glowfic | Comes with a free prize

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Comes with a free prize

Usually when Temperance calls a animal to sacrifice it doesn't come with a free prize, but here comes a hamster with a couple of rings tied to it by a red ribbon.

The thing likely belongs to someone, and Temperance catches him to see if she can return to it's owner...

...and now she is in a forest, that is unusual. There are trees as far as she can see and the landscape is doted with wide pools of water, in fact Temperance is standing on one of such pools, near the edge.

The tiny hamster jumps from her hand landing on a nearby log, it scurries off while the witch is distracted.

Temperance is very confused, but she still has her supplies and cloudpine with her, all she needs is to perform a quick spell to figure out where she is and then get home.

The spell works but answers only gibberish. She tries another and the result is equally confusing. A spell to point the north doesn't work at all.

She tries a spell to find the hamster and that works, she grabs the creature to see if she returns home, she touches the two rings, neither has any effect.

Temperance is very confused.

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"I found a small rodent-like creature in a forest on another world, with two rings tied to it. I was curious, so I caught the thing and removed the rings. Touching one of the rings transported me to a world that was neither mine nor yours. Temperance was there as well, presumably from the same cause. For some reason we could both understand each other in that middle-world, despite the fact that I did not know English at the time. The reason I know it now is because I have access to highly advanced technology, including translation computers."

"Temperance prepared a divination to analyze the rings, but as soon as she touched one we both appeared back here. I acquired a daemon, which I am rather upset about. Temperance summarized the traits of daemons, but I want to spend some time visiting this world to learn more. My ship can travel between dimensions with or without these mysterious rings. No other world I have ever visited has daemons, and I've seen hundreds."

"A little experimentation sufficed to determine how to trigger the rings, though I have no idea how they might actually work. I returned to my ship to retrieve some analysis equipment in hopes of understanding. And now I want to bring my ship to this world and spend some time here. I want permission to visit your lands and a clear spot to place my ship. My daemon is in your forest now, setting up some equipment I needed to bring here if I want my ship to follow."

"I have various technological devices that you might find useful, though I understand that witches are generally not as interested in technology as this world's humans. I am also interested in the possibly of trade with your clan - I have thousands of samples of plants and animals you have likely never heard of, and Temperance claims these can be probably be used for magical purposes."

Queen Hemera listens to Nick, glancing at Temperance occasionally and receiving small nods of affirmation.

"I also ended up doing the divination," Temperance says "and got amazing results just by looking at the rings and the place between worlds, more magical principles than I have seen before in my entire life."

The Queen thinks for a few moments.

"I am tempted to offer our clan hospitality to you," Queen Hemera says "but I need to know more about your plans towards the mortals of this world. We won't stop you from trading with them, but you are likely to draw unwanted attention to us, tentatively... I would offer you to stay with us for a week, you and your ship hidden, while we analyze your many samples proprieties without using or damaging them. You would have our full hospitality until you decided to leave or the week is over and we would part you in good terms, ideally without disclosing your association with us to mortals and mortal governments. If you broke.. if you harmed us our hospitality would end."

She speaks with the tones of someone that doesn't enjoy making implied threats but is quite certain of following them through.

Edited 2015-09-08 20:57 (UTC)

"I try not to interfere with the planets I visit besides acting as a tourist or trading with them. I don't overthrow governments, support rebels, make political speeches, steal things and kidnap people. None of that. In fact, I don't even trade the most dangerous pieces of technology to planets not yet advanced enough to build them on their own."

"Part of the reason for that is that they can be very dangerous. My ship's engines, for example, could be re-purposed into a nuclear weapon with enough effort. Some of the things I hope to gain in trade if you find that my samples could be useful are samples of plants and animals found here that I do not yet have, as much protection and preservation magic as you can give me, and precious metals."

Edited 2015-09-08 21:05 (UTC)

"All very reasonable. I don't want to see nuclear weapons being used again," The very young-looking Queen Hemera says "much less being partially responsible," She turns to Temperance "I am trusting you, our wards and the weirdness of the situation to believe it for myself, but before making a announcement to the clan I will need to see this place between worlds with my own eyes."

Temperance offers her the rings (inside a small pouch) explaining the exact mechanics. The queen tries them on, disappearing for a second and reappearing a inch to the left, she does that again and when she returns she says "I will make the announcement and get enough witches to cast a hiding ward. I would like starting sorting trade values fast. How big is your ship?"

"It would fit in this garden. Barely. But it's a bad idea to try to land in such a narrow area where people might be around - I'll need an open field somewhere. It will take an unpredictable amount of time to get it here. Not less than four hours, not more than two days."

"The unpredictability is a problem... but I suppose it can't be helped. There is a field that should be about six times bigger that is suitable." Queen Hemera says, she turns to the other witch while returning the rings "Temperance Lytess, I am officially entrusting you with the task of escorting our guest around and guiding him in our lands and world."

Temperance responds to that with a small respectful bow. The Queen will wait to see if Nick needs to wait anything before she departing.

Edited 2015-09-08 22:23 (UTC)

"That will be plenty of space. I will do my best not to draw attention during your week of hospitality, and I will keep your secrets if you tell me any, but I want it made clear that I do not consider myself bound to your clan. I am a wandering trader. I will try to trade with people outside your clan, after a week at the latest. And I will leave sooner or later."

Edited 2015-09-08 22:28 (UTC)

"I wouldn't expect any more or less," Queen Hemera says agreeably.

The Queen departs.

"We really don't plan to keep you," Temperance says reassuringly "Why is so unpredictable when your ship will be here?"

He starts explaining dimensional informatics as he walks towards the forest. It doesn't make much sense.

After about a minute, he relents and explains, "Basically, the way dimensions are connected is not entirely 'visible' from the outside. I don't know what the path from there to here is like until I start down it. I got a probable time range by looking at the identifiers and sort of guessing what the path will probably look like. If you're walking along a mountain path to a town ten miles away as a bird flies, it would be a bit silly for the path to be fifty miles long, right? But it's probably not just ten miles either unless it's perfectly straight. Same idea."

Nina meets them at the edge of the forest. "See you in four hours to two days. You can tell the clan queen that it will most likely be somewhere between six and twelve hours from now, but I could show up at any time within the next forty-four hours." He disappears.

Temperance is properly confused by the technobabble and has time to wave goodbye before Nick isn't there anymore.

The clan receives the announcement and Temperance provides proof that it is real, also discovering that as long someone is touching her, they are transported to the woods as well. Several witches take up the task of analyzing the place between worlds, the Queen prohibits people from visiting other worlds even the one that Nick was visiting, she promises this is only a temporary measure until they have a better grasp of the situation. They "flag" the two known world pools with hovering magic lights.

In the mean time Faramund returns and Temperance explains everything to him. His day was far less exciting.

Edited 2015-09-08 23:03 (UTC)

And fourteen hours later, there is a bright flash in the night sky, high above the earth. Twenty minutes after that, what looks a lot like a shooting star heads towards the clan lands. It slows as it approaches, hovers ponderously over the field for about twenty seconds making more racket than a jet plane, then settles down with a solid thump.

It attracts a lot of witches, at least forty, mounted on cloudpines and keeping their distance.

When the ship lands at least half will do the same and start the elaborate task of hiding the ship magically.

The Queen and Temperance will be waiting for Nick to leave the ship. Temperance is holding a jar of honey mixed with herbs.

"I need to apply this so you will be able to notice your ship even with the spell on," Temperance says "I just need to draw a few runes on your forehead."

"It would be an interesting test to see if I am able to notice it even with the spell on. Would you mind waiting until they're done to do it?"

"It is easier if we do it with the rest of the spell," Temperance says "if we don't we need to write a circle with you in the middle... but it is your call. Spell effects can be interesting."

When the anti-notice spell is complete, Nick makes an interested sound. "Very strange. My body can no longer notice my ship, but my scanners can. And my mind is still integrated with the ship's systems. You need to draw a circle to add me to the spell now? Sorry to inconvenience you. After that, I'll start bringing out samples of various plants. Is there anything in particular your clan would like to examine first?"

Edited 2015-09-09 00:05 (UTC)

"Interesting! Just stand still," Temperance says "it will only take a moment."

Temperance draws a single rune on Nick's forehead, then she proceeds with runes in a circular arrangement around him.

"Our priority are anything with magic and that we can grow or breed here," The Queen says "we might want to take a look on some of your technology after all if it is easy to maintain."

Temperance finishes the spell and Nick will be able to perceive the ship again, with only a faint notion that tells him that it's hidden.

"None of my plants are inherently magical. Things that will easily grow here is a criteria I expected, though."

He goes into the cargo bay and comes back with a big wheeled cart with dozens of drawers, neatly labelled. "I've already prepared seed and adult samples of the things most agreeable to the soil and climate here."

"Most of my technology is nontrivial to maintain, but I can make you some simple things if you have an idea of what you want. Of things that don't need much maintenance, my armor is tougher than any non-magical material on this planet. I have supplies of medical nanos, which will keep most humans from dying of things like heart disease and cancer for a few decades. Hand tools like my plasma cutter and the molecular joiner are durable enough to last longer than their power sources (six to ten years of heavy use), but replacing the power sources would be beyond your capability."

Edited 2015-09-09 00:27 (UTC)

"I suggested exploration drones if they can travel between the pools," Temperance says "or even if they don't. Anything that might make exploration easier."

"You are very prepared," Queen Hemera says with approval "We don't have much use or desire for armor and the tools that you describe might be useful not ultimately necessary. I would like to know more about the medical nanos, specially when compared to witchcraft."

Another witch with a notebook steps nearby.

"This is Jasmine," The Queen says "she is heading the group that is going to magically analyze your samples and Jasmine will keep track of the properties both mundane and magical."

"Hello Jasmine. Let me know if you need other forms of any of these plants - I have two-week seedlings for a few of them."

After that, the queen can have a long explanation of the capabilities and limitations of medical nanos as compared to witchcraft. They don't do much to prevent disease or injury or damage from unhealthy life choices like smoking, but they hold off the accumulated damage of old age a fair bit better than witchcraft can.

Jasmine quietly organizes and distributes the samples around the witches, note taking everyone. Most of the group has dispersed right now. The witches under Jasmine spread out around the field making circles. Temperance volunteers to help while Nick is talking with the Queen, but that just means another pair of hands to make notes for Jasmine.

The queen finds that medical nanos require much less effort to maintain than witchcraft, and the aging effect is a major benefit, but wants to knows the limitations of keeping a steady supply. The queen daemon's - a owl with large eyes - strikes a conversation with Nina.

Nina doesn't have much practice... Being. She talks in almost exactly the same way Nick does, and Nick and Nina both keep getting distracted by each others' conversations.

The machine that makes medical nanos is one of the things that are nontrivial to maintain. If someone spent a month or so learning to use Nick's tools and bought lots of spare parts, it would last for a century or two, but without access to facilities that are not on Nick's ship it will not last forever. The nanos themselves keep indefinitely, though, and one dose covers one mortal for a whole month. He has entire crates full of them, they'll last for quite a while if she buys all of them.

Edited 2015-09-09 01:27 (UTC)

Hemera is non-committal about buying the crates, albeit she is obviously tempted, she reasons that mortals will be more able to use and distribute the nanos, while giving better prices for the nanos-making machine or importing multiple ones if Nick is willing.

Faramund takes the opportunity to get closer.

"Hey! Nina right?" Faramund asks "how is existing."

"She is a bit awkward about it," Hemera's daemon comments.

Edited 2015-09-09 01:45 (UTC)

"Well, I've never done it before," replies Nina, "It's surprisingly tricky. Nick is used to being alone for long periods of time, so I don't have a pattern to fall back on for what I should be doing."

"You're probably right that mortal governments or corporations would get me a better deal on the medical machines. Going all the way back to a core world to buy the infrastructure we'd need to make them a permanent industry would take months, and scads of fuel. Maybe later."

"I think lonely people aren't talkative with their daemons too," Faramund comments "but they maintain an quiet cooperation... It shouldn't be hard for you two to divide tasks."

Hemera's daemon nods approvingly.

"Does Nick tend to be suspicious of new people?" Faramund asks.

Meanwhile Hemera's conversation with Nick might drift towards the most interesting biological samples that he has offered for trade, even if Jasmine is taking care of that, there is no reason for them not to talk about it.

"He's... I think the best way to put it is careful. He had to deal with some very unpleasant people in the past. They cheated him and destroyed some of his things. He doesn't think everyone is out to hurt him, but he has a sort of background assumption that something bad will happen sooner or later unless he is vigilant against it."

And Nina is perfectly happy to chat about the properties of the various plants Nick is providing. Nick excuses himself and goes to tinker in his workshop, but Nina stays outside.

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