Umbra
Accidental Munchkin
Pick a side, any side!
Making Connections
- Thread starter Hiver
- Start date
No, why doesn't Atreus have magic planeswalker senses that tell him Ajani has a spark. I know that would probably be a bit contrived but seriously I so want him to figure out there are others like him.
Pushing the door open, I walked into the local headquarters, almost running into that Nord from before.
"Sorry." He said and moved past outside, seeming to have changed his shield and sword for a two-handed battleaxe.
"My fault entirely." I answered and shook my head, walking inside to spot Galkir behind the counter. "New customer?"
"Potential employee." he stated and shook his head. "He said he knew some stuff about potions so I sent him to find me ten Nirnroots. It's somewhat rare so if he passes that test, I'll hire him. He seemed capable enough."
I nodded and glanced back at the door. "Well, he did take out some bandits on the way to town. I overheard him as he sold their weapons at the smithy."
"So what can I do for you?"
"What kind of pull do you have with the Jarl?" I asked and leaned against the counter.
Galkir shrugged. "Not a lot. I've done some business with his court wizard but that's about it."
Hmm.
I nodded. "Very well. I'll just have to petition for an audience normally then."
"What are you planning?"
"I just want to meet the man, get a read on him with this entire civil war going on." I sighed. "Bloody ugly business."
"He might be neutral now, but I think that when push comes to shove, he will support the Empire." Galkir said. "To much trade goes through here for him to support cutting ties with the Empire."
I slowly nodded. "That's one of the things I want to get a feel on, but that makes sense. Well, I'd better get going then, see if it's possible to get to talk to him before we leave."
"The package will be ready tomorrow." Galkir said as I turned to leave. "I have some requests if you are able to find something about them as well."
"I'll look it over." I said and stepped outside again, glancing up at the skies.
Looked like it would start to rain. Hopefully it wouldn't.
Turning down the street, I started to wander up the hill towards Dragonsreach. The Jarl's palace.
Apparently it had been named that way after it had been used to keep a dragon imprisoned. That was not a comforting thought and one I very strongly hoped was not a bad omen.
It was located at the top of the hill, in the center of town. Around the wooden palace was the so called 'Cloud district' which was basically where the Nobles lived.
This being the place it was, though, it didn't look much different than the lower parts of town other than people wearing slightly fancier clothes.
"Halt! What is your business in Dragonsreach?" one of the guards demanded, raising his hand in a stop sign.
"I seek audience with the Jarl." I told him.
"The Jarl is busy. Who are you? I have not seen you around before."
"My name is Atreus. I work with the Azure Consortium. I worry how this rebellion will interrupt trade in the region. Also, these rumors about Dragons..."
And possibly getting my people killed and their stuff stolen.
"The Jarl is busy." the guard said. "But you might be able to get a meeting with the Steward, Proventus Avenicci."
I rubbed my chin at that.
I could see how the Jarl could be busy with a war brewing and all and I wasn't that important in the great picture, not even in my flight. I might be high up there among Drakes, maybe even seen as one of the more important ones, but I am still just a Drake.
Here, I was just a merchant. While I wanted to get a grasp on how the Jarl was, I supposed that the Steward would have to work.
"That will work. Thank you."
"Come with me." The guard told me and lead the way into the palace, leaving me to follow him into the great hall and towards the left side.
The air smelled like food and smoke, the Jarl's throne was at one end of the hall, a pair of large tables seated for over a hundred people laid out before it so he could easily see everyone, a fireplace between the tables.
Other than servants setting out food, cleaning and getting things ready, there was nobody there.
"There is going to be a feast?" I asked as I followed the guard closely before coughing as I dropped a glass bead on the floor to cover the sound up. Scrying focus. Outside of line of sight scrying spells were hell of a lot easier if they had a focus on the other end.
He nodded. "In celebration of slaying the dragon that burned Helgen."
I blinked. "You killed it already?"
"It was killed by the new Thane of Whiterun when it attacked a watchtower. It's going to be announced during the feast."
"I see. Well, clearly the entire dragon thing is already well in hand."
Seriously? Dragons were hardly unkillable, but if that dragon was anything like the Dragons I was used to, that Thane had to be a serious badass. Hell, even if it was a proto-drake that was still impressive as all hell.
As we approached a door flanked by two more guards my guard looked back at me. "Stay here, I will see if the Steward has time for you."
"Many thanks."
XXXXXXXXXXX
"...So you see, Atreus, there is nothing what so ever to worry about." Avenicci said as we exited his 'office' an hour or so later, "The Empire should soon defeat this so called rebellion and even the Stormcloaks will not be foolish enough to interrupt trade. Nobody wants that."
"I'm not sure I agree with your optimism, but I suppose it's the best I'll get." I said and shook my head.
While I was not overly worried about shipping, most if not all that the local branches traded between each other was transported as scrolls or books. Small parcels.
Also, it was not a courier that carried it, but normal people who traveled between the holds. Merchants, priests, even imperial couriers and normal ones.
Under normal operations, they didn't even know who they were carrying it for which made it really, really hard to intercept and steal.
But this meeting had been really interesting and told me a lot.
At least all those meetings Kalecgos kept pulling me into as his 'assistant' and the parties Venir kept conning me to go to were useful in some ways.
I hated Nobles and while not being a Noble, Avenicci hit all of the spots of what I disliked about them.
Slightly pompous and way too damn secure in his own position while having little to actually back it up.
But apparently he was Adrianne's father and if he managed to raise her, there had to be more to that man than what met the eye.
He did, after all, survive in Skyrim.
"I am curious about your new Guild." He said. "I have heard you trade in... information?"
I shook my head again. "Not exactly and not like you are thinking. We sell and trade knowledge, how to make potions, how to cast spells and where to find plants. How to make swords and axes. Even military formations. We don't spy on people."
Well... The Azure Consortium doesn't spy on people.
"I see."
"I see the feast is starting soon." I said and looked over at the business side of the great hall where the first of the warriors, nobles and the richer merchants had already started to gather. The Jarl was nowhere to be seen yet.
Avenicci nodded. "Indeed it is and I am afraid I am about to get quite busy. However, if you wish, I believe I could get you a place among the merchants."
I hesitated at that. It would allow me to listen in, eat good food.... damn, some of those things from the kitchen were smelling good... but Sheila was waiting back at the Inn by now.
I had the scrying focus planted, I could still find out what was being said if I wanted to.
"As much as I would want to, Avenicci, I am afraid I have to decline this time. My wife is waiting for me and letting her wait would be... trouble."
He chuckled at that. "Now that is something best to avoid. You better get going, then, before you end up wishing for a dragon to drop from the skies."
I couldn't help but grin at that. "You would be surprised." I said, thinking about Ren. "I hope you enjoy the feast."
Avenicci shrugged. "Doubt it. I will be working. I am the Steward after all, I need to make sure everyone else is doing their jobs. That said, I have to make sure everything is ready. If you would excuse me?"
"Of course."
XXXXXXXXXXX
I sighed and collapsed onto my back on the bed. "Well, that's not working."
"What?" Sheila asked and sat down next to me, her back against the wall as she pulled a hairbrush from her bag.
"That bug I planted?"
"Yes... and I still don't understand why you call it a bug?"
I shook my head. "Actually, not sure. Just what they were called on Earth. Anyway, making one out of a glass bead was a bad idea."
"Someone stepped on it?"
"No, it could handle that. One of the kids took it and all I get is a chest full of toys. I should have used a small rock instead."
Sheila grinned and started to brush her hair. "Harder to enchant rock."
"I know, I'm just complaining."
Damn it, having a view and ear in the Jarl's throneroom would have been invaluable. Sure, there were other scrying spells that could do it without a focus point and still remain out of LoS, but they were a lot more difficult and tended to lack in resolution as well as usually needing some sort of reagents/artifacts.
"Well, complain later." she said and scooted to lay down. "We need to get some sleep if we are leaving tomorrow."
Sighing, I pulled the blanket up and put my arm around her, pulling her close. "Yeah. Back to work again."
"...You miss Ren." she said and rested her head on my shoulder.
I just nodded. "She is alone in a swamp."
"It's the best chance she's got to get it to work."
"I know. So, how is it going for you?"
Sheila frowned. "Still no connections, I can still only use the area I'm in."
We had a breakthrough a couple of months ago and she managed to use this 'Land magic'. Still no permanent connection, but at least it was something and gave her some much needed versatility.
"You will figure it out, love."
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section. Sorry for being late, was playing Skyrim.
"Sorry." He said and moved past outside, seeming to have changed his shield and sword for a two-handed battleaxe.
"My fault entirely." I answered and shook my head, walking inside to spot Galkir behind the counter. "New customer?"
"Potential employee." he stated and shook his head. "He said he knew some stuff about potions so I sent him to find me ten Nirnroots. It's somewhat rare so if he passes that test, I'll hire him. He seemed capable enough."
I nodded and glanced back at the door. "Well, he did take out some bandits on the way to town. I overheard him as he sold their weapons at the smithy."
"So what can I do for you?"
"What kind of pull do you have with the Jarl?" I asked and leaned against the counter.
Galkir shrugged. "Not a lot. I've done some business with his court wizard but that's about it."
Hmm.
I nodded. "Very well. I'll just have to petition for an audience normally then."
"What are you planning?"
"I just want to meet the man, get a read on him with this entire civil war going on." I sighed. "Bloody ugly business."
"He might be neutral now, but I think that when push comes to shove, he will support the Empire." Galkir said. "To much trade goes through here for him to support cutting ties with the Empire."
I slowly nodded. "That's one of the things I want to get a feel on, but that makes sense. Well, I'd better get going then, see if it's possible to get to talk to him before we leave."
"The package will be ready tomorrow." Galkir said as I turned to leave. "I have some requests if you are able to find something about them as well."
"I'll look it over." I said and stepped outside again, glancing up at the skies.
Looked like it would start to rain. Hopefully it wouldn't.
Turning down the street, I started to wander up the hill towards Dragonsreach. The Jarl's palace.
Apparently it had been named that way after it had been used to keep a dragon imprisoned. That was not a comforting thought and one I very strongly hoped was not a bad omen.
It was located at the top of the hill, in the center of town. Around the wooden palace was the so called 'Cloud district' which was basically where the Nobles lived.
This being the place it was, though, it didn't look much different than the lower parts of town other than people wearing slightly fancier clothes.
"Halt! What is your business in Dragonsreach?" one of the guards demanded, raising his hand in a stop sign.
"I seek audience with the Jarl." I told him.
"The Jarl is busy. Who are you? I have not seen you around before."
"My name is Atreus. I work with the Azure Consortium. I worry how this rebellion will interrupt trade in the region. Also, these rumors about Dragons..."
And possibly getting my people killed and their stuff stolen.
"The Jarl is busy." the guard said. "But you might be able to get a meeting with the Steward, Proventus Avenicci."
I rubbed my chin at that.
I could see how the Jarl could be busy with a war brewing and all and I wasn't that important in the great picture, not even in my flight. I might be high up there among Drakes, maybe even seen as one of the more important ones, but I am still just a Drake.
Here, I was just a merchant. While I wanted to get a grasp on how the Jarl was, I supposed that the Steward would have to work.
"That will work. Thank you."
"Come with me." The guard told me and lead the way into the palace, leaving me to follow him into the great hall and towards the left side.
The air smelled like food and smoke, the Jarl's throne was at one end of the hall, a pair of large tables seated for over a hundred people laid out before it so he could easily see everyone, a fireplace between the tables.
Other than servants setting out food, cleaning and getting things ready, there was nobody there.
"There is going to be a feast?" I asked as I followed the guard closely before coughing as I dropped a glass bead on the floor to cover the sound up. Scrying focus. Outside of line of sight scrying spells were hell of a lot easier if they had a focus on the other end.
He nodded. "In celebration of slaying the dragon that burned Helgen."
I blinked. "You killed it already?"
"It was killed by the new Thane of Whiterun when it attacked a watchtower. It's going to be announced during the feast."
"I see. Well, clearly the entire dragon thing is already well in hand."
Seriously? Dragons were hardly unkillable, but if that dragon was anything like the Dragons I was used to, that Thane had to be a serious badass. Hell, even if it was a proto-drake that was still impressive as all hell.
As we approached a door flanked by two more guards my guard looked back at me. "Stay here, I will see if the Steward has time for you."
"Many thanks."
XXXXXXXXXXX
"...So you see, Atreus, there is nothing what so ever to worry about." Avenicci said as we exited his 'office' an hour or so later, "The Empire should soon defeat this so called rebellion and even the Stormcloaks will not be foolish enough to interrupt trade. Nobody wants that."
"I'm not sure I agree with your optimism, but I suppose it's the best I'll get." I said and shook my head.
While I was not overly worried about shipping, most if not all that the local branches traded between each other was transported as scrolls or books. Small parcels.
Also, it was not a courier that carried it, but normal people who traveled between the holds. Merchants, priests, even imperial couriers and normal ones.
Under normal operations, they didn't even know who they were carrying it for which made it really, really hard to intercept and steal.
But this meeting had been really interesting and told me a lot.
At least all those meetings Kalecgos kept pulling me into as his 'assistant' and the parties Venir kept conning me to go to were useful in some ways.
I hated Nobles and while not being a Noble, Avenicci hit all of the spots of what I disliked about them.
Slightly pompous and way too damn secure in his own position while having little to actually back it up.
But apparently he was Adrianne's father and if he managed to raise her, there had to be more to that man than what met the eye.
He did, after all, survive in Skyrim.
"I am curious about your new Guild." He said. "I have heard you trade in... information?"
I shook my head again. "Not exactly and not like you are thinking. We sell and trade knowledge, how to make potions, how to cast spells and where to find plants. How to make swords and axes. Even military formations. We don't spy on people."
Well... The Azure Consortium doesn't spy on people.
"I see."
"I see the feast is starting soon." I said and looked over at the business side of the great hall where the first of the warriors, nobles and the richer merchants had already started to gather. The Jarl was nowhere to be seen yet.
Avenicci nodded. "Indeed it is and I am afraid I am about to get quite busy. However, if you wish, I believe I could get you a place among the merchants."
I hesitated at that. It would allow me to listen in, eat good food.... damn, some of those things from the kitchen were smelling good... but Sheila was waiting back at the Inn by now.
I had the scrying focus planted, I could still find out what was being said if I wanted to.
"As much as I would want to, Avenicci, I am afraid I have to decline this time. My wife is waiting for me and letting her wait would be... trouble."
He chuckled at that. "Now that is something best to avoid. You better get going, then, before you end up wishing for a dragon to drop from the skies."
I couldn't help but grin at that. "You would be surprised." I said, thinking about Ren. "I hope you enjoy the feast."
Avenicci shrugged. "Doubt it. I will be working. I am the Steward after all, I need to make sure everyone else is doing their jobs. That said, I have to make sure everything is ready. If you would excuse me?"
"Of course."
XXXXXXXXXXX
I sighed and collapsed onto my back on the bed. "Well, that's not working."
"What?" Sheila asked and sat down next to me, her back against the wall as she pulled a hairbrush from her bag.
"That bug I planted?"
"Yes... and I still don't understand why you call it a bug?"
I shook my head. "Actually, not sure. Just what they were called on Earth. Anyway, making one out of a glass bead was a bad idea."
"Someone stepped on it?"
"No, it could handle that. One of the kids took it and all I get is a chest full of toys. I should have used a small rock instead."
Sheila grinned and started to brush her hair. "Harder to enchant rock."
"I know, I'm just complaining."
Damn it, having a view and ear in the Jarl's throneroom would have been invaluable. Sure, there were other scrying spells that could do it without a focus point and still remain out of LoS, but they were a lot more difficult and tended to lack in resolution as well as usually needing some sort of reagents/artifacts.
"Well, complain later." she said and scooted to lay down. "We need to get some sleep if we are leaving tomorrow."
Sighing, I pulled the blanket up and put my arm around her, pulling her close. "Yeah. Back to work again."
"...You miss Ren." she said and rested her head on my shoulder.
I just nodded. "She is alone in a swamp."
"It's the best chance she's got to get it to work."
"I know. So, how is it going for you?"
Sheila frowned. "Still no connections, I can still only use the area I'm in."
We had a breakthrough a couple of months ago and she managed to use this 'Land magic'. Still no permanent connection, but at least it was something and gave her some much needed versatility.
"You will figure it out, love."
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section. Sorry for being late, was playing Skyrim.
Oh I am slain!
Wynaut?
- Location
- Tatooine
C'mon Hiver. As an SI, you should know that you always must be worried about shipping.
I found this... ahem... hard to swallow. Soda, as the U.S. understands it, literally is carbonated water + syrup. Syrup is flavor + sweetener. Oh, some have added colorings, preservatives to make them last longer, etc, but fundamentally that is it. Getting the carbonation into the water is the basic difference between soda and flavored sugar-water.
Here's a quote from Wikipedia: "Soft drinks can be made at home by mixing either a syrup or dry ingredients with carbonated water."
Even if you can't get sugar in any of these locations, you've already mentioned honey, and honey has been used in sodas before. It would make more sense to only be able to get 'flavored flat waters,' since getting the carbonation in is the tricky bit - before the 1800s, carbonated water was only available where it occurred naturally (i.e. carbonated mineral springs). Likewise, many fruit juices are naturally sweet, and lends themselves well to flavoring water. If you can imagine drinking something as a 'fruit juice,' it would probably be tolerable as a soda.
The Invention of Air by Steven Johnson is a good read on the discovery of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the work of Joseph Priestly, who discovered one of the first means of artificially carbonating water. (Which, in spite of one of the ways being the use of Dry Ice, and the invention and expansion of refrigeration around the same time, did not involve refrigeration at all - he did it by suspending distilled water in the fumes coming off of beer production, i.e. in the waste gas given off by the bacteria fermenting the beer, something which surely is common in most of these fantasy worlds (both the distillation concept, and the fermentation.))
Grey Rook
Genuine Nerd
- Location
- The Quantum Foam
Yes, but does Atreus know that?
Considering its literally "add flavor to carbonated water (which he's already made)" he'd have to be pretty stupid to not have at least tried it.
He have. He have been unable to get it 'right' though.
Ooooh, so it's less "can't make soda" as "can't make Coke/Sprite/Root Beer". That makes sense.
Personally, I would have just used the "carbonate" spell on some fruit juice and called it a day, but that's just me.
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"You seem troubled." Targos asked as he held a gnome made powercore up to the light.
I sighed and rested my head on my frontpaws, "Thinking." We were in his lab in The Nexus.
"About?" The wyrm in human form asked before mounting the powercore in the small mechanical welp.
A gnome designed automaton he modified with some of the ideas from the automatons salvaged in Skyrim.
I was better at enchanting than actual engineering like that even if it was rather interesting. He was just way better at it and I had way too many projects running currently to try to get better at it.
"Ren. The situation in Skyrim. A million other less important things."
Lifting up the automaton he shook his head as he flipped it over to open the chest section, "Rengosa will be fine. As for the situation in Skyrim, wars, governments, empires. They come and go. It's better to stay out of it and let the mortals do as they like."
I rumbled at that and then sighed.
He was likely right. There was not really anything I could do about it anyway. I had employees there but they could handle themselves... and he was right.
Things changed. Maybe even for the better. I knew as much as that the Empire was rather heavy handed at times.
They actually reminded me a bit of old school Romans.
As for the issue with Ren... if I interrupted her and she had to start all over again in another horrible swamp, she would make me eat my own tail.
"You need to relax." Targos continued, "Take some time to do something else."
I growled softly at that.
That would be nice, but it wouldn't be the same without Ren here.
"Some other time."
Targos shook his head, "There is always another time, Atregos. You need to learn how to make time to relax. You are a Drake and a young one at that."
"I did take some time to relax."
"A year ago for two weeks."
That had been the most amazing time. Two weeks on a tropical island with Ren and Sheila. Two weeks of things I should probably not think about with Ren's father in the room, dragons or not.
I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again, raising my head, "It would not feel right without Ren being able to join us. But perhaps mixing things up a bit would be a good idea. Go explore for a bit."
Other than deliveries back and forth, my normal stuff just consisted of research here.
It would be good to stretch my wings again, explore new worlds and new civilizations. To go where no dragon has gone before.
"I need to discuss the matter with Sheila."
"Does she still work in that store?"
I raised my head, "She enjoys it."
I think it gave her a sense of normalcy the rest of her life kind of lacked. Besides, her friend was the owner and it let her do enchanting which she liked.
"It just seems a bit... beneath her station." Targos said and reached for a tool and started to wind the thing up.
"Would you dare tell her no?" I asked and raised a eyeridge. Not that I ever would, I wanted her to be happy and if working in a store made her happy, then she works in a store with her friend.
Targos paused for a second before he nodded, "Good point."
Sighing I put my head back down, "She might not want to head out again so soon. We are going to need to step things up anyway due to the civil war in Skyrim. At least once a month, it simply wont due to show up after three months and find out that everyone in the Consortium has been killed and need to start over from scratch."
"Don't she like traveling?"
"She does, but... it's dangerous and tiring. Especially exploring."
He nodded and then picked up the mechanical welp and turned it over before pressing a button, causing it to sit up and look around, working it's jaw.
"Is it working?" I asked and got up, padding closer to get a better look.
Targos took a step to the side to give me room, "I believe so." he said and waved his hand before it's eyes, causing it to follow the hand with it's red eyes.
"How long does the power last?"
"Just a couple of hours. It's just a test bed after all." he said and gave it a hard shove off the work bench, causing the mechanoid to try to keep it's balance but failing, crashing to the floor before getting onto all four paws and shaking it's head as if clearing it before starting to roam the room with the clicking of gears and claws against the stone floor.
I nodded and looked after it for a second before I put my head on the work bench, "I think you are right though. I need a break from managing research teams. Having a look around new worlds actually sounds like a good idea."
I couldn't help but wish that Ren could come though.
But not until she was able to make a soulstone without a convenient swamp. Too dangerous.
Shaking my head I got up again and stretched my wings, careful so I didn't knock something over before I turned to watch the automaton.
"Targos?"
"Yes?" he answered idly, flipping through his research notes.
"The welp is eating your layline research."
"What!? NO! Stupid machine!"
AN// Many thanks to Firethorn for betaing this section.
I sighed and rested my head on my frontpaws, "Thinking." We were in his lab in The Nexus.
"About?" The wyrm in human form asked before mounting the powercore in the small mechanical welp.
A gnome designed automaton he modified with some of the ideas from the automatons salvaged in Skyrim.
I was better at enchanting than actual engineering like that even if it was rather interesting. He was just way better at it and I had way too many projects running currently to try to get better at it.
"Ren. The situation in Skyrim. A million other less important things."
Lifting up the automaton he shook his head as he flipped it over to open the chest section, "Rengosa will be fine. As for the situation in Skyrim, wars, governments, empires. They come and go. It's better to stay out of it and let the mortals do as they like."
I rumbled at that and then sighed.
He was likely right. There was not really anything I could do about it anyway. I had employees there but they could handle themselves... and he was right.
Things changed. Maybe even for the better. I knew as much as that the Empire was rather heavy handed at times.
They actually reminded me a bit of old school Romans.
As for the issue with Ren... if I interrupted her and she had to start all over again in another horrible swamp, she would make me eat my own tail.
"You need to relax." Targos continued, "Take some time to do something else."
I growled softly at that.
That would be nice, but it wouldn't be the same without Ren here.
"Some other time."
Targos shook his head, "There is always another time, Atregos. You need to learn how to make time to relax. You are a Drake and a young one at that."
"I did take some time to relax."
"A year ago for two weeks."
That had been the most amazing time. Two weeks on a tropical island with Ren and Sheila. Two weeks of things I should probably not think about with Ren's father in the room, dragons or not.
I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again, raising my head, "It would not feel right without Ren being able to join us. But perhaps mixing things up a bit would be a good idea. Go explore for a bit."
Other than deliveries back and forth, my normal stuff just consisted of research here.
It would be good to stretch my wings again, explore new worlds and new civilizations. To go where no dragon has gone before.
"I need to discuss the matter with Sheila."
"Does she still work in that store?"
I raised my head, "She enjoys it."
I think it gave her a sense of normalcy the rest of her life kind of lacked. Besides, her friend was the owner and it let her do enchanting which she liked.
"It just seems a bit... beneath her station." Targos said and reached for a tool and started to wind the thing up.
"Would you dare tell her no?" I asked and raised a eyeridge. Not that I ever would, I wanted her to be happy and if working in a store made her happy, then she works in a store with her friend.
Targos paused for a second before he nodded, "Good point."
Sighing I put my head back down, "She might not want to head out again so soon. We are going to need to step things up anyway due to the civil war in Skyrim. At least once a month, it simply wont due to show up after three months and find out that everyone in the Consortium has been killed and need to start over from scratch."
"Don't she like traveling?"
"She does, but... it's dangerous and tiring. Especially exploring."
He nodded and then picked up the mechanical welp and turned it over before pressing a button, causing it to sit up and look around, working it's jaw.
"Is it working?" I asked and got up, padding closer to get a better look.
Targos took a step to the side to give me room, "I believe so." he said and waved his hand before it's eyes, causing it to follow the hand with it's red eyes.
"How long does the power last?"
"Just a couple of hours. It's just a test bed after all." he said and gave it a hard shove off the work bench, causing the mechanoid to try to keep it's balance but failing, crashing to the floor before getting onto all four paws and shaking it's head as if clearing it before starting to roam the room with the clicking of gears and claws against the stone floor.
I nodded and looked after it for a second before I put my head on the work bench, "I think you are right though. I need a break from managing research teams. Having a look around new worlds actually sounds like a good idea."
I couldn't help but wish that Ren could come though.
But not until she was able to make a soulstone without a convenient swamp. Too dangerous.
Shaking my head I got up again and stretched my wings, careful so I didn't knock something over before I turned to watch the automaton.
"Targos?"
"Yes?" he answered idly, flipping through his research notes.
"The welp is eating your layline research."
"What!? NO! Stupid machine!"
AN// Many thanks to Firethorn for betaing this section.
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tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
At least Targos is an old Dragon who gives homework, not gets homework, so he wont have to tell anyone my mechanic welp ate my research as an excuse.
10
Kalecgos somehow managed to look remarkably like a large cat with his head resting on his frontlegs, curled up slightly, his massive tail club on the floor close to his head.
I was laying on the stone close to his head, feeling really, really tiny... like always when I was around a wyrm in their natural form.
His head weighed more than I did.
But that was not what I was focused right now. What I was looking was in the center of the large chamber.
"Ready?" Lady Jaina Proudmoore asked with a smile.
Sheila nodded. "Whenever you are." and scratched her felhound behind its horn.
I am still not entirely sure how we ended up here.
Sheila and Lady Proudmoore did get together from time to time. I mean, they did have a lot in common, being not only interested in magic and they were both dragon consorts.
They likely discussed things I really did not want to know anything about, but how that evolved into magic practice duels, I have no idea.
Jaina started with flinging a frostbolt in Sheila's direction and the demon snarled, the frostbolt dissolving in mid-air.
Wonder if it would be possible to convince them that instead of magic, they should practice their wrestling? Preferably in mud.
However, even if I didn't think Kalecgos would outright step on me for making that suggestion, I would end up in a ton of trouble with Sheila, never mind Lady Proudmoore.
Sheila responded with fire and curses, using the Felhound for defense while Jaina danced around the return spells with counterspells, shields and blink teleports.
"I heard you are heading out again." Kalecgos said softly as we watched our consorts dance the dance of spell fire.
I nodded and raised my head, my tailclub moving across the ground as I tensed when a fireblast almost hit Sheila but she was able to get out of the way in time.
It was safe, really. Jaina was hell of a lot better than Sheila and Sheila had her soulstone for safety.
That didn't mean that watching this didn't make me tense as hell, though.
"We are. In about a week... Sheila wanted time to get everything ready, but she seemed excited about it."
Careful! She is about to... oh. Damn, that was close.
"It is a skill I wish I could learn." My Flightleader said with a small sigh, his eyes locked at the duel. "But it seems to be one inherent to you, World Walker."
I winced at that. "Please, don't call me that."
Stupid Drakes!
Kalecgos turned his head to give me an amused look. "I thought it was fitting. But very well, I won't. I can't speak for the rest, though."
Covering my muzzle with my front paws I whimpered. Damn it. It felt so... pretentious.
The large wyrm chuckled and looked back at the duel where Jaina was playing teleporter tag keeping away from the felhound while keeping Sheila busy with a water elemental.
"While they are distracted." I said quietly while watching them closely. "Have you managed any progress?"
The large wyrm sighed and then nodded. "Just preliminary calculations. The readings from your ritual is of great help and I believe it can be done if we limit it to physical form and instincts, leaving their souls and magical power alone."
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
He put his head down again. "But it is still years out before we can try it. It is still an insanely complex set of spells and I no longer have the Aspect of Magic. Everything is harder now."
I nodded, but I didn't ask how much he lost when he gave it up. It was likely a lot.
Not that you could notice, normally. Seriously, I've seen him do magic that made me look like a whelp trying to figure out how use his breath.
Maybe it was a stupid idea to compare my ability to the former aspect of magic. No, there was no maybe about it.
Sheila cried out as Jaina caught her in a polymorph, turning her into a sheep before blowing the felhound to bits.
A couple of seconds later, Sheila turned back to find Jaina standing a couple of meters away, a fireball in hand. "Give?"
My consort sighed and relaxed back against the stone floor before she nodded, panting softly. "Y-yeah. Damn it. I thought I had you for a second."
"You are getting a lot better." Lady Proudmoore said with a smile, canceling the fireball and walking up to offer Sheila her hand, pulling her back onto her feet.
Sheila smiled, ran a hand through her hair and shook her head. "Not up to your level, though." as they started to make their way across the chamber.
"You will get there. I was not ready for that counterspell, I didn't know you could use Land magic."
"As Atreus's Consort? How could I not." Sheila said with a grin as they reached us and she stepped up to give me a small kiss on the tip of my nose.
"Still, that kind of magic is very difficult." Lady Proudmoore said and sat down on Kalecgos' frontpaw. "I only managed it a couple of months ago myself."
"Do you have a link yet? I haven't managed it." before Sheila giggled and pushed at my muzzle to try to get me stop licking at her hair. "Stop that!"
Jaina shook her head. "No. That's out of my reach right now as well." She grinned at my antics and continued, "He seems like he might need a bit more traini- eep!" She squeaked as Kalecgos pushed her over with his tongue.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
I was laying on the stone close to his head, feeling really, really tiny... like always when I was around a wyrm in their natural form.
His head weighed more than I did.
But that was not what I was focused right now. What I was looking was in the center of the large chamber.
"Ready?" Lady Jaina Proudmoore asked with a smile.
Sheila nodded. "Whenever you are." and scratched her felhound behind its horn.
I am still not entirely sure how we ended up here.
Sheila and Lady Proudmoore did get together from time to time. I mean, they did have a lot in common, being not only interested in magic and they were both dragon consorts.
They likely discussed things I really did not want to know anything about, but how that evolved into magic practice duels, I have no idea.
Jaina started with flinging a frostbolt in Sheila's direction and the demon snarled, the frostbolt dissolving in mid-air.
Wonder if it would be possible to convince them that instead of magic, they should practice their wrestling? Preferably in mud.
However, even if I didn't think Kalecgos would outright step on me for making that suggestion, I would end up in a ton of trouble with Sheila, never mind Lady Proudmoore.
Sheila responded with fire and curses, using the Felhound for defense while Jaina danced around the return spells with counterspells, shields and blink teleports.
"I heard you are heading out again." Kalecgos said softly as we watched our consorts dance the dance of spell fire.
I nodded and raised my head, my tailclub moving across the ground as I tensed when a fireblast almost hit Sheila but she was able to get out of the way in time.
It was safe, really. Jaina was hell of a lot better than Sheila and Sheila had her soulstone for safety.
That didn't mean that watching this didn't make me tense as hell, though.
"We are. In about a week... Sheila wanted time to get everything ready, but she seemed excited about it."
Careful! She is about to... oh. Damn, that was close.
"It is a skill I wish I could learn." My Flightleader said with a small sigh, his eyes locked at the duel. "But it seems to be one inherent to you, World Walker."
I winced at that. "Please, don't call me that."
Stupid Drakes!
Kalecgos turned his head to give me an amused look. "I thought it was fitting. But very well, I won't. I can't speak for the rest, though."
Covering my muzzle with my front paws I whimpered. Damn it. It felt so... pretentious.
The large wyrm chuckled and looked back at the duel where Jaina was playing teleporter tag keeping away from the felhound while keeping Sheila busy with a water elemental.
"While they are distracted." I said quietly while watching them closely. "Have you managed any progress?"
The large wyrm sighed and then nodded. "Just preliminary calculations. The readings from your ritual is of great help and I believe it can be done if we limit it to physical form and instincts, leaving their souls and magical power alone."
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
He put his head down again. "But it is still years out before we can try it. It is still an insanely complex set of spells and I no longer have the Aspect of Magic. Everything is harder now."
I nodded, but I didn't ask how much he lost when he gave it up. It was likely a lot.
Not that you could notice, normally. Seriously, I've seen him do magic that made me look like a whelp trying to figure out how use his breath.
Maybe it was a stupid idea to compare my ability to the former aspect of magic. No, there was no maybe about it.
Sheila cried out as Jaina caught her in a polymorph, turning her into a sheep before blowing the felhound to bits.
A couple of seconds later, Sheila turned back to find Jaina standing a couple of meters away, a fireball in hand. "Give?"
My consort sighed and relaxed back against the stone floor before she nodded, panting softly. "Y-yeah. Damn it. I thought I had you for a second."
"You are getting a lot better." Lady Proudmoore said with a smile, canceling the fireball and walking up to offer Sheila her hand, pulling her back onto her feet.
Sheila smiled, ran a hand through her hair and shook her head. "Not up to your level, though." as they started to make their way across the chamber.
"You will get there. I was not ready for that counterspell, I didn't know you could use Land magic."
"As Atreus's Consort? How could I not." Sheila said with a grin as they reached us and she stepped up to give me a small kiss on the tip of my nose.
"Still, that kind of magic is very difficult." Lady Proudmoore said and sat down on Kalecgos' frontpaw. "I only managed it a couple of months ago myself."
"Do you have a link yet? I haven't managed it." before Sheila giggled and pushed at my muzzle to try to get me stop licking at her hair. "Stop that!"
Jaina shook her head. "No. That's out of my reach right now as well." She grinned at my antics and continued, "He seems like he might need a bit more traini- eep!" She squeaked as Kalecgos pushed her over with his tongue.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
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tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
Nah cats are far more ambitious.
- Location
- Right here
Dragons are cats that have achieved their ambitions.
They are equally annoying so...maybe?
11
"Ready?" Sheila asked and finished packing her bag, putting a book away.
I nodded. "I think so." I answered, looking into my bag. Imaging crystals, potions of various kinds, a good dagger, dried meat, a flask of water.
A couple of books and bandages. General supplies.
Quickly checking my reinforced leather armor I nodded again, picking up my spear. Actually, it was more of a short glaive than an actual spear. A heavier blade and a shorter handle. Even so, in total it was slightly longer than I was tall, if not by much.
It was my masterpiece in both smithing and enchanting. Adamantium handle and blade, both ingrained with dwemer metal in lines along it..
Heavily enchanted to be harder to destroy and sharper, making me stronger and more dexterous when held.
Dwemer metal inlaid along the handle to the blade making it possible to easily channel magic into it for different effects on the fly.
It was heavy, but not too heavy. I learned my lesson with that stupid warhammer.
"Let's go then." Sheila said and I rested the glaive against my shoulder as I followed her out of our 'apartment'.
"You know..." I said as she locked the door. "I have been thinking."
Sheila frowned and brushed her hair behind her ear as she put her bag away. "What about?"
"About that maybe we should find a new place to live."
She sighed and nodded. "... Yeah, me too. My place is cramped with two people, let alone three."
It really was. The bed was large enough for two, but the apartment itself was just one room. Sure, we didn't spend too much time there, but... With three people...
"We should wait until Ren is back but by then we should try to find someplace larger."
"Maybe someplace out of the city?" I asked as we walked along the canal towards the closest bridge. "Someplace large with no people around."
She frowned. "I was hoping for somewhere in Stormwind. I like having people around and it's close to the market and work."
"I suppose." I said and slowly nodded. "But with portals, we could be anywhere. Outside the city would mean Ren and I could spend time in our other forms." I continued quietly as we crossed the bridge to the city gates.
"You can portal to Northrend for that."
I guess that would work but...
"Yeah, I guess. I was kind of hoping we could maybe find some property in Dun Morogh?"
Sheila rolled her eyes. "Of course you did. Below freezing and snow all year around. What's not to like?"
"I think it would be nice."
She smiled and sighed, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. "I know you do, but not all of us are immune to cold. Yes, it is nice to sit in front of a large fireplace, but I hate being cold."
"I know. Sorry." I said and put my arm around her as we left the city towards our normal leaving clearing.
"Somewhere in Elwynn Forest might be okay though I guess." She suggested and leaned closer. "The climate is pretty good for all of us and it's private."
"Private is nice."
That brought a giggle from Sheila. "Ren does get loud at times."
Not quite what I meant, but... also not untrue. I'm not sure you should be calling the kettle black though...
I knew better than to say anything of the sort, though, so instead I just shrugged. "I would just like a place where we could use our real forms and just relax on the grass and not need to worry about being seen. Somewhere other than the Nexus."
She nodded. "I know how much you like being in your real form. But we should table this until Ren returns, she is going to have her own suggestions."
"Yeah."
With that I leaned my spear against the fallen tree and put my bag down before moving to kneel in the middle of the clearing to make my change.
It really was much safer to do the traveling in my real form. Not only just in case we ended up in the air or in water or something, but also if there were hostiles around.
Like the middle of an Orc camp or something.
Opening my eyes I finished the transformation and stood up, stretching in all directions before I purred at the sight of Sheila, sans her clothes.
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. I know you like this part." before she grinned and picked up our bags and my spear to walk up to me.
I turned slightly to let her attach the bags to my armor before she offered me my spear which I took in my jaws. "Ready?"
Sheila nodded and made sure the bags were attached securely before she put her arms around my neck tightly. "Ready. And Atreus?"
"Yes?"
"Try not to land me knee deep in snow again."
I chuckled and closed my eyes to focus my magic at my golden glowing soul, pulling at the effect capable of bringing me out of reality. "I'll try my best, but I don't know what kind of place we will end up in."
Sheila sighed and rested her forehead against the armor on my neck. "Well, we could hope."
We could indeed.
Reality rippled and gave way to shining flavors of sharp sounds.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
I nodded. "I think so." I answered, looking into my bag. Imaging crystals, potions of various kinds, a good dagger, dried meat, a flask of water.
A couple of books and bandages. General supplies.
Quickly checking my reinforced leather armor I nodded again, picking up my spear. Actually, it was more of a short glaive than an actual spear. A heavier blade and a shorter handle. Even so, in total it was slightly longer than I was tall, if not by much.
It was my masterpiece in both smithing and enchanting. Adamantium handle and blade, both ingrained with dwemer metal in lines along it..
Heavily enchanted to be harder to destroy and sharper, making me stronger and more dexterous when held.
Dwemer metal inlaid along the handle to the blade making it possible to easily channel magic into it for different effects on the fly.
It was heavy, but not too heavy. I learned my lesson with that stupid warhammer.
"Let's go then." Sheila said and I rested the glaive against my shoulder as I followed her out of our 'apartment'.
"You know..." I said as she locked the door. "I have been thinking."
Sheila frowned and brushed her hair behind her ear as she put her bag away. "What about?"
"About that maybe we should find a new place to live."
She sighed and nodded. "... Yeah, me too. My place is cramped with two people, let alone three."
It really was. The bed was large enough for two, but the apartment itself was just one room. Sure, we didn't spend too much time there, but... With three people...
"We should wait until Ren is back but by then we should try to find someplace larger."
"Maybe someplace out of the city?" I asked as we walked along the canal towards the closest bridge. "Someplace large with no people around."
She frowned. "I was hoping for somewhere in Stormwind. I like having people around and it's close to the market and work."
"I suppose." I said and slowly nodded. "But with portals, we could be anywhere. Outside the city would mean Ren and I could spend time in our other forms." I continued quietly as we crossed the bridge to the city gates.
"You can portal to Northrend for that."
I guess that would work but...
"Yeah, I guess. I was kind of hoping we could maybe find some property in Dun Morogh?"
Sheila rolled her eyes. "Of course you did. Below freezing and snow all year around. What's not to like?"
"I think it would be nice."
She smiled and sighed, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. "I know you do, but not all of us are immune to cold. Yes, it is nice to sit in front of a large fireplace, but I hate being cold."
"I know. Sorry." I said and put my arm around her as we left the city towards our normal leaving clearing.
"Somewhere in Elwynn Forest might be okay though I guess." She suggested and leaned closer. "The climate is pretty good for all of us and it's private."
"Private is nice."
That brought a giggle from Sheila. "Ren does get loud at times."
Not quite what I meant, but... also not untrue. I'm not sure you should be calling the kettle black though...
I knew better than to say anything of the sort, though, so instead I just shrugged. "I would just like a place where we could use our real forms and just relax on the grass and not need to worry about being seen. Somewhere other than the Nexus."
She nodded. "I know how much you like being in your real form. But we should table this until Ren returns, she is going to have her own suggestions."
"Yeah."
With that I leaned my spear against the fallen tree and put my bag down before moving to kneel in the middle of the clearing to make my change.
It really was much safer to do the traveling in my real form. Not only just in case we ended up in the air or in water or something, but also if there were hostiles around.
Like the middle of an Orc camp or something.
Opening my eyes I finished the transformation and stood up, stretching in all directions before I purred at the sight of Sheila, sans her clothes.
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. I know you like this part." before she grinned and picked up our bags and my spear to walk up to me.
I turned slightly to let her attach the bags to my armor before she offered me my spear which I took in my jaws. "Ready?"
Sheila nodded and made sure the bags were attached securely before she put her arms around my neck tightly. "Ready. And Atreus?"
"Yes?"
"Try not to land me knee deep in snow again."
I chuckled and closed my eyes to focus my magic at my golden glowing soul, pulling at the effect capable of bringing me out of reality. "I'll try my best, but I don't know what kind of place we will end up in."
Sheila sighed and rested her forehead against the armor on my neck. "Well, we could hope."
We could indeed.
Reality rippled and gave way to shining flavors of sharp sounds.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
12
Uncreation howled and shifted, ideas taking physical form around me and fading away as quickly as they came.
I pushed on towards the bead of reality ahead/behind, sweeping my limbs as I reached out towards it.
It was the longest I had ever traveled.
But I already checked the closest worlds to Azeroth before. The only ones with anything more than trees we could find was the ones I already had branches at.
Not that it said much, we had just explored each for a couple of days. Even flying and with scrying, it was a small area covered. For all I knew, we could have missed fucking Atlantis.
Bursting back into reality in a flash of light I spread my wings wide and flapped hard to keep from falling if I ended up in the air.
Instead I stumbled, gasping for air to catch my breath.
You didn't feel it between worlds, but you were holding your breath the entire time.
Sadly, I only had time to draw half a breath and I didn't have the speed to stop myself from falling the meter down to the surface of the water.
I ended up with a mouthful of water as I struggled against its pull. Resurfacing I gasped for air, looking around.
There. Land a couple of hundred meters away.
It was not easy to swim, but if I could fly in this armor than I could fucking swim in it. Taking off from the water though was out of the question. Maybe if I was in just my scales I could do it, I'd done it before.
But with armor? No way.
Still spitting out water I swam over to the sandy beach and climbed up, shaking the worst of the saltwater off myself. I'm so glad I didn't make my armor from steel.
Enchantments or not, saltwater is murder on steel.
Turning my head I cast telekinesis on the bags to hook them off my armor and put them down on the sand before I took a second to look around properly.
It was a narrow strait of water, a couple of hundred meters across between a pair of beaches that went up into cliffs and palm trees on each side with some grass spread around.
The sun was low on the horizon and slowly setting. Further down the strait seemed to turn into a mangrove swamp of some sort.
So not a strait, just a narrow bay then.
Well, the area looked good enough and not too cold. I sniffed the air. It just smelled like the ocean.
Seemed safe enough so I gave Sheila's soulstone a small burst of magic to let her know that it was safe to come out.
Wait... did I?
Oh son of a bitch. I dropped my spear in the bay!
"Well, this is nice." Sheila said and looked around before she reached for her bag, "What do you look so annoyed about?"
"...I dropped my spear in the bay."
"Wait, did we land in the water?" Sheila said and reached into her bag to pull out her soaking wet clothes, "...We landed in the water."
Fuck, that's my books screwed too.
Sighing I shook a bit more water off myself before I started to take off my armor, "I'm going to dive for my spear."
She nodded and put her robe on so she wasn't standing around naked, "Well, it's better than landing in snow at least." she said and walked over to a pair of large rocks on the beach to lay the rest of her clothes out, "We just need to get a fire going to dry everythi... What's that?"
Dropping the last gauntlet of my armor on the sand I looked over to see something slowly lumber out of the water, slowly revealing itself.
It was a large, white shell with a pair of big claws and six legs. The top of the shell was almost a meter and a half from the ground at the highest point.
"Giant enemy crab. Hit it's weakspot for massive damage." I chuckled and turned to it, "Also known as dinner."
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
"You know, this isn't bad." I said and leaned my back against the large rock, pulling a crab leg from above the fire.
I was back in mortal form and my spear was leaning against the rock next to me.
"It reminds me of that vacation we took." Sheila said and sat down against the rock on my other side, fishing some crab meat out of a pot where she had been boiling it.
I grinned at that, "It does actually." and cracked the shell of the crab leg, "I wouldn't have minded if we had these crabs there as well."
It was pretty damn good. Too bad it was a bulk ware or importing this to Stormwind would be a major industry. Yet alone Ironforge. The Dwarfs loved seafood.
Our belongings were laid out around the fire, the bags hung up to dry on sticks stuck into the sand. Sheila shifted to rest softly against my side as she ate a piece of crab and I put my arm around her, looking up at the moon far above.
A single large moon.
You know... once I would have found that familiar. Even with the craters being different than I remember from Earth.
Now? Now two moons meant home.
AN// Many thanks to Alleydodger for betaing this section. Today will be a double feature. Next part will be ready tonight.
I pushed on towards the bead of reality ahead/behind, sweeping my limbs as I reached out towards it.
It was the longest I had ever traveled.
But I already checked the closest worlds to Azeroth before. The only ones with anything more than trees we could find was the ones I already had branches at.
Not that it said much, we had just explored each for a couple of days. Even flying and with scrying, it was a small area covered. For all I knew, we could have missed fucking Atlantis.
Bursting back into reality in a flash of light I spread my wings wide and flapped hard to keep from falling if I ended up in the air.
Instead I stumbled, gasping for air to catch my breath.
You didn't feel it between worlds, but you were holding your breath the entire time.
Sadly, I only had time to draw half a breath and I didn't have the speed to stop myself from falling the meter down to the surface of the water.
I ended up with a mouthful of water as I struggled against its pull. Resurfacing I gasped for air, looking around.
There. Land a couple of hundred meters away.
It was not easy to swim, but if I could fly in this armor than I could fucking swim in it. Taking off from the water though was out of the question. Maybe if I was in just my scales I could do it, I'd done it before.
But with armor? No way.
Still spitting out water I swam over to the sandy beach and climbed up, shaking the worst of the saltwater off myself. I'm so glad I didn't make my armor from steel.
Enchantments or not, saltwater is murder on steel.
Turning my head I cast telekinesis on the bags to hook them off my armor and put them down on the sand before I took a second to look around properly.
It was a narrow strait of water, a couple of hundred meters across between a pair of beaches that went up into cliffs and palm trees on each side with some grass spread around.
The sun was low on the horizon and slowly setting. Further down the strait seemed to turn into a mangrove swamp of some sort.
So not a strait, just a narrow bay then.
Well, the area looked good enough and not too cold. I sniffed the air. It just smelled like the ocean.
Seemed safe enough so I gave Sheila's soulstone a small burst of magic to let her know that it was safe to come out.
Wait... did I?
Oh son of a bitch. I dropped my spear in the bay!
"Well, this is nice." Sheila said and looked around before she reached for her bag, "What do you look so annoyed about?"
"...I dropped my spear in the bay."
"Wait, did we land in the water?" Sheila said and reached into her bag to pull out her soaking wet clothes, "...We landed in the water."
Fuck, that's my books screwed too.
Sighing I shook a bit more water off myself before I started to take off my armor, "I'm going to dive for my spear."
She nodded and put her robe on so she wasn't standing around naked, "Well, it's better than landing in snow at least." she said and walked over to a pair of large rocks on the beach to lay the rest of her clothes out, "We just need to get a fire going to dry everythi... What's that?"
Dropping the last gauntlet of my armor on the sand I looked over to see something slowly lumber out of the water, slowly revealing itself.
It was a large, white shell with a pair of big claws and six legs. The top of the shell was almost a meter and a half from the ground at the highest point.
"Giant enemy crab. Hit it's weakspot for massive damage." I chuckled and turned to it, "Also known as dinner."
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
"You know, this isn't bad." I said and leaned my back against the large rock, pulling a crab leg from above the fire.
I was back in mortal form and my spear was leaning against the rock next to me.
"It reminds me of that vacation we took." Sheila said and sat down against the rock on my other side, fishing some crab meat out of a pot where she had been boiling it.
I grinned at that, "It does actually." and cracked the shell of the crab leg, "I wouldn't have minded if we had these crabs there as well."
It was pretty damn good. Too bad it was a bulk ware or importing this to Stormwind would be a major industry. Yet alone Ironforge. The Dwarfs loved seafood.
Our belongings were laid out around the fire, the bags hung up to dry on sticks stuck into the sand. Sheila shifted to rest softly against my side as she ate a piece of crab and I put my arm around her, looking up at the moon far above.
A single large moon.
You know... once I would have found that familiar. Even with the craters being different than I remember from Earth.
Now? Now two moons meant home.
AN// Many thanks to Alleydodger for betaing this section. Today will be a double feature. Next part will be ready tonight.
I expect Hiver will get waterproof bags in the future. I assume between magic and the science Hiver remembers they can get waterproof bags.