Symbiotic: Chapter 34

Chapter 34

“Excellent!”, Sara said, ignoring the humored chuffing of a Life Lion in the stalks than only her heightened Mind would have heard. “Then how about introductions, my new friends. I am Sara Bloom, Viscount of Haven Valley and the Crystal Cavern Dungeon. Welcome to Haven Valley.”

The gate began creaking its way open at Sara’s command, the System acknowledging her request as she gave the four Challengers temporary access to the valley. “I know it’s silly to ask you to use the gates, when the walls only go 40 feet in either direction and you could easily just walk around. But bear with me. This is a bit of a moment for me. You four are my first guests and I’d love for you to use the gate.”

They all watched as the creaking gate continued slowly raising to allow entry. “Well… This is kind of embarrassing. I didn’t realize it would take this long.

Hopefully it gets faster when the gatehouse is actually manned.

Wow. Sorry… Really. Just a few… moments… more… Aaaand…”

“Ok. Ahem. Right. Welcome to Haven Valley!”, Sara repeated, slightly blushing as the gates finally opened fully, Haven Valley framed between them, majesty only somewhat spoiled by the seemingly endless wait. The four Challengers stepped cautiously inside, their eyes darting across the valley’s walls and fields. The morning light spilled across Haven Valley, painting the village in gold. “Might I get names of my first four Challengers to try my Dungeon? Surely stories will someday be told of your exploits!”, She said, only half joking.

Sara walked ahead of them, her stride calm and measured. In the tall grass beyond, a faint chuff of amusement rippled from the Life Lion, audible only to her heightened Mind. She smiled inwardly, ignoring the sound, and raised her voice.

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The bearfolk warrior grunted, shifting awkwardly after their exchange. “Braska Ironhide,” she said, voice rough as gravel. She pointed at her greatsword, as if it said all that needed saying. And perhaps it did. “Warrior.”, was all she added. Her eyes flicked toward Sara, still carrying a trace of the earlier sneer, but now tempered with a surprised respect.

The ferretfolk ranger gave a sharp nod, her longbow resting lightly in her hand. “Sylvi Quicktail. Scout and archer.” Her tone was clipped, efficient, but her eyes were curious, scanning the valley with keen interest.

The human cleric smiled faintly, his robes swaying as he walked. “Dalen Marrow. Healer of the Life Domain. I mend wounds, and I keep tempers from becoming battles.”, he said pointedly towards Braska. His voice was calm, steady, carrying the same patience he had shown at the gate.

The cloaked caster lingered at the back, face still shrouded unnaturally runes glowing faintly across scaled hands. When he spoke, his voice was low, resonant, and difficult to place. “I am Kaelith. Mage of the Runecraft. My power is mine alone.” He did not confirm his race, though the faint glimmer of scales beneath the cloak suggested some form of lizardfolk.

Sara inclined her head to each in turn, Sporesight and Mark Target tracking the others any time she turned towards one. But, happily, her Danger Sense remained slumbering, not sending her any pulses of warning.

“Good,” she said, her voice carrying across the path as they began walking toward the village. “Now we know each other’s names. Let us walk as allies, not strangers. Haven Valley is a place of growth, not conflict. Respect it, and it will welcome you.”

The party followed, their footsteps crunching softly against the dirt where a road will someday soon lay. Ahead, the village stirred awake, smoke rising from chimneys, the sound of crafters beginning their day. Behind them, in the tall grass, Gentle Stalker who Pounces with Fury prowled silently, then turned back to the Lifewheat Fields.

For the first time, Sara walked with Challengers at her side, the Valley opening its gates to outsiders. The contest had begun to shift, and Haven Valley was no longer hidden.

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Though walking ahead of the group to show them to the Village, Sara could easily keep track of their every movement with her Sporesight, and she noticed Braska continuously frowning as she looked at her greatsword.

Now everything about Braska said that she was a warrior who purposefully walked the dangerous path. Fur scarred, armor dented and repaired. But her greatsword, which had already been well worn and chipped, now showed a visible bend where Braska had struck Sara. And so, as the group neared the village, Sara paused.

“Now Haven Village is just beginning its road to growth, and our facilities for gear are still quite limited. I doubt you will yet find weapons or armor worthy of your party, seeing as most of you have reached Tier 2.”, Sara began and, seeing the group’s startled reaction she realized maybe Identify wasn’t as common an ability as she thought?

Pushing past the possibly awkward reveal, Sara continued. “But I do happen to have something here that is not of any use to me that perhaps you would take as a gift, and as my apology for pushing you into an unwinnable contest just to prove myself, Braska?”

As she spoke, she gestured as if reaching for an item in her Inventory while she really summoned it with her ability.

[Create Basic Object]

[Fungal Greatsword +2 Force, +1 Speed. +5% effect of strike skills.]

Sensing that Braska might be the type to refuse just based on principal, Sara simply tossed it to the bearfolk so she would have to either catch it, or let it fall into the dirt, counting on her respect for weapons to not allow her to disrespect it like that. And, sure enough Braska caught the pommel easily out of the air.

“I could not…”, Braska began, but then felt the weapon’s weight and balance in her hand and her words ceased.

Smiling, Sara turned, not giving the chance for Braska to change her mind and force Sara to take the weapon back. Over her shoulder she simply said, “Consider it a loan until my crafters are able to make you something better.”, as she continued through town.

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Sara showed the party where the Tavern and the few other features of note stood in town. Market Square, though it currently was more farmers market than bazaar, that would change with time. Crafter’s Row, with its current inhabitants of Blacksmith, Leather worker, Engineer, and one closed Alchemist workshop. Sara summoned Tas, enjoying the party's eyes widening at the display of Territorial Ownership. "Tas, make a note to spend time crafting at some point today, and to go and see what our Engineer is up to." (She had no idea what to expect there!)

Gesturing to Tas, Sara mentioned offhandedly, but as a warning. "Tas is my Territory Administration Spirit. Anything I don't see in my Valley, Tas does!"

Passing through town, Sara let them up to the entrance to the mines and showed them the Dungeon Entry portal.

“Now, I’d suggest caution, new friends,”, she began, grinning but saying nothing as she caught Braska smiling as she gave slow practice swings of the Fungal Greatsword now that they were away from town. “The creatures inside this Dungeon may be different than you have…”, Sara paused as Kaelith, the cloaked Rune mage, raised a hand.

“We thank you for your offer of knowledge, Viscount. But entering without foreknowledge is what will allow us the strongest growth. Fear not, we are eager, not reckless. And the combination of Dalen’s healing and my defensive magics have proven sufficient to the task of extricating ourselves from challenges too dangerous for our strengths many a time. I am confident it will prove the case within.”

Sara nodded, impressed. So this was what it was like to travel with a party. She was envious, even as she quickly recognized the strength of the boon that was her Mycorrhizal network.

“Ok then. I wish you good fortunes found and good battles fought, and I look forward to hearing about them tonight in the tavern. First round is on me!”, she said instead.

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Sara watched as the party prepared. With Braska, Sylvi, & Dalen holding their weapons out before Kaelith, who raised a hand and inscribed runes into the air above each of the weapons. Sara tried to study and memorize the Runes, but they seemed to slither and blur, and even with her advanced Mind stats, she was unable to remember what she had just seen even a second after it was gone.

Seeing the runes leap down into each weapon, and Kaelith’s shoulders slump with momentary weakness, Sara looked through her Mark Target and saw that Kaelith’s Runes had temporarily drained him of his Soul reserves.

With a smile, she pulled a Soul Rejuvenation potion from her Inventory and handed it to him. “A good luck gift from the local Alchemist”, she said, and then stage whispered. “It’s me. I’m the Alchemist!”, with a wink.

She stepped back and watches as Kaelith Identified the potion, “Ok, so it’s not as rare as I thought. Wonder why they were surprised I could see their Tier? I’ll have to ask tonight.”, Sara thought to herself. With a deep nod of thanks, Kaelith drank the potion and immediately began to regain his Soul strength.

Sara then watches as the four got into formation, Braska leading, Dalen and Kaelith in the middle, and Sylvi taking up the rear, bow ready, and strode through the Dungeon portal without another word.

*Ping* [Dungeon Entry x4. 400SC gained]

“They grow up so fast!”, Sara joked aloud to no one, faking wiping a tear from her eyes. Then she too stepped through the portal, not to follow the party, but into the Control Crystal bunker to see what she could do to make this experience worthwhile for the group.

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Sara appeared in the small room, standing in front of the glowing Dungeon Control Crystal.

“Ok, let’s see what we can do here.”

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