"Lord Armeant, this is the council chamber, I had a talk with Lord Urisk and as far as I understand it I have a week to try and build the groundwork for this new faction." I explained to him as I singled him to take a seat.
"It is nice that you've taken so well with Lord Urisk he is a dear colleague though he often gets less respect then he deserves" Lord Armeant said little bit of sadness trickling into his voice.
"Why is that he seems like he's a nice guy?" I asked intrigued. From what little interaction I've had over the course of the day the Brownies honestly just seemed happy.
"While Martial prowess isn't as valued as it is for some cultures it is still extremely valuable, and Lord Urisk isn't a fighter nor destroyer he and his people for that matter are creators, over the course of my 600 plus years in these caves I've watched several of them when they enter this trance as they create, just a glimpse of that process has brought me joy on even my Darkest days... Oh, I had gotten off track hadn't I?" He stumbled over his for a moment as he described the Brownies it seemed that he truly respects them. What he described sounded slot like the flow state.
"It's, okay Lord Armeant you can continue" I said smiling at the Old Mushroom.
"Oh, yes anyways as I was saying the Brownies are not held in high esteem by many a Treant, Lithoni, or the other factions for their lack of ability to protect themselves." He said and I could see the path logic but I did not trek down it's path.
In such a violent environment I could see how those who did not fight constantly for survival might be looked down upon however I believe that shaming those was negative in the long run. Builders and craftsman where just as important as warriors sometimes even more so.
"Alright well that sounds like a deep rooted problem that I can't tackle now, however I would suggest that when I leave you began to ware away at that problem." I said sitting down I tapped my finger a nervous tick I had as I thought.
What the hell was I doing? I was seventeen for Christ's sake! Ugh, whatever I needed to get used to this as I been oh, so blessed to be a leader in this new world.
"Yes, sir I understand I had already had plans to do so, unfortunately it was slow going I'm under previous leadership" He stated, and while I didn't know if he actually had plans of doing so, he did bring up the issue so I was willing to believe him.
"Alright is there and other issues that I should be made aware of?" I asked somewhat exasperatingly.
"No, sir not at the moment sir, the houses are being planted, the plants you had signified as being able to be propagated are being collected, I ask permission to take leave sir" He stated, signalling him onwards he stood up and exited the Council chamber.
'Actually we have something on our end' Anastasia said hopping down from her perch on my shoulder.
'okay what is it?' I said waited as the spiderling Matriarch seemed to collect herself for a moment.
'Well my mother has expressed a desire to leave her cave Boss and well you are the only with [Geomancy] that I know of.' she stated, and I remembered I had almost forgotten the Doomsdays sized Spider, or well an average sized one for Australia. Nodding along I mentally pictured the narrow cave system that led up to the pocket that Matriarch resided in. Having her massive spider would probably ward away Arachnophobes not like the hundred spiders couldn't do the same but still.
'alright tell her I'll put into the schedule but may take a day or two' I told her and with that I moved on from the council room and I flagging. Marching up to the room where I slept. I shrugged off the various pieces of armor. Summoning an Armor stand out of stone I hung the three layers of armor. Chintin, jacket and cloak, looking nice and messed up from my fight grabbing a blanket and pillow I played down and fell asleep.
...
Waking up with a pounding headache I started to slowly crawl out of bed. Transporting a glass of water to my location by creating a pocket of air around it. Drinking it the cold water woke me up. Grabbing my repair kit, I began to go over the various parts repairing the torn cuts where I could buy the Slashes in the plate of Chintin where beyond my abilities. Turning to my cloak, I was just going to have kill something and repair pretty simple honestly.
From there I Doned the pieces of armor one at a time before I exited my bedroom. Creating a temporary window I looked out to see the bustle of the nearby fungal folk. I could make small impressions in the lots where I could see they planted the fungal spores that would grow into the houses.
Inspecting further I saw a Brownie craftsman trade a necklace for a bundle of string. Smiling I began to depart to were I had set up the kitchens. Already I could see a small pile of fire wood and still rope tubers and other root vegetables. Also I saw a dead rabbit skinned and cut up. Utilizing my meager cooking knowledge I cooked my self breakfast.
I sat their for a moment enjoying the simple pleasure. Standing up I dismissed the earthenware I created.
Then I stopped by the main hall seeing not much movement. Entering the Council chamber I saw two lords, a Lithoni, and a spider began to point at an outstretched parchment.
As I entered they snapped to attention and with a wave of my hand I dismissed them. Looking over I saw it was roughly sketched layout of the castle which had yet to be named.
Sitting down in my chair I looked at each the awkward silence was killing me!
"Alright fill me in what's happening?" I asked them.
"We, are discussing the logistics of watering the houses" he said shaking off a little a bit of confusion.
"If I might ask sir, where have you been?" Lord Armeant asked me.
"Ah, I was sleeping" I said confused as their reaction.
"Apologies but I don't know what sleep is if you could enlightened us, is it some secret technique." He responded doubly confused.
'ugh let me explain for him, humans and a few other species require sleep, sleep is a temporary state wherein our bodies begin to repair the ware and tear of the day, during this time we have limited cognitive functions' Anastasia stated to them, the Fungi seemed unconvinced for a little bit until their seemed to connect it to something.
"One of the legends of humans from the Cave Folk stated something similar called a 'Coma' but it wasn't temporary" Lord Armeant stated.
"This doesn't really matter, and a Coma is state of really strong sleep that our bodies out us in only when we have under gone serious damage, anyways what's the hang up with the watering of the houses" I said forcefully changing the topic as interesting as the conversation was it was starting to hurt my brain.
"Oh, yes well we were drafting plans for where to best place cannels that would best supply each house without interfering with other infrastructure or leaving them prone to sabotage." the stand in for Lord Alvest stated pointing to the river and to the roads.
"Understood, if you can create a final blueprint of where each one should go I'll make it, and while I'm here anything else?" I stated, as I waited for an answer to my question.
"Not really sir, if you could give us the location of where you train we could alert you" Armeant answered.
"Alright well ask Anastasia she will be weaving at her web behind the throne" I said as I exited the Council chamber. Anastasia crawled down from my shoulder and up to her web. Watching her for a moment I saw her spool a bit of silk before she began to weave.
Weaving through the hallways and unused rooms I appeared at the blank wall wherein there was an area where I trained. Stepping through the wall I liquidated the rock enough for me to step through me.
Sitting criss cross applesauce I began to focus on the skill quest. Slowly I liquidated the floor into a nice calm sea I remembered a single trip to the Atlantic ocean. The slaty taste in the air, the smell and the breeze. I remembered it and tried to force the image onto the calm liquid around me.
Slowly it began to move, small waves rose and seafoam formed. I started slow slowly forming just a basic calm sea. Then I began onto the next small step, fish basic cartoon imitations of fish. I had focus on each one at first before slowly, very slowly like muscle memory my mana learned how I wanted them to swim.
Slow going at first I raised up to my feet eyes still closed I focused on my mental picture Next I began to shadow box on the earthen waves. Slowly I had to try and focus on fighting while also focusing on the current calm sea.
It wavered for a moment, stopping I resettled the sea. Using the iron pinky ring I summoned one of the swords I had gotten yesterday. Slowly and as gracefully as I could manage I slowly moved through several small slashes and stabs.
As I struck outwards I timed it with the soft lapping waves. Something clicked slightly, continuing I began to attack with the tempo of the waves and as I fought I had realized the faster I swung the larger the waves became. Their was a limit to how fast I could make it.
Stopping there I moved onto something else. I let the waves come to a stop and the fishes disappear.
Next I turned to [Curse Weaver] the skill that the Ophiocord Mushroom had used to great effect. Pulling out my dagger, I inspected the small thrumming of the dagger. I had an idea a stupid one sure, but still it was still a path.
Slowly I pressed the dagger into my finger, a single blood drop appeared. The curse energy entered my body meager in its power as it had no anger behind it. It almost immediately disappeared before I could interact with it.
This time I nicked myself again, flowing some frustration. This time it lasted slightly longer then before. Again I had to slowly nick my finger which had already healed. The cuts barely hurt more than a paper cut. This time I pressed my hatred to the goblin that had killed Mr. Gonzalez. This time it slammed into me, it felt like a confused animal as it roamed.
Forcing my will on it, I held it for a moment before it slipped out of my grasp again. I felt a flash of anger, and the creature latched onto it and grew slightly. Looking at my hovering system notification.
...
[Alert!]
You have been inflicted with the curse [Curse of Hatred: Goblins].
...
[Alert]
Curse mutated the [Curse of Hatred: Goblins] has mutated into the [Curse of Hatred: Self]
...
Hmm, that explained it sort of grasping the beast again I encased in a block of my will and slowly I dispersed it trying to grasp the inner workings