A page arrived at Joe’s door the next day stating that Mercy Suku would arrive the following evening. Not thinking much about the news, Joe thanked the young runner and went downstairs to tell Runkbadok. The reaction he received from the one-horned man was completely unexpected.
“The Mercy is coming to our home?” Runk yawped. Joe saw the tree-hued striped hide begin to ripple with emotion. “To see me. That is … honored ... Oh, we have to tell Hal.” The twisted man jumped to his feet and dragged Joe across the atrium.
“What do you want, you old lunatic?” Halten groused as he answered Runkbadok’s hammering on his door.
“Our new neighbor is bringing the Mercy here, to the Abaaka House, tomorrow evening.” he breathed with a voice tinged with both excitement and awe.
Halten’s eyes opened wide as he turned on Joe. “Well, I’ll be. Alright, let’s get everyone to work and get this place ship-shape.”
Joe was trying to understand the difference in reactions. The folks in Swift Water had shown the old healer a deep deference, but they had not become so flustered by her arrival.
“She seems like a very nice lady,” Joe stated. “Down to earth. Why are you two getting so worked up?”
“Mercy Suku is a bit of a local legend,” Runk replied. “She is older than even most of the elves in town. She is also the only Mercy in a town patroned by Mairrhee.”
Joe stared at Runk before spinning his hands in a ‘keep going’ gesture.
“Ah, I forget you are a newcomer. Mairrhee and Myrrhcee are siblings among the heavens, twins actually. They were once some of the closest among the gods. But as brothers and sisters are wont to do, they got into a fight. It got so bad that they refused to answer the prayers in any town that had a temple to their twin. Towns were forced to choose between the Goddess of Compassion and the God of Camaraderie.”
“How did most towns choose?”
“Turns out both were equally loved. I’m sure there are some theologians out there keeping score but as far as I have always heard it is an even split between Merriment and Mercy,” the nu stated with a shrug.
“So are you saying that Fort Coral is on team Mairrhee, right?” When the pair of elders nodded, Joe continued, “But Mercy Suku tends a shrine to Myrrhcee.”
“Yup,” Halten barked. “That’s why she’s a special case. She’s so well-loved, losin’ her would heartbreak the Fort.”
“And that would be one of the last things Mairrhee would want,” Runk added. “Sadness and the loss of friends.”
“These two seem to be very benevolent gods. Don’t they see their fight is not helping the people they seem to want to help?” Joe questioned.
He had read plenty of mythology depicting some very petty actions of the gods, especially the Greek myths. Yet in Perigren Harbor, the Temple of Myrrhcee had been one of the most prominent and respected edifices in Telemont Square. He had only caught glimpses of the Amphitheater of Mairrhee but it was one of the focal points of Fort Coral. It seems odd that two such generous and well-loved deities would act so childishly. Then again, there were no ancient Greek temples bigger than Zues’ and he was a complete bastard.
“The simple fact is,” the old sailor huffed, “fer them eternal beings, their scrabble’s only been a few moments in time. Fer us mortal folk, a hundred years have passed since they started their bickering. Just a matter of perspective.”
“So? Mairrhee? You said camaraderie and merriment. Anything else he is known for?”
“Well, he has a bit of a raucous side too. Overindulgence is one of the ways to honor the God of Festivities. As a matter of fact, if you believe the legends,” the hunched nu explained, “it was Mairrhee’s excesses that started the fight between him and his sister.”
“Oh, enough lessons,” Halten exclaimed looking around the courtyard. “We are going to have quite a crowd tomorrow eve. I want this place spiffed to a shine. Joe, I am going to want you to get some things from the markets for me. You just replaced Mahq as my errand boy. He’s a sweet kid but every butterfly that flitters past him causes him to wander off. Besides, I’ll want him on the woodwork and flowerbeds here. Runk, gather the rest and start cooking. I’ll cover yer costs.”
“You damn well will not, you old blowhard. We will honor the Mercy too.”
“You knew that’s not what I meant, Runk. Don’t get yer drawers in knots, ya old grouch.”
“Who you calling old, you doddering codger?”
The two of them were moving nose to nose even though there was no real hostility to their grousing.
“Guys. Guys!” Joe broke in. “What is going on? Are we hosting a party all of a sudden?”
“The Mercy is coming,” Halten replied simply as if that explained everything.
“What he means is that many will come to see her. Some for healing. Some simply to show their respect. She used to walk the whole city when she was younger but she rarely leaves Swift Water these days. Having her come to Midtown again is a reason to celebrate and gather. Even Mairrhee seems to love Mercy Suku. Joy and gaiety often seem to follow her visits.”
“And Abaaka House will be sparkling like a polished brass button when she and the neighborhood gets here. Got it?”
“Yes sir,” Joe replied saluting, imitating Wakely’s ability to sound both dutiful and sardonic at the same time. Runk gave him an approving nudge. Halten glowered at him.
“Don’t you go turning into this reprobate, boy. I’m going to give ya a purse and a list of fortifying enchantments I’ll want renewed today. Either buy the scrolls if you think you can manage the mana or hire a builder if ya can’t. Be back here in half an hour. Sound good?”
“I’d be happy to Halten,” Joe answered, this time with real sincerity.
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Joe wanted to try to do the enchantments himself if he could. Not only would it likely save his landlord some coin but it would allow Joe to work with more magics. He was worried both about the mana needs and the skills necessary for casting from scrolls. Joe had seen plenty of people do it, but he was curious if a skill was required for scroll-use. He decided to have someone to ask questions of, if he needed help.
His first thought was to go see if Kendell was free. It would be fun to spend the day with her but she had been pretty clear that when she was not working at the guild her mother expected her to he home pouring glass in the family workshop. Once Founders Day arrived she would be free to hang out more. As it is she promised that the two of them would enjoy the festival together. Joe was very much looking forward to that.
His second thought was Vexor since the mage seemed to know way more about magic than Joe did. The celestially powered lantern solved the brimstone issue completely and Joe had grown to like the outgoing cambion a great deal. There was a good-natured manner to Vex. That and an unending sense of curiosity that Joe could appreciate.
Joe’s third thought was the winner. He had not seen Hah’roo nearly enough since they had sailed into Fort Coral. While apartment hunting, Joe remembered just how easygoing the galeling was. Hah’roo literally and figuratively breezed through life. She saw beauty in things that most people barely noticed. Joe also never failed to learn new things with her. She was always testing and teaching him in small ways that never felt pushy or judgemental.
The primary reason he turned his feet towards Ashwalk and Hah’roo’s dark tower was for the company. Still, he had to admit that her charms would be a huge help too if casting the scrolls were as mana-intensive as Halten warned.
As he approached Helm Street, he noticed that many of the townfolks were looking upward towards where she had rented. When the curve of the lane allowed him to view the building, he saw why. Hah’roo was standing on the roof, the very end of the roof, on one foot. Her arms were outstretched and ribbons and strings were fluttering behind her in what was clearly a very strong breeze off the ocean. Her eyes were closed and Joe knew she was likely listening to the gossip of the winds.
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He found his feet had stopped too as he watched the spectacle. He smiled at the sight of his friend. It was no wonder that everyone was marveling upwards. Her pure white skin gleamed in the sunlight and the threads and long waving blue tresses showed just how much wind that one foot was balancing against.
He had no long-distance skills to get her attention and Joe had already learned the difficulty of teleporting upwards. He had to see the solid spot he was aiming for; being below didn’t work. Joe looked around and saw a path he could take. He focused on the outside of a high balcony and jumped there. He hooked his claws around the stone balustrade to prevent his fall the second he appeared. [Hunter's Pursuit] allowed him to easily scramble to the roof. When he realized he was still too far away, Joe targeted another roof and teleported himself there. From this peak, he was in range and could see enough of the roof to make a target. His focus zoomed and a moment later he was sliding down Hah’roo’s steep tower pinnacle.
“Hey. When you’re done, wanna hang out?” he blurted.
The crowd below gasped as he slipped over the edge, fell a second, and then vanished. The badboon fights had taught him this move. He focused on a wall across the street and moved himself there. Joe used his claws to stop his fall, reorienting himself, before dropping the rest of the way onto the street, feet-first.
He had used a lot of his medallion’s pool but one of the best aspects of the item was that simply walking would fill it back up.
He looked up to see the galeling looking down at him. She then simply stepped off the edge and fluttered her way down to the cobblestone avenue beside him.
“Good morning, Joe. How’s the new place?” she asked, completely ignoring the staring crowd.
He felt far more self-conscious of their attention but a second later he realized they were not unhappy. If anything, the Forters seemed to have enjoyed the show. A man even slipped a silver piece into Joe’s hand and punctuated it with a light thump to his shoulder. Hah’roo received far more approving gestures, especially from many of the young men.
“I love it. That is what I have come to you about in a way,” Joe replied. “How about yours? You seem to be settling in. Actually, standing out is more appropriate.”
“I too am very happy with my chosen accommodations. The wind runs right up the hillside and rustles around in my soaring attic. This morning there was too much so I stepped outside to listen better. There is a very very big storm brewing a few days out. We should let the guild know.”
“Ok. That might be a problem. Tomorrow night there will be a gathering at the Abaaka House. Will the storm be a problem?”
“Not to worry, Joe. The tempest will not reach Fort Coral for a least four days at the earliest. But it will be a problem then. This will be a significant storm.”
“Great. Well, not great, but you know what I mean. Want to help me enchant an atrium today? I am going to try to work with scrolls today.”
“Fitting for you. Scrolls are one of a mage’s more important tools. As you are becoming a hybrid caster and brawler, you would surely benefit from such training. Lead on. I was planning on reporting the storm so I am quite ready to head out.”
They walked to the Guildhouse and found Tezeno on duty. After a few words, the archon sent Joe and Hah’roo to find Myllo in his workshop. They found him in the study instead with a map of the Hornlands and the Eastern Sea on it.
“I am guessing you have already been informed of the building fury to the east,” the galeling breathed as she saw the map.
“Hello, Hah’roo. Joe. Yeah. Our diviners on Weather-Watch said it became a sure thing last night. They are stating it's already epic but they are predicting it could upgrade to a legendary event. Do you know more?” Myloo asked in a tired-sounding voice.
“You will have at least four days unless the tempest changes its mind for some reason. Right now it is enjoying itself building its might and digging into the ocean.” Hah’roo stepped up to the map and placed a white finger on a spot in the ocean, which she twirled in a lazy circle. “Unless someone does something foolhardy that will provoke it, you have time to prepare.”
“Do you think it will get much stronger?” the trainer queried. Joe saw the small man look at Hah’roo hopefully.
“It very well may reach legendary strength but it will not be a mythic storm if that is what you are asking.”
Mylloe’s hopeful expression fell away. “Gods no. I was hoping you would tell me it would stay epic.”
“That I cannot,” she stated with a shrug. “This storm-beast will surely name himself and be remembered.”
“With everything everyone has done to prep for Founders Day too. This sucks,” the red-bearded, korrigan barked. “Alright, not much we can do about it but get ready for it. Joe, can I count on you to be on call for healing?”
“Of course, Myllo.”
“And you Hah’roo. You can probably read the winds better than most pilots. Can I draft you too for when the storm hits?”
“Of course, as well.”
“Ok. Then I’m going to send the big ships north around the horn and start drafting teams to secure or drydock the smaller ones.” Myllo was clearly building a mental checklist before he remembered Joe and Hah’roo. ‘Sorry. Lots to do. Do you two need anything?”
“Not at the moment. We simply came to warn you but you have things well in hand. We shall leave you to your preparations.”
“Unless you need us for something,” Joe added.
“Thanks but not yet. Don’t worry I’ll have plenty of assignments once we make a full assessment of where we are vulnerable. Take the time you need now.” Myllo grabbed a pad of parchment and pulled a pen from his thick beard. Hah’roo and Joe left him as he started scribbling out notes.
“This sounds like it is going to be a huge storm,” Joe prompted the galeling beside him.
“Yes. It will be. Fort Coral is well built to withstand such tempests but, with a gale this furious, it will still suffer. Whatever reinforcing enchantments your home requested, we should look for the strongest version we can buy. Especially before the demand for them makes them scarce.”
“What about your place?” The two were walking quickly towards the market. Hah’roo’s gait looked languid but because she seemed to slip forward a few inches with each step, Joe had to use [Hunter’s Pursuit] to comfortably match her pace.
“The walls already possess formidable strengthening wards. That was one of the reasons I was so drawn to it. The homes on peaks of the Sapphire Coast see storms such as this one several times a year. They are warded heavily and so have the same feeling of safety as my building does.”
As they entered the market, she added. “The roof would be the only area I might worry about. Maybe I will spend a bit of my coin to have you reinforce it after you finish the work on your viny commune.”
Joe stopped, forcing her to do the same. “You want me to do it?” he asked as she turned to face him.
“I have every faith in your skills, Joe. You still have much to learn about combat but you have presented a very sound mind for magic. I cannot see you having any difficulties using scrolls.”
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Hah’roo turned out to be right. Joe picked up all the scrolls Halten asked for. Hah’roo even delved into her own finances to upgrade several of them in liue of the oncoming storm. When they returned to the Abaaka House, she fitted him with a strong mana renewal charm and Joe started with the simplest of the scrolls.
This enchantment would simply protect the carved woodwork from everyday wear and tear. It lasted a very long time but was not at all complex. Joe looked over the page and the sigils and immediately understood what it wanted from him. He would have to apply mana into three specific runes. He also could see that he had to start with the one in the middle but he could charge the other two in any order.
He started feeding mana into the page. At just under eighty mana, the spell was filled. Joe then placed a spark of mana on the wood to act as a target and read the words across the bottom of the sheet. The spell flowed out of the scroll, like water from a pitcher, and wove itself through the wood.
Joe sat back feeling very satisfied. The whole process just made sense to him. In a world where he always felt like there was so much going on over his head, this made his day. This he understood. He smiled at Hah’roo and received her cheerful gaze back. She then nodded at the pile of scrolls and raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Give me a minute to savor the win, boss!” he barked lightheartedly back at her. Regardless of his words, Joe was eager to try the next one.
This would be a foundation ward, one that the rest of the spells would anchor to. It had to be cast pretty much before everything else but the woodwork shield. He was a bit leery to start with it but now that he knew how the scrolls functioned, he dove right in. This one would require Joe to apply mana to sixteen different runes in a pretty specific order. Joe took his time to study the page until he was sure he had it down pat.
While it took a huge amount of mana, once he started, the scroll basically directed Joe through the runes in order. When he released the fully charged spell there was a deep intonation that resounded up from the ground under the building. It was as if one of those massive monastery bells had been rung by a giant.
The foundation ward would stay in an active state for a few hours. This would allow Joe to use it as an anchor for the rest of the building’s enchantments. One by one he placed the shielding spells, weaving them into an even stronger barrier of protection that Halten had asked for.
Once his landlord found out about the oncoming storm, he was more than happy to reimburse Hah’roo and offered her sanctuary when the tempest hit, if she needed it. Hah’roo declined graciously but stayed to eat a meal with Joe. Joe was so lightheaded by that point from the mana drain, he was beyond caring what he ate but he enjoyed the company and the deep feeling of accomplishment.