Bjorn watched with amusement as Tanisha and Aurelius stepped out of the clothing store. Their new attire didn't really fit either of them. A tailor in a forge town out in the fridges of Isopike was not prepared for people of their stature.
Tanisha had to squeeze herself into what was probably a work dress made into a blouse on her frame. The buttons on the blouse were working hard to keep her chest contained. Her lower half were covered shorts that were little more than hotpants with a cut out for her tail. She obviously didn't mind showing off her legs which were toned and covered in the tattoo-like marks of seiðr.
Aurelius on the other hand found himself unable to wear any of the clothing in the store. He wasn't as tall as Tanisha but he was muscular with broad shoulders for anyone, especially an elf. They must have had a hard time putting together his temporary ensemble. Instead of trying to fit him into something they just took raw fabric and draped it on him as a makeshift robe to protect his modesty.
"Oh, Stones below," Rubyhearth exclaimed when she saw Bjorn sitting outside the door. "I forgot ya were here."
"How could you forget that adorable boy?" Tanisha questioned.
"Adorable… sure." Rubyhearth said unconvincingly. "We should probably get him to the animal area, now that you two aren't runnin' around in your birthday suits."
"Animal area?" Bjorn asked.
"You can talk?" Rubyhearth questioned.
"Our bond is strong." Tanisha said with her chest puffed up with pride. "He is my Big Man!"
"Well, I think I have seen everything now," Rubyhearth said as she cleared her throat. "We have two areas for large animals. I am sure you can see that we can't use the ground above for farmin'. The monster rise from the ground every night and will attack anyone or anything outside."
"We could probably eliminate all of them." Tanisha offered.
"No ya couldn't, the amount that you saw were just the early risers." Rubyhearth said. "And we wouldn't want you to. This place has been mined for generations. Millions of those monsters are out there and we make our living by harvestin' 'em."
"I was wondering about that, I have never seen a monster turn into crystals before. Most of them are just… meat, others bodies disappear after a while," Tanisha said.
"I don't know all the details you'd have ta speak to one of the forge masters on that. But your husband's blade there is made from monster crystal."
"Husband?" Tanisha questioned.
"We aren't married or in a relationship," Aurelius corrected. "The blade is monster crystal but not from the creatures you harvest here. So the forge town call monster hunting, mining? Is it because of all the monsters that you all don't have a gatehouse?"
"An astute question," Rubyhearth said. "But we do have a gatehouse but not for the walls above ground. The forge towns are connected with tunnel networks. Much safer to travel that way. Now come on first the cobbler see if we can get ya some shoes then the drake pins."
***
While the group was in the cobbler's shop, Bjorn lay down dozing outside the door. He lazily watched the street but there weren't many people to observe. Most curiously observed him from a distance before quickly moving on when they realized what he was. Bjorn didn't quite understand how people could tell he was a familiar. Though as he thought about he too could tell a familiar apart from normal animals. Even though there wasn't a physical difference.
It was the reason he could tell Anasuya was not familiar. If she wasn't currently hiding with her magic people would likely be able to tell instantly. The small girl was oddly quiet though after getting everyone out of the Rift she had been tired and going in and out of sleep. Her calm steady breathing told him she was asleep at the moment.
"Failsafe." Bjorn prodded mentally. "You there?"
"Huh? Yeah just working on some delicate stuff." Failsafe responded.
"You have been quiet for a while now." Bjorn said.
"What did you miss me? It has only been a few hours," Failsafe said.
Bjorn sighed, "for you that is a long time especially since一"
"Are we in a dwarven city," Failsafe said. "What? How did we get in a dwarven city? What did I miss?"
"What have you been doing?" Bjorn asked.
"Hehe, checking out what has changed with our body and finding out what the new head does. Looking at our body I can say definitively… that I have no idea. Something has changed but that is likely due to the fact we have maya again. I still need to study it and someone interrupted me in the middle of that. As for the new head it was actually easy to find out what it does. I will update the menu so you can see it."
Chthonic Communion
Maya Cost:
You exhale all stored maya in a searing infernal torrent. Your other heads may inhale this essence to unleash empowered, maya-infused breath attacks, while your scales harden and your venom grows deadlier. Infernal allies who breathe in this exhaled maya are strengthened, their maya based abilities amplified by your abyssal reserve.
"Chthonic Communion?" Bjorn said.
"It was hard to come up with a name." Failsafe said he groaned as if unsure. "It is like your old Hellmouth ability but instead of just affecting you it also can be used on allies that have maya. Anasuya will definitely get a boost. Not quite sure how it will affect Tanisha, she also has maya but hers is in an alloy so probably to test that out before we fight anything."
"What does chthonic even mean," Bjorn questioned.
"Underworld or something like that." Failsafe said as he sped through the explanation. "Look, it was either going to be that or 'Hellmouth 2: The Awakening'. The important thing is that this ability is also an attack. It will burn enemies though the heat is not that potent. While it shouldn't ignite people you don't consider enemies, it might still start fires. So don't go using it in the city around normal people until you get a chance to test it out first."
"Noted." Bjorn affirmed.
"Anyway I have more analysis to do. If you miss me, feel free to call. But also don't. It is messy in here now and I have a lot of organizing to do." Failsafe said.
Bjorn huffed which came out a long hiss from his middle head. He reread the information before closing the menus as a dwarven man approached. One of Bjorn's heads had been watching him lazily not putting much stock into the man. The man kept a respectable distance even as he studied Bjorn. He pulled out a notebook and started jotting something down.
Identify
Name: Flintbeard Ironturn
Species: Dwarf
+ Level: 11
Vocation: None
"You are a magnificent boy aren't you." Flintbeard muttered to himself. "Absolutely beautiful. Almost looks like a northern plane… but no coloration is like the golden scale hydra. Antlers on the center head are unusual, never heard of a hydra species with antlers… new species maybe."
He scribbled furiously, grumbling about proportions, musculature, scales, and the antlers. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice Bjorn had silently walked closer, peering over his shoulder. The notebook was filled with crude illustrations of his body's features, accompanied by notes in Muaian. Bjorn couldn't read the language, so the words were a mystery.
"Are antlers really that unusual?" Bjorn asked.
"Oh, absolutely," Flintbeard said without looking up. "Never seen anyone mention antlers on one before. Hydra heads are usually identical, but he seems to have one set of antlers and all the other heads have horns."
"Oh, have you ever seen a hydra before? Do they live around here?" Bjorn asked casually.
"Around these parts? Nah," Flintbeard waved dismissively. "An aquatic species lives out in the swamps near Ironrise. Seen 'em a few times. Small, about the size of a gator. Nothing like this boy here this is a一"
Flintbeard finally looked up, glancing toward the cobbler's shop, and realized Bjorn wasn't where he had expected. His eyes widened, scanning the area frantically.
"Where did he go?" Flintbeard asked, tension creeping into his voice.
"I am right here," Bjorn said.
Flintbeard stiffened and took a deep calming breath and dropping his shoulders. Then he let out a chuckle. More a laugh of disbelief than actual amusement.
"Okay, you can stop trying to prank me," he muttered. "I know it was a familiar but a talking hydra is just一"
His voice died in his throat as he finally registered the middle head's gaze. The dwarf's knees buckled slightly, and he staggered backward.
"Hello. My name is Bjorn Scalebound," Bjorn said.
"Ugh… uh… Hello, Bjorn," Flintbeard stammered, eyes wide, notebook clutched tightly.
Bjorn took a step back to give the man space. Flintbeard's hands shook slightly, but he managed to set the notebook down and straighten himself. It took a minute, but eventually, the dwarf drew a steadying breath and held out a hand.
"Flintbeard Ironturn," he said, his voice regaining authority. "Eh hmm. I am one of the steamworks engineers. And uh, I have a hobby of, well lookin' at interesting animals. Didn't mean anything by it."
"I have never met another hydra." Bjorn said calmly. "I am interested to learn more. Dwarves have seemed to know more about my kind than I do."
"Ah, yes well. A few species live in Isopike; they are lesser hydras though." Flintbeard said slowly getting into rhythm.
"What do you think I am?" Bjorn questioned.
"You look almost like the northern plane hydra that are found in Mesha. You are far larger than any hydra around here. But other than size and number of heads you don't fit into that category. Back Fin, gold scales, antlers, webbed feet, lith frame and quadrupedal stance. I am no expert on hydras. I just have a fascination but I would say you are a new species. Are you interested in finding more hydra?"
"I am interested to know how they would react to me," Bjorn said. "I am guessing fear."
Before Flintbeard could ask why Bjorn said that the door to the cobbler's shop opened and the group walked out with brand new hardy boots. After brief introductions Flintbeard excused himself and hurried away. Though he did mention a book on hydra called "Hydras: The Apex Guardians of Alderdeorn" would be a good place to start learning more about his kin.
"You made a friend while we were away, Big Man?" Tanisha said.
"I am quite personable." Bjorn said.
"I will see if we can find that book." Tanisha hummed. "I am more curious about other hydra too."
"You likely won't find a book on it here, our library is light on the subject of magical fauna." Rubyhearth said.
"Library! I have to see it before we leave." Tanisha said enthusiastically.
"Where to next?" Aurelius said.
"The animal pin area, Bjorn will have to stay there when not with you all." Rubyhearth said.
***
The animal pen area sat just inside one of the great tunnelways that branched outward toward the other forge towns. A heavy gatehouse separated the public thoroughfare from the interior of the city proper, just as Rubyhearth had explained earlier. Despite being underground, the passageways were broad and airy, lit by bands of bioluminescent plants woven along the walls. Their cool glow washed over polished stone and ironwork, casting everything in a steady blue-green light.
Like the rest of the town, the roadway was immaculate. Runes laced the stone in geometric patterns, their edges worn smooth by centuries of use but still humming faintly with purpose. Dwarves moved constantly through the tunnel. Some walked in small groups, others drove horse-drawn wagons or pushed carts stacked high with ore, barrels, or tool crates. The steady rhythm of commerce echoed through the passage like a heartbeat.
More than a few slowed when they saw Bjorn. Conversations faltered. Boots stopped mid-stride. Heads tilted upward. A five-headed hydra did not blend easily into dwarven infrastructure.
Rubyhearth noticed the stares and waved people off with the authority of someone who had no patience for gawkers.
"Move along. Brewery business." She said.
That seemed to be enough. Most dwarves resumed their pace, though many glanced back over their shoulders as the group passed.
Along the right-hand side, the tunnel widened dramatically into what could only be described as a multilevel stable complex. Everything was built into the rock itself, carved and reinforced with metal ribs. Pens and stalls were sectioned by species, with clear markers hammered into the stone above each archway. Even from a distance, Bjorn could hear the layered sounds of animals shifting, stamping, and snorting.
As his tongues tasted the air with flick he identified animals he had come across before. Horses, cows, drakes, at least one wyvern and other scents mixed in the air. He actually felt a little proud at his ability to identify the animals without even needing to see any of them.
The structure was impressive. The hostess sitting at the entry station was not.
She lounged behind a small booth carved from stone, boots propped up against the side, a book open in her hands. Her expression suggested that the world was a tedious inconvenience.
"We have a check-in," Rubyhearth announced as she stepped up to the desk.
The young woman did not look up. She reached under the desk, pulled out a form without breaking eye contact with her book, and slid it across the counter. Rubyhearth filled it out quickly and pushed it back.
With visible reluctance, the hostess set her book aside. The motion carried all the enthusiasm of someone personally offended by employment. She scanned the page. Her finger stopped halfway down. Her brow furrowed.
"Umm. Ma'am," she said slowly, "you placed the wrong type of animal being housed here."
"Did I? Oh no," Rubyhearth replied, her voice dripping with exaggerated concern. "What did I put?"
"Hydra," the hostess said flatly. "I'm sure you meant drake. I'll have to charge ya for a new form, but—"
"Oh," Rubyhearth interrupted. "I thought you said I made a mistake. That's correct."
"But you put… hydra." she pursed her lips.
Only then did the young woman finally lift her eyes from the parchment. First at Rubyhearth who stood with her hands firmly on her hips. Then to Aurelius and the look on her face changed, an elf underground was rare. Then her gaze shifted to Tanisha and lingered on the horns. Her confusion only deepened from there.
Then she looked past them. And kept looking up.
Her eyes finally reached Bjorn's central head, antlers framed against the glowing stone ceiling, while his other heads were fanned outward in quiet curiosity. Only one of his five pairs of eyes regarded her calmly.
Her mouth fell open in an unflattering gawk. The booth chair scraped violently against stone as she shot to her feet.
"Sorry. Hold on. I'll be right back."She said as she bolted down the hallway behind the booth.
There was a beat of silence.
"That seemed like an overreaction," Bjorn said.
"Agreed," Aurelius said.
Rubyhearth folded her arms. "She should'a been doin' her job, the scare serves her right."
The hostess reappeared at a sprint, skidding slightly as she grabbed the form off the desk.
"Stay right there," she said quickly, before vanishing again.
Several dwarves in nearby stalls had begun peeking around partitions. A horse whinnied nervously. Somewhere deeper in the structure, a creature let out a sharp, uneasy cry.
Bjorn felt Anasuya shift on his back then return to snoring softly.
Tanisha sighed. "I feel like this is going to cost extra."