The Thaumonomicon laid open before me. On the top of the page, it read: Node in a Jar. This was a technique of infusing vis into a structure that would then contain the node in between reality and Empty, letting one carry it around. I was reading through it for the third time now, looking for any clues on how to apply it to my situation. After all, there were some issues that I could solve easily with some extra time. Which I did not have. There was a particular part that I seemingly forgot in my haste to help.

To capture a node, one must create an upscaled structure quite similar to a warded jar around it. Glass walls and bottom with a wooden lid. I have found it may help if one is capable of channelling vinculum vis into the process but it is not necessary. Then, simply use a suitably large reservoir of primal vis to infuse the jar and it will shrink in place, capturing the node inside it. For the how and why I have yet to find an answer but I will keep looking. Deeper secrets lie beyond the veil of reality, of that I am sure.

This method simply allows for moving a node into a more comfortable place to study or power thaumaturgical artefacts. Do be careful! I have found draining a node before sealing will freeze it in that state and prevent it from ever growing larger again. Only seal those you are certain are fully charged. A simple observation over a few days may tell you. Nodes that can not sustain any more vis will disperse it into their surroundings, affecting the real world, as I am sure you are already aware.

I was not too concerned about the capabilities of the earth node I wanted to remove from that tunnel. It was already at full strength. Simply not draining any energy from it beforehand would be good enough to guarantee it having the same effect on the lower tunnel. The big problem was the jar. I had no glass. Simple as that, my plan was certain to fail. There was still a few hours until dusk and then the whole night before I had to return but how would I get my talons on glass by then? I had no better idea to secure the goblin village, especially since moving the node was also the easiest way to give them another access to the outside world.

Now, what did that glass actually do? It was a container, just like the jars holding essentia still standing in my workshop. Wait. They were made of glass. How many did I have, again? 27 total? That seemed about right. I still had one each in use for aura, magic and energy and six for the primals. If I wanted to create something different using infusion, I might have to make new ones but the 18 glass containers sitting here in the middle of my workshop might just be enough for the moment. I quickly checked how difficult it was to make them. It turned out to be pretty simple. I could just buy pre-made ones from a dwarven artisan and infuse a little bit of water vis into them. Vivi was probably able to make some quite easily.

That made the decision. I took the glass vessels and carefully started taking them apart. The lid popped off with some force, pulling the water vis along. I considered how to go about it. Then I had an idea. I carefully infused a little bit of destruction mana into a shadow tendril and started cutting the glass into sheets. Soon, I had a pile of mostly even planes. I remembered how Riggard used mana-welding to work metals and thought it a good idea to try on the panes. Filling crystal mana into the sheets made them slightly more easy to manipulate and when bringing two together, I found them fusing with a little focus of will.

Just before it was getting dark, I finished my work. Before me, in the light of two glowing fire crystals, stood a jug of enormous dimensions. It was nearly two metres tall and just as wide. I knew, any smaller would not work. This was the least I required to seal a node between reality and Empty. Now I only needed a wooden lid to match this monstrosity. I had the whole night, in theory, but I wanted to get some sleep and needed to charge my wand as well. I simply picked up two trees from a nearby valley and cut them into planks. My new destruction infused shadow tendrils worked wonders at that. I simply piled them on top of the jar until I had it covered properly. Metal and change vis infused into an iron ingot let me form some crude nails to fix it all together. I should really look at getting some more aspects within my soul. That could make much of this menial work easier.

I spent an hour flying around the nearby mountains to charge up my silverwood wand. I decided to just take everything I could from nodes, saving my personal mana for myself. I did not want to exhaust myself before the long flight tomorrow. When feeling for the stores, I found I was lacking fire mana. All the nearby nodes were drained for the moment and would take a few days to recharge. There was another one not too far from the ork town, though, so I was not worried. I lacked maybe a tenth of what I needed to transport the node. Fire seemed to be rather rare in this part of the world. In the meantime, I could have filled up earth and water twice over. Maybe it was different in other places?

I settled down for the night in my workshop, huge jar and lid safely tucked into my storage along with the wand. I had tested before but the wand did not lose its vis inside. I looked through if I needed anything else and decided against it. I would have a lot of stone to mine to place the jar and could use the extra space. For that reason, I was also in my metal form. I could go two days without food and the extra safety and mana to use might make a difference.

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The flight went as expected. It was quiet. It felt like a storm was brewing but the weather was clear. Maybe it was just in my mind. The fresh spring air and mating calls from below certainly gave that idea some credibility.

I arrived sometime deep in the night. My sense of time was a little off with the long flight. There was still activity in the valley below, torches and lit fire crystals guiding the way for ork search parties. Some of them had gotten close to the mountain’s entrance but they apparently had not found it yet. Or they were pushed back and looking for another entrance. My eyes certainly spotted nothing off about the area. I decided to pay the ork’s fire node a little visit before going to the goblins.

The place was easy to find with the crystals growing nearby emitting orange light. Around, a lot of orks were placed to guard the place. I saw most of them holding ranged weaponry in addition to their more standard heavy melee weaponry. Someone must have tipped them off about a flying enemy. I also spotted some golems. Iron ones. Wood might have had more difficulty with the temperature. That was another great hint as to the location. There was no flora nearby. All the plants had burned to ashes and long been carried away by the feet of the greedy.

I considered my approach. It would be difficult to get close enough and drain the vis I needed. Crystals would not work either so stealing them was out of the picture. I had tried when I was charging up the wand for the first time. It was only logical. A wand was a tool for precise vis manipulation and most importantly, stabilization of the inherently volatile nature of thaumaturgy. My shadows were more extensions of my body, only my high magic Attributes and aptitude with the craft letting me use it in such an incredulous manner. Maybe my initial ignorance had helped as well. The Empty tended to follow my beliefs more than what others told me it could do.

Back to the problem at wing. I needed to get rid of the orks. There was a total of nine, three at the front and the other three evenly spaced around. They were distant enough for me to sneak in from above and quickly drain the energy I needed but the golems would definitely notice the disturbance of the local energies. I wanted the orks out of the picture once I got into the inevitable scuttle with the animated constructs.

My initial idea was to simply take out the orks one by one. That was quickly shelved. They were constantly keeping an eye on each other. I would have maybe fifteen seconds after my first kill to get both of his neighbours and then another ten for the next two. The triple group had one look to each side with the last keeping an eye on the path. They were holding a rope in each of their mouths. If one of them fell, the others would feel the pull, or slack, and intervene in whatever was going on.

With nobody but the golems watching the actual node, I quickly dismissed that angle of attack. It was much better to silently take out the constructs. A set of six iron golems, evenly spread out around the glowing rift in reality. They were watching each other but I knew I could hide my form from their senses. They would see one of them drop unless I made it look like they shut down.

I activated my magical stealth, hiding my body from supernatural senses. I had to be careful since I was still visible with mundane means so I activated [Sneak] at full power to prevent any sounds from leaking. Then, I dropped right behind a nearby tree. It should hide any potential shadows coming off my body. A tendril of darkness slid slowly towards the closest golem. It hovered close to the iron body while I closely inspected the form for any hints. There was especially much mana coming from its hip area. That was my point of attack. The tendril snuck around, finding the spot, and carefully touched it. Nothing happened.

I felt through the connection and within a moment, I knew what the source of the energy was. A golem seal. A small object of wax or clay and a whole lot of magic. It was responsible for the golems functionality and recording its orders. It was also a connection point to charge the construct. Or discharge. I pulled. Slowly at first, the more aggressively when the figure did not react. Mana flowed into my body and was instantly hidden by [Mingling]. To an outside observer lacking physical eyes, it must have seemed like the golem was leaking energy somehow. After about a minute, it was empty and shut down. The tiny head bobbed onto its chest while the arms dropped down to its sides. A careful look around the clearing showed me the other golems paid their brother in arms no concern.

Within a dozen minutes of carefully moving around as to not alert the nearby orks, I had all the constructs deactivated. I proceeded to snake a tendril forwards, carrying my wand to the node. It was fire and earth, with a primary attunement to fire. It was also a medium node. I filled my wand to the brim and held back a chuckle. My work was done. The orks would get what they deserved another night. For now, it was time to seal the goblins from their notice.