(Vol 7) Chapter 22: The Mind is No Place to Shout

I could use this in Caneboro! Merrington! I could drop it like a bomb before sieging an important city! Rivermount? Matrazere?! Okay, maybe I’m stretching things there. I don’t want to have the effect fucking fail to some bullshit warding. No chance Matrazere isn’t super warded. But could I use [Alter Fate]? Whoa, this is a tough one…

She was not going to act rashly, that was for sure. Wherever she used it, it would inhibit her own arcane spellcraft — unless, of course, she was targeting flyers or something. She had plenty of Divine options but it was something to consider. No doubt, though, that it would fuck over the Dominion way more than her forces. They relied far more on the arcane than she did.

Damn! Wish I had more of these. For sure I can’t use it until Tashome rubs it tenderly — or whatever he does with magic items. Maybe he can replicate it. Oh my goddesses, that would be killer!

Perhaps she shouldn’t be so quick to burden Tashome further, but if there was anything worth focusing on, it was potential ‘change the tides of war’ level power.

Speaking of Tash, I need to get my staff upgrade dealt with…

She poked Jeeves to arrange for transport of the geode and also set up a meeting soon with Tash. She sent the information about the new powerful item to the Brain Trust, certain they would quickly be debating how to use it and where.

Before she could even shake the dust of the incident off, they were in her head.

Lucky. “Ya gotta use it in Caneboro, Sweet Goddess!” Her tone was excitable and insistent. “We’re a right hotbed and that would change everything! Besides, you don’t even help us much with your wizardly hand as it stands.”

Aramis. “Merrington is the smart play. The Naugites are already conditioned to not need arcane magic and rely on might and clerical power. This edge when they least expect it? Damnation for the Dominion.”

Floofa. “Sammy awesome!”

Wait, what is she-? Eugh, nevermind.

Ash. “You have the ability to force success! Save the enchantment for a stronghold. Even a chance at an advantage in Matrazere is worth it. You’ll need multiple miracles.”

Sammy did not reply to any of it. She just sighed. What have I done?

Tashome ensnared everyone in a broadcast. “Would everyone just shut the hell up? The mind is no place to shout over others, and I can tell you’re bugging the goddess directly. Bring the geode to me first. Perhaps there is mutation potential. We can argue after that.”

“Agreed,” Orswyth popped in with. “No hasty decisions regardless.”

“I concur,” Ash offered. “Sorry.”

Once there was silence again, Sammy used a vanilla Identify on the brooch Gelmak had given to her.

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Ardioq, Emblem of Warding Precious Worth

(Divine — Defense Enhancement; Enchantment) Touching this brooch in the center and mentally speaking the name causes it to grow into a large, circular shield without a handle that anchors in air 8 centimeters from either your hand or wrist (otherwise subject to gravity).

The shield provides +2 Magical Defense, +2 Physical Defense, and provides additional Magic Defense against Arcane magic spells that deal damage: level 1-3 spells are +3 Magical Defense, level 4-7 spells are +2, and level 8-14 spells are +1. The arcane spell protection applies regardless of facing, requiring only wielding the item. The primary defenses protect from the front as usual.

Touching this brooch anywhere but the center and speaking the command word while holding it to a surface will fuse it securely. Touching an outer pedal with your ring finger and speaking the command word will cause a pleasant floral scent in your immediate area.

Supreme Durability: The shield can only be damaged by magic (arcane magic level 15+ only), magical weapons, or some special effects/abilities, and is very resistant even so. It will degrade its Physical and Magical Defense before breaking and once fully broken, it will return to brooch form without damage. The shield form is unavailable on a 24-hour cooldown but will be fully repaired after that.

Cancellation: Once per hour, Ardioq will cancel a spell-based malus currently afflicting you. It must have a finite duration and be of level 14 or less (caster level doesn’t matter). This occurs immediately after being afflicted, but cannot cancel any instantaneous effects of the spell.

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Welp, that’s an upgrade! Even has a built-in air freshener. Guess I can retire the ring. I’m sure I’ll find something to replace the ‘slot,’ heh. Though I could technically put it on the Green Avatar.

There was an issue quickly transferring items between her Avatars unless they happened to be Bound. So the brooch would go with the geode transferred by Pegasus over land and sea. She could shortcut to the Sun Temple to pick it up, at least. But she had no particular reason to fast-track it with Mirror Walk.

Sammy left it for her well-oiled machine of an organization to handle. She dematerialized, switching over to her main Avatar in Geirkos.

Tashome was at the hideout in his room this time around, so she headed over. The place was the same as she remembered it, just simultaneously more organized and more cluttered. Tashome accrued stuff, that was for sure. Most of it was put up, but he was also continually working on a dozen things at once, so counter space was never truly clear.

She found him at his desk finishing up the last bits of his dinner, popping some bread in his mouth and sipping at ale. He nodded to her as she walked up. He actually looked… better. Not great, still haggard, but his eyes were steady. Unshakable and full of inner light.

He’ll endure for a long while yet. Sammy grinned at him. “Holding up well, eh?”

“We try,” Tashome replied. “Go ahead and produce Foolmaker for me, if you please, Your Majesty. Maintain a receptive spirit.”

Sammy summoned it to her hand and then levitated it over. Tashome moved his plate out of the way so it could be set on the desk in front of him. He touched his hands to it and closed his eyes as Sammy felt a plethora of shifting auras around both him and the staff. He was changing it, preparing it for the ‘additions’ to come. There was a subtle consent she had to give, to allow him to do anything to it, so she did as he said and relinquished any resistance.

The transmuted form of Dreixia’s weapon was already nearby. The entire shaft was gone, and the bell-and-chain head had been greatly reduced in size. Tashome, all without opening his eyes, took up the piece and fitted it to the end of Foolmaker. It quickly fused together, and over a few seconds, it disappeared entirely as it ‘melted’ into the staff. Tashome lifted the whole thing up with his hands, at which point the dragon head melted, and the butt end then became the bell-and-chain. It grew in size slightly.

Tashome finally opened his eyes. “The weapon is improved in general function comparable to Ta’kla Od. Resounding from Ta’kla Od is absorbed into the base effect of Echostrike. The only change there is the improved parry effects against any weapon. To utilize Cone of Sound, you must reconfigure as I just did, and sacrifice access to Knockout and Spell Absorption. Echostrike persists across both configurations. To configure, you have to spin the weapon butt end upward and allow it to morph. It seems to take one second, so it's not instantaneous. There you go.” He tossed the staff up to her.

Sammy caught it and stepped back to spin and swing the weapon with a few quick motions, careful not to ‘flick’ the bell in the way she’d seen Draixia do it. It jingled. The general balance and speed indeed seemed improved. She turned the staff butt end up and activated the re-configuration. The butt end morphed into the dragon head and the bell morphed into a new butt end.

Meeting Tashome’s eyes (who looked nervous she’d break something), Sammy grinned. “Thanks, ole buddy, ole pal! You’re the best!”

Tashome shrugged. “It was nothing. Time, mostly. Not much sacrifice was needed here. The affinity and attunement were already there, like an engagement. It merely needed its wedding and consummation.”

“Weird analogy, dude. Ooh, but speaking of! Azure and-”

“You’re going to be betrothed and married. Yes, I know.”

“Whaaat?! Did Azure tell you?”

“No. Everyone knows.”

Sammy stared. “Is nothing sacred or secret in my realm?”

“Not with Constance around, no.”

“Damn her. Does she do anything but gossip?”

“I’d say a significant portion of her time is spent gossiping and digging into internal intrigues. It has its uses, I suppose. People are informed and interested. But you shouldn’t be surprised that your social butterfly flaps her wings.”

“More like flaps her big lips! Tch. Anyway, I’m sure Azure spilled the beans initially. I think bragging about the ‘article’ is customary.”

“In the Southlands? That’s correct. In Valuwei, it's never spoken about publicly. But they exchange necklaces that make it obvious at a glance. It’s a great honor to attend a betrothal — a sign of trust and vulnerability. We do seven witnesses, with three on each side and a shaman.”

“Interesting. I suppose I could see how it makes one vulnerable.”

“The betrothed are supposed to wear the undergarments of the wedding. For some sects, they do it in the nude.”

“I should’ve known it would be some freaky shit.”

“There’s a spiritual aspect, and, like I said, only for some sects. Most do full coverings, if less than the typical dress. I wouldn’t call it freaky, though rest assured we’re less puritanical than Dominion stiffs. Or Earthlings, apparently.”

“I’m not puritanical! That’s ridiculous. And Earth… let’s just say I deliberately avoided the extensive extent of sexual freedom provided.”

“I see. I will make no further comments. In any case, congratulations.”

“Thank you!”

“I’ll take a look at this geode as soon as it comes to me.”

“Sounds good. Do you really think you can replicate it?”

“I won’t know anything until I have it in my hands.”

“Alright then. Have a good evening, Tashome.” She made a prayer sign and bowed.

Tashome returned the gesture. “And you. May fortune be in all your doings.”

Sammy left him, twirling her staff and continually switching the configuration to get used to it. When she stepped out into the open, cloudy sky, dusk was very near.

Reset comes. We got a lot done. A day of great progress! May the next be the same.

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« (Vol 7) Chapter 21 | Table of Contents | No, Sammy, nudity is not innately freaky! »

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