Announcement Voice: "Research complete!"
The sudden Announcement makes me jump a little in surprise. It's the same voice, that appeared when someone hostile was coming. [Phuh, I thought someone's attacking again ...] Am I, by any chance, becoming paranoid? ... [Nah, that's just healthy caution ... I hope ...]
It's already getting dark outside, as Orsha leads the third group inside my borders. The darkness comes mostly due to the heavy clouds, that keep coming from the coast-side, rather then from the late hour. The wind is constantly rising in strength and about a dozen kilometers away, I can see it raining already. Occasional lightning strikes in some distance are making the whole atmosphere even more unfriendly.
In the last few hours, I aided the Ashranie-people with setting up their camp, and placed some traps and a door in the first corridor. There where some problems with that at first - I couldn't place the Traps where I wanted them, and it took me some time to figure out, what the problem was; Apparently, I can place Traps only in places that are officially recognized as "Rooms". So I laid out rooms through the underground-parts as well as the tower-floors using the "Designate Room" Function from the construction menu. While doing so, I also noticed, that rooms can't be placed outside. I didn't figure out yet what the criteria is, maybe it needs at least a partial ceiling, or maybe the area needs to be walled-off ... I on't know. Surprisingly, the Core-Room already had a room-designation from the beginning, which allowed me to place traps there before.
In the end, I manged to secure the place like I wanted:
The first trap I placed was a trip-wire, right at the bottom of the stairs, which springs two arrow traps. They should shoot the first one who enters the underground tunnel. Next are thee Boulder-Drop traps, each triggered by its own pressure plate. They are randomly scattered through the room. Another Boulder-Trap is placed right in front of the door, but after getting smashed by boulders so much, the enemy would expected it there, so I tried to reproduce the entrance-trap from the core-room. I placed another trip-wire right in front of it, as a distraction, and connected it to another two arrow traps that are placed all the way on the other side of the hallway. If someone is stupid enough to trigger it, then maybe someone is also unlucky enough to stand in their way. Of course, none of them is activated right now.
Heavy thunder rumbles through the sky while I intend to open the research menu. [Uh, that was a close one ...]
It's convenient that I can open all the menu sections from everywhere in my area, once I know of their existence. It would be a bother to go to the Dungeon-Core each time.
With the finished research-projects it's apparently like with the achievements, the finished ones need to be accepted, before they can be used. There's a finished project waiting for me, right at the bottom of the list. [Come to papa ...] After accepting it, the term "Lottery" finds it's place in the main-menu, and can be accessed. Things are busy right now, so I'll check this out later, I'm not that hyped for lotteries right now. For now, there's another thing I want to get done. I give the newly arrived group a quick look-over while they descent into the caves. [They seem fine ...] I choose the "Inner Clock" research as the next project, simply because I already payed for it, and close the menu.
The Rain has reached the tower like a moving wall and is coming down in buckets instantly. Big puddles are formed in no-time. The wind acquired some real force by now and is bending the loosely standing trees, like it's trying to break them. Luckily, as a "Spirit" this doesn't affect me in any way. The atmosphere is really uncomfortable, though; The muddy ground, the howling of the wind, the bad sight, the occasional lightnings that span from one horizon to the other and resemble crippled hands that try to grab at something. And not to forget, the thunder, that sometimes reminds me of the roar of a gigantic beast. A hungry, angry and unresting beast. [A truly unwelcoming atmosphere ...] Even if it's not affecting me physically, I don't want to stay out here like that...
I move over to the core room and look at the small, shining orb. It doesn't seem impressed by the harsh weather conditions. It's calming yellow light emits the same wave patterns around the room, as it always does [Its's time for us to move as well, little one.] After opening the menu and selecting the "Relocate Core" option, a new window appears:
){}-----------------------------------------{}(
New Position of the core:
Floor - [Floor 1]
Room - [Room 1]
Cost - 50 DP
Proceed
Back
){}-----------------------------------------{}(
[... And of course, it's not free ...] It feels like these small spendings are draining me slowly, which leads to a slight anger, rising inside of me. The Option seems to work like the teleport ability. And now, that I have more then one room, I can give it the coordinates it needs. But there is something that makes me wonder ...
Following my curiosity, I open the map overview and scroll all the way out. [Yes, that seems about right ...] After inspecting it closely, i'm certain about it: [The Dungeon-Core is in the exact center of my domain!] So this leads to the obvious question; what will happen with the domain, if I relocate the orb? Will it also move? [There's just one way to find out.] I look one more time at the map, trying to remember it's exact layout, an turn to the Core-Teleport menu. I already decided to place it in the meeting-hall of the new Ashrani-settlement, for the simple reason that it emits light. They won't need to burn as many lanterns, if the core is there. It will also hopefully give them the feeling, that I'm with them.
For the coordinates: [Floor: Floor 1, Room: Meeting-Hall.] It's convenient, that rooms can be named individually during the designation process. Once I proceed, I get a transparent, three dimensional model of the Meeting-Hall with the dungeon-core in the middle. Around it, there are some arrows, that point in different directions. [What now?] After trying to manipulate the arrows, its clear; [Ah, I can set the exact position with that. That's nice!] The Orb is placed in the middle of the room, right under the ceiling and I choose "proceed" again. The next moment, the yellow light disappears, from the room, and the orb dissolves in the - already familiar - blue glowing. [Did it work well?] To confirm it, I immediately move out of the pitch-dark room and than downstairs through the tower, ignoring the worse-getting weather.
I can see the light of the orb already from afar. All the Ashrani that arrived by now (around 30 people, or so) are coming from the living areas to look, whats there ...
Ashrani: "Hooaaaa ..."
The surprise and fascination is written in their eyes. For a moment I was afraid that they could still see that as a hostile act. If so, I would move it back immediately, but after seeing their reaction ... [It almost looks like they are delighted ...] After another moment passes, Orsha comes out of the crowd and stands in front of it. Her arms are open, like she wants to embrace someone. [I guess she wants to talk.] I open a spiritual link to her ...
Me: [I thought, that this would be a good location to place my core for the time being. I hope you don't mind?]
Orsha: [... Orsha ... no ... all of the Ashranie, are honored to have the great spirit "Kalifos" among them!]
Me: [That's good to hear! After some time, when my domain grows, I will probably move it to somewhere else. But for now, I want it to stay here ... with your people.]
Orsha: [Yes! The Ashranie are happy about your presence!]
I'm really relieved after hearing that.
Me: [Say, Orsha ... I haven't seen Sari for a while now, is everything alright?]
Orsha: [Yes! Sari helps preparing the Ashrani to move. She will come tomorrow with children and wounded hunters.]
Me: [Ah, I see ... So, there are no more people coming today?]
Orsha: [Yes! The other Ashrani will come tomorrow.]
Me: [... Is it because of the storm?]
Orsha: [Yes. Tonight, the sky will be angry at the land ... It is not save to go outside.]
"The Sky is angry at the land" ... sometimes it's funny how they see things. But at the same time, it's probably the most suitable association from their perspective.
Me: [Hmm ... will Sari and the others be alright out there, in the forest?]
Orsha: [... Sari is with Hoko, who is an experienced hunter, and Resa the wise woman is there too...]
... She didn't say that they will be fine, though. There's no psychological skill needed, to see that she's worried ... Now, it makes me worry as well ...
Me: [I see ... I'm sure they will be fine then!]
Orsha: [... Yes! ...]
She "definitely" is worried! I decide to hide my own concern.
Me: [Good! I've got some more things to do now. I'll leave the matters her to you. Use this place as you see fit.]
Orsha: [Yes, The Ashrani are grateful to the great spirit "Kalifos"!]
She is not getting tired of saying that. And the way she pronounces my name, almost as if it's something divine ... Well, thanks to that, I'm slowly getting used to it. At first, it felt very strange to be called by that name, but now it slowly starts to sound familiar ... very slowly.
After waiting a moment to ensure, that she has nothing more to say, I cancel the link. [Now, back to what I wanted to check ...] After opening the map again, I take a close look at the borders. [They are the same!] So relocating the core does not affect my domain. Good, it could become troublesome if it would, like some of my dungeon suddenly being outside of my domain. On the other hand, I don't even know what the domain is for. Maybe I can expand my dungeon beyond it. That's something I can ignore for now, but one day I will probably be forced to test that.
After closing the map, I almost turned to leave the group of Ashranie behind, when I remembered something, I wanted to try out. I look at the group of Lizard-man, that stands around the orb, hardly listening to Orsha as she seems to be trying to explain something - probably the contents of our conversation. A young melee is reaching his hand towards the Core, as if enjoying its warm aura. As I didn't feel any change in temperature until now, I don't even know if it's emits anything aside from light, but that's not important now ... I focus on him, like I did with Orsha, trying to establish a link. [... Did it work? ...] I'm not sure ... at least his expression didn't change. [Hey there!] ... There's no reaction. One more try: [Hey buddy! Can you hear me?] ... A moment later he shrugs and withdraws his hand. But it is not due to my calling, but because Orshas voice suddenly became louder, obviously annoyed from being ignored.
I sigh in disappointment ... [I guess, I can't talk to them after all! So it only works with specifically gifted people ...] Well, it's still another experiment concluded and with that, I leave the migrants behind, who still have a hard time averting their eyes from the core. Even if their tents and huts already begins to show first results, they still have much to do. I was watching them earlier, but for the most part I had no idea what they are doing, so I decided to come back later and see the finished work. For now, as I'm a bit worried about the bad weather, I wont to check how things are on the surface.
There are six guards that came with the migrants, two with each wave. Half of them are resting on the first tower floor right now, while the others are keeping guard - one at the second floor, and two outside. The wind is wiping the rain inside the building with vicious howling sounds. Most of the rags and other loose stuff has flown out of the room. It also is pitch-dark already. If not for my night-vision ability, I wouldn't be able to see anything. [I hope these guys will be fine ... they are probably used to that, but still.] It would be nice, if they were to close the front door, but then, the guards outside couldn't get in the tower in case of an emergency.
Anyway, the way it is now, I'm worried about the furnishing on the first floor. It's already almost falling apart, and the additional wetness and wind is not doing any good to it. [I guess, I'l try to save it ...] Slowly, I pic up a commode, careful not to break it, - [It seems to be stable ...] - and carry it down the stairs and into the big room, which I earlier decided to be the last line of defense. Then repeat the procedure with the rest of the furnishing. The bigger ones where a bit difficult to get down the spiral stairs, but most of 'em still survived it unscratched. Since they are all wet right now, I'll leave them there to dry. There is one Bookcase - almost empty, one commode, a big chest, a drawer and an office chair and table. The rest is garbage, usable at most as firewood ... once it's dry.
The resting guards did not notice my doing at all, due to the loud storm outside. (At least I think so.)[Actually ... how are you guys able to sleep under this conditions?!] They sure are used to it ... Because of that, they will be quite surprised when they wake up. I silently smile to myself, while imagining their reaction once they do, and notice that half of the rooms stuff is missing.
[Ah, I almost forgot ...] There are still my "Treasure chests" on the second floor ... When I went up and see them, the rags that covered them are already gone. They are not in a place where the rain would normally reach them, but they still managed to get wet because of the fierce wind that spreads the water drops everywhere. There's no dry point here, everything is a mess! [Hmm ...] I carefully look around. [Ah, there you are!] I found the big spider curled up in a small place under the remains of the broken stairway, which once led to the third floor. It's not dry there either. [Poor thing ...] It's probably hungry ... Earlier this day it went to that dead harpy and started to cover it with web, but then the Ashrani disturbed it. And now that storm ...
For a moment I consider to carry the harpy up here, and leave it to the spiders enjoyment, but then I look over to the female hunter, who is silently standing near a window and watches the surrounding with an observant look in her eyes. From her perspective, it would look like a dead harpy is descending from the sky, to avenge it's dead friends. Plus, it will be in the middle of this creepy storm. [It would probably scare her to death ...] While the idea is really tempting ... [I shouldn't do such things!] I doubt, that she will find it equally funny ... I also doubt, that she noticed the spider. If I wouldn't know it's there, I wouldn't notice it either.
[But still ...] I turn my attention back to the spider. If not even a storm like that drives it away ... [You really seem to have decided to stay! ... Hmm ...] Maybe I should give it a name ... I think about it for a while and after some minutes of trying of different names, I come up with [Archeon!] For some reason, it just sounds right. [It's decided, you are Archeon from now on!] Well, I will think about what to do with the small critter later. I just hope it doesn't get killed by an Ashranie hunter in the near future ... or vice-versa.
After carrying the treasure chests downstairs to the other stuff, I also got the containers from the once-been core-room. [Better safe, then sorry.] I don't want my first loot picket up by some by-passers. Instead, I placed another empty chest at the spot where the core once was. It's supposed to act as bait for the traps that are still present in the room.
[Now, what's next? ...]
Thanks for the Chapter, still looking great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, glad you like it.
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