4.35 - Baby Arm

4.35 - Baby Arm

The Dreamwalk was the perfect place to test the viability of the ocean freezing project. Theo stood with Alex on the deck of an imagined version of the Wavecrest, gazing down into the murky water. Somewhere below was the dream version of the dungeon, resting on the bed of the bay. Tresk was off somewhere, likely fighting dragons. She had been cagey about her progress lately, likely because she was hitting a wall.

Hitting walls like this was natural in the systems progression. They popped up out of nowhere. Theos first theory was that they happened on multiples of 10, stopping a persons progress before they could roll over to a new realm of power. While his [Tarahek Core], [Governance Core], and [Toruaun Mages Core] had experienced massive growth, the same couldnt be said for his alchemy and herbalism cores.

The alchemist plopped one of Throks early sprayer artifices down onto the deck, fiddling with the spraying nozzle to aim at the water below. Is the sprayer the right tool for the job?

Im just a goose, I dont know. Alex honked.

Then what happens if we cage the dungeon?

Well, I know that one. The system will yell at you if you put objects too close to the dungeon.

And how do you know that?

Tresk tried to build an effigy of herself near the [Swamp Dungeon]. Since shes the best adventurer, she wanted people to know. The system yelled at her when she built it too close.

Alright. Theo loaded his sprayer up with [Freeze Solution]. He flicked a switch on the side and let the device spray. Ice formed on the water immediately, freezing it solid in moments. Then the ice worked its way down toward the dungeon. How waterproof do you think the stonework will be?

Depends on who builds it. Ziz has an ability that creates a perfect seal between stones using mortar.

So, youre listening to what people say more often than I expected. The ice bobbed in the water, pitching at a strange angle. But the sprayer continued its work, loading the bay with more of the solution. This is gonna take a while.

With the Wavecrest anchored firmly in the bayTheos influence further keeping it still in the waterthe alchemist set up his stills on the deck and got to work on grinding experience. Planters, stills, fermentation barrels, and rows of tables crowded the ship. Alex played on the ice as they chatted.

There was something very wrong with the way cores leveled. Logically, his personal level should have been an average of all his cores. That was clearly not the way things worked, since his average core level was about 20 while his personal level was 22. Instead, every action performed with a core provided an amount of experience to his personal level, depending on the cores level. His level 6 [Toruaun Mages Core] did not give as much personal experience as his level 23 [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. Making things more fiddly, his level 28 [Governance Core] didnt give as much experience as the alchemy core!

Slightly confusing, Theo said, adjusting the direction of the sprayer.

Almost as though some cores are more important. Perhaps thats the rarity?

Thats not what it felt like to Theo, though. It felt like the system wanted to base personal experience gain off of a single core, while the other cores were supplemental. For now, he shrugged it off. There was a good reason his experience was dragging with his alchemy core, and the slow pace of his herbalism core was clear. The new farm should help the herbalism core.

But for my alchemy core, Theo said, standing before a still and tapping his foot. Were missing something.

The slightest twinge flickered through the alchemists mind. Alex was probing his thoughts, less elegantly than when Tresk did so.

Third tier potions! Alex shouted, honking and flapping over the ice. She pitched over, falling into the bay. She narrowly avoided being sprayed by the freezing solution.

Yeah, Ive just been brewing [Healing Potions]. But those are what Im calling second tier.

You should write a book.

Yeah, that was a good idea. If Theos plan worked with the temple, Salire would need a guide on how to level a [Drogramath Alchemy Core]. He pulled up his administration interface, created a private notes section, and wrote things down.

Good idea. First, well note how to brew first tier potions.

That process was easy enough. A new Drogramathi alchemist only needed a simple copper still, reagents, and purified water to create essence. Then they only needed shavings to make a potion. The step that advanced a person to the next tier was pressure treating, done either in an evaporation pressurizer, as in his current model, or a pressure still. While Theo could create third tier suffuse potions, he hadnt figured out the secret sauce for regular third tier potions.

Something to do with the liquid, maybe.

Tonight seemed like a good night for experimentation. While Theo thought about what to replace his still water with, he observed how well the [Freeze Solution] was working. A column of ice had formed under the surface, stretching at least half-way to the dungeon below. It had rolled over several times, creating odd sections of ice that stretched off in weird angles. But the sprayer continued its good work.

I run into this problem often. Theo stood over a still, looking down at the bubbling liquid. He had removed the lid of one to observe the effects of salt water mixed with reagents. It was reacting violently. Hitting my head against a wall with no guidance.

Be happy with the progress you have made. Alex followed her supportive comment up with an encouraging honk. The ice is forming well. What is the plan with the ice?

My first idea was just to send Xolsa down there to fix the dungeon. Theo scratched his head, looking down at how the ice spread. It really didnt consume that much solution. Like I said, Im thinking of building a waterproof tower around it.

That sounds like a bad idea.

Oh! We could put fire on the towers, Alex said, lighting the tops of each towerand the statueswith roaring flames. A welcoming sight for our visitors.

That makes us look evil. Theo commanded the fires to dim. They crackled, then reduced to respectable campfires. Better.

I like mine better.

The group discussed the best way to defend the coast. They determined the best way was to just build a line of towers on the coast, never going out to sea. That left the problem of the [Ocean Dungeon] unresolved. By the time the Dreamwalk was ready to end, they had settled on the two designs and resigned themselves to asking around town for opinions.

If we could just move the dang dungeon, wed be set. Tresk tapped her chin. Whoops, thats dawn. Lets go.

Theo had no say in what happened next. The Dreamwalk swirled around him, sending him tumbling back into his sleeping body in an instant. He rose, blinking away the confusion in his mind. It was better when Tresk gave him more warning than that. But the little Marshling was already out of her bed, scampering off without a word. The alchemist found his way to the dining room, getting a report from Sarisa while they waited for food.

The more time Theo spent around his new assistants, the more he had a sense for the magic that cloaked their forms. Hed been neglecting his magical training, but that was to be expected. Xolsa had always been the person to push him forward. Now he was left to be distracted by whatever shiny new thing jumped into his mind. The reports delivered were mundane. Nothing had happened in the night, and the events of yesterday were all according to plan.

Once all the freeloaders had gathered for breakfast, Rowan served them. Theo charged them all with the task of thinking of a better defensive idea for the coast. The opinion was split, but it seemed Xolsa would have the final word.

Youre too many steps ahead, Theo, the Elf said. Get me down to the dungeon, then we can talk about what to do. Once I understand where the [Ocean Dungeon] is at, Ill have a recommendation.

Tresk forced the conversation away from the problem after that. Theo picked what he wanted from his breakfast before taking his tea, retreating to the garden. Zizs guys had worked through the night, which was expected. From his comfortable chair, the alchemist could see walls poking up over the shrubs and the fence. Those crazy Half-Ogres would work until they collapsed.

Xolsa joined Theo out in the garden, eventually. He was joined by his minder, an angry little Marshling that the alchemist hadnt had the time to meet properly. He was just there to make sure the Elf was alright, nothing more.

I have the strength to see the dungeon today. If you have the desire, Xolsa said.

Theo wanted nothing more than to get the [Ocean Dungeon] under control. He agreed to the Elfs plans, but didnt depart immediately. That was wasted energy. Instead, he asked Sarisa to inform the Adventurers Guild and the administrators about their plan. They would need a unit of the regulars to guard them while they did their work, and some laborers to excavate the ice once it had been set. She departed after a quick bow, jumping over the fence instead of taking the gate.

She takes things too seriously, Xolsa said, falling into a fit of coughs shortly after that.

There has to be a potion that can help you.

If Drogramaths power cant help me, I dont know if theres a potion that will.

An unexpected twinge of guilt shot through Theos chest. He should have never agreed to let Xolsa spy on his realm. He should have known that there would be consequencesthe rules were very clear about a mortal delving into the realms. It was a foolish thing to think the extra-planar Elf would have been an exception.

It should heal with time. Right?

Xolsa managed to laugh before coughing again. It is getting better Theo. Theres just some things that dont heal overnight.

Like my little baby arm! Fenian said, almost flipping his wheelchair as he entered the garden from the manor. He had his recovering limb exposed. Theo looked away as quickly as he could. It appeared as though someone had grafted a childs limb to his body.

Thats absolutely disgusting.

This is your handiwork, my dear alchemist. Bask in its glory. Fenian edged closer to Theo, poking him in the face with his new limb. Bask!

Im basking, alright? Theo asked, standing up and edging away from Fenian. But that thing is creepy.

There we are. Keep basking.

The longer I know you, the more I realize how weird you are.

Fenian pretended to be offended. Theo, do you realize how long I spent fighting Karasan in the realms? Eons! We fought in the deepest dungeons and the highest peaks. Until at last! I smote my enemy upon the mountainside.

But you lost the fight. Theo narrowed his eyes at the Elf.

Alright. I made that last part up. He cut off my arm and leg and I ran away like a coward. Are you happy? Now I am sad.

Theo groaned, jumping over the fence so that the Elven trader could not pursue.

Im not done! Fenian shouted. Come back so I can wave my baby arm in your face again!

NO!