"Thanks for the help Rankins," Markus told his aide as he buckled the last strap of the half-plate armor that he'd brought for Markus.

"No problem Sir," Rankins responded as he checked each of the straps to make sure they were secure and that each of the pieces were sitting securely in the correct postion. "Already, Head Priest Chesterfield and Grand Paladin Nargen have recieved word from the Guildmasters of the Alchemist's Guild and the Hunter's Guild about what you've spoken with them about. To be quite honest, I don't think they expected you to take such an immediate and active role in these duties."

"They asked me to do something, and it all lines up with part of my own goals," Markus explained. "If there's anything I've learned from my father about working, it's that you have to do whatever you can to the best of your abilities from the start. Anything else is too little, too late."

"Your father sounds like a wise man," Rankins observed.

"He's a total asshole and a piece of shit that doesn't care about his family," Markus told him. "Now that I'm ready, I need to find Ripspell and see if he'll back me up if what I'm asking for is possible. See you later Rankins."

Rankins didn't respond as Markus stepped out of the room and moved to exit the Barfing Minotaur.

Undead Protecting Half-plate Shirt: A shirt of half-plate armor and chainmail that has been enchanted to defend against the diseases and attacks of undead creatures. Will also serve admirably as a normal half-plate shirt.

Undead Protecting Half-plate Pants: A pair of half-plate and chainmail pants that has been enchanted to defend against eh diseases and attacks of undead creatures. Will also serve admirably as a normal pair of half-plate pants. Undead Protecting Half-plate Boots: A pair of half-plate boots that has been enchanted to defend against the diseases and attacks of undead creatures. Will also serve admirably as a normal pair of half-plate boots. Undead Repelling Tower Shield: An iron-bound tower shield that has been enchanted to defend against the attacks of undead creatures. The symbol of Grindel that adorns the center of the shield offers a very low chance to inflict Debuff: Fear on lesser undead creatures. Undead Slaying Bastard Sword: A steel sword that can be used with one or two hands and has been enchanted to purify undead creatures. The symbol of Grindel on the pommel offers a low chance to inflict Spell: Turn Undead on undead creatures.

Walking through the forest in full armor sucked. That was the conclusion that Markus quickly came to as he moved in the direction that Pear had told him Ripspell had brought him for the dungeon that he'd tossed him into. As he walked, the sun shining through the trees beat down on him and slowly heated the insides of the metal pieces of armor that he wore. The massive tower shield on his back was heavy and seemed heavier with every other step. Markus was certain that if he continued without resting soon, he'd end up getting himself killed because his new armor would knock him over and he wouldn't be able to get up.

Debating if he should remove at least the shirt, Markus nearly stumbled as he tripped over a tree root and entered a small clearing in the trees to see Ripspell sitting calmly on a rock and reading a book.

"Is there something I can help you with?" the man asked as he turned to the next page. "You're so loud in that armor that if you're here thinking you can kill me, you should know that I heard you coming nearly ten minutes ago and have made several traps for you."

"I'm not here for any of that," Markus told the seated man as he tried not to pant like a dog. "I'm here because I've got some questions and I was hoping you would answer them."

"Then allow me to preempt some of your questions," Ripspell said as his eyes flicked from his book to look at Markus. "Magical warfare is the best kind of warfare. That armor is only good if you're intending to fight undead at some point soon. I'm not in the market for an apprentice. And wasting my time asking for personalized enchantments for you will not end well."

"Is it possible to teach someone a spell without spending a lot of time on the theory?" Markus asked.

"It is," Ripspell said, snapping his book shut with a thump. "Why do you ask?"

"I'll get there," Markus told the man. "Can anyone teach a spell that way?"

"With the correct understanding of the spell's formula, make-up, and geometry," the wizard nodded.

"Do you have any significant sway with the Mage's Guild?" Markus asked.

"No such organization exists," Ripspell told him. "I am a member of the Mage's College as the common folk call it."

"But you have pull with them?" Markus confirmed.

"I do," Ripspell said carefully.

"Would you be willing to back me up if I asked the Principal or whatever to send some magic casters to aid the Church of Grindel's efforts to remove the undead on the Ubarion Penninsula?" Marksu continued.

"Perhaps if you explained what it is you're hoping to do with them," Ripspell suggested.

"Can I come closer?" Markus asked. "It's been a long walk and I'm tired."

"Of course," Ripspell said waving his hand and causing a large stone to sprout from the ground in front of him. "Please sit."

"Thank you," Markus told the man gratefully as he approached before removing his shield from his back and sitting heavily on the stone.

"I was asked by the Church of Grindel to take command of the Last Stars that they're asking to help them with the undead," Markus explained. "They told me that they've been having trouble keeping the other Last Stars from just charging ahead or quitting before they leave."

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"Doesn't sound like my problem," Ripspell observed.

"It's really not," Markus agreed. "But I accepted the request and I'm trying to set some stuff up so that when I announce it all to the other Last Stars, they have more concrete ideas of stuff to work toward. I've already got an idea of what I'm wanting to do and I was hoping that I could have some people from the Mage's Gui- Sorry, Mage's College. Some people from the Mage's College around to offer to teach spells to the Last Stars as a reward for their efforts."

"You're asking me to approach the College, and tell them to send people to teach spells to people that might not even want them?" Ripspell asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"No." Markus said firmly. "I'm trying to set up a system that will allow the Last Stars to turn in some sort of in-house currency that they can use to learn spells, buy potions, request specific armor and weapons, maybe have someone enchant something for them or train them to use a set of tools or something. Before I get there, I need the people from the College, the Guilds, and everywhere else to agree to help me by offering that sort of expertise and those items. I've already spoken with the Alchemist's Guildmaster and he said that he'd think about it. If I can get the Mage's College and the blacksmith's to help me, I think that will apply extra pressure to the Alchemists and get them to agree. Of course, I'm trying to think of something that I can do that will help make this a more mutual beneficial agreement for all sides, but I don't know what to offer. Until I get all the big players sitting down together, I can't make promises about what that all might be."

"So I can be sure I understand," Ripspell said. "You're asking me to offer you my support when you approach the Headmaster of the College, so that he doesn't simply laugh you out of his office from the start? And, you're wanting the College to offer teachers and enchanters to work side by side with members of Grindel's Clergy, the Alchemist's Guild, and blacksmiths from the Hero's Crypt city?"

"It won't just be the blacksmiths," Markus said. "I hope anyway. I'm just starting with them and I hope that I can get other crafters to agree to help. Leatherworkers, woodcarvers, bowyers, fletchers, herbalists. It's going to take more than just worked steel, potions, and powerful spells to end this. I'm going to need all sorts of artisans and more than just fighters to make it all happen. That's where having the artisans and people from the College comes into play. If they're around and willing to teach Last Stars to practice the trades and use the spells, then that will draw more Last Stars to the whole thing and give us a better chance for success."

Ripspell gaze impassively at Markus as he thought deeply about what was being offered and asked. Finally, he seemed to make a decision.

"I'll only get you in the Headmaster's office," he told Markus, "the rest will be up to you."

"Thank you," Markus said with a grin.

"Try not vomit," Ripspell told him as he reached out and gripped Markus' shoulder tightly. "It'll make a terrible first impression."

Before Markus could ask what Ripspell meant, the world tore itself apart around him and he hurtled through white space.

With a gasp, Markus looked fearfully around himself at the tastefully decorated office with a round window that offered an excellent view of the city outside. Jerking his head to the side, he vaguely noticed shelves decorated with various delicate devices and others lined with books as thick as his large bicep. Trying not to hyperventilate he looked at the man that was sitting behind the desk in front of the round window.

"Theobald," the delicate looking Elvish man sighed as he looked up from the paperwork he was writing at, "I've asked you to at least appear outside so that Clarissa can assist you."

"This was something that I thought you'd want to hear," Ripspell told him from Markus' other side. "This is the Last Star that the Church of Grindel has asked to take command of the other Last Stars for their current undead problem, and he has an idea that I found interesting."

"Oh," the Elf looked at Markus curiously. "Well then, please begin."

"Can I have a minute?" Markus gasped as he tried to get his breating under control. "That was horrible."

"Take your time," the Elf told him. "Just bear in mind that I am busy."

With a nod, Markus closed his eyes and bowed his head between his knees in an effort to control his raging stomach and screaming lungs. After several deep breaths, he was able to return to a more normal breathing and his stomach had stopped trying to jump out of his throat. Looking up, he cleared his throat and introduced himself.

"I'm Markus, a Marquis of the Gray Pantheon and I've been asked by the Church of Grindel to command the Last Star that will help with the undead issue on the Ubarion Penninsula," he said standing and offer a slight bow to the Elf.

"I'm Alwyn Verdantsight, Headmaster of the Astrana's College of the Magical and Mysterious, Hero's Crypt Branch," the Elf responded to his introduction with his own.

"Headmaster Verdantsight," Markus began respectfully, "when the Church of Grindel asked me to take command of the Last Stars that would be helping them, they told me some of their problems that they've had and offered them as their reasons for having a Last Star take control."

"That does make some sense," Verdantsight nodded. "If they won't listen to you then get one of their own for the job."

"To me the problem they had with retaining Last Stars to help them was that they were only offering money for their efforts," Markus said. "In an effort to counteract that from the start, I'm trying to set up a contribution system that will allow the Last Stars involved to directly purchase items and equipment for their efforts. I'd like the Mage's College to consider offering teachers of basic spells and other magic, as well as enchanters, so that Last Stars that would like to learn magic or enchanting can have access to teachers more easily."

"Can you promise their protection?" Verdantsight asked as he steepled his hands together. "What is to prevent the Last Stars under your command from attacking the members of my College? Unlike yourself, we won't be reborn should we die."

"I can't promise that there won't be people that will attack them because they want to," Markus told the Elf truthfully. "But I can promise that the members of your College can defend themselves from attackers without punishment and if they choose to leave because of that, I won't stop them. Also I can promise if they attempt to aid the source of the undead for any reason they will be punished appropriately. That goes for all sides."

Nodding, the Elf examined the Human carefully before speaking again.

"What will you give us in return for this?" he asked.

"I can't make any promises about specifics," Markus told him. "I'm hoping that in a few days, I'll be able to bring all the sides together and discuss that sort of thing."

"So, things such as coin, requests for materials, and other items are available for discussion?" the Elf asked carefully.

"They are," Markus confirmed.

"What do you think Theobald?" the Headmaster turned to the Human wizard.

"I think the whole thing offers us a chance to further studies of Death magic and let's the Combat Division get some extra practice in a real situation," he told him. "Also, as a bonus, you can send Gerald to the front and have the undead try to eat him."

"That would be a wonderful thing," Verdantsight nodded thoughtfully. "He's so difficult to deal with."

"Also, here," Ripspell thrust a handful of papers toward the Elf. "The paperwork for my Apprentice officially joining the College."

"I hope my advice was useful," the Elf said taking the papers and skimming through them.

"It was," Ripspell said. "Are you going to give the boy a concrete answer?"

"Oh yes," the Elf said, perking up at remembering Markus' presence. "I can promise that the College will send a representative to discuss the finer details with the Church and the other parties. How does three days from now sound?"

"I can work with it," Markus nodded gratefully to man. "Thank you."

"If we're done here, then I'd like to return to my work," Verdantsight said. "Please show yourself out Theobald."

"Come on then," Ripspell gripped Markus' shoulder again. "This time I don't care if you throw up as long as you don't hit me."

Before Markus could say anything, the world imploded into itself around him and he was thrown through white space again.