As they all converse amongst themselves for a couple of minutes the dragons wait slowly getting minorly impatient. Finally after 7 minutes talon speaks up. " I understand your hesitance, but I think you have discussed long enough, make your decision join us at least for the evening or fend for yourselves. You ventured into this forest. Obviously prepared to fight dangerous creatures. Albeit previously against your own wills, however that is not the case anymore. You are free to camp out right using the supplies in those spatial storage bags even the ones dropped by your former masters." The dragon toes the 3 high quality silvery white pouches the elves were carrying. " However, should you decide to camp out here, I will take it as your final decision not to join me, you would be free to come back in a few days and offer supplies in exchange for living here, but the price will be steep as you will have refused my first offer. So make your decision join me or face your futures by yourselves."
The slaves looked at each other, the weight of Talon's ultimatum hanging heavy in the air. The dwarves exchanged a final, determined glance. The scarred human nodded once, his jaw set. It was clear they had made their choice. The stocky dwarf stepped forward, his voice firm despite the tremor of fear. "We'll join you," he declared, looking up at Talon's massive form. "It's better than facing the forest alone."
His companion nodded in agreement. "Aye, we accept your offer." The humans murmured their assent, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension. They had chosen a new master over the uncertain dangers of the wild.
Talon let out a low rumble that might have been a chuckle or a growl of satisfaction. "Very well," he said, lowering his shoulder further to the ground. "A couple last things before I take you to my tretop cavern. Do not be afraid of the many forms I can take, including vampires, I do not mean you harm unless you mean me harm. Also I was not lying about my appetite. I can, have, and will eat anything or anyone and size will not stop me now matter what form I take. This is a world of infinite possibilities and I am here to experience those possibilities. If you can accept these conditions then climb aboard, 2 per dragon, and bring the bags of your former masters, they are a little hard for me to grab in this form."
The slaves moved with a mixture of caution and determination. The dwarves, being the bravest or perhaps brashest, went first. They approached Talon's lowered shoulder, their heavy boots sinking slightly into the soft earth. With a grunt and a heave, they pulled themselves up onto his back, settling near the base of his neck. Their hands gripped the coarse scales tightly.
The humans followed suit, two at a time climbing onto Dalman and Patches. The scarred man and the one woman of the group who carries both of the swords, , went to Dalman. While the remaining two, the bearded man and a young black haired man, who the clones previously thought unarmed but actually carries a wand with 3 bright yellow core stones embedded in it, climb onto Patches. They arranged themselves carefully, trying to find a comfortable position on the dragons' broad backs.
The young black haired man reached for the silvery-white pouches left behind by the elves, hoisting them over his shoulder with relative ease. The dwarves stored their sheilds into their bags, securing them to their belts, so that they can hold on more easily.
Once all the passengers have mounted the dragons talon gives a brief warning. " Hold on tight, I have never flown with passengers before, in fact I've barely flown in my dragon form at all." After they feel their passengers grips tightening enough, the 3 dragons take flight one by one, Talon then Dalman then Patches and they fly upward in a gradual circle around the tree to avoid flying to steeply and land softly on one of the entrance platforms. On the platform Dee and Greyus open the giant wooden double doors in dragonkin form. There are 8 large fires on earthen platforms, 4 with whole roasting skinned boars, 2 with cauldron cooking stock and 2 roasting assorted meat on skewers. Clones are dividing the bones of the three skull-less skeletons alon with all sorts of edible and non edible items onto 13 giant earthen platters,. As the dragons enter and let their guests dismount tako brings over 6 pairs of much smaller empty earthen plates and bowls and hands oneof each to each of their guests along with 6 earthen cups.
" Please don't mind.We just started cooking everything around the time we noticed you approaching, some food will be ready soon so feel free to grab and eat your fill. Also unfortunately we haven't had time to ferment anything but we do have water, Habo juice, and kealon (a berry that tastes like lemons) juice, so drink to your hearts content. Now lets get introductions under way. I'm Tako and these are my clones..." Tako introduces them one by one. "But since we look the same other other than when we change species don't worry we stained our numbers and names on the fronts and backs of each of our shirts as you can see." Tako points above their left breast then turns around showing off the numbers and names written in English but transformed to common by the power of the blessing. " Now, if you wouldn't mind introducing yourselves to me, it would be much appreciated"
The scarred man, steps forward again, his gaze sweeping over the feast laid out before them. "Thank you for your generous hospitality," he says, his voice sincere. "I am Kael, a former mercenary captain. These are my companions."
The woman goes and nods curtly, her eyes scanning the room and the clones with a professional wariness. "Lyra," she introduces herself. "I was a soldier in the Attalacian Kingdom's army before... circumstances changed."
The younger dwarf who seems to be second in charge gives a hearty laugh, clapping his hands together. "Borin! A dwarf from the Stonefist clan. Glad to be out of that damn forest and into some good food and company."
The young black-haired man, looks around with wide eyes before speaking softly. "I'm Finn. I... I was a scholar's apprentice." He seems slightly overwhelmed by the grandeur of the tree interior.
The bearded man steps forward, his voice deep and gravelly. "Name's Thorne," he says, scratching his thick beard. "Used to be a blacksmith before I ended up in this mess."
The old dwarf, who had been quietly observing, finally speaks up. "Gimli" he grunts, his voice like stones grinding together. "Was a prospector. Looking for treasure in the wrong place, I suppose."
As the introductions finish, Kael moves towards the roasting boars, his stomach growling audibly. "Mind if we dig in? It's been a long while since we had a proper meal. Being slaves doesn't exactly garner the best of treatment or food."
"Of course" Tako smiles at their new friends. " Start with the skewers, the boars and stew should be done in about a half hour to an hour. However the night is young and the food and drink are plentiful so as I said before feel free to help yourselves as long as the food is done cooking. And as I said I have an unusual appetite." Tako gestures to the 13 large platters filled with stones, crystals, ores, mushrooms, bushes, logs, berries, fruits, vegetables, mosses, roots, leaves, weeds, grasses, and topped with bones. "Don't worry, I have a strong stomach." All 13 clones including the 3 in dragon form pat their bellies in unison. "But don't you dare touch my platters. Not that I think you would want to."
Thorne watches Tako gesture towards the platters with a raised eyebrow. "You're serious about that appetite, aren't you?" he remarks, taking a long drink from a nearby eathen cup of kealon juice. "Never seen anyone eat... well, everything before."
Gimli grunts, eyeing the bones on one of the platters. "Hmph. Waste not, want not," he mutters, though he makes no move to touch any of the unusual food.
As the feast gets underway, Kael leans back against the center tree trunk branch, his gaze sweeping over the clones and their unique features. "So," he begins, his tone casual but probing, "what's your story? How did you end up with this... impressive setup?" He gestures around at the fortified tree and its inhabitants.
Lyra nods in agreement, her eyes fixed on Tako. "Yes, you seem well-established for someone who must be new to this world."
"Well first off yes, I am new to this world I was reincarnated by Kiro the God of reincarnation. Before I reincarnated into spent most of my life engrossed in books and stories. So in a sense I have over 25 years of knowledge and know-how. Second, day one i had 3 clones and you know what they say, many hands make light work. 3rd, I have blessings that help me learn and create skills. 4th, the blessing of the forest sea helps. And lastly it helps when you can regain energy, and mana by eating and it gets very easy when you can anything and everything." Tako grabs a quartz crystal bigger than Thornes head from their giant platter which they moved nearby and swallows it with ease to emphasize their point.
Thorne stares at the spot where the large quartz crystal disappeared into Tako's mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You just... ate that?" he stammers, pointing a thick finger at the empty space. "Whole?" Tako nods chuckling at the burly blacksmith's bewildered blundering.
Borin lets out a booming laugh, slapping his knee. "Ha! I knew you had an unusual appetite, but that's just incredible! You must have quite the stomach on you."
Finn looks fascinated, leaning forward slightly. "Does it not hurt? And what does it taste like?" Gimli grunts, shaking his head slowly. "Bah. Young'uns these days, don'tunderstandthe taste of a good crystal." He mutters under his breath.
Tako smiles at Finn and Gimli. "No it doesn't hurt and it tastes the same as if you were to lick it. Though I will admit I appreciate a much wider range of flavors than the average person. Even long before I reincarnated, it's what got me into cooking in my previous life."
Kael watches with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "So that's how you keep from getting exhaustedand get stronger easily," he says, nodding slowly. "Ingenious. No wonder you've built all this so quickly."
Lyra's professional curiosity is piqued. "Fascinating," Lyra steps closer, her eyes scanning Tako with a newfound interest. "So, if I understand correctly, you absorb the properties of whatever you consume? Is that how you gained your magic?" she asks, her voice sharp and analytical.
Kael leans forward, his elbows on his knees. "And the clones? Are they independent, or all part of one mind? That could be a powerful advantage in battle."
Borin chimes in, wiping grease from his beard with the back of his hand. "And what other blessings have you got? Sounds like you're stacked with useful abilities."
Tako smiles at their questions, feeling a sense of pride in their accomplishments. "Yes, Lyra, that's exactly how I gained my magic. Every plant, animal, mineral, and even people, have their own unique properties that I can absorb." They gesture to the platters. "That's why my appetite is so... diverse. I make sure to eat everything until I have gained everything I can from it. There is a limit after all" Tako addresses Kael next going in order. "My clones are all of one mind, it's all me up here." Tako taps the side of their head with Justine's finger without moving any of the dragonkins muscles. "It's how I survived night one, I kind of made the mistake of cooking wild vegetable stew while a large group of 17 horned rabbits was nearby and not sharing. I was level one with the same stats as a child, I wouldn't have made it out if I wasn't who I am." Lastly Tako turns to Borin. " As far as my blessings go obviously I have vore and vore ability absorption, I have skill and spell creation as I mentioned earlier. I also have a minor language blessing, hence why I can speak to you, and I have a blessing from each of the 12 gods, so yes I am a little overpowered. Especially since i have a chance to absorb the blessings of those I eat." Tako pretends to eye Borin like a steak.