by Jez Cajiao
Wisdom
35 (30)
Governs mana regeneration and memory
+250% mana recovery, 1.7ppm, 250% more likely to remember things.
41/100
Basically, I’d leapt upwards like I’d had my dick stapled to a rocket lately. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, as I’d done almost nothing but fight since leaving the Tower‒hell, since finding out Lou had been fucking Martin, my entire world had gone mental. I’d either been training, enduring torture, fighting for my life, facing the creatures of nightmare, or riding a flying ship with a shapeshifting, sex-crazed wisp. It was mental, all that had happened, but I sure as hell wouldn’t swap it for the world.
I pulled up the last few notifications, finding one that was totally new.
Congratulations, Admiral! You have taken command of a fleet. Current crew condition: Cautiously optimistic.
Fleet assets:
1x Battleship:
Unnamed: Unarmed
Crew: 46
Passengers: 470
Condition: 34% hull integrity.
3x Cruisers:
Atlantessa: 6x Cannons, 1x Heavy Lightning Cannon
Crew: 13
Passengers: 58
Sigmar’s Fist: 4x Cannons, 3x Heavy Mortars
Crew: 18
Passengers: 57
Ragnarök: 6x Cannons, 1x Fireball Generator
Crew: 19
Passengers: 57
3x Fast Scouts:
Link’s Arrival: 1x Cannon
Crew: 8
Passengers: 39
Furies’ Awakening: 1x Cannon
Crew: 9
Passengers: 44
Summer’s Promise: 1x Cannon
Crew: 9
Passengers: 43
Trader:
Star’s Glory: 1 Cannon
Crew: 7
Passengers: 49
Due to the fact that you were unconscious while the fleet was assembled and took no direct part in its capture, no XP will be awarded for acquiring these vessels beyond that which has already been awarded.
“What the hell?” I muttered to myself, shaking my head. “I gave the orders, made the plans… with others, yeah… but still!” I grumbled irritably as I read through all the details. It didn’t give a further breakdown of passengers, to my disappointment. Knowing if all the Legion were in one ship, for example, would help, but still, even the minimal information gave me a much better idea of what was going on. I dismissed the window, thinking that I really needed to find a proper Admiral for this fleet, as I really didn’t have time to learn another skill set. I mentally tagged it as job number three-hundred and sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred and four on my to-do list.
I was joking, even with myself, but it really did feel like that at times.
Then I had an evil thought, and decided it was Oren’s problem. That was what I sort of paid him for, after all.
I pulled up the last notification and grinned as I read it, realizing that this was what Oracle had been waiting for me to see.
Congratulations! New Ability Unlocked!
As an Imperial Scion and acknowledged Heir to the Imperial Throne, you gain new Abilities in direct relation to the number of your followers. Increase your loyal population to increase these abilities.
New Ability: Righteous Rage
The sight of your subjects, even unwitting and unsworn as some may be, has awoken the Righteous Rage of the Imperial Throne! For a cost of two hundred Mana, Health, and Stamina per second, you can reach out and touch your subjects, freeing those who have been unlawfully imprisoned, and turning the devices of their imprisonment against their captors.
Beware: All Imperial Abilities come with a permanent cost. Utilizing an ability such as this will change you, and those around you, in ways great and small.
“I see it,” I said simply, opening my eyes and meeting Oracle’s impatient gaze.
“Really?!” she squealed, closing her eyes, and examining the details, before letting out a cry of celebration. “It is! It really is!” She threw herself at me, knocking me off the small bed I’d been reclining on as she reverted to full size.
“Want me to leave the room?” Bane asked sardonically as Oracle and I laid there, grinning idiotically at each other, my blanket half-covering us from where it had slipped off the bed.
“Oh, sounds fun!” Oracle said, grinning, just as the door opened and Grizz stuck his head in.
“Is everything okay? What happened?” he asked anxiously, searching around, three more Legionnaires just visible in the corridor behind him.
“Oracle is getting frisky, apparently…” Bane said dryly, and Grizz grinned, sheathing his sword.
“Boss! Are you okay?” he repeated, stepping inside, then pausing. “Unless you really do want some ‘alone time,’ if you know what I mean… want me to move the guys away from the door so they can’t hear as much?”
“Oh god,” I muttered, recalling the earlier reactions to my activities with Oracle. “These walls don’t stop any noise, do they?”
“Nope! They actually make them louder in places. Weird, the way the ship is laid out; some things can be heard from one end to the other, practically!” He didn’t even bother trying to hide his shit-eating grin.
“I don’t ever want you to confirm if the entire ship heard Oracle and me getting our rocks off. Never. Understand?” I said in as calm and dignified a manner as possible in conjunction with laying on the floor with a stunningly beautiful woman atop me, amidst the remains of a broken bed.
“Got you there. Don’t worry, boss. I’ll never confirm that the entire Legion were placing bets on how long you’d go; don’t worry.”
“Thanks, Grizz… I appreciate that,” I grumbled, facepalming.
“Grizz…” Oracle said sweetly. “Do I have to hit you with lightning again to shut you up, or are you going to stop that tongue all on your own?”
“Uh… lightning, probably…” Grizz laughed, then ducked hastily back into the corridor.
“I swear I’m going to toast his nuts one of these days…” Oracle threatened in a low growl.
“You know Grizz, though...” I said as she shifted back into her fairy form and took off, while I clambered to my feet. “He’d probably like it.”
“Probably!” Grizz’s cheerful voice agreed from the corridor, making me shake my head while trying to stifle a laugh.
“Want us to get him for you, my lord?” a voice offered, and I looked out as one of the other Legionnaires met my searching gaze, obviously testing the waters.
“Hell yes,” I said, smiling evilly.
“Whoa, no fair!” Grizz shouted, his voice filled with laughter as two of those on guard duty tore off out of sight after him, the sound of fleeing feet ringing through the wooden halls. Another two moved effortlessly into view, standing on either side of the door, as one reached in and tugged the door closed.
“How many are out there?” I asked Bane, and he shrugged.
“Eight or ten; the number changes regularly. I think two were assigned to you, then the others just sort of showed up. From what I can hear, they’re worried about you, and they’re determined to ensure that nothing else will happen to you now that they’ve found you.”
“Did I just get a couple hundred baby-sitters?” I asked slowly.
“Makes my job easier,” said Bane smugly.
“I hate you.”
“That’s nice.”
“Jax, what are you doing?” Oracle asked, interrupting the byplay between Bane and myself.
“Getting dressed,” I muttered, pulling my boots on. When they’d taken me to wherever I was, they’d helpfully removed my boots, gauntlets, and swords, then covered me with a blanket. I quickly pulled my gear back on, taking the time to actually inspect the worn patches on the gauntlets, the sections of my shoes that were nearly worn through, and the generally shitty state of my gear. “Man, I didn’t realize how bad it was getting…”
“It’s seen some hard
use,” Bane agreed, standing up and reaching over to pick something up. “Here.” He threw something to me and I caught it easily. The battered object was my helm, or what was left of it.
The black headpiece was battered, cut, and dented, with half of one side hanging loose where the arrow had hit, the banded metal insert dented and scored by the impact.
“Damn, it was that close?” I asked, fingering it, and remembering the last few seconds of the fight for the shipyards, when that arrow had hit me in the head, ending my involvement for the night.
“It was. We honestly feared you were dead,” he said soberly, gesturing to it. “I suggest a replacement, and soon.”
“Yeah…” I breathed, dropping the helm into my Bag of Spatial Folding. “Right; let’s go see what’s going on, and make a plan for the Sunken City.” I walked to the door, pulling it open to the sight of almost a dozen Legionnaires standing in the corridor, fully armed and armored. Shouts and the sound of scuffling filtered to me from the far end. I nodded to the Legionnaires, who straightened on seeing me.
“My lord, how can we serve?” one of them asked with a salute, and I smiled at him.
“For a start, you can relax. I’m not made of glass, Legionnaire.” I paused, curious about the continued sounds of a struggle. “Are they kicking Grizz’s ass?” I asked, nodding towards the cacophony.
“Even odds, really. There’s only two of them, after all,” a voice chuckled from my right, and I turned to discover Rinko leaning against the wall.
“Rinko!” I said, unable to hide my delight.
“Jax,” he replied casually, nodding, and grinning back to me. “It’s good to see you upright, my lord. You looked like shit when we boarded the ship, and again when you were carried in there.” He nodded to the room I’d just exited.
“Yeah, well, you know how it is. Besides, you looked pretty shitty last time I saw you, as well.”
“All I needed was a few quick rounds of healing from Mistress Nerin, and a spot of rum…” His smile deepened, and he winked, clearly pleased with himself.
“Yeah, I think I owe her some thanks, as well,” I admitted ruefully. “I need to get the gang together, check on them all, and that includes you now, mate. You fought alongside us in the Skyking’s lair… think you can gather everyone for me, in, say, an hour?”
“Of course,” he said, still smiling. “Where do you want us?”
“Ah…” I faltered, suddenly remembering I didn’t know where I was, let alone the layout of the ship.
“On the main deck,” Oracle interjected, and I smiled at her, then nodded to Rinko.
“The main deck.” I agreed, and he saluted before rushing off.
“Right. Where’s Romanus?” I asked, and another Legionnaire stepped forward, clapping his fist to chest, and bowing his head.
“He said he intended to set up a station outside the ship. I can take you there, Lord Jax,” he offered.
“Great; lead on, please.” I said, and he spun around, setting off down the corridor, with myself and the entire group in fast pursuit.
It took fifteen minutes to cross the ship, a distance that would have taken five if not for the corridors that were missing floors, or totally filled with stashed gear, or wall-to-wall refugees.
We finally exited the ship onto the grass of a small clearing, and I stood blinking in the sunlight, amazed by the change in the weather a mere few hundred miles from the Tower.
Here, it was pleasantly warm. The air was filled with the tang of the sea, and a gentle but constant breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees that surrounded us. I took a deep breath, feeling instantly better, memories of Thomas and I chilling on Greek beaches, drinking our body weight in Ouzo and Metaxa, and chasing girls all day filling my mind. As soon as I pictured him, sunglasses on, buffed to hell, and trying to convince the girls of some new bullshit, like that he was an RAF pilot or something, I sighed, my heart aching as I wondered about him. I knew he’d been in the city recently, but Mal just hadn’t been able to find any sign of him. The last he’d heard, Thomas had been an Adventurer, and he’d been leading a party out of the city a few months before. Mal said the trail went cold there, even though I knew from Jenae that he’d returned at least once since then.
“I’ll find you, bro…” I blinked away the spectral memory and looked around at the dozens, no, hundreds of people roaming the clearing and forest. “But for now, I have to protect them…” I whispered, shaking my head. I knew Tommy would be all right. Hell, if I knew him, he’d probably have found a way to get to a pleasure island and was probably banging the realm’s equivalent of supermodels somewhere, off his tits on booze and weird local drugs.
I didn’t know when things had changed, but the longer I was here, in this realm, the more I felt the pull to defend its people. Tommy was a hard lad, and he’d already survived five damn years here. All I had to do was survive as well, get these people back to the Tower, and I’d find a way to save him yet. Now that Jenae had narrowed his location down to the city six or seven weeks ago, she’d be able to find him more easily when she searched next. If I hadn’t torn that goddamn Valspar thing out of myself the way I had, she wouldn’t have had to provide the costly healing I had needed, and I’d have probably found Tommy days ago.
He’d be all right, I decided. I had to believe that, or I’d go mad, having been so close to him, and having left the trail behind. I had responsibilities to these people, ones I’d given myself, and I would not abandon them or Tommy.
“I will find you…” I muttered again, burying my worry and self-recriminations down deep. Straightening my shoulders, I strode forward to Romanus, who was standing nearby in discussion with Elize and Athena.
Chapter Four
“Jax!” Athena said cheerfully when she spotted me. Romanus and Elise spun to face me, the Legion Prefect smiling in relief, and Elise nodding her head in recognition.
“Athena, Romanus… and Elise!” I said, nodding to them each in turn. “Elise, I have to congratulate you. None of this would have been possible without you. You did an amazing job… so thank you,” I said to her.
“Aye, well… I didna do it fer free, ye ken?” the stout dwarfess grumbled, trying to ignore the fact that her cheeks were reddening at the well-earned praise. “I had help. Finbar an’ Viktoria were part o’ it, sendin’ me spare staff an’ all… I’d have no made it in time otherwise…”
“There’s no shame in needing help, Elise,” I said firmly. “That’s one of the reasons I need to talk to you. Has Augustus explained to you yet about the Golems?” The diminutive engineer nodded quickly.
“Oh, aye. He be directin’ them now, an’ that ‘Servitor’ one, ah… can I keep ‘im?” she asked hopefully. “I’d be able t’ work miracles on the ship wit’ ‘im under my command!”
“Man, I forgot about that. Heph and Seneschal are going to go mental when they find out I left one in the city…” I muttered to myself, before shaking my head and smiling fondly at Elise. “You can’t have this one for the long term, but you certainly can use it as you see fit for now. Give me a minute…” I closed my eyes, reaching out and feeling Oracle gently guiding me.
The area surrounding me was black, as I traveled inside my mind, but slowly, it started to fill as I reached out with my thoughts. First, there was the sense of warmth, of people, all around me, and a… river? No, stream… that was it. A stream of light that connected me to each of them. It was as thin as a thread of silk, but it seemed to carry so much: information, emotions, desires. I knew instinctively that it was a soul-thread. I also knew that each and every one was a bond between me and the person who’d sworn to follow me.
I reached out, still guided by Oracle, and I soon found eddies where the threads and streams seemed to be bent, reminiscent of water running around stones submerged in the path of the stream. I concentrated on these sections, finding that they glowed to my spectral sight, and then I felt them.
The Golems.
They had a rudimentary awa
reness, or at least these level two and three versions did. The level twos were slow, plodding minds, dull as dishwater, but still there, while the threes were… different.
I could only compare them to animals in my mind. If I were to continue with the water analogy, the level twos were fish; they knew to eat, to swim and to do, but not to think for themselves. By contrast, the level threes were closer to seals; they could think, reason things out, but they weren’t human minds, and they didn’t have the self-awareness I was used to. Instead, there was an almost ‘hive’ mentality. They reached out and commanded their ‘lesser’ brethren through a kind of neural link, and the more individuals they linked with, the faster their minds worked.
I had a vision of the hundreds that had once filled the Great Tower, and I couldn’t help but shiver at the capacity they must have once had.
The greater Golems were far more intelligent, becoming almost fully sentient, and would live until destroyed, Heph had explained once, with the ‘King’ level of Golems being capable of true majesty in their works.
The flying cities, I’d been told, were the work of a Golem King, and although I knew it would make no sense for one to be here, lying in dormant repose on one of the cities that had crashed, I still had a momentary fantasy of finding it.
Then I shook the thought away. If it had been here, it would have fixed the damn city.
I searched quickly, jumping from one Golem mind to another, until I found the level three Servitor, and I sank into it. The Golem was working on the far side of the ship, two decks up, somehow blending sections of wooden timbers together. It had found a crack in the hull, and its hands had begun weaving the sections of wood together like it was sewing the material together, fixing what could have been a problem and making it into a strength instead.
I couldn’t explain how I did it; I simply impressed a sensation of Elise, her personality, the ‘taste’ of her mana, and all that I had seen of her into a single tiny ball of identity, then attached it to the Golem. I was careful to add it under me in the structure of authority in its mind, but after a handful of seconds that seemed like hours, the Golem knew to seek her out if it needed further orders.
