by Dakota Krout
“And the function?” Bob smirked, thinking I had forgotten. As if I forget things! *cough*
I pouted at him, making him snort.
“Ah, so you will be linking it to a Core? I’ve been wondering how to do that.” Bob’s eyes gleamed. “I would love to watch this process. Are you using corruption? Why not simply pour acid in the hole and let it dig for you?”
He thought for a moment. “I have changed my mind. I would like to stay and observe this activation and linking process.”
I was a bit taken aback, though I had pushed him into it a little.
Bob waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Eh, if I die, you’ll just bring me back anyway.”
I paused for the rest of the joke, but looking at his serious demeanor, I wasn’t finding one. I muttered, a bit upset with myself. Bob died repeatedly in my area after all. To fight my battles. I thought about it for a second, but eventually I mentally shrugged. It was his decision to stay if he wanted to.
I tried to recall details of the portal system I had set up, which was the closest thing to ritual work that I had completed in the past. I was hoping that experience might give me some insight into this matter. As far as I could tell, the main difference between the portal and my boring ritual was how they were activated. The portals were charged, then all of the Runes were simultaneously flooded with Essence. This allowed the Runescript to have a single, unified purpose. The ritual, on the other hand, allowed for a Rune to have its own effect; then be impacted by the activation of each Rune in sequence.
This boring–that is, digging–ritual had a few stages of Runic activation. The first determined the size of the affected area. The second set the Essence type used, followed by a Rune that made this defined area spin. The next determined the speed of the spin, then added a direction, in this case straight down. The final Rune I added determined what to do with the displaced dirt.
I drew the strand of Essence into the first Rune. It filled slowly, but was then activated with a dull flash of escaping light. The area was defined! I focused, and the pathway between the Runes began to accept the still-flowing power. The second Rune flashed and an emerald-brown disk of energy took shape just above the ground in the center of the ritual area. Power weaved into it, and the disk began to spin. This was so fun to watch!
As the next Rune activated, the spinning increased in speed to the point that a high-pitched whine began to resound in the area. Another flash and the convex disk began dropping, biting into the solid stone beneath. The noise was incredible, and strips of rock began flying around. At least until the final Rune activated. Then the shards of stone began smoothly stacking as a pile, which I quickly and easily absorbed.
I was watching the boring continue, which wasn’t boring in the slightest!
“At least it is taking care of itself now, right?” Bob looked down the hollow shaft, peering into the murky darkness below.
I was free of digging for the moment!
~ Dani ~
“This place stinks,” Dani announced contemptuously to the dark-robed man controlling her. She was held with a tether of Mana, like a dog on a leash. “You stink too. Mainly as a person.”
A sonorous voice that could make the inanimate tremble with induced fear responded to her. “Little Wisp, you were so pretty when you were quiet. Like the aurora borealis all bundled up just for me. Maybe we go back to that, hmm?”
“My name is Dani, you overpowered necrophiliac,” Dani scathingly spat at him.
“That’s a disgusting accusation. A slur against my people. Don’t repeat this mistake,” came the spine shivering reply. “Besides, this place will not stink for too much longer. I do apologize for the smell, but I didn’t make it. That would be all the humans, who have been dumping their filth into these tunnels for decades.”
“We are in a sewer?” Dani yelped in disgust. “What is wrong with you?”
“Now, now. Don’t judge me harshly. From what I hear, your precious dungeon was being used as a sewer as well.” A cold smile was on the man’s pale face as he threw her origins at her. “Also, if you address me again, do so properly. Can’t be having the troops hearing about your insolence. They may think that they can… participate.”
“Let me guess, that wouldn’t end well for them?” Dani’s voice dripped sarcasm.
The man’s glare made her shiver. “You will address me correctly. I am ‘The Master’, and you will address me as such. Either that or just ‘Master’. I have earned these titles, and I will-”
“So, ‘The Master’ or ‘Master’? Why not a shorter version? How about just ‘The’? That’s part of your name too, right? Or we could get on good terms and you could go by ‘T.M.’,” Dani blatantly interrupted The Master again.
“I had hoped to put this off, but I suppose now is as good a time to learn as any. Lesson number one: disobedience is pain.” The Master calmly stated. A tiny flutter of air rippled between the two, and Dani began to scream.
~ Dale ~
“So, how long do you think it will be until these tokens become common knowledge?” Rose asked Dale as they made their way down the stairs to the third floor.
“Not long enough,” Dale voiced his thoughts with brutal honesty. “Though for the time being, I’m more concerned about how people will react to the much lower rewards. The gold is gone, powerful items are gone, and wooden tokens have replaced them. I’m betting people will be angry. Some people won’t believe that there will be any rewards whatsoever anymore. Will our population drop again? Is the economy going to fall apart? Will I be blamed for it?”
“Most likely. You are in charge, so you are to blame for any negatives in their lives. People stink. On that note…” Hans chuckled as he looked at the crestfallen lordling. “Are you still trying to buy the bathhouse?”
Dale’s face became tinted with a light shade of red. “I just really like not smelling people. If everyone had free access, I wouldn’t have to worry about someone brushing past me and staining my clothes with the accumulated grease of a work-week. Everything that isn’t super nice is already bloodstained from fighting in the dungeon. I thought you,” Dale thrust a finger at Hans, “of all people, would want this to happen.”
“I just don’t think it’ll work out like you think it will.” Hans scratched his butt and grinned knowingly. “People like him,” Hans jerked a finger at Tom, “think that a layer of dirt keeps you from becoming ill and makes you warmer.”
“Any insulation is insulation,” Tom agreed wi
th a nod. “Why is dirt so different? Plus, the animal fat I spread on my skin keeps it warm, smooth, and un-chapped in the wind.”
“Maybe, but it rots if you don’t clean it off!” Hans and Tom devolved into a snarling conversation they had slogged through many times before.
Adam joined Dale’s conversation, “Some people will leave, but others will see opportunity. I would be very surprised if these tokens didn’t become uncommonly popular at shops in the future.”
“Why is that?” Dale would have latched onto any hope offered. Adam’s words made his heart pound with anticipation.
“Think about it.” Adam twisted his lips coyly. “The token is lightweight, gives you what is shown on it, and even has a number on it to represent the floor on which you earned it. While they don’t have any value by themselves, they are an easy way to trade or exchange goods. Like money, almost. They only have the value we assign them”
Dale pulled out a token and looked at it. He hadn’t noticed the number on it before now. What else was he missing when he glanced at things? How much more did other people see?
Hans looked at the token as well, “How do you know that number doesn’t mean you will get two of the thing?”
“Because you only got a single bar of silver,” Adam rejoined easily. “There is the third floor entrance, let us discuss this further when we have made it to the end?” The group agreed and fell silent, listening for any Mobs that might be creeping towards them.
This floor seemed to be the most affected by recent changes. The blue light that permeated the dungeon was brighter here, allowing for a greater range of vision. The Goblins they saw off in the distance seemed to be industriously moving about, and the drone of insects filled the fairly humid air. Adam flinched when a finch flew past him, barely an inch worth of space between him and its suddenly flapping wings.
The others chortled at Adam when he was alarmed but increased their vigilance accordingly. If that bird had been a hostile Mob, Adam could be dead right now. They walked across lush grass, a nice change from the hard stone floors. There seemed to be paths to follow, but only a moron would happily walk an unknown trail that seemed ‘safe’ in a dungeon. Being so wary was tiring, and the group was also getting hungry. Still moving cautiously, they stopped at a raspberry bush and Hans checked the conglomerate fruit for poison.
“The fruit is fine,” Hans declared after a moment of inspection, “but the thorns have a nasty, subtle poison. It is a contact poison that seems to mimic a potent sleep potion. One touch and you will not be able to keep your eyes open. You don’t even need to get stabbed, just brushing past it will knock you out.”
“Can you safely cut off a sprig of it and put it in the bag?” Dale anxiously requested, staring at the juicy-looking raspberries. “I should have eaten more this morning.”
“I have a lifetime’s experience handling poisons, a little plant like this isn’t going to be enough to-” Hans yelped as the vines of the plant swung at him. He easily dodged the fibrous assault and glared at the offending, innocent-looking plant. Hans drew and threw a knife, easily cutting down the entire bush with a single attack. The sap that poured out was similar to blood in its consistency, making them question whether this was actually a plant, an animal, or a hybrid of some kind.
“Oh, take two of these things! We can turn this in as an uncategorized Mob to the Guild for a reward!” Rose brightly reminded them.
“Nice!”
Feeling a bit better about their assured payday, they formed into their usual formation and began cautiously picking their way through the area.
“We need to collect some Goblins as well.” Tom reminded them as they passed another half-hexagon fortification. He lifted his Warhammer. “Anyone opposed to the… direct option?”
“We may as well call it the ‘Tom option’ at this point.” Rose grinned and limbered her bow.
“One moment,” Dale called as he pulled a Core out of his pocket. He wrapped it in the cursed cloth of his gauntlet and shattered it. *bamph* As Essence raged into him, he took a sharp breath through his nose and shuddered. Dale groaned as he shook the broken shards from his palm. “Oh-h-h that feels amazing.” He opened his now-glowing eyes and grinned at the people staring at him.
Hans cleared his throat. “You know, I’ve met a lot of drug addicts…”
“You can’t get addicted to cultivating!” Dale exclaimed indignantly, looking around for support as the others pointedly looked away.
“I’m not so sure. Feels good, gives you a rush, costs a lot of money, and makes you want more?” Hans’ eyebrow bounced a few times. “Any of these sounding familiar?”
“Maybe I don’t do this so often. Fine,” Dale grumbled with a blush.
“What are you doing with all the stored corruption, anyway?” Rose prodded him, hoping for an answer to issues she was having.
Dale’s mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to think of a good lie. The silence stretched long enough that he was forced to tell the truth. “It gets separated into… other Cores?” He grinned weakly, preparing himself for the ramifications of explaining his good fortune.
“...Cheater!” Hans choked on his own words. “You mean to tell me you don’t need to refine your Essence? You just gulp it down like a Dwarf at an open bar and go on your merry way?”
Dale looked at the incredulous, glaring faces around him. “Well, I mean… I still refine it! I still have to hold the cultivation pattern and…”
“Hey dungeon! Can I get one of those?!” Hans started shouting at the ceiling. “Don’t ignore me you giant hunk of rock! I’ll say nice things about you to other people!”
Dale coughed. “Sorry, Hans, it isn’t possible. There were extenuating circumstances for me.”
“Ah, it was worth a shot.” Hans clutched at his chest in fake distress. “Well, let’s go take out our sorrows on those unsuspecting Goblins.”
~ Chapter Ten ~
“So what happens now, Great One?” Bob needled as he dropped a light-potion-covered stone into the deepening hole. It dropped for a long while, then was torn apart as it finally found the whirling disk that the ritual had created.
“Perhaps talking about it is the best way to decide?” Bob gently offered an ear.
I mentally nodded and verbally acquiesced,
“That is what the… bugs… were for though, correct?” Bob chipped away at my mounting frustration with this comment.
I took a deep, calming, mental breath.
Bob had gotten quiet. “You do not trust anyone else? Perhaps… a Goblin you may know?”
“I see.” Bob dipped his head in thought. “Thank you for telling me.”
I assured him, just to be clear about it. He smiled faintly in reply, not saying anything aloud.
Bob had a nonplussed look on his face. “But… if you leave, the dungeon will die. You will need to refill it with your influence again, and you will be much weakened!”
Bob had a look on his face that I assumed meant he was doubting my ability to make myself fly. That or a disparaging comment about my sanity. He opened his mouth to say something, but luckily a phrase on the peripherals of my thoughts caught my attention.