Master Of None

”There was an almost empty silence that followed the fact that they had made a rough agreement. Each race realized that they had not made a permanent and solid agreement to an alliance with Genesis. They had just made an agreement to share some knowledge and look at things.

Simply put, they were not going to be able to keep themselves ahead of trade with this outside alliance. Nor would they guarantee that they would be keeping new knowledge moving to them to push ahead of the other three either.

It also meant that they would need to show that they could uphold their ends of the agreement as the emissaries of Genesis arrive and as they leave, and even while they wait for their groups to return. It meant that they had to just wait without results. Without trade. Without benefits.

”We can send our group within the day.” The bronze dwarf tried to sneak ahead of the others but the entire party were already shaking their heads.

”We plan to venture to the outer elemental planes. I am trying to study more about space, life, death, and if I can find it a time elemental planes. I need to expand my knowledge if I am going to keep growing myself.” Walker knew that what he was saying would sound insane to them. And their faces of shock seemed to agree with him.

Normally, no one would just casually mention that they were looking to venture outside of their elemental plane. Yet, here Walker was saying he was leaving them just so that he could study different mana from different smaller elemental planes.

”We can do some minor trading with what we have before we look to leave. I know a more solid contract can be written and signed with magical properties once our emissaries are here. Just the cooperation now is enough to help. But it’s best that we show you so little of what we have to offer, right?” Walker saw the table’s size and began bringing out small potions and herbs over the majority of other things.

He also brought out basic weapons focused around earth. The magic staffs he pulled out of his multi dimensional storage got the most reaction from the steel lamia since they could sense the strong earth mana within them and noticed the earth elemental rune formations all over them. It wasn’t more powerful than others that they could make within the earth elemental plane but they were efficient. Just seeing how the rune formations were different from what they knew was enough to say that they could learn a lot from them.

”The herbs were grown within special earth elemental green houses that we built to replicate better environments like the earth elemental plane or where the herbs came from. Then those herbs are made in to various potions. The earth affinity potions can help someone studying earth mana advance better, it may just be nourishing here. Then we have the earth nutrient potion, it’s made purely with the intention of helping those with earth affinity or earth mana necessities absorb the nutrients of earth mana that they need.”

”That armor, weapons, and even the magic staffs all of earth runes and rune formations on them. The same for the fabrics since we have some arcane seamstresses that have been growing very quickly.” Walker thought of his sister and the fact that she was already more mature and more skilled than anyone her age would normally be. Then again, looking at himself and his party, they were also many steps ahead of the people who were of equal age to them.

”What are you looking for in trade?” The steel lamia started to wave over guards who seemed to have brought materials with them as well. The other three noticed this and were also pushing for their guards and assistants to bring over anything for trade they they had brought as well.

Knowing that this trade session would help later, Walker made sure to begin using the all around appraisal on all items that he could. The fact that the four were getting new materials might inspire them to ask about the world more. About Genesis is more. However, it would also focus them on the trade goods they desired or that they could learn from which could inspire them to become closer in a more peaceful way with Genesis and maybe one another.

’Deep earth emerald…

Vibrant earth topaz…

Crackling earth amber…

Dragon’s gem

The dragon’s gem is just that, a very rare earth affinity gem that grows when a dragon’s scale is left within the pressurized earth for years at a time. It takes at least five hundred years to form and will eventually become a very unique gem. For an earth dragon, this would be a gem that they can use to channel stronger earth related skills and even learn to manipulate crystallized earth.

While this gem is useless to many others, it is considered an amazing and beautiful gem that would be held in high esteem amongst those who hunt for gems. Otherwise, it can be used to make unique magical equipment…

Sandstone silk…

Iron silk…

Razor silk

This silk is spun with extremely dense earth mana related to iron. Since this is the form that the mana and energy are woven in to, this silk has extremely sharp qualities and can not be easily crafted in to anything else. It is often used by the descendants of the Arachne race to create devastating traps…

Bronze ingot…

Purified bronze ingot…

Rough iron ore…

Rough copper ore…

Tidal crab fossil

When in a state of battle, the water elemental plane lost various pieces of itself and monsters to the earth elemental plane. Those beings perished while the materials lost their ability. This fossil is a remnant of a claw from a tidal crab. While it now holds potent earth affinity that naturally attracts greater earth manas, it has the potential to be used in a unique earth and water function…

Steel lamia scale…

Steel braided magic staff…

Metal corrosion venom…

Iron snake egg

This egg is one of the most popular pets of the steel lamia race. They will raise the small iron snakes and use them to find better iron to manipulate in to steel. While the iron snake also has a very in tune sense with earth, it can be used to sense the flow of mana and detect predators…’

The sheer number of items brought out was too much for what Walker had expected. He thought that there would be a few things to trade but none of the leaders would be ready to do much else. He had been wrong. The entire party was now standing up and looking at what had been brought out to be traded and shared for the potions, herbs, and weapons that the party had brought. Even the armor pieces they had offered as trade were being snapped up by these four leaders and items thrust in to the party’s hands.

”This potion is enough to help several of our youngest. We will ask for more of it when we can.” The steel lamia was holding an earth nutrient potion. It seemed that as a leader, her focus on the next generation was very strong. The same was to be said for the descendants of Arachne’s leader who also had grabbed a few of the potions while giving multiple wraps of silk.

From what Walker noticed, the pair also realized that they shared similar attention to the youngest of their races. Something neither seemed to realize before. It was a good start for them if the party wished for these races to find equal ground. Especially moving forward to the point that they would actually be joining Genesis in the alliance as equal races.

”What of these earth mana crystals? They are weaker but they can be turned in to more.” The mountain gnome was enamoured with the earth mana crystals that Walker had placed down. The hyper focus seemed to be very much related to the mountain gnome’s abilities to search out gems and crystals from the earth.

”Forgot that, there are metals here. Forged with other manas but still purely earth affinity. That should be impossible. Is this what you mean by ”the world is mixed?” The bronze dwarf leader seemed to be more similar to the world’s dwarven race than what anyone expected. He was focused on the metal and how it worked proving that they might have more hidden crafting potential than what Walker originally thought.

Trade items like this will surely be beneficial to you and us. We just need to work toward peace, unity, and one day sign an actual contract. Your youths that you send will see Genesis as a whole and be able to report back to you about what we are like and how we work.” Walker said this as a promise, not just a comment.

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Please say no to piracy! Don’t take part in crime! Don’t patronize thieves!

Drop those golden tickets!