Enjoy! :)

-Plum

21 – A Friendly Voice

Andy approached the Waterhouse just as volunteers began moving around the mesa, igniting the gas lamps along the paths. Lydia and James had been hard at work fabricating and installing the lamps, which filled the mesquite grove with magical, amber pools of light. The liquid that powered them was a new mix of mana and other fuels—kerosene at first, but then diesel and even old gasoline. It seemed the enchantment process wasn’t very discerning.

The Waterhouse was busy, as usual; people loved the magical baths, and there were always a few folks tending the plants. Andy was looking for Bea, and he found her right where he’d expected. She was in the little office-workshop she’d claimed. Since about day two of the Waterhouse-era of the mesa, Bea had been an almost permanent fixture.

“Andy!” she said, setting down a notebook she’d been sketching in. She sat behind a long, polished table, and there was no way anyone who didn’t know her could have guessed she’d been a retiree—a senior citizen of the trailer park. Her hair was dark, her skin smooth, and she had an eager brightness to her expression that said there wasn’t a tired bone in her body.

As he walked into the room, she got up and came around to hug him. When they separated, he said, “Good to see you, Bea.”

“It’s a surprise to see you so soon. The hunt for the undead went better than you expected?”

Andy shook his head. “We came back early because we found some other people. Um, that’s why I’m here. I imagine they’ll be coming around to use the baths, and there are still a few people who are injured, so—”

Bea hurried over to a coat rack near the door and started picking up her things. “Are any in real trouble?”

“No, no! Relax. We already took care of most of their urgent injuries thanks to the water you sent with us. It’s just that we kind of used it all, and…” He trailed off, shrugging as he smiled a little sheepishly.

“Oh, I see!” She laughed. “Lucky for you, I’ve been working on all kinds of new mixes. You can take the results of my experiments.” As she spoke, she returned to her table and unstacked some wooden trays filled with little jars. “Some of the herbs we’re growing have proven to have medicinal effects, and some of them really enhance my water.” She looked at him and winked, adding, “Some of them don’t seem to do anything.”

She picked up a small cardboard box and began arranging a dozen or so jars within. For a moment, Andy stared at the cardboard, wondering how long it would be until there weren’t any boxes like that in the world. Bea pushed it closer to him on the table. “The jars with no markings are my normal healing water. The ones marked with a blue X are a bit stronger. These three”—she touched three jars tied with a length of pink ribbon—“are extremely potent. If someone drinks one of these, they’ll keep healing for several minutes.”

Andy’s eyes widened. “So, like, if I drank one before a fight, I’d heal during the fight?”

Bea grinned, nodding. “That’s right, kiddo.”

Andy picked up the box. “I can take all these?”

She nodded. “Share with your group.”

“Yeah, of course.” He smiled as the box disappeared into his storage ring.

“Anything else, or should I go get set up for our new guests? How many did you bring?”

“Um, more than thirty.”

“Whew! Never a slow moment around here!” She squeezed his shoulder and steered him toward the door. “If I don’t speak to you before you leave again, be careful…” She paused and looked into his eyes. “I’m assuming you’re heading back out…”

Andy nodded. “Oh, I am—Omar, too. You might want to talk to Bella; she’s about to do some kind of quest for her class.”

“Oh, is she now?” Bea clicked her tongue. “She had better come and talk to me first.”

Andy chuckled. “I’m sure she will.” He glanced down the hallway to the foyer of the Waterhouse. He could already hear some commotion. “I’m going to slip out the back if you don’t mind—lots to do before I leave in the morning.”

She nodded, squeezing his shoulder again. “Go on, then. Be careful!”

Andy hurried out of the Waterhouse, not because he didn’t want to see the survivors or the people helping them get acquainted with the settlement, but because he really did have a lot to do, and he was afraid he’d get pulled into some lengthy conversations.

First on his agenda was to take a look at the System Node; he had three boons to buy. Of course, he wasn’t sure he’d spend all three points right away, but he figured he ought to look. If the choices were too difficult, he’d tell Tucker or Violet about it and have the council discuss the options while he was gone.

When he stepped outside the Waterhouse, a thought occurred to him, and he concentrated, picturing the System Node where it hovered in the corner of the big stone hall beneath the mesa. Grinning, he traced his Greater Axiom of Passage and stepped through the resulting passage—a shadowy tunnel that appeared before him and seemed to go nowhere. Two steps later, he was standing before the floating, softly glowing orb.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” he muttered, looking around to see if he’d alarmed anyone with his sudden arrival. There were a few people milling about near the “storeroom” area of the cavern, but none of them were even looking his way.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized just how ridiculously overpowered his Axiomatic Pathfinder class was. He’d helped to evacuate dozens of people from the monster-ridden depths beneath the university, and it hadn’t even been a challenge. It hadn’t seemed like much in the moment; he’d cut down on travel times. In hindsight, though, he knew he’d probably saved lives—the climb up the cliff would have been terrible for some of those people, and then the threat of monsters…

Andy shook his head, trying to gather his fast-wandering thoughts. The point, he decided, was that he really wasn’t sure he should be hoarding his Improvement Points to buy another Evolution Point so soon. “One problem at a time,” he muttered, putting his hand on the stone. He called up the Settlement Menu and looked at the boons section:

Boons:System NodeFreshwater SpringNatural BulwarkForager’s BountySettlement Alliance LinkWhisperwood GroveDeep VeinsFisher’s BountySystem Trade BeaconMother Tree SanctuaryDeeproot Expansion

Boon Points: 3

Boons Available:Hearthflame EmberDeepwater PortSkywatch Roost

Of the three options, Andy knew that Lydia and the others were very interested in the Hearthflame Ember. In fact, he’d almost purchased it in the past, so he was tempted to buy it right away. Then his eyes drifted to the second option—the Deepwater Port. The more he thought about it, the more he realized it was likely that the underground river beneath the mesa was somehow tied into the one that they’d encountered under the university.

Considering what they’d seen of giant toads and bogwarts, Andy felt that more infrastructure around the underground lake and river was probably a good idea. There was also the notion that they’d have to start moving more people into the underground for semi-permanent residence. The caves had extended greatly when he’d purchased the Deeproot Expansion, so much so that they hadn’t all been explored yet.

Andy had been down to see the lake cave, and it was almost mythical in its proportions—as big as or bigger than the bogwart cavern. If he added the Deepwater Port, it would surely benefit the community as a whole, but especially the folks who chose to live down there.

The Skywatch Roost sounded good, but of the three, it was the one that Andy didn’t think was critical; the harpies were happy living in the Whisperwood Grove, and the community kept lookouts in Lucy’s Tower all the time. “Besides,” he said, talking to Scirocco as if the spear cared, “more options might open up when I buy the other ones—or when the settlement levels.”

He focused on the two boons he was sure about, but then hesitated. There wasn’t any rush when it came to the Deepwater Port, and he hadn’t given anyone a heads-up. Such a purchase might very well be dangerous to someone who was standing on the shore fishing or even swimming in the lake. Shrugging, Andy selected the Hearthflame Ember.

A rush sounded in his ears, and he felt a warm breeze blow toward him from every direction. He started to turn, wondering if something was happening behind him, but then a ball of fire appeared beside the System Node, rotating and crackling with a warm, reddish-orange glow. It wasn’t any bigger than his fist, but it gave off significant warmth. “Shit,” Andy said, wondering if he’d been meant somehow to specify where the Hearthflame Ember should go. To his relief, a System message appeared:

**Congratulations! You’ve summoned a Hearthflame Ember for Mesquite Mesa. While the ember is extremely hot, capable of stoking a forge or staving off the winter freeze, it will never burn a citizen of your community; feel free to move it around, but only with your bare hand!**

Andy chuckled nervously. “Seriously?” He peeled off his leather combat glove and gingerly stretched his fingers toward the floating flame. It was warm to the point that it was almost painful, even from a foot away, but as he continued to advance his hand, it never felt hotter than that. Holding his breath, with stress-induced sweat beading his forehead, he hesitantly wrapped his fingers around the baseball-sized flame. It didn’t hurt.

“Okay,” he muttered, then turned and hastily strode toward the exit. He wasn’t sure exactly where the ember should go, but he figured he’d deliver it to Lydia and put the problem in her hands—literally. The guards at the exit looked surprised to see him, but Andy didn’t slow to explain how he’d gotten past them. He was still sweating, and his body temperature was rapidly climbing inside his coat, which wasn’t immune to the radiant heat of the ember.

He nodded, smiling to the people he passed, but he didn’t slow, and his long legs carried him rapidly through the grove. His hand glowed as brightly as the lamps he passed by, and when he finally reached the crafting area and saw Lydia hard at work, pounding out a length of glowing metal, he called out a greeting.

She set her hammer down and looked up, wiping sweat from her brow. “Andy? I heard some folks had arrived, but I didn’t know it was you.”

“Hey, yeah. We had to make a quick return, but we’ll head out in the morning.” He smiled, holding out his hand as he approached. When she focused on his glowing fist, he released the ember so it floated between them. “I bought the Hearthflame Ember.”

“Oh!” She leaned close, then hastily pulled back. “It’s hot! How’d you carry it?”

Andy laughed. “Magic!” When she scowled at him, he added, “No, really—it’s hot enough to burn things, but it won’t burn us—citizens of the Mesa.”

“What should I do with it?” she asked, reaching toward it again, but quickly jerking her gloved hand back. He didn’t have to tell her to take the glove off; she started to do so immediately.

“The System message mentioned forges, so…I dunno—experiment.”

As she slowly stretched out her hand again, she asked, “Everything good for you and Omar? His shield holding up?”

“Yeah, I think so. He got some new armor you’re going to want to check out.”

She touched the flame, then pulled her hand back and looked at Andy. “Really?”

“Yeah, a breastplate—really nice.”

She nodded, looking him over. “You’re good? Need any spare spears?”

Andy shook his head, glancing at Scirocco. “Not yet. In fact, I need to go sit down with Scirocco, here. I think he’s ready for a level or two.”

Lydia smiled, looking the spear over. “Tell me about it when you’re done?”

“Yeah, sure.” He nodded to the fiery orb. “Let me know what you figure out with that. I’ll fill Violet and Tucker in before I go. Will you tell James? We’ve got a couple more boon points, but I figure I’ll let you guys debate ’em while I’m gone.”

Lydia chuckled. “I guess that’ll be a nice, calm conversation with…certain people away from the mesa. You haven’t heard anything about Lucy’s group, have you?”

Andy shook his head. “Nope. I guess that’s not a bad sign; it’s only been a couple of days.”

She nodded. “Okay, Andy. Be safe if I don’t see you before you leave.” To his surprise, she stepped closer and gave him a friendly, one-armed hug, then turned back to the Hearthflame Ember as he turned to leave.

Andy was tempted to use his Greater Axiom of Passage again, but his little home was only about a minute away, so he laughed at his silliness and tried to enjoy the cool, evening air, and the sound of the breeze in the mesquite boughs overhead. Before long, he was at his house, and he went inside.

He almost left the door open so he’d get a better breeze through the night, but then he remembered that he had a System reward coming for saving Delilah. Knowing it probably wouldn’t arrive until he’d fallen asleep, he closed and secured the little iron bolt lock James had installed. He frowned as he did so; Andy wanted to believe that nobody would try to steal from him, but he also had to be realistic. The community had grown a lot—there were nearly four hundred people living in and on the mesa, and he really didn’t know very many of them well.

He thought about what he’d do if he caught someone trying to steal from his trailer while he was in it, and decided he’d rather not find out. Putting the thoughts out of his mind, he opened the window by his bed, then another in the tiny kitchen area, allowing the wind to pass through. Feeling better, he sat down.

He supposed he was sitting in the dark, but with his Flame Sight, it didn’t feel that way. He held Scirocco before him, blade in the air, shaft resting on the wooden floorboards. “Okay, buddy, let’s see what you’ve got going on.” He sent a little mana trickling out of his hand into the weapon and suddenly Scirocco’s “status” sheet appeared in his vision:

Scirocco, Swift-Spear of Mesquite MesaArtifact – Tier 3Level – 18

Scirocco, born of the thunderstorm, is a weapon imbued with the primal essences of the desert and its fiercest denizens. Light in the hand and unnaturally swift, the spear eagerly answers the will of its bearer, especially in defense of Mesquite Mesa and those it considers its own.

·       On rare occasions, the essences within Scirocco surge to the surface. The spear may accompany a strike with lightning, fire, or venom. More commonly, its thrusts carry thunderclaps and violent gusts of wind capable of stunning or disorienting foes.

·       Thunderous Flight – Once per day, Scirocco can be thrown at a distant target. It will fly with the force and speed of lightning, delivering a devastating thunderbolt on impact that will damage all nearby foes. Scirocco’s other abilities will be unavailable for up to a day after this ability is used; the spear, mighty though it is, will require rest. Cost: 5 Improvement Points.

Level condition: Use Scirocco to defeat your foes. Bonus artifact experience will be awarded for foes defeated in defense of Mesquite Mesa.

Improvement Points: 4

Available Enhancements:

·       Enhanced Mentality 1. Cost: 1 Improvement Point.

·       Enhanced Damage 1. Cost: 1 Improvement Point.

·       Enhanced Special Attack Frequency 1. Cost: 1 Improvement Point.

·       Enhanced Durability 1. Cost: 1 Improvement Point.

·       New Special Ability: Guardian Spear – While you hold Scirocco, the weapon will alert you to danger posed by nearby foes. Cost: 2 Improvement Points.

·       New Special Ability: Serpent’s Strike – Scirocco’s reach will often extend beyond its physical limits, striking foes who would normally be safe from its deadly blade. Cost: 3 Improvement Points.

“Oh, nice, buddy! You gained eight levels, and I haven’t even used that Stone of Growth yet.”

The weapon vibrated in his hands.

Smiling, Andy said, “Listen, I think we should buy you some mentality points—I’m hoping it will help you control your special attacks and, maybe, make it easier for you to communicate. What do you think?”

Scirocco pulsed twice—he agreed.

“Okay, here goes,” Andy said, and then he focused on the option. The spear shook in his grip, growing warm for a moment. When Andy looked at the status sheet again, it showed that Scirocco had Enhanced Mentality 1, but it also listed Enhanced Mentality 2 for two more Improvement Points. “Hmm,” he said. “Well? Can you talk?”

Scirocco pulsed once in his hands.

“Dang it. Do we buy the next level?”

Scirocco pulsed twice, almost immediately.

“Oh? So sure?”

Two more pulses.

“If you say so—we’ve still got that gem, anyway.” Andy focused on the option, selecting it. This time the spear jumped in his hand, and he almost dropped it. It flared with a pale golden light that quickly faded.

“I wonder—”

Do you hear me, Battle Brother? A rough, sharp-edged masculine voice sounded in Andy’s mind. I speak!