A screen popped up as they finished speaking.
THE WARRIORS OF EIRE HAVE PLEDGED THEMSELVES TO YOU... DO YOU ACCEPT THEIR PLEDGE OF FEALTY… Y/N? IF YES IS SELECTED THE OATHS SPOKEN WILL BE UNBREAKABLE, THE CONTRACT WILL BE MADE…
Looking around the room everyone’s eyes were glued to the silvery glowing pair. Moon Flower turned as my gaze trained on her and we locked yes. She gave me the briefest of nods and it confirmed my opinion. I turned my eyes back to the men who were still kneeling with head bowed. I selected the yes option.
Oaths accepted, status updating…
New Companions gained…
NAME – Sir William O’ Conghaile
RACE – Half-Human (Tuatha De Danann)
ALIGNMENT – Neutral Good
CLASS – Brother-in-Arms
EXPERIENCE – 345/500
LEVEL – 2
HIT POINTS – 25/25
MAGIC POINTS – 17/17
Weapon - Fragarach
The Companions to Jack-of-all-Trades are their own entities but gain bonuses from being a Companion. The Brother-in-Arms has its own experience gaining and skill tree that is not associated with the Jack-of-all-Trades. Although, bonuses are gained from the Jack-of-all-Trades skills.
I pulled up the next screen.
NAME – Sir Patrick O’ Conghaile
RACE – Half-Human (Tuatha De Danann)
ALIGNMENT – Neutral Good
CLASS – Brother-in-Arms
EXPERIENCE – 332/500
LEVEL – 2
HIT POINTS – 23/23
MAGIC POINTS – 21/21
Weapon – Spear of Lugh
The Companions to Jack-of-all-Trades are their own entities but gain bonuses from being a Companion. The Brother-in-Arms has its own experience gaining and skill tree that is not associated with the Jack-of-all-Trades. Although, bonuses are gained from the Jack-of-all-Trades skills.
I closed their character screen and pulled up the next.
WAR SHAMAN
TRIBES – THE PEOPLE, THE JICARILLA, TUATHA DE DANANN
ELITE WARRIORS – Moon Flower, William O’ Conghaile, Patrick O’ Conghaile, Chieftess Screaming Eagle, Thunder Foot, Ice Blossom, Lightning Fist, Night Star, Silent Mouse, Shadow Bear, Dancing Lion, Stone Fox,
SHAMAN – Cunning Wolf (Element-Earth/God-Wolf)
NORMAL MEMBERS – 32 WORKER/WARRIORS, 92(86/6) BUILDER/WARRIORS
BASES – The Springs, Fortress of Earth
RESOURCES COLLECTED – Wood-Abundant, Metals-Iron/Gold/Silver/Tin-Abundant, Food-Abundant, Animals-Horses x 18
I closed the final window and then cleared my throat.
“Rise William and Patrick O’ Conghaile, rise as members of my household, of my family.” I intoned, looking at all my friends at once, willing any of them to disagree with me. To my surprise I didn’t see any resentment, only acceptance, as if what I said was the wisest action possible. Even the queen seemed to agree with me. “What message do you have Stone Fox?”
“You must come see this, the horses are… well just come.” She said.
The group dispersed with wild speculation as we followed the guard outside to the makeshift horse pens. The sun was high in the sky and shining brightly as we exited the Jicarilla stronghold. Then, all thoughts of the surroundings, what time it was, anything but the horses were gone.
All the horses, Winston included were standing in the middle of our crude fifty-foot wide pen. All the horses were standing in a line facing the newly risen sun. The horses were legit kneeling, making a pyramid shape with my Familiar, Winston at their head.
Then, beside the sun a solar eclipse began, and the world began to darken. The light began to fade but the shape covering it was not the standard eclipse circle, it was the shape of a horse, a woman riding a horse to be exact, that cast its shadow across the horses in the pen. The shadow took color and changed to a golden hued light as the eclipse passed across the sun. When the eclipse ended, the world was once again normal, but the horses were still covered in the golden glow.
“What the hell?” Moon Flower called.
I turned at the sound of my fiancé and saw that she was staring at her body in awe, she was covered in the same glow as the horses.
“Oh my, what’s this!” Night Star, now glowing like her namesake, and looking at her hands in wonder.
It wasn’t only my wife and sister-in-law to be, but quite a few of the other women were glowing as well, the same number as horses, now that I thought about it. I watched them stare at themselves in disbelief, Ice Blossom, Stone Fox, Dancing Lion, and the other guards. Cunning Wolf walked up to my side and by the look on his face, he was just as awed.
“Those were the goddesses of the sky and sun, Ateantsic and Shakaru respectively, they have given us…” Cunning Wolf started to say, then paused and his eyes widened, I followed his gaze with my own.
“Who the fuck are they…” I whispered.
Standing in front of the horses were two women, each wearing the garb of The People, but that is where any similarities ended. The women were tall, almost gigantic, each over seven feet tall. The two could almost be twins, both looked as if they were shaped from the same perfect mould. Large full breasts, combined with just the right curves in just the right places, their garb, one radiating sky blue, the other as golden as the sun, matched their hair, and barely hid their assets, their bodies seeming about to burst from the scant cover.
It wasn’t my first time seeing a goddess, but each time was like bucket of cold water dumped on my sleeping form. It was as if I couldn’t think straight, so much was their beauty. Although, having an amazingly sexy woman of my own did give me some strength, and the fact that I wasn’t controlled by my little head helped as well. With willpower I turned my gaze to the women of my tribe that had been glowing, my beautiful fiancé among them, who were all now walking towards the two gigantic beauties.
“Moon…” I started to call out, but my fiancé turned slightly and made a gesture in the negative and continued onward.
Nineteen women approached the kneeling horses, one pausing and standing near each one, until all the women were next to a horse and my fiancé stood next to Winston, head bowed in supplication to the two goddesses.
Ateantsic and Shakaru shared a glance and nod, then the sky-blue goddess stepped forward and the world went quiet as if collectively holding its breath. Then, she raised her hands and clapped, the sound echoing like thunder in the Jicarilla canyon. When the echoing ended, the goddess raised her head and stared around at the gathered people, seeming to look at each of them in the eye at once, as if searching and then finding what she was looking for, she turned her gaze back to the woman and horses.
“The return of our horses is the beginning of a new age. It has been millennia since our equine brothers and sisters have roamed the lands of The People.” The goddess called, her silken voice ringing out over The People. “It is time for us to resume the call of war, to once again become the Riders of old. You are the first, the first of many riders, you will safeguard The People, you will destroy our enemies, you will revenge us! You are now the riders of Ateantsic and Shakaru, the Riders of the Earth and Sky!”
The glowing grew brighter and the cheers of all The People, me included, rang out in response to the goddess. Then, as they came, both goddesses disappeared in flashes of blue and gold light, and the women and horse’s lights phased out, fading in on themselves. As one the women each mounted the kneeling horses, and as one the horses stood, each bearing a warrior, Moon Flower and Winston at their head. Then my fiancé raised her fist to the air and howled, followed by the rest of the women, and the horses reared lending their neighing to the primal scream.
I watched fascinated, then a screen appeared taking my attention.
THE RIDERS OF EARTH AND SKY HAVE BEEN CREATED… THE FOLLOWERS OF ATEANTSIC AND SHAKARU HAVE JOINED THE PEOPLE… TITLE AWARDED… FIRST RIDER MOON FLOWER… FIANCE EXPERIENCE GAINED 750… FIANCE SKILL GAINED… MOUNT EXPERIE
NCE GAINED 750…
“Well, I’ll be a witches teat, you don’t see that everyday…” William said, to no one in particular.
I nodded quietly in agreement.
TRACK 21 – BAD AND BOUJEE – MIGOS, LIL UZI VERT
“Listen here arsleings!” Patty yelled across the training area.
“What is an arseling?” Shadow Bear asked, his friends and fellow warriors who were standing beside him also listening to the big Irish man yell.
“It’s that little bit shite that hangs off the hairs on your ass and sits there all day, then all clumps together eventually while you go about, because you’re such a dirty little fucker you don’t wipe your arse right!” Patty Screamed. “Now listen up arselings, because I’m going to teach you how to use these weapons, so you don’t blow yourselves up to tiny bits. Understand?”
I grinned at the Irishman’s foul mouth. The cousins were some of the most, vile, vitriol spewing, coarse worded, men I’d ever met, and I had been in the military. But, even so, I really did love the banter, it reminded me of memories of my time in bootcamp and with my battle buddies, bittersweet at best, but still, life gives you rose-colored glasses in hindsight.
“I don’t understand most of what they are saying, but as Wolf as my witness, every other word of it is foul.” Cunning Wolf said, shaking his head resignedly, but with a small smile.
“I had friends like that, in battle it does more to rest the nerves than booze or bud.” I joked, clapping the old man on the back. “Besides, the warriors need some levity, everyone is a little uptight.”
My thoughts drifted back to the predawn hours, and my last conversation with Moon Flower and her departure.
“This is not the way my love.” I said, while dragging my fingers along the small of her smooth tanned back, once again amazed that this beauty, this perfection graced me with her loveliness.
“It is, the goddess spoke to me, it is the only way. We must split up. I must take the Riders and unite The People of the plains, while you head north and get The People of the lakes.” She replied, rolling onto her back and smiling up at me, her pert breasts stealing my attention.
“You said that but Coyote…” I tried to say, starting in on my same argument again, but she cut me off.
“Coyote is not the only one of the gods, he himself told you that and you’ve met more. They are working as well as we are, Coyote cannot come every time you know.” She said, for the twentieth time. “Besides, the Chieftess, Cunning Wolf, Dancing Lion, shall I keep naming those who agree this is the best plan?”
“I know, we all agreed.” I sighed. “You will take the Riders, you know all the homes of The People, yes, yes.”
“Good, now that is settled.” She growled, grabbing me and rolling on top, her breasts forming two perfect tear drops above me, and her naked thighs gripping my sides, her hands grabbing mine, and holding me on my back. “Now, I will ride you till I am the last thing you remember, so you don’t forget me while we are apart.”
She grabbed me and slid me into her easily, she was so wet, both of us moaning in pleasure as she did so.
“I could never… forget you.” I breathed heavily.
“I will make sure of that.” She hissed in between gasps of pleasure.
I shook my head of the memory and refocused on the training at hand, yawning as I did so, it was a long night. The cousins had been training the crews all day and said they would need at least a week to make sure the falconet operators were competent before we could leave. That was fine, I needed the time to get the Jicarilla home ready, it was time to turn this place into a real bastion, a real Fortress of Earth.
I said goodbye to Cunning Wolf, then motioned to Freak, and turned leaving the rooftop training area, my cat at my side. We had the falconets brought to the best firing position, the other firearms and spoils of our battle were down in our makeshift armory. I nodded to the Jicarilla guards, we had posted them not for fear of stealing, but out of fear of stupidity. I’m sure some dumb kid would sneak in and cut his hand off or accidentally light the gunpowder off, it is what kids did. I should have died more times than I had fingers and toes when I was a child.
“Alright buddy, go do your thing.” I said, patting my battle tiger on his massive side.
“Rawr!” Freak replied, then bounded off into the wild.
He was a good familiar and friend, it was nice to let him run and hunt every little while, besides he was so big now, I doubted there was anything out there that could mess with him. We had warriors out patrolling now and all the local area monsters had been dispatched. It was the first thing we had done, no more surprises like back in The Springs.
A week had gone by since the goddesses visit and the formation of the Riders, we had not been idle in that time. I had a couple projects in place and I was heading to check up on them. The first was a forge. The Fortress of the Earth, or FOE, as I started calling it, had a nice ring I thought, had an underground river that was easily accessible in many places. The Jicarilla used it for disposing of waste, drinking water, and an amazing hot springs bath.
I had found the perfect space for a waterwheel powered forge. The Fortress was also blessed with plenty of ore for smithing. Now, all my people here had newly forged knives and axes. I nodded to my new smith trainees as I entered the room.
“War Shaman.” Laughing Bull greeted me, pausing his hammering.
The other trainee, Singing Bee, just nodded in return, he never said anything, and I wondered how he got the name. I should probably ask someone about it, oh well, file it with the other shit in my giant pile of stuff to do. A quick look around and I saw that my orders were being carried out. There were piles of nails and other items needed for building. Not only that, we had started casting balls for the cannon and harquebuses. I nodded in satisfaction, now all we needed was the means to make gunpowder, which was already in the works.
I left the forge and headed to the next spot, which was outside, and quite easy to find, but to my surprise they were way ahead of where I thought they’d be. I covered my eyes from the glare of the sun and looked out into the distance. These dudes were more industrious then post WW II Japanese. I inspected their work as I walked along. The Jicarilla were amazing stone worker and had access to Earth Magic, these two things made them excellent builders. Apparently. That skill translated to road making, as even with my enhanced eyesight, I could barely make them out in the distance.
I had had an idea when we built the berm and it seemed as if it was working well. The Jicarilla workers used their magic in congruence with their building skill and were bringing up stone and carving it as they went, creating a stone road. The first step was from the Fortress of Earth to The Springs, but after that, they would be everywhere. One lesson the Romans had taught the world, was that all roads lead to Rome. It was the main secret of their prolonged dominance, along with their technology and battle skill.
“Hey you guys!” I called, in my best Goonies impression, then chuckled to myself, my humor was lost in time it seemed.
“Hello War Shaman, good morning!” Shadow Bear called, waving back.
“I told you call me Law.” I said, bumping fist with the young scion’s outstretched hand. I had introduced the greeting and it had taken hold like a California wildfire. What, too soon? Take a fucking joke snowflake. “You guys are killing it. How far have you gone? A half mile? When did you start?”
“Just an hour ago. We have a good ratio of magic to stonework and with any luck should be able to knock out between three and five miles a day, depending on the terrain. Take a break, eat and drink everyone.” He called to the surrounding workers.
The group broke up and Shadow Bear motioned me over. We grabbed some water and a bit of jerky and fruit.
“So, have you decided on who you are going to be bringing and when you will be leaving?” He asked after a moment.
I munched on an apple and thought for moment, chewing the crisp slightly tart fruit.
“Well, if
you continue building the road at this pace, we will be in The Springs earlier than I anticipated, which is good, and I can begin building the ship when we are there, so a week after that.” I paused thinking for a moment. “The ship is based on a variation of Viking Longboats and Korean Turtle Ships, and can hold thirty people, but only fifteen with…” I mused.
Earlier I had been looking at the topographical map and realized that before the rivers were dammed and diverted in our time, you could actually get across the entire North American continent from east to west, and north to south in various ways by water. The rivers we called Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado, Rio Grande, and such, all basically connected.
My idea had been to build a low draw boat that we could sail slash paddle, and lift and carry small distances, and would be perfect to travel to our next destination. What we called The Great Lakes, but the Natives called the Inland seas.
Using my Total Recall skill, I remembered a period where I got really interested in legends of Scandinavian explorers that made it all the way from Europe to North America, sailed up the St. Lawrence river, and into the Great Lakes regions, all before 1000 A.D., crazy right! Learning more about it, the indigenous people there were called the Ojibwe, and they still existed in my time. Due to knew historical evidence it was found that all the Native people used to trade from as far north as The Great Lakes to Florida, through out the Southwest of the U.S. and as far south as Chile.
It was many scientist’s theories that the Indians use the river systems and waterways for trade. A few even theorized that the Ojibwe, or Chippewa, as they are also known may have had a more advanced form of sailing. This all made sense to me and I figured, what if the Ojibwe ancestors married with some lost Vikings? From stories of the tribes told to me from Thunder Foot and Lightning Fist, there were similarities.
I Am Gamer II Page 11