Abyssal Road Trip - 574 - Count me in

Amdirlain’s PoV - Vehtë - Laški

With one look between the Guild Master and Aggie, Gurn excused himself and slipped out the front before Marcin could protest.

“I can handle the report on the job,” Amdirlain offered, as Marcin grumbled under his breath.

“Guild Master. Along with the hobgoblins, today Jay completed the bonus option for a slime clear, killed an aberration in town and healed a local.” Zivena pointed to the container that held the slime cores she’d received from Amdirlain.

“It seems a waste to keep you as a copper.” With a sigh, he motioned towards the corridor behind the counter and led the way upstairs. On the third level was a warm, wood-panelled corridor that led past several rooms; he directed them towards his office at the end.

Throughout the brief trip, the situation with the aberration and two dead locals niggled at Amdirlain. With their confused souls still lingering near their bodies, she took in the sturdy themes that resonated through the deceased and the sharp anguish of those relatives nearby. Before they arrived at his office, she gave in and returned them to life.

Above the wagon they’d been laid in, a glowing manifestation of a candle surrounded by shattered chains hovered, drawing gasps and prayers of thanks directed to Lerina from onlookers. Though the rules meant they knew her identity when the song offered them the chance at life, as their souls settled back into flesh, she muddled their living memories. The change left them with the impression that their return from the dead came from Lerina’s grace.

I’ll leave it to the locals to find the abomination’s creator, if her lab doesn’t explode first.

The office featured a series of red hide-covered armchairs around a low table; the sole desk was positioned in the back corner where Marcin had a view of the training yard. Memory crystals and papers piled in trays cluttered its mahogany surface. Thick woollen rugs and tapestries of battle scenes deadened the echoes off the stone walls. Beside the entrance was a small metal-and-glass liquor cabinet that held a mix of crystal decanters with wines and bottles of dark ale, along with various goblets and mugs.

“Discussion must take up a lot of your day,” Amdirlain commented.

“They can be lengthy. Please take a seat,” Marcin said.

Amdirlain took a seat with the door to her left, and Aggie sat down across from her.

Marcin stiffened when Amdirlain sat first, but with Aggie making no complaint, he circled the chairs and relaxed into the one closest to his desk.

“Have you found any trouble yet?” Aggie asked.

“Councillor, did you send Jay here?” Marcin asked.

“No, I’m simply aware of her ability to find problems in the strangest of places.”

“Well, I found you,” Amdirlain quipped, drawing a huff of laughter from Aggie.

“What information have you gathered?” Marcin asked.

 “Did you know the local Lord had an adventuring party killed? Or that he blames the Daughters of Hope for Tomislav’s expulsion from the university, despite it being for sexual assaults on students? Or that he’s been sabotaging the daughters’ operations away from Laški as revenge? Though maybe you mean details about the Hobgoblin armies?”

Marcin froze at the flurry of questions that Amdirlain dropped.

“You throw those issues out so casually. Can we deal with them one at a time?” Marcin requested softly. “When did the lord have adventurers killed?” 

“The last died sometime recently. His assistant asked if he wanted their families killed.”

Aggie massaged her forehead. “What will you do?”

“Nothing; the rest is now up to the Adventurers’ Guild and Lerina’s church,” Amdirlain grinned. “I’m here to teach and adventure, not stick my nose into politics.”

“You just did,” Aggie grumbled.

At least I haven’t killed a few thousand priests of Epoche.

“Only on a tiny scale.” Amdirlain pinched the air. “The faintest of touches.”

“Are you able to help if I request your aid?” Aggie asked through Amdirlain’s mental touch.

“Of course.”

Marcin raised his hands. “How did you come by this information?”

"I listened to the wind."

“Don’t continue asking those sorts of questions,” Aggie cautioned. “If Jay says it’s true, then it’s true. I’d trust her with my life.”

“I need to know the source of her information.”

Aggie leaned forward and laid a hand on Marcin’s arm. “Please don’t. We’ve got options to verify it.”

“Councillor, that’s not sufficient.” Marcin’s shoulders tightened.

“If you feel you can’t trust her information, then how can you trust her explanation? Let’s organise independent verification and move along now.” Aggie declared before turning to 

Amdirlain. “Will you still undertake the jobs Marcin gathered for you? They’re a waste of your time.”

Marcin’s gaze shone with frustration, but he held his tongue.

“I should have fun helping some people, so it strikes me as a good time.”

“You can remove her supervisor on my authority,” Aggie said.

“It’s okay, Aggie,” Amdirlain interjected. “I’m happy for Gurn to come along until the rest of his team is available again. We’ll see if a supervisor is still necessary at that point.”

“You could deal with the jobs faster without someone looking over your shoulder, but the choice is yours,” Aggie said. “I’m sure Guild Master Marcin will find absolutely no need for a different supervisor, especially of the type that might be dumb enough to offend you.”

Just hit him with a hammer, and make it more evident that there is something important to me.

“I thought you weren’t a noble,” Marcin noted.

Aggie threw her head back and laughed. “She’s not, and you better not use an honorific on her or she’ll chew your ear off.”

“Thank you, Aggie. How have things been lately?”

Aggie smiled warily. “I spend far too much time on political matters instead of checking on the churches. I’ll soon let someone else step up so I can return to the matters I want to focus on. We’ve missed you.”

“I’m sorry I was away longer than I hoped. How long have you been a councillor?”

“A few decades,” Aggie replied. “The guild has representatives heading it up to ensure it remains as unbiased as possible.”

“If you’re looking to treat people in an unbiased fashion, it's best to stick to the procedure. Though I broke the rules unknowingly, that requires a supervisor during probation,” Amdirlain said.

“Very well.” Aggie’s mind finally bubbled up a firm question. “I heard you’ve travelled to a few worlds and planes. When did you return to Vehtë?”

“Just before I came to Laški.” Amdirlain shrugged. “My being supervised isn’t important. You’ve got a more serious problem brewing on the western border with the hobgoblins than it might appear. The current activity is part of their leadership’s long-term plan. The hamlet we went to help had a Human Priest overseeing a small tribe and an adolescent Blue Dragon. Their assignment was to kill off any young adventurers sent to help with the minor job.”

Marcin started up, and Aggie stiffened.

“A Priest of whom?” Aggie asked.

“The Chromatic Dragon,” Amdirlain lightly touched her mind. “She’s not interested in the matter; the Priest was using her blessings for his own sake and that of his Blue Dragon ally.”

“What happened to the Dragon?”

“Gurn and I interrogated Veldrozstisa, and then I sent him to an isolated location where he’s not a threat to anyone.” Amdirlain set a memory crystal on the table and slid it across to Marcin. “That’s the information we extracted from Veldrozstisa. If you need anything clarified, I can attempt to learn more.”

Marcin shot a curious glance at Aggie before he collected the crystal. “Can you summarise this?”

What he really wants is more information about me. Perhaps someday I’ll perfect blending, but this is another strike.

“There is an overall leader of the hobgoblins at a hidden location, and he is directing multiple armies to bait any Human armies into a vulnerable position. He is also setting up small tribes to attack resources and destroy settlements behind the front. He’s not focused on obtaining victory this year, but on orchestrating favourable conditions for future years. They’ve enslaved Goblin and Kobold tribes to run farms and are trying to gather support from the Efreeti.”

“That’s not how hobgoblins operate,” Marcin protested.

“I don’t think the leader is a Hobgoblin, but they’ve got enough larger tribes under control to give orders to scores of lesser tribes. All the details Veldrozstisa picked up are on the crystal, so I’ll let you decide what it means for yourself.”

A playful smile danced on Aggie’s lips. “What’s your guess, Jay?”

Amdirlain rolled her eyes. “My best guess is that there is an older blue looking to gather riches. They’d be aware of the metallic dragons’ agreement, so that means they won’t make a move directly. They’ll layer assault plans to establish control over any territory they can wrest away, and keep that control through intermediaries so they don’t get attacked directly.”

Marcin paled. “Thousands died the last time an adult Dragon showed up on a western battlefield. Why do you believe the leader might be a Blue Dragon?”

“They’re organised, methodical, and inclined to make use of monstrous races,” Amdirlain replied. “For the militant hobgoblins, they’re a natural fit. A powerful authority figure willing to work through a command structure.”

“I’ll send this information along. Please tell me what happened on the job,” Marcin said.

Amdirlain provided a concise summary that didn’t go into details about how she’d disabled the Dragon. However, the mental replay of the encounter she provided Aggie had the priestess hiding a smile. Though he offered refreshments throughout, Marcin’s questioning lasted longer than the interrogation of Veldrozstisa. When they started to go over the same points a fourth time, Amdirlain nodded to the window.

“Can we stop now? There is nothing more I can add, and I’ve got students to teach.”

“Might I meet your students?” Aggie asked. “Either today or in the next few days would work?”

“You’re going to intimidate them,” Amdirlain cautioned. “I’m pretty sure I’ve already got them a bit dazed. Do you plan to hop back and forth or stay in town?”

“The daughters may no longer teach in Laški, but we still own property here. I could arrange suitable accommodations for you,” Aggie offered.

Amdirlain wrinkled her nose. “I don’t particularly want to attract that sort of attention.”

Her refusal received a relaxed nod of agreement from Aggie, which in itself drew a suspicious twitch from Marcin.

“What sort of attention do you plan to attract?” Marcin sat forward.

“The sort where I can say I’m not to blame, and point to someone else instead,” Amdirlain grimaced. “Though really, having a Guild Master monitor me so closely is uncomfortable enough.”

Her implication that he intimidated her had Marcin’s mind racing with new, safer possibilities.

“How have I made you uncomfortable?”

Amdirlain let out an exaggerated sigh. “I had hoped to roam and learn about the humans in the republic, so this whole situation is annoying. The jobs listed are all in this small part of the continent. So even though I understand and agree with your reasons, I don’t have to be happy about it.”

“Don’t let her bother you,” Aggie advised. “Jay’s afflicted with the need to tease people. Though I know that her condition is quite contagious.”

“Meanie, be nice to me.” Amdirlain pouted at Aggie, who raised a hand to shield her gaze.

“It seems the two of you are very familiar.”

“Yes,” Aggie replied, her attention immediately returning to Amdirlain. “How long do you plan to be in Laški, Jay?” 

“I’ve really not yet decided,” Amdirlain shrugged. “I could establish a school and base myself here for a century.”

“Not everyone has an elven lifespan. Have you experienced any level gains since you used the imprint plate at Southgate?” Marcin asked, fishing for details.

Aggie hid her glee behind a suddenly impenetrable serenity. “I’ll be here often for lessons, Sifu.”

“Nothing for my classes,” Amdirlain said. “It seems I haven’t been pushing enough.”

Which is true since I don’t have any classes now. However, I’ll have to figure out to what level these jobs would progress someone of my supposed level.

“What’s your assessment of Jay, Councillor Aggie?”

“She’s a wonderful ally to good people in need. Do you really plan to keep her on copper?” Aggie asked. “I’m biased since I’ve known her for years, but the Dragon and the intelligence alone are silver-ranked work.”

“If you’d pass me your card.” Marcin held out his hand to Amdirlain.

Amdirlain slid it across to him, and he rose to rummage around in his desk. The iron card he tossed back had the exact details etched on the front, and he’d copied the contents of the memory crystal.

“You can’t rank up higher while on probation, so you’ll still need to take Gurn along to supervise on any job above silver,” Marcin clarified. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get in touch with some border posts.”

Amdirlain glided to the door and held it open for Aggie.

“Do you need to run off to your students immediately?” Aggie asked after she’d closed the door behind them.

No, but it was a good excuse to stop the endless questioning.

Amdirlain winked. “What did you have in mind?”

“Would you do me the honour of exchanging pointers?”

“Of course,” Amdirlain replied. “Plus, we can arrange a time for daily sparring.”

Aggie smiled. “I’ll look forward to it. Can I let others know of your return?”

“A closed circle only, please. I’m not taking anything back.”

When they reached ground level, Aggie opened the door for her to the connecting corridor. They strolled through to the training yard, where a mid-afternoon training drill was in progress. A silver-haired adventurer was taking a group of young teenagers through weapon strikes against the posts arrayed across half the yard.

Amdirlain moved into the open space, pulling in her senses as she did. “What limits did you want?”

“No Ki techniques or powers, just skills,” Aggie replied. 

“That sounds like fun. How long did you spend in the Outlands with Yngvarr and Alfarr at Xaos?”

Aggie slowed her pace, letting a separation form. “I stayed for a century. Though it didn’t take long to establish a group among the guards capable of training others, it made for an excellent base for recruitment and adventuring. I met lots of people from various worlds passing through Xaos and spread our teachings.”

After crossing the centre point of the open square, Amdirlain turned and exchanged bows with Aggie. The grin she gave as they straightened reminded Amdirlain of the scars Aggie had held onto for so long. Once squared off and with no signal exchanged, they both struck at the same time. Shins clashed with explosive force; the noise echoed through the suddenly still yard as they exchanged a rapid succession of kicks and strikes. Amdirlain danced through the blows, aiming to deflect with the least effort and shortest distance required to miss. Aeons of combat experience blended through her body, and even without her full strength, the storm of Aggie’s attacks didn’t leave a mark.

By the time they finished, the teenagers who’d been busy with static drills were all watching from the sidelines; their instructor stood with them as the youths loudly applauded when the pair stepped apart.

Amdirlain glanced at the sun’s position before she smiled. “Who wants to learn to protect themselves?”

They all threw their hands up.

I should find out who’ll inherit from Laški’s current lord; no point in making things here worse.

“Are you helping them to grow?” Aggie questioned, her gaze gleaming with amusement.

“It’s their choice.”

Aggie motioned for the youths to line up. “We’ll take you through the fundamentals.”

With them no longer sparring, the older adventurer’s gaze took in Aggie’s attire, picking out the subtle candles formed by the gold threads. His knees shaking, he found a seat to observe the proceedings. A battle scene from decades ago blazed in the old adventurer's mind; he’d witnessed Aggie speed through a tribe of giants and crushed them with her bare hands.

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Amdirlain’s PoV - Yúla

The tribe had spent late autumn and winter at a northern lake near the foot of a mountain range. On the shore of the biggest river coming into it, they’d repeated the exercise of setting up a forge. With knives from the first one as evidence, they’d trade the knowledge of the forge’s construction for materials from a mountain tribe. Instead of iron sand, they’d spent the winter smelting ore the mountain tribe had brought to them. They eliminated a significant portion of the industry’s environmental impact through purification and earth spells taught by Amdirlain and Azadi to both tribes’ budding wizards.

On a brisk early spring evening, Amdirlain floated in the lake’s shallows and relaxed into Sarah’s arms. Though it was initially odd for her to maintain another form for so long, the male form Sarah had adopted for their stay now felt equally comfortable to Amdirlain.

“Do you think I can civilise a Blue?” Amdirlain projected.

Sarah mentally snorted. “Why would you bother?”

“They have souls,” Amdirlain emphasised her words by including an image of the untainted hatchling souls being consumed by Tiamat. “I need to figure it out so I can help the unhatched reds I have in stasis.”

“You want to believe redemption is possible for them? For all chromatics?”

“Redemption should be possible. If you have instincts towards violence, it should just mean you’ve a greater challenge to face, not a futile one.”

“Why try to change them? They’ve been that way for billions of years, and you’ve got countless damned souls going through Atonement’s reset.”

Amdirlain shrugged, dwelling on pre-destined fates twisting knots through her.

“Atonement isn’t my problem now,” Amdirlain declared. “I’ve passed it along to Lysandra, and she’s doing fine. I made the chromatic dragons, not Tiamat; their villainy stems from the need for the realm to have bad guys. That they’re born into that species; they didn’t get to choose, and people write them off. It annoys me. That I used to be the same way annoys me more, too much time playing computer games where the foes are just there to kill for experience.”

“Lysandra didn’t get to choose.”

“She did. I’ll admit Lysandra’s situation was strange; though Hestia and Eleftherios gave Fate’s Spindle a form, she could decide for herself.” Amdirlain projected. 

“They surprised me with that trick. Have you asked Gideon whose idea it was or when it came about?”

“Nope, and I’m keeping out of it,” Amdirlain replied. “I won’t ask if Eleftherios had something planned before he even stole Fates’ Spindle.”

A pair of arrivals east of them brought Amdirlain sloshing to her feet. 

“Mars, Anna, and Minerva are here,” Sarah hummed, her mental tone bright. “With his agricultural knowledge to draw on, we’ll be able to stabilise the tribe’s location and break out of the hunter-gatherer phase.”

“We’ve still got work ahead to win over some folks.” Amdirlain turned and offered Sarah a hand. “Should we go meet Mars and the others or advise the tribe’s leaders of an extra guest?”

“We already told the leaders of their upcoming arrival, though Minerva will be a surprise,” Sarah replied. “One more person won’t matter, since Minerva can pull her weight.”

“I’ve been chatting with her. I’m hoping she’ll send an Avatar to work with me on Yorubi. We could turn my budding magical academy there into something bigger. The Ontaritu could use some more help against the Mana-impacted bugs, and their Pantheon pool is very narrow.“

“I’ll leave that world to you, sweetie,” Sarah provided a mental image of trying to pick beetle chitin out of her teeth.

Walking towards where she’d left her clothing, Amdirlain vigorously scrubbed her hands across her body, spraying water droplets around her. Before Amdirlain was ready, Sarah dressed in leathers and had the forge banked.

“Come on, Sindä, you’re holding us up,” Amdirlain teased, as she took her time adjusting the ties on her cotton top.

“I’m the one holding things up?” Sarah scoffed.

Amdirlain grinned. “I stopped and admired the view.”

The settlement surrounded a clearing at the river’s edge. The pair ascended into the trees using a vine ladder near the forge and moved through the canopy for a few kilometres to the east along the heavily forested mountain slope. Mars and Minerva both wore hide armour and carried matching iron-tipped spears held loosely in their right hands, along with iron-edged hide shields. They flanked a weaponless Anna as they moved through the canopy. In a sleeveless cloth shirt and pants, the Goddess of Life was unbothered by the hovering insect swarms the spring warmth had brought out. They had each adopted the form of an olive-skinned Elf; faces and arms dusted with amber flecks. Minerva and Anna had matching pale green hair that lent them a familial appearance, while Mars opted for a dark crimson hue.

As they came within conversation range, Anna offered Amdirlain a dazzling smile. “This place is beautiful, Amdirlain. There is a wonderful diversity of life around us.”

Amdirlain’s return smile lit her gaze. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Mars nodded to them. “Good evening to you both. Sarah, it is odd to see you in a male form. What name do you use here?”

“Sindä,” Sarah replied.

“Are you the only one disguised?” Minerva asked.

“Azadi is using her name but has also adopted a male form,” Sarah replied. “An Angel is hard to miss.”

“Thank you for coming along, Minerva.” Amdirlain stepped forward and clasped Minerva’s hand.

“I’ll endeavour not to spoil things,” Minerva offered, returning Amdirlain’s handshake with a firm grip. “I’ve not spoken to a Mortal who wasn’t a worshipper of mine since the Gods’ War.”

“I’ve managed so far,” Amdirlain laughed. “Since we told the locals that you’re from a tribe separate from ours, you’ve got a ready-made excuse for different customs.”

“Five gods, an Anar, and an Angel,” Anna noted. “Hopefully, we can improve their lives and those of generations to come.”

“How many worlds are out beyond the clustered stars?”

“A few thousand, even now I’m making more star systems for the Anar, Enyalië, and Lómë to populate,” Amdirlain advised.

Anna’s gaze went wide. “Might I help as well? My Domain is protected within Elysium, so I can readily contribute.”

“Send an Avatar to the Outlands, and I’ll show you the star systems no one has started on,” Amdirlain enfolded Anna in a warm hug. 

“Thank you for looking after him,” Anna murmured, leaning into Amdirlain’s hug.

“It’s all good. Mars watches my back as well,” Amdirlain replied. Mars winked at Amdirlain behind Anna’s back, and she rolled her eyes, body shaking with amusement.

They’re a fine couple, I’m glad Anna is better.

“These new worlds. Could humanity spread to some of them to have a new, uncrowded space?” Minerva asked.

“I’ll consider it.”

“That’s all I’d ask.”

The five murmured among themselves to play the part of mortals as they travelled back towards the tribe.

We could suggest that the tribe settle here; two tribes working together, with resources from the mountains, would grow faster.