Dwarf Merchant

One of the dwarfs stands up signally to the archers to lower their bows. The boat begins to work its way to shore. Mark decides to start walking to the river edge, while listening. They are all speaking gruffly but in a language that can't be understood. How is Mark going to be able to survive in this world if he can't communicate with anyone?

One of them with an archer to either side of him steps onto the river bank. Pointing at Mark and attempting to speak in what sounds like several different languages. Eventually shrugging the dwarf brings out a glowing stone that looks vaguely similar to the one Mark found on Earth.

"You should understand me now, though I won't be able to understand you yet."

"Just to be sure could you hold up 2 fingers and take 2 steps forward, 1 step to the side."

O.K. Some weird kind of simon says. But he seems friendly enough so Mark follows along.

"Alright we'll getting somewhere, I am Jodroun Hillbrew, a merchant. I am not sure what you are but you don't appear to understand any known language." "I assume you could use some assistance, and I am willing be that person if we can come to an arrangement." "My clan and I will partake of lunch here and share while you teach me your language. Jump back then to the side if you agree."

Jumping what is with this fellow are all dwarfs this eccentric? Why can't a simple nod of the head yes work? So Mark does another round of Simon says. After which the rest of the 14 dwarfs came ashore and began to set up a camp site. Jodroun walked over to a chair that had just been set up at a table with 1 other chair obviously met for Mark. Setting the glowing stone a few inches from Mark causing him to flinch back.

"Don't be alarmed! As long as you don't touch the soul stone nothing will happen." "Obviously you have seen one of these, can't wait to here that story." "This soul stone is attuned to me and will help with translation. I need you to just talk about anything, tell a few stories or something for the next half hour." "Once my soul stone learns your language we'll be able to communicate."

Surprised but starting to get used to that state of mind Mark begins to talk while eating the food placed in front of him. As the subject he talks about is all the myths his online show had debunked there is some laughter involved. Here he is inside the myths themselves, can't say they don't exist now can he. After they finish eating lunch Jodroun picks up the glowing stone, Soul Stone??? Closing his eyes and holding the stone on his forehead just above and between his eyes.

"Lets test this now why don't we? What are you? We are in goblin territory here and you are the strangest looking goblin I have ever seen."

Mark frustratingly answers, "I am a human from Earth. Where are we?"

"I can see you are a man never heard of Hu's though. As for where we are I already said this is goblin territory."

Raising his voice slightly Mark responds, "No! Not a Hu but a human, sheesh lets try homosapian!"

Eyes widening a little bit Jodroun exclaims. "Not sure if there is something wrong with the translation, if not I am not one to judge! I can see you are sapient and am not concerned about your sexuality! None of me clan swings that way here."

Breathing in and out trying to get his emotions under control Mark contemplates. I could say American but if there are other humans a nationality won't help. I suppose earthling would just come back as someone rising from the ground.

"Are there other species that have man in their name? Human would be similar to that."

"Lycanthropes and the Mers sometimes call themselves that way. If that is your preference then Human it shall be." "Now you have met a soul practitioner so tell me about that?"

"You mean how I came across another glowing stone what you apparently call a soul stone." Reluctantly Mark begins to tell Jodroun about his lunch break and appearance in this land. He ends with a question, "Is there any way I can either find my way home or others like me?"

"Well if you can read then the libraries may help, though never seen nor heard of a human before." "From your story you are now a soul practitioner with no training, most practitioners begin training from the time they can walk."

"What do you mean Soul practitioner?"

"What you called a glowing stone is a Soul stone. Once someone assimilates with one they become a practitioner gaining skills and abilities based on the Soul." "Training is done to help focus on these skills so that when meditating or sleeping the soul can level up or increase in strength depending on your philosophy."

Thinking to himself not only did the stone assimilate but also all his electronic equipment too. The map and clock came from his phone his E-reader is obviously the library skill. Trying to think about what other apps may become skills in the future, Wait!

"I have 5 abilities and every-time I sleep a sub ability gets listed how does that work?"

"Oho, you have started training that is good. Sub skills are those that you have realized throughout the day. You can only start to level them up after getting them listed."

Not quite a tutorial from those games of my youth but this is starting to sound interesting. "How does one go about raising these skills levels?"

With a patient yet exasperated tone "Every skill is different, the only thing they all have in common is the need for essence." Pulling out the stone used for translating, "example is this soul stone. Hunters go out looking for beasts with a higher intelligence then usual. From them you can get soul stones. However they need to be cleansed by someone with a soul cleaning skill before being used by other practitioners." Looking sideways at Mark, Jodroun continues, "Not sure how you avoided the soul explosion, but any soul stone that can't be assimilated by the person who touches it unprepared normally explodes. This explosion takes out all within several feet to several yards depending on how powerful it is."

Death!! My phone, camcorder, etc saved my from dying. Mark is slowly starting to feel more comfortable, less stressed about his current situation. Hmmm?

"What does it mean that my soul stone transformed?"

"I have no idea, there are legends of divine beings who could expend enough essence to transform them. But even then the results were based on materials used for the process. The original souls skills were still in some form or other,"

"So I opened 2 sub skills, how do I open more? And do I need to find cleaned soul stones to raise levels or is there other ways?"

"You need an understanding of the main skill to open sub skills. All skills follow the laws of 5. There will be 5 sub skills for each prime skill. You must level up 5 times in any of the sub skills to increase a prime skill. Also souls can increase in power or level by raising any combination of prime skills by 5." "If only you could read dwarfish, I have a basic book on soul stones here." As Jodroun pulls out a slim book and lays it on the table.

Eyes widening and mouth dropping open Mark realizes the words make sense to him. 'Hunter's Guide to Soul Stones and Raising Up Beasts'. Reaching out for the book Mark opens it, while skimming the words he exclaims. "I can read this! How is this possible when I can't understand the spoken word! I can tell this isn't English!"

In a surprised voice "Well Well you have realized one of your sub skills. Once you meditate or sleep this skill will be assimilated. Is it all text or only the language you heard today?" Jodroun brings out another book and hands it to Mark. Opening it up Mark can't make heads or tails of the scribble in this book.

"Nope all greek to me."

"Not greek whatever language that is this is Avian. This means that you have at least 1 sub skill with specialties. Specialties also follow the law of 5 you must have at least 5 levels to raise the sub skill." "Enough of this since you can read that hunter's book I can sell it to you for 45 silver or we can make a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"I was heading to Matebelmam to sell a few books to their library. It is a major trading city protected by the Avian empire." "I will teach you some meditation techniques if you will learn the needed languages to translate these books for me."

"Is meditation better then sleeping?"

"Some techniques are better then others. Sleeping requires 4 hours uninterrupted to assimilate that days understanding." "The technique I will teach you only requires 2 hours, thus allowing you to assimilate more often." "We'll travel down river a ways to get out of goblin territory then make camp for the night. Should reach Matebelmam sometime tomorrow evening."