Thankfully I didn't need to track down anyone. As soon as the message went out, Sarah called for a meeting at the top of the Observation Tower. From the short connection of the comm-plant I wasn't able to glean who'd been included in the call, but I saw my friends making their way in through the north entrance. Sam looked bedraggled, his lengthening golden hair puffed like a static discharge had gone off beside him, while Jolene looked like the very image of poise, as usual.

I thanked Glen for checking in on me before Dai and I moved to join up with them. It didn't take a deductive genius to realize he'd also received the summons.

"Look what the cat dragged in," I said, smiling at Samuel.

"Hilarious. You didn't have to deal with an entire base's worth of injuries, did you?"

"True, but I did spend an uncomfortable amount of time semi-submerged inside one of the Wildfire Hogs."

"Please don't remind me," Jolene said, shivering so hard her fins flapped open for a second. "I thought I was going to have to turn on stone cutting speed just to get that filth off of you."

"Oh, thanks for the wash," I said, letting out a crooked smile on my face. "I'd been wondering why I wasn't feeling the urge to peel off my own skin just to get away from the stench."

"Unfortunately, clean up is often one of the tasks us Water Attuned get saddled with. The demons, also, but it depends on the refuse," Dai explained. The lizardman got a nod of agreement from Jolene as he continued. "No one questions where the latrines go. Thankfully, the Implants and Sam's guidance has let that... black gold go to better treasuries."

"We put that shit on everything," the blonde said, causing Sam and I to burst out into laughter. The others looked distinctly less amused, but they were still fighting smiles-by-association.

The four of us followed a line of squad leaders up the stairs, past the injured and up towards Gec. I was happy to see that most were up and about in one way or another. A cheery demon was handing out shots of Sam's health smoothies along with small servings of bacon. Not considering where the meat had come from, it was actually a fantastically lavish breakfast.

As we stepped onto the roof of the tower, I took in the changes that the Shapers had been working on since I'd done the rebuilding. The obvious one had been the grated windows along the path of the spiraling staircase. At the top, however, they'd gone for class. Metal poked through the stone to band sections of the railing and the floor, giving the illusion of stone tiles. The somewhat abominable working of and I'd created to hold Gec elevated had been left alone, but the base of the stone had been carved and worked into intricate geometric patterns that drew the eyes from the tiles up the spikes and to the obvious iridescent chunk of magical crystal. Either temporarily, or permanently I couldn't be sure, hexagonal pillars had been set up as benches in a semi-circle facing Gec. Those had been similarly carved everywhere people didn't put their rear ends, and in those spots there was a working of metal to act as arm-rests. It was all extremely opulent, but I couldn't say I didn't like the aesthetic. Mixing metal and stone had been a big part of Stonecrest's survival in the form of their defenses and I felt happy to see it present in the work of the Shapers.

Like in any good classroom, the front row was vacant so our group moved to fill those spots. Most of the squad leaders lingered by the railing, discussing the fight or a number of other irrelevant things just to talk about something other than the fight. It wasn't just squad leaders, however, since the Shapers themselves had tucked into the corner-most bench, but the power aligned at the Observation Tower represented most of the Wild Guard's influence. A few minutes later, Sarah, Igor and the Ocalans arrived together. Also like in a good classroom, those in attendance scurried like cockroaches to take their seats when the 'teacher' showed up.

Sarah took a prominent position in front of Gec, letting the Entity act as a backdrop as she looked at the gathered Warriors and Ocalans. Her tone was serious, none of the hidden mirth that usually accompanied her mannerisms was present as she began the address with a declaration. "Before we begin this meeting, I want you all to know I have coordinated the efforts of our scouts in dissociating our enemies earlier than previously stated."

The orc woman placed her palm on Gec, giving the Ocalans a meaningful look before continuing. "Gec will benefit from the purification and I believe this conversation will be much more productive were we to know where we stand in our Quotients. Is that clear?"

There was a round of agreements from everyone present, even Ponzio and April going so far as to agree, before Sarah looked off to the east. "Begin collection. Continue monitoring of our lower Quotient members."

Nothing happened for several seconds but when I saw a cloud of Pith rising to level off with the tower I knew it was imminent. A nudge of will was enough to form which was quickly mirrored by the Implanted present. Ponzio and April stood in surprise, clearly unprepared for the sheer intensity of mana that the Skills outputted. Some part of my brain took notice of how the spheres around people seemed to differ in size and intensity, some even bending like bubbles under the influence of those adjacent.

As the wave hit those closest to the railing, the energy washed over. Most that wasn't filtered by the spell chains dissipated into the air, but I noticed that the stone brushed by the Pith seemed more... Real, somehow. It wasn't a matter of energy or color, but somehow I knew that the rock and metal my senses perceived was more of that.

Before long, the current of Pith reached me and a grunt escaped my lips as I felt it build up on my body. It was the second largest amount I could recall, and the first had subsequently led to me blacking out. I watched the percent climb out of the corner of my vision even as pressure squeezed me like a styrofoam cup entering the depths of the ocean. Despite all of that, I heard a comforting resonance within me. Some instinctual part of me knew that my Tremor Frame was making itself known.

Out of everyone present, I was the only one able to remain unbowed by the onslaught of energy. The Ocalans were sweating as they shed Pith like a thick fog and I saw it dissipated just like that which the handled. Mastery of that was likely how they could progress past the Corporeal Limit. It must still be dangerous, if they were so worried about becoming Partial Elementals.

Two more curious things happened as I focused on the pair. Despite the smoking energy being ejected, I saw their Quotient jump as a gentle suction of power reversed the flow. My Implant highlighted the two of them and their new status at Q5 a moment later. They slumped, and the torrent washed through them uninterrupted. If I didn't read them wrong, I saw resignation even in April's usually deadpan face.

A few seconds later, the cloud of energy dissipated completely.

Sarah gave everyone some time to gather themselves before she continued. While absorbing Pith from anything other than Tendrils usually left one rejuvenated, the Corporeal Threshold changed that. And, while me and my friends were much further down the path to Q7, most everyone had turned their progress into a trickle after hitting Q6. Part of that was the need to pass the Hemisphere Trials to safely absorb Dreg and part of it was the non-stop needs of the Allied Towns and just how much energy it took to progress.

"Please, take a further few minutes to familiarize yourself with your gains. Before you make any allocations, I would like to emphasize the benefit of completing the progress of one of your Traits. Ronan the Vanguard has already shown how much additional strength a Q7 Trait gives, even if it may seem mundane. Strengthen your weaknesses and reinforce your strengths," Sarah said, taking her own advice and closing her eyes.

Those present immediately dove into their whitespace at her behest. Instead of disconnecting entirely, I opted to glance at my Status before deciding anything. I planned to dump all of my banked Dregs, that went without saying, but I figured it couldn't hurt to remain mostly vigilant while the others took their turn.

Sam and Jolene in particular seemed to be frowning at empty air. By my reckoning, they likely had enough energy to cap one of their Traits. After that, it would be a matter of working through their assimilation. One can only hope their process is as embarrassing as mine. Shaking my head at the memory of my fight with Filomena, I pulled up my full Status.

Subject: Ronan Terrigan

Health: 58% (Various Exhaustions)

Mana: 100%

Metier Quotient: 6 (38.25%)

Dreg Accumulation: 0%

LPS: Wildwood Bunker, FL

Communications

Party

Skills - (1) Selections Available

Traits - (59% Banked)

Attributes - Growth Quantified

Skills:

Offensive

- / /

-

Defensive

- / /

-

Misc

-

-

-

-

Traits:

Limestone Skin (14%)

Quake Osseum (Tremor Frame)

Slurry Ichor (8%)

Harmonic Sinew (31%)

Attributes:

Strength: 2.25 > 2.26

Mobility: 1.69 > 1.71

Perception: 2.39 > 2.40

Refinement: 1.68 > 1.69

Containment: 2.50 > 2.53

That's a nice chunk of progress. Almost enough to finish off Harmonic Sinews, but I think vibrosense is going to go last if I want to retain some level of combat awareness instead of being insensate. That left Limestone Skin and Slurry Ichor. Both provided clear improvements to my survivability, but considering how I could already shrug off most physical blows, being able to resist more elemental effects would be nice. Plus, it was my first Trait. I just feel like I should get it pumped up before the others for some reason. If my blood suddenly became pressurized, I didn't want the skin to be too weak to contain the arteries or some such nonsense. Nothing indicated that non-Afflicted Traits could be negative but that didn't mean they would synergize flawlessly. Limestone Skin it is.

Beyond the huge chunk of banked Dregs, the gains to my Attributes wasn't anything to scoff at. It wasn't a mystery that I'd tapped out the 'human boundary' easy gains a long time ago. I was in 'World's Strongest Man' levels with endurance to outlast the best of them without taking into effect Items. More in the magic and sensory front was also welcome, especially considering how brutally expensive most of my Skills were. Well, they aren't too bad but I tend to use them in their Amplified form more often than not...

I really need to select that second tier Skill, I thought. No one, as far as I knew, had opted to take the Entities up on their offer. It could have had something to do with Gec's inability to project confidence in anything that wasn't their own abilities or Tec and Wec's propensity to focus on the possibilities of disaster that can occur if every precaution is not taken. Not even the most advanced Fallen had taken the choice and they had more Skill points to spare thanks to having developed their own.

No. I need to replace my Amplitude Item first. I like having options and I'd much rather not melt my brain just to try to recoup some of the power I lost. I paused for a moment, remembering our fight with the tortoises. The claw had the potential to be an Amplitude Item, but I didn't need a weapon since I already had Fievil. Neither did I need armor, considering how effective my was in conjunction with my Traits. Not that the forelimb claw could create anything more than a pauldron or maybe a weird gauntlet like what I made Jolene? I didn't like any of those ideas, but most of my ideas only really came to me while I was elbow deep in the .

"Now, I want to thank each of you for your efforts here," Sarah said, drawing my attention back to the present. I noticed that most everyone was once again focused on the orc woman.

"With Gec stabilized, our foothold over the bridge is much more solid. That being said, I am going to leave a recommendation that this base be turned into an outpost of sorts. I've been talking with our connections to Ocala," Sarah paused to gesture to Ponzio and April. "And they have assured me of their support in kickstarting trade between the city and the Allied Towns. As such, expect us to dig in even deeper. The attack perpetrated-- and make no mistake, this was an attack-- on us will not go unanswered. However, until we know more we will have to remain vigilant. To assist in that, April will be providing some of the insights she gleaned from the horde that attacked."

Sarah took a step to the side, motioning the demoness in question to join her. Looking only a slight bit frazzled by the rise in Quotient, April took a straight-backed posture as she faced us.

"Your capabilities proved devastating," April started. Many present grinned at the words, but I waited for the other shoe to drop as I saw the woman pick up steam quickly. "Despite the carnal house produced by your work, I was able to confirm a handful of patterns. Chief amongst them was the uncommon degree of coordination in the horde. Examination of the remains for the larger hog species indicated substantial brain matter mutations. None of the records of the keepers have ever mentioned such intelligent responses from creatures drawn by a... splintered Entity.

"This will be of note to the Faction heads in Ocala. Secondarily," the demoness said, gesturing in the direction of the wall. "The handful of beasts retained for autopsy indicate anatomical degradation that is congruent with the matter dissolution process despite their recent demise."

When the group remained silent, Ponzio cleared his throat to interject. "The creatures were... dissociating, I believe you all call it, before they'd even died."

"It has just been confirmed by our scouts that the beasts that had managed to consume their fellows before attacking us did not leave behind Materials nor Infusions, only the Pith cloud we just received," Sarah said, stepping forward again. The woman thanked April before resuming her speech. "The only times we have encountered something like this has been during the fight with the Death Crow--"

There was a ripple of motion that came loud and clear through vibrosense. I glanced to my side and saw Samuel's face still set in a flat expression, but his hands were clenched tightly. Several of the squad leaders present had been involved in the Summerfield offensive; the reaction was entirely understandable.

"-- and Galloway the Appendage." Sarah continued, having only paused for a breath. "The current situation within the city of Ocala has been explained to me as such. They have a larger, neutral, relationship with a number of human Appendages and Tendrils."

There were a series of gasps and more than one person jumped to their feet in alarm. Sarah's head blazed, the heat enough to bring sweat to my face, before dismissing her Gift. The squads recoiled at the display, but silence followed.

"This neutral relationship has been maintained for years. It has been brought to their attention the atrocities committed by our own interactions with the Dreg. They have agreed to covertly investigate this-- without prompting from me. We will not act, unless acted upon, without concrete evidence. The Entities do not know what to make of the Dreg so we will not judge them by their cover. The last time we did so, things did not work out.

"Now, with their involvement in the return of our people," she nodded in Dai's direction. "The response to the reality of the Entities as well as their role in the defense of our lives in this base I feel inclined to suggest something. I believe they should be given the option of receiving Implants and to act as ambassadors between our groups."

There was a moment of silence before I found myself speaking up. I turned slightly so I could lock eyes with Ponzio. "I concur, should they agree. It is as much a show of trust from us as it is for them. I, personally, will not think less of you for your decision. It is no simple matter and I feel like you are aware enough about it now."

"That's..." Ponzio hesitated.

"I accept," April said, standing.

"Just like that?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow at the demoness.

"Were I blessed with blindness to the obvious, I would have dismissed many of your claims. After a mere day amongst you, it is clear what you are about. Further deliberating will only detract from the data I have collected, and I pride myself on acting unbiased." April seemed to pause, tilting her head in contemplation. "Additionally, the worst thing that could happen is that you supplant my consciousness while trapping me in a prison of my own body. How could I fault you for such a devilish plan of deception being successful?"

I swore I heard crickets.

"Without following April's need to be verbose," Ponzio interjected. "I believe I would be okay accepting this. It was clear to me since the moment I saw your scouts that something was different. While things in our city are well in order, I feel like that might have been a façade. I cannot, in good conscience, ignore a source of power from people I am beginning to trust. Plus, if I am changed in any negative way... Grandfather will come down on you all worse than those hogs."

I couldn't stop myself and let out a snort. I joined Sarah next to Gec before addressing the Entity. "Do you have enough juice in this form for two Implants?"

A gentle buzz filled the air that I couldn't help but picture as laughter. Gec's sliver suddenly began to expand, the bottom point of the crystal prism stretching to touch against the stone. The moment the iridescent crystal and the stone made contact, the swaths that had been Pith-touched returned to the feeling of normal stone. In a show of just where that absorbed power was going, Gec stretched higher and lower, crumbling stone as they pushed deeper into the Observation Tower. When the vertical growth stopped, two protrusions right at head level expanded forward a few feet.

"There's your answer, Ron," Sarah said.

"Are we sure Gec didn't get Devon's dramatic flair?" I asked. The Entity flickered in irritation and I raised my hands in mock surrender. It wouldn't do to antagonize Gec right as she implants our first two Ocalan Dreg Warriors.

"What do we need to do?" Ponzio asked, hesitating slightly at the sight of the crystal growths. As a matter of fact, he'd been flinching the whole time that Gec had been in motion, likely remembering Hec's behavior.

"Just step right up, Gec will handle the rest," I said, waving them forward.

The two Ocalans shared a look before doing as I suggested. Sarah and I shared our own knowing look just in time to watch as the Entity pulled a Tec. The protrusions reached forward, latching on to their necks like collars. Before they could scream in alarm, the Metier Crystal was already in place at the base of their cranium. When Gec pulled back, both Ponzio and April fell to their knees. Samuel stepped up to examine them, running his filament nerves over their faces to check for reactions.

The two were staring vacantly at the air for what was likely a full minute before their focus returned and they realized Sam was waiting patiently. The blonde smiled warmly. "Welcome to the ranks of the Dreg Warriors."