5.4 - Tero'gal's Sea

5.4 - Tero'gal's Sea

Rows of mycology caves stretched in every direction. Theo stood, tapping his foot on the hard-packed ground, staring at the dream-like creation. After he got the idea to spread his alchemy to the world, he realized they wouldnt be able to produce industrial quantities of the mixture. He had spent most of the Dreamwalk working on a way to dumb it down, but that brought challenges. The alchemist let out a steady breath, then pushed off against one caves entrance.

Casting his eyes to the sky, he saw Tresk and Alex doing battle with a dragon. A real dragon, this time. She had always been a dreamer. She came up with interesting things in the Dreamwalk without ever having seen it. Now that she had laid eyes on a dragon, she could reproduce it here without issue. Theo fell into an instinctive crouch when the earth beneath his feet rumbled. A shiver ran across the mirror realm.

What was that? Theo muttered to himself. The words carried to the sky, to Tresks ears. She appeared beside him.

Woah! Can you feel that? she asked, closing her eyes to focus.

Theo felt the little marshlings senses spread out over the imaginary landscape. Her thoughts slipped through the cracks in the dream, then out into the wider realms. After a moment, her eyes snapped open.

Something happened in the realms. Just felt like a a Pop! Then nothing.

The alchemists mind couldnt rest on that idea for long. It wandered almost immediately, falling back to his problem. Drogramaths form of alchemy was known to the unaligned alchemists of the world. They could eventually gain access to distillation, but it was considered a high-level skill. Almost ascendant. At Level 50, someone with an [Alchemists Core] gained access to the skills required to distill essences. Before that, they created salves and poultices to help people. Theo could make those things. But he had never tried.

Well see what that was when we get back, Tresk said, patting Theos shoulder reassuringly. No need to worry, my precious.

Hmm? Oh, right. No, we expected that. It just means that Fenian is alive. He must be working with Khahar to rearrange the realms.

When the Dreamwalk ended, Theo found himself in a listless state. He wandered down to the dining room, so lost in thought that he didnt greet those that greeted him. The alchemist left the manor with a plate of food. Sarisa and Rowan both trailed him at a distance, ever dutiful.

I need your help, Theo said, patting Salire on the shoulder. She stiffed for a moment, then nodded and followed him to the third floor of the Newt and Demon.

Okay. Im not sure I can really help.

Are those traders still in town? Theo removed a [Swamp Truffle] from a storage crate and set it on a table.

Yeah.

Perfect, Theo pulled the hood up on his coat, suppressing a sigh as the comforting effects washed over him. We have a problem. Were both Drogramathi Alchemists.

How is that a problem?

Because Id bet Partopour doesnt have the facilities to make enough essence to defend themselves. We have to dumb ourselves down and figure out how the normies perform alchemy.

Oh! Salire bounced across the room, withdrawing an old book from the shelf. Gromdraths Introduction to Alchemy is a good read.

She had spent a lot of time thumbing through basic alchemy books over the years. It was a hidden aspiration of hers, but one that was difficult to achieve. Even the standard form of alchemy was dangerous to perform, limiting practitioners to those who could afford apprenticeships. The book she had placed on the table was much like the others he had read. Unlike Drogramathi Alchemy, each method of creation was well-documented.

Each reagent can be processed three different ways. But what those ways are depends on which property you want to extract. Every reagent is different. So while pickling might work to extract the first property of a [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], but would reveal the third property on a [Manashroom]. Its all random!The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

Write a list of the processing methods. Lets get to work.

Standard alchemy was smelly, boring work. Theo and Salire busted their butts for most of the day to try every manner of property extraction on the [Swamp Truffle]. Pickling, blanching, roasting, toasting the list went on. It only got worse when the standard methods failed, and they began combining effects. In the middle of the afternoon, they unlocked the secret. The truffles needed to be brined in seawater, then roasted over a wood fire.

Salire was masterful in her preparation of the poultice. Not that there was much to do. She smashed the mushroom up, then added a catalyzing agent. What was left was a blackened paste that smelled like week-old unwashed feet. Theo pinched his nose, leaning in to inspect his apprentices creation.

[Hallow Weapon Coating]

[Weapon Coating]

Common

Created by: Salire Hogrush

Grade: Poor Quality

Coat your weapon with the [Hallow Ground] effect. Enemies struck with that weapon will experience the effects of [Hallow Ground].

There it is, Theo said, nodding with approval. Not as good as the essence-based potions, but what do you want? Sarisa, could you prepare a few crates of my cultivated [Swamp Truffles]?

The half-ogre woman appeared from nowhere. She bowed, then nodded. How much?

Half the stock out back. Thank you.

Salire was bubbling with excitement. She turned to the alchemist, clapping her hands and giggling. This is big, right?

World-changing, Theo said, clapping a hand on her shoulder. Write the recipe down, and deliver it to Miltar.

After Salire took off, Theo was left with his thoughts. He could never remember that other nations didnt have access to Drogramathi Alchemy. The undead were a world-level threat, werent they. He ground the heel of his foot into the ground, unsure of his own logic. Without an understanding of Balkors motives, it was impossible to know. Was he heading to Tarantham to get revenge on the elves? That was a motive, if one assumed he was cast down by Glantheir without a plan. If the demon god let himself be defeated, as might be the case, then revenge made little sense. So why head west? Something could be hidden in Veosta. Or the mountains that cut through the center of the continent.

Theo let out a frustrated breath, then dismissed the matter. He sent a quick mental message to Tresk, then fell through the realms. UzXulven didnt beckon him this time. He flew over the Bridge, then pierced the veil into Terogal. The scent of fires burning, and the sound of people cheering and dancing hit him first. He felt Belgars hand on his shoulder before his other senses came to him. A smile was on the spirits face.

Welcome back. Did you see the news?

I havent. Whats going on?

The people celebrating in the distance only grew louder. They had gathered in their little village, and were dancing around a large bonfire. Theo spotted a few wayward souls waiting for approval near the bubbling creek, but he turned his attention to Belgar.

Khahar made a move. We got a system message that claimed the time scales of all heavenly realms were now standardized.

Theo! Benton shouted, dusting the snow from his shoulders. I brought a friend!

Hello, Theo said, waving stupidly.

Hi, the man said. His voice was gruff.

This is Ed. Hes the Human God of Tedding.

Of what?

Ed groaned. Is everyone going to ask me what I stand for? Tedding. Thats where you take material and spread it out into a field.

Thats horribly specific, Theo said. Anyway, wanna play in the water?

Uh, yeah? Benton asked, scoffing. Must be nice that you get to work in a temperate climate. Im still stuck in eternal snow.

Ed wasnt a man of many words. He was happy to soak his feet in the water, and watch all the souls play, but he wouldnt take part. Benton explained he was a brand new god, originally from Bantein. The guy had leveled a [Farmers Core] to 100 somehow. After a betrayal from his family, he had enough with the mortal world and ascended. That was apparently a popular thing to do, especially with the undead remaining a threat. Most people who could ascend would.

Theo and Benton returned to the town, sitting down for tea in the cottage. After they had exchanged stories for a while, something curious happened. A small mote of light appeared on the table. It pulsed with energy, but did nothing else.

Whats that? Theo asked, leaning in. He poked it, but his finger just passed through.

Not sure Ive ever seen something like that. Not in my realm.

The orb pulsed some more, bringing with it garbled language that neither man could understand. They just drank their tea, ate scones, and watched the orb try and form something like words. But nothing came. Theo told his bear friend about his brush with normal alchemy, and how boring it was.

Not everything is easy, Benton said with a chuckle. Oh, look. The words are getting clearer.

Theo help, the orb said.

Hello? Theo asked, leaning close to the orb. You have the wrong number!

Stuck moon help

Stuck on the moon? Benton asked. Someone is stuck on the moon? Can you even get to the moon?

Ah, crap. I know who that orb belongs to. Theo drummed his fingers on the table. Thats Sulvan Flametouched. Grand Inquisitor of the Burning Eye.

Huh. Grand Inquisitor of squat. Seeing as the eye is dead.

Dead-ish, but yeah. Sulvan. Can you hear me? Go screw yourself!

Benton chuckled.

Accept realm the orb said.

Accept my butt! Theo and Benton cackled, swatting at the orb. But it didnt go away. Ah, whatever. Khahar? Yuri? Can you hear me? What should I do about this orb? Can you arbitrate this for me?

A quick snap, then Khahar appeared in the cottage. He had a deck of cards in his hands, but cast a confused look at the orb. Thats against the rules, he said, gesturing at the orb. He swatted his hand through the air, then the orb vanished.

Are you here to beat our asses at poker? Again? Benton asked.

Yes.

Khahar delt, then poured himself a cup of tea. He won the first few rounds, but Theo finally won on a lucky hand.

Sulvan and Uharis were meant to stay on the moon forever, Khahar said, dealing another hand. I guess theyre like cats without claws, though. Ive been rejecting their petitions for ascendancy for a while.

Theo chuckled. Thats so petty. I love it.

You could interdict them to your realm, if you wanted to.

Why would I do that?

Khahar shrugged. He finished dealing the cards out.

Was there any merit to accepting either man into his realm? Were they trying to be trouble-makers, or had they actually learned their lesson? There was value in bringing them here, but only because Theos command of the realm was absolute. He could cast almost anyone out at a moments notice, sending them to their home realms or the void. The only person he couldnt toss out was Khahar, but that wasnt surprising.

Do you think they could atone, Yuri? Theo asked.

I think so.

Why are you rejecting their petition for ascension, then?

Because godhood wouldnt give them the chance to atone. I have a feeling that another being is meddling with my plans, though.

Huh.

This was something Theo would discuss with Tresk before he decided. Perhaps a few declawed cats were exactly what they needed.