Chapter 3.30: An'tal

Chapter 3.30: An'tal

The garden golems were doing a fantastic job of harvesting random reagents and keeping the weeds at bay. They understood how to recharge themselves using the [Dimensional Storage Crate], and seemed to need no rest. Theo stood in his cluster of greenhouses, kneeling to issue more commands. His audience, 2 [Lesser Mud Golems], and 1 [Lesser Stone Golem], looked on with interest. He made them look like that, but it felt better than just giving orders to soulless creatures.

The mud golems would keep up their good work around the lab, while the stone golem would patrol for the night. Hed walk the edge of the lodestones range, searching for enemies. Not that Theo expected any, but it was good practice to learn how commands worked for the constructs. The alchemist placed a [Reveal Construct] within the [Lesser Stone Golem], ordering him to test it.

A field of faintly shimmering light shot out from the little golem. Tresk let out a yelp, revealed from behind the lab. Theo knew she was normally lurking in the shadows, but it was still surprising.

Hell look for stealth people, Theo said.

How is he gonna know if he sees a stealth person if theyre stealth? Tresk asked.

Theo shrugged. It was more about how cool the feature was, rather than a practical use.

Tresk led the way to the Marsh Wolf Tavern for dinner. Theo met with Xam in her hectic kitchen, giving her a list of the names he was paying for that night. He paid upfront for a week, a decent estimate for how long the harbor project was going to take. The alchemist returned to the crowded tavern, finding the exterior dining to be superior. It was hot inside the tavern, filled with a strange mingle of sweat and cooking food. While the cooks newest rendition of wolf meat stew was delicious, the alchemist ate as quickly as Tresk.

Xolsa rarely left his wizards tower. When Theo saw him approaching, he feared the worst. The extra-planar Elf handled the magic that slowed and quickened the monster waves. The serious look on the Elfs face gave no information away, he always looked that way.

Youll need to prepare yourself for the next monster wave, Xolsa said. When he approached, Theo could see how worn he looked. It wont rise to your expectations.

Explain yourself, wizard, Tresk said, narrowing her eyes at him.

It wont be as powerful, Xolsa said.

Thats good news, Theo said.

Xolsa shrugged. Is it? Well, Ive noticed your little workers.

The golems? Tresk asked.

Xolsa eyes drifted into the middle distance for a moment before locking on to Tresk. The golems, he repeated. There are tales of wizards commanding minions. I dont have access to such magic, but I can see their use.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.

Theo nodded. He felt as though Xolsa was coming at him from a different angle than normal. Something close to academic interest. While they shared an interest in alchemy, only evidenced by strange equipment in the wizards tower, theyd never exchanged notes. The alchemist could only assume the constructs were enough of a motivator for him to start a conversation.

Three golems waddled down the street. Theo commanded the [Lesser Stone Golem] to hug Xolsas legs. He patted its head, a phantom of a smile playing across his face.

Theyre made entirely of alchemy? Xolsa asked.

Theo sent the mud golems off, inviting Xolsa to join them and the stone golem at the bathhouse. The attendant was reluctant to allow the creature inside, but bent when the alchemist assured her it would behave. It was his private room, after all. The trio were soaking in the pool moments later, the golem standing close enough so that Xolsa could study it.

The skill does most of the work, Theo said. [Alchemy Constructs].

Very interesting, Xolsa said, prodding the golem with his finger.

Theo explained how they were constructed, showing the wizard an example of a containment core while Tresk swam in the bath. Xolsa explained the magic theory behind golems raised by wizards, and even undead minions by necromancers. The principle couldnt have been more different, as most magical constructs had absolutely no spirit. The golems had a faint soul, driven by the [Monster Core] in their containment core.

But not really a soul, Xolsa said, holding a [Monster Core] in his hands. More like a series of complex instructions meant to mimic a living being. But theres a decent enough theory to pursue. How close to a real monster are you getting with your creations?

They have no willpower, Theo said, shaking his head. No agency at all. They just do what theyre told.

Xolsa nodded.

Have you heard of a [Coresmith]? Theo asked.

Ive heard tales, Xolsa said. The concept seems too outlandish to be true. Cores cannot be created.

Theo sent a command to his stone golem, who waved at the Elf.

Unless they can be.

Xolsas brow knit tight. He cupped his chin in his hand, his eyes drifting off once again. Well, it would be interesting. The [Coresmith] would hold great power.

Theo sank deeper in the water. Deep enough to cover his face, but not his ears. The idea was academic, but interesting. Fenian mentioned there were [Coresmiths] in the Elven kingdom, empire, whatever they were, but he didnt know if that changed much. Most seed and class cores dropped from dungeons, and they had no shortage of dungeons around Broken Tusk. The issue was, the local dungeons only produced base class cores. They had seen no seed cores, yet.

Tresk narrowed her eyes. What is it, Thronk?

Thronk? Theo said, grimacing.

Yeah. My brother. Thronk. I told you about him. Didnt I? Tresk asked.

Theo didnt care whose brother he was. Throk was unimaginative with his naming scheme, but maybe it was a Bantari Marshling thing. The alchemist shrugged.

Whats the issue? Theo asked.

Some guy came ashore on the beach. In a rowboat, Thronk said. Thought you ought to know.

Then, the little mud-colored Marshling was off as if it was no concern to him. Theo drank a [Potion of Limited Foresight] and led the way down the river. The walk took a while, but he spotted the small rowboat on the sandy shores of the beach. True to the Marshlings words, there was a Khahari standing on the sands. Barefoot and clothed in little more than a tattered loincloth, the Khahari put off a strange aura of authority. If not for the mans ragged appearance, Theo would have thought he was a king.

Hello, Theo said, waving. Are you lost? Need help?

The Khahari waited for Tresk and Theo to approach before bowing. When he rose, a smile hung on his face.

Im never lost, he said.

Theos eyes went between the rowboat and the man. He certainly seemed lost.

Are you hungry? Theo asked. Theres a town. Up the river.

River? the man asked, looking at the drying trickle of water that normally flooded into the bay. River bed, perhaps.

Want some food, or not? Tresk asked, glowering at the Khahari. Whats your name?

He paused for a long moment, staring into the distance. The smile dropped from his face for a moment before he continued. Antal. You can call me An. Or Tal. Or Antal. Whatever you like.

Im Theo. This is Tresk, Theo said, gesturing to his companion.

A pleasure, Antal said, bowing again.

Come on. Couldnt have been a quick trip in that boat, Theo said.

Antals gaze went slowly from Theo to the boat. He smiled again and took a few tentative steps. He hummed a tune as he followed, actively refusing to answer the alchemists questions.

Think hes dangerous? Tresk asked.

Maybe. But he looks pretty bad. Could have been lost at sea, Theo said.

Still, we should be cautious.

Theos senses told him nothing about the Khahari. It was as though the place where the man stood was a void for his intuition, which likely meant the man was a high level. But it made little sense to appear on a beach, be walked into town, then attack. Anyone high enough could just destroy the place from a distance. No need for subterfuge.

The workers checked on Theo as he passed, informing him they needed more space to make the wall. The alchemist sent Tresk with Antal to the Marsh Wolf Tavern while he went off to brew some [Tunneling Potions]. When he joined back with Tresk and the strange Khahari, he seemed eager.

Id like to work, he said, grinning. If you dont mind.

Yeah, Theo said, flicking him a sliver coin. Antal caught it with little effort. Do you know anything about stonework?

A thing. Or two, Antal said.

Theo made it back to the worksite with his new laborer. He sent him off to meet with Ziz, putting him down in the mud with the other stonemasons. It was dirty work down there. They had to shovel out mud that flowed back, move massive stones around in the muck, and set them in place to keep tons of earth from falling in. The alchemist didnt envy their job, but Antal didnt seem to care. He jumped down into the pit and landed as though hed just taken a step.

The work went on. Theo had several moments where he was just standing around, waiting for the laborers to get everything in line so he could cut more ground. They were approaching the section of the harbor that narrowed out, meaning they had less work to do from here. Fewer stones needed to be moved, and less earth had to be drilled out with the potion. Antal worked with deliberate slowness. Every motion of his body seemed planned, almost robotic. But he did it all with a smile on his face.

During his downtime, Theo noticed Zankir and Zansal standing on the eastern gate in the distance. He couldnt tell from this distance, but their pacing painted them as worried. Despite the dead spot Antal created for his intuition, his sense of logic wasnt hampered. When he brushed his intent over the man, laboring with excitement in the mud, the system refused to return the mans name, level, and class.

A powerful Khahari, Tresk said after Theo exchanged his concerns. Question is, what is he doing here and why are the other Khahari all in knots?

And why the hell does he want to labor in my mud pit? Theo asked. He shook his head, not willing to go down that road. There was work to be done.