章 75: Chapter 75
Varrus was out in some ruins training his new Mana Stone magic, but was seeing little success. However, he had made great strides in other fields, as had the other Heroes of Quel'Thalas.
Two weeks had passed since Kael had set out with the Sunfury, and both he and the Convocation had made substantial progress.
The teleportation network throughout Silvermoon was all but finished, allowing swift travel between zones for the general citizenry at large. Tae'thelon had then been charged with setting up permanent portals to all other major settlements.
Sunstrider Square, as the most open, and heavily guarded place within the kingdom was determined as the safest place towards this endeavor.
As a result, a portal had been established between Silvermoon, and Sunsail Anchorage, a large port town off the western coast largely untouched by the Scourge, and boasting a population of over 60,000.
The spread of these portals to major towns would increase trade, reduce travel, and increase the spread of Varrus's Mana Stones so that fewer people would devolve into the Wretched state.
Telonicus had constructed two more Rune Stones, as it took him roughly an entire week to produce one. One had been sent to Sunsail Anchorage, and another placed on the west coast. The Chief Engineer had a plan to create a network of Rune Stones, creating a web from the outside in. Attuned to Elven-kind, they would dampen the magic of any other race within Quel'Thalas, as well as protect the Highborn from scrying and other foreign means of magical detection.
Lor'Themar and the Royal Rangers were out in the field, cleaning up any Undead via ambush tactics, and generally cleaning up the smaller messes that would be a waste of the Sunfury's time.
Kael'Thas meanwhile had completely wiped out a Murloc encampment off the west coast, and was currently engaging a forest of corrupted treants at Fairbreeze Village. A sizable crossroads village in between Sunsail Anchorage, and the Ghostlands, it served as a valuable farming community, and was a priority for the young King to secure.
Lastly, Koren, Thaladred, and Liadran were still holding out against the Scourge at Tranquillien. Located dead center within the Ghostlands province, this fortified village served as a means to harass the surrounding Undead. Their efforts severely distracted the Scourge, allowing the rest of Quel'Thalas some breathing room. It was thanks to them that Kael could bloody his army on lesser threats, and that Varrus could sniff out the traitors lurking about.
However, from the report that Faedra had handed him, Varrus learned that the Darkfallen were due to launch an attack sometime within the next week or week after.
The former Crown Prince, Tenris was growing ever impatient, and a schism was forming between him and his mother, Queen Lana'thel.
Tenris was eager to go on the offense, and Lana'thel seemed to be gathering resources for some hidden plot.
This suggested to Varrus that if he stoked tempers, he could goad Tenris to attack Tranquillien before Lana'thel was ready.
Perhaps showing off the newly crowned King Kael'Thas would do the trick? Varrus thought sinisterly to himself.
As for Varrus's own accomplishments, he had completely removed the taint of plague from Silvermoon, and had moved on to the rest of Eversong. Already, a quarter of the province had been power washed by his Infinite Light spell. For every acre he cleaned, he was rewarded in gold coins. His already large family coffers were beginning to swell to a bursting point, and Varrus had thousands of gold coins lying about in his inventory if the situation was ever needed.
Varrus intended to use that gold for trade, but also to buy the Blackfuse Mercenary company. They were a powerful group of Goblins that in the Warlords of Draenor expansion, transformed Orgrimmar into a proper dungeon raid. He was very keen on securing their services.
But gold and a cleansed land were not Varrus's only gains. He had maxed out his Conjuration skill over the last two weeks, and discovered that like the limit of Elemental summons, he could have a Dead Thrall for every base 200 mana.
The vanilla Skyrim spell text read as such: Reanimate a dead body permanently to fight for you. Only works on people.
Fortunately, he had enough base mana to raise the three Hero tier units at any time. For now, he opted to raise Starbottle, and Dawnbringer, whilst ignoring Rommath. He wouldn't put it past the former Grand Magister to discover a loophole in the summons, or find a way to break his binds. Varrus would only ever bring him out if he needed to consult him for information, or entered an extremely desperate fight.
As for Starbottle, she was put to research immediately on studying Elven fertility. Dawnbringer on the other hand, had been tutoring Syra and other members of his House Guard in the Light. The portly priest was masked and wearing heavy amounts of perfume at all times, so as not to entirely give away his Undead nature. His hefty paunch was a dead giveaway, as fat Elves were a rarity, but even so, this thin veneer of deniability was good enough, since the only people aware of his presence were sworn to Varrus and Syra.
All the while, Varrus had been producing Master tier Mana Stones every night, and resetting the Alteration tree to grind those levels. Leveling up, was becoming a higher, and higher threshold.
When he had finished battling at the beach 3-4 weeks ago, he was level 128. He was now level 193.
Pumping everything into mana, his new stats looked like:
His new base stats were:
Mana: 600 -> 1,250
Health: 378 (initially 420, but reduced -10%)
Stamina: 600
With stats like these, Varrus could maintain 6 bound summons at once.
With the mix of Skyrim and Warcraft, summons no longer ran on a timer, and like the 'real world' lasted until Varrus dismissed them, they died, or if Varrus died.
Meaning he could summon a squad of ethereal battlemages or other beings to back him up at any time. Each one benefitting from his Illusion buffs.
The other Master tier Conjuration spell Varrus was interested in, was Banish Living.
Banish Living: Banish a living creature to Oblivion. Items (except quest items) are lost forever.
Strictly speaking, this was an ultimate 'fuck you' spell to cockroach villains. If Varrus came across another foe that endlessly regenerated, then this would be his answer to them.
However, despite these gains, Varrus had made little progress in the Mana Stone spells.
Studying magic was hard, who knew?
Even with the Intelligence bonus of his enchanted equipment enhancing his learning capabilities, he had learnt only how to absorb attributed mana with his Mana Stones. Which wasn't terrible, all things considered.
Sure, he couldn't make a forest, or conjure up a thousand Elementals from that energy like Vandercross. But it served as an effective shield.
Furthermore, with the ability to absorb all of the different magics, from Arcane, Light, to Void and Elemental. It got Varrus thinking.
His quest to restore the Sunwell merely required him to supply it with mana. It never specified which type of mana.
If Varrus went about it like he had initially planned, then the Sunwell would once again become a font of pure Arcane.
But canonically, the Sunwell would be restored in 5-7 years with the help of a Naaru. Transforming it into a mix of Arcane and Light.
With this knowledge, Varrus knew that the Sunwell was susceptible to being restored by alternate energies.
It also just so happened that the Highborn were like Evee from Pokemon, capable of adapting to any type.
Whilst Varrus didn't plan on introducing the pure cococanium that was Fel to the mix, or the purple goo that was Void. That didn't mean he had to limit himself to pure Arcane.
If he could restore the Sunwell with Arcane as the base, say 50% of the energy to bind everything with Order magic, then he could introduce Light, Wind, Earth, Fire, Water, and Life energy as well.
It was just a thought for now, and one he would consult Telonicus and Rommath on to run some diagnostics on. But if it proved viable, then Varrus saw no reason why he shouldn't make his people a race of, essentially Avatar's from the Last Airbender series.
If his dream of creating a mageotech empire was to become a reality, then the more powerful they were, all the better.
But besides his research, and cleansing of Quel'Thalas, Varrus had been hard at work crafting his bricks. He was all but out of supplies now, two weeks later, and desperately needed to find a new resource point.
Not only clay for the bricks, but he also needed rare earth minerals for enchantments, and ore to make more gear.
If he was going to bait an all out attack on Tranquillien, then Varrus wanted to reinforce Liadran's army with top quality weapons and armor.
That series of events lead to the present, where he and Syra were about to search for the Kobold enclave.
Syra walked towards Varrus with a large rug under one arm, and unceremoniously tossed it onto the ground. She then stepped atop it, and raised an eyebrow at him as if to say 'are you coming or not?'
Varrus felt some trepidation when he saw the thing, and licked his lips.
On top of all the other things Varrus had been doing, he had also been learning how to control a flying carpet. The exquisitely colored and geometrical shapes on the rug did little to soothe Varrus as he recalled the many, many falls he had taken during his practice.
Thankfully, he had the Drop Zone spell, negating all fall damage, but still. Falling from the sky was unpleasant to say the least.
'Damnit, why can't we teleport!?' Varrus bitterly thought to himself as he already knew the answer. Teleportation required one to be either familiar with the location, have a visual on where you were going, or have an anchor on the other side to go towards. Only the most skilled, or insane mages would conduct a long distance teleportation without any of these.
Taking a deep breath, Varrus stepped upon the carpet, and commanded it to rise.
His knees were a little shaky, as the thought of the factoid that carpet being less than half an inch thick spread through his mind like a wildfire.
Before he could panic, he felt Syra holding on to his waist from behind, and glanced over his shoulder to see a reassuring smile.
Taking a deep breath, Varrus stabilized the wobbly ride, and took off.
Heading towards the caves on the east coast that Koren had mentioned, and marked on his map, it took around 2 hours of non-stop flight before he found his destination.
Feeling the cool sea breeze on his face, and the sound of waves knocking upon the cliffside, Varrus entered a cavern, and placed a comically large candlestick atop a helmet on his head.
"Pfft." Syra pointed and laughed at Varrus.
Varrus replied with a grin of schadenfreude, as he slapped a helmet with a giant candlestick upon her pretty brow.
Syra's laughter suddenly cut, and Varrus pulled her in for a hug, his bellowing laughter echoed through the dim caverns.
As the Kobolds followed whoever wore the largest candlestick to be their leader, regardless of race or appearance, Varrus wore one over his head so that he could trick them into joining his faction.
Casting the spell Candlelight, an orb of white light spawned above Varrus's shoulder. He then traversed deeper into the cavern, and began to search for the Kobold's in earnest.
The walls were wide, and the ceiling high. Thinking logically, Varrus would think that most passageways would be Kobold height, but Warcraft was a fantasy world. Everything was bigger than on Earth to make things impossibly grand. This was a pleasant surprise, as Varrus had been against stooping, or crawling to meet with the Kobolds.
Moving forward, he was beginning to see signs of habitation. Such clues included claw marks on the side of walls, as well as many dusty imprints on the ground. The Kobold's were not the brightest of races, but they knew how to construct basic tools such as picks, wore clothing, and even boots.
Following these tracks, Varrus came to a crossroads. His keen ears picked up the sound of a pick striking at stone, as well as some soft chattering.
Fortunately, most Kobolds spoke Common, the language of Humans, or to Varrus, it was a language indistinguishable from English. Meaning he could converse with the Kobolds without any kind of translation spell or charm.
Making his way towards the noise, it didn't take long for Varrus to spot some light shining from a lantern.
Coming across a group of no more than 8 Kobold's eating some food during a lunch break, the two groups stared at one another in silence.
The Kobold's had large black eyes similar to a deer, and had long whisker filled shouts. They were like short, fur-less pink skinned rats, and typically stood with a hunched back.
Atop each of their heads rested a candle varying in size front 3-7 inches long.
Personally, they weirded Varrus out just looking at them. But he needed them for their mining expertise, and wouldn't allow their appearance to throw him off.
"Hello, we are Varrus and Syra. We wish to speak with your leader." Varrus spoke, at the same time, he had to support the over 2ft long candle resting on his head with a hand, to make sure it didn't fall over.
"Pff."
Upon hearing Syra withhold another chuckle, Varrus shot her a glare, then turned back to the Kobold's with a smile.
The Kobold with the largest candlestick stepped forward, and kneeled on the ground, it was mimicked by the other 7 Kobold's.
"Oh great one, our priest prophesied that a great bearer of the wax would arrive for our salvation! Please, follow me, and I will gladly guide your Heroness to the chieftain!" The Kobold rose from his kneeling position, and bowed before leading the way.
The various Kobold's chittered amongst one another, and flicked their tails in a way that Varrus interpreted as happiness.
"All is as it should be. If only the people at home treated us with such respect." Syra snorted.
"Just wait until I restore the Sunwell." Varrus softly remarked.
"They respond better to threats of violence, then gifts of prosperity. How else could Quel'Thalas be ruled by a monarchy, and a council of 7?" Syra tsked.
Varrus nodded along with Syra's assessment. While he wanted to be loved, and do right by Elven-Kind, he always had to watch his back around them. One betrayal already cost Quel'Thalas everything, Varrus wouldn't suffer another.
Hopefully, the open slaughter of so many Elites at the gala would drive home to their scheming minds that he was not to be fucked with.
Patting Syra on the shoulder, Varrus grinned knowing he had Silvermoon's best killer at his side. She may be mad, but she was his mad.
Syra responded by poking Varrus in the side.
While they were having fun with one another, Varrus never let down his guard, or his assessment of their surroundings.
They had gone down several corridors for over 15 minutes, before they entered a simply massive cavern.
It was a giant space in the shape of a dome. All sorts of metal was being worked upon, and industry was alive. Along the walls were endless stairs leading up, as well as down. Carved into the walls were also dens, and barrows where Varrus could spot dozens of workers, and families simply living life.
Street hawkers sold food, and craftsmen offered their wares. Upon a surface level inspection, the Kobold's were not too dissimilar from the average Human settlement.
Varrus estimated that there were a few tens of thousands of Kobold's in this massive domed city. He could only guess as to their true population, or if this was where the majority resided.
What really set them apart was their obsession with candles. The entire dome was absolutely littered with them! There were so many, it put any church to shame.
At the center of the dome was a massive candle standing tall, like the Washington monument.
Kobolds stood in a line, and would offer wax to the giant candle, and then kneel in prayer. Varrus saw the wick flicker every time this occurred, and a small sliver of mana would transfer from the great candle, into the candle resting atop the praying Kobold's head.
As Varrus and Syra made their way through the crowd, many would stop what they were doing, and point, or mutter amongst themselves. Yet Varrus so no fear, or malice, quite the opposite really. Instead, there was hope.
Varrus was confused about this, but he recalled what Faedra had told him about the Kobold's facing an issue.
In fact, he saw a Kobold being supported by two others, and offering wax to the great candle. When it did, the great candle tried to transfer some energy, but only a trickle of Light infused mana entered the Kobold's candlestick after its prayer.
Slumping down, the Kobold's movements were lethargic, and the stick atop its head wilting. Its flame went out, and the Kobold seemed to lose the will to live as it sat on the ground, staring blankly at the ceiling in loss.
The two Kobold's who had been supporting their compatriot, dropped him like he had the plague, and scurried away. A deathly silence took hold of any who witnessed this, and all stepped away, socially distancing themselves from the unfortunate Kobold, making the victim a pariah.
Having witnessed this, Varrus knew that the Kobold wasn't actually dead, thanks to a quick application of Detect Life. But it was not looking good. Something was causing this disconnect between the great candle and the devotees, and Varrus bet that he was going to have to resolve it.
With his Mana Sight, he could see that the Kobold on the ground was infected with a foreign energy.
Deciding to take a crack at curing him, he Dispel Magic, and followed that with a Restoration spell.
The surrounding Kobolds muttered amongst each other, yet after the light from Varrus's spells cleared, the depressed Kobold had remained unmoving. Many of the once hopeful Kobolds began to mutter expletives.
Varrus ignored the peanut gallery, and upon inspection, saw that the malaise had left the Kobold, yet without his candlestick lit, he was still depressed on the ground.
Taking some spare wax from his inventory, Varrus supported the Kobold like his friends had done, and gestured for him to make an offering.
This time, his candlestick relit, and the crowd began to clamor up at Varrus's side in excitement, like some teenage girls asking for a selfie with a Korean boy band.
Syra drew her sword at the sudden surge of movement, yet was held back by Varrus at the last second before she did anything drastic.
The priest at the head of the great candle stepped forward, and bowed at Varrus and Syra.
"I have been waiting for you, Heroes. Please, come with me. The chieftain will want to see you."
"We are honored, priest. Please, take the lead." Varrus nodded, and signaled for Syra to sheath her sword.
He took a step forward to follow the priest, when he felt a clammy hand grip the hem of his robe.
"Thank you, your waxiness, my name is Karwl Clanless, and I pledge myself to your House!" The Kobold bowed on the floor in reverence.
Varrus considered saying no, but then again, he could use a loyal follower. He had seen how the other Kobold's treated Karwl, and knew that this act of loyalty was likely true. Besides, he could trust a promise from a Kobold he just met more than that of an Elf.
"Welcome to House Vandercross, Krawl. I accept your oath of loyalty." Varrus smiled, and helped the Kobold up.
"I will follow you until I die, or you cast me out, master." Krawl said, and deeply bowed once more before following behind Varrus and Syra.
Varrus nodded in reply, then walked after the priest.
Once he took care of this problem ailing the Kobolds, he would officially induct the first race into his new empire. How exciting!
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AN: Read up to chapter 100 at: patreon.com/KarpQQ
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