Chapter Eleven: The Third Inspection
Alright, so, good news: Delvers have returned! Herbalists can handle the occasional low level thing, so I go fairly easy on them, especially since they tend to wander in solo. The bad news, though, is that nobody wants to try the hedge maze. Its grown enough that they cant directly see Tiny, but they can see the trees and webbing around his nest. Hes even been working on putting a web roof over the whole maze. Good thinking, Tiny. Dont need cheaters in my maze.
Also good news: Queen was able to identify what goes into a healing potion! Also bad news: I need actual equipment to let her do her work. Ive upgraded the secret lab a few times, and Im pretty sure its allowed to have equipment now, but Im having trouble getting it.
I havent been able to afford carpenter ants yet, but I might need to get on that. Ive been trying to make at least some equipment for the lab, and it hasnt outright failed, at least? If I had fire ants, it might be simpler, but I dont. I have lightning ants. Ive been sending crows out on expeditions to try to get me some iron wire, but nobody has had any success yet.
With some iron wire, I could have the lightning majors zap it to make a heating element, and use the empty potion bottle for the various processing that it looks like Queen will have to do.
The kids have come back, too. Theyre the closest anyone has come to checking out the maze. They looked inside from the entrance, but I think Lucas spotted one of the rat thieves, and the kids decided against looking inside. Im pretty sure theyve gained a level now, too. Low-level things arent slowing them down hardly at all anymore. They even handled a regular dire rat on their own.
The gate opens, and I expect itll be the kids again, but its elf guy! Heya elf guy! Long time no see! He glares at Poe as every single bird makes noise at him, and if I could, Id give him a shit-eating grin.
Dungeon clearly recognizes me. Avians making a racket. Not alerting other denizens, just making noise at me. No unusual staring. Theres that mention of staring again. It must have been from when I moved the core and had everything on high alert. Thats the only time Ive done much different.
Still no obvious rooms. I see alchemical creatures, though, so it must have a secret lab somewhere He looks around before looking up to the belfry. Perhaps in the belfry tower. Still no chests or anything up there. Acknowledged, investigating.
Oh, elf guy is actually taking things seriously now. Doesnt mean I have to, though I do still have my dignity as a dungeon. I toss some various moderate encounters at him as he explores the house. He manages to trip one of the rotten floorboards to the basement, and decides he doesnt need to get a closer look. Yeah, that level 6 lightning venom swarm is quite a thing. Pretty sure he could take it, but hes all business right now, no pleasure.
He obliterates the rat swarm in the attic, and I can visibly see him pause to ensure he gets his boss experience before he opens the chest. Im not even sure he notices what he actually gets from the chest, he just stuffs it in a bag that should not be able to hold all of that.
On roof. Raven scion is observing me, but not making any moves. Bats appear specialized for fruit bats, which helps explain why all the herbalist nodes. He watches as a trio of crows land on the roof, one carrying a bit of iron wire. Oh hey! Good job, guys! Recover a bit, then head out to see if you can find anything else interesting.
Confirm dungeon is sending Expeditions, must have a secret war room, too. Investigating belfry. Pst, hey Coda. Make sure everyones awake. I dont think elf guy has violence on his mind, but still be ready to bolt if it comes to it. frёewebηovel.cѳm
I dont bother sending any encounters at elf guy while hes on the roof. Partially because my birbs arent really focused on combat, and partially because I kinda see the whole area as unfinished. Maybe Ill make the belfry into a garden or something later. Itd make sense to have it close to the ones that bring me seeds.
He cautiously peers up the stairs and goes, but doesnt seem phased by what I would consider a pretty big anti-climax. Confirmed belfry is specialized towards fruitbats. I can see seeds on the floor, likely have been sent on expeditions at night. Sweeping for hidden rooms.
Yeah, I think hes gonna be there a while. I make sure my bats will bolt if he gets twitchy, and let him take a 20 searching for something thats not there. I look in to see how Queens doing with the alchemy, and with the new iron wire. Right, I need to get that thing moved and shaped.
Hey! Whos my closest spider? Ah, there you are. Go get that bit of wire and leave it by one of the mole/snake holes. My sneks dont like being on the roof, and I dont want to just drop the wire off and lose it.
Fluffles, take that wire with you into the tunnels and coil it up as much as you can. I dont think my ants can bend that thing easily. Queen, make sure theres a big enough tunnel for the ants to move it to the lab, and get ready to start rotating whatever electric ants through as you need them. I want some healing ants, dang it.
By the time the coil is in the lab, it looks like elf guy is about done with the belfry. He doesnt look very happy. Negative on secret room in belfry. I was sure itd be hiding something up here. And thats why Im not, bucko. The smart people look for areas being carefully ignored to wonder if thats important.
And smart dungeons put their core in a place people walk past all the time. Whos going to look under every brick in a road? Oh hey, hes looking at the maze.
Confirm odd bramble patch. Looks like Spider scion is in there, as well as several chests. They seem far lower level than they should be, though, especially with this dungeon. Acknowledged. Investigating.
Finally, someone to check out the maze! He wont be able to get the good stuff if he just picks a wall to follow, either. He carefully approaches the entrance and peers around before talking to his team back at the guild. At least, Im pretty sure theyre at the guild. Ive found a few guild houses from my expeditions, but I still dont have specific names for them.
The adventurer delvers from the other day went to two different guild houses, so I can only assume one is from a guild for delvers, and one a guild for I dunno, dungeon inspection? At least I know which church is Freddies, and which magic shop is Rhondas. Ive been able to label things on the map, too, so thats good.
But back to elf guy. Confirm spider scion in bramble. Its high enough level even Ill need to be careful. Also looks like lower level dire rats in the area, but cant pinpoint. Rat scion probably taught them a few tricks, he says with a grumble as he rubs his hand. Teemo does great work.
Heading in. Yes! I just wish I could give a quest involving the maze. Thatd be cool. Maybe one of the rooms would allow that? Ill need to check that later. For now, I watch elf guy as he stalks the maze. He can definitely tell where the chests and nodes are, but looks like he doesnt know the floorplan of the maze, which is good.
One of my rat thieves darts from the hedge, but elf guy has damn good reflexes. It doesnt get very close before a knife finishes it with a single stab. Dire rats are rat thieves. Dont appear to be interested in combat. Spider scion appears to be slowly tracking me, but not in any particular hurry.
Come into my maze, said the spider to the elf guy. Tiny was the best scion to put in here, since he can actually help change the maze layout a bit. If he webs an opening and tears down a different web, the whole maze basically shifts. And thats what Tiny is doing. I dont think he forgave elf guy like I have.
While Tiny slowly weaves his trap, elf guy explores the maze, gathering chests and nodes along the way. None of the thieves even get close to taking any of his stuff, and I feel like elf guy is starting to understand the maze a bit better. Bramble is a different style of encounter than previously observed. Appears to be more of a race than a simple battle. Collect as much stuff as you can before the spider scion gets you, and before the thieves pick you clean.
As Tiny closes the drawstring and traps the elf guy, he seems to notice. Wait somethings changed. He frowns as he looks around, before realizing whats happened. Ive lost this race. Extracting!
Thats what you think, elf guy. Tinys webs arent going to be phased by your daggers, so no going up and over. Good luck trying to go through the hedges, too. I dunno exactly how much damage they do, but I dont think you have that many hp, my friend.
Tiny finally rounds a bend in the maze, the two able to lay eyes directly on the other now. Elf guy dons his serious face and draws his daggers as Tiny simply slowly approaches. I can see his spinnerets slowly working on a web, too. Yeah, he definitely still holds a grudge from when elf guy killed him.
Sorry big guy. You look too big for me to play around with now. Shadow Blade! As elf guy melts into shadow, Tiny curls in a bit on himself, clearly remembering the attack that ended him last time. Several long gashes appear in his carapace, though not over anything particularly vital. As the attack comes to an end, though, Tiny tosses his web.
Fu-! is all elf guy gets out before the web envelopes him. Tiny! You never told me you had a brain! I guess you really did remember the attack that ended you, and remembered when and where elf guy is when he finishes it. Whos a good spider? You are! Yes you are!
As Tiny approaches elf guy, I remind the big lug about how the maze works. He deflates a little, but he did still win. Elf guy looks terrified, though. Dont worry, my dude. Good effort with the first run of the maze, though! Tiny moves one of his massive pedipalps over the delver, and elf guy closes his eyes, expecting a bite to finish him off. Instead, Tiny takes what Im pretty sure is a bag of holding. He quickly weaves a larger bag, webbing elf guy up more in the process, and empties the magical bag into the more mundane one. He drops the bag on the floor and one of my rat thieves zips by to pick it up, and I can see the indignation in elf guys eyes.
With that, Tiny hauls him and his loot up and takes him outside the maze, depositing him unceremoniously just outside the entrance. Elf guy gets to stew for a few minutes before Fluffles can come by and levitate him outside the gates. Hah! I only wish I could see the reactions from everyone!
Hey! Birbs! Expedition!
Chapter Twelve: The Office of Dungeon Affairs
So, birds are great at finding shinies, but not so great at understanding what people are doing. According to the expedition I sent to watch elf guy, he got a lot of odd looks from people before someone else ran up to him. He wiggled and mumbled, and they eventually managed to get him unwebbed, and the two went back to one of the guild houses, which Im now officially labeling the office of dungeon affairs.
More importantly: the maze was a success! My core is now easily the size of a grapefruit! Elf guy was worth so much mana, holy crap. Ive got enough to do a few things, and I have a few ideas involving more public rooms.
First, I go ahead and actually set a garden in the belfry. Not a whole lot of herbalists seem to want to brave the attic boss, but with a garden up past it, maybe theyll bring along a friend or two to be able to see what neat things the fruit bats have managed to bring in.
The other thing is Ive decided to make my porch a library. Why would I do something weird like making my porch a library? Because with a piece of paper and a bit of webbing, its more of a bulletin board than a place for a bunch of books!
Come See The Maze!
Yes, the hedge maze! Can you brave the maze and exit with more than you went in with? Search for chests, herbs, and wood as you avoid Tiny and the rats that want your stuff! If he catches you, the only thing hell give is a very secure blanket! Come brave the maze! Located just around back! ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com
So yeah, Ive got basically a flier with that webbed to my door now. Im pretty sure it doesnt count as a quest, but it should at least get people curious and hopefully willing to check it out.
Ive also decided to make a more public lab in one of the more normal rooms in the house. I was thinking about the spell Aelara showed Rhonda, and figured if people started making potions in a public lab, I could crib off their notes and make better stuff in the secret lab!
Im really tempted to try to make a forge, but thats not happening until I expand downward. Thats probably my next big project, but making the two rooms took about everything elf guy gave me.
The nerve of that dungeon! shouts the elven man for the 5th time today, pacing and scowling.
For what? asks the elven woman who is more permanently stationed to the guild building in this town. For defeating you? For not killing you? For taking your bag of holding? For dumping you outside the gate? She fights to keep the unprofessional smile off her face at the memory of finding him. At first, she had feared the worst and the new local dungeon had truly gone murderous and used her associate to deliver a message.
In retrospect, she supposes it was sending a message, just not one anyone expected. It took all she had to not burst into hysterics laughing when the webbed elf started squirming and mumbling curses through the muffling web.
His snort at her snide question brings her back to the present, even if he doesnt actually give her an answer. Though his pride as an Inspector may have been wounded, she knows its not yet dead, and so she lifts the scroll and quill. Are you prepared to give your official report?
He sighs deeply and closes his eyes, taking a moment to compose himself. You have my field notes to attach to the report as well? When she nods, he takes another moment to organize his thoughts before dictating his report.
Dungeon is not murderous, but in fact borders on actually playful at times. Unusual behavior observed by civilians was most likely from the dungeon moving its core, which it still keeps in a Secret Sanctum in an unknown location. Dungeon has been sending expeditions, so very likely has a secret war room. Dungeon has alchemical denizens, so certainly has a secret lab. Very likely has a secret library as well.
Dungeon shows unorthodox behavior, but very little hostile behavior. It has created a labyrinth of brambles, inhabited by its strongest scion and thieving rats. Despite the power placed there, the maze is almost fully harmless, as I was defeated and simply dumped outside the Dungeon, instead of killed.
Suggest higher-level Inspector for next inspection, as Dungeon has advanced quickly. I dont know what its next expansion will entail, but it will certainly cause major change no matter what it does. Inspector Tarl.
She nods as she finishes writing down his words, and gives him the scroll and quill to sign. He does so and returns them to her, and she begins to apply a wax seal as she speaks.
So, now that I know what you think of it professionally, what do you think of it personally?
He considers for a few moments before donning a smirk. I think if I didnt have another inspection soon, Id head back now and explore just for the fun of it. Its the strangest dungeon Ive ever even heard of, and I want to know more. And I want a rematch against that spider Scion. It webbed me as soon as I got out of my Shadow Blade attack! I havent even heard of Epic monsters planning like that!
He shakes his head as he takes a seat in the lounge area in the guild. Fourdock is going to be a much more interesting place soon, I can feel it, thanks to that Dungeon.
Chapter Thirteen: Changes
Business has been booming! The maze has become a huge success! I dunno if it was from dumping elf guy outside, or from the flier on the front door, but people are practically lining up to run the hedge maze! Most people literally run it, too; sprinting to try to find a chest or various nodes, before sprinting out. Its about a coin flip for them to get out without losing anything to the rats like that, which seems to be the challenge most people are after. Tiny has taken to just ignoring the ones that dont go very deep.
The kids actually did a real run of the maze, though. They got two chests before Tiny caught up to them. Freddie took one for the team and got captured, but Rhonda got to escape with all her goodies. I told Tiny to take his shiny new hatchet instead of his shield. That things a bit of a memento, after all.
Rhonda actually followed Fluffles as he levitated Freddie out the gate, and Im all but positive she helped him out of the webbing before they went off to do whatever they do. Theyre both looking healthier and stronger each time I see them, too. I swear Freddies grown a foot since I first saw him, and Rhonda is much more confident, though still fairly quiet, seems like. I hope theyre old enough to ship, because I definitely do.
The bulletin board Library was a great idea, too. Lots of people read the flier to see if anything has changed, and I make sure to note things, like the new garden and lab in the house. The lab doesnt really need a warning, as I dont have anything specific in the way of anyone getting there, random encounters aside.
The Garden, of course, has the warning of the boss in the way, though I dont say exactly what itll ever be. Partially so I can change it as needed for various delvers. Sorry herbalists. If you want to see what fancy stuff Codas been growing, you need to bring a couple friends to help get you there.
Poe has earned himself a title, which is pretty cool. Marshal. Im pretty sure its not like a sheriff, but more like someone who marshals the troops, gets them doing what they need to do and such. Hes been practically handling my expeditions on his own now, too, which I think is also what a marshal would do.
The public Lab has also been paying dividends. Ive watched a bunch of herbalists whip up a few potions of this and that in there. Ive written them down in the Secret Library, which Ive upgraded a few more times, and Queen is happily working away in the Secret Lab.
Speaking of Queen, the healing ants experiment was a success! Its still pretty difficult to make the goo for it, but I now have a few medical ants stationed nearby the various high-threat areas, mostly the attic and basement. Ive upgraded the Lab a few more times, too, and have been slowly stocking it as my rats borrow little bits and pieces from the alchemists in the public Lab.
And speaking of the ants, one of my plans has fallen through. I had joked to myself about carpenter ants doing carpentry, and I was starting to wonder if it would actually work that way. Well, from the random ants that the hill spits out, it doesnt seem so. Theyre just really big ants. Well, not really big, but Im pretty sure theyd get there if I upgraded them, but Tiny is all the big I need for now.
So now Im looking to expand, but have no idea where to expand. Up is somehow still an option. I get the feeling its for something later, once I figure out how to build more structures. Or maybe I can build on the clouds? Who knows.
Out is also somehow an option. Its easily the most expensive, but its also very tempting. The War Room seems to imply that Id get the entire town if I expand outward. Thats interesting, but also concerning. Itd be cool to have truly intelligent Denizens, but how will it work if I try to tell them to do stuff?
And thatd be a lot of ground to cover to defend. I dont know that the townsfolk would appreciate suddenly having a severe infestation of roaches, flies, and mice, or the spiders and rats to deal with them.
No, I think expanding outward is something Im just not ready for, and I dunno if I ever will be. What I do think Im ready for, though, is to expand down. I know theres stone down there. I mean, logically, there has to be.
Theres also probably tons of cool new resources to gather down there, too, like ores and gems and stuff! I could make a smithy and an armory, and actually be able to do stuff with them! And a jewlers? I guess?
Of course, there will also be new invaders. There always have been, whenever I expand. Im pretty sure theyd basically have to come in through the basement, and the swarm I have there is serious business. Anything digging would be like the moles, so the vipers should be able to handle it, at least until I get whatever my new spawner is established.
Ive been saving up more mana than I actually need to expand, wanting to make sure Ill have enough to upgrade my spawner and get my other denizens up to snuff for whatever awaits. I wish I could fit Tiny into the basement for when I do this, but Teemo is a good replacement. Hes not huge and tanky, but he is small and sneaky, and Ive seen him do some serious damage to invaders that manage to get into the house. With him and Fluffles waiting under the basement stairs, I spend the mana to expand downward.
In Rhondas Lab (technically Old Staivens, but she has a little section to herself), she prepares to put the finishing touches on a batch of lightning resist potions. With the Dungeon being given the all clear, and the sheer number of lightning-enchanted denizens in there now, its second only to the classic healing potion as far as popularity goes!
She grabs the jar of ferromoss before Lucas gives a little hiss and hops onto her shoulder from atop a pile of books. Huh? Whats wrong? Her familiar is usually so quiet, only hissing when
The various glassware starts rattling in their various holders, and Rhondas eyes widen as she realizes whats happening. Earthquake! Lucas, web what you can to keep it from breaking! Shes just glad her potions are at a point where she can rest for now. Lucas literally jumps into action, webbing things that are wiggling too much for his liking. Anything that wiggles too much reminds him of flies or roaches, and hes all too happy to make them stop moving. His goblin is much different than the dungeon was, but hes pretty sure hes much different than he was now, too. Different isnt always better, but when it is, its much better. And he thinks this different is pretty good.
Master! The Lab! she shouts up the stairs, and he shouts back down at her. You and that spider mind the lab! Im keeping the shop from exploding up here! Rhonda sheepishly nods, even though her master cant see. The lab, ironically enough, is one of the most stable places in the store. The selling floor is just chocked full of various enchanted things designed to help defend oneself. If they started going off from falling in this quake, some broken glassware would be the least of their worries.
Freddie meditates in his small room in the church. While part of him wants a bigger room with at least a window more designed for looking than for just letting in a bit of air, another part of him reminds him that this is still a far better situation than being on the street. He has a bed, he has warm or cool clothing, depending on the situation. He has brothers and sisters to support him, as is only proper for followers of the Crystal Shield.
He also has Fiona, his spider. When he first got her, he thought she was some curse or test of his burgeoning faith. But now, he feels she was a lesson sent to teach him to look beyond simple appearances. Fiona has been much better of a companion than he could have possibly imagined. Shes even helped him sneak a spare sweet roll from the kitchen on occasion. He knows he shouldnt, but if he were perfect, he wouldnt have much use for a god, would he?
As the floor starts to rumble, he nervously offers a quick prayer of apology. Surely a little bit of joking wisdom wouldnt earn him some smiting, would it? Sounds of alarm outside make him suspect its not actually his fault, since other people are feeling the rumbling. Come on, Fiona, he says as he stands, grabbing his shield as he exits his room. He still hasnt had a chance to replace his hatchet after that huge spider got him in the maze.
Whats going on? he asks one of the hurrying sisters. Though she seems busy, she doesnt seem to be panicking, so thats probably a good sign.
An earthquake, young brother! Come, help me with my supplies. There may soon be wounded to tend to. He nods and follows her, and Fiona follows him. Her orc is a good orc. He feeds her and lets her protect. He doesnt have a core or anything similar, but hes shown her she can protect all kinds of things. Sometimes she misses the dungeon, but she can protect it and her orc at once now, which is nice.
In the Dungeoneers Guild, the elven woman jerks up from her desk as things start rumbling. She was meditating and mentally processing her reports, not napping on them. It takes her a few seconds to process whats happening and why.
She quietly swears to herself, glad the rumbling would mask it if there were anyone around to even hear. Where did I put that seal?! Ah, gotcha! She snags a sealing stamp from among everything rattling, and deftly plucks a brush and inkwell up as well. The last thing she needs is a scroll, and she knows exactly where the scroll is.
Of course she does, its not like any of the other dungeons have been behaving oddly. The rumbling starts to taper off as she paints the seal with ink, and everything is still by the time she unrolls the scroll, and quickly stamps it.
Fourdocks Dungeon
DEEP
Chapter Fourteen: From Bellow
So, uh I dont know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasnt an earthquake. The various Delvers around looked really worried, and what encounters were happening, I just had my denizens run away. Tiny ushered a couple herbalists out of the maze and is now sitting at the entrance. Maybe I should make some more minor libraries at the various entrances to let people know when certain areas are closed.
Most of the Delvers took the hint to leave, and the stink eye from Poe and the other ravens got everyone else away from the potentially dangerous spots. Theres still some looky-Lous, but theyre far enough back to ignore for now. Everything seems to be intact, and the Expeditions I had out are returning and saying the town seems to be fine, too. Im not sure how much I trust their definition of fine, but nothing seems to have collapsed. Its not like I could do much to help anyway.
The expansion definitely took, at least. Theres now a ragged cave in the yard, and I have Poe and the unoccupied vipers keeping a close eye on it. I can still extend my senses into my new section, but I dont sense any new invaders just yet. I do, at least, have a new spawner.
Because theres always a ten-by-ten foot room for jello. Yerp, I got a slime spawner. I, of course, spend the mana to get a slime paragon, too. She looks like someone took a mixing bowl and filled it with jello, then just turned it out onto the floor. Shes kinda cute, in an adorable blob kinda way. The more passive slimes are looking like theyll be more oozes, though, kinda puddles and such. Maybe Ill get some other varieties as I upgrade it? I dont need Dragon Warrior slimes with eyes and a mouth, but an actual gelatinous cube would be cool.
As I take in my new expansion, though, I start to get a feel for how my new invaders might get in. There are passages I cant sense down, like how I cant sense much past my gate or my walls. So I guess theres an actual underground to be had. I get basically every bat thats not of the fruit variety to fly down into the cave and set up shop, and get a bunch of my spiders in there, too. Roaches and mice look like theyll spawn pretty thick down here. I dont think moles will, though. Most of the caves are fully stone, which is pretty cool.
Fluffles and Teemo get to work doing their things down here, too. Teemo keeps finding little cracks and crevices to make into shortcuts for my denizens, which helps everyone get into position to deal with the new infestations. New infestations are also why Im not making any nodes just yet.
I remember how the herbs started attracting the mice. I dont want to make ore or gem nodes and attract I dont know what. At least not until Im better prepared. I need to get me a few more tough mobs to guard the various bits. The basement swarm Ill leave there for now, to help guard the chest.. Tiny? You can head back into the maze, I think everything here is covered, at least for now. Coda, I need you to make sure the bats sweep the new caves with sonar as regularly as possible, so your belfry is upgraded again now.
Queen, keep doing your thing with the alchemy. See if you can manage anything to get through stone. My core is getting big enough that Id like to move it again. Yeah, it didnt stay there as long as I had hopped, but I guess that just means were growing at a good pace, right?
Oh hey, Fluffles. Can you use your telekinesis and stuff to work through rock? Im gonna need *something* if Im going to get a new Secret Sanctum. I think the town mostly trusts me enough to make my Sanctum more public, but I want to make sure everyone still feels that way after the quake.
Most of the Delvers wander off after we go back to DefCon: Normalcy. I dont really blame them. Suns getting close to setting now, I think. I do get some nighttime Delvers, but most like the day. Probably because most of my stuff doesnt care about light levels very much.
Jello is just kinda wandering the caves right now, absorbing mice and roaches as she goes. I wonder what Ill do with her. Shes kinda weird compared to my other scions, but maybe because I just dont know what to do with her. I know what bats do, what spiders do, birds, etc. I dunno how slimes do.
Oop, nighttime Delver. Lets go see who it is. Huh, theyre not at the gate? And a second Delver now, too. Where oh! They must be down in the caves! I focus down there, and I find them. Im also not quite sure whats going on.
For just a moment, I worry one of the kids managed to get down there somehow, but theyre not wearing tattered clothing anymore. Nor do they have a tail. Or scales. Or darkvision, Im pretty sure. Whatever it is, though, its bipedal and has clothes. And is running from that thing.
Whats that thing? I dunno. It kinda reminds me of an ankheg, which is basically a pincherbug that could go toe to toe with Tiny. But this is more reptilian, I think. Scales are a big tip off. Ima call it a scythemaw until someone puts a book on cave critters in my library. Its big, scaly, and has two big mandible things at its mouth, in addition to the more usual sharp teeth for eating things that have an opinion about being eaten.
How the crap does that thing count as a Delver?! The smaller ones screams refocuses my train of thought. Questions later, action now! Fluffles, Teemo, Jello! Go help the little lizard person! Queen, Im gonna need medic ants on the double! Tiny, get your spinnerets down here yesterday! Coda, make sure everyone is doing what they should be doing! Youre my Poe for pointing out nasty things down here!
Fluffles and Teemo make fast time towards the lizard person, with Jello not making fast time at all. Shes definitely going to be posted at one of the cave passages once I get everything better handled down here. Shes not exactly a rapid responder.
Coda pings a little cave that the scythe-maw shouldnt be able to fit into, and Queen gets the medic ants headed that way. I send a few rats to give them a ride, as theyre way quicker than ants. Tiny is moving as quickly as he can, but he was near the center of the maze, so hell be a couple minutes.
Fluffles and Teemo get to the lizard person first, which isnt much of a surprise. With Teemos trails, the two can get basically anywhere in the dungeon within a minute or two, and they were already in the caves. What is a surprise, though, is that Fluffles just levitates the terrified person and all three start dashing along Teemos trails.
The rescued Delver is screaming at the top of their lungs, but theyre at least safe in Fluffles magic. The scythemaw keeps running down the larger tunnel for several more seconds before it realizes its prey has vanished. Uh apparently, its not going to accept that answer.
The thing starts tearing at my rock walls, either in frustration or because it thinks it senses its prey. Well, thats not gonna fly, buddy. Say hello to Tiny. He doesnt roar or anything like the scythemaw, but that tackle announces his presence pretty effectively, in my opinion. Fluffles sinks his fangs, too, before scuttling back out of retaliation range.
The hostile Delver growls at Tiny, and I can see the venom has slowed it. Just be careful, Tiny. I think all I can really support you with is some medical ants, and theyre still en-route. I can see him working on a web, but itll be a bit before hell have it ready, and in a fight, seconds pass like eternities.
The scythemaw bellows and charges forward, lunging at Tinys face. The big guy gets a leg in the way, which I think saves his life. The leg is bitten through and the maw starts messily scarfing it down. With its mouth occupied, though, Tiny lumbers forward to deliver another envenomed bite. He leaves a thick web across the passage behind him as he scuttles past his foe, and now the hostile Delver finds itself with its back against a wall. No, worse: a normal wall wont stick you to it if you press your back to it.
I dont think the thing is quite that smart, though. Or Tinys bites are slowing it down more than I thought. Come to think of it, a spider that big would be very bad news for anything of similar size if it got to bite it. The scythemaw might be resistant, but I dunno. Im not an expert in giant lizards with swords coming out of their face.
It finishes the leg and growls at Tiny again, and I see my spiderbro lift his front slightly. Whats he up to? I dont get to ask any more silly questions before the lizard lunges forward again. For a moment, I worry Tiny will lose another leg, but hes a smart spider.
Just like he learned how to deal with elf guys Shadow Blade, he has a plan for this things lunging attack. He tips himself over backwards as it rushes forward, letting him bring all seven legs to bear. Thats a lot of hydraulics to catch a lot of lizard, and it works. He grabs it around the neck to keep from losing any more pieces, his other legs curling under its belly before he flings it backwards and into the web!
It crashes through, but Im pretty sure that was the plan. Its not quite immobile, but with webbing and venom, its not going anywhere. Tiny strolls up and bites it a few more times as he webs it more, and I let him enjoy his victory. Ah, theres my medic ants. See what you can do for Tiny. Ima go check on our other Delver.
In the little cavern, Fluffles has let the fleeing Delver back to the floor, where they promptly scramble to the back wall. As I focus in, I see that she is a girl. Uh, make that a woman, definitely. Is she a kobold? She certainly looks like it. Fluffles and Teemo simply watch her from the only entrance/exit to the little cavern, not making any hostile moves.
I can hardly blame her for being terrified still, though. A snek and a rat snatched her up easier than the scythemaw did. She could probably hear the bellows and fight Tiny gave it, too. As the silence stretches on, broken only by her ragged breathing, she starts to slump to the floor. She manages to say something before she seems to pass out
Sanctuary
Chapter Fifteen: Settling In
Thankfully, the rest of the night is much more boring, though a few other things happened that raise more questions. Not long after the kobold collapsed, I got a massive pile of mana, and I wasnt sure why. At least until I looked in on Tiny.
The scythemaw officially kicked the bucket, but I dont know why thatd give me so much mana. But then I start to think about some of the other stuff the Delvers have been saying.
I used to wonder why theyd think a dungeon would become murderous. I need Delvers to make mana at any decent rate, so why would I kill them? Well, because they apparently give boatloads of mana, if this scythemaw is anything to go by. I can definitely see other dungeons taking the quick payoff instead of playing the long game. I mean, itd still be murder, but itd make logical sense, even if it doesnt make ethical sense.
So I guess I cant really blame the town for being concerned. Ill definitely need to do the next move at night, or some other down time. Its gonna need to happen soon, too. That big pile of mana has my core just barely fitting in the chimney now.
I also have a pending option with the kobold.
Resident Request. Accept/Deny?
Its not giving me any more details, either. Whats a Resident? Hows it different from a Denizen? Or a Delver? What happens if I deny? Well, best case is she eventually wakes up and just leaves, I guess? We both go our separate ways, even if only one of us is actually able to leave. Not really a fan of that option, to be honest.
And thats the best thing I can come up with if I deny her. The various other scenarios I can think of all seem to be various flavors of she dies. Honestly, her leaving is probably in that category, too. She doesnt have any gear, she barely even has clothes. She might have magic or something, but it was clearly not up to handling that scythemaw. Hopefully its a rare thing to encounter in the far tunnels, but still.
I dont know how Id be able to help her if she stays, but Ill be able to do something at least, right? Still uncertain, I accept her request to be a Resident.
At least it doesnt trigger another quake. In fact Im not actually sure what has changed, aside from the fact my counters now show Resident: 1. Maybe Ill know more once she wakes up. I get some medical ants and check her hp, and see shes definitely had a rough time of it.
Not knowing what else to do, I try to anticipate some of her needs. Shell need food and water. Water isnt difficult, especially with the caves. Theres a nice pond down here, so she wont dehydrate, at least. But whats she going to eat? I could try to send some expeditions to get her some bread or something, but Im not sure thatll actually work.
I could have a spider web her a couple mice? Seems weird to me, but I dont know what else I could do. Without any better ideas, I do just that. I also have Teemo keep tabs on her between blazing trails. I think hes taking Jellos slowness as a personal challenge/affront, and wants to get her response time up to his standards, which Im hardly against. With her being a slime, she should be pretty easily able to go anywhere he can.
With dawn comes the early Delvers, and I update the bulletin board to show that the caves are currently empty. Im also reminded to put signs on my various tunnels for where I stop.
You are now leaving the dungeon
Simple and to the point. I have quite a few exits down there now, and I get the feeling Ill only gain more as I expand deeper. I also go ahead and spawn an ore node near the entrance in the lawn. Looks like tin, so nothing too extravagant. I advertise that on the bulletin board, too, and see if anyone is interested.
As slimes spawn, I set them mostly to the various underground exits. I doubt theyd be able to handle something like another scythemaw, but theyd at least slow anything else down. They actually do a fair bit of damage if they catch something, too. I think I should be using them more like easily-moved traps, rather than wandering encounters.
As the morning progresses, Delvers occasionally peek into the cave in the yard. I keep Jello just a little deeper than the tin node, so they know they can get that ore fairly easily, but meaner stuff awaits deeper in. I'm pretty sure the early herbalists tell whatever smiths and/or miners they know about the cave, but none come check it out by the time the kobold awakens.
Teemo alerts me as she stirs, and I see her eyes slowly open before she jerks upright, the memories of last night returning to her waking mind. She stares around the cavern, her eyes wide, as she seems to look for the scythemaw. Yeah, you dont have to worry about that thing anymore. Id offer you a steak from it, but Tiny basically drank everything that wasnt the hide and the bones.
Queen has been experimenting with the bones to see if theres anything interesting to them. Im pretty sure there will be, but shes the Alchemist, not me. Ive made sure shell leave the two mandible things alone, at least for now. Those could be a neat trophy, or maybe weapons or something? I dunno.
But Im getting off track. The kobold seems to calm down as she determines theres no threat in the room. She doesnt seem to spot Teemo, so thats why she thinks theres no threat. Soon, her eyes settle on the mice, and she carefully approaches the webbed rodents.
She picks one up and examines it, before tossing the whole thing in her mouth. A crunch and a cut-off squeak signal to me that she recognizes a meal when she sees one. Probably not the fanciest meal shes ever had, but after encountering that monster, shes probably happy to be on the winning side of the food chain again.
As she starts to peer out of the cavern, I have Teemo quietly follow her as she explores. Theres not all that much to see down there just yet, and its only a matter of time before she discovers the corpse of her pursuer. Her eyes widen in fear when she first spots it, then they widen further in shock as she notices my various denizens working on the corpse. Rats and spiders work to extract the bones, dragging each out the mouth of the beast.
I dont want them to tear up the hide, and thats the biggest exit, even considering Tinys bites. The ants are working on each bone, slowly chipping little pieces off to carry back to Queen. Theyre also working around the bite wounds, taking the damaged scales for experiments as well. Personally, Im hoping for some earth elemental stuff. The monster was tearing through the rock way easier than claws should be able to.
It is a Sanctuary she whispers to herself, seeming to be in awe. She mentioned that before she passed out, too. Does she know about Dungeons? Its not like I can ask her, even if she does.
She cautiously approaches my denizens as they busily work, and they pay her no mind. She tries to take one of the smaller bones, but a lightning major zaps her to get her to drop it. I think shes gotten the hint to not bother ants at work. She watches for a time, and even helps pull what looks like a rib the rest of the way out of the mouth. The spiders and rats had managed to get it wedged between some teeth.
She doesnt stick around much longer after that, though. The denizens have it more or less handled there, and theres more caves to explore. She eventually finds the little clear pond of water, and eagerly slakes her thirst there. Thats probably the biggest reason why she left the denizens to play with the dead scythemaw.
She grows very cautious as she discovers the entrance to the yard, and Im pretty sure its more the sunlight than Jello standing guard in the tunnel there. Or maybe she is nervous about the dwarf there mining the tin node. He spots her and pauses in his work, and the two just stare for several long seconds before he returns to mining.
She looks around a little, before focussing on Jello and looking confused. I mean, Jello confuses me a bit, too, sure. No sense staring at her, though. Might give her a complex. Shes been growing in power quickly, though, which is both nice and concerning. Im worried things like that scythemaw might not be as rare in the deeper parts as I would have hoped.
The dwarf eventually finishes mining and leaves, and my little Resident cautiously follows to peek her head out to see the surface. If the mining dwarf was confusing to her, I get the feeling the surface is blowing her mind. Todays pretty busy. Theres a few encounters in the yard, some herbalists are doing their herbalism thing, and it looks like a woodsman managed to run deep enough to get something decent before running out of the maze.
She takes in the whole scene, seemingly mesmerized by all the activity. She even spots Poe up on his perch over the chimney, calmly surveying the action and directing a few groups of expeditionary birds. She nervously slinks towards the house, and while the Delvers give her curious looks, at least nobody thinks shes a new encounter.
She examines the flier on the front door for a few moments before gingerly making her way inside. She steers well clear of the little party headed for the attic. Im pretty sure they have a quest to go get some of the stuff Codas growing, which would be cool. Quests give decent mana, on top of the stuff they actually do to do the quest. The kobold peers into the basement, and seems to relax a bit as she sees the tunnel in the wall near the chest.
I expect her to head back down, but instead she heads up the stairs to the second floor. She seems very interested in the lab there, though she doesnt have anything to alchemize with. She surprises me again as she quietly climbs the ladder to the attic.
Shes got good timing, at least, as the party has already finished the boss, a larger venomous spider, and continued to the roof and garden beyond. She looks into the chest, just in time to see a packrat drop a coin off. She smiles at the rat, but looks confused once again as she looks around.
She closes her eyes and slowly turns, before she starts walking. Its my turn to be confused for a few moments before I realize where shes walking. Shes headed straight for the chimney! Teemo prepares to attack her, but I tell him to wait. Maybe because shes a Resident? I dont think thats how she knows where my core is, though.
And she definitely knows. Her hand rests against the bricks separating her from my core, and she slowly opens her eyes with a peaceful smile on her lips.
Sanctuary
Chapter Sixteen: A change in Perspective
The Kobold
I slowly open my eyes, feeling a little sore and cold. I suppose its better than wet and warm in the belly of that tunnel horror. My eyes shoot open at the memory and I press against the wall, looking for the monster I was fleeing from for I dont even know how long now.
I replay the events of earlier in my head, piecing together what was and wasnt a dream. Being chased definitely was real, no matter how I wish it wasnt. Being captured by some strange snake probably happened? I remember being levitated here, not walking here. Is that snake still here?
I look around and dont spot it, but I do spot three odd little bundles. I slowly approach, and I see theyre mice. My stomach seems to like the look of them, but why are they wrapped in webs? Shouldnt they be dead from spider bites? Theyre definitely still alive, I can see them breathing. Well, its hardly the worst meal Ive had recently.
I eat one and find it tastes a little better than the mice Ive had before. Theyre usually only little snacks and are a bit bland, but I wouldnt mind eating more of these. Three is a good breakfast, though, and with my strength returning, I also find my mind clearing.
Could this truly be a Sanctuary? I remember the thought crossing my mind before blackness took me, but could it really be possible? The old legends speak of them being a haven and refuge for my people, but kobolds have been scattered and disparate for ages now. Those on the surface take us as simple monsters, and those underneath it take us as food or slaves.
I need to explore. I carefully peer out of the little cavern, and see only more natural stone walls and little else. Theres not even glowmoss in here. I strangle my imagination before it can run wild with theories of a sealed Sanctuary. With my luck, theres something so vile in here, even glowmoss cant grow.
Pessimism firmly and reassuringly in place, I slowly explore barren tunnel after barren passage after empty cavern. Eventually, I can hear some kind of rustling, and only survival instinct keeps me from crying out when I find the source.
The horror is sleeping, gathering its energy to resume chasing me! No, wait what?! I can only stare as I see a bone start to protrude from its mouth, before a rat wiggles out and finishes extracting its prize. My eyes widen as I finally notice all the activity around what is now clearly the corpse of the tunnel horror.
Spiders, rats, and ants are all busily doing something to the body of the monster. I slowly step forward as I see signs of a higher intelligence guiding the actions of the simpler creatures. Ive never seen anything like this! The only time Ive even heard of something like this is
It is a Sanctuary I murmur in awe, my pessimism evaporating. The rats should be eating, not pulling out bones. The spiders should be eating the rats, not helping them pile bones! The ants should be more interested in the flesh, not in the bones of the creature. I reverently walk around the work, wondering how such creatures could fell the monster, when I spot what defeated the beast.
Or at least, its handiwork. There are several pairs of large punctures in its side so the Sanctuary must have something mightier than the simple creatures now processing the body. Somehow, knowing the Sanctuary has something that could lay such a monster low fills me with peace, rather than terror. If it wanted to treat me the same, it easily could have. Does the Sanctuary accept me?
Feeling more bold, I walk to the pile of bones and select one that I think could make a decent club. Im not great with a club, but its better than nothing. My delusions of grandeur are quickly snuffed, though, as one of the larger ants zaps me! I drop the club in surprise and pain, worried I may have insulted the Sanctuary. If even ants can call forth lightning, even at ant scale, what might does the Sanctuary keep secret?
Thankfully, the other ants and creatures return to ignoring me after I drop the bone. I suppose the Sanctuary has plans for it? Do Sanctuaries have plans? Well, if theyre intelligent, they must have some goals, right? The goals of something like that are surely unknowable to the likes of me, though.
I leave the body of the monster behind me, glad of the fate it suffered, and resume exploring. There are many passages deeper, with writing webbed to the walls. I cant read what they say, but I definitely dont feel the need to go any deeper right now. I know what dangers lurk there, and only safety seems to lurk here.
I almost shout for joy when I find a small spring pool in a quiet cavern. The water is crisp and clean and wonderful on my parched throat. After taking a drink, I try to consider what I will do next. I have food, I have water, I have safety. If the Sanctuary is going to offer me these things, I need to offer it something in return.
But what? Offering it my life seems a bit ironic at this point. Well if it has been sealed, maybe it could use someone to explore some more? I dont know what else I can offer it that it might actually find useful.
I wander around, doing my best to go places I havent yet. Im encouraged when I spot a new thing that Im pretty sure is part of the Sanctuary: a slime! Theyre incredibly rare in the deeps, and the ones that are there dont just sit in the middle of tunnels. Perhaps its uncertain of the sunlight I can see at the end of the tunnel.
Ive been on the surface before, but do my best to avoid it. Its too bright, too open, and too weird for me. My musings on the surface world are interrupted by the clear sounds of metal on stone. Does the Sanctuary have other kobolds serving it? Thatd be wonderful!
I freeze as I come upon whats making the sound. Its a dwarf! Hes pillaging the Sanctuary! Whys he pillaging the Sanctuary?! How is he pillaging the Sanctuary?! It destroyed that tunnel horror, how is a simple dwarf beyond it? The dwarf spots me as I gape, and though he pauses and looks at me, he soon resumes mining some kind of metal from the Sanctuary.
I look back at the slime, wondering if its going to actually try and stop the dwarf defiling its home, but it doesnt seem to care. Not that its easy to get a read on a slime, but they usually head towards anything making noise to try to eat it. How long has it been watching the dwarf mine?
How long have I? The dwarf finishes his scarring of the poor Sanctuary, and heads back to the surface. I dont want to follow but this is the kind of thing I told myself I could offer. Nervously, I peer over the edge, wondering what the poor Sanctuary has been opened to on the surface.
Its Theres so many! Surface dwellers are practically swarming up there! I spot some wandering what looks like an ill-kept yard, gathering various plants. I recognize ochredill as they pluck some from the earth. More defilers! Over at a gigantic bramble patch, I see a catfolk sprinting with a load of wood in his arms. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
What madness is that? Who sprints with their arms full of lumber? Who stops and takes a breather only a few steps beyond whatever they were fleeing from?! As I look around, all I see is activity! Even on the roof of that abandoned building there, I see more defilers wandering around, fighting various things.
Im pretty sure Im still in the Sanctuary, but it must be overrun! My eyes settle on a large black shape on the roof and its eyes settle upon me as well. It Its part of the Sanctuary. Its watching, observing, but not acting against the defilers. I can sense its strength from here, it could easily clear them out, but it doesnt. Why?
Perhaps the building holds some clue. The various defilers notice me as I nervously pick my way across the open ground, but none make any moves to hinder me, thank all that is good. I dont find any entrances until I get fully to the opposite side of the building, where I see a door with more writing webbed to it. I wish I had been able to learn to read, but theres precious little time to learn for a kobold in the deeps.
I cautiously try the door, and it opens without fuss. Inside, I can see a multitude of rats and spiders attacking and devouring an endless horde of small creatures, mostly mice and flies. Its hardly a surprise the windows are so thickly-webbed if that many flies are trying to get in. Across the large room, I can see stairs headed up, as well as a small group of defilers at the top. They head into a new room before they can spot me, and Im glad for that.
I explore a little more and soon find stairs down, and am all too happy to descend them. In the basement, I can even see an opening back into the caves below, and Im relieved to be able to get back down there without having to brave the hustle and bustle of the yard. Part of me wants to return to the quiet of the cave system, but I made a promise to myself to pay the Sanctuary back! Im not going to run back to safety until Ive surveyed everything I can up here!
Even if it seems the Sanctuary is fully aware of what transpires up here. Still, I climb back up to the first floor, and then up to the second via the stairs. There are quite a few large black birds perched on the railing now, but they ignore me as I scurry past them. This second floor seems full of random rooms, until I encounter something Ive never been able to take a close look at before.
Its an alchemy lab. It doesnt seem the most well-furnished, but it is definitely still a place to brew potions and do whatever else alchemists do. I never thought a Sanctuary could have a lab in it. Am I not the first kobold here? I dont think the defilers would set up a lab in a random abandoned building.
I leave the lab behind, as I dont know the first thing about alchemy, and resume my exploring. I dont meet the group that I saw at the top of the stairs, and once I find a ladder, Im pretty sure I know why. I dont want to follow after those defilers, but this ladder seems to be the only way I havent looked yet. I sigh and steel myself, before slowly and carefully climbing up.
At the top, I dont see the group, but I can hear voices coming from beyond a large window on the far side of the room, past an open chest. Curious, I move to it to look inside, just in time to see a rat drop a coin inside before scurrying off. I go ahead and close the lid, and try to process everything.
This place is still within the Sanctuary, but why are there so many defilers? Sanctuaries are supposed to fend off intruders that come to plunder and harm it, right? Is this not a Sanctuary, after all? There has to be some way to know for sure! I close my eyes as I try to think back to the legends, trying to think of something to prove, once and for all, that this is a Sanctuary.
Creatures following guidance is one of the signs, but it could just be something a wizard or a tamer did? Surely theyd want this place to themselves, though, instead of letting everyone muscle in on their riches.
Think, Aranya. Think. Slowly, memories of stories being told resurface in my mind. I can practically hear the voice of my grandfather as he relays the stories of old. Legends tell of the heart of the Sanctuary, something truly vital to it. If you are part of the Sanctuary, you will know where its heart is, and you must protect it. That is a Sanctuarys true treasure, and one that must be safeguarded at all costs!
If it is a Sanctuary, Im pretty sure its accepted me. I just need to follow my heart, and Ill find the one that belongs to the Sanctuary. My eyes still closed, I let my feet take me. I almost stop trying, as I get the feeling that its very close, but that couldnt possibly be right, could it? No it is. I can feel something, and its very close. It feels so warm and inviting.
My hands brush against bricks and I slowly open my eyes. I can feel it. The Heart. Its here. I cant see it, but I know its there, just on the other side of the bricks. I cant help but smile and just bask in the presence of a legend from my peoples past.
Sanctuary
Chapter Seventeen: A Small Gift
Im glad I cant have a heart attack anymore, as I dont have a heart. I certainly gave it my best shot, though, as the kobold just stood with her hand against the chimney. Thankfully, she seems to come to her senses before anyone else enters the attic, and she heads back down the ladder.
She searches the house for the rest of the chimney, and eventually finds the fireplace thats connected to it. Im glad she simply nods to herself before going down to the basement and the tunnels beyond. I think my Resident at least understands that my core is very important and should be kept secret. Otherwise, shed have probably tried to climb up the inside of the chimney. She probably still will, but Im pretty sure shell be doing it at night, when basically nobody is here.
I need to get her something better to wear, though. To call what she has now rags would be a compliment. They only technically keep her decent, and shes gotta be chilly like that. I dont know how to get her some clothes. I cant exactly send Fluffles to the local tailor with her measurements and some coins.
Maybe I should have the rats try to steal some pants or something from the maze runners? Im not 100% sure how equipment works here, but I dont think I can just snag something from a slot and call it a day. The rats have only been able to get things that are easily physically grabbed. They might be able to tear some clothes off of people, but thatd hardly be much of an improvement. Maybe I could have the spiders repair anything that gets torn.
Wait.
Spiders.
Im not an idiot, I swear. I just overthink things and get focused on one path easily. Yeah, thats my excuse. I dont think my spiders know how to make clothes. I dont either, really. But I can figure it out. I was able to tell a spider to weave a heart, I can get them to weave clothes. Itll probably cost a bit of mana, but I seriously doubt itll be enough to make any kind of dent in my income now.
I focus in on my Secret Library, and upgrade it once more, wanting to make sure I have enough space to work on designs on my papers without messing up the alchemy stuff Queens working on. However, this time when I upgrade it, my loose papers organize into an actual book! I leave it open to the alchemy stuff, and start working on designs on the other pages. I can see between them just fine.
Ok, first probably underwear. Uh softer silk for at least the interior, tougher for the outside. Stretchier silk around the waist and legs and tail, come to think of it. I start to design the usual flap/hole/access thing, before remembering thats a feature for male undies, not ladies. I briefly toy with the idea of using something similar for her tail, but I dont want it to be too restrictive for her
Now for her upstairs. Well shes going to probably like support. She looks like she could use it. Softer inside, tougher outside, stretchier stuff for the actual support structure. Similar to the downstairs, really. Over the shoulders, underneath the boulders, make a comfy holder. Oh, wait how to fasten? I could try a hook at the back, but that seems a bit difficult. I dont have much metal to make a hook, either. Tie it in the front? I dont think I can make it a single piece that just slips on. Without any other ideas, I go with that, and take a mental step back to consider the designs.
And realize my Secret Library has basically become Victorias Secret Library. I almost simply erase the designs but she really does need something better to wear. With a mental sigh, I call several different spiders down to the tunnels. Looks like shes returned to the little cavern Fluffles dumped her in last night. Thats as good a place for her to claim as any.
I call a couple more spiders to bring a few more mice for her, and she gives the procession of arachnids a confused look as they slowly pile into her space. The caterers set a few mice not far from her, before everyone gets to work. She can tell Im doing something, but definitely has no idea what. I cant really blame her. Who expects spiders to bring them dinner and then make them some silky underthings?
I work on some designs for other clothes as well, but after my first attempt at proper clothing looks like a bodysuit thatd leave little to the imagination, I move on to designing a simple robe for her. The bodysuit would be good under armor, which is what I designed it for, but I dont know if Ill be able to do anything like that with the scythmaw hide. And if I had her just running around in that suit, Id be one distracted dungeon.
By the time I get a robe designed, it looks like the spiders are done with her first bit of clothing, and present it to her. She seems confused at first, wondering why spiders would hand her a very thick bit of web. Once she looks over it, though, she seems to light up with realization, and seems happy to put them on.
Yeah, Im gonna need the spiders to get that robe made, too. Thankfully, its a much simpler thing than the bra and panties, even if its much more substantial. I wonder if my spiders gained some tailoring skill or something, because they seem to crank it out much faster. The robe looks almost pearlescent white once finished, and I think it compliments her red scales nicely. It looks like shes almost tearing up as she accepts it and dons it, and I feel better knowing shes a bit more protected now.
Its getting close to sunset,too. The various delvers are mostly wrapping their stuff up, though theres still a few parties trying to do the adventuring thing a bit more seriously than the gatherers were for most of the day. Oh, I think that group wants to try to get the chest in the basement!
I focus in on them to get a look at the daring group. Ah, looks like halflings are a thing here. He looks almost thick enough to be a dwarf, but no facial hair is a dead give away. Hes got the classic sword and board and plate armor, so hes definitely their front line.
Theres an elf with a spear and a little goatee. Makes him look kinda sinister, but his chainmail isnt exactly dark and brooding. Its not unicorns and rainbows, either, though. It just looks well-used and well-maintained. Hes probably some kind of melee dps kind of class, if I had to guess.
I think thats a lady gnome under the goggles and knicknacks, but its a bit difficult to tell. She looks like support to me, from how shes handing out bottles to the other two, but I can also see a different style of flask hooked into her belt loop. Looks like she can bring some boom when its needed. Hopefully not too much boom. I did survive the quake just fine, but Id rather not press my luck. She talks as she hands the potions out.
So, we can all drink the lightning resist potions now, but antivenom only works after the fact. My first grenade should dissolve the webbing in there, and that usually will disorient a swarm of spiders, but not always, so keep your guards up. This salve will help your weapons to actually harm a decent chunk of the swarm with your weapons. The fumes will weaken or kill spiders that get too close to it.
The elf nods. So more sweeping arcs than thrusts, got it. Anything else?
The gnome considers for a few moments, then slowly nods as she hands them each a pill. If something goes wrong and we have to flee, or we cant, take the pill. Itll counteract this poison gas, she says, gingerly pulling a reinforced bottle from her pack. I hope we wont need it, but that swarm down there looks mean, and this dungeon apparently likes to pull a few tricks.
The halfling shrugs, but accepts the pill. I hear the dungeon is pretty friendly. I dont think itd drop something nasty on us out of spite. Still, better safe than sorry.
I wonder where these adventurers came from. They look almost as tough as elf guy, but with more numbers. I make sure my medical ants are around down here, just in case the swarm is too much for them. It is level 8 and both venomous and lightning enhanced. The group drinks the resist potions, apply the salve, and it seems its game time.
They head down to the basement with the halfling in front, then the elf, then the gnome. The swarm hisses, bringing the encounter to an official start. While the spiders start to surge forward, the gnome hurls a flask into the middle of the room. It seems like its some kind of corrosion bomb or something, maybe something like universal solvent wrapped around an M-80.
Whatever it specifically is, it does as the gnome said it would. The webbing dissolves very quickly, dropping the spiders from their home, and they have to try to reorient themselves towards the danger. The two melee fighters get a couple swings in before the spiders get their crap together, and loose a bit of chain lightning to hit the three.
I think its a bit more potent than the party had hoped, but not as potent as they feared. While the party tries to recover from the bolt, though, the spiders are able to advance and start biting the fighters.
Scirocco Blade! shouts the spearelf as he spins his weapon, a bit of fire trailing as he moves. The heat drives the spiders back, or simply kills the ones that don't evacuate quick enough. The gnome tosses another flask and shouts a warning.
Concussion! Clearly theyve practiced how to deal with that attack, as the spearelf moves behind the halfling and takes a knee, the butt of his spear on the ground. The halfling braces his shield just before a heavy Whoomph! blasts the swarm. Its scattered a bit, but still not finished.
The two fighters take the brief respite to drink their antidotes, and I can see the poison status wink out over both of them. However, it seems the recharge on the chain lightning is up, and the group suffers another blast.
The spearelf and gnome each take a knee, looking like theyre almost out of the fight. The halfling sees this and bellows at the spiders as he charges forward.
Deadblow Hammer! he cries as he brings his sword down, which seems an odd name for a sword move to me. Its a pretty accurate name, though. I can almost see a huge hammer hit the swarm, as invisible force squashes a large number flat. It seems thats enough to fully scatter the swarm, and the party sags from their hard-won victory. The gnome moves slowly, but she gets potions for everyone passed out, and soon theyre simply looking tired, instead of on the brink of death.
They cheer at the loot in the chest, and I cheer for the mana I get from it. It looks like theres several different magical thingies in there, so good on them. That chest has been cooking for a while, so Im not exactly surprised its got good stuff in it.
The party soon takes their hard-won loot and exit, and I think Im going to leave the chest mostly undefended for a while, let it degrade a bit. Thatll give the rat spawner room to breathe some, too. The basement isnt my biggest danger area anymore, after all. I want to get things a bit more gnarly underground.
Speaking of underground, I should see what my little kobold is up to.
Chapter Eighteen: Secret Base
It seems getting the robe has filled her with determination. Shes gone back to the corpse of the scythemaw. Shes not after a bone this time, though. Shes after a claw. Why would she want a claw? One of those big mandible things would probably be a better weapon.
Once she takes the claw over to where the monster tried to dig through my walls, though, I realize what shes doing. She gives a few testing scrapes and smiles as she sees the stone gouge for her. Im pretty happy, too. I wont need to wait for alchemical ants to get some digging done!
Fluffles! Get down here! Use your telekinesis to see if you can smash a claw with a bone, or with another claw! Once I get some chips the ants can easily pick up and use, Ill be able to have them start digging real rooms in the stone walls!
Speaking of the ants: Queen! Get the workers to widen the tunnels from the secret rooms so we can get the stuff out of there. Dont break the surface on them just yet, but get ready. Were going to be moving shop soon!
I design a quick handle in the secret library before telling the rats in the maze to get a decent knotted piece of wood and gnaw it into proper shape. I need a notch for the end of a claw to fit into, and then the whole thing can be secured with webbing! If the kobold wants to mine, Im more than happy to give her a tool to do it with.
Next order of business, hmm oh! I need to move the spider spawner. The spandrel (yes, I wrote the word down after I heard elf guy say it) is too small for me to be able to upgrade it further. It has been for a while now, actually. I just didnt see the need to get stronger spiders before. Now that I have tunnels and stuff, though, I find myself wanting more things to handle the stuff down there.
In fact that gives me an idea. Sorry, kobold, but Im going to be invading your personal space. Dont worry, though, Ill help you get more. I have Teemo squeak at her to get her attention, and lead her back to the little cavern. Theres a crack in there that I think would be a good place to start expanding
He squeaks at her again and gnaws at the wall. It takes a few repetitions before she seems to understand what I want. Once she does, though, her face lights up and she eagerly starts chipping away at the little crack. My ants start swarming the rubble to break further down and cart off, and I have an idea for how to deal with that, too.
I dont need all these entrances to let something big and nasty wander in. I dont think I can just block them, just like I couldnt lock the front door on the manor. But I think I can mostly block at least some of them, only letting smaller things in. I have the ants and small spiders team up on one of the passages, using rocks and dirt and reinforcing with web.
Its hardly pretty, but I expect most big things would go around instead of trying to break through. And if they do try to break through, Ill have time to move a response into position. Between webcrete and slimes, most of the entrances will hopefully be too annoying to bother with.
The next several days are mostly spent with me focusing on digging. Theres been a few more hostile delvers from the deeps, but nothing like the scythemaw, thankfully. They give way more mana when I kill than even when I simply defeat one of the topside delvers, which just reinforces to me that a lot of dungeons must go after that quick payoff.
Still no new invaders, but I wonder if the new delvers are filling that role for in the tunnels? At least nothing else intelligent has come in down there. Most of the critters run off when they spot a slime or something. The ones that dont, tend to get got by a slime, and I get a nice bit of mana.
The kobold seems to be mostly nocturnal. She can be a bit of a night owl, or morning dove? Shell usually be awake to watch the early crafters and such come in to do their gathering. The first time they spotted her in her new robes, I dont think they knew what to do. It didnt take long for them to understand she wasnt going to harm them, and that shes not an encounter, either.
Theyve been calling her the ghost, and she gave a few of them quite a scare, until they realized she wasnt going to harm them. So yeah, they mostly just ignore her and she mostly ignores them as she goes about her nights and mornings.
Soon enough, its time to move. Midnight is the planned time for this move, and it hopefully should be the last real move Ill need to make. I get everyone to their various places. Ive only managed to choke down one of the cavern entrances, so small spiders and rats can watch that one. Poe and the ravens are to guard the surface, and thankfully their increased alertness shouldnt make the people worried this time, since most of them are asleep.
Coda and the bats are keeping an eye and ear on everything underground, and I have dire rats and spider swarms watching the other tunnel entrances. Fluffles and Teemo are on core duty, along with the kobold. I cant give her directions like I can my denizens, but she tends to follow Teemo when he squeaks at her.
First stop: the basement. I want to do a bit of a dry run, and moving the Secret Library seems a good practice run to me. Kobold seems a bit nervous about whats going on. Spiders have been encroaching on the cavern a lot recently, and theres a flap of silk over the little tunnel weve been digging. She must know were about to put something in there.
Teemo and a few rats quickly dig out the book that the ants moved to the basement, and Teemo squeaks at her to take it. She glances over at Fluffles, who simply flicks his tongue, and gingerly pulls the book out. She brushes a bit of the dirt off it before realizing shes got something very important in her hands. With wide eyes, she clutches it to her chest, and then follows Teemo down a trail to get back to the small cavern.
While the rats dug out the book, most of my spiders are moving everything from the spandrel into the new spider cavern. She looks around, but doesnt slow as she follows Teemo beyond the flap, which is now teeming with spiders.
The flap, not whats beyond it. Beyond it is well an alcove at the moment. In one of the walls is a little nook for the book, and Teemo doesnt need to direct her for her to place the book there.
Beside the book nook is an indent for the alchemy lab, which already has a few rats bringing in the various pieces. On the opposite side of the book nook is a divot, and the kobolds eyes widen as she realizes what must be going there. Yeah, Im gonna be bunking with you, hope you dont mind.
Ill have a spider web the map up on the wall at some point, too. Theyre not going to be the greatest examples of their respective rooms, but theyll be safe and secret and I can easily expand them. Alrighty Teemo, get her pointed at the chimney. Its time to get the core moving.
Kobold lady seems to understand what the next little quest I have for her is. She doesnt even need Teemo to guide her to the chimney. He does anyway, because thats his job and hes a professional. At the fireplace, she starts to take her robe off, but then reconsiders and leaves it on. I figure she wanted to keep it clean, but then decided shed rather have the protection or something. Either way, she starts to shimmy up the chimney.
She doesnt get as dirty as I had expected. She looks more like she tripped into some dust than climbed up a sooty chimney. Probably because it hasnt seen use in who knows how long. Up at the core, the ants and spiders have been thinning the webbing supporting it.
The kobold wedges herself in the chimney with her legs, freeing her arms to reach towards my core. Its about a basketball in size now, so much more and it wouldnt be able to move without me having to tear the chimney apart. The ants and spiders get the core slowly lowering through the webbing, and she reaches up and carefully extracts it, and then shows probably the real reason she kept the robe on.
She gingerly wraps it in the hem of her robe, creating almost a pouch. She still needs a hand to keep it secure, but its better than using up both. Itd be pretty difficult to climb down with both hands occupied, Id imagine. She also has her tail to help stabilize herself as she slowly descends.
Once she makes it out, she stares around, eyes wide. She definitely understands how important the core is. Teemo squeaks at her and shes all too happy to quickly follow him down a trail. It only takes about a minute for them to reach the spider cavern, and then just moments to slip past the silk flap and into the safety of the secret base.
She visibly sags in relief before moving to the divot and carefully placing my core in it. Good job, kobold lady. And good job Teemo with those trails. This would have been a lot harder if we didnt have those shortcuts to abuse.