bookpower Stone and Blood: Act 2, Chapter 7
Stone and Blood: Act 2, Chapter 7
Stone and Blood: Act 2, Chapter 7
Chapter 7
They followed Iliky’ie up a small river that joined with the Abelion after carving its way through the hills on its eastern flank. The bottom of its gulley was wooded and steep, bringing them past many sets of tumbling rapids and stepstone falls. Florine scanned the surrounding vegetation, trying to get a sense of how far they had come. All she could discern, however, were all of the headless skeletons propped up against the trees to ward away intruders.
“This is quite the distance,” she said. “Why not relocate closer to the river?”
It was what Humans would have done, at least. The presence of infrastructure, industry, and resources determined how settlements were positioned.
“Because it is not safe,” Iliky’ie replied. “Those who came before lived where we do for the same reason.”
They came to an escarpment that the Y’y’yoiy were somehow scaling while carrying the massive Beastman corpses. Florine gazed up at the rainbow cast upon the spray of water overhead.
“How are we going to get up?”
In response to her question, Isorouku pointed a bony finger at her.
“「Fly」.”
Florine froze as her Soul Eater lifted off of the ground, not daring to move until it alighted atop the escarpment. The Vampire Bride and Boobeebee effortlessly climbed up after her. After that came several chains of Death-series servitors who clung to the legs of those above them as the one at the top lifted them into the air. She watched the Undead sway back and forth in the wind as they took turns detaching from one another to land on the ground.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen them do that before...”
“It is unwieldy,” Isoroku said as it settled down beside her, “but the most efficient method in this situation.”
“Our home lies further,” Iliky’ie told them. “Come.”
Thirty minutes later, they came to a steep bowl nestled between a set of hills. A large, spring-fed pool lay at the bottom, surrounded by a myriad of grottos pockmarking the slopes.
“I can’t tell whether these are natural or artificial,” Florine said.
“This was once the village of a Spriggan tribe,” Iliky’ie said. “It was they who shaped this place.”
The ground shuddered and the infantry squad closed in around Florine as a mound of liquid earth rolled by. Iliky’ie quickly turned around, raising her cute little paws.
“Please!” She said, “Do not cause trouble with the spirits! They will not attack if you do not harm this place.”
“What are they?” Florine asked.
“Elemental spirits of earth,” Boobeebee said. “Earth Elementals. This location is a nexus of power. A place sacred to the elements that few would consider attacking.”
Another mound of earth rumbled by. Florine glanced over her shoulder at the scratching sound of Isoroku’s pen.
“Do the tribes of the Abelion Hills worship the four elements?” She turned her attention back to the Earth Elementals wandering around the slopes of the grotto.
“Worship?” Boobeebee twisted her long head slightly, “No. The elements are venerated amongst all the tribes, but not worshipped.”
She idly wondered how that compared to the worship of the Four Elemental Gods. Then, another thought occurred to her.Visitt for the latest updates
“Isoroku,” she said, “have we documented the locations of these nexuses of power?”
“No,” the Elder Lich said. “Shall we call for survey teams to catalogue their locations?”
“It may save time to just ask the tribes as we visit them,” Florine said. “More importantly, do we have any way of protecting these locations?”
“This is not impossible, but the Royal Army will require justification for the deployment of security forces.”
“That’s because...”
It was a resource. At least that was how outsiders would see it. The local tribes considered the location a sacred place, but potential travellers from the Holy Kingdom and other, more developed, realms would see it as a spot to capture Earth Elementals. The Magician Guild offered high prices for them as they were essential for Golem creation.
“They may be targeted by poachers,” Florine said. “Or you could say that they’re citizens that need to be protected? These Elementals aren’t summons – they’re intelligent beings that dwell in the Sorcerous Kingdom. In that case, targeting the Elementals for capture could be considered raiding for the purpose of taking slaves.”
Could they be classified in that fashion? The problem brought her recent discussion with Ludmila to mind. While intelligent, Elementals were beings with values and behaviours alien to those raised in Human civilisation. They wouldn’t pay taxes nor participate in industry and had no use for money. They would attack perceived threats to their territory. As far as Florine knew, they contributed nothing to a nation’s economy unless they were captured and used. They simply existed.
“Iliky’ie,” Florine said, “Do you do anything special here?”
“Special? This is where we were told to dwell. Were we expected to do more?”
“I was just curious. Boobeebee mentioned that the tribes considered places like this sacred, so I thought it might have some special activities.”
Iliky’ie looked around the spring. Hundreds of Y’y’yoiy were eyeing them warily from the entrances of their new dens.
“It is a sacred place even if no one dwelled here,” Iliky’ie said. “Nothing special must be done to make it so. I do not understand what you are trying to say.”
“I believe that Humans construct their sacred places,” Boobeebee said. “At least that is what I saw in the Holy Kingdom of Roble. The Humans gather in those places to venerate the elements.”
The Y’y’yoiy shook her head unknowingly. Florine cleared her throat.
“We can take our time learning about one another,” she said. “That’s part of why I’m here, after all. Let’s move on to more mundane things, shall we? Do you have a family?”
Iliky’ie turned around, leading them along one side of the spring. She stopped in front of a grotto not dissimilar to the others, Nine adult Y’y’yoiy poked their heads out of the entrance and twelve smaller heads poked out between them. Their glistening noses twitched in Florine’s direction.
“This is my family,” Iliky’ie told her.
“It’s so large,” Florine said. “Are all Y’y’yoiy families like this?”
“Yes...”
“Which one is your husband?”
Iliky’ie stood up on her hind legs, waddling over to the group.
“This one,” she pointed a claw, “this one, this one, this one and this one.”
Ah, mother...I’ve found the woman you wanted me to be.
“Who are the other adults?” Florine asked.
“They are the mates of my mates.”
“Forgive me,” Florine lowered her head. “I suppose that an action taken for the greater good of one’s tribe shouldn’t be seen as something terrible. You’ll have to bear with me while I become familiar with your people and their ways. Will your children be alright without you?”
“...just to be sure,” Iliky’ie said, “I am not going to be eaten or turned into one of the Undead, am I?”
“Of course not,” Florine smiled. “By coming with me, you will be performing a great service for your people. Hopefully, your safe return and the benefits that your travels bring to your tribe will encourage others to travel, as well.”
“In that case, the children will be fine. Caring for one’s young is a task divided between all members of a den.”
“I see. Well, if you need to return for any reason, just let me know. We will be travelling all over the place, but nothing should be farther than a day or so from your home by Soul Eater. Ah – we’ll be providing food, so please only pack what you’ll need aside from that.”
“Pack?”
“Any belongings you’d like to bring with you while we travel...”
Florine eyed Iliky’ie up and down. She wasn’t wearing anything whatsoever. The only members of her tribe that did seemed to be the mystics who wore colourful accessories that mostly consisted of unprocessed items such as flowers and feathers.
“Can you think of anything that you need to take with you?” Florine asked.
“Nothing in particular,” Iliky’ie replied.
She couldn’t imagine not taking anything with her while going anywhere – even if it was just a stroll around E-Rantel. While the Y’y’yoiy had their furry coats, Florine couldn’t imagine why they wouldn’t carry containers or belts for holding everyday items.
“In that case,” she said, “let’s get going. Er, you’ll at least tell your family that you’re coming with me, right?”
“Of course.”
Florine waited while Iliky’ie disappeared into her den. When she emerged again, the heads of her family poked out of the entrance to watch her leave. Florine couldn’t tell whether they were sad, anxious, or simply curious.
They departed the grotto, walking back down to the Abelion River. From there, they followed the river downstream to the Dale of Defiance so Florine could update the administration’s information on the Y’y’yoiy. Iliky’ie seemed to grow nervous as they approached the bend in the river where the office was located.
“Is something the matter, Iliky’ie?” Florine asked.
“When we were in captivity,” Iliky’ie replied, “some of the other prisoners said that the Dale of Defiance was where Jaldabaoth first fell upon the hills.”
“For some reason,” Florine said, “everyone that I’ve spoken to so far seems to recognise this location by that name. Why is that?”
“Because it is where a legend known by all took place,” Boobeebee told her. “Where the mighty heroes of old came together to defeat the Demon God King and his remaining followers. Of course, a battle of that magnitude would have spanned many dozens of kilometres, but the Dale of Defiance is where the heroes made their stand before the fighting commenced, and it is where the Demon God King fell. Jaldabaoth fell upon us here as if to spite the achievements of the past.”
Florine looked across the shallow crater as they crossed the first security perimeter. If so many different tribes of different races and cultures of the Abelion Hills shared that common point of lore, then there was a good chance that it was true.
“How did everyone find out that Jaldabaoth first appeared here?” Florine asked, “Did the tribe that once lived here spread the word?”
“No,” Boobeebee said. “No tribe dwelled in the Dale of Defiance. It is a special place where everyone respects the fact that the many races of the Abelion Hills and beyond came together to destroy a great threat to the world. Out of that respect, no one claims this place as their territory, nor does anyone bring their conflicts here. Jaldabaoth fell upon a great celebration held in midwinter to commemorate the victory over the Demon Gods.”
Florine froze in her steps just before she entered the main pavilion.
“Wait,” she said, “are you saying that something like a festival is held here every winter? One that every race in the Abelion Hills attends?”
“It wasn’t held last year for obvious reasons, but yes.”
Why didn’t you say so earlier?
Her steps resumed, carrying her straight to her desk. It was mostly her fault. The accounts of Jaldabaoth’s reign of terror were so atrocious that she wanted to hear as little about it as possible. What she had heard was already enough to give her a lifetime of nightmares.
Florine produced a pen and snatched a fresh sheet of paper.
I can use this...probably.
A common point across cultures that everyone respected. One that even had a communal ritual observed by every race. All she needed to figure out was how to not offend everyone or trample on existing traditions while making use of it.
Once she scribbled down her thoughts, she returned outside. Boobeebee, Iliky’ie, and Liolio were gathered in the shadow of the tent.
“Sorry for the wait,” Florine said. “Iliky’ie, do you have any special requirements for accommodations? This is the main off–erm, the place where I return to after going out to meet the various tribes. We return here to sleep, when possible...at least those of us who need to sleep.”
The Y’y’yioy’s head swivelled back and forth as she scanned the surroundings.
“I can dig a new tunnel,” she said. “Where may I do this?”
“Have you considered something like a tent?” Florine gestured to one of the tents nearby.
In response, Iliky’ie went over to inspect the tent. A minute later, sprays of dirt erupted from the entrance.
That’s not what I meant...
The scene reminded her of when the Quagoa first arrived in E-Rantel. They had prepared houses for the new arrivals, but the Quagoa immediately started digging a tunnel to hide in. Even after they figured out what was going on, the Quagoa refused their new homes in favour of tunnelling out living spaces under E-Rantel. Since the Y’y’yoiy didn’t appear to suffer from day blindness, Florine thought that things might be different. Apparently not.
A pair of patrolling Death Knights stopped in front of the tent, eyeing the activity curiously. Florine waved them away, letting them know that everything was alright.
“Boobeebee,” she said, “would the remaining races in the Abelion Hills still respect their customs surrounding the Dale of Defiance?”
“I am not certain,” Boobeebee replied. “Before, it was a custom that celebrated the triumph of the tribes and the unity of the heroes of old. Now, it may only be a bitter reminder of Jaldabaoth’s reign.”
Florine feared that it might be the case. Bad things always tended to rise to the forefront of memory. Once again, Jaldabaoth played true to his fiendish nature. He may have wrought physical ruin to a catastrophic degree, but that was secondary to the lasting, intangible damage that his actions caused. Hearts and minds were broken; traditions and values that might be considered good were drowned in a flood of suffering and tragedy.
Her first thought was to take advantage of the old custom to bring people together. At the same time, she could open a simple market to promote trade within the Abelion Hills. The market would serve various purposes, including helping to identify valuable resources, seeing how the new subjects could fit into the greater economy of the Sorcerous Kingdom, facilitating the exchange of ideas and giving rise to the beginnings of a collective regional culture.
Trade was a worldwide activity; one that was engaged in by more races, countries, and cultures than she could name. She had no reason to believe that it couldn’t be encouraged in the Abelion Hills for its beneficial effects. Due to Jaldabaoth, however, Florine was sensitive to the possibility that opening something like a market might be perceived as shameless exploitation.
“Did the tribes participate in trade during this celebration that you spoke of?” She asked.
“Yes,” Boobeebee replied. “The Dark Dwarves would put up a tent where they displayed their merchandise and exchanged goods with the local tribes.”
Urgh...
The fact that things would have probably gone smoothly since the tribes would recognise what she was doing made Jaldabaoth’s actions hurt all the more. Now she was being foiled by his machinations and he likely didn’t even know that she existed.
Those old tales about the far-reaching evil of Fiends have nothing on the real thing.
Florine still believed that her idea would work, however. She would just have to be very careful about how she laid out her plans.