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Part 8

Sko and I descended the steps into the darkened passage of the experimental floor, the first time we'd ever descended into it. I wanted to get a good look at it. Yet ere we descend the stairs and came into the main hall we were stopped by a triangular faced and bodied cat-like creature with drooping swords for ears and a cape over it's back. We were invisible and using a low level one yet the creature saw us.

"Uh welcome sirs, it has been eons since we were last visited down here. I represent the head of the guardian protectors of this level of Primeon. We protect Primeon and especially this level. The others you may meet, I protect this level especially. Yet your power is great . . ."

I interrupted, "If we are interrupting what is naturally in place then we will return to the upstairs." I turned to leave.

"No, we yield to your power. I am Debacho, a sprite cait. The Drago-hawk you met at the gate is called Vigaush. Gesh guards this level, he is a troll, and old dangerous yet gifted weapon maker. The lower two levels are guarded by Elaejia and Nellms, two Cadis Draks. The whole compound is protected by reigning masprits totaling five. These few more so defend us from magical interference and general assault. We have had many guardians perish from age or desertment. We have tried recruiting others, including those giant rats you seen at the entrance. We have a bat rat upstairs called Redalis whom wandered in here. She's more an alarm than anything being as small as she is she is a natural enemy of Vigaush," Debacho told me.

"What about that black bird at the central tower?" I asked.

"That is a Grouver and it has nested there for the season. Very large night hawk type bird. We've tolerated her because she defends her nest," Debacho responded.

"Anyone looking after the meeting room level?" Sko asked.

"I was, you haven't really looked at it though," Debacho pointed out.

"No, we have decided to look at the state of the other levels. I can imagine how the meeting room looks," I replied.

"Well then..." Debacho struggled.

"Ias," I replied.

"Right, Ias, our new lord, we must have you meet our other guardians. As you realize, there's not many who wish to be inside all the time like this," Debacho said.

"No, yet I'll find some mayhap, yet I'm only going to improve damages, no more so to improve the state in general. The natural balances of this world are merely in place yet who was the one guardians that are gone?" I replied to Debacho.

"There was an old sorceress by the name of Karen Kavenshire, somewhat of the Maginean race. Very Knowledgeable and a great record keeper. She used to look over the library.

Eckstal and Wovelmlos akin to a neat tidy intelligent race. Eckstal kept up the upstairs quarters. Wovelmlos kept up the first floor," Debacho explained.

"What about the guards?" Sko asked.

"The entrance is from the second floor and includes the main command post. Also, there are barracks or siege barracks at the four towers and the two gates," Debacho said.

"Thanks, Debacho, lets go meet the guardians then," I said with a smile.

"Will do," Debacho said alighting into the air and turning away floated down the hallway choked with an unkempt air and had an old rotting flesh smell that I imagined would turn the stomach of much else.

We skirted around the center of the hallway where the hallway circled around the supposed lower level of the Sky room. Then we were in the eastern hallway dotted by two sets of double doors on each side equidistant positioned to each other evidently leading to four rooms off of the halls. Debacho floated up to the far right double door and they swung inward from him and he passed inside. Sko went before me and we went into a room covered in soot over stone brick. In the center was a large forge with a large heat hood hovering over it. This gave way to a pipe which vent to the far east wall and into it.

Elsewhere, hanging on the walls and littering the floors were weapons and devices of metal. Several metal chairs were in between the trinkets about. Beside the billows was a trough about the size of the stone forge and hanging about the forge were hammers, billows, and other blacksmith tools.

On a chair aside the forge, leaning up against it with one elbow to prop him up, was Gesh. He was asleep and snoring audibly. He was a pudgy creature, big and green his skin rough and gnarled. His legs were long and so was his nose. He had gray hair and a few warts on his face. He wore a loin cloth around his waist and which stretched out to his knees yet I could still see his dick under there. He was dirty as well as old lightly coated with ash which made him look a darker green.

"Gesh," Debacho said.

I nodded and said," Gesh, Troll weapon maker. Has made weapons for mentors, kings, and warriors alike free of charge as long as one has many raw ores and rare metals and celestial metals available to him, also makes armors."

Debacho stared full on at me, "How?"

"He does know everything even though he is limited linearly. He just likes to keep silent for the audience," Sko explained for me and I nodded.

I turned to Gesh and sang, "Wake up Gesh."

The troll woke up and stumbled to his feet, "What the slivers?!"

"Gesh, we have new masters," Debacho said.

I didn't wish Debacho to get away with that so I became visible, "No, Debacho. I'm not here to disrupt per say. Primeon is almost a lost cause. I'd best direct the powers that be to revive this. Anyways, you Gesh and the rest are free."

Gesh bore his eyes into me, "What?!"

"Gesh, this is an Altimentor, Ias," Debacho told Gesh.

The troll became wide awake at this, "Forgive my sluggishness, I was unawares."

I was impressed with his new attitude, "Maybe I could put you to some use. I'd make my own grounds outside. I'm not sure how I'd use your skill."

"Whether or not I see my products in use I am happy to make any and everything if I have the materials and they are raw enough... And I gotta' shit!" The troll said and went out through the door we came through and to the right. The last part caught me off guard and I stared out the door after him.

Debacho hovered up and faced me, "I'd still like to stay with you if I may?" Debacho said, his expression imploring at me.

I looked at Sko and he looked at Debacho, "Yes, Actually he was going to band together his old team if he can find them. There's some that won't necessarily stay in the Silver stream all the time. Explorers and helpers a like. It's up to you if you want to help with such a task?"

"Yes, of course," Debacho said with a nod.

"Then, I'll give you a task. I need you to tell the others what has happened. Sko, you resurrect Zeck and Slas and inform them. I need Nellms and Elaejia and Redalis, Vigaush, Gesh on my team. I will get Sidge myself. There remains the task of Alvin Abernous, Wovelmlos, and Eckstal which I will talk with all ere we get everything started.

"There are more, no doubt, yet those for now. Don't worry about talking to Gesh, I'll explain things to him ere he gets back. And, oh yes, there is a full dragon of whose name I forget... Sedas!" I conveyed to them.

"Then I shall see to it," Debacho said and vanished.

Sko winked and was gone himself.