CC5 ~ 30!

~ 30 ~

“I mean…” Joe stared at the cat queen with total befuddlement. “Can we… not? I like not having extra failure to deal with. I’d like to go back to the point where I was saying ‘no’ to the reward, please?”

“You do not understand our decree. You think of it as a threat?” Cleo ignored him and pulled out documents from a storage device, handing them over and decisively stating, “No. We have decided that we are going to help you with these problems. These are an act of gratitude for rescuing our subject. As payment for our continuous services, we will require food and warm areas for sleeping, perhaps belly rubs if you have been extra good.”

With that final assertion, she hopped back toward the bed, a cat once more. No matter what Joe stated, asked, or demanded, she refused to leave her cat form again. “I still have questions, you frustrating feline!”

“Why are you yelling at a cat?” Havoc appeared in the opening of Joe’s door, and was watching the interaction with amusement. “They’re domesticated monsters from another Zone. Pets. They don’t speak.”

“This cat-”

*Hiss*.

The noise made Joe realize that he was about to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak. “This cat… won’t move off my bed!”

“Are you trying to go to sleep? What’s the issue? Also, we have that meeting with the third Princess; you don’t have time for bed.” Havoc noticed the paper in Joe’s hand, scooting closer instantly. He could tell that there was something magical going on here. “Was that your letter? What is it… a template?”

Joe looked at the paper that CleoCatra had thrust into his hands for the first time, noting that there was indeed a weapon template on it. However, no matter how he studied it, the details made no sense. “Yeah… I got this as a quest reward.”

Havoc took the paper and looked it over, frowning and handing it back after a long moment. “Pah. Blacksmith stuff, there. You’re gonna need to take it to McPoundy if you want to make heads or tails of it. I can tell you all about the enchantments it needs, of course, but they are all out of context. Why would this need to expand to such a degree that it requires spatial enchantments? Hmm. That aside, are you ready to go see the Princess?”

“Sure, how far away-”

“She’s downstairs.” Havoc looked at Joe and grumbled, “You look as good as a human can reasonably be expected to look, and at least you have no smell. At all. Not sure how you manage it, but it’s nice. Most of your people smell like leftovers, cheese, and onions.”

Joe ignored the jab and glanced down at his simple gear. He was dressed in a simple shirt, shoes, and pants; his codpiece underneath, and his Robe of Liquid Darkness over it all. As he didn’t currently own different clothes, Havoc was correct in thinking that he looked as good as he currently could. He followed the stomping Dwarf down the hall and into the reception area.

Various guards surrounded a Dwarf with braided golden hair and matching mustache, the first Dwarf Joe had encountered that had hair on her head. She looked over Joe in confusion, then turned to Havoc. “It’s a… male of its species, is it not? How can they tell?”

“Mostly guesswork and bone structure, Princess Dawnesha Embertank.” Havoc was clearly providing Joe with the Princess’ name discreetly, which Joe appreciated. “He’s alone here, as well; most other humans are in training or active Legion members. Those that didn’t join the Elves, that is.”

“Did you not prepare him for this meeting?” The Princess inspected Joe critically, noting that his eyebrow was starting to twitch. “He looks like a vagabond.”

“For your information-”

Joe was cut off by Havoc smoothly. “Ah, he just returned from a meeting with Grandmaster McPoundy, and we had no time to find a tailor. Besides that, he has a misguided sense of honor, not wanting to requisition clothing as a Candidate.”

“Did he not just come into a significant amount of reputation? He should have had plenty available for a rush order…” The Princess sighed and waved away that line of thought. “Human, do you need another human party member to feel more at ease here? I am looking to join your… faction… and bring my followers under its banner. What would ease that transition?”

“He has never requested human companionship, my Lady,” Havoc joined in once more. “He is entirely focused on his craft, advancing himself, and progressing the Dwarven Oligarchy. A true believer of meritocracy.”

“So it’s just a coincidence that, until now, he’s been poor and miserably lonely?” The Princess scoffed at her own comment. “I’ve heard what it is like to be under your thumb, Havoc. I want to hear it from him.”

“Um.” Joe wasn’t sure how to reply to this fast-paced conversation.

“I will have you know,” Havoc snarled, causing the guards in the room to tense up, “he’s not alone here because of me. Look: no hair, beard, or mustache. Completely hairless. He’s alone because he’s hideous.”

“Please stop trying to stand up for me.” Joe coughed violently to draw their attention back to himself. “Lady… Embertank, as far as I can tell, you are only here to join under my deity? I will certainly make this happen, but… why? Haven’t your people been fighting to remove the influence of the deities from this Zone?”

She narrowed her eyes at Havoc, as if something had just been confirmed. “Only a certain splinter group has focused on that. The vast majority of us enjoyed the additional benefits and powers that those that had gone before could afford us. I’ll tell you now, as a show of my commitment to this cause, I have already begun the construction of a Grand Temple in this city. In addition, I will ensure that at least ten more are completed in the nearest surrounding major forts. From there, depending on the followers and abilities granted, we will expand further.”

Joe gulped at the thought of the amount of Divine Energy that would produce for Tatum on a daily basis. “You have ways to make them?”

“My people are known as the greatest stoneworkers, and some of the best are even Grandmaster Sculptors.” Her glare only darkened at Havoc, who responded by lighting up a cigar. A tiny fan popped up out of it and blew the smoke into her face. Scowling, she ignored the pungent fog and continued speaking to Joe. “The first Grand Temple will be done within the day, though the others will take at least a week each, estimated to finish in under two months. The delay is due to travel time for building materials; I hope you understand.”

“That… will certainly not be a problem. If you don’t mind me asking,” Joe struggled over how to phrase his next question. “If you can make all these shrines and temples, Grand ones even, why haven’t you until now?”

The Princess nodded, as if expecting this line of inquiry. “It’s fairly simple. There was no way to class change into a cleric or any other derivative of a holy class. Without the places of power being dedicated to someone, there was no way to make new classes or dedicate these places. That meant that there was no reason for the structures to exist; they would have just become strategic resources for the Elves if a fortress was overtaken.”

“I see.” Joe glanced around, realizing that everyone was watching him expectantly. “What is it that I can do for you… currently?”

With barely a moment’s hesitation, Dawnesha kneeled down and bowed her head. “I humbly request to be made into the High Priestess of your deity for this Zone.”

“So… very humble of you, indeed.” Joe blinked a few times and released a great sigh. “Why?”

“I am the third Princess.” Dawnesha remained in the same position, making Joe somewhat uncomfortable. “I cannot become the ruler, as that role is reserved for the first Princess. The second Princess has been charged with our military might. The position of third Princess has long been designated as a holy position, and I have been stymied my entire life. It has put an incredible pressure on our society, and my sisters are concerned that I will attempt to infringe on their… influence.”

“That’s why you would put so much into this effort. You’re attempting to avoid a civil war… but I thought this was an Oligarchy? Beyond that, do you even know which deity I am the Champion of?” Joe already knew that he was going to try to make her the High Priestess. Having control and direct access to the entire theological aspect of a society was too good of a chance to pass up, and she was going to bring in just… so much.

“Occultatum,” she answered easily, unstrained even though she had remained in the position for over a minute at this point. “I read the message, just like everyone else. As to the Oligarchy, I am a clan princess. Though our ways have changed over the millenia, the great houses have not given up all of their traditions.”

“Are you aware of Occultatum’s domain? The rewards and detriments for joining with him?” Joe’s questioning was half-hearted, and it showed.

“Does it matter?” She gazed up with her eyes shining, full of ambition. “Whatever it is, there have to be benefits. Anything is better than letting only the Elves have divine support. Imagine the Legion becoming supported by clerics again.”

“The healing spells are pretty potent,” Joe admitted easily, his final resistance shattered. “Okay. I’m sold. I’ll ask; the worst he can do is say ‘no’. Tatum, Dawnesha Embertank wants to join your faction. Pretty sure you’ve heard her offer, what do you think?”

Query has already been used today! Cooldown: 21:34.

“Oh.”

“O-oh?” Dawnesha’s eyes filled with fear when no notifications appeared. Her lips quivered, fearing the rejection she was sure Joe had just gotten. “Wh-why not?”

“It’s not a ‘no’,” Joe assured her, causing her to take a deep breath of relief and pull on her mustache with anxiety. “We can try again tomorrow, in about twenty-one hours. I already used up my ability to… convert things today. With the… shrine. Yes.”

“Oh… that makes sense.” She stood and smiled weakly at him. “Then shall we meet at the Grand Temple on the morrow and hold a ceremony for the conversion of both at the same time?”

“That sounds… great.” Joe nodded furiously. At the sight of her expressive and hopeful face, there was no way that Joe was about to tell her ‘I can’t make you into a priestess and fulfill your lifelong dream… because I already used my power today so I could ask about the breed of my new cat’.