Jjhutto_Son of Flame
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B3. Ch. 45 Plunder and Pillage
🕑 Added 2024-10-17 14:41:11 +0000 UTC“What need do I have of plans? I have a Destiny! It will see me enthroned or dead,” the dragon boasted, smoke curling up from his nostrils in apparent unconcern.
Taking this as the draconic version of “I'm interested,” Tilly continued, “Look, There are two essential pieces of information we want to share with you before you go to meet your ‘Destiney’. The first is that the Contested Lands, are about to be the focus of a plane-wide conflict, and we, your Domain, have a serious stake in the outcome. We will be destroyed if Corruption and its agents win, leaving you much weaker. However, you will be enriched beyond imagination if we somehow overcome their offensive and win.”
“In light of this reality and possible opportunity for both our parties, we have obtained the location of several Factions aligned with enemy forces that are more or less along the route to the Council Peaks. If these Factions were to be pillaged, it would strengthen your Hoard, and weaken teh enemy for further conquest in the future.” Tilly finished as confidently as he could. He had rehearsed these points multiple times on the way over and hoped they were framed in such a way that Brokenridge’s greed and ambition would sufficiently stirred.
“I am not some dog to fight your battles, Cur. You may be my Domain, but I will not coddle you, such is the way of our world.” The dragon replied, his slit eyes narrowing.
Tilly was undeterred, leaning further into his point, “I want to emphasize the Pillaging aspect of our plan. I am not asking you to fight in some battle or defend these lands. I am proposing you to pay a visit to some very wealthy and Corrupt Factions to plunder their treasures and strengthen your Domain. Of course, we will benefit from such actions, but you will benefit even more.” Tilly answered, before reaching out his hand to the nearby boulder in anticipation of the dragon’s next objection.
“It is I who decides upon whom I pour out my wrath! Not my lessers… besides, I cannot add such treasure to my Hoard without many laborious trips, something that is beneath me. For this reason, I prefer to conquer and collect tribute. It is your place as my subjects to do the collecting and carrying.”
Tilly lifted his world placing it against the dragon glass melted through the chunk of rock. They had briefly checked this last night and found that he could not harvest the substance straight out of the ground with the looting function of the ring. However, if a sufficient amount was freed from its natural source, he could seamlessly deposit it. In a demonstration of this capability, there was a brief pop of displaced air, and the large stone broke into pieces, with the melted formation at its center gone.
“During your rest, I have acquired the ability to instantly capture loot and send it back to the Alliance. Everything I absorb will add to the riches of your Domain, instantly… giving you an incredible advantage and a chance to strengthen yourself further before your contest for the throne. All while increasing the chances of your Domain’s future survival.”
“Why do you keep mentioning survival? Who dares threaten what is mine?” the dragon asked finally, curiosity overcoming his air of indifference. Tilly fought to keep himself from smiling as the conversation moved down the path they had hoped and planned for.
“The power you now wield with your breath is set in direct opposition to something called Corruption a rising cosmic force attempting to claim all of Nephesh. An advance group aligned with this threat plans to take the draconic throne for themselves, and loot all of your people’s treasure.”
Pfft. The dragon huffed in disbelief, releasing a wave of smoke, “None would dare such a thing… Long Tooth may be old, but he is no fool and will crush any lessering beings who come against him. Besides, just because I have taken this strange power as a part of my Hoard, does not mean I am obligated toward any such squabbling it may represent.” He dismissed, looking away. At that moment, Tilly was strangely reminded of a toddler refusing to do some menial task. Now, Tilly may not have been the greatest parent, but as soon as he was faced with reluctance on the dragon’s part, he knew just how to handle it.
“Of course! How could we expect anything from you, a being so much greater than us. We simply wanted to share our information before you did as you pleased. I only humbly wish to offer my services. If you bring me along, I will enrich your Domain every chance I get, and I will add my “paultry” strength to your attempt for the throne.” Tilly answered, his voice clear and only slightly honeyed.
The plaintive, almost patronizing tone was completely lost on the dragon, who took the statement with a noble sniff and began whispering to himself in a voice far too loud to be missed by any present, “Many in the Council Peaks will have droves of minions to do their bidding… It would be befitting to have some retenue as I present my challenge… But I loath the thought of carrying such a burden.” Then his eyes snapped open, seeming to have come to a decision “I am willing to accept such an arrangement, but only if you have the ability to follow me as I fly. It is completely inappropriate for me to carry anyone, even servants. You will find a way to fly, or I will set out alone.” He finished, cocking his reptile head to the side, as he thoughtfully inhaled through his nose, a slight scent having caught his attention.
Before Tilly could answer, the dragon’s eyes dilated, focusing in on Tilly’s shoulder as he noticed its passenger for the first time, “Hmmm, interesting. Another of the first races… I have never met your kind in such a young form.”
“Cheeeep cheep cheep cheep.” Kindle twittered somewhat smugly from Tilly’s shoulder sending dense packets of mental information to the Dragon. Tilly missed most of it as the images were too complicated and foreign for him to digest at the speed she sent them. He only vaguely managed to pick out that, Tilly already belonged to her, but she was willing to share, as long as she was given the right to participate in the pillaging.
The dragon nodded along, his smugly superior attitude suddenly shifting to something almost cordial as he received direct communication from the adolescent Phoenix. Thankfully, he chose to reply back in a way everyone could understand, “Young one, I would never be so disrespectful as to claim you as a part of my Domain, but your presence here does benefit me greatly. Sojax the Sunborn was honored to have one of your kind as an ally, and over the centuries, her presence in his Domain augmented his fire to an almost legendary degree. He left our people long ago, but his story lives on as an inspiration. I will accept your offer in the spirit it was given, but my condition remains the same. Your human must carry himself if he wants to witness the glory of my ascension.”
Then Erash spoke up, stepping forward and bowing deeply, “If you will allow it great one. I have a solution that should satisfy all parties.” Brokenridge’s head twitched slightly as she spoke as if annoyed by a buzzing near his ear. He didn’t take his eyes away from Kindle, or acknowledge she had spoken in any way, but the Priestess continued, undaunted, “I can perform a spell that will allow me to link objects to you spatially. For the duration of the spell, whatever I link will maintain its spatial buffer with you perfectly, on both the horizontal and vertical plane. In essence, where you go, it will go, and you will be carrying nothing.”
Finally, the dragon turned toward her, his gaze becoming flat and dismissive, “-No. I tire of two-leg magics… use such things to fly, or be left behind.” The dragon huffed, not even considering the proposal for half a second.
Erash stumbled at the abrupt regection, and it was Tilly’s turn to narrow his eyes. That reasoning soundly suspiciously like the dragon was afraid to have anything he didn’t understand cast on him…
Then inspiration struck, “ Well… how about this rock,” Tilly tried, patting one of the larger chunks of the boulder that had fallen away from the demonstration, “ If she enchanted it, and then you held it in your claws… you wouldn’t be carrying anyone, and you could dispose of the object at your convenience.” He added, trying not to trail off as he heard just how flimsy his logic was. It was basically the same-
“Done! You pitiful humans may tie yourselves to this rock, and I will bring it wherever I desire your petty magics to be employed.” Brokenridge declared suddenly cutting Tilly’s line of thought off. The dragon rose from his haunches and eyed the rock impatiently. Tilly was floored by the dragon’s shallow logic, but Shuji stepped forward, not hesitating in the least at their chance to further influence Brokenridge’s actions.
“Mighty One!” He boomed, stepping forward and unfurling a huge piece of parchment from his sleeve, “We have prepared this map for your convenience! It displays our location and the relative direction of the Con-”
“I know where my throne lies, Snack!” Brokenridge interrupted, but Tilly didn’t miss the way his eyes focused intently on the information. Tilly himself had only briefly seen it and joined the dragon in studying it.
“Of course!” Shuji continued smoothly, not at all put-off but the explosive rejoiner, “We simply marked it as a point of reference. We have taken the liberty to annotate several areas of interest that would perhaps typically be beneath your notice, but have a high probability for rich plunder.” The Librarian finished, sounding subservient and professional all at once.
Shuji’s map continued to unfurl until it was the size of a banner, and Tilly once again saw the value of his paper magic employed in unpredictable ways, as the map floated in mid-air in front of the dragon’s slitted eyes. The lapin boldly stepped in front of the map and began to point out different words and symbols that occupied the space between the Alliance and the Contested Lands.
“This area here, nearest to us, is the Arachnic Supremacy Faction. Their lands are filled with thick forests and deep caves, which do not present you with a very opportune location for plunder. However, at the center of their Faction’s holdings is a large pyramid dedicated to their god. It is said that they surround the central sacrificial chamber with treasures uncountable to honor Arachne. Such a stop would hardly be out of your way, yet could prove very lucrative.” Shuji presented these points with waved hands and a low bow. What he didn’t share, was that, as our nearest enemy, there was serious concern about us sending a large force to the field with the Arachnic Supremacy Faction only a few weeks march away. According to the Church’s network, they had completely given themselves over the Corruption under the influence of their minor deity, who seemed to have done the same.
“Pssht.” The dragon huffed at the name of the Faction’s Patron, “Jumped up insect. She was a bug in our time, and it seems like nothing has changed.” He smiled. Tilly wouldn’t have been surprised to spot some drool, with how hungry-looking the dragon had just become.
Shuji bobbed his head in response and moved on to another symbol, that stood right in the middle of their line of travel. “Here, we have the Perfected Golemn Faction. They were once known for their work with precious metals and gems, but now seem to have abandoned such works in favor of more… organic forms. Their entire Faction is rumored to be undergoing a shift, and there should be many materials stored in their impregnable tower that would be a boon to any force.” Brokenridge snorted as Shuji said the word “impregnable”, and Tilly fought not to smile. The dragon's arrogance was incredible… Tilly just hoped it was merited.
“Finally, if you continue on in an almost direct line to the Contested Lands, you will pass by the Exaulted Slime Fac-”
“I have heard enough, Snack.” Brokenridge interrupted suddenly at the mention of the word “slime”, “I have no further need of this almost useless information. I will be the one to choose when and where I pillage. Now,” He said, turning to look at Erash, “cast your little two-legged spell, Gnat and we will be off. I refuse to lose any more time to useless ramblings.”
‘Says the guy who took a six-day nap’ Tilly fought with all his might to keep the thought from coming out as a grumble as Erash gracefully stepped forward and began to cast her enchantment on the rock Tilly had indicated.
Comments
Wyatt Hilbert
Thanks for the chapter
