No way, absolutely not! Don thought, but before he could decline the offer, Cel interjected.

"Wait just a minute! Why not?"

I'm not qualified to be a leader! I'm not trained for this. Void, I'm not even authorized!

"Sure you are, what do you think these screens are? You've passed the minimum qualifications that your god itself laid out. You're looking at literally god-sent authorization to rule here. You have a freaking divine mandate!"

I can't lead the ColoColo Don insisted Every choice I've made has had calamitous results! Void, I was a criminal even before I ruined their lives! Why would the Master give me the authority to make decisions for others?

"Look around you, do you think any of these kids are trained for something like this? Do you really think you would be so bad at the job that letting the tribe sink into anarchy would be the better option?"

The thought of abandoning the little monsters made Don pause. He was responsible for their current situation. He was responsible for Grey's death. But Don had already proven himself incapable of making good decisions. Giving him authority over the tribe would be like trying to douse a fire with a flamethrower.

Can't you lead them? Don begged

"I can't." Cel said flatly "Pets aren't capable of becoming faction leaders"

But they listen to you! I'm sure you could lead them!

Cel sighed

"They might listen to me. They might even follow me, but unless the system recognizes a leader for the ColoColo, they will deteriorate into feral monsters over time. It's just how this world works. Factions need recognized leaders."

Then we can find someone else. Sik, or Kat, they can lead. Cel shook her head sadly

"That won't work. If they had the required reputation points, they would have automatically been promoted. The fact that the position is still open proves that's not the case. You're the only option. I'm asking you, please, help these creatures."

Don wanted to object. He wanted to explain how ludicrous the idea was. Him, leading. He couldn't deny his partner though, not with the desperation and sincerity he felt from her. Then, against every instinct and logical argument, he accepted the role.

Congratulations!

You have subjugated a monster tribe.

New Title: Chieftan

Chieftan: ColoColo

Effect 1:

The ColoColo will follow your orders so long as your reputation remains above +1000

Effect 2:

You now generate experience points which can be awarded to your subjects.

+[character level] EXP / day

EXP Bank: 0/0

Effect 3:

You now have access to the Tribe screen

A fanfare blasted out from the screen surprising Don and attracting the attention of the frightened and mourning ColoColo. They prostrated themselves in front of an extremely uncomfortable Demon.

"Stop that" Don ordered. His new subjects complied. Some of them didn't look too happy to be bowing down to him. They were still individuals, no matter what the game system did to compel their obedience.

It was also clear that the compulsion wasn't absolute given Gaz's insurrection. In addition to Don not enjoying the show of deference, he didn't want to push his luck. Don was very grateful when Sik's voice cut through the tension.

"Hah! A hatchling chieftain. What's next? A blind scout?" A couple of nervous ColoColo glanced at Don to see how he would react.

"How about a sick doctor?" Don shot back, grinning. Then he instantly felt bad about the joke. He had just murdered, the refuge was half destroyed and he was now responsible for these monsters in an official capacity. It wasn't just his personal feelings compelling him anymore. He felt sick to his stomach, still, the halfhearted attempt at humor relaxed his new subjects.

Don didn't have the luxury of wallowing in self-loathing anymore. If he wanted to keep the ColoColo safe and fed it was going to take some work. If he wanted to drive off the apes, it was going to take a miracle. He could only hope that he wouldn't make any more enormous mistakes.

Cel approved of Don's new resolve and instructed him to open up the new Tribe screen before doing anything else.

Tribe: ColoColo

Abilities: Forest Walk, Venomous bite

Inheritances: Alchemically Gifted, Lore Masters

Members: 37

Holdings: Refuge (damaged)

They explored the abilities of the ColoColo next, focusing on each one in turn, causing new windows to appear.

Forest Walk

+50% movement speed

+50% concealment

-50% stamina consumption

Restrictions:

Can only be used while traversing wooded areas

Can not be used in combat Venomous Bite

Inject stamina poison into the target creature (potency = 5)

Cost: 1 venom charge

Duration: 1 second

ColoColo generate [monster level] venom charges each day

Forest walk seemed to explain how Kat was so quick and stealthy. Venomous Bite also answered a lingering question Don had never gotten around to asking. His mind was already turning, sorting out the various advantages and disadvantages presented by the new information. He focused on the Inheritances section next.

Alchemically Gifted

On rare occasions, a ColoColo with the talent to become an Alchemist will be born Lore Masters

On rare occasions, a ColoColo with the talent to become a Historian will be born

Alchemically gifted made sense. The Lore Masters inheritance took Don by surprise momentarily but it did seem to fit with the reverence the ColoColo held for their ancestors and their accomplishments. He focused on the 'members' section next. Another long spreadsheet opened up in front of him.

It detailed the names, levels and attribute scores of all 37 members of the tribe. They were mostly uniform. The levels ranged from 2-4 and they had similar stats with high agility but low strength and constitution. They had surprisingly high mental attributes too. Don was expecting subhuman intelligence but they ranged from 10 to 13 in those areas. Three notable exceptions stood out, however. They all had "Variant" tags attached to their descriptions as well.

Kat was predictably a 'scout' variant which seemed to boost his agility score at the cost of some strength and constitution. Sik was a 'crafter' variant and was the only one with the dexterity attribute, though his physical and support attributes were lacking. The third was a ColoColo called Nap and she was a 'sage' variant. She had lowered physical and support attributes like Sik, but she also had an attribute Don had never seen before. Her Lore attribute was at an impressive 31 points.

Cel, do you know what 'variants' are? Don asked

Yeah, they are rare mutations in monster populations. They have different attribute allocation than normal for their monster type. They can either be a lot of trouble if the mutation enhances their natural strengths or they can be all but harmless if the mutation detracts from those strong points. I think Gaz was a 'brute' variant which doesn't pair well with small agility-focused monsters.

Cel felt Don's sharp spike of shame at the mention of Gaz.

Don't do that. She scolded Don. Gaz deserved what he got. I'm glad you put him down, I only wish you could have done it before he got the chance to screw everything up.

Don was taken aback. He hadn't expected that attitude from the mother of his victim.

Wasn't he your child? Don asked with unexpected anger How could you be so callous?

I'm not a biological mother or anything. I don't have that kind of connection with these monsters. I just understand that they're sentient and I don't want them to suffer unnecessarily. There's no one else who even suspected they existed. I'm the only one who could fight for them. That was worth escaping quarantine for but it's definitely not worth protecting anyone who attacks those who supported and protected them.

That still sounded wrong. Don didn't want Cels forgiveness. He was a murderer. From what he could tell, Gaz had only ever used his [Venomous bite] on his tribesmen, sedating them, not killing them.

Guilt twisted his insides once again. Don tried to distract himself with the last section of the tribe screen but that just made it worse.

Holdings:

Refuge:

Hidden Entrance Chamber: Discovered

Meeting Hall: Destroyed

Alchemy Workshop: Overcrowded, 83% durability remaining

The short list seemed to recount Don's failures as much as detail the few rooms of the meager home he now owned. Only the 'Alchemy Workshop' provided additional information when Don focused on it. There was a list of resources and potions. Don scanned it but most of them came from what he had just delivered and he waved the screen away.

Too many ColoColo were crammed into the small alchemy round despite the lingering smell of a stink bomb Sik had used to drive away the apes. They formed up into small feathered piles seeking comfort and warmth. Don hated to break them up but there was no way he could get any work done with the space as packed as it was. He ordered them to move into the tunnels. They would be safer there anyway.

Then Don got to work. Time and again, it was his potions that saved Don's life. He had fully grasped the importance of preparation. If he had just one more stink bomb with him, maybe Grey could have been saved along with the meeting hall. Don devoted himself to making potions. He worked well past when the first rank of 'tired' set in and didn't stop until the light faded from the cracks in the dome above him.

He started by making a nasty surprise for any Apes he might run into. He pulled down a bit of Rot Fern and started preparing a stinkbomb. He only made it halfway through before the plant disappeared in a puff of acrid smoke. It took him a moment to realize what had happened. He had failed while making a potion for the first time ever. Don was too distracted by all the events of the night and rushed his preparation.

Don cursed himself and started again, moving slowly and deliberately. There was no more room for mistakes. When he finished, Cel sprinkled her [Fairy Dust] into the pestle and Don was left with a magical Stink Bomb.

You have crafted: Feeble Putrefying Potion (magical) HP regeneration denied / minute: 2.4

Duration: 6 hours

Effect: Prevents open wounds from healing

Side Effects: Produces a strong rotting odor +41% Concoction EXP

Don placed the vile concoction into his inventory where it would not smell and he could have easy access to it in an emergency. Next, he set about turning his 18 Maca Roots into Stamina restoration potions. Those had been by far the most useful and powerful potions in his experience.

You have crafted: Feeble Energizing Potion (common) SP regeneration / second: 1.2

Duration: 5 minutes

Total Effect: +354 Stamina

Side Effects: +1 fatigued rank +3% Concoction EXP

Then he turned the 27 bluebells into salves.

You have crafted: Feeble Healing Salve (common) HP restored / 12 hours: 11.8

Duration: 12 hours

Total Effect: +11.8 Health

Side Effects: +1/2 Hungry rank +0.7% Concoction EXP

When he was halfway through his supply of bluebells, Don received a very welcome message.

Concoction: Initiate 9 --> 10

+10 potency of concocted potions Alchemist: Initiate 9 --> 10

+20% effect of alchemical products

+10% chance of success

He was only elated at his accomplishment for a moment.

Professional limit reached: Alchemist

Level up in order to unlock the Apprentice Alchemist trial

Level requirement: 0/1

Rust it! Just when Don thought he was getting somewhere. He had run into a roadblock. He pulled up his Character sheet for the first time in ages.

Name: Donovan Shepard

Race: Demon

Title: Chieftan

Pet: Fairy (Soul Bound)

Level: 0 (93/100 EXP)

STR: 19 CON: 19 INT: 14 (16) DEX: 16 --> 18 AGI: 18 + 1 END: 19 WIS: 15 (17)

Effects:

Hungry: -20% Stamina Regeneration

Tired: -10% Mental Attributes

He wasn't very far from Level 1. Not only would leveling up allow him to progress further as an Alchemist, he would be able to start giving EXP to the ColoColo as well thanks to his new title. But Cel had warned Don that he wouldn't be able to train his attributes after his first level either. Would it be better to rush to greater strength, or did he have the time to finish his foundation?

He put off the decision, Cel was asleep by now and it was worth waiting for her input. Besides, building up a stock of potions was the most pressing concern, his professional and character levels could wait. He finished making salves, they were a little more potent than his previous batch but they did nothing for his Concoction EXP anymore.

Still, the salves would be perfect for healing common scrapes and injuries for a while. The hunger side effect would increase the burden on their food stores but it was better than leaving his charges injured. The sun was beginning to set at this point but Don continued with making healing potions and got through seven before he ran out of a resource he had never considered. Don was completely out of gourds.

You have crafted: Feeble Healing Potion (common) HP restored / minute: 1.3

Duration: 1 hour

Effect: +79.2 Health

Side Effects: +1 Hungry rank +0% Concoction EXP

The healing potions would be more than enough to heal even the most grievously injured ColoColo as it was rare for them to have over 50 health. With no more gourds, however, Don had to wait for night to fall before he could go out for more. Hopefully, Kat would guide him again.

Don was the only one left awake in the refuge. He wasn't sure he would be able to sleep, and he was even less sure he wanted to contend with any dreams that might result. He settled on meditation. After the long alchemy session. His most turbulent thoughts were soothed. Minutes later, his steady breathing managed to smooth away the rest, and he drifted in that crystal clear, peaceful pond.