Dragonborn Isekoi (Sallin Kari)

[porne]

Worth it of course, but still the chewing you could do without. That thought chases you into dreams. Your dreams are very different this time, and several slightly younger versions of the women you've been spending time with are talking with you, Theresa and Judith feature prominently, although there's a special place for your little Blue Berry (a game you decided to never let Jillian forget, and eventually became a term of endearment) in particular seems to be an intense focus. Her naturally bubbly affection and shyness seeming to be absent from when you talked with her earlier. She was far far more angry than Loren recalls, and you awaken with the thought that you should go make sure she's okay.

Your dreams are somewhat fretful along those lines for the rest of your sleep cycle before you wake up to a now familiar buzzing you hadn't noticed was missing. You must be back near the city for that much mana disruption to be affecting you. Of course, you'd effectively gotten used to it and only the near total absence of the humans refined mana usage from the wild had gotten you used to the 'quiet' again.

[Sallin_Kari]

I return to my feet, shaking my head. This whole, being two people at once, thing is really twisting my brain. Still as much as 'Loren' wants to run over to Jillian, and with good reason, I'm Talren, a stranger to her... I can't exactly run up to her and ask her why she's changed so much, and if I can help... As frustrating as it is... I can't actually act on it right now. And that hurts deeply...

Shit... We should be almost back... and maybe some fresh air will help me. Leaving the cabin behind, I make my way to the deck.

[porne]

The city is now in view, and you get your first view at it from this side. From the other side, it's mostly altered mountainside, that's been flattened off into small layers to act as farm land, where as this side faces the ocean, and massive lava flows had crushed this side of the volcano out, although it's obvious it's been like that for centuries or more. Massive caverns are carved directly into the rock, some natural, and some by human or near enough hands. Small ships are docked and leave it, although they're much more bulbous than the military ship you're on.

Trying to tease out a bit of information from Loren, she recalls that the military ships use a combination of magic and 'fuel gas' to stay aloft, where the fuel gas offsets most of the weight of the ship, but the large wind magic crystals are still necessary. The numerous civilian ships favor a lot more fuel gas, as well as 'waste gas' which is much safer and the 'star cage' deep inside of the city produces in abundance. The shipping craft are almost as large as the ship you're on, but have huge claws under them that grip onto containers to drop, with minor military ships providing escort where possible. There are still quite a few creatures in the area that could pick a fight with an unarmed ship and cause serious damage, although she doesn't recall what. The numerous islands which dot the ocean, or is it a lake?, all require some level of support and have sworn allegiance, or at least payment, to the crown. In fact, your latest conquest is likely from one of those islands, but that's neither here nor there.

The small ocean channel the ship fights its way up and around leads into a massive set of caverns, much of it covered by construction equipment and cranes. Much lower than the area you watched earlier, this one is more akin to an emergency repair system. There's a tremor beneath your feet as the ship uncouples from the submersible destroyer carcass and begins to casually float upwards toward the open dock from earlier. It seems they got some of the repairs done. You can wait to meet Theresa there, or you can take off on your own to go see if you can find her elsewhere.

[Sallin_Kari]

I look over the impressive city, and for the first time, feel pride for my human heritage. This is what humans can do... Sure dragons can single handily dominate an entire ecosystem, shape the environment around them, and even shatter mountains, but humans can do far more to bend the environment to their purposes through the application of sheer numbers and time. A flattening of land here for a farm of building, a mining out of stone here to form a bay, a small walled pasture for animals... Over centuries, these changes are so distinct that it is impossible to mistake their actions for anything else. Even after their cities have been wiped from existence, their mark on the landscape still remains.

Snapping out of my admiration as the prize ship crashes into the water as it is cut loose, I let out a sigh, leaning over the edge of the ship, dropping down a few yards below the keel, before spreading my wings. I fly over the very spot I took off from to see if that Theresa and Laika are still there.

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Sure dragons can single handily dominate an entire ecosystem, shape the environment around them, and even shatter mountains, but humans can do far more to bend the environment to their purposes through the application of sheer numbers and time.

He thinks to himself as he continues his quest to single handedly (cockedly?) alter the local genetic eco system.

Also, both ships were in the water until recently. It's common for damaged ships to swim back to base, since they require power to stay aloft and their lift gas and fuel are the same stuff. Well, the Kingdom runs their ships with a larger amount of helium in the more external tanks than some nations, but the same concept applies. However, the other ship was effectively dead weight and the battle carrier disconnected it and started lifting off.

It has been several hours, and Theresa seems to have gone back to doing whatever it is queens do all day. With the communication afforded by whatever spells, it's likely that Theresa had a better idea of what was going on in the ship than you did while you were asleep. As you think, a familiar black and white haired woman opens a small door and waves to you before she gives a slight bow. Laika has either been sent to fetch you, or something along those lines.

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Hey, he's half-human so it's not hypocritical.

It sounded like the ship was lifted up (as in a towed car)
and thus when it was released it made waves.

I land in front of her, happily ask, "Laika! Did wait for me?"

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Yeah, but we're using Porne's Simplified Breeding Mechanics (tm) and you've selected a dominant trait, so you'll always create half dragons, unless breeding with another dragon of some kind.

It was supposed to be a semi sequential thing, the carrier started lifting and then cut it loose before taking on its weight so that they could hook the sum bitch without having to

"No, I had an ear to the communications tower and waited for the ship to return. Since you did not fly back immediately afterward, I assumed that you had decided to ride along." She gives you a wide smile, her manner being a little more friendly than what a maid should show, but you're likely picking up a reputation as someone who hits on all the pretty ladies anyway. It's heading toward the end of the day. The battle itself took place fairly early in the morning, and it took half a day to get back, which doesn't leave you with a great deal of time, but you're not missing too much so far.

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

So... still half-human, so the whole 'bend the environment to their purposes' line still apply to his human blood

Meh... oh well, I thought it was a good visual.

"I had to check up on Jillian... Looks like she's taken things pretty hard," I point out, before letting out a sigh, "Can't really do much about it in this form, unfortunately." As much as I am interested in Laika, I'm also aware of how public of an area this is... Any flirting should be done in a slightly more private location.

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Sure, why not then.

Also, I'm thinking of letting Jillian know that Talren is Loren's reincarnation off screen, and she is not going to take it well. Poor poor little blue berry.

"Jillian... was one of the ones who knew about Theresa's attempt to bring you back. We didn't let Judith know, because of how she took it, but Jillian wasn't about to let something like death get in her way." Laika gives a small sad smile as the two of you begin to head toward somewhere. Probably to go check in with Theresa.

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

That... might be interesting. Still, it might be interesting if he is there or at least runs into her shortly after.

"That... makes this..." I trail off as I follow her, "If that was the case... maybe I should have been more friendly with her? Of course since it didn't work out the way Theresa thought... that might also make it worse... Jeez... this is a really difficult... *Sigh* Unless you have any insight, I think I need a distraction, before I drive myself up the wall."

[porne]

"Oh, I don't think Jillian would have responded any better to you if you'd been friendlier. You don't have the... assets she looks for in anything more than a friend." Laika titters at the thought that you might have tried to further befriend the prickly amazon. You definitely recall her being very affectionate though!

"Still, we'll need to check in with the Queen, she'll want to know that you're back and ready for anything else she might need you for."

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Was going to have her walk out and have a tense reaction to Talren.

[Sallin_Kari]

I pause for a moment, "Ah... That actually does explain a few things." It does put her actions in a different context... And honestly, it doesn't feel weird... I can totally see 'me' as Loren and Jillian... Hmm... Actually... I'm thinking that Loren might have very similar tastes as me.

Shrugging that little tangent aside I nod, "Alright, let's see what she has to say." I wonder if she found out about my little tryst with my 'guard'... or the admiral... or those three sailors...

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Fun times.

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

For the record, Laika is the one who finds out first, and then is the one that informs Theresa. And she can smell what you've been up to. Also, they were three marines, not sailors.

As you approach Theresa's private quarters, Jillian begins to walk out, and she freezes when she sees you. A strange mixture of emotions flows through her eyes before she walks past you, shoving you aside with her shoulder. Well, it seems she knows who you were in your past life. While you definitely want to help her, you're not sure if that'd be for the best. Loren firmly wants to go help Jillian, but the more you look at the reactions, it's clear they had a special relationship and Loren's lack of realization that she's in a new body seems to be hurting her accuracy.

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Laika... no snitching... come on... I thought we were cool.
Sailors... Marines... do you really think that Talren... or even Loren would really care to know the difference?

I let out a long sigh as Jillian storms past me, "I didn't want this either."

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

She's a cop/maid, what did you expect? I'm sure that the two would definitely be okay with being confused for each other.

Jillian continues on, heading back toward the apartments. You let her go, knowing full well there's little you could do to convince her this is okay. She just... doesn't seem interested in listening to you. Finishing your sigh, you turn back to try and deal with Theresa, who seems to have been trying to work through the headache that Jillian left in her wake. She smiles when she sees you though. "Well, if it isn't the hero of the hour. I did hear you made short work of the damned 'pirates'." She makes a set of air quotes around the term, as you're sure as well as she is that submersible battle ready destroyers are a bit outside the purview of any pirates. This was another probing attack, possibly one meant to cripple any expeditionary forces.

"Now, we need to figure out exactly who these attacks are being staged by. It'd be nice if they'd come say hello where I could personally greet them from the new casting chamber... but cowards like to hide behind misdirection like this. Considering the help you've provided, I'm not going to be angry about the guard you've decided needed a maternity leave. But please, try to keep it in your pants." She seems fairly upbeat, all things considered.

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Maids are suppose to keep their master/mistress's secrets.

I let out an aggravated breath. It's not like this is my ideal situation either... Ignoring anything else, breaking her little sweet heart and not being able to do anything about it. God I wish that she'd try to look at it from my perspective a little as well. "Don't feel like much of a hero with how Jillian looked at me," I mutter to Theresa as I find a seat, "Don't we have a prime suspect? You know... the people who assassinated me?" I'm going to not touch the guard thing right now if she's not going to chew me out.

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

She's not Talren's maid. She's the Queen/Theresa's maid/spymaster. Being head maid just gives her additional access. She's also quite aware that Talren finds her attractive and isn't interested in having a litter of puppies right now.

Also, I like the way I'm setting up their military. Essentially, Loren was shaving cost off the military, keeping little more than what was necessary to meet the Kingdoms obligations to protect it's subjects and dukedoms and shit (I'm not 100% on how that royalty thing works). When Loren died, Theresa was absolutely ready to go burninating some countrysides, but knew better than to strip her defenses, hence the upgrading of current and commissioning of additional military assets and a few other personal goodies. Does that count as retail therapy?

"I'm fairly confident it's them. I even have a pretty good idea on which country, I just need evidence if I want to enlist aid. Maybe Loren could have simply finessed some allies to go to war without proof purely on how aggressive they're being, but I don't have such close allies. Once the refit on the two other carriers is complete, we can take them out for an excursion, but the bulk of our force is still spread out on patrols. Unfortunately, actual pirates and various monsters don't like to take turns and I can't pull a large force free of anywhere quickly. So, unless the enemy decides to mosey on by the island where I can deploy the defense force or some of the other island defenses, there's not much I can do. The damage to the Bright's Wrath was... minor. They'll have her fully airworthy again by tomorrow, and they're poaching equipment from the other ships while their tanks are lined before relaunch.

I've deployed Task Force 3 in the area you just cleared, they're currently searching for any more surprises as well as any possible survivors, although I've heard that you were quite... thorough in that regard. Although, apparently your reputation is getting to the point where Victoria is eager to poke you with a stick. Thanks for being my doll Talren." She says, and you have a flash of Loren and Theresa as kids, a small circle of dolls being used as an audience while they make presentations to each other.

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I thought that Victoria was the spymaster.

You're thinking feudalism which was commonly tied with medieval monarchies... I would actually be surprised if the country was feudalistic though as under that system, the bulk of the army comes from the lords. Essentially the monarch ensures the nobles rights and lands as well as defend them in the case of invasions in exchange for taxes and loaning their military forces in times of war. As such, they don't really have a true standing army for the most part. In fact they typically also rely heavily on levies, marshaling up the serfs to fill out their forces to more than just the lords' personal retinue of knights/guards.

A nostalgic smile creeps on my face, "Well... it does seem to have done you good... Anyways, I did grab some documents on that 'pirate' ship, and a captain who was very interested in burning them. Probably good evidence in there," I sit across from her, "If that's not enough, I'm willing to bet I got enough of Loren up here," Tapping my temple, "To finagle something out of them."

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

If I'm remembering right, Victoria was the spell casting sister. If I'm wrong let me know. Elizabeth is the crown's champion, and the picture shows green hair, so she's got a bit more Amazon in her than normal I guess. Theresa is the queen/twin. I haven't done anything with Diane yet that I know of.

Yah, that sounds right. Essentially, government wise, it's got a lot of constitutional monarch elements because the Brights realized the positives of a good bureaucracy that they don't try to dick with. They're also the head of an empire/federation where they provide protection and trade to all of the local islands around them and get to act as the representative at larger trade functions with external nations. A lot of the smaller islands will pay their 'taxes' with people/serfs/warriors as needed as they tend to be more people and one or two specific resources rich. However, it's fairly tense as there's a lot of bickering between the islands, random monster attacks, but they tend to band together to fight off foreign powers. But until Theresa can show them there's evidence of such a hostile power (who's so far only moved against the Brights/national government), she can't start stripping local defenses. As a result, she can send out her carriers (of which, all three are currently under repair) or her four task forces (two of which are usually busy with something and one is usually in repairs/refit). The dozen or so patrol groups and individual ships are all tied up in current missions. The major cities/islands have a... short range destroyer force and some fixed defenses that make actually trying to fight one a living hell and the rest of the fleet will be massing the entire siege. And Brightspire (totally not pulling that name out of my ass) has some additional tricks.

"Ah, him. Yes, he's been... passed to a questioner." Given Loren's mental reaction to that turn of phrase, you guess that means he's being tortured for information. "But until then, there's not a great deal to do on my end. If I stopped everything just because there was a plot on my life, I'd never get anything done." The faint smile returns, and you get the feeling that while she's buried in paperwork, your assistance has helped her get at least the start of headway.

(I'm effectively done with this thread for right now, it's got to percolate in the background, although I can stretch it a bit and add more mystery if you want. Tomorrow is going to be Oracle day, and I think it'll be when Talren wakes up in Loren's body. Tonight, I can introduce Victoria (or whoever is the scholar of the family), Talren can talk to mommy again, or I can have a brief introductory to the elves, although I don't have anything planned.)

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Nope. Elizabeth is the enchantress while Victoria is the spymaster. And I thought Judith was the crown's champion. I mean Elizabeth is probably the second most powerful in the royal family after Theresa, as Theresa has more direct training and experience.

I view it as more moving from a Roman Empire style to a more Limited Monarchy. The protectorates providing taxes and even solider(What do you think the Auxiliary were) is very similar to how the Romans let territories govern themselves to a degree, but pay taxes to the empire rather than just to the local government.

"Well... Don't be too careless... I believe we both know someone who took that idea too far," I give a bitter smile, my hand unconsciously going to the place Loren was stabbed.

(What ever you want... I think sleeping now would be good and there is a lot of reminiscing that could trigger the transformation so it'd make sense.)