Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Krivax had gravely underestimated how boring a trip out to sea would be, especially one that lasted several weeks.

When Green Island first arrived in Kamagua, he had been filled with a sense of awe by the turtle's massive size and the wisdom held in its eyes. His farewells to the villagers had been met with expressions of gratitude, well wishes, and tearful goodbyes in the case of Karfu. While Krivax had felt sentimental about his departure from Kamagua, he had also felt excited and optimistic about beginning the next portion of his journey.

Now, after a little over two weeks of having nothing to do besides continuing his studies in spatial magics, his excitement had completely dissipated. Krivax was confident now that he was ready to attempt short-range teleportation, or blinking as it was called, but the back of a giant turtle in the middle of an arctic sea was not the appropriate place to test such magic.

Krivax idly noted Orfus glancing at him worriedly as he released a forlorn sigh.

At least we should be arriving at Moa'ki Harbor today, according to Oomailiq.

During the trip, Krivax had exhausted every question he could think of to ask Orfus about what they should expect when they arrived in Moa'ki Harbor. Orfus admitted that the Moa'ki would likely be similarly startled by the appearance of the nerubians, just as he had been. His plan to avoid any unnecessary violence would be for Krivax and Masruk to simply hide away in the cabin while he explained things to them.

Orfus felt like this was absolutely necessary, because the tuskarr of Dragonblight were notably more militaristic than their counterparts in the Howling Fjord.

They were still a friendly people who were prone to seeking a peaceful resolution to their problems, but the increased risk of attacks from wolvar, yeti, and prides of magnataur had certainly affected their culture. There was a real risk that the tuskarr would attack the two nerubians if they were not warned about them beforehand.

Krivax, is everything all right? asked Orfus, visibly concerned.

Yes, Im fine. Im just not used to such long trips, said Krivax. Do you know how much longer we have until we arrive?

Well, according to Oomailiq, we could soon see Moa'ki Harbor appearing over the horizon at any moment, said Orfus reassuringly. You should enjoy the trip while you can, Krivax! Being surrounded by the ocean is an amazing experience!

Im afraid I dont quite share your enthusiasm, Krivax said wryly as he glanced at the water surrounding the turtle boat. My people are not as well suited for the water as your own. Ñøv€l-B1n was the first platform to present this chapter.

Attempting to swim with a nerubian body was not an experience that Krivax particularly enjoyed. Masruk seemed to enjoy swimming, but Krivax suspected his friend saw it as a challenge to overcome.

Krivax tried to pass the time with Orfus by making small talk, but unfortunately, they had already exhausted all topics of conversation that they could think of over the trip.

Krivax was considering whether or not he should follow Masruks example and weave a web that he could fall asleep on with the pair of flyers that he had brought, when his silent prayers were seemingly heard.

Were nearly there! The Broken Pillars peek over the horizon! shouted Oomailiq from his position at the top of the deck.

Krivax eagerly skittered to the front of the deck and directed his gaze to the direction Oomailiq was pointing.

Sure enough, he could see the enormous shattered pillars of the Path of the Titans off in the distance. Krivax woke up Masruk, who was not as excited about looking at giant broken pillars as he was.

As Green Island grew closer and closer to the ancient structures, Krivax felt a sense of awe as their true size became apparent.

I really wish I could take a picture of this. I wonder if the gnomes have invented anything like cameras yet.

Once they passed the Path of the Titans, it was only a short while before they could see the kites flying over Moa'ki Harbor in the distance.

Alright you two, I think its time for you to go below deck, said Orfus. Ill yell for you to come out after Im done warning the Moa'ki and its safe for you two to show yourselves..

Krivax and Masruk both nodded their agreement and made their way below deck with the two flyers, where they were keeping the trading supplies. Kamagua and Iskaal had both purchased large amounts of goods from KilahKuk that they intended to resell to the tuskarr of Dragonblight at a markup.

The nerubians were unable to trade directly with Moa'ki Harbor or the nearby village of Indule because the closest nerubian city was Azjol-Nerubs capital city. Vizier Hadix had made some perfunctory attempts to convince the Circle of Viziers in the capital to allow for trade to take place from their city, but Krivax could tell that his heart was not in it. The capital city was the center of isolationist sentiment in the kingdom and rarely allowed anyone to use their gate to the surface for any reason.

Besides, as far as Vizier Hadix was concerned, if a trade route was established between the capital and Dragonblights tuskarr, then his Division wouldnt be the ones profiting from it. Krivax was not too concerned one way or another; he understood that sapient greed would eventually push Azjol-Nerub to open itself up once the benefits of doing so grew too large to ignore.

If he was actually able to successfully establish a trading relationship with civilizations that could offer more than luxury food goods, then Azjol-Nerubs time as a completely isolated kingdom was destined to become history.

Krivax and Masruk waited patiently below deck as Green Island pulled into port; soon he was able to hear the voices of unfamiliar tuskarr men, so he assumed that the guards had arrived.

The conversation between Orfus and the Moa'ki clans guards went on long enough for Krivax to begin growing nervous, but he eventually heard Orfus yelling for the two of them to come out onto the deck.

Krivax tentatively made his way up onto the deck, followed by Masruk, and was immediately met with the shocked yells of frightened tuskarr warriors.

As the leader of the tuskarr attempted to calm down his men, Krivax took a moment to look over the warriors. They seemed similar enough to warriors of Kamagua, given that they all wielded spears and were covered in various pieces of leather armor, but there were some differences as well.

Well, that and the magic he could feel radiating from their bodies.

Once everyone finished entering the building, the massive tuskarr began to speak in a deep voice.

Greetings, outsiders. I am Chieftain Konani. These are Elders Siuigo, Duuqni, and Toa. Please introduce yourselves.

Well met, Chieftain Konani, said Orfus. I am Orfus, warrior of Kamagua. These are Krivax and Masruk, two nerubians who have proven themselves to be friends of Kamagua and Iskaal. They have expressed an interest in traveling to Moaki Harbor, and I joined them with the intention of both facilitating introductions and arranging for trade between our villages.

Nerubians? questioned Konani. The Chieftain turned his gaze to the Elders, but they all shook their heads. I have never heard of your people, and it seems my Elders have not either. Tell me about your people, nerubians.

Of course, Chieftain, said Krivax. He spent the next hour giving the Chieftain and the Elders an abridged introduction to Azjol-Nerub and its society, much like the one he had given Chieftain Atuk and Elder Wumni.

It took quite a while for him to finish because the Chieftain and his Elders interrupted periodically to ask pointed questions and Orfus also interrupted to tell them about all of the benefits the Isle of Spears had received from trading with the nerubians.

Krivax suspected that the large amounts of goods that had been brought to the village had done much more to convince the Chieftain of the benefits of cooperation. When he was done speaking, Konani seemed to be much more enthusiastic about their presence than Atuk had been.

If you are able to help my people as much as Orfus claims, then you will always be welcome here, nerubians, said Chieftain Konani. Would your people be interested in trading for shellfish from us as well as Kamagua?

Yes, Chieftain, said Krivax. Azjol-Nerub was massive in comparison to the tuskarr villages and would be more than capable of taking any amount of shellfish that the tuskarr would be able to produce. Unfortunately, this trade would need to take place using Kamagua and Iskaal as an intermediary.

Oh? Why is that? asked Konani, visibly displeased.

Krivax explained to the Chieftain that Kilahkuk was too far from his village for trade to be easy and that he would not be able to get permission to travel to the surface from the city nearest to his village. The Chieftain did not like it but seemed to accept it once everything was fully explained to him.

At least we still have something to trade even if we have to go through Kamagua and Iskaal, said Elder Toa. This Azjol-Nerub seems to only be interested in shellfish and herbs. I doubt Indule has anything you nerubians would be interested in.

I wouldnt be so sure, said Elder Siuigo, turning a shrewd gaze to Krivaxs spatial pouch.

At her words, all of the Elders turned their attention to the spatial pouch, or more accurately, to the magic it was emanating.

This magic feels similar to the magic of the Lothalor Woodlands, said Elder Duuqni.

The Lothalor Woodlands? asked Krivax. It had been a long time since he had played World of Warcraft, and he wasnt sure what the Elders were talking about.

Indule Village is built along a lake that is the end point of a long river of magic similar to the magic coming from your bag, explained Elder Siuigo. This river of magic has altered the very life of the nearby woods. I suspect that the trees and animals of these woods could be useful to your people.

Shes talking about a ley line! If there is truly a ley line running under the Lothalor Woodlands, then Im sure there are plenty of things in there that the Circle of Viziers would be interested in.

Although shellfish were spreading quickly in Kilahkukand were starting to disseminate into the rest of Azjol-Nerubinterest in the surface had still only moderately increased within the Circle of Viziers. This was because many of the Viziers looked down on shellfish as a novelty and a luxury good that did little to tangibly benefit the kingdom, according to Vizier Hadix.

If Indule were able to provide large amounts of magical regents, then interest in the surface would increase significantly within the Circle of Viziers, and hopefully the rest of the kingdom.

That sounds like something my people would be extremely interested in, said Krivax, barely holding back his excitement.

Im glad to hear that, said Chieftain Konani. But you can negotiate an agreement with Indule later. For now, I believe it best if we come to an agreement over the goods that were brought today, so that they can start helping my people. The wolvar have grown aggressive recently well, more so than usual, and I want those ores delivered to our blacksmiths as quickly as possible.

Before we start the negotiations, there is something I need to ask you, Chieftain Konani, said Krivax. I was told by Elder Wumni of Kamagua that your people sometimes trade with people from lands from across the sea. Is that true?

Yes, it is, said Chieftain Konani, growling slightly at the change in subject. Why do you ask?

Just a topic I wish to speak about in more detail with you after the trade talks of course, Krivax said quickly. I understand your urgency.

Very well, we will speak more on the topic later then, the Chieftain said. Now as to the goods in question

Krivax nodded his agreement and settled in for another long trade negotiation. Thankfully, Orfus would be the primary negotiator this time, as the goods technically belonged to Kamagua and Iskaal now.

As the negotiations dragged on, Krivax privately hoped that the Surface World Research Division would soon transition to using currency for all of their trading needs. Things would be much easier if they didnt need to figure out how many lobsters a piece of iron ore the size of an average tuskarr fist was worth.

Barter may be the oldest form of trading, but it could get annoying at times and was terribly inefficient.