Benton’s joyous spirit was infectious. His belly-laughs, combined with the effects of Tero’gal, set Theo in an excellent mood. They’d taken a break from going over the reagents to have tea in the cottage. No heat came from the fire burning in the fireplace, just a sense of increasing comfort. The tea was hot, but not too hot, and the bear-god had even brought scones. The alchemist wouldn’t pause, considering how the hell that worked. He simply dipped a lemon-flavored scone in his moss tea and ate.
“You should get a hobby,” Benton said, spreading more confections on the table.
“I have enough work. Don’t need a hobby.”
Benton left the cottage, returning with a [Pozwa Horn]. He placed it on the table and chuckled. “Your brain is going to turn to dust. I was thinking. Had a few decades to do that, didn’t I? Thinking about your little mage core. Do you know what scrimshaw is?”
Theo ran his fingers over the twisting horn. “Nope.”
“Carving stuff out of ivory. Out of bone,” Benton said, withdrawing a knife from nowhere and going to work on the horn. In a few moments, he produced a finger-sized figurine. It was a Toora, perhaps even an image of the bear-god himself. “Pretty cool, right?”
“It looks like you,” Theo said, taking the carving. He rolled it over in his hands, appreciating how much detail was represented in such a small space. “Think it’ll help?”
“In more ways than one,” Benton said with a shrug. “We thought the Pozwa were extinct. Gardreth held them in secret, and when the Fallen Kingdom fell… Well, we thought they were all gone. But there’s more than alchemical uses for those horns.”
It was easy to follow Benton’s logic. But it was rude to steal the man’s thunder. “What do you mean?”
“Materials like these hold enchantments well. I think it should work for your new magic just as well,” Benton said.
“You’re saying I should make my weapons out of [Pozwa Horns]?” Theo asked, idly scratching his chin. His plan was to use the high-quality stone from Ziz’s quarry.
“Yeah, stuff you can just throw. Or set them down like little totems,” Benton said. “I got the idea from my homeland. From my people. We have a class that uses totemic magic. Usually made of wood, but I’ve seen bone before.”
“Interesting,” Theo said.
Mediums were often important in magic. Taking the golems as an example, Theo could see the wisdom in the god’s words. But that depended on how well the horns took his wards. Another example to consider was making the horns into a construct. It wouldn’t work, since they were alchemically reactive. But the alchemist could extract the properties from primal essences, and apply those to the carved horns. That led him down a trail of thought that was dizzying. His processes would change with the addition of his [Toru’aun Mage’s Core].
“Listen… Think it over. I’m just giving suggestions here. I’m going to pop off into some adjacent realms and see if anyone knows anything about curing a soul-slaying,” Benton said, placing a comforting hand on Theo’s shoulder.
“One question before you go,” Theo said, staring at the carved figure. “Why are you helping me?”
“Didn’t I say?” Benton said, laughing. “Our neighbors are assholes. “None have invited me for tea.”
“Thank you.”
Outside the cottage, an archway of ice rose. The Toora God of Winter and Death stepped through, vanishing from Tero’gal. It grew cold for only a moment, but that sensation subsided within moments. Theo was left in his cottage, snacking on scones and drinking his tea. He looked at the knife left behind by Benton, taking it in his hands and rolling it over. It seemed like a mundane thing, not noteworthy in any regard. But as he held it, pressing the blade into a length of horn, he found it dragged through the material with ease.
“Magic knife, or weird god rules?” Theo asked.
But the knife had no system message. When he pressed his intent upon it, nothing happened. A sense as though this thing existed only in his realm, just like those lemon-flavored scones, flooded his mind. He’d seen stranger things, but it was as though his hands moved on their own. They carved away at material as he watched, half-expecting the result of the possessed creation to be magnificent. The resulting sculpture was anything but impressive. The alchemist had produced a lop-sided figure—meant to represent himself—that looked more like a mutated goblin.
It was calming, though. Hours passed as he made more abominations. Alex played happily in the pond outside, although they should have been training. Snapping himself out of his trance, Theo sat near the pond with his growing gosling. He let time slip through his fingers, worries melting away as those moments passed, before the gate opened. Icy wind blew, stirring the stalks of wheat, and then the echoing laugh of the bear-god filled the realm.
“That was an adventure,” Benton said, coming to rest near the pond. The area where he stood seemed to bloom with frost, touching the edge of the water and freezing it. “Touched the edge of the high-heavens, and even the demon-realms, and found something interesting.”
“What did you find?”
“Well, one of the Drogramathi’s spirits was hiding within an infant realm,” Benton said, groaning to a seated position. He dunked his feet in the water, freezing it. Alex honked in anger, moving far away from the spreading ice. “Had a few words with him. Talked a lot about Telbaris. Spirits are weird that way.”
“Did you catch his name?”
“Nope. He’s wayward. Trying to find his way back to the mortal plane. But that’s not possible. So he’s losing his mind. I sent him back to his master’s embrace… Well, anyway. Telbaris. The shifting moon. When she’s green, you can trundle off into the swamp and find yourself a flower.”
Theo narrowed his eyes, mind spinning. “What am I looking for?”
“A flower that blooms only when the moon is green. It doesn’t glow or anything like that, so you’ll need a light. But, there’s a hidden property on the flower. Grind it up on a plate of Drogramathi Iron, set it on fire, capture the smoke, then use some ability on it. The Dronon said you’d have it if you were a decent alchemist.”
“Hidden properties?” Theo asked.
The way property discovery worked was well-established, wasn’t it? A hidden flower in the swamp. One that only bloomed when the moon was green. That seemed like a tale, rather than fact. But with no other options, and Benton’s trustworthiness, Theo had no other options. The steps seemed easy enough. [Reagent Deconstruction] was the ability he was talking about, there was no doubt about that.
“Yeah, he said you’d know what to do.”
“Thanks, Benton,” Theo said, nudging the bear-god with his elbow. “I really appreciate it.”
“Hey, no problem. I’m bored out of my mind, so I’ll help however I can,” Benton said. “Did you ever think you’d be friends with a god?”
“You’re not a powerful god, are you?” Theo asked.
“Nope. That’s true. I’m one of the weakest,” Benton said. “I ran into a Bantari god. Two of them. Twins, maybe?”
“I didn’t think the Marshlings had gods.”
“Well, when you’re in these new realms you’re a god in name only. We get a realm, we get to poke into the mortal world a bit, but… It’s not like the high realms. Nothing like the Prime Pantheon, or the Demonic one.”
“But gods seem to have something in common,” Theo said. “Good timing. What’s the phase of the moon tonight?”
Benton grinned, revealing his sharp teeth. “Green.”
“Interesting,” Theo said. “Anyway, look at the horrible creations I’ve made.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Theo and Benton laughed for hours about the horrible scrimshaw he’d created. The god asked if he could keep a few, and the alchemist was too happy to rid himself of the abominations. With the solution to Xol’sa problem resting in the swamp, the pair chatted about realms and what they meant. They only lingered on larger topics for a while, preferring to talk about the small things of the world. The way things were before Benton ascended, and how his departure brought in a new era for his people.
The Toora bear-people, those peoples living in the mountains north of the Kingdom of Qavell, had a long, proud history. They had survived the cataclysm that destroyed the continent. Safe in their mountains, they spent their time reconnecting with their ancestors. They were a shamanistic people, and wanderers by nature. With the help of those that came before them, they settled down. They built something worth talking about.
When Qavell came to dominate them, they resisted. It was difficult for the kingdom to gain a foothold, losing soldiers, and so they settled on an agreement. Not quite the proud future they tried to forge, but not the subservience chained around the necks of the other towns in the kingdom. Benton had watched the undead wash across the land before he ascended. He’d seen them crash against the walls of Qavell before turning their eyes southward, as though their attention were caught by something else.
“Mortal interference,” Benton said with a sage-like nod. “Someone is steering those undead.”
“Why?”
“To spit in the face of the gods. To show them how impotent they are. They’re bound by their rules, but only when it suits them. It was their responsibility to clean up the mess left behind by Balkor, but they’ve failed,” Benton said.
That seemed like a point of hate within the bear-god. Theo wouldn’t disagree. He only hoped Khahar was making good on his promise to make them pay. He needed to trust that Yuri would do the right thing. To bring them to heel and make the heavens a better place. But what that meant was beyond mortal thinking. In realms where years passed in a day, how many moves had already been made?
The conversation shifted, and Theo battled his instinct to keep on working. It was nice to soak his feet in the cooled water, chatting with anyone. Benton had gone through similar trials as the alchemist. Leading people in a time of crisis, far before he was ready. Things moved fast when magic was involved. Too fast for the mortal mind to process. But that’s why he had his private realm, wasn’t it? A literal pool of reflection for him to sit by, enjoying silent moments without interruption.
“Tell me about your artifice work over there,” Benton said, gesturing to the stills and fermentation barrels.
Theo had placed 3 of his 5 new stills within Tero’gal. He’d replaced his older stills completely, and couldn’t be happier. He went on for as long as Benton would listen, telling him about all the features. Each peace that he’d had a hand in creating, and the master artificer who’d forged them. But as time dragged on, speeding and slowing as the alchemist’s concentration shifted, it was time to go.
“Great talking with you,” Benton said, shaking Theo’s hand. “If I don’t spot you crossing the Bridge, make sure to send me a mental message. I don’t want to miss our visits.”
“Me either,” Theo said, grinning at his godly friend.
The alchemist scooped Alex up under one arm, watching as Benton departed from his realm, and then fell over the edge of the island. The Bridge was still in silence. There was no sign of battle anywhere, and as he approached the mortal plane, he saw Zarali and Sledge arguing.
“A man doesn’t just vanish—Holy hells!” Sledge shouted.
Theo placed Alex in his satchel and laughed.
“Wasn’t quite 5 minutes, brother,” Zarali said, grimacing.
“Yeah, but I found what I needed,” Theo said. “Sledge, do you know about a flower that blooms when Telbaris is green?”
“We’re not going to talk about you vanishing? Whatever. Yeah, I’ve heard of it. In stories.”
“What’s going on, Theo?” Zarali asked.
“Got some insider information,” Theo said. “It’s a long story, but there’s a reagent in the swamp that can cure Xol’sa.”
“Really?” Zarali asked. She didn’t sound hopeful. “Who gave you this information?”
“A Drogramathi,” Theo said. He wouldn’t reveal that the information was second hand. Benton was as trustworthy as they came. “A wayward spirit.”
“What are we waiting for?” Zarali said, crossing the room without prompting. She had the door opened when Theo spoke next.
“Only blooms when Telbaris is green. At night,” Theo said.
The priestess relaxed. “You’re certain?”
“There’s nothing else we can do but wait,” Theo said. “You’re welcome to do more research until tonight. If you’d like to join me, that is.”
Zarali paused for a long moment. Theo informed Tresk through their communication skill. When she was done in her dungeon, she’d head to the guild and round up some adventurers for a stroll through the swamp at night.
“I will,” Zarali said. “Thank you, Theo.”
“No worries,” Theo said, waving her away. He downed an unmodified [Stamina Potion], watching his stamina bar fill. The energizing effects rushed through him, reducing the fatigue he’d felt that day. “Let’s go, Sledge.”
Alex honked, and the pair were off. Sledge led him down the southern road, making a line directly for the twin-smelters. Theo waved to Nira, who refused to wave back. She was instructing her workers and didn’t have the desire to give greetings.
“Can you see all those lines?” Sledge asked, bouncing excitedly.
“Nope.”
Sledge explained she could see lines running from each building. They fell into discussion on why she could see them, but he couldn’t. While Theo had purchased an upgrade for the town called [Synergistics], it was the [Fabricator’s Core] ability [Synergistic Links] that allowed her to see them. She explained the skill to him.
[Synergistic Links]
Fabricator Skill
Legendary
Apply production chain links between seed cores.
Effect:
Apply unaligned mana to establish bonuses to production chain buildings.
So anyone with that skill was only useful if the town they were in had the upgrade. That seemed like a very specific skill, but it depended on the bonuses they provided. Sledge explained the process, and more importantly, the requirements.
“Links cost the three M’s,” Sledge said. “Money, motes, and materials.”
“Alright,” Theo said, folding his arms. The last thing he needed was another expense. But he was too excited about the upgrades. Sledge shared the upgrade she wanted to apply to the nugget processing chain.
[Efficient Processing]
[Synergy Link]
Linked to:
[Smelter], [Mine]
Cost:
1 gold coin, 100 [Iron Bars]
Maintenance Cost:
100 Motes per week
Description:
Create a synergy link between a [Smelter] and a [Mine]. Nuggets which are mined from the attached [Mine] and processed in the attached [Smelter] are produced faster.
Effect:
Nuggets mined in the chain and produced in the chain will smelt 15% faster.
The cost wasn’t that bad. If they applied a few of these to the town, the costs would ramp up rapidly. Theo produced a single gold coin and handed it over. He approached the smelting building, withdrawing the [Iron Bars] without invitation. Nira didn’t turn her attention away from her work, too focused on the process. There were enough motes in the town’s infinite storage to maintain the effect. With the alchemist’s [Lesser Mud Golems], that wouldn’t be a problem.
Sledge held the coin above her head, standing on a pile of loose iron. Theo felt mana flowing from her [Fabricator’s Core], forming as motes of floating blue energy. They lingered in the air for a moment before forming a solid line that shot between the smelter and the mine. The pair watched as the line faded into nothing.
“There we go!” Sledge said, stumbling on the spot. She held her head. “Alright. That took a lot out of me.”
Theo moved to steady the Marshling, but she slapped his hands away. Fair enough. “Think you can do more?”
“Maybe one more,” Sledge said. “After I’ve had a mana potion. Wink wink.”
Theo produced a [Mana Potion] from his inventory and handed it over. She drank it down in one go, belching loudly. Trying to flex her muscles, or strike a heroic pose, she stumbled again. This time, the alchemist caught her before she fell. Alex let out a honk. While Sledge recovered, he thought about the best link to make next. While he would like to have a link between the farm and the weaver, the most important one would be between the sawmill and the harbor.
Sledge moved on her own after Theo summoned a few golems to carry her. Once the [Lesser Copper Golems] had their hands around her, she could miraculously walk. They made their way to the sawmill, where a gaggle of people worked to cut the massive Ogre Cypress trees into boards. The Marshling hummed to herself as she looked through the options. They all followed a theme of using the materials between the two buildings. But she settled on one, sharing it for the Archduke’s inspection.
[Thick Boards]
[Synergy Link]
Linked to:
[Sawmill], [Harbor]
Cost:
5 gold coin, 500 of any [Wood Planks], 100 [Iron Bars]
Maintenance Cost:
200 Motes per week
Description:
Create a synergy link between a [Sawmill] and a [Harbor]. Boards milled at the [Sawmill] and used in construction at the [Harbor] will add additional attributes to produced boats.
Effect:
Boats produced with boards milled at the [Sawmill] and used at the [Harbor] will produce a random enhancement on the finished boat.
Theo withdrew the materials from the town’s storage, setting them on the ground. Sledge clutched 5 gold coins in her hand, holding it above her head. She swayed on the spot as she applied the link, and collapsed afterward. Nothing a [Mana Potion] and a [Stamina Potion] couldn’t cure, but she left the encounter with a horrible headache. The act brought the alchemist’s funds down to 49 gold, but that last link was worth it. Perhaps that would invite the shipwrights to work faster. Who knew what bonus they’d get?