Chapter 24

Disagreements

As the party entered the city, a celebration started. The Green Dragons were no longer a threat, and many lives had been saved by Etherstaria's party. Tira sought out Almiel as quickly as possible; they needed to talk about what to do about the White Foxes if they intended to try to cross swords with the caravan. Ultimately, there was no way they could take them on. When there was dragon treasure, sometimes people went crazy. Almiel would have to negotiate.

"So. what did you find, Tira?" said Almiel as they talked inside the first guard wagon, the most secure wagon they had at the moment.

"Well, first, I had to almost wrestle Twixia for this, but I told her you needed to identify it since I failed." Tira handed over a bookmark.

Almiel used his knowledge (arcane) to activate appraisal. "It is an illusion spell, it makes the book it is placed in appear to be another book. Nothing special, but someone applied an overpowered enchantment to it for some reason. It is worth over 500 gold to the right buyer, but to be honest, someone messed up their enchantment. "After the others evaluate it, I believe we should be able to keep it for a reasonable price because they will not want to be stuck with it."

She brought out the potions and the two scrolls. "The potions are worth about another 500 gold together, a full polymorph scroll."

Almiel interrupted her: "Why didn't you destroy this?"

"I thought it might be useful," said Tira. "To me, legality is the word of my mistress."

"And what was Star's idea? We need to get rid of this," said Almeil.

"She thought maybe Blaze would want it," said Tira. "Obviously, you are the only magic user here strong enough to cast the spell and fulfill her wishes."

"We covered it up by saying that a Woodling or elfess wanted to join the caravan, and we had to leave Blaze behind as we couldn't take her through the checkpoint," reasoned Almiel. "Go fetch her; this thing is toxic, and casting it is the best way to get rid of it anyway. We don't want to invite dark elves into our camp looking for it."

A round later, Tira returned with Blaze, whom Tira had put just outside the wagon while Almiel read the scroll.

"Would you like to be a specific kind of elf or Woodling?" asked Tira.

"If there is a pretty and intelligent one, that would be for the best," said Blaze in anticipation of her dreams coming true, her fingers interlocked in anticipation.

"High elven Woodling," said Almiel as he finished the scroll.

* "Succeed in a system shock or die!" said the system to Blaze.

* System shock sucessful. Roll will save or lose your memories of your former self!

* Roll sucessful! "You gain the following modifiers."

* One advancement to dexterity

* One advancement to appearance

* You lose one advancement to health.

* You lose a racial disadvantage in intelligence.

* You gain starlight vision while losing infrared vision.

All other traits remain due to successful will save.

You are now unstable physically as a magical creature; raise your health statistic to evolve. Your body now mimics the body of a High elven Woodling. Your new statistics are as follows:

HP Skill points Str Health Dex  Int Will Chr App Attack Defense 15(+3 skills) 21(24) -1 -1 2+  3 1 2+ 3 1+ 1+

"So, am I cute now?" said Blaze

Almiel and Tira looked at Woodling, who had turned blue-eyed and yellow-gold-haired.

"Yes, your plan should be easy now," said Tira.

"I do caution you that this magic is not absolute; it can be broken by certain high level spells, and if that is later in your life, it will result in your death by old age more or less instantly. I have no idea how this will interact with your class abilities if you evolve; I suggest not doing that," cautioned Almeil.

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Blaze gave him a salute.

"You'll also need to choose a new name because you'll have to leave the name Blaze behind so no one knows you used to be a goblin. That would be very bad in the GERV."

"Why don't you name me then, Almeil?" asked Blaze.

Tira began laughing, "He named his kids Blue and Grey because their eyes are slightly different colors! That is a bad idea."

"How about Seraphina? That means fire spirit," said Almeil who was undeterred from Tira's teasing.

"Wait! A good one?" said Tira.

"Seraphina is too long and pretty for a goblin name, so it will work," said Seraphina. "What are you going to do with the two goblins we rescued?"

"I will reward them by having Star grant them some land in Lark lands, as I am still within teleport range. The Lark clan will level them up a couple of times, and they can start a goblin village. We have a lot of common coins we can give them, so they will be able to buy what they need."

"By the way, I am going to turn you invisible, and I will introduce you after I drop off the goblins, saying they found us some more magical support."

"That seems suspicious," said Seraphina. She checked out the middle-aged elf, who seemed more ageless than old. She activated her charm skill, asking, "Why don't you say I was your reward for your successes?"

Tira spat out some ale she was drinking while laughing.

Almiel blinked

"That actually is a pretty good story," said Tira. "I doubt you can add him to your harem, but with your charm skill, it would make sense for him to bring you back so we don't get robbed."

Our group brought in 2,000 iron and white copper coins; 1000 copper and wrought iron; 1500 bronze; 200 silver; 300 high silver; 85 gold; 90 high gold; and 45 mithril coins. We let the elves carry as many base coins as they could, and I suppose the Green Dragons will grab the others we couldn't carry. There is also a scroll of wall of fire, which is divine, plus a divine wand of will and a +1 defense ring. All of them are worth about 200 mithril each.

Almiel began calculating 700 mithril for the magical items, but the others will almost certainly want them calculated at 350 mithril for resale. The iron coins make 50 pounds of trade goods, worth 2500 copper or 25 mithril if they are turned into steel.

What dumbass turned iron into coins? Let's see if the white copper is recycled into trade goods for ships for 2500 copper. The wrought iron is better as a coin, so 1,000 copper coins, 7500 copper for the bronze. In addition, the heroic coins cost 100.5 mithril. So in total, 450.5 mithril and 13,500 copper We want the common coins for the iron, after all, with all these commoners needing bows and swords and armor.

"Tira, go get the goblins and Star so we can take care of step one before the demands begin. I might as well let the girl see her parents for a few hours. I'll let you date me when I get back, if you don't get into mischief, Seraphina," said Almiel, as he cast a 10 day invisibility spell on her.

"Seriously?" said Tira.

"It is a good cover story," smiled Almiel.

An unbalanced star appeared, and the two surviving goblins soon arrived to go back to Clan Lark. Star had on a huge purple-haired elf's giant backpack, carrying as many base coins as could fit as well as many letters from the others. Star had exchanged higher coins for the village elves' base coins from her bug-out pack, as they would be more useful for the goblins. They would need them in their village so they would have a medium of exchange.

"Ok, Star, step off the teleport symbol quickly, or we might become twins like Blue and Grey, only we will be Siamese instead of fraternal twins," said Almeil, as he activated the ritual teleport that was already on her.

Star quickly stepped off the pad and then looked around. She was in a tower, with stairs going up and down. The only thing in it was the circle carved into the floor. She had never been allowed in this part of the palace before. There was a pop as Almiel appeared, holding onto the two goblins' shoulders.

Almiel spoke, "Good. Follow me, you three, and do not step onto the other circles." He led them down several flights of stairs, with identical pads inscribed on the floors. The goblins slid their backpack down the stairs instead of carrying it. At the bottom of the stairs, he took out a key and used it to unlock a door that was also covered in arcane symbols. The door opened, and they stepped into the administrative wing of the palace. A couple of armored knights were stationed outside the door and looked at the goblins.

"It's fine; they are with me," said Almiel. "We are going to my office." Almiel led them through various hallways that were decorated in blues and golden yellows. They got lots of stares whenever they ran into someone, and Almiel had to talk to them for a bit. Finally, we reached the Chancellor's offices, and he sent several people scrambling. Star smiled as one of the things he did was send for her mother. She couldn't wait to see her again!

Almiel had Star sign several papers for the goblins to start up a village. Then they picked out a piece of land bordering the forest where they could set up with enough resources. The door opened, and Star looked at the opening with anticipation. Her father, Samuel Lark, walked through the door, followed by her blushing mother, who was looking down at her feet in embarrassment at being escorted by her prince.

Star demurely waited until the door had closed, and then ran over to her parents. "Mom, father!" she squealed. Both of her parents hugged her. "It has only been a week, but my baby has changed so much!" said Skayla. "You look so fierce with an elven blade and that chain armor." "Indeed, already 4th level?" said Smauel. "What have you had my little girl doing, Almiel?"

"Yes, well, it has been eventful; there have been dragon problems, I am afraid. Everyone is alright though, other than some horses," said Almiel. Almeil saw the distress on the prince's face and added. "It is all taken care of, my prince; you don't have to worry. As you know, we can't have you interfering with the quest. Nothing has changed in that regard." Samuel stroked his daughter's hair as he checked her over for injuries.

"I helped defeat two Green Dragons!" said Star proudly to her papa.

"Oh my," said Skayla, growing faint and using her court fan to fan herself.

"That's my girl," said Samuel. "Once this is over, you will come back to us, right, Star?"

"Yes! I am going to learn all the sword dances first though!" exclaimed Star.

"Oh, let's see your dance," said Samuel.

Star twirled around and did her spring dance, not that she needed to heal at the moment.

"So, the dances really are a martial and racial skill, not a magical one," said Samuel. "Good job, Star; generations of sword maidens have had their question answered."

Star smiled as she was praised by her father. After all, he was a god, and she always felt wonderful when he praised her.

Almeil smiled at the trio. "I am going to get these goblins on their way, so why don't you spend the rest of the day with your parents, Star? We will leave at dawn once my powers recover."

Samuel frowned at Almiel.

"Don't look so scary, my Lord; once I level up, I can bring her back here now and then."It just might take a while for that to happen. I know you love your daughter, but this is too important, so don't make me regret this, my Lord."

"You had better not let her come to harm, Almiel; whatever you and the oracle are doing may be important, but please be careful with her," Samuel nodded.

"I will do whatever I can, my Lord," said Almiel.

Samuel left Almiel to his devices and left the office, with his consort and daughter trailing behind him. He was going to go spend some time with Star while he could. Who knows if they would even have another day together or how long it would take? To the water park, he thought. Watching his daughter play around in her swimsuit while he glared at any would-be suitors would be the best way to spend the day!