96

    Geneline Ogre (incomplete) have been found

    Geneline Manavore is incomplete. Greatly increase hunger and greatly decrease magical sensitivity. Unable to extract nutrients/magic from purely magical creatures (elementals and daemons).

    Geneline has Magical Imprinting but no magical imprint. Geneline will automatically adapt and be conditioned to be loyal to the being who imprints them. (current collective default: the Great Maw)

    Geneline corruption resistance is in conflict with Manavore and Magical Imprinting

    Would you look at that, Old Ones unfinished project to make soldiers against Chaos. And now I have it. If I can finish this, I can get myself another race of powerful creatures. A big if at that. Judging from the genelines, these ogres were supposed to be the vanguard against Chaos and daemons if Manavore is complete. Maybe this is why the ogres are sequestered to the Mountains of Mourn by the Old Ones because of them being unfinished. Not to mention the ability to sustain themselves by eating magic and daemon. Then there’s the Magical Imprinting. At least it is complete. But it seems like that it is accidentally triggered when the ogres first see the Great Maw that they subconsciously imprint on it because the Great Maw represents endless hunger that the ogres also have while Firebellies are ogres that imprint on their volcano god, the Fire Mouth or something. The Magical Imprinting also looks like a safety measure so that they are loyal to the Old Ones. Finally, there’s the corruption resistance. I guess this is also the biggest hurdle for the Ogre to be finished in time by the Old Ones. Making a geneline that actively resist corruption and magical mutation but also have to make it compatible with geneline that are specifically linked to magic.

    As for how Magical Imprinting triggers while also being blocked by Corruption Resistance, it must be a matter of survival that one geneline is prioritized over the other. I don’t know about the Great Maw but from what I know about the Firebellies, they come to exist after one particular ogre survives eating the lava extracted from their Volcano God. As of now, I think I can imprint the ogre I am currently having. I don’t know about converting the rest of the ogres. But it will be nothing short of impossible unless they willingly join. Which I also doubt. They look pretty content following their current way of life.

    After this, all that is left is formalizing the alliance with Zhao Ming. Thinking back, he is quite a shrewd person. Despite his gregarious appearance and personality, he is very good at scheming. While he has an alliance with the ogres, last I check, Cathay doesn’t exactly like the ogres. I think I have read the notion of Cathay wanting to exterminate the ogres but I don’t know if this is only from a certain faction or the entire Cathay in general. Should the alliance not pan out, my herd will battle the arriving ogres along with Cathay soldiers with their Dragon Lord. I don’t know what his plans are but if he manages to minimize his people''s casualties, judging from the number of ogres that arrived, the ogres will be quite weakened should I win. If this happens, there’s a chance he might want to restart diplomatic talks. But since the alliance pan out, what’s better than one powerful alliance if not two. Not to mention two allies that will keep each other in check. With how easy he can call the ogres, he can call the ogres again if there’s a problem with my herd and he can call my herd for help in case the ogres step out of line. If he went for the friend of all playbook, should one of the allies make trouble, he will call for assistance on the other. Only for his representative to come late and just in time before the conflict escalates at least or before the conflict fully erupts at most. Thus reinforcing his neutral and friendly position. All the while minimizing the casualties on his end. But that is a problem for tomorrow. Now I lie on my fur bed and sleep.

    —

    Woke up in the morning as usual. Already my belly is huge with pregnancy. Should be giving birth to my ogre child somewhere in the afternoon. Surprisingly the ogre chieftain that fucks me still around. Already awake but just sitting silently. Staring then looking away when I make eye contact.

    “What? You need something?” As I said that and sat up, he just stood and left the tent. Followed with a raucous cheer from the ogres. I get up and leave the tent to see what the ruckus are.

    “OUR CHIEFTAIN FINALLY FUCKS!” Some of the ogres shouts loudly and the cheer gets even louder when I open my tent flap and leave the tent. This is certainly new. Some of the ogres come around and bump the chieftain’s shoulder in congratulation.

    “So that’s what you find pretty.” One of the ogres said that which resulted in a loud sucker punch that knocked him out of consciousness. The ogres cheer even more while I can see how the sides of the chieftain’s face and ears are fully red. He then quickly left, the rest of the ogres giving way while also loudly laughing and such. Never expect a cute reaction from an ogre but here we are. Think I will need to know his name later. Am I smiling? Anyway, I shake my head as I return to my tent for now and wait until I give birth. After that, all that is left is formalizing some trade with Zhao Ming and I can return to Drakwald and prepare.

    Few hours later, I gave birth to another twin. Female and male ogre babies. Golden is their skin and they still have some horns and hooves but most of their features are humanoid. From a glance, they are no different than Ungors, the lowest caste of the beastmen. But their size is anything but.

    “If you keep giving birth to even bigger things like this, I ask to be bigger too.” Mal, the three-eyed shaman complains. The baby is just a bit smaller than the Cygor babies but still it is almost as big as her.

    “Very well. Do you want it now?” I ask her. Excluding my children, she has been the one that stays with me the longest. Being the caretaker of my newborn and such. She nods and I alter her geneline. Making her half size bigger than before.

    “Yes. So, what do you think?”

    “No.” I answered immediately.

    “Really? Decided so quickly?” He raised his eyebrow.

    “Yes.”

    “May I know why?” He asks again.

    Gotrek and Felix are there. If I remember the timeline correctly, both are currently in Araby and I refuse to get near them. Mostly because Gotrek and Felix are the closest thing to the main characters in Warhammer Fantasy, even more than Ubersreik Five. So I am not too keen to find out if they have plot armor or not.

    “It will take too much time to get there. The most efficient way to travel there is by sea and I have no means to do that at the moment.” I made up some excuse. The idea for a third base is appealing, yes. But then I will need to split my force even more and my attention will be further divided.

    “I see.” Zhao Ming nods and accepts my answer. It would seem this merchant from Araby does not have high expectations that his request can be done.

    “Hmmm. It seems like I am forgetting something.” I said as I felt like I had missed something.

    “If you forget it then maybe it is not that important. Now let’s continue our discussion.”

    —

    At the same time, in the morning off the north coast of Laurelorn

    “See anything!?” A dark elven scout shouts to the one checking the river where Manaan runs off to.

    “Nothing! How about there!?” the scout that watches the land shouts back.

    “Nothing!” answered the scout watching the sea

    Following Manaan’s order, the Black Ark stays in position. It is almost afternoon and all waited in bated fearful breath on what Manaan would call a surprise. If they can sail away they would. But a flock of albatross flies far above the black ark, circling, watching, and they are not too keen on repeating what happens below deck.