AN: WARNING! Don't try poisoning yourself.

Time for the first Cobb Chapter of the new year! It's short, but it feels like a good time for short Chapters, if that makes any sense. Longer Chapters are usually reserved for Arc finales where things are epic and grand and a lot is going on at once. For the beginning of the Stigmata Arc, short Chapters feel more appropriate.

Enjoy.

Also, check my profile to find the forum link. Check the forum link to find the Discord link, then maybe check out the Discord. We got great Artwork, Chapter Previews, Spoiler Discussions, and some fellow fans to chat with. Check it out.

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add Portable Brewing Stands.

Chapter 202

Mithridates

[Cobb]

November 6th.

First thing in the morning, I woke up and went to Witige to get some of my poison training done. I had to get it done before the other Paragons woke up and packed their gear. That's how I'd been doing things the past week hiking through the Ohm Mountains. We'd be out of them by the 11th, if Baltic was to be believed.

Baltic didn't like seeing me poison myself to improve my endurance, so I usually went to Witige first, only going to Baltic if there was no other choice. Perry also made it a habit to come with, just like today.

We usually chose a spot far enough away from the camp to not be a bother. Lenz and Z7 chose the same places to train their Quickdraw. This time, I got to see the fruits of their training in action.

Lenz and Z7 stood ten meters apart and facing each other. Lenz had his fingers hovering over his belt, twitching slightly over a dagger.

Z7 stood relaxed and composed, her hands at her sides and not even hovering over her assortment of iron daggers. Lenz licked his lips, his tinted goggles betraying nothing. A quiet had settled over the rocky clearing.

There was a rush of movement as Lenz' hand flew to his belt. I barely tracked it as he pulled out the dagger only to clutch his hand in pain. Two daggers clattered to the ground behind him, Z7's having knocked his out of his hand. The assassin's arm was outstretched and she brought up her other arm to part her curtain of hair and flash a smirk.

Then her hand bundled her curtain of hair and wielded it like a weapon as she advanced on the nerd.

"Kvmzogb." She declared with an eager smile.

Lenz barely had time to turn before the Jibberwoman was upon him, whipping him with her hair for losing the Quickdraw duel. He shielded his head and fled while she continued to beat him with her hair.

"Someone's enthusiastic." Witige remarked as he watched Lenz plead for mercy in the assassin's tongue, much to Z7's amusement. "She was never this expressive training Baltic or me."

I raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing getting trained by an assassin?"

"You kidding? Quickdraw was made for potion throwers." Witige explained. "We need to quickly swap out potions to use on enemies and allies. The Quickswap is just as important as the Quickdraw. All the Paragons learned it from Z7. Even Carys."

"Is that so?" I asked, mildly interested. "Hm."

"It's a vital tool for combat. To be able to swap to the items in your belt at a moment's notice could mean the difference between life and-"

"Enough talk. Just make us the potions, Witige." Perry demanded rather rudely of the alchemist. "We don't have all day."

Witige frowned sourly, but set down the brewing stands to make the potions. Meanwhile, I turned to face Perry.

"You want potions too?"

"I want to try your draconian training." He answered back. "That a problem?"

"I thought Baltic didn't want you hurting yourself."

"Doesn't stop you, does it?" He countered before spreading his arms. "You going to tattle, or are we doing some endurance training?"

I regarded him for a moment before conceding. It wasn't like I could tell him no when I was doing the same thing. It'd be hypocritical. Plus, a part of me was flattered to see someone else take up my torturous endurance regimen.

Blood: My torturous endurance regimen...

Aren't you me and me you?

Blood: I want top billing...

Fine. Your torturous endurance regimen. Happy?

Blood: ...Ye.

"So make me some potions, double-time." Perry demanded. Witige was all too happy to comply, shoving three Potions of Poison and Weakness into our hands. Now that he was holding them, Perry wrinkled his nose. "Do we have to drink them? Splash Potions would suffice, right?"

Witige was about to take them back before I raised a hand to stop him. "We don't need to waste gunpowder. Drinking them is how we do this." I then steeled myself before willingly swallowing the poison, the brew burning my throat like acid. Green particles started swirling around me and I began to take damage.

Perry looked reluctantly at the bottle full of green liquid. He hesitated for a moment before bringing the glass neck to his lips and tipping it back. His eyes widened and he lurched forward, nearly retching. Only by covering his mouth and swallowing did it go down, his eyes screwing shut from the pain.

Stomach: First time?

Brain: Don't do this at home, kids.

"Yeah, it's... ngh... pretty foul." I comiserated. Despite the burning pain and acidic taste, I brought out the Weakness Potion and downed that too. Instantly, I was overcome with that fatigued feeling I had grown accustomed to. My limbs ached and felt heavy and all I wanted to do was lie down and nap.

I had since learned to push through that feeling, enabling myself to draw my sword and practice my slashes.

Perry took longer to drain his Weakness Potion and nearly fell over after swallowing it. He was on one knee, hands planted on the ground, all while the poison leeched his Hearts away.

The whole point of this exercise was to make us weak and at the brink of death. Fighting in that state would ensure that we'd be used to it when it inevitably got to that point in real combat. We'd be able to keep fighting past the point of exhaustion and agony. Just like how Carys could with her boundless stamina.

Perry didn't rise or draw his sword until after he was at half-a-Heart, when the poison couldn't take any more from him, and his Hunger Meter was too low to replenish it. I was in the same way, though I'd gotten a headstart swinging while taking the poison damage. But that could be forgiven. I'd done more and could do more than first-timer Perry. Did it mean I was stronger? Not necessarily, but it meant I could fight under duress while Perry couldn't. That could mean all the difference in a real fight.

Perry performed a few sluggish swings before his grip faltered and the sword clattered onto the ground, shortly followed by a gasping Perry. He clawed at his chest weakly.

"I... can't... breathe. Oh my... God I can't... I can't breathe..."

"Yeah, the... first time... is the hardest." I said, remembering how quickly I had folded.

"It... it hurts." Perry tried to stand only to stumble and fall. "Oh God... it hurts, and it... keeps... hurting. It keeps... getting worse!"

"I know you're in a lot of pain. I know it hurts." I acknowledged, still stubbornly swinging at the brink of death. "But the world doesn't stop when you're hurting. It all keeps going. People will keep attacking. All you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and tell yourself you're Not Dead Yet."

I had recalled King Miles' last words. The ones spoken at his funeral. Anything is possible so long as you're alive; so long as you're Not Dead Yet. And telling yourself that was a source of strength all its own.

"If you feel weak, if you feel pain, then that just means you're still alive." I continued, putting more strength that I didn't have into my slashes. I shouldn't have been able to, yet I kept standing, I kept swinging, and I kept enduring. "The world doesn't wait on you. Sometimes things take a turn for the worse. Sometimes you have to suffer. Sometimes you're overcome with grief and sorrow and all you can do is take it."

I slashed at some stone boulders, breaking a few with my Sweeping Edge sword. My hands shook from the strain, but I kept going. I kept on going.

"Sometimes things keep getting worse, even when you think the worst's behind you." My voice grew louder and I hacked and slashed away at the chunks of stone. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lenz and Z7 stop their training to listen. "You can't let it break you. You can't!"

I whirled on Perry, sprawled on the ground, and knelt down so I could shout at his level.

"You gonna lie there and take it? You gonna let the hurt win, Perry?"

"...no." Perry grit his teeth as he planted both palms into the ground. "No."

"I can't hear you, soldier!"

"NO!" He pushed up on trembling arms as green and gray particles swirled around him. He wasn't standing, though.

"Then you gotta fight for it! Fight! Right now!" I urged, standing up and egging him on. He seemed to draw strength from every word. "Dig in! Push past your limits! Don't let the weakness win! GET UP!"

His knee propped him up before he extended it and pushed himself up on two shaking legs. He grabbed for his sword and hefted it with more exertion than he ever had to undergo in all his life. I could tell by the veins bulging out of his neck and the red flooding his face that Perry was putting his all into it.

When he was finally standing under his own power, he raised his blade and performed a solid swing at a chunk of rock, cracking it but not breaking it like I had. After that, he ran out of steam and collapsed onto his back, his chest rising and falling in great gasps.

"Good." I smiled slightly as I joined him on the ground, thoroughly spent myself. "You took a swing at your worst."

"That... one... swing..." he panted with eyes shut, "was the... hardest of my life..."

"If this was easy, anyone could do it." I asked while waiting for the Poison and Weakness to expire. Then I could reward my stomach with some rotten flesh and steak.

"Next time... I'll do three swings..." Perry vowed, earning a raised eyebrow from me.

"You want to keep doing this?"

"It's conditioning... for the tough battles. It'll make me stronger." He gasped, cracking one eye open to look at me. "You know I... I always wanted to be a Hacker Slayer."

"That a fact?" I said, leaning forward slightly. It was another chance to learn more about the people I was traveling with. The more I knew about him, the more likely I would act to protect him.

"Yeah. I always had a grudge against the cult, but..." He frowned as he slowly sat up. "In my head, I figured there were more Hackers than Lieutenants or Executives, so I figured I was more likely to face a Hacker and bring them down a peg through brute force. Overpower the immortals." He cocked his head towards me. "Was it that easy when you made history?"

"Easy? Hell no. I kept throwing things at Alec until something stuck." And boy, did the Charged Creeper Flail stick. "I did do a lot of thinking on my feet, though. I think that's the key; not brute force, but quick thinking."

"I get ya. Brains over brawn." He flashed an eager grin. "Were you excited before the big moment? Did you amp yourself up?"

I looked up with a thoughtful expression. "All I was thinking about was saving my sister."

"Your sister? Crafters don't have blood relations."

"No, but she's as good as an older sister to me." I smiled thinking about Wynn, wondering how she was faring in Ringwood. "I didn't care how immortal Alec was. In that moment, I fought to keep her safe. It made me as strong as I needed to be."

"Sounds like the corny power of friendship." Perry dismissed. "Carys doesn't believe in friends and attachments, but she'd approve of this training. This is some serious conditioning work you're doing, and it's preparing you for the tough fights. What you're doing is showing amazing foresight, no matter how horrified it makes Baltic. The attachments don't matter so long as-"

"The attachments matter." I spoke firmly. "They're the 'why' I fight."

Heart gave me a reason to fight, Brain told me how to fight, and Blood gave me the strength to fight. With all three working together as a whole within me, I could fight anyone. That's what I believed.

"Okay, smart guy. Answer me this." Perry said dryly. "Will fighting for others magically make me stronger?"

"Didn't it already?" I countered. "You stopped Maira from breaking our beds in that burning inn. You were near death and struggling, but you found the strength to stand up to her. Wasn't it because you had people to protect - people counting on you?"

Perry turned away, clicking his tongue. "That wasn't... I only did it because I couldn't stand you thinking I was incompetent with the one job you gave me. We don't know how destroying the beds would have affected your return trip."

"And sometimes, people fight for others because they can't stand the thought of being without them." I said in much the same way as Perry. "Perhaps no one is really trying until something of importance is threatened."

"Whatever. Fact is you can't rely on the magic of friendship. You need tangible solutions and training. You need equipment, experience, a plan."

"I'm just sharing how I direct my inner strength." I concluded our argument graciously. "Take it or leave it."

"What I really need is another sparring opportunity." Perry challenged. "I can't let my last loss in the Caerbannog Valley keep me down."

"You want to do this now?" I asked incredulously. We were both exhausted from training our stamina.

"Tomorrow. Before we torture ourselves again. Think of it as a warm-up."

"And a chance to make up for your loss."

"Yeah. That."

I chuckled. The gauntlet had been thrown, and he was itching for a fight. Perry was much like Soul in that sense. It wasn't hard to envision him as that maddening axe-wielder.

"Okay, you're on." I agreed competitively. I could do with some sparring. There were only Mobs to fight in the mountains.

With training wrapped up, Perry, Witige, Lenz, Z7, and I returned to camp. Our group had packed up and were ready to set out when we returned.

Lenz, Trenay, and Dwight were talking about something ahead of us while the assassin trio and Z7 kept watch for threats. They were alert and cautious despite us only encountering Mobs on the mountains. Seems Griefers and Crafters truly went around the Ohm Mountains instead of through.

Up ahead, I saw Perry slogging uncomfortably. He was really feeling the stamina training while hiking. I could power through, having gotten used to it, but he needed a pick-me-up, which he demanded harshly of Witige.

"Brew me a Potion of Strength and Regeneration, Beta-male."

Witige's frown deepened, but he stopped walking and took out his brewing stand before going to work.

"Odd way to ask for a favor." I commented, causing Witige to snap his gaze up. I waited for him as he brewed while the rest went on ahead. They wouldn't be out of sight, so it was fine. "What was that bit about being a Beta-male?"

"Just ignore it. It's nothing." He waved off, the bottles bubbling from the Blaze powder.

"It's not nothing to me. Does Perry bully you?" When Witige made to argue, I cut him off with, "It'll keep bugging me until I get an answer."

Witige sighed. "Beta-male is what the other teams call Team Beta. We're meant to be support, not fighters. As a result, we're low on the hierarchy."

"Really? They weren't like that with Baltic."

"Baltic is the exception. He's old, experienced, and wise. Carys respects him so the others do too." Witige placed the ingredients into the stand and let it bubble. "Outside of combat, the rest of Team Beta are relegated to making potions for the soldiers on command."

"That's stupid. You guys are just as important as the fighters. Get a few Splash Potions of Harming and you can take out ten enemies easy." I defended. "I wish I had an alchemist like Baltic when I first set out. Having his variety of Potions would have helped us a lot."

The support role was that powerful. Strengthening allies, impairing foes, healing the injured, paralyzing prisoners, even having available glass bottles for stealing EXP off people. I sure wouldn't be rude to an alchemist like Perry was with Witige.

Witige snorted amusedly. "You don't have to explain yourself. I've seen the way you ask for potions. You thank me. Even when I give you poisons to guzzle, you thank me." He glanced at the name hanging over my head with a peculiar expression. "Come to think of it, the unorthodox way you utilize potions on yourself reminds me of a Normal Sense fable - a poem about a king known far and wide as the Poison King. Given your name, it's actually quite the fitting tale."

Right. I was King_Cobb, though that was a foolish name choice I swore never to disclose to anyone. Nobody needed to know how I came to have such a name.

"Would you like me to recite the poem?"

"Um, thank you but I really don't think it'll be ne-"

"There was a king reigned in the East:
There, when kings will sit to feast,
They get their fill before they think
With poisoned meat and poisoned drink."

I bit back a cringe as Witige started waxing poetic to me. Maybe in some world, people just broke out into poetry like it was normal, but Minecraftia wasn't that world, and it made me feel awkward listening to him. My desperate wish for Ember_Waves to appear and attack so as to spare my ears of awkward spontaneous poetry went unfulfilled, and I was forced to ride it out with a strained smile and a twitching eye.

"He gathered all that springs to birth
From the many-venomed earth;
First a little, thence to more,
He sampled all her killing store;
And easy, smiling, seasoned sound,
Sate the king when healths went round.
They put arsenic in his meat
And stared aghast to watch him eat;
They poured strychnine in his cup
And shook to see him drink it up:
They shook, they stared as white's their shirt:
Them it was their poison hurt.
—I tell the tale that I heard told.
Mithridates, he died old."

When it looked like he was done, I politely clapped (more out of uncertainty than anything) and asked some questions. "Mithridates...?"

"King Mithridates." Witige nodded. "He's the Poison King."

"Okay..." I nodded, my mind recalling the poem's wording. The fancy wording wasn't as bad as listening to Alexicon, but the rhyme and verse made it difficult to interpret. "So the guy poisoned himself, just like me?"

"That's right." Witige nodded. "See, the story goes that Mithridates became king in a land where kings were often murdered and usurped through poisoned food and drink. But old Mithridates found a way to flip the poison to his advantage. He gathered up every known poison and willingly ingested them in small doses so his body would build up an immunity to them. 'First a little, thence to more.' That part reminded me of the conditioning you're doing to yourself. You're building up your tolerance to pain."

"Oh, I get it." I clapped a fist into my palm. "Since he grew used to the poison, it didn't work on him anymore. He didn't have to worry about his food and drink."

"Exactly." Witige chuckled. "And the schemers trying to poison him were shocked to see him eat it up without keeling over. They were so shocked, their chalk-white faces exposed themselves as being guilty, and the king had no trouble picking them out. 'They shook, they stared as white's their shirt: Them it was their poison hurt.'"

"Wow. Guy must've been crazy to poison himself like that."

"Pot, kettle. Have you met?"

"Okay, okay, I see the similarities." I rolled my eyes. It was an interesting story about preparedness. It was Mithridates' crazy, outside-the-box thinking that fooled the ones trying to kill him - my kind of guy. He protected himself and exposed them in one move. I was just using poison to improve my stamina. "He lived a long life this king?"

"Well, yes, but there was an incident. Invading army coming for his head. He knew he was dead, so he decided to do the honorable thing and take his own life. Ironically, his body was so fortified he couldn't find a poison that would have any effect on him, so he had to order one of his men to run him through with a sword."

I winced. "Kind of a morbid ending."

"What did you expect from Mithridates, King of Poisons? But you remind me of him with the way you willingly ingest disgusting things to your benefit."

On cue, I chewed on some rotten flesh. "What makes you say that?" He burst out into laughter.

I smirked as the dull green particles of the Hunger effect swirled around me, my body used to the feeling. I really was like that Mithridates after fortifying my body against Hunger, Weakness, and Poison. Just like the King of Poisons, I was preparing myself for future foes.

Witige's potions finished brewing and he slipped me one each of Strength and Regeneration. "Thanks for listening. And the laugh."

"No problem." I nodded. "And, hey, I'm sparring with Perry tomorrow. I'll be sure to give him a good hit from you."

His smile was all teeth. "I'd like that very much."

He packed up his stuff and the two of us caught back up with the group. Perry was rude as he accepted the potions the alchemist made, but Witige pleasantly ignored it with the leftover contentedness of our conversation.

It felt like I was getting to know the Paragons more. Heather, Perry, Witige. My Heart was making the connections and I was envisioning these companions as people worth protecting.

Heart: Yes. Good. Forging connections is the path to true strength.

Brain: I think you mean, thinking creatively on your feet is the secret of true strength.

Blood: You're both delusional. Preparing yourself to fight ruthlessly on your own is the only way to achieve real power...

Bladder: WRONG! Wearing funny hats is the REAL key to unlimited power!

Heart, Brain, Blood: ...

Bladder: I thought we were just saying things. What are we doing?

[Blitz Peak]

Spring winced as he jammed his fingers placing a stone block. He sucked on them while Carmen looked over with a concerned glance.

"It's nothing." He dismissed, shaking the pain off. Now that the ceiling was finished, they had some cover from the rain. "Have your clones found anything?"

Carmen shook her head. "No Fortress yet. One of them is swimming across un mar de lava, another is navigating some precarious acantilados. The third is trekking across an expanse of netherrack."

"Just be sure they're leaving breadcrumbs to follow back. We can't lose them in the Nether." Spring advised before going back to building with KillGore.

The midget in question had just finished illuminating the stone structure they had built, and had placed the cat, General Disarray, in a minecart in the center. The Mob Grinder had to be illuminated while they were building it or else the Creepers would spawn on them and explode.

Strangely enough, KillGore took out white carpet and wooden trapdoors and started placing them in certain spots along the floor and ceiling.

"What's that for?" Spring asked, foolishly setting the midget off.

"Neophyte! You know nothing of Mob Grinders!"

"That's why I'm asking the expert." Spring said with forced calm. Angering KillGore was counterproductive, and he was too preoccupied with building to start a fight.

"Hmph." KillGore snorted before placing another trapdoor on the ceiling. "Mobs need available space to spawn in or else they won't. Among the Mobs that spawn in Minecraftia's darkness are Zombies, Skeletons, Spiders, Witches, Creepers, and Endermen. Slimes only spawn in caves or swamps, so we need not worry about them, but we can expect the other six to show up in our Grinder."

"We've taken precautions against Endermen already." He pointed to the low ceiling of the stone structure. "Two block height. Endermen are tall - they need three blocks of height to spawn. They won't spawn in this space."

"And the rest?" I asked with genuine interest.

"Most Crafters don't realize this when they see a Creeper - their only concern is to run away from the explosive and deadly threat," KillGore smirked, "but Creepers are shorter than most Mobs. Shorter than two meters - two blocks." He placed another trapdoor on the ceiling. "These trapdoors take away just enough space to prevent Zombies, Witches, and Skeletons from spawning. That's why I'm placing these along the ceiling."

"What about those Baby Zombies?" I asked, familiar with the short, fast, difficult to hit Mobs that attacked belligerently.

"Baby Zombies also need a two block height to spawn." KillGore asserted. "Whether they spawn as a baby or not is conditional so long as the space for spawning a Zombie is available. Without the space, no Zombie spawns, baby or otherwise."

"Is that so?" Spring muttered before looking at the odd pattern KillGore placed on the floor of the Grinder. "And the carpet?"

"Carpet's for the Spiders." He answered. "Spiders are shorter than Creepers and would spawn in this space, except they require a three-by-three space to spawn. Carpets are flat enough to walk over while also taking away available space. That's why I'm arranging them in such a way so that there is no three-by-three space available for Spiders to spawn. KillGore assures you, this Grinder will produce Creepers only."

"Huh." Spring said in awe, at a loss for words. "You really know your stuff. Did you research all this?"

KillGore paused momentarily, perhaps trying to sense if Spring was being sincere or not, before he spoke. "Not I. KillGore learned from many builders of Mob Grinders. Years of backbreaking research from many Crafters, though I made my own contributions to the subtle art of Mob Grinding." He boasted. "I aim to take another step forward once we acquire the Wither Roses."

"We'll get them." Spring reiterated. "I promise we will."

He locked eyes with the taller man, again trying to sense any deception. Seeing none, he nodded once. "KillGore knows."

A comfortable silence settled as KillGore went back to placing trapdoors and carpets. While he did that, Spring started mining away rocks in a moat around the Grinder as per KillGore's specific instructions. It meant he'd have to get rained on again.

"Tengo uno! I got one!"

Spring and KillGore stopped what they were doing and looked to an excited Carmen.

"I found a Fortress!" Carmen's vibrato was muffled by the crack of thunder above, but her smile was hard to miss.

"Which portal?"

"Portal tres. The one across lava." Carmen replied after a moment. "It's not too far a swim. I'm having them all come back ahora."

Spring took note of that and walked up to the three Nether Portals he built and labeled with signs. He broke the signs off the first and second one, leaving the third untouched. That would be the portal they would use.

Since they needed a Nether Fortress where Wither Skeletons would spawn, Spring built three different portals and had Carmen send a clone each for scouting one out. The Hybrid was fireproof and perfectly at home in the Nether, so there was little risk. Now they had a Fortress to work with.

"Everything is coming together beautifully. Mwahahaha." KillGore rubbed his hands together like a super villain. "Let us make haste! Our destiny awaits!"

Spring couldn't help but agree, despite knowing there was still plenty of work to be done. More than just a Creeper Grinder. He hurried back over to the moat while KillGore finished with the interior of the structure. Lightning flashed and illuminated the excited looks on the trio's faces.

Like Spring said, working together was bringing them closer to what they wanted.

Inventory (Cobb): 1 Carved Pumpkin, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Depth Strider III], 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sweeping Edge III], 12 Cobblestone, 2 Glass, 16 Ender Pearls, 9 Ender Pearls, 54 Glass Bottles, 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Furnace, 17 Flint, 1 Flint and Steel, 17 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 10 Coal, 64 Snowballs, 25 Snowballs, 4 Ender Chests, 30 Obsidian, 52 Steak, 2 End Crystals, 10 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}

Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 64 Eyes of Ender, 64 Chorus Fruit, 1 Potion of Strength II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}

[EXP: 38]

Inventory (Lenz): 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Dragon Head, 1 Chainmail Chestplate, 1 Chainmail Leggings, 1 Chainmail Boots, 32 Pumpkin Seeds, 1 Iron Dagger, 16 Ender Pearls, 13 Cobblestone, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Bow, 1 Bow [Infinity], 1 Crossbow, 42 Arrows, 1 Crafting Table, 22 Steak, 13 Tripwire Hooks, 40 Sticks, 63 Chorus Fruit, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}, 1 Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}

Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}

Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 63 Arrows of Poison {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 63 Arrows of Weakness {0:30}, 60 Arrows of Slowness {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Fire Resistance {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Healing II, 64 Arrows of Invisibility {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Leaping {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Slow Falling {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Night Vision {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Strength II {0:12}, 64 Arrows of Swiftness {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Swiftness II {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Water Breathing {1:00}

[EXP: 21]

Inventory (Baltic): 1 Iron Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 1 Shield, 1 Bow, 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Silk Touch I, Mending I, Unbreaking II], 10 Arrows, 3 Brewing Stands, 1 Water Bucket, 28 Bones, 1 Ender Chest, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 26 Emeralds, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Healing II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Splash Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Splash Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}

Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 64 Glass Bottles, 6 Glass Bottles, 64 Dragon's Breath, 64 Dragon's Breath, 1 Dragon's Breath, 46 Blaze Powder, 43 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 63 Phantom Membranes , 64 Blaze Rods, 22 Fermented Spider Eyes, 58 Carrots, 55 Melon Slices, 55 Rabbit's Feet, 50 Golden Ingots, 1 Golden Nugget, 56 Gunpowder, 55 Redstone Dust, 56 Glowstone Dust

[EXP: 30]

Inventory (Z7): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 21 Charcoal, 14 Torches, 9 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 8 Pumpkin Pies, 38 Baked Potatoes, 1 Bucket, 1 Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Slow Falling {4:00}, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 1 Purple Shulker Box {Pocket Box}

[EXP: 42]

Inventory (Floyd): 1 Mob Head {Creeper}, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Shears, 5 Cobwebs, 2 Iron Ingots, 64 Steak, 14 Steak, 2 Sticks, 29 Coal, 20 Torches, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 16 Gunpowder, 16 Ender Pearls, 2 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Bucket, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 44]

Buckner's Horse

Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe [Sharpness V], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 62 Iron Ingots, 20 Flint, 12 Gold Ingots, 1 Shears, 8 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crafting Table, 1 Jukebox, 1 Music Disc {chirp}, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 24 Torches, 34 White Wool, 23 Dirt, 11 Pumpkin Seeds, 64 Cobblestone, 62 Cobblestone, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Armor Stand, 28 Steak, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 41]

Devers' Horse

Cat-Face the Cat

Christopher Squawken the Parrot

Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Green Shield [Beginners], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Cobblestone, 63 Nether Warts, 20 Soul Sand, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Shears, 10 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 5 Buckets, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Brewing Stand, 37 Glass Bottles, 1 Water Bottle, 1 Water Bottle, 2 Ender Chests, 16 Ender Pearls, 4 Ender Pearls, 12 Steak, 3 Phantom Membranes, 63 Glowstone Dust, 31 Gunpowder, 19 Redstone Dust, 63 Blaze Powder, 64 Golden Nuggets, 64 Brown Mushrooms, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Enchanted Golden Apple

[EXP: 35]

Snow the Horse

AN: WARNING! Don't try poisoning yourself. I know it seems silly I have to bring that up twice, but then I remembered that the human race came up with the Corona Challenge involving licking an airplane toilet seat, so I feel a warning is warranted.

The story of Mithridates - and the poem - are real. They exist as real world lore that Crafters would know through their Normal Sense, so I figured I'd throw a bit of it in. You can look up Mithridates if you want. He was also known as the Poison King and he invented Mithridate, a semi-mythical antidote against most poisons.

We got some bonding moments with Cobb and the other Paragons. Mob Grinder lessons with KillGore are great too. It's interesting to learn how you can isolate certain Mobs simply by taking away space with certain blocks. A craft refined through years of trial and error and experimentation with blocks. KillGore is a masterclass Mob Grinder. Hopefully you enjoyed reading his lessons as much as Spring enjoyed listening to them. He's forging his own bonds, same as Cobb.

Omake below. I feel it's another winner.

My Craft Stew: Will the Real Leader Please Stand Up

The village of Halstatt was in dire straights after being visited by one of the new Pillager Mobs. This Pillager was at the head of a squad of five, bearing an ominous banner on its back. Naturally, the people of Halstatt dealt with the Pillagers, but not without foolishly returning to the village with the Bad Omen effect.

Now, a Raid was coming. The people of Halstatt only had a few moments to come up with a plan before the Pillagers, Ravagers, Evokers, Witches, and Vindicators attacked in waves.

Luckily, they had three of the strongest women in Minecraftia on their side. Each of them an exemplary leader of organized forces. They had the strength, smarts, and experience to guide the people of Halstatt to victory.

What could possibly go wrong?

"We should forget about defending this place." Wynn_Whispers, decorated Captain of Ringwood, stated determinedly. "Those Evokers and Vindicators are too deadly, and then there are the Ravagers on top of that. We need to evacuate the Crafters and Testificates. We can live to fight another day."

Many Testificates nodded, aware that their inability to fight would made them the most defenseless. There was little they could do in the face of a Raid. Evacuation was the right choice.

"Maybe that would be satisfactory for the more cowardly types," Carys_Angel, Angel of Death and leader of the Paragons, declared, "but for us warriors unafraid of a fight, I say we stand our ground and kick this Raid back up its own ass." Many combative Crafters cheered in support of her plan. "We have a wall, we have archers, and we have me. We can weather these waves, carve away those Pillagers, and claim the EXP and rewards. Anyone who stays will get a piece of the pie. Anyone who leaves may as well go back to the Origin where they can be blanketed in a safe space."

Wynn glared at Carys. "We should be prioritizing evacuation. This isn't a fight we have to win. There are lives at risk."

"High risk means high reward. I know what those Evokers drop." Carys countered, the tip of her scythe digging into the dirt. "This will make Halstatt stronger."

"You're both wrong." The third woman, Ember_Waves, Executive of the Endward Cult's Northern Division, said. She got between the two to make her point clear. "We don't need to run and we don't need to fight."

"Then what do you propose we do?" One Testificate asked.

"Simple." She drew her diamond rapier and pointed it at the Testificates. "If we slaughter all the Testificates, the Raid will end before it begins; the raiders will have no target."

Everyone nodded in understanding before the full implications hit the Testificate side whose expressions became more and more horrified.

"NO!" There was a thundering boom as a bully, metallic golem lumbered to the front of the crowd. "LESLIE REFUSES TO LET PUNY TESTIFICATES DIE!"

"I can respect your desire to protect your wards." Ember nodded. "I won't insult your honor by killing them and letting you live."

"These Testificates are people!" Wynn challenged, her own rapier coming up and swatting against Ember's, a cross of swords. "We have a duty to protect them, not butcher them!"

"I couldn't care less about these big-noses. They gouged me on nearly every trade." Carys spoke indifferently, making the Testificates shiver. "But having them alive means we get to fight that Raid, and I won't have you spoiling my chance to get stronger. The Testificates stay. That means no killing them and no running away."

"Have you stopped to consider that not everyone wants to fight?" Wynn whirled on the dark-haired reaper. "Why should the Testificates get sucked into your power-hunger complex?"

"Save your breath, Captain." Ember shook her head, her orange, wavy hair swaying with the motions. "Carys is a brute drawn to conflict like a fish to water."

"At least I don't fangirl over some five-hundred-year-old fossil! Aww, you want to have his babies?"

A nerve twitched on Ember's pretty face. "Well. At least I don't uproot my whole plans just to go after someone that killed my favorite pet!"

"Erm, ladies?" One Testificate spoke cautiously. "The... the Raiders just sounded their horn-"

"That massterbaitor deserves to die!" Carys snapped, unknowingly interrupting the Testificate behind her. "He's a fool, a pain in the ass, and a blight on this world!"

"Don't you talk about Cobb like that!" Wynn rushed to the fisherman's defense. "He's proven his honor and strength time and time again. I know he'd approve of evacuating the Testificates instead of bickering like children!"

"Go sleep with him if he's so special!" Carys shot back, earning a squawk from Wynn. "Evacuating is the same as running from your problems! Where's the pride in that?"

"I must agree with the savage." Ember sniped. "Running away is the cowardly thing to do. Being a Captain of Ringwood, you must have inherited such weaknesses from the late King Miles." Wynn stiffly turned towards Ember like she was made of stone, her face livid. "Or maybe from King Mann?"

"Don't you dare call them weak you skank."

Ember recoiled at such a vulgar word coming from a refined and dignified Captain before her face heated up. "Bitch, what'd you say!?"

"Fight, fight, fight!" Soul materialized out of nowhere to egg the three women on. "Kiss, kiss, kiss..."

"Ladies, please!" The Testificate shouted. "The Raiders are literally killing us as we speak!" True to his words, Pillagers were shooting at the Testificates and Crafters while Leslie did his damnedest to stop them with his patented 'LESLIE SMASH!'

"Why don't we settle this the old-fashioned way?" Carys declared before spinning her scythe. "Battle to the death?"

"Best idea you've had so far." Ember saluted with her rapier before getting into her stance, the point of her blade shifting between Wynn and Carys. "I'll liberate you two quickly as a courtesy."

"Winner decides how Halstatt will be saved." Wynn declared, completely missing how Testificates were being slaughtered around her. "Have at it!"

The sounds of combat and blade meeting blade erupted as the three powerhouses fought to the death, ocassionally throwing out petty barbs and insults. Meanwhile, the citizens of Halstatt were left without direction, stumbling through the Raid just trying to stay alive. How they wished their savior, the Billionth, could return and save them from such a catastrophe like he had before. They would have gladly preferred him to the three women pointlessly fighting through this disaster.

Alone they were strong, but united they were all over the place.

AN: When picking teams for My Craft Deathmatch, having Carys, Wynn, and Ember on one team sounds awesome, but then pit them against a team of Abyssmal, Teal, and Mark or Cobb, Floyd, and Lenz and see which side shows better teamwork.

FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. FORUM. DISCORD. BROWNIE SUNDAE.