To the far north of the Griffin kingdom, high up in the clouds was the continent of Heavens Fall. This airborne land mass was home to many wonders of this world and at least one threat. The Cloud Swarm were ancient race of winged elves. They had pointed ears like normal elves but multiple variations on their feathered wings. From dove wings to falcons wings, all colors, and shapes. They believed they ruled the skies of the Mortal Plane as their race was the only ones to channel Empyrean Arcanum. The silver and white power of Tier three Deific energy. So much so that they teach their young to channel it around their heads. The effect was a false halo of sorts. Believing themselves above those that dwell below, they hunt skies for airborne predators and mostly keep to themselves.

Periodically they will visit their wingless cousins in the Kakiat forest. While there, they trade goods and maintain diplomatic relations with the flightless elves. Always on the lookout for any threats to the skies they call home from below. A report is due back shortly in fact. The gathered flock sat in repose awaiting the latest from the traders sent last. The stark towers of their citadel was dotted with open doors that allow the Cloud Swarm to come and go as they please. It was erected in the center of the floating continent, as a monument to all they command. The continent had farmland as well as dungeons they use to train their soldiers. Occasionally a mighty flying beast would assail their lands, but the Swarm would always deal with any threat.

“My liege, the abomination has returned again. We are sure we killed it last time. We even threw the mangled corpse to the world below. It insists on speaking with you. What are your orders?” asked a confused and worried looking soldier.

“What could it possibly have to say to the queen of the Cloud Swarm? Entragen, deal with this thing and ensure it never returns to the skies,” the queen commanded gesturing to the thickly muscled Cloud Swarm soldier to her right.

He was brown skinned with a scar across his right eye. His wings started a deep orange at the arch, but the colors bled down to a dark black at the tips. Entragen stood up from his seat with no back hefting a lance in his left hand. The lance started to shimmer with Empyrean energy at his touch before returning to a state of still ness.

Entragen followed the messenger to their outer fortifications where the abomination was being held. The soldiers opened the door to see a humanoid with mismatched wings chained to the ground. It looked bloodied and battered with the white wing on its left side bent and broken. There was a piece of ripped cloth across its face where one eye was now visible containing a dark black pupil that matched the black wing on his right side.

“Why did you return after we killed you so easily the first time? Do you not fear death abomination? Perhaps we will just seal you in a coffin and drop you off edge again. The queen will not hear words from your foul mouth. Stop coming here. Perhaps this death will stick—” Entragen said as he lifted his weapon flaring the sliver and white light before being interrupted.

“There is an air aligned Kel’Aish for the first time in a century. It is headed to the Shattered Sky,” said Efimeo Cullep through broken teeth.

Every Cloud Swarm in the room gasped audibly. Entragen even lowered his spear out of pure shock. He then leaned over to another soldier and whispered a message. That soldier then sprinted from the room. Entragen turned his attention back to the prisoner.

“Tell me everything,” he commanded.

Deacon picked himself off the floor and dusted off his clothes before looking at everyone else filing out into the hallway of the Inn. He had some unfinished business with Alfred he’d like to conduct away from prying eyes.

“Hey Alfred, I’ve got a few specimens for you. Do you think you can incorporate these plants into your ecosystem? I’d love to be able to harvest these things on a regular basis,” Deacon said before dumping Coralis Lichen, Valiso flowers still clinging to their soil, and dozens of stalks of unidentified wheat.

“Hmm… yes to all three, although the wheat is mystically charged. It will be more costly to grow and maintain due to its soul energy requirements. As a component in cooking, I’d say it’s rare. You’d need baker with a high skill level to truly make use of it. As it stands now, you wouldn’t be able to do anything with it. Do you still wish me to proceed?” asked Alfred.

“Sure, I’ll find someone somewhere. Maybe I can dovetail this into a new industry. How’s it coming on the white phosphorus?” Deacon asked eagerly awaiting the answer.

“I believe I’ve cracked it’s formula. We will need the droppings of many magical creatures to ensure proper replication. That means livestock,” Alfred responded.

“How’s this?” Deacon asked pulling out one of the dead Dispel Rams from his bag.

Alfred walked around the corpse a few times before a bright white light engulfed the corpse. That’s when Sun Wu decided to make his presence known by waving his paw in front of his face like he was smelling something awful.

“You know, dungeon beasts are not exactly the same as real beasts. Your plan will probably work but it won’t be the same. I give it an eighty twenty chance of actually working. What do you want with black powder anyway?” asked Sun Wu.

“A deterrent really. The creator of the powder ran from his enemies so they couldn’t discover the secret to making. He feared it would cause an imbalance in the world. I fear I’ll have no choice but to use it in the near future. Call me crazy but I can just fell it,” Deacon answered sincerely with a frown on his face.

“I’m sure it will all work out for the best, master Deacon. Was there anything else?” asked Alfred almost distractedly.

“Yes, this Untethered ability you evolved. Does this mean I can activate the mansion in a moving coach?” Deacon asked hoping against hope.

“I believe it does. But I’m concerned that doing so will cause instabilities in the outer dimensional membrane. Of course we could stabilize that with the conduits in Philo’s workshop. Although our current objectives seem to be taking us away from the workshop,” Alfred replied tilting his head toward Deacon.

“We may have to risk it. Sun Wu over there has promised training and I intend to collect. Since I’m always on the move, this might be just what the doctor ordered,” Deacon said before gesturing toward Sun Wu and turning toward the door.

Deacon closed the door behind him and found himself standing in the hall. The floors were wooden planks and every fifteen feet or so there were more doors inset in the walls. The walls themselves were made of packed stone and mortar. He was always disappointed when he left Alfred’s domain considering how modern the construction was in there. It was a stark reminder of what he left back home. Also the smell. Deacon was still not used to the smell of the medieval era world he was in now. Then he giggled to himself considering almost everywhere he went he ended up covered in guts and blood.

As soon as Deacon appeared at the top of the stairs their was a cacophony of applause and cheers from the common room. Deep Dwellers and locals alike clapped their hands and stomped their feet at his arrival. Deacon was visibly confused by this, but Sophie appeared next to him on the stairs shortly after he stopped moving.

“They all want to thank you for helping to save their village,” Sophie said looping her left arm within his right and leading him down the stairs.

The next twenty minutes was full of handshakes and gratitude. It seems they had all heard it was Deacon’s idea to create an emergency bunker which single handedly reduced civilian casualties to zero. Deacon tried to spread that praise to the rest of his adventuring team as well, but when he finally spotted them at a table in the back, they were all laughing and trying to catch their breath.

“Oh, I see how it is,” Deacon said under his breath while shaking hands. He was trying to make his way over to the bar.

Once he finally reached the bar and peoples topped patting him on the back, the Inn keeper came over to him with a plate of fresh food and a mug of water.

“So you did it. Too bad you couldn’t save all the kids, but if you hadn’t taken the quest, this village wouldn’t be here anymore. So you will always have home in the village of Hillcrest. Your money’s no good here, on the house,” said the Inn keeper.

Quest Complete: Children and a Lesser God- several villagers children have gone missing to the north. Investigate and return the children back here. The agents of Hipag are scouring the eastern highlands and you’ve stopped them from raising this village. Rewards; Five hundred guild renown, Basic Structures Manual.

Deacon checked his guild renown to see it was now at thirty-seven hundred and his next Guild Tier was only six hundred renown away. He’d make the jump from Adept to Specialist then. Deacon wondered what benefits would come with that. Then he looked at the quest complete notification again. Where was this Basic Structures Manual? His question was quickly answered as Earl Tirebrook plopped down into the stool next to him.

“Seems life is quite exciting traveling with you. Your friends told me you had some trouble putting up a wall?” Earl asked.

Deacon went on to describe the wall he tried to erect to block the Goblins passage out of the valley. He explained the rocks and quickly mixed mortar he used. Then how he had to use Nether ice to stabilize the structure, or it was just going to crumble and fall over. Earl began to explain where he went wrong and what he could have done better. Earl’s eyes nearly shot out of his head when Deacon said he didn’t use his hands and he erected it in such a short time frame.

“Show me.” Earl said slamming his mug down and heading toward the door.

Deacon met Earl out where several people were trying to repair the broken wall. People talked about what happened next for years to come. Deacon sat in a lotus position as building materials and tools all floated around him. This time Deacon took his time and gently placed every stone. Periodically, Earl would call out an instruction and Deacon would have to adjust the angle of the materials or reduce the amount of mortar used. After two hours of concentrated effort, sixty percent of the collapsed section was reconstructed and curing in the early afternoon sun.

Deacon stood up checking his ability list on his slate to see his Apparitions Aura ability was almost at level five. His breathing technique was his only other ability at level five, and he received a breath weapon after that achievement. He wondered if he would get anything good from his aura ability.

“Here, as far as students go, you’re going to be tough to top,” Earl said smiling and handing Deacon a two inch thick manual.

New Item: Basic Masonry Structures- This manual will teach the diagrams for basic structures along with the requirements to construct them. Would you like to learn Basic Masonry Structures? Yes/No

Deacon chose yes. Light from the manual flowed into his eyes and he then knew how to create a basic stone house, stone wall, stone barracks, stone irrigation ditch, and stone fortifications. He questioned internally what the difference between stone walls and stone fortifications were, but the answer came to him immediately. The wall was just a barrier structure while the fortifications had bracings and geometry for murder holes. One was more focused on holding a position while the other just prevented passage.

“Deacon, if your done playing with rocks, the caravan is about ready to leave,” Typhus yelled from atop one of the wagons.

Hani was also on that wagon, mouth agape at what he witnessed Deacon accomplish. He had a telekinesis ability, but he didn’t have the control or range that Deacon just casually displayed over the last couple hours. Just what was he?