The core drifted through the dungeon. On the first floor, Ezel, adventurer and cleric sat on a log, happily pulling fish out of the pond at an almost concerning pace, each one yielding a handful of blue sparks that lazily orbited her wrist. In the lost woods a rabbit lost the race, and its life, to one of the wolf pups. In the squirrel glade, two squirrels chased each other through the branches of their tree, while a third munched on sunflower seeds. Knifey was out foraging for materials, looking through rubbish heaps in the nearby town of Sufeer. Johnny Fun Guy, myconid gamemaster of the mushroom glade stood motionless, swaying in the wind, at rest without an audience. On the second floor a gentle breeze blew, sending a rainbow of petals flying off the flowers that surrounded the great hive. After a few minutes they would fall in a gentle shower into the fishing pond of the first floor, like almost everything that fell from the second floor.

Dungeon Management Locked on First Floor

Well, it was nice while it lasted. The core shifted her presence to the intruders. Three of them, large rough looking men, a sword, large club and ax between them.

“Who else is looking forward to hearing the sea witch scream?” The man with the sword asked, grinning broadly.

Club just shook his head. “An entire ship worth of slaves lost. The entire crew massacred except the cabin boy.”

Ax licked his lips. “How bad can we hurt her?”

Sword shrugged. “We’re killing both of them eventually. Just make sure she can still scream. Gotta motivate the other one to surrender. That blonde bitch is going to pay.”

The three moved forward into the fog. The core took a moment to study Ezel at the fishing pond. Definitely blonde, but a sea witch? Although freeing a ship full of slaves didn’t seem out of character. And her father was a fisherman...

> Try to alert Ezel to the situation. Pictographs? Charades?
> Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do
> Lead them up to the second floor, see if they can resist their greed
> Keep them moving in circles in the fog and heckle them
> Write in

>>5532218
> Try to alert Ezel to the situation. Pictographs? Charades?
Just send Artemis there. She should be able to warn Ezel while we try to deal with the intruders.
> Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do

>>5532233
Supportin'

>>5532218
> Try to alert Ezel to the situation. Pictographs? Charades?
Make a sign on the second floor detailing the situation. Drop it into the fishing hole from the second floor. Drop several of them, in fact, to make sure she gets the message.
I’m guessing we can absorb the signs for no net loss of mana.
> Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do

>>5532218
>Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do

>>5532218
>attempt to telepathically speak to Ezel to warn her, if we're able to
If we can't do that yet, then
> Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do

>>5532218
>> Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do
Maybe offer them some reward to get them hooked into the game

Also Pictographs drawn into sand is quite clear message.

>>5532218
>Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do
I care not about their struggle. They will however challenge the dungeon.

>>5532218
>Try to alert Ezel to the situation. Pictographs? Charades?

> Try to alert Ezel to the situation. Pictographs? Charades?
> Drive these thugs into the mushroom glade and see what Johnny can do

Ezel frowned as a piece of wood fell from the thick tree cover above and splashed into the pond. She peered at it for a moment, were those drawings etched into it? She adjusted her fishing line with a quick flick and shrugged. A few minutes later a second piece of wood dropped into the pond.

“Hey! Who’s doing that!?” She stood and peered into the tree cover, then back down to the piece of wood. Definitely carved...was that supposed to be her? She absently reeled in a fish, then cast her hook back out, latching onto the board and reeling in it. “Oh, I like this game. Ok, so that’s me I guess? Since I’ve got a fishing pole. Or is it a whip? Oh, there are some other people? And they have...instruments? Do you have a band now?”

Another piece of wood splashed into the pond, simply carved with a large ‘X’. “I guess not? Uh...is this one a banana? And some kind of weird fruit? Ooh, I love dungeon food, it’s very high in mana you know.”

Another board with an ‘X’ dropped. Ezel shrugged. “No offense dungeon, but you might want to work on your drawing skills.” A heavy footfall crunched on the leaves on the edge of the glade and Ezel turned to find Artemis the statue archer standing there, head resting in her palm.

“Or the dungeon could remember that she has guardians capable of speech. Miss Ezel, have you ever been referred to as a ‘Sea Witch’?”

Ezel’s face darkened. “Some people don’t understand clerics of the sea goddess.” She looked back at the board in her hands. “Ah. They’re looking for me then. Where are they now?”

“I believe the dungeon is introducing them to our newest guardian, Johnny...” Artemis winced. “Fun Guy.”

“Fun Guy?”

Artemis sighed. “He is a mushroom man.”

Ezel’s face remained blank for a moment, then split into a wide grin. “A fun fungi guy!”

A squirrel chittered. A twig was snapped. A low growl emitted from the fog. The dungeon watched as the three men walked through her domain, attempting to follow the tracks Ezel had left behind. But the forest belonged to her, and every root, leaf and tree moved at her command. Tracks were covered, false leads planted, close inspection discouraged the howl of a wolf or the baleful glare of a squirrel.

“Why the fuck are the squirrels staring at us?” Club asked.

“They’re probably dungeon minions.” Ax growled. “Garden dungeon like this usually won’t have much for guardians, not like anyone but an idiot would smash one up.”

“Stealing a core is usually worth something though, isn’t it?”

Sword shook his head. “Anyone who can use a core, can steal it themselves. Anyone who can steal a core, isn’t going to sell it, they’ll use it for themselves. Fucking with people like that is a good way to die.”

“Good money though.” Club grunted.

“Shut up idiot. Light up ahead, the witch could be right there, get ready.”

Three thugs walked out of the tree line and onto a grid of springy circular mushroom cups, each a couple feet wide.

“GENTLEMEN! ARE YOU READY FOR THE GAME OF SPORES!?”

The three flinched as the field of mushroom caps rose ten feet into the air, carrying them with it.

“What the hell is the game of spores?” The first of the three had his sword out and leveled at Johnny’s small form standing on the opposite side of the glade. The golden key glittered around his neck.

“The game of spores gentlemen, could change your life! Gold! Jewels! Magical treasures! A signed autograph from yours truly!" The fungal man stretched out to his full, admittedly diminutive height, spreading his hands wide.

Club nudged Sword. "Drop that sword! It’s a challenge room! We play our cards right and we walk out of here rich men!”

Johnny took a single step, somehow instantly moving next to Sword and nudged him in the side.

“I think he’s got some good advice for you! Let’s take a look at today's prizes!” Three mushrooms on the far side glowed with orange light for a moment. “Our first prize is this lovely assortment of mushrooms grown within our very dungeon! Good for a wide variety of culinary, alchemical and combat applications I think you’ll come to love this basket of fungal delights! Our second prize is this humble pouch of gold coins, good for exchange at any local shops! And of course our grand prize is a classic dungeon chest, filled to the brim with gems, gold and rare potions! Gentlemen! Are you in?”

Club and Axe nodded with wide grins, with Axe leaning in and whispering to Sword. “We get a chance, we take this little freak out and take it all.”

Johnny shifted back across the gameboard, his platform rising up. “Alright!” His voice boomed over the glade. “I’m Johnny Fun Guy, and the rules couldn’t be simpler! You’ve got ten spaces between the two of us! Each round I’ll give you a challenge, the better you do, the more spaces you move! If all three of you make it to me after three rounds you’ll earn the grand prize! Lost Garden! What’s our first challenge!?”

> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride
> Spider Shroom Terror
> Wriggle Shroom Round Up
> Write in

>>5533965
> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride
Hey I remembered!

>>5533965
> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

>>5533965
>> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

>>5533965
>Wriggle Shroom Round Up

> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

>>5533965
>Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

>>5533965
I have good memories of fungi and spiders, but I’ll vote
> Spider Shroom Terror
since spiders aren’t winning. Maybe it can be the second or third challenge instead.

>>5533965
>>5534356
Meant to vote
> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

>>5533965
Everybody's voting for Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride, so
> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

If we had cacti, I would've suggested Hug The Cactus. Unfortunately, we don't have any. :(

> Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride

A wicked idea struck the core and she grinned at Johnny. “Could you make the platforms try to buck them off?”

“Shit, is that the core’s avatar?”
“Maybe? I’ve never seen one. If it’s starting to manifest an avatar though it’s way bigger than I thought.”
“Fuck...should we get out of here?”

Johnny’s baritone cut across the glade, echoing through the trees. “Gentlemen! Our first round is the Mushroom Cap Rodeo Ride! The rules are simple, just don’t fall off! Begin!”

The mushroom caps holding the three thugs shot into the air and started to jerk and twist. The core winced as almost immediately Sword crashed into the ground. An invisible force drug him back to the first row of mushrooms. The core peered at him, she really ought to learn their names...

“Gah, it’s looking right at me.” He stared vaguely in her direction. Could he really see her? Was there something to see now? The core shrugged and winced as Club slammed into the ground as well.

“It’s watching us mate.” Sword muttered and pointed.

“Shit. They say it’s not good if a dungeon takes a personal interest, and we just volunteered for one of their damn challenge rooms.”

The core sighed. “You did threaten one of my guests.”

Both men shuddered and turned toward each other.

“Did you hear that?”

“That whisper, like an angry ghost?”

“Fuck...”

The core sighed again and shifted her presence upward and watched Axe for a moment. The burly man looked fairly ill, but he had fallen flat and spread his arms, clinging to the mushroom cap for dear life.

“I’ll leave the next round to you Johnny, I’m going to check on our other guest.”

---

Ezel examined the stock of the fishing shop. ‘Legend of the Golden Lunker’ was already tucked under her arm and she was debating her next purchase, and move for that matter.

“The dungeon has them tied up for now?”

Artemis nodded and turned toward the flickers of orange light in the air. Ezel had never seen a nascent dungeon avatar before, but this seemed about right. A sound like wind through trees flowed out.

“Ah, they’re apparently dodging spider eggs at the moment.” Artemis observed dryly. The dungeon avatar flickered and whispered. Artemis rolled her eyes. “My apologies ma’am. Spider mushrooms. Very different.”

Ezel giggled as, for just a moment, the orange light seemed to silhouette a pair of folded arms.

“You must be close to finishing your second floor. Can I see it?” Ezel lazily twirled the golden key from the pond around one finger. “I guess you’ve probably put in a few locks since last time. Or do you want me to do something about your other guests?”

> Have Ezel handle the thugs
> Unlock the gate to the second floor for Ezel
> Write in

Where do you want to focus?

> Continue work on the second floor
> See how the thugs are doing and pick the final round of the game
> Write in

>>5534856
You mean the Spiky Green Mushroom Maze right?

>>5535367
>Write-in :
We can talk, let's use that.
"You are allowed into second floor, if you can make it there yourself"
Mana grind for the wind.

>See how the thugs are doing

>>5535367
>"You are allowed into second floor, if you can make it there yourself"
>Continue work on the second floor
Get that cactus for anon.

>>5535379
>support
no freebies if she want's to go up then she has to earn it like everyone else

>>5534856
we can probable make the cactuses room after this batch of people leave, and so we can look at how the rooms did
though they got through the lost forest part pretty easily so after the cactuses we should buff the lost forest

>>5535367
>>5535379
Support.

>>5535367
>You'll have to unlock it the old fashioned way. But here's a tip: One of the keys involve fishing
> See how the thugs are doing and pick the final round of the game

>>5535367
>> Unlock the gate to the second floor for Ezel
We do need feedback of our new areas and the knowledge will lure in more quests.
> Continue work on the second floor
I'll trust Johnny to entertain them just fine.
Thugs will likely try to get out, after the game anyway

>>5535367
>>5535379
Supporting this. We’ve still haven’t given freebies regarding our challenges, and I’d like to see if we can finish the quest like that.

Though, uh, as a tip,
>”Avoid the mushroom grove for now. Let Johnny have his fun, it’ll tire them out.“

I will absolutely play favorites where possible. Hostiles aren’t part of our challenges, so it’s not cheating to work with people against them.

>>5535368
Sure :)

>>5535679
Also supporting. I personally want to play favorites with Idrid, since we're "in her own backyard".

How many floors can we have?

>>5536001
not Shure how many floors but from the first thread it seams like we can have up to 35 rooms per floor from the image QM gave us

Artemis smirked. “The dungeon doesn’t believe in easy outs. You’re welcome to pass the four challenges of course, and you already have the key from the fishing pond. The three chasing you should be occupied with Johnny for a short time if you’d like to avoid them.”

Ezel’s gaze flicked from Artemis to the ‘Legend of the Golden Lunker’ and back again. She sighed. “Sere’s gonna be pissed at me. A key per room of the dungeon, including the fog?”

Artemis nodded. “See you in the Rose Garden.”

---

“Fuck this place!” Sword shouted while scrubbing at his hair frantically, tossing tiny spiders away. A few feet away Club sat on the ground clutching his knees. Axe stood mostly calm, other than the occasionally impulsive itch.

“Babies. They’re just spiders.” Axe snorted. A single space separated him from the end of the game board.

“Oh fuck you! I can still feel some of those little bastards crawling around!” Sword scrubbed his body more furiously, glaring from his spot well away from the goal. He glanced over at Club. “Pull it together mate.”

“So...many...spiders.” He muttered, eyes distant.

“Yeah, that big prize is out.”

Axe shook his head. “Can’t believe I’m getting a fucking mushroom gift basket. You two were useless.”

“Fuck you. I’m sorry my hair isn’t so full of grease spiders can’t crawl around in it.”

“Gentlemen! Let’s go over our standings after two rounds!” Johnny’s voice boomed over the bickering. The three men turned, two glares and a hollow stare. “The fine gentleman with the axe sits only a single tile away from victory! The sir with the sword lingers at the halfway point! And our last contestment...well, better luck next time! It’s time for our last round! And don’t despair, because there’s still hope for a comeback! Lost Garden, what’s our last game of the day!?”

> Cactus Run. The mushroom field briefly morphs into a wicked maze of green stalks and sharp spines, with the goal in the center.
> Mushroom Gauntlet. The mushroom field becomes a bludgeoning gauntlet that has to be traversed to the end
> Spore Springs. The mushroom field becomes a minefield of springy mushroom caps that catapult contestants backwards.
> Write in

>>5536001
There's no upper limit, but I do plan on wrapping up the quest this thread, so...
>>5536030
Five to six rooms per floor. The extra space was mostly to accommodate larger rooms, which isn't something we ended up doing.

>>5537641
>Spore Springs. The mushroom field becomes a minefield of springy mushroom caps that catapult contestants backwards.
They're all buff boys, so having them bounce the mushrooms should make it hardest for them to win.

>>5537641
>Spore Springs. The mushroom field becomes a minefield of springy mushroom caps that catapult contestants backwards.

>>5537641
>> Spore Springs. The mushroom field becomes a minefield of springy mushroom caps that catapult contestants backwards.

>Spoiler
That's breaking my heart.

>>5537641
>> Cactus Run. The mushroom field briefly morphs into a wicked maze of green stalks and sharp spines, with the goal in the center.
Since this quest is going to end, I'm voting to make cactus anon happy

>>5537641
> Spore Springs. The mushroom field becomes a minefield of springy mushroom caps that catapult contestants backwards

>>5537641
>Cactus Run
>>5537845
:)

>>5537641
>> Cactus Run. The mushroom field briefly morphs into a wicked maze of green stalks and sharp spines, with the goal in the center.
This quest is cute. Shame it's a 'one'-shot. Hope to see more of Lost Garden somehow, maybe in an epilogue or something

>>5537641
> Cactus Run. The mushroom field briefly morphs into a wicked maze of green stalks and sharp spines, with the goal in the center.

>>5537641
> Cactus Run. The mushroom field briefly morphs into a wicked maze of green stalks and sharp spines, with the goal in the center.

>>5537641
>Mushroom Gauntlet. The mushroom field becomes a bludgeoning gauntlet that has to be traversed to the end.
>>5537845
Need it as a new room.

> Cactus Run

A strange vision drifted into the core's mind, of something green, covered in sharp spines. A word came to mind.

"Cactus Calamity."

The field of mushrooms, except the three caps the thugs waited on, shot into the air. Stalks widened and turned green as sharp black spines extended out.

"What the fuck." Sword muttered, staring at the narrow spike lined maze in front of him.

"Gentlemen! Welcome to Cactus Calamity! The rules are simple, just make it the center of the maze! But watch out, those spines are sharp!"

Sword stared at the spine covered path, just wide enough to walk through...very carefully.

“I really hate this place.”

---

Ezel patted the two keys at her belt. The fish was simple enough, she had done it by accident just gathering fishing points. The squirrels were easy to bribe once she realized that the point wasn’t to catch them. This fog key though...She reached out her hand again and pushed her finger through the key, watching as it bent and fell apart, reforming after a moment in its original spot. Both hands, moving slowly, could move the key, but it was so slow!

“Nope. Sorry Losty. Gardeny? Lucy? Gwen? Lucy Gwen?”

A nearby squirrel actually buried its face in its hands.

“Ok, ok, maybe that was terrible. I really should have given you a more conversational name. Either way, this fog key? It’s lame. I don’t like it.”

The surrounding trees shook in a way that clearly indicated that her opinion was not particularly important.

“Besides, I can do this. Lady of the cold dark, rip the warmth from this key!” Her divine power surged out and ice formed around the fog key, neatly capturing in place.

The core glowered as Ezel skipped merrily through the fog. She felt slightly better as Ezel wandered in circles for the next ten minutes, three keys in hand but hopelessly lost otherwise. The core swooped back through the fog into the mushroom glade.

Johnny’s voice boomed. “Oh! That has got to hurt!”

Sword whimpered and carefully reached to his behind and started the careful process of removing the spines. Nearby Axe groaned.

“You two really can’t just walk in a straight line and watch where you’re goi-fuck!”

Axe’s foot collided into Club’s huddled form, still where he had started, clearly unwilling to move until the game had finished. The core winced as Axe, wavered, flailed, then both hands went out to steady himself, on spines. He jerked back and screamed, then crashed through the wall of cacti, eventually collapsing to the ground.

“Gods take you idiots! Fuck!” Axe slammed a fist into the ground.

“I think that’s time gentlemen! You’ve been a lovely trio of contestants, but unfortunately none of you have made it to the end of the maze or the end of the gameboard! I have no prize, except this lovely dungeon key for being good sports! Enjoy the rest of your visit at Lost Garden!” Johnny unstrung the golden key and tossed it over where it felt between the three men.

“I...I can’t believe how much you two suck.” Axe muttered as the cacti transformed back into mushrooms, then shrank down in size until the gameboard vanished into the jumble of mushrooms that normally filled the room. Johnny himself also vanished, although the core could still feel his presence.

“I’d hoped they’d have to win the game to get the key.”

Afraid not ma’am. I’m sure they’re softened up for miss Artemis though.

The core watched the cursing thugs stumble out into the fog right as a certain cleric’s ninth circle of the lost woods came near. That could be interesting. The core followed, pondering if she should interfere.

“Spiders spiders spiders spiders-”

“Shut up you idiot. So what if you got a few spiders in your hair?”

Club turned and stared at Sword, eyes hollow.

Axe snorted. “Not like you were much better.”

“At least I didn’t trip over the mostly obvious thing in the room.”

Axe growled. “You piece of shit, it’s not like you were making it anywhere.”

“Mother of storms, show your anger.” The voice was cool and crisp, with just the slightest edge. If the core hadn’t watched Ezel say it the voice would have surprised her.

“Who-” Lightning leapt through the fog, brilliant light transforming it into a pearl line leading back to Ezel, and hurled Axe back a solid ten feet until he slammed into a tree.

“It’s the witch!” Sword drew his namesake and charged at Ezel. The blonde cleric blocked the weapon with her fishing pole, then slammed the end of the rod under his chin, twice in quick succession sending him staggering backwards. She stepped smoothly back and flicked her fishing line out, the silver hook snaring around the thug’s throat. The core winced as Ezel pulled the line taut.

“Last chance.” Ezel spoke.

The thug flailed at the fishing line with his sword, somehow failing to cut it, then charged at Ezel instead. Ezel blocked the blade with her pole again (what was that thing made of?), then kicked the thug in the chest and jerked her fishing pole. The core winced as blood fountained in a circle. Ezel just sighed as the lifeless corpse collapsed. She cut her line and looked over at Club.

“Are you going to do something stupid too?”

Club’s wide eyes looked from the bleeding corpse to the smoking corpse leaning against a tree. He hurled the golden key and scrambled off into the fog.

Ezel seemed to deflate a bit as she scooped up the last key. “That...that was unpleasant.” She meandered back through the fog.

---

The core frowned as Club vanished from her dungeon. The two bodies broke down into orange mote of mana, first their flesh, then their clothing and equipment. Notification flickered by, steel, fabric, clothing, weapons. Useful things but...she had hoped to get them some other way besides this.

No matter. The core watched as Ezel passed through the gate and passed into the Rose Garden.

“Anyone home?” She called out.

> Let Ezel pass through to the second floor
> Halt her progress with a challenge
> Write in

>>5539878
She is surprisingly good with that fishing lure…

> Halt her progress with a challenge
She can choose to fight, or a regular challenge. Up to Ezel. If she fights, it’ll be 2-on-1 though.

If she accepts the challenge,
> Hook, Line, Arrow?
> Catch one of Artemis’ arrows using a fishing lure. She’ll shoot them at various angles and directions during the challenge. She’ll shoot at you if she doesn’t like you!
Undisclosed in the rules - arrows don’t need to be caught in-flight. Catching one from her bow or quiver meets the challenge. Catching one off the ground would also work, but good luck finding the arrows that way. They tend to fly far.

>>5539878
>Halt her progress with a challenge

>>5539919
Supportin'.
Those are good challenges.

>>5539878
> Let Ezel pass through to the second floor

>>5539878
>Halt her progress with a challenge

>>5539919
>support

>>5539919
Supporting

Not dead, just busy with a touch of writer's block.

>>5543276
One of the reasons I’ll never QM even though I put effort into a lot of write-ins. I respect all you mad lads who can pull together a world of any sort because my brain simply can’t do it.

> Halt her progress with a challenge
> Flower Fishing Write in

To her credit Ezel didn’t flinch when the rose dropped in front of her face and exploded into a shower of petals. She looked upward and found Artemis sitting high up on a tree branch, one leg swaying freely.

“And here I thought your friend was the tough one.”

Ezel shrugged and brushed rose petals from her hair. “I don’t suppose I can just pass through.”

Artemis grinned broadly. “You cannot. But I suppose I’ll refrain from actual violence.”

“It’d be a good test when Sere gets back, actually fighting you as a boss fight...although I think combat dungeons and challenge dungeons aren’t always the same, especially on orange cores. If you were purple it’d be a different story I’m sure. I’m not much of an archer though.”

“But quite the fisher, if cooling corpses could speak.”

Ezel flinched a little, her face falling. She nodded, face neutral.

“My test is simple. Simply catch a rose on your hook.”

“Well, that shouldn’t be-” A rose buzzed by at alarming speed, vanishing into the forest.

“Tell me you didn’t think it would be easy?”

The stone archer moved with remarkable speed and agility for her construction. She leapt from branch to rose bush, seemingly as light and nimble as the squirrels that roamed Lost Garden, her arrows red blurs that buzzed by at terrific speed. Ezel wasn’t afraid to admit that she was probably a bit outclassed, at least in terms of speed and agility.

Her ‘weapon’ hung at her side, the fishing pole her dad gave her when she was first called to serve the Mother of Storms. The sea goddess was not particular in how her power was used, water went where it desired, but Ezel had to wonder if the goddess would twitch a smile at this moment. She had always been a friend of those who captured the bounty of the sea though.

Ezel tracked the archer carefully. Overhead, across the rose bushes-

“Are you even going to try?” Artemis called out.

-diagonal leap there, back up into the tree line, moving branch to branch with supernatural surety-

“Mother of Storms, be my guide”

Ezel tilted her fishing pole back, a faint light surrounding it, then whipped it forward in a wide arc. Artemis laughed.

“There isn’t even an arrow in-”

Fishing line weaved through the trees, then whipped back out in a wide arc that seized around Artemis’s ankle, wrapping tight, and jerking the archer upside down mid leap from branch to branch. Roses spilled to the ground as Ezel ambled up, eyes glittering with held back laughter.

Artemis narrowed her eyes. “Not exactly the spirit of things.”

Ezel grinned and pinned a rose to the fishing hook wrapped tightly to Artemis’s ankle.

“I don’t know, I have a fishing pole, I caught the biggest fish. Seems pretty straightforward to me.”

The exit to the Rose Garden, a thick wall of tree trunk sized vines, vanished into the ground. At the same orange light suffused the fishing hook and rose and the two seemed to melt into each other. A moment later a deep red fishing lure, shaped like a minnow, materialized. Tiny roses were etched onto either side. Ezel picked it up reverently, its description jumping into her mind.

Rose Garden’s Lure: This magical fishing lure is sure to improve the luck of those who use it.

“Weird color for a fishing lure, but thank you Lost Garden...Do you want a hand down?”

Artemis sighed. “Go ahead.”

The next stage of Ezel’s journey was fairly uneventful. She bypassed the flower challenges entirely, opting to simply cross the platforms without the extra treasure then took a short break in the rest area, flipping through the pages of ‘Legend of the Golden Lunker’. She finished the book and looked over at the great hive with a frown.

“Bee larva...” She glanced back down at the book, then back over at the hive. “Ok Ezzy, you can do this. Sure, they’re giant bees, but you just grab the larva, and run like the depth lord himself is behind you and you’ll be fine...I’ll definitely be fine...”

The core watched with amusement as Ezel grabbed a handful of bee larva and sprinted for the core, screaming the entire way, a black cloud of stingers in close pursuit. The cleric reached out with her hand and touched the core, suddenly vanishing in a flash of orange light. That was interesting.

Adventure Complete!

A litany of subitems scrolled through the core’s awareness, rooms visited, fishing points redeemed, a poor performance on Johnny’s game, a tidy bonus of twenty five mana for recovering all four keys and another twenty five for ‘Rose Garden’s Lure’. A little over seventy mana flowed into her, plenty to continue work on the second floor. With an obstacle, a rest area, and a resource room the second floor had the basics, now to round it out with a couple more rooms before her second floor boss.

> Another obstacle
> Another resource room
> Write in

>>5544393
> Another obstacle

>>5544393
>Another obstacle

>>5544393
> Another resource room

>>5544393
> Another obstacle

File: Tree Top Floor.jpg (138 KB, 755x657)

138 KB JPG

> Obstacle

The core surveyed the great trees of the second floor and nodded. Another obstacle felt right, the floor already contained plenty of treasure and opportunity. Of course that did beg the question of layout; the floor was currently a roughly straight line, but there was still time to adjust that.

What kind of obstacle?
> The Dryad's Riddle
> The Owl's Climb
> The Squirrel's Maze
> Write in

Layout?
> Connect the newest room to the Bee Hive
> Connect the newest room to the Rest Area
> Connect the newest room to Both
> Write in

>>5544711
> The Dryad's Riddle
> Connect the newest room to the Rest Area

>>5544711
>The Dryad's Riddle
> Connect the newest room to the Bee Hive
Just a straight line to the core.

>>5544711
> The Dryad's Riddle
> Connect the newest room to the Rest Area

>>5544711
> The Dryad's Riddle
> Connect the newest room to Both

>>5544711
>The Owl's Climb
Connect the newest room to the Rest Area

>>5544711
>The Squirrel's Maze
> Connect the newest room to Both

> The Owl's Climb

>>5544711
>The Dryad's Riddle
> Connect the newest room to Both

Rolled 1 (1d2)

1=Rest
2=Both

File: Tree Top Floor2.jpg (171 KB, 855x611)

171 KB JPG

> The Dryad's Riddle
> Connect the newest room to the Rest Area

The core let her presence drift forward from the rest area, a rope bridge forming under her, planks materializing and hovering in place as ropes snaked out and connected them. The bridge connected to one of the great trees, an open archway forming that allowed entry to the hollow interior of the tree.

“Ma’am.” Lady Willow nodded from just within the tree. “What are your plans for this area?”

The core frowned. “I’m not sure...I’d like another defense, something that could slow down or stop an invader who means us harm, or at the very least something that challenges those who pass through.”

Willow nodded and raised a bark clad hand, a spray of brilliantly colored flowers forming on the trunk wall. “Perhaps something beautiful as well. There are many flowers that can beguile the mind, through mundane and magical means both. Perhaps they could be of help here.”

The core nodded as ideas began to take root. “Would you like to take guardianship of this room?” Orange light filled the room and vines started racing up the walls, a brilliant riot of flowers exploding into existence alongside a heady aroma.

“Of course ma’am. None shall pass without my approval. Although I’m not quite sure what sort of challenge would suffice.”

The core laughed lightly. “I think I have something.” Five pedestals of living wood lifted up out of the floor, each one bowl shaped at the top and filled with soil. Flowers bloomed in each one, except the middle. “This one is pretty simple, four orchids, and you just need to bring a fifth one from around the room.” The core gestured around the interior of the tree trunk where over a thousand flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors bloomed.

“You have a curious definition of easy ma’am. But thank you, this will be a beautiful place to live and guard. And there are so, so many properties of flowers I can explore with our guests.”

Dryad Needs Fulfilled - Entangles Enemies

The core checked her mana reserves, enough to do one more small thing...

> Summon more guardians on the second floor
> Add Mana Infused Fruit, golden fruits that grow hanging beneath the rope bridges
> Add Gusty Winds Challenge on a random rope bridge
> Write in

>>5546622
> Summon more guardians on the second floor
Cactus guardians :D

>>5546622
> Add Gusty Winds Challenge on a random rope bridge
>Allow your owl guardian to direct the winds to different platforms by pointing a wing at one from a perch. If not present, the winds will truly be random.

>>5546622
>Add Gusty Winds Challenge on a random rope bridge

>>5546663
>support

>>5546622
>> Add Gusty Winds Challenge on a random rope bridge

>>5546622
>Summon more guardians on the second floor

>>5546663
>Support

> Add Gusty Winds Challenge on a random rope bridge

The core excused herself and floated out into the space between the great trees. A gentle breeze flowed through the dungeon, and Edgar, her giant owl guardian, floated silently next to her.

“Ma’am, you can’t possibly be thinking of defending yourself with just flowers.”

“The theme does have a certain charm to it.” The wind shifted and colorful petals filled the air from the vast flower gardens surrounding the great hive.

Edgar frowned, squinting his large eyes. “Ma’am, with a few more of my brethren we could knock invaders from the rope bridges instead of depending on...” He sighed. “Flower trickery.”

“I don’t think you’re giving Willow enough credit. But we could always use another challenge...” The core held up a hand, noting for a moment that her form had grown more solid, like flashes of sun on a pond instead of distant fireflies at night. She reaches out and touched Edgar, spinning a streamer of orange mana that span and twisted down to the nearest rope bridge.

“Ma’am.”

“I give you command of the winds and the bridges of this place Edgar. Test those who come here in good faith, and destroy those who do not.”

“Thank you Ma’am.” Edgar dove downward and gave a single powerful beat of his wings. In response the wind intensified, twisting and shaking the rope bridge, tossing the planks in all directions. The laughter of the owl carried on the wind.

Lost Garden hoped she hadn’t overdone it.

---

Father stalked through the gloom of Lost Garden. This was a good home for him and his family, however strange the machinations of the witch orb. Soon the young ones would be old enough to strike out on their own, no longer under the protection of the witch orb, but free to chase their own lives, and he would sire new pups with Mother.

He paused and sniffed next to the abandoned cave of the strange creature that had burrowed into the earth and vanished long ago. Under the heavy scent of alcohol and the rank of unwashed dwarf was something else...something fresh. Fear scent. Fear growing stronger...

Witch Orb. Something comes, and fear flows in front of it.

The presence of the orb was with him in an instant. “Something is coming? Out of the ground?”

Father let out two short barks, to have Mother usher the young into the den. More smells were spilling up out of the cave, something bizarre and chemical, and something fundamentally...wrong.

Wrong-thing, and something fleeing it. He growled and scratched at the ground. Coming fast.

> Assembly your forces and meet this threat here as it emerges into your dungeon
> Let it emerge first so you can see what it is
> Write in

>>5547796
>Let it emerge first so you can see what it is

>>5547796
> Let it emerge first so you can see what it is

>>5547796
>Let it emerge first so you can see what it is

>>5547796
>> Let it emerge first so you can see what it is

Our single-dwarf fortress have striken the earth to deep and breached into the circus?

>>5547796
>> Assembly your forces and meet this threat here as it emerges into your dungeon
We have a warning, let's not squander it

>>5547796
> Assembly your forces and meet this threat here as it emerges into your dungeon

>>5547796
> Assemble your forces and meet this threat here as it emerges into your dungeon
Not sure if we can do this, but
>Get ready to drain water into the tunnel to weaken and collapse it after the dwarf comes out. If you can’t conjure it, perhaps it can be drawn from the lake?

>>5547796
> Let it emerge first so you can see what it is
If only we had some cactarons to assemble ...

> Let it emerge first so you can see what it is
> Get ready to drain water into the tunnel to weaken and collapse it after the dwarf comes out

“Everyone, keep your distance, I want to know what we’re dealing with first. But be ready.”

Squirrels filled the surrounding trees, armed with mushroom surprises. Wolves hunkered, nearly invisible. Trees slowly shifted, forming a tangle of branch and bush that surrounded the cave entrance. Small tunnels formed in the ground, diverting a reservoir of water to the edges of the deep cavern.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” The long scream, punctuated by pounding steps, came first. A dwarf, his clothes, hair and beard trailing smoke and curious blue embers, pounded up the spiral staircase that he had carved into it days ago, then burst into the clearing, eyes wide. “Collapse the tunnel! Collapse it!” He screamed, his voice hoarse with effort.

The core dug out the passage holding back the reservoir of water and it roared into the cave and rushed down the spiral staircase, gaining speed, crashing through stairs and ripping stone from the walls. Something screamed and the core flinched as an electric blue flame shot out of the hole, then punched through the roof of the cave and obliterated a tree branch hanging overhead, blue embers falling down like snow.

The earth shook, the thing screamed, and the dwarf backed away slowly, a shivering pick held tightly in both hands. “Gods be damned...there were so many...” He patted a pocket and pulled out a hunk of shimmering blue metal that fit into his hand. “So much left down there too...” He sighed deeply and returned the stone to his pocket.

Dungeon Management Locked

The cave exploded.

Ospera Cynnabar The Plasma Goose Demon has entered the dungeon.

The dwarf bolted, crashing blindly through the forest as dirt and blue flame rained down. The goose monster roared triumphantly and strutted forward out of the dust and debris. The core shivered to look at it. A baker’s dozen eyes spread across three heads and an absurd number of legs made the beast seem more centipede than goose. White feathers, black scales, and mane like rings of purple hair jostled together without reason. Two wings of brilliant blue flame flapped, sending a wave of blue flame outward that seemed to cling rather than spread.

Two heads snapped in a direction, directly toward the core, while the third hung limply, not entirely unscathed from the water and collapsed tunnel.

> Full assault. Throw everything you have at it.
> Keep your distance and see what it does.
> Lure it to Johnny’s room?
> Write in

Ospera Cynnabar the Dreamer is a Forgotten Beast. A Thirteen Eyed, Tredecapedal, Three Headed, Plasma Goose covered in a Amethyst Hair. It posseses Scaly Shell. Beware it's Blinding Blood.

>>5549043
> Full assault. Throw everything you have at it.
> Lure it to Johnny’s room?

>>5549043
>Keep your distance and see what it does.
Maybe it was just protecting something down there and pissing it off would be bad.

>>5549043
>> Full assault. Throw everything you have at it.

>>5549043
>Full assault. Throw everything you have at it.

>>5549043
> Keep your distance and see what it does

>>5549043
>> Full assault. Throw everything you have at it.

> Full assault. Throw everything you have at it.

“Take it out.”

Mushrooms, rocks, and nuts were hurled. Wolves snarled and lunged. Knifey leapt from an overhead branch and swung his namesake two handed, sending a spray of blood and feathers. Ospera roared as a wolf ripped off several legs and slammed a wing in response, sending the wolf flying.

The squirrels descended in an angry mob, gouging eyes, twisting legs, hitting with tooth and nail with a ferocity that the core found surprising and terrifying. Time and time again the goose demon would throw them off with a burst of electric blue flame, and somehow, in spite of burns and broken bones, the squirrels got up and charged back in, laying dozens of tiny wounds on the goose.

Ospera roared defiance though, body covered in wounds, a dozen legs torn or mangled to uselessness, and battered through, leaving a trail of broken defenders in its wake. The core shook as respawn timer notifications filled her awareness for a moment. The demon lumbered off through the woods, cutting a path through the fog for the Rose Garden.

“Lower the gate ma’am. Let Mossy and I do our jobs.”

“Are you sure?”

“Ma’am, you made me to defend you. It’s not getting past me.”

“Very well. How are you going to fight it?”

> Attack from the trees while Mossy keeps it busy on the ground.
> Distract it so Mossy can wind up a big hit
> Write in

>>5550166
> Attack from the trees while Mossy keeps it busy on the ground.

>>5550166
> Attack from the trees while Mossy keeps it busy on the ground.

>>5550166
> Attack from the trees while Mossy keeps it busy on the ground

>>5550166
> Distract it so Mossy can wind up a big hit
Mossy just looks like a bunch of rocks at first. He’s the perfect ambush predator. Artemis and Mossy just need to set the trap and draw Ospera through it.

>>5550166
>> Distract it so Mossy can wind up a big hit

>>5550166
>Distract it so Mossy can wind up a big hit

>>5550166
>> Distract it so Mossy can wind up a big hit
Mossy is our first floor boss, he has the best chance to take this thing down.

> Distract it so Mossy can wind up a big hit

The demon scuttled into the rose garden with a roar, blue flames splashing off it, leaving a trail of scorched forest and liquid blue flame through the forest behind it.

“No further.” Roses rained down in twos and threes, blooms exploding as the sharp stems burrowed into the demon. Artemis advanced slowly on the fiend. “Leave or perish.” The goose hissed its last living head in response and charged, its many legs weaving forward. Artemis loosed a few more arrows, then the beast was upon her.

The statue archer gave ground grudgingly, reduced to wielding sharpened rose stems as daggers as a storm of wings and fire rolled at her unceasingly. Crushing force and unnatural heat slammed into her, shoving her back. Every step and inch she demanded payment in blood, impaling rose stems through wings and crushing goose flesh under heavy stone fists.

Still, she was losing ground, liquid flame etching her face and leg, strikes of beak and clawed feet tearing chips of stone from her, every moment of the battle draining the stamina of the guardian. She stumbled and the goose pounced, one great wing throwing her backwards to slam against the water fountain she sometimes stood on, a crack spreading from shoulder to torso.

The demon spoke for the first time, a rough language that ached in the ear, half hiss and half wail of the damned, although the words had no meaning. Only a handful of legs remained functional on the thing, but it slammed one down onto Artemis, pinning her to the ground.

Artemis grinned through the splitting pain. “Hey bird brain.”

The demon stared at her, hissing and wailing, eyes narrowed.

“I’m not the boss here.”

Two tons of stone lifted up and slammed into the demon, blue flame roaring uselessly as Mossy’s rough arms scooped it together and held it flailing in the air. Fire roared, the goose screamed, and Mossy simply stepped carefully over Artemis. The fiend screamed in its language, and Mossy rumbled in response, carefully lifting it into the air.

“GO AWAY.”

The ground splintered, stone and dirt flying, as Mossy slammed the demon down, leaving it a crippled mess on the ground. Two more massive punches, each shaking the earth, deepened the crater, leaving the smoldering wreck of the goose at the bottom, somehow clinging to life. Mossy pointed an arm and a torrent of water shot out, extinguishing the demon.

Dungeon Management Enabled

Artemis hobbled up and looked at the small pool.

“Didn’t know you had a water cannon.”

Mossy shrugged and started trundling back to his spot. Artemis winced and sat on the ground.

“Well ma’am, it stays interesting at least.”

There was a dwarf, and the dwarf was in a bit of a strange...mood. He had a magic stick, a few bones, a handful of goose feathers, and a bit of beautiful blue metal. And he was definitely getting as far away from that tunnel as possible, let it stay sealed up forever, but first...first he definitely needed to do something. Had to do it.

What was it he had to do?

> A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?
> A smithing hammer! And an anvil to go with it! And you’d need a forge too!
> A cauldron! And some alchemy glassware to go with it! And you’d need some planters to go with it!
> A thing! And some other thing to go with it! And you’d need this other thing too! (Write in)

>>5552515
> A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?
Tavern time

>>5552515
>> A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?
It's a garden! A forge or a workshop doesn't make much sense but some tables and some drink, that sounds just right

>>5552515
> A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?
Do you remember the sign? I remember making the sign. Let’s get rid of those frowny faces on it, shall we?

>>5552558
I also remember the sign. Let's do it!

>>5552515
>A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?

>>5552515
>> A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?

>>5552515
>A cauldron! And some alchemy glassware to go with it! And you’d need some planters to go with it!

> A drinking flagon! And a tavern to go with it! And what good was a tavern without a still!?

Of course! A flagon! The finest flagon the world had ever known! His axe gleamed and moved in a blur, felling trees, building the things he needed to build more things, sawhorse, workbench, clamps. Iron manifested seemingly into his heads, kiln, forge, fire roared, things moved in a blur. Tables, benches, chairs formed under his hands, a place to work, a place to drink, better toss together a brewery...

Time slowed as he turned toward the precious blue metal. Tools were forged, then better tools with those, resulting in a complex apparatus of gears and presses, all with the single intent of wheedling a razor thin (and sharp) length of blue thread, nearly invisible, from the blue metal. Inch by inch, carefully set onto quickly forged steel spindle until the small blue rock had been transformed into a small spool of blue thread.

A wooden facsimile of the flagon was forged, then the blue metal thread wrapped carefully around it, carefully covering the entire surface in a thin layer of the precious metal. The flagon was transferred into the forge, then the flames built up higher and higher, something between song, prayer and chant spilling from his lips, reaching into the flame with tongs and hammer, striking and adjusting.

Rimmed with bone, wrapped with feathers, spiked with enchanted wood, etched with carvings of events he didn’t know. The most beautiful work of art he’d ever crafted, he was completely unworthy of it. Perhaps no one ever would be. He hung it reverently over the door of the tavern (when had he made a tavern?) and simply walked away.

---

Where is the Blue Flagon Tavern?

> Hidden deep in the Lost Woods, where it mysteriously operates itself
> Part of the fishing shop, crewed by squirrels
> Part of the rest area on the second floor, worked by a giggling young dryad
> Write in

>>5553722
> Part of the rest area on the second floor, worked by a giggling young dryad
While a part of me thinks it should go next to the sign, I find the idea of a dwarf building a tavern among the trees to be the bigger mindscrew.

>>5553722
>> Hidden deep in the Lost Woods, where it mysteriously operates itself

>>5553722
> Hidden deep in the Lost Woods, where it mysteriously operates itself
lota words coming...
wonder what we got from the duck and the mana as well, we could also see if we can send some squirrels down the mine shaft and gather underground materials to work with though we should definitely hide the hole so any new visitors can't find it as we have no control of what goes on down there so we need to keep an eye on it as it is in our dungeon, we could cover it up permanently but something down there could follow the stairs up as we only flooded it
maybe make smaller golems to go down and guard it imbedding them selves into the walls along the stair's on the way down as an fail safe and could be a secret floor once we have enough mana and have properly secured the stairs

>>5553722
>Part of the rest area on the second floor, worked by a giggling young dryad

> Hidden deep in the Lost Woods, where it mysteriously operates itself
Getting in the tavern itself would be a challenge, so easy points farming with drunkards.

>>5553722
>Part of the rest area on the second floor, worked by a giggling young dryad

>>5553722
> Hidden deep in the Lost Woods, where it mysteriously operates itself

>>5553722
> Part of the rest area on the second floor, worked by a giggling young dryad

> Part of the rest area on the second floor, worked by a giggling young dryad

The core watched the dwarf in a combination of awe and amazement. Tools and equipment were created, used, discarded. Buildings thrown up, torn down, repurposes. For three days the dwarf worked tirelessly, constructing a cozy tavern, and the beautiful gleaming blue flag that hung over the door to the tavern. Magic radiated from it, part of the dungeon but at the same time its own force. When the dwarf set it into the place he had simply turned and left without a word.

Moments later the tavern door had opened and a dryad took half a step out and yawned. “Morning lady.”

“Good morning. I wasn’t expecting another Dryad.”

She grinned and laughed. “Well, here I am! Welcome to the Blue Flagon lady, I’ve got a few things on tap already, and I’ll get to work with more, so make sure to get me some customers!” She looked up at the flagon itself. “Should be interesting to see if anyone can best it!”

“Best it?” The core followed the dryad into the tavern, finding a roaring fire, simmering pots of food and barrels lining the walls.

“The Blue Flagon of course. It’ll only let itself be taken by someone who can out drink it.”

“It can drink?”

The dryad laughed. “It’s definitely a dwarven artifact. Pop by the way!” She held out a hand and the core tentatively took in without her flickers of orange light. “Short for Poplar, but I like Pop more.”

“Pleased to meet you Pop.” The core looked over the casks along the wall.

“I’ve got one for most of the fruits and mushrooms...except the spider one, keeps turning out wrong.” She frowned, then giggled. “Ok, it tastes good, but it took forever to get the spiders out...kidding! Kidding! Don’t make that look at me! The spider brew is great, and I’m 90% sure I got all the spiders out.”

---

The core left the Blue Flagon with a smile and took a quick detour down to the mushroom game glade. Johnny greeted her with a wave as she cycled the mushroom chambers. Better get something new going.

> Smolder Shrooms. Mildly abrasive and quite flammable.
> Rose Caps. These delightful pink mushrooms emit a lovely scent, although their soft caps contain many sharp thorns just beneath the surface. Look, but don’t touch.
> Glow Spores. These fragile fungi tend to break apart into a glowing paste at the slightest touch.
> Cactus...shrooms? You’re pretty sure this is a thistle and a wiggle shroom’s peculiar child.
> Honey shrooms. Somehow the bees have gotten into the sticky shrooms, making these tasty but very very sticky messes.

>>5555392
>Honey shrooms. Somehow the bees have gotten into the sticky shrooms, making these tasty but very very sticky messes.

>>5555392
> Honey shrooms. Somehow the bees have gotten into the sticky shrooms, making these tasty but very very sticky messes.

>>5555392
> Glow Spores. These fragile fungi tend to break apart into a glowing paste at the slightest touch.

>>5555392
> Cactus...shrooms? You’re pretty sure this is a thistle and a wiggle shroom’s peculiar child.

CACTUS! :D

>>5555392
> Cactus...shrooms? You’re pretty sure this is a thistle and a wiggle shroom’s peculiar child.

>>5555392
>> Honey shrooms. Somehow the bees have gotten into the sticky shrooms, making these tasty but very very sticky messes.

>>5555392
Cactus...shrooms? You’re pretty sure this is a thistle and a wiggle shroom’s peculiar child.

>>5555392
>Cactus...shrooms? You’re pretty sure this is a thistle and a wiggle shroom’s peculiar child.
One last cactus for the road.

> Cactus...shrooms? You’re pretty sure this is a thistle and a wiggle shroom’s peculiar child.

The core stared down, bemused at the newest inhabitant of the mushroom glade.

“Looks a bit like a cactus, doesn’t it ma’am?” Johnny observed, holding out a limb for the oddly spry fungal critter to hop onto. The bristles left a series of tiny holes in Johnny’s arm as it paced about, although it didn’t seem to bother the larger sentient fungus.

“It does. Although it’s rather energetic for a mushroom. Even the wiggle shrooms just crawl around, this little fellow...”

Almost in response the cacti critter hopped down and skittered across the room at a remarkable pace before vanishing into the fog.

Johnny shook his head. “Well, there goes my test player.”

---

Idrid passed through the fog, eventually emerging into the Lost Woods. The young swordsman followed behind her.

“Some kind of spatial maze?”

Idrid shrugged. “It’s a lot bigger on the inside than the outside, which I’m told is normal for dungeons.”

“Yeah, thanks for coming, I can handle myself from here.”

Idrid shrugged. “Sure. Fog is pretty hard to navigate but the place isn’t dangerous. I’ll be by the fishing pond for a bit. Don’t piss off the dungeon, it’s a nice place and I’d like it to stay that way.”

“Does it have any good fights?” He pulled his sword and gave it a few swings at the fog.

Idrid did her best not to roll her eyes. “According to the last pair of adventurers to pass through it has an archer boss. And there’s the squirrels...but I wouldn’t mess with the squirrels.”

“How bad could squirrels be?”

The trees shook with sudden chittering laughter.

> Let them wander for a bit, you’ve got work to do on the second floor
> Watch Idrid for a bit
> See what this new guy is up to
> Write in

>>5556855
> See what this new guy is up to

>>5556855
>See what this new guy is up to

>>5556855
>See what the new guy is up to.

Perhaps inform our rooms the guy is looking for combat challenges?

Well, since noone is posting, idea.

Bee room. Have them start producing mana-rich honey, the kind that can act as a (weak) health potion even in a raw form. Then make the bees nonhostile, unless provoked. Then make them swarm and crawl over anyone who shows up while they're in the room, but not sting them so long as the person keeps their cool. Maximum honey is three units per adventurer, but it would require time to actually collect that much, as there's a constant drip underneath the Queen's hive.

Bonus: honey can also be used to add Mead to the menu.

>>5556855
> Let them wander for a bit, you’ve got work to do on the second floor

>>5556855
> See what this new guy is up to

We finally have Cactus! Idrid is back! :D

Idea: Since we have a corporeal form now, we should ask Idrid if she wants to contract with us.

>>5556855
>See what this new guy is up to

> See what this new guy is up to

James stifled a yawn. So far it had been a fairly tame dungeon. The fog key was more irritating than difficult, although if the squirrels overhead had objected it might have a special kind of hell. It was easy to forget that dungeon variants of common creatures were stronger, faster, and a thousand times more cunning and intelligent. Although how far that went with a squirrel was hard to say.

He had found Indrid’s fishing pond next, which was...nice, although not really his interest. Still, there was a glowing fish in the lake that he’d guess was probably another key, so he’d asked Idrid to keep an eye out for him. The guard captain had just shrugged, but he didn’t have many other choices, not many dungeons required a fishing pole to advance.

He’d have to bring some of his other usual party members with him to this place, he got the impression it was filled with herbs and unusual mushrooms, although he didn’t profess any knowledge on the matter. He stumbled through the fog for a bit longer, a little glad that it was just fog and not shadowy monsters hidden by it, and burst into a new sunlight glade. A single tree grew proudly in the center, and on one of the lower branches a squirrel perched, a golden key strung around its neck.

“Uh...hey there...little squirrel...squirrel?”

Her squirrel glared back. He took a few steps forward and the squirrel climbed higher.

“So...is this a quick on your feet kind of challenge? I don’t really think I can catch a squirrel.” He frowned and stared for a moment. “I don’t suppose you’ll just come down and fight...not that a squirrel could put up much of a fight anyway.”

A barrage of acorns pelted him from directions. “Ow! Ow! Ok, ok! I’m just saying, you don’t see a lot of stories of legendary squirrel slayings.”

The squirrel glared at him, tiny hands folded, then its eyes lit up. It took the key off and gave it a toss, arcing high over the swordsman’s head. He span around, then flinched as the key was caught by another squirrel, larger than the other, a knife held in its hand. The squirrel locked eyes with him, spinning the key around its paws. The knife pointed at him and the squirrel chattered at him.

“Are...are you challenging me to a duel?” This...this was new.

The squirrel nodded.

Small, agile target, could be hard to track and land a strike on...although the knife didn’t have much reach, of course the speed of a squirrel, assuming it could handle the weight, would mitigate that quite a bit...was he seriously analyzing a squirrel with a knife? This was ridiculous. Still, it did have the key, and there was no way he could catch it...he drew his sword.

“On guard!”

The core watched with interest, then annoyance followed by sorrow. Knifey was clearly doing his best, using his tremendous advantages of agility and speed to keep the swordsman on his toes, parrying and blocking with his chosen weapon gripped two handed, and darting in at any opening he could find. But there was no denying that a human with a sword had advantages as well. Every step of the swordsman was a full body leap for Knifey, and the squirrel had to navigate a huge (relatively) dangerous space to be close enough for his own weapon to be in range.

Knifey was wearing down, running out of stamina, attacks getting slower. Still, he was her guardian, her first guardian, and he wasn’t giving up. Orange mana was starting to glitter in the squirrel’s eyes, trail his paws, suffuse his blade. The core could feel the ambient power of the Lost Garden collecting around her guardian, ready to take form.

But how?

> Squirrel Blink - Your squirrels can teleport anywhere they could jump to
> Squirrel Shadow - Your squirrels can scatter into swarms of illusions
> Squirrel Artillery- Your squirrels can summon friend nut and mushroom turrets from living wood
> Write in

>>5560551
> Squirrel Shadow - Your squirrels can scatter into swarms of illusions

File: Naruto-ramen-chopsticks.jpg (100 KB, 1400x700)

100 KB JPG

>>5560551
> Squirrel Shadow - Your squirrels can scatter into swarms of illusions

Knifey is gonna be a ninja squirrel from now on! Dattebayo!

>>5560551
>Your orders, Sah?
>Cheep!
>You heard the Major! Nutcrackers, wheel around 45 degrees. Bouncing Betties, reposition along the new front. Sappers, spread those roots along the right flank and await that sweet sounds of nuts shattering on skulls! Tonight we dine on Man!

>>5560551
>>5560613
> Squirrel Artillery- Your squirrels can summon friend nut and mushroom turrets from living wood
Go figure, I forgot the actual vote.

>>5560551
> Squirrel Artillery- Your squirrels can summon friend nut and mushroom turrets from living wood

>>5560551
>Squirrel Artillery- Your squirrels can summon friend nut and mushroom turrets from living wood

>>5560551
>> Squirrel Blink - Your squirrels can teleport anywhere they could jump to
He can flash through strikes.

However, I'm fine with
> Squirrel Artillery- Your squirrels can summon friend nut and mushroom turrets from living wood

>>5560551
> Squirrel Shadow - Your squirrels can scatter into swarms of illusions

> Squirrel Artillery- Your squirrels can summon friendly nut and mushroom turrets from living wood

The squirrel, the knife wielding duelist he was having an unexpectedly difficult time fighting, leapt back, eyes shining orange and lifted a paw, three tiny fingers held up.

Then two.

The forest suddenly bristled with movement. Was that a crossbow?

Then one.

The air filled with tak-tak-taks and tunk-tunk-tunks, dirt flying up as nuts pelted him and the dirt around him. He rushed out of the way of the barrage of high speed nuts and narrowly avoided stepping in a mess of honey and spiderwebs. Acorns pinged off the flat of his sword, distracting him long enough for an actual bola to come flying out of the undergrowth and entangle his legs, toppling him to the ground.

He twisted, acorns pelting his backside, and managed to cut the bola, then felt tiny paws run across his back. He stood and twisted, then the squirrel hissed directly in his ear, knife pressed to his throat. Definitely a clear message there.

“I yield.”

The squirrel hopped off of him and turned, grinning, orange light glittering deep within its eyes. The dungeon guardian grinned slyly and tossed its key at him.

“But I didn’t win?” He brushed bits of acorn shell off and winced, he was going to have a hundred tiny bruises across his body from that barrage.

The squirrel shrugged and scampered away anyway. What a strange place...making a mistake like that would have ended him in most dungeons. Well, that was two keys.

“I think he likes you.” James turned to find Idrid sitting on a low branch on the central tree of the room, a wooden ring being twisted between her fingers. She smiled and tossed the third key toward him. “I’m headed back, drop by and update us on the layout, the mayor swears he smells a new brewery on the wind which doesn’t make much sense to me, but I’m not a stodgy old dwarf. Oh, and James,”

“Yes?”

“Bring back any interesting resources you find, the mayor wants to set up a longer term harvest operation here, but he needs to know what the dungeon has.”

James nodded. “I’m no gatherer, but I’ll keep my eyes open.”

Idrid paused and turned as she approached the exit of the dungeon, pack filled with carefully wrapped fish filets on her back. Something was watching her, a being of orange light and ribbons that flowed in and out of visibility. A dungeon avatar, she had always heard orange cores manifested them sooner than others. She raised a hand in greeting.

“Dungeon. Thank you for this lovely place.”

The presence reached out, orange light extending and Idrid shivered as she felt the presence touch her mind, friendly, caring, but also expecting, like a stern parent in many ways. Idrid could feel questions, thoughts, concerns, but unfortunately nothing she could place words too. She shook her head.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can understand you, yet. Maybe another time.”

---

The core sighed as Idrid left. So close to actual communication, to speech and conversation, and perhaps even a partnership with the local town, but she couldn’t quite bridge the gap yet. Still, she was growing stronger and more coherent all the time. She drifted back over to where James was navigating the fog, muttering about whether he had passed the tree in front of him already (he had). Part of her wanted to see how Johnny would react to the combat focused visitor, but part of her also itched to return to the second floor.

> Keep following James
> Get some work done on the second floor
> Write in

>>5561300
>Try guiding James to a combat encounter
>Get some work done on the second floor after he arrives

I’m mostly curious if he’ll follow us or not. If he doesn’t, we can always just leave him to find his own way through.

>>5561330
Support

>>5561300
>Get some work done on the second floor

>>5561330
Supporting

Also I suggest leaving a sign near our entrance that says "Blue Flagon Tavern, second floor".

>>5561300
>>5561485
If the old sign still exists somewhere, I say we reuse that. Might have been destroyed though, it was near the hole when that blew open.

>>5561485
Even better. Leave a sign at the entrance pointing out recent updates and promoting things.

Also note that 'Every challenge is designed to have a non-violent solution.'

>>5561497
>>5561497
>>5561490
Ok, we reuse the old sign, and use it to point out updates and promote things.

>>5561568
and add the note too

> Guide James to another fight
> Get some work done on the second floor

James rubbed his neck. Bested by a squirrel, better not tell the guild about that one. Still, if the primary monster type of the floor was squirrels, not all that uncommon for friendly forest dungeons, then there probably weren't many other combat situations.

Something flickered in the corner of his eye and he whirled to find something...orange. He squinted at the strange shape, orange light sliding in and out of vision. Dungeon avatar? It was a friendly dungeon, orange light was good right? Purple were bad, green were tricky, but orange was good. The figure gestured, and started to drift away.

“You want me to follow you?”

The orange figure nodded.

James shrugged and followed it through the fog. Following a green or purple avatar was foolish, but an orange one could mostly be trusted. He passed through several stretches of fog and the avatar stopped and gestured.

“Through here?” The figure nodded.

He passed through the fog, emerging into a sunlit glade littered with mushrooms. A wall of giant mushroom caps surrounded the area. Mini-boss? Mushroom theme, he’d have to make sure to tally the different types, there was quite the variety-

“Challenger! My lady tells me you seek the glory of combat! Prepare yourself for glorious combat with Johnny Fun Guy!”

---

The core left the brewing battle in the fungal glade and returned to the top floor. Flower platforms, rest area, bee hives, and the dryad’s riddle. Just room for one more normal room before the boss chamber, but what to do...

> Write in
I'll toss some prompts if ya'll are strapped for ideas, but I'm a little tapped on creative thoughts at the moment

>>5561871
Only idea i have at the moment is a petting zoo. You can feed and pet rabbits, squirrels, bees, wolf cubs, etc.

>>5561871
>Treasure room
>One placed high in the air, needing wings or travel along vines to reach
>One nestled next to a tree amongst thorns and nettles
>Adventurers may take either. It is a minor challenge to get them, but they aren’t meant to be challenging here.
>If they take one, it strengthens one of the guardians and guarantees they appear in the boss arena.
>Take the air treasure, and the owl can command vines to grab people.
>Take the tree treasure, and the dryad may direct blasts of wind to knock people out of the air.
>Take both, and get a double (triple?) feature boss battle with both powered up.
>Take all treasures before this room, and there are no treasures here. Fight the powered up bosses instead.
>Take some but not all treasures, you must take one here to continue
>Take no treasures from the floor, you may pass without taking any here.
>Randomized boss battle if no treasure is taken (or if we have a completely different boss, both owl and dryad are missing.
Basic room ultimately, but I wanted to tie it in with the “greed means pain” concept we’ve had earlier and I thought it’d serve as a nice capstone since the boss is right after.

>>5561871
Rest room. Increase ambient mana density, add a number of benches cushioned with soft moss, a small shelf of fiction (Donations welcome!), and a stunning vista of the sun/moon shining down over a mist-covered forest, clear skies above, and a mountain far in the distance. The wind whistles almost melodically through the treea, and somewhere in the room, hidden from sight, a dryad sings her harmony with the wind. Coax her out with a song of your own, earn her favor, and she may bestow upon you an enchanted woodwind instrument.

>>5561871
Another idea, we can create a room where 2 harpies can live.

>>5561905
>support

The core felt a sudden rush of mana as the Rose Garden’s barricade was unsealed and the grand challenge of the first floor was completed. She called on the rush of power and unleashed it on one of the grand trees, sculpting and transforming the tree, hollowing out a vast vertical space in the interior. She shifted into the center and sent ribbons of orange light spiraling upward, chased by a spiral of living wood. Steps carved and polished into existence, followed quickly by finely carved wooden rails.

Three large landings grew out from the central stair, each a third of the interior. A winding path of green carpet like moss flowed up the stairs, then cut looping spiraling paths through each of the landings. Pedestals, complete with glass cases, formed in alcoves, along with smaller display cases along the winding paths. Orange mana collected and transformed into treasures, gemmed baubles, bundles of herbs and mushrooms, golden acorns, vials of precious honey and tiny kegs of brews from the Blue Flagon.

A beautiful elegant hall of treasures. The core had no joints to speak of, but she made an effort to crack her knuckles nonetheless. Bait check. Now for the traps. Definitely something to make the oncoming boss fight more difficult for those who plundered too greedily, and some sort of hazard to the treasure hall itself...

Choose one major effect

> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure revives guardians of that type if they’ve been slain and empowers them to participate in the boss fight for the floor.
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure lends the power (Wind, Vines, Artillery) of the guardian type to the boss fight for the floor.
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure summons an elite version of the guardian type who will doggedly pursue the thief until they defeat the boss fight for the floor.
> Write in

Choose three effects that create ‘Alert Level’

> Squirrel Sentries roam the treasure hall, complete with cute hats
> Vine based trip wires set up around treasures and off the path.
> Sleepy owl statues watch over the treasures, waking and falling asleep at different intervals.
> Treasures sit atop pressure plates that require quick handwork to swap in less valuable items
> Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things
> Squee Bloom flowers dot areas off the path, letting out high pitched chirps when stepped on
> Ghost wolves slowly track visitors, raising alert if they catch you off the path
> Wiggle shrooms hide in some of the treasure and try to slip away and raise the alert level
> Write in

Choose three effects from raising ‘Alert Level’

> A riot of rainbow colored flowers slowly fills the treasure hall, obscuring other hazards, and begins to emit a low grade sleeping pollen
> Fog from the Lost Woods starts to fill the treasure hall and begins to warp space in the process
> Razor thorn vines begin to spread through the treasure hall, especially around remaining treasure
> Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive
> Spider Shrooms start to grow along the ceiling and fall onto visitors at inopportune times.
> Squirrel bandits start to stalk the visitors, setting off alarms and trying to plunder the plunderers
> The room grows progressively darker, then the singing starts
> Water begins to fill the room, hindering movement and eventually washing visitors back down the first floor
> Write in


QM: Too lazy, didn't prompt
Also QM: Maybe too many prompts

>>5563051
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure revives guardians of that type if they’ve been slain and empowers them to participate in the boss fight for the floor.

> Vine based trip wires set up around treasures and off the path.
> Squee Bloom flowers dot areas off the path, letting out high pitched chirps when stepped on
> Wiggle shrooms hide in some of the treasure and try to slip away and raise the alert level

> Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive
> Spider Shrooms start to grow along the ceiling and fall onto visitors at inopportune times.
> Squirrel bandits start to stalk the visitors, setting off alarms and trying to plunder the plunderers

>>5563050
Choose one major effect
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure revives guardians of that type if they’ve been slain and empowers them to participate in the boss fight for the floor.
Choose three effects that create ‘Alert Level’
> Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things
> Ghost wolves slowly track visitors, raising alert if they catch you off the path
> Squirrel Sentries roam the treasure hall, complete with cute hats
Choose three effects from raising ‘Alert Level’
> Fog from the Lost Woods starts to fill the treasure hall and begins to warp space in the process
> Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive
> Squirrel bandits start to stalk the visitors, setting off alarms and trying to plunder the plunderers

>>5563051
Major effect
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure summons an elite version of the guardian type who will doggedly pursue the thief until they defeat the boss fight for the floor.

Alert Level
> Squirrel Sentries roam the treasure hall
> Treasures sit atop pressure plates that require quick handwork to swap in less valuable items
> Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things

Effects from raising ‘Alert Level’
> A riot of rainbow colored flowers slowly fills the treasure hall, obscuring other hazards, and begins to emit a low grade sleeping pollen
> Fog from the Lost Woods starts to fill the treasure hall and begins to warp space in the process
> Razor thorn vines begin to spread through the treasure hall, especially around remaining treasure

>>5563051
>> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure lends the power (Wind, Vines, Artillery) of the guardian type to the boss fight for the floor.

> Treasures sit atop pressure plates that require quick handwork to swap in less valuable items
> Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things
> Sleepy owl statues watch over the treasures, waking and falling asleep at different intervals.

> Fog from the Lost Woods starts to fill the treasure hall and begins to warp space in the process
> Razor thorn vines begin to spread through the treasure hall, especially around remaining treasure
> Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive

>>5563051
Major
>Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure lends the power (Wind, Vines, Artillery) of the guardian type to the boss fight for the floor.

Alert level
>Sleepy owl statues watch over the treasures, waking and falling asleep at different intervals.
> Vine based trip wires set up around treasures and off the path.
>Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things

> A riot of rainbow colored flowers slowly fills the treasure hall, obscuring other hazards, and begins to emit a low grade sleeping pollen
> The room grows progressively darker, then the singing starts
> Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive

>>5563051
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure lends the power (Wind, Vines, Artillery) of the guardian type to the boss fight for the floor.

> Sleepy owl statues watch over the treasures, waking and falling asleep at different intervals.
> Squirrel Sentries roam the treasure hall, complete with cute hats
> Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things

> Fog from the Lost Woods starts to fill the treasure hall and begins to warp space in the process
> Razor thorn vines begin to spread through the treasure hall, especially around remaining treasure
> A riot of rainbow colored flowers slowly fills the treasure hall, obscuring other hazards, and begins to emit a low grade sleeping pollen

>>5563051
Deleting my previous vote, I forgot to switch something.
> Each floor is thematically tied to one of Squirrels, Dryads, or Owls. Plundering the largest treasure revives guardians of that type if they’ve been slain and empowers them to participate in the boss fight for the floor.
I wanna see someone take all of them and summon the full melee.

> Ghost wolves
> Dryad wardens
> Sleepy owl statues

> Squirrel bandits start to stalk the visitors, setting off alarms and trying to plunder the plunderers
> The room grows progressively darker, then the singing starts
> Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive

I would like something slightly different, but this configuration puts in every monster type we have at max alert level. Even mushrooms thanks to Johnny Fun Guy singing!

Another day, another QM!

Tallying!

Major Effects
3 > Swarm
3 > Power
1 > Elites

Alert Raisers
6 > Dryad Wardens walk through the walls and ceilings, keeping an eye on things
4 > Sleepy owl statues watch over the treasures, waking and falling asleep at different intervals.
3 > Squirrel Sentries roam the treasure hall, complete with cute hats
2 > Vine based trip wires set up around treasures and off the path.
2 > Ghost wolves slowly track visitors, raising alert if they catch you off the path
2 > Treasures sit atop pressure plates that require quick handwork to swap in less valuable items
1 > Squee Bloom flowers dot areas off the path, letting out high pitched chirps when stepped on
1 > Wiggle shrooms hide in some of the treasure and try to slip away and raise the alert level

Alert Effects
5 > Honey starts to leak into the treasure hall, oozing out of treasure pedestals, eventually drawing in irritated bees from the Honey Hive
3 > Squirrel bandits start to stalk the visitors, setting off alarms and trying to plunder the plunderers
3 > Fog from the Lost Woods starts to fill the treasure hall and begins to warp space in the process
3 > A riot of rainbow colored flowers slowly fills the treasure hall, obscuring other hazards, and begins to emit a low grade sleeping pollen
3 > Razor thorn vines begin to spread through the treasure hall, especially around remaining treasure
2 > The room grows progressively darker, then the singing starts
1 > Spider Shrooms start to grow along the ceiling and fall onto visitors at inopportune times.

We've got several tied up results. I'll lock the 'Alert Raisers' category and leave the other two open for tiebreaks. If nothing else comes in a day or so I'll just toss some dice.

The core flexed her power and brilliant orange fog filled the room before collapsing to form squirrels, dryads, and owl statues, set strategically across the three floors. Within minutes the core found a group of two squirrels, a dryad, and an owl statue gathered around a card table. The dryad and squirrels shared a sharp blue uniform, complete with a short tie, and the core watched with some amusement as the dryad dealt out a round of cards, lifting the cards up to the owl statue where it accepted them between stoney feathers.

The dryad tipped her blue cap and nodded at the core. “

“Nothing to report tonight ma’am. We’ll keep our eyes peeled if a guest wanders up though.”

The core restrained a desire to coo over the uniformed squirrels and nodded in return.

“Anything I can get you?”

The dryad adjusted her tie. “Well, wouldn’t want to impose ma’am...but I wouldn’t say no to a sip from the Blue Flagon. When we’re off duty of course.”

The core smiled and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

---

The was halfway to the Blue Flagon when she felt the ping of Artemis’s presence.

“Ma’am. This visitor wants a fight. Should I oblige him?”

> Give him a fight against Artemis
> Give him a fight against Mossy
> Give him a fight against Both
> Give him a challenge instead
> Write in

A busy day. She could probably send Pop out with a round of drinks for the vault guards with just a thought, but it might be nice to visit too. Of course seeing how James fared against the Rose Garden could be interesting as well.

> Pay Pop a visit and inspire a new brew
> Watch the action in the Rose Garden
> You can do both!
> Write in

>>5563890
> Give him a fight against Artemis
> Pay Pop a visit and inspire a new brew

>>5563890
> Give him a fight against Both
Well, he asked for one…

> Pay Pop a visit and inspire a new brew

>>5563889
I’ll switch from
>Squirrel Bandits
to
>Rainbow flowers
to break the tie.

>>5563890
> Give him a fight against Both
> Pay Pop a visit and inspire a new brew

>>5563931
Supporting

>>5563890
>> Give him a fight against Artemis
Let's keep Mossy hidden as contengency.

>>5563890
>Give him a fight against Artemis

>You can do both!

>>5563890
>> Give him a fight against Artemis
> Pay Pop a visit and inspire a new brew

>>5563890
>Give him a fight against Mossy
Pay Pop a visit and inspire a new brew

The core metaphorically cracked her neck, letting a few details on the treasure vault, or was it more of a museum, fall into place as she walked. Small discrete tunnels formed at floor level, where deeper in squirrels with a decidedly...mischievous bent manifested. A few clusters of bees drifted over from the hive and formed complex nests around a network of pipes. The roots of the great tree shifted slightly, letting wisps of fog from the Lost Woods wind their way upward through spaces no living thing larger than a mouse could cross.

A room of treasures, and challenges, that would hopefully draw visitors back over and over, seeking to acquire just one more treasure. At least that was the dream. She passed through the door of the Blue Flag, literally, and responded to Artemis.

“If that’s what we he wants. Let’s keep Mossy in reserve though.”

“It’ll be my pleasure ma’am.”

The core permitted herself a short chuckle, pausing in front of the wooden sign at the entrance, recently amended.

Please contribute to the landlord’s local distillery by giving new brews to the bartender.
Current brews on tap: Mixed Nut Beer, Sunflower Wine, Mixed Berry Wine, Cactus Vodka


“Lady Core!” Popular waved from the bar. “Come on into the back, I was just starting up a brew.”

There was a pulse of emotion, interest and curiosity, from behind her and the core turned and nodded at the blue flagon itself, hanging over the doorway.

“Does it...emote like that often?” She asked.

Popular shrugged. “When I’m thinking about starting a new brew. Knifey tried to drink it under the table and it got pretty excited then.”

The core giggled. “I can’t imagine Knifey has much capacity for drinks.”

Popular shuddered. “More than you’d think, at least measured in acorn cups. Took forever to clean up though.”

They passed through a pair of half doors into the kitchen where cauldrons boiled, slabs of meat turned on spits, and a heavy cast iron skillet of vegetables hissed and sizzled. Popular gave the vegetables a quick shake and the core noticed with a touch of guilt the scorch marks on her woody hands.

“Does it hurt?”

Popular shrugged. “A little, but it’s not bad. I’m pretty green wood.” She grinned. “Ok, I’ve got a few things cooking up at the moment, but I wouldn’t mind some direction.”

> Maple Ale. Fermented Maple Syrup and nuts of the same produces this delightfully sweet drink relaxes the drinker and soothes fears.
> Midnight Liqueur. Made from a fermented paste of spider shroom spores, this jet black drink occasionally provokes intense hallucinogenic effects.
> Desert Bloom Wine. When a cactus shroom reaches maturity it produces a pale pink fungal bloom. Fermenting these blooms produces a bubbly pale pink wine known to trigger bouts of unwarranted confidence.
> Write in

>>5568400
> Desert Bloom Wine. When a cactus shroom reaches maturity it produces a pale pink fungal bloom. Fermenting these blooms produces a bubbly pale pink wine known to trigger bouts of unwarranted confidence.
I read this as YOLO wine, and I can’t not vote for it now.

>>5568440

All wine is YOLO wine if you have enough!

---

Random aside, I'm terrible at time management, so expect a fourth thread, although I am going to take a some time off. And no promises, but maybe more after the fourth thread, although probably on an irregular basis.

>>5568468
See that’s not quite true. For some people, all wine skips the YOLO phase and dumps straight into the vomit uncontrollably stage after enough consumption.

No worries about the time off. Will Dungeon OS pick up instead, or are you doing a complete quest detox for a bit?

>>5568400
>Desert Bloom Wine. When a cactus shroom reaches maturity it produces a pale pink fungal bloom. Fermenting these blooms produces a bubbly pale pink wine known to trigger bouts of unwarranted confidence.

File: Sokka_hallucinates.png (48 KB, 200x150)

48 KB PNG

>>5568400
>Desert Bloom Wine. When a cactus shroom reaches maturity it produces a pale pink fungal bloom. Fermenting these blooms produces a bubbly pale pink wine known to trigger bouts of unwarranted confidence.

"Drink cactus wine, it'll quench ya! Nothings quenchier! It's the quenchiest!"

>>5568400
>> Desert Bloom Wine. When a cactus shroom reaches maturity it produces a pale pink fungal bloom. Fermenting these blooms produces a bubbly pale pink wine known to trigger bouts of unwarranted confidence.
Let's drop it "randomly" on strong opponent

>>5568400
> Maple Ale. Fermented Maple Syrup and nuts of the same produces this delightfully sweet drink relaxes the drinker and soothes fears.

File: Tree Top Floor 3.jpg (784 KB, 2048x1536)

784 KB JPG

“What about that?” The core asked, pointing to a pale pink bloom sitting atop a cactus shroom.

“Johnny dropped this off for me, strange little thing.” She produced a pair of snips and carefully removed the pink bloom. “I haven’t found anything I couldn’t ferment yet though. Let’s see how it comes together!”

The core watched as Popular set to work, grinding and mashing the pale flower, mixing it with a handful of sugar and other ingredients, moving at a quick practiced speed in spite of having not existed just a few days ago.

“What is it like...just coming into existence like this?”

Popular laughed. “I don’t know ma’am. Just happened I guess? I woke up and knew who I was and what I was for. A head full of knowledge about breweries and cooking and a place made for it. The Blue Flagon is my tree, and I’m its dryad, which doesn’t make a lot of sense I guess, but that’s how it is.”

“It’s your tree?”

Popular nodded, adding a little water and honey to the mixture. “Dryads have a tree right? Willow has her riddle tree, and I’ve got the flagon. The place is alive you know, even if the floorboards creak a bit.”

“But I didn’t have the riddle tree when I first met Willow?”

Popular laughed. “I’m not exactly the wisest squirrel in the forest ma’am. Maybe dungeon dryads are different?” She poured the mixture into a barrel and sealed it up.

“Are you happy with this? With being the Blue Flagon’s keeper? We could do something new if you wanted.”

Popular laughed. “Thanks ma’am, but I’m good. I was made for this. Aren’t you the same though, didn’t you just wake up one day as the core?”

The core let her gaze wander across the kitchen. “I guess so. Just feels right to be...me. Growing, making things for people, making a place people want to come back to.”

“Well there you are ma’am.” They passed back out into the front of the tavern. “We’ll just keep on being ourselves then. I did have a question though, are you going to connect the treasure vault to the rest of the dungeon? I don’t mean to tell your business but...”

The core stared for a moment, then laughed. “I probably should.”

> Connect the Hive to the Vault
> Connect the Dryad’s Riddle to the Vault
> Connect both to the Vault
> Actually let’s connect the Rest Area to the Vault
> Actually....(write in)

>>5568946
>> Actually let’s connect the Rest Area to the Vault

>>5568946
>Connect both to the Vault

>>5568946
> Connect the Dryad’s Riddle to the Vault

>>5568946
> Connect the Hive to the Vault
behind a honey waterfall

>>5568946
>Connect the Hive to the Vault

>>5568946
> Actually let’s connect the Rest Area to the Vault

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5568951 Rest Area 1
>>5569052 Hive 2

Tie breaking...

File: Tree Top Floor 4.jpg (791 KB, 2048x1536)

791 KB JPG

The core took a moment to feel the wider dungeon and flexed her power, the floorboards rattling for a moment, orange light filling the room.

“Ah, ma’am, give me a warning next time, that’s bright!”

The core laughed. “Sorry, just connecting the Vault out to the Bee Hive.” She raised a finger, spinning it slowly in a circle. “Behind a curtain of honey that opens to a particular bee dance.”

“Bee dance?” Popular started to ask before being interrupted by the creaking of the tavern door. Artemis hobbled in, a scowl and a scar on her face, missing an arm and a large chunk of one leg.

“Artemis!?”

The statue nodded and grunted. “Ma’am. Edgar gave me a lift up, I figured I could use a drink while I came back together. Visitor’s pretty good with that blade of his, not that he isn’t sporting a few marks himself.” She hobbled over and dropped to a chair, the wood groaning under her weight. “This thing going to hold Pop?”

Pop poured a pale green transparent drink, a single black spine sitting at the bottom and brought it over. “It’ll hold. The usual?”

Artemis nodded as she raised the glass towards the Blue Flagon, which rattled on its chain. “I don’t know what that dwarf did to make you, but I’m glad it happened.”

The core sat down next to her guardian with a brief pang of jealousy over her lack of taste buds. “He made it past you then?”

Artemis scowled and sipped her drink. “Not my best work, but I’m more of a team player. And he doesn’t mean you harm. Still...”

The core patted her archer’s hand. “If it were serious you’d have Mossy at your back.”

Artemis’s eyes gleamed. “He was pretty great against that goose thing, wasn’t he? Doesn’t usually get that worked up, but he’s a bit of a softy for you.”

The core shuddered, regretting her lack of a liver again. “I’m glad to have people like you and Mossy holding the line. Thank you.”

Artemis waved off the compliment. “Just being me ma’am. And look at this place we got for our trouble. Our visitor should be reaching the second floor soon, are you going to pay him a visit? I’m torn between watching him fall and being there when he crashes into the lake.”

Popular giggled and sat down as well nursing a foaming mug of beer, nutty aroma wafting out. “What if he makes it across?”

Artemis just groaned and took a deep drink as the core giggled.

A core’s work is never done, what next?

> Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor
> You know, the bees could use some sort of guardian.
> Maybe a secret puzzle/treasure could be hidden somewhere.
> The Blue Flagon could use a secret entrance from the first floor.
> Write in

>>5569285
> The Blue Flagon could use a secret entrance from the first floor.

You can get to the Blue Flagon without fighting Artemis, but an invisible barrier prevents you from exploring the rest of the second floor until you do.

>>5569285
> The Blue Flagon could use a secret entrance from the first floor.
The Blue Flagon can be some sort of dungeon quick travel/checkpoint. It connects to all floors, giving access to each one you beat before.

>>5569285
> Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor
I’d rather not make it too easy for bitch harpy to skip our bosses.

>>5569285
> Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor
don't get why anons are insisting on making venturing through the dungeon easy
we have the keys for a reason to prevent the more hostile visitors at bay given that we now have a combat dungeon out for us and having a secret path just makes unnecessary danger and undermines the first boss as whoever finds it will sell the knowledge or just abuse it for their gain and their allies
even if we move it around once it is found the discovering party knows there is now a easy way though the dungeon

>>5569285
>Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor

>>5569496
If you opt for a shortcut system I can promise you it won't be used to skip your bosses, unless you want it too.

I'm not going to have trap choices.

>>5569285
I've got it! A passphrase, with its syllables hidden in every room except the vault! A secret spell, which is occasionally randomized, and would need to be spoken to access the boss room!

And in the vault, a puzzle that once solved shows the order the syllables must be spoken in, and which turns into a treasure of its own once given the passphrase!

>>5569645
nice to know QM thanks
>>5569852
like this idea

>>5569496
The mayor of a nearby town is interested in our brewery. Also, as of now, everyone in that town that's interested in going to the Blue Flagon would have to gather all the keys and defeat Artemis and/or Mossy, every time they decide to stop by for a pint. Imo, doing all of that every time isn't worth it, which is why I voted for having a secret entrance.

>>5569285
>> The Blue Flagon could use a secret entrance from the first floor.

>>5569285
>Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor

>>5569285
>Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor

James shifted uncomfortably and picked rose petals out of his hair. That had been...harrowing. The worst part was he was pretty sure she was holding back, and that there was something else lurking on the floor, maybe some sort of plant elemental hiding in the rose bushes? He looked mournfully at the web of thin cuts layered across his arms, hopefully they wouldn’t scar. It was one thing to get a scar from a vicious beast, another to get it from being kicked into a rose bush by a living statue. How in the world did she flip over him like that when she was made of stone?

He kept trudging upward, finding more splintered rose stems stuck into his arm, and one tangled into his hair. Definitely holding back. And the worst part was he was pretty sure it was a challenge dungeon, not a combat dungeon. Still, it was good combat experience, and the archer had let him pass after he took off her arm, which was surprisingly sociable for a post limb removal moment.

Another five minutes of climbing and he found himself passing into the inside of a giant tree, which felt appropriate, even if he hadn’t seen any giant trees on his approach from the town, it wasn’t like dungeons underground followed any rules for space either. Dimly lit room, no obvious enemies, thick curtain of vines over a wide gap. He staggered to a stop, almost running directly into the three shining bell flowers.

“Large flower platforms, three sealed vaults on the opposite side, and three glowing floors with golden acorns...” He studied the layout, reached out and sliced a vine down with his blade and waited a moment for an ambush of some sort. Right, challenge dungeon. His eyes slid to the three vaults and the three bell flowers. One probably wouldn’t be bad...

He plucked the acorn, and as the light of the flower dimmed the flower platforms started swaying side to side. Not bad, although he was never that good at these sorts of things. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. He snagged a second acorn, and winced as the heads of the flowers started to spin. Ok, that was going to be a problem.

> Check in with Edgar the owl, it’s about time you built him some sort of home on this floor

The core departed the Blue Flagon in good spirits and sought out her lone feathered guardian, finding him perched on a high branch overlooking the Flower Step challenge.

"How have you been?" She asked, feet setting down gently onto the branch.

Edgar’s eyes lit up and his head swiveled, one ear toward the core, the other toward the Flower Step tree. “Better, now that I get to listen to this mumbling moron cling to a flower for dear life.” He chuckled for a moment. “But what can I do for you ma’am?”

“Well, I believe you’re in need of a home. Any requests?”

Edgar preened his feathers for a moment, pausing to chuckled at a distant yell within the tree. “Height of course, a good vantage point over the rest of the floor.” He swept out a wing and the rope bridges that strung the great trees together swayed in a brief but powerful wind. “And a telescope. Perhaps a few bookshelves, I don’t believe we have many books but in time perhaps.”

The core pointed a finger at the Flower Step tree and ribbons of orange light whipped out, filling the bark with light. A large alcove formed in the side of the tree, shelves indenting neatly into the wood and a moss filled hollow for sleeping. The interior wall featured a window where Edgar could perch and watch the Flower Step, while the open front looked out over the rest of the dungeon floor.

The telescope was a bit trickier. Somehow the interaction with the dwarf had filled the core with metalworking knowledge, so manifesting and shaping iron into the frame of the device was trivial, but the lenses were a bit beyond her knowledge.

Edgar soared into the alcove, strutting around with a smile. “This will do nicely ma’am.” He peered down into the Flower Step chamber and cackled. “Ah, I just watched our guest fall into the vines. I think I’ll enjoy this space very much.”

“I hope so. I’ll have to see what we can do to acquire some lenses for your telescope, and some books. Perhaps some trade with the village.”

Artemis leaned back and sipped her drink on the shore of the pond.

From high above a scream came closer and closer. “Ahhhhhhh!”

The swordsman crashed into the water, sending a plume of liquid skyward.

Artemis grinned. Losing wasn’t so bad.”

Watching it happen twice was even better.

---

It took the swordsman until his third try, but eventually the core and Edgar watched as James staggered out of the flower challenge, looking a little unsteady and very wet. A notification lurked in the corner of the core’s awareness.

1.2 Multiplier for determination awarded

“He doesn’t give up easily.” The core observed.

Edgar chuckled and preened a feather with his beak. “Shall I unleash the winds? It’d be a shame if he dried out now only to fall into the lake again later."

The core chuckled into her hands. "Let him catch his breath first. He’s got plenty of rope bridges to cross still...and he might stop for a drink at the Blue Flagon first.”

---
---

Alright, that’s a wrap on this thread. I’m going to take a break and we’ll be back for number four. Thanks for playing!

>>5572782
Until later QM, this has been the most fun dungeon quest so far.
Will you continue the other one now?

>>5572782
thanks for writing!