NOVEL NEXT 019: R&R, Reconnoiter, and the Six P's
<04 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>
[Theo and Julia]
Theo and Julia made it back to the cabin, and both flopped down on their respective beds. They lay there in silence for nearly an hour before Theo finally got up.
"I guess I should do something today," Theo said, rising to his feet.
"Noooo," Julia said, mimicking a child, "I don't wanna!"
"Oh, get up, you!" Theo says playfully and tosses a loose stick at her.
"We just worked so hard," Julia said, sitting up.
"I know, and I am sure it is not the last time we will have to do so." Theo said, "Actually, if we ever want to have a dungeon work with us in a similar fashion, I imagine that we need to work harder."
"What do you mean?" Julia asked.
Theo blushed, "Well... Look, if we do go the Family route, which I am leaning towards in all honesty. Remember that we have to have a Legacy. And if we do end up having progeny, then having the ability to train them up in a dungeon that works with us might not be a terrible thing."
"I mean, yeah," Julia said, then finally she stood up. "Alright fine, what are you trying to do today?"
"Welp," Theo said, "I think we should shoot for two things. First, let's take it easy. And second, let's come up with a plan."
"Okay, a plan to do what?" Julia asked.
"I think we need to strongly look at getting something built on the Thronehold. And I think we should get to work on it as soon as possible." Theo said, "So we should enact the six P's."
"What, pray tell, are the six P's?"
"Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance," Theo said with a chuckle, eliciting a similar response from Julia.
"So we make a plan for what to build and then work towards that goal?" Julia confirmed.
"Yes, and while we are doing that, I think that we need to start cultivating some fields and establish food production so that we are not as dependent upon finding game or random System food."
"Okay, so let's look at some of the blueprints to see what might be useful in this endeavor, and then we can go from there." Julia said, "Sound like a plan?"
"Sure," Theo agreed, pulling out all the blueprints they had acquired, "So we have three blueprints, one for a Mana Condenser, one for a Mana-forged Wardstone, and the last for a Monster Processor."
"You want to just identify them?" Julia asked, and Theo nodded. They both identified the Mana Condenser first.
| Identification of Target | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject: Blueprint: Mana Condenser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level: N/A | Mana Density: S- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class: N/A | Special: Uses: 7/9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Species: N/A | Other: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This blueprint allows the construction of a Mana Condenser.
Placing a Mana Condenser into a room allows the owner to set the mana density of the room. Often used to create Mana Enriched areas in low Mana Density zones. Also commonly used to create safe zones of Low Density in high mana density zones. Drastic lowering or raising of the Mana Density, even in a small room, may require more than one condenser to be linked. Required Materials: Crystlaized Mana: 1-5 Stone Fragments: 5 Megically Charged Fibers of any kind: 7-10 Aetheric Glass: 1 Mana Bound Disc: 1-2 |
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| Value: 7G_81S_32C | Status: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The blueprint was not what Theo thought it would be. Where he expected precise measurements, there were arcane glyphs. The list of items did not seem as if it would produce the mechanism that was described.
Julia broke the silence. "Huh, this could be helpful if we want to have people from lower mana densities here."
"Or if we want to train in a higher mana density." Theo said thoughtfully, "Maybe we could create a menagerie of sorts. Get breeding pairs of higher mana density monsters... I don't know; this opens up a lot of possible things we could do."
"Alright, next!" Julia said, her love of loot pushing her to see the next description. So, they both Identified the Mana-Forged Wardstone blueprint.
| Identification of Target | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject: Blueprint: Mana-Forged Wardstone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level: N/A | Mana Density: S- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class: N/A | Special: Uses: 72/250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Species: N/A | Other: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This blueprint allows the construction of Mana-Forged Wardstones
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
These special structures are permanent defensive structures. They purify the Mana within their protective area and, when activated, can draw on mana reserves to create a temporary Mana Shield.
These Wardstones Synergize with Claimed Territory and stabilize the Mana flows in Claimed Territory. Allows for the control of access to low-level creatures and Dungeon Invaders. Required Materials: Crystlaized Mana: 2+ Stone Slab(Minimum A- Density): 1 Aether-Stabilized Mortar: 2 Runed Binding Rings: 2 Mana Bound Disc: 3 |
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| Value: 92G_17S_72C | Status: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"These look like they are far more complex," Julia commented.
Theo had to agree that the runes and sigils on the blueprint were layered in a way that made his head hurt. "They sound quite powerful, and based on the price that it is showing us, I would guess that they are expensive to build."
"True," Julia said, rolling the blueprint up, "Alright, last one!"
| Identification of Target | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject: Blueprint: Monster Processor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level: N/A | Mana Density: S- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class: N/A | Special: Uses: ∞ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Species: N/A | Other: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This blueprint allows the construction of Monster Processors
This structure is critical to any and all camps, cities, farms, or dungeon delvers. It allows for the processing of monsters at a higher efficiency, depending on the average Mana Density of the Monster Processor. All materials listed are using generic names. The System recommends that Users use the highest mana density materials that they have. Required Materials: Solidified Mana: 1 A Large Flat Slab of Metal, Wood, Stone, or other materials: 1 Materials for a Frame for the slab: ?? Other: * --- --- --- --- --- --- --- * Using other materials and items in this blueprint is possible and advised, as using higher mana density materials or special tools will grant unique effects. |
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| Value: 10G_0S_0C | Status: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alongside the identification came a secondary blue box that listed the Mana Density Rates.
| Mana Density Rates for Monster Processor | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| F | 1.00x | B | 5.50x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E | 1.25x | B+ | 6.25x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| D- | 1.50x | A- | 7.25x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 2.00x | A | 8.50x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| D+ | 2.50X | A+ | 10.00x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| C- | 3.00x | S- | 11.75x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 3.50x | S | 13.75x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| C+ | 4.00x | S+ | 16.25x | ||||||||||||||||||||
| B- | 4.75x | S++ | 20.00x | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Oh, interesting; this sounds like we might be able to get something out of this right out of the gate." Julia said, "Especially if we sacrifice some of the more interesting things we have found to it."
"Maybe we go on a trip to one of the other Mesas to get something for it." Theo mused, then shook his head. "Alright, so the order of operations, first is Monster Processor. That will let us take advantage of the monster bodies we got in the dungeon. And I have a feeling that the Runestone Golem bodies will give us something we can use in building a better structure on the Thronehold."
"Okay, fair; after that, I think we should come up with a blueprint, or at least a plan for a structure," Julia said.
While they were talking, they had moved outside, and Theo had started setting a fire.
"So we have completed a little bit." Julia said, "Can we take it easy now?"
Theo chuckled. "Alright, but tomorrow, we get to work. And we work hard."
Julia snapped to attention, saluting, "Yes, sir!"
They both chuckled and relaxed for the rest of the day.