Khenal

Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-Five

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Olander

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Back in his suite, the elf pores over his notes, trying to make sense of what he saw from Rocky.  Never in his wildest dreams did he think the zombie scion could do what he witnessed.  He’s never seen liches do something like that!

His thoughts are even more jumbled than his workspace, though the mess of ink and papers is making a valiant effort to keep up.  He looks mad as he scribb...

Peek: Set Sail for Adventure!

Warnd doesn't sleep especially well that night, his dreams a chaotic mishmash of high adventure and nighmarish failure. He wouldn't want to admit it to Lem, but he's excited for this. Fighting and delving is supposed to be for adventurers, not journeyman shipwrights!

Yet here he is now, about to meet his changeling friend at the bakery just outside the dungeon. He's easy to spot as one of the only people near the bakery and not actively in line nor eating, and he brightens when he spots...

Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-Four

I have a bit of fun at Berdol’s expense as I watch him meet Violet’s other scions, and do the rest of the inspection.  Olander looks like he’s mostly having fun, too, but I don’t miss the fact that he always keeps Onyx within his line of sight.  He might have found Slimy to be cute, but Violet’s shade definitely puts him on edge.

As the inspection winds down, I think Olander is looking forward to being done, but Berdol and Onyx seem oblivious to his unease.  The...

Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-Three

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Aranya

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It will be good to get back home.  Not only is she looking forward to getting back to what has come to feel like her proper place in the world, but being able to bring her people there as well makes all the difficulties of the last week worth it and more.  It makes the difficulties of the past at large worth it as well, but the more recent trials are simply more fresh in her mind.

Despite her resolve when s...

Peek: Stocking Up

Warnd's mind wanders as he lets Lem lead him to the outfitter. What kind of adventurer would he even make? Fun as it is to daydream of being something like a daring swashbuckler, reality pokes too many holes in trying to mimic a fighting style like that. For one, they aren't really known for their armor. He knows he's not going to be able to dodge or block every attack, so he wants to be able to wear something to give him protection.

A cutlass or other sword would be very cool, but ...

Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-Two

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Berdol

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He’s been looking forward to this inspection

Inspecting Thedeim is still intimidating to the catkin, and he’s not certain he’ll be able to do it justice, but the dungeon’s protege is another story.  He’s had fun sparring with Onyx, and now she’s apparently the Voice, he can’t wait to be able to hold an actual conversation with her.

And, with the paperwork finally sorted with the inspection of H...

Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-One

Olander meets with Coda at the manor porch, but they don’t have all that much to talk about.  My nerd bat isn’t exactly a powerhouse in a fight, and I think the elf is still a bit distracted thinking over what Tiny had to say.  Coda isn’t bothered too much, though.  He’s been taking trips down to the ant enclave ever since they started organizing like a college, interacting with the engineer caste of antkin.  Olander goes ahead and cuts his delve short for today, f...

Peek: A New Shore

Warnd heard good things about Fourdock. While his parents were born and raised as shipwrights in Gofnardale, the elf had been feeling stifled. While he enjoys designing and building ships, it's mostly repair work nowadays.

But Fourdock is supposed to be different. Though they haven't really had any shipping in his lifetime, shortly before he was born, it was supposed to be a major trade hub across the sea. Then the local oceanic dungeon went nuts and basically cut the town off from ...

Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety

If I were still limited to just the manor, I’d probably be concerned with how Olander is tearing through my encounters.  But, having more than a bit of experience with delvers now, I’m smiling right along with the elf as he rampages through my denizens.

I’m pretty impressed with them, too.  Yeah, they’re getting cut down in droves, but they’re taking advantage of all those shortcuts Teemo’s sprinkled around to really keep Olander on his toes.  I think it’s a...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Nine

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Olander

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He hasn’t felt this apprehensive about a delve in a long time.  On paper, he should have nothing to worry about.  Looking around his suite and all the notes, though… that’s a lot of paper trying to reassure him.

He shakes his head, trying to clear it as he prepares his pack.  Knowing each and every piece of gear he’s bringing helps him focus on what has him so uncomfortable with ...

Peek: Olander's Field Notes

In the finest suite in the finest inn in Fourdock sits a desk. Atop that desk, and strewn about other nearby surfaces like the window sill and floor, lay the field notes of the Crown Inspector, who sits in the eye of the storm. Where some prefer voice notes, or taking notes while actually in the field, Olander Wideblade has his own method. From the outside, it looks like madness, as he tends to be rather quiet on an inspection, before returning to his room to write out pages of notes to organ...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Eight

Looks like everyone will be home in about a week.  Well, probably not Tarl, but everyone else.  I’m looking forward to it.  Leo and Honey haven’t been home in forever, feels like, and Queen and Thing seem pretty eager to get back to their home labs, even if their latest titles suggest they should be out and about, saving lives.

Personally, I’d love to see those titles gather dust, but I’ll probably need their medical talents again eventually.  I even have pro...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Seven

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Aranya

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It’s times like these that make her appreciate just how much work Larx, Vernew, Folarn, and Norloke do.  She likes to think she’s been doing an admirable job of learning to delegate without just being lazy, but she’s had precious few to delegate to with regards to her people.

At least Lord Thedeim’s second church is going smoothly.  The ratkin and spiderkin priests have been providing a wonderful ex...

Peek: What a Bear Does in the Woods

To be honest, he'd rather be fishing. Unfortunately for the Southwoods' newest scion, he has an important job to do. On the other hand, it's a job that still gives him more free time than he had feared. At least he's not the Stag. The Voice hasn't actually been home for all of the Bear's existence, yet he can still feel how busy he is.

Lord Southwood has given the Bear a simple command: mind the expeditions. He's been given time to get his feet underneath him first, but he can feel...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Six

The rest of the inspection of Hullbreak goes pretty well.  I might have missed a couple details while listening in on Onyx trying to explain why sewage is not tasty.  As amusing as it is to listen to, it’s also very heartening for Hullbreak to invite the inspectors to his Sanctum.

He’s told the merfolk about it, as they are working on a temple for it, hidden in the kelp cave.  They’re still working on carving the walls, but the pedestal for his core is pretty nice.&...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Five

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Teemo

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He may have promised to keep quiet for Berdol’s inspection, but a Voice has more ways to communicate than just with sound.  He watches Berdol go about his duties, with Olander following his instructions, trying to figure out what the elf is up to.

What do you think of that guy? he asks the First Mate, using body language and a strange something else that seems to be a major part of shark speak.  ...

Peek: Slimy

Fouled air, putrid water, the stench of the waste of an entire town.

Slimy couldn't be happier with the world it finds itself in. Even freshly spawned, it has a vague idea that most would be utterly disgusted with these surroundings, but Slimy is specifically designed to thrive in a place like this! It even has a name!

So much to work with, so much to do! The job is a bit bigger than Slimy would have chosen for itself, but then again, it's not alone. It may be the scion, but there...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Four

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Onyx

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Being chosen as Voice filled Onyx with conflicting emotions.  On the one hand, being chosen is an incredible honor.  On the other hand, it’s an honor she would have expected to go to Legs or Cappy.  They’ve been with Violet from the start, whereas she and Nose came after her first expansion.  She feels a little guilty getting the title over them.  Or she would have, if they didn’t seem to be fully on...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Three

Today is looking to be pretty busy.  Onyx should be coming out of her spawner soon, Hullbreak seems to have decided what spawner he’s going to add to his new cliff-side section, my own new section is starting to see curious delvers go deeper and deeper, and it even looks like Berdol is getting ready to inspect Hullbreak.  He even has a new friend, if the expedition reports are to be believed.

And that’s just on the home front.  Vanta’s borders have stabilized now, s...

Peek: War

The Maw is a threat to their dungeon, it's as plain as the mana in the air. Some of the denizens even worry their kind dungeon won't be able to bring himself to end the enemy dungeon, but those are the ones spawned after Neverrest. Those from before know when their dungeon goes to war.

Though even the veteran spawns couldn't have predicted they would have to fight delvers as well as denizens. Not killing them has been one of the very few hard rules placed upon them. But now, as the ...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-Two

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Tula

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Here she is: Fourdock.  The trip here was thankfully quiet and peaceful, possibly because of Mr Olander.  He looks a lot like what the Crown Inspector is supposed to look like, but she finds it difficult to imagine someone as prestigious as that taking a job as a simple caravan guard to such a distant town.  While fun to imagine she spent her evenings chatting around a fire with someone who personally knows the King, ...

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Khenal 

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty-One

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Olander

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The tall elf hums as he walks down the street, taking in what meager sights Fourdock has to offer.  It’s hardly a run-down slum of a town, but it doesn’t compare well against the Capital, unfair as the comparison may be.  He might find the town more interesting if he was still with Tula, but the two had to part ways at the town gate.  She had her pilgrimage to get to, and he technically needed to follow...

Peek: A Flower in the Garden

Existence blooms in cool soil and warm rays of sunshine. The soil still carries the chill of winter, but the light is warming it wonderfully, and the new living vine scion takes a few seconds to appreciate the newness of reality.

A warm presence, even more invigorating than the sunlight, examines her with a sense of happiness. She knows its her dungeon. She wants to show her happiness, and so tries to craft a gift for it. She can feel it prefers daffodils, the first flowers of sprin...

Chapter Two-Hundred Eighty

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Berdol

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This has probably been the busiest winter of Berdol’s life.  Usually, the tabby catkin spends the snowy months in and around the Adventurer’s Guildhall, enjoying the warm hearth, good drink, and loud company.  If he’s ambitious, he’d commission a new blade or armor or something else, but in general, the winter months are a time to relax.

Of course, life rarely lets a good routine like that contin...

Chapter Two-Hundred Seventy-Nine

So.

I need some denizens that are fun to fight.  I need ones that will make the delvers shout “Oh, yes!” rather than “Oh, no…”  I have some pretty strong ones, sure.  I couldn’t have beaten the Maw otherwise, but there was also a bit of a tactical outmaneuvering in that victory, too.

So, can I adjust any of my current denizens to fit the bill of a good fight?  My dragons are certainly qualified for that.  In the lava labyrinth, the delvers seem...

Peek: Summer in Spring

Reality blooms into existence around the young fey scion, so many sensations vying for her attention! Chilled surroundings being warmed by the sun. Greenery everywhere, with occasional bastions of snow skulking in the shadows. Birds singing the advent of spring. The scent of early flowers hoping to tempt bees and other pollinators out with the promise of the first sweet sips of spring's nectar.

And beyond all that, a wellspring of power and curiosity, watching her take her first steps a...

Chapter Two-Hundred Seventy-Eight

I’m not the only one around here doing some renovations.  Violet, Hullbreak, and the Southwood all get working on their own projects as I let the forest of four seasons get settled.  Southwood designates a bear scion and offers me a trade, which I’m surprised to see.  I thought I’d need to send Teemo to talk to the Stag, or at least Leo or Honey, but it seems that allies make trading things a lot simpler.

He wants some extra mana to make sure he won’t have trouble...

Chapter Two-Hundred Seventy-Seven

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Olander Wideblade

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The Crown Inspector does his best to keep his frustration in check.  The king asked him to inspect the new dungeon in Fourdock, though the crown only became aware of it thanks to the fall tax reports.  His highness may not expect anything until late spring, but Olander had hoped to get there and back before the end of the year!

It’s his own fault for getting his hopes up. ...

Peek: A Spark in the Darkness

The first thing the young dungeon feels is terror. It only just came to be, and yet there are so many overwhelming dangers around it! Colossal beings stand around its core, and the smallest of them is the most dangerous: a scion from another dungeon! Its fate seems sealed, as if the furry thing doesn't subsume it, the charging beetle invader will!

The hatred and madness in the beetles eyes are destroyed utterly by one of the colossus, crushed with no apparent effort. Subsumation is prob...