Chapter 10a

Chapter 10

   The process of digging out a new home for the Ashrani is slow, but steady. I double-check every bit of action, before executing it, to prevent loosing valuable DP. As we progress, the DP  is dropping with a considerable speed, and when i first thought that i have a rather big amount to my disposal, than i need to realize now, its not as much as it looks to be. In the end i decided to cut some edges here and there. The central meeting place for example, ended up a bit smaller then initially planned. I also placed just two of the Living Caves. I will advance both of this, when I'm sure that i can afford it. For now, they will have to manage with this.

During my work, I talked with Orsha. Nothing overly Important, i just wanted to know more about their Culture, how they spend their daily life, or what they believe in.

Basically, their whole lifestyle could be described with just one Word: "Hunting"!

For the Ashrani, or Lizard-Man in general, hunting is not just a necessary activity to survive. Instead, its everywhere in their culture: its the core-part of their daily live, philosophy, and even religion. It makes up their whole purpose of life. For this, all of the Ashrani are considered hunters, independent of their age, gender, or social standing. The Ashrani believe that after they die, they will join their ancestors in - what they call - "The Great Hunt". If they kill a strong creature, they take a trophy from it, like the feathers, that where taken from the Harpa last time. This Trophies are buried with them, when they die. In the afterlife, their value as hunters is judged upon the prey they killed during their live time. If the Ancestors decide, that your trophies are worthless, then you may not join the ranks of the hunters, but become prey instead.

Another thing, that is buried with the dead are their weapons. Every hunter has to build their own weapons. [A good weapon, makes a good hunter! And a good hunter makes good weapons!] At least, that's what Orsha said. An Ashrani would use someone else's weapon, only if his live depends on it. That's why none of them took the Swords of the dead soldiers, despite them being in rather good condition. And Orsha confirmed, that this was also the reason, why they didn't care for the weapons and gear of their fallen brothers after their first fight. They died here and got absorbed by the dungeon, so this makes it their grave. And that means, their weapons "belong" here.

At least, i know now, that they are not worshiping me. They don't even have a word for "worship", as they don't have any gods in their religion. Instead, they see our relation more as an alliance, in which they treat me with great respect, as they consider me more powerful then them.

What i also find interesting is, that the Ashrani language has no word for "fight" or "battle", but they do have several words for "hunt". For example: 
"zachár" - One hunter who hunts small fry for food.
"zachríg" - A tactic, where several hunters drive a group, or a single big animal into a corner.
"zach-gor"- Attacking and killing a dangerous foe, to ensure the safety of the tribe. (not necessarily for food.)
"ro-zach" - A protective battle against wild beasts (Turn the hunter into pray.)
"nor-zach-ra" - Means "The Great Hunt" and refers to the afterlife.
"gor-garésh" - Witch translates as "Last Hunt", is used when fighting off a threat, that endangers the whole existence of their tribe.

There are more, for very specific situations, but I can't possibly remember them all. One that I find funny is "zachsír", which refers to collect/hunt fruit, because you need to "find" and "get" them. Everything is a hunt ... If they attack, they are the hunters, if they got attacked, they are the hunted.

By the time we finished with our work, i feel like i know them a whole lot better now. At least i understand them more. Orsha is seemingly happy, that i show so much interest in her culture and is telling me way more, then I am asking for. After taking a last look around, she agrees that this will do.

[Ashrani will soon come and make homes in this place.]

[I'm looking forward to it!]

It seems that we finished right in time, as the flame in Orshas "fire-to-carry" is getting dimmer. 

[Lets head outside for now.]

[Yes!]

I take a worried look at my DP-count: 

{DP - 2056}

it was almost 3000 when we started. It should still be enough to make the cave more complete and comfortable, but there are more important expanses to do. Before the Ashrani tribe migrates here, proper defense matters are in order, and right now i have no idea how much it will cost me. Aside from that, i want to keep some points for emergencies. I'm still encountering new features and possibilities, and most of them cost DP. If i manege to find out, how to give abilities or powers to the Lizard-Man, then i would like to do so right away. And I'm sure, it won't be free. As long as i don't know how to get more DP, i need to be careful with what i have.

...

The sun traveled a good bit over the slightly cloudy sky. Several hours must have passed, since we entered the underground.

[It took longer then expected ...]

[ ... Does the great spirit "Kalifos", need Orsha for something else? Does the great spirit have more questions?]

I actually do, but right now my fingertips are itching to check on the dungeon-heart. It's also past midday, the girls might be hungry. And Orsha looks like she has something else to do. Maybe she is tending to the injured in Hassags absence, or she just wants to tell everybody about our progress today. Well, i don't care for the reason ...

[Orsha, lets meet again in a few hours. I have something important to do right now.]

[Hours? ... Orsha does not understand ...]

Ah, right, they don't know about proper time-measurement. Wait ... how do I know about it? ... Again, random knowledge. But this way, it would be difficult to agree with them on a specific time. - Not that there is a way to tell the specific time, since there is no clock around ...

[... Just come later during the day. We need to talk about, how to protect your new home.]

[Yes! Orsha will come!]

She energetically moves to the other two, who where on guard the whole time. After exchanging a few words, they went off into the forest. As soon as they leave my territory,  i can feel how my link to Orsha breaks off. [So i really can't talk to them outside of my dungeon-area.] Well i can't speak with most of them even if they are inside of it. [Wait ... i actually never tried!] Maybe Sari and Orsha are the only ones capable of "opening" a connection, but everyone is able to "receive" it ... Checking this out will be another point on my to-do list. Now to the core room.

The Dungeon-Heart emits its yellow light on the walls of the room, like it always does. This way, it somehow looks calm. As far as a yellow orb can be called calm, that is. As I approach it, I feel excitement rising inside me, even more then with all other things I tried out before. A feeling, deep inside, tells me that I'm about to learn something important right now.

And my Intuition does not betray me.

As I focus on the Orb, a window appears, that differs from all the others, i saw before.



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And now, i need to ask for your help:

The Orb will give the MC access to all the options and possibilities of the dungeon. It will obviously show also the stuff, that the MC didn't know about until now. At this Point of the story, it needs to be set clear, which options he currently have, and which not.

The things, that are there so far, are:

- The "General-Dungeon-Information" screen. (The first thing he encountered)
- "Item-Management" Screen.
- And the "Construction-Menu".

- I also already decided, that the "Creature-Management" will be implemented. (The "Powers", that Orsha spoke about, will be part of it)

- I also think about adding a "Dungeon-Control" section in the Menu. The Map, special abilities, regional or global spells or effects, or just the ability to move the Dungeon-Core to another location will have their place here.

And here is where I'm in dire need of your help: What did i miss???

I feel like something important is missing, and it would be fatal to move on without it. So, please post everything that comes into your mind, even if its minor stuff.