Lewd Dungeon, Chapter 388

Chapter 388 – Alliance

“Well, I haven’t talked about it too much on the GodNet forums, but there is a reason I can do things that other gods cannot,” I started, looking the huntress in the eye. “Though things have moved past the point where strict secrecy is necessary, so there’s no harm in telling you. I called myself a dungeon god not only because I am a God of Dungeons, but because I am a Dungeon who became a God.”

Artemis blinked, and took a moment to process that. Meanwhile, Aphrodite laughed, and said, “Oh my, Kuro! So that Forbidden Chambers of Exotic Pleasures dungeon you ‘arose’ out of is actually your body? I’ve heard some of my followers talking about some of the interesting products that come from those halls!”

I chuckled, and held out a hand. Using my dungeon powers, I produced a vial of Passionslime Juice, and offered it to her. “This is the distilled essence of a Passionslime. Adding a few drops to a mortal’s drink will drive them mad with lust. Not quite a compulsion, and it doesn’t override an individual’s sexuality, but rather it simply making them too horny to care about things so much, reducing their inhibitions dramatically. Naturally, it is not nearly so effective against gods, unless it is empowered by another god.”

The Goddess of Love took the stoppered vial, with a smile. “So, not a ‘love potion’, and not something that could be aimed, but rather it causes the person to go for the first suitable mate they see?”

“More or less. If someone has an established relationship already, and they are in proximity, then the data suggests that they will go to them, first. However, if they aren’t around, or the individual is not attached? Well, the exact effect depends on dosage, toxin resistance, and so on, but if left untreated, they will eventually break down and start rutting like animals with the first creature with appropriate equipment that they see.”

“And if they try to ‘handle things’ themselves?”

“Self-pleasure takes the edge off, but does not remove the effect. However, the magic in the slime wears off once the individual is ‘satisfied’ by someone else. So, the Guild strongly recommends to their Adventurers that anyone going into my dungeon has a ratio of at least one woman for every three men, but preferably one for every two. For the few groups that are mostly women, the ratio goes the other way.”

Hera chuckled. “Even if they are not attracted to the opposite gender? That seems, what is the word, heteronormative?”

“Regardless of their orientation or thoughts on the matter, there are areas of the dungeon where not having representation is potentially fatal. Against creatures with the Lewd template, for instance, gender identity and sexuality matter less than biology, leaving teams that are all biologically one way with glaring weaknesses that will be exploited. And passing through the Dark Temple floor requires either a mixed group, or a follower of mine, in order to open the doors leading to the boss room. And if they don’t have the mixed group, then the fight will be harder because they could not complete the challenge rooms.”

The Queen of Olympus nodded. “So, it is not a requirement of your dungeon, but rather one of the Guild making practical decisions?”

“Precisely. I try to avoid making any mandates one way or the other on the adventurers. I have had to make some rules, of course, like when some young people, more than children but less than adults, decided it would be a good idea to sneak into my halls, or when someone tried to drag a free person into the dungeon by force. But, for the most part, the Adventurers Guild polices themselves, meaning I don’t have to put my foot down that often.”

Artemis took a breath as she reentered the conversation, and said, “So, your dungeon abilities combined with your divine abilities is what allows those ships to make wormholes without massive power cores. It isn’t something you can teach to others, unless they are also a dungeon god like you are.”

“Indeed. However, as a temple may house a shrine to an allied god, I am not adverse to having a shrine to you alongside some of my own.”

Athena chuckled. “You’ve already lain with two Goddesses of the Greeks, and are looking to, what, take two more as wives?”

“I would never try and ‘take’ the Goddess of Wisdom and War or the Goddess of the Hunt and the Wilds against their will. You’ve never done wrong by me or mine, and I see no reason to antagonize either of you. Now, would I thoroughly enjoy having either or both of you be my bride? Naturally. I am a man, after all. But ‘taking’ implies that I would be forcing you into something, and I know full well what happens to anyone who tries to force themselves upon you.”

“I told you he wasn’t like his public image,” Hera laughed as the two goddesses took a moment to me telling them to their faces that I’d love to make them my brides in a way that made it their choice. “Unlike other gods of his sort, he is actually very respectful of things like consent, unless you’ve acted against him. Even in that dungeon of his, there is tacit consent going in, since everyone knows what the place is like, and choose to go in anyways.”

I nodded to her, and said, “Not to mention that, unless they are there on the hardest difficulty, there are ways for them to escape before they get in over their heads. The only ones who suffer my deals are those who got in too deep and ignored the signs, or the ones who came in, looking to destroy my dungeon. Either way, they deserve what they get.”

Artemis frowned. “What of some other form of alliance, rather than a marriage bond? I do not wish to seem rude, but those kinds of activities are not anything I am interested in.”

I considered that for a moment, and said, “An alliance could work. There is some overlap between our domains. Many of my followers take pleasure from a successful hunt, whatever form it may take, and domination can come in the form of mastery over the wilds. The shrines at the center of the ships would still need to be mine, but another shrine to you, in a more public area, would easily be possible. Both would need to be properly maintained, of course. Those of my faith would be as welcome on the ships as those of yours, with the same protections, and vice-versus. My people would work alongside yours to ensure that the ship stayed in working order, and its people were protected.

“Furthermore, if we do this, then it would not be a simple contract, but a true alliance. It would be a partnership of equals and friends, not a transaction between two people conducting business. Your enemies would be mine, and mine would be yours. If someone attacks one of us, they attack us both, and if one of us needs aid, the other is bound to give what aid they reasonably can.”

Artemis considered that for a moment. “And what of the dungeons that follow you? You cannot expect me to believe that they will stay their hand from killing my followers?”

“The dungeons who have pledged themselves to my faith have, for the most part, taken up the concept of Dungeon Contracts. They limit themselves with these contracts, but also limit what the adventurers can bring to bear. Many of them also have items like the Escape Charms I utilize in my dungeon. Anyone who enters a dungeon still risks death, obviously. Even City and Temple dungeons are not wholly safe, especially for those who enter with hostile intent. But the contracts keep things from escalating past a certain point.”

Artemis nodded slowly. “A hunt without danger or risk of failure is not a hunt at all, but the slaughter of livestock. Managing risks and taking precautions is the sign of a skilled hunter, but taking an animal tied to a stake with an arrow is not a hunt. Yes, I can agree to this. And the prospects of this alliance goes beyond simply allowing my followers to move through the galaxy to find better game. If my hunters could rely on dungeons under your banner to fall back on, if they find themselves hunted?”

“If they offered a prayer at my shrine, they would receive the same offer of sanctuary that one of my followers would get if they prayed at one of yours. What form that sanctuary would take, and how effective it is at protecting them, would depend on the threat they face, and how willing they are to take on gods. And the means used would depend on the one doing the defending, obviously.”

Artemis nodded once, and when she spoke again, her voice had a formal, ceremonial tone to it. “Then, I accept. From hence forth, we shall be allied. Neither subordinate to the other, but acting as partners and friends in the wider galaxy. My temples will be open to your followers, and yours shall be open to mine.” Then she extended one hand towards me.

I nodded, and clasped her hand with my own. Her grip was firm, and strong, as expected of an archer and huntress. One interesting thing about the System making bows relevant again in battle was how it had shattered the preconception of a bow being a more agility-based weapon. Anyone who had tried to pull an actual bow knew that you needed a strong back and strong grip to do it properly.

“From now onwards, let our faiths walk shoulder to shoulder,” I said, in the same tone. Equals fighting alongside equals, working together or apart as fate decrees, but never in opposition. Let those who would test our pact learn of the skills of the Huntress, and the power of Domination. Let those who side with us know good hunting and great pleasure.”

System Notice

Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, the Wilds, and the Moon, and Kuronoth, God of Pleasure, Domination, and Dungeons, have declared a formal alliance between their faiths. Holy sites of both deities are open to followers of either faith, and an attack on one faith is an attack on both.

As I finished speaking, there was a thrum of power between us. Not a physical thing, or something visible, but I could see in Artemis’s eyes that both of us felt it. And the System Notice only reinforced that. The System itself recognized our pact, and made it official. Meaning that the System would apply penalties for those who attacked our faiths, and those who were listed as enemies of one would automatically become enemies of the other.

The other three goddesses had clearly also felt the connection, and seen the System Notice. “Amazing,” breathed Aphrodite. “I figured that declaring an alliance so formally, rather than as a friendly agreement, would have some effect, but I did not think it would be recognized and sent out to everyone in the System.”

“Unexpected, but not terribly unsurprising,” Hera noted. “I was researching a bit on GodNet, when I found myself expecting, and found out a good deal. There will also be an announcement when our child is born. There always is when two gods have a child, at least while the System is working. The System apparently wants mortals to know when gods take certain steps in their dealings with each other.”

Athena took a step forward. “Then, if we formed a union, it would be announced to everyone. As you said, it would be a powerful sign to the people of the Earth. Old gods and new working together. And when we talk to the different governments, our words would have more weight behind them.”

I nodded. “But that choice will be yours, and yours alone. Witnessed by three fellow deities, and the System itself.”

“And what of our… relations? And those you have with others?”

“My church does not preach monogamy, but rather communication and trust. If we were to wed, then none other would claim your place as wife, and I would not hide any relations with mortals or other gods I might have, and I would expect the same from you.”

“An arrangement like what Zeus and Hera have?”

“With less of an eye towards punishment for his wandering ways, but yes. We go into this, knowing each other, and pledging to properly communicate our wants and needs, our doubts and insecurities. Not to hold over one another, or as a bludgeon to batter each other with, but so that we might work through things before they become problems.”

She nodded, and said, “Then, I guess we should have a ceremony?”

“Ooh, goody!” Aphrodite said, clapping her hands. “I love weddings!”