Chapter Fifty-Four: Punishments
Well. Now that I have these three handled, what do I do with them? Taking their stuff is a given. My free ratlings and aranea are more than happy to relieve the trio of all that heavy stuff. My healing ants stabilize the three and the wolf, but dont do anything to wake them up just yet.
Hmm I could just web them up by the entrance with signs reading free candy with a pile of sticks nearby. While amusing, I dont think I should just let people beat them up even if I kinda want to. They threatened Yvonne! They deserve a good beating!
Which they kinda already got. Still, Im not letting them off that easily but what else can I do with them?
Then I get an idea.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.
A wonderful idea.
I get a wonderful, awful idea.
Tarl
Negotiations with the dwellers are going well. Elder Larx is sharp and shrewd, but doesnt have a malicious bone in his body well, maybe a maliciously compliant one or two. The elf mentally shrugs. Whatever the malevolence of the ratkins bones, hes a good negotiator. The boring process of a political power recognizing another exists is done rather quickly. The dwellers understand theyre hardly a powerhouse, but being connected with the dungeon helps ensure that nobody would bother with the hassle of trying to subjugate them.
Not the most flattering appraisal of their situation, but an accurate one, at least. The more interesting negotiations are for trade agreements. His guild is interested in information first and foremost, and though the dwellers are reluctant to give much information on Thedeim, they are willing to trade their maps of the deeper tunnels, and what they know of the threats.
Hes been authorized to offer coin for the knowledge, which Larx is happy to accept. The ratkin understands they have a lot of goods to offer to delvers and even ordinary people, but have little cash on hand to leverage further. They could just go delve, and some of the ratkin like to do just that, but most dont want that kind of life.
Hes in the middle of suggesting they attempt to sell herbs or other ingredients to Cobble Bread, just across the road, when he notices Teemos ear twitch. Several emotions flicker across his face, before settling into a look of growing confusion. Larx notices as well, but Tarl speaks up first.
Is something wrong, Teemo?
The unassuming Voice takes a few more moments to respond. Uh its complicated. A trio of delvers showed up and tried to egg Poe into a fight. He ignored them, until they threatened Yvonne.
Tarl groans at that. Can the Dungeoneers Guild negotiate for the bodies?
Cautiously, it lets the thing through, and is relieved to see the long insect will be helping the small light. A spark of understanding runs through both fungus and insect, the two knowing they will be rivals no longer.
Tarl
He watches in rapt attention as the jail is built and upgraded. Its rare to get to see something like this, and he quietly murmurs into his note-stone as he watches.
Ratlings and aranea are bringing materials from the warehouse to facilitate room formation. Jail bars started as simple stone columns that bent out of the way for the snake scion to levitate inside. Poor steel bars have been brought, and the formerly-stone bars transmute to the material, consuming it and likely energy as well. It must take less energy to upgrade if proper materials are provided. A small, separate chamber has been created for the wolf. Dungeon seems uncertain what to do with it. Other delvers have been stripped down to mundane clothing. Certain classes may be able to bypass the bars in various ways at the moment, but the Voice has indicated there will be magical and even alchemical precautions taken.
He lowers the stone for a moment before looking to Teemo. Does that mean Queen will be leaving the secret alchemy lab? Id like to meet her, if only to be able to provide a description for the records.
The Voice nods. Shes on her way. She said she wants to personally test a few things. Shell be a bit slower than Thing, though. He wants to get a look before actually enchanting anything, but Queen has a few ideas for what she wants to do already.
He looks at the occupants of the cell before continuing. Do you know them? Tarl shakes his head after only a few moments.
No. I think theyre from one of the larger guilds, to the south. Ill check with Karn to be sure, but I dont think hed let any of his adventurers go delve with what seems to be such poor intelligence.
Teemo smirks. Yeah, they dont seem very smart. The elf just rolls his eyes.
You know what I mean. They didnt bother coming to the Dungeoneers Guild for the latest information, or they would have known to not have attempted something like this.
Think anyone will raise a stink about this? asks the rat, looking a bit wary about the idea. Tarl just shakes his head.
Nah. These three are fairly big fish for our small pond here in Fourdock, but theyre small fry back home. Probably wanted to prove they could handle themselves, maybe that they didnt need to pay for information on a dungeon to be able to beat it. He shrugs before continuing. Whatever the case, their guild shouldnt raise a fuss. Most dungeons would have just killed them, so this is still better for the guild, even if they have to pay a ransom.
Do you think Thedeims idea will work like he wants it to?
Tarl taps his foot as he thinks. I dont know, and I dont know if I want it to work or not. In theory, delvers overcoming, or failing to overcome traps should generate energy for the dungeon. I dont think any have tried tying a jail to a gauntlet of traps. He sighs and regards the rat. Id actually suggest making the jail and the gauntlet secret rooms, if Thedeim can. I doubt most delvers who earn their way inside will talk much about it, out of shame, but other dungeons might try using something like this as a waterwheel if they learn about it.
