Chapter 66.5

Chapter 66.5

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.

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.

Anubrekhan 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, Anubrekhan 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.

Anubrekhan 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, Anubrekhan explained as he examined the crack on the nerubian warriors 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, Anubrekhan 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.

Anubrekhan 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 Hadronoxs 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 Cthraxx, 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 Maexxnas 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 Suzol commanded several skitterers to clean and wax Hadronoxs 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 Suzol 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 Maexxnas injury.

A Guardian of Nerub will be assigned to our squad in about a years 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 NezarAzrets 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 NezarAzret 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 NezarAzret 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 Krivaxs 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 NezarAzret 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 NezarAzret 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 NezarAzret 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 Queens fanatical expression and meekly asked, Have there been other test subjects? Can I perhaps see them?

Queen NezarAzret 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 NezarAzret said with a pleased expression as she stared at the jars. Dont 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 NezarAzrets single minded focus, the thought of refusal never crossed Masruks 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.