The air around the ship shimmered and rippled as if reality itself was being bent and twisted. G felt a sudden change in air pressure, causing his ears to pop and adjust to the new environment. The scent of scorched wood and the sound of sizzling filled his nostrils and ears while Riclos yelled at the gnome children to assist him in smothering the small fire that had ignited on the ship's wooden deck. The pressure in the air gradually dissipated as G looked around, baffled by the sight before him. Surrounded by catwalks and stone walls on all sides, G instantly recognized their new location but couldn't comprehend how they had arrived there with the ship. His heart pounded in his chest, and he felt a surge of relief wash over him, realizing they had narrowly escaped death. We did it. We're alive. I can't believe we actually made it out of there. His mind raced, replaying the chaotic moments of their escape, the overwhelming fear of Ryan's attack, and the sheer terror of thinking it might be their end. This ship... it saved us. We cheated fate by the narrowest margin. He couldn't help but wonder. Is this something being an Agent of Breamus made possible? Or was it just dumb luck? Should I trust such thoughts? They could get me killed if the ring of optimism on my finger isn't enough. G glanced at the ring, willing it to dampen its influence now that the immediate danger had passed.

"Tocai, what just happened?" G asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tocai's mental voice answered softly at first, growing more confident as he explained, "We moved the ship as you requested. At first, we intended to simply fly it away, but outrunning lightning in a cave seemed unrealistic. We might have tried diving downward, but Ryan could have focused his attack on the deck, likely killing us all before we could find cover. So, we moved the ship. It's capable of short hops, or what the Guardian calls Ethersteps, with a sufficient mana supply. The distance it can travel depends on factors like weight, time of day, and the materials it's passing through."

G cut him off, feeling overwhelmed by the information. We can teleport? This ship can actually teleport! A grin spread across his face, and he felt a thrill of excitement coursing through him. I've just stolen a ship that can teleport! This changes everything. He pumped his fist in the air, unable to contain his exhilaration. "Thank you. We all owe you one." G said to Tocai as he walked over, picked his familiar up, and secured him back on his belt. He glanced up at the top of the colossal missile silo-turned-arboretum. The massive hatch on the ceiling he had sealed was still shut tight, and the sudden air rush from the ship's arrival had pressed most of the webbing against the walls. The ship, levitating by its own power in the middle of the chamber, emitted a soft, warm glow that enveloped the entire space in gentle light.

G stood there for several minutes, letting the adrenaline rushing through his veins subside.

A few minutes ticked by before G, Riclos, Kargan, Phan, and a few of the rock gnomes gathered on the deck to assess the damage to the ship. G winced at the sight of the charred and splintered wood. The damage was mainly concentrated along the ship's port side, where Ryan's lightning bolt had scorched a deep, jagged groove into the wooden hull and metal reinforcements. The once smooth surface was now marred by blackened, twisted metal and splintered wood, with some pieces hanging precariously by mere splinters.

Riclos ran his fingers along the scorched edges and sighed. "This won't be a quick fix. We'll need to replace a good portion of the hull and find a way to repair the metal supports. They've been weakened and warped by the intense heat."

G's attention was caught by Eamon, the sixteen-year-old rock gnome, who enthusiastically waved his arms. "Eamon, right? What is it?"

Eamon, unable to hold back any longer, burst out, "Some of this damage will heal on its own. The metal is already melding back into place. But we'll need to replace the missing section of the rail. It's not safe to have the edge exposed like this," he said, his eyes studying the ship's burnt port side.

Thierry chimed in immediately after, "We should also check the integrity of the ship's magical components. That lightning strike could've disrupted the enchantments or damaged some of the more sensitive elements."

G frowned at Riclos, who smiled reassuringly. "They're gnomes, G. Gnomes are natural tinkers, and having them inspect the ship can't hurt. If they were human, most of them would already be apprenticed and married at their age."

They were interrupted by the sound of barking and the thunderous pounding of paws on the deck as Bitsy and Crewton dashed up the stairs from below, Crewton bouncing around with his tongue hanging out, clearly playing with Bitsy. G sighed, "Crewton, come here, stop that. Kargan, we need to secure the ship and set up a walkway. We can't have them running around like this while we're trying to repair it. Can you organize that, please?"

Kargan replied politely, "Of course, right away," then looked nervously at the hatch on the ceiling where the matron spider had disappeared long ago.

G rubbed Crewton behind the ears and patted him a few times. Then, he turned to an empty spot on the deck and started removing things from his inventory. He thought three long wooden planks from the conference table first, then wire, broken metal chairs, and all the clutter in his inventory would be useful to repair the ship.

"These planks should reach once we pull the ship over to the side there," said G, pointing at the wide, flat platform on the second level. Kargan nodded in affirmation.

G looked down at Gerkag's body. "Phan, I need to talk to you. Everyone else start looking for things to do. Fionn, you entertain Crewton and Bitsy until we get them off the ship." G looked at Phan and nodded back toward the high castle area where the Guardian sat embedded in the middle of the control console for the ship.

G stopped and looked at her; she didn't appear affected by the whole ordeal and still had that nonchalant look she always had, like everything was just a bit beneath her. "Okay, tell me what all that in the Throne hall was about." He had thought about asking her nicely but decided that wasn't the approach he needed at this point. If he was responsible for all of these people and needed to repair this ship and complete his quest to defeat Ryan, he needed real answers this time.

As he waited for her response, G marveled at how quickly everyone adapted to the bizarre and dangerous circumstances they faced. It was as if the people of this magical world were hardwired to accept the strange and unusual without missing a beat. A ship that can teleport, lightning strikes that could tear through hulls, and now planning repairs like it's just another day at the office. He glanced around at his companions, their calm demeanor in the face of such chaos both impressive and unsettling. Back on Earth, any of these events would cause widespread panic and endless discussions. Here, it's just business as usual. Maybe it's their connection to magic, their innate resilience, or simply years of living in a world where the impossible happens daily. Whatever it is, I need to adapt just as quickly if I'm going to survive and lead these people. He was starting to suspect he wasn't going back home. He was pretty sure Breamus would have mentioned that if it was something that could happen.

"What's to tell, really? Cisandra bought off my guild after killing the people who had taken out the original contract. I don't know how she did that since the contract was put on her because she had refused to send her army to help with the Great War. But the documents are real, and they have the magical seal from the guild," said Phan. Then she stopped, thinking that was all that needed to be said.

"And Gerkag? Why did you kill him instead of following through on the Queen's contract for you?" asked G. He tensed a bit, unsure how she would answer that.

"Tocai, be ready in case she does something rash," projected G to his familiar.

Phan flashed a quirky smile. "As I mentioned before, I'm no longer part of the guild. Their hold on me has no teeth, and I'm under no obligation to accept the contract. Whoever brokered that deal and took her gold neglected to inform her of this little detail. It seems they either wanted her dead or me. In any case, I chose not to accept it, as you saw. As for Gerkag, any half-wit troglodyte could see he'd betray you or me as soon as it became profitable. With his smuggling operation finished and the city in turmoil, you should have anticipated his commitment to the strongest power, which was obviously the Queen and her consort. Now, they've captured Aevum Malum and will wield it against all who oppose them. I guess it's better than the city falling, but not by much, given they're now our enemies. The Queen won't let this affront to her pride go unpunished; we'd do well to eliminate both of them as soon as possible."

G appreciated her use of the word 'we' instead of 'you'; she was someone he could value on his side in any fight. "And Gerkag?"

She glanced at his corpse. "He was about to use something that could have killed all of us without magical protection. He broke his word to me, and that's unacceptable. Just be thankful his trolls weren't with him." She then pulled a long, dark, crystalline object from her belt pouch. G couldn't fathom how it fit into the small pouch, but when she removed it, it measured about half a meter long, with intricate void runes etched along its surface. "I believe he had some spell that would have shielded him from this. The Queen was already protected, leaving everyone else exposed." She handed it to G.

He analyzed it.

Void Crystal Rod of Annihilation (Muck Town Artifact)

Type: Rod

Effect: Void Annihilation

Size: 1-meter diameter on impact

Damage: 8-80 void damage

Description:

This dark, crystalline rod is etched with intricate void runes that seem to absorb light rather than reflect it. The rod is adorned with small, deep purple gemstones that pulse with an eerie, otherworldly glow. Each gemstone represents one of the ten charges imbued within the rod. The design of the rod reflects the grim environment and aesthetic tastes of the dark sorcerers of Muck Town, a place infamous for its murky swampland terrain and relentless power struggles.

Rumored to have been crafted by a powerful void mage who briefly ruled the town, the rod is coveted by many who seek its devastating power. The rod's true potential lies in its ability to unleash a cataclysmic void burst, capable of annihilating everything within its radius and leaving nothing but an empty void in its wake. However, the control word for the rod has been scratched off, adding an element of danger and unpredictability to its use.

The rod currently has 1 of 10 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 charge per activation by speaking its activation word.

G examined the rod, noticing it had one charge left and no visible control word. Did he have to say the control word to activate the magic? He scrutinized the rod for a few more moments, contemplating Phan and what she had said.

G looked up and nodded to Phan. "I see. So, how do you want to work this? You being part of the group that is?"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Phan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kargan, who was bridging the gap to the platform with the planks as one of the gnome children bound the long boards together with some rope. "I will take what you are paying Kargan, plus any gold we find while I'm part of the party, divided equally into shares, with the leader receiving double shares and covering costs. If I don't like what we're doing, I'll take my leave and return to the capital, where I'll hunt down the one who made a false contract with the Queen in my name," said Phan.

G contemplated the offer. It was more than reasonable, but part of him felt compelled to haggle. However, he decided against it and extended his hand. They grasped wrists and shook on the deal. "Welcome aboard. A handshake will have to do until we can have something more formal drawn up." She nodded in affirmation.

G glanced around the deck and then turned back to Phan. "Where are the troll guards?"

Phan gave a cute little wicked smile and motioned for him to follow as she headed toward the stairs leading below deck. Curious, G followed her down the steps.

Below deck, they found Niamh, the rock gnome girl, sitting on the back of one of the troll guards who was face down on the floor, drool leaking from his mouth. The other troll guard lay next to him, also alive but incapacitated. Several puffy needles poked out of their faces, resembling the blow darts G had seen in the target at the inn.

Niamh grinned up at G, and just as one of the guards began to open an eye, she shot another dart into him. The guard promptly went back to sleep.

Phan chuckled softly. "The gnomes didn't seem to like trolls very much and had these darts dipped in some sort of solution that seems to put trolls to sleep."

G thought back to the blind troll that used to lead their little thieving band and how the older gnome child had no problem putting the troll out of his misery when they had first met. They're practical, these gnomes. Ruthlessly so. They don't hesitate when something needs doing, no matter how grim the task. He nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I've seen that in them before."

It's a brutal world, and survival often means making tough decisions without hesitation. These gnomes, despite their size, had learned that lesson well. G couldn't afford to be squeamish, either. The stakes were too high. If they were to succeed, he'd have to embrace that same practicality, even if it meant making decisions that weighed heavily on his conscience.

Niamh looked up at G, her stomach growling audibly. "I'm hungry."

G rummaged through his inventory and found only two mushroom chunks left. He handed one to Niamh and sighed. "Here, take this. It's not much, but it's all I have left."

Niamh took the chunk gratefully, nibbling on it as she turned her attention back to the two trolls. She reminded G of his grandfather when they were ice fishing, patiently watching a hole in the ice for the tiniest sign of movement on his line.

"Alright then," G said, breaking the moment of reflection. "I think we're going to have to mount an expedition into the pathways to harvest some food. There's a cavern nearby that should have enough for now."

G looked at Niamh and nodded approvingly. "You're doing a good job, Niamh. Keep it up."

Phan smiled again and gestured for G to follow her. They made their way to the top deck, where Phan pointed at the two carts they had used as part of their disguise when they were moving through the streets, now positioned near the opposite end of the ship. "You'll find food and other items in those carts. Gerkag also had several dozen of those small disks on him. I left them on his body; you should probably retrieve them and inventory the rest of the ship."

G grinned, having an idea since he was already on the hook for 20 gold. "Well, since you seem to know what you're doing there, how about you become our new supply officer? We can discuss the cost after you're done. If you follow that opening at the bottom of the arboretum, there are also some supplies in the corridors." He was thinking of the supply cabinets and other things in the storerooms.

Phan smiled, half chuckling, nodded, and turned, making her way farther into the ship, leaving him standing there, watching her retreating form.

"G, the Guardian wants to talk to you. He isn't happy with what you did," said Tocai, his tone serious.

G frowned and sighed and went to the console. He placed his hand on the sphinx's head.

"Ah, there you are. This wasn't the agreement we made. You were to take me with you so I can see the universe. I can see little to nothing from here. Resolve this!" demanded the Guardian in a thundering voice.

"Whoa, what do you mean? You have a whole ship. We can go anywhere," said G, trying to figure out what the Guardian was talking about. He also felt relieved that he could speak out loud again.

"But I cannot see. I need eyes, and there are no eyes on this ship unless you count that bauble on the mast looking straight down as one. No, I demand to see!" the Guardian insisted.

Understanding dawned on G. He picked up the sphinx's lion-shaped head with its prickly metal mane trailing down to where the back of its neck would have started. He mentally willed it to release from the console and pushed a bit of mana into the Guardian.

"How about we mount you up front where you'll be able to see? Will that work?" asked G.

The Guardian responded eagerly, "Yes, that will do excellently, and it will give me a higher position from which I can tell those buffoons to stop scraping at my sides. This ship is repaired with magic, not a hammer!"

G's eyebrows shot up. "You know how to repair the ship? Well, let's get this head installed up there on the bow, then." He motioned for Riclos and the gnome children, who were busy trying to pull burned timber from the railing, to follow him.

Carrying the massive head under his arm, G walked forward to a nice flat spot near the front. On a regular ship, a bow would have risen here and blocked the construct's vision, but this ship was designed more for air than water. The space was slightly rounded down with a flat area about two meters off the deck, acting as part of the rail but thicker. He placed the head there, and a prompt appeared.

Do you wish to install the Guardian Construct here?

G selected 'yes,' and the head sat there, looking forward as the wood's edges grew around it, seamlessly sealing it to the surface. The head swiveled around, and its eyes glowed. Then they stopped glowing for a few moments, and G thought it hadn't worked. But there was a noise from the head, and the eyes glowed once again with a brilliant yellow. The head rotated to face Riclos and the gnomes a bit away.

"You shall stop hammering and chopping at my decking. I shall repair the damage," it boomed authoritatively before turning forward again, staring at the far wall of the arboretum and falling silent.

Riclos and two of the gnome kids looked up at G with questioning looks.

G said, "The Guardian." Gesturing at the large metallic figurehead. Riclos nodded in understanding.

Riclos walked over with the two gnomes in tow. "Well, now. The ship will repair itself. We should get started on those sails. Without them, we cannot move quickly enough through the astral to reach any destination."

G realized there was something he didn't fully understand about the astral. "Riclos, can you explain what the astral is? I've never been in or heard of it where I'm from."

Riclos raised an eyebrow and saw the gnome children standing around listening. "Certainly."

Riclos leaned against the railing, motioning for G and the gnome children to gather around him. With a knowing smile, he began to explain the mysterious nature of the astral space.

"You see," he started, his voice rich with excitement, "astral space is not like the regular space. It's a magical layer of space that encompasses all planes of existence. It is the thread that connects everything out there, all the planes of the foci gods and all the planes of every type."

As G and the children listened intently, their eyes wide with curiosity, Riclos continued, "Unlike the void of regular space, astral space has some air – not quite the same as the air we breathe, but enough to sustain certain creatures and magical beings. It's a shimmering expanse filled with swirling colors, magical currents, and pockets of unpredictable energies."

He spread his arms wide to emphasize the vastness of astral space. "You might think of it as an expanse of pure magical essence, a place where the boundaries between realities blur and the normal laws of nature bend or even break."

Riclos gestured towards the ship's sails. "Our vessel here is specially designed to navigate through this astral space. The sails are not like ordinary sails that catch wind; instead, they harness the magical currents of astral space, allowing us to traverse vast distances and cross from one plane to another."

As he spoke, Riclos traced an intricate pattern in the air with his fingers, illustrating the flow of astral currents. "These magical currents are ever-shifting and unpredictable. It takes a skilled navigator to read them and plot a course through the astral space. That's where I come in," he said with a wink. G thought back to the old priest's claim of not knowing how to pilot the ship but decided to keep that to himself.

Riclos leaned in closer, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone as he delved deeper into the secrets of astral space. "Now, there's another aspect of astral space that you should be aware of: the dark pathways. These enigmatic routes weave their way through the astral, connecting various planes and planets in ways that are difficult to predict. Most of the breathable air rotates around these odd branches of stone. There is a circle of mostly breathable air for about 20 kilometers in every direction outside the stone of the dark pathways. Sometimes, there are floating pools of water or storms, but at the center of this air, there is always a branch of the dark pathways. The dark pathways can be narrow or very wide in places, sometimes hundreds of kilometers in width. "

He swept his arm in a fluid motion, illustrating the winding, twisting nature of the dark pathways. "The dark pathways are like hidden tunnels or shortcuts within the astral space. They can be dangerous and treacherous routes to take, but they can also lead to unexpected discoveries and shortcuts between worlds. In scholarly circles, they are also known as the Myrmecophytic Pathways. They are like hollow roots, constantly growing and gathering stone mass as they wind their way across astral space between the worlds. Many of the leylines of mana flow along them or near them. It is believed that the leylines are directly responsible for the formation of the stone and the portals that can form."

Riclos paused, ensuring he had his listeners' full attention, waving his hands around like someone who is clearly used to talking in front of a crowd. "When the dark pathways come nearest to a plane or a planet, there's a chance that a natural portal will open, creating a temporary or even permanent link between the two. These portals are like doorways, allowing travel between the astral space and the connected plane or world."

He tapped his temple, emphasizing the importance of what he was about to say. "However, these natural portals are unpredictable, and their appearance is often fleeting. A skilled navigator must be vigilant, ready to seize the opportunity to pass through a portal before it closes. In some cases, a powerful mage or artifact might be able to stabilize a portal, making it a more reliable point of transit."

G and the gnome children looked at each other, their faces a mix of excitement and trepidation. The idea of venturing through the dark pathways and discovering hidden portals to other worlds was thrilling, but the inherent risks were not lost on them. Riclos watched their expressions, his eyes twinkling with the knowledge that he had shared yet another layer of astral space's vast complexity. G, who had already stumbled or swam in this case, into a portal and was almost eaten, thought perhaps it was best to let these children enjoy the wonder of imaging for a while yet. Truly, all portals could not be so dangerous, or no one would ever have crossed different planes.

Riclos continued, a smile playing on his lips as he shared more about the intricate workings of astral space. "Now, aside from those unpredictable natural portals, there's another way to traverse the vast distances between planes and worlds. This method is more reliable, but it requires the knowledge and expertise of skilled magic users."

He held up his hands, mimicking the shape of two pillars. "You see, powerful mages can create magical portals by erecting two opposing enchanted pillars. These pillars, imbued with the right kind of magic, are designed to link to a corresponding set of pillars placed at another location, possibly on another plane or world."

Riclos moved his hands closer together as if he were narrowing the gap between the invisible pillars. "When these enchanted pillars are charged with the correct amount and type of magical energy, they create a gateway that, for a short time, allows instant travel between the two points. This process is a delicate balance of arcane knowledge and precise execution."

He lowered his hands, his eyes shining with excitement. It seemed like he was in his element talking to people like this. "Imagine it: stepping through a shimmering portal and instantly emerging in a completely different world, perhaps a lush forest, a bustling city, or even an alien landscape that defies description. The possibilities are as limitless as the imagination of those who dare to explore astral space and its many pathways."

Riclos added a final note, his voice taking on a more reverent tone. "Of course, what I've shared with you pertains to the methods and limitations faced by most beings in the multiverse. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and in this case, those exceptions are the gods and other powerful entities."

He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. "These divine and immensely powerful beings possess abilities far beyond the comprehension of mere mortals like us. They can will themselves to appear at the side of their followers, to locations they know, or even to places they've never been, with just a thought."

Riclos raised his hands, emphasizing the magnitude of such power. "The most powerful among them can travel almost anywhere in the blink of an eye, unhindered by the boundaries and restrictions that apply to lesser beings. Only the most potent magical wards and protections can hope to guard against their presence."

G and the gnome children exchanged awed glances once more, their minds expanding with the knowledge of the incredible powers wielded by the gods and other mighty beings. G contemplated these revelations, as he thought about it, a newfound appreciation for the vast, interconnected tapestry of the Planarverse and the cosmic forces that shaped their own lives and destinies.

"Now you can see what a prize you have here. Let us go see if there is any sail material below, and we can set about making new sails, " said Riclos. He turned and led the gnomes below to search.