Khenal

Chapter One-Hundred Fourty-One

It doesn’t take me too long to decide if I should check on Hullbreak or Tarl first for an inspection.  While it’s not likely to be easy for either of them, I think the consequences will be worse if Hullbreak isn’t ready.  With that in mind, it just takes a bit of the electrolysis potion for Teemo to head to Hullbreak to check in.

I’ve spotted a few delvers in the days since the battle, but they’ve all just barely looked around, maybe snagged a little coral or somethi...

Chapter One-Hundred Fourty

Unfortunately, it’s easier to want to get down to business than to actually get down to business.  The biggest hurdle is that I know even less than I did about Hullbreak when I started.  At least I knew where Hullbreak was!  So… time to do what I can.  The most I can do directly is ask Poe to focus the underground expeditions out past the underswamps.  If I want to kick that dungeon’s butt, I need to find it, first.

The other thing I can do is to ...

Fresh Nudge!

As the title says: fresh nudge for people's questions and suggestions for other peeks!  While I do go back and check old nudges, fresh ones seem to attract the most attention.  So ask away!

Peek: Q&A 2!

Time for another Q&A!  Thank you again to everyone asking questions, and remember: the best place to request stuff for a peek is on whatever the latest nudge is.  Now, let's get started.

PickledTink asks about the combo attacks, and why people shout the same thing when doing one.  It's a part of the skills, which are a bit wibbly-wobbly, but part of mastering a skill gives an innate knowledge of ways it can combine.  There's a bit of resonance when som...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Nine

As Teemo exits the shortcut into Larx’s kinda open-air temple thing, I see him easily chatting with Freddie, Rhonda, and Rezlar.  He’s smiling as they recount the fight with the electric twinsnake, enjoying their youthful energy as well as Rezlar’s fidgeting as the other two talk him up.

The ratkin spots my Voice, and waits for a lull before saying something.

“Is this an official visit, Teemo, or did you want to hear how they handled Lord Thedeim’s latest challenge?...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Eight

I smile as I watch Rezlar collapse after the fight.  He’s not hurt, just exhausted.  I can’t really blame him, either.  He did a lot of heavy lifting in that fight, which Freddie and Rhonda clearly appreciate.  The goblin pulls a little blue potion from her belt and hands it to the supine elf, who eagerly downs it.  He sighs as energy fills him, or at least his mana.  I dunno if it’s technically a different thing from something like stamina.

He gives ...

Q&A Nudge

I think I'll do another Q&A style peek next sunday, so ask your various questions!  I'll also do my best to go back and check on the old nudges for other questions, too. 

Peek: Thing

Threads of mana, a place of death, a single hand, life without breath.

The first seconds of existence are confusing.  His nature says to seek and choke, to grasp and grab, hide and hinder.  To be seen is to be destroyed.  The directions from the Master are completely contrary to that.  He is not to lead the subtle hordes of hands, but to learn the secrets of magic.

He's not even supposed to be learning how to destroy with the magic, unless one counts destroying...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Seven

The kids make pretty good time as they head deeper towards Violet, and I make sure one of my ratlings drops a beat up pick along their path before it continues on its way.  They don’t miss it, and soon enough, Rezlar is whacking away at any nodes they come across in the tunnels.

Even I can tell he has a lot to learn about mining, but he’s pretty good at pacing himself, so he’s not wearing himself out.  Freddie is also slowly learning how to field dress things, though he�...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Six

I might know Larrez is actually Rezlar, but it seems the kids haven’t realized it.  It’s not like they’ve shown any indication of paying attention to politics.  With Teemo off helping Jello, it’s not like I could tell them, even if I wanted to.  No, I told him I’d be willing to keep that secret, and I don’t see why I should change that.

At least I know why Teemo was grinning and acting like he was.  He probably recognized him as soon as he saw him.  ...

Peek: The Wandering Dungeon

Sit and listen, hear the tale of one of the strangest dungeons I've ever delved!  Yes, our Wanderlands have many unique dungeons, but the Principalities have one that just sticks with me.  It is a dungeon that feels the same wanderlust we do!

Deep in the heartland of the Principalities, they say the dungeon started as a tree, or perhaps a small copse of trees, nearby a trade route.  Merchants and other travelers would stop by for a quick and simple delve: kill a few birds...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Five

I spend much of my morning watching Coda and my ratlings working on Rocky’s ring, though I do check in on Violet, too.  I’m trying to not get impatient and rush her, especially after Rezlar saying I’ve been growing way faster than other dungeons.

She’s actually sending centipede expeditions to scout the area before she expands, being cautious.  To be fair, I don’t know what will happen with the scythemaw eggs in the area when she expands.  They scythemaws proper...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Four

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**Larez**

_________

The elf stands in awkward, tortured silence as he waits for Rhonda and her spider to return.  Old Staiven seems to be relishing in the silence, seeming to dare Rezlar to break it.  The ratkin is lord of his domain, and Rezlar isn’t certain he’s seen higher nobles use silence more deftly than this shopkeeper.

Mercifully, Rhonda and Lucas don’t take too long to return, likely because she only needed a change ...

Peek: A Day in the Life of Poe

Sunrise brings the reports from the bat expeditions, both under and above ground.  Lord Thedeim wishes information on not just the terrain, but on what occupies the terrain.  While Leo's wolves bring back larger samples, Poe's own forces bring back their own small offerings to the insatiable appetite of the Librarian bee.  Much of what the bats bring back actually get planted in the belfry garden, where Coda pays them just enough mind to not wither.

Ordinarily, Poe would ...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Three

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<strike> Rezlar </strike>  **Larrez**

_______________

The young elven noble does his best to suppress his anxiety as he walks down the street.  This is the first time in a long time that he’s not been accompanied by Miller.  There is, at least, the small comfort that nobody seems to be paying him any attention, thanks to the disguise.

He suppresses the urge to look around for his butler, knowing it ...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Two

I watch and listen through Teemo as Rezlar starts his speech.

“Citizens of Fourdock, I am Lord Mayor Rezlar Herjan Kalsorthoth Niyeroul if’Gofnar the Eighth.  Many of you have never even heard my voice, let alone seen me.  It’s not because of a lack of interest, but because of the simple fact that the day to day life here is so stable.  There’s no need for me to interfere when life and business are working so well already.”

He glances at Teemo before conti...

Peek: The Merchant's Guild

The Merchant's Guild is one of the few guilds whose members can boast being better traveled than most adventurers, as their primary interest is in shipping and investing, moving goods and money from place to place.  The Fourdock Guild is located near the edge of town, having moved there after the sea trade was slowly strangled by Hullbreak Harbor.  Much of the town's exports came from the sea dungeon, and when it stopped allowing delving, trade suffered.

The new dungeon, howev...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-One

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**Rezlar**

_________

Today has not been a good day.  Miller woke him up just after dawn, warning him the town was under attack!  How could it be under attack?!  The orcs have shown no intentions of crossing the Gofnar, there’s no bandit groups large enough for something like that, and there’s nothing else around that could have the numbers to lay siege to the city!

Yet Miller opens the curtains and the window behi...

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty

Alright, so: what first?  I really want to get delving doing with Hullbreak, but I really should give him a bit more time before I start trying to give quests to fish in there.  It’d probably be a good idea to let Tarl inspect before I try that anyhow.

Violet is probably a good place to start.  All I need to do to encourage her to expand is to give her a quest to do it.  While my income isn’t as out ahead of my expenses as I’d prefer, I still have plenty saved ...

Peek: A Day in the Life of Jello

Jello likes to think of her days starting with dawn, even though she doesn't have any sleep to awaken from.  The delvers seem to show up with the rising sun, and even the Voice seems to keep track of time starting with the sun showing itself.

She likes to start her days in the crypt complex, watching the Crystal Shield people start their training and practicing.  The more experienced ones will usually nod or even give her a salute by raising their shields.  She likes them...

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Nine

I look over the maps and try to figure out what my next goal is, while the others continue to plan what to do with the mayor and such.  I’m pretty sure that I could just fully ignore him and the larger government if I really wanted.  Tarl said I’m my own thing and nations tend to try to stay out of dungeon business, after all.  Still, I don’t want to be a jerk of a neighbor.  I’m confident they can hammer and smooth things out, especially if I give the mayor the li...

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Eight

“Alright, what are you guys all talking about that has the Boss feeling so out of his depth about?” demands Teemo as he finally is able to join everyone in the war room.

I’m not that intimidated.

Teemo just smirks.  “Sure you aren’t, Boss.”

I make a note to figure out a way to properly huff, later.  Short version: I’ve stepped in politics.

Teemo shudders at that.  “I’d rather you stepped into a sewer, Boss.”

Tell me abo...

Peek: Yenlarn

Life has never been especially kind to Yenlarn.  The young merman hardly remembers his mother or his sister, though his father speaks of them often enough.  He misses them, like a piece of himself that is simply gone, with only the vaguest idea of what is actually lost.

When the Captain threw his father in the brig, he was worried he may have lost him, too.  His father had been acting strangely recently, though he'd wave it off whenever Yenlarn would try to bring it up. &...

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Seven

After the morning’s excitement, delver activity is… different.  Most of the gatherer delvers are basically delving like everything is the same.  I dunno if they managed to sleep through the whole thing, or if they think it’s something that doesn’t really concern them.  Either way, they’re all happily delving and gathering, and it’s situation normal on that front.

The crystal shield guys are also more or less normal, though they seem to be enjoying the...

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Six

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**Aranya**

____________

The two residents of Thedeim hurry through the streets, both trying not to worry too much about the clouds rolling in off the ocean.  They both saw the map, they both know Thedeim is making his move on Hullbreak today.

What they’re uncertain of is if he can keep Hullbreak’s counter from destroying the town.  Thankfully, he won’t have to try and do it on his own.

“How long do you th...

Peek: Seaside Forge

Smoke drifts from the chimney of the Seaside Forge in Fourdock.  While the building is within sight of the ocean, most of the residents wouldn't count it as being beside the sea, but most of the residents aren't dwarves.  By dwarven standards, Hrunter Redbeard may as well be swimming while he's forging.

Most dwarves are more than happy to stay in the Holds, only seeing the sky on rare occasions.  Some, like Hrunter, simply get the itch to wander, to see what there is beyo...

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Five

________________

**Tarl**

________________

The elven inspector lays in bed, awake far earlier than he’d prefer to be.  Thedeim told him today is the day he moves on Hullbreak.  Even now, he’s trying to sort out how he truly feels about the water dungeon.  He definitely doesn’t like it, that much is simple.  It killed his mentor.  And yet… he feels sorry for it.

He could have just left the whole mess at that, ...

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Four

The first thing I feel through the new bond with Hullbreak is abject misery.  The First Mate seems to be taking it a bit more stoically, but none of them seem too happy with the new situation.  I can’t really blame them.  I’m looking around, and I’m not really looking forward to this right now, either.

Hullbreak really did consume everything to try to beat me.  I can at least respect the commitment, even if it means I have to do a lot more than I was hoping to ...

New Year, New Nudge!

Only like a month into the new year :P  So please ask your questions, ask for lore bits, and just generally let me know what you might like to see in further peeks.  And  please come back here to ask them.  It's much simpler for me to keep track of them here :)

Thanks again for your support

Khenal

Peek: Scion Roundup

Teemo

Type: Rat

Affinity: Spatial

Title(s): Scout, Voice

Notes: Friendly, sarcastic, sees it as his duty to keep people grounded

Tiny

Type: Spider

Affinity: Kinetic

Title(s): Guardian, Reader of the Web

Notes: Quiet, wise, philosopher.  Focuses more on Fate affinity than kinetic, sees himself as a guide

Fluffles 

Type: Snake

Affinity(s): Ki...