Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
I'm pretty sure they would already have waterproof bags. It's not that difficult, oilskin bags have existed for a long time.
Making Connections
- Thread starter Hiver
- Start date
Oilskin bags keep the contents dry from rain or splashing... not complete immersion. That would require a waterproof seal...
13
"Atreus."
I opened my eyes to see Sheila looking into the dim light of the predawn while giving me a small shake.
She had seen something.
First night on a new world, we always took turns keeping watch. When we were more secure, we could use bears or wolfs as guards, but first night was always the most dangerous.
I had taken the first watch.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"I don't know, I heard something. It didn't sound like a crab."
Nodding I rolled got up on one knee, peering into the darkness. There was something out there alright.
"You are right. There is movement." I whispered as I reached for my spear, "Can't quite make out what though."
Sheila nodded and stood up, "Let's spread some light over it then." and green fire flickered around her hand before she threw a fireball into the air in the general direction above the thing.
The fireball shone as it slowly arched through the air, lighting up the area in green light to reveal a bipedal creature about fifty meters away.
It... looked like somebody had taken a plant and turned it into a man before putting some red robes on it. At least I thought they were red, it was hard to tell in the green light.
The good thing was that we now knew what was out there. The bad thing was that... it saw us as well.
And it wasn't a human and we clearly were.
I really, really hoped there were humans on this world and that they had friendly relations with planty over there or things might become dangerous.
"Ahoy, travellers!" he called out, "I didn't see you there."
Well, at least the translator rings worked even if I had been unable to improve on the design.
I met Sheila's eyes and then stood up as she called back, "Greetings. You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
"I didn't see you. How could I know not to sneak up?" he called back and slowly started to approach us as the light of her fireball faded away.
"What do you think?" I whispered to Sheila who shrugged.
"He seems friendly enough. If not, plants burn well."
Yes they do.
Nodding I quickly piled some wood on the firepit and relit it with a snap of my fingers, a couple of a seconds of concentrations and an application of magic.
With some proper light giving a better view, it was easier to see the features of the plant man as he got close.
Green 'skin' blades across his head as a sort of hair. He was about as tall as Sheila with a narrow build. He was wearing brown pants, a pair of black boots and a white shirt under a red...trenchcoat or sorts. A duster maybe?
"Hello." he said with a smile, "I'm Daegan, I didn't expect to see anyone out here."
"We are actually a bit lost." Sheila said carefully, "I'm Sheila, this is Atreus."
He frowned slightly but nodded, "Ah. I did wonder why somebody would set up camp here."
"Why is that?" I asked as I got up again, resting my glaive against my shoulder.
Deagan shrugged, "Stormbluff village is just a hour up the beach the way I came. Nobody who has any alternative would camp out here."
"Why?"
He gave me a strange look at that, "The marsh drakes come out of the marsh to hunt during the night. By this time they usually have returned to it, though.
"Marsh drakes?"
"...You know, territorial man sized lizards that like to eat people?"
"Yeah, sorry, I was just surprised. We had not seen any." I quickly explained. So not real drakes then. At least it didn't sound like actual drakes.
"So what are you doing out here? If you don't mind me asking?" Sheila asked as she moved to pick up her water bottle, "Water?"
He shook his head, "No thanks. I'm a herbalist... yes, yes, humans and their jokes. Seriously, heard them all. I'm after a flower that only blooms just before dawn. As much as I would want to stay and talk, I really should get going or I need to do this again tomorrow."
I started to nod but Sheila spoke up again.
"Want some help? I mean, strength in numbers and all that and we do owe you for your information."
Daegan hesitated, "...I can't pay you for it."
"Wont need to." I answered, "We would be happy to help and we are in your debt letting us know where we are."
He still looked hesitant but he finally nodded, "Very well. There is always the risk to run into a straggling drake. Some help could be nice. But you better hurry, it will soon be dawn and then it will be to late."
I quickly nodded and three minutes later, all our stuff was packed and we were ready to follow Daegan down the beach.
I let Sheila do the small talk as we walked. Daegan at least seemed happy enough to chat away.
Apparently he normally lived somewhere called 'Lion's Arch' but moved here after 'the attack' instead of heading back to 'Caledon Forest'.
All very interesting and said very little other than there had been some kind of attack. Well, humans and his people was clearly friendly so that's something at least.
We might be able to figure out more when we get to his village, maybe head to an actual city.
Until then, listen and learn.
So far though, this world seemed like it would be a interesting one. It's the first time we had seen plant people after all.
AN// Many thanks to Seonor for betaing this section.
I opened my eyes to see Sheila looking into the dim light of the predawn while giving me a small shake.
She had seen something.
First night on a new world, we always took turns keeping watch. When we were more secure, we could use bears or wolfs as guards, but first night was always the most dangerous.
I had taken the first watch.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"I don't know, I heard something. It didn't sound like a crab."
Nodding I rolled got up on one knee, peering into the darkness. There was something out there alright.
"You are right. There is movement." I whispered as I reached for my spear, "Can't quite make out what though."
Sheila nodded and stood up, "Let's spread some light over it then." and green fire flickered around her hand before she threw a fireball into the air in the general direction above the thing.
The fireball shone as it slowly arched through the air, lighting up the area in green light to reveal a bipedal creature about fifty meters away.
It... looked like somebody had taken a plant and turned it into a man before putting some red robes on it. At least I thought they were red, it was hard to tell in the green light.
The good thing was that we now knew what was out there. The bad thing was that... it saw us as well.
And it wasn't a human and we clearly were.
I really, really hoped there were humans on this world and that they had friendly relations with planty over there or things might become dangerous.
"Ahoy, travellers!" he called out, "I didn't see you there."
Well, at least the translator rings worked even if I had been unable to improve on the design.
I met Sheila's eyes and then stood up as she called back, "Greetings. You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
"I didn't see you. How could I know not to sneak up?" he called back and slowly started to approach us as the light of her fireball faded away.
"What do you think?" I whispered to Sheila who shrugged.
"He seems friendly enough. If not, plants burn well."
Yes they do.
Nodding I quickly piled some wood on the firepit and relit it with a snap of my fingers, a couple of a seconds of concentrations and an application of magic.
With some proper light giving a better view, it was easier to see the features of the plant man as he got close.
Green 'skin' blades across his head as a sort of hair. He was about as tall as Sheila with a narrow build. He was wearing brown pants, a pair of black boots and a white shirt under a red...trenchcoat or sorts. A duster maybe?
"Hello." he said with a smile, "I'm Daegan, I didn't expect to see anyone out here."
"We are actually a bit lost." Sheila said carefully, "I'm Sheila, this is Atreus."
He frowned slightly but nodded, "Ah. I did wonder why somebody would set up camp here."
"Why is that?" I asked as I got up again, resting my glaive against my shoulder.
Deagan shrugged, "Stormbluff village is just a hour up the beach the way I came. Nobody who has any alternative would camp out here."
"Why?"
He gave me a strange look at that, "The marsh drakes come out of the marsh to hunt during the night. By this time they usually have returned to it, though.
"Marsh drakes?"
"...You know, territorial man sized lizards that like to eat people?"
"Yeah, sorry, I was just surprised. We had not seen any." I quickly explained. So not real drakes then. At least it didn't sound like actual drakes.
"So what are you doing out here? If you don't mind me asking?" Sheila asked as she moved to pick up her water bottle, "Water?"
He shook his head, "No thanks. I'm a herbalist... yes, yes, humans and their jokes. Seriously, heard them all. I'm after a flower that only blooms just before dawn. As much as I would want to stay and talk, I really should get going or I need to do this again tomorrow."
I started to nod but Sheila spoke up again.
"Want some help? I mean, strength in numbers and all that and we do owe you for your information."
Daegan hesitated, "...I can't pay you for it."
"Wont need to." I answered, "We would be happy to help and we are in your debt letting us know where we are."
He still looked hesitant but he finally nodded, "Very well. There is always the risk to run into a straggling drake. Some help could be nice. But you better hurry, it will soon be dawn and then it will be to late."
I quickly nodded and three minutes later, all our stuff was packed and we were ready to follow Daegan down the beach.
I let Sheila do the small talk as we walked. Daegan at least seemed happy enough to chat away.
Apparently he normally lived somewhere called 'Lion's Arch' but moved here after 'the attack' instead of heading back to 'Caledon Forest'.
All very interesting and said very little other than there had been some kind of attack. Well, humans and his people was clearly friendly so that's something at least.
We might be able to figure out more when we get to his village, maybe head to an actual city.
Until then, listen and learn.
So far though, this world seemed like it would be a interesting one. It's the first time we had seen plant people after all.
AN// Many thanks to Seonor for betaing this section.
Double update? Nice
Uh, any ideas what this is crossed with, or is it of Hivers own creation?
Uh, any ideas what this is crossed with, or is it of Hivers own creation?
Pensive Rumination
Praise me more?
- Location
- Australia
Quick google search of the locations mentioned reveals Hiver has finally jumped into another popular MMORPG.
He's in Guild Wars.
Winged One
Not the Simurgh
- Location
- definitely the ground
- Pronouns
- They/Them/It
Guild Wars 2. The plant people got created between the games' timeframe.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Um, it has Elder Dragons, which are mindbogglingly bad news. As in, one of them doing a low-altitude overflight is enough to turn the area into a twisted, unnatural wasteland and turn the creatures caught in it into deformed, enslaved minions. And that was one of the WEAKER ones doing that.I don't know a damn thing about guild wars.Oh well., shouldn't be too much of a problem.
- Location
- Attempting to cast animate object on a black hole.
Thy look kind of like a cross between Deathwing and a Frost Wyrm, but with different elements.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If anyone is wondering - the first two images are of Kralkatorrik, the Elder Crystal Dragon. He also does wind, sand, and lightning, and is almost certainly the weakest, seeing as 6 people plus Glint would have been enough to kill him. The third is Zhaitan, the Elder Undead Dragon. He isn't actually undead himself - Elder Dragons are beyond such things - but he uses them for minions and creates hordes of undead thralls by merely existing. He's dead at the moment, but it took massive aerial bombardment from the Pact air fleet using specialized weapons, attacks by multiple high-level adventuring groups, and a legendary weapon apparently designed for that exact purpose to do it.
They are meant to have that elemental embodiment look going. These things corrupt the world towards their aspects merely by existing.
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14
The fishing village was a tiny one. Maybe ten houses, a watchtower on the hill overlooking it and a wooden bridge across the narrow part of the bay.
"Which way to Lion's Arch?" Sheila asked Daegan as we entered the village, following the coastline.
Most of the population we could see was human. At least they looked like it. But there were also others... a kind of small, grey, large-headed beings with large mouths and sharp teeth. They reminded me a bit of goblins, actually.
The other species was a single... cat-cow? It was like a large bipedal feline with horns.
Daegan shrugged, said, "About a day of walking." and pointed across the narrow wooden bridge. "That way." He stated as he adjusted his heavy satchel.
We managed to find a good amount of flowers, so at least he seemed happy.
"Thank you, Daegan." Sheila said with a smile.
He nodded. "You as well, Sheila Stark. The harvest was larger than I thought. You should consider a career as a herbalist."
Sheila grinned. "Thought about it. Magic is more fun."
Daegan chuckled and nodded. "Safe travels."
I nodded. "And you as well." and turned towards the bridge before slowly nodding.
One day's walk.
Yeah, easily doable, especially if it was a road. I would prefer to fly but... Walking it was.
"Come on, you big lizard." Sheila said with a grin, poking my waist just beneath my armor. "Let's get going."
I nodded, sighed and grinned, "Yeah, yeah." and started towards the bridge. "This is an interesting world."
My consort nodded. "Seems to be. I am worried about what he said about undead, though."
It was indeed.
Undead were never a good sign. Never mind that these were clearly being directed from his descriptions and not just mindless wandering zombies.
"There might be a Lich King." I said with a frown. "Might not be the best place to set up a branch."
She shrugged. "We don't know enough to decide one way or another yet, you know that."
I sighed. "Yeah, you are right about that too. We have to check out this 'Lion's Arch' first. It sounded like it used to be the capital of the human lands. Or at the very least a large trading hub."
"It did." Sheila confirmed with a nod. "It is so annoying to not be able to ask questions about 'common knowledge'."
I grinned at that as we stepped off the bridge onto a dirt road leading up into the hills on the other side of the bay. "That it is. But it would kind of give the game away, wouldn't it?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
"...I think we found it." Sheila said as we looked out over the bay.
The town had a massive cut down the middle, houses, structures, villages, large metal pieces the size of houses thrown around everywhere.
It must have been one hell of a ship that attacked this place... well, or a goblin got really drunk one evening.
"This place is a mess." I answered, nodding slowly. "Wow."
But even with the city being wrecked, it was still impressive. You could see that the architecture was at least as impressive as Stormwind's if clearly in a different style. Less large stone walls and more.. ships?
Downhill, on this side of the bay, the road lead to a stone fort and even that was damaged, large metal shrapnel taking up half the courtyard.
"Come on." Sheila said and stretched, her arms high above her head. "I want to get into what's left of the town before nightfall. Daegan said there is an inn that's still open on the east side of town. The sun is already setting and I really don't want to sleep on the ground again tonight."
I nodded, said, "That would be preferable." and adjusted my satchel before starting to move again.
A bed would be nice... not to mention that with a locked door, we could easily get away with just a summon as a guard and both of us actually getting to sleep the entire night.
...Assuming there was an east side of town. Because from here it looked like it might be missing.
Damn, they got a right good kicking here. If this is what it looked like after a win..
Fucking hell.
The refugees alone... if this was their capital... The only thing that would have been worse would have been if the refugees had not been a problem.
Because that would have meant no survivors.
The fact that there might be a market for healing potions didn't make it much nicer.
"What's that?" Sheila asked and pointed into the distance towards the other side of the bay, where a soft purple glow shone in the setting sun.
Hmm?
I didn't notice that earlier.
Raising my hands, I quickly cast a scrying spell and flew the viewpoint over there, forming the view between my hands for Sheila to be able to see.
The view blurred as the viewpoint moved before it gave us a clear view of the... square with the purple things.
"Portals of some sort." Sheila said and peered between my hands. "Wonder where they lead."
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
"Which way to Lion's Arch?" Sheila asked Daegan as we entered the village, following the coastline.
Most of the population we could see was human. At least they looked like it. But there were also others... a kind of small, grey, large-headed beings with large mouths and sharp teeth. They reminded me a bit of goblins, actually.
The other species was a single... cat-cow? It was like a large bipedal feline with horns.
Daegan shrugged, said, "About a day of walking." and pointed across the narrow wooden bridge. "That way." He stated as he adjusted his heavy satchel.
We managed to find a good amount of flowers, so at least he seemed happy.
"Thank you, Daegan." Sheila said with a smile.
He nodded. "You as well, Sheila Stark. The harvest was larger than I thought. You should consider a career as a herbalist."
Sheila grinned. "Thought about it. Magic is more fun."
Daegan chuckled and nodded. "Safe travels."
I nodded. "And you as well." and turned towards the bridge before slowly nodding.
One day's walk.
Yeah, easily doable, especially if it was a road. I would prefer to fly but... Walking it was.
"Come on, you big lizard." Sheila said with a grin, poking my waist just beneath my armor. "Let's get going."
I nodded, sighed and grinned, "Yeah, yeah." and started towards the bridge. "This is an interesting world."
My consort nodded. "Seems to be. I am worried about what he said about undead, though."
It was indeed.
Undead were never a good sign. Never mind that these were clearly being directed from his descriptions and not just mindless wandering zombies.
"There might be a Lich King." I said with a frown. "Might not be the best place to set up a branch."
She shrugged. "We don't know enough to decide one way or another yet, you know that."
I sighed. "Yeah, you are right about that too. We have to check out this 'Lion's Arch' first. It sounded like it used to be the capital of the human lands. Or at the very least a large trading hub."
"It did." Sheila confirmed with a nod. "It is so annoying to not be able to ask questions about 'common knowledge'."
I grinned at that as we stepped off the bridge onto a dirt road leading up into the hills on the other side of the bay. "That it is. But it would kind of give the game away, wouldn't it?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
"...I think we found it." Sheila said as we looked out over the bay.
The town had a massive cut down the middle, houses, structures, villages, large metal pieces the size of houses thrown around everywhere.
It must have been one hell of a ship that attacked this place... well, or a goblin got really drunk one evening.
"This place is a mess." I answered, nodding slowly. "Wow."
But even with the city being wrecked, it was still impressive. You could see that the architecture was at least as impressive as Stormwind's if clearly in a different style. Less large stone walls and more.. ships?
Downhill, on this side of the bay, the road lead to a stone fort and even that was damaged, large metal shrapnel taking up half the courtyard.
"Come on." Sheila said and stretched, her arms high above her head. "I want to get into what's left of the town before nightfall. Daegan said there is an inn that's still open on the east side of town. The sun is already setting and I really don't want to sleep on the ground again tonight."
I nodded, said, "That would be preferable." and adjusted my satchel before starting to move again.
A bed would be nice... not to mention that with a locked door, we could easily get away with just a summon as a guard and both of us actually getting to sleep the entire night.
...Assuming there was an east side of town. Because from here it looked like it might be missing.
Damn, they got a right good kicking here. If this is what it looked like after a win..
Fucking hell.
The refugees alone... if this was their capital... The only thing that would have been worse would have been if the refugees had not been a problem.
Because that would have meant no survivors.
The fact that there might be a market for healing potions didn't make it much nicer.
"What's that?" Sheila asked and pointed into the distance towards the other side of the bay, where a soft purple glow shone in the setting sun.
Hmm?
I didn't notice that earlier.
Raising my hands, I quickly cast a scrying spell and flew the viewpoint over there, forming the view between my hands for Sheila to be able to see.
The view blurred as the viewpoint moved before it gave us a clear view of the... square with the purple things.
"Portals of some sort." Sheila said and peered between my hands. "Wonder where they lead."
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
Random thought. The cel phone Aterus sold to a gnome when he was first dropped into WoW. What happed to him? Maybe he was able to hook up the phone to the... horned people's (forgot their name) hologram projectors and get data off it.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hmm, looks like you showed up after Scarlet Briar did her thing in Lion's Arch, given that Lion's Arch is trashed. In the game timeline, that means Zhaitan is dead - his canonical death happened at the time of or before The Lost Shores, which comes before all the Living World Season content, and Lion's Arch got wrecked at the end of Living World Season 1.
Mordremoth may or may not be doing his thing already, and he's MUCH worse news than Zhaitan. Zhaitan just does zombie hordes - Mordremoth does mind-rape, turning the plants on people, attacking the fast transport system, and he can subvert most but not all Sylvari. Oh, and Caithe's grabbed the idiot ball something fierce in Living World Season 2, so Destiny's Edge is wrecked. Again.
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15
Calling the place we spent the last night an 'Inn' might have been somewhat generous. But it had a door, three walls and half a roof.
At least the food had been good and it had been cheap.
Stretching, I adjusted my satchel while looking around the small square. Even being the furthest from the actual devastation, this place had still taken damage from those massive thrown beams of iron.
Damn, when the ships that hit this place went up, they must really have gone up. Airships, they said it was.
War airships.
Sure, Azeroth had airships, even heavy war ones, but these ones sounded much more interesting. Besides, the Azerothian ones were one off wonders.
Not effective enough for the expenses to build.
These ones? They sounded fast and sleek. I wanted to know more. They were clearly defeated, but they completely wrecked this place.
This wasn't the human capital either, that was something called Divinity's Reach.
This, however, had been a major trading hub, a sort of 'unofficial capital' for all the races. No wonder it was a target.
"Next time I insist on an Inn, remind me of this." Sheila sighed, rubbing her neck as she walked out to join me. "I think I have a cramp in my neck."
"We were lucky there was a free room at all." I said and moved to massage her neck, causing her to groan. "Besides, it was just one night."
Sheila sighed and pulled away. "I know. Come on, let's check these portals out."
At least we were able to pay for it easily. They were happy enough to take small pieces of silver as payment.
But as soon as we got to a less shelled to hell and back town, we really should sell it for local currency. This was the most dangerous part of it all.
Shouldering my glaive, I grinned and followed her, rolling my shoulders. She was right, though. I had given up that so-called bed halfway through the night and slept on the floor.
At least there were survivors around from this battle. Most of the population managed to escape during and just after the assault... and some had started to return.
I didn't spot it at first, but there were signs of rebuilding everywhere. Small things. A new bridge here, a new roof there.
It was... inspiring.
What was even more inspiring, was that the species... four that I managed to spot so far... were united. Not in one empire, but working together still.
To fight against the darkness of this world.
Amazing. I... wished Azeroth could do the same. Oh, they did, but it was always temporary. Otherwise the Alliance and Horde was always at each other's throats or at the very least... glaring at each other suspiciously.
"Well... would you look at that." I said softly and stopped as we entered the square. Well, less of a square and more of a grotto.
Five large, spinning stone portals with glyphs, a purple event horizon rippling across the middle.
They looked like Stargates.
Several guards standing by each portal, split up between species.
Humans at one, plant people at one, the small grey beings at another one... the cat people and what looked like bigger humans at another.
I really needed to find out what they were really called and fast.
Permanent portals. Something that was almost impossible to make with magic or enchanting.
"...We have to find out how those are made." Sheila whispered to me. "Imagine what it would do back home?"
She was right. Portals, even with a portal stone... were not easy. You needed the key and you needed some magical talent.
And to stop it from being instantly used by invaders, towns blocked portals inside them unless you had the right 'lockpick'.
They were also too small to really use for trade and didn't last long enough. Not to mention you needed to be a bit of a skilled mage, even with a portal keystone.
These... these looked permanent.
One in each capital would revolutionize trade. It would no longer take a month or more to get tea from Pandaria to Stormwind.
It would take hours. Minutes.
Not only just the Alliance either. Effective trade is the great stabilizer. If we included the Horde into it... with the Azure Consortium backed by the Dragonflights...
It could unite Azeroth. Stabilize it. It could end the eternal war between the Horde and the Alliance.
"Hey! Get out of the way!"
"Sorry!" Sheila called back and pulled me to the side to let a wagon past. It followed the road up to the one guarded by humans, exchanged a couple of words and handed over some coins before he drove the wagon straight through.
"Venir would kill us if we didn't try to get these things." I said softly and took her hand. "Let's have a look." I continued and headed towards the human gate.
There was also that.
We could hardly just walk up and start studying the damn thing, not with guards around... but it seemed to lead to a more civilized place, so at the very least, we could sell the silver and jewelry for local currency and then start looking around.
Because this might be one of the biggest discoveries ever.
I just hoped that they took jewelry as payment to go through.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
At least the food had been good and it had been cheap.
Stretching, I adjusted my satchel while looking around the small square. Even being the furthest from the actual devastation, this place had still taken damage from those massive thrown beams of iron.
Damn, when the ships that hit this place went up, they must really have gone up. Airships, they said it was.
War airships.
Sure, Azeroth had airships, even heavy war ones, but these ones sounded much more interesting. Besides, the Azerothian ones were one off wonders.
Not effective enough for the expenses to build.
These ones? They sounded fast and sleek. I wanted to know more. They were clearly defeated, but they completely wrecked this place.
This wasn't the human capital either, that was something called Divinity's Reach.
This, however, had been a major trading hub, a sort of 'unofficial capital' for all the races. No wonder it was a target.
"Next time I insist on an Inn, remind me of this." Sheila sighed, rubbing her neck as she walked out to join me. "I think I have a cramp in my neck."
"We were lucky there was a free room at all." I said and moved to massage her neck, causing her to groan. "Besides, it was just one night."
Sheila sighed and pulled away. "I know. Come on, let's check these portals out."
At least we were able to pay for it easily. They were happy enough to take small pieces of silver as payment.
But as soon as we got to a less shelled to hell and back town, we really should sell it for local currency. This was the most dangerous part of it all.
Shouldering my glaive, I grinned and followed her, rolling my shoulders. She was right, though. I had given up that so-called bed halfway through the night and slept on the floor.
At least there were survivors around from this battle. Most of the population managed to escape during and just after the assault... and some had started to return.
I didn't spot it at first, but there were signs of rebuilding everywhere. Small things. A new bridge here, a new roof there.
It was... inspiring.
What was even more inspiring, was that the species... four that I managed to spot so far... were united. Not in one empire, but working together still.
To fight against the darkness of this world.
Amazing. I... wished Azeroth could do the same. Oh, they did, but it was always temporary. Otherwise the Alliance and Horde was always at each other's throats or at the very least... glaring at each other suspiciously.
"Well... would you look at that." I said softly and stopped as we entered the square. Well, less of a square and more of a grotto.
Five large, spinning stone portals with glyphs, a purple event horizon rippling across the middle.
They looked like Stargates.
Several guards standing by each portal, split up between species.
Humans at one, plant people at one, the small grey beings at another one... the cat people and what looked like bigger humans at another.
I really needed to find out what they were really called and fast.
Permanent portals. Something that was almost impossible to make with magic or enchanting.
"...We have to find out how those are made." Sheila whispered to me. "Imagine what it would do back home?"
She was right. Portals, even with a portal stone... were not easy. You needed the key and you needed some magical talent.
And to stop it from being instantly used by invaders, towns blocked portals inside them unless you had the right 'lockpick'.
They were also too small to really use for trade and didn't last long enough. Not to mention you needed to be a bit of a skilled mage, even with a portal keystone.
These... these looked permanent.
One in each capital would revolutionize trade. It would no longer take a month or more to get tea from Pandaria to Stormwind.
It would take hours. Minutes.
Not only just the Alliance either. Effective trade is the great stabilizer. If we included the Horde into it... with the Azure Consortium backed by the Dragonflights...
It could unite Azeroth. Stabilize it. It could end the eternal war between the Horde and the Alliance.
"Hey! Get out of the way!"
"Sorry!" Sheila called back and pulled me to the side to let a wagon past. It followed the road up to the one guarded by humans, exchanged a couple of words and handed over some coins before he drove the wagon straight through.
"Venir would kill us if we didn't try to get these things." I said softly and took her hand. "Let's have a look." I continued and headed towards the human gate.
There was also that.
We could hardly just walk up and start studying the damn thing, not with guards around... but it seemed to lead to a more civilized place, so at the very least, we could sell the silver and jewelry for local currency and then start looking around.
Because this might be one of the biggest discoveries ever.
I just hoped that they took jewelry as payment to go through.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
16
"Did you get the jewelry sold?" Sheila asked as we met at a small market place just inside the southern gate of Divinity's Reach.
I nodded, "Not too sure about the price, but I did haggle the best I could without actually knowing what it's worth here. You?"
She smiled, "About the same. Don't think I got completely robbed."
"This place is amazing though." I said with a smile, looking around. It really, really was. It was a fortress city, same as Stormwind but this was made on a completely different scale. The inner keep was as large as Stormwind alone, its walls reaching hundreds of meters above the rest of the city, towers reaching for the skies.
Hell, the outer walls of the city were massive. Tall and thick enough to have buildings, even entire districts built on them!
But even so, even as bustling as this place was...
...It had an air of sadness over it.
It was the last major human city. There were villages, but it was the last major city. One last beacon of light against the darkness.
There was the other species, some apparently new like the Asura, the little grey beings and the Sylvari, the plant people... but it was something about seeing a human civilization in decline that was fundamentally sad.
Sheila nodded and looked up at the massive central keep, "It really is. I never thought I would see someplace this... big. It makes the Nexus look small."
"Yeah. We should find somewhere to sleep tonight. There should be a Inn around here somewhere that we can rent a room."
"The merchant said there was a good one in the Eastern Commons called the 'Laughing Fox'. He gave me directions. Apparently it's one of the nicer ones."
"Worth a try at least. Lead the way." I said as I shouldered my glaive.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Your mead."
Sigh.
"Thank you." I said and took the large tankard from the barmaid before handing her some coins as she served Sheila her wine before … I guess it could be called walking... away in that short little dress through the rather full Inn.
Sheila looked more amused than anything, "You can look you know."
"Look at what?"
She rolled her eyes and gave my shoulder a small slap but seemed somewhat pleased anyway.
Point to me.
I tried the mead and sighed before pushing it away slightly. Mead was mead, no matter the world it seemed.
But at least it likely was safer than drinking the water, cure disease potions or not.
Sheila on the other hand seemed happy with her wine as she put her own tankard down, "A bit watery but fruity. Not horrible."
Nodding I focused on listening in the best I could to the rest of the tavern, carefully weaving a simple scrying spell. A kind of 'remote hearing'. Also line of sight, but very stealthy.
Closing my eyes I started to flitter it between conversations.
Most of it was laughter and drunken people talking about whatever. Potatoes, farming. The price of meat.
But in the corner I found something interesting.
Opening my eyes, I glanced over there.
A human and one of those grey beings. An Asura.
"...aitan's death proves they can be defeated." The small grey one said quietly, "But the price... and we don't know if it applies to the rest."
The human grunted and took a swig of his tankard, "If it's actually dead. Zhaitan was the Elder Dragon of Death. For all we know, it will return."
The Asuran shivered at the idea, "I sure hope not. But it's unlikely. The larger problem is the other ones."
Sighing the human shook his head, "Four more that we know off. The Priory believe it can be done, but if the fight with Zhaitan was the rule..."
"We lost tens of thousands. We have to find another way."
"Without Zhaitan spreading it's corruption, we might stand a chance."
The Asuran sighed and jumped off it's seat, "We better get going. The meeting starts soon."
"You always rush. We still have time." the human answered but got up as well to follow the small meter-tall being through the tavern.
Well, that was disturbing news.
The Elder Dragons. If that was what it sounded like, it was more than disturbing, it was apocalyptically bad.
If they had five Deathwings running around. Four now... yeah, I could see why this world was fucked up. Fucking hell.
"Something bad?" Sheila asked with a frown. She always could read me well.
I nodded before leaning close, "I'll tell you in private later. But you should probably not mention the words 'lizard' and 'scales' in public. Or dragon.".
In any case, we should likely not stick around for too long.
AN// Many thanks to Alleydodger for betaing this section.
I nodded, "Not too sure about the price, but I did haggle the best I could without actually knowing what it's worth here. You?"
She smiled, "About the same. Don't think I got completely robbed."
"This place is amazing though." I said with a smile, looking around. It really, really was. It was a fortress city, same as Stormwind but this was made on a completely different scale. The inner keep was as large as Stormwind alone, its walls reaching hundreds of meters above the rest of the city, towers reaching for the skies.
Hell, the outer walls of the city were massive. Tall and thick enough to have buildings, even entire districts built on them!
But even so, even as bustling as this place was...
...It had an air of sadness over it.
It was the last major human city. There were villages, but it was the last major city. One last beacon of light against the darkness.
There was the other species, some apparently new like the Asura, the little grey beings and the Sylvari, the plant people... but it was something about seeing a human civilization in decline that was fundamentally sad.
Sheila nodded and looked up at the massive central keep, "It really is. I never thought I would see someplace this... big. It makes the Nexus look small."
"Yeah. We should find somewhere to sleep tonight. There should be a Inn around here somewhere that we can rent a room."
"The merchant said there was a good one in the Eastern Commons called the 'Laughing Fox'. He gave me directions. Apparently it's one of the nicer ones."
"Worth a try at least. Lead the way." I said as I shouldered my glaive.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Your mead."
Sigh.
"Thank you." I said and took the large tankard from the barmaid before handing her some coins as she served Sheila her wine before … I guess it could be called walking... away in that short little dress through the rather full Inn.
Sheila looked more amused than anything, "You can look you know."
"Look at what?"
She rolled her eyes and gave my shoulder a small slap but seemed somewhat pleased anyway.
Point to me.
I tried the mead and sighed before pushing it away slightly. Mead was mead, no matter the world it seemed.
But at least it likely was safer than drinking the water, cure disease potions or not.
Sheila on the other hand seemed happy with her wine as she put her own tankard down, "A bit watery but fruity. Not horrible."
Nodding I focused on listening in the best I could to the rest of the tavern, carefully weaving a simple scrying spell. A kind of 'remote hearing'. Also line of sight, but very stealthy.
Closing my eyes I started to flitter it between conversations.
Most of it was laughter and drunken people talking about whatever. Potatoes, farming. The price of meat.
But in the corner I found something interesting.
Opening my eyes, I glanced over there.
A human and one of those grey beings. An Asura.
"...aitan's death proves they can be defeated." The small grey one said quietly, "But the price... and we don't know if it applies to the rest."
The human grunted and took a swig of his tankard, "If it's actually dead. Zhaitan was the Elder Dragon of Death. For all we know, it will return."
The Asuran shivered at the idea, "I sure hope not. But it's unlikely. The larger problem is the other ones."
Sighing the human shook his head, "Four more that we know off. The Priory believe it can be done, but if the fight with Zhaitan was the rule..."
"We lost tens of thousands. We have to find another way."
"Without Zhaitan spreading it's corruption, we might stand a chance."
The Asuran sighed and jumped off it's seat, "We better get going. The meeting starts soon."
"You always rush. We still have time." the human answered but got up as well to follow the small meter-tall being through the tavern.
Well, that was disturbing news.
The Elder Dragons. If that was what it sounded like, it was more than disturbing, it was apocalyptically bad.
If they had five Deathwings running around. Four now... yeah, I could see why this world was fucked up. Fucking hell.
"Something bad?" Sheila asked with a frown. She always could read me well.
I nodded before leaning close, "I'll tell you in private later. But you should probably not mention the words 'lizard' and 'scales' in public. Or dragon.".
In any case, we should likely not stick around for too long.
AN// Many thanks to Alleydodger for betaing this section.
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The thread here on SV never get long enough to bother. Usually just a comment or two between parts.
It would potentially help re-reading older stories though, such as when you continue them like this.
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
Not really, since the previous book is in a different thread.
Rather than that, let's try to make a liar of Hiver and start a large discussion. ...but although I say that, I'm not sure what's going on. How large a threat are those dragons, really? Can they be killed?
Rather than that, let's try to make a liar of Hiver and start a large discussion. ...but although I say that, I'm not sure what's going on. How large a threat are those dragons, really? Can they be killed?
Winged One
Not the Simurgh
- Location
- definitely the ground
- Pronouns
- They/Them/It
The organization dedicated to dealing with them is basically an alliance of all the PC nations and less assholish members of the NPC ones, though everyone has their own things going on too. I'm pretty sure there's a historical case of it happening besides the apparently unconfirmed kill of Zhaitan. It's been a while since I played, though.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
The entire known world dogpiled one and took horrific losses to (maybe) kill it. The things naturally hibernate so they may have just triggered that early.
Oh, and they had some major edges - the civilizations of the last cycle of the things awakening pulled some major shenanigans to rig the deck - the Seer's and Forgotten sealed away a ton of magic to keep the things from eating it, thereby making them go to sleep weaker than normal, and then freed the Crystal Dragon's main champion, Glint, from its control, allowing her to turn on it and giving the mortal races a precognitive, telepathic, magnificent bastard mission control to keep things stacked in their favor for as long as possible. And the dwarves of Guild Wars turned out to be a living weapons systems designed to lock down the Fire Dragon Primordius for as long as possible.
Also
They had another massive advantage. Dragon champions and minions are immune to control and corruption from sources other than their progenitor. The Sylvari turned out to be creations of Mordremoth that it has limited to no ability to control, depending on the individual. This makes roughly a fifth of the Pact forces completely immune to dragon corruption from the other five, and Mordremoth can't even control the ones it can full-time.
Also, timeline has been established. This is taking place very early in Living World Season 2.
The reference to the other four means they don't know about Mordremoth. He's dragon number six, and IMHO the most dangerous, what with being a mind-rape specialist.
There are plenty of Dragon Champion kills, but no confirmed Elder Dragon kills prior to Zhaitan. Destiny's Edge came really damn close back in the backstory, but didn't pull it off thanks to Kralkatorrik launching a spoiling attack on Ebonhawke with his new branded minions to pull Logan Thackeray off to save the queen. This left them without enough tanking capability to execute their plan, which was basically having their stupidly powerful mage paralyze the dragon while Glint beats it to death and everyone else keeps the mooks off the mage and Glint. Course, that stunt ALSO resulted in the Charr-Human peace thanks to Logan and the Queen going all big damn heroes and saving some really important Charr. Queen Jennah, you see, is perfectly capable of kicking all kinds of ass as long as someone tanks for her squishy mesmer self.
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I actually just started playing again, however i am not that far into the game (lvl 40 out of 80 and i dont have the new exp pack they are coming out with). Not to much to add other then whats been put into here.
All the races in the game however have some type of horrible mess they are dealing with. The humans have centars attacking just outside of divinity's reach. Plant people have to deal with evil versions of themselves. Each race has lots of little enemies they are fighting off.
All the races in the game however have some type of horrible mess they are dealing with. The humans have centars attacking just outside of divinity's reach. Plant people have to deal with evil versions of themselves. Each race has lots of little enemies they are fighting off.
17
"Up."
The small stone automaton stood up on the ground from where I put it. It was a rather remarkable little construct. Entirely made from chiseled stone and a couple of quartz gems.
No mechanics, no expensive materials.
Just a ton of enchanting work.
It was a childrens toy; Asura made. Picked it up on the expensive market... cost me half my damn money, but well, well worth it.
Sure, you could make things like it using Azeroth magic. But that usually involved bindings of elementals and significantly more advanced magic.
This thing? It was made from cheap stone.
The materials didn't make it valuable, the enchantments did.
If those could be reverse engineered...
"Down."
It sat down again.
Fascinating.
"Up. Walk over there, pick up that stone and give it to me."
The little golem got up and waddled over to pick up the small stone before waddling back, raising it's hands to give it to me.
I took the pebble and turned it over in my hand, looking down at the little golem. That was a rather advanced instruction.
It wasn't sophont, that much was clear. But how smart was it really?
"What is two plus two?"
The little golem just stood there, looking up at me with it's single quarts eye.
Hmm. So not that.
I looked at the crowds moving past where I was sitting, I was close to the market and waiting for Sheila to return. It was procedure by now to split up to try to find as much interesting stuff as possible before we ran out of money on commendations and food.
"What about..."
Reaching I gathered a bunch of pebbles and put them in a small pile before the golem, "Take four of these stones and put them in two equal piles, one on my left side and one of my right."
The golem happily started to pick up pebbles and put them into small piles on each side of me. Two in each pile.
Hmm.
It could count then.
Oh, I didn't tell it how to respond before.
"Gather three times three pebbles and put in a pile in front of me."
The golem happily waddled around, gathering nine pebbles.
Fascinating.
This thing is at least as smart as the smartest super computer back on Earth. But not in the same way.
"Do whatever you want now."
The golem just stared at me.
It was smarter than any golem or automaton I seen in Azeroth, that's for sure, but clearly not sophont.
"Bring me the square root of 64 pebbles."
The golem kept staring at me.
Might simply not have know what I meant. Let's try ag...
"Hey."
Sheila dropped down to sit next to me.
"Hey. Find anything?"
She nodded, "Some fascinating history books and a couple of interesting potions. What's that thing?"
"A toy golem. It's actually quite smart, the enchanting work is fascinating. Golem, go bring the lady that flower."
The little magical automating waddled over and picked a small flower growing between the street stones close to the wall before returning to offer it to Sheila.
"Aww!" she said with a grin and took it, "Thank you." before she looked at me, "...Okay, how much did you pay for it?"
I grimaced slightly, "About half. We might need to cut our trip a bit short. Did you find anything out about the Asura?"
They were the Gatebuilders and they apparently kept that secret well guarded.
Which meant we had to do things the hard way.
She nodded, "I found a map with the location of their city, Rata Sum. There is a gate in Lion's Arch leading there though. For security reasons, capital cities are not directly connected."
Made sense.
I hmmed and picked the golem up, putting it into my satchel, "...Next time. We better focus our efforts here this trip."
Sheila nodded again as I stood up and pulled her onto her feet.
"Might be for the best. We are almost out of money anyway."
"We should save what we have for next time. Leave tomorrow?" I asked.
"Sounds like a plan."
AN// Many thanks to Alleydodger for betaing this section.
The small stone automaton stood up on the ground from where I put it. It was a rather remarkable little construct. Entirely made from chiseled stone and a couple of quartz gems.
No mechanics, no expensive materials.
Just a ton of enchanting work.
It was a childrens toy; Asura made. Picked it up on the expensive market... cost me half my damn money, but well, well worth it.
Sure, you could make things like it using Azeroth magic. But that usually involved bindings of elementals and significantly more advanced magic.
This thing? It was made from cheap stone.
The materials didn't make it valuable, the enchantments did.
If those could be reverse engineered...
"Down."
It sat down again.
Fascinating.
"Up. Walk over there, pick up that stone and give it to me."
The little golem got up and waddled over to pick up the small stone before waddling back, raising it's hands to give it to me.
I took the pebble and turned it over in my hand, looking down at the little golem. That was a rather advanced instruction.
It wasn't sophont, that much was clear. But how smart was it really?
"What is two plus two?"
The little golem just stood there, looking up at me with it's single quarts eye.
Hmm. So not that.
I looked at the crowds moving past where I was sitting, I was close to the market and waiting for Sheila to return. It was procedure by now to split up to try to find as much interesting stuff as possible before we ran out of money on commendations and food.
"What about..."
Reaching I gathered a bunch of pebbles and put them in a small pile before the golem, "Take four of these stones and put them in two equal piles, one on my left side and one of my right."
The golem happily started to pick up pebbles and put them into small piles on each side of me. Two in each pile.
Hmm.
It could count then.
Oh, I didn't tell it how to respond before.
"Gather three times three pebbles and put in a pile in front of me."
The golem happily waddled around, gathering nine pebbles.
Fascinating.
This thing is at least as smart as the smartest super computer back on Earth. But not in the same way.
"Do whatever you want now."
The golem just stared at me.
It was smarter than any golem or automaton I seen in Azeroth, that's for sure, but clearly not sophont.
"Bring me the square root of 64 pebbles."
The golem kept staring at me.
Might simply not have know what I meant. Let's try ag...
"Hey."
Sheila dropped down to sit next to me.
"Hey. Find anything?"
She nodded, "Some fascinating history books and a couple of interesting potions. What's that thing?"
"A toy golem. It's actually quite smart, the enchanting work is fascinating. Golem, go bring the lady that flower."
The little magical automating waddled over and picked a small flower growing between the street stones close to the wall before returning to offer it to Sheila.
"Aww!" she said with a grin and took it, "Thank you." before she looked at me, "...Okay, how much did you pay for it?"
I grimaced slightly, "About half. We might need to cut our trip a bit short. Did you find anything out about the Asura?"
They were the Gatebuilders and they apparently kept that secret well guarded.
Which meant we had to do things the hard way.
She nodded, "I found a map with the location of their city, Rata Sum. There is a gate in Lion's Arch leading there though. For security reasons, capital cities are not directly connected."
Made sense.
I hmmed and picked the golem up, putting it into my satchel, "...Next time. We better focus our efforts here this trip."
Sheila nodded again as I stood up and pulled her onto her feet.
"Might be for the best. We are almost out of money anyway."
"We should save what we have for next time. Leave tomorrow?" I asked.
"Sounds like a plan."
AN// Many thanks to Alleydodger for betaing this section.
