Chapter Two-Hundred Five

Chapter Two-Hundred Five

While the kids and their new friends make their way down, I take a chance to look over the entrance to the labyrinth. I should probably do up the entrance a bit. As it is, its just like any other tunnel. It might look a bit twistier than usual, but thats really it.

I should design a fancy entryway, probably fancy up the area outside, too. I think the delvers are going to take a break just outside before heading in, and I can probably wring a bit more mana from them without wringing any of their hp from them, too.

First, I should make a kiosk or something for the aranea. I can already see a group of three of them testing the walls, ceiling, and floor, looking for a good way to hide while putting out their little quest signs. Theres plenty to do in the labyrinth, so Im not surprised the aranea want to have a centralized place for people to accept quests before heading in.

I doodle a few rough ideas, starting with a normal gazebo. I think thatll be a bit too open for the aranea to really like, though. Sure, I can put in rafters, but theyd have no good sneaky way to get into them. Teemo could make a shortcut, but that feels a bit like cheating. I come up with a bunker design that might work well, though.

Slots on the floor will let them just stick through signposts with their quests, and pull them down to put fresh ones, all while letting the aranea keep hidden. Ill need to take some time later to actually design how to hook them so they wont just fall, but that shouldnt be too hard. Probably just double hooks in the wall with a crossbar on the bottom of the sign, actually.

I should also put in a more proper rest area. Some benches or something would be good maybe a few divots for healing slimes, so people can recover from getting here before going deeper. I want this area to be difficult, but I also want people to face those difficulties at their best.

Oh, I should also put in a few workshops down here, too. Not only will I get to see how the fancy metals are handled, but I bet theyll give even more mana than mining if they smelt them here, too. I wonder if I can make little merchant stalls, too

My musings are interrupted as the five arrive, so I shelve the ideas for now. Ill probably see what Coda thinks about them later. For now, the kids and their new friends are ready to dive deep into the bowels of the lava labyrinth.

Oh, I should make a sign for it too.

Alright, everyone on your toes. Once we round that bend there, well be in the labyrinth proper, says Gerlfi, to nods all around. Freddie mutters a little prayer, making his shield subtly glow. Rhonda digs through her pack with Lucas guiding her around the various bottles and vials.

Swiftness, darkness, silence, thunderclap I wish I could recreate that cold explosion thing Queen made a while ago. Ah! Perception! She pulls the vial out of her pack and holds it out to Fiona, to mixed looks from the adults.

Why for the spider? asks Vieds, and Freddie answers.

She has great eyesight. With the potion, she should be able to spot trap triggers well before any of the rest of us.

Vieds mulls that as Wold nods. And Gerlfis brownie can spot the magical traps.

Which Lucas and I can disarm! finishes Rhonda. Gerlfi does his usual offer to the fey, and the little brownie soon hops onto Fiona like a mount. She looks tempted to web him up for his insolence, but lets it slide, this time.

Freddie and Fiona lead the way, each ready to keep the party safe in their own way. Wold takes the rear, in case of anything trying to sneak up on the party as they go. Rhonda, Vieds, and Gerlfi all hang out in the middle, with the changeling keeping a close eye on the map.

It doesnt take him long to start grumbling as they pass through the various ways I have to mix the maze up, and he grumbles more when Fiona shows the mechanical method of doing so.

Vieds looks uncomfortable, but Rhonda looks confident. I think we can, together. I can freeze them, I think, but Ill also make a lot of excess fire when I do. Can you work with that, Vieds?

He shifts to looking more uncertain as he thinks. Possibly. Itll take a lot of fire to overwhelm even one of those ants, but it sounds like thats exactly what youll be providing? At her nod, he nods as well. Then I think so. I wont be able to handle an actual swarm, but I should at least be able to deal with strays and stragglers.

Then thats the plan, says Gerlfi with confidence. Well hold the ants, you two deal with them. Then Wold will carry the hill and well head home. Everyone nods at that, and moves into position.

Freddie and Fiona stride proudly towards the hill, with the brownie, Wold, and Gerlfi at their side. As they get near, Freddie raises his shield, and I can see his magic settle on his friends. Phalanx Formation! Hem them in! Translucent shields appear on the arms of everyone involved, as well as several additional that float at Freddies command. As one, they jog forward, and quickly encircle the hill.

The ants, of course, notice the threat, and start swarming over the hill as they prepare their answer. It comes quicker than even I expected, as tongues of flame lash out at the shield wall, but it stands strong. Gerlfi looks pretty uncomfortable, but seeing Wold and the others looking calm and collected helps him keep his cool, despite the rising heat.

A few ants march forward, which seems to have been what Rhonda was waiting for. Siphon! she exclaims, and I can see her pulling the fire out of the marching ants, quickly cooling them past the point where they can still function and earning me a decent bit of mana for her efforts. Vieds claims the rising ball of heat and forges it into a thin needle, before launching it at the last ant not on the hill.

Searing Lancet! The attack is hotter than even the crucible ant can handle, and it collapses as well. Lucas jumps from Rhondas hat to grab one of the cooled ants, before jumping back to land at Rhondas feet.

Good work, Lucas! Now, get me a good focus. Hes already dismantling the ant before shes done speaking. She returns her focus to the hill as he works, and steals the heat from a few more ants.

It takes them some time, but theyre doing pretty well with the ants. My denizens try to focus and unleash a torrent of fire that would make a dragon proud, but the phalanx holds strong against the attack. Finally, Lucas holds up a little shard of obsidian he got out of the crucible ant, and hops onto Rhondas hat.

Ah, perfect! Vieds, dont take control of this heat, please, I have a plan! The goblin girl grins wide as she works her magic. Freddie, hunker!

The orc lad nods and gives his own shout to the circle of shields. Brace! Wide stances are taken and shoulders pressed to the shields as everyone prepares for what Rhonda has in mind. Lucas helps guide the mana as the little shard resonates, and I can see my crucible ants looking a bit uncomfortable. It doesnt last long, as Rhonda finally finishes her spell.

Thermal Shock! Heat is quickly drawn from all the ants in and on the hill, rapidly cooling them, before it rushes back in. My ants shatter from the rapid change in temperature, some so violently that pieces ping off the shields of the phalanx. Rhonda breathes heavily and grins in triumph at the result of her spell, and Freddie soon dissipates the shields, sagging from his own efforts.

Gerlfi and Vieds both give low whistles of approval at the results, and Wold steps forward to poke the hill with his weapon. Looks empty.

Freddie gives a weak laugh as he sits down. Good, because Im about empty, too. That many shields is hard to maintain, even with help.

Gerlfi laughs and pats him on the back. Rest up, kid. You earned it. I didnt expect you two to be so good in a fight.

Rhonda laughs as she sits next to Freddie. Rare classes, and we delve a lot.

Well, you two have definitely earned your share. Well rest up a bit more before making our way out. We might have our prize, but we still need to make sure we can keep it. They all nod, and I would, too, if I could. Im not going to throw anything too terrible at them on the way out, but they still dont get a free ride. Theyll be fine to take the hill and show it off, especially after a rest. Once they do, theyll probably get the miners and smiths all in a tizzy again, too.

A bit more mana should make getting the entrance spruced up even easier. I poke Coda to come take a look at the designs once hes back from the lighthouse, wanting his input. I could probably just buy the things I want with mana, but it feels better to put in a bit of effort for it. The discount doesnt hurt, either.