Racknar drove a spider-pulled cart with the Monster Mashers plus Lisa in it down a well paved road. “Alright people, we're here.” Everyone got up and looked at the absolute massive walls surrounding a city built into the side of a mountain. The tall wall arched around the outside of the base of the mountain and into it and past that were buildings carved into the mountain. Every building including the outer wall had strips of metal and decorative filigree on the smooth well made structures as if every building was an extremely geometric art display. Each bit of decoration added in or carved into a structure was unique, a display of the personality and personal expression of the people that built them.
Racknar gestured to the massive metal door of the outer wall. “Welcome everyone, to the capital of the Dwarven Kingdom of the same name, Nidavellir. Observe it in all its glory.” Davy rubbed his eyes as he woke up. “So remind me why we are here again? My brain is mush before I've had my coffee.” Racknar sighed. “Now that Elizabeth has sent the Empire her decoration announcing the desire to segregate from it, and although not officially announced yet war is inevitable, we are going to different kingdoms outside it that hate the Empire to establish alliances and build our reputation there. I figured this would be the best place to start since Lisa is exactly the kind of person the Dwarves would get along with.”
Lisa nodded. “Dwarves are artists after my own heart. Every feat of engineering has one's own self put into it. There's a passion and drive on a cultural level to create grand and elaborate things that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing to them. From the tools and weapons to the architecture, everything is an artform.” The group got to the massive door where Racknar was questioned by the guards outside. He showed them his guild I.D and the group was let inside. The main road was lined with stalls offering goods to adventurers that were going through the city.
Much like in the Empire, the capital city of this kingdom was a hub for adventurers. Davy looked around at the locals tending stalls and going about their business. “Is it just me or does this city seem to be a bit of a sausage fest as far as the locals go?” Racknar looked back at him, head cocked in confusion. “What are you talking about? The gender ratio is nearly split down the middle. Fifty five forty five in favor of male, fairly similar to the Empire.” Davy squinted. “Then why don't I see any female Dwarves?” Racknar laughed. “That's probably because up till now every female Dwarf you've seen was one that lived and worked in the Empire. Here in Nidavellir the women don't normally shave. Makes it a bit hard for most to tell the difference.”
Davy blinked and took a closer look at the locals, low and behold he realized even the women among the Dwarves grew long and glorious beards, often woven and decorated with beads. “How can you even tell the difference?” Racknar chuckled. “The women tend to use more colorful beading. Heavy use of bright colors with more colors used. Meanwhile men usually only have three to five colors and they are often duller. Plus differences in high and beard length. Small things.”
The party continued deeper into the city till they were riding the cart up steep and winding roads that were carved into the mountain. “We're going to check in with the local guildhall, then visit the palace. I'm fairly sure we can convince the king of an alliance fairly easily and even get some grinding done while we're here. Then it's off to the Skal archipelago and finally the continent of Alfheim to touch base with the Elven kingdoms. Hitting the dark elf kingdom last since that's where Lolith is.” Davy looked around again, noticing more small details. “That sounds like it'll take a while. Are you sure we'll get this all done before the Empire declares war?”
Racknar nodded. “They called a meeting of every King and Queen in the mainland plus the Pope and the Emperor himself to talk and vote on how to act. This process should take as little as a week or two. But I've got a feeling they're going to delay the official declaration of war for about three months.” Ariagoria was now suddenly invested in the conversation. “That almost sounds like a prediction, and I know you wouldn't make one without some insight. So what makes you say three months?” Racknar made a clicking sound. “That's about how long it'll take to gather all the armies of all the kingdoms and take stock of everything.”
Marionette hummed. “So you're saying they'll wait till every soldier and weapon is ready and in position before officially declaring war. With how large each army is we'd be outnumbered for sure.” Racknar nodded. “But not outgunned, especially considering the geography. Not only did we have an advantage with being an island nation we took the greatest navy of the Empire with us. The only air force the Empire has is more of an air cavalry. Griffins, hippogriffs, that sort of thing.” Krys'tal taps at the cart. “Yeah but it's not like we have much better. Lisa may have the knowledge and ability to build plains, helicopters, and blimps but she's just one person. In three months we could at most have maybe three full squadrons.”
Racknar nodded. “That's why we came here before anywhere else. We have Leonardo Da Vinci, now I'm going to give us the good parts of Henry Ford.” The inner light in Krys'tal’s face shifted through a few colors. “Wait… you don't mean… oh god.” Marionette tilted her head. “You guys lost me, I heard the name before in my last life but I'm not that familiar with who that is.” Racknar cracked his neck. “A lot of people think he invented the modern automobile, but that's not entirely accurate. What he did do was revolutionize mass production. He was a man of efficiency and cost effectiveness. Mass producing numbers at low costs to make what was originally a luxury item something for the Everyman.”
Davy grumbled. “Great, first we introduced Leonardo Da Vinci to war crimes, now we're going to introduce the Dwarves to the idea of mass production factory work. I thought we were trying to make the world a better place, not speedrun the industrial revolution and the first world war.” Racknar grumbled. “Unfortunately the Empire and Church are obstacles to our goals and war is unfortunately the best way to shut them down. Besides, with all the Reborn this world was going to go through something like this anyway. The best we can do is avoid making the same mistakes our old world did.”
The group eventually made it to the guildhall and looked over some quests. There were definitely more high profile quests available compared to the Empire. “There's at least five rogue dragons listed here. Then you've got three undead outbreaks, one with a possible Lich. We could probably handle all of these unless the dragon is ancient. Unlikely considering those are usually the smart ones. Unless dragons can get dementia.” Davy looked at Racknar. “Dragons can live for thousands of years. How old would one have to be to be old enough to even have dementia?”
Racknar cracked his neck. “At least over eight thousand years old. Considering dragons have a maximum lifespan of ten thousand years.” Davy nodded, then his eyes widened. “Wait… would that make the golden dragon at least five or six thousand years old since she mentioned thinking she was too old to worry about estrus?” Racknar nodded. “Yeah, somewhere around there. However dragons reach physical maturity relatively fast compared to their lifespan. Around two hundred years or so and it's ready to reproduce. Dragons then remain fertile for thousands of years but only produce one egg every decade or so.”
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One of the guild workers at the desk looked over. “You sure know a lot about dragons, but based on your armor you're not a wizard. Are you just a non-magical scholar?” Racknar nodded. “A wise man once said; there is no knowledge that is not power. Another once said; he who knows his enemy knows his enemy is more likely to know victory. He who knows himself is more likely to know prosperity. To quote a famous fictional soldier from my homeland, knowing is half the battle.”
The guild worker let out a short chuckle. “I don't think I've ever met a warrior that spoke as wisely as you before.” Racknar hummed. “To quote a philosopher, a society that separates its warriors from its scholars will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.” The worker rubs her beard. “So what are your plans besides grabbing high profile missions? There has to be some other reason you came here. Seeing that your demon-blood friend is wearing the symbol of the Church of Longinus I'm guessing you came all the way from the Empire. Quite the journey just for some quests.”
Racknar cracked his neck. “Well if possible I'd like to get an audience with the King. See I'm something of a diplomat for Bramble and recently there's been a change in power and policy so I was hoping for a nice diplomatic chat. He should have received a letter ahead of time requesting.an audience.” The woman shifted back and forth and scowled. “It's always a bad day when the Empire sends a so-called diplomat.” Racknar gestured. “Oh, you've misunderstood my good lady. I'm not here on behalf of the Empire, but the nation of Bramble. It's recently declared intentions to segregate from the Empire.”
The woman was taken aback and started stroking her beard more furiously, nearly undoing the braids. “Ohhoho, now that's interesting. Whoever took over for the old king must have one hell of a spine.” Racknar nodded. “And the back muscles to match considering all the weight being held.” The dwarf nodded. “Ah yes, the classic metaphor of leaders having the weight of the world on their shoulders.” Racknar looked to the side. “Not where I was going, but sure.“
Then a dwarf with brown armor and the symbol of a mountain pushed outward from the metal entered the building. “I'm looking for Racknar Aradae and his party.” Racknar raised his hand. “Ah, perfect timing. I have just finished up here.” The man gestured for them to follow. “You've been granted an audience with the King.” The group followed him to the king's chamber. An ornate room with marble pillars and a mural pattern put under some form of clear coat under the floor.
The party was introduced and the King sat up in his throne. “I am King Valka, high Lord of the Dwarven Realms. I have received your letter of introduction and am formally denying your request for allyship. The Kingdom of Bramble, even as an independent nation, has nothing to offer us. There are no resources you have that we don't already have in abundance. There are no skills your artisans have achieved that ours have not surpassed. There is no technology you possess that we haven't already invented, and no magic we have any interest in. If it so pleased me, my kingdom could handle the Empire on its own.”
Racknar chuckled. “Do you really believe that? The Empire is vast. What they lack in other areas they make up for in numbers. They have powerful mages and artifacts under their care from ancient times and even other realms. I wouldn't underestimate them if I were you. As for the technology thing… well that's changed. I have with me the greatest artisan of the entire Empire, Lisa Da Vinci. I'm so confident in her abilities that I'd be willing to bet she could beat even your best artificer.”
The king stroked his beard. “A wager? How interesting. If you win, I'll gladly sign into an official alliance. But if I win, then you surrender your body to my kingdom. To be dissected and studied.” Davy raised his voice. “That hardly seems like an even wager! Normally the things between are things the two people find equal. There's no way you could consider Racknar's life equivalent to signing a paper. You're either overselling how valuable you see your presence in an alliance or underselling the value of a life.”
Racknar let out a soft growl. “It's fine Davy. Regardless of their opinion of me I'll accept their terms. After all, my confidence in Lisa's abilities are absolute.” Davy but his lip in frustration. “(This feels uncharacteristic for Racknar. This feels unreasonable for someone as level headed as him. Not to mention the slightly perverted joke he made earlier about Elizabeth having strong back muscles to support her breasts. He's been acting different since the crown and we're just moving on like he didn't have an emotional meltdown.)”
Davy grumbled. “Fine, but this feels reckless. You're putting your life on the line.” Racknar shook his head. “I don't see it that way. It's not a gamble when you already know the results.” Davy’s eyes widened. He realized just how confident Racknar was that Lisa would win. The King clapped. “We'll meet here in three days, Your artificer will bring three to five inventions to the courtyard. A third party will be summoned to blind vote on what invention they like best.” He then makes a dismissive wave. “You are free to go.”
The party made their way back to the cart. “So I'm guessing you've already packed a number of Lisa's creations in the Dimension Door.” Ariagoria commented as she climbed in the cart. Racknar nodded. “So for three days we're going to do nearby quests to kill time then come back.” Everyone hopped in and the cart started moving. Marionette tilted her head. “Wait… why did he ask to dissect Racknar if he couldn't see what he really looks like? The illusion makes him just look like a knight in fancy armor.”
Racknar made a few clicking sounds. “Either they already knew about me or used a spell to see through illusions. It's not important. Now that I've seen their level of technology I know exactly what to expect. They have electric lights and horseless carriages, relative tech to the early industrial revolution. Lisa has produced technology comparable to that used during the world war. We have nothing to worry about.” Davy and Marionette both shifted in the cart somewhat uncomfortably.
Three days of questing later and the party returned to the palace and were escorted to the courtyard. Once there Lisa pulled out her own Dimensional Doorknob to pull her items from. She chose to bring out her “black iron turtle” tank, the improved Da Vinci screw, her improved glider that could now actually fly, her submarine, and finally a blimp. Even with how large and open the courtyard was she easily filled up half of it. The party then went to an area to wait. The King's artificer came in and placed his own items on the other side of the courtyard. The man seemed in a daze as he didn't even look to the other side of the area.
Once all the artifacts were placed the third party judge entered. It was a light elf of all things, one that had some wrinkles indicating he was in the final quarter of his lifespan. He looked over every invention, reading notes that were dictated by the creators but written by the same hand. After doing a once around he turned around and went past all the inventions a second time. “Such a difficult choice. The flying machines are all impressive and although somewhat barbaric in purpose that metal turtle is also quite impressive. That steam engine is really something but the archana engine that powers the turtle is a lot more portable.”
The aged elf runs his hand through his silky silvery hair. “I can tell these are two different creators, so since I assume the point is to pick who's creations I prefer and not just the best among the ten options I'll outright say that the winner is…” The old man paused. “Whoever is responsible for the archana engine.” Racknar did a small fist pump. “Told you we'd win.” Lisa goes out to shake the elves hand and introduces herself. The other artificer, now more alert, comes out to look at Lisa's creations. “I didn't get a good look before but these are impressive. What's your inspiration?”
Lisa slid over to the older Dwarf. “For a lot of these I started with something from nature or a dream. I imagined exploring underwater and started to think of how to make that possible. I saw the birds fly and started to try and replicate that. However, even with all my genius, there were several seemingly basic things I didn't know. The bird flies but I didn't fully understand how. The mechanics were not fully known to me. Then this man pointed out a few things in my design starting with things that I missed but understood. Then he introduced me to concepts that were not fully understood to me and even ones totally foreign.” Lisa gestured to Racknar.
Both the Elf and the Dwarf raised eyebrows at Racknar. “I'm going to assume since you didn't create the items yourself that you're not an artificer.” Racknar hummed. “Nope, but I do remember a surprising amount from my previous life. I simply explained what I could and Lisa filled in the blanks. I couldn't build even the simplest of her designs. Getting the measurements right and making sure things were symmetrical would be a challenge for me.” The two seemed satisfied with that answer and the Dwarf started talking to Lisa about a number of things.
The party took a step back and let them talk. Racknar was approached by the King who handed him the paperwork making an alliance between Nidavellir and Bramble official. “I'm a man of my word Lord Aradae, here's your document.” Racknar grabbed it with a nod. “Your majesty, if you don't mind we'll be appointing Lisa as our official liaison and ambassador to your kingdom. Feel free to appoint someone from your kingdom that gets sent to ours.” The King nodded. “Feel free to call me Valka, no need to be so formal.” Racknar nodded. “Then just Racknar is fine for me.”
