The silver Rizzels are a type of Rizzel awakened to the concept of teleportation. Their bodies shed silverdust, a potent ingredient used in the alchemical production of lures and seductive potions. Even dead, their furs continue to shed this dust until it degrades. Silverdust is even more effective when used against monsters than humans.
The Awakened Bestiary.
Understanding conceptual creatures, page 403.
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"Ten gold!” The mayor exclaimed. “Absolutely not. We cannot afford to spend that much on the Rizzels; if we do, we’ll be broke for the entire year.”
“Let’s buy half then.” Minerva suggested, but the mayor was still adamant, and it took several minutes of arguments and persuasion before he finally agreed.
Aodhán had no idea how much the village coffers contained, but the mayor looked like he’d been stabbed in the chest.
“So, we are spending 5 gold coins on the Rizzel furs. Is there anything else we need to buy?” The scholar asked, and the mayor winced. Aldric was chuckling lightly, as if he found the entire situation funny, but Aodhán just wanted the meeting to be over as his legs were starting to buckle.
When the council didn’t suggest they buy anything else, the mayor let out a relieved sigh and said,
“Now that we’ve settled that, we need to decide on the best location for this exhibition. “He brought out a map from his pocket and laid it on the table.
All the council members stood up and gathered around the table. Aodhán tried to move forward, but Aldric dragged him back and shook his head.
“The most defensive location in the Warren Woods are the Warren steeps. If we camp on the hill, we’ll be able to take out the monsters before they’re halfway up the steeps.” Balor proposed, but Calithen countered him.
“That may be true, but that location is terribly disadvantageous, as it cuts us off from the river; that means we’ll have no access to water throughout the battle.”
“Water isn’t really a problem.” Balor replied. “We have Minerva and Unrid’s guest to provide us with water when necessary.”
“Our source tells us that the monsters are entering the Warren woods through the barren strip of land that separates the Warren from Gishan.” The mayor said, tapping his fingers loudly against the map before he continued. “The best location will be one close enough to the Barren Strip, so we can gather those already in the forest as well as those still coming in.”
The conversation continued for a long time, as they proposed both the advantages and disadvantages of each suggested location. They finally decided on the land at the edge of the river; that way, all the lured monsters would only come from a single location.
They made a few more arrangements and concluded that the expedition would be held in the next two days. By the time they left the mayor’s house, it was almost midnight, and when Aodhán got back to the Brystions house, he trudged up the stairs and to Aldric’s old room, where he promptly fell asleep.
Aodhán woke up the next morning to the scent of bacon, and with aching bones, he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up.
Ten minutes later, he trudged back down the stairs, where he found a refreshed-looking Aldric seated with his legs on the center table. Even Unrid looked exhausted, but it was more mental than physical.
“They cannot imagine that I’m not interested in their silly competition for the position of mayor,” he complained loud enough for Synové to hear from the kitchen. “I’ve said it so many times that I’ve grown weary of repeating it, yet they do not believe me.”
Aodhán collapsed on one of the chairs as Aldric responded. “Have you ever considered that it’s exactly because you’re not competing, yet winning, that they dislike you so much?”
“You might be right, Aldric, but the next time I see that wench called Minerva, I’ll be certain to give her a piece of my mind.” Synové called from the kitchen, while Daruk snorted as he set the table for lunch.
“You look like something ate you and spat you out.” Aldric said to Aodhán with a smile, but he merely grunted in reply.
“It’s good that you’re awake, as I was just about to send Daruk to wake you; we need to make plans for the exhibition.”
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Aodhán opened an eye to glare at Unrid. “I already have plans for the day; besides, didn’t we already make all the plans last night?”
“That’s the village’s plan; we need to make a house plan.” Unrid replied, “Like getting you hunting gear and a weapon.”
“I don’t need weapons to protect myself.” Aldric pointed out, but Unrid insisted.
“It’s always better to have it and not need it.”
“Also, we need to train; learn how we all fight so we can work together as a group.” Aldric added after a moment, while Aodhán just glared at him.
He wanted to know what class Aldric had awakened, and this was a perfect opportunity to do so, but his body just didn’t feel up to it.
Fortunately, Synové soon came out of the kitchen with a tray of bacon, fresh bread, and an egg.
They all immediately moved to the dining area, and before long, they all dug into their meals.
“So, what are your plans for today, Aodhán ?” Synové asked him, and he shrugged as he swallowed before answering.
“I’m going to Cairan’s farm today; I should also inform the other farmers that I’ll probably not be around for the rest of the week, depending on how long this expedition will take.”
“It shouldn’t take more than a day or two.” Unrid replied around a mouthful of bacon, and Synové glared at him.
“I know I want to be a scholar, but it’s at times like this that I wish to brave the gruesome death the life of a warrior provides.” Daruk commented, but Aldric snorted.
“Not all soldiers die in gruesome ways; many just die in terrible ways.”
“Do I have to remind you boys that we’re having breakfast?” Synové questioned, and the conversation withered and died a gruesome death.
An hour later, after his meal, Aodhán wearily made his way out of the Brystions house with Aldric in tow. Aodhán had, of course, been against the idea from the start; he didn’t need the weird awakened trailing behind him while he worked, but Aldric had promised to help him improve his elemental control, so he’d grudgingly agreed.
Cairan’s farm was much closer to the house than that of Evaris, so it only took them about twenty minutes to get there. Unlike Evaris’s, Cairan’s farm was very impressive; it occupied a space of about two acres and was divided into three.
One part contained multiple rows of corn stalks, their green leaves swaying gracefully in the breeze. The other part contained cassava, and the last part contained yam.
A massive structure stood in one corner of the farm, and Aodhán immediately made his way to it. When they stepped into the building, they found Cairan dressed in fancy robes that stood out in the sea of dirty clothes his farm hands wore.
“Ah! If it isn’t my favorite person.” Cairan called out with a smile when he saw them, and after a round of introductions, Aodhán said it with a smile.
“The crops are definitely looking healthier.”
“Yes, yes. In fact, they’ve never been better. Your storms have nourished the earth to such a degree that the farmhands wonder if the rain itself is magical. Do you think it is?” Cairan asked, but Aodhán shrugged.
“I have no idea, honestly; I’ve never actually tested the water for magical or unique properties.”
“Its possible.” Aldric said it thoughtfully. “Many awakened skills come with such unique flavors.”
“You think it’s healing water?” Cairan asked with huge eyes, but Aldric shook his head.
“I doubt it’s healing water, but it’s very possible that it has some minor healing or nourishing ability; I’ve never seen such robust corn stalks before.”
Cairan’s mouth was wide open in wonder, but he shut it after a moment and said, “Perhaps we should test it. Conduct some experiments.”
“How do we intend to do that?” Aodhán asked as Cairan began walking out of the building.
“We shall drink and bathe with the rain water for a week; then we will be sure if, truly, it is healing water.”
“It’s definitely not healing water.” Aldric murmured, but Cairan didn’t listen to him and soon had the farm hands holding onto wooden buckets.
“We are ready when you are, Aodhán . Once the storm begins, we shall fetch the healing water and test it.”
The eyes of the farmhands widened at the thought of healing water. Even Aodhán was curious to know what the test would reveal. If the rain truly had healing properties, then he would have to raise the cost of his services.
With a sigh, he moved to the center of the corn farm, and a moment later, a storm cloud , about 42 feet in size, appeared above him. The constant visualization made it easier to create, and he had even managed to increase the size by two feet.
The migraine still remained, though, and with the fact that he had slept terribly the night before, he was in for a world of hurt.
He went through the usual process of decreasing the sound of thunder and increasing the tempo of the rain from a drizzle to a light downpour.
The farmhands ran to place their wooden buckets under the storm cloud before running to pour the water they’d gathered in a large storage container placed in the building and running out to fetch more.
The entire process took about five hours, as Aodhán had to take rests in between, and when he finally finished, he was so tired that he only waved goodbye to Cairan before trudging back home.
Aldric jogged to catch up with him, and when he did, he said, “You’re doing it wrong.”
“What?”
“Your abilities; you’re using it like a stick instead of a whip.” Aldric continued, and Aodhán sighed.
“Aldric, I do not have enough mental strength to think in parables.”
“What I’m trying to say is that the storm is part of you; you’re creating it, brute forcing it into existence, when it should naturally flow out of you.”
Aodhán came to a stop, and he turned to Aldric in confusion. “You mean I don’t have to visualize it?”
“Visualization techniques are stressful and less effective than simply willing the storm into existence. The storm is a part of you; it obeys you; you simply need to command it.”
Aodhán raised his palm and tried to will a storm cloud into existence, but Aldric shook his head once again.
“You’re still trying to force it; all you need is to believe that a storm cloud is in your palms and it will be. You don’t have to imagine or visualize it; you don’t even have to think about it; just will it, and it will obey.”
Aodhán spent a few minutes trying, and although he felt like he was up to something, he never actually got it, so he resolved to try again after a meal and sufficient rest.