Chapter 19: Crafting Conundrums

Chapter 19: Crafting Conundrums

Nathan spent a moment looking around the room, locking eyes with Herdin, Beatred and Poppy in turn. His brows were furrowed in thought.

I can see where theyre coming from. It must be frustrating, to pour your work into something and worry itll all come to nothing for reasons outside of your control. But I didnt ask for Beatred to take the class Development for this - that was her decision.

He frowned around the workshop, taking in all of the guns around him. It was clear that they were ready to adopt guns as a way to fight more broadly - and just needed his approval.

I wish I had some more time to think about this. But I leave tomorrow, for who knows how long. And Im due to have dinner with the Guardians soon.

Beatred was gazing at him imploringly. Surrounded by the fruits of her labor, of her new class, Nathan could understand why.

She really wants this, but doesnt know how to ask for something so significant. This is totally beyond Gemores culture of hoarding Insights. They dont really have anything to offer me in return. Maybe I should do it for just that reason - I want to break Gemore out of that stupid tradition.

Poppy could barely meet Nathans eyes. The short Orc looked ashamed. He was shooting glances at Herdin, wincing at her tone.

He doesnt want to be here. I think he feels the most indebted to me of all, especially if that supercritical carbon dioxide extraction Insight panned out. Though I would probably consider that debt repaid just to have somebody figure out how to use alchemy and chemistry together. Sounds awesome.

As the last of their little gunpowder cabal, Herdin stood as a pillar of authority right in front of Nathan. The enchanter had been the Guildmistress of the Crafters guild before her retirement, and she seemed to be uncomfortable at having to make such a request of Nathan.

I think I should appreciate that she went about this straightforwardly. I bet she could have been much more underhanded about this whole thing - gotten leverage or called in favors to make this trade. Leaned more on the Giantraiders saving me. But I would have felt ambushed by that, and she knew it. Right now, its just a straight request. Still hard to refuse, but possible.

Nathan couldnt complain about that request being made so suddenly - he was being actively hunted by an Archmage of Giantsrest and maybe by a Questor. The plan was to leave Gemore with no solid date to return. If he didnt come back, then under their Oath these guns couldnt be given or sold to anybody.

And that would leave them out in the dark - they couldnt give these guns to anybody, even the young Bhos who are going to become Adventurers in the next few years.

On the other hand, Nathan did not want to release information uncontrolled - or even to all of the Bhos. He was intentionally holding back Insights he thought were dangerous, like atomic theory and even covalent bonding.

Though the failure mode of guns is not as bad as it is for atomic theory - that could spell doom for the entire continent. Guns might help end the dominance of magic in combat. What Im afraid of is Giantsrest or Agmon getting their hands on them - both would turn them into a tool of expansionism.

Telling Beatred and co. about guns had been a calculated risk, a way to help a struggling Gemore that was hemmed in by dangerous enemies on all sides. But Nathan had reassured himself that he had control of the process. Now they were asking him to give up most of his control.

Though if I deny them, then go off and die, all it does is slow people down. The secret is out, one way or another. They could probably figure out a loophole, maybe accidentally leave a gun without a self-destruct around for some other craftsman to find or something. Or just break the oath - I still dont know what the consequences for that are.

Beatred saw Nathans hesitation and spoke up, her voice deep and placating. Were not asking for this in return for just a weight of favors, though you will also receive that. She gestured towards the four guns that each looked worthy of a craftsmans masterpiece. Take those. The rifle is for Sarah, the rest for Aarl. More accurate, faster action. Each should be nearly silent, and the barrels are almost completely frictionless. No overheating.

Then she pointed at the shotgun. Stanel asked about an appropriate weapon for Aarl. I think thats suitable, but you would need to agree to give it to him.

Nathan looked over the weapons, frowning. Then he addressed the gathered crafters with his greatest worry. In my world, these kinds of weapons have replaced all others. They were expanded and developed into tools of death capable of massive slaughter. I dont know if I want to unleash something like that on Davrar. I know the story of that transition, and want to avoid the worst horrors if I can.

Artillery in particular is a weapon Im not sure I want invented. The death tolls in battle before and after artillery were invented are starkly different. And the collateral damage too.

Herdins brows drew down as Nathan spoke, though she waited to snap back until he was done. You act as the Master of the Mountain, dispensing wisdom to poor disciples. Nathan Lark, you are not the sole responsible person in Gemore! I have lived three times your years, and buried enough children and grandchildren to fill a heart overfull. We have dangers on Gemore that make these weapons small, such as monsters and mages! We would have every tool to fight such things.

She broke off, visibly pulling herself back from the tirade, and her voice became pleading. You give us weapons that would let us challenge the dangers of Davrar. Let a new adventurer slay a Stalker or a siegeboar to earn their level 27 Development without risk. I cannot help but be frustrated at the thought that these weapons will be limited because of the fear of what could be, when they could help us Bho challenge the problems that are.

Her expression had cracked from one of stern ferocity to that of a worried mother, fearing for her children. This is your Insight, and you may choose with it freely. But we ask - let us use it to defend Gemore better. We will owe you for it - a favor to outweigh all others. You fear that the Insights of these weapons will escape? So do we. We fear all Insights we hoard may be used against us. What is special about this one is that it is not ours to lose, and that it could change the way we fight. So we ask you - may we use it to its full potential?

Nathan was rocked back by Herdins speech. He took a second to think over what shed said. Then he frowned, and asked a question that seemed relevant. But how sure can you be that you can maintain secrecy? What happens if the Council asks you? Or Agmon or Giantsrest decide to try and steal the secret?

Herdin shrugged. It is an Insight. We are accustomed to the spycraft used to safeguard crafting Insights - we already guard our workshop with enchanted locks, but as the existence of the Insight becomes known, we may bring in Bho guards, or employ further magical protections. As for the council they can ask, but if you wish, we will refuse them. This Insight is yours. We merely wish to use it. If you will allow us to do so, on your terms.

Nathan nodded, considering the old craftswomans argument.

You know, shes got a point. Im being a bit paternalistic here. I know how this knowledge changed Earths history. But things are different on Davrar - classes, skills and Talents completely change how both manufacturing and warfare work. And I shouldnt be so worried about weapons development - mages are basically artillery on their own, and monsters require heavy weaponry.

The danger here isnt guns making battle more dangerous - its already really dangerous with monsters like the Grave Tangle running around. Guns will let lower-level people kill higher-level people, and even the field a bit against mages. Gemore already has fewer mages, but makes up for it in experience, grit and sacrifice. And Herdin thinks the guns will reduce the amount of sacrifice necessary.

Herdin went to speak again, but Nathan held up a hand. Sorry, I need to think for a second.

Lets drill down past the emotional argument, lay bare the pros and cons. The Bhos are better positioned to navigate some of these issues than I am - they have lifetimes of experience both in Adventuring and crafting, and greater knowledge of what Davrar can facilitate. And I do want Gemore to be more capable - they seem generally much more decent than both Giantsrest and Agmon.

But I really would rather not spread the knowledge recklessly - I dont want to be responsible for armies of slave-soldiers with rifles. Or Agmon legionaries with cannons. But there has to be balance - I cant help Gemore without the risk of the secret being stolen. All I can do is take the necessary precautions, and be ready to run damage control if necessary. But Im not in a position to really oversee things if Im adventuring in the boonies for the next year.

He leaned down over his chair, massaging his brows for a moment.

Nathan focused on the muscles in his right arm, trying to guide his stamina into the tissues to replicate what he'd done on the left arm. He focused on the muscle fibers, aiming to tightly and efficiently pack in the fibers of actin and myosin filaments, such that every myosin head had an efficient and proper binding interaction with a neighboring actin filament.

Too much detail, and it felt like Nathan was only succeeding at improving a single cell. Too little, and nothing was happening. It was only by leveraging his [Battle Meditation] and [Enhanced Memory] that Nathan was able to properly hold the right image of a specific improvement happening in all of the muscles of his arm. At that point, Nathan's stamina started plummeting. His right arm grew warm and uncomfortable, bones creaking slightly.

Neat. I won't have to cut off all my limbs to get the benefit. There's gotta be an upper limit on how much I can improve things, but if I systematically reinforce bones and tendons I bet it's pretty high. Need to think about ways to do that.

Nathan didn't let his stamina drop below half before he halted the exercise, feeling that his arms were close to matched in strength.

Definitely going to do more of that, when I can get more Stamina from Stella.

Nathan spent the rest of the walk brainstorming other applications of his new Talent. He could think of dozens of other ways to improve his body, from improving the air permeability of his lungs to improving myelination patterns on his peripheral nervous system. He was almost to the mansion where the Heirs and Guardians awaited when a final thought came to him.

Oh. Time to clean out any remaining toxins from Earth. No more microplastics or polyfluoroalkyl shenanigans in this Nathan, no siree.

Then he had a second thought. What if one of those toxins was the source of his antimagic? Would cleaning out toxins cripple his most potent weapon against Giantsrest?

No. It's acknowledged by Davrar now. Whatever chemical gave me the Antimagic isn't needed anymore. The Talent is the source of that power now

And with that thought, Nathan swept himself clean of one of his last connections to Earth, before he went to meet his friends.

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Magic Absorption 8

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 1

Talent 3: High-tier Slow Fall 5

Class: Spellbreaker Juggernaut level 72

Stamina: 401/820

Juggernaut's Wrath

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Juggernaut's Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 1

High-tier Earnestness 6

Mid-tier Sprinting 7

High-tier Spellsense 5

Mid-tier Notice 10

Mid-tier Identify 8

Mid-tier Dodging Footwork 6

High-tier Enhanced Memory 5

Mid-tier Lecturing 6

Mid-tier Tumbling 3