[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/C7nwoGY.png[/img] [b][color=ea590c]wordcount:[/color][/b] 4712 (+5) [b][color=ea590c]Edward Portsmith: Level 7 (18 cells) [/color][/b][color=ea590c]//////////////////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////// (38/70) [b]Location[/b] the Midnight Walk (ft. Heismay) [/center] Edward had indeed spotted and reported back about the seeming stand of between two groups of hybridised creatures and their color coded for their convenience mobile headquarters. He’d wanted to keep observing their temperament before actually approaching however. The least thing they needed was to be dragged into a threeway conflict. Them coming across a man who was retrieving some sort of sample of a sleeping wolf however offered the opportunity to ask questions without having to get past an army to the humans in charge first.. [color=ea590c]”I believe I shall stop us here so as to inquire as to the nature of the little standoff we’re coming up on. I have to say, the creature creation contraptions they are using look truly fascinating”[/color] Edward informed the riders of the stagecoach, as he slowed their progress and then stopped it. [color=ea590c]”If anyone would care to take over, that would be appreciated”[/color] he requested as he dismounted and flexed his wings, before glancing back also added [color=ea590c]”as would an escort”[/color] He could provide a light one himself, calling the one unit of infernohounds to approach and act as a mobile heatsource if nothing else, but he was well aware that the others represented far more of a force than the ones he could conjure. Plus the company would be pleasant. “I’ve never handled beasts before, but I would be glad to accompany you on another venture,” Heismay declared as he hopped down from the stagecoach. The deep snow off the beaten path was rather daunting for the diminutive eugief, but he soldiered through, light enough on his feet that he didn’t have to wade too deep. Once the little party gathered up and approached the huntsman, Edward called out [color=ea590c]”Hello there. You wouldn’t happen to be associated with either of the two armies of bests we’re approaching, would you?”[/color] alongside a friendly wave. Having realized just how exposed he was on his little foray into no-man’s-land when the stagecoach first appeared, the hunter could do little but watch the strangers warily as they approached. When Edward hailed him, though, he cracked a cordial smile. “Hello, hello. I’m guessing you’re not with Whitey?” He looked over at the fortified encampment on the other side of the valley.” Heismay shook his head. “No indeed. Mere passers-through, traversing the Midnight Walk. The man let out a sigh of relief and allowed himself to relax. ”Glad to hear it. It’s good to see a friendly face out here. But yeah, to answer your question, I’m with Lucy’s crew back there. The name’s Rex Chance.” He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder at the green army. “We’ve been camped out here, building up enough strength to overwhelm Whitey for a while now. Sadly, seems like that overgrown hooligan’s been doing the same. We’re both sitting on fifty units apiece, mostly level five, waiting for the other to make the first move.” He shrugged. “A stalemate, then,” Heismay remarked. The hermit glanced at Edward. “No doubt both sides are looking for a way to turn the tide.” [color=ea590c]”I can only imagine. Desperate for one even”[/color] Edward agreed, before adding more cautiously [color=ea590c]”which might be a problem”[/color] because that meant they were a new factor someone was going to try and take advantage of, one way or the other. Best they get ahead of that, even if it wasn’t for their own advantage. [color=ea590c]”You described your foe as a ‘hooligan’ yes? Not the most friendly of sorts I assume?”[/color] he asked Rex, offering him a chance to sell the situation to him so that they could come off as less mercenary than he was already planning to be when he got around to making a sales pitch for their aid. Rex jumped at the chance. “Nah, he’s your stereotypical henchman: a big brute as dumb as he is ugly. Problem is, he’s on the take from Upton Julius, and if [i]that[/i] megalomaniac gets his way Sigma Technology will bring the whole world to its knees. So Lucy and I, we’re working our way up the food chain.” He shrugged. “Wouldn’t say no to a helping hand, though. The world would be better off for it.” At that, Heismay raised his eyebrows at Edward and crossed his wings. “Goodness. It seems that we must keep this ‘Sigma Technology’ out of the wrong hands.” Edward somewhat doubted it would bring the world to its knees, given even just what he’d seen. Rex’s world maybe, but odds are Galeem had popped them here in this region and they’d not seen much further beyond it (which the lack of any magical beasts among the mix and match critters seemed to confirm, given those could be found just beyond the zoo). Still, no need to let Rex know that. Well. Maybe the latter might be of use for a little bartering. [color=ea590c]”Oh I agree entierly”[/color] he instead said, before inquiring [color=ea590c]”I heard you have some sort of limiter on your force counts earlier? What might that be? Perhaps we can help increase it? Or getting you creations above this ‘tier 5’ that you mentioned”[/color] as a prelude to simply offering to add his own forces to theirs. “Uh…” Rex scratched his head. “I’m not the expert here, but I feel like if that could happen, Lucy would’ve figured out how to do it already.” He crossed his arms as he looked over, intrigued, at the parked stagecoach. Specifically, the Reindrix catching their breath in front of it. “What are those things? Never seen deer like those before.” Edward suppressed a smile at how smoothly this was going [color=ea590c]”Reindrix”[/color] he answered shortly, before explaining that they [color=ea590c]”Part of a set of creatures known as ‘Pals’ who have magical properties. See aura on their antlers? Frigid cold, and that’s only the physical aspects, as they can conjure icy projectiles as well”[/color] [color=ea590c]”There’s a world of creatures out there beyond the mundane wolf you have there. Add them to your mixes, and I expect you can push beyond your current power level”[/color] he then said, gesturing at the man’s capture, before adding that [color=ea590c]”It would surely be a better idea for you to get your hands on samples of it before this Julius figures out he can go further afield to find them, if he doesn't have his ‘henchmen’ on it already.”[/color] Though clearly interested in the new possibilities that such creatures could offer to his army, Rex was well aware of just how bad things could get if Julius and his cronies got his hands on them first. He looked past the newcomers as Whitey’s henchmen were already on there way over. “Yeah, I probably ought to, huh?” He put on a smile as he crossed his arms. “I’m no fool, though. What do you want in return? Coal? Electricity?” [color=ea590c]”Well I have to say I’d be interested in taking a look at the tech you are using. Naturally I'll barter more than just barter one creature for that of course. If you already have your forces, then new samples aren't going to help you without the risk disbanding some of them brings”[/color] he pointed out, before gesturing to the inferno hounds keeping them warm, and offering [color=ea590c]”so how about I lend you some of mine as well to uneven the odds?”[/color] Rex stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Well…I’m on board, but Lucy always tells me I’m too reckless. We should probably ask her.” He turned to go, waving for his new acquaintances to follow him. “C’mon, this way. If the critters see you with me, they won’t attack.” “Good to know.” Heismay moved to follow him, as did Edward and his escorting inferno hounds. A few minutes later, the trio crested the bluff at the edge of the valley and reached Lucy’s base. It sported a variety of structures like lightning rods for power generation, a workshop for unit upgrades, and soundwave towers for defense. Of course, Heismay was most impressed by his up-close-and-personal view of the hybrid beasts. He could see a giant poison dart frog with the back half of a zebra, a camel with the head of an archerfish, a rhinoceros with a snail’s head, and komodo dragons with snowy owl wings, even if he couldn’t name all the various animals involved himself. Perhaps most astonishing were the lobsters as broad as the Seekers’ stagecoach, armed with enormous moose antlers. These beasts stared at the new arrivals, vigilant and restless, but with Rex around they did not show any aggression. Before Rex, Heismay, and Edward reached the strange locomotive, a brunette in teal stepped out and headed their way. This, Heismay assumed, must be Lucy. When she greeted the newcomers, she spoke in a chipper English accent. “Afternoon, gentlemen. Lucy Willing. If you’ve made it here in one piece, I can only assume you’re friends. Or at the very least not involved in our little squabble.” It took her another moment to notice Heismay, which seemed to pique her interest. “My word…are you a product of Sigma Technology as well? A bat, mixed with a human? I thought that all of Upton’s human experiments had failed…” “No, ma’am,” Heismay replied, his tone humorless and a bit pointed. “I am of the eugief tribe, born and raised. No technology made me.” Lucy bobbed her head apologetically. “Ah, in that case, please forgive me.” She looked between the two Seekers. “What can I do for you then? I must warn you that time is short. Mr. Hooten could attack at any moment.” [color=ea590c]”Fortunately, that is exactly why we are here”[/color] Edward replied, though, he had to admit, having seen the sheer size of some of the beasts, he was less confined his troops could turn the tide overmuch, at least in the numbers he could construct them. [color=ea590c]”I was hoping to barter our aid in dealing with this foe of yours for a look at your fascinating technology? Controlling mighty creatures is something I am no stranger too, but this fusion of them together with what looks to be simply coal as power is very intresting”[/color] he said, doing his best to somewhat underplay how much this was all about power. Power for a higher purpose, naturally, but still, power none the less. Speaking off, he had something that could act as a major force multiplier, and it was that which he now offered, extending a hand in which the power to burn and the power to sunder armor glowed [color=ea590c]”If you have your creations accept my enchantments, it will give them an edge your foes lack. And that is before we add our martial prowess to your side, be it gun and blade or tooth, claw and eagle eyes.”[/color] “Samples from your magical creatures, too!” Rex reminded them. As Lucy waved Rex over so that the two could talk, Heismay approached to do the same. He kept his voice low, forcing Edward to stoop to his level to hear him. “I didn’t think we were going to help them fight? If this Whitey’s base and army are comparable to those of Miss Willing, we may be biting off more than we can chew. I don’t know if the others would spring for it, either.” [color=ea590c]”Simply enough to turn the tide. If they are as evenly matched as they think, then tipping the scales in this side’s favor should be all they need to seize momentum and win the day. My golems can help the front, we weaken a flank where we can pull out whenever need, while their enchanted beasts do the bulk of the heavy lifting”[/color] [color=ea590c]”Besides, it will take some time for me to analyze their devices, long enough that the others will be able to pass and be out of the conflict zone, I should think?”[/color] Edward replied. He had no interest in committing to the full conflict here, that was for certain, but given the concerns the pair had raised about misuse of this technology, he could not see a world where mere samples would be enough of a barter to get them access. Heismay looked dubious. “I suppose I should head back and get the stagecoach moving, then.” He furrowed his brow. “Wait, shouldn’t we ask Sandalphon for approval first?” At that point, though, Rex and Lucy had finished talking. The huntsman hung back as his lady friend approached to give her answer. “Ultimately, our goal is to prevent the proliferation of Sigma Technology. I mean no offense, but we cannot trust you with it even if you were to assist us against Whitey. That being the case, I would not expect any assistance from you, however appreciated it would be.” The announcement didn’t seem to surprise Heismay. While things looked good at first glance, this Lucy had a level head on her shoulders. Unfortunately that meant that getting the Seekers’ hands on Sigma Technology wouldn’t be simple. He certainly didn’t want to attempt taking it by force, and despite his Archetype’s name, he was no master thief. The eugief looked up at Edward to gauge his reaction to the news. Edward stood there for a moment frowning. His lips parted slightly as he paused on the cusp of trying to convince her that the technology was not so fearsome in the wild world she now lived in, before shrugging and saying that that was [color=ea590c]”Unfortunate”[/color] He wasn’t quite done bartering, offering/suggesting instead that [color=ea590c]”I would still be willing to trade the samples for ‘Electricity’ however that might work? We do have some plant growing equipment that needs power."[/color] Lucy seemed to brighten up. “That, I can do. Rex, if you’d be so good as to go collect samples, I can share the Lightning Rod blueprint with our friend here.” Once the huntsman stepped forward, Heismay turned to lead him back toward the stagecoach and its draft pals. “Follow me.” After a minute or so, Lucy returned with a rolled-up blueprint from within her lab, which she passed to Edward. “There you are. Despite appearances, it can be made with coal alone. One hundred and fifty fragments, or just fifteen units, to be precise. Simply apply the blueprint to the ground and it will create a lot. From there, a good hammering from any able-bodied fellow should be enough to construct it. Understood?” [color=ea590c]”Yes, that is, well, remarkably simple"[/color] he said, mentally taking back the idea that he’d been asking for something considered mundane rather than something unique to the world these two were from. It also gave him an idea. Just one for later. [color=ea590c]”A pleasure doing business with you then, Miss Willing"[/color] he said, offering a hand to shake, and then saying [color=ea590c]”good luck with your war, though I hope you can hold off on running it till we make our way through neutral territory?"[/color] She nodded at him. “Of course. Can’t say the same for Whitey, though he seems about as hesitant to make the first move as we are. Mutually assured destruction is no good for anyone, after all. It will take us some time to produce a new unit using your Reindrix anyway.” [color=ea590c]”Well, some argue it is good for peace, but I’ve seen enough places that have been wrong"[/color] Edward replied, not elaborating that he meant entire worlds when he said that, before saying [color=ea590c]”We can only hope nothing prompts him to make a move before you have your edge."[/color] Which meant he very much needed to get them through the battlelines before trying anything of his own. Once everything was secure, Edward saddled up and prepared to get them moving again, though not before requesting Sandalphon hear him out on a plan. As Heismay had pointed out (and Edward had acknowledged/conceded after the bartering was done), he wasn’t in charge here, and he should make sure to act like it by running his new plan past the person who was. Which first involved selling her on the benefit. [color=ea590c]”A coal produced army or workforce, deployable anywhere with a bit of hammering, and, assuming we can acquire our own sample library, customisable to almost any situation. Not only that, but they aren’t affected by Galeem, which removes the liability they have"[/color] he would explain, pointing at the Reindrix for that last point. Handy though they were, they were not dependable in a fight given that if any of them got hurt, they would try and go after the culprit, rather than stick together and keep moving as he wanted them too. [color=ea590c]”It’s an investment, certainly, but one that will let us secure future resources more easily. Especially if we can haggle Whitey into also trading some of his excess stock"[/color] Sandalphon considered the proposal carefully, but from a pragmatic perspective. She could not deny that being able to field a large force so easily would have its advantages. Interfering with this conflict as an outsider was her biggest concern. As easy as it would be to assume that Rex and Lucy were in the right, Whitey could conceivably have painted as convincing a picture if he happened to meet the Seekers first, and for all she knew both sides could be keeping one another in check here by design. Either army could run roughshod over Snowdin, for instance. Still, even if Edward’s acquisition of the lightning rod blueprint was good enough on its own, the importance of the Seekers’ campaign was such that they couldn’t afford to turn down any opportunity. “I approve of your plan under one condition. Do not attack Whitey’s forces. In essence, leave him no worse or better off than when you arrived. Let him hoist himself by his own petard.” She tilted her head as her pupils became inverted triangles. “Additionally, if he is as unintelligent and low on the ‘totem pole’ as your contacts suggested, you may be able to convince him that you’re here under the orders of Upton Julius. Otherwise, he may see you as an intruder and attack before you even reach his base.” [color=ea590c]”We’ll have to pretend they have cracked human hybridization then"[/color] Edward noted, lightly readjusting his wings as he did so, but otherwise he was onboard with her variation of the plan. It had its merits after all. Thus, after some rearrangement of his forces so that they could fit the bill, Edward marched his way towards Whitey’s base with Heismay along to add further credence to the illusion. He chose an approach where he could get to a good vantage point/stage as close to the man as possible without running into his forces first, and then put his oration classes at the academy to good use. With lungs trained in public speaking and practiced in bellowing orders, he made himself known, two squads of inferno pounds stood just behind him, providing illumination as he spread his wings to cast a shadow across the camp. [color=ea590c]”Whitey! Stand down your forces and let me through! Upton Julius sends his regards, and new breakthroughs to support to your warfront against these thorns in his side"[/color] “Oi’m a little teapot, short and…huh!?” A huge, hairless, pale man in a parka had been in the middle of assembling a new anti-air tower, singing quietly to himself as he worked, when Edward made himself known. His platoons of mismatched beasts bristled as the strange man approached, but Whitey held off on an attack order. He didn’t recognize the man headed his way, but those silhouetted wings gave him pause, and the name of Upton Julius held weight. Brows furrowed, he strode toward the perimeter of his base, his amassed forces of aquatic monstrosities parting to admit him. “Wot? Julius ya say?” He yelled back across the snow, his voice exactly what one might picture when asked to think of a stereotypical, oafish British thug. When he stopped, he crossed his arms, a jellephant on either side of him as giant seagulls with electric eel tails flapped overhead. For now, though, none of the creatures attacked. “Oo’re you s’posed t’be then, uh?” [color=ea590c]”Voraditius is who I am"[/color] Edward replied, picking the name of the commonwealth’s cult of the emperor on a whim. An absolute [url=https://i.imgur.com/L1XY0Gl.jpeg]monster of a man[/url] as it turned out, who’d kept the goblin subjects of the region he ruled in virtual slavery before he had been slain. Just one of its many failings of the original commonwealth, but his name suited his purposes here well enough given the persona he was putting on, which he put to good use with another flex of his wings [color=ea590c]”The more important question you should have been asking what I am, to which the answer is a scientific marvel."[/color] For some people the act false bravado of the act might have also been an attempt to help resist the intimidation of the hulking monosities flanking Whitey, but Edward had stared down dragons across a negotiating table, and so he didn't even spare them more than a second glance. “Uh…but I thought…” Whitey grimaced as he scratched his cheek. He stared at Heismay for a couple seconds, who raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, then turned his gaze back to Edward. “Nevermind. You said Julius sentcha? What for? I got my ‘ands busy with this lot ‘ere.” he waved a massive mitt at the valley that separated him from Lucy’s encampment. [color=ea590c]”Why to expedite your victory of course. Here, first, this"[/color] he said, as he opened a hand which held the same two glowing enchantments, before boldly approaching the jellyfish elephant on one side, and pressing it into the beast’s forehead, causing tusks and tendrils to come alight with his burning and armor sundering enchantments. [color=ea590c]”Now bring the rest so I may empower them as well, and while I am doing that, you will bring me supplies so I can set up my own base. There’s a self proclaimed Puppeteer of Death’ and her hordes of walking carcases that need dealing with, and we traveled here lightly and swiftly knowing you could provide"[/color] Getting ordered around by the newcomer seemed to set off Whitey’s short temper. “Oi! I’m the boss around ‘ere. Where d’you fink you get off bossin’ me around?” His lips curled in a snarl, but after a moment he relented and let Edward off with a scoff. “Well, seein’ as you were just born yesterday or somefing, I’ll let it slide. Anyfin’ to get outta this bloody stalemate.” He turned to yell at his henchmen to fetch some coal for Edward, which they brought in buckets by the pair. Electricity could not be transported so easily, but as long as the tactician built nearby, he could draw on Whitey’s power grid. As this went down Heismay remained silent, his expression stony as he watched the massive creatures around him fuss restlessly. Clearly they were itching for combat. [color=ea590c]”See to the rest of our ‘setup’ would you? I have forty nine more creatures to enhance, and the hounds make for terrible coal transporters"[/color] Edward asked with a slight tone of condescension as part of the role he was playing, but with a glance of a look that enquired how much Heismay thought he’d be able to get out of the situation on his own now that they’d got a bit of a better picture of Whitey. Hopefully playing good official to his bad official would work wonders for opening the rest of the doors they needed for this plan to work out. Unfortunately, the hermit possessed neither the experience nor the talent to be a skilled actor or diplomat. When Edward spoke to him, he instinctively gave a sour look, then glanced over at the coal buckets. He could only assume that his teammate meant for him to carry the coal back to the stagecoach, though his small stature and poor physical strength left him ill-suited to this task. It then occurred to him that the ‘setup’ must mean setting themselves up with Sigma Technology. He looked over at Whitey’s lab, then around at all the idle creatures. The prospect of waltzing around under the noses of all these huge, fearsome beasts made him nervous, but he would have to take refuge in audacity. An idea occurred to him to pick up one bucket of coal to carry with him, lending more credence to the idea he was doing some sort of work. He strode around the base for a little while, steering clear of the hodgepodge monsters, then headed for the lab. Whitey happened to be in there in front of a computer screen with a bird’s-eye view of the area, tapping away as he issued various orders. For him, it seemed, there was no such thing as ‘too many’ soundwave towers. After watching for a moment, Heismay set down his coal bucket and went for the table laden with blueprints. On the monitors, Edward could be seen doing his rounds with a very put upon looking henchmen acting as animal calmer. As he did so, the dark of the sunless highlands gradually became more and more bright as the beast's natural weapons were wreathed in gold and flame, looking from a distance like a growing stars. At a certain point Whitey went outside to see the visually impressive upgrades for himself, more and more assured that victory would soon be his. On the way out he failed to notice Heismay hiding behind the table, and the moment the big boss left, Heismay scooped up all the blueprints he could carry before making a break for it. His little feet pitter-pattered across the snow with incredible speed, and any animal that looked his way quickly got left in the dust. Only once he released a safe distance did the eugief finally slow down and actually look at the schematics he’d obtained. [i]Bramble, soundwave tower, research clinic, genetic amplifier, geothermal generator, water chamber…creature chamber![/i] That sounded like what Edward needed. Heismay looked back toward Whitey’s base, then turned to proceed back toward the stagecoach. It would be up to Edward to escape unscathed. Edward only became aware of this theft once the eugief got within sight of the stagecoach, but had intentionally structured his route among the beasts to have him circle further and future out from the core of the base. Once he spotted his speedy partner in crime, he made for a preplanned spot, a rocky cravass on the edge of Whitey‘s territory. There he ditched the henchman following him about while insisting that it would be faster for him to fly over. He took wing, fading into the gloom, and then summoned his Reaver striker down below in that crevasse, from which it lunged up and grabbed him. He cried out in pain once, and then fell limp and silent as the beast flew out of there with his body hanging in its jaws. He sent the two inferno hound packs running after him, then had them confidently run off from his path just before the striker timed out, hopefully leading any other pursuers astray while he made his way back to the stage coach in the dark. Upon arriving, he turned back, and with a snap, snuffed out the sea of stars he’d ignited in Whitey’s territory as disabled his enchantments, leaving both sides in the dark as to what had just happened.