Chapter Seventeen: A Small Gift
Im glad I cant have a heart attack anymore, as I dont have a heart. I certainly gave it my best shot, though, as the kobold just stood with her hand against the chimney. Thankfully, she seems to come to her senses before anyone else enters the attic, and she heads back down the ladder.
She searches the house for the rest of the chimney, and eventually finds the fireplace thats connected to it. Im glad she simply nods to herself before going down to the basement and the tunnels beyond. I think my Resident at least understands that my core is very important and should be kept secret. Otherwise, shed have probably tried to climb up the inside of the chimney. She probably still will, but Im pretty sure shell be doing it at night, when basically nobody is here.
I need to get her something better to wear, though. To call what she has now rags would be a compliment. They only technically keep her decent, and shes gotta be chilly like that. I dont know how to get her some clothes. I cant exactly send Fluffles to the local tailor with her measurements and some coins.
Maybe I should have the rats try to steal some pants or something from the maze runners? Im not 100% sure how equipment works here, but I dont think I can just snag something from a slot and call it a day. The rats have only been able to get things that are easily physically grabbed. They might be able to tear some clothes off of people, but thatd hardly be much of an improvement. Maybe I could have the spiders repair anything that gets torn.
Wait.
Spiders.
Im not an idiot, I swear. I just overthink things and get focused on one path easily. Yeah, thats my excuse. I dont think my spiders know how to make clothes. I dont either, really. But I can figure it out. I was able to tell a spider to weave a heart, I can get them to weave clothes. Itll probably cost a bit of mana, but I seriously doubt itll be enough to make any kind of dent in my income now.
I focus in on my Secret Library, and upgrade it once more, wanting to make sure I have enough space to work on designs on my papers without messing up the alchemy stuff Queens working on. However, this time when I upgrade it, my loose papers organize into an actual book! I leave it open to the alchemy stuff, and start working on designs on the other pages. I can see between them just fine.
Ok, first probably underwear. Uh softer silk for at least the interior, tougher for the outside. Stretchier silk around the waist and legs and tail, come to think of it. I start to design the usual flap/hole/access thing, before remembering thats a feature for male undies, not ladies. I briefly toy with the idea of using something similar for her tail, but I dont want it to be too restrictive for her
Now for her upstairs. Well shes going to probably like support. She looks like she could use it. Softer inside, tougher outside, stretchier stuff for the actual support structure. Similar to the downstairs, really. Over the shoulders, underneath the boulders, make a comfy holder. Oh, wait how to fasten? I could try a hook at the back, but that seems a bit difficult. I dont have much metal to make a hook, either. Tie it in the front? I dont think I can make it a single piece that just slips on. Without any other ideas, I go with that, and take a mental step back to consider the designs.
And realize my Secret Library has basically become Victorias Secret Library. I almost simply erase the designs but she really does need something better to wear. With a mental sigh, I call several different spiders down to the tunnels. Looks like shes returned to the little cavern Fluffles dumped her in last night. Thats as good a place for her to claim as any.
I call a couple more spiders to bring a few more mice for her, and she gives the procession of arachnids a confused look as they slowly pile into her space. The caterers set a few mice not far from her, before everyone gets to work. She can tell Im doing something, but definitely has no idea what. I cant really blame her. Who expects spiders to bring them dinner and then make them some silky underthings?
I work on some designs for other clothes as well, but after my first attempt at proper clothing looks like a bodysuit thatd leave little to the imagination, I move on to designing a simple robe for her. The bodysuit would be good under armor, which is what I designed it for, but I dont know if Ill be able to do anything like that with the scythmaw hide. And if I had her just running around in that suit, Id be one distracted dungeon.
By the time I get a robe designed, it looks like the spiders are done with her first bit of clothing, and present it to her. She seems confused at first, wondering why spiders would hand her a very thick bit of web. Once she looks over it, though, she seems to light up with realization, and seems happy to put them on.
Yeah, Im gonna need the spiders to get that robe made, too. Thankfully, its a much simpler thing than the bra and panties, even if its much more substantial. I wonder if my spiders gained some tailoring skill or something, because they seem to crank it out much faster. The robe looks almost pearlescent white once finished, and I think it compliments her red scales nicely. It looks like shes almost tearing up as she accepts it and dons it, and I feel better knowing shes a bit more protected now.
Its getting close to sunset,too. The various delvers are mostly wrapping their stuff up, though theres still a few parties trying to do the adventuring thing a bit more seriously than the gatherers were for most of the day. Oh, I think that group wants to try to get the chest in the basement!
I focus in on them to get a look at the daring group. Ah, looks like halflings are a thing here. He looks almost thick enough to be a dwarf, but no facial hair is a dead give away. Hes got the classic sword and board and plate armor, so hes definitely their front line.
Theres an elf with a spear and a little goatee. Makes him look kinda sinister, but his chainmail isnt exactly dark and brooding. Its not unicorns and rainbows, either, though. It just looks well-used and well-maintained. Hes probably some kind of melee dps kind of class, if I had to guess.
I think thats a lady gnome under the goggles and knicknacks, but its a bit difficult to tell. She looks like support to me, from how shes handing out bottles to the other two, but I can also see a different style of flask hooked into her belt loop. Looks like she can bring some boom when its needed. Hopefully not too much boom. I did survive the quake just fine, but Id rather not press my luck. She talks as she hands the potions out.
So, we can all drink the lightning resist potions now, but antivenom only works after the fact. My first grenade should dissolve the webbing in there, and that usually will disorient a swarm of spiders, but not always, so keep your guards up. This salve will help your weapons to actually harm a decent chunk of the swarm with your weapons. The fumes will weaken or kill spiders that get too close to it.
The elf nods. So more sweeping arcs than thrusts, got it. Anything else?
The gnome considers for a few moments, then slowly nods as she hands them each a pill. If something goes wrong and we have to flee, or we cant, take the pill. Itll counteract this poison gas, she says, gingerly pulling a reinforced bottle from her pack. I hope we wont need it, but that swarm down there looks mean, and this dungeon apparently likes to pull a few tricks.
The halfling shrugs, but accepts the pill. I hear the dungeon is pretty friendly. I dont think itd drop something nasty on us out of spite. Still, better safe than sorry.
I wonder where these adventurers came from. They look almost as tough as elf guy, but with more numbers. I make sure my medical ants are around down here, just in case the swarm is too much for them. It is level 8 and both venomous and lightning enhanced. The group drinks the resist potions, apply the salve, and it seems its game time.
They head down to the basement with the halfling in front, then the elf, then the gnome. The swarm hisses, bringing the encounter to an official start. While the spiders start to surge forward, the gnome hurls a flask into the middle of the room. It seems like its some kind of corrosion bomb or something, maybe something like universal solvent wrapped around an M-80.
Whatever it specifically is, it does as the gnome said it would. The webbing dissolves very quickly, dropping the spiders from their home, and they have to try to reorient themselves towards the danger. The two melee fighters get a couple swings in before the spiders get their crap together, and loose a bit of chain lightning to hit the three.
I think its a bit more potent than the party had hoped, but not as potent as they feared. While the party tries to recover from the bolt, though, the spiders are able to advance and start biting the fighters.
Scirocco Blade! shouts the spearelf as he spins his weapon, a bit of fire trailing as he moves. The heat drives the spiders back, or simply kills the ones that don't evacuate quick enough. The gnome tosses another flask and shouts a warning.
Concussion! Clearly theyve practiced how to deal with that attack, as the spearelf moves behind the halfling and takes a knee, the butt of his spear on the ground. The halfling braces his shield just before a heavy Whoomph! blasts the swarm. Its scattered a bit, but still not finished.
The two fighters take the brief respite to drink their antidotes, and I can see the poison status wink out over both of them. However, it seems the recharge on the chain lightning is up, and the group suffers another blast.
The spearelf and gnome each take a knee, looking like theyre almost out of the fight. The halfling sees this and bellows at the spiders as he charges forward.
Deadblow Hammer! he cries as he brings his sword down, which seems an odd name for a sword move to me. Its a pretty accurate name, though. I can almost see a huge hammer hit the swarm, as invisible force squashes a large number flat. It seems thats enough to fully scatter the swarm, and the party sags from their hard-won victory. The gnome moves slowly, but she gets potions for everyone passed out, and soon theyre simply looking tired, instead of on the brink of death.
They cheer at the loot in the chest, and I cheer for the mana I get from it. It looks like theres several different magical thingies in there, so good on them. That chest has been cooking for a while, so Im not exactly surprised its got good stuff in it.
The party soon takes their hard-won loot and exit, and I think Im going to leave the chest mostly undefended for a while, let it degrade a bit. Thatll give the rat spawner room to breathe some, too. The basement isnt my biggest danger area anymore, after all. I want to get things a bit more gnarly underground.
Speaking of underground, I should see what my little kobold is up to.