Chapter 27
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Chapter 27
I know a bit about the city of Shen Huo from my readings, and Taduk's stories. City is a misnomer. It's an enormous megacity, spanning 300km in length, and 90km in width. It's divided into multiple districts of varying sizes, built around a large lake that is a large percentage of the city mass. Calling it a conglomerate of cities would be more accurate. I had a clear picture in my mind of what it would look like, waterfront manors and bustling streets, decorative fountains and carved statues.
I was sorely disappointed by my first impression.
Outside the city is verdant farmland, supplying food for the city. More endless plains, this time dotted by green pastures and fields of golden brown. Rice paddies and fruit orchards break the landscape, a peaceful and beautiful view, if not for the brown and red city walls. 18m at the lowest point, the walls block any view into the city. Twin gates, lacquered metal, garish and ugly, lay open, while wagons and carts move in and out. A tunnel sits behind the gates, at least 50m long and 8m wide, like a giant mouth, ready to devour any who enter.
Brightly armored guards in red and gold patrol the walls and stand at the gates, halberds in hand, glaring at all who wait to enter. Officials, dressed in black robes, followed by attendants carrying sheaves of paper and writing implements, walk back and forth, inspecting each vehicle entering and exiting the gate. Our caravan waits our turn outside the gate, every Sentinel dismounted, waiting alertly, weapons holstered, prisoners closely watched, bound and gagged.
The entire place feels more like a military base, rather than a bustling city. I spent 12 days riding for this? What's worse is we've been waiting for over an hour, as the line of people entering the city moves quickly by. The line for carts and wagons lumbers slowly, a few meters at a time. Bureaucracy at it's finest. I don't know what they're searching for, taxable goods I guess? I let out a breath and shuffle my feet.
I spent the last few days of travel sitting in the wagon, trying to harmonize with my weapon. It's still unbranded. The time required varies, but rarely more than a week, and I've spent close to 15 days. There's no method to determine how much longer it will take. I've spent every spare moment trying to brand it, but so far, nothing. It feels like a giant weight on my belt, screaming for people to kill me and take it. I'd take it off and pack it away, but I feel like that would be more suspicious than wearing it. There isn't any way to know it's unbound, without actively trying to use it. As long as I keep it close, no one should find out.
I spent the rest of my time chatting with Husolt. He's actually a pretty fun guy, and is good friends with Taduk, to hear him tell it. They're drinking buddies, and swap stories often, so he knows a fair bit about me. He was good enough to answer all my questions, without seeming annoyed. He actually seemed kind of happy to have someone to talk to. Sumila often hangs out with the off duty cadets, rather than her father. It's a little sad how lonely the big guy seems sometimes.
To make a spiritual weapon is fairly simple. It's actually completely identical to making a regular weapon, except for the materials. All you really require is a 'Heart' for the weapon and binding materials. The heart can be any number of things, any item that has managed to absorb sufficient amounts of Heavenly Energy. Bones, scales, wood, rocks, crystals, anything. An animal would need to be at least 1000 years old for its body to be used as a Heart, a plant or mineral more than 10 times that. Mine is from a chunk of ore removed from an area of high concentrations of Earth Heavenly Energy, a Heavenly Vein. The fist sized chunk Baatar found was enough only for a short sword, but would have ignited a bidding war, and possible a inter-house war as well, if put on the open market. I need to properly thank him when I get back. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
Sadly, a bigger weapon requires a bigger heart, and each piece of gear requires its own heart. I can't even attach the sword to a pole, and use it that way. Almost skin contact with the Heart is required for chi to flow through it. My dreams of running around in full plate, cleaving about with a giant battle-ax, are fading quickly, since every separate piece would need it's own Heart. Why can't any of my dreams be easy? On the plus side, I'm pretty sure the village is rich as shit, with an expensive forge and ability to equip most of their warriors with a spiritual weapon. I wonder why they still live so simply?
Once you have a Heart, you gather the appropriate binding materials, which are highly variable depending on the type of Heart. Everything is then added to whatever material you wish to make a weapon from, in my case, was steel.
She pokes me in the cheek lightly. I told you! I told you a thousand times! Don't call me Mei Lin. Just call me Lin-Lin. Meanie Rainy is bullying me! Mi-Mi, Help me! She waves at Sumila, yelling even though there's barely a meter between us. She stands on Zabu and leaps over to the wagon, and starts chatting excitedly. Seriously, why does this stupid quin not care about what Mei Lin does? I refuse to call her Lin-Lin. I feel ridiculous saying that. Mi-Mi is just as dumb. I didn't like Rainy at first, but it seems better than the alternative.
Looking around Taduk's villa, I realize I was right. It pays to be a healer. We're on an island, and his home could probably fit the entire caravan with room for a second caravan. Several five-storied buildings surround us, paper windows and ornately decorated wooden walls, with a lovely garden pond as the centerpiece. The trees are in full bloom, ready to wilt away for the winter, pink and white blossoms scattering with the wind. I spy Taduk walking over towards us, emerging from the pagoda by the pond. I don't understand why he lives in the village. This is much nicer than his rabbit warren house in the village. Wait is that why he likes the village? Because he can live like a hare?
He's dressed in his customary thick robes, a design of a hare in front of the moon, stitched in gold and silver. Fancy threads. He greets Akanai and a few others, shaking hands and hugging. An army of servants starts helping everyone with their luggage, and bringing them away to find rooms and get settled. Taduk walks over to me and grins. Not bad, eh boy?
It's a beautiful home, Teacher. Thank you for inviting me into it. I climb off Zabu while he hisses. I gladly hand him to a servant, who receives the same treatment. That makes me feel better. It's petty, but at least I'm not the only person he hates.
Come, come, my boy. You need a bath, and a change of clothes. Then we can have lunch, and you can tell me all about what I've missed. Baatar's one sentence descriptions don't do it justice. He looks at me sternly. It wouldn't hurt for you to send a message to me every now and then, you know.
I smile at him, without an answer. I should send letters. I'll look into it when I get back. Or just live here. It's incredible. No wonder his cooking is terrible. He's rich, he doesn't need to learn. Mei Lin is a little lady. A bratty little lady. It's so much more than I expected. I mean, with everyone able to fix their own injuries, I was worried that healer was not as lucrative as I first thought it would be, but just wow. This is almost too much. For me, a smaller place, with not as many servants would be better. Or maybe even none actually, I'm not too comfortable being served by strangers. Are they slaves? I look at the servants, but they seem happy. Even if they are slaves, Taduk wouldn't mistreat them. A far cry from the mines. Besides what am I gonna do? Free them? Then what? Send them off to the slums? That's a giant step down. Start a war to end slavery? Not likely. I'm no Lincoln. I just want to live my life.
Heading into the bath, I find a private room with wood and paper walls, a small wooden tub in the center, with wooden dividers, heated water being poured in by servants. The floor has grates, for the water to run off in, and the roof is raised, small slits leading outside, for steam to escape. When everything is prepared, they all leave and I slip into the hot water. The dirt and grime on my body sluices off, and I sigh, while reaching for the soap to lather up. My very first private bath. Say what you will about public bathing, sometimes it's nice to scrub your ass without worrying about people watching.
This is the life. I want this. The village is nice too, but there's always so much to do. A nice medium between the two would be perfect. A wife, some kids, a nice home.
What more could I ask for?
Three wives. Or maybe five.
Perfect.
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Chapter 27
I know a bit about the city of Shen Huo from my readings, and Taduk's stories. City is a misnomer. It's an enormous megacity, spanning 300km in length, and 90km in width. It's divided into multiple districts of varying sizes, built around a large lake that is a large percentage of the city mass. Calling it a conglomerate of cities would be more accurate. I had a clear picture in my mind of what it would look like, waterfront manors and bustling streets, decorative fountains and carved statues.
I was sorely disappointed by my first impression.
Outside the city is verdant farmland, supplying food for the city. More endless plains, this time dotted by green pastures and fields of golden brown. Rice paddies and fruit orchards break the landscape, a peaceful and beautiful view, if not for the brown and red city walls. 18m at the lowest point, the walls block any view into the city. Twin gates, lacquered metal, garish and ugly, lay open, while wagons and carts move in and out. A tunnel sits behind the gates, at least 50m long and 8m wide, like a giant mouth, ready to devour any who enter.
Brightly armored guards in red and gold patrol the walls and stand at the gates, halberds in hand, glaring at all who wait to enter. Officials, dressed in black robes, followed by attendants carrying sheaves of paper and writing implements, walk back and forth, inspecting each vehicle entering and exiting the gate. Our caravan waits our turn outside the gate, every Sentinel dismounted, waiting alertly, weapons holstered, prisoners closely watched, bound and gagged.
The entire place feels more like a military base, rather than a bustling city. I spent 12 days riding for this? What's worse is we've been waiting for over an hour, as the line of people entering the city moves quickly by. The line for carts and wagons lumbers slowly, a few meters at a time. Bureaucracy at it's finest. I don't know what they're searching for, taxable goods I guess? I let out a breath and shuffle my feet.
I spent the last few days of travel sitting in the wagon, trying to harmonize with my weapon. It's still unbranded. The time required varies, but rarely more than a week, and I've spent close to 15 days. There's no method to determine how much longer it will take. I've spent every spare moment trying to brand it, but so far, nothing. It feels like a giant weight on my belt, screaming for people to kill me and take it. I'd take it off and pack it away, but I feel like that would be more suspicious than wearing it. There isn't any way to know it's unbound, without actively trying to use it. As long as I keep it close, no one should find out.
I spent the rest of my time chatting with Husolt. He's actually a pretty fun guy, and is good friends with Taduk, to hear him tell it. They're drinking buddies, and swap stories often, so he knows a fair bit about me. He was good enough to answer all my questions, without seeming annoyed. He actually seemed kind of happy to have someone to talk to. Sumila often hangs out with the off duty cadets, rather than her father. It's a little sad how lonely the big guy seems sometimes.
To make a spiritual weapon is fairly simple. It's actually completely identical to making a regular weapon, except for the materials. All you really require is a 'Heart' for the weapon and binding materials. The heart can be any number of things, any item that has managed to absorb sufficient amounts of Heavenly Energy. Bones, scales, wood, rocks, crystals, anything. An animal would need to be at least 1000 years old for its body to be used as a Heart, a plant or mineral more than 10 times that. Mine is from a chunk of ore removed from an area of high concentrations of Earth Heavenly Energy, a Heavenly Vein. The fist sized chunk Baatar found was enough only for a short sword, but would have ignited a bidding war, and possible a inter-house war as well, if put on the open market. I need to properly thank him when I get back. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
Sadly, a bigger weapon requires a bigger heart, and each piece of gear requires its own heart. I can't even attach the sword to a pole, and use it that way. Almost skin contact with the Heart is required for chi to flow through it. My dreams of running around in full plate, cleaving about with a giant battle-ax, are fading quickly, since every separate piece would need it's own Heart. Why can't any of my dreams be easy? On the plus side, I'm pretty sure the village is rich as shit, with an expensive forge and ability to equip most of their warriors with a spiritual weapon. I wonder why they still live so simply?
Once you have a Heart, you gather the appropriate binding materials, which are highly variable depending on the type of Heart. Everything is then added to whatever material you wish to make a weapon from, in my case, was steel.
She pokes me in the cheek lightly. I told you! I told you a thousand times! Don't call me Mei Lin. Just call me Lin-Lin. Meanie Rainy is bullying me! Mi-Mi, Help me! She waves at Sumila, yelling even though there's barely a meter between us. She stands on Zabu and leaps over to the wagon, and starts chatting excitedly. Seriously, why does this stupid quin not care about what Mei Lin does? I refuse to call her Lin-Lin. I feel ridiculous saying that. Mi-Mi is just as dumb. I didn't like Rainy at first, but it seems better than the alternative.
Looking around Taduk's villa, I realize I was right. It pays to be a healer. We're on an island, and his home could probably fit the entire caravan with room for a second caravan. Several five-storied buildings surround us, paper windows and ornately decorated wooden walls, with a lovely garden pond as the centerpiece. The trees are in full bloom, ready to wilt away for the winter, pink and white blossoms scattering with the wind. I spy Taduk walking over towards us, emerging from the pagoda by the pond. I don't understand why he lives in the village. This is much nicer than his rabbit warren house in the village. Wait is that why he likes the village? Because he can live like a hare?
He's dressed in his customary thick robes, a design of a hare in front of the moon, stitched in gold and silver. Fancy threads. He greets Akanai and a few others, shaking hands and hugging. An army of servants starts helping everyone with their luggage, and bringing them away to find rooms and get settled. Taduk walks over to me and grins. Not bad, eh boy?
It's a beautiful home, Teacher. Thank you for inviting me into it. I climb off Zabu while he hisses. I gladly hand him to a servant, who receives the same treatment. That makes me feel better. It's petty, but at least I'm not the only person he hates.
Come, come, my boy. You need a bath, and a change of clothes. Then we can have lunch, and you can tell me all about what I've missed. Baatar's one sentence descriptions don't do it justice. He looks at me sternly. It wouldn't hurt for you to send a message to me every now and then, you know.
I smile at him, without an answer. I should send letters. I'll look into it when I get back. Or just live here. It's incredible. No wonder his cooking is terrible. He's rich, he doesn't need to learn. Mei Lin is a little lady. A bratty little lady. It's so much more than I expected. I mean, with everyone able to fix their own injuries, I was worried that healer was not as lucrative as I first thought it would be, but just wow. This is almost too much. For me, a smaller place, with not as many servants would be better. Or maybe even none actually, I'm not too comfortable being served by strangers. Are they slaves? I look at the servants, but they seem happy. Even if they are slaves, Taduk wouldn't mistreat them. A far cry from the mines. Besides what am I gonna do? Free them? Then what? Send them off to the slums? That's a giant step down. Start a war to end slavery? Not likely. I'm no Lincoln. I just want to live my life.
Heading into the bath, I find a private room with wood and paper walls, a small wooden tub in the center, with wooden dividers, heated water being poured in by servants. The floor has grates, for the water to run off in, and the roof is raised, small slits leading outside, for steam to escape. When everything is prepared, they all leave and I slip into the hot water. The dirt and grime on my body sluices off, and I sigh, while reaching for the soap to lather up. My very first private bath. Say what you will about public bathing, sometimes it's nice to scrub your ass without worrying about people watching.
This is the life. I want this. The village is nice too, but there's always so much to do. A nice medium between the two would be perfect. A wife, some kids, a nice home.
What more could I ask for?
Three wives. Or maybe five.
Perfect.
Chapter 27I know a bit about the city of Shen Huo from my readings, and Taduk's stories. City is a misnomer. It's an enormous megacity, spanning 300km in length, and 90km in width. It's divided into multiple districts of varying sizes, built around a large lake that is a large percentage of the city mass. Calling it a conglomerate of cities would be more accurate. I had a clear picture in my mind of what it would look like, waterfront manors and bustling streets, decorative fountains and carved statues. I was sorely disappointed by my first impression. Outside the city is verdant farmland, supplying food for the city. More endless plains, this time dotted by green pastures and fields of golden brown. Rice paddies and fruit orchards break the landscape, a peaceful and beautiful view, if not for the brown and red city walls. 18m at the lowest point, the walls block any view into the city. Twin gates, lacquered metal, garish and ugly, lay open, while wagons and carts move in and out. A tunnel sits behind the gates, at least 50m long and 8m wide, like a giant mouth, ready to devour any who enter. Brightly armored guards in red and gold patrol the walls and stand at the gates, halberds in hand, glaring at all who wait to enter. Officials, dressed in black robes, followed by attendants carrying sheaves of paper and writing implements, walk back and forth, inspecting each vehicle entering and exiting the gate. Our caravan waits our turn outside the gate, every Sentinel dismounted, waiting alertly, weapons holstered, prisoners closely watched, bound and gagged. The entire place feels more like a military base, rather than a bustling city. I spent 12 days riding for this? What's worse is we've been waiting for over an hour, as the line of people entering the city moves quickly by. The line for carts and wagons lumbers slowly, a few meters at a time. Bureaucracy at it's finest. I don't know what they're searching for, taxable goods I guess? I let out a breath and shuffle my feet. I spent the last few days of travel sitting in the wagon, trying to harmonize with my weapon. It's still unbranded. The time required varies, but rarely more than a week, and I've spent close to 15 days. There's no method to determine how much longer it will take. I've spent every spare moment trying to brand it, but so far, nothing. It feels like a giant weight on my belt, screaming for people to kill me and take it. I'd take it off and pack it away, but I feel like that would be more suspicious than wearing it. There isn't any way to know it's unbound, without actively trying to use it. As long as I keep it close, no one should find out. I spent the rest of my time chatting with Husolt. He's actually a pretty fun guy, and is good friends with Taduk, to hear him tell it. They're drinking buddies, and swap stories often, so he knows a fair bit about me. He was good enough to answer all my questions, without seeming annoyed. He actually seemed kind of happy to have someone to talk to. Sumila often hangs out with the off duty cadets, rather than her father. It's a little sad how lonely the big guy seems sometimes. To make a spiritual weapon is fairly simple. It's actually completely identical to making a regular weapon, except for the materials. All you really require is a 'Heart' for the weapon and binding materials. The heart can be any number of things, any item that has managed to absorb sufficient amounts of Heavenly Energy. Bones, scales, wood, rocks, crystals, anything. An animal would need to be at least 1000 years old for its body to be used as a Heart, a plant or mineral more than 10 times that. Mine is from a chunk of ore removed from an area of high concentrations of Earth Heavenly Energy, a Heavenly Vein. The fist sized chunk Baatar found was enough only for a short sword, but would have ignited a bidding war, and possible a inter-house war as well, if put on the open market. I need to properly thank him when I get back. The source of this content novelbinSadly, a bigger weapon requires a bigger heart, and each piece of gear requires its own heart. I can't even attach the sword to a pole, and use it that way. Almost skin contact with the Heart is required for chi to flow through it. My dreams of running around in full plate, cleaving about with a giant battle-ax, are fading quickly, since every separate piece would need it's own Heart. Why can't any of my dreams be easy? On the plus side, I'm pretty sure the village is rich as shit, with an expensive forge and ability to equip most of their warriors with a spiritual weapon. I wonder why they still live so simply? Once you have a Heart, you gather the appropriate binding materials, which are highly variable depending on the type of Heart. Everything is then added to whatever material you wish to make a weapon from, in my case, was steel.She pokes me in the cheek lightly. I told you! I told you a thousand times! Don't call me Mei Lin. Just call me Lin-Lin. Meanie Rainy is bullying me! Mi-Mi, Help me! She waves at Sumila, yelling even though there's barely a meter between us. She stands on Zabu and leaps over to the wagon, and starts chatting excitedly. Seriously, why does this stupid quin not care about what Mei Lin does? I refuse to call her Lin-Lin. I feel ridiculous saying that. Mi-Mi is just as dumb. I didn't like Rainy at first, but it seems better than the alternative. Looking around Taduk's villa, I realize I was right. It pays to be a healer. We're on an island, and his home could probably fit the entire caravan with room for a second caravan. Several five-storied buildings surround us, paper windows and ornately decorated wooden walls, with a lovely garden pond as the centerpiece. The trees are in full bloom, ready to wilt away for the winter, pink and white blossoms scattering with the wind. I spy Taduk walking over towards us, emerging from the pagoda by the pond. I don't understand why he lives in the village. This is much nicer than his rabbit warren house in the village. Wait is that why he likes the village? Because he can live like a hare? He's dressed in his customary thick robes, a design of a hare in front of the moon, stitched in gold and silver. Fancy threads. He greets Akanai and a few others, shaking hands and hugging. An army of servants starts helping everyone with their luggage, and bringing them away to find rooms and get settled. Taduk walks over to me and grins. Not bad, eh boy? It's a beautiful home, Teacher. Thank you for inviting me into it. I climb off Zabu while he hisses. I gladly hand him to a servant, who receives the same treatment. That makes me feel better. It's petty, but at least I'm not the only person he hates. Come, come, my boy. You need a bath, and a change of clothes. Then we can have lunch, and you can tell me all about what I've missed. Baatar's one sentence descriptions don't do it justice. He looks at me sternly. It wouldn't hurt for you to send a message to me every now and then, you know. I smile at him, without an answer. I should send letters. I'll look into it when I get back. Or just live here. It's incredible. No wonder his cooking is terrible. He's rich, he doesn't need to learn. Mei Lin is a little lady. A bratty little lady. It's so much more than I expected. I mean, with everyone able to fix their own injuries, I was worried that healer was not as lucrative as I first thought it would be, but just wow. This is almost too much. For me, a smaller place, with not as many servants would be better. Or maybe even none actually, I'm not too comfortable being served by strangers. Are they slaves? I look at the servants, but they seem happy. Even if they are slaves, Taduk wouldn't mistreat them. A far cry from the mines. Besides what am I gonna do? Free them? Then what? Send them off to the slums? That's a giant step down. Start a war to end slavery? Not likely. I'm no Lincoln. I just want to live my life.Heading into the bath, I find a private room with wood and paper walls, a small wooden tub in the center, with wooden dividers, heated water being poured in by servants. The floor has grates, for the water to run off in, and the roof is raised, small slits leading outside, for steam to escape. When everything is prepared, they all leave and I slip into the hot water. The dirt and grime on my body sluices off, and I sigh, while reaching for the soap to lather up. My very first private bath. Say what you will about public bathing, sometimes it's nice to scrub your ass without worrying about people watching. This is the life. I want this. The village is nice too, but there's always so much to do. A nice medium between the two would be perfect. A wife, some kids, a nice home. What more could I ask for? Three wives. Or maybe five. Perfect.
