I agree. It's just that not everyone would see it that way.But they are aware while in the stone (granted, with no senses), so it's not like they're DEAD dead. They're just... caught and stored away for later use.
Making Connections
- Thread starter Hiver
- Start date
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
It's not even like Soul stones are the only way you could transport people though the blind eternities found in Azeroth, the Blue dragonflight imprisoned at least 1 red dragon in a magic cube during the Nexus war, so producing those could allow travel too.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If you want to transfer people across planes without turning them into an inanimate form, though? You need a Weatherlight. And that thing is a bitch to build. It's pretty much Urza's masterwork, and it uses a collapsed artificial plane as a power source.
I'm actually most excited for two things in this story so far (that hasn't been addressed already):
1- The possibility of Hiver and Ren learning the Thu'um ("Only the Dragonborn can learn the Thu'um (without a lifetime of study), because he has the soul of a dragon!" "Erm. Hi."), though admittedly being a different breed of dragon could be an issue there. On the other hand? You can learn the Thu'um through long study, and Hiver and Ren are immortal. So it might be an "eventually" thing, but it would still be cool to see in-story.
2- Tyria. I happen to really, really like the Guild Wars world, but it also provides a lot of opportunities for the Azure Consortium in terms of... most things.
2A- Technology: The charr tech base is about equal with that of gnomes and goblins (in general, though the Gnomes/Goblins win out on the gizmos and gadgets), maybe better if only because they managed to make so much stuff without using any magic construction. Plus, their stuff has a history of NOT blowing up on the user. The Asura have roughly the same advancement, except in magitech instead of engineering; plus some exceptional advances like golems, the Asura Gates, and that so much of their stuff is magically suspended (including an entire CITY). It helps that many asura are geniuses by most sapient standards, though it'd be nice if more of them had some common sense... High Int, low Wis.
Edit- maybe a better comparison would be Charr/Dwarves, and Asura/(Gnomes/Goblins).
2Aa- For more general tech and magitech, water masks for theoretically indefinite diving (this is either a game mechanic or magic; I prefer to assume it's magic zapping the water for oxygen and throwing out the hydrogen) would be super useful and in fairly high demand for anyplace that a Water Breathing spell isn't common knowledge. Waypoint construction might be generally unnecessary due to existing teleport points in Azeroth, but they'd be a fair benefit to the common people; probably easier to use. Their use is diminished because they have to be situated on ley lines unfortunately. Guns are... guns. Azeroth already has them, though the Guild Wars guns might be a bit better just on the basis of using rifles instead of muskets. Blame the charr for that bit of weapons advancement.
2B- Magic: ... actually there's not much special here that I know of. But more methods of magic, and more ways of levering those methods, are always a plus. At a minimum, they have some form of necromancy that's palatable enough that teams of adventurers don't get run out of town. Also an entire specialization on illusion magic for combat; Hiver should appreciate that.
2C- Crafting and materials: Very similar to Azeroth, but likely different enough to get some research potential out of. At the least, it's another source of high grade mats. Potions are less prevalent though, so there might be a market for them.
That's it. Somehow that turned into a wall of text, sorry.
1- The possibility of Hiver and Ren learning the Thu'um ("Only the Dragonborn can learn the Thu'um (without a lifetime of study), because he has the soul of a dragon!" "Erm. Hi."), though admittedly being a different breed of dragon could be an issue there. On the other hand? You can learn the Thu'um through long study, and Hiver and Ren are immortal. So it might be an "eventually" thing, but it would still be cool to see in-story.
2- Tyria. I happen to really, really like the Guild Wars world, but it also provides a lot of opportunities for the Azure Consortium in terms of... most things.
2A- Technology: The charr tech base is about equal with that of gnomes and goblins (in general, though the Gnomes/Goblins win out on the gizmos and gadgets), maybe better if only because they managed to make so much stuff without using any magic construction. Plus, their stuff has a history of NOT blowing up on the user. The Asura have roughly the same advancement, except in magitech instead of engineering; plus some exceptional advances like golems, the Asura Gates, and that so much of their stuff is magically suspended (including an entire CITY). It helps that many asura are geniuses by most sapient standards, though it'd be nice if more of them had some common sense... High Int, low Wis.
Edit- maybe a better comparison would be Charr/Dwarves, and Asura/(Gnomes/Goblins).
2Aa- For more general tech and magitech, water masks for theoretically indefinite diving (this is either a game mechanic or magic; I prefer to assume it's magic zapping the water for oxygen and throwing out the hydrogen) would be super useful and in fairly high demand for anyplace that a Water Breathing spell isn't common knowledge. Waypoint construction might be generally unnecessary due to existing teleport points in Azeroth, but they'd be a fair benefit to the common people; probably easier to use. Their use is diminished because they have to be situated on ley lines unfortunately. Guns are... guns. Azeroth already has them, though the Guild Wars guns might be a bit better just on the basis of using rifles instead of muskets. Blame the charr for that bit of weapons advancement.
2B- Magic: ... actually there's not much special here that I know of. But more methods of magic, and more ways of levering those methods, are always a plus. At a minimum, they have some form of necromancy that's palatable enough that teams of adventurers don't get run out of town. Also an entire specialization on illusion magic for combat; Hiver should appreciate that.
2C- Crafting and materials: Very similar to Azeroth, but likely different enough to get some research potential out of. At the least, it's another source of high grade mats. Potions are less prevalent though, so there might be a market for them.
That's it. Somehow that turned into a wall of text, sorry.
Last edited:
37
Reality congealed around us in a flash and we stumbled out onto the grass. It was dark out, only the moons above lighting up the trees .
Gasping for breath, I reached to pull out Ren's soulstone, activating it to let her reform in fire and smoke.
Ren stumbled and let out a curse as she dropped to her knees.
Damn, that has to suck. It sucked for me and I didn't need to reform my body afterwards. I knew better than to ask if she was okay though,
"Here. Better get dressed before we portal back." Instead said and handed her satchel over as she struggled onto her feet.
"Like it matters until we get home." Ren rolled her eyes and shrugged the satchel on, casting a spell to cast the dress illusion over herself.
Yeah, I guess that could work too.
Grinning, I shook my head digging out the small portal keystone and casting the spell, connecting to the portal stone in Stormwind before forming the portal, "After you, my love."
She grinned back and headed through before I followed into Targos' store. The place was empty.
No wonder, it was the middle of the night. He was likely curled up in the snow by the Nexus, fast asleep... unless he was in his lab, watching some kind of experiment.
Reaching into my bag I looked for the key to the store.
Ren adjusted her satchel, "Come on, I'm tired." she said, taking the lead.
I made sure to quickly lock the door of the store behind us before I followed her back to Sheila's... our... apartment.
We really had to find a new place and soon. As long as it was outside Stormwind or any of the major cities I could put up a portal stone.
No more need to divert through Targos' shop.
Not to mention more room. I have to remember to speak to Ren about it tomorrow. Then there was the upcoming 'Winter's veil' feast Venir had planned.
If I didn't show, she might decide she wanted some dragon hide boots. Well, maybe not something that extreme, but she would be pissed at me for not showing up.
No matter how much I disliked that kind of parties.
..I'd rather fight undead again.
The Mage Quarters was as amazing looking as it was normal. Green grass instead of cobblestone paths, crystals mounted on the buildings or floating in the air keeping it somewhat lit, even during the night.
Walking up the stairs on the outside of the building, I pulled the door to our place open.
The smell was the first that hit me, like always. It smelled like a bit of smoke, a bit of food, a bit of books and flowers.
It smelled like home.
Sheila looked up from where she was curled up in the couch with a book before she grinned and surged to her feet and before I knew what happened, she was hugging me tightly, kissing me.
I grinned briefly and kissed back, holding her close before I murmured softly, "Missed me?"
"That was a bit longer than I thought it would take." Sheila said, "I thought you two would be gone two weeks. I was worried."
Sighing, I stroked her hair, "Sorry, love. There were some.. complications. I didn't mean for it to take quite this long." before I let her go.
Sheila nodded and turned to look behind me, "Hey, Ren."
"Hey." Ren said and walked up to give Sheila a quick hug, "Missed you."
Sheila grinned and hugged back slightly, "Missed you too..." and then she blinked and looked down at the dragoness, "...That's not a dress."
I grinned, "No. Not it isn't. She didn't want to bother getting dressed for the short walk here."
Sheila smiled and shook her head, "...Well as long as nobody saw you." before she turned to me and frowned slightly, "Atreus... we need to talk."
...What did I do wrong this time?
"..Okay."
"What's up?" I asked, turning to Sheila as Ren frowned slightly.
"Sit."
I moved to sit down on the couch, "Sheila?"
"There is just something I want to talk to you about." she said and moved to sit down sideways across my lap before she eyed me and shook her head, relaxing against my chest, "Stop looking so worried, you are not in trouble. Seriously, you are like a kid sometimes.... or should that be hatchling?"
Putting my arms around her I smiled slightly, "So what is it love? How are things at the store?" I asked and Ren moved to sit down on the couch, a bit out of the way.
"...I don't know. I haven't been there in weeks."
"But that large order..."
Sheila sighed, "It' was nowhere near as big as I let you think. Just took a couple of days, other than that, I have barely been there."
I frowned at that, "...Why?"
"I needed some time to think things over with everything that have been going on." She said softly, "And I realized some things."
"Sheila, what..." I started to ask when she gave me a look, quickly quieting me.
"That I'm an awful consort."
What in the world...
"You are not." I told her firmly, pulling her tighter, "You are the best consort ever."
Sheila grinned slightly and shook her head, shifting to straddle my lap instead, "I'm the best girlfriend ever. As a dragon consort? Not so great."
I frowned at her in the light of the fire, reaching up to brush her hair behind her ear, "What are you talking about?"
"Think about it. What if Ren had gotten to you first? Say you spent another six months at the Nexus before you went to study the portal. Would you have gotten together with her?"
There was pretty much zero chance that would not have happened.
I nodded, "Yeah. I would have. What are you getting at?"
"Would... you and I still have happened?"
I hesitated at that. Would we?
"I would like to think so," I finally answered after a short moment, "but I don't know."
Sheila sighed and released my hair from my normal ponytail, "I have been thinking about it a lot. We likely wouldn't have. If Ren had been first... I'm not sure I would have accepted it."
Frowning up at her, "Sheila, what are you getting at?"
"What I'm getting at, is that Rengosa would have been a better first consort." She explained, "While you and Ren were in Skyrim, I spent most of the time in The Nexus, doing research and talking with people. Mostly Targos."
I watched her, letting her continue.
Ren frowned. "Do this mean that you..."
"I'm not giving the position to you." Sheila said and glanced at her, "Now be quiet and let me do this."
Ren nodded and shifted back slightly again.
"I want to be a good consort for you, not just a good girlfriend. I might not have know everything back in that Meereen desert, but I did accept." Sheila continued, "I could have backed out when Rengosa approached me, but... I didn't. Not when I realized what was going on."
"What brought this on, love?" I asked her gently, "We are doing great. You don't need to change."
"I know we are doing great." She said with a smile, looking down at me, "But I started to think when I had that conversation with Zrazta."
"What about it?"
She sighed, "It was unfair."
"What was?"
"That it was me she had to deal with. If it was Ren that became your first consort, what would have happened?"
"I would have lost a lot more than I possible could have gained if I would not have gotten together with you."
Sheila grinned and shook her head, "Stop that. I'm trying to be serious here."
"So am I."
"Ren?" She asked and looked at her.
Ren shrugged. "I would have approved of Zrazta. I still think she is a good addition."
Poking my chest armor, Sheila continued, "See! Anyway, I decided to take the opportunity while you and Ren were away to learn everything I could about dragons and your customs."
"I wasn't born as a dr..."
"Be quiet!"
This time she flicked my nose, causing me to flinch back. Something she knew I hated, "Hey!"
"Let me speak! I know you are not originally a dragon!"
"...Sorry love."
Sheila sighed, "As I was saying, I studied up. Talked with Targos, read his books. I discussed the matter with Jaina. Even got to talk to Kalecgos."
"So what did you come up with?"
She grinned, "That a lot of your customs are a bit strange, but make sense from a certain point of view." she explained before she frowned, "And that it really 'had' been really unfair for Zrazta to not even be given real consideration. I talked to her. When she is able to take mortal form, she can approach me again. I don't promise neither you or her that she will be accepted. Just that she will get a fair a consideration."
"Is that fair to you? You talk about being fair to her, how is it fair to you? And I'm not a normal dragon, you don't have to change."
"I chose it. I know you are not a normal dragon, but you 'are' a dragon." she answered before she smiled slightly, "Besides, It's not like it's been bad with Ren around. Now? I'm not sure how I would feel about her 'not' being around. Adding someone else too it would be strange, yes, but if I accepted someone in the first place it's because I liked her enough for it to work."
Sliding my arms around her, I pulled her tight, nuzzling at her neck, "I stand by my first statement. Best consort ever. But why?"
She giggled at that and cuddled closer, running her fingers through my hair, "Because I love you, you silly lizard and I want what's best for you."
"But what's best for Sheila?"
She smiled and gave me a small soft kiss, "You are what's best for Sheila."
"I love you." I murmured as I kissed her back softly before resting my forehead against hers. She was amazing. Doing all this... I never ever wanted to lose her.
"What do you want?" I finally asked.
Sheila pulled back and gave me a strange look, "What?"
I smiled and stroked her cheek, "Not like that. I mean... you are doing all this for me. For us. I want to know what you want to do. Not what you think is best or anything like that. What does Sheila Stark want?"
She looked a bit nervous at that before she answered, "...I want to get married. In church and everything. It would mean a lot, not only to me, but also to my parents if..."
I smiled wider at that, "Then we getting married. Sheila Stark... will you marry me? Sorry, don't have a ring or anything yet and it has to be delayed until things calm down a bit but..."
"Yes!!"
AN// Many thanks to tomio for betaing this section. Double feature friday so you get two parts today!
Gasping for breath, I reached to pull out Ren's soulstone, activating it to let her reform in fire and smoke.
Ren stumbled and let out a curse as she dropped to her knees.
Damn, that has to suck. It sucked for me and I didn't need to reform my body afterwards. I knew better than to ask if she was okay though,
"Here. Better get dressed before we portal back." Instead said and handed her satchel over as she struggled onto her feet.
"Like it matters until we get home." Ren rolled her eyes and shrugged the satchel on, casting a spell to cast the dress illusion over herself.
Yeah, I guess that could work too.
Grinning, I shook my head digging out the small portal keystone and casting the spell, connecting to the portal stone in Stormwind before forming the portal, "After you, my love."
She grinned back and headed through before I followed into Targos' store. The place was empty.
No wonder, it was the middle of the night. He was likely curled up in the snow by the Nexus, fast asleep... unless he was in his lab, watching some kind of experiment.
Reaching into my bag I looked for the key to the store.
Ren adjusted her satchel, "Come on, I'm tired." she said, taking the lead.
I made sure to quickly lock the door of the store behind us before I followed her back to Sheila's... our... apartment.
We really had to find a new place and soon. As long as it was outside Stormwind or any of the major cities I could put up a portal stone.
No more need to divert through Targos' shop.
Not to mention more room. I have to remember to speak to Ren about it tomorrow. Then there was the upcoming 'Winter's veil' feast Venir had planned.
If I didn't show, she might decide she wanted some dragon hide boots. Well, maybe not something that extreme, but she would be pissed at me for not showing up.
No matter how much I disliked that kind of parties.
..I'd rather fight undead again.
The Mage Quarters was as amazing looking as it was normal. Green grass instead of cobblestone paths, crystals mounted on the buildings or floating in the air keeping it somewhat lit, even during the night.
Walking up the stairs on the outside of the building, I pulled the door to our place open.
The smell was the first that hit me, like always. It smelled like a bit of smoke, a bit of food, a bit of books and flowers.
It smelled like home.
Sheila looked up from where she was curled up in the couch with a book before she grinned and surged to her feet and before I knew what happened, she was hugging me tightly, kissing me.
I grinned briefly and kissed back, holding her close before I murmured softly, "Missed me?"
"That was a bit longer than I thought it would take." Sheila said, "I thought you two would be gone two weeks. I was worried."
Sighing, I stroked her hair, "Sorry, love. There were some.. complications. I didn't mean for it to take quite this long." before I let her go.
Sheila nodded and turned to look behind me, "Hey, Ren."
"Hey." Ren said and walked up to give Sheila a quick hug, "Missed you."
Sheila grinned and hugged back slightly, "Missed you too..." and then she blinked and looked down at the dragoness, "...That's not a dress."
I grinned, "No. Not it isn't. She didn't want to bother getting dressed for the short walk here."
Sheila smiled and shook her head, "...Well as long as nobody saw you." before she turned to me and frowned slightly, "Atreus... we need to talk."
...What did I do wrong this time?
"..Okay."
"What's up?" I asked, turning to Sheila as Ren frowned slightly.
"Sit."
I moved to sit down on the couch, "Sheila?"
"There is just something I want to talk to you about." she said and moved to sit down sideways across my lap before she eyed me and shook her head, relaxing against my chest, "Stop looking so worried, you are not in trouble. Seriously, you are like a kid sometimes.... or should that be hatchling?"
Putting my arms around her I smiled slightly, "So what is it love? How are things at the store?" I asked and Ren moved to sit down on the couch, a bit out of the way.
"...I don't know. I haven't been there in weeks."
"But that large order..."
Sheila sighed, "It' was nowhere near as big as I let you think. Just took a couple of days, other than that, I have barely been there."
I frowned at that, "...Why?"
"I needed some time to think things over with everything that have been going on." She said softly, "And I realized some things."
"Sheila, what..." I started to ask when she gave me a look, quickly quieting me.
"That I'm an awful consort."
What in the world...
"You are not." I told her firmly, pulling her tighter, "You are the best consort ever."
Sheila grinned slightly and shook her head, shifting to straddle my lap instead, "I'm the best girlfriend ever. As a dragon consort? Not so great."
I frowned at her in the light of the fire, reaching up to brush her hair behind her ear, "What are you talking about?"
"Think about it. What if Ren had gotten to you first? Say you spent another six months at the Nexus before you went to study the portal. Would you have gotten together with her?"
There was pretty much zero chance that would not have happened.
I nodded, "Yeah. I would have. What are you getting at?"
"Would... you and I still have happened?"
I hesitated at that. Would we?
"I would like to think so," I finally answered after a short moment, "but I don't know."
Sheila sighed and released my hair from my normal ponytail, "I have been thinking about it a lot. We likely wouldn't have. If Ren had been first... I'm not sure I would have accepted it."
Frowning up at her, "Sheila, what are you getting at?"
"What I'm getting at, is that Rengosa would have been a better first consort." She explained, "While you and Ren were in Skyrim, I spent most of the time in The Nexus, doing research and talking with people. Mostly Targos."
I watched her, letting her continue.
Ren frowned. "Do this mean that you..."
"I'm not giving the position to you." Sheila said and glanced at her, "Now be quiet and let me do this."
Ren nodded and shifted back slightly again.
"I want to be a good consort for you, not just a good girlfriend. I might not have know everything back in that Meereen desert, but I did accept." Sheila continued, "I could have backed out when Rengosa approached me, but... I didn't. Not when I realized what was going on."
"What brought this on, love?" I asked her gently, "We are doing great. You don't need to change."
"I know we are doing great." She said with a smile, looking down at me, "But I started to think when I had that conversation with Zrazta."
"What about it?"
She sighed, "It was unfair."
"What was?"
"That it was me she had to deal with. If it was Ren that became your first consort, what would have happened?"
"I would have lost a lot more than I possible could have gained if I would not have gotten together with you."
Sheila grinned and shook her head, "Stop that. I'm trying to be serious here."
"So am I."
"Ren?" She asked and looked at her.
Ren shrugged. "I would have approved of Zrazta. I still think she is a good addition."
Poking my chest armor, Sheila continued, "See! Anyway, I decided to take the opportunity while you and Ren were away to learn everything I could about dragons and your customs."
"I wasn't born as a dr..."
"Be quiet!"
This time she flicked my nose, causing me to flinch back. Something she knew I hated, "Hey!"
"Let me speak! I know you are not originally a dragon!"
"...Sorry love."
Sheila sighed, "As I was saying, I studied up. Talked with Targos, read his books. I discussed the matter with Jaina. Even got to talk to Kalecgos."
"So what did you come up with?"
She grinned, "That a lot of your customs are a bit strange, but make sense from a certain point of view." she explained before she frowned, "And that it really 'had' been really unfair for Zrazta to not even be given real consideration. I talked to her. When she is able to take mortal form, she can approach me again. I don't promise neither you or her that she will be accepted. Just that she will get a fair a consideration."
"Is that fair to you? You talk about being fair to her, how is it fair to you? And I'm not a normal dragon, you don't have to change."
"I chose it. I know you are not a normal dragon, but you 'are' a dragon." she answered before she smiled slightly, "Besides, It's not like it's been bad with Ren around. Now? I'm not sure how I would feel about her 'not' being around. Adding someone else too it would be strange, yes, but if I accepted someone in the first place it's because I liked her enough for it to work."
Sliding my arms around her, I pulled her tight, nuzzling at her neck, "I stand by my first statement. Best consort ever. But why?"
She giggled at that and cuddled closer, running her fingers through my hair, "Because I love you, you silly lizard and I want what's best for you."
"But what's best for Sheila?"
She smiled and gave me a small soft kiss, "You are what's best for Sheila."
"I love you." I murmured as I kissed her back softly before resting my forehead against hers. She was amazing. Doing all this... I never ever wanted to lose her.
"What do you want?" I finally asked.
Sheila pulled back and gave me a strange look, "What?"
I smiled and stroked her cheek, "Not like that. I mean... you are doing all this for me. For us. I want to know what you want to do. Not what you think is best or anything like that. What does Sheila Stark want?"
She looked a bit nervous at that before she answered, "...I want to get married. In church and everything. It would mean a lot, not only to me, but also to my parents if..."
I smiled wider at that, "Then we getting married. Sheila Stark... will you marry me? Sorry, don't have a ring or anything yet and it has to be delayed until things calm down a bit but..."
"Yes!!"
AN// Many thanks to tomio for betaing this section. Double feature friday so you get two parts today!
Ryu Gabriev
Angry short person that's good with his hands.
- Location
- Dallas, TX
Good man. Dragon.
Oh bugger, you know what I mean...
Oh bugger, you know what I mean...
WinterKnight
Keeper of the Shinies
- Location
- Higher than sky high
You're going full harem fic on us now. 
You're right that being a different breed of Dragon is an issue. Skyrim Dragons can learn the Thu'um easily, not because they're Dragons, but because they're the children of the god of Time (Akatosh) in that setting. Hiver and Ren aren't.
The Thu'um would also be kind of a useless acquisition outside Skyrim because, as I understand it at least, it's something built into Skyrim by Akatosh, basically "cheat codes". Trying to use them in a different setting would be like typing in the infinite health cheat for Doom when you're playing Castlevania.
. . . someone make a mod for Skyrim where the Thu'um for 'up up down down left right left right B A start' actually does something?
- Location
- Attempting to cast animate object on a black hole.
I was just about to make a joke about the Konami Code, and then I scrolled down.
Malbutorius
C'est le bien qui fait mal
Great minds think alike it seems.I was just about to make a joke about the Konami Code, and then I scrolled down.
Next story can be found here: http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/starseeker.17198/
38
Targos frowned and leaned to peek over the side into the boat, "...I'm not sure this will work."
Shaking my head, I kept threading gold thread in a pattern carved into the planks of the wood along the bottom, from railing to railing.
"This? Unlikely. It's a first prototype. I'll be lucky if it does more than twitch. The concept on the other hand? The concept is solid. There is no reason why it shouldn't work. The Lich King had his undead floating fortresses. There is no reason I won't be able to use a similar principle for a flying ship."
The Wyrm in human form nodded, "True, but you are trying to use the enchantment and matrix for a flying carpet on a six meter boat."
Shrugging I finished attaching the gold thread to the large fore sapphire, "Have to start somewhere and that means figuring out how the configuration changes the enchantment matrix and the power distribution."
He frowned slightly but then slowly nodded, "That could work, yes. I would personally start at the other end and study that crashed necropolis in Borean Thundra."
"I want as little to do with those abominations as I can." I sighed as I climbed out of the small boat, "I'd rather try this first before going there and trying to figure out how they did it."
It was set up in my small workshop in the Nexus. It had been a rather simple thing getting it here in the end.
Sail it a bit up the coast and then portal it to the Nexus before getting some dragonkin to haul it in here for me.
"How do you plan to power the enchantments?" Targos asked as he stepped back to get a better look at the entire boat.
"Same way as on a flying carpet." I answered and frowned at one of the crystals mounted on one of the small forty five degree wings extending a meter of the hull close to the rear of the ship. In theory they should stabilize it when it get enchanted. Normally they pulled magical energy from the rider to use the flying enchantment. Hence why you needed to sit on it.
A enchantment matrix big enough for a full sized ship though would need a ton of power.
"No, I mean on a full sized ship, assuming you get it working."
I shook my head at that, "Honestly? No idea yet. It needs to be both powerful and compact. I'm not even sure where to start."
Targos hmmed and crossed his arms in thought, "You could use a large power crystal to store power, recharging at layline spots from time to time."
That was an idea.
It was definitely possible to make a crystal store enough power to fuel a full sized ship for a week or even more of full operations. It wasn't basically indefinite range, which I would clearly prefer, but it should be functional. That also brought a need for maps or a way to find laylines. That was tricky.
"That's a possibility. I was thinking to maybe have it pull power from everyone on board instead of just the controller."
Targos nodded, "Possible. But unless everyone on board is a mage, I'm not sure it will have enough power. You would also need a permanent crew."
I hmmed and then stepped back, "Good point. For the next prototype, I have to take a look at power storage crystals."
"...These people you met..."
"Alexis and Ajani"
"Them... yes. You are certain they can do what you do?"
I nodded and turned to lean against the wing of the small boat, "Yeah. But I don't think they are threats."
"You are sure?"
"I am. As sure as I can be at least. We ran into her by chance, saved her even. They were friendly, taught us things. And quite frankly, I'm not sure anyone but perhaps the Flightleaders could stand up to Ajani if he got serious. Why, does it sound like they are trying to infiltrate us?"
He grinned at that, "Actually, it sounds like she is trying to infiltrate something else."
Sighing, I shook my head and pushed off the boat, heading over to my work bench to gather up the spell matrix calculations and arrangement, "Don't start."
Despite my arrangement with Sheila and Ren, it was already rather rare for a young Dragon below five hundred years to attract more than one consort. As for Drakes? they might get one, but that was rarer that that.
Targos found it great fun to tease me about it.
It was not until you got up to full on Wyrm that it became more common. A Wyrm usually had two or three consorts, more was really, really rare. Even the Flightleaders didn't go to more than three.
Dragons tended to congregate around more skilled and powerful specimens of the species. A... social evolution if you like, from the Flight leaders holding the aspects for so long.
It wasn't everything of course, but it might be what caused a dragon to start to get interested in another. After that there was personality and such, like all other species.
Guess you could say that skill and ability were like money for other species. In some ways, I guess it was less shallow. At least it was something inherent to you.
Well, at least we were gender neutral about it. It was just as likely for a female to have a gathering of a couple of males as the other way around.
Actually more likely, due to females of the same age tending to be a couple of percent larger than a male, now that I thought about it. Hell, it could even end up with consorts to consorts of lead dragons if the lead approved of it.
Not that it had to happen. Kalecgos for example, just had one. Jaina.
Then again that is likely because Jaina shoots down everyone that tries to approach her about it, rather than lack of interest.
Nobody had tried to push the issue or outright challenge her. After all, she is just a mortal. They just needed to wait another seventy to a hundred years and that problem would be gone.
Well, fuck them. If our project works out and they accept...
Smiling, I rolled my notes up and turned away from the work bench, "Speaking of which... What was it I smelled on you yesterday when I visited your lab? Or should I perhaps ask, who?"
He raised a eyebrow, "Noticed that, did you?"
"Yes. And you are avoiding the question." I said with a grin.
"Xargosa have expressed interest."
Oooh. Now that is one piece of hot... horns.
"A little young for you, isn't she? She can't be more than seven hundred years old.
Targos just shrugged, looking somewhat smug.
Honestly, it was good to see that he found company again. His last consort died during the war against the humans brought by Malygos' madness.
Our path was blocked by a large shape in the corridor and I looked up at the dragon, "Evening Masagos."
"Good evening, Atregos." the dragon said and then lowered his head slightly in respect to Targos, "Targos."
He then turned back to me, "Atregos, you were missing for weeks. It has disrupted the work of all the research groups. I thought you were too young and inexperienced to handle the task and it seems I was right. I declare you unfit for the duty of leader and I challenge you for the position."
Well, crap.
AN// Many thanks to Preier for betaing this section.
Shaking my head, I kept threading gold thread in a pattern carved into the planks of the wood along the bottom, from railing to railing.
"This? Unlikely. It's a first prototype. I'll be lucky if it does more than twitch. The concept on the other hand? The concept is solid. There is no reason why it shouldn't work. The Lich King had his undead floating fortresses. There is no reason I won't be able to use a similar principle for a flying ship."
The Wyrm in human form nodded, "True, but you are trying to use the enchantment and matrix for a flying carpet on a six meter boat."
Shrugging I finished attaching the gold thread to the large fore sapphire, "Have to start somewhere and that means figuring out how the configuration changes the enchantment matrix and the power distribution."
He frowned slightly but then slowly nodded, "That could work, yes. I would personally start at the other end and study that crashed necropolis in Borean Thundra."
"I want as little to do with those abominations as I can." I sighed as I climbed out of the small boat, "I'd rather try this first before going there and trying to figure out how they did it."
It was set up in my small workshop in the Nexus. It had been a rather simple thing getting it here in the end.
Sail it a bit up the coast and then portal it to the Nexus before getting some dragonkin to haul it in here for me.
"How do you plan to power the enchantments?" Targos asked as he stepped back to get a better look at the entire boat.
"Same way as on a flying carpet." I answered and frowned at one of the crystals mounted on one of the small forty five degree wings extending a meter of the hull close to the rear of the ship. In theory they should stabilize it when it get enchanted. Normally they pulled magical energy from the rider to use the flying enchantment. Hence why you needed to sit on it.
A enchantment matrix big enough for a full sized ship though would need a ton of power.
"No, I mean on a full sized ship, assuming you get it working."
I shook my head at that, "Honestly? No idea yet. It needs to be both powerful and compact. I'm not even sure where to start."
Targos hmmed and crossed his arms in thought, "You could use a large power crystal to store power, recharging at layline spots from time to time."
That was an idea.
It was definitely possible to make a crystal store enough power to fuel a full sized ship for a week or even more of full operations. It wasn't basically indefinite range, which I would clearly prefer, but it should be functional. That also brought a need for maps or a way to find laylines. That was tricky.
"That's a possibility. I was thinking to maybe have it pull power from everyone on board instead of just the controller."
Targos nodded, "Possible. But unless everyone on board is a mage, I'm not sure it will have enough power. You would also need a permanent crew."
I hmmed and then stepped back, "Good point. For the next prototype, I have to take a look at power storage crystals."
"...These people you met..."
"Alexis and Ajani"
"Them... yes. You are certain they can do what you do?"
I nodded and turned to lean against the wing of the small boat, "Yeah. But I don't think they are threats."
"You are sure?"
"I am. As sure as I can be at least. We ran into her by chance, saved her even. They were friendly, taught us things. And quite frankly, I'm not sure anyone but perhaps the Flightleaders could stand up to Ajani if he got serious. Why, does it sound like they are trying to infiltrate us?"
He grinned at that, "Actually, it sounds like she is trying to infiltrate something else."
Sighing, I shook my head and pushed off the boat, heading over to my work bench to gather up the spell matrix calculations and arrangement, "Don't start."
Despite my arrangement with Sheila and Ren, it was already rather rare for a young Dragon below five hundred years to attract more than one consort. As for Drakes? they might get one, but that was rarer that that.
Targos found it great fun to tease me about it.
It was not until you got up to full on Wyrm that it became more common. A Wyrm usually had two or three consorts, more was really, really rare. Even the Flightleaders didn't go to more than three.
Dragons tended to congregate around more skilled and powerful specimens of the species. A... social evolution if you like, from the Flight leaders holding the aspects for so long.
It wasn't everything of course, but it might be what caused a dragon to start to get interested in another. After that there was personality and such, like all other species.
Guess you could say that skill and ability were like money for other species. In some ways, I guess it was less shallow. At least it was something inherent to you.
Well, at least we were gender neutral about it. It was just as likely for a female to have a gathering of a couple of males as the other way around.
Actually more likely, due to females of the same age tending to be a couple of percent larger than a male, now that I thought about it. Hell, it could even end up with consorts to consorts of lead dragons if the lead approved of it.
Not that it had to happen. Kalecgos for example, just had one. Jaina.
Then again that is likely because Jaina shoots down everyone that tries to approach her about it, rather than lack of interest.
Nobody had tried to push the issue or outright challenge her. After all, she is just a mortal. They just needed to wait another seventy to a hundred years and that problem would be gone.
Well, fuck them. If our project works out and they accept...
Smiling, I rolled my notes up and turned away from the work bench, "Speaking of which... What was it I smelled on you yesterday when I visited your lab? Or should I perhaps ask, who?"
He raised a eyebrow, "Noticed that, did you?"
"Yes. And you are avoiding the question." I said with a grin.
"Xargosa have expressed interest."
Oooh. Now that is one piece of hot... horns.
"A little young for you, isn't she? She can't be more than seven hundred years old.
Targos just shrugged, looking somewhat smug.
Honestly, it was good to see that he found company again. His last consort died during the war against the humans brought by Malygos' madness.
Our path was blocked by a large shape in the corridor and I looked up at the dragon, "Evening Masagos."
"Good evening, Atregos." the dragon said and then lowered his head slightly in respect to Targos, "Targos."
He then turned back to me, "Atregos, you were missing for weeks. It has disrupted the work of all the research groups. I thought you were too young and inexperienced to handle the task and it seems I was right. I declare you unfit for the duty of leader and I challenge you for the position."
Well, crap.
AN// Many thanks to Preier for betaing this section.
asdx
Superior Sword Fairy
- Location
- Texas.
Time to smack a bitch.
"I find you unfit for your position of leadership on the research team. I now challange you to violent, physical combat to determine who is most wise, mature, and intelligent."
Dragons are weird.
Dragons are weird.
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- Location
- California
Well, honestly I knew it was inevitable, but Atregos basically has it in the bag. He's the ONLY Planeswalker there. He knows tropes, he knows modern reality, he knows of sci-fi places, he knows of probably SOME fantasy places... He'll never visit the ones he knows about, of course, but that's a plot thing they have no way of knowing about. The only ground Masagos has is challenging him for administration, and even then Atregos is still basically the lynchpin and it would be more of a symbolic victory anyway, since Atregos is 30x better at figuring out how to deal with the dimensions in question.
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
There is also the fact that research doesn't seem to be mandatory it's volunteers only, so even if Atregos hands over the leadership position, they still will get just as disrupted if he becomes distracted by something in the multiverse, or just decide to take a vacation.
I think you've got a typo there somewhere.
Pensive Rumination
Praise me more?
- Location
- Australia
Looks like Atregos is going to have the chance to show off what he learned from Ajani earlier than he thought.
So... what can we expect from this? Do they fight it out until someone yields, or is it perhaps a competition of relevant abilities to the position in question?
If it's the former, I'm sorta disappointed in the dragons. If its the latter, I may need to go pick up some popcorn from the store before I read the next chapter.
If it's the former, I'm sorta disappointed in the dragons. If its the latter, I may need to go pick up some popcorn from the store before I read the next chapter.
39
Sheila followed Ren along the path though The Nexus from the portal chamber, feeling rather small next to the dragoness. She was bigger than Atreus after all and he was big as it was.
At least the time spent getting to know Atreus when he was Venir's mount cured her of the 'I'm eatable' feeling when looking at those teeth.
"Ren, how is this going to work? I didn't come across this... challenge, when I did my research."
Ren turned her head to glance at Sheila, "It's not that complicated." she answered as they left the Nexus, causing Sheila to shiver slightly at the cold wind cutting through the warming enchantments on her robes, "They meet on the field to argue their points. If it turn out that neither is willing to back down, it continues with combat until one surrenders."
Ren stopped and turned to give Sheila a small nuzzle, "Don't worry, it's very rare that somebody is seriously hurt. Usually it doesn't go further than the debate."
Putting her hand on the nose of the large dragon, she scratched behind the nose horn while looking up into her eyes, "How often is one of them three times smaller than the other and that one is Atreus?"
Sighing, Ren shook her head, "Atregos is... unlikely to just give up. That's one of the features that made me attracted to him in the first place. Come, it will begin soon."
Frowning, Sheila followed the dragoness, who laid down close to Targos, the large Wyrm curled up in the snow.
He turned his head slightly to Ren and then looked back at the field outside the Nexus. It was covered with thick white snow, looking more or less undisturbed.
Sheila looked around as she walked up next to Ren. There were lots of dragons around, and for once, they were not flying around on some kind of errand. They gathered, watching the field.
Kalecgos was there, a very large Wyrm laid out like a massive cat, head resting on his crossed frontlegs as he towered even over the few other wyrms present.
She looked around, but Jaina wasn't there. She couldn't spot Atreus either.
"Sheila." Ren said softly, "Come here."
"What?" she asked and moved closer only for the dragoness to brush snow away between her frontlegs to reveal rocky ground.
"Sit down."
"I'll rather..."
"I know. But it important that you sit down. No matter what happen, you can not interfere. Sit down in case I have to stop you."
Sheila hesitated at that before moving to sit down, her back against the neck and upper chest of the large dragoness only for Ren to put a large frontpaw in her lap.
"If you interfere, it will go badly for both you and Atregos. If you got hurt trying, he would never forgive me. And do not use your fel magic now, whatever you do. If they notice, they will kill you for it. Practice duels are one thing, you had special permission from Kalecgos."
Sheila swallowed and nodded, "I understand." before glancing around, "I would have expected to see Zrazta."
"She is not allowed to be here. Only Blue Dragonflight. You are a special exception as you are his consort." Ren said back softly and gave Sheila a small lick on the top of her head.
"...If it goes too far, will Kalecgos..." Sheila started to ask when the sound of wings caused her to look up to see Atreus come in to land on the field, searching though the rest of the group before spotting her.
He lowered his head in greeting and then turned to look up at the approaching Dragon coming in to land close to him.
"Masagos"
"Atregos."
Ren lowered her head to whisper into Sheilas left ear, "Do you know Masagos?"
Sheila shook her head, "Only heard of him from Atreus. Research leader of the enchantment team?"
"He is the consort of Helgosa. You can see her across the field there. She is the large Wyrm with silver rings on her horns. He has been looking for a excuse to challenge Atregos since it started, he dislikes the idea of a Drake ordering him around."
"So it's about his ego!?."
"In a way, yes."
Atreus folded his wings sat down, curling his tail around him on the ground, for everything to see, he looked relaxed, "You challenge me for the position of research leader. What is your reason, Masagos?"
The large dragon sat down as well, his large wings folding as well, "You are not ready for the responsibility. You are a Drake, less than a third of a century old. A Drake with potential, yes, but you are not ready. You are unable to handle it, as proven by the fact that you were gone for three weeks. You lack the discipline and experience."
Atregos shifted, tilting his head slightly, looking up at Masagos, "Among mortals thirty years old is more than old enough for that sort of responsibility if they have the ability. I admit, I did not have the experience of having handled that kind of thing in the past, but I like to think I did well for over a year. As for my absence, it was... necessary. The region is unstable and I wished to observe the direction it was going, in case our agents had to be evacuated."
"You plan to return then?"
"At least once a month in addition to the other check ins. For a couple of days each time."
Masagos shifted, his head raising a bit higher, "And each time unable to manage the research teams."
"I did not realize you required managing every single second."
Sheila felt Ren tense up behind her back half a second before Masagos moved. He lashed out like a cat, Atreus starting to move at the same time, but he wasn't quite fast enough.
Instead of being hit straight in the side, the large clawed paw hitting his right shoulder and upper frontleg hard, claws cutting into him and throwing him to the side with a cry of pain and the sound of snapping bones, blood coloring the snow as he rolled to a halt.
Sheila tensed, magic surging and coiling in her veins as she pulled on The Dark Power without thinking... and suddenly it faded away as Ren cast a quiet point blank counter spell, disrupting the power flow and pulled her tighter with her large frontpaw.
"Don't!" she hissed.
Atreus slowly struggled back onto three legs, blood flowing down his right leg from deep cuts in his shoulder.
Masagos simply watched as Atreus turned his head and ran his tongue along the wound, green light crawling across the wound as he did, causing the blood to stop flowing, leaving only the wounds. His right frontleg hung loosely at a unnatural angle.
"Watch your tone, drake." Masagos said calmly, "You may have potential and a unique ability, but you are not ready for this yet. None of your special abilities is relevant to the point at hand and I have not yet heard anything to refute it."
Sheila turned to look at Kalecgos. The Flightleader looked relaxed as he watched, eyes half lidded.
Why doesn't he do something!?
Atreus took a slow breath before his eyes closed tightly for a second in clear pain. Did he get one of his ribs?
"...You are correct, Masagos." Atreus finally said, "Very well. I concede your point and step back from the position of research team leader."
"You will get there, in time." Masagos said, "You were simply not ready and have other conflicting tasks."
Atreus looked up at him, "However.. I do not stand down as leader of the project as a whole. I am the one with the ability to see all aspects of it. That is something I am uniquely qualified for. You can manage the research teams. Handle their requests and their complaints. Then you will report to me, leaving me free for more important things."
Ren slowly relaxed behind Sheila, "He won. Atregos won." she said softly.
"That's not winning!" Sheila whispered.
"Isn't it? He lured Masagos into a corner of words. Now Masagos is stuck. Either he moves on to attack Atregos, losing a lot of standing in the Flight for putting his own ego before the flight and almost instantly being challenged by somebody else for the leadership even if he wins... or he takes the position offered and leaves Atregos free to do what he really enjoys, his own projects and travels."
Sheila stared at the two dragons on the field. He...
Masagos stared at Atreus for a long moment before he stepped back with a small growl before actually lowering his head in respect, "...I retract my complaint, but I also accept the position."
Atreus lowered his head in return.
"I'm going to kill him." Sheila finally said and looked up at Ren, "Is it over?"
Ren nodded and stood, "It is. Come, we need to get him to Zrazta."
AN// Many thanks to Firethorn for betaing this section.
At least the time spent getting to know Atreus when he was Venir's mount cured her of the 'I'm eatable' feeling when looking at those teeth.
"Ren, how is this going to work? I didn't come across this... challenge, when I did my research."
Ren turned her head to glance at Sheila, "It's not that complicated." she answered as they left the Nexus, causing Sheila to shiver slightly at the cold wind cutting through the warming enchantments on her robes, "They meet on the field to argue their points. If it turn out that neither is willing to back down, it continues with combat until one surrenders."
Ren stopped and turned to give Sheila a small nuzzle, "Don't worry, it's very rare that somebody is seriously hurt. Usually it doesn't go further than the debate."
Putting her hand on the nose of the large dragon, she scratched behind the nose horn while looking up into her eyes, "How often is one of them three times smaller than the other and that one is Atreus?"
Sighing, Ren shook her head, "Atregos is... unlikely to just give up. That's one of the features that made me attracted to him in the first place. Come, it will begin soon."
Frowning, Sheila followed the dragoness, who laid down close to Targos, the large Wyrm curled up in the snow.
He turned his head slightly to Ren and then looked back at the field outside the Nexus. It was covered with thick white snow, looking more or less undisturbed.
Sheila looked around as she walked up next to Ren. There were lots of dragons around, and for once, they were not flying around on some kind of errand. They gathered, watching the field.
Kalecgos was there, a very large Wyrm laid out like a massive cat, head resting on his crossed frontlegs as he towered even over the few other wyrms present.
She looked around, but Jaina wasn't there. She couldn't spot Atreus either.
"Sheila." Ren said softly, "Come here."
"What?" she asked and moved closer only for the dragoness to brush snow away between her frontlegs to reveal rocky ground.
"Sit down."
"I'll rather..."
"I know. But it important that you sit down. No matter what happen, you can not interfere. Sit down in case I have to stop you."
Sheila hesitated at that before moving to sit down, her back against the neck and upper chest of the large dragoness only for Ren to put a large frontpaw in her lap.
"If you interfere, it will go badly for both you and Atregos. If you got hurt trying, he would never forgive me. And do not use your fel magic now, whatever you do. If they notice, they will kill you for it. Practice duels are one thing, you had special permission from Kalecgos."
Sheila swallowed and nodded, "I understand." before glancing around, "I would have expected to see Zrazta."
"She is not allowed to be here. Only Blue Dragonflight. You are a special exception as you are his consort." Ren said back softly and gave Sheila a small lick on the top of her head.
"...If it goes too far, will Kalecgos..." Sheila started to ask when the sound of wings caused her to look up to see Atreus come in to land on the field, searching though the rest of the group before spotting her.
He lowered his head in greeting and then turned to look up at the approaching Dragon coming in to land close to him.
"Masagos"
"Atregos."
Ren lowered her head to whisper into Sheilas left ear, "Do you know Masagos?"
Sheila shook her head, "Only heard of him from Atreus. Research leader of the enchantment team?"
"He is the consort of Helgosa. You can see her across the field there. She is the large Wyrm with silver rings on her horns. He has been looking for a excuse to challenge Atregos since it started, he dislikes the idea of a Drake ordering him around."
"So it's about his ego!?."
"In a way, yes."
Atreus folded his wings sat down, curling his tail around him on the ground, for everything to see, he looked relaxed, "You challenge me for the position of research leader. What is your reason, Masagos?"
The large dragon sat down as well, his large wings folding as well, "You are not ready for the responsibility. You are a Drake, less than a third of a century old. A Drake with potential, yes, but you are not ready. You are unable to handle it, as proven by the fact that you were gone for three weeks. You lack the discipline and experience."
Atregos shifted, tilting his head slightly, looking up at Masagos, "Among mortals thirty years old is more than old enough for that sort of responsibility if they have the ability. I admit, I did not have the experience of having handled that kind of thing in the past, but I like to think I did well for over a year. As for my absence, it was... necessary. The region is unstable and I wished to observe the direction it was going, in case our agents had to be evacuated."
"You plan to return then?"
"At least once a month in addition to the other check ins. For a couple of days each time."
Masagos shifted, his head raising a bit higher, "And each time unable to manage the research teams."
"I did not realize you required managing every single second."
Sheila felt Ren tense up behind her back half a second before Masagos moved. He lashed out like a cat, Atreus starting to move at the same time, but he wasn't quite fast enough.
Instead of being hit straight in the side, the large clawed paw hitting his right shoulder and upper frontleg hard, claws cutting into him and throwing him to the side with a cry of pain and the sound of snapping bones, blood coloring the snow as he rolled to a halt.
Sheila tensed, magic surging and coiling in her veins as she pulled on The Dark Power without thinking... and suddenly it faded away as Ren cast a quiet point blank counter spell, disrupting the power flow and pulled her tighter with her large frontpaw.
"Don't!" she hissed.
Atreus slowly struggled back onto three legs, blood flowing down his right leg from deep cuts in his shoulder.
Masagos simply watched as Atreus turned his head and ran his tongue along the wound, green light crawling across the wound as he did, causing the blood to stop flowing, leaving only the wounds. His right frontleg hung loosely at a unnatural angle.
"Watch your tone, drake." Masagos said calmly, "You may have potential and a unique ability, but you are not ready for this yet. None of your special abilities is relevant to the point at hand and I have not yet heard anything to refute it."
Sheila turned to look at Kalecgos. The Flightleader looked relaxed as he watched, eyes half lidded.
Why doesn't he do something!?
Atreus took a slow breath before his eyes closed tightly for a second in clear pain. Did he get one of his ribs?
"...You are correct, Masagos." Atreus finally said, "Very well. I concede your point and step back from the position of research team leader."
"You will get there, in time." Masagos said, "You were simply not ready and have other conflicting tasks."
Atreus looked up at him, "However.. I do not stand down as leader of the project as a whole. I am the one with the ability to see all aspects of it. That is something I am uniquely qualified for. You can manage the research teams. Handle their requests and their complaints. Then you will report to me, leaving me free for more important things."
Ren slowly relaxed behind Sheila, "He won. Atregos won." she said softly.
"That's not winning!" Sheila whispered.
"Isn't it? He lured Masagos into a corner of words. Now Masagos is stuck. Either he moves on to attack Atregos, losing a lot of standing in the Flight for putting his own ego before the flight and almost instantly being challenged by somebody else for the leadership even if he wins... or he takes the position offered and leaves Atregos free to do what he really enjoys, his own projects and travels."
Sheila stared at the two dragons on the field. He...
Masagos stared at Atreus for a long moment before he stepped back with a small growl before actually lowering his head in respect, "...I retract my complaint, but I also accept the position."
Atreus lowered his head in return.
"I'm going to kill him." Sheila finally said and looked up at Ren, "Is it over?"
Ren nodded and stood, "It is. Come, we need to get him to Zrazta."
AN// Many thanks to Firethorn for betaing this section.
Last edited:
Pensive Rumination
Praise me more?
- Location
- Australia
So he basically offloaded all the paperwork to the new guy? Nice.