It’s a little disorientating to be able to watch the large group near the Southwood’s borders from the outside and from inside. Teemo, Slash, Leo, and Fluffles have more-or-less the same view. Honey is currently up in the air, getting a good vantage, while Nova’s current view is mostly rock. The disorientating part is watching through Rocky and seeing everyone approach. That looks like a lot more than it is.

It’s probably just the quiet of the Southwood making the group seem so much bigger than it is. Rocky glances over at the Stag occasionally, who looks even more serious than usual. My boxer has some complex feelings about the other scion, but the details are hard to pick out. At least it’s easy to see he doesn’t dislike the big elk.

The adventurers with the group are looking in pretty high spirits, and more than a few point at the Stag as they approach. He does cut a pretty regal figure. He looks a bit uncomfortable as he sees how many scions I’ve sent, but he doesn’t get a chance to ask about them before Teemo speaks up.

“Stag! We brought some reinforcements!” declares my Voice with a wide grin, earning some chuckles from the gathered adventurers.

“...Indeed you have. And delvers, too?”

Teemo nods at that and waves at the various people gathered. “The local guild wanted to have a better hand in rooting out that problem dungeon. They want to spend a day or so to resupply by delving, before they head into the hole and get exploring. That’s fine, right?”

The Stag slowly nods. “Yes, that should be fine. My Lord would appreciate the mana they would give for that.”

Teemo nods and looks to Yvonne, Aelara, and Ragnar. “You heard the guy. Go ahead and get ready. The Southwood probably wants some details and to talk to the Boss some about what happened.”

The party nods at that and waves as the other adventurers head into the Southwood, looking around at the forest that looks more like it’s early fall, rather than solidly winter.

My scions gather before the Stag, waiting for him to decide what to do. He looks more and more concerned as he looks over my representatives, before he turns and motions for them to follow. “Come. We should discuss matters with a bit more privacy.”

My scions easily fall in line behind him, and it only takes a few minutes before Teemo speaks up with a concern I’m trying to ignore.

“Is everything alright?”

The stag winces at the sound of Teemo’s voice, but doesn’t look back as he continues to lead everyone deeper. “My Lord might ask the same question. You’ve committed all your scions to this? Are you not worried about reprisals or attacks from other rivals?”

Teemo looks at the gathered scions and slowly shakes his head. I think it’s time to put our cards on the table, Teemo. At least the ones about my scions. “This isn’t even half of the Boss’ scions.”

That statement gets the Stag to stumble and turn around, shock on his face as his disbelief wars with what he sees before him. “You, the Warden, the Librarian…” he pauses to look at the others, and I’m pretty sure he’s peeking at their statuses. His eyes widen when he looks at Fluffles, but he continues. “...the Bard, the Conduit, and the wyrm. These aren’t even half your scions?”

Teemo shakes his head. “There’s also the Guardian, the Marshal, the Purifier, The Alchemist, the Architect, the Groundsreaper, and the Enchanter.” Teemo pauses and counts in his head, and I’m pretty sure we’re missing one. Oh, duh. Teemo smacks his forehead and points at Rocky. “And we can’t forget the Savant! I guess that does technically mean half of the Boss’s scions are here, though.”

The Stag looks a bit overwhelmed, but doesn’t try to argue as he resumes guiding everyone. “How grand is your lord to be able to field so many?”

Teemo chuckles at that. “I’m pretty sure you have him beat in raw acreage, even if we pulled all the underground stuff to spread on the surface. He runs things different than the other dungeons we’ve met. It probably helps that his main entrance is smack dab in the middle of Fourdock, though. Easy access to delvers.”

The stag nods at that and turns his head slightly to eye everyone, though he pauses on Fluffles for a few moments before continuing. “And how does he run things? My Lord has heard of a protege and a vassal?”

“Yeah, Violet and Hullbreak. I dunno how much you know about Hullbreak, but the Boss vassalized him a couple months ago. He was starving and one of his dwellers asked for help. It was a bit of a thing, but now Hullbreak is back to letting people delve and his dwellers are learning to stand on their own feet… or swim with their own fins?” Teemo shrugs before continuing.

“Violet is basically a baby, only having her first real expansion like a month ago or so? The Boss has been helping her out, to learn a few of his methods and such. The ODA classified her a toybox not long ago, actually.”

The Stag gives Teemo another confused look. “ODA?”

Teemo laughs and nods. “The Office of Dungeon Affairs. That’s what he called them before he learned they were called the Dungeoneer’s Guild. He still calls them the ODA most of the time.”

The Stag seems to accept that, or at least doesn’t try to argue as he resumes leading the way. As they all continue walking, Rocky falls back a little to grunt at Teemo, who’s currently riding on Slash’s shoulder.

“Oh? Rocky says you’d like to transfer a couple residents to the Boss as thanks?”

The Stag stiffens for a moment before nodding. He doesn’t look back, nor slow, as he speaks. “Yes, as a small token of my Lord’s appreciation. One of the illusion foxes has expressed interest, and there is a current of curiosity among many of the other denizens.”

A fox spawner would be really cool, but I should probably wait until I expand into the forest beyond the cemetery to make sure I’ll have room.

“The Boss isn’t against it, but he’ll need to expand again to have room.” Teemo eyes Rocky before continuing. “After Rocky and the denizens rotate out and bring that mana back, he might have enough, too.”

“Truly?”

Teemo shrugs, and I would too, if I could. I can tell Rocky has a lot of mana, and I can also tell it’ll be expensive to claim the woods outside. My gut says I’ll need a bit more than just what Rocky and the returning denizens will give, but if the new entrance to the labyrinth pans out like I hope it does, it shouldn’t take too long.

“Maybe? The Boss still doesn’t have a hard understanding of the numbers involved, but it’ll be close.” He snorts at an idea I have. “He might have any new fox scion be his accountant to help plan his budget.”

The Stag shakes his head at that. “I won’t presume to tell him what to do, but I believe he’s been doing well enough without one so far. We’re almost there,” he finishes, nodding at a clearing through the trees, where a yellow light can be seen.

Teemo’s eyes widen, as well as all the eyes of my scions that have them. “Is that where the Southwood’s core is?”

The Stag nods solemnly. “It is. Only a rare few have beheld my Lord’s glory, but this is a matter that demands it.” My scions quietly follow, and I try to look and listen through them as much as I can. I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but at least the Stag doesn’t seem inclined to keep me hanging for long.

In the clearing, it looks more like the middle of spring, with a thick carpet of flowers covering the ground. A small spring rests in the middle of the clearing, a steady trickle of clear water seeping from a small rise to pool in a clear pond. In the center of the pond, just above the surface, floats the core of the Southwood.

It’s a large and thick hexagonal crystal, tapered at both ends and looking like something straight out of a final fantasy game. The yellow crystal is semi-transparent, reflecting and refracting the surroundings in its depths as it slowly rotates. It must be close to eight feet tall and probably three feet across. Teemo gives a low whistle, impressed at the scene, earning a small smile from the stag as he moves to stand in the shallows, not too far from the crystal, then speaks.

“My Lord has had much to consider since you first came to lend your aid, lord Thedeim. Your methods were confusing at first… and are confusing even now, yet my Lord has gained some understanding of your intentions. Bringing the delvers was the last clue for him to come to understand you. You are a natural symbiont, seeking to grow and prosper together, like the leaf-cutter ants and their fungi. Yet your reach is much further, like an entire ecosystem.

“You integrate and adapt, seeking a balance. Some new species must be culled to allow the rest to flourish, but you seem to have successfully integrated more variety than my Lord could have dreamed. He would ask to be part of your pack, of your herd, of your forest. He has prospered in his isolation, but if not for your efforts, the Harbinger and its unnatural plague would have claimed him and feasted on his corpse. My Lord would swear fealty to you, lord Thedeim.”

Accept vassal? Y/N?

I stare at the notification, uncertain what to do. I mean… he’s not wrong about the trouble he’d be in, but I’m not really looking to conquer. Can I make him a protege?

Release Current Protege? Y/N?

Nope, no, nu-uh, no way, negative! Come on, work with me here! There’s gotta be something like a partnership? The notification seems to come slowly, less of reluctance and more from disuse. I can practically see the dust on it and hear the squeaking of pulleys that need oil as it comes up. I get the feeling I should ask Aranya about this when I get the chance. For now, I look at it and consider.

Forge Alliance? Y/N