I am back.

The thought coursed through Tyrtaeus as he made his way back to the Junkular Aria. Finally, all the cults, experiements, and backroom deals have paid off. The magic within the world could be harnessed once again. In fact, he could see some new ways of handling things. New...possibilities.

As he rounded the corner, the Schocksichord stood out proudly from the rear of the cart. My finest creation. And yet... 

It was as though Tyrtaeus was seeing it for the first time. It was cumbersome. Inefficient. The mechanisms could be made smaller, more transportable. He began to strip the machine. What should have taken hours was finished in minutes. The Shocksichord was no more. Stripped on the essential parts, it was little more than a pile of raw material. Something for later. Tyrtaeus' attention was all on his new creation. 

It resembled the rifles favoured by the pirates on the coast. A smooth metal tube, mounted in a wooden stock. The differences stood out, however, with a crank mounted on the side and etchings of lightning bolts made on the barrel which seemed to crackle with their own energy. 

Tyrtaeus stepped back from his creation, this miniature Shocksichord, and marveled at the new weapon. He had never worked so quickly or so readily before. Nor so haphazardly, apparently. He looked down at his hands, covered in cuts, scrapes, and punctures. His blood was infused in the weapon now. Strange, he could not recall any of the injuries. Price of progress I suppose.

All that was left was to test it. Tyrtaeus hefted the weapon onto his shoulder and marched out of town. 

I really should name you. 

SHOCKETTE

Schockette...I like it. Of course you'll need a partner too. 

As Tyrtaeus entered the woods outside the town his mind turned back to the raw materials waiting back at his cart. I know just the thing...