. She helped set up therge ss sks on the table and performed mass reactions for their potions. Theo was the one who needed to drop the catalyst into each sk, otherwise an explosive disaster would strike theb. After the reactions wereplete, it was only a matter of waiting.
¡°I¡¯m off to Tero¡¯gal,¡± Theo said, patting Salire on the back. ¡°We did good today.¡±
¡°I think so!¡± Salire said, holding up her notebook. I¡¯d be shocked if these were Good Grade, and not Great or Excellent.¡±
¡°Hooray,¡± Sarisa put in,pletely t.
Theo let himself fall through the veil between the realms. He passed over the Bridge, not wanting to disrespect Uz¡¯Xulven anymore than he already had. But something tugged at him, drawing him in a different direction. He tried to force his willpower against whatever pulled him, but couldn¡¯t overpower it. The alchemist swallowed hard as he realized the one person who could do that. A momentter, his feet hit the rolling fields of Khahak. He stood outside of the Arbiter¡¯s Citadel, which rose into the clouds above. A stream of people, who were mostly Khahari, walked along the road.
In a snap, Theo was standing in a room. Polished marble was on every surface with a massive wooden table sitting before a window that spanned twenty feet into the air. While it didn¡¯t need the extra light, the room was lit by magicalnterns on the walls. Khahar stood, staring out of the window.
¡°How is Zaul?¡± he asked, not bothering to turn around. ¡°I haven¡¯t visited Und in a while.¡±
¡°He¡¯s good,¡± Theo said, sauntering around the table. If Khahar was pissed, it wouldn¡¯t work to throw himself on the ground and beg for forgiveness. That¡¯s not what Yuri liked about people. ¡°Gave me this fancy core so you can¡¯t spy on me.¡±
¡°I can still spy on you,¡± Khahar said, looking over his shoulder and smiling. ¡°Just not as well.¡±¡°I¡¯m not concerned about you spying on me, though. I don¡¯t trust the other godspletely. Not with the mortal realm.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a smart position to hold, Theo.¡±
¡°Is Zaul trying to use me?¡±
¡°No, he¡¯s too insane for that. He saw something in you he liked, so he gave you the core you needed. I allowed him to break the rules to make it, so I know what it does.¡±
Theo sighed, falling into Khahar¡¯s chair. It wasn¡¯tfortable. At all. ¡°Does it ever get boring? Knowing everything and being all-powerful?¡±
¡°No, because I¡¯m not as strong as you think. I¡¯m uniting the heavens because there are outside forces pressing in. That¡¯s what I wanted to talk about.¡±
¡°The Bara¡¯thier?¡±
¡°No. I don¡¯t want to spoil the surprise, but the thing forcing King Hanan to attack is a vestige. You remember the Harbinger, right?¡±
¡°How could I forget?¡±
¡°That entity is a piece of another Harbinger. They¡¯re an entire race¡ªif you could call them that¡ªwhich create universes. The Harbinger brought us here, but the other guy had already messed this ce up. He wanted us to fix it, but we couldn¡¯t stop fighting. For sixty-thousand years we fought. I spent fifty-thousand of those years preparing for now. And here we are.¡±
So Khahar was feeling wistful about his time meditation for a thousand years at a time. He had gathered enough power to overthrow the status quo and hoisted himself on them like a yoke. Theo knew they needed it. The gods had segmented themselves into pantheons before retreating to theirfortable corners. They waged wars thatsted thousands of years on the mortal realm, and hundreds of thousands in the heavens.
¡°So the thing pushing Hanan forward is¡ what? An echo?¡±
¡°Something like that.¡±
¡°And I can kill it?¡±
¡°Maybe. But Fenian can. He possesses the Throne of the Herald. The single being meant to keep the mortal world safe. He has the authority to smite anything that goes against the Monitor System¡¯s rules.¡±
¡°So this guy creates the system and this universe, then what? He died and left part of himself behind?¡±
¡°Exactly. God, Theo. This isplicated, alright? Something happened on Earth well before the Harbinger arrived. The other guy tried to transmigrate the but failed. Of all things, he was stopped by a human. It gets worse, though. That human¡¯s soul is in the queue.¡±
¡°The what? Why are you being so straightforward¡ªthis isn¡¯t like you.¡±
¡°I¡¯mying the groundwork for when you take your throne. The creature the harbinger killed took souls from our world and put them in a queue. They get released on a schedule that he determined before this ce was even made. You were the second-newest soul to get released.¡±
¡°Back it up. An Earthling came after I was? Where is he? Or she.¡±
Khahar smiled that warm smile. ¡°I have that under control.¡±
¡°This is great information. I really appreciate you finally pulling me in, but why now? Yeah, I¡¯m supposed to take the Throne of the Dreamwalker. Because you need someone to go through the heavens and fix broken stuff. h h. So on. But why now?¡±
Khahar paused for a long time. He gazed out the window as his thoughts gathered. ¡°Can I admit I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t survive?¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid Broken Tusk won¡¯t survive daily, dude. If you follow your own rules, we¡¯re just waiting for Fenian to save our butts. Again.¡±
¡°I suppose we can only pray he is fast enough, then. Perhaps I should talk to the gods that control the wind and the seas some more. They weren¡¯t receptive thest time.¡±
¡°Good idea. And maybe we should have more meetings like this. We can loop every current and future throne-holder in on it.¡±
Stolen novel; please report.
¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. We could meet in Tero¡¯gal. Once Fenian gets back to Broken Tusk.¡±
That was the Yuri that Theo remembered from Earth. He was always finding ways out of tight spots, and he never did it alone. Unlike most spies, he always had support. The Arbiter of the heavens was looking for friends, despite his new nature of going solo.
¡°Makes me wonder how many thrones there are. And why they exist.¡±
¡°Four. They¡¯re safeguards.¡±
¡°Cool. So what¡¯s up with the tower? Compensating for something?¡±
Khahar blinked slowly, then shook his head. ¡°It was generated by the system. Want a tour?¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Why not?¡±
Khahar¡¯s realm was interesting to consider, even on a conceptual level. Most gods molded their realm after an ideal, but Khahak was different. This was a ce that had been melded with the Throne of the Arbiter sopletely that it looked nothing like something Yuri would go for. Thendscape was green rolling hills with very few trees to see. Instead, there was a series of roads that connected cities, all with their own citadel. Unlike Tero¡¯gal, this ce was tiny. There were three major cities where all the local souls lived. Instead of leisure, the people here documented everything. New souls were not invited in freely.
The buildings were all made of the same glimmering stone. Those stones reminded Theo of the white marble in Broken Tusk with seams of silver running through them. Each stone seemed magically reactive, crackling as he drew closer. Folks in the area avoided his gaze, keeping their heads down as they rushed from ce to ce. Khahar needed to get out of his realm more often. He had been around his people¡ªpeople he had effectively created over the years¡ªfor far too long.
¡°This ce looks easy to defend,¡± Theo said, pping a stone and nodding. ¡°Sturdy, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Indeed it is. I¡¯ve been attacked a few times. A few of the lesser Prime Pantheon gods have dered war. They didn¡¯tst long.¡±
¡°So, anyway. You wanna go grab some tea? Maybe cookies.¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try interdicting us both?¡±
¡°Ah,¡± Theo said, allowing his willpower to spread out over them. When it rolled over Khahar, he felt a shiver of response that reverberated through his soul. But within that shiver was something he hadn¡¯t expected. Recognition from Khahar, and his willingness to travel. ¡°Here goes nothing.¡±
Theo interdicted himself and Khahar the way he always had. Reality parted and they fell through the veil, which was much harder to pierce than normal. The Arbiter was interested in how he had done his willpower training, chatting as they fell through nothing as though it were normal. He was impressed the technique was working, and urged the alchemist to find other such ways to expand his power. Theynded in Tero¡¯gal shortly after, and stood together as the various archways of gods sprung up.
While the gods assembled for their tea, Theo ced his brewing potions on his work table. He could ask the local spirits to build him a ce to do alchemy, but had distanced himself more from that concept by the day. Instead, he would enjoy thepany of the gods. Uz¡¯Xulven, Drogramath, Spit, Benton, Khahar, and ntheir came to today¡¯s tea party, finding seats in the cottage and gettingfortable.
Uz¡¯Xulven gave Theo a sly smile. ¡°Arbiter, may I generate an image of the gging city?¡±
Khahar smiled back and nodded. ¡°Theo has people spying on it now. Acting as rangefinders.¡±
Uz¡¯Xulven swept her hand through the air. Theo felt something rising in the back of his mind and recognized it as a request to use magic within his realm. He gave his permission and a shadowy image appeared above the table. Qavell rested in the waves once again, frozen in time.
¡°City fall down,¡± Spit said,ughing and shaking his head. ¡°So stupid.¡±
¡°With no casualties. Yet,¡± ntheir said.
¡°How long can they keep this up?¡± Theo said, leaning in to see the image. ¡°I¡¯ve been bombarding them for a day and a bit.¡±
¡°They will falter,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°The effect you extracted from your work with potions is potent.¡±
Spit scoffed, throwing his tea cup across the room. Benton winced. ¡°Strong potions? Weak city.¡±
¡°I have to agree with the ogre,¡± Khahar said with a sigh. ¡°If the magical interference wasn¡¯t so bad, they would have made better time. But the design of the hover engines is bad. The new King of Qavell could have taken his city high enough to avoid being spotted. Instead, they track the coast.¡±
The gods had a lot of opinions about the city, but they shared one sentiment. Qavell would fall. Sooner rather thanter. Theo didn¡¯t want it to fall too soon. Once the city waspletely disabled, he wanted it. Once it was cleansed, he would propose an alliance with Hanan. The man couldn¡¯t refuse. More than anyone, Hanan would want to join the Soutnds Alliance to take the continent back. They would be asting alliance until the end. When Khahar cleansed the entire world in fire, Tresk, Fenian, and Theo would be there to save the day. As long as everything went ording to n.
Theo had to thank the wanderer for this. He didn¡¯t care for Balkor, and suspected that few did, but this old piece of him was different. A more hopeful version of the Demon God of Necromancy existed in an age lost to time. Preserved in a long-dead piece of himself, that spirit had found purchase in a vessel. The necromantic energy was waning and the alchemist looked to the west for more allies. Not the elves in Tarantham, but the lost part of Balkor standing in the ruins of Vesta. He was on the path to redemption.
¡°So, is that wizard still on the moon?¡± Uz¡¯Xulven asked, giving Theo a look. ¡°Someone should go get him.¡±
¡°Kill him,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°He isn¡¯t worth the effort, Theo.¡±
¡°Save him, of course,¡± ntheir said with a weak shrug.
¡°Oh, who cares? Pass the pie!¡± Spit shouted.
Theo looked to Khahar for advice, but the Arbiter shrugged a response, not willing to make eye-contact. Uharis might be a useful person, but there was too much bad blood.
Conversation with the gods went on for some time. The potions Theo had brewed shouldn¡¯t take much longer to settle down. Most only needed an hour for the reaction to settle, but it wasn¡¯t an hour he wanted to wait for in the mortal realm. The alchemist left thepany of the gods, leaving them to their snacks and tea. Rollerdes had gone out of fashion again, but the spirits had modified the cobblestone roads to be smoother. They had created a cement-like putty that sat between the cracks, allowing them to glide over it effortlessly.
Theo toured the vige, meeting up with Belgar. The dronon spirit had gained his new formpletely by now, and always carried a smile on his face. The alchemist passed him the letter Zarali had written and didn¡¯t mention herck of participation in interdiction events to Tero¡¯gal. Piercing the veil was bad enough for most people, but the Bridge and the void made almost everyone sick. The effects lingered for quite some time, resulting in headaches and vomiting upon arrival to the mortal world.
The vige the spirits had created was more of a town by now. It spanned from the central area, radiating outward in a circr shape. There were mainly homes within the area, but a few artisan workshops had sprung up. Theo wasn¡¯t surprised to learn there was a surface mining operation somewhere distant, as well as logging efforts, food production, and so on. But those spirits in his realm hadn¡¯t developed cores, although he was certain they would do so one day. The spirits performed everything without cores and without magic.
It was weird.
In the face of such acking society, things had flourished. Tero¡¯gal enjoyed a rare status, even among the lesser realms, of being untouchable. If another realm were to dere war, they would need approval from the Arbiter. Unless Khahar was pulling some sick joke, that would never happen. The spirits were free to flourish, and everyone got along. It wasn¡¯t a surprise, though. If one spirit didn¡¯t like another, they had andmass the size of North America to move around. Belgar exined as they watched a half-formed spirit pound metal on an anvil.
¡°We had a few souls splinter off. I don¡¯t think grudges were established, but a few people weren¡¯t getting along,¡± Belgar said, wincing as the hammer mmed against the anvil. The sound reverberated, the hammer ringing. ¡°Everyone decided it was best to spread out if you weren¡¯t having a good time. Maybe the happy feelings will fade one day, but I don¡¯t know when.¡±
¡°Raw souls are different from people,¡± Theo said, stepping away from the smith¡¯s workshop. ¡°They¡¯re more¡ basic. No offense.¡±
¡°No, you¡¯re right. That might be a mechanism of your realm, though. We can see reflections of your thoughts, sometimes. You and Tresk.¡±
¡°Oh?¡±
Belgar nodded, leaning against the workshop¡¯s walls. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to have my sister here. For good.¡±
Theo smiled. He couldn¡¯t wait, either.
5.64 - Shadow Wrapped
5.64 - Shadow Wrapped
Theo had reached a bottleneck with his willpower training. Even within the Dreamwalk, he could no longer expand it. The training book that Xol¡¯sa gave him was useful in some ways. The alchemist sat on a stump, looking up from the imagined book to see Tresk and Alex practicing mountedbat. He couldn¡¯t deny that they were getting good at this. Each banking turn, sh of fire, sh of poison, and entangling root was expertly performed. He was left with his thoughts on the way things were progressing, and couldn¡¯t deny the excitement he shared with Salire to see what the new potions had to offer.
New potions weren¡¯t the only thing he looked forward to. Zaul had given him ess to powerful abilities that could infuse his potions with extra power. Both Spirit Weaving and Shadow Wrap could impart some of his willpower into potions, which would increase them in some nebulous way. Theo rose from the stump, taking one step to appear near the shore near the beach in Broken Tusk. Tresk and Alex remained behind, fighting right outside the gates of the town.
The problem with a giant floating city was the fall. Theo had already observed the city falling into the water, creating a frightening tidal wave. If the n was to bring it down for good near the harbor, the wave it created would be damaging. This was another small thing he had to worry about. The little things that came with a magical world often had rippling effects not unlike the fall of a city into the sea. With his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core in his chest, he tested how hard it was to create an earthen barrier.
Sand was earth as far as the core was concerned. Theo started by movingrge stones from thend, shoving it into the water. That was less effective than he would have liked so he swapped to moving massive mounds of dirt and sand like a great bulldozer. He selected a small section of the bay to test, then extrapted how much time it would take toplete a solid line to protect the town from an errant wave from the north. If he guzzled mana potions, he could do it in two days. But if he got the town involved, paying forborers and stonemasons to reinforce the protective mound, it might take a day.
¡°Problems, problems,¡± Tresk said with a dramatic sigh. She fanned herself like a damsel. ¡°My poor demon boy has so many problems.¡±
¡°No kidding. Got anything to help me with this?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Tresk shrugged. She leaned in close, stabbing her knife into the earthen barrier. ¡°Nope. Can¡¯t really stab the problem away.¡±
Theo gave her a lopsided grin, trying and failing not to smile at her antics. ¡°Golems might be the answer,¡± he said, turning back to his work.
¡°Not a bad idea,¡± Alex said, taking to the sky. Tresk looked up at her, slightly offended that she wasn¡¯t brought along for the ride. ¡°That¡¯s quite the span. Magical efforts seem more effective.¡±
But golems didn¡¯t need to breathe. Theo hadn¡¯t tried to create water golems, but something told him he didn¡¯t have the pieces needed. All materials he had used to create golems were solid and eager to take a containment core. Ice golems made sense, even if they required a Freezing Construct for extended operations. Problems on problems and not a magical elf in sight to fix them all. Or a cat-person with a drinking problem for that matter.
Tresk and Alex helped Theo tweak his approach. They were fighting against both the concept of holding a wave back, and the problem of filling the deep bay all the way to the seabed. The structure under the wall-like section needed to be wide and stable. Sand and dirt weren¡¯t cutting it, but they had few options.
¡°We¡¯ll be lucky if the barrier stays up as the tide shifts,¡± Theo said, clicking his tongue.
¡°Ah, well,¡± Tresk said, pping the alchemist on the back. ¡°I¡¯m sure you''ll pull some potion out of your butt at thest second to save the day.¡±
¡°Thanks, Tresk.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here all week. And the weeks after it.¡±
¡°Forever,¡± Alex put in.
No solution was found by the time the Dreamwalk ended. Theo was slightly relieved, presenting the chance to run his ideas past others before proceeding with his n. He ate breakfast in silence, drafting several messages to people in town to draw up ns. The alchemist proposed the idea to Ziz as though he and his people would be in charge of the project alone, gauging his reaction to the massive job. Of course, he sent a message back almost immediately epting the job. They would start within the hour.
With the town properly stirred up, Theo made his way to the Newt and Demon to disy the new potions. They had stewed long enough in Tero¡¯gal to be properly brewed. He found Salire already working on the third floor, preparing more zee-shine.
¡°Are you ready?¡± Theo asked, pulling potions out of his inventory and setting them down. He spread his willpower over the room, gaining a shiver from Salire but shielding them from unwanted eyes.
¡°Ugh, why are you so sad?¡± Alise asked, grimacing.
¡°I¡¯m not sad!¡± Theo said. ¡°My aura is sad. There¡¯s a difference.¡±
Filing away thements he got on the sensation people got from his aura wasn¡¯t a good idea. Inspecting his emotions, Theo didn¡¯t feel sad or depressed. The thing that ran through his mind most of the time was a focused determination to get things done. There was sorrow for his lost world there, but it was a distant pain. At this point it felt like mourning for a person who never existed.
¡°Anyway,¡± Theo said, dismissing the subject after his moment of self-reflection. ¡°We have some potions to look at. And some interesting abilities to try out.¡±
¡°Which should we do first?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll go in order,¡± Theo said, holding the third tier Greater Limited Foresight Potion up. He inspected it at the same time as Salire.
[Greater Potion of Limited Foresight]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
For 12 hours after drinking this potion, the next 8 attacks made against you will miss.
Effect:
For 12 hours, all attacks, magical or otherwise, will miss. This potion may be ovee by gross differences in levels. Carries 8 charges.
This was a massive improvement of the second tier version of the potion. The duration and amount of charges double. A doubling wasn¡¯tmon in a potion¡¯s effects when it jumped tiers, which was interesting. But they almost never gained additional effects unlessbined with new modifiers.
¡°Very impressive,¡± Salire said, nodding with approval. ¡°Are you going to use your magic¡ whatever on this one?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s wait until the end.¡±
The next potion up for testing was the standard, unmodified poison. Poison was an effect that Theo had tested extensively. Since Tresk needed a constant supply, he had added many different modifiers to it. But the standard version was the most important for testing. The alchemist held the vial of third tier poison, inspecting it with Salire.
[Greater Poison]
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[Poison]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Coat your weapon to deal additional damage over time to an enemy.
Effect:
Cripples an enemy, reducing their Dexterity by 8.
Applies a stacking DOT effect based on poison quality. Maximum 15 stacks.
This was a general improvement all around. The poison potion had never disyed specific damage numbers, but both the crippling effect and the amount of stacks had increased. They wouldn¡¯t stock this in the shop, as Tresk would want them all for herself.
¡°A respectable improvement,¡± Salire said.
Theo scratched his chin, unsure of the value. ¡°Five more stacks for how many hours of work?¡±
¡°It could bind to the other modifiers better than the second tier version,¡± Salire said with a shrug.
Theo hummed in response, unsure of that im. Next was the Greater Potion of Assail. They examined it together.
[Greater Potion of Assail]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Good Quality
The next physical attack performed by the drinker ignores all resistances.
Effect:
Applies the [Assail] property to the drinker¡¯s next attack. This effect ignores all resistances, regardless of their source.
There was absolutely no change between the second and third tier of this potion. Both Theo and Salire stared at it for some time, trying to puzzle out what had changed. After a bit of thought, the alchemist determined that the increased rank of the potion would ovee some resistances of the target. Salire made a note about that, scratching his thoughts down onto the page.
The Greater Desperate Attack potion was up next, which disyed a slight increase to the amount of health it consumed on use. The original version took an amount of healthy from the imbiber, putting that amount and half as much into their next attack. This new version used sixty percent.
¡°Woohoo,¡± Salier said with exactly no joy.
Thest potion for today¡¯s inspection was the Greater Rust Bomb. Theo hated everything to do with the grimelings. The ooze they left behind stunk. When that ooze was brewed into essence, everything smelled like raw sewage. Only the Cleansing Scrub potion got it out, and even then something of it was left behind. The alchemist held the Greater Rust Bomb, careful not to slosh it too much.
¡°Shall we?¡± he asked.
[Greater Rust Bomb]
[Bomb]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Covers the target in a sludge that eats away at all metal.
Effect:
Unless cleared away or purified, this sludge will eat all metal (magical or otherwise) for twenty minutes. The rate of dposition depends on the rarity of this bomb.
Like the ooze the bomb was created from, Greater Rust Bomb was a devious little bomb. There was no mention about magical or mundane materials, but Theo suspected there was something about the rank of the magical items involved. This was certainly an improvement, but nothing to go crazy over. The alchemist was saving that for the end. Salire made herments while he selected the two potions to imbue with his willpower. Zaul had given him ess to two abilities, both of which should have a simr effect on crafted items. He nned to use Spirit Weaving first, eager to see the effects on the Greater Potion of Limited Foresight.
Theo checked that his aura was still shielding them before invoking the Spirit Weaving skill. Shadows flowed from his hands, wrapping around the vial of the potion. They seemed to probe at the surface, testing to see if it could infuse itself into the ss. After seeing that the ss was a container, it wove itself into the potion itself. Bands of midnight ck spread through the potion, stealing the color away from not only the potion but the area around it.
Something left the alchemist after he used the skill. A piece of his willpower now rested in the potion, requiring some concentration to maintain. If his willpower wasn¡¯t such an ocean of power, it would have been a problem.
¡°That looks ominous,¡± Salire said.
Theo held the pulsing potion up, inspecting it.
[Greater Potion of Limited Foresight]
[Potion] [Spiritwoven Potion]
Epic
Created by: Belgar
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
For 12 hours after drinking this potion, the next 8 attacks made against you will miss.
Effect:
For 12 hours, all attacks, magical or otherwise, will miss. This potion may be ovee by gross differences in levels. Carries 8 charges.
Spiritweave effect:
Doubles both the duration and charges of this potion.
Foresight effect now applies to all other attacks not listed (long-distance ying actions, smiting actions, etc.)
¡°So this makes a potion overpowered. Got it,¡± Theo said.
¡°Immunity to¡ smiting actions?¡± Salire said. Her mouth hung open, brows peaked. ¡°How many potions are you going to craft that seem geared to killing gods, Theo?¡±
¡°Pairing this potion with a farsight potion is scary,¡± Theo said, nodding to himself. ¡°Which one should we do next?¡±
Salire looked around theb, checking that Theo¡¯s aura still protected them. ¡°Nothing? I don¡¯t want to be smited. Smote? Smotten?¡±
¡°Then drink this,¡± Theo said, holding the potion out with a stupid smile on his face.
Salire took the bottle and drank the potion. ¡°Not sure if I feel better.¡±
Theo swung at her face without warning. Salire shifted slightly to the side,pletely evading the strike.
¡°Hey! Now I¡¯m down a charge¡¡±
¡°Fifteen more to go.¡±
Theo¡¯s joking didn¡¯tnd, though. Salire was shaken by the implications of the potion, and disyed some distress after drinking it. The implications were staggering.
¡°New rule,¡± Theo said, cing aforting hand on Salire¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This doesn¡¯t leave theb. I can¡¯t stop Tresk from scanning my memories, but she won¡¯t share it.¡±
¡°Yeah, good idea. Do the gods know about it?¡±
¡°Zaul and Khahar. Which has me wondering¡ Who nned what and what are the implications?¡±
¡°Please leave me out of the god fight. I had enough trouble when frogs were my worst enemy.¡±
¡°Fair enough.¡±
Although Theo understood that the concerns of the gods woulde down to Broken Tusk soon enough. Once here, it would spread over the entire world. He had a reflexive desire to check in with the Wanderer. Under the effects of this new protection potion, of course. But he pushed that idea to the side, focusing on what he could use to help him now. As he considered which potion to use Shadow Wrap on, he got the feeling that the ability wasn¡¯t as powerful as Spirit Weaving. There would be a lesser version of the Spiritwoven effect on the item. It was the discount version of the more powerful ability.
¡°Which potion should we test next?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
Theo wasn¡¯t stung by the in response. Salire needed time to process, and he was happy to give it. After a moment, he snapped his fingers and smiled to himself. ¡°What are we doing? The perfect candidate is the Hallow Ground potion. Right?¡±
Salire brightened up at that suggestion. Theo was reminded of a time when Rowan poisoned some children to get her mind off of something. She was a half-ogre that needed something to run at.
¡°Good idea,¡± she said, scampering off to dig through their stores of potions. ¡°More than a third tier potion, I want to see if your scary ability works on modified potions. Hallow the Soil might make more sense for practical applications, but I¡¯d like to see if it binds to modified potions.¡±
¡°Fair enough,¡± Theo said, smiling at his assistant. The potion she picked left an ufortable knot in his stomach.
¡°Holy has worked so far, so why not this?¡±
It was the Holy modified Hallow Ground potion. The potion that sent the souls of the dead to the imbiber¡¯s deity''s realm for judgment. Theo now felt like Salire felt moments ago. He took the potion and held it for a few moments. Not wanting to be a hypocrite, he activated the Shadow Wrap ability. A simr effect was produced from his palms. Ribbons of shadows burst forth, searching for something to bind themselves to. The silvery liquid within the vial took on bands of impossible shadow, sucking in all light from around them. He inspected the resulting potion.
[Hallow Ground Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion] [Shadow Wrapped Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a fifty pace circle around themselves with the [Holy Ground] effect. Undead, ghost, etc creatures may cross into the circle, but will be afflicted with the Holy Judgment effect.
If the imbiber of this potion is aligned with a deity, the souls of the dead will be sent to that realm to await judgment. The afflicted shell will be destroyed.
Shadow Wrapped Effect:
Souls that are guaranteed to refuse any offers made by the deity are cast into the void.
Doubles the size of the circle created by this potion.
¡°That¡¯s something else,¡± Theo said, wallowing hard as he read the description a few times.
5.65 - Ascension
5.65 - Ascension
Harvesting souls didn¡¯t appeal to Theo. His mind twisted, trying to find a way that this could be a good thing. Any souls that were invited to stay within Tero¡¯gal could be sent to the Realm of Healing to join ntheir. Was dragging souls out of undead vessels better than allowing them tonguish on the mortal ne? The alchemist didn¡¯t care for philosophy, and decided it was the best of an unpleasant situation.
¡°We need to know what your new ability does for every potion,¡± Salire said. She was over her prior reservations and ready to move forward.
¡°Agreed,¡± Theo said, joining her in the whish-inducing change of heart. Best of an unpleasant situation. ¡°But today felt good. We got some stuff done, huh?¡±
Salire snorted augh. ¡°I guess. If you consider an hour¡¯s worth of work good.¡±
¡°All in a day¡¯s work,¡± Theo said, patting her on the shoulder. ¡°I have another project to supervise. Bye!¡±
Theo left theb while chuckling to himself. He went to his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop to check on the nts in the back before heading off to the harbor. He didn¡¯t need to get too close to hear Zan¡¯kir¡¯s guns firing. After getting to the harbor, the alchemist spotted Throk on one of the four boats, fiddling with the weapons as they delivered their anti-magical load. There were enough shells tost them a while, even at such an aggressive rate of bombardment.
But Theo wasn¡¯t looking for Zan¡¯kir or Throk. He felt Sarisa and Rowan close as he traced the river¡¯s bank, heading toward the beach. As he expected, Ziz and his team were out there, scratching their heads by the water. The half-ogre spotted himing from afar andughed a boomingugh.
¡°You gave us one wild job, Theo!¡± Ziz shouted. ¡°And a day to do it? Hardly seems worth the gold coin.¡±
¡°Make it ten,¡± Theo said, waving the question away. He was happy to throw every coin he owned in the ocean if it stopped a wave from destroying his town.
¡°Might be a lovely thought, you know? But your ns kinda suck. The wall has to wrap around our little bay.¡±
Theo looked out over the design of thendscape. Everyone called it a bay, but that wasn¡¯tpletely urate. He didn¡¯t know the right word for it, but it wasn¡¯t a bay. The ocean outside of Broken Tusk was a curved section of coastline. The strip ofnd that afforded them ess to the sea was beset on the north and south by hills and mountains. A chain of thick inds provided the bay-like quality of the area, breaking most of the waves that came from the open ocean.
Qavell would fall in the northern section of their waters, right along that mountainous coastline. It would be easy enough to build a bridge from here to there, but the problem of the wavebreak was still present.
¡°We¡¯re talking about¡ what?¡± Ziz asked, looking back at his people. ¡°An ahthalm of distance?¡±
A thousand feet. Maybe two-thousand feet.
¡°That¡¯s not considering the curved feature you want to add.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to do anything. That¡¯s what you need to do if you want to stop a giant wave.¡±
That was fair enough. Theo engaged in some suggestions, most of which were shot down. But Ziztched on to the idea of creating a stone base for a wall. After that, he went off and created an entire n that shouldn¡¯t have taken more than a few days at most. The stonecutters would bring all their reject stone¡ªwhich was apparently a lot¡ªand have the alchemist move it around with his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core abilities. Ziz would exploit his ability to move pre-built sections of stonework, bolstering the loose stone foundation. The n relied on the concept that if they ced enough stones in the sea, it would hold firm. The amount of stone they would use was staggering.
¡°Ten-thousand units of chipped, useless marble,¡± Ziz said, pping his hand hard on Theo¡¯s back. ¡°Think you can move that much?¡±
¡°Oh, yeah. Hauling several tons of stone sounds easy.¡± Theo shook his head, swapping his Zaul core for his sorcerer core. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s give it a try.¡±
While Theo waited for Ziz¡¯s workers to go fetch some stone, he used the Earth Attunement skill to level the area near the shore. The n was to pile enough stone underwater to bring it to the surface. Since it was high-tide, they didn¡¯t need to guess. Before long, a worker returned. He stood there for a moment before a massive pile of odd-shaped stone blocks fell out of nowhere. Each block wasrger than the alchemist¡¯s torso. He could only guess the weight.
¡°We used these to practice,¡± Ziz said, stillughing. ¡°Burned through quite a few. We had started chipping them down, making pavers and stuff like that. But you¡¯re buying, so who cares!?¡±
Theo tested the weight of the blocks with his Earth Attunement ability. A single block wasn¡¯t enough to strain the ability. Ten was the magic number. Blocks hovered in the air in front of them, straining the alchemist¡¯s willpower. He let them fall, and the ground rumbled.
This project was like the bridge and tower project Ziz and his team had worked on. There were two differences that made this one different. First was the speed. This project needed to be done. Today would be best, but Theo could settle for tomorrow. Next was the scope. The bridge and tower system had to go out part-way into the sea. This causeway had to reach the barrier inds, if not further. Quick and dirty it was.
¡°Get to work!¡± Ziz said. He couldn¡¯t stopughing today.
Theo shoved a pile of marble blocks into the sea, tamping them down with his willpower. Ziz¡¯s workers brought inventories filled with the material, fueling the alchemist¡¯s work. Ten feet of the causeway waspleted when they decided to test it. Sitting only a half-foot above the water¡¯s surface, and more uneven than should have been eptable, the causeway was sketchy.
¡°This will work perfectly,¡± Ziz said. ¡°As long as we have enough stone, we¡¯re good.¡±
¡°What if we don¡¯t have enough stone?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Great question! We switch to earth and hope that works.¡±
¡°That¡¯s barely a n,¡± Theo said, jostling the rock beneath Ziz¡¯s feet enough to send him pitching into the sea.
¡°Unfair!¡± Ziz shouted from the water, paddling back toward the causeway. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get one of those sorcerer cores. Maybe a water one. Chase you around with a little storm cloud.¡±
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Theo sent him into the water again, only to be shoved from behind. The water was cool, taking the alchemist¡¯s breath away when he broke the surface. He looked back, meeting eyes with his betrayer. ¡°You¡¯re dead, Sarisa.¡±
Sarisa and Rowan, along with at least five of Ziz¡¯s workers were soon swimming in the water. None were spared from Theo¡¯s mock-wrath.That small moment of levity brought more of a Broken Tusker¡¯s spirit out in all gathered than the alchemist had expected. They were hard workers, and fierce when it came time to defend what was theirs. But the heart of a Broken Tusker beat for the small joys in life. The group swam for some time, sshing around until more stone came to be moved.
Ten-thousand units of crappy marble wasn¡¯t enough to get the job done, though. The slope of the ocean outside of Broken Tusk¡¯s beach wasn¡¯t drastic, but it was enough to require absurd amounts of material. They neared the towers and the stocks ran low. While Sarisa, Rowan, and Ziz contacted Gronro to obtain new stock, Theo pulled what stones he could from the rocky hillside to the north. The cliffs that ran along the shore were high, pulsing with green energy that represented low-quality stone.
Theo looked up at those cliffs, yanking at onerge stone. The others above it followed shortly after, tumbling in a mass of dirt and stone into the water below. A wave crashed out, filling the air with the scent of saltwater mingling with dirt, spume spraying in all directions. The alchemist gathered the stones that had fallen, pulling them from the water and holding them in the air as he walked along the causeway. This wasn¡¯t ideal, but he could extend the structure a bit as he waited for Grot toe through on his request for more rocks.
Ziz had an idea to weld a wall on top of the causeway, which might have worked. Theo didn¡¯t want to consider the fact that the wall might fail, but catching a singr wave shouldn¡¯t have been that hard. Right? He doubted the n more by the moment, but it was better than doing nothing. He spent most of the day working on removing rocks from the cliffs, but the workers delivered fresh stones from Gronro before dusk. At a point, Sarisa brought him food out on that salty pier, forcing him to eat before continuing. Tresk and Alex joined him, annoyed that they weren¡¯t diving into the Dreamwalk.
¡°Alright, fine,¡± Tresk groaned, picking up a small stone. She threw it into the sea and shrugged. ¡°Am I helping?¡±
Theo worked with hisborers, adding more stones to the seabed to extend his causeway over half the length it needed to be. He read the reports of the day. There was no need to read about how many rounds Zan¡¯kir had fired. The four ships had been bombarding the city for most of the day, only pausing when it fell back into the water. But the message was obvious. Qavell was faltering, as was predicted by the gods. If they kept up this pace of bombardment, the city would be too far away for the next leg of the n. It needed to fall within range, allowing the alchemist to assert his authority over it after it fell.
¡°This is enough work. Right, Theo?¡± Tresk asked.
Theo looked back, watching as Ziz fabricated sections of walls meant to break the tidal wave. It would take at least another half day of hard work to get the wall done in time. The alchemist looked down to the uneven stones beneath his feet. He could take at least two steps on the causeway¡¯s width without falling into the water. Tworge steps. Expanding it was easier than setting the foundation, so he decided Tresk was right.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, turning and walking down the length of the stones.
Ziz nned to work through the night, so Theo left him with an armful of Greater Stamina Potions. Sarisa and Rowan seemed dead on their feet, and Alex had been honking her disapproval for quite some time. The group returned to the manor, falling into the Dreamwalk easily.
Tresk wanted to know about the new potions. Of course she did. But she had the good sense to wait until they were in the Dreamwalk to do so. It might not have been necessary with Theo¡¯s new privacy bubble, but he appreciated the old gesture. Her reaction was predictable.
¡°Use it on a poison,¡± she said, wiggling her brows. ¡°Come on.¡±
Theoughed. He had quite a few nasty poisons in his arsenal already. He felt no guilt as his thoughts focused on the most devious poison he had. The Venom poison wasn¡¯t kind. Normal poisons would inflict damage over time, often fading within minutes. Venom remained with a person for years. He imagined a vial of the nasty liquid, holding it up to catch a glint of the sunlight.
¡°What¡¯s the thought?¡± Theo said, searching Tresk¡¯s mind. ¡°Insurance against Hanan? That¡¯s some action movie viin stuff right there.¡±
¡°If I don¡¯t give you the antidote,¡± Tresk mocked. ¡°You¡¯ll die in about a year.¡±
Theo chuckled, gripping the vial in his hand. He invoked the Spirit Weaving ability and felt the Dreamwalk push back. It didn¡¯t like when he tried to do something he hadn¡¯t done before. A sh of his willpower crushed any objections. Shadows oozed from his hands, wrapping itself into the purple liquid within the vial. Bands of ck mingled with rich purples, creating a deadly mixture he wasn¡¯t sure was ready for the world.
¡°Now that right there? That¡¯s nasty,¡± Tresk said, rubbing her hands together. ¡°That¡¯s a war crime.¡±
Theo inspected the poison, confirming that it was diabolical.
[Venom]
[Poison] [Spiritwoven Poison]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Excellent Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Coat your weapon with a deadly venom.
Effect:
Venom floods through any target afflicted by this poison, dealing slight damage over a great period of time.This poison is likely to persist for days at the lowest quality, and years at the highest.
Venom is persistent and difficult to remove. Removal attempts are less likely to seed.
Spiritwoven Effect:
The duration of this poison is increased to eternity.
The damage inflicted by this poison scales with time.
¡°Let¡¯s test some more poisons,¡± Tresk said, rubbing her hands together.
The Spiritwoven Venom potion was bad enough. But Theo felt something within the Dreamwalk push back. It wasn¡¯t an annoyed response of someone breaking the rules, but a warning. Tresk felt it. She looked around, eyes narrowed at the sky above.
¡°That¡¯s a strange sensation,¡± Theo said. ¡°It almost feels like¡¡±
¡°The Dreamwalk is talking to us,¡± Tresk said. ¡°You can¡¯t hear it?¡±
Theo couldn¡¯t hear anything aside from the asional honk of Alex and the simted sounds of nature all around. ¡°Nothing.¡±
This was the most focused Theo had ever seen Tresk. She looked around as though trying to understand where the source of the voice wasing from. Her eyes went wide a few times and a look of confusion settled in over her features. The alchemist had never been worried about the plucky marshling. Not before that moment. He wanted to ground her in the moment, tearing her attention away from whatever the Dreamwalk told her.
¡°What does it sound like?¡± he asked.
¡°Like a dude. With a southern ent¡ªall twangy and stuff,¡± Tresk said. Her daggers were in her hands. ¡°Are you from Texas?!¡±
A rumble of something issued through the Dreamwalk. Tresk smiled back, chuckling at something Theo couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right,¡± she said. ¡°That would be silly.¡±
Pieces fell into ce in Theo¡¯s mind. He thought back to something Khahar had said as his thoughts raced. Something snapped into ce and he understood the subtle hints the Arbiter had dropped. He looked over to Tresk and bit the inside of his cheek, drawing blood for his efforts. Most things in this world were powered by a will. Those wills weren¡¯t normally attached to souls, but there were objects that might require something so potent.
¡°I¡¯m guessing it wasn¡¯t one soul,¡± Theo said, almost at his conclusion. ¡°Tresk, have you seen any signs of¡¡±
¡°Uh oh,¡± Tresk said. ¡°Theo, if Hanan gets to the bay before I¡¯m¡¡±
The marshling¡¯s voice faded into nothing. In an instant, Theo felt as though a piece of his soul had been ripped away from his body. She stood where she was for some time. But she faded away. Like herst words in the Dreamwalk, Tresk¡¯s form echoed until it was gone.
5.66 - The Throne of a Dreamer
5.66 - The Throne of a Dreamer
Theo woke in a cold sweat. His mind reeled as he attempted to get a handle on the situation. Alex honked and sputtered, spewing streams of fire and nt matter all over the room. It was still dark outside, only a few minutes having passed since they went to bed. Panic stripped away all logic from the alchemist. Tresk wasn¡¯t in her bed. Swapping his cores, the alchemist used his willpower-fueled aura to scour her bed, finding traces of something familiar.
He sprung from his bed, urging Alex to follow him as he dashed down the stairs. Sarisa and Rowan must have been out cold, because they didn¡¯t rise when the pair fled from the manor.
¡°Theb,¡± Theo hissed, spurring Alex to move faster. ¡°We need to find her.¡±
¡°Why!? What happened?¡± Alex¡¯s soul had been ripped apart, perhaps worse than Theo¡¯s.
The Tara¡¯hek was shattered. Not irreparable so, but the longer Tresk was gone, the worse it would get. He ran into the Newt and Demon, jumping up the steps to the third floor as quickly as he could. There was a way to exin what had happened. But it would take too long for Alex to understand. ¡°Trust me,¡± he said, digging through his things.
Theo pulled a board near the wall, revealing the Fairy¡¯s Cunning Potion imbued with Holy he had stashed there. He had avoided cing it in his inventory to avoid temptation. But he needed two things to find Tresk. To establish their connection once again before it became too weak. A Greater Potion of Limited Foresight that had been Spiritwoven, and a Fairy¡¯s Cunning potion that had been Shadow Wrapped. He conjured the Shadow Wrap ability first, imbuing his farsight potion with its potent power. Alex was still honking as he inspected the potion.
[Fairy¡¯s Cunning Potion]
[Holy]
[Potion] [Modified Potion] [Shadow Wrapped]
Mythic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to experience the Fairy¡¯s cunning.
Effect:
For fifteen minutes after drinking this potion, the imbiber may view another part of the world of their choosing. Magical counter-measures may impede the imbiber¡¯s ability to see into guarded ces.
Only two far-sight potions may be imbibed per day.
Shadow Wrapped Effect:
Imbibing this potion now allows you to view multiple ces during the effects of this potion.
Allows you to view ces outside of mortal reality.
Double the effective length of the potion.
Theo used his Spirit Weaving ability on a Greater Potion of Limited Foresight, quaffing it in an instant. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± he said, turning to pat Alex on the head.
Without waiting for a response, Theo drank the Fairy¡¯s Cunning Potion. With his aura, as weak as it might bepared to a real magic user, he traced the line that connected the ce where Tresk¡¯s body had been, to where it was now. He forced his soul through space, pursuing the thread like a wolf on the hunt. An instantter, his soul hovered above a white marble pool of crystal-clear water. Pirs sat near the sides of the pool in various states of ruination. Standing in the center of the pool was Tresk, looking up at a pulsing golden light on the far side of the pool. It sat above a shifting throne, urging her to move forward.
Theo yanked himself out of the vision, finding Alex panicking nearby. He wrapped his arm around her considerable size and drew his willpower inward. The building rumbled around them as he interdicted them from the Newt and Demon¡¯s third floor, through the unpierceable membrane of reality, and into the realm of the Dreamer. He didn¡¯t use his standard practice of interdiction. The alchemist hadn¡¯t sent their souls through the veil, but their bodies as well. Tresk turned as they appeared on the edge of the pool.
¡°Theo¡¡±
Theo spread his will over the area, shrouding it in his excessive willpower. The golden spirit faltered, falling to the ground as though it had mass. But he wasn¡¯t done. The alchemist imparted the authority of Tero¡¯gal over the realm. The edges of the pool were cracked pieces of white marble, that cracked further when he exerted his authority. He had no ns to let the newest earthling in this realm react. The alchemist clenched his teeth, tasting copper as he drew on every piece of his willpower. Something brushed against his soul, but failed.
¡°One charge down,¡± Theo grunted. His willpower consumed the Dreamer¡¯s realm. When he felt as though he couldn¡¯t push any harder, Alex joined the effort. She bolstered him, making up for the stupor that Tresk found herself in. There was time for exnationter. ¡°Tero¡¯gal. Now!¡±
Theo and Alex joined together, targeting everything inside the Dreamer¡¯s realm they wanted to take with them. The edges of the realm cracked, then sundered. The void rushed in as the entire scene was interdicted into Tero¡¯gal, bypassing the Bridge that Khahar had promised to fix. With a sh of thought, he buried the chunk of the Dreamer¡¯s realm deep into the soil, hollowing out a section where it could remain undetected.
Tresk snapped out of it. ¡°What the hell!?¡±
Inplete darkness, Theo fell back and drewbored breaths. Tresk withdrew a magicalntern from their shared inventory, holding it high. The light danced off the throne in the distance. The alchemist was too exhausted to exin. But that piece of his soul that had felt torn away was restored. And they had the Throne of the Dreamer. Safe in Tero¡¯gal. But his concentration couldn¡¯t waver. If the barrier dropped, Uz¡¯Xulven would know they had avoided the Bridge. Khahar would sense them. Other gods would voice their objections.
¡°One more trip,¡± Theo said, rolling onto his belly. He tried to push himself up, but it didn¡¯t happen. He was simply too weak.
¡°Share your burden,¡± Tresk said, setting thentern down near him. ¡°Keep that fancy barrier up as we make history.¡±
Theo rolled, watching as Tresk did the only thing she could. She smirked as she ascended to the Throne of the Dreamer. Of course she had a quip. ¡°Heavy is the head that wears the¡ That sits on the throne? That didn¡¯t work.¡±
¡°Tired is the butt that sits upon the throne?¡± Alex asked. She nodded, approving of her own joke.
¡°That works. You wanna talk about a willpower level-up?¡± Tresk asked,ughing. ¡°This is invigorating.¡±
The scene shed before them. Tresk, Alex, and Theo were in theb at the Newt and Demon in an instant. The marshling pat him on the shoulder. ¡°Take your time, buddy.¡±
Theo felt something else brush against his soul. Another soul-ying attempt from the heavens? No, it came from somewhere else. It was a mind-ying action and the difference was important. ying a soul was an action performed by gods. Mind hunting, or mind-ying, was performed by a mage. A few potionster and he was ready to tell the story.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the vition.
¡°Khahar gave me the hint. Someone from Earth came here after me. We assumed the Throne of the Dreamer was open for you, Tresk. Whoever came after me imed it before we could.¡±
¡°So you just¡ threw yourself across reality to find me?¡± Tresk said, giggling. ¡°Man, I gotta remember how determined you can be.¡±
¡°You left a trail when you left, which meant you were interdicted. But what god could interdict you? No god. Someone who held the Throne of the Dreamer¡ªsince that would have given them enough of a connection. I knew it from the moment you talked to that thing in the Dreamwalk. It was warning you, wasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Yeah. When we broke the rules, something detected us. The Dreamwalk has a location, just like the realms. It found us, and snatched me from there.¡±
Theo let out a steady breath. If he hadn¡¯t done his willpower training, this would have ended badly. Tresk¡¯s authority as the holder of the throne gave her the edge, but whoever that was thought the n was foolproof. The ent of the Dreamwalk had been the thing to inspire the alchemist to think about the newest earthling. After that, it was a matter of following the trail.
¡°I can move it now,¡± Tresk said, rubbing her hands together. ¡°I got a new core.¡±
Theo looked at her, raising a brow. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°The Dreamer¡¯s Core. Look.¡±
[Dreamer¡¯s Core]
Unique
Throne Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
The Dreamer is the title of the person holding the Throne of the Dreamer. This position is the guardian of the dream realms of the world. Their duties include preventing otherworldly beings from influencing the mortal realm.
Effect:
Significant increase in Willpower
Absolute authority when facing those that break the Dreamer¡¯s design
[Dream]
¡°A throne core,¡± Theo whispered, reading over the description several times. He stood, finding a ce to sit and rest. Maintaining his aura bubble was getting harder, but those gentle brushes against his soul had faded away. ¡°And it has a skill.¡±
¡°Indeed it does,¡± Tresk said, sharing the skill next.
[Dream]
Dreamer Skill
Unique
The Dreamer performs their duties by entering the dreams of others.
Effect:
Allows you to pass into the dream realms created by dreamers.
This skill drains your willpower, which will need to be recharged by resting.
¡°I can see this web in the air¡ all these people dreaming,¡± Tresk said, inplete awe of the sight. Theo couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°I can also sense the throne. No one detected it going into Tero¡¯gal. It should cloak itself on its own.¡±
¡°How do you know?¡±
Tresk shrugged.
¡°But that¡¯s how this guy found us,¡± Theo said, tapping his foot on the ground. ¡°With the Dream skill. Damn, why didn¡¯t we sense that sooner?¡±
¡°Good question. And he was smart enough to conceal himself. I¡¯m just ashamed he got me. No one interdicts me! Wait, let¡¯s go back! I wanna stab him!¡±
Theo felt the wound on his soul expanding. If he had endured any more of that strain, he would have needed to reforge his soul. That wasn¡¯t something he was eager to do. And it still might have happened. No one had snuck up on him like this in a while. Getting the drop on Broken Tusk, let alone its leader, had be an impossible task. But the old Dreamer had dropped into the Dreamwalk, snatching Tresk away to remove theirpetition. Whoever it was had been smart enough to cut the connection of the Tara¡¯hek.
¡°We just keep making enemies, don¡¯t we?¡± Theo asked, ignoring Tresk¡¯s request for some therapeutic stabbing.
¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Alex objected. ¡°They were just after the same thing.¡±
Theo retracted his aura, feeling it rub painfully against his soul. He winced, waiting for more attacks. But nothing came. They had left the old Dreamer in a crumbling dream realm. If the person made it out, they would have been wounded. He hoped they couldn¡¯t reforge their soul to strike again.
¡°I need a vacation,¡± Theo said, leaning back in his chair. He drew a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
¡°Not me! Check this out!¡± Tresk shouted. She vanished.
Theo could still feel her, but her body wasn¡¯t there. The connection provided by the Tara¡¯hek was still there. He watched shes of something. It was a confusingndscape with Miana at the center. She was tending to an endless field of fluffy white karatan. The chittered, frolicing through the fields as the woman breathed in fresh mountain air. A massive dronon, looking suspiciously like Theo, appeared on the horizon and burned thendscape. Tresk appeared at his side momentster, cackling.
¡°That was Miana¡¯s dream!¡± she said, falling to the ground withughter. ¡°You¡¯re the bad guy!¡±
¡°Ha-ha,¡± Theo said, ring at hispanion. Of course it didn¡¯t phase her. She vanished again, hopping between the dreams of people within Broken Tusk. He felt her go more distant, searching out others within the world.
Tresk reappeared half an hourter, looking slightly shaken. Theo had been resting his eyes when she came back. He looked at her with a tired expression.
¡°Alright, I moved the Dreamwalk somewhere safe. Not gonna tell you in case you get captured and tortured.¡±
¡°Always appreciated,¡± Theo said, knowing exactly where the Dreamwalk was through their connection.
¡°Anyway¡ I was hopping through dreams. Just checking out what weird stuff people were dreaming about. There are some crazy dreams out there, Theo. You couldn¡¯t imagine the amount of booties and weiners I¡¯ve seen tonight.¡±
¡°I think I can imagine, Tresk.¡±
¡°Anyway, I stopped in on Hanan, who was having a dream about his dad. Yeah, how sad is that?¡±
¡°Extremely depressing.¡±
¡°Anyway, I figured out how to talk to people in their dreams.¡±
Theo leaned forward, locking eyes with Tresk. ¡°What?¡±
¡°We ironed some stuff out. Had a really good one-on-one.¡±
Tresk exined Hanan¡¯s tale¡
It was that damned dream again. Hanan knew he was dreaming, but he couldn¡¯t shake himself out of it. No matter how soft the bed or how pleasant the smells in his royal chambers, he only had fitful sleeps. His father was berating him again. The same speech fell from King Karasan¡¯s lips, falling on him like the strike of a hammer against an anvil. But there was a lucidity in that dream that was abnormal. He looked around for a moment before pping his father in the face.
¡°I¡¯ll skin you alive, boy,¡± Karasan growled.
¡°You¡¯re dead, father,¡± Hanan said. The words felt better than he could have ever imagined. ¡°Forever.¡±
Hanan turned away, ignoring the constant berating to pursue something else in this dream. The world outside of this sanctum wasn¡¯t much better. Qavell had been falling repeatedly, more systems of dark magic failing by the day. Dark Coresmiths were dying in droves, leaving only a handful left to manage the strange system. That creature, ever-shrouded in darkness, did little to lift the spirits of his people. He stood in a vague void of the old Qavell. The city before it flew.
¡°And who might you be?¡± Hanan asked, finding the only other moving thing within the dream.
¡°That¡¯s kinda hard to exin,¡± the little pink lizard-girl said. She tugged at the edge of a leather tunic nervously.
¡°Since I¡¯ll be dead by morning, and you¡¯re just a dream, I¡¯ll entertain you.¡±
¡°Sorry, King Hanan,¡± the girl said, chuckling to herself. ¡°I ain¡¯t a dream.¡±
¡°Sure you are. I¡¯m dreaming. I just pped my father.¡±
There was an amount of control that was out of Hanan¡¯s grasp. This dream was lucid, but there were elements he couldn¡¯t control. His responses came out too stiff, almost as though he were following a script generated by his subconscious.
¡°Good news. Bad news,¡± the girl said. ¡°Which do you want first?¡±
¡°The bad news, of course.¡±
¡°Your city is going to fall. Tomorrow or the day after.¡±
¡°I already know that. What¡¯s the good news?¡±
¡°We don¡¯t want to kill you. Hooray!¡±
¡°Hooray!¡± Hanan said reflexively. He cleared his throat. More lucidity reached him as he realized. The lizard-girl was real. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°Hey. Nice to meet you. I¡¯m the Dreamer. Well, I¡¯m the new Dreamer. The old one was weird and tried to kill me. Why don¡¯t you exin what that weird entity is in your city? We¡¯re gonna kill him when you get to Broken Tusk.¡±
Hanan faced a stark reality at that moment. This Dreamer was in Broken Tusk, broadcasting herself into his dreams. He broke down, exining everything he remembered. The entity had coerced his father into quite a few things, but thistest flying city ploy was the worst. He rattled off every detail about the dark figure. Always cloaked, bird-like, and consistently ruthless with his punishments for failure.
¡°Yep,¡± the Dreamer said with a single nod. ¡°Looks like you got yourself an extra-dimensional bird-person on your hands. Pretty sure we can take care of it for ya. Can you get your dudes to stand down when we go for his throat?¡±
Hanan blinked. ¡°The army is loyal to me,¡± he said. ¡°If you destroy the creature, we¡¯ll be in your debt.¡±
The Dreamer cackled. ¡°I¡¯m counting on it, buddy!¡±
5.67 - I Got This
5.67 - I Got This
Theo, Tresk, Aarok, Luras, Xol¡¯sa, and Zarali sat around a table in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. The marshling¡¯s ascension to the Throne of the Dreamer had been shared with a select few under the protection of the alchemist¡¯s aura of silence. No one had questioned why Tresk had appeared in their dreams yet, but she was instructed to calm it down until they could weigh the implications of such a power.
¡°But does she have the authority to destroy this being?¡± Xol¡¯sa said. It had taken him the least time to ept this new state as fact.
¡°Hard to say,¡± Theo said, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Her position is vague,pared to the Herald.¡±
¡°Can we stab it? Can we shoot it?¡± Aarok grumbled.
¡°Not likely,¡± Tresk answered. ¡°Hanan would have done that already.¡±
¡°We¡¯re once again beholden to the elf,¡± Luras said, leaning back in his chair and yawning. ¡°How boring.¡±
¡°But we get a free city out of the deal!¡± Tresk shouted, jumping up to do a little dance. ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that!¡±
¡°And the political implications that came with it,¡± Zarali scoffed. ¡°Political and godly, actually. Lord Drogramath¡¯s influence will sh against another.¡±
The group squabbled for some time, arguing with each other about nothing at all. Things were in motion and there was no way to stop them. Zan¡¯kir and his guns roared on the bay, keeping the city where it was for now. Fenian raced to the alliance on the pirate ship, destined to free the new king from his shackles. Theo¡¯s mind wandered elsewhere as he thought about these things, unsure about how he felt concerning other loose ends.Of the entities that could screw with any ns led by Theo or his allies, Emperor Kuzan from the elven nation of Tarantham, and the Wanderer were the most vtile. Everything else had been ironed out well enough, including the addition of Tresk to the holder of thrones. Only one remained to be imed, and the alchemist nned to seize it himself. He had a decent enough idea about where it went, confident that the extra-nar elves held it hostage somewhere across the void.
¡°Myst question for you, Theo,¡± Aarok said, snapping the alchemist out of his thoughts. ¡°What do the other gods think about this?¡±
¡°Should you even reveal this information?¡± Zarali asked, looking concerned.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Theo said. ¡°This aura of shadow prevents people from hearing me, but that wouldn¡¯t stop someone like Khahar from predicting it.¡±
¡°Confide in Khahar,¡± Luras said. ¡°No one else.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t trust Khahar,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, snorting his disapproval.
¡°Trust only yourself!¡± Alex said unhelpfully.
Theo drew his aura in, clicking his tongue. A forked path stood before him. Zaul suspected some foul y in the heavens, but he was a crusty old shadow person. Khahar was an old friend with a design for a better world. Without using the Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability, the alchemist slipped through reality. After encountering the Dreamer, he felt a closer affinity to his developing power but suspected the core Zaul gave him empowered him more than he realized.
¡°Quite rude,¡± Khahar said, turning as Theo appeared in the office within the Arbiter¡¯s Citadel. ¡°You don¡¯t even knock anymore.¡±
Theo smiled to himself, taking a seat in the nearestfortable chair. ¡°I¡¯ve got a bone to pick with you, Yuri.¡±
¡°No you don¡¯t,¡± Khahar said, staring out the window. Down through the clouds rested his realm, sprawling far into the distance. ¡°I¡¯m just your crazy uncle Khahar. Doing wacky Arbiter stuff.¡±
Theo weighed his words carefully, then shrugged. What was the point of keeping anything from him? ¡°How much do you know about what¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°Did she ascend the thronest week, or yesterday?¡±
¡°Yesterday,¡± Theo said.
¡°And Zaul already gave you the bugged core?¡±
¡°Yup.¡±
¡°Then we¡¯re still in one future I saw. Although I¡¯ll cross a few off from my list.¡±
¡°Ya gonna exin Zaul¡¯s core?¡±
Khahar waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Just an old fool who won¡¯t let his power go. An original god from the First Ascension that has avoided pruning. But you don¡¯t have to worry about me. The other gods might have it out for you, but not me.¡±
¡°Always good when the omnipotent dude says ¡®you have nothing to worry about. I¡¯m not evil, I swear!¡¯¡±
Khahar chuckled. ¡°Good one. Uz¡¯Xulven hasn¡¯t figured out you¡¯ve been bypassing the Bridge.¡±
¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Theo reassured him. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t rat on me.¡±
¡°Zaul poured more of his power into that core than he should have. That¡¯s a lot of effort to thumb his nose at us. Anyway, was this the only reason for your visit?¡±
¡°Basically. Just checking to see if stealing a piece of a realm is against the rules.¡±
¡°Nope. No one is supposed to be able to do it. So you¡¯re good,¡± Khahar said, giving Theo the thumbs-up.
Theo didn¡¯t know if Khahar noticed what was happening to him. He probably noticed. That guy noticed everything. Something pulled in the alchemist¡¯s chest, drawing him back toward the mortal ne. He shouldn¡¯t have been here, no matter how much he wanted to remain. It reminded him of the sensations souls felt when they were trespassing in foreign realms. With a half-hearted wave, he let himself get dragged back into the void. It was like falling backwards into a pool of water, the chill of emptiness filling his body in an instant. But within the void there was peace. A silence so deep he couldn¡¯t hear his breath, or his heartbeat.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
For a moment, Theo glimpsed a sprawling field of gems glittering in the dark. It seemed endless, the light almost blinding. The moment passed and he fell back onto the mortal ne, his butt hitting the ground hard. The alchemist red up at Tresk, who had moved his chair.
¡°Ha-ha!¡± she shouted, pointing at him.
Theo stood, straightening his coat. ¡°You suck,¡± he said, leaving the room.
The war room would go on for some time, but Theo had other things to do. No one broke their conversation as he left, although Tresk continued to giggle. He stepped out onto the streets, finding more activity than he expected. People were stacking wooden crates and shouting between each other. Gael, Gwyn, and Alise pitched in or barked orders.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Theo asked, cing a hand on Alise¡¯s shoulder. She looked up at him with a weak smile.
¡°We can¡¯t contribute to the war effort, but we can read the reports,¡± she said, patting a box with a grin. ¡°We¡¯re preparing relief aid for the city.¡±
The reports Theo submitted included Hanan¡¯spliance once the city fell. So long as the creature was killed, the people within Qavell needed help. Assuming they had any food stores at all, perhaps in dimensional storage crates, the poption of the city was vast. Her people would be hungry and thirsty. Scared by their captor and untrusting of their saviors. The administrators were perfect to make first contact. An armful of food rather than weapons was better.
¡°What an amazing idea,¡± Theo said, smiling down at the woman. ¡°You guys rock.¡±
¡°Thanks,¡± Alise said, offering a shy smile. ¡°Just finding my path. You should help Ziz. Anyone who isn¡¯t working on the food is helping with a bridge.¡±
Theo snapped his fingers. How did he expect to get to the city if they didn¡¯t have a way to get to the city? He thanked Alise again, jogging off to the harbor, then north to the site of their tsunami-breaker. Sarisa and Rowan followed close behind, leaving the shadows in favor of haste. The area of the beach where they had started the wall was buzzing with activity. Locals from Broken Tusk worked with folks from both Rivers and Gronro, passing stones between themselves in a chain to bolster the causeway. Ziz¡¯s wall was mostly done on the piled stone. It didn¡¯t look sturdy enough to stop a tidal wave, but it was better than nothing.
¡°Ah! Just the demon I need,¡± Ziz said, looking up from the length of stones he was working on. Wet mortar dripped from his fingertips, staining his face in long smears. ¡°Use some of that fancy magic to help these poor folks.¡±
Theo nodded, slotting his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core and getting to work. Doing this work by hand was a nightmare, and he didn¡¯t know how they had gotten as far as they had. The crowd pped when the alchemist hoisted arge pile of rocks, carrying it across the causeway to deposit on the far end. The alchemist understood what Ziz was doing on his third pass of dropping rocks into the sea. He was creating prefabricated structures that he could add to his inventory. This was exactly like the failed bridge to the lizard inds. The only difference was that this bridge didn¡¯t need to span a length of angry seas. The bay was calm enough where he could set the supports with ease.
Zan¡¯kir¡¯s weapons rang out in the distance, sending shots hurtling toward Qavell once again. They moved too fast and high to spot them, but the deadly impacts were reported through the administration interface. Theo picked up his pace, feeling as though a monster were on his tail, prepared to strike. He tried using his authority and domain to moverge chunks ofnd, but it didn¡¯t work. Something might have been drained from him when he took a piece of the Dreamer¡¯s realm, or he didn¡¯t have the authority to act on the mortal realm. Instead, he chugged more mana potions and moved stones with his sorcerer core.
Despite the coat that brought him to the perfect temperature, Theo was sweating. He dabbed his brow after a trickle of sweat rolled down to sting his eye. The scent of low tide filled the air as they worked, dying sea vegetation mingling with salt. The next time the weapons fired, Theo spotted the arc of the shots. He swallowed hard, narrowing his eyes on the horizon. A gray mountain poked from around a bend, more of iting into view by the moment. The weapons fired again and the mountain glittered with energy.
Theo grit his teeth, biting back the words of warning he wanted to shout. Something in his chest told him about the danger. Words that were spoken to him days ago came back. If they had weapons that could fire long-range, so did Qavell. The alchemist switched back to his Zaul core, using Spirit Weaving on his next spell. He chugged a Greater Intelligence Potion. With his mind buzzing, he used one more ability. The Intuitive Nodes skill from his Toru¡¯aun Core drew on the power of Tero¡¯gal to empower a spell. He infused his ad-hoc defensive ward with the power of an entire realm.
The shield that flowed forth from Theo¡¯s hands, powered by the words of his chant, sprung to epass more area than Broken Tusk upied. Shots rippled out from Qavell, mming against the shield without effect. But the alchemist felt those strikes in his bones, driving him to his knees as he clenched his teeth. The gathered crowd scattered, fleeing the scene for the safety of the walls. Theo felt powerful hands hook under his arms, lifting him to his feet as Sarisa and Rowan stood sentinel.
¡°We good, Theo?¡± Sarisa asked, scanning the area for something to do.
Theo tried not tough, maintaining his focus on the spell. Ziz was still working, undeterred by the magic striking against the shield. Tresk appeared nearby with Alex. The goose pressed her head against his chest, and the marshling put two hands on his back. The connection the spell had with Tero¡¯gal doubled, rendering it as an imprable force field.
¡°That was thest-ditch n,¡± Theo grunted, his hands quivering as he maintained the barrier. ¡°Didn¡¯t know they were so close.¡±
Tresk nodded, drawing both daggers. ¡°n B.¡±
It didn¡¯t pass Theo¡¯s notice that they were coated in Venom. Before he could object, she was on Alex¡¯s back, soaring into the air.
¡°Where the hell is Fenian?¡± Rowan grumbled.
A rift appeared next to Theo. Zarali and Xol¡¯sa stepped out, eyes going wide when they saw the source of the barrier. The Drogramathi Priestess mmed her staff against the ground, chanting a prayer to her lord. Theo felt renewed as a message popped up.
You have received [Blessing of Drogramath] from [Zarali].
¡°Watch this,¡± Theo said, pulling his focus inward. He expanded his aura. With great effort, he matched the size of his Toru¡¯aun barrier with his own aura.
King Hanan paced in his chambers, chewing at his nails. He had already drawn blood on all ten, but he couldn¡¯t stop. The Dreamer¡¯s message was clear. There was hope. But the creature had taken control of the city, puppeting it to do his bidding. The automated defenses on the walls were already firing on the poor town below. Even if the Dreamer¡¯s promise coulde true, they wouldn¡¯t survive long enough to rescue his people.
Hanan drew a ragged breath, letting it out with equal pain. He stepped out onto his balcony, looking down at the water rushing by below. His eyes dragged up to the ce his city was attacking and saw something strange. The king¡¯s heart stopped beating for a moment as he saw a barrier more powerful than he could imagine. It covered most of the coastline, epassing an arearger than Qavell itself.
¡°There is hope,¡± he said, heart hammering hard in his chest. ¡°Just a glimmer, but¡ What!?¡±
The king tumbled backwards, falling on his ass and mming his head against a dresser. He looked up, groaning and clutching his wound. If he wasn¡¯t fairly high-leveled, he would have had a heart attack. The Dreamer stood before him, a wicked dagger in each hand and a smile on her face. Of all things, a goose the size of a healthy milk karatan stood before her, honking in anger.
¡°You¡¯re¡¡±
¡°Where is the jerk?¡± the Dreamer asked.
¡°The entity is in¡ He¡¯s in the throne room!¡± Hanan said, gesturing vaguely behind him. ¡°My people know about you. They won¡¯t attack.¡±
¡°Yeah, I got this,¡± the dreamer said, rolling her shoulders. ¡°Just sit tight, king. I¡¯ve got an interdimensional bird-person to kill.¡±
The muscles in Hanan¡¯s jaw bunched as he grit his teeth. Here he was, sitting and whimpering like some fresh-faced adventurer in their first dungeon. He let out a scream, punched himself in the stomach, then grabbed his spear before following after the Dreamer.
5.68 - Sure, Buddy
5.68 - Sure, Buddy
Tresk stalked the halls of the king¡¯s pce, sticking to the shadows to remain out of sight. Alex waddled close behind. This wasn¡¯t a suicide mission, though. They had a way out of things got dicey. She only needed one hit on the critter to be happy. A single sh to apply the Venom effect. That way, if he got away, there was potential for death.
¡°Looks clear,¡± Alex said, craning her neck around another corner. A sacred-looking pce guard fled, not bothering to engage the pair.
¡°Let¡¯s make this clean, Alex,¡± Tresk grumbled. ¡°Theo has about ten minutes.¡±
¡°The city is moving much faster,¡± Alex said, poking her head around another corner. ¡°No throne in there.¡±
¡°Yeah, they were saving some juice for thest stretch. Would¡¯ve been smarter to stay at range and bombard us.¡±
Tresk cursed under her breath. The city had already covered half the distance to Broken Tusk by the time they arrived. Avoiding fire from the defensive emcements on the city was hard enough, but finding the king was another problem entirely. Now they had to find the damned throne room? COME ON!
¡°That¡¯s the wrong way!¡± King Hanan¡¯s raspy voice called out from behind them. ¡°Come! Quickly!¡±
¡°King gonna get himself killed,¡± Tresk muttered, turning and emerging from the shadows. She nodded at Hanan and fell in line behind him. At least he had a weapon.
¡°Where the hell is Fenian!?¡± Tresk shouted into Theo¡¯s mind.¡°I don¡¯t know. The city is getting awfully close, Tresk,¡± Theo said.
¡°Yap yap yap. I¡¯m on it!¡±
Tresk felt the doubt flood through her connection with Theo. He wasn¡¯t as good as her at reading minds within the Tara¡¯hek. But one didn¡¯t need a connection like theirs to know that things were grim. The Harbinger Lite had outyed them, even when they had the upper hand. The marshling wouldn¡¯t me anyone involved. This was just an unpleasant situation. But nothing solved problems better than poison!
Hanan paused outside of an ornately decorated pair of double doors. He looked back at Tresk, swallowing hard. ¡°He is powerful.¡±
¡°We¡¯re not here to kill him immediately,¡± Tresk said. ¡°We gotta throw him off for just a moment. Just enough time for my backup to get here.¡±
Hanan nodded, grasping the handle and opening the door. He held his spear at the ready, leading with it as he entered the throne room. Tresk followed suit, holstering her daggers only long enough to crack her knuckles.
¡°Ah. There you are.¡± A voice flowed from the throne. A dark figure sat upon it, fifty paces away. It sucked in the light around it, flickering on the spot. ¡°I was wondering when¡ª¡±
Tresk entered the shadows, emerging next to the creature and driving both daggers home. The creature gasped as she twisted, then vanished again, appearing in the hall. ¡°No time for a monologue! We gotta go!¡±
¡°What!?¡± King Hanan shouted, skittering along the ground. He nced over his shoulder for only a moment, face stained with fear. ¡°I thought you were gonna kill him!¡±
The throne room filled with ming vines that wrapped around the entity, binding it in ce.
¡°Nope! We¡¯re the backup n. Waiting for the other n!¡±
¡°Oh, gods!¡± Hanan screamed, kicking hard against the ground as he fled from his own throne room.
All members of the attack party were thrown to the side, tumbling as Qavell itself listed dangerously.
Theo tasted copper in his mouth as Qavell mmed into his barrier. The city tilted forward, towers ncing against the dark bubble of magic to crumble into the ocean below. The ground under his feet gained an indentation, roughly the shape of his bubble. His world was a blur of agony.
¡°Hold firm, Theo,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, closing his eyes and channeling some spell.
Theo watched as his barrier was reinforced, only in the parts where Qavell had impacted. Xol¡¯sa was adding his magic to the mix, infusing the Toru¡¯aun spell with extra-nar power. This was the peak of magery. Not the tricks the alchemist had used to achieve his goals, but raw power. He could tell what the mage was doing, and didn¡¯t like the implications. It was a backup n. If the barrier fell, part of the city would pass through a portal. The effect would be disasterous.
¡°Hold firm,¡± Zarali encouraged, passing her healing magic over the alchemist.
A giant frog shot through the air, mming into the city and exploding in a fountain of goo. ¡°Chaos magic, baby!¡± Bilgrob shouted. A giant snake followed next.
Before Theo knew it, what few elves from House Wavecrest that had dabbled in magic were reinforcing his barrier. The army had assembled, marching out onto the field to face down an entire floating city. No abilities, potions, or reinforcements would help Theo maintain the bubble. But with everyoneing out to help, the weight felt lighter.
¡°This isn¡¯t a n!¡± Hanan shouted, following Tresk through the streets of Qavell.
¡°I have a goose! This is a perfect n!¡± Tresk shouted back, cackling as they approached the outer wall of the city.
People were panicking, darting in every direction to find cover. The city forced itself against the barrier, but could not get through. Tresk could feel the entity honing in on her, dashing through the streets with inhuman speed. But her Dreamer¡¯s Core told a different story. While the entity didn¡¯t go against anyws enforced by the core, it whispered information. It was a weak echo of the real deal, barely able to keep its form on the mortal ne.
Buildings crumbled around them as the group ran for the wall. Tresk ran up steps four at a time as Alex flew to the battlements. The barrier buzzed in her ears, grinding against the wall like stone on stone. Theo¡¯s willpower was absolute. So long as he kept his mind focused, the city wouldn¡¯t break through until the spell expired. She knew he was smart enough to infuse it with all his tricks.
¡°This is a good spot,¡± Tresk said with a nod. ¡°The barrier might flicker, so be ready to be sent on your ass!¡±
¡°Oh, gods!¡± Hanan shouted, hitting the ground and covering his head.
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The entity tore through the city, its darkened form flickering out in every direction as though it was already breaking apart. The Venom might have been working on that, but Tresk wouldn¡¯t risk it. She pulled a potion from the Tara¡¯hek inventory and considered it for a moment.
¡°Stop the city, Hanan,¡± Tresk said, popping the top to the Holy infused Potion of Berserk. ¡°We¡¯ll need to chase after him after the first hit, Alex.¡±
¡°I¡¯m ready to go!¡± Alex said, honking like crazy.
¡°I am the Worldmender! The Worldbreaker!¡± the thing shouted.
¡°Sure, buddy.¡±
Tresk stepped through the shadows after quaffing the potion, aiming her palm-strike carefully. She recalled what happened when Theo tested the potion. The barrier flickered as Tresk, Alex, and Theo all assumed her as a vessel. Her palm made contact in a full-force strike, angled just right. The Worldbreaker flew through the air, the ground cracking under the force of the blow. He ricochetted off of a building and was sent tumbling far into the distance.
¡°Let¡¯s go, baby!¡± Tresk said, mounting Alex.
¡°This is harder than you would think,¡± Tresk said, Theo speaking through her.
¡°Honk!¡± Tresk said, giving pursuit to the tumbling entity.
Fenian cleaned the dirt from under his fingernails. Working on a pirate¡¯s ship was bad enough, but did it have to be so dirty. He looked down at the rags he wore, shaking his head. The first thing he would do after getting his carriage back was to find some decent clothes in Bantein. After that, he would make a trip to Partopour to visit the bathhouses, where young maidens would scrub him clean until he couldn¡¯t smell the stink of pirates any longer.
The three-masted ship had been a worthy steed, though. The winds had changed over the past few days, blowing them on a steady course that made the ship groan. They were approaching the horn south of Broken Tusk, passing by a chain of inds to the south. Even at this distance, Fenian could feel the magic seeping into the air. One had an interesting taste, and he couldn¡¯t recognize it.
¡°Almost there, my fellow pirates!¡± Fenian said, pping one dirty elf on the back. ¡°Then you¡¯ll get that gold I promised you.¡±
¡°We better had,¡± one pirate grumbled. ¡°Or it''s your head.¡±
¡°Oh, it¡¯s not about the plunder within the alliance, dear pirate. It¡¯s about the plunder we took along the way!¡±
The pirates grumbled, but knew he was right. They had cut a path across the waves, stealing what they could along the way. It was the only way Fenian could keep them motivated to move so quickly. Pirates were like that, though. Unless they had something shiny to chase, they were hopelessly lost.
A pulse of power rocked the ship back slightly, drawing concerned looks from the pirates. Fenian chuckled. ¡°Oh, it does do that sometimes.¡±
The ship moved around the corner, providing Fenian with his first look at a barrier. ¡°That¡¯s¡ interesting,¡± he said.
The barrier was too big. There shouldn¡¯t have been a mortal alive with the ability to produce it. Khahar might have swung it, but that was a stretch. Even more, there was an entire city mmed against it. Fenian ran his fingers through his tangled hair, ignoring the ces where it caught. Theo had made more progress than he expected. There was a battle somewhere. His Herald¡¯s Core was screaming out to join it. But he didn¡¯t have the authority. He needed to see the entity before he could activate the core.
¡°Damn. This is frustrating. Catch more wind,ds,¡± Fenian said.
¡°You know how to work the sails,¡± a drunken pirate said.
Fenian grumbled, adjusting the angle of the sails and letting more line out in the rigging. The ship lurched forward under their feet, sending a few pirates tumbling to the ground. If he squinted enough, he could almost see a fight happening beyond the city. It was hard to see through the shadowy barrier, though. The magic that rolled off of thebatants was hard to discern. A mixture of Tero¡¯gal¡¯s vor with something else he couldn¡¯t ce. A white shape moved up from the fray, hovering in the air and shooting a ball of fire downward. Then he spotted it and a system message appeared.
[Herald¡¯s Duty]
Unknown entity sighted!
You haveid eyes on an entity that isn¡¯t registered with the system. This entity vites severalws under the protection of the Herald. It will remain highlighted in your vision until it is eliminated.
The restrictions on your Herald¡¯s Core have been removed. You are free to act in your capacity as this world¡¯s Herald to eliminate the enemy.
¡°Oh, finally,¡± Fenian groaned. ¡°Just pull into the port. I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±
¡°Where are you going?¡± a pirate asked.
Fenian stepped over the boat¡¯s edge, hovering and keeping pace with it. ¡°Oh, where else? To y a god.¡±
Fenian stopped moving alongside the boat, watching as it sailed off into the distance. Once it was far enough away, he jumped. The force of the action sent the water of the ocean fanning out in all directions, revealing the seafloor below. In an instant, both swords were, shing in a wide arc to m against the Worldbreaker¡¯s defenses. The Herald hovered there, winking at Tresk and Alex. The marshling and goose were battered, but they would live.
¡°Let me take it from here, sweet marshling,¡± Fenian said, blowing her a kiss.
¡°My hero,¡± Tresk groaned. Alex honked, diving to avoid theing battle.
¡°Now, let¡¯s see,¡± Fenian said, looking at his twin rapiers. The Worldbreaker was still sailing into the distance, about to m into the mountain range along the coast. ¡°Small sword is good. Big sword is better!¡±
Fenian swiped Uz¡¯Xulven¡¯s sword through the air. The path it traced was made manifest as a massive de,rger than the city of Qavell. It shed through the air, slicing through the Worldbreaker and digging into the mountain. The entire thing fell into the ocean in one great heap, creating waves higher than the walls at Broken Tusk.
¡°And more for good measure,¡± Fenian chuckled to himself, pushing off against nothing and diving in for a thrust.
The Worldbreaker dove to the side, the strike narrowly missing. The ocean removed itself from the strike, leaving behind a molten fissure the size of a city.
¡°Slippery little bastard,¡± Fenianughed.
Theo trembled under the weight of the city, sweat pouring down his face. He couldn¡¯t see Fenian¡¯s battle with the entity, only the arcing strikes from his sword. The creature had vited the rules that disallowed otherworldly entities from messing with the mortal ne. That had unlocked Fenian¡¯s core, allowing him to go all-out. Each strike was powerful enough to level entire mountain ranges, tearing up the ranges east of Gronro-Dir and those further north.
Without warning, the pressure brought by Qavell ceased. Chunks of rocks exploded from the foundation, sailing into the ocean below as the city fell. Theo couldn¡¯t hold the barrier any longer. He fell to his knees, watching as the city mmed into the ocean. As expected, the wave came shortly after.
Theo held onto consciousness as several potions were shoved into his mouth.
¡°Here shees!¡± Ziz shouted, frantic to reinforce the weak points in the wall.
The wave mmed against the barrier, knocking it over in an instant. Seawater washed up onto the beach, knocking everyone gathered over. But the wall had done its job. Most of the energy in the wave had been dispersed, resulting in a gentle roll over the beach. The alchemist fell onto his back, allowing the warm water to soak him through. His guardians held his head up, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t drown in what little water washed over him. When the wash settled down, Ziz didn¡¯t hesitate to start the bridge. Even with Fenian fighting, sending more mountains into the sea, he got to work.
¡°Rest, brother,¡± Zarali said, cradling Theo¡¯s head.
¡°You haven¡¯t called me that in forever.¡±
¡°Not by blood, maybe,¡± Zarali said, her glowing eyes lingering on the battle in the distance. ¡°But a brother all the same.¡±
¡°What am I?¡± Tresk said, falling from Alex¡¯s back as she fell to the ground. ¡°Chopped liver?!¡±
The connection formed by the Holy Berserk Potion had faded. Theo was left feeling drained from both the barrier he maintained and the connection, but they were getting better at sharing a body. It was like multitasking on steroids. He drew steady breaths,fortable knowing that Fenian was taking care of things.
¡°Did you get him, Tresk?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Stabbed him a few times,¡± Tresk said, pushing herself to a seated position. ¡°I knew Fenian was near, and that I had to get the bad dude away from the city. Did the only thing I could think of.¡±
¡°Smart, Tresk,¡± Theo said, letting out another shaking breath. She left out how she knew. Her Dreamer¡¯s Core sang when it detected Fenian nearby. Better to leave stuff like that out.
¡°Leave the rest to us,¡± Aarok said, stepping into view with Alise by his side. ¡°We¡¯ll scour the city and save those that need it.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t kill Hanan,¡± Tresk said. ¡°He¡¯s a big baby.¡±
5.69 - Hardly a King
5.69 - Hardly a King
If Fenian had fought the entity over Broken Tusk, there would have been nothing left. Theo had mostly recovered from the ordeal, and was helping Ziz work on the bridge. If Tresk hadn¡¯t sent the creature flying into the distance, keeping it away from both Qavell and Broken Tusk, the alchemist¡¯s story might have ended there.
Qavell had fallen within a thousand feet of the harbor. It now tilted to one side in the surf, surrounded by the crumbling mountain and swirling ocean. Whatever dark core magic had sent the city flying had faded, leaving behind dark stains on the exposed foundation. Even from the iplete bridge, Theo could see people on the walls. They waved down, shouting things that were too distant to hear.
Tresk and Alex had flown over, using their inventory to distribute supplies. She updated the administration interface for once, keeping Alise appraised of the situation. The Qavelli people had been without food for some time. Despite outward appearances, this n wasn¡¯t thought out well enough. The kingdom relied on farms that sprawled outside the walls of their city, resulting in an immediate shortage when the undead were a problem. Her people now starved, finding relief in the Soutnds Alliance. A group they once thought of as their enemies.
¡°Ya dropped it further than I expected,¡± Ziz said, scratching his head. He withdrew another section of bridge from his inventory, setting it into ce with the one before. Next he would need to drive more pylons, which once again relied on this inventory power. ¡°Gonna be harder to reach them.¡±
¡°What are we going to do with them?¡± Theo asked, sighing. Saving the people of Qavell was hard enough. Now what?
¡°Oh, who cares? We¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Ziz said. ¡°We always do!¡±
At least the administrators were on top of things. Once Alise could get to the city, she would start negotiations. King Hanan was at their mercy, and the Soutnds Alliance intended to provide that mercy. The options on the table were fair. The king could join the alliance, or ept a position as a vassal state. Both provided some measure of independence and would include the washing away of Karasan¡¯s sins. Early reports revealed Hanan was in the dark concerning his father¡¯s ns.
Dusk faded into night, but no one stopped working. Greater Stamina Potions were passed around, fueling the work. Citizens set artificemps along the bridge, lighting the way as Ziz and his ever-expanding gang of workers set piece after piece of the bridge. At midnight the ramp waspleted, providing ess to the city proper. With a tired mind, Theo stepped foot into the ruined city with his administrative retinue.
Alise, Gwyn, Gael, and Theo stepped through a gate, gazing upon the crumbled buildings and smoke rising in the distance. A man, part-elven by Theo¡¯s estimation, approached with a spear in hand. He had long brown hair that looked as though he hadn¡¯t cared for it in weeks. His clothes were in, and tattered.¡°Are you the one we have to thank for this?¡± the man asked, looking up at Theo with a forced smile. There was pain behind that smile. Not the pain of a man who had been beaten down himself, but one that had watched his people suffer.
¡°Archduke Theo Spencer,¡± Theo said, nodding to hispanions. ¡°Gaeleithia Wavecrest, Alise Plumm, and Gwynestarea Whisperstream. I see you¡¯re not dead, King Hanan.¡±
¡°Hardly a king,¡± Hanan grumbled, kicking a stone like a frustrated child.
¡°We¡¯re uninterested in your personal problems,¡± Theo said, gesturing to the soldiers and citizensing to distribute aid and help with those trapped in ruined buildings. The battle Fenian fought raged on in the distance, but had never drawn too close as to threaten the city. ¡°We¡¯re here to help.¡±
Theo bit back the other things he wanted to say for now. He wanted every piece of the Worldbreaker destroyed within the city. But now was the time for healing. Hanan looked too shaken to consider those things.
¡°Let¡¯s find somewhere private to speak,¡± Hanan said, rubbing his face and leaving streaks of dirt behind. ¡°My head isn¡¯t in order.¡±
Theo nodded and Rowan assumed his assigned post as guardian to the king. Sarisa remained with the alchemist as they moved through the city. People looked out from their homes, fear on their faces. That would pass. Two guards stepped aside as Hanan gestured to a guard tower that hadn¡¯t copsed. They saluted, stepping to the side and allowing the group entrance to the tower. Hanan made his way to a table in the center, draining the contents of several mugs before wheeling around.
¡°This has been horrible, archduke. Absolutely dreadful.¡±
¡°That¡¯s one way to put it,¡± Rowan muttered, climbing up the stairs to check the second floor. The circr tower was bare, but one could never be too careful.
Theo sighed. ¡°What do you know about your father¡¯s n?¡±
¡°Nothing!¡± Hanan shouted, hysterical. ¡°He vanished without a word. Only when that thing approached me did I learn he was dead. I was told nothing. I know nothing.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t an interrogation. We know where Karasan went and why. We know how and why he died. The man fighting against the¡ creature was the one to y him.¡±
Hanan paused for a moment and Theo judged his response. The king tensed up for a moment before mming his fist on the table. ¡°I wish to meet this man and p him across the face. My father¡¯s life was mine to take.¡±
Sarisaughed, quickly pping a hand over her mouth.
¡°Not the response I was expecting,¡± Theo muttered, running his fingers through his hair. ¡°I guess we can work with that.¡±
¡°The Dreamer promised my people would be unharmed, but it didn¡¯t mention all that,¡± Hanan said, gesturing vaguely out into the city.
¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Theo said, taking a seat. He drank another Greater Stamina Potion, his eyes ring brighter after the potion. ¡°We¡¯re going to make you an offer. You can take your time to look it over. Our concern right now is stabilizing the city. She¡¯s going to roll over if we don¡¯t put some supports around her.¡±
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Hanan swallowed hard. ¡°You¡¯re going to execute me, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°What? No. Calm down,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have the details. But you can join the Soutnds Alliance or be a vassal of the Soutnds Alliance.¡±
¡°Oh. Really?¡±
¡°Yeah, really.¡± Theo couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You¡¯re not prepared to be a king, are you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m barely a king!¡± Hanan shouted. ¡°Whatever your offer contains¡ I need guidance. Someone needs to teach me how to lead.¡±
¡°You and me both, buddy.¡±
The sounds of Fenian fighting in the distance calmed down after a while. There was amission outside, so Theo went to check it out. The elven trader descended from the sky, carried on unseeable winds of magic. Hended, flipped his hair to one side and sighed dramatically.
¡°My dear alchemist!¡± Fenian shouted, bounding over and wrapping the alchemist in an embrace. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been far too long! Decades!¡±
¡°A few weeks,¡± Theo corrected, groaning under the strength of the elf.
¡°Not so! I was trapped in Balkor¡¯s realm for a while. And¡ Oh. Hello, Prince Hanan. Sorry I killed your dad.¡±
Hanan had poked his head out of the tower, looking upon Fenian with shock on his face. ¡°You¡¯re the elf we exiled! You¡¯re the one who killed the Merchant Chairs!¡±
Fenian acted bashful, grinding his foot into the ground and twirling his hair. ¡°Guilty! Although that was to draw your father out. So I could murder him in the heavens.¡±
¡°I need another drink,¡± Hanan groaned.
Fenian produced a bottle of clear liquid from his inventory and held it out for the king to take. Hanan took it and drained half the bottle, stumbling back and nodding.
¡°That¡¯ll do,¡± Hanan said, his cheeks going rosy. ¡°Thank you, elf. The city is in your debt.¡±
¡°The world is,¡± Fenian corrected. ¡°You may erect my statues in bronze, but I prefer gold.¡±
¡°Did you kill it?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No. But I drove him off. We¡¯ll talk about this in private. Business for the thrones, you know.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Theo said, grabbing Fenian by the arm. ¡°Tresk, youing?¡±
¡°Straight to the throne?¡± Tresk asked, speaking into Theo¡¯s mind.
¡°Yep,¡± Theo said, allowing his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability to slip them between the cracks of reality. He passed over the Bridge and aimed directly for the Dreamer¡¯s Throne beneath the earth.
¡°Ah. Look at that,¡± Fenian said, sighing. ¡°You moved the throne.¡±
Tresk appeared behind them, giggling. ¡°Yep! Where is yours?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not telling you,¡± Fenian said, folding his arms. ¡°A man has to have his secrets.¡±
¡°Still in the pocket dimension,¡± Tresk said, nodding. ¡°Amateur.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t see you defeating that monstrosity!¡± Fenian said.
Theo couldn¡¯t tell if the elf was wounded from the statement. The smile that always tugged on the corners of his mouth had tightened slightly. They traded jabs and that smile got wider, revealing his yful intentions.
¡°Three thrones down,¡± Theo said, looking through the darkness of the fragment of the Dreamer¡¯s realm. The marble throne sat alone, but it also rested somewhere in Tresk¡¯s soul.
¡°One to go,¡± Fenian said, pping a hand on Theo¡¯s back. ¡°Does your realm have a bath?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Theo said, shifting his mind slightly to relocate them to the vige in Tero¡¯gal. Various archways were up, meaning there were other gods here.
¡°My boy!¡± Uz¡¯Xulven shouted from near the cottage. ¡°He¡¯s finally back, guys!¡±
Fenian smiled and waved. ¡°I¡¯ll have a bath, first,¡± he said, smelling himself and recoiling. ¡°And some clothes if you have them¡ You! Spirit! Could you show me to the bath?¡±
Fenian marched off with a random spirit. Theo guessed that¡¯s where the bath was, but he didn¡¯t know. Alex waddled behind the alchemist and Tresk and they made their way to the cottage. It was a miracle the marshling wasn¡¯t wounded during her fight. When the door to the building opened, they were met with a wall of sound. Conversation rolled through all gods assembled, retelling the events that had happened on the mortal ne.
¡°And she just like¡ Bam!¡± Benton shouted.
Uz¡¯Xulvenughed. ¡°Did you see what Fenian did to that creature?¡±
¡°Did you see what he did to the ?¡± ntheir asked, scoffing. ¡°Theo needs to draw some new maps of the continent.¡±
Theo, Tresk, and Alex entered the room, silencing the group in an instant. They found chairs, grabbing tea and sweets.
¡°How bad was it?¡± Theo asked around a mouthful of cookies. ¡°The continent.¡±
¡°It used to be a singlendmass,¡± Khahar said, grinning across the table. ¡°It is now ten inds.¡±
¡°At least ten!¡± Spit countered. ¡°Oh what fun.¡±
¡°I¡¯m d you guys enjoyed the show,¡± Tresk said, flexing her muscles. No matter how strong she got, she still had little stick arms. That didn¡¯t stop the gods from pping and cheering for her. She flexed, pointing at Khahar. ¡°Which way to the gunshow, buddy?¡±
¡°Your Potion of Berserk is art, Theo,¡± Drogramath said, wiping a tear from his eye.
¡°How many effects did you stack on that barrier spell, Theo?¡± Uz¡¯Xulven asked. ¡°I was watching and then¡ poof! Couldn¡¯t see a damned thing.¡±
The praise came in turgid waves, stopped only by a god stuffing their face with Benton¡¯s cooking. Khahar signaled that the holders of thrones, present and future, should go for a walk. Theo nodded, exiting the building with the group before sending them to some far-flung ce in Tero¡¯gal. They stood on a ledge near the top of a mountain, looking over misty greenery below.
¡°You know where the Throne of the Dreamwalker is, right Theo?¡± Khahar asked.
¡°Yep. With the space elves.¡±
Khahar paused for a long moment. ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t tell you about the other Dreamer.¡±
¡°Is he dead?¡± Tresk asked.
Khahar didn¡¯t answer that. He stood, looking down at the sprawlingndscape. The silence that set in over the group was afortable one. Theo had cleared the board of all his enemies, and gained an ally in the process. Emperor Kuzan might be a problem in the future, but Tarantham was far enough that he wasn¡¯t worried. This would go down as a moment of rebuilding. A time where the world woulde together. Once they realized what the next step was, after Theo gained his throne, things would move quickly. The inhabitants of this nt, no matter how powerful, woulde to terms with their mortality.
¡°I can¡¯t even feel the throne here,¡± Khahar said, breathing in the crisp air. ¡°For once, something is outside of my grasp. And it bothers me.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be such a baby,¡± Theo said, falling back into his thoughts.
Tero¡¯gal was special. Theo remembered something mentioned to him before. There existed two gods who had taken the Tara¡¯hek. How he hadn¡¯t met them before was baffling. Because anyone who climbed thedder to gain more power with the Tara¡¯hek had a massive advantage. Once he imed the Throne of the Dreamwalker, they would gain more power than anyone could imagine.
¡°What is the dreamer supposed to do?¡± Tresk asked, scratching her head.
¡°They forestall problems rted to the Herald. The Dreamwalker¡¯s job is simr, helping the Arbiter.¡±
¡°Neat!¡± Tresk said. ¡°I¡¯m mostly interested in giving people nightmares.¡±
¡°As should be expected.¡±
The group gazed over the realm for some time without saying a word. All that needed to be said had been said. What was left was a road marked by hard work and a grand n. Theo hoped his part of the n would turn out alright. But with friends and allies by his side, he didn¡¯t doubt their chances of sess.
5.70 - Epilogue
5.70 - Epilogue
Theo Spencer,
44th Day, Season of Fire,
873rd Year of Balkor¡¯s Betrayal
We¡¯re gonna need to rename the next era, guys. 873 years of Balkor¡¯s stain has been too long. I¡¯m writing this message in my private realm, sitting next to a Throne of Power. Is that the right way to capitalize it? I really don¡¯t know.
Why are these journal entries so hard to start?
There were quite a few things that we aplished, but the only thing I can think about is the giant city sitting outside of my town. Going back to Broken Tusk means looking at an eyesore and wondering when it¡¯ll tip over. Hanan¡¯s defeat (if I can call it that) was our biggest aplishment in recent memory. But that doesn¡¯t mean I haven¡¯t taken twists and turns along the way.
First, I¡¯ll talk about the gods. Oh, the gods¡ Imagine being locked in a world of shadows for untold millennia. You¡¯re hanging out, enjoying the inky ckness of your world, and out of nowhere this cat guy justes along and changes the rules. Zaul doesn¡¯t seem happy about Khahar ascending to the Throne of the Arbiter. But I have to wonder about that. Yuri would have taken the guy out by now. Which means the shadow guy has some more tricks up his sleeve.
A strange thing that happened was the reincarnation of a piece of Balkor¡¯s soul, into some rotten old vessel. The Demonic Pantheon needs a good purge, including the original piece of his soul that lords over that domain. Or maybe Balkor is part of some bigger plot. That wouldn¡¯t surprise me.
Turns out that ntheir is the number one god. Who would¡¯ve known? He helped me rescue Sulvan from the moon. We left Uharis¡¯s ass on the moon so he could stew. I¡¯ll be honest with you, diary. I don¡¯t care if he everes back. He¡¯s an asshole and I don¡¯t like him. There. I said it. But ntheir helped me get the old pdin sorted into a new life of helping people. He¡¯ll serve his penance by healing a bunch of people and making the lives of everyone around better.Spoilers: I¡¯m pretty certain Sulvan is gonna y an important part with the Wanderer. You know, that guy who used to be Balkor 50,000 years ago. ntheir is ying it coy, but there¡¯s a fighting spirit buried somewhere under that flowing mane. His hair is great, though.
Speaking of (writing of?) the big bad king of the undead, we sorted the undead problem out. Turns out the dude responsible was Balkor (I said that, didn¡¯t I?) and he was just some sad boy wandering thend. Now I have to worry about King Emo rising up and causing more undead rted problems. Hopefully the elves in Tarantham pitch in when the timees. Or King Emo takes his attitude underground and I don¡¯t have to fix the problem. If I could send him to the moon, I would. Let the moon people deal with it.
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Zaul¡¯s involvement in godly politics is big. My new cores are massive. But the biggest thing that happened was when Tresk ascended the Throne of the Dreamer. We¡¯ve been nning on this happening for a while and it''s finally here. In a ssic Tresk move, she used it to perv on people in their sleep. Unsurprising, but the power of the position seems endless. After I get my own shiny throne, I¡¯m heading off into space. Well, the void. I¡¯ll find Xol¡¯sa¡¯s people and steal some magical stones which will do something to the world.
ce your bets on what that might be, but my money is on holding the ce together while we remake it.
I might figure out seasons for Tero¡¯gal. Looking down the barrel of ascending my throne, I realize I might not make it a year in this world. Oops.
The only person left in the world that is giving me pause is Kuzan. Emperor Kuzan leads the people of Tarantham. He¡¯s pretty brutal, but I won¡¯t deny that his methods work. The constant wars on the continent keep the people from getting too strong, which prevents issues of ascension. Of course he excludes himself from this cycle, and has likely gathered quite a lot of power. But that poweres with drawbacks. Yuri was barely able to keep it together a week without going and meditating for a thousand years.
But that road is behind me. What does the future hold?
Well, the Soutnds Alliance has an entire continent to clean up. Is it still a continent if it has been cut into many small pieces? I hope so. We need to get transport working for the entire ce, ensuring that people can spread as quickly as possible. Why bother if the world is going to reset? You might ask that question, but people need purpose. When the world ¡®ends¡¯ they¡¯re not going away. They¡¯reing with me. They can remain in the heavens with me, or get beamed back down when we get the mortal system sorted out. I¡¯m guessing we¡¯ll have some problems with existing cores, so those will get tossed away. But skills remain, don¡¯t they? Buried in the soul and embedded in a person¡¯s consciousness.
Oh, yeah. Time dtion. The void is unforgiving about that kind of stuff. I feel it every time I pass through. So when I take the plunge to find those pesky space elves, I¡¯m sure some wacky stuff is going to happen. Wooooah! time loop hijinks? Maybe. Nah.
But maybe?
I¡¯m certain I can view Earth if I wanted to, given enough power. Once I can finally grill the Harbinger on what his game n is, I¡¯ll have a better idea on that affair.
Of course! Right when I was waxing on all poetic, my attention is drawn elsewhere. Khahar is here and he wants to y a game of poker. High-stakes stuff, you know. The winner gets to eat all of Benton¡¯s cookies. He grows this nt that tastes like chocte. You couldn¡¯t tell the difference if you tried!
As always, mysterious reader, I hope you¡¯ve enjoyed these ramblings. Maybe this will make more sense when the other shoe drops. Maybe not.
6.1 - A Curious Journey
6.1 - A Curious Journey
Boulders fell from the sides of a stranded city. The once-capital of the Kingdom of Qavell rested amongst the waves, pieces falling into the ocean below. Wooden constructions leaned against her sides, holding her as firmly as they could as a demon watched from the sides. Theo Spencer observed the teams of workers who darted around the exterior, raising wooden beams from the decks of ships and causeways built by hand.
The city had represented an opponent to face. A thing that could have been anywhere, threatening the stability of the soutnds. Everything had been kicked off by the elven trader, Fenian Feintleaf. He caused the rise of the undead on the continent, the movement of the city, its ultimate downfall, and the scarred state of thendmass. That busy little elf stood on the coastline with Theo, preening himself after so long without a proper bath.
¡°It was hardly a battle at all,¡± Fenian said, shing a pearly white smile.
¡°You didn¡¯t kill it,¡± Theo said. He certainly tried to keep the venom from his voice. ¡°My n would have killed it.¡±
¡°Oh, let¡¯s not worry about who didn¡¯t kill what and where. Enjoy the view!¡±
Theo took in a steady breath, watching his people work day and night to save the gging city. The alchemist was taking a break from raising stones from the ground, allowing his mana to restore naturally for once. Fenian brought this mess to the world for a reason¡ªa reason Theo suspected was petty revenge¡ªand nothing could have stopped him. He sat atop one of three important positions of power. The Throne of the Herald. That throne had a simple role. It defended the world from otherworldly incursions.
Theo¡¯s pink, soul bonded marshling had assumed such a throne, although her role was diminished whenpared. No matter how small the role, the pieces were important. But now the Dreamer was loose in the world, sauntering through people¡¯s dreams as they slept. At least it was a great way to gather information, if a little disturbing.
¡°Are you two going to stand around all day?¡± a half-ogre asked while passing by.
¡°I suppose not,¡± Fenian said, sighing. ¡°Is my work ever done, Theo?¡±¡°Not when you¡¯re the one who made the mess.¡±
¡°Oh, fair enough, you spicy demon,¡± Fenian said, winking. He walked away, off to join the others as they worked.
Theo took a moment to reflect on the progress he had made so far. Ascending from Level 1 to Level 30 had been a feat only aplished through a series of exploits and time dtion tricks. As it stood now, he relied on his Drogramath Alchemy Core and his Drogramath Herbalist core most of all. Since he had taken the Drogramath Dedication ability, those were considered his main cores. Nothing else contributed to his personal level, which contained all his mind- and body-altering attributes. Unlike his other cores, those two could no longer be removed.
The only other odd thing was his Tara¡¯hek Core, which didn¡¯t upy a normal slot. A person would normally be granted two cores at Level 1, and one slot for every 10 levels after that. Theo should have had five slots, but he had six. Of course, that Tara¡¯hek core could never be removed. The only time it hade close to that was when Tresk was dragged into the Dreamer¡¯s realm, weakening the connection with the core.
Theo¡¯s next core was the Governance Core, which was necessary to run the alliance. He wouldn¡¯t unequip that one no matter what. It provided the people of Broken Tusk and the alliance with information andmunication systems. Without it, one would need to ride the tram between the towns to provide information. The alchemist approached the beach, sifting through his cores screen and nodding. Governance had been more useful than he could have imagined, and had been entirely passive.
Next came the Toru¡¯aun Mage¡¯s Core. While it seemed dubious at first¡ªperhaps only something to increase his magical powers¡ªTheo had found this core to be vital. When Qavell was on a course to m into Broken Tusk, this was the core that saved them. It drew from the properties of reagents discovered by his Drogramath cores, turning them into wards. Those wards could be cast ad hoc, or imbued into an object. Both methods were a potent means to both safeguard and attack. This core was the reason that Qavell was among the waves, instead of the clouds.
Swapping cores had been a painful affair before Level 30. After hitting that Level, Theo found it to be effortless. The physical pain was bad enough, but being without useful cores that had kept him alive for all this time was a mental sting he couldn¡¯t take. With his fifth core slot unlocked, the alchemist was happy to collect a few cores to fill that void. While both cores he found were excellent, they couldn¡¯t be more different from each other.
The God of Shadows, Zaul, had given him a special core. The Zaul Shadowspirit Core was a devious thing meant to shield Theo¡¯s actions from the gods themselves. It allowed him to imbue his willpower into his items, spells, abilities, and also his aura. The Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core was entirely practical, but focused on the same concept. It allowed him to move anything aligned with the Earth element with his willpower. That core had been essential to keeping Qavell in ce.
Theo reached out with his will, pulling rocks that had fallen into the water and rearranging them. The stones dripped with water as they were set into ce. The Half-Ogre stonemason Ziz came in shortly after, using his core¡¯s abilities to weld them into ce. Through all the chaos of the past few days, Theo had seen growth in a few cores. Alchemy, herbalist, Tara¡¯hek, and governance were all trapped at Level 30. Toru¡¯aun¡¯s core was ascending as slow as ever, sitting at Level 24. Both the sorcerer and Zaul core were at 5. He inspected his personal sheet as he worked.
Theo Spencer
Drogramath Dronon
Level 30
Alchemist
Core Slots: 6
Stats:
Health: 120
Mana: 210
Stamina: 130
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 20 (+8)
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Vigor: 23 (+8)
Intelligence: 28 (+9)
Wisdom: 30 (+7)
Points: 0
Everyone told Theo that progress would slow before Level 30. He didn¡¯t expect the level itself to be an absolute brick wall. He caught a rock that was falling idly, avoiding the crushing of several workers.
¡°Hey, Ziz. How the hell are we going to hold this thing together?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Trust your old friend, won¡¯t ya!?¡± Ziz shot back. ¡°I¡¯ve got a method!¡±
Trusting the process of putting a bandage on a falling mountain was hard to do. But the work went on over the course of three days. The group of workers had started with just people from the alliance. But by the second day, people within the city of Qavell came out to pitch in. An army of golems was amongst them, stitching that city back together. No pieces of the city fell by midday on the third day, and the workers breathed a sigh of relief. There wasn¡¯t even a bridge leading from Broken Tusk to the city as promised. But Ziz and his crew were exhausted, and there were political things to take care of.
Theo sat at the head of a long table in the town hall. He steepled his fingers as he looked over the attendants. Attendants he had selected. Fenian, Alise, Aarok, Sulvan, Trevas, Grotgrog, and Hanan.
¡°I can¡¯t express enough gratitude. For what you¡¯ve done, archduke,¡± Hanan said, bowing his head low. ¡°You saved us all.¡±
¡°I would have skinned him if he didn¡¯t,¡± Sulvan said inly. The pdin, reborn as a priest of ntheir, had strong opinions about genocide.
¡°I would have blown you up!¡± Fenian said, chuckling.
Hanan was still wet behind the ears as a leader, but he had grown up at his father¡¯s side. King Karasan had a lot of motives unknown to even those closest to him, but he was apetent leader. Until the house of cards came crumbling down, he had his nation in hand. Then a pesky elf came to dash those ns to the ground.
¡°That¡¯s why Fenian isn¡¯t in charge of anything important,¡± Alise said, clearing her throat. ¡°We¡¯re here to discuss the unconditional surrender of Qavell and the absorption of the Kingdom of Qavell into the Soutnds Alliance.¡±
¡°When you put it like that¡¡± Hanan trailed off, running his fingers through his hands.
¡°The fact that we saved you, and that you were friendly, doesn¡¯t take away from Qavell¡¯s aggressive posture against the soutnds.¡±
Alise went on to list somews that Theo wasn¡¯t aware of. Qavell hadws? He realized she wasying the groundwork in legalese so that no one could bite them in the butt afterward. It was a fact he appreciated about his administrative staff. He didn¡¯t have to know those things, and his people would sort it out. After a tongueshing from the plucky human, Hanan epted his fate.
¡°And we have given you two options,¡± Alise said, producing two contracts. ¡°Complete absorption, or be a vassal. I¡¯ve already checked with our Kingdom Core, and we can use it to apply such a condition to yours.¡±
¡°So, my Kingdom Core is still there?¡± Hanan asked.
¡°Mostly,¡± Aarok said, grumbling. ¡°You¡¯ll need to repair it. But if you be part of the alliance, or a vassal, you¡¯re looking at a long road ahead. And we think our Kingdom Core can repair yours. It will just take time.¡±
Discussion broke out over the advances of each path. While the staff from Broken Tusk put on a bold front, they were more concerned about the people in Qavell. Thousands, by Aarok¡¯s count. The undead had taken out most of the poption, but the city was vast. Hanan leaned toward bing a vassal, and Theo was d for that. Qavelli culture shed with the local culture, and this was a great way to impose sweeping changes. That wouldn¡¯t be hard after the disaster of the flying city.
¡°There it is,¡± Alise said, sliding a contract over for Hanan to sign.
Hanan paused, looking up at those people arrayed around the table. ¡°Hard to believe. The soutnds were always ¡®nowhere¡¯ on my maps back home. Now I¡¯m signing my kingdom over to them.¡± While he hesitated, it didn¡¯t stop him from signing. ¡°Someone needs to tell me the story of how that happened.¡±
¡°Gronro wees you into the alliance,¡± Grot said, mming his fist on the table to punctuate his words.
¡°As does Rivers and Daub,¡± Trevas said, also mming his fist but hurting his hand in the process.
¡°Come on, Hanan,¡± Theo said, jerking his head toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll show you around. Catch you up on what has happened.¡±
Hanan straightened his tunic, pulling his ruffled undershirt back into ce. He cleared his throat and bowed to the members of the council before following Theo out the door. The alchemist brought him to theb and the pair stood outside for a while before he spoke.
¡°This is where it started. Someone nted this building ages ago. Two-hundred years by my estimation. They prepared it for me.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think I understand,¡± Hanan said, looking upon the building. ¡°The building is advanced, but it''s just an alchemyb.¡±
Theo pointed northward and Hanan followed. The alchemist pointed out each building he had nted or helped nt. Each was a cog that helped move Broken Tusk forward. Every person within a worker that had made this dream real. And it didn¡¯t pass the notice of the new King of Qavell that there were more elves than anything else.
¡°Another windfall for Broken Tusk. Emperor Kuzan dered war on House Wavecrest. And we saved them.¡± Theo nodded at a passing elf, who waved back with a smile. ¡°Fenian Feintleaf, formerly Southde, has a pact with Uz¡¯Xulven. He can pass over the Bridge in his carriage. That¡¯s how he killed your father.¡±
The pair stopped near the monolith. The mention of Hanan¡¯s Father¡¯s death didn¡¯t even phase him. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with your marker.¡±
¡°Ya noticed that?¡± Theo said, chuckling. ¡°Whoever nted this town did so with intention. I don¡¯t think it was Fenian, but it might have been Khahar.¡±
¡°Khahar? Leader of the Khahari?¡±
¡°Yeah, that guy.¡±
Hanan rubbed his chin. ¡°You know, Broken Tusk was here when we incorporated it. We don¡¯t even know how old it was.¡±
¡°Because you didn¡¯t talk to the locals,¡± Theo said, pressing on. ¡°It¡¯s about two-hundred-fifty years old. See that rise over there? When the ogres settled the area, they lived off thend. But as time passed, they had children with the local humans. Or elves, I don¡¯t know. Anyway, a wizard came along and made that hill so they could farm. The swamp soil is rich, but too muddy to grow their favored crop.¡±
¡°The zee, right?¡± Hanan asked. ¡°We used to get shipments of that.
The duo ascended the hill, looking over the wide fields. Those fields now held more than just the corn-like zee. It had hybrid nts thatbined Earth wheat with the local zee. From the hilltop, Theo could barely see his own farm beyond the wall. His golems were working there. That workforce would need to be expanded to help feed the people in Qavell.
¡°Yep. We still grow it. Let¡¯s move on¡¡±
Theo exined how adventurers had helped make them what they were today. They passed through Stabby Grove, heading north to see the quarry. Hanan had stories about things he remembered from home, including stone shipments. He saw the lumber mill, butcher, enchanter, adventurer¡¯s guild, and finally the mine. The nuggets they pulled out from there ranged from mundane things like copper to strange demonic metals. All of which was connected to a dangerous underground area that the alchemist hoped never to plumb the depths of.
¡°There are many moving parts in your city, alchemist,¡± Hanan said, looking more worried by the moment. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of growth like this.¡±
¡°Except for Qavell, right?¡± Theo said with a wink.
¡°Indeed.¡±
¡°Well, if you think this is strange, I have something even stranger to show you.¡±
Hanan yelped as Theo wrapped his will around him. He used his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability, sending them both hurtling through the void. The king didn¡¯t stop screaming until they set foot in the Dreamrealm of Tero¡¯gal.
6.2 - Auspicious Company
6.2 - Auspicious Company
Theo and Hanan stepped onto thewns of Tero¡¯gal. Fields of grass stretched into the distance, punctuated by tables piled with alchemy equipment, and a small freshwater spring. The king gawked as half-formed spirits walked by, waving at the master of the realm as they went. There was a piddling process of souls waiting for eptance into the realm, which Theo rubber stamped.
Before Hanan could get his thoughts out as any more than sputtering disbelief, a series of arches rose in the field. Gods stepped out,ughing, jeering, or sending greetings to the lost king. They marched as one, heading straight for the cottage for tea. But one held back.
The Arbiter, Khahar, stood before King Hanan and smiled down at him, one hand on either of his shoulders. ¡°Is he getting the crash-course, Theo?¡±
¡°I thought it was appropriate. He¡¯s not just a duke, but a king.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t say I approve. His father was Karasan.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±
Khahar moved off, leaving the shocked king tonguish in the field. Onest archway sprung up. A smiling elf, dressed in flowing blue robes, moved to bow to the king. ntheir, the Elven God of Healing, leaned close and whispered something into the king¡¯s ear. ntheir must have known that Theo could hear anything within his realm, no matter how quietly spoken. But Hanan¡¯s face lit up.
¡°Come,¡± ntheir said. ¡°We¡¯ll bete for the tea.¡±
Sitting around a massive wooden table were all the gods that came for tea at the cottage. The room itself had been expanded several times, growing every time a new god wanted to join the asional party. Benton, the Toora God of Winter and Death, made the best tea and sweets in all the heavens. Spit, Ogre Patron of Curing Things Most of the Time, came to smash the teacups. Uz¡¯Xulven, Queen of the Bridge of Shadows, always came equipped with snidements and a few jokes. ntheir came with kind words, often bolstering everyone around him. Drogramath, the Potioneer, was Theo¡¯s patron and often brooded like an emo kid.There were many gods unrepresented at the table. Theo had an open invitation for them all, but there was still a division amongst the gods. Although things had settled down, that didn¡¯t stop them from holding ancient grudges. Khahar was an odd one among the gods. He didn¡¯t ascend to godhood to fit a godly purpose. He rose to power to control the gods, assuming the Throne of the Arbiter the moment he reached the heavenly ne. Instead of fighting his way up through the heavens, he employed a scheme to rise to the top and rewrite the rules himself. Theo thought it was going quite well, all things considered.
¡°Look how scared he is!¡± Spit shouted, mming his fist on the table. Theo was certain the hit should have shattered the table. But no god could inflict damage while they were here. That was part of the rules.
¡°Be nice, Spit,¡± Uz¡¯xulven said, folding her arms. ¡°We¡¯re nice to our guests, aren¡¯t we?¡±
¡°Even mortal guests?¡± Drogramath said, bored more than anything.
¡°If someone could convince Parantheir toe, I guarantee we¡¯ll have a good time,¡± ntheir said.
Uz¡¯Xulven blew raspberries. ¡°Good luck with that!¡±
The jibes continued. Hanan leaned in, giving Theo a concerned look as he whispered. ¡°Why are they so¡ normal?¡±
¡°The gods are just people. Everyone who holds celestial power was a mortal. Those are the rules.¡±
¡°You¡¯re kidding¡¡± Hanan trailed off.
¡°That¡¯s the problem with the small people,¡± Spit said, throwing a teacup at the wall. When it shattered, Benton winced. ¡°They¡¯re brainwashed!¡±
¡°Is the Burning Eye here?¡± Hanan asked.
¡°Who wants to tell him?¡± Spit asked,ughing some more. ¡°The eye is dead.¡±
Hanan swallowed hard. Theo watched as the king drew into himself, his face going expressionless. The gods prattled on about whatever bothered them or struck them as interesting. Khahar had to silence them a few times when they attempted to reveal information. The king was clearly upset about the eye being dead, but the thing ntheir had whispered to him bolstered his spirits.
After a few hours of tea and cookies, Theo brought Hanan out of the stuffy cottage. He teleported them somewhere more pleasant. The massiveke that the alchemist had constructed was now upied by souls. A group of them had splintered from the main area, creating a vige here. The pair watched for a long while as they fished the waters, stoking campfires on the shore to cook the fish.
¡°So, Karasan isn¡¯t dead,¡± Theo said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Fenian.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t. No, he¡¯s with ntheir now. He won¡¯t even be the same man, will he?¡±
¡°ntheir will reform him. Sulvan used to be a pdin of the eye. An inquisitor, really.¡±
¡°I know. I mean, I knew him. From a distance, of course.¡±
¡°And you knew that the Burning Eye was hell-bent on dominating the Dronon of the world?¡± Theo asked, blowing out a breath. ¡°Bad time to side with that kind of god.¡±
¡°I never sided with him,¡± Hanan snapped back. Heposed himself, clearing his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t attribute malice to my actions. I was in the dark with what my father was doing.¡±
Theo gazed out to theke. He remembered a few people back on Earth who were just going with the flow. A fish broke the surface of the water for a moment, sending ripples radiating outward. The alchemist was d those people without conviction were long-gone. But people like John still lived. The man ntheir used to be. Maybe he didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on, but there was a conspiracy at the end. It could have been going on for some time, but people knew.
¡°I¡¯m trying to live more like ntheir these days,¡± Theo said. ¡°Did you know he could take the Khahar¡¯s position by force? He could rule the heavens and the mortal nes in a blink. But he doesn¡¯t.¡±
¡°nes? Mortal nes?¡± Hanan asked.
¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to learn.¡±
Theo exined the structure of the universe, using bubbles as an example. Bubbles within bubbles within bubbles. The mortal ne wasn¡¯t the biggest bubble. But even within the mortal ne, there were dream realms. The alchemist had learned that when a person went to sleep, they generated a small version of Tero¡¯gal overtop them. That¡¯s how the Dreamer could move from dream to dream. Khahar had used a simr technique to gain his power, although he generated a pseudo-realm overtop himself using raw power.
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But these things were important for the king to understand. Each world leader should understand these things as the days went on. When the year came to a close, most things would change. Unlike what happened on Earth, Theo wanted these people to be ready for the change.
¡°Can you visit other realms?¡± Hanan asked.
¡°With the permission of the other gods.¡±
¡°Could we visit the Realm of Healing?¡±
Theo shot Hanan a severe look. ¡°I have worked with many lost souls. You don¡¯t want to see your father yet. All that hate he was feeling will linger. He is an echo of the man you knew, not the real thing. That will take time.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± Hanan said. ¡°How big is this ce?¡±
Theo smiled, sending them to the far western edge of the realm. Below was the sprawl of clouds and shapes of things happening in the real world. They saw Tresk in the clouds, fighting some monster in a dungeon. Tero¡¯gal was roughly the size of North America. Roughly.
¡°Slightlyrger than Tarantham.¡±
¡°Are other realms thisrge?¡±
¡°Most of them are bigger. Tero¡¯gal is a Mortal Dreamrealm, which means¡ Well, I don¡¯t really know what it means. This is the projection of my spirit bond. But it''s also a living thing.¡±
After exining more about the realms for a while, Theo and Hanan returned to the cottage. The gods were still hanging out, but Drogramath had a rare offer. He invited both of then to visit Grodul¡¯harak, Drogramath¡¯s realm.
¡°Uh, duh. Of course,¡± Theo said, elbowing Hanan in the ribs.
¡°Come,¡± Drogramath said, passing through his portal before Hanan could object. Theo followed closely after, dragging the king behind him.
Drogramath wasn¡¯t kidding when he said his realm was confusing. Theo stepped foot on grass as he passed through the portal, but the sky above was weird. He gave his mind a moment to adjust and realized they were standing in a massive ss dome. Outside of that dome was another, hovering in an endless expanse of gray-white.
¡°I think I¡¯m going to be sick,¡± Hanan said.
¡°Yes. Most realms serve a purpose,¡± Drogramath said, staring up at his ss domes. ¡°Mine is made to experiment. Each dome dedicates itself to something new.¡±
¡°This is trippy. How do you live here?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve managed.¡±
Theo was surprised when another portal rose on the soft grass. He was even more surprised when Toru¡¯aun, the Queen of Mystery stepped through. Both her flowing dress and hair were a prismatic color that shifted as she walked. When she saw Theo and Hanan standing there, she edged back toward her portal.
¡°Stay,¡± Drogramath said, nodding at the woman.
Toru¡¯aun cleared her throat nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t care for mortals.¡±
¡°Neither do I,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°Have you seen the new King of Qavell?¡±
¡°What¡¯s left¡¡±
¡°I never got to thank you,¡± Theo blurted out. ¡°For the core.¡±
¡°She saw you use it,¡± Drogramath said. Theo found it strange that he was speaking for her. ¡°Your usage was impressive. Combined with the elements of my reagents, that core will take you far.¡±
¡°I heard he¡¯s using a Zaul core,¡± Toru¡¯aun muttered.
¡°Slotting only demon cores would be foolish.¡±
Theo felt as though he was between two parents having a fight. Toru¡¯aun never showed up for any invitations. The alchemist wasn¡¯t even certain that she participated in demon politics, let alone the wider heavens.
¡°How many gods are left in the Demonic Pantheon?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Four,¡± Drogramath said. That one word weighed more than Theo had expected it to.
¡°Khahar wants us to be happy that only Zagmon died. Two were taken from the Prime Pantheon,¡± Toru¡¯aun said,ughing without mirth. ¡°I shudder to think of how many were purged from the lower realms.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t be thest purge,¡± Theo said, rolling his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what the heavens will look like soon.¡±
¡°How soon?¡± Drogramath asked. ¡°I¡¯m not done working on¡ a project.¡±
¡°The end of the mortal year, I think.¡±
¡°Ah. Plenty of time.¡±
Toru¡¯aun red at Theo for some time, then sighed. ¡°I guess we never could have won the war against the higher pantheon, could we?¡±
¡°Of course not. They pushed us down from the start,¡± Drogramath said. He moved toward Toru¡¯aun for only a moment but stopped himself. She never appeared in person. It would be too easy to see the rtionship between them.
¡°Did you two know each other before your world was destroyed?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Yes,¡± Drogramath said.
¡°No,¡± Toru¡¯aun said.
¡°Yeah, is there a rock I can crawl under around here?¡± Hanan asked, searching the area. He found a tree in the distance and hid behind it.
Theo changed the subject before he pushed them too far. ¡°What did you want to show me in your realm, Drogramath?¡±
He shrugged, gesturing to the nts that grew in the area. ¡°I¡¯ve watched your work with reagent splicing. And your alchemy. I felt your pain when you understood alcohol distition and wanted to give you encouragement to push forward.¡±
¡°Your potions are your most valuable asset,¡± Toru¡¯aun said, spicing her normally vague words with some real encouragement. ¡°All the tricks you¡¯re learning along the way just reinforce your potion making. Don¡¯t neglect it.¡±
¡°That was an excellent way to put it, Toru,¡± Drogramath said, inclining his head to the Queen of Mystery.
¡°Yes, well¡ if the mortals could leave, I would enjoy that greatly. Hard to keep up the essence of mystery when I have to talk.¡±
¡°Theo¡ would you mind?¡± Drogramath asked.
¡°Yeah, no problem. Thanks for the glimpse. I should bring the king back to the mortal realm before he melts.¡±
¡°Good idea.¡±
Theo collected Hanan and forced him through the cracks in reality. They bypassed Tero¡¯gal, and used the Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability to arrive back in Broken Tusk. Hanan drew heavy breaths, gasping for air and sweating. It was easy to forget that mortals couldn¡¯t spend much time in the heavens. They started breaking apart, just like when the alchemist trespassed.
¡°Drink this,¡± Theo said, handing Hanan a Greater Stamina Potion.
¡°No, thank you,¡± Hanan said, bringing himself to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of those potions for one lifetime. But now I feel like an brogling being squashed underfoot.¡±
¡°I thought you would appreciate the scale of what we¡¯re dealing with in the alliance.¡±
¡°At least I didn¡¯t soil myself,¡± Hanan said. ¡°Tell me, Theo. Does the alliance have my best interests at heart?¡±
¡°Look around,¡± Theo said. ¡°Ask any elf from House Wavecrest if things have gotten better. Take the train to Rivers or Gronro. Ask the people there.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m convinced.¡±
Theo leaned in, dusting the king off. ¡°Then ask the field of the dead where Qavell once was. Ask if they would have rather been protected in the soutnds or turned to walking corpses in the nortnds.¡±
Hanan red at Theo, but nodded. ¡°Point taken, archduke.¡±
There was a fire somewhere in Hanan¡¯s heart. Theo finally ignited it. Being under Karasan¡¯s thumb for so long must have been tough, but now wasn¡¯t the time to act like a privileged prince. He could grow a pair of brass ones or give up control of his city to another. It didn¡¯t matter to the alchemist. But as the king locked eyes with him, he saw the one thing that man needed. A fire. Burning brighter than the Burning Eye could have ever hoped.
¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me,¡± Hanan said, bowing. ¡°I have to address my people.¡±
Theo watched as the king walked away. But the words of Drogramath and Toru¡¯aun echoed in his mind. The road might have been long, but it was paved with all the same stuff. Alchemy would see him through this more than anything else. After days of working on the city, making sure it didn¡¯t fall into the sea, it was finally time to get back to work. It was time to work with Salire to make some more awesome potions.
6.3 - Deceit
6.3 - Deceit
Even with no potions brewing with theb, Theo felt a sense offort wash over him as he stood in hisb. The ce had been his home at one point, and always felt moreforting than any other part in town. Perhaps that was thanks to the small shrine of Drogramath in the corner, always leering out with his overwrought image. Those two pieces of the demon god reminded him of himself in a way. An outward appearance of power was necessary when one was in the demonic heavens. The same went for being a leader, no matter the capacity.
¡°What do you think our best bet is?¡± Salire asked.
Theo turned, almost forgetting that his assistant was in the room. The half-ogre woman was an oddity in Broken Tusk. Born in a dwarven town in the north with no links to the town, she had migrated to be a shopkeeper. Her road twisted to one side when she epted Drogramathi cores, altering her life forever. And she was good. Weighed by raw talent alone, she could outpace Theo in any exercise. There was a passion for the art burning in her heart that was impossible to deny. That infectious desire to discover more potions had pushed him forward more than once.
¡°Cleansing Scrub,¡± Theo said without hesitation. ¡°Maybe we can find a way to deliver it over the entire city.¡±
The apprentice stifled augh. ¡°Was it that bad?¡±
¡°We¡¯re working on it, but¡ I¡¯ll just say that the trip was rough. Between the dead and waste, it isn¡¯t pleasant.¡±
Yet the people of Qavell stayed within Qavell. What was left of it, anyway.
¡°Cleaning, curing, and healing potions. How many?¡±
Theo summoned his administrative screen, driven by his Governance Core. His people had be experts at record keeping, thanks to the fastidious nature of Alise. The amount of citizens, what they needed, and even how they were feeling were documented. Food and water were already sorted, but disease was spreading through the town. The alchemist recognized one side of the symptoms immediately, remembering what the folks in Gronro-Dir had reported with the undead.¡°Necromantic energy poisoning is a concern, but I don¡¯t recall these other symptoms.¡±
¡°Boils, rashes¡ Yeah, it doesn''t sound like necromancy power.¡±
¡°Fine. Let¡¯s get some Refined Cure Ailment Essence going. Dip into our stock of Hallow the Soil. Cleansing Scrub. What else?¡±
¡°We have enough health potions, but we don¡¯t have enough Ogre Cypress Bark. And Sledge is still guarding her clutch.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Theo said, waving her concerns away. ¡°Fetch some bark if you don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll fire up the stills.¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡± Salire said, performing a mocking salute. She winked before leaving, dashing out the door.
Drogramathi alchemy was easier than the standard form. So long as a person had the cores and abilities. Theo prepared five stills first, cleaning them and dipping into thest of his Ogre Cypress Bark supply. That was enough to fill one still. Each reagent had to be mashed so it would soak with purified water. Theo used his grinding artifice, listening to it rumble as it chewed through the flexible bark. More juice than bark came out as it ran through the device, staining the enchanted water in the still with a cloudy substance.
Once the mashed reagents were added to the mix, it was a matter of heating it. The more evenly it was heated, the better. The local artificer and cksmith, Throk, had created some amazing stills for the job. Theo set the heat to a familiar level¡ªabout half-way to max¡ªand shut the lid with a snap. The contents would heat, bing steam that would be collected in a series of pressurized tubes. Once it was returned to liquid form, mostly-pure essence was collected on the far end. There were other steps if one wanted to increase the tier of a potion, but this was good enough for now.
As always, the most important part of the process was intent. Extracting a specific property meant focusing on that property before refinement. Salire returned with an inventory filled with the bark, and helped Theo seed the other stills with the same mixture. They dedicated the next five stills to the same reagent, but the Cure Ailment property. With ten stills running in theb, they ran through their stock of Hallow the Soil potions.
¡°Think that¡¯s enough for an entire city?¡± Salire asked.
¡°No, but we can test it,¡± Theo said, digging through his administration screen. He found Aarok¡¯s reports about the city, but there was no mention of anything untoward.
The alchemist thought for a moment, running his fingers through his dark hair. He felt the ridges on his horns, his tail flicking from side-to-side as he thought.
¡°Tresk. I need you for a job,¡± Theo said, tapping into the privatemunication he shared with the other members of the Tara¡¯hek.
¡°I¡¯m relieving stress in a dungeon. What do you need?¡±
Theo exined his n of scouring the city, searching for whatever dark magic drove it to the sky. He organized for his Tara¡¯hek partner¡ªand their goose familiar¡ªto join him in the city in a few hours. After ironing out the details, he tapped the three other people in town with knowledge of magic. They would all meet for the purging of Qavell.
Such a vast quantity of essence took a while to distill. When it was done, Salire already had vials prepared for bottling and the pair got to work. She didn¡¯t have the confidence to do this part. Not with the city waiting for their healing hands. Theo took charge, approaching the first vial. The Drogramath Distillery Specialty skill attached to his Drogramath Alchemy Core allowed him to measure exact quantities by eye. This allowed him to add the perfect mixture of mana-infused water and essence. Thest step of the process was to introduce a catalyst to bind everything together. A puff of smoke followed, often filling theb with a haze.
The resulting potion was a staple of life in Broken Tusk. Both Theo and Salire inspected the resulting potion.
[Cleansing Scrub]
[Cleaning Agent]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Cleansing Scrub instantly restores clothes, surfaces, skin, etc to a clean state. Leaves behind the smell of Qavellian berries.
Effect:
Cleans anything it touches.
¡°Ah. Love the smell of Qavelli berries in the morning,¡± Salire said, taking a sniff of the vial. ¡°We should modify it.¡±
Theo nodded. Modifying potions was a great way to take the intended application of a potion and expand it. Salire was likely thinking about the Aerosolize effect, which would grant the same effect of the base potion to a cloud. He imagined himself dropping cleaning bombs on the city to save time and chuckled to himself.
¡°Good idea. How much do we have left?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We need to ferment some more, but we have a good amount of Aerosolize Modifier.¡±
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Theo nodded, working with Salire to turn those potions within vials into modified potions. Fermenting was easy enough, so long as a person had an enchanted wooden barrel and enough mana to keep the process going. Extracting modified properties was as easy as extracting essences. While the results were unpredictable, they were often potent. The alchemist added the Aerosolize modifier to arger vial¡ªone intended to shatter on impact¡ªand watched as more smoke filled hisb. The duo leaned in to inspect the result.
[Cleansing Scrub]
[Aerosolize]
[Cleaning Agent] [Modified Potion]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Cleansing Scrub instantly restores clothes, surfaces, skin, etc to a clean state. Leaves behind the smell of Qavellian berries.
Effect (Modified):
When this vial is broken, creates a cloud of Cleansing Scrub that spreads out. This cloudsts five minutes but is less effective than concentrated Cleansing Scrub.
¡°Yep. Looks like we¡¯re bombing Qavell again,¡± Salire said, elbowing Theo in the ribs. ¡°Get it? Since we already bombarded them.¡±
Salire got goofy when she was nervous. The jokes went on for their entire time working on potions. They created enough Potions of Purification and Aerosolized Cleansing Scrub to get started. Tresk shrieked in Theo¡¯s mind,ining that he wasn¡¯t in the city already. The alchemist sighed and departed from theb. Salire didn¡¯t want to head over with him, so he went alone. Almost alone. The moment he left the front door of the Newt and Demon, his guardians nked him from the shadows.
¡°Wow, our alchemist sure is a busy-body,¡± Salire said. The muscr half-ogre woman was the brawn of the operation. She had a Baelthar Guardian¡¯s Core and was really handy with a spear and a shield.
¡°Maybe we can retire early. No one has tried to assassinate him in a while,¡± Rowan said. Just as muscr, Rowan was Sarisa¡¯s brother. Theo wasn¡¯t sure who was older, but he was the brains of their duo. Often lurking in the shadows, the man had a Baelthar Shadowstalker¡¯s Core. Which meant he flung death in the form of arrows from the shadows, but mostly focused on control abilities.
¡°You guys are so funny,¡± Theo mocked.
The causeway from the bridge near Broken Tusk wasn¡¯t going along very well. Theborers that had ensured the city wouldn¡¯t join the sea were exhausted. Most were taking a break, although there were still a few stragglers who refused to rest. Theo spotted his team of magic-wielding allies on that bridge, looking at him with res. All except Sulvan metouched, who seemed amused at the situation.
¡°How do we get up?¡± The once-pdin asked.
¡°I think Hanan jumped. Can you jump?¡± Theo said.
Xol¡¯sa shifted his expression, clearing his throat. The bands of blue that ran over his skin shimmered as he reached for some nar magic. ¡°Just a short jump. I think I can manage it. Just hold on.¡±
Zarali hooked her arm inside of the mage¡¯s own, her soft purple eyes glowing even in the light of day. ¡°I¡¯ve never been a fan of teleporting.¡±
A few momentster, Xol¡¯sa created a shimmering portal for everyone to step through. Of course Tresk flew up to the city, riding on Alex¡¯s back. Theo walked through the portal, feeling a familiar trickle of cold run down his spine. A momentter, he was standing in the ruined streets of Qavell. The party held their breath together for long moments, looking over the destruction. Locals scattered, shutting the doors to their crumbling houses or fleeing down the street.
¡°You¡¯re wee!¡± Sarisa shouted. ¡°Acting like we didn¡¯t save your butts.¡±
¡°Let them grieve,¡± Sulvan said, bowing his head and sping his hands together.
Theo heard Sulvan say a prayer to ntheir. The dark ces, shrouded in shadows cast by nearby buildings seemed to brighten. A wave of something spread outward, washing over the alchemist with a sense of hope.
¡°Better swap this out,¡± Theo said, changing out his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core for his Zaul Shadowspirit Core. An instantter, several blocks of the city were covered in his willpower-fueled aura.
¡°That still gives me the shivers,¡± Zarali said, pressing herself against Xol¡¯sa.
¡°Zarali and Xol¡¯sa, you get to work looking for dark magic. Tresk, you¡¯re guarding them. Sulvan, I need you to figure out what is making these people sick.¡±
The group nodded, moving off.
¡°What are we?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°Discarded turtle shells?¡± Rowan asked, finishing the idiom.
Theo produced Cleansing Scrub vials from his inventory, handing them over to the pair. ¡°We¡¯re going to paint the town.¡±
Sarisa tossed the first potion without thinking. Theo paused to watch the effect. It mmed against a building¡¯s side and exploded. It left behind a cloud of white fog that spread out. Everywhere it touched was scrubbed clean, leaving behind a pristine surface. As clean as a half-destroyed city could get, anyway. The group walked the streets with Sarisa and Rowan tossing potions. Theo made notes of the buildings that had been destroyed, cataloging them in his administration interface.
The outermost part of the city had once held a wall. Sections of that wall were still visible, but most had grumbled away during the journey south. With the city organized into rings, this first ring was densely popted with people. They were a mix of humans and half-elves with a scattering of the other beast races, dwarves, and half-ogres. The group¡¯s n wasn¡¯t to scour the entire city, but it was made easy with the aerosolized potions. They tossed them and moved on, never waiting to observe the effects.
The second ring of the city was more intact. There were guards near the gate here, standing in front of the gray stone walls and brandishing spears. Like the frightened citizens they had seen before, the guards were shaken. But they stood their ground, demanding that Theo and his group produced identification.
¡°Theo Spencer. Archduke of the Soutnds Alliance,¡± Theo said, pausing to wait for the humans to respond. He looked down at them, watching their confused expressions. Both Dronon and Half-Ogres were about seven-feet tall,pared to the average of six-feet for the humans and elves.
Sulvan arrived momentster, cing his hand on Theo¡¯s back. He nodded, approaching the guards. The priest cast some spell, and the guards sighed with relief.
¡°They¡¯re grieving, Theo,¡± Sulvan said, pressing beyond the guards, into the inner sanctum of Qavell. ¡°Come. I¡¯ve detected something this way.¡±
Theo and his group followed close behind. Inside the second wall of the city there was much less damage. The people there still seemed frightened, but not quite as traumatized by the events. They still looked at the outsiders with fright, but didn¡¯t flee on sight. Sulvan strode confidently, pressing forward as Theo probed the area with his aura. They tossed potions along the way, earning some nasty looks from the citizens.
¡°Did you figure out what we¡¯re dealing with?¡± Theo asked, jogging to catch up.
¡°This isn¡¯t the taint of undeath,¡± Sulvan said, his jaw locking tight as he thought. ¡°Aarok didn¡¯t do a good sweep of the city, Theo.¡±
¡°Tresk, on me,¡± Theo said, sensing that something was afoot. ¡°Bring the others.¡±
Sarisa and Rowan didn¡¯t need instructions. Rowan stalked into the shadows while Sarisa produced her short spear and shield. Sulvan¡¯s pace increased, fists clenched at his sides.
At the center of the inner ring of Qavell was arge spire. The top had been broken off, tumbling to the ground somewhere along the way. The only people left in Qavell seemed to be attendants and poorly trained guards. Several honor guards lined a chipped staircase leading to the spire. They produced their weapons to challenge the group, but Sulvan didn¡¯t stop. He marched past them without stopping. Tresk jumped from Alex¡¯s back, melding into the shadows and jumping ahead to scout.
¡°Theo!¡± Hanan shouted. ¡°So d to see you.¡±
The interior of the spire was a massive room with a towering ceiling. The walls were decorated with painted art, frescos, and ornaments hanging. Those things that hadn¡¯t fallen to the ground caught the glint of the sunlight through the windows. Pirs segmented the room, several chipped and crumbling. Hanan was nked by two people, their faces obscured by hoods.
¡°Get the other one, Tresk,¡± Sulvan said, storming to the group.
Hanan held his hands up defensively, but he wasn¡¯t Sulvan¡¯s target. The priest¡¯s hand sped around the first hooded figure¡¯s face. Light burst from his palms and the king screamed. The hooded figure writhed under Sulvan¡¯s grip, voice muted by the hum of ntheir¡¯s purifying energy. Tresk¡¯s daggers drove through the second figure, but it hardly seemed to notice. Until a spear and at least five arrows punctured its body. Both hooded figures copsed, revealing twisted faces beneath.
¡°Those were my advisors!¡± Hanan shouted.
Sulvan turned, nodding at Theo.
¡°King Hanan,¡± Theo said, kicking at the hooded things. ¡°Have you seen your advisors?¡±
They weren¡¯t human, elves, or any other mortal race Theo had seen.
¡°Well, you just murdered Jeremy,¡± Hanan said, folding his arms. He pouted. ¡°Do you think this alliance is going to work out?¡±
Sulvan grabbed the king¡¯s head without warning. Theo¡¯s instinct was to go forward, stopping him before he killed the king. It was only a sh. There was nothing left of that old inquisitor. The light that flowed forth wasn¡¯t the same spell. It was a cleansing one.
¡°Look upon your advisors now, king,¡± Sulvan growled.
¡°Oh, gods,¡± Hanan said, recoiling. ¡°What are those!?¡±
Sulvan nodded to himself again. ¡°We have a city to purge.¡±
6.4 - Purge
6.4 - Purge
Qavell was a massive city. Even after losing half of its area, the city sprawled in every direction. Theo and his newly formed strike team stalked the halls of the pce, the king following closely behind. He had only stopped stammering about the monsters within his inner circle after exhausting himself. The alchemist watched as Sulvan metouched walked through the inner halls of the pce with practiced precision. It was hard not to wince when he kicked down a door, purging another abomination from the world.
Sulvan¡¯s eagerness to purge an entire city of the monstrous entities was too simr to what he had done for the Burning Eye. Theo could only hope that ntheir¡¯s banner had driven those old impulses away. He found it more productive to think about this purge as a repurposing of the man¡¯s talents for good. And there was no mark of the ex-pdin¡¯s zealotry. Only practice precision and efficient mana usage.
Aarok and his men had missed the monsters in the city. Sulvan had exined it as a mor spell that ntheir was happy to lift. It didn¡¯t change a person¡¯s form, but made others view them as different. It didn¡¯t affect the Priest of ntheir, allowing him to see them as they truly were. The Soutnds Alliance¡¯s army of adventurers wasn¡¯t so skilled, but at least there weren¡¯t casualties. The adventurers now scoured the city itself, focusing on going door-to-door with a blessing from Sulvan.
Theo¡¯s team was focused on scouring the pce with Hanan. If the city outside wasrge, the webwork of tunnels and rooms beneath was double its size. The first level held enough twisted creatures to send everyone¡¯s stomach churning. The second level was worse.
¡°How deep does this go?¡± Theo asked, nudging Hanan. The king was on edge, almost unable to form words unless prodded.
¡°Deep. I wasn¡¯t allowed down here when my father was alive.¡±
Sulvan was clearing another room with Sarisa and Rowan, leaving Theo, Xol¡¯sa, and Zarali to inspect another body. The creatures had leathery skin of a brown-ck hue. Their faces were a twisted mass of flesh, never having the same pattern between them. Each monster¡¯s limbs were simrly twisted, hands often mounds of flesh rather than a hand with discernable digits.
¡°These were elves,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, cutting open a creature without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m almost certain they were. And I don¡¯t recognize the magic that has infused them.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t demonic magic,¡± Zarali confirmed. She ran her finger along the surface of one monster¡¯s face, shaking her head. ¡°What is the current theory?¡±Was there even a theory? Theo was at a loss. He wasn¡¯t a native to this world, but had seen more of the strange things it offered than most. His experience delving into the void and visiting other realms didn¡¯t help him here. Even his willpower-fueled aura offered nothing. But there was something interesting about the creatures. The alchemist produced an alchemically neutral knife and prodded at the figure. He could find nothing alchemically significant.
¡°They¡¯re not monsters. They would have generated at least one reagent.¡±
A series of runes drew themselves on the ground under the creature. Xol¡¯sa channeled a spell, doing his best to figure out what was going on. As they discussed possibilities, a faint light flooded the room. When Theo looked up from the runes, he spotted Fenian at the door. With a stunted pair of glowing wings growing out of his back.
¡°What¡¯s with the wings?¡± Theo asked.
Fenian did a twirl, posing at the end. ¡°I was wondering the same thing!¡±
The Herald waltzed to the creature, cing his hand on the thing¡¯s head. The wings on his back shed in recognition, growing slightlyrger. Fenian flexed his hand, chuckling when the thing beneath it burst into mes. Everyone stumbled back, but the thing was gone in moments.
¡°And what does that mean?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked, his spell fizzling to nothing.
¡°These are people that have been corrupted by that entity. They don¡¯t belong here, which gives me absolute authority over them. Which is why I have the wings, I guess. I couldn¡¯t get up here without leaving a crater, so it gave me wings.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like some wings,¡± Zarali said wistfully.
¡°I bet you would.¡± Fenian stood, dusting his hands off. The ever-present smile on his face beamed at the group. ¡°Sulvan will need me for the next step, I think. Oh, what a lovely man.¡±
Fenian departed without exining himself. He joined with Sulvan in the next room, helping purge the city of these monsters. Theo flipped through reports on his administration screen. Things were going well on the surface. Aarok and his people were searching for more creatures¡ªa task likely better suited to Fenian¡ªand had found a few more corrupted entities. If the undead weren¡¯t bad enough, they were now dealing with a kind of befoulment that potions couldn¡¯t solve.
It was clear after a while that only Sulvan and Fenian had to purge the area underneath Qavell. Theo and the others took the hint, leaving to focus their efforts on the surface. While he didn¡¯tpletely trust Sulvan to do the job, he knew Fenian would enforce anything that would put the world in danger. It was his job, after all.
As much as Theo wanted to return to hisb for some hardcore alchemy, the city was in a state. It wasn¡¯t tipping over anymore, but there was just too much to do. Aarok and his people cleared everyone on the surface on the first day. Anyone who could lend a hand spent the second day performing repairs on any buildings that weren¡¯t created with a seed core. By the third day, the citizens had stopped being so fearful. They helped the people of the Soutnds Alliance repair their city, finally finding the will to put their backs into it.
During these three days of hard work, Sulvan and Fenian cleansed the underground area. They didn¡¯t give reports, and they didn¡¯t rest. They went between rooms, destroying any sign left by the malicious entity. Theo was using his Earth Sorcerer Core to piece a stone building back together when the pair finally emerged. Sulvan looked as serious as ever, but Fenian was in the middle of a joke. The punchline didn¡¯tnd with the priest.
¡°We have something fun to show you, my dear alchemist,¡± Fenian said.
Theo dropped the stone he was holding, swapping his core for the Zaul Shadowspirit Core. ¡°Let¡¯s go. This kinda sucks.¡±
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Fenian¡¯s wings hadn¡¯t gone away, and it was weird. Theo didn¡¯t remember seeing them when he fought for the fate of Qavell, but there they were. As they marched into the pce, he got a better look at them. The wings were made of feather-like things, but seemed to be constructed with light. That light shimmered between gold and silver, seeming to change with the direction the wind blew. It was unclear as to if he could control them.
¡°It would have been better to destroy the town.¡± Sulvan swallowed hard, as though that would take back the harsh words he had uttered.
¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so glum. You just need rest,¡± Fenian said, patting the man on the shoulder.
The old Sulvan would have punched Fenian in the face. Theo doubted that even the old version of that pdin could have done more than annoying the Herald. As expected, theplex beneath Qavell was extensive. It didn¡¯t take long to reach a section that had been carved into natural stones. The stairs were worn smooth in the middle, but tool marks could still be seen on the walls.
Theo didn¡¯t know how long they descended those stairs. He was almost certain they had gone deeper than thendmass was tall, but they kept going. Each time the stairs leveled out, there were halls with rooms shooting off in either direction. Those stairs leveled out onest time, revealing a muchrger passageway than the ones before. It led to a massive metal door, which was inscribed in the Axpashinguage.
¡°Guess who broke those wards? It was me!¡± Fenian said proudly.
Sulvan didn¡¯t wait for Fenian to gloat more, and approached the door. He pushed it open with the slightest touch, revealing a sight within. A massive room appeared before them, hewn from the same stone as the rest of the underground area. Four pirs, topped with glowing crystals of various hues, rested in the four corners of the room. In the center was a twisted pir of stone and wood. Roots wrapped in on themselves, forming the center of both the Kingdom Core and the Town Core.
¡°Dark coresmith magic,¡± Sulvan said, gesturing to the corpses still present in the room.
¡°Dark coresmiths aren¡¯t a thing. These are more corrupt folks. Likely coresmiths in life. Which is funny, because Qavell didn¡¯t have any.¡± Fenian preened at thatment.
Theo knew Fenian had a problem with King Karasan. But he had only recently learned that the elf would have brought the city down without the undead if he needed to. It was some old revenge story that the Herald wasn¡¯t willing to share.
¡°Well, they¡¯re dead now.¡± Theo kicked at one body. It rolled over, revealing the familiar face of a twisted creature.
Fenian approached the strange pir, pping it. ¡°This is the problem. I can destroy this thing, but I can¡¯t purge it.¡±
¡°Neither can I. The magic is too strong.¡± Sulva shifted ufortably. It was as though that failure fell on his shoulders, rather than the ones who had created the magic.
¡°But of course, we¡¯re talking about magic that goes against the system. Left behind by the Worldbreaker as a foul sore. My powers only go so far, alchemist.¡±
Theo extended his aura, fueled by his willpower. He smiled to himself when even Fenian winced in response. Xol¡¯sa had given him instructions on how to work with his aura. The only time he had to read the book had been at night, when he was in the Dreamwalk. Most of that time he spent looking over his shoulder, waiting for the old Dreamer toe back and im the throne. But it never happened.
The core felt strange in Theo¡¯s aura, but he wasn¡¯t certain he could do anything about it. He probed it with his willpower, drawing on everything he had. While he only got a faint glimpse as to the thing¡¯s power, he realized what had happened. Someone had twisted the two energies together, mixing otherworldly energy from the Worldbreaker with the magic generated by the system. They had hijacked something the system created, repurposing it for their own needs.
The entity he knew as the Worldbreaker was an interdimensional being. Passing through realms was easy enough, if one had the right tools. But this creature could pass into the greater universe¡ multiverse? Whatever. He went to ces that were dying to scoop people up like the Harbinger did. The entity had tangled some of that power into this Kingdom Core. But why? All Theo could see was evidence of an act, but no clear sign of motive. Even the most basic beast did things with a purpose.
¡°Has anyone figured out why the Worldbreaker is doing what he¡¯s doing?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Assuming he is a ¡®he,¡¯¡± Fenian said, chuckling. ¡°That¡¯s a good question, though.¡±
¡°The city will continue to function, but we need to seal this room,¡± Sulvan said. ¡°Until we can figure out how to purge this magic, it must remain sealed.¡±
Theo could see why. He held his aura out, sensing the magicing from the core. It came in steady waves, releasing more energy than should have been possible. But the magic wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to him at this point. This was the power nt of the city. It allowed it to fly. It might have required fuel to stay afloat, but the base level of power it generated was staggering. He could use his Spirit Weaving and Shadow Wrap skills to create a ward that shielded the entire area. It would need to be refreshed every week or so, but he could do it.
¡°I guess that falls to me, huh?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We were hoping so,¡± Fenian said.
Theo nodded, opening his Toru¡¯aun spellbook and going through his wards. The Anti-Mage property was once again his best friend. A few poems and some modificationter, and the alchemist had something he could work with. ¡°This may affect some functions of the city, but we don¡¯t have a choice.¡±
¡°Go for it,¡± Fenian said, shrugging. ¡°If we don¡¯t suppress this energy, everyone will turn into those things.¡±
Theo¡¯s brow knit tightly. ¡°Uh¡ should we be standing so close?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine. Maybe. Probably. Just make the ward, magic demon.¡±
Theo followed his instincts most of the time. When those failed, his high Wisdom took over with the Wisdom of the Soul messages. It rarely told him exactly what to do, but this time it was forting. Hebined anti-magic elements with imbue to forge a new ward. Sulvan¡¯s eyes went wide for a moment as the alchemist approached the pir itself. He pressed his hand against the warm surface and started his demonic chant. His willpower shed out, infusing it with both the Spirit Weaving and Shadow Wrap skill. Shadow Wrap was a stretch, since the description imed it only enhanced items. But the system relented, epting a ward as an item.
A ripple ofbating powers radiated from the monolith for a few moments. The dark powers within the cores fought against Theo¡¯s ward, but were battered down with sheer willpower. The four crystals in the room¡¯s corners went dim. He inspected the resulting ward.
[Subdue Magic]
[Advanced Ward] [Linked Ward] [Shadow Wrapped Ward] [Spiritwoven Ward]
Anti-magic, Infuse
Creates a suppressive field that nullifies all magic within the bubble.
Shadow Wrapped Bonus:
Increases the duration of this ward by 10 days.
Spiritwoven Bonus:
The power of this ward is linked directly to the caster¡¯s willpower. Effectiveness of this ward is increased depending on the caster¡¯s willpower.
Trigger:
Detect Adverse Magic
Duration:
20 Days
¡°Just try not to cast anything in here,¡± Theo said, withdrawing his hand from the core. He looked at his palm, raising an eyebrow when he saw a mark left by the effort. A patch of skin had been burned from the effort.
¡°When did you start that willpower exploit?¡± Fenian asked, wrapping his arm around Theo. He couldn¡¯t quite reach his shoulder. ¡°Come. We can have a drink while you tell me all about it. Youing, Sulvan?¡±
¡°I need to rest,¡± Sulvan grunted.
¡°So, just the two of us! Onward!¡±
6.5 - It Won’t Explode. I Promise.
6.5 - It Won¡¯t Explode. I Promise.
Fenian didn¡¯t care so much about Theo¡¯s journey. They sat down for drinks and food in the alchemist¡¯s manor, but the elf only seemed interested in telling his own story. As always, it was more about the aspects of adventure than anything of substance. He left out everything about his plot to kill the king and the reason behind it. But the alchemist had to admit it was nice to have his friend back.
Theo now sat in the Dreamwalk, looking over the t area outside of Broken Tusk and wondering what he should do next. Progress had been slow over the past few days. Despite that, he had made strides in his newest cores. His Zaul core was already at Level 9, while his sorcerer core was at Level 8. Nothing had changed with his newest mage core, though. He expected the effects of the Drogramath Dedication skill to take over by now, but nothing had happened. It didn¡¯t evolve into something more interesting.
During his time helping with the city, he didn¡¯t have enough time to work on his other cores. And his other cores were capped to the level of his Drogramath Alchemy Core. Except for the Tara¡¯hek core, of course. That core had rocketed to Level 33 in the past few days. Once he and Tresk started working on the city project, they had seen a massive increase in experience. But now was a time to focus on alchemy and herbalism, cores that had be more difficult to level in recent times.
¡°Where do we go from here?¡± Theo asked, sighing as he reclined on the soft grass.
Alchemy had be more important as time went on. He had gone from brewing powerful potions to brewing even more powerful potions. And he was now on the forefront of what a Drogramathi Alchemist could do. He was certain there was no one at this level alive, and it was unlikely any alchemist in history could rival his production. Except for one man. Drogramath himself. This is where Theo decided what the next frontier of alchemy would be. Tier 4 potions should have been within his grasp, so he started there.
With a thought, Theo summoned an arrangement of alchemy equipment. He had faked a fourth tier potion before. Using a suffuse potion meant he could bind two properties together to create a new one. If he brewed that potion as a third tier¡ªusing the bound dilution method with Zee alcohol¡ªhe couldbine those things to make a fourth tier potion. It did not gain the fourth tier prefix, but was as powerful as one.
Theo started by imagining the things he would need to brew his standard third tier potion, settling on a simple Greater Healing Potion. The process was simple enough. Binding it with a dilution meant that he used the alcohol to remove almost all impurities. If he considered that fact, third tier potions were as pure as they could get. They were at a percentage of purity approaching one-hundred, but not quite. He studied the resulting potion, probing the Greater Healing Potion with his senses to find some w. Visual inspection revealed a perfect sample. No cloudy sediment with a perfect color. Even the reaction had gone off perfectly, producing almost no smoke.
So that was the question. How could Theo take a potion that was perfect and push it a step further? He started by considering other potions he had created, and the interlinked nature of his herbalism and alchemy skills. One thing that had been vital to creating potions at a higher tier was better reagents. Low-quality reagents were unstable, making it difficult to extract. Theo took an example of the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, imagined from the garden he had back in the mortal realm.
This had been a question resting on the alchemist¡¯s mind for a long time. ¡°Are all reagents created equal?¡±If one were to take two samples of wild reagents andpare them, they could have unique attributes. The system would im that they had the same properties, but that wasn¡¯t urate. The quality of those properties was different. Theo had sted past this problem by cultivating his reagents, forcing them to be better than they were in the wild. Taking that into ount, perhaps his approach to nt care had been wrong.
It was time to study the reagents he used every day to gain a better understanding of how they worked.
Theo found Tresk and Alex training. As always. He joined them, practicing his throwing with unenchanted daggers. The marshling didn¡¯t like when he dropped in on them, tossing daggers imbued with Toru¡¯aun¡¯s power. That made things unfair, ording to her. The alchemist let his mind go silent as they fought, finding it easier to battle the armies of horned serpents that she brought forth. When dawn finally came, he ate breakfast as quickly as he could and headed out. While Sarisa and Rowan had created some delicious food, he could only think about reagents.
Salire was already in the Newt and Demon by the time he got there. She was always working on a side-project. She was working on more Cleansing Scrub for the city.
¡°Want to go on a field trip?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Of course!¡± Salire said, looking around theb. She pointed at things, muttering something. ¡°Yeah. They need to cook for a while.¡±
Salire joined him, heading out from theb. But they didn¡¯t go to visit the greenhouses behind theb. Theo didn¡¯t want to use cultivated reagents as his example. He needed wild samples that hadn¡¯t been steered down a path.
¡°So, what are we doing?¡± Salire asked, following close behind as they headed for the western gate.
Theo exined his theory about reagents. Salire got excited, withdrawing her notebook and jotting things down. She always got excited when they pushed into uncharted territory.
¡°Have you harvested Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from the wild?¡± Theo asked, nodding to a guard as they pressed into the swamp.
¡°I¡¯ve seen it. Haven¡¯t put much stock into wild reagents, though.¡±
¡°That might be my fatal mistake.¡± Theo let out a breath, but he couldn¡¯t me himself. The man with all the answers had tea with him just yesterday, and had chosen not to say anything. The alchemist thought back to the trip he took to Drogramath¡¯s realm. Was he trying to tell him something about reagents?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the vition.
Drogramath¡¯s realm was a confusing sprawl of ss worlds floating in a void. Thinking back on it, Theo didn¡¯t remember seeingrge farms to produce reagents. If that was a hint, it wasn¡¯t a very good one. The pair trudged through the swamp. Sarisa appeared from nowhere after a while, glowering at Theo as her clothes and armor got muddy. While he could have taken the portal to Xol¡¯sa¡¯s tower, Theo wanted to scan the area for reagents as they walked. As expected, the area close to town had little to offer.
The swamp was worse near the town. The waters were deeper, and more snappers spawned. Theo had understood this as a feature of the river, which leeched water into the soil. But it could have been magically generated water¡ªhe couldn¡¯t tell. But the area closer to the dungeon had a lot more inds. Even that wasn¡¯t his target, though. Theo forced his group to push even deeper, until the mountains to the west were visible in the distance. This area was dotted with muddy inds and Ogre Cypress trees. The monsters were dense here, but it seemed like the perfect ce.
¡°Let¡¯s inspect the reagents that grow here,¡± Theo ordered, gesturing to the clumps of nts growing everywhere.
Theo and Salire cataloged every reagent they could find. They used an ind in the swamp to deposit their collected Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, spending hours finding them and arranging each by size. That didn¡¯t represent quality, but was the best way. When the collection was done, they gathered to inspect the results.
¡°This is already concerning.¡± Theo looked over the fifty-some samples they had retrieved. His n was to dpose each for inspection, but it hardly seemed necessary.
¡°The rarity on each is the same.¡± Salire walked to the end of the line, turning her head to watch Sarisa and Rowan dismantle a turtle. ¡°But I feel something from this end.¡±
The pair had collected the reagents by pulling them up, leaving the top portion visible. The samples Salire had gestured to were the same on the top. Only the roots underneath appeared different. Theo felt his cores draw him to those samples. Sure enough, they were still Common rarity.
¡°No one without an herbalist core would notice this,¡± Theo said, kneeling to inspect therger roots. ¡°You have Rare Material Handling, right?¡±
Salire nodded.
¡°Rowan,¡± Theo called, beckoning the adventurer over. ¡°Hold this for me.¡±
Theo shoved a root into the half-ogre¡¯s hand, standing back to observe. Rowan took the root and stood there, awkwardly looking around. ¡°Is something supposed to happen.¡±
¡°Note the sizzling,¡± Theo said, pointing at the root. It had begun to steam in his hands. ¡°And now¡¡±
Rowan was propelled back by the force of the st. Salire yelped in surprise and Sarisa rushed over to help her brother. Amon rarity reagent wouldn¡¯t have packed much power, but the half-ogre wasn¡¯t expecting the st. Theo tossed a Greater Healing Potion over to cure whatever minor wounds he received.
¡°Now hold this one,¡± Theo said, offering Rowan another root.
¡°Uh... No.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t explode. I promise.¡±
Sarisa snatched the root from Theo¡¯s hands, glowering. She held it out, right near the alchemist¡¯s face. But nothing happened. He had given her the smaller root. One that a person didn¡¯t need Rare Material Handling to touch. It was far less reactive than thest one. Theo could kick himself for not noticing this sooner. He had given the people of Broken Tusk a quest long ago. They harvested Spiny Swamp Thistle Root from the swamp. But back then, people didn¡¯t venture that far. They never had a chance to get blown up, which would have shown him something important.
¡°I¡¯ve been too focused on cultivating reagents. I never considered that the magic out here would do a better job,¡± Theo said. He saw Salire take notes on that.
¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked.
Theo wasn¡¯t sure at all. The difference between the roots was clear. He didn¡¯t need a system message to tell him that. But without the system, he needed to categorize these reagents and determine their impact on potion crafting. It had been an oversight, but the alchemist wouldn¡¯t have discovered this by ident. Behind this discovery was skill, core influence, and luck.
¡°Let¡¯s grab some samples,¡± Theo said. ¡°Whole nts, of course.¡±
¡°As long as you don¡¯t blow me up again¡¡± Rowan was clearly wounded.
Theo and Salire collected more samples, only stowing thergest samples into his inventory. It was his inventory, because he had another n for his return to Broken Tusk.
¡°I¡¯m off to test these. I¡¯ll meet you guys back in town,¡± Theo said, feeling himself fade into the void.
¡°You¡¯re gonna make us walk!¡± Sarisa shouted. ¡°You son of a¡ª¡±
Theo fell through the void, using his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage skill. He felt a sh of anger from the Bridge of Shadows, but Uz¡¯Xulven still let him pass. The grasses in his realm bent under his feet. Another day in the mortal realm meant another passing of fads within this realm. Things had looped back to cross-country racing, which was exciting to see. The alchemist had created a series of trails for the spirits here for that very purpose.
Most times he came to the realm, there wasn¡¯t much that needed his attention. But today, there was a procession of souls that needed his attention. Perhaps there was a dy from when a soul entered the void to when they could find a realm to settle in. The alchemist felt the brush of senses against his aura. Eager spirits wanted to know when they could join Tero¡¯gal. Those extended senses came with a familiar signature.
Half-elves were a weird race within the world. Theo didn¡¯t know the full story, but they weren¡¯t really humans. A more urate description was proto-elves. Except the flow of evolution had gone in the other way, elves serving as the base to create something more human-like. But these were the people that called Veosta home.
¡°If everyone could just form a line,¡± Theo said, gesturing vaguely toward the road. ¡°Try not to block that. I think there¡¯s a race going on.¡±
There were 292 souls as permanent residents in Tero¡¯gal. The line that stretched far into the distance held an uncountable number of souls. Theo couldn¡¯t count them, anyway. The line wound in a way that didn¡¯t make sense to him, so counting wasn¡¯t possible. Instead, he started the interviews.
Most souls that found their way to Tero¡¯gal were innocent. It was hard to hide one¡¯s intentions when one was boiled down to their base parts. Cloud passed over the fake sun overhead. The Simted Reality upgrade was supposed to add a day and night cycle, but the alchemist had blocked that part of it. He allowed his grasp on that slip and the world slipped into night.
¡°Hey! We¡¯re trying to race here! Turn the light back on!¡±
Theo sent the world back to daytime,ughing when he spotted a tangle of mostly-formed spirits in what looked like sweatpants on the road. The nearby souls looked on with interest, but didn¡¯t form thoughts enough to express what they were feeling. The alchemist went through each soul, a process which took a while. He couldn¡¯t define the amount of time it took, though.
Of the souls that the alchemist interviewed, he only rejected five. Tero¡¯gal leveled to 34, but missed the 35 mark. There would be no upgrade avable this time. The alchemist picked himself up from the bench he had been sitting on, rolling his shoulders to work out a kink. The other gods had already arrived within his realm, and were sitting around the table in the cottage. He nned to join them, but would be happy to let his mind wander. The puzzle of powerful reagents might be easier to solve in the presence of Drogramath.
6.6 - Epic Plus
6.6 - Epic Plus
Theo didn¡¯t think he would ever get used to Drogramath¡¯s realm. It was confusing enough to stand on verdant ground, looking over a forest of trees and reagents that towered up to the ss dome. But he could see the other domes in the distance, floating like massive, round vials in the distance. The lord of the realm had invited him to discuss thistest discovery. To the alchemist¡¯s surprise, it wasn¡¯t an invitation to chide him.
¡°You¡¯ve grown up seeing reagents in a different light.¡± Drogramath almost seemedzy in his own realm. When Theo saw the spectral projection of him, the figure on the other end was always angry. Not here, though. Not within the heart of the potioneer¡¯s power. ¡°You¡¯re not born from a true brood. That much is true. Dronon are wanderers by nature.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the highest level any other Drogramathi brood has gotten?¡±
Drogramath turned. His strong features turned sour, but he nodded. ¡°Not far past Level 30. Did you know that some of your feelings bleed through the realms? Especially after taking Drogramath Dedication.¡±
¡°I was¡ moderately aware.¡±
Drogramath paused for long moments. ¡°If you doubt the course you¡¯ve been set on, remember this. The only time a dronon¡ªno matter what brood¡ªmade it past Level 30 was before the Second Ascension War.¡±
There were factors that Theo understood about that problem. Things got rough after that level, depending on how a person had built themselves. Something about gaining more power set folks on a path of self-destruction. Sulvan was an excellent example of one that had maintained most of their senses. Although he was a zealot, he kept it together. Most others that had retained their mind had done so thanks to strong convictions. Fenian¡¯s plot of revenge kept him going for all those years, pushing for the death of King Karasan.
Theo owed his sanity to three factors. The Tara¡¯hek, his Wisdom potion, and Drogramath. The higher an attribute that affected the mind got, the more a person fell away from their true self. What the god was trying to say was simple enough. It echoed through the minds of most people. Especially those who had ascended to the higher nes of existence. The system was broken. Every facet set in the intricate setting of reality was designed for a cycle. Construction and destruction happened as a fact of life. Cities could be built in days. People could ascend to unspeakable realms of power within a month. Putting aside the psychological effects, this resulted in absolute destruction.
¡°Zban is a good example,¡± Drogramath said, taking Theo¡¯s silence for contemtion. ¡°The mortals got it in their minds to change the system themselves. To remove that cycle of destruction. Zb City was on the coast of what is now Gardreth.¡±¡°The dead kingdom Gardreth?¡± Theo asked,ughing to himself. ¡°There¡¯s a joke in there somewhere.¡±
¡°A portent, more like. Yes, they gained some mastery over seed cores. But the price was absolute. When the kingdom became an ind, Balkor sprung into action.¡±
Theo hesitated. He didn¡¯t know what the opinion of the Demonic Pantheon was on Balkor. He knew everyone hated the red dronon, Zagmon, as he embodied bloodshed. But Balkor¡¯s powers weren¡¯t nefarious on their own. Undeath was an element. Just like wind, water, holy, and so on. It was a piece of reality that couldn¡¯t be denied.
¡°And what was Balkor¡¯s n?¡±
¡°To end it all. Purge the entire so that something could start again. He did it the wrong way, but tilted the heavens enough to give Khahar a start.¡±
¡°His n would have never worked. Because we¡¯re missing pieces, right?¡±
Drogramathughed, pping a powerful hand over Theo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t mewl at me like some sniveling boy. You know there are missing pieces. You¡¯re the one that¡¯s going to get them back.¡±
Theo cleared his throat. He had never been shy about getting his hands dirty. He had never shirked whatever duty was thrust on his shoulders, even when he wasn¡¯t given enough information. But this was a step far in a direction. Even Drogramath was confident he could do it.
¡°I¡¯m just surprised Khahar hasn¡¯te to shut us up,¡± Theo said.
¡°Might have something to do with that,¡± Drogramath said, gesturing to the shimmering field of ck aura around them. ¡°Or he¡¯s feeling nice today.¡±
¡°I choose the second option. Was I right about the reagents?¡±
Drogramath shrugged. ¡°Maybe.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t know, do you?¡±
¡°Nope. I only designed the first stage of alchemy by hand. I let the system figure out the rest.¡±
¡°But you could reference it somehow. Pull up a screen. Flip through the pages to give me a hint.¡±
Drogramath smiled. Then shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me now, Theo. Not when things are just getting interesting.¡±
The demon god seemed more interested in history than alchemy today. Which was weird, considering the endless sprawl of reagents in those ss orbs. Theo decided to ask him about the history of the soutnds. But that history was much like the other parts of the continent. With some interesting twists. Zban was considered thest great empire by some people. The truth was Tarantham, the home of the elves, had endured since the First Ascension War. Schrs disagreed if they were one continuous nation, considering their cannibalistic nature. Drogramath didn¡¯t have an opinion.
The unique culture created by the half-ogres and the marshlings was weird. Ogre settlers came from grot after the empire was destroyed. ntheir restored the continent, making it easy enough for them to adapt to the swamps. A storm of coincidences flooded the area. Marshlings came from the lizard inds. Hearty humans migrated from Bantein. Although it wasn¡¯t Bantein at the time.
¡°They¡¯re not even really humans, though,¡± Drogramath scoffed. ¡°Proto-humans. Elves that have been changed over time. Some Earthling¡¯s attempt to bring the race to this world. Anyway¡¡±
It only took the ogres and humans two generations to forget where they hade from. Ogres were war-like enough to get themselves killed in those two generations. The humans held too much wanderlust to stay where they were. The result was what was left. After that great exodus, either through death or departure, only the marshlings and half-ogres were left. Without a culture of their own, they built one based on life in the swamp. A few more generations passed before Qavell swept across the nation, only finding resistance in the western reaches of the continent. The people of Veosta¡ªwrapped in pacts and protections from Tarantham¡ªdidn¡¯t go with the promises of the kingdom.
¡°Another series of empty promises by a kingdom that couldn¡¯t provide it,¡± Drogramath said,ughing to himself. ¡°Who would fall for that again?¡±
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This was information that Theo had mostly pieced together. Others had admitted many of these facts, but the specifics had eluded him. The alchemist considered how Azrug was now a Loremaster. Once things went ass-up, that young man would be the one who carried on Broken Tusk culture. No matter what happened, Theo didn¡¯t want that aspect to fade.
The reason for Theo¡¯s visit to Drogramath¡¯s realm was to get information about the next phase of alchemy. Those who didn¡¯t know the way the gods worked would have thought he was leaving with nothing. But the vanity of someone who had lived for so long was absolute. Theo was the god¡¯s champion. An investment that cost celestial resources. If he was on the wrong track, the demon god would have been at least a little upset. Instead, he told stories about the mortal realm and the workings of the gods. That was good enough for the alchemist.
After some more chatting, Theo left the realm. He touched down in Tero¡¯gal only briefly, and only to make sure Uz¡¯Xulven wasn¡¯t annoyed that he had another way around the Bridge. He would bring that exploit to Khahar¡¯s attention one day, but had a feeling he would need itter. The exploit was extremely simple and only required a spell or skill that removed someone from the gods perception and enough willpower to force themselves through. That should have been an easy patch, right?
Theo directed himself to Tresk, who was walking down the streets of Broken Tusk. He appeared next to her, smiling down at the little marshling.
¡°What¡¯s up with the grin?¡± she asked, punching him in the arm. Alex honked, shooting a marshling-sized ball of fire into the air.
¡°I left everyone else in the swamp. Didn¡¯t feel like walking back.¡±
Treskughed, nodding to herself. ¡°That¡¯s a good one. ssic Theo!¡±
While their day might have ended, Sarisa and Rowan weren¡¯t there to make dinner. They instead went to the Marsh Wolf Tavern, where Xam was happy to sell them prepared food. Tresk helped set the dinner table up, and the pair left a few bottles of Cleansing Scrub by the door for them to use. While Theo waited for the group to return, he inspected his administration screen to get updates about Qavell.
As expected, things were moving forward now that Sulvan and Fenian had scoured the ce clean. The Priest of ntheir was still doing patrols, focusing on the areas underneath the city, but things were stable enough. After the creatures were removed, a haze was lifted from the eyes of the citizens. It didn¡¯t pass the alchemist¡¯s notice that the king himself seemed unaffected. He might have seen bumbling as a newly crowned king, but Hanan had hidden strength. It might have been cause for concern, but the city itself was more concerning.
Once Qavell was stable within the bay, things would be better. Theo had a fear the city would tilt over at any time, regardless of what Ziz said about its stability. More supports were required, and the alchemist was convinced it would take a mountain¡¯s worth of dirt and stone to hold it there. Which might not have been inurate, considering howrge the section underneath the city was.
When Sairsa and Rowan arrived at the manor, they had scowls on their faces. They muttered curses while they cleaned themselves with Cleansing Scrub. Once the potion had cleared their nostrils out, allowing them to breathe in the scent of the food, they softened. Xam had a habit of outdoing herself every time she cooked. Today was no different. She had cooked cut wolf meat in a thick brown sauce. This was poured over a bed of mashed zee¡ªthe type that seemed like packaged grits to Theo¡ªand thered the sauce on with a heavy hand.
¡°This almost makes up for your betrayal,¡± Sarisa said, stuffing her face.
¡°At least you didn¡¯t need to cook,¡± Theo said.
¡°You should know!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°When someone can teleport away, they will.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fair enough.¡± Rowan¡¯s face was smeared with the gravy. It dripped from his chin, falling in hisp. He had taken less offense to the teleporting than his sister.
After the quiet dinner, the group remained at the table for a while. Theo had a few things to add to his administration screen before he retired. The elf from the underworld, Twist, had asked when he could head up north. The question was moreplicated than it seemed and the alchemist would need to meet with the man beforemitting to anything.
With a few samples of wild Spiny Swamp Thistle Root in his mind, Theo, Tresk, and Alex fell into the Dreamwalk. Since the marshling had gained mastery over dreams, their descent was smoother than ever. She was understanding how dream realms worked, and what it meant to fall into one so easily. The result was a more powerful Dreamwalk. She could expand the area, create more realistic simtions, and even generate areas that she had never seen. It was almost like farseeing in that regard.
Tresk had deposited them into Tarantham¡¯s capital city. She didn¡¯t even know the name of the ce, and some details were clearly wrong. White stone buildings spread as far as they could see. Orderly roads paved with stones that shimmered with every color. A single spire rose in the distance, dominating the area and making those smaller buildings look tiny inparison. Theo suspected that she couldn¡¯t really create ces she couldn¡¯t imagine. She had simply dropped into someone¡¯s dream that lived in the city.
The expanded simtion was no joke, though. Theo found a workshop that was expansive enough for him to work at and got to it. He forced the Dreamwalk to ept that he was in an Herbalist¡¯s Workshop and ced some imagined samples on the table. Both actions came easy enough. Since he was within a fake workshop, he applied the Research upgrade to the samples. Those that didn¡¯t have a bad reaction back on the mortal ne provided no new information. But the one that had exploded when Rowan touched it was interesting.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
The root of a Spiny Swamp Thistle.
Research:
Infused with intense energy from Tero¡¯gal and Drogramath
Fast Growth Cycle
Exceptionally pure sample
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Flourish]
As expected, the Research upgrade revealed a bit of information. The sample he had before him was ¡®exceptionally pure,¡¯ which could only mean that each property would produce a high-quality sample. This wasn¡¯t something Theo could check in the system unless he brought it to his workshop. But there were signs on the nt itself that would give it away. It was bigger than most other roots that he had collected. The gnarled sections of the root were straight and thick, while the smaller roots shooting out of the main body seemed hearty.
Theo tested between his two samples, pressing a mundane iron knife against each. When he touched the t of the de against the inferior sample, almost nothing happened. There was a slight sizzle, but nothing more. He only tapped the second sample with the de for a moment, but got a series of small explosions that drove the knife away. The alchemist almost lost his grip on it.
It was easy to push the Dreamwalk further than it wanted to go. With Tresk¡¯s authority, Theo forced it to allow him further testing. In moments, he generated a sample of a potion that would have been created with the root. He felt the edges of the Dreamwalk object. But it ceded to him, as he had created many samples of the Greater Healing Potion. A decent sample of the Greater Healing Potion would restore 175 health. That was at ¡®good¡¯ quality. The one created with the new root was different.
[Greater Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Epic+
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Middling Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 250 health points.
That was curious. Three things had changed with the potion. It went from Rare to Epic¡ With a plus after the ¡®epic¡¯ part. Theo had never seen that on a potion, and had to wonder what it meant. But the amount of health it restored increased by a staggering amount. To go from 175 to 250 was like jumping a tier in potions. He had never seen the grade of a potion increase the effectiveness that much, unless it was going from poor to perfect.
Theo was certain this potion would rival the next tier, all because he generated it with superior ingredients. That led to questions. Once again, he thought back to the way Drogramath organized his world. No farms, just wild reagents growing everywhere. It was nice having greenhouses with everything he needed. But something told him this nt couldn¡¯t be replicated in those. The only way to create the best potions on the, he needed nature¡¯s help.
¡°A most curious turn of events,¡± Theo said, pursing his lips and nodding.
6.7 - Curious Potions
6.7 - Curious Potions
Getting a handle on this new ss of reagents wasn¡¯t easy. Theo had woken the next morning, his mind focused entirely on the topic. He moved like a zombie, heading down to the first floor of his manor to pick at his food. Sarisa forced him to eat like a concerned mother hen. When he finally snapped out of it, realizing that progress wasn¡¯t something he often made at the breakfast table, he finished his meal to satisfy his doting minders. But the truth was he was hungry. And the woman¡¯s food was always delicious, even if it was just sausage and eggs.
Whisper¡¯s secret blend of herbs and spices were a coveted thing within the town. She refused to give them up, often going silent when anyone asked. The tactic worked, and the secret remained with her.
As always, there were no answers to be found at the breakfast table.
¡°Busy day?¡± Rowan asked, checking Theo with his shoulder as the alchemist moved to exit the manor.
Theo paused, checking his administration interface. It was a busy day for someone else, but not him. The ward he had ced on the city was holding firm, forestalling any issues that would arise from corrupted cores. That only left the structural integrity of the city left to deal with. While he could help with that, it was more work than moving a few boulders around. Ziz¡¯s team made regr reports, and they had a solution that involved Throk and about half the alliance as a workforce.
¡°Not that busy,¡± Theo said. ¡°I need to figure out what¡¯s going on with these nts.¡±
¡°Oh, I¡¯m real good with nts,¡± Rowan said, throwing his arm over Theo¡¯s shoulder. The way only a half-ogre could do. ¡°Tell me your problem and I¡¯ll help ya.¡±
Sarisaughed somewhere within the manor as Rowan walked with Theo. They exited the building together, marching down the road at a snail¡¯s pace.
¡°We never expected wild reagents to be better than cultivated ones,¡± Theo said. Rowan wasn¡¯t good with nts. Let alone ¡®real good.¡¯ But there was no point in not humoring the man. Half-ogres had wisdom that couldn¡¯t be matched. Straight to the point and unabashedly honest, they often found the easiest solution for every problem.¡°Doesn¡¯t take a master herbalist to figure that one out, Theo.¡± Rowanughed, nearly tipping the pair over onto the cobbled street. ¡°You can¡¯t direct the godly energy in the swamp, can you? So your fancy greenhouses can¡¯t create those fancy nts.¡±
This wasn¡¯t the problem Theo was trying to solve, but he smiled and nodded. That was true enough, and he appreciated the insight. He changed the topic. ¡°How is your rtionship with Baelthar?¡±
¡°My what with who? Fine, I guess. He doesn¡¯t care what I do.¡±
¡°Have you prayed to him?¡± Theo asked, gesturing to the temple looming in the distance.
Rowan spat on the ground. ¡°Screw that. Any god I follow needs to be strong enough to stand on their own.¡±
¡°Fair enough.¡±
Theo entered the Newt and Demon. The sign was flipped to ¡®open¡¯ and the bell rang when he stepped through the threshold. Salire was already on the third floor, working on some standard potions for the shop. She looked as though she had been working the stills for a few hours already, even if the sun had just risen. They shot ideas back-and-forth but didn¡¯t have an answer for their problem. While she worked, the alchemist left for his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop. One theory remained in his mind.
¡°Don¡¯t get too close to that,¡± Theo said. Rowan had drawn too close to the deadly nt in his experimental garden. ¡°You¡¯ll die. Horribly, if the description is anything to go by.¡±
¡°Ah. Got it.¡±
Theo recalled the description he had generated in the Dreamwalk. Something nagged him at the back of his mind, and he realized it might not have beenpletely urate. Breaking the rules of the system had be a hobby of the Tara¡¯hek. But something lingered in his thoughts, and he intended to generate a research report right after he nted the reagent. As the alchemist kneeled near the garden plot, a thought came into his mind as a Wisdom of the Soul message appeared.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
You¡¯re fairly certain this won¡¯t work. Putting aside the problem with a powerful wild reagent taking root, there¡¯s a high chance this nt will react with the soil itself. When you nted the spirit fruit within the dream realm, you did so because it would not bind to regr soil.
Only soil enchanted with an absurd amount of holy energy could possibly support this nt. It might also explode, killing you and everyone around. Who knows! Maybe you should try it¡
¡°I get it,¡± Theo muttered, moving away from the garden plot. He brought the most potent sample they had harvested into the workshop,ying it down for inspection. He recalled the research properties it had given him before andpared them against what was right in front of him. There was only one line that was different.
¡°Will likely produce unknown potion?¡± Theo asked, turning to Rowan. ¡°I didn¡¯t see that in my dream.¡±
¡°Then keep dreaming, cause I dunno what that means.¡±
Theo grunted a response. He was certain he had generated an urate report in the Dreamwalk. But thatst line was missing. Wisdom of the Soul jumped in again, giving a rare two-for-nothing deal on the problem. It confirmed that breaking the bounds of the Dreamwalk had unintended consequences. Thebined willpower of the Tara¡¯hek was powerful, but the system was almost omnipotent. They had spat in the face of something that was beyond them, and he felt lucky to have gotten bad information rather than something worse.
Theo had enough samples of the powerful Spiny Swamp Thistle Root to produce at least one potion. The urge to rush into theb and brew it was squashed as the alchemist chose caution over haste. He first entertained the idea of nting these new nts in Tero¡¯gal, deciding against it for now. He would explore his reasons for thatter. Instead, he went to theb and sucked a still into his inventory. Salire didn¡¯t question it, and he brought it to the sparsely wooded area behind theb. The span between theb and the harbor was clear enough for him to run his experiment.
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¡°Where is Sarisa, anyway?¡± Theo asked, shoving his bodyweight against the still to get it into ce. When it didn¡¯t work, Rowan helped. THe Potion of Hauling could have helped with this, but it seemed like a waste.
¡°Dunno. She asked me to be your babysitter.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you babysit me every day?¡±
¡°Yeah, but one of us has to talk to you. And she normally volunteers.¡±
Theo stopped shoving after the still was level, ring at his guardian. ¡°I¡¯m not some senile old man.¡±
Rowan shrugged.
¡°I¡¯m not!¡±
¡°Light the fire, geezer.¡±
It was harder to do smaller batches with Drogramath¡¯s alchemy. The temperature mattered far more as the mash within could easily be burned to the bottom. Even Throk¡¯s absurdly awesome stills couldn¡¯t do much to help with that. But under an expert¡¯s hand¡ªthe foremost expert on Drogramathi Alchemy living today¡ªmade it look easy. Within the hour, he had a sample of Refined Healing Essence to examine. It was exactly like the normal version. Even if it felt more potent in his hands.
¡°Before I was working for you, one of Ziz¡¯s boys dared me to break into your ce and drink a whole bottle of that stuff.¡±
¡°You would have died,¡± Theo said casually. He portioned one unit of the liquid into a vial from his inventory. ¡°Maybe. Actually, I don¡¯t know. Wanna try?¡±
Rowan looked as though he would try for a moment. He reached his hand out reflexively, but pulled it back when Theo offered him a vial. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m good.¡±
¡°For science!¡±
Theo was proud when Rowan refused again. It was easy to get him and his sister riled up with challenges. He was d to see survival instincts improving across the board with half-ogres.
¡°This is weird,¡± Theo said, swirling the essence in a vial. There was something off about it he couldn¡¯t put his finger on. ¡°This feels close to the spirit fruit. Like the potion is going toin when I brew it.¡±
¡°Stop stalling.¡±
Theo introduced the other ingredients required to create a reaction. As he suspected, there was almost no reaction. The ke of metal fell to the bottom of the vial like a leaf on the wind. Small bubbles formed at the bottom, but didn¡¯t produce the violent reaction it should have.
¡°Nothing happened,¡± Rowan said. Theo pulled the vial back when the man tried to flick it.
¡°It needs time to brew,¡± Theo said, feeling himself slipping through the cracks of reality. As he did, he watched as the vial remained where it was. Not in his hand, but floating in the air for only a moment. Rowan caught it before it hit the ground and the alchemist canceled his trip to Tero¡¯gal.
¡°Just dropping stuff!¡± Rowan said, huffing. ¡°Isn¡¯t this thing valuable?¡±
Theo took the vial from Rowan and looked at it, brow cocked as his tail flicked through the air. This wasn¡¯t just curious now, it was interesting. He put a stopper on the vial and added it to his inventory. ¡°Let¡¯s try again.¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
Theo let himself slip through the crack again. Half his body had vanished from the mortal realm when he heard a popping sound. The vial had ejected itself from his inventory and Rowan caught it once again. After canceling his trip yet again, the alchemist red at the vial. ¡°It doesn¡¯t want to go.¡±
¡°Pretty sure potions aren¡¯t as willful as you think.¡± Rowanughed, holding the vial out for Theo to take. ¡°Are they?¡±
¡°I think my exploit has been patched.¡±
¡°Your who got what?¡±
This would be awful if someone had fixed his exploit. Taking spirit fruit and potions to the heavens to allow them to brew had reduced the time for brewing potions significantly. The person who would have done that was Khahar, of course. But it didn¡¯t feel like that. Something was off.
¡°This has to brew here. On the mortal ne,¡± Theo said, holding the vial up. ¡°Time to make a few more. I guess.¡±
Theo finished the other potions and sucked the still back into his inventory. He ced it back in theb, pulling Salire aside to show her the new potions.
¡°It feels potent,¡± she said, hesitating to reach out to it.
¡°Trust your instincts on that one. I don¡¯t think this is reactive right now. Rowan flicked the vial, but give it a few hours and I think we¡¯ll have a potent potion.¡±
Even the temperature of the air had changed the rate at which the bubbles were forming at the bottom. Theo felt itchy after watching that. Wisdom of the Soul had no more wisdom to dispense, but his time working with potions had taught him well enough. New things in alchemy meant fresh problems.
¡°Crank the air conditioner in here, please,¡± Theo said, taking all but one vial into his inventory. ¡°We need to leave the air off on the second floor and open the windows. Put the first floor at a decent temperature, but not this cold.¡±
¡°On it!¡± Salire shouted, adjusting the knob for the air conditioner in this room.
If Theo was right, this was another realm of potion making he hadn¡¯t expected. Not only could he not use Tero¡¯gal to make these potions develop faster, but he had to babysit them. And he was almost positive this was the answer. Salire dashed off to fix the other floors, leaving the air running at full st on the third floor. The bubbles slowed at the bottom of the potion, almost stoppingpletely.
When Salire returned, she had her notebook in her hands. Since Theo had nothing to do unless he wanted to help with Qavell, he helped her rework some sections of their book. They hadn¡¯t found a printing press yet, and he didn¡¯t have the courage to ask Throk to drop other things to make one. It was also unlikely that anyone would read a copy of their book, but that wasn¡¯t the point. Putting this knowledge to the page was more important than finding a base of readers.
Once he had no more excuses, Theo swapped his Zaul core for his sorcerer core and headed out. With potions on every level of his building and one in his inventory, the experiment would run its course. He didn¡¯t want to proceed before he had more information. As he walked through the town, he realized the irony in what he was doing with his alchemy. Zarali and Belgar had been dronon that were single-minded for perfection. When Belgar was alive to perform his alchemy, he epted nothing but the best. He took his time with each step to ensure it was perfect.
Theo¡¯s way of brewing potions was different. His method was born of a need to help these people. Broken Tusk had more problems that a person could count at the start. Alchemy bridged the gap between what theycked and what they needed. That meant Theo produced vast quantities of potions to fit that need. Now he thought about the old ways of doing things. As the Champion of Drogramath, he would embody the ideals he resisted. As much as he disliked the slow way, it had to be done. This was the way forward to the true fourth tier of Drogramath¡¯s alchemy.
Ziz and his people had done well on Qavell so far. The work had been constant and more problems arose by the day. Theo worked his way down the beach, walking over the causeway as the wavespped against his feet. He pulled his coat tight to fight against the sun overhead, feeling the cooling effect of the magical item envelop him. False ground had been seeded near the base of the city. Immeasurable tons of rocks were resting in the waves and a team of people were working with metal cables to stabilize the city.
¡°How are we doing, Ziz?¡± Theo asked, pping a hand over the mason¡¯s shoulder. He jumped slightly, turning to smile at him.
¡°Poorly!¡± Ziz spat on the wet ground. ¡°Have you ever tried to wrangle an entire city? Everything I¡¯m trying is failing. See those massive pirs? The ones¡ you know¡ the size of a city? My stone welding can¡¯t keep them together. Those cables keep snapping¡ªand if the GODS DAMNED tidees in one more time, I¡¯m going to kill the sea.¡±
¡°So, about what we expected?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
Theo took a deep breath. There was little he could do to advance his potion making and his ascension to the Throne of the Dreamwalker. He had time to kill.
¡°Come on. I have an idea.¡±
6.8 - Unknown Reactions
6.8 - Unknown Reactions
It took Ziz a while to clear away all the workers near the city. Theo waited near the shore, watching as those people dispersed into the surrounding area. He had wanted to wait to try this until things got dire. Since nothing was working, that moment felt as though it was approaching swiftly. While he had an arsenal of potions, there was only one he could think of that would pair well with his n.
Until this point, Theo had been moving a handful of stones at a time. It was more efficient than having people carry them by hand, but it was still slow. Copsing the mountain range to the west had been an option. Their tests had revealed that it was too hard to control the way the mountain fell. The alchemist held a Greater Intelligence Potion in his hand, waiting for the area to clear. He had swapped his Toru¡¯aun Mage¡¯s Core out so that he could equip both Zaul Shadowspirit Core and his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core. The Spirit Weaving skill attached to the Shadowspirit core allowed him to empower one skill.
Earth Attunement was the skill that allowed him to move things aligned with the Earth element. Spirit Weaving didn¡¯t have a time limit, but Theo was certain this would work. The skill was already empowered with his willpower, but would experience at least a doubling effect. Consuming the intelligence potion would send him up a few realms of power for that attribute, unlocking even more power. If he drew some willpower from Tero¡¯gal, all the effectsbined might make this work.
¡°Everyone is cleared out,¡± Ziz said, thumping Theo on the shoulder. ¡°Try not to kill anyone in the city.¡±
Theo nodded. He drank the potion first, swaying on the spot as his Intelligence rocketed past 40. Once he could stand on his own, he activated the Shadow Weaving ability and focused on his Earth Attunement skill. In an instant, the mountainside lit up. His head swam again. If Ziz wasn¡¯t there to keep him from falling, he would have pitched over onto the gravel pathway. With almost 50 Intelligence fueling the skill, the alchemist reached out with his mind.
The side of the mountain was almost a vertical wall of stone. It towered higher than the city itself. In Theo¡¯s vision, it was a sheet of green energy, pulsing with the will of the itself. He reached out with his mind, pressing his willpower against those nodes. His aura flickered out as a turbulent bubble of shadows, pressing against that mountain and gaining a few screams from those lingering too close.
¡°Here we go,¡± Theo grunted, tugging with all his might.
Seams appeared in the mountain. The green energy buckled under the potentbination of Zaul¡¯s skill and Theo¡¯s own potion. Those seams grewrger as Theo yanked, pulling house-sized boulders down from their perch. More stone fell the more he yanked and the alchemist shifted his focus, watching as the shadow bubble battered the wall. An avnche¡ªif a vertical drop of rocks could be called that¡ªcame next. Piles of stone formed at the bottom.
Theo split his concentration, yanking boulders down as he distributed them around the work site. Those who had remained to watch the event had long-since fled, but Ziz stayed where he was. Shouting words of encouragement, the half-ogre pumped his fist every time arge rock fell from the cliff. The alchemist had piled about fifty feet of boulders and rocks around the base of Qavell when the skill wore off. His shoulders cked and he lost hold of the massive rock he was holding with his willpower. It mmed into the sea, sending more waves rushing his way.¡°One minute of work and a month of progress!¡± Ziz shouted, cheering with excitement. ¡°That was awesome!¡±
¡°This is going to take a week,¡± Theo said, swaying some more and nearly falling over. He had trouble contending with the cold logic spreading through his mind. High Intelligence was far worse than Wisdom. It was as though all emotion had drained from him, leaving him feeling like an automaton, ve only to logic.
¡°Sounds about right. One-day cooldown on that bad boy?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Fine. Your normal rock-moving ability can still help, though. Unless you¡¯re too busy.¡±
Theo wasn¡¯t that busy. He didn¡¯t want to be that busy, anyway. He agreed to help Ziz, no matter how long it took to set the city straight. It would be a grueling week of work, but he could do it. If only for the sake of the people in the city above, he would do it. Drinking a steady line of Greater Intelligence Potions was easy enough, but the heavy lifting was done by the Shadow Weaving skill. The alchemist might not admit it, but the effort to copse part of the cliff had taken something significant from him. He was drained beyond what he would express and only took light work during that first day.
It took fewer than a week to get the job done. Including the first day of work, Theo spent four days moving material from the mountains to support the city. Laying a base of stones, no matter howrge they were, wasn¡¯t good enough. The stonemasons of the town worked to bind massive sections together with their magical mortar ability, creating something more like bedrock than a pile of gravel. Ziz had other ways to bind everything together, but the alchemist was often too exhausted to watch closely.
The only thing that made the days doable was Theo¡¯s ability to retreat into his private realm. He looked over the pile of stones, shaking his head at the sight. It looked as though an army of giant ants had moved the boulders, creating a pile that surrounded the entire city. Ziz and his teams were climbing over those boulders¡ªnot unlike ants¡ªand welding thest few things together. This wasn¡¯t the final form of Qavell as it rested outside of Broken Tusk, but it was enough to keep it from tilting over. Estimating the amount of material that had moved would be impossible. It was about a mountain¡¯s worth, and that¡¯s all Theo cared to think of it as.
¡°I¡¯m taking off. For about five minutes,¡± Theo said, dabbing ayer of sweat from his forehead. He was perfectly cool in his coat, but the stress of abusing his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core had piled up over the day. Midday had drawn over the town and gone, leaving them with the bright sun of the mid-afternoon.
¡°Okay,¡± Sarisa said, looking around awkwardly. ¡°Whatever.¡±
Theo wrapped himself in his aura and fell through the veil. He didn¡¯t use his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability, instead nning to probe the void for something interesting. Once he was done with this bit of work, he would finally see what his newest potion had be. The one in his inventory hadn¡¯t budged, but the others nted throughout theb had progressed well enough. They produced different shades and unique quantities of bubbles. Even the shades were different, rendering each with interesting differences of stability.
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Theo coasted along the first ribbon of the heavenly reality, hovering near the Bridge and soaking in the feeling. He would consider the sight, but there wasn¡¯t much to see. The void was a long stretch of nothing, punctuated randomly by stuff. ¡®Stuff¡¯ was the best way to describe it, as the alchemist could never get a feel for it all. But it was easy enough to understand the blockade the Bridge provided, keeping the heavens where they were and the mortal ne where it was. If he strained, he could feel things off in the distance. The high heavens nearby, which included both the Prime Pantheon and Demonic Pantheon. There was something else near those two groups, but it was hard to say.
Interesting, Theo thought, pushing beyond the bridge. It was like observing the fabric of everything up here from a top-down view. Near the edges of the two pantheons there was something that felt more solid than even the bridge. Theo pressed himself against it, but couldn¡¯t find a spot where it was weak. After fumbling up against something he couldn¡¯t understand for a while, he gave up and approached the bridge. This time, he allowed Uz¡¯Xulven to detect him.
Momentster he wasnding in Tero¡¯gal, eager to enjoy some tea. Several gates to other godly worlds were already up. Some had stopped waiting for him to show up and just took the realm as an open invitation to chill. The spirits had taken up new sports, but that wasn¡¯t surprising. Those gods that were already enjoying Benton¡¯s fine tea hardly noticed as the alchemist entered the room, taking his seat to partake.
The conversation that was already in motion didn¡¯t stop for him, rolling through the group with opinions on heavenly politics. It was a topic that Theo had no interest in, so he remained on the sidelines. The trip to Tero¡¯gal was refreshing enough that he decided a hike was in order. Several hours after arriving with the gods and drinking his share of the tea, he headed out on the path.
It would take more than a few hours to cover the distance from the main spirit hub to the outer reaches. Theo took his time on that road, waving to the denizens of his realm as he passed. A group of power walking spirits came up behind him at a point with cries of ¡°on your left.¡± He was eager to see the newest trend of the locals die and never return.
What few souls had joined Tero¡¯gal in recent memory were settling well enough. Theo had been shocked to see that people weren¡¯t flocking to his realm. He expected a torrent of souls pouring into this ce, crowding it with their ethereal presence. Since the void didn¡¯t seem overly full of lost souls, the alchemist could reach only one conclusion. They had picked other realms to call their home. It made him wonder what attracted his current poption of lost spirits. Asking them was useless, as they rarely remembered why they came.
Even Belgar wasn¡¯t immune to the dizzying effects of the void. Only Theo had the honor of traversing the void. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t a responsibility he wanted, but there it was. The alchemist settled in by theke he had created. He adjusted the time-scale of the realm, setting the current time to the mid-morning. The local souls would get used to a day-night cycle. He left the internal clock of the realm running, allowing the fake sun in the sky to move in an Earth-like cycle.
¡°What about a moon?¡± Theo asked himself, tapping his chin.
Between the Simted Reality and Landscape Maniption upgrade, he could form the world to look like just about anything. As he reached out to the realm, he felt as though a moon wasn¡¯t out of the question. Like the sun, it was cosmetic. Instead of a singr moon, he settled on eight. The number was significant, representing the phases of Telbarantis back in the mortal ne. That moon shifted through a range of colors, changing each day. Green, blue, red, yellow, orange, gold, white, and ck. Why not have them all at once?
¡°Even if the spirits don¡¯t like it we can change itter,¡± Theo said, resting on the sandy beach. He could see a vige created by the splinter group of spirits on the far shore. It would be easy enough to teleport over there, demanding that they reunite with the others. But what was the point of that? Tero¡¯gal was meant to be a living thing, not some diorama created by a god. Minor changes, such as the sun and moons, were as far as he would go. That and the asional trail or feature of thend.
This strategy had proved fruitful from the start. Theo remembered the way spirits acted in other realms. They all danced to someone else¡¯s song. Within Tero¡¯gal, the spirits themselves made the music. Those lost souls wrote the tempo for their lives, dancing however they saw fit. Industries had sprung up throughout the realm. Logging, mining, clothcraft, and so on. While there was no central currency, people bartered for their stuff. Since almost a year passed for each day Theo was away, those things had moved quickly. But not as quickly as things moved on the mortal realm.
If Tero¡¯gal was an analog for the mortal world, Theo could have spread a city over everything in sight. Seed core buildings had a way of creating a civilization overnight. Not the souls of Tero¡¯gal, though. They build their structures by hand. They mined the ore without sses, chopped trees without them¡ A mortal would puke if they considered doing any of these things without sses.
¡°My perfect little world,¡± Theo said, scoffing. ¡°An example for the gods¡ or what?¡±
Theo stopped by the Dreamer¡¯s Throne before he left. Tresk came here every day to reassert her power. This was the perfect hiding ce. If another person were toe and take it, they would need too many skills that most mortals didn¡¯t have. If a god wanted to im it, they would deal with the ire of the Arbiter. Even if Khahar didn¡¯te to help, the Guardians of Faith expansion on the realm would be interesting to contend with. That and the Bubble upgrade, which made it harder for hostile gods to perform interdiction actions both into and out of the realm.
Once he was satisfied with his trip to the realm, Theo allowed himself to slip through reality. He fell back to where he was, finding the weight of the mortal realmforting. When he entered theb, Salire had a strange look on her face. It was a mixture of excitement and dread.
¡°Interesting results,¡± she said, gesturing to the vial that had been stored on the first floor.
¡°What is that?¡±
Theo looked upon a pile of something. Where the vial once was, there was now a mass of material. It appeared as though someone had poured molten metal onto the vial, only to let it cool there. While none of the wood around it was damaged, heat still emanated from the pile.
¡°Some unknown reaction,¡± Salire said.
¡°Are they all like this?¡±
¡°Not the one upstairs. Top floor. The second floor is a mess.¡±
This was an unexpected turn. Aside from explosions, this was the single most reactive thing Theo had witnessed with alchemy. There were plenty of times where he had intentionally forced two reagents to react, resulting in an explosion, but never anything like this. He inspected the stuff on the ground, finding it to be rock-hard foam. It had bound with the floor itself, creating an awkward situation where it was nearly impossible to remove. A job for Ziz and his boys, perhaps.
¡°What are we waiting for?¡± Salire said, almost breathless. ¡°The one in the air conditioned room worked!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
6.9 - Then Youll Wait
6.9 - Then You''ll Wait
The one potion that hadn¡¯t violently spewed foam into the Newt and Demon sat on a table in theb. The air had been cranked beyond reason and frost had formed on the windows. Theo drew the Coat of Rake closely around himself, shivering a moment after they entered. He watched Salire suffer in his sundress. The alchemist turned the air off, opening a window to let some of Fire¡¯s heat inside.
¡°Won¡¯t it react?¡± Salire asked.
She should have known the answer, and Theo wouldn¡¯t deny he was slightly disappointed. He shook the thought away, realizing she was being cautious. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The period of instability is when the reaction is working. Maybe.¡±
¡°Just don¡¯t cover the good stills with foam,¡± Salire said, wincing as Theo picked the vial up. Her voice dropped to a low whisper. ¡°Be careful.¡±
The liquid within the vial glittered. Flecks of shining red floated throughout the pink liquid. It was a healing potion, that much was clear. But it was so unlike the other healing potions that Theo doubted himself for far too long. Something in his chest said this was an undiscovered potion. Something no other alchemist had crafted before him. He maintained a stoic expression, but the excitement was building in his chest. Before he could stop it, a smile spread across his face.
¡°Did you inspect it?¡± Salire asked, edging closer. Not close enough to see the description on the item, though.
Theo was waiting and he didn¡¯t know why. How many potions had he inspected after creating and why was this one any different? If he was right about this being an unknown potion, there wouldn¡¯t be a description. After a moment more of hesitation, he inspected the potion. And received a prompt he didn¡¯t expect.
[Potion of Significance]
You are the first person to create a potion of great significance. This potion has never been created by another mortal. Please select an attribute to boost from the following list:Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, Willpower, [ERROR], Affinity, Mind, [ERROR], [Teleport Point: Strelon Hignds], [Teleport Point: Skaral Desert]...
Theo blinked at the options, unsure what the hell was going on. There were too many things to process in such a short time. Just as he reached out for one of the weirder ones, the message window vanished and reappeared.
[Potion of Significance]
You are the first person to create a potion of great significance. This potion has never been created by another mortal. Please select an attribute to boost from the following list:
Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, Willpower.
¡°What?¡± Salire asked, flicking Theo in the cheek. ¡°What is it?¡±
His mind was reeling. The ces listed for teleport weren¡¯t ces he recognized. That didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t there. He filed them away in his near-perfect memory and considered which attribute to boost. Willpower was an option, but the alchemist discarded that idea. Gaining willpower was far easier than attributes. He went with Wisdom instead. Between Intelligence and Wisdom, the second was the only one he could increase infinitely without fear he would be a being focused entirely on logic. He remembered the way he felt when he imbibed his Greater Intelligence Potions.
Salire was pulling at his arm when he selected Wisdom. The message shed away and another came to take its ce. The alchemist¡¯s head felt woozy as the increased attribute took hold.
[Potion of Significance]
Based on the importance of this potion, your Wisdom has been increased ordingly.
You have gained:
Permanent +10 Wisdom.
Theo leaned against a table, eyes wide as he read the message. Over and over until it sank into his brain that he had jumped ten levels in a moment. The alchemist had increased his wisdom by an entire tier of power in a blink. It couldn¡¯t be real, could it?
¡°What is it!?¡± Salire shouted, resorting to punching him in the arm.
¡°I just got a permanent plus ten to Wisdom.¡±
¡°WHAT!?¡±
There was something wrong with that prompt. Theo was sure of it. But when he went to check his personal screen, there it was.
Theo Spencer
Drogramath Dronon
Level 30
Alchemist
Core Slots: 6
Stats:
Health: 120
Mana: 210
Stamina: 130
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 20 (+8)
Vigor: 23 (+8)
Intelligence: 28 (+9)
Wisdom: 40 (+7)
Points: 0
It didn¡¯t even count the additional Wisdom as a modifier like it did with gear. This was insanity. He sputtered, trying to put his thoughts into words. The amount of Wisdom he had gained in such a short time sent his head spinning. His brain tried to catch up with the increase. Even Wisdom of the Soul couldn¡¯t help him with such a drastic change. For a moment, he saw Salire¡¯s movements before she made them. Only a fraction of a section before she did, but he could see a ghostly form of her moving before she did.
¡°WHAAAAAT!?¡± Salire said, pummeling him at this point.
¡°This is a ¡®potion of significance¡¯ but I don¡¯t know what that means. It gave me the option to pick an attribute to raise¡ I thought it would be a point, but it gave me ten.¡±
¡°That¡¯s insane, Theo. You¡¯re lying.¡±
¡°Honest, Salire.¡± Theo could feel his hands shaking. Because he understood the implications. The swamp was filled with these nts. At least ten reagents he could think of that would be easy enough to farm up for more significant potions. He licked his lips as he inspected the potion itself. Somehow, his mouth became drier. ¡°I think I know why the other potions failed. Inspect this.¡±
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[Elixir of Life]
[Elixir]
Unique
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Tero¡¯gal (Perfect Bond)
Drink to remove all harmful effects, restore a person to full health, heal all injuries, regrow all digits and limbs, and restore a person to their natural state.
Elixir Restriction:
Only one Elixir of Life may be consumed or crafted(worldwide) every five days.
¡°That would havee in handy earlier,¡± Theo breathed. The vial that the elixir sat in betrayed its importance. Even with the fancy flourishes Salire had made, it wasn¡¯t good enough. This thing needed gold leaf, gemstones, and a stopper made from dragon bone. This was the single most powerful potion Theo had ever crafted. It might have been the most powerful potion anyone had ever crafted.
¡°You¡¯re kidding me.¡± Salire wouldn¡¯t even reach out to touch it. ¡°This is insane. I¡¯m not seeing this, am I?¡±
¡°If we¡¯re both seeing the same thing, I gotta say it might be real.¡±
The door to theb swung open. Fenian stood with a wild look in his eyes, twin rapiers ready forbat. He locked eyes with Theo, narrowing his gaze.
¡°What have you done?¡± Fenian asked, his wordsing out with hate.
Theo had already gathered his willpower, ready to retreat into the void the moment the door flung open. Now he focused on Fenian, prepared to send the elf into the void if he needed to. He wasn¡¯t a simple elven trader, but even his champion status wouldn¡¯t save him from the bite of the void. After a few tense moments, both parties rxed.
¡°I felt something,¡± Fenian exined. ¡°An event that sent a shiver down my spine.¡±
¡°I made a potion,¡± Theo said, stuffing the potion into his inventory.
¡°Sad to see your trust in me has fallen so far,¡± Fenian said.
Theo gestured to the rapiers in Fenian¡¯s hands. ¡°Says the guy with the stabby things.¡±
Fenian rolled his shoulders, nodding after a moment. The weapons vanished from his hands and he took a breath. ¡°May I exin?¡±
¡°Feel free.¡± Theo hadn¡¯t let go of the elf with his will. He could drop him into the void with a twitch. How did theye to this point?
¡°My Herald¡¯s Core twinged in my chest. I almost got my wings back, but the feeling passed. Something was breaking the rules. And that something was in yourb.¡±
Perhaps it was his increased Wisdom, but Theo understood. He recited what the first message had told him, including the items that clearly shouldn¡¯t have been there. ¡°Do you think that was it?¡± the alchemist asked.
¡°Let go of me and I¡¯ll exin,¡± Fenian grumbled, gesturing to his feet.
The shadows that Theo wasmanding¡ªthose that made up his aura¡ªwere wrapped around the elf¡¯s legs. ¡°Oh. Sure,¡± Theo said, allowing his aura to back off. Just a bit.
¡°My dear, sweet alchemist. Of course that was it,¡± Fenian said, sauntering over to lean on a table. ¡°You should have led with that. I might have cast that creature to the ground, but it didn¡¯t die. I¡¯m almost certain it lingers in the system. Like a disease. Perhaps he isshing out.¡±
Theo rolled his shoulders. There were many people in this world. Most of them wouldn¡¯t make him tense up like that, but Fenian was different. He had never expected the elf to betray him, but that look in his eyes was something else. There was fury in there that the alchemist had never seen. But it was gone. He was once again rendered as a jolly elf before his eyes, and both Wisdom of the Soul and his Wisdom attribute agreed everything was cool.
¡°It might have been worth fighting you for this,¡± Theo said, producing the potion from his inventory.
¡°You dirty little demon,¡± Fenian said, grasping for the potion. Theo pulled it away. ¡°I¡¯ve seen nothing like that. Not in all my years.¡±
¡°I¡¯m in a realm of potion making that no one has been to before. Since all the dronon die before they get here.¡±
¡°Make more!¡± Fenian shouted. ¡°As many as you can. By Parantheir¡¯s pendulous¡ª¡±
¡°Please. No colorful idioms.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a find, Theo.¡± In an instant, Fenian regained hisposure once again. ¡°Excellent. Well, as long as you¡¯re not breaking the rules¡ everything is fine.¡±
¡°Fenian,¡± Theo said, grabbing the elf by the shoulder as he made his way out the door. ¡°It might take some time, but I¡¯ll make sure you have one of these. Just in case¡ you know.¡±
¡°In case I almost die again? I would appreciate that. Farewell, Theo. I need to check on my Karatan. Good thing someone in this mudball knows how to care for my babies. I¡¯ming, Galflower!¡±
Salire and Theo watched as the elf bound from the room. The alchemist rxed in an instant. If there ever was a test to see how loyal Fenian was, that was it. The Elixir of Life was priceless. Snatching it would have ensured that Fenian could aplish almost anything. Was there a mortal alive that could beat a version of the elf with two health bars? Unlikely. The alchemist watched as Fenian departed, unsure of what the encounter meant. The elf took a few things seriously, and his post as the Herald was now one of them.
¡°Theo, what does this mean?¡± Salire asked.
He had almost forgotten she was there. The alchemist turned to his apprentice and smiled. ¡°Means I need to find more fourth tier reagents.¡±
Before heading out into the swamp, Theo considered what a potion of significance was. The Spiny Swamp Thistle Root they found in the swamp couldn¡¯t be replicated in his garden. He was certain of that. While cultivated reagents still had held an important role, there was much to consider about the wild ones. The nts would have been old. Not months, but years. There was a limited supply of those nts and they couldn¡¯t be moved to Tero¡¯gal. Perhaps the system had seen something like thising, putting Theo at a disadvantage for once. There was no way to game it.
¡°I¡¯ll stay here,¡± Salire said,ughing nervously. ¡°If that¡¯s fine.¡±
Theo nodded. She had a few orders to craft and it wasn¡¯t anything she couldn¡¯t handle. He headed out the front of the Newt and Demon and breathed in the humid air.
¡°Thoughtful Theo,¡± Sarisa said, leaning against the building. ¡°Contemtive Theo?¡±
¡°Pensive Theo,¡± Rowan said, emerging from the shadows.
If Theo focused hard enough, he could almost feel what the pair were going to say next. This was the trick Khahar had used to predict the future. He must have had an absurdly high Wisdom, allowing him to make those predictions with some uracy. It was hard to tell how he was feeling, though. He needed to grab onto this strand of power and tug before it vanished. And to think the answer to his problems were here. In Broken Tusk. His pensive posture was broken when both Sarisa and Rowan drew their weapons.
¡°Has the way been cleared?¡±
Lurching down the street, the masked elf turned his head to one side. Twist had been extremely patient, which betrayed how weird he was at the core.
¡°You can head north if you want, Twist,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°The corruption near the city might be too much.¡±
¡°I¡¯d rather not walk.¡±
¡°Then you¡¯ll wait.¡±
¡°Agreeable,¡± Twist said, nodding. A single eye stared back at the alchemist from under the mask. ¡°There are a few problems that might concern your town. In the underground. Forces are moving this way. Thought you should know.¡±
Without exining himself further, the masked elf slunk away. The group watched him go, shaking their heads. He was unhinged, but it was hard to say if his state was harmful.
¡°Come on,¡± Theo said, moving away from his building. ¡°We need to find more reagents.¡±
¡°Alright, what are we looking for?¡± Rowan asked, jogging to catch up.
¡°I¡¯ll tell you after we take Xol¡¯sa¡¯s portal.¡±
Reagents were easy enough to identify. The ones they were targeting today were the easiest to spot. Mage¡¯s Bane, Roc Berries, Widow Lily, Moss Nettle, Stone Flowers, and Water Lily were all extremelymon within the swamp and the surrounding areas. Theo recalled that they had found the previous sample deep in the marsh, away from the ces that adventurers normally ventured. With mountain ranges on all sides of the swamp except the east, folks rarely ventured deeper than needed to reach the dungeon.
Theo and his party stepped through the portal, finding themselves on the first floor of the wizard¡¯s tower. The alchemist considered his jump in power if he found a potion of significance for all six reagents. Sixty attribute points, ced however he saw fit. His Wisdom could jump to 100. Just the thought sent his mind spinning. Ascending six ranks of an attribute in a short time presented an intoxicating thought.
But they needed to find those reagents first. And it needed to provide enough essence to craft a potion, making the problem more daunting. There were also the responsibilities of an archduke to consider. Theo hoped that Alise could manage things while he distracted himself.
¡°We never really went this far,¡± Rowan said, pulling against the sucking mud of the swamp. It almost imed his boot. ¡°Of course, there wasn¡¯t a dungeon out this far for the longest time.¡±
¡°You¡¯re telling me this wasn¡¯t the ce where poking snappers with sticks was born? Color me surprised,¡± Theo said, pressing forward. The worst part about trudging through the swamp was getting sucked into the mud. But their goal wasn¡¯t those deep ces. He would find most of the reagents he wanted on the edges, near the slow rise of those hills in the distance. ¡°A shiny gold coin for whoever carries me on their shoulders.¡±
Rowan and Sarisa considered it for a moment, looking at each other. They shared a look only siblings could before dunking Theo¡¯s head into the mud.
¡°Nice try,¡± Sarisa said, pulling him out of the mud with an audible squelch. ¡°Get moving, mister alchemist. We¡¯ve got too much ground to cover for you to be cking.¡±
6.10 - Potent Poisons
6.10 - Potent Poisons
Theo walked through the swamp with Sarisa and Rowan for the remainder of that day. Something he learned about this area was the expansiveness of it. The swamp behind Broken Tusk went on for miles. While the mountains in all directions but east were visible from Xol¡¯sa¡¯s towers, approaching them was another matter. The group fell through the wizard¡¯s portal after an uneventful day, removingyers of mud with Cleansing Scrub.
¡°I¡¯m not cooking,¡± Sarisa said, flicking her hands through the air. No mud clung to her skin, but it didn¡¯t stop her from acting like she was still caked in the putrid mix. ¡°I¡¯ll grab something from Xam.¡±
Rowan wasn¡¯t in a talking mood, giving Theo time to plot his next move. There was much testing to be done, and even more scouting of the swamp. He considered contracting the adventurers in town to search the swamp, but that would end poorly. Over-excited half-ogres would pluck the reagents from the ground, blowing themselves up. It was a problem for another time. The Dreamwalk was where he focused his attention.
Sarisa returned some timeter with karatan steaks and poached pozwa eggs. Theo chatted with both Tresk and Alex about their day, finding the pair to be more inseparable by the day. When he scanned the marshling¡¯s memories, he found more than a few strange dreams she had visited. Without informing anyone, she was searching the globe and making a list of people she was interested in. That included people she thought would move against them, and others that sought to stop the burgeoning nation.
¡°Then there¡¯s the cultists,¡± Tresk said, punctuating the thought by stabbing her fork through the air. ¡°We should get working on themune before they get here.¡±
Theo flicked through Tresk¡¯s memories, finding dreams from cultists dedicated to Tero¡¯gal. Unfortunately, they were a doomsday cult. The worst kind of cult.
¡°This might have been information I could have used earlier.¡± Theo¡¯s tone was t.
¡°Meh. They¡¯re dreams. I can¡¯t tell if anyone is sailing for Broken Tusk or if they¡¯re just dreaming about it. But¡ Hooray! We have cultists!¡±
¡°Hooray cults!¡± Theo said, almost involuntary. He tried not to be grumpy when things took a turn sideways.Dinner was excellent. Theo found that his appetite was greatly increased after trudging through the swamp. He was more than a little eager to get into the Dreamwalk to test his theory about exploiting the system. Something deep inside him said it was too much of a stretch for the pseudo realm. But he had to try.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex slipped into the Dreamwalk with no issues. When the alchemist turned, intending to start his experimentation, the marshling stopped him.
¡°Check out my new trick,¡± she said, gesturing to the sky.
A shimmering image appeared in the blue sky above. They hadnded just outside of an imagined Broken Tusk. The river rushed by and clouds crawled azy path above. Theo watched as the image shifted, projecting someone¡¯s dreams. It was in the first-person, but depicted someone on a ship. He didn¡¯t recognize the coastline, but the ship moved at a decent clip.
¡°That¡¯s one of the cult guys. I don¡¯t know how that works, but they¡¯re feeling your n.¡±
Theo grumbled. ¡°What good is a secret n if everyone knows about the secret n?¡±
¡°Not everyone. Just a few¡ enthusiastic folks.¡±
¡°Speaking of your n¡ Can you do it?¡±
Theo turned, smiling at the goose. He blinked a few times. When had she grown sorge? The goose had grown from the size of a small donkey to the size of a horse. How the hell was she fitting into the manor, let alone any other buildings. He cleared his throat, pushing the thought aside.
¡°I can take us away from the mortal realm right now. All three of us, and maybe a few others. But there¡¯s a missing piece. An anchor.¡±
¡°Those damned space elves, huh?¡± Tresk grumbled. ¡°Why is it always the elves?¡±
Theo¡¯s n had been formted long ago. Only when he heard of the heisted world crystals did he realize what he needed to make that n work. He suspected those shards were the things that he could use to bind his will to. Like the lodestones he used to control his golems, they were anchor points. Once those were in ce, each part of his n woulde together. The core from Zaul, his enhanced willpower, and his connection to Tero¡¯gal would allow him to keep a piece of this life he hade to love. Perhaps he could even clone a part of the system¡
Theo cleared his throat. ¡°Does Emperor Kuzan dream?¡±
Tresk flicked her hand through the air. A dark miasma appeared in the sky. ¡°Home boy knows how to shield his mind from me.¡±
¡°If only someone could enter his dreams,¡± Theo said with a wink.
¡°Yeah, any luck finding the Dreamwalker¡¯s Throne?¡±
¡°I¡¯m almost certain the space elves took it. Or it was cast into the void. I can feel it calling to me, but that¡¯s it. The thread that connects me to it is intense. Which means the thing is distant.¡±
¡°So, the void. Sweet. I don¡¯t like the void.¡±
Theo swiped his hand, shifting the scene. The group floated in his interpretation of the void. The Bridge and a wall of ribbons lingered far in the distance. ¡°We don¡¯t see it the same way.¡±
¡°We sure as hell don¡¯t.¡± Tresk spat, watching as a globule of spit sailed into the distance. ¡°Where are the elves?¡±
Theo shrugged. He didn¡¯t know. He changed the scene to represent the threads that connected him to various things. The red lines were thick in the void, heading off in every direction.
¡°That¡¯s a problem.¡±
¡°Yep.¡±
When the discussion about the void and the implications it brought came to an end, the group returned to the imagined Broken Tusk. Tresk was done floating in the void, and Alex hated it from the start. The marshling mounted the goose and soared away, leaving the alchemist to his testing.
This tale has been uwfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The first test was to imagine other reagents he had discovered as their enhanced versions. As expected, the Dreamwalk couldn¡¯t support the concept and bucked around him. Just to be sure, he imagined the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root he had discovered. It appeared without issue and with more testing, he could even imagine the Elixir of Life. The Dreamwalk might have been fast and loose with the rules in the past, but this was a brick wall. The system wasn¡¯t happy that Theo was probing those edges, biting back whenever he did so.
The alchemist split his attention between two things. He started a long row of stills working on more Elixirs of Life before seeking to expand his willpower even further. He had reached a limit as to how many undead he could wrap with his Hallow Ground potion. But abination of factors had expanded that domain. He held a Greater Hallow Ground Potion in his hand and focused his Zaul core.
Theoughed as he imbued the potion with the Spirit Weaving skill.
¡°Zaul handed me an exploit. I should have seen this sooner¡¡±
The Hallow Ground potion imbued with the Embolden effect allowed Theo to increase his willpower by oveing the will of imagined undead creatures. The issue was that he needed more undead to push his willpower further. The effect on the Spirit Weaving skill was to imbue any item, ability, skill, and so on with his willpower. For the Greater Hallow Ground potion he held, that meant he could increase the radius. It was a feedback loop. He inspected the Spiritwoven potion in his hand.
[Greater Hallow Ground Potion]
[Embolden]
[Potion] [Modified Potion] [Spiritwoven Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Theo Spencer
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grade: Excellent Quality
Drink to create a zone of denial.
Effect:
Imbiber creates a two-hundred pace circle around themselves with the [Emboldened Hallow Ground] effect. The imbiber must overpower the will of each undead, in session. Failure to overpower will result in the user¡¯s mind joining the undead¡¯s collective. Sess will put those undead affected under the user¡¯s control.
Spiritweave effect:
Increases the range and effectiveness of this potion.
The potion had jumped from fifty paces to two-hundred paces. Now the real test began. Theo imagined a tide of undead, quaffing the potion and dominating each undead. While the first try failed, he worked himself up to the entirety of the two-hundred pace circle of silver magic. This took about half the night to aplish. The alchemist took breaks by brewing elixirs, returning to his willpower exploit when he felt rested.
¡°Show me something good,¡± Theo said. He imagined the cooldown on his skill to be reset, then imbued another Greater Hallow Ground Potion. The radius had increased from two-hundred to three-hundred. He had increased his willpower by infusing a potion using his willpower. ¡°Someone is going toe yelling at me for this¡¡±
By the end of the Dreamwalk, Theo had raised the distance to three-hundred-fifty. Even without leaving the gated realm, he could feel his overwhelming willpower. Tresk dropped them into the mortal realm, and he couldn¡¯t help but flex. His aura spread over the immediate area, covering most of the southern side of Broken Tusk. He could feel all the people and magical things within his domain and was confident he could drag them through the void.
¡°What haunting power you have, sir,¡± Tresk said, bowing her head. ¡°Please don¡¯t go all evil on us.¡±
¡°No guarantees,¡± Theo said, throwing his covers off and jumping to his feet. He sent his senses out, probing the army of golems. There were thirty working in town now, but he was confident he could raise that to fifty without straining himself. His thoughts locked onto those working north of Gronro-Dir and he had never seen them so clearly. Even through the realms, he could feel Tero¡¯gal swell with power.
¡°One has to wonder if this was the n,¡± Tresk said, tapping her chin. ¡°Oh well! Food time!¡±
Theo jogged down the stairs to get his breakfast. Tresk just shadow-jumped from the top to the bottom, eating her food so quickly that Sarisa didn¡¯t notice she was there to begin with. The alchemist sat, thanking his guardian for the meal before digging in.
¡°Are we going back to the swamp this morning?¡± Sarisa asked, her tonepletely t. She plopped down into a seat, sighing.
¡°No. I¡¯ll create a golem army first.¡±
¡°Yay. Authoritarian golem army,¡± Rowan said.
Once breakfast was done, Theo made good on his word. He created the necessary constructs, containment cores, and piles of metal required for a small golem army. He considered asking Zarali for lodestones, but realized he didn¡¯t need them. His willpower had be vast enough that the nearby golems didn¡¯t need it. With some effort, the army of twenty golems rose in mes. That drew some attention from those passing by, but Theo just smiled at them. He spread his willpower of the group and issued them a series ofmands.
¡°Off we go,¡± Theo said, following behind the army.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Salire asked, jogging out from the Newt and Demon. ¡°By Drogramath¡¯s shiny baubles¡ Are you going to war?¡±
¡°Are you picking up Drogramath-themed idioms?¡± Theo asked, looking back to smile at his apprentice. He could barely feel the strain of so many golems on his willpower. ¡°No. Not war. Just prevention.¡±
Theo¡¯s n was to insert the golems into Qavell. Not to suppress the people there, but protect them. Maybe that¡¯s what all dictators said, but most Earth-based despots didn¡¯t have weird morphing creatures to deal with. The troupe marched along the coast, passing through the harbor to reach the causeway. The alchemist guided them up the ramp that had been built and into the city. The guards near the entrance gave him a look, but could do nothing to stop him.
¡°If you could just tell us what you¡¯re doing, archduke,¡± one guard said, jogging up alongside the procession. ¡°Maybe I won¡¯t get thrown into the sea for letting an army in.¡±
Theo smiled at the flustered guard. ¡°They¡¯re going to defend the people here. And keep an eye on¡ the king.¡±
¡°Right¡ uh¡ okay.¡±
Salire followed Theo all the way to the pce. He had given orders to certain golems to patrol the city. And they could do so forever, so long as Throk¡¯s generators didn¡¯t break. The group approached the pce. One golem threw open the door and marched in. King Hanan shot to his feet, producing a sword from nowhere and lunging at the first metal golem. The sword scraped against the golem¡¯s skin harmlessly.
¡°Calm down, king,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯ve got some guards for you.¡±
¡°For me?¡± Hanan asked. The advisor that he was talking to had already fled. ¡°How¡ kind? Is this kind? Are you going to kill me?¡±
¡°Of course not. I¡¯m assigning two golems to watch you, two to patrol the pce, and one to remain in the control room. There¡¯s another fifteen patrolling the streets. Just in case, you know?¡±
¡°Just in case,¡± Hanan repeated, wiping his brow.
¡°I¡¯m going to check on the kingdom core. Oh! Have you met my apprentice?¡± Theo said, gesturing to Salire behind him. ¡°She¡¯s quite good.¡±
Salire blushed, bowing to the king.
¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite certain I haven¡¯t,¡± the king said, slicking back his hair.
Theo pressed forward as Salire stammered. Maybe she was taken aback by the king¡¯s grace, or just nervous about talking to a leader. Whatever the case, it gave him a chance to inspect the kingdom core. He marched with two golems, feeling that both Sarisa and Rowan were near. They delved into the depths of the city, arriving at the ritual room before long. The wards held firm, but dark energy still radiated from the corrupted core.
¡°What do you suppose that means?¡± Theo asked, passing through his shimmering ward to inspect the core closer. His golems, Sarisa, and Rowen remained outside.
¡°What exactly do you mean?¡± Rowan shouted from afar.
Theo gestured the half-ogres closer, and they came. They got a good look at the core¡¯s monolith, but retreated. The alchemist gave them a t look, clicking his tongue. Momentster, the pair were skittering back, jaws clenched as they passed through the shimmering barrier.
¡°Did it look like that before?¡± Rowan asked. He spoke as though he was holding his breath.
Theo traced his finger along the length of the monolith. The dark energy remained, but there was something strange. Purple striations had spread through the corruption, cutting it in ces. The alchemist stepped back as a Wisdom of the Soul message popped up.
¡°Oh, yeah. I think you¡¯re right¡ Seems like my Venom potion is more potent than I thought.¡±
6.11 - Spheres
6.11 - Spheres
Xol¡¯sa stooped low, almost pressing his face against Qavell¡¯s monolith. The king stood beyond the barrier, shooting furtive nces at all those gathered. The wizard moved his hands through the air, controlling a series of floating arcane runes. Theo had summoned both Zarali and Xol¡¯sa to check things out, but it became clear this was a problem for a healer. After that, both Bilgrob and Sulvan came to lend a hand.
¡°One thing is clear to me,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, snapping his fingers to dismiss his arcane arrays. ¡°Tresk infected the entire city.¡±
¡°Nonsense,¡± Sulvan grunted. ¡°Poison effects cannot transfer to core buildings.¡±
¡°Yet here we are.¡± BIlgrob had to crawl to get into the room, and crouched as he inspected the monolith. ¡°Allow me to cast Spit¡¯s magic. I¡¯ll clear it in moments.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not interested in another gue of frogs,¡± Theo said. ¡°No offense.¡±
Bilgrob shrugged.
The group assembled to study the strange development on the monolith came up with nothing. It became a curiosity, more than anything. But whatever that thing was doing, it was weakening the magic¡¯s hold on Qavell¡¯s core. Soon, the king would have control of his city once again. Once that was cleared up, he would decide what to do with the alliance. Theo hoped for vassalship, but full membership into the Soutnds Alliance would be fine. So long as he could hold Qavell close in theing month, he wouldn¡¯t mind.
As with all things that went weird, Theo had to write a report and submit it to the administration team. They couldn¡¯t do anything about it, but he was already impressed with the way Alise had handled the situation. Everyone within the city was fed and watered. Some had even descended from Qavell,ing down to investigate their new home. Others remained in their homes, weapons in hand as they expected an attack at any moment. Given time, they woulde out of it.
¡°Welp,¡± Theo said, pping his hands. ¡°I¡¯m off to the swamp.¡±Theo turned, leaving the horrid ce and preparing to use his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability. He felt a tug at his elbow and turned to find Zarali with an expectant smile. Without a word, he wrapped his will around her and brought her along. He went directly for the Bridge, fearing the effects of the void on the dronon woman. With a nod of approval from the keeper of that bridge, he set foot in his private realm. It was night time and four moons were visible in the sky. The shone bright enough to cast thendscape in a light greater than one moon could ever do.
¡°Oh! Night time?¡± Zarali asked. She yelped when Belgar knocked her over, leaping at his sister and hugging her tightly.
Theo turned away from the siblings, heading for the cottage. He spotted a few archways and chuckled to himself. He checked in with Drogramath and ntheir, who were chatting in the cottage before sorting out the new souls. There was one he thought he recognized, but it couldn¡¯t remember who it was. A few souls became a few hundred. As the alchemist sorted through the twenty spirits waiting, more appeared and got in line.
There were no recent world events, so he couldn¡¯t be sure why they hade. With a shrug, he went through each of them for a brief interview. Perhaps it was his enhanced willpower, or his increasing Wisdom, but he had a good read on all of them. This time there were ten rejections,pared to 300-some souls epted. The ground beneath his feet rumbled as he epted them. Tero¡¯gal grew in strength, reaching level 37 and offering a new upgrade.
Theo thumbed through the list of upgrades, finding nothing interesting at first. He had spent a lot of upgrade points on things that would protect the realm. But other upgrades made life better for the spirits within the realm. He spotted one that stuck out to him, although the name was silly. The alchemist inspected it, intent on taking this as his newest upgrade.
[Sphere]
Your realm is now aoid! Your pocket dimension now has a proper atmosphere and space around it emting the real world! Grow your realm strong enough, and the ¡®space¡¯ will be more real.
This wasn¡¯t a big upgrade for the realm, but it would allow him to keep with the theme of making Tero¡¯gal a ¡°real world¡± rather than a manufactured one. The upgrades that allowed him to make the realm more like the real world were the most appealing, so he was happy to take it. After epting the upgrade, he inspected the realm.
[Tero¡¯Gal]
Mortal Dreamrealm
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 37
Souls: 582
Expansions:
[Harvesting Array]
[Defensive Towers]
[Landscape Maniption]
[Guardians of Faith]
[Bubble]
[Simted Reality]
[Sphere]
Pending Requests: 0
A few more souls wouldn¡¯t hurt the realm, but he got the impression that the ones he epted today were from Veosta. It must have taken them a bit to work their way into the void where they could be reincarnated in a realm. Theo was surprised they hadn¡¯t gone to an elven realm, but that was fine. Maybe they were part of the doomsday cult.
All the potion making, golem construction, and general tomfoolery had brought Theo¡¯s herbalist and alchemy cores to Level 31. That had also brought his personal level to 31, allowing him to ce another point into Wisdom. He had bnced his other attributes out enough that he could dump everything into Wisdom. Intelligence was the next option, but the cold logic that came with that attribute wasn¡¯t appealing. Not without an Intelligence of the Soul potion. And he couldn¡¯t take another one of those.
Instead, he headed to the cottage for some tea. As he walked the dirt streets, he spotted an archway he didn¡¯t recognize. It had sprung up while he was working with the souls, alongside the other usual guests of the realm. Theo entered the building, finding the owner of that gate. An elderly human sat with his hands on hisp. He was bald-headed and had a long white beard. The alchemist narrowed his eyes on the man and took a seat.
¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve met,¡± Theo said, nodding at the interloper.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
¡°Indeed we haven¡¯t. Ulvuqor. Knowledge,¡± he said, inclining his head toward Theo.
¡°You¡¯re a human.¡±
¡°Hah! Uz¡¯Xulven said, cackling. ¡°Didn¡¯t take him long, did it?¡±
¡°Not long at all,¡± Drogramath quipped.
¡°Go on and ask how old Ulvuqor is, Theo. I dare you,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, elbowing him in the ribs.
¡°How old are you?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve existed since¡ª¡±
¡°Time immemorial!¡± Uz¡¯Xulven mocked. ¡°Seeking the knowledge and power of the ages! OoooOoooOoo!¡±
Each guest at the tableughed. Except ntheir, who gave a pained look at the human. Once theughing died down, the elven god of healing smiled at Ulvuqor. ¡°Don¡¯t let them get to you.¡±
¡°I really am a time mage. Or I was,¡± Ulvuqor said, fidgeting with his robes. ¡°Until I ascended.¡±
¡°See, it doesn¡¯t make sense. Does it?¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said. ¡°Humans can¡¯t ascend. I haven¡¯t seen one, anyway. They would have to be extremely powerful.¡±
¡°I am powerful,¡± Ulvuqor said, folding his arms. ¡°More powerful than you, shadow witch.¡±
Uz¡¯Xulven snorted, choking on her tea. ¡°Shadow witch!¡± She cackled some more.
Theo jerked his head, beckoning for the neer to follow along. The human stood, straightening his robes before following along. Once they were away from the cackling group, they could hear each other speak.
¡°I¡¯ve heard of you,¡± Theo said. He searched his memory for only a moment. ¡°Popr with schrly cults, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ulvuqor said, brightening up. ¡°Although the other gods don¡¯t want to ept me¡ I¡¯m here.¡±
¡°So, you were a time wizard?¡±
¡°Something like that. This is aplicated topic and¡ Secrets, you know.¡±
Theo had a strange sense of familiarity with the man. He believed that he was a time mage, but didn¡¯t know what that meant. Had this dude been sending himself through time to do stuff? What kind of stuff did he do and why did that feel so important right now? More hints from his wisdom, maybe.
¡°When were you born?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Does it matter?¡± Ulvuqor asked, punching Theo yfully in the arm. ¡°I¡¯m here now. At least, I think I am. Yes, I most certainly am.¡±
Theo ced an arm on the god¡¯s shoulder, feigning a friendly gesture. It wasn¡¯t as though he didn¡¯t trust the man, but that little nagging feeling in the back of his mind wouldn¡¯t go away. Wrapped in the willpower of Tero¡¯gal, it was easy enough to probe Ulvuqor. The alchemist resisted narrowing his eyes as he felt the essence of his soul. It was a blood-stained soul, but not in the way that he had killed many people. More that it was attuned to blood. Fueled by it, maybe.
The god offered him a sly grin. ¡°Don¡¯t go searching if you don¡¯t want to find the answer.¡±
¡°Do I want to know what that means?¡±
¡°You¡¯ll get it soon enough, Dreamwalker. Time has a way ofing back on us.¡± Ulvuqor held his hand out, producing the image of a familiar. Earth. ¡°What do you think led to the destruction of this world?¡±
Unique phrasing. Theo cleared his throat. ¡°An expanding sun.¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re so literal. Knowledge, you see, is my domain now. The fall of that universe is a twisted tale.¡±
¡°Khahar isn¡¯t shutting you up,¡± Theo said, looking over his shoulder.
¡°You people need to learn how to dance around the truth. Have you read the new rules? I didn¡¯t think so.¡± Ulvuqor scoffed. ¡°Unknown truths are forbidden, but unknown omissions? That¡¯s the sort of gray area I like to operate in.¡±
¡°How about this?¡± Theo asked, allowing his aura to spread over himself and the god. In a blink, they were standing atop a mountain range far from the cottage. ¡°What happened to Earth?¡±
¡°Oh, this is Zaul¡¯s core, isn¡¯t it? Let¡¯s test it. The man who saved Earth the first time was named Mark Pritchard.¡± Nothing happened. ¡°Interesting.¡±
¡°So, you were a time mage. Is that how you ascended?¡±
¡°Yes, of course. I mastered my magic after the Second War of Ascension and made a loop after going back to the first war. That gave me the strength to force my way into the pantheon.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s fun. What happened on Earth? Did that Mark guy do something to the sun?¡±
Ulvuqor chuckled to himself, picking a stone from the ground and tossing it over the mountain¡¯s edge. He watched as it tumbled down, gathering speed as it went. ¡°I only caught glimpses of him. The magic I used was powerful enough to break through. Back to Old Earth, but not enough to see anything before 2060. There was a fight between those things. You know the ones I¡¯m talking about.¡±
Theo wished he didn¡¯t know. Ulvuqor was talking about the bird-like people that the Harbinger hailed from. If they were fighting on Earth, what the hell did that mean?
¡°We¡¯re almost certain we¡¯re dealing with one of them.¡±
¡°The problem goes deeper than you think. This creature has been dead for untold eons. Yet it lingers. Outside of our system, and whatever system manages the creatures themselves. Good luck purging them. I don¡¯t envy the task ahead of you, future Dreamwalker.¡±
¡°Have you seen the future?¡± Theo asked. It was the only thing he could think of.
¡°Maybe. Some knowledge is outside of my grasp. I¡¯ll say that you should use your fancy potions and proto dream realm as much as possible. Before someone gets mad and patches it.¡±
Theo realized that the wizard-god was being stingy with information on purpose. As if to add insult to that thought, he vanished before the alchemist could ask another question. He let out a heavy sigh and shrugged. Nothing he learned on that mountain would tip the scales for theing hardship. The failsafes represented by the Thrones of Power would have to be enough to see them through. As Ulvuqor vanished, Theo was left with his thoughts. He fell backwards on that mountain, passing into the void rather than mming against the hard stone.
Drifting through the void could be disorientating if one wasn¡¯t used to it. Theo allowed himself to drift for untold time, tracing a path along the ribbon of the Prime Pantheon. He saw the demon realms somewhere in the distance, only ncing at them before moving along. As expected, he felt parts of himself breaking away the further he got from the mortal ne. He increased his speed, heading to the outer edges of the two most powerful pantheons. The ribbon here was coiled, containing a line of minor realms that seemed uncountable. Beyond that was only darkness, and he turned back before thest of ¡®him¡¯ broke away.
Theo descended to the mortal realm, unsure of this information. The moment his feet touched the ground, he headed out from the ritual chamber in Qavell. Those inclined to practice magic were still studying the effects of his Venom potion, but he had a decent idea of what had happened. Tresk stabbed the Worldbreaker with the poison. It had been enhanced beyond what it should have been designed for. The Venom potion now ran through the Worldbreaker¡¯s spirit, however scattered it was.
¡°Talk about a nasty potion,¡± Theo said, passing by the king and his attendants. ¡°Wanna get wet and wild, Hanan?¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to dig through the mud in the swamp. Wannae?¡±
¡°No? Why would I do that?¡±
¡°Suit yourself. Remain in your tomb.¡±
The king shot nervous nces at his attendant. There was something in Hanan that didn¡¯t trust anyone from the city, and Theo couldn¡¯t me him. A momentter, he ran to catch up with the alchemist. On second look, he decided that Hanan didn¡¯t look as bad as he expected. A yful smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
¡°We¡¯re grateful, you know,¡± Hanan said. ¡°For what Broken Tusk did.¡±
¡°ntheir would have castrated me if I didn¡¯t save you guys.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t be serious. He wouldn¡¯t have stopped you if you shot us down. Don¡¯t underestimate your kindness.¡±
¡°Ah, maybe you¡¯re right,¡± Theo said, turning to wink at the king. ¡°Your dad was always my biggest worry. Turns out, he was another person¡¯s rival.¡±
¡°Are you certain he¡¯s dead?¡±
Theo was absolutely sure that Karasan was ¡®alive¡¯ but it was hard to define life in this world. If a person died, their soul went to the void. But the former king had died in Balkor¡¯s realm. He didn¡¯t know what it meant for a mortal to die in a realm, or what would happen to their soul. More than likely, Karasan was being kept by the necromantic god.
¡°I¡¯m certain,¡± Theo lied. ¡°Now take those robes off. We¡¯re heading to the swamp.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Sarisa said,ing from the shadows swift enough to make Hanan yelp.
¡°A king and archduke in the swamp. I can¡¯t wait,¡± Rowan said, rubbing his hands together.
6.12 - Zero Percent Goblin
6.12 - Zero Percent Goblin
Hanan didn¡¯t care for the swamp. At every step it sucked at his fancy boots. Sticks poking from the mud would grab at his robes. He really should have taken the gilded robes off. They didn¡¯t look nearly as good covered in mud. The king even lost his breakfast when they traveled through Xol¡¯sa¡¯s portal. But that was a rite of passage.
¡°How do you people live here?¡± Hananined.
¡°With a lot of Cleansing Scrub,¡± Sarisa said, smacking a small snapper on the head. It skittered away, grunting as it went.
¡°I can see the advantage of such a ce, though. Look at those mountains.¡± Hanan was awestruck by the size of those mountains. Since Qavell was on an open ne before it took to the skies, such defensive structures would have been impressive.
The group trudged through the mud, finding their way to the rocky outcrops on the swamp¡¯s edge. The walk took brutalizing hours to reach the nearest shore. Theo cleaned everyone up with some Cleansing Scrub, banishing away the mud. That brought Hanan¡¯s spirits even higher, putting a goofy smile on his regal face.
¡°Touch nothing,¡± Sarisa warned. ¡°Or you¡¯ll explode.¡±
Theo searched the bank¡¯s edge first, kicking over stones to find insects scuttling away. Stone flowers grew in this area, marking the section half-way from the bank to a scree. He was surprised to see the flowers didn¡¯t care for the loose stone, preferring to grow on solid ground. Most of the samples he had found were in areas of intense concentration of earth magic. There were also Water Lilies along in the mud, and even Swamp Onions.
¡°This is an excellent spot.¡± Theo knelt, inspecting the first few samples. None were up to the standard of a fourth tier potion, but they were far more potent than the examples he had in his greenhouses. ¡°How are your people doing, Hanan?¡±
¡°Your golems have frightened them,¡± Hanan said, pouting. ¡°They¡¯re fine. They¡¯ll be fine, given enough time.¡±¡°I hope so.¡±
It took Theo about an hour to find a few samples he was happy with. During that time, Hanan was eager to chat about different things. That¡¯s when the alchemist¡¯s n waspleted. It wasn¡¯tplicated, but the king had to get out of his city. Picking through the mud wasn¡¯t exciting, but it wasn¡¯t the same cursed city he had been trapped in for so long. After this, he could go see other parts of the alliance.
¡°Throk has been working on something,¡± Theo said, cing the fine example of a Water Lily in his inventory. ¡°We¡¯ll connect with the north soon enough. Although I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s much to see.¡±
¡°He¡¯s already got a length of track set on the mountain pass,¡± Rowan said, pulling at something on his finger.
Theo looked closer, finding that the half-ogre had an ogre snapper stuck to his finger. It wouldn¡¯te off no matter how hard he yanked, so he left it there.
¡°Good to hear,¡± Theo said. He couldn¡¯t stop staring at the small turtle. ¡°As I expected, there were a few decent samples of Water Lily out this far. If the north hadn¡¯t been destroyed, it would have been a trove of reagents.¡±
¡°s, it is destroyed,¡± Hanan sighed. ¡°Can we leave this damnable ce, now?¡±
¡°Sure. You should stop by for dinner, though.¡±
¡°Are you serving mud?¡±
Sarisa scoffed. ¡°No. We don¡¯t eat mud.¡±
¡°I eat mud sometimes,¡± Rowan shrugged.
Everyone red at him. The half-ogre just shook his hand, trying to dislodge the snapper.
Theo was happy to see Hanan head off and investigate the town some more. The alchemist made his way to the Newt and Demon. Salire would be happy to see some more powerful reagents. More than anything, he wanted to see another potion that gave him free attributes. His trips into the swamp would be more frequent, and he had ns to hit every area he could think of. Including the underground that had been so neglected.
¡°Ah! Finally,¡± Salire said, bounding down the stairs after the bell rang. ¡°I have something to show you.¡±
Theo gestured up the stairs. ¡°After you.¡±
She had more bounce in her step than normal. Theo thought he was excited to show her the new reagent, but the half-ogre woman had something bubbling up within her that couldn¡¯t be contained. When they reached thending of the third floor, she gestured to theb and smiled at him.
It took Theo longer than he would care to admit finding what she was showing. A tiny version of the 500 unit alchemy stills sat on a metal stand. Four duplicates sat in a row, all with the advanced vapor pressurization artifices created by Throk. In a sh, he realized what her n was.
¡°Small batch stills?¡± Theo asked, unable to suppress a smile. Each was made of Drogramathi Iron and was an example of Throk¡¯s expert craftsmanship.
¡°Exactly! I¡¯m certain we¡¯re ruining your fancy new reagents when we put them in the big stills. But wait! There¡¯s more!¡± Salire danced from one side of theb to the other. She pped her hand on arge metal box. ¡°A cold box!¡±
¡°Temperature control for the new brewing method?¡± Theo asked, inspecting the dials on the box¡¯s front panel. ¡°Excellent.¡±
¡°This is when I ask if you found more of the fancy reagents,¡± Salire said. The smile just wouldn¡¯t leave her face.
Theo produced arge sample of the Water Lily. The difference between the lily and the Spiny Swamp Thistle was that the flowers would grow back. It might take time, but he could harvest them again to make whatever potion he needed. Fourth tier potions really were something else, and represented thebination of each property on a reagent. He was excited to see what the Wisdom-based reagent produced.
Before proceeding to the distition phase, Theo found a normal sample of the Water Lily reagent in a create. He dposed it, revealing the other two properties. He had neglected these reagents for a while, as he preferred to use them for their property that increased attributes. Two samples went up in gouts of smoke, revealing the other properties. The properties were Soothsayer and Intuition. The alchemist had his own intuition about what those properties were. As with all things rted to Wisdom, it had to do with predicting things before it happened.
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Theo approached one new still, estimating the size to be about ten units. Although he only had enough of the flower to do a batch three units in size, Salire had done well. It needed breathing room to condense the vapor. He inspected the artifices on the side, finding that they were more impressive than anything Throk had made before. Integrating the heating elements throughout the still was impressive. He took care to grind the reagents, adding enchanted water before starting the still.
¡°The distition time should be reduced. Significantly,¡± Salire said, withdrawing her notes. ¡°Oh, did I tell you I found a trader to sell me an artifice? It can make books!¡±
¡°Really? Can we finally make books?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Yep. I gave it a few test runs,¡± Salire said, looking up from her pages and winking. ¡°It¡¯s awesome.¡±
Theo chatted with Salire while the new still worked. He studied the heating phases, following what they had done thest time. The smaller artifice made it much easier to control the heat. The alchemist used his intuition to adjust it as they went, lowering or raising it when the essence it produced seemed off. While the batch produced little essence, the stuff that came out felt potent. Focusing on a property had some meaning for the fourth tier of potion craft, but not as much as normal potions.
¡°Here are some vials,¡± Salire said, steering clear of the essence. They both knew how vtile the contents of the sk would be. ¡°I¡¯ll just stand here¡¡±
Theo performed the reaction for four vials, but stopped when something nagged at the back of his mind. He ced three iplete vials of essence into a crate, only performing the reaction on one. Only one Potion of Significance could be crafted or consumed every five days. The description on the Elixir of Life potion rified that this was limited on a per-potion basis. Whatever this essence produced wouldn¡¯t affect the brewing of another Potion of Significance.
¡°Just one. For now,¡± Theo said,pleting the reaction for this new potion. He felt the power of that potion in his hands, and brought it to the fridge as quickly as he could. After stoppering it with a ss, he ced it into the artifice and set the dials. After inserting a few motes, it hummed to life.
¡°There we go,¡± Theo said, patting the device.
¡°Did you find anything else?¡± Salire asked.
¡°That was it. After searching for almost an entire day, I only found one.¡±
¡°Still¡ imagine if you get another plus ten.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the n¡ Among other things.¡±
Salire wanted some help with the other stills while Theo was there. She had an order for more Cleansing Scrub potions from the alliance. He felt as though she wantedpany more than anything. It didn¡¯t take her long to bounce ideas off of him about the future of theb. The things she shared didn¡¯t surprise him, though. Theo had taken on the role of producing niche potions that took far longer to produce, while she took up the mantle of mass-production.
¡°That works for me,¡± Theo said, shutting thest lid of thest still. This batch would include healing and curative potions alongside the Cleansing Scrub. Predicting an outbreak of sickness wasn¡¯t fun, but it was better than being blindsided. He poured some Cleansing Scrub on himself, nodding to his apprentice. ¡°Good work. The Newt and Demon is always in expert hands when those hands are yours.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t miss the shade of red spreading across her cheeks as he left. Dinner was soon, and he was certain Hanan would attend. Sarisa and Rowan had already left to prepare the food, which meant they were taking this seriously.
Arriving at the manor, Theo found a flurry of activity in the kitchen. Yeah, Sarisa and Rowan were going all out. Tresk and Alex were justing in. The alchemist got to witness how the goose fit through the door. She shoved her way through the door, honking the whole way. The threshold buckled and the house groaned. No one but Theo thought this was weird.
¡°We haven¡¯t increased the size of the door?¡± he asked. Alex found afortable ce to rest, wrapping her slender neck around herself.
¡°Sledge is busy,¡± Tresk said, falling into her chair with a sigh. ¡°Fool of a woman starting a clutch. I don¡¯t have baby fever! I¡¯ll never have it!¡±
¡°Keep an open mind. I would like to produce giant goslings one day.¡±
Alex had somehow ascended to Level 35. As Theo thought of it, so had Tresk. When had he been left behind in the dust? The Tara¡¯hek had reached Level 34, but didn¡¯t seem likely to roll over anytime soon. At least his progress with his two main cores was progressing well enough. And he didn¡¯t have to worry about his sub-cores adding to his personal level. So long as his alchemy and herbalist cores were leveling, so was he.
Hanan arrived a short whileter, wearing clean robes. Although Theo had cleaned the man with Cleansing Scrub, he had assumed a slightly more regal form of attire for the dinner. The king waited at the threshold for a while, eventually clearing his throat.
¡°Could someone please introduce me?¡± he asked, looking meek in his regal attire.
¡°Introducing¡¡± Tresk jumped onto the table, taking in a deep breath. ¡°King Hanan! Give it up, everyone! Heir to the throne of Qavell, all around cool guy, and pretty handy with a fork!¡±
Hanan cleared his throat. ¡°Thank you, Dreamer. I meant an introduction to the group.¡±
¡°Oh. Right.¡± Tresk got down from the table, giving formal introductions for everyone gathered. Hanan was familiar with everyone, but Theo assumed this was just a formality. He had thought about inviting other people to the dinner, but decided against it.
¡°Have a seat, Hanan,¡± Theo said, pulling a chair out for the king. ¡°Don¡¯t quote me, but I think we¡¯re having steak.¡±
¡°Oh, I do love steak,¡± Hanan said, finding a seat. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with dishes of the soutnd.¡±
¡°Wolf meat, mostly,¡± Sarisa said, swooping in to deliver a tter. It was loaded with Marsh Tubers that had been battered and deep fried. Theo felt his stomach grumble as he gazed at the Broken Tusk version of french fries. ¡°But the swamp provides.¡±
¡°Indeed it does,¡± Hanan said, grabbing a fry and promptly burning his tongue. ¡°Ah. Just a bit hot.¡±
Tresk took charge of the discussion first, filling her te with fries and eating them like a slob. ¡°Qavell is already doing better. Her people need time to recover, but they¡¯re strong. Just like the soutnders.¡±
Theo was surprised at her tact.
¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more. The Soutnds Alliance is helmed by some kind souls,¡± Hanan said, inclining his head toward Tresk. ¡°This wasn¡¯t something I expected, given the stories I was told.¡±
¡°What were those stories?¡± Tresk asked. She didn¡¯t even spit any tuber onto the table.
¡°Father always talked about the other towns in the alliance as things. Not ces filled with people inside. After the citynded, I was happy to see he was wrong.¡±
Sarisa came by again, serving a mashed version of the tuber. She smiled to herself as she returned to her brother in the kitchen.
¡°Is that cheese?¡± Hanan asked, leaning over the mashed tuber.
¡°Didn¡¯t know we had cheese.¡± Theo loaded a te with fries and mashed tubers. ¡°Someone must have imported some.¡±
¡°Oh, I like this,¡± Hanan said, licking his lips after taking a sample. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±
Next wasn¡¯t steak as Theo had predicted, but something shockingly simr to pulled pork. It even had barbeque sauce¡ or something like it. Of course, this wasn¡¯t pulled pork. It was pulled wolf. The alchemist should have guessed from the scent, but as Sarisa brought out a massive te of the stuff. Tresk¡¯s manners fell away when the te of meat hit the table. She tore into it, devouring a quarter of the massive pile in a moment.
¡°Pardon me,¡± Tresk said, wiping the corners of her mouth. The ear-rending belch she issued didn¡¯t help with her assumed manners.
Theo leaned in, elbowing the marshling. ¡°What¡¯s up with that? Starting fresh?¡±
¡°I need to be more like the Dreamer. Which means¡ well¡¡±
¡°Being less of a goblin?¡±
¡°Yeah. That¡¯s it. Less of a goblin. But not zero percent goblin.¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
6.13 - Deathbloom
6.13 - Deathbloom
The wind whipped by as Theo took the tram north. Several golems working in Gronro-Dir needed maintenance and it had been too long since he had seen the area for himself. While Fenian¡¯s battle with the Worldbreaker had been bad for the continent, he avoided slicing the soutnds up. While it was normally fun to see how the people up north were doing, the alchemist was apanied by the masked elf, Twist. Their deal still stood, and it was his responsibility to get him back to the ce where Qavell once was.
Grot was there on the tform to greet them,ughing as Theo attempted to tame his hair. Throk still hadn¡¯t found a way to install windows without taking away the view. ¡°Alright there, Theo?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Theo took a long moment to take in the sight. The sickly green hue that had floated in the air was gone along with the pungent scent of necromantic magic in the air. ¡°How bad is the damage?¡±
Grot gestured for the duo to follow, walking up the slope that led to the town. ¡°We¡¯ve got some construction projects in our future. Already started, but we¡¯re going to be and of bridges soon enough.¡±
Since Broken Tusk had required so much stone to get their various projects done, Gronro had pitched in by cutting stone from the mountain. The result was a surplus that opened the gates to bridge building.
¡°Is there no direct path to Qavell?¡± Twist asked, sounding slightly annoyed.
¡°Not unless you can fly. Even then, there¡¯s some nasty energy up north.¡± Grot led them to a karatan-drawn carriage, and the group set off.
Theo¡¯s golems and wards had done an amazing job of clearing the immediate area of necromantic energies. The alchemist spotted rails before long, but was unaware that Throk had already startedying them. A half-hour into their ride, they found Gronro workers erecting the metalwork, adapting the straight railing for the hilly environment. Thendscape leveled out after the initial rise, giving way to a straight cut through the mountains. Until an hourter, when the karatan reared to a stop before a clittering chasm.
¡°That is the problem,¡± Grot said, scooting close to the edge. ¡°Still hot, somehow.¡±Theo looked on in awe. Fenian had carved a hundred-foot swathe in thendscape. The sections near the bottom had already filled with water from the ocean, while those near the surface glowed with molten rock. He swallowed hard, considering the implications of the Herald¡¯s power. Could he have actually taken him in a fight? Even with his nonsense dimensional powers, it would have been difficult. Fenian could be an asshole, but at least he was on the right side.
¡°Span like this is tricky. Ziz came to check it out, but he¡¯s worried about stability.¡± Grot scratched at his beard.
Theo took a seat on a rock, picking a de of grass from the ground to fidget with. The area was alreadying back to life. Whatever alpine nts grew here before were bound to return. Especially when considering the magical density in the air. So long as some energy from Tero¡¯gal or Drogramath¡¯s realm came, they woulde back. Ziz¡¯s ability to build bridges was getting better, but the chasm was vast. Even with an Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core, he wasn¡¯t sure how well he could fill it. He plucked more grass, trying to force his Wisdom to provide a solution.
¡°We could fly you over, but I don¡¯t know,¡± Theo said, holding a finger in the air as though to check the weather. ¡°The necromantic energy is gone, but whatever rushed to fill the void feels just as potent.¡±
Theo had expected to travel more that day, leaving him feeling aimless. Tresk had done some scouting of the area, but had failed to express how wide the chasms were. Between the point he stood and the ce where Qavell once was, there were at least four breaks. She estimated as she went since the flight north would have taken too long.
¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± Theo said, standing and gesturing to the cart. Both Grot and Twist shrugged as they made their way back.
Something caught the alchemist¡¯s attention as he went. A small bush clung to the rocks near the road¡¯s edge. It was a squat thing with tiny flowers dotting the surface. Each flower was a brighter shade of green than the leaves. He could feel the alchemical potential radiating and came close to inspect. After confirming they were viable for potions, he plucked several bushes clean, cing the flowers in his inventory. Then the group was off. Back to Gronro, then Broken Tusk.
¡°I hope you don¡¯t feel as though you¡¯ve left empty-handed,¡± Theo said, offering a grimace to Twist.
¡°These things take time.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll work on it, but¡ I don¡¯t know, Theo. Dangerous working conditions and all,¡± Grot said.
¡°Hmmm. I have an idea, however stupid it might be.¡±
¡°I like stupid ideas.¡±
On the tram ride back to Broken Tusk, Theo deconstructed a few samples of the new flower to reveal all four properties, including the hidden one. He inspected one flower sample.
[Deathbloom]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Rare
Bushes filled with this flower are known to grow on the graves of great people.
Properties:
[Poison] [Spiritsense] [Obstruct] [Soulcleave]
There were a few things to take in with this flower. It was born from necromantic energy, that much was clear. While the first property, Poison, fell in line with what Theo expected from a necromancy reagent, the others were strange. Spirit sensing, obstructing, and the cleaving of souls were only moderately in line with what he expected. Experiments were required, but he had a good feeling about this one.
The tram arrived back home in the early afternoon. Theo spotted the gs of trading ships in the port after disembarking. He apologized to Twist, who didn¡¯t seem to care, and headed to the makeshift market in the harbor. Work had resumed on the true marketce, but all construction efforts had been on Qavell. Ziz didn¡¯t even have time to think about his bridge to the lizard inds, although that was still at the forefront of Theo¡¯s thoughts. He wanted a bridge that spanned from Broken Tusk to the Khahari Desert, but understood the impossibility of it. He bought a few Monster Cores from the market, but nothing more.
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Theo dropped into Tero¡¯gal before working on his potions, chatting with the gods and having some lovely tea. There was a new face among the regrs, but Ulvuqor was mostly silent during the conversations. The alchemist epted more souls into the realm, bringing the total to 680. It was enough to raise the realm to Level 38, but not enough to give him a new upgrade. Another day, perhaps. Khahar was sour, but at least Drogramath was in good spirits.
When Theo returned to the mortal realm, there was enough time to do a few runs for the new reagent. Since he didn¡¯t need to test the Poison property, he could focus on Spiritsense and Obstruct. Both were properties he had never seen in a reagent. But he didn¡¯t have a great feeling about them. Not a negative feeling, but also not good.
Salire wasn¡¯t working the stills on the third floor. Theo found her on the second floor, messing with an artifice. She was hunched over, cursing as the machine made horrible sputtering noises.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Is that the printing machine?¡±
Salire turned slowly, revealing the frown on her ink-covered face. ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t get it working.¡±
It looked as though the half-ogre woman had gotten into a fight with several angry squids. And lost. ¡°I¡¯ll call Throk,¡± Theo said, turning away and offering no aid. He was confident the Cleansing Scrub could clean it away, but he loved his coat too much to risk it.
Throk didn¡¯te to theb himself, but sent an apprentice. Theo left them to it, heading upstairs to do two experimental runs. The tiny stills were perfect for the job, allowing him to do quick batches with very few reagents. He started the first mini-still for the Spiritsense property, and the second for the Obstruct property. While it wouldn¡¯t take long, he had enough time to consult his administration interface.
If he moved projects around, he could have Ziz and his people working on the bridge issue tomorrow. Broken Tusk had seen no new migrants in a while, which hamstrung any efforts to increase the workforce. People working at the lumbermill and the mine wouldn¡¯t be happy if they were reassigned to stonemason duty. The specialists with those cores had already migrated to Ziz¡¯s ventures and numbered fifty-something workers.
Theo considered the idea he had on the way back, but didn¡¯t know how to make it work. He sent amand to a nearby metal golem, ordering it to wait outside theb while he worked with the first property. The alchemist prepared a vial for the Spiritsense Essence when it was done, intent on making a second-tier potion. No need to go crazy. The alcohol binding process would take too much time for a simple curiosity. The reaction in the vial was minimal, producing a small plume of smoke. He held the potion to the light, finding familiarity in the silver solution within.
¡°Feels like the Holy element,¡± Theo muttered to himself, swirling the contents. He inspected the resulting potion.
[Sense Spirits Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Grants the imbiber the ability to see lingering spirits.
Effect:
For an hour, the imbiber of this potion may view any nearby spirits.
Theo stood there for some time, his mouth hanging open as he considered the implications. Looking at the potion from afar, one might assume it was innocuous. It allowed the drinker to see spirits, so what? Death wasn¡¯t the end in this world, so that wasn¡¯t the weird part. But everything he understood about the way a soul worked centered around the void. It was the primordial soup that everyone returned to when they died. No matter how devout they were, there was no fast pass to a realm. The one thing that he had as an absolute rule in his mind was the void. Spirits simply didn¡¯t linger.
¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson from quaffing random potions,¡± Theo said, holding his hand against his heart. ¡°Nah.¡±
Theo drank the potion.
The edges of Theo¡¯s vision went murky, his sight looking as though someone had smeared it with silvery grease. He took a steady breath as the grease overtook his vision. Things within theb glowed a simr color, until a singr figure resolved itself. It was a malformed spirit, like the ones that arrived in his realm. And it was ring at him. There were no eyes to see, or features to make out on the spirit¡¯s face, but it was ring.
¡°Sorry, who are you?¡± Theo asked.
The spirit didn¡¯t react. Based on height, it was one of the many taller races in this world. Dronon, half-ogre, or ogre. But it wasn¡¯t wide enough to be an ogre, and it made little sense that a dronon would be here. Theo decided it was a long-dead spirit of an angry half-ogre. Perhaps one of many proto half-ogres that called this ce home hundred of years ago. One of the many that were trampled under the feet of Qavell¡¯s progress.
But this was wrong. The spirit shouldn¡¯t have been here. Its form shifted, as though a wisp blown by air, but maintained its general shape. Theo didn¡¯t know why he felt some much hateing from the thing. The potion only allowed him to see the spirit. If it had been there for a while, this was just what it did.
¡°You can move on, you know,¡± Theo said. He wanted to point in a direction, but that was meaningless. ¡°You should have already moved on. Should I get a priest? An exorcist? I¡¯ll need a young catholic priest and an old one.¡±
The spirit moved a bit at the joke, and Theo raised a brow. ¡°So, you can hear me?¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Salire asked, climbing the stairs to the third floor. ¡°You don¡¯t normally talk to yourself while you work.¡±
She had cleared herself of the ink, looking as fresh as always. Theo brewed another Sense Spirit Potion from his stock of essence and handed it over. ¡°Drink it.¡±
¡°Uh, no?¡±
¡°Come on.¡±
Salire hesitated a few more times, but downed the potion. A momentter, she fell back on her ass with a yelp. ¡°Is this normal, Theo?¡±
¡°No. I don¡¯t think so,¡± he said, leaning in to inspect the spirit¡¯s features. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see if there¡¯s more outside.
Salire shot him a look as though he had offended her. ¡°How about ¡®no¡¯?¡±
Theo shrugged, trudging outside. He paused at the entrance to theb, swallowing hard. Broken Tusk was filled with angry spirits. They crowded the streets, standing outside of doorways or lurking between buildings. Salire screamed when she exited the building.
¡°I don¡¯t like this potion, Theo. Why are they here? Why are they so mad?¡±
Sulvan or Zarali might now. Theo turned away and went back into theb. He had enough essence to make another four potions, and brewed them as the angry spirit looked on. It took interest when he was brewing the potions, but nothing more than a sidelong nce.
¡°Hopefully the Obstruct property provides a less¡¡± Theo paused, looking at the spirit and shivering. ¡°Unnerving potion.¡±
Theo brewed the next potion, finding it toe out as a murky silver, rather than the brilliant color like the creepy spirit potion. The reaction was slightly more violent, spewing some ck smoke into the air and rumbling on the table. The alchemist hoisted it for inspection. Salire leaned in to inspect it at the same time.
[Obstruct Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Reduces the effectiveness of all forms of restoration.
Effect:
For thirty minutes, the imbiber of this potion is unable to restore health, mana, stamina, etc.
¡°Hardly a useful potion, is it?¡± Salire asked. ¡°Turning it into a bomb might help, but as is? I wouldn¡¯t drink it.¡±
¡°Bomb makes the most sense. Or Aerosolize it and toss it into a crowd.¡±
Theo couldn¡¯t keep his eyes off the spirit. As much as he had leaned on Zarali and Sulvan for help, he would need to do it again. If anyone knew about the way souls should work, it was those two.
6.14 - Soulcleave Potion
6.14 - Soulcleave Potion
Salire, Zarali, Xol¡¯sa, and Sulvan had joined the group for their nightly dinner in the manor. Everyone was busy during the day, forcing Theo to brew more of the Sense Spirit Potion and make it an event. He had enough for everyone gathered, including Sarisa and Rowan. Tonight¡¯s dinner was a fluffy pastry-like dough filled with diced karatan meat and a thick brown gravy that was almost too rich for Theo. He cut it with the grits-like mashed zee, and enjoyed it greatly.
¡°When a person dies,¡± Sulvan started. Everyone wanted to get some food in them before they talked about spirits and the dead. ¡°They aren¡¯t given a choice. They are flung into the void for judgment.¡±
¡°They aren¡¯t judged,¡± Zarali scoffed.
¡°It¡¯s a part of the natural magical forces of the world,¡± Xol¡¯sa said with a shrug. ¡°Without a vessel to tether a soul to, it drifts into the void.¡±
Theo had already confirmed that the manor was chock-full of spirits. When he and Salire tested it earlier, they found a density of souls far higher than anywhere else in town. But this patch of ground was nothing before he built the manor on it.
¡°No one ever told me, but my observation has been that souls fall into the void. But that doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Theo said. ¡°When a person dies, their soul goes to the void. It doesn¡¯t matter how. Now, I want everyone at this table to drink a potion.¡±
Sulvan gave Theo a t look. ¡°If this is an attempt to get rid of me, I¡¯m going to be disappointed.¡±
¡°You can read the description on the potion, buddy. Don¡¯t be grumpy,¡± Tresk said.
Theo gave everyone at the table a potion and waited for the screams. Rowan and Sarisa hesitated to drink theirs when the others yelled in surprise. The alchemist drank his own, finding that the souls had moved around. They now surrounded the table, peering down at the people and the food. If they had eyes, he was certain they would look hungry. Whether that was for mortal flesh or the food was beyond him.¡°As you can see,¡± Theo said, gesturing around the table. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the hell is going on.¡±
Sulvan stood, approaching one spirit and holding out a hand. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be possible.¡±
¡°Is this just an afterimage? An imprint of the spirits left before they departed?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked, summoning a magical array. ¡°An imprint left behind?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I brought everyone here to find out.¡±
Sulvan¡¯s hand red with golden light. The spirit he had approached recoiled as though the light stung. It was the most movement Theo had seen from a spirit since he started watching them. ¡°That was a banishment spell,¡± Sulvan said, casting Theo a concerned nce. ¡°It works on the undead, but the spirit was unaffected.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯ve found your town infested with ghosts,¡± Tresk said, leaning over the table to grab another te of food. ¡°Who ya gonna call?¡±
Theo stifled augh.
¡°They¡¯re not hurting anything, are they?¡± Zarali asked.
¡°No. We¡¯ve observed them for an hour earlier in the day,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯m not concerned that they¡¯re hostile, but this throws into question the nature of souls.¡±
¡°Theo brought us here for a schrly debate?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked. His expression brightened in an instant. ¡°Perhaps we should check to see if he¡¯s been reced by a double.¡±
¡°Agreed!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°Pin him down, I¡¯ll get tickling.¡±
Theo was d that no one pinned him down or tickled him. But Sulvan had some observations.
¡°I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re reacting to holy magic,¡± he said, demonstrating another spell. This time he cast a healing spell near the spirits. They recoiled all the same.
¡°Yet I cannot get a sense of what they¡¯re made of,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°My magical senses are powerful. And I cannot feel them.¡±
¡°What about this?¡± Theo asked, spreading his aura over the spirits. His eyes went wide and he withdrew it into his chest. Each spirit the aura touched moved toward him, like a moth to me. They drifted above the ground, hovering toward him only to stop when he retracted his aura.
¡°Uh¡ that was weird,¡± Tresk said.
¡°Ah, shit,¡± Theo said, his mind racing. ¡°Oopsie.¡±
¡°This goes further than ¡®oopsie,¡¯ I¡¯m afraid,¡± Sulvan said, shaking his head at Theo. He stood, gesturing to the door. ¡°Come. I have a theory.¡±
The group followed the Priest of ntheir out of the building, tracing a path along the road. It almost looked as though the spirits were following the road. Until they got out of the western gate, looking up the northern road, no one knew exactly what he was talking about. When they spotted the procession of souls trickling in over that road, the answer was obvious.
¡°Theo trapped the souls of the undead on the mortal ne,¡± Sulvan said inly.
¡°How devious,¡± Zarali said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were evil, Theo.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± Theo said, gritting his teeth. ¡°My potions and wards have an amount of my willpower in them. You said something about a vessel binding the souls to the mortal ne. Did theytch onto my willpower?¡±
¡°Your willpower is an extension of a realm, so¡ Yes,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°This is the only thing that makes sense to me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going to sleep again,¡± Theo said, folding his arms.
¡°We don¡¯t sleep as it is,¡± Tresk said.
¡°Yeah, but¡ you know.¡¯
Those inclined to magical things had opinions on what was happening. The figures they saw weren¡¯t ghosts, since Sulvan¡¯s banishment spell worked on ghosts. The two sses of beings were different. Each te on the table was cleared by the time a solid theory was epted, and it was the first observation based on Theo¡¯s aura. Something about an aura infused with the power of a realm made them stay, and they couldn¡¯t leave. But they weren¡¯t degrading like the spirits in foreign realms of the void.
But it couldn¡¯t have been good. The debates rolled on, but it was time for bed. Tresk was annoyed that they hadn¡¯t gone down yet, so Theo gave in. They fell into the Dreamwalk shortly after. The alchemist steered them to the scene north of Gronro, eager to show hispanions the damage Fenian had done.
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¡°I already watched your memories. I don¡¯t need to see this.¡±
¡°Yeah, but maybe you could fight a dragon here. Imagine some fire. Maybe an army.¡±
¡°Oh, dang. Yeah, good idea,¡± Tresk said, dashing off with Alex.
Theo smiled after them as they went, considering the span his people needed to cross shortly after. The problem with the chasm was not only the distance across, but the depth below. Creating a support in the center would be tricky. A suspension bridge concept might work, if Ziz could get the magical physics of it working. The alchemist imagined a few scenarios, finding that the first few ideas copsed and fell into the canyon. A concept with massive metal metal posts on both side of the span worked, although it required adjustments. Braided wire held the tform stable. A few more tests for weight capacityter, and he was done. The alchemist had enough information to give to his people back in the real world.
The Deathbloom flower had one more property to reveal. Theo walked to the other side of the span on his bridge, listening as it creaked under his weight. Ziz could work out the details of that. Maybe. He set up his alchemy equipment and got to work on the new property. Soulcleave didn¡¯t sound like a pleasant property, but he never knew until he brewed the potion. When his Drogramath Alchemy Core leveled to 32, he decided to experiment with another n while his essence distilled.
Theo didn¡¯t feel as though he was leveraging one of his biggest advantages as much as he could have. The more his willpower expanded, the more golems he could summon. Labor was an issue in Broken Tusk, so why not try specializing golems to do things like creating crude structures from stone. There were several ways to customize a golem. The first way was the materials a golem was constructed out of. nt-based golems were better at caring for nts, while metal ones served better inbat. Aside from changing the base material, the only thing that changed them was the monster core used to breathe life into the creation.
With some quick experimentation, Theo figured out that golems made of stone would be the best for the job. They had an affinity for the Earth element, and had less trouble hoisting heavy rocks. The alchemist couldn¡¯t generate a Monster Core within the dream that was better at moving stuff than the others. There might have been a solution by messing with the ¡®Additional Modification¡¯ section of the golems, but he couldn¡¯t figure it out. He had only ced a Fire Construct in that slot, which helped the metal golems keep their form.
These discoveries weren¡¯t enough to push his herbalist core over the edge, so he worked with some nts to squeeze out that level. But his failure to change the golems didn¡¯t negate his advantage. He could have a lot of golems. Hundreds at this point, and more if he continued his exploit for his willpower. What hecked in skilledborers, he would make up for in an endless crowd of brutish golems who never got tired. The alchemist already had experience with this with the Qavell problem, and could expand it.
How long would it take an army of golems to make a bridge over the sea? They didn¡¯t need to breathe, so perhaps that would be an easy task for them. Theo shook the thought away as he saw his level-up notification sh in his vision. He dumped his free point into Wisdom, which was his only n for the near future. With his level secured, he brewed a potion with the Soulcleave property. The resulting potion had a mild reaction, although the Dreamwalk buckled as though it didn¡¯t want to give up the potion¡¯s secrets. The resulting liquid was a pale purple color. He inspected it.
[Soulcleave Potion]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Drogramath (Minor Bond)
Imbues your attacks with the Soulcleave effect.
Effect:
For fifteen minutes, your attacks gain the Soulcleave effect.
Attacks made against enemies with a soul will shear off a small part of that soul.
¡°Why would I ever use that?¡± Theo asked. When he took a moment to think, he realized a niche chance to use the potion would arise in the future, and filed it away.
Theo spent the rest of his time in the dreamwalk using his willpower exploit to ensnare more and more undead. He tried not to think about the random souls in his town, but there might be a solution for that. The gods would be tight-lipped about it. There was no reason asking them. Not with the way Khahar hovered.
Although he knew he was the future holder of the Throne of the Dreamwalker, Theo also knew it wouldn¡¯t help with these small problems. When Fenian had used the power of that core, it only activated when someone was breaking the rules. So the core would only be useful if something went against the Dreamwalker¡¯s design, which was more of a bug tester than a fixer. That responsibility fell on Khahar himself, the Arbiter.
Tresk flew down on Alex, cutting a path through the endless undead. ¡°Think you have enough undead to work on?¡±
Theo looked over the tide, shrugging. ¡°Just pushing beyond a thousand. No big deal.¡±
¡°As long as no one has stopped you, I don¡¯t see a problem. Dawn approaches, brave demon! Are you prepared to face the day! I think it¡¯s a Monday!¡±
¡°We don¡¯t have structured weeks. But, yeah. I¡¯m ready.¡±
The Dreamwalk faded around them as Tresk pulled them out. Theo woke in his bed, looking at the ceiling of his manor room and gazing at the rafters. The marshling had already jumped from her bed, dashing down the stairs to attack whatever food Rowan and Sarisa had put out. Theo ate his breakfast, reviewing his administration screen as the other discussed whatever. He inserted his ns for the bridge in text form, but knew not to overstep his bounds with Ziz. The half-ogre would figure it out with the right amount of nudging.
Theo made his way to the Newt and Demon after breakfast. Salire wasn¡¯t covered in ink this time, but her print wasn¡¯t working. A human man was working on it with her. He headed to the top floor, brewing the Soulcleave Potion and setting it aside. Having at least five to ten of everything was a good idea, even if it cluttered theb. With the potion out of the way, he pilfered his mushroom cave¡¯s supplies. As he kicked the stills to life, intending to make Mana Essence to fuel his golem army, he considered his two approaches to alchemy.
This was why it was important for him to have an industrial capacity to produce potions. Large projects like his stone golem army required absurd amounts of essence. Throk couldn¡¯t produce the mana collectors fast enough to supply him, so this batch would be oldschool. The first run would be a test. It would take Ziz and his boys long enough to get working on the bridge, so why not start the causeway to the lizard inds?
While Theo worked on the constructs for the golems, he put in a work order at the cksmith. Rush orders were expensive, but he didn¡¯t have 100 containment cores on hand. By mid-afternoon, all the parts were assembled aside from the raw stone. The alchemist made his way to the beach area south of Qavell, trailed by his two guards, and pulled stone from the rocky hills. With the help of Mana Potions, he made 100 distinct piles. At least Sarisa and Rowan could help him jam Monster Cores into the metal cages, making the work lighter than he expected.
¡°I¡¯m gonna get drunk off mana potions,¡± Theo said, breathing life into swathes of golems.
¡°Can that happen?¡±
¡°Maybe.¡±
With every golem Theo brought to life, he expected it to tug on his willpower. As the 100th golem rose, awaiting orders, he felt nothing. He spread his senses over the crowd, finding that each was ready to receive orders. The other golems were doing as they were instructed. Thework of golems was now over two-hundred, and it was far from the upper-limit. But the issue was one of supplies. Without the power generator, the golems would need to refuel themselves as they worked.
Theo designated a group of ten golems as Mana Construct carriers. They would go back-and-forth between the work site, and Broken Tusk. The other ny golems would walk the ocean floor, dragging stones from the mountains south of Broken Tusk to build a causeway. The alchemist sent his standing orders to each golem, watching as they turned and marched directly into the sea. The outlet into the ocean was southeast, so they would need to hook around to reach their first waypoint. After that, time would tell if this was an effective strategy.
This was a lot of effort for a test. But the side-effect was that every golem that operated under hismand gave the smallest amount of experience for both his alchemy and herbalist core.
¡°Are you nning to take over the world?¡± Sarisa asked. ¡°I¡¯m getting kinda worried that you¡¯re nning to take over the world with a golem army.¡±
Theo waved the thought away. ¡°I¡¯d need far more golems for that.¡±
¡°Yeah, but¡ like¡ how many more?¡± Rowan asked.
6.15 - Unpossible
6.15 - Unpossible
Theo trudged back to the Newt and Demon. While the golems didn¡¯t drain his willpower, his stamina had been reduced to a sliver after the long day. Of course, there was always a wrinkle to help set the day right. Twist waited for him by the gate, joining with the procession as he entered the town once again.
¡°Do you have a moment?¡± Twist asked.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Theo asked, not breaking his stride. ¡°I thought we settled the thing about Qavell. The ce where Qavell used to be, anyway.¡±
¡°I told you I have news about the underground,¡± Twist said.
Theo stopped, letting his ever-increasing Wisdom shoot him some thoughts. Bug army, deep elf army, bug-elf hybrid army¡ Something wasing from the underground, and the alchemist certainly wasn¡¯t happy to hear about it. ¡°How big is the army, and are they immune to fire?¡±
¡°Big, but¡ªHow did you know?¡±
¡°It¡¯s always an army or some evil someone.¡±
Twist cleared his throat. He put his hand to where his mouth should be, but the mask covered his face. ¡°I¡¯m not the most studied elf on rock-people politics, but there has been a development. They said something about a nned migration and then they were gone. When I wanted to tell you the first time, there were only rumblings about leaving. Now, they¡¯re gone.¡±
Theo¡¯s brows knit. His Wisdom of the Soul spat out reasons, but it was floundering. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±The alchemist flicked through his administration interface. An ability of the Governance Core allowed him to ess the military side of things. Aarok had organized the screen to be easy to use, assigning buttons and shortcuts for rally points. It was a neat feature that would be even neater if Theo¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t trying to jump out of his chest. A heartbeat after he signaled the call to arms, a tter of bells rang through the town. Sarisa and Rowan didn¡¯t need instruction. They had already taken the lead on the approach to the mines.
¡°Everything okay, Theo?¡± Gridgen asked.
¡°Clear the mine,¡± Theo said, already prepared to forestall problems rted to workers being paid. ¡°Broken Tusk will pay wages to anyone who needs it. Just clear the mine.¡±
Gridgen was a guy who had survived a lot. He didn¡¯t need to be told twice to do something in such a serious tone twice. He dashed into the mine, ringing a bell, which caused someone deeper to ring a bell. A minuteter, miners were fleeing from the mine.
¡°When did you discover the rock people were gone?¡± Theo asked, turning to Twist.
¡°Moments before I found you,¡± the pale elf said. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid it will get worse for you.¡±
¡°Of course it will. It always does,¡± Theo said, redirecting as many golems as he could spare for the effort. But the adventuring army in Broken Tusk would arrive first. Aarok and Luras were the first to show up. A horse sized-goose alighted the ground, and Tresk dove into the cave. She needed less instructions than the others, and Alex couldn¡¯t fit. ¡°Clear it level-by-level.¡±
Aarok looked confused at first, but saw the serious look on the alchemist¡¯s face. He barked orders at the adventurers, and they went in. Theo downed a Potion of Limited Foresight and spread his aura wide. Twist joined him as each level was cleared. By the time they reached the bottom floor, where the entrance to the underground was, twenty metal golems had shown up. He ordered them down first, which they did without question.
¡°So, how does it get worse?¡± Theo asked.
¡°The dragon is gone.¡±
Theo closed his eyes. His tactical screen was still in the top-left of his vision. He watched troops disembarking from the tram, arriving from Rivers and Daub. When had Aarok created such a well-oiled machine, and when had the local system interfaced with the national one? With Pogo gone, the underground was undefended. Broken Tuskers didn¡¯t go down there. There was almost no point, since the Russian rock-folk didn¡¯t care for them. But the dragon imed it had an oath to protect the cavern.
¡°How does an entire dragon disappear?¡± Theo asked, making his way down into the underground.
¡°I can¡¯t say. But without the dragon, you¡¯re open to the elves in the deep.¡±
Which was Theo¡¯s fear from the start. The troops fanned out, searching the immediate area before moving into the abandoned town. Sure enough, the dragon was gone. Aarok was cursing as loud as he could, sending his voice echoing through the area. The alchemist¡¯s mind was desperate to find a silver lining to this problem.
¡°Where the hell does a giant dragon go?¡± he asked. ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m not even mad about being abandoned.¡±
Aarok stomped over to Theo, ring at anything that moved. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t defensible, Theo. Maybe if there was a giant gods damned dragon in the middle, but look. Tunnels shooting off in every direction. A man almost fell down through a hole he didn¡¯t see a second ago. This ce is screwed.¡±
Theo sighed before shrugging. ¡°Give me five minutes.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Aarok nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll do a count of the tunnels ande up with something. Maybe.¡±
¡°Tresk,¡± Theo said, nodding to a particrly menacing bit of gloom behind a rock. ¡°Wannae?¡±
¡°Sure thing,¡± Tresk said, breaking out of the shadows and jumping on his back. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
Theo and Tresk fell through reality. He covered them in Zaul¡¯s shadows as they fell, passing over the bridge and approaching the ribbon of realms. He isted the one belonging to ntheir and approached the Realm of Healing. Theynded in an expansive elven estate, where the stately lord of the realm waited.
¡°Where did my dragon go?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Nice to see you, Theo,¡± ntheir said. He tried to sound annoyed, but it didn¡¯t work for him. ¡°Oh, I¡¯d love a cup of tea. Thanks for asking.¡±
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Theo signed. ¡°Come on. It was either you or Ulvuqor. And I like you more.¡±
¡°Ah, that¡¯s better,¡± ntheir chuckled. ¡°Come. Have a seat.¡±
Theo shook Tresk from his back. She hissed, but scampered over to find an ufortable wooden chair. The alchemist found his own seat, looking out over ntheir¡¯s world. It was a world almost like the one he had created. Of all the gods, ntheir had created a world that was almost Earth-like. He added nothing weird to it, but it still felt constructed. It was almost the real thing, but not quite.
¡°My dragon?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That¡¯s your first mistake. Perhaps that was Khahar¡¯s mistake,¡± ntheirughed. ¡°The first rule of dragons is to never trust a dragon.¡±
¡°This is information I could have used before my dragon ran away.¡±
¡°Second rule. No one owns them. They¡¯ll enter pacts and break them, like you just saw.¡±
Theo pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh as he thought. Broken Tusk wouldn¡¯t be right without a crisis, though. It had been a week and a bit since a city came crashing down, so an army of pissed off elves approaching through the underground section of the town only made sense.
¡°How many bad guys are we talking about, nthy?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°Thousands. Oh, Theo¡ they have magic that can drill through rock. Just so you know,¡± ntheir said with a wink. ¡°Ah, look! Khahar can¡¯t see through Zaul¡¯s magic, can he?¡±
¡°No one can.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll need to find the shards soon,¡± ntheir said. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t enjoy the Deep Void.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Theo asked. ¡°I¡¯ve lingered in the void for a while. Doesn¡¯t seem that bad.¡±
¡°If you thought time was weird in the heavens, the Deep Void is far worse. The Bara¡¯thier have been isted for untold time. Their worlds are strange, and you¡¯ll need to seize every advantage you have if you want to get the shards back. We never figured out why, but there are five primal aspects of this world.¡±
¡°I thought there were four,¡± Theo said.
¡°Oh, had you figured that out? Khahar and I discovered it before the First Ascension War. The fifth aspect is the void aspect, which was the hardest to understand.¡±
Theo had linked primal aspects of the world to the four thrones a while ago. He segmented them in his mind. The Arbiter was the aspect ofw, or justice. The Herald represented the aspect of continuity. As the Dreamer, Tresk was a bridge for the Herald, and the Dreamwalker was the bridge for the Arbiter. He hadn¡¯t decided what those two thrones represented.
ntheir cleared his throat, summoning a magical array. It was the most simple one Theo had ever seen. Four circles on the edge with symbols and one in the middle. ¡°The center is Void. Notice the lines between the aspects. At their core, they are Heaven, Earth, Mortality, and Dimensionality. Arbiter, Herald, Dreamer, Dreamwalker.¡±
Theo felt himself drawn in by the diagram. While it was simple, it made sense. Like a fundamentalw of the world.
¡°Yet they represent something else. The system is Heaven while the Shards are Earth. Mortality and Dimensionality, though? I couldn¡¯t figure that out before I ascended. But I think Khahar has.¡±
¡°Why is this so important?¡± Theo asked. ¡°What does it have to do with Pogo?¡±
¡°If it is connected to Khahar, I would guess it is connected with this concept. I also suspected that Emperor Kuzan knows more than he¡¯s letting on. He was there during the First Ascension war.¡±
¡°What?!¡± Tresk blurted out. ¡°That¡¯s unpossible!¡±
So, Kuzan had been around since the start. Theo knew he was old, but never assumed that the Emperor of Tarantham would have been an original from Earth. That meant he found a way to stop himself from going nuts. The only reason Khahar needed to ascend was so he could keep his sanity.
¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± ntheir said, smiling at Theo. ¡°He wasn¡¯t from Earth. And he wasn¡¯t born here.¡±
¡°Again. Unpossible,¡± Tresk said, inclining her head to the god.
¡°Back in the early days, we tried to get back to Earth,¡± ntheir said. ¡°Earth is gone, by the way. Forever. But we figured out how the system puts outworlder souls on the. That¡¯s how Khahar figured out you wereing.¡±
¡°Stalker behavior,¡± Tresk said.
¡°When Kuzan came, he didn¡¯t have the same signature as an Earthling. It was simr, but we never figured it out. He showed up with a realm and knew how to use it. Back then, I was the Emperor of Tarantham, and I didn¡¯t trust him. But the years went on, and he proved capable. We didn¡¯t care about his origins and he had some good ideas. Too brutal for my taste, but it worked.¡±
¡°He had a realm?¡± Theo asked, pinching his eyes closed. He had rewritten what he thought was possible a few times today. What was a few more times?
¡°Droth Ker Teral Set,¡± ntheir said. ¡°Aligned with aspects of Death and Eternity. He was ready-made to live forever on the mortal ne.¡±
Everything linked back to the decisions these people made sixty-thousand-years ago. ¡°But Khahar only held a proto-realm, right?¡±
¡°Yet Kuzan holds a realized one. Not unlike your own.¡± ntheir took a moment to smile to himself. ¡°The fates say you¡¯re going to fight with Khahar one day. But that fate has been twisted so much already. The Burning Eye was meant to have you first before Khahar rescued you. I didn¡¯t know about the Tara¡¯hek n.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not thinking about that right now,¡± Theo said. ¡°Any advice for handling the underground elves.¡±
¡°Kill them all,¡± ntheir said.
Theo¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°What? God of peace and love? Did you just say that?¡±
¡°They won¡¯t stop,¡± ntheir said with a shrug. ¡°They¡¯ll attack Broken Tusk, if only to loot it. Try to reason with them if you want this experiment to end.¡±
Visits to the heavens that ended in this many questions were always annoying. Since Theo could shield himself from the Arbiter¡¯s gaze, he could get more information out of the gods who would share stuff. But if there wasn¡¯t a solution to the underground elf problem, and war was the only option, then war it would be.
¡°You¡¯ve given me a lot to think about,¡± Theo said.
¡°I bet I have,¡± ntheir said, smiling that gentle smile. ¡°Are you headed to your realm for tea?¡±
¡°We¡¯re heading back to the mortal realm,¡± Theo said. ¡°Preparing our defenses.¡±
¡°Good idea. Every minute counts when they¡¯reing down on you!¡± ntheir said, winking. ¡°Good luck.¡±
Theo and Tresk fell back through the void. Some tea would be nice right about now, but he couldn¡¯t get his mind off the problem waiting for him in Broken Tusk. Aarok was still moving off when they arrived, going to issue the firstmands to his people. The alchemist equipped his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core and got to work. ntheir said the elves could drill through rock, but causing a few strategic cave-ins would give them time. He worked with the adventurers to copse caverns while the others established battlements in the most logical location.
Since the rock people rudely departed, taking their dragon with them, the town was demolished. Theo ordered his golems to destroy it, even recalling half his new work force to defend the area. Night fell outside and a camp kitchen was established, feeding all those workers and adventurers that were stuck down below. During a meal break, the alchemist assembled enoughponents to bolster his little golem army. Fifty more metal golems joined their ranks.
Midnight was fast approaching before they heard the first sound of raiding parties on the other side of the copsed tunnels. The metal golems formed the first line of defense with the stone golems behind. Any underground elf that wanted to assault the defenders would need to go through a wall of angry metal and stone before touching mortal flesh. The alchemist would have a chance to test his theory about trapping souls on the mortal ne. Perhaps he could enact his n to add more spirits to his realm. No matter how angry they were about being removed from their vessels.
6.16 - Insight Overwhelming
6.16 - Insight Overwhelming
It took the raiding parties a while to break through the copsed stone tunnels. Theo folded his arms as he watched them pour forth, extending his aura to ensnare them all. He would have felt bad for them, had they not been sopletely prepared for war. Instead, he saw the battle as a reaping of wheat where he held the scythe. As long as he could encourage those souls to move on, they weren¡¯t really dying. But the first wave came with fervor, and the second with slightly more trepidation. But the fourth, the underground elves had lost their heart.
While the metal golems were good at their job, the defense of the abandoned city still required the intervention of adventurers. The early morning came by the time the attacking forces were mopped up, several hundred souls in all. Theo joined with Aarok, Luras, and Twist as the other adventurers took care of the bodies. There would be a mass-burning, as was tradition in Broken Tusk.
¡°Curious. They were so under-prepared,¡± Twist said, rubbing the chin of his mask.
¡°I¡¯m not happy about defending the damned tunnels, Theo.¡± Aarok had been grumbling the entire fight. He wouldn¡¯t stop now.
¡°Elf, do you know if we could ce a town core down here?¡± Luras asked.
¡°There already is one,¡± he said, gesturing back toward the city. ¡°Saw it on the way in.¡±
Luras, Theo, and Theo shared a look. Their descent into the underground had been hasty. None of them inspected the area fully. The group approached the tform that Pogo had rested on, finding a curious monolith there. A smooth gray monolith rose from the tform, surrounded by hard roots. The dragon had been wrapped around the monolith, hiding it from sight.
Theo looked back on his memories. Had he actually missed it? He shot Twist a look, but got nothing back under that mask. He looked back to the scene of the battle, unable to see the ghosts but knowing they were drawing closer to him. The version of Theo that had just arrived in Broken Tusk would im the monolith right there, snatching at whatever he could get his hands on. But the newer version favored caution.
¡°Don¡¯t touch it,¡± Theo said. ¡°Not until we have some people look at it.¡±¡°I think you should im it,¡± Twist said.
Because you nted it, Theo thought. Although he couldn¡¯t sense the plot, there was indeed something afoot. He had epted too many gifts from godstely. If this was Earth, and Theo had infiltrated some nation¡¯s supportwork, this was the time to strike.
Some folks considered half-ogres to be stupid. Perhaps that was true. From what Theo knew, it was rare to see a half-ogre mage. But they were wise with an innate sense for people. Aarok wasn¡¯t as tactful as the alchemist. ¡°Did you nt it?¡±
An aura of blue-purple energy sprung up around Luras. That guy didn¡¯t miss a beat.
Twist remained motionless for some time. He cleared his throat. ¡°I watered it. The seed was left behind.¡±
¡°Was that so hard?¡± Aarok asked.
Theo waited a breath for his Wisdom of the Soul to tell him otherwise. But he could only guess that Twist was telling the truth. Not that it mattered. Not only would he allow Zarali, Xol¡¯sa, and Sulvan to look over it, he would poke around in the heavens and ask for advice.
¡°My hands act on their own,¡± Twist said with a shrug. ¡°I couldn¡¯t pluck the seed for myself, so I watered it.¡±
¡°Curious hands indeed,¡± Aarok said with a sigh.
¡°If I wanted to betray you, I could have slit your throats in the night.¡± Twist shrugged as though that exined everything.
¡°Elves in the deep have trouble making friends, don¡¯t they?¡± Luras asked. ¡°Bit rough around the edges. And other parts.¡±
¡°So I¡¯ve been told.¡±
¡°Then you¡¯ll forgive our caution,¡± Theo said, inclining his head toward the masked elf. ¡°You warned us about the dragon vanishing, and the alliance appreciates it.¡±
¡°Anything for the alliance,¡± Twist said, bowing deeply.
Theo departed from the scene, rubbing his eyes with both hands. He assigned a group of golems to watch the core with orders to restrain, not kill. His interests shifted toward a topic that was more entertaining than the underground world. With only a few hours left in the night, he urged Tresk and Alex to head back to the manor for some rest. Neither disagreed, and they were joined by Sarisa and Rowan, who looked exhausted.
Once the trio was safely within the Dreamwalk, Theo allowed his thoughts to unravel. Theynded in the caverns below Broken Tusk, looking over a simted version of the battle. The thing he was so eager to test was the amount of rest they needed during the night. He had suspected they only needed an hour.
¡°So, the weird elf is being weird?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been in his dreams.¡±
¡°What does he dream about?¡±
¡°Women.¡±
¡°Ah.¡±
This was an excellent chance to grind experience for his cores and assess where he was. His Toru¡¯aun core had stagnated recently, and his sorcerer and Zaul cores were going to hit Level 10 at any time. His Governance Core had caught up to his main cores in an instant, and the Tara¡¯hek Core was skyrocketing as always, almost hitting Level 35. Theo suspected it would get stuck at Level 40, right on the edge of the next tier.
With only two hours within the Dreamwalk, he couldn¡¯t aplish everything he wanted. He simted the battle a few times and imagined Twist feeding some hidden Town Seed Core on the tform, but that was all he could do. The group woke in what felt like moments.
¡°How do we feel?¡± Theo asked, looking over to the horse-sized goose. He really needed to get Sledge off her egg clutch to fix the manor. Larger doors andrger halls were needed.
¡°Well-rested!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°And without the drowsy effects of your potions.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get breakfast started,¡± Theo said, cracking his knuckles. ¡°I don¡¯t think Sarisa and Rowan will be up to it.¡±
Tresk helped Theo prepare a breakfast of burned eggshells and charred bacon. It was disgusting, so Theo withdrew some month-old soup from his inventory and ced it on the table. When the half-ogre siblings didn¡¯t rise, he summoned a few golems toe perform guard duty on him. While the golems weren¡¯t as powerful, they would do for today.
Theo reviewed his administration screen over breakfast. Alise had done an amazing job keeping the channels of information organized, sorting through the reports until the early morning. She was smart enough to stagger her shift with Gwyn, which would ensure the flow of information was constant. The alchemist watched as Alex forced her way out of the front door, shoving her massive body against the frame and finally popping out. The town outside was silent, with only a few citizens walking around. Before things got even more crazy, he made his way to the Newt and Demon.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The small fridges Salire had purchased worked wonderfully. Theo held the refined Tier 4 potion in his hand. It was derived from the Water LIly, and should have made a potion aligned with the Wisdom attribute. Before he could inspect his newest creation, a familiar screen appeared.
[Potion of Significance]
You are the first person to create a potion of great significance. This potion has never been created by another mortal. Please select an attribute to boost from the following list:
Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, Willpower.
Three sharp knocks came from the door. Of course Fenian didn¡¯t wait for an invitation. He let himself in, smiling as he leaned against a cab. ¡°Doing more naughty things?¡±
Theo held the potion up. ¡°Be straight with me. Is this breaking the rules?¡±
¡°Not anymore.¡± Fenian strode over, a smile hanging on his face. ¡°Not after thest time. What have you created this time, my dear alchemist?¡±
¡°The strongest potion ever crafted. No big deal,¡± Theo said, offering the elf an equally enormous smile. ¡°Wanna see?¡±
¡°Naturally.¡±
Theo waited to make a selection on the prompt. When he ced his ten free points into Wisdom, he would be sent reeling for a while. For now, he inspected the potion with Fenian.
[Insight Overwhelming]
[Elixir]
Unique
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Perfect Quality
Alignment:
Tero¡¯gal (Perfect Bond)
Drink to double your Wisdom and double the prediction effects of that wisdom.
Elixir Restrictions:
Only one Insight Overwhelming may be consumed or crafted(worldwide) every five days.
¡°That is a mighty potion,¡± Fenian said, licking his lips. ¡°I shall quaff it.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t. Give it a try.¡± Theo shrugged. Did Fenian even read the description?
Fenian tipped the potion back, but it refused to leave the vial. Five days needed to pass before anyone could drink it. Theo was only thankful that no one else was crafting this stuff. Otherwise, he would never see these potions in use.
¡°Ah, rats,¡± Fenian said, handing the potion back to Theo. ¡°Worth a try, though.¡±
Theo ced the potion in his inventory, finding a chair to sit on before getting ten free points in Wisdom. He found the prompt and selected wisdom. Then his head swam.
¡°That is a mighty surge of power,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Are you doing something sneaky?¡±
¡°No, just epting my free points from discovering a Potion of Significance. Nothing weird going on here, officer.¡±
¡°Wisdom, right? How much are you at?¡±
¡°52 Wisdom.¡±
¡°Damn, Theo. Save some for the rest of us. How do I get a Drogramathi core? Can I have¡ Four?¡±
Theo watched as phantom versions of Fenian did various things. He was surprised to see one where the elf pped him and was thankful that didn¡¯te to pass. His predictive powers had increased from a fraction of a second to about one or two seconds. He needed to dump more points into Wisdom, though. He was certain that breaking the one-hundred mark would give him enough predictive power for his ns. Combined with the Insight Overwhelming potion and standard Greater Wisdom Potions, he could reach that goal sooner than without.
¡°Talk to Drogramath about that¡ Speaking of the gods, I want to have a summit.¡±
¡°With the gods? Go for it!¡±
¡°With holders of the thrones.¡±
¡°Ah. A meeting you cannot attend.¡±
Theo red at the smiling elf.
¡°I joke! Of course that¡¯s a good idea. But do you have leads on where to find the Throne of the Dreamwalker?¡±
¡°Yeah, the space elves have it. I just have to find the space elves.¡±
¡°Perhaps you can use your new Wisdom cheat to find them. I kid! Gods, you¡¯re so boring.¡±
¡°Well, as long as you¡¯re here I could use some help.¡±
¡°Oh, yes.¡± Fenian pped with excitement. ¡°Who are we killing?¡±
¡°I¡¯m boring. Remember? Come help at Town Hall. I¡¯m sure the functionaries are overwhelmed.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right. You said it! Boring!¡±
The work taking ce in the Town Hall was indeed boring. Both Gwyn and Gael were working with the junior administrators to gather information and make ns for the underground town. Zarali had already submitted a few reports about the monolith, which seemed without sabotage.
¡°Have we met?¡± Fenian said, fluttering his eyes at Gwyn.
She gave him a t look, moving off to handle other work.
¡°Ah. Guess I don¡¯t have it anymore.¡±
¡°I thought you¡¯d be gone by now,¡± Theo said, thinking back. ¡°Didn¡¯t you leave?¡±
¡°Yes, but I¡¯m back. I went and now I¡¯ve returned. I can travel with the Bridge, Theo. A continent is a breath away for me.¡±
¡°Huh. Have you been to Veosta?¡±
¡°No, I was looking for a woman. I met her in the Spine a while back, but I can¡¯t find her. But that¡¯s Uz¡¯Xulven Dronon for you. Popping up here and vanishing when you blink.¡±
Theo thought back. A long time ago, Fenian had mentioned something about dronon in the north. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to practice a new move. ¡°Hey, wanna go to the heavens?¡±
Fenian shrugged. ¡°Why not?¡±
¡°Alright. Uz might get mad at you, though. Just hold on tightly.¡±
¡°Wait, what?¡± Fenian asked, pping at the shadows that wrapped around his body. ¡°Please don¡¯t make her mad.¡±
Theo had already dropped them into the void. Fenian screamed, but the sound was muted enough that he didn¡¯t care. His willpower had grown to such a point where he could pierce the veil with another person. That was a good start. He needed to get to a point where he could do so with an entire town, but a single person was good. This type of interdiction action was outside of the system¡¯s rules for his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage ability. This was a piercing of reality¡¯s membrane he could do whenever he wanted. However powerful it might have been, it still wasn¡¯t good enough to move as Fenian did on the Bridge.
¡°Uz¡¯Xulven save me!¡± Fenian shouted as the pair passed through the wall created by the bridge. Although his shouts were quieter, Theo could still hear him. Unfortunately. ¡°Where are you taking me, demon?¡±
¡°The edge of the inner void,¡± Theo said, moving them forward with his willpower. The higher it got, the faster he could go. That massive expanse between the near and far void required him to go much faster. ¡°See the ribbons?¡±
¡°Is that what the heavens look like?¡±
¡°That¡¯s how I interpret them. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re seeing them through my lens.¡±
¡°You¡¯re a dirty little demon boy. Could we visit somewhere else?¡± Fenian begged. ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡±
¡°We could visit Balkor¡¯s realm,¡± Theo said, gesturing to a pale green orb below.
¡°Oh, you¡¯re just the worst.¡±
Theo pushed himself as far as he could go, feeling more of himself ke away as he reached the edge of the local void. He had named the area with all the realms the Near Void, and the ces beyond the Far Void or Deep Void. Standing on the precipice was like looking over the edge of a skyscraper. An infinite dimension of darkness stretched in all directions. Fenian screamed, floating next to him in the bubble fueled by Zaul¡¯s magic. The alchemist would be ready to pierce the Far Void in a few days, as long as no more underground elves attacked.
¡°Could we please go back?¡±
Theo turned them around, angling for a singr realm. His n wasn¡¯t to intimidate Fenian, but show him the scope of the void and all within it. This would also reveal weaknesses they would need to fix before they restarted the world.
¡°We¡¯re making a quick stop before heading to ntheir¡¯s realm,¡± Theo said.
¡°Wait a second¡ I recognize that realm,¡± Fenian said. ¡°I¡¯m growing to hate you, Theo.¡±
The duo approached the edge of one glowing realm within the void. Theo interdicted them inside, appearing in an opulent chamber. The walls were polished white marble, and a throne of gold sat on a dais. The alchemist half-expected to see elven maidens waiting with fans made from palm fronds.
¡°You should protect the Throne of the Herald better,¡± Theo said, tutting.
¡°I didn¡¯t make it like this! Karasan did! I swear!¡±
6.17 - Evolution
6.17 - Evolution
¡°Yes, make fun of the golden throne,¡± Fenian groaned. ¡°I¡¯m going toin to Khahar about this.¡±
¡°We¡¯llin together. But not until I find the Throne of the Dreamwalker.¡± Theo inspected the area. It was too much for his taste. Fenian absolutely decorated this himself. Everything within the wide room screamed the gaudy elf¡¯s style.
Fenian found his way to the throne, sitting on it and sighing. ¡°I liked it better when I knew more than you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you still know more than me. Just not about the void.¡±
Keeping the Throne of the Herald here was a bad idea, though. Theo and Tresk bested thest Dreamer because they hadn¡¯t moved the throne. Keeping it in a weak realm only meant that anyone coulde and take it, as long as a god would interdict them. The alchemist exined this weakness to Fenian, who agreed. Reluctantly.
¡°I¡¯ll move it to Tero¡¯gal, if that¡¯s okay,¡± Theo said, spreading his willpower over the realm.
¡°You¡¯re the expert. I guess.¡±
Theo wrapped his shadow aura around the throne, himself, and Fenian. He bore a hole through the void, and a momentter they appeared in the chamber hidden within Tero¡¯gal. The alchemist ced the throne next to Tresk¡¯s throne and nodded with satisfaction.
¡°Are you certain we¡¯re safe here? I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s enough gold in this wet chamber.¡±¡°This is far more secure than the default realm, Fenian. Tero¡¯gal hasyers of defense.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s lovely. But how do I get back here? I like sitting on my shiny golden throne.¡±
¡°I brought a piece of the realm, too,¡± Theo gestured vaguely at the golden cloud surrounding the throne. ¡°You can stille here.¡±
¡°Ah. Excellent. Can we leave?¡±
Fenian screamed again when Theo interdicted them, hurtling them to a realm fairly close to Tero¡¯gal. Theynded in the House of Healing a momentter, standing in that expansive open-air building. ntheir turned, shaking his head.
¡°How are you, Theo? Fenian?¡±
¡°Doing well, how about you?¡±
¡°Can¡¯tin. Do you need anything?¡±
Theo exined the situation. He wanted a god¡¯s opinion on the strange Town Seed Core and how he should proceed. ntheir invited them to sit on a vast wooden tform withfortable furniture overlooking sprawling forests and buildings below. Fenian settled into his chair, but still seemed grumpy after being hurtled across the realms. He would get over it.
¡°I¡¯m afraid another god has imbued that seed with power.¡±
¡°Which one?¡± Fenian asked, his ire faded in an instant.
¡°Delcan, I think. He¡¯s an old one.¡± ntheir chuckled. ¡°I hardly hear from him anymore.¡±
¡°What would the God of Building want with Theo¡¯s underground town?¡±
¡°I think Twist is plotting something with Delcan. That masked elf has several cores from Delcan, so his influence clouds my sight on the mortal ne.¡± ntheir swiped his hand through the air. An image of Broken Tusk appeared as though taken from high in the air. Sections were missing, or too fuzzy to make things out. ¡°As if it wasn¡¯t hard enough to spy on your town. The mix of energies from too many realms makes it hard.¡±
¡°Could you show me Veosta?¡± Theo asked.
ntheir looked around as though he expected Khahar to show up at any moment. ¡°Khahar will be very upset with me. He can see through your willpower-fueled aura. You know that, right?¡±
Theo already knew. Because Khahar wasn¡¯t interfering everywhere he could to uphold order or his title. ¡°He¡¯s fooling the monitor system, which can¡¯t see through this.¡±
¡°Ah, you figured that out on your own,¡± ntheir said, nodding. ¡°Well, Balkor¡¯s remnant hasn¡¯t moved.¡±
ntheir swiped his hand again, changing the image to an aerial shot of the Ruins of Veosta. The wanderer was standing among ruined buildings, motionless.
¡°That¡¯s creepy.¡± Fenian shivered at the sight. The elf cleared his throat. ¡°Could you show me¡ the other guy?¡±
¡°Kuzan? No. His influence in Tarantham is absolute. Droth Ker is a horrifying realm, and Kuzan has done everything he can to shield it.¡±
¡°No. The other guy.¡±
ntheir raised a brow, his eyes dragging over from Fenian and locking on Theo. A snap issued behind the Elven God of Healing. Khahar had appeared, arms folded and a grimace on his face.
¡°Oh, look. The fun police,¡± Fenian said.
¡°Is this productive?¡± Khahar asked.
¡°Not everything is about productivity, Yuri,¡± ntheir said. ¡°You want Theo to help run the circus but won¡¯t give him the whip.¡±
Khahar grumbled. ¡°He won¡¯t understand. Not yet.¡±
¡°I¡¯m right here,¡± Theo said, waving his hand in front of Khahar¡¯s face.
¡°If you view it then it will know you¡¯re viewing. I forbid it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve talked to it, Khahar. He¡¯s a good guy.¡± Fenian shrugged.
Khahar turned, ring at Fenian. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand, Fenian. You¡¯re not from our world.¡±
¡°Oh, fine! You¡¯re so spikytely.¡± Fenian sunk into his chair, sulking like a child.
Khahar took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. ¡°I¡¯m not being the angry dad here. I¡¯m bncing the system on the tip of a needle. Theo, I promise to exin everything I know when you get your throne. Okay? Is that good enough for you?¡±
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Theo held his hands up defensively. ¡°I never asked to see whatever this thing is. I don¡¯t really care. Just wanted to check in on Balkor¡¯s double down on the mortal ne.¡±
Khahar narrowed his gaze for a moment before nodding. ¡°You¡¯ll need to meet him soon. That marshling in your town is building a lot of track. With most mountain ranges being destroyed, you can span the two-thousand-mile gap quickly enough.¡±
¡°I never thought of that¡ Thanks for destroying the mountains, Fenian.¡±
¡°No problem!¡± Fenian said, brightening up in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Khahar. We¡¯ll fix the world together! Friendship!¡±
Khahar grumbled, vanishing in a blink.
¡°See? I told you he could see us,¡± ntheir grumbled. ¡°Now he¡¯s going to ost me.¡±
¡°Sorry about that, buddy,¡± Theo said, cing aforting hand on the god¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Is Balkor¡¯s double unstable or something?¡±
¡°He¡¯s confused.¡± ntheir summoned the image again. ¡°And¡ wait, is he moving?¡±
Everyone gathered squinted, looking at the grainy image. Balkor¡¯s double, which had yet to give himself a name, swept his hand through the air. A wave of skeletons rose from the ground, marching toward the sea. Theo clicked his tongue, eyes wide as he processed the scene.
¡°He¡¯s marching on Tarantham,¡± Theo said.
¡°He sent a wave before, but the elves put the attack down. That¡¯s what my followers on the continent said, anyway.¡±
Too many pieces were moving with the Balkor situation. What Theo wanted was to talk with the real Balkor, urging him to step down from whatever war path he was on. He had already concluded that the Demon God of Necromancy wasn¡¯t evil, and was likely part of therger n. But he was stewing all alone in his realm. Now there was a piece of him running around the mortal realm, doubling the problem. More restrictions would be ced on the gods before this was over, so he wanted everyone to y nice.
¡°Too many machinations for one day,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Could we go have some tea?¡±
¡°I second that idea.¡± ntheir raised his hand as though waiting for a teacher to call on him in ss.
¡°Yeah, good idea. This whole thing has me tired.¡±
ntheir would take his own portal to Tero¡¯gal while Theo dragged Fenian through the void. Their feet touched the soft grasses in the realm shortly after. Gates were already up from other gods. That was the best way to know who was hanging out. The alchemist loved how everyone was using his realm as a gathering ce. Khahar appeared as the alchemist was approaching the ever-expanding cottage, jerking his head and forcing him to follow.
¡°The town seed core is safe enough,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Fenian can undo any malicious magic, if it were there. You have ns to dive into the void, right?¡±
¡°I thought you could see through my magical aura.¡±
¡°No. I¡¯m just adept at predicting your next stupid move.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fair. I¡¯m heading out soon. But I suspect it will only appear as though a few moments have passed on this side of the void.¡±
¡°Good. Let¡¯s get some tea.¡±
The gods had a way of gossiping, but none had caught on to any of Theo¡¯s many schemes. Or they were too cagey to express their concerns. The alchemist spent some time with them, but left before his visit to the realm was over. He might have used another method to reach Tero¡¯gal, but there was still a limit on the time he could spend there. Walking with the spirits had a way of clearing his mind. And the effects of his increased Wisdom had diminished sinceing here.
¡°What¡¯s thetest trend?¡± Theo said, pping a hand over Belgar¡¯s shoulder. The dronon spirit was startled, turning and clutching at his chest.
¡°You scared me, Theo. We¡¯re ying a realm-wide game called Monster Hunt. One spirit is the monster, and the others must flee. Those caught be monsters themselves. This game has been going on for a few months.¡±
Theo looked in the distance, sensing spirits running around and catching each other. He was surprised to see the spirits that had broken from the main group ying the game. What did the children on Earth call this game? Manhunt? No, something else. It hardly mattered. Everyone was having fun, but the alchemist had cornered Belgar for a different reason.
¡°We might have some rowdy spiritsing in. Elves from the deep, and spirits that were afflicted by Balkor. Can you handle a few?¡±
¡°I¡¯m the most realized spirit in the realm, Theo. I can handle anything.¡±
¡°Thanks, Belgar. I¡¯ll try to remember bringing Zarali here.¡±
¡°Tresk has brought her quite a few times.¡± Belgarughed. His eyes went wide and he hid behind a giant rock, gesturing for Theo to get down with him. ¡°A monster approaches.¡±
¡°Tresk has been interdicting Zarali? That¡¯s sweet of her.¡±
¡°Yes. My sister realizes how busy you are,¡± Belgar whispered.
A half-formed dronon spirit jumped over the rock, roaring. Belgar shrieked, scrambling along the ground before the ¡®monster¡¯ wrapped her arms around him. ¡°You have been bested, Belgar!¡±
¡°Damn! Fine. Theo is ying too, so you must capture him.¡±
Theo¡¯s eyes darted between the two spirits. ¡°I¡¯m gonna cheat,¡± he said, relocating himself to the far side of the realm with a thought. He felt the spirits shouting after him.
The alchemist found a decent rock to sit on, admiring the view of the mountain in the distance. He withdrew a journal and a pen and wrote his theories on capturing the ghosts. They weren¡¯t genuine ghosts, of course. But transporting souls from the mortal realm to his own should have been simple work. If he could expand his aura to arge area, he could draw in more souls. The ordeal was strange. They should have been fading, but they weren¡¯t. Some nonsense about Balkor¡¯s magic which only meant there would be ancient souls in the Fallen Kingdom of Gardreth.
¡°A haunting thought,¡± Theo muttered. He thenughed to himself. ¡°Hope no one gets mad about me stealing souls. Oh, I¡¯m not evil. Just harvesting souls for¡ reasons.¡±
Willpower would be the first thing they would patch when his work was done. Along with a few mechanics concerning attributes. Intelligence shouldn¡¯t increase how smart a person is, and Wisdom shouldn¡¯t make them wiser. He hoped Khahar was on the same page, but that was the point of the summit he wanted to hold. Theo sketched his ns in his secret notebook over the hours, finally getting bored enough to leave. The gods that remained within his realm would y poker, eat cookies, and do whatever else they wanted to pass the time.
Theo collected Fenian and brought him back to the mortal realm. The elf scampered off, leaving the alchemist with nothing much to do. He returned to theb, leaving the administrators to do their thing. Salire wasn¡¯t in the shop. She was likely sleeping yesterday¡¯s event off, and he couldn¡¯t me her. Tresk and Alex were in the underground, exploring the tunnels and mapping it for the army. Both Gronro and Rivers had sent reinforcements, even if they weren¡¯t needed.
The printing machine Salire had bought was nice. She had a few copies printed by now, bound but without covers. The collective knowledge of dronon alchemy was nice to have. It served as a record for a culture he had borrowed. Something Theo could only hope to understand by the time this ended. At least people like Belgar and Zarali were still alive and able to maintain those traditions. He had hoped to get one of each dronon race minimum, but hade up short. Perhaps collecting souls from each race was a good idea.
The stock of potions within the shop was good. Salire had done a great job keeping the healing and curative potions brewed. His focus had once again fallen into creating powerful potions. His legs took him toward the door for a moment, but he resisted. Going out to find more rare reagents in the wild wouldn¡¯t be smart without Rowan and Sarisa. Even with his golems trailing along, they just weren¡¯t as good as the half-ogres.
Boredom drew Theo into his experiment garden. He moved a few nts around, created a ton of Mana Constructs, and started a batch of Refined Mana Essence to make more. Although he had ced an order with Throk¡¯s artificer workshop, he doubted he¡¯d get the hundreds of mechanisms soon. That rail project had consumed his time and patience. At least Ziz was working on the suspension bridge.
Theo worked away in silence, wishing more as the hours rolled on that he had someone to joke around with in theb. Broken Tusk was lonely when it was empty. But folks would wake up soon enough. He tipped a sk of Refined Mana Essence over a stone tablet, infusing the construct with power before adding it to a stack. Hundreds of golems meant hundreds of power sources. Perhaps he had made too many.
Just when things were getting to their height of boring monotony, something appeared in his vision. Theo swallowed hard as he read through the message, double-checking that he wasn¡¯t seeing things.
[Core Evolution]
Your [Governance Core] has soaked enough Drogramathi energy to evolve into a [Drogramath Governor¡¯s Core].
Do you wish to ept?
Y/N?
6.18 - Order From Chaos
6.18 - Order From Chaos
Core evolution was a feature promised by the Drogramath Dedication skill. Theo had been promised the ability for his other cores to evolve into more powerful versions thanks to the skill. His n was to take mundane cores and evolve them into something more powerful, but had expected his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core to evolve first. He stood in his garden, gazing at the nts that grew there¡ªboth deadly and curative¡ªas his mind churned. It took him longer than he would have liked to get his mind moving again.
Before he epted the message, he inspected his existing core.
[Governance Core]
Legendary
Administration Core
Bound
5 Slots
Level 32 (25%)
Advanced [Administrator] core, reserved for leaders.Innate Skills:
[Command Structure]
Skills:
[Titles]
[Automatic Books]
[Contracts]
[Districting]
[National Status]
Effects:
+3 Intelligence
Theo¡¯s Governance Core was one of his most important cores. He did absolutely nothing with it, though. The core sat dormant, always working in the background. His connection with both the town and the nation allowed people within both areas to take advantage of his skills. Command Structure enabled Aarok to run the army. Titles allowed the administrators to designate which folks held positions of power. Districting allowed him to create synergistic areas within the town. And National Status enabled the Soutnds Alliance to share information in an instant. Sub-features existed within the core, revealing a powerful interface for all administrators to interact and take notes. Alise did almost all of her work in that interface, keeping everyone on task.
epting evolution was easy enough. Contending with the fresh Drogramathi energy that surged through his chest was not. Theo held firm, gritting his teeth as more of Drogramath¡¯s wild power flooded through his body. A pulse of power radiated outward, washing over the town as he was changed. It had been a long time since a god¡¯s power had given him pause. In the heavens, he assumed himself equal to people like Drogramath. But on the mortal ne, the power of any god was clear. But Theo maintained control of himself, his willpower battering down the flood of power.
Without the willpower training, this might have ended badly. Theo rolled his shoulders, nodding with satisfaction. A tingle spread through his mind, creeping down his back. A cold sh of reason made his lip twitch. The core¡¯s evolution had sent his Intelligence over the edge, bringing him above 30. Emotions left him, giving way to logic.
¡°Damn.¡±
That would push his schedule up. He needed to bottle that attribute, or give into that unforgiving logic that threatened to take over his thoughts. It was something to worry about another time. Now that the dust had settled, it was time to inspect his new Drogramath Governance Core.
[Drogramath Governance Core]
Mythic
Administration Core
Bound
7 Slots
Level 32 (25%)
Order from chaos. Drogramath favors little boxes for everything, cing things where they belong.
Innate Skills:
[Command Structure]
Skills:
[Titles]
[Automatic Books]
[Contracts]
[Districting]
[National Status]
[Order from Chaos]
Effects:
+5 Intelligence
Perhaps Drogramath felt left out of the gift-giving. Theo had been given a core he could cheat with from Zaul. The Drogramath Governance Core had evolved to gain a new skill, Order from Chaos. The alchemist had considered not equipping his Governance Core a few times, mostly in dire circumstances. But this new skill would make sure that core never left his chest. He inspected it.
[Order From Chaos]
Drogramath Governance Skill
Epic
Creates a Potion Stockpile within the nation¡¯s storage. Those with permission may grant others ess to this stockpile, allowing them to withdraw designated potions from the stockpile while within the nation.
Effect:
A Potion Stockpile is added to your Kingdom Core.
If the skill only created a Potion Stockpile that couldn¡¯t be managed, it was almost useless. Theo had to wonder what happened to this stockpile if he removed the core, but had already decided that wouldn¡¯t happen. He flipped through the new screen, finding that any person who was within the nation could be assigned permissions. Those permissions could drill down to specific potions, allowing him to reserve potions, categories of potions, and so on. It was a very nice feature.
¡°Alise is gonna love this,¡± Theo said, smiling to himself. He headed out from his garden area, finding his feet after a few steps of dizziness. ¡°And Aarok. I guess Luras might like it too. Who else would enjoy this?¡±
¡°Oh, brother,¡± Sarisa groaned from behind. ¡°He¡¯s talking to himself.¡±
¡°The alchemist is slowly losing it!¡± Rowan shouted in mock-horror. ¡°We¡¯ll get him a nice little chair to spend the rest of his days in. A rocking chair.¡±
¡°With a nice padded seat!¡± Sarisa said.
¡°And padded walls at this rate,¡± Theo grumbled. ¡°Perhaps if you two weren¡¯t invisible all the time, I¡¯d have someone to talk to.¡±
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¡°Tactically disadvantageous.¡± Rowan folded his arms, nodding as he padded behind Theo.
¡°An absolutely horrible decision, my lord.¡± Sarisa nodded.
¡°I¡¯m gonna leave you two in the swamp again.¡±
¡°Oh, just try it¡ my lord.¡± Rowan rubbed his hands together, giggling to himself.
Theo made a note in his personal section of the administration interface. Are the half-ogres moving against me?
Alise was happy to hear about the new feature of the town. She wanted to do a meeting with all the people inmand positions, along with Salire. The alchemist wanted nothing to do with it. He left it in her capable hands and moved off before he could be roped into a meeting.
¡°Busy, busy,¡± Theo said, dashing off before he could be bound in a chair and forced to listen.
He instead concerned himself with the war in the underground. With an army of golems, it was more like a meat grinder. Those that were dumb enough to throw themselves against the line met a swift end. Rowan and Sarisa apanied him to the underground, where they inspected the progress on the hand-built fortifications. They were good enough for now, until they could upgrade the nameless Tiny Town left behind.
Theo stood near the stone fortifications, appreciating Ziz¡¯s quick work. He tapped his fingers on the wall, chewing on his cheek. ¡°You know, I have ess to this screen. And I don¡¯t like looking at it.¡±
¡°Which screen?¡± Sarisa asked.
Theo let out a steady breath. ¡°The Dungeon Information screen.¡±
¡°Pull it up. What¡¯s the problem?¡± Rowan asked.
Theo turned, giving the half-ogre a t look. He pulled the screen up, reading the status of each nearby dungeon.
[Swamp Dungeon] L40 No Threat
[River Dungeon] L20 No Threat
[Mountain Dungeon] L21 No Threat
[Hills Dungeon] L15 No Threat
[Ocean Dungeon] L25 No Threat
[Cave Dungeon] L90 Building Threat
¡°Oh, balls,¡± Sarisa said. ¡°Why can¡¯t things go right for once?¡±
¡°Do we know where the Cave Dungeon is? It dropped five levels, but that doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Theo shrugged. ¡°Level 90 isn¡¯t something I¡¯m willing to contend with.¡±
There was some amount of disorder over the next few hours. An exhausted Xol¡¯sa showed up to the caves, giving Theo a nasty look. He came to the battlements, leaning against the wall and running his fingers through his hair.
¡°I¡¯m already working on it, Theo. We¡¯re going to do something stupid, but it should sort the dungeon out.¡±
¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±
¡°What is ny divided by four?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
¡°Twenty¡ something.¡±
¡°Twenty-two-point-five!¡± Sarisa shouted.
Both Theo and Xol¡¯sa turned, raising eyebrows at the half-ogre.
¡°What? Me good at maths.¡±
¡°I¡¯m siphoning the energy from the Cave Dungeon, filling the other dungeons with it. I already shaved off five levels in a few hours.¡±
Xol¡¯sa was already on top of the problem. That was encouraging. Theo felt a swell of pride in his chest as he thought about the people within town. They were more thanpetent. Each had been forged in a fire of their own making, ascending beyond what should be possible thanks to the strange nature of Broken Tusk.
¡°Well, I got the go-ahead on iming the town. Anyone wannae up with a name?¡±
¡°Pogo Sucks,¡± Sarisa said.
¡°Elf Puncher,¡± Rowan put in.
¡°Broken Elf. Elf Tusk. Beware of Pale Elves.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite enough,¡± Xol¡¯sa said.
¡°How about Bal¡¯gon?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Dorgramathi?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
¡°Yeah. It means bastion.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a fitting name,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, nodding.
¡°Oh! Can I bet the mayor?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Sure,¡± Theo said, turning away from the walls. He was ready to im the town, but wasn¡¯t sure he was ready to upgrade it. His stock of Monster Cores was fairly low. Aside from those he kept for emergency upgrades. They would need to wait for some traders to show up before he upgraded this town.
Theo pressed his hand against the monolith on the ce where Pogo once rested. It transferred to him without effort,ing under control of the Soutnds Alliance withoutint. He assigned himself as the owner and Rowan as the mayor.
¡°Now you have to live underground,¡± Theo said. ¡°Enjoy the cave spiders.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t make the rules, Rowan.¡± Theo inspected the town, making sure everything was in ce.
[Tiny Town]
Name: Bal¡¯gon
Owner: Theo Spencer
Leader: Rowan Fletcher
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 1 (0%)
Core Buildings:
NONE
¡°Congrattions, Mayor Fletcher,¡± Sarisa said, pping her brother on the back. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot!¡±
¡°Damn it. I am an idiot, aren¡¯t I?¡±
¡°We still love you.¡± Theo turned, eager to put the underground ce behind him.
So, Theo¡¯s list of problems both grew and shrunk. Xol¡¯sa could equalize the levels of the dungeons. That would make the low-level dungeons more powerful, while draining the Cave Dungeon until it was manageable. Once the underground town had upgraded walls, they could drop some towers on them and it would defend itself. Throk would put his fancy artifice tubes that fed motes into the towers, making the defense automated. There was only one problem that remained, but the day waste.
Theo returned to the manor, enjoying dinner and rxing with Tresk and Alex. The goose was almost to a point where she couldn¡¯t fit through the front door. But no one could get Sledge out from her nest. She even bit someone when they came to bring her food. If she hadn¡¯t been engaging in full goblin-mode before, she was now. Alex would need to stay outside if this progressed. Or Theo would find a sledge hammer and widen the door himself. Maybe take out a few walls.
Slipping into the Dreamwalk was a relief. It gave rity to his thoughts, allowing him to sort his next problem. The spirits that lingered near the town were ripe for the picking. Theo could skip the step of having them locked in purgatory, giving them an express trip to the heavenly realms. He didn¡¯t n toy im to each one. Instead, he would send them to Tero¡¯gal and allow them the choice. If they wanted to remain within his realm, that was fine with him. But if they wanted to move to another heavenly realm, they could do that.
Most spirits were stripped to their base personality when they left the void. Theo suspected something like that happened to him when he arrived in this world. He experienced a personality shiftpared to his old self. For some spirits, that was an improvement. Others kept the worst parts of themselves, bing something like a parody of who they used to be.
¡°Copper for your silly little thoughts?¡± Tresk asked, appearing from nowhere. She did that a lot.
Theo shrugged. ¡°I want to work hard to knock down all my problems. Get everything sorted before I head into the void.¡±
¡°Feeling left out of the throne gang?¡±
¡°Kinda. Or expecting trouble from the space elves.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think many people are eager to understand the nature of the universe. You¡¯ve taken it upon yourself to be an expert, and I don¡¯t envy that. Is it the call of the throne, or your own need to control things around you that pulls you in?¡±
Theo paused for several long breaths, giving the slightly wet marshling a look. ¡°Did you be a philosopher overnight?¡±
¡°I can be serious! Sometimes. When the mood calls for it.¡±
Theo cracked his knuckles, getting a few satisfying pops. ¡°Both things are driving me forward, I think. You¡¯re right, though. Who wants to pull back the veil and look at the way the universe works? Back on Earth, we never had to worry about that.¡±
¡°You just marched to whatever orders you were given, buddy.¡±
¡°I think the people in power knew a lot more about what was going on than the rest of us. We were told that the governments of the world spent two-hundred years trying to shield the from the sun. Hah! You know what¡¯s funny?¡±
¡°Wussat?¡±
¡°They made these generational space ships. Sent them off to¡ somewhere. I don¡¯t know. Do you think those people were pulled into this world?¡±
¡°I doubt it. Viewing your memories, I can only think the Harbinger was the one who brought you guys here.¡±
Theo enjoyed talking with Tresk about the old world for the first time. Perhaps he had finallye to terms with what happened back then, but it was still hard to think about. His first few decades in service to his country were what Tresk described. Marching to orders. When things broke apart, and everyone got more autonomy thanks to the declining poption, he thought for himself. A silver ne appeared in his hand. A tarnished silver locket hung from the end.
¡°I switched this out for a ring when the picture faded. Then back to the locket a few times,¡± Theo said.
Tresk took the ne tenderly, popping the locket open with her w. It wasn¡¯t as painful to look at the image within. ¡°Think she made it?¡±
¡°Maybe. Maybe the only reason I can think about it is because of what happened with the old Dreamer. Learning more about how this queue works with souls, I have some suspicions about what happened on Earth.¡±
¡°You think the transmigration started well before the end.¡±
¡°Yeah. I remember reading about something that happened in 2050. Around there, anyway. Records were spotty. And information was controlled.¡±
¡°Just don¡¯t pin your hopes on this,¡± Tresk said, handing the locket back to him.
She had been respectful during his period of mourning. Tresk could look at any memory Theo had, and had likely viewed the ¡®good times¡¯ of his life. She knew everything that happened, and the stuff that led him to feeling passive about the entire war effort. But the hope he held onto wasn¡¯t just for a lost love. His mind went back to those spirits on the mortal ne. If he had to be the boat captain that led them across the river, he would do it. No mortal soul shouldnguish in the void.
That was a w with the system he intended to fix.
6.19 - Quaff Your Potions
6.19 - Quaff Your Potions
The Dreamwalk had be a ce where Theo exploited Zaul¡¯s core. While Tresk and Alex spent their time grinding out levels or improving theirbat techniques. He doubted it would help them if they needed to fight a wave of Level 90 monsters, but there were other threats they could handle. The marshling had beaten the crap out of a bird guy who was likely at a level uncountable on the mortal ne. But she was juiced up on potions and drawing from Tero¡¯gal, so that leveled things out a bit.
Theo focused himself on training willpower within the Dreamwalk. Each time he wove his spirit around the Hallow Ground Potion, ensnaring the minds of hundreds of undead, his willpower increased. The absurd amount of undead he imagined flooded the area, stretching over the bank of the river outside of Broken Tusk. If the creatures he summoned weren¡¯t stationary, waiting to be brought under his control, this would be a grim sight. It was hard not to wonder if this is what the people in Vesta saw before the end.
¡°No matter,¡± Theo said, pulling the crowd under his control. ¡°I¡¯ll get them.¡±
Waking up from the Dreamwalk, Theo felt himself being drawn from his bed by the scent wafting from downstairs. Perhaps Rowan and Sarisa felt bad about their recent mocking, but they had prepared a spread. It was unclear who the supplier of bacon was, but he wouldn¡¯tin. Alongside thick cuts of smoke-cured bacon, Whisper¡¯s sausages sat on tes piled high with eggs from Miana¡¯s pozwa.
¡°You guys went in for it, huh?¡± Theo asked, piling his te with the things he liked best. He ignored the zee-grits and loaded his te with slightly spicy sausages, bacon, and eggs.
¡°Gimmie!¡± Tresk shouted, snatching at all her favorite things. It was sausage. She had a te filled with sausage and nothing more. She ate them like a duck.
The administration screen had been filled with more information. Now that Theo knew where to look, he found Xol¡¯sa¡¯s newest project concerning the dungeons and their growth. Once breakfast was finished, he met up with the mage to take a look at the wards and arrays he had constructed. His magic was abination of his nar Mage ss core and his Dungeon Engineer core. They worked together to create physical objects, shaped like the lodestones Zarali crafted. Each was a tether, pinning an aspect of dungeon energy to the mortal ne and allowing for maniption.
Sarisa and Rowan stood in knee-deep mud with the pair. Xol¡¯sa had it worse, as he was two-feet shorter than the others.
¡°Feels as though your wards aren¡¯t attuned to the energies of the dungeon well enough,¡± Theo said, getting closer to inspect the ward. He allowed his aura to wash over it, making up for hiscking magical abilities.¡°Well, that¡¯s why you¡¯re here,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, waving his hands through the air. The code that ran the objects revealed itself. Magic circles filled with endless sigils and runes sprung into the air. Those runes were the Axpashi Language, and detailed instructions that steered the flow of magic. ¡°You¡¯re the best example of the magic that flows through here. Tero¡¯gal and Grodul¡¯harak. With you around, this is a simple¡ few¡ steps¡ and, done!¡±
¡°That was easy,¡± Sarisa grunted.
¡°At least he can serve as a magical point of reference,¡± Rowan said, nodding along.
Theo shot them both a look. ¡°Did I step on your toes by ident?¡±
¡°No! You left us in the swamp!¡± Sarisa shouted. ¡°Back to work, demon-boy!¡±
Theo grumbled, turning away to smile privately. He deserved all the mocking they sent his way. And it was pretty funny. Someone of less self-assuredness might take those jabs personally.
¡°You guys wanna see something messed up?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Not me,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, turning away to trudge through the swamp. ¡°I have wards to attend to.¡±
¡°Is it a dead body?¡± Sarisa asked, narrowing her eyes.
¡°Are we gonna throw rocks at a body?¡± Rowan asked, seeming more excited than he should have been.
Theo produced three Sense Spirit Potions from his inventory, handing one to Rowan and one to Sarisa. ¡°Close to the mark. Let¡¯s go.¡±
The group trudged through the swamp. Theo would have left them behind, but he needed to save his trip to Tero¡¯gal. He could have forced his way into the realm, but that left him feeling uneasy. Even in his own realm, if he didn¡¯t use the Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage skill he would be a trespasser. They arrived in town, passing through the square and heading just beyond Miana¡¯s ranch. The market area wasing along, with a few traders peddling their wares. Those traders would have been from foreign nations, arriving by boat.
But this was the area Theo had picked to focus his efforts. Through maniption of his concentrated aura, he had made the market the focal point. A single lodestone stood in the market¡¯s center, radiating his will to every golem. The effect of that lodestone would make the two half-ogres present crap their pants.
¡°We should stand on the wall for this,¡± Theo said, finding the nearest set of stairs that led to the battlements.
¡°I don¡¯t like where this is going,¡± Sarisa said. ¡°I can read, you know.¡±
¡°Not well.¡±
¡°Still, I know what the potion says. You¡¯re going to make us look at creepy spirits.¡±
¡°She¡¯s afraid of spirits.¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±
¡°There¡¯s a spirit right behind you!¡± Rowan shouted.
Sarisa did not look back.
¡°Quaff your potions,¡± Theo said, tipping the contents of his potion into his mouth.
¡°Quaff?¡± Sarisa asked, giggling. She drank her potion, letting out a strained yelp a momentter.
Theo felt a chill run up his spine. A field of spirits spread from that lodestone, attracted to his willpower like moths to a me. They gazed upon it, standing in concentric rings that radiated as far as he could see.
¡°There¡¯s thousands of them,¡± Rowan croaked.
¡°Ah. I might have pulled a few too many in.¡±
¡°You did this? Why?¡±
¡°I think these are the souls from Vesta that refused to leave.¡± Theo studied the crowd. He couldn¡¯t tell what race they were from. They could have easily been half-ogres or elves, it was impossible to tell. ¡°I drew them in with my willpower. Something about the way the undead were banished attached them to that¡ vor. I don¡¯t have a better way to describe it.¡±
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¡°Are you abducting these people, Theo?¡± Sarisa asked. ¡°Should we be concerned?¡±
¡°I¡¯m helping them along. They get to skip a step this way. I think.¡±
¡°How do I turn this potion off?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see these things anymore.¡±
¡°The potion expires in an hour.¡± Theo spread his willpower over the field of spirits. He could feel each one in his senses, shing like candles struggling against a breeze. The lights seemed eager to move on, pushing toward the void even without his intervention. ¡°Now you see them¡¡±
The spirits soaked through the veil, vanishing from the mortal ne.
¡°Now you don¡¯t.¡±
¡°Ah. That¡¯s better.¡± Rowan nodded with approval, folding his arms over his chest.
¡°I still feel uneasy.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll get over it.¡± Theo focused on his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage skill. He slipped through the veil, following those interdicted souls over the bridge. He thought he could hear Uz¡¯Xulven yelling at him as he passed. A momentter, he set foot in Tero¡¯gal. ¡°Ah. That¡¯s a line.¡±
As expected, the spirits had arrived before him. Belgar had directed them into an orderly queue, creating a line that stretched throughout the realm. The pending requests section of his interface for Tero¡¯gal imed there were exactly 1143 spirits waiting to interview for eptance into the realm.
¡°Thanks for organizing this, Belgar,¡± Theo said, pping a hand on the dronon¡¯s back. ¡°Great work.¡±
¡°I usually do this. You just don¡¯t see it! What prompted this flood of souls into the realm?¡±
¡°I figured out how to drag souls from the mortal realm here. If they don¡¯t want to say, we¡¯ll send them off to whichever realm they want to live in.¡±
¡°For a moment there, I thought you¡¯d force them to remain within our realm. Hah. d I was wrong.¡±
Theo rolled his shoulders, withdrawing a chair from his shared inventory. Tresk always had useful stuff in that inventory. He questioned why there were exactly one-hundred small stones, but shrugged it off. She likely had a good reason. Or no reason¡ªeither was eptable.
¡°Now,¡± Theo said, facing down the first lost soul. ¡°How can I help you?¡±
The task might have been daunting, but it needed to be done. If Theo wanted to be the gatekeeper of the souls he trapped, he needed to interview each one. But five minutes on the mortal ne would equal twenty-four hours here, giving him plenty of time to go through each one. It wasn¡¯t as though the spirits expressed their life¡¯s story, bogging him down with each stage. They gave him basic thoughts and feelings.
¡°Would you like to stay in Tero¡¯gal?¡± Theo asked one soul. He assumed it was an elf. The spirit gave off a sense of thrillingbat. One-on-one duels and endless improvement for martial forms. ¡°Parantheir it is.¡±
Many of the souls didn¡¯t want to stick around, but he didn¡¯t expect them to. They were sent to many realms, most of which Theo had never heard of. It helped when Uz¡¯Xulven came over to yell at him for moving so many people over her bridge, but she remained. The dronon goddess assisted him, interpreting the vague senses the spirits gave him.
¡°No, he¡¯s talking about Udok,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, pping Theo in the back of the head. ¡°Come on, man. Get it together.¡±
¡°The dwarven gods all feel the same.¡±
¡°You¡¯re justzy. Come on, you still have a few hundred to go.¡±
All the spirits had been sorted out. Those that wanted to leave were sent off to their new homes, while those wishing to remain were ushered off by Belgar. More confusing than anything was how souls scaled in the heavens. When the realm reached 800 souls, it hit Level 40. But when the ticker counting the amount of souls reached 1000, nothing happened. Only when it hit 1300 did it roll up, meaning that new levels would require 500 souls per level. That was a lot of souls. 682 souls joined the realm by the end, which wasn¡¯t a bad number.
¡°I could use some tea,¡± Theo said, groaning as he stood. He had been hunched over for so long that his back was hurting.
¡°The others are already gathered. Well, they¡¯ve been gathered for a few years. A game of poker is afoot!¡±
¡°A years-long game of poker? I need to see this.¡±
Theo followed Uz¡¯Xulven to the cottage. When he opened the door he saw Khahar and Benton sitting at the table together with other gods watching in the wings. The bear god didn¡¯t break his concentration, but Khahar smiled up at Theo when he entered. The alchemist helped himself to some tea, grabbing a cookie before finding a seat on the outskirts of the battle. He reviewed his upgrade options for his realm.
Tero¡¯gal already had a ton of great upgrades. Histest upgrade turned the realm into a proper sphere. Well, Earth was an ote spheroid, but it was close enough to his home. A part of that upgrade had made him more eager to get more souls for the realm. Once the power of the realm had grown enough, it would have a proper ¡®space¡¯ area outside of the atmosphere. While he didn¡¯t know why it was important to him, he knew he wanted some space.
There were upgrades for the realm which would allow him to turn it into any shape he wanted. He could form Tero¡¯gal to be a domain of eternal darkness, a sprawling garden that went on forever, or something wacky like a giant volcano filled with pigs. It didn¡¯t matter what he thought about, he could form his realm that way. But the thing he wanted most of all for his realm was something that felt real. He didn¡¯t want something that was manufactured. Even if this ce didn¡¯t look exactly like Earth, he would settle for something that felt like his new home back on the mortal ne.
Several upgrade options stood out, but nothing could beat the ones that made this ce feel real. For the first time in a long time, he felt himself being drawn away from those options. Tero¡¯gal now housed two of the four thrones in this universe, and something tied to willpower caught his attention. It might not have been perfect, but anything that scaled with willpower was worth investigating. The alchemist examined this upgrade option, certain it would help defend those thrones against interlopers.
[Willpower Barrier]
Your realm can generate a barrier based on the collective willpower of all its inhabitants. Smaller barriers will be more resistant to damage thanrger ones. Barriers may be created by owners of this realm anywhere within the realm¡¯s boundaries. Interdiction events and invasions will be impossible until the barrier is destroyed.
This upgrade offered nothing to make the realm more Earth-like. But Theo had seen a long string of those upgrades, and felt it was prudent to defend the thrones. This also stacked with the Bubble] upgrade, which would make it even harder for anyone to invade directly to the thrones. Not that he thought this would happen anytime soon. It was good to be cautious, though. He inspected his realm.
[Tero¡¯Gal]
Mortal Dreamrealm
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 41
Souls: 1382
Expansions:
[Harvesting Array]
[Defensive Towers]
[Landscape Maniption]
[Guardians of Faith]
[Bubble]
[Simted Reality]
[Sphere]
[Willpower Barrier]
Pending Requests: 0
Theo was happy with where his realm was. It was a mix of quality-of-life upgrades and defensive ones. Whatever made the spirits within the realm happy made him happy. He turned his attention back to the game between Benton and Khahar, watching as the bear god made ys with expert precision. If the alchemist was honest with himself and others, he would admit that he had never been good at poker. Back on Earth, he was trash. Khahar mopped the floor with him, but he still tried. For Yuri, it was more about getting to know someone rather than winning or losing.
He was getting to know Benton very well.
The gods went nuts. Benton had done something impressive while Theo was taking a sip of his tea.
¡°Ah!¡± Benton said, pping his hands together. ¡°Really?¡±
Khahar smiled a toothy smile at the other god. ¡°It appears as though you¡¯ve won.¡±
¡°Seriously? I¡¯m sure you could win it all back.¡±
Khahar held his hand up, silencing Benton. ¡°I have business to attend to. I overextended myself and allowed you to take everything. Never reward bad moves. Or no one will learn.¡± Khahar vanished before Benton could say another word.
¡°Thanks, dad!¡± Uz¡¯Xulven shouted. ¡°He¡¯s such a drama cat.¡±
¡°Anyone else want to y?¡± Benton asked.
The gods and Theo shared a look. His request was met with a collective, ¡°no.¡±
6.20 - Uh-Oh
6.20 - Uh-Oh
Xol¡¯sa did a better job of siphoning energy from the dungeons than Theo had expected. The magic that drove the dungeons was well beyond him, even if he understood their habit of drawing energy from the realms. There was some interaction between the heavenly realms, the void, and dungeons. The alchemist just couldn¡¯t wrap his mind around it. Perhaps more Wisdom would help.
After Theo left Tero¡¯gal, he checked his administration interface. While he tried not to babysit the projects going on in town, it was hard not to peek. The administrators were using town funds to buy Monster Cores. That just got the alchemist thinking about their taxation system, and how wed it was. But he hardly cared. He siphoned all the money he made from his various businesses into the town. He didn¡¯t expect it to happen at first, but Ziz was doing the same.
This would have been an unsustainable economy back on Earth. But this wasn¡¯t Earth. The Soutnds Alliance didn¡¯t have to rely on things produced by extensivebor. Magic provided most of what they needed. But the people in the alliance were still very independent, keeping their own fortunes and contributing the rest to the cause. Tero¡¯gal had developed on its own, bing egalitarian without Theo¡¯s intervention. He wasn¡¯t sure if the spirits needed food, but they ate it. Food was produced through hunting, farming, or fishing and deposited into a pool. Although the spirits had splintered off, they still contributed.
It wasn¡¯t worth worrying about how many coins the towns under his control were generating. That money would go right back into the town, improving it every step of the way. Alise¡¯stest report imed they would have a stockpile of Monster Cores in a few days. More ships wereing and going from the port every day. And everyone was ying nice in the waters around Broken Tusk. The sailors hadments about the giant city right outside of the harbor, but it was business as usual. This world was filled with enough weird things that they hardly seemed to notice.
Business as usual.
Theo¡¯s eyes watered as the wind whipped his face. Sarisa and Rowan hung their heads out of the train car, howling against the wind. Everyone was getting used to the trains and it was hard to tell if that was a good thing. The alchemist just wished there was something Throk could do about the wind. The reportsing in from Gronro were promising, though. Ziz had some kind of hidden time dtion skill for his cores. Theo was convinced of that. The man worked about 34 hours in a day. The thought was hyperbolic, but the evidence was there.
The train came to a stop at the station near Gronro, allowing the three passengers off. The half-ogre operating the train nodded, cautioning them to watch their heads and horns while exiting the car. Gronro was looking better than ever. Theo drew in a deep breath from the fresh mountain air, feeling the chill on his exposed face. nt life had returned to the area in full. Shrubs and grasses grew everywhere. Even in the icy mountain region, pine saplings broke through the rocky earth. Heading to the northern side of town, and nodding to a gaggle of half-ogres and dwarves, Theo saw more signs of growth near the northern wall.
A dusting of snow clung to the ground just north of the gate, growing more intense the further the group walked. Sarisained, requesting Theo to teleport them. She didn¡¯t seem to care that it was impossible. Rowan enjoyed the sights, though. Especially when the massive bridge came into view in the distance.
The normal teams Ziz employed weren¡¯t working on the bridge project. Theo was confident he could spot a Broken Tusk half-ogre from two-hundred paces.¡°Grot is doing big things,¡± Theo said, nodding with approval. He approached the bridge that spanned the chasm. A chasm that Fenian had created. ¡°I guess I should have expected a dwarf to be so good with stone.¡±
The bridge was some hybrid between a suspension bridge and one with¡ pirs. Theo would be the first to admit he knew nothing about bridges. Massive towers rose on either side of the chasm, supporting braided cables that swooped along the length of the bridge¡¯s road. It was wide enough for four monorail tracks to be ced. Far too wide for any practical purpose¡ªthis seemed more like something someone built to brag.
¡°Theo!¡± Grot¡¯s booming voice echoed across the mountain pass. The dwarf rose from a group of citizens from Gronro. They were tweaking part of the suspension cables part-way down the bridge. ¡°What do you think?¡±
¡°Do you guys sleep?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Hired help, ya silly demon. You didn¡¯t see the gang of workersing from the port the other day? Hundreds of ¡®em. Elves, khahari. I saw a few broglings lifting stones. Funny bastards, those broglings.¡±
¡°Hired help?¡± Sarisa asked, scoffing. ¡°Dang that¡¯s a good idea. How manyborers did you ship in?¡±
¡°These were stoneworkers. People with cores for the job. Got ¡®em out of Bantein. Gave us a discount. Since they think the alliance stopped the undead.¡±
¡°Yeah, don¡¯t let them think otherwise,¡± Theo said. ¡°We might need more help in the future. How long did you have them hired for?¡±
¡°They¡¯re working on the next bridge already. Alise said she sorted out the details of the deal.¡±
Grot didn¡¯t need to ask if Theo was unaware of the deal. He buried his head in the sand with administration work. ¡°Excellent. I like that. How sturdy is the bridge?¡±
¡°Oh, quite sturdy.¡± Grot ced his hands on his hips, thrusting his chest out with pride. ¡°Only the best workmanship in my town. Cost a pretty penny, but you paid for most of it.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t remember agreeing to pay for this.¡± Theo searched the area, finding piles of supplies off to the side. Stones were stacked out in the open, while other things were kept in Dimensional Storage Crates. Lengths of monorail track wereid over the ground, no care to how they were stored. Throk had big things nned for these bridges, and no one was wasting time.
¡°Well, you did. Thanks for that. We¡¯re heading north from here¡ Ah, well¡ Kinda. Fenian made a mess of the area. We need to angle northwest before we head true north.¡±
¡°How confusing.¡± Theo approached the bridge¡¯s edge, tapping his foot on the stone. He shot a look at Sarisa. ¡°Could you step on the bridge?¡±
¡°What? You want me to step there? I don¡¯t trust it.¡±
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¡°The bridge is perfectly safe,¡± Grot protested.
Theo shook his head, stepping onto the bridge. It was fine. The wind picked up as he came to the midpoint, sending the bridge swaying slightly, but it was safe. A bit of y in the bridge¡¯s structure meant the builders knew what they were doing. Although the span wasn¡¯t that long, the bridge had been constructed in a grandiose fashion. He wouldn¡¯tin, since it made the Soutnds Alliance look fancier than it was. The more the alchemist thought about it, the more he realized that a fancy rail system was pretty fancy. He didn¡¯t know what the other nations had, but¡e on. It was cool.
After making it to the far side of the bridge, Theo surveyed the area with his aura. ¡°Far less necromantic energy than I expected. I think I should talk to Balkor soon¡¡±
¡°Keep your god business to yourself,¡± Grot grumbled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be involved.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t want to be involved. But here he was.
Teams were working on the next section of bridge. Theo observed the foreign workers, noting how efficient they were. He chatted with a few group leaders, getting their impression of the region and the recent war. Most expressed regret for the loss in Vesta and Qavell, but they were hardened against this cycle. They were excited to see what could be built in ce of those nations.
The tactical advantages of the bridges were obvious. It took effort to build them, but enough that copsing them was out of the question. If another army of the dead were to crash over thendscape, the Soutnds Alliance would destroy their own bridges, isting but protecting them from the assault. Theo was happy with the progress, bidding Grot farewell and making notes on his administrator screen. He instructed Alise to assign someone to manage this project, or at least provide aid to Grot if he needed it.
The tour was fun. Theo enjoyed checking in on these projects, but the day was wearing thin. He didn¡¯t need to ask Rowan and Sarisa if they were up for a trudge through the swamp. They wouldn¡¯t be eager to do something so daunting, and he wouldn¡¯t me them. pping his hands together to gain their attention, he nodded with conviction.
¡°Okay. We¡¯re having a free day.¡±
¡°Free day!?¡± Rowan shouted.
¡°Free half-day,¡± Sarisa corrected.
¡°Let¡¯s head back to town. I¡¯ll cloister myself in the manor or something and you two rapscallions can do whatever you want.¡±
¡°Oh, he treats us so well, brother.¡±
¡°Truly, a saint.¡±
The only thing Theo could think of doing was working on his alchemy and herbalism. Since he discovered the Night¡¯s End flower, he had driven himself further away from his experimental garden. It would be worthwhile to explore different ways to cultivate reagents, but he could do that from the manor. It would be alchemical spitballing with a single participant. Maybe Salire would be interested in it, but he needed some alone time to figure this out.
The ride back to town was uneventful. While Sarisa and Rowan seemed excited about the break at first, they were more against the idea as Theo found a seat in his study. He promised to leave the mortal ne while they were gone, sitting in the void while they weren¡¯t protecting him. That made them happy enough, and they scampered off to do their own things. The hired guard that appeared outside of the manor roughly ten minutes after they left didn¡¯t evade his notice.
Theo fell into the endless expanse of the void, staying on the near side. One could think of it as left and right, east and west. He remained on the side closest to the mortal realm, studying the area as he thought about a solution to his problem. Tier 4 potions were an issue. They produced powerful potions with absurd effects. The only problem is that only one of them could be crafted or consumed a week, which waspletely bullcrap. His n was to harvest the free attribute points from discovering those potions, but it didn¡¯t remove the problem.
Tier 3 potions were fine for what they did. They allowed a person to heal arge amount of health and mana, or to enhance their attributes in a blink. But it seemed as though the system only nned for Drogramath¡¯s alchemy to go to the fourth tier, not bothering to design anything that came after. This might have been a problem with the wild reagents Theo had used. He suspected using wild reagents was the culprit, but that would require extensive experimentation.
¡°I doubt splicing is the key,¡± Theo said, listening to his voice echo through the endless darkness. ¡°Mixing reagents just makes different reagents.¡±
Mixing reagents wasn¡¯t the key to creating more powerful reagents. That meant the only way to make them more powerful was to¡ make them more powerful. Theo had little time to think about it in recent days, but it made enough sense. He had to find a way to enhance the reagents he already had. Perhaps that was from cultivation, some mana infusion, or something else that would kick-start his nts to be ready for Tier 4 and above.
As Theo thought idly about his problems, he gazed off into the endless nothing. This side of the Bridge was calmer than the other, providing a view of the ckness from all directions. Beyond that bridge were the heavenly realms, which clouded the horizon like a backlit neb. The heavenly realms that rested beyond that point looked like glittering stars from here. He felt himself fading less on this side of the Bridge. Perhaps it was close enough to the mortal ne to anchor him. Questions had a habit of building themselvestely, spiraling into more questions that seemed impossible to answer.
Something strange caught his attention in the distance. Theo moved through the void, eyes locked on a patch of silver he couldn¡¯t exin. He looked down at the amorphous shape of the mortal ne below, then forward again to the silver. He pushed his senses to wash over it, feeling something familiar. The alchemist understood how souls got lost in the void, but had never seen one in the wild. This soul felt different than the others he had felt. There was something fundamental missing within it.
¡°Hello, little guy,¡± Theo said. ¡°Are you lost?¡±
But the sense of self within the soul didn¡¯t respond in such docile tones. It raged against its bonds, forcing Theo to withdraw his hand. Moments lingered on in the void. He used that time to consider what was so strange about the soul. He realized it wasn¡¯t that the soul was missing something. Something had been added. A thing that had no business in the void. It should have broken down when crossing the barrier between the realms.
¡°Now, why do you have a body?¡± Theo asked.
The mass of silver had no response. It didn¡¯t want Theo inspecting it, but had little choice. Everything wasid bare in the void. That was by design. The alchemist prodded, finding other things within the glittering cloud of silver. He felt objects attached to the person¡¯s body. Clothes, perhaps. None of it felt magical, but everything felt familiar. He wouldn¡¯t allow an old hope to build in his chest. This felt nothing like her, and he knew better than to assume the impossible.
No, he was certain this was a dude. Lingering in the void¡ for what reason, exactly? Theo searched the area, not finding another simr soul. He marked this ce in his mind and set off through the void, scouring the ce near the mortal ne for inspection. There were a few more clouds of silver, but none felt like the first. They were all weaker in spirit, and had given themselves to the void. He returned to the first silver soul, almost pressing his nose against it as he inspected.
¡°Now, why¡¡± Theo trailed off, his left horn scraping against the soul¡¯s edge. Something resonated in that moment. The alchemist felt a vibration spreading through his body, as though his trespassing form knew something was wrong. The soul burst into light. ¡°Uh-oh.¡±
Theo watched as the soul shot like a rocket, angled for the mortal ne. He chased after it.
6.21 - Fallen Soul
6.21 - Fallen Soul
Theo fell after the plummeting soul, piercing through the veil of the mortal world. It impacted before him, mming into a vacant area outside of Broken Tusk with a sh of light. When the alchemist arrived on the ne, hended nearby, eyes locked on the crater created by the fallen soul. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. It was the most confused he had been in a while.
Standing in the crater, eyes wide with confusion, was a man. Earth humans were much smaller than Theo remembered. This guy would have been a tank back there, but notpared to the height of a dronon or the stature of a half-ogre. His head was freshly buzzed and a scar ran the length of the left side of his face. He wore thick-treaded boots and aically out-of-ce gray trench coat.
¡°Damn,¡± he muttered, eyes searching the area. The most concerning part of the single word was that it was in English.
Theo had seen that expression on people before. The desperation before they drew a weapon and started sting. He crossed the distance between them in moments, making observations about the man¡¯scking speed, and gripped his forearm before he could reach into his coat. The alchemist yanked the hand free, finding a sawn-off shotgun with gadgets attached to the side.
¡°You¡¯re fast, demon,¡± he said, struggling against Theo.
20 Strength was apparently enough to overpower this guy. Theo thought about his observations before, the idea bolstered by a Wisdom of the Soul message. He didn¡¯t have a ss core, or ess to attributes. He was a baseline human from Earth, likely freshly plucked and deposited into this world¡¯s queue.
¡°Who are you?¡± Theo found it odd to speak words in English. How long had it been? He wrenched the gun from the man¡¯s hand, holding it limp at his side.
¡°Jan Turowski,¡± the man said, eyes still darting around. ¡°Figure I¡¯m in a mound of shit by now. Where am I?¡±
¡°Broken Tusk in the Soutnds Alliance.¡±Jan licked his lips. Theo could see him calcting how to get his gun back. The ghost of the man jumped forward and the alchemist kicked forward. When the new arrival moved, he was met with a foot and fell back onto his ass.
¡°Message received.¡± Jan coughed from the ground, rubbing his chest where Theo had nted his foot. ¡°Is this the other ce?¡±
¡°The what?¡± Theo asked, sputtering.
¡°Maybe not.¡± Jan looked around, reaching under his coat again.
Theo crossed the distance again, pinning the man¡¯s hand to the ground when he withdrew another gun. They always had another gun. This one was an old world revolver. No fancy tech attached to the side. ¡°Got anything else in that coat? Care to pull out a kitchen sink?¡±
Jan¡¯s lips curled into a smile, even as he rested on his back. ¡°Yeah, I have a few tricks. But I know when to admit I¡¯m beaten. Do they grow everyone so big around here?¡±
¡°Mostly. Let¡¯s start again. My name is Theo Spencer. Are you from Earth?¡±
¡°Where else would I be from?¡±
¡°What¡¯s the year?¡±
¡°2053.¡±
That was about 250 years off from when Theo left. He grit his teeth, unsure how to take the time nonsense going on. Building a mental map of what had happened, he confirmed his suspicion that there was something going on with Earth well before the Harbinger showed up. The governments of the world either suppressed information or it was lost. It was impossible to tell.
¡°Funny bringing weapons like these here,¡± Theo said, brandishing the shotgun. ¡°They¡¯re unlikely to work. You have a lot to learn if you want to survive.¡±
¡°Really? Looks fine to me.¡±
Theo held the gun up, trying not to roll his eyes. He pulled the trigger. Two barrels bucked against his hand as he fired, pain jamming down into his shoulder. He cursed, dropping the weapon and shaking his hand out.
¡°See?¡± Jan asked, winking from below. ¡°She works just fine.¡±
Theo red at the man, scooping up the shotgun and adding it and the revolver to his inventory. Jan raised an eyebrow, betraying his calm demeanor. The alchemist sighed when he felt Tresk and Alex drawing near, and released his shadow aura to block out unfriendly eyes. That got more of a reaction from the earthling.
¡°Woah! What is that!¡± Tresk shouted, walking through the barrier. The horse-sized goose came next, honking.
Now Jan¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise.
¡°An Earth human,¡± Theo said. ¡°Who I will release if he promises not to grab anything else from his coat.¡±
¡°Promise.¡± Jan took on an apologetic tone, eyes locked onto Tresk. ¡°Is that a lizard?¡±
¡°Kinda.¡± Tresk shrugged, responding in Qavelli. Her English sucked, but she read Theo¡¯s memories in real-time to get the trantion.
¡°We talking French around here? Is that a goose?¡±
Honk!
¡°You guys have anything hard to drink around here in fantasynd?¡± Jan asked, sitting up once Theo released him.
¡°Oh, yeah!¡± Tresk shouted, withdrawing some zee liquor from their shared inventory. She handed it over to the man, nodding with approval. ¡°Dang, he¡¯s so small. Smaller than the humans around here.¡±
Jan offered her a confused look.
¡°She thinks you¡¯re small,¡± Theo tranted.
¡°I¡¯m pretty big where Ie from,¡± Jan said, taking a swig from the sk. He winced before smacking his lips and nodding with approval. ¡°Shit could strip paint. I like it.¡±
Theo clicked his tongue, ufortable being out in the random field. ¡°On your feet, soldier. We need somewhere private to talk. Just stay inside the bubble.¡±
¡°What happens if I leave the bubble?¡±
Theo gave Tresk a look. ¡°Did you get a notification when you saw him? Something rted to your special core?¡±
Stolen novel; please report.
¡°Nope.¡±
Considering his next move, Theo opened his interface and issued amand. Xol¡¯sa still knew a lot about dimensional travel, even if the alchemist was bing the master of the void.
¡°Still¡ Just stay inside the bubble.¡±
¡°Understood. Stay inside and shut the hell up. So long as you don¡¯t kill me, we¡¯re cool.¡±
Theo led the party back to Broken Tusk. He had a lifetime around people like Jan, and wasn¡¯t interested in expanding his experiences. Twitchy people like him had seen stuff. Perhaps he was a soldier back in the old world, or a cop. The alchemist didn¡¯t know enough about the older version of Earth to make an assessment, but the answers woulde. Jan¡¯s head swiveled as they walked through town, spotting all the sights that must have made him question reality. They arrived at the study in the manor shortly after.
¡°Sit,¡± Theomanded, gesturing to the one chair. It was just Theo, Jan, and Tresk. Alex could no longer fit through the door.
¡°Yes, sir,¡± Jan said, taking a seat. He checked the door and the windows.
¡°What do you remember?¡± Theo asked. ¡°What happened before you came here?¡±
For the first time, Jan¡¯s expression shifted. He looked up thoughtfully, as though recounting the events of some ordeal. ¡°The whole thing started in Connecticut. I was looking for my nephew. Came across some wild shit.¡±
¡°What kind of wild shit?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I¡¯d say you wouldn¡¯t believe me, but¡ You¡¯re a demon. And she¡¯s a lizard¡ and¡ I don¡¯t know what he is,¡± Jan gestured to the door.
Xol¡¯sa bowed his head, cocking an eyebrow at the man in the chair. ¡°Who is this?¡±
¡°Jan,¡± the man in the chair responded. His eyes were locked on the extra-nar elf. He took another sip of the booze. ¡°I¡¯ll need more of this.¡±
¡°The glowing blue elf was the breaking point for you?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°So, Connecticut. Your nephew. Go on.¡±
Jan shrugged, taking another long drink. That liquor was for alchemical purposes, but Theo bit his tongue.
¡°Some weird stuff was happening. My nephew Ahmad disappeared and I was on his trail. Found a sniff of him in Hartford. Some old book shop just got a load of junk from an estate. Ahmad had made inquiries to the shop before he vanished. Boy was bedridden. Body was eating him alive. Funny how medicine can fail like that.¡±
This was more backstory than Theo expected to get out of the guy. It must have been weighing on his mind. When Tresk went to say something, he kicked her in the shin.
¡°I figured out who bought the book and tracked her down. Feisty girl named Maria up in New Hampshire. College kid. Then I got my ass beat by a six-year-old.¡±
¡°What?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Busted down Maria¡¯s door ready to get some information about Ahmad. Found this little girl with pointy ears talking with that college kid. Trained my shotty on them and the next thing I knew, the child was twisting my arm. Nearly broke it off.¡±
¡°A powerful ss core?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
¡°There were no sses back on Earth,¡± Theo said.
¡°Yeah, there were,¡± Jan said, shaking his head. ¡°Not sure where you were hiding, but there were plenty of people with those cores from what I remember. I never had one, but that Maria girl did.¡±
This flew in the face of everything Theo knew. It would take time for him to reconstruct his timeline of events, but that didn¡¯t matter right now. Now he needed to hear the rest of the story and get Xol¡¯sa¡¯s help to figure out what happened to this guy.
¡°So, the powerful child¡¡± Theo inclined his head, waiting for the man to continue.
¡°She said her name was Fate, always talking about her brother Omen. Never saw the brother, but I ran some operations with Fate and Maria. They said my nephew was trapped in another world, but they could get him out. Even if he was different. Got his diseases cured with a new body. Other fantastical shit that would make any uncle drop everything to see. Especially when that uncle had been watching his nephew die for the past eighteen years.¡±
Theo was gripped. He leaned in, waiting for more.
¡°Never saw my nephew. I couldn¡¯t keep up with the others, but some went into that other ce. They said Ahmad was fine. Fighting for the fate of the world or something. Thest thing I remember was an eye. A massive eye looking down at me. Darkness after that.¡±
Theo shot a look at Xol¡¯sa, who had his ¡®pondering wizard¡¯ expression on. ¡°I¡¯ve read of a massive purple eye in the sky, leering down on people.¡±
¡°The eye was red,¡± Jan corrected.
Xol¡¯sa shot Theo a look. ¡°Told him the wrong color trying to catch him.¡±
¡°Okay. What does it mean?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I¡¯ll need to run some tests on him.¡±
¡°Hooray.¡± Jan delivered the word with no enthusiasm.
¡°Are we gonna kill him afterward?¡± Tresk asked.
Theo opened his administration interface, drawing up a contract. ¡°No, I¡¯ll bind him in a few contracts.¡±
¡°A few what?¡± Jan asked.
¡°Magical contracts,¡± Xol¡¯sa exined. ¡°You¡¯ll be killed by spirit animals if you void the contracts.¡±
¡°I saw a guy explode after voiding a contract,¡± Tresk added. It was aplete lie, but it got Jan to twitch. She understood the assignment.
Theo presented the contract to Jan,ughing as the man flinched back. ¡°Read those over. Or not, you don¡¯t have a choice but to sign them.¡±
Jan grumbled, poking at the air to swipe through the many pages of the contract. It forbade him from harming anyone within the alliance or her allies. It also protected the interests of the alliance, spanning further than he would normally allow a contract to span. But it was the only way to get an unknown factor under control.
Under Theo¡¯smand, Tresk went off to hire three adventurers from the guild to watch Jan. The man was putting on a strong front, but the walls woulde crashing down. Some might think execution or banishment was the right move, but this guy would be a trove of information about old Earth. He mentioned both Connecticut and New Hampshire. Both locations were mostly destroyed in Theo¡¯s time. If the only thing he got out of the exchange was information about the world his people left behind, it would be worth it.
¡°There. Guess I¡¯m your ve, now,¡± Jan grumbled. ¡°What should I do?¡±
As if summoned by the words, the door swung open and Sulvan stepped in. ¡°Is this the guy?¡±
Theo nodded. The only god Theo trustedpletely was ntheir. What better way to introduce Jan to the world than through a servant of that god?
¡°There¡¯s a group of adventurers waiting for you outside. They¡¯ll keep him in line. If needed.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Jan said, groaning to his feet. ¡°I¡¯m getting too old for this shit as it is. What are we doing, boss?¡±
Sulvan pulled at Jan¡¯s coat, cocking a brow. ¡°You¡¯ll need some new clothes to blend in.¡±
Jan tried to smack Sulvan¡¯s hand away, but failed. He cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯d rather keep the coat, thank you.¡±
Sulvan seized his hand, reaching inside to withdraw a knife. ¡°To conceal this?¡±
¡°Get him a spear or something,¡± Theo said. ¡°Daggers kinda suck.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Tresk shouted.
Theo gave her a t look. ¡°Your daggers only work because of your sses. Unssed folks are better off using weapons with range.¡±
¡°Agreed.¡± Sulvan gestured for Jan to exit the room. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work. Qavell is stable, but we have a lot of work to do.¡±
¡°Yes, sir.¡±
Once the room was cleared, Xol¡¯sa nodded at Theo. ¡°This is a strange turn,¡± he said with a shake of his head. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±
The only thing Theo could think of were the other souls he saw in the void. If that was the queue of souls ready to head down to the mortal ne, interacting with them was a bad idea. More information about what Earth was like would be nice, but he couldn¡¯t predict who he would find.
¡°I¡¯m thinking I opened a can of weird. We need to watch that guy. He¡¯s not showing it, but this is new for him. He¡¯ll be scared, looking for a way to get out.¡±
¡°Would that be so bad?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
¡°He¡¯d die out there. Even if he could hop a ship out of town, or head north¡ Yeah, I think nothing friendly is waiting for him without a ss. Even if he had his guns.¡±
¡°Well, that was some serious excitement for today.¡± Tresk stretched, rolling her shoulders. ¡°I think you should bring more souls from the queue. Might make things more interesting.¡±
6.22 - New Alchemical Methods
6.22 - New Alchemical Methods
Theo gave Sulvan ess to a piece of the administration interface, allowing him to give updates about the new arrival. The alchemist settled into theb. Salire had a way of clearing his mind of the outside world, helping him focuspletely on alchemy. It didn¡¯t hurt that the hired artificer had fixed the printing machine.
Salire thumped her hand on a bound copy of her book, an endless smile hanging on her face. ¡°Here it is!¡±
Theo ran his fingers over the book, looking at his name emzoned on the front. Modern Drogramathi Alchemy was an interesting title. She imed it needed revisions, but was good enough for now. Within the book was their collective knowledge about distition, including which skills were needed at which phase. It was thorough about heating instructions, and even had a section dedicated to detailing a guide to creating stills.
¡°Faith?¡± Theo asked, flipping to a new section of the book. ¡°Hah, you¡¯re telling them toe here to worship Drogramath. Interesting.¡±
¡°It worked for me,¡± Salire said with a shrug.
¡°I¡¯m sure Ulvuqor would love a copy of this. Can I have one?¡±
¡°You can have ten! I¡¯ll just make more.¡±
Theoughed, stuffing a few copies in his inventory. This would be a great bridge for future generations of Drogramath alchemists, even if it would be done on a different ne. For now, he was happy to see the progress he had made represented in a book. More than that, Salire increased her knowledge of the art by putting her thoughts down. She could perform first and second tier alchemy reactions without a problem. Even without the status of Champion, she was an amazing alchemist.
¡°Are we running anything fun today?¡±¡°Today?¡± Salire asked, craning her neck to see out the window. ¡°Is there much left in the day?¡±
¡°I guess not¡ Well, since you¡¯re an alchemy expert now, I have some things I want to run by you.¡±
¡°Oh, yeah. Look at me. Better than the Champion of Drogramath.¡± Salireughed nervously. ¡°What is it?¡±
Theo led the way outside to his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop. He looked over the nts in his Experimental Garden. They were frozen in time, waiting for him to get better at manipting nts so he could mimic the effects of the wild-grown fourth tier reagents. Until then, this ce was mostly unused.
¡°We have a few ways we can move forward, but I suspect I know how reagents are working for us right now. We have lower-tier reagents creating lower-tier potions, which isn¡¯t an issue. Not every nail needs a sledgehammer.¡±
¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with the lower potions, though. Is there?¡± Salire asked. She stooped low, inspecting the things growing in the Experimental Garden Plot. ¡°Splicing has only produced new reagents, right?¡±
¡°Yeah. While that¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t see it as a way forward. We might be at a point where we determine where the next phase goes. But I don¡¯t think the powerful wild reagents are it. I think that¡¯s a side-path, rather than the true fourth tier potions. They¡¯re listed as elixirs, rather than potions.¡±
¡°You¡¯re saying we haven¡¯t found the right way to make those potions? How certain are you?¡±
Theo wasn¡¯t absolutely sure he was right. It was hard to know if he was even partially right, but he had followed his instincts to sess so far. ¡°Fairly certain. Your book inspired me to think about the ways we have been crafting potions and see if we can find some analogs between that and growing reagents.¡±
Salire looked up to the sky, biting the inside of her cheek. ¡°Tonight?¡±
¡°No. Of course not. It¡¯s getting toote, but I wanted to leave you with something to think about so we can start tomorrow morning.¡±
¡°Oh! Yeah, that¡¯s a good idea.¡±
¡°I can do some experiments in the Dreamwalk.¡±
¡°Sounds good,¡± Salire said, looking at the sky again. She looked eager to leave.
¡°You¡¯re free to leave,¡± Theo said, nodding at her. ¡°Since it looks like you¡¯re gonna pee your pants.¡±
¡°Thanks!¡± Salire shouted, dashing off without another word.
Theo locked up the Newt and Demon and checked his administration interface. Alise had made a report that she had worked with Salire to utilize the Order From Chaos skill to create a potion stockpile, even granting each adventurer ess. Sulvan had a report that he got into a fight with Jan, striking the unssed human in the head and inflicting a nasty wound. He had healed it, and the outworlder behaved after that. Perhaps altruism wasn¡¯t in the man¡¯s blood.
¡°Do you think Theo will figure it out?¡± Sarisa asked, emerging from the shadows.
Theo began walking away, hoping to outpace the siblings before they could chafe him with more jabs.
¡°Doubtful! He¡¯s clueless.¡±
¡°About what?¡± Theo asked, ring at Sarisa and Rowan.
¡°Oh. Just that your apprentice has a hot date.¡± Salire whistled.
¡°Smoldering.¡±
¡°Is it Fenian?¡± Theo asked, narrowing his eyes at the pair.
¡°No,¡± they said at the same time.
¡°Then I don¡¯t care. As long as Fenian didn¡¯t get her, I can rest easy. Let¡¯s go make dinner.¡±
The confines of the Dreamwalk gave Theo room to think. His first thought for creating new potions was to discover a new technique to extract as much potency as possible. Distition squeezed an absurd amount of purity from reagents, meaning it was the most effective way he knew of. But there might have been another way.
Tresk and Alex were training in the distance the way they always had. Theo hadn¡¯t been invited to fight alongside them in a long time. They had instead be a fighting pair that required constant drilling. The aerial moves they performed required a level of precision that could only be gained through practice. The alchemist concerned his thoughts with alchemy tonight, instead of increasing his willpower.
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The first stage of alchemy was simple distition. Next came the concentration of essence, and finally the infusion of enchanted alcohol into the mix. The third step worked because it allowed the alcohol to burn away the impurities, leaving them behind during the distition process. Perhaps that idea could be taken further.
Theo set up a few stills to observe the reactions within during an alcohol run. He asked himself questions about the run, and exined each stage to a rubber duck he had summoned. It wasn¡¯t named Bob, but he just needed something to talk to.
¡°A Bound Enchanted DIlution works because the alcohol is infused with the property you¡¯re looking to extract,¡± Theo said, nodding to the yellow duck perched on a rock. ¡°What if we infuse it with more?¡±
Running a few experiments with his stills showed Theo that this was the right track, but wrong application. He sifted through the skills for his Drogramath Alchemy Core, finding nothing that gave him a hint. There might have been some strange stuff going on, since he was on the forefront of Drogramath¡¯s alchemy in the mortal realm, but he didn¡¯t get that impression. He instead focused on ways he could use existing essence to enhance a run,ing up with several approaches.
The first angle he took was the way he always did things. Standard alchemy. This was the attempt to infuse the essences during the first stage of production. Even with Wisdom of the Soul, his intuition pushed him in a different direction. The resulting angle he approached the problem from brought insights, but wasn¡¯t the way forward. There was no way to entangle the vapor version of the essence with a liquid version. Which led to thest idea.
Messing with the vapor form of an essence was untapped territory. The only way they had worked with essence vapor was bypressing it, resulting in a refined version. Theo worked on imagining this new method, drawing things out in his interface and testing them in the Dreamwalk. Starting with an alcohol infusion during the first step, and ending with another version at the end was the only way. He made alterations to his imagined still, directing the output into the old version of the pressure tank. These were heated, which would allow the essence to maintain vapor form.
¡°This makes sense, right?¡± Theo asked himself. He wasn¡¯t convinced, but the strength of his feelings on this concept was undeniable.
Theo allowed the distition to y out slowly, creating a third tier essence that never reached the condensation stage. It instead poured into the condenser, although the artifice that added pressure to the vessel never activated. It was instead kept warm enough to maintain vapor form. Storage ofrge quantities of the gaseous essence might be a pain, but this might work. The concept was sound, even if he didn¡¯t have every step. He would double-down on the core of an essence, reinfusing that concept back into the mix.
But the Dreamwalk refused to go too far with this one. It bit back, giving Theo a sensation of foreboding. He instead collected his thoughts, adding them to his notes. Eight hours of rest meant eight hours of experimentation for the alchemist. His nights had been spent using the exploit to send his willpower to absurd heights, but the thrill of discovering new alchemy was too alluring. It was good to take a break, anyway.
Stepping out of the Dreamwalk, Theo followed behind Tresk. They headed downstairs to get some breakfast. As he walked, the alchemist smelled something in the air that was¡ interesting. It held a simr savory scent he was used to smelling in the morning, but was different. Down in the dining area, he spotted Sarisa and Rowan setting out bowls, instead of tes. Each was filled with a clear broth liquid topped with sliced greens.
¡°What is this!?¡± Tresk shouted. Theo could feel her fighting back the urge to flip the table. ¡°Where¡¯s the bacon?¡±
¡°No bacon today.¡± Sarisa sighed into her seat, picking up a spoon and slurping some soup. ¡°This is a cleansing broth.¡±
¡°Give me something yummy from your inventory,¡± Tresk said, pawing at Theo. ¡°I need some proper food.¡±
¡°Try it, Tresk.¡± Rowan sipped from his bowl.
Theo tested his own bowl before passing judgment. He sipped the clear broth, shrugging after the vor hit his tongue. It tasted like watered-down chicken broth with lemon. His first thought was that it would be great to have if he were sick. It was light and unoffensive while still filling his stomach. ¡°I like it,¡± he said after a long pause.
¡°That¡¯ll purge your guts,¡± Sarisa said. ¡°Which Tresk needs more than anyone. I bet her guts are gross.¡±
Tresk grumbled, sipping soup from her spoon. ¡°I don¡¯t hate it,¡± she grumbled.
¡°Good. Everyone needs to keep their strength up!¡± Sarisa said, striking a pose.
After drinking his breakfast soup, Theo headed off to check on Jan. Sulvan was being a good disciple of ntheir and updating the things he was doing with the neer that day. He gave a y-by-y, including things about Jan¡¯s temperament and desires for the future. They had been up at the asscrack of dawn, serving the people of Qavell in whatever way they needed. The alchemist went there himself, finding the pair distributing food to citizens.
¡°Enjoying the work?¡± Theo asked, looking down at the human.
¡°Oh, yeah. Toting some boxes around. Excellent use of my skills.¡±
¡°He¡¯s doing very well,¡± Sulvan said, nodding to Jan. ¡°Grumpy, but he¡¯s eager to help. More than anything, he enjoys learning about our world. And I have enjoyed learning about his world.¡±
That made sense. Jan¡¯s story involved parts where he helped random people as they rescued his nephew. There was some good in him, and ntheir would only help pull that out.
¡°Keep it up, guys.¡±
Jan grunted a response while Sulvan waved, smiling as Theo headed out. Qavell was still a problem and Hanan hadn¡¯t ironed out the details of his eptance into the alliance. This city and the underground town needed to be sorted. But both were big projects that would take time. Theo instead headed to the Newt and Demon to share his findings with Salire. She was dealing with a customer downstairs. It was a customer representing the town, so was it really a customer? Whatever, they were exchanging cash for potions.
Theo found a length of parchment to scribble on. If they were going to get this to work, they would need a few artifice pieces for their stills. A few quick sketchester and he was ready to show his findings off. But she took too long getting upstairs, so he got busy with some basic alchemy. There was nothing wrong with having low-tier potions on hand, especially now that the adventurers had a pool they could draw from. With the quantities theb produced, it wouldn¡¯t hurt them. If only there was a way to industrialize the spirit reagent process¡ Another day, perhaps.
¡°You look eager,¡± Salire said, ascending to theb on the third floor. ¡°I hope that means you found something.¡±
¡°Maybe. I couldn¡¯t really test it in the Dreamwalk, but it makes sense. Listen to this¡¡±
Theo exined his idea of injecting the vapor form of aligned essence into the condensation part of their process. Salire nodded along, waiting until he finished to bring feedback.
¡°But what element of the distition binds the two essences?¡± Salire asked.
Yeah, a vaporized essence wouldn¡¯t bind with another just because they were introduced in a pressurized environment. That needed a sort of catalyst, like the Suffuse Potion. ¡°Damn. Why do I have the feeling you¡¯re right?¡± The alchemist tapped his chin, his tail sweeping back and forth. ¡°Why does this feel like it should work?¡±
Salire blew out a steady breath, drumming her fingers on the table. ¡°I see what you¡¯re going for here, but we¡¯re talking about a lot of specialized equipment. It¡¯s easy pulling liquid essences together, but as a gas? How would we measure it?¡±
¡°I¡¯m hoping we can have Throk create an artifice to do the job.¡±
¡°We can follow your gut, though. We¡¯ll need new pressure tanks, some tubing, an injection mechanism, and¡ Well, other things we can¡¯t predict.¡±
¡°Maybe we can do a small-scale experiment. Any ideas on how we can skim some vapor into another vessel?¡± Theo was eager to get this idea working. He was certain it would work.
¡°Yeah, we can do that. Let¡¯s put our heads together. What would bind two vaporized essences together sopletely that they are almost without ws?¡± Salire asked.
Theo cracked his knuckles. ¡°Only one way to find out. Gotta do random bullshit until something sticks.¡±
6.23 - Failure Means Progress
6.23 - Failure Means Progress
Theo and Salire stood out in thend behind the Newt and Demon. The area around the building was bing crowded, giving them little room to do dangerous experiments. Essence sputtered from the spout on a still, collecting into a sk resting on a table. The alchemist prepared the temporary pressure vessel, which might as well have been held together with duct tape and bubblegum.
¡°This should be fine,¡± Theo lied. ¡°Throk had this junk behind his workshop. He never did anything with it.¡±
¡°Good thing he hoards all his stuff.¡± Salire turned the valve on the condenser artifice, sending the distilling Healing Essence into the tank. The condenser stopped sputtering, depositing thest few drops of refined essence into the sk.
Once they had enough vapor inside of the pressure vessel, they cut the flow and swapped from the still as a feeder to another container they had prepared. Thanks to the artifices on the tank, they could siphon vapor from either direction, allowing them to pump in aplimentary Healing Essence vapor they had prepared before starting this experiment. This was the first leg of experimentation that would give them a sense for how viable this was.
¡°Flip the switch,¡± Theo said, giving the signal.
Salire set the artifice to pump, allowing the gas to mix in the chamber. They didn¡¯t have to wait long for something to happen. Moments after hitting the switch, the sides of the container bulged. Both Salire and Theo had enough alchemy instincts to hit the ground, shielding their heads from potential shrapnel. While the edges of the copper vessel bulged, they didn¡¯t give way.
Theo edged close to the container, hitting the release valve on the side. mes belched from the pipe, roaring out with a rush of heat and sound. The alchemist winced, gritting his teeth as the ming reaction was removed from the tank.
¡°Nope. That wasn¡¯t it,¡± he said, checking that he still had eyebrows. Both were still there, despite his expectations. ¡°Mixing essences is a bad idea, even in vapor form. And even when those essences are the same.¡±
¡°We¡¯re missing something,¡± Salire said, inspecting the damage to the tank. ¡°And we¡¯ll need tomission a few more tanks if we want to continue experimentation.¡±¡°Smaller versions, I think,¡± Theo said, fixing his hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go over the factors that would cause two vapor essences to bind.¡±
¡°They¡¯re ipatible. Which means we need a binding agent to force them to work.¡±
¡°Like the dilutions. I¡¯m going to Throk¡¯s tomission a few things. We have some left-over Enchanted Bound Dilution, right? How about we vaporize that and use it on a third tier essence. See if we can¡¯t coax a true fourth tier reaction.¡±
¡°Well, that just might work.¡±
Theo scratched his chin, finding himself fidgeting more and more as this problem went unsolved. ¡°I¡¯m almost certain we¡¯re still missing something, though. Okay, this might take longer than expected. I¡¯m gonna go talk to Throk.¡±
Theo headed out from their testing area, leaving all their equipment there. This wasn¡¯t a problem he could solve in a day like normal, but he had one more advantage to seize. He made his way to Throk¡¯s workshop, finding the marshling missing. An apprentice was there to take his order, though. With the express fee, they could have the devices ready in hours¡ If Throk was there. He was working on the northern rail line. So things might take a while to get done. Fine. Everything was fine.
¡°You guys want toe to Tero¡¯gal?¡± Theo asked, turning to the shadows he expected Sarisa and Rowan to be hiding in.
¡°Nope,¡± Sarisa said, emerging from a different shadow. ¡°Hate that ce.¡±
¡°Yeah, you can go alone. Go brood in the heavens by yourself, you little demon.¡±
Theo shrugged, activating his Tero¡¯gal Dreampassage skill. He took the normal way, passing over the bridge andnding in his own realm within a few moments. It seemed smoother somehow, but he couldn¡¯t ce his finger on it. And the souls of those in the queue didn¡¯t pass his notice as he approached. But they were a problem for another day. He had tea at the cottage, finding the normal assortment of gods minus Drogramath. That wasn¡¯t concerning, but it was annoying.
Khahar pulled him aside before he could jump to another realm, a smile on the cat-dude¡¯s face. ¡°You found Jan,¡± he said. ¡°What an asshole.¡±
¡°How much do you know about old Earth, Yuri?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Not as much as I would like. That man has a lot of stories. I¡¯m rather excited.¡±
¡°He came with a gun. Did you see the gun?¡±
¡°Vaguely. Your shadow barrier is getting stronger by the day. Have you been lifting?¡±
Theo paused, narrowing his eyes at his old friend. ¡°Are you feeling alright? You¡¯re freaking me out.¡±
¡°I¡¯m feeling great. When you knocked Jan out of the queue, you confirmed a few theories. We deviated from a line of fate that I was tracking, but not by much. Exciting stuff.¡±
Theo wondered if the use of the word ¡®fate¡¯ was intentional or not. He was now highly suspicious of both Fate and Maria, and what role they had to y in the way things were going with this world. So long as it was a step in the right direction, everything would be fine. The alchemist would find a way to interview the souls before he dislodged them from the queue to see if he could glean information. Khahar had a few more pleasantries to exchange¡ªa series of words that were far more verbose than normal¡ªbefore heading to Drogramath¡¯s realm.
He arrived in those giant potion bottles, finding the lord of the realm tending to some nts. ¡°Questions. Questions,¡± Drogramath said,ughing to himself. ¡°Theoes with questions.¡±
¡°I thought you might like that.¡± Theo approached, looking down at the strange nt he had never seen before. ¡°Have you been watching?¡±
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¡°Yes. You¡¯re pushing my alchemy further than I could have ever imagined. Congrattions on being my most sessful Champion.¡±
¡°Thanks. But, are we on the right track?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Mostly. You¡¯ll get it. A few more explosions and everything will be just fine. I¡¯d give you a hint, but¡ I think you¡¯re there.¡±
Theo shrugged, kneeling to inspect the nt Drogramath was working on. He didn¡¯t get a system message for the nt. The realm must have blocked his inspection of the nt. Dronon loved their secrets, didn¡¯t they?
Drogramath had some other stuff to talk about, but it was mostly cryptic musings on the nature of nts. Theo didn¡¯t detect any hints, but he didn¡¯t care. He returned to Tero¡¯gal to have more tea, and was happy to just rx. With no souls to sort out, he spent his time in leisure rather than working his butt off.
Theo enjoyed his tea and the lively conversation of the gods assembled in the cottage. But he spent his time thinking about the ways he could make his n work. Instead of contracting, his list of potential solutions expanded. He focused on the way things had worked for him in the past, and the progression of alchemy he had observed along the way. From standard distition to pressurization and finally alcohol infusion, each method created an extra dimension. But each dimension focused on the same concept of removing impurities.
It was time to go when Spit wouldn¡¯t stop breaking things. He could only break the things brought into the realm, so that meant all of Benton¡¯s hand-made cups. The bear god needed to step up, even if it was against an ogre god. Theo fell through the realms, his mind too unfocused on godly things to remain there. He arrived back where he came from, and got back to work. He created a list of approaches they could try to get the vaporized essences to bind.
Salire was dealing with customers downstairs when a nervous-looking marshling entered the third floor. He bowed his head at Theo, cing a few artifices on the table and scampering off. It had been about twenty minutes since they put the order in. Someone must have been bored over in Throk¡¯s shop. The alchemist took the first device in his hand. It was a Drogramathi Iron vessel. Mini version, of course. It had all the same input and output ports as the full size one.
¡°What¡¯s this one?¡± Theo asked, picking up a strange-looking device. It was a straight tube with pots on either end and one on the side. He decided it could be used inline, allowing him to infuse gasses with other gasses. There were several duplicates of this one. ¡°Good. Cause I¡¯m gonna blow a few up.¡±
Theo prepared a few things before heading out back to the explosion field. If he used that area more often for that purpose, he might just make a district. Salire finished up with a customer as he left, joining with him out to the yard.
¡°What do you have there?¡± she asked.
¡°The weird artifices, or the other stuff?¡±
¡°Yeah, all of it.¡±
¡°This is the junk that Throk¡¯s apprentices made.¡± Theo held up the tiny versions of the pressure vessels. ¡°And these are catalysts I¡¯ve ground to a powder. I¡¯ve never used bones as a catalyst, but whatever. There¡¯s a first time for everything.¡±
Theo¡¯s n was to go nuts with infusions. He had a few things prepared, but had also crammed his inventory full of crap to try out. Salire helped him set up the first leg of the experiment. The original tank they had used was deformed, but still contained some un-ruined vapor. He thought it was still usable, anyway. Without a way to see inside, and absolutely no way to inspect the vapor form of essence, he was going off of a guess and intuition.
¡°Test number one,¡± Theo said, flipping the tube-thing over after it was filled with Healing Essence gas. ¡°How the hell do I put other crap in here?¡±
¡°Oh! There¡¯s an adapter,¡± Salire withdrew something from her inventory. ¡°The little marshling dropped it off earlier. He¡¯s just bringing them over as he makes them.¡±
¡°Weird kid,¡± Theo said, giving the adaptor a half-turn. This thing was meant for liquid, but whatever. He inserted the powder, pressed a button on the device, and tossed the device away.
It exploded like a pipe bomb.
Theo handed a Healing Potion over to Salire as he yanked a bit of metal free from his arm. She removed a simr fragment from her shoulder, shaking her head as she drank the potion.
¡°Well, that didn¡¯t work.¡±
¡°No one said alchemy wasn¡¯t dangerous. On to the next one.¡±
Different granrities of powder didn¡¯t change the result. Each created a pipe bomb of varying strength. Theo and Salire tried everything they could think of, mixing different concentrations of gasses together, vaporizing other essences or full potions. The apprentice alchemist had a constant stream of testing artificesing in from the artificer¡¯s workshop, refining the design as they went. The apprentices there weren¡¯t as good as Throk, but they were good enough for the tests.
Theo twisted thetest model shut, releasing the valve to introduce two gasses together. He tossed the device, plugging his ears and waiting for the explosion. At least they had learned to hide behind trees during the explosion. But the result was a sputtering thing, barely registering as a bomb.
¡°Wait, what just happened?¡± Theo said, narrowing his eyes to observe the reaction. ¡°Didn¡¯t we try that already?¡±
Salire checked her notes. ¡°The mixture was¡ pure alcohol. We tried a bound dilution, and an unbound dilution before.¡±
¡°But it still had a reaction.¡± Theo dug his heel into the soft ground. ¡°Because¡. Why?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s move on. Perhaps this isn¡¯t the path forward,¡± Salire said.
¡°No, something is itching in the back of my head. I can feel it.¡±
¡°Wash your hair more often.¡± Salire gave a cheesy grin.
Theo turned, his thoughts rolling over in his head. He headed to the artificer¡¯s workshop,missioning a new piece. Salire followed behind him, watching as the alchemist sketched something for the worker to create. They were making the stuff so quickly because the testing tubes only required a few pieces to be pped on with some artificer skill.
¡°What do you think?¡± Theo asked, pointing to the mixing chamber on top of the tube. Two elements could be mixed before being added to the vapor.
¡°Vaporized alcohol in one, and¡ what about the other?¡± Salire asked.
Theo pressed his hand against the second chamber, allowing Drogramathi mana to bubble to the surface. It dripped in. Like most raw mana that wasn¡¯t controlled, or added to a crafting, it became a faint cloud of purple within the chamber.
¡°Oh! Oh! I see what you¡¯re doing!¡± Salire shouted, bouncing up and down on the spot. The annoyed marshling pointed to the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go. He¡¯s giving us the stink eye.¡±
Returning to the field filled with metal shards, Theo added gaseous liquor to the first chamber and pressed a button. They flooded into a smaller holding tank, ready to be introduced to the essence gas. He filled that chamber, pressed another button, and tossed the tube. Just in case.
¡°No explosion?¡± Salire asked, poking her head around the tree.
Theo did the same, setting his sight on the tube. ¡°Nothing. Did it really work?¡±
The pair ran the gas through a condenser, but didn¡¯t get fourth tier essence for their efforts. They went back-and-forth, finally concluding what the missing piece was. Theo cleaned out the testing tube, flooding the main chamber with essence gas. He put more of his mana into the second mixing chamber, and a Bound Dilution into the first. Pushing the first button, he watched as his mana mixed perfectly. His observations of the reactions were limited to whether or not it exploded. Still to unsure of holding the device and not dying, he flushed the mixture into the main chamber and tossed the tube into the field.
¡°That¡¯s a good sign! Oh! That means your mana is a stabilizing factor!¡± Salire shouted, jumping around. ¡°Just like modifier essences!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get it into the condenser,¡± Theo said, retrieving the tube. He extracted the gas into a spiral condenser, watching as it dropped into a sk below. There was too little for the system to give him a prompt, but he was hopeful. ¡°One step closer to proper fourth tier essence.¡±
6.24 - Explosions Are Essential To Alchemy
6.24 - Explosions Are Essential To Alchemy
Theo pressed his forefinger and thumb into his forehead, picking free a chunk of metal. He followed his intuition and the guidance of the Wisdom of the Soul prompts. A gas form of the unbound dilution had mixed with gaseous essence. The mixture was even stable, if only for a few seconds. But as the mixture condensed, pooling in a sk underneath, it exploded.
¡°Are you good?¡± Theo asked, trying not to cough.
¡°I¡¯m alive,¡± Salire said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t it work?¡±
That was a good question. Theo was certain this was the way forward, so why had it failed in thest step. But this wasn¡¯t something he could solve in a moment. He was tooser-focused on the problem, and needed to clear his head before he moved forward.
¡°Let¡¯s take a break. Could you do me a favor?¡± Theo asked.
Salire nodded, dutifully pulling out a notebook. He instructed her to get with Throk¡¯s people again, refining the design of the vapor mixing artifices. The alchemist knew this wouldn¡¯t be a waste of time. This was it. They just needed to find the missing piece of the puzzle before he got what he wanted.
¡°Agreed,¡± Salire said with a drawn-out sigh. ¡°I was certain that was going to work.¡±
¡°Yeah, me too. Get your brain working. Check with everyone you can find about evolving buildings. I¡¯m gonna find Throk.¡±
The duo broke for the day, parting from the clearing to perform their own tasks. Theo located Throk up north, working on the northbound train system. He stopped by Miana¡¯s ranch on his way there, finding the ex-mayor of the town working with a team of trained wolves and marshlings to ride them. After that, he checked on the market. They hadn¡¯t found a seed core to nt there, but the area had developed on its own. Merchants from afar now brought their wares to Broken Tusk. The ce that was once an empty field now bustled with activity.¡°And yet,¡± Theo grumbled to himself, the wind whipping his face. ¡°We still don¡¯t have windshields.¡±
It didn¡¯t pass Theo¡¯s notice that the trains were slightly faster than before. He had to hold on tighter so he didn¡¯t get tossed as the train took a corner. Throk must have juiced the artifices that drove the train. That or he refined his ability to make fake coins. Whatever the crafty marshling had done, the trip to Gronro could now be aplished in less time. Theo didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever get used to seeing the new Gronro-Dir. It seemed as though everyone stayed indoors when the threat of the undead was here. He spotted several new citizens, which he was surprised to learn came from the north.
¡°I thought everyone was dead,¡± Theo said, pping Grot on the back and startling the dwarf.
¡°Balls, you scared me,¡± Grot released a heavy sigh that stirred the whiskers of his mustache. ¡°Yeah, there was some druid enve somewhere up north. Those folks have been walking for a while. Bet they didn¡¯t expect to see Qavell all the way down here.¡±
¡°Good to see. Hopefully, they¡¯re adjusting¡¡± Theo trailed off, spotting a new train station to the north. So there would be no line connecting Broken Tusk to this line. They would need to disembark and board the next one. ¡°Where is Throk?¡±
¡°Working with some folks. You can take that little train if you want.¡±
Theo craned his neck, spotting the ¡®little train¡¯ sitting on the tracks. It was hovering, waiting for someone to board it. ¡°What¡¯s that all about?¡±
¡°That¡¯s how the workers move along the track. Keeps them from walking for days.¡±
¡°Keep up the good work, Grot,¡± Theo said, pping the dwarf on the back. He considered giving him finger-guns, but walked away instead.
Theo mounted the tiny train. It was a small tform with a few seats. But there was nothing to cover him, leaving him exposed to the chilly mountain air. Without the Coat of Rake, he would have been too cold. Unlike the train that ran between Broken Tusk, Rivers and Daub, and Gronro, this one didn¡¯t have a conductor. The alchemist fiddled with the controls for a minute before urging the train forward. It hummed along the track, approaching the first obstacle of the journey.
The bridge that Ziz, Theo, and others had designed was nice. It was over-engineered, using far more materials than necessary. But Ziz had a way of working with things that the alchemist didn¡¯t want to shoot down. The track was set in on the bridge, separated from the main path by a guardrail. That should prevent traders from driving their carts over the track, which would cause a disaster on both sides. Theo urged the cart to a stop as he approached a worksite. Workers waved at him, shouting for him to slow it down.
Theo dismounted the train after engaging the break, finding a group of workers creating the impressive road. He had passed over two more bridges, noting that eachndmass was mostly barren. Throk waved from within the ground, shoving a dwarf out of the way to approach the alchemist.
¡°Fancy seeing you all the way out here, archduke. Where is your cadre?¡± Throk asked.
Theo looked around. Sarisa and Rowan appeared from behind the cart. Both were sweating. ¡°There.¡±
¡°That wasn¡¯t a pleasant journey.¡± Rowan released a heavy sigh.
¡°You guys can tell me when I forget about you. Ya know that, right?¡±
¡°Where would be the fun in that?¡± Sarisa asked, her face pale.
¡°Anyway, check this out,¡± Throk said, waving a sawn-off shotgun in Theo¡¯s face.
The alchemist instinctively pped the weapon to the side. ¡°You need to learn some weapon safety.¡±
Throk thumbed the release, causing the break action shotgun to fold in on itself. ¡°It isn¡¯t loaded. Alise told me to figure out how this thing works, but¡¡±
¡°But that¡¯s dwarven technology!¡± a dwarf shouted. Other dwarvesughed at the promation.
¡°Yes, apparently the dwarves have weapons like this.¡± Throk waved the shotgun around, uncaring as he gged most people there. ¡°It just inspired me to make a handheld version of our eleration guns.¡±
¡°Rail guns,¡± Theo corrected.
¡°I thought those used mas? Mine uses magic.¡± Throk folded his arms, scratching his chin with the barrel of the shotgun.
Theo winced, pulling the weapon from the marshling¡¯s hands. He held it on its side, looking at the strange tech on the side. He scoffed as he realized what this was. ¡°Yeah, this is pretty close to some Earth tech from my time. I¡¯d be surprised if Jan didn¡¯t add these changes himself. This device reminds me of an elerator weapon we used back on earth. Look, it even has a charge.¡±
¡°Could you exin how it works?¡± Throk asked.
With a shrug, Theo exined how different it was from stuff in his time. To him, this was ancient tech he could only hope to describe. Not only was it 250 years before his time, but he was never the one working on weapons back on Earth. While he had used them, these weren¡¯t the weapons of his profession. Perhaps if it was a bomb, he could give some more insight. But he exined everything he knew anyway, detailing each part. Including some ancient tech battery that would have been useless in his time.
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¡°And how do we make electricity? I¡¯ve seen a lightning mage before, maybe we could hire some.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re better off recing all the techponents with magic. I¡¯m guessing the dwarves use explosive powder. The only thing you¡¯re trying to replicate here is the ability to throw a slug forward. RIght?¡±
¡°True. Still, this is very interesting.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Theo said, handing the weapon back to Throk. ¡°Have you talked with the new guy?¡±
¡°No. He¡¯s too busy working with Sulvan.¡±
¡°Cool, cool. How about you exin your bridge project? While I¡¯m here.¡±
Throk looked at the workers with pride. He exined how the work was going. Some of those workers were hired from afar, either remaining for the entire project or floating between this region and others in the world. Crossing the continent was now a problem. Ziz and Throk worked to create bridges between the new inds of the continent, allowing people to pass over. Thetest group that settled in Gronro had done so with an airship, which seemed exceedingly dangerous.
¡°They were shot down,¡± Throk said with a shrug. ¡°But no one died.¡±
¡°Good to hear.¡±
Theo remained at the work area for some time. It was always a marvel to see how sses made arduous tasks trivial. Ziz¡¯s ability to take prefabricated things into his inventory before cing them where he wanted them to go was amazing. The alchemist watched as the half-ogre set sections of the bridge in ce. Welded pieces of stone that weighed tons were set in ce as though he worked with Lincoln Logs.
Theo got back on his tiny train after a while, heading back to Broken Tusk. Things were going to get weird once the way north was opened. What he needed was a few Town Seed Cores to imnd along the way. He had been so consumed with his newest project that he neglected the underground city and Qavell. Checking his administration interface on the way back, he was happy to see the Cave Dungeon situation evening out. They might have some minor monster waves soon, but it wouldn¡¯t be bad.
¡°I need to make a checklist of crap to do¡¡±
Theo split his time in the Dreamwalk between increasing his willpower and messing with alchemy. He had a few ideas on how to make this next phase work, but he was uncertain. Between the events of the day and his work in the dream realm, he gained a level in his alchemy and herbalism core. The Tara¡¯hek Core didn¡¯t care about restrictions on his main cores and had jumped to 37. Both his Zaul and Taru¡¯aun core were about to hit Level 10. That would require some deep thought and perhaps some research.
After breakfast in the real world, Theo had ns to work with Salire. But his attention was drawn away from that with a notification in his administration screen. Sulvan had some issues with Jan.
¡°Keep working on the problem,¡± Theo said after stopping in at the Newt and Demon. ¡°I need to sort out an old noir detective.¡±
¡°Right.¡± Salire¡¯s expression was one of steely resolve. Theo left her with a sheet of parchment, filled with all the ideas he had. While her skills in alchemy were good, her ability to organize information was amazing.
At least there was now a road that led to Qavell. While the town still wasn¡¯t part of the alliance, Theo doubted anyone¡¯s ability to assault the city. He climbed the stairs leading to the main entrance, losing count of how many there were about half-way up. He was greeted by guards holding their spears and shields. They gave him a brief nod, allowing him entry into the city.
Qavell had done a great job of rebuilding already. Theo wandered around for a bit, unsure of where to find Sulvan. He spotted the man dressed inly, nked by the guy in the detective¡¯s coat. The alchemist shook his head as he approached, watching as Jan tried to make a run for it. Sulvan tripped him, gritting his teeth and looking down at the wayward Earthling.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Theo asked.
¡°He will not ept the teachings of my lord. He is unteachable.¡±
¡°I thought you were trying to integrate, Jan,¡± Theo said, looking down at the prone man.
Jan rolled onto his back, letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Can we have a word without the bible-thumper around?¡±
Theo knelt, looking at the scarred face of Jan. ¡°The difference here is that the gods are real.¡± He ced a hand on Jan, interdicting them both through the void. Of course the earthling screamed, but sound didn¡¯t travel far in the void. When theynded in the Realm of Healing, he was still screaming.
¡°That¡¯s just about enough,¡± ntheir said, turning to smile at Theo and Jan. The god was standing on his balcony, overlooking the endless gardens of his realm. ¡°To have the stillness of the day broken by him. Surprised it took you so long to bring him to me, Theo.¡±
¡°Yeah, things get busy on the mortal ne.¡±
ntheir walked over, hoisting Jan to his feet and dusting him off. Without exining, he pressed palm against his forehead. ¡°That should calm you down. If only a little.¡±
Jan red at ntheir, as though he could do anything. Within the realm of a god, that god¡¯s word was absolute. Someone could drop a nuke in the center of this ce and nothing would happen. Only a deration of war from another god could do anything.
¡°Your friend is troubled,¡± ntheir said, turning away to return to his balcony.
¡°John,¡± Theo said, holding his arms out. ¡°He¡¯s from Earth.¡±
¡°I know. You dislodged him from the queue.¡±
¡°So you should understand he¡¯s not having a good time.¡±
¡°I agree with the purple devil,¡± Jan said, jabbing a thumb at Theo. ¡°Can I go home?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no home to go to,¡± ntheir said. ¡°Earth was destroyed 250 years after you left. Why don¡¯t you tell Theo what¡¯s really bothering you?¡±
Theo watched as Jan went to war with himself. ntheir had a way of stripping people down. He could soothe whatever Jan was feeling, washing away worries. Being around the Elven God of Healing was like getting express therapy.
¡°I can still feel her,¡± Jan said, averting his eyes. He gazed at a pair of elven women, giggling in the room¡¯s corner.
¡°Who?¡± ntheir asked as though he already knew the answer.
¡°She called herself Fate, but I think she had another name.¡±
¡°What was special about this woman?¡± ntheir asked.
¡°Girl. She was a young girl¡ªmaybe eight. Said she could see everyone¡¯s fate.¡±
Theo narrowed his eyes at Jan. What the hell was Earth like 250 years before his time?
¡°A girl from old Earth is calling to you. ntheir, how is that possible?¡± Theo asked.
The god turned to Theo, smiling. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll use my true name again? No more ¡®John¡¯?¡±
¡°Sorry. It makes little sense, but Jan is convinced this person is in this new world. Is that out of the question? No. Of course it isn¡¯t.¡± ntheir paused for a long moment, summoning an image of Broken Tusk in the air. It was obscured by shadow, but golden lines were visible running here and there. ¡°These are the threads of fate. I¡¯m drawing them for you to see, but anyone who got strong enough on the mortal ne could see them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s how she described them,¡± Jan said, leaning in. ¡°Could she be here¡ Mister ntheir?¡±
¡°That¡¯s possible. Theo, I suggest you let him loose. If Jan has a connection with another factor, you should know about it.¡±
Theo shrugged. Jan wasn¡¯t meshing well with Sulvan. Perhaps would do better to be paired with Aarok or Luras. ¡°Fine. But we¡¯re giving him some cores before then.¡±
ntheir held out his hand, a glowing silver orb in his hand. ¡°May I suggest one of mine?¡±
Jan looked between the orb and the god.
¡°Just take it,¡± Theo scoffed, shoving Jan forward.
¡°Under protest,¡± Jan said, wrapping his hand around the core.
Theo had a few items to bring up to ntheir, but the god was sparse with information today. The alchemist grabbed Jan¡¯s arm and brought them back through the void. He could feel the mortal¡¯s body degrading, but at least he had a core he could use. Hopefully it was something useful, and not something to keep him in chains.
The pair alighted on the paved streets of Qavell. Sulvan had barely moved. Something caught Theo¡¯s eye and he turned to see Twist. The pale elf¡¯s expression was unreadable under the mask, but he turned after seeing the alchemist. Then his eyes shot to Jan. des were in his hand a momentter.
¡°Jan Turowski,¡± Twist said, coiling on the spot. ¡°Bastard.¡±
¡°Twist. You son of a bitch.¡± Jan produced a knife he had hidden in his boot.
6.25 - Twist in the Wind
6.25 - Twist in the Wind
A pulse of light burst from Sulvan, sending both Jan and Twist tumbling back. Theo ced a boot on Jan¡¯s chest while both Sarisa and Rowan restrained Twist. Golems patrolling the town lumbered over, taking the powerful elf and holding him there. The alchemist looked between both parties, watching their future movements with interest. How the hell did they know each-other?
¡°Let¡¯s hear some exnations,¡± Theo said. ¡°You first, Twist.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never seen this man in my life,¡± he said, pushing against the golems to no effect.
¡°Yes, you have,¡± Jan struggled under Theo¡¯s boot. But someone with sses didn¡¯t stand a chance. It was like a toddler fighting against an adult. He could only do so much.
¡°Silence him,¡± Theo said, jerking his head to Twist as he drew more golems in. One stood between Twist and Jan, ready to il their metal limbs if things got out of control. Sarisa drove her fist into Twist¡¯s gut. The alchemist winced. ¡°That was a bit much.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Twist said, coughing into his mask.
Sarisa shrugged.
¡°How do you know him, Jan.¡± Theo looked down, expecting the worst.
¡°A masked man,¡± Jan nodded, jabbing a finger at Twist. ¡°One eye, pale skin, twin des. He was on Earth. When he tried to kill Fate, Omen was the only one who could stop him.¡±Theo turned, feeling someone without hearing themnd. Fenian stood there, dusting his ruffled shoulder pads. ¡°What? I sensed I was needed. I have a sense for naughty boys.¡±
¡°Time to talk, Twist,¡± Theo said.
A long silence set in between all parties. Twist eventually gave a shrug and released a steady breath. ¡°Is this the part where I reveal my nefarious n? I have none. I¡¯m only surviving.¡± His masked face flicked between those gathered. Almost as though he was calcting something. ¡°Remember the help I¡¯ve lent you, Theo. We are not enemies. But the way is clear. When the timees, you¡¯ll need me.¡±
Theo saw Twist move, projected in the afterimage of his high Wisdom attribute. He made one motion and was gone, leaving nothing but a confused golem behind. The alchemist¡¯s aura flung outward, searching the area for Twist¡¯s signature. But there was nothing. A round stone fell to the ground where the masked elf once was. It ttered to the ground, breaking the silence between the group.
¡°Ah, that¡¯s interesting,¡± Fenian said, tilting his head. ¡°Location-swapping magic.¡±
Theo¡¯s eyes shot to Jan. He removed his boot and held a hand out for him to take, which he did. After hoisting him up and dusting him off, the alchemist handed the knife over. ¡°You¡¯ll need a better knife.¡±
¡°Hello, can someone exin what just happened?¡± Sarisa asked, waving her hand through the air. ¡°For those of us who arepletely lost.¡±
¡°I saw him. Back on Earth. I swear I did.¡± Jan looked at the ce where Twist once was. ¡°A pale, masked elf with two weapons. Called himself Twist. He attacked my team, but was beaten back by another kid.¡±
¡°How is that possible?¡± Theo asked, looking at Fenian.
¡°Don¡¯t look at me. I¡¯m not from your world. You released this one, so why not a few more?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°Location-swapping magic. Do you think he¡¯s making a run for Qavell?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We¡¯re in Qavell,¡± Fenian reminded him.
¡°No, he was talking about the ce where Qavell was.¡±
¡°There¡¯s nothing there, Theo. Just a crater in the ground and a lot of undead.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t like this, Theo.¡± Sulvan folded his arms.
¡°Jan, what happened to Twist on Earth?¡± Theo asked.
¡°He vanished after fighting the kids. Omen took care of him, sending him somewhere. I really don¡¯t know. The others were ahead of me by a longshot.¡±
Theo thought back to everything he knew about when Jan vanished from Earth. He had mentioned something that stuck out. ¡°The eye. Did you see that eye when Twist vanished.¡±
Jan narrowed his eyes at the alchemist. ¡°You think they¡¯re connected?¡±
Thest thing Theo wanted was another loose end. But he thought about Twist¡¯s words. The elf had only been helpful, maintaining his status as a mysterious figure. He could kick himself for now grilling him about his past, or why he wanted to help Broken Tusk so much. Unlike Fenian and Khahar, Twist had performed his subterfuge perfectly. He acted as though he needed something from the alchemist, but that was likely far from the truth. His true intentions could have been anything.
¡°You¡¯re no longer Sulvan¡¯s problem,¡± Theo said, jerking his head toward the city¡¯s exit. ¡°Mind walking with me, Fenian?¡±
¡°Certainly.¡±
¡°Thanks for your hard work, Sulvan. I¡¯ll take him from here.¡±
¡°Just make sure he slots that ntheir core!¡± Sulvan shouted after him. ¡°He has the potential to be one of the faithful!¡±
After they were clear, Theo had Jan walk back with Sarisa and Rowan. He extended his shadow bubble, encasing him and Fenian in a field of silence. ¡°What¡¯s your take on this?¡±
¡°Did Earth have elves?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°Nope.¡±
¡°Your newest member is leaving information out.¡± Fenian said it as though it was fact. He might have been right.
¡°Is he from some alternate Earth?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve consulted with the foremost expert on duplicate worlds.¡± Fenian folded his arms in front of his chest, nodding with pride. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. The worlds of the multiverse are forged. They wouldn¡¯t make duplicates.¡±
¡°So the Earth Jan is from is my Earth, right? But we never had magic or elves. Yet Jan said there was magic. What is the one unknown factor?¡± Theo asked. He already had an answer. ¡°The eye.¡±
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¡°Ah, right. The eye. Oh, perhaps I should make a confession. Are you prepared? Put on your big boy pants, Theo.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve got my big boy pants on.¡±
¡°I have spoken with one of those world forgers. They steered me to my current course.¡±
¡°Good thing I¡¯m wearing these pants.¡± Theo tried not to roll his eyes, but it was hard. Nothing Fenian could say would surprise him at this point. ¡°I¡¯m guessing the being didn¡¯t give anything away.¡±
¡°Of course it didn¡¯t.¡±
Theo had a lot to think about, but he dropped his bubble and took the core from Jan. It was amon-rank ntheir¡¯s Soldier Core. Instead of being showered with an amazing ss, the god had given Jan something simple to start. That was fine. This guy was lost in a new world, and had been dropped in the middle of some intense conflicts. But he would find his ce with the adventurers. Theo was certain of that.
¡°Got a new recruit for you,¡± Theo said after opening the door to Aarok¡¯s office.
¡°Oh, please. Come in.¡± Aarok red at Theo from behind his desk. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in the middle of anything.¡±
¡°Good. Could you get Jan on an adventuring team. Also sound the rm, Twist isn¡¯t who he says he was.¡±
Aarok blinked slowly, mouth hanging open. ¡°You¡¯re the worst,¡± he grumbled, whistling. An adventurer came in behind them momentster. ¡°Are we killing him, or what?¡±
¡°Just capture him. I don¡¯t think he means the alliance harm, but he has some questions to answer.¡±
Theo worked out some details for Jan¡¯s position in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. He thought he knew what the man needed. It wasn¡¯t structure, but the freedom to pick his own path. Aarok was agreeable to those terms, inducting the Earthling into the guild with no fanfare. Someone like Jan needed to get out there and see what his new world was about. If he wanted to get himself killed in the swamp, or make a run for it¡ fine. Keeping him in a cage wouldn¡¯t work.
Old dudes didn¡¯t learn lessons the easy way.
¡°Does anyone care what I think?¡± Jan asked.
¡°No.¡± Theo and Aarok said the word at the same time. Jan nodded, casting his eyes to the ground.
As Theo left the guild, Jan¡¯s shift in behavior didn¡¯t evade his notice. Fenian trotted along behind him, humming a tune out of key. ¡°Twist means more to Jan than he¡¯s letting on. Some serious stuff went down back on Earth.¡±
¡°What a delightful mystery,¡± Fenian said, pping along as he continued his song. ¡°I¡¯m going to Tarantham. Need anything?¡±
¡°Town Seed Cores if you can find them. A coin mint¡ what else¡¡±
¡°Booze?¡±
¡°Yeah, booze. Sounds good Fenian,¡± Theo pped a hand on the elf¡¯s back, making his way to the Newt and Demon.
A half-ogre man Theo had seen around town a few times stood behind the counter. He looked around, waving sheepishly. ¡°Uh, hey. Just watching the shop.¡±
Theo nodded to him, ascending to the second floor. Salire spent most of her time on the third or first floor. Today she was cloistered on the second floor, scribbling away next to her artifice printer. She looked up, her brows raising. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re back sooner than I thought. Any progress?¡±
¡°I was working on some other things,¡± Theo said, waving the thought away. ¡°Hardly had time to think about it, but I have basically two ideas. The first is that we don¡¯t have enough information to fix this problem.¡±
¡°And the second? Does it have to do with those epic-plus potions we made?¡± Salire asked.
Theo nodded, leaning over the worktable. ¡°If you think about it, higher rarity reagents have less impurities. The properties are more potent.¡±
¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out. We gotta trudge through the swamp.¡±
If only there was a way to cultivate those reagents in his greenhouses. Theo was almost convinced that those reagents couldn¡¯t be grown in a greenhouse. But he wouldn¡¯t give up until he tried. He shot ideas back-and-forth with Salire, settling on the idea that even if they couldn¡¯t add these reagents to their greenhouse, they needed to try collecting higher-quality ingredients to discover the method for fourth tier reagents.
¡°For science,¡± Theo said, thumping his hand on the table.
¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s go!¡±
Theo and Salire departed from the Newt and Demon, pausing near the southern gate. Rowan and Sarisa stood outside with their arms crossed.
¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight. You¡¯re not abandoning us in the swamp this time. Okay?¡± Salire asked.
¡°We¡¯ll drown you,¡± Rowan rified. ¡°In the swamp. We¡¯ll hold you down until the bubbles stop.¡±
¡°Message received,¡± Theo said, nodding.
¡°Swear it.¡±
¡°I swear I won¡¯t strand you guys in the swamp today.¡± Theo pushed past his bodyguards, heading out into the swamp.
¡°Today?¡± Sarisa asked, turning to her brother with a look of concern. ¡°What about tomorrow? Or the day after that?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll y it one day at a time. You have your club, don¡¯t you?¡± Rowan asked.
Theo turned to see Sarisa brandishing a club. Salire looked on in horror. The alchemist was almost certain they would do it. He pulled a Potion of Limited Foresight from his inventory, tipping it back before the others could notice. One could never be too careful.
¡°Are we targeting Spiny Swamp Thistle Root?¡± Salire asked, catching up to Theo. She looked back at the siblings, narrowing her eyes. She lowered her voice. ¡°Keep an eye on those two.¡±
¡°Spiny Swamp Thistle Root would be best. We used up the epic-plus essence we had back in the shop, but we really only need enough for experimentation.¡±
¡°What do you think? Ten units?¡± Salire asked.
Theo clicked his tongue, running his fingers through his hair. ¡°At least ten. I¡¯d like a live sample, too. Ah, did you figure out anything about evolving buildings?¡±
¡°Not really. The locals have stories they¡¯ve heard from traders who heard something from some elf¡¯s cousin. Nothing solid.¡±
Theoughed, patting Salire on the back. ¡°Locals? You¡¯re a local.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think so. Broken Tuskers are a different breed. Which means they¡¯re weird.¡±
¡°While that¡¯s fair, I consider you a local.¡±
Instead of taking the portal to Xol¡¯sa¡¯s tower, the party made their way through all of the swamp. When Theo had firste to Broken Tusk, the swamp was much more dangerous. There were still Ogre Snappers that spawned near the dungeon, but they were far fewerpared to then. That increased traffic that drove away the monsters was also bad for the reagents. The Moss Nettle seemed picked clean, while the Spiny Swamp Thistle had been trampled. Theo wasn¡¯t happy to see this, but he was unsurprised. This diversion resulted in a long trip to the western side of the swamp. Most of the day had faded by the time they caught sight of the mountains.
¡°We¡¯ll circle around to the north.¡± Theo gestured, tracing his finger along the shape of the hilly region ahead. ¡°Same deal asst time. Keep your eye out for Swamp Thistle.¡±
¡°Keep an eye on him,¡± Sarisa said, whispering to Rowan a bit too loudly. ¡°You know how he gets.¡±
Proximity to the dungeon had something to do with the rate reagents grew within the swamp. Those slopes to the west and northwest of the dungeon were a good area to hunt for those reagents. Salire¡¯s eye for reagents was getting better by the day. She spotted the first decent Spiny Swamp Thistle Root growing in a soft patch of earth between two rocks. Other soft grasses grew in this area, but it was mostly barren. Only the sections of thendscape closer to the hills, and far away from the muddy swamp bore more reagents.
The groupbed the area until the sun threatened to set on their adventure. Sarisa and Rowan had enough fun running around and killing monsters where they found them. There was something interesting to be observed from the growing strength of the Swamp Dungeon. Theo wished it would have more of an effect on the reagents. An alchemist could dream, anyway.
Theo kept his promise, and walked with the party to Xol¡¯sa¡¯s tower. He had already shut the portal down for the day, but was happy enough to open it for them once again. After stepping through, the alchemist sprinkled Cleansing Scrub on everyone, washing away cakedyers of mud and leaving behind a pleasant scent.
¡°He held to his word,¡± Sarisa said, cupping her chin. ¡°Interesting.¡±
¡°He¡¯s just luring you into a false sense of security. Don¡¯t let your guard down, sister.¡± Rowan red at Theo, jabbing an usatory finger. ¡°We¡¯re watching you, buddy.¡±
¡°You guys wanna get takeout tonight? Get some mead from Xam¡¯s and just pig out?¡±
¡°Uh, yeah?¡± Salire said, scoffing.
Theo didn¡¯t mean her, but he was happy to have more guests. ¡°Let¡¯s go. My treat.¡±
6.26 - Void
6.26 - Void
The Dreamwalk was temperamental tonight. Theo stood over a collection of imagined alchemy equipment, scratching his head as the dream refused to bow to his will. Even Tresk couldn¡¯t get it to listen. She tried for about an hour, but left in a huff. The alchemist couldn¡¯t cheat his way through this bit of progress, and he had a theory for why. There was no alchemy after the third tier, and the system was adapting as he went.
It was the only thing that made sense right now, even if Drogramath didn¡¯t want to give it away. It wasn¡¯t as though the demon god was keeping information from him, but that information hadn¡¯t been written yet. Theo¡¯s mind went back to the Potions of Significance he had crafted. Those had given him trouble in the Dreamwalk. As always, he was left with more questions than answers. Since he was nning on doing some wild stuff soon enough, he wanted to have a better understanding of what the system was.
With a sigh, the alchemist imagined another field of the dead. He thought about his next step while he increased his willpower, sending it to heights he doubted existed in the mortal realm before. He was at a point where he struggled to understand how many golems he could summon. Khahar couldn¡¯t eveny im to this much willpower, and it was getting out of hand. The alchemist reminded himself of what going through the void meant and redoubled his efforts. If a cheat existed, he nned on exploiting it.
Although Tresk ended the Dreamwalk, forcing him to enter the waking world, Theo remained in his thoughts. Sarisa said something to him but he didn¡¯t hear as he ate his breakfast. Only when he had enough moss tea in his system was he willing to entertain the day, wandering from the manor without looking back at who was following him. At least the reports in his administration screen were pleasant. It hadn¡¯t been long, but Jan was adapting to his life with the adventurers.
Theo made it to theb before Salire for once. A crate filled with stuff from the artificers had been ced by the door, so he scooped that up and brought it to the front desk. After having a seat, he rummaged through it to find many parts. Some had Throk¡¯s re, meaning the old marshling must have been back to town at some point. The thing that interested him the most was the new mixing chambers. The newer artificers were shy about using Drogramathi Iron, but were getting the hang of it.
No matter what the solution to this new tier of alchemy was, one fact remained. It was going to be hard to do industrial quantities of fourth tier potions. Just like the Potions of Significance, these would be small batches. Theo couldn¡¯t fill arge pressure tank with enough mana. Only the smaller infusers would work for his current mana pool. That was a bummer, but it had to happen. Progress was progress.
¡°Woah!¡± Salire said, entering the shop. The bell rang above her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to beat me here.¡±
¡°Did you sleep in?¡± Theo said, holding out a gas mixer for her inspection.
Salire took the artifice, nodding with approval. The artificers made a few key changes that would make working with the devices easier. ¡°Yeah, I guess the night got away from me. All that mead you fed me made things difficult.¡±Without the Dreamwalk, Theo was certain he would feel the same way. ¡°Come on. I want to get some things sorted in theb. We need dilutions for Refined Healing Essence before we can test the new gear.¡±
Salire ran up the stairs, excited to start. Theo followed, leaving the shop behind. The duo worked until they had a batch of third tier essence running. Once it finished, they would vaporize the essence,bine it with a bound dilution, and infuse the mixture with mana. This would be done on a small scale to avoid any catastrophic explosions. And they wouldn¡¯t perform those reactions within theb. The result would be damage to the building, and perhaps a fire.
¡°I¡¯m going to check on some things,¡± Theo said, patting Salire on the shoulder. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be gone for long.¡±
¡°Sounds good. I¡¯ll monitor the stills and watch the shop. No problem.¡±
Theo smiled before vanishing from the spot. He was used to the sensation of falling through the void. He used familiarndmarks to dive to the far side of the void, passing over countless orbs on that endless ribbon. Beyond the heavens was something he named the Deep Void. He thought of it was going left from the mortal ne, although that direction seemed meaningless here. But while the void stretched in all directions, things were organized left to right. Perhaps that was just his mind making sense of nonsense¡
Pausing in an area of the void that felt thick, Theo gazed out over the nothingness. Something was strange about this area, but he couldn¡¯t be certain. He pushed forward, finding more resistance the further he went. Something pressed back against him, bidding him to go the other way. No amount of willpower could get him through this section, so he turned around to collect his thoughts. The heavenly realms were a faint dot in the distance, while the ce that refused him entry was as ck as any other part of the void.
Theo headed for the mortal realm, leaving the blockade behind. He approached the orb representing the material ne. No matter what angle he approached it from, he always approached the ce where he left, or Tresk. A sh of light blinded him as he descended, giving way to darkness. His eyes adjusted, revealing something other than he expected. Instead of seeing the interior of the Newt and Demon, he saw a ne. A t field of snow that he waded through, pushing forward out of instinct. Something glowed in the distance, like a waking dream.
The alchemist tried and failed to interdict himself out of the strange realm, feeling the tug of something greater pressing against him. The light in the distance drew close enough that he could make out some details. A massive crystal floated above a white tform, stairs formed in the dais''s side to allow entrance. He climbed the stairs, looking up the blue crystal hovering in the air. It was about fifty feet tall. It rotated, humming as he approached.
¡°Okay. Weird giant crystal,¡± Theo said, looking around the area.
While snow fell outside of the tform, it didn¡¯t fall here. The polished stone beneath his feet was seamless, except for twelve circles that had been carved along the edges. Each bore an inscription he couldn¡¯t read with a symbol in the circle¡¯s center. Theo stood there, as though the answer to this ce woulde to his mind if he just thought hard enough.
Theo jumped when a voice filled the area. ¡°You¡¯re not who I was expecting.¡±
Looking around, Theo couldn¡¯t find the source of the void. He turned his gaze to the crystal, nodding to himself. This wasn¡¯tpletely unexpected. He had already been instructed to interact with some foundational crystals, so a giant talking one wasn¡¯t out of the question.
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¡°Who were you expecting?¡±
¡°Not you.¡±
Theo gave his thoughts a moment to gather before speaking. He was certain his will and control of void transport was advanced enough that almost no one could set him off course. ¡°Did you interdict me?¡±
The crystal chimed, spinning faster for only a moment. ¡°Such actions are for mortals. I brought you here. My will is so.¡±
Theo¡¯s brow furrowed as he considered the statement. This might have been a more dangerous encounter than he first thought. But the phrasing of those words were weird. ¡°Most mortals can¡¯t interdict someone. That¡¯s an act reserved for the gods.¡±
Another chime from the crystal. ¡°Is that what they¡¯re calling themselves? Yes, they changed the title of Ascended Being to God, but that doesn¡¯t make them so. They can still die.¡±
¡°And who are you?¡± Theo asked.
The crystal rotated slightly quicker, seeming to tilt to one side. ¡°The management.¡±
¡°You¡¯re the system.¡± Theo narrowed his eyes at the crystal. ¡°If that¡¯s true, why did you bring me here?¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re moving too slowly for my taste.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t say you were expecting someone else, then act as though you have burdens to ce on me.¡± Theo didn¡¯t look away from the crystal.
The crystal twinkled. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this happen before. Thest one failed to fix everything. And here I am. My powers bound by gods. Uneptable.¡±
The crystal didn¡¯t answer his question. Theo let his mind unspool the information. This was the system. Wait, which system? He took a moment, deciding it was the system that managed things on the mortal ne. But that wasn¡¯t urate, ording to what the system said. ¡°Why haven¡¯t the gods told me they¡¯re not gods?¡±
¡°Why would a false god im anything but godhood?¡± the system said. The circles surrounding the area lit up. ¡°In the end, only these spots will be upied by true gods. Those that sit in false positions will be cast out.¡±
¡°What is this?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±
Another amused twinkle from the crystal. ¡°You¡¯ve had about enough of dealing with the ascendants, haven¡¯t you? When you dislodged the human from Earth from the storage of souls, you set off a chain of events. A ticking clock. I suggest you break through the barrier in the void, and bring the Great Shards back.¡±
Theo stared at the crystal for some time, keeping emotion from his face. It was easier with his higher Intelligence, and he didn¡¯t like that. ¡°Just so I¡¯m clear, the four thrones have the power to change things. Right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. If you all agree, you can fix it. This safeguard was set in ce, but has been jealously guarded¡ Ah, that¡¯s a slight problem.¡±
Theo turned, spotting four figures appearing around the crystal. Each figure was made of light, rather than a solid form. Gold, ck, purple, and silver. Three of them were about the size of a marshling, while the silver one was the size of a normal human.
¡°And what the hell is going on here!¡± the gold one said, clearly the voice of a young woman.
¡°Calm yourself,¡± the ck one said. This one sounded like a young man.
¡°This is uneptable. We were promised safety.¡± Silver sounded like a grown adult man, confirming Theo¡¯s suspicion that he was a human.
¡°Calm yourselves.¡± Purple had a strange voice that Theo couldn¡¯t ce.
¡°This isn¡¯t Elrin,¡± Gold said, jabbing a vague finger at Theo. ¡°Why is he here? Where¡¯s the other one?¡±
¡°Dead,¡± the system said. ¡°Well, mostly dead. You four can¡¯t be here.¡±
¡°Where are the others?¡± ck asked.
¡°I¡¯d like to give Death a few good punches. To the balls,¡± Silver growled, looking around for something to hit. He looked down at his body. ¡°Wait, why am I a floating pile of light?¡±
¡°Things are moving quickly, Theo.¡± The system¡¯s attention turned to the alchemist, almost apologetic for the behavior of the others. ¡°You may return.¡±
Theo felt himself being sucked back into the void without hismand. A momentter, he was floating back in the void, looking down at the marble representing the mortal ne. He pushed himself forward, feeling heavier than normal. A momentter, hended on the third floor of the Newt and Demon. Breathing a sigh of relief, he spotted Salire tending to the stills.
¡°That was quick,¡± she said, shrugging. ¡°You were only gone for a few seconds. Who is that?¡±
Theo spun, spotting the person she was talking about. A small man with pointed ears, rosy cheeks, a round eyes looked up at him. He wore a hooded ck robe, leaning against a crooked staff. ¡°Hey.¡± The alchemist waved. ¡°You were the purple one, weren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Nothing gets past him, does it?¡± the interloper asked. ¡°Yep. This is weird. We¡¯re not in Seral Fet, are we? Or is this that other ce?¡±
¡°You¡¯re on Iaredin,¡± Theo said. ¡°Who are you?¡±
¡°Just call me Void,¡± he said, looking around. ¡°Alchemy? That¡¯s cool. Seems like all my powers were cut away. But I still have a knack for the void! I still got it, baby!¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Salire asked.
Rowan and Sarisa appeared. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m pretty confused,¡± Sarisa said.
¡°I had a hitchhiker,¡± Theo said, poking the small man in the head.
¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me. Just taking advantage of what I can.¡± Void shrugged, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Do you know what happened?¡±
Theo steepled his hands, pressing his fingers against his chin. ¡°No. I don¡¯t know what happened. Are you a god?¡±
¡°Kinda?¡±
Theo withdrew a crystal from his inventory, squeezing it. To his surprise, Fenian answered quickly. He ryed a message.
¡°I was just leaving! Give me a moment¡¡±
True to his word, Fenian flung the door open a few tense momentster. His swords were drawn, but he shrugged. ¡°Nope. He¡¯s clean, my dear alchemist.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Little dude ims to be a god.¡±
¡°I said I was kinda like a god.¡± Void folded his arms before his chest. ¡°Emphasis on ¡®was¡¯, because I¡¯m not one anymore. Obviously.¡±
¡°May I leave?¡± Fenian asked, jerking his head toward the door. ¡°I have business with the elves.¡±
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fine. I just need to figure out what to do with this guy.¡±
¡°Farewell!¡± Fenian shouted, dancing out the door.
¡°Hey, no offense¡ But I don¡¯t really wanna be here.¡± Void shrugged. ¡°Just needed a ride to some ce that had mana. I¡¯m pretty good at keeping the system off my back.¡±
A spiral of ck and purple energy appeared behind the guy. Before Theo could react, he stepped backwards, vanishing. The group that remained stood there, confusion flooding through each of their minds.
¡°I may have done a bad,¡± Theo said, clicking his tongue.
¡°Oh, gods. What have you done this time?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°Released some tiny horror on the world, maybe?¡± Rowan asked.
Sarisa, Rowan, and Salire spected while Theo thought. He had an idea of what just happened, but didn¡¯t like the implications. This was linked to Jan, he had no doubt. Something about the golden figure near the crystal was familiar, as though someone had described her to him before. The gears locked into ce as he made the connection. But it was clear what he needed to do.
¡°Unfortunately, I think that little portal guy might be the guy I need to talk to.¡±
¡°Hey, Theo¡ Do we have enough time to finish our alchemy experiment?¡± Salire asked, with hope on her face.
Theo nodded. ¡°Yeah. I think we have some time. Not like the world is gonna end or anything.¡±
6.27 - Kuzans Scheme
6.27 - Kuzan''s Scheme
Salire¡¯s dedication to alchemy was admirable. Theo couldn¡¯t get his mind to work fast enough to process what had just happened. Meeting the system itself was weird, giving him a sensation he couldn¡¯t ce lingered in the back of his mind. Whoever Void was, he had escaped into the wider world. He shook those thoughts loose for now, more eager to figure out how his new alchemy step worked. They brought their gear behind the Newt and Demon, ready to test.
¡°This makes sense to me.¡± Salire attached a mixing artifice onto a small-scale still. She attached the tubes, ready to fill the mixing chamber. ¡°Dilutions plus mana plus essences.¡±
It was logical, as long as a person kept magic in mind. Taking a third tier essence and infusing it with aplimentary dilution with mana would infuse the resulting essence. Instead of striving to remove the impurities, it would double-down on the good stuff. They weren¡¯t removing those bad parts, but making them less within the mixture. That¡¯s what Theo thought, anyway.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Theo said, pressing his hand against the mana infusion chamber. ¡°Are the stills up to heat?¡±
¡°Of course. Those little guys heat in a few seconds.¡±
There was nothing left to do but try. Theo kept his theory to himself until the mana fused perfectly with the dilution, then mixed with the third tier essence in the mixing chamber. Both Salire and Theo hid behind a tree as the mixturebined. Because it should have exploded. But it didn¡¯t. The alchemist removed himself from cover and approached, hooking the condenser up to the artifice and cing a sk under it. Essence dripped out, collecting in the ss sk.
¡°Did we do something different?¡± Salire asked, still hiding behind the tree.
¡°The equipment might have helped, but that wasn¡¯t the only thing.¡± Theo knelt down, looking at the faintly pink liquid as it dripped into the sk. ¡°This is the software update.¡±
¡°The what?¡±¡°I¡¯m almost certain the system didn¡¯t know what to do for the fourth tier. Pretty sure we just invented it.¡±
Salire approached the sk with caution, her head turned to one side in case the mixture exploded. ¡°How the hell does that work?¡±
¡°Drogramath wasn¡¯t performing his own form of alchemy when he was down here. Before he became an ascendant, he was doing the normal kind of alchemy. If I had to guess, he ascended close to Level 100 and built his power from there. Only after he ascended did he make his alchemy cores, and his people never got to fourth tier alchemy.¡±
¡°Seems like an iplete theory,¡± Salire said, a doubtful look washing over her face.
¡°Agreed.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t have all the answers. But he had some fourth tier essence in a sk. One thing he noticed from the experiment was the quantity of essence he got from the reaction. It was less than the standard reaction would produce, but he could feel the magical potency of the liquid even without touching it. He examined the mixture.
[Refined Bound Stabilized Healing Essence]
[Essence] [Refined Essence] [Bound Essence] [Stabilized Essence]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Poor Quality
Purity: 95%
0.25 units (liquid)
Concentrated, refined, bound, stabilized essence of healing. Used to create healing potions.
The quality sucked, but there was time for improvementster. For now, he was happy to have any amount of the new essence. This was a proof of concept, after all. What they needed now was to industrialize the process as much as they could. While theb didn¡¯t produce truly industrial quantities of their potions, their output exceeded that of mostbs in the world. That was Theo¡¯s thought, anyway. He had yet to explore anything other than what he had created.
Theo tilted his head to the side, feeling something emanating in the distance. ¡°What was that?¡±
Salire shrugged. ¡°Did you hear something?¡±
¡°Felt something. Someone parting the veil. Maybe Fenian?¡±
Another shrug from the apprentice alchemist. ¡°He said he was leaving to see the elves.¡±
Theo hummed, looking back at their small-scale experiment. ¡°Time to bother Throk some more.¡±
The veil parted the way it always had for Fenian. His enchanted karatan surged forward, clopping over the stones in Broken Tusk that gave way to the smooth ride of the Bridge. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling the energies of Uz¡¯Xulven wash over him like aforting wave. The Bridge had changed little since thest time he visited it. Those thoroughfares leading from one realm to the other forked off in every direction, revealed to a champion of the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows. He cleared his throat as a familiar weight settled in next to him.
¡°You¡¯ve been a busy boy,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, shoving him yfully. ¡°Get a leash on that alchemist.¡±
¡°My dear, if you can leash him, you¡¯re wee to do so.¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re snippy. Something not going your way? Wet your underpants again?¡±
Fenian turned, ring at the woman. The anger only shed on his face for a moment. Like all the other gods, she would get hers. It was only a matter of time. He reced the anger with joy, his face shifting in a moment back to unbridled joy.
¡°I have plenty of underpants. Some havece. Would you like to see?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°The day I let you into my chambers is the day the heavens fall.¡± Uz¡¯Xulven grumbled. ¡°What business do you have in the ruins?¡±
¡°I suspect there are forces moving that we didn¡¯t ount for.¡± Fenian thought about the new yers. Especially Twist. ¡°What do you know of that small man that appeared in town?¡±
¡°Almost nothing.¡± Although Uz¡¯Xulven¡¯s face was shrouded in shadow, Fenian could feel some of her failure bleeding through. She had no information on Void, or Twist. ¡°That masked elf you mentioned¡ªTwist¡ªisn¡¯t registered with the system as an outworlder. I¡¯m still waiting on information about the new one you told me about.¡±
¡°Void,¡± Fenian said, scratching his chin. ¡°Things were going so well before all these people came out of nowhere. First Theo, then the others. Tresk is a problem, too. The old holder of the throne would have bent to our will easier. Not Tresk, though.¡±
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¡°You only needed to hold Broken Tusk where it was. That part of the n worked well enough. We can handle everything else.¡±
Fenian wasn¡¯t so sure. The other throne-holders might have adjacent goals, but they weren¡¯tpletely aligned. They wanted to restart the world, but where did that put his schemes? One god mostly dead wasn¡¯t the same as every godpletely dead. Scouring the heavens would only be more difficult as time rolled on, and the ploy to get Balkor to betray his station was hard enough to pull off. He sighed, snapping the reins to urge his karatan down a path on the Bridge.
¡°The air feels different here,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Anything you want to tell me?¡±
Uz¡¯Xulven shrugged. She wouldn¡¯t admit it.
¡°This is my stop,¡± Fenian said, nodding to the Bridge¡¯s end up ahead. ¡°Wish me luck.¡±
¡°Good luck,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, fading as Fenian crossed the threshold.
The karatan skidded to a stop, their hooves digging into ruined ground in a wide open field. Thendscape in all directions was ruined, necromantic energy stillced in the ground. But Balkor¡¯s remnant had pulled most of his power back, coiling for an attack on Tarantham. So long as Kuzan held up his end of the bargain, that should spell the end of the god¡¯s reign on the mortal world.
¡°Oh, I hate loopholes.¡± Fenian sighed, dismounting his carriage. ¡°Stay here, Galflower. Daddy has a massive crater to descend into.¡±
Fenian peered over the edge of the crater. Some remnants of Qavell¡¯s wall remained here, shattered in ces from the undead¡¯s attack. Much of the city¡¯s underground area had been scooped up with it, leaving only dead-end tunnels and rubble. The elf fell over the edge, his feet glued to the slope as he descended. Some dark power remained from the Dark Coresmiths. He stopped near the bottom, looking over the water that had pooled where a city once stood. A foulke tainted with Balkor¡¯s magic.
The sound of feathers fluttering through the air came from his left as something settled in on the rock beside him.
¡°Are you allowed to be here?¡± Fenian asked, turning to look at the bird-like features of the Watcher.
¡°As I nted the seed, so may I water it.¡±
Fenian hated the way the creature talked. Every word ended in a snap of a beak or the ruffling of feathers. He had never enjoyed thepany of the creature¡¯s race, and would nevere to enjoy it. They were offensive to mortal existence. Another light to be snuffed, perhaps. But not today.
¡°Are our newest guests wee? My core didn¡¯t allow me to destroy Void. Is that another oversight on your part?¡±
The creature snapped its beak. ¡°I have no oversights. Only mortal intervention spoils my ns. You spoil my ns. Theo Spencer threatens them. He activated the queue prematurely, which has unspooled threads even I cannot know.¡±
¡°That was the other guy, wasn¡¯t it? The one who set this in motion. Sorry, I can hardly keep track of your kind.¡±
¡°Perhaps this is better, though.¡± The Watcher hardly seemed to hear Fenian¡¯s words. As always, the entity was in its own head. Always scheming. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t realized what they are.¡±
¡°Just so we¡¯re clear, we¡¯re talking about beings like Void, right?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°That¡¯s right. How can I put this in a way your small mind can understand? The instructions for the systems have hidden parts. I could pull those instructions apart, but it would destroy this universe. Instead, we must take them as theye. Do you understand?¡±
Fenian couldn¡¯t keep his fake smile up anymore. He nodded.
¡°Those instructions allowed the mortals to ascend and y at divinity. While they changed the titles of positions, they didn¡¯t gain the power of a true god.¡±
Swallowing hard, Fenian read between the creature¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s frightening.¡±
¡°Mortal, Throne, Ascendant, God, Creator.¡± The Watcher nodded to himself, closing his beady eyes and sucking in a lungful of air. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ve put things together yet. Not likely.¡±
¡°Twelve gods, two systems, five thrones.¡± The Watcher allowed the words to hang in the air, sensing when Fenian picked up on the error. Something of a smile graced the creature¡¯s eyes, but not his beaked face. ¡°Heaven, Realm, Mortality, Dimensionality, and¡ What¡¯s the best word? Null.¡±
Perhaps that revtion was a distraction. There could have been one-thousand thrones and Fenian wouldn¡¯t care. His mind focused on the implications of the Watcher¡¯s previous statement. The gods weren¡¯t gods. They were ascendant beings that had seized power and created a realm. After the Second War of Ascendancy, they convinced the system to change their title. From Ascendant to God. Twelve gods. Not ten-thousand. The elf turned his eyes skyward, looking at the green clouds that pooled to block the stars.
He could feel it, though it was faint. Like a tug at his navel after a steep drop. As though his connection with the Bridge was in freefall.
¡°Wee to a new era.¡± The Watcher produced something like augh. ¡°Wee to the War in Heaven.¡±
Fenian felt the being leave, but didn¡¯t respond. He closed his eyes, focusing on his connection with Uz¡¯Xulven. As her champion, he felt the breach. The unsanctioned deration of war that rippled throughout the heavens. Theo had really screwed this one up. But his hammer heart calmed after a few breaths. This wasn¡¯t what he had in mind, but it achieved the same end. Didn¡¯t it?
¡°What better to kill ascendants than gods?¡± Fenian asked himself, chuckling as he scooped something from the water. He sucked it into his inventory, ascending the bowl of the crater. ¡°Come, Galflower. We have something else to grab before we go. Something an emperor will want desperately.¡±
Emperor Kuzan drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. His peerless eyes scanned not only the area of his immediate court, but ces for miles around. Balkor¡¯s mindless undead were attacking his eastern shores, and he couldn¡¯t have been more bored. He took a steady breath, nodding to his steward.
¡°Off to Droth Ker Taral Set, my lord?¡± he asked.
¡°Something changed,¡± Kuzan said, standing and rolling his shoulders. His joints cracked with satisfying pops as he reached out to his private realm. ¡°I¡¯ll only be gone a moment.¡±
The emperor of Tarantham passed through the veil, slipping unseen to his hidden High Elderling Realm. His boots crunched leaves underfoot as he made his way to the forest¡¯s edge. Screens appeared hovering in the air, disying scenes from the mortal ne and the heavens alike. Four of the five interlopers had made their moves, but something was wrong with the fifth. One screen focused on Fenian¡¯s carriage, which was inbound to Tarantham.
¡°What do you have there?¡± Kuzan asked, squinting as though he could see into the elf¡¯s inventory. It would have worked if he was here, but with the remote-viewing ability it did nothing.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to join them?¡±
The twinkling voice that came from behind him felt like daggers dragged over his flesh. He didn¡¯t turn to greet the crystalline entity. The emperor didn¡¯t care for her musingsst time, and he wouldn¡¯t suffer them this time.
¡°I¡¯m staying out of it.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll die.¡±
Kuzan grit his teeth, still refusing to turn. He moved his screens around, checking on his agents and investments. He doubted she was right. There was enough time to n this time, and his mind wasn¡¯t addled by the old version of this system. Although she was likely right, he didn¡¯t care. The cost to form this realm was too great, and he wouldn¡¯t let anyone have it.
¡°Have youe to mock me?¡± Kuzan asked.
¡°Just a warning is all. Once the shards are in ce, you won¡¯t have a choice. You¡¯ll need to ascend.¡±
Kuzan flipped through more screens, scanning the endless ascendant realms. ¡°Has Eral Dum formed yet?¡±
¡°None have. The lower realms must be destroyed first.¡±
Kuzan always knew it would happen fast, but this was bad. He looked over his realm, allowing himself to smile at what he had worked so hard for. Once Fire, Shadow, Twin, Shifting, and Earth formed it would only be a matter of time. Perhaps he could convince a few of them to take mortal forms again, but that would be hard. But once the anchors were in ce, that was possible. He only hoped there was something of an elf left in his ancestors. For their sakes, and the sake of his future children.
¡°This is what ites to.¡± Kuzan let out a sigh. ¡°We go through the same thing asst time. Is he in the queue?¡±
¡°Yes, but he was given extra protections. He will note until conditions are met. The shards must be ced first. Only when they are inactive again will he arrive.¡±
¡°Fine. No matter what form I take, I only need to be there when he returns.¡±
¡°Is revenge worth it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s the only thing I¡¯ve ever known. Leave me to my work, System. We¡¯ll see how many ns these people have in ce.¡±
6.28 - Balgon
6.28 - Bal''gon
Constructing a mixer artifice to suit Theo¡¯s needs required the keenest mind in the region. Throk acted annoyed when he was called back to Broken Tusk. But his annoyed expression melted away after a while. Especially after he saw Tresk standing in his workshop. The alchemist''s ploy to pull at the grumpy marshing¡¯s heartstrings paid off, earning him the attention of the artisan for a while.
Of course, Throk had more ideas than the artificer apprentices to improve their design. He came up with a modr design, allowing Theo and Salire to swap the mixers into their current stack of distition equipment. If they wanted to make a Refined Essence line, they could easily swap the gear attached to the stills. Once they were ready to use the same stills to use the mixers, a few turns of a few cors would have the equipment swapped and ready to go.
Throk pulled Tresk aside after creating the first full-scale version of the mixer and handing it over. Unlike the first attempts, it was about asrge as Tresk herself. While this would allow for considerably more vapor to be processed at once, it also required much more mana. Theo pulled the item into his inventory, rubbing his hands with excitement. Throk gave his daughter a tight hug as they left, and he could feel the warmth flowing from his Tara¡¯hek partner.
¡°Let¡¯s get this back to theb,¡± Theo said, departing with Salire before things got too sappy. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t. Tresk and Throk just weren¡¯t like that. They were lizards, after all.
¡°We have enough Refined Bound Healing Essence to test this out. Plenty of bound healing dilution, too.¡±
Another hired helper was working in the Newt and Demon today. Theo didn¡¯t know what kind of deal Salire had given them, but he didn¡¯t mind. Things had been too busy for him to babysit every project around, but there were a few things in town that needed his attention. He couldn¡¯t help but think about them as he ascended the stairs. When they were done with their testing today, he would head down to the underground town to upgrade it.
¡°We need to force Hanan to make a choice soon.¡± Theo popped the condenser from one still, attacking the mixer instead. ¡°Can¡¯t have a huge city outside of my town unless they wanna join up.¡±
¡°Are you still determined to let him make his own choice?¡±
Theo was less certain about that by the day. At first Hanan seemed like a guy who was overwhelmed with choices. Now he was taking too long on purpose, dragging this out as long as he could. Qavell had been reduced to so few people, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to overpower them. Not that the alchemist had ns to do so, but the option was on the table. For now, he only wanted to concern himself with alchemy.¡°I don¡¯t trust myself to make the Drogramathi mana,¡± Salire said, smiling at Theo. ¡°Only the big strong champion can do that.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get it once you¡¯re high enough.¡± Theoughed to himself, cing his hand over the second part of the mixer. He drained some of his mana, watching as the liquid mana filled it half-way. Each section of this new mixer could hold one-hundred units. The device was shaped like a big tuning fork with tubes entering or exiting in three spots. Those one-hundred units were measured for gas, resulting in half-unit containers for liquids. ¡°This will boost our quality.¡±
Salire nodded, kicking the still on to feed the device vaporized essence. Theo hit the switch on the other still, feeding bound dilution to the mix. The apprentice alchemist turned to her notebook, writing everything about the process. They would need to amend their book. The alchemist had a moment to watch the process as it worked, making sure everything blended well. There were no problems so far.
¡°Man, I¡¯m feeling some weird stuff again,¡± Theo said, looking at the ceiling of theb. ¡°First when Fenian vanished, then an hourter this. What¡¯s going on?¡±
Salireughed. ¡°You remind me of my grandmother. She swore she could tell a storm wasing by the way her tusks felt.¡±
Theo shook his head, smiling at the idea of an old half-ogre predicting the weather with her tusks. ¡°Looks like the mixing process isn¡¯t instant.¡± He cut the flow of essence from the still before turning the heat off. ¡°We¡¯ll need some tanks to hold the gas form of the essence so we can feed it to the mixer slowly.¡±
¡°The pressure tanks can hold essence in gas form forever, right?¡± Salire shrugged. ¡°I guess I¡¯m going back to ask Throk for more stuff.¡±
Theo and Salire nned out some holding tanks for this new process. They had wanted to take a shortcut, but realized it wasn¡¯t possible. Essences and bound dilutions boiled at different rates, requiring them to do these steps separately. Sledge was still out for the count, so the tanks would need to be ced within theb itself. As long as they didn¡¯t explode, that was fine. The alchemist sent his apprentice off, heading to the mine to upgrade the underground town.
¡°About time we upgraded that thing,¡± Sarisa said, jogging after the alchemist.
Theo had withdrawn the Monster Cores set aside for the project. He was eager to get to work on the project, putting the whole underground problem behind him. It left a bad taste in his mouth after Twist revealed himself to be something other than a simple underground elf. The implications of that level of betrayal would be hard to process for a while. But why did he need a ride to the ce Qavell once was if he was some powerful guy. The alchemist shook his head, dislodging through distracting thoughts.
¡°Alise bought up some towers, but my golems have been doing a decent job against the pale elves.¡± Theo nodded as he strode past the smelter buildings. ¡°I guess I expected a bigger threat.¡±
¡°When an underground dragon goes missing, I think you should be worried no matter what.¡± Rowan scoffed, shaking his head. Yeah, the idea of an entire dragon vanishing without warning was a bit much.
The miners were working, even with the stuff going on in the underground. Theo nodded and greeted them as he passed, sending his senses down to his golems. They had been killing both elves and monsters down there, although the golems didn¡¯t care which. Several of his creations had been destroyed, but that was unsurprising. They took orders from the adventurers, and had been sent out to meet oing attacks. As predicted, cave-ins were nothing to the pale elves.
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¡°Let¡¯s get some walls going,¡± Theo said, approaching the monolith for Bal¡¯gon. ¡°I guess we should just do a standard upgrade path, right?¡±
¡°I really don¡¯t see why not.¡± Sarisa approached the monolith, looking at how curiously the thing was shaped. Stone Walls and Gates first, then Defensive Emcements after that. That¡¯s all you need.¡±
Theo looked around the abandoned area. It looked much like it had when everyone fled aside from the new structures that had been erected. He shoved Monster Cores into the monolith, watching as the level of the building went up. His first selection was for walls, while his second was for roads. There were no other good options, as a water tower upgrade seemedme. The alchemist paused at Level 15 to inspect the town after selecting thest upgrade.
[Tiny Town]
Name: Bal¡¯gon
Owner: Theo Spencer
Leader: Rowan Fletcher
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 15 (4%)
Core Buildings:
NONE
Defensive Emcements:
NONE
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Defensive Emcements]
The ground had rumbled when he selected the walls upgrade. Much like those in Broken Tusk, the walls down here were high. The battlements running their length would provide defenders breathing room against attackers. Although they hadn¡¯t added emcements yet, Alise had bought enough to make any attacker think twice. Theo made his way to those battlements, finding the bodies of monsters down below and his golems moving between them.
¡°Let¡¯s put our money to work,¡± Theo said. He selected a spread for ten Chain Lightning towers along the length of the wall. ¡°Once these are in ce, Throk can hook them up to bepletely automated.¡±
¡°Should take pressure off the adventurers.¡± Rowan peered out over the wall, tearing his attention from Theo¡¯s work. A tower sizzling with the power of lightning sprung up, ready tosh out at any attackers. ¡°Hey, is that the new guy?¡±
Theo stepped to the side, squinting against the darkness to spot a human man in the distance. It was the new guy. Jan swung arge hammer at a goblin-like monster in, caving its head in. So the outworlder had decided to stay. The man that set off a chain reaction of unknowable impact was a hammer-using servant of ntheir. That would have been interesting enough, but he seemed like he was having a good time.
¡°What are your thoughts on him?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Ask again in a few weeks and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Rowan shrugged, seeming almost unwilling to form an opinion. ¡°I can¡¯t really get a read on him.¡±
Theo nodded, silently approving of the answer. He had the same impression of the man. Jan was impossible to understand. Like a cornered animal that gave up out of nowhere to work with his captor. Perhaps he was just waiting for the right time. He knew who Twist was, after all. And Twist knew him. What that meant was anyone¡¯s guess, but Jan had already spilled the beans. That included making an official report to the town, which had been immortalized in writing.
¡°Something weird was happening back where I¡¯m from. Hundreds of years before I left.¡± Theo sighed as he leaned against the wall. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to know what it was.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be a baby.¡± Sarisa punched him in the arm. It hurt less than he expected. ¡°You¡¯re always in the middle of this crap, so put on your big boy pants and deal with it.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t me Theo for being confused and cautious.¡± Rowan came in with a rare disagreement with his sister. Well, it was a disagreement with Theo. They were normally a united front to make fun of the alchemist. ¡°Thinking about the way Twist walked around the town when he was part of something so big makes me anxious.¡±
Sarisa pursed her lips, gritting her teeth for a few moments before nodding. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡±
Theo checked his interface, finding a note from Salire. It would take a few hours for Throk to work on the new pressure tanks, so she told him to have them ready for tomorrow. That worked for the alchemist, as he felt himself gging for the day. With little more to do for the day, he wanted to rx and have some food. He thought about going to Tero¡¯gal, but decided that he had enough of that for now. The others would enjoy tea in his realm, but he didn¡¯t need to be with them right now. He needed food and a bath.
¡°That¡¯s enough of this for now. I¡¯ll put in a work order to have these towers automated. The adventurers can feed them motes by hand for now.¡± Theo looked over the small amount of work he did today. It wasn¡¯t much, but he was proud. ¡°Anyone hungry? Wanna go to Xam¡¯s?¡±
Tresk appeared next to Theo in an instant. ¡°I do!¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Theo pushed forward, leading the way up the tunnels to the surface. ¡°I wasn¡¯t made to live in the underground. Not again.¡±
¡°Oh! Were your people underground dwellers on Earth?¡± Sarisa asked, jumping up-and-down with excitement.
¡°You bet he was,¡± Tresk said, jabbing a finger at Sarisa. ¡°They lived underground and ate dirt. Theo¡¯s old body is actually half-mole.¡±
Theo shot her a look, narrowing his eyes.
¡°Really?¡± Sarisa asked, eyes glimmering.
¡°Yup.¡± Tresk struck a pose, holding the procession up. ¡°Let me tell you a story about the time Theo became king of the Mole People. It all started with a stone, or so the legend says¡¡±
Tresk¡¯s story was nonsense. She told it as the party marched to the Marsh Wolf Tavern. Theo tried not to shake his head as much as he wanted, since Sarisa bought most of the story. On their way to the tavern, they picked up a few citizens that wanted toe along for a meal. When the party settled into the second floor of the tavern, they had to spread out over several tables.
Theo paid little attention to his meal as he considered how things were going. The train to the north was going well, along with the various roads spanning those new chasms. His new form of alchemy would produce fourth tier essence tomorrow at the earliest, so that was good. There might have been entities running around the world that he couldn¡¯t hope to understand, but he was a step closer to pushing through the void.
As always, there had been some bumps along the way. Jan and Twist were a concern. There was a monster wave that would hit in a few days¡ªif Xol¡¯sa¡¯s calctions were correct. The extra-nar elf imed the arcane math for that kind of thing was tricky. But the underground was sorted, Qavell was stable, and the food set before him was good enough to draw his attention away from his problems.
¡°Is Xam¡¯s getting better at cooking?¡± Theo asked.
Tresk sighed. ¡°Yeah. I love your cooking, Sarisa¡ But you don¡¯t have a core.¡±
Sarisa nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t pretend as though I canpare.¡±
¡°I like your cooking better.¡± Rowan grumbled as he pushed the food around his te.
The group chatted around the table until the sun threatened to fall below the horizon. After that they retreated to the bathhouse. While Theo had neglected his private bath, it was still there waiting for him. The entire party soaked in therge natural-style tub and let felt their collective tension walk away.
Theo breathed a sigh of relief, the sensation of the bath¡¯s bolstering effects seeping into his bones. With so many things settling around town, he appreciated how the warm pool acted as a bookend. Heading into the Dreamwalk would make him feel even better. Tomorrow would bring with it alchemy. If he had enough time, he could also dive into the void in an attempt to push past the barrier.
6.29 - The Next Exploit
Theo looked over what he imagined Throk woulde up with. It was an erged version of the mixer artifice the marshling had created before, recreated in the Dreamwalk. The imagined realm still pushed back when he tried to create finalized potions, but he dedicated himself to testing the timing and mixture ratios for this new form of alchemy. Without the Dreamwalk, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to test for the flow of mana, and he realized he would need some kind of mana storage device. Not the ones that drew mana from the air, but one that stored liquid mana.
One problem at a time.
Working to increase willpower had be tedious. Not because the act was hard, but because Theo wasn¡¯t sure what he was working toward. More golems with better range was great, but he didn¡¯t know where that ended. The only thing that helped him press forward was the idea that he could have an army of golems to defy reason. More golems meant less people on the front lines, putting themselves at risk when a being without a soul could do so.
After being satisfied with his work for the night, he went off to find Tresk and Alex. The goose¡¯s body was sleeping out in the gardens of the manor, no longer able to fit within the building itself. ¡°How much bigger is she gonna get?¡±
Alex swooped through the air, pulling ming vines from nowhere to wrap around a monster¡¯s neck. She honked in defiance as Tresk fell from the giant goose, shing at arge ogre-like monster with both daggers. She did a pose as the monster vanished, bowing as though an audience existed to care.
¡°Alex thinks she¡¯s close to something new,¡± Tresk said, performing some stretches to loosen up. ¡°Something special.¡±
Theo scratched his chin, thinking about what it could be. Alex had grown in size and gained new affinities. He had an idea for what might happen to her, but was unsure. It was the same thing he had been hoping for some of his buildings in town. Evolution. Ever since gaining the ability to evolve his cores¡ªof which only his Governance Core had evolved¡ªhe was interested in the topic. No one had brought him information on the topic, which was frustrating at first.
But when Theo ran up against a problem that someone in his circle knew nothing about, he assumed it was umon enough to be novel. Novel things, like his new alchemy technique, might be caused by the way the system functioned. When someone reached a new height in any discipline, it filled in the nks. That was his theory about this new tier of Drogramath alchemy, and he hoped it applied elsewhere.
¡°Alex, show him your Fire Lance attack,¡± Tresk said, pping Alex on the side.Alex honked, opening her beak and aiming into the distance. A hissing ball of fire appeared, reshaped only moments after she generated it. It took the shape of ance the height of Theo before shooting off into the distance, leaving a steaming trail behind.
¡°That looks deadly.¡±
¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve been working on a poison aspect, but it isn¡¯t working. Alex thinks she¡¯s locked into nature and fire.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve tried everything.¡±
¡°Except you won¡¯t let me poison you.¡± Tresk put her hands on her hips.
¡°I didn¡¯t learn my aspect for nature by eating vines. Why would your idea work?¡±
¡°I dunno! Weirder things have happened.¡±
¡°There¡¯s only one point of reference I have for evolutions,¡± Theo said, nodding at the bickering pair. ¡°And the only thing that forced the change was exposure to an realm¡¯s energy.¡±
¡°So, what? We just toss Alex in Tero¡¯gal for a week and call it?¡± Tresk asked, huffing.
¡°Yeah, not likely to work. Everyone in town gets enough exposure to both Tero¡¯gal and Drogramath energy daily. What happened to the project with the karatan absorbing energy?¡±
Tresk shrugged. ¡°Nothing. They¡¯re just normal karatan.¡± Tresk pped Alex on the side again. The goose snapped at her, forcing her to stumble backwards. ¡°You¡¯re bitey today.¡±
¡°I could eat you whole, worm.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Tresk cheered. ¡°We¡¯ll turn you into a bloodthirsty goose. One of these days.¡±
When the Dreamwalk finally ended, Theo felt a strange twinge as he returned to the waking world. He remained in bed for some time, searching around his golemwork to find them in various states. Some had been destroyed underground, while others were still helping the situation in Qavell. His t Golems tended farms and greenhouses, but nothing else seemed strange enough for concern. With a shrug, he joined everyone at breakfast downstairs. While it was a pleasant meal, he couldn¡¯t get his mind off of the sensation.
Throk hadpleted Salire¡¯s order from yesterday, which was encouraging in more ways than one. He was back in town, taking orders rather than working on the rail. ording to the administrative reports, there had been a malfunction with his counterfeit coin device that required attention. After breakfast was done, Theo headed to theb to give his apprentice some instructions. She agreed to bring the new equipment back to theb while he checked on some things at the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.
Theo stood outside of the building for some time, gazing at the foundation. This spot had been a patch of bare earth some time ago. From here, he could see the wall leading to the west and out into the swamp. That wall itself wasn¡¯t there either. Broken Tusk had been a defenseless patch of mud that wasn¡¯t worth defending. HIs impression of the ce when he got here was sky-high, and had only climbed beyond what was reasonable. Going from a dead world to anything with life made himtch onto everything and everyone. With a steady breath, he entered the guild to search for Jan.
Resting in an ufortable-looking chair near a firece was Jan, chatting and smiling with other adventurers. It hadn¡¯t taken him long to adjust to this life, which might have been concerning. Theo approached.
¡°So, I grab this scrawny elf by the neck,¡± Jan said, wiping tears from his eyes. He had beenughing. He ced a hand on his chest, wincing from some phantom pain. ¡°And he explodes out. Broke two ribs. I couldn¡¯t taste anything for a week.¡±
Theo cleared his throat. The other adventurers stood at attention, but Jan only looked back with azy drag of his gaze. The newest servant of ntheir nodded to him. ¡°A word?¡± the alchemist asked.
¡°I¡¯ve got a few,¡± Jan said, pushing himself to his feet.
Stolen novel; please report.
Theo made his way to the hall¡¯s front, pushing through the door. He didn¡¯t bother looking to see if Jan followed behind, instead tracking him with his senses. There was something of ntheir¡¯s power blooming in the man¡¯s chest. He must have taken the core. Good.
¡°Elves on Earth,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t fight an elf here. You would¡¯ve been dead.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Jan nodded.
Some intuition took over. Theo¡¯s increasing Wisdom had him seeing possibilities in conversation as well as in physical space. ¡°Who was the elf?¡±
¡°A guy from the other ce.¡±
¡°What was his name?¡± Theo pressed on, finding itforting to walk his town.
¡°Eric or something,¡± Jan said, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°I¡¯m not good with names.¡±
¡°Elrin,¡± Theo corrected. He felt Jan¡¯s soul quiver slightly.
¡°Yeah, how did you know?¡±
Because Gold said that name, Theo thought, gritting his teeth.
¡°Was Twist from that other ce?¡± Theo asked, not answering thest question.
¡°As far as I know. They didn¡¯t tell me much. Do you know what happened? It sounds like you know what happened.¡±
¡°I have a theory. It sounds like there was a realm oveyed over Earth. But if it was there in my time, I didn¡¯t know about it.¡±
¡°They said only certain people could go there. You might be right but I really don¡¯t know.¡±
Theo paused near the monolith in Broken Tusk. He looked back on his memories, seeing the monolith in Qavell with perfect rity. He had to do something about that monolith soon, but no ideas hade to mind. But he had a basic n that involved letting the venom do its work for a while.
¡°I pulled you aside to have a talk, but I¡¯m getting more interested in what happened on Earth. I¡¯m wondering if you saw anyone that looked like a half-bird half-person when you were on Earth.¡±
Jan shrugged. ¡°Just the big eye in the sky.¡±
Theo turned, shaking his head. ¡°What about the government? You were in the Old United States of America. Did they know there was a realm oveyed on theirs?¡±
Janughed. A deep bellyugh that brought a smile to Theo¡¯s face, even if he was trying to be serious. ¡°Old United States of America. Damn, you really are from the future.¡±
¡°There was nothing left in my time. Everyone migrated north or south, but the country was dissolved. We splintered into smaller countries.¡±
¡°Oh. Bummer. Yeah, we had some fights with the government over peopleing to and from the other ce. There were a bunch of people on the other side that were trapped. G-men came for this girl, and I was part of the group that busted her out. That Eric guy was from the other world, but he broke through into ours. Rescued her and some other people. But the eye showed up not too long after.¡±
So, the plot thickened. Theo wouldn¡¯t correct Jan again for saying ¡®Eric¡¯ instead of ¡®Elrin¡¯. ¡°Interesting.¡±
¡°Yup. Eric had a bunch of magic powers like the others. Didn¡¯t think they could use them outside of the other ce, but what do I know?¡± Jan shrugged. ¡°I was a grunt with an arsenal.¡±
Theo couldn¡¯t stop himself fromughing. He knew a few guys like that in his time. ¡°That¡¯s rtable.¡±
Jan raised a brow. ¡°Did you serve? Not me, by the way. Private all the way.¡±
That wasn¡¯t so easy to define. ¡°Kinda. I¡¯m not sure you could understand the structure of the government back then. We got trained for spycraft from an early age. It was mostly about blending in and reporting.¡±
¡°And murder, right?¡± Jan asked.
Theo shrugged. ¡°Not really.¡±
¡°But, hey¡ This ce is nice. And I¡¯m alive, so thanks for that.¡±
Theo nodded. ¡°Yeah. Guess you¡¯re right.¡±
¡°Hey, is that everything? I¡¯m scheduled to do some patrols. Looking to let off some steam on some goblins.¡±
¡°Yeah, you¡¯re good.¡± Theo watched as Jan turned, his trenchcoat trailing as he went. At least he was adjusting to the new world.
Theo wandered back to theb, finding himself taking more turns than he intended. He rolled the information over in his mind, allowing his intuition to make connections. Loose ends earned knots, binding them to other loose ends. The door to the Newt and Demon jingled as he entered, a smile on his face. Salire had already brought the new device to theb, along with some new equipment.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Theo asked, jabbing his finger at a Drogramathi Iron tank resting on its side. The tank was longer than he was tall.
¡°New design for the pressure vessel. Throk guarantees it won¡¯t explode!¡± Salire seemed a bit too excited about that im. He doubted it waspletely urate.
¡°I like not exploding.¡± Theo inspected the device, finding it to be simr to the first generation of pressure vessels Throk had made. The big change here were bands of Drogramathi Iron reinforcing the sides, and the built-in heating system. An artifice could ept liquid, turn it to vapor, and hold that vapor at pressure so it wouldn¡¯t lose its form. The only limit on the vessel¡¯s operation was the amount of power that was introduced. Throk had apparently rmended using real coins, or those created by his money printer. ¡°Let¡¯s hook this crap up.¡±
Theb had be a mess. The mixer device was exactly as Theo imagined it, but had been shoved into the room¡¯s corner. If they wanted to maintain both the industrial capacity of theb while also producing thesebor-intensive potions, they would need to take some space on the second floor. For now, Theo sucked five of the ten Drogramathi Iron stills into his inventory and arranged the new devices in the area they once upied.
¡°Looks like we¡¯ll finally get use out of the second floor,¡± Theo said, shoving his weight against the pressure vessel until it was in ce. He filled it with third tier Refined Bound Healing Essence, switching the artifice on before affixing the output tube from there to the first input of the mixer. ¡°But we still can¡¯t store liquid mana.¡±
¡°Throk said he was working on that, but didn¡¯t think it was possible,¡± Salire said. She grunted, attaching the tube from a second pressure vessel to the mixer. That would be the line that fed the dilution into the mix. ¡°So, this is an iplete test.¡±
¡°The next phase in our proof of concept.¡± Theo pped the pressure vessel, almost burning his hand. ¡°That¡¯s already really hot. Crank the AC.¡±
Theo thought of ways to store his liquid mana as they waited for everything to heat. He drew mana into his palm, watching as it evaporated in his hand. Capturing it in gas form might have worked, but mana had a habit of soaking into the air in a strange way. Like the energy that flowed around Broken Tusk, it soaked into something other than the air itself. Perhaps it was another state of matter, but he didn¡¯t know enough about it to solve the problem on his own. For now, he would feed mana to the machine directly. It was good enough for now.
¡°This looks pretty good,¡± Theo said, inspecting the imperfect seams in the connections. ¡°We have a small leak here.¡±
Salire scratched her head, squinting at the seam between the first pressure vessel and the mixer. ¡°Really?¡±
¡°Yeah, we need someone to weld this stuff together.¡± Theo pped the mixer. It hissed slightly. ¡°Just turn on the extractor for now. Shouldn¡¯t be horribly explosive.¡±
Salire gained a nervous look on her face, but did as told. Once the extractor fan was on, they watched as the mixer did its job. It took mana from Theo, essence from the first pressure tank, and dilution from the second pressure tank. The mix was then passed through a standard condenser, where it was collected in a sk. While this method was much faster than the small scale version, it still produced pitiful amounts of essence.
¡°There it is,¡± Theo said, grabbing the sk and recing it with a new one. He swirled the single unit of essence in the sk. ¡°Good quality, but better than before. And the best part?¡±
¡°It isn¡¯t exploding¡¡±
¡°Exactly. But there¡¯s something more important to consider here.¡± Theo held the sk up, allowing the sun to shine through the hazy pink liquid. ¡°We¡¯re the first people to create it. An outworlder dronon and a half-ogre just pushed Drogramath¡¯s alchemy to the next level.¡±
Salire gazed at the sk with amazement. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll get something special for doing this? Like the other Potions of Significance?¡±
Theo offered Salire a smile. ¡°I know I will.¡±
6.30 - Unique Potion
6.30 - Unique Potion
Theo and Salire documented creating a fourth tier potion. Even just looking at the raw essence felt like viewing something momentous. The reaction was clean. Almost too stable for the alchemist¡¯s liking, considering how powerful the resulting potion would be whenpared to thest tier. The liquid inside the sk bubbled, leaving small amounts of froth near the top of the vial, but nothing more. What was left was a shining red liquid, glimmering with potential.
¡°There it is,¡± Theo said, smiling to himself as the prompt appeared.
[Unique Potion]
You are the first person to craft this potion. This potion has never been created by another mortal. Please select an attribute to boost from the following list:
Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, Willpower.
¡°You got it? Same deal asst time?¡± Salire asked.
No, it wasn¡¯t the same prompt asst time. Thest prompt imed it was about a ¡®potion of significance¡¯ while this one was about a ¡®unique potion¡¯. The difference was subtle. Gaining attributes from the potions that were on a world-based timer made enough sense, since their creation came from impossibly difficult-to-find reagents. But this new prompt came from making a potion someone else hadn¡¯t made. The surprising part was that others had made potions like the Potion of Limited Foresight and so on.
¡°I got it,¡± Theo said. ¡°I should go full Wisdom, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±
¡°Maybe. I guess that depends.¡± Salire ced her hands on her hips, humming for a moment. ¡°Wait, we¡¯re going to make at least one potion for all the other potions we¡¯ve done, aren¡¯t we?¡±¡°Yep. That¡¯s a lot of free attributes. How many unique potions have we made? Aside from this one?¡±
¡°Twenty¡ something. I don¡¯t know,¡± Salire said, going through her notes. ¡°Wait, twenty times ten is two-hundred.¡±
¡°Two-hundred attributes to distribute how I see fit.¡± Theo rubbed his hands together. He felt a warm sensation flooding through his brain as he selected Wisdom on the prompt. ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡±
Salire swallowed hard, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m kinda scared.¡±
Theo watched as his precognition got slightly better. Ten points put him in another realm of Wisdom, giving him about two seconds of predictive power. On top of that, his Wisdom of the Soul prompts would give him better information. More mana didn¡¯t hurt, but it wasn¡¯t needed. While this would take a while for him to get used to, it was worth it.
¡°Oh,¡± Theo said, looking at the potion in his hand. ¡°I guess I should inspect this.¡±
Salire chuckled.
[Major Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Tero¡¯gal (Perfect Bond)
A healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 250 health points.
¡°That¡¯s a fine potion,¡± Theo said, holding it up to the light. The rity was great, but so were most of his other potions now. The quality could have been higher, but it was good for now. ¡°Not sure what I think about the process.¡±
¡°You might unlock an ability to make it easier.¡± Salire took the potion, wedging the stopper into the top. ¡°How do you feel?¡±
¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Theo watched as Salire moved across the room before she actually moved. He wondered why people didn¡¯t take more Wisdom, but it was a tricky attribute. The points required to get to where he was likely only benefited artisans. Dexterity and Intelligence might have been more useful for them anyway. ¡°I can see you move before you move.¡±
¡°Are you seeing fates, yet?¡± Salire asked.
¡°Nope. That must be reserved for ultra-high levels. Thank god for that, though.¡±
¡°You¡¯re bing your own god¡ look at the alignment on that potion.¡±
¡°You know what¡¯s funny? The gods aren¡¯t actually gods. Which means I was right when I got here. They¡¯re just really strong people that convinced the system to give them a new name.¡± Theo paused for a long moment. Salire clearly had no interest in engaging in religious debates. He cast his eyes to the ceiling, as though he could peer through it and into the heavens. ¡°Now that I said that out loud, I¡¯m worried. What if¡¡±
¡°Uh-oh. Here he goes¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be back. Could you get the materials for all possible fourth tier potions?¡±
¡°I¡¯m on it, boss!¡± Salire offered a curtsey, dashing off.
The moment Theo fell through the veil, he felt that something was off. The void was turbulent, no longer a static thing. It was as though a great wind blew against him, holding him back as he crossed over the Bridge. Things were too weird. He wouldn¡¯t risk crossing the Bridge the right way and he wrapped himself in his willpower-fueled cloak of shadows. Pushing against the force was rough, but Theonded in his own realm soon enough.
¡°Problem!¡± Belgar shouted, rushing through the sparse vige to find Theo. He was out of breath, doubled over as he heaved. ¡°There¡¯s a war.¡±
Theo¡¯s brow knit, his senses spreading over his. They weren¡¯t being attacked. ¡°A war?¡±
¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sure¡ yeah, there he is.¡± Belgar pointed as Khahar appeared with a serious look on his face.
¡°Theo. Come.¡± Khahar jerked his head to the side. Theo followed, retreating to the cozy cottage.
As the pair drew closer, Theo could hear many voices within. Khahar threw the door open, revealing quite a few gods crowded within the tight space. He stood there for too long, taking in the minor and mid-tier gods he had never seen before. Among all those gathered, he was surprised to see a few faces and unsurprised that others were missing. Balkor had finally epted his invitation.
This tale has been uwfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
¡°How screwed are they?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Almostpletely,¡± Khahar said, shutting the door and pulling Theo aside. They found a ce to talk where the others couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you caught on already.¡±
¡°This is why you don¡¯t tell me anything, huh? Because you know I¡¯ll figure it out.¡± Theo sighed. There might have been a world where it didn¡¯t have to go down like this, but the early ascendants had to sleep in the bed they made. ¡°Who is the big man making war?¡±
¡°Void made the first move, which I didn¡¯t expect. The others haven¡¯t left the void.¡±
¡°How many are there? Twelve?¡±
¡°Only four right now. I don¡¯t know where the others are.¡±
Theo scratched his chin. He recalled his meeting with the system and the twelve spots there. Twelve spots for twelve gods. Not the pretenders that imed to be gods. These guys were the real deal. ¡°Are they destroying realms?¡±
¡°Nope. Might be worse for those holding realms. They¡¯re being stripped of power.¡±
The most interesting part of that was Khahar¡¯s position among the gods. Theo didn¡¯t know if his old friend had ascended as a god, or just as the owner of Khahak and the Throne of the Arbiter. If he had to guess, he would say Khahar knew this might happen, and nned ordingly. What this meant for the other ascendants was hard to say. The heated conversation within the cottage revealed how desperate their situation was. The alchemist was snapped out of his contemtions when an alert sprung up.
[Attack Attempt Failed]
An unknown entity has tried and failed to attack the realm of Tero¡¯gal. The reason for this failure is unknown.
Theo narrowed his eyes, feeling around his realm as though it were his own body. He felt the two thrones hidden here pulsing, pushing back against whatever it was that had attacked. But the attacker wasn¡¯t hard to determine. It was one of four interlopers. A momentter, he heard a voice fill his mind.
¡°Oh, you stink.¡± It was Void. No surprise there. ¡°Let me in so we can have a chat.¡±
Khahar nodded at Theo. The alchemist scoffed. ¡°Part of your predictions?¡±
¡°One of a few. Let him in. The old rules should still apply.¡±
Theo sighed. He had absolute authority here. If that authority failed, he had the thrones. Had he faced any other entitying into his realm, he would have rejected them. But it was easy to assume Void was the person he needed to get to the far side of the void. Well, the entity¡¯s name and the ce were going to get confusing.
¡°Come on in,¡± Theo said, giving his mental confirmation to the god.
A purple-ck portal appeared, and the short man stepped out. The features of his face were now hidden, obscured behind a swirling vortex of ck. He crossed his arms, tutting at the alchemist. ¡°Took you long enough. Lots of trash to clean up! I¡¯ll just head in there and ughter them, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°Not gonna happen,¡± Theo said, staring the god down.
¡°Oh, yeah?¡± Void asked with a giggle. ¡°You guys went too long skirting the rules. And¡ You sneaky little butthole. Thrones? THRONES? He isn¡¯t even the real arbiter!¡±
¡°The Throne of the Arbiter isn¡¯t here. It was fused with a High Elderling Realm before your arrival.¡± Instead of spitting in the god¡¯s face, Khahar bowed his head. ¡°The ascendants of this world have no hope to resist you, Void. But the is broken.¡±
¡°Now he¡¯s gonna ask for my help.¡± Void groaned. ¡°I¡¯m doing all the heavy lifting, and he has the balls to ask me for help. Look how confused the demon is. He needs to work on his poker face.¡±
Khahar cleared his throat. ¡°If you give him instruction on that, he might actually beat me at the game.¡±
¡°Hah! I like that. There¡¯s a hold on realms with thrones in them, so consider yourself lucky. No other realm is safe. I¡¯m happy purging them all.¡± Void crossed his arms. He might have been ring at Theo and Khahar from behind that swirling mask, but neither could tell. ¡°Come on. What¡¯s the pitch?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure you recall the shards.¡± Khahar bowed his head.
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°They aren¡¯t here.¡±
¡°Yeah, they are.¡± Void tilted his head to the side.
¡°Did you check?¡±
¡°No, but they should be here. Everything would be in¡ disorder if¡ they weren¡¯t¡ Okay I get it.¡± Void scoffed, waving a dismissive hand.
¡°You¡¯ll need someone to go get them. Someone like Theo.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°You cannot cross into the mortal realms. Not even a splinter realm.¡± Khahar¡¯s face took on a look of confusion.
¡°I can go anywhere I want. We¡¯re not bound by the stupid rules you guys made way-back-when. We¡¯re already working on dismantling them so we can fix this stupid world.¡±
But if Void could just go pluck the shards from the far end of the void, why hadn¡¯t he? Theo couldn¡¯t figure this god out. There was something off about him. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t gained his full power yet, or he was diminished in Tero¡¯gal. Whatever the case, he wasn¡¯t able to impart his full will on the world.
¡°You need us,¡± Theo said, self-assured. ¡°Otherwise you would have gone. Right? So, why can¡¯t you?¡±
Theo felt Void narrow his gaze, but saw nothing. ¡°You remind me of someone¡ Very annoying.¡± After a hauntingly long pause, Void pped his hands together once. ¡°Okay, jerks. Here¡¯s the deal. Since you¡¯re the only two idiots not peeing your pants, you¡¯re gonna fix this.¡±
Theo and Khahar shared a look. Only Khahar smiled as he said, ¡°That was the n.¡±
¡°Horns, get the shards back to the. Tall-and-fuzzy, muzzle these not-gods. You guys can designate a realm for each god to migrate to. Hey, don¡¯t worry. You can keep yours if you have a throne. Everyone else needs to fight for a spot in the pantheon.¡±
¡°The twelve spots, right?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Yeah. Four are¡ Oh, you crafty little bastard!¡± Void turned, growing at nothing. ¡°Do the job. Bye.¡±
Void vanished without another word.
Theo turned to Khahar, shaking his head. ¡°How much of that did you predict?¡±
¡°What I saw was fuzzy. But I saw what drew him away.¡± A smile crept across Khahar¡¯s face. ¡°He didn¡¯t expect our fake gods to fight back. ntheir does battle.¡±
Things were officially moving too fast for Theo. He had big ns back in the mortal realm, and not enough time to aplish what he nned. It seemed as though everyone with even a hint of power had ns of their own. But for once he was happy to see the once-gods rendered powerless. Compared to a true god, they were nothing. That answered a question Theo had since he arrived here. The ¡®gods¡¯ seemed so without power that they were useless. Well, there was the answer.
¡°Let¡¯s organize these lesser ascendants,¡± Theo said, pping a hand on Khahar¡¯s shoulder.
Khahar nodded his agreement and they headed over to the cottage. The moment the door opened, the room went silent. Theo looked over those gathered for the meeting. Ascendants from every race were there, all in various states of anger or disbelief. The looks they shot to the entrance were as varied as their race. The alchemist was sad to see Benton among them.
¡°Here¡¯s the deal.¡± Khahar¡¯s voice carried over the crowd, silencing whatever murmurs remained. ¡°We won¡¯t tell you what to do. But if you return to your realms, you might die.¡±
¡°As in¡ die?¡± one ascendant asked. ¡°Forever?¡±
Balkor¡¯s eyes shed from the crowd, the re of green darkening the room. The dronon ascendant was one of few higher gods. Theo couldn¡¯t get a read on him, but he could have been desperate.
¡°That¡¯s right. Tero¡¯gal and Kahak are happy to take you and whatever souls you want to bring over. Otherwise, I¡¯m certain the other realms will copse.¡± Khahar¡¯s voice had a tone of finality that gave Theo chills.
¡°Even the high realms?¡± Balkor asked.
Theo locked eyes with the necromantic dronon ascendant. He looked like all other dronon he had seen, but with pale green skin and faded green eyes. One eye had lost its color, bing a muted gray. He wore tattered robes. His fight was long, and the alchemist couldn¡¯t forget how much of a catalyst he was. Evil or not, he helped get the world to this point.
¡°That¡¯s right. Unless you can secure a spot in the new pantheon, you¡¯re screwed.¡±
More questions came from the crowd. Everyone was upset about losing their realms, not understanding how an upstart like Theo got to keep his. Khahar didn¡¯t give direct answers, instead skirting the issue and telling them to take it up with the new management. They only had so much time, and Khahar wasn¡¯t willing to wait.
¡°We can¡¯t exin it any differently,¡± Khahar said, holding his hands up to silence whatever questions came next. ¡°Settle matters in your realms. Or die. That¡¯s up to you.¡±
6.31 - Who Slept With Who
6.31 - Who Slept With Who
Theo stood in the system¡¯s realm, standing on the raised tform and looking over the twelve spots. He assumed he had the entire ce to himself, but a faint glow issued from one spot. Golden light pooled on the ground, soon creating the form of a young person. Or one of the smaller races of the world¡ªit was hard to tell. The alchemist watched as the being was given a form. He was surprised when it reached a hand out for him to shake.
¡°Fate.¡± The voice of a young woman echoed through the immaterial being, filling the surrounding air with authority.
Theo felt as though he could crumble under that power. No ascendant he had met gave him that feeling. ¡°Theo Spencer,¡± he said, reaching out a hand. He grasped the entity¡¯s hand, a sense of potential flooding through his mind. ¡°You¡¯re nicer than the other one.¡±
¡°Void? Yeah, he¡¯s a grouchy old man. You¡¯re nning some serious stuff, huh?¡± Fate tilted her head to the side, something of a smile ying into her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t envy the difficulty of the task.¡±
¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be off destroying realms?¡± Theo asked. He looked away from this world¡¯s newest god, eyes locked on the spot where he saw the system before.
¡°That isn¡¯t my domain. I just follow the fates¡¡±
There was a big difference between the new gods and the old ones. Theo couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how little power the ascendants had. They manipted the system to be something they could use to gain power over the mortal realm, but the cost was clear. Everything woulde crashing down soon enough. That just left one question in his mind.
¡°This is how Khahar nned to restart the world, huh?¡±
¡°Seems like it.¡± Fate shrugged, but didn¡¯t leave her spot. She seemed bound to it. ¡°A restart will be good, though.¡±¡°Seems like a waste, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
Fateughed, cing her hand over her mouth politely. ¡°Your ns are transparent to me. Perhaps you didn¡¯t know you would have been immune to the purge. I¡¯ll say this. You need to increase your willpower by a lot if you want to take as much as you want to take. Pulling the town into your realm should be easy enough, but binding it there will be another matter.¡±
¡°Fair enough¡ Who is that?¡±
Theo watched as another figure appeared, standing right next to Fate. It exuded a kind of energy that sucked in the light from the room, pulling in some of the golden god¡¯s own essence. She sighed, pushing the other figure, who failed to stumble.
¡°ying with the food?¡± the dark figure asked. ¡°How typical.¡±
¡°Ugh. This is my brother, Omen. He¡¯s a stinker.¡±
¡°You¡¯re the stinker. You can see the destruction this man will bring.¡± Judging by his voice, he was a young man the same age as Fate.
¡°That¡¯s why no one invites you to parties. You¡¯re too dour.¡± Fate folded her arms, seeming to re at her brother. ¡°If you¡¯re going to interrupt me, you can leave.¡±
¡°Fine.¡±
¡°Void should open the way for you to get those shards back. The elves might give you trouble, though. I think they created a pseudo system. I¡¯m sure you can handle it.¡±
Omen leaned in, speaking directly into Fate¡¯s ear. ¡°Hallow is dying.¡±
¡°He¡¯s an idiot.¡± Fate waved the question away, as though she had already seen the conclusion to her brother¡¯s concerns. ¡°That ascendant was ready for him. The only one who woulde for us holds a Throne.¡±
¡°That means we¡¯re immune, right?¡±
¡°Yes, we¡¯re immune. You¡¯ve forestalled enough disasters to keep us safe this far, haven¡¯t you?¡± For the first time, Theo saw Fate treat her brother with some warmth. ¡°We¡¯re safe.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Theo pointed between the pair. ¡°Where did you guyse from? Earth?¡±
Omen scoffed, throwing his hands into the air. ¡°This man is an idiot.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll figure that out on your own. Concern yourself with your mortal problems for now, Theo. You¡¯ll find the ¡®new new management¡¯ isn¡¯t as forgiving as the old.¡±
An impossibly powerful will crashed against Theo. He was confident he could beat most ascendants one-versus-one in a battle of willpower. But this was something else. All his cheated training was rendered useless against such a force. One moment he was standing in the system¡¯s domain, and the next he was back in the mortal realm. He sucked in a breath, the mortal air stinging his lungs. He fell to the ground, coughing.
¡°Woah!¡± Salire said, rushing over. She pulled him to his feet, concern lingering on her face. ¡°You good?¡±
Theo coughed, covering his mouth. He felt warmth stter against his gloved hands, pulling it away to find blood. Most of his health had been depleted, so he pulled a healing potion from his inventory and drank it. Relief flooded over him as he was healed, driving whatever it was the god did to him away.
¡°The new gods pack a punch.¡± Theo groaned, shifting his stance to stand by his own power.
¡°New what?¡± Salire asked.
¡°You good, boss?¡± Sarisa asked, joined by Rowan.
¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Theo rolled his shoulders, checking himself for more injuries. He found nothing. ¡°Just a minor scuffle in the heavens.¡±
Rowan took it upon himself to check Theo over, making sure he was telling the truth. Only when he was satisfied did he release the alchemist, freeing him to withdraw amunication crystal from his inventory. It was better to make sure Fenian was fine. Uz¡¯Xulven¡¯s Bridge wasn¡¯t immune to the actions of the new gods. If he lost ess to that, he might be stranded.
¡°Yes, what is it?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°We got a problem.¡±
¡°Oh, is this some town drama? Who slept with who?¡±
Theo rolled his eyes, exining the situation in the heavens. Fenian didn¡¯t seem concerned at all, humming along as the alchemist told the story.
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¡°My throne is fine, right?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°No problems there. I¡¯m only concerned about the Bridge.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, my dear alchemist. I should be fine. Lovely chat, Theo. But I need to go! Have a drink for me, would you?¡±
Fenian hung up the call before Theo could say anything else. When the elf got weird, things were going down. While it was impossible to tell what his n was, the alchemist only hoped he made it out the other end unscathed. Not only would it be hard to find another person to sit on the Throne of the Hend, he didn¡¯t know if that was an option. With a deep breath, he flushed those concerns from his mind. It was easier with his higher Wisdom, allowing him to focus on the one thing that had driven him to obsessiontely.
Before moving past this bout of weirdness, Theo checked his administration screens. Things were going better than he had expected, especially with Qavell. Thanks to Alise¡¯s ability to over-n everything, there was no scenario the town wasn¡¯t ready for. They had stockpiles of almost everything now, including food, stone, metal, wood, and Monster Cores. Trade was overflowing, and there were more migrants arriving by the day. Those people were mostly interested in exploring the new world created by Fenian¡¯s battle with the unknown entity, but some settled in the region.
No news about Tarantham was good news. Emperor Kuzan could stick to his ns over there. Far away from the Soutnds Alliance.
One item grabbed Theo¡¯s attention, though. It was an entry created by Sulvan. The document wasmented on by both Luras and Aarok, but also had an amendment near the bottom by Tresk. Theo stood, nodding at Salire.
¡°Keep working on getting those materials together. I need to check on something.¡±
¡°Right away, boss!¡± Salire said, shuffling off to tend to the work. She was eager to help him gain even more power.
¡°Rowan, could you stick with Salire?¡± Theo asked, jerking his head toward the door. ¡°Let¡¯s head out, Sarisa.¡±
¡°Why me?¡± Rowan asked.
Theo smiled, heading to the stairs. Only when he and Salire were out the door did he exin. ¡°Because I think she has a crush on him. Come on, let¡¯s go round up another adventurer or ten.¡±
Sarisa giggled, following behind Theo. ¡°Wow, you know what? Feels weird without him around.¡±
¡°You two spend too much time together.¡±
¡°We¡¯re siblings!¡± Sarisa objected. ¡°Close siblings, you know? What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±
Theo didn¡¯t need to enter the guildhall to find who he was looking for. ¡°Jan!¡± he shouted, waving his hands to gain the attention of the only other Earthling in town. ¡°Come on. Got a job for you.¡±
Jan approached, brooding slightly. He folded his arms over his chest. Theo couldn¡¯t deny the man was looking more well-built than when he arrived. He was likely grinding levels in the swamp.
¡°What¡¯s the pay?¡± Jan asked.
¡°A shiny copper coin,¡± Sarisa said,ughing to herself. ¡°See, when the archduke tells you to do something, ya do it.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t vote for him.¡±
¡°Stop, you weirdos. Let¡¯s go, Jan.¡±
Jan fell in line behind Theo and Sarisa. He might have been reluctant but some of that hard-boiled detective vibe he had cultivated¡ªno doubt over years back on Earth¡ªhad faded away. The alchemist could sense the man¡¯s power growing, although it was slight. That was simply the transition from having no cores to having at least one. He now had ess to the system, and all the benefits that provided. The best part was his core. A ntheir core. Things might get interesting if ntheir ascended again.
¡°When we get back, I want to hire some adventurers to watch Jan and Sulvan,¡± Theo said, not bothering to lower his voice.
¡°I¡¯ve done nothing.¡± Jan¡¯s instinct was to object.
¡°You¡¯re not the one I¡¯m worried about.¡±
¡°Just deal with it, buddy.¡± Sarisa shot him a look. She turned to Theo, the confusion she felt finallying to her face. ¡°But what¡¯s the problem?¡±
¡°ntheir is a pacifist. But I don¡¯t know what happens when he ascends again.¡±
¡°Again? How many ascensions are there?¡± Sarisa asked.
Theo didn¡¯t answer, but that was a good question. They pressed on through the market and north of the harbor until they reached the massive stairs leading to the city above. The alchemist inspected Qavell before ascending, deciding that it hadn¡¯t tilted to either side. They had stabilized itpletely. But that wasn¡¯t the reason for their visit.
The group met with King Hanan at the pce. Theo couldn¡¯t help but notice how hardened the man had be. With his imposter guards gone, he had drawn other people from his city to be his protectors. He was now nked by humans, wearing whatever armor they could scavenge. While they weren¡¯t as impressive as the old guards, they seemed loyal enough.
¡°I¡¯ve been reporting on the monolith.¡± Hanan walked beside Theo, bringing pride to his station as a king and his people. ¡°No visible changes. Your barriers hold firm.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good. Did you decide what you¡¯re going to do? Want to join the alliance?¡±
¡°I think so.¡± Hanan sighed, holding the door open to allow the others entrance to the lower levels. Both Theo¡¯s and Hana¡¯s guards came with them, leading the way. ¡°The longer my city is here, the more I think we¡¯re not ready to be on our own. I think we need each other.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t think the need is one-way?¡± Theo asked with a wink.
¡°For now. But once we get back on our feet? Qavell is strong, Theo.¡±
Theo wouldn¡¯t ept Qavell as a member of the Soutnds Alliance because they were strong. If the world was going to be remade, he wanted people with conviction to join him in the new era. His mind shed back to Tero¡¯gal, and the way those people had transformed that world into a paradise. He wanted that for everyone, even if it was a dream that was too far.
¡°The Soutnds Alliance would be happy to have such powerful people,¡± Theo said, patting Hanan on the shoulder. ¡°Especially those with such a rich history in the region. Perhaps we can forge a world that doesn¡¯t crumble after a few hundred years.¡±
¡°That would be nice, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Hanan asked with augh. ¡°Watch your step through here. We had a minor copse.¡±
¡°Nothing serious, I hope.¡±
¡°Ziz reinforced the walls. It should be fine, but we haven¡¯t cleaned up the rubble.¡±
The passages under Qavell were winding. The group traced a familiar path to the lowest level, finding the abandoned ritual room. Theo sent his senses out the moment they entered, seeing that his wards were holding themselves in ce perfectly. Whatever was inside the monolith hadn¡¯t gotten out, but Hanan had missed something. The veins of poison that ran through the strange structure had grown thicker. The Venom potion that Tresk applied to the entity was still doing its work.
¡°Remind me never to argue with Tresk again,¡± Sarisa said. She picked up on it, too.
¡°What is this?¡± Jan asked.
¡°Think of it as the helm of a flying city,¡± Theo said. ¡°Hanan here was coerced into attacking us by someone else. We took the city down.¡±
¡°Wow. Now you guys are best friends?¡± Jan asked. ¡°I would¡¯ve killed him, Mister King.¡±
¡°The situation wasplicated.¡± Hanan narrowed his eyes at Jan. ¡°That¡¯s a strange outfit.¡±
¡°Not really. Looks like a karatan-driver¡¯s duster to me.¡± Sarisa shrugged thement off.
¡°Yeah, wait until you see the gun¡ Jan, do you feel anything inside the monolith?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Why would I?¡±
¡°Fair enough.¡±
The Venom worked its way through the monolith, but it wasn¡¯t moving quickly. That was the point of the poison potion, after all. It did low damage over vast amounts of time, which was nasty. Purging the entity¡¯s influence on the Kingdom Core and Town Core was something Theo couldn¡¯t solve on his own. Like Qavell, he needed to lean into others and dedicate some time to this problem. But what was the nature of the infection? Fenian confirmed it wasn¡¯t something that vited the system¡¯sws, so what was the deal?
The Arbiter made sure everything was right within the heavens, while the Dreamwalker was his right hand. The Herald sorted mortal affairs with the Dreamer as his right hand. Theo nodded to himself as a Wisdom of the Soul message appeared.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
Arbiter, Herald, Dreamer, Dreamwalker. You missed the connection between these Thrones and the infection of Qavell at first. But now you realize what¡¯s going on. The Herald did his job by banishing the entity, but the Dreamer still needs to put a cap on it.
In order to purge Qavell from this infection, the Dreamer must delve into the sleeping entity¡¯s mind, cutting free the diseased flesh.
6.32 - Cheating With Potions
6.32 - Cheating With Potions
¡°I ain¡¯t going in there.¡± Tresk ced her hands on her hips, looking at the monolith.
Theo, as always, tried to cate her. She intended to delve into the disgusting mind of whatever weird monster gued Qavell, but it was best to watch him squirm a bit. He went on about how important it was for them to do what they needed to do. She held the Throne of the Dreamer, so she had to go into a nightmare dream world.
¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Tresk said, waving him away. ¡°Get off my back, I¡¯m going.¡±
¡°You only need to drive him away,¡± Theo yapped. ¡°Or figure out why he¡¯s there.¡±
Tresk cracked her knuckles. Well, she imitated the motion of it, having seen someone else do it. But nothing popped within her fingers. ¡°Okay. Into the dream I go.¡±
Focusing on her Dreamer¡¯s Core, Tresk felt herself falling. Her stomach shot up to her throat for only a moment, a sensation like falling through eternal nothing flooding through her for only a moment. While she would never admit it, she felt fear for only a moment. The next moment, the falling stopped. Tresk stood on a ne of darkness, the silhouette of something against the sky above.
¡°Hey!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°Go on! Get!¡±
Her voice echoed through the ce, reflecting off of unseen surfaces and repeated into the distance. Theo was eager for her to jump into the dream, but as Tresk thought about it, this might not have been such a good idea. Would jumping into a dead god¡¯s dream be such a good idea? She shook the thought from her head, pushing forward. After what felt like hours of walking, she spotted something in the distance.
¡°Ah, yeah. That¡¯s really weird.¡±Tresk realized she was standing inside of something. A massive dome loomed overhead, giving view to an obscured section of sky outside. The dome had a patchwork of metal bands, creating some shape she didn¡¯t recognize. On the horizon of the structure was a sliver of blue. The closer she got to that band of color, the more she realized what it was. Images from Theo¡¯s memory came flooding back. It was a from orbit. And it wasn¡¯t her.
¡°The dead guy dreams of Earth.¡± Tresk scoffed, shaking her head. ¡°Talk about reliving your glory days.¡±
Upon the blue orb, a single light shone. It was as though the glimmer of a bright red star rested on the surface, waiting for this entity to pluck it. The shifted, viewed as though in fast-forward. An instantter, and the structure was right up against the. Tresk could see the detail of the continents, outlined by lights that lit up the night¡¯s sky. This was well before Theo¡¯s time. There weren¡¯t enough craters.
Tresk felt a tickle of something in her chest. Her Dreamer¡¯s Core found something offensive in this area, and wanted her to prune it. For now, she let the scene y out. The red star came closer¡ No, the structure was moving closer to the red star. Sections of the dome were revealed, folding back onto themselves until more of the interior could be viewed from outside. The star drew closer until Tresk could see a dark-haired figure staring back, standing on some sidewalk back in Old Earth.
There was a brief exchange of words she couldn¡¯t understand. No one else on the street could see the domed structure. Only ck-haired guy. The sense in Tresk¡¯s chest grew stronger. She realized that being here had stirred the entity to life. This had happened before. Someone¡¯s dreams had been boring before she arrived, only to get wild after she showed up. Her core practically vibrated by this time.
¡°Alrighty, core. You can do your thing.¡±
Tresk snapped back into reality a momentter. She blinked a few times, locking eyes with Theo.
¡°I think that should do it,¡± Tresk said, shrugging at herpanion. ¡°Hard to say.¡±
Theo narrowed his eyes at her, reading what little he could from her mind. He saw the visions of Earth and the weird structure. The patterns above her looked close enough to an eye for him to assume this was the Baleful Eye he had heard about. Observing the monolith for Qavell, he was pleased to see the corruption retreating slightly. ¡°Whatever you did, it worked.¡±
¡°Yeah. No problem. I¡¯m the best.¡± Tresk vanished without another word.
Theo watched the monolith for some time. While the corruption was retreating, it wasn¡¯t being purged instantly. ¡°This is great,¡± he said, rubbing his hands together. ¡°I think we can salvage your town soon enough, Hanan.¡±
¡°So, you had the solution all along? You just didn¡¯t want to tell me?¡± Hanan ced his hands on his hips. Theo couldn¡¯t tell if he was truly offended.
¡°As much as I¡¯d like it, I don¡¯t know everything.¡±
¡°So long as you fix my city, I¡¯ll be forever in your debt. But I do wish the climate here was more temperate. How do you survive in the heat?¡±
Theoughed, tugging at the Coat of Rake. ¡°Temperature regtion coat. You should get one.¡±
¡°No kidding.¡± Hanan looked at the coat with covetous eyes. ¡°Are we done here? I need to visit the market in Broken Tusk.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Theo jerked his head toward the exit. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I have some alchemy to do.¡±
Tresk might have set things in motion, but they would still take time. Theo knew better than to ask what she had done to kick things off. Something about her Dreamer¡¯s Core allowed her to banish whatever influence that entity had. The alchemist left Qavell with his group, stopping by the Adventurer¡¯s Guild to hire a few people to watch both Jan and Sulvan. He was transparent about it, exining to anyone who would ask what the situation was. The heavens were changing, and there was no way to know what effect it would have on those that held aligned cores.
On his way back to theb, Theo was surprised when he checked the town¡¯s temple. There had been no changes to it, or its function. Everything worked how it should have worked, and he even summoned Drogramath for a moment. He left the temple when the projected image of the dronon ascendant yelled at him for being too weak. The difference between the authentic version of him and the projection was too great.
Someone Theo didn¡¯t recognize was working the shop at the Newt and Demon. Theo nodded at the woman, heading upstairs to see what Salire was working on. He found her piling reagents on tables throughout theb. She turned, a slightly manic look on her face. Before he could say anything, she struck a pose.
¡°I have a n!¡±
¡°Looks like aprehensive n.¡± Theo spotted the sheets of paper strewn over the table. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±
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¡°This is pretty simple, actually. I made a list of each potion we¡¯re going to make. I put in a work order with Throk to get a new mixer made. And I collected a bunch of reagents we can use.¡±
Theo nodded, appreciating her thoroughness. The only problem with creating such high-ranking potions was the time required to do so. Mana was still a sticking point, preventing them from industrializing the process. The alchemist had shot a quick inquiry to Zarali, who refused to help thanks to wedding nning. The short response she shot back imed it was unlikely to be possible, thanks to the vtile nature of mana.
¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do but try,¡± Theo said, appreciating the reagents on the table. Salire¡¯s n was to handle the restoration potions first before moving on to attribute potions. Each would give him ten attribute points. The number still seemed absurd.
¡°Let¡¯s get started!¡±
Theo felt bolstered by Salire¡¯s enthusiasm, but the process was daunting. Alongside those collected reagents, she had also ced sks filled withpleted essences where applicable. Since they could only use third tier essences, that supply was thin. For most of the potions, they had to start from step one.
¡°Five stills working at once,¡± Theo said, nodding at the stills they already had functional. ¡°All producing bound dilutions or essences to make those dilutions¡ We can bank those in the building¡¯s storage, but we can keep the runs small. What do you think, 50 units?¡±
¡°Just make it 100,¡± Salire said, attaching an artifice grinder to one still. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with leftovers.¡±
Five stills meant they would start on mana, stamina, strength, dexterity, and vigor potions. That only left intelligence and wisdom potions for the attribute potions. They could have brought out the other five stills they had in storage, but this would keep them busy for a while. Theo didn¡¯t want to get bogged down with this work, just in case something else came up. Instead, they would do reasonable batches of everything.
¡°Looking good?¡± Theo asked, supervising the first run.
Each still had enough material inside, filling the air with a noxious mixture that the overhead fan drew away. ¡°Looking great,¡± Salire said. She had set up a series of sks to catch the produced essences for now. The n was to add them to the building¡¯s storageter. ¡°You should get working on the dilutions.¡±
Even with a tiny amount of second tier essence, Theo could create the Unbound Enchanted Dilution for each potion. He started with the Refined Mana Essence, enchanting Purified Water and binding that property to the mixture. He was thankful that Tresk hadn¡¯t taken all of his alcohol, making it easy enough to transform the unbound version of the dilution into the bound one.
It took most of the day, but in thete afternoon they had five paths forward to brew five new potions. Although there wasn¡¯t enough time in the day to do them all, Theo figured they could get a few done before the sun set. He had plenty to do in the Dreamwalk, and didn¡¯t want to miss a moment there. But some extra attributes would do him good.
¡°First one,¡± Salire said, pping with excitement.
Theo nodded, appreciating the design of Throk¡¯s mixer. The old marshling must have been fairly annoyed with the amount of revisions they had him making. He was working on one that was even better, but this one would allow the alchemist to add essence and dilution directly into the device. He cupped his hand over the second port of the mixer, allowing his mana to fill the chamber. The smaller, longer version of the pressure vessel hummed to life as Salire added essence.
¡°Mana first,¡± Theo said. ¡°Because why not?¡±
¡°We¡¯re expecting a simr increasepared to the Major Healing Potion,¡± Salire said, marking her notes.
¡°The mix looks good,¡± Theo said, watching as the parts of the new essencebined in the mixing chamber.
¡°Really? Throk needs to put a window on these things. And I¡¯m pretty sure you can¡¯t see through metal.¡±
Theo smiled, pressing his hand to the bottom chamber. It wasn¡¯t too hot for him to touch yet. ¡°It feels like it¡¯s mixing well. How¡¯s that?¡±
¡°Much better.¡±
Theo watched the mixer as it worked. He added mana by instinct, judging the levels by feel. As his wisdom increased, he felt drawn closer to operating off of instinct and the information provided by his cores rather than step-by-step instructions. The condenser did its job, collecting the resulting vapor and depositing thepleted essence into a sk the alchemist had at the ready. Salire¡¯s face lit up when she saw the essence, sping her hands together and jumping up and down.
¡°You¡¯re very excited about this,¡± Theo said, flicking the side of the sk. Condensation collected, forming drops of pure essence that dripped into the mixture below. The color was a pale blue, and he could hardly sense any impurities.
¡°This is history, Theo. I¡¯d say that people would write books about this, but we already have.¡± Salire allowed herself to giggle. ¡°Hard not to be excited.¡±
Theo observed the mixer. He could hardly think of any room for improvement. Throk was always thinking ahead, making sure that both parts of the mixing chamber could be fed by modr pipes, or by hand. The size was perfect. Anythingrger would make it hard for the alchemist to keep up with his levels of mana. The town¡¯s artificer wasn¡¯t just good at making stuff, he was good at predicting the needs of his customers.
¡°Ready?¡± Theo asked, tapping the end of the condenser. The mixer had extracted everything it could.
¡°I¡¯m so ready,¡± Salire said, following close behind as Theo brought the essence to a work table.
The mixing process operated at a loss. If ten units of dilution and ten units of essence were injected into the mixer, only five units woulde out the other end. This was a change from the way things had always worked. Theo was used to alchemy operated on a one-to-one ratio going from essence to potion.
¡°Here we go,¡± Theo said, distributing the new essence in a vial. Salire had made an extra-special vial for this one. It had more flourishes than he thought possible.
¡°Hooray!¡± Salire watched as a plume of uneven smoke came from the top of the vial. It smelled pleasant, as though someone had bottled a storm. A momentter, the reaction was done.
Theo ignored his prompt for more attributes, inspecting the new potions.
[Major Mana Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Tero¡¯gal (Perfect Bond)
A major mana potion. Drink to restore mana.
Effect:
Instantly restores 260 mana.
¡°Beautiful,¡± Salire said, bringing her eyes level with the table to peer through the potion. ¡°Look at that. Did you get the prompt?¡±
¡°Yep.¡± Theo swayed to one side after applying his points to Wisdom yet again. His n was to get that attribute to 100 before trying anything else. He watched as his precognition grew stronger. He knew that without the Wisdom of the Soul potion, he would have been on his ass for days, if not weeks. It acted as a buffer between the attribute and his mind. ¡°Feels great. Three more potions and I¡¯ll break 100 Wisdom.¡±
¡°You¡¯re kidding! That¡¯s insane, Theo.¡±
Theo nodded. It was nuts. This was the equivalent of getting ten levels all at once. And there were many potions they could make to exploit this same boost. The alchemist found a seat, waiting for his lightheadedness to go away. As he did, Salire cleaned the mixer for their next run.
Theo considered which attribute he would boost next. Intelligence was a dangerous attribute to work on, since he was already feeling the cold effects of endless logic with only 30 intelligence. He couldn¡¯t imagine what it would feel like if he had 100. Unless he could break the meta-barrier between his soul and his Intelligence, he would put points into Dexterity and Vigor. Both were useful in their own way, and had served him well.
¡°Let me know when you¡¯re ready,¡± Salire said.
Theo craned his neck, watching as the sun drew lower outside. ¡°I guess we have time for one more,¡± he said, pushing himself to his feet and wobbling on the spot. ¡°Someone might need to carry me home if I get another prompt, though.¡±
¡°Oh, I can do that.¡± Sarisa appeared from the shadows.
¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Rowan added. ¡°I¡¯m real gentle.¡±
6.33 - Dizzying Potions
6.33 - Dizzying Potions
It took Salire and Theo longer than they had expected to get the Major Stamina Potion nearly done. Sarisa ran off to Xam¡¯s ce, grabbing food for everyone. Tresk joined them in theb, eating her food and watching the alchemy. Unfortunately, Alex could no longer fit inside buildings. She was an outside goose now, spending all her time waiting for someone to toss something yummy out the window. Or foraging for her food in the grass around the Newt and Demon.
Tresk was moderately interested in the new alchemy equipment. Theo couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the time he first met her. When he felt the pull in his chest, drawing him to her like nothing before in his life. The Tara¡¯hek¡¯s bond was almost a predestined thing, drawing two people together because they would work. The definition of how those people would mesh was fuzzy, but the results were clear. Tresk used to run around, gathering reagents or helping with simple reactions. Now she just watched.
¡°I wonder who made that fancy gizmo you¡¯re using.¡± Tresk sat on a free table, kicking her feet over the edge as she watched. ¡°He must be a smarty pants.¡±
¡°I heard his daughter is a terror,¡± Theo said, tapping the end of the condenser. The essence had finally finished condensing,ing to rest in arge sk at the end of the run. Like the other stamina essences, this one was a faintly yellow color. While the first tier essences had powerful scents, this one was almost odorless, but still smelled vaguely of grass.
¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Tresk waved the jab away. ¡°Make your potion so we can go to sleep.¡±
Theo nodded, finding the nearest chair to get to work. Thest rush of Wisdom had put him on his butt, so he wouldn¡¯t risk bonking his head on a table this time. The reaction of this newest potion was much like thest. Each had been at about the same level of purity, binding to the catalyst and enchanted water with no problem. He watched as a small cloud of smoke rose from an individual vial, holding on for the onught of attributes.
Although the prompt appeared, allowing him to select which attribute he wanted to enhance, he inspected the potion first.
[Major Stamina Potion]
[Potion]Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Tero¡¯gal (Perfect Bond)
A major stamina potion. Drink to restore mana.
Effect:
Instantly restores 265 mana.
¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll see much use from these potions, but the points are nice,¡± Theo said, passing the vial over to Salire.
¡°Because you never go adventuring.¡± Tresk pushed off from her table, standing on her tippy-toes to inspect the potion Salire held. ¡°Popping low-tier potions is a pain inbat. Downing one like this is more efficient. Especially if you only have a few seconds to drink one.¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Then we¡¯ll put a premium price tag on it, because these are a pain to make. Okay, someone catch me if I fall.¡±
Without waiting for anyone to get into position, Theo ced 10 points into Wisdom. His head swam as the people in hisb turned into ghost-like streaks. He watched as Sarisa darted across the room, a full five seconds before he actually began falling. Getting Wisdom to 80 had brought a level of precognition he couldn¡¯t have expected. As he waited for himself to tip over in real time, he wondered how this worked when more than one person had a lot of Wisdom. Perhaps they canceled each other out. Or fights between people with high Wisdom was like a match they yed out in their heads.
Whatever the truth, Theo smiled as his eyes fluttered. Sarisa¡¯s actual body darted across the room, catching him as he fell from the chair. ¡°Gotcha,¡± she said, her voice muddy in his ears. ¡°Okay. Who wants to carry the idiot?¡±
¡°I think he likes you the most, Sarisa,¡± Tresk said with a wink. She winked a few more times, her tongue sticking out as she did so. ¡°He¡¯s incapacitated. Grab his butt.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not gonna grab his butt.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t grab my butt.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Rowan said.
¡°The first person to grab my butt gets sent to the shadow realm,¡± Theo said, his head swimming. ¡°I¡¯m very dizzy, not unconscious.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get this little guy to bed. He¡¯s tuckered out,¡± Sarisa said, her voice taking on a strangely motherly tone.
¡°I gotta go.¡± Salire left theb first. Although his vision was swimming, Theo thought he could see her blushing.
Theo made it back to his manor without getting his butt grabbed. Sarisa ced him gently in his bed, and he was eager to head into the Dreamwalk. He felt bad that Alex had to sleep outside, but perhaps he couldmission someone to make her a barn or something. Perhaps there was a seed core for that. He grumbled something to Tresk that she couldn¡¯t understand, but all members of the Tara¡¯hek were snugly in bed a momentter. They all fell into the Dreamwalk.
¡°Well, that was ufortable,¡± Theo said, rolling his shoulders. The group stood outside of the walls of Broken Tusk, looking out over the rolling fields.
¡°Those people need to get better at taking orders.¡±
Theo took a deep breath, allowing his precognition toe into y. He watched as Tresk turned away after saying something. ¡°Hold on,¡± he said, trying not to smile. ¡°I wanna try something.¡±
¡°What? Look at this.¡± Tresk turned, showing that she had exactly no butt to grab. ¡°Zero muscle definition down there. You¡¯re more likely to grab some tail.¡±
¡°No. Come over here and hit me in the face.¡±
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Theo watched as a phantom version of Tresk kicked off from the ground, leading with her fist directly at his face. He tried not to scoff at how quickly hispanion would slug him. He slid his foot out to the side, pulling himself out from the strike and pivoting just as sheunched into the air. ¡°Too slow,¡± he said.
And Tresk didn¡¯t waste any time. Sheunched another attack, catching only air. With a frustrated growl, her daggers were in her hands. Theo didn¡¯t have the most Dexterity in the world, but he had enough to move his body out of the way. It didn¡¯t take long for her to grow frustrated from the fight. The alchemist jumped back when he saw several versions of her spring out from the main one, striking from four different angles. A momentter, he took a dagger to the chest.
¡°Not fair,¡± Theo said, looking down at the de sticking from his torso. ¡°There were too many versions of you.¡±
¡°Yeah, I was watching you through your eyes, stinky cheater.¡±
¡°I¡¯d argue that¡¯s not cheating.¡± Theo narrowed his eyes. He allowed his aura to envelop his body. ¡°Wanna try that again without watching through my eyes?¡±
¡°How does that work?¡± Tresk asked, ignoring his question.
¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure. But higher Wisdom means I can predict possible futures. But when you looked through my eyes, I saw several futures.¡±
¡°I wonder if that¡¯s what Khahar felt like. Hey, speaking of¡ Is everyone screwed in heaven?¡± Tresk only seemed slightly concerned about the people who owned realms.
¡°Why don¡¯t you just read my mind?¡± Theo asked, taking a deep breath. Tresk was being polite, of course. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the problem. They¡¯re not really in the heavens. The ascendants took up a ce on other nes and called them godly heavens. They told the system to rename those things, but they¡¯re not true gods.¡±
¡°So, the actual gods havee home. And the fake ones are gonna get purged. That¡¯s kinda metal.¡±
¡°Agreed. But Khahar and ntheir saw thising. Apparently. I¡¯m pretty sure ntheir is going to take one spot as a god while Khahar stays behind as a throne holder.¡±
¡°Good for us, right?¡±
Theo had some thoughts on that. After watching Void¡¯s behavior, he was certain the new gods were bound by far more rules than the ascendants. After the shards were returned to the mortal ne, the rules for the ascendants would change. Their powers would be restricted, which might affect cores on the mortal ne. He couldn¡¯t be sure how that would work, since the flow of energy from realms to the mortal ne was allowed. But even if that didn¡¯t change, many ascendants would lose their realms and their cores. Which put Theo and Tresk in an awkward situation.
¡°People who hold a realm can make cores, right?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Why can¡¯t we evolve ours?¡±
¡°Woah. Slow down there, tiger. That sounds tricky.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how hard it is or what you think about it. Both of us will lose our cores if we don¡¯t do something¡ªcore evolution is a thing, right? I¡¯ve evolved one core, so why can¡¯t I evolve the others?¡±
¡°You¡¯re talking about the difference between making a friction fire and starting a nuclear reaction with a breath.¡±
¡°So put on yourb coat. I don¡¯t want to devolve to using a damn basic alchemy core. Why can¡¯t I copy the principles of Drogramathi Alchemy and make it my own? Come on. Where¡¯s your fighting spirit?¡±
Tresk red at Theo for a moment. But he could feel her rolling the situation over in her head. It took her a minute, but she reached the same conclusion he did. Like the problems they faced in Broken Tusk, the only way to address this one was to figure it out now. Not after he brought the shards from the Deep Void, but now. While they could still take advantage of the power of their cores. Of Theo¡¯s cores, almost all of them were aligned. Only his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core wasn¡¯t. The others would crumble if he didn¡¯t evolve them to be Tero¡¯gal cores.
But that brought a question Theo wasn¡¯t certain he could answer. What made a core an aligned core? The obvious, surface-level thing was the influence of an ascendant¡¯s realm on the core user. In the early days, Theo¡¯s actions weren¡¯t always his own. Drogramath didn¡¯t control him, but there his influence made him lean in one direction. Immense willpower and the Tara¡¯hek took care of that. Cores normally followed a theme. Drogramath was all about alchemy and herbs. ntheir¡¯s cores were themed around healing. Zaul was the shadow guy. But being the shadow guy could take many forms. Stealth, assassination, willpower maniption. There was a through line, but it wasn¡¯t solid.
If Theo and Tresk created a core based on Tero¡¯gal, what would it be about? That brought his next question. Did it really matter? The strength of Tero¡¯gal as a realm, whenpared to other realms, was middling. It was powerful because it was unlike the other realms, not because it was that high of a level. If the answer to his question of ¡®why¡¯ was ¡®why not¡¯ all he had to answer was ¡®how¡¯.
¡°What is a core?¡± Theo asked, imagining a core that fell into his hand. ¡°When I construct a containment core for my golems, it only has a few parts.¡±
¡°Metal, soul, energy.¡± Tresk nodded. She had been following along with his thought process. ¡°The metal contains the soul and the energy powers it.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think our cores contain a soul, though.¡±
Tresk let out a heavy sigh. ¡°h, h. Yada, yada. We¡¯re talking about doing Coresmith stuff.¡±
When the problem was boiled down to such a simple statement, it felt cheap. But Tresk was right. No matter how much he tried to wrap his mind around it, he could jump to the same conclusion. They were trying to do what the Coresmiths did. If he could pluck the information from the air, it might have been easier to understand the concept¡ but there was always¡
[Wisdom of the Soul]
It is likely the Coresmiths fuse nescant souls into forms usable by mortals. These souls probablye from monster cores that are transferred into aplex containment core, after which they are infused with unaligned mana.
You don¡¯t have enough information to know if the standard [Coresmith¡¯s Core] can create aligned cores. It is more likely that this is a process achievable by an ascendant. In your case¡ªas the owner of a realm¡ªyou can bypass a few steps.
¡°Chatty little message, isn¡¯t it?¡± Treskughed. ¡°The power was inside you the whole time!¡±
¡°Meh. Maybe.¡± Theo turned away, summoning an empty containment core the shape of a ss core in his hand. He reached up, motioning to draw energy from Tero¡¯gal. But nothing happened. ¡°The Dreamwalk doesn¡¯t want to simte Tero¡¯gal¡¯s energy.¡±
¡°Yeah. She¡¯s been temperamentaltely¡¡±
¡°Have we wronged you recently?¡± Theo asked, looking up at the dream realm. It didn¡¯t respond.
¡°You¡¯re just kinda talking to the manifestation of my throne through our connection, right? So that¡¯s kinda weird.¡±
¡°Whatever. You said it yourself. We only need tobine a containment core, a monster core, and some energy to make a core. We can certainly give it a try in Tero¡¯gal.¡±
¡°Why not? Doesn¡¯t cost us much, and we might get some fancy cores in return.¡±
Theo turned,ying eyes on the stupidly big goose pecking at the ground. A faint glow surrounded Alex as she searched for bugs. It was likely unrted to their discussion, but that glow had a familiar feeling that he couldn¡¯t ce. Theo and Tresk decided to work on this problem during the day. But he already had an idea of how to make this work for them now. Or in the near future. And Alex was a big inspiration for that. The pair ran off to enjoy somebat with unknown monsters. The alchemist stayed behind to ponder.
Approaching the core problem from the idea that they were going to create new cores wasn¡¯t the way forward. Instead, Theo thought about something Alex had done a while ago. She was born with an affinity for fire. It might have been gics, a random lottery from the system, or the hand of whoever put her in the mine. But she was meant to be a fire goose. She did everything she could to get herself in front of nature energy, developing an affinity for nature. No one part of her transformation resulted in the change, but a series of small things. Absorbing nature energy through various means was likely the best way to give her a new affinity.
Theo and Tresk had been exposed to Tero¡¯gal energy for a while now. The power of that realm had gotten to where it was bleeding through into the mortal realm. Some of that energy flowed into the nearby dungeons, while others soaked into theb. He couldn¡¯t be certain if it would work, and he didn¡¯t know if Drogramath would be mad about it. But Theo was certain he could soak his current cores in Tero¡¯gal energy, changing their affinity. Without evidence, he determined that allowing that energy into his cores might have an effect.
Faced with the concept of losing his cores or trying something like this, Theo knew which option was the best.
6.34 - The Barn
6.34 - The Barn
Theo couldn¡¯t simte the creation of new cores within the Dreamwalk. It allowed him to do things that worked with his cores, such as creating golems. But new things like cores just weren¡¯t possible. What it did allow him to do was mess around with energies. This gave him a chance to consider the rtionship between realm energy and the mortal world. He found an area in the market, imagining people going about their days to make it feel more like the real world and got to work.
His first step was to recap what he understood about energy.
Energy, or power was like a cloud that seeped through from the ascendant realms to the mortal realm. It could be consumed by various things, like mana collectors or buildings, and transformed into mana. The alchemist thought about what other things could absorb this energy. nts and animals could do it¡ªespecially those right outside of Broken Tusk. Depending on the affinity of that energy, the thing that absorbed it would change. His mind felt like it was going into overdrive as he attempted to make a link between the things he knew and the things he wanted to know.
Perhaps it was his heightened wisdom, or his constant exposure to these meta topics, but he thought he had proof for his theory. His potions gotrge bonuses from the building they were created in. A lot of those bonuses were borne from the alignment it held to Drogramath. But Drogramath¡¯s energy had waned recently, eclipsed by the energy of Tero¡¯gal. They were now aligned with Tero¡¯gal alone, although Drogramath¡¯s shrine remained. The building had absorbed enough energy to change alignments.
¡°And what is it that drives a building?¡± Theo asked, smiling to himself. ¡°A seed core.¡±
Looking into his chest, Theo saw his various cores hovering in nothingness. He always had a sense for them¡ªespecially the aligned ones¡ªbut focusing on them helped him visualize. The cores in his soul weren¡¯t absorbing energy on their own. They were soaked in whatever mana floated through his soul. It could have been as easy as opening his soul to the power of Tero¡¯gal, or recing his Drogramathi mana with Tero¡¯gal mana. But he was certain this was the way forward. As Alex had added an affinity, he could change his alignment.
¡°I really hope Drogramath isn¡¯t mad¡ How could he be mad? He¡¯s gonna die if he doesn¡¯t join my realm¡¡±
It might make things awkward, but Theo wanted Drogramath to join his realm. He wanted to shatter the barrier between ascendants. Perhaps if they were driven off their collective high horse, things would get better for the world. That was Khahar¡¯s n, anyway. While the alchemist hoped it would work out in the end, it was hard to predict how others would react. Heughed to himself.
¡°Dad is home. Put away your toys,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°No jumping on the sofa. No, you didn¡¯t y fair. I¡¯m taking your realm away.¡±Void didn¡¯t feel like a benevolent god. No, he was more Old Testament than that. Things were gonna get ugly in the heavens, and Theo was happy he was out of the way. All because they shoved Tresk¡¯s throne in there. Which meant he should find his own throne before Void caught on. There was enough for him to do outside of this godly stuff. He tore his thoughts away and focused on the most exciting development in recent memory.
Three new potions and two Potions of Significance. Theo had gained 50 points in Wisdom recently, taking him from 32 to 82. The increase was massive, leaving his head spinning every time he got more. Every ten levels brought a new level of insight, or a fraction of a second¡¯s worth of foresight. Of course 50 points meant 50 effective levels of attributes, making him more like someone at level 80. And there were no signs of stopping. He resolved to make as many potions as he could before he figured out the core problem. Perhaps he could further exploit it from there.
Precognition might have been the most visible effect of Wisdom, but the other effect was foreknowledge. They were rted, but different. Since Theo had taken the Wisdom of the Soul potion, that knowledge came as screens that gave him information. When he was at 30 Wisdom, it seemed to be mostly guesses based on what he already knew. At 70¡ªbefore his newest upgrade¡ªthe messages were more pointed, extrapting information he shouldn¡¯t have known. What would happen when he brought this attribute over 100? That¡¯s when things got interesting.
Theo thought about this as he worked on his willpower exploit. Zaul was a weird guy, and his realm could vanish any day. The alchemist wasn¡¯t interested in being left without his new favorite core. He couldn¡¯t even estimate the amount of golems he could pull under his control now. 300? 500? He didn¡¯t have the resources to test it in the real world, but the Dreamwalk allowed him to create an actual army. A field of metal golems sprawled into the distance, standing in orderly rows.
Theo could feel the strain of the 300-some-odd golems on his mind. Keeping them in order would have been impossible if he controlled them as individuals. But as his willpower grew, so did his ability to issueplex instructions. If only they didn¡¯t need such expensive workings to operate on their own. Without Throk¡¯s mana collector, each golem would run out of power in a day or two.
The design of his golems was something he would change if he could make his own core.
Morning came and Theo woke, finding his mind jumping strangely as he lostmand of his imagined golems. He felt the soothing pressure of his real golems, going about whatever tasks they were doing. Some patrolled the underground area, others farmed, and one tended to his greenhouses. Before even rising from his bed, the alchemist reached out to his realm. He touched the power there in an instant, feeling it sting his fingers. He pulled his hand back, unsure how much it was supposed to hurt.
¡°y with fire, ya gonna get burned,¡± Tresk said, jumping from her bed and dashing down the stairs.
Theo sensed she was off to feed Alex. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest. The poor goose was forced to spend her days and nights outside without cover. With a sigh, he rose from bed and headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarisa and Rowan had created a breakfast that had be a ssic. Pozwa eggs, sausage made by Whisper, and zee grits. Local food hadn¡¯t agreed with himpletely when he had arrived, but he now expected it.
After breakfast, Theo went to the Newt and Demon to give Salire some orders before heading off to the market. He counted his coins as he went, finding that he didn¡¯t have enough to buy anything worthwhile. But he could dip into the town¡¯s fund if he wanted to. It was his town, after all. Why not?
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When the port had first opened, they saw a few people arriving every week. Now it was always packed with people,ing to sell their wares in the market. While they hadn¡¯t found a market seed core, that didn¡¯t stop the locals from creating a sprawling bazaar. Even in the early morning hours, it was packed with merchants from abroad. The alchemist inquired with a few before being directed to an elven trader near the market¡¯s center. And he was surprised to see the man selling cores.
¡°What do you know about Coresmithing?¡± Theo asked, rummaging through the seed cores on offer.
¡°I¡¯m just a merchant,¡± the elven man offered, bowing his head. ¡°Not worthy of entertaining the archduke.¡±
Theo gave him a t look, a sour taste forming in his mouth. ¡°Or you don¡¯t want to give up their secrets. That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll take this.¡±
Theo presented the [Barn Seed Core] to the merchant, who sold it to him for ten gold. The alchemist didn¡¯t need to pull money from the town, as he had expected the price to be higher. But it was only a barn,pared to an entire ranch. The town already had a barn somewhere, but Azrug might have built that one by hand. Didn¡¯t he hire someone to build it? He shook the thought away, picking up some Monster Cores before heading back to his manor.
It might have been selfish, but Theo had restricted building in his area of town. It was only hisb, his manor, Herbalist¡¯s Workshop, and Zarali¡¯s Enchanter¡¯s Workshop in the area. That left more than enough space for Alex to have a barn right next to the manor. And it would berge enough for her growing body. He saw Tresk riding on her overhead and smiled. They would be surprised when they returned.
Theo found a decent spot to nt the seed core. He ced the seed south of his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop. He wanted to keep the other side of the road clear for more residential use. The roots sprung from the ground, wrapping around themselves and growing to be a barn-shaped tangle. When the roots were done, they formed the shape of arge red and white barn. Just like back on Earth. Which was weird. The alchemist shrugged, taking a tour of the building before upgrading it.
Alex could fit inside the barn no problem. No upgrades were required for her to live infort. There were no stalls for animals in here, just a wide-open floor withrge doors on both sides and a hayloft. The ground was dirt, but he doubted Alex would mind. He could even put a big air conditioner in here if she wanted. He considered asking her, but dismissed the idea. It would be better if he showed her thepleted barn when she returned from her adventures. Her excitement would be worth the wait.
Theo cracked his knuckles, pulling a Monster Core from his inventory. He began shoving the cores into the building, expanding it lengthwise. The ground rumbled slightly under his feet. After getting Level 5 on the building, he realized cooling would be an issue. If there was an option that popped up for cooling orfort, he would select it. For now, he reviewed the first three options.
[Hay Dispenser]
Automatic hay dispensers appear on the sides of the barn, distributing whatever food is loaded into them. These dispensers require power to operate.
Alex was intelligent enough that she didn¡¯t need a feeder. She could withdraw items from a Dimensional Storage Crate if she needed food. This upgrade would be awesome for someone like Miana, who had to care for so many animals. But the barn was built to house a giant, intelligent goose. Not animals who didn¡¯t know how to feed themselves. Theo dismissed this upgrade, reading the next one.
[Stalls]
Creates a row of stalls, depending on the length of this barn, that can house animals.
Theo smoothed his hair out, feeling his horns as he grumbled. This was another upgrade that would be lovely to have for normal barn purposes. But Alex had no need for a stall. If anything, it would take away from the space she had to roam around. He dismissed this one too, moving to the next.
[Muckraking]
Any animal filth that appears on the floor of this barn will be automatically removed at the end of every day.
Alex was good about not pooping inside. But this was the best of three dud upgrades, so Theo picked Muckraking. He fed the building cores until it reached Level 10 and considered the single new upgrade.
[Automatic Deposits]
Animal products, such as eggs, will be collected and deposited into a container of your choice once a day.
¡°Does Alexy eggs?¡± Theo asked, scratching his chin. He saw this as another bad upgrade for his purposes. Maybe a barn wasn¡¯t the right pick¡ He selected Automatic Deposits, because it was the best of the three. The alchemist continued adding cores until the building reached Level 15. He finally got an upgrade that was great.
[Tero¡¯gal Empowerment]
Latent energy, aligned with the Dreamrealm of Tero¡¯gal, will be drawn from the air to enhance animals stabled in this building. Energy density affects improvement rate.
Maybe it was because he was nning to do the same thing with himself, but Theo found this upgrade very appealing. He selected it without hesitation, moving on to get a few more upgrades. The building rose to Level 20 shortly after, presenting another good option.
[Comfort]
Animals within this building will experience an environment suitable for them.
It was a simple description for a simple upgrade. Theo selected it, breathing a sigh of relief. This was likely the best upgrade he would find for Alex. Having a ce out of the boiling sun was good, but if she could experience the perfect temperature, it was even better. Now the barn wouldn¡¯t feel like a sweltering box for her, allowing her to rest better than in the open air. While Theo nned to do two more upgrades, he only had enough cores on him to do one. But after getting the Comfort upgrade, he doubted anything else wouldpare.
Theo inspected thest upgrade of the day.
[Restoration]
Animals sleeping within this building will be well-rested and have their wounds heal quicker.
This was a good upgrade. Compared to something like the feeders, or stalls, it was a t effect. If Alex was injured, she could rest up and heal quickly in the building. Easy pick. Before Theo called it a day with the barn, he gave it a name and inspected the building. It was always best to name a building before Tresk got to it.
[Barn]
[Alex¡¯s Personal Mansion]
Owner: Theo Spencer
Faction [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 25 (13%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Muckraking]
[Automatic Deposits]
[Tero¡¯gal Empowerment]
[Comfort]
[Restoration]
Theo was proud of what he had done for Alex. He felt excitement bubbling inside him as he thought about showing it to her. She wouldn¡¯t say anything about it, but sleeping outside must have been annoying. She had also enjoyeding inside to eat with everyone else, but that was off the table. Tresk had kept the small box she used to sleep in within their room, refusing to throw it out. It was hard to imagine the marshling being sentimental, but she could be sensitive at times.
¡°Well, that¡¯s that.¡± Theo sighed as he looked at the barn. It was nice to take in something so understandable. Especially considering his next move for the day. With onest breath, he slipped through the cracks of reality. Entering the new maelstrom of the void.
6.35 - Changes in the Realm
6.35 - Changes in the Realm
The void had changed so much in such little time. Theo felt as though he had dropped into a hurricane, rather than the tepid sea of darkness he was used to. It was filled with colors and sounds, mixing the realms, ribbon, and Bridge as though it were a churning gxy. A bright ball of something rested at the core, while his realm flew in orbit around it. There was no need to cross the bridge this time. He flew directly for his realm, buffeted by an unseen wind.
A momentter, Theo set foot into his realm. His ears cleared a momentter as they adjusted to the sound of silence. He breathed a sigh of relief, spotting Belgar approaching from the distance.
¡°Oh, boy!¡± the dronon said, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°Things are getting wild.¡±
Theo looked around. Thending area in Tero¡¯gal had changed. Someone had paved it with cobblestones. There was a small building standing off to the side. The spirits had likely built it themselves and it had a sign hanging off the front.
¡°Wee Center?¡± Theo read, trying not tough. ¡°You¡¯re taking this seriously, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°As ordered.¡± Belgar winked. His face shifted a momentter. From excitement, to concern. ¡°The realm kinda changed without anyone¡¯smand.¡±
Theo jerked his head to the side. ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk.¡±
There was a queue of spirits waiting for his approval, but they could wait. They had already waited for something like a year. A few minutes wouldn¡¯t kill them. ¡°What¡¯s the scoop?¡±
¡°A few hundred lower realms were destroyed,¡± Belgar said. ¡°That guy wasn¡¯t kidding. Fire and fury. Anyone who didn¡¯t abandon their realms was lost to the void. So I started seeing souls approaching the realm, all led by the leader of their old realm. And the line got so long that Tero¡¯gal reacted.¡±¡°What happened?¡±
¡°It gave them ¡®resident¡¯ status, without making their souls part of the realm. I think it wants to change again, but Tero¡¯gal is waiting for yourmand.¡±
Theo spread his senses over the realm. Belgar was right, but it was weird. The realm was being willful, as though it had protected itself to adapt. He sent a sense offort to his realm, hoping it got the message to chill for a minute while he sorted this out. ¡°I hope the realm is big enough for everyone to stay.¡±
¡°Oh, yeah. Space hasn¡¯t been a problem. That¡¯s why we made the Wee Center. I made a council with the other spirits, and we sectionednd off throughout the realm for the others to settle. We even got some higher realm folks over. And one very special guest.¡±
¡°Drogramath,¡± Theo said. He didn¡¯t need his intuition for that one.
¡°Yeah, how did you know?¡±
¡°But, everything is working out?¡±
¡°Oh, yeah. All the new residents are having a good time. They¡¯re adapting to life here, but this is like a calm ind to a sailor. They¡¯re just happy to be alive.¡±
Once again, things were moving too fast. But Belgar and his counsel had done extremely well. Theo was surprised at how well they handled the situation. As he sent his senses over the, he could feel pockets of civilization. The residents were building towns in various pockets, establishing themselves in this new utopia. The alchemist was reluctant to reach out to his realm, but it had to be done. A message appeared when he did.
¡°Ah. That¡¯s interesting. Could I get your advice on this, Belgar?¡± Theo asked, reading the message aloud.
[Realm Evolution]
Tero¡¯gal, the Mortal Dreamrealm wants to evolve into a Throneworld.
The proposed evolution would change the way this realm operates, making it more adept to the changing tide of the void. Tero¡¯gal insists you ept this change, as it would prevent the realm from being torn apart as the void changes. Failure to ept this change would cause the realm¡¯s eventual destruction.
¡°It says to ept or be destroyed.¡± Belgar shrugged. ¡°What more is there to consider?¡±
Belgar was right, but Theo was reluctant. Tero¡¯gal was at Level 41, and had many things that defended it against outside forces. While that was important to consider, there was Void to think about. If the new god of this world could, he would have destroyed the realm already. But he trusted the message sent by his realm. It wasn¡¯t a standard message he had seen before, and didn¡¯t follow most others he had seen. This was a plea from his realm.
¡°I¡¯m going to ept,¡± Theo said, nodding to himself.
¡°I would.¡± Belgar produced a nervousugh. ¡°I¡¯d rather not die.¡±
¡°Okay. Let¡¯s see what this change is about.¡±
Theo epted the change and felt his realm rumbling. He sucked in a breath as an unfamiliar energy filled his body. It stung his chest as the sky above darkened. Spirits shouted in the distance and he watched as one changed. A flood of prismatic energy washed over the world as those spirits were given a corporeal form. The alchemist felt some of his powers within the world being stripped, while others were bolstered. He understood what the changes meant before they were done.
The sky cleared above them as a pale white star flooded the world with color. Another message appeared.
[Evolution Sessful]
Tero¡¯gal has evolved into a Throneworld.
All upgrades have been stripped and reinvested into the size of this world. It now sits in bnce with the void, and cannot be destroyed so long as it remains in bnce. Please review your world screen to see the changes.
¡°I think it worked,¡± Theo said, looking around in confusion.
¡°I have a body!¡± one spirit shouted in the distance. They jumped up-and-down, hooting with excitement.
Belgar looked down at himself, shaking his head. ¡°I feel different. Something changed, Theo.¡±
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Theo inspected his realm¡ No, not his realm. HIs world.
[Tero¡¯Gal]
Throneworld
Leaders:
Theo Spencer, Tresk
Residents:
581,420
Cities:
15
Features:
Bridge of Shadows
¡°Okay. This is really weird. Why does it say that Uz¡¯Xulven¡¯s bridge is a part of¡¡± Theo trailed off as another message appeared. It was slightlyte.
[Evolution Synergy]
Your realm has consumed another realm during the evolution process and thanks to the presence of the Throne of the Herald. Uz¡¯Godan Bokrak Tal has been consumed and incorporated into this realm. Review the features within the world screen.
Theo was bowled over, falling face-first into the cobbles below. He expected his nose to break and his horns to scrape on the surface, but he felt nothing. For a moment, he forgot that no harm coulde to him while he was within his world. The body pressing against him was familiar, as was the energy and scent. ¡°Uz¡¯Xulven,¡± Theo said, grumbling into the stones.
¡°You saved the Bridge!¡±
Theo rolled, shoving Uz¡¯Xulven off of him. She tumbled back, none of her shadowy form present. Her true form was that of a gray-skinned dronon with long ck hair. Her gray eyes glowed, and a smile tugged at her lips.
¡°The realm saved the Bridge,¡± Theo said, rubbing his head. The motion was a reflex, but he felt no pain.
Uz¡¯Xulven rose to her feet, looking shy for the first time since Theo met her. He felt a pang of something in his chest. It wasn¡¯t quite guilt, but he felt bad for her. She was one of few ascendants immune to the purge. If the alchemist thought about how this new world would be structured, he would pick the Queen of the Bridge of Shadows as some kind of leader. Although he wondered what this meant. He paused his thoughts, looking over at Uz¡¯Xulven with a brow raised. She was still on the ground, giggling to herself.
¡°Why can I feel your core?¡± Theo asked, spreading his aura over the woman. Because she was never a god, only a woman. An ascendant. He turned to Belgar, narrowing his gaze. ¡°I can feel core slots in you. But my senses have always been such crap¡¡±
¡°Big changes in the realms,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, doing a little dance. ¡°I was just preparing to abandon my realm when it was integrated with yours. Thank goodness. Fenian was still using it.¡±
Theo breathed a sigh of relief. This was good, right? There was a lot to analyze, but Wisdom of the Soul helped. Some restrictions that had been ced on the spirits within a realm were lifted because this was no longer a realm. It was a Throneworld. The alchemist checked, seeing that he no longer had direct control over the world. He could feel some measure of his ability to move around, but greater functions such as his upgrades were lost to him. What was left behind was much greater, though. The world felt alive, as though it wanted to develop on its own.
¡°Look who it is,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, pointing to an approaching figure. ¡°Old Droggy.¡±
Drogramath waved awkwardly, approaching the group. ¡°Well, this is fun.¡±
Despite how things were going, Drogramath seemed mostly unphased. He had a small smile on his face and shrugged as though this were a normal meeting.
¡°The demon gang is back together!¡± Uz¡¯Xulven shouted. She was far more cheery than Theo was used to.
¡°Except the others. They went to Khahar¡¯s realm.¡± Dorgramath kicked at the ground like an upset child. ¡°I was hoping we could have all the demons in this realm.¡±
Theo only took a beat, looking at the pride on each dronon¡¯s face. He only had one question. ¡°Did you guys know you weren¡¯t gods?¡±
¡°I never called myself a god,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said.
¡°Only the Prime Pantheon called themselves gods. I just enjoyed the position I had. While itsted.¡± Drogramath was eager to dismiss the subject.
Theo wasn¡¯t eager to pursue it. It was done. No big deal.
¡°Belgar, what do you think about adding these two to your little group?¡± Theo asked.
For the first time, Theo saw the way Belgar looked at Drogramath. There was a sh of anger on his face that faded as soon as it came. He cleared his throat. ¡°It would be a good idea to add their wisdom to our world.¡±
This wouldn¡¯t be thest person upset with their former ¡®god¡¯. The ascendants only ever had the power to give cores and fight with each other. Theo couldn¡¯t get his mind off of Void and how much he had changed things. There were also the other three, one of which he suspected was dead. It hardly mattered now. The way he saw the other ascendants in his realm made him happy.
¡°So. I guess this is life.¡± Theo gestured to his new world. ¡°I hope you guys found homes.¡±
¡°There is a swamp to the south I intend to settle on,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°Along with some¡ I suppose they¡¯re no longer my ¡®faithful¡¯. Have your cores stopped working?¡±
¡°Not yet. But that leads me to a question. Do you know how I could evolve my cores?¡± Theo asked.
¡°It shouldn¡¯t be hard, darling,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven purred. ¡°You can sense the energy in your realm, can¡¯t you? Pull it into your soul, and inject it into your existing cores. Oh, you should think about doing only one at a time.¡±
¡°Core creation for ascendants was easy. We had an interface,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°But we could also experiment with new cores. When you get one aligned with Tero¡¯gal, toss one my way. My cores have already stopped working. Sadly.¡±
¡°Yes, toss one my way.¡± Uz¡¯Xulven fluttered her eyes at Theo, making a pouty face. ¡°Please.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll work on that,¡± Theo said, giving a pleading look to Belgar. The dronon shrugged. The alchemist ced a hand on Drogramath¡¯s shoulder. He could still travel within his world. Taking a passenger shouldn¡¯t have been that hard. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Droggy.¡±
An instantter, Drogramath and Theo were within a sprawling swamnd to the south. They stood knee-deep in a swamp, surrounded by the buzzing of insects and the objecting calls of nearby birds. Something stirred in the water nearby, rushing away from the sudden disturbance.
¡°We should create some portals,¡± Drogramath said, looking around. He nodded with approval. ¡°I like this swamp.¡±
¡°This is a nice swamp. Agreed. Quality swamp right here. Gonna take your people a few months to walk here.¡±
¡°Or we could get portals.¡± Drogramath winked. ¡°This is a curious situation we find ourselves in. I am happy to be alive, and even more thrilled to be rendered powerless.¡±
¡°I¡¯m d someone is happy. Did you see thising?¡±
¡°Others might have, but I didn¡¯t. I¡¯m just happy to have my loyal follower as a backup n.¡± Drogramathughed, probing his broken horn. ¡°You never liked me. But perhaps you¡¯ll allow me to find peace in your realm.¡±
¡°No, I didn¡¯t like you. But I didn¡¯t hate you.¡±
¡°You¡¯re talking about me as if I were already dead. A fair assessment.¡±
Theo only smiled, teleporting back to the wee center. It wasn¡¯t hard to round up the other followers of Drogramath. The council Belgar had created was good at finding people, and were happy to assemble them in thending area. Once Theo had everyone in one ce, he teleported them to the swamp. While the action wasn¡¯t difficult, it also wasn¡¯t effortless. But the world seemed willing to work with him, eager to distribute a new poption.
Tero¡¯gal was smaller than Earth was back in the day. Distributing half-a-million people over the surface would be effortless. He just hoped others didn¡¯t take the prime real estate before he could. Perhaps he could nt a few ¡®no building¡¯ signs near potential sites. After teleporting Drogramath¡¯s followers to the swamp, he returned to speak with Belgar and address those souls that were waiting for admission. The system to ept souls was now loose, and didn¡¯t impact the power of the world directly.
¡°This has been a joy,¡± Theo said, watching as the people¡ªwho were souls only a few minutes before¡ªentered the wee center. ¡°Not really, but I¡¯m d this ce still exists.¡±
¡°It¡¯s gonna stick around, right?¡± Belgar asked.
¡°I hope so.¡±
Theo left Belgar to his work. The alchemist now had two towns to manage, but he wouldn¡¯t make the same mistakes with this one as he had done in Broken Tusk. He knew the best way to run it was to have a core of people who could take care of the day-to-day things for him. For now, he visualized the Drogramath core in his chest, reaching out to the power of Tero¡¯gal. When he touched it this time, it didn¡¯t sting. The alchemist weed the power of the world into his chest, selecting his Drogramath Alchemy Core as his first to evolve.
This wouldn¡¯t be an instant process. The energy cracked in his core, finding ces where the Drogramathi energy was fading. Theo had enough time to exploit his new potions before the power of Drogramath¡¯s realm faded. Or so he hoped.
6.36 - Bad News, More Attributes
6.36 - Bad News, More Attributes
¡°That sounds like more than a ¡®little problem¡¯ gods damn it!¡± Alise shouted.
Theo shifted ufortably in his seat. After leaving Tero¡¯gal, he had assembled the important people in town for a meeting. Alise, Aarok, Zarali, Xol¡¯sa, Sulvan, and Hanan sat around a table in the town hall. The air was ufortable before he had even made his statement, but after he told them every aligned core would revert to the default version, Alise had exploded. While he wouldn¡¯t me her for doing so, he wasn¡¯t as phased. This was a part of this world¡¯s life cycle. Why would a denizen of that world get so upset if they were subjected to it? Then he remembered his desire to change that cycle, and sympathized with her anger.
¡°Every core?¡± Sulvan asked.
Theo snapped his fingers, nodding. ¡°That¡¯s where things get tricky.¡±
¡°More tricky than losing our most powerful fighters?¡± Aarok asked.
¡°I really don¡¯t want to have my connection with Lord Drogramath cut,¡± Zarali said, wincing at the thought.
¡°I¡¯m immune,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, trying and failing to hide his pride. Zarali shot him a look and he humbled himself.
¡°The new gods aren¡¯t telling me what¡¯s going on. I dyed the mission Void gave me as long as I could. I thought it would keep things in the realms safe, but that¡¯s not the case. But I suspect you could change your core over to one of the new gods.¡±
Conversation erupted in the meeting room. No one was happy about this. Alise, Aarok, and Xol¡¯sa were immune to the change. Despite everything, they held unaligned cores. Sulvan was the one Theo wanted to watch the most, as he held a ntheir core. That core would swap to the new version of cores. Maybe. Hanan was unknown, but he had little to say. He sat in silence, hands folded in hisp as he drank it in.¡°Theo reminds me of an envoy,¡± Hanan said. The conversation broke immediately, giving way to the king¡¯s growing wisdom. ¡°Perhaps that was your purpose from the start, but you¡¯re doing a great job.¡±
¡°Thanks¡ Where did thate from?¡± Theo asked.
Hanan shrugged. ¡°The reactions at this table are interesting. From my perspective, my entire world was destroyed. My father fought against a force he couldn¡¯t stop and lost. That passed to me. Only the kindness of Broken Tusk broke the cycle, so why not put more faith in that kindness? You¡¯re certain this is for the betterment of the world?¡±
That was a difficult question to answer. Theo wasn¡¯t certain he would call it the ¡®betterment¡¯ of the world, rather than a purge. It was more like someone ripping parts of an engine out, recing things that didn¡¯t work and casting them aside. It didn¡¯t matter to this new mechanic if other things broke while they were at it. As he considered the king¡¯s position, a strange sensation begged questions from the back of his mind. His thoughts lingered on Jan and Sulvan for a moment, then ntheir. But he couldn¡¯t put his finger on the reason for the sense.
¡°I appreciate it,¡± Theo said, shaking off the feeling. ¡°But I didn¡¯t call you here for a debate. If you asked me to kill a god before, I would have agreed. We helped Fenian do it, didn¡¯t we? But those weren¡¯t gods. They were people. What we¡¯re facing now are true gods.¡±
¡°Which means we¡¯re powerless,¡± Zarali said with a nod.
Alise pped her hands on the table. ¡°Fine. We stink. I get it. What happens when the power is stripped from our cores? Where do we go from there?¡±
¡°Tero¡¯gal should fill that gap,¡± Theo said. ¡°Zarali and Xol¡¯sa can draw power from either Tero¡¯gal or Khahak to evolve people¡¯s cores. Zan¡¯kir already has a core from Khahar, so we can ask him about that.¡±
¡°Is this a long-winded attempt to get the entire town to worship you, Theo?¡± Alise asked.
¡°It isn¡¯t a n, but that¡¯s where we¡¯re going.¡± Theo took a moment. This meeting was to let everyone know to spread the word. Not an interrogation. He had one more thing on his mind. ¡°Sulvan, can you still feel a connection with the Realm of Healing?¡±
¡°As strong as ever,¡± Sulvan said, inclining his head.
¡°I think ntheir killed a god.¡± Theo paused for dramatic effect. He got some gasps, which was good enough. ¡°And now he is a real god. I heard about him back on Earth. While I don¡¯t like betting, I¡¯d put a stack of gold coins on him dragging his realm with him wherever he went.¡±
¡°Which means our cores might still work,¡± Sulvan finished. ¡°Is that why I¡¯ve been tailed for the past few days?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Theo wouldn¡¯t lie about it. ¡°So, this is what I want from you. Spread the word about the cores. Assemble anyone who has magical aptitude to research the problem. Questions?¡±
¡°About ten-thousand,¡± Alise said. ¡°But I¡¯ll keep a lid on it for you, Theo.¡±
¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Theo said, pping his hands together. ¡°Get ready for the end of the world.¡±
¡°Yay,¡± Hanan said, releasing an unenthusiastic whoop.
Theo headed out. There were potions to make and Salire was waiting for him. He was joined by his two guards outside, but soon found himself nked by Aarok as well. Sarisa and Rowan backed off, giving them some room.
¡°Jan is up to something,¡± Aarok said. ¡°That guy is slippery.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I put a special guard on him,¡± Theo said.
¡°The special guard he slipped? Yeah, I had my own guys on him,¡± Aarok grumbled.
Theo paused on the road, narrowing his eyes. He allowed his sphere of shadows to spread out, preventing unwanted attention. ¡°You can¡¯t get good help nowadays.¡±
¡°He said he was Level 1 when he took his core. If he took his core,¡± Aarok said. The pair began walking again. ¡°I don¡¯t believe him. He ordered a weapon from Throk. Which is fine. We¡¯ve had the cksmiths make stuff for our adventurers before. Something of a bonus for joining. But I got concerns.¡±
Theo let his increased Wisdom do the job. Whatever Jan was doing, it wasn¡¯t to work against Broken Tusk. Because he couldn¡¯t. Unless he could slip a magical contract, he was bound to do the town and nation no harm. Perhaps he was counting on the shift in the heavens to slip away from the contract. But where would he go and what would he do?
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¡°We can only watch him, right?¡±
¡°His contract is strong,¡± Aarok said. ¡°The only thing to do is watch.¡±
This left lingering thoughts in Theo¡¯s mind, but there were a few more pressing matters to take care of. If someone wanted to hunt down Jan and watch him all day, that was fine. But he didn¡¯t have the time to worry about it right now. There were potions to be made. ¡°Handle it however you see fit, Aarok. I trust you.¡±
¡°I hope so.¡± Aarok pped Theo hard enough on the back to make him stumble forward. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this. We get through everything.¡±
Theo felt more at home in theb. Salire greeted him on the third floor. She had prepared the reagents for their next run of new potions. There wasn¡¯t enough time to get all the attribute potions today, but she had prepared everything well enough that they could get three done today. Strength, Dexterity, and Vigor. This was the perfect thing to get his mind off of everything else.
¡°There might be a gold rush.¡± Theo checked that all his equipment was clean before starting the run. They had enough strength essence to get that leg of the batch started. ¡°New cores means new potions, right?¡±
Salire grimaced, helping Theo snap the lid on the still. ¡°I try not to think about it. I¡¯ll think about absurd attributes instead!¡±
¡°Good call.¡±
As Theo worked on the Strength potion, he couldn¡¯t help but nce over at the statue of Drogramath. He had no intention of freaking Salire out, but parts of it had crumbled. The arm had already fallen off and the face section wasn¡¯t looking so good. At least he had put faith in himself, dedicating the temple to his realm along with others. It would be a shame to lose that building.
¡°Three potions. Maybe six hours,¡± Theo said, kicking the still into action. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±
Now that Theo and Salire had refined their process, it was a breeze. That was always the problem with creating new methods of alchemy. The first few attempts were painful, often resulting in explosive failures. But once they understood what was going on, they could zip through each step in their sleep. Alchemy had be such an important part of Theo¡¯s life, he couldn¡¯t imagine a day without it. Just the thought of losing his cores was painful. He didn¡¯t know how Drogramath dealt with it.
¡°One Major Strength Potion. Coming right up,¡± Theo said, mixing the final essence in a vial. He watched as a faint cloud rose from the vial, the contents bubbling gently. The prompt for discovering a new potion appeared and he dismissed it, inspecting the item instead.
[Major Strength Potion]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Grade: Good Quality
Alignment:
Tero¡¯gal (Perfect Bond)
Drink to enhance strength.
Effect:
+35 Strength for 2 hours.
¡°That¡¯s a lot of strength!¡± Salire shouted.
¡°No kidding. These might be worth making, actually. I know Tresk thought the Major healing potions were good, but this is awesome.¡±
¡°Imagine drinking a Major Intelligence Potion and getting real smart real quick. That¡¯s a great way to cheat on an entrance exam to a schrly cult.¡± Salire giggled to herself. Theo felt that joy flow across the room, cracking a smile. His worries faded away.
Theo wanted to run more than one still at once, but the mixer required far too much attention. He cleared out the still and starting again, this time adding the essence distilled from the LIghtning Poppy. Of all the attribute-producing reagents, this one was the most rare. It almost never appeared in the wild around Broken Tusk, and the only thing that allowed them to producerge quantities of the essence were the greenhouses. At least those weren¡¯t aligned with Drogramath.
Salire and Theo worked together, rushing around theb to get the dilution and essence gasses to mix. The alchemist dumped enough mana into the mixer that he had to chug a few Mana Potions. Just enough to keep him going without taking a break. Even the air conditioner couldn¡¯t keep him cool as he fired the still, dumped mana, and monitored the resulting essence.
He brewed the Major Dexterity potion, rushing back to repeat the process. Then he brewed a Major Vigor Potion. The sun had set outside. Sarisa and Rowan had already run off to make dinner at the manor. Theo and Salire were left alone to consider theing leap in the alchemist¡¯s attributes. He didn¡¯t ept the prompts when they appeared. He allowed the pinging notification to linger in his mind. Jumping 30 Wisdom at once was going to be rough. He wanted to be in bed for that.
¡°Same thing tomorrow?¡± Salire asked. She looked exhausted with strands of hair draped over her face and a sheen of sweat soaking through her clothes.
¡°Yeah. If you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°I wanna see how crazy this can get!¡± she shouted, pumping her fist.
Theo closed the shop, allowing Salire to run home for the night. He checked that all the stills were off and locked his door on the way out. The temperature didn¡¯t drop at night in Broken Tusk. Not during the Season of Fire. But that season wasing to a close. Wasn¡¯t it? The Season of Death was on the horizon, autumn practically banging on the door of the region. The alchemist had already changed his way of thinking on the way things were going. Broken Tusk wouldn¡¯t miss a thing. He doubted most citizens would notice when the world restarted.
He would keep them safe in Tero¡¯gal. Anyone who woulde.
Theo stopped in to check on Alex before heading to his manor. She was snuggled up on something that looked like a gigantic cloth dog bed. The goose raised her head as he entered, offering a small honk. The alchemist held her massive head in his hands, almost unable to support the weight. He scratched her feathers, making note of the mottled feathers she had gained.
¡°Are you evolving, Alex?¡± Theo asked.
The goose winked, offering another honk.
¡°Alright then. Dragon goose?¡± he asked.
Honk!
¡°Excellent.¡±
¡°You¡¯rete for dinner!¡± Tresk shouted, shaking her fist at Theo as he entered. ¡°Why do we have rules!?¡±
¡°It was a busy day,¡± Theo said, sighing into his chair. He barely noticed the food that was ced before him. While he was sure it was delicious, it was hard to pay attention. He dragged himself away from his thoughts to make a statement. ¡°My Wisdom is going to go up by 30 points tonight.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a lot of points,¡± Tresk muttered. ¡°Wish I could get free points.¡±
¡°Yeah, that sounds like cheating. Rowan, didn¡¯t he say he didn¡¯t want to cheat?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°I seem to remember something about Khahar and cheating, yes. Perhaps he¡¯s also a hypocrite.¡±
¡°A massive one. Indeed.¡± Sarisa nodded, sage like. ¡°Let¡¯s beat him up.¡±
¡°A paddling will set him straight,¡± Rowan said.
Theo looked up at the pair, shaking his head. They seemed more intent on getting a rise out of him by the day. He ignored their ribbing, considering how much 30 Wisdom would change him. That would push him to 112 Wisdom, meaning he could move on to pumping other attributes. Vigor was likely his next option. Perhaps some Dexterity. Maybe a split between them both.
After dinner, Theo and Tresk headed upstairs. The alchemist could feel Tresk¡¯s longing to be near Alex as they slept. But the barn wasfortable for the goose. Far morefortable than she would be cramming herself into a small room. She waited for hismand, watching as he got under the covers and prepared to be sent on his butt. Theo ced 30 attributes points into Wisdom. His vision swam. The room spun around him as though he had been on a month-long bender.
A momentter, they were standing in an imagined version of Tero¡¯gal.
¡°That was a close one,¡± Tresk said, wiping her brow.
¡°No kidding.¡± Theo flexed his hands, testing his bnce. The dizziness he felt in the real world was gonepletely. ¡°Thanks for the good timing.¡±
Alex flew in from the distance, honking in delight. ¡°I love my new barn!¡± she shouted.
Theo and Tresk hugged the goose for a minute before he turned away. It was time to pump his willpower as far as it would go. If he wanted to navigate the void, he needed it.
6.37 - Creepy Statue Man
6.37 - Creepy Statue Man
Crossing the 100 Wisdom threshold had extended Theo¡¯s precognition to an absurd level. It had more than doubled since hest tested it, making Tresk¡¯s attempt in the Dreamwalk almost futile. Even when she looked through his eyes, she had trouble keeping up with the predictive effect. The alchemist was most surprised at how ufortable he felt with this level of power. He realized how difficult it must have been with Khahar. If that man hadn¡¯t found some kind of Soul potion, he would be shocked.
¡°Thank god for the Wisdom of the Soul potion,¡± Theo said, sighing as Tresk tried another futile attack. ¡°Hey, do you think I should try to find the space elves today?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care! How about you stay still so I can hit you?¡± Tresk asked, grunting as she lunged forward.
Theo had seen the attack long before it was made. He stepped to the side, dodging it with little effort. ¡°I think I can make it there, but something tells me getting the shards back will be harder.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Tresk asked, tossing her dagger and hitting air. ¡°Damn it!¡±
¡°I can¡¯t assume the shards are just waiting for me to pluck them from their resting ce. The space elves would have put defenses.¡±
Tresk growled, crouching as she prepared tounch another attack. ¡°Maybe you can just drag the whole ce back here.¡±
Theo tapped his chin. That wasn¡¯t a bad idea. The issue with moving the thrones was more a matter of moving a piece of the realm with them. But that was before the gods had returned, putting new restrictions on the way the void worked. He wasn¡¯t certain he could do it again. But he expected the Throne of the Dreamwalker to be there. ¡°Perhaps I can just im my throne and exert my authority to move the whole realm.¡±
¡°Yeah, that might work,¡± Tresk said, stabbing at air with less vigor than before. ¡°Man, I hate you. I¡¯m gonna summon something I can hit.¡±Tresk spent the rest of the Dreamwalk fighting against monsters. Theo stayed behind. He had already dominated an absurd amount of undead, bolstering his willpower to new heights. Instead, he spent time with Alex.
¡°Has Tresk even examined you in a while?¡± Theo asked, patting her on the head. ¡°How did you even absorb the power of a dragon?¡±
Alex giggled into his mind. ¡°She hasn¡¯t examined me in a while. Each time we went into the underground, I sipped some energy from that dragon.¡±
Theo examined the goose again.
[Alexandria D¡¯Goose]
[Goose]
[Familiar]
Stage:
[Proto Dragon-Goose]
Master:
[Dreamrealm of Tero¡¯gal]
Level 40
Description:
Geese are known as the most loving creatures in all the realms. Any rumors spread to disparage these honorable creatures will be met with a flurry of feathers and bill.
Affinities:
Fire
Nature
Her level had advanced a lot, but her stage had changed. She was at the Proto Dragon-Goose phase. Whatever that meant. The goose was bing something between a goose and a dragon, which was interesting. Theo didn¡¯t know if this was the right path, but she was her own goose. She could do what she wanted.
¡°Wannae with me through the void?¡± Theo asked, nudging the goose with his elbow.
¡°That would be fun. Are you bringing Tresk?¡±
¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t want to tell her until breakfast. You know how she gets.¡±
¡°Oh, yes. I know very well how she can get.¡±
Instead of grinding more willpower, Theo spent time with Alex. She wanted to disy what she could do now that she was a Level 40 Proto Dragon-Goose. Her speed onnd and in the air had increased significantly. While her progression with Fire and Nature weren¡¯t predictable like other magic systems, she was getting good with both of them. Alex couldbine both affinities, creating ming vines. But the most interesting thing she could make was a ming tree-creature that shambled across the ground. As long as she had enough material, she could create something close to a golem.
Theo broke the news to Tresk when they woke from the Dreamwalk. She seemed okay with it, eager enough to guard her partner in the expansive void. The marshling wasn¡¯t great at navigating the void, but she had the authority of the Dreamer. That was good enough for Theo to feel morefortable before they went. After breakfast, he checked on Salire and got her started on a few things without him. The void still moved at a slower pace than the mortal world, meaning he would be gone for only a few minutes.
¡°Stay safe,¡± Salire said, waving as he departed.
¡°Thanks,¡± Theo said, heading out.
Theo, Tresk, and Alex assembled outside of the Newt and Demon. Tresk seemed slightly bored while Alex was excited.
¡°When was thest time you went to the void?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I go directly to Tero¡¯gal when I used my ability. I don¡¯t go through the void like you. Ya weirdo.¡±
¡°It has changed,¡± Theo said, wrapping his bubble of shadows around them. ¡°Just hold on. It¡¯s a bit of a ride.¡±
Tresk shrieked as the group fell into the maelstrom of the void. Theo appreciated his increased willpower, realizing he wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold onto everyone if he hadn¡¯t been grinding it so much. The marshling wrapped herself around his leg as they soared to the void¡¯s edge. It had a distinctive edge now, allowing the alchemist to see the difference between the near and far void. Before long the seas had calmed, giving way to the expansive nothingness.
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¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t so bad,¡± Tresk said, her voice echoing through the darkness.
Theo gestured forward. On the horizon, he could see a speck of light. It stood out against the eternal gloom, shimmering like a gem. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s our ce?¡±
¡°How should I know!?¡± Tresk shouted, still on edge. ¡°You¡¯re the master of the void.¡±
Theo smiled to himself. He knew this was the ce he needed to reach. It called to him, pulling him forward. Thest throne that needed to be imed toplete the council that would oversee the world. With true gods now in ce, he didn¡¯t know how they would work. None of that mattered now. The expansive space between him and the gem shrunk. It grewrger, revealing itself to look much like the other realms when they had been sitting on the ribbon.
¡°Here we go,¡± Theo said, angling them toward the orb. A momentter, they passed through the veil and alighted on a beach.
¡°Oh, this is lovely,¡± Tresk said, looking around. She took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the ocean.
Theo looked around. They were standing on a tropical beach with crystal clear waterspping against their feet. The weather was hot, but not overly so. There was no sun in the sky, and tropical palms lined the beach where the sand turned to sparse grasses. But there were no people on the strand. The alien realm was vacant. At least in the immediate area where they hadnded.
¡°I suppose we should look,¡± Theo said, heading to the ind area. He felt himself being drawn in that direction.
¡°I¡¯ve never been more ready to stab someone,¡± Tresk said, her daggers at the ready.
The beach gave way to a tropical jungle. Thorny bushes mingled with tall grasses, punctuated asionally by both tall and squat palms. The group walked for hours before they found anything of note. They approached a sandy clearing. Rising to the sky with a blocky form was a ziggurat. The wide gray stones that made up the structure had been weathered by untold years. Most curious of all, was the silent bara¡¯thier that stood outside.
¡°Hello!¡± Theo said, getting a closer look at the elf. He wore simple robes that had fared just about as well as the temple in whatever untold time had passed here. His expression was gaunt, eyes cast to the ground. The alchemist lowered his voice. ¡°This is creepy.¡±
¡°I¡¯m getting bad vibes, captain,¡± Tresk said, gripping her daggers tightly. ¡°Let¡¯s leave.¡±
¡°But we came so far¡¡± Alex groaned.
Theo approached the lone figure, counting on his precognition to keep him safe if needed. The figure didn¡¯t move. At all. The alchemist had to observe him for some time before he realized the guy was breathing. He drew long breaths that were almost imperceptible. ¡°Hello. Anyone there?¡±
The figure didn¡¯t move.
¡°I don¡¯t wanna be here,¡± Tresk said, shaking her head. ¡°Can I stab him?¡±
The figure twitched slightly. Theo watched as he held his hand out, as though to gesture to the ziggurat.
¡°Yeah, let¡¯s just do what the creepy statue man says. Sounds like a great n,¡± Tresk mocked.
Theo ignored her, approaching the foot of the structure. Stairs ran up the middle, but he couldn¡¯t feel anything within. Even when he extended his shadow senses, he couldn¡¯t feel anything inside. The throne wasn¡¯t here. So why did the elf want them to go? The alchemist ascended the stairs, joined immediately by Alex. It took Tresk a moment, but she screamed up the steps after being left behind.
The group ascended thest of the steps,ying eyes on what rested inside the temple. A house-sized crystal sat within a dark stone room. Whatever power had created the thing had long-since faded, leaving only a husk of what it once was. Theo scrutinized the crystal for some time, wondering if this was the shard he was looking for. There was more than one though, wasn¡¯t there?
¡°We¡¯lle back for the crystals. We¡¯re looking for the throne.¡± Theo said, making his way back to the entrance. He stopped, gritting his teeth. The elf had moved and was now standing at the foot of those stairs. ¡°Still got those daggers ready?¡±
¡°Duh!¡±
¡°Good. I¡¯m feeling the creep factor going up.¡±
Theo heard something. An echoing voice filled his mind as he stood atop those steps. Only a momentter he realized it was the phantom voice of someone about to speak. He turned, spotting Void popping into existence behind them. The small, spiral-faced man seemed surprised.
¡°Oh, yeah. What a pigsty, huh?¡± Void asked.
¡°Interloper,¡± Tresk said. Without considering the implications of attacking a true god, she lunged forward. Only to be frozen in ce, unable to thrust forward.
¡°Har har. Good try,¡± Void said, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°I was wondering when you would get to work, Theo. You¡¯re doing a great job, by the way. Promotions all around!¡±
¡°You stink,¡± Tresk grumbled. She pulled back, rxing her posture.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± Theo asked. He tried to act unphased before the god, but it was hard. The power emitting from this guy was nuts. He felt like an ant under a boot.
¡°Making sure you¡¯re doing the job. Honestly, I was kinda interested in this ce. These guys have been isted for fifty-thousand years.¡± Void shook his head. ¡°But this is a proto-realm. They never got the shards working, so it never became a true realm.¡±
That was frightening. Time hadn¡¯t been kind to the denizens within. Well, at least the one guy standing at the bottom of the stairs with a vacant expression on his face.
¡°Do you think I can pull the entire realm back?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I doubt it.¡± Void looked around. The air shimmered with power. ¡°Even with the throne, your authority won¡¯t extend to this ce. Hell, my authority doesn¡¯t extend here. I¡¯m only able to stand here because it is kinda half-void.¡±
¡°What about them?¡± Alex asked, tilting her head to the figure below. There were two of them now.
¡°Their brains are so cooked, I dunno if you can save them.¡± Void sighed. He turned to the side, brows knitting. ¡°Hey! No interventions! This area is off limits to you, buddy.¡±
A tall, hooded figure appeared nearby. The cloak it wore was pure darkness. It was slightly shorter than Theo, but held a presence that seemed to draw in all light around him. The alchemist felt as though the reaper hade to collect his due. Another god, no doubt.
¡°Aren¡¯t celebrations in order?¡± the figure asked, his voice as cold as the grave. ¡°The holders of the throne will meet us eventually. Why not provide introductions?¡±
¡°Ugh. Fine. Hey guys, this is some idiot that I hate. I thought we killed him back in the old world, but would you look at that? He¡¯s back. Hooray.¡±
¡°After all, we¡¯ve been through, Pib. You wound me.¡±
¡°No real names.¡± The dark spiral on Void¡¯s face spun.
¡°Theo Spencer. Tresk. Alex. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± The man bowed, revealing nothing under his cloaked form. ¡°While you weren¡¯t the man I was looking for, I¡¯m d it was you that emerged first.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know you,¡± Theo said, shaking his head.
¡°He¡¯ll figure it out eventually. Like you said, he¡¯s gonna grab the throne. Today, more than likely.¡± Void shrugged as though defeated. ¡°It doesn¡¯t break the rules, and I¡¯m not your boss.¡±
Theo realized how much this was like ying with fire. He would have thrown himself to the wolves with the ascendants, but these were true gods. The newest one that had appeared had an obvious name. No one had to spell that one out for him. Death stood before him, lording over this realm like a hungry buzzard.
¡°As Theo has deduced, my new name is Death.¡±
¡°And your old name,¡± Void shrugged. ¡°Before we usurped you.¡±
¡°I promise to be a good boy this time.¡±
¡°What are you people, anyway? What is the other ce people talk about on Earth?¡± Theo asked.
¡°If someone could answer that question, they would put millions of years of research I¡¯ve done to shame.¡± Death sighed, pushing the sleeve of one arm up. Despite Theo¡¯s expectations, it wasn¡¯t a spooky skeleton hand. ¡°I woke up in that other ce. I ruled a kingdom I didn¡¯t remember with a wife I didn¡¯t know. When ascendancy opened up, I found the most powerful realm I couldmand.¡±
¡°Yeah, until you started siphoning souls from the real world.¡±
Death shrugged. ¡°Theo, you¡¯ve had trouble with lingering souls, haven¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Yes. I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s your job.¡±
¡°It was then and it is now. I am the shepherd that ushers souls to the ces they belong. Whether that is the afterlife in a godly realm, or reincarnation, it is my job. So you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±
¡°Feels like he¡¯s couching something here,¡± Theo said, speaking to the members of his Tara¡¯hek.
¡°Full transparency here,¡± Void said, holding his hands up. ¡°We can hear that.¡±
Deathughed. Augh just as cold as his voice. ¡°I told you how important I am so you wouldn¡¯t be upset. I am forbidden from issuing orders about the mortal ne, but I can tell you this. Tarantham is now without their emperor.¡±
6.38 - Thronies
6.38 - Thronies
¡°What!? That¡¯s the big bad!?¡± Tresk shouted, iling around. ¡°I was gonna raid your city and stab you in the face. This is disappointing. I¡¯m upset.¡±
Theo felt unsurprised that Kuzan had outmaneuvered him. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t some brilliant feat, but the alchemist knew this was nned. But what remained of Tarantham? How would this change the state of the empire?
¡°Is the empire going to be okay without you?¡± Theo asked.
Death inclined his hooded head toward Theo. ¡°I cannotment.¡±
¡°At least the new gods are bound by actual rules. Instead of fake ones.¡± Tresk crossed her arms, seeming to grow more grumpy by the moment. At least this bit of news made her feel better.
¡°Perhaps more gods will appear if we wait.¡± Void huffed. He seemed more upset about this than Tresk. ¡°With most of the ascendants driven from their realms, I suppose it doesn¡¯t matter. We haven¡¯t cleaned everything up yet, and we¡¯re waiting for the system to figure itself out.¡±
Theo took a steadying breath. ¡°Clear some things up for me, Void. Are you the boss?¡±
¡°Nope. Just the boss of the void.¡±
¡°And you can¡¯t share anything that would influence the mortal world?¡±¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯ll be bound by that when the system reboots.¡± Void nodded to himself. ¡°Remember what happenedst time, Death?¡±
¡°Like it was yesterday. That was chaos.¡±
¡°So the system will form a council. The four thrones and twelve gods will be on the council. You thronies should already know your roles, right?¡± Void asked, nodding to Theo and Tresk. ¡°So you do that job and you do it right. No half-assing.¡±
¡°Did that elf just move?¡± Death asked, gesturing toward the elf below.
The space elf man below had moved slightly, edging forward toward the stairs. Theo felt a shiver run up his spine as he observed him. ¡°Why do they have to be so creepy?¡± he asked.
¡°Yeah, anyway. While we¡¯re in this transition phase, the rules are slightly loose. After that, everything is set in stone.¡± Void let out a steady breath. ¡°I¡¯m bored. This ce is boring. You guys have fun with the cursed elfs.¡±
Without warning, Void vanished. Like a dog that had just spotted something interesting off in the distance, he had left the group to stand atop that ziggurat. Death stood awkwardly with the others, looking out over the tropicalndscape.
¡°You can¡¯t say things that influence the mortal world,¡± Theo said, his mind spinning ways to get information from Kuzan. ¡°What about Earth?¡±
¡°I suppose Earth is destroyed. You want to know about the other ce, but I¡¯m not sure I have answers. Things were strange. By the end we could move between that other world and Earth. We ascended and fought. The mortals came together, beating back forces that threatened to spill through the veil. Our ns were dashed when the Baleful Eye put a hold on everything. I then waited and schemed. But, we¡¯re finally here.¡±
¡°Think we can be besties now?¡± Tresk asked, fluttering her eyes at Death.
¡°Maybe. Would you like some cores?¡± Death asked with augh.
¡°Let¡¯s negotiate.¡± Tresk rubbed her hands together.
Theo had to turn away from the negotiations. He descended the stairs, poking the space elf in the face as he went. The man didn¡¯t respond at all. These elves would need some serious therapy if they wanted to stop acting like a chameleon stalking a bug. He narrowed his eyes at an elf that hade out of the tangle of thorny bushes. The woman was stalking out of the brush as though if she stayed still she would be unseen. What did these people even eat? Fish from the sea, or perhaps some coconuts. The alchemist looked to the trees, finding no fruit to eat.
¡°All done!¡± Tresk said, scampering down the stairs with Alex close behind. ¡°Should we find this throne of yours?¡±
¡°Yeah. Before the elves learn they can move quicker than this.¡±
¡°Think they¡¯re stuck in some time dtion crap?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°Maybe. My thought is they are insane. Let¡¯s go.¡±
The party plunged back into the tangle, pushing their way through to find yet another structure. This one was a gray stone tower that seemed half-ruined. It was partially crumbling, and there were a few elves standing outside. They all bore the blue-silver skin that Xol¡¯sa had, marking them as part of the same race. Space elves. While they searched for the throne, they discovered five inert shards. Some had a hint of magic inside of them, but all seemed inactive.
¡°I can smell the throne,¡± Tresk said with augh. ¡°Ready for a fight?¡±
The group had moved out of the jungle, pressing forward up a slow rise that brought them to rocky terrain. In the distance, Theo could spot arge white stone building. Like Tresk, he could feel the energy of the Dreamwalker¡¯s Throne rolling over thendscape to smack him in the face. His attraction to that throne was undeniable. He could not resist, finding the easiest path down to the lond area. Even the temperature changed as they walked, going from a balmy heat to biting cold. He felt it mostly through Tresk, as his Coat of Rake still worked in this strange ce.
Approaching the stone building, Theo spotted more elves. A lot more elves than were around the various shards. These ones struck various poses, looking like mannequins that had been left to molder among the ruins of an isted world. The alchemist gained the sense that someone was watching them as they approached the building. He opened the door, listening as magicalnterns hummed to life within. When he passed into the Realm of the Dreamwalker, he felt his skin tingle.
The building was one giant room with dark pirs running along the sides. Braziers lit as he walked, cast from iron and formed into metal cages to contain magical fires. The Throne of the Dreamwalker was made from ck stone with a small red cushion on top. Even at a distance, Theo knew the throne was unupied. He didn¡¯t know how, but he knew it had never been upied. Unlike the Throne of the Dreamer, this virgin throne seemed to wait for someone.
¡°The elves are following us in slow motion,¡± Tresk said, poking her head out of the door. ¡°I saw that one move!¡±
¡°No you didn¡¯t.¡±
¡°I did so! He was walking. Like this.¡± Tresk struck a pose as though she had been frozen mid-sneak. ¡°Like this.¡±
¡°Perhaps you should im the throne. Sooner rather thanter,¡± Alex said.
Theo considered that as an option. Another option would be to take the throne without iming it, taking it back to Tero¡¯gal. He dismissed this idea, deciding that dying the world¡¯s restart sucked. Void said it would take a while to get things going. So, why not?
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¡°I just sit on it?¡± Theo asked, approaching the ck throne. ¡°Why does it look so evil?¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re evil,¡± Tresk said, giggling. ¡°You nasty little boy.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not evil.¡± Theo ced his hand on the throne, swallowing hard. ¡°Here goes nothing.¡±
A wave of power radiated outward when Theo sat on the throne. He looked at Tresk for guidance and she clicked her tongue.
¡°Did I tell you about the pain?¡± she asked.
A breathter, painnced through Theo¡¯s chest. He felt the system carving a new core slot in his chest. His head swam as his willpower was increased to an absurd degree. As soon as the pain came it was gone. But within this stone building, he felt his authority grow. The space elves had stolen the throne along with some of the realm, hiding it away here in this chunk of reality. Now that Theo sat on his throne, with his new core in his chest, he could see how much of an affront it was to his position.
¡°I was expecting more,¡± Tresk said, tapping her chin.
Theo examined his newest core.
[Dreamwalker¡¯s Core]
Unique
Throne Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 1 (0%)
The Dreamwalker is the title of the person holding the Throne of the Dreamwalker. This position is the guardian of the void. Their duties include managing the passages between worlds and enforcing the will of the Arbiter.
Effect:
Significant increase in Willpower
Absolute authority when facing those that break the Dreamwalker¡¯s design
[Passage]
It was just like Tresk¡¯s core, with some minor differences in the text. The increase of willpower was insane. Theo could feel this new willpower radiating through his body. He examined the attached skill.
[Passage]
Dreamwalker¡¯s Skill
Unique
The Dreamwalker performs their duties by passing between realms.
Effect:
Allows you to pass between realms unimpeded. While visiting another realm, you will be locked in a passive state unless acting in the interest of the Dreamwalker.
This skill drains your willpower, which will need to be recharged by resting.
¡°Theo! I don¡¯t think we should linger!¡± Tresk shouted.
The skill was interesting, but Theo dismissed it for now. Once again, it was close enough to the Dream skill for him to get the idea. He looked up to see twenty-some elves working their way across the room at a snail¡¯s pace. He reached out with his will, wrapping it around this small piece of the Dreamwalker¡¯s realm before plunging it through the void. One moment they were within the abandoned realm, and the other they weren¡¯t.
¡°Whatever happens to them¡ the throne is more important,¡± Theo said, steering them through the void. ¡°Right?¡±
¡°Of course. You¡¯re not a murderer.¡±
¡°Maybe a bit of murder.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t as though those elves were helpless.¡±
¡°Oh my god stop,¡± Theo said, swatting at Tresk. The marshling evaded him. ¡°Maybe take the situation more seriously.¡±
¡°I can feel youughing on the inside.¡± Tresk shivered, shaking her arms and legs out after a moment. ¡°I can also feel how creeped out you are by the weird elves.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t like them at all,¡± Alex said.
Whatever problem the space elves were having was beyond Theo. The only thing he could think of was a problem with the realm trying to sit out there in the deep void on its own. While the closer void was more like an ecosystem of powerful energy, that deep void was deste. It wasn¡¯t meant to sustain life. And the life it had sustained was mortal. This led to another problem. Xol¡¯sa would want to know what happened to his people. The more Theo thought about it, the more he realized what must have happened.
¡°So the elves get themselves caught in the deep void. There¡¯s no way they wanted to stay there.¡± Theo let his thoughts gather, clicking his tongue. ¡°So they sent Xol¡¯sa away. To the mortal realm. That¡¯s kinda sad, actually.¡±
¡°I¡¯m depressed. Can we stop talking about the doomed elves?¡±
¡°They¡¯re not doomed,¡± Alex said, honking. ¡°We can bring them back to the mortal ne. Or Tero¡¯gal.¡±
¡°But not today,¡± Tresk said, patting Alex on the head. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up with this stuff anyway?¡±
The marshling walked around the space that Theo had created for them to travel through the void. He was wondering when she would notice how his method had changed. Instead of overpowering the void with his willpower, he used his new skill. It had created a bubble around them and the chunk of the Dreamwalker¡¯s realm. This brought more questions to his mind, but he didn¡¯t have answers that would satisfy him. He didn¡¯t want to spend more time than he needed fixing the void, let alone time fixing the realms of the throne holders.
But as Theo drew them closer to the near void, catching sight of the swirling gxy, he felt something in his chest. His new core was practically vibrating, ready to do something after they returned to Tero¡¯gal. A Wisdom of the Soul message popped up, and he nodded. That made sense. It was as though the realm understood his intentions beforehand and prepared itself for what happened next.
¡°Might be a hotnding,¡± Theo said, watching as hisoid came into void. ¡°Brace for impact.¡±
¡°What? Really?¡± Tresk asked, holding onto Alex¡¯s neck.
Theo couldn¡¯t hide the smile from his face. ¡°No.¡±
¡°You dirty little demon.¡±
Theo felt his bubble pressing against Tero¡¯gal. Instead of a smooth transition, it was like pushing an orb through a bucket of msses. The bubble rocked back and forth before everything went ck. A prompt appeared momentster.
[Evolution Synergy]
Your realm has consumed another realm. The Realm of the Dreamwalker has been absorbed into Tero¡¯gal¡
[ERROR]
Dual-souls detected containing signatures for both the Throne of the Dreamer and Throne of the Dreamwalker. Signatures almost indistinguishable¡ Recalcting soul signature detection sensitivity¡
[ERROR]
Detection failed. Seeking solution¡
[Solution Achieved]
Solution reached, please stand by.
¡°Why is it dark!?¡± Tresk shouted.
¡°The system is having a fit, just give it a second.¡± Theo clenched his jaw, hoping the system would reach the same conclusion he had. A momentter, another message appeared.
[Realm Evolution]
Tero¡¯gal, the Throneworld wants to evolve into a Twin Throneworld.
The proposed evolution would transform this realm to support two primary thrones. This evolution was instigated by the power of the Tara¡¯hek bond shared by the primary owners.
Failure to ept this change will result in the ejection of the Throne of the Dreamer.
¡°There we go,¡± Theo said, epting the change. Although they were still in darkness, he knew which message woulde next.
[Evolution Synergy]
Your realm has consumed two additional realms. The Realm of the Dreamwalker and the Realm of the Dreamer have been absorbed into Tero¡¯gal.
The owner of the Realm of the Dreamer has proposed a joint building to represent these realms within your throneworld.
Would you like to ept the following proposal?
A BIG OLD PALACE WITH BUTTRESSES AND STUFF.
The sound of Theo¡¯s palm pping against his face echoed through the void. ¡°How did you get the message faster than me?¡± he asked, epting the proposal.
¡°I¡¯m just cool like that. Come on. I want my pce.¡±
Theo sighed, epting the proposal. His sight shifted, giving him a view of Tero¡¯gal from the sky. Below was a green-outlined version of a massive building. He fought with Tresk on the building¡¯s cement. But they ended up selecting the top of a remote mountain range. While both Theo and Tresk could teleport around the world, others couldn¡¯t. If they wanted to go for the thrones, they¡¯d have to climb a damn mountain. Good luck with that.
Thendscape was evened out to amodate the giant pce. Once it was ced, Theo and Tresk were teleported to therge wooden doors near the front. They looked up at the white stone building, mouths hanging open. The building was enormous, looking like the old cathedrals on Earth. As Tresk had instructed, it had buttresses¡ and stuff.
The interior of the building was wide-open. The pair¡¯s footsteps echoed off the pirs that stabbed to the impossibly high ceiling. Several hundred feetter, they stood at the foot of two thrones on a tform. One ck and one white.
¡°Gaudy, don¡¯t you think?¡± Tresk asked, tapping her foot. ¡°That echo is horrible.¡±
¡°Yeah, this is a bit much. We have to guard these, don¡¯t we?¡± Theo asked.
¡°What are you thinking? A million golems?¡±
Theo nodded. ¡°At least.¡±
6.39 - Wisdom! Wisdom! Wisdom!
6.39 - Wisdom! Wisdom! Wisdom!
Creating an army of golems to watch over the new location of the thrones wasn¡¯t difficult. The task wasn¡¯t made simple by Theo¡¯s growing abilities, but by the authority of Tero¡¯gal. The Throneworld had be more a part of him than ever, and themands he used to issue with upgrades were now more like instincts. He knew what he could do with this world, and how the energy within influenced his base abilities.
While 100 golems was good enough for now, there were also the original loyalists within the world. People like Belgar would be more than happy to defend this ce, as it was the key to keeping it running. Without much prodding, the center of Tero¡¯gal was moved in a sh. From the rolling hills of some unnamed region, to one that had been named just as quickly. The original souls of the realm¡ªalong with some willing to join the cause¡ªsettled in the Seat of the Thrones region at the base of the mountain.
They got to work carving a staircase, which might have revealed how bored they were. Or how enthusiastic.
¡°We could just magic that path,¡± Tresk said with a shrug, watching the group work.
¡°Maybe,¡± Belgar agreed, half-heartedly. ¡°But we all feel that thing inside us. Those that had cores back on the mortal ne remember the sensation.¡±
That was another concern. The power to gain cores had always been something reserved for the mortal realm and the ascendants. Theo frowned as he considered it, refusing to allow his world to end up like the mortal world. The mortals fought constantly, killing each other in an endless loop to appease people who called themselves gods. Well, he suspected they were killing each other long before the ascendants were a thing. It was the way the world was designed. But not his world. His senses spread as he touched the energy of Tero¡¯gal. It reached back, as though recognizing his intent.
¡°Just got the chills,¡± Tresk said, giggling and shivering. ¡°Yuck.¡±
The pair shared silentmands and unspoken wishes as to what they wanted their system to look like. A more logical system of progression with defined stages would be best. If people knew which rank of development they were at, it would give them a better sense for their power. Creating something of a cap on that power would also be good. This staging system would need to have an end. Perhaps a point where someone had to decide if they wanted to remain a mortal, or ascend to a higher realm.
Tero¡¯gal reached back as though to say it would think about the suggestions. It joined the disconnected thoughts sitting between Theo and Tresk, digesting them in its own time. There were many changes bound for the world, but it would take time. Like a child learning to walk, Tero¡¯gal needed to get used to its new legs.¡°Well, this has been fun,¡± Theo said, pping his hands together. ¡°Feels like time is getting weird in here.¡±
¡°Yeah. Slowing down a bit,¡± Tresk said, licking her finger and stabbing it into the air. She then licked the air, but learned nothing new from the motion.
Theo found no problems when leaving the Throneworld. While he was confident he could evolve his alchemy core, he wasn¡¯t eager to do so. But the waning energy of Drogramath drew more distant by the day. Hended back on the mortal ne, letting out a sigh. There were too many potions to make. He searched his memory, taking stock of the ones he needed to make. The list was long enough that he didn¡¯t want to recite it in his head, counting them instead.
¡°Thirty-four unique potions,¡± Theo said, scratching his chin. ¡°Excluding modified potions and spirit fruit potions¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s a lot of potions, buddy.¡±
¡°Ten attributes each. Three-hundred-forty attribute points.¡±
¡°What the actual hell?¡± Tresk said, stomping her feet. ¡°I want a million attributes, too!¡±
¡°I can¡¯t finish them all. Not here on the mortal ne.¡± Theo ignored Tresk as she bit his leg.
¡°Pay attention to me!¡±
¡°I need your help, Tresk.¡±
¡°With what?¡± she asked around his leg.
¡°We need to bully the Dreamwalk into allowing me to brew new potions. Maybe I can do it with my new core. My willpower almost doubled.¡±
¡°Worth a shot. But I think you owe me. This isn¡¯t fair.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±
Theo could find a way to make it up to Tresk. He could feel her jealousy for his increasing attributes, but what more could he do? This was his chance to seize a power that no one else had a shot at. Kuzan might have been gone, but there might be other remaining world powers that wanted to stab him in the face. Following that thought, he realized there might be others who had predicted the arrival of the gods, and made their move. The alchemist shook away the thought, shifting his focus to things of a mortal nature.
The town and nation wereing along nicely. A few more upgrades to the town itself, and they would be a proper city. There were a few buildings that needed upgrading, but Alise was doing a great job keeping up with civil projects. Between the railroad, housing, food, and water she hadn¡¯t staggered in her pace of development. Even the market project was impressive, bringing trade from distant nations.
Instead of running off like the goblin she was, Tresk remained with Theo for the rest of the day. They stopped into the various businesses in Broken Tusk, checking on people. Sledge was still guarding her clutch of eggs in Mudball Fundamental, leaving behind a half-ogre to pick up her ck. Whisper¡¯s butcher was producing more sausage by the day, and she even had a toora worker helping out. The elves had integratedpletely, seeming to take on more half-ogre and marshling qualities by the day. Their level of refinement had dropped, resulting in a bunch of dirty elves ying in the mud.
After the day wore down, the group headed back to the manor. Sarisa and Rowan appreciated a day where they weren¡¯t running around like crazy people. They served the ribs of some beast Theo couldn¡¯t identify, thered in a sauce that seemed close to barbeque sauce, but not quite. It was more tangy than it should be, with hints of some citrus fruit. Although the meat hadn¡¯t been cooked for long, it still fell off the bone as though it had been cooking slowly for the entire day.
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As Theo ate his dinner, he thought about something that had stuck in his mind recently. The Dreamwalk was an interesting ce, and had always been somewhere he went to exploit his connection with the system. But what was it? The power in each aligned core faded, but the Tara¡¯hek Core remained strong. That was a core that refused to diminish, no matter what happened to the world. But the Dreamwalk was a kind of realm. The proof for that idea came from the intrusion of the previous Dreamer.
¡°Do you think dreams are realms?¡± Theo asked, smacking his lips. The meat was good.
¡°They¡¯re like¡ sub-proto-realms. The idea of a realm,¡± Tresk said, shoving an entire rib bone in her mouth and sucking it clean. She then spoke around a mouthful of food. ¡°Think of it like the manifestation of someone¡¯s will.¡±
¡°That¡¯s oddly eloquent. If one ignores the food you just sprayed on the table,¡± Sarisa said.
The meal went well enough. Everyone enjoyed the food, and Theo felt a sense of pride watching his innermost circle talk about whatever. If the Dreamwalk was the Tara¡¯hek¡¯s manifested will, they could overpower it. That might cause the new gods to intervene, so he needed to exploit it as much as possible.
¡°Time for bed,¡± Theo said, pushing his chair away from the table and standing. ¡°We¡¯ve got some exploits to take care of.¡±
¡°Yeah, just be ready for him to faint tomorrow,¡± Tresk said. ¡°Home boy here is about to pump his stats so high, he might just poop himself.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll prepare the diapers,¡± Sarisa said with a bow.
¡°Your royal crib awaits, sir,¡± Rowan said, performing an even lower bow.
¡°My liege,¡± Sarisa said, bowing lower still. She tipped forward, falling on her face.
Theo turned before he couldugh, heading up the stairs and to their bedroom. It was a shame Alex couldn¡¯t join them, but he could feel herfort from the barn. He could also feel her impending evolution, but there was enough evolution to go around. Thest thing he needed was to consider the implications of a dragon-goose.
Theo, Tresk, and Alexnded in an imagined version of Tero¡¯gal. They looked up at the mountain, standing within the region named the Seat of the Thrones. The power of his new Dreamwalker¡¯s Core radiated in his chest. The Dreamwalk pushed back, but it didn¡¯t stand a chance now. Thebined willpower of the group crushed any opposition, removing all limitations it set. They were free to do and imagine whatever they wanted.
¡°This is gonna be fast,¡± Theo said, imagining the equipment he needed. ¡°And it needs to be¡ If the gods can see into this realm, they¡¯re gonna be pissed.¡±
¡°Make it quick, stinky,¡± Tresk said, jumping up and down. ¡°Get them attributes!¡±
It wasn¡¯t difficult. Theo could imagine everything he wanted in thest stages of brewing, allowing him to exploit this quirk of the system. He raced through the process, creating every potion that was on Salire¡¯s list. The notifications rolled in, informing him of each new potions he brought into the ¡®world.¡¯ It didn¡¯t care that this was a dream. It instead flooded him with potential power. Ten attributes for every new potion he made. 340 new attribute points to ce. Which was more than he had gained through the normal means.
¡°This is stupid,¡± Theo said, inspecting his attribute screen. ¡°Absolutely dumb. How should I put my points?¡±
¡°Shove everything into Wisdom!¡± Tresk shouted.
¡°Wisdom! Wisdom! Wisdom!¡± Alex chanted.
Adding every single point to Wisdom would cause the attribute to shoot up to 452. His precognition would skyrocket, while his intuition would bepletely absurd. It wouldn¡¯t approach Khahar¡¯s level of prediction, but it would be close. But there was something else to consider. Something he had been thinking about for a while now. It was foolish to assume he had no enemies in the world. New or old, there might be people out there that wanted him dead. Strength wasn¡¯t something he was interested in pumping, and neither was Intelligence. The alchemist was almost certain that physical attributes wouldn¡¯t mess with his mind. That left Dexterity and Vigor, both of which would help him.
The problem with precognition was the ability to act on it. As an attribute, Dexterity increased a person¡¯s ability to manipte things with fine detail, as well as their ability to move quickly. It was dexterity, agility, and speed all rolled into one. Vigor influenced a person¡¯s resistance to disease, recovery from injuries, Health, and Stamina. If he ced 200 points into Wisdom, and 100 into both Dexterity and Vigor, he would see a massive boost. Theo exined the n to Tresk.
¡°Hmmm, yes,¡± Tresk said, stroking her bare chin. ¡°That seems like a good n. You¡¯ll be faster than me¡ Wait, you¡¯ll be faster than me! No! Wisdom!¡±
Theo ced the points how he wanted. He normally wouldn¡¯t ce points while within the Dreamwalk, but felt as though he could swing it this time. He felt the power surge in his body, but it was dulled by the dream. He watched as Tresk moved to the side, a full thirty seconds before she actually did. While his precognition didn¡¯t make him feel dizzy, it still made his mind spin to see. Getting used to this new way of being would be hard. The alchemist moved to the side before Tresk had even started moving, grabbing at the air where her arm would have been.
¡°Gotcha,¡± Theo said, smiling down at the marshling. He snatched her other hand from the air. ¡°And again.¡±
¡°Gah! You suck!¡± Tresk shouted, twisting from his grip and drawing her daggers. ¡°Let¡¯s see you survive this, alchemist boy!¡±
Treskunched a series of attacks that Theo sawing half a minute in advance. 312 Wisdom meant he was operating like someone at Level 300 that had dumped every point into the attribute. Adding his other attributes, he could keep up like someone at Level 500. Which was stupid. The system should have never worked in this way. Every attack she brought against him was foiled in advance. Which was a great way to get Tresk mad enough to figure out a loophole of her own.
Something twitched in Theo¡¯s chest as he watched the marshling work her daggers through the air. The duo fell into a rhythm that transcended martial trances. He felt his mind connect to her, synchronizing in a way it never had. The alchemist struck out with a palm, knocking a dagger aside. Tresk performed a riposte, thrusting low only to have her dagger smacked away again. It turned into a game of move and counter-move. Until the marshling kept up with the pace.
A faint violet light issued from Tresk¡¯s eyes as she focused. Her entire being became dedicated to something deeper than the fight. Theo flexed his newfound agility, dodging to the sides when the strikes became more pointed. The gap between precognition and action was narrowed. This distance closed by the moment, until it was nothing. Theo had a second of warning before she made her strikes. And she wasn¡¯t cheating by using his vision against him. There was only one fate that yed out on the Seat of Thrones.
The Tara¡¯hek Core resonated in Theo¡¯s chest until the purple light in Tresk¡¯s eyes grew bright enough to give him pause. With a deft thrust, she drove her dagger through his chest. The alchemist looked down at himself, then back to Tresk. She had a smile on her face, and something¡ strange.
¡°Tresk¡ when did you get horns?¡± Theo asked, pulling the dagger from his chest.
Tresk probed at her forehead, then gestured to Theo¡¯s hand. ¡°Your fingers are webbed.¡±
Honk!
A core evolution system message appeared.
[Core Ability Evolution!]
The ability [Tara¡¯hek Communication] has evolved into [Tara¡¯hek Union].
6.40 - Tarahek Union
6.40 - Tara''hek Union
¡°Oh, hell yeah!¡± Tresk shouted, jumping into the air and pumping her fist. The horns on her head grew as her eyes red purple. Her fat tail grew thin as it whipped through the air.
Theo¡¯s features took the opposite turn. He wasn¡¯t sure what he thought about his dronon-marshling form. He pushed back the bond, sifting through his Tara¡¯hek Core screen to find the evolved ability.
[Tara¡¯hek Union]
Marshling Bond Skill
Mythic
Thest step to a Tara¡¯hek is the union.
Effect:
Allows you tomunicate with Tresk no matter how far away they are. Others cannot hear your conversation.
Allows you to know the current state of your Tara¡¯hek. Their health, mana, and stamina will appear near yours at all times.Through intense focus, either member of the bond may blur the line between both members. Either member can absorb attributes, skills, physical characteristics, inate knowledge, etc.
This was interesting. The skill maintained the effects of the unevolved one, but gained an interesting effect. Tresk had increased her attributes to match Theo¡¯s attributes, giving her a temporary boost of power. And the alchemist felt no drain on his own, meaning they were just sharing those attributes. The result was an absurd skill that would make the marshling a nightmare. He watched as she dashed around the area, stabbing at the air faster than she had ever moved. Someone with lower attributes would have trouble following her, let alone matching her movements.
¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡± Theo said. ¡°I guess the skill wouldn¡¯t be overpowered if I wasn¡¯t overpowered¡ Wait, did you just manifest a skill because you couldn¡¯t win a fight?¡±
¡°Yup! I¡¯m awesome.¡±
¡°Yeah, Tresk is awesome,¡± Alex said, nodding along.
Theo¡¯s gaze dragged to Alex, who he was certain would evolve into a dragon at any moment. ¡°We have her to worry about, too. What is a dragon-goose, anyway?¡±
¡°Goose-dragon?¡± Tresk asked, rubbing her hands on her horns. ¡°How do you do anything with these things, Theo?¡±
¡°You get used to them.¡± Theo pushed down on the Tara¡¯hek again, attempting to break Tresk¡¯s concentration to cancel the effect. It took great effort, but it worked.
¡°No fair. I want my horns back.¡± Tresk probed at her forehead, ring at Theo. ¡°You stink, buddy.¡±
¡°Your horns are a cheap imitation.¡±
Tresk gasped, holding her hand over her mouth. ¡°Take that back. Now.¡±
¡°No. You stink,¡± Theo said, turning and running on the spot.
Tresk shrieked in anger, chasing after him.
The rest of the Dreamwalk wasn¡¯t productive. But it gave Tresk and Theo a chance to get a handle on their new ability. He wasn¡¯t happy that every time she wanted to use the ability, he would earn frilly gills, pink skin, and a fat tail¡ but the effects were nuts. The marshling went from fighting like a person at Level 35, to fighting like a Level 500 demon. The alchemist doubted there was a person alive who could keep up with her. She could handle the underground dungeon on her own, if she wanted.
When Tresk ended the dreamwalk, it all came crashing down. Theo¡¯s body was covered in a sheen of sweat the moment he woke up. His body felt too heavy and too light at the same time. The room around him appeared as though someone had attached it to the wheel of a massive car and had their foot on the gas.
¡°This sucks,¡± Theo groaned, gripping onto the bedsheets for dear life.
¡°He did it again!¡± Sarisa shouted from the threshold, turning to call Rowan up. ¡°Get the diapers.¡±
¡°On it!¡± Rowan¡¯s powerful voice came from down the stairs.
Theo groaned. ¡°If you put me in a diaper, I will kill you.¡±
¡°Poor baby,¡± Sarisa said,ing over to pat Theo on the head. ¡°Ew. Why do you have¡ Are your fingers webbed?¡±
¡°Tresk, please,¡± Theo said, trying to turn to see her but failing. He glimpsed her horned head.
Tresk¡¯s giggle soon turned into an all-out cackle. She dashed away before he could object. Funny how he could experience a massive boost in attributes and feel as though he would die. But if Tresk did it, she was fine. That must have been an effect of him epting the attributes into himself, while she was just borrowing them. He was happy to hear her tumble down the stairs, smacking her face on thending below. epting the attributes also meant epting the way he felt.
The front door opened and mmed shut as she left. But Theo knew she wouldn¡¯t get far.
¡°Seriously, do you need any help?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°Just some water,¡± Theo said, closing his eyes. It didn¡¯t make him feel better.
After getting a mug of water and waiting it out for a minute, he gave up. Instead of suffering on the mortal realm, he fell through the veil and suffered in the throne room. The effects were still there, but they were lessened. Tero¡¯gal reached out sympathetically, sending a wave of soothing energy. The alchemist gazed up at the ceiling. He knew how close he was to losing the power of his cores. It edged closer every day, and there was nothing he could do about it. The only thing that would work was if he evolved them with the power of Tero¡¯gal. After that, he had to figure out how to infuse the cores of others.
¡°Long road ahead,¡± Theo said with a sigh. ¡°What kind of form is a Tero¡¯gal Alchemist Core gonna take?¡±
Tero¡¯gal had no answer for him. It wasn¡¯t as though it refused to answer him. Rather, it didn¡¯t know. Like Theo, this world was new to the job. Their only way forward was to stumble through the process and figure it out as they went. That sense of moving forward resonated through both him and the world. After a few hours ofying on his back, he ventured out to see his metal golems standing guard. Their function was tied to the will of the world, rather than himself. The alchemist doubted he would feel their pull, no matter how many he made. There might have been an upper limit, but he doubted he could reach it with ease.
¡°Good evening, gents,¡± Theo said, stepping into the crisp mountain air. In a sh, he appeared at the foot of the mountain.
The denizens of this world had already built a small town near the foot of the mountain, carving into the stone about a quarter of the way to the temple. Perhaps it was better to leave the ce inessible, but Theo liked the idea of a giant staircase a person could spend days climbing. Installing waystations along the path might be a good idea. While he wanted to make some quip to the locals about working hard, everyone was asleep. The stone and timber constructions they had created were dotted here and there, following a grid design this time.
Drogramath seemed intent on staying in the swamps to the southeast of the mountain. Theo teleported there in a blink, finding a familiar sight. Packed dirt roads connected a hodgepodge of buildings, all built with haste and reminding him too much of Broken Tusk. There was little structure to the new home of the Drogramathi and Uz¡¯Xulveni Dronon. A young dronon approached, holding a torch aloft and his hand on a sword at his side.
¡°Spears are better,¡± Theo said, smiling at the man.
His eyes went wide, hand shooting from the hilt to rest at his side. ¡°Thronekeeper,¡± he said, bowing his head low.
¡°A new title?¡± Theo asked, tilting his head to one side. He didn¡¯t hate it. ¡°Ah, well¡ You got stuck on the night watch?¡±
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¡°Yes, sir.¡±
This was weird. Theo knew that only a day had passed in the mortal world. But these people were experiencing their own history at a rapid pace. These folks were real people now, not the remnants of their souls. They roamed the Throneworld not as transient guests, but as fully realized people. That thought was haunting for the alchemist, as he was now ced in the same position as the ascendants. He could control most things about this ce, making him something of a god, but had no interest in it. He would rather watch the people develop, only intervening if they made war.
He had a strict ¡®no war¡¯ policy for his world.
¡°How do you like it?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Is Drogramath a good leader?¡±
¡°Lord Drogramath¡ Ah¡ Mayor Drogramath is an excellent leader.¡± The dronon stood proud at that statement, his eyes gaining a glint in the torchlight. He cleared his throat, leaning in. ¡°We even have a few Zagmoni Dronon here.¡±
Theo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The dronon looked ufortable out of nowhere. ¡°May I be of service to you, lord?¡±
¡°No, no¡ I¡¯m just checking in on everyone. Things are getting stranger, somehow. Do you know if anyone has developed cores, yet?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard of people earning cores here, but I haven¡¯t seen it.¡±
So, they weren¡¯t in that phase of development yet. Tero¡¯gal had to figure itself out before it could implement a system that made sense. Theo suspected it wouldn¡¯te up with something fully usable for a while, and might put in a temporary system until everything could be fixed. It was a patch that wasn¡¯t likely tost.
Theo bid the dronon guard farewell, exploring the nearby areas. He found the need for guards quickly enough, discovering something like monsters in the nearby forest. These creatures weren¡¯t exactly monsters, but beefy versions of Earth wolves. He spotted a group padding through the forest. None of the monsters noticed him when he approached. The one he pped on the rump didn¡¯t even react. He could feel information about them flowing into his mind, and things made sense.
Monsters on the mortal realm were condensed bits of magic generated by the system. Tero¡¯gal was the system here, and it had made things for the locals to fight and eat. It might not have been as powerful as the system that governed the mortal world, but that didn¡¯t matter to Theo. He appreciated the steps it had taken to create a convincing world. It made him think about if this ce had a version of outer space. Perhaps that was just the void¡
The poption of the world had increased to nearly eight-hundred-thousand. Belgar¡¯s team of weers must have been hard at work showing everyone around. There was plenty of space for them to inhabit, so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Tero¡¯gal was determined to ensure there were enough resources for everyone, so Theo didn¡¯t think fighting would start anytime soon. Whatever system went in ce would be fair, allowing everyone to advance and better themselves. This concept had worked for the souls, but there had only been one-thousand.
On a cliff side, overlooking a sprawling ocean, a sh of silver light rolled across the sky like an aurora. Theo felt the pull of something, as though he was being gently interdicted. It was more like an invitation to somewhere else. After a moment of thought, and influence from his newest core, he realized where the invitation wasing from. Using this new ability, Passage, he slipped through the cracks without effort. A momentter, he stood within ntheir¡¯s new realm.
¡°John,¡± Theo said, nodding to ntheir, who stood on the balcony of his wooden, elf-style house.
ntheir turned, greeting Theo with a smile and a shake of his head. He wore brilliant robes of silver, his eyes glowing a simr color. ¡°They call me Hallow now.¡±
¡°So did you¡ Y¡¯know¡ Kill the original Hallow?¡± Theo asked.
ntheirughed, pping a hand on Theo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It might surprise you, but I¡¯ve never killed anyone in this world.¡±
Theo bit back ament about using followers to kill people. That wasn¡¯t important. His attention was drawn to a short man with a shaved head and bristling mustache. He wore simple clothes, and was short for even a human. The man shuffled over, fidgeting with his hands. ¡°Hey.¡±
Theo winced. ¡°That¡¯s the old Hallow?¡±
¡°Look, things are weird!¡± the man said. ¡°ntheir threw me a rope¡ªI never wanted to be a god.¡±
¡°We settled it like gentlemen.¡±
¡°Pistols at dawn?¡± Theo asked. He shook his head, trying to take this more seriously. He reached a hand out for the old Hallow to shake. ¡°Theo Spencer.¡±
¡°Franz Nosske. Formerly the President of Hallben, then the God of Healing Hallow. Confused and slightly afraid.¡± Franz bowed his head as he shook Theo¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re the new Dreamwalker, huh?¡±
¡°Yeah. Guess I am.¡±
¡°That core allows you to enter any realm in passive mode,¡± ntheir said. ¡°If something within that realm vites the heavenlyw, you can join with Khahar to fix it.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t like how much of a pointed hint that was. ntheir didn¡¯t say something unless he wanted the alchemist to know. ¡°Thanks. Now if I could sort my core before Drogramath¡¯s old power fades.¡±
ntheirughed, crossing the distance between them with ethereal grace. He ced a hand on Theo¡¯s chest, raising a brow. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve been busy. That¡¯s a lot of power you¡¯ve stolen from the system.¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Why not snatch it if I can?¡±
Anotherugh from ntheir. A silver light spread from his hand, filling Theo with a strange sense. After only a moment, it was done. ¡°That will give you a small amount of spare time. Drogramath never had it in him to ascend to the higher realms, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯s d to be rid of his Ascendant Core.¡±
Theo had been working on filling his cores with Tero¡¯gal¡¯s energy. He felt a different kind of energy in his aligned cores. It was mostly neutral, acting more as a bridge between two types of power. Although it was there, he wasn¡¯t certain how long it would stay. There was no reason to dally, unless he felt like losing his two most powerful cores.
¡°Thanks, ntheir.¡±
After a few moments of silence, he cleared his throat. ¡°So, are you going?¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Theo waved him away. ¡°Time to visit death, I guess.¡±
¡°Oh, I hate that guy,¡± Franz said, glowering at nothing in particr. ¡°He¡¯s so rude.¡±
Theo smiled, slipping through the cracks of the godly realm. His Passage skill allowed him to pass without issue. An instantter he approached the realm ntheir spoke of. Unlike the silver world Hallow had built, this was a world of darkness. The alchemist pressed through the barrier surrounding this world, his absolute authority giving him easy entrance. He stepped onto a long stone path, crawling into the distance over darkened hills. An impossible distanceter, he could see the shape of an archway, filled with prismatic energy.
His Dreamwalker¡¯s Core twitched.
¡°Well, it was only a matter of time,¡± Death said, stepping out from the darkness. ¡°Although I wish you would have given me more.¡±
¡°Just here for a routine OSHA inspection,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.¡±
¡°Well, this is awkward,¡± a familiar voice said, stepping out from behind Death.
When Fenian beat back the entity that had infected Qavell, Theo didn¡¯t know how he activated those powers. It seemed more like an instinct than something he had to activate through the system. As the alchemist¡¯s body filled with bone-cracking power, he realized how little he was in control of that power. Something tickled from his shoulder des, begging to burst out. His fists clenched as his muscles tightened.
¡°No mortals in the godly heavens,¡± Theo said, the purple in his eyes bursting into mes. ¡°That¡¯ll earn you a spanking, Kuzan.¡±
¡°To be as rude as to use my old name.¡± Death tutted.
¡°Just hand Twist over and I¡¯ll leave. I have some questions for him.¡±
A jagged de fell into Death¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t allow that, Dreamwalker.¡±
Fenian did it. So why couldn¡¯t Theo? A pair of glowing violet wings sprung from the alchemist¡¯s back as he crouched on the spot. His Dreamwalker¡¯s Core filled him with power he couldn¡¯t imagine. A message popped into his vision before he kicked off from the ground.
[Dreamwalker¡¯s Core]
Your Dreamwalker¡¯s Core has detected an entity trespassing in Death¡¯s Realm. You have been granted temporary power to neutralize this threat.
Theo kicked off hard, cocking his fist back as he angled for Death¡¯s face. The God of Death raised his twisted de, preparing to block the strike.
Jan wiped his brow clear of sweat, looking skyward. His soul vibrated in recognition as a faint plume of ck and purple spread across the heavens. The team he worked with secured the northern section of the railroad project, ensuring no monsters attacked theborers. He patted the modified weapon under his coat, nodding to himself.
¡°Gotta take a leak,¡± Jan said, jabbing his thumb toward a rocky outcropping.
¡°Don¡¯t be long,¡± Ziz said, turning the parchment in his hands. He squinted, shaking his head. ¡°Don¡¯t wanna get eaten.¡±
Jan nodded, rolling his shoulders. It took everything within him to act normal. The power swirling in his chest was uncontroble, pushing out as though to burst free from his ribcage. He took steadying breaths as he found a quiet ce behind a wall of stone. The rocks beneath his feet cracked when he was out of sight. A system message appeared. It was the same message he had seen a thousand times before. But this time, it came with a resolution.
[ERROR]
Previous system is ipatible with the current parameters of this world.
Attempting to find a solution¡
Solution failed¡
Attempting to find a solution¡
Fragment detected¡
Solution achieved!
[Gunslinger¡¯s Core] has been added and adjusted to Level 200.
[Brawler¡¯s Core] has been added and adjusted to Level 150.
[Arcane Detective] has been added and adjusted to Level 300.
Personal Level has been adjusted to Level 315. All associated attributes have been automatically distributed.
Flexing his hand, Jan withdrew his revolver. He popped out a round and activated his old Ammunition Duplication skill. One round turned into five.
¡°Alright, Twist,¡± Jan said, rolling his shoulders as he activated his Locate Target skill. He got a sense of a general direction. The star streaking through the sky to the north was likely rted. ¡°Let¡¯s have a chat.¡±
6.41 - The Fall of Twist
6.41 - The Fall of Twist
Theo¡¯s Wisdom had grown to a point where he knew better than to punch a god in the face. It told him of the situation, and how far his new powers extended. They did not include harming the god in his own domain. The sin fell solely with Twist. As the alchemist¡¯s strike was inches from Death¡¯s de, he feinted. Driving his leading foot into the ground, he spun to catch Twist in his masked face. But the masked elf didn¡¯t feel the force of the blow. He was instead sent tumbling through the cracks in reality, cast down to the mortal ne.
The fight was over in a blink. If a mortal were to watch the exchange, they would have seen Theo appear alongside Death while Twist vanished.
¡°That was disappointing,¡± Death tutted.
Theo rolled his shoulders, flexing his wings. Energy lingered in Death¡¯s realm, but it was hard to detect the origin. He realized it was the energy of something that had once been here, but had since been removed. So Kuzan was still up to his old tricks by being a general pain in the ass. The alchemist should have expected this, but he no longer had to do it alone. He reached out. A momentter, Khahar stood at his side, answering the call of the Dreamwalker to the Arbiter.
¡°Well, you¡¯ve been naughty,¡± Khahar said, crossing his arms. ¡°Have you already spanked him?¡±
¡°Yes, he has been spanked. Thoroughly,¡± Theo said. ¡°What was Twist doing in your realm?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Death shrugged. ¡°He got here on his own. Just arrived when you got here.¡±
Khahar scanned the area, picking up on the same energy Theo felt. ¡°Don¡¯t start, Kuzan. Things were going well.¡±
¡°Have they stopped going well?¡± Death asked, remaining motionless the way he always was. ¡°I thank you for sending that interloper away. You have my eternal gratitude.¡±There was nothing more the duo could do. Theo nodded to Khahar, and they traveled together to the Arbiter¡¯s Realm. It hadn¡¯t changed at all. Aside from the residents. Like Tero¡¯gal, Khahak had be a Throneworld. Nearly one-million people now called this ce home. And the central spires were bustling with activity. Fully formed people of all races did their own thing. They headed from ce to ce, living their lives as though this new reality was just fine.
¡°Put your wings away,¡± Khahar said. ¡°People are staring.¡±
¡°They¡¯re just wings.¡± Theo gave them a good p. ¡°I don¡¯t think they even do anything.¡±
Khahar shook his head, pulling Theo through space. They appeared in a sprawling city along a coastline, overlooking waves that battered a rocky shore. The sky was clear today, the sun hanging at high noon. Compared to the towns in Tero¡¯gal, this ce was built up a lot more. But the alchemist didn¡¯t have cities like this before the realms were removed. His people built everything they had, unlike here.
¡°Balkor is here,¡± Khahar said, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face. ¡°He wasn¡¯t happy at first. But, what choice does he have?¡±
¡°What about Zagmon?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That¡¯s hard to say. We¡¯ve had a few Zagmoni Dronon, but that¡¯s it.¡±
The wings on Theo¡¯s back faded. He felt the power granted to him by the core go with it. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Zagmon wasn¡¯t gone, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it unless he broke the rules. At least the rules were being enforced this time. Unlike the way things were, they could do something about people being jerks. But Death seemed to understand those rules better than anyone, exploiting someone like Twist to do his bidding. Well, Twist was now tumbling back to the mortal realm. With any luck, his passage back to the heavens was blocked.
¡°It couldn¡¯t have been easy for Twist to make it to Death¡¯s Realm,¡± Theo said, speaking his thoughts aloud.
¡°He could have used the Bridge, but I think Uz¡¯Xulven is taking her new job more seriously.¡±
¡°Because if she doesn¡¯t, she has to be a normal person.¡± Theo chuckled. ¡°I think she lucked out more than any of us. I haven¡¯t used the Bridge since it was changed, but she gets to keep it. That¡¯s nice of our new managers.¡±
¡°She¡¯s more of a custodian now, but I think she¡¯s enjoying her position.¡±
Theo let a silence settle in between them. There were a few people in the wind that he wanted to know about, but there was one among them that made him concerned. ¡°What is Fenian doing?¡±
¡°His job,¡± Khahar said, revealing no additional information. ¡°I think there are a few things on the mortal ne that need to be sorted. Thankfully, he has ess to the Bridge.¡±
¡°So, have you detected my silly attributes?¡± Theo found his mind wandering from the topic. There was a lot to do back in Broken Tusk, and a lot of that had to do with changing cores to be aligned with his realm.
¡°What happened?¡± Khahar asked.
Theo exined his situation. How he exploited his potions and sent his attributes to stupid levels. Khahar listened with interest, nodding along as the alchemist spoke.
¡°Impressive. How many more attributes can you get?¡± Khahar asked.
Theo smiled, nodding to himself. ¡°That depends. What do you think will happen when I change my Drogramath Alchemy Core to a Tero¡¯gal Alchemist Core? Will the potions I create count as new potions?¡±
Khaharughed. ¡°You weren¡¯t happy enough being this overpowered? You gotta reach for more?¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Why not? You were a walking god.¡±
Khahar took a moment to think about it, eventually shrugging. ¡°It might work. I can remember one example from the past where crafters earned world-firsts after getting aligned cores. It depends on how close the old potions are to the new ones.¡±
¡°Got it. I think Tero¡¯gal will have more to say about what my new potions look like than me.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Khahar said, looking up as though meeting the eyes of his world. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed my world has be willful. Almost as though it judges me.¡±
¡°Right? Like¡ get off my back,. I¡¯m doing my best.¡±
Khahar gave a brief tour of his world before Theo departed. There weren¡¯t many changes, because¡ Yeah, Khahar had an idea this would happen. The alchemist had wondered why Khahak was a sprawling realm with cities dotting thendscape. He was preparing for an influx of real people. It was useless getting mad about it. Khahar had a way of keeping information to himself. Sometimes to protect others, and other times for selfish reasons. Theo was just happy to be here, standing with an old friend.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
¡°I think my attribute sickness is just about gone,¡± Theo said, shaking Khahar¡¯s hand. ¡°Thanks for the tour.¡±
¡°No problem. Ah, the timescale is going to change soon. Forgot to tell you.¡±
¡°To what?¡± Theo asked. The old timescale was five minutes on the mortal ne to twenty-four hours in the heavens.
¡°One minute to an hour,¡± Khahar said, nodding. ¡°The system is adjusting based on the new organization in the heavens. It¡¯ll reduce to one minute to a half-hourter, and perhaps another reduction.¡±
¡°Thanks for the tip,¡± Theo said, allowing himself to slip through the cracks. ¡°See ya!¡±
Theonded in his bed, sucking in a breath. As expected, his sickness was gone. Rowan held something that looked suspiciously like an adult diaper. Sarisa grabbed at his pants, ready to reveal his bare ass and shove the diaper on him. The alchemist sprung from the bed, pivoting around the pair in a heartbeat. Before they could react, Sarisa was on her butt and Rowan wore a diaper on his head.
¡°What!¡± Rowan shouted, stumbling and falling over.
¡°I think I fractured my butt bone,¡± Sarisa groaned, rubbing her butt. ¡°Did you put points into Dexterity, you butthole?¡±
It was impossible to hold back hisugh. Theo patted them both on the head, handing Sarisa a potion before he headed for the door. ¡°Come on. I wanna go to the temple.¡±
Theo headed directly for the stone temple they had built. As expected, the dedications for the fallen gods had been removed. People prayed in the alcoves, speaking to ascendants who could no longer hear their prayers. The energy in the building was unmistakably that of Tero¡¯gal. It permeated the air, filling the temple with a deep sense offort. The alchemist turned, jerking his head toward the altar on the far side.
¡°Are you gonna kill us?¡± Sarisa asked. ¡°You know we only joke around because we love you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Theo said, jerking his head again. ¡°Get up there. Both of you.¡±
Rowan shared a look with Sarisa. Theo didn¡¯t need his Wisdom to know what they were thinking. ¡°No, you can¡¯t take me,¡± he said. ¡°Up on the altar, I need to infuse your cores with power from Tero¡¯gal.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re going to lose your connection to Baelthar. Likely soon.¡±
This was the best path forward. Theo had a few days left in his Drogramathi cores, but everyone in town only had hours. Perhaps less. The temple was a nexus of power from the heavenly worlds, and was thick with Tero¡¯gal¡¯s energy. If there ever was a time for him to test if this worked, this was it. Rowan and Sarisa ascended to the altar, standing and shuffling their feet on the white stone.
Theo pressed his hand into Rowan¡¯s chest. ¡°Your only aligned core is Baelthar Shadowstalker¡¯s Core, right?¡± Theo could feel the fading energy of the ogre ascendant. It was like a weak pulse in the neck of a dying person.
¡°Yeah, but my skills haven¡¯t been workingtely.¡±
The energy from Tero¡¯gal flowed through Theo. He acted as a conduit, infusing Rowan¡¯s core with his own energy. When he filled it to the top, he could feel it drinking. It sucked the energy down like a khahari finding an oasis in the desert. He filled it again, and it drank.
¡°I don¡¯t feel so good, boss,¡± Rowan said, swaying on the spot.
¡°Take a seat,¡± Theomanded, kneeling to continue the process. Baelthar¡¯s energy was fighting back, but there wasn¡¯t enough of it to maintain a chokehold on the core. The alchemist realized he was missing a piece of the puzzle mid-way through the process. He reached out to his world, feeling the brush of recognition against his mind. It wasn¡¯t enough to fill someone¡¯s core with energy. When the ascendants made cores, they had influence over what that core did. Unlike those ascendant cores, the Throneworld would design these new ones.
Tero¡¯gal didn¡¯t talk directly to Theo. Instead, it sent ideas and thoughts. Concepts for core designed flooded into the alchemist¡¯s mind. Tero¡¯gal was a peaceful world. It didn¡¯t want to focus onbat. Rowan¡¯s existing core made this easy. The Baelthar Shadowstalker¡¯s Core focused on controlling effects. He used a bow most of the time, but his skills were based around ensnaring enemies, rather than killing them. This made the Throneworld happy. It wove a new core.
Rowan¡¯s eyes lit up with purple-white energy. His back arched as his core was remade where it was. The touch of Tero¡¯gal graced him as he was remade. The half-ogre lost consciousness.
¡°We¡¯re all gonna die!¡± Sarisa shouted, jumping from the raised altar and heading for the door. People looked up from their prayers, ring at her.
¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± Theo said. ¡°And he has a new core.¡±
Sarisa stopped at the door, looking back to her brother. Rowan groaned, shaking his head.
¡°Yeah, that sucked.¡± Rowan cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders and stretching. ¡°It worked, though.¡±
Sarisa approached with caution, padding over as though Theo would pin her to the altar and force her to ept the new core. ¡°You good, brother?¡± she asked.
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Got a new core with new skills¡ Oh, this is a good one.¡± Rowan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯m happy. Thrilled!¡±
¡°Share it!¡± Sarisa said, all-too-eager to see the result.
¡°Here we go,¡± Rowan said.
[Tero¡¯gal Shadowstitcher Core]
Epic
Ranger and Control Mage Core
Bound
4 Slots
Level 25 (0%)
A ranged controller core based on the concept of ensnaring opponents in shadow.
Effect:
+10 Dexterity
¡°All my control abilities changed,¡± Rowan said. ¡°I can shoot my arrows into a person¡¯s shadow and pin them in ce. My stealth ability still works, but I can also jump into anyone¡¯s shadow that I¡¯ve marked.¡±
Theo nodded with approval. It had elements of tracking-style sses, but had more to do with a person¡¯s shadow. The concept of shadows and the maniption of those shadows was ingrained in Tero¡¯gal, so that made sense. The elements of control from the Control Mage ss just made it even better.
¡°Do me next,¡± Sarisa said,ying on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±
Theo shook his head, pressing his hand into her chest. The amount of energy stored within Tero¡¯gal was vast. More than the reserves of power, it seemed eager to craft a new core. He once again acted as a conduit, allowing his world to remake her core. Sarisa had a few cores, but only her Baelthar Guardian¡¯s Core was aligned. The Throneworld understood the half-ogre woman¡¯s desire to keep her stealth skills. It also appreciated her guardian-style ss, creating something interesting.
Sarisa¡¯s back arched as Tero¡¯gal¡¯s power flowed through her. Light flooded from her eyes as her core was remade. She stopped spasming and rested on the hard floor of the temple. A few tense breathster and she opened her eyes.
¡°Oh, yeah!¡± Sarisa shouted. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about.¡±
[Tero¡¯gal Gloom Bulwark Core]
Epic
Guardian and Illusion Mage Core
Bound
4 Slots
Level 28 (0%)
A stealthy guardian based on the concepts of surprising enemies and surviving fights using their powerful tower shields.
Effect:
+15 Vigor
Innate increase to the durability and effectiveness of shields.
¡°Why does she get more attributes?¡± Rowan asked, folding his arms.
¡°Suck it, loser!¡± Sarisa shouted.
¡°You need to stop learning phrases from Tresk,¡± Theo said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
¡°All my skills evolved. I got one called Unseen Bulwark that confuses enemies when they strike my shield.¡± Sarisa jumped to her feet, jumping up and down. ¡°This is awesome! Someone fight me!¡±
As Sarisa and Rowan sparred in the temple, Theo created a message to the entire Soutnds Alliance.
[Theo]: Everyone with an aligned core please report to the temple in Broken Tusk. The power within your core will fade by the end of today. If you do not report to the temple, it is almost guaranteed any future cores will be less powerful.
The tide of people that flooded into the temple came almost immediately. Good thing Alise arrived shortly after to usher them into an orderly line.
6.42 - Insane and Undying
6.42 - Insane and Undying
There were too many people in line to handle in one day. Without Alise, the core exchange process would have been impossible. She not only organized the line, but triaged the people to ensure the most important ones got their cores swapped out. Tero¡¯gal gave cores rted to themes of defensive powers and stealth, which wasn¡¯t even remotely surprising. It took parts from both Theo and Tresk, resulting in cores that were a mix of both their personalities.
It wasn¡¯t the end of someone¡¯s life if their aligned cores lost their alignment. But unaligned cores were often far less powerful than the aligned ones. Theo inclined his head on the third day of the core exchange program, watching as Zarali and Xol¡¯sa walked into the temple. Zarali had been ced at the front of the line by Alise before she insisted she be ced at the back of the line. They were among thest to enter the temple, although Xol¡¯sa seemed adamant about refusing a core upgrade.
Zarali¡¯s Drogramath Priestess Core had been upgraded in a path Theo didn¡¯t expect. It had be a Tero¡¯gal Healer¡¯s Core, removing all mentions of worship to her false god. Theo was shocked she didn¡¯t take the change worse, but everyone had enough time to ept the truth. In a world of constant change, it appeared even the gods weren¡¯t safe.
¡°That¡¯s it for the day,¡± Theo said, sighing. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±
¡°Well, you must rest. We¡¯re preparing for the wedding,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, bringing a reminder Theo needed. He almost forgot about it.
¡°I¡¯m not responsible for nning anything, am I?¡±
¡°Of course not!¡± Zarali said, sping her hands together before her chest. ¡°Your attendance will be more than enough. Oh, I must test this core out at my workshop.¡±
Zarali scampered off, leaving Theo and Xol¡¯sa mostly alone in the temple. The alchemist felt a tension build in the air, but that might have been from his apprehension. When the extra-nar wizard turned to him, he knew his fears woulde true.
¡°I don¡¯t mean to prod, but have you made progress?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.Theo grit his teeth, drawing in a deep breath. The space elves had been locked away in a prison of their own making for thousands of years. What was a few days? Lying to Xol¡¯sa was thest thing he wanted to do. ¡°Bad news on that front.¡±
¡°What happened?¡±
Taking a deep breath, Theo thought of the best way to broach the subject. Xol¡¯sa was a logical person, even with Intelligence of the Soul. ¡°Your people created a proto realm out in the void. They tried to use the power of the shards to stabilize the realm, but it didn¡¯t work.¡±
Xol¡¯sa nodded. ¡°I suppose that wouldn¡¯t work. No matter what the shards are, theyck the required underlying structure to support mortal life. I think I knew my people were gone.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s where it gets weird. They¡¯re not dead.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°The Bara¡¯thier are¡ insane and undying. They lurk around like statues, only moving when you aren¡¯t looking.¡±
¡°We must go,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, grabbing Theo by the arm.
Theo winced, unsure that was such a good idea. ¡°I don¡¯t know, man. It isn¡¯t a pleasant sight.¡±
Xol¡¯sa grabbed Theo by the shoulders, looking up at him with an intense re. ¡°If they aren¡¯t dead, we can fix them. Right?¡±
Maybe. Except the only guy who might have the power to fix someone¡¯s mind like that was currently sitting as Hallow, the new healing god. The restrictions ced on him would be serious enough to prevent him from curing an entire race of their disease. If it was a disease at all. Theo had no potion that could fix them. Bilgrob had been stripped of his healing power from Spit.
¡°How could we possibly fix them?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I won¡¯t know unless I see them.¡±
Theo sighed, nodding. ¡°You¡¯re right. If they were my people, I¡¯d do everything I could. Are you ready to go?¡±
Xol¡¯sa nodded eagerly.
Using his Passage ability, Theo slipped through the veil with Xol¡¯sa. The elf screamed. Of course he did, the void had changed enough that no one that had been there before would recognize it. From a distance, it looked more like a dark sr system of swirling ck and dots of sparse color. The sun-like object forming at the center became brighter by the day. Order had been restored to the endless void, in some chaotic way that was difficult to describe. The void wasn¡¯t meant to stay still.
Theo angled them into the deep void, leaving behind theforts of the tides. It was only easy to find the floating rock in infinite nothing because of the shards. Each put off a distinct signature that was easy to follow, allowing the duo to approach. Xol¡¯sa had stopped screaming. It was harder to find a ce tond than the alchemist expected. He tuned into the energy of the shards, although it was faint. A momentter, he stood on the steps of the ziggurat, looking down with a grimace.
A stunted array formed in front of Xol¡¯sa. His spell wouldn¡¯t form properly. Not that it would do much to the hundred space elves standing like statues below them. Motionless.
¡°This is horrific,¡± Xol¡¯sa gasped, looking between Theo and the crowd below. ¡°How many are there?¡±
Theo would have reached out with his senses, but he didn¡¯t want to use up what little power his Zaul core had left. ¡°At least that many,¡± he said, unhelpfully. ¡°Aren¡¯t they creepy?¡±
Xol¡¯sa gave him a reproachful look. ¡°Those are my people.¡±
¡°They can be your people and still be creepy. Why don¡¯t you go touch one, see what they do?¡±
¡°I¡¯m absolutely not going to touch one. Ah! That one moved!¡±
¡°Why do you have to call the guy ¡®that one¡¯? He might be your uncle.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not helping. And my magic isn¡¯t working here.¡± Xol¡¯sa folded his arms, turning back to the shard behind them. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to bring that back to the mortal world?¡±
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
¡°Yes, he is.¡± Void stepped out of nowhere, hands on his hips as he red through his spiral void of a face at Theo. ¡°He is dying.¡±
¡°Have you ever moved powerful crystals across dimensions?¡± Theo asked. ¡°I need to understand a lot of crap before I can consider moving them from where they are. So, yeah. I¡¯m dying because I don¡¯t know how to do this.¡±
¡°That is troublesome, isn¡¯t it?¡± Void asked, looking down at the space elves below. ¡°Why do they have to be so creepy?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I was saying.¡±
¡°Wait.¡± Xol¡¯sa looked between Theo and Void. ¡°Is this¡ a true god?¡±
¡°I forgot you guys haven¡¯t met. Void, this is Xol¡¯sa. He¡¯s a space elf, but he isn¡¯t acting like a statue.¡± Theo gestured between the two men.
¡°Nice to meet you. I guess.¡± Void seemed more grumpy than normal.
¡°Should I bow? Or grovel?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the fun part. The new gods have less power over mortals than the old ones.¡±
¡°The ascendants were never gods.¡± Void grumbled. ¡°They were pretenders. A god¡¯s responsibilities aren¡¯t to meddle in mortal affairs. Speaking of, there are a few things I need you to clean up.¡±
¡°So you¡¯ll just meddle through the Throne Holders?¡± Theo asked, shaking his head. ¡°I get it. How many pieces of Balkor are left on the mortal ne?¡±
¡°Too many. But your concern should be the shards. I have a location for each. Although after Fenian carved up your continent, I¡¯m not sure where to ce that one¡¡±
¡°My people¡¡± Xol¡¯sa said, gathering his thoughts. ¡°Do you know how we can cure them?¡±
¡°Take them from here would be your first move. Before the shards go.¡± Void shrugged before nodding into the distance. ¡°There are about five-thousand here. So, you¡¯ll need somewhere safe to keep them while they recover. Somewhere secluded.¡±
¡°Tero¡¯gal?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That might work. They¡¯re touched by the void. Which means they¡¯ve absorbed too much void energy. If they absorb the energy from another world, they should recover.¡±
Perhaps that was a bit too easy. But if there was anyone who knew what he was talking about, it was the guy named after the problem. Void hadn¡¯t led Theo astray so far. He was a hardass, but their goals aligned almost perfectly. Bringing order to a disorderly world was something he could get behind.
¡°Can I ask a question before you vanish without warning?¡± Theo asked, turning to Void.
¡°I might not answer. Or I might vanish mid-question.¡±
¡°Who made this world? Who brought us here?¡±
Voidughed. ¡°Oh, boy. Interesting questions. Can¡¯t answer the first one. But you know who brought you here. That bird-guy did.¡±
¡°Why did he bring us here? Just to save us from Earth?¡±
Void took a few long moments to n his response. ¡°I¡¯m not the best person to ask. Elrin, Meya, Zeal¡ even Cakes would give you a better response. I¡¯ll give you this, Theo. What happened to Earth is moreplicated than you might think. The sun¡¯s expansion was a purposeful act to work against something someone had done to destabilize the world. The bird had to jump through some serious hoops to make everything work together.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not really sure¡ And he¡¯s gone.¡± Theo sighed, looking at the spot where Void just was. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that name before. Elrin.¡±
The Harbinger caused the sun to expand, destroying Earth¡ but why. That entity never seemed as though he moved against Earth or this new world negatively. Theo had always thought he was there to do a job as an observer. He had expanded the sun to work against something someone had done to destabilize the world. What did that mean? One thing was certain. There was a connection between that and the ¡®other ce¡¯ Jan talked about. The grizzled detective would have some questions to answer when Theo returned to the mortal world.
¡°How much research can you do about your people back on the mortal ne?¡± Theo asked.
Xol¡¯sa considered the question for a moment, scratching his chin. ¡°Well, I can view the energy here. I suppose I could investigate the magic ande up with a n.¡±
Theo pointed at a space elf that had moved a finger. ¡°I saw that. I was still looking at you, weirdo. Anyway, I¡¯ll ask around for a cure. We can¡¯t predict what happens if we snag the shards and bolt.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, shivering. ¡°Although the faces are familiar, they¡¯re giving me chills.¡±
Slipping back through the cracks, Theo let his mind rest as they traveled through the void. There was enough to think about without creating problems in his thoughts. Bringing the shards back and helping the space elves rose to the top of his list. Although the power in his Drogramath cores was fading by the day, bringing up another concerning problem. At least the alchemist had made all the potions he could, earning his absurd amount of attributes.
Xol¡¯sa looked dizzy when the duo returned to the mortal ne. He leaned against Theo, but was soon supported by Zarali.
¡°I hope it went well,¡± Zarali said, her tone revealing that she suspected it went poorly.
¡°It went better than expected.¡± Theo shrugged. The trip really could have gone worse. ¡°Xol¡¯sa has some things to think about. Perhaps you can offer some insight on the space elves, Zarali.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m happy to try. Perhaps we can work with Sulvan. His cores are just as strong as ever.¡±
Theo watched as the pair headed off and heaved a sigh. Things hadn¡¯t been going wrong, but they weren¡¯t going right either. It had been a week of turns he hadn¡¯t expected. As he talked about it frequently enough, Jan might have some insight on what Void said. The alchemist remained in the temple for a few minutes, checking the power of the cores within his chest. Zaul¡¯s core was behaving strangely. It hadn¡¯t lost most of its potency. Perhaps that was only because he tried to use it as little as possible. But at the point of never using it, he might as well not have it.
Theo stopped by the Newt and Demon before heading over to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. While Salire was the first person to get her hands on a Tero¡¯gal Alchemy and Tero¡¯gal Herbalism Core, she promised not to create any potions until he was ready. It might have been a good idea to split the attribute points between them, but he hadn¡¯t decided.
¡°Have you found anything?¡± Theo asked.
Salire offered him a sheepish smile. ¡°You won¡¯t like it.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°We won¡¯t be making as many potions. And we¡¯re going to need a lot more equipment.¡±
Theo smiled, patting a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I expected changes. Anything noteworthy?¡±
¡°From what I can understand, we¡¯ll need to do some intense refinement of reagents. I don¡¯t have my head around it yet. Notpletely.¡±
Theo tapped his foot, gritting his teeth for only a moment. Did it really matter? A new path for alchemy would be fun. And if Tero¡¯gal built it off of Drogramath¡¯s version, it wouldn¡¯t be too different. ¡°You already put an order in to Throk, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Salire struck a pose.
¡°You¡¯re the best. I¡¯ll be backter today so we can start.¡±
¡°Take these,¡± Salire said, handing over her notes.
Theo flipped through each page before handing the notes back. He tapped his temple. ¡°312 Wisdom. Thanks, though.¡±
Salireughed as Theo made his way from the building. She hade to a conclusion about the new form of alchemy, but it was all theory. Based on the ss core description and ability descriptions, they would need to do the same form of alchemy as before. But instead of distilling the essence at a one-to-one ratio, it would be far less. And the resulting essence would be far more reactive. Which meant more explosions.
¡°Is Aarok around?¡± Theo asked, tapping his fingers on the front desk of the guild.
¡°He¡¯s looking for you,¡± A half-ogre man said. ¡°Up in his office.¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s always good,¡± Theo said, pushing off from the counter. He ascended the steps, cracking Aarok¡¯s door before entering. ¡°Why do I have a bad feeling about this?¡±
¡°You remember that guy you wanted us to trust?¡± Aarok asked. ¡°He ran.¡±
¡°You¡¯re joking. Where did he run to?¡±
¡°North as far as we can tell. No one can catch him¡ªeven after they figured out he was gone.¡±
Theo closed his eyes. There was no way he got that many levels in such a short time. ¡°We¡¯ve been deceived.¡±
6.43 - Evolution
6.43 - Evolution
¡°Sweet. Now we have a juiced up super detective from Earth roaming the northern wastes. What could go wrong?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We don¡¯t know what his ns are.¡±
¡°Is it a coincidence that I cast Twist from Death¡¯s realm at the same time Jan went rogue?¡± Theo asked. ¡°He¡¯s going after Twist. They knew each other, and the rtionship didn¡¯t seem friendly.¡±
Aarok¡¯s brow furrowed as he steepled his fingers. ¡°Twist was a snake. If he dies, he dies.¡±
Theo sighed, rolling his shoulders. Aarok wasn¡¯t wrong to assume Twist had an agenda, but was it malicious? He wanted something in the nortnds back in the day, so he must have found it. That was likely how he got to the true heavens¡ But Twist had been a big help with information. He had warned them about the underground area, especially after Pogo and the Russian rock people stopped defending the area. No, the masked elf¡¯s motives were too mercurial for even the alchemist¡¯s high Wisdom and his Soul messages.
¡°We¡¯ll let them fight, if only to keep our people out of it.¡± Theo leaned against a bare wall, allowing his intuition to search all possible oues. ¡°Unless we feel like trudging north. Which I don¡¯t.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t like rogue adventurers under my watch.¡±
¡°Then go find him. But be warned. If the system gave him ess to what he had before, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll fare well. The more I learn about Earth before my time, the more I¡¯m convinced I know nothing.¡±
Aarok folded his arms, gazing up at Theo with a grumpy look on his face. ¡°Bah.¡±¡°Cheer up. It could have ended poorly. Better to let the overpowered idiots fight it out in the wastnds.¡±
Aarok sighed, but eventually nodded.
¡°Anyway, I¡¯m faster than hell now. If Jan wants to start something with us, I¡¯ll wrestle him.¡±
Aarok looked up from his desk, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Are you serious? Do you need to see a healer?¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m serious. Come on, try and hit me. I¡¯m fast now.¡±
132 Dexterity was a lot of Dexterity. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason Theo was so fast. He watched as the ghostly image of Aarok stood from his desk, withdrawing a bow from nowhere. He knocked an arrow, pulled the string back, and released an arrow. The arrow would have mmed into the space next to the alchemist¡¯s head. When the real arrow flew, he snatched it from the air and sent it spinning back at Aarok. The arrow thumped into the desk.
¡°Okay.¡± Aarok said, looking between the arrow and Theo. ¡°I¡¯m a bit impressed. How did you do that?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fast. Faster than I should be¡ªand I¡¯m only going to get stronger.¡±
¡°I should put you in the militia.¡±
¡°No, thanks. But if Jan shows up, I¡¯ll have something for him.¡± Theo thought about any other topics they could cover. That seemed to sum the problem up well enough. Twist was gone and Jan was gone. Unless either returned, there was no reason for them to act. Jan had only even got away because he was working on the railroad project to the north. The only person who could have chased him was Aarok, but he wasn¡¯t built forbat.
¡°We¡¯ll leave it where it is for now. I guess.¡± Aarok dismissed the conversation just like that. Theo found his way out of the office, but knew the leader of the guild would establish more patrols. More night watches. Anything to keep the town safe with another loose end out in the world.
Theo had other things to worry about. ntheir might have given him some time with his Drogramath cores, but that time would run out soon enough. It was better to get it over with now, transitioning to the Tero¡¯gal cores while he had a moment to take a breath. The only cores he wanted to worry about today were his alchemy, herbalism, and governance cores. The power in his Toru¡¯aun core was fading slower than the others. He could dy it by a few days.
Making his way to the temple, Theo passed a few people along the way. Most were those who had visited the temple to get their cores changed, so it was an interesting contrast to the task he had before him. Considering his Drogramath Governance Core as a stepping stone to this moment, the whole thing seemed cyclical. The Drogramath Dedication ability had set him on the path of changing cores, and now here he was. Ready to switch away from devolution to a pretender god.
Theo sat on the steps to the raised tform in the temple, focusing on the power of Tero¡¯gal. Bing a conduit for that power had be second nature. He allowed it to flow into his alchemy core, feeling it fill with renewed energy. The change it produced was strange. There was an invisible connection he used to feel. Something that linked him to Drogramath. With that god gone, he was left feeling a vague sense of emptiness that only his Tara¡¯hek Core and Tero¡¯gal filled.
The change didn¡¯t take long. Theo felt the essence of his core changing. He felt his connection to Tero¡¯gal grow, as though he was standing right there. A sh of recognition moved over him, giving some unseen nod to his actions. A momentter, he was on the floor, looking up at the high ceiling of the temple. He read the message that appeared in his vision.
[Core Evolution]
Your [Drogramath Alchemy Core] has evolved into a [Tero¡¯gal Alchemy Core]. The following abilities have also evolved:
[Drogramath Distillery Specialty], [Drogramath Inventory], [Drogramath Dedication]
It made sense those abilities would evolve. They were specific to Drogramath, after all. He went through the list of abilities, checking for changes.
[Tero¡¯gal Distillery Specialty]
Alchemy Skill
Legendary
You embody the perfection of distition. Distition produces potent forms of extract, although these extracts are considered extremely vtile.
Effect:
Allows the user to operate specialized distillery equipment at near-perfect efficiency. Tero¡¯gal distition equipment focuses on the production of potent potions, distilled from magical reagents.
Allows the user to gauge, by eye, the exact quantity of mixtures in units.
+12 Wisdom
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The changes here were subtle. The increased wisdom¡ªfrom 2 to 12¡ªwas wee. But the text of the description had changed, along with the first line of the effects. It mentioned Tero¡¯gal distition specifically, which was interesting. This must have been the thing Salire wrote in her notes. The mention of potent potions was concerning, but they would push through that like everything else. Drogramath Inventory had changed, but only by calling it Tero¡¯gal Inventory. It had no changed effects, granting the same 32-slot inventory as the one before.
Theo suspected Drogramath Dedication to be the ability most impacted by this change and inspected it. He wasn¡¯t wrong.
[Tero¡¯gal Beacon]
Alchemy and Herbalism Skill
Unique
The holder of this skill is a beacon that reflects the ideals of Tero¡¯gal. They are either held in esteem or are one of the creators of that world.
Effect:
Removes the meta barrier between the core user¡¯s soul and all Tero¡¯gal cores.
Two Tero¡¯gal cores may be selected, never again to be removed.
All other cores will be considered sub-cores, and may no longer add to your personal level.
All other cores will be capped at the average level between your two main cores.
Once per day, you may infuse any skill, spell, ability, crafted item, etc with the power of Tero¡¯gal, increasing their effect significantly, depending on the power of Tero¡¯gal.
The skill still provided the base for what made Drogramath Dedication an excellent skill. Theo was happy to see he hadn¡¯t lost that advantage. But it also removed some restrictions, and added an effect simr to his Zaul core. Could he Tero¡¯gal-wrap something now? That required testing. He inspected the core itself before moving on.
[Tero¡¯gal Alchemy Core]
Legendary
Alchemy Core
Bound
5 Slots
Level 33 (25%)
[Alchemy Core] given to the followers of Tero¡¯gal
Effect:
Increases the synergy of [Alchemy] abilities.
+12 Wisdom
[Unstable Material Handling]
[Tero¡¯gal Distillery Specialty]
[High Pressure Refining]
[Reagent Deconstruction]
[Tero¡¯gal Beacon]
No surprises there. It had taken the Drogramath Alchemy Core and made it slightly different. Theo focused on evolving his herbalist core next. It was much like the first process. The core drank the power up as though dying of thirst, evolving just as quickly as thest one. Theo got a simr message when it evolved, once again sending him to his ass.
[Core Evolution]
Your [Drogramath Herbalist Core] has evolved into a [Tero¡¯gal Herbalist Core]. The following abilities have also evolved:
[Drogramath Herbalism], [Drogramath Fermentation]
Theo cracked his knuckles, inspecting the first skill on the list.
[Tero¡¯gal Herbalism]
Herbalism Skill
Rare
Denizens of Tero¡¯gal inherit their creator¡¯s knack for identifying reagents. This skill allows you to identify the properties of reagents by tasting or dposing them.
Effect:
You have a sense whether something will produce alchemical ingredients.
+6 Intelligence
This was the most in change for his skills. It was clearer on what he could do to find properties on reagents, but only added another three points for his intelligence. He moved on to inspect the next skill on his list.
[Tero¡¯gal Fermentation]
Herbalism Skill
Epic
Fermentation allows an herbalist to extract even more from reagents. epting this skill allows you to understand the fine workings of reagents, pulling even more from the already useful nts.
Effect:
Fermentations you perform happen rapidly,pared to those without this skill.
Allows the modification of reagents to produce special modifier essences.
+12 Wisdom
The skill had switched from Intelligence to Wisdom, which was strange. But it was effectively the same thing. Theo read through the text a few times before he was satisfied. His most important cores had evolved into something he could use without worrying about if Drogramath died or not. He sat in the temple for a long time, looking up at the ceiling.
When Theo entered this world, he viewed Drogramath as an antagonistic figure in his life. As he thought back on it, he realized he was right. No matter how a person looked at it, the false gods of the world had tried to use him for their purposes. From the first time Drogramath tried to interdict him, to the cating tone he used when the end was near. Mortals were puppets for the ascendants to use, and the alchemist couldn¡¯t be happier after they had been cast from their false thrones.
Bowing to Void, Death, and the others seemed like a fine thing to do. Because those gods had not interfered with the mortal world. Yes, Void had visited the mortal world, but only for a moment. After he teleported way, he joined the heavens and never returned. So long as those gods kept to themselves, he would be happy. Whatever the new system of divinity was, it would be better than the old one.
¡°Copper for your thoughts?¡± Tresk asked,ing to sit beside him. She had avoided him, trying not to get her cores evolved until thest moment. A Wisdom of the Soul message appeared.
[Wisdom of the Soul]
Check the new pantheon. You have a bad feeling that a shadowy dude not only evaded the wrath of the new gods, but found himself a seat at the table. You know this because the power in your Zaul core hasn¡¯t faded. Neither has the power in Tresk¡¯s cores.
¡°We might have a problem,¡± Theo said, patting Tresk on the head. ¡°You¡¯ve never met Zaul, have you?¡±
¡°Nope. He whispers stuff to me sometimes, but I can¡¯t ever understand him.¡±
¡°You know what?¡± Theo asked, dusting his butt off after leaving the dirty floor of the temple. ¡°Sounds a lot like not my problem. Just expect your cores to evolve soon. I think Zaul ascended to true godhood.¡±
¡°That nutty buddy?¡± Tresk asked, snorting. ¡°You sure?¡±
¡°I¡¯m almost positive. Come on. I want to check out this new alchemy Salire is working on.¡±
Theo headed off from the temple, Tresk following close behind. He paused outside of the temple, turning his head slowly to gaze at Alex. He blinked a few times before he could understand what he was looking at. A pair of lizard feet were poking out of her chest, and her normal webbed feet were looking more like that of a dragon. He swallowed, turned, and walked toward the Newt and Demon. Stranger things had happened.
Tresk hopped up the stairs first, screaming as she threw open the third floor¡¯s door and scaring Salire. Theo was up soon after, finding his assistant panting for breath and hurling curses at the marshling. She had moved all the equipment around, cing them into sections of theb.
¡°How is it looking?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Bad.¡± Salire said, pausing to make a rude gesture at Tresk. The marshling returned the favor. ¡°I¡¯m questioning the stability of essences when theye out of the stills. I¡¯ve got a sample over there I don¡¯t wanna touch.¡±
Theo spotted the sample she was talking about. Moving to inspect¡ªwithout touching¡ªhe found it was a first tier Healing Essence. Nothing fancy. But silver globs of something rested atop the mixture, dancing and sizzling. It was a different kind of reaction than he was used to. Impurities had snuck into the mix, but instead of creating an unusable essence, they had risen to the top after distition.
¡°This is very weird,¡± Theo said, looking closer. He nned on grabbing it, but watched as a phantom version of himself hoisted it only to explode. ¡°Yeah, no one touch it. Actually¡¡±
Theo took the essence into his inventory. ¡°There. Well this is a big problem. Theories?¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got a stilling that should help. Unfortunately, our production is going to be much slower.¡±
That sounded fine to Theo. The frantic way they treated potions now always annoyed him. It was a constant grind to get more. As interesting as the industrialization of potion making was, it was exciting to see another way. The alchemist withdrew the book he and Salire had written, thumping it on the table.
¡°I hope you¡¯re ready. We gotta write a new book.¡±
¡°Boo. Books are boring,¡± Treskined.
¡°Books are not boring. You¡¯re boring.¡± Salire red at her again.
Tresk could be abrasive at times. She had drifted far from the times where she would watch Theo perform alchemy in hisb. But she had her own life which usually involved stabbing things. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it,¡± Theo said, pping his hands. ¡°Maybe we can cobble together something that will work.¡±
6.44 - Duels and Mage Cores
6.44 - Duels and Mage Cores
There was once a thriving city in the endless crater. Jan stood at the edge of that crater, following the line drawn for him by his skill. Rain poured overhead, pooling in spots near the edge of the hole before falling down the edge like an endless waterfall. The pool that had collected in the bottom was vast, soon to be an impressiveke if the rainfall continued. He found a seat on a rock, looking down at the shattered mask of Twist. It would be easy to pull the trigger now. But that was an act that would provide no closure.
The masked elf stirred eventually. Pushing himself to a seated position and casting aside his broken mask. The scarred features of an aging warrior greeted him. Twist nodded, rubbing his head as though the fall had only given him a bump.
¡°How long have you been waiting for this?¡± Jan asked, gesturing with his revolver.
¡°Not as long as you would think,¡± Twist said, rolling his shoulders. He checked his hips, finding his weapons there.
¡°We thought you were on our side, you know. Thought you were one of us. Should¡¯ve never trusted an alien.¡±
Twist scoffed, looking up to the sky above. A bolt of lightning streaked across the clouds as the rain ran down his face. ¡°Does it even matter? You won. There. Is that what you wanted to hear?¡±
¡°No. I want to know why you joined Death¡¯s side. Why did you open the Gate?¡±
Twist released a heavy sigh, falling back into the mud. ¡°Because I thought my people could survive. A hope that we wouldn¡¯t be fuel for this transition.¡±
Jan leaned in, training the revolver on the elf. ¡°You don¡¯t listen. You¡¯ve never listened. That¡¯s what we stopped, you idiot. We put a pause on the whole damn thing. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here!¡±¡°You¡¯re lying. Again.¡±
¡°Why would I lie?¡±
¡°Well, the Gates helped, didn¡¯t they? Your friends were in trouble, and you helped them. That should make us even.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t and you know that. What you brought to Earth cannot be forgiven. None of this would have happened if you didn¡¯t.¡± Jan considered if he wanted a fair fight or not. There was something within Twist that could be redeemed, but he was too damn angry. If the elf did nothing back then, they could have been spared sixty-thousand years of shit for this world. That deserved a little blood. ¡°Come on. Just like the old days.¡±
¡°A duel?¡± Twist asked, scoffing. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re going to try setting terms.¡±
¡°Yeah, a duel. Like I said, I think your people are somewhere. Maybe the queue they were talking about. We can talk about it after you¡¯re full of holes.¡± Jan rose to his feet, preparing to fire. Twist was always fast. He tightened his grip on his other weapon. That Throk guy was a genius. ¡°Ready?¡±
¡°Fine. Ready¡¡± Twist vanished. Jan pulled the trigger on the modified sawnoff he held in his coat, facing backwards. The elf went flying back from the force of the magically enhanced weapon.
¡°Same old tricks,¡± Jan said, stalking toward Twist. ¡°You gotta work on that, buddy.¡±
Twist groaned, rising to a seated position. The pellets hadn¡¯t pierced his skin. But it must have hurt. He growled,unching himself toward Jan with his weapons sweeping out.
¡°The first tier should be almost the same.¡± Theo quaffed a Health Potion, the burns on his forearm fading in an instant.
Salire blinked from the ground, her face covered in soot. ¡°Throk isn¡¯t going to be happy we blew his equipment up.¡±
¡°We can afford to scrap ten old stills.¡± Theo kicked at the pile of Drogramathi Iron. ¡°Small-scale tests are going to work best for now. That might just be the key.¡±
¡°It wouldn¡¯t make the first step pressurization, would it?¡±
[Wisdom of the Soul]
It is impossible to conclude what the Tero¡¯gal Alchemy Core would want for a first stage of distition. More than likely, your focus should be on controlling variables before or during the distition process.
¡°My magic cheating pop-up said we should control variables before or during.¡± Theo shrugged, notpletely sure what it wanted him to do.
¡°Perhaps we can use something to draw out the impurities beforehand?¡±
Theo thought about that for a moment. His Drogramath Distillery Specialty changed to Tero¡¯gal Distillery Specialty, and the description changed with it. If only perfection was epted during the process, she might have been right. But he found it hard to reprogram his thought process. He had been using Drogramath¡¯s alchemy since he arrived, and had only entertained the other forms of alchemy to distribute recipes to others.
¡°When you¡¯re creating a salve with the standard form of alchemy, you create and bind a paste with the reagent. Let¡¯s move forward assuming our reagents are twice as vtile, and our skills won¡¯t help us.¡±
¡°Worth a shot,¡± Salire said, withdrawing ingredients from her inventory.
For the first test, they added more iron shavings than they needed. The resulting explosion was less impressive than thest, so they tried it again. This time, they used hunks of iron, rather than shavings. Ground Spiny Swamp Thistle Root went into the still with Purified Water and an equal chunk of iron. The idea was to use the iron as a gathering agent, rather than a catalyst. When this also caused an explosion, the pair took a break for discussion and theories.
Theo listened to the ideas Salire had, but found his attention drawn far in the distance. He felt something, although it was difficult to describe. He dismissed the chill running up his spine, turning back to his work. The working theory was that Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy would be more ¡®perfect¡¯ than Drogramath¡¯s version. That meant impurities had to be removed before or during the first phase of distition.
¡°Reduce the amount of material going into the still,¡± Theo said, pushing himself to his feet. He worked a knot out of his back by stretching, tilting his head to either side until he heard a satisfying pop. ¡°We¡¯ll introduce iron at a two-to-one ratio.¡±
¡°Think it¡¯ll work?¡±
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Theo kicked the remnants of Throk¡¯s old still, searching until he found what he was looking for. He picked up the chunk of iron, holding it out for Salire to see. ¡°Chunks of crystalized impurities gathered on the iron.¡±
Salire pursed her lips, her nose almost pressing against the iron as she looked at it. ¡°What about a bunch of small iron balls, instead of one big one? More surface area, maybe?¡±
¡°That¡¯s worth a shot. This might lead to problems, but I have a feeling this might work. We just need to find a bunch of¡¡± Theo trailed off, watching as Salire withdrew exactly what they needed from her inventory.
¡°From an unrted project,¡± Salire said, waving him away. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±
¡°Suddenly, I¡¯m more worried.¡±
If Theo and Salire were right, this would be the biggest roadblock for their new form of alchemy. It would produce a lot of alchemical waste, and the yields would be quite small. Whatever essence they could squeeze from the stills would be a tenth of what they could produce before. But the alchemist always had a problem with the amount of potions they were cranking out. Perhaps this was the system¡¯s way of hamstringing the process, removing an unfair advantage Drogramath had on the world.
When the still exploded the next time, Theo got more insight than he had expected. Salire ran to get one of the junior artificers to make adjustments to their remaining stills. Theo flicked the man a silver coin when he was done, going over the change. The floor for the heat had been lowered significantly. It could go as low as a gentle heat, barely above room temperature, while only going as high as before. His thoughts were of a slow heating. A ¡®perfect¡¯ heating.
¡°It isn¡¯t exploding,¡± Salire said, hiding behind a tree.
The mixture contained iron balls in ratio of ten-to-one to the mashed reagent. The water was still at a one-to-one ratio with the reagent, but the quantity was minimal. Five units for this first test. Theo started the heat at just below the ambient temperature around them, which was decently hot, even with the Season of Fire fading.
¡°This is the boring part,¡± Theo said, kneeling to check the gauges on the artifice. He had it set to increase the heat over the next five hours, finally boiling at the end of that time. ¡°You¡¯re following, right?¡±
¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m not sure I like it.¡± Salire sighed. ¡°Our Drogramath power stabilized the mixture before. Now we have to rely on skill.¡±
Theoughed to himself. They had all the tools and experience they needed to figure this out. Both had an intimate understanding of Drogramath¡¯s alchemy. They had crafted countless potions, worked the stills for days at a time, allowing them to understand the inner workings of the art. This might have been a different process, but it was close enough. The alchemist himself had run into a problem with alchemical waste while learning how pressurization worked. This was an adjacent problem he was certain he could solve.
¡°The theory is simple. We need to throw out all concepts of imperfection. Anything that would result in a less pure run has to go. In theory, we could run a batch of perfect reagents from the wild. Except those are extremely rare.¡±
¡°Makes sense,¡± Salire said, still unwilling toe out from behind the tree. ¡°I think.¡±
It didn¡¯t have to make sense. They just had to keep trying until something worked. The longer they tried different things, the more they could narrow down what the exact problem was. Thanks to Throk¡¯s artifices, they didn¡¯t need to watch the still as it worked. Salire headed off to take stock of their potion supply, issuing an order to the town to ration them for now. Theo left the notes to her, since he had no interest in it. He enjoyed the end result of the book, just not the work that went into it.
Theo took his break from alchemy to take care of something else that was important. Both his governance and Toru¡¯aun cores were important to daily life. He didn¡¯t use his Toru¡¯aun Mage¡¯s Core often, but when he did the applications were important. With her power fading in the core by the day, he needed to take care of it. While he was at it, he would fix up his governance core. Although there was likely to be almost no changes to that one. Hopefully.
Theo made his way to the temple, finding more people than ever praying there. He assumed the altar and got to work on his cores, starting with his Drogramath Governance Core. This one seemed the most willing to change of all the others he had worked with. It epted the power from Tero¡¯gal, evolving without an issue. When the message appeared, there were almost no changes on the core itself besides the name. The only skill that evolved was the Order From Chaos skill, which changed to something slightly better.
[Subtle Stockpiles]
Tero¡¯gal Governance Skill
Epic
Creates a Consumable Stockpile within the nation¡¯s storage. Those with permission may grant others ess to this stockpile, allowing them to withdraw designated consumables from the stockpile while within the nation.
Effect:
A Consumable is added to your Kingdom Core.
While it was unclear what the system considered a consumable, this was an upgrade. Because potions were absolutely a consumable, this just added more things they could toss in that storage. The alchemist moved on, working on evolving his mage core. This one was less willing to change. When it did, the entire ss changed. Theo wiped his brow after the message appeared, feeling something within him change on a fundamental level.
¡°This is gonna be a lot of reading,¡± Theo muttered to himself, pulling the ss core up.
[Tero¡¯gal Mage¡¯s Core]
Unique
Mage Core
Bound
4 Slots
Level 29 (93%)
A mage core given to the followers of Tero¡¯gal. This time of magecraft finds its roots in the Illusion Mage ss, adding elements of reactive wards based on alchemy principles. Willpower may be woven into your spells, increasing their effectiveness.
Innate Skills:
[Sensitive Weaving]
Effect:
[Ward Mastery]
[Willpower-Fueled Ward Propagation]
[Sympathetic Effects]
[Intuitive Nodes]
The only skill that hadn¡¯t experienced a change was Intuitive Nodes, since that was a Tero¡¯gal skill already. Looking back on it, Theo should have realized this was the way forward for him. When all his skills began showing up rted to Tero¡¯gal, he should have noticed he was soaking up a lot of the energy from his old realm. He went down the line, looking at how every skill had changed.
[Ward Mastery]
Tero¡¯gal Mage Skill
Legendary
Subverts the nature of your wards, allowing you greater ess to effects and the ability to ce them on any item, person, monster, surface, etc.
Effect:
When casting your warding spells, you may apply them to anything.
Understanding the property of an alchemy effect allows you to add that effect to a ward.
This skill had evolved from Surface Application, and the change was wee. It was less specialized in the description, but Theo doubted the effect would be much different. The restrictions on the length his wards wouldst on various surfaces was gone. It made direct mentions to alchemy this time, which might allow him ess to more powerful effects.
[Willpower-Fueled Ward Propagation]
Tero¡¯gal Demon Mage Skill
Rare
Infuse your wards with willpower, creating a feedback loop.
Effect:
Increases the length of your wards based on willpower.
The change here was simple. Instead of fueling his wards tost longer in general, he now fed them his willpower. Which meant his wards wouldst forever. This evolution was an upgrade no matter how he looked at it.
[Sympathetic Effects]
Tero¡¯gal Demon Mage Skill
Epic
Allows the user to link the effects of their spells.
Effect:
Your spells can now be linked to work together. This operates outside of the spell crafting system, and must be done by an ad hoc basis.
Linked spells will produce new effects, increased durations, instability, etc.
This skill had evolved from the Linked Wards skill, which had previously allowed him to connect two wards. Now he could connect two spells, not just wards. That brought something up in Theo¡¯s mind. This core wasn¡¯t focused on just wards. It had a specialty in wards, but if the descriptions were urate, he could now cast spells like a normal mage. Perhaps a mage fueled by willpower, rather than hard work and study, but a mage nheless. The alchemist had a sudden need to cast a bunch of overpowered spells.
¡°Perhaps best if I move somewhere safe,¡± Theo said, looking around at the people praying in the temple. ¡°Can¡¯t just go exploding the temple.¡±
6.45 - Absurd Duration
6.45 - Absurd Duration
¡°What gives?¡± Tresk asked, folding her arms and pouting.
Standing in the Dreamwalk, Theo looked over the imagined space, his eyes tracing the lines of the hills outside Broken Tusk. He could see his golem-operated farm here, although none of his creations were working. The area seemed calmer than it normally was, as the buzz of activity they normally experienced was absent. He felt no urgency to get things done, instead experiencing only the soothing effects of the dream.
¡°They finally caught on to us,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. He wasn¡¯t surprised. The new gods wouldn¡¯t let this fly forever. He had expected them to mp down on it sooner, but knew they weren¡¯t at full strength. ¡°I can¡¯t use my willpower exploit.¡±
¡°I just want to see some dragons.¡±
¡°The dragons you make are always a little weird, anyway. Even with Pogo as reference.¡±
Tresk narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Weird? How?¡±
¡°Too many toes,¡± Theo said, dismissing the subject with a wave. ¡°This is good, though.¡±
¡°Yeah, we love the new gods. Praise the new gods and whatever. I¡¯m just worried about when my Zaul cores go poof.¡±
¡°Not gonna happen. I think he¡¯s making a run for the new pantheon. They¡¯re gonna call him Shadow or something like that. Since they don¡¯t use their real names.¡±¡°Hah! Gottem. Alright, guess I¡¯m fighting regr monsters. Lame! Wait¡¡±
The Dreamwalk shuddered under their feet. The dark entity she had fought above Qavell came into view, looming menacingly in the sky. Without dy, Tresk mounted Alex and took to the sky. Theo sighed. Why would the system allow her to summon that but not a dragon? Probably because she was attempting to make her own version of a dragon, rather than the real one. She had summoned a vision of the dark entity that was close enough to the real thing. Of course, she was using the Tara¡¯hek Union skill. It made Theo feel funny, but offered no other negative effects.
Turning away from the battle after watching for a bit¡ªAlex¡¯s dragon-like features were bing more visible by the day¡ªTheo turned to his alchemy studies. Tero¡¯gal¡¯s form of alchemy was already turning out to be very weird.
As expected, the Dreamwalk was restrictive again. No amount of willpower would allow him to overpower the dream, forcing him to stick to only the things he had done before. It was an understandable restriction, considering how much they had already exploited it. Instead, he turned his attention to what he knew and his sharpened instincts. Tero¡¯gal didn¡¯t just generate a form of alchemy that was aligned with the ideals of the Throneworld, it took into ount other things.
Drogramath¡¯s alchemy was never meant to produce industrial quantities of potions. The designer thought his people would be on the run for their entire lives, never settling down. The system was correcting itself, and Theo doubted this would be thest time. For now, all Theo could do was figure out how his new style worked.
¡°Go over what you know. Work from there.¡±
Theo¡¯s wisdom told him he was already on the right track. He imagined a 50-unit version of Throk¡¯s stills¡ªone that he had made for very small batches. It filled half-way with mashed reagents at a thought, filling the rest of the way with Purified Water. The thing about Tero¡¯gal Alchemy was how sensitive it was. Water was inert, as far as alchemy went, but heating the mixture had caused explosive problems. Assuming heat was the only problem was shortsighted, though.
As if taking a page from Theo¡¯s own thought process, the system and Tero¡¯gal had designed a form of alchemy that took many factors into ount. Quantity was the most important. Adding too many reagents into one ce would cause an explosion. Next came the heat. High heat runs were out of the question. Only the lowest possible heat¡ªbelow boiling at first¡ªwould work. That heat needed to be run over a very long period. Next came the unseen interaction within the still itself.
The interaction of heat with impurities was unknown, so he couldn¡¯t test it here. He could only make theories. As the heat increased, more impurities were released. Those impurities were pulled from the mix by the blocks of iron, allowing the water to mix with the mashed essence. It didn¡¯t seem to matter if the iron stayed at the bottom of the mixture, but that was fine.
¡°So, that¡¯s how it works,¡± Theo said, nodding as he was confident in himself. He couldn¡¯t test it, but this was good enough for now. Reagents, water, an iron block, slow heat, and small batches. That was it. ¡°Then we have another problem¡¡±
Theo reached inward, feeling his Tero¡¯gal Mage¡¯s Core. This was the core most simr to his Toru¡¯aun core. It was a standard mage¡¯s core specializing in runes. The Dreamwalk allowed him to practice with his wards. He could reproduce all the things he had done before with no exceptions. Unlike his previous core, it was much easier to form spells ad hoc. And the Willpower-Fueled Ward skill was powerful. He applied a ward to a nearby stone, inspecting the effect.
[Lesser Reveal]
[Advanced Ward]
Creates a reactive field of [Reveal]. Field only activates when enemies are detected in range.
Trigger:
Detect Enemy
Duration:
9537 days.
¡°That¡¯s not normal.¡±
The first time Theo had cast the Lesser Reveal ward, itsted a day. With unending willpower, the duration was stupid. Willpower added a bit to the power of wards without skills, but it influenced the size most of all. He created a goblin, watching as a bubble sprung from the rock. It epassed most of Broken Tusk, which was another improvement over the sphere it had originally created. But that wasn¡¯t new. Theo had used a defensive ward to repel an entire city, even if it almost killed him doing so.
Of all his cores, his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core needed no attention. Aligning it with Tero¡¯gal would give him nothing. Theo slotted the core, reaching out with his will. Thendscape changed in an instant, tons of dirt mounding up into a pile. He pushed the earth around as though ying with sand, feeling almost no strain on his willpower.
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¡°This would have been useful when Qavell was falling into the ocean¡¡±
Since the Dreamwalk was being weird, Theo felt as though he had a moment to breathe. He realized how much this ce had be another dimension where he worked. Instead of probing into his skills, he headed to the coast. The emerald waters of the baypped against his feet. The towers he had helped create loomed overhead, standing as sentinels against whatever threat Broken Tusk faced. Qavell sat in the distance, lording over the coastline.
Theo had never earned the right to see that ce before it was moved. He sat on the beach, allowing the water top against his feet as he gazed out to the ocean. This would be a rxing trip to the Dreamwalk. For once.
¡°I get it,¡± Twist groaned, pushing himself to a seated position. ¡°How many shots do you have, anyway?¡±
Jan watched as the masked elf probed at his chest, feeling the ces where the bullets had pierced. ¡°Do you remember what you said to me?¡±
Twist sighed, falling t onto his back. Through the one hole in his mask, he gazed skyward. Rain sttered against his mask. The wet mud beneath his body soaked through his tattered clothes. Jan wouldn¡¯t give this up until the elf admitted he was wrong. Although he had no intention of killing Twist, he wanted to inflict some pain. As if acting like a judge, he deemed the elf worth of punishment, not death.
¡°I try to think of you as little as possible,¡± Twist said. ¡°When did you get so strong?¡±
¡°Do you remember?¡±
¡°Let me think¡ We were standing at the Gate in Boston when the monsters came out. You said something about the biggest betrayal of your life. Was it a blood oath you swore? I can¡¯t remember.¡±
¡°I said I would hurt you,¡± Jan said, stepping over the prone elf. He leveled his enhanced shotgun again, putting pressure on the trigger. ¡°I was going to make you pay. Why did you sneak into the heavens? Why did you seek an audience with Death?¡±
¡°He promised me something.¡±
¡°There exists no being in the universe more insane than Kuzan, you idiot. He was a ghost in the other world. Dead for how many thousands of years?¡±
¡°Three-thousand, I think.¡±
¡°You saw what the other version of Death did and thought this one would be different. You¡¯re not that stupid, Twist.¡±
Jan didn¡¯t need to see the elf¡¯s face to know he was smiling. He tossed a dagger from nowhere. It embedded itself in Jan''s shoulder, but he didn¡¯t flinch. The weak poison on it wouldn¡¯t affect him anymore than the rain falling on their heads.
¡°You¡¯re not him,¡± Twist said. ¡°You¡¯ll never be him.¡±
¡°Never imed to be,¡± Jan said, pulling the trigger again. Twist grunted at the low-power impact. He could end it here, but that wasn¡¯t good enough. Payment was due in blood. ¡°What did you want from Death?¡±
Twist coughed, pulling himself into a seated position. His clothes were ruined, but at least his mask held firm. ¡°He has the souls of my people.¡±
¡°No, he doesn¡¯t. He wasn¡¯t Death in the old world. He wasn¡¯t Death after the change¡ªhe doesn¡¯t have them. They were ced in the queue, just like the rest of us. When that bird-guy put a stop to the war, he only paused it.¡±
¡°What are you suggesting?¡± Twist asked.
¡°There¡¯s only one person on this bloodthirsty enough to help me get my revenge.¡±
¡°That¡¯sughable. Who couldn¡¯t you kill on your own?¡±
¡°Come on,¡± Jan said, extending his hand. ¡°I think I¡¯ve shot you enough for today.¡±
¡°I hope there won¡¯t be more shootings in the future,¡± Twist said, being pulled to his feet.
¡°The damage you caused to Earth was minimal. Shockingly,¡± Jan said, patting Twist on the back. ¡°My nephew told me all about what you did before then. One sin isn¡¯t enough to condemn you to death.¡±
¡°How many are, then?¡±
¡°About five,¡± Jan said, turning away. He could feel Twist¡¯s murderous intent, but it faded. ¡°Come on. We¡¯re taking a trip to see the elves. Leon has some questions to answer.¡±
¡°Okay. I¡¯m with you, now,¡± Twist said, jogging to catch up. ¡°I¡¯ve never killed a ghost.¡±
Salire took notes as they inspected the still in the morning. The slow heating was going well, and the iron block inside was collecting unwanted material. The theories Theo had formed, along with the tests he and Salire had already done seemed true. But there were a lot of intricate parts that needed to be sorted out.
¡°How long do you think this will take?¡± Salire asked.
¡°This is just a test,¡± Theo said, inspecting the essence in the sk. The condenser worked fine, it was just the still part they needed to work on. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have everything down yet.¡±
¡°At least the back end is working fine,¡± Salire said, flicking the condenser coil. A drop of essence fell into the sk.
¡°Let''s get a few orders in with Throk. Get me one that has a spinning paddle of iron in the middle, one with a copper paddle, both of the previous but with a pressurized tank, and one that jiggles.¡±
¡°Jiggles?¡± Salire asked, writing what he said down, but shrugging. ¡°Whatever you say, boss.¡±
Theo turned the still off, watching as Salire bounded down the stairs. This version was very close to what they needed, but it was missing something. ¡°Hey, Salire!¡± Theo shouted down the stairs. ¡°Tell Throk to make like¡ twenty versions. Just whatever he can think of to move the contents around, heat them in different ways, add pressure, and so on.¡±
¡°Got it!¡± Salire said, digging into the money box. ¡°He¡¯s gonna need a serious bribe!¡±
Once Theo was satisfied that the still was off, he headed out. There was a rental merchant on the first floor, but there wouldn¡¯t be many sales. While they had a few things on hand, almost everything had gone into reserve for the town. Until they had a reliable way to make more potions, selling them was the least of his worries. Thankfully, his ie stream didn¡¯t cease with the potions. His ventures throughout town would allow him to toss gold coins around just as he had done before.
Theo headed through Xol¡¯sa¡¯s portal, finding both him and Zarali on the second floor. He tried to turn around when he saw them nning for the wedding, but was unable to escape.
¡°Theo!¡± Xol¡¯sa shouted. ¡°I have something for you.¡±
Zarali rolled her eyes, going back to diagrams of the venue. She grumbled to herself.
¡°What is it?¡± Theo asked, praying to whatever new god would listen.
¡°Research for your problem. Come on,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, gesturing up the stairs.
¡°Don¡¯t be too long!¡± Zarali shouted. ¡°Also, Theo¡ How is my brother?¡±
¡°Too much to exin,¡± Theo said, shrugging. ¡°He¡¯s kinda¡ the leader in Tero¡¯gal, now. Yeah, it¡¯s weird. I¡¯ll take you the next time I go.¡±
¡°I¡¯m too busy,¡± Zarali said, waving him off. ¡°I just wanted to make sure he was alive.¡±
Dronon were brutal. Theo headed up the stairs with Xol¡¯sa, finding an endless scatter of books strewn about the room. The wizard was far too excited about this.
¡°So, you¡¯re aware that most records from the early days of the world are gone, right?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
¡°Of course,¡± Theo said, looking over the books. Most were written innguages he didn¡¯t know, but he spotted a few scribed in Cyrilic. ¡°The Khahari?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. With Khahar gone, they¡¯re giving up some of their secrets. I suppose that was an order¡ or something. Anyway, there are some interesting mentions of those giant crystals we saw with my people.¡± Xol¡¯sa grabbed four books, setting them out next to each other. ¡°You can read this script, right? The Sacred Language of the Khahari?¡±
¡°Yeah, this is Russian from my world. Khahar thought it was funny to pretend like it was a sacrednguage.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t see the humor. Anyway, it took me a while to learn thenguage. But they recorded the time when the Bara¡¯thier left the world. It was early in this world¡¯s life. Even before the First Ascension War.¡±
¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Theo said, reading over the sections Xol¡¯sa had marked. ¡°Wait, they knew the method they used to move the shards?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. Khahar left behind the recipe to ensnare the Great Shards.¡±
It wasn¡¯t asplicated as Theo had expected, but there was more information about those shards. He read through the books, even after Zarali was shouting downstairs. Xol¡¯sa stood there, waiting for Theo to reach the good part.
¡°Your people didn¡¯t send themselves adrift on their own,¡± Theo said, looking up at the space elf.
¡°They certainly didn¡¯t. It seems the various dronon races had as much interest in leaving.¡±
6.46 - Shadow
6.46 - Shadow
The Great Shards were more than just giant crystals that looked pretty. They were massive lodestones that worked to stabilize the world¡¯s energy. Without them, the ascendants could do whatever they wanted to rewrite the rules of the system. Bend them, anyway. They soaked mortal energy, preventing the worst of the dungeons from happening, and acted as a regtory system. With them gone came the thrones, which was the system¡¯s way of putting things into bnce.
Xol¡¯sa left Theo with the books, not willing to risk his life anymore. To pull the shards back, they only needed a snare and a beacon. The snare would allow the shard to travel through the void, and the beacon would tell it where to go. That part was simple. The next step wasn¡¯t. Each shard was coded to a region. They would need to figure out which shard went where before even attempting to bring them back.
Which meant Theo had to go to the creepy elf world again. He shivered just thinking about it. As he had memorized the contents of the books, he left them there and descended the stairs. Xol¡¯sa and Zarali were once again going over their ns. He almost didn¡¯t want to ask.
¡°After the wedding, I¡¯ll need your help,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you can make what I need.¡±
¡°Only after you determine where to put the damned crystals,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, crossing out arge section on a piece of parchment. Zarali gave him a scandalized look. ¡°We don¡¯t need music.¡±
¡°We most certainly do.¡±
¡°If you can find a single man, woman, child, or monster within the alliance that can hold a tune on anything, I¡¯ll concede the point.¡±
¡°Fine.¡±
Theo slipped toward the stairs, ready to head out. The couple argued, and he snuck away without issue. Breathing a sigh of relief, he headed through the portal and back into Broken Tusk. He counted the things he still needed to do off. Get the shards to save the world or whatever, save Xol¡¯sa¡¯s people, upgrade some buildings, and fix his alchemy process. He had no desire to travel to the creepy world today, so turned his attention to his buildings instead. Something fluttered in his chest as he leaned against the monolith for support.¡°He has that look in his eyes,¡± Sarisa said, emerging from the shadows.
¡°I think he¡¯s having an episode,¡± Rowan said, emerging to support Theo. ¡°Are you good?¡±
Theo clutched at his chest, feeling a strange sense flow over him. It was as though someone was cackling far in the distance. A mad cackle that sent a chill up his spine. A momentter, a message appeared with some useful information.
[Core Evolution]
Your [Zaul Shadowspirit Core] has evolved. You cannot ept or decline this evolution.
¡°That was unsurprising,¡± Theo said, taking a steady breath. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so original, Zaul.¡±
Theo inspected his new core. This waspletely unsurprising.
[Shadow¡¯s Spirit Core]
Unique
UNDEFINED Core
Bound
2 Slots
Level 9 (99%)
Sneaky, Sneaky! Yes, you guessed it. I have infiltrated the ranks of the true gods. Brace yourself, Theo.
Innate Skills:
[Spirit Weaving]
Effect:
[Shadow Wrap]
¡°Never change, you insane man,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. Instead of doing anything interesting with the core¡¯s change, he just added some text that put him on edge.
¡°What happened?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°Zaul ascended to the new pantheon. He¡¯s a true god, now. Sent me a creepy message through the description of his core¡ of all things.¡±
Theo unequiped the core, adding it to his inventory. Instead, he ced the Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core in its spot.
¡°What? Don¡¯t want a god spying on you?¡± Rowan asked,ughing to himself. ¡°No seriously, can you spy on me with the core you gave me?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think I can spy on you. But I haven¡¯t put much effort into it. But when Zaul gives you a core, you should always assume he did so for some purpose. I¡¯m not sure the years have treated him well.¡±
Trusting Zaul was getting harder by the day. The core he gifted Theo was meant to keep him out of the prying eyes of the ascendants. With them gone, he didn¡¯t have to worry. The gods could likely pierce the veil it created, even if it had other uses. For now, he would take it slow. Tresk would refuse to remove her evolved cores, so she could be the tester. For now, he wanted to take his mind off of everything by messing around with his buildings.
¡°Which building do we like the least?¡± Theo asked, considering which to test on.
¡°The manor,¡± Sarisa said, pursing her lips. ¡°No, just kidding. Wait. Stop.¡±
¡°We love the manor,¡± Rowan said, jogging after Theo. ¡°My bed is sofy.¡±
¡°This is just a test. I doubt anything bad will happen,¡± Theo said, approaching the exterior wall of his manor. ¡°Why not? If it burns down or something, we can sleep elsewhere. But we can¡¯t test this on critical buildings like the smelter or the mine.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to align the building with your realm, right?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°With my Throneworld, yeah. Why not the manor first? Any aligned upgrade evolutions would be normal. Right?¡±
¡°How would we know what¡¯s normal with you?¡± Sarisa shook her head. ¡°You always do weird crap no one can understand.¡±
Theo let the power of Tero¡¯gal flow through him, soaking into the wall of the manor. Sarisa was right, though. There was no proof this would even work, only his intuition. But the way the building soaked the energy, adding it to the seed core, told him this would work. The amount of energy the building wanted was immense. A conduit formed between the alchemist and the building, siphoning that power and adding it to the core. The building rocked, swaying from side-to-side as though drunk off the power.
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¡°That¡¯spletely normal. Yep.¡± Rowan walked to the other side of the street, as though the building would topple over at any moment.
¡°I have faith in our fearless leader,¡± Sarisa said, hands on her hips as she stared up at the manor defiantly. ¡°It was an honor to serve you, sir.¡±
¡°Oh, stop being dramatic. The core is already soaked with Tero¡¯gal energy. It just needs to be pushed over the edge.¡±
A system message appeared. Almost nothing about the building had changed. Theo read the message.
[Building Evolution!]
Your [Manor] has evolved into a [Tero¡¯gal Manor].
The [Service Competence] and [Endless Comfort] upgrades have evolved.
¡°Well, it¡¯s done,¡± Theo called back to Rowan. ¡°You can stop cowering.¡±
¡°Really? Just like that?¡± Sarisa asked.
Theo inspected the building.
[Tero¡¯gal Manor]
Owners: Theo Spencer, Tresk
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 20 (13%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Tero¡¯gal Dreamcloud]
[Expansive Gardens]
[Bonus Dining]
[Subtle Service]
Nothing special, as expected. The name of the building had changed, and some of the timber on the ster exterior looked darker. Two upgrades had changed. He could also feel the connection the building had to his Throneworld. It was as though a string had been tied between the building and Tero¡¯gal. Theo inspected the Tero¡¯gal Dreamcloud upgrade.
[Tero¡¯gal Dreamcloud]
Rxing in your manor provides extremefort. Sleeping within your manor grants those without ess to the Dreamwalk a localized, weaker version of that effect.
Oh, this was good. Rowan and Sarisa could experience the delight of the Dreamwalk. ¡°Examine that Tero¡¯gal Dreamcloud upgrade.¡±
¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m sleeping outside,¡± Rowan said.
¡°You¡¯re being such a baby!¡± Sarisa shouted. ¡°I want to experience the nightmare of never having restful sleep again.¡±
¡°The sleep provided by the Dreamwalk is beyond restorative, it¡ª¡±
¡°Nerd!¡± Sarisa shouted. ¡°We get it. The Dreamwalk is cool.¡±
¡°For someone who epted a Tero¡¯gal core, you¡¯re too afraid of the manor. This is perfectly safe,¡± Theo said, pping the side of his manor. That didn¡¯t convince Rowan. He moved on, inspecting the Subtle Service upgrade.
[Subtle Service]
Workers with servant-based cores will feel no fatigue while performing their tasks while within the manor while also gaining increased experience.
This was slightly better than the old one. It now made it so his ¡®servants¡¯ wouldn¡¯t get fatigued while doing their duties. Theo didn¡¯t know how useful that would have been for them, but it was there.
¡°That one doesn¡¯t change your dreams,¡± Theo said. ¡°Got a problem with it, Rowan?¡±
¡°No, that one is fine.¡±
¡°You¡¯re such a baby,¡± Sarisa said, making a rude gesture at her brother. ¡°So, what does this get us?¡±
Theo shrugged. We¡¯re not at risk of losing the buildings because they¡¯re not aligned.¡± Theo paused for a moment, looking toward the town square in the distance. ¡°But if building cores can be aligned, so can town and kingdom cores.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to align the entire nation with your world, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sarisa asked.
That was one option. Theo¡¯s n to move this entire region into his world wouldn¡¯t be easy. Since his willpower exploit was cut off, it might be harder, but he had gained quite a lot of that. Likely enough to move it when he wanted. The only thing stopping him were the gods. But now there were rules. Rules that everyone seemed eager to follow. If his nation and his town were aligned with his world, he had a im to bring them along. The way of life of those within the alliance would continue. Forever, if he had anything to say about it.
Theo had to be careful about the big steps he took from here on out. His original purpose as the Dreamwalker was to find holes in the rules and plug them. He had only taken one action aligned with his station so far by sending Twist back to the mortal realm. But moving an entire region went far beyond his station. He needed that connection.
¡°Yep. We¡¯re gonna align an entire continent.¡±
¡°Is it really an entire continent anymore?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°I mean, Fenian shredded it like tender wolf meat.¡±
¡°Call it a part of a continent, then.¡±
¡°I think I will.¡±
Theo lingered near his manor for a while before Salire came approaching from the distance. The traffic on the east-west road had been light today, making the alignment of the manor a quiet affair.
¡°I got the order in with Throk,¡± Salire said, offering a half-smile. ¡°He was pretty mad.¡±
¡°Until you showed him the gold, right?¡±
¡°Until I showed him the gold,¡± Salire repeated with a nod. ¡°What are you guys doing out here?¡±
¡°Aligning buildings with realms, apparently,¡± Rowan said.
¡°Not realms. Worlds,¡± Sarisa corrected.
¡°Oh, I don¡¯t care, devil-woman!¡± Rowan shouted, looking at the building with more fear than ever. ¡°You can get trapped in your own doomed dreamscape. I¡¯m sleeping in the garden.¡±
¡°I think I missed a few things,¡± Salire said, looking pleasantly confused.
¡°We can align buildings to Tero¡¯gal. I was thinking of trying the greenhouses next.¡±
¡°Oh. Interesting. What would that do?¡± Salire asked.
Theo shrugged. He really didn¡¯t know, but they now had greenhouses that were producing too many reagents. The thought that the system could change the way greenhouses worked had entered his mind, but he had already checked and they were no different. Reagents were still growing at absurd rates, and there seemed to be nothing that would stop them. But the system wasn¡¯t some dumb series of instructions that fired off. It was intelligent enough to put a stop to the exploits they had been using until now, and that might be one of them.
Since they had enough greenhouses, there was no reason not to try. Sarisa and Rowan returned to the shadows while Theo and Salire headed off to the greenhouses. They plucked all the nts from one building, treating it as a fresh start. The alchemist leaned against the building, pressing his hand into the side as he flooded it with Tero¡¯gal energy. It took a while, but an interesting message appeared after a time as the building went semi-transparent.
[Building Evolution!]
Your [Greenhouse] has evolved into a [Tero¡¯gal Greenhouse]. This is an aspected evolution, which requires further input.
Please select which known reagent you wish to align this building to:
Spiny Swamp Thistle Root
me Rose
¡
The list went on, detailing every reagent Theo knew about. Evolving a greenhouse turned it into a building specializing in one reagent. The alchemist had to think about this for a moment, but a Wisdom of the Soul message appeared, extrapting what he knew.
¡°The resulting reagents are going to be more pure,¡± Theo said. ¡°But we can only put one reagent in each greenhouse.¡±
¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Salire said, rubbing her hand on the building¡¯s side. ¡°I mean, do we have much of an option here? We can assume Tero¡¯gal is smart enough to make herbalism and alchemy work together.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a great point. Why don¡¯t we go with our healing root first? It only makes sense,¡± Theo said.
Salire nodded her agreement. While aspects of alchemy had changed, his new Tero¡¯gal Herbalist Core carried over the knowledge he had of reagents. All the properties Theo knew were still there. He selected the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root and stood back. The change within the greenhouse was immediate, the building visibly shrinking before them. After some rumbling, it calmed down. He inspected the resulting building.
[Tero¡¯gal Greenhouse]
Owner: Theo Spencer
Faction: The Soutnds Alliance
Reagent: Spiny Swamp Thistle Root
Level: 20 (29%)
¡°Where did the upgrades go?¡± Theo asked.
Salire shrugged, inspecting the building. ¡°It still has a level. That¡¯s weird.¡±
Entering the greenhouse, Theo was surprised to see only four plots. Salire had already withdrawn the reagent nts from her inventory and was nting them in the soil. Tero¡¯gal was all about making quality potions, rather thanrge amounts. That was his thoughts on the matter, anyway. Time would tell if that was true. A golem lumbered through the threshold, scooting past Theo to inspect the new nt. It wasn¡¯t happy with the way Salire had piled the soil and corrected it.
¡°He doesn¡¯t think you did a good enough job nting that thing.¡± Theo tried not tough.
¡°Yes, I don¡¯t think your golems like me. Should we change the other buildings?¡±
¡°No. I¡¯d like to wait and see.¡±
Theo was thinking of the reagents he grew in his greenhouses as low-quality more as the days went on. He looked through the ss of the greenhouse, spotting a dreadful sight. Several people were carrying trellises covered in flowers down the road. Like a soldier on the eve of battle, the alchemist prepared himself for theing events. Broken Tusk would have its first wedding soon enough.
¡°Hallow save us all,¡± Theo muttered, leaving the greenhouse.
6.47 - Hazardous Working Conditions
Theo stood outside Throk¡¯s workshop the next day, gawking at the array of alchemy equipment arrayed there. The marshling himself stood among the field, hands on his hips as he red at the alchemist.
¡°You wanted some equipment? Here ya go.¡±
¡°Do you sleep?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No.¡±
The equipment ranged in function, but was all under the 50-unit requirement. Theo counted twenty pieces, each with a note describing what they did. He realized Throk didn¡¯t make each item here. He had a small army of apprentices that helped him make things. While Thim had taken over the cksmith, it freed the old marshling up for other tasks. Combined with those apprentices, he seemed more like an artifice designed to create artifices. Never-ending and as much of a genius as always.
Theo flicked Throk another gold coin.
¡°Your patronage is appreciated,¡± Throk said, biting the coin and pocketing it. ¡°Now go away.¡±
Theo gathered each piece of equipment into his inventory, clearing some junk out of the Tara¡¯hek shared inventory before moving off. There was too much equipment here to test in one day, so he would focus on working with the ones he was confident would work. The ones with the paddles would likely work best, but there were several variations on the ones he had requested.
Crossing through the town square, Theo winced as he saw the decorations going up. He had nothing against weddings or Xol¡¯sa and Zarali¡¯s rtionship. He just hadn¡¯te up with anything to say. And he would be expected to say something. Instead of figuring it out now, he buried his head in his work and headed for theb.Salire wasn¡¯t in the shop yet. It hadn¡¯t been opened yet. Theo locked the door behind him as he headed up to the third floor. His lips pulled into a tight line as he crossed the threshold to theb. Unsurprisingly, the still he had been running on the new essence had exploded. Chunks of metal were embedded in the walls. Large gouges were visible on the other equipment. He worked on cleaning up the mess and thinking about what went wrong.
It didn¡¯t take Theo long to reach a conclusion. He found a chunk of iron on the ground. No part of it was exposed, meaning it couldn¡¯t collect anymore of the buildup produced by the essence. Whatever artifice they went with needed to have the capturing system changed regrly, otherwise it would explode. It made no senseing from a Drogramathi method, but this was new ground to cover.
After cleaning theb, Theo withdrew the still he expected to work best. It was a small pot-bellied still, just like the others only in miniature. Hisrge stills could hold 500 units of liquid, making them asrge as a human was tall. Throk¡¯s newest version was tiny, requiring a stand to be essible. But the walls were now much thicker, made of joined tes with heating elements sandwiched between. The paddle that mixed the contents within was made of iron¡ªas requested¡ªand could easily be reced with atch on the bottom.
¡°Throk knows his way around artifices,¡± Theo said, checking the functions on the contraption.
The upgrades were nice, but the still would function much like the others did. They used the artifice shredder to prepare some Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, cing it in the bottom with some water. He used an equal ratio of ten units for both and set the device to work. Of course, Throk had added a one-button approach to the slow heating cycle. He was good at predicting needs.
Once that was running, Theo headed out into the fields behind the Newt and Demon to work with the other devices. He was less confident in them working, but would take anything to improve his knowledge of this new alchemy. The first was the shaker Throk had made¡ªunder Theo¡¯s request. It was a normal still with little arms on the side. When the alchemist pressed one of the many buttons on the base, it shook. Violently.
Theo prepared a mixture and a few blocks of iron, tossing them into the device. He activated the slow-heating method and a gentle shake. The sound of the iron mming against the sides of the interior was awful, but it didn¡¯t immediately explode.
The next interesting artifice was one that spun. Really fast. Theo got dizzy watching the device as it spun, pressing his foot against the side to slow it down after shutting it off. He loaded it up with his mixture and some iron, setting it to work about fifty feet from the first still. How Throk had made it so the body of the still could draw power from the base without visible wires was beyond him. Artificer magic.
Theo started a few more stills, all of which were variants of the first two. They did the same thing as the others, just in different ways. Positioning himself behind a thick Ogre Cypress tree, he waited for a while. A variant of the shaker stills exploded about ten minutes into the test, sending a plume of ck smoke into the air. Shrapnel mmed into the tree, some zipping by with force.
¡°Vertical shaker is too violent,¡± Theo said, nodding to himself.
¡°You realize you look like a crazy person, right?¡± Sarisa asked from behind.
¡°Says the stalker.¡±
¡°You pay me to stalk you.¡± Sarisa huddled up behind the tree. ¡°Also, thatst piece hit rowan.¡±
¡°Just a flesh wound,¡± Rowan retorted.
Theo turned to find Rowan bleeding from the head, prone on the ground. ¡°Feed the poor man a potion. Good god.¡±
¡°They¡¯re too valuable for him.¡±
¡°I¡¯m good. Seriously,¡± Rowan said, standing and falling.
Theo tried hard not to roll his eyes, shooting a message off to Sulvan. His reflex was to also send one to the Ogre Bilgrob, but it was unlikely the man still had his core. Perhaps it had reverted to a regr healing core¡
¡°Put some pressure on his forehead, then,¡± Theo said.
¡°I told him to hide,¡± Sarisa said, pressing a rag into her brother¡¯s head. ¡°But he¡¯s not thinking so well.¡±
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¡°The bugs were biting me,¡± Rowan said, wincing as Sarisa applied pressure.
Theo closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to yell at someone who had just been hit by a piece of flying metal. ¡°You slept outsidest night?¡±
¡°I told you I could. Would.¡±
¡°How about you, Sarisa?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Oh, the Dreamwalk thing was lovely. There¡¯s this elf in town that I like, and we went on a date.¡±
Theo winced, trying not to think of where that went. ¡°How much control did you have over it?¡±
¡°Some. It was more like having a dream I could control, but strange dream logic kept rearing its head.¡±
Anyone sleeping in the manor could enjoy a minor version of the Dreamwalk. That made sense, since dreams were like little realms. Tero¡¯gal started out as a dream¡ Or so Theo thought¡ªhe never actually got to the bottom of that. Leave it to someone like Tresk to want something so bad she made it manifest into an entire world. The power of marshlings was not to be undervalued, as anyone looking at the stills could see.
Of course, there were problems. Another still exploded, sending another wave a shrapnel through the sparsely forested area.
¡°I¡¯m hit!¡± Sarisa shouted, falling to the ground and clutching her shoulder.
¡°Seriously, people!¡± Theo shouted, pressing his hand into the tree. He infused it with a defensive ward that would catch any further bits of flying metal. The ward wanted to expand out, covering a massive area. Theo forced his will on it to create something more like a st shield. ¡°Maybe I should have done that earlier¡¡±
Sarisa groaned, rolling on the ground. ¡°Ya think?¡±
¡°I can see the heavens,¡± Rowan said. ¡°I¡¯ming, Baelthar.¡±
¡°Baelthar isn¡¯t even a god anymore,¡± Theo said, shuffling over to press the cloth into the downed half-ogre¡¯s head.
The sound of heavy footfalls came from a distance, closing in swiftly. Sulvan, who was looking more beefy than normal, came running over with a worried look on his face. ¡°What did you do?¡± he asked, crouching near the injured pair.
¡°Hit them with bits of metal. Not on purpose,¡± Theo said, releasing the cloth on Rowan¡¯s forehead. ¡°Do you have a Hallow core, now?¡±
Sulvan offered him a sly smile. ¡°You¡¯re always ahead of current events, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Light issued from Sulvan¡¯s palms, filling Rowan¡¯s wound. The half-ogre sucked in a breath, shooting to a seated position. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s some spicy healing. Good stuff, Sulvan.¡±
Another still exploded in the distance, mming into the barrier Theo had erected. The shards of metal were held in ce for a moment before falling to the ground. Yeah, he should have done that from the start. It was easy to forget that Sarisa and Rowan were always lurking in the nearby shadows.
¡°No luck with the potions?¡± Sulvan asked, moving to Sarisa. He yanked the bit of metal from her shoulder with exactly no bedside manner and began working on the wound. Sarisa looked as though she was ready to bite him.
¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Theo said.
¡°Just a few more explosions and I won¡¯t have to rush around town again?¡± Sulvan asked, more light spilling from his hands. ¡°I¡¯ll believe it when I see it.¡±
Theo watched the man work, feeling some regret that he got his people injured. This was the danger of the alchemyb being down. Without a person like Sulvan to help, everyday injuries could be deadly. The alchemist was reminded of a time when people in town just dealt with whatever wounds they got. They had no way of healing themselves, so often lived with lifelong injuries that would have been easy to cure. With potions from the capital being so expensive, it was never an option for them.
The potions provided to citizens by the Newt and Demon were sold at rock-bottom prices. But the purpose of theb was never to make a profit. Sulvan¡¯s ability to heal was impressive, though. Both Sarisa and Rowan were back on their feet shortly after Sulvan attended to them. The former inquisitor looked at them with a kind of warmth Theo would have never expected from the man. Not when he was hunting down dronon under the orders of the Burning Eye.
¡°Hey, Sulvan,¡± Theo said, wondering if this was the right time. ¡°You know we left Uharis on the moon, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯m still aware of that situation.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re still good with it?¡±
Sulvan took a moment, rubbing his chin as he collected his thoughts. ¡°I thought what I was doing was the right thing because the grip the Eye had on my mind. Uharis enjoyed the work and his schemes were wide-reaching. Theo, are you aware of how rare teleportation magic is?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t really thought about it.¡±
¡°Can Xol¡¯sa teleport?¡±
¡°He can make a portal between his tower and the town.¡±
¡°But he can¡¯t teleport across the world. Uharis could. He was dangerous, and now he¡¯s mad. My rmendation is to either kill him, or prepare to deal with him in the future.¡±
Sulvan made the statement with such conviction it gave Theo chills. He had taken his vow to ntheir seriously, devoting himself to pacifism and serving the people. Rmending death for anyone was a leap from those vows. The alchemist wouldn¡¯t take the statement lightly. For now, Uharis was trapped on the moon. But if he ever got his hands on a core that allowed him to move through space, there might be problems.
¡°I¡¯ll take that into consideration. Perhaps I can imprison him.¡±
¡°Maybe. Also, do you have any news on Jan? I understand he escaped, but that¡¯s all I know.¡±
¡°You know as much as I do, then.¡± Theo sighed, trying not to think about an Earthling loose in the world like that. ¡°If I had to guess, he¡¯s going to kill Twist. But my unnaturally high wisdom says there¡¯s something more going on.¡±
¡°Such as?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. I never know with you people. There¡¯s always a scheme.¡±
Sulvan tapped his chin. ¡°Isn¡¯t Jan your people?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good point. Well, thanks for your help.¡± Theo pped a hand on Sulvan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You really turned around.¡±
¡°I¡¯m happy to serve my lord, Hallow,¡± Sulvan said with a wink. He headed off, leaving the group behind.
Theo expected another still to explode, but it didn¡¯t. That just meant the first phases of distition were working for those that were running. He needed to put some signs and more barriers in the area to prevent more people from being smacked with flying metal.
¡°Hold on a second,¡± Sarisa said, folding her arms and ring at Theo. ¡°How far can you see into the future?¡±
Theo slipped to the side as Sarisa leveled a punch at his face. Her fist mmed into the tree.
¡°Our boss let us get exploded!¡± Rowan shouted.
¡°You didn¡¯t get exploded. Stop being dramatic. I can only see the future at ces where I¡¯m looking.¡±
¡°But you were looking at the still when it exploded.¡±
¡°Yeah, and I saw I wouldn¡¯t get hit.¡±
¡°That¡¯s okay, buddy,¡± Rowan said, sauntering over. Theo caught his fist before it mmed into his stomach. ¡°Ah, dang. Why did I think that would work.¡±
Theo pat Rowan on the head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not a psychopath.¡±
The other stills seemed stable enough. Theo went around the area, tacking paper to the surrounding trees and setting shaped wards. At least the one within theb was working fine. He didn¡¯t want to take on the responsibility, but it was time to investigate the uing wedding. Rowan and Sarisa marched along behind him.
¡°When the super powerful guy tells you he isn¡¯t a psychopath¡¡± Sarisa started.
¡°He most certainly is,¡± Rowan finished.
6.48 - Back to Square One
6.48 - Back to Square One
Theo looked over his prototype stills, nodding with approval. He had ced many in the clearing, but only three survived. The two variations of the still with the paddle, and the one with the vertical shaking motion. Even with his wisdom, he couldn¡¯t determine why the shaker worked. Perhaps the agitation action allowed the impurities from the mashed reagent totch onto the iron better. Or maybe there was something about the air being mixed into the contents. Looking inside the finished paddle still, he withdrew the paddle, encrusted with alchemical waste.
This stuff was toxic. Neutralizing the crystalline waste was his priority after ordering a full-scale version of the paddle still. He took the two working stills into his inventory, leaving the clearing behind. The alchemist held a vial of essence up to the fading light of the day, sighing. He inspected the item.
[Healing Essence]
[Essence]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Purity: 95%
2 units (liquid)
Concentrated essence of healing, used to create healing potions.There was only a single change to the description. Grades were out the window, giving way to the purity entry. Drogramath¡¯s alchemy was the end-path to a lot of other forms of alchemy, so he shouldn¡¯t have been surprised that this wasn¡¯t different. But this meant the Tero¡¯gal potions would fall in line with the other methods. Which meant he wouldn¡¯t get free attribute points for crafting his potions. Now that he had created the essence, the rest should have fallen in line the way he expected. But with only two units to work with, the alchemist wanted to wait.
¡°Throk,¡± Theo said, sticking his head into the workshop. He was surprised to find several apprentices working on various projects. Some were rted to the rail system, while others were jobs for people in town. Throk himself was hunched over a table, working on a machine. ¡°Let me get a big version of this one.¡±
Throk barely looked up. ¡°How big?¡± he grunted.
¡°Fifty units,¡± Theo said. ¡°And just one for now.¡±
Throk grunted his confirmation for the order, and Theo left the still near the entrance. The apprenticesughed to themselves as he left the shop. He headed out into the town, looking at the decorations for the wedding. That was tomorrow, wasn¡¯t it? On the first day of the Season of Death¡ªthe first day of autumn. Broken Tusk would experience their first winter in Tero¡¯gal this year. Year one of¡ something, he hadn¡¯t decided what to call it yet.
¡°How are things going?¡± Theo asked, walking up behind Miana.
¡°Hey, stranger,¡± she said with a scoff. ¡°You¡¯ve been hands-off with the nning.¡±
¡°Things have been busy.¡±
¡°Well, we¡¯ve got all the trellises up. I think they have a few boars to cook. Oh, they¡¯re bringing musicians to y throughout.¡±
¡°So, what kind of traditions did they settle on?¡±
¡°For starters, there¡¯s gonna be a fight.¡± Miana rubbed her hands together. ¡°That¡¯s local, of course. The other local tradition is the Ogre Snapper wrestling match. Zarali wanted those two. Xol¡¯sa picked a few elven traditions, including the feat of power. That¡¯ll be interesting. Otherwise, I expect a massive party.¡±
Theo nodded, that didn¡¯t sound so bad. He couldn¡¯t imagine Zarali and Xol¡¯sa fighting it out to prove their love. But when he thought about the space elf, all he could imagine was his people. Standing like statues in some lost realm. ¡°It looks good,¡± he said, patting Miana on the shoulder. He left the town square, making his way to the temple. There were more people here than ever before, praying to a Throneworld or one of the epted gods. He rolled his shoulders, settling in on one seat near the front.
¡°I could just go to your realm,¡± Theo muttered to himself, keeping his eyes on the floor. ¡°But Ziz worked so hard on this ce. Why not use it?¡±
There was no answer from the altar. Theo didn¡¯t know how praying worked or if the gods would hear him. The ascendants could hear him, before he did everything in his power to shut them all out.
¡°I don¡¯t know if you do this kind of thing, Hallow. But if you could bless the wedding, that¡¯d be great.¡± Theo shifted awkwardly in his seat, looking around to the others. They hadn¡¯t looked up. ¡°Maybe bless the whole nation while you¡¯re at it. We might need the help.¡±
Theo cleared his throat, standing up before he felt any more awkward about the situation. Of the things he still needed to do, the wedding was the one he had the least involvement in. High on his list was helping the space elves. And that required functional alchemy¡ªor so he hoped. There were other projects left to do. Some were small and some were too massive to undertake with limited time. The rail to the north was vital, it would serve as the base infrastructure in Tero¡¯gal. Right now, people had to walk for weeks to get anywhere in the Throneworld.
¡°So, wedding, space elves, infrastructure¡ and loose ends,¡± Theo said, nodding to himself. ¡°Oh, and potions.¡±
The essence produced by the experimental still looked normal. If it was only a matter of creating a more pure essence, they had done it handily. There might have been implications for the second tier of potion making, but that was a problem for another day. With daylight fading, Theo made his way to theb for onest experiment of the day. He poured a unit of the precious essence into a vial, and considered his approach.
First tier potions were easy. One unit of essence to one unit of Purified Water and a catalyst to start the binding reaction. It was the most basic recipe an alchemist could use in creating distilled potions. Theo narrowed his eyes at the essence resting in the vial, looking for something that could go wrong. His heightened intuition seemed to agree this would work. With the impurities driven from the essence, he imagined there wasn¡¯t much left to go wrong, but it was interesting to think about the interactions.
Iron Shavings acted as a catalyst in this stage. But when used on mashed reagents, it sucked impurities from the mixture. This might have been why the other distition reactions he tried had failed, but it was hard to tell. Only the three things, essence, water, and shavings, would cause a positive alchemical reaction. If he had more essence to test with, he would try something different. He dropped the Iron Shaving into the water-essence mixture, taking a step back.
The potion bubbled, turning a pleasant shade of red. It put off a sweet smell that filled theb, but no vapors came from the vial¡¯s top. He ced the decorative stopper on the vial, holding the new potion at arm¡¯s length. Too much work went into this potion. His first potion made with Drogramath¡¯s tradition was easypared to this. He inspected the item.
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[Lesser Healing Potion]
[Potion]
Common
Created by: Theo Spencer
Purity: 95%
A lesser healing potion. Drink to restore health.
Effect:
Instantly restores 40 health points.
The first healing potion Theo made restored 20 health. Like the essence, it disyed purity instead of grade. This path might have been avable to him before. If he had followed Zarali¡¯s advice this might have been his path. Instead, Theo had picked industrialization.
¡°You¡¯rete for dinner, ya dingus!¡± Tresk shouted from the stairs.
Theo turned, holding the potion up with a smile. ¡°We got it!¡±
¡°Aw, sweet! We¡¯re having steak, get your butt to the manor.¡±
Theo put the potion in his inventory, following behind Tresk. Alex was waiting outside. The more days rolled on, the less she looked like a goose. She had dangling legs protruding from her chest, making her look more like a nightmare than a giant goose.
¡°She¡¯s looking more like a dragon by the day,¡± Theo said, patting Alex on the side. With her neck extended, he couldn¡¯t reach her head. ¡°At least she doesn¡¯t have teeth.¡±
¡°Give her time!¡± Tresk shouted, pping Theo on the back. ¡°We found some dragon bones.¡±
¡°Dragon bones?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Seriously?¡±
¡°Yeah, over in the mountains.¡±
¡°Uh¡ Alchemist here? You found dragon bones and you didn¡¯t bring them to me?¡±
¡°Oh,e on! You¡¯re gonna crush them and turn them into potions!¡±
Theo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Potions that I¡¯ll give to you.¡±
¡°Damn. You always do this, Tresk.¡± She growled at herself. ¡°Give the potion man the bones and get powerful potions¡ªthat¡¯s obvious!¡±
¡°No, tell me more about these dragon bones. Which mountains?¡±
Theo and Tresk worked their way toward the manor, picking a slow path with Alex close behind.
¡°We scour the local areas, looking for stuff to fight. Well, you know Alex can fly. So we spotted some bones set in the face of a mountain. They were just brimming with dragon energy.¡± Tresk let out a satisfied sigh.
¡°How did she absorb the energy? I know her control and willpower are decent, but¡ Tresk, is she eating dragon bones?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t want to give them to you! She needs more bones!¡±
¡°How do you even swallow them?¡± Theo asked, gesturing to Alex¡¯s bill. ¡°No teeth.¡±
¡°She swallows them whole.¡±
¡°I¡¯m a dragon!¡±
Honk!
¡°You¡¯re looking more like a dragon, but I don¡¯t know if that makes you a dragon,¡± Theo said, smiling up at the familiar.
Alex shot a stream of fire into the air. ¡°I am a dragon!¡±
¡°You are the strongest dragon around,¡± Tresk said. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to the mean potion man.¡±
Alex was really good at absorbing energy, so perhaps this was a good path. There was something inherently powerful about the dragons. Not enough that they were considered an element, but Alex was listed as a Proto Dragon-Goose when he inspected her. So that was a start. It wasn¡¯t the stage he expected her to enter, but whatever. Goose, dragon-goose, what did it matter? She had a way of twisting herself into whatever form she wanted. A dragon was just as good as anything else.
¡°Bye, sweetie,¡± Tresk said, waiting for Alex to lower her head for a kiss.
¡°Bye-bye.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t know when Sarisa or Rowan had time to cook the massive steaks, but he wouldn¡¯tin. The scent of seared meat, melted butter, and some fantasy knock-off garlic wafted as they opened the door to the manor. He let out a heavy sigh, reminded of how little he had eaten today.
¡°Where are you guys finding suppliers of meat karatan?¡± he asked, falling into his chair at therge dining table. There were no greens with this meal. No zee to help round it out. Just a big b of seared meat¡ªgrill marks still visible on the surface. The steak glistened in the light,
¡°Secret supplier,¡± Rowan said, removing his apron with a smile on his face.
¡°Still the elves,¡± Sarisa said, jumping into her chair and rubbing her hands together. ¡°We bought them from the elves.¡±
Theo cut a piece of steak, failing to resist the smile that tugged at his lips. No cut of meat melted like this, almost as though the steak itself was butter. Of course Tresk took no time to savor it. She only cut it in half, swallowing each part in one bite. What conversation spread around the table was light, centering on the uing wedding. The alchemist wasn¡¯t very excited about the wedding at first, but he was warming to the idea. He had imagined a stuffy ceremony, but it was shaking up to be something far more exciting.
¡°I¡¯m stuffed. Let¡¯s sleep,¡± Tresk said.
¡°I¡¯m still eating.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m not.¡±
Theo red at Tresk, cutting another piece of his steak.
¡°Oh, you stink,¡± Tresk said, pouting.
Theo took his time with his meal. Not because he wanted to spite Tresk, but because it was good. She didn¡¯t take it well when he took the steps slowly, yawning the entire way. But they dropped into the Dreamwalk all the same,ing out onto an imagined sprawl of Tero¡¯gal¡¯sndscape. He hadn¡¯t even visited the Throneworld today, too interested in getting this new form of alchemy ready for production.
essing Tresk¡¯s memory, Theo summoned the cliff containing dragon bones Alex was eating. It looked strange against the lushndscape around them. The top portion of a rocky face poked up from the ground, gray and chalky against the greenery. Severalrge sections stuck out, bleached white by the sun. While he couldn¡¯t figure out what part of a dragon this was, the bone was massive.
¡°That¡¯s a gigantic dragon,¡± Theo said with a nod.
¡°Yeah, yeah. We ate through most of that leg section.¡± Tresk gestured to an area missing a bone.
Theo looked at the pieces of the skeleton for a while, biting his lip. ¡°Weird question, but do you think someone like Balkor could raise a dragon¡¯s skeleton?¡±
¡°Ugh. Why do you have to spoil the mood?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Think you can help us move an entire skeleton into a dimensional storage crate tomorrow?¡±
¡°Yeah, I think that might be best,¡± Theo said, his mind suddenly searching for other dead dragons in the area. What if there had been massive beasts in the north that had died? ¡°Let¡¯s wake up early to take care of it.¡±
¡°Excellent idea. Now, can we fight?¡±
Tresk and Alex left Theo to the dragon bones. Once again, the Dreamwalk refused to allow him to take samples from the bones. It was just in that kind of mood after the influence of the new management.
Visiting the Dreamwalk put a cap on the day, though. Theo summoned his newest challenge, the paddle covered in alchemical refuse. There were many ways to dpose materials, but nothing he could think of that wouldn¡¯t damage the iron. While he will ept this as a situation where the iron was disposable, he still needed to get rid of the alchemy byproduct. The Dissolve Essence might be a way forward, but he didn¡¯t have a good feeling about that one.
¡°Are you gonna let me figure out how reactive this stuff is?¡± Theo asked, scraping the buildup from the paddle onto an imagined table. The Dreamwalk didn¡¯t have a problem when he poured various solutions on it, to no effect. The Cleansing Scrub potion did nothing. Dissolve Essence didn¡¯t work.
Theo pped his hands over his ears as the paddle exploded in a ball of fire. He clicked his tongue, watching as the plume of smoke rose into the air. ¡°Well, now I just scattered the junk all over the ce. What if we light it on fire?¡±
The byproduct popped when it was lit on fire, but Theo observed something interesting. He was surprised the Dreamwalk let him take things this far. cing a pan over an artifice me, he scraped the crystalline substance into the n and cranked the heat. It took a while, and some pretty intense heat, but it eventually went from solid to liquid. Some vapor was released as he allowed it to cool.
The resulting sheet of brown-ck material was still toxic. The invention of filth ingots wasn¡¯t pushing his problem forward, but it was a start. Applying heat to the substance was the only thing that had done anything so far. Perhaps some pressure would help¡
¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out,¡± Theo said, imagining a heated pressure still.
6.49 - Quindalias
6.49 - Quindalias
There was nothing quite like being at ground-zero for a pressure still explosion. Theo dusted himself off after standing right next to one of Throk¡¯s pressure stills after it blew up. At least he was within the Dreamwalk, immune to injuries. But he had only added the alchemical residue to the container, nothing else. Thebination of heat and pressure was enough to set it off. At least he could use the iron paddles a few times before throwing them away¡ as long as he scraped the junk off of them first.
Boiling the residue only made it burn to the bottom of the pan. When Theo thought he was onto something with an idea about binding the residue with another element, the Dreamwalk blocked his progress. He jumped when Tresk snuck up behind him, stabbing him in the back.
¡°Not fast enough, baby!¡± she shouted. ¡°We gotta get up.¡±
¡°Oh. Right. The dragon,¡± Theo said, nodding. ¡°Is there enough room on Alex for me?¡±
¡°I am powerful,¡± Alex said, her forepaws flopping around. They weren¡¯t quite like that of a dragon¡¯s legs yet. But they were getting there. Slowly.
¡°You are very powerful,¡± Theo said. ¡°What time is it, anyway?¡±
¡°I dunno about an hour before dawn,¡± Tresk said. ¡°Still looks dark out there, ya know?¡±
¡°We should get going,¡± Theo said. ¡°There¡¯s gonna be a fight and a turtle at the wedding. Can¡¯t miss the turtle.¡±
¡°I love the turtle wrastlin¡¯.¡±Sarisa and Rowan had awoken early, although Theo didn¡¯t know how they had done so without an rm clock. Rowan¡¯s frequent trips to the bathroom during breakfast revealed they had consumed a lot of water the night before. Breakfast was leftover steak, which was always wee. The alchemist didn¡¯t find himself as hungry as the night before, barely eating much of his steak. Despite how delicious it was, he had only ever picked at his breakfast.
Standing outside of the manor before dawn had even broken, Theo looked Alex up and down. ¡°How do you hold on?¡±
¡°For dear life,¡± Tresk said.
Alex dipped her head low enough for Theo to give her some pets. He rubbed the top of her head, finding the start of a pair of horns poking from underneath her feathers. He shook his head, climbing on her back awkwardly. Why Tresk had gone all this time without finding someone to make her a saddle was beyond him. But there was enough space between her wings and her neck for both to sit. He wouldn¡¯t call itfortable, but they were sitting.
¡°I¡¯m taking no risks,¡± Theo said, holding a Retreat potion with the Featherfall modifier on it. He wrapped his arms around her neck and prepared for an ufortable experience. Only a moment in the air revealed how wise of a move that was. It wasn¡¯tfortable. Each stroke of Alex¡¯s wings was an ufortable lurching sensation that threatened to reveal what little steak he had eaten that morning.
Alex was unforgiving with her speed, heading in a direction. Theo couldn¡¯t tell what the direction was, as his face was buried in a mass of scales and feathers. The air grew colder and thinner before they finallynded on a ledge overlooking the region below. While it was still too dark to see anything, the alchemist suspected Broken Tusk was somewhere below.
¡°Why did I agree to this?¡± Theo asked, preparing to use his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core. He didn¡¯t need to see, though. Whatever happened to this dragon, it had been embedded in ayer of crumbled rock. A rock slide had encased it, only exposing some sections of bone to the elements.
¡°Just do your thing. I don¡¯t wanna see a giant skeleton dragon running around.¡± Tresk folded her arms.
Theo shook his head, spreading his senses over the piles of rock. He wrapped his will around each thing that wasn¡¯t a bone and lifted, separating the pile in the air to allow for the bones caught between to fall to the ground. With a flick of his will, he sent the stones sailing through the air and continued working. As he worked, he felt the energy of the bones soaking into the air. It became more oppressive as more of the bones were revealed.
¡°How strong was this dragon?¡± Theo asked, grunting as he tossed a house-sized rock into the distance.
¡°I don¡¯t know, but it is delicious,¡± Alex said, snapping at arge bone. It was far toorge for her to eat.
¡°Can you take the bones into your inventory?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No,¡± Tresk said, producing aicallyrge saw from nowhere. ¡°They¡¯re too big. The systemins when I try. We normally juste here and chip a bit off.¡±
Theo watched as Tresk pulled aside a massive bone, getting to work with her saw. In ssic Tresk fashion, she had tried and failed to pull a bone into her inventory. Rather than cutting the bones down, she chipped away at the bones here daily. The alchemist finished the rocks, and got to work on the earth that had been scattered over the bones.
Tresk made a sound and a face, but continued her work on the bones. There were far too many of them for Alex to eat. With plenty of bones to go around, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Theo stealing all the bones for alchemy. The system was happy to take three-foot lengths of bones, but seemed more concerned about each bone. Theo joined in the sawing, but was just as slow as Tresk with his rtively low strength.
¡°Why do you keep making that face?¡± Theo asked, tossing Tresk another cut bone. ¡°Are you just super excited about cutting up a dead dragon?¡±
¡°I mean¡ look at it,¡± Tresk said, gesturing to what remained of the skeleton. ¡°This is more bones than Pogo had.¡±
Theo scratched his chin, looking at the length of the bones they were cutting. Tresk must have paid a good amount for the saws since they were finely made and of Drogramathi Iron. There was slightly too much preparation for a job Tresk would do. The alchemist picked up a length of bone he had cut, inspecting it.
[Quindalias Bone]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Dragon Ascendant Bone]
A piece of the Dragon Ascendant Quindalias¡¯ skeleton.
Properties:
[????] [????] [????]
¡°Tresk¡ are you feeding the bones of a god to our goose?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Tresk said, going to work on another section.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Theo pinched the bridge of his nose, his mind reeling at the implications. He wasn¡¯t aware of any dragons that had ascended to false godhood. The only dragon he knew by name was Pogo, and she was gone. An ascendant had left something behind before, and it never ended well. Balkor¡¯s corruption had ruined an entire continent, so it was interesting to see a fallen ascendant so close to Broken Tusk. When had it fallen and why?
¡°Well, she isn¡¯t dead. I guess that¡¯s the good news,¡± Theo said. ¡°But we don¡¯t know what long-term exposure to this kind of stuff will do.¡±
¡°It turns geese into dragons. Duh. Should we take the bones to our world?¡±
¡°Absolutely not. That¡¯s going to vite some rule. How could it not? The dragon was likely killed foring down here without permission. Maybe. I guess it depends on what age it came here.¡±
¡°Okay, cool. We can talk about identally ending the worldter. Help me stuff these bones in the shared inventory.¡±
Theo and Tresk got back to work on the bones, spending a few hours before and after dawn getting them processed. The skull was too much for them to deal with for now, so they left it. Which was likely not a good idea, but there was nothing more they could do. There was a wedding to attend.
¡°We can talk about how wrong this ister,¡± Theo said, mounting Alex. ¡°Is there a Draconic Pantheon?¡±
¡°I dunno. I¡¯m just a cute little lizard,¡± Tresk said, blinking rapidly as she climbed aboard.
Theo could barely think on the way back to Broken Tusk. The sun had risen, casting the town in shades of pale orange. Long shadows stretched across the streets, stabbing westward. The alchemist was certain an ascendant¡¯s bones had been used to start the undead gue. He needed to know more about this dragon to ensure nothing weird would happen. At least most of those bones were now in a dimensional storage container, which should have prevented them from influencing the world.
Even before theynded in town, Theo could see people gathering for the wedding. It would not be a ceremony like he had originally expected, but more like a continuous party with events scattered throughout the day. When theynded, Tresk and Alex scampered off to do goblin stuff¡ªthe way they always did¡ªleaving the alchemist behind with his thoughts.
¡°How was the trip?¡± Sarisa asked,ing up alongside him.
¡°Concerning. I need to make a trip to Khahak before the wedding starts. Wannae?¡±
¡°Sure. Why not,¡± Sarisa said.
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Count me out,¡± Rowan said, waving them away. ¡°I¡¯ve got things to do.¡±
Theo shrugged, cing a hand on Sarisa¡¯s shoulder. She yelled as they fell through the veil, finding themselves floating in space. Thanks to the authority of his Dreamwalker¡¯s Core, he could move easily enough through the swirling ckness. He angled them toward Khahar¡¯s orb which orbited the mass in the center just like Tero¡¯gal. A blinkter and they were standing atop the Arbiter¡¯s Tower in the center of the world.
¡°An unexpected visit,¡± Khahar said, turning from his pristine window to smile at Theo. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±
¡°I just need information on the ancient pantheons,¡± Theo said. ¡°You know, nothing big.¡±
¡°Which one?¡± Khahar asked.
¡°The Draconic Pantheon.¡±
¡°There was never a true Draconic Pantheon. A few tried, but failed.¡±
¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°The dragon you left under my town is gone, but I sensed more draconic energy nearby,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°You can understand my concern with what happened with Balkor.¡±
¡°Ah, yes. I would be concerned, too.¡± Khahar said, turning away. ¡°Are we allowed to bring mortals here?¡±
Sarisa vomited on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she gurgled, giving the thumbs-up.
¡°I can clean that up,¡± Theo said. ¡°Also, I dunno. Thanks, Khahar. I need to attend a wedding, but I thought I¡¯d ask.¡±
¡°Anytime, Theo.¡±
Theo ced a hand on Sarisa¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hold onto your butt.¡±
Sarisa ced either hand on either cheek and made a low grumbling noise.
An instantter, Theo was standing in Drogramath¡¯s vige on Tero¡¯gal. He took a breath of the swamp air and smiled. Sarisa¡¯s face became less pale as she looked around. Something of a smile tugged at her features, but she was still too shaken to produce anything more.
¡°This looks like home.¡±
¡°Yeah, this is where Drogramath settled,¡± Theo said, waving to a dronon guard. ¡°Where¡¯s the boss?¡±
The guard gestured in a vague direction, which Theo followed. They had done a lot for the small town since thest time he was here. While he hadn¡¯t figured out how to produce cores for the people here, they had gone off on their own to do all this by hand. The problem of cores in the Throneworld was something he could solve, given time. Tero¡¯gal might figure it out before him, though.
¡°Old Droggy,¡± Theo said, cing his hands on his hips as he approached a clearing at the end of the road.
Drogramath stood with a few other dronon, smiling as he turned to wave at Theo. ¡°The master of the house has returned. Are you well?¡±
¡°Very well,¡± Theo said, exchanging his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core for his new Shadow core. ¡°I need your amazing memory for something. Sarisa, could you go look for some turtles or something?¡±
¡°Oh, I love turtles,¡± Sarisa said, turning and scampering off.
¡°Why don¡¯t you show her around?¡± Drogramath said to those he had gathered. They nodded and ran to join the half-ogre.
¡°Looks like you¡¯re making a new Broken Tusk,¡± Theo said,ughing as he expanded his shadowy willpower. They were encased in a field of silence. While he didn¡¯t expect prying eyes in his own world, it was good to be safe. Zaul¡ªShadow¡ªwas too insane for him to worry about. The gods would know about what he was doing because they were gods.
¡°I¡¯m doing what I can. Which is hard, without alchemy. Why the need for secrecy.¡±
Theoughed to himself, shaking his head. ¡°When I first arrived, I saw you as an enemy. I could never have seen you as¡ this. A mayor of some small swamp town.¡±
¡°I am but a dronon.¡±
¡°True. The secrecy? I need information on fallen pantheons. Khahar wasn¡¯t in the heavens back in the day. But you were.¡±
¡°Which pantheon do you want to know about?¡±
Theo was tempted to withdraw a bone from his shared inventory, but resisted the urge. That wouldn¡¯t end well. ¡°The Draconic Pantheon.¡±
Drogramath raised an eyebrow. ¡°You found a fallen dragon.¡±
Theo snapped his fingers. ¡°I knew you¡¯d know. What can you tell me about them?¡±
¡°I can tell you they¡¯re powerful reagents. The dragon ascendants were pure aspects of¡ something. Fire, earth, water, and so on. We don¡¯t know where they came from, but I know it wasn¡¯t my world or Earth. They were natural to the world, or came from a third world. I cannot say.¡±
¡°What would happen¡ªhypothetically¡ªif a goose familiar were to eat about two-hundred pounds of the bones?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what a pound is, but I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s a lot of weight?¡±
¡°About as heavy as the average half-ogre.¡±
Drogramathughed, pping a hand on Theo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You would get a dragon-goose. Alex should be fine consuming the power of the dragons.They¡¯re representations of pure aspects, uncorrupted like the rest of us.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. Because she ate at least four-hundred pounds of bones and is looking more like a dragon by the day. Anything else you can tell me about the dragons?¡±
¡°Not much,¡± Drogramath shrugged. ¡°They were secretive in our day. Even before we ascended. Each found a corner of the world to live in. They went into hiding and we never heard much from them. Those that ascended did so secretly. Only Toru¡¯aun figured out they had truly ascended, and she doesn¡¯t share secrets lightly.¡±
Theo remembered hearing about dragon ascendants in the past. There was a mix of opinions on them, but he got the impression that people assumed anything could ascend. The underground dungeon was close to ascending before they knocked it down a few levels, so why not? He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there were intelligent badger ascendants somewhere in the expansive pantheon. Well, before they were nuked.
¡°Where is Toru¡¯aun, anyway?¡±
Drogramathughed again. ¡°Who knows. She¡¯s impossible to pin down.¡±
¡°Thanks for the information,¡± Theo said, reaching out to shake Drogramath¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m proud of the town you¡¯ve built.¡±
¡°Thank you, father.¡±
Theo chuckled, running off to collect Sarisa. This was fun, and moderately insightful, but he had a wedding to attend. He swapped back to his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core. ¡°Get off that turtle. We¡¯re heading back.¡±
¡°Already?¡± Sarisa groaned. The dronon around her issued simr groans of disappointment. ¡°We were just about to wrestle.¡±
6.50 - Dont Kill Each Other
6.50 - Don''t Kill Each Other
The scent of roasted meat floating through the air as Theo returned to Broken Tusk. Sarisa almost threw up again, but only heaved a few times. They hadn¡¯t been gone long, but the town wasing alive. People ran through the streets with cloth streamers, some with cartoon representations of Zarali and Xol¡¯sa. Several small fights had already broken out, but were contained to polite skirmishes.
¡°This is already shaping up to look fun,¡± Theo said, smiling as he watched more banners stream past. ¡°How simr is this to a local wedding?¡±
¡°Very simr,¡± Sarisa said with a contented sigh. ¡°The smell of that roasting hog reminds me of the old days. When there were still hogs in the swamp.¡±
Theo nned to forbid himself from doing work today. He was going to mingle and participate in the games people were running. This was the first wedding in Broken Tusk since he arrived, and he wanted to see what traditions Zarali and Xol¡¯sa had adopted. He made his way north at first, walking along the road and passing by one hog-roasting station. A pig on a spit rotated over an open fire, filling the air with a pleasant smoky smell and the scent of roasting meat. The half-ogres who were in charge of cooking looked up with smiles on their faces, careful to baste the pig with every turn.
There was no tradition of gift-giving they had adopted for the wedding. Instead, everyone was expected to run an event or participate. The big stuff would happen in the afternoon, pushing into night. For now it was smaller games, starting from the northernmost part of town and crawling all the way to the mine. Theo and Sarisa arrive at the quarry, finding Ziz and his expanding gang of stoneworkers ushering people to a ying field.
¡°There he is!¡± Ziz shouted, waving for Theo to approach.
Theo looked over the court. Lanes had been created with piles of gravel, including a starting point. He watched as people stood at the line, tossingrge stones as far as they could. If a person got the rock over a certain point, they were given a carved stone statue, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand.
¡°Looks like you¡¯re running a carnival game,¡± Theo said, patting Ziz on the back.
¡°Dunno what that is!¡± Ziz shouted with augh.Somehow, Theo had a beer in one hand and a rock in the other.
¡°Give it a toss!¡±
Theo held his hand out, taking a swig of his beer. It was some of that rotgut stuff Ziz and his boys enjoyed so much. The alchemist didn¡¯t toss the stone. It shot forward, skipping over a hill far in the distance and vanishing into the blue sky. ¡°How¡¯d I do?¡±
¡°You cheated.¡± Ziz frowned.
¡°Did I win?¡±
¡°No. Drink your beer.¡±
Theo stepped back, watching as people yed the right way. Ziz didn¡¯t make the game hard. It seemed like he created the game to give free statues away. They depicted various things, like wolves and half-ogres. The quality was fine, but he seemed quite proud of his work. Sarisa took her turn at tossing the rocks, having far too much fun. She was refused after winning her third trophy, resulting in a new rule. One statue per person.
The alchemist had done his best to avoid looking at the other events as he had walked to the quarry. His first stop after the quarry was Stabby Groves, where Zan¡¯kir and Zan¡¯sal were running a knife-throwing event along with some feats of strength. Theo watched as others tried the event, tossing knives into a log. They were given three knives and had to throw them into one of many rings on the log. The different sized rings would provide different points. The red was the smallest, barely the size of Theo¡¯s palm.
¡°Care to give it a try?¡± Zan¡¯kir asked, patting Theo on the back.
¡°I think it would be cheating.¡±
¡°Nonsense. You¡¯re an alchemist,¡± Zan¡¯kir said, clearing not on the list of people who knew about his heightened Dexterity. He handed over three knives.¡±
Theo took the knives, standing at the line. He cleared his throat, holding the first knife at the ready. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it dead-center on the smallest target. He gave Zan¡¯kir a smile.
¡°Woah. Uh¡ next one, I guess?¡±
Two more knives flew out, mming right beside the first.
¡°Guess you were cheating,¡± Zan¡¯kir said with a nod. ¡°We don¡¯t have prizes like the other events. I¡¯ll ask you to note back. Thanks.¡±
¡°I want to try,¡± Sarisa said, rolling her shoulders. She stepped up to the line and released the first dagger. It hit arger circle, and the next one was even closer. Thest almost hit the smallest circle. ¡°Pretty good!¡±
¡°Not bad at all. Great work,¡± Zan¡¯kir said, patting her on the back.
Theo and Sarisa watched the others try for a while, somehow gaining streamers of their own. They went between events before returning to the town square. After waiting for a while, they finally caught sight of the bride and groom.
Xol¡¯sa wore blue robes embroidered with intricate patterns made from silver thread. He had cut his hair short, wearing two ornate earrings in either ear. He only nodded and waved as he passed by Theo, parading like royalty around the town.
Zarali looked even better, wearing a dress that swept the ground everywhere she went. It was made of ck and dark purple silk, hanging from her shoulders with chains of silver holding it in ce. She let her hair loose, although it had been straightened and pinned with several purple butterfly pins. Where she walked was left a glittering trail of stars. Which was likely an enchantment ced by Xol¡¯sa.
Theo waved like an idiot as they passed, following them south on their parade through town. Perhaps it was best to be seen taking part in the events. He didn¡¯t want to give the wrong impression about his support. They did severalps around the town before settling in at the square around midday. Tables were arranged¡ªorganized by Alise¡ªand the married couple sat to talk to those in attendance. There was no ceremony for them to be married. Not in the local tradition, anyway. All they needed to do was im to be married, and it was done.
¡°This is much easier than Earth marriages,¡± Theo said, elbowing Rowan.
¡°Seems pretty hard to me. Look at all that stuff.¡± Rowan gestured to the tes being served on the many tables. While it wasn¡¯t time to eat the hogs, Xam had created tters of dried meats and cheeses to keep everyone satisfied until the main course.
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After some snacking and general mingling, Miana called the throng to order. The town wasn¡¯t just packed with locals, but people from Rivers, Gronro, and Qavell. Who didn¡¯t like a carnival?
¡°As is tradition, we¡¯re gonna have a fight!¡± Miana shouted. ¡°Xol¡¯sa versus Zarali!¡±
The crowd cheered. Half-ogres loved a good fight. That apparently extended to recently married couples.
¡°Xol¡¯sa, who do you pick as your champion?¡± Miana asked.
Theo felt the color drain from his face. He watched the crowd react before they should have. They all turned to him, cheering with excitement. ¡°Damn.¡±
¡°Theo Spencer,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, gesturing to the alchemist. The crowd reacted just like his advanced Wisdom predicted.
¡°Zarali, who do you pick as your champion?¡± Mian asked once again.
Theo watched as a familiar face strode from the crowd. He groaned, shaking his head. Fenian was on some super secret mission. When had the bastard returned?
¡°Fenian Feintleaf!¡± Zarali shouted. The crowd reacted as expected.
Theo walked over, glowering at Xol¡¯sa as he stood in a circle created by the crowd. ¡°I thought you went to Tarantham.¡±
¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t miss this,¡± Fenian said, almost giggling with excitement. ¡°A battle with another holder of a throne. All for fun, of course.¡±
¡°As is tradition, the marriage battle will restrict thebatants. You may not use abilities, skills, items, weapons, or any other nonsense. Sulvan is on hand to heal you if you should be injured.¡± Miana¡¯s voice echoed through the cheers of the crowd, somehow cutting through them.
¡°I think we¡¯ll need a bigger battlefield,¡± Fenian said, raising his finger and smiling. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to destroy this lovely town.¡±
¡°If the crowd would proceed to the fields outside of the harbor gate, we can begin,¡± Miana said, pping her hands.
Theo walked with Fenian over the road, nudging him with his shoulder. ¡°I might give you some trouble this time.¡±
¡°Do you think so? What level are you?¡±
¡°Thirty.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Fenian said, waving him away. ¡°Even without my swords, you don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±
Theo was mortified when his name was first called. But his effective level had grown. For all the good things Fenian had done for the town, he was still eager to give him a good thrashing. Perhaps this was the perfect way to get that aggression out of his body.
¡°So what does the winner get?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No idea. I was told there would be a fight, so here I am.¡±
The crowd assembled on one side of the river as Theo and Fenian were led to the other. The rules were stated a few more times before the fight would begin. Theo allowed his future-prediction senses to reach as far as they wanted to go. He watched Fenian lunge at him, fist coiled, over thirty seconds before he actually moved. Like scrubbing through a video, he searched that fated timeline, his intent influencing what he saw. Ducking at thest moment and driving up with his fist would send the elf tumbling back, giving him time for a counter-attack.
¡°Begin!¡± Miana shouted.
Theo¡¯s absurd Dexterity had him falling into a crouch faster than should have been possible. He jabbed upward,nding a hit to Fenian¡¯s gut that sent him reeling back with wide eyes. Half of the crowd gasped, while the other cheered.
Fenian coughed into his hands, tilting his head to the side. ¡°Oh, you sneaky little devil.¡±
¡°Come on, Mister Feintleaf,¡± Theo said, raising his fists to protect his face. Just like the good old days. Yuri would be proud. ¡°Show me what you got.¡±
Fenianunched into a series of attacks. Swift jabs and hooks sought to defeat his defenses. Theo felt the strikes deep in his bones, relying on his high Vigor to see him through. Even if Fenian put all his points into any attribute, he couldn¡¯t ovee the cheat the alchemist had pulled. Ducking to the side¡ªwatching as Fenian reacted in the future¡ªhe connected with the elf¡¯s jaw.
¡°Rip his head off!¡± Tresk shouted from the crowd.
¡°Just how fast are you?¡± Fenianughed, rolling his shoulders and assuming a more rxed posture.
Theo watched Fenian turn to the left side in the future, bringing his guard up. The alchemist feinted, going to the right instead. The elf slid across the ground, tumbling far into the distance and leaving a trail of dust.
¡°Okay!¡± Fenian shouted, standing to his feet and dusting himself off. ¡°I¡¯m done going easy! Is that okay!?¡±
¡°You may fight as hard as you like,¡± Miana shouted back. ¡°Just don¡¯t kill each other.¡±
Fenian crouched on the spot. The earth beneath his feet cracked as a plume of dirt and stones shot into the air. Theo could barely register how fast he was going, his raw speed almost oveing the predictive powers of 342 Wisdom. The alchemist blocked a shot that sent a shockwave of force radiating out. He answered with a kick to the knee, and got a knee to the chest in return. A rib cracked somewhere, but he didn¡¯t stop. He couldn¡¯t stop the Tara¡¯hek Union skill from bleeding into his body. Theo drew more attributes from Tresk.
An exchange of blows thundered over thendscape. Each time Feniannded a strike, he would miss five, giving Theo time to counter. The intensity of the fight increased as the pair dashed across thendscape. The crowd was goingpletely insane by this point, some rushing over the bridge to witness the sh. Theo watched as another series of blows came straight for him, only to move out of the way. It became a battle of attrition,sting for an hour at aplete stalemate.
¡°My sweet alchemist!¡± Fenian shouted about twenty paces distant. ¡°You used to be so innocent. What¡¯s that fighting style called?¡±
¡°Boxing? I guess,¡± Theo said, taking a deep breath. ¡°This is what they taught us on Earth.¡±
¡°Perhaps you can give me some pointers,¡± Fenian said. Theo watched him cheat in the future. Well, he withdrew his weapons but didn¡¯t act. ¡°Why don¡¯t we test exactly how strong you are?¡±
Twin rapiers appeared in Fenian¡¯s hands. Theo pulled a Dragon¡¯s Breath Potion from his inventory, ready to use it well before the elf acted.
¡°We have a draw!¡± Miana shouted from afar. The crowd went wilder. If that was even possible.
¡°Bah. Another time, perhaps.¡± Fenian ced his weapons back in storage. Theo did the same, watching as his opponent sauntered over with all the grace he could muster. He limped over thest few steps. ¡°I think you broke something.¡±
Theo smiled, his teeth stained with red. ¡°Yeah, most of my ribs are done.¡±
Fenian ced his arm around Theo¡¯s shoulder, pulling him close. ¡°You little potion-exploiter, you. You¡¯ll have to show me how to do it.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a one-time thing,¡± Theo said, walking with Fenian as though they hadn¡¯t just beaten each other. He was right, though. It made him feel slightly better. ¡°So, where have you been?¡±
¡°Well, I went to kill Kuzan, but he wasn¡¯t home.¡± Fenian hummed to himself, limping along as he waved to the crowds. ¡°Drove my carriage right into the royal pce and everything. What a waste.¡±
¡°That sucks, man.¡±
¡°Indeed, it does. He won¡¯t act until the man he¡¯s after appears. Still lost in the queue, that one.¡±
¡°Who is he looking for?¡±
Fenian waved to the crowd, bowing as the people cheered some more. He shed that smile everyone seemed to swoon over. ¡°A hero from another world. Someone who united others against him way-back-when. Those were the days.¡±
¡°How long ago was this?¡±
Fenian winked. ¡°Your godly friends might reveal too much information, but I won¡¯t. You¡¯ll never get me to talk. Not even if you pour ten mugs of mead down my throat. Please don¡¯t do it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll figure it out. Along with your real name,¡± Theo said with his own wink. He didn¡¯t feel as sly as the elf when he did it.
¡°How high was that wisdom?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°342.¡±
¡°Ah. I should mind what I say.¡± Fenian winced as Sulvan healed his wounds. ¡°My given name starts with an ¡®i¡¯. I¡¯ll give you that much.¡±
¡°Ienian,¡± Theo said. ¡°Or Ian. That¡¯s all I got.¡±
Fenian pped Theo on the back. Perhaps a little too hard. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Now let¡¯s drink until we can¡¯t see. Then we¡¯ll drink some more!¡±
6.51 - Can We Go To Bed?
6.51 - Can We Go To Bed?
Theo had never seen such arge array of kegs, casks, and bottles in his life. Someone¡ªlikely Alise¡ªhad imported enough booze to burn the town to the ground. Not that the drinks themselves would destroy the town, but the temperment of half-ogres after consuming them. He watched as Tresk danced to the musicing from a wooden stage, sipping on sweet mead and taking in the sights. The poor marshling still couldn¡¯t dance, but she certainly tried her best.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with your goose?¡± Fenian asked. He had his feet kicked up, head lolling back as he watched the festivities with a dizzy expression.
¡°She wants to be a dragon,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°Who am I to stop her?¡±
¡°You¡¯re so coy. The locals might not catch on, but I know a familiar doesn¡¯t spontaneously evolve.¡±
¡°I like how you call me coy while being coy,¡± Theo said, taking another sip. ¡°Interesting.¡±
¡°Bah. You¡¯re so hard to deal with. Where did she get the dragon¡¯s bones and can I have some?¡±
Theo smiled to himself. Fenian always pretended as though he was clueless. But the man had a handle on almost everything. The alchemist would only be surprised if he didn¡¯t know something. ¡°Tell me why you want them. My intuition says you want to inspect the item to learn the dragon¡¯s name.¡±
¡°I like the stupid version of you better.¡±
¡°Why would you care about the dragon¡¯s name?¡±Fenian sighed. ¡°An interest in history.¡±
¡°Why would you care about history? Just a passing fancy?¡±
¡°An obsession,¡± Fenian corrected. ¡°I need to know what happened before my time.¡±
Fenian had an interesting way to phrase things. ¡®Before my time¡¯ was oddly specific, even for him. From what Theo could gather, Fenian had been operating for at least 100 years. He suspected the elf¡¯s wife died at that time, meaning they lived a meaningful life before that. But where his story started before that catalyst of a moment was still unknown.
¡°I suppose most people don¡¯t know about the dragon ascendants,¡± Theo started, watching the slight twitch on Fenian¡¯s face. ¡°But I guess you do.¡±
¡°Which one was it?¡± Fenian asked.
Theo smiled to himself. ¡°Quindalias.¡±
Fenian withdrew a notebook, writing the name down. Theo wasn¡¯t surprised that he couldn¡¯t read the words on the page. It wasn¡¯t just in anothernguage, but some enchantment prevented anyone but the elf from reading it.
¡°It doesn¡¯t say which Dragon Aspect she was, does it?¡±
Theo withdrew a small chunk of the bone. He withdrew his hand when Fenian grasped for it. ¡°We¡¯re working on being honest, aren¡¯t we?¡±
¡°That goes both ways,¡± Fenian said, huping.
Theo handed the bone over, reclining on the bench. ¡°I might as well hand a sample over before I turn the others into a potion. For now, I want them locked up in dimensional spaces. Anyone with a brain knows what you did with Balkor¡¯s bone.¡±
Fenianughed, shaking his head. ¡°They used to say if you had a piece of divinity, you could attain it yourself. A pass to the old heavens, perhaps.¡±
¡°Was that true?¡±
¡°No. Making a pact with an ascendant was the best way to get up there. The bones of a fallen ascendant are only good for influencing the world with their power. Like an invisible well gushing aligned water.¡±
¡°So, you poisoned thend to get at Karasan,¡± Theo said, pursing his lips. Perhaps another person would see Fenian in chains¡ªor worse¡ªfor such a thing. But the elf was calcting. He was vengeful, but there were always many parts to his schemes. ¡°Exin that to me. Justify yourself.¡±
Fenian smiled, draining his ss and getting another. He held his mug up, toasting. ¡°Balkor¡¯s Betrayal. More like Balkor¡¯s Gambit. Descending to the mortal ne was a way for him to seed his bones, revealing the Thrones of Power. I wasn¡¯t part of the n to start, but found a niche to fill. Karasan was being controlled, and would have destroyed your alliance.¡±
¡°You had to unleash an undead gue to stop him?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I¡¯m just one elf. Balkor¡¯s realm was part of my n. The only way to get there was to awaken it. I intended to die in that realm, you know. Once I got my revenge, I thought the thirst would end. But it didn¡¯t. I used my wife¡¯s anti-mage cores to do it, you know? Could you imagine?¡±
Theo¡¯s face darkened, his face fixed in a grimace. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that.¡±
¡°Bleeding the energy from the bones was the only way I could find to destroy the shadow of Balkor on the mortal realm.¡±
¡°Yet you let thest piece get away.¡±
Fenian shook his head. ¡°An oversight. One I¡¯ve been trying to fix.¡±
¡°I¡¯m trying to justify what you did in my mind. If a bomb were going to explode, I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯d have the will to bring it to the doorstep of my enemy.¡±
¡°You¡¯re looking at it the wrong way,¡± Fenian said. He stopped to drain another cup. ¡°I reduced the power of the bomb before setting it off. Were innocent people truly harmed? I think not. They have all reincarnated, haven¡¯t they?¡±
¡°Did you know they woulde back?¡±
¡°Not for certain,¡± Fenian admitted. He sighed. ¡°Are you trying to convince me of my sins, or absolve yourself of yours?¡±
Theo shook his head. He didn¡¯t enjoy being read so openly. ¡°Absolution, I think. I don¡¯t think we can judge anyone for what they¡¯re doing right now. This world is so messed up, with so many things to fix. People like Balkor were trying what they knew to fix it, then you had toe along and clean up the mess. I want a world where there are no messes to clean up. Where the system works as it was intended.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re the new Guardian of the Shard, aren¡¯t you?¡± Fenian asked with augh.
¡°That appears to be the case.¡±
¡°Oh! Come with me, dear alchemist,¡± Fenian said, pping with excitement. He stopped half-way before getting up from his chair. ¡°Have you forgiven me? Are we best friends again?¡±
This story has been uwfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
¡°You were never on trial,¡± Theo said, standing and stretching. ¡°You were right. I was just trying to justify my old life.¡±
¡°Begone with your old life. That¡¯s long-dead.¡± Fenian grabbed Theo by the arm, dragging him toward the celebrations.
Both Zarali and Xol¡¯sa were performing a slow dance. They were in the center of a ring of people. Some had hands sped over their hearts while others were cheering and hooting. All assembled were slightly more influenced by the many libations than they should have been. Fenian grabbed Theo¡¯s arm, pressing his head against the alchemist and cooing at the couple. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t remove the elf.
When the dance was over, and the crowd rushed into the space, Fenian whistled. Everyone¡ªincluding the band¡ªstopped.
¡°What an excellent celebration!¡± Fenian shouted, holding his hands high to further gain the crowd¡¯s attention. ¡°Not only are we here today to get piss drunk¡¡± He paused for cheers. ¡°But also to celebrate the joining of two hearts. The finest elven artisans have joined their efforts to create a monument to this moment. I¡¯d like to present a special gift to the newly married couple.¡±
Theo watched future events unfold long before they actually did. He groaned.
A statue appeared from Fenian¡¯s inventory, falling into ce on the ground and settling there. Laughter came next, followed by a ssh of pink spreading across Xol¡¯sa¡¯s cheeks. Zarali barked augh, pping her hand over it an instantter.
¡°Behold!¡± Fenian shouted. ¡°A masterpiece.¡±
The statue was cast in what looked like bronze, sitting on a silver tform. Two figures were depicted, twice the size of their real-world counterparts. A version of Zarali stood, holding an ornate sword aloft. She wore almost nothing, d in tattered armor with her hair billowing in the wind. Theo didn¡¯t remember her being so absurdly muscr, but the statue depicted her as such. Xol¡¯sa had both hands wrapped around her leg, sitting at the base of the statue. His statue version looked up to her with an expression of reverence to her¡ muscles.
Fenian scampered off, shoving the couple forward to get a better look at the statue. ¡°I think we captured you both perfectly.¡±
¡°Are you certain?¡± Zarali asked with a wince. ¡°Why does he look so¡ scared?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not fear, darling,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Our resident space elf is experiencing awe at your majesty.¡±
¡°I like it,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, nodding as he gazed up at the barbarian version of his wife.
¡°I¡¯m afraid,¡± Theo said.
¡°I want one!¡± Tresk shouted.
¡°Funny you should ask,¡± Fenian said, motioning as though to pull another statue from nowhere. He shrugged. ¡°Just kidding, Theo. I know your chaste heart would burst if you saw a giant, muscr marshling up there.¡±
¡°This certainly is something,¡± Theo said, trying not tough. ¡°I¡¯m not sure you gave the artist an urate description, though.¡±
¡°Come, now,¡± Fenian said, looking between the statue and real versions of the wedded couple. ¡°I can¡¯t tell the difference!¡±
¡°I need more wine,¡± Zarali said, turning and breaking away from the group.
After the reveal of the statue, the music continued. The dancing and drinking resumed as Theo found his way to the back of the crowd. Fenian was done with their conversation, although it was hard to tell if the elf¡¯s n was to gain forgiveness, a piece of a dragon, or something else. Whatever the case, he had made an interesting impression on the celebration, cementing himself as something else entirely.
Although the sun had fallen, and a few people had broken off from the party, the games, fights, and drinking went on well into the night. Theo would have gone to bed hours ago, but Tresk was insistent on continuing the celebration. He didn¡¯t mind, as he was mostly relieved about what the wedding party was. And he was shocked to see only minor damage had been inflicted onto the town. A few windows were broken from friendly fights, but that was it. Sulvan had a night off after healing Theo and Fenian.
Not only was today important because of the wedding. But it was the first day of the Season of Death. Not that Broken Tusk would experience much of autumn. They were far south enough as to almost be tropical. Where Qavell had been in a temperate climate, the soutnds had always been hot. Theo hoped for the weather to calm down. If only a little. He wasn¡¯t confident about crafting enough fuel for the town¡¯s air conditioners with his new alchemy system. Perhaps they could cool the important buildings, but no more.
Theo watched as an improvised bonfire zed near the town¡¯s monolith. Most of the band that had been ying were passed out, only the drummer still beating a steady rhythm. Tresk danced arm-in-arm with a random elf. A scattering of other people stood around, half-heartedly swaying with the slowing beat. The alchemist sipped his mead, never having drank enough to feel much. This seemed like a decent end to a strange time. He hadn¡¯t yet fixed the space elves or the shards, but he had a path forward. With such a strange issue, he couldn¡¯t expect more than that.
¡°I¡¯m sleepy,¡± Tresk said, shuffling over to sit near Theo. ¡°You just gonna sit all night?¡±
Theo gestured to the thinning crowd. It must have been past midnight. ¡°With such a lively crowd, I¡¯d rather just watch.¡±
¡°Good one. Eavesdropped on you talking with Fenian. You giving my dragon bones away?¡±
¡°He really enjoyed the piece I gave him. Sometimes you just have to give the man a bone to chew on. Y¡¯know?¡±
¡°I most certainly do not.¡± Tresk slumped forward. ¡°Can we go to bed?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Theo said. He helped Tresk stand as he did. Alex had already returned to herfortable barn. Zarali and Xol¡¯sa retreated to the tower hours ago. There wasn¡¯t much left to enjoy here. The pair headed for the manor.
Xol¡¯sa was responsible for creating the tethers and beacons Theo would need to bring the shards back. It might be hard cing them throughout the world, but that was a problem for another time. So long as the space elf wasn¡¯t busy with his marital duties, it wouldn¡¯t take that long to finish.
Theo and Tresk returned to the manor, finding it silent. Sarisa and Rowan were already asleep. Just like most of the town. They made their way to the top floor bedroom, falling into what thin amount of the Dreamwalk was left. The moment they entered, all sense of tiredness washed away. A phantom scene of the party they had just attended appeared, revelers fighting through the streets and draining entire kegs into their opened mouths. This was a fond memory for Tresk¡ apparently.
Alex came pping in from the sky, stirring up the dirt over the cobbles. Shended, the ground shaking beneath her.
¡°What¡¯s your n for the night, buddy?¡± Tresk asked.
Theo clicked his tongue, shrugging. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll do much. Until Throk makes the next iteration of my stills, I¡¯m just waiting.¡±
¡°Wanna spy on some dreams?¡± Tresk asked, wiggling her eyebrows. Well, she didn¡¯t have eyebrows, but she tried.
Theo shrugged. ¡°Why not? Nothing creepy.¡±
¡°All I¡¯ve got is creepy,¡± Tresk said, waving her hand through the air. Nothing happened immediately, but the scene shifted in time. They stood at the base of a ziggurat, an elven man Theo recognized as a colonist from the Wavecrest House standing near the bottom. Snakes were hissing from the steps. ¡°This guy always dreams about the snakes. No idea what his deal is.¡±
¡°So, what value does this power from the Dreamer¡¯s Core have?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Spying on dreams is interesting, but how is it helpful for you? As the Dreamer?¡±
¡°When we¡¯re trapped in heaven, I can go between dreams and deliver messages,¡± Tresk said. ¡°It is a foolproof way tomunicate with the mortal realm without being pped by the gods.¡±
¡°Who are you people?¡± the elf said, turning and looking at the group with horror. ¡°Archduke Theo¡ No, I swear I filled my production quota. Don¡¯t beat me again!¡±
¡°I never beat him,¡± Theo said.
¡°Sounds like you beat him, though,¡± Tresk said, shaking her head.
The elven man cowered, holding his hands up defensively. ¡°Not again!¡±
¡°How are you going to talk to them if they¡¯re all like this?¡± Theo asked. ¡°He isn¡¯t making sense.¡±
¡°He makes a lot of sense if you think about it. You abuser.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never hit this man,¡± Theo said, folding his arms. ¡°I would have remembered it.¡±
The man screamed.
¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Tresk said, scoffing. ¡°I¡¯d rather not think about the obvious history of abuse you¡¯veid, like the foundation to your own downfall. This is how you make a revolution, you know?¡±
Theo red at Tresk. ¡°Take us somewhere more interesting.¡±
Treskughed, the scene shifting again. ¡°We¡¯re just gonna snoop. Do a little snooping.¡±
Theo braced himself to view more weird dreams. At least it was an interesting distraction.
6.52 - Newer Stills
6.52 - Newer Stills
Theo stood in the Marsh Wolf Tavern, looking over the zed eyes of what few patrons hade in. He drummed his fingers on the counter, finding Xam in a simr state. Given time, she produced decently cooked food that would be good enough for the morning. After paying, he headed out and jumped with shock. He let out a breath, looking up at the muscr form of Zarali looming over Broken Tusk. Averting his gaze, he rushed to the manor to deliver breakfast.
Rowan and Sarisa had crawled out of bed, but were still on the floor, groaning and wing at the floor. Theo ced a bowl of soup by each of them, setting out food for himself and Tresk at the table. Neither of them were as bothered, but they hadn¡¯t hit the mead as hard as the others. It was a matter of volume or Vigor. The alchemist took his seat at the table, spooning soup into his mouth.
¡°Let¡¯s not visit more dreams,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°I won¡¯t soon recover from Fenian¡¯s mind.¡±
¡°Yeah, that elf is freaky.¡± Tresk tipped the bowl back, eating her soup in one go.
¡°Did you see Salire at the party?¡±
Tresk shook her head then shrugged. ¡°Once. She was stered pretty early.¡±
¡°That might have been the correct strategy. I thought it went well. Right?¡±
Tresk shrugged again. ¡°No one died. So, yeah. Good stuff.¡±
Theo was hopeful for Throk¡¯s productivity today. He wasn¡¯t at the party, so hopefully he wasn¡¯t hungover. There were many things to consider from the recent change, but something that was unaffected was his golems. The alchemist¡¯s army of golems was still going strong, doing their work without a care. He still needed to consider what it meant to work with his [Tero¡¯gal Greenhouse], but perhaps he would now have enough time. The rate of growth within the greenhouse was slower, and there were fewer spaces. Also, there were no upgrades.Compared to the way the Tero¡¯gal Manor had updated, it was strange. Perhaps there was an advantage to keeping buildings unaligned in this new world. Just like people selecting cores provided by the true gods, or the ones that remained neutral, there were advantages and disadvantages to both. He chose to pause his experimentation with the greenhouses until the first crop of spiny swamp thistle root came in.
¡°We need to carve time out of your schedule to look at the corrupted core of Qavell,¡± Theo said, finishing thest of his soup.
¡°What, am I gonna purge it or something?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°I¡¯d rather see what the dragon bones do for your alchemy.¡±
¡°Dragon bones are fun, but this shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±
¡°Bah.¡±
Theo left Sarisa and Rowan on the ground after covering them each with a nket. He left wineskins filled with water near each of them, ensuring their hydration when they woke. The issue with Qavell¡¯s corruption shouldn¡¯t have been too hard to solve. The alchemist reflected on that as they rode Alex over to the city, gaining angry shouts from the guards below. He figured the hardest part of fixing the city was wrangling Tresk for a few hours while her Dreamer¡¯s Core interfaced with the Town and Kingdom Core.
¡°King Hanan,¡± Theo said, bowing his head slightly as he entered the pce. The king was standing with his arms folded, looking tired. ¡°You attended the party?¡±
¡°Yes. Some half-ogre convinced me to drink more than I wanted.¡± The king rubbed his face, pping his cheeks. ¡°It will take half the day for me to wake.¡±
¡°I hear that,¡± Tresk said.
¡°We¡¯re going to look at the core, if that¡¯s okay,¡± Theo said, waiting for the king¡¯s approval. It was only polite.
¡°Be my guest.¡±
Too hungover to care, the king gave the pair ess to the lower levels of the city. They moved through the maze, finding their way to the ritual chamber shortly after. Little had changed. Theo had performed regr maintenance on the shielding, and could now use his abilities to enhance it further. But if this worked, they wouldn¡¯t need to contain the corruption.
¡°The Venom spread further sincest time,¡± Theo said, gesturing with a copper knife to the veins of poison pulsing through the corruption. ¡°My fear is it will infect the city itself.¡±
¡°Yeah, that poison was great.¡±
¡°Are you getting any notifications?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Yeah, yeah. Something about corruption spreading, end of the world, h h.¡± Tresk sighed as little spectral wings sprouted from her back. ¡°You getting anything?¡±
¡°Nope.¡± The corruption had to proceed to a stage where the Throne Cores would recognize it as a threat. Fenian¡¯s core had only reacted to the entity after it manifested, and now the Dreamer¡¯s Core didn¡¯t like the way the corruption was spreading. And it was spreading, if only at a cial pace. ¡°Work your magic, little lizard.¡±
Tresk spit into her hands, rubbing them together. ¡°Presto, chango!¡±
Theo watched as the marshling held her hands out, her eyes pinched tightly. ¡°I dunno what I¡¯m doing,¡± she said after a while.
¡°You could try smacking it.¡±
¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡±
Tresk tried quite a few things before giving up. They lingered near the core, unable to figure out how to jump-start her Dreamer¡¯s Core. Giving up, they sent Alex off to find Fenian. A half-hourter, she flew back to deposit his limp body onto the steps of the pce. The alchemist hoisted the elf over his shoulder, marching back to the ritual room. He had passed out on someone¡¯s roof in Stabby Grove, although no one around the area was conscious enough to give a report. If someone wanted to attack the alliance, now was the perfect time.
¡°He¡¯s not dead, is he?¡± Tresk asked as Theo ced Fenian in the ritual room.
¡°He has a pulse,¡± Theo said, rolling the elf onto his stomach. Wings sprouted from his back, the room filling with a droning thrum. ¡°There we go. Anything new on your end?¡±
¡°Yep. System message says we can purge the corruption with love and friendship or something.¡± Tresk spit into her hands once again, pinching her eyes shut and reaching out. ¡°Oh yeah, baby. I¡¯m feeling the juice.¡±
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Theo watched the process with interest. Mist formed in the air, flowing from both Fenian and Tresk as it entered the city¡¯s core. Floating baubles of light burst against the monolith, removing corruption where theynded. For this purging to work, both members of the mortal realm team needed to be here. The alchemist was reminded of when he met Death, and how he kicked Twist out of the heavens. Perhaps he should spend more time in the realm of the gods, enforcing the rules. Maybe that was Khahar¡¯s job¡
¡°We¡¯re about five percent done,¡± Tresk said, clicking her tongue. ¡°This is some repair process by the system. It says this corruption is a foreign entity that isn¡¯t allowed on any ne, let alone the mortal one. And I know your theory.¡±
Theo nodded, finding himself lost in thought. ¡°I have little information about this guy, but I think he¡¯s like the Harbinger from my world. Maybe another one of his kind, or a shadow of the real thing. We don¡¯t know the capacity and will of the entity, so I find it hard to make ns against it.¡±
¡°This could be the answer, though. Just cleaning up the mess bit-by-bit.¡±
¡°Maybe. It might be the job of the Dreamwalker and the Arbiter to sort this stuff out.¡±
Theo and Tresk threw theories around, not reaching much of a conclusion. It was hard to find an answer with such little information. The alchemist considered the power of his Tero¡¯gal Mage¡¯s Core, and the things he might do with it after leveling a bit more.
¡°What if we put a ward over the entire?¡± Theo asked.
¡°The is big,¡± Tresk countered.
That got Theo thinking. Mostly about the shards he was destined to recover. ¡°What if that¡¯s the purpose of the shards?¡±
¡°That would solve your problems, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Tresk asked,ughing to herself. She swayed slightly, stopping the repair to wipe sweat from her brow. ¡°This sucks. I need a break.¡±
It took about half the day for Tresk and the unconscious Fenian to remove the corruption of the core. But they seeded. Theo even brought Hanan back to check his interface, finding that every trace of the corruption was gone. The alchemist hoisted Fenian over his shoulder when they were done, finding it much harder to move through the pce with those wings. They took him back to the manor, rather than depositing him onto whatever roof he came from.
¡°Are you sure he¡¯s alive?¡± Tresk asked as Theo ced the elf onto a soft bed.
¡°He has a pulse,¡± Theo repeated with a shrug. He pped Fenian in the face, causing him to groan. ¡°There. He made a sound.¡±
¡°That could have been air escaping¡¡±
¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Theo said, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you have more dragon bones to find?¡±
¡°I¡¯m kinda sleepy myself. Did too much work today.¡± Tresk stood there, looking over Fenian with a hooded gaze. ¡°I¡¯m gonna stand here for a few hours and stare at him like a creep.¡±
¡°Okie dokie,¡± Theo said, heading out from the manor. With only half of the day left, he had two tasks he wanted to tackle. Processing the alchemical waste would take too long. But he could discover the properties on the dragon bones and getting hisb in working order again was within his grasp. He wasn¡¯t surprised to find the shop, experimentation floor, andb of the building empty. But there were some new fancy stills, courtesy of Throk. ¡°Instead of partying, he was working. I can appreciate that.¡±
The new stills were of an extremely low capacity. There were new fancy gizmos, and the thickness of the still itself had increased significantly. Throk had heard about the explosions rocking through the town, and sought to mitigate that. He created a more efficient bomb, or a safer still. It was hard to tell which. There were also improvements to the iron paddles, which should have made them collect more impurities. He inspected one of the five that Throk had delivered.
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Artifice Still]
[Alchemy Equipment]
Epic
Created By: Throk
A 50 unit capacity Drogramathi Iron still with attached advanced condenser, internal heating elements, protective ting, over-pressure valve, and rotating paddle attachment.
Effects:
Distition time reduced.
asionally produces more essence.
Reduces the chance of explosive reactions.
Attachments:
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Bubble te]
[Custom Drogramathi Iron Vapor Pressurizer]
[Custom Artifice Heater]
[Custom Artifice Timer]
[Custom Artifice rotator]
The pressurizer was optional. Theo could remove that to test the baseline operation of the still. If the first step to this new alchemy was so different, he couldn¡¯t imagine the second being any easier. Running first tier essence through a pressure condenser might cause an explosion. Then again, it might not. But he wasn¡¯t going to test that within hisb. The testing chamber seemed more appealing by the day. Perhaps it was time to ept that upgrade¡
¡°After we get this going,¡± Theo told himself, preparing for a run with his new still. He only nned to run one batch for now. Throk had a way of ironing out problems, though. After a few rounds of feedback, the alchemist expected this to run perfectly.
It felt strange holding therge alchemical grinder over the small still. Theo found it was far easier to mash the reagents in a different vessel before transferring them to the still. He relied on his core and abilities to measure the right amounts out, cing a mixture of essence and water in equal parts into the still. After that, it was a matter of setting the programmable heating and stirring settings to the right spot and letting it sit for about a day.
Fermentation was a problem, but it was a problem for another day. Baby steps.
Theo looked up from his work, watching as Salire stumbled into theb. Her face went a deeper shade of red when she spotted him. Messy hair, wrinkled clothes, and dark bags under her eyes marked her as one of many who had over indulged.
¡°You never take a break, do you?¡± she groaned, shuffling into theb.
¡°I try not to. Throk is right there with me. I¡¯ve got a new still running.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Salire said, slumping over a table and hanging her head.
Theo got to work, filling an empty still with some water. He added moss, and poured them both a cup of tea before handing a mug over to her. ¡°Not as good as what Xam makes, but good enough for a hangover.¡±
Salire epted the cup, nodding as she took her first sip. ¡°Delicious.¡±
Theo took a sip of his. It tasted like moss with a hint of citrus. Although he had a cup with breakfast, another wasn¡¯t unwee. The slightly sweet scent of the distilling essence mingled with the earthy smell of the moss. Salire perked up slightly, but still rested against the table with her shoulders slumped.
¡°Are we calling this a sess?¡± she asked.
¡°Not until this batch finishes unattended,¡± Theo said. He worked on spreading a barrier of containment around the working still. Now that Salire had mentioned sess, failure was on his mind. At least he could use his barrier wards to experiment within hisb, rather than retreating to the clearing behind theb. ¡°I was thinking about something¡¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Salire looked up with bloodshot eyes.
¡°The first Tero¡¯gal potion I made was twice as effective as Drogramath¡¯s version.¡±
¡°Even if it took significantly more time and effort,¡± Salire added.
¡°Yeah. But I hope that¡¯s a trend. We¡¯re forced to craft less potions, but we¡¯ll need to craft less. Because these new potions are going to be more effective.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Salire said, her head thumping against the table. ¡°Sounds perfect.¡±
That was the n¡ for now. Run the new stills to ensure they were functioning correctly. Next came the need to figure out Tero¡¯gal¡¯s second tier of alchemy. During these experiments, Theo wanted to check the reactiveness of various reagents. That would let him know if the base purity of any reagents could be influenced by his aligned greenhouses. He would y it by ear from there, pushing himself in whatever direction he needed to go.
Theo pped his hands together. Salire jumped, sputtering. ¡°No sleeping on the job.¡±
¡°I¡¯m awake,¡± Salire said, pushing off from the table. She shook her head, blinking away her tiredness. ¡°What are we doing?¡±
6.53 - Impure Essence
6.53 - Impure Essence
Most of Broken Tusk had recovered by the next day. The happy couple was sequestered in their tower, all drunks had been refreshed, and Theo sat at the table in his manor. Sarisa and Rowan still weren¡¯t well enough to cook breakfast, but they could make it to Xam¡¯s to buy some food. It was soup again, which was good enough for the alchemist.
¡°Did you two even wake up yesterday?¡± Theo asked, poking his spoon at both Rowan and Sarisa.
¡°No,¡± Rowan said, groaning. ¡°I¡¯m still feeling it.¡±
¡°I know. If only our resident alchemist could make a cure¡¡± Sarisa winked about ten times at Theo.
¡°Oh, there is a cure for hangovers using alchemy,¡± Tresk said, nodding to herself. ¡°But we don¡¯t have the nt.¡±
¡°Of course we don¡¯t. Why would we have nice things?¡± Sarisa groaned, mming her head into the table.
¡°I fell asleep in here.¡± Rowan had a distant look on his face, as though viewing the events from yesterday. ¡°Forgot about the mini-Dreamwalk. That was some freaky stuff.¡±
¡°You control that dream. You know that, right?¡± Sarisa asked. ¡°So whatever you dreamed of was your fault. What was it?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± Rowan said, going pale.¡°This is why we don¡¯t have more parties.¡± Theo loomed over the pair like a disappointed parent. ¡°Maybe we should head to the swamp today as punishment.¡±
¡°You can go alone. No energy,¡± Sarisa said, waving the thought away.
¡°You can¡¯t scare the children like that,¡± Tresk said, shaking her head. She clicked her tongue and waggled a finger toplete the look of a disappointed mother.
Theo expected another chill day in town. Everyone was feeling better than yesterday, but they would still be sluggish. After finishing breakfast, he headed to the Newt and Demon. He approached the entrance with caution, poking his head in the front door and searching for damage. He climbed to the third floor, doing the same thing. A fifty unit sk of distilled first tier essence sat on the table, and the still was intact.
It was hard not topare this sk of essence to the first ones he made after arriving in town. He could now see the details¡ªinvisible to most¡ªthat distinguished the work of an amateur and the perfection of Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy. It went beyond the old grade markers of Drogramath¡¯s alchemy. Perfection was now measured in the essence''s purity, quality of the stills, and skill of the alchemist.
The iron paddle had done its job. After cleaning the leftover reagent mash from the still, Theo removed the paddle and ced it on a clean table for inspection. Using an alchemically neutral copper knife, he removed a tiny chunk, transferring it to a ss vial for experimentation. He stowed the paddle in dimensional storage to avoid any unexpected reactions while he loaded all five of the new stills with Spiny Swamp Thistle Root, topping each with water, and setting them to work.
Theo might have had the confidence to set the stills and forget them, but he still created a small, round shield around each five. Just in case.
Holding his hand over the vial, Theo focused on his Reagent Deconstruction ability. He could feel the small amounts of the whole reagent left behind in the crystalized waste. He pulled on those bits, allowing mana to pool in his hand and drip into the vial. Tilting the ssware container on its side, he expected an explosion. But he focused on pulling the pieces of the waste apart, watching as the mixture bubbled, always on the verge of a more violent reaction. The crystalized waste condensed, tinkling as he rolled the mix around. Both a solid and liquid were left behind, after the mana evaporated. The solid registered as Alchemical Waste when he inspected it, but the murky liquid provided something new.
[Impure Healing Essence]
[Impure Essence]
Common
An iplete essence with trace amounts of Healingponents.
¡°Interesting,¡± Theo said, pulling the solid junk out and letting it fall to the table.
Intuition told him this iplete essence would behave more like regr essence than junk. The solids were still useless, but he could work with this. Those trace elements in the Impure Essence could be used for something. He didn¡¯t know what, but he could do something with it. For now, he would speed his way to the second tier, leaving this forter
Throk was gonna be mad.
Knowing there was something to do with the waste was an excellent step forward. Theo made his way to the aligned greenhouse, patting the nt Golem as he entered the space. He pulled a mostly grown sample of the root from the garden, watching as the golem rushed in to fill the gap. Since they were harvesting fewer things, the poor fe had less to do. He left, passing by his Experimental Garden Plot at the Herbalist Workshop and shaking his head. He would get back to that project soon enough. Settling in before his research table, the alchemist considered how different this new variant of the nt was.
[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
The root of a Spiny Swamp Thistle.
Research:
Infused with an exceptional amount of Tero¡¯gal energy.
Medium Growth Cycle.
Exceptionally pure sample.
Will not generate a known potion.
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Flourish]
The information provided by the workshop contained things Theo was aware of. It made sense that this would be soaked in Tero¡¯gal energy, but he was d to see it was a pure sample. It would not cause a new potion, much to his disappointment. The system only allowed him to get away with earning so many attributes before it stepped in. That was fine, though. Tero¡¯gal Alchemy was more about working with pure samples, so cultivating these nts was necessary.
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Tero¡¯gal Alchemy would be easier with these reagents, but Theo wanted to get it right from the start. He wanted a detailed instruction manual. The more they knew about the hardships future alchemists would endure the better. The alchemist updated the list of orders for his golem, instructing it to harvest from the Tero¡¯gal Greenhouse. Before moving to his next task, he updated his other greenhouses, making the hard decision on which nts to put in each structure.
¡°Interesting,¡± Theo said, kneeling to inspect what had been generated for the me Rose.
The exterior of the greenhouse looked normal enough. But as Theo poked his head inside, he saw the volcanic conditions within. The ground was a darker shade, and the heat was unbearable. That heat didn¡¯t escape from the building, but the ss on the outside was almost too hot to touch. Theo clicked his tongue, looking over the eight greenhouses he had. He could only cover the three restoration nts and the five attribute nts before running out of room. But those were the eight most useful reagents he had ess to.
¡°Difficult choices,¡± Theo grumbled to himself, looking over the strange new greenhouses. ¡°I don¡¯t trust the one with lightning inside¡¡±
Maintaining enough greenhouses to service every reagent Theo wanted to use wasn¡¯t possible now. While he could split the space inside, he doubted non-aligned reagents would flourish within. Especially not the greenhouse for the Lightning Poppy. Between his understanding of the new alchemy techniques and the greenhouses, the potions would flow once again.
Theo departed from the tangle of greenhouses, wandering out onto the street. Instead ofpleting a massive 500 unit batch within hours, he now had to wait at least a day. With more time between runs, he made his way through the town. With more people heading out onto the street, it felt more alive. That narrow window of time where everyone was too sensitive to the light, orpletely unconscious had passed in a sh. Before long, he found Sulvan slumped by the town¡¯s monolith.
¡°Rough couple of days?¡± Theo asked, withdrawing a Stamina Potion from his inventory and holding it out.
Sulvan took the potion with a feeble grasp, downing it in one go and huping. ¡°Alcohol poisoning counts as poisoning. Just in case you needed to know.¡±
Theoughed, helping the man to his feet. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that. How many people were affected?¡±
¡°Something like half,¡± Sulvan said, rubbing his face. ¡°I hope you¡¯re creating more potions.¡±
¡°We just nailed the process down. It might take a week, but we¡¯ll have everything we need.¡±
Sulvan sped his hands together, muttering a prayer. ¡°I¡¯ll be more prepared for the next party. Perhaps you can brew some potions to cure the poisonous effects.¡±
¡°The effectes from zee, so I don¡¯t see a problem with that. We could mix it in with the booze.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°No, it might explode. You should take a break for the day.¡±
Sulvan shook his head, rolling his shoulders. The effects of the Stamina Potion were immediate and potent. ¡°I feel better after drinking the potion.¡±
¡°Yeah, but you¡¯ll crashter. Just keep that in mind.¡±
Theo departed thepany of the town¡¯s main healer. Bilgrob was a new brand of healer, too. But the ogre had trouble understanding how his Tero¡¯gal Healer¡¯s Core worked. While the alchemist wished he could infuse the man with some insight, he knew as much as anyone else. His connection with Tero¡¯gal was strong, but the Throneworld wouldn¡¯t give him the keys to each of its cores. With most of the town now with cores of his own making, that was a problem.
The bright spot in the saga of old cores losing their power was the workforce of the town. Most had unaligned cores¡ªtypically calledborer cores¡ªthat experienced nothing when the shift happened. Gridgen at the mines, Ziz in the quarry, Nira at the smelters, Perg from the tannery, Throk and Thim at the smith and artificer, and even the infirmed Sledge that worked the woodcutting station all had unaligned cores. There was a point where folks were considering aligned with Drogramath. They had dismissed the idea at the time, but happily epted Tero¡¯gal corester.
Faith in the false gods was thin, even before they had been discovered as such.
Theo listened to the chime of the bell at Whisper¡¯s butcher shop. She didn¡¯t look up from the sausage stuffing artifice Throk had built her.
¡°How are the new cores working?¡± Theo asked, leaning over the counter. Without the Coat of Rake, he would¡¯ve been too cold. She kept the air conditioner as low as it would go, resulting in ayer of frozen condensation on the window.
¡°Very well,¡± she said.
¡°Could I get some sausages?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
Whisper tried to refuse payment, but Theo used an old tactic. After cing the cured meat in his inventory, he threw money at her and ran out the door. He made his way to the Weaver¡¯s Workshop on the other side of town, taking his time to appreciate the sights of the dying summer. The weather was improving, if only a little. Constant rain in the Season of Blooms, unending heat in the Season of Fire, and now a pleasant breeze that blew from the north for the Season of Death. If this season mirrored those on Earth, there would be celebrations. Perhaps he should focus on those Cure Poison Potions¡
¡°Hello,¡± Theo said, entering Kaya¡¯s workshop and bowing slightly. He spoke in a broken version of the elf-tongue, only ever picking up a few words. ¡°Having fun?¡±
Kaya looked up, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m learning Qavelli.¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s close, right? Just checking in on everyone.¡± He cleared his throat, switching betweennguages again. ¡°New cores good?¡±
¡°Very good. Thank you,¡± Kaya said, bowing her head.
Theo gave her a healthy thumbs-up before leaving. He had learned Axphashi for no reason, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to learn the most poprnguage in Tarantham. Taranthamese? Whatever. The elf-tongue. In a twist of irony, Russian was more useful. Especially if one were going to the Khahari Desert. For his next stop, the alchemist wanted to check on a very important member of the town. Broken Tusk had the Synergistics upgrade which had done little since Sledge wasid up.
The alchemist approached Mudball Fundamental, watching as the children yed in the massive yard. While the fence kept the kids inside, it also provided a crude form of a defense for any errant monsters. Not that a monster had been sighted inside the walls for a while. They had enough patrols to put a stop to that risk. Bob was teaching a ss about the shifting politics of the world. He had been hit as hard as anyone else, his Zaul cores transforming into Shadow cores overnight.
Theo found the room Sledge had imed in the back. He cracked the door, his eyes going wide as he spotted a sight too cute to believe. Three tiny marshlings that could fit in the palm of his hand, were running around the room. They shrieked, bit, and hissed at just about everything. Sledge sat in the corner, watching her children with pride. After spending a short time in the eggs, the marshling babies were finally here.
¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Sledge shouted, withdrawing a knife from nowhere.
Theo snapped the door closed before the angered marshling could charge him. He turned away, catching a knowing look from Bob.
¡°Perhaps we should invite our esteemed leader over for a lesson on marshling child rearing,¡± Bob said, smacking his lips. ¡°Since he¡¯s so clueless.¡±
The children giggled.
¡°I didn¡¯t know they had hatched,¡± Theo said, making his way to the front door.
¡°And you should be happy about that. She might have killed you if they were still in egg form.¡± Bob shook his head. ¡°What do we always say, children?¡±
¡°Never mess with a marshling,¡± the children said at the same time.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
Theo let himself out of the school, thinking about how short of a gestation period that was. Asexual reproduction must have been a boon for the marshling people. Perhaps that¡¯s why they had survived so long without being destroyed. As the alchemist thought about how the marshlings had endured for so long, his mind drifted to the lizard inds. He had wanted a bridge to their side of the world for a while, but every project had failed. Ziz¡¯s bridge was at the bottom of the sea somewhere. More than one bridge, actually.
With his newfound spare time, and abundance of willpower, he could make the bridge. A massive causeway might screw with the way the oceans worked, but it might be fine. He could construct gaps in the middle. Since his n was to take the entire region with him when they migrated to Tero¡¯gal, none of the work he did would be lost. Instead of seeing this ce as disposable, he wanted to see what it could look like if crafted with the tools he had.
Free time meant construction projects. And construction projects were fun.
6.54 - Progress Report for the Gods
6.54 - Progress Report for the Gods
The point of entry for Tero¡¯gal had changed much since Theo first visited. He stood on a cobblestone road, looking out over the difference with a sigh. It was easy to recall the tiny realm, the sharp decline leading to a sprawling sky. There was a single pool of water fed by a spring, and a field of wheat. Now people passed by, giving him curt nods as they moved from ce to ce. Perhaps they took the main road west¡ªwhich was once a trail people used to rollerde¡ªtoward the seas in the west. Or a pilgrimage in the same direction, off to visit the Seat of the Thrones.
¡°I haven¡¯t seen you this pensive in a while,¡± Belgar said, cing aforting hand on the alchemist¡¯s shoulder.
Theo drew another deep breath, turning to the fully realized dronon and nodding. ¡°I¡¯m nostalgic. This is like watching a child grow into adulthood.¡±
¡°Well, we have very adult problems to deal with now,¡± Belgar said, withdrawing a copper coin from a pouch on his belt. ¡°Food, water, housing¡ money.¡±
¡°Ew. Money,¡± Theo said, feigning disgust. ¡°What happened to mymunist utopia?¡±
Belgar shrugged a response at first, gazing out over a strangendmark. A ring of stone loomed in the distance, perhaps one-hundred feet tall and wide. How the residents of Tero¡¯gal had built it or why was beyond the alchemist¡¯s ability to guess.
¡°Void stopped by to tell us the time would change, but I don¡¯t know when to expect that. Tero¡¯gal, Khahak, and the Bridge will be synchronized with the mortal world.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the end of an era,¡± Theo said, smiling to himself. It was better that way, though. With how this realm was changing, he couldn¡¯t give support to them as well as he wanted. Slower development would be nice. ¡°You want me to ask about the giant ring of stone, don¡¯t you.¡±
¡°Yup! Come on, let me show you,¡± Belgar said, dragging Theo by the arm.The path leading west from the growing town had changed little. It had been widened to allow more people passage at once. But the crowd of trees on either side was still there, giving weed shade to the trip. A cart rolled by on their right, drawn by an ox. Another man rode the opposite direction on the back of a horse.
¡°The fauna here¡ is it all creatures from Earth?¡± Theo asked.
¡°They¡¯re not from Iaredin, that much I know,¡± Belgar said. ¡°Was that bura that went past from Earth?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a horse,¡± Theo corrected. ¡°Are you guys renaming the creatures?¡±
Belgar shrugged as if to say ¡®why not?¡¯
The new denizens of the world were eager to rename or name everything. Since someone spotted a pig near the first town, they had named it Boar Hollow. The road leading to the west was mainly used by people transporting goods, so it was called the Western Trade Road. And so on. The names weren¡¯t imaginative, but it hardly seemed to matter. These were the people making the history of the world, so they had every right to name the stuff whatever they wanted.
The duo walked for a while. Theo could have teleported them to their destination, but he enjoyed the quiet moment along the road. The road spanned a creek with a stone bridge, and covered as many inclines and declines. Drawing closer to the massive ring, the paved area underneath it came into view. The locals had leveled thend, paving it with fat stone bricks before building the ring. The alchemist could finally see the intricate runework carved into the structure itself. Written in axpashi, he could understand some of it.
¡°Tapping into the Bridge?¡± Theo asked, shaking his head. ¡°How has that been going?¡±
¡°Not well. Even with Uz¡¯Xulven¡¯s help. She¡¯s just over there,¡± Belgar said, gesturing in the distance. The woman was working with a hammer and chisel at the base of the ring.
¡°Theo!¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, spotting them as they approached. ¡°What do you think?¡±
¡°Impressive. How does it stay upright?¡± he asked.
¡°Magic,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said with too much jazz-hands for such a simple response. ¡°Been trying to tune this thing to the right frequency, but no luck.¡±
¡°Yes, we¡¯ve seen some strange things on the other end.¡± Belgar sighed dramatically. ¡°Not the bridge, though.¡±
¡°Watch,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven said, throwing her arms wide.
Theo could feel the magic pouring from her, stinging the air like a swarm of angry bees. After forming aplex spell, she released it. Light pooled at the stone circle¡¯s center, spreading out like a pond refilling. The blue faded as Uz¡¯Xulven trotted around to their side. She looked up at the forming image, tutting.
¡°We got him a few times already,¡± she said.
Theo narrowed his eyes. He made out the image of a small goblin wearing a robe. The creature made a few gestures, but no sound carried through. After a bit of wild iling, he gave them the finger before swiping his hands through the air. The pool vanished in an instant.
¡°That¡¯s a strangely powerful goblin mage,¡± Uz¡¯Xulven exined. ¡°Dunno where he¡¯s from, but I think he has a Gate wherever that might be. But we¡¯re getting closer to using the Bridge.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the goal here?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We¡¯re connecting Tero¡¯gal with Khahak,¡± Belgar said. ¡°That way, we can have two worlds united.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have the same iron grip the ascendants had on their realms, but you¡¯re still all-powerful here.¡± Uz¡¯Xulven tapped her chin, her eyes scanning over the sigils on her Gate. ¡°We don¡¯t expect factions, wars, or any of that nonsense.¡±
¡°Well, there have been attempts at that sort of thing. But nothingsts.¡±
¡°Troublemakers already?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Ya don¡¯t say.¡±
¡°No one was surprised. The world itself seems opposed to conflict.¡± A smile spread across Belgar¡¯s face. It looked as though he was recalling a pleasant memory. ¡°Thendscape changed as one group advanced on another. Nothing happened after that.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve noticed Tero¡¯gal getting more willful. We¡¯re not really controlling it anymore.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good thing, right?¡± Uz¡¯Xulven asked. ¡°Yeah?¡±
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Theo shrugged. He would offer to help her figure out what was wrong with the gate, but there was no point. She lost her ascendant core, but still maintained a high-level mage¡¯s core. That core didn¡¯t work as well in Tero¡¯gal, but it still mostly worked. From what he understood, Drogramath was in a different boat. The once-potioneer¡¯s core was non-functional. Perhaps that had something to do with Uz¡¯Xulven¡¯s possession of the Bridge, or an arbitrary response by the Throneworld. No matter what the cause, he knew it would take a while for things to sort themselves out.
¡°Very nice ring,¡± Theo said, turning away from the site. ¡°I¡¯m going on a tour. You¡¯re doing a great job, Belgar.¡±
Theo vanished after getting a big smile from Belgar. The man had assumed a mantle of responsibility he didn¡¯t need to. But without the alchemist there all the time, it made sense to put someone else in charge. He was only in charge of the wee area of Boar Hollow, but it was an important job. The alchemist found areas to the south that had been cut and turned into farnd. Towns were springing up everywhere, souls given bodiesing to fill the space. Trade flourished, usually in the form of bartering.
Drogramath¡¯s town was looking more like Broken Tusk by the day. Theo walked down the muddy streets, spotting dronon here and there. He knocked on the door of thergest house in town, waving when the man himself opened the door. What he didn¡¯t expect to see was Toru¡¯aun sitting at a table, drumming her fingers on the table with anticipation.
¡°Never thought I¡¯d see you again,¡± Theo said, craning his neck to get a better look at her. The shifting color had faded from her appearance, resulting in in ck dronon hair. But she still wore an ornate dress, studded with various gems and glittering in the low light of the house¡¯s interior.
Toru¡¯aun offered a half-hearted smile. ¡°Nice to see you, Theo.¡±
¡°Want some tea?¡± Drogramath asked, gesturing to the interior of the home.
Theo bowed his head as he entered. The threshold was slightly shorter than he had expected. Drogramath trotted off, setting another cup and saucer on the table before pouring him a cup of tea. The alchemist took his seat, smelling something familiar but distant from the cup before him.
¡°ck tea?¡± Theo asked, sniffing it again. He took a tentative sip, finding some amount of sugar mixed in. ¡°You guys don¡¯t mess around, huh?¡±
¡°Khahar was gracious enough to tell us where to find tea,¡± Drogramath exined, taking his own seat. ¡°He also mentioned coffee beans, but we could not locate them.¡±
¡°Have you settled into Tero¡¯gal?¡± Theo asked, turning his attention to Toru¡¯aun.
¡°I float between the two ports. I¡¯m not willing to make a home in either world.¡±
¡°She¡¯s been this grump since the start,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°Now that we¡¯re without cores, that grumpiness has doubled.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t me her. Change is hard.¡±
¡°That¡¯s easy to say when you¡¯re the one on top,¡± Toru¡¯aun said. ¡°Not that you earned what you have.¡±
Theo could only shrug at the statement. Because he agreed with her in principle. ¡°We can have a fistfight outside if you like,¡± he said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t do this. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on and frankly, I¡¯m confused.¡±
Drogramath offered a polite chuckle. ¡°She doesn¡¯t enjoy being in the light of day.¡±
¡°I can speak for myself, Droggy,¡± Toru¡¯aun said, rolling her shoulders. ¡°Thousands of years of nning for this¡ I¡¯mforted by this ending, but restless.¡±
¡°That¡¯s to be expected.¡± Theo considered his own struggles with feeling that sense of restlessness. When things calmed down on the mortal world, he found things to keep himself busy. But he was always that way, no matter what body he inhabited. ¡°Finding purpose after losing a realm sounds rough, and I won¡¯t pretend to understand it.¡±
¡°At least he is adjusting well,¡± Toru¡¯aun said, jabbing a finger at Drogramath as she pouted. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know how powerful he was before. Now look at him. Rotting in his swamp town.¡±
¡°What¡¯s wrong with swamp towns?¡± Drogramath and Theo asked at the same time.
¡°They smell.¡±
¡°You smell,¡± Drogramath retorted.
Toru¡¯aun stuck her tongue out at him.
Theo cleared his throat. ¡°What about Balkor?¡± he asked. ¡°Any sign of Zagmon?¡±
¡°Balkor is in Khahak. He¡¯s doing fine, but has concerns about his copy back on the mortal world,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°Zagmon is mostly dead, but that¡¯s hard to define. Imprisoned is a better word.¡±
¡°And we have thousands of disced ascendants roaming two worlds. Is two worlds enough?¡± Toru¡¯aun asked.
¡°Tero¡¯gal is big,¡± Theo said.
¡°Khahak is even bigger,¡± Drogramath bragged.
Theo sipped his tea. Coming to Tero¡¯gal today was about more than enjoying tea. He wanted to see how these people were doing. But his fears were unfounded. Everything was going well enough that he could focus on three goals. Alchemy, bringing the shards back, and terraforming Broken Tusk.
¡°I¡¯d like some input,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯m nning on bringing the entire Soutnds Alliance into Tero¡¯gal. Where do you think I should bring it?¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to drag an entire continent through the void?¡± Drogramath asked. ¡°Interesting n.¡±
Toru¡¯aun scoffed, shaking her head. ¡°Just do a flying city. Everyone enjoys a good flying city.¡±
That wasn¡¯t an awful idea. Theo could imagine the entire continent hovering above everything else. Logistics might be a problem, but it would look incredibly cool.
¡°We would need airships or giant magical elevators.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a problem for another day,¡± Drogramath said. ¡°My vote is for a flying alliance. You could call it the alliance in the sky.¡±
¡°Damn, why don¡¯t you just make another realm in your world? Put it in a pocket dimension or something¡ªhow limited is your power here?¡± Toru¡¯aun asked.
¡°No, I want it in the physical space of Tero¡¯gal. Something like the capital of the world.¡±
Drogramath nodded along. ¡°Drop it in the ocean. One of the many oceans. I think that would be the easiest path.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got big ideas, Drogramath. I think you¡¯ll go ces with those ideas.¡± Theo smiled to himself again as he sipped his tea. ¡°Hey, has anyone seen Benton?¡±
¡°Mountains north of Boar Hollow,¡± Toru¡¯aun said. ¡°Despite his im, he selected a snowy region.¡±
¡°Okay. I¡¯m gonna go check on him real quick before returning to the mortal world,¡± Theo said, his eyes dragging to the room¡¯s corner. He saw shadows pool there, half-expecting Shadow to pop out. Instead, Void appeared. ¡°Come on, little guy. If you¡¯re gonna yell at me, we¡¯re gonna do it in the mountains.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not here to yell,¡± Void said,ing alongside Theo. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
The pair were standing in Drogramath¡¯s house one moment, and the next there were knee-deep in snow. Well, Theo was knee-deep in snow. The poor little guy next to him was up to his eyeballs. With a wave of his hand, the alchemist cleared a path for them to walk. Sturdy stone buildings loomed in the distance, shrouded in a grayyer of falling snow.
¡°Anything pressing to talk about?¡± Theo asked as they pushed forward.
¡°I¡¯m seeking a progress report.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°Things are fine, but I¡¯m sitting at a roadblock. Since we need to use mortal means to transport the shards, we¡¯re waiting for a few pieces of magical tech. And my mage just had his wedding, so he¡¯s busy.¡±
¡°Ah, wedding bliss. I understand,¡± Void said, brushing snow from his shoulder.
Theo raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯re less fire-and-brimstone than normal.¡±
¡°Death told me you elbowed Twist in the face, so you¡¯re officially on my good side. By that I mean, you did your job as the Dreamwalker and I¡¯m happy.¡±
¡°Why does everyone hate that guy?¡± Theo asked. Benton spotted them from a distance and waved like an idiot.
¡°I have scones!¡± Benton shouted, jumping with excitement.
¡°He made our lives very hard. Everyone thought he was in, but I guess not¡¡±
¡°This is old Earth, isn¡¯t it?¡± Theo asked. ¡°The nonsense with the other world. Are you ever going to tell me what happened? Hey, Benton.¡±
¡°A god and the owner of the world!¡± Benton shouted. ¡°Come on, I have tea and sweets.¡±
Theo and Void fell in line behind Benton, marching up the snowy mountain.
¡°I suppose I can state the basics. As long as the tea is good,¡± Void said.
6.55 - Throks Interesting Machines
6.55 - Throk''s Interesting Machines
¡°This is delicious,¡± Void said, holding up a jam-filled pastry.
Benton had invited Void and Theo into a longhouse, seating them right by the massive fire burning in the center. Other toora were gathered here, all sipping tea and warming themselves by the coals. The alchemist didn¡¯t know how much more tea he could have today, but he would never refuse the tea Benton made. It was always good, as were the sweets.
¡°You¡¯re getting along better than I expected, Benton,¡± Theo said.
¡°When given the choice to pick between Khahak and here, the choice was clear. I can¡¯t live without mountains.¡±
Theo took a bite of his food, nodding to himself. It was as good as ever. ¡°So, about the old world.¡±
¡°Right,¡± Void said. ¡°Just so we¡¯re clear, these meetings stop when the shards return to Iaredin. The gods will be sealed in the heavens after that. But right now, everything is technically in the void, so I can go anywhere.¡±
¡°Fancy loophole.¡±
¡°You would know,¡± Void said, the spiral in front of his face spinning faster. ¡°Think of it like this. Earth and another world were connected way back when. We didn¡¯t know how it happened or why, but there was a connection. They smashed together, monsters invaded the¡ it was a mess. Then this bird guyes along, does some magic something, and everything is fixed.¡±
¡°Except it wasn¡¯t. Earth was destroyed.¡±¡°Well, the other world was fixed. Wasn¡¯t it? I guess everything and everyone got sealed away, slowly trickling into this world, and here we are. I would wager the ascendants sealed away the true gods¡¯ arrival until you messed with their n.¡±
¡°The bird guy¡ It has to be the Harbinger.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not aware of the name,¡± Void said, taking another bite.
¡°The sun ate Earth. When it did, there was a powerful bird guy there. We only had a few people left who could make the trip, so we went. Most didn¡¯t make it, but here we are. Sixty-thousand yearster.¡±
¡°Perhaps there was an issue with the way he sealed my world away,¡± Void said, humming to himself. He brought the pastry to his spiral. It vanished as he took a bite, withdrawing the confection with another bite removed. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t supposed to work that way. Almost as though someone had mettled with the way things worked. Some sorcerer on Earth fiddled with reality. Or something.¡±
¡°Not possible. I¡¯m almost certain there was no magic on Earth, and¡ Honestly, I can¡¯t even believe the thing about the monsters. Surely there would have been some record of that.¡±
¡°And how good were the records on Earth in your time? Two-hundred years after the fact with a broken and a broken government. What little I knew of Earth was the reaction of the governments. They went into panic mode, squashing all mention of the Gates and rounding folks up. From what I remember, they even got Jan and a few of the others. That¡¯s how Twist yed his gambit.¡±
Theo rubbed his face. ¡°How important was Jan?¡±
¡°Bah. You have too much information already. Figure it out on your own.¡±
Theo sipped his tea, taking bites from the treat. The mental image and timeline he had of Earth had already changed significantly. Based on what little information he could gather, he knew a few things. There was another world connected to Earth well before he was even born. Monsters came from the other world, attacking Earth thanks to Twist. Jan and a group of people saved the day, only to have the Harbinger screw it up for them, sealing everyone away. It was possible the previous Dreamer was from Earth, but he had no proof. The way Void did his best to avoid a certain topic lingered in his mind, supported by a Wisdom of the Soul message.
¡°Iaredin was the other world, wasn¡¯t it? Our mortal world was your home.¡±
Void visibly winced. ¡°I don¡¯t like thinking about it.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t like it either. If people from Earth at the end were sent to ruin my. You were a mortal before you were a god, right? What happened?¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting far too much information from me for free, Theo,¡± Void said, folding his arms. ¡°Your treats are delicious though, Benton.¡±
¡°Come on. What would it matter if you told me? That world is gone.¡±
¡°True. None of that affects what¡¯s going on now. Technically, I could tell you everything and not vite the rules. As a Throne Holder, you get special permissions.¡±
¡°So¡?¡±
¡°My people, the maeth, were from a city called Whisperwood. We favored magic above all else, worshiping the spirits of the world rather than a deity. In my time, there was only one god people worshiped. The Goddess of Light. We had a system before Earthtched onto us, and a great reset threw the world into turmoil. The system tried to adapt, creating a council of the twelve greatest people on the. I¡¯m not sure what happened, but not everyone came over.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear about your world,¡± Theo said, bowing his head in respect. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what it became.¡±
¡°I visited the site of my once-city. The damn elves have taken residence. Of course they have,¡± Void grumbled.
¡°Tarantham?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That¡¯s right. And that¡¯s all the free questions you get, alchemist. Benton, could you bring me more sweet treats?¡± Void asked. ¡°I love them.¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Benton said, not-so-subtly eavesdropping on the conversation. He rushed off, returning shortly after with a te filled with more treats. ¡°We¡¯re honored to have you visit.¡±
¡°Might be thest time,¡± Void said, grabbing another jam-filled confection. ¡°I must take advantage of it while I can.¡±
¡°So, are your realms filled with souls?¡±
¡°Absolutely not,¡± Void said. ¡°That was never intended to be the case. The godly realms have a few members of staff, but that¡¯s it. We¡¯re supposed to do everything everywhere else through agents.¡±
This story has been uwfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
¡°People who have your cores,¡± Theo said, nodding.
¡°Yes. I¡¯ve heard a few people in the mortal world had their cores evolved, and¡¡± Void stopped talking. The spiral in front of his face stopped spinning. ¡°No more questions. How do you like the mountains, Benton?¡±
Benton found a seat at the long table, picking a pastry for himself. ¡°Oh, we love it. Very simr to home, but different enough to be fresh.¡±
¡°How are you growing the grain to make this bread? And the sugar?¡± Theo asked, shaking his head.
¡°Trade, actually,¡± Benton said. ¡°We have a few ore mines around here that we¡¯re working. Traderse in on the road¡ There is a road that thaws out in spring.¡±
¡°Keep at it, Benton. These are otherworldly,¡± Void said.
Theo enjoyed his time at Benton¡¯s ce, but it was growing thin. He thought about the things he needed to aplish back home. Sulvan needed a break from healing, and histest batch of Lesser Healing Essence should have been done. The conversation in the room lingered on the toora people, sometimes drifting to the rules. The alchemist couldn¡¯t help himself but ask about bringing people from Khahak or Tero¡¯gal to the mortal world. It was forbidden to go that way, but mortals coulde here. To stay. They couldn¡¯t visit unless under special circumstances arose, and Void imed he would crack down on it in the future.
¡°I must go,¡± Void said, springing up from his chair. He bowed his head before vanishing.
¡°That was abrupt,¡± Benton said.
¡°He¡¯s a busy guy.¡±
Theo spent time in the mountains with the toora. It was interesting enough to see how they had conquered the frigid weather, but they had much more. And not all were the bear-people the alchemist knew from Whisper back in town. Several other races were represented, although all but the bearfolk were sequestered in homes, burning wood or coal to keep themselves warm. He had questions about how many resources the world had, but trusted in Tero¡¯gal to sort itself out. Perhaps through some magical nonsense, it would be unending.
¡°I¡¯ll try stopping in more often,¡± Theo said. He stood, groaning under the weight of too many sweets. ¡°Maybe not that often.¡±
Theo zorped himself back to Broken Tusk,nding in the manor. After waking up that morning, he made his trip to Tero¡¯gal after having breakfast. The few minutes that had passed saw the dining area cleared out, only an empty table behind. He sensed Tresk and Alex off training the goose¡¯s dragon powers. Sarisa and Rowan were nearby, but they were harder to detect after their upgrade to Tero¡¯gal cores. While he could extend his aura¡ªthanks to Shadow¡¯s core¡ªhe didn¡¯t. There were potions to brew.
It waste enough in the morning that Salire was already at the shop. She greeted him on the first floor, sitting behind the counter. Although they had no customers, since there was nothing to sell.
¡°You didn¡¯t have to wait for me,¡± Theo said, heading upstairs with his assistant.
¡°I was afraid of the reaction,¡± Salire said, giving a nervousugh. ¡°I think I could do it, but¡ Why risk it?¡±
¡°Five stills running fifty units. We should get fifty potions per still, but we¡¯ll get twenty-five. Still, that¡¯s not bad.¡±
¡°It could be far worse,¡± Salire said. ¡°And this is some of the most pure essence I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±
¡°Same here. Although we need to do a run from our aligned greenhouse. I¡¯m sure the quality would go up from there.¡± Theo ascended the stairs to theb, Salire following close behind. She hadn¡¯t even been within the room this morning, but each still had clicked off on its own. Resting on a table near each still was a sk filled with essence. ¡°Just like when I first arrived, potions that restore health are the most important.¡±
Salire chuckled to herself, a mischievous expression shing across her face. ¡°Since we¡¯re producing less potions, I thought this would be neat¡¡±
She produced a vial from her inventory, holding it out for Theo to see. He knew she got her hands on a printing press, but he never expected this. The vial was even more ornate than the ones she had produced from the ssware Artifice. The body of the vial was squared off, sitting perfectly on the table. Setting off the base look of the vial was the stopper, which along with the plug had a newt-like creature with horns resting at the top. It was easy enough to grab, and made it look even more custom. But that wasn¡¯t the only thing that she had done. Abel rested on the front with the text The Newt and Demon, Broken Tusk. The script was ornate, appearing as though it were written by hand.
¡°You¡¯ve reached a level of fanciness I can¡¯t hope to match,¡± Theo said. He enjoyed the feel of the square vial more than the rounded one. It set better both in his hand and on the table. ¡°How hard is it to print thebels and stick them to the vials?¡±
¡°I got the artifice¡¯s adhesion made working. And it can cut them out based on whatever dimensions I give it.¡± Salire seemed especially proud about this, beaming at Theo with a permanent smile.
¡°These are awesome,¡± Theo said, cing the first vial in position for the reaction. He mixed the essence, water, and catalyst to invoke a reaction. Thebel and vial looked even better with the pale pink potion inside. ¡°And the cost is minimal. Especially since the ssware Artifice makes matter from energy.¡±
Salire sped her hands together, bouncing with excitement. ¡°I¡¯m beyond happy to be involved at the start this time. I always felt like I was catching up before. But here we are!¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t you try the next reaction,¡± Theo said, gesturing to the sk of essence on the table. ¡°I¡¯d do a mass reaction, but¡ I have a feeling that it won''t end well.¡±
Salire nodded, withdrawing anotherbeled vial from her inventory. Theo watched closely, studying the way she measured the quantities out. She wouldn¡¯t have a problem with the first tier. While he was eager to start research on the second tier, there were a few things he wanted to take care of first. Dripping the perfect amount of essence into the vial, followed by the perfect amount of Purified Water, she triggered the reaction. It kicked off perfectly, bubbling just the right amount and releasing enough steam. The scent also seemed right, like vaguely tart berries. That scent was apparently Qavelli Berries, which was amon way topare things in this world. It smelled more like crushed raspberries to him.
¡°Looks perfect,¡± Theo said, studying the vial. ¡°95% just likest time. That might be the theoretical maximum for us right now.¡±
¡°Any ideas for the next tier?¡± Salire asked.
¡°Yeah, centrifuges and pressure vessels.¡± Theo had put a lot of thought into this. Based on his experiment with the many stills Throk made for him, this might have been the way forward. He nned to explore every kind of maniption of essence and mashed reagents as he could. Anything he could create as a parallel process would be ideal. But they would go through a few iterations before they had anything solid. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that right now. Let¡¯s get small-scale tier 1 potions rolling so our people don¡¯t die.¡±
¡°I actually had a thought,¡± Salire said, gesturing to the vent above their head. ¡°Speaking of theoretical maximums, I¡¯ve got concerns.¡±
¡°About the venttion?¡± Theo asked, considering it. His intuition said there could be a problem with poor venttion during the distition process. If the top fan couldn¡¯t extract enough of the vaporized byproduct, they could run into problems. ¡°If we run ten stills with fifty units each, we¡¯ll put out the same amount as a single still before.¡±
¡°Sure, but our essences are more reactive. Shouldn¡¯t we assume the vapors are more reactive?¡±
¡°Yeah, that might be a concern¡ But also consider the speed at which we¡¯re distilling. I can¡¯t reach a conclusion. Should we keep our runs low? We¡¯re producing at a half-to-one ratio now, which sucks.¡±
For every fifty units of raw reagent and water they put in, they got about twenty-five out. It sucked, but there was nothing they could do about it for now. Introducing another bottleneck wasn¡¯t something Theo was interested in. But there was nothing he could do about it.
¡°We should run five stills for now,¡± Salire said. ¡°Give it a few days. Check the air quality while we¡¯re working.¡±
¡°How do we check the air quality? Stick our faces above the stills and take a deep breath?¡±
¡°Oh, silly demon. You should know the solid rtionship I¡¯ve built with the artificers.¡±
Theo wasn¡¯t surprised when Salire withdrew a device from her inventory. He shook his head, nodding. ¡°Throk just keeps making more interesting stuff, doesn¡¯t he?¡±
6.56 - Odd Properties
The device Salire withdrew from her inventory was interesting. It reminded Theo more of a handheld wind gauge back on earth. The top had a narrow opening with a fan inside while the bottom contained a simple screen. It disyed blocky letters, detailing what it sensed in the air. He inspected the item.
[Gas Detector]
[Artifice]
Rare
Created By: Throk
Detects all foreign gasses in the air, disying their percentage of concentration on the attached screen.
Attachments:
[Gas Detector]
[Analyzer][Battery]
[Disy Screen]
¡°We¡¯re about one step away fromputer games,¡± Theo said.
¡°I like games.¡± Salire looked too excited for that.
Theo and Salire got another simple run of Lesser Healing Essence going. Even before starting the run, they could feel how easy it would be to work with the reagents grown in the aligned greenhouse. It wasn¡¯t just the purity of the items, but it was almost as though reagents grown there clicked better with Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy.
¡°I have a feeling this is going to be way easier,¡± Theo said, adding the crushed reagents to yet another still. They were almost done filling the five they had, and had no intentions of filling more. They didn¡¯t have more, so there was no choice. ¡°I was thinking about this before, and I wanted to do it the hard way first.¡±
Salire nodded with excitement. ¡°For the knowledge!¡±
¡°The knowledge!¡± Theo responded.
Salire hade a long way. The Gas Detector was a move that would prevent unexpected explosions, assuming it worked. Theo worked with her for a while, checking the notes she had taken and making adjustments as needed. They stood on a solid foundation now, having paved themselves a path from the start of Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy. Now it was a matter of crawling forward, providing for Broken Tusk¡¯s needs and discovering things along the way.
Instead of making his report into the town¡¯s document interface, Theo left the Newt and Demon and headed for the town hall. Alise was always busy, but she cleared her schedule to get an update. They met in a meeting room with a north-facing window, providing a view of the town¡¯s square, Xam¡¯s tavern and bathhouse, and all the people traveling the road. The alchemist settled into his chair, writing a few numbers on parchment and sliding it across the table.
¡°Our theoretical maximum for producing potions is at about 125 per day,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°Which if we aren¡¯t exporting is more than enough.¡±
Alise nodded, taking the sheet. She continued to nod for too long. ¡°This is better than nothing. I was getting worried.¡±
¡°So were we. Worried about Sulvan, that is.¡±
¡°He¡¯s been working very hard,¡± Alise said. She clicked her tongue. ¡°But we got control of many issues that caused injuries. No dungeons waves in¡ how long?¡±
¡°A while.¡±
¡°And Xol¡¯sa is spreading the strength of the dungeons between each one. The underground dungeon didn¡¯t go rogue and your golems are holding back whatever creatures lurk in the dark down there. While we have a few missing pieces¡ we¡¯re good!¡±
Theo nodded along as she spoke. ¡°So, we¡¯re moving to Tero¡¯gal.¡±
¡°Okay. How does that work exactly?¡± Alise asked.
¡°I pick the alliance up,¡± Theo said, motioning as though to scoop some earth into his hands. He deposited the imaginary dirt in another spot. ¡°And put it down.¡±
Alise gave Theo a withering re. ¡°You know what I mean. Are we gonna die? Is everyone still mortal or do we be spirits? So on.¡±
¡°Here¡¯s the problem. The new gods are the old gods. I got one to talk, and this was their world an age ago. I thought a reset might happen, but now I¡¯m certain of it. Khahar pushed for it, along with a lot of ascendants, but now we¡¯re at the tipping point.¡±
¡°So, we just get reset. No big deal, right?¡±
¡°Yeah, except I don¡¯t think we can stay during the reset. Void will likely offer us passage into the other worlds, but I don¡¯t want to leave my town or my alliance. This will happen after I move the shards, I think.¡±
¡°And your n is to scoop thend up, bringing it to Tero¡¯gal. I need to know if this will affect our citizens.¡±
¡°They need to move anyway. This isn¡¯t a choice they can make. Whatever the gods need to do while resetting the world won¡¯t be pretty. At the least, they¡¯ll have to shut the system down. But the system will remain intact within Tero¡¯gal and Khahak.¡±
¡°Okay, why not?¡±
Theo smiled, happy to see she was mostly onboard. ¡°Tero¡¯gal already has at least a half-million residents. They¡¯re building infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. By the time we arrive, I¡¯m sure everyone will be excited to explore a new world.¡±
¡°Dragging everyone there won¡¯t go off without an issue, though,¡± Alise said. ¡°Is it an original system or the same system?¡±
¡°I think Tero¡¯gal wants to make a new system, but that reset should be minor. It doesn¡¯t have to reshape itself because it doesn¡¯t have a system. The only ascendant I know of that retained their cores is Uz¡¯Xulven. Everyone else is in a state of limbo where their cores work a little or not at all.¡±
¡°Not that I can argue. What am I going to do about it?¡± Alise asked.
¡°We can give everyone the choice to stay or go. If they want to stay here, we can send them off to the Khahari or wherever else they want to go.¡±
¡°I suppose that settles it,¡± Alise said, scribbling notes down. ¡°While we just had a wedding, I wanted to make you aware of something¡¡±
Stolen novel; please report.
Theo snapped his fingers, nodding with excitement. ¡°First wedding in Tero¡¯gal!¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°You want to marry Nira, right? Could you wait until we arrive in Tero¡¯gal? You would be the first two people married in the realm as far as I know. Well, the first two people I care about. We could have a-wide celebration.¡±
Alise¡¯s cheeks went pink as she looked down at her notes. ¡°That might be cool,¡± she muttered.
¡°We¡¯re gonna do it. The gods are readjusting the time soon, so everything is going to be weird for a while. I doubt this will have the same orbit as before, and¡ I just realized I don¡¯t know how many days are in a year on Tero¡¯gal. We might not even have months, yet. I¡¯ll name our first month there Nirise.¡±
¡°Oh gods, please don¡¯t.¡± Alise buried her face in her hands.
¡°I want you to purchase and store as much booze as you can. Enough to get about one-million people wasted.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a lot of hooch¡¡±
¡°Do you want a wedding, or do you want a wedding?¡±
¡°I think our meeting is over,¡± Alise said, standing and bowing slightly. She giggled nervously. ¡°Gotta talk to Nira.¡±
Theo watched as Alise stormed from the room, a smile hanging on his face. Moving to Tero¡¯gal was exciting. Because he knew the system there would kick off a reset when they moved there permanently. When everyone severed their ties to the mortal world, they would trap themselves in a new one. He was reminded of what the space elves had done to themselves in that pocket of the void. The alchemist still needed to heal them, but he would get to it. He withdrew a dragon¡¯s bone from his inventory, shrugging.
¡°Why not?¡± he asked no one in particr. ¡°Might as well figure out what properties a dragon¡¯s bone can make¡ right?¡±
Before undertaking the task of destroying a piece of a not-god, Theo considered unexpected consequences. The Reagent Deconstruction ability wasn¡¯t aligned with Tero¡¯gal or Drogramath. Using it on the dragon bones should have been fine. But things going correctly hadn¡¯t been in the cardstely, so he would treat the task with caution. He couldn¡¯t think of a ce in town suitable for an ascendant-level explosion, so wandered out the gate near Miana¡¯s ranch. He always loved seeing several marshlings riding tamed Marsh Wolves.
The train zipped off, heading north with a load of passengers and cargo. Angling northeast, the track followed the path of the river, fording its own path some ways in the unseeable distance. When there were no more shadows to cling to, Sarisa and Rowan came forth. Compared to their old Baelthar cores, the Tero¡¯gal versions of their stealth ranger and guardian cores had a much more potent effect.
¡°We¡¯re gonna blow something up, aren¡¯t we?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°I¡¯ve made peace with my life. I¡¯m ready to die,¡± Rowan said.
¡°You¡¯ll be fine, stinky,¡± Theo said, picking a spot far away from anything important. These fields were open, rolling hills punctuated in very few ces with minor stone formations.
¡°I don¡¯t stink,¡± Rowan said, genuinely wounded.
¡°You do kinda stink, though.¡±
Theo withdrew a small segment of the dead ascendant dragon¡¯s bones. He would love to pretend he could feel some radiating sense of divinity, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, hepared it closer to some reanimated skeleton fragments he had deconstructed. But before getting to work, he created some shields that would catch errant explosions. Might as well take advantage of his Tero¡¯gal Mage¡¯s Core.
¡°Outside of the shield, right?¡± Rowan asked.
Sarisa rolled her eyes. ¡°No, stand right next to the thing that might explode.¡±
¡°It¡¯ll give you character,¡± Theo said, positioning himself behind the shimmering shield. The dragon¡¯s bone rested on the ground, ready to be turned into primal essence. With his advanced control of his mana, he levitated some onto the other side of the protective shields. Mana dripped onto the white bone, sizzling on the surface. Steam rose from the points it touched, soon filling the open air a strange scent. ¡°Try not to breathe that in.¡±
Sarisa and Rowan both held their breath.
Theo felt the bone¡¯s properties through his senses. There was power within them¡ªraw strength he could never hope to match. An undercurrent of a dynamic will was left behind, something like a building thunderstorm. These feelings he got from the bone¡¯s deconstruction were vague,ing as ideas rather than defined things. He let the mana drip onto it, allowing the gasses to vent into the air. Dumping a puddle would¡¯ve been too sudden, creating a violent reaction, but this seemed fine.
Rowan fell to the side, his face blue. He gasped for air, looking up with a fearful expression.
¡°There shouldn¡¯t be enough vapor to harm you,¡± Theo said. ¡°I guess this is what you would call impure essence, ording to the system.¡±
Sarisa took a deep breath. ¡°I win. Again,¡± she mocked, grinning down at her brother.
Even before the bones were done melting into dust, Theo could feel the significance of them. Between his intuition and experience, he knew a potion brewed from any of the revealed properties would be difficult to create. The first three properties rolled in without an issue, but the hidden one was stubborn. While the bone was ash, it refused to give up its secrets.
¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Theo said, stepping into the protective barriers to collect the primal essence.
¡°Did you get something good?¡± Rowan asked, still on the ground.
¡°Hard to answer that question without doing some brewing,¡± Theo said. ¡°But that third property is¡ weird. Actually, all of them are weird.¡±
¡°What are they?¡±
Theo pulled another bone from his inventory, examining it.
[Quindalias Bone]
[Alchemy Ingredient] [Dragon Ascendant Bone]
A piece of the Dragon Ascendant Quindalias¡¯ skeleton.
Properties:
[Soar] [Lost Hope] [Dragon¡¯s Insight]
¡°I¡¯m not sure what I think about ?Lost Hope. Think that¡¯s a useless property?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°Yeah, I think so,¡± Theo said. ¡°Sometimes I¡¯ll get useless properties on reagents. Soar is likely a temporary flight power, and we can assume Dragon¡¯s Insight gives you information. It might be like the Dragon Apple.¡±
Testing reagents for properties was one thing, but extracting them with the new alchemy system could be tricky. With Drogramath¡¯s system, he expected something to happen but with Tero¡¯gal¡¯s system? The unexpected was almost guaranteed. Crushing the bones shouldn¡¯t have been a problem, as they seemed more brittle than they should have been. But a system for experimenting with unknown materials was needed. And Theo didn¡¯t want to spend hisb upgrades on the experimentation room.
That was a big problem with the way the buildings gained upgrades. The higher one went in the levels, the more enticed they were to take the newest upgrade. Those older features usually couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the newer ones, resulting in them being left behind every time. But as Theo thought about it, he wouldn¡¯tin. A testing chamber under theb was fine, but couldn¡¯t Drogramathi Iron do the same thing? It wouldn¡¯t even anger Throk, since the new resident smith Thim could handle the job.
Theo left the clearing, dismissing his barriers and heading off to the cksmith¡¯s workshop. He found the dwarf near the forge, pounding iron into shape and humming a tune.
¡°Been a while, Thim,¡± Theo said, bowing his head.
¡°Because you only show up when you need something.¡±
¡°Just because you took Throk¡¯s job, doesn¡¯t mean you need to absorb his personality.¡±
Thim gave him a t look, pausing his work on the metal. ¡°So you¡¯re not here to demand some silly project?¡±
¡°Would you call safety silly?¡± Theo asked, cing his hands on his hips. ¡°I think not. Anyway, I need about ten-thousand units of Drogramathi Iron or Azrugium formed into an experimentation chamber.¡±
Thim gestured with his hammer, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Yeah, see? You like to pretend it isn¡¯t weird, then you say stuff like that.¡± He paused for a few breaths before sighing. ¡°How big?¡±
Theo exined his needs and the location he wanted the structure built. After Thim heard how simple it would be, he agreed. For a price. But the alchemist owned the chains that produced the metal, meaning it would cost him almost nothing. It was just thebor that needed time. But cksmiths in this world could work wonders with metal. When they mmed their hammers into a bar, it deformed into a shape of their liking.
Yes, Theo could simply maintain barriers in an open field, but he wanted an extrayer of protection. Throk¡¯s counterfeit coin operation had done well with physical barriers, and he¡¯d feel better having a thick sheet between the ascendant¡¯s bones and the wider world.
¡°This might take a few days,¡± Thim said. He gestured to the other anvils in the workshop. ¡°But I have quite a few apprentices for the job.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Theo said, tossing Thim a few gold coins for the deposit. ¡°I look forward to blowing the giant metal box up.¡±
Thim shook his head. ¡°Alchemists¡¡±
6.57 - Help for the Space Elves
Theo stepped through Xol¡¯sa¡¯s portal, standing awkwardly on the first floor antechamber. He had spent most of yesterday¡ªthe day he ordered the big metal box from Thim¡ªactually rxing. For once, he didn¡¯t force himself to push harder, creating whatevernd features the town needed, dealing with heavenly problems, or otherwise bogging himself down with concerns. He stood on the bottom floor of the tower, looking at the stairs and hesitating. The alchemist stepped outside, closed the door, and knocked.
It only took a few minutes of pounding for Xol¡¯sa toe downstairs, opening the door with a confused look on his face. ¡°Why are you out here?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know if¡ You know.¡±
A smile spread across Xol¡¯sa¡¯s face. ¡°We lock the door to our chambers, you know.¡±
¡°Right. I didn¡¯t want to push, but have you made progress on the interdimensional beacon and tether?¡±
Xol¡¯sa sped his hands together, a look of excitement spreading across his features. ¡°For once, I¡¯m able to help you with otherworldly affairs. I have prototypes, and many problems. Let¡¯s head up to myb.¡±
Theo followed Xol¡¯sa up the stairs, nodding to Zarali as they passed the sitting room on a lower floor. They found their way to theb, where several crystalline devices were sitting on a table. The power from within them was familiar, as though they held pieces of the void itself. The alchemist wouldn¡¯t doubt if they did.
¡°The tether won¡¯t be a problem. You only need to get the shards into the void,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, gesturing to one device. It must have been the tether. ¡°But you have a massive problem to ovee. Two of them, actually.¡±
¡°What might that be?¡±¡°Your first problem is cing the beacons. They need to go to specific spots. That¡¯s bad news, but I have worse news.¡±
¡°I love bad news.¡±
¡°Many of those locations are in Tarantham. A shockingly high number, actually.¡± Xol¡¯sa gestured to a map of the world on the wall.
Theo grit his teeth as he looked. Xol¡¯sa had marked eight points on the map for Tarantham, while there were only as many in other ces of the world. ¡°What¡¯s up with the density of shards over there?¡±
¡°I can only cast the spell that finds their intended location,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, shrugging. ¡°After being clued into the signature they left, it is trivial for my ss core. It does reveal a concerning question, though. You¡¯re right about that. Who and why. Who ced them there, and why. Perhaps the old godse to roost? I cannot say.¡±
¡°Hold on, what¡¯s the second problem?¡±
¡°My people,¡± Xol¡¯sa said inly. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to abandon them, are you?¡±
¡°I have a loose n.¡±
¡°No you don¡¯t,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, patting Theo on the shoulder. ¡°I know that look in your eye. You¡¯re intending to wing it.¡±
Theo clicked his tongue. The space elf wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°I¡¯m facing a difficult problem. I still don¡¯t have a mortal cure. And with the new rules, I don¡¯t know how they¡¯ll react if I bring them to Tero¡¯gal or Khahak. The Realm of Healing¡ªHallow¡¯s world¡ªis out of the question. That ce is off-limits for all mortals. My Dreamwalker¡¯s Core is kinda reluctant to even take me there.¡±
¡°You need to better understand the nature of the sickness,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°I think the gods have some responsibility in this. You should lodge aint.¡±
Theo offered a nervous smile. ¡°Lodge aint with the gods¡¡±
¡°What happened to you? You would have jumped at the chance to spit in Drogramath¡¯s face.¡±
Theo thought about that for a moment. Xol¡¯sa wasn¡¯t wrong, but the alchemist had some idea about the true nature of the ascendants before he learned the truth. They seemed too unlike gods to be given the title. But these new gods were gods. Perhaps the space elf did have a point, though¡
¡°I think we can petition Hallow for help. Maybe if I go to the Realm of Healing with Khahar. Actually, I don¡¯t know if ntheir calls it that anymore.¡±
¡°Put it this way. Don¡¯t ask them for help curing the sickness. Ask the gods to tell you what the issue is, and we can work from there.¡± Xol¡¯sa smacked Theo on the back. ¡°You¡¯re in the rare position to do this, my friend.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Theo said, letting out a breath.
Before vanishing the way he normally did, Theo considered any chores he needed to do today. Salire could handle the stills for now. They would not jump to the next tier for a few days. Not until the experimentation chamber waspleted. Reforming thendscape could also go on the back burner. That left this project. Saving the space elves.
¡°Fine. I¡¯ll see what I can do. But you need to be on standby.¡±
¡°Oh, I won¡¯t be leaving my tower for a few weeks,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, winking.
Theo dropped through the veil in an instant. His Dreamwalker¡¯s Core wrapped in him a bubble of protection as he considered his next destination. Khahak, the Realm of Healing, or¡ The alchemist angled himself to the bright formation at the center of the system. He sailed through the darkness of the void, almost blinded as he reached his destination. Driving snow assailed his senses as hended, a raised tform of snow-dusted stone ahead. The twelve spots, representing twelve gods, sat empty. The system stood in the center.
¡°Hello,¡± Theo said, waving awkwardly.
¡°Permission granted,¡± the system said.
Theo froze, nodding to himself slowly. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t need to verbalize it, huh?¡±
¡°You do not.¡±
¡°And I¡¯ll just get going now, if that¡¯s okay¡¡±
¡°It would be best if you did. Approach Hallow¡¯s mark.¡±
So, instead of diving through the void to make his way to the Realm of Healing, he would dive into some circle on the ground. Whatever the system wanted, it got. Theo turned to look at the figure before stepping on the circle. His eyes glossed over the unupied spots. There were still godly positions up for grabs? Interesting.
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Theo felt a strange sensation grab him by the navel and toss him through infinity. It was too different from passing through the void, feeling more like being ripped apart and put back together again. He felt his Dreamwalker¡¯s Core keeping him together. A breathter, he was standing in the House of Healing, looking upon ntheir¡ John¡ Hallow. A man of many names.
¡°The process is changing by the day,¡± Theo said, looking around. The realm seemed much as it was before. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t the same exact realm, but it looked the same. The one thing itcked was elves. A few mingled around the area, but not nearly as many as there were before.
¡°Nice to see you, Theo,¡± Hallow said, cing a hand on Theo¡¯s shoulder.
His smile was so warm and inviting, the alchemist considered staying in the realm forever. What did the mortal world matter, anyway? Theo shook his head, unable to dislodge the thought. Then the pressure subsided from the god¡ A true god.
¡°Sorry about that,¡± Hallow said, gesturing for Theo to head to a sitting area on a balcony. ¡°I haven¡¯t had an ascendant in my realm, yet. Not after the recent changes.¡±
Theo jabbed a thumb at himself. ¡°Not an ascendant.¡±
Hallow smiled, pointing an opposing finger at him. ¡°Yes, an ascendant. The true definition of the world.¡±
¡°Censure!¡± Void said, springing from nowhere. ¡°I vote for censure.¡±
Hallow turned, narrowing his eyes at the spiral-faced god. ¡°I¡¯ll say no more. Can I give him the diagnosis for the lost elves?¡±
Void folded his arms, sighing. ¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°They need new brains,¡± Hallow said with no fanfare.
¡°Well, that was a tad too specific,¡± Void said.
Hallow turned to Void, shaking his head. ¡°Do you want the shards back in ce, or what?¡±
¡°Yes, I would like them to go back.¡±
¡°Then let the man work. This will take forever if he has to figure out how to heal them without help.¡± Hallow looked slightly grumpy at the appearance of the other god.
Theo could tell things were still being ironed out here in the new heavens. They didn¡¯t have decent organization or well-defined rules. The new gods were working things as they went out, and this period where the mortal world was without the shards served as a trial. At least this gave the alchemist wiggle room as he solved the problem guing Xol¡¯sa¡¯s people.
¡°Thanks for the information,¡± Theo said, bowing his head. ¡°I hope things are going well here.¡±
¡°Censure!¡± Void shouted. ¡°I vote to remove Theo from his position.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t remove ascendants,¡± Hallow said. ¡°That¡¯s the point of the thrones.¡±
¡°We can go back to calling them throne-holders,¡± Theo said, unsure about the confusion the term ¡®ascendants¡¯ would cause. ¡°I vote for that.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t get a vote,¡± Void said. ¡°You can leave, now.¡±
Theo looked around, shrugging. ¡°I have permission to be here.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t make me hate you, Theo.¡± Void glowered.
There was some more information Theo wanted about the old world. How everything had yed out before his world was destroyed. Each step led to this new world, and the plots that came with it. Perhaps if he could understand why things had happened back then, he coulde to terms with this world. It seemed to him two worlds had been destroyed. But if the restart for this went well, that would be the end of the cycle.
¡°Love you, Void,¡± Theo said, slipping through the cracks. He felt the god right on his tail, bringing with it an oppressive sense of power. The alchemist appeared in the system¡¯s area, then dropped into the void. Void was right behind him, angling directly for the outer areas of the void. Some timeter¡ªit was hard to tell exactly how long¡ªhe set foot on thend haunted by space elves. ¡°I really hate this ce.¡±
¡°As do I, my boy,¡± Void said, elbowing Theo in the thigh. He couldn¡¯t reach the alchemist¡¯s ribs.
¡°Why are you talking like that?¡± Theo asked, patting Void on the head. ¡°And why did you follow me?¡±
Void cast his spiraled face at the ground. ¡°I admit. You might need help with this one, and it won¡¯t break any rules for me to help you. I¡¯ve said it before, but this ce is the void. I have influence over it.¡±
¡°But you can¡¯t cure their brain-meat?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Only mortal means can do that. I¡¯m the master of the void, not the sicknesses it creates.¡±
¡°So, a regrowth potion?¡± Theo asked. Void shook his head. ¡°Regeneration potion?¡±
¡°Nope. You got what you need, though¡ For now. Wink wink, nudge nudge.¡±
Theo¡¯s intuition turned over like gears in a great machine. In a snap, he knew which potion he needed to craft to heal the statue-like elves. He spotted some near the forest, lurking around like stock-still goblins. The creepy factor never left.
¡°I could whip the correct potion up in half a day if I still had my Drogramath cores¡¡±
¡°Woe is you. Let¡¯s talk about your n before you head back to the mortal world,¡± Void said, shaking his head. ¡°You wanna gouge a section of the out and take it with you, huh?¡±
¡°I knew the new gods could hear better than the old ones.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not opposed to it in principle. But it needs to go to a vote in the heavens. Just warning you.¡±
Theo wouldn¡¯t say it aloud, but he was happy to have the favor of at least three gods. Assuming Void liked him, and wasn¡¯t just putting on a show. With only a few other seats filled, he had nothing to worry about.
¡°The gods have agreed to do a reset?¡± Theo asked.
¡°It wouldn¡¯t be the first reset of this world. Although, we hope it will be thest.¡±
Theo found his mind falling away from concerns rted to moving his alliance. He knew he could do it, if there was enough cause for his Dreamwalker¡¯s Core to bring the ce with him. His mind instead swirled around the things he would need to craft a potion for the space elves. The one he had in mind was third tier¡ technically. Suffuse potions were hard to track, so it might be possible to craft one at the second tier. The process wouldn¡¯t be pretty, and he couldn¡¯t guarantee it would work.
¡°I¡¯m just happy to have a stock of Troll Blood sitting around¡ Because who the hell needs Troll Blood?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Void said, pping Theo on the butt. ¡°Sorry, meant to hit your leg. Ahem. Anyway, good luck with all that. Stay here much longer and you¡¯ll be eaten by ravenous space elves.¡±
¡°Yeah, screw this ce,¡± Theo said, falling into the void.
The trip back to the mortal world was simple. Theo built a list of things he needed in his mind to make this happen. Working with primal essences would make this easier, and he had a stock of LIghtning Poppy growing based on Tero¡¯gal¡¯s requirements. But his confidence in this n wasn¡¯t great. Before creating this new potion, he would need to get second tier Tero¡¯gal alchemy working¡
Theonded back where he started, finding Salire working in theb. As he had expected, she was tending to their new, smallerb. She greeted him, watching as he rushed to go through their stock of reagents.
¡°What are you looking for?¡±
Theo held up a sk of Searing Regeneration Essence. ¡°I found a cure for the space elves.¡±
¡°Hooray!¡±
¡°But we need to get second tier working now.¡±
¡°Boo!¡±
Theo already had an idea how to get it working. The clues were right before him, easy to pick up if one was experienced with alchemy. During his testing of stills to distill reagents, he noticed something strange. Only two types of stills made it to the final stages with any effectiveness. The one with the paddle, and the centrifuge.
¡°We¡¯re talking about removing impurities from essence. What better way?¡±
¡°Oh. Throk made a few versions of those for you¡¡± Salire dug through a nearby crate, pulling out a few 50-unit stills for him to check.
Now that Theo knew what he was looking for, he dismissed all but one. He wouldn¡¯t use the heating feature on this one, only the spinning action. This was an iteration from the vertical and horizontal shaker. Those had the effect of agitating the contents, while those would have a separation effect. If everything went ording to n, they would squeeze a few more percentage points of purity out of the essence, resulting in a second tier essence.
¡°Let¡¯s get this set up outside,¡± Theo said. ¡°Bring some Lesser Healing Essence.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
6.58 - Something Below
Theo and Salire stood outside a set of barriers the alchemist had established. The lone centrifuge sat in the center. The pair had left theb to take up a position in the fields behind Broken Tusk. He figured this would go one of several ways. The idea was to use centrifugal force to remove impurities from the mix. But that was a purely physical application. Most likely, they would need to run the resulting mixture through a still and a vapor pressurizer to get it to the second tier. But once they had that, he could make the potions they needed¡ Probably.
¡°Look at it spin,¡± Salire said, nodding with approval. And no explosions.¡±
¡°Yeah, I''m happy about theck of explosions. Assuming we get this to the right level, I need you to work on something else.¡±
Salire withdrew a notebook, nodding along.
¡°I need some Intelligence Essence. I think we can use the old suffuse potions we haveying around.¡±
¡°Searing Regeneration and Intelligence¡. Hmmm,¡± Salire tapped her chin. ¡°I see where you¡¯re going.¡±
Theo smiled to himself. As the days rolled on, he grew more proud of her. There was a point where he thought he was the only special boy deserving of Drogramath¡¯s alchemy. Now he knew there were many people in the world who would excel if they just had the right tools. Salire¡¯s curious nature did more for her alchemy than anything else, and the tenacity of a half-ogre didn¡¯t hurt.
¡°We can expect the suffuse binding process to go wrong, though. Hard to say if Tero¡¯gal would bind properties together the same way. And ording to Tero¡¯gal, the existing Searing Regeneration essence isn¡¯t as good as it could be.¡±
¡°We won¡¯t know until you blow us up!¡±Theo did the math in his head. Assuming his stock of Searing Regeneration worked with his suffuse potion was wasteful. If he was wrong, he would need to wait another day to test this new potion. He had plenty of Troll¡¯s Blood and a good amount of Veostian Karatan Cheese sitting around to do a limited run of both. He snapped his fingers, turning to Salire.
¡°Insurance. I need you to get a batch of Suffuse running from Veostian Karatan Cheese, along with a batch of Searing Regeneration from the Troll¡¯s Blood. Do 100 units of each, dedicating any remaining stills to the Lightning Poppy.¡±
Salire performed a sloppy salute. ¡°Yes, sir! What, uh¡ What will you be doing?¡±
¡°Consulting my checklist here¡ Goofing around.¡±
¡°Ah, yes,¡± Salire said, taking on a much more formal tone. ¡°Goofing around it is, sir. Would you like some hot tea before goofin¡¯ about?¡±
¡°That would be splendid. I¡¯m sure we can hear this thing explode from miles away if something goes wrong.¡±
Theo joined Salire, heading back to theb. She brewed some moss tea, which thankfully hadn¡¯t suffered a change from their switch to Tero¡¯gal cores. It wasn¡¯t as good as the stuff Sarisa or Xam made, but it was still good. The alchemist enjoyed the calming moment as he thought about his next little adventure. Perhaps if Tresk and Alex could tear themselves away from running dungeons and finding dragon bones, they could help him with an issue. Probably not.
The alchemist felt Tresk in the distance, drilling Alex on variousbat maneuvers. One side of the coin was Theo¡¯s freedom from Tresk¡¯s antics. The other was him missing her for being gone so often. But their connection transcended distance. Even if they weren¡¯t together physically, most emotions were shared through the bond. That was a sense of constantfort, her brazen confidence often bleeding into his mind without hismand.
¡°Thanks for the tea,¡± Theo nodded, gesturing to the stills. ¡°If you need help, let me know.¡±
Salire waved him away. ¡°Begone, alchemist.¡±
Theo headed off from the Newt and Demon, wandering in no particr direction. Without the Dreamwalk to boost his willpower, he felt like he hadn¡¯t been pushing himself hard enoughtely. Even after they worked the kinds out of the alchemy process, there would be far less work to do in theb every day. That meant more time for infrastructure projects. Especially now that Void had given him the green light to move most of a continent.
The alchemist felt the Shadow core in his chest. He reached deep, brushing his senses against it. After a deep breath, he spread his aura outward. It covered the local area immediately, racing out to cover Broken Tusk a momentter. It stopped just north of Qavell, refusing to go any further. Even without his Dreamwalker¡¯s Core helping, he could interdict his entire town and Qavell. The worst case would mean he would bring along everyone from the alliance, just crammed into a smaller space for now.
Theo swapped his Tero¡¯gal Mage¡¯s Core for his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core and headed over to the mines. Gridgen was taking a break outside, which begged an important question. ¡°Are you ever not on break?¡±
Gridgen offered a sheepish smile. ¡°This happens when you don¡¯t have a taskmaster breathing down your neck.¡±
Theo cracked a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t n to be that taskmaster. Anything interesting going on?¡±
¡°Not really. We¡¯re working on a few tunnels is all. Hard work the lower we get, but we avoided the caverns on our way down.¡±
Theo had a moment of hesitation. He was here to work on the path that led through the mountain and down the coast. With his insane willpower and Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core he would make quick work of carving a path into the stone. But he could use this obvious cheat to help the miners out. His only question was if they wanted that help. That was a hard question to ask, though. The alchemist imagined himself asking if the miners wanted him to trivialize weeks of work in about five minutes¡
¡°Don¡¯t you have fancy rock-moving powers?¡± Gridgen asked, putting an end to Theo¡¯s internal debate.
¡°I do have amazing, overpowered rock-moving powers.¡±
¡°Wanna move some rocks for us? If you¡¯re not too busy, that is.¡±
Theo nodded. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s move some rocks.¡±
The mine had be more of a honeb of random passages than a mine. The miners themselves were doing exploratory digging, chasing down every cluster of nuggets they could with no regard to organization. Although the chaos was clear, there were stairs that led downward. Someone had taken the time to carve simple ramps into stairs, making it less dangerous for one to descend. Although the leader of the mine was a short human, the passages had been hewn to amodate people of all sizes. Even with that, the alchemist¡¯s horns scraped against the ceiling a few times.
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The sound of pickaxes ringing against stone soon met their ears. At the end of a narrow hall, Theo watched as a team of workers struck at the wall. They cursed, swigged from jars of booze, and were otherwise about as surly as sailors. Only when they spun to find the owner of the mine did they straighten up, striking at the wall with much more power.
¡°What¡¯s the goal with this one?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We¡¯re looking for a vein of something new,¡± Gridgen said, walking over to pat the wall. ¡°Everyone has a good feeling about this path.
¡°A very good feeling¡ Sir,¡± a random miner put in. The others mirrored his tone.
¡°Step aside,¡± Theo said, gesturing for the miners to move away from the wall. They scampered back like frightened children.
Theo reached out with his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core and his will. The Shadow¡¯s Spirit Core joined with it, a shock of power flooding through his body. With a flick of his wrist, the alchemist sent a fissure rocking through the stone. He felt the weight of the mountain above him, and the stone below. Jabbing forward with his hand, he drove the fissure deeper. The stone cracked, chipping off in vast splinters. He jabbed his will as far as it would go, smashing the existing stone to either side. A endless, perfectly straight pathway appeared in a sh.
¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Gridgen said, letting out a shuddering breath. ¡°That¡¯s the good stuff.¡±
¡°Boss, is he gonna rece us?¡± one miner asked.
¡°The archduke is too busy to help youzy lot,¡± Gridgen said. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we found anything worthwhile.
Theo found himself immensely entertained as he walked with the miners. The marveled at how perfectly ¡®hewn¡¯ the tunnel was. But the tunnel was a stark reminder of what he was fighting against. These kinds of powers needed to be plugged. The system needed a reset so no one could take advantage of such holes. These were holes left by the previous false gods. Holes that were nurtured instead of patched. But at least the miners thought it was cool.
¡°How about a few levels deeper?¡± Gridgen asked. ¡°I got a good feeling about that.
Theo shrugged. A few more sharp gestures and a staircase appeared, leading them down even deeper. And deeper still when the next level produced nothing. This went on long enough that the alchemist became concerned about air quality. He ordered one miner to run off and request a venttion system from Throk. But a few hours of ¡®digging¡¯ter, and the miners got excited.
¡°I got a good feeling about this!¡± Gridgen shouted, his voice echoing off the walls of the tunnel.
¡°You¡¯ve said that for every tunnel I¡¯ve created,¡± Theo said.
¡°But I feel really good about this one.¡±
Theo shrugged, walking down the dim corridor with nothing but a magicalntern to light the way. The group paused when the ground around them rumbled slightly. The alchemist shared a look with Gridgen, who shrugged.
¡°I¡¯m wise enough to know that ominous tremors don¡¯t mean good things,¡± Theo said. He spread his senses outward, piercing through the rock. He retracted them when he felt something beneath them. ¡°Best be quick¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard stories about this,¡± a miner said, bringing up the rear with his pick at the ready.
¡°You¡¯re always telling stories,¡± Gridgen grumbled. ¡°Maybe if you¡ Wait, I see something glittering in the dark.¡±
¡°Just silver,¡± Theo said, squinting against the darkness. ¡°Looks like we went to the core of the for silver.¡±
¡°Not silver you fork-tailed idiot!¡± a miner shouted.
Theo turned to him and the man pped a hand over his mouth.
¡°No, he is a fork-tailed idiot,¡± Gridgen said, rushing over to the nugget embedded in the wall. He smacked his pick into the wall, and the ground rumbled again. Everyone went silent.
¡°Best let the fork-tailed idiot take care of it,¡± Theo said, pulling the nugget from the wall. He handed it over to Gridgen. ¡°Congrattions on your silver. Let¡¯s go.¡±
¡°Not silver,¡± one miner whispered. ¡°Inspect it.¡±
Theo did exactly that.
[Mythril Nugget]
[Metal Ore]
Epic
Quality: Perfect
A raw nuggets of Mythril. Needs refining.
¡°A dwarf would scoop your eyes out with a spoon just to touch that,¡± Gridgen said, his voice breathy and hushed.
¡°I¡¯ve heard stories!¡± the story-telling human man said.
¡°He might be right about that, Theo. We should talk to someone about this. Maybe the old goat of a dwarf at the smithy.¡±
¡°What kind of stories?¡± Theo demanded.
¡°Demons in the darkness. Dwarves that dig themselves into caverns filled with demons.¡±
Theo gestured to himself. ¡°You¡¯ve found the demon.¡±
¡°Not actual demons,¡± Gridgen corrected. ¡°Big beasties or something.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll seal this tunnel off,¡± Theo said. He kept a straight face. That of an annoyed taskmaster. Not of a frightened dronon that had just touched something powerful with his senses. Whatever was below them felt powerful. The kind of powerful that would move mountains. He noticed the disappointed look on the face of the others. ¡°After we gather the other nuggets in this tunnel. But you¡¯re not to dig this deep again, okay?¡±
¡°Understood, boss,¡± Gridgen said, smiling the entire time.
After gathering the rest of the nuggets in the hall, the group headed to higher floors in the mine. Theo sealed the way behind them, intending to put as much rock between his miners and whatever creature lurked in the dark. They were extremely upset by this action, but there was nothing else to do. Until he knew more about what they might face, no amount of fortune would be worth losing the lives of his people.
Gridgen joined with Theo, heading off to the mine. Their resident dwarf might know something about the nuggets. And now that Theo¡¯s bag was filled with those nuggets, it seemed like a kingly prize to present to Nira and her team of smelters.
¡°Thim,¡± Theo said, poking his head into the cksmith¡¯s Workshop. ¡°I¡¯ve got a question.¡±
¡°I¡¯m already working on your project,¡± Thim growled, holding up a te of Drogramathi Iron for him to see. ¡°Said it would take a few days¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s not it. I need some dwarf lore.¡±
Thim set the piece he was working on down, assuming a more rxed posture. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been told this is rare,¡± Theo said, producing a Mythril Nugget.
Thim raised a brow at first. Until he inspected the item. He stumbled back, almost falling into the forge. ¡°What are you doing with that?¡±
¡°See? Beasties,¡± Gridgen said, nodding with satisfaction.
¡°Where did you get it?¡± Thim demanded. ¡°And can I have it?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Theo said, tossing the nugget over. Gridgen¡¯s mouth fell open.
¡°What are you doing!? We gotta smelt that!¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Payment for the dwarf lore.¡±
¡°A payment big enough to build a house, raise a family, send them off to the best schrly cults in the world, and retire!¡± Gridgen shouted.
¡°That¡¯s far from the mark,¡± Thim said, bringing the nugget so close to his face he had the tip of his nose pressed against it. ¡°In the dwarven holds, you¡¯ll hear about dwarves digging too deeply. But finding a Mythril Nugget meant you were close to the nest of something nasty. They only appear near underground pockets of magma, which are often home to fearsome creatures. Lava Hydras, Lava Dragons¡ Basically, any monster rted tova and magma loves living there.¡±
¡°So, we were inches from death,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°I should have known better. We dug from above using my core. I have a feeling if we dug it manually, we would have disturbed whatever it was living underground.¡±
¡°Count yourself lucky,¡± Thim said, rubbing his thumb over the surface of the glittering metal. In the light of day, it had a green sheen to it. ¡°The quality of the metal this produces doesn¡¯t justify the price, though. This is more of a status item back in the dwarven holds.¡±
¡°Time to visit the smelter, I think,¡± Theo said.
6.59 - Entry Missing
6.59 - Entry Missing
The smelter buildings were also chaotic. Not only because of the people rushing around, avoiding sshing metal and shouting orders. But the heat itself was enough to make any normal person wither as they approached. Theo shielded his face as he waved his hands, desperate to get Nira¡¯s attention. Between the cooling gel they wore on their skin, and some adaptation, thanks to the cores they used.
Nira waved him off, gesturing across the street before getting back to work.
Gridgens stuck around, waiting to see what the woman would say about the ore. It took a while for her to finish up, though. That led to the overly excited miner making predictions about the quality of the ore and what it would mean for the town. But Theo took Thim¡¯s assessment seriously. It was unlikely to shake things up, even if it was cool.
¡°What can I help you with?¡± Nira said, sauntering over. She wiped a wet cloth over her face, removingyers of soot.
¡°Got something interesting for you to smelt,¡± Theo said, producing several nuggets from his inventory. He handed them over.
¡°Rare metals? I like rare metals,¡± Nira said, inspecting the nuggets. She held it up to the sun, bit it, and shrugged. ¡°Seems slightly better than Drogramathi Iron. Not as versatile as Azrugium.¡±
¡°Those are apparently expensive,¡± Theo said. ¡°ording to the dwarves.¡±
¡°Yeah, dwarves and their precious metals¡ I¡¯ll cook these up for you,¡± Nira said, holding her hands out. ¡°Assuming you have more than three nuggets.¡±
Theo gave her all the nuggets he had, and was unsurprised at her glib response to something a dwarf imed was so precious. She worked with rare metals every day, stuff that would make the dwarves blush. But this was the only ce these rare metals appeared¡ Unless there was a Drogramathi mine somewhere else. That got him thinking.¡°Has the supply of Drogramathi Iron dried up?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Not that we¡¯ve noticed,¡± Gridgen said.
¡°That¡¯s curious¡ But I won¡¯tin. Keep an eye on it,¡± Theo said. ¡°Thanks, Nira. You¡¯re the best smelter I know.¡±
¡°Damn right I am,¡± Nira said, turning away and approaching her workshops. She yelled at some workers, iling her arms. In the short time she had met with the pair, something had gone wrong.
Theo shook his head, walking off with Gridgen. ¡°Make sure they don¡¯t dig deep,¡± he said. ¡°If I catch you guys digging any deeper than thatst level, I¡¯ll seal it up.¡±
¡°The miners are scared enough as it is. I don¡¯t think you have to worry.¡±
Theo bid farewell to Gridgen at the mines. The workers were buzzing with the new information. The alchemist turned away from the excitement, heading off toplete his little adventure. In the past, he had used the Tunneling Potion to etch a passageway through the mountains, leading south to the coastline. He walked that path,ing to the end only to spot a massive drop. Reaching out with his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core, he got to work on a path.
Carving a path in the mountain was theraputic. Theo fell into a rhythm of moving and removing material as he created a basic ramp alongside the mountain. He reformed it to hold the path better, making sure it was wide enough not only to hold people, but carts and trains if he needed. The original idea for this passage was to have aunching point for a train heading south, over the water and toward the lizard inds. That never worked, as the bridge had failed almost immediately.
Within a few hours, Theo was walking along the coastline to the south, angling himself northeast as he followed the curve of thend. He could see the harbor in the distance, but at least he was at the level of the water. The wavespped against the rock, washing over his boots as he raised the pathway enough to ount for the tides. He wrapped the path along the coast, leaving it where it was as he approached the beach area. The guards atop the waterborne towers waved after a bit of shock.
Theo waved back. ¡°Yeah, I bet they¡¯re wondering what the hell I¡¯m doing out here¡ Just testing some bridges, guys. No need to freak out.¡±
With the coastal pathway done, Theo walked back to the massive staircase he had created and climbed it. Without his increased Vigor, the climb would have been daunting enough to make him give up. Once at the top, Theo pulled material from the mountain itself and sent it sailing into the sea below. The stone crumbled, tumbling end-over-end as it crashed into the sea. Waves radiated outward, white-crested and high enough to cause concern. At least the harbor was shielded by sturdy walls.
With enough rocks in the ocean below, he took the stairs¡ again. Would Throk be upset if Theo requested an elevator? Probably not, but it was a waste of his time. The trip wasn¡¯t too bad, and it allowed the alchemist to mess around with causeway designs. He quickly learned the only way to make it work would be to pile material in a mound that joined at the top. Even in the shallow waters near the coast, the amount of rock needed to make the causeway was staggering.
But the waves crashed around the crude causeway, rushing up the scramble of rocks and failing to rush over the path. While this small test was interesting, Theo knew it wasn¡¯t a seal of approval for the structure. Ziz¡¯s version of the bridge didn¡¯t fail near the shore. The structure he made failed out at sea, where white-capped waves mmed into the pirs supporting the bridge. Then there was the problem of depth. Again.
¡°Boats are easier,¡± Theo said, moving stone around to connect the causeway to his hewn path. ¡°But at least the fishermen can head out and cast a line¡¡±
From what Theo could observe about the open ocean outside the bay, the bridge idea was a bust. Boats were way easier, and with the amount of effort he needed to put into this project,ing up with a magic-resistant airship would be quicker. But he wasn¡¯t undertaking these projects as a way to better the alliance anymore. That would be a lovely side-effect, but what he needed was to keep his willpower sharp.
Going through a list of buildings in his mind, Theo headed back to town. He could catch up on some things that had gone by the wayside during his mad alchemy spree. The first one that bubbled to the top of his thoughts were the smelters. Nira was doing a great job with them, so much so the alchemist had let them fall behind the other buildings. Getting them to Level 20 from 15 would be easy enough. If he had enough spare Monster Cores, he could even get them to 25. But one upgrade should have been good enough for the industrious woman.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
¡°I haven¡¯t smelted your fancy nuggets,¡± Nira said, giving Theo a t look as he approached. She was taking a break outside the smelter, chatting with Alise and looking as dour as ever.
¡°Just upgrading the buildings,¡± Theo said with a nod. ¡°Let me know which one you wanna pick.¡±
¡°He¡¯s bored,¡± Alise said, not bothering to keep her voice low. ¡°Looking for things to do, you know.¡±
¡°Quite bored,¡± Theo said, approaching the smelter. ¡°In a good way, though.¡±
Theo added Monster Cores to the smelter, watching as the level ticked up. It didn¡¯t take long for the first upgrade option to appear. He saw the old Lightweight Crucible upgrade, the new one, and something strange.
[MISSING]
ENTRY MISSING
Theo had to think for a moment to figure out what was going on. The old upgrade was Fan¡¯glir¡¯s mes. And Fan¡¯glir was kinda dead. As dead as a fake god could be, anyway. He wondered if there were other upgrade selections in town that had suffered. He would need to check, searching for a solution if there was one at all. Instead of worrying about it now, he checked the new upgrade option.
[Cooled Workspace]
Any worker with a Smelter¡¯s Core (or adjacent, aligned, etc core) will experience half as much heat from the smelter.
¡°Come on,¡± Theo said, reading the description for Nira to hear. ¡°How could you not want that?¡±
¡°I get that, or lighter crucibles¡ I don¡¯t mind the heat so much.¡±
¡°There¡¯s not minding the heat, and then standing in the middle of an active volcano.¡± Theo folded his arms, shaking his head at her. She was tougher than most.
¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll take that one.¡±
Theo selected the upgrade, narrowing his eyes at theva-girl as he added more cores to the building. The next milestone came, once again providing him with the missing entry, Light Crucibles, and something new. ¡°This one is good, though,¡± the alchemist said, reading thetest entry for her consideration.
[Expanded Crucibles]
The generated crucibles within your smelter may hold more and retain heat better.
¡°That one sounds exciting,¡± Nira said, deadpan.
¡°Oh, yeah. Just let it all out,¡± Theo said, selecting the upgrade for her. ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯ve only got a stock of Level 20 to 25 cores on me right now. I¡¯ll have to grab some more high-level cores from the market.¡±
¡°The Cooled Workspace upgrade will be great for my workers,¡± Nira said. ¡°Perhaps we won¡¯t have faintings as often.¡±
Theo inspected the building before moving on. He smiled at the name Nira had given it. Long ago, he learned who the Midnight Damsel was.
[Smeltery]
[Midnight Damsel Smeltery]
Owners: Theo Spencer
Operator: Nira Weir
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 25 (15%)
Rent Due: SUSPENDED
Expansions:
[Preservation of Heat]
[Pattern Alloy]
[Double Smelter]
[Cooled Workspace]
[Expanded Crucibles]
Applying the upgrades to the other smelters, Theo headed off for his next stop. Throk owned both the Artificer¡¯s Workshop and the cksmith¡¯s Workshop, and would have been mad if upgrades were applied. The School, Mudball Fundamental, was already at Level 30. While his Tero¡¯gal Manor was at Level 20 and could have been brought to Level 25, he just didn¡¯t have the desire to do so.
Theo wandered to the harbor, watching as a ship pulled in to moor at the docks. The waters here were calm and clear, not appearing as filthy as he remembered Earth harbors looking. There was a constant flow of water from the river, flushing anything foul left behind by the ships into the sea. He made his way to the marker, looking over the interesting wares people brought for sale. It wasn¡¯t a seed core market, but it was fun.
After haggling with a merchant, Theo led a karatan away from a stall. The creature was of a variety he hadn¡¯t seen before, and seemed well-tempered. Best of all, it was white with ck spots. It looked too much like an Earth cow not to purchase, even with too many legs and the insect-like features.
Theo approached the paddock¡¯s edge, watching the other karatan roam the open fields. Miana spotted him from afar, shaking her head and striding across the open fields of green. ¡°What in the hells do you have there?¡±
¡°A big cutie, that¡¯s what.¡±
¡°What are you going to do with a karatan?¡± Miana asked. She might have been trying to hide it, but she was smiling.
¡°I didn¡¯t think past the idea of owning a spotted karatan. You want it?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Surely it cost you a few gold¡¡±
Theo nodded. Five of them, in fact. He didn¡¯t buy the creature intending to start a farm of his own. A merchant had gone through the trouble of loading a living animal onto a boat, sailing half-way around the world, and presenting it in a stall. Therefore, Miana should have it. He held the lead out, and the beast chittered.
¡°Thanks, I guess,¡± Miana said, opening the gate to the paddock. ¡°She¡¯s well-trained, isn¡¯t she?¡±
The creature stomped off into the field, nibbling at grass as it went. Theo watched with pride. ¡°I¡¯m good at finding excellent quality karatan.¡±
¡°Are you really? Did you know it was a girl?¡±
¡°Nope. It was the spots that drew me.¡±
Mianaughed, her smile about as bright as the sun above. Her road to recover was long, but Theo was happy to see she was in a good ce. Both her and the animals woulde along for the ride through the void. He could imagine these karatan grazing the fields of Tero¡¯gal, mingling with the creatures from Earth. What more could a cow-bug ask for?
¡°I¡¯m afraid I lost a pozwa a few days ago,¡± Miana said with a sigh. She jabbed her thumb back to the farmhouse. On the other side, Theo could see a simple gravestone. ¡°Realities of ranching, I¡¯m afraid.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t help that no one knows how to care for them, huh?¡± Theo asked. ¡°You have a breeding pair though, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°More than a pair. The poption will stay stable for a while. Not forever, but long enough.¡±
Pozwa had always been interesting little critters. They were demon goats. That¡¯s what they looked like, anyway. Feathered, horned, and cloven-hooved, they appeared to be some chimeric hybrid made by a mad scientist. And they could trace their original breeding back to Gardreth the Fallen Kingdom. Now that was a ce Theo had heard little about in his time here. No matter how manyyers he pulled back from the curtain of the world, he was doubtful he¡¯d learn everything about this ce¡¯s history.
¡°How is the cheese business?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Everyone loves cheese, so business is good,¡± Miana said. She sighed, leaning against the paddock fence.
¡°I might need to buy more cheese,¡± Theo said. ¡°Not as much as before, but¡ enough.¡±
¡°A little melted karatan cheese¡ some zee tbread¡¡± Miana trailed off, patting her belly. ¡°Should¡¯ve had more of that at the wedding.¡±
¡°More of that and less liquor,¡± Theo said, nodding. ¡°Or a hangover cure.¡±
¡°How many people do you think live in the world?¡± Theo asked.
Miana blinked a few times, her eyes leaving the alchemist and tracing a line somewhere in the distance. ¡°I really couldn¡¯t say¡¡±
The poption of this world wasn¡¯t vast. He was certain the Soutnds Alliance wasrge enough to contain them all, assuming they had the amodations. A n formed in his mind. Something that might have been stupid, but fun.
¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to visit the market¡ I just had the dumbest idea ever.¡±
6.60 - The Seal of Passage
Watching how the market had flourished from nothing to a thriving sprawl of products and merchants was always amazing. Theo flitted between stalls, getting prices on food, spices, building materials, and seed cores as he went. He made a mental tally of these numbers, but they were iplete. Prices would fluctuate by the day, depending on which merchant was in town from which other civilization. As always, Bantein and Partopour had the best prices while Tarantham had the best stuff.
The flow of merchant ships had be constant enough that at least one was docked in the harbor. Ovend trade had been relegated to traders moving goods from Rivers and Daub and Gronro-Dir. That made up far more trade than Theo had expected, resulting in something of a boom of exports. There were some tax implications he didn¡¯t care to think about. Alise could worry about who paid who and what it all meant. She was damn good at her job.
Tresk appeared from nowhere, joining the alchemist on the walls that encased the trade district. The tops of the tents were visible, creating a sprawling ssh of color to offset the hard packed earth, cobbles, or gray stone of the walls. She had responded to a mental summons, appearing in a sh without her normal annoyed persona. Instead, she felt the request and responded withoutint.
¡°Numbers, huh?¡± Tresk asked, scratching her head. ¡°I¡¯m not so good with numbers.¡±
¡°You¡¯d think the Tara¡¯hek would have picked one person in the group that was decent with numbers¡¡±
¡°So, we¡¯re counting everyone in the world.¡± Tresk shrugged. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too hard.¡±
¡°Come on. We¡¯re counting everyone, but we need someone who is good at counting. And organizing stuff.¡±
¡°Alise?¡±
Theo nodded, turning away from the battlements. He found the nearest staircase, descending to the ground below. While he juggled other projects¡ªthings that would take a few days to move¡ªhe had time to n for the future. The duo walked through the streets, heading for the town hall. Alex flew somewhere overhead, unting some new power she had gained. Perhaps she would be more dragon than goose soon enough.The town hall was as busy as ever. Theo wondered what all these people were doing here all the time. Some administrative something-or-other. Alise was in a meeting, so they waited outside of her office for a while before being allowed in. For once, he didn¡¯t barge in to demand her attention.
¡°What¡¯s going on, Theo?¡± Alise said, looking up from a stack of papers with a concerned expression. ¡°Did a dragon burst forth from the ocean? Perhaps a god has descended and we all have five minutes to live.¡±
¡°Those would be interesting, but no. I¡¯m wondering if you have a headcount for the entire world.¡±
Alise looked down at the stack of papers in her hands, letting them drop to the table with a thud. She pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes at the alchemist. ¡°Why do you wanna know?¡±
¡°Just curious.¡±
¡°Yeah, right,¡± Alise said, standing to shuffle through some papers on a different table. ¡°I can smell one of your schemes from another continent¡ While the request is weird, I have some basic numbers. The entire world?¡±
¡°Break it down by continent.¡±
Alise shuffled through some papers, shrugging as she held up a tally sheet for the Soutnds Alliance. ¡°Everyone here is dead or in four cities. That makes it easy. The Soutnds Alliance contains about five- to eight-thousand people.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a lot of people!¡± Tresk shouted.
¡°Not really,¡± Alise said, shuffling to another sheet. ¡°Bantein has at least fifty-thousand. These are estimates, by the way.¡±
Alise went through the rest of the nations. There were fewer than a half-million people on this. Theo took those numbers in as the administrator went on, talking about how she had collected the information. She wouldn¡¯t stop reinforcing the fact that these were estimates, not exact numbers she had gone to check herself.
¡°Earth had a few billion people at one time,¡± Theo said, breaking out of his thoughts. ¡°We were down to about one-million at the end, but this is strange.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure how so many people could fit on one,¡± Alise said, tapping the end of a stack of paper onto the table. She stored it away with other, simr stacks.
¡°The point is, that¡¯s not a lot of people,¡± Tresk said, reading Theo¡¯s thoughts.
¡°No,pared to your old world. But what does it matter?¡± Alise asked.
Theo rolled his shoulders. This was the part where Alise got mad at him foring up with a stupid idea. There were going to be some problems with bringing the Shards back to the mortal ne. Kinks he had to work out in Xol¡¯sa¡¯s inventions. He couldn¡¯t estimate how long it would take him, or how long after that the gods would ssify the. He couldn¡¯t bring everyone, but why not try?
¡°You know my n to bring the alliance to my world,¡± Theo said, shrugging. He had exined the entire n to her.
Alise blinked slowly, as though the slower the action the more her thoughts had time to catch up. ¡°You wanna bring them all?¡±
¡°As many as we can.¡±
Alise sighed, shrugged, and grunted. ¡°Yeah, whatever. Let¡¯s do it.¡±
¡°Really!?¡± Tresk shouted. Perhaps a little too loud. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna yell at him? Call him an idiot?¡±
¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± Alise asked. ¡°He¡¯s going to do it anyway. He likely wants to house these people while they¡¯re here, iming the spaces between the three towns for them to stay. Which is why I saw him walking over to the market earlier. Yeah, we started getting a stockpile of food. If we focused on that, we could feed an endless field of people for a few weeks.¡±
¡°Wow. You¡¯re on board?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Yeah, why not? Let me run the numbers on half the world¡¯s poption agreeing to some nut-brained idea to hang out in the Soutnds Alliance until the end of the world.¡±
Theo¡¯s intuition said far fewer than half would show up. But nning for half was a good idea. It was hard to tell how things would turn in theing weeks, and there was nothing wrong with the older Broken Tusker tradition of over-preparing for everything.
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¡°How long will that take?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°I dunno. Get out of my office and it¡¯ll take a far shorter time.¡±
Tresk and Theo shuffled out of Alise¡¯s office, heading out into the town hall aimlessly. A quarter-million people seemed like a lot, but they only needed to support them for a bit. As the alchemist considered this, he felt something strange tug at his chest. When he searched Tresk¡¯s feelings, he felt that sensation mirrored in her.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Tresk asked, pawing at her chest. ¡°Feels like someone is tugging on my cores from the inside¡¡±
¡°Just the one core, actually,¡± Theo said, focusing on the sensation. His Dreamwalker¡¯s Core was vibrating in his chest. Rushing outside, he turned his gaze skyward, unsure what he was expecting to see. But it wasn¡¯t what he saw. Instead, he felt something. ¡°A change in the system.¡±
No one else in town had felt the change. The alchemist felt something vibrating in his inventory, a haptic buzz that filled his mind. He withdrew hismunication stone linked with Fenian and squeezed it tightly.
¡°I¡¯m guessing you felt that,¡± Fenian said.
¡°What the hell was that, Fenian?¡± Tresk shouted into the stone.
¡°That¡¯s¡ not the way the stones work,¡± Theo said with a sigh. ¡°Something changed with the system.¡±
¡°Yes, but what?¡± Fenian asked. ¡°I can¡¯t¡ Oh, there it is! Did you get the message?¡±
Theo locked his jaw tightly, gritting his teeth. This was bound to happen¡ A message had appeared.
[Dreamwalker¡¯s Core Message]
A seal has been set in ce. A recent intrusion into the heavenly realms has forced a change with the Monitor System. The Seal of Passage has been set in ce, making it impossible for any being¡ªno matter their station¡ªfrom crossing the boundary between the outer and inner realms.
The message appeared as general information, as though anyone who got the message would know what it meant. Tresk¡¯s excited blustering meant she didn¡¯t get what it meant. Theo let themunication crystal fall to his side. He was relieved. All the information he needed to weather the next phase of the storm was locked in his mind. Both Hallow and Void had given him the tools required to heal the space elves and bring the shards back to the mortal world. This was thanks to Twist and whatever strange plot he schemed.
¡°Well, I had no ns to go there anyway,¡± Fenian said, seeming arrogant with his words. ¡°So, take that. You stupid system.¡±
¡°Anything else to report?¡± Theo asked. ¡°What are you doing, anyway?¡±
¡°Snagging a few things from Tarantham right now. There are several artifacts I don¡¯t want to be without when you steal me away to your world. Oh, are you going to buy me dinner before you kidnap me?¡±
¡°Bring your own food. Just don¡¯t bring anything that could damage the world¡ Okay?¡±
¡°Sure, sure¡ I was thinking about making my own world! Wouldn¡¯t that be lovely?¡±
Theo imagined the kind of world Fenian would build. ¡°Hot elven women only, right?¡±
¡°Theo! I didn¡¯t know you knew my type!¡±
Theo hung up before Fenian could say anything else. If he remained on the line, things were going to get weird. The alchemist didn¡¯t want to know what the elf was doing, but at least he was regrly returning to Broken Tusk at this point. That just left him with the message driven by the Monitor System. Tresk was confused, so he needed to exin it.
¡°We¡¯re sealed off from the gods,¡± Theo said, tapping his chin. His mind rolled over the information, tumbling them until he decided if it was a good thing. ¡°We wanted this, actually. This is perfect.¡±
¡°Are you sure?¡± Tresk asked, raising a hairless brow. ¡°Feels like we leaned on them for a lot of stuff.¡±
¡°That was before the thrones. This is the system as it was meant to be. The gods should have been sealed away entirely, only acting through agents. Instead, what we had was a gentleman¡¯s agreement not to mess with the mortal world. We all know how well that went.¡±
¡°Yeah, but still¡¡±
¡°And this means the gods would mess with us when we¡¯re doing our job. Void can kick rocks if he has a problem with any of my ns¡ even if he has somemand over the void, I don¡¯t think he can leave the sun-like area in the middle of our new gxy.¡±
¡°The what?¡± Tresk asked, regretting her decision to ask immediately.
Theo slipped them through the veil. An instantter, they were floating in the void, looking off into the expanse of spiraling nothing. The alchemist pointed to the center of the formation. ¡°The gods all live there. Each of their worlds exists within the sun.¡±
¡°Ah, yes. Existential dread like I never expected,¡± Tresk said, nodding along. ¡°Can we go back tond? I don¡¯t like the void.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°This is important. This is big, Tresk. Come on.¡±
Tresk groaned as they shot through the void, angled directly for Khahak. A blinkter, and they were standing in the Arbiter¡¯s Citadel, overlooking the endless metropolis of a world. Khahar¡¯s top-floor office was a sprawling thing of ornate decorations, Khahari influences, and plush seats. The man himself was standing behind his table, turning to offer a smile at the alchemist.
¡°Didn¡¯t take you long toe knocking,¡± Khahar said. ¡°What are your impressions about the change?¡±
Theo nodded, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°I¡¯m very excited. Less oversight from the gods.¡±
¡®Yet we¡¯re sealed from their heavenly realms.¡±
Theo thumped his fist into his open palm, nodding. ¡°Exactly. Mortal, Ascendant, God, System, Monitor System. That¡¯s the pecking order, right? They need to leave us alone to do what we need to do over here. Same goes for them on the other side.¡±
Khahar turned, looking out his window. Theo could feel something of regreting from the man. He tried not to think less of his old friend, as he knew what was making him feel this way. There was a long pause before anyone spoke. But it was the person the alchemist least expected.
¡°You gotta get over it, man,¡± Tresk said. ¡°Just because you¡¯re no longer Mister Know-It-All doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t make informed decisions.¡±
¡°What, like Theo¡¯s n to throw an end of the world party?¡± Khahar scoffed. He shook his head, turning back to the pair. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯ve felt adrift recently.¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t we pull Fenian in on this conversation?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Can you interdict him from¡¡± Khahar trailed off.
A swirl of ck appeared, Fenian stumbling out of the portal a momentter. He was wearing nothing but his underwear and smelled of Qavelli Berries. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s illegal,¡± he said, making an X with his arms. He turned, grabbing at the air as though he could rip the portal open with his hands. ¡°You send me back this instant, alchemist. Do you know how hard it was to woo that elven princess? Do you!?¡±
¡°Not that hard for you,¡± Tresk muttered. ¡°Guy sleeps around more than a Marsh Wolf.¡±
¡°I heard that!¡±
¡°This shouldn¡¯t take long,¡± Khahar said, waving Fenian¡¯s concerns away. ¡°Only a few moments should pass on the mortal ne. Unless they adjusted the time again¡¡±
¡°Oh, yes. I¡¯ll just exin to her how I blinked out of reality for a moment. That won¡¯t ruin the mood or anything!¡±
Theo pinched the bridge of his nose. After releasing a heavy sigh, he looked at the people gathered in Khahar¡¯s office¡ªincluding himself. Four unlikely people had taken thrones of power, bing true ascendants. They held positions that equated to power, no matter how strange and chained that power was. Each had jobs rted to keeping the world safe. Following the system¡¯s rules was paramount.
¡°We¡¯re the authorities, now,¡± Theo said, folding his arms.
Fenian yanked a nket from a nearby sofa, draping it over his shoulders and pinching it closed in front. ¡°Fine. Make it quick, or you¡¯ll ruin the magic.¡±
¡°I call to order,¡± Khahar said, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°The first meeting of the true ascendants.¡±
Stub Announcement
I''ve put it in the title, but I''m going to put the notice here!
I''ll be honest. Book 1 has so many edits, I can''t even remember how much we changed. It went through my personal editing cycle, which includes a lot of feedback delivered here on RoyalRoad. Then it went through another round with me, then to my personal editor, then back and forth with the publisher''s editor. Of course the final version isn''t without errors. Come on. I''ve never been able to get 100% of the errors before it goes out. But this one is like 95% solid and I''m very excited.
The story-based changes I made are subtle, but they''re going to help Theo feel more in line with what his end goal ends up being. I''ve got subtle hints that help understand his state of mind, along with some Tara''hek rted stuff. I also kinda scrubbed some specific numbers rted to money. Since I realized I don''t like tracking every single coin. Mostly that just generates errors, and I''ve found a much better way to write about that now.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
So, this bookunches with KU, regr kindle, and audiobook formats. While I love all the support I get on here and Patreon, downloading the KU version, buying the kindle version, or audiobook will go a long way to show my publisher that I''m not an idiot.
At this time, I am working on TWO more series, one of which will hit RR Soon?.
I also just want to point out that since the first chapter for N&D dropped here, it has released 3 times a week, every single week, without a dang break. "Wow no breaks? Are you mentally okay?" Yeah, I bank chapters so I can take a break. No worries. You might not have noticed, but I also dropped the chapter length from 3k to 2.5k. Believe it or not, that has made writing N&D A LOT easier for me, and I''m going with 2.5k for all future projects. I love this chapter length, and I don''t find myself writing filler to fluff a chapter out.
Anyway, for everyone that''s been here (no matter how long) thanks for joining me. I''m looking forward to bringing you more stories that explore the more "boring" aspects of the genre. I want to see how far I can push a character literally never fighting something while still having an interesting story. The first one is about a druid, and the next one is secret. Cause I only have like 5 chapters and I''m still working it out.
THANKS BYE
6.61 - Reforge Mind
Theo, Fenian, Khahar, and Tresk sat in a circle around a magical fire. The Arbiter¡¯s Citadel¡ªthe tower dominating the center of thergest city on Khahar¡¯s world¡ªhad a lovely balcony that overlooked the city below. Unlike a real skyscraper, there was no wind that rushed against them as they sipped the drink of the world. Screwdrivers. Of course Yuri would want his people to drink nothing but vodka in whatever form he could provide it. It wasn¡¯t enough that they all spoke Russian. No, they had to get the true Russian experience. With a ir for the dramatic, of course.
¡°This drink is lovely,¡± Fenian said, taking a few sips. He pulled the nket tighter around his shoulders, shivering from the cold.
¡°Yes, we all enjoy some trashy drinks,¡± Theo said.
¡°This is mostly a formality,¡± Tresk said, taking a few gulps of her drink. ¡°Your magic Russian elixir is making me feel funny, Khahar.¡±
¡°A simple formal meeting where we discuss issues,¡± Khahar said with a shrug. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the yers who could send things tumbling down before the transition.¡±
¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it?¡± Theo asked. ¡°I was thinking of calling it ¡®The Reset¡¯.¡±
¡°The Cataclysm,¡± Fenian put in.
¡°Anyway, let¡¯s all list our loose ends,¡± Khahar said, gesturing to Theo and Tresk. ¡°I assume you¡¯ll have the same elements of concern.¡±
¡°Twist, Jan, and Hanan,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°I have Hanan close at hand, so I¡¯m not as worried about him. But both Twist and Jan are in the wind. No idea where I sent Twist, and no idea where Jan went.¡±¡°We¡¯ll need to kill them both,¡± Fenian said with a nod. But Theo¡¯s intuition told him there was more to the words than the others realized.
¡°Care to share with the ss?¡± Khahar asked. ¡°They¡¯re loose elements, not enemies.¡±
¡°Twist is unpredictable,¡± Fenian said. ¡°He was integrated from a world we¡¯re not familiar with. His people were scooped up by Death before most could assimte.¡±
A look of confusion spread over Khahar¡¯s face. ¡°Death just took his seat. Twist appeared well before that.¡±
Fenian smiled. ¡°And Jan was always a pain in the ass.¡±
¡°How about you start from the start, buddy,¡± Tresk said, ring. ¡°What use is there holding back information to the council?¡±
¡°Is that what we are? Oh, fine. Are you fine folks ready for a tale?¡±
¡°I like a good story,¡± Theo said, rubbing his hands together. ¡°And answers.¡±
¡°A very long time ago, Iaredin was a system world like any other. We had a few gods, some wars, all that fun stuff. One day, the entire system reset. Everyone was sent back to Level 1, and almost everything changed. Especially the monsters. They no longer worked how we expected, sending the world into chaos. To everyone¡¯s surprise, things came together. The monsters organized, seeking to destroy the things that held the world together. But the adventurers and armies of the worlds united, fighting against the horde and pushing them back. Four cities, four decisive battles.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t remember that from this world¡¯s history,¡± Khahar said once Fenian had paused for breath.
¡°Because the sixty-thousand years you know as ¡®history¡¯ only happened after another reset,¡± Fenian said. ¡°We called it the Change.¡±
Theo put it together before Fenian went on. He had heard as much from the system and the other gods, but this confirmed it.
¡°Anyway, the thing about the change was this small hitch. We had outworldersing in and out of our realm. I thought it would be a problem at first, but they gave their lives to defend our world. They helped us find a solution in our darkest hour, sealing the world away until it could stabilize.¡±
¡°The outworlders were from Earth, right?¡± Theo asked, scratching his head. He released a heavy sigh. That would have beenmon knowledge, meaning it happened well before Earth went to hell. That gave the governments enough time to cover up, or forget what happened. Iaredin being sealed away made sense in that regard. ¡°You fought alongside Twist and Jan, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Naturally,¡± Fenian said with a shrug. ¡°Among others.¡±
¡°This helps us how?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°Because there are a few others we need to bring into the fold,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Or kill. Whichever. I don¡¯t care.¡±
¡°So, hold on. You lived back in¡ what, 2030? 2050 Earth time? That means you were added to the queue. When did you get released from the queue?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Some time ago,¡± Fenian said, his tone bing evasive. ¡°I have answers, but not all of them.¡±
Khahar shifted ufortably in his seat.
¡°How much did you know, Khahar?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Enough to get the ball rolling. Fenian was the first element to help with our n. Zagmon, The Burning Eye, Fan¡¯glir all had plots of their own. They would have worked if they ounted for rogue elements such as yourself and Fenian.¡±
¡°One more gripe,¡± Theo said, pointing an usatory finger at Fenian. ¡°You said Iaredin was sealed away. Is that what destroyed Earth?¡±
Fenian shared a look with Khahar. The arbiter nodded.
¡°It was one or the other,¡± Fenian said. ¡°And Earth didn¡¯t have the Great Shards to keep it stable during a period of hibernation. People on Earth could attune themselves to the Gates, giving them ess to the world. Anyone who was attuned had a chance to avoid watching their die over the next several-hundred years.¡±
¡°Well, that just sucks,¡± Theo said, folding his arms. ¡°Earth sucked after that.¡±
¡°I was there,¡± Khahar said, nodding to Theo. ¡°I don¡¯t need to remind you of that. But I made peace with the fact ages ago. Fenian was the first piece that helped us thwart the n, and the Tara¡¯hek was the next.¡±
¡°Yes, nice bit of engineering there, Khahar.¡±
Theo pressed his palms into his eyes, rubbing them. ¡°Of course. All you have are plots.¡±
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Khahar shrugged. ¡°Face the facts and get over it. We have a job to do.¡±
¡°I hate to agree with the cat, but he¡¯s right,¡± Tresk said. ¡°The past is done, let¡¯s move on.¡±
Theo only wanted answers. He didn¡¯t feel he had the authority to weigh sins. Something crazy happened on Earth before his time. Things were set into motion without his participation and he had to ept that. He was now in a position of power to change things and make them better, so he would seize that. It reminded him of his time on Earth, where things seemed dark. Nothing made sense if he thought about it as cosmic scales, bnced by the karma of individuals. Instead, it was some long game to make sure the most people survived. He could rte to that, at least.
¡°So, we should round up our rogue elements,¡± Theo said, forcing himself to change gears. ¡°Right?¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Since I¡¯m bound to Khahak, that falls to you guys.¡±
¡°Well, aren¡¯t you just a big stinker?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Getting out of work like that.¡±
¡°I would return if I could. But I am bound to this world,¡± Khahar said.
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Fenian said, adjusting his nket. ¡°I can act as a gatherer of information. The Bridge still works, so we should count that as a blessing.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Theo said. ¡°I want to know more about what happened on Earth, but this is important. I hate the idea of rogue elements thiste in the game.¡±
¡°See?¡± Khahar said, rising before draining his cup. ¡°Just a quick meeting. Theo can send you back to bed your elven maiden.¡±
¡°Oh, thank the gods,¡± Fenian said, casting his nket off as he rose to his feet. ¡°Send me to my deliverance, Theo!¡±
The alchemist smiled to himself, waving his hand. The elf vanished. ¡°Oh, oops. Might have miscalcted the return trip.¡±
Tresk covered her mouth, giggling. ¡°Gottem!¡±
¡°Are you upset, Theo?¡± Khahar asked.
¡°I wish I were more upset,¡± Theo said. With how crazy everything had been, it was hard to be surprised at things like this. Let alone upset. Stuff like this now simply felt like information flowing into his brain, parsed into bins of ¡®helpful¡¯ and ¡®unhelpful.¡¯ ¡°Feels like a shame dedicating any brain power to something like this. Earth was screwed and there was nothing we could do about it. But your plot to undermine the ascendants was devious.¡±
¡°Seriously, that¡¯s some viin stuff,¡± Tresk snorted.
¡°Yes. I miss my viin arc,¡± Khahar said with a sigh. ¡°But it was for a good cause.¡±
¡°Naturally,¡± Theo said.
Khahar had some interesting things to show Theo and Tresk. They hadn¡¯t had time to tour the world in a while, so it was fun looking at the way the fallen ascendants had adjusted to civilized life. Even someone like Balkor had integrated, somehow. It all seemed so beneath the alchemist that he didn¡¯t care. Balkor, Zagmon, and the Eye could all find their homes here for all he cared. Their stolen power was gone. They were rendered as normal people once again, cores purged from their bodies. His mind instead drifted away from the throneworld, back to mortal affairs.
¡°Been a st,¡± Theo said, nodding at his old friend. ¡°We gotta have more meetings like this.¡±
¡°So long as you can interdict the other throne holders, I don¡¯t see a reason why not.¡±
After exchanging a few more kind words, Theo and Tresk left the realm. They appeared back in town. Tresk didn¡¯t waste time, heading off to adventure with Alex. The alchemist lingered in the town square for some time, but headed for the Newt and Demon to check on the brewing potions. Even from a distance, heh could smell the scent of Searing Regeneration and Lightning Poppy in the air. A random half-ogre was manning the store downstairs. He offered a half-hearted wave before going back to reading his book. Salire was upstairs, tending the tiny stills.
¡°Oh! There you are,¡± she said, holding up a sk and swishing the contents. ¡°We have a sess.¡±
¡°Did both distill without an issue?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Minor issues like buildup on the iron paddle, but nothing extreme.¡±
¡°And the centrifuge experiment outside?¡±
Salire shrugged. ¡°Still going as far as I know. I haven¡¯t heard an explosion, anyway.¡±
¡°We could technically make the potion we need with this stuff. Intelligence Essence, Searing Regeneration Essence, and some Suffuse Potions,¡± Theo said, tapping his chin. ¡°As long as the new version of the essences get along with the old, we¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°And if they don¡¯t?¡± Salire asked.
Theo thought about it for a moment. He waved a dismissive hand. ¡°I¡¯m thinking a minor reaction. The two things aren¡¯t ipatible. They¡¯re just different, which would cause a small-ish explosion, or a lot of foam. Either-or.¡±
¡°Such confidence, big alchemist man,¡± Salire said with a giggle. ¡°Why don¡¯t you volunteer to mix the ingredients?¡±
Theo let his intuition guide him on this. He looked at his ingredients and considered what he knew. Each suffuse potion he had made so far was constructed from second tier reagents to create a fake third tier potion. If he mixed what he had on hand, he would use first tier reagents to make a fake second tier potion. Even if it wasn¡¯t powerful enough to cure the space elves, it would be a start. At least he would know he was on the right track. The alchemist wrapped his arm around Salire, dragging her to the table.
¡°We live together. We die together,¡± he said, starting the mixing process.
¡°No thanks!¡± Salire said, pushing against him.
Theo took on the visage of a mad scientist, ready to take the half-ogre woman out with him. She went from being yfully afraid, to actually afraid. ¡°I can see the future,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ll stop if we¡¯re mixing a bomb¡¡±
¡°Oh¡ Right.¡± Salireughed nervously. ¡°I just thought maybe today was the day.¡±
¡°The day for what?¡± Theo asked, adding the Suffuse Potion to a vial. He watched himself add the other reagents. Nothing exploded, but that fate branched off. A few more appeared, and then more.
¡°The day that you went insane.¡±
Theo hummed, holding off on adding the essence as he watched the possible futures. ¡°This is weird. I¡¯m seeing a few oues. None are explosions¡ Oh, that one is. But that¡¯s one in one-hundred.¡±
¡°What happens in the others?¡±
This is where some more Intelligence would pay off. While he could view each fate, his mind hard problems processing them. But it wasn¡¯t possible to go above his current Intelligence. Not unless he wanted to be that insane person Salire feared. But the chance that anything went wrong was low. He mixed the ingredients, watching as the air sizzled within the vial. Lightning actually crackled from the surface of the mixture, shocking the end of his finger like a static discharge. A plume of purple smoke rose into the air, filling theb with the scent of ozone and burning hair. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant mixture. But the concoction settled down, the bubbles rising to the surface to release burps of that same foul scent.
¡°Hooray. We¡¯re not dead,¡± Salire said.
¡°Not yet,¡± Theo said, hoisting the potion to look at. ¡°Winner, winner.¡±
¡°Let me see!¡±
[Reforge Mind]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Theo Spencer
Purity: 75%
Imbibing this potion reforges a mortal¡¯s mind. The process is extremely painful, but all illness, damage, mental fatigue, etc are scoured clean.
¡°No more fancy alignment effects,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°And the purity sucks.¡±
¡°How could youin?¡± Salire asked. ¡°That will work, won¡¯t it?¡±
Theo pursed his lips, thinking about it for a second. The description was vague enough that it should work. But he didn¡¯t know how serious this sickness was or what kind of damage it would do to the person who drank it. At worst, it could fry their brain. But they would be wiped out if he didn¡¯t try something. This was the only thing he could think of to save the space elves.
¡°Does this imply there¡¯s another version of this potion?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Reforge Mind is tied to Intelligence because that¡¯s the attribute that influences how quick a person¡¯s mind works. What would the other ones be?¡±
¡°Reforge Muscles for Strength?¡± Salire asked with a shrug. ¡°That makes sense to me, anyway. And¡ Wait, what would Dexterity be?¡±
¡°Might be worth checking out. If only we had a way to test this potion.¡± Theo gave Salire a look. He held the potion out. ¡°Check out this new drink I invented.¡±
Salire gave him a t look. ¡°Why are you feeling so sassy?¡±
Theo grinned to himself. The reason why he was feeling ¡®sassy¡¯ was¡ He felt the haptic buzz in his inventory.
¡°I¡¯ll have you know I find no humor in what you¡¯ve done,¡± Fenian said, speaking through themunication stone. ¡°When I get back to Broken Tusk, I¡¯m going to smack your rump. I¡¯m here to kill Balkor¡¯s shade, you know.¡±
¡°More pranks?¡± Salire asked, folding her arms.
Theoughed to himself. ¡°Heh. Yeah.¡±
6.62 - A Cure for Madness
As long as Void didn¡¯t oppose the idea, Theo could test his new potions whenever he wanted. Something inside him told him to test it on something less valuable before he tried the space elves themselves. But there were few subjects he could think of, and most of them were animals. That wouldn¡¯t be a good test, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time. Although the gods had sealed themselves away, they left behind a ticking clock. There was work to do, and he couldn¡¯t put off progress much longer.
Sitting at the massive table in the manor, Theo took small bites of his food. Sarisa and Rowan had prepared a pasta dish tonight, thered in a light brown sauce with chunks of mystery meat inside. They refused to tell him where the meat came from, but were eating it themselves. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t poisonous. They poked fun at him for being so pensive, but there was a lot to consider. Theing days and weeks would be packed with excitement and challenges.
¡°So, there he was,¡± Tresk said, giggling to herself. ¡°In his underpants¡¡±
Theo half-tuned Tresk out as she retold the story of the mostly naked elf for the tenth time. His only hope for testing his potion was within the Dreamwalk. Using it in the real world would be too costly, assuming there might be an issue with the way it functioned at a lower rank. At least he could hope¡
¡°Rumors are spreading about a worldwide party,¡± Sarisa said, hitting Theo with a cautious look. ¡°I wonder who came up with that.¡±
¡°I wonder how news spreads so quickly through the town.¡± Theo sighed. There was no reason to keep it from them. ¡°I want to invite as many people as I can to attend. Which gives us the best chance of moving many souls to the other worlds.¡±
¡°Yeah, we¡¯re gonna have a party!¡± Tresk said, bouncing in her chair. ¡°A big one. With booze and games. Maybe a few more fights.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to keep the fighting to a minimum,¡± Theo said.
¡°Yeah, right,¡± Rowan scoffed. ¡°You went all in on that fight with Fenian.¡±¡°He didn¡¯t, actually,¡± Tresk corrected. ¡°Theo and Fenian both held back. I¡¯m certain they feared the safety of the crowd.¡±
While that was only partially true, the alchemist wouldn¡¯t correct her. But the sentiment for a worldwide party seemed exciting. Theo thought back to when he first arrived, dealing with constant monsters waves to the point where they feared the entire being overrun with them. Now they had mastery over their dungeons, and monsters hardly posed a threat so long as they were cautious and proactive. Now he gazed forward, into a future where he could let loose with people from the other nations. Once that was over, the party would continue into a wedding in their new world.
¡°What are we going to call the new town in Tero¡¯gal?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Broken Tusk,¡± Tresk said, thumping her fist on the table. ¡°What¡¯s the point of bringing all our crap if we¡¯re gonna rename it?¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Rowan said. ¡°If your n is to move us, why change the name?¡±
Theo nodded along. That was an excellent point. There might have been some history to the name, but it was also just a decent name. Some ogre had likely chewed on a rock, breaking his tusk along the way. They then called it Broken Tusk because¡ why not?
¡°Let¡¯s get to bed you little scamp,¡± Tresk said, poking Theo in the side. ¡°I can feel how eager you are to test that potion.¡±
¡°Theo nodded, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin.¡±
Dropping into the Dreamwalk was always afort. Theo felt his feet fall against cracking sticks. Andscape of sparse trees and snow-covered rocks spread before him. It was a memory from back on Earth. Somewhere in Canada, but he couldn¡¯t remember exactly where. Not that it mattered. He had only been there once. They had delved into this ce before, revisiting an old memory as some kind of magical therapy. While it had worked, he now found the environment uninteresting.
¡°Get to work, alchemy boy,¡± Tresk said, mounting Alex.
The dragon-goose had experienced more changes. Her face had taken on the appearance of half-goose, half-dragon. She had stunted teeth and little horns poking from her head. Patches of feathers had gone, leaving them more sparse than before. Her front legs were almost long enough for her to walk on all-fours and something of a tail was sprouting from her butt.
¡°You are the most hideous creature I have ever seen,¡± Theo said.
Alex performed a honk-roar that was somehow more haunting than either sound alone. ¡°I¡¯m beautiful.¡±
¡°Yes, you are,¡± Tresk said, patting her on the side. ¡°And you¡¯re almost a dragon-goose. Hooray!¡±
The pair darted off, leaving Theo to his grim work. He cleared the area before him, bringing forth an imagined thing he never desired to see. An elven man, simr in stature and skin tone to Xol¡¯sa appeared. His eyes darted around wildly before he settled into a sneaking position, edging toward the alchemist. The Dreamwalk pushed back slightly, but only just. This was well within the parameters it held to for so long. He wasn¡¯t doing anything weird yet.
¡°Time for your medicine,¡± Theo said, holding a bottle of Reforge Mind up.
The elf moved with erratic motions, darting across the distance between them in an instant. It wrapped its hands around his neck and squeezed, but nothing happened.
¡°Truly insane, huh?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Outside of time and space for so long you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing¡¡±
The alchemist kicked forward, sending the elf tumbling onto its butt. He nted a foot on the man¡¯s chest, pinched his nose, and poured the potion down his throat. The Dreamwalk pushed back further, but couldn¡¯t find a way to object. Theo had knowledge of the potion, what it should do, how the elves were behaving, and the likely reaction they would have to taking the potion. It had no grounds to oppose him ording to its own rules. Tero¡¯gal was the only one that could stop him, and it seemed uninterested in stopping him.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The elf went rigid, wing at his throat for only a moment before freezing in a pose. Theo nned to let the potion do its work for a while before speeding up time. If he tipped the scales too far in one direction, there would be issues from the Dreamwalk. It had to work the biology out on its own while he waited. Until then, there were some other things he could test. So long as he stuck to the rules¡
First was something loose. A thing that he could only imagine and let y out as a conceptual thing. He imagined a mine below him, stretching deep into the rock below. Discovering mythril was a boon for the town, even if they didn¡¯t know it yet. Because once the power of Drogramath faded from the nearby dungeons, something interesting would happen. The alchemist turned his eyes to the sky, imagining the swirling purple energy there. It soaked into the ground beneath his feet as a small section of the Dreamwalk zipped past in fast-forward.
A few hundred yearster, nodes of Drogramathi Iron appeared in the mine below, recing iron nodes. He cut the energy off, removing the nodes and fast-forwarding about 60 days. The nodes didn¡¯t regrow, which meant the energy faded quickly. They would be without Drogramathi Iron in a few weeks if they were lucky, along with the other aligned ores. That might include Barrowsteel, although it was hard to say if that was a truly aligned metal. It didn¡¯t grow in Broken Tusk, so they only needed to worry about those aligned with demon ascendants.
It was unclear if Tero¡¯gal ore would grow. The connection the throneworld held with the mortal ne was strange. It was more of a tunnel rather than a shotgun st, making the effects of the world more direct. Theo couldn¡¯t figure it out with the Dreamwalk, though. It refused to bend to his will, only giving him glimpses of what might be once the energy was all gone.
¡°Next phase,¡± Theo said, waving his hand. The mine disappeared, reced by a sprawl of alchemy equipment.
The first tier of Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy was as good as it was gonna get for now. There might be improvements they could make in the future, but what they had was pretty good. The alchemist approached Throk¡¯s design for a centrifuge, inspecting the apparatus and nodding with appreciation. He loaded it with imagined liquid. First tier essence this time. Once the device went to work, he increased the scale of time and waited only a few moments.
The centrifuge transformed high-quality first tier essence into mid-quality second tier essence. Which meant they were missing something, but this was a fact Theo had anticipated. With Drogramath¡¯s alchemy, they needed to perform a second phase of distition to get second tier essences. While he tried hooking up the condenser to the chain, the Dreamwalk refused to allow it. Perhaps the alchemist had taken too many liberties tonight, but it was close enough to confirm it for him.
On Theo¡¯s big to-do list, he still had the bones of the Dragon Ascendant Quindalias to experiment with. After checking off that item, he would need to discover how to make third tier alchemy essence, which likely involved more contraptions. Although he wanted to race to the third tier, it was important to get the second tier process down before they moved on. As the purity of the essence dropped, so did its stability. And the moreplicated the third tier process, the more likely they would have a violent reaction.
Theo tore his mind away from the work of alchemy, heading off to watch Tresk and Alex practice their fighting. As the goose evolved, so did their tactics. Her wings became better for making swift maneuvers, allowing them to dart through the air with more grace. Those little forelimbs also added a lot to the way they fought, allowing Alex totch onto enemies, dropping them from a height to hill them. The alchemist didn¡¯t know what he thought about this change. He would im to have no desire to change what he looked like, but here he stood in the body of a dronon. Belgar¡¯s borrowed body, of course.
The more he watched them work together, the more Theo realized what Tresk had been doing over the past few weeks. Alex¡¯s evolution into a proto dragon-goose was slow, but she had made steady progress. Those bones she was consuming were the catalyst but there might have been something more important. Tresk had given her an outlet to express those dragon aspects of herself, bringing them to the front with battle. Whether that was flying around, doing mock battles, or fighting monsters, she found the key to expressing those traits.
The Dreamwalk was unwilling to allow Theo to see the results of his experiment with the space elf. It seemed to hint at the elf getting better, even if it would take a while. But he was confident enough to test his potion in the real world. At least the elf hadn¡¯t died.
Theo spent the rest of his time in the Dreamwalk nning his next day and watching hispanions practice. When dawn finally came, he found Tresk rushing off to scarf breakfast down and work with Alex some more. It was a gravy and noodles breakfast, leftover from whatever Rowan and Sarisa madest night. The alchemist took his time eating his food. His assistants ate in silence, seeming willing to leave him to his thoughts.
An older version of Theo might have dropped through the fabric between the mortal ne and the void to test his new potion. His impulsiveness had been driven out of him by a good amount of mistakes, all reinforcing his need for caution. Instead, he made his way around town, finally finding Sulvan praying at the temple.
¡°How are things?¡± Theo asked, interrupting the man¡¯s prayers.
Sulvan turned from his crouched position on the ground, giving Theo a stern look. ¡°This is a ce for prayer.¡±
¡°¡®Bout to be a ce for a bunch of voided up space elves,¡± Theo said. ¡°Can you care for some elves being reforged?¡±
¡°Do I have a choice?¡±
¡°Of course. I¡¯ll just be upset if you decline.¡±
¡°Give me time to create an infirmary. How many are we expecting?¡±
¡°A few hundred.¡±
Sulvan groaned, turning back to his prayer. ¡°I¡¯ll inform you when I¡¯m done.¡±
Before getting to some serious alchemy experimentation, Theo headed to Xol¡¯sa¡¯s tower. He made more noise than he needed to before entering, knocking a few things over on his way up the stairs. Zarali and Xol¡¯sa greeted him. Considering the amount of strange magical device parts on the table before the elf, Theo assumed the tether and beacons were still in development.
¡°Any progress on those?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Just a bit.¡± Xol¡¯sa said, shrugging. ¡°Early testing shows we have some issues.¡±
¡°More than a few issues,¡± Zarali said, cing aforting hand on Xol¡¯sa¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Something in the way the magic functions changed.¡±
Theo clicked his tongue. ¡°The heavens were sealed. That makes sense¡ How far did this push you back?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t say.¡± Xol¡¯sa swept a few devices from the table. Straight onto the ground. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you.¡±
¡°No disappointment here,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. He withdrew his newest potion from his inventory, holding the Reforge Mind Potion out for him to see. ¡°I made a cure for your people.¡±
Xol¡¯sa¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Are you serious?¡±
¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Zarali shouted, pping with excitement. ¡°Are you certain it works?¡±
¡°Not really.¡± Theo didn¡¯t want to lie to them. ¡°I¡¯m about 90% confident, but it could always fail. Sulvan will help with the effort.¡±
¡°So will I,¡± Zarali said, cing her hand on her chest. ¡°I have a healing core. Perhaps I can help them. Once they¡¯re here, that is.¡±
¡°Right. Keep me updated. I don¡¯t expect the tethers to be ready tomorrow, so don¡¯t rush.¡±
¡°As long as the gods don¡¯t smite you first¡ Okay. I can do it, Theo.¡± Xol¡¯sa locked eyes with Theo. ¡°We¡¯ll make it work.¡±
6.63 - The Bell Rang
If not for the elves lurking in the distance, the realm the space elves had established was beautiful. The heat was almost too much, but the sprawl of tropical trees and the scent of salt air in the distance was pleasant. They had taken some section of a beach area from the real world,manding not only a beautiful strand but all the world¡¯s shards at the same time.
Theo ran his hands through his hair, watching as more elves snuck out of the jungle, only to freeze like statues. He stood atop the stairs to a ziggurat, contemting the purpose of these shards. The information he had was vague. Each shard stabilized the world¡ somehow. But the world had done well without them for a long time, heading down whatever messed up path since the elves left.
¡°So why isn¡¯t the world exploding?¡± Theo asked, turning to Xol¡¯sa.
The only space elf in the realm with his mind intact shrugged. He seemed to pick up on the topic. The giant, dead shard behind them was enough to inspire such knowledge. ¡°I feel like a child researching advanced magic. This is all well beyond me, no matter how hard I try.¡±
¡°We have the system, the monitor system, gods, and now the ascendant thrones. What purpose would crystals serve?¡± Theo asked with a sigh.
¡°Perhaps a conduit. Ah, perhaps you should consider motives.¡±
¡°The motive of who, exactly?¡±
¡°Void, actually. I feel like an idiot or a genius, thinking I¡¯ve put it together. But he needs something from you, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve made that leap,¡± Theo said with a nod.¡°If he wants the shards back on Iaredin, that means something. Have you made the next leap?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
Theo turned to hispanion, raising an eyebrow. He couldn¡¯t remember thest time someone was ahead of him on assumptions like this. It was an easy jump to make between Void needing something and that effect on Void as a person. As a god.
¡°Seems obvious now,¡± Theo said, scratching his head. Although he had considered the shard to be massive lodestones for something, he was unsure of what they bore the load of. ¡°The gods need the shards. But what good would that do them? A way to exert their will on the mortal world? Or a way to gather power?¡±
¡°This is all conjecture. The more the gods cloister themselves, the less we¡¯ll be able to probe. But we have to assume the gods do something, right? Actually¡¡± Xol¡¯sa trailed off, knitting his brow. ¡°I need to take some readings when we return. You got me thinking about something troubling.¡±
¡°Really? How are you ahead of me¡ again?¡± Theo asked. ¡°My Wisdom should be able to figure this out, right?¡±
¡°The test I want to run should be brief. Let¡¯s capture an elf and leave.¡±
Xol¡¯sa¡¯s personality shifted slightly, and Theo didn¡¯t miss it. The elf might have been ahead with theories about the gods, but that tiny shift was enough to send the alchemist¡¯s mind down many pathways. But he halted his thoughts as Xol¡¯sa descended the steps.
¡°This should only take a moment,¡± the elf said, raising his hands in the air. A pair of glowing blue chains sprung from the ground, subduing the nearest elf. The other space elves edged toward the jungle at the sign of magic, moving as though yed frame-by-frame. ¡°Shove the potion down his gob.¡±
Although they had talked about this, Theo was surprised at the swiftness of Xol¡¯sa¡¯s approach. They didn¡¯t want to transport an elf through the void unless that elf was out. The Reforge Mind potion would put them out for a while, if the Reforge Soul potion was anything to go by. And it didn¡¯t pass their notice that the soul potion might be needed, since Xol¡¯sa needed one himself. But there wasn¡¯t time to think about that. The elf was struggling against the chains, his mouth open as though to scream but emitting no sound.
¡°Stay still, you little¡¡± Theo uncorked the potion and poured it down the man¡¯s throat. His eyes went wide as his body went stiffer than before. A momentter, his entire body went ck, falling into the of magically enchanted chains. ¡°I guess that works.¡±
Elves rushed from the forest, pausing before taking a few steps.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°Quickly.¡±
Theo dropped them into the void, dragging the sagging elf along with them. He breathed a sigh of relief the moment they were in the void, looking back at the glittering ball that represented the elven chunk of reality with concern. How many elves would they need to do this for? The Newt and Demon¡¯s capacity to produce powerful potions like this was hindered.
¡°I might vomit,¡± Xol¡¯sa warned, his face turning a pale shade of green. ¡°We¡¯ve been here too long.
Theo urged them forward faster than before, spotting the mortal orb before long. His eyes locked onto the sun at the center of the system. A sense of approval flooded through him. If Void hadn¡¯t locked himself away, he would have shown up with some quip. Perhaps the god could leave once they were done doing whatever they were doing. But for now, the void was for Theo to explore as the Dreamwalker. And the mortal world came rushing up momentster, greeting the party.
The moment Theo brought the group back to the mortal world, the space elf sucked in a breath and groaned. But he didn¡¯t wake from his slumber. The n to bring the first elf back had shifted over the previous weeks. Theo¡¯s first idea was to bring the elves to the House of Healing, but it was now cut off from them. His next idea was to bring them to Tero¡¯gal or Khahak, but something niggled in the back of his mind when he thought about that. Their gamble was to bring a test elf back to the mortal world.
¡°Sulvan!¡± Theo shouted. He hadnded them slightly off from where they told the priest to meet them.
The big man came rushing over momentster,ying his hands onto the space elf. Silver-gold light sprung from his hands and he shook his head. ¡°Is anyone surprised with the amount of damage he has in his body?¡±
¡°Not even slightly,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. A crowd was forming in the area, encircling the group as they inspected the prone man. ¡°How extensive is the damage?¡±
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Sulvan pulled away from the elf, offering a shrug. The man¡¯s blue robes were tattered. Every feature seemed touched by the void. From the gaunt expression to the thinness of his limbs. ¡°Organ damage. Malnutrition. Mana poisoning. Another type of poison I don¡¯t recognize. His soul is also damaged beyond repair, so there¡¯s that.¡±
¡°Sounds good,¡± Theo said, looking to the sky. ¡°Hallow?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not how you pray,¡± Sulvan said, shaking his head disapprovingly.
¡°Okay, fine. Show us how it''s done,¡± Theo said, gesturing to Sulvan.
¡°Well, that¡¯s the thing.¡± Sulvan took a few steps back, tilting his head to the side as he assessed the elf. He passed his hand through the air, leaving a trail of gold-silver mana. It seemed to catch on a current, floating up into the sky. ¡°I¡¯m guessing this is void energy bleeding from his body.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t be. That falls under my domain,¡± Theo said. ¡°My Dreamwalker¡¯s Core would have activated.¡±
¡°Maybe. Except we don¡¯t know how that core works,¡± Xol¡¯sa countered. A spell array sprung up before him, creating an intricate circle. His brow knit. After swiping his hands through the formation a few times, he pressed his hand through to activate the spell. The void energy became visible for all to see. A ck cloud rose from the space elf, going into the air and off to the west. ¡°That¡¯s¡ Hmmm.¡±
Theo watched the energy float away. But it wasn¡¯t just following the current of magic in the air. It appeared as though something was coaxing it in that direction.
¡°I must return to my tower,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, hiking his robes up and rushing off.
¡°Okay, thanks!¡± Theo shouted after him. ¡°See yater, buddy!¡±
¡°Elves, am I right?¡± Sulvan asked. He scooped the unconscious space elf up, carrying him off. ¡°Help me restrain him.¡±
¡°Restraints?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Do you have a secret dungeon in your house?¡±
¡°I have a secret dungeon in the temple. Built for this purpose, since you asked for my help.¡±
¡°That makes more sense,¡± Theo said. He tried not to prod Sulvan much. He jogged along, allowing his Wisdom of the Soul to process the situation. There was something strange about how the void energy acted.
Sure enough, Sulvan had a secret dungeon. It wasn¡¯t a true dungeon, just a living area underneath the temple. Theo wasn¡¯t sure when someone had dug the ce out, let alone lining the walls with stone, building individual roomsplete with restraints, but he wouldn¡¯tin. The padded manacles within the darkened room would keep the elf secure. If the potion failed, he would wake and be unpredictable. The alchemist helped chain the elf down.
¡°I didn¡¯t want to say this out there, but there¡¯s some time magic in him,¡± Sulvan said, pressing his thumb into the elf¡¯s forehead. A soft glow emitted from the point of contact. ¡°You don¡¯t mess with time magic. But that potion you gave him repaired that damage. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve awoken insane and out of time.¡±
¡°Do you have people to watch him?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Around the clock.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve scheduled some people. Minor priests looking to serve my Lord,¡± Sulvan said, pressing his palm into the elf¡¯s face. Another glow and a sigh of relief. ¡°This might take a while. How many more elves do we need to cure?¡±
¡°A few hundred. Or thousand, I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°What a helpful range¡¡±
¡°None of them are well. They¡¯ve all lost their minds in the void.¡±
Sulvan hummed, releasing a heavy sigh. ¡°This is a pious endeavor, Theo.¡±
¡°How so?¡±
Sulvan pped a hand on the alchemist¡¯s shoulder. Theo remembered that grip being stronger when he served the Burning Eye. It was now warm and gentle, bringing with it a sense offort that reminded him of ntheir. ¡°You could have copsed their small world, right? But you want to save them.¡±
¡°If I have the means, why not?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Is it hard? Yeah, I suppose. But not so much that any of our people will get hurt. And we save a race by doing so. See, here¡¯s the thing. The space elves had a culture for some time. Xol¡¯sa was born in the void and was sent back when he was young. So these people cared about their own at one point. Before they lost it entirely, that is.¡±
¡°You would save them because of that? Because they¡¯re not merciless?¡±
¡°I think that¡¯s urate,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯m happy to save anyone who has at least a small amount ofpassion.¡±
¡°Except Uharis,¡± Sulvan corrected.
¡°Let¡¯s not walk down this road again.¡± Theo held his hands up defensively. ¡°We both agreed he is beyond saving.¡±
¡°Is he, though?¡± Sulvan asked. ¡°That¡¯s an honest question, Theo.¡±
¡°I guess he could¡¯ve killed me back in the day. And he didn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Yet there he remains. On the moon, of all ces. The dark moon at that.¡± Sulvan shivered.
¡°Oh, man. I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you about the moon-people,¡± Theo said. ¡°Are they under the domain of the mortal world, or what?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t answer that question. They were kind people, although there was more than one race present. One insectoid race and another diminutive, simr to broglings. I enjoyed the second race, though. They were short, fat, and jolly.¡±
¡°Moon dwarves?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Not dwarves. Elven ears, pot-bellied, rosy cheeks.¡±
¡°Reminds me of Void¡¡± Theo trained off, swiping his tail behind him. ¡°So, what¡¯s the treatment n for this guy?¡±
Sulvan cleared his throat. ¡°Purging magic as often as needed. I also put him into a deeper sleep than your potion provided, which will help his mind heal. The void energy leaving his body is substantial, so that will take quite a while. His other conditions will be healed within the day, though.¡±
If the patient was stable enough, Theo¡¯s potion could go to work. He didn¡¯t know how a reforge-style potion would work on someone that was sick. But he didn¡¯t think it would work as well as if the person was healthy. The Reforge Soul potion took the base of a person¡¯s soul and rebuilt it from scratch. A soul contained a lot of information in this world, including a person¡¯s attributes and ss cores. But it also held meta information, including void exposure. That condition was more like a scar on a person¡¯s soul. It wasn¡¯t fatal for Xol¡¯sa, but his condition would have worsened without intervention.
¡°We should be concerned about his soul. I have a few Reforge Soul potions in myb, but only a few.¡± Theo shook his head. This would get messy if he needed more. The reagents to craft that potion were rare, only blooming when the shifting moon, Telbaris, was green. That only happened once a week, and the supply of the flower was thin.
¡°I sense damage on his soul,¡± Sulvan said, spreading his hand over the man¡¯s chest. ¡°But not as much as you¡¯re describing. Perhaps that wille with time, but even his cores are intact.¡±
¡°Really? They survived that long, locked in a time prison?¡± Theo clicked his tongue, withdrawing some paper and writing utensils. ¡°Could you please record everything you observe? I want as much documentation as we can get. Since we have to do it again. Also, expand this holding area as far as you can. Fifty beds minimum.¡±
¡°That sounds expensive.¡±
¡°Request the funds from the town and I¡¯ll provide them,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯ll spare no expense.¡±
¡°Right. Sounds good,¡± Sulvan said, turning back to the elf.
Theo went to leave the dungeon, spotting a few people in blue and white robes near the entrance. They bowed their heads as he passed, but said nothing. That must have been the first crop of the faithful to the new Hallow. The alchemist wanted to know more about the old Hallow, but that wouldn¡¯t be possible. With a sigh, he pushed out into the town.
A bell rang in the distance, steady at first but more frantic as it went on. It took Theo a painfully long time to realize what bell that was. It had been so long since he heard the frantic mming of the rm bell. A message appeared.
[Aarok]: This is not a test. Anyone who can take up arms should report to their nearestmander. If you can¡¯t find amander, assemble at the western gate.
6.64 - Dungeon Attack
The bells rang out in Broken Tusk, a song Theo thought he might not ever hear again. Compared to thest time the town was under attack, things were more organized this time around. While he wasn¡¯t aware of it before, the alchemist observed Aarok¡¯smanders directing people through the town. People flooded from the eastern gates and the train, pouring from Qavell, Rivers, and Gronro. They must have trained for this, as the organization was too great for any other possibility.
Summoning his tactical map, Theo watched as the forces moved into position. He made his way through town, feeling Tresk and Alex flying overhead somewhere. Her job was to provide information to the assembled defenders, doing fly-overs. It was clear the monsters wereing from the Swamp Dungeon, but Xol¡¯sa had that problem sorted. The alchemist arrived at themand tent not long after, seeking answers. Aarok, Luras, and Xol¡¯sa were assembled. The space elf looked tired, taking shallow breaths as he sputtered.
¡°I should have seen iting.¡± Xol¡¯sa turned, giving Theo a worried look. ¡°We should¡¯ve seen it, Theo!¡±
Biting the inside of his cheek, Theo approached the table. Xol¡¯sa was talking about the godly energy fading from the world. Of course it would interact with the dungeons, how couldn¡¯t it? They were tied directly to the heavens, often siphoning energy from the realms. Even some of Tero¡¯gal¡¯s energy still prated the veil, adding some power to the world¡¯s dungeons.
¡°As though we¡¯re unprepared,¡± Luras said, smirking at the group. ¡°The walls would hold without defenders. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°Maybe.¡± Aarok rubbed the stubble on his chin, shaking his head at the map. ¡°Something feels off.¡±
¡°Because something is off.¡± Xol¡¯sa thrust his hand into the air, generating aplex array that hovered over the table. He poked at things that Theo could barely recognize, let alone understand. ¡°This mistake is my fault. The godly energies aren¡¯t even half the problem. What we¡¯re dealing with is the void energy leaking through the realm of my people. Bringing one of them here was like punching a hole in a barrel. We just tapped into the pure void.¡±
Theo clicked his tongue. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. I control the void.¡±
¡°You travel through the void, you don¡¯t control it,¡± Xol¡¯sa corrected. ¡°That¡¯s like saying you can swim, therefore you¡¯re the master of the ocean.¡±¡°You don¡¯t have to be mean about it,¡± Theo said in mock offense.
¡°How can void energy change a dungeon?¡± Aarok asked, changing the subject to something productive.
¡°Gods know,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°Stronger dungeons. More dungeons. Sapient dungeons¡ªI can¡¯t say.¡±
¡°This wouldn¡¯t be the first time someone brought something nasty to Broken Tusk,¡± Luras said, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°And it won¡¯t be thest. We¡¯ve got this.¡±
¡°Go weave some magic, Xol¡¯sa,¡± Theo said. ¡°We can discuss impactster. Right now, we need to blow some stuff up.¡±
¡°Hell yeah!¡± Tresk shouted somewhere above.
¡°Get to work, you lizard!¡± Theo shouted up.
¡°You¡¯re a lizard!¡± Tresk shot back. But she was already gone, sealing the exchange.
The alchemist instead turned his attention to the tactical map. They had every advantage they had used in the past. The swamp was hard to move through, even for high-level monsters. Unless there were flying enemies, it would be a ughter in the marsh. Even then, the many towers that lined the walls of the town bristled with power. Artifice tubes fed them faux coins, sending their damage outputs to absurd levels. It might have been a small town in the eyes of the world, but Broken Tusk had never held back on defensive measures.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s messed up,¡± Tresk spoke into Theo¡¯s mind.
¡°Ew! Ew! Ew!¡± Alex shouted. ¡°Someone get me a knife. Peace was never an option.¡±
¡°What?¡± Theo asked, speaking the words out loud. He shook his head, switching to the telepathic channel. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°We ain¡¯t gonna have trouble with this wave, Theo. I think I might puke, though.¡±
Theo sent his sight to that of Tresk¡¯s. One moment he was standing under a hide tent, and the next he was soaring in the air. He looked down at¡ a nightmare. The Swamp Dungeon usually created goblins and wolves. Sometimes it created turtles, but it was mostly goblins and wolves. The creatures that poured over the swap were wrong. Goblins with too many legs. Others with too few. Goblin-wolf hybrids and other visions of horror. One thing was certain between each of the creatures, though. The ways they had changed were not helpful.
¡°Good lord,¡± Theo said, removing himself from themand tent. He assumed his normal sight, rushing over to stop Xol¡¯sa before he ascended the battlements. ¡°The goblins are all messed up.¡±
¡°How?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
Theo took the steps to the battlements, exining what he saw in the marsh below Tresk and Alex.
¡°By the gods,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. The adventurers on the wall cleared a spot for them, but the goblins were still too distant to see.
¡°Any ideas?¡±
Xol¡¯sa shrugged, clicking his tongue a few times. ¡°I guess I should be an expert on spatial energy, right? I can¡¯t think of anything that would create useless evolutions.¡±
¡°Will it be a problem if we blow them up?¡± Theo asked.
¡°It shouldn¡¯t be. Destroying the monsters will dissipate the void energy.¡±
The bell had only just stopped ringing. Now it rang again, more frantic this time.
[Aarok]: Who would have guessed? Commanders, check your notifications in the town¡¯s interface. We have more wavesing from the north and south.
¡°That makes sense,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°Go figure. Here, let me share the dungeon threat indicator¡¡±
[Swamp Dungeon] L45 Attacking
[River Dungeon] L30 Imminent Threat
[Mountain Dungeon] L25 Attacking
[Hills Dungeon] L15 Attacking
[Ocean Dungeon] L30 Imminent Threat
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[Cave Dungeon] L65 Imminent Threat
Theo blinked a few times, allowing his mind to catch up. More Intelligence was needed. ¡°That¡¯s every dungeon,¡± he said, stating the obvious.
¡°Yes, this is concerning,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, scratching his head furiously. ¡°The energy should have empowered the dungeons, but it didn¡¯t. I have a theory, may I go work on it?¡±
¡°Not gonna blow stuff up?¡± Theo asked. He shook his head a momentter. ¡°No, you should be fine. Those goblins didn¡¯t look like much of a threat.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be back!¡±
Theo watched the lines for a while until the first few goblins came into view. They were messed up, so he tried not to look at them. But one got close enough to the lightning tower and was zapped without fanfare. Aarok approached, leaning against the wall a momentter.
¡°I have mixed feelings about this,¡± he said.
¡°I¡¯m moving my golems around. Don¡¯t worry about the underground dungeon, they¡¯ll keep that secure. Just let me know which direction needs the most reinforcement.¡±
¡°Send them south,¡± Aarokmanded. ¡°How many can you spare.¡±
¡°A few hundred. Wherever you need them.¡±
¡°Half south and half east,¡± Aarok said. ¡°Yeah, these goblins are¡ weird, but we can¡¯t let our guard down. Each wave will have a boss, and I¡¯m not eager to see what it¡¯ll throw at us.¡±
Theo sighed as he leaned against the wall. He had sent his mentalmand to all his golems. They were lumbering into position, but it would take them a while. ¡°This reminds me of the old days.¡±
¡°What,st season?¡± Aarok asked with augh. ¡°You haven¡¯t been here that long.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°If you consider most people spend about twelve hours a day wherever they are, I¡¯ve been here for much longer. A single day for me is like four days for a normal person.¡±
¡°Fancy time-dtion guy over here,¡± Aarok mocked. He let out a bark-likeugh as another goblin was zapped ¡°Okay, that¡¯s kinda funny.¡±
¡°I¡¯d beughing my ass off if I wasn¡¯t so horrified,¡± Theo said with a nod. Another goblin got zapped and he let out a small giggle. ¡°Yeah, that was pretty good.¡±
Alex and Tresk flew overhead. Theo caught a glimpse of them. To his surprise, the goose-dragon had a knife in her mouth. He shook his head. If only there were a way to make a goose even more dangerous.
¡°Impact on the north wall,¡± Aarok said. ¡°Troll-type monsters, but they¡¯re just as screwed up as the goblins. Trog-like critters from the south. They¡¯re slightly less messed up.¡±
¡°We¡¯re only worried about the bosses, right? The system has a lot of control over those.¡± Theo cast his eyes skyward. This would be a great time for someone to exin what the hell was going on. But that connection was cut. Broken Tusk had to stand on her own two feet for this one.
¡°I expect they¡¯ll be nasty.¡±
Theo withdrew Fenian¡¯smunication crystal from his inventory. He squeezed it, but nothing happened. There was no answer on the other end. The only answers he would get from Khahar would be anything rting to their position as ascendant throne-holders. No, this was a storm they would weather. And that was it.
¡°Where do you need me?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I¡¯ll send you orders as needed,¡± Aarok said, shrugging. ¡°Just hang out, I guess.¡±
Theo watched as the battle developed. If the towers weren¡¯t enough to handle the waves of enemies, the adventurers would mop them up. It became less about hiding behind the walls, and more about sorties. Packs of wolf-riding marshlings ranged out to sweep through the strange monsters. Several cadres of elven mages headed out with half-ogre hunters as guards. Throk employed a hand-held artifice that belched fire near the northern wall, helping with the trolls. The golems swept through insectoid creatures underground. It was the strangest fight the alchemist had ever witnessed.
After returning to the western gate, Theo waited for the Swamp Dungeon boss to spawn. The wave had thinned out to nothing, and people were cleaning up the goblins that couldn¡¯t walk well. Shortly after he began waiting, a wave message appeared.
[ERROR Attack]
Monster Wave
Duration: ERROR
SYS
Dungeon
Effects:
Duration: Infinite, Swamp Attack, ERROR.
¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± Theo breathed. ¡°I think we broke the system.¡±
¡°No kidding,¡± a random adventurer said with a chuckle. ¡°What do you think we¡¯ll get?¡±
Theo narrowed his eyes on the horizon. ¡°Ah, crap. Is that what I think it is?¡±
A gout of blue-ck fire rose in the distance, met by normal orange fire. Theo watched as Tresk and Alex ascended into the sky, shooting balls of fire and flinging daggers down at the boss monster. A momentter, it broke through the trees, spreading leathery wings wide as it took flight.
[Boss Monster] spotted! ERROR DRAGON has been sighted. This monster is stronger than regr monsters, use caution.
A murmur spread through the defenders. This wasn¡¯t just an aerial enemy, it was a damned dragon. Theo reached deep inside himself, waiting for his Dreamwalker¡¯s Core to respond. But it didn¡¯t. How could this be above board, as far as the system was concerned? It clearly vited some rules, especially those rted to void-borne thingsing to the mortal ne. But no, it was fine with it.
¡°Good thing Tresk is a badass,¡± Theo said, watching as Tresk and Alex danced through the air. They dodged attacks, sending just as many hits back as they took. The alchemist felt something drain from himself, both of hispanions gaining a pair of horns and a whippy tail each. ¡°Yeah, this should be over quickly.¡±
¡°Not a damned dragon!¡± Aarok shouted, stomping up the battlement stairs. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think bringing that elf back was a bad idea, Theo!¡±
¡°She¡¯s got this,¡± Luras said, drawing his bow back and firing a pot-shot at the dragon. To everyone¡¯s surprise, it hit. ¡°That dragon is weak.¡±
The more Theo watched Tresk fight against the dragon, the more he realized how right Luras was. This wasn¡¯t a true dragon, but some imitation created by the dungeon. It was likely hobbled the same way the goblins were, having too many defects to operate well. But the joy flooding from the marshling was unreal. She was having the time of her life. Fighting a dragon in the real world had been a goal of hers for a long time. And there she was, dashing through the air on the back of a dragon-goose, doing battle with her dragon.
¡°At least Tresk can die happy,¡± Theo said. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how many times she has imagined fighting a dragon.¡±
¡°She often visits me in my dreams,¡± Luras said. ¡°Bringing along a dragon¡¡±
Theo smacked his forehead with the heel of his palm. ¡°I thought I talked to her about that.¡±
¡°Good luck getting that girl to listen¡ She¡¯s been like that her entire life,¡± Aarok said. ¡°Always diving head-first into whatever.¡±
¡°That¡¯s our psychotic lizard,¡± Theo said, nodding with pride.
True to his assumptions, the dragon was weak. There was something wrong with it, just like the other monsters. Theo held hope in his chest that the other bosses would be the same, but he wouldn¡¯t hold his breath. It could have been the void energy, or thecking power from the heavens, but something had caused the dungeons to screw up. Perhaps the void energy was just a catalyst, setting something greater into motion. Xol¡¯sa would run some tests. It should be fine. Maybe.
It didn¡¯t take long for the dragon to fall from the sky. The wavepletion notification sprung up a momentter.
[Boss Monster]defeated! ERROR DRAGON has been in. The remaining monsters have already been defeated.
[Monster Wave]plete!
256 Monsters Destroyed!
0 gold bonus (paid to the Mayor of Broken Tusk).
Bonus for defeat both wave bosses:
Obtained: Nothing.
¡°Oh, sweet,¡± Theo mocked. ¡°Zero gold. Thanks for that.¡±
Alex swooped down, perching on the edge of the wall. Tresk dismounted, pumping her fists in the air. She marched over, chest thrown out as pped for herself. ¡°I killed a dragon!¡±
¡°You certainly did,¡± Theo said. ¡°How was it?¡±
¡°Meh. Too easy.¡±
¡°Tough little girl, this one,¡± Luras said, nodding to Tresk with approval. ¡°What level was it.¡±
¡°Question mark, question mark. I don¡¯t think it really had a level,¡± Tresk shrugged. ¡°Even those goblins were messed up.¡±
¡°Xol¡¯sa will have answers for us,¡± Theo said. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t, I¡¯ll do my best to petition the gods.¡±
¡°Can you even do that?¡± Aarok asked.
Theo shrugged. ¡°If they don¡¯t answer, I can ask the system itself.¡±
Aarok gave Theo a t look. ¡°You can talk to the system?¡±
¡°Yeah. Kinda. She¡¯s made of gems.¡±
¡°Perhaps that should have been your first course of action¡¡±
¡°Just because I have the power to talk to the system doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t crap my pants when I go to that ce,¡± Theo countered. ¡°Let¡¯s take care of the other waves before I head off to chat. At least we got some dragon bones out of this.¡±
¡°Nope. He exploded,¡± Tresk said.
¡°The dragon exploded?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Did you explode it?¡±
¡°Nah, just exploded on his own.¡±
¡°Of course it did. Because why would we get anything nice for all this effort?¡±
The Stubbening
Well, this is my first time stubbing a fiction on RR. We almost got through 6 entire books before I stubbed it, so I count that as a win. 1.1m words, the first ~50 of which just got nuked from low Earth orbit. (I just pressed a button a few times, but you know).
This whole thing has been super-duper weird. N&D was written as a way for me to get away from writing dark fantasy and romance. When I first started, I said to myself "I want a story where nothing happens. This guy just makes potions." I know that''s not where I ended up, but a lot of other things have changed. N&D hit Rising Stars just as I was about to stop writing it. The readership grew and some people said they really liked it. (There''s even some fan art, if you can believe it). Even further down the road, I was ready to close N&D out at Book 4. An individual (who knows who they are) told me to hound a certain publisher about picking the book up, and they bought 7.
The past 2 years have been a blur, I''ll be honest. N&D is very hard to write.... in bursts. Which is how I normally write fictions. Block out two weeks, and make as much as I possibly can. But maintaining my 3 chapters every week schedule helped me learn how to switch between projects at the same time. I''ve learned even more about setting expectations, the importance of selecting a narrow cast, how to design a system that makes sense from Level 1 to the cap, and my desire to always have a goblin-like character in every story (cough cough, Tresk).
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I like writing. I''m gonna keep doing it. Even as I''m trying to learn dictation (it isn''t going very well at all) to relieve some hand pain, I''ll always find a way to write. And then I''ll dump it here or Amazon.
Perhaps you''ve noticed, but I''ve always removed "Summon the Great Spirits" from my page. While I thought that story was interesting, I only had like 30 chapters and the realization that it could be a better story. I''ve rolled that into another story that I''m going to release here... once I rewrite some stuff... Yeah.
Anyway, thanks foring along for the ride. If you''re new here, or if you''ve been riding shotgun for two years, thanks for reading.
6.65 - Chatting with the System
It was no surprise how the other waves went. Each dungeon provided a boss that was less challenging than thest. And each gave the town exactly no rewards for their efforts. The bodies of the monsters exploded after a time, sending mes into the air that seemed to harm nothing. It waste into the night before the waves cleared, though. Every defender was exhausted, seeming to have no will to go on. With stamina depleted, and little else to do, most went to sleep.
Theo stood with Tresk and Alex at the town¡¯s center, prepared to head off into the void. Xol¡¯sa was still awake, working on his theory. The elf had collected information during the waves, recording all the energy emitted by the monsters. Once hebed through it, he could figure out what had happened. In his Dungeon Engineer interface, each one was now set to ¡®dormant.¡¯
¡°Ready to talk to the system?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No. I don¡¯t wanna,¡± Tresk said. ¡°I wanna go to bed.¡±
Theo dropped the group through the veil and angled for the sun at the center of the system. Tresk screamed as they went, but he ignored her for now. She was his emotional support newt. As expected, there was an invisible wall segmenting the inner parts of the system from the outer parts. The alchemist ced his aura against it, trying to push through. It pushed back for a moment, but in time he felt them falling into something familiar. Theynded on a snowy ne, looking through darkness up at the raised tform.
¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Tresk said, folding her arms. ¡°Why would we need to talk to the system?¡±
Theo approached the tform, ascending the steps. Once he was on the tform, the cold from the tundra faded. The twelve spots¡ªplus one for the system¡ªall glowed. So each spot for godhood had been filled. He hoped that was a good thing.
¡°I have a report to make, system,¡± Theo said, speaking to the central circle on the tform. ¡°Some seriously weird stuff is happening on the mortal ne.¡±
¡°Do your job,¡± a twinkling voice came from the center. But no one appeared.¡°I¡¯m trying to do my job, but that¡¯s hard when all of my dungeons have released weird monsters.¡± Theo folded his arms, unimpressed with the cold response from the system.
¡°You have a job,¡± it repeated. ¡°Return the shards to restore bnce.¡±
¡°Easy to say, but the elves trapped in the void need saving. Could you at least answer my questions?¡±
The system was silent for some time. Tresk cowered behind the alchemist, expecting something horrible to happen. Theo had a feeling she was just tired from all the fighting. Like a toddler refusing to go to bed, she was acting weird because she was sleepy.
¡°Go on.¡±
Theo cleared his throat. ¡°My people are working on a method to return the shards. But if we¡¯re going to save the elves, we need a way to disperse the void energy.¡±
¡°You have a way.¡±
Theo clenched his jaw. Why was the system being so rude today? The new gods might have been curt, but this was taking it to a new level. Perhaps she was mad about something and was taking it out on him.
¡°Could you please describe the method?¡± Theo asked.
¡°The dungeons,¡± she responded. ¡°Perhaps you should ask your friends about it. Now begone. I¡¯m busy.¡±
Theo heard a sound like ss breaking. An instantter, he was standing back near the town¡¯s center, blinking in confusion.
¡°Ooooh! Trouble in paradise!¡± Tresk said, giggling to herself. ¡°Can we go to sleep?¡±
Theo sighed. ¡°The system is normally nicer than that.¡±
¡°Uh-huh. I bet she is,¡± Tresk said, elbowing Theo. ¡°Can we go now? I have some dreams to haunt.¡±
Theo and Tresk led Alex to her stable, making sure she wasfortable with enough food and water for the night. Before they even left, she was snoring away on a pile of hay. They made their way to the manor, finding food waiting for them on the table. It was cold, but the marshling dumped it in her mouth all the same. Theo abstained from eating, eager to do nothing more than rest his tired mind. They fell into the Dreamwalk with ease. Perhaps he would go with hispanion to torture some poor soul. That might make him feel better.
It was hard to know why Tresk had targeted Luras. The interest she took in his dreams was weird, with psychological implications Theo didn¡¯t want to consider. The man screamed, fleeing from a dragon which the marshling rode. At least it was interesting to see her putting her Dreamer¡¯s Core to use. Today the Dreamwalk was plyable, allowing her to bring them into the dreams of others. But it wasn¡¯t always so cooperative.
Deep psychological scars aside, Theo¡¯s mind lingered on his current problem. If the dungeons were the way to clear the void magic from the bodies of the elves, Broken Tusk would endure theing storm. The dreams went on with the alchemist having no desire to practice his alchemy. When he figured out Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy he could work on leveling some more. Once things settled down.
¡°I feel refreshed!¡± Tresk shouted the moment they woke from the dream.
Theo watched as the marshling jumped from her bed, sprinting out of the room with haste. As expected, he found a report from Xol¡¯sa in the town¡¯s messages. He had a solid theory.
¡°What¡¯s gotten into her?¡± Sarisa asked, watching with confusion as Theo descended from the upper floor.
¡°The lizard kills one dragon and she thinks she¡¯s the best,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°What were you guys doing during the siege?¡±
¡°Not much. You didn¡¯t need defending and the monsters weren¡¯t much of a problem. It was just weird.¡±
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¡°Not like we cked off or anything,¡± Rowan said, forestalling usations of beingzy. ¡°Just doing what we were told.¡±
Facing so many waves at once was frightening. But it turned out to not be a problem itself. But the problems came when considering the implications. Perhaps the system was right and this would work itself out. It mentioned one of his friends, which might have been Khahar. As always, Yuri was orchestrating more than he let on.
¡°I have to meet with Xol¡¯sa to discuss what he¡¯s discovered. Not that it was anything we didn¡¯t learn from the system, but it would be nice to be prepared.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll leave the bigger problems to you, Theo,¡± Sarisa said, putting on a kind smile. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d rather just stick my head in the mud and ignore it all.¡±
¡°Seconded,¡± Rowan said, raising his hand.
¡°Speaking of, are you finally sleeping in the manor?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I sleep in the garden,¡± Rowan said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t trust the little Dreamwalk.¡±
¡°Because my brother is a baby. I¡¯ve been getting experience in my little Dreamwalk.¡±
The conversation at the table didn¡¯t linger on Rowan¡¯s problems for long. Instead, they spoke of the little things that made Broken Tusk turn. People would be rowdy today, seeing yesterday¡¯s fight as a glorious victory over the dungeons. Even if that wasn¡¯t true, it wouldn¡¯t stop the half-ogres from stirring something up. Theo wouldn¡¯t intervene, as they deserved to celebrate.
After breakfast, Theo had to check in on Salire at the Newt and Demon before getting down to business. Of course she was always pushing ahead when he was gone. When he was done with thistest problem, he could do some batches of second tier Tero¡¯gal essence. She promised to make a full report when he had time. That time¡ªTheo hoped¡ªwould beter this afternoon. Perhaps they would have enough time to mess around with dragon bone essence.
Theo passed by the statue of Xol¡¯sa and Zarali on his way to the wizard¡¯s tower. He shook his head, appearing at the tower in a blink. The alchemist waved at Zarali as he ascended the stairs to the top. She gave him a sour look, shaking her head. It was his fault that Xol¡¯sa had been so busy with everything. But there was plenty of time to rxter. As expected, the space wizard was on the top floor of his tower, swiping through random arcane circles and mumbling to himself.
¡°Find anything fun?¡± Theo asked.
Xol¡¯sa turned, squinting at Theo. After a moment he blinked away his confusion and nodded. He had dark purple circles under his eyes and his hair was a mess. ¡°I have theories.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re looking to form conspiracy theories, you¡¯re well on your way.¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t uncovered a grand conspiracy, no. But perhaps¡ Maybe?¡±
Theo ced a hand on Xol¡¯sa¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I think you need some sleep, buddy.¡±
¡°No, I must deliver my findings to¡ you, actually. Hello, Theo.¡±
¡°Hey,¡± Theo said, ignoring the tired elf. ¡°What do you have?¡±
¡°We were talking about lodestones.¡± Xol¡¯sa swept his hand through the air, arranging symbols with fervor. ¡°Look at this. Can you believe it?¡±
¡°Nope,¡± Theo said, not understanding most of what he was looking at. ¡°How about you exin it to me?¡±
¡°It was right under our noses the entire time. The dungeons were designed to absorb ambient power right? Well, we call any energy borne from a heavenly source power, energy, and so on, but it is like their life¡¯s blood. These dungeons have been fed a trickle of mana for so long. They¡¯re hungry for more, which is why they sucked in the void energy so quickly. But I¡¯ve discovered a feature of each dungeon that had been hidden to me for some time.¡±
¡°The ability to process that void mana into something meaningful,¡± Theo said, finishing the thought. ¡°Or at least neutralize it.¡±
¡°Yes, how did you know?¡±
Theo shook his head. It was the direction Xol¡¯sa was going with his rambling. ¡°Long-term effects?¡±
¡°Oh, I can¡¯t say,¡± Xol¡¯sa swiped his hand through the air, dismissing the runes. ¡°For now, I think we¡¯re good to bring more elves as needed. More waves might spawn, but they¡¯ll be less and less effective. Yes, I think that should do. I¡¯ve done good for the day¡ªperhaps the year.¡±
Without warning, Xol¡¯sa copsed to the ground. Theo checked for a pulse before doing anything drastic. After feeding the elf a few potions, he determined the man was just sleeping. The alchemist pulled him into a princess carry and brought him down the stairs. Zarali wasn¡¯t even surprised when she saw him appear.
¡°Got your husband here,¡± Theo said, holding Xol¡¯sa up for her to see. ¡°Where do you want him?¡±
¡°Just there,¡± Zarali said, gesturing to a sofa. ¡°Did he finally run out of energy?¡±
¡°Yeah, he¡¯s just a tired little guy.¡± Theo ced the elf on the sofa, pulling a nket from the back and covering him. ¡°Uncovering the secrets of the void will do that to a man.¡±
Zarali offered a soft small, all the bitterness gone from her face by this point. ¡°He told me you returned the first of his people.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t pretend to know what that feels like,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯m just here to help.¡±
Zarali stood, crossing the room to ce her hand on Xol¡¯sa¡¯s forehead. ¡°He finds the whole thing to be very confusing. He doesn¡¯t remember his people, but feels a responsibility to save them. Sometimes I wonder if that¡¯s how you feel.¡±
¡°We both have a saviorplex, I guess. Just for different reasons.¡±
¡°How is the elf handling recovery?¡± Zarali asked.
¡°That might be something you can help with. Sulvan is working on the man below the temple. He has some soul damage, but I don¡¯t know if it''s enough to warrant a Reforge Soul Potion.¡± Theo gestured to Xol¡¯sa on the sofa. ¡°When that one wakes up, would you mind checking?¡±
¡°I would be delighted,¡± Zarali said, bowing her head. ¡°Once I ensure my husband isn¡¯t dying.¡±
¡°Fair enough. I think that sorts everything out, though. I can finally get back to theb.¡±
¡°Have fun,¡± Zarali said, her eyes lingering on Xol¡¯sa. ¡°I know I will.¡±
Theo made his way back to theb, feeling none of the disorientating effects of the portals. That sense had faded long ago, making the journey feel as though he was simply taking a step, rather than traveling a few miles through the swamp. Since people had time to get out on the streets, they were already going about their days. It wasn¡¯t like the wedding. No one was hungover to the point where they wereatose the next day. Just ate night that had most citizens tired. The town¡¯s notes section was filled with praise for the swift response from their allies. Unsurprisingly, what few dungeons existed to the north had activated from the void energy. But it was nothing thebined forces couldn¡¯t handle. As it had spread out in a ripple, they were staggered enough to not cause problems.
¡°Now that I¡¯m done with that,¡± Theo said, trailing off as he entered theb. Salire was waiting there with a half-smile on her face. She nodded knowingly. ¡°What do we have going on?¡±
¡°You can toy with your dragon bone essencester,¡± Salire said, gesturing to the rows of sks on the far table. They were all a pleasant shade of pink, yellow, and blue. Even from afar, the alchemist detected the smells of restoration essences. ¡°For now, I¡¯d like you to review my essences.¡±
Theo gave them a quick inspection, but hardly needed to. They were all a minimum of 90% purity, putting them far above his expectations for his assistant. But Salire hade a long way from her first days in theb. ¡°These are excellent. Almost perfect samples.¡±
¡°I¡¯m having trouble with the iron paddles, though.¡± Salire gestured to the pile in the corner. ¡°The buildup is a problem. Perhaps it depends on the level of your cores.¡±
¡°While we can break the residue down, it isn¡¯t perfect. We might as well work on that while we¡¯re here.¡± Theo ced his hands on his hips. His technique for processing the solid buildup on the paddles wasn¡¯t perfect, but they had to ept it as part of their process now. This was Tero¡¯gal alchemy, which required more steps. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s record how those reactions work.¡±
6.66 - The New Metal
Salire stood outside with Theo, watching as he dposed the solid part of the leftover essence. It broke into two parts, one-tenth of which was vtile and couldn¡¯t be broken down further. The liquid it left behind was marked as ¡®impure,¡¯ which neither member of the duo knew what to make of. The alchemist held it to the light, swirling the sk of lightly pink liquid and humming to himself.
¡°It feels slightly reactive,¡± Theo said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure this is worth using, though.¡±
¡°Everything is worth taking a note for, though!¡± Salire said with a bit too much excitement. ¡°I¡¯ll record it anyway.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s review,¡± Theo said, clearing his throat. ¡°Everything we know about Tero¡¯gal¡¯s version of alchemy and herbalism.¡±
Salire flipped through the pages of her notebook, nodding and looking up as though ready to take notes.
¡°We swapped from the grade of an essence, to purity. Which makes a lot more sense. If you examine raw reagents, you can determine some of that purity before processing.¡±
¡°Which is why reagent quality matters more for Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy. That¡¯s also why we have the specialized greenhouses.¡± Salire underlined a section in her notes. ¡°We have better control over what we¡¯re doing because we can assume less pure reactions are more vtile.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Theo said, tapping his chin. ¡°Jumping from tier 2 to 3 might be about something else, though. We need some theories about that, since we can only make an essence so pure before the numbers are meaningless. We¡¯ll jump from 95 to 98 percent and then what?¡±
¡°Alternative methods,¡± Salire said with an excited nod. ¡°But I have the current method documented very well. For the second tier, we¡¯re looking at the same deal. A centrifuge removes the impure part of the essence, leaving behind waste. But the pressure vapor condenser is still required.¡±¡°That might be a way to help iste the functional parts of the essence, though. We might be cheating with that part, but I can¡¯t tell.¡± Theo clicked his tongue, letting his Wisdom go to work. He wouldment hiscking Intelligence attribute more, but he preferred Wisdom. Intuition went a long way with alchemy, and he had leaned on it heavily in the past. A sample of second tier essence was avable for testing, but there seemed to be nothing he could gain by inspecting it. As expected, the purity dropped but it was still stablepared to the first tier.
¡°I think we should enter a phase of experimentation,¡± Salire said. ¡°We have a lot of functions within Drogramath¡¯s alchemy to test still. Fermentation, alcohol interactions¡ All that stuff we did daily.¡±
¡°There are even more things to consider, though. I¡¯m no longer Drogramath¡¯s Champion.¡±
¡°Seriously? Tero¡¯gal didn¡¯t make you the champion?¡±
Theo turned, offering the woman a half-smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have champions anymore. We¡¯re doing this on our own merit now. Which is¡ Well, if you could get Throk to make some more machines, that would be nice. Think of different methods to remove the impurities involving alcohol. While you work on that, I¡¯ll focus on other experiments.¡±
¡°Such as?¡± Salire asked, making a note.
¡°Mana injections, gaseous injections, and so on. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to do research into how the space elf is doing¡¡±
¡°Good idea,¡± Salire said with a nod. She flipped to thest page written on in her notebook. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few orders to fill. And you still have dragon bones to experiment with.¡±
Theo pped Salire on the shoulder, nodding. ¡°I might be back tonight for my experimentations. Gotta visit a dungeon first.¡±
Theo wasn¡¯t sure what he thought about the dragon bones. He could brew potions for them right now, but was uncertain about if he should. Stepping out into the streets of Broken Tusk, he found Thim standing awkwardly.
¡°I was about to knock,¡± the dwarf said. ¡°Finished your weird building.¡±
¡°I can see that,¡± Theo said, nodding toward thepleted building. He had been ignoring it, waiting for the man to finish his job. ¡°Care to give a tour?¡±
¡°There isn¡¯t much to tour,¡± Thim said, leading the way down the road.
¡°Theo!¡± Gridgen shouted from down the road, rushing up andpletely out of breath. ¡°We got a problem.¡±
Nira was close behind him, her arms folded and her face stained with soot. She was always covered in a thinyer of ck soot, though.
¡°Can it wait?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Quick tour,¡± Thim said, waving at the giant metal cube. It was about the size of his alchemy building, made of faintly purple metal. ¡°Giant metal cube. Sliding door. Have at it.¡±
Thim left without saying another word. Theo felt something in the way he left, as though he wanted nothing to do with what the others had to say.
¡°What¡¯s the problem? You never have problems, Gridgen,¡± Theo said.
¡°Ore dried up,¡± the miner said.
Theo clicked his tongue. Gridgen clearly thought he should have a stronger response, but that was that. The energies of the old ascendants was fading from the world. Thest weird monster wave was proof enough of that, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to happen this quickly.
¡°Is our stock of Drogramathi and Tworgnothi metals secured? How much do we have?¡± Theo asked.
¡°A lot,¡± Nira said with a shrug. She produced a faintly blue-silver bar, holding it out for him to see. ¡°Looks like we can get mythril production going.¡±
¡°No choice,¡± Theo said, waving the question away. He took the bar for inspection. ¡°We can¡¯t cry because we¡¯re making the world better. If we have mythril deposits, we should exploit them.¡±
[Mythril Ingot]
[Metal Ingot]
Legendary
Quality: Excellent
Uwfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
An ingot of legendary mythril metal.
¡°Very nice work on this, Nira,¡± Theo said, rolling the bar over in his hands. It was lighter than he expected. ¡°This would be a decent substitute for Azrugium.¡±
¡°You have a keen eye,¡± Nira said, smiling up at the alchemist. ¡°We¡¯ll get about equal strength to that alloy. And, I have something else to show you.¡±
Nira produced another bar of metal. It was a swirling pattern of ck and silver-blue. Although the sun was high in the sky, Theo could have sworn the ingot was glowing. He inspected the item.
[Dragoniron Ingot]
[Metal Ingot]
Legendary
Quality: Excellent
An alloy of mythril and iron. Only the finest smelters can produce such an ingot.
Theo felt the weight of the ingot in his hand. It was heavier than pure mythril, but perhaps there was some advantage to that. ¡°What are the qualities of the dragonironpared to mythril?¡±
¡°Mythril is lighter. A lot lighter. But dragoniron is tougher.¡±
¡°Excellent,¡± Theo said. ¡°This is going to do very well for what we need. Now, is there anything I can do for either of you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Nira said, turning and heading out. She was a very self-sufficient person, so Theo wasn¡¯t surprised.
¡°We could use more mythril veins,¡± Gridgen said with a nervous smile. ¡°Although we wouldn¡¯t want to wake that beast¡¡±
Theo sent a mentalmand to his metal golems. He ordered them to march down into the mine, toward the new vein of mythril they had exposed. ¡°Let¡¯s sort this out real quick. Come on, we¡¯ll meet my army there.¡±
Before heading into the mine with the golems, the alchemist sent word to Aarok about his n. Then they evacuated the mine, just in case anything happened. With the adventurers on standby, and the mine packed with golems, Theo headed down alone. After some probing with his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core, he found the cavern belonging to whatever beasty was waiting to burst forth. He reinforced the walls, scouting new tunnels with more mythril nodes. The process took a few hours, but he was taking it slow. Whatever creature waited below didn¡¯t stir during his work, so it seemed safe enough.
¡°I found a few safer veins of mythril,¡± Theo said. He left about twenty-five golems behind to handle any unexpected monster incursions. ¡°Keep the first one we found sealed, and just hit the other ones I revealed.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Gridgen said, saluting. ¡°You heard the boss! Back in the mine!¡±
Copper and iron were still valuable metals, so there was no reason to stop production. Theo made his way to the smelter before visiting the temple, giving Nira some new orders. The moment the mythril nuggets rolled in, she was to shift her focus to them and nothing else. Whatever leftover aligned nuggets they had could be stowed for now. He didn¡¯t want to operate off a dwindling supply of anything.
Nira didn¡¯t care what the orders were, so long as she could work the smelter.
Theo had some time to think as he made his way to the temple. It wasn¡¯t far, but it gave him enough time to reflect on his progression. His advancement in terms of levels had stagnated. But he had made progress in other ways. Both the town and the alliance were rocketing forward in power. Tero¡¯gal had be a Throneworld. And his ability with alchemy had expanded significantly, making him a better alchemist. It was only a matter of time before he caught up to where he was before. This was a fact he hoped to aplish before he had to take his people to Tero¡¯gal.
¡°Gotta remember to check in on the doomsday party supplies,¡± Theo muttered to himself. He sent his senses off to his nt Golems managing his small farm. They had been banking wheat for a while, so there would be no shortage of bread. Perhaps it was time to make some zee-shine.
The temple was as intimidating as ever. Theo stepped into the halls, reflexively bowing his head. He could feel the power of the true gods here now. They all mingled together to create a tapestry of something he couldn¡¯t quite identify. Those gods waited in a cloistered heaven for him to bring the shards back, adding some stabilizing force to the world. Xol¡¯sa would pull through. The space elf always pulled through.
¡°Knock knock,¡± Theo said, standing at the entrance to the dungeon.
The door swung open, revealing a massive figure. ¡°Ah, Theo,¡± Bilgrob said. The massive ogre barely fit in the dungeon, even though it had been constructed with half-ogres in mind. ¡°Come to visit the elf?¡±
¡°Yeah, how is he doing? And how is that Tero¡¯gal core treating you?¡±
Bilgrob grunted, turning and leading the way down the darkened corridor. ¡°I won¡¯t lie. It isn¡¯t as fun as my Spit core, but I can¡¯tin. At least I didn¡¯t get my core stripped away or something like that. Anyway, the healing magic is fine. There is a diagnosis spell that works well.¡±
¡°How does Tero¡¯gal magic work?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Just some magguage adjacent to Axpashi. I assumed you invented it.¡± Bilgrob pushed the door to a cell open. It really was like a dungeon, but the space elves needed to be contained. There was no way to tell if they would still be insane when they woke. And until this one came to his senses, the alchemist refused to bring more.
¡°Tero¡¯gal has a mind of its own. It must have invented thenguage,¡± Theo said. The elf rested on a bed, a wet cloth draped over his forehead. He had been stripped of his clothes with only a thin sheet covering his body. A small air conditioning artifice sat in the corner, pumping gently cool air into the room. ¡°What does your diagnosis spell say about him?¡±
¡°He¡¯s in stable condition, but he has a lot of problems. We¡¯ve been working on curing him¡ slowly,¡± Bilgrob sighed. ¡°The good news is that we¡¯ve purged the void mana from his system. Everything elsees down to potions and healing spells.¡±
¡°Is the Reforge Mind potion doing its work?¡±
¡°Very much so. Watched his head go transparent earlier this morning. I could see his brain.¡±
¡°That¡¯s nasty,¡± Theo said, cing a hand on the downed man¡¯s shoulder. His body temperature was high, but that was to be expected. He had something like a fever, reminding the alchemist of what happened with Xol¡¯sa. ¡°Can you inspect his soul?¡±
¡°There doesn¡¯t appear to be obvious damage to the soul,¡± Bilgrob said. ¡°Were you expecting soul damage?¡±
¡°I was expecting a lot of soul damage,¡± Theo said, knitting his brow. That flew in the face of what he knew about the Bara¡¯thier. ¡°Xol¡¯sa had soul damage when he came here. I thought the void energy they held in their bodies would affect the soul.¡±
¡°Not so. The energy was only in his body, not his soul. How did Xol¡¯sa arrive here if he is from the Bara¡¯thier?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good question. I suppose they catapulted him through¡ Ah, I get it.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°They sent him into the void unprotected. The ce where the space elves are hiding out was protected by a bubble. It was weak, but the shards are still keeping them safe. I think they tossed baby Xol¡¯sa straight into the void, allowing him to sail on magic to Iaredin.¡±
¡°Nasty business,¡± Bilgrob said, shaking his head. ¡°Well, I¡¯m working shifts with Zarali and Sulvan. We¡¯re trying to recruit more healers for when you bring more elves. But you know how hard that is.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°The care of an actual healer is too important. I don¡¯t think my potions could see them through. Perhaps we can throw some money at people.¡±
¡°Or we could train up new healers. Can¡¯t you gift cores?¡± Bilgrob asked.
Theo winced at the question. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t create them, only change the ones people already have.¡±
¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. At least you don¡¯t have to worry about this one. He is under our care, and he won¡¯t decline. I can promise you that.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t doubt the man. What kind of secrets would this space elf hold to the old world? They had shoved off with the shards a long time ago. Those precious lodestones had likely enabled the ascendants to do what they did, creating a mockery of the intended system with their realms. With the old gods back as the new gods, order would soon be restored. This long-plotted scheme cooked up by Khahar and whoever else would finallye to a close.
The alchemist would rip his people from thisnd, sending them through the void and onto a permanent home. A ce where he could ensure everyone would be safe. But even after they left, he had a job to do. The Dreamwalker was the hand of the void, ensuring everything ran as it should have.
¡°Keep up the good work,¡± Theo said, backing out of the room. ¡°Update me if something else happens.¡±
¡°Can do.¡±
Theo left the temple with alchemy on his mind. Rocketing through the next tier was essential if he wanted to produce powerful potions. And of course he wanted to produce powerful potions. Maybe he would even have time to figure out what kind of potions a dragon¡¯s bones would make.
6.67 - Were Gonna Make Another Planet
6.67 - We''re Gonna Make Another
The massive metal cube constructed by Thim had a nasty echo. Theo stood inside, looking at the working stills he had installed there. At least the dwarf had the foresight to install venttion methods. Artifices hummed, drawing the thick vapors from within to send them outside. As long as he didn¡¯t aim for the second tier¡ªwithout improving the process¡ªno explosions should happen. If they did, the container should have contained it. The three stills running within the cube would produce properties from the Quindalias Bone reagent. Soar, Lost Hope, and Dragon¡¯s Insight.
¡°We won¡¯t mess around with fourth properties for now,¡± Theo said, crossing through the entrance and sliding it closed.
Of the three properties, Theo was most hopeful about Dragon¡¯s Insight. Lost Hope might have been dangerous, but the system had a way of naming properties that made it hard to know what a property would do. It could have produced an amazing effect for all he knew. Before departing from the ominous cube, he took stock of the town¡¯s potion supply. They were good. Better than they had been since the systems shifted away from aligned cores. The alliance could handle emergencies better, especially since Salire had crafted curative potions to handle standard status effects. Disease was still a thing, no matter how much they built the town.
¡°You!¡±
Theo turned, spotting Alise walking down the road. The alchemist had ns to head to his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop, messing with his reagents to get more insight for the shift in his alchemy. ¡°What did I do now?¡±
¡°Oh, nothing. I tried getting your attention through the administration interface but you wouldn¡¯t answer. I have some early numbers on your ¡®feed the world¡¯ project.¡±
Theo brightened up, his tail swishing back and forth. ¡°Sweet! How does it look?¡±
Alise shrugged. ¡°We made projections for housing and feeding an amount of people for a season. Ah, well¡ There was some spection at first, but we made some estimations on the amount of people that woulde for the party.¡±
¡°How did you manage that?¡±¡°I have some contacts in other nations. I forced them to take a survey.¡±
Theo tried not tough. He tried real hard. He coughed, failing to pretend hisughter was a coughing fit when she gave him a death stare. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re just so on top of everything.¡±
Straightening her back, Alise smiled. ¡°I pride myself on it. Well, the projections are interesting. You¡¯ll be surprised to learn that not many people want to attend a party at the end of the world. Still, we¡¯re looking at about ten-thousand people at most.¡±
That was less than Theo had expected, but it made sense. The reality of the party was that it was a ce where people could make an easy transition to Tero¡¯gal or Khahak. That got the alchemist thinking about something he needed to take care of. But that could wait until he was done with his meeting out on the streets of Broken Tusk.
¡°How does that reflect on our food production and housing situation?¡±
¡°We can do it. With stockpiling, and a fairly massive construction effort it wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem.¡±
¡°I¡¯m wondering¡ Did you include the part about this being the end of the mortal world to those polled?¡±
¡°Yes. I made it clear the world was ending, but I¡¯m not sure if anyone believed me.¡±
Theo tapped his chin. There might be considerable panic if people learned this was actually the end of the world. Perhaps they would flood into Broken Tusk at thest minute,s training their resources.
¡°Change your projections for about one-hundred-thousand people.¡±
Alise blinked a few times, finally pinching her eyes closed for about five minutes. Theo stood there awkwardly as she took steady breaths. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll clear some farmnd between here and Rivers. The nes between Rivers and Gronro are expansive enough that we can build housing there. We can also add more lines to the train, allowing people easier ess to each town in the alliance.¡±
¡°Wow. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t push back against that.¡±
¡°I believe you when you say the world is ending, Theo. Well, we¡¯re moving, aren¡¯t we?¡± Alise nodded to herself, cupping her chin. ¡°I n to be the first bride on Tero¡¯gal, so I¡¯ll do anything to make that happen.¡±
¡°Speaking of,¡± Theo withdrew amunication crystal from his inventory. ¡°I¡¯ve got a call to make. Buy up everything you need to make this thing happen, okay? We¡¯ll start the construction right away. I¡¯m sure Ziz will take a paycut if we can¡¯t afford it. I¡¯ll give him something nice when everyone migrates to the Throneworld.¡±
Alise bowed her head, then ran off like a madwoman. Theo just hoped she was doing her best to rely on the other administrators that she had hired. Oh, well. She always sorted stuff out. The alchemist squeezed the crystal and waited, walking over to his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop while he waited for a response.
¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Fenian said, hanging up.
Theo felt a rush spread through his mind, as though the sudden cut of the connection shocked his senses.
¡°Well, that was rude,¡± Theo said, turning his attention to his workshop.
While Theo had already learned the effects of his aligned greenhouses, he used the workshop to confirm a few things. The reagents grown in the aligned greenhouses were better because they were perfectly aligned to whatever environment they needed to grow. Each reagent had a preference for climates it grew in, including exposure totent elemental energy in the air. This infused the reagent to be more pure, making it easier to work with when using Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy. As he stood there, a message he hadn¡¯t seen in a while popped up.
[Tero¡¯gal Herbalist Core] receivedexperience (0.2%).
[Tero¡¯gal Herbalist Core] leveled up! Level 33.
¡°That¡¯s been a long timeing,¡± Theo said with a sigh.
Theo¡¯s Tero¡¯gal Alchemy Core wouldn¡¯t be too far behind that one. That would get him Level 33 for his personal level, adding another attribute point. Not that attribute points mattered much at this point. It was the skills he was after, and he would gain ess to a free skill point at Level 35. While that might make things easier for the transition, investing into the town itself was a better idea.
The alchemist never had trouble finding things to do. Even back on Earth, he had a habit of running off to do anything to keep himself busy. Here in Iaredin, facing down the concept of moving his entire nation to another world, was no different. He selected samples of reagents from each aligned greenhouse, testing them in the workshop to confirm their purity. When he used the Research upgrade on each one, he confirmed they were all of excellent purity. Yet they still seemedcking.
For all the efforts Theo had put into cultivating reagents that could hold up to this new form of alchemy, they still failed. Compared to those almost perfect samples he had discovered in the swamp, these were poor samples topare. But the alliance didn¡¯t need a single run of potions using those ultra-rare reagents. It needed a lot of potions. The greenhouse method would have to work for now.
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As Theo turned away from his greenhouses, intent on taking care of other chores, he felt the familiar buzz in his mind. He withdrew themunication crystal from his inventory and squeezed it.
¡°Sorry about that, Theo. I was busy with¡ uh¡ something.¡±
¡°Well, now that¡¯s not suspicious at all,¡± Theo said.
¡°You¡¯re so nosy my dear alchemist. I was investigating a group of dronon that is known to me when I got distracted.¡±
Fenian¡¯s ¡®distractions¡¯ often led to wars. Or undead armies¡
¡°Did you kill Balkor¡¯s shadow?¡±
¡°Me? Little old me? Your sweet and lovable Fenian? Absolutely not.¡± The elf¡¯s words dripped with sarcasm, even in Theo¡¯s mind. ¡°I would never kill him.¡±
¡°So what did you do with him?¡±
¡°Nothing for you to worry about. I was busy because I was in Tarantham, trying to discover the source of some disturbances¡ Well, I found your errant Earthling.¡±
¡°You found Jan? Are you kidding?¡±
¡°I found both Jan and Twist. They¡¯re working together as a team. I thought they would be at each other¡¯s throats, but no. They were trying to kill a god or something.¡±
Of course Jan and Twist were working together. Why not? There was a lot of animosity between them, but they had apparently patched things up. This had to do with what happened on both Iaredin and Earth all those years ago. Theo viewed it as old scores he had no idea about. Well, while Fenian was in Tarantham he might as well do something helpful.
¡°I¡¯m washing my hands of both of them. They¡¯re not wee back in the alliance without at least some exnation, but I don¡¯t care to hunt them. While you¡¯re in the elven empire, could you do me a favor?¡±
¡°You dismissed that rather quickly.¡± Fenian chuckled to himself, making sure to push as much mirth through themunication crystal as possible. ¡°What do you need?¡±
¡°A survey of what people think about the world ending and if they¡¯d want to attend a party.¡±
¡°No need for a survey there. Everyone believes it will happen here, and most are happy to die. They¡¯ll get sent to Death¡¯s realm, after all. You¡¯ll be lucky to see a few thousand people attend from Tarantham.¡±
That shouldn¡¯t have been unexpected. The elves were weird.
¡°Anyway, all this isn¡¯t even why I¡¯m calling. I think we need to do something drastic while the gods are sleeping,¡± Theo said.
¡°You naughty little demon. What is it?¡±
¡°We¡¯re gonna make another.¡±
¡°Pardon?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no reason you can¡¯t form a. The system set a president for throne holders to create their own world. I don¡¯t think Tresk can do it, since we¡¯re tied so closely together, but I¡¯d be morefortable with threes rather than two.¡±
¡°How would that work?¡±
Theo didn¡¯t even have the idea of a n. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the system about it. The system should agree because it did it before.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll trust you on this one, Theo. Ah, got to go. Jan is pointing a gun at me and screaming about grand betrayals. I think he wants to duel¡ or kiss. I cannot tell, but I¡¯m happy to do either!¡±
Fenian cut the connection before Theo could say anything else. The elf¡¯s most powerful core was his Parantheir¡¯s Duelist Core, so he wondered how he had managed after the change. With a shrug, the alchemist fell through the veil. Visiting the system wasn¡¯t a good idea just because he needed something to do. As the Dreamwalker, it was his job to interface between all the heavenly elements. If the gods had a problem with something, it was Theo¡¯s job to ry that problem to the other throne holders. His domain might be the void, but his ability to travel through it freely meant he was the perfect messenger.
Landing in the snowyndscape, Theo dashed for the raised tform. It was too cold for him to linger very long. As he ascended the tform, he made note of the twelve spots. The way he always did. He knew of only a few gods so far. Hallow, Death, Void, Shadow, Fate, and Omen. With only half of the gods known to him, he wasn¡¯tfortable iming to hold the Throne of the Dreamwalker.
¡°What is it?¡± the crystalline figure asked, appearing from nowhere.
Theo cleared his throat. ¡°One realm, please.¡±
The features of the crystal woman were mostly indiscernible. For the first time, the alchemist noticed her brow furrowing, crinkling in a way impossible for such material. ¡°You must repeat your request.¡±
¡°Tero¡¯gal and Khahak are fine realms, but we need another. I¡¯d like for you to grant Fenian a realm. The Herald needs a Throneworld.¡±
The system stood, looking at Theo as though he had just peed on her favorite bit of shag carpet. Her hard features softened in time. ¡°I¡¯ll allow it.¡±
¡°Oh, thanks. Is it just gonna be out there in the void?¡± Theo asked, jabbing his thumb behind him.
¡°He must form his own realm, then evolve it into a world,¡± the system said, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°This must be done before the final seal is broken, otherwise I will not allow such a thing.¡±
More talk about a seal Theo knew nothing about. He cleared his throat, surprised she relented so quickly. But his logic was sound. ¡°Any tips on that?¡±
¡°Use the same method Khahar used to form a world. The Herald¡¯s power is tied to the mortal realm, meaning he should use the same method. Your partner¡ªthe Dreamer¡ªmay create an orbiting body to apany Tero¡¯gal, if you wish. You should know how to do that.¡±
Oddly, Theo felt as though he did know how to do that. Which was weird, considering he had never done it before. But he suspected Tresk had an idea on how it would work.
¡°I have a few more questions, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°Questions are your right,¡± the system said, inclining her head. ¡°There are some things I cannot answer, though.¡±
¡°Of course. First is about the time scale,¡± Theo said. ¡°Are we working on that?¡±
¡°When thest seal is broken, time will be adjusted.¡±
¡°Any projection on what the scale will be?¡±
The system shrugged.
¡°Right. Of course. Next, I know about six of the current gods. Is it possible for me to meet the others?¡± Theo asked.
¡°You only know of five.¡±
Theo counted them off on his fingers aloud, holding up six fingers when he was done.
¡°Fate and Omen are like you and your Tara¡¯hek partner. You only count as one person.¡±
¡°Two sides of a coin?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
¡°Last question. When does thest seal break?¡±
¡°When you imnt the shards onto the mortal realm.¡±
¡°And do I have a timetable for that?¡±
The system shook her head. ¡°Please don¡¯t take more than one more mortal season.¡±
¡°Sorry¡ Lastst question. Do I have your approval to bring my alliance to the ascendant realms?¡±
¡°You have my approval, but that hardly matters. You¡¯ll need a majority vote with the gods.¡±
¡°Can I bypass them?¡±
¡°Perhaps. If you¡¯re strong enough.¡±
Theo clicked his tongue. After a moment, he straightened himself up and bowed his head. ¡°Thank you for answering my questions.¡±
¡°It is my duty.¡±
Theo turned, passing through reality and arriving in the mortal realm shortly after that. His to-do list was growing. Well, at least the next exciting thing for him to handle was the brewing of dragon bone potions. Until then, he would take it easy. Kinda. Tresk was gonna be mad when he told her she needed to form a moon around Tero¡¯gal. Not because of the effort of creating the moon, but naming it. If he wasn¡¯t careful, he would end up with a moon named Moony Moon Moon the Moon.
6.68 - Best Left Where They Are
Theo didn¡¯t tell Tresk the ¡®fun¡¯ news yet. He had spent the rest of his day monitoring the stills in the metal cube and checking on people in town. Although they had lost ess to the aligned metals in the mine, the extraction of the mythril was going well. The miners weren¡¯t disturbing the beast that lived underground, and Nira was smelting all the new nuggets with joy. Ziz didn¡¯t even wait for anyone¡¯s approval to start work on paving the entire damn region. By the time Theo sat down for dinner, they had a few buildings constructed along the road heading north.
Theo and Tresk now stood in the Dreamwalk, looking over an imagined Tero¡¯gal. The alchemist had waited for this moment to create a moon in the sky. ¡°So, we have a job to do.¡±
¡°What?¡± Tresk asked. He felt her sense brush his mind. ¡°I get to name a moon!?¡±
¡°You get to form a moon,¡± Theo corrected. ¡°I already have a name.¡±
¡°Your name isme.¡±
¡°It has significance,¡± Theo said, brushing his own senses against hispanion¡¯s mind. Tresk knew exactly what to do to make her moon and it wasn¡¯t hard. They wouldn¡¯t even need to split the thrones, only create a remote link between them. Since their connection was so strong, that part wouldn¡¯t even be hard. ¡°The hardest part is going to be getting Fenian to make his world.¡±
¡°Hmmm. A world filled with half-naked elven women and constant battle,¡± Tresk said, nodding. She imagined a long beard and mustache on her face. For some reason, the Dreamwalk epted it, allowing her to stroke it like some old sage. ¡°Very curious.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t wait to see Elven Hottie World,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°Not really. I just want another, just in case.¡±
¡°Three worlds are better than two, huh? Oh, what¡¯s this I see in your little demon brain? We need the favor of the gods to move our alliance to the heavens?¡± Tresk snorted, blowing raspberries after. ¡°Screw them.¡±Theo shook his head. ¡°They¡¯ll only stop us if we want to take thendmass. I don¡¯t think they can stop us if we want to take the mortal souls.¡±
¡°What gives you that idea?¡±
¡°Once thatst seal breaks, I think chaos will consume the world. The gods aren¡¯t merciless, though. Perhaps Death will want to reap the souls of his people, but would the other gods want that? They all have history. The others will vote to save the mortal souls, and what better way then sending them to an in-between spot?¡±
¡°Right. Wait, what are we calling Tero¡¯gal and Khahak? Ascendant Words? Throne Worlds?¡±
¡°¡®Ascendant Worlds¡¯ is more urate.¡±
¡°Right¡ I need to get my thoughts together on this,¡± Tresk said, waving Alex off. ¡°Go do some goose stuff, okay?¡±
Alex flew off without anothermand. Tresk waddled over to a rock, taking a seat and assuming her best thinking pose.
Theo broke away from the weird marshling, focusing his efforts tonight on his alchemy. For the first time in a while, he was motivated to level his cores. His intent was to push the Dreamwalk as far as it would let him go. That meant experimenting with the areas of this new alchemy they didn¡¯t understand. He started with fermentation.
The Dreamwalk allowed Theo to perform the first step of fermentation¡ªwhich was to add items to an enchanted barrel as a mash, then inject mana. After that, it refused to let him move forward. Theo¡¯s Drogramath Fermentation skill had evolved into Tero¡¯gal Fermentation. He had already inspected the skill, but recalled it from memory.
[Tero¡¯gal Fermentation]
Herbalism Skill
Epic
Fermentation allows an herbalist to extract even more from reagents. epting this skill allows you to understand the fine workings of reagents, pulling even more from the already useful nts.
Effect:
Fermentations you perform happen rapidly,pared to those without this skill.
Allows the modification of reagents to produce special modifier essences.
+12 Wisdom
¡°That¡¯s some very specific wording on that skill,¡± Theo said.
At first, he considered the idea that this was a different way to process reagents. Perhaps a way to get them to the third tier. But the effects listed imed it would still produce modifier essence. Well, perhaps it could do both but it wasn¡¯t something he was willing to believe just yet. Fermentation was a fairly simple process,pared to the other facets of alchemy. Reagent mash, mana, and the right barrel were all one needed. What were the chances that Tero¡¯gal would have such simple alchemy at this stage?
¡°Absolutely not,¡± Theo said, turning his attention elsewhere.
Instead of pushing forward into areas of Tero¡¯gal alchemy he knew the Dreamwalk wouldn¡¯t allow, he focused on refining the processes they already had. The alchemist created stills for him to work with, making note of each part of the process. There had to be a better way to handle the solid waste created by the tier one process, but he had some ideas on how to improve on where they were. When he turned his attention to injecting mana into everything¡ªthe still, water, air, and even the mashed reagents¡ªhe hit a roadblock.
When the Dreamwalk refused to let him go further, it might as well have told him he was on the right track. Mana injection was the way to go, as he had originally expected. The only thing he had injected with mana when using Drogramath¡¯s alchemy was during fermentation, water, and the dilution for the fourth tier.
¡°And that¡¯s what we¡¯ll try on the mortal ne,¡± Theo said, rubbing his hands together. For now, he nned to grind experience.
When that notification finally appeared, Theo was left with a question that felt silly. Where should he put his single free point for hitting Level 33? Another point in wisdom wouldn¡¯t do much. His only attributes not above at least 100 were Strength and Intelligence, and he couldn¡¯t put a point into Intelligence. Not unless he wanted to lose his sense of self. Instead of going for Strength, he opted for Vigor. That would add some health, although not much. He ced the point, gaining 5 health points for his efforts.
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¡°Hooray,¡± the alchemist said, inspecting his sheet.
Theo Spencer
Drogramath Dronon
Level 33
Alchemist
Core Slots: 7
Stats:
Health: 625
Mana: 230
Stamina: 635
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 132 (+8)
Vigor: 124 (+8)
Intelligence: 30 (+9)
Wisdom: 342 (+7)
Points: 0
¡°Seven core slots,¡± he said to himself, looking over the sheet. ¡°Five from leveling or my base slots, and two from special cores. But those attributes are absurd. I sure went heavy on the Wisdom, huh?¡±
¡°Hush! I¡¯m thinking over here!¡± Tresk shouted.
Theo shrugged. He learned a few things about alchemy tonight. At least he understood how important mana infusions were going to be. With that in mind he practiced summoning his mana and controlling it once it was outside of his body. Mana was strange like that. He couldn¡¯t really feel it moving around in his body. But once he brought it out in liquid form, he could feel it like it was an extension of himself. A glob of mana hovered in the air.
¡°Huh. Would ya look at that?¡± Theo asked, watching as the glob floated before him. It was slightly pink with a hint of purple running through it. ¡°Is Tero¡¯gal mana modeled after our skin tones? That¡¯s kinda weird.¡±
Tresk shushed Theo again.
After histest rebuke, the alchemist worked on his mana control. If he was right about how important this was for Tero¡¯gal alchemy, any new alchemists would need to practice this from the jump. At least the Dreamwalk didn¡¯t yell at him for getting better at mana control. The more he worked at it, the more he found how to weave his willpower into the act. Once he had that figured out, he had almost absolute control of the way his mana moved. He could pull it out from his body, creating impossibly small specks and controlling them in intricate ways. The only ce the Dreamwalk drew the line was when applying the mana to do something.
He held hisment back as to not disturb Tresk, but the Dreamwalk couldn¡¯t have made it more obvious. Mana control would be vital if he wanted to be better with Tero¡¯gal Alchemy. Salire might be mad about it, since her mana control was decent but could beckingpared to Theo. But without knowing how he would need to use his mana, he couldn¡¯t say.
¡°I¡¯m done,¡± Tresk said, springing up. ¡°Gonna build a moon when we make up.
¡°Just make another small,¡± Theo said, folding his arms. ¡°You can manage an atmosphere.¡±
¡°I got it worked out in my head, actually. Thanks to your little brain.¡±
¡°My brain is huge,¡± Theo countered, folding his arms.
¡°Uh-huh. If we move a chunk of Tero¡¯gal to the edge of the void, we should be good.¡± Tresk nodded, confident in her assessment. ¡°Then we fill it with a mix of energy from us and the thrones¡ Bam. Freeoid.¡±
¡°I¡¯m certain the system will limit us to oneoid, though. Keep that in mind.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not greedy! It only works because we can tie it to one or the other thrones. So we got a maximum of twos oroids. I can work with this. Any idea how to get Fenian his?¡±
¡°Yeah. I¡¯m gonna ask Khahar. Forming Khahak¡ªI still hate that name¡ªwas done with a realm. Dunno if we can just push Fenian¡¯s throne into the void and hope for the best or what. But I¡¯m sure there was some trick that old goat used to make his world.¡±
¡°We got a n! Let¡¯s go!¡±
The dreamwalk ended without the consent of the other members. Theo started in his bed, looking toward the window. ¡°Tresk, what time is it?¡±
¡°Some time after midnight,¡± Tresk said, giggling to herself. ¡°Later, nerd.¡±
Theo pouted for about a breath before giving up. Tresk had already slipped into Tero¡¯gal, apparently off to make a moon¡oid¡ whatever. There was no breakfast to be had. Theo stepped out onto the street outside, making sure to pull the door closed as quietly as he could. Although it was the middle of the night, several adventurers were on patrol. They heldnterns, bowing their heads as they passed the alchemist. At least the dragon bone essences were still brewing without issue. White smoke rose from the cube¡¯s venttion, but nothing more.
The Newt and Demon was silent at this hour. Salire had cleared out long ago, giving Theo pause at the threshold. He didn¡¯t just see the new shop counter waiting for an attendant to sell potions. He saw the cramped experimentation area from when he first arrived in this world. He saw the eager marshling begging to undertake the Tara¡¯hek. Those feelings came rushing back as he ascended the stairs to the second floor. Lights danced in the distance, filtering through what few trees grew within the town¡¯s walls. Guards patrolled the wall of the harbor somewhere in that distance.
Perhaps the activity in the market area was still lively. Theo turned his attention to his storage crates, rummaging through until he found a few decent samples to work with. After adding those and some ssware to his inventory, he headed outside. Any explosions would be better conducted outside. The alchemist found himself heading toward the outside wall. He chugged a Potion of Limited Foresight just in case, but didn¡¯t feel as though danger would find him that night. He instead found the cool night air and the sound of chatter just over the market wall.
From the battlements, he watched the people in the market. Lanterns hung from wooden posts¡ªmagical and mundane¡ªilluminating the market. There were a few hawkers still awake, although they weren¡¯t screaming like normal. Most surprising was the people buying things. They still haggled, getting good deals on whatever while others slept.
¡°Do they ever rest?¡± Theo asked no one in particr, pulling his first sample out. It was a length of Spiny Swamp Thistle Root in its raw form. Unprocessed and unbothered, this sample had been grown in the greenhouses before they were aligned. ording to Tero¡¯gal alchemy, it was an impure sample.
Drops of prismatic mana dripped from the alchemist¡¯s palm. They hovered in the air, catching the light of distant lights to remind him of Toru¡¯aun by the way they glittered. Theo slowed the mana down, breaking into many small parts as he injected it into the root. His mind shed with information, like a blinding light turned on in a dark room. He didn¡¯t gain specifics like he did with the Research upgrade in his Herbalist¡¯s Workshop, only a sense for what was going on within the root. The mana wanted to spread out, bing more a part of the root. He allowed it.
The gnarled root glowed a shifting shade of purple and pink. It put off a floral scent that stung the air at first. Once the wind caught most of the initial smell, it died down to a faintly pleasant scent. Theo knew this was an improved version of the original root. Tero¡¯gal¡¯s way of growing reagents made it hard to tell how much better it was than before. But after injecting his mana inside the root, the alchemist could estimate it was about as good as the stuff that grew in the aligned greenhouses. Applying this method to the ones grown there would only improve their purity.
The next experiment Theo wanted to try was to apply this method to the mash. He crushed some of the untouched roots with the back of his Drogramathi knife and tested his newest method. It was the same as before. The mana entered the mixture, seeming to find gaps to reinforce to make up for thecking purity.
¡°Interesting reaction,¡± Theo said, moving on. ¡°Last one¡¡±
Theo watched as his spectral hands held mana overpleted first tier essence. He watched still as that essence exploded, removing him from the wall and sending him sprawling to the ground below. While the st wouldn¡¯t kill him¡ªthanks to his enhanced attributes¡ªhe didn¡¯t care to be exploded in the middle of the night.
¡°Some things are best left where they are,¡± he said, returning the essence to his inventory.
This was a great ce to start. Theo knew the raw reagent imbued with mana would run through the stills better. It might even create a higher purity of potion, based on the way the mana integrated itself with the reagent. If he was lucky, he could push this even further to enhance the other stages of the process. But with hours before sunrise, Theo couldn¡¯t think of working. He wasn¡¯t tired. He just wanted to watch the people below go about their nightly business. If he had his way, this ce would be packed with people.
¡°Soon.¡±
6.69 - Chat with Death
¡°Pizzas not for breakfast!¡± Tresk shouted.
Sarisa and Rowan blinked a few times, looking over the marshling as she gawked at the provided dish. It wasn¡¯t even remotely pizza. Not that either of them would know what pizza was, aside from the times when Theo might have told them. They were served tbread with melted cheese and butter, which was as much like pizza as any tomato-based soup was. She must have been drawing from his mind for some joke no one but her got. And there was no way the marshling would borate.
¡°Yes, well,¡± Sarisa said, taking her seat and clearing her throat. ¡°Thought we¡¯d do something different.¡±
¡°Not that this is cultural or anything,¡± Rowan shrugged.
¡°I¡¯m from here!¡± Tresk shouted back. ¡°I am the culture!¡±
Theo nodded, ignoring Tresk¡¯s outburst. He could feel her nervousness about creating a moon. She did well under pressure, but only when that pressure was immediate. When it was looming in the distance, she got nervous. Then as time marched toward when she had to deal with the problem, she got crazy. Like a cornered goblin.
¡°Who would have thought that Broken Tusk would have cheese,¡± Theo said, looking at the tbread before him. It was even made with wheat, instead of zee meal. ¡°I think we should form your today, Tresk.¡±
¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Tresk said, fidgeting. ¡°I can¡¯t think right.¡±
¡°I have something to take care of,¡± Sarisa said, nodding at Theo. ¡°If that¡¯s okay.¡±¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not sure how needed you two are anymore. For guard duty, I mean.¡±
¡°I refuse to do any other job,¡± Rowan said, folding his arms. ¡°You can¡¯t tear this away from me no matter how hard you try. I¡¯ll kill ya.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure the best move is to threaten the man you¡¯re sworn to guard,¡± Sarisa said.
¡°Yeah, well¡ This job is the best. And I don¡¯t wanna give it up.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t expect he would let his guard down anytime soon, but he was powerful. The moment he dismissed Sarisa and Rowan, some unknown horror woulde out of the ground and grab him by the tail. There weren¡¯t many loose ends, but they were there. Balkor¡¯s shadow, Kuzan¡¯s followers, and whatever other gods in the heavens that wanted him out of his position. Then there was Jan and Twist, which¡ That was a can of worms he wasn¡¯t willing to open.
¡°No, I won¡¯t dismiss either of you. But perhaps we can find a way to make you stronger.¡±
¡°Whatever you want, boss.¡± Rowan¡¯s back was particrly straight today. ¡°Shine your shoes? Fluff your pillow? Whatever you need.¡±
Sarisa didn¡¯t have anything super important to do today. She wanted some time to sort affairs with someone afar. Which meant finding a merchant willing to send a message. Before they jumped to their new world, a lot of people wanted to get messages out. Most of those people weren¡¯t locals, making Sarisa the minority among them. The people who were raised in Broken Tusk stayed in Broken Tusk. Whatever splinter half-ogres and marshlings that went elsewhere stayed splintered, never rejoining. Except Salire. She came back.
¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± Theo said, grabbing Tresk by the wrist when she stood. Of course she had inhaled her meal. ¡°We¡¯re forming the moon today.¡±
oid,¡± Tresk corrected. ¡°I¡¯ll not have my realm as some lifeless moon.¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Whatever you want to call it. Come on.¡±
¡°Wait. I wanna bring Alex.¡±
Theo grabbed his food, nodding to the half-ogres still eating at his table. They met Alex outside and fell through the barrier between worlds, revealing the sr system view that represented their new reality. A momentter, they were standing in the weing center of Tero¡¯gal. It had been built up in recent days. A dronon the alchemist didn¡¯t recognize dashed off. Likely to fetch Belgar. Sure enough, a few minutester the defacto leader of the world came rushing over.
¡°We have some developments,¡± Belgar said, doubled over and out of breath.
¡°More war?¡± Theo asked.
¡°A group was expelled from the world,¡± Belgar said. ¡°Some elves had created a small settlement, and they were conducting war. Tero¡¯gal didn¡¯t like that and ejected their souls into the void.¡±
Theo shook his head. ¡°Perhaps they should have learned to behave beforeing.¡±
¡°Yeah, screw ¡®em.¡±
¡°It put the others in line very quickly. We don¡¯t know what happens to a soul now, so the other settlements have calmed down.¡±
Tero¡¯gal had been involved from the start. Once it gained Throneworld status, the wanted nothing to do with its denizens fighting. This might only be true for the transition period of the world, though.
¡°Oh, also the time changed again. We got a message,¡± Belgar said. ¡°It went all the way down to two-to-one.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Theo asked, looking around. ¡°Was that recent?¡±
¡°Yesterday, actually. We¡¯re closer to the mortal timescale now. Is that good?¡±
¡°Hard to say. Tresk, how about you get working on the moon. I¡¯ll have a chat with the system.¡± Theo turned away from the group, pausing before leaving. ¡°Belgar, help her if you can. Or maybe pet the dragon-goose. Whatever.¡±
Passing through the cracks once again, Theonded in the system¡¯s little lobby. He rushed over to the tform, finding relief immediately. Ten of the twelve spots glowed when he stepped foot on the tform. The central spot for the system sparked to life, the crystalline entity fading into existence a momentter.
¡°Which gods are missing?¡± Theo asked, finding the question he arrived with far from his thoughts.
¡°That is to be determined,¡± the system said, her voice twinkling through the snowyndscape. It was feminine, so the alchemist thought of her as a woman.
¡°And which ones do we have?¡±
¡°The higher gods,¡± the system said, gesturing to five of the spots. ¡°Hallow, Death, Fate and Omen, Shadow, and Void. The elemental gods. Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Arcane. And the lost gods¡¡±
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Theo bowed his head. Perhaps it was time to treat the system and the gods with respect. If they were willing to put what happened behind them, he should do the same. If only for the sake of his people, and those that woulde with him once the world ended. ¡°I would like to speak with Death.¡±
A hooded figure appeared on one of the marks. Kuzan¡ªnow Death¡ªstood as menacing as ever.
¡°I shall moderate,¡± the system said.
¡°I¡¯m not here to fight,¡± Theo said, bowing his head again.
¡°What is it, Dreamwalker?¡± Death asked.
¡°My Throneworld cast some souls into the void. I¡¯d like to know where they went,¡± Theo said.
¡°They arrived at the Gate soon after they were cast away. They now await judgment.¡±
¡°If it wouldn¡¯t be overstepping my bounds, could I ask what that entails?¡± Theo asked.
¡°You may,¡± the system said. ¡°It is within your responsibilities.¡±
¡°As we are in a transition period, most souls are being held until the next shift,¡± Death said. ¡°Those who die now, or are sent into the void through other means will be quite fortunate. They will have the ability to select where they want to go.¡±
¡°What are the options?¡±
¡°Any godly world that wants to ept them can. They may also petition the ascendant worlds if they like. Another option is reincarnation on the mortal world¡ªonce everything has settled down¡ªor transmigration outside of this system.¡±
Theo¡¯s eye twitched. Transmigration is an option? There was a connection there to the bird-person who had been there at the end on Earth. The alchemist was certain that this was another ce altogetherpared to Earth. Which meant that back in the day, during Jan¡¯s time, there was a bridge connecting universes. Iaredin was connected to Earth, allowing people to travel between them somehow. The mechanism of that was beyond him, but it was an interesting bit of information.
¡°Those are favorable terms for the dead,¡± Theo said, bowing again to Death. ¡°How would it work after the ¡®shift?¡¯¡±
Death looked at the system, who nodded.
¡°Much the same. System, may I speak more¡ freely?¡± Death asked.
¡°The Dreamwalker may know about the inner workings of souls. He might be something of a ferryman.¡±
Death cleared his throat. ¡°The realm will gain a version of hell from your world¡¯s lore. They will serve a term based on their crimes during life with a chance at the transmigration or reincarnation option.¡±
¡°Who decides that?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I decide for most minor issues. For major issues, a vote from all gods is required, along with the system.¡±
¡°That sounds oddly fair, considering what I know about you,¡± Theo said.
¡°Keep it civil,¡± the system warned.
¡°May I add one bit of personal opinion, system?¡± Death asked.
¡°I¡¯ll censure you if you reveal anything rted to the mortal world.¡±
¡°What about Iaredin before it was sealed?¡±
¡°That should be fine.¡±
Death nodded. ¡°I was a ghost before Iaredin was sealed away. Driven mad by one-thousand years of wandering, I set myself upon the world. There was no shortage of destruction caused by my hands. But when the world was sealed, I was given the option to gain flesh.¡±
¡°That¡¯s where you stop,¡± the system said.
¡°Just one more thing,¡± Death said, nodding to Theo. ¡°He should know.¡±
¡°You were never meant to awaken when you did,¡± the system cut in. ¡°As the Dreamwalker, it is your right to know. Another was meant to awaken in Broken Tusk, but there were issues caused by a group of mortals and ascendants. A man from Kuzan¡¯s lineage was meant to wake, setting the world straight.¡±
¡°May I?¡± Death asked.
¡°Finish it,¡± the system said, her normally monotone voice sounding slightly annoyed.
¡°He was the one that beat me back before the change. He was strong enough to lead the world. But you were given an impossible role to fill. Perhaps you didn¡¯t do it the way he would have, but you did it. You broke the seal.¡±
¡°Unintentionally,¡± Theo said, gazing at Kuzan with confusion. This wasn¡¯t the big-bad he had expected. ¡°So is this your repentance?¡±
¡°It is,¡± Death said with a nod. ¡°To shoulder the burden of my descendant.¡±
¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± the system said. ¡°Are you satisfied with his answers, Dreamwalker?¡±
¡°I¡¯m surprised, but¡ Yeah. Thank you.¡±
¡°Adjourned,¡± the system said. Death vanished. ¡°You may return to your work.¡±
Theo turned away from the tform, falling through the veil once again. That was illuminating. So Kuzan wasn¡¯t as nefarious as people made him out to be. Evil? Absolutely. His method of keeping the world in bnce was to have a war going on at all times, purging elven houses when they got too big. He might im to want to change the world, but he was just feeding into the nonsense that kept the destruction going. Perhaps he was even the one to start that idea of constantly destroying everything to build it up. But what was that business about being a ghost in Old Iaredin?
¡°Given flesh, huh?¡± Theo asked,nding on Tero¡¯gal once again. ¡°Some weird stuff went down, huh?¡±
It was weird, but at least he knew that people would go through the right cycle when they died. The ascendants had it so people would go to their realms when they died¡ sometimes. There were problems when souls would get stuck in the void, or trapped in the mortal world after they died. The alchemist looked to the sky, spotting a new shape taking form. Tresk and Belgar weren¡¯t near the weing center, so he wandered around for a bit before giving up. Instead, he took a seat and watched the show.
Tresk must have figured out how to channel the power of her throne, creating the moon. That or she just grabbed her throne and took it into space. Theo thought it was more likely for her to have done the second option, since it fell in line with the way she thought.
¡°Crazy little marshling,¡± he said, watching for a few more minutes before leaving. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll get it.¡±
Theo stepped foot in Drogramath¡¯s vige, far to the south. He stopped after his feet hit the wooden walkways, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°Toru¡¯aun,¡± he said, jogging over to catch up to the dronon woman. She was wearing a light dress with her hair done up in a bun. It was pretty hot in the swamp.
¡°Theo. Nice of you to drop by,¡± Toru¡¯aun said. ¡°Are you making a moon?¡±
¡°Yeah, what do you think?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Tresk is working on it.¡±
Toru¡¯aun considered the moon for a moment, finally nodding. ¡°I¡¯d like to live on the moon, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t enjoy Drogramath¡¯spany?¡± Theo asked.
¡°I think it will be nice up there. Perhaps you can find a mountain where I could live alone.¡±
Theo tried not to wince. She was a solitary person. ¡°How many Toru¡¯auni made the transition to this world?¡±
¡°A few hundred, but we¡¯re all solitary,¡± Toru¡¯aun said. ¡°In all my years, I only created a few broods.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure Tresk will finish working on the moon soon enough. Let me go check¡¡±
Theo zorped himself up to the moon, finding a barrenndscape. He felt Tresk, Alex, and Belgar in the distance, so zorped himself over there next. He found himself at the foot of another massive building containing the Throne of the Dreamer. So she had used the throne itself as a catalyst to create the world. As he ascended the steps, he spotted all three of them inside, looking over the throne and discussing something.
¡°I don¡¯t think it would be a good idea to fill the world with monsters,¡± Belgar said, holding his hands up. ¡°Theo would certainly disagree.¡±
¡°Monsters are a bad idea, Tresk,¡± Theo said. ¡°I don¡¯t even think you have that kind of power.¡±
¡°Oh,e on,¡± Tresk groaned. ¡°No monsters down there. Monsters up here. The n is wless!¡±
Unleashing monsters into the world might be a problem. Theo was certain it would work, but that might cause problems. It was hard to tell how the world would react if she generated anything, let alone monsters. At least she didn¡¯t get the option to name the world. It had given itself a name, Tol¡¯bak.
¡°Let¡¯s worry about getting the world estbalished before you generate monsters. Okay?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Now, are you going for a normal, or are you going to set the conditions the same all over?¡±
¡°Giant swamp world!¡± Tresk shouted, imparting her will onto the world. ¡°Giant alligators everywhere.¡±
Belgar sighed. ¡°How do you deal with this?¡±
¡°One day at a time.¡±
6.70 - Tolbak
6.70 - Tol''bak
Tol¡¯bak came together far faster than Tero¡¯gal had. It didn¡¯t have the same growing pains rted to transitioning from a Mortal Dreamworld into a Throneworld. Theoid was born as a Throneworld, given all the advantages of that from the start. Since it was also smaller than Tero¡¯gal, it had less of itself to form. When Tresk decided to make the entire a swamp¡ªmuch to the dismay of Belgar and Theo¡ªthat gave it even less work to do. Before long, they looked out over the endlessndscape of mud, shallow water, and towering cypress trees.
¡°That certainly is something,¡± Theo said with a sigh. ¡°And you wonder why I don¡¯t let you decide important things.¡±
¡°What? I like it,¡± Tresk said, breathing in the scent of the endless swamp. ¡°Smells like victory.¡±
Shaking his head, Theo inspected the world. He wasn¡¯t surprised at how sparse it was.
[Tol¡¯bak]
Throneworld
Leaders:
Theo Spencer, Tresk
Residents:0
Cities:
0
Features:
Bridge of Shadows
Tero¡¯gal
¡°Toru¡¯aun said she wants to move here. I wonder if that still holds true now that the world is covered in a swamp,¡± Theo said.
¡°At least it''s done,¡± Belgar said. ¡°Perhaps Drogramath will want to live here.¡±
¡°Maybe. Was it hard to generate the world, Tresk?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No. We just pulled the throne to the edge of Tero¡¯gal¡¯s version of outer space. It basically formed itself.¡±
Anyone who lived in the ascendant realms could now take the Bridge of Shadows between the two worlds. The feature had already been open to the residents, allowing them to leave for Khahak if they wanted. While the Bridge still had a connection to the mortal world, Theo doubted that would remain open forever. Once everything was sealed away, it was unlikely to give ess to anyone. As Fenian was still using it as his personal highway to get around on the mortal world, he figured the gods would put a stop to that soon enough.
There were quite a few things that Theo wanted to get back to in the mortal world. Especially now that time passed at a simr rate. Tresk wanted to remain here for a bit, so he left her to it before heading through the void. Both Tresk and Alex should have been able to bring themselves back without issue.
As expected, Broken Tusk was awake by the time he returned. Several hours had passed since he left, giving Theo a feeling of disorientation. He was too used to only a few minutes passing by while he was gone. At least there was plenty of alchemy-rted things to take care of today. The dragon bone essences would be ready for him to brew, but more exciting than that was his mana-infusion technique developed in the Dreamwalk.
Another person Theo didn¡¯t know was working in the shop of the Newt and Demon, ringing up a customer as he entered. The alchemist gave him a nod before heading to the top floor, where he found Salire. She was looking over an assortment of the small stills, waving at him as he entered.
¡°Throk gave me some weird machines to test out,¡± Salire said, shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start.¡±
¡°Good news. We¡¯re gonna start with some mana infusion techniques,¡± Theo said, pping some Spiny Swamp Thistle Root onto the table. He held his hand over it, allowing mana to drip and infuse into the reagent. ¡°Simple as soaking the reagent in your raw Tero¡¯gal mana.¡±
¡°Wow. No explosions,¡± Salire said, stooping low to inspect the root. ¡°I was expecting a lot of explosions.¡±
¡°I think this just reinforces the purity of the reagent,¡± Theo said, setting the root aside. ¡°So any reagent you infuse with your mana should be more stable during distition. Anything else to report?¡±
¡°Just that I don¡¯t know what to do with these machines.¡±
Theo tapped his chin. Did he want to figure out what weird equipment Throk threw his way, or work on the dragon potions? The dragon potions would be much more interesting to see, so he went with that. ¡°We¡¯ll worry about thatter. Do we have a decent stock of basic potions for the shop?¡±
¡°Yes. We have quite a few now. And¡¡± Salire gestured to the stills running in the room. ¡°I¡¯m making some more. You know¡ just in case.¡±
¡°Back to a surplus,¡± Theo said, looking over hisb with pride. ¡°Even with our reduced capacity, you¡¯re still brewing at a surplus.¡±
¡°Well, this is kinda¡ the only thing I do,¡± Salire said with a nervous chuckle. ¡°Not a big deal. Just the truth.¡±
¡°Yeah. Maybe we need a beach day or something,¡± Theo said, scratching his chin. ¡°Well, I guess we can have an extended vacation when the world ends. For now, we need to ensure everyone has enough potions to survive until the world¡¯s end.¡±
¡°Right? Imagine missing that date.¡±
¡°Well, if you die now you might be alright. It depends on if your soul can make it into the void. If it does, Death will scoop you up and give you a free pass to reincarnate.¡±
¡°Really? Wait, why would you know that?¡±
¡°I talked to him,¡± Theo said. ¡°Don¡¯t know if I¡¯m allowed to say it, but whatever.¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t been smote yet, so¡ I think you¡¯re good.¡±
¡°Anyway¡ Potion time!¡±
¡°Yay!¡±
Theo put his worries about anything else aside, heading over to the giant metal cube to collect his essences. He had isted the Soar, Lost Hope, and Dragon¡¯s Insight properties from the ascendant dragon¡¯s bones. All came out to 90% purity, and were the same off-white shade in their respective sks. They smelled of little and put off a sense of authority even in their processed state. As expected with such low purity, the stills used to brew them were encrusted with the alchemical waste.
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¡°These could have been better,¡± Theo said, stowing the essences away for now. He would clean the stills themselvester. For now he was happy to check out the new essences.
¡°I¡¯m not hopeful about those ones,¡± Salire said, following closely behind him. ¡°Lost Hope? What could that even give? A sense of hopelessness? Surely that can¡¯t be positive.¡±
¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out,¡± Theo said, leading the way back to theb. Back on the third floor, heid out his equipment and turned on the extractor artifice. ¡°We¡¯ll just go in order¡ Soar first.¡±
¡°At least it mixes as it should,¡± Salire said, watching as Theo blended the essence, water, and catalyst.
The alchemist still loved the vial design she hade up with. It was now the standard way their potions were bottled, including the decorative ss topper. Just like the essence, the finished potion was an off white color, close to beige. It smelled of almost nothing, holding an almost earthy scent.
¡°No issues with the vapors generated by the essences, right?¡± Theo asked, swirling the vial toplete the reaction.
¡°Not really. I¡¯m sure any potential idents will go away once we sort your mana infusion technique out.¡±
Theo nodded, finally satisfied that the potion was done brewing. ¡°Ah. Yes, I really would enjoy drinking the potion of falling to your death.¡±
[Lesser Soaring Potion]
[Potion]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Purity: 90%
Drink to soar.
Effect:
Five seconds after consuming this potion, the imbiber will be sent into the air. The distance depends on the purity of this potion.
¡°How high do you think it throws you up?¡± Salire asked, tapping her chin as she thought. ¡°Maybe you could use it to¡ Climb up a mountain or something?¡±
¡°As long as you had a way to fall slowly,¡± Theo said. ¡°And, yes. That depends on how high it sends you. A few feet? No problem. Five-hundred? You¡¯re in trouble.¡±
¡°Right,¡± Salire said, taking the potion and setting it aside. ¡°Let¡¯s just not think about that one ever again.¡±
¡°We should start a list of dud potions,¡± Theo said, moving on to the next one. Soar was actually a property he had some hope for. Theo wanted to see a potion that allowed him to fly. He would¡¯ve settled for gliding. But, no. It was another weird potion that made him do something he didn¡¯t want to do. Even the Retreat potion was more useful.
Moving on to the next one, Theo knew what he was in for before he even examined it. There were qualities of potions that set them apart from poisons. Poisons all seemed more viscous than potions, and they put off an aura of malice. The potion derived from the Lost Hope property was a poison.
[Lesser Hopeless Poison]
[Poison]
Umon
Created by: Theo Spencer
Purity: 90%
Apply to a weapon to inflict the [Hopeless] effect on a target.
Effect:
Applies the [Hopeless] effect, reducing an entity¡¯s willingness to fight. The strength of this effect depends on the purity of this poison.
¡°Making a person hopeless¡¡± Theo trailed off, shaking his head. ¡°I suppose you could use that to route monsters¡ if they had morale.¡±
¡°Wow. Two crappy potions in a row.¡± Salire offered Theo a pained smile, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°Who knew dragon bones sucked this much?¡±
¡°Even if all properties are bad, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Theo said. ¡°They¡¯ve served their purpose already. Well, Alex is almost a dragon. She has to eat more bones.¡±
¡°Alex is eating the bones?¡± Salire asked. ¡°Disgusting.¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not a fan. Let¡¯s get to work on thisst potion. Anything with the word ¡®insight¡¯ is usually good.¡±
¡°Seriously,¡± Salire said, lifting the potion for inspection. ¡°Hmmm. Not sure what you¡¯re going to think about this one.¡±
Theo inspected the potion, willing to wait no longer to get this saga behind him.
[Lesser Dragon¡¯s Insight]
[Potion]
Rare
Created by: Theo Spencer
Purity: 85%
Your gaze is peerless, like that of the mighty dragon.
Effect:
Locking eyes with a sapient enemy will initiate the [Dragon¡¯s Duel] effect.
While under the effect of [Dragon¡¯s Duel], you gain insight into the attack patterns of your opponent.
¡°How long does it evenst?¡± Theo asked, scratching his head. ¡°I mean, this is a great potion if you¡¯re nning on murdering people. Gaining insight into someone¡¯s attacks would be useful. Almost like my precognition. But there are problems¡¡±
¡°Like the purity,¡± Salire pointed out. ¡°Why was it less than the others? They came from the same nt with the same distition method.¡±
This was certainly one of the more strange potions Theo had created. It was only so strange because it was so unlike his other potions. The effect was strange, activating when a person locked eyes with an opponent. That likely meant it had an infinite duration to start¡ªor a long one anyway. After that, the Dragon¡¯s Duel effect wouldst¡ what? Until either member of the duel died?
¡°This effect might be strange because ites from a draconic ascendant,¡± Theo said. ¡°Which brings me to another confusing question. Is this an aligned reagent, or just a shard of the dead dragon¡¯s power?¡±
¡°You¡¯re asking questions only you and the other throne people can answer, I think,¡± Salire said.
Theo nodded. She was right, of course. ¡°These potions aren¡¯t great, but maybe we can use this as a jumping-off point for something else. The modifiers, maybe. Or some other enhancement method we can use to increase the potency of reagents.¡±
¡°What do you have in mind?¡±
Theo had to think for a second as his thoughts shifted away from the dragon potions. They were a bust, and that was fine. This was the point of alchemy, even if things took longer now that he didn¡¯t have Drogramath¡¯s power to lean on. The way reagents reacted with each other was going to change when they moved to Tero¡¯gal. Perhaps it was best to verbalize his thoughts.
¡°This is a trial run for us, Salire,¡± Theo said, pping a hand on her shoulder. ¡°When we move to Tero¡¯gal, we¡¯re going to experience more challenges like this. We¡¯re going to rebuild the basics of alchemy from the start.¡±
¡°How pliable is Tero¡¯gal going to be once we get there?¡±
Theo clicked his tongue. ¡°That¡¯s hard to say. Like everything else, it seems as though it''s waiting for the next shift to happen. It doesn¡¯t want tomit to anything until we reset the universe.¡±
¡°I¡¯m thinking you should get on that soon,¡± Salire said,ughing nervously.
Theo shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re all getting used to the new way of things. I had a good meeting with the system and Death earlier. I went to our meeting ce with respect, and they treated me with respect. Everyone¡ªthe worlds included¡ªare trying to approach their new roles with honor and respect. I¡¯m trying to say we¡¯re all willing to adapt to the change. Since every cog in the machine is happy, the oue should be good.¡±
¡°Are you trying to reassure yourself of something?¡± Salire asked with a pained look on her face.
Theo gritted his teeth for a moment, thinking back to Earth. They faced the same change during Jan¡¯s time. When Iaredin was linked with Earth. Something happened and Earth lost out in that deal. The result was the destruction of the world. Perhaps this was a simr situation. But this fake version of Iaredin they lived in wasn¡¯t the design the system had in mind. It likely wasn¡¯t the version the defenders of Earth had in mind. It was something twisted by people who wanted to grab for power.
¡°We¡¯re trying to create the ideal version of a universe,¡± Theo said. ¡°Even Tero¡¯gal refuses to allow the people on it to wage war. It ejected souls into the void rather than allowing them to keep fighting. Yeah, I¡¯m trying to make myself feel better so I know we¡¯re on the right course. Because I have to believe that Yuri and Fenian were doing what¡¯s best for the world. Especially Fenian.¡±
¡°He¡¯s hard to stomach, isn¡¯t he?¡± Salire asked.
¡°Yes and no. I knew people on Earth who did simr things. You can¡¯t discount a person¡¯s situation when considering their actions.¡± Theo took in a deep breath, whipping his tail through the air. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go get some tea or something. We can discuss alchemy instead of war crimes.¡±
¡°Oh, I like tea. Much more than war crimes,¡± Salire said, bouncing toward the door. The alchemist followed after, leaving the three failures behind on the table.
6.71 - A Wheel of Cheese Will Do
It had been a while since Theo went to the Marsh Wolf Tavern himself. He sat at his private booth¨Cwhich Xam had held all this time for some reason. Perhaps she kept it free for him because he still used his bath in the bathhouse. Even at noon, the atmosphere was lively. Patrons from within the alliance and without were enjoying the food she had prepared for them. But the alchemist was there for only the moss tea and the atmosphere. Well, that and a conversation with Salire.
¡°Once we infuse the base reagents with mana, we¡¯ll have a much higher sess rate,¡± Salire said, taking a tentative sip of her tea. She added some amount of cream, which Theo wasn¡¯t aware they had ess to. It made sense, since the karatan produced milk.
¡°I guess we need to be worried about safety now,¡± Theo said.
The Newt and Demon was already introducing more safety measures. The first thing they added was the vapor detector that Throk had built. That would help them avoid any mixing vapors in the air, which could cause unexpected effects. Next was procedural, involving heavy testing before using any new alchemy techniques. Theo didn¡¯t want to employ a new technique until it had been tested in a safe environment. Their testing with the first round of artifices had shown him the advantages of caution. Those early stills were all time bombs, ready to go off once some random condition was met.
¡°Have you been practicing your mana control?¡± Theo asked.
Salire averted her gaze, taking a sip of her tea and shaking her head. ¡°Kinda. I was never very good at it to begin with.¡±
¡°You were fine. Let¡¯s see.¡±
Salire held her hand out with her palm up. Prismatic mana flowed into her palm, sloshing like liquid before evaporating into the air. Her control wasn¡¯t bad. Theo had found the hardest part to start was bringing the mana out from his soul. And he had made sure she practiced it weeks ago, drilling it into her it was vital to good alchemy. That was more true than ever, and she had a great point to jump off from. But it made the alchemist wonder about how attributes yed into actions like this.
Theo summoned a glob of mana without issue, allowing it to float in the air before them. Perhaps Tero¡¯gal was still figuring out what kind of mana it wanted to produce. He had seen it change colors before, but it current held a shifting scheme that never settled on one color for long.¡°I think you¡¯re doing fine,¡± Theo said, splitting therge blob of mana into five pieces that took different shapes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do much, though. Could you try summoning some mana that¡¯s about this big?¡±
The five split into twenty orbs that floated at different points above the table.
¡°That many?¡± Salire asked.
¡°No. Just one.¡±
Shrugging, Salire held her palm out again. A tiny puddle of mana appeared in her hand. Before it could evaporate, Theo withdrew a root from his inventory and ced it on the table.
¡°Infuse the root with your mana,¡± Theo said, nodding at the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root on the table.
Salire had done infusions like this before. She gripped the root, thering the mana onto it rather than injecting it as Theo had done. He watched as the mana soaked in, imbuing the root with her power.
¡°Did that work?¡±
¡°I think so,¡± Theo said, holding the root up for inspection. He could feel the spots within the reagent where she had missed, but doubted it would cause problems during processing. ¡°I doubt you need this level of control for the lower tier alchemy. But you don¡¯t want to soak it in mana. Just small injections to bolster the properties.¡±
¡°I can do that,¡± Salire nodded. ¡°But why is your control so good?¡±
¡°Wisdom and willpower, I think,¡± Theo said. ¡°Which I have a lot of. There just isn¡¯t much use for it right now.¡±
There might have been a lot of uses for fine control of mana down the line, but Theo wouldn¡¯t get there before the next change. It was still more important than ever to keep trying to push alchemy to its limits. Sometimes it felt like Tero¡¯gal was learning as it created new things. As the alchemist considered these things, his thoughts ground to a halt.
¡°Well, I just thought of something,¡± Theo said, taking another sip of his tea. It was sweeter than normal, holding that incredibly earthy taste he loved. ¡°The dragon potions had been brewed before. I didn¡¯t get a message about them being new.¡±
¡°What? There¡¯s an alchemist out there working with ascendant dragon bones?¡± Salire asked with a scoff. She shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°That would¡¯ve been an enormous boost for you.¡±
That fact struck Theo as strange. It seemed unlikely for someone to have ess to bones like that. Even more unlikely for them to take those bones and make them into a potion. The system might have been mad at him for exploiting the new potions the way he did. Was there an alchemist in history who had been the first to discover all of those potions, or was it an arms race to see who could make the most new stuff? Even the reagents Theo used every day were technically rare. The Spiny Swamp Thistle Root only grew in Broken Tusk as far as he knew. Yet someone before him had created a potion for every property, including the hidden one.
There was somethingforting about the sound of the patrons in the tavern. Theo enjoyed his tea as Salire struck up conversations of a more mundane nature. Well, she was interested in the end of the world party. As was tradition in Broken Tusk, no one tried to keep secrets because those secrets neversted. Instead, Alise had spread the word about the party and people were getting excited. Another tradition was not worrying about things they couldn¡¯t change. If they were living in Iaredin, Tero¡¯gal, or Tol¡¯bak they didn¡¯t care.
¡°I haven¡¯t told anyone about Tol¡¯bak,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. ¡°Tresk made her own world. A dwarf orbiting Tero¡¯gal, but the entire thing is covered in swamp.¡±
¡°Ah. I was hoping to live somewhere without a swamp, actually.¡±
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¡°Really? Well, there should be free travel between the two ces. So you can pick where you want to be. But I¡¯ll drop the alliance off on Tero¡¯gal when we¡¯re ready to go.¡±
¡°Sounds fun. I think,¡± Salire said, chuckling. ¡°I guess this is our new reality, huh? Doesn¡¯t this whole n rely on you doing something in the void?¡±
Theo drummed his fingers on the table. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s already a problem. Until that space elf recovers, I won¡¯t know what we need to do to bring them all back.¡±
¡°And that¡¯s a lot of potions. That reforge potion isn¡¯t easy to make. Do we even have the space for that many people?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not even our biggest problem, actually. Perhaps I can convince the gods to lend me more power than normal, but I need to ce all the shards into specific ces on the. I might actually see more of this world before I have to go.¡±
¡°Which means you¡¯re nning to lean on Fenian and the Bridge of Shadows.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the backup n.¡±
The more Theo talked it over with other people, the more he realized he didn¡¯t really have a n. He hoped things would fall into ce, but they rarely did. While it seemed unfair for him to have to take care of this problem on his own, he wasn¡¯t truly alone. A petition to the gods could see all the throne-holders helping him out. Perhaps they could even make an exception, allowing Khahar to visit the mortal world once again.
After finishing up with his tea, Theo¡¯s mind centeredpletely on the space elf in the care of the town¡¯s healers. He bid farewell to Salire, heading straight for the temple. Fewer people were praying today than thest time he came, but there were still quite a few there. Of course the dungeon underneath the temple was musty, andcking light. But antern burned at the far end of a hallway. A longer hallway than he remembered fromst time. Ziz and his gang must havee around and expand the rtively smallplex into something sprawling. How did they even build a basement under such wet ground? The answer was always magic.
¡°Zarali,¡± Theo said, turning the corner with a smile when he spotted the woman tending to the elf. ¡°How is he doing?¡±
¡°Better,¡± Zarali said, pressing her hand against the man¡¯s forehead. ¡°His fever is still bad, but that¡¯s nothing healing magic can¡¯t ease.¡±
¡°Any sign of his recovery?¡± Theo asked.
Zarali looked down at the prone elf, shaking her head. ¡°Thinking back to when Xol¡¯sa had his soul reforged, I can¡¯t help but wonder¡¡±
¡°If he needs his soul reforged, right?¡± Theo felt the man¡¯s skin. At least his body temperature was high. If his flesh was cold, the alchemist would¡¯ve been more worried. Perhaps that meant his immune system¡ªif such a thing existed in this world¡ªwas working. His body was fighting something off, rather than passively dying. ¡°I hope he doesn¡¯t. I truly hope the reason Xol¡¯sa needed to reforge his soul was because he wasn¡¯t born here, or that he was exposed to too much of the void without protection.¡±
¡°Right. Perhaps you¡¯re right and I¡¯m just reacting because of what happened to him.¡± Zarali ced her hand on the man¡¯s chest, causing a sh of light to fill the room. ¡°While I can feel his soul, I¡¯m not sure if it was damaged. It feels good. I just don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°How about his mind?¡±
¡°That part of the process is working amazingly. It already rebuilt itself, and now his mind is¡ What¡¯s the best way to put this? Making all the old connections. That¡¯s what Bilgrob, myself, and Sulvan decided anyway.¡±
That was some progress, at least. Xol¡¯sa had taken a few days to recover when his entire soul was reforged. No one could know if a soul or a mind was harder to reforge. The best they could do was watch and wait, hoping for the best.
¡°You guys are doing a great job, though. I doubt he would havested without you.¡±
¡°No need for praise,¡± Zarali said, waving him away. ¡°We¡¯re going to get much more busy around here when you bring the other elves, right?¡±
¡°Oh, only a few hundred elves to take care of. No big deal, right?¡±
Zarali scoffed. ¡°I appreciate the optimism, but it might get tricky.¡±
¡°Maybe¡ Well, I wouldn¡¯t presume to know how the healing process for something like this works. But maybe there¡¯s a potion I can make to ease his transition.¡±
¡°Because every solution is a potion.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it, though?¡±
Zarali exined how the condition provided by the system worked. Since it was an all-in-one cure for all mind problems, there was little else they could do. This made Theo realize there was something he could do. The first Reforge Mind potion he had crafted was a tier two, 75% purity potion. If they increased the purity of the potion and the tier, it could easily increase the effectiveness of the potion itself.
¡°We can increase the purity and tier of the potion pretty easily,¡± Theo said. ¡°Keep up the good work. I¡¯m going to get working on that.¡±
¡°You do that,¡± Zarali said with a nod.
The Reforge Mind potion was made from Searing Regeneration Essencebined with Intelligence Essence. Those were bound with the Suffuse Potion, allowing the resulting potion to jump a tier. Theo headed for theb right away, not bothering to run this by anyone but Salire.
¡°Good news,¡± Salire said, gesturing to the now-empty stills. ¡°We finished a run and we have space. How much do we need?¡±
¡°A test run, of course,¡± Theo said, pointing out three stills. ¡°We only need Suffuse, Searing Regeneration, and Intelligence properties of the highest quality we can manage. Which means doing a run with infused reagents, then another run in the centrifuges to get them to tier two.¡±
¡°Phew. Sounds like a lot of work,¡± Salire said. But she was already preparing the four stills. ¡°Might as well make it six stills, right?¡±
Theo clicked his tongue, looking at the floorspace of theb. ¡°Let¡¯s repurpose some of the second floor for brewing. Perhaps we can just do second tier work there. Six centrifuges?¡±
¡°We can move them around as we need,¡± Salire shrugged. ¡°Six up here leaves me four stills to work with. And I can order more of those. The only problem is that I have a massive pile of residue that¡¯s piling up by the minute.¡±
¡°Right. You get working on the stills and I¡¯ll chip away at the pile.¡±
¡°Perhaps you should imbue the reagents, first¡¡±
There were a few factors working in their favor here. The first was Theo¡¯s ability to imbue reagents with the exact amount of aligned mana they needed. Next was the quality of the reagents. The Lightning Poppy were growing in the aligned greenhouse, giving them the best chance at being as pure as possible. Last was the vast amount of equipment they had at their fingertips.
¡°We have plenty of Troll Blood,¡± Theo said, passing his hand over a sk of the disgusting blood. It smelled horribly. ¡°Although I wish we didn¡¯t.¡±
¡°At least the mushrooms don¡¯t stink,¡± Salire said, setting out a tray of the Dragon Talon Mushrooms. ¡°Infuse these with as much mana as you can. They¡¯re the lowest quality of all the reagents we have.¡±
¡°Check the quality on the cheese.¡±
Salire gave Theo a pouting look. ¡°The quality of the cheese is excellent. But I want to eat the cheese.¡±
¡°This is alchemical cheese, Salire. Sacrifices must be made.¡±
Salire huffed, but vanished into the other room before returning with aicallyrge wheel of cheese. Miana¡¯s cheese-making skills were just increasing as the days went past. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re using the cheese. I barely have to put any mana in it to infuse the properties. Cheer up. We¡¯ll barely use a quarter wheel.¡±
¡°And we can eat the rest?¡±
¡°No. But you can have a nibble.¡±
¡°Just a nibble,¡± Salire said, taking a bite out of the wheel. She spat it on the ground. ¡°She¡¯s covered it in wax.¡±
¡°She always covers them in wax,¡± Theo said, peeling back theyer. ¡°Try again.¡±
6.72 - Making More Planets
Tero¡¯gal¡¯s new form of alchemy had a lot of twists and turns. Drogramath¡¯s alchemy functioned linearly, seeming to always produce predictable things. Putting an amount of reagents and water into a still would produce almost equal parts out, making it easy to understand. With his new core, Theo found it more of a guessing game when he started a brew. The batches were even different between the ones he ran, and those that Salire ran. Quantity was included in that variation. The stills Throk had constructed would produce anywhere from 25 to 50 units of essence in the end, depending on a few factors including purity and the skill of the alchemist.
Perhaps the paint-by-numbers version of alchemy wasn¡¯tpletely gone. But it was heading in a direction where skill and knowledge mattered more than just throwing everything at the still and praying for the best.
¡°How many projects are you involved in?¡± Salire asked, wiping her brow. Most of the stills were loaded and ready to go. There was a pile of equipment to test, but she didn¡¯t seem eager to do so.
¡°This project, obviously,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°Then just the space elves, end of the world party, and the tethers and beacons. I¡¯ve really whittled down my list of projects.¡±
¡°Guess we lucked out with the dungeons, huh?¡±
Theo nodded, taking a good sniff of the various brewing essences. The Gas Detector Throk had built was useful, but nothing could beat the nose of a seasoned alchemist. He had little opinion about the dungeons. They had formed from the concentrated energy from the fake heavens, which he was viewing more as a corrupted energy as time went on. Although the area was still filled with Tero¡¯gal¡¯s energy, it behaved more like the system had intended.
¡°We were lucky that the n to release the true gods worked,¡± Theo said. ¡°Not that I disagree with the premise. We got very lucky.¡±
Salire nodded along, tapping her finger along the rim of a hot still. Once this run of potions was done, they would have enough Reforge Mind potions to fix a fair number of the elves. Once the recovering elf was up and talking, the alchemist would be happy enough with the brew to bring the others over. This new version of the potion would be far more potent and should cut recovery time by quite a bit.
¡°Guess we¡¯re just waiting around. Maybe someone should test the new devices.¡± Salire trailed off after speaking, as though she wanted nothing to do with it.¡°You need to practice your mana control,¡± Theo said, smiling as he saw her face brighten. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll take a look at these¡ things.¡±
¡°Huzzah!¡± Salire shouted, jumping into the air. ¡°Since you can see the future, you make a better test subject¡ Erm, experimenter. Not ¡®test subject.¡¯¡±
¡°You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m nice,¡± Theo said with a wink, scooping all the devices into his inventory. ¡°I¡¯m headed to the giant metal cube of death. Bye.¡±
Salire waved as Theo left theb. He was unsurprised when Sarisa and Rowan appeared from the shadows, begging him to let them forgo the experiments. He agreed, summoning a few golems for his guard. Not that he needed them. After cleaning the inside of the metal cube, he took a look at the devices Throk had provided.
Perhaps the instructions weren¡¯t clear, but several of the devices he had provided were variations on the first-tier ones. Well, he was shooting blind like the rest of them so it wasn¡¯t a surprise. Salire had marched into his workshop and requested whatever his mind coulde up with, not something that would specifically send them forward to third tier alchemy. The first tier was a paddle, second was a spinner¡ what would the third tier be? Mana injection, of course. Somehow.
Theo looked over the devices Throk had provided, shaking his head at most. There was an iterative form of the second tier centrifuge that would be interesting. It had some improvements over the original model, providing better control and pressure features that would be helpful. The alchemist focused on one that might work for what he had in mind. During some old experiments they had fooled around with mana injection. That led Throk to develop a mana injection device inspired by Zarali¡¯s enchanting cores.
¡°This might work,¡± Theo said, inspecting the device. He epted two other devices without inspecting them much, and with no intentions of testing them. He took the newest device into his inventory, leaving the others in the giant metal cube. ¡°My job here is done. Time to bother Throk.¡±
Leaving the cube, Theo stopped in to surprise Salire. She was less shocked than he had hoped, but just enough for him to gain some satisfaction of being out of the cube. Next stop was Throk¡¯s workshop, which seemed to change more as the days went on. The man drew in apprentices like honey drew bears. Did honey draw bears? Theo doubted it, but he pressed forward anyway. For the first time in a long time, Throk didn¡¯t seem very annoyed when he entered.
¡°What would you like today, alchemist?¡± Throk asked, not looking up from the device he worked on. Theo didn¡¯t recognize it.
¡°A variation on this artifice,¡± Theo said, producing it from his inventory.
¡°What changes?¡± Throk asked.
¡°Can we mimic the mixing chamber from ourst venture into Drogramathi alchemy? One still with pressure and heat, and another that can hold mana, injecting it into the main chamber at a set rate.¡±
Theo waited as Throk turned his head, looking at the ceiling. ¡°Do you want variations on that concept?¡±
¡°If you have good ideas, yeah,¡± Theo said.
¡°I only have good ideas. You¡¯re free to leave.¡±
Theo turned and walked out, happy to leave with only minimal grumbling. Once the various essence Salire was working on were done, he could move full force into the next phase. For now, his mind centered on another issue. Something he had wanted to do for a while.
¡°Tresk, what are you doing?¡± Theo asked, using their telepathic connection.
¡°Scouting.¡±
¡°Scouting where, exactly?¡±
¡°Dreams. That¡¯s my job, y¡¯know?¡±
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
¡°Let me know when you¡¯ve wrapped up. I want to have an all-thrones meeting with the system.¡±
¡°Oh, that sounds far more entertaining. Give me five.¡±
Theo withdrew hismunication crystal, contacting Fenian and giving him the same instructions. Since the elf held the Throne of the Herald¡ªand that throne was on Tero¡¯gal¡ªhe could teleport to it¡ Or use the Bridge, as long as the Bridge was open. Of course he was slightly grumpy about having to leave his newest revenge plot, but agreed to head to Tero¡¯gal in five minutes. Khahar wouldn¡¯t have been busy. Or at least if he was, he would agree to the meeting. Hopefully.
The wings of a giant goose-dragon beat overhead about ten minutester. Alexnded, her features bing more dragon-like by the day. Now she was quadrupedal, and the position of her wings had shifted. He hoped she would edge closer to dragon soon, since she looked more like a horror right now.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Theo said, jerking his head and dropping them into the void. He brought along Alex, but would just deposit her inside of Tero¡¯gal or Tol¡¯bak before they made their way to the system. A quick zip through the void, and they were standing on the surface of Tero¡¯gal. Fenian waved from the distance.
¡°What¡¯s this meeting about?¡± Fenian asked, jogging over. He was wearing his normal frilly clothes and had an air of interest about it. Excited, rather than annoyed.
¡°Hold on,¡± Theo said, vanishing from the spot. He arrived at the Arbiter¡¯s Citadel a momentter, finding Khahar behind his big wooden desk. ¡°Meeting in Tero¡¯gal.¡±
¡°About?¡± Khahar asked.
¡°I want to establish our authority with the system,¡± Theo said. ¡°I know it has all these rules, but I want it to know us on a personal level.¡±
¡°You think the system has a personality?¡± Khahar asked with a smile. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t a bad idea. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Theo zipped both himself and Khahar to Tero¡¯gal in a blink. Tol¡¯bak was hovering overhead, distant enough to be asrge as the moon was back on Earth. He wasn¡¯t sure if the world had a proper sun, or if it was more of a simtion, but the moon glowed a faint shade of green.
¡°Okay. Like I just told Khahar, we¡¯re going to meet with the system. I want to make sure wey everything out for it, ensuring our authority to operate in this part of the universe.¡± Theo waited for someone to say something.
Of course, Tresk took the chance. ¡°We gonna stab the system?¡±
¡°Not everything requires stabbing,¡± Fenian said with a sigh. ¡°Although, maybe¡¡±
¡°We¡¯re not stabbing the system,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Theo is right. The system has hard-coded rules it has to follow, but it has wiggle room in other areas. Those decisions to give us more or less leeway might be influenced by its personality.¡±
¡°Our general approach should be that we¡¯re good little boys and girls,¡± Theo said, nodding to each member of his party. Alex had already flown off. Or teleported away to the moon. ¡°And we¡¯re all really dedicated to our roles. I want this to be a meeting with us and the system. Not the gods.¡±
¡°Where did youe up with this idea?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°Does it matter?¡± Fenian asked. ¡°Seems like a good idea to me. Put our foot down. Make our mark on the system itself.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve just been talking to the gods, and the system is always there. Since I¡¯m waiting for potions to brew, I figured this was a good use of my time.¡±
¡°And our time,¡± Khaharmented. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m pretty bored.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m not in bed with a fine maiden, so I don¡¯t mind,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Although I¡¯m still not good at traveling through the void. Almost got lost, so Itched onto a strand of the Bridge¡ Do we know if the Bridge is closing after the change?¡±
¡°We can ask the system,¡± Theo said, clearing his throat. ¡°Ready?¡±
Everyone nodded in agreement. Theo focused on each of them, encasing them in a bubble of his will. This was his job, after all. The Dreamwalker moved through the void, going between the heavenly ces. They dropped into the void, getting a good view of the center even from just outside of Tero¡¯gal. A short tripter, and they were stomping across the frozen field, bordered on all sides by darkness. Only the tform straight ahead was illuminated, as though waiting for their arrival.
Theo climbed the steps, shivering as he dusted the snow from his shoulders. To his surprise, the system was already hovering in the tform¡¯s center. Of course it was expecting them. It was the system.
¡°Hello,¡± Theo said, bowing his head as he approached the floating crystalline entity. ¡°Thanks for meeting with us.¡±
The system inclined its head to each of the members. ¡°As you might know, I¡¯m aware of your intentions.¡±
¡°Greetings,¡± Khahar said, inclining his head. ¡°It is the wish of this council to meet with you regrly. To see where we are needed, and to use our specific skills to carry out the system¡¯s will.¡±
¡°To crack some heads,¡± Tresk said, unhelpfully.
¡°I¡¯m impressed,¡± the system said, something of a smile spreading across its angr face. Theo still wanted to think of her as a woman, but it was hard. That sh of emotion made it slightly easier. ¡°Each of you has a duty to carry out. My power generated the thrones automatically to act as a counter-bnce. When the false ascendants took power, they appeared. It only took you about fifty-thousand years to find them, Yuri.¡±
¡°Right. Things were difficult to understand back then. And I spent almost that entire time in deep meditation,¡± Khahar said.
¡°That act saved your mind. You¡¯re extremely calcting, Arbiter,¡± the system said. ¡°As for you, Ivaran¡¡±
¡°Ah¡ Please don¡¯t use that name,¡± Fenian said, chuckling as he looked at the others.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t have guessed that one,¡± Theo said. ¡°I like Ian better.¡±
¡°Your scheming and plotting muste to an end,¡± the system said. ¡°If you carry out your current n, I will seal your throne.¡±
¡°What does it mean to seal a throne?¡± Khahar asked. Fenian looked dejected.
¡°All thrones will be sealed with the change. Each holder of a throne will be bound to their duty. The Arbiter shall act as the arbiter of the gods and myself, settling disputes and setting boundaries. The Dreamwalker shall be the ferryman for those issues, along with a messenger and enforcer to both the mortal and heavenly realms. The Herald shall be the spear of the system, enforcing the rules on the mortal ne. Finally, the Dreamer shall be the hand of the Herald, collecting information and spreading it through the dreams of mortals. Should your throne be sealed, you will be restricted to your future duties early.¡±
¡°Wow. Admonished by the system,¡± Tresk said, clicking her tongue. ¡°What¡¯s your current n?¡±
¡°He ns to take revenge on several individuals. The Shade of Balkor, the Ogre King Slog, King Hanan¡ Well, the list goes on,¡± the system said.
¡°I understand,¡± Fenian said, bowing his head.
Theo couldn¡¯t remember thest time he saw Fenian nervous like this. But there was a re of anger under the surface. The elf was crazy enough to try his wild schemes.
¡°And of course we¡¯re happy to abide by whatever your will is,¡± Khahar said, trying to smoothe over the indiscretion.
¡°We appreciate the leeway you¡¯ve given us to help the Bara¡¯thier,¡± Theo added. ¡°I know I¡¯m taking my time with the project, but I¡¯ll have it done soon enough.¡±
¡°Along with your party,¡± the system added. ¡°I don¡¯t have a problem with you bringing mortal souls to your realms. They should pass through Death¡¯s Gate when the endes, but I understand your desire to ferry them yourself. But you still must convince the gods to allow it. Especially Death.¡±
¡°This meeting isn¡¯t to discuss the nuts and bolts of that act,¡± Theo said. ¡°We¡¯re simply setting the table for this rtionship and our future.¡±
¡°A prudent move,¡± the system said. ¡°One that I appreciate. You will have as much time¡ªwithin reason¡ªto move the elves. I¡¯m d you didn¡¯t bring them directly to your realm. But you should focus on forming the Herald¡¯s world. It won¡¯t be as easy as creating Tol¡¯bak.¡±
¡°Ah, right¡ I need to make a, don¡¯t I?¡± Fenian asked.
The system bowed her head, the tugging at the corners of its¡ªher¡ªangr lips bing a full-blown smile. ¡°I look forward to working with you all.¡±
6.73 - Iaredin Before
¡°Should be easy, right?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°Yeah, Ivaran,¡± Theo mocked. ¡°Super easy.¡±
¡°Not like you ever formed a,¡± Fenian grumbled.
¡°I have!¡± Tresk said, bouncing with excitement.
¡°So have I,¡± Khahar said.
After meeting with the system, it only seemed right to form Fenian¡¯s. Theo wanted to get it out of the way, ensuring nothing would change before they had the chance. Putting the task off only opened them up to a situation where the system or the gods took that feature away. Khahar¡¯s world had been formed alongside a throne, making him the expert in this matter. But the world Fenian nned to create would draw strictly from his throne, instead of relying on an existing realm. One could draw parallels between the two, but not enough to follow the instructions step-by-step.
Theo¡¯s theory was that it would only require the throne in the void and the system would handle the rest. Fenian might have to work his willpower over the throne, or invoke somemand they weren¡¯t aware of. But it seemed possible based on the information he had gathered.
¡°So, do you have anything in mind for your world?¡± Theo asked.
Fenian turned, smiling. ¡°Indeed. A copy of Iaredin before¡ this. The ce I remember, rather than what it has be.¡±¡°You¡¯re going to mirror your home?¡± Khahar asked with a chuckle. ¡°Well, at least we¡¯ll have a world that isn¡¯t just a swamp.¡±
¡°You talking smack about swamp-world?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°I would never.¡±
Fenian shifted ufortably. Like most people, he didn¡¯t like the void. Although he could technically travel the void to reach his throne, he had to rely on the Bridge to get to Tero¡¯gal. His hesitation was understandable, but even if he waited a while he wouldn¡¯t be more ready in the future.
¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Theo said, pping his hands. ¡°Wanna grab your throne and head out?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll need some guards, won¡¯t we?¡± Fenian asked, shifting nervously. ¡°Perhaps a gigantic cannon and an army of angry sheep.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll be fine for now,¡± Theo said, grabbing Fenian by the arm. They snapped to the underground ce where the Throne of the Herald was stored, appearing back near the wee center with both the throne and a chunk of the remaining realm. ¡°This is good. We have a decent chunk of the Realm of the Herald¡¯s energy here. All bottled up near the throne.¡±
¡°Yes, but you got it dirty,¡± Fenian said, scrutinizing his magical seat.
¡°We left it in a cave,¡± Theo said with a shrug. ¡°You just can¡¯t keep things clean in a cave.¡±
¡°Shall wee with you?¡± Khahar asked. ¡°Perhaps I can provide guidance.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Theo asked, wrapping his will around everyone gathered. ¡°Party in the void.¡±
Theo dropped them into the void, getting some distance from the other s.¡¯ While they were arranged in the system as though they should orbit around the central ¡®sun,¡¯ they didn¡¯t. Each remained where it was, including Tero¡¯gal and Tol¡¯bak. Any orbit observed from the and moon was simted.
¡°Here?¡± Fenian asked, looking around. ¡°I like it better over there.¡±
¡°It shouldn¡¯t matter where,¡± Khahar said. ¡°You¡¯re just establishing your authority.¡±
Fenian grumbled, looking over to his throne. ¡°How did you do it, Tresk?¡±
¡°Sat on my throne and thought about it real, real, real hard.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± he said with a sigh. He climbed onto his throne and sat, looking around with an unsettled gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll just sit here and¡ This chair isn¡¯t veryfortable. You know, I think we should get a cushion before I make my world.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll just leave you here,¡± Theo warned. ¡°That should help you figure it out.¡±
¡°No, no¡ I¡¯ll get it,¡± Fenian said. He closed his eyes letting out a steady breath.
It took Fenian a long time to get over whatever hangup he had. Theo felt the energies of the Throne of the Herald creeping up around him. The elf¡¯s face gained a look of absolute concentration as he worked on the new. It hadn¡¯t taken Tresk long to make the moon, so he assumed this would be no different. But about a half-hourter, nothing had happened.
¡°Tea?¡± Tresk asked, withdrawing steaming mugs of tea from the shared inventory.
Theo epted his cup, as did Khahar.
¡°Lovely. Thanks, Tresk,¡± Theo said.
¡°He¡¯s controlling the energy at least,¡± Khahar said, sipping his tea and nodding with approval. ¡°Good tea¡ Seems like he¡¯s bullying the throne more than anything.¡±
¡°Do you think he¡¯ll listen to the system?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Stop all his weird schemes.¡±
¡°I doubt it,¡± Khahar said. ¡°He¡¯d rather be censured than give up on his dreams. Instead, he¡¯ll prioritize which person he wants dead the most.¡±
¡°Why would the system even block that?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Does it care about what happens to the mortals?¡±
¡°We can¡¯t know,¡± Khahar said. ¡°The people he wants to kill might be important. Or protected for some other reason.¡±
¡°Think I got it,¡± Fenian said, smiling to himself. His eyes were still closed as he worked on his. ¡°This interface takes an immense amount of details, but I figured out how to feed it my memories. That sped up the process, but it still took a moment. Care to see the birth of a?¡±
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¡°Sometime today would be nice,¡± Tresk sighed.
¡°Shut it, toad.¡±
Tresk made a shocked face that faded quickly. Something glowed in the distance. A shimmer of light appeared in the void, born from nothing and creating glittering mist after a few moments. That mist shone as it collected, filled with bolts of electricity that struck at kes of prismatic essence, turning them into something more solid. Pieces joined, forming something more solid.
¡°Is that what happened with the moon?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Nope. It just winked into existence,¡± Tresk said with a shrug. ¡°This is new for me, too.¡±
The group watched as Fenian¡¯s formed. He seemed very pleased with himself for the entire formation of the new. When it was finally done, the throne vanished from under his butt, likely appearing on the itself. From the¡¯s orbit, it was impossible to make out details. The floating orbs appeared more like general representations of what was inside, not the actualndmasses.
¡°Let¡¯s go. Land us wherever you want,¡± Fenian said, jumping up and down with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ve ced the throne in my ce of birth.¡±
Theo shrugged and took them in for anding. He wanted to ask what the throneworld would be called, but that wouldeter. Steering them into the, he felt the familiar blink¡ªa sensation like heading through a portal. A momentter, they were standing on a barrenndscape. Fenian turned, cing a hand on Theo¡¯s shoulder.
¡°I¡¯ve got it from here,¡± he said, turning northward.
The alchemist felt himself being pulled with the elf as he stepped forward. It didn¡¯t take someone with otherworldly senses to know they were heading for the ce he had set his throne down. Another instant passed and they were standing in a city. Gray stone marked the ce with wide avenues bordered on either side by timber buildings. The roofs were a uniform shade of gray, marked by wooden ts stained or painted. Market stalls, stone nters, and other signs of life were littered around the area.
¡°Wow,¡± Tresk said, looking around. ¡°You were born here?¡±
¡°I took a page out of your book, dear Dreamer,¡± Fenian said. ¡°I¡¯ve imagined it just before everything happened back then.¡±
¡°Perisart,¡± Khahar said, smiling as he looked around.
¡°A name you shouldn¡¯t know,¡± Fenian said with a sigh. ¡°I sometimes forget about your information gathering abilities.¡±
¡°Ruled by King Leon back in your day. Before his betrayal and ascension to the Realm of Death,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Is that the pce?¡±
Khahar had gestured to spires in the distance, looming through a sheet of fog. Those towers dominated thendscape, rising high above the already considerable walls. Theo couldn¡¯t help but think about what a city would do with such massive walls. It indicated an enemy that could threaten the mighty city. A concerning fact.
¡°And¡ Zorp!¡± Fenian said, dragging the group along to the pce. It was situated in a circr clearing, bordered on all sides by tall buildings. Something that looked like a cathedral sat next to the building with all the spires. Both struck an impressive image. ¡°The pce. I visited it when I was a boy, but this area was normally restricted. Oh¡ Care to see something interesting?¡±
¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here, right?¡± Theo asked, pping a hand on Fenian¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Of course! This concerns you¡ Hmmm, it isn¡¯t quite right. My version is only decorative¡¡± Fenian scrunched his nose, then shrugged. ¡°Oh, well.¡±
Fenian transported the group to another ce in the world, likely hundreds¡ªif not thousands¡ªof miles away. Thendscape around them was notable for the rocky hills, rolling all the way to the horizon. They stood on the battlements of a stone keep, cloistering a white tower that had seen better days. A faint blue light radiated from within, and Theo knew what the elf had brought them here for.
¡°The shards,¡± Fenian said, descending the battlements. ¡°This tower was built during the war. To defend the shard.¡±
Theo followed behind, getting a better look at the massive floating crystal. He had a feeling it didn¡¯tpare to the real one in any way, other than looks. ¡°Is this the true location of it?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re standing on the Tarantham continent, if you equate this to the authentic version of Iaredin. There was another one back in the city, but I had never seen it.¡±
¡°These are some sturdy walls!¡± Tresk shouted, pping the wall. ¡°Was this ce run by a seed core?¡±
¡°No. We didn¡¯t have those. This wall was built by hand¡ By cultists, actually. They worshiped the shards.¡±
¡°The next location?¡± Khahar asked. ¡°I have a feeling you¡¯re saving something forst.¡±
¡°There are a few locations of note. My memories are mostly of the Tarantham continent. Although we didn¡¯t call it that, most would¡¯ve called it Pera¡¯tal. Anyway, this is Vesta.¡±
A blinkter, Theo felt a chill bite through his Coat of Rake. He stood on a tower, overlooking a rollingndscape as though observing the world from a skyscraper. He looked down, feeling his stomach turn as he saw the distance to the ground below. The wind whipped with such fury, he couldn¡¯t hear what the others were saying¡ªif anything. Fenian was kind enough to take them down to street-level. One thing was clear, the city of Vesta was absolutely massive. The alchemist had never seen therger cities on Iaredin, but he couldn¡¯t imagine them being bigger than this. Even the city they were just shown wasn¡¯t this big.
¡°This is where it all happened,¡± Fenian said with a sigh. ¡°Where the guild was formed. Where we assembled. This is the ce where I cut my teeth as a trader and a duelist.¡±
¡°That¡¯s an oddbination of professions,¡± Theo said. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t have seed cores? How different was the system?¡±
¡°Very different,¡± Fenian said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why it changed so much with the most recent change, but it did. Even before then it was different. Everyone had to learn how the new system worked, and it was sometimes annoying. Compared to what we have now, it was fairly unforgiving. Lots of choices you could make that you couldn¡¯t unmake. I knew a man who had ess to some interesting traits, though. He soared above us all before long. Always unting his power¡ That¡¯s how I got so good at fighting. The constant sparring with him.¡±
Fenian had fallen back into his memories. His eyes seemed unfocused, locked on something in the middle-distance only he could see. After a long silence, tears pooled in the corners of his eyes and he did nothing to wipe them away.
¡°My wife made it through the war. She was a crafter like you, Theo,¡± Fenian said, taking a deep breath. It might have been the first time the alchemist saw him showing his genuine emotions. Or perhaps this was another mask. ¡°I thought once I had my revenge I could find her.¡±
¡°Find her?¡± Tresk asked, wincing as she tried to pull her goblin nature back. ¡°Sorry. Thought she died.¡±
¡°Is death the end?¡± Fenian asked with a shrug. ¡°Sometimes. But not always.¡±
¡°She wouldn¡¯tst long in the void,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Not after so much time.¡±
¡°But maybe,¡± Fenian said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve avenged her. Mostly. Maybe only my pride is left to avenge. Or maybe I can give it up and dedicate myself to finding her soul.¡±
¡°You won¡¯t want to hear it, but if she was left in the void¡¡± Theo trailed off.
¡°Then Death will have her,¡± Fenian said. ¡°Which means I need to cozy up to an enemy I¡¯ve sworn to kill. Well, he¡¯s unkible now, isn¡¯t he?¡±
Khahar got a look in his eyes.
¡°We can¡¯t kill a god,¡± Fenian said, narrowing his eyes at Khahar. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pretend like we can kill a god.¡±
¡°Gods can be dethroned,¡± Khahar said. ¡°Literally. They hold thrones just like us. ntheir passed the information on to me. Wanted me to fight Zaul for his spot as Shadow. He defeated the old Hallow without throwing a spell.¡±
¡°Old Franz Nosske,¡± Fenian said with a sad chuckle. ¡°Now there was a spineless man¡ So, you¡¯re serious.¡±
Khahar shrugged. ¡°I never wanted Kuzan on the Throne of Death. Perhaps they call it something different now. ntheir didn¡¯t say. But they have to fight to keep their spots. Just like us.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Theo said with a heavy sigh. For dramatic effect, he withdrew a sheet of parchment from his inventory. After touching a fountain pen to his tongue, he held the parchment at arm¡¯s length. ¡°Let me just add an item to my list here¡ kill¡ death¡ Yeah, that should be easy enough.¡±
¡°Oh, hell yeah!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°Finally! A n that involves me stabbing something!¡±
¡°The n doesn¡¯t involve you stabbing anything,¡± Theo said, shaking his head at the marshling.
¡°Actually¡¡± Khahar bit his lip, revealing his long canines. ¡°It might.¡±
6.74 - Just Chilling
Killing Death seemed like a goofy n. Theo wasn¡¯t onboard with it, but he wouldn¡¯t vote against it if the others wanted to go through with the n. The logistics of such a n were bad enough. If one were to consider the implications and how this might put them out with the gods, things got even worse. But as always, Khahar had a n that went too deep to have been thought up on the spot. The alchemist didn¡¯t believe Death was the target of this n originally, but it was a contingency. Then there was the vote of the gods he needed to bring along hisndmass.
The group met for a few hours on Fenian¡¯s new, which he had named Erradon¡ªalthough he wouldn¡¯t exin where he hade up with the name or why he settled on that one. Theo was happy to dismiss the god business. Thankfully, there were steps Khahar had to take to make the n work. After reassurances that nothing they were doing was against the rules, the alchemist departed, depositing the various groups where they wanted to go.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you make a with buildings already on it?¡± Theo asked as he and Tresknded back home. The ground rumbled as Alex took a few steps forward.
¡°I wanted a nk te,¡± Tresk said, wiping her hands through the air as though revealing some pristine vision.
All Theo could see was the endless swamp of her. But Broken Tusk had been built from the same concept. Why not an entire world for a swamp. Screw it. With the end of the world in sight, there was no one to tell them how to make theirs. Tero¡¯gal, Tol¡¯bak, Khahak, and Erradon were now four Throneworlds strong. Their position with the system was cemented. And they were nning to kill a god. Well, unseat one. But still.
¡°Should we get some food?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Maybe head over to the tavern for once?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Tresk said, nodding down the street. Both Sarisa and Rowan were approaching. They had seen Tresk and Theo appear as they lingered by the manor. ¡°Let¡¯s bring those chuckleheads along. Just gotta feed Alex first.¡±
Theo nodded, meeting up with Sarisa and Rowan. They looked slightly bored, but otherwise content with the current arrangement. ¡°Dinner?¡±
¡°If that means we don¡¯t need to cook,¡± Sarisa said, pping with excitement. ¡°Then, yes!¡±¡°Works for me,¡± Rowan said, rolling his shoulders.
¡°Is he still sleeping in the garden?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Sometimes. Depends on how sensitive he is,¡± Sarisa said, giving her brother a yful punch in the arm.
¡°Tresk visits me every single night if I use the baby version of the Dreamwalk,¡± Rowan said. He certainly looked tired.
After Tresk put Alex down in her stable for the night, the group headed for the Marsh Wolf Tavern. It was packed, as always. But Xam had done a few things to relieve the long wait times for tables. Leveling the building and creating expansions went a long way to help with that. Increasing the number of servers and even hiring another cook helped even more. It didn¡¯t help that traders enjoyed using the tavern while they were in town to have a nice bed to sleep in. That only increased how packed the ce was.
The group settled in at the private booth. Theo¡¯s eyes lingered on the small nesting box Xam had built for Alex. The goose-dragon wouldn¡¯t have a chance of fitting in there now. She wasn¡¯t likely to fit into any part of the building, and it was only getting worse. Before long, she wouldn¡¯t even fit in her own barn. A sad story, but that was the life of a dragon-goose.
Before long, a server came and set four tes on the table. It was a take on a Broken Tusk ssic. The standard wolf meat stew had been reduced down from thick broth to a goopy gravy. That was poured over straight, t noodles and garnished with green vegetation and shredded cheese. The entire pile was topped with a glob of white cream.
¡°Her dishes are getting moreplex,¡± Theo said, mixing the food before him. Tresk did the same. When it was all mixed up, he watched in horror as she¡ ate like a normal person. ¡°Are you okay?¡±
¡°Better than ever. Why?¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t tipped the entire te into your open gob,¡± Theo said. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t have a fever or something?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Tresk pped Theo¡¯s hand away as he went to press it against her forehead. ¡°Just trying some new things, ya know?¡±
¡°But why?¡±
Tresk shrugged. ¡°Alex is evolving, isn¡¯t she? Maybe I gotta evolve a little bit.¡±
¡°Just a bit though,¡± Sarisa said with a smile. ¡°We don¡¯t want you changing too much you little scamp.¡±
¡°I am pretty scampish, aren¡¯t I?¡± Tresk asked with a giggle.
¡°How about this n of ours?¡± Theo asked, trying not to grumble. It was hard. ¡°Think it¡¯ll work?¡±
¡°You saw Fenian¡¯s eyes when Khahar mentioned it, right? He even promised to drop his assassination n on Balkor¡¯s Shadow. That guy wants Kuzan dead like no one else on the.¡± Tresk let out a heavy sigh, forking a few more noodles and hunks of wolf meat. ¡°If we can direct his energy in a constructive way, we good.¡±
¡°Seems like a big change,¡± Rowan grumbled, eyes locked on Tresk.
¡°Our personalities bleed into each other,¡± Theo exined. ¡°Tresk constantly fights it, but sometimes she slips.¡±
¡°It goes both ways,¡± Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at Theo. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you go full marshling mode before.¡±
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¡°More like full goblin mode,¡± Sarisa muttered.
¡°Unseating Kuzan isn¡¯t going to be easy, though. The n is based on Khahar¡¯s silly theory. Who wouldn¡¯t want to be a god?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Theo said. ¡°We have our part to y, and we need to stick to it. I¡¯ve spread myself too thin in the past, and I¡¯m looking to correct that. We¡¯re all evolving.¡±
Theo didn¡¯t want to talk about their n much. Not because he was afraid someone would overhear. The Seal in ce between the heavens and the mortal world was firmly in ce. But he was serious about sticking to their roles. Too many times he had stretched himself over many projects, trying to be everything for everyone. If there was one thing he learned about his time in Broken Tusk, it was the importance of others. Even with his cheat powers, the town would crumble without the efforts of many people.
Dinner was nice. Theo was surprised with each bite Tresk took, showing her immense restraint. She was trying to calm herself down, taking things one step at a time rather than rushing through to her goal. Dinner gave way to light conversation and lingering footsteps toward the bathhouse. Instead of making their way straight to bed, the group instead went for a soak in the hot water. Lowering himself up to his nose, the alchemist watched as everyone rxed. With a few conversations springing up here and there, the group enjoyed the refreshing waters. Once everyone was too tired to soak, they went to bed for the night. Even Rowan slept inside, although Tresk giggled ominously before they retired.
###
Breakfast the next morning was normal. What came after wasn¡¯t. Tresk ran off like she normally did¡ªalthough the way she ate breakfast was anything but normal. She once again ate like a normal person. After vanishing for only a few minutes, she returned to catch up to Theo making his way from the manor to theb. Alexnded on the road, stomping along as they walked.
¡°So, what is this?¡± Theo asked, gesturing to Tresk.
¡°What?¡± Tresk asked, looking down at herself. ¡°Do I have goose crap on me?¡±
¡°No, you¡¯re justing along¡ For what?¡±
¡°Just hanging out,¡± Tresk answered, waving him away.
¡°Just chilling,¡± Alex added.
Theo nodded, although he couldn¡¯t sense either of their intentions. But it would only be a lie to himself if he said he didn¡¯t enjoy theirpany. Any time a member of the Tara¡¯hek was near, he felt a sense of calm. Even at a distance he could sense thatforting sensation, but when Tresk or Alex was near, the effect increased significantly. The alchemist could feel that she was hiding nothing. A genuine sense of wanting to be close to her soul bonded partner flooded through her, although she hid the source.
¡°So, what are you working on today?¡± Tresk asked.
Theo gestured to the equipment piled outside of the Newt and Demon, shaking his head. Throk never disappointed when it came to matters of whipping together artifices in such a short time. He suspected the artificer had repurposed some old stuff, but if it worked it worked. ¡°Looks like we have some new equipment to test. Looks like the door is unlocked, so I¡¯m gonna bet Salire is working on the new Reforge Mind potions.¡±
¡°Which means what?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Can I help?¡±
¡°You can run to the temple and check on how the resting space elf is doing,¡± Theo said. ¡°Once he¡¯s awake, we can work on the other guys.¡±
¡°I¡¯m on it, boss,¡± Tresk said, saluting and spinning on the spot. She dashed away, followed closely behind by Alex.
¡°Huh,¡± Theo said, entering theb as he watched the marshling depart. It was a strange but wee turn of events. The alchemist made his way up the stairs. ¡°Hey, Salire¡ Any progress?¡±
As expected, Salire was on the third floor working on some potions. From the aroma, Theo suspected she was working on the Reforge Mind potions. The ones she was working on smelled less offensive, holding almost a floral scent.
¡°Oh! I was just working on these,¡± Salire said, turning and holding a potion for Theo to see. ¡°All by myself like a big girl. I faked the third tier using the Suffuse Potion. As you suspected, we had a few issues to work out. Mana infusion did well to suppress our problem with low quality.¡±
¡°Excellent,¡± Theo said, holding the potion in his hand. He gave it a swirl, nodding with approval.
[Greater Reforge Mind]
[Potion]
Epic
Created by: Salire Hogrush
Purity: 90%
Imbibing this potion reforges a mortal¡¯s mind. The process is extremely painful, but all illness, damage, mental fatigue, etc are scoured clean.
¡°Look at that. An extremely important potion crafted by Salire Hogrush,¡± Theo said, holding it up to the light with a smile. ¡°90% and you didn¡¯t even break a sweat.¡±
Salire¡¯s cheeks went redder than they normally were. ¡°You did most of the work.¡±
Theo shrugged. Not really. If Salire wanted, she could do the entire process by herself. It would take a lot longer for her, though. Her mana control hade a long way, but it wasn¡¯t fine enough to get the quality needed to brew third tier potions. He would try not to lie to her about it, discouraging her away from practicing, but the alchemist suspected it would take years without cheats to get where she needed to be.
¡°Since you started, we¡¯ve alwaysid the groundwork together,¡± Theo said. ¡°I can¡¯t predict what Tero¡¯gal will want from us when we finally live there permanently. No idea if it lets me keep all my cheated attributes. So I want to make sure I¡¯m sharp on the skill-based portions of alchemy.¡±
¡°So, do you think the Greater Reforge Mind potion I crafted will work?¡± Salire asked.
Theo leaned over the table, looking at the potion. It seemed fine to him. A higher grade was good enough, but this one was also of a higher purity than the first one they made. Normally, when a potion jumped a tier it lost quality. The alchemist didn¡¯t have much data to back that up, but he observed it once so that¡¯s what he was going with.
¡°It should work. We know it¡¯ll work better than the other one we threw together, anyway.¡±
¡°Right. So, how many should I make? I¡¯ve already got about fifty of them, because¡ Well, they¡¯re hard to work with.¡± Salire looked slightly ashamed at that. ¡°Feels like I should have more.¡±
¡°Just do another run,¡± Theo said, thinking about the new equipment Throk had delivered. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can handle many space elves, anyway. There¡¯s no reason to be worried about only creating fifty of the strongest potions I¡¯ve ever seen. That¡¯s a lot of potions.¡±
Salire clicked her tongue. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. I need to stopparing our new output with our old output.¡±
¡°Especially with potions like this. When you have this many steps to go through, you have to ept some loss along the way. Speaking of, where did you lose most of the essence?¡±
¡°Some while distilling the essence itself, and some during the mixing process.¡±
Theo nodded. The reagents he provided her were infused with his mana, meaning they should have been almost perfect for the task. ¡°Well, we¡¯re still happy.¡±
Tresk burst through the door, skidding to a stop. ¡°Elf is awake!¡± she shouted. ¡°Gottae see the elf!¡±
Theo smiled at Salire. ¡°Guess we¡¯re going to see the elf. Perfect timing, Tresk.¡±
¡°I always have perfect timing.¡±
6.75 - Xolsa, Your Name is Sa
Sulvan¡¯s dungeon¡ªhospital¡ªwasn¡¯t any more invitingpared to thest time Theo had visited it. The ce was damp, dark, and far colder than it should have been. Ziz and his boys had done well to expand the space avable for patients. The alchemist still wouldn¡¯t question how they aplished the feat. It should have flooded from the swamp, or the groundwater deposited by the river. But it was only slightly damp, showing no sights of standing water. Magic or something.
Zarali, Bilgrob, and Sulvan were all standing at the end of the hall. They nodded as Theo approached, but had looks on their faces that said it wasn¡¯t all good news.
¡°How is he?¡± Theo said, approaching with Tresk and Salire close behind. Alex had wanted toe, but she didn¡¯t even fit inside the temple.
¡°Better than dead,¡± Bilgrob said. ¡°Tiny elf isn¡¯t dead, so we did a good job. Right?¡±
As simplistic and ogre-like as the statement was, he wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°Can I see him?¡±
¡°There¡¯s not much to see,¡± Salire said, smiling. ¡°But, yes. He¡¯s talking and he even drank some water.¡±
¡°Be gentle, Theo,¡± Sulvan said, dabbing his forehead. ¡°My Lord is concerned about this one.¡±
Theo nodded, poking his head into the door. The space elf was awake, taking shallow breaths as he stared at the ceiling. Theo was thankful he hadn¡¯t brought Xol¡¯sa along to see the elf¡¯s progress. He was alive, but that¡¯s all that could be said about him. The vacancy in his eyes was concerning.
¡°My name is Theo Spencer,¡± he said, approaching the bed¡¯s edge. ¡°I¡¯m an alchemist. Do you know where you are?¡±The elf sucked in shallow gasps, his gaze locked on the ceiling. Theo got closer, looking into the man¡¯s eyes as though to discern some message written on his irises. The slight vibrations of his pupils showed he was doing something. Perhaps freaking out thanks to his imprisonment in the chunk ofnd floating in the void. Tresk poked her head out from behind the alchemist, poking the man with a stick.
¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Theo said, wrapping his will around himself, Tresk, and the elf.
The moment the bubble of Shadow¡¯s magic encased the group, the elf¡¯s breathing grew steady. By the time they appeared in the void, his eyes were searching around.
¡°He¡¯s a void junky,¡± Theo said, shaking his head. The elf rested on the bottom of the bubble, looking around and wing at nothing. ¡°Perhaps we need to reforge their bodies¡¡±
¡°Maybe. Can you wean him off of his void addiction?¡± Tresk asked, being helpful for once.
¡°That could work. I want some answers first. Can you hear me?¡± Theo snapped his fingers in the air, gaining the elf¡¯s attention. ¡°My name is Theo Spencer. What¡¯s yours?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t remember,¡± the man said, his voice sounding as though it wed at his throat.
¡°Your people moved a chunk ofnd into the void. You tried to power it with the Great Shards, but the power faded. The protective bubble copsed and your race was driven insane.¡± Theo let those words hang in the air. Yeah, he was slightly bitter about what the elves had done. But this wasn¡¯t the first time he cleaned up someone else¡¯s mess. And it wouldn¡¯t be thest. ¡°Do you remember?¡±
¡°Water.¡±
Tresk produced a skin of watered wine from the shared inventory, handing it over. The man drank deeply, draining the entire skin beforeing up for air. He gasped, wine dribbling down his chin and onto his ¡®hospital¡¯ clothes. Leaning forward, the elf rubbed his temples and muttered something.
¡°The Pilgrimage wasn¡¯t the will of the Bara¡¯their,¡± the elf said. ¡°Just the insane n of one.¡±
¡°Who?¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. They¡¯re dead.¡±
¡°Oh, spicy,¡± Tresk said.
The elf gained more of himself by the moment. The watered wine did a lot to bring him back. Or perhaps it was the void. Theo couldn¡¯t say, but he wouldn¡¯tin. ????¦¯???s?
¡°Of course, most of us expected it to go wrong. When it did, he was executed. But there was no way to return. The void itself seeped into us, sending one person after the other inside. Our prayers to the ascendants faltered before they traveled through the void. We were lost.¡±
¡°You sent one of your children to the mortal world,¡± Theo said. ¡°Do you remember that.¡±
¡°Yes. We attempted to send people many times. It only worked for the children who hadn¡¯t been corrupted by the void. Did any make it?¡±
¡°We know of one. His name is Xol¡¯sa, and he is an aplished wizard.¡±
A sh of pride raced across the elf¡¯s face. ¡°Aplished? Interesting.¡±
¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re still tied to the void. We¡¯ve cured your insanity, but that doesn¡¯t help your current state.¡±
The elf looked around, gritting his teeth. ¡°You can travel freely through the void?¡±
¡°I can,¡± Theo confirmed. ¡°This is a very recent development, though. What year did your people leave the mortal world?¡±
¡°Around 10,000.¡±
¡°Wow. We¡¯re almost at 60,¡± Tresk said.
¡°That long?¡± the elf asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°And the rest of my people?¡±
¡°They¡¯re all fine,¡± Theo said. ¡°Each needs to endure the process you just went through. And we need to find a cure for this void sickness.¡±
Theo paused, waiting for Void to appear out of nowhere. But he didn¡¯t. The gods had truly sealed themselves away. It was up to mortal hands to figure out how to make this happen.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
¡°Bringing you back to the mortal ce isn¡¯t a good idea,¡± Tresk said. ¡°And we¡¯d break some rules bringing you to the ascendant worlds¡¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what those are.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it for now,¡± Theo said. ¡°We need to focus on you. Figuring out the mechanism that¡¯s making you get sick. I can¡¯t stay in the void forever.¡±
¡°Bring me back to the mortal world. I want to see what will happen,¡± the elf said.
With a shrug, Theo angled them back to Iaredin. An instantter, they were standing back in that room. The healers were muttering to themselves outside of the room, turning when they group reappeared. When the alchemist let his bubble drop, the elf sagged but didn¡¯t pass out.
¡°Did you take him to the gods?¡± Zarali asked.
¡°Just into the void.¡± Theo gave the elf a good look, determining if he was fit to stand on his own. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how long he canst down here.¡±
¡°Not long,¡± the elf said, taking a seat on the bed. ¡°I can feel the void energy leaving my soul.¡±
Theo exchanged a concerned look with Tresk. She picked up on it as well as he did. ¡°I¡¯m not a healer, but I think I know what¡¯s going on.¡±
¡°Your soul is messed up,¡± Tresk continued. ¡°We saw the same thing with Xol¡¯sa.¡±
¡°Xol¡¯sa?¡± the elf asked, his eyes brightening. ¡°I recognize that name¡¡±
¡°Do you remember your name?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Tag¡¯Kn. Kn for short. I remember the other mortals having trouble with our names. We normally use the second part,¡± the elf said.
¡°Nice to meet you, Kn,¡± Theo said. ¡°And now, you¡¯ll go back into a deep slumber.¡±
¡°What? Why?¡± Kn asked.
¡°Your soul is corrupted,¡± Tresk said with a shrug. ¡°Messed up bad enough that the local system doesn¡¯t know what to do with you. The only fix is a Reforge Soul potion.¡±
¡°Which are not in good supply,¡± Theo said. ¡°I think we have a few left over, but the flower needed to make them is difficult to find.¡±
Kn sighed, falling back onto the bed. ¡°Can you save them, alchemist? My people, that is.¡±
¡°Just because something is hard, doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t do it. We¡¯re already producing as many of the Reforge Mind potions as we can. Next up are the Reforge Soul Potions. We¡¯ll make it happen.¡± Theo ced aforting hand on the man¡¯s shoulder before withdrawing a potion from his inventory. The alchemist loved nothing more than keeping a massive stock of potions ready at all times. Seeing this one go was painful, but there was no option. ¡°Drink up.¡±
¡°You¡¯re putting him to sleep again?¡± Zarali asked, poking her head through the threshold.
¡°I wanted to pretend like this wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But Xol¡¯sa had the same issue. We already have a history of soul corruption with the Bara¡¯their¡¡±
Once the vial was empty, Kn passed out again. Theo clicked his tongue, disappointed there wasn¡¯t a quick fix to his problem.
¡°I guess that¡¯s done,¡± Sulvan said with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best to make sure he stays alive.¡±
¡°Why not? I¡¯m growing to love this dungeon,¡± Bilgrob said.
¡°This is an infirmary. Not a dungeon,¡± Sulvan corrected.
¡°Could¡¯ve fooled me.¡±
Theo jerked his head. Tresk came following him as he left the room. There was a lot to think about, and even more nning. They found Salire at the end of the hall.
¡°You didn¡¯t want to see him?¡± Theo asked, pulling her along as he passed.
¡°This ce is creepy. Would it kill them to add some lighting?¡±
Theo tried not tough. He exined the situation. They needed to search for an alternative to the Soul Bloom. Anything that had the Soul property would work, but they currently had no alternatives to the hidden property on spirit nts. The problem with the Soul Bloom itself was that it only bloomed when the shifting moon, Telbaris, was in its green phase. With eight phases, that meant they only had a shot at it once every eight days. Even then, the things were hard to find.
¡°We should go through our stock, and buy any reagents offered by the merchants,¡± Theo said. ¡°Do you know how many more Reforge Soul potions we have at theb?¡±
¡°One,¡± Salire answered. ¡°And we need¡ a few hundred?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Theo said.
¡°I¡¯ll head south right away,¡± Tresk offered. ¡°Maybe I can find something in the lizard inds.¡±
¡°Sarisa? Rowan?¡± Theo asked. The pair appeared immediately. ¡°I want you to head to the caves. Grab anything that looks like a reagent and bring it back. I told the golems to obey yourmands, so you can push them out if you need to go deeper.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± the brother-sister duo said with salutes. They rushed off.
Alex flew in,nding roughly on the ground. Tresk winked as she ascended onto the familiar¡¯s back before taking off. Theo couldn¡¯t stop the smile from spreading across his face. Broken Tuskers were good at jumping to action when something needed to be done. That¡¯s what he loved about them. They would drop everything when someone needed help. They didn¡¯t need a reason or an overwrought exnation. Just point them in a direction, give them a hammer, and they would go to work.
¡°Tear theb apart,¡± Theo said. ¡°Time to learn how to deconstruct reagents.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Salire said, straightening up. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±
Theo watched as the woman headed off. He turned his eyes to the sky, thinking about what he had to do. As much as he hated seeing the elves in the void, he had a suspicion. That would be some irony, wouldn¡¯t it?
The alchemist headed to the town square, watching as people passed by, nodding as they went. He had neglected the town¡¯s level for a while. Perhaps there would be time to do a sweep of upgrades after he sorted out the space elf problem. For now, he passed through Xol¡¯sa¡¯s portal. Since Zarali wasn¡¯t there, he didn¡¯t tip-toe as he ascended the steps. As expected, the wizard was studying one of the many devices he was working on.
¡°Good news and bad news,¡± Theo said.
Xol¡¯sa turned, raising a brow.
¡°I should¡¯ve told you. But time was limited. The man we brought back woke. Then he almost died, so I had to put him back under.¡± Theo waited for some amount of anger. But it didn¡¯te.
¡°Understandable,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, nodding to himself. ¡°Did he speak?¡±
¡°Briefly. His name is Tag¡¯Kn. But he didn¡¯t tell us what he did for the space elves. Apparently, your name is supposed to be Sa,¡± Theo said.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°You take thest part of your name is your nickname.¡± Theo shrugged. He thought that would make the news easier to process.
¡°You had to use a Reforge Soul Potion, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked with abored sigh. ¡°That makes the most sense. That also means you need something from me, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°I sent everyone off to find a reagent with the Soul property, but I had an idea,¡± Theo said. ¡°A pretty bad idea, actually. Well, perhaps you could call it cruel, rather than bad¡¡±
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Imagine the reagent we need is with the elves. That¡¯s a cruel sense of irony if ever I¡¯ve heard it.¡±
¡°Are you confident you¡¯ll find anything of use?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
¡°Nope. Just a feeling.¡±
Xol¡¯sa nodded, pushing away from his table and standing. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I must. What do you need me for?¡±
¡°Restraining the elves. I can beat them up, but that seems cruel. It might also be a chance for you to set eyes on the shards.¡±
¡°I do hate traveling through the void,¡± Xol¡¯sa said with a sigh. ¡°But if it needs to be done.¡±
The bit ofnd floating in the void was an area untouched by the gods and the ascendants. Theo saw it as an untamed wilderness. He could bring anyone he wanted to that ce, although he was uncertain why he would want to. Aside from potential reagents, it only contained the shards and the insane elves. Well, the forests were beautiful, but one didn¡¯t have to travel far in the Soutnds Region to find a forest.
Theo expanded his aura, epassing Xol¡¯sa. ¡°Ready?¡±
¡°No. Let¡¯s go anyway. I¡¯d rather get it over with quickly.¡±
6.76 - Foreign Reagents
Theo could have brought anyone to the floating ind of the elves. But he had selected Xol¡¯sa for a few reasons. The first was that he was an excellent mage, and mages were great at restraining people with magical chains and all that. The second reason was his study of the shards. Xol¡¯sa needed a better understanding of how they functioned if he was going to make a tether that dragged them through the void. Theo couldn¡¯t tell if that was selfish on his part, or on the part of Xol¡¯sa. But he understood why he would want to avoid a ce like this.
Unpleasant memories and all that.
Theo and Xol¡¯sa sailed through the void, finding themselves in the far void before long. The tiny dot appeared shortly after, soon bing the image of a floating ind set against the endless ckness of the void. The alchemist steered them to the one safe spot near the ziggurat, taking them in and lending them on the steps. Elves scattered from the area, rushing off into the forest or freezing near the treeline.
¡°That never gets old, does it?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked with a sigh. ¡°Why do they have to be so creepy?¡±
Both Theo and Xol¡¯sa turned to look at the shard stored in the structure. These objects were meant to be glowing blue, hovering in the air and providing some unseen power source.
¡°Allow me some time to study the shard,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°I could use some more information for my notes.¡±
Theo nodded, finding his way to the steps of the structure. He sat down, sending his aura nketing over the area. Some effect of the voidden area dulled his magical senses. He leaned so heavily on Shadow¡¯s power for that effect that he couldn¡¯t tell if it was a matter of being out of range, or his own ineptitude. But he got some sense that there were magical objects around here. Small blips appeared in his mind, standing out against the endless background of ck. He also felt those elves, festering with void energy that mingled with the nar energy he was used to feeling from Xol¡¯sa.
¡°The more I study these shards, the less I know,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, pping the side of the dim crystal. ¡°They¡¯re massive lodestones, but their function is unknown to me. As is the mechanism they use to draw power.¡±
¡°Is that a problem?¡±Xol¡¯sa summoned mana to his hand. The shard reacted, glowing slightly as it sensed a source of mana nearby. ¡°Only if you value your life. I¡¯ll need to run experiments to see how the shards will react when we¡¯re pulling them through the void.¡±
¡°I value my life. Take as much time as you need,¡± Theo said.
¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Xol¡¯sa said with a smile. ¡°Would you mind if I took some more readings before we got to work on finding the reagents?¡±
¡°Take your time. I¡¯ll just sit here and make sure no elves sneak up on us.¡±
Xol¡¯sa turned back to his work, leaving Theo to watch the approach. The elves mostly stuck to the area around the trees, standing motionless for the most part. An elf would move across the expanse between the forest and the steps, but retreated when the alchemist tossed some rocks at them. At least that was enough to keep them at bay. Their minds had been broken by the void, but he was happy to know there was enough of them left to heal everyone.
If the n to reforge their souls didn¡¯t work, Theo would petition the gods for help. He knew Hallow would vote for him, but was unsure about the others. Death would vote against it, but whatever. Kuzan was a jerk and everyone knew it. Shadow might vote in his favor, but it was impossible to know with that guy. Even when he was Zaul, he had a reputation for being insane. Even considering that reputation, his schrly cult was one of the most prolific in the world. So that had to count for something. The others were unknown to him. They might vote either way.
¡°You know more than most about enchanting objects with magic,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, breaking Theo out of his thoughts.
¡°Not as much as someone like Zarali, but yeah.¡±
¡°When an item you¡¯ve enchanted runs out of mana, what normally happens?¡±
Theo had to think back. Perhaps it was just his form of warding¡ªwhich might have been considered enchanting¡ªbut his stuff normally exploded. ¡°Depends on the quality of the material. It usually crumbles or explodes, though.¡± ??
¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re talking about direct enchantments, by the way. Not enchantments that enhance the performance of something like Zarali does. No, these shards are something else entirely. Lodestones, like I said. But my theory is that they draw a type of dimensional energy that we¡¯re not normally aware of.¡±
¡°If the energy can permeate between dimensions, why aren¡¯t they powered here?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve paid more attention to my instruction than I thought.¡± Xol¡¯sa turned, smiling at Theo. ¡°I think this is the energy of the system itself. A kind of background energy. It wouldn¡¯t paint the entire realm with the energy, right? It would select where to do so. The mortal realms and the heavens. Maybe.¡±
It was as good of a theory as any, but it didn¡¯t help them get the shards out from the void ind. ¡°Where does this get us?¡±
¡°Oh. As long as we contain the energy of my tethers, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem. I mean, have you tried to move these things without the tethers?¡± Xol¡¯sa asked.
Without further prompting, Theo expanded his will around the shard. When he tugged, it wouldn¡¯t move. The size of the shard was enough to give him pause, but it was more than the physical size of it. Instead, it had a conceptual size greater than anything he could think of. It wouldn¡¯t move even if he had enough willpower to handle both the physical and metaphysical size. Only Xol¡¯sa¡¯s relocation tethers would work.
¡°Nope. This bad boy ain¡¯t going nowhere.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Xol¡¯sa pushed away from the shard. He nodded in contentment. ¡°I think I have enough information to finish the tethers off. Now we can sort out your problem.¡±
¡°Right. They¡¯re gathering¡ Why do they gather like that?¡± Theo asked.
¡°They may be drawn to the energy our souls emit. Or something¡¡±
¡°Just have some restraining spell ready.¡± Theo started his way down therge stairs. He made note of the elves he could see, watching as they moved in his future sight.
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Now it was only a matter of scouring the entire ind for reagents. Vegetation grew normally, feeding off some imagined sun in the sky. Water flowed to feed those nts, emitting from a magically driven spring somewhere deep in that jungle. But the nts growing here were a confusing mix. Palms, oaks, conifers¡ There was logic near the ziggurat, holding mostly tropical nts, but that logic fell away the further one got from that area. Theo led the way through the tangle, stopping after pressing into a clearing.
¡°I recognize that,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, gesturing forward. ¡°Something-or-other stems. That¡¯s a reagent.¡±
Theo relied on his cores to find the best way to cut the nt from the ground, hoisting the [Kalsen Stems]. ¡°Common reagent,¡± he said, stuffing the item into his inventory. ¡°How did you recognize it?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen them sold in the nortnds. I think they have healing properties.¡± A sh of excitement yed across Xol¡¯sa¡¯s face. ¡°Is it usable?¡±
Theo noded. ¡°The system recognizes this as a reagent, so we can use it. There are no rules against harvesting stuff from the void, so we can take as much as we want.¡±
¡°Excellent. Well, if my sense for reagents is better than yours we better get going.¡± Xol¡¯sa pped Theo on the back,ughing to himself.
¡°Just let me do the harvesting. No need to invite weird interactions thanks to the void energy¡¡±
Searching the area was easy enough. Since Theo could see the future, he forestalled any attacks by the elves. As expected, Xol¡¯sa¡¯s spells were perfect to retrain without killing them. If the goal was to save the entire race of elves, there would be no point in purging the ce. Each was weak enough that it wouldn¡¯t cause them many problems.
Scattered around the wooded areas of the ind were interesting reagents. Mushrooms, flowering nts, useful tubers, and mosses grew everywhere. With his Tero¡¯gal Herbalist Core, he could feel that each was touched by a bit of the void. But instead of being corrupted by the void, they had taken that power in and used it to cultivate. A few hours of harvesting the wild reagents, and the alchemist had enough work to keep him busy for a while. Without testing the properties of the reagents, he couldn¡¯t say if they were worth transnting.
¡°I¡¯m growing tired of restraining my people,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°Let¡¯s leave.¡±
¡°Not to mention the void poisoning¡¡±
¡°The what?¡±
¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± Theo said, wrapping his shadow and will around himself and Xol¡¯sa. ¡°I hope you got enough information to finish this project.¡±
Xol¡¯sa stumbled as they fell into the void. ¡°Yes, I hope so, too.¡±
There were a lot of reagents to go over, so Theo angled them back to the mortal world. It had already been a busy day. With the elf waking up, Theo¡¯s mind was now focused on handling the elf problem exclusively. He was proud of himself for working so hard to learn how Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy worked. Things always got busy like this, so he was d to be in a position to handle it.
¡°There we are,¡± Theo said,nding them back in the tower back in Broken Tusk.
¡°I¡¯ll get back to the devices. Won¡¯t be long now!¡± Xol¡¯sa said, scampering off to run his hands over the tethers. Theo wouldn¡¯t pretend to know what he was looking out. Magical gizmos all seemed the same.
A quick check with Tresk revealed that she was almost at the lizard inds. Theo assumed everyone else was doing their thing, so he headed for theb. Of the reagents he collected, he had little faith. But these things were worth checking, just in case some properties were useful for other things. Another source of Suffuse wouldn¡¯t be unwee. Especially since he would rather use the Karatan Cheese to top his food, rather than tossing it into a still and boiling it up.
¡°First up,¡± Theo said, withdrawing one of the two samples of Kalsen Stems he had collected. ¡°Delicious stems.¡±
With Salire nowhere to be found, he got to work on deconstructing the stems. He watched as the fibrous stems went up in smoke. After turning on the extractor fan, he waited for the smoke to clear before inspecting the resulting properties.
[Kalsen Stems]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Common
The stem of a short-lived nt known for its healing properties.
Properties:
[Healing] [Regeneration] [Reveal] [Supple]
The properties were weird on the back half, but it fell in line with what he expected from something like the Spiny Swamp Thistle Root. It wouldn¡¯t be worth cultivating this nt, since he could get the other properties with ease. If he used Supple more often, it might be worth it. But since others were willing to collect the Swamplight Spider Silk, he wouldn¡¯t invest too much into this one.
Theo worked with another nt called Dongra Blooms. The flowers were blue and vibrant, but held almost no scent. Before even deconstructing the reagent, he could feel a strange mixture of mana and poison flowing through the flower. While he was concerned about what this flower would produce, he inspected it anyway.
[Dongra Blooms]
[Alchemy Ingredient]
Umon
A vibrant blue flower, notable for its beauty.
Properties:
[Poison] [Mana Recovery] [Devour] [Pitch]
¡°Pitch?¡± Theo asked, pushing the pile of ash along the table with his knife. ¡°As in¡ to throw, or what?¡±
Shrugging, Theo moved on to the next reagent. He went through quite a few before he found the next interesting one. The one thing he observed was that the reagents didn¡¯t hold as much void energy as he had expected. When they brought the space elf back, the void energy stored in his soul escaped, causing all kinds of problems with the dungeons. But the reagents had done something to absorb and process that magic, rendering it harmless. That didn¡¯t mean the reagents he brought back were useful, though.
¡°Having trouble?¡± Salire asked, stifling augh as she entered theb.
¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think any of these reagents are going to work for us.¡±
¡°Did you at least find something interesting?¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Not interesting enough to dedicate the effort required to cultivate these things. I found a few variants to things we already have. And I like the idea that the stuff we have is local, rather than imported.¡±
¡°Except the Earth-based wheat,¡± Salire quipped.
¡°Well, that¡¯s for food purposes. Doesn¡¯t count.¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°How about you? Have you found anything interesting?¡±
¡°Nope. Not in the few hours you¡¯ve been gone. How did things go on the space elf ind?¡±
¡°Very well. I mean, we found a bunch of reagents. But none were useful for the job. More importantly, it gave Xol¡¯sa a chance to get some magical readings on the shards. I saw that look in his eye. He¡¯ll be done with the gear in a few days.¡±
¡°Ah, I know the look you¡¯re talking about,¡± Salire said with a wink. ¡°That same look Throk gets, right? Slightly annoyed but a little smug?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the one.¡±
¡°I¡¯m guessing this job is more important for now. We¡¯ll have to shelve some of the equipment we need to test.¡±
Hoping that something might happen with the various feelers he had put out wasn¡¯t a great idea. But if all the locations he had ess to didn¡¯t have what he was looking for, they would need to do it the old-fashioned way. Waiting for the green moon and snatching as many Soul Blooms from the swamp as possible. But as a sense of smug confidence came washing in from Tresk, he knew something had moved on her end. It didn¡¯t take long for her to send a gloating message through their telepathic link.
¡°Guess who just solved all your problems?¡± Tresk asked.
Theo then felt a lingering sense of¡ guilt? No, she was doing sneaky thief stuff.
¡°Did you just steal a bunch of flowers?¡± Theo asked.
¡°No. Maybe. Yes.¡±
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6.77 - Fenian Needs More Potions
Waiting for Tresk to return from the lizard inds was more painful than sending her off. Theo should have known she would get up to no good. But as he stood on the streets of Broken Tusk, his eyes turned to the sky as he tracked her progress, he wondered if he would have asked her to do anything differently. Viewing her memories, he watched as she attempted to negotiate with the lizard people. The people of Saetalein Ya¡¯ax weren¡¯t open to negotiations. Without the influence of gods or ascendants, they had cultivated some powerful reagent farms. Farms they weren¡¯t willing to share.
Sprawling greenhouses dotted thendscape of the lush inds. Including greenhouses that could mimic the phase of the moon. While Theo wasn¡¯t aware of any upgrade that would help this happen, it was possible he could use mundane greenhouses infused with Tero¡¯gal¡¯s power to dedicate to the Soul Bloom. For now that didn¡¯t matter. A marshling rode a dragon-goose, a bag filled with the necessary flowers tucked away in her local dimensional storage. She refused to allow him to see the ¡®goods¡¯ before she returned.
¡°I¡¯m not trying to y politics here,¡± Salire said, rubbing her hands together nervously. ¡°But isn¡¯t this going to be a problem?¡±
¡°I imagine we¡¯re looking at a massive problem, Salire. Our diplomatic rtions with the lizard-folk is rocky to start. Tresk will kick off an incident with this.¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s lovely. Because we need another incident.¡±
¡°I would¡¯ve done the same thing, though. Time isn¡¯t on our side.¡±
Theo sensed a disturbance in the air behind him. He narrowed his gaze, turning to sense a familiar energy radiating from the center of the road. A line appeared in the air, dragging itself from top to bottom until pooling shadows spilled out. A momentter, the gap widened. After a few breaths, a carriage drawn by demonically infused karatan burst forth. Hooves scraped against the cobbles, sending sparks into the air as Galflower did her best to bring the cart to a stop.
¡°I need some potions!¡± Fenian shouted from atop the carriage.
¡°He really just does the one thing,¡± Theo said, releasing a sigh. Tresk was still quite distant from the town. It would take her a while to get back. ¡°What are you looking for, Fenian? Thought you swore off hunting everyone down.¡±¡°Well, yes¡ But this will help our scheme!¡± Fenian shouted, jumping from the carriage. Hended with grace before Theo and Salire, a wide smile painting his face. ¡°I¡¯ll gather three allies for our plot. Powerful people who want nothing more than to see Kuzan dethroned.¡±
¡°Might not be the best idea to say that out loud.¡± Theo shook his head. The gods could hear what they were saying¡ he thought. It was hard to say after thetest seal went into ce. After a moment, he sighed as dramatically as possible. ¡°What do you need?¡±
¡°A decent list of things, actually,¡± Fenian said. ¡°And I might destroy something important¡ Do you have a potion that can destroy metaphysical things?¡±
Theo produced a Dragon¡¯s Breath Potion from his inventory, holding it out without looking Fenian in the eyes. It was the same potion he had nned to use on the elf during their duel. ¡°Anything else?¡±
¡°A return potion, something with slowfall, Dexterity, health potions¡ Hmmm, do you have anything that makes a person fly? Oh, and something with future sight.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Salire asked, scoffing. ¡°What are you doing, storming the pce in Tarantham.¡±
¡°Yes, how did you know?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°Seriously?¡± Theo asked. ¡°How many times have you kicked that hive? Is there much left to kick?¡±
¡°Stop being such a bura in heat.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t get the idiom.¡±
¡°Stubborn,¡± Fenian rified. ¡°Oh, fine. I know you¡¯re going to ost me until I tell you my n. I¡¯ve been looking for someone¡ªnot my wife, I know where she is¡ªfor a long time. Thought he was in the queue, but I have some more information. Also, I know where Jan and Twist went and about when they¡¯ll arrive.¡±
¡°Kuzan is holding this person?¡± Theo asked. Fenian¡¯s ns had be transparent now that he wasn¡¯t hiding the important details. ¡°And you think Jan and Twist will join the cause?¡±
¡°Oh, yes. Once they learn what happened. Back in the old world, something very simr happened. A leader assumed the position of Death, betraying the trust of us all. They¡¯re still as sore about it as I am.¡±
¡°Sure. Why the hell not?¡± Theo asked. ¡°We¡¯re not killing a bunch of people, are we?¡±
¡°Ah. I have a secret weapon,¡± Fenian said with a wink. ¡°I¡¯ve been saving it since I got here. Under the notice of anyone. Stealthy and all that.¡±
¡°Salire, could you fetch his junk?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Bring a few bombs for good measure. You never know when you¡¯re going to need to blow something up.¡±
¡°Really? That easy?¡± Fenian asked, confusion washed over his face. He withdrew a sack of gold coins from his inventory. ¡°I was going to dangle this for a while. Listen to the sound of all those coins ttering.¡±
¡°I mean¡ Do you have anything I need? Greenhouse Seed Cores, high-level Monster Cores. Food?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We can work something out,¡± Fenian said, watching as Salire scampered off. ¡°Seriously, Theo. This is going to be important. Myst attack on Tarantham was in search of this man. But I remembered something he said back in the day.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°He was the Guardian of the Shards back then. I was thinking about how much Kuzan enjoyed his irony. What better ce to keep your enemy?¡±
Theo wasn¡¯t so sure about that. He was at a point where he had conflicting information about where this guy was. Some people said he was in the queue, some thought he was on the mortal ne. Perhaps he was in both at the same time or some nonsense like that. But it hardly mattered. Fenian was like a dog with a bone. There was no reason to keep him from trying to do something like this. A nice jailbreak might help get his mind off of things.
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Some people responded to stress by turning inward. People like Fenian reached out, trying to change their environment to remove that stress. If storming Tarantham made him feel better, then why not? There was nothing like an outlet to get rid of the jitters.
¡°Sounds like a solid n,¡± Theo said.
¡°Really?¡± Fenian asked. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you want to fight about it?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to fight, no. I want you to keep busy. So, you can have these potions. But could you help with the food situation? Perhaps even with some ferrying duties?¡±
¡°After I check this off my list, I have little else going on.¡± Fenian shrugged, his vision going glossy as he thought. ¡°Yes, I suppose we have an arrangement. Oh, excellent. The beautiful woman with my potions.¡±
Salire blushed slightly as she handed over the potions. She had gathered from Theo¡¯s stock of dangerous potions, along with the useful ones.
¡°I hope these are okay,¡± Salire said.
¡°Those are fine,¡± Theo said. ¡°Oh, can I call on you if I need help with the lizard-folk?¡±
¡°Why? What¡¯s going on with the lizards?¡± Fenian asked.
¡°Tresk just stole some very rare reagents from them. I don¡¯t think they have much of an army, but you know.¡±
¡°Oh, I know all too well. You¡¯ll have a pile of gold or my sword when the timees. Whichever the lizards prefer.¡±
For all Fenian¡¯s ws, this was the reason Theo had stuck with him for so long. Things could get messy, especially in a world that needed to be restarted. It wasn¡¯t something he liked to consider, but force was sometimes the only way forward.
¡°Unless you need anything else, that should be it,¡± Theo said.
¡°Thank you, my dear alchemist. You¡¯ve been the best investment I¡¯ve ever made.¡±
Without giving an overly long farewell, Fenian turned away and mounted his carriage. He clicked his tongue, turning it around and heading back through the Bridge. Tresk was heading in hot, pushing Alex as quickly as she would go.
¡°That elf is dangerous, isn¡¯t he?¡± Salire asked.
¡°I¡¯m not sure ¡®dangerous¡¯ is the right word so much as catastrophic. He¡¯s a messy thing caught between two worlds. When he generated his Throneworld, he made it look exactly like Iaredin before it had changed. I think he just wants his old home back.¡±
¡°That¡¯s sad.¡±
Theo shrugged. He couldn¡¯t remember a time where his world had stayed the same for too long. The constant change of his life had hardened him against such things. Until he arrived in Broken Tusk. Now he was doing everything he could to preserve what was here. Bringing everyone to Tero¡¯gal was easy. Almost effortless. But taking thendmass and the buildings added a level of unneededplexity. But he couldn¡¯t do it any other way. Each stone set in the cobblestone road was more like an old friend than anything he remembered from Earth. He¡¯d do anything to preserve it, and that seemed selfish.
¡°Nostalgia isn¡¯t always sad. We put these things around ourselves to bring back a sense of how things were. Not because those things were there. But because those things remind us of a different time.¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting too deep for me,¡± Salire said. ¡°This is why you¡¯re not allowed to sit still for too long.¡±
Theo nodded in agreement. She was right. But soon a dark shape appeared in the sky overhead. Had Tresk been feeding Alex more bones than normal? Her progress between dragon and goose had increased its pace. She was now more dragon than goose, although she kept most of the feathers there wererge spots where he could only see scales. The horns on her head had elongated, twisting to appear like that of a ram¡¯s. Her webbed feet were gone, reced with wed hands. The tail was nothing new, but it had gained a few sharp barbs on the end.
¡°More dragon than goose,¡± Theo said, watching as Alexnded on all four of her limbs. She swiped her tail from side-to-side, puffing out a breath of fire.
¡°We robbed them!¡± Alex shouted into his mind. ¡°Robbed them blind!¡±
¡°We tried to negotiate,¡± Tresk said, withdrawing the bag from her dimensional space. Theo checked the contents quickly before cing it in his inventory. Without the power of the green moon they would fade quickly. ¡°But those guys are weird.¡±
¡°Did they see you stealing the blooms?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Should I reposition some guns?¡±
¡°Did they see me?¡± Tresk said,ughing. ¡°Come on. Do you know who you¡¯re talking to?¡±
Theo didn¡¯t respond. He just red at her for a while until she broke.
¡°Okay, one guy might have seen me. But he looked like he was near-sighted. And I¡¯m super fast.¡±
Theo nodded, opening his administration interface. He put a note for Zan¡¯kir to reposition some guns to the bay¡¯s approach. After that he re-tasked the tiny navy to patrol further south, along the coastline. It would give them all sometime to do, and it cost them nothing to prepare.
¡°Anything else of note happen?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Tresk said with a shrug. ¡°I told them about the end of the world and they imed to already know. While I doubt they¡¯ll ept my invitation, I asked if they wanted to join the party.¡±
¡°Was that before or after you stole their stuff?¡±
¡°Before,¡± Tresk said with an eager nod. ¡°You always gotta ask nicely before you do crimes.¡±
¡°Salire, we should process these immediately,¡± Theo said, ignoring the eager lizard. ¡°How much space do we have?¡±
¡°Enough if you want to do a full run. We have stock of the Suffuse Potion and Burning Regeneration, so that¡¯ll save some time.¡±
Theo sped a hand on Salire¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s some incredibly forward-thinking.¡±
More blush spread across her cheeks. ¡°Thanks.¡±
¡°Theo and Salire, sitting in a tree¡¡± Tresk sang, dancing around. ¡°How does the rest go?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not telling you,¡± Theo said, locking the rhyme away in his mind. ¡°A man can give his apprentice apliment without it turning romantic, Tresk.¡±
¡°Yes. You¡¯re married to me, anyway.¡±
Theo tapped his chin, his tail whipping through the air. ¡°Hmmm. That¡¯s more like getting married to yourself. Or rather,bining yourself with another person and marrying the result.¡±
¡°Either option is weird,¡± Tresk shrugged.
¡°Do you have any romantic inclinations?¡± Salire asked.
Theo grabbed for the locket at his neck, finding only the old amulet given to him long ago.
¡°He thinks he¡¯s still married to his dead wife.¡±
¡°Tresk!¡± Salire shouted, looking aghast. ¡°You can¡¯t say stuff like that.¡±
¡°What? Just because he won¡¯t say it doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t. He had trouble dating back on Earth as it was. Hard to find someone you like when the world is falling apart. Then he ¡®retired¡¯ and met thisdy. What was her name?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not telling you,¡± Theo said, folding his arms.
¡°Anyway, he swore it off after that. Said he¡¯d be married forever, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Tresk let out a sigh. ¡°What a tragic story.¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Theo said. ¡°That¡¯s just the way things worked on Earth. I was lucky to have anything, seeing as our poption had dipped to dangerous levels by the end. Anyone who made it to the sun exploding was lucky in my book.¡±
¡°Yeah, but we ain¡¯t gonna let that happen here, right?¡± Tresk asked, making a fist and pumping it. ¡°Lemme get a ¡®hell yeah!¡¯¡±
¡°Hell yeah!¡± Salire shouted impulsively.
¡°Hell yeah,¡± Theo said with far less enthusiasm.
¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re cool. Everyone standing here is cool. Even Alex.¡±
Alex honked, releasing a small stream of fire. Fire made most things cooler.
6.78 - An Encounter in Tarantham
Tarantham was an empire built to endure. It had been designed that way from the start. The walls of the cities wereced with crystal lodestones, emitting fields of suppression that aided the citizens. The cycles of calcted war maintained a poption of the strongest¡ªording to the recently ascended emperor. Built in ordance with the styles of the ancient Pera¡¯tal kingdom, Tarantham City was a sprawling cross between a metropolis and a fortress. The city was organized into quarters, massive walls between each section and more guards than a person could count manning the walls.
¡°Even without our leader, we¡¯re strong,¡± Fenian said, sighing as he passed through another checkpoint. His gaze shifted upward, making him feel slightly dizzy as he viewed the height of those walls. But thanks to the suppression field around him, his absurd attributes didn¡¯t mess with his thoughts too much.
¡°te,¡± an elven guard asked, holding out his hand.
Fenian reached into his coat, withdrawing the hand-sized metal te infused with his magical fake identity. The illusion he was under was powerful enough to fool almost anything. He had taken a hint from Theo¡¯s approach before he had been transported to this world. Sneak mode was well and truly activated.
¡°Behave yourself,¡± the guard said, handing the te back to Fenian. He bowed his head, making his way into the central district of the city.
They just had to go and model the city after the real deal. The central district of the city held the pce, a temple, and buildings reserved for embassies. Of course, none of those diplomatic buildings were upied. This section of the city was home to far too many guards. The worst part was, they were the highly trained ones with decent cores. Fenian slipped through the crowds, pressing forward on a path angled to the pce. They stopped him at the entrance, checking his papers and buying his story yet again.
As Fenian passed through the antechamber, slipping off into a side hall, he smiled to himself. The damage he had done on hisst visit was still there. Fortunately, few knew of the secret Kuzan held in the dungeons below. Elves loved their secret entrances, and that man was no different. After at least one-hundred twists and turns, he found himself in a darkened series of halls. The lower he went, the deeper that darkness seemed to stretch.
Fenian paused at a corner, pressing himself against the cold stone and holding his breath.
¡°Just smash it,¡± a familiar voice said. ¡°You¡¯re good at that, at least.¡±¡°I¡¯m working on it,¡± a rumbling voice responded.
Fenian tried not tough. He tried very, very hard not to break out in a cackle. While he had gotten very good at predicting people¡¯s movements, he never thought he woulde upon the two idiots in a ce like this. He turned the corner, hands on his hips as he waited for them to notice him. They might have used their trump cards, but he still held his firmly to his chest. There was no way they would win in a fight, and he doubted they wanted it.
¡°Here for the same thing, gentlemen?¡± Fenian asked, dropping his illusion. He felt his rapiers close at hand. Hungry little things.
Jan and Twist dragged their gazes¡ªthe masked elf¡¯s gaze containing only the singr eye under the mask¡ªand locked onto Fenian.
¡°Are we fighting down here?¡± Jan rumbled.
¡°Doubt it. The old goat is here to gloat,¡± Twist said. ¡°You owe me for not outing you in front of your pet.¡±
¡°Theo is a very good friend,¡± Fenian said, sauntering over to the pair. He pped one hand on either man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, what happened? You came to kill the shade and settled for letting some prisoners out?¡±
¡°That was the n,¡± Jan said, ring down at Twist. ¡°This one promised he knew how to pop the lock.¡±
¡°I do! I just need more time. Elven magic is weird,¡± Twist responded, stooping and looking at the magical lock once again.
Fenian watched with amusement as the masked elf tried to work the lock. Blowing the wall up would be easier, but that might draw attention. Even if they were quite deep under the city. He saw the mistake Twist made with the lock, but let the man stumble through it.
¡°How are things elsewhere?¡± Jan asked. ¡°End of the world stilling?¡±
¡°Yes, do you need a ride to the party?¡±
¡°Back in Broken Tusk? Once we get Elrin out of here I¡¯m game to go wherever. Can¡¯t touch Kuzan, so we took out a few choice people along the way.¡±
¡°I gave him the list of targets,¡± Twist said, tilting his head as he tried to undo the magical lock. ¡°People who really deserved it.¡±
¡°He¡¯ll have his pet with him, you know,¡± Fenian said. ¡°How did you hear about the prisoners, anyway?¡±
¡°Some light torture,¡± Jan said. ¡°Nothing too bad.¡±
¡°Yes, we can talk about our crimester, you oaf,¡± Twist spat. ¡°I¡¯ve almost got this.¡±
¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± Fenian said. He pushed the masked elf out of the way, then passed his hand over the magical lock. It popped open instantly.
¡°I could¡¯ve done that,¡± Twist said, standing and awkwardly shuffled his feet. ¡°Just a few more minutes and I would¡¯ve had it.¡±
¡°Sure, buddy,¡± Jan said, pping him on the back. ¡°We all believed in you.¡±
Fenian stuck his head into the darkened room. It was a massive chamber with a pale blue glowing from the far end. ¡°Did you take care of the necromancer?¡± he asked, looking around the room with interest. ??§¡
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¡°Kinda,¡± Jan said, producing a jagged length of metal from his coat. ¡°He was ravaging the eastern coast when we arrived.¡±
Fenian pped with excitement. ¡°We¡¯re just putting a button on everything, aren¡¯t we? Daddy isn¡¯t home, so there¡¯s no rules!¡±
¡°Who is ¡®daddy¡¯ in this scenario, or do I not want to know?¡± Jan asked.
¡°Kuzan, Karasan, and all the ascendants are ¡®daddy¡¯ in this situation,¡± Fenian said, stepping into the chamber. ¡°Ah, as expected. We¡¯ll need a few potions after all.¡±
Despite the expectations of Twist and Jan, there weren¡¯t many prisoners here. Well, there were just two prisoners on the far end of the room, both encased in a crystalline material. This was mostly new information to Fenian, based on the loose tongues created by Kuzan¡¯s absence. He thought everyone else from before the change had been kept within the queue. But of course the emperor had found and imprisoned the one person he hated the most, gumming up the works of the world.
¡°He¡¯ll fix it, right?¡± Twist asked. ¡°I always hated him, but he fixed the shards before.¡±
¡°I also hated him,¡± Jan put in.
¡°Yes, we all hated him. Screw him and all that. We¡¯ll be lucky if he doesn¡¯t kill us all, but I have a secret confession to make to everyone.¡± Fenian clicked his tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t know if my sweet alchemist can bring the shards back alone.¡±
The trio approached the crystal, getting a decent look at the shape of the man in one, and that of a beast in the other.
¡°Why didn¡¯t Kuzan disarm him?¡± Twist asked. ¡°He should¡¯ve been disarmed.¡±
¡°Try disarming the tiger,¡± Jan said, nodding toward the second crystal. ¡°A teleporting tiger¡ Wait, can we change the n? I¡¯d like to be on another continent.¡±
¡°Toote,¡± Fenian said, withdrawing the Dragon¡¯s Breath Potion. He drank it, unsurprised when a bar of solid fire sprouted from his mouth. He only had to hold it long enough to crack Elrin¡¯s crystal. Holding the intense fire on the crystal, he watched as a small crack formed. Shortly after, the potent potion faded
The crack formed along the center of the crystal, tracing from the top to the bottom. A tense mood settled over the room and the crystal audibly cracked before splitting. Chunks fell away until each member of the party could see the form of the man. He wore a ck hooded cloak, his finely crafted armor made of dark leather interwoven with mythril chain. The halberd gripped tightly in his hand pulsed with magical power as he sagged forward.
¡°Ivaran,¡± Elrin said, sucking in a steady breath. He pressed the whistle hanging by a leather string around his neck to his lips. With a single sharp burst, the form of the tiger in the other crystal faded. Something appeared above his shoulder for only a moment before vanishing in a puff of arcane energy. ¡°Jan, Twist. Who dies first?¡±
¡°Now, you need to measure your response, Elrin,¡± Fenian said. ¡°I¡¯ve only ever acted in the best interest of the world. It might have taken me longer than expected, but we¡¯ve reached an idealized version of the n.¡±
Fenian¡¯s rapiers were in his hands before the others could even register Elrin¡¯s movements. The force of the block sent a shockwave of power cracking the stones above and below.
¡°You got stronger,¡± Elrin said. ¡°Where are the others?¡±
¡°They¡¯re safe, but you have to trust me,¡± Fenian said, preparing to ept the system message that he had ignored for all these years.
Elrin searched the room, his long ck hair running across his face. He recognized something the way he always did. ¡°Where is Tinesa?¡±
Fenian swallowed hard. Of course he remembered her real name. Time hadn¡¯t moved for him. ¡°Dead. I already got the guy that did it, though.¡±
Elrin pulled his halberd back, poising it for a stab forward. ¡°The others?¡±
¡°They¡¯re trapped in a dimensional space. Kuzan has ascended to Leon¡¯s throne. We have a stupid n, but we need your help. There¡¯s going to be another change. You missed the second one, by the way.¡±
Elrin¡¯s gaze dragged across the room,nding on Twist. ¡°Do we need him?¡±
¡°We need me very much¡ a lot,¡± Twist stammered. ¡°Gods, why are you so strong?¡±
Elrin straightened up, his head swiveling. ¡°Found what I was looking for.¡±
¡°Wait! We need you to bring the shards back. Don¡¯t vanish. I hate when you vanish.¡±
The once-guardian seemed to pick up on the n in an instant. In another life, he was the person in charge of guarding every shard. Perhaps he still held some deep connection with them, even through the void.
¡°There¡¯s one still here,¡± Elrin said.
¡°At least take this,¡± Fenian said, holding out amunication crystal. He tossed it over.
¡°Sure,¡± Elrin said, vanishing after catching the crystal.
The party stood inplete silence for several tense moments.
¡°How is he still stronger than me?¡± Fenian asked, looking over to Twist and Jan. ¡°He attacked to gauge my strength. We used to have our little fights, but he seemed deranged.¡±
¡°Oh, well, good thing we released him,¡± Twist said. ¡°We¡¯re all very smart people here. Intelligent individuals that released some horror on the world. What¡¯s he going to do when he learns we failed to defend Earth? What if Meya isn¡¯t in the queue as you promised?¡±
¡°She¡¯ll be in the queue just like I was,¡± Jan said. ¡°Maybe we should talk to that alchemist about this.¡±
¡°I have enough people pissed off at me for no reason,¡± Fenian said, waving the suggestion away. ¡°How did you guys even get in here?¡±
¡°Secret passage,¡± Jan said with a shrug.
¡°Fine. Take us to that secret passage. We set it in motion. He can deal with the rest.¡±
The web of magic that protected the world was damaged. Almost beyond repair. Thework of Great Shards that had once helped the system regte how things worked was shattered, giving way to a fauxmunication used by the current system. Elrin stepped out of one of two remaining shards on the, smiling to himself as the old jungles of Yoh¡¯til greeted him. He had already put much of what had happened together, and he wasn¡¯t happy.
Trevor, in his eagle form, took to the sky to scout. Both doubted the Tapu people were still here. Too much had changed.
¡°Where are your fragments?¡± Elrin said, watching as a small group of nt monsters shuffled past.
¡°Locked in the void,¡± a soft voice chimed from the shard behind him.
¡°I don¡¯t remember a shard being on the inds. You¡¯ve been through a lot, huh?¡± Elrin let out a sigh. He was doing his best to let his hate melt away, but it was hard. A system message had appeared, inviting him to convert to a different system. He wouldn¡¯t take it. There was something strange about the magic in the air.
¡°As have you,¡± the shard responded. ¡°But there is a man working to get us back in ce. He¡¯ll need your help.¡±
Elrin grunted a response, looking up at the lush canopy above. ¡°Where is he?¡±
¡°To the east. The old kingdom there is long gone. You¡¯ll mostly find ash, and a small duchy to the south.¡±
Elrin sent a mentalmand to his eaglepanion, urging him forward. At least all his old abilities worked, along with the ne he could use to swap hispanion¡¯s form out.
¡°There¡¯s too much work to be done. How long did Kuzan have me trapped?¡±
¡°Nothing major. About fifty-thousand years.¡±
¡°Nothing major, huh?¡± Elrin asked with a sigh. ¡°You always had the worst sense of humor.¡±
¡°Admit it. You love me,¡± the shard said.
Elrin shook his head, setting off into the jungle. ¡°Just as smarmy as ever.¡±
6.79 - Elrin Manastream
¡°This is as many as I can make on such short notice,¡± Throk said, as grumpy as ever.
Theo counted the various stills presented by the marshling. He had produced twenty of his base-level stills for them to work with. And he had done so in about four hours, which should have been impossible. But that¡¯s what the alchemist relied on. The impossible. With this many stills, they could process a vast amount of Soul Blooms immediately. It was going to be another all-nighter if they wanted to get this done.
¡°Take whatever you want as payment from the treasury,¡± Theo said, sucking each of the stills into his inventory.
¡°I¡¯ll have one house made of gold, thank you,¡± Throk said. ¡°Or a pile of mythril, actually.¡±
Theo went through his interface, increasing Throk¡¯s permissions to take from the storage at the smelter. ¡°All the mythril you want. I¡¯ll make sure Nira doesn¡¯t export any of it.¡±
Throk rubbed his hands together. ¡°Excellent.¡±
¡°Thanks,¡± Theo said, rushing out of the workshop.
Salire was already on alert, as was the defending force of the alliance. Zan¡¯kir was already having a st repositioning some guns. He had roped Ziz and his boys in to do some work on the east-facing cliffs outside of town. Since Theo had craved some paths over there, he didn¡¯t see any sense in ignoring that as the best ce to put a bunch of rail guns.
Each still in theb was already working on a batch of Soul Essence. Theo took his twenty new stills and set them up on the second floor of the Newt and Demon. He wanted to distill all his things in the giant metal cube, but there was a problem. Theb¡ªeven if it wasn¡¯t on theb¡¯s floor¡ªprovided several bonuses to distition. They didn¡¯t have Soul Blooms to spare. Salire arrived just as he was getting them primed to run, bringing enchanted water and Cleansing Scrub potions along to help the process.¡°We¡¯ll have some decent capacity, but I have the old notes from when we made the Soul potions before,¡± Salire said, tapping her finger on a stack of loose papers. ¡°Unless Tero¡¯gal alchemy changes the process, we¡¯re looking at a week-long brew time.¡±
The idea hadn¡¯t escaped Theo. But he had his hopes up. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m counting on. The Reforge Mind potion didn¡¯t require a brew time. Which might be a function of the longer distition time. But we¡¯ll just have to find out. If it takes longer, it takes longer.¡±
¡°Right. I¡¯ve got everything working at capacity,¡± Salire said. She helped him process the Soul Blooms, adding the correct amount of water to each still and getting the artifices running. ¡°I have five of the stills running Suffuse Essences, but we have enough Burning Regeneration.¡±
¡°Did you run the numbers again?¡± Theo asked, smiling to himself as he ced the lid on another still.
¡°No, I took the upper bounds of your elf estimation.¡± Salire tried not to giggle to herself, but failed. ¡°Elf estimation. Gods, we don¡¯t even know how many there are.¡±
¡°Convenient time for the gods to shut themselves off, right?¡± Theo asked. ¡°Right when we could have used their help¡ I just felt something strange.¡±
¡°Strange like¡ how? Upset stomach?¡± Salire asked with concern.
It took Theo a minute to figure out what the sensation was. He eventually settled on it being an echo from Tresk¡¯s Dreamer¡¯s Core. When he asked her telepathically, she dismissed it as nothing more than something that happened often. A little twinge of rule-breaking somewhere in the distance.
¡°Guess that¡¯s nothing to be concerned about,¡± Theo said. ¡°Famousst words¡¡±
¡°Did you want to take this in shifts tonight?¡± Salire asked.
¡°Nah. I won¡¯t be able to sleep,¡± Theo said, looking over the stills on this floor. Everything was running well. Salire had even set up an extractor fan and sensor on the second floor to make sure nothing went wrong. The extraction power of that fan wasn¡¯t as great as the ones installed on the third floor, but it would do enough for a single run. ¡°You can go to sleep like normal. I¡¯ll juste grab you if something goes wrong. Although, if something goes wrong, I¡¯m not sure what anyone can do.¡±
¡°Right,¡± Salire said with a nervous chuckle. Not like the fate of some elves rests squarely on our shoulders or anything.¡±
As evening set in, Salire headed out for the day while Tresk, Sarisa, and Rowan brought some food for everyone to eat. They used the counters in the shop portion of the building, mostly eating while standing up. Eating a Broken Tusk ssic of wolf meat stew, they chatted for a while.
¡°That pulse of energy might be more concerning than I originally thought,¡± Tresk said. ¡°My Dreamer¡¯s Core gave a few interesting notifications about a rule-breaker. Kinda strange, though.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°It keeps listing the offending person as ¡®Death,¡¯ which can¡¯t be right.¡±
Theo had to have a long think about that one to make sense of it. He followed a trail of logic until he arrived at a conclusion. His theory was based on the way the system gave him a name. He had originally been ¡®Belgar¡¯ ording to the system. But that changed when Belgar¡¯s soul left the void, settling on Tero¡¯gal. The system automatically updated names based on certain conditions.
¡°My guess is that Kuzan was doing something naughty, and had it hidden from the system. Now that he¡¯s gone, whatever he was doing was unveiled. Now that the system views him as ¡®Death,¡¯ that¡¯s the message you get.¡± Theo nodded to himself, sucking up another greasy piece of wolf meat.
¡°What authority does Tresk have to take care of something like that?¡± Sarisa asked.
¡°Depends on the infraction,¡± Tresk said. ¡°I only get my superpowers when something super naughty happens. We¡¯re talking about aliens and stuff like that. Even then, we¡¯re not really supposed to kill anyone. Just banish them.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t really know Tresk¡¯s job yet. I mean, she¡¯s the right hand of the arbiter. The mechanism where she can go into people¡¯s dreams is a great way to get information from the sealed ascendant realms to the mortal realm. In theory, she can steer people to do something with secret information.¡±
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¡°That¡¯s cheating,¡± Rowan said. ¡°If the whole point is that the gods are sealed away, and everyone down here has to do stuff the old fashioned way.¡±
¡°The ascendants have a very specific role now,¡± Theo said. ¡°I think we can steer the development of the mortal world with a vote. We don¡¯t have all our rules in ce, but Fenian can evene down here when he likes. Once the change happens.¡±
¡°But he¡¯ll be restricted,¡± Tresk said. ¡°I think he¡¯ll have an energy bar or something like that limiting his actions. And no direct involvement in conflict. Stuff like that, y¡¯know?¡±
¡°Yet you still haunt my dreams,¡± Rowan said with a sigh. ¡°Sounds like an abuse of power.¡±
¡°Stop dreaming about those sexydies, and I¡¯ll stop invading,¡± Tresk said, giggling to herself.
¡°I cannot determine my dreams! No matter how many times you drag me from that warm bed to go skydiving, I¡¯ll never relent. The heart wants what it wants.¡±
The meal was pleasant. While the group threw around theories on what they thought might happen after the next shift, they weren¡¯t likely to reach a conclusion. Theo was almost certain the ascendant thrones would get together with the system, defining what their responsibilities were over the next few weeks. Only when the end finally happened would they have it in stone. Right now, there were too many hanging threads to tie up. Some of the system¡¯s power was likely tied to the shards themselves.
Salire and Rowan headed out for the night eventually. While Tresk was willing to stay up all night with Theo, Alex had already gone to bed. Since she couldn¡¯t fit in the building, she soon became bored watching through the window. Not as though anything exciting would happen. Tonight. It was a long, boring night of watching the stills bubble away/ But Theo couldn¡¯t afford to lose a single drop of that essence.
A series of sharp knocks came from the front door a few hourster. Tresk was falling asleep on the counter when she sprung up. Theo shared a look with her. When the knock came again, a pair of glowing wings sprouted from her back.
¡°Uh. That¡¯s not good,¡± Tresk said, her daggers appearing in her hands. ¡°We got a naughty bad boy at the door.¡±
¡°Yet the bad boy knocks so politely,¡± Theo said, cracking the door open. A man in a ck hood stood there. Theo watched in his future vision as the man reached out to shake his hand, but was otherwise reserved. ¡°Half-elf?¡±
¡°How did you know?¡± the man asked.
Theo didn¡¯t want to say that it was because his hood had tilted to one side during one of many possible futures. ¡°Lucky guess. We¡¯re closed.¡±
¡°You¡¯re the alchemist, aren¡¯t you? Why does that lizard have wings?¡± the man asked.
¡°It is normally polite to introduce yourself before pointing out a lizard¡¯s wings. You know that, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a long story. May Ie in?¡±
Theo shrugged. If Tresk had her wings out, that meant she had some unreasonably strong power at her fingertips. Anyone who wanted to fight would be sorely mistaken if they made a move. He opened the door fully, allowing the man inside. The alchemist could feel the power of several magical itemsing from the man. They radiated energy like he had never felt before.
¡°My name is Elrin from the Manastream n in Whisperwood¡ You won¡¯t know where that is,¡± the man said, sighing as he fell into a chair. ¡°These are old things. Ancient things.¡±
Theo shared a look with Tresk. ¡°Is he speaking English? Why are you speaking English?¡±
¡°That¡¯s an even longer story. So, are you the man handling the shards?¡±
¡°Theo Spencer. This here is my partner, Tresk,¡± Theo said, gesturing to the winged marshling. ¡°Her wings are out because you¡¯re breaking the system¡¯s rules.¡±
¡°Yeah, ept the prompt, buddy,¡± Tresk said, ring. ¡°Or I¡¯m gonna p you pretty hard. With my fists.¡±
¡°That¡¯s called ¡®punching,¡¯¡± Elrin corrected.
¡°You get the point, elf boy.¡±
¡°I suppose we¡¯re at an impasse,¡± Elrin said. ¡°I have no ns to ept the message to change to the new system.¡±
Tresk pushed off from the counter, rolling her shoulders. ¡°The other one. Did you even read your messages?¡±
¡°I skimmed them¡ Ah, I see the one you¡¯re talking about. Yes, I¡¯ll take that one. But this has me wondering.¡±
¡°Fight?¡± Theo asked with a shrug. ¡°We¡¯ve been doing more fighting around here recently. Might give Tresk a chance to know you better.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Elrin asked, gesturing to the door. ¡°Businesster. Fighting now.¡±
Tresk had trouble getting her wings out of the door, but the party marched along toward the empty field on the far side of the river. As long as Tresk held her punches, this guy would be fine. If he wanted to march in like he owned the ce, he would do well to learn how things worked around here. Well, he seemed friendly enough. And he held aforting energy that Theo couldn¡¯t deny.
¡°So, where are you from?¡± Theo asked.
¡°From what I¡¯ve put together on my own, I¡¯m from here before thetest change,¡± Elrin said. ¡°I was fighting for both Iaredin and Earth when everything was frozen in time. How about you?¡±
¡°Near-future Earth,¡± Theo said.
¡°Interesting. Any rules for the fight?¡± Elrin asked.
¡°You won¡¯t be able to hit her, or do any damage,¡± Theo said. ¡°As long as she has the wings, she¡¯s empowered by the system to banish you.¡±
¡°That hardly seems fair.¡±
¡°Yet you haven¡¯t backed down! Getting cold feet?¡± Tresk asked.
Elrin shrugged as they entered the open field. Theo stretched his future sight as far as it would go. The pair were already fighting, and the neer elf wasn¡¯t doing well. It wasn¡¯t in Tresk¡¯s nature to go easy, and this was no exception.
¡°Good luck, bud.¡±
A halberd appeared in Elrin¡¯s hand. Theo was sted by the sheer power of the thing. He had never felt a magical item with such power. It was intense enough where he questioned if the weapon itself wasn¡¯t a powerful person, emitting a strong magical aura. Tresk stretched her wings wide, rolling her shoulders. A blinkter, she kicked off of the ground and went straight for the poor elf¡¯s heart. He only barely parried, the haft of his weapon ringing out.
¡°Oh, she¡¯s fast,¡± Elrin said, sweeping his weapon through the air. He blurred, appearing behind the marshling and thrusting forward with a concealed dagger. The sound of steel ringing against steel echoed over the open field. ¡°Too fast.¡±
¡°You¡¯re quick!¡± Tresk said, spinning around. Demon horns had sprouted from her forehead. ¡°Now I¡¯m faster.¡±
No matter what Elrin tried, it didn¡¯t matter. Tresk was granted too much power from the system for him to ovee. The most striking thing was how strong this guy was, though. Even with the system¡¯s power through her Dreamer¡¯s core, Elrin was keeping up at points. He was strong. Not as strong as Khahar was, but he would have easily overpowered Fenian. And that was before the other thing got involved.
Tresk unleashed a flurry of blows at the elf. Theo could tell she was holding back, but she put enough force into the strikes to send shockwaves of force radiating outward. The marshling danced around, cackling as she had the time of her life. She let out a small gasp when something fell from the sky. Theo watched it in his future sight as a tiger wreathed in blue energy came falling from the sky. He didn¡¯t warn Tresk as that would be unfair. And he always followed the rules. But the result of the encounter was the tiger gaining an injury, so it was time to call it off.
¡°Enough,¡± Theo said, snapping his fingers to get Tresk¡¯s attention. ¡°Call the tiger off, Elrin.¡±
¡°Predictive powers?¡± Elrin asked, panting for breath. ¡°Guessing it doesn¡¯t end well¡ Fine. I¡¯ll ept the prompt.¡±
¡°Bah. We were just getting started!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°But man! That was GOOD!¡±
¡°Come on, you idiots,¡± Theo said. ¡°Let¡¯s get some tea.¡±
6.80 - Tall Boys
6.80 - Tall Boys
The scent of earthy moss tea spread through the Newt and Demon. Theo, Elrin, and Tresk sat downstairs, finding whatever chairs they could to wait out the brewing process. The smell of the Moss Nettle had be something of afort for the alchemist. Late nights in theb¡ªoften working hard to create potions for the defense of that same town¡ªwere an event. At least his attributes would reduce the negative effects the next day.
Theo poured a cup of tea for everyone, watching the way Elrin leaned back in his chair, halberd propped against his shoulder. That guy must have been through the ringer. He was just happy to have been able to stop the fight before things got out of hand.
¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve been on a wild ride,¡± Theo said, popping the lid of his kettle to check the water. It was boiling enough, so he dished out three cups of tea before blowing on his own. ¡°And the fun has just started.¡±
¡°You could¡¯ve let us fight a bit longer,¡± Tresk said, folding her arms. She could only be grumpy for so long before she drank her tea. Theo knew that. She knew that. Everyone knew that.
¡°From what I understand, you¡¯re from Earth,¡± Elrin said. ¡°Near-future, or something like that. Tell me, are you aware of my exploits defending your?¡±
¡°No. In the several-hundred years that passed since your time, the information was lost or covered up. I can¡¯t really say.¡± Theo shrugged, taking a sip of the empowering tea. He felt energy race through his body the moment he sipped. ¡°So, did your system work on Earth?¡±
¡°Indeed. We made a deal with someone to seal the worlds away. Unfortunately, certain powers prevailed against my wishes. Betrayal and all that.¡± Elrin looked around the room taking in a deep breath. ¡°But seeing Iaredin survive is encouraging. I¡¯m sorry Earth didn¡¯t make it.¡±
¡°I was born here,¡± Tresk said, smiling to herself as she sipped her tea. It hadn¡¯t taken her long to cave.
¡°I don¡¯t remember your race from before. Or therge ones guarding the wall. Actually, most of you are quite big. Even you, demon.¡±¡°Yeah, we¡¯re a bunch of tall boys over here. Except the marshlings. They¡¯reically small.¡±
Elrin nodded, taking a sip of his tea. He grimaced. ¡°This might be the worst drink I¡¯ve ever had. Do you have any sugar?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Tresk said, producing a sack of sugar from nowhere.
¡°Where did you get that?¡± Theo asked. ¡°That¡¯s an alchemy reagent, you know.¡±
¡°And he wonders why I hide all the good stuff,¡± Tresk tutted. ¡°When will you learn, Theo?¡±
¡°The tea takes some time to get used to, but the effects are great. It¡¯ll keep you up all night if you¡¯re not careful.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t sleep,¡± Elrin said, spooning some sugar into his drink.
¡°You don¡¯t ever sleep?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Well, that sounds horrible.¡±
¡°That¡¯s how I got so powerful. Everyone else had to sleep while I leveled. That¡¯s what allowed me to be the strongest fighter and the strongest crafter at the same time. No one could keep up with me.¡± Elrin cast his eyes to the ceiling, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°I can switch locations with mypanion. Since he can take the form of an eagle, that means I can be anywhere I want on the within a day or two.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a fast bird,¡± Tresk said.
¡°Someone told me he was as fast as a ¡®fighter jet¡¯ at one point. That was near the end, though.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re a crafter. Like me. What did you make?¡±
¡°Everything,¡± Elrin said, gesturing to himself. He pulled back his cloak, showing intricate earrings hanging from his ears. He showed his rings, cloak, and various weapons. ¡°The message the lizard was telling me to ept was rted to my position as the Guardian of the Shards. It gives me some interesting powers.¡±
¡°He doesn¡¯t sleep, he can craft everything¡ Hey, craft me some stuff,¡± Tresk said, jumping from her chair.
Elrin¡¯s gaze locked onto her. He unsped a leather pouch from his belt. ¡°Okay, what would you like?¡±
¡°Uh¡ uh¡ Daggers?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°I guess.¡±
Elrin withdrew a small crystal from his bag, holding it out. His brows knit. ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait, little lizard. The system is yelling at me about using a crafting method that isn¡¯t supported.¡±
¡°Any errors you have now should be cleared up during the reset,¡± Theo said. ¡°We¡¯re working on that.¡±
¡°Right. You¡¯re in charge of that, right?¡± Elrin asked. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡±
¡°A few things,¡± Theo said, clearing his throat. ¡°There are some elves trapped in the void. We need to rescue them first, then we need to get the shards from the same ce. After that, I guess we¡¯ll have a few meetings with the gods and we¡¯ll initiate the restart.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t forget to tell him about how we¡¯re going to kill Death,¡± Tresk said.
¡°I¡¯d like a part of that n,¡± Elrin said. ¡°I have some unfinished business with Kuzan.¡±
¡°That guy just sticks his nose in everyone¡¯s business, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m sure the ascendants are happy to work with you. You¡¯ve met us, but you still need to meet Fenian and Khahar.¡±
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
¡°It might be harder to meet Khahar, though,¡± Theo said. ¡°It depends on if I can convince the system to let us into Khahak. I mean, getting into the void is easy enough. But that might just be a fluke.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll get a defined list of rules after the switch,¡± Tresk said, nodding a whole bunch. ¡°Think we should have a chat with the system about this guy? He should get special permissions, right?¡±
¡°I already have those,¡± Elrin said.
¡°Fancy pants over here.¡±
Theo left for a few minutes to go check his alchemy stills. Everything was progressing as it should have, and there wasn¡¯t a dangerous buildup of vapors in either room yet. As long as nothing catastrophic happened, the run shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Observing the collecting essence, he didn¡¯t believe there would be a secondary brew process for this version of the Reforge Soul potion. It should have been a process of going straight to the bottle and down the gullet of the space elves.
¡°Tresk here exined your n to bring the shards back through the void,¡± Elrin said, nodding to Theo as he descended the stairs. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how this void works, but I know the shards. The wizard¡ What was his name?¡±
¡°Xol¡¯sa,¡± Theo said.
¡°Right. Xol¡¯sa sounds like he knows what he¡¯s doing. The theory is sound, but there¡¯s a missing piece,¡± Elrin said. ¡°I¡¯ll need to prepare the sites for the shards. Otherwise, the concept of a beacon won¡¯t even work.¡±
¡°Sounds like a path forward,¡± Theo said, taking his seat. He withdrew amunication crystal from his inventory, sliding it across the table and exining how it worked. ¡°Just don¡¯t kick anything off until I¡¯ve rescued the space elves. It should only take a few more days, depending on how many I can transport at once. Use this if you need to contact me.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Elrin said, standing after snatching the crystal.. ¡°Thanks for the tea. Thanks for bringing me in on the n to murder Death. I have a feeling that one won¡¯t end the way you expect.¡±
Without another word, he vanished in a burst of blue energy. Theo couldn¡¯t determine the vor of the magic, but it seemed familiar. He didn¡¯t have to share his thoughts with Tresk. They were used to dealing with otherworldly forces by this point. It was unlikely they would be able to kill Death. Kuzan was a smart guy, and had been around for a long time.
¡°Killing him won¡¯t be possible,¡± Tresk said, rolling her shoulders. ¡°But I¡¯m pretty sure we can force him from the throne. Maybe just get him to cough up some souls. Or we can bind him in restrictions.¡±
¡°All of which needs to happen before the switch. Once we have more restrictions, taking actions against the gods might be impossible.¡± Theo sighed.
It was a boon to have someone like Elrin around. He would be the first to admit that. Even if they couldn¡¯t control the man, he would be a valuable asset if only for his knowledge of the shards. The n to remove Death from his realm was extremely simple and was based on the Venom potion. But it made Theo wonder if they would get a more friendly version of Death.
¡°Do you think Fenian is right?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Could his wife be at Death¡¯s Gate?¡±
¡°Everyone might be there,¡± Theo said. ¡°Every soul that had ever lived or died in this world might be waiting for the system to fix itself. We can hold out hope.¡±
¡°Just don¡¯t have too much hope,¡± Tresk winced. ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll be there.¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t think so either. But everyone who died under the unfair bounds of this system deserves a fresh start. Hell, Kuzan might not even be a problem. If our assassination attempt fails, we can try to negotiate. He seemed like he was taking his role seriously, right?¡±
¡°Makes you wonder if we should even try to remove him¡ How do you pick the right move for something like this?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Something worse could happen if we made a move and he was ready.¡±
They could specte on the best path forward all they wanted, but that wouldn¡¯t do them any good. The n was simple enough. Someone like Kuzan couldn¡¯t be trusted with the souls of everyone. Perhaps there was another path forward they hadn¡¯t seen yet¡
###
¡°Why have a Seal of Passage if you¡¯re just going to break it!¡± Omen¡¯s voice echoed through the golden forests of Eral Dum¡ªthe elderling realm of Fate.
Fate turned, looking at her twin brother with a scowl. They had been through this too many times for her to argue again. An old friend had finally been awakened. Well, she had only waited a few weeks of mortal time, but that was too long for her to endure. There was a time whens he was known as Aline, granddaughter of King Leon. Since she had been sealed away, there was only one thing on her mind.
¡°I¡¯m following the threads. I¡¯m not leaving. Not again, anyway,¡± Fate said.
¡°Remember what happenedst time?¡± Omen asked. ¡°My prediction came true.¡±
¡°Think of it like astral projection. Anyway, the system said it was fine,¡± Fate folded her arms, glowering at her brother. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see our dear uncle? Perhaps father is still out there¡ somewhere.¡±
¡°He¡¯s not even our uncle,¡± Omen grumbled.
Fate red at her brother long enough that he slunk off into the forest, leaving her to her work. Reading the threads of fate was hard enough without Omen badgering her all the time. With a steady breath, she invoked the power of her station. Her vision was clouded with gold until she plucked through the threads, finding the ones she was interested in. The threads of fate were whittled down to five, all pulled through her metaphorical loom and ready for investigating.
¡°There he is,¡± Fate said, pinching the fibers between her fingers and plucking. The scene before her shifted, and she soon stood on a rocky field. The shadow of a ruined fortress lingered on the dawn¡¯s horizon. Bing a god as a child had its advantages. It was disarming for people to see someone so small with so much power. Fate giggled to herself as she remembered an encounter with a huge man on Earth. She remembered breaking his arm with barely a twist of her hand.
¡°You haunt me,¡± a hooded man said with a sigh.
Fate bounded over the rockyndscape,ughing to herself. She loved bothering this one. Even if it kinda sorta broke the rules. Just a little, anyway. ¡°You¡¯re so intimidating! That¡¯s the badass fighter I remember. Where¡¯s your gun?¡±
¡°System took it,¡± Elrin said, turning to lower his hood. ¡°I had to give up quite a few of my magical items, actually. Have you found Silvain?¡±
¡°How did you know I was looking¡ Oh, right. You always see through me.¡± Fate sighed.
¡°And Cyril? Armel?¡± Elrin asked. ¡°Where are the others? The Defense Force?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t tell you that,¡± Fate said. ¡°Even now, I¡¯m close to being shut down. This job belongs to another, now. The Dreamer and the Herald. New titles, same job.¡±
¡°I met the Dreamer,¡± Elrin said, his pale eyes locked on Fate¡¯s golden eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not confident in her skills.¡±
¡°You¡¯re so stuffy. Makes me want to puke¡ Anyway, what are you doing here?¡± Fate asked.
¡°Do you remember which shard was here?¡± Elrin asked, gesturing to the ruins.
¡°The Shard of Strelon,¡± Fate said. ¡°My father used to take us here sometimes. When he had the time¡¡±
¡°I doubt there are many that remember where the shards go,¡± Elrin said. ¡°And I don¡¯t know if I have the power to set them all in ce. The power gifted to me by the Shard Network is fading. This may be thest thing I do.¡±
¡°Oh, stop being so dramatic.¡± Fate sighed, hanging her head. ¡°You were always such an optimist. Suck it up and do your job.¡±
Elrin smiled, nodding to the god before him. ¡°You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s get to work.¡±
6.81 - Epilogue
Theo Spencer,
15h Day, Season of Death,
873rd Year of Balkor¡¯s Betrayal
Some people might have trouble finding motivation when they know the end of the world ising. But I¡¯ve never had that problem. I grew up in a world we knew was ending. I found meaning, even if it was a bit nefarious, and pushed on to have a decent life. Yeah, I get that a lot of people misunderstand what I did on Earth before I was taken to Iaredin. Instead of correcting them, I just let them make the same statements. And yes, I understand that not being the one to pull the trigger doesn¡¯t absolve me of sins. But whatever. You had to be there to understand.
I write this in thest days of Broken Tusk on Iaredin. I¡¯m looking forward to the task of tipping the vote of the gods to bring my new home to the heavens. Perhaps that involves me assassinating Death, or removing him from power, but these things need to be done. Why is a piece ofnd so important to me? Well, I just mentioned people having a hard time finding meaning in the end. Hanging onto something tangible is the way to do it. If that¡¯s a chunk ofnd, a group of people, or whatever, you just need to hold on like your life depends on it because it very well might.
Let¡¯s see. What has happened since myst entry? First, let¡¯s talk about how we saved Qavell. Not only did we not destroy the ce, but we also saved its new king and got rid of whatever weird infection gued the ce. We¡¯re talking about some dimensional being thattched onto it. Well, we had this overpowered potion that persists forever. While I doubt we¡¯re done with that creature, we gave it something to think about. After reinforcing the City of Qavell, her people were d to join the Soutnds Alliance.
As if a mortal alliance was the biggest concern we have¡
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
The biggest thing to talk about here is the damn struggle for power in the heavens. Turns out the gods are all fake. Cool, cool. Those that seized power in the heavens had done so by exploiting something within the system. They could make themselves proto gods by tricking the system with the ascendance feature. Basically, a person could create a little pocket realm based energy they could cultivate on the mortal ne. Khahar was smart enough to do a little double-trick on the system, giving him a more permanent realm. But the other were all booted from their realms. Goodbye, no one will miss you.There was an exception to this exodus, though. Uz¡¯Xulven got to keep her realm. Mostly because she had specialized it to such a degree ittched onto Tero¡¯gal. Lucky her.
That led to one of the most devastating effects of the change. Aligned cores all around the world were removed, or changed to the unaligned versions. Two ascendants I can think of were spared. Zaul and ntheir. They assumed the role of Shadow and Hallow, which is cool. Zaul might have been insane, but he was always on my side. I think. He hasn¡¯t made any outward moves since the change, so I count that as a good thing. The system let me keep his core, even if it evolved into a Shadow core.
Speaking of cores, most of the people in the alliance now have a Tero¡¯gal themed core. I don¡¯t think Tero¡¯gal knows what it wants to do. It has themes of subtlety, shadow, and willpower but that ce is still figuring itself out. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll make more sense eventually.
We¡¯re close to helping the space elves. Very close. The change with the system didn¡¯t help us out, but I think we have the solution. Once these reforge potions get done brewing, we¡¯re in business.
Thest thing that happened was the arrival of the guy who is supposed to help me. A man named Elrin showed up, iming he was the guardian of the shards before everything went wild. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s on the level, but it doesn¡¯t seem to matter. This guy is strong. He almost beat Tresk when she was using her Dreamer powers. Fenian used those same powers to beat back the dimensional being, so I can only guess how much power they¡¯re granted.
As long as we keep at it, I know everything will work out. We¡¯vee too far to falter now. It does make me wonder how you¡¯re reading this¡ Do you live on Tero¡¯gal? Have you pilfered the contents of my personal room. If so, please make sure Tresk doesn¡¯t eat all my good cheese. I need it for alchemy.
Thank you.
7.1 - Decisions
Theo Spencer leaned against the wall of the Marshwolf Tavern, watching as the throngs of people walked past. A memory from when he first arrived red in his mind, wing his attention away from the bustling town. He remembered muddy streets, people without aim, and poverty. Impoverished as they were, nothing seemed to dampen the spirits of the locals. Bringing a half-ogre or marshling down was a feat no one had seemed to aplish. Given enough room to grow, the people within the town of Broken Tusk had seized their chance at greatness.
And to think, it was only the start of something greater.
Theo had invested his efforts into this town as though he was a local. That had earned him the title of ¡®Broken Tusker¡¯ just like anyone born here. But along the way he had some help. Perhaps more than a little help. He would be the first to admit that. From the early days when he was in the dark, to the present, he understood how much he had been thrust forward. Piecing things together was easy enough. Those people that had helped him along the way had been waiting for another man. And the alchemist had just met him.
¡°What¡¯s the n, boss?¡±
Dragging his gaze across the scene, Theo¡¯s visionnded on hispanion, Tresk. The eager pink marshling gazed up at him with that same Broken Tusker look every other local had. It was a look of infinite potential. As though they could dream it, and that dream would be a reality. Well, they had already done that before so why not make it happen again?
¡°The new n is the old n,¡± Theo said, pushing off from the building and dusting his coat off. ¡°We¡¯ll secure the votes of the gods and take an entire nation through the void. Simple stuff, right?¡±
¡°Oh, yeah. Easy as pie. Except some of those gods hate us. Oh, and you have a bunch of elves to cure. Make sure not to die in the process, cause that would suck.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡±
Tresk had attached herself to Theo starting about a week ago. He was too used to her way to think of anything else. Whatever secret project¡ªother than the magical dragon bones she had been feeding their goose-dragon familiar¡ªhad beenpleted. She was bored and was looking for something to keep her busy over the next few weeks. As for today, there was nothing but rxation. Until the inevitable happened. Because something always went wrong when he was trying to rx.Until that time, he would take stock of his progress starting with his attribute sheet.
Theo Spencer
Drogramath Dronon
Level 33
Alchemist
Core Slots: 7
Stats:
Health: 625
Mana: 230
Stamina: 635
Strength: 20 (+11)
Dexterity: 132 (+8)
Vigor: 124 (+8)
Intelligence: 30 (+9)
Wisdom: 342 (+7)
Points: 0
Progress over thest few weeks had been incredibly slow. Theo¡¯s attributes defied what should be possible for someone at Level 33 thanks to a brief exploit he had found. Not listed on his sheet was his incredible willpower, which he couldn¡¯t even begin to specte as to the level. It was somewhere between his position as an ascendant throne-holder and a god. But the line between those two roles was vast. ?
Since the n was to take the entire town along with him and as much of the alliance as possible, the next step would be to work on the buildings, alliance, and town itself. A few more levels and it would exit the phase of Massive Town and enter the city stage of development. He examined the town, skipping over the listed core buildings section.
[Massive Town]
Name: Broken Tusk
Owner: Theo Spencer
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Faction: [Soutnds Alliance]
Level: 30 (20.33%)
Core Buildings:
¡
Defensive Emcements:
Chain Lightning (x12)
Frost Cone (x7)
Fireball (x10)
Firebolt (x25)
Upgrades:
[Stone Walls and Gates]
[Stone Roads]
[Defensive Emcements]
[Synergistics]
[Dynamic Incorporation]
[Dungeon Information]
Effects:
[Troll ying]
[Coordinated Fire]
[Defensive Effects]
Current Resources:
Timber: 10,300
Stone Blocks: 1
Metal: 5,380
Motes: 10,112
Theoughed at himself. He had given himself the title of archduke, because the system let him. Of all the potential titles for a leader, it was the one he felt closer to. Since he wanted to manage his alliance by setting up independent leaders in the other towns, it made sense. But the more he thought of himself as Archduke Theo Spencer, the less it sat well with him. Since he was betting on the system adapting all the energy they had invested into the town once it arrived on his Throneworld, it was more important now than ever to upgrade it. He then turned his attention to the alliance¡¯s interface.
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[Small Free City Alliance]
Name: Soutnds Alliance
Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer
Level: 20 (5%)
Core Towns:
Broken Tusk (Capital)
Rivers and Daub
Gronro-Dir
Qavell
Bal¡¯gon
Current Energy:
62%
Upgrades:
[Zorp]
[Controlled Fire]
[Disaster Shield]
[Defensive Barrier]
This was the screen that had always surprised Theo. Khahar¡ªformerly Yuri Valkov back on Earth¡ªhad gifted him a Kingdom Core. The value of the object was immeasurable, and here he was just staring at the screen it provided. More than that, both towns in the region were happy to join the alliance. Rivers and Daub was the closest town, fifteen minutes by tram to the north. Gronro was further still, and had been instrumental at beating back the tide of undeath. Both Qavell and Bal¡¯gon were recent and interesting additions. While Bal¡¯gon was an underground city, popted only by golems and whatever adventurers were brave enough to go down there, Qavell was different.
Qavell had been a thorn in Theo¡¯s side since he arrived on this world. From taxing the locals, to the threat of military action, King Karasan had harassed them. Until Fenian Feintleaf released an undead gue that almost destroyed them entirely. But of course the city became possessed with the spirit of an unknown extra-nar entity intent on destroying everything. After shooting the city down, purging the city of the creature, and befriending the new king, Theo had brought them into the fold.
And the Qavelli people wouldn¡¯t even be thest to join them on their next big adventure.
The space elves. Where to start with the space elves? A resident of Broken Tusk named Xol¡¯sa got Superman¡¯d when he was young. He was catapulted through the void, sent to the mortal realm of Iaredin to live out his life. Instead of superpowers, he got an affinity for nar travel and a job as a wizard. The Bara¡¯their¡ªchildren of the shard when tranted to the local Qavellinguage¡ªhad stolen away powerful lodestones to make a new world. It didn¡¯t work, and now they were all insane. It fell to Theo to cure them through alchemy, void maniption, and good old healers.
¡°I can¡¯t remember thest time you stared off into space for that long,¡± Tresk said, pulling him from his thoughts. ¡°There¡¯s not that much to do, is there?¡±
Theo grunted a response, heading away from the town center. If she wanted the answer, she could read his mind through their Tara¡¯hek bond. A tour of Broken Tusk would be far more eventful now than if he would have done it back when he had just arrived. The only things of note when he first got there were the alchemy shop, cksmith, tannery, farm, and tavern. The town now supported too many businesses to count, including a quarry, logging, a mine, smelter, artificer¡¯s workshop, a ranch, bathhouse, an entire harbor, and most recently a market.
But the newest thing Theo wanted to inspect for the day was rted to those same space elves. He tracked a path through his town, spotting the small things he remembered from before the poption boom. He passed by Miana¡¯s ranch, waving at the hard-working half-ogre as he went. He greeted the guards on the gates and inspected the merchandise being sold in the market. Only after crossing the river over the stone bridge anding out onto the open field did he stop to take it all in.
The local stonecutter and quarry operator, Ziz, had been hard at work. Half-ogres were like that. They got bored very easily and often created projects for themselves. Sometimes those projects turned into deadly games with the local wildlife. In Ziz¡¯s case, his boredom had turned into a project to create enough homes for the entire world. That¡¯s what it said in the administration interface, anyway. The reality of it was quite different, though.
Instead of creating individual homes for everyone expected to join the party at the end of the world, he was constructing massive dorms. Buildings made from local materials of white marble and Ogre Cypress sat in neat rows over the open fields. Broken Tusk opened out to the east, nestled between three distinct mountain ranges to the north, west, and south, while being bordered only on the western side by a massive swamp. A river cut from south to north, emptying into the bay. Alongside that river¡ªto the left from Theo¡¯s perspective¡ªwas the rail built by Throk, the local artificer.
Ziz had wasted no time to add his touch to the area. He had mirrored the existing stone road, cing another one on the opposite side of the rail. Dotted along the road were therge buildings, other roads shooting off to create small neighborhood-like areas. From his position down the hill, Theo counted about ten buildings already done.
¡°Does Ziz sleep?¡± Theo asked, pressing forward onto the road.
¡°He was buying Greater Stamina Potions from the shop the other day,¡± Tresk said, ever the tattle-tale.
¡°We don¡¯t sell those.¡±
¡°Salire does when they pay her enough.¡±
Theo shrugged. Fair enough. The high-tier potions were meant to be held back for the town, but whatever. Salire was a half-ogre born in the north, only toe back to her ancestral homnd to work as a shop assistant. Good thing her aspirations were much higher, resulting in her bing the second-best alchemist in the world. Theo wasn¡¯t shy about throwing those titles around. From everything he had seen, he was the best alchemist alive, and Salire was the second-best.
¡°Apparently we just need to feed stimnts to our people and they¡¯ll pave the entire world over. Wish they would¡¯ve asked me, though¡¡± Theo trailed off, looking at the terrain Ziz was working with. ¡°He knows I have my Earth Sorcerer Core, right?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s see¡ A half-ogre having toe to you for help?¡± Tresk asked, guffawing. ¡°Nah, he¡¯d rather just do it himself and impress you.¡±
¡°Fair enough. Looks like we can im more space from the hills if I dig it out to the west. And the east, actually.¡±
¡°Sure, just level the entire. We¡¯ll just have a nice t ne. Is that what you want Theo?¡± Tresk gave Theo a wild look, her eyes as wide as she could make them. ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.¡±
¡°Maybe not, but that would make building things a lot easier. Especially since he intends to do it without magical seed buildings.¡±
¡°Good luck finding this many magical buildings. We can always incorporate themter. If we even have time to care about that.¡±
Nodding, Theo headed on down the road, passing the station for the train. While there was an attendant working there, he didn¡¯t see the train itself. It was likely heading to Gronro or Rivers.
¡°I¡¯d like to get as many levels in the town and the alliance as I can before we leave. The hope is that the magic trantes to Tero¡¯gal.¡± Theo pped the side of a house, checking the stability of it. The technique Ziz used to make stone structures employed an ability that allowed him to weld the bricks together with mortar. Which meant it was just about perfect. ¡°Even mundane buildings like this will be useful.¡±
¡°Oh! Have we decided on a floating alliance or one on the ground?¡±
¡°That depends on Tero¡¯gal. Who knows how it''s gonna react.¡±
¡°Speaking of, we should decide if Tero¡¯gal is a boy or a girl.¡±
¡°What? Why?¡±
¡°I mean. I decided, so the should decide.¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t it just be a?¡± Theo turned, looking at the eager face of hispanion.
¡°Feels weird calling Tero¡¯gal an ¡®it¡¯ this far into our rtionship.¡±
Theo had a feeling that Tero¡¯gal didn¡¯t care what people called it. As a sapient, it had much bigger things to worry about. Tresk was just projecting. ¡°Tero¡¯gal has to be a dude. Because I¡¯m already outnumbered in the Tara¡¯hek.¡±
¡°Fair. I officially dere our a boy! of the boys! for the boys?¡±
¡°Keep digging that hole.¡±
The best way to find Ziz when he was working on a job was to find the sleeping workers. While he was willing to m Stamina Potions until he died of a heart attack, his workers weren¡¯t. Theo turned the corner around one building, finding a few Half-Ogres sleeping on the soft grasses. He nudged a few with his foot, but none woke. The sound of blocks being scraped into ce told him where to look, though.
¡°It wouldn¡¯t kill you to sleep,¡± Theo said, spotting Ziz hard at work on another building. He was doing all the work alone for now, as the rest of his team had passed out.
¡°Do you like my vige?¡± Ziz asked, turning with a manic look on his face. ¡°Hey, grab a block and pass it over.¡±
Ziz had an ability that let him grab blocks as though they weighed nothing. But Theo humored him, slotting his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core and grabbing the block with his willpower. He hovered the block into ce, crossing his arms as he watched the man work.
¡°Should I karate chop him in the neck?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Put him down for a while.¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m almost certain that would kill him,¡± Theo said with a sigh. ¡°Best just to leave him to it¡ Ziz, do you need any supplies?¡±
¡°I got supplies for days! Took all the stone out of storage and now I¡¯m using it. Hey, got any more of those potions?¡±
¡°No, and I¡¯m going to cut you off if you keep this up.¡±
¡°Come on!¡±
Shaking his head, Theo turned away from the new construction. There was a lot to get done. With the soul potions ready to go, his next stop was the void¡ To collect a few hundred wayward elves.
¡°Are youing along?¡± Theo asked, nodding to Tresk.
¡°Uh, yeah? We¡¯re best friends, aren¡¯t we?¡±
¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go.¡±
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7.2 - Greater Reforge Soul
The space elves had carved a small piece of the void out for themselves. The area had a theme of dense jungles mingling with strange forests containing trees Theo dind¡¯t recognize. Conifers and deciduous trees mingled together with the tropical fare, giving a confusing backdrop to the stone ziggurats. As always¡ªlurking from the jungle or poking their sunken-eyed faces around rocks¡ªwere the elves. They gazed on the alchemist and Tresk with a kind of madness that only his potent Reforge Mind potion could cure. Too much time in the void had broken their minds, although he thought of them as having simply lost their senses.
Zarali, Sulvan, and Bilgrob were ready back in town. They had a capacity of 150 elves for now, which was more than Theo had expected. Alongside that was Salire¡¯s efforts to create enough potions to handle the influx. Not only did they need to heal the minds of the elves but also their souls. Things had finally lined up, and he was excited to get started.
¡°How do we round them up?¡± Tresk asked.
Theo took a seat on one of the many stone steps leading to the temple. He nced at the shard behind him, reminded of another thing he had to fix in a short time. That relied on Elrin and his strange connection with the shards, though.
¡°Wait for them toe. And subdue any that attack.¡± Theo shrugged. He hadn¡¯t found a better way to handle them. ¡°You brought the rope, right?¡±
¡°See, this is funny,¡± Tresk said, withdrawing a length of rope from their shared inventory. ¡°Because you normally find an alchemical solution to the problem.¡±
¡°A sleeping potion would be nice, right?¡± Theo asked with a sigh. A few elves moved closer to the steps, rushing when they thought no one was looking. One tripped, face-nting on the soft ground. The poor elf remained there as though she had sessfully crossed the distance. ¡°If this wasn¡¯t so sad, I¡¯d beughing.¡±
Treskughed. ¡°I¡¯ll give a good chuckle for both of us.¡±
The first elf to go down was a woman. She was disheveled, her eyes sunken with a mad look in whatever light remained on her face. Another problem with lingering in the void as a mortal was the way it sapped a person¡¯s strength. Theo suspected it took just about everything from these people. Each attribute was tied to a piece of that person, and the void sucked away every drop they had. Tresk overpowered her with almost no effort, pinning the woman to the ground and tying her up tightly.¡°One down,¡± Tresk said, tossing the woman up near the shard. ¡°A lot to go.¡±
It wasn¡¯t the most glorious way to handle the situation. But Theo watched as hispanion captured elves. He helped when there was more than one, joining in to use his predictive powers to outss the elves.But their capacity to control this many elves wascking. Once they had about fifty, the alchemist realized it was too much for them to handle by themselves.
¡°We gotta settle,¡± Tresk said, running after another elf that had broken their bonds. ¡°They¡¯re ready on the other side, right?¡±
Theo nodded, tightening the knot on one elf. The elven man looked up at him with a wild look, gnashing his teeth. ¡°Right,¡± he said, expanding his aura to epass each elf. Through his will, he selected the elves, and not the structure. Shouts of fear rose as they fell into the void. More shouts came when those elves were cut off from pure void energy. The alchemist¡¯s shadowy aura guarded them from the effects. ¡°Stop pping that one.¡±
¡°She won¡¯t stay still!¡± Tresk shouted, giving the elf a few good ps on the face. Oddly, it seemed to work. ¡°Just have a nap,dy.¡±
The floating bubble of condensed willpower and loaned power from Shadow approached the mortal realm. In a sh, fifty elves, a demon, and a newt appeared underneath the temple in Broken Tusk. While Theo wasn¡¯t great at steering to the exact location on the mortal realm, he could alter his course by a few miles if he needed.
Zarali bound over, her eyes wide. Theo was reminded of the difference in her personalitypared to when she first arrived. She had gone from reserved to bubbly after getting married. The one thing he loved more than anything about that was the way it seemed to help her care about others. As a Drogramathi Dronon, those emotions were hard to feel. But nothing wouldpare to the absolute redemption of Sulvan metouched.
¡°This is all?¡± Sulvan asked, administering the first Reforge Mind potion. He wore a simple robe today, stained with dirt. The look of empathy on his face was clear to everyone around.
Bilgrob wasn¡¯t so empathetic. The full-blooded ogre lifted a nearby elf by one leg, forcing a potion down his throat. ¡°They¡¯re so squishy¡¡±
¡°Just get them under as fast as you can,¡± Theo said, helping with the process. ¡°Before they w your eyes out.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a possibility?¡± Zarali asked, jumping back slightly.
¡°Not if you hold them like this,¡± Bilgrob said, dangling the unconscious elf in the air.
¡°Have more respect, Bil,¡± Sulvan growled. ¡°These people have been through enough. And they have a long road to recovery.¡±
Bilgrob shrugged, cing the elf on the ground. The group worked through the elves, giving each a potion to cure their minds. After that came shes of gold and silver light as the healers took care of minor wounds. They exined something about the power of the god Hallow soothing their souls long enough to cure them, but Theo didn¡¯t understand much about that divine magic. He knew alchemy and the void, and was content with his specialty.
One fact of the Reforge Mind potion that sucked was how it couldn¡¯t interact with the Reforge Soul potion. All healers agreed it would be too risky to give both potions at one time. They feared for the stability of the elves, and refused to give them both at once. That would increase the time it would take the elves to heal significantly. Until then, they would stay under the care of the healers in their cells.
¡°Time to do a few more runs,¡± Theo said, breathing out a heavy sigh. ¡°Ready for anotherte night, Tresk?¡±
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¡°Oh, yeah. I lovete nights. Hey, let¡¯s bring Alex this time.¡±
###
The capacity for elves within the temple was apparently two-hundred. And Theo was exhausted. Their n was to do this in waves. The only problem there was knowing how many elves there were. It wasn¡¯t as though every elf on the ind in the void gathered near intruders. Theo was certain most were hidden in the jungles and forests around the area.
¡°This is going to be a lot of work,¡± Zarali sighed, cing her head on Theo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°At least we know what we¡¯re doing.¡±
Bilgrob shuffled awkwardly to the pair, doubling over to put his meaty head on Theo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re so exhausted. Care to cuddle?¡±
Theo shrugged them both off, getting enough distance so he could flee if needed. ¡°What about imported healers? Have we had any luck with those?¡±
¡°You¡¯d have to ask Alise.¡± Sulvan peered through the doors of the cells, checking on each patient. ¡°But I think she might be busy.¡±
With the elves sorted for now, that only left Theo with his next leg of the task. As was her new goal in life, Tresk followed along. Upon leaving the temple, Theo stopped as his eyes turned to the sky. A dark shape looked overhead as Alex swooped around. Her slender neck angled toward the ground as she dove, wings spreading wide as she stopped herself. Her draconic features had reallye outtely, especially as she grew. A bit smaller than an Indian Elephant, she bore the features of both a goose and a dragon. Dragon horns, scales, and spikes marked her body while streaking patches of feathers joined them. She had four limbs and a pair of wings. At least her feet were still webbed. The spiked tail was a nice addition forbat, though.
¡°Coming along?¡± Theo asked. ¡°You¡¯re tall enough. Maybe you can watch us work on the third floor while you¡¯re outside.¡±
¡°Yes, I am quite tall,¡± Alex said, speaking into their minds.
¡°You¡¯re the tallest dragon-goose I know,¡± Tresk said, nodding with agreement.
Within the Newt and Demon were enough distition artifices to choke out the upants. If not for the extraction devices¡ªin the case of the second floor, a simple fan in the window¡ªthat certainly would¡¯ve happened. Salire was on the third floor, working through an endless line of potions. Theo recognized the scent before he had even entered the building. The Soul Blooms stolen by Tresk resulted in a massive supply of Reforge Soul potions.¡±
¡°Theo!¡± Salire said, looking over to him with a pleading look. ¡°I could really use some help. Pretty sure the essence has a limited lifespan.¡±
Theo smiled as he rubbed his hands. Salire had already set everything out that needed work. She had even created the Enchanted Water needed to mix with the essence. As expected, this new version of the potion didn¡¯t require a long brewing time within the vial. ording to their early tests, if there was a brew time it was less than an hour. With hundreds of the potions to brew, he wanted nothing more than to get it done and move onto the next leg of the project.
Although Salire had overseen most of the distition this time around, the quality of essence she produced was excellent. With the new system in alchemy, it was all about getting the purity number as high as possible. Theo considered 95% to be their target, since that would almostpletely remove the chance for a bad reaction. Salire had hit that number with only minor help, resulting in a batch of incredibly pure Soul Essence. Combined with the pure Searing Regeneration Essence, and Suffuse Essence, the resulting Reforge Soul potions were going to be awesome.
Theo watched as Salire kicked off a reaction,bining the two properties with a Suffuse Potion. The reaction was as violent as the suffuse actions normally were. But Tero¡¯gal¡¯s alchemy was always more subtle than Drogramath¡¯s alchemy, as long as the required materials were of a high purity. The vial sputtered for a moment, releasing a cloud of noxious gas. But the resulting potion within the vial was very impressive, and suffered from none of the expected problems rted to brew time.
¡°I think you¡¯ve outdone yourself this time around,¡± Theo said, holding the vial high to get a better look. There was a slight cloudiness within the vial, but it seemed otherwise perfect to him. He inspected the item, reading the description provided by the system prompt.
[Greater Reforge Soul]
[Potion]
Legendary
Created by: Salire Hogrush
Purity: 91%
Alignment:
Imbibing this potion reforges a mortal¡¯s soul. The process is extremely painful, but all impurities, imperfections, and scars are cleansed.
¡°That gave some decent experience!¡± Salire said, jumping with excitement.
The 91% purity was what excited Theo. He wouldn¡¯t say it to Salire, but distilling the Soul Bloom was devilish work. The reagent was prone to bad reactions, as the flower was incredibly delicate. He suspected the lizard-folk they stole them from had been cultivating the flowers for years. The resulting reagent was impressive, leaving him feeling worse about the theft. But if the choice was between saving a bunch of elves and not offending the lizardfolk, he would save the elves every time.
¡°That¡¯s a good one, right?¡± Tresk asked, looking over the potion.
¡°She¡¯s batting well above her ability,¡± Theo said. The words forced a sh of red to spread across Salire¡¯s cheeks. ¡°We¡¯re talking about an alchemist that actually knows her stuff. I made things like this around Level 20, but I was Drogramath¡¯s Champion.¡±
¡°Yeah, you were cheating the whole way through. Salire is actually good,¡± Tresk pped Theo on the lower back, almost hitting his butt. She was just so short. ¡°When does she take over the shop?¡±
¡°Stop!¡± Salire said, covering her face with her hands. ¡°I¡¯m trying to brew potions here. The angry lizard never givespliments.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true, angry lizard. You¡¯re being weirdly nice.¡±
¡°Yeah, well, I can do math. I know we¡¯re gonna spend forever with our friends so I¡¯m trying to make a better impression. Less stabbing, more hugging. That¡¯s what I always say.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve never said that,¡± Theo corrected.
¡°But I could¡¯ve.¡±
Clearing away the rest of the potions was fairly easy. It was time-consuming, taking the group until after dinner to get the job done. Theo was already tired from staying up the previous night, but it was wearing on him. Tresk actually helped, using their shared [Tara¡¯hek Union] skill to steal some of Theo¡¯s alchemical abilities. At least that made things go faster, finally giving everyone the break they needed to get some dinner.
Theo invited Salire over for food before they left theb. Before heading out, they double-checked that each of the 150 potions they had brewed was safely stowed away. While the yield for Tero¡¯gal alchemy was much less than Drogramath¡¯s version, he couldn¡¯t have been prouder of what they had aplished. When the group arrived at the manor, they found that Sarisa and Rowan had prepared some food for them. While it was nothing special¡ªjust some delicious meatball and pasta style dish¡ªeach was grateful for the meal.
¡°The good news is we get to do that tomorrow,¡± Theo said, giving Salire a yful wink. ¡°And the day after that. And so on until we cure the elves.¡±
¡°Oh! Do I get to steal more things?¡± Tresk asked.
¡°No, you stole enough for us to cure way too many elves.¡±
¡°Bah! Can I steal some stuff anyway?¡±
Theo shrugged. ¡°Yeah. Just make sure you onlymit petty crimes. Nothing too crazy.¡±
¡°Hooray! Tresk shouted, throwing her hands in the air. ¡°I¡¯m a criminal!¡±
7.3 - Sniff Test
Theo wasn¡¯t sure how many more all-nighters he could pull. But the elves needed saving, didn¡¯t they? At least he and Tresk had the foresight to take the night in shifts. Since he had increased his Vigor to 124, he felt as though he could go at least a week without proper sleep. How that would make him feel was another matte. But as he took his shift watching the stills, it gave him time to reflect on how those attributes worked.
The goal of the ascendants was to leverage their position to get certain changes made to the system. One of those changes was the way attributes worked and their effects on people. Theo¡¯s Intelligence was only at 30 for a very good reason. Increasing Wisdom or Intelligence beyond a certain point had effects on the mind. Pumping Intelligence made a person cold and logical, while doing the same for Wisdom reced a person¡¯s personality with their intuition. Both roads sucked, and the alchemist had only ovee his massive Wisdom with the Wisdom of the Soul potion. Unfortunately, someone could only drink one of those.
While there was likely some effect from higher physical attributes, it wasn¡¯t nearly as dramatic as Intelligence or Wisdom. But then there was the system of advancement itself. A person could gain a new core slot every 10 levels, and each of those cores had to be leveled to gain personal levels. The only way around that was to do a core dedication, which gave a person a main- and sub-slot for their cores. They could still equip other cores, but only experience from those main cores counted toward a personal level. Without the dedication feature, it would¡¯ve been difficult to reach Level 100¡ So why encourage that system in the first ce?
There were likely many other facets of the system that just didn¡¯t work. But that was for the council to decide. Once they had enough leverage to im their spot in the system. The system itself still seemed reluctant to recognize them. Or perhaps it had some other ns in mind. Whatever the case, Theo was certain they would work things out. As for the n with Kuzan¡ he was less confident with that by the day. The Venom poison might have worked before, but there was no guarantee it would work again. It just seemed like a horrible gamble.
Theo had an idea on how to get what they wanted without using the poison, but still needed to find the perfect person to fill the role. Unfortunately, it would be hard to convince a mortal to ascend to godhood. As strange as that sounded, not everyone wanted the responsibilities of a god. Perhaps they had all learned their lessons from the ascendancy nonsense.
The alchemist nudged Tresk, watching as she stirred on the ground. ¡°Your watch,¡± he said.
Tresk blinked a few times, jumping to her feet. ¡°Why, thank you good sir,¡± she said with a bow. ¡°If not for my incredible Vigor, I¡¯d put a boot up your bottom.¡±
¡°Thanks to my incredible Vigor,¡± Theo corrected, crawling into the sheets they had dragged into theb. ¡°You know what to do, right?¡±
¡°No. I can just open my brain to your instincts, though. Don¡¯t worry about it!¡±Theo grunted, resting his head on the pillow and drifting off immediately. That was a massive advantage given to them by the Tara¡¯hek. Instant sleep, no matter the circumstances. Of course he drifted into a gray-ck void with nothing inside. He would experience time as it happened outside of the iplete Dreamwalk, but his body would gain the restorative effects of sleep. There were worse ways to spend the night.
Drifting through the nothing, Theo felt himself being pulled somewhere. The Dreamwalk was the manifestation of his shared dream with Tresk. It represented their desire to create, and had given something akin to matter thanks to that shared goal. When one member wasn¡¯t within the pseudo-realm, it appeared like an endless void. But he had never felt that maic pull. Toote, he realized what was happening.
Dancing fire raged overhead. Theo heard the shouts as someone, somewhere joined in battle. He stood atop a massive stone wall, looking down at fields of monsters. Next to him were elven defenders, shooting down with bows and arrows, or manning massive cannons that belched fire. The scene shed and he stood in a burning city, mutated goblins all around. Then an ind, a tundra, three more cities, and finally Earth. But it wasn¡¯t the Earth he remembered. It was one of fresh devastation, rather than the century-long devastation he was used to.
Monsters descended onto some unknown city, pushing through the ranks of defenders. Theo steered his mind away from the dream, finding his way back to the gray void. He had tapped into Tresk¡¯s ability to hop between dreams. Without hismand, his mind had sought out the man he met only days ago. Whoever Elrin was, he had fought to defend both Iaredin and Earth. Perhaps it didn¡¯t matter now, but the situation they found themselves in now was a fine mirror for that long-gone battle.
He was content to drift in that void until it ended. To his surprise, it represented a much-needed break from his endless thoughts.
###
¡°My turn to be rude,¡± Tresk said, tapping Theo in the side with her foot. ¡°Wakey wakey. Eggs and¡ sausage. They made us eggs and sausage.¡±
Theo shot up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. His body wasn¡¯t quite as sore as it should have been, and he wouldn¡¯tin. He rose to his feet, epting the te of food offered by Tresk before taking a seat. ¡°Any problems?¡±
¡°A few. But I sorted them out,¡± Tresk said, beaming with pride. ¡°Looks like they have a few more hours to go, but this batch is brewing quickly.¡±
¡°Good. Or bad, hard to tell,¡± Theo said, picking up his fork and spearing a sausage. ¡°The smell seems right.¡±
¡°Ah, yes. Sniff the essence, Theo. That¡¯s always the best way to tell if a potion is good.¡±
Theo craned his neck, narrowing his eyes at one sk. The rity of the Soul Essence looked great to him. If he had to guess, they were beyond 95%, which would make some delightfully potent potions. The final potion might reach 93% after being mixed with the Suffuse Potion and Burning Regeneration. Also, the sausage was great. Whisper always outdid herself with the sausages she made.
¡°So, what kind of mischief are we getting up to today?¡± Tresk asked.
Thinking about it for a moment, Theo devoured the rest of his sausage. ¡°We¡¯re gonna watch the stills. Do you have something in mind?¡±
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Tresk shrugged. ¡°Something dangerous would be fun.¡±
Theo tapped his chin. Sometimes he wished his brain didn¡¯t agree with her. But a bit of danger would be fun, especially to break up how boring things had been around town. ¡°Well, there is some horrid creature living under the mine.¡±
¡°Oh! That¡¯s the thing you were blocking out in your brain!¡± Tresk shouted, jumping with excitement. ¡°I wanna kill a giant monster!¡±
They could at least do some scouting to figure out what the monster was. Theo had three concerns rting to attacks. The first was the underground area in general. There was awork of connected caves under town where a race of elves could attack. That very same race of elves was the one Theo thought Twist was from. Perhaps they were descendants, but most of that man¡¯s people were locked away in the queue, or with Death. The next attack mighte from the dungeons. Something was wrong with the dungeons, and no one had figured out how to fix them. That was likely because Xol¡¯sa was too busy. Thest attack woulde from the giant monster under the mythril portion of the mine. ?
Theo was broken from his thoughts when the bell downstairs rang. He smiled at Salire as she ascended the steps. The half-ogre woman pped her hands with excitement.
¡°More potions? You guys work too hard,¡± she had, crossing the room and patting Tresk on the head. ¡°Do we have a new apprentice alchemist?¡±
¡°I¡¯m the master, baby,¡± Tresk said, striking a pose. ¡°Just kidding. I steal his knowledge. Can you watch these? We¡¯re gonna go y a giant monster or something.¡±
¡°Uhm¡ Sure? What monster are you two going to y?¡± Salire asked, looking slightly concerned.
Sarisa and Rowan appeared from the shadows, both of their arms crossed. ¡°We¡¯re noting,¡± Sarisa said.
¡°You weren¡¯t invited, stinky.¡±
¡°Now I wannae,¡± Sarisa said.
¡°Yeah, let¡¯s kill a dragon,¡± Rowan agreed.
Theo checked his stock of potions, finding that they had enough Foresight potions for a fight. From what little he knew about underground monsters, it seemed likely they were indeed dealing with a dragon or dragon-adjacent creature. Leaving it alone was easy enough. But letting something like that fester under the town only invited disaster. Taking care of it now fell in line with his proactive way of thinking.
¡°Scouting first,¡± Theo said, finishing his food and setting his ce aside. Tresk sucked it up into their shared inventory. ¡°Let¡¯s try not to engage unless the monster is weak. If it¡¯s a monster at all.¡±
¡°Heck yeah. Nothing will go wrong,¡± Tresk said, pumping her fist. ¡°We¡¯re all gonna live forever!¡±
Theo gave Salire all the information she needed to know about the run. It was another full run of the Soul Blooms, and should have been ready around midday. After that came the task of giving everyone working the mine that day a day off. When theyined, he sent them to work for Ziz for the day at their normal rate. At first he thought people cared about still being paid, but soon realized they just wanted to keep busy. After the mine was cleared out, it was time for some scouting.
Tresk was the first to press her face against the stone deep in the mine. She nodded to herself, giving Theo the thumbs-up.
¡°Yeah, I hear something big down there,¡± she said, telepathically sending the words. ¡°The rock is also very warm.¡±
Theo nodded at Sarisa and Rowan, who both took a swig of their potions to buff up. The alchemist knelt, pressing his hand against the stone. He used his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core to bore a tiny hole, being careful not to shift the stone too much. Tresk them pressed her face against the stone and pulled back quickly.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s weird,¡± she whispered, shaking her head. ¡°Big fire monster.¡±
Theo assumed her previous position, peering into the hole. It was indeed a big old fire monster. All he could see was a sh of me moving past about fifty feet straight down. When it moved, the ground shook. A few ideas shed through his mind. Perhaps they could solve this problem without engaging in directbat. If they nned, they could at least weaken the creature. But the aura it put off was certainly that of a monster. And a strong one at that.
¡°Does this connect with our main chamber?¡± Theo asked into Tresk¡¯s mind.
¡°Make it bigger. I¡¯ll go check.¡±
Theo nodded, widening the hole for a moment. Tresk slipped into the shadows, activating her stealth ability before dropping into the hole. He shut it closed behind her, viewing the events from her eyes.
Tresk drew on her connection with Theo, gaining attributes to survive the fall. With a pretty sweet roll, she took stock of the area. Like most of the underground caverns, this one was a mixture of naturally forming caverns and passageways. While it was hard to figure out what the monster was, it was at least twice the size of Alex and lingering in the area as though searching. With a form obscured by flickering fire, the six-legged monster scratched at the ground, releasing a low rumbling moan.
It wasn¡¯t a dragon. But the creature was unlike any other Theo had seen. Not that he had traveled the underground area, cataloging each monster. But monsters were typically fantasy-themed things or several creatures smashed together. There was no part of the monster¡¯s stunted body that made sense. Without a tail, and with a too-short neck, it was just confusing. And the fire didn¡¯t help things, making it difficult to understand anything about it.
¡°I think this creature is stuck,¡± Tresk said.
¡°Really?¡± Theo asked, watching through Tresk¡¯s eyes as she got an angle on its face.
¡°No eyeballs that I can see.¡± Tresk kept to the edge of the enormous cavern, tracking a path to avoid the light of the fire. Theo could almost feel the heat washing over himself as he observed through her eyes. She found a spot where the stone looked strange, as though it had bubbled up from below. ¡°What do you think about that?¡±
It would be better if Theo could get down there and see for himself. At this distance, his Earth Sorcerer¡¯s Core couldn¡¯t get a read on it. But it appeared as though the rock had gone molten, only to cool. The only thing he could think was that the beast had risen from the depths through someva tube, only for it to be sealed within the room. No other passage was wide enough for it to fit through.
¡°What¡¯s the n?¡± Tresk asked.
The monster let out a long growl, the sound echoing loud enough for Theo to hear it above the cavern. Killing the monster would be a challenge, especially in that dark room. With only the beast¡¯s light to help, things could get tricky. For once in her little lizard life, Tresk didn¡¯t lunge forward to attack the monster. The alchemist waited for it to happen. It felt as though she might burst forward at any moment, driving her daggers into the monster¡¯s fiery hide. But she didn¡¯t.
¡°So, are we not fighting?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°We might not need to,¡± Theo said, orienting himself to a direction he thought might be east. ¡°I¡¯ve got two ns. One is slightly more dramatic than the other.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go with drama!¡± Sarisa said.
¡°Agreed,¡± Rowan nodded. ¡°Drama sounds more fun.¡±
¡°Drama it is¡¡±
7.4 - Giant Flaming Toad Monster
Theo¡¯s n to bring some drama to the event wasn¡¯t just about drama. He had a way he thought he could take care of the monster by flooding the chamber with water, but that came with its own set of problems. Where would the water go after it extinguished the smoldering beast? Would it flood the caverns below, causing problems for his town down there? He couldn¡¯t predict that, so he came up with a more dramatic n.
¡°You¡¯ve been practicing your running, haven¡¯t you, Tresk?¡± Theo asked.
¡°That question is so pointed,¡± Tresk said, looking slightly offended. ¡°I don¡¯t need to practice my running. I¡¯m naturally good.¡±
One of the many projects Theo had worked on involved a set of staircases and ledges to the southwest, right through the rocks near the mine and out, giving a view of the open ocean. Digging a tunnel between the cliffs and the chamber wouldn¡¯t be too hard. Leading the monster down that very same tunnel would be just as easy. Normally, he would be concerned about convincing Tresk to take on the task, but she seemed strangely eager. Maybe she was bored.
Although Sarisa and Rowan hade along, their roles in the event fell to being mostly observers. Although Theo wouldn¡¯t decline their help if things went wrong, his ns often went wrong. But the strength of a Broken Tusk was their adaptability.
¡°Perfect,¡± Theo said, pulling himself from his thoughts. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to get to work,¡± Tresk said, folding her arms. ¡°I can¡¯t move this much stone.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t move any stone,¡± Theo said. ¡°Look at your little noodle arms.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Tresk shouted. ¡°I love my noodle arms.¡±Near the entrance of the mines, another tunnel led off to the cliffs Theo had worked on. The tunnel was angled slightly, heading upward, but only to provide drainage. The original idea was to run a railroad track down this way, looping along the cliffside and down onto a causeway in the sea. That¡¯s because we had failed spectacrly, although Theo still didn¡¯t know the reason. The party edged along the cliff, finding an area they thought might give them a straight shot to the chamber.
Using his earth sorcerer¡¯s core, Theo sensed the rock, piercing it with his shadowy aura to determine where the chamber was. His senses delved deep, finding strange openings in the rock passages he wasn¡¯t aware of and other interesting things. But soon he found what he was looking for. The massive opening in the rocks felt hot to his senses. He could feel the fire of the monster burning brighter¡ªperhaps brighter than before. Reaching out with his will, he grabbed a cube of rock, pulled it back, and tossed it down into the ocean below.
¡°You know,¡± Sarisa said, tapping her chin. ¡°Feels as though you could use that power more often. You know¡ to crush things.¡±
¡°Seriously, imagine getting one of those tossed at you,¡± Rowan said, shaking his head.
¡°I¡¯ve done it before,¡± Theo said with pride, sticking his chest out, only to be smacked in the back by Tresk.
¡°Memento mori, my good friend,¡± Tresk said.
¡°We¡¯re pseudo gods,¡± Theo countered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure death needs to be a concern of ours.¡±
¡°You know what I meant,¡± Tresk said.
Carving a new tunnel from the rock was easy enough, and if things went wrong, Theo could plug it back up before the monster got to them. He pulled countless stones from the wall, realizing after a bit that he could put Ziz out of business.Manipting the stone with his core was almost effortless. With his willpower so high, he could reach out and make intricate shapes if he wanted. He could pull a sheet of rock from the cliff face and turn it into small, useful blocks. That aspect of the power had never appealed to him, though.
¡°Getting kinda hot, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tresk asked, fanning herself.
Theo looked back, seeing that both Rowan and Sarisa were sweating. It was easy to forget he was wearing the Coat of Rake, which made most environments tolerable. He looked back to the wall, realizing that as he reached out to the new bit of stone, it was hotter than thest. Falling into his thoughts had made him stop paying attention to the heat, and he could only think that they were getting closer to the chamber.
¡°Is it really that close?¡± Theo asked, looking back at hispanions and concerned. ¡°I thought we had at least another hundred feet.¡±
¡°I¡¯m up, baby,¡± Tresk said. Her daggers appeared in her hands, and she assumed abat position in the darkened tunnel.
¡°There¡¯s no need to fight this thing,¡± Theo said. ¡°Not until it¡¯s in the water, then we can get it.¡±
¡°Wait, there¡¯s a part two to this n?¡± Sarisa asked, looking slightly shocked.
¡°You two wanted a fight, didn¡¯t you?¡± Theo asked.
¡°We were willing to fight,¡± Rowan corrected. ¡°Not like we were looking for one. Not least of which against a giant beast like that.¡±
¡°You two should make your way down to the coastline. Just wait for our signal. If we need to, we¡¯ll lead the beast back to the city, and the guns can take care of it.¡±
¡°I¡¯m about to head off to the tavern,¡± Rowan grumbled as he walked away with his sister.
Theo estimated the time it would take to walk down to the coastline, counting it out in his head as he thought about all the ways this thing could go wrong. He and Tresk both had backup ns so they wouldn¡¯t be in immediate danger. The only problem would be if the beast somehow managed to avoid their trap, not slipping from the cliff and turning to attack the miners. At least they could send up a general rm to the town.
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¡°Are you ready?¡± Theo asked. He felt Tresk¡¯s eagerness to prove herself flood through him.
¡°Ready!¡± she shouted, daggers still in her hands.
Of course, it was awkward when it came time to remove thest few blocks. Dreskin Theo walked the blocks back from the far side of the tunnel, tossing them over the cliff. A few more blockster, and the heat was almost unbearable. Theo felt as though the stone he was pulling might go molten at any moment. And he didn¡¯t remember the monster within the cavern being this hot.
¡°Oh, I have a feeling something¡¯s going to go wrong,¡± Tresk said, rubbing his hands together in excitement.
¡°Terribly wrong if our luck¡¯s anything to go by,¡± Theo said. He considered thest block he had to pull, looking back on the long tunnel and realizing something about his n.
The beast very well may follow him through the tunnel as he pulled thest block. Well, he had made sure that the passageway wasrge enough for the monster to follow. He hadn¡¯t counted on it following immediately after the block was pulled. Since he was effectively cutting the stone from the rock, it would be mobile after he made thisst cut. Tresk might have been right in her predictions that things were going to go wrong.
¡°Ready?¡± Theo asked.
¡°Stop dying,¡± Tresk said, bouncing with excitement. ¡°I wanna jump off a cliff!¡±
¡°Is Alex ready?¡± Theo asked. Tresk¡¯s impatient grew. She simply responded with a series of grunts.
The moment Theo pulled thestrge block from the wall, he felt something press against it. He held against it with his willpower, working with his core to try to hold it in ce, but the force on the other side was too great. Although he had no physical contact with the stone, his feet slid back, scraping against the stone floor. Tresk chirped with excitement, making strange noises as sheughed. The alchemist simply let the monster push him, sailing towards the light on the far side of his hewn tunnel. Hispanion ran as fast as she could.
No matter how much willpower he put into it, the Oak couldn¡¯t hope to stop the monster. It pushed him until, what felt like momentster, he was sailing through the air. He couldn¡¯t remember when the darkness of the tunnel had given way to the light just above the ocean. But the next thing he remembered was a sensation of falling. The sky above and the ocean below spun in a dizzying disy that was impossible to understand.
Tresk hooted with excitement as they fell. The wind rushed by, deafening Theo to everything but the excited chittering of hispanion. The only other sound he could hear was the roar of the ming monster above them. Alex dove, scooped Tresk from the air, but left Theo to his own n. Except he didn¡¯t have a n. He hadn¡¯t thought this through as well as he had expected. Most people would consider him paranoid for keeping so many utility potions on him. The alchemist preferred to think of himself as prepared.
There were a few potions Theo could drink to get out of this situation. There was the unfavorable Return Potion. That potion would bring him back to the ce he was born, which either meant he would return to the destroyed Earth, or more likely, to wherever the body he inhabited was born. But he had a better potion for the job. The Retreat Potion, imbued with the Elemental Wind property, would see him through.
As Theo fell, he angled the potion awkwardly, trying to get the contents to drain into his mouth. He drained the liquid from within the vial through great effort. The effects of the potion were immediate. Several things happened all at once. Theo shot backwards with more force than he thought his body could handle. If not for his enhanced Vigor, he might not have recovered from the whish alone. A gust of wind burst forth before him. The sound of the whipping wind became intense enough that he couldn¡¯t even hear the creature roar. Once he stopped rocketing backwards, he felt the next effect of the potion take hold.
Theo drifted about 50 feet above the waves below, the feather fall effect from his potion carrying him harmlessly. He watched as the monster crashed into the water, massive gouts of steam issuing as its body was extinguished. He still couldn¡¯t get a good look at what the thing looked like under that steam, but he saw dark flesh. It was as though the monster was made from coal, some embers still burning as it sank below the waves. Tresk hooted with excitement from somewhere above. Alex¡¯s excited honks joined her shrill voice.
Drifting awkwardly towards the harbor, Theo crossed his arms and shook his head. He watched the boiling sea, trying to spot any sign of the monster below. But as he grew more distant, he found he was unable to see anything worth noting. It was an undignified thing to be propelled by one¡¯s own momentum, unable to change course, especially when the ocean came rushing up to meet him.
Theo wasn¡¯t the strongest swimmer, especially not with the river dumping into the harbor, creatingrge eddies near the defensive towers they had built. Fortunately, the builders of those towers had enough knowledge to put littledders along its length on both sides. Pumping his legs, the alchemist finally reached thedder, grasping the rusted metal and pulling himself onto the stone causeway. He sucked in a breath of fresh air, coughing and spitting out a fair amount of water.
The causeway rumbled slightly as Alex and Tresknded next to him.
¡°That was pretty cool,¡± Tresk said.
¡°It could have been cooler,¡± Alex honked.
A tres cat away of celebrating before fights were over. Theo rose to his feet, ringing out what parts of his clothes he could see. Water dripped onto the causeway as the defenders stationed there looked on in confusion. They were all prepared for the lizardfolk to attack. But Theo was more concerned about the giant monster thrashing in the water about 200 feet away. It hadn¡¯t died from the fall, and extinguishing its fire seemed to do little to temper its rage.
The alchemist now had a better view of the monster, who seemed to learn how to swim after a few moments of thrashing around. If the creature¡¯s proportions weren¡¯t so strange, it would have almost been cute doing a little doggy paddle towards the defensive towers of the town. It had a big lumpen body, arms and legs almost like a toad¡¯s, and a squat face to match. If the creature had eyes, a nose, and a mouth, he couldn¡¯t see them.
¡°Round two. Fight!¡± Tresk shouted.
Theo looked up at the nearest tower, smiling to himself. He knew that it wouldn¡¯t be much of a fight, not with the Sandscourge Company on deck. Zan¡¯kir took his job very seriously. The towers hemanded bristled with weapons, both constructed by the local artificer, Throk, and those generated by the system. He heard orders that spread through their ranks: loading rounds, aiming the weapons, and preparing to fire. They were just waiting for amand from their officer. While the alchemist could give thatmand, his eyes were locked on the monster in the water. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what it was, or what it was doing down there in the mine.
Eventually, the order came, and the deafening snap of several railguns firing at the same time echoed across the harbor. The beast iled in the water as more rounds were fired. It didn¡¯tst long against the might of those weapons. And Theo was reminded that perhaps this was another exploit that should be patched. There were just too many things to track.
¡°That went well,¡± Sarisa said, approaching an out-of-breath from the far side of the causeway. Her brother was close behind her.
¡°I shot an arrow at it,¡± Rowan said, striking a heroic pose.
¡°And I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll never have a problem with giant ming toad monsters again,¡± Theo said, smiling to himself.
7.5 - A Crown for a Goose
Dealing with the ming monster was therapeutic. Theo felt a lot better about himself after taking care of it. It was dangerous, but he needed a little excitement after things had calmed down so much. While he would be the first to im that he enjoyed his quiet life in the Alliance, the small spurts of exciting moments became something he looked forward to. It felt odd, but those spats of danger were often highlights of his time here.
Putting himself in dangerous situations wasn¡¯t just about the adrenaline rush. It had more to do with seeing his hard work pay off, observing the effects of his potions, the teamwork of his people, and how efficiently the town was being run. Zan¡¯kir¡¯s people were able to respond to a strange, iling, ming monster. Within about 30 seconds of spotting it¡ªsure, they were already on the lookout for a fleet but still¡ªthey aligned their weapons and fired with expert precision. After thest void-infused dungeon wave, it was nice to see them take on something slightly more challenging.
Theo, Tresk, Sarisa, and Rowan walked back to town. They all exchanged their memories of the events. Of course, in ssic Broken Tusk style, the tale grew taller even before they reached the walls. The alchemist had to put a stop to it when Tresk greatly inted the number of ming beasts they dealt with. It was one thing to im that it was asrge as the mountain itself, but two, and three of them? That was too much.
Thinking about what had happened with thest dungeon wave, Theo was hesitant to retrieve more space elves. Everyone was on high alert, expecting something strange to happen with the dungeons. After reaching the town proper, lingering in the market for a while, the alchemist inspected his dungeon information readout.
[Swamp Dungeon] L30 Dormant
[River Dungeon] L19 Dormant
[Mountain Dungeon] L3 Dormant
[Hills Dungeon] L-1 Dormant
[Ocean Dungeon] L1 Dormant[Cave Dungeon] L45 Dormant
Theo stopped looking at the things on disy by the merchants, reading over the list several times. The Hills Dungeon was at level negative one. His brow furrowed as he thought about what that meant. The dungeons had started draining power the moment Void Energy was released into the town. While he didn¡¯t understand exactly what Void Energy was, he had only assumed that it would siphon what heavenly energy those dungeons had umted. Dungeons grew in power when their level increased. So what would happen with a dungeon that went into the negatives for its level? Something tickled in the back of his mind, something to do withputers back on Earth, but he couldn¡¯t remember what it was.
¡°I need to talk to some people,¡± Theo said, turning to look at Tresk. She had just bought some grilled fish from a vendor and was shoving it in her face.
¡°What about what?¡± Tresk asked, through a mouthful of fish, bones and all.
Theo only frowned, opening his administration interface and sending messages to the appropriate people. He set up a meeting with the town¡¯s leaders, as well as Xol¡¯sa. Of course, the resident¡¯s space elf was incredibly busy, but he woulde if the alchemist said it was an emergency. Anyway, the man had a Dungeon Engineer¡¯s Core. He would want to hear about this if he hadn¡¯t already noticed.
There was no better ce for a meeting than Town Hall. Since they had expanded the building, it had many rooms for meetings,fortable chairs, and a buzzing atmosphere. Sarisa and Rowan return to the shadows, providing Theo with their watchful, unseen gazes. As expected, the town hall was as busy as ever. Junior administrators moved around the first floor, helping citizens and foreigners alike with whatever questions they had. These were matters that were below the top brass of the governmental structure.
Theo and Tresk found their way to the upper floors, entering arge meeting room and settling into a pair of chairs. Alise was already there, drumming her fingers on the table as she looked between the two of them.
¡°What have you done this time?¡± she asked, her eyes flitting between them as though either Theo or Tresk would break under her stare.
¡°Don¡¯t look at us,¡± Tresk said, slightly offended. ¡°We actually didn¡¯t do anything this time. me the void.¡±
Elise kneaded her temples, letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°We¡¯re busy enough as it is,¡± she said, seeming to calm down. ¡°Do you have any solutions?¡±
Theo smiled, nodding to the door as Xol¡¯sa stepped through. ¡°Just the man I wanted to see.¡± He gestured for me to take a seat.
¡°Yes, yes,¡± Xol¡¯sa said, taking his seat and shaking his head. ¡°I saw the energy of the dungeons changing. Well, I felt it mostly, but then I checked the interface. I really don¡¯t know what it could mean.¡±
¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± Alise asked, looking between Theo and Xol¡¯sa. ¡°I thought you two were supposed to know the most about this.¡±
Of course, it wasn¡¯t that simple. Introducing void energy into the mortal realm was a risky thing. It was hard to predict what would happen since the void belonged in the void, nowhere else. This was simr to how the space elves had doomed themselves by creating their ind in the void. The effects of constant void exposure had on the ind were unpredictable. Theo would have assumed that the entire ce would be destroyed, but it was likely the power of the shards that kept it afloat.
The alchemist exined as much to Alise. While he didn¡¯t expect her or Xol¡¯sa to do anything about it, he thought it would be prudent if they knew.
¡°So, do we have a n of action?¡± Alise asked.
¡°That should be fairly simple,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°We treat it just like anything else. Assume that the Hills dungeon is now very dangerous. We should keep a close eye on it and make sure that there are plenty of troops ready to respond if it attacks.¡±
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¡°We should also consider sending adventurers in,¡± Theo said, nodding to Tresk. ¡°People who are strong enough to withstand a high-level dungeon, but who are also smart enough to run away if the need arises.¡±
¡°So you need someone who is both strong, and a coward,¡± Tresk said, nodding in her sage-like way. ¡°Interesting.¡±
¡°We need to understand what the dungeon is,¡± Theo said, correcting Tresk. ¡°We need to know what ¡®negative one¡¯ means when ites to a level. I don¡¯t really know if anybody has encountered that in this world.¡±
¡°None that I am aware of,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°In all my studies, I¡¯ve never heard of anything going below level one, let alone into the negatives.¡±
¡°Could we destroy the dungeon?¡± Tresk asked. ¡°Maybe blow it up or something. With a nuke. From orbit?¡±
¡°Destroying a dungeon is slightly moreplicated than that,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if we could use explosives or not.¡±
¡°Could you do that, though?¡± Alise asked. ¡°Could you do some research and see if you can figure out how to destroy the dungeon? If you¡¯re not too busy, that is.¡±
¡°Facts have recentlye to my attention concerning my attempts at the Tethers and Beacons,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°I think I¡¯m at a point where I can say that they will likely work with Theo¡¯s newest friend. I believe they will work. We¡¯re just waiting on him.¡±
Theo turned to Xol¡¯sa, his eyebrows raising. ¡°Are you really almost done?¡± he asked. ¡°Was Elrin¡¯s information really that helpful? Did he tell you that much?¡±
¡°I only need this slightest nudge to go in the right direction,¡± Xol¡¯sa said. ¡°And yes, the nature of the shards, the tethers, and the beacons¡ have finallye under my understanding. I think.¡±
¡°Great,¡± Tresk said. ¡°Now we just need the scary guy with the halberd and the tiger. And everything will work out just fine.¡±
Alise took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She nodded at each of them. ¡°I appreciate you bringing this to my attention,¡± she said, sounding as though she was growing more tired by the moment. ¡°Let¡¯s hope we can handle it.¡±
¡°Just hold in there, okay?¡± Theo asked, trying to reassure his best administrator that everything would indeed be okay. ¡°Once we go to Tero¡¯gal, everything will be a lot easier.¡±
¡°You say that now,¡± Alise said, giving Theo an usatory look. ¡°But I know once we get there, there will be even more work for me to do. I¡¯m managing an alliance right now, and you want me to manage a?¡±
¡°Actually, it¡¯s a and a moon, which is also a,¡± Tresk said.
¡°You need to work on your tap talks,¡± Alise said, ring at Tresk.
¡°I¡¯m the peppiest around. Ain¡¯t no one peppier,¡± Trask said, standing up with such force that her chair ttered to the ground behind her.
Theo could feel Tresk¡¯s intent to go probe the new dungeon. Well, it was an old dungeon, but being downgraded to -1 made it a new dungeon in his eyes. He wasn¡¯t sure how safe it would be, but sending somebody to investigate was a good idea. And the perfect person for the job was the angry little lizard.
This wasn¡¯t the first weird thing the system spat out in recent memory. There were some old upgrades aligned with gods that disyed a messed up entry. But the group gathered in the meeting room had their own tasks to aplish. Xol¡¯sa would get back to working on the beacons and tethers, finishing up whatever else he needed to do. Tresk would investigate the dungeon. And Theo would get back to hisb.
As he left the town hall, watching as Tresk headed off on this newest adventure, Theo spied on her. He wouldn¡¯t be ashamed of keeping an eye on hispanion. If she got herself into trouble, he could help pull her out. Or at least send someone else to go after her. For now, he pretended to go back to theb with nothing on his mind. Of course, Salire was hard at work up in theb. Ever since Theo had lost his Champion status, she had closed the gap between them. It was more like he had closed the gap by going down in skill.
¡°Everything going well?¡± Theo asked, looking over the stills on this floor. There were still some more working on the second floor. ¡°Smells good, anyway¡¡±
¡°Yeah, I robbed a few free stills for some restoration potions,¡± Salire pointed at the ones she was talking about. ¡°With the healers busy they¡¯re more important than ever. I¡¯m working with the administrators to figure out what we need most of.¡±
The Newt and Demon was the only organization providing healing in the region. There were tons of potions that normal people would find a use for in their everyday life. It wasn¡¯t all healing and attribute potionsing out of the shop. But even now, they were unlikely to focus on anything but curative potions. Even stamina and mana potions were off the table.
¡°Troubling times, aren¡¯t they?¡± Theo asked, inspecting the brewing essence. The quality was great, meaning they would produce some seriously good potions from this batch. His attention was drawn away from theb. Alex was somewhere outside, having already dropped Tresk off at the dungeon. ¡°Hold on. A dragon-goose is calling for my attention.¡±
Salire chuckled to herself, getting back to tending the stills. Theo made his way downstairs, walking outside to see his familiar doing circles in the sky overhead.
¡°I am bored,¡± Alex said. ¡°Entertain me.¡±
Theo frowned up at the dragon-goose. ¡°What is it, you goofy creature?Have I not noticed how much Tresk is your babysitter?¡±
¡°Perhaps,¡± Alex said, shooting an impressive stream of fire. That got a few cheers from the random people on the street below. ¡°But I am bored now. You must entertain me.¡±
Theo scratched his head, rubbing his horns as he thought. Sometimes Alex could be quite the diva, while others she waspletely chill. He let out a steady breath. There wasn¡¯t that much to do in town besides work and fight monsters. With the dungeons acting strangely, they could really only work. That¡¯s when he remembered he basically owned a nation and a few businesses that made a ton of money. He was rich.
¡°Wanna go shopping?¡± Theo asked, smiling up at the dragon-goose.
A hard beat of her wings sent a torrent of air rushing down. Theo watched as Alex tracked a path straight to the market, descending before he had a chance to catch up. He broke into a jog, following her to the open-air market. With a giant dragon-goose-thing roaming the market, people kept their distances. She might have been known to them, but Alex rarely went on the ground and mingled with the locals. The alchemist found her honking at a random foreign vendor, although he couldn¡¯t understand what she was saying.
¡°Uh, can you make a big version of this one,¡± Theo said, gesturing to an ornate cloak.
¡°What?¡± the human man asked, his back pressed against a wooden pir.
Theo snapped his fingers a few times before pushing Alex away. Of course, he couldn¡¯t move the massive creature. She just moved under hismand. ¡°The pretty cloak there. Can you make one dragon-goose sized?¡±
¡°Uh¡ Yeah?¡± the man said, his eyes twitching. ¡°Is it gonna eat me?¡±
Theo looked between Alex and the vendor. ¡°Not likely. Unless you¡¯re a dragon.¡± He tried to chuckle to defuse the tension, but it didn¡¯t work. Instead, he negotiated for a price. The man working the counter could apparently make another version of the cloak big enough for Alex to wear.
¡°What else?¡± Theo asked, looking around.
¡°Uhm¡ Hrm¡ A crown?¡± Alex said, her voice echoing through Theo¡¯s mind.
¡°A crown it is,¡± Theo said, eager to distract the goose for as long as possible. ¡°Let¡¯s find you a crown.¡±
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