Chapter 258: Horse Sense

Chapter 258: Horse Sense

Ozzy was still light-headed even hours after they dropped into the Conjunction. New ideas were running through his head, and trying to find a home. Eventually, it all settled down. As Joe and Old Smoke had warned him, things were a little different now.

Welcome home to the Conjunction.

Your travels in the smoke have changed you and gifted you with the ability to store heat in your furnace. There are advantages and downsides to this. Some types of magic will work poorly against you, and some will have a greater effect. Let's say that Woodrat isn't the only one who has to worry about snowballs. You'll figure it all out.

Heat in the Convergence:

Only Heat is tracked, you will not have smoke or fuel unless your return to the planes. Any spell that uses smoke will draw on a combination of heat and mana or stamina.

Heat can be replenished by absorbing it from something else, which drains stamina at a rate of 10 stamina to 1 heat.

You may also regain heat by eating. Certain foods will give more heat, and producing heat takes more food than normal. (Max of Furnace/10 per day.)

How heat is calculated:

The aspect of Heat: +100 x Rank (8)

The aspect of Radiance: +50 x Rank (1)This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

The aspect of Fire: +50 x Rank (10)

Ambrosia of the Gods: +500 (currently 2)

Current Furnace = 2350

In a short time, you have learned to cast many spells without the practice essential to understanding how your magic works. You will gain a better idea of what each spell does and how it can be enhanced by heat from your furnace by using them. Go burn a few things.

You have gained the Aspect of Heat. This is a complex aspect.

You have learned the Spell: Butcher's Breath.

You have learned the Spell: Shielding.

You have learned the Cantrip: Absorb Heat.

You have retained your furnace: Max Heat = 2350 Current Heat = 2350

You have gained the Aspect of Wood.

You have learned the Spell: Infused Wood

You have learned the Cantrip: Shape Wood

Bernice stared hard at the man. At first, she couldn't identify him, and then he winked at her.

Rolly (The Lord of Ducks) ( Hero)

Level 13

Contract Worker: Heroic Shepherd

He grinned. "Shepherds talk to animals. It's sort of our main job."

Bernice was getting angry. "I simply will not believe that you snuck into camp and talked to my horses." From behind her came the sound of horses snorting and whinnying. Her soldiers saw that many were rolling their eyes. Bernice put a hand on her face, took a deep breath, and prayed for calm. "Shit. I am not going to let it be said that I had less sense than a horse. What is it that you want?"

Ben said very calmly. "A moment of your time for a private conversation?"

Bernice dismounted and walked with him a short distance away. Rolly started tossing apples to the horses and calling them by name. Each horse snatched the apples out of the air with expert precision, making their riders nervous.

Ben looked at the mercenary captain. "We've observed you. I won't say how, but we've seen what you've done since before you went past Northguard without stopping. I couldn't put it together at first. I don't know what you said to Alchemarx, but you didn't sign a contract. Nor did you talk to PinchPenny. Mostly you just rode around, observed, and made it look like you were doing a job for the Baron. It's a sham. But with Rolly's information, it becomes clearer. Most likely, you are spying for the Duke on what is happening in the northern part of his lands. You also don't like what you saw. Your men are better than common mercenaries. And very protective of you. Six of them are ready to charge over here if I make one wrong move. Getting close?"

Bernice sighed. "Close enough. Now what?"

Ben pointed to the forest. "Barely three miles in that direction are two-hundred and fifty-seven adults and one hundred forty-six children trying to make it to Rowan Keep without being robbed or killed. Only a few miles behind them are two dozen of Alchemarx's thugs. Rolly and I are going to go kill as many as we can to buy the refugees time. We invite you to join us. We'll be going now. Follow us, go home, or try and stop us. That's up to you."

The shepherd started running toward the forest. Shimmering green scale-mail armor covered his clothes. From the air came a large hawk that landed on his shoulder. The roan horse rode at the Courier, who leaped astride, saluted with his hat, and rode off. Bernice considered his words for a moment. Her husband wouldn't be happy with her attacking troops technically attached to Northguard. But he'd be more upset if she didn't. And she'd hate herself for not helping those people. She was frustrated, but a good workout would help.

"Mount up, follow those two, and be prepared to hit hard. My bodyguard on me. Put squads one and two right behind us in a lance formation. Scouts are to split and guard our flanks until we engage, and then I want you in their backfield, cutting off runners. Let's go."

Two hours later, the bodies of twenty mercenaries who didn't have the sense to surrender were dumped into a large grave. Four smarter men had their hands bound and were starting the long trip back to Wolfsburg with the Red Banner. The refugees had made it to the river, where a dozen men were laying massive logs across the river to make a temporary bridge. As the last wagon crossed, someone shouted. High in the air, a gleaming ship was sailing through the sky, heading to Sedgewick. A message flashed before everyone's eyes.

Global Announcement

Captain Ozymandias Shipbreaker has journeyed to the elemental planes and sailed upon the Seas of Smoke. Together with Captain Woodrat and the crew of the Smokejammer, Splinter, they have traveled between the elemental planes and the Conjunction. These planes are now open to those brave souls who can find their way. Four temples of the Elements can be found somewhere on the mortal plane of the Conjunction. Perhaps in their depths is a good place to start a Journey into the Unknown?

Seek the Temple of Fire and Smoke in the lands of the Empire.

Seek the Temple of Frost and Skye to the far North and the lands of the Maple Priests

Seek the Temple of Waves and Ooze beneath a Forbidden Tower in the sea near Shadowport

Seek the Temple of Grinding Earth and Magma in the Desolation of Typhon

The courier and the shepherd said quick good byes, mounted and prepared to ride off, trying to race a flying ship and get home to welcome home a wayward butcher.

The combination of the message, the hasty leave-taking of the courier and the shepherd, and the golden ship sailing north wasn't lost on Bernice. One more thing she was going to have to deal with at some point.