• Open • [Sweetsong] Sweetsong's Handy-ferret

[Winston]

14th of Saun 722

Sweetsong's Handy-ferret

Sitting (very literally) in the middle of the settlement of Sweetsong, just a short distance from the main congregation area of the camp, there was a large chest. Its lid was wide open and for anyone that got close enough to noticed, there was the odd combination of baking and smithing emanating from it's opening.

Above the chest, suspended from a metal stake in the ground, hung a sign that read "Work Shop - Ring bell or come in for service. Free cake for all customers". Below this, hung a little bell, with a pull-cord. The cord went up to the bell and then back down into the depths of the chest.

Chest's opening was more than sufficient to accommodate even a large human climbing or indeed dropping/jumping in should they wish.

On looking inside, the chest would appear to lead to a rectangular stone well, going down many yards and ending at a bright flickering light.

On entering the chest there was a hallway. The transition, however it was attempted, might be an odd experience as however entered, one would find themselves standing on the other side, unharmed. The hall was sturdy, practical and simple in design, with stone walls and floor. It stretched out for several yards before ending by opening into a fully equipped and lit forge. Behind was the portal back to the outside, through which the sky above Chest could be seen.

There were a few doorways on either side of the hallway. "AH! Yay! 'ello! Welcome to me workshap. Come on in! Me was just trying to work out 'ow me cun 'elp around 'ere and per'aps yuh gat some tings dat need doin'?" He was carrying some bit of slag metal from a store room and into the forge.

[Kisaik]

Kisaik was walking with Ce'nija along the way in Sweetsong, enjoying the atmosphere and each other's company with some light banter about this flower, or that tree. Kisaik was starting to become very fond of his new members of his tribe, even the vain and promiscuous Aida was endearing in her way.

But then, they came upon a most unusual sight. A chest in the middle of a clearing. The lid seemed to open of its own accord, and Ce'nija stepped back. Kisaik, meanwhile, felt his rupture spark calling him to the potential danger of whatever lay within. What was this? It could have been just an ordinary chest that someone had mislaid. Orr... It could be the entrance to a deadly and dangerous fracture, full of beasts and treasure! Only one way to find out.

Kisaik turned to Ce'nija, "Go inform the administrative tent, I'm going in!"

Ce'nija seemed relieved at least to have an excuse not to accompany Kisaik into the unknown. She went off to inform someone, anyone of his whereabouts and activities.

Meanwhile, Kisaik walked right up to the chest, and felt its woodwork and fixtures with his small hadns. "Marvelous piece, really lovely woodwork and metal!" He nodded, it looked sturdy enough. Time to go on a small adventure!

So without another moment's consideration, he sky-hopped up above the chest, and then dove down into it. Whereupon he was transported to quite a different place than he was expecting. Certainly, this must have been some form of fracture, or dimensional door to a domain. Whatever it was, was fascinating and amazing. Kisaik walked down the corridor, his mouth agape and eyes staring all around.

"Hello! Is anyone home? Beasties or emeyan beings, show yourselves! Should you be villains spoiling to trap me, you will find me a most slippery foe!"

"If you be friendly, though, I would apologize for intruding!"

Then the voice came from down the hall, in a strange accent, that reminded Kisaik of the cadouri of Saoire's Dream. "Oh? Thank you, this..." And he entered the 'workshop' proper. "This is amazing, what an amazing workspace you have."

He looked around, trying to spot who the voice belonged to. His rupture sight would help him see around obstacles, in a 20 foot radius around him, so there were few places the owner of the voice might hide before Kisaik found him. Once he did, Kisaik would blink to his side, and extend a twiggy hand. "Pleased to meet you, I am Mädärä Kisaik Ciuruọrun sọ Kufuata Karo Kashe Däuä, Tìfmi Härumtä sọ anou Faewun Samuwar, ọbavi sọ tẹlẹ, igbaradi sọ anou tabi ọludïbọ, Saoire's chieja kẹmïkälï kukïrï, Akoko Nọọsi, qy’akot o'Creede. Who might you be, if you don't mind my asking?"

[Winston]

Is Kisaik OK?

Using his extra spatial awareness, Kisaik would sense a kitchen and a store room on the way down the hallway and there was apparently another room just beyond the workshop the forge was in. The furnace and so the room in general was exceedingly hot.

Not hiding, Kisaik would find Winston (Whether he was able to recognize one ferret from another or not) standing over the hot furnace, just about to drop a series of lumps of slag metal into a melting pot for reformation.

As Kisaik began to introduce himself, Winston took a proverbial breath... expecting a handful of syllables. As the name went on (and on), Winston's little eyes got boarder and boarder and his internal process paused for much longer than he was expecting.

"Ummm... May me call yuh...?" He asked, pausing openly to let Kisaik fill in the blank. "Me 'ope da Chest was nat rude? Et 'as eaten tree bells dis week already." He suddenly remembered he had not moved since Kisaik started saying his name... which was SOME time ago now. He placed the slag down on the side, brushing his apron down (which really just moved muck around a little), and made his way down to meet Kisaik as eye-level. It was uncommon to meet people his own size. "Da name's Winstaaan. Winstaan Milla." He was not in the slightest bit bothered if Kisaik did not remember him well. "Tanks very much. Me can't take any credit. Et was a gift." He said in reply to the compliment on his workshop. "Having yuh been in Sweetsong fa lang? Es dere someting me can 'elp yuh wid? Me wus 'oping to 'elp out anyone dat needs et. Per'aps yuh wud like some cake?"

[Kisaik]

Kisaik wasn't as squeamish about the heat and flames of a forge as most typical tunawa were. And most tunawa were afraid of fire for very good reason. They were extremely flamable, and flames could curb their regenerative capabilities. But Kisaik had something they didn't have, gifted to him by a Dragon. A invisibility cloak! Well not that it made him invisible, but it also had an enchantment that granted its wearer flame and heat resistance. A very useful thing indeed to a tunawa, and Kisaik reflected that Vindecaldra was a very good gift-giver, probably on par with Saoire herself.

"My friends call me Chip!" Kisaik offered, knowing that his full name was a bit of an ear and mouthful for most. "You're Winston? Oh I think I've heard of you. How nice to finally meet you. Any friend of Vega is a friend of mine, so I say."

"Hello Winston Miller." Kisaik reached out to take his hand, and give it a good shake. If Winston was tickled to be faced with someone more or less his own height, then so was Kisaik. It was a rare enough thing to see eye to eye. But refreshing to be sure!

"I've been in Sweetsong since about... the 61st of Ymiden, or so? I came only shortly after Vega I think." Kisaik thought that was right, although he may have been off about the exact date. "Cake would be lovely if you have any already made. But... now that I see the nature of this workshop, I wonder..."

His mind was running with the possibilities. It was good to have a smith and handy-ferret on Sweetsong's grounds. It meant he could pick the ferret's brain about craftsmanship, and of course having a variety of different crafts available was never a bad thing. "I wondered... If we could put our heads together for a project. I wanted to make myself a shield of sorts, but not just any shield."

Kisaik took a short breath, "A magic shield, enhanced by wells and ensorcelling..."

"Now, mind you, I don't have the wells for such a feat right now, but I will soon I'm sure! I plan to make an expedition soon." Kisaik tapped his feet a bit, restless with an abundance of racing thoughts as ideas occurred to him. "But I think we can make it a joint project?"

"What do you say? Of course, if you have objections to making arms and armaments, I'll understand." Kisaik nodded, "I know Saoire's folk don't tend to approve of battle and such things."

[Winston]

Gosh! Magical?!

Winson smiled and nodded. At the risk of being presumptuous, he decided to take the offer. "Den if dat's ok wid yuh, Chip et es. Welcome tuh meh workshap Chip."

He nodded emphatically when Kisaik mentioned Vega "Oh! She had a dragon! It's amaaaazing." he blurted out as if it had escaped before his sensibilities had the chance to filter it out.

As Kisaik offered his hand, Winston gave a little hop of excitement, before composing himself slightly and taking the little hand with a smile. It was an obvious delight to be shaking a hand and not just a finger for a change. Kisaik might notice the ferret stroke his

hand slightly with his thumb and a curious look on his face.

He released Kisaik's hand before asking a question. "Es yuh made af wud? Like ..." He glanced the little chap's figure up and down in a harmlessly curious fashion, setting back on Kisail's eyes, either because they glowed or because that was the best way to hold conversation. There was a glint of marvel in his own eyes. "... Me 'ave never met someone like yuh beefa."

As Kisaik spoke of his time here and accepted the offer of cake, Winston moved the coals aside in the forge and hung hup his apron at the doorway back into the hallway. "Oh yus, me 'ave a few kickin' around. Consider dem camplimentry." He said with a smile as he gestured for Kisaik to follow him down the hall towards the Kitchen. It was a small walk and on turning into the kitchen Winston put on a new apron and a little pair of clean gloves, which he took from a pile, beside which was another pile of previously warn gloves ready for washing.

If Kisaik was likely to notice, despite advertising himself as a hand-ferret, the nature of the

equipment and supplies in this kitchen far outstretched that of the smith forge itself

. There were two ovens, one small 'them sized' oven and a second basic 'bigguns-sized' one. Ramps and runways ran all around the areas that were built for the bugguns, making it simple to get around. The smell of baking was prevalent in the room though the ovens not currently fired. He wondered over to a table covered in dishes with bowls up-turned atop of them. "Please come an 'elp yuh-self." he said, lifting a few of the bowls, taking care not to touch any of the cakes, hiving just come from the forge.

Beneath each one were a range of tiny cakes.

They were all made with the utmost care. There was a honey cake, a cheese cake, some delicately iced vanilla cakes and red-looking cup-cakes. "Dem red ones are a little spicy." He warned, with a combination of caution and curiosity, as he wondered which might appeal most to a tree-person.

At the suggestion that he was looking to collaborate on something Winston's little ears pricked up happily, but then Kisaik disclosed that magic would be involved and the ferret nearly popped with barely suppressed excitement. "MAGIC? Oh! You can do magic?" He listened as Kisaik elaborated slightly.

As the little wooden man went on, Winston's lips moved with 'wells?' and 'ensorcelling?', the movements were entirely subconscious as he listened, reluctant to interrupt but eager to know more. As soon as there was a gap in the conversation for him to interject, his very obvious excitement, punctuated by offering more cake, came tumbling out of the ferret. "Oh dat sounds amazing! Me neva dun anyting like dat beffa." He paused thoughtfully for a moment.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: WOW! What could it do?!
Winston: Me hope me nat ‘old ‘im back?
Curiosity: Maby it should shrink to be packet sized?
Winston: Cus me really nat a great smith yet.
Curiosity: Or reflect magic!
Winston: Me shud let ‘im know me es still an amature!
Curiosity: Or when you call out, it comes to you?!
Winston: Me will tell ‘im.
Curiosity: Oh-OH! It could protect you from dragon breath!
Winston: …

"Come tuh tink af et. Me nat entirely sure me wud even know where tuh start on such a task. Oh dis will be so much fun tuh find out." He said hoping from one foot to the other ... he paused suddenly. "Oh, ef af course, yuh wud be 'appy to work wid meh? Me es still learning about dis stuff." There was a twank of honest concern to his voice, as he both genuinely would never wish to mislead Kisaik at to the nature of his ability, but the prospect of missing out on such an project might just cause him to implode. "One ting me can pramis yuh, es dat me es the perfect smith far making somting yuh size." He offered reassuringly, gesturing happily at their relative scale.

At the mention of 'Saoire's folk' Winston nodded, inwardly he was delighted yet again at the reference from the little tree-person. He was clearly very worldly, so Winston had decided. "Oh yes. Me don't like fightin', but sometime yuh are nat the one able to make duh choice af wedda violence happens ar nat ... in times like dese, wat betta den a shield tuh keep yuh safe." He said proudly. "One of Saoire's gifts is a shield as et happens. She loves protectin', but nat everyone ‘as da liberty af bein’ able to ignore an attack due to the powa af their aura alone." His pride doubled, if such a thing was possible, as the mention of Saoire, but if he was a pacifist, he was at least a pragmatic one.

"Chest, some paper an’ pencils please?" He said as he absent maimedly opened a draw only to find said things, offering some to Kisaik. "Ef yuh ‘appy tuh work wid me, den should we trow some ideas togedda? Or is dat a problem far latta?" There was a very good chance the ferret was going to jump the gun due to his excitement, but would happily respect Kisaik’s response/desire.

[Kisaik]

Kisaik was pleased to hear Winston call him Chip. He held the cadouri-folk in high regard, as the children of Saoire one of the Immortals he held to be a good friend of his. So getting along with most cadouri that proved themselves to be a good sort - and he’d not yet met a bad one - was a priority.

When Winston mentioned that Vega had a dragon, Kisaik nodded, “Yes, I recommended her to the dragon Vindecaldra, I believe the dragonling is one of hers. I have one too!” Kisaik didn’t feel strange to say it. “I got the dragonling from Vindecaldra herself, when I and my companions freed her from her and her children from her fiery prison. His name is Aquarius, I’m sure he’d like to meet you too.”

When Winston’s hand lingered on Kisaik’s own, as they shook hands, the tunawa nodded, “Wood, sap, and other plant stuff. Plus every tunawa has something a little bit mystical about them, something of the magic of Moseke and Ymiden about them.” He thought on it a moment, and then nodded, “Probably a lot like the Cadouri have Saoire’s magic about them, being immersed in her realm for so long?”

Kisaik was curious about that, and so didn’t hesitate to ask him, “What’s it like in Saoire’s Realm, if you don’t mind me asking? I’ve been to her school… You may be aware of the tree seed that I gave her that she grew in her garden? That seedling is a whole other story, in fact…” Kisaik was full of them, and there was hardly enough time in every first meeting to go over them all. But Kisaik hoped someday to tell all his good friends about his major adventures.

Nevertheless, Kisaik entered deeper into the workshop, which appeared to be more of a kitchen at the moment, with at least a couple sizeable ovens. Something was cooking, Kisaik could just about smell it, and he gladly took the cake. “Oh! I love a challenge. I’ll take the hottest cake you have?”

Kisaik reached into the bowl and took the red one, regarding it for a moment, “It’s strange, you know? My friend Soren in Melrath has a bar, and he made me what we call a Sunny Sticky, a liquor made from the essence of honey, lemon, and a Nashaki ghost cactus. It was said to be very spicy, as you said this is. It made me grow barbs in my beard! But it was very tasty.”

So saying, he popped a large portion of the cake into his mouth, and began chewing. He continued the meal, eating away as Winston watched. The Tunawa, far from bursting into flames or anything of the like, really enjoyed the cake. It made him feel warm, and loosened his sap up considerably to where he felt very nimble. “That was refreshing!” Kisaik announced with delight. “I’ll take a dozen, for the rest of the tribe! If you have any you want to get off your hands.”

“I do do magic, Rupturing magic I think it’s called, to be precise. But as for making magic items? One of the women in my tribe knows ensorcelling… that’s the art of putting magic into objects through the use of special rocks called ‘Wells’. They’re concentrated ether, from Emea.”

“I only have one whole well to contribute to the ensorcellment, but it should be enough for a small effect… Like perhaps making a shield with a see-through porthole, or a blowgun that can shoot a dart really really fast. That’s what I can do with the help of rupturing and ensorcelling.”

Kisaik then listened as Winston explained his own limitations, in terms of his craftsmanship. “Of course! I’m only a novice woodworker and ensorceller myself at the moment, so it’s only fitting that we learn together. Although I will say I’m a pretty good alchemist… that’s making potions and the like.”

The tunawa was glad that Winston seemed to agree with his idea of a shield. It was a good base for an item, that could have many many applications for magical enhancement. Kisaik began to recite his ideas, of the things he was confident he could do with what magic and ensorcelling knowledge he had. “Well, if we use my rupturing skill, in tandem with my tribeswoman’s ensorcelling skills, we should be able to err…”

He thought only a few moments, then continued, “Like I said, a see through shield, that can block in the portion that’s see through. A hole that’s visible in the shield so as not to block one’s view of an attacker, but can still withstand impact of blows.”

“Umm, what else… Oh! A hoop in the top of the shield, that one can throw a knife through. I could enchant a snapshot portal there, that would be able to accelerate the flight of the thrown weapon to a great speed!”

Kisaik tapped his chin, thinking more. Then he shrugged. “Or we can just use alchemy to make it sturdier and give it resistance to fire or some such… There are many ways we could go about this project! Do you have any ideas?”

[Winston]

Enter Captain Idalos!

He was either incapable of hiding it, or simply happy not to bother, but this ferret wore his emotions very clearly on his sleave and as Kisaik spoke of his adventures with dragons the little ferret's awe and admiration was obvious.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Ask him how to get a dragon!
Winston: Nat dis again.
Curiosity: Cummon man, you didn't ask Vega. You've met like 20 people in Idalos so far and almost half of them HAVE dragons!
Winston: Dat's NAT true.
Curiosity: I don't care! You HAVE to ask SOMEONE how to get a dragon.
Winston: Nat de first time yuh meet dem.
Curiosity: Awwww man! At least ask to MEET his dragon.

"Woooooow! You freed Vindecaldra? There was danger of some hero worship on the horizon. "Me would love to meet 'im and would LOVE to hear 'ow you managed to free a dragon." His interest was obviously not just polite curiosity to satisfy a potential customer and he would soak in anything Kisaik had to say.

He absent-mindedly repeated the names 'Moseke and Ymiden' as Kisaik explained, as if locking in the information before it ran away. He nodded. "Ef gift-giving es magical, den yuh nat wrong dere. He replied happily.

Winston gasped with such vigor that it might cause concern that he was having some kind of episode. "OOOOoooooooooohhhhh! That was YOU?!" He took up the little twig-man's hand again and thrust it up and down, furiously, in thanks. When he accepted a cake, there was now a furiousness to the Cadouri's hospitality. Cakes and drinks were brought forward in ample supply. "Oh, one minute!" He said as he rummaged around in his supply of spices and herbs for something a little special, sprinkling it over the cake with a culinary flourish. "Please, anyting yuh want, just ask." Though there was already water, bread, sweets and cakes within easy arms reach.

"A friend af Saiore es a friend af mine." He exclaimed as he set off into a few stories of home. He described the flying world-turtles and missing some of the gift-giving festivals that home had held. "... an dat wus always me favourite festival. De 'ole village wud get involved an' dere wus fud, gifts and no one wus doing anyting dat was nat a ting to make someone else 'appy. Sometimes, Saiore wud open up partals between distant communities so dat we cud exchange gifts, share knowledge and learn." He nodded sagely. "Saiore encourages learning. Nothing bedda to 'er den someone teachin' far no odda reason den tuh give anodda person da gift af undastandin'." Winson would share with Kisaik any and all stories he wanted to hear.

Winston let out a great laugh at the idea of Kisaik with a spiky beard. "Sunny Sticky? Sounds yummy. You grow things based on what you eat?" Winston's tone did nothing to hide his curiosity at the idea.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Oh ... My ... Immortals ... Feed him something!
Winston: Nuh way.
Curiosity: Awwwwww ... Cummon man! Just something little?
Winston: No.
Curiosity: Just THINK of the possibilities!
Winston: 'im es a person, nat a toy.
Curiosity: But, he can grow things from his body!
Winston: No, nat dis time. Me last too many customers to your shenanigans.
Curiosity: Pfffft ... THAT old lady said she could see a flan coming a mile off. She was asking for it.

As Kisaik announced he wanted more, Winston burst with delight. "Af course. Please ..." He collected together a dozen little cakes, which might have been the entire batch, and packed them up for Kisaik to take at his leisure. "... Enjoy wid me regards." The manor in which he gave them over described a deal done, with no mention of a charge.

It amused him that Kisaik didn't seem confident of the name of his own magic. It felt very much like something Winston would do, learning something before he even knew what it was called. "Ensorcelling? Dat sounds like a very useful skill." He replied, adding it to an internal list of things to learn more about.

He nodded thoughtfully as Kisaik described what he could do,

encouraging him to go into more detail in both abstract and detailed terms in an attempt to better understand the nature of what he could do

. "Yuh like being warm?" He asked as an obvious leading question. "Me 'ave nat done much work wid any af de mar unique materials af Idalos yet, bu perhaps me could add some properties af dese to enhance et? Me have 'eard dat Faldrunium gev arf heat."

When he paid reference to being an Achemist Winston gave another little gasp of excitement. "Hehe, me might need tuh add you tuh me priority contact list." He said with a giggle. "Yuh sound like a very useful person tuh have around." There was no doubt this was intended as a genuine assessment.

He listened intently as Kisaik described his idea for the shield, nodding slowly as he did and making notes, drawing very crude circles with arrows and notes. Winston had no experience using a shield, which he was quickly coming to realise was somewhat of a flaw for a smith planning to make one. With only a moment of consideration, the thought came from his lips once Kisaik was finished. "Dat sounds sensible. Me tink me shud get some trainin' wid a shield ef me gonna design dem well." His tone was that of a casual remake, not a complaint or problem.

"Me nat sure 'ow big an item you can 'move' ..." He bagen, with reference to the repturer's ability to teleport small objects through space at novice level. "... but cud dat stretch to an entire 'yuh-sized' shield? An per'aps turn de affect around, so et cun be thrown, but den returns to yuh once et's hit de target?" He delivered the idea as if spit-balling with a college, rather than discounting anything Kisaik had already suggested.

Spoiler

The Wiki says 'dagger sized' but that is, I presume HUMAN dagger sized. Give Kisiak's size and so the tiny size of his shield, I would argue there's no reason he could not Snapshot his shield as it will not be bigger than an average, fully-sized dagger. I'm thinking Captain America-style awesomeness :-p

When he spoke of alchemy Winston repeated the word "... 'Just'." He was clear with his tone that the prospect of using Alchemy was something of a marvel to him. "Es dere some reason we cud nat make it sturdier wid alchemy and den add de rupturing as well?" If there was, this ferret sounded willing to try regardless.

Winston had a raft of notes, ready to go, he had also made a list of questions regarding what metals he could use to offer other properties to the shield from the nature of their meterlagy alone.

"'ow big do yuh want et? Someting like a full length towa shield? Or something smaller and maw agile, like a circular shield?" Winston could definitely not answer this question, as it depended entirely on how Kisaik intended to use the shield.

[Kisaik]

“Yes, it was one of my prouder moments, I must say.” Kisaik smiled widely at Winston. “She was very amazing, and glowed with white hot flame.” That said, if Winston had time Kisaik would give him a summary explanation of what had happened. From the strange chance kidnapping by U’frek, to the harrowing encounter with the strange lizards inhabiting the volcano, and finally being ambushed and attacked by a pack of Aukari fanatics.

“… And then, I used the broach that Saoire gave me when I gave her my magic acorn, I used it to reflect their attacks back on them. They were very skilled warriors, so their attacks were quite deadly to themselves…” Kisaik didn’t relish the idea of ending a life even indirectly, but he couldn’t deny that the broach had saved him and made it possible to hold out long enough for the dragon to awaken. “That broach saved my life. So I have much to thank Saoire for, and I intend to do so by following through with the quest she gave me, to recover a breeding pair of each turtle on the island and bring it to Faldrass for her.”

Kisaik took Winston’s generosity quite well, but was soon overloaded with an abundance of goods as the Ferret cadouri heaped cakes and sweets and drinks on Kisaik. “Thank you!” He said, and began slipping a few of them into his domain bag. Before too long, he had it all in his bag, ready to distribute to the rest of his tribe.

Kisaik was impressed by the description of the festivals that Winston attended in Saoire’s Dream. “So… That sounds like such a wonderful place. Why did the Cadouri leave? What prompted the departure?”

But then, Winston explained that Saoire encourages learning, and it was something that Cadouri held close to heart. “Ahh, learning! That must be it, your natural curiosity! It will serve you well if you want to learn alchemy from me!”

“And yes I can grow flowers and seeds from my hair, when I’ve sampled a fruit. And Tunawa prefer to stay warm, but most of us are afraid of fire. I’m not, I’ve dealt with fire a lot, and have safeguards to keep myself from bursting up like a matchstick.”

Finally, they got to the business at hand, which was to figure out the design of the shield itself. There were many considerations, and of course were limited in some ways by the reagents they had to hand and also the natural limits of alchemy. “Well there are certain limits, but I think it’s surely possible to make it sturdier with alchemy, and add rupturing… I’m still a novice at ensorcelling, so there’s very little I can do there without tutelage from my Tribe’s wise woman Ce’nija.”

“Of course, there’s such a thing as blood magic… and Sap should suffice in lieu of blood.” Kisaik said, “Blood magic takes the blood of a mage or mark bearer, like myself, and imbues the spell into the material itself! It’s a bit more robust and safer than ensorcelling. Less liable to blow up in the user’s face, so long as the blood magic inside the item is fueled properly.”

“Oh I very much value agility, smaller like a circular form!” Kisaik said of the shield he’d prefer. “I think half my height, about five inches would do to provide enough coverage. Depending on what properties we decide upon, maybe we can make it bigger or smaller.”

“Also that sounds like a great idea, the throwing it and having it return! Amazing idea. I think that can be accomplished through the technique of ‘Pulling’ and ‘Pushing’. It’s an expert technique of Rupturing. I think alchemy would be the best way to accomplish that, given the skill I don’t currently have in ensorcelling…”

[Winston]

Hero worship get's great discounts

Kisaik's story of Spirits, heroics, ghosts, giant lizards, eggs and Dragons captivated the young fellow. All thought of what else they might have been there for was momentarily lost and should Kisaik be in any doubt, this might be relieved as Winston made himself comfortable to listen, occasionally interjecting with excited queries and encouraging sounds of awe and appreciation. "I should like to meet Phee. You can really ride them? How big are they? How long have you known them?"

"OOOoooooooh, what's the Benieth??"

His admiration for Kisaik's tendency to run head-long into battle, whether he described it as such or not, would be obvious and if a blow-by-blow retelling of the account was in any way on the cards, Winston would fuel the tale with drinks and food as it was told.

As his story was played out, Winston's tendency to paint his emotions, unfiltered across his features, would only become more obvious.

"Onward! To Victory!"

Winston all but swooned at the stick-man's bravery.

"Fall back! I shall lead these fiends to their doom!"

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: He's so cool!
Winston: Kisaik es so brave.
Curiosity: Kisaik IS a boy-twigs name right?
Winston: Me don't really know ...
Curiosity: I wonder if there are girl and boy Tunawa?
Winston: Kisaik es a natural leader. 'e OBVIOUSLY es an 'ero.
Curiosity: They do not seem to have breasts ... Or female colourings ...
Winston: Kisaik es so well travelled. Dem 'as seen so much!
Curiosity: Ask them if they are a boy-twig to a girl-twig.
Winston: No WAY mun!
Curiosity: OMG. You never do anything I want.
Winston: Et wud be rude.
Curiosity: But look at them. They talk about facing dragons like it's a hobby!
Winston: Dem es so brave ...

Wonston gave a long sigh of admiration. Kisaik might not realize it, but he was going to have some hero worship and probably a free shield by the end of this story.

"We keep them off the girl. Six against two."

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Seriously dude. Make like a registration form for the shield.
Winston: He's soooo heroic!
Curiosity: Like, all customers have to fill it in. Name, address *cough* gender *cough* ... Sorted.
Winston: Me don't care mun ... 'im's a bonified, self-sacrificin' defender af dem dat needs de 'elp.
Curiosity: ... Fair.
Winston: An' 'im need's a shield to defend 'imself an' others! Fram ME!

Yeah, Winston was now hooked. Kisaik was not the first person he had met in Idalos that would genuinely be classified as a hero, but he had a flair ... and scale ... that appealed to the young ferret and he dreamily took in the details of Kisaik's story.

Both Winston's hands slapped over his mouth as Kisaik's arm (in the story that Winston was now very much re-living within his own head) was chopped off. He staired at Kisiak's now replenished arm in amazement.

Not the for the first second or probably even third time, Wonston gasped as Kisaik's story concluded. "OOOooh, yuh 'ave a quest from Saiore 'erself?" This seemed to set something in the ferrest mind as his shoulder set themselves back slightly. "Den yuh cun consider me efforts on dis 'ere shield a gift." He said with determination. "An' ef dere es enyting me cun do tuh 'elp wid yuh quest far Saiore, den yuh can already consida et done." He added firmly.

He shrugged slightly at Kisaik's question about the Cadouri's departure. "Et was nat quite like dat. The 'Cadouri' didn't leave Dream as such. Saiore just opened up the ways, so that anyone dat wanted to COULD leave. Many have stayed and we cud return if we wished, but much like traveling between dat turtle-worlds in Dream, me tink she decided we would have must to learn 'ere in Idalos. I came because me 'ave a very unhealthy, un unsatiable curiosity ... Et 'as gatten me in to trouble mar den once." He admitted with a grin.

"Far someone dat faces down gosts and dragon alike, yuh must'ave bravery to spare for candles." He said cheerfully with playful smile.

When they started talking about proportions, Winston gradded a small supply of bamboo-like straight shafts and snaped then at different lengths, encouraging Kisaik to hold then to his arm, side and shoulder to offer an idea of side compared to himself and his general garb. He took whichever one they decided was best for the prototype.

"Oh yus, we should use everything we cun. Me cus start fram the base qualities fram de metal itself ... Does your cloak turn your things invisible? Would it turn your shield invisible? Dear es dis metal called Minithelite. Et 'as properties dat allow it tuh blend in and seem to be invisible. Et's brittle es de only catch, so di would per'aps be something dat de alchemy cud cure? Den yuh cud weild yuh shield even when yuh es invisible?" He scribbled down some notes for later.

His notes to date read:

Kisaik's shield (no charge cos of Saiore's mate's rates):

Ideas:

• Materials:
  • Faldrunium - perhaps give off warmth ... might get too hot?
  • Minithelite - could make the shield invisible ... might be too brittle?

Alchemy:

• Could make the shield stronger?

Ensorcelling:

• Rupturing:
  • could make the shield return when thrown?
  • make the shield see-through?

Design:

• smaller and more agile
• circular

"Perhaps me cun get to makin' some test pieces, trying out wat me cun wid the materials and da design arf de shield? Den we cun investigate 'ow to build de final one? Does Alchemy require the process of making the shield to be modified or to include Alchemy itself? Or cun et be done afta?"

... Don't forget the FORM! ...

[Kisaik]

Kisaik didn’t realize that Winston was growing a hero-worship complex, but only thought that his new friend was a very very good listener, and an even better audience for his personal tales. When asked whether he could meet Phee, and how big he was, Kisaik grinned widely. “Of course! You’ll meet Phee sooner or later, since we all live in Sweetsong for now, probably forever, now that we’ve planted the tribe’s Ojogbon tree here. It shall be the home of my people until the tree no longer gives us sprouts… Theoretically, it should last forever…”

“But I digress… Phee is three feet tall! Very big harpy eagle. And his wingspan? Huuuge!” Kisaik held his arms out, T-posing and then using his growth domain power to make them extend several feet in either direction. Sadly it didn’t quite match the harpy eagle’s wingspan, but he said, “At least three times as wide as this, he has all white feathers, you can’t miss him if you ever see him.” ‘This’ being around five or so feet.

“You aren’t afraid of raptors are you? Rabu always was, but Phee is very well trained. He wouldn’t take prey without my leave.” Kisaik puffed out his chest. It did fill him with pride to talk about his favored steed. “Phee and I have been together for… oh several arcs now. I’ve had him since he was just an egg.” For whatever reason, Kisaik left out the part where he’d poached the egg from its parent’s nest. But then, they had kidnapped him. Fair was fair!

To the question about the quest, Kisaik nodded, “To find all the turtle types in Sweetwine and Ol’Tuck’s run, and bring them to Faldrass. She even gave me a special whistle to take me straight there. Perhaps you might help sometime! I’d love company while searching for the turtles.”

Kisaik’s eyes went wide, as Winston submitted that he would give him a shield for free. “Well thank you! I mustn’t turn down such a generous offer, but I’d offer a favor in kind. I shall think of someway to repay you for your hospitality and kindness, sure as anything!”

Kisaik listened to what Saoire’s Dream was like for the cadouri that lived there. It made sense that eventually they would get curious about the outside world. So he took that at face value. Certainly, Winston seemed to have a very curious and ingenious mind, that flowed with ideas and solutions to problems that came as quick as the problems posed. Kisaik rarely met someone who could match the pace of his own thought stream. Vega was another. But now they also had Winston.

“I’d say as much as you think curiosity inconveniences you, it comes with much good. You may not be as good as you are at thinking up solutions to problems if it weren’t for that curious nature, afterall.” Kisaik said with a smile.

Finally, they got down to the business of crafting and all that alchemy brass tacks. Kisaik listened carefully as he asked questions, and also offered materials that might be of use. When brought to the concept of Minithelite, Kisaik scratched his chin beard. “Hmmm, Perhaps the camouflage of the minithelle could be transferred to a stronger metal, rather than the other way around? We could make an alloy, although I must admit working with metals is not something I’ve done a lot of in alchemy.”

“Hmmm, no the things I hold in my hand doesn’t go invisible with my cloak, unfortunately. Unless it’s small enough to hide beneath the cloak.”

Kisaik looked at Winston’s scribbled handwriting, and scratched his head. “This is embarrassing! I have a necklace that helps me understand common and speak it well enough, but I can’t actually read it… What do your notes say?”

Supposing Winston dictated the contents of his notes, Kisaik would shake his head. “I am resistant to fire, but I’d prefer to keep it at bay rather than make a shield from the burning metal. Perhaps Sorellian steel? I think I can afford some ingots, but they are hard to find… Then we can add the concealing effect of minithelle to it?”

“I don’t know how skilled you are, but do you think you could work with Sorellian steel?”

When they came to the subject of rupturing and ensorcelling, Kisaik nodded but then shook his head. “Neither of us is a skilled enough ensorceller right now to put a Pulling or Pushing technique on the shield. I think alchemy and blood magic might be the trick to use there, since I am a skilled enough alchemist to make that work that way.”

When looking at the design, which mercifully was drawn along with the writing, Kisaik nodded, “I like the disc design, it’s very versatile and agile.”

“Aye indeed! We can try many different things, and I can pay for materials if you need! Just let me know and keep me involved. I’d really enjoy learning smithing from you, the idea of working with metals is exciting!”