BabaVader
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Chapter 290 Busywork
🕑 Added 2022-11-09 17:17:14 +0000 UTCAuthor's note:
Hey all!
It's a little earlier than the recent average. I managed to get some writing done in between days but then I had some ideas for Dole I wanted to work out (mostly more system planning). On that note, I am now fully committed to have Dole as my next main project. The scale of that story is probably going to be larger than Owl but I have no concrete plans for an end for that, soo...
Back to Owlnother World, I find the recent chapters and a few that still have to happen feel a lot like filler. They're mostly just slice of life. I hope I could keep them interesting and I have some ideas on what to do for the next ones so it's not just 'Fio the Doomsayer' comes to visit and then moves on. For this chapter specifically: If you want to see more of Gobburgh, it'll happen. Don't worry.
Anyway, enough rambling. Enjoy the chapter!
Cheers!
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I spent the rest of the night just talking to the spider. We discussed thaumaturgy and living as a sapient animal, mostly. Catori hovered at the edge of my mind, showering me with affection.
I got some sleep around morning as the storm still raged outside. When I woke up, it had slowed to a drizzle. I said my goodbyes and left the web in my darkness and air form. The first gust of wind splattered me on the wall and my real body emerged from the shadows.
I shook my head.
“That was unpleasant”, I said.
“Hmm?”, Catori made.
“Are you horsing around again?”
“Yup! Feeling better?”
“Much. Thanks. For the record, our new form doesn’t hold in strong winds.”
“Good to know.”
“I’ll make my way to Gobburgh. Have fun.”
“Oh, right. I forgot to eat with the starling. If you have some time…?”
“Sure.”
With a push of will, I activated [Distant Dreaming] and moved my perception to the little bird. Immediately, I felt terrible. I was thirsty and starving. My feathers were messy and I was barely holding onto the branch I was sitting on.
Within seconds something shifted around me. I pulled my head out from underneath my wing and saw vines rapidly approach me. They snaked around to hold my body and not a moment too soon as I felt myself tipping over. The vines carried me down to a small pond where I could drink. I eagerly dipped my beak in and quenched my thirst with big gulps.
“Welcome back”, a familiar voice spoke into my head.
“Hey, Nymph”, I said.
“Oh? Fio, is that you?”
“It is.”
I lifted my head and spotted the mantis sitting a few steps to my right. Mantis steps, not human steps. Her head was tilted as she observed me. There was some mirth in her stance.
“Good to… see you? Is Catori using your body?”
“Not quite. She found a horse.”
“A… horse. One of those huge mammals? I read about them in a book, once.”
“Yup. Wild horse. It has a foal so she’s been keeping it up with its herd.”
“… really? Is that it?”
“There’s also the fact that she figured out how to use one of its Skills and is trying to learn more. She can see most of its Status, now. We’re thinking she could evolve if she can find a source of vis.”
“Ah. That does make sense. Give her my regards.”
“I will.”
“And have some food. You must be starving.”
“Thanks”, I said, “This body really is starving.”
Nymph brought over some worms and bugs pushed around on roots and vines for me to eat. While I dug in, she started talking again.
“So what was that I heard about the end of the world?”
“Right. Catori told you everything, right?”
“She did. It appears the Clan Heads are aware of the issue.”
I froze.
“Are they doing anything?”
“Yes. You know how most thaumaturges are to live away from towns and cities? That is not just because of the risk flux and warp can bring.”
“Oh.”
“Yes. Oh. I was sadly unaware. My… self-imposed seclusion has not done well in forming bonds with other Guardians or even any dwarves. If you find any silverwood, do bring it to me.”
“You think you can grow more?”
“Possibly, if it is alive at least.”
“I’ll bring you some. The Cathedral also wants some.”
“I heard. The Adena have decided to host a Curtachadh. All Clan Heads and many Guardians will be meeting in Serrington and an invitation will be sent out to the Cathedral. We will discuss cooperation there.”
“That… sounds great. When is it going to happen?”
“After Stormbringer passes and the snow has melted enough.”
“So… in three months?”
“About there, yes. You will be travelling, yes?”
“I will. I’m going to make an arcane speaker for this body so either Catori or I can be here for the important parts, at least.”
“That is a wonderful idea. Can you make one for me as well?”
“Of course. I’m going to Gobburgh soon. They should have everything I need.”
“Thank you.”
I nodded and made sure to fill up on insects so the body could stay alive before saying my goodbye and returning to my body. A few spiders were observing me as I sat there under the same ledge I had used on arrival. I gave them a nod and shifted to my metal form for the next part of the journey. It was a little jarring to go from a mostly sunny sky to slight rain within seconds but I quickly got used to it. Maybe I should look for a second body for myself and use it to ‘teleport’ in-between places. One could stay near my family and the other with Vivi and Safrah.
The trip to the goblin village was not too exciting. I quickly found the ravine and landed on the walkway the dwarves had built. With the help of some goblins, of course. Gobburgh had not changed much since the last time I was there. Their houses had been improved over the last year and the farms were expanded to allow for a larger population. Many goblins had settled into the new halls the dwarves had built with the original village being used for getting together and celebrations.
The dwarves were still digging and smithing, a horde of goblins helping out with each task. I spent a few hours finding some metals and crystals in the storage rooms. Redrick found me as he was delivering a batch of iron ingots.
“Can I help ya with anything?”, he asked.
I shook my head.
“Thanks but I won’t need much. I’ll be back in a week, give or take.”
“Right. Where’s it going?”
“I spent some time in the human plains. We’ve got an alliance of sorts coming up. The Adena are calling a Curtachadh in Serrington in about three months.”
“Oh? Are they finally doing something about the bottom?”
I blinked.
“You know?”
The dwarf laughed.
“Course I know! All Gurrin grow up in the tunnels. The iron moles show every kid not to dig too deep.”
“Well… That’s convenient. Anyway, I’m going to go explore the Deep Green for silverwood but before that, we’re going to set up the meeting. Bringing the people together will hopefully let us make new discoveries.”
“What’s the problem there?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean… Ya got to fill up the bottom, right? Wouldn’t that be enough?”
“No. If only it would be that easy. There’s a hungry node. It gets bigger the more it eats. ‘Filling it up’ would only accelerate the end of the world. We’re looking for a way to destroy or change it so it stops eating the world. After that, we’ll be able to fix things.”
“Huh. Sounds good ta me. When ya need help, just ask.”
I nodded.
“Sure thing.”
“The moles know how ta build below the surface. It always breaks soon but they keep some stuff for a few weeks at a time.”
“That… will be very helpful. Anyway, I’ll be visiting Borsdown and Serrington and then come back through here. I’ll see you then.”
“Sure thing. ‘til next time.”
I decided to simply take off with a few bars of metal in my inventory. I had iron, gold, and brass as well as a few tenebrae crystals. Those were rare outside of Gobburgh so I decided to simply take a few. With the amounts I had taken, even if they cared about me paying they would not have noticed. The little underground village had transformed into a real industrial complex.
On the way out I ran into Luk who greeted me with a nod. In his usual way of only few words, he told me to take a look at the ork valley. I told him we would meet again soon and took off. It was late in the afternoon but I was already a little behind schedule so I simply moved on, for now.
When I rounded the mountain and my eyes fell on the ork valley, I was surprised to find the large greenskins had started to settle in again. It had been very quiet the last year after the bloodrush I and Alex used to cull their population. Now, new houses had popped up all the way to the foot of the mountain. The goblins would have to figure out some emergency defences. That said, the tunnel that had once connected Gobburgh to the valley was now fully clogged by the terra node we had put inside. In fact, stone was billowing out of the entrance and formed a bulbous growth of grey rock, almost as if the mountain had a tumour.
That was most likely the reason the orks were coming back. I could see a group of thaumaturges. A full three of them with an apprentice each. They were the core of the encampment set up a little down the valley and seemed to be interested in getting to the node, judging by the pickaxes being swung. I knew the terra node we had there was unlikely to keep up with the destruction but as long as they only wanted access to it, something could be done. Otherwise, we might have to claim the valley itself and build a wall to keep out more orks.
I would discuss it with Roguk in a week. The goblins clearly did not feel it was too important or someone would have brought it up earlier.
I was about to take a closer look when one of the orks spotted me and started shouting. It took all of fifteen seconds for every single one to disappear into their tents and huts. That… was interesting. Had there been a survivor that told of what we did? Maybe some of the orks with higher will Attributes were able to escape at the beginning. How else would they make the connection between my arrival and danger?
Pushing the incident out of my mind, I spread my wings of darkness and shot off towards the west. It was time to return to Vivi and Safrah. I was curious what they had done in the last month and a half.
