Chapter 8

Tyriel had a good morning, he and the Tor-khoth had a nice breakfast then they met Kasric to start their day. First, they managed to find a smith who could make 8 pilums by tomorrow afternoon, plus at a discount when Tyriel told him he could have the idea for free when he saw how useful they could be after Tyriel explained to him what they wanted and why.

While there they bought eight chain-mail shirts, four Bulwark shields, four longswords with matching shortswords, a great-sword, and three crossbows with twenty metal bolts each. The smith smiled when he ordered three small shirts for the kobolds, he just muttered to himself about the peculiar airs of nobles while they were walking out.

They didn’t need greaves or bracers, as that was the only thing Kraim let them keep plus Tyriel still had his. Also Tyriel had something he wanted to try when they were out in the wild that might be better than what he could buy. As they were walking to the bookstore Kasric inquired if he had plans of buying a guild hall or were they going to stay in the inn which would eat funds.

After he thought about it, he told her he didn’t know for sure. It depended on how this trip went sense it would take more money to buy a place and staff it, Also they needed to find if there were any dungeons or worthwhile high mana places for farming to earn them income and experience. Otherwise, they needed to go somewhere else that had more favorable hunting grounds.

She told him there were two dungeons nearby plus a swamp that was rich in mana, the dungeons were small offering only pelts, herbs, and a mineral you could mine called cerberite which was for making glow sticks. A glow stick was a rod that you could push mana into and it would act as a torch, dungeon divers used them as cheap reliable light sources. SK'irre piped in telling them cerberite veins could sometimes contain emeralds in them T’raim or S’tor could determine once they see the quality of the vein.

Kasric continued on telling them the swamp was a good source of croc hides as well as rare herbs, and plants, plus there was a standing bounty on killing Willibogs. Willibogs were a frog-like race that never developed past rudimentary caveman-type intelligence, they lived in mud-holes and raided the surrounding town areas killing people to eat as well as taking livestock and whatever they deemed as valuable. If she remembered right they were worth one Laurel for every five crest spikes you presented.

Willibogs have one long spike on their head that flipped up when angry presenting a brightly colored flap of skin attached to it and the back of their neck. They could find out the price if he was interested in going to the jobs board by the caravan market, it should be posted there along with other jobs they could look into. Cool Tyriel thought they have quest boards, then he thought of something, he asked Kasric who could offer quest the only ones he had were from the gods he guessed.

She told him the system quests he was thinking of only came from the gods, but everyone else thought of the contract system as a quest you just got money instead of experience. Generally, all business was done with contracts as it guaranteed payment, most people only got one real quest in their life and that was for achieving the fifth level in one skill, which they got the quest after one of their skills reached level 2.

Talking about quests reminded him that he should get his reward in a few more hours as it was close to noon which is when Kasric had said his quest should be counted as finished. Soon Kasric pointed out a three-story stone building with intricate motifs carved in the stone depicting battles and other historic scenes. There was a sign simply saying The Inspiring Word, no picture letting you know what the store was, like other stores he had been to. When he said so to Kasric she laughed and told him Carlyle the owner believed if you couldn’t read the sign you didn't need to be in there as it was a book store so reading was a necessity.

When he walked in Tyriel could immediately smell that old parchment smell he remember from his grandfather's house, an avid old book collector who liked to read beside a nice warm fire listening to it crackle while he read and drank his whiskey. The room was split in half with the front part containing chairs and couches for customers to sit in, then a counter across the middle separating it from the back where shelves of books were kept, then there was a circular metal staircase going up to the second floor just behind the counter.

A young human man looking to be in his twenties with black hair tied back in a ponytail, looked up from a large book he was reading at the counter when they came in. “Good day mi-lord. I’m Cameron what can I help you find today?” about then Kasric made it through the door “Shut it you! Go tell Carlyle I have a special client for him!” Cameron slammed his book shut “Yes missus Kasric right away. Bart come watch the front!” He hollered as he ran up the stairs.

Another young man came forward to the counter from among the shelves, he had large round pink ears on his head surrounded by long brown hair. Tyriel wasn’t sure but presumed he was some kind of mouse beast-kin, he just waved when the young man looked at him. Shortly an older human male came down the stairs, he was a little plump but still relatively in good shape, wearing an elegant black robe trimmed in gold thread. His hair was a salt and pepper of brown and gray hair, a clean-shaven strong jaw, and keen green eyes. He waved at Kasric as he came down “Kas! When did you get into town? I haven’t seen you in what five months since your last visit?”

“Hi! You old reprobate! Got in yesterday afternoon, we can visit later. I have brought you my new boss so treat him nice or I wont bring you any more business.” Carlyle perked up when she said boss “Oh well you managed to pay off that creature then or did he sell you to this one. I warn you if it was the latter you can turn around and leave right now I don’t help spoiled lords who take advantage of others misfortune.”

“No worries Carl! While he did purchase me as well as the gang, he released us along with a better offer which we all are agreeable to.” Carl nodded, then to their surprise chirped out a greeting to the kobolds that surprised the hell out of them as he spoke in perfect Tor-khoth. K’rick couldn’t stop himself “How do you know our language human?” then he slapped a hand over his mouth while Sk'irre slapped him on the back of the head.

“Relax my friends your safe in here, neither I nor my apprentices will tell anyone about you. I have read many ancient books about your race even some that teach your language. I'm happy I finally got to use it. How did I do?” The kobolds said he did remarkably well though he had an accent how you could tell Tyriel didn’t know it sounded flawless to him.

“Let's go up-stairs and have some tea while you tell me what you need’” with that he led them past the counter and up the stairs. This floor was loaded with more shelves of books packed as close together as possible so that Kasric and Tyriel had to turn sideways to get down the aisles. They eventually arrived at a door that opened into a small sitting room with a potbelly stove which had a pot of hot water going and several couches lining three of the walls of the room with cabinets on the last one, one of the couches had a pillow and blanket on it. “With all your money your still sleeping in here?” came Kasric’s sarcastic remark. Carlyle shrugged “I like my books and it's always late by the time I’m ready for bed so it saves time and I’m happy.”

Motioning for them to sit down he poured several cups of hot water then passed them around with tea bags for everyone. Kasric perked up when she smelled her cup “OOH! You brought out the good stuff, this is what you got from, uum who was it Earl the Grey right?” Tyriel’s head snapped up and he snatched her cup out of her hands to take a drink “Hey you could have waited for yours, there's more coming.” ignoring her indignant squawk he was focused on the tea. It was indeed Earl Grey tea, a favorite of his grandfathers that he always had when he visited him, this shouldn’t be here.

“How did you get this? Are you from Earth? No! You cant be you've been here too long, how is this possible?” Carlyle spun at his outburst then tried to calm him down so he could speak. Tyriel forcefully calmed himself taking a deep breath and holding it, then he released it and nodded at the man.

Carlyle told him to sit down then finished handing out cups, Tyriel tried to be patient but it was hard to sit still. Finally, everyone was served then Carlyle sat down. “No I’m not from earth, but I do know of it. I worship Soloff which I believe in your world was Thoth he is the god of knowledge and I’m one of his priests.” Tyriel sighed understanding a little, Carlyle kept going “Many years ago he gift the tea to me for a service I did for him, he also related to me where it came from and some of the peculiarities of your world, as I now assume your one of the transients from there?”

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Tyriel looked at Kasric who told him it was okay she trusted him with her life, so Tyriel explained what his experience was like getting here and the quest he received from the gods. Kasric mentioned how she never got the world quest nor anyone she knew of, to which Carlyle replied that he did and since Kasric and the Lupins were only level three they wouldn't get it, only those above level 10 and above would receive it, except of course the new people from Earth.

The reason for this as his god explained was the people from earth never had mana so they have no experience with it so everything they do is a challenge, thus this gives them a greater potential to grow if they survive the transition. To which not many are doing from what he's hearing, as they are not adapting well to the reality of this world. Those who survive the crossing are dying to the harshness of this world that they are wholly ignorant of. Tyriel mentioned he had been warned about how they were being treated here by the populace also having seen it on his trip here to Welby, Kasric dipped her head apologizing though she said that this world was harsh and those who didn't learn fast could cause everyone around them to die, she was tough on the elves because they were fighting against learning what they needed to survive.

He told them if the majority of everyone was ported into the wilds like he was, well it wasn’t good, as only a small percentage could survive in the wild back on his world without adequate supplies and here it would be 100 times worse for them. They were all use to soft living and minor problems that could be taken care of with a call on the phone, they were to busy with their socializing on the web than to learn how to survive on their own.

Carlyle said he was interested in learning more about these phones and web from him, but that he actually came here for another reason so tell him what they needed, then they could talk after business if they had the time. Tyriel explained to him that he was right about mana and they were there to look for spellbooks for him and SK'irre along with some that would explain more about it since he didn’t grow up with it. He did tell Carlyle that he read a skill book but that Kasric told him it was probably for a human which is why some of the information didn’t match up with his physiology.

Carlyle said that made sense seeing as he was an elf and that he had some books for that, to which Tyriel corrected him telling Carlyle he wasn’t an elf. Carlyle stopped and looked at him, then had an ah-ha moment then said while Tyriel had been human once, here on Invernia he was indeed an elf and it would all work out with the correct information.

Tyriel corrected him again telling him no he really wasn’t an elf here either, he was given another race and this was merely an illusion to hide his real body. Carlyle laughed telling him there's no way as he had protections on his store with one of those designed to dispel illusions. K’rick coughed and told him it wasn’t really an illusion as Tyriel called it, it was really the ability to Mask. Carlyle stared down at the little kobold “That can't be! That power was lost with the ancients and I know for a fact Typhon would not give it to anyone else as it was soully for his children." Carlyle stopped in the middle of his lecture “Oh Soloff you're a child of Typhon!”

Cupping his chin while looking at the floor “It makes sense he would use this chance to bring back his children, but how far would he go?” the last was said softly as his eyes got a glazed look in them and he went silent. They looked at him and Tyriel tried to get his attention, when he went to shake him K’rick told him not to it wouldn’t do any good. He explained Carlyle had gone into a trance to commune with his god Soloff, he himself does it when he needs help from Tyhon.

They asked how long they should wait to which K’rick responded it would last as long as Soloff wanted it to, and who can predict the whims of a god. The three of them looked at Kasric and asked if she thought if Carlyle would mind if they went to look at the books, she responded that he got very upset if people went through his books unattended. K’rick responded by saying they could fetch one of the apprentices from downstairs to help “No need for that I’m back sorry I had to check something. You’ll be glad to know I’m suppose to offer you any assistance I can with Soloff’s blessing’”

He then asked them what type of magic did SK'irre need so he could lead them to the right affinity areas, she told him fire but didn’t know the others as Tyriel hasn’t unlocked his affinities yet. This led into a whole discussion because he asked why that would matter to her which led into them explaining about their bond and how the Tor-khoth and he benefited from it. “Oh, Soloff! I need to have a book so I can write this all down. Ugh, It will just have to wait.. wait that's it! I will help you in exchange for you agreeing to come back at a time you can sit down and tell me what you know for me to record, Do you agree?”

A contract option popped up in front of Tyriel almost before he finished talking, Tyriel also noticed it wasn’t just for him both kobolds got it to. K’rick stammered “We have never given it to anyone. As a keeper of the memories I would have to get Typhon’s blessing before I could tell you anything.” Carlyle jumped and clapped his hands “A real-life keeper! I’ve only seen them mentioned a couple of times in the texts never knew it referred to your race. Oh this day keeps getting better!”

They agreed to talk about some things but had to wait till K’rick got permission on others, Carlyle excepted that then asked Tyriel where he was on his mana training. Tyriel let him know he was currently trying to saturate his body with mana, but was finding it trying as he hasn't succeeded even a little yet. Carlyle nodded at him then went over to a cabinet, bringing back a fist sized black onyx crystal, he handed it to Tyriel telling him to feed it a bit of his mana.

Tyriel looked at it wondering what it was, Carlyle told him not to worry it would just read what his affinities would be. With that he grasped it firmly then willed some of his mana into it, the orb came to life with a myriad of colors swirling in its depths. Shortly the orb became striped with six colors, red, gold, brown, light blue, dark blue, and gray with the colors gray, red, and light blue taking up half of the orb from top to bottom while the others only climbed halfway up the orb leaving the rest black.

Carlyle’s gaze kept going from the orb to Tyriel and back again to the orb, while the kobolds were making little happy claps behind him. Tyriel sighed “Okay what the hell did I do this time?” It took a minute but then Carlyle blinked “You have affinities with all elements, three of them at hundred percent and the others at fifty percent. Normally I would say that’s impossible, but as I know you have the backing of a few gods mainly Typhon, I have to say they truly gifted you.”

Tyriel finally had to ask “What’s the significance of Typhon? I know he’s a god but you keep emphasizing his name more so than you did Soloff’s who is your personal god.” Carlyle told him Typhon was one of the three, meaning he was one of the three gods who were created by the universe itself, then they created the others so in a way Typhon was Soloff's father. His primary domains were Space, Death, Dark, fire, Air, and of course Divine, his full title was Typhon Father of Monsters with his primary children being the dragons who resembled him in form.

Carlyle shook off the shock putting the orb back in the cabinet, then telling them while the test was impressive he now knew where to look for the books they would need. K’rick jumped in saying he would like any books he might have on healing and anatomy so he could improve his expertise in healing also. Carlyle snarked out “Sure why not. Are you overly blessed in the arts too?” Tyriel laughed at his sarcasm, he had been sitting there wrapping his brain around admitting the whole fact gods were real so he should go ahead and align himself with Typhon since he seemed to be tied to him. That was when he heard Carlyle, he looked up then smiled widely “What can I say? I am my father's son!” with those words Tyriel felt a flow of energy race through him making him give off a golden glow { 1000 exp awarded for announcing your patronage to a god in public.} { Title: Proclaimer of Truths has been earned}.

K'rick raced over placing his hands on Tyriels head intoning a sing-song chant while Sk'irre bowed down in front of Tyriel mimicking the chant with K'rick. "What is going on" What are you doing?" Carlyle touched his shoulder "Quiet Tyriel just wait a minute." Tyriel noticed Kasric also had her head down showing a little respect toward what they were doing. Shortly K'rick finished then taking a deep breath addressed Tyriel " Typhon showed his happiness by your claim of being his son, thus giving you a public blessing just as you publically declared for him. That chant was a prayer to Typhon thanking him for this display of his blessing."

Carlyle coughed when they looked over at him he added "It's a little more than that. You are now truly a chosen of Typhon, anyone with a high connection to their god will see you for what you are, this can be good as well as bad depending on which god they follow. So be careful going forward and have your priest here explain it more in detail later so you know who to watch out for."

Tyriel saw K'rick and Sk'irre still staring at him in awe, he quickly told them to stop, he was uncomfortable with that kind of attention, he would prefer they just treated him like before. K'rick responded to him "Sorry great one. We were only half-joking before about you being a chosen of Typhon only now to find you truly are one and Typhon announced it himself. He has not made a public display since the Khoth all died, long has he been in mourning." K'rick grabbed Tyriel's hands "To see him again reach out to his children in the world is a great happiness to us we are truly blessed that you have come to us.

Tyriel nodded and patted the kobold on the head asking him to at least keep the adoration to a minimum, please. They all laughed at his uncomfortableness then moved on to find their books.