Chapter 494 - Resupply

Hope you like the chapter!

While Runesmith Tatsi completed the configuration of Dylan’s new arm, Hump decided it was time to move on to his true purpose in accompanying the druid. Moral support was all well and good, but what he wanted was the good stuff.

Magical artifacts.

And this workshop was full of them.

One of the runesmith assistants helped Hump along, showing him through the various pieces that had been crafted on request. Turned out, turning the usual altari artifacts into ones that were usable by those without the Maker’s Mark required a significant amount of extra work. The mark compensated for much of ones connection to an artifact, simplifying its design, which was one of the things that allowed for so much complexity elsewhere.

Hump still wasn’t sure what he made of items crafted by Loften’s ‘Holy Ones’, but he’d become used to using artifacts made by Chosen of Loften. Even his staff, though after its reaction to Kassius and the Tree of Damnation in Elenvine, he wasn’t so sure it could be trusted. More due to the core that made the focus than the Chosen of Loften, though not entirely. He wasn’t too keen on artifacts that worked due to the designs of a god that was threatening him with an entire world. One never knew when one’s equipment might decide to fail them.

The altari had given them access to an impressive stockpile of artifacts, similar in scope to the consumables in the Royal Armoury of Alveron, though lacking in the way of weapons and armour pieces. It was difficult to compare their quality. Hump wasn’t all to familiar with the artifacts in Alveron, only getting access to it with his newfound wealth, but he was beginning to get a clearer picture.

For artifacts of Silver Tier quality and below, the altari craftsmanship was generally superior to both the Chosen of Loften and practitioners. It became less clear with items approaching Gold Tier. Few altari had reached their sixth circle, or this world’s equivalent. Perhaps none have gone further beyond that. Their abilities were limited in power, yet the intricacy of their enchanting made up for it. Every charm, every potion, every spell stone was laced with tiny, precise runes that built power through layers of complexity rather than raw might. The limitation was evident in the way the altari enchanted their gear—intricate, clever, and adaptable. And it left them vulnerable to more powerful foes like Acalin’s party in dealing with the griffins.

That suited Hump fine, however. He and his party had power. What they needed was versatility. High Priest Jerard had granted them near-unlimited access to the artifacts they might need—weapons, armour, protection charms, elixirs, and rune stones. They could take their pick, so long as the runesmiths had the capacity to make them work for those without the Maker’s Mark. That ruled out the most powerful and complex gear, though none of it would outright replace they key items that Hump or the others carried. Their weapons were known to them. Tested. Reliability was more important for a dungeon filled with so many unknowns.

As Hump’s eyes roamed the collection of artifacts, hovering on the variety of amulets, rings, and other charms, his mind wandered back to his staff and the conversation the other day. If Loften was also working with Gregory to escape, would he turn on them, and with that, turn Hump’s own staff against him? It was crafted by Chosen of Loften after all. He decided to ask Runesmith Tatsi to take a look once she was finished with Dylan.

For now, he let himself admire the artifacts, the assistant talking him through their various uses. Charms of Shielding were obvious—a single use artifact that would manifest a Shield spell if they sensed an attack approaching while the wielder did not manifest essence. They were also stocked with a variety of elixirs—Underwater Breathing, Fire in a Bottle, Star Glass to light their way. There was enchanted rope that would obey commands, Runestones of Repair Equipment, Gentle Descent, Air Bubble, Cleanse Body, Blessed Vitality, and Create Water. Minor boons, but in the right scenario they could be the difference between proceeding in the dungeon and turning back.

The one area the altari lacked was in their healing capabilities. Their understanding of medicine was good, but their knowledge of magical healing was almost non-existent. As much as Hump begrudged giving any member of the Pantheon so much credit, Emirai did not exist in this world. They had nobody to teach them the healing arts.

By the time Hump was done, the haul he’d collected was enough that his former self would have been bitter. This was the rubbish that nobles would waltz out of their fancy houses with, pretending to be adventurers, packed so full of trinkets that getting hurt would be a challenge. It seemed childish now. If one had the coin or the means, there were few things better to spend it on than artifacts that kept you alive. If they were to free a god from a dungeon designed by other gods, they would need all the artifacts they could get.

“Find what we were after?” Dylan asked.

Hump looked at him with a smile. He had his shirt back on now, his new arm sticking out. “That arm looks good on you. Makes you look oddly dangerous, like some mythical druid out of the forest.”

“I like that more than you constantly calling me ‘armless.” He emphasised the silent H. “Which was always ridiculous by the way. I still have an arm.”

“Sometimes it’s not about being accurate.”

Dylan rolled his eyes. “Does that mean it won’t stop.”

Hump stroked his chin wizardly. “Not sure. Harder to stop now that I know it bothers you.”

“You’re an arse.”

“It’s out of affection! It’s endearing.”

“It’s annoying.”

“You’d miss it if I stopped.”

“Shall we try it for a while and find out?”

“You two are like my brothers,” Runesmith Tatsi said, approaching behind Dylan. She held up one hand and started opening and closing it. “Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. Never quiet. Always saying nonsense. It does not inspire confidence.”

“I assure you, once the fighting start, Hump is far more professional,” Dylan said. “The talking doesn’t really stop, but it becomes more useful. Outside of that we’ve all just learned to zone him out.”

“Thanks,” Hump said. “And in answer to your first question, I’ve got what we needed but you can’t have any anymore.”

“There is more,” Tatsi said to Dylan. “Tell me what you need. I shall make it now if we are out.”

“That was Hump trying to be funny again,” Dylan said. “But thank you.”

“I see. It will take me some time to learn this wizard humour. We altari do not joke in such a way. We are a blunt people. The line between mockery and fun seems different for you. Would upset many people, I think.”

“The key is to only make fun of people you are close to,” Hump said. “It’s a bonding activity. I make fun of Dylan, he makes fun of me, but we both know it’s good natured.” Hump paused. “Returning to matters of business, though. I was wondering if you would take a look at my staff. It was crafted by Chosen of Loften from my world.”

“I noticed the Maker’s touch on it already, though it’s quite unlike our own style. What would you like to know?”

Hump hesitated. He couldn’t exactly admit he feared the weapon might turn on him. “Just your general thoughts, if you don’t mind. I’d prefer an unbiased opinion.”

She held out her hands, and Hump passed her the staff.

Tatsi turned it slowly in her fingers, reverent and analytical. Essence shone in her eyes as she channelled one of her abilities. “It’s clearly not of our world,” she said after a few moments. “But finely made. The runes are those of Loften, but they seem to hold more weight in their simplified form. I do not know how it is achieved. The focus in particular is fascinating.”

Hump raised his brow, impressed she could notice at a glance. “What about it?”

She nodded. “I’ve never seen such clarity. No fractures. No clouding. No natural inclusions at all. It’s too perfect. I do not think this was made naturally.”

“You can tell it’s artificial?”

“It would be my guess. True essence stones always carry some flaw, some mark of nature’s unpredictability. We as runesmiths work to minimise such imperfections, but I have never known them to be removed entirely.” She gave him a curious look. “Your people must be even more advanced than I thought to produce such a thing.”

“My people didn’t make it,” Hump said quietly. “It was taken from an enemy. From Baelkor’s creations, I think—he is a servant to a god of a similar strength to Loften.”

“Ah,” she said, the word rich with understanding. “That explains what I’m seeing. There’s residual essence trapped inside. I imagine this was once bonded to its creator. The signature’s faint now, but… it could still influence the focus under certain conditions.”

Hump frowned. “Will it affect my casting?”

“Not significantly. But magic is rarely a creature of logic. In moments of stress, when essence surges and your control slips even slightly, it might react. Amplify a spell. Twist it. Anything is possible, and even more so if that Baelkor is close to you. But such a thing can be fixed.

“You can remove it?” Hump asked.

“It is not pleasant work, but yes. Give me a day or two and I can purify the stone.”

Hump considered it a moment. He didn’t like the idea of parting from his weapon, but they had the time, and ignoring this could become a devastating oversight.

***

Celaine met them on the streets as they left the lower workshop floor of the temple. High Priest Jerard tried to insist that they were escorted home, but Hump wanted to walk. Even after two weeks, he felt like he had hardly seen the city. He was always going somewhere. Always meeting people, or being taken where he needed to go. He hadn’t had the opportunity to just see where the streets took him.

“Was anyone following us?” Hump asked Celaine.

“A few people actually,” Celaine said. “I think they were separate groups too.”

“Any stand out especially?”

Celaine gave him a flat look. “Do you think they’re all that different? Suspicious looking altari stalkers are all suspicious. They all stood out. None of them was carrying around a sign saying look at me.”

Hump raised his brow. “Someone’s snippy. You know what I mean. Any using evil monster magic?”

Celaine narrowed her eyes. “Not that I could tell.”

“So this sounds altogether unhelpful,” Dylan said.

“Maybe.” Hump stroked at the stubble on his chin. Not a beard, but it served its purpose. “I really would like to know what they want and why they’re after us though.”

“You’d think they would be happy that we’re trying to set their god free,” Dylan said.

“Seems reasonable,” Celaine said. “Knowing what we know, I’m not sure I like the idea of him being free.”

“That’s true. If someone discovered the true use of the Maker’s Mark, they wouldn’t be so fond of Loften as his temple.” Hump shrugged. “But that’s all just hypothetical. Whatever they want, they’ll reveal themselves eventually if they care enough. If all they want to do is follow us around until we leave and not cause any trouble, I’m not sure there’s anything for us to do.”

“They may lay an ambush,” Dylan said. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Perhaps I’m getting full of myself but I’m not too worried. We’re too strong for that to work.”

“You’re far too full of yourself,” Celaine snapped. “Are you hearing yourself? What happened to “it only takes one unlucky arrow to bring even a wizard down. The altari may have given us some new protective artifacts, but where there are defensive tools, there will be weapons to overcome them. To summarise: don’t be an idiot.”

“You really are in a mood today! What got you all riled up.”

“I’m sick of the city already,” Celaine said. “It’s even more crowded than Elenvine. And everyone stares at us. I don’t like it. Doesn’t mean my words aren’t right. You need to be careful. We all do.”

Hump smiled meakly. “You’re right. Sorry. I guess I’m just trying to rush things too. But I’ll remember that—'don’t be an idiot.’ Dylan, you best remember it too.”

“Don’t bring me into this. Celaine’s right. We don’t know enough about the altari to make a true judgement of their capabilities. We were ill-informed about warlocks too until not so long ago. And wizards like the Three Eyes. Who knows what great powers still lurk in this world? I’m willing to bet there are at least a few that pose a considerable threat.”

“Are you suggesting we poke them first?” Hump asked.

Dylan snorted. “I’m not suggesting anything. I’m stating Celaine is right, you’re careless, and now would be a terrible time to let our recent successes go to your head.”

“Maybe we should poke first,” Hump said, ignoring the druid’s rant. “Better to take them by surprise early than to give them time to prepare. What do you think, Celaine?”

“I want to leave the city sooner rather than later,” she said flatly. “Leave them alone. Once we’re on the skyship, it will be too late for them to do anything.”

“Have you already forgotten the monster wave?” Hump asked.

“Last time Captain Hadbur had a ship full of passengers,” Celaine said. “This time it’s only people relevant to our expedition. They won’t catch up to us unless their on board.”

“And if they’re on board?” Hump asked.

Celaine smiled. “Then we poke them.”