Phila, the 15th, 10,391
The trip was less than a quarter of the time it took with the villagers. Taking just two days of hard travel to reach the human city. Six was impressed at the stamina of the soldiers with even the seemingly dainty Indigo able to keep up the grueling pace set by Six.
There were a few occasional battles but nothing the experienced warriors were incapable of handling. The usual irritants, boars, bristlehounds, and bandits, all were swept aside by simple violence.
The nights were easy as well. Six didn’t fit in with the established camaraderie of the soldiers but that was almost preferable, he was their boss, not their friend. He spent his nights on this small trip relaxing, chilling, and reading his books. It was nice. And he gained a few levels in Carpentry, Construction, and Masonry.
They approached Olisrosa along the river, the setting sun at their backs.
It was an impressive city with a grey stone wall that encapsulated it against the river it sat next to. Docks extended from the shore and reached out into the water, servicing the river traffic that sailed about.
There were more people about and Six could tell the amount of shanties had risen around the city walls. People were looking for safety in numbers and that led to an inevitable increase in density around population centers.
Already Six could see the gaunt faces staring at the approaching party with hungry curiosity.
They were stopped at the gates. Once again the presence of Aclo and Bark caused a stir amongst the guards but Irduth as a priest of Kynairos was able to calm the Kynairos crazed humans and convince them that Aclo and Bark were, “under his authority.”
It took another priest to come and verify Irduth’s position but eventually they were allowed into the city.
It was packed.
People were everywhere and the streets were awash in movement, colours, scents, and smells. Most everyone, both free people but more so slaves, looked thinner than Six remembered but nowhere near as bad as the people on the outside.
It took a long time to find rooms for the night but they managed. The price seemed ridiculous though at eight silver. Six was pretty sure last time he was here he paid like six copper or something for an inn of similar quality. Whatever.
They were served a spoonful of oatmeal for breakfast and then split up to accomplish their respective tasks. Six left with Gatbark and led the dwarf to the bustling commercial district, it was time to resupply and look for talent.
The dwarf spoke in his gravelly way. “Now boy, just let me do the talking. I do need to know what we're working with though. How much do I have to work with?”
Six leaned and whispered, even in these loud crowded streets it paid to be careful. “Bout nine hundred gold.”
Gatbark hummed and stared off into the distance. “Good.”
“Is it? Is it alot?” Six felt like he could buy alot for 900 gold.
“For a regular person? Suuure. That's an amount almost no normal person could ever earn. For people like you and me? Very good considering all you had for a while there was what? Fifty gold?”
“Something like that.”
The dwarf patted his belly. “Hrmph, well anyway the goal is to get food back up to Mountain’s End but to be honest this isn’t looking good. There are signs of rationing already, we may be able to get something but it's going to be expensive.”
Six shrugged. “Spend away, I also have rare items or my services for trade if that might help. Also I have a few of these.” He showed Gatbark one of the golden tabs he found in the K’gan complex.
Gatbark lifted an eyebrow at the sight of the tab and he nudged the human until Six deposited it in his spatial.
“That good?” Six asked.
Gatbark murmured back quietly. “Rare and expensive. About 20 to 25 times more expensive than a regular coin of the same type.”
With that Six relaxed a bit. He had tons of cash if what Gatbark said was true. That being said he would like to save it and told the dwarf to hawk his services first.
The first thing they shopped for was skill. Six went to the local job boards and bought a few spots to advertise an opportunity for work. As he went to place his ad, he was approached by the loitering unemployed who preemptively offered their services and skills. He took note of their faces and tried to appreciate their initiative.
He made sure the ad mentioned the need for relocation and a long term commitment but also specified there was free room and board for professionals and their families. He put the interview at a market stall he rented out for tomorrow.
With that he followed Gatbark for the rest of the day.
Six watched as Gatbark worked his magic. Slowly the dwarf worked his way into the markets and talked his way from a simple vegetable salesman up to the regional wheat distributor.
The distributor was an old hunched human, with a beard to match Gatbark’s. “No can do I’m afraid we’re already far too short on grain to spare it.”
Gatbark pushed. “We’re willing to pay good gold for whatever you have.”
“Gold simply isn't enough at this point.”
“Understandable, My patron is willing to offer his master ranked enchantment services if that would change anything.”
The distributor paused at that. “Master rank?”
Gatbark pressed. “Why yes, he knows several runes and his specialty is golems. If you trade us the food we need I’ll even convince him to apply his secret techniques to them.” Gatbark leaned in conspiratorially. “He can create golems that self-sustain, self-repair, and gain levels.”
At that the distributor gogged but quickly composed himself. “Perhaps we can find some portions that can be reallocated.”
Six smiled. Gatbark was working wonders.
In a private workshop, Six created four minor earth golems for the distributor, each at level 3. Six used no reagents and the distributor offered none so the creations were standard in ability and appearance. Looking like smaller, more simple Poh Dohs.
At skill level 9 Blood Casting was returning 1.36 mana for every 2 health spent, so If he spent 500 of his 517 health pool he could gain approximately 340 mana. This basically gave him an effective mana pool of 472.
He had left the domain of the Ley Nexus two days ago and with it lost access to the 1000 mana that sprang from the land.
This meant that Six couldn’t make more complex enchantments or stronger golems. The lack of mana limited the rank he could create down to the most basic, minor.
That being said, his master ranked enchantment evolution made simple golems incredibly valuable for their ability to grow and self repair. This meant Gatbark was able to leverage the simple golems he created for an incredibly high value. If properly nurtured they would provide increasing value for hundreds of years.
The earth golems cost just over 200 mana to create so the four took a couple hours to create but by the end Six was incredibly happy with the results.
The man was more than happy with the creations and thanked SIx and Gatbark profusely. In exchange Six received enough food to barely get his people one more month down the road. It wouldn’t allow for any shortcomings and Six wouldn’t put Mountain’s End in such a position. He felt he needed to find more.
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He pondered the morals behind what he did. He was born a capitalist and spoke out amongst his friends about the evils of globalism, yet here he was. Using his resources and expertise to siphon off the resources of a community in desperate need of them. If someone did that to his community he would be livid. He would probably consider it an act of war.
He saw the hypocrisy in his words and actions. He did not care, his people must eat. Compared to the ocean of people here, his were but a droplet of rain. His actions were overall insignificant to the problem of famine faced by Olisrosa.
Six and Gatbark stopped by stores and suppliers getting many tools and items that Leoka reported Mountain’s End needing. He managed to secure a large out of ingots, enough to satisfy Charles and Keegan, Gatbark assured.
Six stopped by the bookstore and found it guarded by a rather large and well armed vrill. The vrill looked them up and down as they entered but didn’t try to stop them.
Inside was much the same cramped and stacked bookstore that Six remembered.
Cake remembered Six and was hoping he’d come back. The little halfling woman brought out a grimoire and displayed the magical tome to Six.
- Magical Grimoire of Strength of the Oak -
Rank: Unusual
Rarity: Rare
Defense - 100
Weight - 1 KG
Durability 120/120
Traits: Capable of imparting all knowledge required for the minor earth spell, Strength of the Oak. Is consumed upon use.
Skill increased: Inspect - Initiate - 15
Very nice. He immediately bought it for 110 gold which was a little more than what he paid for the initial spells he bought here but local inflation looked to be out of control so he didn’t say anything.
He did offer Cake the opportunity to pack up and relocate to his settlement. He left with her saying she’d think about it.
From there he passed by the enchantment quarter but found nothing of particular note, the most skilled enchanters in Olisrosa reaching no higher than low apprentice. The most interesting materials were shipping into the imperial core so there weren’t any interesting resources really.
He returned to the inn and learned his new spell in the privacy of his room.
Strength of the Oak was a physical buff.
Spell: Strength of the Oak
Rank: Minor
Cooldown: 1 minute
Range: touch
Casting Time: 5s
Duration: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 80 mana
Effect: The user harnesses the power of the earth, summoning verdant flora that surrounds the target in a supportive exo-skeleton. The plants bring increased protection while providing benefits related to strength and endurance. While active, each level in Elemental Magic improves Strength and Endurance by an additional 0.25%.
He was impressed by this little spell and knew he would be using it consistently. With that done, it was time for dinner.
***
Irduth moved through the city. He had a mission to fulfill. He found himself at the local temple of Kynairos. Banners of red and brown whipped in the wind and a statue of muscular Kynairos stood flexing to the sky, plow and scythe in hand. The priest proselytizing down at the listeners gathered on the street below.
Olisrosa was a pure city, part of those who remembered the glory of the empire. They respected their god, they had not turned away. The large and towering stone work building was only possible because of the tithes from the loyal. Brutal and unapologetic, it stood proud.
Their grand temple reflected that pious nature and protected the sheep. When the rulers of Olisrosa were assassinated by their bodyguards it fell to High Craftsmistress Susan to maintain order.
She had done so admirably.
It took a while to convince the chain of command but Irduth had gained a short audience.
He entered her office, gold and bronze plated on every surface. The wealth was not a sign of her brilliance but of the effort and radiance of Kynairos. She was a human that wore a brown robe of fine silk and bore the red sash of her station. She gestured a greeting and they uttered the words simultaneously. “Praise be Kynairos.”
Irduth bowed despite how much it rankled him. She legitimately outranked him so he bowed, it was that simple. He would not always be so weak. “Craftsmisstress, I bring news. Of a potential pit of blasphemers.”
She looked at him with mild curiosity and he told her his report of Mountain’s End and their corrupt chieftain. Of Six’s strange creations and his tolerance of other gods. His flouting of imperial magic regulations.
“Craftsman Irduth, thank you for telling me of these things, but for now, their sinning is the lesser of two evils. We are preoccupied with other interests and a mountain village of a few hundred hicks is of no consequence. Even with the magical trees, such treasures are valuable but not worth the current destabilization of the city.”
Irduth knew better than to question a leader. He bowed once more and she dismissed him.
“Praise be Kynairos.”
They at least now knew of the danger on their border.
***
After dinner Six had been invited by Indigo to receive sensitive information. He sat crowded amongst the others who also attended within Indigo’s room and waited until Indigo spoke.
“I have important information. I used this city’s gemtyper to communicate with our contact in Zleen and learned that Juthe-Wei has sent out a salvage team to the rediscovered tsunken aelf homelands.”
At that proclamation Aclo and Nar both perked up and sat with more tension. Six had questions but didn’t interrupt the alchemist.
“Juthe-Wei is sending a secret unit of scholars and casters out to these lands. Once lost to history they had now been pinpointed and an expedition sent to retrieve an artifact of great power that would serve to accelerate some secret plan he has.
She said if possible we must intercept them and prevent them from retrieving the artifact.”
Six made a buzzer noise and chopped at his neck. “Sounds bad for whatever people are on the other side of this but I fail to see how this affects Mountain’s End.”
Keegan lifted an eyebrow. “It may not directly affect Mountain’s End but Juthe-Wei represents a threat to many. It falls to good men to order the world and you are not just needed by your people.”
Six scoffed. “I have no desire to begin installing myself over others where I deem necessary.”
“Dealing a blow to the usurper would not become one,” Aclo grumbled. “My brother must be hindered at all costs. He is not reasonable.”
“My contact stressed it was of the utmost importance. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it important.” Indigo said
“And think, all those lost and ancient tsuken aelf artifacts. I uuuh, imagine power is just waiting to be snatched by those who find it first,” Bark added.
Six sat there, thinking. The argument of simple power was perhaps the most compelling of them all. The world made his decision simple though.
You have been offered a quest: Exploitation Disruption
Juthe-Wei Yudinzo has seen it fit to send a group of arcane scholars to the tsunken aelf homeland. Your soldier cry out for a countering response and do not wish to see this opportunity fall
Rewards for Accepting: Increase of relationship with the officers.
Rewards for Completion: Voluntary Spiritual Energy
Superior Rank Item
Time Limit: Unknown
Penalty for Failure: Loss of relationship with the officers. Loss of control over Superior Item.
Do you Accept? Yes or No?
Six accepted, yes. “Aight.” He looked to Indigo. “When did this expedition leave?”
“A week ago.”
Shit, he had no idea where it was but their competitors had a headstart on them.
“How are we going to get there?”
“Boat then march,” Indigo offered.
“Aight, well I was gonna look for a boat anyways so this works for me.”
They spent much of the night planning and figuring out the specifics of their trip. The location was to the far north and they would have to march through some cold conditions to find a mountain stronghold.
Gatbark had Aclo connect them with the local thieves guild who had the rest of the food Six was looking for, at an extremely inflated price. Still, Six felt better knowing they were going to make it to harvest. Six didn’t have to spend any of the K’gan tabs or trade his golems to the thieves and he still came away with 213 gold remaining.
The next day Six found himself training Gatbark on who he was looking for in terms of immigrants. Surprisingly, he found himself mostly agreeing with Gatbark on the traits of an ideal immigrant.
Gatbark just wanted to treat them like shit.
Six basically wanted more farmers, miners, masons, glassblowers, and an alchemist, a few shipwrights, lumberjacks, hunters, and healers. Not to mention, anybody looking to fulfill those roles. Six also wasn’t worried if Gatbark poached a bunch for himself initially. Six would eventually be able to lure them back with tax breaks Gatbark couldn’t compete with.
Once Six got Gatbark started the line grew quick, the hungry and eager of Olisrosa clamoring for any opportunity presented. Of course this led to liars and cheats trying to deceive their way into a new life but Gatbark had a discerning insight when it came to productivity and worked his hardest to vet everyone. It was interesting hearing the obvious gossip and rumors that came out in the interviews, stories of Grand General Marcus allying with Tyber Zaun and marching on Zleen, that Juthe-Wei was to marry a Hynk Battle Princess, or that the imperial mages made a fake Juthe-Wei.
Six left him to it and went to the docks to contract a ship to take them away.
He stocked up on some specific purchases just for him. Mostly tiny saplings that he could carry into the sea and into the snows. Not many options for plants where he was going.
Walking the piers reminded him of the day he arrived here just under two months ago. Everything was a bit more frenetic. The slaves looked more harried and the bellows bit deeper. There was a voice, louder than the others, that resonated in familiarity with Six.
“By Kynairos, woman! Don’t tell me what to do! This is MAH BOAT!”
Six walked closer to see three boats, one of which he recognized as the Riverdancer. The other two boats were larger and far more impressive. Six could see his old friends, Copperback and Elyria arguing on one while Jeffums coiled rope on another.
Six walked up the gangplank and cleared his throat, catching their attention. He gave them a friendly wave.
“Six!” They both said.
Amos closed the distance and shook Six’s hand vigorously. “Wow, you looking gud Six. Look at dat armor, ya? Some fine work dat. How you been doing?”
“Amos! Fancy seeing you here. I’ve been good! Looks like you guys have been doing well for yourselves?”
“Aye, you could say that,” Amos said with a grin.
“We’ve three ships now.” Elyria said, fiddling with a knot.
“Gotcher self a little fleet, eh? You gonna have to tell me how you pulled this off in what? Two months?”
“Kynairos blesses those whose sweat runs dry and we’ve been sailing under the sun everyday my friend.”
Amos knew how to talk for the locals and praising Kynairos never hurt.
“That’s exactly what I’m looking for. I hope you got one more in ya, praise be Kynairos!”
“Six, a man needs a bit o rest. Lemme tell you our story over a pipe and a few ales and we can talk business after.”
“No can do, how much would it cost to contract you to take us north?”
“North? We’d have to travel around almost half the continent. That would take just over three weeks and would cost too much gold for it to be worth it for us.”
“Three fucking weeks?” This was sizing up to be a far larger investment than he first imagined. There and back would be a month and a half in itself. The delving could take weeks to months aswell.
“Aye.”
Six sighed. “Make it happen, Captain.”
“Did you not hear the too much gold part?”
“How much gold are we talkin?”
“One boat? Four twenty gold for there and back.”
“Blaze be Kynairos! That's a bit expensive. Could we do a trade?”
“A trade? Not much better out there than gold, boy.”
“I learned some things. I’ll make you a wind golem or two.”
“Pah, those things are more expensive than they’re worth. I ain't the military with endless supplies of mana cores to feed the things.”
Six leaned in and whispered, just as he saw Gatbark do. “My golems power and repair themselves.”
It took Amos a moment to understand, crack a smile and laugh. “Well my friend, why didn’t you say so from de beginning?”
Only Gatbark would remain to attend to the business of Mountain’s End. All the officers would go, Six would accompany them. He wrote a letter to Ravna explaining his long term absence and hoped she would understand and not dump him. He wrote Charles and Leoka, expressing his administration and civic goals. Gatbark would guide the boats, bringing his letters, the food, materials, and the new people with him.
Six and the officers assembled that night and piled into Amos’ new boat. They wasted no time in leaving the harbour and beginning their journey.