Rather than looks of terror or concern, or even excitement, the trio wears looks of confusion as they get their first look at the gauntlet. Maybe they were expecting swinging blades and gouts of flame? What they’re getting is a lot of platforms, ropes, netting, and other things that look like a random jumble with even less of an obvious way forward than if I went with the blades and fire option.

“If you all want to escape, you all need to get through the gauntlet,” says Teemo simply, which seems to get the jerks to focus. They still look pretty confused, which is fine. I’m not going to tell them how to do any of the obstacles.

Vnarl smirks as he starts to understand the first obstacle. “Just a couple little steps for the first challenge? I hope your dungeon isn’t feeling too proud of itself for this one!”

The first obstacle is a twist on the classic stepping stones. I have them set at different levels, so it’ll be very difficult to go quickly through, but I also have them set up so they can pivot and rock. To get past them, they’ll have to minimize their forward momentum. Otherwise, as Vnarl demonstrates, the platform will tilt, and that momentum will send you into the drink with a surprised look on your face. It also gives me a nice bit of mana.

Hark laughs at his leader, and Mlynda sits on the edge, smirking at him as he tries to figure out what happened. “When are you going to stop underestimating this place?” she asks, still blaming him for their predicament. Not saying it’s wrong to blame him, just saying she still is.

He grumbles and curses as he climbs the ladder back to the cell area. “Yeah? Let’s see you two do better!” With a shrug, Hark steps up.

“You gotta learn to be lighter on your feet, Vnarl,” he says before jumping. While he sets himself to land with minimal momentum going forward, his foot lands well off-center of the small platform. It swivels away, giving him no purchase, and now Vnarl is the one laughing. I’m pretty happy, too, with more mana in the bank.

“I thought you were light on your feet, Hark!” guffaws the troll, and Mlynda titters as well at his misfortune. Hark doesn’t look too upset at failing, and even swims forward a bit to try to get an idea of what the next obstacles will entail. He can’t get a good angle from the water to really see, though.

He climbs back onto the home platform and gestures for the halfling to try her luck. “Well, your turn to show us how it’s done, heh.”

Vnarl grins and nods, taking a seat. “Yeah, show us how it’s done,” he challenges.

I’m looking forward to collecting my mana from Mlynda, too, as her companions challenge her to do any better. “Hmph, it can’t be that hard. It’s just a couple jumps,” she says. She talks a big game, but I’m not sure how well she’ll actually be able to do on the Rocking Stones. She gets a bit more of a run up to jump, and I’m practically counting the mana already.

She surprises me, though, by curling up a bit in the air and using her hands to grab the small platform as she lands. She actually manages to cling on, and gives the other two a wide grin of victory. “Hah!” They look surprised for a few moments, before grinning back at her.

“Hah!” shouts Vnarl in triumph as he points. There’s several more stones to cross before she can truly claim victory, and without having a run up, there’s very little chance for her to actually make the distance.

She tries anyway, the other two heckling her, but she only manages to flop into the water with a splash. Vnarl goes next, though he doesn’t manage to get any further just yet. His landing looks a bit better, but he still can’t manage to get a good jump to the next step.

I also notice I get less mana for him failing the trap a second time. It’s about 20% less, looks like. I’m a little sad I can’t get infinite mana, but I’m probably not the first dungeon to come up with the idea of sending delvers across a single trap multiple times. Some other dungeon must have tried sending delvers in a loop over some trap before, after all.

Ah well. It’s still extra mana for me, just not as much as I was hoping. I ask Teemo to head over to the Enclave, and let Leo keep watching the group try to get past the first challenge. I’ll have to talk with him later about organizing some wolf expeditions, but that can come later. I let him enjoy his schadenfreude as Teemo slips down a shortcut.

Larx is tending to the mushroom beds when Teemo gets there, and he greets my Voice with a smile and a small bow. My rat has tried to get him to not do anything like that, but Larx insists. “Ah, Teemo. Have you come to try and find an early mushroom to harvest?” the ratkin says with a smile and twinkle in his eye.

Teemo shakes his head. “Nah… well, not really. You know those delvers Thedeim captured?” Larx nods, so my Voice continues. “They’re probably gonna be there for a while, so they’re going to need some food. Can you guys provide them with something to eat? Nothing too fancy, but Thedeim’s gauntlet is going to take a lot of energy for them to get through.”

Larx smiles at that and nods again. “I should be able to convince the others to help with that. They may get treated as taste testers for new recipes, too. Arthul has been wanting to try his hand at something more complex than stew for a couple weeks now.”

Teemo chuckles. “That should be fine, as long as it’s edible. Do you guys need anything in return? Thedeim doesn’t want to just impose on you for this.”

Larx considers that for a few moments. “Could you ask him to send a few more thorough expeditions down our main hunting tunnel? The caverns down there are very interesting and great for hunting, but they’re nowhere near fully mapped yet. Some of the hunters say the air has been feeling different down at the outskirts of our hunting range, too. I don’t think it’ll be anything too concerning, but perhaps he could check and put our minds at ease?”

“That sounds good. Leo needs to get some experience organizing expeditions anyway. It’ll be a good way for him to get used to it before he has to try to send his wolves out on the surface.”

“Then we have an accord,” says Larx, holding out a finger, which Teemo shakes.

Elsewhere

Fungus and centipede work in conjunction to safeguard their little purple source of light. Neither would usually care about light, nor would they always work so closely towards a goal, but things have changed since the tiny fragment coalesced.

Ever since they started working together, others have been trying to reach the little piece of purple. Roaches were the first, but have made little headway. Spores and mandibles make quick work of them, and their small mutual master wants more to feed upon.

The second outsider is much more difficult, but makes a worthy tribute for their master. Fur, teeth, and grasping claws, the beast felled a full dozen centipedes before finally succumbing. The guiding force fed well and made two dozen centipedes to prepare for the next beast.

The presence of their master slowly spreads through the cavern, unaware of its purpose. It just knows it must grow.