Blue Core

Day 121 - Blue

A man made out of shadows leaned back in a crudely-carved chair, surrounded by rock walls and torches. There were figures in the flickering shadows, things of scale and bone, nowhere near human in shape. One rested its scythes on the ground, leaning on them like an old man might on his cane, another squatted on six stout limbs, close to the ground. Still others were more bipedal, but still monstrous in size and form. In the light of the torches, the figures looked like they belonged in chiaroscuro art rather than a living scene.

Ill do you one better, Shadow said. Forget Tor Kot. You probably wouldnt much like what he would do to you even if he agreed to take you in. Theres this other one called Blue thats a far better prospect.

Strangely, the monsters didnt say anything at all. There was soft clicking and hissing, the coarse scrape of bone against bone, but nothing that could be called words. Shadow answered anyway, casually waving away whatever question had been asked. Because he killed Vok Nal and mounted his head on a fucking pike, is why. No, I didnt tell Tor Kot that. Yeah, he has no idea how dangerous Blue is, because he still thinks its one of his opponents hijacking his experiments.

A scythe came up, pointing at Shadow for a moment, and the monster held up his hands. Look, Blue lets that Queen girl run around and manage her own damn cities so that makes him a lot more amenable than any of the mage-kings I know. Plus whatever his monsters are, theyre damn shy so he could probably use ones like you to actually have some kind of presence.

Still there were no words, only intense staring from the things watching him. Shadow didnt wilt under the weight of their regard, instead his pitch-black lips peeled away from tarry teeth in a rictus grin. No, Im pretty sure Blue doesnt want to hear from me. Im one of the mage-kings creatures, arent I? Unless you think this is good enough.

Shadow swiveled to look at an overly-tall, emaciated-looking lizard-thing that was covered in spines. Hes dug into the mountain, just a little north of...yes, right there. No, I have no idea about the Blight. Youre on your own with that one.

The monsters of scale and bone eyed each other, then the one with the scythes moved forward. It didnt lumber, as something of that size and bulk ought to, but moved with the sinuous grace of a striking snake. Dozens of small, bone-armored legs supported a serpentine body, tapping with surprising delicacy against the floor as it laid the scythes on Shadows shoulders.

Magic built, coming from somewhere deep inside the scythe-limbed monster, and while its posture suggested that Shadow was imminently in charge of losing his head, the other monsters posture was entirely relaxed. What passed for its eyes were closed even, the magic rising up and then sharpening, coming to an infinitely fine edge. There was a flicker, of something ephemeral being severed, and Shadow shuddered head to toe.

Then he started laughing. Bubbling tar had never sounded so delighted.

Good luck with Blue, he told the assembled monsters, and dont tell him I sent you. I doubt he likes me. He rose out of the chair as the scythes dropped away, and bowed, courtier-like. Thank you. Then he flickered, vanishing into the darkness between the torches.

While the ability to see wherever my name was mentioned certainly was interesting, I wasnt sure how to take what it showed me. Not that I was stupid; it was clear enough that some other group of monsters was being aimed at me, but I didnt know who or why. It sounded like they wanted something from me, rather than trying to just invade, but I couldnt imagine what.

Whatever was going on, though, it seemed like even the monsters werent entirely happy with the mage-kings. I hadnt even considered that was a possibility, but the Shadow guy, assuming it was the same one as ever, had always seemed weird for a monster. A lot smarter, for one, and more cautious. Closer to an actual person.

Unfortunately I couldnt do anything about it other than pass things along to Shayma to inform Iniri and Ansae, assuming I could figure out a good way to do so without tipping my hand. I really didnt want to let anyone know about this particular ability, not even my Companions and friendly neighborhood dragon.

I decided to let that stew for a while, and distracted myself by considering what Id gotten out of watching mana- and Source-imbued crafting. While helpful, observing them was not quite as useful as I thought itd be.

[Fabrication: Loom] discovered.

[Fabrication: Mixing Bath] discovered.

[Fabrication: Hydraulic Press] discovered.

It turned out that anything that required a manual touch to do the work was effectively impossible for me to get a dungeon version of, at least the way I was doing things. The loom was really just an extension of the assembler, which is how I unlocked it. The hydraulic press was my own idea, after finding out I couldnt actually get forging, and the mixing bath came out of seeing the way they treated wood and cloth.

Leatherworking was a complete bust. The amount of work required to skin the creatures, tan their hides, and then turn the result into useful things was beyond me. Woodworking was much the same, though I didnt feel much of a lack there because I could use [Customization] on a tree and put it together with the [Assembler]. The main thing I found out was that putting Sources in things was a lot less useful than I thought, because they just improved Skill use, and a lot of people didnt have armor-related Skills, for example. No, real magical items were made by enchanters or runesmiths or just manifested of their own accord from mana-infused materials.

I had a lot of ideas for experiments but before I did any of that I wanted to deal with my infestation. The ice had been doing a good job of stalling the [Armored Tunnel Crawlers] but they were starting to accumulate, spreading out over the bottom surface of my territory. I didnt know if it was because my mana generation had ticked upward again or just because of time passing, but I had a grand total of sixty of the things, between levels thirty and forty, hanging out and chewing on stone.

So I flushed them. I didnt know where the tunnels went, but they went down, and if it worked on a flame knight I could probably get rid of a number of the crawlers just with that. Over the past few days Id been filling a massive reservoir with excess water, a special reservoir Id built just to try out an idea Id had. It was polished as smooth as I could manage, which turned out to be pretty damn smooth with [Customization]. Not quite atomically smooth, but itd likely take advanced instrumentation to spot any texture.

All of which was in aid of supercooling. I really didnt know how well it would work; I knew the theory but I wasnt by any means an expert. If I could get it to work though, any bugs that werent killed by being smashed against walls would freeze solid as crystallization spread. I might just get a massive ice dam in front of the reservoir but it wasnt like I could lose much from trying it.

The results were more dramatic than I had anticipated. A great deluge of water washed the beetles out and down the tunnels, crystallizing into ice as it went. I wasnt sure if there was some magic influence or that was just how things normally worked, but the ice started forming on the beetles first, doing little more than riming the tunnel walls while it completely encased the beetles.

I ended up with twenty or so frozen bug statues that I could see, and the rest of them washed or driven down the tunnels, all of which were coated in a half-meter of ice. Oddly, I didnt get any messages about kills. Even encased in ice, the crawlers were still alive. Maybe it was asking too much for simple ice to take out a level thirty-something monster.

Shayma? What would your group think about stabbing some thirty-something monsters in the face? Ive got them locked down pretty well. [Armored Tunnel Crawlers], frozen but not dead.

Oh, maybe! Ill go ask. Shayma took a break from the smithing area Id made her next to the cottage. Even if I couldnt make dungeon versions of most crafting, some of the tools I could imitate pretty well. Things I couldnt grow directly I could build with the Assembler, provided it was all wood, stone, and iron. A forge and anvil was simple, and I had plenty of alchemical coal, so it was easy enough to making something for her.

None of them had their new gear yet, but they would probably be okay since they only needed to finish off something helpless.

Oh and everythings frozen over down there so make sure you have boots and gloves. Actually Id start warming it up once they actually started offing the pests, but I suspected itd be cold work unless I tried to melt everything before they got there. While going through all the preparations, I realized I was asking adventurers to get rid of pests in my basement.

Oh my god Im a cliche.

What?

Im not sure I could explain it. Is there such a thing as adventurers guilds by chance?

I dont think so? There are some places that cater to registered groups of Classers, like Wildwood, but nothing like a guild. Maybe some larger nations have something like that, like Ir, but nobody around here does.

Huh. I supposed that made sense. Most governments wouldnt be terribly pleased with an organization that could effectively muster elite soldiers, which Classers were, if they didnt control it. Not to mention that even with divination it was probably pretty difficult to organize across a bunch of nations that werent really on the best of terms.

Which meant no quests for low-level adventurers, I supposed. It seemed the real money that Classers made was from mana-rich materials that they carried out of dangerous areas, or just noble backers. So far I hadnt seen a properly working city so I didnt know how that translated into real life, whether all that stuff ended up in the noble houses or had more mundane uses. Maybe most cities were more like Wildwood when they were intact, if a couple steps down. Sure, I didnt see any remnant runework in Meil but Id already seen it had been rebuilt in a low-magic way so I couldnt expect it.

By now the only patients left of Keris were the ones who had been most severely mangled and were still regrowing limbs. They needed regular but not constant attention, which meant that both the women had caught up on sleep and spent a lot of time wandering around the forest Id put in the back of their house. I was pretty sure Annit was going a little stir-crazy, actually, given the lack of things to hunt.

Shayma found them holding hands and strolling between the trees, which was so intimate a moment I almost wanted to have Shayma leave them alone a little longer. Keri waved cheerfully with her free hand, but Annit looked more suspicious than anything.

Hi Shayma! What brings you by?

Blue has some stuff for us to kill! Shaymas tone was as cheerful as Keris, and even Annits eyes lit up a little upon hearing that.

What stuff and where? Annit asked, reaching down to touch the blowgun she always kept on her.

Armored tunnel crawlers. He says he has them frozen down in the tunnels below us. She waved at the floor. So well want to pack warm.

What else is down there though? Annits eyes were already far away, considering things from the adventurer point of view.

You know, I have no idea since I havent taken them over yet. Ansae might know, though, so you should probably stop by before you go down there.

All of us? I wouldnt want to spring Keri and Annit on her.

Oh, uh, you know they should probably meet anyway. Might as well ask Ansae if shes willing to say hi.

I hope she says yes. Shayma grinned and turned to the curious Keri and Annit. You two get ready, Ill see about getting an audience with our resident expert.

Blue isnt an expert? Annit asked, skeptical.

There are tunnels down there that arent his. Shayma shrugged. If its too high level we wont go very deep.

Sounds interesting anyway! Keris eyes shone. Itd be like being in a real dungeon! Um, no offense to Blue.

None taken. I actually preferred people thinking of me as something other than a real dungeon. After all it wasnt like I had much in common with any of the other types of dungeons people knew.

Whos the expert, anyway? Keri continued.

A recluse. Shayma grinned. I dont want to spoil the surprise.

Oh, but youll spoil us surprising her?

Shes scarier than you are.

That is not reassuring, Annit muttered.

Itll be fine! Ill be back in a little bit.

Another teleport brought Shayma into Ansaes lair, where the dragon was, well, licking the chunk of core gem shed gotten from me. That was a little weird, since Id seen her testing it with tools that were a lot more complicated than a tongue, but then, she did say she ate mana. Maybe the core gem had a bunch of mana and it was like some kind of rock candy.

Shayma, wisely, didnt comment, and Ansae didnt either, setting the gem aside. She was in her normal form this time, wings mantled on her back as she lounged at the center of the lair Id made for her. Yes, Shayma? What does Blue need?

There are some Armored Tunnel Crawlers coming up from the tunnels below, I said, and Shayma repeated. I froze a bunch and Im going to have Shayma and Keri and Annit kill them off, but I wanted to know if you had any idea what else was down there and how much they need to worry about.

Hmm. Im surprised those came up already, but now that Im not eating all the mana, I suppose it was inevitable. Those tunnels go all the way down, though. Keep going far enough and youll find all sorts of nasty things, but they mostly prefer heat. They wont come up here unless you convert the whole area to something volcanic.

Well, thats a relief. Shayma said. Um, would you mind if I bring Keri and Annit by to hear whats down there? Annit is more experienced as an adventurer than I am and probably knows what youre talking about if you name any beasts.

More people? Ansaes lips peeled back to reveal a toothy dragon grin. So long as they behave themselves. Theyre not you, or Blue. Everyone else needs to work their way into my good graces. Because theyre friends of yours they may skip the audience chamber this time.

Oh, right. Id nearly forgotten that Ansae was an insanely powerful and old dragon who was a Power in her own right and everyone who wasnt an immortal Power was basically a buzzing mayfly.

Yes, of course. Shayma bowed suddenly, more formal than usual. You have my thanks, Ansae.

She flipped a negligent claw at Shayma, returning her regard to the core crystals. Not mine, this time, but the red ones. They were all inside some sort of fantastically complex magical array, and even as I watched one of the fragments began turning to powder. I bet if she was the one who was controlling the dungeon Id be twenty levels higher already.

So what was that about?

Hmm? Shaymas ears flicked as she stepped back through the Link, hopping between Ansaes lair and Refuge, between Refuge and the hospital.

That weird exchange at the end between you and Ansae.

Oh, I think she was just reminding me to be formal when theyre here. Most people dont talk to a Queen like we do, let alone a Power.

Right. I had to wonder if losing my fear of Ansae was a mistake. Though she seemed perfectly happy to be chummy with Shayma, that could be an attempt to keep me on her side. Of course, both could be true at once. That said, I didnt think Ansae was the type to act. Rather the reverse; she seemed the type to be brutally honest and grin when people didnt like it.

Keri and Annit were finishing up with packing their equipment. I thought maybe Annit was being a little over-conservative, considering that I could supply them with things through inventory and they werent even going very far, but she seemed like a very by-the-book adventurer. Considering that she had mostly been a guide for greener Classers, I couldnt blame her. For all I knew she really would need all that stuff; it wasnt like I did any adventuring. I just watched Shayma.

Now, Ansae agreed to talk to you about whats down there. Shayma told them, looking from one to the other. What I didnt mention because she likes her privacy is that Ansae is a dragon. Shes also a Power, so be polite.

What. Annit just stared.

Um, are you sure its a good idea for us to go? Keri, for once, looked less than happy to plunge into things.

Ansae is working with Blue, and youre working for Blue. I dont know what the future holds but its better than you know each other in case theres some emergency or another. Shaymas reasoning was a lot better than mine. Mostly because mine was something along the lines of might as well. For all you know you might be working together!

I doubt that. Annit sighed. But very well. We will be on our best behavior.

Brush! Keri said suddenly, darting into the bedroom and returning with the named implement to put Annits hair into some sort of order. Only then were they satisfied to see Ansae. Another trip through the teleports, making me think I really needed to reorganize my rooms and maybe use spatial compression instead, and both women stopped dead upon seeing the massive dragon stretched out in front of them.

Shayma nudged them, and Annit went down to one knee, dragging Keri along with her. Greetings, Lady Ziir, Shayma said, curtseying. These are my adventuring partners, Annit and Keri.

You may rise, Ansae told them imperially. They did so, and the massive dragon surveyed them. I do hope you are taking care of Shayma.

W-we are, Lady Ziir, Annit said, with an unaccustomed tremor in her voice. I was starting to feel a little bad for having Shayma introduce them. Apparently Ansae had a hell of a presence, one I lacked given that even when they were bowing and scraping people didnt look utterly terrified.

Then again, I didnt have sharp pointy teeth.

Blue has remarked that you will be entering the tunnels below. The uppermost set were dug by my thralls, and there may be some still there. I expect they have been mostly driven out by the inhabitants of a natural cavern full of earth and fire Affinity mana that I nibbled on occasionally, a half-mile deeper. Crawlers, as Blue has said, but there may also be Cavern Anglers, Stonefish and the assorted outriders their hives have, Heat Kites, from the deeper levels, though I dont imagine theyll come up here unless Blue puts down a lava trail.

Which I almost had. Turned out that lava didnt actually kill everything.

Yes, Lady Ziir. I dont anticipate going very far down but if I do I shall be exceedingly careful.

Oh, and the cavern does have lowways into the greater subterranean civilizations. I never did check which ones were nearby but I havent yet seen anyone come upward so theyre probably irrelevant.

The who what now?

Blue isnt familiar with subterranean civilizations, Shayma said. Neither am I! I didnt know any existed!

Oh, plenty, Ansae said dismissively. But most dont care about the surface. Some dont even know it exists. Still, if youre going down there youll have to understand that there may well be civilized individuals that are very far from human or dragon. I dont imagine youd want to accidentally declare war.

Or on purpose declare war either, but I take her point. Also, if Im going to be digging deeper Im going to have another Queen Iniri to deal with it sounds like.

For today I dont think were going much deeper than where Blue has the Crawlers frozen, Shayma said. Would it be alright to consult you if we do run into anyone down there?

Certainly, Ansae replied. Though dont bring them to me directly unless they look delicious.

Ill keep that in mind, Shayma said, clearly swallowing laughter. I wasnt sure Ansae was joking. There was always an edge to those statements, and Ansae didnt get to be monstrously powerful by good cheer and charm. Someday someone was going to make her mad and then wed all see exactly how she treated those who annoyed her.

The thought process made me think that perhaps one of the reasons for her seclusion was to avoid just that. Given enough people, one of them would surely be an idiot and Id have to clean up the inevitable aftermath. Not that Ansae would care herself, but she might want to avoid it out of consideration for me.

Off you go. Ansae waved an immense paw at them and Shayma bowed again, ushering Annit and Keri back to the Link.

What in the Abyss were you thinking!? Annit demanded the moment they landed on the other side. Thats not just a dragon, thats an ancient dragon. I was there when the Taras Beast attacked Wildwood and even it didnt have that pressure.

Huh, I didnt notice any...pressure.

Well you represent a Power too! Thats probably why. Keri had already recovered, and was fairly vibrating from excitement. I wonder which legend she is! The Kingslayer? The Calamity of Tenebron? The Silver Woe?

Shes probably just from one of the other continents. Annit disagreed. Im pretty sure all those others died centuries ago.