7.4 - Expansion (Patreon)

7.4 - Expansion

Taylor

“It’s unlike any form of insect control I’ve ever seen in all my years. It’s precision alone would make it powerful but being capable of sensing through the bodies of the insects themselves is a whole other dynamic none I know of can claim. I would normally call it Sylvanus’ blessing but he would not have a hold over spiders as you do.”

I offered the arch druid a shrug “Not sure what to tell you. Powers from home are just classified as ‘weird’ most days and work however the hell they want to.”

“The realms are vast and to believe one knows all they have to offer is folly in and of itself.” Halsin affirmed as he led me and Karlach through the heart of the Grove. I could see wisps of magical energies flowing freely now, through the air, coalescing like water flowing into a bowl. 

“What’s the difference between this and what Kagha was planning?” I ventured to ask.

“Hmm. The Rite of Thorns is a ritual only to be invoked in the most dire of circumstances, when the only recourse lft to defend one of Nature’s sacred places is to call upon Silvanus’ unyielding wrath to bar all from entry who are not his chosen guardians of nature.” He explained. “The Rite would have covered the Grove in impenetrable thorns and brambles. No fire or magic could ever pierce The Grove would indeed be protected for the next five hundred years from any that might harm it. No magic could pierce through, no fire could burn it down.”

“But it would mean sacrificing the Tieflings yeah?” Karlach surmised, watching the back of Halsin’s head, I saw him nod. 

“Yes. At best they would have been driven from the gates before the rite, left to fend for themselves against the Goblins, all but guaranteeing their deaths. If they’d have stayed, the Thorns themselves would have killed them, their bodies impaled on the brambles.”

I paused in a half step. Just from my histories I knew that impalement was not a fast way to die.

There were Children with these refugees.

There really was no bottom to the barrel of how low my opinion could go towards the rest of Halsin’s order. 

“The Stormcrown Rite is not an absolute defense as the Rite of Thorns is-” The archdruid continued, oblivious to my internal disdain for the people he ostensibly led. “But it is powerful. By tonight, torrential rains will fall, by tomorrow, winds will howl through the forest and by the third day lightning strikes will descend from the heavens. The storm will be devastating, increasing in intensity for each day we channel the magic.”

“That might drive off the Goblins but it won’t kill em mate, won’t solve the problem.” Karlach argued. 

“The Wards will fail in two days time.” Halsin answered. Wind and rain. It will be enough to sicken some, to exhaust them from lack of sleep and sap their strength with cold. They will find us by the third day and it will be an advantage to us.” He contested, just as we reached the ‘spot’ that I assume would be where we would practice, given its relatively empty nature. “Better than killing hundreds and calling it Silvanus’ will.”

Karlach held up her hands. “No argument from me there mate. A bit of rain might even cool me off.” She joked. 

Halsin smiled at her before turning to look at me again “Still, returning to the subject of your insects Miss Hebert; given that you can sense through them, are you certain those senses are limited to touch?”

“I can’t hear or see.” I explained. “The way their brains process that information is just… too different. It feels like trying to see sound and hear colors.”

“Hmm. But touch is something that translates, and all sound is vibration at the end of the day. Could you perhaps leverage that?”

“Like… try to hear through touch?” It wasn’t such an absurd idea. I could vaguely detect vibrations and other things through earthworms most days, its pretty much what kept this whole grove and everyone in it that touched the ground within my awareness really.

I just… could I really do that?

Halsin shrugged “From what I understand you’ve only had this ability for… two weeks?”

“Just about getting to three-” I corrected slightly. 

“Then, you’re only just discovering what’s possible.” The Druid’s smile reminded me of my dad’s in happier times. “Experiment, discover all you can do and reach for greater mastery!”

I couldn’t help but smile back, the encouragement felt good.

“Now then.” The man cleared his throat, seemingly realizing what he sounded like and getting a bit embarrassed. “I also understand that there have been some… misadventures in our world that have given you new capabilities.”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. The memories of the Githzerai ghosting across the forefront of my mind. “A Gith tried to invade my mind, I don’t remember what happened, but we’re pretty sure he triggered some Mindflayer trap when he tried which killed him. But he was around long enough to dump a truckload of his memories.”

“Show him the Chiki-Chiki hands!” Karlach cheered. 

“We’re not calling it that.” I reminded.

“Too late.” Her fanged smirk was teasing. “We’re calling it that.”

I decided to ignore the ridiculous name for now and instead focused inward, to the energy pooling in my center before calling it forwards. 

My hands erupted with sickly green fires, Halsin crouched infront of me, looking at the display like a scientist might look at some interesting lab results.

“I see, and from what you’ve gathered the… Githserai invader focused on hand to hand combat?”

“Mostly.” I answered. There were some memories with simple weaponry, daggers, swords, a staff and so on, but the bulk of it was definitely using punches and kicks to channel the inner energies of the body, or Ki as he called them. 

Halsin nodded. “Hmm. Very well, then what your body needs more than anything to let you utilize these acquired memories seems to be conditioning. You are…” He cleared his throat. “Small.”

“A bean pole with noodle arms you mean…” I stated drily. No need to hide it, I agreed. The memories showed that Antaa could practically pulverize rock with his bare fist, that he could run for miles before he even got winded, or could just straight up punch the lights out of monsters and giants with a single blow.

I was not that. I was nowhere near that. 

“...Small.” Halsin was unfailingly polite. “So, let’s get started.” With a wave of his hand, vines began to sprout around the small patch of empty space, and in seconds Halsin had turned a dirt patch with some rocks into an almost literal jungle Gym.”

“The road to conditioning is at the end of the day relatively simple. One must lift heavy objects and put them back down in various ways, repeatedly.”

This… was gonna suck.

“Oh fuck yes. I’ve been itching to burn off some energy!”

At least someone was happy.

—

We started simple. 

With the “equipment” and the ‘starting point’ of beanpole with noodle arms, it was always going to be ‘simple’ I guess. Even Antaa started simple. 

Pushups, Squats, Chest Presses, or at least the ‘Negatives’ of the Chest Press with a big ass rock Karlach handed me then helped me lift and let me slowly lower back to my chest, the ‘Pull up’ negatives as well. Rows using several canteens of water strapped together, deadlifts with even more canteens of water.

Halsin was there for all of it offering encouragement, they both did. I appreciated it, even though it was readily apparent that both literal mountains of muscle, made me feel grossly inadequate by comparison.

“And to finish, a bit of cardio.” Halsin stated as I finished the last deadlift and let the mess of water canteens drop and clatter all over the floor. 

“How many laps?” I asked, twirling a finger as I struggled to catch my breath. 

I was gonna be feeling everything tomorrow wasn’t I?

“Laps?” Halsin shook his head. “No, child, that won’t further your skills.” The man put his hands up and tight, taking what I instantly recognized as a boxer’s stance. “Light contact sparring. When the day comes that you can hurt me, You’ll have graduated.” He smiled. 

“Wait.” Karlach giggled. “You know how to fight? Not just fling spells?”

“I wasn’t born Arch Druid.” Halsin answered with a smile. “In truth, I’ve only held the title for little over a hundred years. I am…” He paused, thinking. “Three Hundred and fifty seven years I believe. I’ve had time to learn a wide range of skills. The misadventures of youth.” He chuckled. 

I looked at the man and had a thought.

“Hold on!” I said, “if we’re gonna practice lemme get something.”

He looked curious but acquiesced. “Of course.”

I didn’t waste time, turning and running as quickly as I could to collect what I needed.

Minutes later I returned, with two Phase spiders and the boots of web walking on. 

Halsin still looked confused, so did some of the others looking around when I made the two Phase spiders begin teleporting willy-nilly around us.

But the man didn’t stop me, and after a second or two, I nodded. “Alright. Ready.”

Halsin assumed his boxing stance once more. “No magic for now. We refine your foundation. Magic comes later.”

Fair enough.

I didn’t exactly wait for a call or signal to begin after that, looked at his stance and attacked.

He had reach on me so I had to rely on my kicks to try and mitigate that, the Kick I lashed out with was aimed at his side and Halsin’s free hand swiveled downward, lightning quick, smacking the incoming strike aside before answering back with a quick jab I just barely leaned far enough away from to avoid.

He stepped in, looking to push me while I was still off balance, the foot I used for the kick still not yet having reached the ground. 

It didn’t need to.

I stepped onto one of the gossamer thin, near invisible lines of webbing, aware of where it was from the senses of the phase spiders still attached to it.

I stepped on that line and felt like it was concrete, immovable, my whole body corkscrewed in a sudden, impossible angle, the vertigo hitting me all at once, but I kept my focus on delivering the counterblow that was a spinning, downward axe kick to Halsin’s shoulder.

The druid was surprised, but not enough to actually let the strike land.

My kick cracked against his forearm and his other hand lashed out, grabbing me by the scruff of my cotton shirt and physically pulling me off of the webs through brute force alone. Reflexively I tried to punch and hammer that forearm but I might as well have been trying to punch out a tree trunk.

The knees came next, trying instead to slam my bony knee pads into his stomach but the man raised me and held me just high and far enough so that all I could hit was his chest, which did fuck all.

Halsin’s free hand punched and I shut my eyes, sure I was about to get clobbered in the face before I felt a very sudden, jarring smack on my forehead.

The druid’s hand had opened up somewhere before his fist connected, instead smacking the front of my skull solidly with an open palm strike. Jarring. A little stinging. But definitely not ‘Punched by a seven foot tall Bear-man’ painful. 

“Well done.” The druid praised, setting me down. “The trick with the webs is inspired.”

“Evidently not.” I grumbled as he let me go, patting myself down and straightening out my crumpled blouse. 

“Do not be so hard on yourself.” He urged. “I have centuries of experience in all manner of conflict… and at least a hundred pounds on you. Work on your speed and I’m certain that ability will become a nightmare to face once refined enough.”

“Gods that looked like fun!” Karlach groaned, leaning back where she sat. “Fuck- being on fire sucks.”

The druid turned to her. “That is a result of your… infernal engine, yes?”

Karlach nodded. “Aye. Not a willing thing mind you, but its here now so…” She shrugged.

Halsin looked thoughtful. “I believe the Tieflings do have a weaponsmith that is experienced in working with Infernal metals and machinery. Dammon I believe his name is. Perhaps he might help in some way?”

Karlach perked up. “Wait. Really?”

“Every tiefling refugee here is from Elturel.” Halsin said. “Every one of them has likely had closer dealings directly with the hells than most. You lose nothing by asking.”

“I’m only feeling one person working around an open fire and hammering something in camp.” I added. “Barcus is with them right now. So he might be easy to spot.”

Karlach nodded and then started to look excited. “Holy shit, if someone can tune this thing down… Holy shit I might actually be able to touch people!” The large woman practically squealed out the last words, hope shining in her eyes before she shot up to her feet and… I’m not sure how one pulls off sprinting, frolicking and skipping but… well… it was happening… somehow. 

The skies overhead began to rumble.

“The rite is nearing its first stage.” Halsin said before looking back to me. “With that I’m afraid I must cut this short.” He held up a finger. “Do not train fIurther for today, allow your body time to recover.”

“Alright.” I agreed easily enough. Frankly. I’m not sure if I can train anymore even if I wanted to. While I wasn’t exhausted I could definitely feel the strain on my muscles and I just know everything is gonna hurt tomorrow. 

Halsin smiled again and nodded before walking off.

I took the time to look over the camp with my bugs. Tagging everyone’s movements. Durge was still resting near the druid merchant, reading his book with the screaming face. Lae’zel and Wyll were still training with Sophia having wandered closer to the entrance, Gale was with… Emma, Madison was heading back to ‘our’ camp and Astarion… I think was arguing with a bear who wouldn’t get off of the elevator to let him use it.

I thought about what to do with myself and immediately came onto my next task.

Sure Halsin said no training but seeing if I could actually listen with my bugs probably wasn’t included on that list.

I needed isolation though, or relative isolation, my own human ears were probably gonna make focusing difficult if I was surrounded by voices and… druid chanting.

So I scanned the area and found a fairly isolated spot… the eastern bluffs, the place that… that Emma had nearly killed herself.

Not exactly the most pleasant association… debatably, but it would serve for now. 

The alternative was heading down to the cave with the Phase spiders. Not a bad alternative but it was a much farther walk.

So, decision made I began heading over, navigating my way through the heart of the grove and the druids in question to climb the small hill that signaled the ‘edge’ of the bluffs.

Finding an isolated spot here wasn’t hard, I had my pick of the lot. Finding a comfortable spot was a different story, given all the rocks and crags.

In the end, I did find one place, between the greater chionthar river and a waterfall that fed into it, descending from the tops of the hollow that sheltered the Tieflings. 

It really was a beautiful grove.

The sound of the water made a nice background noise to distinguish between what my ears could hear and what my bugs could hear, and with that, I sat myself down and tried to start focusing.

And then Scratch decided to come on over and join me.

I didn’t have a lot of experience with dogs, but I still had to smile a bit, reaching up to pet him as the dog panted and wagged his tail. “Hey boy.” I said softly. “I was trying to be alone ya know?”

The dog let out a sound that sounded like a rumble, and then plopped himself down beside me, laying at my side, head in my lap.

I snorted. “Guess we’ll be alone together then.” I muttered absently before I kept scratching at the top of his head, my mind returning to the task of trying to listen through my bugs.

And so we see Taylor trying to learn how to listen through her bugs, and she gets a new practice partner in team Dad :D

For those of you who've played the game you know what next chapter is bringing but I think I've got a few surprises in store for you on the way ;)See you all in the next one :D