The Bee Dungeon

Chapter 188: Environmental Sustaina-Bee-lity

Seeing as they continued getting distracted by all the wonders of Belissar’s Tower, Tarwantrad asked Belissar to just give her a quick overview of the flower types he had available. Tarwantrad kept silent, nodding along. She crossed her arms and hummed to herself as Belissar recited everything he could remember, with Niobee and the bees reminding him of the rest.

“Gravilions, huh? A gravity flower, now that’s a curiosity indeed. I will have to trade you for those as well. But let’s put that aside for now, so you have at least one representative for ground, wind, fire, water, light, dark, and cold. You have some varieties of poisons and medicines available. If you cross the quickblossom and the alfalfa with mana flowers, that should give you sources of lightning and nature. Death and flowers work better together than you might think, though I could see difficulties for a honey-based evolution through that mana type. If that’s the case…”

Belissar watched in silence as Tarwantrad considered, waiting until she spoke again.

“I see three options I could offer you for the first boon. I could offer you a flower with a type of mana you don’t yet have access to expand your options further. Alternatively, I could offer you an additional features of types you already have but that would enhance one of your ecosystems with additional diversity. Doing so could reinforce and strengthen one of your existing mana types, producing healthier and stronger flowers of the varieties that absorb it. Finally, I could offer you one of my flower monsters or traps if you are concerned with your defenses.”

She gave him a smile.

“I’ll admit, I am curious to see how your bees’ cross-pollination abilities might affect various flower monsters. I’m sure, though, that we will get to that if we make trades in the future.”

Belissar smiled back before crossing his arms.

“Do you mind if I take a minute? I like to consult with the bees, especially when choosing flowers.”

Tarwantrad’s smile only grew.

Belissar nodded and glanced up at Niobee. She was already dancing, sending out mana through the Tower.

“King! Told queens! Will reply to you!”

Belissar smiled.

“Thanks, Niobee.”

He turned his Tower sight throughout the Tower, noting the queens stirring and beginning to dance within their hives. He had been about to walk back to their usual meeting spot at the Memorial, but doing so would leave Tarwantrad hanging on her own, while bringing the queens here would require them to traverse the confusing Fairy Grove…and also expose them to Tarwantrad and the fairy circle she traveled through. Belissar thought she was trustworthy but understood that it would be a big risk for the bees to expose their queens to a stranger…not to mention that he had no idea who else might be on the other side, like that Compact Tarwantrad mentioned. Fortunately, Niobee appeared to have already considered that, so the queens were sending their replies directly to him through the Tower’s bond.

After the usual volley of “whatever King chooses,” the queens began to share their preferences. The Firstborn and most of the battle meadow bees liked the idea of new mana types. The First of the Fourth mentioned she had a gardener tending to their resident monster flower, and that she was curious about the potential of such plants. The First of the Fifth, somewhat to Belissar’s surprise, expressed interest in the idea of reinforcing existing ecosystems, citing that stronger mana would improve honey quality and thus the number and health of bees they could raise, especially the evolved types. The Third of the Sixth seconded this specifically for the Lava Field, which was still mostly barren as far as plant life was concerned.

Belissar took all this into account as he considered what would benefit his Tower and the bees within the most.

“So, you said something about enhancing the, um, ecosystem, was it? Could you explain more about that? Is that like crop rotation?”

Tarwantrad glanced toward him with a smile as he spoke to her once more.

“Indeed it is. Different plants, even of similar types, can fill different niches. Some, like the alfalfa you mention, are in turn necessary for other plants to grow healthy and strong. They also affect the mana around them or even each other’s mana, and can create complex interweaves.”

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Belissar slowly nodded as he tried to process that.

“And, that’s necessary for a Tower? I’ve noticed that my plants grew apparently without water or rain at first.”

Tarwantrad nodded with a serious expression.

“Yes, it is. A dungeon can substitute any lacking physical needs with mana, but this does have a cost. It will always keep any organisms from spawners or features in functioning condition, but if you want them at their best you need to provide for them. I’m sure you’ve noticed as much with your bees?”

Belissar’s eyes widened in understanding. Tarwantrad nodded.

“Good. It is much the same for plants, or anything else. The less work you make the mana do, the more of it is available for other things. Additionally, the interactions of the mana I mentioned can strengthen the dungeon as a whole, enhancing spells, promoting growth and evolution, and other such effects.”

Belissar nodded.

“I see. In that case…could you offer something to help with that?”

Tarwantrad smiled once more.

“Of course, I’d be happy to. Please, give me just a moment.”

Tarwantrad returned to her dungeon for a bit before returning with a large pouch. She opened it up to reveal a bag full of grains…and manure, based on the smell.

“You said you had poisonous subterranean mushrooms, but nothing that grows above ground, correct?”

Belissar nodded and Tarwantrad beamed.

“Then this will help tremendously. This substrate is full of the mycelium of the greenwood mushroom.”

Belissar blinked.

“Um, mycelium?”

Tarwantrad nodded.

“You can think of it as the roots of mushrooms, it’s what they grow from. This bag is full of it, so if you mixed this into a patch of soil you’d seem mushrooms grow there soon enough.”

Belissar tilted his head.

“I…see. And that helps the flower…ecosystem?”

Tarwantrad nodded repeatedly.

“It doesn’t just help, it’s the foundation of it all! I’ve found that nearly every plant I’ve raised has fungi mycelium wrapped around or even penetrating through their roots, exchanging nutrients and mana that the other cannot obtain otherwise. There are some flowers that won’t even grow if there are no fungi present in the soil, unless you try and make up the difference with a ridiculous amount of mana. This particular mushroom grows specifically in environments brimming with Nature mana and is exceptional at working with plants. I promise you, spread this to your flowers and you will see them bloom brighter than ever before.”

Belissar nodded and took the bag.

“Got it. Should I absorb it, or just use it as is?”

Tarwantrad nodded.

“Absorb what you need to make more, anything left over you can use as is.”

Belissar did so.

Sufficient samples gathered. Greenwood Mushroom is now available.

Current applications: Flower Meadow, Apiary, Orchard, Fairy Grove, Dirt Tunnels, Apothecary's Hut

Greenwood Mushroom

- Type: Mushroom, Nature, Resource

- Mana Upkeep: 5 per node, 3 to enable in compatible rooms

- Description: A mushroom in symbiosis with plants that has gathered enough Nature mana to become something more. Not only does this mushroom transfer nutrients, but it also gathers mana and feeds it to its connected plants so that they may generate more Nature mana for it to use in turn. Boosts the growth and mana of all plants. If two or more plants are connected to the same greenwood mushroom mycelium, they may exchange mana with each other as well. The caps are edible and abundant in Nature mana.

Belissar smiled.

“The Tower agrees with you. Looks like this will help a lot. Thank you, Tarwantrad.”

She smiled back.

“I’m happy to help! Between these mushrooms below and your bees above, your flowers are going to be beyond healthy and happy.”

At that point, however, the flower monster from before walked out of the fairy circle once again, tugging at Tarwantrad’s dress. She sighed.

“Well, this has been wonderful, but it seems I must depart once again. Would you mind if I return to visit again, hopefully soon?”

Belissar smiled.

“You’re welcome anytime.”

Tarwantrad beamed at him.

“Thank you, I’ll return as soon as I am able! And, I’ll probably need to discuss it with the Wardmaster first, but hopefully I can show you my dungeon soon as well.”

Belissar nodded.

“I’d love to see it.”

She gave him another smile at that.

“Take care, Belissar, and may your flowers bloom bold and bright.”

And with that, she walked back into the circle and vanished in another swirl of leaves. For once, Belissar was actually looking forward to her return. But first, he had work to do. He glanced up at Niobee on his head.

“Shall we see what these mushrooms do?”

“Ok!”

Tarwantrad returned to find Wardmaster Varilold waiting for her, the nexus now surrounded by faint shimmering, the only sign of the powerful wards all around it. The wardmaster gave her a nod.

“There you are. I trust you and the other dungeon master have come to an agreement?”

Tarwantrad smiled.

“That we have. He will keep the door open, at least until the Compact negotiates a more formal arrangement.”

The wardmaster spun around and began marching.

“Good. Come along, Dungeon Master Tarwantrad. The Compact will now discuss that very topic. I will convince them of the necessity. You must tell us about this dungeon master, and how we should approach him.”

Tarwantrad nodded and fell into step with the wardmaster, her smile dropping. She had found the bee dungeon and made contact with its master. Now, she just had to convince the Compact to treat with a human, and treat with him well…