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Kernstalion 69: Meeting Worthood
🕑 Added 2021-04-08 17:06:43 +0000 UTCAfter walking through the city for a whole afternoon, we eventually returned to the crossroads with the bookstore, as I still wanted to check it out. We were planning to find a place to eat after that before returning to the temple. If Eliandra's heated gaze meant anything, we were likely going to do something interesting after that.
It wasn't as busy anymore, and we agreed it was probably because most people were working whatever jobs they had. Still, groups of scantily dressed men and women were meandering about, seemingly in good spirits.
"I think they are night workers," I muttered as I stepped through the thick wooden door of the library.
Eliandra just snorted before moving off to a wall filled with books, and I followed her example. Looking around, I was both surprised and underwhelmed. There were probably a few hundred books lining the many shelves. Compared to what I had seen in this world, it was a lot, but only if I didn't count The Library. Moving along the books, I began searching for books with spells. I didn't actually expect anything, but it would save me a trip if I found a useful ranged spell.
Halfway through the bookshelves, I'd not seen anything that piqued my interest when one cover drew my attention. Compendium of the Ancient Interdimensional Races, I read the title again, gently removing the thick dusty book from the shelf. Opening it, I saw a small introduction about the author, followed by a lengthy description of what could be found in the book and what couldn't. Skimming it, I found it dealt with historical events dating back to before the great upheaval, the death of most of the old gods of that time. As I read on, my status pinged twice to indicate my paltry amount of available knowledge points had decreased again. I groaned, flipping the pages quickly and about to put the book away when I saw a list of names with a small description. It was alphabetically ordered, and curious, I skimmed forward to the G. A few pages in, I found a two-line entry labeled Guidar.
"Highly intelligent dimension-hopping demon-like locusts that were rumored to be the instigators of the great upheaval. Reportedly exterminated by an ancient, unknown group of Deities."
So much for being exterminated, I thought with a sniff. I hadn't gotten any ping this time, probably as I knew this before. Thinking what else I wanted to know, I began flipping the pages until I got to the H for humans. There wasn't an entry, and I wondered where I could go to have it added in the next copy.
Anything else? I thought, trying to remember what races I had come across. Then I remembered the dagger I had gotten recently. Sighing at my lack of foresight, I quickly leafed back to the C for Corlon and found a massive entry that spanned half the page. Mostly seemed to be detailed information about what the author called a 'mysterious elder race', and where links to them had been found. At the bottom, there was a small bit of factual information.
"With all that we don't know of this marvelous race, we do know one thing, mostly provided by Primes of various deities. The Corlon are a race of master magicians. Excelling in speed casting, they offset the disadvantage of having but a single arm by practicing and mastering the use of their one appendage until they could wield it flawlessly. Their training methods are legendary, both in difficulty and effectiveness."
You don't say, I thought as I shook my head at the book.
"You don't agree with what is written?" A sharp, gravelly voice snapped me from my focus, and looking up, I saw a small man, barely half as tall as me, glaring at me above a massive mustache. "I tell you now, the contents of that book are completely accurate!"
As the man spoke, he moved forward and held out a hand for the book. Uncertain what was going on, I gave it to him. Holding it with far more care than I had, the man glanced at the page I had been looking at.
"Guidar... What do you know of them?" the man looked up, his gaze intense as if he was trying to pry knowledge from my brain. I blinked, trying to understand who this weird guy was. He didn't seem like a danger, his protruding stomach and stick-like arms indicated little skill in martial prowess. He could still be a mage, though, so I put a quick smile on my face and shook my head.
"Nothing really, I-"
"Nothing? Nothing! I don't believe you! Bar me, the only ones who would even know to look for this name would be Primes, and no Prime has ever set foot in this store!"
I stared at the man, whose spittle was flying forward as he spoke in agitation.
"Now. Who exactly are you?" the man continued, stepping closer as his eyes narrowed.
I still didn't feel any threat from the man, so I shrugged.
"He is the strongest and most capable Prime of the new deity that has just opened her temple in this beautiful city," Eliandra said as she stepped from behind one of the bookshelves where she must have been hiding. A grin was on her face, and she winked at me.
"What? What! A deity, a new one even?" The little man came so close the tips of his mustache touched the front of my armor. "You must tell me everything! All of it! Hurry!"
I couldn't hold back a smile this time, and Eliandra burst out in laughter. Immediately the small man stepped back and glared at us.
"Yes, you just laugh. What do you even know, besides fighting? Bah. You are probably lying anyway. A new deity? One that evaded those three? Preposterous!"
Seeing him about to turn away and move off, I felt slightly bad and quickly stopped laughing. "Wait, wait. I am sorry that we laughed at you," I said, stepping forward. "I am Est, Prime of Rathica.". A little promotion couldn't hurt. Now that Rathica had taken an additional adherent, more should follow, I reasoned.
The man turned around again, his mood changing as fast as before, and he looked at me with a big smile. "Really? It's an honor to have you in my store!"
I blinked at his quick turnaround and wondered if he wasn't too quick to believe my words.
"What? Think old Worthood is gullible?" the man snorted, and I suddenly saw an intelligent gleam in his eyes as he looked slightly above my head and to the left. Following his gaze, I saw a small hovering globe close to the ceiling. It was blue and glowed ever so dimly.
"Yes, a truth orb, you see it right! Think not that I, P. H Worthood, author of this compendium and many other works, just takes anyone's word without verification!" Puffing out his chest, the man closed the book and deftly put it back on the shelf.
"Now, what do you want?" he said, staring at me again.
Not sure what the odd little man wanted now, I shook my head. "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? Fine, not the brightest gleam-stone in the bag, are we?" he snorted before purposely talking in slow motion. "What do you want?"
"For what," I said, feeling a smile creep up again.
"For what?" Worthood repeated again. "For any and all knowledge you have, of course!"
That wouldn't be as much as you seem to think, I thought as I shared a look with Eliandra. She shrugged. "I think he wants information on Rathica?"
Worthood whirled around, jabbing a finger at Eliandra. "Who are you?" he screamed, appearing stunned to find someone behind him. "How did you sneak up on me?"
"Didn't she just talk to you?" I muttered. "She told you I am a Prime."
Worthood looked at Eliandra for a moment, nodding fervently. "Yes, yes. I know that! But who is she?"
"I am the best shield fighter you will find in this town and his girlfriend," Eliandra said, puffing out her chest in a mock imitation of Worthood.
Worthood just sniffed and turned away from her. "Not interesting. Weapons are for children and shields even more so. You," he snapped and pointed at me, "dull-witted one. I want you to tell me anything you know of Corlon magic."
Dull-witted? I thought with a frown, waiting for the usual, "and in return", but it didn't come. My patience was fading, as was the fun of talking with the odd little man. As this might be my only day of rest until I had to find Ulderion's old followers, I wasn't willing to waste more of it on this guy.
"Why?" I finally asked, deciding that I should at least hear what he had to offer.
"Why? Why?!" the little man shouted in outrage before he began grumbling so softly I couldn't understand anything.
"Yes. Why should I tell you? What do I have to gain from spending my time on you?" I snapped, interrupting his mutterings. Eliandra was beckoning me to ease up, and I took a deep breath, calming myself. She was right, it wasn't worth getting annoyed. I stepped to the side, planning on walking around the man and following Eliandra into the city again. I wanted to find a place for us to have dinner together.
Worthood sidestepped, blocking my way. "You mean payment! Why did you not just say so?" His eyes narrowed. "I can pay you three small soul-wood fragments for it!"
I shook my head, trying to get around Worthood. He backpedaled and sidestepped again, still blocking my path.
"A medium one!" he snapped, trying to shoo me back with his arms.
"I am not interested in soul-wood," I said, deciding these shenanigans had gone on long enough. "Unless you have a ranged magic spell based on vegetation magic, I am leaving."
"Magic!" Worthood perked up, and he stared at me with a look of disbelief on his face. "You can't do magic. You're too stu- slow for it!"
Annoyed at being called stupid repeatedly, I stuffed my hand inside my bag, grabbed a seed, and used a free hand to cast Sprout Life on it. The small seed blossomed into an olive-colored stalk, dark roots wriggling around my fingers.
Worthood stared mesmerized at my fingers, his mouth hanging open and the tips of his mustache dangling inside. Seeing my chance, I quickly dodged around him and moved to Eliandra.
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait!" Worthood shouted, running after us, trying to jump in front of us to block our way.
This time I just put my arm between us, and he bounced back. Turning to Eliandra, I smiled. "Let's go and get some food! Do you know of a good restaurant?"
Eliandra cast a look at Worthood, a crooked smile on her face. "Sorry. We don't have that much time! Perhaps next time!" Then she turned to me and nodded.
"Wait! I have what you want!" Worthood shouted, and against my better judgment, I turned back around.
"A ranged spell?" I asked.
"Yes. Yes, yes!"
"Vegetation magic?" I continued, wanting to be absolutely sure.
"That's what I said! I have what you are looking for!" Worthood continued hurriedly. He turned and ran towards the back of the shop, turning around halfway. "Don't leave!" Then he disappeared through a small door.
"So. Do we leave?" I asked, grinning at Eliandra.
"Do you really need more spells?" she asked seriously.
I sighed and nodded. "My biggest weakness right now would be getting kited by some mage or ranger."
"Then we stay, of course," Eliandra said with a sigh. She turned back to the books and began leafing through one as we waited.
We didn't have to wait for long, as Worthood rushed back with a small booklet in hand. Gasping for breath, he bent over, his hands on his knees while handing me the book.
"He- Here, "he gasped. "Now tell me, everything you know of the Corlons," he managed to squeeze out, his face so red I was worried he was going to kick the bucket any moment.
I ignored him, looking at the small booklet. It was similar to the one that held the odd hand-gestures that let me practice spells more often. Opening it, I almost expected it to say 'practice' on the first page. Instead, it said, "Fungal Growth spell and its uses. Explained in depth for apothecaries throughout the realms!"
Fungal growth? I thought, blinking in confusion. Leafing through the pages, Eliandra beside me began laughing as she read along.
"Perfect! Now you can make fungi grow from a hundred meters away!" she said before bursting out in laughter.
I sighed, handing the book back to Worthood, who looked from Eliandra to me in confusion.
"I meant a combat spell, not some gardening utility spell," I said, turning around.
"But… but…" Worthood sputtered behind me, and I almost felt sympathy for the man who had just run for what seemed like more than he did in a year to get me what he thought I wanted.
"Listen. I'll be in the city until tomorrow morning. If I find some time, I'll come by and tell you some things," I said while exiting the shop. I could hear him begin to curse and shout, and when Eliandra closed the door, something struck against it, shattering to pieces.
"You pissed him off," she said, and I couldn't see if she was angry with me or amused.
"I'll see that I pass by before leaving tomorrow. But for now, let's eat. After that, you can show me what you had planned for tonight!"
Eliandra hooked her arm around mine as we walked away from the bookstore.
A few hours later, we slowly walked away from a cozy little eatery on the edge of the shopping streets. I was stuffed, my stomach felt stretched and bloated, and I couldn't remember the last time I had this much good food. It had been expensive, a single medium soul-wood fragment, but so worth it.
Strolling through the red-tinted streets, groups of happy partygoers moved past us as we headed back to the temple. My mind was a little fuzzy from the drink we’d had, and Eliandra was plastered across my arm. Her new body didn't have as strong a stomach for alcohol as her old, and she was giggling on occasion.
When we reached the temple, it was well lit inside. The vegetation growing along the walls glowed dimly, while the sconces cast a warm yellow light throughout the room that reminded me of the old lightbulbs in Nana's guest room.
Looking around, I saw no sign of Laurel or anybody else. A few corridors led away from the main hall, and I couldn't remember if I had seen all of those when we left. One had a sign of a bed above, and I blinked in surprise.
"Guess Rathica made us some bedrooms?" I said, drawing Eliandra towards the corridor.
The corridor had an arched roof and a dozen doors on each side. A massive gleaming brown wooden door sat at the end, beckoning me. Moving towards it, I heard snoring from the first door to the left. Probably Laurel, I thought as I reached the door at the end of the corridor. A small sign sat to the left of it.
"Prime Est's quarters," I read out loud, and Eliandra sniffed.
"Mine too!
Feeling warm and fuzzy, I opened the door, hoping there was a bed. There was more than a bed.
The room was at least ten meters wide and seven deep, with a sitting area to the left. There was a sort of fireplace, although instead of fire, there were brightly glowing clusters of red and golden mushrooms. The haze around them indicated they were hot, and I wondered if the sweet scent I smelled came from them. The whole of the right side was dominated by a massive bed, with a canopy covering it. A thick rug covered the ground, and as I wondered what the hell had such thick purple fur, Eliandra ran to the bed with a loud scream of joy.
She landed in the middle and began crooning around like a cat. A drunk cat.
"Close that door, and come over here," she whispered as she started to remove her armor.
I swallowed, tension building throughout my body, and slammed the door shut behind me.
The exploration of this room could wait.
Everything could wait.
