Chapter Fifty-Five: The Lone Wolf

Chapter Fifty-Five: The Lone Wolf

I consider Tarls suggestion on making the punitive gauntlet secret. On the one hand, I want to be able to humiliate these delvers for being jerks. But on the other hand, especially if this works, other dungeons could cause a lot of trouble with this. Imagining Neverrest having a mana farm is just no.

I sigh and get working on hiding the entrance to the jail and gauntlet. At least I didnt make the exit for the gauntlet yet, so that can be hidden from the start. I get working on trying to disguise the entrance, and it looks like Coda can help with that, which is great! Him and the ratlings have been progressing quickly with the mining or stonework or masonry or whatever it technically is. All I know is I can get them to work on it, and itll probably be better than what I can make.

Its not like I can make another eggsack-covered rock to hide behind. Itd be kinda obvious. I think Coda is looking into some kind of sliding wall, or maybe a hinge. Hes the Architect, so I leave him to it.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Which leaves me with two more things to handle with this mess. One: I need to talk to Yvonne about what happened. Two: I need to talk with that wolf, if I can. Thankfully, Yvonne doesnt seem too shaken by the ordeal, and is back to helping the ratlings gather some materials. Looks like shes going to try mining some iron, now that Ive used some steel on the jail, and might be using some on the secret gauntlet.

I know Teemo wants to go talk to her, too, but I think talking to this wolf is the priority. Tarl has left, or at least returned to the Enclave to make a better farewell. Im not the only one going to be busy from this incident, after all.

I tell the healing ants to get ready to heal the wolf enough to awaken, but dont have them actually do it yet. Teemo, you can talk to the wolf, right? He looks uncertain before replying.

I think so? It sounded like he came from another dungeon somewhere, so I should be able to talk.

Cool, I just wanted to make sure before healing it or him, I suppose, to consciousness. It takes a few minutes for the ants to get the wolf looking healthy enough to just be asleep, rather than in a coma. Teemo starts tossing little pebbles through the bars to wake him up. It takes him aiming one right into a nostril and forcing a sneeze before the wolf stirs.

He slowly looks around, regaining his senses, before it looks like the fight comes rushing back to him. He jumps to his feet and backs into a corner, growling and looking around.

Easy there, says Teemo, trying to calm the wolf down. Youre safe, from the birds and that halfling. Enthrall doesnt sound like a fun thing to deal with. The wolf locks eyes on Teemo through the bars, and while he calms slightly, he doesnt stop growling, nor does he lower his hackles.

Teemo winces and nods. Yeah, thats about what I thought. Shes not dead, he starts, which makes the wolf bark and gnash his teeth, getting a good frothing rage going. Teemo sticks a few little rat fingers in his mouth and whistles, high-pitched and loud, to get the wolf to focus.

Oh? Thats what it tells me when I get a new spawner. It costs about the same as it did to turn him, so I might as well, right? What to name him, though. Big Bad? Nah. Lobo? Nah. Lupine? Nah, I only have one of him anyway. Moon-Moon? Heh, nah. Let me see try more obtuse. Sparta was big into wolves, I think, so I could call him Leonidas. Thats a bit of a mouthful, though. Shortening it would be yes.

Leo. The wolf named lion.

I watch his name change from Wolf to Leo, and I can feel his confusion. Heh, get used to that feeling, Leo. Youre under new management, and I get the feeling I run my dungeon differently to others.

Wolf Scion Found

Wolf Spawner Not Found

Designate Wolf Spawner

Youre just causing all kinds of alerts, Leo. I hope youre proud. I actually hope youre proud: new spawner! I can actually place it, too! Where, though? The manor grounds are kinda spoken for. I might be able to squeeze the spawner in at the side of the maze, but that would be a bad spot for it. Its not like I need more encounters in the yard.

The cemetery has a fair bit of space, though I dont want encounters in there. Looking around, I see a good spot, actually. Back behind the mausoleums, near the outer wall could work. The graveyard's north wall has wilderness on the other side, not more town. The ratkin might be able to domesticate some of the wolves, too, to help them with their underground hunting.

I might even be able to send some wolves on expedition, too. The crows and ravens can get a literal birds-eye view, but the wolves have the endurance to go way further out. Or at least they should. Part of why man and dog are such a good pair is that dogs can actually keep up with moving all day long. Most everything else tires out.

I nod to myself and place the spawner near the wall. Ill see about having Coda or maybe Grim make a staircase or something for over there later. For now, however, I unlock Leos cell, and ask Teemo to give him the tour. My voice hops on Leos back and the two set off, and I tell Teemo to ask him about the job Id like him to do around here.

I need someone to keep an eye on the prisoners, and also someone to manage any future wolf expeditions out into the wilderness. They might sound unrelated, but I think a Warden can handle both.