4.32 - Tara'hek Command

4.32 - Tara'hek Command

Salire waved her hands in the lab, desperate to clear the air of the smoke. Theo had entered the lab moments ago and simply stood there as she fought against the billowing clouds. When she spotted him at the entrance, she gave him a sheepish smile.

You touched the essence, didnt you? Theo asked. Are you alright?

Im fine, Salire said, coughing.

Theo crossed the room, opening a window and fanning the smoke outside. Good. That stuff can be explosive. Good thing it was just an attribute essence.

Im sorry, Salire said, still coughing.

Never be sorry for trying to do something you want to do. Except if you blow someone up, Theo said, turning to Rowan. Could you get Zarali for me?

Rowan simply bowed, then left the room. Sarisa stayed behind, helping with the fanning efforts. Once they got the room cleared, Theo distributed the stored essences into flasks, storing most of them but leaving some out for brewing. Instead of lingering on the mistake Salire made, they got to work on the next set. [Manashrooms] were far easier to process than any other reagent. The soft mushrooms fell apart in a persons hand, removing the need for the grinders.

Even without a core, Salire could handle this part just fine. She just couldnt touch any distilled essence, and Theo needed to be the one to start the stills. The woman didnt have the intent created by a [Drogramath Alchemy Core] yet. After they got the stills ready for a [Freeze Essence] run, Zarali showed up.

Hello, brother, Zarali said, crossing the room to give him a big hug.

Hello to yourself, Theo said, chuckling. Whats up?

Xolsa is in great spirits, Zarali said, grinning. I think your little trip did him good.

Thats great, Theo said, pushing his adoptive sister to arms-length. So, I need to have a word with Drogramath.

Zarali scoffed. Her expression soured considerably. Good luck with that. It feels as though my prayers fall on deaf ears nowadays.

Theo stood there for a long moment. He tapped his foot nervously, lost in his own thoughts, as both Zarali and Salire sulked. Having a perfect memory didnt mean recalling everything unbidden. The alchemist had to will himself to access those things, and something that Drogramath said had slipped his mind for some time. They needed to select patrons for the town, but when did that come in? He didnt want to consider the implications that Khahar and Drogramath were working together, but there it was.

Ill be back, Theo said, rummaging through his stores.

Hes gonna disappear, Salire whispered.

Theo stuffed various reagents into his inventory. Wanna come, Alex?

Oh, yes!

Both Theo and Alex fell through the [Terogal Dreampassage] ability, passing over the Bridge and landing on their familiar island. He got to work on his stills, expecting Benton to arrive at any moment. The alchemist wanted to run as much [Freeze Essence] as he could, even if that wasnt the purpose of his visit to the realm. The bear god might have answers on how he could dedicate his town to a patron. Until the Toora arrived, he worked on his stills.

The upgraded version of Throks stills were a joy to work with. Alex played in the pond while he worked, and once those were filled, he shifted his gaze to the plot of land containing the wheat. He inspected the crop, unsurprised at what he found.

[Wheat]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]

Common

A common plant often milled into flour.

Properties:

[Healing] [????] [????]

Bentons archway rose when Theo was halfway done with clearing the wheat away. He was stuffing it all in his inventory when the bear god appeared with booming laughter.

So good to see you, Theo! Want some tea? Perhaps a few scones?

Yes, please.

The pair settled into the cottage and brewed some tea. Benton seemed more excited than normal to see Theo.

I have a question, Theo said, nibbling on his scone. Do you know how to select a patron for a town? Or a nation?

You need a temple, Benton said. It can be any old thing. A proper seed core temple, or just some shack that a priest has blessed. I think you also need a shrine in the temple.

Theo nodded. Of course it was that simple. He appreciated that the system would let him designate any building as the temple. That made things easy, assuming Fenian didnt have the right seed core with him. And of course he didnt, because he would have offered it. Khahar, Drogramath, and Fenian were all working together on something. That was obvious.

That makes things easy. Theo nodded, sipping his tea. How are things in your realm?

Oh, were plodding along. Expansion is hard when you dont have many followers, Benton sighed. But were having a great time as a lower realm. No drama from the big guys. Just scones and tea all day.

How does that work, exactly? Theo asked. Time moves differently here, right? Can people reproduce?

No, they cannot. Not at my level, anyway. Any of my mortal worshipers that want to ascend to my realm can. And anyone who worshiped me that dies comes on up to the land of eternal winter. My followers dont age in my realm, but your mind works differently once you leave the mortal plane.

Sure, Benton shrugged. Not like Im going around to brew potions.

Benton sensed the conversation about the potion was over. Instead, they spent the last few hours of Theos visit drinking tea and discussing the realms at large. Whispers of the Southlands Alliance had filtered up to the lower pantheons. There were a range of opinions, most concluding that the alchemist was some kind of antagonist in the Qavelli conflict. More worrying was the other whispers.

Dead gods are rising, Benton said, keeping his voice low. Clawing at the high pantheons. They want to return to the world.

Theo sipped more tea. Im not sure theyll like the way the heavens are now. Maybe theyll make an attempt on Khahar.

Benton chuckled. Good luck with that!

The remainder of Theos time in Terogal was pleasant. When the time came, the alchemist tucked the goose under his arm and bid farewell to his friend. They jumped from the side, using the [Approach] ability on Tresk. They snapped into existence next to the Marshling, startling her.

By the gods, you cant sneak up on me like that. Im unsneakable.

We thought itd be funny oh well, I guess now is a good time.

A system message flashed up the moment Theo started talking.

[Tarahek Core] receivedexperience (2%).

[Tarahek Core] leveled up! Level 30.

[Tarahek Core] gained the ability: [Tarahek Command]

Woohoo! Tresk shouted. I was waiting for that to happen. Weve been stuck at 29 for a few days, huh?

Theo inspected the new ability.

[Tarahek Command]

Marshling Bond Skill

Epic

While within the Taraheks sphere of influence, you gain the inspiration of command.

Effect:

While within the influence of your bond, reduces the negative aspects of increased attributes and cores.

Also increases your ability to command all other Tarahek abilities.

The description was more vague than normal. But the effects were clear. Theo felt something wash over him once the skill was added to his core. The last bits of his mind that had been clouded by his attributes and various cores were gone. He stood, blinking on the battlements of Broken Tusk. A sense of calm washed over him, and he could feel both Tresk and Alex experiencing the same strange sensation.

I was hoping for a laser beam, but this is nice, Tresk said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Theo scoffed at that. This was something he just talked to Benton about. But it was more complex than just a skill that he activated in his core. If the bear god was right, and there was a layer between his body and spirit, he could now feel it. Like a sheet that had been draped over his thoughts, obscuring them from inspection. He could now pull that sheet back with great effort, opening or closing the floodgates of his attributes and cores.

This requires practice, Theo said, closing his eyes and feeling that sheet in his mind.

It feels like someone splattered mud on my thoughts my whole life, and I just wiped it away.

Honk!

There was too much testing to do in order to figure out how it worked. Theo always understood there was an influence from cores and attributes. Especially the mental attributes, intelligence and wisdom. Those did more to change the way a person thought than anything. Entering the Dreamwalk reduced the effects of that sensation by a little. Terogal banished it away. But if the moment he exited that realm, the sensation of an outside force pressing in on his mind was always there.

Now it was gone. Entirely.

The shadows burst to life at the base of the wall. Sarisa jumped from the ground to the top of the wall in a single burst of strength. Her massive pole-ax-thing leveled as she scanned the area.

She said you should have been back by now, Sarisa said, still scanning the area.

My bad. Theo held his arms up apologetically. We can go back to the lab now. I gotta talk to Zarali. I mean we could get some tea first. Would you mind making me some tea? Bringing it to the garden at the manor?

Sarisa blinked a few times, her mouth hung open. Yeah. Sure. Rowan is watching you now.

In a flash, Sarisas armor vanished, replaced by that maids outfit. She jumped from the wall, then ran off to make some tea. Theo and Tresk were left trying not to giggle. But Alex honked, and they all broke out into laughter. After a good fit of the giggles, the alchemist headed over to his lab to help Salire out. Before heading off for more tea, he pulled Zarali aside.

I want Xolsa in the manor, Theo said. Until he has recovered.

Arent you sweet? Zarali asked, patting her brother on the shoulder. Im sure hell be delighted. Ill bring him over for the tea.

Theo stayed behind to help Salire get the next batch of essence going. She knew where hed be, so there was no reason she should blow herself up. Again. When the alchemist headed off, he was confident she wouldnt do anything stupid. For now, he needed to sit down with Zarali and iron their temple out. He didnt know if it was good fortune or bad when he arrived in his garden to find Fenian chatting with Zarali.

Got any temples in your bag? Theo asked, approaching the trader.