4.17 - The Cure_The Newt and Demon (Book 1 On Amazon Nov 19th) (Cozy alchemy slice of life with townbuilding)

The small army split off half-way to the wizard’s tower. They hardly needed one escort, let alone the army. Today, the swamp was calm. Unlike the other night, when wisps and wolves seemed to poke their heads out of every corner. Theo still viewed the exercise with respect, locking the image in his mind. It seemed significant. A turning point for the alliance, although it had only just formed.

A point of pride for Aarok, and a sense of comfort for Theo.

Walking up the gentle ramp of the tower, bringing his soggy feet onto the wide flagstones, Theo felt something. A prickle of energy ran up his spine, sending the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He held a hand out, stopping Tresk and Zarali where they were.

“Did he leave his defenses up?” Theo asked.

“Maybe,” Zarali said. A wave of energy flowed from the priestess, slamming against something near the tower. A bubble of energy appeared, covered in Axpashi runes and bristling with power. “Well…”

While Theo could read some of the spells wrought in the air, he couldn’t make out their meaning. Images of well-intentioned explorers flashed into his mind. People exploring ancient ruins, only to find their end at the hands of a long-dead wizard. The power within Xol’sa’s barrier radiated outward, warning those with magical senses away.

“That’s a problem,” Theo said, studying the symbols. “Why would he throw up a barrier?”

“He was talking about something,” Zarali said, taking a deep breath. Theo could feel her on the verge of tears. A wave of emotion to match the strength of that shield. “He thought someone was after him. Through the veil.”

“The veil being the place between realms,” Theo said, leaning closer to observe the runes. Energy crackled, and electricity jumped to sting his nose. “Yep. That’ll kill us.”

“Think he’ll share the secret of the murder shell with me?” Tresk asked, getting too close to the barrier. Theo held a hand out, keeping her from going closer.

The alchemist didn’t respond. He flopped onto the floor, sitting cross-legged near the barrier’s edge. His mind flashed as he inspected his memories of applicable potions. Potions were always the solution, after all. [Anti-Mage] was one of his favorite modifiers. He had an arsenal of the potions within his inventory at that very moment. But their usefulness was questionable. Theo flicked through them in his mind before he settled on one.

“You’ll thank me for being over-prepared,” Theo said, withdrawing a [Carapace Potion] from his inventory. He inspected it, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. It paid to have so many potions at his fingertips.

[Carapace Potion]

[Anti-Mage]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Excellent Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A defensive potion. Drink to gain segmented plates over your body, significantly increasing your defense.

Effect:

Covers your body with flexible, chitinous plates. Effect lasts 30 minutes, or until the plates are destroyed.

Chitinous plates are covered in a field of anti-magic. Reduces damage dealt by magical attacks, and absorbs those spells to increase the duration of this potion.

“Theo, we should think about this,” Zarali said.

But Theo had learned to trust the description of potions. And it wasn’t as though he was going to drink a single potion, that would be foolish. Since the effects stacked, there was no reason not to drink as many potions as he could. Without waiting for more objections, the alchemist quaffed his potions. A [Dexterity Potion] with the [Anti-Mage] modifier gave him +13 [Dexterity] and a [Magic Shell] effect. A [Vigor Potion] with [Refined Elemental Earth], giving him +14 [Vigor] and a scaling bonus to his resistances. Both tasted similar to fizzing mud. He drank a [Regeneration Potion], his [Anti-Mage] [Carapace Potion], then finally turned to regard his companions.

Chitinous plates sprung up around the alchemist as his entire body buzzed. The plates were heavy, stifling his movement. His body objected to the sudden increase in attributes, making his movements strange. A visible field of anti-magic fizzled around him, the dual-effects warring with each other.

“Don’t bother yelling at him,” Tresk said, bouncing up and down with excitement. “This is gonna be so cool.”

Theo drank his last potion, winking at his adoptive sister. The power of the [Retreat Potion] sent him hurtling backward at impossible speeds. He slammed hard against the wizard’s door, causing the wood to splinter, but it didn’t break. Bolts of lightning sprung from the barrier, slamming into the twin-barriers fizzling around the alchemist. It arced onto his chitinous plates, the potion absorbing the attack entirely only to fall away moments later.

Tresk gave a thumbs-up.

“That was dangerous!” Zarali shouted. Her voice came in a wavering tone, as though the barrier blocked more than just entrance. It distorted the air around him, sending a strange feeling of electricity through his being. But the lightning had stopped.

“We’re still good!” Theo shouted, giving Tresk the thumbs-up back.

“Want me to come?” Tresk asked.

“You can’t go!” Zarali said, groaning. “That was so incredibly dangerous.”

“Lady, I can pass through realms. Two of us is better than one,” Tresk said, vanishing from the spot with Alex.

She’d reappear wherever she was done in Tero’gal, likely 5 minutes from now. Theo still didn’t know what she did with her time in the realm besides training with Benton. It didn’t matter. All the excitement for using his potions had distracted the alchemist from his goal. His friend was in trouble. Somewhere within the tower, dying from a soul-slaying. While Zarali shouted something at him, he redoubled his concentration. Focusing his mind on the task at hand. He entered the tower and closed the door behind him, drowning out the shouts of protest.

The situation was real, now. Theo had wanted to test some potions, and he was happy that they worked, but now was the time for caution. Xol’sa was paranoid. There could be more traps. He quaffed an [Intelligence Potion] and a [Wisdom Potion] before sitting on the floor to have a think. His mind rushed with the sudden +13 to both attributes, sending him reeling and light headed. Both attributes burst through thresholds, sending his thoughts racing at an uncomfortable pace.

Suddenly, he had a better understanding of the barrier outside. It wasn’t created by the wizard himself, but the tower. An automated response meant to defend its owner. While that was a comforting thought, the alchemist wanted more than his logical reassurances. He needed Alex and Tresk by his side to bounce ideas off of. Instead of forging ahead, he waited for five minutes.

With an indistinct popping sound, Tresk and Alex appeared before him. She struck a heroic pose. “Phew. Really gives you time to think. Doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Theo said, the cocktail of potions still thundering through his system.

Alex honked, then spat a small gout of fire.

“Talked to Benton. He went off and found that dead Dronon’s spirit again. The spirit was impressed with your work, and wants to live in Tero’gal, but I said I had to talk to you first,” Tresk said, taking a deep breath. “Well, anyway… [Reforge Soul] is dangerous, so we need to be there to feed Xol’sa healing potions. The spirit guy said to apply [Healing Essence] directly to the wizard’s chest before we make him drink the forging potion. It’ll reduce the pain.”

Theo nodded, standing and looking at his companions. Twelve hours had passed for Tresk, allowing her to sort her thoughts. The alchemist’s mind was a whirl of ideas and emotions that he found difficult to direct. With his friends, he’d find a way to pull them in. To make those errant things obey his command.

“Let’s gooooo!” Tresk shouted, pointing to the staircase.

Theo led the way, counting on his lingering [Dexterity Potion’s] shell effect to mitigate any magical attacks. But the floors were clear of traps, and they found the wizard asleep in his bed. Heaving breath and covered in a sheen of sweat, Xol’sa had never looked worse. The markings that covered his body, normally shifting with a constant pulse of blue energy, were dim. The alchemist could feel the power in the man’s chest fading, even if he hadn’t mastered that skill. Zarali would be useful here.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“He should have given command of the tower to someone else,” Theo said, coming to kneel next to the bed. “We could disable the shield. Damn.”

“Get to work, alchemist,” Tresk said, rummaging through the room. “Check the top floor, Alex.”

Xol’sa’s breath came in ragged gasps. Theo got near, checking what he knew to check and shaking his head. The man’s pulse was slow, his breathing shallow. Clammy skin and eyes that remained unfocused when exposed to light. The alchemist started with the [Healing Essence], unceremoniously pulling the Elf’s robes up and dripping it on his chest.

“Sorry, bud,” Theo said, watching as the essences sizzled. He’d never applied it directly to the skin, and doubted it was safe.

Before continuing, Theo set out everything he’d need on a table. [Healing Potions], [Stamina Potions], [Mana Potions], his [Reforge Soul] potion, and a pitcher of drinking water to start. He considered his more esoteric potions before moving on. On instinct, the alchemist tipped Xol’sa’s head back and poured a [Vigor Potion] inside. The Elf drank it weakly, coughing and muttering something.

“How did he get so bad?” Theo asked, watching as Tresk rummaged through the room.

“Must’ve happened overnight,” Tresk said. “Zarali is a worrier. She would have said something.”

“We’re gonna start,” Theo said, gesturing for his companion to come over. “Help me hold him.”

Tresk waddled over to the bed, jumping and landing atop the Elf. She held both his arms down, putting her minimal weight on his torso. “Let’s go.”

Theo poured the [Reforge Soul] potion into his friend’s mouth. Xol’sa let out a guttural scream the moment the potion slid down his throat. The room filled with shifting hues of red and blue, pulsing between them. Alex came down the stairs, honking repeatedly. The alchemist understood the honks to mean there was nothing on the roof. The Elf’s mouth opened wide, shafts of solid blue light shooting out.

“Damn!” Tresk shouted, struggling to keep the Elf under control. “Once that light goes, feed him a [Healing Potion]. Maybe a regen, too?”

“Yeah,” Theo said, trying his hardest to keep the Elf still. “We’ll just shove everything down his gullet.”

There was no care needed when pouring potions down the Elf’s throat. Common potions like [Healing Potions] didn’t have a cooldown, or adverse effects when taken back-to-back. Several minutes into their efforts, when the light had died down, the tower shimmered around them. Moments later, Zarali came wailing up the stairs. She threw herself over Xol’sa, lingered there for only a moment, then called upon the power of Drogramath. The intensity of the request sent a ripple through the realms, something that Theo, Tresk, and Alex felt in their bones.

“The worst is done,” Zarali said, stifling sobs. “His soul is knitting together.”

With the priestess’ support, keeping Xol’sa alive became effortless. She sent a constant stream of Drogramathi mana into the man’s body, pulling together the parts of him that were burnt by the reforging. Theo applied more [Healing Essence] to the Elf’s chest, finding himself feeling more like a member of a trauma team than an alchemist, Hours passed, but the light faded.

The reforging was completed.

Xol’sa’s breath came with the steady rising and falling of his chest. His sweat-soaked body dried out, aided by a pile of damp cloth. Best of all, Zarali claimed that his soul had been made stronger. Forged into something better than it was before, with all the cracks and dents mended. The group collapsed with exhaustion just as Aarok ascended the tower.

“Everything alright?” he asked.

“It is. Now, anyway,” Theo said, mopping his brow.

Alex honked with encouragement, letting a small stream of fire out of her bill.

“He must have crashed overnight,” Tresk said, bringing another length of cloth soaked in water. “He’d be dead if we didn’t find the right potion. Forget waiting for a healer to show up, he had hours.”

“Is there a lesson to be learned here?” Aarok asked.

“Yeah. Don’t poke your head into the realms unless you’re ready to get your soul slain,” Theo said.

While Theo and Tresk departed with the main force of the adventurers, Aarok left soldiers behind. Guards were stationed outside of the tower, meant to hold a respectful vigil for the night. While the alchemist was happy to see his friend in a better state, he had concerns. Not just about what the wizard had done, what with poking into the realms and all, and not just about his willingness to facilitate those actions. Fenian would arrive tomorrow. He trudged through the swamp with Tresk, sharing his concerns.

“Fenian has never been in serious trouble,” Theo said. “And look what he’s brought through the Bridge. That damned giant construct. Artifice-weapon. Whatever it was.”

The soldiers marching ahead showed interest in the topic. Aarok fell behind, holding the pair back to get out of earshot. With the midday sun overhead, they constructed their stratagem.

“We’ve got a big problem, Theo,” Aarok said. “Defensibility of the eastern side of town is lacking.”

That was owing to the shape of the walls there. During previous attacks, they enjoyed a four-sided wall, with no strange nooks. Now, with the town expanded past the river only where the harbor rested, they had a vulnerable spot. But Theo wasn’t so sure that was allogether bad. It just depended on where the Elven trader appeared. The group made their way back to town without incident, Luras and Aarok joining them to the eastern wall.

“This actually works,” Theo said, shrugging. “There’s something about the space over the river, right on the road, that’s screaming to me.”

“Me, too,” Tresk said.

“Like a rip in reality. A place where Fenian can bring his carriage. He’ll appear in the same spot he’s always appeared.” Theo took only a moment to draw a line in his mind’s eye. “If something comes through the portal to the Bridge, it’s going to get slammed by the harbor’s wall. Then, the eastern wall.”

Aarok grunted a response. Luras simply nodded before saying, “Decent crossfire. We’d have a better idea if the [River Dungeon] spawned some monsters.”

The river dungeon was gently north of the bridge, at the thickest point of the river from there until the sea. From what Tresk had said, it was deep and difficult to reach. Theo shook thoughts away, trying not to imagine what would happen when they expanded the town over the dungeon.

“We can sprint for another upgrade with the town,” Theo said, drumming his fingers on the hard stone. “Not sure if that will help.”

“How about trying to upgrade the nation?” Aarok asked.

They hadn’t tested how that worked. Theo’s intuition said it was just like upgrading the town, just more expensive. “How many [Monster Cores] do we have? Between us? I have about 200 level 30 cores. Don’t look at me like that, I’ve been saving them. I’m busy.”

“I’ve got a few hundred at level 20,” Aarok said. Luras pooled his cores with the guild, so he had none to offer.

“Yeah, I got like 500 between level 5 and 20,” Tresk said, picking something out of her teeth. Only then did Theo realize she’d been chewing on those waxy leaves.

“I keep forgetting to make salt,” Theo grumbled. He clapped his hands, banishing the thought away. “Let’s do some testing.”

The group moved to the monolith in the town’s center. Theo understood the mechanics of building upgrading, but they were convoluted. Using a [Monster Core] above or at the level of the building resulted in a flat rate of experience gain. 5 cores to advance to the new level. Applying a [Monster Core] under the level of the building was more confusing. It dropped off at a rate, likely defined by some mathematical function. But the point was, underleveled cores were less effective.

“We’re starting at level 1, at 0% experience,” Theo said. “I’ll apply a [Monster Core] at level 30, so we’ll see how well they work.”

The [Monster Core] easily slipped inside the monolith, moving with the intent to upgrade the nation, not the town. Theo checked the nation afterward.

[Small Free City Alliance]

Name: Southlands Alliance

Leader: Archduke Theo Spencer

Level: 1 (2%)

Core Towns:

Broken Tusk (Capital)

Rivers and Daub

Gronro-Dir

Current Energy:

45%

Upgrades:

None

“Rats,” Theo said, tapping his foot on the hard cobbles. “50 to upgrade to level 2. I mean, that makes sense. Nations are expensive.”

“Alright. Let’s shove this frogopus full of cores!” Tresk shouted, withdrawing a pile of cores from her [Dimensional Storage Sack].

“I could go for some frog,” Luras said, watching from a distance.

As expected, it took 51 cores to upgrade to level 2. But Theo observed something annoying on the next go. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of his [Intelligence Potion], but he came up with the formula for upgrading the nation.

“Annoying, but not horrible,” Theo said. “50 plus the nation’s level.”

“At least it’s not exponential,” Tresk said, giggling.

It took some effort, but the Southlands Alliance hit level 5. Theo looked over the upgrades and snorted a laugh. They weren’t great.

[Zorp]

Once per day, you may transfer resources between towns. Quantity is limited to nation’s level at a rate of n*100. E.g. At level 1, you may transfer 100 of any resource, at level 2 you may transfer 200 of any resource, and so on.

[Trade Boost]

Carts traveling between towns within the nation will travel 1.5x faster, so long as they are designated for trade.

[Share Information]

Allows leaders to send mental messages to each other. Limited number of messages per day, based on nation’s level at a rate of n*10. E.g. At level 1, you may send 10 messages, at level 2 you may send 20, and so on.

“[Share Information] is useless to us. [Trade Boost] is alright, but I wouldn’t want Azrug’s carts to break the sound barrier.”

“Leaving [Zorp],” Tresk said, laughing. “Zorp! What kind of word is that?”

“That’s the sound someone makes when they teleport,” Aarok said, nodding. “I’ve heard it before. The saying is extremely common.”

Theo reluctantly selected the [Zorp] option, although he disagreed with the naming. By the time the nation reached level 10, they were almost entirely out of [Monster Cores]. But when the new option arrived, the alchemist rubbed his hands together.

[Controlled Fire]

All tower-style weapons, mounted to mounting points using the [Defensive Emplacements] require 1/3 less motes to operate, and fire 1.25x faster.

“Perfect,” Theo said. He didn’t consult his friends before selecting it, and went on to inspect the nation.