Chapter 5
Sandra had watched Echo’s progress from her dungeon, sending her Mechanical Jaguar Queen to follow her from a distance as well as one of her Shears up above – just in case. Fortunately, nothing dangerous was on the route towards the Elven village, so by the time the bonded Elf met up with the one that had found Echo’s bow more than two weeks ago she was able to send the larger construct back to its semi-permanent home in Sandra’s workshop. The Shears, however, she brought down lower to hear the conversation between the two – and she was a little shocked and saddened by the male Elf’s reaction.
She couldn’t understand his reaction any better than Echo apparently had, and she hesitated to intervene; some instinct told her that making her presence known any more than she already had probably wouldn’t be a good idea if Sandra wanted the Elf to ever return to her dungeon. Therefore, she just watched and let Echo do her thing in the village, hoping for a better result.
Fortunately, the village inhabitants seemed to receive her with guarded open arms; they welcomed her back and were ecstatic over the delivery of Energy Orbs, but they seemed to shy away from the gear tattoos on Echo’s face when they saw them. Thinking back to when the Elites had defended them from the reptile force, Sandra couldn’t remember them flashing around their own tattoos on their palms; it was quite possible that they deliberately hid them, so the villagers had no idea of their import – other than as a possible “slave” mark.
The Elder of the village took the remaining Energy Orbs and arranged for their transport back to the capital, where they would be put to good use – and then asked when more would be coming, which Echo had no answer for. Sandra hadn’t really discussed any type of regular deliveries with her – mainly because the Dungeon Core didn’t have a clear idea of how that would work quite yet – so the Elder was left without an answer for the moment. Still…it was a start to a (hopefully) profitable business relationship; the Elves would get Energy Orbs and the Dungeon Core would get cooperation in the future – and hopefully some samples of some rare materials that she could utilize in her dungeon.
After meeting with the Elder, Echo went back to her artificially grown tree-house and went to sleep on her sleeping mat almost instantly; the run out from Sandra’s dungeon had obviously taken more out of her than she expected, and she was still recovering from her coma.
Sandra put the whole unfortunate reception of the newly bonded Elf out of her mind for the moment, mainly because there was nothing she could do about it – and trying to do something would probably hurt more than help. You would think that helping them defend against a hostile force would make them show some gratitude toward me, but I guess the distrust of dungeons goes pretty deep. When she thought about it a little more, she realized that most of her actions regarding that defense was mostly behind the scenes; most of the fighting was actually done by the Elite group that Sandra had bonded, and none of her constructs had participated – mainly because most of them had been wiped out by those same Elves.
So it was now obvious that the villagers didn’t really know about everything that had gone on, other than as a source of the Energy Orbs they now possessed a few more of. It meant that Echo was likely facing an uphill battle to convince them that Sandra and her dungeon weren’t there to hurt them, which would be hard – especially when the Elf was clearly not entirely convinced of that herself.
Sandra was hopeful that would come in time, though, and it wasn’t something that could be forced. Therefore, she turned her attention to her next project that was going to require some of the Mana she saved from her other endeavors; she still kept her excavation of more rooms and the expansion of her AMANS running with two minor parts of her mind, however. They were important to her overall strategy, and she didn’t want to handicap them with her…passion project. But first she needed to have a conversation with her other Visitors.
“So…what exactly are your plans, Sandra?” Violet asked as soon as she and Felbar were fed and ready for the day. “Because, as much as I’ve enjoyed learning about your dungeon, helping to avoid your destruction by negotiating with dangerous Elves, and helping to develop this wonderful enchantment on these Energy Orbs, Felbar is awake and recovering quite well. His well-being was my primary reason for staying, if you remember, and I estimate that in a couple of days he’ll be recovered enough to travel back to Gnomeria.”
“I’m ready to go anytime, child; I could outrun you—” the gruff older Gnome interjected, before being cut off by Violet. Sandra had noticed that she had become quietly more confident in herself ever since the incident with the Elite Elves, and it showed in how she treated her obvious elder and superior; she wasn’t rude or inconsiderate or anything like that, though – but the time she had been in charge had changed her. From all that the Dungeon Core could see…that change was for the better.
“No you couldn’t, at least not right now. You still need a few more days to get your strength back up, and then we can head out. Until then, you need to rest those old bones as much as you can,” she said. When he looked like he was going to protest, she cut him off before he could even get a word out. “And no, that wasn’t a crack about your age, but you have to realize that you just woke up from a coma, and even someone younger like me – or even that Elf – wouldn’t be up to traveling that far without at least a little more recovery.”
That definitely shut him up; it was more than evident that morning that Echo still hadn’t fully recovered from her incapacitation, so to expect him to be even further along was foolish. To press the issue would be even more so, therefore Felbar left it alone. Violet looked expectantly at one of her Unstable Shapeshifters in the workshop, and Sandra realized that she hadn’t answered the Gnome’s question.
* Well, as far as you leaving for home, I would like to prepare another Hauler and wagon to bring with you; the others already took one shipment of raw materials, but I’m sure your people would appreciate anything additional. There are a few obstacles that could jeopardize your safety in traveling through the wastelands that I just noticed recently; I’d like some time to eliminate the threats before you depart, but I am hoping to have that done by the time you leave in a few days.
* However, the additional materials and even a load of Energy Orbs for your people is only a temporary measure to help them – as I’m sure you’re well aware of. Just like those Orbs Echo brought to her village to help her people, everything I help supply will only delay the inevitable, not prevent or stop it. In the Elves’ case, even if they had millions of Orbs at their disposal, they don’t have enough of their people to wield them against the dungeons’ threat; what they need is help in the form of cooperation, and that cooperation would likely be in the form of additional forces that would come from outside their lands. I’m still working on that problem, but I’m hoping to have a solution at some point.
* The other races have different problems, but what your people are lacking – if I’m understanding the situation correctly – is a way to create more of your war machines. So, I have a question for you both, and I’d like you to answer as honestly as you can: how likely is it that your surviving Master Enchanters will be able to pass on their knowledge of how they are created? And if so, what would be even more important, is how long do you think that teaching will take…and do you think it will be in time to save your people? *
They were both silent for a while as they looked at each other in contemplation. Finally, Violet ventured to answer, though she was obviously a little hesitant. “Yes, I believe that if the remaining Master Enchanters dedicate themselves to only teaching, then—”
“No,” Felbar said loudly, cutting the other Gnome off. “Sorry to burst your bubble, child, but I worked side-by-side with most of them before I was sent off to babysit the operation in Glimmerton, and I can tell you that they don’t have enough time. I know you’d like to think so, but if they take any time away from creating and repairing what they were already struggling to keep up with, then we’re
all dead within a decade or two, if not sooner. It’s a little-known fact outside of a few circles, but the consensus – at least when I was there a year or so ago – is that there are not enough of the Master Enchanters available to make a difference. With the severe lack of potential Enchanters that could even learn how to create them, there are already plans in place to…delay the inevitable, as Sandra said.”
That…doesn’t sound good.
* What plans are you talking about? *
Felbar sighed heavily, as if he didn’t want to even think about it; luckily, he wasn’t disinclined to answer. “Instead of War Machines that us Warmasters could pilot, they were going to focus on large stationary heavy defenses and portable weapons that could be maneuvered around with a small crew. While the heavier defenses I agree with – I wish we had some of them during the attack on Glimmerton, for instance – the portable weapons that they want to make will be largely ineffective. Pushing a cart around with enchanted ballistae, static sawblade defenses, and various minor elemental attacks won’t help much against a dungeon monster that can just move out of the way.
“Sure, it’ll probably kill quite a few of them that are stupid enough to attack it, but the reason we were so successful in our piloted War Machines was because we could improvise, easily retreat if we needed to, and easily maneuver through trees to hunt down monsters on their own turf. The larger cart-based weaponry is hard to get through dense forest, takes a team of at least three to operate, and if they are surrounded they are virtually guaranteed to be overrun and destroyed. There are a few smaller portable weapons that a single Gnome could use, but they aren’t powerful enough to drop some of the larger monsters out there; as much as it pains me to say it, we just don’t have the physical capabilities to carry heavy loads, move quickly, or defend ourselves using primitive armor and weaponry.”
By “primitive” Sandra assumed he meant things like swords and shields, which, when she considered it, made perfect sense. Unless they were facing something their same size or smaller – which was perhaps only about 10% of the Dungeon Monsters they were likely to face outside of an actual dungeon – then they were useless without their enchanted “gadgets”. In fact, the one thing they actually had going for them because of their small size was their ability to move quietly and unobtrusively through her dungeon; there were times when Violet – and even some of the other Gnomes that had survived the fall of Glimmerton – had moved so naturally silent through her rooms and hallways that she was surprised a few times when they showed up somewhere she hadn’t been expecting them.
But that didn’t really translate well when they were trying to take down a giant turtle, a ferocious bear, a horde of goblins, or a charging unicorn. The piloted War Machines were what helped the Gnomes as a race keep the number of monsters in their land down to a reasonable level, and if they lost those then they were doomed, despite whatever they tried to make up for their loss. It appeared as though the leadership knew that fact – even if most of the population didn’t – so Violet’s thought and dream to become a Master Enchanter seemed like it would never happen. By the look on her face, the Dungeon Core could see that realization had hit her as well.
Unless Sandra helped to change that eventual outcome.
* So, what I’m hearing is that your people are facing a crisis right now, one of which you won’t be able to recover from without…time. Time to teach, time to repair or create more War Machines, time to let future generations grow up to become full-fledged Enchanters – all of which won’t happen because of the threat that the dungeons surrounding your land pose. But what if I was able to give you that time? It would only be a short-term solution – like I hope most of my solutions will be – but it might be just enough to give you all that time you need. *
“A fancy speech is all well and good, but what exactly are you talking about?” Felbar asked gruffly – but with a hint of curiosity and hope mixed into his voice as well.
* I’m talking about making your War Machines here— *
“I told you before, I don’t know how to enchant them; I was just an Apprentice and don’t know all the secrets of how they were made,” Violet interrupted her.
Felbar added his opinion, as well. “And although I can operate one of them better than just about anyone else, even I don’t know how they’re made. They require someone that has the Spirit and Natural elemental energies at their disposal; while I can remember what the Spirit enchantments looks like, I’m not sure I could reproduce them with any particular talent.”
* Ok, then I have one more question for you, Felbar, before I reveal my idea. I don’t want this to seem insensitive, but…why you? What makes Warmasters so special that only you and others like you can pilot the War Machines? *
Felbar bristled at that for a moment, as if Sandra was questioning his worthiness or something. After a moment, though, he seemed to realize she was asking because of ignorance, not because of any doubt in his abilities.
“We Warmasters specialize in manipulating the Spirit-based enchantments that directly control the movements of the War Machines. By infusing small amounts of Spirit energy into particular enchantments in a specific order, we can cause the constructs to do just about whatever we want; it takes years of practice and coordination to properly control them without causing them to fall apart in the process, and that’s why Warmasters are so special.”
“That’s true,” Violet agreed. “They actually maintain the vital Spirit-based enchantments from their energy infusions, though it doesn’t necessarily recharge them – more like putting patches on the rune to keep it operating longer; occasionally one would start to break down because of time or physical damage to the construct itself – which I and some of the others in Glimmerton had to repair with a direct replacement of the enchantment rune. The other, non-Spirit enchantments on the War Machines themselves, however, had to be replaced once every couple of days, otherwise they would start to fail. For instance, many of the Natural enchantments on them made the wood and steel parts pliable enough to bend and flex without breaking, which takes a surprisingly large amount of energy to maintain – especially when they are used in constant combat like they usually were.
“For other enchantments, like the Hauler we built for the others to bring home, the energy is constantly recycled through the enchantment, but after a while even those start to break down without additional infusions of energy or rune replacement. The one they took, for instance, could probably function for a few months before it started to lose power, eventually ending with it breaking down until it wasn’t usable anymore.”
All of that was excellent information, and Sandra was more encouraged every moment. She had suspected that they had worked that way, but of course the how was the hard part; it was one thing knowing the principle behind their operation, but how it got to that point was something else entirely.
* I think I understand. Well, if we don’t know how your Master Enchanters do it, maybe we’ll just have to figure it out ourselves. *
“What? You can’t be serious; it took dozens of Master Enchanters decades or perhaps centuries to perfect the techniques they use. I highly doubt you’d be able to duplicate what they did in such a short time,” Violet remarked with severe doubt edging her voice.
* Oh, I’m not going to try to duplicate exactly what they did – I couldn’t hope to do that. However, I think I can figure out a way to get them to work, even without knowing exactly how they went about it. What will help immensely is if you can teach me all that you do remember from the enchantments, as that will give me a place to start. And to do that, the first step in the process is to go down to the Enchantment Repository. *
Violet and Felbar looked at each other and shrugged. “I guess it couldn’t hurt; if she really can figure out how to get them working, then I’m on board with it. Besides, it’s probably about time to recharge the Stasis Fields on those pillars,” Violet mentioned, before heading out the workshop door.
* While that is
true, there’s something about those Preservation Barriers…er, Stasis Fields…that I want to experiment on. *
The Gnomes stopped at that. “When you say experiment, I hope you don’t mean, ‘try a whole bunch of different enchantments and hope they don’t blow up’, do you?” Felbar asked, more than aware of Sandra’s accident earlier where one of her Shapeshifters was destroyed.
* No, of course not. I need someone with steadier hands and more experience, so Violet will be doing the enchanting. *
Instead of relaxing, that only caused them to tense up even more. “That…isn’t encouraging. However, if it’s a relatively safe experiment like the one where we created the Energy Orbs in the first place…then I guess I can do it.”
Excellent! Now all I have to do is figure out a way not to blow her up…
Chapter 6
The problem with Sandra’s Rune Repository Pillars – which she had known about from the beginning – was that the Preservation Barriers (or Stasis Fields, as the Gnomes called them) surrounding each Pillar, which helped to preserve enchantments for teaching purposes, needed to be replaced at least once a week. Due to their size, the Barriers that were needed to stop the passage of time ate through the energy infused into them quite rapidly; they could always be replaced without disrupting the preserved enchantments inside (which had already been tried and had been successful), but if they were forgotten about – or, say, Sandra was undergoing a Core Size upgrade and it took longer than expected – then the Barriers would fail. If that happened, then whatever enchantments that were previously preserved on the Pillar would be lost.
The Crafter's Dilemma: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 3) Page 6