by N H Paxton
“Zeno?” My broken English made things seem so awkward. Or maybe it made me sound like I had more important things to do? I would have to consider that at a later time
“Sorry sir, the group—wait, where is the group?” He looked behind him, turning in a tight circle as Eberand stepped through the gate. The Risi shook his head as he took a couple steps in, then looked around. His face fell as he took in all of the sights.
“Takes a moment.” I grimaced a bit, thinking of all the wasted time we would have while people poured from the gaping tear in reality. It took nearly ten minutes for the entire group to assemble. When everyone was through, I directed them into the large manufacturing area.
“Is good everyone is here.” I looked around at the group; it would have to work. “Now, here is production schedule, I expect everyone to meet necessary accounts. If you cannot, work harder.” I pulled the schematic from my bag and looked at it quickly, taking in all of the details as though I had seen it a thousand times before. “According to schematic, need a great deal of Darkshard Ore. Find ore, mine ore, repeat.” I raised a hand and clenched my fist. I wasn’t used to directing anything, much less a major undertaking like this, where an entire war effort counted on my success.
“What do we do when the ore runs out?” One of the miners in the back raised a hand and asked the question before I could even call him out. There was a resounding chorus of people agreeing with him.
“Then, and only then, you rest.” I smirked as I said it. “Now go, have orders, make happen! Remember, siege of Rowanheath relies on success!”
The miners all scattered to various areas of the mine, some of them heading farther into the darkness. I waved a couple fingers at the combat detail and sent the heavier units, Eberand, Garret, and Anya, with them. I didn’t know what kind of crazy things lived in these caverns, but I definitely didn’t want them killing the only resource collectors we had.
Finally, when the engineering group had their tables, chairs, and equipment set up, I took the largest table for myself. I needed space, after all. I spread the schematic out on the table and stared at it.
There were little green plus symbols in the corner of my vision, and I brought up my stat and proficiency points. I had gained quite a few levels from our foray into the dungeon for my quest, as well as having a handful of points from completing my specialization. I needed to make a decision, and it was going to be something permanent. I either needed to give my everything to the Crimson Alliance, no more holding back, no more lies. Or I needed to cut and run now.
I allowed the thoughts to run through my head for a while. If I were to run, what would I do then? Surely I could escape relatively unnoticed, to begin with. This siege was a heavy burden. Would I wander the land as a nomad, with no combat ability? Maybe I could contract out my services on a regular basis—the money for an Alchemic Weaponeer was likely good. There was also Almaz-Antev that was expecting me to work for them. Their motto in Mother Russia had been “Good work for good workers.” It had been true, but I wanted to leave that life behind.
“Is not honorable,” I said out loud, drawing the attention of a few of the engineers who were nearby.
They gave me sidelong glances, but went back to drawing plans and organizing components.
No, not this time. I wouldn’t run away and hide. I became resolute in my decision, and I dumped the proficiency points I had into Enhanced Build Time, Miniaturization, Mobilization, Reconstruction, and Energy Manipulation.
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Reconstruction
Reconstruction allows you to break down and remanufacture an item of your choice, using the same components. It also allows you to modify the construction methods used for improved results or to adjust the finished product itself.
Skill Type/Level: Active/Level 1
Cost: 40 Spirit
Effect: Remanufacture a single item, changing its makeup using the same components.
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Enhanced Build Time
Using new understandings of construction and crafting techniques, you are able to reduce the overall time it takes to make, well, anything!
Skill Type/Level: Passive/Level 1
Cost: None
Effect: Reduces Build Time by 5% (5% per level)
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Miniaturization
Having found the Ways and Means of this world, you have discovered a technique to miniaturize components and completed crafting projects. The finished product has its statistics reduced by an inverse percentage based on the amount of the miniaturization.
Skill Type/Level: Active/Level 1
Cost: 100 Spirit
Effect: Reduce the size of any completed project, up to 50%, while reducing the effective stats by the same amount. (50% Size Reduction Max/-50% Statistics). Once the project is complete, the size change cannot be undone without complete reconstruction.
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Mobilization
Understanding how things work is only half the battle for an Alchemic Weaponeer. You must also understand how the world works, through a deep scientific understanding of motion, energy, and complicated mechanics. You have found it possible to mobilize most any project, so long as it can have wheels.
Skill Type/Level: Active/Level 1
Cost: 100 Spirit
Effect: Allows the addition of a quad-wheeled component to any schematic of any level.
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Energy Manipulation
Through a solid, yet uncomfortable understanding of the world and its energy flows, you have learned how to manipulate the flows of those energies in various ways, including but not limited to crystalline energy flows and power source augmentation.
Skill Type/Level: Active/Level 1
Cost: 50 Spirit
Effect: Manipulation of a single elemental energy flow (Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Light, Shadow)
<<<>>>
I saw Unlimited Power sitting firmly at the bottom of my skill tree, and I desired so very much to know what that ability was about, but I hadn’t unlocked it yet.
I had two points left, and I was torn between purchasing two levels of Overcharge, which would improve any engineered weapon damage that I carried by 20% per level, or doing the same with Purifying Fire, which allowed me to purify my own materials with heat, smelt ores in my hand, or melt down and recast metal components. It had an added bonus of setting things on fire that were just a short distance from me if I chose to use it at range.
I decided to purchase them both, instead of investing two points into either. I was sure they would come in handy.
I looked at my newly acquired skills for a moment, soaking in the knowledge that I was now dedicated to this craft. I would help the Crimson Alliance take this victory, or I would die trying.
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Overcharge
By having a deeper understanding of engineered weapons, you are capable of improving their damage output for a short period of time by manipulating their charge mechanism, tension lines, or launchers.
Skill Type/Level: Active/Level 1
Cost: 25 Spirit
Effect: Improves engineered weapon damage by 20% (20% per level)
<<<>>>
Skill Unlocked!
Skill: Purifying Fire
Through the manipulation of latent fire elemental energy in the air, you are able to harness a small, yet incredibly intense, flame in the palm of your hand. It may not have the combustion of a Firebrand’s spells, but it is sufficient to smelt most common ores, and to allow a recasting of metal components in the palm of your hand. It may also be used within your personal space as a touch-based attack.
Skill Type/Level: Active/Level 1
Cost: 15 Spirit
Effect: Produces a small, yet powerful flame
in the palm of your hand. Allows instantaneous smelting of common ores, or immediate recasting of metal components crafted from common ores. May also be used as a touch-based fire attack with a Spell Strength equal to your Intelligence.
<<<>>>
<<<>>>
I SURVEYED MY SKILL tree with grim satisfaction. This is where I was supposed to be, this is who I was meant to be. Vlad, Alchemic Weaponeer, savior of the Crimson Alliance. Of course, I wouldn’t let anyone know what I was thinking, because that just wouldn’t do anyone any good. Nobody likes a self-proclaimed hero.
The first batch of Darkshard Ore was brought to me about twenty minutes into the mining process, unceremoniously dropped in a pile on the ground near the exit of the manufacturing chamber.
I examined our haul and found it to be rather pleasing. The miners had been very busy. I calculated that it would be enough material to build about half of the components for the first shadow cannon. But we needed to cast it into the proper shapes if we were going to be able to make the pieces work. Thankfully, someone had the forethought to bring a mini-forge with them and had set it up in a corner of the room.
As the ore was being collected by some of the engineers, I noticed a small violet crystal inlaid with black. I picked it up, curious as to what it was.
<<<>>>
Purified Crystal of Shadow Essence – Legendary
This item is the definition of a purified Shadow Essence, in the form of a small, compact crystal. Elemental Essence may, from time to time, condense into the form of crystals. They are often found in mines, though their rarity makes them somewhat of a legend. By channeling energy through this crystal, one can create an arc of purified shadow energy.
<<<>>>
My eyes went wide. This was something I could use to create a micro-cannon! I pocketed it as I built plans for an incredible weapon in my head. It would be small, like a pistol or a crossbow, but fire bolts of arcane shadow energy, like the cannons I was tasked with retrofitting.
I stepped over to my table and grabbed a sheet of the drafting paper the engineers had supplied, licked the end of a pencil, and went to work. It would be complicated to make work, as the energy calculations had to be just right, but I had Energy Manipulation for that. It would also need Miniaturization, which was fine. One thing I lacked was Crystal Forging, which would allow me to utilize elemental crystals in my builds.
I eyeballed my skill tree, seeing my complete lack of proficiency points. But something I hadn’t seen earlier was that my schematic production had increased my XP! That meant I could level while inventing new things! I set to work right away, drawing up the plans for the mobile shadow cannons.
I stood in place for over two hours, burning through paper like crazy. I was just about to put the finishing touches on the last component necessary to complete the cannons when an unearthly roar rolled through the cavern. That was immediately followed by shouting as a crowd rushed into the processing room.
Several individuals knocked over tables in their haste, a few of those tables holding precious, fragile components for the shadow cannons. Every time I heard a crash, my mind flinched. There were people scurrying in every direction, I was nearly run into twice, and what was worse, my plans had been scattered to the wind.
“What, what is problem!?” I shouted over the yelling and the panic.
“There’s a giant shadow demon coming for us, man! You’d better book it!” One of the miners, his face streaked with dirt and sweat, stopped only long enough to yell the information before continuing.
“Where is combat detail?” I was more than a little angry. I had those fighters in here for just that purpose.
A wall of light appeared, covering the entrance to the deeper portion of the mines. The three guards I had sent down into the depths came together in front of it as a single unit. Zeno and Ken stepped through the light barrier and joined the group, their weapons out and ready. There were shouted orders from Eberand, and everyone in the battle group took their positions, ready to meet the beast.
The creature finally came into sight. It was an enormous and terribly misshapen bat, with two sets of wings and an abhorrently large mouth.
“Is problem...”
I took mental notes as the group fought the beast. They worked well in unison until an unexpected bolt of energy tore through Zeno, dropping him to the ground like a paper bag. Blood pooled beneath his body for but a moment before his corpse vanished.
“Zeno!” Garret shouted, moving out of position.
All hope of tactical approach to the fight was gone as the barrier of light fell. The shadow bat howled in victory as it flapped its gargantuan wings and simply leapt over the group of defenders. It thrashed about inside the processing room, destroying critical pieces of equipment and components we desperately needed.
I struggled with the situation, running through a dozen different possible outcomes. Now that the machines were broken, could we fix them in time? Getting replacements would be too time intensive. How much damage was actually caused? Could we repair some of the broken components? The more I thought about it, the more irritated and angry I became. I saw movement from the corner of my eye, ripping me out of my downward spiral.
Garret leapt from where he was, latching onto the feet of the shadow bat. He dragged the creature to the ground while the rest of the party started beating it to death.
The creature thrashed about for a few more moments, knocking over more of the equipment and tables, destroying a good amount of progress. It finally slowed and died. Ken moved to its head and sunk a dagger into its skull up to the hilt, then kicked it for good measure. Eberand put his hand on Ken’s shoulder, pulling him back to reality.
Eberand knelt down and crossed his chest with his hands. He must have been religious, providing a ceremony for Zeno.
I called the all clear after confirming with Eberand that the beast was dead, and the engineering and mining crews were back in place, after a few more minutes, only to find out that the ore had basically run out right before the shadow bat had attacked. The miners were finally getting their break. They helped to reset the processing room, picking up components and carrying them all to a single spot.
I sighed as I looked at the destruction.
“This is not good,” I whispered as I stared at the broken pile of components. We only had enough material completed for two of the shadow cannons, and based on the amount of damage the equipment had taken, we wouldn’t be able to make more anytime soon. “Do not know if there will be enough time...”
Not Everything can be Broken...
SEVERAL HOURS, AND a lot of cursing later, we had made up for the damage. The machines were reparable, and we had used the time extremely efficiently. It was a surprise, to be sure, that we had managed to complete such an incredibly difficult task. Despite overwhelming odds, we had managed to complete the components necessary to build the Arcane Shadow Cannons. It was a momentous occasion, and one that almost necessitated congratulations.
“This,” I said as I turned to the engineers who were just finishing the components necessary to build the last shadow cannon, “is turning point. We are hinge in history. Your hands, they made this.”
I waved a hand over the stacks and stacks of components. Some of them were made of Darkshard metal, others were pieces of wood and steel. All of it would come together over the next couple of hours to make twelve Arcane Shadow Cannons. Not just the shadow cannons from the original blueprint, but an improved, mobile version with a greater damage output, miniaturized parts, and a decommission switch that could be flipped to kill the device, preventing it from falling into enemy hands.
“Is not every day mankind changes history. Be proud, is important undertaking.” A great cheer rose from the group. I logged in the back of my mind that I needed to found an organization of some kind, and soon, or we would lose this amazing dynamic we had created. I wondered if there was an official name for something like that.
I stared at the stacks of
components for a long while before I took initiative and got to work. Every stack of components was necessary to build a single cannon, and we needed to get to work immediately, especially since I was going to be building the prototype that all of the other engineers would be copying in the cannon construction.
I waved at the miners, who were standing about, letting them know they could leave. There was nothing left for them to do at this point.
I opened my crafting interface and made magic happen. The interface itself was like a holographic construction set, and it was an amazing thing to experience. It allowed me to manipulate objects in real time without having to physically lift them all at once.
I started by assembling the base, since it was the largest of the components, and by far the easiest to set. It was just a series of wooden planks that were reinforced with steel at the corners and joints. I took a wheel next and set it properly, making sure it turned the way I wanted it to. I then followed up with the other three wheels.
“Is good,” I said to myself as I continued to piece together the project. I looked at the interface and saw there was an option to simulate movement. I selected it, and the base appeared to roll along the ground. Then the wheels fell off, and the entire thing collapsed on itself.
“Hell, forgot axles. Cannot have wheels without axles.”
I replaced the wheels on the frame and then slid wood-and-steel dowels into the hubs. These were then fastened to the frame by steel U-frames that were bolted into the underside.
Next, I turned my attention to the stationary framework, what would actually hold the barrel and mechanisms in place. This needed to be strong, especially since it would be absorbing the entire impact of the recoil from firing the cannon. I had planned to make these frames out of Darkshard metal, which increased the time necessary to cast, but would have been well worth it. I had my doubts that the steel we had to work with would be capable of absorbing the impact.
I placed the framework onto the base and secured it with multiple bolts, three on every corner for added stability. The next portion would be the barrel, and then I would have to make all of the firing components.