63rd of Ymiden, arc 717
The Haunted Harlot Inn
The roar of the scython-ur kitten could be heard throughout the inn. As much as foxface tried to calm it, it knew its true master was in danger. How did it know? Perhaps it was magic, perhaps it was a sixth sense, but Ariel was certain Aeon had received a grievous injury, perhaps even died, and she was growling and hissing for the past several trials. Connor had had enough of it, and he was just about ready to hand her over to the Bondes when the door opened and the young kitten ran straight for it.
It jumped from happiness as it saw the scarred face of its master with a broad smile on it, and the young man lowered himself to catch his beloved little animal. He missed it dearly, but not nearly as much as it missed him, and he would make sure to pet its yellow fur with brown dots extra for that, later. Aeon let go of the kitten, and it simply ran circles around his feet as he dropped his bag on the bed and sat on it, looking calmly at the man on the other side of the room.
”I almost died again.” He said with a cold tone in his voice as he removed his coat to reveal a half-ruined shirt and a new, long scar which Ariel made sure to lick repeatedly, to, you know, ease the pain or something. Who knew what a Scython-Ur had in its mind? Foxface, however, wasn’t surprised. After all, when one went to Northern Gauthrel with the intent to tame a Sohr Khal, one would surely face danger. And it was Aeon that they were talking about, there would be danger in a children’s school if he went there.
”Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Connor Blake answered with a question, and although Aeon thought this would be the time he would smile, it wasn’t. He simply looked, with a blank expression on his face and a monotone voice. Foxface wasn’t usually like that, what was different now? ”Did you at least find what you were looking for?” He asked, scratching his chin through his thick beard as he looked the boy in the eye.
”In the stables.” Aeon nodded while answering. He did get a Sohr Khal, after all, so it was all worth it. Some may not say so, considering he lost extremely valuable equipment such as the beautiful replica of Ser Verne Andaris’ blade, and the perfectly made leather armour he got from the ship in Vhalar last arc. But it was worth it. Money can buy you equipment, but it can’t buy you the loyalty of an animal.
”Where’d your equipment go then? I don’t believe a Sohr Khal can destroy a sword like the one you had.” He said, still perfectly calm, it was like watching two statues have a staring contest, utterly boring and uneventful. Both of them didn’t raise their voice a single time, and the only movement that came from either of them was Aeon comforting his little beast while it sat in his lap, not allowing him to go anywhere ever again.
”Are you familiar with the Scalv Ziemia?” Aeon asked and foxface chuckled. The look in the older man’s eyes gave everything up. He already knew what happened. The boy did the thing where he attracted the worst predator in the area to his side, then pulled off something crazy and defeated it. ”Connor, I need to grow stronger, and I’m not doing it right now. All I’m doing is postponing my own death with luck.” Finally, the older man moved towards the one table they had in their combined room and pulled a parchment from a pile of papers. It had a strange drawing of an arrow on it.
”Remember how you said your arrows barely pierced the Scython-Ur your Becomer friend killed?” Ariel growled at the mention of it, but the boy calmed it swiftly with a stroke behind her ear. ”I’ve thought of something genius.” He said as he gave Aeon the parchment. Besides the horribly drawn arrow, there was also a drawing of a capsule of sorts, containing from what Aeon could see, a powder. What in the name of the Seven was that? ”I can make explosive powder, place it inside the head of an arrow and make an ignition mechanism that fires up when the head of the arrow is crushed on impact with a hard surface.” Cut the alchemical talk, Aeon wanted to say, but foxface beat him to it. ”You shoot an arrow, and it explodes when it hits the target. “Now, that sounded awfully useful. If he had that when he was fighting the Scalv Ziemia, the fight could’ve ended easily.
”How fast can you make them?” Aeon asked, curious as to try it out. He had no idea how it would work, but he trusted the alchemist to do his job and succeed at this experiment. Connor had yet to fail him in any aspect of life, the boy doubted he would fail him now, especially with something as important as this. Having explosives within an arrow would mean he could fight foes with armoured monsters without problems, which was something he needed desperately.
”I’ve already started, made about a dozen. If you want, you can try them.” He said as he reached beneath his bed, grabbing a chest and opening it before Aeon’s eyes to reveal twelve arrow’s with heads bigger than usual. It would be harder to fire them, but the boy could manage, as long as they did what he said they would. The young swordsman nodded and suggested that they should bring the chest outside the city.
Of course, Ariel couldn’t be left alone, so she went with them, as they moved through the streets, Aeon carrying a bow with no quiver and Connor carrying a chest that held the arrows. The boy had noticed there were other kinds of arrows inside the chest as well, probably experiments for a later date, but he didn’t know anything about alchemy, so he wouldn’t bother Connor about it.
They exited the city and reached the first few trees outside it rather quickly, with the scython-ur kitten jumping around like crazy as Aeon drew his bow and nocked one of the arrows. They were heavier than regular arrows, so he needed to adjust his aim. After foxface suggested he should aim at one of the bigger branches of the tree, the bowman adjusted his stance as well and drew the arrow.
Releasing it, the projectile flew like any other, but probably with more drop in it considering whatever pulled everything down was pulling harder, due to its bigger mass. After less than a trill, the arrow reached the branch of the tree, but instead of the usual thud that would’ve been heard, there was one loud BOOM and six feet of the branch were gone in an instant, with the rest of it falling down near Ariel, who had attempted to trail the arrow’s path from the ground.
All three of them, the scython-ur, the human and the mixed blood jumped at the horrifying sound of the tree turning into ashes, and Aeon couldn’t believe his eye as all trace of that piece of wood disappeared from existence. Foxface, on the other hand, laughed like a maniac at his success. It was probably the first time ever he had created an explosive like that one, and the first time he put one in an arrow.
”Zanik’s piss it worked! I didn’t think it would work, I’ve never made such a concentrated powder!” Foxface shouted with actual, real tears of joy filling his eyes. Alchemy was his life, and he succeeded at it, and that amazed him. Aeon, on the other hand, had somewhat of a different opinion on the matter. He only just realised how powerful the explosive was, and how devastating it could be if it was used in bigger amounts.
”Connor. We need to keep this away from the Lotharro. Away from everyone.” He simply said with a harsh expression on his face, and the animal at his feet whimpered a little bit since it thought he was angry at it. No, he barely noticed Ariel ever since the branch exploded.
”What? No! This is my most genius finding yet, we can’t keep this a secret!” He said angrily, he was clearly overwhelmed with emotions, otherwise he would’ve been the first to realise the danger behind such an explosive. What if someone used it in a larger amount, with bigger arrows, or with a crossbow? What if one put it into a large ball inside a catapult and fired it at a city. Hundreds could die from one explosion, and it would be on foxface’s and Aeon’s soul.
”What if someone uses it for the wrong purpose? What if someone uses it to kill people, not monsters? We...I can’t allow that to happen. I will not be the cause of mass destruction and death. You can make these as much as you want, as long as they stay locked up and away from everyone’s eyes. Only you and I must know about them. Am I clear?” Aeon said, adjusting his coat according to the wind that blew from the east. Connor nodded in agreement. Not showing them to anyone didn’t mean not using them, because the arrows would be useful, for sure.
”Aeon. If you would allow it, I’ll oversee the making of new armor for you. And I’ll make it stronger. More powerful. “ Connor said out of nowhere while they were walking back towards the inn. Clearly he had given it some thought while they were testing the arrows. But did Aeon want an alchemically enhanced armour? He nodded simply, deciding that if he changed his mind, he could always simply say so. Growing stronger was what he wanted, and if that’s what Connor offered, he simply couldn’t refuse. He would also need a new sword, he decided, from the Pointy End smithy. He had heard lothar speak of it highly, and he had passed it several times before, but that was a task for another time.
The Haunted Harlot Inn
The roar of the scython-ur kitten could be heard throughout the inn. As much as foxface tried to calm it, it knew its true master was in danger. How did it know? Perhaps it was magic, perhaps it was a sixth sense, but Ariel was certain Aeon had received a grievous injury, perhaps even died, and she was growling and hissing for the past several trials. Connor had had enough of it, and he was just about ready to hand her over to the Bondes when the door opened and the young kitten ran straight for it.
It jumped from happiness as it saw the scarred face of its master with a broad smile on it, and the young man lowered himself to catch his beloved little animal. He missed it dearly, but not nearly as much as it missed him, and he would make sure to pet its yellow fur with brown dots extra for that, later. Aeon let go of the kitten, and it simply ran circles around his feet as he dropped his bag on the bed and sat on it, looking calmly at the man on the other side of the room.
”I almost died again.” He said with a cold tone in his voice as he removed his coat to reveal a half-ruined shirt and a new, long scar which Ariel made sure to lick repeatedly, to, you know, ease the pain or something. Who knew what a Scython-Ur had in its mind? Foxface, however, wasn’t surprised. After all, when one went to Northern Gauthrel with the intent to tame a Sohr Khal, one would surely face danger. And it was Aeon that they were talking about, there would be danger in a children’s school if he went there.
”Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Connor Blake answered with a question, and although Aeon thought this would be the time he would smile, it wasn’t. He simply looked, with a blank expression on his face and a monotone voice. Foxface wasn’t usually like that, what was different now? ”Did you at least find what you were looking for?” He asked, scratching his chin through his thick beard as he looked the boy in the eye.
”In the stables.” Aeon nodded while answering. He did get a Sohr Khal, after all, so it was all worth it. Some may not say so, considering he lost extremely valuable equipment such as the beautiful replica of Ser Verne Andaris’ blade, and the perfectly made leather armour he got from the ship in Vhalar last arc. But it was worth it. Money can buy you equipment, but it can’t buy you the loyalty of an animal.
”Where’d your equipment go then? I don’t believe a Sohr Khal can destroy a sword like the one you had.” He said, still perfectly calm, it was like watching two statues have a staring contest, utterly boring and uneventful. Both of them didn’t raise their voice a single time, and the only movement that came from either of them was Aeon comforting his little beast while it sat in his lap, not allowing him to go anywhere ever again.
”Are you familiar with the Scalv Ziemia?” Aeon asked and foxface chuckled. The look in the older man’s eyes gave everything up. He already knew what happened. The boy did the thing where he attracted the worst predator in the area to his side, then pulled off something crazy and defeated it. ”Connor, I need to grow stronger, and I’m not doing it right now. All I’m doing is postponing my own death with luck.” Finally, the older man moved towards the one table they had in their combined room and pulled a parchment from a pile of papers. It had a strange drawing of an arrow on it.
”Remember how you said your arrows barely pierced the Scython-Ur your Becomer friend killed?” Ariel growled at the mention of it, but the boy calmed it swiftly with a stroke behind her ear. ”I’ve thought of something genius.” He said as he gave Aeon the parchment. Besides the horribly drawn arrow, there was also a drawing of a capsule of sorts, containing from what Aeon could see, a powder. What in the name of the Seven was that? ”I can make explosive powder, place it inside the head of an arrow and make an ignition mechanism that fires up when the head of the arrow is crushed on impact with a hard surface.” Cut the alchemical talk, Aeon wanted to say, but foxface beat him to it. ”You shoot an arrow, and it explodes when it hits the target. “Now, that sounded awfully useful. If he had that when he was fighting the Scalv Ziemia, the fight could’ve ended easily.
”How fast can you make them?” Aeon asked, curious as to try it out. He had no idea how it would work, but he trusted the alchemist to do his job and succeed at this experiment. Connor had yet to fail him in any aspect of life, the boy doubted he would fail him now, especially with something as important as this. Having explosives within an arrow would mean he could fight foes with armoured monsters without problems, which was something he needed desperately.
”I’ve already started, made about a dozen. If you want, you can try them.” He said as he reached beneath his bed, grabbing a chest and opening it before Aeon’s eyes to reveal twelve arrow’s with heads bigger than usual. It would be harder to fire them, but the boy could manage, as long as they did what he said they would. The young swordsman nodded and suggested that they should bring the chest outside the city.
Of course, Ariel couldn’t be left alone, so she went with them, as they moved through the streets, Aeon carrying a bow with no quiver and Connor carrying a chest that held the arrows. The boy had noticed there were other kinds of arrows inside the chest as well, probably experiments for a later date, but he didn’t know anything about alchemy, so he wouldn’t bother Connor about it.
They exited the city and reached the first few trees outside it rather quickly, with the scython-ur kitten jumping around like crazy as Aeon drew his bow and nocked one of the arrows. They were heavier than regular arrows, so he needed to adjust his aim. After foxface suggested he should aim at one of the bigger branches of the tree, the bowman adjusted his stance as well and drew the arrow.
Releasing it, the projectile flew like any other, but probably with more drop in it considering whatever pulled everything down was pulling harder, due to its bigger mass. After less than a trill, the arrow reached the branch of the tree, but instead of the usual thud that would’ve been heard, there was one loud BOOM and six feet of the branch were gone in an instant, with the rest of it falling down near Ariel, who had attempted to trail the arrow’s path from the ground.
All three of them, the scython-ur, the human and the mixed blood jumped at the horrifying sound of the tree turning into ashes, and Aeon couldn’t believe his eye as all trace of that piece of wood disappeared from existence. Foxface, on the other hand, laughed like a maniac at his success. It was probably the first time ever he had created an explosive like that one, and the first time he put one in an arrow.
”Zanik’s piss it worked! I didn’t think it would work, I’ve never made such a concentrated powder!” Foxface shouted with actual, real tears of joy filling his eyes. Alchemy was his life, and he succeeded at it, and that amazed him. Aeon, on the other hand, had somewhat of a different opinion on the matter. He only just realised how powerful the explosive was, and how devastating it could be if it was used in bigger amounts.
”Connor. We need to keep this away from the Lotharro. Away from everyone.” He simply said with a harsh expression on his face, and the animal at his feet whimpered a little bit since it thought he was angry at it. No, he barely noticed Ariel ever since the branch exploded.
”What? No! This is my most genius finding yet, we can’t keep this a secret!” He said angrily, he was clearly overwhelmed with emotions, otherwise he would’ve been the first to realise the danger behind such an explosive. What if someone used it in a larger amount, with bigger arrows, or with a crossbow? What if one put it into a large ball inside a catapult and fired it at a city. Hundreds could die from one explosion, and it would be on foxface’s and Aeon’s soul.
”What if someone uses it for the wrong purpose? What if someone uses it to kill people, not monsters? We...I can’t allow that to happen. I will not be the cause of mass destruction and death. You can make these as much as you want, as long as they stay locked up and away from everyone’s eyes. Only you and I must know about them. Am I clear?” Aeon said, adjusting his coat according to the wind that blew from the east. Connor nodded in agreement. Not showing them to anyone didn’t mean not using them, because the arrows would be useful, for sure.
”Aeon. If you would allow it, I’ll oversee the making of new armor for you. And I’ll make it stronger. More powerful. “ Connor said out of nowhere while they were walking back towards the inn. Clearly he had given it some thought while they were testing the arrows. But did Aeon want an alchemically enhanced armour? He nodded simply, deciding that if he changed his mind, he could always simply say so. Growing stronger was what he wanted, and if that’s what Connor offered, he simply couldn’t refuse. He would also need a new sword, he decided, from the Pointy End smithy. He had heard lothar speak of it highly, and he had passed it several times before, but that was a task for another time.
Off Topic
8gn for 40 masterwork arrows
Alchemy - Connor’s skill is 60 (15 construction and 15 chemistry as well)
5gn for Accelerant
5gn for Trigger
5gn for Binding agent
x40 arrows = 600gn
608gn deducted from the ledger for 40 masterwork explosive arrows, let me know if I should be deducting more for tests and potential construction of the arrows as a whole, or if I messed up something in the alchemy department, I’m really quite inexperienced with alchemy stuff.
Alchemy - Connor’s skill is 60 (15 construction and 15 chemistry as well)
5gn for Accelerant
5gn for Trigger
5gn for Binding agent
x40 arrows = 600gn
608gn deducted from the ledger for 40 masterwork explosive arrows, let me know if I should be deducting more for tests and potential construction of the arrows as a whole, or if I messed up something in the alchemy department, I’m really quite inexperienced with alchemy stuff.
