I watched as Arthur walked into my dungeon with labored breathing, quickly taking a seat in a small sitting area in the merchant's shop. In his arms were two circular objects, one of them looked strange to my eyes, like an optical illusion that didn't sit in my vision correctly. The other felt wrong though, I could feel a whisper I couldn't make out but could hear in the back of my head, it gave me the feeling that it wanted me to submit, to give up control.
What!
Quickly I rallied my monsters, the floor one monsters positioned themselves outside the merchant's entrance.
"I do not mean harm good dungeon, simply to talk."
He held up his hands as the collars fell to the ground with a clang. I moved in my merchant.
"And what is it that you want to talk about, bringing not one but two items that insult our lord?"
"I understand that it would seem bad of me to bring such an item, but as you no doubt know, traitors appeared within my camp."
It was true that I had seen something, I couldn't tell exactly what, but I could still see fighting and hear shouting through the night. If he was betrayed but won, then he was likely here so I wouldn't take advantage of the situation.
"And to that end, I ask that your master take these items as an alternative payment for the deal, with the loss of life and available skill my people will be unable to fulfill the requested payment for many months, it is in my belief that the power and materials of these two collars would be sufficient payment.
I looked them over, the first one I could tolerate, but the second was pushing too many buttons too hard.
"The master would like to inspect them before deciding."
Ratnold then took the collars as if they were the diseased rats instead of himself, tossing them into the arms of the clockworker who took them to the second floor, the system absorbed it soon after.
I would make a joke here, but the situation seemed far too serious, even if he couldn't see or hear me.
What in the gouda god fuck is that!
Why the hell did I get... whatever those two things are from just two items, is there something about them I'm not seeing!?
Ok, so it's only a bloody choker and some god dust, I swear if I had a body my blood pressure would be shooting to the moon. Sigh, while I do wish I had the three monsters I did get something good, so for now I would allow it, and maybe Arthur could use a good-natured reminder of why I wouldn't mind a gift or two now and then.
"My master has accepted these items as payment and wishes to grant you something in turn."
Yo system, is it possible to use DP to make something for a non-dungeon person?
In front of Arthur, I imagined a machine, one that could produce water abundantly. I reasoned that since I couldn't find a proper source of water anywhere these guys were thirsty, and while they would need to use magic to fuel the device it would be a godsend for them in their situation.
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But as most of my remaining DP drained away a large basketball-sized orb shimmered into existence, a hand-shaped button with a hatch on the other side.
"The master says that the orb can quench your thirst and fill your fields if powered with magic."
Still not exactly what I told it, but close enough, like always.
To his credit, he did seem grateful and happy to accept it, it just kind of seemed like he expected something cooler, understandable, I guess. But once he felt a bit better, he grabbed his prize and shambled out and down the lift, being taken away by his brother and a guard. Now that they were gone, I could inspect my new goods properly, first the mother brain.
Jesus, and here he thought the bull was expensive. 25 hundred just to make it and 55 hundred to make a node, even if he let himself overflow on mana he couldn't make that much mana, much less handle the node cost. It wouldn't be for a long, long time before he would be able to make even a single one so unfortunately, while it is a high-value payment, it's also completely useless right now and likely far into the future. Sigh, despite that though it was still a monster and it still counted toward his next level goal. That being said he would have to continue to rely on the ratkin and other monsters he presently had. Now it was time to take a look at the divine ash stuff.
Oh, that's rather simple then, well hit me with what ya got system, I'm ready.
I didn't know what to make of these options, both on paper would be incredible, divine you could say, but they also came with a lot of potential problems. The pens, on top of being reprehensive, would anger an actual god if I took them, and while I would also garner the favor of said god's opposite I don't want to test how far either are willing to go. Adding to the facts, if I don't choose it I'll still anger a god. As for Pandora, I felt like it was the better option of the two but it was likewise impossible to tell until I chose the thing. Essentially it would be an intelligent machine monster, likely a powerful one given the rarity, what's stopping me from just choosing her was the fact that it would 'open a channel' to something, while also attracting a [Clef-Footed Smith] whoever that is. It kind of feels like no matter what I choose I'll end up dealing with a god or two getting miffed over my choice, could I just, not choose any of them?
I guess I could understand the item part, but why so much DP?
So it's just really powerful I guess, which to be fair was assumable given the options it's given. But this does give me four options then, either I can take the pens or Pandora, signaling myself to the divinity of this world. Or I could forgo using it like that and simply create a special item or get a whole lot of DP. Both would be good options if, for different reasons, the DP would enable me to start upgrading and buying all the stuff I needed to improve my dungeon while also picking up a few monsters along the way. On the other hand, I could make a special item that I could bargain with in the near to far future. Regardless of what I chose, it would need to be done carefully, if I'm not fully committed to my choice then I could die, or worse.
What to do?
