Chương 84: Chapter 66.5

5 Vizier Gurtis could hear the thud of the artillery shells on the hill nearby as she made her way to the Azjol-Nerub Arsenal entrance. Elder Nadox had requested a thorough update on the production of guns and gunpowder after a recent council meeting. She also intended to observe some of the warriors practicing with the new weapons for her final report.

As she entered into the newly constructed facility, Vizier Gurtis replaced her headdress with a steel helmet and strapped on the padded silk armor. After hearing about some serious fatal accidents in the Eastern Kingdom, the Viziers in the newly formed Explosives Research Division were determined to minimize any dangers. Every nerubian working in the arsenals was required to wear protection.

The gunpowder mills were housed in warehouses with thick walls and thin roofs to direct any explosions upwards away from the workers in the facility.

"Welcome, I am Vizier Zaltol, in charge of the gunpowder manufacturing," said a tall nerubian with a purple carapace as he pointed to the barrels and crates.

"Our Black Water Reprocessing facilities send us the water saline solution containing saltpeter in barrels. The sulfur and charcoal crates are brought in from the mines and foundries of Azjol-Nerub."

Vizier Zaltol led her to one of the grinding mills in a different part of the facility.

"Here we grind the charcoal and the sulfur into a fine powder and then mix them together in equal proportions," Vizier Zaltol stated.

"Both powders are flammable but not all that explosive. Our workers spray down the powders in the mixing basin with water to help keep them cool."

Vizier Gurtis asked, "How do you power the grinder and the mixer? I can see that you are using pulleys to turn the heavy grindstone and mixer propellers."

Vizier Zaltol pointed to the capstan connected to the ropes going through the pulleys and answered, "The capstan is turned by an underground river below us. Some of the other gunpowder factories use windmills to power the operation as they do not have access to flowing water."

Leading her behind a thick wall divider, Vizier Zaltol carefully pointed to trays full of water with a thin layer of white crystals on them.

"This is the most dangerous part of the operation. The saltpeter is highly explosive. We prefer to evaporate most of the saline solution containing saltpeter here before mixing it with the charcoal and sulfur powder."

Vizier Gurtis looked in fascination at the mixer next to the trays, "I see that you mix the saltpeter solution with the charcoal and sulfur to make this paste mixture here. What are the proportions that you use?"

"Viziers in the Technology Research Division have worked out the safe but effective mixture of gunpowder is three parts of saltpeter to one part of the combined sulfur and charcoal powder," Vizier Zaltol answered with a pleased expression.

"We discovered that the mixture used by the Eastern Kingdoms contains too much charcoal."

Vizier Gurtis made a few notes for her report and then walked past another thick dividing wall. This room contained a metal wheel with teeth that cut through the gunpowder paste. The room was bare with no silk matting on the stone floor. Vizier Zaltol asked her to put on a bracelet connected by a loose chain to the metal pole in the edge of the room. He put on another similar bracelet before beginning his explanation.

"In order to reduce the chance of sparks, all personnel must ground themselves while working in this room," Vizier Zaltol informed her.

"The metal wheel with teeth converts the paste into small gunpowder balls of around an eighth of an inch diameter. Before they are packaged, the small gunpowder kernels are coated with graphite to waterproof the final product."

Adding a few more notes on the operation, Vizier Gurtis made her way back to the open area of the warehouse.

"Where is the gun factory?" Vizier Gurtis asked politely as she removed the protective gear and put her headdress back on.

Vizier Zaltol pointed to a hatch near the back of the warehouse and said, "The gun factory is underground. There is a metal chute under the hatch to transport the processed gunpowder into the factory. The main entrance is just outside the warehouse. Vizier Nejar is in charge of the operations there."

Vizier Gurtis nodded as she walked out the warehouse back into the cold Northrend air. The entrance to the underground gun factory was guarded by two nerubian warriors with spears. At her approach, they examined the credentials she had been given by Elder Nadox and opened the heavy steel doors to the cavern.

There was a deafening sound of rhythmic metal striking on metal all around her as she was greeted by Vizier Nejar.

"My apologies for the noise," Vizier Nejar shouted over the sound of the factory and pointing to the room with wide glass windows overlooking the factory floor.

"We should go to the office, as it will be easier for us to speak clearly there."

When Vizier Gurtis and Vizier Nejar arrived in the office and shut the door, the sounds of the foundry were finally muted enough to hold a conversation.

Vizier Nejar pointed out the window to the foundries and said, "We are producing three types of gunpowder weapons for mass production for the regiments of Azjol-Nerub. The rifle, cannon, and mortar designs are all based on the sample gunpowder weapons found in Lordaeron."

Vizier Gurtis nodded and pointed to a quieter portion of the facility separated from the foundries by thick walls and asked, "What goes on in that section of the facility?"

"We produce the bullets and shells for the guns and artillery in that section," Vizier Nejar stated.

"We create a waterproof silk packet with standardized gunpowder amounts and a metal bullet or shell. This innovation has improved the rate of fire by reducing the steps needed to reload the weapons."

"Would it be possible to examine the weapons?" Vizier Gurtis asked.

"I noted that there is a gun and artillery range as a part of this facility."

Vizier Nejar nodded and led Vizier Gurtis over to a door that led back up to the surface. They made their way back to the surface where squads of nerubian warriors were training with rifles and artillery.

"As a Vizier, I can provide the rationale for any technical aspects to the design," Vizier Nejar said, while beckoning to a powerful nerubian warrior observing the squads with discerning eyes.

"However, Warrior Yulox would be better equipped to explain the more practical aspects of using these weapons."

Warrior Yulox came over with the standard nerubian rifle and bandolier with bullet cartridges. After introductions, Vizier Nejar and Warrior Yulox started by showing off the rifle and pointing out all the features.

"The rifle is five feet long with a rifled bore of about five eighths of an inch," Vizier Nejar explained.

"As you notice, the nerubian standard rifle is completely made of a special steel alloy to prevent corrosion. Our initial designs had wooden stocks like the guns of the Eastern Kingdoms. However, our experiments showed that the wood warped due to temperature changes and humidity."

Warrior Yulox took out a silk bullet cartridge from the bandolier and said, "This is a standard bullet with a conical tip and gunpowder charge. As you can see, the bullet cartridge is of a significantly higher caliber than the ones used by the humans."

Warrior Yulox pulled back the firing pin and then released the hinged barrel to reveal the tray for the bullet cartridge.

"I place the bullet cartridge in the tray, close the hinged barrel, push in the firing pin to break open the gunpowder charge, and cock back the spark wheel," Warrior Yulox said, while demonstrating his actions.

"After that, the rifle is ready to be fired."

"How many rounds can you fire in a minute?" Vizier Gurtis asked curiously as Warrior Yulox took aim at the target some two hundred yards away.

"Approximately ten rounds per minute," Warrior Yulox answered as he fired the rifle striking the target.

"However, each bandolier contains sixty cartridges or enough ammunition for only ten minutes. So, nerubian rifle squads are trained to fire five rounds before maneuvering to a new firing location or charging the opponent with their bayonets."

"Can the bullets penetrate through armor?" Vizier Gurtis asked.

"According to the records from the war, human riflemen had difficulty piercing the scales of the undead dragons."

Warrior Yulox pointed at the target markers and said, "In my experience, I can consistently penetrate half an inch of steel from a hundred yards. Performance is comparable to a well enchanted crossbow, but having so many warriors equipped with these weapons gives us many more options to use against the enemies of Azjol-Nerub."

Vizier Nejar pointed to a squad of nerubians hauling multiple carriages and said, "I think the cannon and mortar teams are about to start their tests."

Vizier Gurtis observed as several three-nerubian teams made their way over to the range. One nerubian was towing a cannon or mortar, while another nerubian was towing a small wooden cart. The third nerubian in the team was carrying a telescope and several maps.

"The cannon and the mortars both fire five inch shells," Vizier Nejar commented as the nerubian artillery squad anchored the cannons and mortars to the ground and prepared to fire the first shot.

"We tried to copy over the breech loading design used in the rifles to our artillery, but the hinge system was not strong enough and some nerubian warriors lost limbs."

"What is the difference between a mortar and a cannon?" Vizier Gurtis asked, as she warily watched the cannon team prepare to load the ammunition from the wooden cart into the cannon.

"Both of the artillery have the same diameter and have similar lengths of around eight feet."

"The cannon fires solid projectiles over a long distance," Warrior Yulox answered, as the nerubian with the telescope adjusted the angle of the gun after consulting the map.

"The mortar fires gunpowder filled bombs in a high arcing trajectory over a shorter distance. So the cannons are more useful on ships and in the battlefield. The mortars are more useful in dealing with stationary fortified targets."

Everyone hunkered down as the nerubian cannon team pulled on the firing cord attached to the end of the cannon. There was a flash followed by billowing smoke. In the distance, Vizier Gurtis watched the cannonball create a divot on the hill.

While they all waited for the smoke to clear, the mortar team started their preparation to fire their weapon.

"The mortar shells have a special time fuse that is armed before firing," Warrior Yulox explained as the mortar captain carefully adjusted a wooden plug sticking out from the mortar shell.

"The captain has to be skilled at estimating how much time it takes for the mortar shell to hit the ground."

Everyone braced as the firing cord of the mortar was pulled and the entire range was filled with another flash of light and thick smoke. A few moments later a thud reverberated through from the hill as the mortar shell exploded just before it struck the hill.

"Thank you for the demonstration," Vizier Gurtis said, trying not to cough from all the smoke in the air.

"Before I leave to finish my report for Elder Nadox, I must inform you that you will soon receive two new design requests. Firstly, you will need to develop and test a bomb that can be carried, armed, and dropped by a nerubian flier. Secondly, you will be requested to determine the cannon and mortar placements for Project Sanctum."

Vizier Gurtis made a mental note to suggest masks for all the nerubian artillery crews as the smoke finally started to clear.

Anub'rekhan made his way onto the podium and looked out onto the fifty nerubian postulants to the Guardians of Nerub. They were all clad in the purple and gold web emblem and waiting patiently. The High King had agreed that the Guardians of Nerub would only recruit from nerubians who had already served the kingdom for four years. Young hatchlings needed to develop some experience dealing with ordinary citizens before learning to wield the Light.

Nerubians uncomfortable with commanding large numbers of soldiers or interacting with multiple patients would not be suitable paladins.

Placing his massive scythe-like claws on either side of the podium, he felt his body start to glow with the Light as he began his speech.

"New postulants of the Guardians of Nerub. Azjol-Nerub faces a period of change greater than any in living memory Our kingdom now includes exclaves on new continents. Our kingdom has new allies and must face new enemies. Our kingdom must study and incorporate new schools of magic and technology. It is in this time of change, that we embrace the philosophy of the Light and rededicate ourselves to our people."

Anub'rekhan continued to scan his gaze over the gathered nerubians, all relative newcomers to the Light.

"A few of you have served Azjol-Nerub as Spiderlords, Queens, Viziers, although most of you have served our people as Warriors. I ask that you now continue that glorious service with me as a Guardian of Nerub and adhere to the four tenets of our organization.

We exist only to serve Azjol-Nerub.

We will not be found wanting in any of our tasks.

We will aid any nerubian who comes to us for help.

We will guard our people from the enemies of Azjol-Nerub without fear.

Your strength of conviction in these tenets will allow you to channel the Light to aid you in your tasks. Now go forth and practice these principles from this day onwards."

Anub'rekhan was proud to see the four other Guardians of Nerub glowing with the Light in response to his speech. The new postulants looked determined and inspired as they broke out into groups and were led to the training chambers by their teachers and captains.

Every Guardian of Nerub, including him, was responsible for at least ten postulants who would train for two years to channel and use the Light. Afterwards, the newly graduated aspirants would apply their knowledge under supervision in missions assigned by the council. After another two years as aspirants, the members of the Guardians of Nerub would finally become paladins.

Anub'rekhan led his postulants into his personal training chamber to inform them of their training schedule for the next two years. The training chamber contained a wide practice ring with several heavy enchanted silk sandbags in the corner. In the back, there were several sets of wooden racks to hold his armor and blunt training weapons. The walls were covered by the pennants of Guardians of Nerub showing the gold web on purple.

Turning to face the eager postulants, Anub'rekhan started, "Today, I will demonstrate the three most common abilities used by paladins of our order. You will be expected to practice these abilities once you can consistently channel the Light."

While some skitterers dragged over a silk sandbag into the center of the ring, Anub'rekhan continued, "I will start by demonstrating an unaugmented attack utilizing my full strength."

Anub'rekhan braced himself and charged the sandbag with his full strength. Its powerful enchantments activated and redirected the majority of the force that he could bring to bear, causing it to only move a few feet.

"It is clear that even the strength of a powerful Spiderlord is insufficient to overpower these magical defenses," Anub'rekhan said, as the skitterers reset the silk sandbag into the center of the ring.

"Now I will strike the sandbag with a Light infused horn attack."

He walked over into the ring and started to channel the light about his horn. With a very short dash he charged into the heavy sandbag striking it with his glowing horn. The enchantments protecting the sandbag activated before the sandbag was flung cleanly out of the ring.

"As you can see, Light infused attacks are extremely powerful," Anub'rekhan said as he looked at the awed postulants.

"The attacks also have the additional property of severely damaging any opponent using void magic. This is the most basic form of attack that you will need to learn in the training rings."

Anub'rekhan pointed to the back of the wall and commanded, "Postulant Mavir, start sprinting back and forth along the wall. I will channel the Light to inspire and strengthen everyone around me."

As Postulant Mavir started to sprint back and forth, Anub'rekhan focused on his sense of service to the kingdom and felt his body start to glow with the Light. Postulant Mavir began sprinting at a faster pace and with a more determined expression as the waves of Light emanating from Anub'rekhan reached her.

"Come back over here, postulant, and explain what you experienced when the waves of Light reached you," Anub'rekhan commanded.

"My stamina improved remarkably when the waves of Light reached me," Postulant Mavir answered.

"I also felt my muscles become stronger and my mind more focused on my actions."

Anub'rekhan nodded and addressed the postulants, "This ability is particularly useful, when you are commanding nerubian warriors. As part of your training, you will visit the nerubian warrior training facility and channel the Light to inspire the warriors training there."

Beckoning to the postulants, Anub'rekhan started to lead them out of his training chamber and the halls of Guardians of Nerub to a nerubian hospital. Here soldiers injured in training and during patrols, workers injured due to accidents, and generally sick nerubians were waiting in orderly rows. Nerubian medical professionals walked between the rows taking notes on the type of injury or illness and the seriousness of the issue.

Anub'rekhan led the postulants into a chamber with the emblem of the Guardians of Nerub on the door. Once all the postulants assembled into the back of the chamber, he beckoned to the medical nurse outside for his first patient to be brought into the chamber.

"The most useful ability involving the Light is in healing people," Anub'rekhan explained as he examined the crack on the nerubian warrior's carapace.

"As a Guardian of Nerub, you will learn how to heal any damage to the carapace or cure a non-magical illness."

He placed the tip of his claw over the crack and channeled the Light into the injured warrior. The cracked carapace started to mend and fuse back together. After a few moments, the warrior was fully healed and discharged back to his duties.

"In the hands of an experienced paladin, some patients can be brought back from the brink of death," Anub'rekhan said as the next patient was brought into the chamber.

"As a part of your training, you will regularly work as a healer in the hospital."

Channeling the Light again to cure the sick nerubian weaver of a mild fever and wrapping a glowing silk bandage about a blister on the face of his patient, he continued, "Some members of our organization are studying the use of Light infused silk as bandages. Once you become an aspirant, you may choose to participate in the research study."

Anub'rekhan observed the determined expressions among his postulants with pride. In another two years, the Guardians of Nerub would be ready to face the prophesied necromancer.

Warrior Vohed focused on the artifact and chittered softly to guide the large spider into the prepared guard post. Hadronox slowly made her way around the chamber testing the silk tripwires with her powerful legs, while the rest of his squad inspected the barrels full of food and water for Hadronox. They started to fill a heated basin with an insect, seafood, and water soup.

According to the nerubian queens, Hadronox was still not at her full size. She needed to eat specially prepared food regularly to keep growing in size. Focusing on the artifact, Warrior Vohed changed the pitch of his chitters to guide Hadronox to the basin.

Warrior Vohed inspected his squad while Hadronox ate her morning meal. All four members were experienced with handling jormungar. Warriors Sarzab and Niset also had some experience as field medics and would be in charge of monitoring Hadronox's health. Satisfied at the state of the armor and weapons, he turned his attention back to Hadronox.

Until Maexxna fully recovered from her battle with the C'thraxx, Hadronox was the primary defense against monstrous threats to the capital city of Azjol-Nerub. Guardians of Nerub and the Queens had carefully purified all of Maexxna's wounds of any void corruption before helping her to regrow her destroyed limbs. Warrior Vohed expected Maexxna to return to duty in another three months.

Once Hadronox had finished her morning meal, she settled down to spin a silk cocoon for her nest. In the meantime, Warriors Geshren and Su'zol commanded several skitterers to clean and wax Hadronox's carapace. Once she reached her full size, Hadronox would start to lay and incubate her eggs in the guard chamber. Over time, every nerubian city and enclave would contain at least an offspring of Hadronox for defense.

"How long do you think it would take for Hadronox to travel between the cities?" Warrior Sarzab asked.

"I know that they have been widening out the corridors between the guard posts for each city."

"She is very fast," answered Warrior Vohed thoughtfully.

"It might take her about an hour or two to reach the nearest city. We would have to ride on her abdomen to keep up with her."

"I know that the Viziers were able to widen the portal to Dalaran to get Maexxna through," Warrior Niset interjected.

"I think all the portals will probably have to be widened to get Hadronox or her siblings through them when she reaches full size."

Warrior Su'zol asked, "Have you heard of any update on new procedures to heal Hadronox in the field? Last I heard, the council wanted to prevent another repeat of Maexxna's injury."

"A Guardian of Nerub will be assigned to our squad in about a year's time," Warrior Vohed answered.

"Right now, there are not enough paladins in Azjol-Nerub proficient enough to heal a creature the size of Hadronox on the battlefield."

Feeling a wave of hunger from Hadronox through the artifact, he sighed as he signaled his squad to prepare her second meal. It had only been an hour since her last meal.

Masruk waited nervously outside Queen Nezar'Azret's chamber. Spiderlord Caet'zas had informed him that his morning training session was canceled as he had been identified as a candidate for Project Emberscales. Masruk had asked his Spiderlord supervisor for any information on the project, but he had been told that all information was classified.

Queen Nezar'Azret beckoned him inside and motioned for him to step into a ritual circle for a preliminary examination.

"Warrior Masruk, you have been identified as a potential candidate for the first member of a new caste," Queen Nezar'Azret said, studying the readings from several artifacts connected to the ritual circle.

"Project Emberscales is one that aims to make use of the change in morphology experienced by Vizier Krivax due to a large infusion of draconic life energy."

Masruk felt a surge of pride in hearing about the achievements of his clutchmate. He wanted to match up to Vizier Krivax's incredible service to the kingdom.

"Our studies have determined that the technique used by nerubian warriors in using intuitive magic to strengthen certain muscles and body parts in combat can also be used to direct Life energy to certain organs," Queen Nezar'Azret continued, now focusing all her attention on Masruk.

"You will need to stay still for the next test. I will partially immerse you in an alchemical solution to study certain anomalies."

Masruk tried to stay still as the cold alchemical liquid started to fill the ritual circle. He felt his limbs go numb as they were immersed in the yellow fluid and tried to suppress his instinctive fear of the unusual sensations.

After what seemed a long time, Queen Nezar'Azret finally started to drain the ritual circle. Masruk felt a tingling sensation as the feeling returned to his limbs. He started to walk short steps and move his arms.

"What are the anomalies detected?" Masruk asked the nerubian queen, who was busy leafing through reports.

"You were the nerubian responsible for the destruction of the Dragon Soul, yes?" Queen Nezar'Azret asked rhetorically as she grasped a document in her hands.

"This surely explains why examinations note significant amounts of draconic energy in your body. Warrior Masruk, you are the perfect test subject for Project Emberscales."

Masruk gulped at the Queen's fanatical expression and meekly asked, "Have there been other test subjects? Can I perhaps see them?"

Queen Nezar'Azret pointed to several large jars in the corner containing some mutated skitterers immersed in preservative fluids. Masruk could see that one skitterer had a hybrid of draconic and insect wings. Another seemed to have large slits on the side of the head like a fish. Some of the other mutations like the extra eyes, multiple antennae, or large maws were horrifying.

"I have been testing various useful organs by modifying skitterers," Queen Nezar'Azret said with a pleased expression as she stared at the jars.

"Don't worry. You are far too valuable of a test subject for me to waste. I will only begin working on you once I am certain of success. Once I am done, you will become far stronger than you could ever hope to be otherwise."

Although he was somewhat terrified of Queen Nezar'Azret's single minded focus, the thought of refusal never crossed Masruk's mind. If Project Emberscales was successful, then he could finally keep up with his friend Krivax and help him with his complicated plans in the service of Azjol-Nerub.