Chapter EIghty-Four


    I have an idea for how to help Violet. Its not exactly the kind of thing I think my scions would expect of me, which is actually kinda hrious. Theyre all expecting something big andplex, or some strange concept that makes no sense to them. My idea is probably going to disappoint them for how simple it is and maybe for how long it took me toe up with it.


    Its a door. Just build a big stone door at the entrance to her main cave. It wont even lock. I cant lock my door, after all, so Im not going to provoke the system by trying a work around. It hasnt popped anything up at me in a while, so I dont know if its giving me the silent treatment, or if Im just behaving better now.


    But yeah, I want to build a door for Violet. Just a simple thing that opens outward. To a scythemaw, it should just look like a weird wall. Itll probably get a couple gashes in it, but that should be all they do. Her cave isnt really connected anywhere else, its not a thoroughfare, just a little cave on the side.


    Of course, <em>building</em> a door for her is another matter. In theory its pretty simple: big hinges, two stone bs, bam easy. In practice: I need to make hinges strong enough to support a huge b of rock and still be able to move with the friction of all that weight. And I kinda need it to open outward, not inward. If it opens inward, a scythemaw could just push it open, which would be bad.


    Ill probably end up using something like a vault hinge for the two doors At least I think vault doors work like this. No, not a big gear that has to be rolled out of the way. Lower-case v vault, like a bank. Basically, one entire side will be a hinge. Lots of points to hold weight, lots of stability. The downside is needing everything to line up perfectly to open smoothly, but I dont think I have much other option.


    I wonder if metal or stone would work better for the hinge. This will require some testing


    <strong>Tarl</strong>


    The elven dungeon inspector smiles as Fourdockes into view from atop the final hill in his way. The travel to and from the Southwood is long, but it was worth it. The Southwood needs some help with the new invaders its somehow attracted, and Thedeim seems just the type to be willing to lend a hand.


    He smiles as he imagines the crazy things Thedeim might do to aid the Southwood. He especially enjoys the absurdity of the idea of using bats to carry hands to drop on whatever foes need to be dealt with, literally lending the Southwood hundreds or thousands of hands, instead of just one.


    The image, along with home in sight, helps put a spring in his step, and soon hes opening the door to the Dungeoneers Guild. At her desk, sits Tr, looking a bit sleep-deprived, but not too worse for wear.


    Thedeim keeping you up at night, Tr? he says with a smile as he moves to rx in a chair. She sighs before answering.


    Only tangentially. Hes been busy since you left, but hes easy enough to work with, for the most part. Whats been keeping me up is trying to learn and follow the regtions for actually interacting with a dungeon! She res at the pile of regtory books stacked on one side of her desk, like everything is their fault. To be fair, it mostly is.


    Tarl justughs at that. Thats why inspectors have to apprentice before they can work on their own. It takes experience to understand which regtions can be bent, which ones to follow, and which ones to ignorepletely.


    Tr looks scandalized just by the thought of ignoring a regtion, so Tarl continues before she can work herself up into a huff. Whats he been wanting to talk to you about?


    He wants information about <em>everything</em>! He wants to know about other dungeons, the surrounding area, the kingdom, <em>beyond</em> the kingdom


    Well, at least theres only two dungeons to tell him about.


    This time its Tr who has the mischievous smirk. True, but thats only because <em>hes</em> the expert on the third one thats shown up.


    Tarl freezes for a moment, then leans forward on his chair. A new dungeon? Do I need to go and inspect it?


    Eventually, but its not too pressing. Thedeims Voice told me he found a new dungeon in the deeps, and it only recently graduated from being nascent. Dungeon Thedeim has been guiding it, and Rhonda and Freddie have been acting as provisional inspectors. Ive been teaching them what I can of the basics, and everything seems to be going well with it so far.


    Give me details! What spawners does it have? How big is it? Does it have any scions yet? <em>Whats Thedeim been teaching it?!</em> he presses, emphasizing thest question.


    It has centipede and fungal denizens so far. Yes, fungal <em>denizens</em>, not nodes. It does have an animal node, though. She pauses to rifle through some papers before finding the report. Cave rabbits, to be specific. Theyve attracted deep stoats, but Thedeim has been helping the dungeon deal with them. Ah, yes. Hes also made her his protege.


    Tarl rolls his eyes at that. Because we need more dungeons like Thedeim. Tr smirk and nods.


    I think we do, yes.


    After a few moments thought, Tarl agrees. ...yeah, we do. Hes hard on the paperwork, but thats really it.


    Youre telling me, says Tr, nodding at the stack of scrolls on a different part of her desk. Ive beenpiling as much information as I can, but Im uncertain what knowledge I should actually offer.


    Tarl gets up and looks at her desk. Do you have any reports on Thedeim? I can rx and look them over now, and go inspect him and the new dungeon tomorrow.


    Tr stands and hands him a couple scrolls before heading towards the back rooms. Would you like any tea? A few gatherers have given me a nice blend that goes well with the bee scions honey. Its somehow both rxing and focusing. I feel like Ive been running on nothing else for thest week.


    Sure, Ill try some, he says as he epts the scrolls and gets to reading. Hmm good, none of his denizens nor dwellers were involved with the new dungeon for a while mentor and protege rtionship established looking like a toybox in training, which could be interesting. Theres a lot of good stuff to be had that far down, but most dungeons that deep are belligerent at best.


    Wolf scion is a Warden, interesting. I havent seen that title before. Usually itd be a Jailor or maybe Inquisitor in charge of a prison. Jello has been seen on the surface? Odd, but shes peaceful enough, and earned enough of a reputation among the Crystal Shield followers that people leave her alone


    Expeditions have been changing? Strange but that lines up with wanting more information. Bee scion is involved in them, seems to be gathering samples of all sorts of things? Ill need to look into that tomorrow, then. Ah, thank you, he says with a smile at Tr as she hands him a hot cup of tea. He takes a sip and is greeted with a gentle sweetness alongside a bright and acidic undertone.


    Ah, that <em>is</em> nice, he says, and Tr nods.


    Anything of particr note? she asks, and he shakes his head.


    Nothing so far, but Im not too deep into it yet.


    She leaves him to his reading as she organizes her desk.


    He takes another sip before returning to the scrolls. Let me see, where was I ah. Scion activity. Uptick in lightning affinity denizens, ant scion has likely expanded theb. He pulls out his note-stone and speaks into it. Note: attempt to barter information to get a look at the secretb as well as Thedeims core. Oh, and the bee scion''s work with expeditions. With that, he sets the stone on hisp as he resumes perusing.


    Raven Scions new titles recorded, do not engage inbat. Heughs at how understated the official record is on what Poe can do. Oh, a new scion? An earth elemental scion named sh? Not Bash? He looks over to Tr who just shakes her head at his suggestion of a typo.


    Thedeim probably has something weird nned for him already, then. He squints as he looks at the next entry, and reads it aloud. Rocky: zombie scion, boxer. Affinities: Fate, Fire, <em>Ice</em>?


    Tr just nods at that, but Tarl frowns. He has ice affinity now?


    She gives him a confused look. Hasnt he always?


    No. When I tested him, he only had fire. Have other ice affinity denizens been spotted? He flips through the scrolls while Tr thinks, before she shakes her head. I dont believe so. There have been some with metal transmutations, but nothing else with ice.


    Tarl frowns at the scrolls for a few more seconds. Hes done something that Im pretty sure is impossible. Tr smirks at that, but it fades as the Inspector doesnt seem to share in the humor. Ice and fire are opposing affinities. A scion with both is rare, but not unheard of. A scion <em>gaining</em> an opposing affinity, however, <em>is</em>. If it was alchemical, wed see other denizens with it, too. With this, though


    He picks up his note stone once more. Note: ask and barter with Thedeim for the knowledge of what hes done with Rocky to grant him an opposing affinity.