Worthy Core

DAY 787

"So yeah, even if lip-reading was something I was any good at, their spell still blurred their lips enough to stop that from working. But trust me, I know when a guy wants to put his hands on me! Or at least, I do when I'm wearing a bar bunny reflection. Dungeon monster senses plus waitress senses are pretty good for picking up on that sort of thing."

It's three in the morning after all of the Challengers have gone to bed, and Xenia sighs as she leads some of her staff through a semi-regular meeting. "Ugh. And just to check, by 'on you', you mean..."

Emma nods, this time while wearing Xenia's face. "The mirror, yeah. I mean, I've had guys and girls ask to take me to a room often enough, but hardly anyone asks to go behind the bar! ...On top of the bar once or twice, maybe. But their spell definitely didn't hide their eyes. They had an interest in me beyond just the fun kind."

"That spell blocked even me from hearing them, too. Ugggggh. All this shit going on with the Dragonlord, and these fancy-ass Challengers are spending all their time worrying about me! Can you believe this, Dave?"

She turns towards her undead friend, currently fully encased in armor due to the fact that the skull had borrowed Beatrice's enchanted helmet while the woman is asleep. The faint orange glow coming from his eyes means that the man is currently paying attention and watching Xenia's avatar, a rare sign of focus. "Ridiculous! And all because some dungeons have been stirring up shit because they can suddenly send their monsters outside? Why, if I could get my hands on the bastards who made that possible, I'd wring their scrawny necks!"

Xenia narrows her eyes. "Are you just sayin' that cause you ain't got a neck?"

"Maybe!"

"Ugggggggggh. Speaking of, has anyone heard any updates on the other dungeons? Have any of them actually been core-cracked or something?"

Taly raises her hand, taking charge of that question. "Yeah, just got back from talking to Sely a couple hours ago, so I've got the latest gossip from the Association. It sounds like Highlight Mountain's been on complete shutdown since the incident, no one going in, no monsters coming out. Maybe the place was expecting to do more damage by taking people by surprise, or...whatever it thought it was accomplishing. But it seems like it's the sort of trick that really only works with outside support, unless it's a really remote dungeon or something. The Association's currently leaning towards not cracking it, but if it slips up even one more time they might change their mind on that. As shocking as the attack was, they usually need a pattern of behavior before they'll petition the government for a permanent solution like that."

"Lucky for Highlight that dungeons can't starve or something, but it'd probably suck to be them if they're closed up for...however long it takes for this current thing to blow over. How about other dungeons?"

The banshee continues. "Apparently a couple others have been caught testing it - just having a monster poke their heads out for a bit and then going back in. Those have also been shut down, although they're at least not on any cracking lists...yet. Other than that, well...only the Domain really knows which dungeons have taken the 'upgrade' deal. The handful that were under suspicion as being in touch with the Domain about this are being watched closely, but are still open. Though it sounds like all of the dungeons on the continent are being looked at a little suspiciously right now. Of course, I assume our...new friend here could help with confirming or denying some of those suspicions."

Before the undead can speak up, Xenia interjects. "While that would be useful intel, how the hell am I going to explain that? 'Oh hey, the Domain agent who helped set up all of these dungeons as a fifth column is now in my dungeon and is actually an old pal of mine'? You heard how that cracker team was acting in the lounge, they already suspect me of being in on it! Which is exactly why Dave here is on lockdown and isn't going anywhere that a Challenger might see him until this is all behind us."

Dave crosses his arms and harrumphs. "May as well seal me up in a coffin while you're at it! Can't believe my freedom is being denied, all through absolutely no fault of my own!"

"Dave, I watched you stand guard in front of a door for months. Not even a bathroom break!" Xenia shakes her head. "You've got your own room and the rec areas. You'll just have to make your own fun in there."

Sincere attempts to turn the meeting back towards action items. "Given our current status as 'suspicious' in the eyes of these Supreme-tier Challengers - and I'm including the new Highbranch team in that - do we wish to shift our behavior towards them in any way? Friendlier, more aggressive?"

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"Any change might be taken as a sign of us hiding something. For now, we let them run the floors as normal, and I've got Bill on high alert. If that team gets to the Core Chamber and starts getting handsy, they're in for a surprise. Beatrice will be staying local for the time being too, although her team is apparently staying with the Valleylanders in Grassbrook. I'm...considering using our 'special method' of getting a new floor unlock, just to have one in reserve, but..."

As the reincarnator trails off, Lollyp leans forward. "But what, Xen?"

"But we already know that the Dragonlord has their hooks in that process, and I'm not sure about taking the risk that they might have other surprises in store for us if we do it. That said, I have been working on some possible re-designs in case we need better defenses, from the Challengers or from the Domain."

From the far end of the table, Pizola raises a hand - and waves one of her rear legs for good measure. "Speaking of being 'starved', just what are our plans should the Domain conquer this little village, anyways? I understand that you intend to resist the Dragonlord's plans involving...moving in or whatnot, but does that mean we shut down entirely? Or at least, as much as a dungeon is allowed to do?"

Sincere frowns. "While the Domain does have Challenger teams like anyone else, no one is going to be traveling through the frontlines of a war zone just to try a few dungeon runs. Even if the Domain army wishes to do a few 'friendly' runs for training or whatnot...what we'd have to gain from them seems like little in comparison to the risk that they're working on some sort of scheme. It seems to me that should Grassbrook fall, we should treat every intrusion as being one with the dungeon itself at stake. At least until the Rainlanders push back south, or...until the Dragonlord proves more reasonable, I suppose."

Xenia doesn't sound very convinced by the latter option. "The Dragonlord runs on long-term plans, I don't think they're going to change their mind about things just because we manage to fend off some teams for a few weeks or months. If it happens...we hold off as long as we can, I think. Maybe put our own ability to go outside to use in some way, though we'd have to be real clever about it."

From the look on her face, Taly seems to have other concerns on her mind. "Xenia...if I might ask, what do we intend to do about the locals, like Alizz's staff or the civilians, or whatnot?"

The dungeon master furrows her brow. "What do you mean? I mean, I get it, you're worried about Sely, right? I don't blame you. But why is that on us? Can't we expect the locals to evacuate before shit goes down? Or, hells - would the Association even need to? The Association is a neutral organization, right? It even operates inside the Domain."

"As someone who was around during the last outbreak of war, I believe I can clarify this matter somewhat." Sincere speaks up once again. "It is true that the Association, as well as the vast majority of churches, are considered politically neutral and generally allowed to cross borders with much fewer restrictions than average citizens. The Domain is noticeably less devout than most nations, as the Dragonlord themselves doesn't seem to have that much respect for the gods, but they don't completely spit in their faces, either. That said..."

"Not a good-sounding tone there, Sin-man."

"Well, it's not good. During times of war, these freedoms are significantly reduced - in practice if not in law. And not just by the Domain, but by nearly all nations. I do not believe they would attack Association members, but it is likely that they would be placed in confinement or under some sort of watch until the region is 'secure'. Domain citizens like Kelsey might have more freedom, but I would expect Alizz and Sely and the rest to be confined to the Association barracks or something like that. Assuming the building wasn't taken over by Domain soldiers, I suppose."

Trush laughs loudly, but it's not a happy sound. "Also, don't expect the neutrality to hold up well from the other direction, either. Most of the Challengers around here are gonna be Rainlanders, with Valleylanders being a close second. You can't count on them to sit on their hands while the Domain invades their homelands - but if they fight back, well, who knows who might get hit in the crossfire."

"Right. So I'm just wondering if we have a plan for how to help, in case Grassbrook needs it. People might not have much time to evacuate when the invasion actually starts, given that we're basically right on the border here." Taly gives Xenia a hopeful look with her undead eyes, and the woman leans back into her seat.

"Alright, fine, we'll make a worst-case scenario plan. The good news is, Floor Five has lots of space, especially if we use barracks-style housing. We could support a lot of people pretty much indefinitely, though I don't know how that'd change things if the Domain tries to start running floors." Xenia thinks for a moment before snapping her fingers. "We do have another resource at hand - Sin-man! How's the elementals doing these days? Whatever they're calling themselves now."

"I believe they're up to the Fifth Elemental Republic, as of two weeks ago. The caverns down there have actually become quite impressive - they've really been honing their craftsmanship these past few years. Of course, most of that's just for aesthetics rather than for any actual purpose, but they've become rather talented at the shaping of stone. They've been trading with their friends in the Rough Gems as well for various materials, so there's even something of a small-scale economy running down there these days." The demon leans forward, curious as to where Xenia is going with this.

"Good to hear it - cause we might have something actually useful for them to work on. And if they're into money or barter now that's even better, cause I don't mind bribing - er, compensating them for their efforts, either."

Lollyp peers at her friend. "To do what? Build living space? I mean...we wouldn't need that unless we were hosting the entire population of Grassbrook in here! Right? There's no way we'd even be able to get the whole town in here unless we started moving them right now!"

"Nah, you're right - and the average farmers and craftsmen shouldn't need it, the Dragonlord wants to conquer, not slaughter. But there are other things we could use them for..."