Arc 2: Opening Chapter 1, Part 1. The Forest and the Lake

Damn it - if I had known that the magic openings would also give me environments, I would have taken more care with the two that resulted in doublettes.

The Core muses while reading the new notifications.

Opening Remote Entry Halls #1 to #4

Forming surface land to include regular opening #1 to #4

Placing magical transfer formation #1 to #4

Opening and permanenting Gate #1 to #4

Analysing environment #1 to #4

Environment #1, "City Rivansea": rock and water

[Water Caverns] already known, no effect.

Environment #2, "City Leve'talun": elven forest

[Elven Forest] unknown, processing.

Effect [Elven Serenity] not compatible to Dungeon, converting to [Safe]

Environment [Old Safe Forest] gained

Environment #3, "Blackmoss": mountains

[Natural Caves] already known, no effect.

Environment #4, "City Hope of Freedom": rural country, light necromantic concentrations

[Rural Necromantic Country] unknown, processing for full effect.

Environment [Rural Necromantic Country] gained.

Old Safe Forest

Rank [Very Low]

Placement Cost

80 MP

Description An old forest with large trees is what this environment resembles. The dungeon walls will become impassable thorn shrubbery and real trees are encouraged to grow in large rooms.

A limit on the number of rooms will also limit room-based structures, but for all other structures there will be enough space in the large rooms.

Abilities Includes [Safe] effect into environment, regular effect can be added.

Cannot be placed on existing floors, only while inside the Floor Crystal Increases floor height to a minimum of 15 meter (plus modifications)

Minimum Room-size on this floor will be 40x40 meter Maximum number of rooms on this floor is 6 (Half Core-Rank) Provides Earth-need for plants

Provides Light for all and Tan-need for plants

Plants grow at +50% natural speed

Fruits regrow and ripe at double dungeon speed (two times per day)

Rural Necromantic Country

Rank [Average]

Placement Cost

1000 MP

Description At first glance a peacefull looking rural country where people can grow crops, until a second look reveals the horrors.

Walls will look like mens-height versions of field separation walls, ground will be earth and ceiling will be a grey sky illusion.

Provides Light, Earth and Tan for growing crops, but also gives +2 level to all necromantic objects and +6 levels to necromantic swarms.

The forest gives some options for the required safe-floor of the next rank. The other one - not looking for another Zombie Apocalypse so it can stay forgotten in the vault.

Now wait until either the first gatherers return or an alert message comes in. Must not forget to activate the illusion of a regular entry as soon as I have the 10 mana per entry - they'll learn better as soon as they are inside, but knowing it's a magical transfer before entering might cause the first visitors to hurry or make special preparations.

-------------------------

The ancient forest is almost silent, only occasionally a bird makes its presence known. Tall trees stand wide apart with long grass growing between them.

Suddenly part of the grass sinks down at one place, while opposite a small knoll rose. When the floor had dropped by a bit more than a meter, the now almost vertical wall to the knoll-part opened into a small alcove. Inside the alcove magical symbols appear and a gate opens.

First a dozen of grey, almost silvery foxes run out and spred, running in every direction as fast as they could. They are followed by a group of five lizardpeople, accompanied by another dozen foxes.

The lizards begin to check around and take samples of the grasses and ferns while the foxes sniff around, sometimes yelping to bring attention to a mushroom or herb hidden under the grasses. After an hour or so the bags are full and the lizards return to the alcove while the foxes remain - some start hunting for mice or rabbits.

A bit later the lizardpeople return with empty bags and widen the search area, repeating the process.

...

One of the first foxes to go out sits next to a tree. He hears the other spawn still gathering in the distance, but his attention is focused outward. Several hours have passed and his mana is getting low - he needs to get back into the dungeon soon as he becomes hungry. The forest is still silent and empty - wait - no nothing. His ears flicker a bit but he hears nothing.

"Cuuuuteee"

Four black paws land less than half a meter before his snout as two hands grab him.

To anyone from earth it would have looked like a twelve-year old girl in light leather armor trying to hold a grey whirlwind trying to escape - if said human had ignored the bottom part where the girl had the four-pawed body of a large black panther instead of human legs. Luckily for the fox the girl failed to grab him properly, and ten seconds later a grey body flashes away yelping.

"Yap Yap Yap..."

The elf in a similiar leather armor stepping out of the forest makes a few guestures and several more elves ran on, trying to catch the fox. He approaches the pouting young paut'a with a look of reproach.

"Liri... Young Lady K'tara, when I discovered you secretly followed us, I let you stay instead of loosing several sworddancers to escort you back because you promised you could run the forest silent and unseen."

"Can you please tell me which of your teachers told you that yelling 'cute' into the forest is a part of being silent and unseen?"

"But but but I've never seen a grey fox with such nice fur. Please don't be angry with me..."

"If you hadn't pounced early, we might have been able to catch that fox - especially as it seems to have been set to watch. Now we can only hope that his warning was late. Let's go on."

Ten minutes later they arrive at the opening to a cave in the grass floor of the forest. Two dozen elves of both gender stand around, most with swords and several with bows and daggers.

"Report"

"When we arrived, we saw several lizardmen and a dozen or so foxes running into the cavern. I tried to target one of the late arrivals with my bow, but another fox jumped me before I could fire. It appears that they have taken samples of the forest before fleeing."

"This part of the forest has been under the [Elven Serenity] magic for centuries - I doubt that they could have found anything dangerous here, but they might have gotten some valuable herbs or mushrooms. But the dungeon having sapient spawns, and those lizardpeople having already trained those foxes - it's very unlikely that this is a black-ranked dungeon, it has to be copper ranked or even higher than that."

"The run through the forest has left most of us too exhausted to handle something beyond a black dungeon, and it's already late. Let's rest for today, the rangers should watch the dungeon in the night while the sworddancers should rest and prepare to enter the dungeon tomorrow."

"Alum, Siri, Orin - please escort Lady K'tara back to Leve'talun and give Councillor K'tara a full report. Not only on what we found out about the dungeon, but also the young ladies latest actions. We'll wait for the councillors answer as to what to do about the dungeon tomorrow."

...

Gunny, where are you? The return quest was given half an hour ago when the fox came in. What have you found in Blackmoss that made you not hurry back...

Two hours since the alert and still no Gunny. But no Elves either, what are they doing? It's getting dark - they might not see a black water elemental looking out of the dungeon. Let's send one to scout.

So they're camping and guarding? It appears they will wait to enter tomorrow. New quest for gunny - Elves are camping, six hours to return. OK, let's check the forest haul first.

Example Absorption Complete

Success Rate 18/23 samples (78%)

High grass, normal fern, blue fern, Champignons, Keern Mushroom, Lindalshroom, Elven Star Tree, Field Mice, brown bunny, ...

Some edible mushrooms - the hallucinogenic one might also be useful. Grass and fern and tree I would basically get from the environment anyway, the animals are only useful if I want to start breeding the foxes as they would need food if they're not spawned. The environment is still the best thing I got from that exit. Bad Luck. Hope Gunny is still OK.

At the same time the hole in the forest opened, the stone of Rock Island in the river lake called the Rivansea also shivered and opened a hole. Again it was only an alcove where magic symbols appeared - but the angle of the place meant that the inside of the alcove could not be seen from the harbor.

Five naga (two male and three female) slowly crawl out of it - keeping their bodies as low as possible as not to be seen from the near shore and the city harbour. Using their long snake bodies they quickly glide down to the sea, using the four arms on their otherwise human torso to guide and hold their position where neccessary.

Once in the water, one of the females quickly swims around the island, while the others split in pairs and drop further down to the bottom. They start gathering underwater plants that grow on the bottom, and place them into nets.

Twenty Minutes later they hear a call from their fifth member: "I'm one third of the distance to the harbour and can now see the keels of their ships. It appears that one of the fishing boats has been called back, but they're not putting any effort into speed."

The two pairs continue to collect plants and occasionally drag their nets to catch a fish or two.

[Ping]

You have a new Quest Single Healer Return to Base

Details One Healer needs to return to base, one of the Lizardmen has been wounded.

Rewards Fame +1 (reduces naming cost)

No XP gain as Spawn Core cannot handle XP

"Hey, do you have new quests? The core wants me to return to heal a Lizardmen?"

"No" "No "No" "No, it's not a recall - we continue to collect."

"I'll help you in a three-team to collect larger samples until she is back. I'll come to your side."

Upon approaching the pair, the male naga speaks again.

"There is a large crab about two hundred meters back, that would be a nice catch for the core as a new defender."

The three naga spread out a bit and approach the crab. Its shell is about 60 centimeter in diameter, making the entire crab almost a meter large. It has the usual two eyes, but they are farther apart than usual and there is a strange ridge and something that does not look exactly like a third eye between them.

Combat Initiated

Naga A, Naga B, Naga C

vs.

Spearcrab A

Spoiler: Combat: Short Description

The three naga surround the crab, which begins to open and close its claws as well as turning in place to keep everyone in sight. One naga tries to get a staff under its body but hits it instead, creating a dull thud.

The crab dashes forward to escape and at the same time attack the other male naga. He prepares to block the claws, but is surprised when something spear-like extended from the ridge between the eyes of the crab, impaling on his snake tail.

The female naga drags the wounded away to prepare to heal him, while the first naga finally manages to get his staff under the crab and overturn it. It's legs are now dancing helplessly in the water.

Spoiler: Combat: Long Description

The three naga surround the crab, which begins to open and close its claws as well as turning in place to keep everyone in sight.

The naga ready the wooden staffs they had strapped on their backs while gathering. One naga tries to get a staff under the crabs body but hits the carapace instead. A dull thud indicates that it didn't do much damage.

The crab dashes forward to escape the attacker behind it and to attack the other male naga in front of it. The Naga prepares to block the claws, but is surprised when something spear-like extended from the ridge between the eyes of the crab, impaling on his snake tail. The crab is partially immobilized as it can only slowly withdraw its bone spear, but the bleeding wound it created doesn't look good for the naga.

The female naga grabs the wounded with three arms while using her last hand to push on the crab. That push frees both as the spear is now out of the wound. She opens her top as soon as they have a short distance to the crab.

in the same time the naga that missed with his first try sneaks up on the crab again and manages to get the staff under its body with the second try. Heaving with all four arms he manages to overturn the crab.

It's legs are now dancing helplessly in the water. After a quick look to his comrades who seem to be OK and healing he bind the legs with rope, taking care to block the crabs hidden spear as well.

Spoiler: Combat: Battle Log Battle Log

Naga A readies Staff

Naga B readies Staff

Naga C readies Staff

Naga C attempts to sneak - skill failure

Naga C attempts to push staff under carapace - target failure

Naga C hits Spearcrab A for 6 damage (4 damage absorbed by armour)

Spearcrab A [HP: 32/34]

Spearcrab A rushes Naga A

Spearcrab A uses [Water-pressured Bone Spear] - skill success

Spearcrab A impales Naga A for 8 damage.

Naga A [HP: 12/20]

Naga A has [Bleeding] inflicted

Spearcrab A and Naga A have [Move Restrictions] applied

Naga B pushes at Spearcrab A - skill success

[Move Restrictions] cancelled for Spearcrab A and Naga A

Naga B removes her top to prepare feeding [Healing Milk]

Naga C attempts to sneak up behind Spearcrab A - skill success

Naga C attempts to push staff under carapace - skill success

Naga C attempts to overturn Spearcrab A - Body Power check successfull

Spearcrab A has [Move Restrictions] applied

Spearcrab A has [Combat Penalty] applied

Spearcrab A has [Skills Disabled] applied

Naga A drinks [Healing Milk] and is healed for 2 HP

Naga A has stopped [Bleeding]

Naga C binds Spearcrab A

Victory Result

All Naga receive Fame +2 (reduces naming cost)

No XP gain as Spawn Core cannot handle XP

Spearcrab captured

The naga continues sucking until his wound is completely closed, and a while later the second female returns from the Dungeon.

"The team to Kaarg had the bad luck that there was a travelling apprentice necromancer near their entrance. We lost a Lizard and seven Silver Foxes and I had to heal the survivors, but the core decided to send them on gathering as it was only a single apprentice and no troop to block the entrance."

"I also brought a larger net so that we can catch fish."

"Anything visible on the harbour?"

"No, this is booooring - I was tempted to come back to help you fight, but I wouldn't have made it in time. I carefully looked above water a while ago. The fishing ship is being refitted for transport of soldiers, but they don't seem to hurry. If they continue at this speed, it'll be night before they can travel."

"Then let's continue gathering - and be more careful about animals when we see more to catch."

The naga work in silence for a few more hours.

[Ping]

You have a new Quest Abort Gathering - Return to Dungeon

Details A Paut'a has almost captured a Silver Fox Guard, and the elves are approaching the entrance in force. You have 20 Minutes to return

Hints I think the elves will take a few minutes to prepare for entering, but don't waste the countdown.

Rewards Fame +1 (reduces naming cost)

No XP gain as Spawn Core cannot handle XP