4.40 - Blessing the Temple

4.40 - Blessing the Temple

Comforting breezes didnt roll through Broken Tusk during the Season of Fire. Theo had abandoned all hope of being sweat-free outside of the air-conditioned buildings in town. As with all alchemical experimentations, a cracked window was vital. The alchemist stood with Salire, looking over their batch of spirits from the previous day. They had created enough to run the three major restoration potions, but no more.

Always take it one step at a time. Theo transferred their newest creation, the [Bound Enchanted Dilution], to holding containers. When you create too many changes, youre bound for failure.

Salire nodded, watching as the alchemist moved the liquid around. He poured it into a clean still, leaning over the edge to inspect it.

[Bound Enchanted Dilution]

[Alchemy Component]

Rare

Alcohol that has been infused and bound with Drogramaths energy.

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Property:

[Healing]

Question, Salire said, reading over the description of the item. Your bond has been at middling for some time. Why?

That was a question Theo couldnt answer. He suspected it had to do with the way Khahar had changed the rules for gods. But that could be wrong. When he met with Drogramath, the Demon Lord seemed intent on forcing Theo to select him as a patron. Assuming that strange god only had his best interest at heart, the alchemist could extrapolate the information.

Perhaps a temple is needed to go above middling. Maybe Khahar messed up the system. Im not sure. Prepare the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], please.

Salire nodded, running off to search through their storage crates. She had bought several dresses from the traders from Partopour. Most were in floral patterns, but all of them looked supremely comfortable. Alignment bonds increase the effectiveness of potions and can be increased by making daily offerings.

She did that often enough that it wasnt weird. As a hopeful alchemist, Salire often repeated information so it would stick in her head. Perhaps she could invest more points into Wisdom.

Were doing one standard for the [Healing] property. My bet is that the system tags the new essences with bound as a property. Refined Bound Healing Essence. Something like that.

Wish I had that kind of intuition. Salire fed gnarled roots into the grinder, adjusting the dial on the side to get a better mash. The machine whirred, crunching the soft root with little effort.

Ive been thinking about that. Theo withdrew his new [Wisdom of the Soul] potion from his inventory, holding it in his hand while Salire worked. Belgar told me what this potion does. It removes my intuition. Moves all those intrusive thoughts into a system message.

Really? Is that useful?

It was incredibly useful. Immeasurably so. Theos intuition often impeded his thought processes. Intelligence was just as bad with that, but Terogal had fixed some of that. But the Wisdom attribute was etched too firmly in his mind to be dislodged that way. Even in his personal realm it pecked at his thoughts like a hungry crow, often more a distraction than anything. It made him feel distant. Removed from the real world, sending him spiraling down what if scenarios.

I think so. Belgar agrees.

Cause its always good to trust the soul of the guy whose body you stole.

Fair point. Theo approached the still, turning knobs on the side to set the temperature. He couldnt get away with single-temperature runs for much longer. Well set this for about an hour. Maybe less, depending on how hard Zaralis enchantments work. Whats that sound?

Like a magpie finding a new treasure, Theo surged for the front window. When he opened it, he saw Sledges carpentry crew working on the temples roof. The stoneworkers had some trouble getting the foundation of the building together, but not the carpenters. Half the roof was already done and they were slapping boards down like old professionals.

Theyll be done with that today. Salire edged closer to Theo, pushing her body against him to peer outside. Like most Half-Ogres in town, she had the strength to toss him around. The pair gazed at the new building for some time, appreciating how it loomed ominously in the distance.

What do you think I should do with the town, Salire? Theo asked.

She looked the alchemist in the eyes, face twisting in confusion for a few moments. What?

I own half the businesses in town. More than half, actually. Should one person own so much stuff?

The pale orange on her cheeks flushed a darker shade when she realized he was asking her such a serious question. He often saw everyone in town as a peer. Not lower or higher than anyone else.

Uh, well I dont know.

Good answer.

Most businesses you own already have a good payment structure. Based on production, right? You just kinda let me take whatever I want from the store, which is a poor business model. In classic fashion, Salire got her feet under herself in the conversation in an instant. Youre afraid of losing the ability to control where your resources go, arent you?

If I need some stone, I want it when I need it. Same with wood and metal.

Salire let out a long sigh. She settled in on the windowsill, pushing Theo mostly out of the way. Hard to say. Id change the way youre doing it if I was in charge.

How?

This is a problem of ownership. Take your deal with Dead Dog Mine. They split up ten percent of the value of every nugget mined. But they dont own their ability to make money. You do.

Whats the alternative?

Well, I wouldnt give the mine to Gridgen. Id give the mine to the workers. Change the ownership of the mine to Broken Tusk, then strike a new floating contract. Anyone who wants to work the mine can work it. They can organize themselves however they like.

That only works because we know the people of Broken Tusk are good.

Yeah, so whats the problem? Salire cast him a penetrating look.

Theo had been feeling more like an oligarch by the day. Like a dictator who wanted to hold on to everything within the town. No one had brought it up so far. Well, Tresk had. But she liked to poke fun at him, so that didnt count. Exports were going to be a massive money-maker in the town. Once more traders showed up, it would be a flood of coins. Thats when he had to think about changing the structure. When their coffers were so full they couldnt spend it, the citizens should get the excess.

Theres a lot to think about.

Theo and Salire continued to chat. He practiced his magic and bone carvings while they waited for the essence to run, remembering the words of Xolsa. If he remembered to keep a steady pace of practice, he could have his [Toruaun Mages Core] up to 10 within a week. That would unlock access to a new skill.

Once the first flask was filled with pale pink liquid, Theo took it to the side for inspection. Hed wanted to wait for the run to complete at first, but Sledges distraction proved only temporary.

Huh, Theo grunted, inspecting the essence. Thats weird.

[Refined Bound Healing Essence]

[Essence] [Refined Essence] [Bound Essence]

Uncommon

Grade: Good Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A lesser mana potion. Drink to restore mana.

Effect:

Instantly restores 150 mana.

Im certain no one makes these. She stared at the potion, running her fingers along the ornate vial.

Dont count on it. The Elves have a monopoly on cool stuff. Check out the other one.

[Greater Stamina Potion]

[Potion]

Rare

Created by: Theo Spencer

Grade: Good Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A stamina potion. Drink to restore stamina.

Effect:

Instantly restores 115 stamina points.

There were parts of the process that needed improvement. The quality could be improved, which would squeeze a few more points out of all the potions. Then there was the combination of modifiers, which would really set the potions off. But todays experimentations were over. A knock came at the door shortly after they had finished with the work. Zarali stepped in with a big smile on her face.

I can feel him calling, Theo. Time to bless the temple.

Theo poked his head out of the window. There was a mostly completed roof sitting atop the building. Even with the fading light of the day, everyone seemed eager to get the temple up and running. While it seemed like something that could wait for tomorrow, the alchemist agreed to attend the ceremony. His actual motive was to help Sledge use her [Fabricators Core]. She needed all the coaching she could get.

As with most things in town, the temple drew eyes. And crowds. Theo had to wade through the gathered throng, pushing his way to the front steps. It was imposing to look up at the massive building. Larger than every other building in town, and spanning to a height that would rival Xolsas tower, Zizs people had created something special. Made of white stone and straight angles, they had captured the sinister vibe more than anything else.

The building was constructed with one concept in mind. Simplicity of design. At the front of the building, where the steps and entryway were located, there were two identical towers. The roof was peaked in the center, made of sturdy Ogre Cypress and stained a deep shade of blue. The rear of the building held a rounded section with open windows. Theo ascended the stairs to be the first to enter the mostly completed temple. Aside from the workers, of course.

It was entirely bare in the interior aside from a Marshling sitting cross-legged in the center. Open windows lined either side of the massive walls. Spiraling staircases sat in the turrets, allowing access to those high places in the temple. Theo approached Sledge, coming to sit down next to her. Zarali and Xolsa were close behind.

Got it? Theo asked.

Just about, Sledge grunted, teeth gritted in concentration. Just a few more minutes.

Roots of unaligned magical energy slapped harmlessly against the temples walls. The sound of the magic played like chimes across the empty walls, echoing endlessly. Theo felt a deep connection with this place. It was reaching out, desperate to grasp onto something. Almost as though the building itself was begging for a patron. To fulfill its purpose.

The sun had dipped low by the time Sledge got a handle on her abilities. She needed an unending supply of [Mana Potions] to keep her going. Every lash of her root-like magic brought the temple closer to heel. Her eyes snapped open and she drew a quick breath.

There! Sledge shouted.

The roots latched on, grabbing the massive building and holding firm. Voices of surprise came from outside the building, then the scattering of feet over cobblestones. A sheen of magic rolled over the stones, sending the bright marble glowing even brighter. Once the lights settled down, Theo forced his will into the building for inspection.

[Temple]

Owner: [Broken Tusk]

Faction: [Southlands Alliance]

Level: 1(0%)

Rent Due: 7 Days

Expansions:

None

My turn, Zarali said, slamming the end of her staff down onto the stone floor. A wave of Drogramathi mana flowed from within her, washing over everything like a cleansing flame. She chanted a tale of blessings in the Drogramathi tongue This went on until the sun was below the horizon. One last wave of purifying mana later, and her eyes snapped open. Done. It told me the owner of the town will see patron selections.

A screen sprung up for Theo to view.

[Temple] has been blessed!

Please select three from the following realm-holders to be your towns patrons.

Drogramath (Grodulharak)

Glantheir (The Realm of Healing)

The Arbiter (Khahak)

Parantheir (Duelists Refuge)

The list was longer than Theo expected. He scrolled through the entire thing, the crowd around him waiting for his selection. As he neared the bottom of the list, his heart skipped a beat. His eyes went wide as he viewed the last selection on the list.

The Dreamwalkers Tarahek (Terogal)