Couple days after the End of Set and the End of the Curse of the Twit as Robert calls it. He Finally got his forge set up and got all the tools he wanted (he stole a bunch of them from people he just does not like, ie the Western Elves). He makes a sword, just to prove to himself he can do it. Takes weeks to forge it, from smelting the ore, then crafting the blade, working out the kninks. He also makes some fine leather and crafts the promised suit of leather for Alric, so he has his 'skin' once more. He loved it. (Used the Chromite Salt trick to cure the leather faster - something not even the elves or dwarves know the trick of yet, he taught the local leather workers this trick though, giving them a massive advantage over the rest of the world. The thing is Robert does not realize that at this point as no one told him. Ra and Ptah don't really mind though, it's not what they consider a huge secret, and so they let it slide.)
Of the sword, being his first one, he presented it to Ramsey in court a couple days after he finished it and it's sheath.
He has a Huge grin when he enters the court and patiently waits his turn.
"Greetings my Pharaoh. I decided you to gift you with the First Sword I have made in the place you have given me."
The blade shines in the light, the hilt is bone and the weight is perfect. The Pharaoh and his people are very impressed.
He puts it on his belt and smiles at his new smith, "So you are ready to teach then."
Robert nods, "Yes sire."
One of the generals ask, "Where did you find the tools ?"
Robert shrugs, "I stole them from some enemies who were suppling weapons to the People of the Sea. Not like they needed them after I was done with them anyway."
Several people chuckle about that. No one here has any problem with the destruction of anyone who has anything to do with Those raiders. Dessen speaks up, "My mages and Robert have been busy finding and destroying as many of their supply stations as we can. Lady Sekhmet's priest have taken to patrolling our shores, with their trained lions, watching for the raiders to. Those raiders come here, our people will make sure it's a fatal mistake for them."
Everyone is quite pleased with that to.
A few days prior, in private, Robert had gifted Ramsey's with a book. Sun Tzu's Art of War, translated in to greek. He Loves the book, marvels over the idea's with in it and plans on lending it to his generals when he is done with it. Never occured to him that Robert could have more copies of the book. Robert explained to him that the book would eventually be written 500 years from Now. In the far off lands of China. But it is seen as the Best treaty on tactics and stratagies for the next 2500 years. Ramsey's is both awed and inspired by this knowledge. Robert did warn him though that some of the concepts take thought as Sun Tzu is both a great general and a philosopher.
Life for the next couple of months is nice. With Ellan's help he finally works out how to use the girls in a way that makes Everyone happy. He has a lovely sex life and 4 willing playmates. Lots of models for some inovated leather outfits and designs. Also makes some leather armor of advanced design for the royal guard (most can be worn under the brass armor they normally wear, giving them better over all protection but with more comfort to.) His little cheats and short cuts that actually produce better quality goods, which he teaches to the craft-people, has the added benifit of increasing their profits in the short and long run.
He is teaching people secrets to bring them up to the other races levels and researching magic to, and encouraging things like schooling for the common man, from morning to noon, reading, writing, and math. Teaching them Accounting with the number 0 and negitive numbers, in the form of have and have not, also has been a huge boon to the commerce of the kingdom. Told the Pharaoh the only real difference between himself and his people is he is better educated. Something all Elven children get for the first 16 to 20 years of their lives. Being Educated in such simple things makes for a smarter work force and allows for more skilled workers, thus increasing the influence of the country and making the country a better and more profitable place over all. Much to Roberts surprise Dessen and the mages as well as several priest all agreed with him and with a little pushing a public school was set in to the works, run by the country and open to all, rich or poor. It would take time to get it up and running, but there is a good push for it now that Robert put it out there and provided a plan for what is needed.
On the magic front Velvex has been a huge help once he got a better understanding of how his sustainers were flawed (Robert provided him with scrolls on Runes from his library). He has been working with the Court mages and they have made huge strides in their understandings of Runic magic and how things should and should not be combined.
With the destruction of Set and his immortal children, his cult is weaker than ever and the Cat gods have been happily finding and destroying all his remaining followers and temples. Which makes Robert happy as they are out of the Palace and leaving him alone for now.
Being curious about ' Romantic Possibility Things', Ellan worked out how to set it up so Robert could meet with the other 2 women in town who Fate said were good matches for him (her being from a Harem culture is part of this, she loves to have a large extended female heavy family). She made up a quest, gathered the adventurers and had them meet up at Roberts house.
3 groups showed up. In those groups were the 2 women who were said to be a good match for Robert.
Things though don't go as Ellan hoped. She hoped they would just Click when he met them. But she forgot to include his Luck.
Two very suspicious elves are in the mix. They are rather upset or intigued about a human having a suit of Kingly Elven armor. They completely throw the meeting off track by demanding to know how He came by such a suit of armor and won't accept that he found it. Mostly it's the male one making all the fuss. The female, Lady Nyesha, is more reserved and at least respectful enough as she is a Knight. But when she learns Robert is an Elven trained smith and is sharing Those secrets with the Humans, she almost attacks him. Those two totally destroyed any chance he had for getting to know anyone there and ended the meeting and possible profitable venture Ellan had set up for the other people in the groups.
The two women were a human girl, who is like Robert, a collector of magical items. She is a trained warrior to, called Dagrun. Very pretty, smart, and has an interesting Feel to her.
Lady Nyesha is the other prospect and really had Alric just stayed hidden they may have had a better first meeting.
Outside of the Palace the other groups turn on the nosey - pushy elves and nearly come to blows as they ruined what looked like a profitable deal for all of them just because the Master of the place is trained in Elven smithing styles and was hired by the Pharaoh here to use them.
Kessen is on gate guard duty and hears all this stuff and how the Elves think he Stole the knowledge.
Kessen, wanting to defend the mage corrects them, "Master Robert is a half elf. His people taught him these skills. But his people where nearly wiped out by the People of the Sea and he was with out a home for a long time Before coming here. The Elves turned their backs on him cause he is not a Pure Blood type. So" he shrugs. Allot of what Kessen said is rumors from around the palace, speculation and such, some based on how some high minded elves act around any sort of breed type.
Most of those who live and work in and around the Palace have gained a great deal of respect for the knowledgable mage. He has done or helped do many great things and has earned that respect. From the way he treats everyone with resepect and kindness, to his little things to make life easier for those around him. Small knowledges, and insights, and general good humor or strange but silly things he does that make him more human to these people. He has been known to wander around singing silly songs or playing games with the children. Gives gifts and games to people. Helps out sometimes with out being asked and always has a kind word for everyone save Althea, whom pretty much everyone knows, he does not care for, she does not like him either, and the drama between the two is very entertaining for the common people to. Especially his constant threat to turn her in to a Bunny. Not that he has ever done that. Some evil sorts have been turned in to Rats and one fellow in the market one day ended up being a donkey for a few hours after he assulted the mage, calling him a begger and other insults. Took his families begging to get him to turn the man back in to a man. The drama around that is seen as both a warning and a lesson about how you treat others. Just because someone is poor does not mean they don't have skills, is how Robert put it. Most people put it that you never know when the Gods will find a way to put you in your place for such behavior.
Grumbling the adventurers all leave, going their seperate ways and afraid they will not be invited back to that house of wonders.
See before the Elves went all High Minded on the Master and his servant things had been going well.
The guild had been contacted and people with certain skills asked for by a servant of Master Robert. She hinted at a quest to find some particular objects for her Master.
The groups arrived at the Palace gate all in awe just from that point. Even as the guards lead them around a wide avenue to the grand house in the back, where the sounds and smells of metal working could be heard. But there were also the smells of fresh bread and wonderful scents of exotic foods.
In a side yard to the grand house they were lead, with in 3 young women in exotic leather suits saw to their needs. Water and cold Cows milk for drinks were provided, pastries and other light fare was offered as refreshment for this morning meeting. In case none had had time for breakfast, the head woman stated.
The Master came out, tall with a powerful presence, dressed in a style from the Arabia's more than the local type. He greeted everyone and had a friendly air about him.
He sat with them and explained. He is a collector of magical items. Some are pretty common, others rare. Some he wants are only special in that they are the first properly working versions of items. He shows them the Master Mirror, arguably one of the finest scrying devices known to man. He tells them he took it from the halls of one of the Assun-an leaders, right after he blew the man and his court to hell in fire. Very animated telling of that story to.
After he let everyone calm down and enjoy their snacks, he explained because of life, and his responcibilities here, he can not just take off to go look for fun treasures anymore. So the lady Ellan, the woman they took to be a servant it turns out, came up with the idea of hireing adventurers to go out and find such things for him. He is willing to pay them for anything they find, be it from merchants, to crawling around in ruins.
As he was laying out what he wanted his guard came about some matter. The tall thin silver clad warrior's appearance set Telkna-kral off badly. He seemed to have recognized the armor and was all over the Master about where he Stole it from. Would not accept he found it in a ruin as it's a Master Work and no Elf would leave such behind. The Lady Nyesha tried to use reason and calm her fellow elf, till Robert spoke of how such a suit is made and it came out he is a trained elven smith. That is when the elves understood the sounds coming from the far side of his house. That he was giving the secrets of Their People to the Humans. The 2 high minded elves went even More mad and in the end all of them were thrown out, under heavy guard, from the Palace.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The palace guard, who told them of Master Roberts past, well to most the adventurers, that explained much. The Pharaoh, known for his sharp mind and great wisdom saw the advantage of such a skilled person and set out to get him in to the service of his people. They understand the skillful workings of such things. The Elves though just see it as proof of his treasonous behavior. Well Telkna-kral does. The Lady, being more worldly and a great deal older, she is not so sure. She will have to think on it.
--
Ellan sighs, "Well that was a disaster. What compelled you to come outside Alric ? Even after Robert told you to stay in the house."
Alric, looking at his feet, "Dwarves. A group came to the metal works, a few hinting at this house Belonging to Them and some were looking to be ready to make trouble."
Ellan sighs, "you could have sent any of the other guards you know." Alric sighs, "I did not think, I am sorry."
Robert, hearing that, vanishes. Teleporting to the Works hoping he is not to late to stop what ever mischief these dwarves have planned.
There is a good number of these hard men there, all carrying smithing hammers and weapons disguised as smithing tools to. From what Robert over hears, and learns from his mind reading magics, they are here to put a stop to the humans learning about Iron. They don't want the humans to have such knowledge and are quite willing to kill everyone here to stop it.
Robert walks forward, cane in hand, and faces the self rightous dwarves.
"What gives you the right to dictate what other races are allowed to learn or do ?" Robert demands.
The head dwarf just draws his weapon and attacks, hoping to kill the mage and thus end the humans chances at gaining more power.
Robert just points his cane and speaks a Word of Power. The lot of them Vanish. Leaving behind all their clothing and gear.
The dwarves, to a man, appear on the sides of a mountain in the northern most region of the most northern of dwarven territories. A place where the ones who live there don't even like other foriegn dwarves. Takes some fast talking from the now naked dwarves not to end up dead.
In the works, Robert and his people (who are now in even greater awe of their Master) gather the items, tools, and weapons the dwarves had and Robert explains the nature of some of the disguised tools and what their real purpose is. One of the smiths happily points out that the dwarves unintensionally gave them even more clues and and tools to work for them.
The Pharaoh is informed later that day about the assult by these dwarves. All of whom came from groups who were making statues for Ramseys people.
That Almost got the dwarves asked to leave his country. But Robert interviened. Explaining the ones who attacked were a minority group who were all young and very opinionated. That the leaders of the dwarven community here did not support them or the actions of that group.
Robert told the dwarves who were in attendance that he did not kill them. Just sent them to one of the dwarven countries, well outside of Kemet. North, across the sea, in the mountains.
From what they have heard of the powerful mage, they decided to take his word on that. None really wanted to find out the hard way if he was speaking the truth or not. Besides he spoke up for them to the Pharaoh and his word kept things from becoming far worse that it could have been.
A while later, via a prayer to one of their gods, it is confirmed that those fools were indeed sent to a far away dwarven kingdom. The dwarves also learn that Robert is not a mage, but a minor God pretending to be a mage, from their God, Dumathoin, Lord of the Mountain, Keeper of Secrets. So attacking him or his works would be very foolish.
The idea Ellan put out so Robert could meet the ladies, though in a round about fashion, intrigues him on a different point. Mainly his hobby of collecting magical items.
With a little disguise work, a suit to make him look bigger, a heavy cloak over his normal cloak, a couple spells to keep him from melting from the heat of all the heavy clothings, and a simple cream that makes his skin darker on his hands, arms, neck, and face.
He slips off to the adventurers guild where Ellan hired all these people from. He is in a mischevious mood and feels the need to add in some drama in the form of a fictional rival. Someone who is also a collector of similar things. He plans to find the adventurers with the idea of seeing if he can set them up to seek out the treasures, acting like they already have a deal with Master Robert. Then seeing if he can persuade them in to secretly working for Master Dis (bad name, he thinks, but given his characters last name is Guise, well it works for his strange sense of humor).
The main groups are all at the same table in the guild common room. Minus the group with the elves in it.
The big, very silent man slides up to their table with such stealth none there even noticed him. He listens as they grouse about such a lucritive oppertunity. He gets to learn just which ones would happily cheat him on items, buying them cheap then selling the to him at a dear price.
He happily notes that Dagrun counters that as a collector of such things he would be able to tell what the items are, what they do and probably knows the fair price for them. Collectors she points out, especially those who work for a living, keep track of such things and just because he lives at the palace does not make him rich. Just means he works for the Pharaoh. Besides the man is a mage and has a fearsome reputation for dealing with thieves. Mostly in that they end up dead or covered in fur and walking on all fours.
This one big man scoffs, "Bah, mages tend to be wealthy and a bit stupid about the real world."
Robert coughs, "Oh I would not know about that. Many mages work for a living and are quite worldly." he says in a bad arabian accent.
They all jolt and stare at him. The second crook ask, "How long you been standing there ?"
"Oh several minutes now. Long enough to hear how you were thinking of cheating my rival collector and how this young miss corrected you in your assumptions." He nods to Dagrun who blushes lightly in embaressment.
The first 'thief' stands, and finds himself a lot shorter than the man before him, "How is it you were able to slip up unoticed ?"
Bowing slightly, "Ah, introductions, yes. I am Master Dis, a humble mage and collector of all things magical. It was brought to my attentions you all were brought before Master Robert, to seek out items for his collection. So I thought to myself to seek you out and see if I could make a good counter offer."
Dagrun, before the others get a chance to affrim or deny, "Actually the deal was not struck do to the actions of a pair of elves. They decided he was a thief and had many other accusations. It got so bad all of us were removed from his presence. We have no deal with him."
Master Dis nods in a sagely fashion, "I see. Hm, well then your misfortune works well for me then. I still wish to find people willing to look for specific items. I will pay in either silver or gold as you wish, I have traveled enough to know that silver is not the standard of wealth for all the world. But like my collecting rival, life does not allow me to go seek such things. My wives simply will not allow me to go trapsing off on adventure anymore." he adlibs a bit. Several of those here nod in understanding.
The big man grunts, "So you have a list of items for us to look for then ?"
"Yes and a rough idea where some of them lay. Or so rumor says. Of magic items, I will identify any you find for free, and any I wish for my collection I will pay a fair price for. You may of course keep any other treasures you find on such ventures. Also I am an alchemist and know how to make healing potions. So as a partial payment, going forward, I will provide some to any group willing to work for me." seeing some looking confused, "I mean that I will give you all some potions, which normally cost a goodly sum, as a sort of advance in getting me the items I want." The ones who looked confused get it now. "All the rest I shall work out with your guild, as is proper." he adds, which has the guild guards, who had been moving up behind him, come to a stop. The guild does not like being cheated out of their share of the profits, as they see it.
Warrior on the far side of the table, "You felt them coming for you didn't you ?"
Master Dis bows slightly, "I did my share of adventuring when I was younger. Though not through a guild, I do understand how these places work. Also the guard frown on we mages turning people in to animals when annoyed." glances back at the guild guards, who are giving him a suspicious glare.
Master Dis turns to them, "Would you good men be so kind as to direct me to the ones I must formally speak to about hiring some of these good people ?"
The guards look blank for a moment, then one nods and takes him over to the people he needs to speak to, to make a formal request. Takes a couple hours to set up, with his bonuses to those who accept his offer given. He states do to his business he would prefer to meet with them at the guild. Which is not all that uncommon it turns out and they do provide rooms for such with more than one entrance if need be. Thus Master Dis puts his plan in action.
It is only as an after thought that he went to Master Kempt Rah and told him what he was up to and asked for help setting up a backstory for the mage - alchemist Master Dis. (side note: He played with him a bit, as Master Dis, before revealing himself to the mage)
Kempt Rah is The person to see on such things. Normally he handles the Intelligence network for the mage side of things. But this sort of thing is a bit of a hobby for him and a good way to train people in such work as they have. He loves it that Robert decided to go this route as it lets fewer people in to the Palace grounds and creates some mischief people like him thrive on.
So they get a store front, some agents, both experienced and in training, and thus Master Dis, arabian alchemist, who came to Cairo to set up shop, with his 2 wives (both very skilled mage-rogues) and a couple of local apprentices. Robert provided them with many real potions and the formula for them. Specializing in Healing, vitalization, and health potions. The shop is in the middle class area and has the feel of a profitable but fair minded owner.
Ellan is informed of this plot a bit later as It's not a good idea to leave her out of Things. Also she is really good at this sort of thing it turns out. She and the chief agent work out that they are 'friends' who gossip with each other, which is how Master Dis knows Master Roberts plans.
By the time the Adventurers guilds 'spies' find where this Master Dis is what they find is just what the Intelligence service wants them to.
Kempt Rah also thinks this is another good way to hire adventurers for covert operations, with out them being the wiser of what they are really doing or working for.
Robert has been a 'bad' influence on Kempt Rah. He has been giving him spy novels, ones edited to fit more with this world, but still high adventure and fun stories. Mysteries to, all kinds of things that give the clever mage Ideas. The Bond stories, done with the gadgets being a combination of magic and technology has really inspired the 'Q' branch of the Intelligence networks around the country. On the other hand, the clues they have learned from the better mystery stories has improved thier detective skills greatly to.
Several months of stories of 'other worlds' like Sherlock Holmes and such has taught these inquisitive people many great things and simple, though interesting 'wonders'. Like finger prints and Deductive Reasoning. It's giving them new things to learn and a greater edge on the world at large.
Also he has taught them how to make different kinds of paper and given them hints on inks and things they can do to improve themselves in other area's.
The scribes love the heavy paper made from papyrus he taught them. Makes keeping records so much easier.