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[img]https://i.imgur.com/C7nwoGY.png[/img]
[b][color=ea590c]wordcount:[/color][/b]  3299 (+4 exp (+4 rapport with Heismay))
[b][color=ea590c]Edward Portsmith: Level 6 (16 cells) [/color][/b][color=ea590c]////////////////////////////[/color]////////////////////////////////// (28/60)
[b]Location[/b] Snowdin
Feat: Heismay 
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[color=ea590c]”I imagine you might be able to find something in a diverse town such as this”[/color] Edward said to Sectonia as they took in the non-humanoid residents, even as he slipped off the ring protecting him from its cold and flicked it to her [color=ea590c]”But I will lend it to you till you find a suitable replacement in town. Or suitable compensation”[/color]

As soon as he did, the cold hit him fully, and he shivered, prompting him to pull out the tome of pyromancy, flicking through the pages of the book (even as he warms himself from its constant smoldering heat) till he found the passage he wanted.

He then groaned at the contents, before committing to reading them out anyway, chanting: [color=ea590c]”Rise front he pit, o hound of flame! Rise to claw and bite and burn! Rise and strike fourth, wash across this world! Howl with breath of flame, and herald the coming of its new master!”[/color]

And so rise the [url=https://i.imgur.com/QBtDnz3.png]inferno hounds[/url] did, though not from a pit as advertised. Instead the pair of stone skeletons that had been forming, bone by bone, on the ground as Edward cast the spell suddenly ignited, flames boiling across its body as the pair of beasts rose to their feet, creating an oasis of warmth in the process.

[color=ea590c]”There we are”[/color] Edward concluded, as he snapped shut the book, before he quickly explained that they were [color=ea590c]”Constructs. Facsimiles of the real thing”[/color] and that there was thus no risk of demonic mauling. Looking between him and the fearsome fiends, Heismay wasn’t sure if he completely believed in their safety, but the warmth that radiated them was an undeniable relief against winter’s chill. Still, best to enjoy them from a distance.

Edward offered to produce 2 more pairs, should others want their own mobile bonfire escorts, and also reminded them that, should they accept the blessing (unlike Ace) their weapons could act as burning torches to offer additional heat, assuming they were not worried about spooking the locals by walking around with their swords (etc.) drawn.

[color=ea590c]”As for plans, hmmm, I could assist in seeking transport. I can provide some with these, or rather alternate variants with fire proof saddles, but that would only transport a max of four people, and prevent me from using any other magic, including the weapon enchantments”[/color] Edward offered, before cementing his motivation by stating [color=ea590c]”So an alternative would be preferable”[/color]

[color=ea590c]”If you do not mind me joining you, Heismay?”[/color] he added, speaking to the newcomer, with whom he had also, naturally, shared a handshake, though little else in regards to words other than his name so far. 

“Be my guest,” the eugief replied. He would not be taking Edward up on his offer, partially because he figured he could outpace the infernal pooches and partially because the laws of thermodynamics made close contact a dangerous proposition, but he did not mind the man himself. If four people did consent to a hellish ride though, and Sectonia could fly herself, that meant only six people would need transportation of their own. At that point, even a conventional horse-drawn carriage would suffice. “Let us see what Snowdin has to offer.” 

The two set off together, not to explore the town but to circumnavigate it, since there were no vehicles to be found anywhere along its main avenue. Edward’s demonic hounds moved at a steady gallop, a trail of half-melted snow left in its wake by its radiated heat. In contrast, Heismay barely left footprints, sprinting along with his wings tucked in close and his long ears trailing behind him in a speedy ninja run. Even if the chill wind didn’t threaten to drown them out while moving, the two had no real cause to speak. While both were alert, especially after Sandalphon’s precautions, they found no enemies, or even civilians during their snowy jaunt. As settlements went, this isolated village was not all that big; compared to Snowdin, even Martira seemed like a sprawling city. The more ground he covered, the more Heismay became convinced that the town didn’t even have stables. He paused once when he spotted a [url=https://i.imgur.com/ZrF7x34.png]strange, boxy red contraption[/url] immersed up to its doors in an icy ditch, but not recognizing the truck for what it was, Heismay moved on without making mention of it.

It wasn’t long before the pair’s search led them to Snowdin’s northwestern sector, the rows of cabins safeguarded by giant snowy sentinels. There, his keen eyes spotted the familiar shape of a carriage half-buried in a the belly of a collapsed snowman. “There, look!” He slowed to a stop by the pile, his ever-so-slightly labored breathing coming out in brief, light puffs. Eugiefs were sprinters and not marathon runners, after all. Even partially concealed, the wagon fascinated him. It was much larger than any stagecoach he’d ever seen, and it had extra sets of wheels to support its weight. He counted four sets, maybe even more hidden beneath the snow. “Tis no gauntlet runner, but it’s certainly large enough for our cohort.” He crossed his wings, eyes narrowed as he thought. “Shouldn’t be a trial to excavate, with all that fire of yours. The real question is, how to get it moving? Twould easily take four…nay, six hearty horses to run at a tenable rate.”

[color=ea590c]”We’d need fire resistant reins for the Inferno Hounds unfortunately, and I can’t craft enough Inferno Steeds to pull it, but perhaps my Bronze Golems or Sectonia’s antlions could drag it along. Likely not very fast, but still, it could be done even if we fail to find native beasts of burden“[/color] Edward theorised, before directing the pair of hounds to start digging, and immediately missing their warmth as they got to work.

Initially, the hounds just ‘attacked’ the snow due to being, as he’d described, simple minded constructs rather than actual creatures. This wasn’t very efficient, prompting him to begin directly Commanding them in how to dig, accelerating their movements in the process. This included some careful positioning before getting them to Vent Flames in such a way as to blast melt a whole heap of snow without scorching their prize.

In between issuing commands to get the inferno hounds to dig out the main body of the vehicle, the man himself pulled out his Illumina Baton and used its ability to shoot flames to work on getting the entrance open so they could inspect the inside of it for its suitability (and maybe also use it as shelter from the cold while they waited).

As the tactician got to work, Heismay observed for a few moments without comment. He couldn’t help but be intrigued by how Edward commanded the constructs, which he didn’t know how to distinguish from genuine creatures. “These monsters serve at your beck and call? Consider me impressed.” Euchronia was home to a great many dangerous and exotic beasts, but few could be controlled without the use of necromancy, which was itself a vile and forbidden art. The hellhounds’ concerted efforts could melt the snow, but given the extremely low ambient temperature it would take a fair amount of time and effort. Edward’s attempts to unfreeze the wagon’s door seemed much less effective. Heismay’s ear twitched as he watched, and after another moment he stepped forward.

“Here, allow me.” Ever since awakening to his new power, he’d been itching for an excuse to use it. He unsheathed his sword, then closed his eyes and focused, taking a deep breath. “O, power of kings!” His heart shone orange, visible through his chest, and quickly the glow spread throughout the veins of his whole body. Then the rest of him turned red and black, becoming pure magla that swelled and spread until a new, [url=https://i.imgur.com/nPBCNaL.png]much larger body[/url] took shape, like steel quenched after the forge. Now looking rather like a golem himself, Heismay lifted his enlarged sword and forcibly inserted the blade into the ice. With a little strength, it bit deep, allowing the blade to slide beneath the hatch. From there, he could use the weapon as a pry bar, helping cracks spread along the ice with a few well-placed talon strikes until the coating finally shattered.

“There we are.” Heismay’s voice had a metallic resonance until he reverted to normal, nodding in satisfaction at his handiwork. “Fire triumphs over ice in theory, but in this realm, ice is king. Better to exploit another weakness: its tensile strength.”

[color=ea590c]”Should have gone with the scythe then, it seems. Or a gun“[/color] Edward remarked as he put away the baton.

Of course, the little guy still needed help to swing open the heavy hatch, given the stagecoach’s angle, which Edward naturally gave. Once they shone some firelight inside, it would reveal a single huge compartment that extended from the floor to the high ceiling. Both sides featured a single long bench. The sides and roof also featured a cagelike metal mesh, with some hooks and ropes dangling from the ceiling. Heismay tilted his head. “Hanging storage?” He could easily picture himself hanging upside-down from the ceiling mesh as well, rocking back and forth as the carriage rolled along. Overall it seemed rather spartan, but certainly spacious, and the carriage’s construction offered excellent protection. “This could work,” he remarked optimistically.

[color=ea590c]”Or to restrain prisoners with“[/color] Edward guessed offhandedly, the two bench setup being somewhat reminiscent of a paddywagon, as he inspected one of the hooks. 

The widening of Heismay’s eyes suggested raised brows. He hadn’t considered that, but now that Edward said it, it made a lot of sense. “Hm. Possibly.” He stepped back to check on the hellhound’s progress, which was proceeding well. It would only be another couple minutes until the carriage could be dislodged and tilted onto its wheels, which would no doubt demand the strength of his archetype again, at minimum. “I did not see any stables earlier. Did you?” It seemed unlikely that a human could spot something in the dark that a eugief could not, but it didn’t hurt to check. “It may be difficult to find suitable replacements for horses. Perhaps…reindeer?” Heismay was a little out of his depth here, but his attempts to posit a solution suggested that he was trying to be helpful, if not succeeding.

[color=ea590c]”Possibly. I have seen them used as mounts in a few realms, though it is not too common. I am unsure why. Perhaps they are more difficult to tame than horses? Beyond that, the Frostlings from my home realm used polar bears to pull the chariots of their frost queens, but I suspect they were magicly controlled by said queens rather than naturally tamed. Now a mammoth perhaps, those they used as mounts without any need for spellcraft, and one of those would fit our needs just perfectly“[/color] Edward theorised, but it was mostly academic as [color=ea590c]”Unfortunately, as you say, I did not see anything of the sort either, I am not well versed in the natural magics required to tame such beasts quickly“[/color]

[color=ea590c]”We’ll have to see if any of the others have relevant talents, and that is if there is even any native wildlife nearby that would be suitable. If not, Golems it will be“[/color] Edward said, as he took a seat on one of the benches, feathers ruffling as he tried to get comfortable. Heismay followed him inside to take shelter from the biting wind and sat across from him.

Once there, content to let his constructs work away with only passive mental supervision, Edward asked [color=ea590c]”That transformative magic you had, you said you were new to it I believe? Is it something you picked up in this stitched together reality, or something from before, do you know? It seems rather useful“[/color] 

His new acquaintance seemed perplexed. “Tis…difficult to say. All I know is that in a critical moment, grappling with indecision, I heard a voice…’thy long-stagnant stance has finally been broken. O lodestar, whose light reveals the king’s own path’...” Heismay shook his head, flapping his ears. “I understood nothing, but that form, it felt…almost natural. Instinctive. As if I’d unlocked some manner of potential I harbored all along.” He gave a rueful laugh. “Wouldn’t have thought I had it in me. If only…” His head drooped, his eyes on the floor. “If only I wielded such strength back then. For what purpose I have it now…I cannot fathom.”

[color=ea590c]”Hmmm“[/color] Edward said, polling out a notebook and writing down the phrase, before tapping the quill a few times as he pondered it. He was a little disappointed that whatever this was was some sort of inherent ability, likely from the man’s own world, but he was never one to turn down a conundrum. It sounded rather fanciful, really, to unlock a hidden power in the moment it was needed, but he wasn’t about to naysay Heismay when he had so little to go on, and instead rolled with the concept for now. 

[color=ea590c]”Given that it said that your ‘long-stagnant stance had finally been broken’ I assume you overcame that indecision at that moment? Indecision that was perhaps representative of your prior ‘stance’ or state of being whatever that might have been“[/color] he speculated, before asking [color=ea590c]”Might I ask what the decision was? Perphase it was a different one from the ones you made during that somber past event you where alluding to?“[/color]

Although he had been thinking about the event, Heismay had not been analyzing it, or how it might relate to his history. The idea of a connection there both perturbed and perplexed him. For a couple moments, only the cold wind and the crackle of flames outside disturbed the silence. “Twas a difficult conundrum. Children had been disappearing from the town of Martira. Initially the town guards lay the blame at my feet, and while I had done no such thing, I languished in such shame and despair from past events that I cared not to refute them. By chance, though, I encountered a creature named Huggin’ Molly. She explained -via puppet show- that she had indeed stolen some of the children away, but only to save them from a far worse fate at the hands of certain guards. Before we could figure things out, the town guard stormed in and demanded the children be returned.”

He shook his head. “We didn’t know who to believe, and I was struck with indecision. In the end, though, I chose to side with Molly, and the guards backed down. Afterward, one of the guards broke down and confessed. We had to leave before the situation was fully resolved, but it seemed I made the right choice.” He crossed his arms, tapping his foot impatiently. “But I righted no past wrongs, and I fail to see the connecting thread with my past.” Whatever had happened, he clearly did not like dredging up those old memories.

Edward did not press on the past, but he did proceed to speculate on the present [color=ea590c]”It is interesting that you say that the power came from within, and yet accessing it also came with a voice from without. Assuming it was genuinely from within, then perhaps this voice belonged to some esoteric observer who, upon seeing you take this stand and approving of it, helped unlock it for you? I could certainly see some self proclaimed patron of heroes acting in such a manner. You where in the presence of one ‘god’ at that moment, who is to say she was the only one who knew your tale and decided to intervene in response to your actions“[/color]

The man’s tone made it clear he did not particularly believe in the authenticity of such beings, he’d encountered enough self proclaimed gods to fill a dozen pantheons, but that didn’t mean they, or even less powerful beings, would not act in ways like this. 

Not one for staking everything on his first hypothesis however, he also suggested that [color=ea590c]”Or perhaps it is the voice of the power itself? Some magical being living within you that approved of your action? It is hard to say. If that were the case, it would not explain why this access to power came only now”[/color] before asking [color=ea590c]”Have you heard this voice again? Attempted to commune with it? It might be too convenient a solution for it to be possible (Magic is never simple, especially the esoteric sort) but if it was willing to communicate once, it might do so again, and if so might hold the answers you seek”[/color]

Heismay’s brow had been furrowed for a few moments now. “The answers [i]I[/i] seek? To be honest, I do not share your inquisitiveness. I heard no such voice again, and did not think to ask.” He shook his head. “To me, ‘tis little different from finding a sword at the side of the road. Regardless of the path it took to find me, what matters is how I wield it henceforth.” With that resolution in mind, the hermit pushed himself off his bench and made his way out of the wagon to see how the hellhounds were doing. After stepping back out into the wind, he quickly realized that they’d finished excavation. Heismay waved to Edward to join him. “Tis done. Let us tilt it onto its wheels.”

The man certainly looked a little disappointed with this lack of inquisitiveness, closing and putting away his notebook with an [color=ea590c]”ah well”[/color] before rising and following the hermit outside, mentally calling the mobile heat source that was the pair of hounds to his side as he did. 

They’d done, as he told them casually [color=ea590c]”good work”[/color], even though they were incapable of benefiting any way from such praise. It was difficult to not anthropomorphize the constructs, and he had long since given up doing so. Suppressing that polite urge had more cons than pros, in his opinion, lest it bleed over into his dealings with actual people. 

The inferno hounds would be ill suited to actually righting the oversize carriage however, same as they would pulling it, which was why he summoned his [url=https://i.imgur.com/1XxSiw2.jpeg]reaver[/url] striker to do this instead, the oversized monstrosity grappling the carriage with its tentacles and hauling it upright with ease before it dissipated. Heismay blinked at the ephemeral aberration, clearly taken aback.

[color=ea590c]”Strikers. I can highly recommend their usage”[/color] Edward said after the moment was done, before asking [color=ea590c]”Shall we tow it closer to the center of town? Or rather shall I make some copper golems to do so for us? It won’t be fast, or practical while under load, but it should do till we come up with a longer term solution”[/color] 

After a quick look at the giant stagecoach in all its glory, as well as an attempt to ballpark its weight, Heismay nodded. “Please.” With that, he hopped up onto the vehicle’s roof to start brushing off snow as he enjoyed the ride.