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A Soldier's Life - 250 - Return To Telha
🕑 Added 2024-08-24 20:37:46 +0000 UTCChapter 250: Return To Telha
Ginger was in bad shape, but at least the artificial clouds faded with the death of the gnoll mage. She was so upset she wouldn’t even take an offered apple. While Maveith stood watch, I calmed her and talked to her as I used healing salve to close nine puncture wounds. “Don’t worry, Ginger. Revenge is coming.”
I checked her over one more time, wiping the blood away to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The deep punctures would require a healing potion, but I didn’t think Ginger would consume the orc Pathfinder brew, so I gave her one of my few Hound lesser potions. She still didn’t like it, foaming more than swallowing, but I think she got most of it down.
“Maveith, how are you doing?” I asked as Ginger finally appeared recovered, and I relaxed. At least her appetite was back as she ate three apples noisily from my hand.
“It is difficult fighting in the dark,” he complained in a flat tone. “I have some abdominal pain, but I think it is from the orc potions and not a lingering injury.” Maveith released a sharp flatulence, and then another as his digestive system agreed with his assessment. “Yes. That helped relieve some of the cramping.” Maveith was completely serious and not making a fart joke, but I laughed anyway. After the night's ordeal, I needed the laugh.
I turned inward toward my aether core to try to feel out the change. I channeled aether through the new spell form, and my vision sharpened again. It was a weak spell form, and I guessed it must be my illusion affinity. Night vision had not been in the spell form book I had studied, so it was a mild surprise, but it made sense. The night vision was significantly weaker than the hound goggles, lacking color, but it compensated for a weakness. The spell form also felt more primal than the others intricate spell forms I learned. The only time I could recall studying night vision spell forms was when I briefly examined the night vision goggles with my earth speak.
This was actually the second time I had imprinted a spell form through willpower and need. The first time was when I created a spell form to pull as much out of an essence as possible. I was in legion training and had just won my first essence from placement in the spear competition.
I patted Ginger reassuringly and retrieved the collector. Under the light of my last glowstone, Ginger and Maveith followed me to the gnoll mage. The other glowstones were darkened and useless. Whatever the gnoll mage had done to them had destroyed their ability to absorb aether and give off light. The fact that he did that from over fifty feet away was impressive and indicated he had been powerful.
Under the glowstone, the gnoll mage had wrinkled skin and bristly, thin white fur. He—no, it was a she—appeared ancient and had loops of bone necklaces hanging around her body. Maveith grunted, “A soothsayer.”
“A what?” I asked as I placed the collector over the strangely citrus-smelling body.
“A soothsayer. The bone necklaces are for divining the future. A soothsayer would cut the thread, toss the bones, and then read them. I have never heard of a gnoll being a soothsayer before, though. I wonder who trained it.” Maveith said, intrigued. Thick aetheric smoke was drawn into the collector. A major essence quickly formed, but I thought enough smoke had been drawn to form an apex from my experience. I had never seen a clairvoyance/divination essence before. The sphere appeared oily as I turned it, and images in the oil came and went before you could focus on them.
I moved to her two guards next and then among all the gnolls. The collector formed two minor quickness essences, two minor dexterity essences, and one major strength essence. The strength essence was from the largest gnoll who had led the rushing group. Maveith had put one of his large arrows near its heart, and it bled out from the injury.
“Do you want the major strength essence or the four minor essences?” I asked Maveith as I stood from the last young gnoll who yielded nothing. The morning sky was graying, and I was eager to track down the rest of the gnolls.
Maveith was cleaning his retrieved arrows with leaves. He looked up and considered. “The quickness essences are good enough for me.” I deposited all four minor essences into his hand and consumed the strength essence myself. I didn’t even ask if he wanted the soothsayer’s essence as that would improve my ability to maximize gains from essences.
“The gnolls are heading west. I want to try and hunt them down,” I stated while rubbing Ginger’s neck.
Maveith sucked on his teeth. “Shouldn’t we continue? We will lose a day hunting down the gnolls.” He indicated the eight dead gnolls around the structure in which we camped. “We killed their best hunters and their powerful soothsayer. If we were to remain in the Empire, I would agree it is in our best interest to hunt them, but we are leaving, are we not?” Maveith stressed the last a little.
I could hear the underlying urgency in his voice to get to his sister. I pulled out Ginger’s grooming kit to remove the dried blood and sighed, “Okay, I agree. We will continue on to the capital. We will cross the river tomorrow and approach on the far shore.” Maveith nodded in appreciation that his advice was taken.
We made a fast pace up the old trade road the rest of the day as we closed on Telha. We crossed the river as planned. I put everything I could in storage and Maveith and I swam across in our underclothes, while Ginger made her way across with me holding her lead line. She was actually pretty excited to swim and danced around on the opposite shore excitedly shaking the water off. My horse liked swimming and wanted to go back in.
We dried off in the spring sun and then dressed. After last night, I was tempted to don armor for protection. It could have blocked those two ice arrows, and not wearing a helm meant I was one lucky blow from being knocked out or killed. The aether shield was a remarkable artifact, but it only worked once before requiring a short cooldown, then needed to be fed aether to recharge.
As we walked through the woods on the opposite shore, I informed Maveith of my plan. “Maveith, you are going to take Ginger north to the coast. I will charter a ship from the Adventurer’s Guild, and we will pick you up.”
Maveith didn’t like my plan, “I don’t think we should separate, Eryk.”
“Goliaths are rare, and if I am seen with you, it will be easy to logic out that I am alive.” I rubbed Ginger’s neck, “Ginger would also be seized for the war effort.” Maveith grunted unhappily but didn’t offer an alternate plan.
We found more signs of gnolls, goblins, something that looked like a troll to me, but was weeks old. There were more than a few boots prints as well, belonging to a civilized race. It looked like the rain had been sparse the last week, leaving old tracks intact. When we reached the location of the Gnoll Garden, the tower where the Mage College trained their mages and where the Hounds used to train, I scouted ahead alone.
The tower was abandoned, and no fresh tracks were anywhere near the structure. Still, being cautious, I led Maveith and Ginger on a wide loop around. When we had traveled a few miles north, I halted our progress. “Maveith, continue northeast from here.” I handed him Corvus’s Hound medallion as it appeared in my hand. “If you get in trouble with someone who is not a Hound, tell them you are Hound’s business. Don’t show that to a Hound, as the man to whom it belonged is now dead.”
Maveith took the amulet, “I don’t like being separated. How long will you be?”
I had to consider the question. “Don’t wait longer than a week. If I can't get a ship in two days, I will join you here. Watch for a ship flying the Adventurer’s Guild flag near shore. You see that, then show yourself. This is an artificed spyglass.” I handed him my Hound spyglass. “Just channel aether into it; turn these to change the magnification. I will be on the bow.” I then asked a difficult question. “Do you want to give a blood sample?” I had explained the blood compass to him, but hadn’t broached the subject. It would make it easier to find him.
“I think that is wise.” He unflinchingly tore a scrap of cloth, cut his arm, soaked it and handed it to me. I nodded at his trust and sent it to my space.
Maveith played with the spyglass while I pulled his pack and prepared supplies for him and Ginger. When we parted, I was optimistic. Even if I couldn’t charter a ship for us, I hoped to learn enough in the Adventurer’s Guild Hall on how we could safely enter the Boutan Caliphate.
I moved through the night, practicing with my new spell form. Seeing everything in grayscale was disappointing, but it was better than not having the ability to see in the dark. I pulsed earth speak as I moved along the river. I arrived at a fishing village a few miles upriver of the capital. It was dangerous living on this side of the river, but I guessed it was also much cheaper for the people. Most of the houses looked like they were made of rough construction, and I guessed that fewer than a hundred people lived there.
When the sun rose, I walked with a limp into the town. Only a single watchman was on the wooden palisade. It didn’t take long to barter for passage across for five large coppers. The old man and his grandson happily paddled me to the docks in the capital. The old man politely answered my questions during the entire two-hour trip to the capital. And didn’t ask me questions in turn, which I appreciated.
He didn’t know much about the war other than that barges loaded with men and supplies frequently went upriver. He delivered fish every other day to the docks in Telha and usually made half a silver for the effort. Taking half the day to bring me to the capital for five large coppers was a welcome break from casting nets all day.
When we reached the dock, I tipped him a dirty, small silver and stepped off. The lower docks smelled a mix of salt water, fish, and unwashed bodies. I was happy to note that a ship flying the Adventurer’s Guild crest was on the larger docks. It was the same symbol as on my guild medallion, a tree with leaf-covered branches and mirroring roots. I just had to hope they were not still locked down and could sail.
There was a lot of activity as laborers rushed about to the small watercraft. The village I had come from was not the only fishing village that supplied the capital. A city guardsman intercepted me before I took three hobbled steps. “Name and business in Telha,” he rasped with a dry throat and foul breath.
“Lucien Beatrix. Just doing some shopping for the family.” My disguise had rough clothes and a worn cloak. My hair and beard had streaks of gray, and I walked with a heavy limp and slightly hunched back.
The guardsman seemed to consider me for a long moment. “The cost to enter the city is a large copper.” I actually didn’t know if that was true or not. I had never had to pay as a legionnaire before. Instead of arguing, I angrily dug into my pockets and produced a large, dirty copper.
Maveith had cleaned the coins, but it was hard to erase the time it had been buried. He studied the foreign dark elf coin for a long time before pocketing it and walking away. Dozens of different coins passed through the city. Sometimes a vendor would refuse one, but it was not overly suspicious to pass off foreign coins or dungeon coins. The coins would eventually find themselves melted down and stamped into proper Telhian coins.
I walked through the city, maintaining my limp and looking longingly at the bathhouses I passed. When I reached the thoroughfare, I gazed right for a long time. It led to the Mage College, where Renna should be. I was tempted to confirm her health and perhaps convince her to come with me and desert the Empire. Eventually, I walked to the Adventurer’s Guild, not risking a visit.
Entering, there were a lot fewer people here than the last time. The air smelled of stale beer and sweat. I assumed the diminished population was due to the war. Seated at a table were five people playing cards. I recognized Guildmaster Icarus smiling and playing cards. He looked up at me, interested in my entrance, but didn’t move. Desdemona had her back to me, but I recognized her dark, sun-beaten, black hair. She was talking animatedly to someone, accusing them of cheating in a friendly tone.
I hobbled to the table, drawing everyone's attention. Desdemona craned her neck, but no look of recognition flashed on her face. Guildmaster Icarus spoiled my disguise. “What brings you back to our Guild Hall, legionnaire?” Desdemona squinted her eyes a few times before recognition finally flashed on her face. She didn’t look happy to see me, so this might be harder than I had planned.
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Comments
Chippie Beal
Ginger is one of my favorite animal companions in fantasy and is in my top 5 characters for this series
Erick Thiemke
okay i will edit as that is a mistake
Justin Barnett
I’m confused about this line “didn’t even ask if he wanted the soothsayer’s essence as that would improve my ability to maximize gains from essences”. It’s clairvoyance, not convergence.
Lindasm
tell them you are Hound’s business. Perhaps…tell them you are on Hound’s business…would be better.
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
edited
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
i explained it
HenryMorgan
Those old buried coins he is now using for a random reason is how he is going to gwt tracked. Coins like that are memorable.
Erick Thiemke
yes I start the edit of book 5 soon and will read all the comments as I go and change these occurances as well. I only just changed it to Corvus a few weeks ago as it sounded better
Richard Thorn
He played with me (it)...
Richard Thorn
Aesop is mentioned. Name changed.
Alex Zajfal
But it literally happened before, man... His first spellform was the one that helps essence absorbing (dont know the name), and he didn't even know at the time that spellforms existed...
Brianna Stormcloud
Thank you 📖🍿 Edit suggestions: We crossed the river as planned. I put everything I could in storage and Maveith and I swam across in our underclothes, while Ginger made he>her way under the lead line. “Maveith, you are going to> you should< take Ginger north to the coast. I will charter a ship from the Adventurer’s Guild, and we will pick you up.” The above sounds quite rude/demanding to someone who is a friend “If you get in trouble with someone who is not a Hound, tell them you are >on< Hound’s business. Don’t show that to a Hound, as the man to whom it belonged is now dead.” He played with me>it while I pulled his pack andretrieved supplies for him and Ginger.
SilverbladeTE
In my part of the world, old buildings were made with solid sandstone blocks, some as much as 2 feet thick, though most were a foot to 18 inches When done properly they have a thick lead pin holding the blocks together The best were morticed like wood joints and those are extremely strong and lasting Mortar will decay much faster than the blocks ever would Bricks can crumble and decay within a few decades if they aren't made right, or absorb too much water and get hit by frost Some of the walls of abandoned buildings though became unstable faster than you'd think, it is very variable Water and frost slowly push blocks and thus walls apart With roofs gone, more water flows in Plants grow, burrow in and make water/frost effects even worse My experience :)
Robert Biederman
Also I am having a bit of a problem visualizing a wall collapsing the way it is being described if it is an outer wall as it seems to be and made of brick and mortar it would not collapse like that the only time I can see a wall collapsing this way is in a deep cavern or in a very large cave
Robert Biederman
Other than this the writing is outstanding
Robert Biederman
I'm sorry but this is just wishy-washy logic the fact that he would suddenly develop a spell form without ever actually working at it does not make any sense considering it is one of his weakest aspects it would have made more sense if his Earth since would have been evolved from his constant use of it developing into something like sonar sensing
Erick Thiemke
Maveith used it - he had it leaving the Shimmering Labrynith
Salvo
Reading through shimmering labyrinth section, a potion of night vision exists. I’m not sure if it’s in Eryk’s space though.
Erick Thiemke
It will only increase his range. Think of it like askng a genie for a wish but not being specific enough in the request. He never studied the spell forms, only briefly viewed them on the night vision goggles. So when he imprinted the spell form it was slightly imperfect but will serve him just fine.
Shandlar
It's inefficient because his illusion affinity is 13. It may end up being a 15 imprint and will go to color vision at that point.
Karnnie
Well the fisherman is a normal person and he makes half of that.
Karnnie
The only issue I see with him imprinting a spellform without study is that the description of it is all wrong. Sure, you gave him a new spell on an affinity that is quite low, but you called it inefficient which cannot be the case. He imprinted his first spell ever without study, and he has never once mentioned that it felt differently than any of his other spells. What I would say instead, is that it felt primal, in the way it works. I would not call it inefficient, just different. Otherwise, what about his convergence spellform, why has he never mentioned it in the past? this is more a consistency issue and not so much a plot armor issue for me. The other thing about the spell, if you wanted to talk about it being inefficient, then do so from an affinity perspective. His illusion affinity is low, and therefore, he could feel that it was running in a degraded way, not showing what it is truly capable of. Maybe as his affinity grows, so does the usefulness of the spell. going from grey to color, extending the range and so forth. Becoming gradually better as the affinity increases.
Tetsu-nii
Typo: /delivered fish every other to the docks/ => /[…] every other *day(?)* …/
Tetsu-nii
Suggestion: /I pulled his pack and supplied him with supplies for him and Ginger/ => /[…] his pack and *supplies* for him …/ (delete "supplied him with")
Tetsu-nii
Typo: /He played with me while I pulled/ => /[…] with *it* …/
Tetsu-nii
Typo: /salve to stop close nine puncture wounds/ delete the "stop"
sdf
Is that a spyglass, or are you just happy to see me?
saber
I think him getting night vision was a blessing and a curse. I'm looking forward to seeing what kinda trouble it causes him by locking him out of a another spell!
Thresher
Maveith and Eryk getting freakyyy…
Silver Beard
So you just avoid using the blood compass entirely as a means to ignore whatever it might show. Curious
Jo
Mavieth just got the spyglass. next sentence He played with me whole I got his pack ready. I think you ment it
Erick Thiemke
Hah yeah. Or diving into the future
TheAlreds90
"The bone necklaces are for diving the future." Divining (?) I'm assuming.
larback
You think too much, stop doing that, asking for the story to be written your way. You need to enjoy the story more and demand less. You want everything in the story to be perfect.
momo2009
I thought he was going to use his time affinity to the best and be an alchemist. Since if he can become a weak mage with his high time magic making potions would be easy. Smithing seen like a Mavieth or Benito thing. But okay thanks for the hints. But can he grab the kettle of souls at least? Stop Octivian from gaining more power and resource for the inevitable showdown.
momo2009
I doubt meeting Konstantin since his pov chapter is being voted on and last seen he was scouting the battlefield, with the emperor death and Octivian turning against his coup allies, Konstantin is either running or protect Antonia, or burning the imperial archive. Wish he can take all the books but it seem unlikely with author hints and how he doesn't have much time since he told Mavieth a week to get the ship to travel and leave the empire.
Lemes
Well, better later than never. I imagine that entering the imperial palace, doing a little looting and recovering the kettle of souls isn't also in this book?
Erick Thiemke
That is not the plan. Just so you don’t get antsy about it. There is a planned arc where he runs into the female smith, recovers the books and spends a few years learning to smith…but not in this book
momo2009
That why you make/ask him to consume other magical essence. When Eryk get them of course. For example a charmed one so that someone in the party can resist a charm attack since Eryk has fallen once to it. The goal is save his sister and friend and it been proven so far that Eryk can't handle multiples threats and Mavieth need to help with that and since he accept joining the adventurers guild, why not consume other magical affinity essence to help Eryk, himself and his mission. Yeah you wrote how he self exiled himself and won't learn other magic as a punishment for his mistake but you can create great character moment between him and Erik and future adventure group by improve himself and forgive himself to be a better friend/goleith. Etc.
Lemes
Yes, and this would be a very good time to do all the things I mentioned before. I imagine the amount of confusion (maybe the conspirators will set fire to the archives and some other places to mask their true intention) and that this would allow Erick some freedom to invade Zyna's quarters and maybe even the imperial palace to loot a bit. Yes, I think the palace is a bit of an exaggeration, but not Zyna's tower. It would be very sad if the MC lost all those books to some useless first citizen. An interesting development would be Erick meeting Konstantin, his sponsor Antonia Segreto is about to be assassinated (or has she already been?) and he must be looking for a way to leave the empire to save his life and perhaps seek revenge in the future. Yes, too many wishes, I think I would settle for recovering his books and maybe meeting with the blacksmith.
momo2009
Well it was kinda not clear, since you got six essence and It made it seem he only stayed near the guard and soothsayer. On the reread I noting the mention of the rushing gnool but yeah maybe one word of going back to the structure or retracing my step etc. Did the fight last that long? And I thought his magical dungeon collector is superior to human made one, 6 out of 18 is way to low and reminded me of the beginning chapter where that imperial mage barely got any essence with his human made collector. I remember when dandulus collected from his dead legionare in the swamp and got a lot of essences from them. I thought all people or monster give essence regardless but I didn't know about the strong core requirement. Maybe add that info to the story so that would explained more world building reason why essence is so rare and expensive. But still I think based on plot so far his dungeon version essence collector should had done better.
Erick Thiemke
Maveith only had his earth affinity over ten,,,he cant imprint anything else
Erick Thiemke
thanks, correcting
Erick Thiemke
word of the Emperors death is next chapter....let the chaos begin
Erick Thiemke
it is not complaining - it is feedback for the story. some people thought the gnolls were all pushovers and young - that was not the case as their best eight warriors were killed first
Erick Thiemke
it wasnt black, just new
momo2009
Based on the hints it seem only two of the legionares would join him. Castile i think is only willing to work is if the goal is to leave this planet, since her goal is true freedom from the empire. Not sure what Konstantin ex hound plan is since that a pov chapter being voted on. But yeah I can't wait for how adventuring work and how different dungeons and quest for monster work. And the mystery between the giants and how different races get drag to Desia.
momo2009
I want him at least say thanks to her in spirit form (maybe take her body and someday learn necromancy to talk one last time) or at least remembering how nice she was to him so the character has proper closure. And yes grab all the stuff, and maybe go into the treasury and steal the kettle of soul.
Erick Thiemke
Yeah I will fix that. I thought two large coppers was too little. A silver is not a huge amount, about what a normal person makes in a day
Erick Thiemke
He did try harvesting all the gnolls. He got 6 essence on 18 kills. Some may have expired too long ago and others didn’t have a strong enough core to pull
momo2009
I thought he was going to go hunt all of the gnoll in revenage and get all that essence. Why didn't he at least go back to the structure and collect the rest of gnoll essence that were killed first at least then it wouldn't had been a waste. And he could give some to ginger to help her improve. Can't say Maveith wasn't correct in focusing on his sister but essence is key to survival and maybe in certain place will be the only currency you can used to trade or buy things. The more Eryk has he might be able to used in exchange for info or rare item etc. I hope the adventure guild will be expanded on and how their history, how adventure work and feelings about the weaking of the empire are explored. I also think Eryk has to make Mavieth learn a new spell form at least something more useful so party can survived in fights against fighter and dungeons monster. And explore on how strees acquired spell form can occurred could help Erek and Mavieth gain new powers without having to buy expensive books or pay people to teach would be interesting.
Victor Skaarup
In one paragraph he is to pay five large coppers for the boat ride and then it is two in the next paragraph. Tipping a silver, which is twice what the fisherman usually gets for his fish, and more than the fare will insure he is remembered and not consistent with how he was dressed. Not a very good thing to do when you need to keep a low profile.
sdf
Excellent. One of the things I love about this is that I have no idea where it's going to go in the next chapter. He could decide he needs armor and makes his way to the blacksmith, telling her she just needs to arrange a "work crew" to do some repairs to Zyna's chambers, and he'd get his armor situation taken care of, maybe (non-legion armor?). Or he could send her a message. Or he could ___. It's a lot of fun having the time to speculate in between chapters. The writing is engaging, the beats are well-placed, it's just fun.
Garrett
“Do you want the major strength essence of the four minor essences?” I think the "of" should be "or"
Lemes
I hope Erick considers retrieving the books from Zyna's tower before he leaves. He still has the ceremonial armor and should be able to enter without much trouble. I imagine he'll find out that Renna is with Octavian and that Zyna is dead. It would also be interesting to find the old blacksmith before he leaves.
Thresher
Thank you for the chapter. Sorry for complaining so much about last chapter. I just want to see Eryk and company win once in a while without getting their ass beat. Looking forward to an Adventurer’s Guild arc. Especially if we get to see Eryk and Maveith fighting together more and completing quests and whatnot. Possibly moving up the ranks as well. Maybe Mage Castile and company will head over and form an Adventurer team with them… okay maybe that’s a bit too much wishful thinking but that’d be awesome.
Deliver roo
Actually Eryk still has to use the black armor that was given to him by the Baroness Veronica… if I remember correctly he also has got various accessories that go with it. I suppose he could start using that once he is far from the Empire.
Thresher
Yeah a new set of armor would be awesome. Maybe Maveith could get some too. Just imagine a massive armored Goliath with a giant hammer rushing at you…
Andrew
Thank you!
Devourerofwords
Is Eryk finally going to get some adventurer armor since he is so vulnerable without the Legion armor
Eriach
Tftc
Erick Thiemke
1st of 4 for cycle. I hope to have the next chapter written tonight as I am a day behind - this should have been 2 of 4.
